Oklahoma

Biography of Edward Clarence Fitzgerald

Entering upon the practice of law in 1908, Edward Clarence Fitzgerald has made continuous progress in his profession and is now numbered among the leading representatives of the Ottawa County bar, maintaining his office in Miami, and he has also taken a prominent part in public affairs of the County. He was born in Keystone, Benton County, Iowa, February 19, 1884, of the marriage of Edward and Mary (Quinleven) Fitzgerald, the former a native of Syracuse, New York, while the latter was born in Wisconsin. Both are deceased. The father came west as a boy and learned the trade of … Read more

Biography of Willard H. Voyles

Willard H. Voyles, a leading representative of the Craig County bar and a member of the firm of Voyles & Rye, practicing at Vinita, has followed in the professional footsteps of his father and is worthily sustaining the traditions of the family in this respect. He was born at Salem, Indiana, September 13, 1874, of the union of Samuel B. and Maude H. (Huston) Voyles, the former also a native of that place while the latter was born at Macomb, Illinois. The father was reared on a farm and after completing his public school course became a student at a … Read more

Biography of Clark Nichols

Clark Nichols, attorney at law in Eufaula and a member of the State senate from McIntosh, Muskogee and Haskell counties, was born in Elk County, Kansas, on the 16th of November, 1880, a son of John A. and Mary C. (Conover) Nichols, both natives of Illinois. The father removed to Kansas at an early age and acquiring land in Elk County, farmed there until 1889, in which year he, removed to Joplin, Missouri. There he engaged in mining but in 1911 he disposed of his interests and came to Hanna, Oklahoma. He bought land near here, which he still operates. … Read more

Biography of Henry Holmes White

Henry Holmes White, President and manager of the Oklahoma Engineering, Machine & Boiler Company and thus identified with one of the leading industrial enterprises of Muskogee, was born in Charleston, South Carolina, December 13, 1868, and is a son of Isaac DuBose and Caroline Octave (Holmes) White. He was educated at the Citadel, the military academy of South Carolina, from which he was graduated with the class of 1889, and, following the completion of his course, he occupied a position as draftsman with the South Carolina Railroad. He thoroughly learned the machinist business in the railroad shops in which he … Read more

Biography of W. M. Crawford

W. M. Crawford, pumper for the St. Clair Oil & Gas Company is now active in that connection on the C. Weavel farm, six and a quarter miles northeast of Delaware. A native of Van Buren County, Iowa, his birth occurred on the 19th of September, 1876, a son of J. H. and Susan (Smith) Crawford. W. M. Crawford received his education in the schools of his native County and also in Missouri and Iowa, but when thirteen years of age he put his textbooks aside and came to Indian Territory with his parents. For three years they resided on … Read more

Biography of Joseph Hubbard Butler

Joseph Hubbard Butler, a representative of a pioneer family of Oklahoma, bears a name that has long been an honored one in business circles and public affairs of this part of the state and is now serving as Vice President of the Home Farm Mortgage Company of Vinita, displaying enterprise, determination and administrative ability in the control of his interests. He was born in Kokomo, Indiana, October 12, 1870, of the marriage of Hardy H. and Mary Butler, who were also natives of the Hoosier state. The father engaged in merchandising at Kokomo until 1877, when he went to Sterling, … Read more

Biography of James M. Wood

A representative citizen of McIntosh County is James M. Wood, who since 1921 has been Mayor of Checotah. He was born in Crawford County, Arkansas, on the 13th of December, 1861, a son of James M. and Sophronia (Clyman) Wood. The father was born near Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1825, while Mrs. Wood was born in Danville, Illinois, on the 3d of January, 1834. Mr. Wood emigrated from his native state to Van Buren, Arkansas, at an early age and for some time followed farming. Subsequently he engaged in the general mercantile business and he was active along that line until … Read more

Biography of John William Bartholomew

In no profession does advancement depend more entirely upon individual merit and ability than in the law. Close application, keen analysis, clear mental perception and careful preparation are indispensable elements in the life of every man who attempts to gain prominence in this arduous calling. That John William Bartholomew is lacking in none of these requisites, is indicated in the fact that he is numbered among the most capable lawyers of Miami and throughout his career he has maintained the highest standards of professional ethics. A native of Indiana, he was born near Morocco, in Newton County, November 20, 1858, … Read more

Biography of Joseph A. Bartles

Joseph A. Bartles, prominently identified with the development of the oil and gas industry in northern Oklahoma, makes his home in Dewey and has spent almost his entire life in Washington County. Actuated by a spirit of progress and enterprise at all times he has become a dynamic force in connection with the development of this section of the state. His judgment is sound, his enterprise unfaltering and the essential features of success he readily recognizes and utilizes. Joseph A. Bartles was born December 15, 1874, on Turkey creek, in the Cherokee Nation, his parents being Colonel J. H. and … Read more

Biography of Neil Baxter Gardner

Since 1915 Neil Baxter Gardner has been Superintendent of the Oklahoma State Home for Orphans at Pryor. He was first appointed to that position of public service by Governor R. L. Williams, and he discharged his duties with such efficiency during that administration, that he was reappointed by Governor Robertson, with a substantial increase in salary. Mr. Gardner is one of Oklahoma’s sons by adoption, for he was born in Independence, Henderson County, Tennessee, on the 12th of October, 1875. His parents were Nathan A. and Frances Leona (Autry) Gardner, both of whom were born in Tennessee. They are now … Read more

Biography of Mrs. Leda C. Steele

Mrs. Leda C. Steele, one of the most notable figures in the musical circles of Oklahoma and the southwest and enjoying as well an international reputation in connection with her art, makes her home in Muskogee, where she has resided since 1900. She was born in St. Paul, Kansas, a daughter of Edson H. and Artimissia (Sutherland) Crawford, the former a native of Elgin, Illinois, while the latter was born in the vicinity of Elgin. The father was a veteran of the Civil war. Having pursued her education in the public schools of St. Paul, Kansas, and in the high … Read more

Biography of O. S. Somerville, M. D.

