When Russell Earl Oaks was born on 8 May 1890, in Wisconsin, United States, his father, William Alonzo Oaks, was 40 and his mother, Jane King Quick, was 32. He had at least 2 sons and 1 daughter with Asta Lund. He lived in La Crosse, La Crosse, Wisconsin, United States for about 20 years and Waukesha, Waukesha, Wisconsin, United States for about 10 years. He died on 16 July 1961, at the age of 71.