A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume II, Part 22

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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Dr. Hannah was born in Franklin county, Kansas, near the old home of the celebrat- ed John Brown, and his father, Amos Han- nalı, one of the first settlers of the state,

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was an intimate and close friend of John Brown and Colonel James Lane, two of the noted anti-slavery men of their time. Amos Hannah moved to the Sunflower state in 1854, and during the Civil war he espoused the cause of the North, and was in battle against General Price's troops. At one time he was wounded in the heel.

The mother of Dr. Hannah bore the maiden name of Cynthia MeWhinney, and was of Irish descent, her father, a polished scholar, coming from Ireland, The parents of Dr. Hannah both died in Arkansas, the father at the age of seventy-six and moth- er at the age of eighty-four.

The Doctor, one of their nine children, four sons and five daughters, spent the earl- ier days of his life in his native state of Kansas, and began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of his uncle, Dr. J. M. Scudder, a prominent physician of Kansas. In 1894 Dr. Hannah went south to Texas, but shortly afterward returned north, and it was from Arkansas he came to Oklahoma during the formative period of this state. He married Miss U. L. Fos- ter, from Louisiana, a member of a south- ern family and a relative of the noted Lee family of Virginia. Her father was in the Confederate army during the Civil war. Four children have been born of this un- ion, and the two now living are Ernest Elmer and Ralph Waldo, aged respec- tively seventeen and thirteen years. The doctor upholds the principles of the Republican party, and in fraternal re- lations is K. P., Odd Fellow, M. W. A., and a Thirty-second degree Mason, and a member of the Consistory at Guthrie, Ok- lahoma. Mrs. U. L. Hannah died August 22, 1895, bereaved by all who knew her She was a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which the doctor is also a member. Doctor Hannah married Lulu O'Leary in 1897.

B. F. WHITMORE. The trustworthy pres- ident of the First State Bank of Prague, and the mayor of the place, is B. F. Whit- more. He is a well and favorably known citizen of the new state of Oklahoma, be- ing one of the pioneers of Lincoln county. He came to this section of the great and ever-changing southwest, at the opening of old Oklahoma, in 1889, from Wichita, Kansas. He at first located five miles to the east of Mulhall, Oklahoma, at which

point he resided for five years. He then sold and returned to Wichita, remaining there until 1901, when he came back to Ok- lahoma and settled at Stroud and subse- quently at Prague, in which town he has been an important factor.

He was born at Amazonia, Missouri, Aug- ust 11, 1868. The father, who was an ear- ly settler in that location, was William Whitmore, a native of Virginia, and of an old and highly respected familv. B. F. Whitmore's mother was Ann Eliza (Brad- ley) Whitmore, born in Missouri, her par- ents being early settlers of that part of the state where she was born. She is living at the advanced age of eighty-one years. The husband and father is deceased. B. F. Whitmore was reared on a farm in Mis- souri and Arkansas, and taught to labor and be honest and honorable. From Missouri he moved to Sedgwick county, Kansas, near the enterprising city of Wichita, where he followed farming and stock-raising. Af- ter coming to Oklahoma he entered the general merchandise business at Prague. He purchased everything the farmers had to dispose of, from an opposum skin to cot- ton-seed, cotton, horses and cattle. He erected the first two-story building in Prague. May 1, 1908, the First State Bank of Prague was organized with Mr. Whit- more as its president, G. C. Barber, vice- president, and J. D. Ferguson, as cashier. . This financial institution has a capital of $10,000 and does a general banking and cont- mercial exchange business. As the mayor of the town, Mr. Whitmore conducts the business of his office as accurately as the judge of a higher court would. In his fraternal affiliations, he is an honored mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias.

At the age of twenty-one years, Mr. Whit- more was married in Kansas, to Elizabeth Wolf, of Valley Center, Kansas, who was born and reared as well as educated in that state. The issue by this union is one child, Ellen. Mr. Whitmore has the traits of character so frequently found among the genuine western man of affairs. He is frank, free, liberal and always polite with all who have dealings with him. He has both faith in his friends and in the new town in which he takes a just pride, as one of its leading factors.

