Clyde C. Cant. a native son of Oklahoma and a representative of one of the pioneer families of the state, is an alert, energetic and enterprising young man who is making wise use of his time, his talents and his opportunities. He is now serving as postmaster of Haskell and is proving a popular and efficient public official. He was born near Pryor, in Mayes County, Oklahoma, January 12, 1894, and is a son of Walter A. and Cora D. (Gortney) Cantrell, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Indiana. When fourteen years of age the father came to Indian Territory with his parents, who settled in what is now Mayes County. When the country was opened up for settlement Walter A. Cantrell entered land from the government, clearing and developing his place, upon which he continued to reside for some time, after which he engaged in ranching in Mayes County, whence he removed to Muskogee County. Here he was connected with the cattle business for several years and is now successfully operating a farm near Haskell. He has reached the age of fifty-six years, and the mother also survives. They are widely known throughout the state and enjoy the respect, goodwill and esteem of many friends.
Mr. Cantrell acquired his education in the schools of Texas, where his parents resided for eight years, and subsequently he attended the normal school at Muskogee, after which he devoted two terms to teaching in the schools of Muskogee county. He then became interested in farming in connection with his father, continuing to devote his entire attention to that branch of activity until 1919, when he was appointed postmaster of Haskell by President Wilson and is now capably discharging the duties of that position, his term of office to expire August 23, 1923.
On the 26th of April, 1918, Mr. Cantrell enlisted in the United States Army, becoming a member of Company M., Three Hundred Fifty-eighth Infantry, Nineteenth, Division, with which he went, overseas, landing in England on the 2d of July, while on the 6th of that month he reached France. He served as scout and sniper and participated in the battle of St. Mihiel and also in the Mouse and Argonne engagements, during which he was gassed, and for thirty days thereafter was unable to speak. He also received shrapnel wounds and, on December 16, 1918, landed in the United States, being discharged from the service January 3, 1919, on account of “wounds received in action.”
In his political views Mr. Cantrell is a stanch Democrat, and in religious faith he is a Presbyterian and an active worker in the church, now serving as deacon. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, belonging to the lodge at Haskell, the commandery at Muskogee, the consistory at McAlester and the Shrine at Muskogee, and exemplifying in his life the beneficent teachings of the craft.
Faithfulness and devotion to duty are his salient characteristics, and that he is a young man of sterling worth is indicated in the high esteem in which he is held by those among whom his entire life has been passed.