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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UqvjK2ViQcJmeoTaWeI2QORluPd7trCV34WCHAaerLV7tLLI+hEgqfs23ynC5uoT
 4IG2rvVJEFmhZtvpu7eGVg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-10-043457.txt : 20101103
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-10-043457.hdr.sgml : 20101103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101103171525
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-10-043457
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101103
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101103

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GONZALO STEVEN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001223290

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-30495
		FILM NUMBER:		101162282

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FIRST OTTAWA BANCSHARES INC
		STREET 2:		701 -705 LASALLE ST
		CITY:			OTTAWA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61350

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FIRST OTTAWA BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001099668
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				364331185
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		701-705 LASALLE STREET
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 657
		CITY:			OTTAWA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61350
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8154340044X291

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		701-705 LASALLE STREET
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 657
		CITY:			OTTAWA
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61350
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001099668</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST OTTAWA BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FOTB.PK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223290</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GONZALO STEVEN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>701 LASALLE ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OTTAWA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>61350</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Technology Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>54</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>715</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Steven M. Gonzalo</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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