Descendants of Benedict Otteni (1793-1858)

Benedict Otteni, the progenitor of most OATNEY, OTTNEY, OTTENI, 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, 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.

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