1475 Homer J. (Edward, Elias, Benjamin, George, John, Johannes), son of Edward and Phila (Parker) Oatman, was born 24 February 1858, Jefferson County, New York, and died 30 January 1936 at Adams Center, Jefferson County. He was buried in State Road (Honeyville) Cemetery at Adams Center.
In 1889, he married Ida Naomi "Minnie" Hurd. She was born November 1859 in Denmark, Lewis County, New York, daughter of a Methodist minister from Minnesota and his wife, William S. and Francis L. Hurd (1900 census, Rodman).
Homer was one of five musicians from Jefferson County who formed an organization called Happy Band, in which he played second violin. Other members of the band were Robert D. Loveland, first violin, from Ross' Corners; Clark Oatman, dulcimer, from Honeyville; Mottie Lewis, flute, from Ross' Corners, and Frank Oatman, bass viol, also from Ross' Corners.
According to the newspaper article of his funeral, dated 3 February 1939:
"Mr. Oatman was vitally interested in Indian relics and with Robert D. Loveland of Honeyville gathered one of the largest assortments of Indian souvenirs in northern New York. Much of their work was done during the bicycle era and Mr. Oatman visited almost every site of aboriginal occupation in this county . . . Mr. Loveland later sold the bulk of his collection to the state museum at Albany . . . It was the largest collection ever sold from this region . . . Mr. Oatman never disposed of his articles in large lots. He made some small sales and did some trading. He retained the best examples of Indian craftsmanship, his case at his home here including about 1,200 pieces. Among these are the rare bone harpoons and fishhooks as well as needles with eyes and bone arrow heads."
Children of Homer J. and Ida Naomi (Hurd) Oatman:
3507 Irving William, b. 22 Jul 1891; d. 12 Mar 1941; living in Rochester, NY, in 1936
Sources: Newspaper article dated 3 Feb 1939
Photo and article from Watertown Daily Times, date unknown
Cemetery records, Adams Center, NY
1900 census, Rodman, Jefferson Co., NY
Lou Anne Carr Hager, Orange, CT