Sketch of Benedict Otteni
1793 - 1858

Benedict Otteni, the progenitor of most OATNEY and OTNEY family members in the United States today, was born in Urloffen, Germany on 19 March 1793. Although the actual ship passenger list has not yet been located, per German records, he immigrated to the U.S. in 1831.

These dates are used because of the different birthplaces for two of Benedict's children. Emily Otney Schefler is listed in German church records as being born on 9 January 1831 in Urloffen, Germany. Benedict's son, John Oatney, is listed in the 1850 U.S. Census as being born in Ohio on 10 Oct 1833.

Benedict most likely sailed to the United States with his family including his wife, Christina Hauser. She and Benedict are listed in the German records as being married on 30 Aug 1813 in Urloffen, Germany. Christina also appears in the 1850 U.S. Census as Benedict's wife.

Neither Benedict's nor Christina's parents came to America. Christina's father, Joseph Hauser died in Fautenbach, Germany on 22 Jan 1826, five years before they left. Her mother, Franziska Glaser, died 14 years later on 26 Sep 1840 also in Fautenbach. Benedict's mother, Magdalena König, Magdalena" died 25 Oct 1835 and his father, Andreas Otteni, died on 14 Dec 1835. Both are buried at Urloffen, Germany.

There had been some confusion as to the exact origin of Benedict because of the varied entries on the U.S. Census records. For instance, on the 1870 U.S. Census, Emily lists her birthplace as Prussia. At this time in history, Prussia was the largest state in Germany and was just North of the state of Baden where Urloffen is located.

To add to the confusion, according to the 1958 Thimmes family history of the descendants of Louisa Oatney Thimmes (another sister of Emily), states that Benedict came from Alsace-Lorraine. In the 1830's, this area belonged to France but was ceded by France to the German Empire in 1871. Alsace-Lorraine lies on Baden's western border and on Prussia's southern border.

Besides the German records, Benedict's origin is also stated on the naturalization records of Fairfield County. On 18 Sep 1840, "Benedict Ottine" was naturalized a U.S. citizen. The recorded document shows Benedict emigrated from the "Dukedom of Baden". Even today, there are families bearing the last name of "Otteni" living in Urloffen, Germany.

Why did Benedict immigrate to America? It is difficult to know exactly why, but according to one source, many people left Germany during the 1830-1840 time period because of "over-production, overpopulation, unavailability of land, and the fact that mass-production had replaced the artisan worker." Since this was a period of prosperity in America, "the Jacksonian democracy provided what many Germans had been striving for in vain. Many Germans leaving at this time...settled extensively in the areas of Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri."

Once in America, Benedict and his family settled in Fairfield County, Ohio. According to the 1840 U.S. Census, the family resided in Greenfield Township and worked in agriculture. This census listed six males living in the household. Names were not required for this census, but a breakdown by age was given. Information from the 1840 census plus information from later documents can deduce a probable name of most household members. Those listed were: 

Also listed were six females living in the household.  Again, age was the only breakdown and names are based on later documents. Those listed were:

According to the 1850 U.S. Census, the family had moved to Pleasant Township in Fairfield County, Ohio where Benedict engaged in farming. This census listed family members by name. They were:

Combining all researched information, Benedict and Christina reared eleven children. There were:

According to recorded land transactions of Fairfield County, Benedict owned two parcels of land in Fairfield County, Ohio. The first tract was 154 acres located in Berne Township. The second tract consisted of 81 acres located in Pleasant Township.

Benedict bought the 154 acre tract of land on 28 March 1842. This land is described as the southeast quarter of Section 9, Township 14, Range 18. This land lies between Duffy Road and Bauman Hill Road. Pleasant Run, a north-south creek, runs through the western portion of this quarter of a square mile section.

Benedict and Christina purchased this land from Samuel King for $1500.00, about $9.74 an acre. The following recorded information describes this transaction. (Original spellings are used and placement is approximate to the original, even though written in long hand.)

In order to purchase this 154 acre tract, Benedict and Christina used a time payment plan to repay Samuel King. This promissory note, or land contract as it might be called today, was also recorded in Fairfield County.

Benedict only mortgaged $1000.00 of the purchase price, most likely having a $500.00 down payment. As can be seen in the following, Benedict's note called for 4 payments, one of $500.00 and 3 of $166.66. The following recorded information describes the mortgage transaction. (Original spellings are used and placement is approximate to the original even though written in long hand)

Twice, Benedict used his land as collateral other for loans.  The first occurred on 24 April 1846 when Benedict signed a one year promissory note to Margaret and Drusilla Oswalt, for $204.00.   The second time was to Francis Lam on 15 February 1847 for $400.00. This note extended for four years with four equal $100.00 payments due each February 15.  The following information describes the first recorded note. (Original spellings are used and placement is approximate to the original even though written in long hand)

This mortgage was recorded as canceled on 7 May 1850. This is the same day Benedict accepted a mortgage from Magdalena Hebshier for $350.00 on the 154 acres he sold to her on 4 May 1850. The mortgage to Francis Lam was recorded canceled two days later on 9 May 1850, 9 months before the final payment was due.

