History of Oakes Auto Parts
Frederick Franklin Oakes (1903-78)
Fred Oakes, the founder of Oakes Auto Parts, was born on the banks of the Yazoo River in Issaquena County. Mississippi on May 18, 1903. The early part of his life was spent farming, hunting, fishing and learning to maintain equipment in this remote area. He had to "make do" to keep things working, things necessary for survival. This experience served his well for the remainder of his life. He always found a way through or around any technical problem. Machinery was his friend, and he held it close.
In 1923, at age 19, he left home and moved to Vicksburg to seek a better life. The chronological list below outlines his career.
Fred Oakes’ Early Shop
This picture (two prints) was probably taken on March 31, 1933 or 1934 at Fred Oakes’ Shop on Highway 61 North near U.S. National Cemetery; the mail address was Route 1, Box 54. The date on the lower right is obscured. Originally, I thought the year was 1931 due to the clearly seen 31, however, documents now reveal that they did not buy this property until January 1932. The 1935 Vicksburg City Directory list everyone in the picture as working for Oakes Auto Parts Co.
Story of the picture: Fred’s brother John Christian, on the front fender, and brothers-in-law Marvin Leroy and James Russell Hartley, on front running board and driving respectively, were easily identified. Initially, that left three employees unidentified. Examining a Vicksburg City Directory from the 1935, I got the names of the remaining three, Arnold “Popeye” Graham, (later shot through the neck by a jealous girlfriend), James C. Deason and William M. Reed. By showing the picture to a number of women, they identified Popeye as the one, on the hood, handsome enough to risk jail time. Durwood Graham, Arnold's nephew, confirmed this identification. I had given up on the remaining two, when an email forwarded to me by my relative Rufus Stephenson, was found to contain, among its many addressees, the name James C. Deason. He was a childhood friend of Rufus. I emailed the picture to Deason, who has lived in Germany for 40 years with his wife, Uschi (see picture at left). He was very pleased to confirm that his dad was standing next to Fred Oakes, and the picture had stirred up many memories, and initiated many stories of the old days with his visiting grandson.
The remaining employee, William Middleton "Mid" Reed Sr. (wife Lela G. Adcock Reed), who lived on Farmer Street, was born October 1, 1909 in Utica, MS. He is still working at Oakes Auto Parts in 1935. In 1940, he was living on 1204 Fayette St. and working at Newman Motor Company on 902 Clay Street. His sister is Mrs. Albert S. (Betty Pearl) Henderson. Reed is 6 ft tall, and has blue eyes and blonde hair. He and his wife have two children, Robertine and William Jr.. William Sr. died on March 27, 1971 and is buried in Utica Cemetery. I believe this is William's son at right in a 1954 Hinds Junior College photo.
Marvin, James and Popeye lived nearby at C. Albert and Ada Conrad Graham’s boarding house. See picture of Ada at right. Fred and Margie Oakes lived in the two story house you see in the picture. Warren Hyman, Fred's half-uncle, had a store next to Oakes’ place.
The wrecker was called the “Mae West”. Fred’s brother, Christian, on the front fender, and brothers-in-law, Marvin and James Hartley, on front of running board and driving respectively. Arnold (Popeye) Graham, is on the hood, William M. Reed is sitting on back of the running board. James C. Deason is standing next to Fred Oakes, white shirt. You may wonder how Fred Oakes, in the middle of the Depression, could afford six employees. His answer “They worked six days a week, but I could only pay them for one, and they were happy to have it.”
For quite some time, the exact location of the shop was in doubt, however in May of 2021, by chance, I found an aerial photo taken on April 14, 1932. I purchased the online high resolution version from the National Archives. The photo is in the timeline below. Another aid was the 1935 Vicksburg City Directory. Here are some important listings;
Oakes Auto Parts Company, (Fred F. Oakes) , ws (westside) 1, National Cemetery Road, s (south) of Mint Springs Bayou.
C. Albert Graham (Ada), es (eastside) 1, National Cemetery Road, s (south) of Mint Springs Bayou.
Warren S. Hyman (Helen) fisherman h (home) ws National Cemetery Road 3, (south) Mint Springs Bayou
James R. Hartley (Katharine), partsmn Oakes Auto Parts Co., r (residence) C. Albert Graham
Marvin Hartley helper
Oakes Auto Parts Co., r (residence) C. Albert Graham
John Christian Oakes (Georgia) auto mech Oakes Auto Parts Co. h(home) 40 Connecting Avenue
Below is a layout of the Oakes Auto Parts at the National Cemetery location. It was pieced together from old maps and the recollections of JC Oakes, my cousin. A detail survey was done by the Park Service in preparation for an expansion of the Park. That wonderful map was found on Ebay and appears near the end of this article. As one can see a number of relatives lived in the area. Warren Hyman was a half-brother to Fred's father and John Christian was Fred's brother. Fred's brother-in-law, James Hartley and wife, Katharine, lived in the C. Albert Graham boarding house.
