i ITIS. PACKARD. 453 .Conn. He remained with that corporation for five years, and then established the Otis Manufacturing Company in South Manchester. While there he put in motion for Cheney Brothers the first machinery for the manufacture of silk and wool knit goods ever operated in this country. In August, 1861, Mr. Otis enlisted in the 10th regiment, Connecticut volunteer in- fantry, responding to the urgent call for soldiers immediately succeeding the first battle of Bull Run. He rose rapidly through all the several gradations of rank, earned by actual service, to be colonel in February, 1863. He was in all the engage- ments of Burnside's and Foster's commands in North Carolina, and was wounded once in the battle of Newbern, and twice at Kingston. In January, 1863, he went to South Carolina with General Foster's army, and while there performed import- ant service. He was ordered to Virginia, April 17, 1S64, and joined the army of the James. At the close of his three years' term of service he was mustered out at his own request, and returned home with a well-earned commission of brevet briga- dier-general. At the close of the war he took the position of superintendent of the Florence Sewing Machine Company, which he re- signed three years later to found the North- ampton Emery Wheel Company, of which he is still treasurer. General Otis is a well-known leader in the Republican party, and his recognized ability and eminent patriotic service have often been honored by the suffrages of his fellow-citizens, who have elected him to different local and state offices, which he has uniformly filled with credit to himself and with satisfaction to his constituents. In 1S75— '76 he was a selectman, assessor, and overseer of the poor of Northampton. In 1S7S he was a member of the House of Representatives, and served on the com- mittee on military affairs. In 1879 he was returned to the state Senate from the Hampshire district, and served as chair- man of the committee on manufactures, and as a member of the committee on military affairs and on the library. He was re-elected to the Senate in 1880, and was appointed chairman of the committee on military affairs, serving also on the committee on public service. On the 1st of March, 1847, in Manches- ter, Conn., General Otis married Catharine, daughter of Cyrus Preston, of South Had- ley. They have two children : Harry P. and Philip A. Otis. OXLEY, Frederick Norman, son of Edward Barker and Mary J. ( Smith) Oxley, was born in River Philip, Nova Scotia, February 14, 1849. After the public schools of his native place, he enjoyed the advantages of a private school and tuition. Mr. Oxley came to the States in 1867, and has since resided in Massachusetts. In 1872 he formed a partnership with Ber- nard Billings, under the firm name of Bil- lings & Oxley, druggists. In 1S75 he bought the interest of Mr. Billings, and has since continued the busi- ness of pharmacist in his own name and at the same location. Mr. Oxiey was married in Ashland, Ma)' 28, 1873, to Ella Maria, daughter of John N. and' Mary J. (Hatch) West. Of this union were five children : Edward P., Eunice M. (deceased), Norman M., Arthur P., and George F. Oxley. Mr. Oxley was a member of the House of Representatives in 1 866, has been a mem- ber of the Republican state central commit- tee, of the Republican town committee thir- teen years, and town assessor six years. PACKARD, De Witt Clinton, son of Washburn and Hannah (Packard) Pack- ard, was born in North Bridgewater, Plym- outh county, September 22, 1836. He received a common school and academic training, taught common schools a short time, and in i860 was chosen prin- cipal of the academy at Plympton. In 1862 he engaged in the shoe business. In 1865 he formed a co-partnership with Oliver F. Leach, under the firm name of Leach & Packard, and engaged in the manufacture of shoes for southern and western trade. In 187 1 the co-partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, and the business — mainly New England trade — was carried on by Mr. Packard until 1879, when other business, principally mortgage and broker- age, engrossed his time and attention, till the shoe business was gradually aban- doned. Mr. Packard was married in Brockton, January 5, 1865, to Clarissa J., daughter
