Oklahoma

Biographical Sketch of Harry Hollister Bell

Harry Hollister Bell, farmer, stock raiser and oil man, living in Muskogee, is now controlling interests that make him a prominent representative of the agricultural and business life of Oklahoma. He was born in Montague county, Texas, January 20, 1881, and is a son of Elvin Golladay and Margaret (Finch) Bell. The father devoted his life to farming and stock raising, thus providing for his family. The early educational opportunities of Harry Hollister Bell were those afforded by the public schools of his native state. He afterward attended Bacone College of Muskogee and also Henry Kendall College, now at Tulsa, … Read more

Biography of Thomas Albert Chandler

Thomas Albert Chandler, representative in congress from the First district of Oklahoma and a resident of Vinita, is a man of liberal education and of broad and important interests who has been a prominent figure not only in political circles but also in connection with extensive business interests of the state. He was born in the Indian Territory on the 26th of July, 1871, and is a representative of the Cherokee Nation. Liberal educational advantages were accorded him and following his graduation from the Worcester Academy of Vinita as a member of the class of 1888 he entered Drury College … Read more

Biography of Nathan Adams Gibson

Nathan Adams Gibson has been an active representative of the legal fraternity in Muskogee for the past twenty-eight years and has been accorded an extensive and gratifying clientage. He is a native of Stanton, Tennessee, and a son of James K. and Rosa S. Gibson, the former a banker. His preliminary education was supplemented by study in Vanderbilt University of Nashville, Tennessee, which institution conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1888 and that of LL. B. on the completion of a law course in 1890. In the latter year he was admitted to the bar at … Read more

Biography of Nelson F. Carr

It is more than six decades since Nelson F. Carr became a resident of Oklahoma and he is known to the people of Bartlesville and Washington county as the “Pioneer of Big Caney.” A native of New York, he was born in Wilton, Saratoga county, September 2, 1844, a son of William Henry and Sarah M. (Clancy) Carr, the former also a native of the Empire state, while the mother’s birth occurred in Vermont. He has a very faint recollection of his father, who died in September, 1848, at the age of thirty-one years. In 1859 the widowed mother, with … Read more

Biography of George Warren Barnes

George Warren Barnes, who is at the head of the Barnes Oil Company, oil producers of Muskogee, has been continuously engaged in that line of business since 1901, with the exception of the period of the World war, which he devoted to work as state director of National War Savings on a government salary of one dollar a year. His birth occurred at Honesdale, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of October, 1880, his parents being George W. and Alice (Young) Barnes. John D. Benedict of Muskogee has written the following most interesting history of the life of George W. Barnes, the … Read more

Biography of Max Davidson

Prominent among the energetic, farsighted and successful business men of Muskogee is Max Davidson, a clothing merchant who has developed a large business in handling the Hart, Schaffner & Marx clothing, his store being located at Main and Broadway. He is a native of St. Louis, Missouri, born November 17, 1880, his parents being Leopold and Fannie (Schwartz) Davidson, the former a native of Germany, while the latter was born in Bohemia. The father came to America in his boyhood days, settling in St. Joseph, Missouri, where he was engaged in the towel supply business for a number of years. … Read more

Biography of Patrick Cleburn Woodruff, M. D.

In the passing of Dr. Patrick Cleburn Woodruff the medical profession lost a representative member. For twelve years he resided in Stilwell and during that time endeared himself to every one in the community. A man of great charity, he served rich and poor alike and his sudden demise, on the 29th of December, 1914, came as a severe shock to his many friends. A native of Mississippi, Dr. Woodruff was born on the 31st of January, 1865, a son of T. P. and Elizabeth (Leatherwood) Woodruff, both natives of that state. In 1871 they removed to Paris, Texas, and … Read more

Biography of J. H. McMorrow

Coming to Bartlesville in 1965, J. H. McMorrow has since been actively and prominently identified with the commercial development of the town and as secretary and treasurer of the Rood Oil Company he has contributed substantially to the attainment of the success which has attended the activities of that corporation. He was born in Cohoes, Albany county, New York, December 9, 1859, of the marriage of Francis and Mary (McCusker) McMorrow, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the latter being brought to this country in infancy. The father came to the United States in 1833, settling in Cohoes, Albany … Read more

Biography of William Johnstone

William Johnstone, who was one of nature’s noblemen and whose life in every respect measured up to the highest standards of human conduct and of service to his fellows, passed away on the 14th of July, 1915. His earthly record was of comparatively short duration, for he had only reached the fifty-sixth milestone on life’s journey. But he had accomplished much more than may be set down to the credit of the vast majority. He had been one of the builders of Bartlesville through the establishment and successful management of various commercial and industrial interests and also by reason of … Read more

Biography of W. S. Moore

A notably successful career is that of W. S. Moore, a prominent stockman of Dewey, who has devoted practically all of his life to the cattle business, in which he has become recognized as a leading operator, not only in Oklahoma but through the United States. He was born in Putnam county, Illinois, December 6, 1865, being a son of Mr. and, Mrs. J. B. Moore, who were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. He was reared in Burlington, Iowa, and in 1884, when a young man of nineteen years, he accompanied his parents on their removal to Oklahoma. His … 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

