Norton Prentiss Otis

Norton Prentiss Otis (March 18, 1840 – February 20, 1905) was a U.S. representative from New York.

Biography

Otis was born in Halifax, Vermont. His father was Elisha Otis, inventor of the safety elevator and a descendant of the Otis family that is counted among the Boston Brahmin families. He attended public schools in Halifax, Albany, Hudson, and Yonkers, New York. In his early youth, he entered into business with his father and engaged in the manufacture of elevators for nearly fifty years.

Otis served as mayor of Yonkers from 1880 to 1882 and was a member of the New York State Assembly (Westchester Co., 1st D.) in 1884. He served as president of the New York State Commission to the Exposition Universelle of 1900 and as president of St. John's Riverside Hospital of Yonkers. In 1900, he was an unsuccessful candidate for election to the 57th United States Congress.

Otis was elected as a Republican to the 58th United States Congress and represented New York's 19th congressional district from March 4, 1903 until his death from cancer in Westchester County, New York on February 20, 1905. He was interred at Oakland Cemetery. He also was related to Amelia Earhart.