Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers.  "An
Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam,
Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties")  Spokane, WA: Western Historical
Publishing Co., 1905.  p. 477.
 
WILLIAM OEHMAN

     who was born on March 2, 1870, in Connersville, Indiana, is now residing
six miles southeast from Rufus, on the magnificent estate of twelve hundred and
eighty acres, all of which he has cleared through his industry and thrift since
coming to Sherman county. His parents, Frank and Rachel (Rickenheiser) Oehman,
are natives of Baden, Germany, and Kentucky, respectively. The father came to
the United States with his parents when eighteen years of age. They settled
first in Ohio then moved to Indiana, where he was married. The mother is of
German ancestry, and when our subject was two years of age the family came from
Indiana to Wabaunsee county, Kansas, where the father purchased land. The
parents still live there, the owner of a section of valuable land and arc
influential and highly respected people.  Our subject was educated in the common
schools and remained with his father until fourteen when he started to work for
himself, operating on the railroad and levees in Missouri and Mississippi. Four
years later he went to Colorado, then to Wyoming and wrought at various work,
mostly at the stonemason's trade, which he had acquired in his work previously.
When nineteen years of age he came to Portland and worked in the logging camps
of Oregon and Washington for two years.
     About 1891 he came to Sherman county and worked out in the harvest field
and at other employments for six months. Having saved up two hundred and fifty
dollars in earnings, he finally decided to purchase a quarter section and the
relinquishment to a homestead, which he did, paying tour hundred dollars
therefore. It was a splendid half section, but owing to the fact that he had no
money to improve it, he still had to work out until he could get stock. He soon
began to prosper and bought other land until he now has the twelve hundred and
eighty acres mentioned. He has thirty head of fine horses, graded Clydes, nearly
all of which he has raised, besides some other stock.  His place is well
improved and is productive of excellent returns each year. Mr. Oehman is still
outside of the matrimonial bonds, yet he is a very popular young man.
     He has three brothers, John, Charles and Frank and two sisters. Annie, wife
of Ralph Thompson, a barber at Wamego, Kansas, and Lizzie, wife of Charles
Kuypers, a barber at Alma, Kansas.         
     Politically, Mr. Oehman is a Democrat and is frequently delegate to the
conventions. At the present time he is filling the office of constable. He has
certainly made a splendid success in his efforts in the west and stands one of
the leading farmers of Sherman county today.


*******************

Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2010 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.