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Dan Schlotman, Rural Mail Carrier

Mail Carrier Appointed At Sheldon

SHELDON — Official announcement was made Wednesday of appointment of Dan Schlotman as mail carrier on rural route 2 out of Sheldon. His duties will start July 6.

The appointment was made to fill vacancy caused by death of Mark M. Chapman in February, 1936. Harry McKimson, substitute carrier, has been on the route since November, 1935, when Mr. Chapman took a three month leave of absence.

Mr. Schlotman has been employed at Texaco filling station for four years and since Oct. 15, 1934 has been manager. He will leave that work Saturday and will spend part of next week with his family at home of an uncle, Robert Schlotman, of Madisonville, Ky.

Walter Maddin will have charge of filling station and will have as helpers George Quinn and Wendell Berry. The latter has for a number of years been employed by L. B. Warrick at Sheldon Hatchery.

Source

Unknown Newspaper, late June 1937

RURAL ROUTE CARRIER NAMED FOR SHELDON

Dan Schlotman Named for Route Two; Will Begin Duties July 6, 1937

Announcement is made this week of the appointment of Dan Schlotman as rural mail carrier on route two out of Sheldon postoffice.  The announcement comes about eight months after thirty-nine had written the examination for the job at Watseka.

Dan is quite well known to Sheldon people, having been employed for the past four years in the Texaco service station across from the postoffice and three years of that time he spent as manager.  He made a wide acquaintance of the general public in his four years there.

Mr. Schlotman will take over the duties of the route on July 6.  Harry McKimson has been the temporary carrier on the route for many months since the death of Mark Chapman, who was the rural carrier.

Wendell Berry, formerly with the Sheldon Hatchery, will take over his new duties Monday morning at the Texaco station, where he will take the place of George Quinn who will be advanced to the position vacated by Mr. Schlotman.

Source

Unknown newspaper, probably Sheldon Journal, unknown date, but probably late June 1937

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Dorothy Pothuisje — Obituaries

POTHUISJE, Dorothy

Friends may call 5-8 p.m. (CST) today at Gerts Funeral Home, Goodland.  Service in Gerts Chapel, 11 a.m. (CST) Thursday, the Rev. C. Scott Davis, officiating, interment Goodland Cemetery.  Two grandchildren, Janice Holihan and Gary Pothuisje, and 3 great-grandchildren, Erin, Amber and D. C. Holihan, survive.  Preceded in death by a brother, a sister.  The family suggests memorials to American Cancer Society.

Source

Unknown newspaper, unknown date (death date 27 Jan 1992)

Dorothy Pothuisje, 83, Goodland club member

GOODLAND — Dorothy E. Pothuisje, 83, died Monday in her home in Goodland. She had been ill six months.

She was born May 20, 1908, in Sheldon, Ill., and she graduated in 1926 from Sheldon High School. She had lived in Goodland since 1928.

Mrs. Pothuisje was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Sheldon, Ill. She also was a member of the Mite Society, Birthday Club, Bridge Club, Union Township Home Demonstration Club and the M. B. Club of Benton County.

She married J. Clay Pothuisje in Watseka, Ill., on Aug. 22, 1928. He survives.

Also surviving are a son, James C. Pothuisje of Goodland; two sisters, Luella Schlotman of Sheldon and Mrs. Margaret Riker of Kentland; and a brother, John Schlotman of Kentland.

Source

Unknown Newspaper, unknown date (death date 27 Jan 1992)

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SCHLOTMAN-CADE

A pretty summer wedding performed Saturday, Aug 11, in the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Hoopeston united in marriage Miss Thelma Cade and John Schlotman.

The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alva Cade of Hoopeston and the bridegroom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Schlotman of near Sheldon.

The double ring nuptials were repeated before the Rev. Fr. E. W. Flynn in front of the altar banked with baskets of gladiolas and lighted candelabra.

Preceding the ceremony a prelude of hymns was played by Ellen Thomas who also accompanied William Campbell as he sang Schubert’s “Ave Maria” and “The Lord’s Prayer” during the ceremony.

The bride entered the church with her father and met her bridegroom at the altar where he awaited with his best man, Cyril Donohue.

She was lovely in a gown of white skinner satin and Chantilly lace, the lace being used in the bodice, which had a yoke of illusion net with a scalloped neckline. The scalloped lace extended into the full skirt and cathedral train and was accented by tiny seed pearl trim. Her veil of illusion cascaded from a net cap with satin bands. She carried a bridal bouquet of white roses.