B. F. Whitmore ware

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

A. P. SLOVER, the highly efficient cashier of the Prague National Bank, well and fav- orably known in banking circles within the new state of Oklahoma, has had years of experience in the banking business and has made an enviable record as a popular bank officer. He handles the money of the Prague National Bank at Prague which has a capi- tal of $25,000, its president being C. Bush, and Mr. Slover, the cashier. This bank was organized in April, 1906, and does a gen- eral banking business. It is located in a handsome brick building of two stories, said to not be surpassed within Lincoln county, Oklahoma. The building and bank fixtures cost ten thousand dollars.

Mr. Slover is a native of Tennessee, born October 7, 1881, and comes of a good fam- ily. He was reared to industry and econ- omy, and is broad-minded in matters of busi- ness. He is the son of O. H. Slover, a well- known and well-to-do citizen of Shawnee, Oklahoma, where he is interested in real estate. The mother of Mr. Slover, before marriage, was Catherine C. Matthews, born in Tennessee. A. P. Slover was reared in Tennessee. He received a good education at Cleveland (Tenn.) College and took a course in a business college at Chattanooga. He first worked with Walsh & Weidner, at Chattanooga, with whom he remained two years, then accepted a position with a firm in Alabama, in the Fulton Iron Works, which he held until he went to Oklahonia. He held a clerical position in one of the banks at Shawnee for a time, and from there went to Prague. He stands high in his community for honor and in- tegrity.

At South McAlester, Indian Territory, Mr. Slover was united in marriage in 1904, to Minnie E. McDaris, an intelligent, re- fined woman, who was born and reared in Tennessee. By this union, one child was born-Catherine Elizabeth. Mr. Slover is identified with the Knights of Pythias or- der and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church. He is kind and con- siderate to all who have dealings in, or out- side of business matters, and thus builds up a strong wall of genuine friendship. He is a public spirited man and does his share in seeing that his town and county gets the best of all that seems good.

H. C. ILES, M. D., who ably represents the medical profession in the sprightly city of

Prague, Lincoln county, Oklahoma, is numbered among the pioneer physicians of that place, as well as within the county. He located first six miles to the north of Prague. at the village of Arlington, in 1896. When he went there the nearest railway station was Oklahoma City, hence he has been iden- tified with the early history of this section of the Southwest, where he has had much pioneer experience as a medical practitioner. In all he has practiced medicine for fourteen years.

The doctor was born in the city of Cov- ington, Kentucky, a state long noted for its brave men, beautiful women, fast horses and many other desirable qualities. Dr. Iles is descended from a leading family of intelli- gence and respectability, the year of his birth being 1864. He is a son of Thomas Iles, also born in Kentucky, where he was educated. Thomas Iles went from Ken- tucky to Illinois where he lived for several years and from there settled in Pawnee county, Kansas, on a farm where he now resides. The mother, Serilda (Calvert) Iles died near Troy, Doniphan county, Kan- sas, when the doctor was a very young child. She left six children. Reared on a pioneer Kansas farm, within the bounds of Doni- phan county, the doctor was there taught to labor hard and lead an upright life. He re- ceived his elementary lessons at the public schools of his native county and when old enough studied medicine under Dr. D. G. Hahn, a well-known and talented physician, with whom he practiced for a short time. Be- sides being a professional man, Dr. Iles is a partner in the drug firm of Hatcher & Company, who carry a full line of pure drugs and kindred goods and have one of the most superior drug stores within the county.

Politically, the doctor is a defender of Republican party principles. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, as well as to the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. In a pro- fessional way, he is affiliated with the coun- ty Medical Society and the State Medical Society. He is high-minded, public-spirited and skillful in his profession.

