A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume II, Part 15

Author: Hill, L. B. (Luther B.)
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 810

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In 1876 Dr. Callaway married Miss Fran- ces E. Clemens, at Sycamore, Texas, and the children born to them are: John R., now a physician and surgeon in the Indian serv- ice of the federal government, stationed at Mescalero, New Mexico; Ethel E., wife of W. W. Howerton, postmaster of Foster, Ohio; Lillian M., Mrs. F. L. Armstrong, of Boise City, Idaho; and Frances E. and Viv- ian, living at home.

JAY WHITTINGTON TWIGGS, county clerk of Garvin county, was for several years a resi- dent of Wallville, and is among the most popular, intelligent and substantial of Okla- homa's new citizens. Since coming to Pauls Valley to assume his official duties he has gained a strong phalanx of political sup- porters and close friends, his prompt and business-like methods, with his unfailing courtesy, having earned him an official posi- tion both firm and pleasant. Mr. Twiggs

is a native of Benton county, Arkansas, born in the month of April, 1872, being a son of Alfred and Alta (Freeman) Twiggs. His father is a farmer, and he was reared in an agricultural community. The boy laid the foundation of his thorough education in the village schools of Elm Springs, Arkansas, graduating from the academy of that place in the class of 1895. Later he enjoyed a creditable period of teaching-which is really his chosen profession.

At Logan, Arkansas, Mr. Twiggs engaged in the drug and grocery business, and later commenced the raising of cattle, sheep and hogs at that place. He made a pronounced success of the live-stock business, and in 1904 located at Wallville, Garvin county, there returning to his educational work as well as engaging in general merchandise. In fact, he has shown in a marked degree that trait so essential to the really useful citizen of the western country-the ability and the inclination to adapt himself to cir- cumstances and different communities. His record and his personality were so acceptable to the people of his residence town and coun- ty that in the first general election of 1907 he was chosen county clerk, assuming his duties on the 16th of November of that year. His wife was formerly Miss America Robbins, and their child is Effie Agnes Twiggs.

MOSES MARION LEDFORD. Numbered among the original householders of the com- paratively new town of Stratford is Moses M. Ledford, a well known and highly es- teemed citizen, who has the distinction of being the first postmaster of the place, an ' office which he is still filling with ability and fidelity, his trustworthiness being recognized and appreciated by his numerous patrons. A native of North Carolina, he was born, March 10, 1842, in Yancey county, but re- members nothing of life in the east, as his parents removed to Missouri when he was a child, locating near Springfield, Greene county.

Attending the public schools of Spring- field, Missouri, Moses M. Ledford acquired a practical education, by close attention to his books, also winning a reputation for in- telligence and ability. In 1862, responding cheerfully to his country's call, Mr. Ledford enlisted as a soldier in the Sixth Missouri Cavalry, and at the expiration of his term re-enlisted in the Fourteenth Missouri Cav- alry. In these regiments, he served in the

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

Union army from 1862 until 1865, in the meantime seeing much active and severe service in bushwhacking warfare. Among the numerous engagements in which he took part were the capture of Little Rock, the battle at Duvalls Bluff, Arkansas, the skirmish at Sedalia, Missouri, and was like- wise in various actions against Price's raid- ers.

Returning to Missouri at the close of the war, Mr. Ledford was employed in general farming and stock-raising for a few years, first in that state and then in Kansas, where he located in 1868, buying land in Linn coun- ty. Going to Texas in 1870, he there con- tinued his agricultural labors for a year, when, in 1821, he crossed into the Indian Territory, and as a pioneer ranchman in the Chickasaw Nation met with good success. His influence became felt in public affairs while he was a resident of McGee, and when the town of Stratford was in a formative condition, before ever a building was pre- pared for its postoffice, he was appointed its postmaster, and for a short time carried the mail in a sack from the older town of McGee to Stratford, and did a curbstone dis- tribution to the inhabitants. He has now a thoroughly equipped and well regulated of- fice, which he supervises most intelligently and satisfactorily.

While a resident of Missouri, Mr. Ledford married Miss Sally Ruffin, and to them seven children have been born, namely : Geary, wife of C. L. Hart, of South Dakota ; Laura C., wife of W. L. Simpson ; Kirk, John, Moses L., Ada, and James Allen.

