Jackson County farmer who served with the 26th Iowa Volunteers of the Union Army and fought in 20 major battles, sieges and engagements. Spent time in a Confederate prison in Richmond, Virginia.

The book, "On the Skirmish Line Behind a Friendly Tree", is about the Civil War Memoir of William Royal Oake that he personally wrote, and finished just days prior to his death, edited and published in 2006, by Stacy Dale Allen.

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REMINISCENSES OF THE 1850'S--- By William Royal Oake, Jr.

"On the 16th day of May, 1852, my parents, William and Mary Riches Oake, with a family of seven children, left the shores of old England, embarking at Liverpool on the good sailing vessel "Warbler". After an uneventful, monotonous 52 days on the Atlantic, we landed at New Orleans (July 7), where cholera and scarlet fever were raging. We remained in New Orleans, only two days, then we took a steamboat for the north. Near St. Louis we were held at the quarantine grounds several days (July 10-July 14) and then were allowed to proceed to St. Louis where we awaited the sailing of the palatial steamer "Brunette". On the same day another steamer also started north and since there was rivalry between the two boats, it was a continual race until, a little above Le Clair, the "Brunette" took the lead and its competitor was lost to view. On the 30th of July, we arrived at our destination. At that time the boat landing was near where the brick residence of George F. Laing was later built (Ila Hale residence). Those were the halcyon days of steam boating on the Father of Waters, there being no competing lines of railroads and no bridges to impede the boats. Early settlers along the river were employed to cut wood and rank it on the banks to be used as fuel by the many crafts passing up and down. In those days, very little coal was used, so every few miles, hundreds of cords of wood could be seen ranked ready for the boats to use. Our cabin was covered with what were called "shakes" in those days. Settlers building houses would select a fine straight-grained oak tree and cutting its trunk into three foot lengths, would then, by using a frow, split them into shingles and lay them length-wise on the roof. Being oak, they would soon warp.. Many a time in the winter of 1853 I have lain abed in the attic of that log cabin and watched the twinkling stars. It was no uncommon thing, on awakening in the morning after a fall of snow to find an inch of snow on the bed covering. During the summer of 1853 our family, not being acclimated, was troubled with ague most of the time and more or less, with malaria, as are settlers in all of the new countries. Some of the family was shaking ill of the time so we were constantly calling on Dr. J. G. Sugg for quinine. We used so much of it that our cabin was the sobriquet of Pill Hill. As for clothing, overshoes were unknown and boiled shirts and paper collars were not supposed to be worn by common people. Give a woman a sunbonnet and a calico dress and a man a hickory shirt and a pair of overalls and they were attired for either church or a dance. The road across the bottom was the old north pike, a few rods north of the present one. In times of high water there was no way of reaching Sabula from the west end of the pike except by boat, so many a time has the old horse ferry plied between Sabula and what is now (106) the Garfield residence. "Uncle Wade", father of C. G. Eldridge, a sturdy old pioneer, whose name was as good as his bond, was the horse-ferry man who envoyed people across the Mississippi River when on their way to seek new homes in the wilds of Iowa. As Sabula was quite an important point at which to cross the river, at almost any time, long lines of prairie schooners drawn by oxen could be seen crossing and then winding their way to the New Eldorado. Although not having the luxuries we are having in this present age, I think the early settlers enjoyed themselves full as well. They may not have been able to dress as well or ride in fine carriages, but they generally managed to get enough to eat, such as it was-cornbread and pork with a liberal supply of game, which was very abundant. In those days the bottom lands back of Sabula as well as the islands, would teem with thousands of ducks and geese so it would require no very expert marksman to kill a wagon load in a day. Game that inhabited the islands was just as plentiful, such as deer, turkeys, pheasants, quail and prairie chickens. I remember once of having seen 27 deer in one drove. Such great changes have now taken place in the face of the country that one returning after a lapse of fifty years would hardly know it. Once it was cov with heavy timer which had mostly been cleared and replaced by fine cultivated farms. In most cases every vestige of the stumpage of that splendid body of timber has disappeared. While living in our cabin I saw my first threshing machine in America. It was called the "Traveling Machine" and has long since gone out of date. You would hitch a team to it, drive up and take on board a dozen shocks of grain and then start the team. This would start the machinery, scattering the straw all over the field. When all on board was threshed you would load and start again until the whole crop was threshed. It could not thresh quite as fast as a steam thresher of the present time (1901) but it was satisfactory in those days of small crops.