Locations of Oakes Auto Parts in Vicksburg, MS
1924 Fred Oakes, Helper Y&MV Railroad, 1313 First North 1926 Car Repair, 2925 Pearl Street. 1929 1105 Openwood Street, Repairing Automobiles, Resides at 700 Adams Street 1931 Fred Oakes Openwood Repair Shop and Home, 26 Connecting Avenue 1932 Fred and Margie Oakes and Admiral Dewey McKay (1898-1971) sign a deed of trust with trustee Sol Felner in the amount of $1250 to cover the remaining money owed Sidney Lamar Clark for the purchase of the property near the National Cemetery. Average annual salary in 1932 was $1650. In 1935, McKay had an auto wrecking business with Clyde E. Bracken at 911 Washington St. In 1929, he had a repair shop on Openwood Street as did Fred Oakes. Property description:
"Begin at a point on the east line of the Naional Cementery Road which lies one hundred and ninety-six and five-tenths(196.5) feet northward from an angle in the east line of said road, said angle being marked by a large iron pipe lying just south of M. Lustberg's store: thence from the said point of beginning northward along the east line of said National Cemetery Road sixty-seven and eight-tenths (67.8) feet to the northwest corner of the properrty herein conveyed; thence south seventy (70) degrees and thirty (30) minutes east along a line parallel to and fifteen (15) feet from the south side of the Lake House, two hundred and eighty and seven-tenths (280.7) feet, more or less, to an iron on the fence marking the west line of H. F. Garbish's property thence southward along said fence sixty-seven and eight-tenths (67.8) feet to an iron; thence north seventy (70) degrees and thirty (30) minutes west, two hundred and eigthy-three and three-tenths (283.3) feet more or less to the beginning; said last line being the south line of this conveyance and being fifteen (15) feet north of the north line of an old residence or store building; said property being located in Section Twelve (12). Township Sixteen (16) North, Range three (3) east; and being the same property which was conveyed to me by deed executed by Katherine B. Dornbush et al. dated October 9, 1931, recorded in book 186, on page 165 of the land records in the office of the Clerk of the Chancery court of said county."
Also included was "One turning lathe, one twenty four inch planer, one universal machine, one seven and one-half horse power motor, one two horse power motor and one moulder machine."
Signatures of Fred Oakes and A. Dewey McKay below.
1932 Here is a 1932 aerial view of Waltersville which captures the Oakes Auto Parts that was near the National Cemetery.
1934 Fred and Margie purchase from Mrs. Emily Garbish a piece of property adjacent to their National Cemetery property. The description"
"BEGINNING at a point on the west boundary line of the National Cemetery Road at the southeast corner of that certain tract or parcel of land which was conveyed by me to the said Fred Oakes by deed dated September__ 1933, of record in Book 190 Page 186 of the records of deeds of said County, and running thence in a southerly direction along the west line of the National Cemetery Road a distance of One Hundred (100) feet, and running thence in a westerly direction a distance of thirty (30) feet, more or less, to the eastern boundary line of the right of way of the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad Company, and running thence in a northerly direction along the eastern boundary line of said right of way a distance of one hundred (100) feet to the southeast corner of the tract con veyed by me to Fred Oakes hereinabove mentioned, and running thence in an easterly direction along the south line of said Oakes tract a distance of thirty (30) feet, more or less, to the point of beginning; together with all and singular the buildings and improvements thereon situate and the appurtenances thereunto appertaining and belonging.
Below is a zoomed photo of the location of Oakes Auto Parts on National Cemetery Road and Highway 61.
1932 Above is a 1932 aerial photo of Vicksburg. Unfortunately it does not extend enought north (left side) to reach the National Cemetery where Oakes Auto Parts and the Oakes home would locate in 1934. However, zooming in, one can see the building at Mulberry and Clay street that they would buy in 1938. A larger version of the photo is at Vicksburg Aerial Photo 1932
1933 Fred Oakes applies for a loan to purchase a Star Automatic brake relining machine price $112. He list his assets as real estate on Highway 61 North, near the National Cemetery, value $3000. He states there is no mortgage and that he has been in business for five years. 1934 Fred and Margie Oakes buy “Lake House” on National Cemetery Rd. from Mrs. Emily Garbish. Price $250. ($200 cash and $50 note.) 1935 Oakes Auto Parts, West Side National Cemetery Rd, 1 South Mint Springs Bayou, Home at Walters, MS., note paid and land transferred. 1935 Warren Hyman and Helen, West Side National Cemetery Rd, 3 South Mint Springs Bayou, 1936 On June 8, Fred and Margie convey the National Cemetery property to United States Park Service. Apparently, at some point, Fred and Margie Oakes bought out A. D. McKay and became sole owners.
Details of the sale of the property to the Park Service are given below from "The Vicksburg National Cemetery, An Administrative History" March 31, 1968, by Richard Meyers, Division of History, Office of Archeology and Historci Preservation, US Department of Interior. http://npshistory.com/publications/vick/adhi.pdf
By March of 1935, Representative Daniel R. McGehee had succeeded in getting an item of $82,000 into the War Department appropriation bill for the extension of the Vicksburg National Cemetery. Initially, Park officials had attempted to direct the major portion of the appropriation toward acquiring more land for the National Military Park, explaining that the purchase of private lands in the vicinity of Ft. Hill was indispensable for the proper continuation of erosion control in that area. As Congress was currently adverse to allocating funds for acquisition of land for Park purposes, the full appropriation had to be devoted to expanding the National Cemetery.
Fredrick L. Kirgis, Acting Solicitor, made the following opinion regarding the power of the Secretary of the Interior to purchase such
lands, concomitantly with a necessary reinterpretation of such power:
The Secretary's authority to purchase this land is found in the Act of February 22, 1867 (14 stat, R00), the authority there given to the Secretary of War, now being vested in the Secretary of the Interior, as a result of a transfer of jurisdiction over the cemetery by Executive Order No. 6228 dated July 28, 1933. Funds for the purchase were made available by the appropriation Act of April 9, 1935., wherein authority was given to the Secretary... to purchase lands for the extension of said cemetery, but in view of the Executive Order above, the Comptroller General on July 23, 1935, directed that said funds so apppropriated be transferrfed to the Department of the Interior.
During the last few months of 1935 and the first part of 1936, representatives of the Department of the Interior obtained options on land surrounding the National Cemetery from approximately 40 property owners. In March of 1936, these options were approved by T. A. Walters, Assistant Secretary of the Interior. These options, therefore, constituted a contract of bargain and sale between the property owners and the government. Upon informing the land owners, during the first week in April, that their options had been approved, Park Superintendent L. G. Heider requested that each landowner secure an abstract of title for his property and forward it to the Park. By the first week in June 1936 all the owners had complied with the superintendent's request.
