Bartlesville Oklahoma

Biography of Alfred J. Tayrien

From pioneer times until the present the name of Tayrien has figured prominently in connection with the development and up-building of Oklahoma and Alfred J. Tayrien, who represents the third generation of the family in this state, is actuated by the same spirit of progress and enterprise which dominated his for-bears, worthily bearing his part in the work of progress and advancement here. He was born in Osage County on the 17th of May, 1899, and is a son of Andrew, and Francis Tayrien, the latter May of Osage extraction. The father is also a native of Osage County, his … Read more

Biography of Alfred J. Smysor

Bartlesville owes much to the progressive spirit and notable business ability of Alfred J. Smysor, whose extensive real estate operations have been a dominant force in the up-building and development of the town, and he is also recognized as a successful merchant and oil operator. He was born in Windsor, Shelby County, Illinois, February 4, 1873, and there attended the grammar and high schools, later attending a business college. In 1893 he completed his studies and then became a member of the firm of Smysor & Son, of which his father was the head, continuing active in general l merchandising … Read more

Biography of John C. Gray

A resident of Oklahoma for many years, John C. Gray, who is proprietor of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company at Bartlesville, Washington County, was born in Lee County, Virginia, February 3, 1877, his parents being C. B. and Matilda (Ball) Gray, both of whom were also natives of Virginia. The parents were married in Virginia and soon thereafter removed to Eldorado Springs, Missouri, and from there to Caney, Kansas, where he and his family lived for many years. This town is situated on the Oklahoma boundary line. The father has been a Baptist clergyman throughout his active career and while a … Read more

Biography of J. R. Wade

J. R. Wade, a leading agriculturist of Osage county, exemplifies in his career the progressive spirit that has been the dominant factor in the up building of the west and is a typical frontiersman, having spent much of his life on the wide, open ranges and gained that breadth of vision and keen insight which come through close communion with nature. He was born in the southeastern part of Berry county, Missouri, September 3, 1883, and his parents were E. B. and E. J. (Bradley) Wade, the former a native of Virginia, while the latter way born in Missouri. The … Read more

Biography of J. C. Cobleigh

For three decades J. C. Cobleigh has made his home in Bartlesville, arriving here at an early period in the development of the town, and with its subsequent growth and up-building he has been prominently identified, having extensive farming and stock-raising interests and also being a large oil operator. He is a keen, farsighted business man whose well matured plans are promptly executed, and opportunity has ever been to him a call to action. A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Cobleigh was born December 15, 1873, of the marriage of C. C. and Mary (Mahoney) Cobleigh, the former of Scotch-Irish descent, … Read more

Biography of Addison Fox McCaleb

Addison Fox McCaleb, one of the most prominent and prosperous citizens of northeastern Oklahoma, where he first took up his abode forty-three years ago, was elected mayor of Bartlesville in April, 1920, and has since capably discharged the duties devolving upon him in that important position. He was born at Harrison, Tennessee, on the 10th of January, 1861, a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Gardenhire) McCaleb, the former a native of east Tennessee and the latter of Hamilton county, that state. The father held the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Civil war and was wounded in battle, but his … Read more

Biography of John B. Fowler

Long connection with the oil industry has made John B. Fowler an expert in this branch of activity and through the capable management of his business affairs he has accumulated a substantial competence which now enables him to live retired in the enjoyment of a well earned rest, his home being in Bartlesville. He was born in Butler County, Pennsylvania, September 16, 1852, and his parents were John P. and Margaret (Keppler) Fowler, who were also natives of the Keystone state, the father’s birth occurring in the same County. John P. Fowler became a resident of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, in … Read more

Biography of Louis C. Pollock

No business enterprise has contributed in larger measure to the up building and development of Bartlesville than has that of the Home Savings and Loan Association, of which Louis C. Pollock is secretary, and his broad experience, keen business sagacity and carefully formulated plans have been valuable assets in the success which has attended the activities of the organization. He was born in Ashton, Lee county, Illinois, June 29, 1877, and acquired his education in Beloit College of Wisconsin, from which he was graduated with the class of 1900, at which time the B. A. s conferred upon him. He … Read more