The bride’s only jewelry was a single strand of pearls, gift of the bridegroom.

Miss Delores Gustine, who served the bride as maid of honor, wore a gown of yellow marquisette over taffeta styled with a fitted bodice and gathered skirt.

The bridesmaids, Mrs. Charles France and Miss Betty Fawver each wore gowns of orchid and green respectively and styled exactly as that of the maid of honor. Each attendant wore a miniature picture hat and carried a bouquet of pink carnations and lavender asters.

Little Miss Jeanie Cade, niece of the bride, served as junior bridesmaid. She wore a floor length gown of pink marquisette over taffeta and carried a bouquet of white carnations.

Each of the men in the wedding party wore a blue business suit.

Guests were seated by James Nagele and Robert Donohue, cousins of the bridegroom.

For her daughter’s wedding Mrs. Cade chose a two piece street length dress of dusty rose with navy accessories. Mrs. Schlotman was attired in a navy street length dress with lavender accessories. Each mother wore a shoulder corsage of white roses.

A reception was held at 12:00 noon in the IOOF Hall for 115 guests. Members of the Prairie Rebekah Lodge under the direction of Mrs. Lulu Belle Burtis were in charge.

The Misses Luella and Margaret Schlotman, sisters of the bridegroom, cut the cake, and Mrs. Allen Leonard, also a sister of the bridegroom, poured.

In charge of the gift table were Mrs. Henry German and daughter, Mary Jane, sister and niece of the bride.

Mrs. Harland Cade, sister-in-law of the bride, was in charge of guest book.

The serving table was decorated with a four-tiered wedding cake topped with two large sugar wedding bells and surrounded by white carnations and finery with bouquet of white carnations on either side.

The family table was decorated with bouquets of white carnations and centered with a large silver wedding ring. Lighted candles were placed on either side.

Mr. and Mrs. Schlotman left that afternoon for a two week wedding trip through the Western States. For traveling, Mrs. Schlotman wore a rose linen dress with navy accessories and a corsage of white roses.

The bride is a graduate of John Greer High School and for the past three years has been employed on the staff of the Chronicle-Herald of Hoopeston as society editor and reporter.

The bridegroom is a graduate of Sheldon High School and is engaged in farming with his father near Sheldon.
Upon their return, Mr. and Mrs. Schlotman will be at home on a farm south of Sheldon.

Source

Unknown newspaper, but probably Sheldon Journal

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SCHLOTMAN—POTHUISJE

A quiet wedding was solemnized at the Methodist parsonage in Watseka at 2:30 o’clock Wednesday afternoon. August 22, 1928, when Miss Dorothy Schlotman of this place became the bride of Mr. Clay Pothuisje of Goodland, Ind. Rev. Stanley Ward, pastor of the church, officiating.

The ceremony was witnessed by the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Schlotman1, Miss Ida Schlotman, aunt of the bride, the groom’s sister, Mrs. Ivan Nutland2, son Edgar, and Mr. Arthur Pothuisje3, brother of the groom.

The bride was attired in a beige colored crepe satin gown, with hat and other accessories to correspond.

Immediately after the ceremony the happy couple left for a motor trip through central Michigan.

The bride is the eldest daughter of Mr. Oscar Schlotman, residing south of town and is a graduate of the Sheldon Community High School, class of 1928. She has spent her entire life in this vicinity and is held in high esteem by all who know her.

The groom is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Pothuisje of Goodland, and is an honorable and industrious young man, worth in every respect of the bride he has chosen. He is a graduate of the Wadena high school, class of 1925, and the past few years he has been engaged in farming with his father.

Mr. and Mrs. Pothuisje will make their home on a farm south of Goodland, owned by the groom’s father. Their many friends join in wishing them much happiness and extend congratulations.

