Otto, George

George Frederick Otto (1826-1899) was a German immigrant who came to Santa Cruz in 1851, becoming a downtown merchant. He served as County Treasurer, and was the father of eight children, including George Jr. and journalist/historian Ernest Otto. While serving as Treasurer, he was convicted of embezzlement in 1880 and sentenced to five years in San Quentin prison, but was paroled after two years. Upon release, he returned to Santa Cruz but not to public life.

While George was in prison, his wife Sophia (1834-1924) (nee Trust), born in Baltimore of German-immigrant parents), was forced to sell the family home on Church Street. The family was later able to buy another house, on Water Street just east of the bridge.

• "The Official Survey of Santa Cruz", Santa Cruz Sentinel, June 23, 1866, 2:4.
• The Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture, 4th edition (2023), chapter 3, item (4), page 58.
• History Pages: 12 - Pioneer German-Speakers of Santa Cruz County
• Ross Gibson, "Local History" column - "Keeping up with Mr. Santa Cruz", Santa Cruz Sentinel, Dec. 8, 2024, A2.