John Oaks

John Oakes was born about 1802 in Coits Gore, VT the son of John and Esther Cochran.  Little is known of his early life. 

He was most likely married twice, but no record of a first marriage for John has been found.  His first three children were born between 1822 and 1826 and there is enough evidence to show that his second wife, Sarah (Sally) Town, did not marry him until 1829.  As he was twice a witness to land records for Luther Poland, it might be worth looking for a relationship there.

"John Oakes, Jr was a witness of John Lock deed to James Horner 1827 in Waterville. Also witness of Ephraim Stevens deed to Luther Poland 1822 along with Moses Fisk and when Luther Poland sold to Aaron Pinney 1826. He witnessed a sale of Stephen Miller to Amos Willey, page 54. This property was on north part of lot 42, bounded on east by John Oakes, widow Brown, Ephraim Stevens, O. McFarland, Ira Olmstead. "

In her application for a pension Sally Town Oakes stated  that she was married to her son Oberon's father on 26 December 1829 at North Hero, Vermont, by John Knight.  North Hero appears to have been originally written North Hill, then Hill was written over to appear as Hero.

Confirmation of the marriage of Sarah Town and John Oakes can be found in a land deed in North Hero, Vermont dated July 30, 1845, registered as James Woodward to Edmund Town. James Woodward was married to Hannah, Sarah's sister;  and Edmund was Sarah's brother.   This deed held with the Hero Town Records and Deeds states in  Paragraph Two:  "To have and to hold all our rights, title and interest which we have in and to the said Pilots Point lot and quit clamed premises as heirs to the estate of Silas Town, deceased, with the appertunances thereof to the said Edmond Town, his heirs and assigns to his and their proper use and behoof forever, and furthermore we the said James Woodward and Hannah (Town) his wife;  John Oaks and Sally his wife;  and Jabez B. Town do for ourselves, our heirs executors and administrators covenant with said Edmund Town.........that we the said Jabez, James & Hannah his wife, John and Sally his wife will have and claim no right in or to the above released and quit claimed premises......

In witness thereof we have hereunto set our hands and saith this 30th day of July AD 1845, signed sealed and delivered  Jabez B. Town, James Woodward, Hannah Woodward in presence of W. Kenzie Payne, G.F. Cooke.    Augusta Knight (for James Woodward),

John Oaks, Sally Oaks, Nancy Hibbard (&Hannah Woodward)........................  There personally appeared the within named Jabez Town, James Woodward and John Oaks, signers and sealers of the foregoing written instrument and acknowledged the same to be their free act and deed..........

Before me Augustus Knight, Justice Peace State of Vermont North Hero Grand Isle County July 30.1845. "

Allen Stratton's  History Town of North Hero Vermont mentions that an Account Book to the store located at City Bay (then called Ladd's Bay) listed, on Oct. 9, 1826, Sally Town making a purchase on account. Since she was using the name Town and this is after the birth dates of Orson (1822) and Emery (1824), she is, almost certainly, not their mother. 

John sold his last property holdings in North Hero, Grand Island Co., VT in 1841. On 11 Nov 1842, the Burlington Free Press reported that John would be declared bankrupt in the office of Samuel Prentiss, District Judge, on 14 Dec in Montpelier.  On 10 May 1843 the paper reported his discharge.

The family moved to Missouri before 1847.  According to daughter Caroline, who claims to have been born on the New York side of Lake Champlain, John brought his family down the river to Quincey, IL and from there by ox team to Shelby County, MO where his brother Truman was already living.

In 1850 the were living in Shelby County.  Orson was living next door with his new wife Mary Nichols Madkins Oakes and her seven children. In close proximity was the family of Edward Naylor.  No land records for John were found in Shelby county, it seems likely he was living on land owned by Truman.

Shortly thereafter, John patented two lots in Knox county,  40 acres on 9/23/1853 and 80 acres on 1/18/1855 at $1.25 an acre.  These were first sale patents from the government.  John and Sallie first settled in the Locust Grove neighborhood and later moved to a farm north of Pelvna in Knox County. 

