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BIOGRAPHIES
Source:
History of Berks County, Pennsylvania
in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783,
by Morton L. Montgomery,
Vols. I & II,
publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court
Streets,
1894
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Bodo Otto |
BODO OTTO.
Next to Washington, Gates, Mifflin, Wayne and other
leading generals, Dr. Bodo Otto, of Reading, occupied
a prominence and rendered useful services equal to any other
man who was engaged in the great cause of the Revolution,
not on the field of battle, leading his fellows into danger
and death, but amongst the hospitals as a senior surgeon,
caring for an administering to the sick, wounded and dying
soldiers. And yet his name is not mentioned in
history! He was born of distinguished parentage of
1709 in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and was especially
he emigrated with his family from Amsterdam and landed at
Philadelphia, where he practiced his profession very
successfully until 1773, when he removed to Reading.
When the Revolution began, Dr. Otto took a prominent
part in the public demonstrations; and in the selection of
delegates from Berks County to the Provincial Conference in
1776, the people naturally looked to him as a thoroughly
qualified man. This was the only representative
position that he was enabled to take, for when the struggle
began in earnest, and hospitals had to be established, he
was appointed a senior surgeon of the hospitals in the
Colonies. This was certainly bearing his share of
responsibility in the cause, and all his time was evidently
taken up in the proper performance of his duty. During
the gloomy and discouraging Winter of 1777-78, while the
army lay encamped at Valley Forge, he was in charge of the
camp hospital, and was assisted by his two sons, Bodo
and John Augustus. Toward the close, the
following meritorious certificate was issued to him by the
Director of Military Hospitals:
"This is to certify that Dr. Bodo Otto served in the
capacity of a senior surgeon in the Hospitals of the United
States in the year 1776, and when the new arrangement, in
April, 1777, took place, he was continued in that station
until the subsequent arrangement of September, 1780, when he
was appointed hospital physician and surgeon in which
capacity he officiated until a reduction of a number of the
officers of said department, in January, 1782, was made.
During the whole of the time he acted in the above stations
he discharged his duty with great faithfulness, care an
attention. The humanity, for which he was
distinguished, towards the brave American soldiery, claims
the thanks of every lover of this country, and the success
attending his practice will be a sufficient recommendation
of his abilities in his practice will be a sufficient
recommendation of his abilities in his profession.
Given under my hand, the 26th day of January, 1782.
"JOHN COCHRAN,
"Director of the Military Hospitals."
In the beginning of 1782, after
serving as senior surgeon for nearly six years, he resumed
his practice at Reading, though then 73 years of age, and
carried it on until his death in 1787. His remains
were interred in the Trinity Lutheran Church lot at the
western end of the building. He was married three
times, and among the children surviving were Bodo Otto,
Jr., and John Augustus Otto, who were brought up
in the same profession and became distinguished as medical
practitioners. He resided on the north side of Penn
Square, midway between Fifth and Sixth streets.
Source:
History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783,
by Morton L. Montgomery,
Vols. I & II,
publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court
Streets,
1894 - Page 258 |
John A. Otto |
JOHN AUGUSTUS OTTO,
a son of Dr. Bodo Otto, was born in Hanover, Germany,
on July 30, 1751, and emigrated with his father to
Philadelphia in 1755. While living at the latter
place, he was given a through education and specially
prepared to practice medicine and surgery. When his
father removed to Reading in 1773, he accompanied the
family. During the Revolution, he assisted his father
in surgical operations and in attending the military
hospitals. After the Revolution, he established a
large practice at Reading and was recognized as an eminent
physician. He served as a justice of the peace of
Reading from 1785 to 1789, and in 1790 he filled the office
of prothonotary.
He was married to Catharine Hitner, of
Montgomery County, and died Dec. 14, 1834. His
children were Dr. John B. Otto, Daniel H. Otto, Margaret
(married to Benjamin Witman), Mary
(married to Hon. Gabriel Hiester), Sarah
(married to Jonathan Hiester, Esq., an attorney at
Reading), Elizabeth (married to Henry Richards),
and Maria (married to Joseph Wood).
Source:
History of Berks County, Pennsylvania in the Revolution from 1774 to 1783,
by Morton L. Montgomery,
Vols. I & II,
publ. Reading, PA: Chas. F. Haage, Printer, Seventh and Court
Streets,
1894 - Page 251 |
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