Lemuel was one of eleven children born to Thomas Wilson Oakes & Harriet (Everidge).

Lemuel married Lucy Elizabeth (Smith) on December 25, 1879, in Oklahoma.

Their 7 children:
Bessie, Lillie, Clarence Andrew, Frank, Mattie, Nola, and Nona Mae Oakes.

Veteran Hugo Justice Served In Choctaw Senate
HUGO, Okla. - Death came to Lemuel W. Oakes, Oklahoma's longest-term Justice of the Peace, Wednesday afternoon.
Justice Oakes, a resident of Hugo for the past 30 years, had served 10 years in the Choctaw Senate under Green McCurtain, Gilbert Dukes and Jefferson Gardner, being the last surviving member of the old Choctaw Senate. He had served continuously as Justice of the Peace, since his election in 1911, being unopposed in most elections.
Following a critical illness last July, during which he spent several weeks in St. Joseph's Hospital, Paris, he returned to his home here and since October of last year had held court while propped in a wheel chair at his residence on East Kirk Street. He presided at the last court session last Thursday and became critically ill Friday morning.
He was a long-time member of the First Methodist Church here and had served as steward and honorary steward for a number of years.
Survivors are five daughters, Mrs. C.E. Bearden, Mrs. Lewis Springs, Mrs. J.C. Collins, Mrs. R.H. Tippitt and Mrs. W.W. Biard, and one son, Bill Oakes, all of Hugo; a brother, George Oakes, Marjo, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Sarah Jeter, Stamford, Texas, and 12 grandsons, and 13 granddaughters.
Funeral services will be held at the First Methodist Church at 10 a.m. Friday, with the Rev. C.W. Lester, pastor, officiatiing. He will be assisted by E.C. McKenzie, minister of the Church of Christ.
Interment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery under the direction of Snow Funeral Home.
--from The Paris News, Thursday, Feb 1, 1940, page 5