Oklahoma

Biography of George P. McKinley

George R. McKinley, forceful and resourceful, has accomplished much in the way of improvement and progress in Bartlesville as well as in the advancement of his individual fortunes. He stands as a splendid type of American manhood and chivalry, recognizing and utilizing the opportunities for development in the west and building along lines of future needs as well as of present day demands. Mr. McKinley is a native of Kansas, his birth having occurred at Lawrence, February 24, 1869, his parents being James B. and Julia A. (Porter) McKinley. He was named for his grandfather, George McKinley, a native of … Read more

Biography of William H. Bell

Since 1918 William H. Bell has been holding the office of post-master of Pryor and he is carrying out to the best of his ability the duties devolving upon him as the incumbent in that office. He was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on the 2d of January, 1894, a son of William B. and Walburga (Muschawick) Bell, both of whom are living. The father is engaged in farming near Salina, Oklahoma, and the mother is residing in Waynoka, that state. Two sons and one daughter have been born to their union, William H. being the second in order of … Read more

Biography of Warren Butz

Warren Butz, chief deputy clerk of the United States courts at Muskogee, was born in Hope, Illinois, August 1, 1872, a son of J. K. and Rebecca (Tillotson) Butz. He matriculated in the Union Christian College, after completing his public school course and thus studied at Merom, Indiana, for a time, while later he became a student in the University of Illinois, his liberal educational training well qualifying him for life’s practical and responsible duties: He started out in the business world in connection with the engineering department of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad and in 1899 he conducted … Read more

Biography of Daniel H. Coodey

Although one of the younger representatives of journalistic interests in northeastern Oklahoma, Daniel H. Coodey has already won a well established position in newspaper circles of this part of the state as publisher of the Porum Journal, which he is making an up-to-date paper, carefully edited and devoted to the welfare of the district. He is a native son of Oklahoma, his birth having occurred in Porum on the 21st of July, 1901, and his parents are Daniel R. and Ella E. (Hodgins) Coodey, the former also a native of this state, while the latter was born in Mississippi. The … Read more

Biography of Fred B. Woodard

Fred B. Woodard, prominent member of the Washington County bar, residing at Dewey, has been a resident of this section of the state since 1898 and through the intervening period has left the impress of his individuality and ability upon the legal history of the commonwealth. A native of Indiana, his birth occurred in Parke County, near Bloomingdale, on the 21st of October, 1871, his parents being William Penn and Martha Ellen (Kelley) Woodard. The father’s birth occurred on a farm in Parke County, Indiana, which his father, Thomas Woodard, had entered from the government in pioneer times. The latter … Read more

Biography of R. L. Gordon

R. L. Gordon, the popular and efficient Mayor of Ochelata and a member of one of the prominent pioneer families of Oklahoma, was born just across the boundary line, in Kansas, April 4, 1891, his parents being W. H. and Sarah (Bolen) Gordon, the former a native of Kentucky, while the latter was born in Texas. The father journeyed, overland from Kentucky to Missouri and from that state made three round trips to Texas, also going by the over land route. He became a pioneer of Indian Territory and is now residing in Ochelata, where lie follows the carpenter’s trade, … Read more

Biography of Alfred J. Tayrien

From pioneer times until the present the name of Tayrien has figured prominently in connection with the development and up-building of Oklahoma and Alfred J. Tayrien, who represents the third generation of the family in this state, is actuated by the same spirit of progress and enterprise which dominated his for-bears, worthily bearing his part in the work of progress and advancement here. He was born in Osage County on the 17th of May, 1899, and is a son of Andrew, and Francis Tayrien, the latter May of Osage extraction. The father is also a native of Osage County, his … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Holder

Charles W. Holder, a well known and successful automobile dealer of Coweta, has the local agency for the Ford cars and tractors, in which connection he has built up a gratifying business. His birth occurred in Parkersburg, West Virginia, on the 24th of November, 1892, his parents being Walter W. and Virginia F. Holder, the former a native of Indiana, while the latter was born in West Virginia. Walter W. Holder came to the Indian Territory in 1888 and secured land three and a half miles from Stroud, where he devoted his attention to farming until 1899. In that year … Read more

Biography of C. C. Culver

One of the prominent residents of Nowata is C. C. Culver, proprietor of the Westview Jersey Farm and a breeder of registered stock. He was born at Girard, Erie County, Pennsylvania, on the 11th of March, 1876, and received his education in Crawford County, putting his textbooks aside after completing a business course. From that time until 1907 he engaged in the oil business, achieving substantial success, but in 1907 determined to dispose of his interests and come west. He had had some dairying experience in his early youth, his father, Si Culver, having been engaged in the dairy business … Read more

Biography of J. F. Dale

Since 1908 J. F. Dale has engaged in farming in Nowata County and he has won an enviable reputation among the representative agriculturists and stockmen in the state. A native of Arkansas, he was born in Baxter County, on the 23d of July, 1871, a son of James and Lucy Ann (Coker) Dale, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Dale located in Indian Territory in 1881 and on the 10th of March of that year moved onto their farm on the Verdigris River near Coodys Bluff. There they, resided for many years, … Read more

