Husband Dr. Bodo Otto, Sr. 1
Born: 1709 - ? Germany 2
Christened:
Died: 13 Jun 1787 - ? Reading, Berks Co, PA 3
Buried: - Trinity Church, Reading, Berks Co, PA
Father: Christopher Otto (Abt 1685-1752) 2
Mother: Maria Magdalena Neineken ( - ) 2
Marriage: 18 Dec 1768 3
Other Spouse: Elizabeth Sauchen ( -1738) 2 - 1736 2
Other Spouse: Doratha Doehmchen ( -1765) 2 - 21 May 1742 2
Wife Margaret Parish 3
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1801 3
Buried:
Children
• They had no children.
General Notes: Husband - Dr. Bodo Otto, Sr.
He obtained his Christian name in honor of Baron Bodo, who was his sponsor in baptism, shortly after his birth.
He acquired an excellent scholastic education, and having attained manhood, desired to study medicine and surgery. Application was accordingly made to Augustus Daniel Meier, in the town of Hartzberg, near the Hartz, and, according to the custom of his native land, in order to give special privileges, two witnesses who were present at the marriage of his parents, testified as to the legitimacy of his birth. He was then accorded the best advantages the country afforded, and was regularly educated as a surgeon under the authority of the government in the university of Gottingen, where he also received special instruction in anatomy, physiology, botany and physics. He then was received as a member of the College of Surgeons at Lueneberg and had charge of the prisoners in the Fortress Kaleberg, and the Invalides quartered in the town. He thus became very proficient in the practice of his profession and his talent and ability were appreciated, acknowledged and approved in letters of commendation from the royal surgeons, by officers in command, and by people of distinction in his native land.
Three years after the death of his father, Dr. Bodo Otto and his family, together with a number of other families of the better class of Germans, owing to the political dissensions and revolution in their native land, determined to seek new homes in America, in which thousands of thrifty German emigrants were already prospering. The vessel in which they sailed left Amsterdam May 1, 1755, and landed November 10th of the same year. He located in Philadelphia, where he was soon highly esteemed for his literary, medical and surgical ability, and rapidly acquired a practice. As the tide of German emigration was moving up the Schuylkill Valley, whose fertile lands were fast becoming occupied by a thrifty class of settlers, Dr. Otto followed the footsteps of many of his worthy countrymen, and moved to Reading, locating there in 1773.
About this time the Revolutionary sentiment in the colonies was gathering force. The Germans were not behind in condemning the British oppression, and the German settlers in the county of Berks, in common with other counties in the province of Pennsylvania, settled by the same people, soon became devoted advocates of a new and independent form of government. As an evidence of the influence of Bodo Otto among his fellow-countrymen, with whom he had resided but three years, he was in 1776 chosen one of the delegates to represent Berks County in the Provincial Conference which met in Carpenter's Hall, Philadelphia, June 18, 1776. As a further evidence of the patriotic devotion of Bodo Otto to the interests of his adopted country, early in the progress of the Revolution he offered his services as a surgeon in the American army, and they were gratefully accepted.
During the gloomiest period of the war for liberty and independence, while the army of General Washington was encamped at Valley Forge, Dr. Bodo Otto, assisted by his two sons, Drs. John A. and Bodo Otto, Jr., were surgeons in charge of the camp hospital. He endured the same privations during the memorable winter of 1777-78, while devoting himself to the welfare of the sick and wounded.
At the close of the Revolutionary War Dr. Otto returned to Reading, resumed the practice of his profession and in the meantime took a prominent part in the administration of local affairs.
(All of the above statements relative to Dr. Otto are substantiated by documentary evidence perused by the writer and at the time in the possession of John A. Otto, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania.)
The following certificate is of special interest:
"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 and attention. The humanity, for which he was distinguished, towards the brave American soldiery, claims the thanks of every lover of his country, and the success attending 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."
General Notes: Wife - Margaret Parish
from Philadelphia, PA