99 ELIAS OATMAN

99 ELIAS⁵ (Benjamin⁴, George³, John², Johannes¹), son of Benjamin and Bethia (Smith) Oatman, was born 29 March 1799 in Washington County, New York (per his obituary). Vital records found in the Adams town clerk's office list Elias' death on 13 July 1884 of old age in Adams Center at the age of 85 years 4 months 15 days. These would calculate to a birth date of 28 February 1799. However, his obituary which appeared in the Adams Journal (found both in the Flower Library in Watertown and the Historical Association of South Jefferson in Adams), states that he died 13 April 1884 at the age of 85 years.

Elias married Eliza, daughter of Theodore Hudson and Jemima (Barber) Bunce, born 12 December 1801 in Hartford, Hartford County, Connecticut, and died 20 December 1896 in Adams Center, New York. Her death notice, dated 22 December 1896, states: “Aunt Eliza Oatman, a[s] she was familiarly called, passed away Sunday morning at the ripe old age of 95 years. She was a loving mother, a kind neighbor, and respected by all who knew her.” They are both buried at State Road (Honeyville) Cemetery in Adams Center.

Elias and Eliza are listed in the 1835 census as having six other people living in the household, but it does not indicate their ages. The 1840 census lists a female, age 80-90, living with them; this was probably Elias' mother, Bethia, who would have been 85 at the time.

By 1850 Bethia had died, and Eliza's mother, Jemima Barber Bunce, age 76, was living with the family; she had been widowed in 1845. In 1880, Elias, age 81, with Eliza, age 79, and their daughter Lovilla, 57, were living in Adams with a grandson, Herbert Parham, 24, who was the son of their daughter Elizabeth.

Elias and Eliza joined the First Baptist Church of Adams Center in 1837.

The History of Jefferson County, New York [1878], p. 249, states:

"After the completion of the railroad, a hotel was built near the depot by E. Oatman, which is generally used for this purpose [an inn]."

It has not been determined whether "E. Oatman" referred to Elias or possibly to his brother Elijah (#98).

Elias died on the same farm where his father, Benjamin Oatman, settled in 1807. Elias’ Will is recorded in the Jefferson County Surrogate's Court (Vol. 23, p. 471--1884).

Children of Elias and Eliza (Bunce) Oatman, all b. Adams, Jefferson Co., NY:

440 Lovila, b. 27 Apr 1823; d. 22 Apr 1881; bur. State Road (Honeyville) Cem., Adams Center, Jefferson Co., NY. Her death notice states: “Lovilla Oatman, a maiden lady living at State Road died Friday the 22^nd. She was a daughter of Elias Oatman.”

441 Henry C., b. 1 Oct 1825; d. 11 Mar 1902, aged 76 yr, 5 mo, 10 da.; m. Saphrona Phelps

442 Walter, b. 15 Aug 1827; d. 31 Oct 1879; bur. State Road (Honeyville) Cem., Adams Center, NY; m. Martha Ann Parker

443 Edward, b. ca 1830; d. 1912; m. Phila A. Parker

444 Elizabeth, d. by 1884, as she is listed as deceased in her father's estate; a source from the Flowers Library in Watertown, NY, gives her death date as 29 March 1895; m. Parham. Children, surname Parham:

A Senora "Nora" L., b. 1852; d. 1906; m. Ashley T. Scidmore who was b. 1849, d. 1913; both bur. in State Road (Honeyville) Cem., Adams Center, NY. A son, Robert H. Scidmore, b/d. 1882, is buried with them.

B Herbert E., b. ca 1856

445 William H., b. 30 Apr 1840; d. 4 Mar 1914, Adams, NY; m. Harriet Morgan, b. ca 1842. A William Oatman is listed as a Trustee of the State Road Cemetery (Honeyville) in Adams Center in 1878. He is possibly one of the two William's listed as laborers in the 1890 Business Directory of Adams Center. In 1880, William, 41, was living in Adams as a carpenter-joiner with his wife, Harriet, age 39, and a daughter Carrie A., 16. Children, surname Oatman:

A Loren. He is listed as a sexton and farmer in 1890 in the Adams Center Business Directory.

B Caroline "Carrie" A., b. ca 1864 (age 1 yr 8 mo in 1865 State census in Adams, NY; m. Walter W. Lord

446 Eliza A., b. ca 1842; m. House

Sources: Family records

Register of Deaths, Town of Adams, NY

1820, 1835, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 census, Adams, Jefferson Co.,

NY

1865 New York State census

1890 Business Directory of Adams Center, NY

Church and cemetery records, Adams Center, NY

Helen B. McDonald, Alexandria Bay, NY

Watertown Daily Times, 29 April 1896

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

Death notice of Lovila Oatman, 27 Apr 1881

Death notice of Eliza Bunce Oatman, 22 Dec 1896

Obituary of William Oatman, 11 Mar 1914

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