American AcornsLyndon Oak
1816–1902 · Male · died at 85
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Sex is as recorded in the family tree. Age at death is worked out from the dates shown and may be a range or an approximation. It is left out when a date is missing or is only a “before”, “after” or “between” date, when the research has found a date Unconfirmed, when the two dates conflict, or when they would mean an age over 110.
Overview
Lyndon Oak1816–1902Rebecca Chadbourne Irish1817–1902Wife
Family
Parents
- Mother: Hannah Smith c. 1779–1853
Likely evidence: show why
Why: The 1903 sketch, p. 194, names Lyndon among 'the children of Benjamin Hastings and Hannah (Smith) Oak'; it is a family-compiled sketch, and no record of his birth names his parents.
Records:
- "The Oaks of Garland," in Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the State of Maine (Boston, 1903), p. 194. p. 194: Benjamin Hastings Oak, proprietor of a hotel in Boscawen, N.H., from 1812 until 1826; 'On December 23, 1804, at Chelsea, Vt., he married Hannah Smith'; 'The children of Benjamin Hastings and Hannah (Smith) Oak were: ... Lyndon ... Oak'. (view at Internet Archive, biographicalsket00newe (page image saved in acorns-private/sources/biographical-sketches-maine-1903/leaf_n442.jpg))
Review: assessed 10-14-2026; evidence: Image examined.
Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-14-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; no source was attached. · Unconfirmed (10-05-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
- Father: Benjamin Hastings Oak 1776–1842
Likely evidence: show why
Why: The 1903 sketch, p. 194, names Lyndon among 'the children of Benjamin Hastings and Hannah (Smith) Oak'; it is a family-compiled sketch, and no record of his birth names his parents.
Records:
- "The Oaks of Garland," in Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the State of Maine (Boston, 1903), p. 194. p. 194: Benjamin Hastings Oak, proprietor of a hotel in Boscawen, N.H., from 1812 until 1826; 'On December 23, 1804, at Chelsea, Vt., he married Hannah Smith'; 'The children of Benjamin Hastings and Hannah (Smith) Oak were: ... Lyndon ... Oak'. (view at Internet Archive, biographicalsket00newe (page image saved in acorns-private/sources/biographical-sketches-maine-1903/leaf_n442.jpg))
Review: assessed 10-14-2026; evidence: Image examined.
Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-14-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; no source was attached. · Unconfirmed (10-05-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.
Wife: Rebecca Chadbourne Irish 1817–1902 Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Daughter: Grace Elizabeth Oak born 1858
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Son: John Marshall Oak 1851–1932
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
- Son: James Hastings Oak born 1849
Unconfirmed evidence: show why
Life events
| Born | 22 Sep 1816, Boscawen, Merrimack, New Hampshire Likely evidence: show whyWhy: His gravestone and his nephew's 1903 sketch give September 22, 1816 at Boscawen; his own 1898 book gives the 21st. Records:
Review: assessed 10-13-2026; evidence: Gravestone read from a photograph; Image examined. Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-05-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. |
|---|---|
| Died | 17 Feb 1902, Garland, Penobscot, Maine Confirmed evidence: show whyWhy: His gravestone gives February 17, 1902, and the Bangor Daily Commercial's obituary of February 19 reports his death at Garland that Monday. Records:
Review: assessed 10-13-2026; evidence: Gravestone read from a photograph; Index or transcription examined. Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-05-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed. |
| Marriage | 1 SEP 1846, with Rebecca Chadbourne Irish 1817–1902 |
| Residence | 11 SEP 1850, Garland, Penobscot, Maine, USA Confirmed evidence: show whyWhy: The 1850 census at Garland lists 'Lyndon Oake, 33,' a boot and shoe merchant. Records:
Review: assessed 10-13-2026; evidence: Image examined. |
Newspapers
7 newspaper clippings to view here. View them larger, one at a time.
1934 clippings in John M. Oak's deceased-alumni file: "Portrait of Lyndon Oak to be presented to Univ. of Maine" and the Portland Sunday Telegram, "Oak's Portrait to be presented to the University of Maine" (web copy of the repository's 31 MB scan)1934 · page image
Bangor Daily News, 11 Oct 1934, p. 32: President Hauck's remarks accepting the portraits of Lyndon Oak and John Marshall Oak1934-10-11 · page image
"Long and Honorable Career": biographical sketch of Hon. Lyndon Oak, reprinted from the Bangor Whig and Courier
Death notice column naming Lyndon Oak, among others
Lyndon Oak's funeral account
Newspaper item listing aged village residents, including Lyndon and Mrs. Lyndon Oak
Newspaper item on Lyndon Oak's final illness
Also cited, with no image here
- "Hon. Lyndon Oak," Bangor Daily Commercial, February 19, 1902, p. 5 (as transcribed on the Lyndon Oak Memorial Library's website) Newspaper or record reference; read it at the archive or publisher.