Source

Unknown newspaper and date, but probably the Sheldon Journal

Notes

People mentioned in this article:

Footnotes

  1. Mrs. Oscar Schlotman was Gertrude Agnes “Gertie” Quinn Schlotman (1891-1973). She was Dorothy’s stepmother. Dorothy’s mother died when she was three years old. Her father married Gertie when she was eight. So, Gertie definitely had a big role in raising Dorothy and may have been the only mother she remembered. ↩︎
  2. This was Caroline Mae Pothuisje Nutt (1898-1978), not “Nutland.” ↩︎
  3. Dorothy’s first cousin, Helen Lucyle Schlotman Pothuisje (1913-2003) married Arthur Robinson Pothuisje (1912-1986) in 1933. ↩︎

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First Mail Route Left Sheldon P. O. on May 15, 1901

Yesterday, May 15, was the forty-fifth anniversary of the first rural delivery of mail in Iroquois county, and that was from the Sheldon post office.  Chas. Bussert, one of our esteemed citizens, was the carrier for this first route.

In an interview with Mr. Bussert the fore part of the week, he stated that he served until May 15, 1934.  During this time he was under nine postmasters in Sheldon.  Postmaster Ranton drove the first trip with him 45 years ago, and Postmaster Walter Maddin drove with him his last trip 12 years ago.

Mr. Bussert received a total of $500 a year when he began the route.  He recalls that it was in 1915 that the team gave way to the auto, but then only in good weather.  The team made the route in bad weather for four or five years after that.

It was way after dark many the day when he came in off his route.  That is a far cry from the time needed today to cover a rural route.

Two more routes were started in Sheldon in 1902 with Harry Shaw and Steve Reighart as carriers.  About 1930, with the retirement of the late Albert Burroughs, the three routes were consolidated into the present two routes.

Concerning the establishment of this first route a May, 1901, issue of the Journal says:

The free rural delivery route as submitted by Postmaster Ranton has been endorsed by the department, and the farmers along the line will have free delivery after May 15.

Special Delivery Agent A. B. Smith was here Saturday and, in company with Postmaster Ranton, went over the proposed route.  Mr. Smith found that the route had been carefully planned, and did not think it necessary to make any change.

The route is the same as published in the Journal last June, and is as follows:

Beginning at the west side of the corporate limits of Sheldon, a distance from the post office of one-half mile, thence south one-half mile, three miles west to Lister’s Point, two miles south to Pleasant Valley school house, two miles east to Center school house, two miles south to Amos schoolhouse, one mile east, one mile south to township line, one mile east three miles north to Willow Grove school house, one mile east one mile north, one-half mile to state line road, three miles north through Effner, west one and a half mile, south one mile, west one-half mile, south one-half mile to post office.  Making a total of twenty-five miles.

The cost to the farmer will be $3 for a box, lock and steel post, or $2.50 without the lock.

There are 125 houses on the route, and there will be about 110 boxes.

Postmaster Ranton has worked hard for the establishment of the route, and his efforts are doubtless appreciated by the farming community.  He is the first to secure one in Iroquois county.  Milford, Onarga, and Buckley come later.

In addition to this route another is under consideration covering the rest of the territory surrounding Sheldon.

The establishment of the routes will not necessarily increase the labor in the post office here, outside of the increased business that will follow.

The office at Effner will be abolished after May 15th, and the one at Eastburn after June 1st, if the other route is established.

The mail wagon will leave over its route immediately after the arrival of the 11:27 train from the north, and make daily trips, Sunday excepted.

Mr. Smith, who during his travels over the country, visits a great many post offices, and has many opportunities to observe a thing or two, complimented Postmaster Ranton very highly on the way the office here was conducted, and said it was one of the neatest and best equipped offices it has been his pleasure to visit for some time.

Source

Sheldon Journal, Sheldon, Illinois, 16 May 1946

Notes

People mentioned in this article

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Clara Light and Dan Schlotman are Married

LIGHT—SCHLOTMAN NUPTUALS SATURDAY

Miss Clara Marie Light and Dan Schlotman of Sheldon were the principals in a quiet wedding solemnized at the Methodist parsonage in Watseka at 4 30 o’clock Saturday evening, August 20, 1927, by the Rev. Stanley Ward pastor of the M. E. church of that place.

The bride is the youngest daughter of Mrs. Margaret Light of this place. She is a graduate of the S. C. H. S. class of ’25 and last year was a most successful teacher near Gilman.

The groom is a graduate of the Sheldon High School and attended the U. of I. He is the son of Oscar Schlotman residing south of town and for the past several years has assisted his father on the farm.

The many Sheldon friends of Mr. and Mrs. Schlotman join in wishing them much happiness in their wedded life and extend congratulations and best wishes.

