379 OLIVER A. OATMAN

379 OLIVER A.⁶ (Darius⁵, Benjamin⁴, George³, John², Johannes¹), son of Darius and Jerushia Oatman, was born at Adams Center, Jefferson County, New York, 2 March 1832, and was baptized into the Baptist Church by 1858, where he was a member and deacon during his lifetime. Oliver is recorded as a member in the minutes of the First Regular Baptist Church of Christ in Norwich, Oxford County, Ontario, by 1858, and is similarly listed in 1866 and 1870; in 1874 he was chosen as a delegate to an association meeting held in Springford. He died 31 December 1903 at his home in Goshen, Ontario. (Picture)

He married, 24 March 1857, Margaret K. Earle, daughter of John Earle, Jr., and Margaret Mansfield; Margaret was born 27 August 1841 (1840 per gravestone)and died in 1932. Both are buried at Tillsonburg, Ontario.

Oliver came to South Norwich in 1833 with his parents. After his marriage, he continued living in South Norwich, where he was listed in the 1861 census as a farmer. They evidently moved to nearby Cornell, as the census for 1871 for Cornell shows: Oliver, age 38; Margaret, 30; Oscar, 13; Orren, 11; Elmer, 7; Bertha, 8 months; and Oliver's father, Darius, a widower, age 83.

In September 1874 Oliver bought part of Lot 6, Conc. 3NTR, in Middleton Township, Norfolk County, sold it and bought Lot 5, C3NTR in 1891. This farm is occupied by descendants of Oliver in 2023. (Photo)

Children of Oliver A. and Margaret K. (Earle) Oatman):

1390 Oscar A., b. 11 Mar 1858, near Springford, Oxford Co., ON; d. 16 Feb 1952, Middleton, Norfolk Co., ON; m. Lillian A. Wilson, 18 Apr 1900, Middleton.

1391 Orren D., b. 5 Sep 1859, Oxford Co., ON; bp. at Goshen Baptist Church, Middleton, Norfolk Co., ON; d. 22 Feb 1923; bur. Tillsonburg Cem., Tillsonburg, Oxford Co., ON; m. Isabelle Turnbull, 3 Nov 1885. Belle b. 1861, d. 1947, bur. Tillsonburg Cem. Orren and Belle raised Belle’s nephew, Bruce Turnbull; they had no children. Lived on part of Oliver's farm until 1918, when Bruce took over operation of the farm and they moved to Tillsonburg.

1392 Elmer Robert, b. 3 Jun 1863, Oxford Co., ON; d. 1941; bur. Tillsonburg Cem., Tillsonburg, Oxford Co., ON. Unmarried. He lived with his parents and with his brother Oscar and his family.

1393 Bertha Lewella, b. 3 Aug 1870, Oxford Co., ON; d. 1958; bur. in Tillsonburg Cem., Tillsonburg, Oxford Co., ON; m. Fred W. Maybee in 1891, he b. 1868, d. 1929. Children, surname Maybee:

A Varol, b. 1893; m. Bruce French. No children.

B Marie, b. 1899; m. 1) Jack Climie; 2) Victor Tillson, 1975. She had no children but raised two Climie children: Richard and Roy.

Sources: Family records; Doris Oatman, Tillsonburg, ON; Vital records, Oxford Co., ON; Cem. records, Tillsonburg, ON; 1861 (S. Norwich Twp.), 1871 (Cornell) census, Oxford Co., ON; Records First Regular Baptist Church of Christ, Norwich, ON; Tillsonburg Liberal, 7 Jan 1908 (Obit Oliver Oatman); Obit 11 Feb 1932, Mrs. Oliver Oatman; Wayne Messecar; 1901, 1911 census, Middleton, Norfolk Co., ON

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OBITUARY OF OLIVER OATMAN

The death of Oliver Oatman, of Goshen, one of our best known citizens, occurred at the family residence on Thursday, Dec. 31st, after an illness of several months. Mr. Oatman was born in Jefferson County, York State, and came to Canada with his parents in his infancy, being only one year old. His parents, who were of German and English extraction, settled in Norwich Township about seventy years ago, Mr. Oatman remained with his parents till married, and then settled on a farm near Springford. Twenty-eight years ago he removed to Middletown township (Goshen) where he has since resided. He was married nearly forty-seven years ago, at the age of 24, to Margaret Earls, who with four children still survive him, Oscar and Elmer residing in the family residence, Orin, a farmer, living near by, and Mrs. Fred. Mabee, who also resides a short distance from the homestead. Mr. Oatman was one of the ten children of the late Darius Oatman, three of whom survive him -- Mrs. C. Moore and Luther, of Springford, and Darius of Tillsonburg. His father has been dead about 28 years. Mr. Oatman has been nearly a life-long Baptist, having been baptised 42 years ago by the late Elder Robert Smith, near Springford. He has also been a deacon of Goshen church for 26 years, and was always willing and ready to forward the work of christianity. His greatest desire was to see others brought to a saving knowledge of the truth. He remained steadfast and faithful to the ennd [sic], waiting patiently for the Lord to take him home, his last words being, "O Lord, take me home." In his younger days he was a great lumberman, very few being able to compete with him handling logs. He was also a great lover of good horses and he has owned some very wild and handsome beasts in his day. In politics he was a life-long Liberal. When he first started for himself he was poor but industrious: he was honest and frugal. He possessed great love of knowledge and improved every opportunity to educate himself. He was thoughtful, ingenious, enterprising; his morals were correct, prosperity seemed to follow him in every undertaking. [His] love of work was a prominent trait of his character, and his character and success are well worthy of study by the young men of our day. When a young man of nineteen years he had his leg broken in three places by the falling of a building. His health though, generally speaking, was good, till twelve years ago when he had a serious attack of typhoid fever, which has since terminated into heart trouble. He was confined to the house ten weeks and to his bed for a month, most of the time bearing excrutiating pain with great fortitude. His death came on Dec. 31, '03, and his funeral took place the following Sunday and was very largely attended, interment being made in the Goshen cemetery. The services were conducted by Rev. J. W. Silcox. Text -- "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me at that day."--2nd Tim. 4:8. No sermon could have been delivered more appropriate than the one presented by Mr. Silcox, whom Mr. Oatman held in very high esteem. The pall bearers were Messrs A. Jeffery, W. Girvin, R. Shepherd, J. McDonald, R. White and J. Dean. The floral offerings were such as would have touched the heart of the departed could they have come under his view. The delicately flowered wreath of the bereft wife and the very expressive "Gates Ajar" from the children most suitably suggested the ties of love and well judged worth for which the life of our evermore absent friend stood. The family have the sympathy of the entire community in their bereavement.

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