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OTIS M. WATERS. This young gentleman is numbered among the live business men of Mt. Vernon, of which place he is a native, and where he is conducting a large and paying business as one of its leading druggists. He was born in this city July 22, 1861, and is the son of Henry T. Waters, a native of Tennessee, who was brought to Jefferson County by his parents when he was quite young. The father of our subject was a soldier in Company C, Sixtieth Illinois Infantry, during the late war, and served his country faithfully and well for three years. He was a prominent resident of Mt, Vernon, where be was living in 1887, when killed by a cyclone, which also caused the death of the wife and little child of his son, John T. Waters. Mrs. Mary P. Waters, mother of our subject, although escaping with her life, was crippled. She is still living and makes her home with her son John T. Prior to her marriage that lady was known as Miss Mary P. Johnson, the daughter of Dr. John N. Johnson and a sister of Dr. Alva C. Johnson, of this city. Her family was among the oldest and leading families of this section. Otis M. Waters and his brother John T. were the only members of their parents' family. The former grew to mature years in his native city, where he was given a good high school education. When fifteen years of age he entered the drug store belonging to his uncle, who was his instructor in the compounding of medicines. After having passed a most thorough examination he removed to Ashley, this state, where he went into business for himself. After a short time spent in that place Mr. Waters returned to Mt. Vernon, and forming a partnership with his uncle, Dr. Alva C. Johnson, was engaged in the drug business with him just two days prior to the great cyclone which swept this city. The drug store and all that it contained was completely demolished, but Dr., Johnson being a very wealthy man. the business was put on foot again. Mr. Waters remained the partner of his uncle until 1890, when he established a store of his own, and by being a registered pharmacist and keeping in his house a full line of medicines and toilet articles, has built up a large and paying patronage. He was married April 25, 1888, to Miss Berintha I., daughter of the Hon. Edward C. Pace, a wealthy banker in Ashley and a leading politician of southern Illinois. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Waters, Joel Pace, and his twin brother, Joseph, were among the earliest residents in Jefferson County and the former was the first clerk after the organization of Jefferson County. He was a man of fine attainments and took a prominent part in public affairs. To Mr. and Mrs. Waters has been born one son, Allan, whose birth occurred August 6, 1889. They are both devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are active in all good works in the city. Socially, our subject is a Knight of Pythias and a Modern Woodman, in which latter order he is Trustee. Although never aspiring to office, he is a stanch Republican and interests himself in all matters which will prove of benefit to the city.
Source: "Portrait and Biographical Record Clinton, Washington, Marion and Jefferson Counties, Illinois" |
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