Samuel L. Ozment
Cite this Page
"Samuel L. Ozment," White House Workers History Project, White House Historical Association, 2026, https://whha.whirlihost.com/Detail/workers/722.
- Position
- Gardener
- Years in President's House
- 1921 – 1938
- Legal Status
- Free Person
- Gender
- Male
- Race/Ethnicity
- White
- Biography
- Samuel L. Ozment was born around 1865 in Tennessee. (1) Early in his career, he worked as a blacksmith, but later transitioned to gardening. (2) In 1921, he joined the White House staff as a gardener; according to his obituary: “Mr. Ozment took care of the roses on the White House lawn. Mrs. Calvin Coolidge would sit and talk to him as he tended the flowers…” (3) White House staff Christmas lists indicate that Ozment was assigned to the White House from the Department of the Interior. His son-in-law, Oscar L. Rodgers also worked at the White House as an engineer/machinist. (4) Ozment retired in 1938 and used his free time to pursue his passion: making and playing fiddles. (5) Samuel Ozment died on February 14, 1948, and was buried at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Maryland. (6)
- (1) Samuel L. Ozment in the 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Year: 1930; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0311; FHL microfilm: 2340035, Ancestry.com; Samuel L. Ozment in the 1940 U.S. Federal Census, Year: 1940; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia, District of Columbia; Roll: m-t0627-00566; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 1-405, Ancestry.com.
(2) SB Ozment in the 1910 US Federal Census, Year: 1910; Census Place: Civil District 8, Chester, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1493; Page: 2b; Enumeration District: 0050; FHL microfilm: 1375506, Ancestry.com; “Rites for S.L. Ozment Set; Was Gardener at White House,” Evening Star, February 16, 1948, pg. 10.
(3) Ibid.
(4) Employees on Duty at the Executive Office, 1929, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1929, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library; “Golden Wedding,” Evening Star, December 24, 1940, pg. 5, Chronicling America, https://www.loc.gov/item/sn83045462/1940-12-24/ed-1/; Xmas List 1931, Lou Henry Hoover Papers, Subject Files, White House Christmas 1931, Herbert Hoover Presidential Library; Samuel L. Ozment in the 1930 U.S. Federal Census, Year: 1930; Census Place: Washington, District of Columbia; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0311; FHL microfilm: 2340035, Ancestry.com.
(5) “Funeral Tomorrow for Samuel Ozment,” Washington Daily News, February 16, 1948, pg. 24; “Rites for S.L. Ozment Set; Was Gardener at White House,” Evening Star, February 16, 1948, pg. 10; “Samuel L. Ozment,” Times Herald, February 17, 1948, pg. 7.
(6) “Ozment, Samuel L.,” Evening Star, February 15, 1948, pg. 28, Chronicling America, https://www.loc.gov/item/sn83045462/1948-02-15/ed-1/. - Birthplace
- Tennessee, USA
- Related Worker
- Oscar L. RodgersTrades, circa 1921 – 1963