Simeon Otis

Male, #43355, (21 Jan 1866 - 29 Apr 1929)

Parent*Edwin Houston Otis (29 May 1837 - 19 May 1905)
Parent*Martha Ann Strickland (17 Oct 1835 - 6 Apr 1919)
Simeon Otis|b. 21 Jan 1866\nd. 29 Apr 1929|p43355.htm|Edwin Houston Otis|b. 29 May 1837\nd. 19 May 1905|p9982.htm|Martha Ann Strickland|b. 17 Oct 1835\nd. 6 Apr 1919|p9983.htm|Sylvester R. Otis|b. 27 Jan 1810\nd. 14 Jun 1893|p9990.htm|Malinda (?)|b. 1804\nd. 1868|p9991.htm|Richard Strickland|b. circa 1811|p44508.htm|Elizabeth (?)|b. May 1816|p44509.htm|

Birth*21 Jan 1866 Simeon was born at Florida on 21 Jan 1866.1 
 He was the son of Edwin Houston Otis and Martha Ann Strickland. 
1870 Census1 Jun 1870 Martha, Austin, Simeon and Melinda listed as a household member living with Edwin Houston Otis on the 1870 Census at Milton, Santa Rosa Co., Florida.2 
1880 Census1 Jun 1880 Sylvester and Simeon was listed as a son in Edwin Houston Otis's household on the 1880 Census at Santa Rosa Co., Florida.
.3 
Census1 Jun 1885 They was listed as a son in the census report at Santa Rosa Co., Florida, on 1 Jun 1885.4 
Marriage*circa 1889 He married Frances E. (?) at Florida circa 1889.5 
1900 Census*1 Jun 1900 Simeon was listed as the head of a family on the 1900 Census at Bagdad, Santa Rosa Co., Florida.5 
1910 Census*15 Apr 1910 Simeon was listed as the head of a family on the 1910 Census at Mulat, Santa Rosa Co., Florida.6 
Deed5 Sep 1914 Frances E. Otis and Simeon Otis granted a deed to Martha Ann Strickland on 5 Sep 1914 at Santa Rosa Co., Florida.
(Book A-15, Page 85, Warranty deed by S. and Frances Otis to Martha A. Otis, property at 19-1S-28 and 48-1N-28).7 
1920 Census*1 Jan 1920 Simeon was listed as the head of a family on the 1920 Census at Mulat, Santa Rosa Co., Florida.8 
Will*before 29 Apr 1929 He made a will at Santa Rosa Co., Florida, before 29 Apr 1929.
(In his will, Sim Otis left $5,000.00 each to: his sister, Mrs. J. R. Howe (Linnie Otis); sister-in-law, Mrs. M. E. Powell (Sister of Sim's wife, Frances); nephew, H. L. Powell (Son of Mrs. M. E.); and niece: L. Matronia (in other references as Lillian Matronia, and L. Matronia Kelley; probably a dau of Mrs. Powell). He left to other nieces and nephews, $1,000.00 each: Mrs. Maggie Herman, Tampa; Mrs. Lillie Jernigan, Pensacola; Mrs. Mabel Joanson [Johanson], Ft. Worth ; Mrs. Alma [Howe] Payne, Marianna, FL; Mrs. L. B. [Lennie Bernice Howe] Ates, Bagdad, FL (cared for the cemetery lots for several years at $30.00 a year); Mrs. Agnes [Howe] Michon, New Orleans; O. [Oliver] Howe, Bagdad, FL; R. [Ray] Howe, Bagdad, FL; and James Otis, a mariner at sea.).9 
Burial*after 29 Apr 1929 His body was interred after 29 Apr 1929 at Milton Cemetery, Milton, Santa Rosa Co., Florida. His tombstone reads: "Simeon Otis, Jan 21, 1868 - Apr 29, 1929. His memory is blessed.".10 
Death*29 Apr 1929 He died at Santa Rosa Co., Florida, on 29 Apr 1929.10 
Biography* The following is from a paper on Simeon Otis, written Feb 6, 1996 by Edie Geiger, 4621 Geiger Road, Milton, FL 32583.

"Sim" Otis, as he was sometimes known, appears to have been a native Santa Rosa Countian who lived and made his fortune primarily in his own back yard. Not much is known about his early life as this information was obtained entirely from the public records of Santa Rosa County, Florida, and the family cemetery plot in Milton Cemetery at Milton, Florida, with some "supposing" thrown in.

It is believed that his father, grandfather and a brother were all named Sylvester - leading to some confusion. Therefore, some of the following "facts" ain't necessarily so.

Sim Otis' father, Sylvester R. Otis, Jr., died in 1869 at the age of 26. He fathered at least three children - a daughter, Linnie, and two sons, Sylvester H. Otis, born circa 1862 and Simeon Otis, born circa 1868. [Warren Culpepper note: There is contradictory evidence in the Culpepper family bible, as written by Alma Elaine Payne Culpepper in the 1950's, with information gathered directly from her mother, Alma Howe Payne, daughter of Joseph R. Howe and Linnie Otis Howe. The bible shows that Linnie and Simeon were the children of Edwin H. Otis and Martha A. (Strickland). This is also supported by the 1870 and 1880 censuses.]

