Harrison G. Otis "H.G.O." Childs

Son of William Childs and Sally Bemis. Harrison G Otis Childs was born in Stafford, NY on May 20, 1820. He was one of 14 children, of whom only 7 others are known at this date: Dr. Henry A Childs, Nahum Merrick Childs, and Myron Childs. William Childs, HGO's father, is the son of Daniel and Molly Child. Record of this family is found on page 559 of the book Genealogy of the Child, Childs and Childes Families … by Elias Child. Sally Bemis Childs, HGO's mother, is the daughter of Revolutionary War Veteran Jonas Bemis, and a descendant of Joseph Bemis who emigrated to Massachusetts from England in about 1640.

Harrison G Otis Childs is today survived by the descendants of his oldest son Edwin Benton Childs, and by the descendants of his 5th son Charles Olney Childs. The patriarch of our family married three times and had children by each marriage. HGO's first bride was Barbara Harper. The couple likely met in NY and later relocated to WI with Barbara's family. Though their shared time together would be limited by Barbara's early death in the spring of 1858, the bond between the two families was firmly cemented well into the future. HGO's marriage to his 2nd bride, Almira/Elvira Mitchell, took place prior to July 1860. To this union was born one son, Charles O. Record of this marriage, and of Almira's death, has not been located. HGO was married for the 3rd time in December of 1867 to Elizabeth O'Brien, daughter of Owen and Mary O'Brien and a Canadian immigrant. He and Elizabeth have two children, Mrs Marion (Childs) Swobe and Francis "Frank" H Childs (1870-aft 1910). Frank is the only one of HGO's children who's final resting place we have been unable to locate. Family records on Frank conflict; with his older half-brother William O Childs' first Will (1923) making a small provision for Frank and indicating that he was at that time living in Pocatello, Idaho, while his brothers Martin and Charles both having placed Frank's death in Nevada about 1913.

H. G. Otis and his brother-in-law Sylvester Craig, husband of Barbara's sister Christina, are historically credited with having owned the first foundry in Neshkoro Wisconsin. The foundry was established in 1855 along the side of the White River. In June of 1867 HGO sold his interest in the foundry to his brother-in-law Andrew Scobie, husband of Barbara's sister Elizabeth. HGO then relocated to West Union, Fayette, Iowa where he pursued a career as a wagon builder. By 1885 HGO was again a "bachelor." Prior to 1885, HGO and his brother-in-law Andrew Harper established themselves in Lincoln Co, Territory of Washington. It is in Washington that HGO farmed wheat and spent his winter years. Harrison G Otis Childs' 4th son Wesley H Childs is resting alongside him at LaFollette.