Dr. O. S. Somerville, who has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Bartlesville during the past sixteen years, is also a prominent factor in financial circles as Vice President of the Bartlesville State Bank. His birth occurred in Parkersburg, West Virginia, on the 11th of February, 1871, his parents being Andrew and Margaret (Slaven) Somerville, the latter also a native of West Virginia. Andrew Somerville, who followed general agricultural pursuits in that state throughout his active business career, passed away in 1899, while his wife was called to her final rest in 1913. In the … Read more

Biography of Robert L. Clark

Robert L. Clark, a native son of Oklahoma and a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the state, has filled a number of public positions of honor and trust and is now devoting his attention to general farming, conducting his operations on an extensive scale. He was born in Tahlequah, Cherokee County, December 2, 1881, his parents being Silas D. and Elizabeth (Griffin) Clark, who were of exactly the same age: The father was born in Indian Territory, while his parents, who were of Cherokee extraction, were natives of Georgia, being among the first of that tribe … Read more

Biography of Oliver C. Wilkerson

Oliver C. Wilkerson is one of the enterprising and progressive young business men of Washington County, his home being about three miles north of Dewey, where he resides with his parents. He was born at Claremore, Oklahoma, on the 5th of March, 1899, and is a son of Richard Wilkerson and a grandson of Thomas Wilkerson. The family are full-blooded Cherokees. Richard Wilkerson was born August 26, 1866, in the Choctaw Nation, his parents being Thomas and Lizzy (Tenewey) Wilkerson, both of whom were full-blooded Cherokees and were natives of Georgia. In childhood they were brought by the United States … Read more

Biography of John C. Duncan

John C. Duncan, a native son of Oklahoma and a member of one of the pioneer families of the state, is numbered among the progressive real estate operators of Ochelata and is a man of keen business discernment and sound judgment, who has attained high standing in commercial circles here. He was born in the southern part of the state, near Fort Smith, on the 20th of April, 1859, his parents being John and Elizabeth (Saunders) Duncan, the latter of whom removed from Georgia to Indian Territory with the Cherokee tribe, of which she was a member. The father was … Read more

Biography of Samuel H. Mayes

Since 1906 Samuel H. Mayes has resided in Pryor and he is numbered among the representative business men of the community. As President of the Mayes Mercantile Company he takes an active part in commercial circles and he has built up an extensive and steady patronage. He was born in Indian Territory at what was then known as Flint district, Cherokee Nation and is now Evansville, Adair County, on the 11th of May, 1845. His parents were Samuel and Nancy (Adair) Mayes. The maternal grandfather was Black-Wat Adair, one-half Cherokee and the maternal grandmother was named Thompson, and was of … Read more

Biography of Thomas Jefferson Ellis, Jr.

The Ellis family has figured conspicuously in connection with the pioneer development and later progress of Oklahoma, and Thomas Jefferson Ellis, Jr., is worthily sustaining the traditions of the name in this respect, being engaged in oil production work. He is also one of the leading agriculturists and stock raisers of northeastern Oklahoma and as President of the Ochelata State Bank is a dominant factor in financial circles here. He was born in Sedan, Kansas, December 16, 1881, and was but a year old when his parents, Thomas J. and Vera Allen (Smith) Ellis, came to Indian Territory. The father … Read more

Biography of Benjamin Franklin DeVan

One of the well known citizens of Nowata County is Benjamin Franklin DeVan, farmer and County commissioner, residing three miles northeast of Delaware. A native of Indiana, he was born in the central part of the state on the 10th of April, 1863. His father, John W., was a native of Kentucky and died when Benjamin Franklin was four years old. His mother, Nancy A. Childs, was born in Indiana, and is now living with a son, Sydney Little. He is a half brother of Mr. DeVan and is residing three and one-half miles southeast of him on the Verdigris … Read more

Biography of K. J. Montgomery

K. J. Montgomery, a progressive young business man, familiarly known as “Jack” to his many friends in Vinita, is numbered among the leading cattlemen of northeastern Oklahoma and worthily bears a name which for the past eighteen years has been synonymous with enterprise and integrity in business circles of Craig County. He is a native of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Cedar County on the 21st of January, 1887, and is a son of Thomas R. Montgomery, who was born in Tennessee. The father subsequently removed to the west, becoming the owner of one of the finest farms in … Read more

Biography of Napoleon Perrier

From pioneer times to the present the Perrier family has been an important factor in the development of the agricultural resources of Oklahoma and Napoleon Perrier, the owner of one of the largest and most productive farms in Osage county, has ably carried forward the work of tilling the soil, being recognized as one of the leading agriculturists of his part of the state. He was born near the Osage Mission, in Kansas, September 18, 1859, his parents being Peter and Catherine (Cadrick) Perrier, both of whom were of Osage extraction. In early life they lived in Kansas and in … Read more