Philipp Ott, of the lumber firm of A. M. Beckers Lumber Company, and ex-judge of Cole County, Mo., was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 11, 1831, his parents being Charles and Catherine (Semmelman) Ott, who were also born in Germany, and are now deceased. Four of their children grew to maturity, and all came to America and located in Missouri. Three are now living: Johanna (Graser), Philipp and Charles. Philipp received his education in Germany previous to his seventeenth year. In 1849 he immigrated to America, starting from Bremen, with his sister Johanna, and landed at New Orleans after fifty-three days on the ocean. He first located in, St. Louis, where he remained four years engaged in business for himself and in clerking, and in 1853 moved to Cole County, and was engaged in merchandising in Marion until 1865, when he sold out and went to Kansas City. Here he remained about one year, but becoming dissatisfied he returned to Marion and turned his attention to husbandry, which occupation he followed until 1882, since which time he has resided in Jefferson City, and has been engaged in the lumber business. In 1865 he was appointed county judge by Gov. Fletcher, and was elected twice thereafter in succession. He has also been deputy sheriff of Cole County four years, and during his residence in Marion was postmaster of the town. He is one of the representative men of the county, and being one of its early settlers has witnessed many changes in its growth and prosperity. In 1853 he was married to Miss Elizabeth Wippenbeck, a native of Germany, by whom he became the father of four children, three of whom are living at the present time: Francis S. (residing in Sacramento City, Cal.), Katie and Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Ott are members of the German Evangelical Church. On April 2, 1889, he was elected mayor of the city of Jefferson for two years.

Transcribed from:
History of Cole, Moniteau, Morgan, Benton, Miller, Maries, and Osage Counties, Missouri, Goodspeed Publishing Company (1889).