Louis Tinker, a retired farmer and stock raiser of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, was born on the Neosha River, Kansas, and is a son of William H. and Lucille (Lessart) Tinker, both of whom were of Osage Indian origin. Both have passed away. Louis Tinker’s. parents removed with him to Oklahoma when he was a child, and on reaching adult years he there turned his attention to farming and stock raising. He followed this occupation in Oklahoma successfully for many years and as a result of his close application and industry he is now, at the age of fifty-four years, living retired from active business life, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. He has also made some judicious investments in oil and he and eight of his children who have oil holdings are receiving large royalties annually. Thus he is enabled to live in ease and comfort.
On October 5, 1890, Mr. Tinker was united in marriage to Miss Ida May Harness, also a native of Neosha County, Kansas. She is a daughter of John and Sarah (Meeks) Harness, the former a native of Illinois, while the mother was born in Platte County, Missouri. After the death of her husband Mrs. Harness married Duncan McIntyre, who has also passed away. She became the mother of seven children. She has now reached the age of seventy-nine years and is making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Tinker. She became a resident of Indian Territory in the early ’70s. Mr. and Mrs. Tinker have become the parents of twelve children: William, born August 22, 1891; Bessie, born November 11, 1894; James, born November 10, 1896, who has passed away; Nora and Ora, twins, born May 14, 1898; Eva, born September 28, 1900; Isabell, born March 16, 1903; Rose, born May 4, 1905; Cora, born March 8, 1907; Lela, born May 8, 1909; and Ida Bell and Louis, Jr., also twins, born August 28, 1915. Mr. Tinker has very few outside interests, preferring to enjoy the companionship of his wife and family in their beautiful home at 600 Delaware, Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He still owns eight hundred acres of land in Oklahoma and is planning to return to his farm in 1923.