He was married when twenty-five years of age, to Lumma Leonard, a woman of intelligence and refined tastes. She was

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

Mr. Slover is a native of Tennessee, born October 7, 1881, and comes of a good fam- ilv. He was reared to industry and econ- omy, and is broad-minded in matters of busi- ness. He is the son of O. H. Slover. a well- known and well-to-do citizen of Shawnee, Oklahoma, where he is interested in real estate. The mother of Mr. Slover, before marriage, was Catherine C. Matthews, born in Tennessee. A. P. Slover was reared in Tennessee. He received a good education at Cleveland (Tenn.) College and took a course in a business college at Chattanooga. He first worked with Walsh & Weidner, at Chattanooga, with whom he remained two years, then accepted a position with a firm in Alabama, in the Fulton Iron Works, which he held until he went to Oklahoma. He held a clerical position in one of the banks at Shawnee for a time, and from there went to Prague. He stands high in his community for honor and in- tegrity.

H. C. ILES, M. D., who ably represents the medical profession in the sprightly city of

The doctor was born in the city of Cov- ington, Kentucky, a state long noted for its brave men, beautiful women, fast horses and many other desirable qualities. Dr. Iles is descended from a leading family of intelli- gence and respectability, the year of his birth being 1864. He is a son of Thomas Iles, also born in Kentucky, where he was educated. Thomas Iles went from Ken- tucky to Illinois where he lived for several years and from there settled in Pawnee county, Kansas, on a farm where he now resides. The mother, Serilda (Calvert) Iles died near Troy, Doniphan county, Kan- sas, when the doctor was a very young child. She left six children. Reared on a pioneer Kansas farm, within the bounds of Doni- phan county, the doctor was there taught to labor hard and lead an upright life. He re- ceived his elementary lessons at the public schools of his native county and when old enough studied medicine under Dr. D. G. Halın, a well-known and talented physician, with whom he practiced for a short time. Be- sides being a professional man, Dr. Iles is a partner in the drug firm of Hatcher & Company, who carry a full line of pure drugs and kindred goods and have one of the most superior drug stores within the county.

He was married when twenty-five years of age, to Lumma Leonard, a woman of intelligence and refined tastes. She was

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

reared and educated in Kansas, a daughter of F. B. Leonard, who was a gallant soldier in the Union ranks at the time of the Civ- il war, serving in an Indiana regiment. The doctor and his estimable wife are the par- ents of seven children : Theodore L., Wal- ter F., Harry F., Barney, Lura Hazel, Don and Thomas. Thomas is a partner with his father in the drug trade.

HENRY C. JONES, known as "Uncle Hen- ry," is one of the best known men of Lincoln county and of this part of the state of Ok- lahoma, and is worthy of a place in the his- tory of the new state of Oklahoma among the men who have brought the common- wealth to its present high state of progress. He has held many positions of trust and responsibility for the United States govern- ment, and in every way possible has per- formed his share as a citizen of the Union. His first government position was as black- smith for the Sac and Fox Indians, contin- uing in that position for several years from 1873, and then for two years he served as the government interpreter for the tribe. At the close of that period he was again appointed the government blacksmith, and in 1899 was made the chief justice of his tribe, the Sac and Fox Indians, while later he was a member of their Sac and Fox national council. He has also several times represented his people at Washington, D. C., and was employed by the government to visit old Mexico. He is an ardent ad- vocate of Republican principles, and dur- ing the campaign of Dennis Flynn for con- gressman he took the stump and did much effective work.

Henry C. Jones was born in Iowa, No- vember 25, 1844, but his father was front Kentucky and his paternal grandfather from Wales. The latter served as a soldier dur- ing the Revolutionary war. The paternal grandmother was a Skidmore. Her father was under General Jackson at New Orleans and died from wounds received in that bat- tle and was a member of the race of the Sac and Fox, coming from a line of ances- tors noted as warriors and as prominent men of their nation. In 1846 the Jones family left Iowa for Kansas, following Gen- eral Scott's army on their way west to the Mexican war. They took up their abode in Franklin county, and some years later the father enlisted as a soldier in the Civil war. He died in 1870, at the age of fifty-

four years, and the mother survived until 1881, dying at the age of eighty years.

