Vinita Oklahoma

Biography of Orion Littell Rider

Orion Littell Rider, a leading attorney of Vinita whose professional ability is indicated by the large and distinctively representative clientage accorded hire, has served his fellow citizens in various capacities and has always done able and conscientious work. His birth occurred in Mason county, Illinois, on the 7th of January, 1874, and his parents were Dr. Robert G. and Harriet M. (Littell) Rider, the former born near Cleveland, Ohio, and the latter in the state of New Jersey. The father was a physician, acquiring his professional training in Pennsylvania, and he first opened an office at Mobile, Alabama, whence he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. P. W. Samuel

(See Grant and Ghigau)—Florence Wilson McSpadden, born June 26, 1873 at Tahlequah. Educated at the Tahlequah City Schools and graduated from Female Seminary, June 23, 1892. Married at Tahlequah in January 1895 to Philip Wharton Samuel born September 19, 1867 in Galloway County, Missouri and graduated from Spaulding’s Business College May 2, 1888. They are the parents of Vance Ray, born November 21, 1897 and Maurine Sam­uel born October 22, 1902. Philip Wharton Samuel is very prominent in the banking circles of the State, having been Cashier of the First National Bank at Pryor, President of First State Bank of … Read more

Biography of K. J. Montgomery

K. J. Montgomery, a progressive young business man, familiarly known as “Jack” to his many friends in Vinita, is numbered among the leading cattlemen of northeastern Oklahoma and worthily bears a name which for the past eighteen years has been synonymous with enterprise and integrity in business circles of Craig County. He is a native of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Cedar County on the 21st of January, 1887, and is a son of Thomas R. Montgomery, who was born in Tennessee. The father subsequently removed to the west, becoming the owner of one of the finest farms in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Frank Alexander Billingslea

Billingslea (See Oobootsa, Ross, Sanders and Ghigau.)—Jeannette Starr was born February 16, 1862, in Tahlequah. She was educated in the Cherokee public schools and graduated from Female Seminary July 2, 1880. Married at Vinita April 1, 1885. Frank Alexander Billingslea, born August 9, t8Si, in Crawfordville, Taliaferro County, Ga. He died May 9, 1913. They were the parents of DollIe Willie, born at Vinita, August 21, 1887, and Joseph Billingslea, born July 17, 1891 in Vinita. Thomas, son of James and Lettie Boyd (Chambers) Starr, was born March 12, 1840, married August 20, 1860, Dollie Eunice, daughter of Anderson and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. James A. Le Force

(See Riley and Oolootaa)-Fannie Myrtle, daughter of Monroe Calvin and Lucy Lowrey (Hoyt) Keys was born in the Choctaw Nation, November 5, 1862. Educated in the Female Seminary and Northfield Seminary in Massachusetts. Married at Vinita September 11, 1892, James Andy, son of John B. and Amanda (Blankenship) LeForce, born December 26, 1859. They are the parents of Flossie Mae, born October 14, 1893, graduated from Vinita High School, 1914, University of Oklahoma, with an A B. degree in 1920; James Lowrey, born January 31, 1895, enlisted for the World war September 28, 1917, assigned to a machine gun company … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. L. Harnage

(See Ghigau and Sanders) -Custis Lee, son of John Griffith and Emily Walker (Mayfield) Harnage was born June 30, 1867. Educated in Texas. Married at Vinita Jan. 29, 1899 Frances Catherine, daughter of Joseph Henry and Ruth Jane (Harlan) Hunt, born August 3, 1874. She was educated in Vinita. They were the parents of: Emma Ruth, born March 25, 1900; James Hall, born Jan. 10, 1902; Nannie Pauline, born Dec. 4, 1904, died Dec. 26, 1918; Lucile Dixie, born July 18, 1909; and Curtis Le Harnage, born Jan. 18, 1913. Mr. Harnage is a farmer and stockraiser at Talala. He … Read more

Biography of Robert Lee Mitchell, M. D.

