John T. McSpadden was born near Fort Payne, Alabama, March 15, 1852, the third son of I. K. B. McSpadden, a minister of the M. E. Church, South, who, in 1869, came to the Indian Territory as a missionary. Mr. McSpadden, Jr.’s mother was a Miss Elizabeth J. Green, daughter of a leading citizen of Athens, Tennessee. The subject of our sketch was educated in the Phoenix Academy, near Fort Payne, Alabama, until his nineteenth year, when he followed his parents to the Indian Territory, and there engaged in school-teaching two years. After that he followed the blacksmith’s trade three years, but finally embarked in the cattle business, which he has continued up to the present. Mr. McSpadden married Miss Sallie C. Rogers, daughter of C. V. Rogers, a prominent citizen, December 16, 1885, by whom he has two children living, Clem. M., born December 20, 1886, and May, born July 20, 1891. Mr. McSpadden is very largely interested in the cattle industry, feeding from 500 to 1,000 head. He has several farms, aggregating 350 acres, 225 acres which are in good cultivation, besides a handsome residence in Chelsea, recently completed. Mr. McSpadden is a representative citizen, progressive, liberal and wide-awake, and always to be found on the right side where his country’s interests are at stake. The only office he has held was that of mayor of Vinita for one term. Mrs. McSpadden is a cultured lady of charming personality and lovable nature, which have attracted to her a large circle of friends.