During the months frcm June until October 1936, a total of 42 deeds and abstracts of title were received by the Secretary of the Interior. They were then referred to the Solicitor‘s Office for examination. However, due to the unusually large number of abstracts received by the Solicitor's Office at this time, consideration of the Vicksburg papers was deferred for an extended length of time. The final acquisition and sale of the land was not completed until the close of 1939. The various parcels of land comprised a total area of 80 acres. Fifty-two buildings located on the property were disposed of to the highest bidders.
In the above 1930 Park Service Survey map you can see four buildings in the area where Oakes Auto Parts would move to. The long building under the number 338 would appear to be their future home. However the 1930 US Census would suggest otherwise. In 1930 at this address three families live in the building. Edward Lee and Minnie Hartley, their seven children and Edward Lee's sister Aileen. Also in the house is Columbus Albert and Ada Graham and their seven children. Also in the house is Jones and Ella Conrad and their five children and Jones' mother Ophelia. Clearly this requires a large structure and would suggest the large house under the 338 number. The shape of the three upper buildings match the aerial photo of the area. If the dotted road is in fact National Cemetery Road then the building appears to be on the wrong side of the road. (Note: In the 1935 Vicksburg Directory that I have, the entry for C. Albert and Ada Graham has an penciled X on it as if this is an error.) The 1935 Vicksburg Directory has Morris Lustberg store at 107 National Cemetery Rd. It has Oakes Auto Parts at ws National Cemetery Rd 1 s Mingt Springs Bayou.
In 1930, C. Albert and Ada Graham, Arnold and Sarah Graham are living in "Garbish Quarters", described as "East from National Cemetery rd to Connecting Avenue. 2 south of U. S. National cenetery (houses irregularly numbered." A 1934 photo is shown at right. In 1935 Directory there are 23 homes in Garbish Quarters, 17 are listed as colored. On the map above you can see 20 or so homes along Garbish Avenue. Maybe they later moved to the big house. In 1930 30 Vicksburg Directory, Fred and Margie Oakes are listed Openwood Repair Shop, h26 Connecting Av. 1937 Fred and Margie Oakes, reside at Walters, MS, Oakes Auto Parts Co. West Side National Cemetery Rd, 1 South Mint Springs Bayou. 1938 January Fred executes a Deed of Trust to pay Frank R. Melsheimer Jr. $1100, for Mulberry property. In the picture above from maybe 1920s we can see the corner of the building on northwest corner of Mulberry and Clay street that Fred and Margie Oakes would later buy. You see that the building had a second floor. Leaning against the building is a giant wheel that could be used for driving machinery. In the picture below, we can see the top of this building at extreme left above the white building marked Saloon. Melsheimer, as a condition of purchase, removed the four-window top floor and took it with him. Fred roofed the lower floor. This is a view looking up Clay Street in the 1910. See a large panorama version of the photo below VicksburgPanorama1910
1938 July, Recording Deed from Frank R. Melsheimer, Jr. to J. G. Shepard, Chancery Clerk 1938 October 3, Fred Oakes signs a Deed of Trust with the First National Bank of Vicksburg for $1100. 1938 February, Gets approval from city to alter Mulberry Street Building 1939 Oakes Auto Parts, 1224 Mulberry, Resides Rt. 1 Box 54 1940 Moves to new home at Route 4 at Kings, Uses adjacent property as salvage yard for parts in his repair business. 1941 Oakes Auto Parts, Spring Service, 1224 Mulberry and 522 Clay St., Work Phone 2460; Home Phone, 1057 at Highway 61 North 1943 Fred and Margie executed a Deed of Trust for $1000 dollars using their two Kings properties as collateral. 1944 Oakes Auto Parts, Spring Service, 1224 Mulberry and 522 Clay St., Work Phone 2460; Home Phone 1057 at Highway 61 North, Residence Rt. 4, Box 95 1947 Fred and Margie executed a Deed of Trust for $1000 using their Mulberry and Clay Streets property as collateral. 1956 Fred and Margie executed a Deed of Trust for $3300 to buy property adjacent to property across railroad tracks. This property gave him frontage on the rail line. According to brother Donald, he hope to get a spur to load scrapiron and sell directly to foundries.
Vicksburg waterfront, 1940. Oakes Auto Part Building marked with arrow.
Oakes Auto Parts Employees over the years.
Nora Inez Beard, bookkeeper at the Mulberry shop. She had worked as a waitress and stenographer. She was a young and attractive single woman during her time at Oakes Auto Parts.
Jessie Burton
Bob Clark
James Cowart
James Deason
John Deason
Eddie Lee DeFrance Sr., born December 10, 1913. Eddie was married to Everlena (or Eveline) Barnes De France. They had a son, Eddie DeFrance II, and three daughters, Barbara (Tuggle), Gloria Jean (King)(1946-Dec. 25, 2012),and Jacquelin (Young). Gloria Jean was married to Eugene H. King. Eddie died in Valley Park, MS in October 1986, at the age of 72. Eddie's son, Eddie Defrance II died in Vicksburg in February 2021. His obituary read. "A Celebration of Life will be held for Eddie DeFrance on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. at Christian Home No.2. DeFrance will lie in repose from 9 a.m. until the hour of service. Visitation will be held at Christian Horne No.2 on Saturday, Feb. 19 from 4 until 6 p.m. with family being present from 5 until 6 p.m. DeFrance was preceded in death by his son, Eddie DeFrance III; his father, Eddie DeFrance Sr.; his mother, Everlena DeFrance; two sisters, Gloria King and Barbara Tuggle. He leaves to cherish his memories a son, Lonnie Shelton; sister,
Jacqueline Young; nine nephews, George Banks Sr., Willie Young, Gerald Young, Harry DeFrance, Roy DeFrance Sr., Pernell DeFrance Sr., Calvin DeFrance Sr., Carl DeFrance Sr. and Terry DeFrance Sr.; one niece, AngelaDeFrance; four grandchildren; and a host of great-nieces, great-nephews,and cousins.
