John Wesley Oakes was the son of Henry and Jane Oakes.

John married Catharine (Katie) Spies, daughter of Michael Spies and Christina Strasser, in Berlin, Ontario on February 16, 1869. The ceremony was performed by Evangelical minister Rev. S. Weber. Witnesses to the marriage were Mary Schile and Catharine Weaver, both of Berlin, Ontario.

John and Catharine had 9 children:

1. Annie J Oakes, born November 27, 1870 - died March 1, 1892

2. Eliza Oakes, born July 6, 1872– died 1959

3. Charles Michael Oakes, born September 1, 1874 - died March 1, 1894

4. Lillian M. Oakes, born January 13, 1876 - died 1969

5. Frederick Henry Oakes, born May 18, 1877 - died ?

6. Bertha Oakes, born May 7, 1881– died June 7, 1970

7. John Wesley Oakes Jr. born July 7, 1883– February 13, 1960

8. Edna Cora Oakes June 6, 1886 - died 1940

9. Clive Stanley Oakes , born May 25, 1889 - died 1974

John was a manufacturer and dealer in stoves and tinware, according to the 1864 Waterloo County Directory and Gazetteer. At the time of his marriage in 1869, John was employed as a Merchant and Tinsmith in Hawkesville, Ontario. The 1881 Census of Canada documents John Wesley Oakes, aged 40, residing in Hawkesville and his occupation was Merchant. The 1885 Waterloo County directory lists John W. Oakes as residing in Hawkesville, Ontario and employed as a merchant of groceries, hardware, stoves, tinware, paints, oils, etc.

John died in his 52nd year. The cause of death listed on the death registration was Pleura Pneumonia. (inflammation of the lungs and pleura).

Entry which appeared in the Waterloo County Chronicle - June 23, 1898, page 8

F. S. Spies.

In the largest brick business block in either Woolwich or Wellesley Tp., is where this gentleman holds forth. This massive building is 40 x 45 feet in dimensions and is over three stories in height; at a great distance viewed from every direction it looms up conspicuously above all the surrounding structures of the village. It was erected in the years of 1868-69 by John Wesley Oakes, who died after a brief yet repeated illness of the lungs on May 29, 1890. He was a prominent figure in the business interest of this section, and his death was a lamentable event and a serious loss not only to his family, but to the entire community. Mr. Spies was born near Winterbourne, Woolwich township, 1856. He was the only son of the late Michael Spies of this place and brother of the late Mrs. Catharine Oakes. He came with his parents when but one year of age to "Queens Bush" about 1 mile south of the village, Heidelberg road, where he enjoyed a quiet farm life until 1877 He finally became dissatisfied with his position, assured he might be of greater usefulness somewhere else he concluded to go to Naperville, Illinois, 30 miles west of Chicago, where he attended the North Western College for a term of about 4 years, with a view of increasing his knowledge store. After completing a general course of study in German, English and some Greek, he entered the ranks of the ministry of the Canada Conference, Evangelical Association, in which active capacity he was engaged 8 years at different points throughout the province. Since then he has not been in active work as a Minister of the Gospel but has frequently occupied pulpits in a local way, and even at present while following his business pursuits he is occasionally compelled to decline to conduct services in different churches. The cause of his abandonment of the ministry was partly owing to the urgent request of his sister, Mrs. J. W. Oakes, to assist her in settling up the estate of

her deceased husband, who very unfortunately left his heirs without a will.

To undertake this critical task he finally consented, and after considerable litigation the many wearisome and trying affairs of the estate were by the assistance of kind friends in spite of opposition, in a way settled up, and Mr. Spies was induced by their legal authorities to purchase the remaining unsold portion of the real estate, a part of which be now occupies. He was married in Holland, Grey County in 1886, to Sophia, daughter of Louis Joseph Privat, of near Hanover, Grey Co. They are blessed with three healthy boys and girls and live in connection with the main building. Mr. Spies is an enterprising business man and has a very extensive mercantile establishment occupying nearly the entire lower flat of the two capacious stores and part of the upper stories. He deals in dry goods, groceries, hardware, stationery, wall paper, crockery, glassware, tinware, stoves, binder twine, etc., in fact, everything usually found in the general mercantile line. To look over the endless variety of articles necessary and useful in the household or on the farm displayed in his establishment leads me to designate him the Wanamaker of Hawksville. He pays the highest market price for farm produce, which he takes in in marked quantities throughout the year in exchange for his goods. He has his full share of the public patronage and has bad fairly good success since he commenced business here. His motto shall ever be, ever to do good through his business deals in administering to the wants and necessities as well as Iuxury of his customers. H. N.