Frederick Ott, a prominent pioneer of Greenwood county, now retired at Hamilton, Kan., is a native of Germany, born at Fillbach, September 14, 1848. He is a son of Michael and Eva (Daubinsmith) Ott. The family came to America in 1854, when Frederick was six years old. They first located on a farm in Cook county, Illinois, where they remained until 1858, when they came to Kansas and located on Government land in Greenwood county. This was before the county had been surveyed, and the Ott family were among the very first settlers in that section of Kansas. The father engaged in farming here and the parents remained on the homestead throughout the remainder of their lives. They were industrious and thrifty people, meeting with well merited success, and both have gone to their rewards. The father died in November, 1875, at the advanced age of eighty-three, the mother having passed away in 1866, at the age of sixty-six. They were the parents of eight children: William, John, Michael, Abraham, Louise, all of whom are deceased, and Dorothy, now the widow of John Simpson, of Medicine Lodge, Kan.; Minnie, now the wife of Ferdinand Shede, a retired farmer of Yates Center, Kan., and Frederick, whose name introduces this sketch.

Frederick Ott came to Kansas with his parents, where he grew to manhood. He was brought up on a farm and has made farming and stock raising the chief occupation of his life. For years he was one of the extensive farmers and stockmen of Greenwood county, but in 1900 retired, after accumulating a competence, and is now enjoying the well earned recompense of former thrift and enterprise. During his active career he was interested in many other business projects in addition to farming and stock raising. For thirteen years he was vice-president of the Citizens' National Bank of Eureka, Kan., and in 1911 he became vice-president of the Hamilton State Bank, of Hamilton, Kan. He is a large land owner, owning four well improved farms, including the original family homestead. Mr. Ott was united in marriage February 15, 1888, to Miss Etta A. Mummey, daughter of William and Elizabeth (DeWitt) Mummey, who came from Illinois to Kansas, settling at Emporia in 1886. The father died September 18, 1912, at Silverdale, Kan., and the mother departed this life September 18, 1901, at Hamilton, Kan. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living: Zorado, Mary and Mattie (twins), Rebecca, Etta and Thomas. To Mr. and Mrs. Ott have been born five children: Frederick W., born November 11, 1888, now in the cattle business in Greenwood county; Thomas W., born July 16, 1890, died August 18, 1892; Mary L., born June 17, 1892; Anna E., born October 28, 1894, and Rebecca E., born January 5, 1896. Mr. Ott is a member of the time-honored Masonic fraternity, and has been a lifelong Republican, and for years served as treasurer of Jamesville township. Mrs. Ott is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.