A standard history of Oklahoma; an authentic narrative of its development from the date of the first European exploration down to the present time, including accounts of the Indian tribes, both civilized and wild, of the cattle range, of the land openings and the achievements of the most recent period, Vol. IV, Part 1

Author: Thoburn, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradfield), 1866-1941
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 656

USA > Oklahoma > A standard history of Oklahoma; an authentic narrative of its development from the date of the first European exploration down to the present time, including accounts of the Indian tribes, both civilized and wild, of the cattle range, of the land openings and the achievements of the most recent period, Vol. IV > Part 1

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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02302 5379

A Standard History

OKLAHOMA

An Authentic Narrative of its Development from the Date of the First European Exploration down to the Present Time, includ- ing Accounts of the Indian Tribes, both Civilized and Wild, of the Cattle Range, of the Land Openings and the Achievements of the most Recent Period

JOSEPH B. THOBURN

Assisted by a Board of Advisory Editors

V. 4

VOLUME IV

Gc 976.6 T35N V.4

ILLUSTRATED

THE AMERICAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY CHICAGO AND NEW YORK

1916

1535238

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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

HERBERT POSTEN WILSON, M. D. Back in 1900, when Wynnewood was one of the small but growing villages of the old Chickasaw Nation, Doctor Wilson identified him- self with the medical fraternity there and has since con- tinued in practice a period of fifteen years, being now one of the oldest physicians in this part of the state in point of continuous residence. He brought with him a thorough experience from Texas, where he had practiced for a number of years. Doctor Wilson is the type of physician who is not only progressive as to his own attainments and ability, but does much to promote the welfare of the community in which he lives.

He is a native of North Carolina, having been born at Rutherfordton in Rutherford County January 25, 1858. The Wilson ancestors came originally from Ireland and settled in Lauderdale County, North Carolina, and were residents in that section during colonial times. The doctor's father was William F. Wilson, who was born in Rutherford County, North Carolina, in 1833. He be- came a farmer and stockman, and from North Carolina he entered the Confederate army during the war between the states and served four years. He was wounded in the battle of Manassas. In 1870 he removed to Bethany, Tennessee, and in 1880 established his home in Denton County, Texas. He lived at Pilot Point for a number of years, but died while temporarily at St. Joe, Texas, in 1905. He was a democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The maiden name of his wife was Martha Stafford, who was born in North Carolina in 1835, and died at Altus, Oklahoma, in 1911. Their chil- dren were: Alice, wife of T. C. Price, a carpenter and builder at Pilot Point, Texas; Dr. Herbert P .; Ada, wife of T. Brown, a farmer at Altus, Oklahoma; H. N., who graduated M. D. from the Vanderbilt University at Nash- ville, and now lives at Dye, Texas, where in addition to his profession he is a merchant, farmer and stockman, and one of the leading citizens; Fannie is the widow of B. R. Newman, a former stockman, and she lives at Nocona, Texas; L. S., whose death occurred at Dye, Texas, was a stockman; Parthenia is the wife of Patten Cole, a cotton ginner at Altus, Oklahoma; Santippe is the wife of Judson Wilheit, a farmer at Altus; Andrew resides at Wynnewood, Oklahoma.

Doctor Wilson was twelve years of age when his par- ents removed to. Bethany, Tennessee, where he continued his early education in the common schools and in the Bethany Academy. After leaving that institution in 1877 he was a teacher in Tennessee until 1882 and then moved to Grayson County, Texas. For five years he was in the drug business in that section of the state, and in the meantime had definitely decided upon his future profession, and entered the Vanderbilt University at Nashville, where he was graduated M. D. in 1893. His

progressiveness in professional matters is indicated by the fact that he has since taken two post-graduate courses in the New Orleans Polyclinic and two in the Illinois Post-Graduate School at Chicago, where he specialized in surgery. The first year of practice was spent at Tom Bean in Grayson County, Texas, and after that he was located at St. Joe, Texas, until 1900.

In the fifteen years spent at Wynnewood Doctor Wil- son has acquired a large patronage and his skill as a surgeon has been especially appreciated. He is local surgeon for the Southland Cotton Oil Company. His offices are in the Wilson Building on Main Street, a build- ing that is one of his contributions to the material prog- ress of the community. He has served as president of the Garvin County Medical Society, was for nine years a councillor of the Oklahoma State Medical Society and is a member of the American Medical Association. At the present time he is serving as health officer of Garvin County.

