New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-25
OBITI AIRY.
COLONEL. JOHN OAKEY

COLONEL JOHN OAKLEY.
Colonel John Oakley United States Commissioner
for the Eastern District Of New-Nork, was 1ouho
dead In his bed at his home. No. 81" Ohoh-s'
brooklyn yesterday morning. at II O'Clock. D''''"
was due to apoplexy. The news Of Colonel Oakley ;
Ilo,t was great surprise 20 his friends IN the
Federal Building. and in the Arouckle Buiii'ne'
whore his law Offices were. Although on "Wednesday
night Colonel Oakley had been TouDIcd win Il
slght bilious attack. his general health was Roou'
The family heard him walking around MS rooi"
about o'clock yesterday morning, nH' WE" Hc
did not come down to breakfast little was thought
OF IT. as it was supposed he was sle-png "hen
he DAUGHTER went up 10 see 4 her father wanted
anything she found him dead.
Colonel Oakley was born in Brooklyn In Nv ana
most of his early lie spent In Flatb'sh io'''S
GRADUATED from Erasmus Hall. he went to haIe' ana
was graduated with honor IN 1879 Aiter peIi""
Of Two wears study with James Humphrey Mr..
Oakley was admitted to the New-York bar IN 1911.
During a legal practice In that city Of twenty-three
years he was the notary OF the Nassau Bank. From
1877 10 1851 he was Justice Of the Peace FOR rat
bush
\ member Of the 7th Regiment, New-York. John
Oakley was the first man. It Is asserted. TO leave
Flathush for the seat Of war IN 1861. Nhen ne
went away residents OF the village raised a SUD-
scr.ption OF 500 Oakley. This was the be-
ginning OF a system Of village relei' Whlch was
raised for the benefit OF the families OF those VINO
might 50 70 war.
Beginning in 1866 he served TWO terms IN the AS
sernblv on the Republican ticket from a strongly
Democratic district Part OF that time ne server
IA Chairman Of the Committee on Commerce ana
Narration In 1865 he appointed JudGe-Ad-
vocate with the rank Of Colonel, on the stan OF
Maior-General Shaler, FRS. Division, ~ g. > ~
Y This position he held for five years until H'5.
Between 1874 and 1873 he counsel for the BrooA-
Ivn Police and Excise departments. and in 1913 was
appointed as Assistant United States Dlsrlct-A''of-
nev Of brooklyn and Kings County.
Oakley had been instrumental in founding many OF
80, leading dramatic s)CatONS IN bIooh4!t'' I'4
Years ne was president OF the AmaranlA S9cle,
Inc late Lieutenant- Commander George w nc
Iong of the Jeanette Arctic eXpcGllloN vas ~
ono time an Office boy in NJ. Oakeys Office. II
was through MI Oakeys influence mat Lieutenant
Commander De Long received his appointments 10
a cade, in 1851. g c,,orol
The colonel was a Nnoal descendant OF colonel
John Oakley. the commander Of a regiment OF ara
goons IN CrOmW ellis army. ,,,-,
For many years Colonel Oakley was famiiarIy
known as "Ou- John name which came from
wcU-known lecture OF his by that title. Among
his other lectures, which were numerous. was ne
Nuesulman in America" lie the orator ~
the burial OF Admiral FaTragut. \ member Oh the
Rocky Mountain Club in 1876. when Fremont ran
for president. ne had been on the Republican
stump in every National campaign since that time:
He was n lover OF yachting, and was a member OF
the BROOKLYN Yacht Club and an honorary member
OF the Atlantic Yacht Cllh
Mrs Oakly. n second wife. and daughter Of
eighteen years, survive him.
Among the organizations with which he was con
rec;eI ire The Lincoln Cub. Mansfield Post 30. ..
C A. r.; the Society Of Old BrOokiynlies and the
Yale Alumni Assoc tion % Long Island.