THE WAUPACA REPUBLICAN

November 1, 1907

 

AFTER FORTY-TWO YEARS

 

            Charles G. Oaks and his brother, the late Seth A. Oaks came from York State to Waupaca in 1856 to look for farms and finally made selections in the town of St. Lawrence, and then returned east to marry and take a long wedding journey with their brides to Wisconsin.

            Their farms were about a mile apart and on their return from the east they set at the task of clearing the land for farms and homes with a will.  The war came and in 1864, the demand for more troops was called for to put down the rebellion in the south and restore the Union.  Charles enlisted and was assigned to the Fifth Wis. Vol. Infantry, serving until mustered out in the summer of 1865 when the war closed.  He returned, sold his farm and went back to York State, his wife and two little children following later.  The brother, the late S. A. Oaks was well known here and all over the county.  Soon after the war he identified himself in mercantile pursuits in this city and continued until his death in 1889.  His first store was Fulton street where the Blue Front Restaurant is now located, afterward in the Rice Block now part of The Fair.  He also had a shipping ware-house.  Mrs. Oaks conducted the store for nearly two years after the death of her husband, then closed it out; later married Rev. R. H Colby who died about two years ago.

            Last week almost a counterpart of the late S. A. Oaks was seen in our city.  It was Chas. G. Oaks of North Rose, N.Y., who had not been in Waupaca and vicinity for over forty-two years.  His nephew Corwin Cox, of Hillsdale County, Mich., accompanied him to this city and they were the guests of Mrs. Colby.

            They visited the Wisconsin Veterans Home and the Lakes one day and another day was spent at and near Ogdensburg looking over old “landmarks”.

            Mr. Oaks met a number of the old settlers he knew when he first settled in the County but so many old friends had gone “to that bourne ne’r to return”.

            He is a very bright, intelligent man, aged 74, and was highly gratified and pleased to find such wonderful improvements in this city and vicinity.  His son, Chas. W. Oaks who was a clerk in his uncle’s store for several years, has a lumber yard at North Rose and George Valentine a nephew of Mrs. Colby who was also here, a clerk and married Alice Rich, has a business there.