The public records show several instruments involving an Otis only identified as "S. Otis", leading to more confusion as "S." could be any of the Sylvesters or Simeon. One such instrument was an agreement in August of 1896 between S. Otis and Wade H. Jernigan regarding delivery of logs to Magnolia Boom located 1 1/2 miles North of Milton on Blackwater River. (It was not determined who owned the mill, nor its exact location, but it is believed that is was located on the east side of Blackwater River, just above the Navy Boat Docks as now exists.) It is supposed that this Otis was Sim and he was beginning to go into business, because at this same time he purchased from W. S. Lewis and his wife about sixty-five acres of land on Robinson Point. The Lewises reserved a parcel of land to be used as a graveyard, but did not mention anything about a mill. Simeon Otis and his wife, Frances E. Otis, deeded this same property to Otis Lumber Company the next month. In this instrument, the graveyard was lessed out, but, again, no mention of a mill.

In November, Sim Otis attended a sheriff's sale on the front steps of the courthouse and was the highest bidder on 1,280 acres of land formerly belonging to William Johnson. This land was located North and East of Milton, and Sim paid $158.45 for the entire 1,280 acres. This probably was the beginning of his acquiring land for timber purposes. The logs were branded "2" and could easily be floated down the river and bay to Robinson Point.

Two years later in August of 1898, there appears a deed in the public records from Otis Lumber Company, selling for $2,000.00 to Simeon Otis a one-third interest in 1,740 acres of land, plus an additional approximate 65 acres on Robinson Point. There was the same mention of the graveyard reserved to public use forever, plus there was now mention of a sawmill, engines, boilers, machinery and tools. Apparently Otis Lumber Company was owned by Sim Otis along with C. W. Hagerman who was identified as President, and F. B. Hagerman was Secretary. The extent of their involvement was not researched.

Also, at this same time, Otis Lumber Company sold to P. Tomasello for $4,000.00 a two-thirds interest in the same property, mill and equipment.

In addition, Otis Lumber Company agreed to sell all their pitch pine logs at the mill or in streams, to Robinson Point Lumber Company for $10,000.00. The 1,740 acres, the mill site and the equipment sold for $6,000.00 of this $10,000.00, leaving the value of the logs at $4,000.00. They also sold all the goods in the store at the mill of Otis Lumber Company at Robinson Point, Florida, for $806.80. Sim Otis was probably not out of the picture yet, as Robinson Point Lumber Company was a co-partnership composed of P. Tomasello and S. Otis. (However, this S. Otis could have been Sim's brother, Sylvester H. Otis.) The agreement also allowed Otis to store lumber at no charge until it could be removed. Robinson Point Lumber Company incorporated in 1899 according to their Charter and Notice of Incorporation.

On May 3, the following year, 1899, Simeon and Frances E. Otis sold almost all their holdings to Peter Tomasello. These holdings consisted of 1/3 undivided interest in lands (probably over 3,000 acres) and the mill, plus their 1/2 interest in Robinson Point Lumber Company. Tomasello paid $3,500.00 cash, plus assumed the debt of about $750.00 which Otis owed, which Tomasello was to satisfy. Otis even sold all his personal property except for a sailboat christened "Dewey", 2 pairs oyster tongs, 1 horse and buggy, his personal tools, effects, and household furnishings. He probably had decided to move to Mulat, because about 8 months later he purchased a parcel along the railroad track and the bayou for $100.00. The exact location of this land was not determined, but he purchased this from Warren E. Urch and Agnes Urch. Could this have been the house site?

Four months later, Sim Otis invested $4,000.00 in another parcel from Hans H. Seivers and Emma J. Seivers - the parcel identified as being the Bayou Mulatto Mill Site and included the mill and machinery, was West of the railroad. (H. H. Seivers purchased 1/3 interest in the mill for $100.00 in 1888 from Richard Duval.) At this same time, the Seivers also executed a deed to Otis for land East of the railroad. In 1877, Duvall's deed from William Judge and Martha Judge covered the whole South half of the section which was about 168 acres. Duvall only paid $400.00 for this and there was no mention of a mill. The assumption is that the mill at Mulat was built sometime between 1877 and 1888.

Sim Otis apparently prospered for the next 25 years or so, continuing in the buying and selling of property and improving the mill. There is an indication he added a shingle mill to the operation. There are numerous transactions recorded in the public records in Santa Rosa County, but it seems he held interests in other counties as well. There are many bills of sales and contracts recorded. Several of these involved Rex Robinson for cut lumber in booms at Mulat and Ferry Pass. One included some lumber identified as South American and some as Cuban lumber.

In 1900, the depot was apparently being used, as the "Depot Lot" was lessed out of a deed from Simeon and Frances Otis to Simeon Otis and Kimbrough J. Whitmire doing business under the firm name of Otis and Whitmire at Mulat, Florida. The plat of the town of Mulat bears the date of 1906, showing the locations of the Depot, as well as the post office and other buildings. Indications are that the buildings were probably built during the end of the 19th century or the very beginning of the 20th century.

