When John O'kayne Whitaker was born on 18 February 1853, in Morgan, Indiana, United States, his father, John Aquilla Whitaker, was 35 and his mother, Margret W. Pruitt, was 34. He married Ora Ellen Bishop in 1885, in Illinois, United States. They were the parents of at least 3 sons and 2 daughters. He lived in Chaves, New Mexico, United States in 1910 and Roswell, Chaves, New Mexico, United States in 1920. In 1870, at the age of 17, his occupation is listed as works on farm in Spring Point Township, Cumberland, Illinois, United States. He died on 22 May 1925, in New Mexico, United States, at the age of 72, and was buried in South Park Cemetery, Roswell, Chaves, New Mexico, United States.