Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1880 to parents Robert Oakman and Margaret McClarnon, Charles Yates Oakman was a Chemist. He arrived at the Port of Philadelphia in April 1903 intending to stay with his cousin in New York City. The cousin’s surname was Sam McFarland, and he or she lived at 354 or 554 West 43rd Street in New York City.
Charles returned to Belfast not long after his arrival in the US. He and his younger brother, Joseph Albert, then travelled back to New York together on the Teutonic which arrived at the Port of New York on 14 September 1904. They both intended staying with Charles’ friend Dixon Charleson who lived at 435 West 40th Street in New York City.
Charles returned to Belfast again, this time to marry Margaret Boland. The ceremony took place on 5 September 1906 at Grange Church of Ireland, in Grange, County Armagh. On 29 September Charles and his bride boarded S S Campania and sailed for New York.
Charles and Margaret had at least three children — Harold (born c1907), Eileen (born c1911), and Walter (born c1923).
Charles fought in WWI and returned to New York after the War, working as an Inspector on the Railroads. He died in July 1941.