Their son Henry received his educational training in the agency of the Sac and Fox Indians, and when he had reached the age of twenty-six years, in 1870, he was married to Sarah Penny, a white woman, and she died when but thirty-four years old, leaving an only son, William Jones, a graduate of Harvard College and a well known author of historical subjects, who at one time vis- ited the Philippines for the collection of historical data of that country and its in- habitants. For his second wife Henry C. Jones married Melissa Tyner, of part Chero- kee blood, and of their nine children these are now living,-Frank, Levi, Thomas, Le- roy, Theresa, Alice, Arthur and Eustace. They have surrounded their children with excellent educational advantages and fitted them for the higher walks of life. Mr. Jones is a Mason of high standing, having attained the Knight Templar degree of Ok- lahoma City Commandery, No. 2. He named the town of Keokuk Falls in Potta- watomie county and was the first post- master of the place, being appointed in 1892, under the Harrison administration.

Mrs. SARAH WHISTLER, government In- dian interpreter at the Sac and Fox Agency, was appointed to this position in 1907, but during a number of years previously she had been in the government employ as a teacher in the Indian school here, and her ability and fitness for leadership there led to her present important position. She is numbered among the Oklahoma pioneers of 1884, and is a native daughter of Iowa. Her father, John Goodell, was born in Connecticut, but was reared in the state of New York, and although a white man he in time became thoroughly familiar with the language, manner and customs of the Indians and served as a government in- terpreter in Iowa and Kansas for a num- ber of years. His wife to whom he was married in Burlington, Iowa, in 1840, was of French and Indian blood, and previous to her marriage to Mr. Goodell her name. was Mrs. Julia Mitchell, she having mar- ried an Indian Trader. She is spoken of in the history of the Black Hawk war as the woman, who in 1832 swam the Miss- issippi river with her babe on her back. This daughter is now Mary Keokuk, the widow of Chief Keokuk, a woman hale and

Herway & Jones

L.E. (Pastin

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

hearty at the age of seventy-eight years and a resident of this village. She was born in Wisconsin in 1828, on the Skunk river. She was adopted by a Dr. Moore, a surgeon in the U. S. Army, and was ed- ucated in Philadelphia. Chief Keokuk died at the agency here at the age of eighty- eight years. Mrs. Goodell also died at the government agency here at the age of sev- enty-five years.

In her early life Mrs. Whistler received an excellent educational training in the mission school at Westport, Missouri, and when but fifteen years of age she gave her hand in marriage to William Whistler, who was born at the historic old Fort Dear- born in Illinois. When a lad of thirteen he came to Kansas and in time became one of the most prominent men of the state in those days. He served the commonwealth as a legislator and later was a candidate for state senator, but death cut short this life so full of richness and bright promises in its early prime. He was but thirty-eight years at his death, and he left three chil- dren, two of whom are living, Mrs. Ger- trude Kirtley, residing east of Cushing, Oklahoma, and Leo Whistler, of the Sac and Fox Agency. Mrs. Whistler is a woman of unusual business and executive abilitv, her advice being often sought and freely given, and being courteous and pleas- ing in her manner she has won many friends in Oklahoma.

L. E. MARTIN, known as "Lew," sheriff of Lincoln county, Oklahoma, is counted among one of the best county officials with- in the new state. He was elected in 1904 and re-elected the autumn of 1907 on the Republican ticket and has proven his abil- ity so far in the duties of his office. He had served as a deputy, before his election, under William Tilghman, and also as U. S. deputy marshal under Marshal Abernathy. Mr. Martin ranks among the early pioneer settlers of Oklahoma, coming here in 1891 and making the run in time to secure a good homestead. He came to this section from Butler county, Kansas, but was originally from Iowa, having been born in Centerville, Appanoose county, in 1861, a son of a pioneer of Iowa, Joel Martin, a native of Virginia, whose ancestors were German. His mother was Mary Steveson, born in Indiana and is now deceased. The father died in 1881. He was a successful Vol. II .- 8

farmer and politically was a Republican. Both he and his faithful wife were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal church. The children born to Joel Martin were L. E., of this sketch; Lydia Stevens, of Oklahoma ; and James, (by another mar- riage) who now resides in Kansas City, Missouri.