The 40 acres were deeded to Jabez Barnes on 4/10/1860 along with the land that Bronson sold to Jabez.

John died in 1856/1857 leaving his estate to his large family.  In 8 Jan 1867 his descendants signed over to Melvina Newell, one of the daughters, the rights to some land.

The 1860 Knox Co., MO Census shows Sally Oaks 56  in a household with dau. Lauretta 21, Albert T. Turner 30, Eusebia Turner 29, and a boy named John H. Harden 6.

Sally Oakes is also mention in the History of Monroe and Shelby Counties, Missouri, 1884 as a member of the Shelbyville Christian Church, one of the earliest members from it's organization in 1839.
 
On 16 January 1884 the Shelbina Democract reported, in a column called From Shelbyville, that "Old Mrs. Oaks died and was buried last week. She has been a resident of the county for a long time and died at a very advanced age."

John Oaks - Dropbox

Poor Orson Oakes

“I cannot furnish the evidence called for in the enclosed letter for this reason.  There were but three

men who were my neighbors from Nov 1862 to March 1865 and they are dead.  during the past 12 years I have promptly furnished all the evidence called for - but there is a limit to this.  And I think I have reached that point.  I am now 78 years old and am not able to carve a living on account of age and health.  I believe I have already furnished the evidence covering this now called for.  I can only stte under oath that I contractd rheumatism while in the first service and that I have never been entirely free from it to this day" 

The time is 1901 and  for the first time in his eighteen years of dealing with the United States Pension Board, Orson has shown his frustration.  He has supplied them with every document they asked for,  in fact his pension file is nearly  200 pages long.  The file is filled with affidavits from dozens of doctors, compatriots and family members giving details of his service, his life and his injuries.  Orson himself has written much of his life story in an effort to get his pension set at an appropriate amount.

In fact in 1899 when Orson applied for an increase to  his $12 a month Invalid Pension. The board doctors stated...."Rheumatism of both knees of back and shoulders have gradually increased in severity so that he is totally disable for any manual labor.  The disease of heart has increased. all the joints are stiff -- he walks with difficulty, general debility increases with age (79).” They went on to pronounce him eligible for a $30 pension.  The increase was denied.

In 1902 Andrew Winget, 24 attested " I have known Orson Oakes all my life.  for the last 5 years I have met him frequently and since November 1901 have lived by him and done work for him.  He is not able to do anything.  He is not able to carry in a small stick of wood and hardly able to get up when down and needs constant assistance.  and it takes much of one persons time to wait on him.  His wife does this so far as she is able."  

Yet at the time of his death 1904, it is noted that Orson’s last pension payment had been in the amount of $17.  And the government didn’t stop there.  Anna’s fight to get a widows pension was eventually denied.

Why? There was no question that Orson served two different times in the Great Rebellion.  There was no question that he contracted Typhoid fever in 1862 which left his body devastated and no question that he rejoined the cause in 1865 when he was once again healthy.  Muster rolls and witness statements tell the story.
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According to his pension papers Orson served with I company of the 3rd Missouri Militia Cavalry, A company of the 11 Missouri Militia Cavalry and D company of the 14th Missouri Cavalry.

Although pension papers say the 3rd Regiment, but I would guess that the 2nd is correct is correct.  The 2nd Regiment was organized in Dec 1861 and consolidated with the 11th Regiment in April of 1862.  Attached to the District of Northern Missouri, Department of Missouri during the time Orson was a part of it

He first enlisted as private in 14 Mo Volunteer Calvary Reg 11 of the Volunteer Cav F (I) 2nd Reg. Mo Calvary on 16 Jan 1862 and was discharged on 25 Nov 1862. 

Orson reported for duty as a private in Company A of the 11th Regiment of the Missouri Cavalry Volunteers in January and was reported present in March and April. This company subsequently became Company I, Second Regiment Cavalry, Missouri State Militia.

