John Oak's cremated remains were never taken after his death and are still available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related.
John was born in New York on 1/27/1868. His parents were Betsey DeMaranville and John Oak. She was born in Massachusetts in 1842 and he was born in New York in 1826. Through his mother John is reportedly a descendant of Mayflower passengers William White & his son.
John's siblings were all born in New York and included: Hannah "Rosa" (about 1862), George W. (in 1864), William (about 1871), Andrew J (in 1872), Henry (in 1874) and Phebe (in 1876).
During the 1870, 1875 & 1880 censuses, John was living with his parents and siblings in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York where his father was farming next door to John's paternal grandparents, Jacob & Peggy Oak. At some point John's family moved to Michigan. But in the Michigan census of 1894 John was not listed in Barry County, Michigan with his parents and siblings who were. He apparently stayed for a while in New York.
In Cortland, New York on 10/11/1899, John married Bernice Eggleston who was born in Michigan in September 1874. During the 1900 census, they were living in Cortland, just 18 miles from his family's former home in Dryden, New York. John was making carriage irons for a living while Bernice was a seamstress. By 1901 they moved to Michigan.
On 5/10/1901 they had a son, John, who died within moments after being born. Their son Harry Lyman Oak was born on 2/15/1903. Their daughter Loretta "Retta" (sometimes spelled Rettia) was born in 1905 in Michigan.
Over the next decade John had a series of grievous losses in quick succession. On 8/11/1911 he and Bernice had a son named Chester who died of "indigestion" and heart problems when he was 2 months old. Bernice died on 11/14/1912 in Barry County, Michigan. She was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Hastings, Michigan with her two infant sons. John's mother died of pneumonia in Barry County, Michigan in 1913. His father died there in 1915.
By 1920 John was living with some of his brothers in Oregon. It is suspected that after Bernice's death John placed his children in the care of others. This may explain why over time Harry and Beverly spelled their last name Oaks/Oakes (with and s). Perhaps they had little contact with the Oak family. It is not known where Harry was living in 1920, but during the 1920 census Retta (age 15) was living with her maternal grandmother Flora Egggleston in Hasting, Michigan. Retta married Gerald Merritt in Detroit on 11/6/1924. They had an infant daughter who died at birth due to lung problems. Next Retta married Isadore "Irving Meretsky. They had an infant who died in 1928. Retta had two children, Beverly and Monte, who lived to adulthood.
In 1927 John's son Harry was using a Sandy, Oregon address so it is believed he spent some time with his father. In the late 1920s and early 1930s Harry worked as a seaman abroad international ships. On 10/18/1933 Harry married Opal Demaranville in Grand Rapids. They were living together in Grand Rapids during the 1940 census and at that time had no children. Harry worked as a painter.
John Oak and his brothers William, George, and Andrew migrated to Sandy, Oregon while his brother Henry and his sisters stayed in Michigan. On 6/30/1928 John's brother George died in Cherryville, Oregon of tuberculosis. His sister Rose Hart died on 9/6/1928 in Michigan.
At the time of the 1930 census, John was living in Brightwood, Clackamas County, Oregon with his brother Andrew. Both men were working in a sawmill. During the census of 1940 John was renting a place for $3/month in Pleasant Home, Multnomah County, Oregon near Portland. At 72 he was working as a farm laborer.
He was living in Portland in 1947. On 1/8/1947 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was said to have "senile psychosis," which is characterized by depressive or paranoid delusions, hallucinations, or other mental disorders due to degeneration of the brain in old age, such as senile dementia. After being a patient at that institution for 4 years he died there of pneumonia on 2/9/1951. He was 83 years old. He was survived by his two children Harry & Retta, and his brothers William, Henry & Andrew.
His brother William died in Portland on 6/22/1951. His brother Andrew died in 1958 in Michigan and was buried with his parents. Brother Henry died in Michigan in 1967
John's daughter Retta died on 5/12/1985 and was buried at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale, Michigan. John's son Harry die on 1/26/1991 in Dorr, Michigan.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
John was born in New York on 1/27/1868. His parents were Betsey DeMaranville and John Oak. She was born in Massachusetts in 1842 and he was born in New York in 1826. Through his mother John is reportedly a descendant of Mayflower passengers William White & his son.