John D. Dugan, born 1880. Both his parents were born in Ireland. His wife was Amelia F. Dugan. He was 26 when they married and Amelia was 16. They never had children. His nickname was “Dado.” He had worked for the city power company in the electric street car department. He held various job including conductor and supervisor. He told of several times having to carry a gun on the car late at night to protect him from threats by the Ku Klux Klan because of his Catholic faith and Irish heritage. After he retired, he came to work as a bookkeeper at Oakes Auto Parts. He was a stickler for detail and was constantly frustrated by Fred Oakes operating out of his billfold with no paper record, even of credit sales. It made it extremely difficult for him to prepare the federal tax records each year. During his early life, he had a drinking problem and would squander his money. Amelia saw that she had to handle the family finances. At noon on payday, she would show up in the little two seater coupe they drove, and he would pass his check through the window. He was always trying to instruct the boys in life’s lessons.
Jessie James Fuller
Curtiss Hicks: Curt was a long time and devoted employee. He lived in a small house at the back corner of the salvage yard. He was divorced and maybe had a daughter. He was always in good spirits and devoted to Fred. He never wore socks. He was patient with Fred's sons, alway willing to teach them about cars. He seemed able to do anything on the yard, weld, straighten wheel, make springs, build engines, etc. His tolerance for pain was amazing. He tested whether a spark plug was firing by grabbing the end of the wire with his bare hand. If he got a shock he was satisfied it was firing. His hand would jump every time the voltage his him. He let an engine fall on his hand once, he did not panic, he just said, "Where is that jack?' He reached for it, positioned it under the pan and jacked it off his hand and continued to work. He is pictured at right, about to dress a deer. In the background, we can see the walkway from the upstairs apartments that was built for the boys and Grandpa Oakes. He and Fred were going to Florida to rescue Mel Oakes' car which had thrown a rod. Margie Oakes bought Curt a pair of sock to wear. He dutifully put them on, however, when he returned from the first rest stop, Fred reported they had been removed and abandoned.
Fred Honoré: Fred was born in 1903 in New Orleans, the same year as Fred Oakes. In 1920, the family was living in New Iberville, LA. In 1930, Fred was working in a sawmill in Iberville Parish and was married. Plaquemines is the county seat of Iberville Parish. Fred Honoré came to Vicksburg sometime after 1932. He and the Sigur family had worked for the Red Cooper Mill there until it burned about 1932. Clyde Sigur thought the families came to Vicksburg a year or so later. He recalled being in Vicksburg for 10 years, however, he thought they left in 1949 to return to New Orleans. If this is correct then it would put their arrival in 1939. Fred and Clyde’s father, Ithurial, worked at the barrel mill. The mill made all the parts of wooden barrels, head, staves and hoops. Fred was a “Cooperage Heading Sawyer.” His was a specialized position and rather dangerous. He operated the giant circular saws that cut the wood for the staves. Fred was quite a handyman capable of almost any task from carpentry, auto repair, welding and even veterinarian tasks on cattle. Fred, sometime in the late 1940s, left the mill and became a mechanic at Oakes Auto Parts. Fred and his family returned to Louisiana in 1951.
Some background on Fred was generously provided by his son, Louis, “My father, Fred Honoré, was one of nine children born to Rudolph Honore, "Papou" to us, and he lived most of his life in Louisiana. He was taught the rudimentary skills of many occupations by his father and uncles, such as carpentry, farming, tile setting and, eventually, as cars came into his life and ours, auto repair. He taught himself how to weld and my only memory of his work with your father's business was that of him building metal sheds in some distant location near Vicksburg. I was about eight at the time, and he would take me along to watch and to learn.
Our family heritage was comprised of the mixture of the blood and custom and of the times we were born into. We were called "Creole" in Louisiana because of our blue eyes, light skin, straight hair, and the broken French most of us spoke within our community. I know now that the Indian and Black blood that was mixed with the French and Spanish is what changed the Creole to Negro in Mississippi, and left our family and others in no man's land for many years until we moved back to Louisiana.
My father was illiterate, but loved to listen to us read at night, mostly by lamp light. Taking turns reading everything we could to him developed the love of books in us all. He gave us religion and a sense of pride in ourselves and our heritage. The nuns at St Mary's Catholic School in Vicksburg did not hesitate to inform him of any behavior contrary to Catholic teaching, and he took the appropriate corrective actions. He was indeed a good man to do what he did in those times. He taught us what he knew, he endowed us with a work ethic that kept me employed in some manner all of my life. From helping ladies carry the groceries home in my homemade grocery wagon at age eight, to the US Navy, and finally retiring as Captain of Traffic Officers out here in Los Angles in 1994. I can't remember not having a job. I believe that, because he taught me how to repair my own car, fix my house, and manage my life with the resources I had at hand, is why my life has been good, never rich, but always good.”
Louis continues, “The photos you sent instantly placed a small boy watching his father help construct those sheds. Clyde Sigur was the son of my "Godfather" Ithurial Sigur. We all lived in a small alcove across the street from the saw mill where my father and the elder Sigurs also worked. We worked a small farm together for several years and shared the crops with the neighbors and owners of the property. The large car {Oldsmobile} came from your father and it served us well. We didn’t know we were poor for my parents never referred to our finances. We ate well, we went to Catholic school, we all went on to college and have lived a good life, so far {age 73) that my father had hoped for us all. My father did not read, but he could remember almost everything read to him. How he managed to do the things he did is still a mystery to us all, but we are glad he did.”
Further memories of Fred: “I will tell you now that my memory is so clear of a very proud and confident man who never averted his eyes or hung his head in a very difficult time in our history. He showed no evidence of the fear that was just below the surface of most people of color in Mississippi.”
