Oakland, William T.

OAKLAND, ERICKSON, JAYCOX, NEVELN, IRELAND, VAN TASSEL, SAYRE, HOAG, EVANS

Posted By: Janelle Martin (email)
Date: 5/20/2009 at 22:44:20

History of Hamilton County Iowa,1912, Vol.II, p.76

WILLIAM T. OAKLAND

Scientific efficiency is the standard of attainment in modern agriculture and William T. Oakland has made it his end and ambition in the cultivation of his excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres in Liberty township. He was born in Illinois, April 14, 1878. His father, Enoch Oakland, is a native of Norway where his birth occurred on the 5th of May, 1849. His first journey to America was made in 1871 and at this time he resided four years in the United States. At the end of that time he returned to Norway and remained in his native country a year and a half. After his second journey to America he located in Illinois, where he followed farming for a short time. In 1892 he came with his family to Hamilton County, Iowa, and with the exception of two years during which he was a resident of Webster City, he has cultivated the soil in Liberty township since that time. He purchased here one hundred and sixty acres and is now numbered among the representative and substantial agriculturists of his section. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Marie Erickson and she was also born in Norway. Unto their union were born four children, namely: Mrs. Emma Jaycox, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; William T., of this review; Edward, deceased; and Mrs. Ella Neveln, of Storm Lake, Iowa.

William T. Oakland was reared at home and was educated in the district schools of Illinois and Iowa. He came to Hamilton County with his father in 1892 and has followed farming during all of his active life. He is the owner of a tract of two hundred and forty acres in Liberty township which is in excellent condition as a result of his well directed work. He has made extensive improvements upon his holdings, has fenced, tiled and drained his farm, built barns, granaries and other outbuildings and has recently erected an attractive home in which is found every modern comfort and luxury. In his farming operations he has been active and energetic, his labor resulting in the very gratifying success which he is now enjoying.

Mr. Oakland was united in marriage, March 25, 1903, to Miss Lizzie Jaycox, who was born in Blairsburg township, Hamilton County, on January 26, 1882. Her parents, Isaiah and Emma J. (Ireland) Jaycox, were among the pioneers in this section of Iowa. Her father was a native of New York who came to Hamilton County before his daughter was born. He died in Pipestone, Minnesota, on August 29, 1908. He had been twice married. His first wife was in her maidenhood Miss Mary Van Tassel, a native of Cold Springs, New York, who died in the same section. To that union were born three children: Mrs. Lucy Sayre, of Blairsburg; Howard, of Valentine, Nebraska; and Mrs. Charles W. Hoag, of Williams township. After the death of his first wife Mr. Jaycox was again married, his second union occurring on August 29, 1868, when he wedded Miss Emma J. Ireland, also a native of Cold Springs, New York, born September 12, 1851. To this union were born seven children, as follows: Benjamin, born December 27, 1869, now residing in Blairsburg; Guy C., born August 24, 1872, who is living in Kamrar, Iowa; Willard, born November 8, 1874, whose death occurred at the age of two years; Louis E., born April i, 1877, a resident of Minneapolis, Minnesota; LeRoy I., born December 15, 1879, who is living at Woodstock, Minnesota; Mrs. Oakland; and Mrs. Mary E. Evans, born October 28, 1885, whose home is in Blairsburg. With the exception of the eldest, Benjamin, who is a native of Webster City, all of the children were born on a farm north of Blairsburg, in Blairsburg township. Mrs. Oakland has spent her life in Hamilton county with the exception of two years during which she resided with her father in Minnesota. She and her husband are the parents of two sons: Glen Adelbert, was born September 8, 1905, and died in infancy; and Lloyd, born on July 24, 1906, in Liberty township.

In his political views Mr. Oakland is a republican but takes no very active part in local affairs. He belongs to the Congregational church of Blairsburg and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a man of resourceful business ability who looks beyond the exigencies of the present to the needs of the future and utilizes the means at hand for the furtherance of his success. In all his dealings he is thoroughly reliable and honorable and is a worthy representative of that class of citizens who lead quiet, industrious, honest and useful lives and constitute the most forceful element in any community.