BIO: Leander N. OTT, Dauphin County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of Dauphin County, 
Containing Sketches of Representative Citizens, and Many of the 
Early Scotch-Irish and German Settlers.  Chambersburg, Pa.: 
J. M. Runk & Company, 1896, page 297.
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  OTT, LEANDER N., was born February 11, 1814, in Harrisburg.  His 
grandfather, John Nicholas Ott, came to Pennsylvania prior to the war 
of the Revolution.  During the struggle for independence he was in 
active service.  After the town of Harrisburg was laid out he removed 
there and entered into business.  He at one time kept the ferry.  His 
son John Nicholas married, August 13, 1805, Margaret Kissecker, of 
Cumberland county.  Nicholas Ott, the younger, died suddenly November 
5, 1832, near Womelsdorf where he was buried, but subsequently was 
disinterred and brought to Harrisburg.  His age was fifty years.  His 
wife Margaret died April, 1823, aged thirty-six years.  Leander N. Ott 
was the third child of his parents, and was left an orphan at a very 
early age.  He received an ordinary school education up to the time of 
his father's death, when he learned the trade of saddlery.  He, 
however, took a partial course at Jefferson College, beginning in the 
spring of 1834, where he remained two years, devoting his time chiefly 
to mathematical studies.  In 1837 Mr. Ott entered the service of the 
State, in the engineer corps under General DeHaas, and was employed in 
the survey from Lewistown to Pittsburgh, over the Allegheny mountains, 
made with a view of avoiding the inclined planes at Hollidaysburg, the 
then terminus to the eastern division of the Pennsylvania canal, and 
connecting with the internal improvements on the western side of the 
mountain.  He was also employed upon a similar survey from Philadelphia 
to Downingtown and along the Brandywine under John T. Bailey, chief 
engineer.  Under him he was engaged on the Wiconisco canal, and other 
public works until the beginning of Governor Porter's administration, 
when he resigned.  Mr. Ott completed the study of the law which he had 
been pursuing for some time under William McClure, Esq., of Harrisburg, 
and was admitted to the bar of Dauphin county April 27, 1840.  In 1846 
he was compelled to leave the practice of the law for an occupation 
which would give him more out-of-door exercise.  He then entered the 
saw-mill business at Harrisburg with his brother-in-law, Capt. Jacob 
Dock.  They were chiefly engaged in manufacturing ship building lumber 
for the Philadelphia and New York markets; and when in 1850 it was 
found advisable to confine their business to the Delaware, he removed 
to Camdem, N.J., where it was carried on until the latter part of 1859.  
In 1860 Mr. Ott returned to Harrisburg, in 1861 purchasing his present 
residence, situated in Susquehanna township.  For sometime during the 
early portion of the war he was connected with the military department, 
and did good service for his country.  From that period until the 
present time Colonel Ott has devoted most of his attention to farming.  
Country life has proved of great benefit to him, and, although in his 
eighty-third year, he frequently enjoys horseback exercise.  Mr. Ott 
married Caroline Heisely, daughter of the late George J. Heisely, of 
Harrisburg.  Of their children, the representative member of the family 
is Capt. Frederick M. Ott, a prominent lawyer of the Dauphin county 
bar.