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August Otten

Date of Birth: 1846

Born In: Germany

Age: 60

Occupation: 

Marital Status: 

Died: 15 Jun 1906

Cause of Death: Suicide: Cut his throat with razor

Death Location: Homestead

Burial Plot: 2

FindaGrave ID: 248993475

Obituary

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    James Harvey Otterson

    Date of Birth: 5 May 1805

    Born In: Nova Scotia

    Age: 80

    Occupation: 

    Marital Status: Married

    Died: 13 Mar 1886

    Cause of Death: 

    Death Location: County Farm

    Burial Plot: JRB

    FindaGrave ID: 142282576

    Obituary

    JAMES OTTERSON, SR
    1886

    James Otterson, Sr. was born in Canada around 1805. After marrying, having children and divorcing his first wife, he arrived in the Illinois River town of Hennepin, Putnam County, Illinois in the early 1840’s. There he married Elizabeth Smith, a widow with several children. The lure of gold brought him to California alone in 1852. His family, including William Short, his wife and young children, joined him a few months later. In 1853 Otterson settled or rather squatted on land near the intersection of the San Francisco-San Jose Road and the road leading from the redwoods to the bay. At this location Otterson built a tavern and hotel which was known as Uncle Jim’s Cabin.
    Otterson is given credit for erecting the first building in Mayfield and a plaque has been placed at its approximate site near the corner of El Camino and California Street in Palo Alto.
    Uncle Jim’s Cabin was well placed to serve the needs of travelers between San Francisco and San Jose and the business prospered in the 1850’s. In addition, large herds of cattle were frequently driven from the surrounding ranches to the city and the cowboys would stop at the tavern on their way to the market. A huge corral stood behind the tavern. The local butcher also carved up carcasses which hung from a huge oak outside the tavern. In 1855, Otterson was named Postmaster of Mayfield. Unfortunately, when the mail arrived by stage coach he is reported to have taken the pouch and dumped it on a table in the bar and shouted, Come and get it.” This did not please the postal authorities who replaced him with his step daughter Sara Ann Smith. Interestingly, Sarah Ann later married William Page, for whom Page Mill Road is named. James Otterson, Jr. a child of Otterson’s first marriage joined, his father in California around 1859.
    Uncle Jim’s Cabin, as a tavern, was the site of recruitment for the Union Army in the Civil War.
    Sometime in the late 1850’s James Otterson sold the hotel to a Mr. Crosby. Things did not go well for Otterson or his family. His stepdaughter, Mary Jane Smith Short deserted her husband while he was stationed at Fort Humbolt and left her children in the care of the senior Ottersons.
    Elizabeth Otterson died in 1872 and was buried on a knoll on what became the Stanford University Campus. James Otterson, Sr. died at the San Mateo County Poor Farm in 1886 and was buried there. Subsequently, both his and his wife’s remains were moved to the Union Cemetery and placed in the L.O.R.M. Plot.

    Additional Information

      Mrs Elizabeth “Betsy” Otterson

      Date of Birth: 1814

      Born In: Ohio

      Age: 58

      Occupation: 

      Marital Status: Married

      Died: 1872

      Cause of Death: 

      Death Location: Mayfield

      Burial Plot: JRB

      FindaGrave ID: 142283375

      Obituary

      Died and originally buried in Mayfield. Removed to Union Cemetery and buried with her husband, March 1886.

      Additional Information

        Sheppard Otterson

        Date of Birth: 1849

        Born In: Illinois

        Age: 52

        Occupation: 

        Marital Status: Married

        Died: 1 Jul 1905

        Cause of Death: Accidental gunshot - self inflicted

        Death Location: Alpine near La Honda

        Burial Plot: PG

        FindaGrave ID: 142283097

        Obituary

        SHEPPARD OTTERSON
        Redwood City Democrat
        July 8, 1905

        Sheppard Otterson, one of the well known old residents of this section of the county, met a tragic death last Saturday. The deceased had for several months past resided with Chris Iverson on the Alpine. Saturday morning Mr. Iverson drove to La Honda and returned late in the afternoon, He was a little surprised to note that Otterson was not out to meet him and when he entered the house he found the unfortunate man lying dead in his room. An examination disclosed a bullet wound in Otterson’s breast. It looked like a case of suicide, but the cheerful demeanor of the deceased when last seen alive by lverson contradicted this theory and an investigation subsequently made, convinced the Coroner that the death was accidental.
        The rifle with which the wound was inflicted was found in the yard leaning against the fence. It is thought Otterson placed the weapon there and in some way accidentally discharged it. The ball entered his right breast and passing through his lungs lodged in the left shoulder. His clothes were ignited and his body was badly burned, There is evidence of his efforts to reach a nearby water-trough, where he quenched his burning garments, and from this point the blood marks indicate his painfull progress into the house where he died before reaching his bed.
        Word was phoned to Mr. Crowe and on Sunday the body was brought to the morgue. A jury has been impaneled to make an official inquiry into the death.
        The deceased was buried in Union Cemetery yesterday forenoon at the county’s expense.
        Sheppard Otterson was a native of Illinois, aged 52 years. his father James Otterson who died in 1886, was one of the old residents of Mayfield and before the railroad was built kept a hotel at that town. He was prosperous in those days but died poor.

        Additional Information

          Frances Overall

          Date of Birth: 1826

          Born In: England

          Age: 63

          Occupation: 

          Marital Status: Widowed

          Died: 29 Dec 1889

          Cause of Death: Heart Failure

          Death Location: Redwood City

          Burial Plot: F27

          FindaGrave ID: 248994660

          Obituary

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            Jacob Overall

            Date of Birth: 1815

            Born In: England

            Age: 74

            Occupation: Mason

            Marital Status: Married

            Died: 16 Jun 1889

            Cause of Death: 

            Death Location: Belmont

            Burial Plot: F27

            FindaGrave ID: 248994504

            Obituary

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              Jack C Owen

              Date of Birth: 1873

              Born In: Kentucky

              Age: 54

              Occupation: Carpenter

              Marital Status: Single

              Died: 27 Feb 1927

              Cause of Death: Dilation of the heart

              Death Location: Redwood Tract

              Burial Plot: 

              FindaGrave ID: 248994846

              Obituary

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                Vivian Kimball Owen

                Date of Birth: 21 Dec 1890

                Born In: East Oakland

                Age: 9

                Occupation: Child

                Marital Status: Single

                Died: 24 Jul 1899

                Cause of Death: Cerebral Spinal Meningitis

                Death Location: Palo Alto

                Burial Plot: 34

                FindaGrave ID: 75472905

                Vivian Kimball Owen

                Obituary

                Vivian Owen, the ten-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Owen, died at the home of his grandmother, Mrs. Kimball, last Monday night after an illness of about six months' duration. The funeral was held Wednesday from the place of his death and was private. The internment was at Redwood.

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                  Epiminia Padilla

                  Date of Birth: 29 Mar 1837

                  Born In: Mexico

                  Age: 95

                  Occupation: At home

                  Marital Status: Widowed

                  Died: 3 Sep 1932

                  Cause of Death: Broncho pneumonia

                  Death Location: Redwood City

                  Burial Plot: 55

                  FindaGrave ID: 242746413

                  Epiminia Padilla

                  Obituary

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                    James Henry Pagano

                    Date of Birth: 29 May 1893

                    Born In: Redwood City

                    Age: 3

                    Occupation: Child

                    Marital Status: Single

                    Died: 16 Mar 1896

                    Cause of Death: 

                    Death Location: Redwood City

                    Burial Plot: P59

                    FindaGrave ID: 240533586

                    James Henry Pagano

                    Obituary

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