Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Augustus W. Aldrich

Ara, daughter of Goren and Eliza (Wheatley) Thomas was born in Kentucky, June 23, 1886 and educated in that State. Married at Muskogee, October 22, 1905 Augustus William, son of Ferdinand and Pauline Aldrich. They are the parents of John Harley, born November 10, 1906 and Roger Arthur Aldrich born August 2, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich are members of the Apostolic church. Mr. Aldrich is a farmer, near Ketchum.

Biography of Webb Littlefield

Webb Littlefield, treasurer of the Guaranty Trust. Company of Muskogee, was born March 12; 1884, in Knobnoster, Missouri, a son of Charles B. and Theodosia (Webb) Littlefield, who were at one time residents of Kentucky and afterward established their home in Johnson county, Missouri. The father engaged in banking in Missouri for thirty years and in 1906 came to the Indian Territory, settling at Claremore. Webb Littlefield pursued a public school education in Missouri and afterward attended the Teachers’ College at Warrensburg, that state. He started out in the business world as a clerk in the employ of the National … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Clarence Alexander Ambrister

Clarence Alexander Ambrister, engaged in the general practice of civil law at Muskogee, was born in Nebraska City, Nebraska, on the 10th of February, 1888, and is a son of Samuel Alexander and Sallie (Gillispie) Ambrister. The father was engaged in the operation of a cottonseed oil mill. The son was accorded liberal educational advantages, which he pursued at Norman, Oklahoma, following the removal of the family to this state. He supplemented his early training with a university course. He became a resident of Norman in 1892 and through the intervening period has resided in this state, where he has … Read more

Biography of Theodore T. Shackelford, M. D.

An extensive practice attests the ability of Dr. Theodore T. Shackelford as a physician and surgeon, and he is numbered among the leading representatives of the medical fraternity of Haskell, where he established his residence in 1917. He was born in Okolona, Arkansas, January 31, 1886, of the marriage of Theodore T. and Elizabeth Jane (Thompson) Shackelford, the former a native of Mississippi and the latter of South Carolina. When a lad of eight years the father accompanied his parents to Arkansas and his education was obtained in the schools of that state. On reaching adult years he took up … Read more

Biography of John W. Capps

Among the leading financial institutions of Muskogee county is numbered the Haskell National Bank, of which John W. Capps is the president, and the successful conduct of the enterprise is largely due to his well formulated and promptly execute plans and marked business ability. He was born in Madison county, Arkansas, June 15, 1880, and is a son of James R. and Louisa (King) Capps, the former a native of Missouri and the latter of Texas. For four years the father cultivated a farm in Arkansas and in 1888 removed to Texas, where he purchased land which he continued to improve and … Read more

Biography of Thomas F. King

Thomas F. King, who has devoted his entire time and attention to the banking business since making his initial step in business circles, is now the cashier of the Exchange National Bank of Muskogee. A native of Ohio, he was born in Marion on the 13th of May, 1886, and is a son of James and Margaret (Martin) King, the latter a sister of T. H. Martin, former mayor of Muskogee. The father was commissioner of public safety under the charter form of government. With the removal of the family westward, Thomas F. King pursued his more advanced education in … Read more

Biography of Charles A. Looney

Charles A. Looney, editor and general manager of the Muskogee Times-Democrat, with which he has been identified for more than two decades, is a well known and influential factor in journalistic circles of northeastern Oklahoma. His birth occurred in Shelbyville, Missouri, on the 27th of April, 1877, his parents being William Thomas and Annie B. Looney. After acquiring his preliminary education he pursued a course of study in the high school at Eldorado Springs, Missouri, and subsequently entered the University of Missouri, thus being well qualified by liberal educational training for life’s practical and responsible duties. When his textbooks were … Read more

Slave Narrative of Victoria Taylor Thompson

Person Interviewed: Victoria Taylor Thompson Age: 80 My mother, Judy Taylor, named for her mistress, told me that I was born about three year before the war; that make me about 80 year old so they say down at the Indian Agency where my name is on the Cherokee rolls since all the land was give to the Indian families a long time ago. Father kept the name of ‘Doc’ Hayes, and my brother Coose was a Hayes too, but mother, Jude, Patsy, Bonaparte (Boney, we always called him), Lewis and me was always Taylors. Daddy was bought by the … Read more

Biography of Jesse McKnight

For thirty-nine years Jesse McKnight has resided in this community, having come to Indian Territory with the early pioneers. Left an orphan at the age of ten years, he soon afterward entered the business world to earn his living, and as the result of intelligently directed efforts, laudable ambition and unflagging courage has won substantial success. A native of Missouri, he was born on the 4th of February, 1866. Jesse McKnight acquired but a limited education in the schools of his native state and at the age of seventeen years made his way to Indian Territory. Locating at Muskogee, he … Read more

Biography of Henry E. Shipley

Since 1912 Henry E. Shipley has been a member of the Haskell bar and he has also become a well known business man with valuable mining and oil interests in Oklahoma and other states. He is a native of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Petersburg on the 15th of November, 1887. His parents, Clement Washington and Evelyn (Nance) Shipley, are natives of Menard County, Illinois, and the father is now living retired in that state. For many years he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, in which he was very successful, and he is now heavily interested in cotton … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Johnson

Isaac, son of Milo and Adeline (Payne) Johnson, was born in 1883, educated at Tahlequah. Married at Muskogee in 1913. His children are: Jessie, Maxine and Willard Johnson. Mr. Johnson is an efficient state enforcement officer.

