Josephine C. Otterson (b. Curtis) (1840-1896) was born in Freedom, Maine, and died in Long Branch, New Jersey. By 1850 she moved with her family to Brooklyn, New York, where she lived for the remainder of her life. In 1865 she married William C. Otterson in Brooklyn. He was a physician who had served for three years as a surgeon in the Union Army in the American Civil War, and he later became a health commissioner.
After Otterson was healed of a chronic illness through Christian Science treatment, she and her then 13-year-old daughter, Lucy Van Boskerck (b. Otterson), took the Primary class from Mary Baker Eddy in February 1889. Otterson subsequently joined the Christian Scientist Association. She was one of the First Members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, later known as "Executive Members," who was one of twenty elected to join the original twelve members of the church when it was formed on September 23, 1892. Lucy joined the church on September 30, 1893, and Otterson's daughter-in-law, Adelaide F. Otterson (b. Badger), joined on May 30, 1952.
Otterson's father had earned a fortune selling patent medicine, from which Otterson received an allowance. Determined to use it to further the cause of Christian Science, she donated generously to Christian Scientists in need. Otterson was also the single largest donor to the building of the original edifice of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. She passed away while staying at the family's summer cottage in Long Branch.
See more letters.
Josephine C. Otterson (b. Curtis) (1840-1896) was born in Freedom, Maine, and died in Long Branch, New Jersey. By 1850 she moved with her family to Brooklyn, New York, where she lived for the remainder of her life. In 1865 she married William C. Otterson in Brooklyn. He was a physician who had served for three years as a surgeon in the Union Army in the American Civil War, and he later became a health commissioner.
After Otterson was healed of a chronic illness through Christian Science treatment, she and her then 13-year-old daughter, Lucy Van Boskerck (b. Otterson), took the Primary class from Mary Baker Eddy in February 1889. Otterson subsequently joined the Christian Scientist Association. She was one of the First Members of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, later known as "Executive Members," who was one of twenty elected to join the original twelve members of the church when it was formed on September 23, 1892. Lucy joined the church on September 30, 1893, and Otterson's daughter-in-law, Adelaide F. Otterson (b. Badger), joined on May 30, 1952.
Otterson's father had earned a fortune selling patent medicine, from which Otterson received an allowance. Determined to use it to further the cause of Christian Science, she donated generously to Christian Scientists in need. Otterson was also the single largest donor to the building of the original edifice of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts. She passed away while staying at the family's summer cottage in Long Branch.
See more letters.