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William Royal Oake OBITUARY

TAPS SOUNDED FOR WILLIAM ROYAL OAKE

Prominent Sabula Resident and Civil War Veteran Answers the Final Summons

William Royal Oake of Sabula, Iowa, a Civil War veteran and a well known citizen of Jackson County, died at his home April 9, 1914. His end came suddenly, but peacefully. He rose that morning feeling as well as usual, and after breakfast sat down to enjoy his pipe for a moment. His wife noticed after a while that his head had dropped forward and going up to him, failed to arouse him. She then called in some of the neighbors and they bore him to a couch, and while Mr. Oake breathed naturally, he quietly slipped away, entering that great sleep which knows no harsh awakening.

William Royal Oake was the only surviving member of a family of eight children. He was born in Cambridgeshire, England, on February 26, 1844, and was therefore at the time of his death, a little over seventy years old. When but a child of eight years he emigrated with his parents to this country and settled at Sabula in 1844. At the age of eighteen years he enlisted in Company A, 26th Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. S. R. Williams and Col. Milo Smith, of Clinton.

He took part in some of the greatest battles between the North and the South, and was one of the bravest soldiers that fought under the old flag, participating in such battles as Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. On April 9, 1863, while on a scouting expedition, he and nine of his comrades were captured, and for six months was confined at Libby Prison. When released from Libby Prison on an exchange for other men, he rejoined his regiment and served to the close of the war, being honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., June 6, 1865, with a creditable record.

In 1878 he moved to Kansas with his family, where he remained until 1881, when he returned to Sabula where he has continuously resided. In 1890 he was made postmaster and served four years. He was identified with the business and industrial life of Sabula for many years. In 1894 he took up the insurance business, which he continued to the time of his death. In his political views he was a Republican, but neither narrow or bigoted in his views he supported the best man for the office and did not forget a friend even if he was on the other side.

Mr. Oake held many positions of trust in his hometown, having served the community as councilman and Mayor, and was at the time of his death town assessor, which position he held for 12 years. He was a member of the Modern Woodmen and Woodmen of the World. He was also a willing and active worker in the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was a member.

On July 15, 1866, Mr. Oake was married to Miss Mary A. Barrick, also a native of England, who has been his faithful and devoted companion for life. To them were born five children, three of whom survive, namely, William Oake, a physician residing at Elburn, Illinois, George W. Oake, a butcher of Seattle, Washington, and Frank Royal Oake, a cattle buyer of Delmar, Iowa. It was in his family relation where Mr. Oake reflected the best qualities of his character. The rules which governed his conduct and shaped his life, are those which command regard in every land and clime, and he leaves a host of friends who are not only willing, but eager to testify to his strength of character and his sterling worth.

Those from Maquoketa who attended the funeral were J. W. Ellis, Frank Keeley, Harvey Benjamin and A. W. Richardson, who also acted as pall bearers. Levi Strong and Thomas Houston of this city and David Swihart of Sabula are among the few survivors of Company A, 26th Iowa Volunteer Infantry.

[Maquoketa Excelsior-Record, Published April 16, 1914, submitted by Ken Wright]

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BIOGRAPHY

William Royal Oake (JR.), one of the few remaining veterans of the Civil war, is a well known, influential and respected citizen of Sabula, where he is now living retired. His birth occurred in Cambridgeshire, England, on the 26th of February, 1844, his parents being William (SR.) and Mary (Riches) Oake, who were likewise natives of that country, the former born in 1813 and the latter on the 24th of May, 1814. Their marriage was celebrated on the 23d of November, 1837. In 1852, having determined to establish their home in the new world, they set sail for the United States and after landing on American shores made their way direct to Sabula, Jackson county, Iowa. While living in England, William Oake (SR.) had been engaged in clerical work but after coming to this county he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, devoting his time and energies to the operation of a rented farm for three years. On the expiration of that period he entered eighty acres of land from the government, which he improved and to which he later added another tract of similar size, so that his farm comprised one hundred and sixty acres. The work of the fields claimed his attention until 1876, when he retired from active life and spent his remaining days in well earned ease at Sabula, there passing away on the 30th of April, 1903. He was devoted to the welfare of his wife and children and led a quiet and industrious life. The period of his residence in this county covered more than a half century and for eleven years he had survived his wife, who was called to her final rest in 1892.

