I. B. Gurney, born on April 10, 1845, in Ohio, grew up on a farm in Lake County after his family moved there. He received his education in local schools and attended Berea College. He began his career in the oil industry in Pennsylvania before relocating to Missouri, where he managed a drug and grocery store. Gurney served as a mail agent on the North Missouri Railroad for three years, later returning to farming and teaching. He married twice and had one son.
Enoch S. M. Donaldson was born on January 19, 1840, in Muskingum County, Ohio. After moving with his family to Morgan County, he worked on a farm and attended school until the age of twenty-two. He then spent three years in Venango County, Pennsylvania, where he worked in farming, oil, and shoemaking, while also learning engineering. In 1867, he returned to Morgan County and later settled in Daviess County, Missouri, where he farmed after purchasing land. Enoch married Charity E. McGarvin in 1868, and they had six children together.
Glenn A. Smith, a prominent postmaster and druggist in Horton, Kansas, was born on December 16, 1866, in Venango County, Pennsylvania. His family, of Scotch-Irish descent, migrated westward, with his father, Nathan C. Smith, becoming a pioneer in Kansas after serving valiantly in the Civil War. Glenn’s career began as a drug clerk, eventually leading him to establish a successful drug business in Horton. A respected community leader and Democrat, he served on the school board and was an active member of various fraternal organizations. He married Lillie Elliott in 1896 and had three children.
Colonel Almon S. Senter, born February 18, 1845, in New Hampshire, had a distinguished career as a merchant and public servant in Lincoln County. He served as district court clerk and ex-officio auditor at the time of his death on March 6, 1899. Senter was a Civil War veteran who engaged in agriculture and transportation before moving to Idaho, where he established a successful mercantile business. He was also involved in local governance, supporting the Republican Party and participating in various fraternal organizations, leaving a lasting impact on his community.
William A. Kearney, born in Pennsylvania in 1854, moved to Shawnee County, Kansas, in 1880 with his wife Maggie, arriving with little more than an ax and two cents. Kearney transformed his life through hard work and perseverance after overcoming early struggles with alcoholism. With no formal education, he became a well-informed practical geologist, earning the respect of notable Kansans. Their marriage marked a turning point, leading to his prosperity by acquiring land in Tecumseh, where he eventually thrived alongside valued friendships, particularly with John R. Mulvane.
John Michael Burns, born December 1, 1878, in Oil City, Pennsylvania, established Independence’s largest bakery in 1905 after a career in Ohio. His father, Michael Burns, an Irish immigrant and carpenter, settled in Lima, Ohio, where the family thrived. John, educated at Lima Business College, began his bakery journey with Lichtenstader Brothers before starting his own. Active in community service as deputy grand knight of the Knights of Columbus and treasurer of the Kansas Bakers Association, he married Elizabeth Murphy in 1907 and fathered three children.
Richard Watson Argue (1845-1916) was a prominent figure in the Mid-Continent oil industry, establishing significant operations in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Born near Ottawa, Canada, he began his career in Pennsylvania before moving to Buffalo and later to Independence, Kansas. A dedicated community member, he actively contributed to local church and civic affairs. After his death, his widow, Eva Jean Allport Argue, adeptly managed their extensive properties. Together, they had four children, all of whom pursued education and careers in various fields.
Herschel C. Porterfield, born August 10, 1856, in Butler County, Pennsylvania, has dedicated over thirty-five years to the oil industry, establishing a notable career as a contractor and producer. He moved to Kansas in 1903, settling in Independence, where he co-founded the Amherst Oil Company, managing numerous producing wells. A man of strong family ties and diverse interests, Porterfield’s heritage includes Irish and Scottish descent. He married Lydia A. Ogden in 1880, raising five children, many of whom followed in his footsteps in the oil business.
Isaac Nees, a prominent farmer from Browns Creek Township, was born in Venango County, Pennsylvania, and later moved to Warren County, Illinois. In 1871, he settled in Jewell County, Kansas, where he established a successful homestead and now owns 560 acres of land, raising cattle and hogs. Recognized as the model farm of Jewell County, Nees has made significant improvements to his property. He married Sarah A. Edkins in 1864 and is the father of ten children.
James Albert Brady, born on November 16, 1880, in Franklin, Pennsylvania, was educated at Union City High School and attended several prestigious institutions, including Allegheny College and Columbia University. He married Miriam E. Goodnough in 1905, with whom he had two children. After moving to Cleveland in 1902, he began his career in life insurance and later formed a partnership to manage Northern Ohio for The Midland Mutual Life Insurance Co. Brady was active in his community, serving as a trustee at Euclid Avenue Baptist Church and participating in various organizations.
