Shelbyville Kentucky
Biography of Thomas K. Stout
Thomas K. Stout, born on January 4, 1875, in Kentucky, moved to Missouri in 1885 before settling in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, in 1905. He began his career in merchandising with L. Brin Company and later established Stouts Specialty Shop in 1919, known for its exclusive line of ladies’ apparel. Stout is active in local organizations, serving as president of the Kiwanis Club and participating in Masonic and Elks societies. He has built a reputation for high-quality merchandise and community involvement in Bartlesville.
Biographical Sketch of Eugene B. Lawson
Eugene B. Lawson, born on May 27, 1871, in Shelbyville, Kentucky, moved to Nowata, Indian Territory, in 1896. Admitted to the Oklahoma bar that same year, he has since shifted his focus to oil interests in Texas and Oklahoma. Lawson was a co-founder and director of the First National Bank of Nowata. He married Roberta Campbell in 1891, and they have one son. The Lawsons are also noted for their extensive collection of Indian artifacts and Mrs. Lawson’s past leadership in women’s organizational work.
Biography of James M. Drake
James M. Drake, born April 12, 1837, in Louisville, Kentucky, is a distinguished businessman and treasurer of Riverside, California. After serving commendably as a lieutenant in the Confederate army during the Civil War, he rebuilt his life by becoming a bookseller and stationer in Riverside, establishing the city’s first bookstore. A proactive community member, Drake also engaged in agriculture. Elected city treasurer in 1886, his honest administration earned him reelection. He married Maria A. Jones and had one surviving child, John R. Drake, who continues the family legacy in ranching.