(I am so glad that Fred succeeded in achieving something I recall him wishing for, "successful children." He told us it was very important to him that his children had a better education than that available in the woefully underfunded system available for Black children. He bore the added expense of sending his children to St. Mary’s Catholic School. I also remember distinctly his pride in his Creole heritage. I remember that he always drove large cars. I'm sure it was your mom that would drive out with you kids to pick him up after work.
—Mel Oakes)
Here is an incident which demonstrates Fred's pride and his little victories in that worst of times. Please excuse the offensive term. "Fred was working in the office one day and the phone rang. Fred answered it. The man on the other end ask for Mr. Oakes and Fred told him that Mr. Oakes was not there. Then the man asked to speak to 'that yellow n... that worked there.' Fred told him in a very calm voice, 'If you will come here to the shop I will be happy to introduce you to ‘that yellow n....’
“I recall him smoking his pipe filled with ‘Half and half tobacco.’
“Fred was standing one day by the 50-gallon drum that we kept a fire in to stay warm out on the yard. He suddenly announced he was going to stop smoking and took the pipe out of his mouth and threw it into the fire. From then on, we remember him chewing gum all the time. Can't remember if he was successful with this resolve.
“My father found a way to shorten pickup trucks so that they could haul longer trailers made by the M-System trailer manufacturer. The factory was less than a mile from our place. They were very successful and Fred performed many of these modifications. I remember that some place in Louisiana contacted Fred about coming to work for them to perform the same work. We don't know if that is the reason he left when he did.
—Floyd Oakes
John Gentry
Rector Gentry
Arnold "Popeye" Graham
Leo Harris
James Hartley, Margie Oakes’ brother.
Marvin Hartley, Margie Oakes’ brother
Clifton Matthews; Cliff was Margie Oakes' nephew. His parents were Grady and Alma Hartley Matthews.
Richard Matthews Margie Oakes’ nephew.
J. C. Oakes, Jr.: JC was Fred Oakes' nephew. His parents were John Christian and Georgia Oakes. John was Fred's brother.
John Christian Oakes, Fred Oakes’ brother.
Johnny Pauling or Paulin: Johnny was a very talented mechanic that Fred had much confidence in. He was a young Black man, and sadly, I can find no information about him.
William Reed
Willie Shorter
Leon Teatom (Teedom) (1890-1955) Wife was named Nettie. In 1918, he registered for the draft and was working as a blacksmith for the Y & MV Railroad which is probably where Fred Oakes met him. He was described as tall and slender and suffered from rheumatism. He and his wife and child lived in Jonestown, a black section of Vicksburg. He was still a blacksmith in 1929 living in Jonestown. In 1930, he worked in a railroad shop. He and Nettie had a son, James W. (14) and two daughters, Lillian (7) and Rosalee (5). They owned their $600 home. The hammer at right shows he worked at Oakes Auto Parts during 1939. He probably made the head and John Deason the handle. Leon is buried in Tates Cemetery. Cemetery notes and/or description:
Location: On South Frontage Road between Dixie Plaza Shopping Center and El Sombrero restaurant. (The Jonestown community has been removed, bulldozed over, and replaced with Home Depot.)
Elva Justus “Blackie” Trammell (1899-1951), Blackie worked for Oakes Auto Parts. His wife was Artie Belle Lott (1912-1967). They are seen in photo at right. They had a daughter Elva Dee. They lived on Standard Hill.
Blackie was born in Perry, FL to Carl Airy and Leona Strickland Trammell. He was one of five children. In 1920, He was living with his parents in Bagdad, Santa Rosa County, Florida and was working as a fisherman. He is listed as 18 (puts birth in 1902). His father worked at a sawmill. A photo of Blackie's wife, Belle, is at left.
Charlie ? (Unknown last name) He was a man of very few words but a good employee and seemed to enjoy working on the yard. Don't recall him mentioning a family. Here is a picture of him with our dogs and one of Fred's wreck car purchases. The rose bush and trellis at left is by the Oakes home.
Equipment
Tools were an essential part of Oakes Auto Parts. As the business grew Fred took on more variety of auto repair. Initially, he primarilty did small jobs not requiring much more than hand tools, however as automobiles became more complex and larger jobs were more profitable he need expensive tools. Where possible he would purchase used tools that were in good condition or that he could recondition. In November of 1933, he purchased for $112 a used Star Brake Reliner Machine, Model #40. Below is the sales document showing his financing arrangements. Also shown are photos of similar models.
In order to do major engine rebuilds he would need something to rebore cylinders, grind valve and turn crankshafts. In 1934, he purchase a new cylinder boring machine. We see here the receipt for the $350 purchase. This would have especially expensive since this is during the depression. He could not pay cash, instead he traded in a machine, Storm 38-2165, puts $50 down and financed the remaining $190 over 10 maybe monthly payments.
Fred Oakes was alway interested in new things. As we see he bought this machine in 1934, however it was first introduced only two years earlier.
Kwik-Way Engineering History.
All companies are started because someone identified a problem then came up with a solution. In the case of the Cedar Rapids Engineering Company (Kwik-Way), there was no precise way to scientifically recondition a valve or valve seat of an automobile engine in the early 20th century. The methods employed were extremely crude and provided marginal results at best. The company's founders recognized a need for a precision way to perform this required service. and after much trial and error, they developed the Kwik-Way principle of cylinder head reconditioning. In 1920, the first Kwik-Way valve refacer was sold. At the heart of the machine was the now famous Kwik-Way Six Ball Chucking System. The sales literature for this revolutionary new machine called the new chucking system a "masterpiece of modern mechanical engineering". The company's founders were, in fact, highly educated engineers, and the chucking system they developed in 1920 is still the world's most accurate chuck for reconditioning valves. The valve seat grinders that were developed are also still recognized as the best in the industry. These two products differ somewhat today from what was sold in 1920, but the original design concepts remain intact in today's current production units. Our estimates indicate that Kwik-Way valve refacers have reconditioned over 2,500,000,000 valves since first introduced in 1920.
