Harrison Gray Otis (publisher) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harrison Gray Otis
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| Born | February 10, 1837 near Marietta, Ohio
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| Died | July 30, 1917 (aged 80) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | newspaper publisher |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Eliza Ann Wetherby (m. 1859–1904, her death) |
| Children | Lillian Otis McPherson Marian Otis Chandler Mabel Otis Booth |
| Parent(s) | Stephen Otis Sara Otis |
| Relatives | Mike Chandler (great-great grandson) Marilyn "Missy" Brant Chandler (first great-granddaughter-in-law) Bettina Whitaker Chandler (second great-granddaughter-in-law) Norman Chandler (grandson) Otis Chandler (great-grandson) Dorothy Buffum Chandler (granddaughter-in-law) Harry Chandler (son-in-law) |
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Harrison Gray Otis (born February 10, 1837 – died July 30, 1917) was a very important newspaper publisher. He was the president and general manager of the Times-Mirror Company, which published the famous Los Angeles Times newspaper.
Contents
A Life of Service and News
Early Years and Family Life
Harrison Gray Otis was born near Marietta, Ohio, on February 10, 1837. His parents were Stephen and Sally Otis. His father was from Vermont, and his mother came from Nova Scotia, Canada. She moved to Ohio from Boston, Massachusetts, with her family.
Young Harrison went to school until he was 14. Then, he started working as a printer's apprentice at the Noble County Courier in Ohio. This means he learned the printing trade by working for someone experienced.
Otis married Eliza Ann Wetherby in Lowell, Ohio, on September 11, 1859. They had three daughters: Lillian, Marian Otis Chandler, and Mabel. Marian later became the secretary of the Times-Mirror Company.
Supporting Abraham Lincoln
In 1860, Otis was chosen as a delegate from Kentucky for the Republican National Convention. A delegate is someone who represents a group of people at a big meeting. At this convention, Abraham Lincoln was chosen as the candidate for president.
Serving in the Civil War
When the American Civil War began in 1861, Otis left his job as a compositor (someone who arranges type for printing) at the Louisville Journal. He volunteered to join the Union Army.
Otis joined as a Sergeant in Kentucky on June 25, 1861. He fought in many battles, including the Battle of Scary Creek, Battle of Antietam, and the Battle of Lynchburg. He was wounded twice during these battles.
He was promoted seven times for his brave actions. He rose through the ranks from Sergeant to Lieutenant-Colonel. He left the Army on July 26, 1865, after the war ended.
A Career in Journalism
After the war, Otis worked as an official reporter for the Ohio House of Representatives. Then, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked for the government and as a writer and editor.
In 1876, Otis and his family moved to Santa Barbara, California. He bought a local newspaper there called the Santa Barbara Press.
For a short time in 1879, he stopped working in journalism. He became a chief government agent in the Pribilof Islands off the coast of Alaska. These islands were known for their seal populations. He returned to Santa Barbara in 1881.
Leading the Los Angeles Times
Otis was editing his newspaper in Santa Barbara when he visited Los Angeles. Los Angeles was a much bigger city. He agreed to become the editor of the Los Angeles Daily Times, which is now known as the Los Angeles Times.
He started his new role on August 1, 1882. The company later became known as Times-Mirror. On April 6, 1886, Otis became the president and general manager of the company. He held this important position until he died in 1917.
Otis was known for his strong conservative political beliefs. These views were often shown in the newspaper's articles. His home was one of three buildings attacked in the 1910 Los Angeles Times bombing. During his time as publisher, Otis famously said, "You are either with me, or against me."
Later Life and Legacy
Military Service in the Philippines
When the Spanish–American War started in 1898, Otis wanted to serve his country again. He volunteered for the Army and was made a brigadier general. He served in the Philippines. He commanded soldiers during the Philippine–American War.
Helping Los Angeles Grow
Otis strongly supported Los Angeles, and his efforts helped the city grow a lot. He was part of a group of investors who bought land in the San Fernando Valley. They knew that the Los Angeles Aqueduct would soon bring water to this area, making the land valuable.
Otis, his son-in-law Harry Chandler, and others also formed the Colorado River Land Company. This company bought land in the Mexicali Valley in Baja California, Mexico. This happened when Mexico's President Porfirio Díaz wanted foreign companies to invest in developing the country.
Supporting the Arts
On December 23, 1916, General Harrison Gray Otis gave his large home on Wilshire Boulevard to Los Angeles County. This home was known as the Bivouac. He wanted it to be used "continuously and perpetually for the Arts and advancement of the Arts."
This gift led to the creation of the Otis Art Institute. Today, it is known as Otis College of Art and Design. The original home was taken down in the 1950s, but the school built new buildings and stayed on the site until 1997. Now, a public elementary school is located there.
Harrison Gray Otis passed away on July 30, 1917, at the home of his son-in-law, Harry Chandler.
Images for kids
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Otis statue in MacArthur Park