Biography of M. W. Burrows

Coming to Indian Territory in 1890, M. W. Burrows was for many years actively identified with oil development work in this state, but has recently purchased a farm in Cherokee County, Kansas, which he intends to devote to the raising of fruit. He was born in Newton County, Missouri, January 17, 1876, of the marriage of J. H. and Mary E. (Medlin) Burrows, both natives of that state. The father is seventy years of age and is now living in Cherokee County, Kansas. In 1890 he came to Indian Territory, locating near Copan, on the Little Caney River, and there … Read more

Biography of Frank S. Howard

One of the alert and enterprising business men of Baron, Oklahoma, is Frank S. Howard, who was born near Wauhillau, now in Adair County on the 30th, of January 1873. His father Frank Howard, was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on the 26th of November, 1840, and removed to Indian Territory in 1868 founding the town of Baron. In 1870 he was united in marriage to Sallie Starr, a daughter of Noon and Delilah Starr, the Starr family being one of the oldest Cherokee families in this section of the country. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Howard two children were … Read more

Biography of Amanda Payne Morgan Bell

The life history of Amanda Payne Morgan Bell, who formerly, served as County Superintendent of schools, will prove of interest to her many friends and acquaintances. She was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, her parents being Gideon and Mary L. (Payne) Morgan, the former born near Nashville, Tennessee, and of Cherokee Indian descent, while the mother’s birth occurred in Arkansas. In early life the father removed to Arkansas and eventually to Oklahoma, the train on which he was riding being the first to stop at Gibson Station, this state. Here he became a large planter and took a very active … Read more

Biography of John Mickels

John Mickels is a prominent farmer and stockman of Washington County, holding extensive interests in land, in cattle and in oil properties, while making his home in Bartlesville, where he occupies an attractive residence that is the visible evidence of his success in the management and control of his business affairs. Mr. Mickels is a native of the neighboring state of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Macon County September 1, 1877 and came to Bartlesville thirty-five years ago and throughout the intervening period has resided in this section of the state, taking active and helpful part in the development … Read more

Biography of William Nairn, M. D.

For thirty-five years Dr. William Nairn has been a resident of Nowata County, his residence here dating from 1882. While he has long stood in the front rank of his profession he has also become a prominent factor in agricultural circles and is now living on his farm three and one-half miles northwest of Alluwe. William Nairn was born in Jersey County, Illinois, on the 5th of December, 1848, a son of James and Susan (Barker) Nairn, the former a native of Georgia and the latter of Alabama. For some time James Nairn engaged in farming in his native state … Read more

Biography of Q. B. Boydstun

Q. B. Boydstun, attorney-at-law, practicing as a member of the firm of Mountecastle & Boydstun at Fort Gibson, Muskogee County, is a native son of Oklahoma, his birth having occurred at Caddo, Bryan County, December 8, 198. His parents were R. B. and A. R. (Massengill) Boydstun, the former a native of Tennessee, while the latter was born in Texas. The father is a rancher and stock-man, who came to the Indian Territory with his parents in the year 1872 and has since given his attention to the management of his ranch and to stock raising. For the past twenty-four … Read more

Biography of W. W. Powell

For the past two years W. W. Powell has been city attorney of Pryor. He ranks high among the prominent lawyers of the Oklahoma bar and he has built up a large and distinctively representative clientage. He has concentrated his time, energies and attention upon his professional duties and the work that he has done as advocate and counselor indicates clearly his familiarity with the principles of jurisprudence and an analytical power that enables him to correctly apply those principles to the question under consideration. He was born in Black Jack Hill, Arkansas, on the 31st of December, 1865, a … Read more

Biography of W. E. Campbell

The enterprise and energy which are leading to the rapid and substantial up-building of Washington County and other sections of Oklahoma find expression in the life record of W. E. Campbell, who is a merchant of the south, alert, energetic and farsighted. He came to this state from Missouri, his birth having occurred at Lexington, in Lafayette County, on the 4th of October, 1876. His father, Robert M. Campbell, was a native of Virginia and became one of the early settlers of Missouri, where he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits for a number of years. In 1890 he removed … Read more

Biography of H. V. Foster

No history of Oklahoma especially having to do with the development of the great oil industry in the state would be complete without extended reference to the Foster family. Their activities have been a most potent element in connection with the development of the natural resources of the southwest and I L and H. V. Foster maintains the family standard of activity, progressiveness, initiative, determination and sagacity in relation to business affairs. He is today President of the Indian Territory Illuminating Oil Company, with headquarters at Bartlesville and is the directing head of the company which controls the famous Foster … Read more

Biography of Alfred J. Smysor

Bartlesville owes much to the progressive spirit and notable business ability of Alfred J. Smysor, whose extensive real estate operations have been a dominant force in the up-building and development of the town, and he is also recognized as a successful merchant and oil operator. He was born in Windsor, Shelby County, Illinois, February 4, 1873, and there attended the grammar and high schools, later attending a business college. In 1893 he completed his studies and then became a member of the firm of Smysor & Son, of which his father was the head, continuing active in general l merchandising … Read more