Dr. Robert Lee Mitchell, a member of one of the old and prominent families of Oklahoma, founded here in early territorial days, engaged in the general practice of medicine at Vinita from 1909 to the close of the year 1921, and during the period which has since elapsed has firmly established himself in the public regard as a man of high professional attainments. He was born at Oaks, which was at that time situated in the Delaware district of the Cherokee Nation, in Indian Territory, and is of Cherokee extraction in the maternal line, his parents being George Washington and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Fox Thompson

(See Grant and Ghigau)-Thomas Fox Thompson, born in Tahlequah District, May 3, 1848 and educated at Pea Ridge, Ark. Married Dec. 18, 1870 Susan C. Parks and after her death married on May 19, 1914 Lillie McBride, nee Schaer; his Cherokee name is Chisgua-kyah and he belongs to the Deer Clan. He is a Methodist and had retired after having been in the dry goods and grocery business in Vinita for twenty years. Mr. Thompson was elected member of the Council from Delaware District in 1879.

Biographical Sketch of Van S. Chandler

Chandler, Van S. (See Ward)—Van S., son of Burgess Gaither and Annie Eliza (Gunter) Chandler, born Aug. 20, 1882, educated at Willie Halsell College, Vinita. Married at Vinita, June 12, 1912, Maude A. daughter of L. A. and Sadie A. Williams, born July 25, 1890, in Linn Co., Kas. They are the parents of: Orin Stuart, born April 20, 1913; Wilmer Gawain, born July 25, 1915 and Stacy Burgess Chandler, born February 12, 1920. Mr. Chandler, who is the younger brother of Lion. Thomas A. Chandler, Congressman from the First District of Oklahoma, is a dealer in hay, grain and … Read more

Biography of Mrs. Ellen Howard Miller

Mrs. Ellen Howard Miller is a woman of broad interests and accomplishments, her greatest pleasures centering around those things that are instructive and up building to herself and the people and conditions around her. To her the realm of civics is one of unlimited interest, in which she loves to spend her time when business, home and Church interests will allow, and in this field many enterprises and activities of economic value owe their birth and fostering to her inspiration and initiative. One of the earliest of these enterprises was the forming of an organization of the women of Vinita, … Read more

Biography of Thomas M. Buffington

Thomas M. Buffington, an honored pioneer of Oklahoma and one of the most prominent men in the state, was for many years a dominant figure in the councils of the Cherokee Nation but is now living retired at Vinita at the age of sixty-six years. He was born in the Going Snake district of the Cherokee Nation, near accompanied the Cherokees on their removal to the Choctaw 1855, and his parents were Ezekiel and Louisa (Newman) Buffington, the former of whom was born in the Cherokee Nation of Georgia, while the latter was a native of Tennessee. The father accompanied … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. J. H. McKisick

(See Ghigau, Conrad and Duncan)—Nellie Josephine, daughter of Johnson Thompson and Catherine Isabel (Garbarine) Landrum, was born in Delaware District, May 6, 1890 and educated locally. Married at Vinita, August 8, 1910, James Houston, son of Charles D., and Lydia Elizabeth McKisick, born May 30, 1882 in Benton County, Ark. They are the parents of Stephen Dean, born June 14, 1912 and Clark Douglas McKisick, born August 6, 1919. Mr. McKisick is a mill owner and operator at Big Cabin. Mrs. Kisick is a member of the United Brethren Church. John, son of James and Rebecca (Duncan) Landrum married Nellie … Read more

Biography of Judge Glenn Alcorn

Judge Glenn Alcorn of Muskogee, who formerly occupied the bench of the county court and is now giving his attention to the practice of civil law, was born in Clark county, Kansas, June 10, 1886, a son of Steward Tackett and May (Cummings) Alcorn. The father was a farmer, devoting his life to that occupation. Judge Alcorn was educated in the schools of Perry, Oklahoma, the family removing to this state during his early boyhood. Later he attended the University of Iowa, from which he was graduated with the class of 1908, his broad literary learning serving as an excellent … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. George W. Poplin

(See Ward)-—Catherine O. Chandler, born at Siloam, Ar­kansas, January 26, 1873 amid educated at Vinita. Married at Vinita, January 18, 1801 George Washington, son of William H. and Sarah Jane Poplin, born December 10, 1872 in Stodard County, Missouri. They are the parents of Anna Jane, born November 23, 1891; Ora Adelia, born March 18, 1893; Gaithor Oliver, born July 23, 1895; Marguerite, born October 9, 1897; Rosebud, born September 24, 1899; Nellie, born March 29, 1902; Van and Nan, twins, born April 16, 1906; Loren Ross, born June 11. 1908 and Ray Poplin, born December 20, 1910. Gaithor Oliver … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Ray N. Skinner