In politics Doctor Wilson is a democrat. He is chair- man of the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Wynnewood and is a member and past master of Wynnewood Lodge No. 40, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and has taken eighteen degrees in the Scottish Rite Valley of Guthrie Consistory No. 1.

While living in Tennessee in 1880 Doctor Wilson mar- ried Miss Naomi Hughey, whose father, H. H. Hughey, now deceased, was a farmer. Their one daughter, Bea- trice, is the wife of George L. Bradfield, who is cashier of the State National Bank of Wynnewood.

PRESTON SMITH LESTER. As a lawyer, public official, and democratic leader, Preston S. Lester has for many years been identified with the City of McAlester and is now the postmaster of that city.

Of Southern birth and antecedents, Preston S. Lester was born in Wilson County, Tennessee, September 6, 1864, a son of P. B. Lester, Sr., who was a wholesale merchant at Nashville for many years, but died at Mc- Alester, Oklahoma. The son was reared in Nashville, read law in the office of Moss & Maline at Nashville, and was admitted to the bar in 1887. After practicing in his native state until February 18, 1889, he removed to Muskogee, and established himself in practice under the firm name of Blair and Lester. His senior partner and associate was Frank P. Blair, son of the noted Missourian, Frank P. Blair, whose name is found in every history of the Civil war period. In 1890 the partners divided their business, maintaining offices both in Ardmore and Me- Alester, and later they dissolved partnership when Mr. Blair removed to Chicago. Mr. Lester has since engaged in a large practice as a lawyer at MeAlester, handling

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criminal, civil and commercial law cases, but does not take any business involving land titles.

From 1902 to 1907 Mr. Lester served as private secre- tary to Governor MeCurtain of the old Choctaw Nation. Ile was chairman of the first board of county commis- sioners of Pittsburg County, having been appointed to that position by the Coustitutional Convention, his other associates on the first board being H. C. Rowly and Judge John P. Couner. These commissioners organized the county, provided for townships, commission districts and voting precinets. Mr. Lester continued to serve on the board uutil the first regular election, and in 1912 was again elected county commissioner for two years, resigning that office to become postmaster of MeAlester. He was also chairman of the first County Central Com- mittee after statehood. As an active democrat he has served frequently in local, state and natioual conventions, and was presidential elector from the Fourth Congres- sional District during the last Bryan campaign. Mr. Lester was appointed postmaster at MeAlester, October 1, 1913, and took charge of the office November 1, 1913. On the first of the following year he moved into the new postoffice building, which was built at a cost of $162,000. The McAlester postoffice is oue of the largest in the state, having thirty employes, including six city carriers and three rural carriers. Mr. Lester also owus a farm south of MeAlester and employs the land for general agricultural purposes. He is a live citizen and always identifies himself with progressive movements in both the city and county.

RICHARD NICOLDS. On the theory that his own tutor- ship would prove of more value than that provided in the common schools of the day in the old Choctaw Nation, the father of Richard Nicolds never permitted his son to attend school. The young man, however, received a fin- ished education at home and in his father's office, taking law in addition to his literary course. When the literary education was completed, Edward F. Nicolds determined that his son should acquire more physical strength and he purchased a farm near the Town of Caddo, where the family lived, and there the young man learned the art of agriculture. He remained on the farm for five years, experimenting with various kinds of crops and livestock, and thereafter retained the farm as an inheritance from his father. At this time, however, Mr. Nicolds is enjoy- ing an interesting practice in the City of Durant.

Mr. Nicolds was born May 24, 1888, in Collin County, Texas. His father, a native of Missouri, moved into Western Texas before the days of railroads in that section. He is a successful lawyer in Texas now, living at Abilene. In 1901 he moved his family to Caddo, Indian Territory, and there remained for thirteen years, and then he moved back to Abilene, Texas. He is a son of Richard W. Nicolds, a Confederate major in the Civil war, who served with General Hood's brigade. He was a man of high intellectual attainments, and was a native son of Virginia. ' Edward Nicolds married Minnie H. Hollis, the daughter of Dr. T. H. Hollis, who was a surgeon in the Confederate army. The family is one that first came into American prominence in revolution- ary days, and Hollis Hall at Harvard University was named for one of the name. Two brothers in the paternal ancestry of Richard Nicolds came to America prior to the Revolution, and during that period of stress and strain one of them was allied with the British and the other with the Colonists. Before the war was ended the former was captured and hanged, whereupon the latter chose a new name for himself in a new land. The original name was Olds and his Christian name was Nicholas. Detaching some of the letters from the latter,

he evolved the name of Nicolds, and so the family has been known down to the present time.

