(◊) Henry William Oltman (121.1)

Born: 6/22/1896 Ashton, Lee County, Illinois

Died: 4/24/1977 Roanoke, Woodford County, Illinois

Henry’s WW1 Draft Card

Employed by his father, tall, brown hair, blue eyes, medium build. Rural address.

Parents: Jacob “Jobbo” Oltman and Anna Theresa Nee. Duden

Spouse: Dora Margaret Nee. Barton (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:

419 N Second Street

Henry’s house in 1940.

In 1900, Henry is 3 years old and is the only boy of four kids. They live on the rented family farm with their young parents in Ashton, IL. Everyone can read and write, and there are many first-generation immigrants on the census. All are farmers. By 1910, the family has moved to a rented farm in Green, Woodford County, IL. Thirteen-year-old Henry goes to school, as do his sisters. All adults are farmers. In 1917, Henry is listed as being of medium build, tall, brown hair, and blue eyes on his draft card. Not much has changed by 1920, other than the fact that Henry’s older sister Catherine has moved out, and his mom has become naturalized at some point before this year. Henry will marry Dora Margaret Duden in September of that year in El Paso. The highest grade that Henry will attend is 8th grade.

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. Henry’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. Henry and his family do not own a radio set.

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.

Henry’s wife would die in 1954, and Henry would pass away in 1977 in Roanoke, Woodford County, IL.