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People: R

Nellie Mildred Russell

1902–1948 · Female · died at 46

How to read this page

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

Birth Record
Lillace Alma Ames (Russell, Libbey)c. 1879–1947MotherLewis Whittier Russell1882–1964Father
Nellie Mildred Russell1902–1948Irving Gilbert Oak1901–1981Husband
Wendell Merle Oak1927–2010SonAllan Eugene Oak1925–2012SonDonald Russell Oak1930–1930SonIris May Oak1931–1931Daughter

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Stories and biography

About Nellie

Biography

Natalie Mildred Russell grew up in Madison and Cornville and raised her family in Skowhegan. Records also call her Mildred and Nellie.

A first child in Madison

Natalie was born in Madison on May 12, 1902, the first child of Lewis W. Russell and Lillace Ames. Her father was a farmer from Cornville; her mother was from Canaan. Two sisters followed: May G. in 1904 and Gertrude Faye in 1907.

Maine, Birth Records, 1621-1922
Maine, Birth Records, 1621-1922
Source: record image attached to a citation
Confirmed About this evidence

The birth return leaves the baby's first name blank and calls her mother Alma L. Ames. The Eames–Ames genealogy identifies the child as Mildred, with the same birth date and parents. Natalie's 1948 obituaries name Lewis and Lillace as her parents.

Growing up in Madison and Cornville

In 1910, seven-year-old Mildred lived in Madison with her mother and maternal grandparents, Augustus and Annie Ames. Her mother was recorded as married, with three living children. Lewis was not listed in the household.

Confirmed About this evidence

The census establishes the households but does not explain Lewis's absence in 1910 or Gertrude Faye's absence in 1920.

By 1920, Natalie and her sister Mary were attending school in Cornville, where they lived with their mother and stepfather, the farmer Elmer Libby. The census calls them Nellie M. and Mary G. and lists them as Elmer's stepdaughters. Natalie's 1925 wedding notice calls her the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Libby.

Confirmed About this evidence

Mildred, Nellie and Natalie occur in different records; there is no evidence that particular sides of the family consistently used particular names. The wedding notice describes her Libby household, not a documented adoption.

Marriage and children

At 23, Natalie married Irving Gilbert Oak at a cottage on Lake Wesserunsett on a Wednesday evening in early July 1925. Their first son was born that autumn. In 1930 they rented a home on Island Avenue in Skowhegan for $10 a month and had two sons at home. The census recorded Natalie as a homemaker. Ivan was born in 1931.

Evening Express, Portland, Maine, July 1925: marriage notice of Irving Gilbert Oak and Natalie Mildred Russell, dated at Skowhegan on July 2. It describes him as a lineman for the Central Maine Power Company.
Evening Express, Portland, Maine, July 1925: marriage notice of Irving Gilbert Oak and Natalie Mildred Russell, dated at Skowhegan on July 2. It describes him as a lineman for the Central Maine Power Company.
23 Jul 1925
Source: Evening Express, via Newspapers.com clipping 143601223 (identified in the R7 research; the paper's name is not on the held clipping)
Confirmed About this evidence

The 1925 notice places the wedding in early July; its catalogued publication date is July 23.

The family lost an infant son, Donald, in February 1930, when Natalie was 27. A July 1, 1931, newspaper notice also records the death of their infant daughter Iris Mae. Family recollection identifies Iris as Ivan's twin.

Unconfirmed About this evidence

Donald's notice was published Monday, February 10, 1930, and says he died Saturday, consistent with the tree's February 8 date. The Morning Sentinel notice of July 1, 1931, already cited on Ivan's tribute, calls the daughter Iris Mae and reports prayers at home and burial in South Cemetery. It does not call her a twin. The tree spells her middle name May and gives June 28–29 as her birth and death dates. Those exact dates and the twin relationship remain qualified; the twin identification comes from family recollection.

By 1940, Natalie and Irving owned a home at 197 West Front Street, valued at $1,200 in the census. They had lived there since at least 1935. All three sons attended school. Natalie was a homemaker; her education entry appears to show four years of high school.

Confirmed About this evidence

The household and address are recorded in the 1940 census. The reading of Natalie's education entry remains Likely.

Her mother's death and her last illness

Natalie was 44 when her mother, Lillace, died on February 14, 1947. Lillace had spent her last two months living with Natalie on West Front Street.

Confirmed About this evidence

Lillace's 1947 notices identify the daughter with whom she lived as Mildred, Mrs. Irvin Oak.