Biography of Charles W. Holder

Charles W. Holder, a well known and successful automobile dealer of Coweta, has the local agency for the Ford cars and tractors, in which connection he has built up a gratifying business. His birth occurred in Parkersburg, West Virginia, on the 24th of November, 1892, his parents being Walter W. and Virginia F. Holder, the former a native of Indiana, while the latter was born in West Virginia. Walter W. Holder came to the Indian Territory in 1888 and secured land three and a half miles from Stroud, where he devoted his attention to farming until 1899. In that year … Read more

Biography of Eugene Sloan Adkins

Eugene Sloan Adkins, organizer and promoter of the Adkins Hay & Feed Company of Muskogee, is also identified with other important business interests of the state, whereby he has won classification with the representative merchants of Oklahoma. His plans have always been carefully defined and promptly executed and his energy has enabled him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path. Mr. Adkins was born in Choteau, Oklahoma, March 26, 1896, and is a son of Moses E. and Hattie (Sloan) Adkins. The father is deceased. Eugene S. Adkins obtained a public school education, completing a course in the … Read more

Biography of Frank Lee

From the year which brought statehood to Oklahoma, Frank Lee has been a member of the Muskogee bar and is regarded as one of the strong and eminent representatives of the profession in this part of the state. He has engaged in the practice of law altogether for thirty-five years and his professional career has been marked by continuous progress and constantly developing power. Born in Stockwell, Indiana, December 9, 1864, he is a son of Captain Smith Lee, who served with the Boys in Blue in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company I, Eleventh Indiana Cavalry. After … Read more

Biography of Nathaniel Malone Mitchell

Nathaniel Malone Mitchell; whose many friends call him “Nat,” is well known to the automobile trade of Muskogee. Enterprise and commendable ambition prompted him to enter upon a line of business which he recognized as a growing one. He determined to reap some of the benefits enjoyed in connection with the constantly increasing use of the motor cars and has wisely directed his efforts into this field of commerce, his labors being attended with gratifying success. Mr. Mitchell is a native of Tennessee, his birth having occurred in Mason, Tipton county, on the 26th of September, 1882. He is a … Read more

Biography of Stephen P. Mann

Stephen P. Mann, prominently connected with the real estate and investment business in Muskogee, where he took up his abode on the 20th of July, 1902, has also been associated with many important public projects which have contributed in substantial measure to the growth, development and improvement of the city. Mr. Mann was born in Hopkins County, Texas, September 15, 1861, his parents being John W. and Martha L. (Hubbard) Mann, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. The father was a stock-man and farmer, devoting his life to those pursuits, whereby he provided for the support of his family. … Read more

Biography of Euclid Waterhouse Smartt, Jr.

Euclid Waterhouse Smartt, Jr., of Muskogee, whose varied interests and activities have ever maintained a well balanced character, while his recognition of the duties and obligations of life have made him a valued citizen through his business enterprise and through his cooperation in many projects for the public good, was born in Viola, Warren county, Tennessee, December 29, 1878, on the home farm of his parents E. W. and Nannie Elizabeth (Davis) Smartt. He completed his literary education in the Viola Normal School at Viola, Tennessee, in the year 1899 and became a law student in the office and under … Read more

Biography of Henry Stanley Shelor

Henry Stanley Shelor is conducting a general insurance agency at Muskogee and has here developed a business of large extent that is indicative of his close application, his persistency of purpose and his sound judgment in all that he undertakes. He was born in Montgomery County, Virginia, September 14, 1879, and is a son of Crockett Pierce and Clara (Abell) Shelor, the former a planter, well known in the Old Dominion. Henry S. Shelor obtained his education in the public schools of Danville until he had completed his high school course and then entered the Danville Military Institute. His initial … Read more

Biography of O. H. P. Brewer

O. H. P. Brewer, member of the Muskogee county bar, who on the 8th of August, 1921, retired from the office of postmaster, having filled the position for eight years, has devoted no inconsiderable part of his life to public service and his labors have constituted an important force for public good. Mr. Brewer was born at Webbers Falls, in the Indian Territory, a little village situated twenty-five miles southeast of Muskogee. His parents were Cherokee citizens, who voluntarily removed from Georgia to the Indian Territory in 1838, in accordance with the terms of a congressional act. His father, O. … Read more

Biography of Harris Robert

Robert, Harris, proprietor of the Alamo Pharmacy of Muskogee, has been a lifelong resident of this section of the state, his birth having occurred in Muskogee county, about eight miles south of the city of Muskogee, on the 19th of December, 1882. He is a son of P. C. and Angeline (Davis) Harris, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work in connection with the sketch of their son, Dr. James G. Harris. Robert Harris, spending his youthful days under the parental roof, pursued his education in the old time subscription schools of Muskogee county until he had mastered … Read more