408 LEONARD OATMAN

408 LEONARD⁶ (Truman⁵, Benjamin⁴, George³, John², Johannes¹), son of Truman and Orra (Perry) Oatman, was born at Adams Center, Jefferson County, New York, 26 May 1811 and died 21 May 1903 at Adams at the age of 92 years.

He married 14 January 1836, by Elder J. Monroe, to Huldah Cordelia, daughter of Edward and Hannah (Hunt) Barnard. She was born 7 August 1817, Rodman, Jefferson County, New York, and died “in Adams State Road” on 30 March 1899. Both are buried in Union Cemetery at Adams Center. Leonard’s obituary, dated 12 June 1903, reads:

“Leonard Oatman, an esteemed and respected resident of the town of Adams, died at his home on Wright street, May 21, 1903, aged 92 years. He was the son of Truman and Orra Perry Oatman, early pioneers of Jefferson county, who came from the New England states in the early part of the last century, his grandfather, Capt. Benjamin Oatman, being a veteran of the revolutionary war. He was born in the town of Adams and had spent nearly his whole life there, having lived on the same farm whose well tilled acres he had supervised, for the long period of fifty-seven years. He had been a member of the First Adams Baptist Church about fifty years, having been converted during the pastorage of Rev. J. F. Bishop. In 1836 he married Huldah Barnard of Rodman, with whom he lived until her death four years ago. Since then he has been kindly cared for by his children, of whom six survive him, four sons, Truman, of Milwaukee, Wis., Adelbert, Lewis and Gaius, and two daughters, Mrs. Charles Thomas and Mrs. Levi Crandall, all of Adams; also two brothers, Silas Oatman of Lacross, Wis., and Truman Oatman of Philadelphia, N.Y. His funeral was held at his late residence Monday afternoon, May 25, Rev. S. S. Bidwell of Mexico, N.Y., a former pastor, assisted by Rev. A. H. Knight, officiating, an unusually large congregation being present, the church choir furnishing appropriate music and loving hands arranging flowers. In our journey of life in his old accustomed place, in his home, we shall greet him no more. He has met his Pilot face to face and has crossed over the river and is at rest.

CARD OF THANKS. – We desire to express our sincere gratitude to all our friends and neighbors for the many kindnesses received during the sickness and death of our beloved father, and especially to Mrs. R. J. Hill, for the tenderest of care which she gave him through his decline and death. {Signed) Adelbert Oatman, Lewis Oatman, Gaius Oatman, Mrs. Cornelia Thomas, Mrs. Ettie Crandall.”

Leonard was a farmer. He and Huldah joined the Honeyville Baptist Church at Adams Center in 1854. His Will, dated 21 April 1899, named all of his living children; he also named Charlotte Oatman, widow of his son Truman, and Truman's daughter Nellie M. Ebert. Truman's death date had been given as 15 June 1903, which was after his father's death, and therefore not correct.

Children of Leonard and Huldah (Barnard) Oatman, b. Adams Center, Jefferson Co., NY:

1440 Truman, b. 20 June 1837; d. before Apr 1899; m. Charlotte Fetterly. At least one child, surname Oatman:

A Nellie, b. ca 1865; m. Ebert

1441 Adelbert M., b. 8 Jan 1840; d. 27 Nov 1920, Adams, NY; bur. State Road (Honeyville) Cem., Adams Center, NY. No children. He was a farmer and member of Honeyville Baptist Church in Adams Center, NY. His Will, 13 Mar 1913, listed brothers Lewis and Gaius, sisters Cornelia Thomas and Auria Etta Crandall, and nieces Huldah Blair and Ruth May Tabor, daughter of Gaius. His obituary, dated 8 Dec 1920, stated “They all went to ‘Uncle Deb’ for counsel and advice and were always greeted with a smile when they went to the home.”

1442 Harriett, b. 20 Mar 1843; d. 26 Feb 1846

1443 Martha, b. 19 Nov 1845; d. 4 Mar 1847

1444 Cornelia H., b. 13 May 1847; d. 27 May 1926 at home in Lyons Corner, near Adams Center, NY; bur. Union Cem., Adams Center, NY; she taught for a time before her marriage. She m. Charles W. Thomas, he b. 1844, d. 1906. Children, surname Thomas:

A Minnie, b. ca 1872, NY; m. ca 1889, Seth S. Trowbridge (b. ca 1866, NY). Seth was a dairy farmer. Daughter, Elna C., b. 1895.

B Leonard, b. 1879; m. Effie L. Parsons (she b. 1876). Both are buried at Union Cem., Adams Center, NY.

1445 Lewis J., (aka Louis J. Oatman), b. 7 Nov 1850; d. 8 Feb 1933, “at his farm home about one mile and a half south of Adams Center.” He was born in the old Oatman homestead, about a mile from the home where he died, Nov. 7, 1850, and spent his entire life in the vicinity. He m. Viva Martin at Adams Center, 1 Dec 1875, who was b. ca 1858, NY, and d. 1926, dau. Of Joseph and Fanny (Babcock) Martin. He was a member of the Honeyville Baptist Church and also of the Adams Center Grange. Viva taught for some time before her marriage. Both bur. Union Cem., Adams Center, NY. Children, surname Oatman:

A Nina, b. Jan 1883, NY; m. Francis “Frank” Williams.

1446 Auria Etta, b. 10 Jun 1853; m. Levi Crandall. Etta joined Honeyville Baptist Church in 1881, was dismissed in 1894. Children, surname Crandall:

A Eleanor, b. ca 1880, NY; m. William Furgeson/Ferguson. He was b. ca 1875 OK and served as a policeman. Children, surname Ferguson:

I Elsie May, b. ca 1911 (age 8 yr. 9 mo. in 1920 census)

1447 Gaius E., b. 14 Oct 1856; d. 21 Jan 1940, Mercy Hospital in Watertown, NY; bur. Union Cem., Adams Center, NY; m. 1) Alfaretta Haven; 2) Florence Puffer

Sources: Family records; Church records, Adams, NY

Obituaries and articles from Adams Center, NY, newspapers

1890 Business Directory, Adams Center, NY

1850, 1870, 1880, 1900 census, Jefferson Co., NY

Will of Leonard Oatman dated 21 April 1899

1920 census, Adams Twp., Jefferson Co., NY

Jefferson County Home records <www.rootsweb.com/~nyjeffer/cohome.htm>

Death notice of Huldah Oatman, dated 26 April 1899

Obituaries of Leonard Oatman (12 Jun 1903) and Adelbert M. Oatman (8 Dec 1920); Louis J. Oatman (15 Feb 1933); Gaius E. Oatman (Jan 1940); Mrs. V. M. Oatman (11 Aug 1926); Mrs. Cornelia Thomas (2 Jun 1926)

Back to Oatman Home Page
Back to Oatman Family Index

(v2008)-d