James A. Oakes Biography


	This biography appears on page 1893 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. II (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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	JAMES A. OAKES, one of the honored pioneers and influential 
citizens of Moody county, was born in Pennsylvania, and received his 
rudimentary education in his native place. He was about eleven years of 
age at the time of his parents' removal to Illinois, where he continued 
his scholastic training in the common schools, in the meanwhile 
assisting in the reclamation and cultivation of the pioneer homestead. 
At the age of seventeen he signalized his loyalty by tendering his 
services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in the Ninety-
second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he proceeded to the 
front, and he continued in active service for a period of two years. 
After the close of the war Mr. Oakes returned to Illinois, and there 
engaged in the work of the painters' trade, to which he continued to 
devote his attention at irregular intervals. Subsequently he came to 
what is now the state of South Dakota and entered claim to government 
land in Moody county, and in the spring of the following year he 
brought his family here and located on the new farm. To this original 
claim he has added until he now has a fine ranch, while he also owns 
and operates a farm in the adjoining county of McPherson, his 
substantial and attractive residence being located on the homestead 
claim which he secured when he first came to the state. He carries on 
diversified farming and raises live stock of excellent type, while he 
devotes no little attention to dairying. He also owns an interest in a 
lumber yard and a grain elevator. He is a staunch advocate of the 
principles of the Republican party, while fraternally he is identified 
with the Grand Army of the Republic.

	Mr. Oakes wedded Miss Malinda S. Saterlee, and they became the 
parents of four children. Mrs. Oakes was summoned into eternal rest and 
the subject wedded Miss Hannah S. Johnson, who was born in Iowa. Of the 
second union have been born two children.