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Joel Mayer

Well known at Oilton and in Creek county is Mrs. Joel Mayer, who was born in Ramona, Oklahoma, on the 6th of February, 1900. She is a daughter of Reuben Bartlett and Roxie Ann (Pierson) Tuner. The former was one of the well to do old settlers of Oklahoma, important in the tribal affairs of his people in the early days, and the family has long been represented in this section of the state. The daughter, Mrs. Mayer, pursued her education in St. Francis Convent at Nevada, Missouri, and then returned to her home in Oklahoma, having since been a … Read more

Biography of Art Harris

Art Harris, president of the Art Harris Transfer & Storage Company of Muskogee, was born in McDonald county, Missouri, December 31, 1876, and is a son of M. A. and Rhoda A. (Richardson) Harris, the former a native of New York and the latter of Tennessee. The father went to Texas with his parents when a boy and later became a resident of Missouri, settling in Pineville, where he engaged in contracting and building. Later his work of this character took him into Arkansas and Kansas and he continued his contract work in those states and in Missouri until the … Read more

Biography of Webb Littlefield

Webb Littlefield, treasurer of the Guaranty Trust. Company of Muskogee, was born March 12; 1884, in Knobnoster, Missouri, a son of Charles B. and Theodosia (Webb) Littlefield, who were at one time residents of Kentucky and afterward established their home in Johnson county, Missouri. The father engaged in banking in Missouri for thirty years and in 1906 came to the Indian Territory, settling at Claremore. Webb Littlefield pursued a public school education in Missouri and afterward attended the Teachers’ College at Warrensburg, that state. He started out in the business world as a clerk in the employ of the National … Read more

Biography of Ad V. Coppedge

Ad V. Coppedge, the pioneer lawyer of Delaware county and the first county attorney, has also been connected with every important constructive measure that has led to the up building, development and progress of this section of the state. He became a resident of Grove in 1963 and throughout all the intervening period has taken active part in shaping the county’s up building. Mr. Coppedge was born on a farm in Missouri near the Arkansas line, January 26, 1870, the old homestead being situated at Thayer. His parents were Houston Harrison and Tennessee Martha (Bledsoe) Coppedge, and the mother, a … Read more

Biography of A. W. Ketchum

In the demise of A. W. Ketchum, which occurred on the 8th of February, 1921, when he was seventy-one years of age, Oklahoma lost one of its honored pioneers who was a witness of the growth and development of the state and an active factor in its progress. He was a sagacious business man whose interests were capably managed and at his death he was able to leave his family in comfortable financial circumstances. He was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, December 15, 1850, and came to Indiana Territory with the Delaware Indians under Chief Johnnycake, who was one of the … Read more

Biography of Carl E. Seastrand

Carl E. Seastrand, manager for the John Lumbard Tire & Supply Company of Muskogee, was born in Sweden on the 12th of April, 1877, and is a son of Carl A. and Christina Sjostrand, who were also natives of Sweden. The father was a shoe merchant in that country, devoting his entire life to the business. He also engaged in the manufacture of shoes, employing twelve men in that connection. He died in February, 1918, and is still survived by his widow, who yet makes her home in Sweden. Carl E. Seastrand was reared and educated in his native country, … Read more

Biography of Cecil K. Reiff

Cecil K. Reiff, principal of the Central high school at Muskogee, was born in Wabash county, Indiana, October 23, 1888, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Baer) Reiff, the former a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, while the latter was born in Ohio. The father was but thirteen years of age when he was brought to America by his parents, the family home being established in Ohio, where he completed his education and afterward took up the occupation of tilling the soil. During the period of the Civil war he served on guard duty near Washington, D. C., and … Read more

Biography of G. T. Anderson

G. T. Anderson, an enterprising agriculturist of Washington county and a well known and highly respected resident of this part of the state, was born March 15, 1876, and is of Delaware extraction, his parents being William and Mary Anderson, both of whom have passed away. He acquired his education in the public schools of Bartlesville and on starting out in life independently chose the occupation of farming, with which he has since been identified. He cultivated a ranch on Coon creek, in Washington county, until 1920, when Mrs. Anderson purchased the home farm of eighty acres two and a … Read more

Biography of James G. Mehlin

James G. Mehlin, a pioneer farmer of Nowata county who is now residing one and one-half miles northeast of Alluwe, was born in Stuttgart, Wurtemburg, Germany, on the 21st of January, 1841. His parents were both born in that country and the father died there. Mrs. Mehlin came to America prior to her son James G. and located in New York, where her death occurred in 1870. James G. Merlin came to America in 1854 and, landing in New York, remained there a short time, but later removed to Maryland. Subsequently he went to Chicago, Illinois, where his brother Charles … Read more