Dr. William Henry Oaks

1880 - 1957  (76 years)

• Name	William Henry Oaks
  Prefix	Dr.
  Born	5 Sep 1880	Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2, 3]
  Gender	Male
  FindAGrave	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/157294879
  Interesting	medicine, scandal, abortion, crime
  Name	William Henry Ochs
  Residence	1881	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Evangelical
  Residence	1891	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [3]
  	Methodist
  Occupation	1910	Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  	Doctor
  Occupation	1924	Barrie, Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada
  	doctor
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-93219
  Died	15 Jan 1957	Barrie, Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Barrie Union Cemetery, Barrie, Simcoe Co., Ontario
  Person ID	I93219	Generations
  Last Modified	7 Nov 2024

  
  

  Father	Gideon Ochs,   b. 1 Sep 1836, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 14 Jun 1921, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 84 years)
  Mother	Catherine Wiffler,   b. 20 Apr 1842, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada ,   d. 19 Aug 1922, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 80 years)
  Married	15 Sep 1861	, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [4, 5, 6]
  Family ID	F24204	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  OAKS (OCHS), WILLIAM HENRY brother of Anthony Oaks, was registered by the College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1907, and in October of that year opened an office in Hespeler. He moved to Guelph the next January. The Weekly Reformer reported on January 20, 1910: Hespeler will have a third doctor in the person of Dr. William Ochs, late of Guelph, who has leased the premises formerly occupied by his brother, Dr. Anthony Ochs, previous to his removal to Preson. Dr. Ochs will take possession and open his office early next week, and needs no introduction to the residents of the town, as he was born here and lived here all his life with the exception of the time spent practising in Guelph. The Berliner Journal on March 17, 1911 announced that he was going to Sault Saint Marie. In 1913 he was in Barrie, and was listed there until 1928. In 1937 he was in Rosseau. In 1951 and 1954 he was listed back in Barrie, but he was not listed there in 1963 or thereafter. Dr. Alexander D. Campbell, Doctors in Waterloo County 1852-1925, 1986 ___________ BELIEVE DEATH CAUSED BY ILLEGAL OPERATION Coroner's Jury Returns Verdict on Death of Constance Brown HOLD BARRIE DOCTOR Witnesses Testify Dr William Oakes Had Treated Girl Who Died Later "We find that Constance Ida Brown came to her death in the Western hospital on Wednesday October 1st 1924 of general peritonitis following an illegal operation performed by Dr. William H Oakes of Barrie" was the verdict returned by Coroner Crawford's jury last night at the inquest on the death of Constance Brown late of Toronto The courtroom at the morgue was crowded to its utmost capacity among those present being Dr. Wm Oakes of Barrie and Russell Markle of New Lowell both of whom were in custody Neither of the two men however gave evidence Crown Attorney E J Murphy appeared for the crown while Dr Oakes was represented by R G Agnew of Toronto and A Hammond of Barrie and Russell Markle by W A Boys KC of Barrie. Detective Sergeant Nursey who visited Miss Brown's home after the tragedy deposed to finding a railway ticket to Barrie and a receipt for the sum of $35 on account signed ''William H Oakes" Both of these were dated September 16th There were also four letters addressed to "Miss Connie Brown,"' and signed "Russ" which were not read at the inquest but a letter to Russell Markle from ' the deceased lady showed that she had been to see Dr Oakes who had treated her. In this letter she had said that she was feeling "wretched" and did not feel equal to going to a party which she must attend that night ''I know you will understand' she had written. Evidence of Operation Dr. I. H. Irb who conducted autopsy explained to the jury findings by means of sketches the blackboard and attributed death to general peritonitis . Crown Attorney Murphy: "And does your finding show evidence of an operation?" "Yes" Dr Holmes of the Western hospital was called and stated that he attended the girl at her home before death took place When he had questioned Miss Brown as to her condition she had told him that she had gone to Barrie to see Dr Oakes who had 'performed an operation upon her. Witness then decided to have further medical opinion on the case and called in Dr Scott who agreed with him as to the kind of treatment they should give her The girl was taken to the Western hospital on October 1st where an operation was performed in an effort to save her life in view of the symptoms which had developed very seriously overnight The girl survived the anesthetic but died less than ten minutes later She had said that she did not think she would die. Dr. Frank R Scott corroborated the evidence said that Dr Holmes explained the nature of the case to him when asked him to see the girl. Miss Brown had answered his questions as to how she had reached that condition. Consulted Coroner "Did you not consider the advisability of notifying the police of such a case?" asked the crown attorney "No" answered the witness "but we consulted the coroner." At this -point Dr Holmes was recalled and in reply to a question by Mr. Murphy stated that it was his practice in such cases to call in a senior practitioner which course he considered sufficient Mr. Murphy then stated that it was always advisable to notify the authorities of such cases "We must have the co-operation of medical men" he said. Mrs Ada Baker with whom Miss Brown resided said that it was on her return from her second trip to Barrie on September 20th that the girl first told of her illness and three days later had asked her witness to call Dr .Oakes at Barrie which she had one Dr Oakes had then visited Miss Brown and after remaining in the room about seven minutes had come downstairs. He had assured the witness and her husband that there was nothing for them to worry about and had remained chatting for some time afterwards. He had paid a similar visit the next day. Discuss Prohibition Albert Baker the husband of the previous witness confirmed her statements saying that the doctor had chatted to him for some time when he came down from the room. "What were you talking about?" said Mr Murphy "Prohibition and my eyesight" The Coroner: "And what did you say about prohibition?" (Laughter)Witness: "Well sir ____" Mr Murphy: "Let us leave that till the polls" (Laughter) The Coroner: "No there is no reason for this question" Witness then stated that Dr. Oakes had complained of being cold and he had given him a short drink In return for this kindness the doctor had given him a prescription. The Coroner: "Have you got the prescription on you?" "Yes" Mr. Baker then produced the prescription which the coroner filed as evidence Both witnesses identified Dr Oakes as the practitioner who had visited their home. The Toronto Star Fri, Oct 10, 1924 Page 12

  
  

• Sources

  [S86] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1901, Waterloo (South/Sud) G-4 Page 10. [S178] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo South - 1881, Waterloo S. Twp. 1881 Div 1 Page 20. [S2575] Census - ON, Waterloo Township - 1891, Sect. 2 Page 44. [S6] Church Records - ON, Waterloo - Bindeman, F. W. - Card Index Kitchener Public Library. Gideon Ocsh, 25, res. Waterloo Twp., b. Waterloo Twp. s/o Gideon Ochs & Elizabeth Bowmann married 15 Sep 1861 to Catharine Weffler, 19, res. Hespeler, b. Canada West. d/o Charles Weffler & Margareth Allimann witnesses: John Sachs of Waterloo TWp [S5] Vit - - ON, Waterloo - 1858-1869 Marriage Register. Gideon Ochs, 25, res. Waterloo, b. Waterloo, son of Gideon and Elizabeth (Bournan), married 15 Sept 1861 Catherine Weffler, 19, res. Hespeler, b. CW, daughter of Charles and Margareth (Allman) [S2575] Census - ON, Waterloo Township - 1891, Sect. 2 Page 43.

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 5 Sep 1880 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Evangelical - 1881 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Residence - Methodist - 1891 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - Doctor - 1910 - Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Occupation - doctor - 1924 - Barrie, Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada Died - 15 Jan 1957 - Barrie, Simcoe Co., Ontario, Canada Buried - - Barrie Union Cemetery, Barrie, Simcoe Co., Ontario  = Link to Google Earth