Until he reached the age of twelve Richard Nicolds was taught by a governess. After that time he began studying in his father's office, and there he completed his education, as has already been said. At the age of twenty-five he was appointed deputy clerk of the District Court of Bryan County, a position he held for two years, when he was admitted to the bar and began practice. on his own initiative. In his law class before the State Bar Commission was Walter Turnbull, who later was endorsed by a majority of leading men of the Choctaw Nation for governor of that tribe.

Mr. Nicolds is a member of the Episcopal Church, the County and State Bar associations, and the Durant and Bryan County Democratic clubs. He is secretary of the Bryan County Fair Association and has been a leader in its organization and development, his activities being confined largely to the creating of interest in exhibits among the farmers. During his administration as secretary the association's most successful meet was held.

Mr. Nicolds is secretary of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, but has no other fraternal affil- iations.

GEORGE W. GOODWIN. A resident of what is now the State of Oklahoma for a period of nearly twenty years, Mr. Goodwin has gained secure prestige as one of the able and successful members of the bar of this common- wealth, has been prominent in connection with civic and industrial development and progress, has exemplified the best civic and professional ideals and has gained distinct popular approbation by reason of his efforts to conserve the best interests of the state of his adoption. He is engaged in the practice of his profession at Cleveland, Pawnee County, and in the fall of 1914 was elected representative of that county in the Fifth Legislature. Concerning a specially effective work in which he played an important part in the legislative session of 1915, the following statements are apropos and bear their own significance :

"As chairman of the committee of the House of Rep- resentatives that made an investigation of the official acts of the State Insurance Commissioner and then recon- mended the impeachment of this official, Representative Goodwin became an influential figure in the leadership of the movement instituted by the Democratic party in Oklahoma to rid the party of undesirable officeholders and to establish a party policy demanding clean men in office, with the purpose of insuring thereby a clean and honest administration of public affairs in the State. The report of the Goodwin committee was adopted by the House of Representatives, the speaker of which thereupon named Mr. Goodwin as chief of the board of managers of the . house assigned to conduct the prosecution of the insur- ance commissioner before the Senate as a court of im- peachment."

A representative of sterling old Southern lineage, Mr. Goodwin claims the Bluegrass State as the place of his nativity and his father, who was born in Virginia, be- came a substantial farmer and influential citizen of Callaway County, Kentucky, the parents of his wife hav- ing been members of pioneer families of that common- wealth. He whose name introduces this review was born near Murray, Callaway County, Kentucky, on the 27th of October, 1869, aud is a son of James and Millie Ann (White) Goodwin. Mr. Goodwin continued his studies in the public schools of his native state until he had completed the curriculum of the high school at Fulton, and thereafter he devoted five years to effective service

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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

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in the pedagogic profession, as a popular teacher in the schools of Kentucky. Thereafter he passed one year at Rockwall, Texas, and in 1897 he established his residence at Colbert, Indian Territory, where he engaged in the practice of law, after having previously given careful attention to technical study under effective private pre- ceptorship and having been admitted to the bar atter leaving Kentucky. From Colbert he later removed to Sterritt, another of the thriving towns of the present County of Bryan, Oklahoma, and there he continued in the practice of his profession four years, besides having served one time as mayor of the progressive little city. He became recognized as one of the leading lawyers of what is now Bryan County, and in a professional way was closely associated at various times with Hon. Robert L. Williams, of Durant, who later became governor of the state. In 1907, the year that marked the admission of Oklahoma as one of the sovereign states of the Union, Mr. Goodwin removed to Cleveland, Pawnee County, where he has since continued in the active and successful practice of law and where he served for several terms as city attorney. Since 1914 he has been associated in practice with Thomas C. Smith, under the title of Good- win & Smith, and the firm controls a large and repre- sentative law business.

