Othman A. Abbott

Othman Ali Abbott
Othman Ali Abbot prior to 1920
1st Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska
In office 1877–1879
Governor	Silas Garber
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Edmund C. Carns
Personal details
Born	September 19, 1842 Hatley, Quebec, Canada
Died	June 24, 1935 (aged 92) Grand Island, Nebraska
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth M. Griffin (1845–1941) (m. February 9, 1873)
Children	Othman A. Jr. (1874–1954) Edith (1876–1957) Grace (1878–1939) Arthur Griffin (1880–1969)[1]

Othman Ali Abbott (September 19, 1842 – June 24, 1935) was the first Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska, United States, serving from 1877 to 1879 while Silas Garber was Governor.^[2]

Biography

Abbott was born on September 19, 1842 in Hatley, Quebec, Canada to Abiel B. and Sarah (Young) Abbott. The family moved to DeKalb County, Illinois when he was about 8,^[3] and Abbott attended high school in Belvidere. At the start of the Civil War in 1861 he enlisted, and served until 1865 eventually attaining the rank of first lieutenant.^[4] He began to study law while in the Army and after returning to Belvidere completed those studies and obtained admission to the bar in 1867. Soon after this, he moved to Grand Island, Nebraska. He became active in Nebraska politics, and was chosen to complete an unexpired term in the state senate in 1872.

In 1876 he was elected as the first lieutenant governor for Nebraska, and served one two-year term in that position.^[2][5][6]

Abbott and his wife Elizabeth were married on February 9, 1873 and subsequently had four children; Othman A. Jr., Edith, Grace, and Arthur G. Grace Abbott and Edith Abbott became well-known social workers.^[7] (Othman's wife, as well as Edith and Grace, have been inducted into the Women of Nebraska Hall of Fame.)

Abbott continued to practice law and trade and live in Grand Island, where he died on June 24, 1935.^[1]

References

1. Abbott Family, Nebraska State Historical Society (Retrieved January 11, 2010)
2. Buechler, A.F. & Barr, R.J. (eds.). History of Hall County, Nebraska, p.565-67 (1920)
3. Costin, Lela B. Two Sisters for Social Justice: A Biography of Grace and Edith Abbott, p. 3-5 (2003) (ISBN 978-0252071553)
4. Davenport, Edward A. (ed.) History of the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers, p. 314 (1888)
5. (4 October 1876). Notes of the campaign, The New York Times (reporting Abbott's nomination as candidate for the Republicans)
6. Morton, J. Sterling et al. (eds.) Illustrated history of Nebraska, Vol. 1, p.575-76 (1907)
7. Herrick, John M. & Stuart, Paul H. Encyclopedia of social welfare history in North America, p. 1-4 (2005) (ISBN 978-0761925842)