Biography of J. H. Gorden

J. H. Gorden, a representative citizen and successful agriculturist of northeastern Oklahoma, where he has made his home for more than two decades, is busily engaged in the cultivation of a farm of fifty acres situated one mile north and four miles east of Dewey. His birth occurred in Henry county, Missouri, in 1861, his parents being J. B. and Anna (Parks) Gorden. The father is still living at the ripe old age of eighty-five years, and now resides at Wagoner, Oklahoma. The mother passed away in 1904. They reared a family of three sons, namely: J. H., of this … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Ford Smith

(See Ghigau and Hildebrand)-Eliza, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Patrick) Fry, born February 15, 1866. Educated in the Cherokee Public Schools and Female Seminary. Married at Tahlequah February 15, 1882 to Warren Alonzo, son of Alonzo and Sarah Westover, born March 22, 1844 in Illinois. He died November 28, 1896. They were the parents of: Willard W. born February 14, 1883; Thomas H. born December 11, 1885; Lelia Etta, born August 23, 1887; Josephine M. born January 27, 1890; Warren Ferdinand, born May 28, 1892 and died Feb. 28, 1913. Mrs. Eliza Westover married at Oolagah August 6, 1897 to … Read more

Biography of Jefferson D. Cox

Jefferson D. Cox is actively connected with a profession that has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of every community, and one in which advancement depends upon individual merit and ability. Ability becomes in a measure prominence, and that Mr. Cox occupies a leading position in the ranks of the legal profession is an indication of his learning and skill in his chosen field. He is also a successful stock man and he owns a large ranch where fancy Duroc hogs and Durham cattle are raised. Jefferson D. Cox was born in Walhalla, South Carolina, on the 1st … Read more

Biography of Fred C. Hall

One of the alert and enterprising business men of Nowata is Fred C. Hall, secretary and manager of the Henderson Gasoline Company, with offices in the First National Bank building. He was born in Galt, Illinois, on the 15th of October, 1883. His father, William Boyd Hall, was a native of New York and removed to Illinois at an early day, where he followed farming. His death occurred in 1885. William B. Hall married Miss Alice Buck, a native of Illinois. Her death occurred in Nowata in 1919. In the acquirement of an education Fred C. Hall attended the schools … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Lou G. Howell

(See Cordery, Grant, Ghigau and Oolootsa)-Lou Gott Harris, born at Ft. Gibson July 31, 1886, educated at Nowata High school and Oswego, Kansas, graduated from the former; She was married January 7, 1905 to Dr. Dumont D. Howell, born January 14, 187 4 in Murphy, North Carolina, graduated from the Nashville Medical College in 1903. Died December 6, 1919; he was a Mason and Elk. They are the parents of: Sue Catherine, born April 25, 1906. Alfred Dumont, born April. 30, 1908; Lucile Genevieve, born December 2, 1912 and Margaret Imogene, born December 2, 1914. Charles Joseph Harris, born April … Read more

Biographical Sketch of G. W. Ifer

One of the representative citizens of Delaware is G. W. Ifer, farm manager of the Sanders Oil Company and owner of two of the most modern business blocks in town. He was born in Wells County, Indiana, on the 6th of November, 1868, and came to Oklahoma in the year that this state was admitted to the union. For six months he resided at Keefer and then spent a like period in the oil fields at Jenks. Subsequently he became farm manager of the Sanders Oil Company at Delaware and with the exception of one year he has since been … Read more

Biography of John E. White

One of the prominent merchants of Lenapah, Nowata county, is John E. White, who was born at Boyds Creek, Tennessee, on the 21st of March, 1875. His paternal great-grandfather came to America from England and was a missionary to the Indians in North Carolina. His father, N. B. White, was a farmer and is now deceased. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Charlotte Huffaker, is still living and is residing on the home farm John E. White was named for his mother’s half-brother who died in the prison at Andersonville while serving in the Civil war. In the … Read more

Biography of T. M. Adair

T. M. Adair, a well known farmer residing thirteen miles east of Delaware in Nowata County, was born in Flint district, now Adair County, on the 2d of September, 1882. His paternal grand-father, Walter Scott Adair, better known as “Red Watt” Adair, was a Cherokee emigrant from Georgia. Adair County was named in his honor, for he was well known throughout the community, having been commissioned by the United States government to look after the Cherokees and see that all of their needs were supplied. In addition to the duties devolving upon him in that capacity, he engaged in farming. … Read more

Biography of S. T. Wyckoff

One of the alert and enterprising business men of Lenepah is S. T. Wyckoff, who was born in Canton, Illinois, on the 8th of October, 1858, a son of H. C. and Eliza (Powelson) Wyckoff. At the age of twelve years he removed to Kansas with his parents and his brother H. C., and the father engaged in mercantile business at Howard and Langton for many years. He achieved more than substantial success in that enterprise and lived in retirement for a few years before his demise, which occurred in 1885. Mrs. Wyckoff died in Langton, Kansas, in 1883. S. … Read more