L. E. Martin was reared on a farm in Kansas and there taught his first lessons in industry and thrift. He was given the advantages of a common school education and when but nineteen years of age was married in Butler county, Kansas, to Ida M. Shultz, a native of Illinois, but who was reared and educated in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are the parents of four sons and three daughters, viz .: Eleanor, Frank, Joel, Lydia, Dorothy, Hottman and Don.

Mr. Martin served in the Spanish-Ameri- can war in 1898 for ten months, making a good record in that short but decisive war for human rights and not for territoral con- quest. He was under Captain Huffman and was enrolled as second sergeant, but pro- moted to first lieutenant of his company. In stature Mr. Martin is five feet ten inches in height and weighs one hundred and eighty-five pounds. He is an honored mem- ber of the Odd Fellows order and also be- longs to the Knights of Pythias and Mod- ern Woodmen of the World. He is known by the name of Lew and is one of the pop- ular men of the county, having hosts of friends.

Mr. Martin is a fearless officer. August 12, 1908, he and his deputy, Charles Parker, had a warrant for three negroes near Avery, this county, and went out to serve same. While approaching the house seven ne- groes opened fire from ambush and shot both men. Mr. Martin had just stepped out of the buggy and was struck through the right forearm and through the left shoulder, receiving flesh wounds. Parker was shot in the left hip which disabled him. The negroes closed in and surrounded the buggy and wanted the sheriff to give his gun up, but Mr. Martin's coolness saved himself and his deputy and they drove away. While driving away the horse was shot and a bul- let passed through the buggy, missing Mr. Martin only about one inch. During the fight the sheriff had lain on the ground and shot at and held the negroes off for a time, shooting one of the desperadoes, but as

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they were behind trees they had the advan- tage. Two of them have been captured since and convicted, but the other five escaped. If the sheriff had not been a good, cool-headed officer he and his deputy would both have been killed.

GEORGE C. BARBER, the present capable and obliging postmaster at the thriving town of Prague, Lincoln county, Oklahoma, re- ceived his appointment as postmaster the first term in the territory of Oklahoma, in September, 1907, and later was made post- master under the statehood on April 28, 1908. He is the pioneer settler of Old Okla- homa and has performed his part well, botn in the old territory and in the new-made state of Oklahoma.

Mr. Barber was born in Morgan county, Illinois, during the Mexican war, Dec. 5. 1846. His family were well known and early settlers in Morgan county. His fa- ther, Augustus K. Barber, was a pioneer teacher in that county and was a native of Vermont. Politically he was a firm sup- porter of Republican doctrines. Bv regu- lar occupation he was a farmer. His wife was Anna M. Camp, also born in Vermont. Both father and inother of Mr. Barber are deceased, having died in Humboldt, Allen county, Kansas, the father aged eighty-five years, and the mother seventy-five years. Two children were the issue of their mar- riage union : George C., of this notice, and Edward A., of Springfield, Missouri.

George C. Barber was reared on an Illi- nois farm and taught the lessons of indus- try, at a very early age. He attended the common schools and the Illinois College, receiving his diploma from the latter with the class of 1868. He then taught school for a time, but soon drifted into farming and stock-raising. In 1884 he went to Al- len county, Kansas, where he remained about fourteen years, residing at Humboldt. In 1898, he became one of the genuine "boomers" of the newly platted town of Stroud, and founded the Bank at Stroud- the Sac and Fox Bank-but after three years in such business, returned to Illinois, and remained there until 1904, when he moved to Prague, Oklahoma, where he be- came assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Prague, and vice-president of the First State Bank of Prague. He has come to be recognized as one of the best business men within the county.

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A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume II, Part 22

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