John's siblings were all born in New York and included: Hannah "Rosa" (about 1862), George W. (in 1864), William (about 1871), Andrew J (in 1872), Henry (in 1874) and Phebe (in 1876).
During the 1870, 1875 & 1880 censuses, John was living with his parents and siblings in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York where his father was farming next door to John's paternal grandparents, Jacob & Peggy Oak. At some point John's family moved to Michigan. But in the Michigan census of 1894 John was not listed in Barry County, Michigan with his parents and siblings who were. He apparently stayed for a while in New York.
In Cortland, New York on 10/11/1899, John married Bernice Eggleston who was born in Michigan in September 1874. During the 1900 census, they were living in Cortland, just 18 miles from his family's former home in Dryden, New York. John was making carriage irons for a living while Bernice was a seamstress. By 1901 they moved to Michigan.
On 5/10/1901 they had a son, John, who died within moments after being born. Their son Harry Lyman Oak was born on 2/15/1903. Their daughter Loretta "Retta" (sometimes spelled Rettia) was born in 1905 in Michigan.
Over the next decade John had a series of grievous losses in quick succession. On 8/11/1911 he and Bernice had a son named Chester who died of "indigestion" and heart problems when he was 2 months old. Bernice died on 11/14/1912 in Barry County, Michigan. She was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Hastings, Michigan with her two infant sons. John's mother died of pneumonia in Barry County, Michigan in 1913. His father died there in 1915.
By 1920 John was living with some of his brothers in Oregon. It is suspected that after Bernice's death John placed his children in the care of others. This may explain why over time Harry and Beverly spelled their last name Oaks/Oakes (with and s). Perhaps they had little contact with the Oak family. It is not known where Harry was living in 1920, but during the 1920 census Retta (age 15) was living with her maternal grandmother Flora Egggleston in Hasting, Michigan. Retta married Gerald Merritt in Detroit on 11/6/1924. They had an infant daughter who died at birth due to lung problems. Next Retta married Isadore "Irving Meretsky. They had an infant who died in 1928. Retta had two children, Beverly and Monte, who lived to adulthood.
In 1927 John's son Harry was using a Sandy, Oregon address so it is believed he spent some time with his father. In the late 1920s and early 1930s Harry worked as a seaman abroad international ships. On 10/18/1933 Harry married Opal Demaranville in Grand Rapids. They were living together in Grand Rapids during the 1940 census and at that time had no children. Harry worked as a painter.
John Oak and his brothers William, George, and Andrew migrated to Sandy, Oregon while his brother Henry and his sisters stayed in Michigan. On 6/30/1928 John's brother George died in Cherryville, Oregon of tuberculosis. His sister Rose Hart died on 9/6/1928 in Michigan.
At the time of the 1930 census, John was living in Brightwood, Clackamas County, Oregon with his brother Andrew. Both men were working in a sawmill. During the census of 1940 John was renting a place for $3/month in Pleasant Home, Multnomah County, Oregon near Portland. At 72 he was working as a farm laborer.
He was living in Portland in 1947. On 1/8/1947 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was said to have "senile psychosis," which is characterized by depressive or paranoid delusions, hallucinations, or other mental disorders due to degeneration of the brain in old age, such as senile dementia. After being a patient at that institution for 4 years he died there of pneumonia on 2/9/1951. He was 83 years old. He was survived by his two children Harry & Retta, and his brothers William, Henry & Andrew.
His brother William died in Portland on 6/22/1951. His brother Andrew died in 1958 in Michigan and was buried with his parents. Brother Henry died in Michigan in 1967
John's daughter Retta died on 5/12/1985 and was buried at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale, Michigan. John's son Harry die on 1/26/1991 in Dorr, Michigan.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
John Oak's cremated remains were never taken after his death and are still available at Oregon State Hospital to be claimed by anyone who is related.
John was born in New York on 1/27/1868. His parents were Betsey DeMaranville and John Oak. She was born in Massachusetts in 1842 and he was born in New York in 1826. Through his mother John is reportedly a descendant of Mayflower passengers William White & his son.
