FREEMAN WILLIS7 (James6, Asahel5, Benjamin4, George3, John2, Johannes1), also known as Willis F. Oatman, was the son of James and Polly J. (McCollow) Oatman and was born 3 March 1859, and died 16 June 1933, aged 74 years, at Springford, Oxford County, Ontario, where he is buried.
He married, on 8 October 1880, Mary “Minnie,” daughter of Lucius and Arvilla (Hicks) Woodard, born 27 February 1861, died 27 November 1948, aged 87, and is buried in the Springford Cemetery with her husband. Minnie was known to the family as "Minnie Willis". In 1901, Lucius Woodard, Minnie's father, was widowed and living with them; he was born 15 February 1838 in the U. S. and a blacksmith by trade.
The family settled at Springford, Ontario. It is said they lived on one side of Cornell School, while his cousin, Albert J. Oatman (#1376) lived on the other side of the school.
Children of Willis and Minnie (Woodard) Oatman:
3120 Louis L., b. 11 May 1881, Oxford Co., ON; d. 6 Jul 1949; m. Ada Jane Ruckle, 2 May 1906, Paris, Brant Co., ON
3121 James LeRoy, b. 5 Jul 1882; d. 28 Oct 1965; m. Alfreda May Crouch (b. 4 Aug 1884; d. 1958)
3122 Frank B., b. 28 Apr 1885; d. 4 May 1946; m. 7 Dec 1904, Pearl Lecore
3123 Monte, b. 7 Nov 1886; d. 1957; m. Erie Butcher, 5 May 1920. She m. 2) William Franklin Hicks (see #1338)
3124 Pearl L., b. 12 Apr 1896; d. 1972; bur. Springford Cem. Springford, Oxford Co., ON; m. Melbourne R. "Bun" Wilson (b. 1895, d. 1977). Pearl was his second wife. Children, surname Wilson:
A Jean Gwen, b. May 1924; m. Oct 1947, in Springford, ON, Lorne Edgar Woodford. Children, surname Woodford:
I Connie Lynn, b. 1948, Tillsonburg, ON; m. 1) Apr 1972, Frank Bantam; 2) Aug 1985, Greg Storey
II Larry Wayne, b. 17 Aug 1949, Tillsonburg, ON; d. 26 Jul 1975 in Tillsonburg.
III Janet Lorraine, b. 1951, Tillsonburg, ON; m. 1) Jun 1969, Frank Wright; two sons, Christopher and Craig Wayne Wright; 2) Jim Adams, one son, Kelly Adams.
B Douglas Earl, b. 16 Nov 1927, Springford, ON; d. Jan 2000, Tillsonburg, ON; m. Nov 1950, Marilyn June Blair. Children, surname Wilson:
I Dale Douglas, b. 1951, Tillsonburg, ON; m. 1) Rosemary Florence Craig; 2) Debra Louise Newell. Two children from each marriage.
II Gary Lee, b. 1955
III Diana Lynn, b. 1958, Tillsonburg, ON; m. 1) Denton Ross Lounsbury; 2) Stanley James Butler. One child by Lounsbury marriage, two by Butler marriage.
IV Ronald James (Wilson), b. 1961, Tillsonburg, ON; m. Nov 1983, Deborah Ann Miller.
3125 Vera, b. 17 Aug 1898; d. 17 Jul 1968; bur. Springford Cem., Springford, Oxford Co., ON; m. 1) Stuart Dean; 2) _____ Campbell
Sources:
Family records
Gravestones, Springford Cemetery, Springford, ON
Marjorie Schumacher, Avoca, MI
Tillsonburg Observer, 16 Apr 1908
Tillsonburg News, 13 May 1920
1891, 1901 census, South Norwich, Oxford Co., ON
Back to Oatman
Home Page
Back to Oatman Family Index
(v2008) d