Bio: Washington L. Oakes, Claiborne Parish, LA
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890
Submitted for the LAGenWeb Archives by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez, Jan. 2000


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Washington L. Oakes is one of the progressive, intelligent and enterprising 
agriculturist of Claiborne Parish, La., and was born in Perry County, Ala., 
in 1827, and there grew to maturity, being the fourth of his parent's ten 
children: Elizabeth (deceased, was the wife of Isaac Harkines, of Perry County, 
Ala.), Eliga M. (now a resident of Claiborne Parish, La.), Haney (widow of 
Isaac Harkines), Washington L., Reuben M. (died during the war, leaving a 
widow and family), Susan (widow of Thomas Brittain, of Nacogdoches County, 
Tex.), Isaac C. (died during the war, leaving a widow and two children), 
Frances (died at the age of eighteen years), Nancy W. (now Mrs. John Naremore, 
of Claiborne Parish), and John L. (died a prisoner at Fort Delaware, during 
the war).  The father of these children, Isaac Oakes, was born in Georgia, in 
1797, being the youngest of the following children born to his father, who 
also bore the name of Isaac: Thomas, Reuben, John, Jonathan, Nancy, Persiller 
and Loucy.  The grandfather was born about 1758 and at the age of eighteen 
years became a Revolutionary soldier, and served throughout the struggle that 
followed.  He was born in Virginia.  The maiden name of the mother of the 
immediate subject of this sketch, was Amy Martin, a daughter of Claiborne 
Martin, who was a Virginian.  Washington L. Oakes received a common education 
in the schools of Alabama, but after he had attained his twentieth year he 
began farming for himself, and in 1852 was married to Miss Martha A. Scarborough.  
In 1861 he enlisted in Col. Scott's company that went out from Claiborne Parish 
that year, and soon after was in the fight at Belmont, but after the first year's 
service he was sent back to Louisiana, and served in this State until the close 
of the war.  He has been a Democrat of long standing, having cast his first 
presidential vote in 1848, and since location in the parish, in 1852, he has 
held the position of justice of the peace and police juror a great portion to 
the time.  Socially he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity for many years, 
in which he has taken all the degrees of council.  He and his estimable wife have 
been members of the Missionary Baptist Church since 1846, and as citizens and 
neighbors are highly esteemed by all who know them.  Mr. Oakes has resided on 
his present farm of 1,000 acres since 1852, and has 400 acres of land under 
cultivation, all of which is admirable adapted to raising all of the products 
of the South.

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