Luther was a farmer and a barber. Phoebe was one of the first teachers in Cornell School, S.C. #9, the first school in the vicinity of Cornell, Oxford County, Ontario.
The Tillsonburg Observer, dated 19 October 1916, carried this obituary for Luther:
"Mr. Luther Oatman, an aged resident of Springford, died very suddenly on Sunday. Neighbors had seen him around in the morning and chancing to go to his home in the afternoon, found his lifeless body on the floor. He was in his eighty-fourth year. Deceased leaves two sons, Mr. Lyman Oatman, of this town and Mr. Jos. Oatman of Middleton, and one daughter, Mrs. L. Wardle of Dereham.The Body was brought to the undertaking parlors of Mr. A. L. Oatman, and the funeral took place on Tuesday afternoon from the home of the deceased's son, Mr. Lyman Oatman, to Springford Cemetery."
Phoebe is not mentioned in the obituary, although she survived him by 14 years, and they are not buried together. Luther is apparently living alone in 1901, although he is shown as being married. Phoebe at the time was living with her son, Lewellyn, who was unmarried.
Children of Luther and Phoebe (Moore) Oatman:
1394 Lida, b. 1868; d. 1954; bur. with her husband and son Wilbert in Tillsonburg Cemetery, Tillsonburg, Oxford Co., ON; m. Lewis S. Wardle, b. 1868, d. 1937. Children, surname Wardle:
A Wilbert L., b. 1899; d. 1966 Plus two other children.
1395 Lillie May, b. ca May 1870; m. Thomas W. Barnard, 18 Nov 1891, Tillsonburg. He was from Brandon, Manitoba. Lillie may have died before 1916 as she is not mentioned in her father's obituary. She and Thomas had two sons, surname Wardle.
1396 Lyman, b. 30 Jan 1871, S. Norwich, Oxford Co., ON; d. 1954; bur. Tillsonburg Cem., Tillsonburg, Oxford Co., ON; m. 1) Annie E. Coles, 8 Jan 1893, Tillsonburg, ON. Annie was b. 1874, d. 1924, bur. Tillsonburg Cem. Lyman m. 2) Eva (Graham) Cooper. Eva had several children from her first marriage; in addition, she and Lyman had a daughter.
Children of Lyman and 1) Annie (Coles) Oatman: (Birth order unknown)
A Grace, b. 27 Sep 1896; d. 1966; bur. Tillsonburg Cem.B Lillie, m. Charles Slaght
C Mabel, m. Jack W. Owen, 11 Nov 1920, Tillsonburg, ON
D Doris, m. Harold Rogers
E Gladys Marie, b. 20 Aug 1915, Tillsonburg, ON; d. in infancy
Children of Lyman and 2) Eva (Graham) Oatman:
F Mary Ellen, m. Russell Mabee; d. 1986
1397 Lewellyn Joseph "Joe", b. 14 Feb 1873, Oxford Co., ON; d. 1956; bur. in Tillsonburg Cem., Tillsonburg, ON; m. Mary C. "Minnie" Girvin (aka "Cervin"). Minnie was b. 1886, d. 1971, bur. Tillsonburg Cem. Lewellyn is not listed as a surviving child in Luther's obituary, even though he outlived his father by 40 years. In 1901 he was living in S. Norwich Twp., unmarried, with his mother, Phoebe. Children, surname Oatman:
A Lillian, m. Kenneth White, ca July 1941. Lillian is mentioned in South of Sodom as a teacher at New Road School, S.S.#10, in 1943.B Bessie, m. Dick Kennedy
C Madeline, m. Ward Sulston
D Donald, m. Margaret Langrell. Children, surname Oatman:
I Joseph, b. 16 Dec 1947; m. Lois Pearce. Children, surname Oatman: Shane, Kathy, RyanII Linda, b. 6 Dec 1952; m. Douglas Pearce. Children, surname Pearce: Craig, Kyle
III Larry, b. 1949; d. 1981; bur. Tillsonburg Cem.; m. Jacqueline Emmons. Children, surname Oatman: Carrie, Krystal
B. D. Smith, Springford, ON; Tillsonburg cemetery records;Back to Oatman Home Page
South of Sodom - The History of South Norwich (South Norwich Historical Society, May 1983); Vital records, Oxford Co., ON
Tillsonburg Observer, 20 Nov 1891; 20 Jan 1893; 2 Oct 1896; 2 Sep 1915; 19 Oct 1916. Tillsonburg News, 18 Nov 1920
1871, 1881, 1891, 1901 census, South Norwich Twp., Oxford Co., ON
Doris Oatman, Tillsonburg, ON