William Royal Oake (JR.), who is the only surviving member of a family of eight children, was a lad of eight years when he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. He remained at home until eighteen years of age and then enlisted for service in the Union army, becoming a private of Company A, Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, under Captain S. R. Williams and Colonel Milo Smith of Clinton, Iowa. He participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Ringgold, Georgia, the principal engagements of the Atlanta campaign in 1864 and also marched with Sherman to the sea. On the 9th of April, 1863, while on a scouting expedition with Lieutenant Mason and nine other men, he and his comrades were captured and confined in Libby prison for six months. At the end of that time they were exchanged and Mr. Oake rejoined his regiment in October. At the battle of Lookout Mountain he was struck in the shoulder by a rifle ball but as he was partially protected by' a roll of blankets which he carried, his wound was only slight and he was soon able to once more report for duty. He was honorably discharged at Washington, D. C., on the 6th of June, 1865, and returned home with a most creditable military record. His regiment left Clinton for the front nine hundred and eighteen strong, and when hostilities had ceased there were only two hundred and sixty survivors.

On once more taking up the pursuits of civil life Mr. Oake purchased a tract of land and for a number of years devoted his attention to the work of farming. In 1878 he removed to Kansas, where he remained until 1881, when he returned to Sabula, Iowa, and here became identified with industrial interests as a contractor. He was appointed postmaster in 1890 and for four years capably discharged the duties devolving upon him in this connection. He is a man of wide general information and during his administration contributed various articles to the Sabula Gazette. Afterward he was engaged in the insurance business until the time of his retirement and in that undertaking also met with a gratifying measure of success.

On the 15th of July, 1866, Mr. Oake was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary A. Barrick, a daughter of William and Elizabeth Barrick, who were natives of England. They set sail for the United States in 1847 when their daughter Mary was but an infant, and the latter's first birthday was celebrated on the Atlantic ocean. The death of William Barrick occurred on the 8th of June, 1888. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Oake were born four sons and two daughters the record of whom is as follows. Richard L., whose natal day was November 6, 1867, passed away on the 6th of February, 1907. At the time of his demise he was engaged in the shingle business at Puget Sound and conducting a successful and growing enterprise. William Thomas, whose birth occurred February 24, 1871, is a graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Chicago (later known as University of Illinois College of Medicine) and has been practicing his profession at Elburn, Illinois, for the past five years. He has won an enviable reputation as an able representative of the medical fraternity and has been especially successful as a surgeon. In 1904, while attending college, he was elected president of his class of three hundred and thirty students-an honor which he highly appreciated. George W. Oake, who was born on the 20th of September, 1873, is engaged in the butchering business at Seattle, Washington. Frank Royal Oake, who first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 15th of November, 1875, attended the Clinton Commercial College and is now a prominent stock buyer of Delmar, Clinton county, Iowa. Lottie May, who was born May 2, 1882, passed away at the age of fourteen years and six months and the death of this charming daughter came as a great blow to the parents. Mr. Oake is very proud of his children and well he may be.

In his political views Mr. Oake is an unfaltering republican and his fellow townsmen have honored him with election to various positions of public trust. He has served as city councilman and trustee, was mayor for two years and at the present time acts as city assessor, which office he has held for twelve years. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World, having been a member of the former for twenty-two years and of the latter for seventeen years. He still maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army post and is its present commander. The rules which have governed his conduct and shaped his life are such as command confidence and regard in every land and clime and he has a host of friends who are not only willing but eager to testify to his sterling worth.

[Source: History of Jackson County, Iowa by James W. Ellis, published by S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1910, submitted by Mary Kay Krogman]

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Other siblings not listed in family links below:

ROBERT ROYAL OAKE; b Jul 22, 1848, d Sep 14, 1852 (shortly after arriving in Iowa).

SUSAN OAKE; b Dec 1, 1850, d Jul, 1852, in St. Louis, MO

(on journey to America).

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William Royal Oake married MARY ANN BARRICK on 15 July 1866. Mary Ann was born 1 Jun 1846 and she had her first birth day aboard the ship her parents were immigrating on to America, from England. William and Mary Ann were married on July 15, 1866. After William died, Mary Ann married George Ransom Rathbun on 10 July 1917. George died on 5 June 1927 per his application for a military headstone and is buried in Spragueville, Jackson Co., Iowa, in the Rathbun Cemetery.