Source

Unknown paper, but probably Sheldon Journal, marriage date was 20 Aug 1927

SCHLOTMAN-LIGHT

Miss Clara Light and Dan Schlotman, both of this place, were quietly married at the M. E. parsonage in Watseka at five o’clock Saturday evening by the Rev. Stanley Ward, pastor of the church.

Sheldon friends extend congratulations and best wishes to the happy couple.

Source

Unknown Newspaper, probably Sheldon Journal, marriage date was 20 Aug 1927

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Luella Schlotman’s 80th birthday

The nieces and nephews of Luella Schlotman wish to announce that an open house honoring Luella’s 80th birthday will be from 2-5 p.m. April 5 at the home of John and Thelma Schlotman, 611 N. Sixth St., Kentland, Ind.

All of Luella’s friends are welcome to share in the celebration of her birthday. She would love to hear from those who cannot attend the celebration. Her address is P.O. Box 145, Sheldon, Ill., 60966. The open house will be hosted by Mary Beth and Greg Weston, Steve and Kathy Schlotman, Kathy Leonard and Michael Freedman, Bill and Donna Schlotman, Anne and Justin Deister, Bob and Julie Schlotman, and their families.

The family requests no gifts.

Source

Watseka Times Republic, 31 Mar 1998

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Joe Nagele/former Pastor

VALLIANT, OKL. – Rev. Joseph Edward Nagele, 85, a senior member of the Glenmary Home Missioners, died suddenly Nov. 22, 1995 at his residence at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Valliant, Oklahoma, in the Diocese of Tulsa.

He was born April 10, 1910 in Sheldon, the son of the late Arthur and Margaret Quinn Nagele.

He attended the Saint Joseph Parish in Kentland, Ind. in his younger years.  He was ordained to the Catholic priesthood Nov. 1, 1946 and made his perpetual profession to Glenmary on Aug. 26, 1951.

He graduated from Sheldon High School in 1927, where he was the class valedictorian.  He attended Saint Meinrad Seminary (Indiana) from 1937-1940; from 1940-1942, he studied philosophy at the former Saint Gregory Seminary (Cincinnati) and from 1942-1946, he pursued theological studies at the former Mount Saint Mary Seminary (Cincinnati).  Additionally, the Glenmarian engaged in canon law study. 

Following ordination, he served in Glenmary missions in Norton, Virginia (1946-47); Statesboro, Georgia (1947-57); Sylvania, Georgia (1957-60); Sunfish, Kentucky (1960-71); and Elkton, Kentucky (1971-81).  In 1981, he took senior membership within the society, residing in Cadiz, Kentucky until 1985.

For the last 10 years, he lived in Valliant, Oklahoma, where he served as the first resident Catholic priest at Good Shepherd Church.

He is survived by a sister, Genevra Gooding of Sheldon; three brothers, Donald Nagele of Sheldon, Thomas Nagele of Urbana, and James Nagele of Galconda; he is also survived by many nieces and nephews. 

A simple man who was one with nature, he loved to garden, with most of his produce going to poor families.  He once said of his hobby, “I’m in the business of gardening for the purpose of filling my own stomach and as many stomachs of the poor as possible.”

Visitation, including a prayer service, took place today from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Fields Chapel in Fairfield, Ohio.  A mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 29 at Saint Gabriel Church in Glendale, Ohio.  Burial will immediately follow in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery, Ohio.

Memorials may be made to the Glenmary Home Missioners, P.O. Box 465618, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45246-5618.

Nov. 22, 1995

Source

Unknown publication, unknown date — probably from an Iroquois County, Illinois newspaper

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Clara Schlotman — Fifty Years a Royal Neighbor

Honored at a meeting of the Sheldon, Ill., camp, were Neighbors Genevieve Keller and Clara Schlotman, pictured at right, left and right, respectively, when they were presented their coveted gold 50-year membership jewels. A detailed account of the meeting may be found in the Illinois camp news section of this issue of the Royal Neighbor.

Source

Unknown publication, unknown date, the even took place on 21 Apr 1972.

Present Fifty year RNA pins to Sheldon two

SHELDON — Benevolence Camp 521 of Sheldon met in the library hall on Friday, April 21 with vice oracle, Mrs. Charles Burton, presiding.

Eight members of the Stockland Camp were visitors and were welcomed by receiving the grand honors. They were Mrs. Curtis Sever, Mrs. Evelyn Beall, Mrs. Mildred Coryell, Mrs. Ruth Bury, Mrs. Bertha Handy, Mrs. Alice Whitesel, Mrs. Edith Sullivan, and Mrs. Vic Gillan.

