James C. Oldt

The original Oldt immigrant came to Pennsylvania from Hotsch (Hesse), Germany.

James Calvin Oldt, a son of Reuben B. Oldt (1837-1917) and Amelia Bolender (1839-1906), was born in Pennsylvania in March of 1866.

James (1866-1954) married Alnora Harley in Scottville, MI, in 1890. Alnora was born in Ohio in November of 1872. Nora, as Alnora was called, was the daughter of Isaac Harley and Mary Ann Wyant. She moved with her family to Michigan as a child. Alnora died ca 1957 in Riverton, Mason, Michigan.

James and Alnora farmed in Riverton Township for many years, moving in 1923 to Muskegon. (Enumerated in Riverton in both the 1900 and 1920 U.S. Census.)

James was a farmer. Enumerated in the 1900 census, he is shown to own an 80 acre farm in Riverton, Mason County, which was mortgaged. He bought this from his father in 1899, so must have still owed his father for the balance of the price. He and his wife and three of their children were still living there at the 1920 census. It was reported he served as supervisor of Riverton early in the century.

He Also bought the land the family owned at Oxbow Lake from his father Reuben in 1899 (for a reported $290 for 40-60 acres). Cottages were built sometime during the 1930's and his daughter Hazel managed their rentals for vacations during the summer months. Each child received one cottage upon the death of James.

In 1923 James sold his farm in Riverton and moved to Muskegon where he became a building contractor. When older, he and Amelia lived with Hazel in Detroit while she taught school, and spent summer months at the lake. James was a great fisherman. He loved to make lures, and had a garage at Oxbow Lake where he'd carve his lures.

When James died in 1954, five of his children were still living. Lula's death date is unknown as of 3/01.

James died in 1954 and is buried in Riverton Cemetery. Alnora was living with her daughter Hazel when she died, circa 1957, in Riverton Township and is buried in Riverton Cemetery.

James Calvin Oldt and Alnora Harley had the following children:

1. Lula Oldt was born in Riverton, MI March 1891. The only information availaable on Lula as of 3/01 is her listing on the 1900 US census with James Oldt. She was born in 1891. Further research is needed.
   
   

2. Hazel A. Oldt was born in Riverton, MI June 12, 1892. Hazel died April 25, 1994 in Riverton, MI, at 101 years of age. Hazel never married. She lived to be almost 102! For many years she taught school in Detroit, and spent her summers at Oxbow Lake in Mason County. The family had cottages that they rented out to summer visitors and Hazel managed that business. When she retired, she bought an old home in Riverton and settled there. Her mother lived with her after her father died. Hazel is buried in Riverton Cemetery.
   
   

3. Fern B. Oldt was born August 10, 1893, and died August 10, 1990 in Ludington, Mason. Michigan, at 97 years of age. She married Walter Pleiness ca 1920. Walter Pleiness was born March 28, 1896 and died February, 1970 in Wayne, Michigan, at 73 years of age.
   
   Fern married Walter probably before 1920 as she was no longer living at home at the time of the 1920 U.S. Census enumeration. She and Walter had two daughters.
   
   At some point Walter and Fern were divorced "quite some time" before Walter's death in 1970.
   
   

4. Merle Oldt was born February 21, 1896, and died July 1, 1978 in Muskegon, Michigan, at 82 years of age. He married twice. His first wife was Julia Wilbur, who was the mother of his three sons. Merle married 2nd, Dorothy (Surname unknown) Dorothy was born November 25, 1909. She died December 27, 1998 in Muskegon, MI, at 89 years of age.
   
   

5. John Sterling Oldt was born September 2, 1904 in Scottville, Mason, Michigan. After his marriage he lived in Muskegon until May of 1953 when he moved his family moved to Duck Lake Road in Fruitland Township. Their four acre property had lots of lovely old trees and a pond and a creek in the back. John grew up in Riverton, MI. He then worked at the Old Dutch Refinery in Muskegon, working his way to supervisor.
   
   John loved to hunt and fish. His son remembers many trips to the Upper Penninsula in their camper, for weekends of fishing or hunting.
   
   John is buried in Riverton Cemetery. He died November 21st, 1990 in Fruitland Township, Muskegon, Michigan, at 86 years of age.
   
   

6. Charles Marion Oldt was born November 16, 1908 in Riverton, Mason, Michigan. He married Anna Grace Peterman circa 1932. Anna was born in Michigan on June 1st, 1912, and died July 11th, 1990 in Michigan, at 78 years of age. Charles died June 10th, 1993 in Bridgeton, Newaygo, Michigan at 84 years of age.