Ottawa County OK

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Lucy Duncan

(See Grant, Ward and Duncan)-Lucy A., daughter of Joseph H. Polly (Ward) Clark, was born February 7, 1848 on Beatty’s Prairie in Delaware District. She was educated in the Cherokee National Schools. Married December 25, 1869 Joshua B. Duncan, born December 13, 1835; and he died December 14, 1875. They were the parents of Helen Rosencrantz, born ; March 25, 1874, and Annie Ellen Duncan, born April 7, 1876. Mrs. Lucy A. Duncan, on August 30, 1877, married James A. Duncan the brother of her first husband, and he was born June 3, 1825. He died December 26, 1898. They … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. D. T. Ogden

(See Ward and Adair) Jessie Curtis Abney, born July 24, 1900 in Afton Delaware District; educated at Afton and took a business course at Coffeyville Kansas; graduate of the Afton High School. Married Sept. 14, 1919 at Independence, Kansas, D. T. Ogden, son of W. A. and Julia Ogden. Mr. Ogden is assistant cashier of First National Bank of Afton. John Adair, a Scotchman, married Gahoga, a full blood Cherokee of the Deer Clan. Their son Samuel married Edith Pounds; they were the parents of: Rachael Pounds Adair, who married Rev. James Jenkins Trott, a Methodist minister. Rev. and Mrs. … Read more

Biography of John William Bartholomew

In no profession does advancement depend more entirely upon individual merit and ability than in the law. Close application, keen analysis, clear mental perception and careful preparation are indispensable elements in the life of every man who attempts to gain prominence in this arduous calling. That John William Bartholomew is lacking in none of these requisites, is indicated in the fact that he is numbered among the most capable lawyers of Miami and throughout his career he has maintained the highest standards of professional ethics. A native of Indiana, he was born near Morocco, in Newton County, November 20, 1858, … Read more

Johnson, Charles William II – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Charles William Johnson II, 76, of Baker City, died July 18, 2004, at St. Elizabeth Health Services. His memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Church of the Nazarene, 1250 Hughes Lane. Pastor Jon Privett and Pastor Lennie Spooner of the First Church of the Nazarene will officiate. Friends are invited to join the family after the service for a reception at the home of Charles’ daughter, Charline Simmons. Inurnment will be later at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitations will be until 3 p.m. today at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey … Read more

Biography of John Wesley Kieff

John Wesley Kieff, widely known throughout Oklahoma as a journalist, is now serving as justice of the peace of Miami and is generally conceded to be the most capable incumbent in that office in the history of Ottawa County. A native of Indiana, he was born in Tippecanoe County on the 9th of March, 1857, his parents being John and Mary (Ryan) Kieff, the former a native of Ireland, while the latter was born in the Hoosier state. The father followed the occupation of farming and both parents passed away during the childhood of the subject of this review. John … Read more

Biography of Vern E. Thompson

Vern E. Thompson, a leading representative of the Ottawa County bar; has followed his profession in Miami since 1902 and has been connected with the work of the courts both as lawyer and jurist. He was born at Stockbridge, Michigan, November 12, 1878, of the marriage of Sylvester M. and Victoria H. Thompson. For many years the father successfully followed the occupation of farming near Stockbridge and after his retirement he took up his residence in Miami. He was a Republican in his political views and was deeply interested in public and civic affairs. In religious faith he was a … Read more

Biography of Samuel Aaron Kenoyer

Samuel Aaron Kenoyer, a prominent real estate operator of Miami, has won a substantial, measure of success through the capable management of his business affairs and has also aided materially in improving and developing his city, being recognized as a most progressive and public-spirited citizen. He was born in Kentland, Newton county, Indiana, September 30, 1873, of the marriage of James and Nancy Jane Kenoyer, the former also born in that county, while the latter was likewise a native of the Hoosier state. For a time the father engaged in farming and he afterward turned his attention to the carpenter’s … Read more

Biography of John Daniel Bewley, M. D.

Coming to Miami in 1916, Dr. John Daniel Bewley has thoroughly demonstrated his ability as a physician and surgeon and his professional labors have been attended with a gratifying measure of success. He was born in Dover, Pope County, Arkansas, March 25, 1874, of the marriage of Benjamin V. and Triphenia (West) Bewley, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Arkansas. Her father was a major in the Mexican war and was stationed at old Fort Gibson, Indian Territory. Prior to the Civil war he retired from the United States army and made his home in Arkansas … Read more

Biography of Arthur C. Wallace

Since 1908 Arthur C. Wallace has been identified with the Miami bar and in the intervening period of thirteen years he has become well known throughout Oklahoma as an authority on mining, railroad and corporation law, having been entrusted with much important litigation along those lines. He was born upon a farm near Grace Hill, in Washington County, Iowa, February 20, 1882, his parents being Dr. George C. and Mary E. (Miksch) Wallace, both of whom were natives of Ohio. As a young man the father removed to Iowa, and his professional training was acquired in a medical college at Keokuk, … Read more

Biography of Charles Rudolph Nesbitt

Although one of the younger representatives of the legal fraternity of Miami, his years seem no bar to the progress of Charles Rudolph Nesbitt, who has already attained a clientele and a reputation that many an older practitioner might well envy. He was born at Colony, Kansas, May 24, 1892, his parents being Frank W. and Mary (Halley) Nesbitt, both natives of Ohio. They removed from that state to Kansas, in which the father followed the occupation of farming. In religious faith he was a Methodist and his demise occurred in 1892. The youngest in a family of five children, … Read more