Biography of L. L. Higbee

L. L. Higbee, who since 1912 has been fire chief at Bartlesville, Oklahoma, was born in Chase County, Kansas, November 28, 1866. He acquired his education in his native state, attending the public schools of Emporia, Kansas, to the age of twenty years. He then entered the business world as an employee in the printing establishment of Jake Stotter in the capacity of a compositor, working on the Emporia News for some time. He afterward worked for Governor Eskridge on the Emporia Republican, also as a compositor. Mr. Higbee is in possession of the first fifty-cent piece Governor Eskridge gave … Read more

Biography of Hon. A. E. Craver

Hon. A. E. Craver, a leading member of the Washington county bar for many years, was connected with the work of the courts both as lawyer and lawmaker and was representing his district in the state legislature at the time of his death, on January 29, 1922, leaving the impress of his individuality upon the legislative history of Oklahoma. He was born in Marshall County, Indiana, September 17, 1866, and was a son of George Washington and Eliza (Gray) Craver, the former a native of Hagerstown, Maryland, while the latter was born in Baltimore, that state. The father was a … Read more

Biography of L. E. Phillips

To the list of the many names that are synonymous with the commercial development of Bartlesville may be added L. E. Phillips, who is vice president of the First National Bank and of the Phillips Petroleum Company, and who since 1904 has been one of the substantial and influential citizens of Bartlesville. He was born in Taylor county, Iowa, August 18, 1876. He spent his childhood and early youth on a farm there, attending the common schools to the age of sixteen and also learning many valuable lessons in the school of experience. When seventeen years of age he took … Read more

Biography of Charles Squirrel

Among the progressive and capable young business men of Bartlesville is numbered Charles Squirrel, a native son of the state, who is the owner of a good farm in Washington county and also has valuable oil interests. He was born at Matoka, September 11, 1896, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. William Squirrel, both of whom were Cherokees. When but a year old he was left an orphan and was adopted by Mrs. Walter Brown when eight years of age, his education being acquired at St. Joseph, Muskogee, Oklahoma, in the Webb school at Bellbuckle, Tennessee, and in Kemper Academy … Read more

Biography of R. L. Gordon

R. L. Gordon, the popular and efficient Mayor of Ochelata and a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of Oklahoma, was born just across the boundary line, in Kansas, April 4, 1891, his parents being W. H. and Sarah (Bolen) Gordon, the former a native of Kentucky, while the latter was born in Texas. The father journeyed, overland from Kentucky to Missouri and from that state made three round trips to Texas, also going by the over land route. He became a pioneer of Indian Territory and is now residing in Ochelata, where lie follows the carpenter’s trade, … Read more

Biography of L. L. Warner

L. L. Warner, who is successfully engaged in business as a dairyman of Bartlesville, was born in Pennsylvania on the 17th of March, 1867, a son of Joseph and Catherine (Warner) Warner, who though of the same name were not related. They removed to Illinois six weeks after the birth of their son, L. L. Warner, settling in Fulton County, that state, where Joseph Warner carried on farming until 1879. In that year the family home was established in Fremont County, Iowa, where Mr. Warner of this review remained until he was twenty-three years of age, when he was married … Read more

Biography of A. E. Myers

One of the most attractive establishments of Bartlesville is that conducted by Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Myers, who have here carried on both a wholesale and retail florist business during the past four years. Mr. Myers was born in Iowa on the 13th of September, 1879, and when a little lad of five years accompanied his parents on their removal to Indiana, in which state he obtained his education. Experience that well qualified him for his present line of business came to him during six years’ employment on the Coles Rose Farm at Kokomo, Indiana. In 1912, when a … Read more

Biography of Harry Degen

Harry Degen, deceased, was for more than a decade actively identified with mercantile interests in Bartlesville as the proprietor of a department store which is still being conducted by his widow and which is one of the best establishments of the kind in the city. He was born in Austria on the 11th of November, 1875, and when a lad of twelve years accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States. He worked for his relatives in Kansas until twenty-seven years of age, when in association with his uncle he established the firm of Degen & Company for … Read more

Biography of John Mickels

John Mickels is a prominent farmer and stockman of Washington County, holding extensive interests in land, in cattle and in oil properties, while making his home in Bartlesville, where he occupies an attractive residence that is the visible evidence of his success in the management and control of his business affairs. Mr. Mickels is a native of the neighboring state of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Macon County September 1, 1877 and came to Bartlesville thirty-five years ago and throughout the intervening period has resided in this section of the state, taking active and helpful part in the development … Read more