MORRIS FENTON BAYLESS. In no town of its size, whether in the east, on the Pacific Coast, or in the great middle west, can there be found a greater proportion of live, stirring, brainy men, full of vim and enterprise, than are assembled in Stratford, one of the newer towns of Garvin county. One of the fore- most of these progressive citizens is Morris F. Bayless, cashier of the First National Bank. A son of James M. and Maggie E. (Morris) Bayless, he was born, July 11, 1883, in Cassville, Barry county, Missouri, where he received a good common school education.

Although reared to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Bayless did not find farming exactly congenial to his tastes, and while yet a youth turned his attention to financial matters. Coming to Sulphur, Indian Territory, he ac- cepted the position of assistant cashier in a

bank, and while there acquired an extensive knowledge of the details of banking. While the town of Stratford was in the process of construction, Mr. Bayless foresaw its future possibilities, which depended largely upon the completion of the Oklahoma Central Railroad, and located here. He immediately lent his assistance in the organizing of the First National Bank of Stratford, was made a director, and also the cashier, a responsible position that he has since retained. This is one of the permanent institutions of the new town, and it was largely through the efforts of Mr. Bayless that the new brick structure in which it is located was built. Mr. Bayless has been especially active in promoting business industries for the com- munity, and is secretary of the Commercial Club.

Mr. Bayless married Ethel Baker, of Paris, Texas, and they have one son, Robert M. Bayless. Mr. Bayless is very much inter- ested in promoting the growth of Stratford, and has been largely instrumental in having the following description of the city circu- lated through the country :

Stratford, Oklahoma, located on the Okla- homa Central Railroad, twenty-three miles from Ada, is situated in the heart of what is known as "The richest agricultural section of Central Oklahoma." The completion of the Oklahoma Central Railroad through this rich section has caused the building of a "brand-new" town of one thousand inhabi- tants within eighteen months.

The inland towns have centralized at Stratford, making her a good one from the start. Stratford is twenty-one miles from a town that is her superior. Stratford's first residence and business-house was completed in September, 1906. It now has a popula- tion aggregating one thousand.

That Stratford will have a population of three thousand within three years from the date of her birth is doubted by no one who thoughtfully stops and thinks of the thou- sands and thousands of acres of rich soil, which is of a black sandy loam, that lies tributary to her. With Stratford's natural advantages, and the push and energy that represents her, she is bound to become one of the principal commercial towns of Sunny Oklahoma.

If you are looking for a business location of any kind, now is the time to get in on the ground floor. The Stratford Commercial Club solicits correspondence.

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

The old town of McGee was started some fifteen years ago, the site being about two miles from the present site of Stratford. When the Oklahoma Central Railroad was completed to Chickasha, the town of Strat- ford was started and the town of McGee was practically moved here, with most of its buildings, etc. The population of Mc- Gee was about 400, and formerly there was a large amount of business transacted there. It was a sort of "stamping-ground" of the early cattlemen, being situate in a fertile, grassy section.

JOE ANDERSON EDWARDS. The prosperity of the enterprising little city of Stratford is due almost entirely to the sagacious fore- sight, wisdom and progressive spirit of a few of its original settlers, prominent among the number being Joe Anderson Edwards. A man of intellectual ability and scholarly attainments, possessing decided force of character, he was formerly noted through- out this part of Garvin county as an edu- cator, and is now widely known as a skillful and successful attorney-at-law. He was born, May 2, 1859, in Etowah county, Ala- bama, a son of Colonel William Henry and Parthenia (Smith) Edwards. Colonel Ed- wards was for many years one of the lead- ing men of his state, being distinguished as a litterateur, a man of superior business qualifications, and as a citizen of conspicuous ability and worth. During the Civil war he served as a colonel in the Confederate serv- ice. He was influential in public affairs, and served in both houses of the Alabama legis- lature, first as representative and then as senator.

Acquiring his early education in the pub- lic schools of Chepultepec, Blount county, Alabama, Joe A. Edwards subsequently con- tinued his studies, fitting himself for a pro- fessional career. On leaving home, he went first to Cooke county, Texas, where he served for a time as a member of the board of examiners to admit candidates to the bars of Cooke and Montague counties. He after- wards taught school in Cooke county, being there employed as a teacher in 1898, subse- quently teaching just across the border, in the town of Elk, in the Indian Territory. From Elk, Mr. Edwards came to McGee, where he continued for awhile as an edu- cator, and was there licensed to practice law in the Indian Territory before the United States district courts. In 1905 Mr. Edwards was admitted to practice in the courts of the

five civilized tribes, and at the time of state- hood became eligible to practice before all of the courts of the state.

