Contents |
Biography
Ottilia was born 15 June 1875[1] in Waukon, Iowa. Her parents Robert Toepelt and Emma immigrated from Germany.[2]
Her mother died 30 January 1879.[3] She was four years old on 22 September 1879, when her father, Robert Toepelt, signed an Indenture of Apprenticeship[4] with her foster father Harmon Samuel Cooper. By this, Cooper agreed to furnish her with suitable food, clothing, care, attendance in sickness and send her to public school at least four months each year. It also stipulated that on attaining her majority she be given a bed and bedding and a cow.
She grew up as the foster child of Harmon S Cooper and his second wife Hannah Geesey, living on a farm in Jefferson township, near Waukon in Allamakee County, Iowa. Eliza Jane Gilbert, Harmon's first wife, lived on the farm next door with her and Harmon's children.[2][5]
Ottilia married George W. Cooper, the youngest son of Harmon and his first wife Eliza Jane Gilbert, on 27 February 1893 in Waukon, Iowa.[6][7][8][9][10]
Ottilia and George Cooper farmed in Makee Township, Allamakee County, Iowa.[11] They had two daughters, Vianna May born 6 Jan 1894 and Lillian Augusta born 2 Nov 1895. George died from typhoid on 17 September 1897.[12][13]
Ottilia then worked at the Allamakee County Home, where she lived with her two daughters Vianna and Lillian.[14]
As a matron of the insane department of the poor farm, she was, in 1901, granted a salary of $30 a month, and she was to "furnish all help necessary to feed and care for the inmates at her own expense."[15]
In 1905 she submitted an application to sell real estate consisting of 1/9 share of property in life estate to Eliza Jane Cooper as the guardian of minors: Vianna May Cooper and Lillian Augusta Cooper, heirs of George W Cooper.[16]
She remained working as a matron on the Poor Farm in 1910.[17] Although widowed, she was recorded as divorced. Daughters Vina and Lillian were living with her.
She married George Scranton on 8 April 1914 in Waterloo, Iowa.[18][19] Her marriage records identified her birthplace as Waukon, Iowa.
George and Ottilia lived in Tama and Black Hawk counties in Iowa,[20] and raised hogs and fattened cattle.[1]. There they had four daughters: Bernice Emily, Margaret Georgeanna, Ottilia Dorothy, and Ethel Ruth (Hester).
George left for New York in 1920 or 1921. After he found a place to work and live, Ottilia followed with her daughters, taking a train from Iowa to New York.[1] Her daughter Bernice was old enough to remember the train trip, and said they also took the piano on the train.[21]
They first settled in New Berlin, New York,[22] and worked as tenant farmers, moving each spring, living for some time in Lysander[23][24] until George bought a farm just outside the Village of Elbridge in Onondaga County.[25][26]
They had a diary farm of 178 acres, and paid for the farm with two cans of milk a day.[27] They produced 8 cans of milk a day in the winter, and 12 in the summer, with 47 cows. After retiring from farming, they had a house a short way from the farm.[1]
In 1950 she was living in Elbridge, Onondaga, New York.[28] The household included George E Scranton 75, and wife Ottelia Scranton 74. George was a farmer.
She died at home in Elbridge on 23 June 1950[29][30][31] and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, Jordan, Onondaga County, New York.[32]
Research Notes
Sources were reviewed to determine Ottilia's first name and her maiden name, as summarized below. The first name on her first marriage license and signed by her on court papers in 1905 was Ottilia, and appears to be correct. Although there were many variants of her father's last name, and several of his children used different variants, his signature on her Indenture of Servitude as Toepelt.
