The 1900 United States census showed Charles A. Oakes (age 36, born October 1863 in Canada, brick burner) married to Larusa (age 25, born April 1875 in Wisconsin). Along with their children Leander (age 10, born in Minnesota), George (age 8, born in Minnesota), Lillian (age 3, born in Minnesota, and Mildred (11 months, born in Minnesota), they resided in Princeton Township, Minnesota.
A large party of Princeton people left the first of the week for Prineville, Oregon, to prove up on their stone and timber claims. On Monday Mike Mahoney, Fred Reems and Wm. Oakes left for the west and on Tuesday the party that started consisted of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Woodcock, E. M. Farnham, Harry H. Farnham, W. P. Chase of Foley Bean Lumber Co. Mrs. Tomes who formerly lived in Princeton will join the party at points in Montana. They are all to appear at the land office on the ninth of this month to make final proof. Ernest Sellhorn and Charles Oakes left for the same place last week and will meet the party at Prineville. Most of the folks will be gone only a short time, but E. M. Farnham will remain on the Pacific coast for some time visiting relatives and friends. He will return home early in the spring via the southern route. (The Princeton Union, Thursday, December 3, 1903, Volume XXVII, Number 51, Page 5)
William Oakes and his sons and Charley Oakes and sons, of the brick yards, were camping at the lake this week. They had an enjoyable time and caught a lot of fish. (The Princeton Union, Mille Lacs County, Minnesota, Thursday, June 30, 1904, Volume XXVIII, Number 29, Page 8)