In 1932, Kwik-Way introduced the first modern cylinder boring machine for reconditioning engine cylinders. Kwik-Way is still recognized world-wide for producing the best portable cylinder boring machines. The product line was expanded over the years to include many different products. During World War II, the company's piston grinders were used to grind glass radio crystals for the war effort. They were the only machines available at the time that were capable of delivering the accuracy required. Kwik-Way also made thousands of torque wrenches for the war effort and many are still in use today and occasionally turn up for sale on Internet auction sites.
Oakes Auto Parts Engine Rebuild Tools
Example of Storm Boring Machine traded in to purchase new machine.
Kwik-Way Cylinder Boring Machine ad.
Kwik-Way Cylinder Boring Machine,
Oakes Auto Parts, purchased 1934 from Cedar Rapids Engineering Company
Kwik-Way Cylinder Boring Machine,
Oakes Auto Parts, purchased 1934 from Cedar Rapids Engineering Company
Kwik-Way Cylinder Boring Machine,
Valve Facing Machine Ad
Kwik-Way Ad
Kwik-Way Valve Seat Grinder
Fred Oakes' Micrometers
Fred Oakes' calipers, thickness gauges.
Growth of Oakes Auto Parts
Fred Oakes began his shop as a repair shop. His available space limited what he could offer his customers. When he moved from the city to his place near the National Cemetery he then could expand his staff and offer engine rebuilding. He wished to acquire some cars and trucks to salvage for parts, however, there just was not enough room. In 1936, he had to sell the property to make way for a new entrance to the National Cemetery. He then purchased a building at the corner of Mulberry and Clay. All of the workspace was enclosed and on several levels. He outfitted the main work area with overhead shafts driven by an engine. The shafts had flat pulleys attached with large leather belt over them and connected to machines on the floor. This made for a very noisy environment when in operation. Here is a video that demonstrates the operation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D_V5smCaOw
At right we see and example of such a belt driven shop.
Fred's model for his shop included parts from salvaged cars. He had to have space to store the cars. A property at Kings, north of Vicksburg became available. It was large enough to build a home on for his family and to store wrecked or inoperative cars and trucks. Initially, he simply used the parts for his repair and machine shop in town, however, the parts portion of the business grew rapidly. Used parts in this community which contained many low income people was very much in demand. Over the years, he made the transition from the Mulberry Street shop to shops he constructed on the Kings property. Eventually, the city exercised eminent domain and forced him to sell the city shop. Vicksburg never used the property in a way that justified this acquisition.
The Kings business grew and became a recognized valuable source for parts by customers in Central Mississippi and Central Louisiana. Fred's ingenuity, in provideing solutions to automotive problems, was appreciated by his customers and others businesses in the community. Those seeking to build some innovative machinery or equipment sought his advice and expertise. A dream of his, never realized, was a "Ford disassembly line." Instead, parts remained on the cars until a sale was made, at that point, the staff removed the part., cleaned it, and checked its operation, if possible. The customer was free to return any part that did not work. In those circumstances, most were happy to try another one. Fred's knowledge of the interchangeability of parts between many makes of cars and trucks greatly expanded his inventory.
He continued to do some repairs on engines, transmissions, springs and mufflers, however, these were a small part of his operation, and he accepted less and less of this kind of work.
Throughout his career, Fred would often find a clean used car that had a problem too expensive for the owner to repair. Engines that needed rebuilding were a common situation. He would buy the car and repair it, then resell it. Here is a bill of sale for such a 1933 transaction.
Oscar and Robert Bunch were brothers; their father was Oscar Bunch Sr. and was a commercial fisherman. Robert would have been 34, and Oscar Jr. would have been 25. The Whippet at right is a 1928 model, first year of the 6-cylinder engine. A Whippet hub cap at left is from Oakes Auto Parts, and owned by Floyd Oakes.
1934 bill of sale for a 1929 Essex Challenger. Sale was witnessed by W. M. Reed (wife Lela Reed), an employee of Oakes’ Auto Parts Co and Floyd F. Eilert (1900-68), a clerk in Waltersville. Eilert was called “Preacher.” Reed had worked for Miller Auto Co. Buyer might be “Henry Waite.” Here we show several examples of this car.
Gallery of Oakes Auto Parts Photos
Fred Oakes at his Kings Shop
Sales receipt.
Ad
Ad from Redwood Yearbook
Fred Oakes and son, Melvin Oakes,
note phone number on the sign.
Oakes Auto Parts, Kings, MS
Buildings constructed by Fred Oakes.
Oakes Auto Parts, Kings, MS
Building constructed by Fred Oakes
Oakes Auto Parts Salvage Yard and Repair Shops
Floyd Oakes with Fred Oakes’ Boat Engine, 1980
1935 Vicksburg Directory
Park Service Survey Map, 1930s
The property at Mulberry and Clay that Fred Oakes bought in 1938. These are from 1913 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
The property at Mulberry and Clay that Fred Oakes bought in 1938. These are from 1913 Sanborn Fire Insurance Mapsnwood shop.
The B. J. Robinson Gin and Machine Shop became the Oakes Auto Parts Shop.
Below are four views of the property at Mulberry and Clay that Fred Oakes bought in 1938. These are from 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
The property at Mulberry and Clay that Fred Oakes bought in 1938. These are from 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
The property at Mulberry and Clay that Fred Oakes bought in 1938. These are from 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
The property at Mulberry and Clay that Fred Oakes bought in 1938. These are from 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
The property at Mulberry and Clay that Fred Oakes bought in 1938. These are from 1948 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
T he property at Mulberry and Clay that Fred Oakes bought in 1938. These are from 1948 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Views of the Y & M V Railroad Yard where Fred Oakes and later his father, Charlie Oakes, worked. Fred likely in the Car Repair Shop nad Charlie in the Carpenter Shop. These are from 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Views of the Y & M V Railroad Yard where Fred Oakes and later his father, Charlie Oakes, worked. Fred likely in the Car Repair Shop nad Charlie in the Carpenter Shop. These are from 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Views of the Y & M V Railroad Yard where Fred Oakes and later his father, Charlie Oakes, worked. Fred likely in the Car Repair Shop nad Charlie in the Carpenter Shop. These are from 1925 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps
Fred Oakes, Highway 61 North
Margie and Donald Oakes, Highway 61 North, ca 1943
"Lard" was nickname for Margie.