Victor A. Hays, born on April 27, 1863, in Venango County, Pennsylvania, rose from telegraph operator to president of the Kansas Natural Gas Company. His career began in 1880 when he learned telegraphy, leading to roles in the natural gas industry. Since joining Kansas Natural Gas in 1905, he ascended to the presidency by 1914. Residing in Independence, Hays is active in community and Masonic organizations, and he married Susan D. Thompson in 1904. His journey reflects the American spirit of perseverance and achievement.
Charles Hiram Cook, born January 31, 1863, in Pennsylvania, has significantly influenced the Kansas oil industry since arriving in Coffeyville in 1912. After graduating from various educational institutions, he pursued a career in the oil and gas business across numerous states. A Republican and active community member, Cook is known for his extensive drilling operations and has interests in Oklahoma as well. Married to Maude I. Best in 1887, he has four children, contributing to both his family and the industry’s growth.
Monroe A. Ullman, born on April 5, 1866, in Franklin, Pennsylvania, was the son of Morris and Lena Abraham Ullman. He was educated at Mayflower School and Spencerian Business College before joining the Ullman-Emstein Company, a wholesale liquor business, eventually becoming its vice president. Ullman married Florence Fuld in 1892, and they had two sons. He was active in various community organizations, including the Hebrew Relief Association and the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce.
Alfred Burns Smythe was born on August 4, 1874, in Nevada, Ohio. He was the son of Marcus and Mary Burns Smythe and received his education at local schools, Oberlin Academy, and Oberlin College. On November 13, 1902, he married Catherine Loomis in Oil City, Pennsylvania. Smythe had two sons and held significant positions in banking and real estate, serving as manager of the Real Estate Department at The Cleveland Trust Company and president of several realty firms.
Daniel H. Pond, born on March 11, 1870, in Petroleum Center, Pennsylvania, became the president and general manager of the Economy Building and Loan Company. Educated in Trumbull County and at Allegheny College, he began his career in various roles, including a factory worker and messenger. He served in the U.S. Cavalry and transitioned to real estate and insurance, achieving leadership in the Economy Building and Loan Company and the Pond Brothers insurance firm. A Republican and Methodist, he was active in civic organizations and military service.
Harry C. Weible, born on January 16, 1858, in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, emerged from a family deeply connected to the oil industry. After gaining experience in Pennsylvania oil fields, he relocated to Coffeyville, Kansas, where he established himself as a significant oil producer, overseeing operations across Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. In addition to his oil ventures, Weible is involved in various enterprises, including the Texas Central Gas Company and the Peoples State Bank. He is a family man, married to Paula Hazzard, with two children who continue his legacy.
Charles Clifton Crain, born in Pennsylvania in 1856, became a prominent figure in Kansas as president of the Crain Hardware Company, a leading enterprise in Fort Scott’s wholesale and retail hardware trade. His family faced hardships during their migration to Kansas, yet his father, George F. Crain, succeeded in farming and community service. Charles advanced from a clerk to a successful business leader, demonstrating remarkable foresight and civic responsibility. He married Clara Colton and had two sons, contributing significantly to Fort Scott’s commercial and social landscape.
William Geiser, born in 1847 in Germany and later raised in the United States, exemplifies success through hard work and perseverance. After serving as a soldier in the Civil War, he turned to the oil industry, rising from humble beginnings to become a prominent producer in the Mid-Continent field. He established the Geiser Bogue Machine Shops in Neodesha, contributing significantly to the community through public service, including two terms as mayor. Geiser, a devoted family man with two marriages, left a lasting impact on both his business and civic life.
L. W. Servey, born on July 2, 1813, in Pennsylvania, has been a significant figure in the lumber industry of Washington County as President of the Ochelata Lumber Company. After serving in the Spanish-American War, he joined the Clark Bates Lumber Company and later founded his own business, which specializes in lumber for oil development and related products. Servey has also been active in local politics, serving as mayor of Ochelata and chairman of the Washington County election board, while maintaining strong community ties through integrity and dedication.
J. W. Smith passed away on October 27, 1921, in Dewey at the age of sixty-seven. Born on August 18, 1854, in Pennsylvania, he became a notable figure in the oil industry after relocating to Oklahoma in 1907. Smith held positions in various oil fields, including Texas, where he served as a field manager until health issues forced his return home. He was married to Sarah McMillan, with whom he had two children. Known for his integrity and dedication, he left a lasting impact on both his family and community.