Natalie died at Sisters Hospital in Waterville on August 4, 1948, aged 46, after one day in the hospital. The Morning Sentinel described a period of frail health; the Lewiston Daily Sun said she had been ill for a year and a half. Her funeral was announced for Saturday afternoon at Clay Funeral Home, with the Rev. W. L. Sheppard officiating and burial in Skowhegan.

The Morning Sentinel of 6 August 1948, Skowhegan Local: Mrs. N. Mildred Oak died Wednesday, 'in frail health for a period of time'; funeral Saturday at two o'clock at the Clay Funeral Home, the Rev. W. L. Sheppard officiating.
The Morning Sentinel of 6 August 1948, Skowhegan Local: Mrs. N. Mildred Oak died Wednesday, 'in frail health for a period of time'; funeral Saturday at two o'clock at the Clay Funeral Home, the Rev. W. L. Sheppard officiating.
1948
Source: See item citation.
Likely About this evidence

Natalie's funeral notices give “South” cemetery; Find a Grave identifies Southside. The minister was likely Walter L. Sheppard, who officiated at Lillace's funeral, but his role does not establish Natalie's church membership.

Her survivors included Irving, their three sons, her father Lewis, her sisters Mary and Faye, and two half-sisters.

Confirmed About this evidence

The notices and family genealogy disagree over Mary and Faye's married names and spouses; those identities remain unresolved.

Family

Parents

Husband: Irving Gilbert Oak 1901–1981
Unconfirmed evidence: show why

Why: From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.

Review: not yet reviewed.

What the labels mean

Life events

Born12 MAY 1902, Madison, Somerset County, Maine, United States of America
Confirmed evidence: show why

Why: Maine's birth return for Madison, May 12, 1902, names her parents Lewis and Alma L. (Ames) Russell; her gravestone and obituary give the same date.

Records:

Review: assessed 10-26-2026; evidence: Image examined.

Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-05-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.

What the labels mean

Image: 1910 U.S. census, Madison, Somerset County, Maine (roll T624_546, page 14b, ED 229): the page the family tree attaches to the Russell household and Lillace (Ames) Russell. · Image: 1930 U.S. Census, Skowhegan, Maine: Irving G. Oak, lineman for the power company, with his wife Natalie and sons Allan and Wendell. · Image: Maine, Birth Records, 1621-1922
Died4 AUG 1948, Waterville, Kennebec County, Maine, United States of America
Confirmed evidence: show why

Why: Her gravestone gives Aug. 4, 1948; her obituary: 'Mrs. Nellie Mildred Oak, age 46, wife of Irvin Oak ... died Wednesday ... at a Waterville hospital' (4 Aug 1948 was a Wednesday).

Records:

Review: assessed 10-26-2026; evidence: Image examined.

Earlier: Unconfirmed (10-05-2026, imported tree): From the imported family tree; not yet reviewed.

What the labels mean

Also recorded asNatalie Mildred Russell Oak; Nellie Mildred Russell ( Oak ); Nellie Oak
Residence1910, Madison, Somerset, Maine, USA Image: U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 · Image: U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 · Image: 1940 U.S. Census, Skowhegan, Maine: Irving Oak, lineman for the Power Co., with his wife and three sons, at 197 West Front Street.
Residence1920, Comville, Somerset, Maine, USA Image: 1920 United States Federal Census
Marriage22 JUL 1925, Lake Wesserunsett (Simpson cottage), Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA, with Irving Gilbert Oak 1901–1981
Marriage1 JUL 1925, Lake Wesserunsett (Simpson cottage), Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA, with Irving Gilbert Oak 1901–1981
Marriage Nellie and Irvin Oak23 JUL 1925, Portland, Maine
Death of son Donald R Oak10 FEB 1930, Waterville, Maine
Residence1930, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine
Residence10 FEB 1930, Waterville, Maine, USA
Residence1935, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine
Residence1939, Waterville, Maine, USA
Residence1940, Waterville, Maine, USA
Residence1 APR 1940, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, United States
Residence1940, Skowhegan Town, Skowhegan, Somerset, Maine, USA
Obituary for Nellie Mildred Oak7 AUG 1948, Lewiston, Maine
BurialSouthside Cemetery, Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine, United States of America
BurialSkowhegan, Somerset County, Maine, United States of America
ResidenceIrvin Oak

Newspapers

5 newspaper clippings to view here. View them larger, one at a time.

Also cited, with no image here

Record images

10 record images to view here. View them larger, one at a time.

Photos & documents

Sources

Research sources

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