Northeastern Oklahoma Biographies

Map of Oklahoma

The following biographies were written in 1922 and pertain to “important” men who resided in the Muskogee and northeastern areas of Oklahoma. By important, it should be emphasized that each biography was submitted along with a payment for inclusion in the biographical manuscript. Therefore, anyone who chose not to pay for such a service was often left out of the manuscript. The counties covered by this manuscript include Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Delaware, Mayes, McIntosh, Muskogee, Nowata, Ottawa, Rogers, Sequoyah, Wagoner, and Washington.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Benoni H. Durall

(See Duncan) Ada Bertha, daughter of John Robert and Emma (Landrum) Dobkins was born August 6, 1879. Educated at Chetopa, Kansas. Married at Welch, August 25, 1897 Benona H., son of B. S. and Anna Durall, born March 9, 1873 in Neosho County, Kansas. They are the parents of Harold Robert, born June 23, 1898. Enlisted in the navy during the World War assigned to the reserves force stationed at Pelham Bay, N. Y. from May 29, 1918 to February 1, 1919. Married May 15, 1921 Florence L. Rodant; Hugh Allen, born November 16, 1902; George Marvin, born March 2, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Samuel T. Elliott

(See Foreman) Samuel Talbert, son of Hiram and Collie (Whatenberger) Elliott was born in Delaware District July 5, 1894 and was educated in that district. Married at Big Cabin September 25, 1916 Geneva, daughter of A. W. and Minnie Blackford. They are the parents of: Magdelene Lenox, born March 17, 1918 and Garth Dalmond Elliott, born September 10, 1920. Mr. Elliott is a farmer near Big Cabin. Elizabeth, daughter of John Foreman married John Elliott, a White man. They were the parents of Archibald Elliott who married Rachel Smith and they were the parents of Hiram Thomas Elliott, born May … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James E. Elliott

Elliott, James E. (See Foreman)—James F., son of George and Rachel (Henson) Elliott, was born in Vinita, Mar. 16, 1875, educated in Delaware Dist. Married at Adair Apr. 4, 1889, Eva, daughter of Joseph S. and Nancy Wickham, born Dec. 8, 1875, Schuyler County, Missouri. They are the parents of Sadie Marie, born April 1, 1903; Juanita Josephine, born October 28, 1913, James Howard Elliott, born November 22, 1916. Mr. Elliott is a farmer and stock raiser, and is a member of the Independent Order of I. O. O. F His Cherokee name is Oo-ch-la-ta.

Biographical Sketch of George W. Harlan

(See Ghigau)-George Washington, son of David M. and Rebecca (Vannoy) Harlan was born in the Cherokee Nation August 10, 1856 and educated in the Cherokee Public Schools. Married in Delaware District May 30, 1873, Sarah Jane, daughter of Whitten and Nannie Cecil, (the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Virginia) born July 3, 1855, in Crawford County, Illinois. They are the parents of: William Lee, born September 12, 1874, married Lucinda Ballard and Minnie Belle, born September 1, 1877 and married W. A. J. Trotter. Mr. Harlan is a farmer near White Oak. The Harlans, who in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Clay Albion Mitchell

(See Oolootsa and Foreman)-George W. Mitchell, born December 26, 1852 at Bloomfield, Arkansas; married June 13, 1886, in Going Snake District, Martha J. Horn, who was born March 17, 1862. They are the parents of Clay Albion Mitchell, born April 1, 1894, who was educated at Vinita, Oklahoma, and married at Vinita on December 23, 1916, Martha Eunice, daughter of Sarah (Nazworthy) Chamberlain, born February 5, 1899, and was educated at Vinita, Oklahoma. They are the parents of Robert Clay, born October 30, 1917 and Hazel Maurine Mitchell, born February 14, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell are members of the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Leroy S. Robinson

