TRUMAN OATMAN Truman Oatman, a successful and highly respected general agriculturist, pleasantly located upon section 1, Holton Township, Muskegon County, Mich, has been a resident of the Wolverine State for over twenty-nine years, and during this time has been closely identified with the growth and development of the vital interests of his present locality. Our subject, born in Ontario, Canada, in 1845, was the son of Darius and Sarah (McCallum) Oatman. The ancestors of the family were of Scotch nativity, and both the maternal and paternal forefathers were the descendants of a long line of earnest, hard- working and intelligent people. The paternal grandfather, Darius Oatman, was long a well-known and influential resident of the Empire State, but finally emigrated with his wife, sons and daughters to Canada, where he continued in the occupation of his lifetime, farming, until his death. He was a man of strong character and high principle, and was esteemed by all who knew him for his excellent qualities as a friend, neighbor and citizen. During the war of 1812, he took an active part and bravely aided in the defense of his home and state. The children who clustered around his hearth were eight in number, five brothers and three sisters, who, each trained in habits of industrious self-reliance, arrived at adult age well fitted to assume the responsibilities of life. The father of our subject, born in the old New York homestead, spent the early days of childhood in his birthplace, and when a little lad attended the nearest school of the home district. When twelve years of age he moved with his parents to Canada, where he yet survives, a hale and hearty man. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Ontario, and possessing both enterprise and ability made his upward way. He married young, and to him and his faithful companion and loving wife were born seven children. Elvira, the eldest, married John Davidson; out subject was the second in order of birth; then follow Norman; Nelson; Frank; "Aug;" and Amelia, wife of Peter Johnson. The father owns a fine farm of two hundred and fifty acres, highly cultivated and improved with substantial buildings. The mother passed away in 1892, after an uneventful career of usefulness. She was a Christian woman, whose work for others ennobled her own life. Truman Oatman remained with his parents until his marriage, in 1864, with Miss Geraldine Bunce, a daughter of William and Amanda Bunce, well-known and prosperous residents of Michigan. Immediately succeeding their marriage, Mr. And Mrs. Oatman settled in Berlin, near Grand Rapids, where our subject rented land and entered with energy into agricultural pursuits. Later buying his present valuable homestead on time, Mr. Oatman removed thither with his family and toiled unceasingly, engaged in a variety of work in order to pay for the land, since his constant home. Of the eighty acres which comprise the home farm sixty are under a profitable state of cultivation and annually yield an abundant harvest. Four children have blessed the union, all daughters, Lida, Jennie, Mabel and Maude, and each has enjoyed the advantage of excellent schooling in the immediate neighborhood. Although never a politician in any sense of the word, our subject takes active interest in the management of local and National affairs, a Democrat in sentiment, is an ardent advocate of "the party of the people," and in all matters of mutual welfare may be relied upon to do his full share as one of the substantial men and public-spirited citizens of Muskegon County.

Portrait & Biographical Record of Muskegon & Ottawa Counties, Michigan 1893, Chicago: Biographical Publishing Company

Transcriber: Charles Armstrong
Created: 6 May 2003
URL: Biographies