Charles Oakes,
Highway 61 North, ca. 1943
L to R: Floyd, Donald, Margie and Melvin Oakes,
Highway 61North, ca. 1943
L to R: Floyd, Donald, Margie and Melvin Oakes,
Highway 61North, ca. 1943
Donald Oakes, Highway 61 North, ca. 1943
Melvin Oakes,
Highway 61 North, ca. 1943
CFloyd Oakes,
Highway 61 North, ca. 1943
Melvin, Floyd and Donald Oakes, in aviator caps
Oakes Auto Parts in background, Highway 61 North, ca. 1943
Donald, Floyd and Melvin Oakes. Chicken unidentified
This mystery person photo was taken in front of the Oakes homeand next door is the first building of Oakes Auto Part on Highway 61 North. The building seen with Oakes' Garage had a red color to it. There was a counter for meeting customers. That part was floored, however the quite large area behind had a dirt floor and shelving for storing auto parts. You can see the mullion windows of the building in the picture. As you can see the home is covered in tar paper with the metal washers around the nails. Front steps and risers are broken as a result of Aileen Hartley King, Margie Oakes' sister losing control of her car. I believe the woman is my dad's aunt, Carrie Dose Hopkins. Here granddaughter, Sheila Gessler Wood agrees. Photo about 1940-41, Carrie would be about 54.
This photo from Mike Davis, Laura Annis Oakes Hull's grandson was taken in front of the first building of Oakes Auto Part on Highway 61 North. The boy at the right is Melvin Oakes, son of Fred and Margie Oakes. The person bending over, at the left is yet to be identified. The building seen with Oakes' Garage had a red color to it. There was a counter for meeting customers. That part was floored, however the quite large area behind had a dirt floor and shelving for storing auto parts. You can see the mullion windows of the building in the picture above of boys on tricycle. Mel Oakes is about 12-13, which would make the photo, 1948-49.
Eleanor Oakes. Highway 61 North, ca. 1944
Eleanor, Melvin, Donald Oakes, Home at Highway 61 North. ca. 194
May 9, 1922 Vicksburg photo, This is year Fred Oakes came to Vicksburg. Camera looking along railroad tracks on piers near bank of the river which is flooded, with engine, rail cars and workers visible behind. In background are industrial buildings, tall smoking chimneys and some of the town buildings can be seen on the bluff.
May 9, 1922 Vicksburg photo, Camera looking across water of flooded river to rail gondolas and tank cars on tracks in water on bank. Houses and other buildings can be seen on bluff behind
Fred Oakes Toolbox, made in 1922 with the help of Frank Vichiarella, Italian immigrant and carpenter at Y&MV Railroad in Vicksburg. The oak wood was milled by Robert and Troy Barnes, carpenters at the railroad shop who later opened their own planning mill.
Leist Store Ledger Owned by Jesse and Faye Rodgers.
The Sam Leist Family ran a general store on the banks of the Yazoo River Entry of Charles Franklin Oakes
8/5/06,. On August 5, John Christian Oakes was born. The canned millk purchases on August 10 maybe meant that Grandma could not nurse.
Decenber entries for C. F. Oakes
May 9, 1922 Vicksburg photo, Camera looking across water of flooded river to rail gondolas and tank cars on tracks in water on bank. Houses and other buildings can be seen on bluff behind
Entry fro J. C. Dose, uncle of Fred Oakes.
Bill of Sales for 51 Nash Statesman, purchased in 1952 for Mel Oakes, his first car. It had many problems sadly. It was generous thing for Fred Oakes to do for his son. Margie used it also.
Bill of Sales for 51 Nash Statesman, purchased in 1952 for Mel Oakes, his first car.
February 2, 1970. Very rare letter from Fred Oakes to "Mel, Pat and the Ladies."
Transcription at end of letter.
Page 2
Rare letter from Fred Oakes to “Mel, Pat and the Ladies.”
Transcription:
I went to bed to early got my hours in I must be sleeping on wage & hour time it has sure ben cold here still having big frost every nite I got Richard & White chile to cut and work and fertilize the roses I bought two expensive HB Red Climers to replace the 1 by the winder they cost $10.65 They wer big rose bushes Bought 2 dump truck loads of good dirt to build up the yard on the right side of the house.
I got my garden going pretty well got corn planted my English peas are 8 in high-will set out my onions as soon as it gets warmer Strawberries are growing nice I sure will be glad to see warm weather the bad cold wethe sure is bad on Perry he cant get out of his house sure miss him out here would like to see those anteak engines in Washington but to far in the hole now. May get cought up if the weather get better i bought a 1900 modl 4 cyl Miller marine industrial? cyl motor for 15.00 will have it runing before long sure is a collectors idom
tell the girls howdy will call you later
your dad
Letters from Fred Oakes to his son, Melvin Oakes. ca. 1960s
Letters from Fred Oakes to his son, Melvin Oakes. ca. 1960s
Letters from Fred Oakes to his son, Melvin Oakes. 1958
Letters from Fred Oakes to his son, Melvin Oakes. March 16, 1959
Letters from Fred Oakes to his son, Melvin Oakes. March 16, 1959
Story of the picture: Fred’s brother John Christian, on the front fender, and brothers-in-law Marvin Leroy and James Russell Hartley, on front running board and driving respectively, were easily identified. Initially, that left three employees unidentified. Examining a Vicksburg City Directory from the 1935, I got the names of the remaining three, Arnold “Popeye” Graham, (later shot through the neck by a jealous girlfriend), James C. Deason and William M. Reed. By showing the picture to a number of women, they identified Popeye as the one, on the hood, handsome enough to risk jail time. Durwood Graham, Arnold's nephew, confirmed this identification. I had given up on the remaining two, when an email forwarded to me by my relative Rufus Stephenson, was found to contain, among its many addressees, the name James C. Deason. He was a childhood friend of Rufus. I emailed the picture to Deason, who has lived in Germany for 40 years with his wife, Uschi (see picture at left). He was very pleased to confirm that his dad was standing next to Fred Oakes, and the picture had stirred up many memories, and initiated many stories of the old days with his visiting grandson. 
