Wagoner Oklahoma

Biography of Simeon S. Forrest

Simeon S. Forrest, one of the reliable citizens of Tahlequah, is the incumbent of the office of County assessor of Cherokee County. He is a native of Missouri, in which state he was born on the 21st of November, 1874, at Vienna, Maries County. His parents were William and Mary J. Forrest, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of North Carolina. They both went to Missouri with their parents at an early age and in that state their marriage took place. For some time the father followed farming in Maries County but he removed to Ozark County … 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.

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

Biography of Marsh Corgan

Wagoner numbers among her native sons Marsh Corgan, who, as sheriff of Wagoner, has the distinction of being the youngest man to hold that office in the United States. He is tireless in his devotion to the duties devolving upon him in that office and has gained the trust, confidence and goodwill of his fellowmen. Air Corgan was born in Wagoner, on the 6th of October, 1895, a son of John M. and Anna E. (Easton) Corgan, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Iowa. John M. Corgan went to Iowa at an early age and subsequently … Read more

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 Richard M. Smith

(See Grant) Ella, daughter of Wirt and Sarah (Woodward) Fields, born April 17, 1853. Married at Fort Gibson Frank N. Smith, born in 1845. Mrs. Smith died November 6, 1891. They were the parents of Richard Martin Smith, born Jan. 28, 1881, educated in the Cherokee Public School, and Male Seminary. Married at Wagoner Aug. 10, 1903, Carrie, daughter of Columbus and Amanda Phipps, born March 4, 1887. They are the parents of Gideon, born Sept. 25, 1906 and Theron Smith, born Fe b. 3, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Church. He is a member … Read more

Establishment of Fort Gibson in 1824

Fort Gibson in 1875

By Act of Congress of March 2, 1819, Arkansas Territory was established July 4, embracing substantially all of what are now the states of Arkansas and Oklahoma; though the civil government of Arkansas Territory was limited to that section lying east of the Osage line, divided into counties, and embracing approximately the present state of Arkansas. That west of the Osage line was the Indian country, and in later years became known as Indian Territory. James Miller of New Hampshire was appointed the first Governor of Arkansas Territory, and among the duties of his office was that of supervision of … Read more

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

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Isabel Cobb

(See Grant)-Martha Blythe, born Jan. 31, 1812. Married in May 1828 Alexander Clingan, born Feb. 20, 1801 in Hawkins County, Tennessee. He died February 1, 1964 and she died August 7, 1868. They were the parents of: Evaline Clingan, born in Bradley County, Tennessee, April 13, 1835. Married December 15, 1857, Joseph Benson Cobb, born in Blount County, Tennessee, July 26, 1828. He died March 22, 1896, and she died November 17, 1918. They were the parents of Isabel, born October 25, 1858; William Cowan, born April 1, 1860 and was murdered July 27, 1880; Martha, born December 28, 1861; … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. William A. Lamon

(See Grant and Cordery)—Martha Evaline Clingan, born at Gibson Station Cherokee Nation, March 21, 1874, educated at the Female Seminary and Sedalia, Missouri, taught at Harrell Institute at Muskogee, and married at Gibson Station February 1, 1899 William Archibald, son of Robert A. and Melvina Lamon, born March 15, 1869 in Granada, Miss. They are the parents of: Mary F., born October 29, 1899; Melvina, born April 17, 1901; Catherine Wise, born October 27, 1902; Helen Martha, April 22, 1904; William Archibald, born February 4, 1910; Robert Edward, born February 4, 1912, and John Clingan Lamon, born May 3, 1913. … 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

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

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

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. A. M. Belcher

Belcher, Mrs. A. M. (See Cordery and Grant)—Cora Mary, daughter of William Davidson, and Mary Jane (Baumgarner) Clingan was born at Gibson Station, Chero­kee Nation May 12, 1878, educated at the Female Seminary, and Cottey College, Ne­vada. Missouri; married at Wagoner Novem­ber 21, 1911, Rev. A. M. Belcher, born February 22, 1867 in Bluntsville, Ala. They are the parents of Bruce Clingan Belcher, horn June 14, 1912 at Henryetta, Okla. Reverend Belcher is a South Methodist and built the first church to be erected in Wagoner. Mrs. Belcher is a member of the Home Missionary Society and the Eastern Star.

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

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 Otis R. Cureton

Otis R. Cureton, who since February, 1918, has made his home in Muskogee, is engaged in handling farm lands, loans and oil and gas leases. Broad experience in this field of labor has enabled him to win readily a large clientage and his business has steadily developed, for the Oklahoma Land & Loan Company, of which he is now the manager, is conducting an extensive and profitable business. Otis R. Cureton was born in Lancaster, South Carolina, on the 12th of October, 1879, but when quite young was taken to Florida and was educated in the public schools of that … Read more

Biography of Joseph B. Cobb

One of Wagoner’s most prominent and representative citizens is Joseph B. Cobb, who was born in Bradley county, Tennessee, on the 21st of February, 1863, a son of Joseph B. and Evaline (Clingan) Cobb, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of Samuel S. Cobb, to be found on another page of this work. Joseph B. Cobb was but seven years of age when he came to Indian Territory with his parents, locating in what is now Wagoner county, and he was reared and received his early education in the common schools of this community. In due time … 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 Archie Earle Carder, M. D.

Dr. Archie Earle Carder, a successful physician and surgeon of Coweta, with offices in the First State Bank building, has been a representative of the medical profession here for the past two decades and is the oldest practitioner of Wagoner County. He was born at Marshall, Texas, on the 29th of May, 1864, a son of George W. and Ellen M. (McDaniel) Carder, who were natives of Beverly, Virginia, and of North Carolina respectively. The father made his way to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in 1849 and became a merchant there. At the outbreak of the Civil war he enlisted for service … Read more