HENRY W. OETGEN, farmer and stock raiser of Frederick, Illinois, was born near Beardstown, March 10, 1849. His parents, William and Katherine (Middlebusher) Oetgen, were natives of Hanover, Prussia. The father was born May 31, 1817, the mother December 23, 1823. They came to America with their parents when quite young, the paternal grandparents locating in Pennsylvania, and the maternal grandparents came straight to Beardstown.

Our subject was the third child of his parents. He received his education in the public schools of Cass county. He then engaged in farming, which has been his life work. In the fall of 1882 Mr. Oetgen purchased the farm on which he now resides and moved there the following spring. He owns a stock and grain farm of 260 acres, besides some town property in Frederick, all very valuable. His residence is a modern cottage, beautifully located and nicely furnished.

He was married in Cass county, March 13, 1879, to Miss Augusta C. Hansmier, daughter of Henry and Kate (Smidt) Hansmier. Her parents were natives of Germany and both came to America with their parents prior to marriage. The paternal grandmother and two daughters died on the voyage. The grandfather located in Wisconsin, where he remarried, afterward coming to Beardstown, where the father of Mrs. Oetgen married and now resides.

Mr. and Mrs. Oetgen are members of the German Lutheran Church. They have two children: Arthur H. and Inez Hallie. Mr. Oetgen is of straight Republican faith. He has served one term as Tax Collector of Frederick township and is a member of the M.W. of A.