Christopher Ottman: From Latvian Roots to an American Legacy
Christopher Ottman’s life journey is a narrative woven with resilience, adaptation, and profound personal connections. Born Kirsh Akmens on June 21, 1887, on the farm Poijas, in the estate Saslauka, near the village Ārlava in Latvia, Christopher began life in humble circumstances. His parents, Anss and Trine Akmens, raised him in a log house shared with seven siblings. The home’s uninsulated walls, dirt floors, and primitive cooking arrangements typified the harsh conditions of life for Latvian farmworkers under Baltic German landlords.
Despite these hardships, young Kirsh displayed intelligence and determination. His academic potential was evident at age 8, when on March 17, 1896, he walked 18 kilometers to the estate Saslauka for a scholastic examination. A local Lutheran minister awarded him top marks in reading, mathematics, and arithmetic, recognizing his diligence. Education in this era was a rarity for Latvian peasants, and this moment underscored Kirsh’s potential for a life beyond the farm.
The Catalyst for Change: A Photograph and a Journey
Latvia’s political upheaval during the 1905 revolution deeply affected the Akmens family. Amid this unrest, 18-year-old Kirsh decided to seek a better future in America. Carrying a photograph of Lucy Anderson—a relative of a returning Boston émigré—and the address of a boarding house in Roxbury, Massachusetts, he set off in March 1905. On March 31, 1905, the SS Majestic recorded his name as Krisch Ottman, a phonetic transcription that marked the beginning of his transformation. He arrived in Boston on April 20, 1905, with $5 in his pocket.
A New Life in Boston
Kirsch found lodging with Fred and Emily Lakewitz at 82 Delle Avenue, Roxbury, where he began working in a piano factory. This grueling yet steady job paid $4 a week, which covered his room and board. By 1909, Kirsch had met Lucy Anderson in Boston, the woman whose photograph he had carried across the Atlantic. Their connection blossomed into a romance, and they became engaged that year.
Westward to Portland
In late 1910, Kirsch and his best friend, Edward Kurzit, decided to leave the harsh winters of Chicago for the opportunities in Portland, Oregon. They arrived on January 11, 1911, and lodged at Henry Lebenthal’s boarding house at 118 East 8th Street North. Both found work at the Berger Brothers Planing Mill. During this time, Kirsch, now known as Chris Otmann, wrote regularly to Lucy, who soon joined him in Portland. On March 17, 1911, Lucy and Elizabeth Anderson arrived to start their new lives.
Marriage and Family
Chris and Lucy married on January 7, 1912, in Cornelius, Oregon. Their early years together were marked by financial struggles and a steadfast commitment to building a better future. They lived briefly in a rented home in Portland before moving to Forest Grove, Oregon, where their first child, Lucy Esther Ottman, was born on October 29, 1912.
Over the next decade, Chris and Lucy had five more children:
• Warren Christopher Ottman, born June 16, 1914, in Salem, Oregon.
• Phillip Arthur Ottman, born January 29, 1916, in Portland, Oregon.
• Miriam Edith Ottman, born November 6, 1917, in St. Johns, Portland.
• Mary Frances Ottman, born May 31, 1919, in Portland, Oregon.
• Harold Steven Ottman, born September 7, 1920, in Linnton, Oregon.
Chris took pride in his work and his family, even delivering his son Harold at home.
Loss and Legacy
Tragedy struck in 1917 when Chris’s closest friend, Edward Kurzit, passed away from thrombocytopenia. Chris and Lucy provided comfort to Edward’s family during their loss, and their own resilience carried them forward.
In his later years, Chris continued to adapt to life in America, officially becoming a U.S. citizen on June 19, 1924, under the name Christopher Anss Ottman. His journey from a small Latvian farm to the bustling cities of Boston and Portland embodies the immigrant spirit of perseverance and transformation. Christopher Ottman’s legacy lives on through the stories of his descendants and the enduring values of faith, family, and determination he exemp