lawyer, politician, Congressman, b. West China, St. Clair County, Mich. He worked in Milwaukee (1870-1872), returned to Michigan, and graduated from the Univ. of Michigan (LL.B., 1875); He practiced law in Detroit (1875-1883), and in 1883 settled permanently in Milwaukee, where he established a law firm. He served for a number of years as a member of the Milwaukee Common Council, and was a trustee of the Milwaukee Public Library (1887-1891). A Republican, he was elected to Congress in 1894, and served six terms (Mar. 1895-Mar. 1907). In Congress, Otjen devoted his attention primarily to legislation to improve Milwaukee harbor, and was also instrumental in securing legislation to establish the Great Lakes naval training center at Waukegan, Ill. (1904). Defeated for renomination in 1906, Otjen returned to Milwaukee, where he continued his law practice and served in executive capacities with several business establishments until his death. Biog. Dir. Amer. Cong. (1928); J. G. Gregory, Hist. of Milwaukee (4 vols., Chicago, 1931); E. B. Usher, Wis. (8 vols., Chicago, 1914); Milwaukee Journal, Apr. 12, 1924.

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[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]