The remaining employee, William Middleton "Mid" Reed Sr. (wife Lela G. Adcock Reed), who lived on Farmer Street, was born October 1, 1909 in Utica, MS. He is still working at Oakes Auto Parts in 1935. In 1940, he was living on 1204 Fayette St. and working at Newman Motor Company on 902 Clay Street. His sister is Mrs. Albert S. (Betty Pearl) Henderson. Reed is 6 ft tall, and has blue eyes and blonde hair. He and his wife have two children, Robertine and William Jr.. William Sr. died on March 27, 1971 and is buried in Utica Cemetery. I believe this is William's son at right in a 1954 Hinds Junior College photo. 
1938 January Fred executes a Deed of Trust to pay Frank R. Melsheimer Jr. $1100, for Mulberry property. In the picture above from maybe 1920s we can see the corner of the building on northwest corner of Mulberry and Clay street that Fred and Margie Oakes would later buy. You see that the building had a second floor. Leaning against the building is a giant wheel that could be used for driving machinery. In the picture below, we can see the top of this building at extreme left above the white building marked Saloon. Melsheimer, as a condition of purchase, removed the four-window top floor and took it with him. Fred roofed the lower floor. This is a view looking up Clay Street in the 1910. See a large panorama version of the photo below 
Eddie Lee DeFrance Sr., born December 10, 1913. Eddie was married to Everlena (or Eveline) Barnes De France. They had a son, Eddie DeFrance II, and three daughters, Barbara (Tuggle), Gloria Jean (King)(1946-Dec. 25, 2012),and Jacquelin (Young). Gloria Jean was married to Eugene H. King. Eddie died in Valley Park, MS in October 1986, at the age of 72. Eddie's son, Eddie Defrance II died in Vicksburg in February 2021. His obituary read. "A Celebration of Life will be held for Eddie DeFrance on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 10 a.m. at Christian Home No.2. DeFrance will lie in repose from 9 a.m. until the hour of service. Visitation will be held at Christian Horne No.2 on Saturday, Feb. 19 from 4 until 6 p.m. with family being present from 5 until 6 p.m. DeFrance was preceded in death by his son, Eddie DeFrance III; his father, Eddie DeFrance Sr.; his mother, Everlena DeFrance; two sisters, Gloria King and Barbara Tuggle. He leaves to cherish his memories a son, Lonnie Shelton; sister,
Curtiss Hicks: Curt was a long time and devoted employee. He lived in a small house at the back corner of the salvage yard. He was divorced and maybe had a daughter. He was always in good spirits and devoted to Fred. He never wore socks. He was patient with Fred's sons, alway willing to teach them about cars. He seemed able to do anything on the yard, weld, straighten wheel, make springs, build engines, etc. His tolerance for pain was amazing. He tested whether a spark plug was firing by grabbing the end of the wire with his bare hand. If he got a shock he was satisfied it was firing. His hand would jump every time the voltage his him. He let an engine fall on his hand once, he did not panic, he just said, "Where is that jack?' He reached for it, positioned it under the pan and jacked it off his hand and continued to work. He is pictured at right, about to dress a deer. In the background, we can see the walkway from the upstairs apartments that was built for the boys and Grandpa Oakes. He and Fred were going to Florida to rescue Mel Oakes' car which had thrown a rod. Margie Oakes bought Curt a pair of sock to wear. He dutifully put them on, however, when he returned from the first rest stop, Fred reported they had been removed and abandoned.
Leon Teatom (Teedom) (1890-1955) Wife was named Nettie. In 1918, he registered for the draft and was working as a blacksmith for the Y & MV Railroad which is probably where Fred Oakes met him. He was described as tall and slender and suffered from rheumatism. He and his wife and child lived in Jonestown, a black section of Vicksburg. He was still a blacksmith in 1929 living in Jonestown. In 1930, he worked in a railroad shop. He and Nettie had a son, James W. (14) and two daughters, Lillian (7) and Rosalee (5). They owned their $600 home. The hammer at right shows he worked at Oakes Auto Parts during 1939. He probably made the head and John Deason the handle. Leon is buried in Tates Cemetery. Cemetery notes and/or description:
Elva Justus “Blackie” Trammell (1899-1951), Blackie worked for Oakes Auto Parts. His wife was Artie Belle Lott (1912-1967). They are seen in photo at right. They had a daughter Elva Dee. They lived on Standard Hill. 
Blackie was born in Perry, FL to Carl Airy and Leona Strickland Trammell. He was one of five children. In 1920, He was living with his parents in Bagdad, Santa Rosa County, Florida and was working as a fisherman. He is listed as 18 (puts birth in 1902). His father worked at a sawmill. A photo of Blackie's wife, Belle, is at left.
Charlie ? (Unknown last name) He was a man of very few words but a good employee and seemed to enjoy working on the yard. Don't recall him mentioning a family. Here is a picture of him with our dogs and one of Fred's wreck car purchases. The rose bush and trellis at left is by the Oakes home.
Oscar and Robert Bunch were brothers; their father was Oscar Bunch Sr. and was a commercial fisherman. Robert would have been 34, and Oscar Jr. would have been 25. The Whippet at right is a 1928 model, first year of the 6-cylinder engine. A Whippet hub cap at left is from Oakes Auto Parts, and owned by Floyd Oakes.
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