The password was collected by Mrs. Larry Hartlep, marshal and Mrs. Burl Houston, assistant marshal. The opening and closing prayers were given by chancellor, Mrs. Albert Whaley. The odes were sung with Mrs. Joe Keller at the piano. Mrs. Emmett Bigger, the recorder, read information received from the head camp at Rock Island.

The highlight of the evening was the presentation of 50 year pins to Mrs. Joe Keller and Mrs. Dan Schlotman of Sheldon by Mrs. Joe Turpin. She read two poems entitled “Friendship” and “Old Friends.” A humorous article, “Remember When” was read by Mrs. Albert Whaley.

Grand Honors were given to the two new 50 year members and also to the other 50 year members, Mrs. Edythe Newman, Mrs. Charles Burton, Mrs. Louie Poster of Sheldon and Mrs. Bertha Handy and Mrs. Edith Sullivan of Stockland. They all were presented with a corsage form the Sheldon camp.

Meeting close in usual form. Games were played with all winning prizes and a potluck lunch was enjoyed by those present.

Source

Unknown newspaper, 2 May 1972

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Dear Arthur — Letter from Bob Schlotman

Iroquois Hotel
EUROPEAN
A First Class Place for Tourists and the Traveling Public
Excellent Dining Room Service
JNO. B. SNELL, Prop.

Dixie Highway, Watseka, Ill.,
3/9/24

Dear Arthur:-

This will introduce my nephew, Dan Schlotman, whom I am sending to you in the hopes you can offer him something more attractive than what his is now doing.

Dan has had one year at Illinois and is, I think, trying to accumulate enough to take him thru at least another year. Don’t try to talk him into going to Michigan.

We are planning to close down at Nortonville April 1st., or would place the young man there.

Any courtesies shown will be very much appreciated.

Sincerely,
R. L. Schlotman

Mr. A. C. Green,
c/o Goodman Mfg. Co.,
Chicago, Ill.

Notes

This letter was written by my 2nd great-granduncle, Bob Schlotman, to introduce his nephew and my great-grandfather, Dan Schlotman, to Arthur Green in hopes that it might result in employment. I don’t know how the interview, assuming there was one, went, but to my knowledge, Grandpa didn’t end up working for Mr. Green.

The Iroquois Hotel was located near the train depot in Watseka. The hotel is gone, but the dept still stands.

The circumstances Grandpa Schlotman, hereafter referred to as Dan, found himself in were difficult. From what I have been told, Dan had a small inheritance from his mother, Anna, who died when he was eight years old. The money was in the care of his father, Oscar, and it was to be used for Dan’s education.

Dan was valedictorian of Sheldon High School, class of 1921, and attended the University of Illinois College of Engineering for one year, from 1922-23, following in his Uncle Bob Schlotman’s footsteps. Bob was working in Kentucky in the mining industry and had gifted his nephew Dan with a drafting set to use at his alma mater.

When Dan came home from his first year at U of I, Dan’s father told him that he wouldn’t be going back to the university because he’d bought farmland with the money and needed Dan’s help to work it.

This was surely a crushing blow to Dan and so he apparently attempted to make enough money to fund his own education. In the meantime, he farmed with his father. I don’t know at what point Dan gave up trying to go back to college, but that is what happened eventually.

I’m sure that this situation was frustrating to Uncle Bob. This attempt to help Dan, though fruitless for unknown reasons, would have placed Dan in a job in the mining industry, as the Goodman Manufacturing Company of Chicago built locomotives, loaders, and coal cutters for it.

Arthur was Arthur Crandell Green, who lived from 1882 to 1950. He was a mechanical engineer and a graduate of the University of Michigan. He seems to have worked for Goodman his entire career.

Dan worked with his father at farming and held several jobs including census enumerator and Texaco station operator before he won the position of rural mail carrier for Sheldon, Illinois. He worked for the postal service until his retirement.

While it’s sad to think of what Dan’s life might have been if only his father hadn’t stolen his college money, we must remember this — if Dan had continued his education, his career would likely have taken him far away from Sheldon. He probably would have never met and married country schoolteacher Clara Light. And so we descendants simply would not be here today.

Sources

Depot and Iroquois Hotel Watseka, IL Postcard (cardcow.com)