The Oltman Genealogy

Another family of Ostfriesen Germans in my wife's genealogy bore the surname of Oltmanns, which became "Oltman" and "Altman" after they emigrated to the United States in the mid-1860s. The surname "Oltmanns" is a patronymic, signifying that the family was descended from a man named Oltmann, which means "old man" in German. The "Oltmann" from whom this family derived their surname was a certain Oltmann Gerdes, a German who lived in Ostfriesland in the Electorate of Hannover around the mid-1700s. The Oltmannses lived in the Ostfriesland towns or villages of Extum, Walle, and Holtrop, all in the vicinity of the borough or town of Aurich. (For more information about Ostfriesland, see the Johnson Genealogy.) The following account of our Oltmanns or Oltman genealogy is derived from Lutheran church records of Ostfriesland, U.S. vital records, and family records of the Johnson and Oltman families in Illinois.

1. GERD (NN), parentage and ancestry unknown, born perhaps circa 1710 probably in Aurich District of Ostfriesland in the Electorate of Hannover, in the Holy Roman Empire. Nothing is known of Gerd apart from his name and the name of his son Oltmann, which are attested in the 1788 marriage record of Gerd's grandson Tönjes Oltmanns, son of Oltmann Gerdes.

     2.  OLTMANN GERDES, born perhaps circa 1730 in Aurich, Hannover.

2. OLTMANN GERDES, son of Gerd (NN), born perhaps circa 1730 in the Aurich District of Ostfriesland in the Electorate of Hannover, in the Holy Roman Empire. Nothing is known of Oltmann apart from his name, the name of his father Gerd, and the name of his son Tönjes Oltmanns, which are attested in the 1788 marriage record of Oltmann's son Tönjes Oltmanns.

     3.  TÖNJES ENNE JANN OLTMANNS, born circa 1759 in Aurich, Hannover.

3. TÖNJES ENNE JANN OLTMANNS, son of Oltmann Gerdes, born circa 1759 in Aurich, Hannover, died 17 Jan. 1839 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, buried 18 Jan. 1839 in Extum. In Lutheran church records of Ostfriesland, Tönjes is named simply as "Tönjes Oltmanns," but he must have had the middle names of "Enne Jann" because his sons Bohle and Enno had the patronymic middle names of, respectively, "Tönjes Ennen" and "Tönjes Janssen." On 9 June 1788 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, Tönjes married GRETJE BOHLEN, born circa 1755 in the Electorate of Hannover, died 19 June 1830 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, buried 24 June 1830 in Extum, daughter of Bohle Ennen. All that we know of Tönjes and Gretje comes from the Lutheran church registers of Extum in the District of Aurich, Ostfriesland, in the Electorate of Hannover. Tönjes and Gretje are known to have had three daughters and three sons. The date of their marriage and the date of birth of their eldest child show that Gretje was about three months' pregnant when they married.

This detail from page 258 the marriage register of the Lutheran churches of Aurich District, Hannover, shows the 1788 marriage record of Tönjes Oltmanns (son of Oltmann Gerdes) and Gretje Bohlen (daughter of Bohle Ennen).

The children of Tönjes and Gretje Oltmanns were:

     --  BERENDJE TÖNJES OLTMANNS, born 30 Nov. 1788 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, died 14 April 1863 in Kirchdorf, Aurich, Hannover, married Heere Harms Heeren.
     --  GRETJE TÖNJES OLTMANNS, born 23 Feb. 1791 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, married Garrelt Claassen.
     --  BOHLE TÖNJES ENNEN OLTMANNS, born 8 June 1793 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, died 13 March 1873 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, married Margaretha Catharina Friederica Janssen.
     --  GERD OLTMANNS, born 12 Oct. 1794 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, died 14 Dec. 1818 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover.
     4.  ENNE TÖNJES JANSSEN OLTMANNS ("Enno"), born 31 Aug. 1797 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover.
     --  GESCHE TÖNJES OLTMANNS, born 19 March 1800 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, died 29 May 1861 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, married Johann (or Jan) Focken Janssen.

