Gerald A. Otwell, the county clerk of Montgomery county, was born at New Madison, Darke county, Ohio, Dec. 5, 1871. His parents were Dr. Curtis W. and Sarah A. (Hecker) Otwell, both native-born Americans. His grandfather, Curtis Otwell, was a physician, who followed that calling all his life. His son, Curtis W., was born in Williamsburg, Ind., and after finishing his preliminary education he matriculated at the Columbus Medical College, Columbus, Ohio, and graduated with credit. Dr. Curtis W. Otwell met and married Sarah Hecker in Ohio. She was born at Allentown, Pa. During the Civil war the Doctor tendered his services to the government and served in the hospital corps until the cessation of hostilities. In 1881, accompanied by his wife and family, he came to Kansas, and located at Independence where the family still reside. The doctor is now seventy-four years of age and was continuously engaged in professional work until ten years ago when he retired from active life. Three children were born to Dr. Curtis W. and Sarah Otwell: Louella, the wife of Prof. B. J. Dalton, of the University of Kansas; Gerald A.; and Curtis W., a graduate of the United States Military Academy, at West Point, N. Y., and who is a captain in the U. S. corps of engineers, of the standing army of this country. Gerald A. spent his boyhood in Independence, attended the public schools and spent one year in the University of Kansas, at Lawrence.

After leaving college he followed the trade of silversmith for seven years, residing most of the time at Independence. Leaving the city, he engaged in agricultural pursuits for nine years in the country, but returned to Independence to accept a position in the postoffice, where he remained six years. For years, Mr. Otwell had taken an active part in local affairs of the city and county and thus becoming popular with the voters, he was elected county clerk in 1910, on the Republican ticket, taking office Jan. 9, 1911. Fraternally he is a Master Mason and is a Past Master of his lodge. In church belief, he is a Presbyterian. In 1894, Mr. Otwell was united in marriage with Rose M. Penn, of Independence, and one child has been born to the union, Geraldine.