Peter Davis Oakey Explained

P. Davis Oakey
State:Connecticut
Term Start1:March 4, 1915
Term End1:March 3, 1917
Predecessor1:Augustine Lonergan
Successor1:Augustine Lonergan
Office2:City Assessor of Hartford, Connecticut
Term Start2:May 14, 1900
Term End2:February 28, 1915
Predecessor2:Samuel N. Benedict
Successor2:August J. Meyer
Birth Date:25 February 1861
Birth Place:East Millstone, New Jersey
Death Place:Hartford, Connecticut
Resting Place:Cedar Hill Cemetery, Hartford, Connecticut
Party:Republican
Spouse:Ada H. Chapin Garde (m. 1911)
Parents:John L. Oakey
Sareh E. (Wilson) Oakey
Occupation:Businessman
Public official

Peter Davis Oakey (February 25, 1861 – November 18, 1920), usually called P. Davis Oakey, was a businessman and government official from Connecticut. A Republican, he was most notable for his service in the United States House of Representatives from 1915 to 1917.

Early life

Oakey was born in East Millstone, New Jersey on February 25, 1861, the son of Sareh E. (Wilson) Oakey and John L. Oakey.[1] His father was a successful farmer and merchant who was prominent in local politics and government, including serving as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly.[2] Oakey attended the public schools and high school of Millstone.[1]

Start of career

After completing his education, Oakey joined his father in the milling business, then operated a farm his father owned in Maryland.[2] He moved to Hartford, Connecticut in 1886, where he managed first the Mapes Fertilizer Company, then the Hartford Lavine Company, a soap manufacturer.[2] From 1891 to 1895, he was a reporter for the Hartford Courant.[2]

He served as member of the city council in 1891–1894, and city alderman and collector of city taxes in 1894 and 1895.[1] He was a member of the Connecticut National Guard from 1895 to 1901, and served as city assessor from 1900 to 1915.[1] Oakey was active in Hartford's civic and fraternal life, and his memberships included the Freemasons, Templars, Shriners, Knights of Pythias, and Ancient Society of Foresters.[2] In 1911, Oakey married Ada H. Chapin, the widow of William Henry Garde.[2]

U.S. House

Oakey was elected as a Republican to the Sixty-fourth Congress (March 4, 1915 – March 3, 1917).[1] He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1916 to the Sixty-fifth Congress.[1]

Death and burial

He died in New Haven, Connecticut on November 18, 1920.[1] He was interred in Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hartford.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Wold, Ansel . 1928 . Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1927 . Washington, DC . US Government Printing Office . 1365 . Google Books.
  2. Book: Hart . Samuel . Samuel Hart (priest) . 1917 . Encyclopedia of Connecticut Biography . 3 . Boston, MA . American Historical Society . 15 . HathiTrust.
  3. Book: Spencer, Thomas E. . 1998 . Where They're Buried . Baltimore, MD . Clearfield Company . 159 . 978-0-8063-4823-0 . Google Books.