Oklahoma

Biography of Tams Bixby

When historians of the future write of the state of Oklahoma, or recite the romance of the American Indian, they needs must tell the story of Tams Bixby. Above his signature five great Indian nations ceased to be, one hundred and one thousand red-men foreswore allegiance to their tribal chieftains to become citizens of the United States and twenty-one million acres of Indian hunting grounds were made ready for admission to the Union. It was in 1897 that Tams Bixby left Minnesota, where he had gained national prominence as chairman of the Republican state central committee and came to Indian … Read more

Biography of Oliver Bagby, M. D.

Dr. Oliver Bagby, a pioneer physician of Vinita, who for twenty-nine years was engaged in practice here, has become widely and favorably known throughout this section of the state, both in his professional capacity and also as a leader in financial affairs. He was born near New Haven, in Franklin County, Missouri, December 26, 1858, his parents being Julian and Mary E. (Bridges) Bagby, both of whom were born in the year 1834. The Bagby family came originally from. Glasgow, Scotland, and the maternal ancestors were also natives of the land of hills and heather, the grandfather, Andrew W. Bridges, … Read more

Biography of John Rogers

Among the pioneer builders who aided in laying the broad foundation upon which has been erected the present greatness and prosperity of the state of Oklahoma, representatives of the Rogers family have figured conspicuously and of a goodly portion of this family John Rogers, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Ellen Howard Miller, nee Blythe, was the head. His father was a native of England and served as a colonel in the Revolutionary war. He married Sarah Cordery, whose mother was a Cherokee. Her father, Thomas Cordery, was a member of a family that belonged to the aristocracy of France, but for … Read more

Biography of S. J. Miller

Among the substantial residents of Rogers county are Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Miller, who are residing on their farm seven and one-half miles northwest of Chelsea. Mr. Miller is a native of Missouri, his birth having occurred at Butler, Bates County, on the 4th of June, 1884. His parents were John M. and Rachael (North) Miller, natives of Ohio. In 1866 they moved to Missouri and locating in Bates County, the father farmed until his demise in 1919. He was one of the well known agriculturists in that county and a representative and progressive citizen who did much toward … Read more

Biography of Herbert W. Wetzell

Herbert W. Wetzell, publisher and owner of the McIntosh County Democrat, was born in Bloomington, Illinois, on the 6th of February, 1884, a son of George and Julia (Pratt) Wetzell, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. The paternal great-grandfather, Lewis Wetzell,. was a noted Indian fighter of West Virginia and mention of him is made in most histories of the United States. George Wetzell spent forty years of his life in the newspaper business and achieved substantial success in that connection. He published papers at Greenview, Bloomington and Farmer City, Illinois, and in 1907, came … Read more

Biography of Thomas P. Smith

Thomas P. Smith was born in Clinton County, New York, in 1861, and died in Muskogee, Okla., on October 4, 1917. He attended the village school of Clinton until he was twelve years of age, when his family moved to Plattsburg, N. Y., where he entered the public schools. Graduating from the high school, he became associated in the mercantile business with his two brothers, M. A. and M. J. Smith. In 1884 he was made deputy postmaster at Plattsburg, which place he held until 1887, when he was appointed chief clerk at the San Carlos Indian Agency in Arizona. … Read more

Biography of William Carnahan

It is an old and trite saying that great oaks from little acorns grow but it embodies the truth which is in evidence throughout the world. From humble beginnings have sprung the great enterprises that figure in trade and commerce and from humble clerkships have come many of the leading merchants of the country. It is the man who recognizes, seizes and utilizes his opportunities that makes progress and with determination and courage he pushes steadily forward toward his goal. Such has been the record of William Carnahan, who is the President of the Carnahan Grocery Company of Ramona and … Read more

Biography of Claude Luman Steele

Claude Luman Steele, who for two decades was an active and prominent business man, of Muskogee, dealing in real estate and farm lands, was born at Paines Point, Illinois, and was the youngest son of John Roland and Adelaide (Grant) Steele, the latter a representative of the same branch of the family as General U. S. Grant. John Roland Steele was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was brought to America when but three years of age, the family home being established in Rochester, New York. After attaining adult age he wedded Adelaide Grant, a native of the Empire state. Removing … Read more

Biography of Mrs. Emma Daniels

Mrs. Emma Daniels, a native daughter of Oklahoma and a member of an old an honored pioneer family of the state, is the owner of a good farm near Ochelata, in Washington county, and the discovery of oil on her property has also added greatly to its value. She is a daughter of Mrs. Jacob Dick, a native of Texas, who was formerly Mrs. William Rogers. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers were Oklahoma pioneers. Mrs. Dick resided in Oklahoma since 1872, and after the demise of Mr. Dick, who was a native of this state and a farmer by occupation, she … Read more