4. ENNE TÖNJES JANSSEN OLTMANNS ("Enno"), son of Tönjes and Gretje Oltmanns, born 31 Aug. 1797 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, died 10 May 1840 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, buried 14 May 1840 in Extum. Enno was baptised 3 Sept. 1797 at the Lutheran church of Extum in the Electorate of Hannover. His baptismal record identifies his parents as "Tönjes Oltmanns" and "Gretke Bohlen" (sic - "Gretje"). On 1 Feb. 1826 in Aurich, Hannover, Enno married ANNA IKKE PUPKES HINRICHS SCHWEERS, born 15 Oct. 1800 in Walle, Aurich, Hannover, daughter of Pupke Hinrichs and Anna Maria Hinrichs Schweers. The marriage record identifies Enno and his wife as "Enne Janssen Oltmanns," son of "Tönjes Oltmanns," and Enno's wife as "Icke Pubkes," daughter of "Pubke Hinrichs." Enno and Ikke are known to have had at least one daughter and three sons.

This detail from page 157 of the baptismal register of the Lutheran churches of Aurich District, Hannover, shows the baptismal record of Enno Tönjes Janssen Oltmanns, who is identified in the record as a son of Tönjes Oltmanns and Gretke Bohlen (sic - "Gretje").

This detail from the marriage register of the Lutheran churches of Aurich District, Hannover, shows the marriage record of Enne Tönjes Janssen Oltmanns and Anna Ikke Pupkes Hinrichs Schweers.

The children of Enno and Ikke Oltmanns were:

     --  MARIA ENNEN OLTMANNS, born circa 1826 in Aurich, Hannover, married Gerrit Ubben Kruse.
     5.  TÖNJES GERDES ENNEN OLTMANNS, born 27 March 1827 Walle, Aurich, Hannover.
     --  OLTMANN ENNEN OLTMANNS, born 28 Aug. 1830 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, married Anna Walts Ihnen.
     --  JOHANNES ENNEN LANDWIRTH OLTMANNS ("John Oltman"), born 11 June 1834 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, died 1921 in Clayton, Illinois, married Gretje Rohlfs Gronewold ("Gertie").

5. TÖNJES GERDES ENNEN OLTMANNS, son of Enne and Anna Ikke Oltmanns, born 27 March 1827 in Walle, Aurich, Hannover, died 2 Nov. 1890 in Livingston County, Illinois. Tönjes' date and place of birth, as well as the identities of his parents, are known from his marriage record in the Lutheran church records of Ostfriesland. On 12 May 1860 in Extum, Aurich, Ostfriesland, Hannover, Tönjes married his first cousin MARIA HINRICHS PUPKES SCHWEERS, born 15 Feb. 1829 in Walle, Aurich, Hannover, died July 1869 in Nebraska, Livingston County, Illinois, daughter of Hinrich Pupkes and Fentje (Jaspers) Schweers. Tönjes and Maria had two sons and two daughters. Their three older children were born in Hannover and their youngest child was born in Illinois.

This detail from the bottom of page 69 of the marriage register of the Lutheran churches of Aurich District, Hannover, shows the marriage record of Tönjes Gerdes Ennen Oltmanns and Maria Hinrichs Pupkes, who are identified in the record as, respectively, a son of Enne Janssen Oltmanns and Anna Icke Pupkes, and a daughter of Hinrich Pupkes Schweers and Fentje Jaspers.

Based on the dates and places where their daughters Ekke and Fannie were born, it must have been at some point in 1864-1866 that Tönjes and Maria came to America with their children Hinrich Enne (Henry Aaron), Ekke Maria (Ekkie Marie), and Fenna Maria (Fannie Marie). (Tönjes' younger brother Johann also emigrated to America, settling with his wife on a farm in Woodford County, Illinois.) After their arrival in Illinois, Tönjes and Maria first lived in St. Clair County, Illinois. The fact that they were living in the vicinity of St. Louis suggests that they may have reached Illinois by taking a ship from Germany to New Orleans, Louisiana, and then came up the Mississippi to Illinois. Be that as it may, they had settled in Livingston County, Illinois, by the summer of 1867, when their fourth and youngest child, Enne J. (Aaron J.), was born.

The 1870 U.S. Census Illinois Mortality Schedule for Livingston County says Tönjes' wife Maria died "suddenly" in July 1869. The Mortality Schedule says she was 41 years old, a figure that was presumably obtained by subtracting the year of her birth, 1829, from the year of the census, 1870. In fact Maria was only 40 when she died. Tönjes, no doubt deeply shaken by the loss of his wife, never remarried.