(See Grant) George Ella, daughter of R. A. and Edith Caroline (Rogers) Prather, was born on Beatties Prairie, January 15, 1869; was educated in Delaware District and the Female Seminary, graduating June 28, 1894. She married at Vinita October 29, 1895, Leroy S., son of William and Malinda Robinson. They are the parents of LeElla, born in April 1900; Carleton, born February 15, 1902, and Leroy Prather Rogers, born April 5, 1905. Leroy S. Robinson died April 26, 1911. Mrs. Robinson is a member of the Methodist church. LeElla Robinson graduated from the Vinita High School and the Northeastern State … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Charles Nichols

Fannie, daughter David and Sarah (Easley) Humphrey was born May 1, 1886 in the Cherokee Nation. Educated at Vinita and married at Vinita 4, 1918 Charles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Nichols. They are members of the Methodist church and are farmers near Vinita.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Ray N. Skinner

(See Downing and Duncan)-Jemima Winnie Davis, daughter of Robert Ray and Cynthia Jane (Horn) Taylor was born Tuesday, February 12, 1898. Educated at Willie Halsell College and Sacred Heart Institute, Vinita. Married at Carthage, Missouri, August 25, 1913, Ray Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel and Nannie (Kell) Skinner, born September 28, 1884, in Vinita. They are the parents of Gay Nell Skinner, born March 1, 1914 in Phoenix, Arizona. Nannie, daughter of Lewis Ross and Sarah (Chambers) Kell was born January 28, 1861. Married in March 1879 Nathanial Skinner, born April 8, 1851 in Harrison County, Kentucky. She died January 28, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Landrum Crittenden Jennings

(See Grant, Foreman and Conrad)  Caroline, daughter of John and Nellie (Martin) Agnew, married Anderson Landrum Crittenden Jennings, and they were the parents of Landrum Crittenden Jennings, born in 1876; he was educated in Worcester Academy and the Male Seminary, being a graduate from the latter institution. He married in 1899 Jananna, daughter of James Franklin and Ruth Ellen (Martin) Benge, born in 1880. She was educated in Vinita. They are the parents of Clara May Jennings, born June 21, 1900, at Chelsea. She graduated from the Muskogee Central High School in 1919, and is at present a stenographer in … Read more

Biography of Jasper S. Martin

Jasper S. Martin is well known in financial circles of north-eastern Oklahoma as cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Vinita, with which he has been identified for the past nineteen years, and has promoted the success of the institution by systematic, progressive and conscientious work. He was born in St. Charles, Missouri, April 12, 1880, of the union of Rev. George M. and Hardenia (Tyler) Martin, also natives of that state, the former born in Saline County and the latter in St. Charles County. The father continued to engage in farming in Missouri until 1889, when he. came to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Monroe A. Keys

(See Grant, Oolootsa, Daniel and Riley.)-Monroe Amory, son of Monroe Calvin and Lucy Lowrey (Hoyt) Keys, was born February 21, 1870. Educated in the Male Seminary. Married March 25, 1905, Martha Ann daughter of Henry and Emma Jane (Daniel) Donnelly, born March 11, 1874, educated in the Cherokee public schools and Worcester Academy. They are the parents of: Wahnie, born March 7, 1908; Emma, born December 17, 1909; Amory, born January 16, 1912; Jane, born December 5, 1914, and Clun Keys, born February 10, 1917. Mr. Keys is a member of the Holly Clan. His Cherokee name is Clun-tee-sta. He … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Irving Couch

Couch, Mrs. Irving (See Grant)—Anna K., daughter of Joseph Lynch and Miranda (Young) Thompson, was born near Pen­sacola, August 14, 1900, educated in Mayes and Craig County. Married at Vinita, Jan. 10, 1920 to Ervin, Son of James Monroe and Mollie Couch. Mr. and Mrs. Couch are farming near Pensacola.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Richard Lafayette Smith

(See Grant and Ward) Richard Lafayette, son of Frederick David and Charlotte Elizabeth (Fields) Smith, born September 7, 1899, educated at Big Cabin. Married at Big Cabin May 31, 1919, Minnie Carrie, daughter of Robert Louis and Caroline Emma (Schmidt) Steigleder, born March 11, 1900, in Booneville, Missouri. They are the parents of Louis Richard Smith, born March 2, 1920 and Milton Eldo Smith born Nov. 5, 1921. Mr. Smith is a farmer and breeder of Purebreed Hereford cattle and is a member of the I. O. O. F. Fraternity. Mr. Steigleder was born July 10, 1862, in Iowa. Mrs. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Pearl D. Hawkins

