John Walker Oakes

     John Walker Oakes was born on 9 February 1885 at Watsontown, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.^2,1,3 He was the son of James Bruce Oakes and Rachel Anne Beard.¹ John Walker Oakesappeared on the US Census of 1900 in the household of James Bruce Oakes and Rachel Anne Oakes at Delaware Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.⁴

John Walker Oakes, age 22, married Mary Gertrude Lotz, age 20 , daughter of Edward Mausheim Lotz and Flora Belle Lindsay, on 14 March 1907 at Blair County, Pennsylvania.⁵ John, age 24 years, and Mary, age 23 years, appeared on the US Census of 1910 on 610 Clark Street, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania.⁶ According to the Federal Census in 1910, John was a telegraph operator for the railroad.⁶ He was the Deputy County Controller in 1916.⁷ John registered for the draft giving his age as 37; his address as 719 Hickory Street, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania; and he was a secretary for the Y.M.C.A in 1918 at Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania.⁸ He was applied for a passport on 27 May 1918 at Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania.³ John, age 34 years, and Mary, age 33 years, appeared on the US Census of 1920 on Hickory Street, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania.⁹ According to the Federal Census in 1920, John was a clerk in the Court House.⁹ John and Mary Oakes are listed in the 1927 Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, City Directory as living on 806 Allegheny Street.¹⁰ John, age 44 years, and Mary, age 43 years, appeared on the US Census of 1930 on 806 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania.¹¹ According to the Federal Census in 1930, John was an assistant chashier in a bank.¹¹ He died on 25 April 1935 at Woodbury Township, Blair County, Pennsylvania, at age 50 from suicide by drowning.^2,1 He was buried on 28 April 1935 at Hollidaysburg Presbyterian Cemetery, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania, in plot D 170.²