John Martin Oakey Sr.

  General Notes:

The 1870 Federal Census for Salem, Roanoke Co., VA records John Oakey (31 - VA) with his wife Emma L. Oakey (23 - VA) and children Robert (3), William (2), and Charlton (5/12). John is a Cabinet Maker with real estae valued at $1,300 and a personal estate valued at $800. Also in the household is Charles Woolwine (20).

See general notes on his son, John M. Oakey Jr., for other census facts.

From www.findagrave.com
John Martin Oakey
Birth: Feb. 23, 1839 in Lynchburg City, Virginia
Death: Jan. 28, 1921
Birial: East Hill Cemetery, Salem, VA
John Martin Oakey was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, February 23d, 1839, and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. William Oakey. He was educated in the private schools of his native city illustration and served a seven months' apprenticeship at the pattern maker's trade, prior to locating in Salem, Virginia, in 1854. He learned the Cabinet Maker's trade, but was forced to give it up on account of ill health. He took up telegraphy, which vocation he followed during the Civil War. The first eighteen months of that eventful struggle he was located at Salem, Virginia, and was then shifted about for a year or more as a relief operator. The last eighteen months he had charge of the commercial office of the military line leading from Dublin, Virginia, to Union, Monroe County, headquarters for the Southwest Virginia Military department of the Confederate Army. At the close of the war, Mr. Oakey opened a cabinet making and undertaking establishment in Salem, and in 1882 opened another establishment in Roanoke under the firm name of J. M. Oakey & Company. Two years ago the firm was changed to John M. Oakey, Incorporated. Mr. Oakey is a practical embalmer and was for two years President of the State Association, and for ten years a member of the State Board of Embalmers.
He was married September 12th, 1865, to Emma L. Woolwine, a daughter of Robert L. and Elizabeth (Charlton) Woolwine of Pulaski, Virginia. By this union he had ten children; namely, Robert W., William M., Charles C., deceased, John M., Samuel G., Annie E., the wife of P. W. Dolin, Emma L., the wife of G. Logan Martin, Henry A., Clarence M., and Clifford G. Oakey. Mrs. Oakey died December 16th, 1885, and Mr. Oakey married a second time in 1887, his wife being Fannie G. Barnett, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Barnett of Montgomery County. They have four children as follows: Mary B., Frank G., Hugh W., and Paul Dewit Oakey. Mr. Oakey is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and fraternally he is a member of Taylor Lodge Number 23 A. F. and A. M., and Salem Lodge 100, I. O. O. F. Mr. Oakey does perhaps the largest undertaking business of any man in the State and his friends are legion among all classes. He is public spirited, always ready to aid any worthy enterprise which has for its object the upbuilding of this city and section.
Source: History of Roanoke County
By George S. Jack
History of Roanoke City and History of The Norfolk & Western Railway Company
By E. B. Jacobs
Copyright: Nineteen-Twelve
By George S. Jack and E. B. Jacobs

John married Emma L. Woolwine on 12 Sep 1865. (Emma L. Woolwine was born on 22 Apr 1847 in Pulaski Co., VA, died on 16 Dec 1885 in Salem, VA and was buried in East Hill Cemetery, Salem, VA.)