(See Grant and Harlan)  Ruth Jane, daughter of Ellis and Mary (Fields) Dick was born in Delaware District January 8, 1870. Married October 17, 1884, Charles Henry Hawkins, born in Lewis County, Missouri, October 16, 1860. They are the parents of Pearl D. Hawkins born near Catale, July 31, 1894. Married at Vinita October 27, 1917, Myrtle B., daughter of Andrew Oliver and Cora Pearl (Richards) Harlan, born July 26, 1894. He enlisted for the World War at Vinita May 26, 1918. Was Sergeant of Base Hospital No. 82. Sailed for France August 31, 1918. Was on the Toul front … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Frank Alexander Billingslea

Billingslea (See Oobootsa, Ross, Sanders and Ghigau.)—Jeannette Starr was born February 16, 1862, in Tahlequah. She was educated in the Cherokee public schools and graduated from Female Seminary July 2, 1880. Married at Vinita April 1, 1885. Frank Alexander Billingslea, born August 9, t8Si, in Crawfordville, Taliaferro County, Ga. He died May 9, 1913. They were the parents of DollIe Willie, born at Vinita, August 21, 1887, and Joseph Billingslea, born July 17, 1891 in Vinita. Thomas, son of James and Lettie Boyd (Chambers) Starr, was born March 12, 1840, married August 20, 1860, Dollie Eunice, daughter of Anderson and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Claude W. Mitchell

(See Grant and Duncan) Emma E., daughter of John Martin and Alice R. (Smith) Daniel, was born at Vinita, February 19, 1892; was educated at the Female Seminary at Tahlequah. She married at Vinita July 31, 1911, Claud W., son of William W. and Emma Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell died October 23, 1918. They were the parents of Mary Nadine, born March 3, July 8, 1918. John Martin Daniel was born October 2, 1843, and married August 1, 1876, Alice R. Smith, born June 10, 1855. They were the parents of Marma D., James Henry, Robert John, Lula May, Eliza E., … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Heber Skinner

(See Grant and Ghigau)-John Brewer married Elizabeth Taylor, and their son George Washington Brewer married Cherokee Ratliff, and they were the parents of Nannie Ethel Brewer, born February 20, 1859. She married February 18, 1883, John Martin, son of Joseph and Martha (Fields) Riley, born January 16, 1851. Mrs. Riley died April 22, 1909. They were the parents of Mattie Riley, born July 25, 1880, at Tahlequah and she was educated at the Female Seminary and Howard Payne College, of Fayette, Missouri, graduating from the latter institution. She married at Vinita March 11, 1902, Heber Skinner, and they are the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Elizabeth K. Chumley

(See Oolootsa and Riley)-Elizabeth Riley Keys was born January 13, 1869. Educated at Worcester Academy and Female Seminary. Married at Centralia Sept. 12, 1912, John M., son of Robert and Fannie Chumley. Mr. and Mrs. Chumley are members of the Presbyterian church. Lydia Emma Keys, a sister of Mrs. Chumley’s married Charles J. Taylor, now deceased. Their daughter Alma Lane Taylor, born January 26, 1900, married March 24, 1918 J. E. Bennett. They have one daughter, Bettie Bennett, born February 8, 1919. Monroe Calvin Keys married Lucy Lowrey Hoyt and they were the parents of Lydia Emma and Elizabeth Riley … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Robert Lee Mitchell

(See Ghigau and Rogers)—Robert Lee Mitchell, born April 10, 1876 in Cherokee Nation. His Cherokee name is Quaqua. Educated in the Cherokee Public Schools and Male Seminary from which he graduated June 28, 1895. He was an instructor at the Cherokee Orphan Asylum from 1895 to 1899 and at the Male Seminary from 1900 to 1902. Graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Ark in 1904. He located at his present home in Vinita in the practice of medicine. He is an Episcopalian and has advanced as far as the shrine in Masonry. He has been a member … Read more