McDonough ILGenWeb

OAKMAN, John S. — Among the farmers in McDonough County, Ill., who have made a good record in agriculture and citizenship during the past thirty years, is the subject of this sketch, who lives in Section 25, Blandinsville Township. Mr. Oakman was born in Huntingdon, Pa., on November 10, 1856, and is the son of Robert and Susanna (Steele) Oakman, natives of that State. He received his early education in the public schools, and came to McDonough County November 12, 1876. Here he first worked at farming, harness making and carpentering successfully. In 1898 he bought his present place containing 160 acres of land in Section 25, Blandinsville Township, and here he has since followed farming and stock-raising, breeding also Short-horn cattle and Norman horses. He has a fine residence at Blandinsville, built by himself. For three years he was in the grocery business there.

On February 8, 1883, Mr. Oakman was united in marriage with Mollie E. Huston, a native of McDonough County, where in girlhood she attended public school. Three children were the issue of this union, viz.: Lawrence E., Carl H. and Blanche D. Both of the sons are graduates of Gem City Business College, at Quincy, Ill. Lawrence E. is a bookkeeper in the Chicago office of the Hammond Packing Company. Blanche D. died January 10, 1905, at the age of seventeen years. Religiously, Mr. Oakman worships with the membership of the Christian Church. Politically, he is a Democrat, and fraternally, is connected with the I. O. O. F. The subject of this sketch manages his farm with systematic care, and the results produced attest his thorough competence in this vocation. As a citizen, he is intelligent, well informed and public-spirited.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 969, extracted 17 Mar 2020 by Norma Hass.