A zealous and able exponent of the principles of the democratic party, Mr. Goodwin has been influential in its councils in Oklahoma, and in November, 1914, he was elected representative of Pawnee County in the Lower House of the Fifth Legislature. He was appointed a member of the committee to which was assigned the duty of investigating the judicial and executive departments of the state government, and during the session of the Legislature he devoted much time and consideration to the work of this important committee, besides having been zealous in his advocacy of measures tending to ad- vance and protect the interests of the oil and gas indus- try, one of his effective services in this connection having been in his earnest championship of the oil-conservation bill, which was enacted by the Fifth Legislature. His efforts in this connection were the more consistent in view of the fact that he is representative from a section of the state in which the oil and gas industry is one of paramount importance. Mr. Goodwin is a member of the Oklahoma State Bar Association and the Pawnee County Bar Association, is affiliated with, and has held important official positions in, the Knights of Pythias, the Loyal Order of Moose, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Praetorians and holds membership in the Chris- tian Church. Mrs. Goodwin, his wife, is one of the progressive club women of Cleveland, a leader in the representative social activities of the community, state chairman of the Art Committee, and an artist of much talent. She was graduated from St. Joseph's Academy and studied also in the Kidd-Key College, at Sherman, Texas, and later received a diploma from a leading school of art in the City of Chicago. She also taught art.

In 1902 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Goodwin to Miss May Shaw, at Bonham, Texas. They have no children.

ALBERT WESLEY LEWIS. Of the men who are devoting their energies to the promotion of large business inter- ests at Dacoma, Albert Wesley Lewis, manager and treasurer of the Dacoma Lumber Company and of the Dacoma Grain Company, is one of the most prominent. He has been a resident of this city since 1904, and since that time has participated in all movements that have made for its growth and development, at the same time contributing of his abilities in managing its civic affairs.

Mr. Lewis was born on a farm in Iowa County, Iowa,

July 19, 1867, and is a son of William Wesley and Susan Jane (Rogers) Lewis. His father was born in the City of Cincinnati, Ohio, of Scotch ancestry, and has spent his entire career in agricultural pursuits. As a young man he removed to Iowa, where he resided until 1877, in that year removing to Kansas and locating on Govern- ment land in Pratt County. There he served as post- master of the Town of Naron for eight years, and dur- ing 1879 and 1880, in the turbulent period regarding the location of the county seat, was a member of the board of county commissioners. In 1888, with his fam- ily, he removed to "No Man's Land," a strip ceded to the United States by Texas in 1850, for many years without any government, and now constituting Beaver County, Oklahoma, where he handled cattle on the open range. In 1892 Mr. Lewis participated in the opening of the Sac and Fox Indian Reservation, taking claims with his four sons in what is now Lincoln County, where he continued to be engaged in farming for nine years. At the end of that time he moved to Alva, where he is now living in comfortable retirement. Mr. Lewis was married in 1850 to Miss Susan Jane Rogers, who was born March 13, 1837, in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Samuel Rogers, a native of the Keystone State. Five sons and four daughters were born to this union, as fol- lows: Ida, who is the wife of Henry Burns, of Prague, Oklahoma ; Margaret, who is the wife of W. R. Dennison, of Alva, Oklahoma; Dewey, a resident of Meeker, Okla- homa; Austin, who lives at Carmen, Oklahoma; George, who died in infancy; Columbus W., of Hardtner, Kan- sas; Albert Wesley, of this notice; Carrie, who married in 1893 John Godfrey, and died in 1911 at South Green- field, Missouri; and Laura, who died in 1910 at Pawnee, Oklahoma, as the wife of Charles Stevens.

