Born: April 21, 1856, Medford, New Jersey, USA
Died: September 25, 1922, Norman, Oklahoma, USA

Oatman attended Herbert’s Academy in Vincentown, New Jersey, and the New Jersey Collegiate Institute in Bordentown. He was ordained as a Methodist Episcopal minister, but his pastoral work was confined to local churches, as he worked full time in the retail and insurance industries. He wrote lyrics for 5,000 Gospel songs.