| First Name | Last Name | Date | Reference | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ottalia | Toapelt | 1879 | Indenture of Apprenticeship[4] | Judge’s writing |
| Ottalia | Toepelt | 1879 | Indenture of Apprenticeship[4] | Father’s signature |
| Otillia | Cooper | 1880 | US Census[2] | |
| Ottelia | Cooper | 1885 | Iowa Census[5] | Transcribed as Attelia |
| Ottilia | Toepelt | 1893 | Marriage License[6] | |
| Ottelia | Toefelt | 1893 | Marriage Return[7] | |
| Ottilia | Loefelt | 1893 | Iowa County Marriage[8] | Transcription |
| Ottelia | Loefelt | 1893 | Iowa Marriages Index[9] | Transcription |
| Ottilia | Toefelt | 1893 | Iowa County Marriage[10] | Transcription |
| Tillie | Cooper | 1895 | Iowa Census[11] | |
| Tillia | Cooper | 1900 | Iowa Census[14] | |
| Tillie | Cooper | 1901 | Postville Review[15] | |
| Ottilia | Cooper | 1905 | Application to sell real estate[16] | her signature |
| Ottelia | Cooper | 1910 | Census[17] | |
| Ottelia | Cooper | 1914 | Iowa Marriages[18] | father Teopelt |
| Ottelia | Teopelt | 1914 | Iowa Marriage Index[19] | Transcription |
| Othelia | Toepelt | 1915 | Bernice Birth Certificate[33] | |
| Ottia | Toepelt | 1915 | Margaret Iowa County Births[34] | |
| Ottia | Toepelt | 1915 | Margaret Birth Certificate[35] | |
| Otillia | Taepelt | 1918 | Otilia Dorothy Iowa County Births[36] | |
| Ottilia | Scranton | 1920 | US Census[20] | |
| Othelia | Toeplt | 1920 | Ethel Iowa County Births[37] | |
| Ottillia | Latospelt | 1922 | Lillian Iowa County Marriages[38] | Transcription |
| Ottillia | La Tospelt | 1922 | Lillian Iowa County Marriages[39] | Image (hard to read) |
| Attelia | Scranton | 1925 | New York Census[23] | Transcription |
| Ottelia | Scranton | 1925 | New York Census[24] | |
| Ottelia | Scranton | 1930 | US Census[25] | |
| Ottelia | Scranton | 1940 | US Census[26] | |
| Ottlia | Taplet | 1944 | Margaret SS Claim[40] | Transcription |
| Ottelia | Scranton | 1950 | US Census[28] | |
| Otellia | Scranton | 1950 | Death Certificate[29] | |
| Ottelia | Scranton | 1950 | Death Index[30] | |
| Ottelia | Scranton | 1950 | Death Index[31] | |
| Otellia | Scranton | 1950 | Gravestone[32] | |
| Topelt | 1971 | Vianna Minnesota Death Index[41] | Transcription | |
| Attelia | Cooper | 1997 | Bernice SS Claim[42] | |
| Ottelia | Toepelt | 2000 | Margaret Death Certificate[43] |
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Family stories as told by her daughter.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "United States, Census, 1880," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: MDKL-DSJ : accessed 13 April 2025) FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GYB7-Z75, Otillia Cooper (5), single daughter, in household of Harmon S. Cooper (57) in Jefferson Township, Allamakee, Iowa, United States. Born in Iowa, United States; citing Volume: 1; Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T9; Affiliate Line Number: 00098; Digital film/folder number: 005160587; FHL microfilm: 1254325; Image number: 646; Sheet number: 319; Sheet letter: B.
