SIMON ORTMAN, retired, Walnut township.  He was born in Frederick county, Maryland, Apr. 28, 1811; the only son of Jacob and Mary (Brown) Ortman.  Jacob Ortman, a native of Maryland, was born Sept. 17, 1783, and came with his wife and three children to Ohio in 1825.  They settled in Walnut township on the place now owned by Frank Foster.  He purchased one-fourth section of land, partially improved.  In 1832 he built the residence still occupied on the place.  He raised a family of three children.  He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.  He owned at his death some two hundred and fifty acres of land.  He died Oct. 2, 1849; his widow in April, 1854.  Simon Ortman, after completing his education, engaged in farming.  He married May 22, 1834, Miss Elsie, daughter of Rev. James Hooper, a former itinerant preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, and a resident of Perry county.  Mrs. Ortman was born in Perry county, Sept. 26, 1813.  Mr. Ortman became a resident of Perry county after his marriage, until 1868, when he came to New Salem and lived three years.  In the spring of 1872 he returned to the farm and lived there five years, when he returned to New Salem and built the fine residence in which he resides.  To  his first marriage were born three children, viz: Maggie, who is the wife of M. C. Bugh; she died in 1878, in her twenty-second year; Benson C., a merchant of New Salem, and one who died in infancy.  The first Mrs. Ortman died Oct. 1, 1875.  In 1877 he was united in marriage to Louisa Baker, who lived three years after marriage; she died Sept. 22, 1880.  June 1, 1882, he was married to Mrs. Mary E. Darnell, daughter of John R. Connell, of Adams county, Ohio.  Mr. Ortman was licensed as local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1852.  Mr. Ortman, when married to Mr. Ortman, was the mother of one son, Wilber M. Darnell, born Sept. 9, 1863, who resides with his parents.
Source:  History of Fairfield and Perry Counties, Publ. Chicago - W. H. Beers & Co., 1883 - Page 339