JAMES DANIEL OLTORF, II

     James Daniel Oltorf (called "Dan"), b May 19, 1881 in Marlin, Falls County, Texas, d November 22, 1951 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin-was a son of Thomas Clifton and Sarah ("Sallie" Calvert) Oltorf. "Dan" married Mary Julia Kyser (called "May"), b May 15, 1882 in Marlin, d October 15, 1969 and buried in Calvary Cemetery - a daughter of William Daniel and Mary Katherine (Hawthorne) Kyser.

     "Dan" owned and operated a grocery and bakery business in Marlin for many years, and his brother-in- law, Hawthorne Kyser, was a partner in the business for a short time before his untimely death during World War I. The business was known as "Oltorf and Kyser."

     "Dan" and "May" were members of the First Baptist Church. He was active in Marlin civic affairs, and served as a city councilman at one time. "May" was also active in civic, social, and church affairs. She was president of the Women's Missionary Society, and superintendent of a Sunday School Department for many years. She also organized the Business Women's Circle of the First Baptist Church, which is still active.

     James Daniel and Mary Julia (Kyser) Oltorf had two children:

     Evelyn Kyser - who married Willett Sims Foster, son of Dr. Thomas Willet Foster and his wife, Nancy Keesee (Sims) Foster. Evelyn attended Brenau College and C.I.A. (now Texas Women's University, Denton). Willett Foster, a graduate of Texas A&M, was associated with the A&M Agricultural Extension Service, as a County Agent, in El Paso, Texas, for many years. They had two sons: Dr. Daniel Willett Foster of Dallas, Texas, who married Dorothy (maiden name not known), and had Danny, Mike, and Chris Foster; and Joe Kelley Foster of El Paso, Texas who married Sue (maiden name unknown), and had David, Danny, Stephen, and Cindy Foster.

     William Louie Oltorf - attended Southwestern University, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Fraternity, and also attended Baylor University. He served eighteen months in the U.S. Navy during World War II, with active duty in the Pacific area, and was also stationed in Shanghai, China. After returning to Marlin in January 1946, he became associated in the general insurance business with his father in the Oltorf Insurance Agency - continuing the business after his father's death in 1951, until his retirement. Louis was the fourth generation of the Oltorf family to represent major insurance companies as their agents. His great grandfather, Judge James Daniel Oltorf, owned an insurance agency in connection with his law practice as early as 1892; his father, James Daniel Oltorf, II became an agent in 1905 in connection with his grocery and bakery business, and later joined by his aunt, Mrs. Susan Battle Oltorf, as an associate before his son, Louie, joined the firm in 1946. Louie married Virginia McBride of Marlin, Texas - a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. McBride, Sr., and their daughter, Mary Virginia Oltorf ("Gina") married Dr. John J. Walker, formerly of Bryan, Texas, and now resides in Arlington, Texas - having a son and two daughters, Danny, Shannon, and Suzanne Walker. Louie has been very active in civic affairs of Marlin, a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and served as an officer in the Falls County Chapter of the American Heart Association for many years. He and Virginia are members of the First Baptist Church, and Virginia is a member of the Marlin Study Club and the Thursday Night Supper Club.

Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County Historical Commission, page 335 column 1 and 2.  
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.