In the administration of municipal affairs, Mr. Edwards has always been a leader, and has served most efficiently and satisfactorily as city attorney, as alderman, and as mayor of the city. He is an influential member of the Woodmen of the World, being business manager for this district, formerly Indian Territory, with headquarters at Stratford.

Mr. Edwards married, March 11, 1883, Anna Lorinda Gardner, and they are the parents of nine children, namely: Parthena K., born May 7, 1885, married J. Fred Grif- fin and has one daughter, Marguerite ; Ethel L., born July 6, 1887, married Robt. E. Carleton and has two children, William Augustus and Paul ; Bessie, born August 27, 1889, married Joseph Eldridge and has one son, Simeon A .; Joseph E., born August 22, 1891; Alta L., born December 2, 1893; Earl J., born January 9, 1895 ; Frederick O., born August 22, 1897; Cecil W., born April 25, 1902; Floyd M., born May 17, 1905.

WILLIAM GARLAND BURKS. A young man of decided energy, activity and push, Wil- liam G. Burks is conspicuously identified with the mercantile interests of Maysville, Garvin county, as a hardware merchant, and, as treasurer of the Commercial Club of this city, is an important factor in promoting its material growth and prosperity. He has the distinction of being one of the comparative- ly few business men of Oklahoma that are native-born citizens, his birth having oc- curred, February 10, 1886, at Pauls Valley. He is a son of John W. and Hannah (Waite) Burks, and on his mother's side is a direct descendant of Smith Paul, one of the first prominent settlers of the Washita Valley, and the one in whose honor Pauls Valley was named.

Completing the course of study in the pub- lic schools, William G. Burks afterwards attended the preparatory academy at Honey Grove, Texas, the Agricultural and Mechan- ical College at Stillwater, Oklahoma, the Metropolitan Business College at Dallas, Texas, and the St. Louis University, at St. Louis, Missouri. Thus well equipped by education as well as by birth and inheritance for an active career, Mr. Burks, in partner- ship with Mr. B. C. Elliott, embarked in the hardware business at Maysville, and in this. new town this young and enterprising firm has established a model plant for success-

JOE. Edwards

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

fully carrying a hardware trade. Their store has a fine stock of everything required in an establishment of this kind, and they are conducting their already growing business in a manner that bids fair to give them splendid returns in the near future, their patronage being large and remunerative, even now.

RUMLEY AND LAWSON. The medical fra- ternity of Maysville is finely represented by the two capable physicians and surgeons whose names appear at the head of this sketch, the firm of Rumley and Lawson, although comparatively new, being quite well known in this part of Garvin county.

James Carroll Rumley, the senior member of the firm, was born in Leslie, Searcy coun- ty, Arkansas, January 8, 1872, a son of Henry N. and Mary (Hatchett) Rumley. Receiv- ing a practical education in the public schools of Arkansas, he went to Nashville, Tennes- see, to pursue the study of medicine, entering the medical department of the University of Tennessee, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D., in 1896. Locating then in Blaine, Indian Territory, Dr. Rumley remained there in active practice of his pro- fession for two years. The following year he spent at Keokuk Falls, Oklahoma, after which he returned to Blaine, and there con- tinued as a successful physician and surgeon until coming, in 1907, to Maysville. Enter- ing then into partnership with Dr. Lawson, he has here built up an excellent patronage, by his superior skill and ability winning to an eminent degree the faith and good will of his numerous patients. Dr. Rumley is a close student, keeping well informed in re- gard to modern methods used in medicine and surgery. He did post-graduate work at the Nashville City Hospital, there acquiring valuable experience. He is a member of both the Oklahoma State Medical Society and the Washita Valley Medical Society, and is con- nected with the public affairs of Maysville as a member of the Commercial Club. In Tamaha, Oklahoma, in 1902, Dr. Rumley married Minnie B. Turner, a woman of cul- ture and refinement.

As junior member of the firm of Rumley and Lawson, John S. Lawson, M. D., is in- timately associated with the medical inter- ests of Maysville, and as a young man of en- terprise and ambition, with an excellent knowledge of diseases, their cause and treat- ment, is achieving success in his professional career. A son of Jasper B. and Effie (South-

ern) Lawson, he was born, December 25, 1871, in Cherokee county, Georgia.

