University of Virginia Library

JOHN MARTIN OAKEY

The subject of this sketch was born in Lynchburg,
Virginia, February 23d, 1839, and is a son of Mr. and
Mrs. William Oakey. He was educated in the private
schools of his native city
and served a seven
months' apprenticeship
at the pattern maker's
trade, prior to locating
in Salem, Virginia, in
1854. He learned the
Cabinet Maker's trade,
but was forced to give
it up on account of ill
health. He took up
telegraphy, which vocation
he followed during
the Civil War. The
first eighteen months of
that eventful struggle he
was located at Salem,
Virginia, and was then
shifted about for a year
or more as a relief operator.
The last eighteen months he had charge of the
commercial office of the military line leading from
Dublin, Virginia, to Union, Monroe County, headquarters
for the Southwest Virginia Military department
of the Confederate Army. At the close of the
war, Mr. Oakey opened a cabinet making and undertaking
establishment in Salem, and in 1882 opened
another establishment in Roanoke under the firm name
of J. M. Oakey & Company. Two years ago the
firm was changed to John M. Oakey, Incorporated.
Mr. Oakey is a practical embalmer and was for two
years President of the State Association, and for ten
years a member of the State Board of Embalmers.

He was married September 12th, 1865, to Emma L.
Woolwine, a daughter of Robert L. and Elizabeth
(Charlton) Woolwine of Pulaski, Virginia. By this
union he had ten children; namely, Robert W., William
M., Charles C., deceased, John M., Samuel G., Annie
E., the wife of P. W. Dolin, Emma L., the wife of
G. Logan Martin, Henry A., Clarence M., and Clifford
G. Oakey. Mrs. Oakey died December 16th, 1885,
and Mr. Oakey married a second time in 1887, his
wife being Fannie G. Barnett, a daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Charles H. Barnett of Montgomery County.
They have four children as follows: Mary B., Frank G.,
Hugh W., and Paul Dewit Oakey.

Mr. Oakey is a consistent member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, and fraternally he is a member
of Taylor Lodge Number 23 A. F. and A. M., and
Salem Lodge 100, I. O. O. F. Mr. Oakey does perhaps
the largest undertaking business of any man in the
State and his friends are legion among all classes. He
is public spirited, always ready to aid any worthy
enterprise which has for its object the upbuilding of
this city and section.