At the time of roll call in May and June he was reported absent, in pursuit of enemy.  He was also reported absent in July and August with the note that he was sick since august first.  According to pension papers, Orson contracted Typhoid and was considered too sick to remain in the military.

On the 20th of March 1865 in Shelbyville, MO Orson reenlisted in the Company D of the 14th Regiment of the Missouri Volunteer Calvary.  He was mustered in in Benton Barrocks MO for a one year term which was credited to Black Creeks in Shelby Co MO.  Bounty due but unpaid was listed as $100.  On the enlistment papers Orson stated he was 45 years old born in Lamoil County Vermont and his occupation was a carpenter. On the muster in papers he listed his occupation as farmer.   He is listed as 6 feet tall with brown eyes, dark hair and a sandy complexion.  A $33.33 head bounty was paid for his enlistment by Captain Hamilton on May 5 from St. Louis.  Payroll vouchers show Orson was present Mar 31 to April 30, May and June 1865 (a special note on this voucher shows that the value of shells carelessly lost was 53 cents., July and August 1865,

Orson was mustered out on October 26 1865 a few weeks before the rest of the regiment which was mustered out on November 17th 1865.   The muster out voucher states that his clothing account was never settled but he had drawn a total of $56.17.  It is also listed that he had received a bounty of $33.33 and was due the same amount.  I would guess that because of the early mustering out he lost the additional $33.34.

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Did the government believe he fought on the side of the south during the missing years?  His background was Massachusetts to Vermont to Missouri.  His son in law William Naylor, who had been collecting a pension longer than Orson served a shorter amount of time and had roots to Slavery in the south.  Orson’s brother Oberion gave his sanity to the war.

Was it just government bureaucracy or is there still a tale untold?

 Perhaps a little history could enlighten us to the thoughts of the government.

When Missouri was granted statehood as a non-slave state it did not bring peace to the state but rather ushered in a reign of terror, according to historians.  Pro-south sentiment developed during the first year of the civil war.  In Missouri, Mother of the West, Walter Williams and Floyd C Shoemaker state that the resulting guerilla movement “was pitiless, its banner the black flag and its battle cry the fearful monosyllable DEATH....having no hope for themselves they left none to their victims.”

In October 1861 the state convention decided to create the Missouri State Militia led by Brigadier General John M. Schofield.  In Shelbyville, Colonel Henry S. Lipscomb organized the Eleventh Missouri State Militia.  It was the Cavalry unit of the Eleventh that Orson joined in 1862.

At the time of his induction into this unit, Orson was nearly forty, much older than the average Union soldier. But his illness was not due to age, the rigors of war hit young and old alike.  Disease slew more men than weapons and many of those who survived were never healthy again.

 or.....

Perhaps it was the background of his first wife, who had deep roots in the South. More on that later!!

Orson Oakes Pension File
Orson Oakes Service Record
Anna Oakes Widows Pension

 11th REGIMENT STATE MILITIA CAVALRY.
Organized in Missouri at large January 1 to April 20, 1862. Assigned to duty in District of North Missouri. Actions at Cherry Grove June 26 and July 1. Near Memphis July 18. Newark August 1 (Detachment). Kirksville August 6 (Detachment). Near Stockton August 8 (Detachment). Consolidated with 2nd Regiment Missouri State Militia Cavalry September 2, 1862, which see.

