Bio of OAKLEY, Otis H. (b.1876), Hennepin Co., MN
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EXTRACTED FROM: History of Minneapolis, Gateway to the Northwest; 
Chicago-Minneapolis, The S J Clarke Publishing Co, 1923; Edited by: Rev. 
Marion Daniel Shutter, D.D., LL.D.; Volume I - Shutter (Historical); 
volume II - Biographical; volume III - Biographical
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Vol III, pg 492-495
OTIS H. OAKLEY
Otis H. Oakley, engaged in the undertaking business at No. 67 Thirteenth street
South, was born in Hudson, St. Croix county, Wisconsin, January 18, 1876, and is
a son of Peter W. and Nancy Jane (Rucker) Oakley, who were natives of New York
and Virginia, respectively. The father was a direct descendant of Benjamin
Franklin. The family came to this country during the early colonization of New
England, while the mother's people were of Huguenot ancestry. Both families
participated in the early wars and gained some distinction in connection with
military affairs. The grandfather of Otis H. Oakley was a contractor, who built
mills all over the country and the father also conducted a contracting business.
The Rucker family, however, were extensive owners of plantations and slaves in
the south and specialized in the production of tobacco. Peter W. Oakley passed
away in the year 1912 and for seven years was survived by his wife, who died in
1919.
Otis H. Oakley was educated in the public schools and was graduated when
thir­teen years of age. He immediately learned the undertaking business and at
fifteen years of age pursued a course of embalming in the Clarke School of
Embalming at Kansas City, Missouri. He took up this business as a profession and
in April, 1894, came to Minneapolis, where he opened an undertaking
establishment, which he has since successfully conducted. In 1918 he purchased
the business of W. H. Landis at his present location and has here remained. He
has a modern establishment with a chapel, seating eighty-four people. He has
recently patented what is known as the
Oakley process of embalming without mutilation, the process being perfected
after twenty-five years of study and work thereon. In the year 1922 the
undertaking world was apprised of a new embalming fluid "Roakine", which has
since then revolutionized, and superseded all previous methods. Up until 1897
arsenic was the basis used and then was introduced formaldehyde, which when
injected leaves the body in a hard rigid condition of a grayish color. Roakine
acts directly in an opposite way, producing a soft, pliable, colorful, life-like
body, without mutilation of any sort. Mr. Oakley is a self-taught chemist,
having spent twenty-six years in individual research and experi­mental work
before perfecting this new discovery. Roakine is a new chemical, com­posed of a
combination of chemicals. It is odorless but when applied to a decomposed body
immediately destroys all odor of any kind. Final, exhaustive tests were made
after the discovery of Roakine, from the fall of 1921 until its formal
introduction In 1922. Its use by progressive undertakers is now national, being
used one hundred per cent successfully from coast to coast. The Roakine process
of embalming is an entirely surface process, as Roakine is applied to the body
by a sponging bath-like process, doing away absolutely with mutilation. Mr.
Oakley is one of the best known undertakers and embalmers in Minneapolis and by
reason of his skill and efficiency has built up a large business.
On the 4th of November, 1901, Mr. Oakley was married to Miss Lila Olson, a
native of Pope county, Minnesota, and of Norwegian parentage, her father having
been one of the pioneer settlers of Pope county. They now reside at No. 84
Spruce place. Mr. Oakley is the second vice president and one of the directors
of the Loring Commercial Club and is a member of several other organizations of
worth to the community. He has gained many friends during his residence in
Minneapolis and in his business he has made steady progress. Not a little of his
success is attributable to the fact that he has concentrated his efforts and
attention upon a single line and has thus developed his powers to a high point
of efficiency. Mr. Oakley is a member of the exclusive Exchange Club, one of the
oldest clubs in Minneapolis.