- ↑ Waukon Standard, (Waukon, Iowa), 30 January 1879, Page 1; Allamakee County Historical Society, Waukon, Iowa.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Allamakee County, Allamakee County Court Records , Indenture of Apprenticeship Ottalia Toapelt to H.S. Cooper, Robert Toapelt, father, filed 30 September 1879; Allamakee County Historical Society, Waukon, Iowa.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Iowa, State Census, 1885," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: HH9Q-RT2 : accessed 13 April 2025) FamilySearch Image: 939Z-YP92-8M, Attelia Cooper (9) in Jefferson, Allamakee, Iowa; citing Page: 185; Line: 12; Digital film/folder number: 004539565; FHL microfilm: 1021318; Image number: 180; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N00983-7.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Marriage Ottelia Toeplet and George W. Cooper, (27 February 1893), Allamakee County Marriages: P 3-24; Allamakee County Courthouse, Waukon, Iowa.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Marriage Ottelia Toeplet and George W. Cooper, (27 February 1893), Allamakee County Marriages: Marriage return year ending Oct 1, 1893; Allamakee County Courthouse, Waukon, Iowa.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, (FamilySearch Record: XJ8B-Y2R : accessed 13 April 2025), Ottilia Loefelt marriage to George Cooper on 27 Feb 1893 in Waukon, Allamakee, Iowa, United States; citing Digital film/folder number: 004320534; FHL microfilm: 001479484; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: M02664-5.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Iowa, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996," database, (Ancestry Record 60284 #3210219 : accessed 13 April 2025), Ottilia Loefelt marriage to George Cooper on 27 Feb 1893 in Waukon, Allamakee Co., Iowa; citing Original data Iowa, Marriages. Salt Lake City, Utah FamilySearch, 2013, FHL Film Number 1479484.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Iowa, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996," database, (Ancestry Record 60284 #4036981 : accessed 13 April 2025), Geo W Cooper (22), son of H.S. Cooper & Jane E. Gilbert, marriage to Ottelia Toefelt on 27 Feb 1893 in Waukon, Allamakee Co., Iowa; citing Original data Iowa, Marriages. Salt Lake City, Utah FamilySearch, 2013, FHL Film Number 1479486.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Iowa, State Census, 1895," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: VT3N-CCY : accessed 13 April 2025) FamilySearch Image: 939V-559T-9N, Tillie Cooper (20) in Allamakee, Iowa, United States; citing Page: 408; Line: 3; Digital film/folder number: 004679426; FHL microfilm: 1021708; Image number: 387; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N04393-3.
- ↑ Waukon Standard, (Waukon, Iowa), 29 September 1897, Page 5; Allamakee County Historical Society, Waukon, Iowa. George Cooper.
- ↑ Waukon Democrat, (Waukon, Iowa), 28 September 1897, Page 8; Allamakee County Historical Society, Waukon, Iowa.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "United States, Census, 1900," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: M9VB-2D1 : accessed 13 April 2025) FamilySearch Image: S3HY-D1L3-L7L, Tillia Cooper (25), widowed servant, in household of N L Nelson (26) in Allamakee, Iowa, United States. Born in Iowa; citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T623; Line: 46; Digital film/folder number: 004119720_003_M9LK-5SV; FHL microfilm: 1240415; Image number: 219; Sheet number: 3; Sheet letter: A; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N00798-0.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 IAGenWeb Allamakee County, "Postville Review," database, iagenweb.org (iagenweb.org : accessed 7 July 2016), 1901 Allamakee Co. Officials; IAGenWeb, Allamakee co.; Copyright 2016 by IAGenWeb, Sharyl Ferrall & the individual submitters; printed in the Postville Review, January 25, 1901 & February 1, 1901.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Allamakee County, Allamakee County Court Records , Application to sell real estate, Ottilia Cooper, 14 March 1905; Allamakee County Historical Society, Waukon, Iowa.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 "United States, Census, 1910," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: MLB1-P9S : accessed 13 April 2025) FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRVN-995V, Ottelia Cooper (35), divorced head of household in Makee, Allamakee, Iowa, United States. Born in Iowa; citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T624; Digital film/folder number: 004971403; FHL microfilm: 1374403; Image number: 833; Sheet number: 8; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03359-7.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, (FamilySearch Record: XJFT-5H7 : accessed 13 April 2025), Ottelia Cooper (39), daughter of Robert Teopelt, marriage to George Scranton (40), son of Edwin Scranton & Emly Sanford, on 8 Apr 1914 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co, Iowa, United States; citing Digital film/folder number: 004320694; FHL microfilm: 001548420; Packet letter: I; Indexing batch: M02679-7.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Iowa, U.S., Select Marriages Index, 1758-1996," database, (Ancestry Record 60284 #3198474 : accessed 13 April 2025), Ottelia Cooper (39), daughter of Robert Teopelt, marriage to George Scranton on 8 Apr 1914 in Waterloo, Black Hawk Co, Iowa; citing Original data Iowa, Marriages. Salt Lake City, Utah FamilySearch, 2013, FHL Film Number 1548420.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "United States, Census, 1920," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: M8YB-9G1 : accessed 13 April 2025) FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9R68-GLY, Ottilia Scranton (44), wife, in household of George Scranton (46) in Black Hawk Township, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States. Born in Iowa; citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T625; Line: 58; Digital film/folder number: 004965856; FHL microfilm: 1820478; Image number: 90; Sheet number: 8; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N01918-4.