11th REGIMENT CAVALRY.
Organized at Benton Barracks and St. Joseph, Mo., March 28 to December 11, 1863. Attached to District of Stt. Louis, Mo., Dept. of Missouri, to December, 1863. District of Southwest Missouri, Dept. of Missouri, to January, 1864. District of Northeast Arkansas, 7th Army Corps, Dept. of Arkansas, to May, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 7th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 3rd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 7th Army Corps, to February, 1865. 2nd Brigade, Cavalry Division, 7th Corps, to March, 1865. Separate Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry Division, 7th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
SERVICE.--Duty in District of St. Louis, Mo., till December, 1863. At Springfield and Rolla, Mo., till February, 1864. Expedition from Springfield to Huntsville, Carrollton and Berryville, and skirmish, November 10-18, 1863 (Detachment). Operations in Northeast Arkansas January 1-30, 1864. Martin's Creek January 7. Rolling Prairie January 23 (Co. "B"). At Batesville, Ark., February to April. Expedition from Batesville to Searcy Landing January 30-February 3. Morgan's Mill, Spring River, White County, February 9 (Detachment). Independence, Mo., February 19. Waugh's Farm, near Batesville, February 19. Expedition from Rolla to Batesville, Ark., February 29-March 13. Scout from Batesville to West Point, Grand Glaze and Searcy Landing March 15-21 (Detachment). Expedition from Batesville to Coon Creek, Devil's Fork, Red River, March 24-31. Van Buren County March 25. Scout from Batesville to Fairview March 25-26 (Detachment). Near Cross Roads March 27. Spring River, near Smithville, April 13 (Detachment). Jacksonport April 20. Expedition from Jacksonport to Augusta April 23-24. Near Jacksonport April 24. Ordered to Duvall's Bluff May, 1864, and duty there till October. Scout in Craighead and Lawrence Counties June 25-26 (Co. "M"). Clarendon, St. Charles, June 25-26. Clarendon June 27-29. Scout to Searcy and West Point July 26-28 (Detachment). Des Arc July 26 (Detachment). West Point July 28 (Detachment). Hay Station No. 3 July 30 (Detachment). West Point August 5. Expedition from Little Rock to Little Red River August 6-16. Operations in Central Arkansas, with skirmishes August 9-15. Duvall's Bluff August 21 and 24. Long Prairie August 24. Jones' Hay Station August 24. Duvall's Bluff September 6. Searcy September 13. Expedition from Duvall's Bluff toward Clarendon October 16-17 (Detachment). Brownsville October 30. Duty at Brownsville till February, 1865. Expedition from Brownsville to Augusta January 4-27, 1865 (Detachment). Moved to Little Rock February 4, and duty there till June. Moved to New Orleans, La., June 27-July 3. At Greenville till July 27. Mustered out at Greenville July 27 and discharged at St. Louis August 10, 1865.
Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 28 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 5 Officers and 181 Enlisted men by disease. Total 216.

 14th REGIMENT CAVALRY.
Organized at St. Louis and Springfield, Mo., November 30, 1864, to May 13, 1865. Attached to District of St. Louis, Mo., to June, 1865. District of the Plains, Dept. of Missouri, to November, 1865.
Duty at St. Louis, Mo., till June, 1865. Scout from Waynesville to Coal Camp Creek May 23-26. Moved to Nebraska, and frontier duty on the Plains till November. Mustered out November 17, 1865.
Lost during service 2 killed and 34 by disease. Total 36.
14th REGIMENT STATE MILITIA CAVALRY.
Organized in Missouri at large March to May, 1862. Attached to District of Southwest Missouri, Dept. Missouri, to March, 1863.

SERVICE.--Action at Neosho May 31, 1862. Near Fayetteville, Ark., July 15. Scout in Polk and Dallas Counties July 19-23 (Cos. "B," "C," "E" and "H"). Ozark August 1-2 (Cos. "D," "F," "G" and "H"). White River, near Forsyth, August 4. Scout from Ozark to Forsyth, and skirmish, August 8-9 (2 Cos.). Mt. Vernon from Ozark to Forsyth August 14-17 (2 Cos.). Mt. Vernon September 19 (1 Co.). Expedition from Ozark toward Yellville, Ark., October 12-16 (Detachment). Mountain Home October 17. Operations about Cassville and Keetsville November 17-18. Battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., December 7. Expedition from Ozark into Marion County, Ark., December 9-15 (Cos. "D," "F," "G" and "H"). Expedition over Boston Mountains to Van Buren December 27-29. Operations against Marmaduke in Missouri December 31, 1862, to January 15, 1863. Fort Lawrence, Beaver Station, January 6, 1863 (2nd Battalion). Defence of Springfield January 8. Disbanded March 3, 1863.