Oakley Family Plot
Sylvanus Hunt Oakley (1794-1883)
Sylvanus Hunt Oakley was born about 1794 in New Jersey, the son of Ephraim Oakley and Susannah Raimond. On 20 May 1815, Sylvanus married Jane Noble in Essex Co, NJ. They became the parents of four daughters although it appears there were another two children who did not survive to adulthood. About 1820, Sylvanus and his family left New Jersey for Summer Hill, Cayuga Co, NY and by 1830 were living in Locke, Cayuga Co, NY. In 1836, the Oakleys moved to the Rapids in Gates, NY. Jane died sometime between 1830 and 1838 although it is not known whether this occurred before or after arriving at the Rapids. Sylvanus married widow Hannah Brooks on 18 May 1838 in Gates. They had a daughter, Mariah, and a son, Monroe. Hannah died prior to the 1850 census and is likely buried in the family plot. Sylvanus practiced law for many years and humorously listed his occupation on the 1850 census as that of “pettifogger.” In 1881, a local newspaper carried a lengthy article describing the claim of Sylvanus as being the only living heir of his namesake grandfather who had owned land on or near Wall Street in New York City. When interviewed by the reporter, the elderly gentleman said he had never had enough funds to pay a lawyer to investigate his claim to the property.
He was a long-standing member of the Masons. According to obituary information, Sylvanus Hunt Oakley served in the War of 1812, although no supporting documentation has been found in official military records.
Sylvanus died 3 March 1883 and was buried in the family plot.
Sylvanus Oakley’s obituary from Union Advertiser, 5 Mar 1883, stating 1812 service 
Register page from Essex Co. NJ, 20 May 1815, recording the marriage of Sylvanus and Jane Noble 
Death announcement Rochester’s Democrat & Chronicle, 4 Mar 1883, stating burial at Rapids
Eliza Ann (Oakley) Streeter (1817-1901)
Eliza Ann, a daughter of Sylvanus and his first wife Jane Noble, was born 27 September 1817 in New Jersey. She married Hiram Streeter, son of Elias Streeter and Lovisa Harmon. Eliza died on 17 November 1901 and is likely buried in this cemetery along with her husband, who predeceased her in 1858, in plots M3 and M4. Two of their children, Hiram DeWitt Streeter who was born and died in 1845, and Civil War veteran Marquis B. Streeter (STOP 20), are known to be buried in Rapids Cemetery. Their daughter Nancy Eliza, born 5 December 1843 and died 14 November 1856, is likely buried with her parents. There is a possibility that son Hubbard Byron (1847-1883?) may also lie here.
Delia Esther (Oakley) Marshall (1821-1871)
Delia Esther, one of the daughters of Sylvanus and first wife Jane, was born about 1821 in New York state. She married Edward Marshall. Delia died 27 June 1852 and Edward died 17 May 1871. They were both buried in Rapids Cemetery.
Monroe H. Oakley (1842-1915)
Monroe Hunt Oakley, the son of Sylvanus Oakley and his second wife, the widow Hannah Brooks, was born about 1842. Monroe grew up in the Rapids neighborhood and worked as a farm laborer and boatman while in his late teens. In April 1861 at 19 years of age, he enlisted in Company I, 13th New York Volunteer Infantry and was apparently present at the First Battle of Bull Run/Manassas in July. He was reported absent in August 1861, possibly due to confusion regarding his term of service. He enlisted in Company E, 140th NY Volunteer Infantry in August 1862 for a term of three years and is presumed to have been present at Fredericksburg in December 1862. Monroe was again absent without leave in early 1863. After his arrest in August 1863 he was returned to his regiment where he acted as an officer’s servant and regimental barber. After the 140th was mustered out in mid-1865, he was transferred to Company B, 5th Veteran Infantry to make good the time lost by his previous desertion. He mustered out in August 1865. Although Monroe applied for a pension on several occasions he was repeatedly denied on the grounds that a charge of desertion could not be removed from the official record.
Following the war, Monroe worked as a barber until 1882. In January 1883, he and his father purchased the American Hotel, located on the south-east corner of Genesee Street and Brooks Avenue, from Truman Hulin (STOP 13) for $3200. Monroe and family lived at and operated the hotel and tavern until 1896. In January 1897, the hotel was sold, the family moved to Flint Street and Monroe returned to running a barber shop on Jefferson Avenue. Over the years, Monroe was active in the community having served on the Board of Rapids Cemetery Association, was involved with local Democratic politics, veterans’ organizations, and the Masons, led an orchestra and was known locally as a caterer of clam bakes. Monroe died 18 January 1915 and was buried here on 20 January 1915.
Monroe was in three different infantry regiments (13th, 140th, 5th Veteran). Shown are all three of his muster roll abstracts. 
Fragment from Monroe’s original headstone, before it was replaced. 
Photo is of an older Monroe, taken from a webpage (http://www.140thny.org/oakley.htm) that no longer exists. 
Monroe’s obituary from Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, 19 Jan 1915.
Mary E. Oakley (Strowbridge/Strobridge) (1847-1904)
Mary E. Strowbridge married Monroe about 1862. She was born circa 1847 in Cortland County, NY, the daughter of George L. Strowbridge and Lucy Langley. In 1855 her family moved to the Rapids settlement and then to north Chili prior to 1860. Her father George was killed in action at Gettysburg on 2 July 1863. Mary and Monroe had ten children together and it is likely that four of them who died young are also buried here. Mary died 2 February 1904.
Oakley Children
George (1866-1887), Lucy (1870-1890), William (1874-before 1880) and Charles (1881-1882) were children of Monroe and Mary who are believed to lie here with their parents. For more specific birth and death details, see List of Burials.