It was probably less than two months after his wife's death that Tönjes purchased 80 acres of farmland in Nebraska Township, Livingston County, Illinois. The land purchase was recorded in Illinois Public Land Purchase Records, Vol. 793, page 156, on 31 Aug. 1860 in the name of "Tanjes E. Oltmans," Section N2NW, $12 per acre, total price of $960, type RR, section 22, township 28N, range 03E, meridian 3. The following year, on 4 June 1870, the 1870 U.S. Census Non-Population Schedule for Nebraska Township, Livingston County, shows Tönjes as "Tyens Oltman," farmer, 80 acres improved, $1,800 value of farm, $75 value of farm implements, three horses, one milk cow, one pig, $190 value of livestock, 20 bushels spring wheat, 20 bushels of rye, 100 bushels of corn, 100 bushels of oats, and 40 bushels of barley. His farm was located in the vicinity of Flanagan and Pontiac, Illinois.

Ten years later, the U.S. Census returns for Nebraska Township, Livingston County, dated 17 June 1880, enumerated Tönjes as "Tines Altman," 52, widower, farmer, with children named "Henry," 20, farm laborer, "Echa," 18, keeping house, "Fanny," 15, unemployed, and "Aaron," 13, farm laborer, all born in Hannover except for Aaron, born in Illinois. Eight years after that, on 26 Oct. 1888, Tönjes was naturalised as a U.S. citizen in Livingston County Circuit Court -- his naturalisation records identify him as "Tonies Oltmans." His oath of citizenship was witnessed by J. H. Park and G. F. Rients. According to Oltman/Johnson family records, Tönjes died two years later, on 2 Nov. 1890, at the age of 63, and was buried in Livingston County.

The children of Tönjes and Marie Oltman were:

     --  HINRICH ENNE OLTMANNS ("Henry Aaron Oltman"), born 5 June 1860 in Extum, Aurich, Hannover, died 28 Nov. 1940 in Pontiac, Livingston County, Illinois, never married.
     --  EKKE MARIA OLTMANNS ("Ekkie Marie Oltman"), born 23 Feb. 1862 in Holtrop, Aurich, Hannover, died 30 Nov. 1940 in Nebraska, Livingston County, Illinois, never married.
     6.  FENNA MARIA OLTMANNS ("Fannie Oltman"), born 10 Feb. 1864 in Holtrop, Aurich, Hannover.
     --  ENNE J. OLTMANNS ("Aaron J. Oltman"), born 26 Aug. 1867 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 19 June 1939 in Nebraska, Livingston County, Illinois, married Catharina Mehrings.

6. FENNA MARIA OLTMANNS ("Fannie Oltman"), daughter of Tönjes Gerdes Ennen and Maria Hinrichs (Pupkes) Oltmanns, born 2 April 1864 in Holtrop, Aurich, Hannover, died 3 Feb. 1933 near Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, buried next to her husband in Beardstown City Cemetery, Beardstown, Cass County, Illinois. Fenna was baptised 21 April 1864 at the Lutheran church in Holtrop, Aurich, Hannover -- her baptismal record named her as "Fenna Maria Oltmanns," daughter of "Tönjes Ennen Oltmanns" and "Maria Hinrichs Oltmanns geboren Pupkes." In Johnson/Oltman family records, her date of birth is incorrectly given as 10 Feb. 1864, and her place of birth is incorrectly said to be Mascoutah, St. Clair County, Illinois. However, both her baptismal record and the 1880 U.S. Census agree that she was born in Hannover, not Illinois.

This detail from page 71 of the baptismal register of the Lutheran church of Holtrop, Hannover, shows (entry 10) the baptismal record of Fenna Maria Oltmanns, daughter of Tönjes Gerdes Ennen and Maria Hinrichs (Pupkes) Oltmanns.

Fenna came to America with her parents and older siblings when she was very young -- after her baptism on 21 April 1864 in Hannover, but before his younger brother Enne/Aaron was born on 26 Aug. 1867 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois. The mistaken tradition that she was born in Mascoutah, Illinois, is apparently based on the fact that her family first lived at Mascoutah after they arrived in Illinois circa 1864, later moving to Flanagan. After arriving in the U.S., Fenna was called "Fannie." Fannie is listed with her father and siblings in the 1880 U.S. Census. The census returns for Nebraska, Livingston County, Illinois, dated 17 June 1880, show "Tines Altman," 52, farmer, and his children "Henry," 20, farm laborer, "Echa," 18, keeping house, "Fanny," 15, unemployed, and "Aaron," 13, farm laborer, all said to be born in Hannover except for Aaron, born in Illinois.