Biography of Browning E. Lewis

Browning E. Lewis is identified with one of the representative business interests of Strang, Mayes county, as president and manager of the Cherokee Grain & Mercantile Company. He was born near Clinton, Henry County, Missouri, on the 11th of January, 1884, a son of Joe L. and Elizabeth (Wilson) Lewis. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Kentucky. They both went to Missouri at an early age, with their respective parents, and their marriage was celebrated in Clinton, that state. In 1886 they came to Fairland, Oklahoma, and the father was active in the conduct of a … Read more

Biography of David Hester Cotten

David Hester Cotten, a native son of Oklahoma who represents the third generation of the family in this state, is numbered among the rising young attorneys of Miami, where since 1918 he has engaged in practice, and he has already won a well established position in the ranks of the profession. He was born near Ardmore, in that part of Indian Territory occupied by the Chickasaw Nation, on the 28th of January, 1894, his parents being David Oscar and Cora J. (Nesmith) Cotten, the former born at Tishomingo, Indian Territory, while the latter was a native of Birmingham, Alabama. The … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Quilliki P McGhee

McGhee, Quilliki P.-Quilliki Phillips, son of Thomas Jefferson and Martha (Hanna) McGhee, is a native of Delaware District in which District he was educated. He married Miss Letitia Hanna and they were the parents of two children. Mrs. Letitia McGhee died and he married her sister. Thomas Jefferson, son of Ambrose and Judith (Cochran) McGhee, married Martha Hanna and they were the parents of: Samuel Albert, James M., Thomas Jefferson, Viola, Clero, Saladin C., Joseph Fox and Quilliki P. McGhee. Thomas Jefferson McGhee, Sr. was First Lieutenant of Company E of the First Cherokee Mounted Volunteers in the Confederate service. … 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 Lonzo O. Conner

(See Duncan and Grant) O. Lonzo Conner, born Feb. 12, 1877 at Fairland, Okla. son of Francis Marion, (born Mar 29, 1852, in Jasper Co., Missouri, married December 24, 1873) and Rebecca Jane (Duncan) Conner, born October 29, 1858 and died at Fairland March 12, 1911. He was educated in the Cherokee public schools, Male Seminary and graduated from Robbin’s Business College, Sedalia, Missouri; He married December 30, 1896 at Beattie’s Prairie, Kate Eugenia Yeargain, born March 31, 1878; she was the daughter of James Chambers, born February 27, 1842 in Lebanon, Tenn. and married March 4, 1866, and Mary … Read more

Biography of Hon. Horace B. Durant

Hon. Horace B. Durant, a prominent representative of the Ottawa County bar who is practicing his profession at Miami, is also active in public affairs, representing his district in the state senate. He was born at Troy, Miami county, Ohio, July 31, 1868, his parents being Horace H. and Caroline (Brandriff) Durant, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Ohio. Removing to Ohio, the father for a time engaged in the dry goods business at Troy, while later he conducted a drug store at Piqua, that state, becoming recognized as one of the successful business men of … Read more

Biography of Thomas Lincoln Robinson

Miami owes much to the progressive spirit and business ability of Thomas Lincoln Robinson, who has been a most important factor in its up-building and development. He was formerly prominently identified with building operations in the city but is now at the head of the Independent Mining & Royalty Company and also has valuable real estate holdings here, being recognized as a very capable and enterprising business man whose efforts are resultant factors in whatever he undertakes. Mr. Robinson was born in Osage County, Missouri, August 3, 1860, his parents being John W. and Elizabeth (McLaughlin) Robinson, the former a … Read more

Biography of Judge Q. P. McGhee

The judiciary of Oklahoma finds an able representative in Judge Q. P. McGhee, county judge of Ottawa county and a man of high professional attainments, who has also won success in mercantile lines. He is a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of the state and was born on a farm situated on Cowskin prairie, in Delaware county, this state, November 22, 1886, his parents being Thomas Jefferson and Martha (Hannah) McGhee, the former a native of Georgia and of Cherokee descent, while the latter was born in Missouri. As a boy the father came to the Cherokee … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Ermine Josephine Davidson

(See Ward and Ghigau)-Felix Grundy, son of Isaac and Lucy (Arthur) Nidiffer, was born March 16, 1853. Married April 23, 1876, Joanna Ruth, daughter of John Ross Ana Annie (Hildebrand) Lender, born February 8, 1861. Felix Grundy Nidiffer died October 16, 1896. She died July 2, 1911. They were the parents of Ermina Josephine Nidiffer, born September 2, 1877. Educated in the Female Seminary. Married at Afton March 21, 1899, Thomas David son of William and Jane Davidson, born April 27, 1871, in Bates County, Missouri. They are the parents of Anna Laura, born December 21, 1899, married Everett Holt; … Read more

Biography of James R. Gristy

James R. Gristy, of Emporia, is one of the real old timers of Kansas. Half a century ago he was engaged in farming and stock raising on a large scale in Johnson County. For many years he had been a successful real estate operator, and had enjoyed prominence in a business and civic way not only in Kansas but in Oklahoma and in other western states. Born in Brown County, Illinois, August 31, 1841, he grew up in that section, gained a public school education, graduating from the high school at Rushville, Illinois, in 1863. His first experiences led him … Read more