Sketch of Theresia Otteni
Flemm
1820 - 1895
Theresia Otteni, also known as Theresa, was the fourth known child of Benedict and Christina Otteni. According to the German church birth records, she was born on 11 Nov 1820 in Urloffen, Germany.
Over the years, there have been many different spellings of the family name. The original spelling, found on German records and signatures on early land transactions in the United States, is OTTENI. The spellings used today in the U.S. are: OTTENI, OATNEY, OTNEY, and OTTNEY. All trace back to Urloffen, Germany to Hans Georg Otteni, Theresa's GGG Grandfather.
Theresa came to America with the family in the early 1830's. According to the 1840 U.S. Census, the family lived in Greenfield Township in Fairfield County, Ohio. Names of children were not captured for this census, but a breakdown by age was given. In the "15 - 19" age category, the census listed 2 females. Theresa would have been 19 years old in early 1840.
Theresa is 1 of 11 known children of Benedict and Christina. Her siblings are:
-
Maria Elizabeth Walt (1815-aft 1858)
-
Franziska “Frances“ Welker (1816-1858)
-
Maria Magdalena Stortz (1819- ? )
-
Cresentia “Nancy“ Wald (1822-1864)
-
Josef “Joseph“ (1825-1897)
-
Andreas (1827-1850)
-
Moritz (1829-1831)
-
Maria Emily Schefler (1831-1912)
-
John (1833-1897)
-
Louisa Thimmes (1836-1911)
According to Fairfield County Ohio marriage records, "Therese Ottney" married Christian "Flam" on 21 Apr1842 in Lancaster, Ohio. The wedding was officiated by J. Young, who was a priest at St. Mary Catholic Church in Lancaster, Ohio.
By 1860, according to the U.S. Census, Theresa and Christian resided in Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio. Christian is listed as the landlord of the American Hotel. They are listed as living
at the hotel with 8 children. They are:
| NAME | AGE LISTED | PLACE OF BIRTH |
| Christian Flemm | 49 | Germany |
| Theresa Flemm | 37 | Germany |
| Joseph Flemm | 18 | Ohio |
| Lewis Flemm | 16 | Ohio |
| Louisa Flemm | 15 | Ohio |
| Emma Flemm | 13 | Ohio |
| Philomena Flemm | 11 | Ohio |
| Ellen Flemm | 9 | Ohio |
| Emelia Flemm | 7 | Ohio |
| Charles Flemm | 3 | Ohio |
The 1870 U.S. Census lists Christian Flemm as a "Hotel Keeper" at the Tallmadage House. Two children are no longer living at home since both married prior to 1870. Listed are:
| NAME | AGE LISTED | PLACE OF BIRTH |
| Christian Flemm | 59 | Baden |
| Theresa Flemm | 47 | Baden |
| Lewis Flemm | 27 | Ohio |
| Mary L. Flemm | 25 | Ohio |
| Christiana Flemm | 23 | Ohio |
| Philomena Flemm | 22 | Ohio |
| Emelia Flemm | 14 | Ohio |
| Charles C. Flemm | 13 | Ohio |
There are some inconsistencies between names and ages between the 1860 and 1870 census. The 1860 census listed Emma Flemm as 13 years old. The 1870 census listed Christinana as 23 years old. On 26 January 1876, Annie Theresa Flemm married William H. Jeffries. The assumption is that all three, Ellen, Christinana, and Annie Theresa Flemm refer to the same person.
From a combination of records, their full names, birth and death dates are:
| NAME | BIRTH - DEATH DATES |
| Joseph Flemm | 1843 - 1901 |
| Lewis Ludwic Flemm | 1844 - 1882 |
| Mary Louise "Lida" Flemm Bowes | 1845 - 1919 |
| Anna Theresa Flemm Jeffries | 1846 - 1934 |
| Philomena Flemm Elliott | 1848 - 1921 |
| Helena "Helen" Flemm Ambrose Bowen | 1850 - 1927 |
| Emma Cecilia Flemm Brooke | 1852 - 1927 |
| Charles Christian Flemm | 1857 - 1914 |
 |
| Theresa Passes On |
Theresa Otteni Flemm died in early May 1895. A notice in the Lancaster Daily Eagle on 6 May 1895 read:
Mesdames Bowen and Brooke of Logan have been called to the city by the death of their mother, Mrs. Flemm.
Mesdame Bowen refers to Theresa's daughter, Mary Louise "Lida" Flemm Bowes. Mesdames Brooke refers to her other daughter, Emma Flemm Brooke.
It is presumed that Theresa is buried in St. Mary Cemetery in Lancaster, Ohio, since her husband, Christian Flemm is buried there. His gravestone is next to many members of the Thimmes family, including Louise Otteni Thimmes, Theresa’s sister. Christian died 18 years earlier on 22 Apr 1877 at age 66 years, 7 months, and 8 days.
Click on the following link to view
information on the descendants of
Theresa Otteni Flemm to the present.
(Report with documentation also available)
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Last modified:
October 20, 2022