- ↑ Family stories as told by her daughter Bernice.
- ↑ "Dubuque Telegraph Herald," database, Ancestry.com (: accessed ), Mrs. Ida B Horch is Called by Death, Sept 25, 1921, p. 18; Dubuque Telegraph Herald, Dubuque, Iowa, United States.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 "New York, State Census, 1925," database, (FamilySearch Record: KSW2-4XW : accessed 13 April 2025), Attelia Scranton (49), wife, in household of Attelia Scranton (49) in Lysander, A.D. 01, E.D. 01, Onondaga, New York, United States; citing Page: 5; Line: 27.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 "New York, U.S., State Census, 1925," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 2704 #21302103 : accessed 13 April 2025), Attelia Scranton (49), wife, in household of Geroge Scranton (50) in Lysander, Onondaga. Born in USA; citing New York State Archives, Albany, New York, State Population Census Schedules, 1925, Election District 01, Assembly District 01, City Lysander, County Onondaga, Page 5, Line Number 27.
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 "United States, Census, 1930," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: X4RX-QG8 : accessed 13 April 2025) FamilySearch Image: 33SQ-GRZ7-SHV, Ottelia Scranton (54), wife, in household of George Scranton (55) in Elbridge, Onondaga, New York, United States. Born in Iowa; citing Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Affiliate Publication Number: T626; Line: 89; Digital film/folder number: 004952211; FHL microfilm: 2341358; Image number: 309; Sheet number: 2; Sheet letter: B; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: N03936-3.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 "United States, Census, 1940," database with images, (FamilySearch Record: K3BH-WH8 : accessed 13 April 2025) FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-L9MB-984F, Ottelia Scranton (64), wife, in household of George Scranton (65) in Skaneateles Junction, Elbridge, Onondaga, New York, United States. Born in Iowa; citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 5; Digital film/folder number: 005458675; Image number: 729; Sheet number: 4; Sheet letter: A.
- ↑ OldFultonNYPostCards, "Steuben Farmers' Advocate, Bath, N.Y.," database, www.fultonhistory.com (www.fultonhistory.com : accessed 14 September 2017), 2 CANS OF MILK BUYS BIG FARM; Old Fulton NY Post Cards; State of New York Newspaper Project (1970s early 1980’s) and/or from libraries, historical societies, or private individuals; Wednesday, Aug 26, 1931, p.3
- ↑ 28.0 28.1 "1950 United States Federal Census," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 62308 #283059771 : accessed 13 April 2025), Attelia Scranton (74), wife, in household of George E Scranton (75) in Elbridge, Onondaga, New York, USA. Born in Iowa; citing National Archives at Washington, DC, Washington, D.C., Seventeenth Census of the United States, 1950, Year 1950, Census Place Elbridge, Onondaga, New York, Roll 1261, Page 19, Enumeration District 34-56.
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 Otellia Scranton, death certificate No. 14 (1950), Onondaga County Health Department, Office of Vital Statistics, 421 Montgomery St, Room 20 Basement, Syracuse, NY 13202.
- ↑ 30.0 30.1 "New York, U.S., Death Index, 1852-1956," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 61535 #1749084 : accessed 13 April 2025), Otellia Scranton death 23 Jun 1950 (age 75) in Elbridge, New York, USA; citing New York Department of Health, Albany, NY, NY State Death Index, Certificate Number 37109.
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 "U.S., Newspapers.com™ Obituary Index, 1800s-current," database, (Ancestry Record 61843 #2087609592 : accessed 13 April 2025), Name Ottelia Scranton, Gender Female, Death Age 75, Birth Date abt 1875, Birth Place Waukon, Louisiana, Residence Place Halfway, Death Date Abt 1950, Burial Place Jordan, Obituary Date 24 Jun 1950, Obituary Place Syracuse, New York, USA, Newspaper Title The Post-Standard, Spouse George E. Scranton, Child O. I. Austin J. M. Kaupsh Edmond Schillawaski; citing The Post-Standard, Publication Date 24 Jun 1950, Publication Place Syracuse, New York, USA, URL www.newspapers.com/image/1099086939/?article=9def3c96-5873-464d-88d9-82ed435f6b8d&focus=0.028536798,0.64089644,0.15483692,0.7840151&xid=3355.
