OCKEN

The Breda Centennial Book, Older Days Renewed, page 107

John Ocken was born in Sittinghausen, Germany on April 5, 1849. On October 29, 1875 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Schaefer, and to this union eight children were born, one of whom died in infancy. The other children were: Mary (Mrs. Henry Puttman), John A., Teresa (Mrs. Herman Woerdehoff), Elizabeth (Mrs . George Wess), Joe, Anna (Mrs. John Wolterman), and Henry.

In 1882 John Ocken and his family crossed the ocean and settled on a farm in Carroll County. Later they moved to Breda and he worked for many years on the section for the railroad, being division boss for the last fifteen years. In his later years he was town marshal for a few years and also operated a cream buying station. He died on July 27, 1915.

Submitted by Anita Henning - Lemon Grove, CA