John Walker Oakes

     John Walker Oakes was born on 9 February 1885 at Watsontown, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.^2,3,1,4,5 He was the son of James Bruce Oakes and Rachel Anne Beard.¹ John, age 19, appeared on the US Census of 1900 living at Delaware Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania,in the household of his parents, James Bruce and Rachel Anne Oakes.³

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 the Blair County, Pennsylvania.⁶ John, age 24 years, and Mary, age 23 years, appeared on the US Census of 1910 on 610 Clark Street, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania.⁷ According to the Federal Census in 1910, John was a telegraph operator for the railroad.⁷ He was the Deputy County Controller in 1916.⁸ In 1918, John registered for the World War I draft, while living at 719 Hickory Street, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania, giving his age as 37 and he was a secretary for the Y.M.C.A.⁵ He was applied for a passport on 27 May 1918 at Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania.² 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 According to the 1927 Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, City Directory, he lived in 806 Allegheny Street, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania, in 1927.¹⁰ 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.^1,4 John was buried on 28 April 1935 at Hollidaysburg Presbyterian Cemetery, Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania, in plot D 170.⁴