Otis Shumway

Brief Life History of Otis

When Otis Shumway was born on 21 July 1793, in Belchertown, Hampshire, Massachusetts, United States, his father, Stephen Shumway, was 36 and his mother, Abigail Billings, was 32. He married Sally Wetherell on 10 November 1819, in Orangeville, Genesee, New York, United States. They were the parents of at least 4 sons and 4 daughters. He lived in Salem, Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States in 1850 and Iowa, United States in 1870. He died on 31 January 1879, in Inland, Cedar, Iowa, United States, at the age of 85, and was buried in Bennett, Cedar, Iowa, United States.

Photos and Memories (3)

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Family Time Line

Otis Shumway
1793–1879
Sally Wetherell
1800–1878
Marriage: 10 November 1819
Alanson Burt Shumway
1821–1847
Aurora Shumway
1823–1888
George Shumway
1825–1825
Theresa Shumway
1826–1838
Pricilla Shumway
1829–1838
Otis Moroni Shumway
1835–1836
Sally Ann Shumway
1838–1917
Cynthia Permilia Shumway
1841–1890

Sources (12)

  • Otis Shumway, "United States Census, 1870"
  • Otis Shumway, "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915"
  • Otis Shumway, "Find A Grave Index"

World Events (8)

1794 · Creating the Eleventh Amendment

The Eleventh Amendment restricts the ability of any people to start a lawsuit against the states in federal court.

1800 · Movement to Washington D.C.

While the growth of the new nation was exponential, the United States didn’t have permanent location to house the Government. The First capital was temporary in New York City but by the second term of George Washington the Capital moved to Philadelphia for the following 10 years. Ultimately during the Presidency of John Adams, the Capital found a permanent home in the District of Columbia.

1819 · Panic! of 1819

With the Aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars the global market for trade was down. During this time, America had its first financial crisis and it lasted for only two years. 

Name Meaning

Americanized form of French Chamois . Altered ending reflects the Canadian and American French pronunciation of the diphthong oi as ‘wé’, which in France was replaced in the 17th century by the current ‘wa’.

History: The ancestor of the Shumways was Peter Shumway, originally almost certainly Pierre Chamois from France, probably a Huguenot, who was in MA by 1675. He is listed in the (US) National Huguenot Society's register of qualified Huguenot ancestors and also in the similar register of the Huguenot Society of America.

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

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