Biography of Alfred Mason Gott

Alfred Mason Gott is quietly passing his days in the home of his niece, Mrs. D. D. Howell of Nowata, and around him are many relics, showing that all of his days have not been as quiet and peaceful as at the present, for he is numbered among the old Indian fighters of this section of the country and has passed through all of the experiences and hardships of pioneer life and the later era of progress and development. That his business affairs have been carefully managed is indicated in the fact that he is now one of the largest … Read more

Biography of W. W. Wood

W. W. Wood, an enterprising and progressive agriculturist of northeastern Oklahoma, owns a farm of one hundred acres situated six and a half miles southeast of Delaware, in Nowata county, where he has made his home for the past twenty-eight years. His birth occurred in southern Texas on the 2d of February, 1882, his parents being Edward and Senna (Dickson) Wood, both of whom were natives of Missouri. In 1894 the family home was established in Nowata County, Indian Territory, and here the father spent his remaining days. The mother is still living at the age of seventy-two years and … Read more

Biography of Micajah H. Phillips

For over half a century Micajah H. Phillips has made his home in Oklahoma and for many years he was an active factor in the agricultural development of the state, but is now living retired on his farm near Delaware, in Nowata county, having reached the age of seventy-eight years. He was born in Surry county, North Carolina, April 30, 1843, and in May, 1870, when a young man of twenty-seven years, he came to Indian Territory casting in U-10 lot with its pioneer settlers. He acquired land seven miles south of Tahlequah and for eight years there engaged in … 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 C. O. Ross

C. O. Ross. In a conspicuous place on the roll of men who have become successful through their connection with the oil and gas industry is found the name of C. O. Ross, a native of the Buckeye state and a splendid type of the alert, progressive and public-apirited men whose records are indications that success is ambition’s answer. His long and prominent connection with the oil business began at the time of his majority, when he started in at the bottom to make his way to a position of prominence, and no oil producer in Kansas has a better … Read more

Biography of Jesse Townsend

Jesse Townsend, a well known agriculturist of Nowata County, was born in Adair County, Indian Territory, on the 1st of March, 1876, a son of Solomon and Mary (Horn) Townsend, both of whom are deceased. They were both natives of Indian Territory, where they were reared to young manhood and womanhood, married and died. Solomon Townsend was killed by an outlaw when his son Jesse was but a year and a half old. He had been clerking in a store, when one day a robbery took place and in tracing the robbers, he was waylaid and killed by one of … Read more

Biography of C. H. Fortner, M. D.

C. H. Fortner, M. D., has long enjoyed a well-earned reputation and position in the medical profession at Coffeyville. He entered practice with a thorough and comprehensive training and his fine talent soon attracted to him a patronage that has grown steadily in volume and importance, while his participation in progressive movements has made him one of the community’s most valuable and valued citizens. Doctor Fortner represents an old Indiana family. His ancestry goes back through several generations to some Fortners who came from Germany, and the family has lived in this country since colonial times. His grandfather, Aaron Fortner, … Read more

Biography of Charles Long

Charles Long, one of the well known farmers in Nowata County, was born on the Grand River, Indian Territory, on the 3d of October, 1869. His father, William Long, was of Wyandotte Indian extraction and his demise occurred when Charles was but a baby. The mother, Katie Ketchum, died when her son was but four years of age. In the acquirement of an education Charles Long attended the Haskell Institute at Lawrence, Kansas, and after putting his text-books aside engaged in farming near his boyhood home. His sons own one hundred acres, one mile east and one-half north of Coodys … Read more

Biography of William Nairn, M. D.

For thirty-five years Dr. William Nairn has been a resident of Nowata County, his residence here dating from 1882. While he has long stood in the front rank of his profession he has also become a prominent factor in agricultural circles and is now living on his farm three and one-half miles northwest of Alluwe. William Nairn was born in Jersey County, Illinois, on the 5th of December, 1848, a son of James and Susan (Barker) Nairn, the former a native of Georgia and the latter of Alabama. For some time James Nairn engaged in farming in his native state … Read more

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.

Biography of Charles F. Armstrong

For many years Charles F. Armstrong has been farming in the vicinity of Coodys Bluff and is readily conceded to be one of the progressive farmers and stockmen in this section of the state. A native of Oklahoma, he was born at one of the first post office stations in Indian Territory, at that time known as Cooscoowie district, on the 27th of February, 1872. His father, Henry Armtrong, a pioneer citizen and registered Delaware, was a son-in-law of Chief Journeycake. For thirty years he was engaged in the mercantile business at Coodys Bluff and Nowata. He suffered a severe … Read more