Biography of Thomas M. Buffington

Thomas M. Buffington, an honored pioneer of Oklahoma and one of the most prominent men in the state, was for many years a dominant figure in the councils of the Cherokee Nation but is now living retired at Vinita at the age of sixty-six years. He was born in the Going Snake district of the Cherokee Nation, near accompanied the Cherokees on their removal to the Choctaw 1855, and his parents were Ezekiel and Louisa (Newman) Buffington, the former of whom was born in the Cherokee Nation of Georgia, while the latter was a native of Tennessee. The father accompanied … Read more

Biography of Mandly Board

Mandly Board, organizer of the Exchange National Bank of Muskogee and President from the beginning to the present time, belongs to that class of substantial citizens who are the real promoters and up builders of a community. Steadfast in purpose, progressive in his views and at all times reliable in his methods, Mandly Board has ever been classed with those who have promoted the material and intellectual progress of the community and upheld its legal and moral status. A Virginian by birth, he claims Front Royal as the place of his nativity and the date as October 19, 1868. He … Read more

Biography of H. L. Anderson

The rapid development of northeastern Oklahoma, which is one of the richest oil fields in the country, has created a large and growing demand for competent men and women to handle the office end of this important industry and the Bartlesville Business College, of which H. L. Anderson is manager, is well equipped to meet this situation, for its graduates have gone forth into the business world well fitted to handle important duties, their developed powers serving as a foundation for growing success. Mr. Anderson is a native of Illinois. He was born in Vernon, August 14, 1890, and after … Read more

Biography of C. H. Little

For thirty years C. H. Little has made his home in Oklahoma and he is now the owner of a well improved-and highly developed farm in Washington County, in which connection he is contributing to the agricultural development of his part of the state. A native of Kansas, he was born in Cherokee County on the 19th of November, 1878, his parents being T. A. and Frona (Hanks) Little, who came to Oklahoma in 1891, purchasing the Bill Weber farm in Dewey township, on which they resided for four years. They then moved to the Black Wing place, which the … Read more

Biography of H. V. Lowe

H. V. Lowe, proprietor of the telephone exchange at Ramona and an alert and energetic business man, whose connection with various interests is at all times beneficial to the enterprises which he represents, was born in Sydney, Iowa, on the 18th of May, 1878. His father, James Lowe, was a native of Ohio and during the early boyhood of his son H. V. Lowe, he removed with his family to the old Indian reservation in what is now Gage County, Nebraska, settling at Beatrice. There he still resides at the advanced age of seventy-nine years. His wife, who bore the … Read more

Biography of Howard C. Tillotson

Howard C. Tillotson. Some men make a success in life apparently by disregarding the old rule of sticking to one thing and to one place. The possession of several talents, and the judgment to make use of them operate to contradict the rule which the average person finds safe for his guidance. One of these men of varied abilities and varied experiences is Howard C. Tillotson, a prominent resident of Latham. Mr. Tillotson is a native of Kansas, and both he and his wife are people of special interest and note because of what they have done for others as … Read more

Biography of James R. Gristy

James R. Gristy, of Emporia, is one of the real old timers of Kansas. Half a century ago he was engaged in farming and stock raising on a large scale in Johnson County. For many years he had been a successful real estate operator, and had enjoyed prominence in a business and civic way not only in Kansas but in Oklahoma and in other western states. Born in Brown County, Illinois, August 31, 1841, he grew up in that section, gained a public school education, graduating from the high school at Rushville, Illinois, in 1863. His first experiences led him … Read more

Biography of H. L. Cox

H. L. Cox. For some of its best citizenship, Southeastern Kansas is indebted to the New England states. The men who have made their way from the states bordering on the Atlantic Coast who have journeyed across the country to the land of the sunflower, have displayed in their citizenship and their characters the same sterling qualities of their sturdy forbears, who, like them, braved a new and untried section, and planted the seeds that brought forth a fine civilization. Of the men of Chautauqua County who lay claim to New England birth, one who had gained success in this … Read more

Biography of Thomas Walter Butcher

Thomas Walter Butcher. Among Kansas men who have performed services of far reaching benefit to the state there is a distinctive place for Thomas Walter Butcher, now president of the Kansas State Normal School at Emporia. Mr. Butcher began his career as an educator in Kansas, and most of his work had been done within the state. He was born at Macomb, Illinois, July 3, 1867, a son of Boman Rilea Butcher and Adaline (Vail) Butcher. His father was a Union soldier during the Civil war. Mr. Butcher was reared in Illinois and Kansas and attended the public schools of … Read more

Biography of Oliver Wilson Fail

Oliver Wilson Fail. One of the most popular citizens of Cherokee County is O. W. Fail, recently clerk of the District Court at Columbus, and now engaged in the real estate business at Baxter Springs. Mr. Fail had had a varied and active career. He had been a hard worker, had associated with men who work with their hands as well as with their brains, and he long held a card of active membership in the ranks of that army connected with the operation of street and interurban electric lines. In all the relationships of his life he had shown … Read more

Biography of Leonard Elmore Henderson, M.D.