Benedict and Christina sold their 154 acre tract eight years after purchase on 4 May 1850 to Magdalene Hibshere (var. Hibsheir) for $1700.00. Benedict accepted a promissory note form Magdalene Hibshere for $350.00. This note used the 154 acres as collateral and was to be paid in two equal installments over a two year period.

At this time, Benedict and Christina most likely moved to Pleasant Township since the 1850 U.S. Census listed their residence there. No records have been found to pinpoint where they resided until 11 February 1854. At this time, Benedict bought 81 acres in Berne township from Henry and Mary Helmsink (var. Helmsing) for $700.00.

This tract lies approximately 3 miles southwest of Benedict's 154 acre tract. The official designation for these 81 acres is the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of Section 30 in Township number 14. The tract lies in Berne Township on either side of Tarkiln Road about a mile northeast of Blue Valley Road, also known as Ohio Route 67. The land can be better recognized as lying one and half miles east of the Fairfield School for Boys, now known as Southeastern Training Center which is located in the southeastern part of Hocking Township at 5000 BIS Road.

The following recorded information depicts this land transaction. (Original spellings are used and placement is approximate to the original even though written in long hand)

It is interesting that Christina's name does not appear on this document. It is also interesting to note that no promissory notes were recorded by Benedict using this land as collateral.

On 11 Jan 1858, seven months before he died, Benedict sold his 81 acres. John Ritter purchased the land for the same amount that Benedict paid for it, $700.00. The following recorded information denotes this transaction. Note the spelling of Benedict's name is "Ottne". (Original spellings are used and placement is approximate to the original even though written in long hand)

Although documentation of the date of Christina's death has not yet been discovered, it is speculated she died between 1850 and 1854. This is based upon her appearance on the 1850 U.S. Census and her non-appearance on the 1854 acquisition of the 81 acres.

Three months before Benedict died at age 65, he married Barbara Drenckley on 2 May 1858.  It is recorded in Fairfield County, Ohio Marriage Records 1851-1868 Vol 2, page 175. H. Lange was the pastor of St. Mary Church in Lancaster, Ohio.

Benedict died on 4 Aug 1858 in Fairfield County, Ohio. He did not leave a will so his estate was divided between his widow and his children. After a notice was placed in the 12 Aug 1958 "Ohio Eagle" newspaper, the estate began to be cleared. Final settlement was made on 26 Jun 1861. The legal notice printed in the paper read:

Before the estate was settled, a public sale was held on 26 August 1858 to liquidate his holdings. The following list shows the items sold. Spelling and placement represents actual documents even though it was handwritten. Dashes are inserted where handwriting could not be deciphered.

Once all bills were paid and collected, distribution of the estate was made to the heirs. Total assets consisted of $1328.58 and total debts amounted to $457.59 leaving a gross balance of $870.99. Of course, probate fees, attorney fees and administrator fees were then deducted. This left a net total of $780.31 to be distributed to the eight heirs.

The following shows the distribution as shown on the actual estate document.

Once again, spelling of names were not consistent. Emily "Schefler" is most often spelled "Schefler." Notice, however, that John's and Joseph's name was spelled "Otney", with only one "t" and Teresa "Flemm" was spelled with an "e."

Also note that the estate papers list Benedict's wife as "Barbara." As mentioned earlier, no records have been found concerning the death of Christina but according to the early marriage records of Fairfield County, Ohio, a "Benedick Ottene" married Barbara Dreuckley, Barbara" on May 2, 1858.   It is speculated that after Christina's death, Benedict remarried shortly before his death. In fact, he was only married three months before Benedict died. No other mention of Barbara has been found in any other records.

It is believed that Benedict is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in Lancaster, Ohio. According to a great great grandson of Benedict, Paul Oatney Shugert, Benedict's tombstone stood at the corner of Lawrence Street and Mt. Pleasant Avenue in Elmwood Cemetery. The stone was inscribed in German and no one in the family could read it.  Paul remembered the stone being knocked down by cars and destroyed.   Unfortunately, all cemetery records for Elmwood were kept in a tool shed which was later destroyed by fire.

Rachel Gibbony Oatney, wife of Benedict's grandson Frank Oatney, corroborates the site of Benedict's grave.  In a letter to her grandniece, Lucile Johnson Everett of Mancos, Colorado, Rachel relates a similar account of the burial place.   Part of the letter reads as follows:

Rachel Oatney died on 26 Feb 1977 just shy of her 99th birthday.

Even if there seems to be a lot of documents that concern Benedict and his family, very little is really known about him. The family seemed to have led a very simple life, without a great deal of worldly goods. However, he must have been very courageous to have uprooted his family at the age of 40 and settle in America. Once he arrived, he he settled in Ohio, raised his family and survived!

FAMILY INFORMATION

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

Descendants of Benedict Otteni (1793-1858) - a privatized (dates & places of living people omitted) 10 Generation Descendant drill down report