Oklahoma

Biography of Miss Lura E. Mount

Since 1920 Miss Lura E. Mount has been active as county superintendent of schools of Adair county. She is a native of this county, having been born in 1895 near Stilwell, where she now resides. Her parents were R. S. and Pearl (Denton) Mount, both of whom are now deceased. In the acquirement of an education Miss Mount attended the public schools of Stilwell and after graduating from the high school here, she enrolled as a student in the Northeast Normal College at Tahlequah, from which institution she was graduated in 1915. She immediately engaged in teaching school and for … Read more

Biography of J. H. Truskett

For forty-one years J. H. Truskett has devoted his attention to farming in Washington county and is numbered among the pioneer settlers of Oklahoma whose labors have been a potent factor in the development of the agricultural resources of the state, while he has also contributed in substantial measure to the promotion of educational interests in his section. A native of Ohio, he was born August 31, 1845, and in 1880, when thirty-five years of age, he settled at the forks of the Caney river, where he purchased a farm, upon which he engaged in raising grain and cattle, continuing … Read more

Biography of Frank Wilson

A well improved and valuable farm near Dewey bears testimony to the care and labor bestowed upon it by its owner, Frank Wilson, who has spent his life in this section of the state and is a member of one of the pioneer families of Oklahoma, which for over a half century has been identified with its development along agricultural lines. His paternal grandparents were both of the Delaware tribe. Kansas was their native state, and there both passed away. Their son, Ice Wilson, who was born in the Sunflower state, married Lottie Curleyhead, of Delaware extraction and also a … Read more

Biography of James W. Phillips

An excellent farm property in the Sand Creek district of Washington county pays tribute to the care and labor bestowed upon it by its owner, James W. Phillips, who brings to the operation of his place a thorough knowledge of modern agriculture and a progressive, open mind. He was born at Independence, Kansas, September 6, 1897, and is of Osage extraction. His parents, W. S. and Emma C. (Debo) Phillips, are also natives of Kansas and were married in 1892, the mother being a daughter of James Debo. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Phillips located at Hominy, in Osage … Read more

Biography of Eugene C. Gilbert

One of the well known citizens of Gans, Oklahoma, is Eugene C. Gilbert, cashier of the Citizen’s Bank. He was born near Caswell, Georgia, on the 15th of December, 1889, a son of W. A. and Helen C. (Chum) Gilbert, both members of old Georgia families. The father engaged in the mercantile business for many years and also followed agricultural pursuits, enjoying well merited success. He and his wife are still living. To them four sons and one daughter were born, Eugene C., whose name initiates this review, being the eldest child. In the acquirement of an education, Eugene C. … Read more

Biography of Robert Britton Buford

The present mayor of Eufaula, Dr. Robert Britton Buford, was for ten years engaged in the practice of dentistry here and he is now, in connection with his official duties, active in the conduct of the Indian Journal, of which paper he is editor and proprietor. A native of Texas, he was born in Sulphur Springs, on the 23d of April, 1879, a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Askew) Buford, the former a native of Texas and the latter of Georgia. On attaining manhood the father engaged in farming on his own account in Texas and he was active … Read more

Biography of E. A. Fitzgerald

In the passing of E. A. Fitzgerald Oklahoma lost a pioneer citizen. A native of Ireland, he was born in that country in 1842, and came to the United States as a young man. He engaged in railroading after coming here and came to Indian Territory as construction contractor for the first railroad built through this part of the country. For many years he was road master for the Missouri Pacific Railroad and he followed that line of work until he took up farming. Subsequently, however, he removed to Tallala in order to give his children better educational advantages, and … Read more

Biography of Charles C. Ketchum

Agricultural interests of Washington county find a leading representative in Charles C. Ketchum, who is the owner of a desirable farm in the Wayside district and is also engaged in teaming in the oil fields, both enterprises being capably and successfully conducted. He is one of Oklahoma’s native sons, his birth having occurred near Nowata, on the Verdigris river, on the 13th of March, 1894. His father, a member of the Delaware tribe, removed from Kansas to Indian Territory in an early day, first locating on Lightening creek, about fifteen miles southeast of Nowata, whence he removed to the present … Read more

Biography of Robert Bruce Garrett

Prominent among the successful, energetic and progressive business men of Pryor is Robert Bruce Garrett, who has been identified with various enterprises having to do with the development and improvement of this community and is now engaged in the real estate business. He was born at old Baptist Mission, near which the town of Westville, Adair county, is now located on the 2d of December, 1876, a son of James Robert and Elizabeth A. (Greer) Garrett. His father was a native of Tennessee who came to the Indian Territory when’ quite young, locating at the mission. It was there that … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Childers

One of the representative citizens of Nowata county is Charles W. Childers, who is residing on the old family homestead eight miles southeast of Lenapah. He was born in Henry county, Missouri, on the 18th of May, 1867, a son of Benjamin F. and Mary Susan (Webster) Childers, the former a native of Henry county and the latter of North Carolina. In the acquirement of his education Charles W. Childers attended the schools of El Dorado, Kansas, and came to Indian Territory with his parents in 1884. They located at Coodys Bluff in Nowata county, where they lived for one … Read more