Leonard Elmore Henderson, M. D. The medical profession of Wilson County numbers among its skilled and careful practitioners Dr. Leonard Elmore Henderson, who since 1907 had been located at Coyville, an enterprising community in the northwest part of the county. Prior to locating at this place, Doctor Henderson had valuable and comprehensive experience both in Kansas and Indian Territory, and this, combined with a thorough training in his calling and a natural predilection therefor, gave promise for a successful career in his professional work. That this promise had been fulfilled is shown by his excellent standing in medical circles and … Read more

Biography of Isaac M. Hinds, Hon.

Hon. Isaac M. Hinds. Mound Valley and Labette County have for many years been the scene of the extensive business and public activities of Isaac M. Hinds. Some years ago that district sent Mr. Hinds to represent its interests in the State Senate, and he is still a member of the upper house of the State Legislature. Though he had spent nearly all his years in Kansas, Senator Hinds was born in Cole County, Missouri, December 30, 1862. He was brought to this state when an infant. Going back several generations his Hinds ancestors were Germans who came to America … Read more

Biography of C. F. Lutes

C. F. Lutes. The largest hand glass plant west of the Mississippi River is that of the Fredonia Window Glass Company, located at Fredonia, Kansas. The president and general manager of this enterprise, C. F. Lutes, had been connected with the glass industry ever since entering upon his career, and is a man of experience, resource and energy, who, since coming to Kansas in 1904, had occupied a position of importance among the business men of Fredonia. The success of the company with which he is identified, and its allied interests at Caney, Kansas and Okmulgee, Oklahoma, must be accredited … Read more

Herndon, Marchieta L. Blank – Obituary

Marchieta L. Blank Herndon, 76, died at home in Wichita, Kans., with her husband at her side, after a battle with cancer. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Cove Cemetery. Loveland Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Mrs. Herndon was born in February 1930 at Personia, Okla., to Roy and Agnes Sheppard. In 1962 she married Robert L. Blank, who preceded her in death in 1981. She then married Robert Herndon in 1984. She is survived by her husband, Robert Herndon of Wichita; children and their spouses, Terrine and Chuck Warriner of Salt Lake City, Zane and … Read more

Blackburn, Robert Neil, Dr. – Obituary

Joseph, Oregon Dr. Robert Neil Blackburn, 77, of Cushing, Okla., and formerly of Joseph died July 27. Dr. Blackburn was born Aug. 1, 1929, in Cushing, Okla. He served as a jet fighter pilot in the Korean War and taught other pilots how to fly by instrument. After leaving the military, he graduated from medical school at the University of Oklahoma, and served his residency at Deaconess Hospital in Spokane. He bought Dr. Coffman’s practice in Joseph and practiced there for nearly 25 years. He delivered many of the babies in Wallowa County for two generations. He worked in Asotin, … Read more

Biography of Vern E. Thompson

Vern E. Thompson, a leading representative of the Ottawa County bar; has followed his profession in Miami since 1902 and has been connected with the work of the courts both as lawyer and jurist. He was born at Stockbridge, Michigan, November 12, 1878, of the marriage of Sylvester M. and Victoria H. Thompson. For many years the father successfully followed the occupation of farming near Stockbridge and after his retirement he took up his residence in Miami. He was a Republican in his political views and was deeply interested in public and civic affairs. In religious faith he was a … Read more

Biography of Elmer Stover Emmert

Elmer Stover Emmert, senior partner of the well known firm of Emmert Brothers and thus head of one of the strong insurance agencies not only of Muskogee but of the state, was born in Humboldt, Kansas, May 18, 1868, and is a son of David B. and Margaret D. (Moffett) Emmert, the former a newspaper publisher. During the early boyhood of Elmer S. Emmert the parents removed with their family to Wichita, Kansas, and there he pursued his education in the public schools until a further removal was made to Albuquerque, New Mexico. After the death of his father, at … Read more

Biography of James M. Hamilton

In a record that gives a history of those who have contributed to the agricultural development of Washington County mention should be made of James M. Hamilton, a pioneer of Oklahoma, who passed away in 1911, at the comparatively early age of forty-two years, his demise being deeply regretted by a large circle of friends. A native of Missouri, he was born April 1, 1869, and in 1883 came to Indian Territory with his parents, Hugh Evans and Olivia (Snodgrass) Hamilton, who settled on a farm near the Wauhillau post office. Both are now deceased, the former passing away in … Read more

Biography of William Grant Rogers

William Grant Rogers, a member of one of the honored pioneer families of Oklahoma, has the distinction of being the oldest settler in Dewey, coming here long before the establishment of the town. He has been called to public positions of honor and trust and for many years has been engaged in general farming and stock raising in this section of the state but is gradually retiring from the more arduous cares of business, devoting his attention to the supervision of a well improved ranch lying adjacent to the town. He was born April 13, 1865, in the neutral land … Read more

Rich, Fred (Mary) Goebel Mrs. – Obituary

Mrs. Fred Rich, resident of Wallowa for the last 48 years, passed away Friday morning (May 29, 1936) following a lingering illness. While the end came somewhat suddenly, she had been in failing health for more than a year and her recovery had long been despaired of. Funeral services were held from the home Sunday afternoon at 3:30, with a large number of friends and relatives paying their final tribute and a mass of flowers testifying to their esteem. The services were conducted by Rev. C. N. Trout of Enterprise. Mrs. Rich’s maiden name was Mary Goebel. She was born … Read more