Dora Margaret Oltman Nee. Barton (121.2)
Born: 11/24/1900 Flora, Clay County, Illinois
Died: 7/12/1954 Greene Township, Woodford County, Illinois
Parents: John H. Barton and Epineatious Nee. Babb
Spouse: Henry William Oltman (9/23/1920 - El Paso, Woodford County, Illinois)
Children: Marion Merrill Oltman 1921-1921 / Ralph J Oltman 1922-1976 / Vonda "Peggy” Florence Oltman 1923-1998 / Donna Margot Oltman 1929-2022 / James Robert Oltman 1942-1945
Bio:
In 1910, Dora is one of six young kids living on the rented family farm. There is one brother, young Chase, and father John works odd jobs as a laborer. There are roughly 8 weeks out of the past year that he did not work. There is one Union Army veteran on the census, 71-year-old Abner Newkirk. There are no immigrants on the census, and no first-generation immigrants, which is rare. Everyone speaks English and mostly works odd jobs, with the exception of a brick layer and a poultry house worker. On the census is Mr. Thomas F. Norman and his wife Anna, who are aged 25 and 22. She has had 5 kids and none of them are living by this time. In September of 1920, she will marry Henry William Oltman.
By 1930, Henry and Dora have started their own family, and are living in a rented house in Rochelle, Ogle County, IL. Their address is 724 9th Street. This lot seems to be empty at this point and is located in the south-central part of the town, a few blocks from the railroad interchange that made Rochelle a town. Henry is a mechanic working in a garage while Dora does not work but raises their three young kids. Dora’s neighbors work all sorts of jobs, such as meat packers, railroad workers, powerplant and factory workers, and a number of people working in spinning mills. In 1930, Rochelle was where farm product came to be transported on the BNSF and Union Pacific railroads. Dora and her family do not own a radio set. The highest grade she has completed is Freshman year of high school.
By 1940, Henry has moved his wife and family to a different house in South-Central Rochelle at 419 N Second Street. He is still a mechanic in a garage and does not have an income listed on the census, while son Ralph makes $468 a year in the asparagus canning business.