John's siblings were all born in New York and included: Hannah "Rosa" (about 1862), George W. (in 1864), William (about 1871), Andrew J (in 1872), Henry (in 1874) and Phebe (in 1876).
During the 1870, 1875 & 1880 censuses, John was living with his parents and siblings in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York where his father was farming next door to John's paternal grandparents, Jacob & Peggy Oak. At some point John's family moved to Michigan. But in the Michigan census of 1894 John was not listed in Barry County, Michigan with his parents and siblings who were. He apparently stayed for a while in New York.
In Cortland, New York on 10/11/1899, John married Bernice Eggleston who was born in Michigan in September 1874. During the 1900 census, they were living in Cortland, just 18 miles from his family's former home in Dryden, New York. John was making carriage irons for a living while Bernice was a seamstress. By 1901 they moved to Michigan.
On 5/10/1901 they had a son, John, who died within moments after being born. Their son Harry Lyman Oak was born on 2/15/1903. Their daughter Loretta "Retta" (sometimes spelled Rettia) was born in 1905 in Michigan.
Over the next decade John had a series of grievous losses in quick succession. On 8/11/1911 he and Bernice had a son named Chester who died of "indigestion" and heart problems when he was 2 months old. Bernice died on 11/14/1912 in Barry County, Michigan. She was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Hastings, Michigan with her two infant sons. John's mother died of pneumonia in Barry County, Michigan in 1913. His father died there in 1915.
By 1920 John was living with some of his brothers in Oregon. It is suspected that after Bernice's death John placed his children in the care of others. This may explain why over time Harry and Beverly spelled their last name Oaks/Oakes (with and s). Perhaps they had little contact with the Oak family. It is not known where Harry was living in 1920, but during the 1920 census Retta (age 15) was living with her maternal grandmother Flora Egggleston in Hasting, Michigan. Retta married Gerald Merritt in Detroit on 11/6/1924. They had an infant daughter who died at birth due to lung problems. Next Retta married Isadore "Irving Meretsky. They had an infant who died in 1928. Retta had two children, Beverly and Monte, who lived to adulthood.
In 1927 John's son Harry was using a Sandy, Oregon address so it is believed he spent some time with his father. In the late 1920s and early 1930s Harry worked as a seaman abroad international ships. On 10/18/1933 Harry married Opal Demaranville in Grand Rapids. They were living together in Grand Rapids during the 1940 census and at that time had no children. Harry worked as a painter.
John Oak and his brothers William, George, and Andrew migrated to Sandy, Oregon while his brother Henry and his sisters stayed in Michigan. On 6/30/1928 John's brother George died in Cherryville, Oregon of tuberculosis. His sister Rose Hart died on 9/6/1928 in Michigan.
At the time of the 1930 census, John was living in Brightwood, Clackamas County, Oregon with his brother Andrew. Both men were working in a sawmill. During the census of 1940 John was renting a place for $3/month in Pleasant Home, Multnomah County, Oregon near Portland. At 72 he was working as a farm laborer.
He was living in Portland in 1947. On 1/8/1947 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was said to have "senile psychosis," which is characterized by depressive or paranoid delusions, hallucinations, or other mental disorders due to degeneration of the brain in old age, such as senile dementia. After being a patient at that institution for 4 years he died there of pneumonia on 2/9/1951. He was 83 years old. He was survived by his two children Harry & Retta, and his brothers William, Henry & Andrew.
His brother William died in Portland on 6/22/1951. His brother Andrew died in 1958 in Michigan and was buried with his parents. Brother Henry died in Michigan in 1967
John's daughter Retta died on 5/12/1985 and was buried at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale, Michigan. John's son Harry die on 1/26/1991 in Dorr, Michigan.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
John was born in New York on 1/27/1868. His parents were Betsey DeMaranville and John Oak. She was born in Massachusetts in 1842 and he was born in New York in 1826. Through his mother John is reportedly a descendant of Mayflower passengers William White & his son.
