Otis Jones was born at Bush Creek, Grant County in the state of Arkansas, U.S.A in 1890. While he was studying at the University of Little Rock, one of his professors asked Otis to accompany him for a tour of Canada. During their travels, the community of North Battleford greatly appealed to them. This prompted Otis to file for a homestead near Medstead. In 1914, he moved to the city of North Battleford and got a job delivering groceries for Shaw Brothers Grocery. In 1916, he bought the grocery store, and in 1921, he moved the store to the Craig Block. Otis subsequently sold the store in the same year to Craig Bros. He then bought the North Battleford Cartage Co. from a Mr. J. Whyte.
In 1933, during the height of the Great Depression, Otis started selling and delivering ice to both residents and businesses in North Battleford. He also delivered coal with a dray and horses. In 1985, ever the innovative and resourceful entrepreneur, Otis began a dairy enterprise on sparsely populated Frederick Street on the west of the city. He milked 36 cows and sold the milk to Union Dairies. By 1939, Otis's success at the dairy business required 20 men to help run the operation. He also built a large hog barn near his dairy farm which unfortunately burned down. Otis's dairy farm was eventually dismantled and the land surveyed for residential lots.
Otis's public service surely equalled his personal success as a businessman. He served on city council for seven years and was president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1939. In addition, Otis was a member, and later the president of the Rotary Club. He was also a member of the Masons and the UCT.
Otis married Mary Buick, a lovely lass from Scotland who had settled in the Scentgrass area, in 1913. Otis and Mary were blessed with five children, two of whom served their country in the Second World War.
Otis's successes in business, his selfless work as a city alderman and his volunteerism with service organizations were nothing short of remarkable. But in addition, he was a man of great generosity. No person who came to his door looking for help was ever turned away. Otis Jones was an extraordinary citizen of the city of North Battleford. After a full and successful life - a life of service to his community and its citizens - Otis passed away in 1974 at the age of 84.
