S. Conrad Ott

S. CONRAD OTT was born Sylvius Conrad Ott in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 30, 1868 to Abraham Ott and his wife the former Susannah Maria Musick. He was the sixth of seven children, of which only two others survived childhood, the oldest, Ida Rebecca Ott Field (1857–1938), and the youngest, Frank Charles Ott, who died while serving with the United States Army as a storekeeper aboard the U.S. Army Transport ship Grant in the Philippines on January 31, 1900.

S. Conrad Ott married Mary Anthony in Philadelphia in 1888.

S. Conrad Ott worked as a reporter for the Camden Post, then was hired by the Philadelphia Public Ledger to cover Camden. His ability was recognized by John C. Harper of the Camden Courier, who hired young Ott as a reporter in 1889. By 1891, still in his early twenties, S. Conrad Ott had been promoted to city editor. He also wrote a column under the nom de plume Connaught which was concerned with over the road bicycling, a very popular pastime in the 1890s. He was involved with the Camden chapter of the League of American Wheelmen, a group that promoted bicycling, and was instrumental in getting a bicycle path built on the Mt. Ephraim Pike (present-day Mount Ephraim Avenue and Black Horse Pike).

The 1891 and 1892 Camden City Directories show S. Conrad Ott boarding at 214 South 6th Street in Camden, where he was employed as an editor for the Camden Courier. Directories from 1893 through 1895 give his address as 810 North 6th Street and employment as City Editor. Directories from 1896 through 1900 show that he had moved to 641 State Street and was still employed by the Courier as City Editor.

S. Conrad Ott, in the course of his activities as a reporter, had spent a lot of time in court and gained a good working knowledge of the law. He began studying and in 1899 was admitted to the bar. Directories from 1899 and 1901 show that he had also become a lawyer, with an office at 418 Market Street.

S. Conrad Ott’s career as a lawyer quickly blossomed. He was appointed as a referee in bankruptcy court, was considered for a judgeship, and served as president of the Camden County Bar Association.

The 1900 Census shows S. Conrad and Mary Ott had moved to an apartment at 515 Cooper Street. Also residing in that building was merchant Elmer Ellsworth Long. They stayed there through at least 1903. City Directories from 1904 through 1907 give an address of 517 Cooper Street. In 1906 S. Conrad Ott moved his law office to the Security Trust Building at 301 Market Street. By 1908 the Otts had moved to the Robeson Apartments at 232 Penn Street, where they stayed through 1913. City Directories from 1914 and 1915 show them at the Helene Apartments on Cooper Street.

S. Conrad Ott took on a young lawyer, Joseph H. Carr, as a partner in 1912. Two other men who worked for S. Conrad Ott went on to successful careers in law, Albert Scheffin and Henry M. Evans.

The Otts visited Europe in 1912, and returned home from Copenhagen, Denmark aboard the Oscar II, arriving in New York on September 12, 1912.

In addition to his activities as a journalist and lawyer, S. Conrad Ott was very active as a member of Linden Baptist Church.

By 1916 S. Conrad and Mary Ott had moved to 55 West Maple Avenue in Merchantville, New Jersey. Three doors away at 39 West Maple lived Judge Howard Carrow.

Last a resident of Merchantville, S. Conrad Ott died on July 29, 1922. His wife Mary, who had been quite ill prior to his death, joined him on September 8, 1923. They are buried side by side at Harleigh Cemetery in Camden.

Newspaper Account of the Opening of Linden Baptist Church

Camden at a Glance

Before Referee in Bankruptcy Ott yesterday a dividend of 5 per cent was declared to the creditors of John H. Dialogue, whose shipyard on the Delaware was at one time among the most thriving along the river.

Miss Lucy Becker, of 1160 Jackson street, and William Durham, a real estate operator of 1537 Broadway, were married yesterday by Rev. William Crum, of the Trinity M. E. Church.

Although but ten years old, Frank Mazhaccio was taken to the State Home for Boys yesterday as an incorrigible.

A meeting of the jitney men has been called for tomorrow morning at 10 o’clock at the Hotel Ridgway for organization. The call was made by Assemblyman Garfield Pancoast. Mayor Ellis will address the drivers of the jits.

Here and There in Camden

Recently wedded, Lawyer Joseph Carr, of the firm of Ott & Carr, was yesterday inducted into the service at his own request. He goes to Camp Meade today and will be attached to the judge advocate’s department.

For injuries sustained to his right knee in a fall at the Camden Terminal on April 23, Francis Gallagher, of Westmont, yesterday brought suit for $5,000 damages against the Philadelphia & Camden Ferry Co.

Four-year-old Frank Harris, of 329 Liberty street, so badly mangled two fingers with a hatchet that doctors at Cooper Hospital amputated the crushed digits.

To take a more lucrative position in a shipyard, Levering Minister yesterday resigned as a member of Engine Co. No. 4.

Recently resigning from the fire department, William Michalak was yesterday appointed to the police force as a member of the mounted squad.