On 7 March 1886 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, Fannie married JANN DIRKS JANSSEN ("John Dick Johnson"), born 4 June 1854 in Norden, Ostfriesland, Hannover, died 17 Dec. 1928 in Meredosia, Morgan County, Illinois, son of Dirk Wobben and Aafke Weerts (Alberts) Janssen. Their marriage record says "John D. Janssen," son of "Dirk J. Janssen" and "Aafke Albers," married "Fannie Oltmans," dau. of "Toenjes Oltmans" and "Mary Pupkes." John and Fannie had six daughters and five sons, but three sons and one daughter died in infancy or early childhood.

Fannie's husband Jann was baptised 25 June 1854 in the Lutheran church of Norden in Ostfriesland, Hannover. His baptismal record identifies his parents as "Dirk Wobben Janssen" and "Aafke Weerts geboren Alberts." When Jann was 25 years old, in 1880, he decided to leave Germany and emigrate to the United States, sailing from Bremen, Germany, on a ship named the Donau ("Danube") and arriving in New York Harbor on 1 March 1880. Line 158 of the Donau's passenger list shows "Jan Janssen," 26 (sic), of Hannover, Port of Departure: Bremen, Germany. After his arrival in America, Jann settled in Livingston County, Illinois, and became a farmer there.

A typed manuscript family history was prepared on 8 Dec. 1981 by one of Jann's grandchildren. Concerning Jann's birth and his family, the manuscript offers the following Johnson and Oltman family traditions:

"Dad's Father John D. Johnson was born in Dusseldorph, Germany and came to the United States when he was 16 years of age. He has a Sister Lena who lived in Kankakee, Ill. Also some relatives of which we're not sure of names, etc.

"Dad's Mother (Fannie Oltman) was born in Flanagan, Ill. She had a Brother Aaron, a brother Henry & a sister Ekkie. Aaron & Henry were engaged in farming in Flanagan -- Aaron had 3 sons -- Harry, Henry & Tonjas, also two Daughters -- Mary & Emmy Lou, who was injured when she was a child & she is in a Lutheran home in Watertown, Wis. Mary is married to a Mr. Neely an lives in Peoria, Ill."

In fact, as already stated, Jann was born in Norden, Ostfriesland, which today is in Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen), Germany. Düsseldorf is far to the south, in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (Nordrhein-Westfalen). There is no evidence that Jann ever lived in Düsseldorf, but perhaps he worked there as a young man before leaving Germany for America. In addition, Jann left Germany in 1880 (when he was 25), not 1870 (when he was 16) -- that is shown not only by the abovementioned ship passenger list, but also by the 1900 U.S. Census, which shows 1880 as Jann's year of immigration. The tradition that Fannie was born in Flanagan is incorrect, as she was born before they settled in the Flanagan area. Fannie's older siblings Henry and Ekkie shared a home in Flanagan and farmed there, and left some money in their wills to Fannie's son Richard J. Johnson Sr.

This detail from page 34 of the baptismal register of the Lutheran church of Norden, Hannover, shows (entry 61) the baptismal record of Jann Dirks Janssen, son of Dirk Wobben and Aafke Weerts (Alberts) Janssen.

John and Fannie had six daughters and five sons, but three sons and one daughter died in infancy or early childhood.

John and Fannie farmed in the area of Flanagan, Illinois, until the late 1890s. Their first seven children were born in Flanagan. At some point after their daughter Tena was born on 10 Feb. 1897, John and Fannie moved with their children to Moran in Elsmore Township, Allen County, Kansas, where their son John Henry was born on 6 June 1900. On the day before John's birth, John and his family were enumerated in the 1900 U.S. Census as residents of Moran, listing them as follows: "John D. Johnson," 45, farmer, wife "Fannie," 36, children "Effie M.," 13, "Marie F.," 10, "Dietrich J.," 10, "Ekka O.," 7, "Follina G.," 5, and "Tanno O.," 3. A few years later John and Fannie moved with their children to Missouri. The U.S. Census returns for Odessa, Lafayette County, Missouri, dated 29 April 1910, list them as "John D. Johnson," 55, farmer, wife "Fannie O.," 44, children "Effie M. Hicklin," 23 (married), "Mary P.," 21, "Richard H.," 20, "Ekkie O.," 17, "Lena P.," 15, "Tenna O.," 13, and "John H.," 10.