John's siblings were all born in New York and included: Hannah "Rosa" (about 1862), George W. (in 1864), William (about 1871), Andrew J (in 1872), Henry (in 1874) and Phebe (in 1876).
During the 1870, 1875 & 1880 censuses, John was living with his parents and siblings in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York where his father was farming next door to John's paternal grandparents, Jacob & Peggy Oak. At some point John's family moved to Michigan. But in the Michigan census of 1894 John was not listed in Barry County, Michigan with his parents and siblings who were. He apparently stayed for a while in New York.
In Cortland, New York on 10/11/1899, John married Bernice Eggleston who was born in Michigan in September 1874. During the 1900 census, they were living in Cortland, just 18 miles from his family's former home in Dryden, New York. John was making carriage irons for a living while Bernice was a seamstress. By 1901 they moved to Michigan.
On 5/10/1901 they had a son, John, who died within moments after being born. Their son Harry Lyman Oak was born on 2/15/1903. Their daughter Loretta "Retta" (sometimes spelled Rettia) was born in 1905 in Michigan.
Over the next decade John had a series of grievous losses in quick succession. On 8/11/1911 he and Bernice had a son named Chester who died of "indigestion" and heart problems when he was 2 months old. Bernice died on 11/14/1912 in Barry County, Michigan. She was buried at Riverside Cemetery in Hastings, Michigan with her two infant sons. John's mother died of pneumonia in Barry County, Michigan in 1913. His father died there in 1915.
By 1920 John was living with some of his brothers in Oregon. It is suspected that after Bernice's death John placed his children in the care of others. This may explain why over time Harry and Beverly spelled their last name Oaks/Oakes (with and s). Perhaps they had little contact with the Oak family. It is not known where Harry was living in 1920, but during the 1920 census Retta (age 15) was living with her maternal grandmother Flora Egggleston in Hasting, Michigan. Retta married Gerald Merritt in Detroit on 11/6/1924. They had an infant daughter who died at birth due to lung problems. Next Retta married Isadore "Irving Meretsky. They had an infant who died in 1928. Retta had two children, Beverly and Monte, who lived to adulthood.
In 1927 John's son Harry was using a Sandy, Oregon address so it is believed he spent some time with his father. In the late 1920s and early 1930s Harry worked as a seaman abroad international ships. On 10/18/1933 Harry married Opal Demaranville in Grand Rapids. They were living together in Grand Rapids during the 1940 census and at that time had no children. Harry worked as a painter.
John Oak and his brothers William, George, and Andrew migrated to Sandy, Oregon while his brother Henry and his sisters stayed in Michigan. On 6/30/1928 John's brother George died in Cherryville, Oregon of tuberculosis. His sister Rose Hart died on 9/6/1928 in Michigan.
At the time of the 1930 census, John was living in Brightwood, Clackamas County, Oregon with his brother Andrew. Both men were working in a sawmill. During the census of 1940 John was renting a place for $3/month in Pleasant Home, Multnomah County, Oregon near Portland. At 72 he was working as a farm laborer.
He was living in Portland in 1947. On 1/8/1947 he was admitted to the Oregon State Hospital, a residential facility in Salem, Oregon for the treatment of people with mental illness. He was said to have "senile psychosis," which is characterized by depressive or paranoid delusions, hallucinations, or other mental disorders due to degeneration of the brain in old age, such as senile dementia. After being a patient at that institution for 4 years he died there of pneumonia on 2/9/1951. He was 83 years old. He was survived by his two children Harry & Retta, and his brothers William, Henry & Andrew.
His brother William died in Portland on 6/22/1951. His brother Andrew died in 1958 in Michigan and was buried with his parents. Brother Henry died in Michigan in 1967
John's daughter Retta died on 5/12/1985 and was buried at Machpelah Cemetery in Ferndale, Michigan. John's son Harry die on 1/26/1991 in Dorr, Michigan.
More information about the 3500 unclaimed cremains at OSH is available at http://www.oregon.gov/oha/amh/osh/pages/cremains.aspx A book by David Maisel and a documentary by Ondi Timoner & Robert James, both entitled "Library of Dust" also provide more information.
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