The public schools of Pratt County, Kansas, furnished Albert Wesley Lewis with his educational training, and he grew up in the atmosphere of the farm. He was twenty-one years of age when he accompanied his par- ents to "No Man's Land,"' so that he may be said to be something more than a pioneer of Oklahoma. Later he was one of the first settlers of what is now Lincoln County, Oklahoma, himself proving up land, and for a number of years thereafter divided his time between farming and teaching in the public schools. In 1900 Mr. Lewis entered the employ of Crowell Brothers, at Alva, with whom he thoroughly initiated himself into the mysteries of the grain and lumber business, and in 1904 was sent by his employers to Dacoma, to open a branch lumber yard, this city having since been his home. In 1908 was established the Dacoma Grain Company, which, in 1914, handled almost 1,000,000 bushels of wheat, the officers of this large concern being: George W. Crowell, president; George Weaber, secretary, and Albert W. Lewis, manager and treasurer. The Dacoma Lumber Company was organized in 1913, with main office at Dacoma and branch yard at Hopeton, Oklahoma, the officers of this enterprise being the same as those of the Dacoma Grain Company. Mr. Lewis is recognized as an energetic, capable business man of shrewd foresight and excellent judgment. His management of the interests of the large firms which he represents has been progressive and efficient and his associates have had every reason to place the utmost confidence in him. While his business interests have been heavy, entailing constant attention and heavy responsibility, he has found time to aid in civic government, and for eight years has served capably as mayor of Dacoma. He is a warm friend and sup- porter of education, and during twenty years has been a member of school boards at various places in Okla- homa. Fraternally, Mr. Lewis is a Royal Arch Mason

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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

and a member of the Odd Fellows. He and the members of his family belong to the United Brethren Church.

On October 9, 1888, at Englewood, Kansas, Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Mary B. Kees, who was born Sep- tember 17, 1870, in Ohio, daughter of A. W. Kees, of Gate, Oklahoma. At the time of their marriage, the young couple were living in "No Man's Land, " where there were no courts of record, nor clergy, and Mr. Lewis and his bride went to Englewood, Kansas, to have the ceremony officially and legally solemnized. They are the parents of four children: William R., born August 23, 1890, married December 25, 1910, Miss Josie B. Frye, born in Iowa, July 17, 1890, and they have two chil- dren-Albert William, born August 28, 1912, and Audrie, born January 20, 1915; Nettie, born December 8, 1892, married in 1911 W. F. Hiatt, and has two children- Eldora and Walter; Erdice, born February 25, 1894, died May 25, 1910; and Miss Alta Maud, born September 9, 1898, lives with her parents.

JAMES P. BATTENBERG. It has been during the administration of James P. Battenberg as superintend- ent of public schools at Atoka that the high school has been fully developed and affiliated with the University of Oklahoma. Under his administration the first class graduated from a fully accredited four-year high school, the first organized form of athletics was established and the first high school orchestra founded. The number of teachers grew from ten when he came to sixteen in 1915, including a special instructor in music and violin and a special instructor in high school music.

The advent to Atoka of Professor Battenberg, a col- lege man from Indiana, seemed a necessary inspiration to the educational interests of the community and it was at a time shortly after statehood, when the greatest period of educational progress in the new state was beginning. His athletic teams became identified with the State Athletic Association; his basketball and base- ball teams made enviable records, securing victories over those from such cities as Dallas and Muskogee; these teams assumed a part of the Young Men's Christian Association burden of the town and played an important part in building and equipping the Young Men's Chris- tian Association club house. The musical talent of Mr. Battenberg developed a high school orchestra that acquired more than a local reputation. That talent also made him a musical leader in the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member and of no little assistance in the musical entertainments of the church, as well as of the other churches of Atoka. It also brought him, in 1915, the appointment as director of the orchestra of the summer school of the Southeastern State Normal School, at Durant, by virtue of which he became for that term a member of the normal faculty. The major part of the development of his musical gifts was during his seven years as a student in the Muncie (Indiana) Conservatory of Music, where his favorite instruments were the saxaphone and clarinet.

Mr. Battenberg was born at Decatur, Indiana, Janu- ary 12, 1889, and is a son of Charles A. and Elmira (Bobo) Battenberg. His father, who is a native of Germany, has for years been a prominent manufacturer of Decatur. A brother of Mr. Battenberg's mother, James Bobo, was for a number of years chief justice of the Supreme Court of Indiana and once a candidate for governor of the Hoosier State, and Paul Hooper, a half- brother of Mr. Battenberg's mother, is a prominent lawyer and politician of Decatur. The brothers and sisters of Mr. Battenberg are: Mrs. W. A. McBride, Jr., of Atoka, who was a teacher before statehood in the federal Indian schools of Indian Territory; Mrs.

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Author: Thoburn, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradfield), 1866-1941 Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The American Historical Society Number of Pages: 656

Author: Thoburn, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradfield), 1866-1941
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 656