Spending the days of his boyhood and youth in his native state, John S. Lawson acquired a substantial elementary education in its public schools. Turning his attention as a young man to the study of medicine, he was graduated, with the degree of M. D., from the medical department of the Univer- sity of Tennessee, at Nashville, with the class of 1901. Locating immediately after- wards at Sansbois, Indian Territory, Dr. Lawson practiced there for awhile, and then opened an office at McCurtain, where he was successfully employed in his professional labors until 1905. In that year the doctor came to the new town of Maysville, and after practicing successfully alone for a time formed a partnership with Dr. James C. Rumley, and under the firm name of Rumley and Lawson has since carried on a note- worthy business, having established an ex- tensive and remunerative practice. Dr. Law- son is fond of field sports, finding recreation and pleasure in both hunting and fishring.

THEODORE DEHON WAGNER. Ranking high' among the most solid and substantial men of Lindsay is Theodore DeHon Wagner, who has been prominent in the affairs of the community during the past decade, and is now rendering excellent service as mayor of the city, filling the chair for the second term. A son of Rev. Edwin A. and Eliza Catherine Wagner, he was born May 31, 1860, in Texas, where his father, an Episco- pal minister, was a pioneer settler. Brought up in his native state, he was educated most- ly under private tutors, completing his stud- ies under Col. F. S. Bass, of the Marshall Military Academy, at Marshall, Texas.

When ready to begin life on his own ac- count, Mr. Wagner entered the employ of the Texas and Pacific Railroad Company, and was connected with its operating depart- ment from 1872 until 1880, having his head- quarters at Marshall, Texas. During that period, however, he was an operator for the Western Union Telegraph Company, and in 1875 and 1876, during the time of revolution in Mexico, was telegraphic reporter for the Galveston News, serving under Edward Ry- an, telegraph editor of that paper. Subse- quently embarking in agricultural pursuits, he bought land in western Texas, and, al- though at first his prospects for future suc- cess were bright, fortune turned against him, and he gave up ranching. He was after-

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

wards temporarily employed in railroad work until 1890, when he settled at Wichita Falls, Texas, where he was engaged in the real estate business for seven years. In 1897 Mr. Wagner, following in the footsteps of the gold prospectors, went to the Klondike coun- try, but his success did not warrant his stay- ing more than a year.

Returning to the States in 1898, Mr. Wag- ner made his advent in the Indian Territory, locating in the Chicasaw Nation, at Pauls Valley, where he built up an extensive bus- iness as a dealer in real estate. Coming from there to Lindsay in 1901, he has since been very influential in the administration of public matters, and has twice been elected mayor of the city, a fact that speaks for itself of his efficiency as a public official. Mr. Wagner married, in 1888, Miss Fannie Joy, daughter of C. G. Joy, a prosperous mer- chant of Decatur, Texas, and to them four children have been born, namely : Edwin A., Theodore Joy, Eliza Catherine, and Charles Gore. The eldest died in infancy.

Lindsay, the bustling, thriving village of which Mr. Wagner is mayor, has a beautiful and advantageous location in the Washita Valley, about twenty-five miles northwest of Pauls Valley and thirty miles southeast of Chickasha, at the meeting point of two great railways, the Santa Fe and the Rock Island. Coming here in December, 1901, to take charge of the establishment of this town, Mr. Wagner began the work of plat- ting it as soon as possible, and in January. 1902, the Laidlaw Lumber Company erected an office, the first building erected in the place, locating it in the midst of a field of corn and sunflower stalks. Other build- ings sprang up as if by magic, R. A. Diggs, associated with the Bell-Walker Hardware Co., of Wynnewood, stocking a box "shack" with hardware and groceries and becoming the first merchant, while the first hostelry, the "Hotel De Wagner," was completed, and under the management of "Dad Sanders" be- came the shelter of as an incongruous a group of people as could well be gathered under one roof. On July 1, 1902, a train on the Santa Fe Railroad reached Lindsay, the first to enter its precincts, and the town was connected with the outside world by bands of steel.

With its one mixed train a day, Lindsay grew steadily and surely, and in the fall of that year, on account of its shipments of cotton, corn, wheat, oats, alfalfa, cattle and

hogs, began to make itself known in the com- mercial world. The following year many fine rock and brick residences were erected, the Rock Island here met the Santa Fe, giv- ing to Lindsay the benefit of two railway systems, and the fall trade of 1903 exceeded that of 1902 by about five hundred per cent, the bales of cotton, alone, being increased from eight hundred to four thousand bales, and other shipments in like proportion. In 1904 this amount of cotton had been in- creased to ten thousand bales, with other products falling not a whit behind. The corn field of 1902 has since been transformed into a splendid little city, being now, in 1908, one of the most active and enterprising villages of its size to be found in the youngest state of the Union, if not in the whole Union. It is provided with substantial banks, mercan- tile establishments of all kinds, hotels that compare favorably with any in Oklahoma, a fine public-school system, beautiful resi- dences, factories, elevators, warehouses, gins, churches of all denominations, in fact, em- ployment, enjoyment and comfort in every walk of life being here conspicuous. Gen. John C. Fremont, in his report to the United States government in 1849, said: "If the Garden of Eden is on the western hemis- phere it is in the Washita valley."

