Rudolph Otteni
1844
- Abt. 1908
FAMILY BACKGROUND
Rudolph Otteni was
born in Germany in Mar 1844. The
name, Rudolp Ottin, appears in the “Passenger and Immigration Lists: Germans
to America 1850-1874 Archive”. The
1900 U.S. Federal Census lists his immigration date at 1861.
It is interesting that Rudolph must have enlisted in the Grand Army of the Republic to fight in the U.S. Civil War soon after his arrival in the United States. The Civil War Pension Index lists Emma Otteni as the widow of Rudolph Otteni, which she filed in the State of Delaware. From Session 1 of the Sixtieth Congress in 1908, the following entry was made:
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The
Philadelphia City Directory of 1890 lists Rudolph Otteni as running a printing
business at 4500 Brown, Philadelphia, PA and Emma Otteni, his wife, was
running a dry goods business at the same address.
According to the 1900 U.S.
Federal Census, Rudolph and family were living in Wilmington Hundred, New
Castle County, Delaware. His
occupation was listed as a printer.
Rudolph married Emma in 1876. She was born Mar 1853 in Germany. Together, they had 5 children. They were:
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Ernest Joseph Otteni, born Mar 1879 in PA; died Apr 1942 in Wilmington, New Castle County, DE
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Rudolph Paul Otteni, born 16 Mar 1881 in PA; died May 1963 in DE
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Charles Harry Otteni, born Jan 1887 in PA
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Louis J. Otteni, born 31 Jul 1891 in DE; died Dec 1972 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
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Percival F. 'Percy' Otteni, born 11 Oct 1896 in Wilmington, New Castle County, DE
Rudolph’s son, Ernest Otteni, was in the newspaper business. His obituary appeared in the Journal-Every Evening, 13 Apr 1942, Wilmington, DE.
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E.
J. Otteni, 62, Newsman, Dies Funeral
of Veteran Newspaperman to Be Held In City Tomorrow Morning
Funeral
services will be held tomorrow morning for Ernest J. Otteni, 62 years old,
veteran Wilmington newspaperman, who died of a heart attack Saturday night at
his home, 215 North Connel Street. The
funeral will be from the Yeatman Funeral Home, 819 Washington Street, at 9
o'clock with requiem mass at 9:30 in Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Interment will be in Cathedral Cemetery. A
native of Philadelphia, he was a son of German parents who come to America in
their childhood.
His father was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. For
many years active in the editorial and advertising departments of the then
Evening Journal and the Sunday Star, Mr. Otteni was a founder and former
publisher of the Brandywine News.
Lately, he had engaged privately in the real estate and insurance
businesses.
He also was connected with the Century Indemnity Company. For
10 years, Mr. Otteni was the executive secretary of the Brandywine Business
Men's Association.
He was also a member of the Democratic League, the Elks and the A.O.U.W. His widow, Mrs. Agnes H. Otteni, and one daughter, Mrs. Weldon H. Cloud, both of this city, survive him as do four brothers: Rudolph P. of this city; Harry M. or Buffalo, N.Y.; Louis J. of Huntsville, Ala., and Percy F. Otteni of Philadelphia.
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Another son, Louis Otteni, served in World War I. According to a newspaper article in the Delmarvia Star, Wilmington, DE, Sunday, 30 Jul 1919, he was cited for his actions during the war.
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SERGT.
L. J. OTTENI GIVEN CITATION In
an interesting history of the 1st United States Engineers 1st United States
Division, printed at Coblenz Germany, April 15, 1919, appears in the
regimental roster, officers and men serving between October 16, 1917 and
November 11, 1918, the names of six Wilmingtonians who served in the famous
regiment.
Of the six men, one died of wounds received in action, one gassed in
action, and one cited for distinguished conduct. Sergeant
Otteni on a recent visit for a month at the home of his brother, Ernest J.
Otteni, having languishing in a hospital in France for two months, suffered
with nervous breakdown, spoke very little about the exploits of the First
Engineers.
He recoiled from any discussion on the subject.
The first intimation that he had been cited became known here
yesterday. Sergeant
Otteni is now in charge of the Army recruiting Station at Worcester, Mass.
He does not know of this publication. The
citation in extract, follows: HEADQUARTERS
FIRST DIVISION AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCES Mostahear,
Germany
30 December 1918 General
Orders 101 The
Division Commander cites the following officers, nurses and men for
distinguished conduct in the operations between the Argonine and Meuse (ten
were cited). "Sergeant 1cl Louis J. Otteni, Co. A, 1st Engineers 'displayed .... and distinguished bravery in securing information confirming the location of the enemy machine gun nests, and by tactfully leading his platoon caused the destruction of enemy strong points and established the advanced outposts." |
The descendants of Rudolph Otteni spell their name OTTENI.
Click on the following link to view information on the descendants of Rudolf Otteni to the present.
Descendants of Rudolph Otteni (1844-1908) - a privatized (dates & places of living people) Descendant Book, with index, of Rudolph Otteni descendants (PDF)
