Thomas and Ann Oakey
Information comes from the History of Bear Lake Pioneers by Donnetta L Baker
Thomas Oakey was born 21 Sep 1813 at Eldersfield England, the son of Thomas Oakey & Sarah Pritchard. He married Ann Collett, the daughter of William Collett and Elizabeth Bromage, on 30 Sep 1836. Elder Wilford Woodruff was a missionary for the LDS Church in the area of Thomas and Ann. They were impressed with his words and were among the first group of 600 converts being baptized 5 Apr 1850. After Thomas was baptized and ordained, he became the president of the Frogsmarsh Branch. They wanted to go to Zion in America but it was not until May of 1856 that they were able to board the ship Thornton and land at Castle Garden in New York.
The family traveled with the Willie Handcart
Company but in Iowa their son Joseph was lost to them. He was not found
until 20 years later by Charles C Rich. The family continued on into
Wyoming and became stranded because of the weather. Help came from Salt
Lake and they arrived in the Salt Lake Valley 9 Nov 1856.
Children of Thomas Oakey & Ann Collett
1. Charles Oakey b-25 May 1837 in England; d-16 May 1903 in Paris; m-Mary Ann
Passey 17 Jan 1862 in Lehi Utah
2. Jane Oakey b-8 Apr 1839 in England; d-1 July 1863 in Draper Utah
3. Heber Thomas Oakey b-30 Jan 1841 in England; d-10 May 1920 in Paris
4. Lorenzo Morrow Oakey b-9 Aug 1843 in England
5. Joseph Lorenzo Oakey b-9 Aug 1843 in England; d-31 July 1931
6. Rhoda Rebecca Oakey b-28 Oct 1845 in England; d-10 Nov 1856
7. Reuben Hyrum Oakey b-20 Aug 1847 in England; d-28 Dec 1876
8. James William Oakey b&d 27 May 1849 in England
9. Sarah Ann Oakey b-9 May 1852 in England; d-2 July 1947 in Liberty
10. Walter John Oakey b-27 June 1854 in England; d-25 July 1854 in England
In the spring of 1865 Thomas and Ann were called to the Bear Lake Valley. In Paris they built a small two room house. Thomas helped dig some of the first wells in Paris. Ann worked as a midwife and assisted in bringing many babies into the world from St Charles to Montpelier. Her fee was $2.00 but this wasn't always given in cash. Thomas was ordained a Patriarch by President Woodruff and served in this calling until his death 15 Apr 1890 in Paris. And died 4 Apr 1892 also in Paris and both are in the Paris Cemetery.