Birth and Family
Oceana was born around 1885, probably in Manhattan, New York City, New York to Caroline B. Wardlaw (c1850-1913), and a Colonel Martin, who had fought for the Confederacy in the American Civil War. Her mother had a career in education, at one point being removed from a position due to unstable behavior. She got her nickname, Ocey, because she frequently garbled her real name in her baby talk.
Caroline Wardlaw had two sisters, who were Ocey's aunts. Mary L. Wardlaw (1849-?), who married Fletcher Tillman Snead (1829–1891). Together they produced a son, Fletcher Wardlaw Snead (1875–1955), who was Ocey's first cousin and would become her husband. The second sister was Virginia O. Wardlaw (1852–1910) who never married. Both sisters were also involved in education.
The three siblings were the daughters of Martha Eliza Wardlaw (1828–1910) and Jake B. Wardlaw (1817-?). They were known for dressing in black at almost all times and for their secretive behavior. Strange deaths followed the women in their later lives.
Read more about this topic: Ocey Snead
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