- ↑ 32.0 32.1 "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #66319928 : accessed 13 April 2025), Memorial page for Ottilia Toepelt Scranton (15 Jun 1875-23 Jun 1950), citing Maple Grove Cemetery, Jordan, Onondaga County, New York, USA; Maintained by KSands (contributor 49289325).
- ↑ Birth Certificate Bk 2 Pg 130, Office of Recorder of Tama County, Toledo, Iowa.
- ↑ "Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935," database, (FamilySearch Record: VRZB-P7P : accessed 13 April 2025), Margaret Georgeanna Scranton born to Ottia Toepelt on 28 Apr 1917 in Grant Township, Tama, Iowa, United States; citing Digital film/folder number: 004266401; FHL microfilm: 1763983; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: I11400-7.
- ↑ Margaret Georgeanna Scranton, birth certificate 281 (28 April 1917), Tama County Recorder's Office, Toledo, Tama, Iowa, United States in possession of Margaret's daughter
- ↑ "Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935," database, (FamilySearch Record: VRZ1-9RW : accessed 13 April 2025), Otillia Scrantan born to Otillia Taepelt on 3 Aug 1918 in Geneseo Township, Tama, Iowa, United States; citing Digital film/folder number: 004266401; FHL microfilm: 1763983; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: I11400-7.
- ↑ "Iowa, County Births, 1880-1935," database, (FamilySearch Record: V4XC-64X : accessed 13 April 2025), Ethel Ruth Scranton born to Othelia Toeplt on 19 Jan 1920 in Black Hawk Township, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States; citing Digital film/folder number: 004266229; FHL microfilm: 1561083; Packet letter: A; Indexing batch: C05812-3.
- ↑ "Iowa, County Marriages, 1838-1934," database, (FamilySearch Record: XJ2D-XLZ : accessed 13 April 2025), Otillia Latospelt's daughter Lilian Allen marriage to Joe M. Kupsh in 1922 in Polk, Iowa, United States; citing Digital film/folder number: 004322064; FHL microfilm: 001749719; Packet letter: G; Indexing batch: M02708-8.
- ↑ "Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1948," database with images, Ancestry Sharing Link - (Ancestry Record 8823 #1503692478 : accessed 13 April 2025), William Fospel's daughter Lilian Allen marriage to Joe M Kupsh on 10 Jun 1922 in Polk, Iowa, USA; citing Iowa Department of Public Health, Des Moines, Iowa, Iowa Marriage Records, 1880–1922, Record Type Marriage, Volume Number 503 (Page-Polk).
- ↑ "U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007," database, (Ancestry Record 60901 #776745071 : accessed 13 April 2025), Ottlia Taplet Social Security record; citing Original data Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.
- ↑ "Minnesota, U.S., Death Index, 1908-2017," database, (Ancestry Record 7316 #112365 : accessed 13 April 2025), Vianna M Austin death 7 Feb 1971 (born 6 Jan 1894) in Ramsey, Minnesota, USA, mother's maiden name Topelt; citing Minnesota Department of Health, St Paul, Minnesota, USA, Minnesota, Death Index, 1908-2017, Certificate Number 005055.
- ↑ "United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007," database, (FamilySearch Record: 6K9C-YX62 : accessed 13 April 2025), Attellia T Cooper in Social Security record for daughter Bernice Emily Randall; citing Digital film/folder number: DI0001099.
- ↑ Margaret Sands Grajko, death certificate Registration Area 234. Certificate No. 562 (19 June 2000), Commonwealth of Virginia, Department of Health, Richmond, Virginia, United States
See Also:
- Allamakee County Historical Society, Waukon, Iowa
DNA
- Paternal and Maternal relationships are both confirmed based on an autosomal AncestryDNA test match between Kay Sands and P T (great-great-grandchild of Robert Toepelt), her 2nd cousin 1x removed. Their most-recent common ancestors are Robert Toepelt and Emma Unknown, the great grandparents of Kay Sands and 2x great grandparents of P T. Predicted relationship from AncestryDNA: 2nd cousin once removed, based on sharing 101 cM across 4 segments.