Biography of Rufus M. Allen

Rufus M. Allen, deceased, was for many years one of the representative agriculturists of Nowata county. He was born in the Coowescoowee district on the 12th of March, 1874, his father having been one of the pioneer physicians of Indian Territory, and his mother a daughter of Chief Journeycake. Rufus M. Allen received his education in the common schools of his birthplace and after putting his textbooks aside engaged in farming. He followed agricultural pursuits until oil was found on his farm in 1905. Nineteen wells have been developed on this farm, from which his widow is receiving large royalties. … Read more

Biography of Clarence Graves

Since 1914 Clarence Graves has been engaged in the conduct of a mercantile business in Talala and is readily conceded to be one of the leading merchants of the community. A native of Kansas, he was born in Wyandotte County, on the 30th of September, 1864, a son of Charles and Albora (Gutherie) Graves. His parents came to Indian Territory in 1875 and located on a farm on Russell creek. The father was born in Maryland but upon the outbreak of the Civil war, his sympathies being with the south, he enlisted in the Confederate army, serving throughout that conflict … Read more

Biography of Hiram Rufus McBee

Hiram Rufus McBee, a member of one of the pioneer families of Ottawa County, has been identified with mining activities since he was eighteen years of age and has long been a contributor to the development of the mineral resources of Oklahoma. He is now residing in Miami and is the owner of one of the finest homes in the County. He was born in Belleville, a small mining town in Missouri, on the 10th of March, 1885, his parents being Samuel and Susan McBee, the latter of whom passed away in 1893. The father followed agricultural pursuits and also … Read more

Biography of James A. Wilson

James A. Wilson, a native son of Oklahoma and a member of one of the pioneer families of the state, has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, gaining that specialized knowledge which makes him an authority in his line of work, and his farm, which is situated in the Young’s Lake district, is well improved and supplied with modern equipment. He was born in the eastern part of Indian Territory, October 13, 1868, of the marriage of Isaac and Navey Wilson, pioneer settlers of the state, both of whom have passed away. Mr. Wilson is of Delaware extraction, and … Read more

Biography of Murray George Haskell

Murray George Haskell, of Muskogee, who came into prominence in connection with the banking interests of Oklahoma and is an active representative of the oil industry, was born in Ottawa, Ohio, August 19, 1884, and is a son of Governor C. N. Haskell, who was the first chief executive of Oklahoma after the admission of the state into the Union. He was born at Leipsic, Putnam County, Ohio, March 13, 1860, and came of English descent, the ancestral line being traced back to Henry and Jonathan Haskell, who in 1622 left their native land of England and became members of … Read more

Biography of W. F. Kendall

W. F. Kendall, who has been a resident of Bartlesville for the past two decades, is well known as proprietor of the Crescent Planing Mills, in which connection he is conducting a business of extensive proportions. His birth occurred in Iroquois County, Illinois, on the 25th of November, 1880, his parents being W. R. and Elizabeth (Vennum) Kendall, the former a building contractor. In 1896 the family home was established in Lincoln, Nebraska, while five years later a removal was made to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where both the father and mother of W. F. Kendall still reside, the former having now … Read more

Biography of John Caleb Storr

John Caleb Storr, a native son of Oklahoma and a member of one of the oldest families of the state, has resided in Vinita for the past twenty-three years and has become well known as an attorney, farmer, stock raiser and oil operator, being a man of versatile talents whose efforts are resultant factors in whatever he undertakes. He was born in the Flint district of the Cherokee Nation, near Stilwell, Indian Territory, October 15, 1870, and his parents were James and Emma Jane (Rider) Storr, the former born in Tennessee in 1832, while the latter was a native of … Read more

Biography of Arthur Leslie Gregory, M. D.

Dr. Arthur Leslie Gregory, engaged in the general practice of medicine at Muskogee but largely specializing in surgery, was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1877, his parents being Benjamin and Amy (Muehler) Gregory. The father was a merchant and gave to his son excellent educational opportunities. The latter attended the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated with the class of 1893. He afterward determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work and entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, Missouri, in which he completed a course with the class … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Vowell, M. D.

Dr. Charles W. Vowell, a leading representative of the medical fraternity of Washington County, has followed his profession in Porum since 1906 and his pronounced ability has won for him an extensive practice. He was born in Collinsville, Grayson County, Texas, in January, 1870, and is a son of James J. and Josephine (Choate) Vowell, both of whom were natives of Missouri. The father was a veteran of the Civil war, serving for three years with a Missouri regiment as a member of the Confederate army under General Robert E. Lee. He devoted his life to the occupation of farming … Read more

Biography of J. M. Bird

Agricultural development in Washington County is stimulated through the intelligently directed efforts and enterprising spirit of J. M. Bird, who is the owner of a very desirable farm property on Fish creek and is also interested in oil and gas production, being very capable in the management of his business interests. He was born in Barren County, Kentucky, November 13, 1866, his parents being James and Susan (Monroe) Bird, who were also natives of the Blue Grass state. There the mother passed away and the father removed from northern Missouri to Indian Territory in February, 1901, his death occurring in … Read more