Source: Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside County, IL
Originally published 1885
Chapman Bros., Chicago, IL
Reproduced on CD and purchased from OLD GLORY ACCENTS

Transcribed by: Denise McLoughlin
Tampico Area Historical Society
www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com

Page 285

Louis Oltmanns, editor of the Sterling Beobachtar, was born in Jever, Oldenburg, Germany, april 30, 1836, his parents being Gerhard W. and Anna M. (Luemmen) Oltmanns, natives of Germany, who emigrated to this country in 1867 and settled in Sterling. The subject of this sketch attended private school, and college a short time, left his parental home at the age of 15 years and engaged in mercantile business for 14 years; then, in 1865, he came to America and first was employed by R. B. Witmer at Sterling, until Feb. 1, 1883, when he assumed his present position. In his political views he is a Democrat. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and of the Lutheran Church, to which latter body his wife also belongs.

Mr. Oltmanns was married in 1868 to Miss Annie Lederer, a native of Germany, and they have had four children, - William, Anna, Louisa and Mary.