At the time of his death on April 29, 1929, Simeon Otis was 61 years of age and a wealthy man. Even though he remembered several nieces and nephews, his sister and a sister-in-law very generously in his will, he left his widow as his only heir and very wealthy. The assessment of his personal property such as stocks and bonds, cash on hand and monies owed to him came to a little over $96,000.00. This did not include any real estate (which may or may not have included the mill) that he held at the time of his death. The probate file is voluminous and was not thoroughly researched.

Life had improved for Sim Otis since he left Robinson Point with a horse and buggy and a sailboat. When Sim Otis died, he owned a ferry boat valued at $1,000.00 and 3 Ford cars (one of them new) valued at $725.00 for all three. Not long after Sim died, Fred W. Fisher married Sim's still young and undoubtedly wealthy widow.9
 

Family

Frances E. (?) (Feb 1873 - )

Last Edited 27 Jan 2004

Citations

  1. Simeon Otis' tombstone shows a date of birth of 21 Jan 1868 and his sister Linnie Otis Howe's tombstone shows a birth of 18 Feb 1868. As these dates are within a month of each other, there is an error in one or both. The Alma Elaine Payne Culpepper bible supports the 18 Feb 1868 date for Linnie, and while stating that Simeon was her brother, it does not provide his birthdate. The 1870 census shows Simeon as age 7 (born 1863) and Linnie as age 1 (born 1869). The 1880 census shows Linnie as 10 (born 1870), and Simeon as 13 (born 1867). The 1900 census shows Simeon born Jan 1868. Given the relative consistency of Linnie's reported birthyears, the birthdate shown on her tombstone has been assumed herein, whereas, Simeon's birth year is assumed to be 1866, the average of the birth years in the 1870, 1880, and 1900 censuses.
  2. 1870 Federal Census, United States.
    Santa Rosa Co., FL, Img 41 @ Ancestry.com
    E. H. Otis, 32, M, Clerk Grocery, FL
    Martha Otis, 32, F, FL
    Austin Otis, 12, M, FL [parents unknown]
    Simion Otis, 7, M, FL
    Malinda Otis, 1, F, FL.
  3. 1880 Federal Census, United States.
    Precinct 1, Santa Rosa Co., FL; page 175B, LDS CD
    Edwin H. Otis, HH, 44, FL, CT, GA, Watchman
    Martha A. Otis, wife, 44, GA, GA, GA
    Sylvester C. Otis, son [actually a nephew],17, AL, FL, GA, Teamster
    Simeon Otis, son, 13, FL, FL, GA
    Melinda Otis, dau, 10, FL, FL, GA
    Niccie Strickland, niece, single, 18, FL, GA, FL
    Nora Hudson, niece, 6, FL, FL, FL).
  4. National Archives, compiler, Florida State Census of 1885, Online database at Ancestry.com, 2003.
    http://content.ancestry.com/iexec/?dbid=7605&htx=List&ti=0
    ED 5, Page 3, Lines 32-38, Santa Rosa Co., FL
    E. H. Otis, Head, Wh, M, 49, md, FL/FL/FL, Carpenter
    Martha Otis, Wife, Wh, F, 49, md, FL/FL/FL
    Houston Otis, Son Wh, M, 22, sng, FL/FL/FL, Laborer
    Simeon Otis, Son Wh, M, 16, sng, FL/FL/FL, Laborer
    Melinda Otis, Son Wh, M, 15, sng, FL/FL/FL
    Nora Hudson, Niece, Wh, F, 9, sng, FL/FL/FL
    M. Strickland, Niece, Wh, F, 15, sng.
  5. 1900 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 108, Page 208A, Precinct 16, Bagdad, Santa Rosa Co., FL, Genealogy.com Img 8
    S. Otis, HH, W, M, Jan 1868, 32, md 11 yrs, FL, PA, GA, Mill owner
    Frances E. Otis, wife, W, F, Feb 1873, 27, md 11 yrs, 0 children, FL, FL, FL
    James Martin, Servant, Black, Male, May 1872, 28, Md, AL, AL, AL, Servant.
  6. 1910 Federal Census, United States.
    ED 103, Page 144A, Family 158, Gen.com img 3, Mulat, Santa Rosa Co., FL
    Simeon Otis, Head, M, 42, md 20 yrs, FL/PA/GA, Lumbermill Owner
    Francis Otis, Wife, F, 38, md 20 yrs, ch 0/0, FL/FL/FL.
  7. Santa Rosa County Clerk, compiler, Santa Rosa Co., FL Deed Index, Repository: LDS Family History Library - Salt Lake City, Call No. Film 929,763.
    Reverse Index, L-R.
  8. 1920 Federal Census, United States.
    Mulat, Santa Rosa Co., FL
    Simeon Otis, Head, M, 51, md, FL/RI/GA, Retail merchant of groceries
    Francis E. Otis, Wife, F, 48, md, FL/FL/FL.
  9. Simeon Otis Report, Edie Geiger, 4621 Geiger Road, Milton, FL 32583, to Warren Culpepper, 1999.
  10. Richard Earl Jernigan, Santa Rosa Co., FL Cemeteries West FL Genealogical Society, Pensacola, 1987.