Sometime after the 1910 U.S. Census, John and his family moved back to Illinois, settling on a farm near Arenzville in Hagener Township, Cass County, in an area south of Beardstown. It was apparently some time after John's son Richard was married in 1914 that John and Fannie left Missouri and returned to Illinois. After mentioning the marriage of Richard in 1914 and Richard's move to Illinois, the 1981 typed manuscript Johnson history says, "Dad's Father John D. Johnson and wife Fannie also moved from Missouri to a farm in Illinois which they had bought at Shipman, Ill., and Mom & Dad [i.e., Richard and Caroline Johnson] moved in with them at Shipman. Later on they sold this farm and bought a farm in Arenzville, Ill. known as the Burrus place."

That narrative aligns perfectly with the U.S. Census returns for Shipman, dated 14 Jan. 1920, which enumerates this family as: "Johnson Johnson" (sic), 65, farmer (immigration in 1864), wife "Fannie," 52, children "Effie," 33, "Lena," 25, "Tena," 21, and "Johnnie," 19. (The immigration date of 1864 is obviously erroneous, since Jann/John was only 10 years old at the time and could not have come alone to the U.S. at so young an age. It was the parents of Jann's wife Fannie who came to America circa 1864.)

John died on a farm known as the Dr. Soule place, located between Beardstown and Meredosia in Morgan County (south of Hagener Township) on 17 Dec. 1928. His widow Fannie survived him by about four and a half years, dying on the Bridgman place northwest of Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois. On her gravestone, Fannie's name is given as "Fannie F. Johnson," but the middle initial doesn't stand for a middle name at all -- rather, it is just the first letter of the original German form of her name, "Fenna."

Johnson and Altman families, circa 1930

Back row: Ekkie and Clifford Reed, John Henry Johnson, Peg Brassel

Front row: Fannie Johnson, Katrina and Aaron Altman (Fannie's brother)

From the collection of the late Carolyn Riggs Spencer, Fannie's great-granddaughter

The children of Fannie and John Johnson were:

     --  AAFKE MARIE JOHNSON ("Effie," "Peg"), born 9 Jan. 1887 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 30 Aug. 1943 in Beardstown, Cass County, Illinois, married twice.
     --  MARY PAULINE JOHNSON, born 26 Dec. 1888 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 6 May 1926 in Illinois.
     --  RICHARD JOHN JOHNSON SR. ("Dietrich," "Dick"), born 17 Feb. 1890 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois.
     --  TONYES OLTMAN JOHNSON, born 10 Oct. 1891 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 19 Jan. 1892 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois.
     --  EKKA OLTMAN JOHNSON ("Ekk"), born 25 Nov. 1892 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 29 May 1977 at Calumet City, Cook County, Illinois, married Clifford Alvin Reed.
     --  FOLENA GERDES JOHNSON ("Paulina Jessie"), born 13 March 1895 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 30 April 1973 in Hammon, Lake County, Illinois, married Mason Noah Henderson.
     --  TENA OLTMAN JOHNSON, born 10 Feb. 1897 in Flanagan, Livingston County, Illinois, died 12 May 1938 in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, married twice.
     --  JOHN HENRY JOHNSON ("Jack"), born 6 June 1900 in Moran, Elsmore Township, Allen County, Kansas, died 31 Aug. 1987 in Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, married Helen Frances Wise.
     --  TONNES GERDES JOHNSON, born 16 Aug. 1903 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri, died 22 Aug. 1903 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri.
     --  GEORGE H. JOHNSON, born 16 July 1904 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri, died 22 July 1904 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri
     --  FANNIE OLTMAN JOHNSON, born 19 March 1906 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri, died 4 Aug. 1908 in Clay Township, Lafayette County, Missouri.

Oltman Genealogy Resources:

The Reed Family Tree of Albuquerque, N.M., with Dirk Wobben Janssen descendants and Johnson and Oltman family photos.
Find-A-Grave memorial: Fannie Ferden (sic - Marie) Oltman Johnson (1864-1933), with links of husband and children.
Stadt Norden, offical homepage of the town or borough of Norden in the District of Aurich, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Germany.
Map of Aurich District, showing locations of Extum/Haxtum and Holtrop in the District of Aurich, Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Germany.

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