Biography of Walter George Gibbons

Walter George Gibbons, vice president and cashier of the Chestnut-Gibbons Grocery Company, a wholesale concern, doing business in Muskogee, has since 1908 been in charge of this establishment. The business was founded here in 1902 and since Mr. Gibbons took charge material advance has been made in the trade connections of the firm. This results from his close study of every phase of the business, his persistency of purpose and his thorough application. Mr. Gibbons was born in Tiskilwa, Illinois, October 1, 1868, and is a son of George and Mary (Cook) Gibbons, the former a harness manufacturer, devoting his … 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

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. James H. Thomas

(See Foreman and Riley)-Eugenia, the daughter of Eugene and Jane (Riley) Triplett, was born at Fort Gibson in 1844; was educated in the Cherokee public schools, and the Cherokee National Female Seminary. She married at Wagoner on Dee. 25, 1892; James H. Thomas, born in Oklahoma in 1874. They are the parents of George H., born April 5, 1897; Arvol V., born June 10, 1899; Theron, born July 8, 1901; Gladys M., born January 16, 1905; Helen, born January 1909; Celia and Lewis Thomas, born June 20, 1911. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Knights of Pythias; and is … Read more

Slave Narrative of Johnson Thompson

Person Interviewed: Johnson Thompson Place of Birth: Texas Date of Birth: December 1853 Just about two weeks before the coming of Christmas Day in 1853, I was born on a plantation somewheres eight miles east of Bellview, Rusk County, Texas. One year later my sister Phyllis was born on the same place and we been together pretty much of the time ever since, and I reckon there’s only one thing that could separate us slave born children. Mammy and pappy belong to W.P. Thompson, mixed-blood Cherokee Indian, but before that pappy had been owned by three different masters; one was … Read more

Biography of William S. Vernon

William S. Vernon is a prominent figure in financial circles of northeastern Oklahoma as president of the First National Bank of Coweta, which he organized in July, 1903, and of which he has been the chief executive officer since 1910. His birth occurred near Fayetteville, Arkansas, in October, 1871, his parents being James A. and Woodson (Alexander) Vernon, the former a native of Arkansas, while the latter was born in Missouri. James A. Vernon has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in Arkansas and Texas throughout the greater part of his life, having made his way to Texas in 1874. … 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.

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Joseph Epperson

Epperson, Mrs. Joseph (See Grant and Downing)—Bettie, daughter of Columbus and Amanda (Ross) Phipps was born July 6, 1882. Married at Wagoner, July 29, 1902 Joseph Epperson, born in 1882 in Cleaburn County Arkansas. They are the parents of: William C., born December 11, 1903; Columbus P., born March 8, 1908; Lela Pearl, born April 7, 1911; Zulma Inez, born March 27, 1913, and Garrett Epperson, born September 16, 1915.

Biographical Sketch of Phil. H. Cobb

(See Grant)-Alexander Adam Clingan, born February 20, 1801. Married in May 1828 Martha Jane Blythe, born January 31, 1812 in Tennessee. Their daughter Evaline Clingan, born April 13, 1835 married December 15, 1857, Joseph Benson Cobb, born July 26, 1828 in Blount County, Tennessee. He died March 22, 1896 and she died Nov. 17, 1918. Their son, Samuel Sylvester Cobb married Carrie Kennedy Hunter and they are the parents of Phil Hunter Cobb, born May 31, 1895. Educated in Wagoner, where he married October 1, 1918 Hazel Ruth, daughter of S. A. and Naomi Best, born June 27, 1901. They … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Holder

Charles W. Holder, a well known and successful automobile dealer of Coweta, has the local agency for the Ford cars and tractors, in which connection he has built up a gratifying business. His birth occurred in Parkersburg, West Virginia, on the 24th of November, 1892, his parents being Walter W. and Virginia F. Holder, the former a native of Indiana, while the latter was born in West Virginia. Walter W. Holder came to the Indian Territory in 1888 and secured land three and a half miles from Stroud, where he devoted his attention to farming until 1899. In that year … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. George P. Andrews

(See Grant, Foreman and Riley)-Susie Catherine, daughter of Jasper Newton and Mary Jane (Riley) Schrimsher, was born in 1878; educated at Wagoner and the Cherokee Female Seminary. She married at Wagoner in 1899, George P. Andrews. They are the parents of Howard and Hazel. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a Mason and a prominent oil producer.

Biographical Sketch of Samuel C. Blake

Blake, Samuel C. (See Downing, Gore)— Samuel Coke Blake, born at Cane Hill, Wash­ington, Washington Co. Ark. April 10, 1862, educated in that county. Married at Wagon­er, June 10, 1888, Georgia Anna Pharris, born Oct. 5, 1867 at Petaluma, Calif. They are the parents of: Jennie Agnes, born August 23, 1889, married Charles E. Stamps; Nita Emory, born February 11, 1892, mar­ried Charles Alonzo Spencer and has two children, Myrtle Caroline, horn February 5, 191 1 and Alonzo Blake Spencer, born March 24, 1919; John Fenlon, born September 4, 1894; Albert Watts, horn May 17, 1897; Georgia Kezzie, born April … Read more

Slave Narrative of Phyllis Petite

Person Interviewed: Phyllis Petite Location: Fort Gibson, Oklahoma Place of Birth: Rusk County, Texas Age: 83 I was born in Rusk County, Texas, on a plantation about eight miles east of Belleview. There wasn’t no town where I was born, but they had a church. My mammy and pappy belonged to a part Cherokee named W. P. Thompson when I was born. He had kinfolks in the Cherokee Nation, and we all moved up here to a place on Fourteen-Mile Creek close to where Hulbert now is. ‘way before I was big enough to remember anything. Then, so I been … Read more

Biography of R. S. Bradley

R. S. Bradley is well known in business circles of Bartlesville as a successful real estate operator and in the management of his business interests he displays enterprise, determination and marked executive ability. He was born in Pope County, Arkansas; November 23, 1868, and his parents were S. A. and Martha (Torrance) Bradley, the former a native of North Carolina, while the latter was born in South Carolina. The father became a pioneer of Arkansas and died in 1911. The mother is also deceased. In Pope County, Arkansas, R. S. Bradley acquired his education, and in 1896, when twenty-eight years … Read more