(See Downing and Duncan)-Jemima Winnie Davis, daughter of Robert Ray and Cynthia Jane (Horn) Taylor was born Tuesday, February 12, 1898. Educated at Willie Halsell College and Sacred Heart Institute, Vinita. Married at Carthage, Missouri, August 25, 1913, Ray Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel and Nannie (Kell) Skinner, born September 28, 1884, in Vinita. They are the parents of Gay Nell Skinner, born March 1, 1914 in Phoenix, Arizona. Nannie, daughter of Lewis Ross and Sarah (Chambers) Kell was born January 28, 1861. Married in March 1879 Nathanial Skinner, born April 8, 1851 in Harrison County, Kentucky. She died January 28, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Frankie F. Heady

(See Ghigau) Frankie Folsom, daughter of John H. and Lulu (Boynton) Kendall was born at Chelsea August 11, 1836. Educated in Nowata High and Cincinnati C. C. M. graduating from the former in 1906 and the latter in1908. Married at Independence, Kansas March 17, 1911 Frank son of J. B. Heady, born at Watova. They are the parents of J. B., born February 4, 1912; Byron Leroy, born October 2, 1914; Mildred Marie, born February 4, 1917 and died October 23, 1918; James Ewing, born September 17, 1918 and Jeanne Eileen Heady, born November 23, 1920. Mrs. Heady is a … Read more

Biography of Robert I. Allen, M. D.

One of the best known surgeons in northeastern Oklahoma is Dr. Robert I. Allen, who was born at Coodys Bluff on the 9th of September, 1877, a son of Dr. R. M. and Mary (Journeycake) Allen. His father was a native of Illinois, in which state he resided until after the close of the Civil war. Upon the outbreak of that war he enlisted in the Federal army and became a member of the medical staff. He was a stretcher bearer at the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge. Dr. R. M. Allen received his medical training at Rush … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. William M. Gentry

Gentry, Mrs. William M. (See Hicks)— Margaret, daughter of Robert Ray and Cynthia Jane (Horn) Taylor, was born Nov. 10, 1873, educated at Worcester Academy, and Willie Halsell College, Vinita. Married at Weston, Texas, April 18, 1891, William M. Son of W. J. and Nancy A. Gentry, born August 10, 1871, in Ray County, Missouri. They are the parents of: Ralph Ray, born July 7, 1893; Blanche Sunbeam, born Oct. 15, 1896; Christopher Robert, born March 23, 1900; Winnie Gertrude, born April 7, 1902; Hearst T., born May 6, 1904; William Lee, born April 30, 1908; Annie Audrey, born January … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Basil Nall

(See Grant and Duncan) -Joella, daughter of Joseph Lynch Thompson and Frances B. Kell was born in Texas November 27, 1866, educated at Vinita. Married February 1, 1893, Basil Laskin Nall, son of Larkin and Rebecca Nall, born in, Washington County, Arkansas. February 1, 1857. They are the parents of Dora Ella, born December 8, 1893; Josie Esther, born December 22, 1895, married at Vinita, September 22, 1915 N. B. Kerr; Georgia born February 14, 1902, and Mary Alice Nall, born April 3, 1906. The Nalls and Kerr are farmers and live near Pensacola. Nannie, the daughter of Brigadier General … Read more

Biography of Joseph Hubbard Butler

Joseph Hubbard Butler, a representative of a pioneer family of Oklahoma, bears a name that has long been an honored one in business circles and public affairs of this part of the state and is now serving as Vice President of the Home Farm Mortgage Company of Vinita, displaying enterprise, determination and administrative ability in the control of his interests. He was born in Kokomo, Indiana, October 12, 1870, of the marriage of Hardy H. and Mary Butler, who were also natives of the Hoosier state. The father engaged in merchandising at Kokomo until 1877, when he went to Sterling, … Read more