This description of Lindsay was given, in thought, by Mr. Wagner, in a pamphlet is- sued by him a few years ago, in which he in- vited people of enterprise to here make in- vestments of both time and money, no mat- ter what their line of business, agriculturists, merchants, manufacturers, mechanics, and promoters alike being needed, and good re- turns for money and labor being assured. Hundreds of people have taken advantage of favorable openings in different avenues of . trade and business, and few have been disap- pointed, the growth of Lindsay having been healthful from the first, owing largely to the superior executive ability and enterprise of Mr. Wagner, who has devoted his time, energies and money to its advancement.

MILLER AND SHANKS. Numbered among the prosperous business men of Lindsay, Garvin county, is the well known and busy firm of Miller and Shanks, who, as propri- etors of a livery stable, and as dealers in horses, mules and cotton, are carrying on a thriving business. The firm is composed of two energetic, capable men, James L. Miller, and his son-in-law. James S. Shanks, who, by their industry and perseverance are lending

HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

material aid in developing and advancing the growth of both town and county.

James L. Miller was born, August 27. 1836, in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, a son of Thomas S. and Elizabeth (Isley) Miller. His father, a millwright by trade, migrated with his family from Indiana to Missouri, in 1853, going overland before the days of railroads to Macon county, where he bought land, and was engaged in farming, working at his trade, also. Attending the public schools of Indiana, and the subscription schools of Macon county, Missouri, James L. Miller received a practical knowledge of the common branches of study, and subse- quently was employed as a farm laborer un- til the breaking out of the Civil war. Enlist- ing in 1861, in the federal army, he became a member of the Home Guards of the Sixty- second Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and un- der Colonel Eberman was for some time in active service as a pilot, escorting among other Illinois and Iowa troops, the Third Iowa and the Sixteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry in their marches through the state, his headquarters being at Kirksville, Mis- souri.

Coming to Oklahoma on a prospecting trip in 1896, Mr. Miller spent a short time in both Guthrie and Chandler, finally selecting as the most desirable place of location the Kickapoo Reservation, in Pottawatomie county. Buying one hundred and sixty acres near the townsite of Shawnee, he improved a ranch, and subsequently added by purchase to his original farm until he had four hun- dred and eighty acres in his name. Subse- quently coming to Garvin county, Mr. Mil- ler, in company with his son-in-law, en- gaged in business at Lindsay as a livery- man, and likewise as a dealer in cotton, horses and mules, and is now carrying on a substantial business as head of the firm of Miller & Shanks.

While a resident of Missouri, Mr. Miller married Catherine Griffin, by whom he has five children, namely: Mary, wife of S. E. Tate ; William T .; Elizabeth, wife of James S. Shanks, junior member of the firm of Miller and Shanks; James L., Jr. ; and Cas- sie.

Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Tate have one child, Bessie ; Wm. T. married Viola Hesner and has four children : Oral, Virgil, Jennie Fern and Truman. James L., Jr. married Maud Burns and has two children, Lou and Earl.

James Sudesky Shanks was born, Novem-

ber 21, 1865, near Kirksville, Missouri, a son of Andrew William and Elizabeth (Hal- ley) Shanks, and was educated in the public schools of Clarence, Missouri, where his fa- ther was a general merchant. Beginning his active career as a clerk in the employ of his father, Mr. Shanks lived both in Clarence, Missouri, and in Bevier, Missouri, where his father subsequently engaged in business. In 1883, turning his attention to agricultural pursuits, Mr. Shanks located in Macon coun- ty, Missouri, near Elmer, where he carried on general farming for a number of years. Moving from there to the Indian Territory, he was engaged in agricultural pursuits at Shawnee until 1906, when he settled in Lindsay, becoming a partner of James L. Miller, and they conducted the Eagan Hotel, and the livery, the firm operating to the present time as Miller and Shanks. They recently disposed of the hotel but continue in the conduct of the livery and sale stable.

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A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume II, Part 15

Author: Hill, L. B. (Luther B.) Publication date: 1909 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 810

Author: Hill, L. B. (Luther B.)
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 810