Record images
11 record images to view here. View them larger, one at a time.
Lyndon Oak's Historical Address at the dedication of Coburn Hall, 1888, printed p. 431888 · page image
Lyndon Oak's Historical Address, printed p. 44: "Men of energy and enterprise cannot be restrained by State limits"1888 · page image
President Arthur A. Hauck to James A. Gannett, 9 Nov 1934: place the portraits of Hon. Lyndon Oak and John Marshall Oak in the University Library1934-11-09 · page image
President Hauck to Mrs. J. N. Parker, 47 Bramhall St., Portland, 11 Oct 1934: thanks for the portrait of her father, Hon. Lyndon Oak1934-10-11 · page image
President Hauck to Mrs. John Marshall Oak, 13 Third St., Bangor, 11 Oct 1934: thanks for the portrait of her husband1934-10-11 · page image
"Presidents of Board of Trustees, University of Maine," 1865-1963 (Hon. Lyndon Oak, 27 Nov 1883 - 25 Jun 1889). Board of Trustees records, Box 121963 · page image
George H. Crosby to President Lloyd H. Elliott, 7 Feb 1963: Lyndon Oak's Historical Address at the dedication of Coburn Hall, 26 Jun 18881963-02-07 · page image
Note on the portraits of Lyndon Oak and John Marshall Oak, by Joseph B. Kahill (1932, 1933), presented in 1934 (filed 2/63)1963 · page image
Lyndon and Rebecca Irish Oak grave marker, Evergreen Cemetery, Garland, Maine
Lyndon Oak Memorial Library, Garland, Maine
The first Oak Hall at the Maine State College (now the University of Maine), built in 1871 of brick made from campus clay and named for Lyndon Oak; it burned in 1936
Photos & documents
Sources
- "The Oaks of Garland," by H. L. Oak, in Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the State of Maine (American Series of Popular Biographies, Maine Edition), pp. 193-199 Family histories and trees Citation only Birth, Death, Marriage
p. 195 - Gravestone, Evergreen Cemetery, Garland, Maine (Find a Grave memorial 42365678): 'LYNDON OAK BORN In Boscawen, N.H. Sept. 22, 1816 DIED Feb. 17, 1902'. 1850 U.S. census, Garland, ms p. 279, dwelling 16: 'Lyndon Oake, 33, M, Boot & Shoe Merch't, $800, N.H.' Burials and memorials Citation only Birth, Death
- 1850 U.S. census, Garland, Penobscot County, Maine, manuscript p. 279 (printed p. 140), enumerated 11 Sept 1850 (FamilySearch, Maine 1850 federal census population schedules, Penobscot, image 496 of 618; full-size image saved in research-b-garland-1850-census-2026-10-02/), lines 20-23, dwelling 16, family 18: 'Lyndon Oake, 33, M, Boot & Shoe Merch't, $800, N.H.'; Rebecca 32 F (Me.); James H. 7/ Census Citation only Residence
Research sources
- "Hon. Lyndon Oak," Bangor Daily Commercial, February 19, 1902, p. 5 (as transcribed on the Lyndon Oak Memorial Library's website) Newspapers view at Lyndon Oak Memorial Library website (transcription)
- "The Oaks of Garland," in Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the State of Maine (Boston, 1903), p. 194 Family histories and trees view at Internet Archive, biographicalsket00newe (page image saved in acorns-private/sources/biographical-sketches-maine-1903/leaf_n442.jpg)
- "The Oaks of Garland," in Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens of the State of Maine (Boston, 1903), p. 195 Family histories and trees view at Internet Archive, biographicalsket00newe (page image saved in acorns-private/sources/biographical-sketches-maine-1903/leaf_n444.jpg)
- 1850 U.S. census, Garland, Penobscot County, Maine, NARA M432 roll 279, p. 140, dwelling 16 Census
- Gravestone of Lyndon and Rebecca Irish Oak, Evergreen Cemetery, Garland, Maine (Find a Grave memorial 42365678, photograph shown on his page) Burials and memorials view at findagrave.com
- Lyndon Oak, A Sketch of the Life of General James Irish of Gorham, Me., 1776-1863 (Boston: Lee & Shepard, 1898), p. 68 Family histories and trees
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