Biography of Carl F. Mayer

In the sudden demise of Carl F. Mayer, which occurred at Joplin, Missouri, on the 19th of September, 1921, when he was fifty years of age, Miami lost one of its most progressive, public-spirited and highly respected citizens and the government a trusted official whose entire active life had been spent in its service. The place which he left vacant will be a difficult one to fill, for broad experience had given him a comprehensive understanding of Indian affairs, and the service which he rendered was one of great value to the nation. He was born at Leavenworth, Kansas, August … Read more

Biography of R. M. Godfrey

The present judge of Nowata county is R. M. Godfrey, who has been a resident of Nowata since 1914. He was born at Stockport, Ohio, on the 3d of June, 1887, a son of George N. and Effie L. (Scheetz) Godfrey, the former a native of Ohio. The progenitor of the Godfrey family in this country was Daniel Godfrey, who came to America from England at an early day and upon the out-break of the Revolutionary war enlisted for service under George Washington’s command. The paternal great-grandfather, Prince Godfrey, was born in Maine and removed from that state to Ohio … Read more

Biography of Louis L. Marcell

Louis L. Marcell. The discovery of oil and gas and its development in Neosho and the surrounding counties had not only added to the wealth and prosperity of this section of the state but had also brought forward a new type of business man: the oil producer and refiner. Today one of the leading representatives of the oil industry in the Mid-Continent field is Louis L. Marcell of Chanute, Kansas, who became interested when the business was in its infancy and had been a factor in making it one of the largest industries of the state. Mr. Marcell was born … Read more

Biography of Mrs. Ellen Howard Miller

Mrs. Ellen Howard Miller is a woman of broad interests and accomplishments, her greatest pleasures centering around those things that are instructive and up building to herself and the people and conditions around her. To her the realm of civics is one of unlimited interest, in which she loves to spend her time when business, home and Church interests will allow, and in this field many enterprises and activities of economic value owe their birth and fostering to her inspiration and initiative. One of the earliest of these enterprises was the forming of an organization of the women of Vinita, … Read more

Biography of W. T. Bluejack

Since 1871 the Bluejacket family has figured prominently in connection with the development of Oklahoma along agricultural, industrial and legislative lines, aiding in laying the broad foundation upon which has been built the present prosperity of the commonwealth. W. T. Bluejacket has ably supplemented the efforts of his father, having for many years been numbered among the progressive agriculturists and successful business men of his part of the state, although he is now living practically retired, having accumulated a comfortable competence through the capable management of his interests. A native of Kansas, Mr. Bluejacket was born October 16, 1866, his … Read more

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

Biography of Professor Charles Byron Smith

Professor Charles Byron Smith, principal of the Washington school at Muskogee, is a native of Rusk County, Texas, his parents being Lucien Drayton and Amanda Melvina Smith. The father was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina, and in 1852 re-moved to Texas. The mother was born in Tennessee and became a resident of the Lone Star state in 1836. Mr. Smith was a ranch-man farmer and early removed with his family to western Texas, where his son, Professor Smith, grew to manhood with scarcely any Church or school privileges but nevertheless was well instructed religiously and educationally, for when he … Read more

Biography of Colonel Jacob H. Bartles

Time is the perspective which places the individual in his true position in relation to the history of the community with which he has been identified and time serves but to heighten the fame and brighten the good name of Colonel Jacob H. Bartles, in whose honor the town of Bartlesville was named and who was also the founder of Dewey. He was ever a man of most progressive spirit, of which many tangible evidences may be cited, including the fact that he was the first man to establish electric light and waterworks plants in the state. He was also … Read more

Biography of W. T. Parrish

One of the well known farmers of Nowata County is W. T. Parrish, who is residing five miles southeast of Nowata. He is a native of this County, his birth having occurred in Alluwe township on the 18th of February, 1881, a son of Holland L. and Cynthia J. (Daniel) Parrish, the latter being of Cherokee extraction. Extended mention of Mr. and Mrs. Parrish is made in the sketch of A. H. Parrish, on another page of this work. In the acquirement of an education W. T. Parrish attended the common schools of Nowata County. Putting his textbooks aside at … Read more

Biography of George L. Wilkie

George L. Wilkie, a progressive farmer residing near Bartlesville, is interested in all modern developments along agricultural lines and by his prosperity in a modern enterprise conducted along scientific lines, is proving the value of system in promoting productiveness. He is a native son of Oklahoma, his birth having occurred at Bartlesville on the 26th of June, 1890, and his parents were Andrew and Leona (Tayrien) Wilkie, the latter a representative of one of the pioneer families of this state. His father was a native of Germany and when a young man of eighteen years he came to the United … Read more

Biography of Judge Napoleon Bonaparte Moore

A life of great usefulness and far-reaching influence ended when on the 10th of October, 1911, Judge Napoleon Bonaparte Moore was called to his final rest, after a long illness, at the venerable age of eighty-four years. Long a leader of public thought and action, he left his impress in notable measure upon the history of Oklahoma along agricultural, legislative, political and moral lines. A native of Alabama, he was born on the 8th of January, 1827, of the marriage of William and Lucy (Chemathla) Moore, who were also natives of that state, in which the father spent his life, … Read more