Sketch of Rudolph Otteni

Rudolph Otteni
1844 - 1903

FAMILY BACKGROUND

Rudolph Otteni is the son of Franz Josef "Joseph" Otteni and Maria Eva Weber. He was born in Germany in Mar 1844. Rudolph's mother died when he was 12 years old.

Rudolph is 1 of 5 children of Joseph and Eva Otteni. His siblings are:

Karl Otteni ( ? - 1853)
Lina Otteni Baur Glour ( ? - ? )
Luise Otteni Reiff (1838-1880)
Emma Otteni Stefan (1839-1893)

Rudolph's ancestors on his Otteni side can be traced back to his Great Great Great Grandfather, Hans Georg Otteni, who was born in 1655.

Parents --	Franz Josef "Joseph" Otteni and Maria Eva Weber
Grand Mother --	Rosalie Otteni and Unknown Father
Great Grand Parents --	Ferdinandus "Ferdinand" Otteni and Magdalena Kling
Great Great Grand Parents --	Johann Martin Otteni and Maria Eva Schmidt
Great Great Great Grand Parents --	Hans Georg Otteni and Ursula Salinger

The name, Rudolp Ottin, appears in the "Passenger and Immigration Lists: Germans to America 1850-1874 Archive". The 1900 U.S. Federal Census lists his immigration date at 1861. Per the Naturalization Records of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Rudolf became a natuarlized U.S. citizen on 13 Sep 1880.

Rudolph enlisted in the Grand Army of the Republic to fight in the U.S. Civil War soon after his arrival in the United States. The Civil War Pension Index lists Emma Otteni as the widow of Rudolph Otteni, which she filed in the State of Delaware. From Session 1 of the Sixtieth Congress in 1908, the following entry was made:

The name of Emma Otteni, widow of Rudolph Otteni, late of Company L, Third Regiment New Jersey Volunteer Cavalry, and pay her a pension at the rate of twelve dollars per month and two dollars per month additional on account of a minor child of said soldier until such child shall arrive at the age of sixteen years.

Per the 1890 Veterans Schedules, Rudolph enlisted in the Union Army on 19 Oct 1864 and discharged on 28 Aug 1865 as a Private in the New Jersey Calvary Company H.

Rudolph's father, Joseph, died in 1866. Joseph's widow (2nd wife not Rudolph's mother) planned to continue running the family printing business. But Joseph's heirs did not accept this. After long negotiations, during which Rudolph came back to Germany from America, the heirs finally bought the business and started "A. Reiff & Cie." in 1867. The owners were Alexander Reiff (husband of Rudoph's sister Luise Otteni), Leopold Stefan (husband of Rudolph's sister Emma Otteni) and Rudolph Otteni. After a year and a half, Rudolph left the business and started his own newspaper and printing business on January 1, 1869. The name of the newspaper was "Kinzigbote". After running it for some time, Rudolph returned to America in 1880.

Rudolph married Emma T. Yanz in 1876. She was born Mar 1853 in Germany. Together, they had 5 children. They are:

Ernest Joseph Otteni, born Mar 1879 in PA; died Apr 1942 in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware
Rudolph Paul Otteni, born 16 Mar 1881 in PA; died May 1963 in Delaware
Harry Francis Otteni, born 13 Jan 1887 in PA; died 5 May 1955 in Merchantville, Camden County, New Jersey
Louis J. Otteni, born 31 Jul 1891 in DE; died Dec 1972 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
Percival F. "Percy" Otteni, born 11 Oct 1896 in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware; died 15 May 1970

The Philadelphia City Directory of 1890 lists Rudolph Otteni as running a printing business at 4500 Brown, Philadelphia, PA and Emma Otteni, his wife, was running a dry goods business at the same address.

According to the 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Rudolph and family resided in Wilmington Hundred, New Castle County, Delaware. His occupation is listed as a printer.

In 1901, Rudolph had his coat and hat stolen while getting a shave in a local barber shop.

Rudolph died in 1903. He is buried at Cathedral Cemetery, 2400 Lancaster Avenue Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware.

Emma Otteni died 21 Jul 1914. She is buried at Cathedral Cemetery, 2400 Lancaster Avenue Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware.

Rudolph's son, Ernest Otteni, was also in the newspaper business. His obituary appeared in the Journal-Every Evening, 13 Apr 1942, Wilmington, DE.

Another son, Louis Otteni, served in World War I. According to a newspaper article in the Delmarvia Star, Wilmington, DE, Sunday, 30 Jul 1919, he was cited for his actions during the war.

SERGT. L. J. OTTENI GIVEN CITATION

In an interesting history of the 1st United States Engineers 1st United States Division, printed at Coblenz Germany, April 15, 1919, appears in the regimental roster, officers and men serving between October 16, 1917 and November 11, 1918, the names of six Wilmingtonians who served in the famous regiment. Of the six men, one died of wounds received in action, one gassed in action, and one cited for distinguished conduct.

Sergeant Otteni on a recent visit for a month at the home of his brother, Ernest J. Otteni, having languishing in a hospital in France for two months, suffered with nervous breakdown, spoke very little about the exploits of the First Engineers. He recoiled from any discussion on the subject. The first intimation that he had been cited became known here yesterday.

Sergeant Otteni is now in charge of the Army recruiting Station at Worcester, Mass. He does not know of this publication.

The citation in extract, follows:

HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES

Mostahear, Germany 30 December 1918

General Orders 101

The Division Commander cites the following officers, nurses and men for distinguished conduct in the operations between the Argonine and Meuse (ten were cited).

"Sergeant 1cl Louis J. Otteni, Co. A, 1st Engineers 'displayed .... and distinguished bravery in securing information confirming the location of the enemy machine gun nests, and by tactfully leading his platoon caused the destruction of enemy strong points and established the advanced outposts."

The descendants of Rudolph Otteni spell their name OTTENI.

FAMILY INFORMATION

Click on the following link to view information on the descendants of Rudolf Otteni to the present. (Report with documentation also available)

Descendants of Rudolph Otteni (1844-1903) - a privatized (dates & places of living people omitted) 5 Generation Descendant Book (PDF), starting with Rudolph Otteni - 6 pages plus index.

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Last modified: October 19, 2022

Descendants of Rudolph Otteni (1844-1903) - a privatized (dates & places of living people omitted) 5 Generation Descendant Book (PDF), starting with Rudolph Otteni - 6 pages plus index.