[1] Ott's family came from the German village of Dörnach which is these days part of Pliezhausen in Tübingen.

[9] Ott did not contest the 1912 mayoral election; it was won by William Benjamin Scandrett, who defeated Andrew Bain.

[10] During his mayoralty, he opened the electric Invercargill tram network, with the Prime Minister Joseph Ward in attendance.

[12][13] At the occasion, Ott was handed a cloak from the late paramount chief Topi Patuki.

[14][15] On 17 April 1901, William Alexander Ott married Isabella Frew Campbell of Invercargill.

His eldest brother John George Ott born 1864 who spent most of his adult life in California died in 1954.