A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume II, Part 33

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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JOE NEWBERRY, tribal superintendent of the Chickasaw schools, with headquarters at Tishomingo, Oklahoma, is especially adapted by education, ancestry and temper- ament to fulfill the duties of his position. Born near Durant, on the 6th of October. 1865, he is a son of Lewis and Lucy ( Haw- kins) Newberry, his father, who was a na- tive of Mississippi, coming to his new home in Indian Territory with many other mem- bers of his tribe. He was afterward sent

back east to be educated and, while he did not complete the designed curriculum, he acquired a thorough mental equipment, of which he made practical use in after years for the advancement of the best interests of the Chickasaw Nation. Primarily, his vocation was that of a farmer, but his in- telligence and honorable character soon made him a public leader and for many years he rendered his people splendid ser- vices in their home legislature, as well as a representative of their interests before the United States Congress at Washington. As a public speaker he was regarded as one of the most eloquent and effective of the Chickasaw Nation, and in his young man- hood was almost equally noted as an athlete. his expertness as a ball player giving him a wide reputation. He died at his farm, near Durant, in 1886, aged about sixty years, his wife (nee Lucy Hawkins), who was also a native of Mississippi, surviving him until 1904. Of their five children, only three reached maturity, viz. : Martin : Frances, now the wife of Christian Krause ; and Joe Newberry, of this sketch.

Joe Newberry attended the Chickasaw schools only, and was trained to farming pursuits and has always pursued agricul- ture as the main business of his life. As a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, he se- lected his allotments chiefly in the Red River valley, not far from Denison, Texas, and not only successfully developed his ag- ricultural interests in that vicinity, but served his people as a member of their leg- islature-five years in the lower house and two years in the senate. At various times he was also a member of the local school board and always manifested an active in- terest in the education of the Indian youth. The consequence was that, although never a school teacher, his character and general tendencies marked him as an admirable sup- erintendent of the schools of his nation. In 1903 he was elected to that position by the Chickasaw legislature, receiving his com- mission from the governor. Since that time he has evinced marked ability in the ad- ministrative affairs of his office, as well as in the delicate and diplomatic work of dis- sipating the prejudice of his people against the schools created for them, after the man- agement of the educational fund was as- sumed by the federal government. One of the duties of his office is to act jointly, make a quarterly report of the schools

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under his immediate supervision to Fred- rick H. Unhalty and to Mr. John D. Bene- dict, superintendent of the Five Tribes, at Muskogee, and his papers have been consid- ered from the first as remarkably suggestive and valuable chapters in the educational progress of the Indian race.

In October, 1889, Mr. Newberry was mar- ried, in Denison, Texas, to Mary Ferguson, daughter of James Ferguson, member of a well known southern family of white blood, and the children of their union are Frank- lin, Calvin, Bernie, Mattie, Wilson, Frances and Inez.

CICERO A. SKEEN, who is at the head of the Wapanucka Trading Company, a pio- neer of the Chickasaw Nation and for a third of a century identified with the edu- cational and material upbuilding of this goodly land, was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, August 25, 1853. He was reared midst the scenes of country life along the banks of the Uwharie river. He at- tended school, obtaining his education like the man in the story, who "got his educa- tion by teaching." His father, James C. Skeen, was born in North Carolina, in 1832, and received a fair education, serving as captain of infantry in the Confederate army, and when a young man was a teacher. Later, he became a merchant and finally a farmer. James C. Skeen's father was Allen Skeen, who was a slave holder and a native of North Carolina. He was a man of local prominence, took part in the Democratic politics and was sent to the legislature from North Carolina. He married Nancy Har- ris and reared a large family.

James C. Skeen married Emily Thorn- burgh, a daughter of Jesse Thornburgh, once a member of the North Carolina legis- lature, whose son, William L. Thornburgh, was a captain in the army of Northern Vir- ginia during the Civil war. James Skeen passed away in 1883 and his wife died sev- eral years later. Their children were, be- sides Cicero A., Walter L., who died in North Carolina, where he returned after a stay in the Indian Territory, where he had accompanied his brother, Cicero A., of this biography; Callie, married Frank Newby, and died in the old home state, leaving a family; and Dr. M. P. Skeen, of Artesia, New Mexico.

Cicero A. Skeen took up the profession of teaching among the Indians when he joined his fortunes with them, away back in 1873,

and was identified with that work for a pe- riod of fifteen years. His contract of em- ployment was with the officials of the Chick- asaw Nation and his educational efforts were concluded with service as principal of the Wapanucka Institute, one of the well known Indian schools. Having acquired age and much useful experience, together with some capital, Mr. Skeen engaged in mercantile business at Boggy Depot, where he passed several years ; he was also in busi- ness at Jesse before going to Wapanucka, in 1899, where he joined E. J. Ball in the or- ganization of the Wapanucka Trading Com- pany, since which date he has devoted his time to its development and general up- building. This "Company" is essentially a department store with immense stocks of general merchandise and is one of the im- portant enterprises of the sprightly little city. Its proprietors have demonstrated un- usual capacity for domestic commerce in building up and maintaining such an em- porium of trade. Mr. Skeen is also a farmer and fruit grower.

While carrying forward his extensive mercantile pursuits and managing his farms he has also found time to counsel and act with his friends in the Democratic party in many matters looking to the welfare of that political organization and his people. Being a citizen by marriage, he early got into In- dian politics and was elected to the legis- lature, being first a member of the lower house, and later of the senate of the Chick- asaws. He actively identified himself with the Statehood movement, favored single statehood and in campaigning for Flotorial Representative from Johnston and Coal counties himself, he advocated the adoption of the constitution and, of course, the elec- tion of the Democratic ticket. Having been elected to the first legislature, Mr. Skeen was assigned to the committee on schools, good roads, agriculture, primary elections, privileges and elections and was chairman of the committee on federal relations. He actively favored the "Jim Crow Law" and gave much time to the subject of education. He labored for the establishment of state. schools, for a uniform system of text-books, and supported the movement for the estab- lishment of an orphans' home.

Mr. Skeen is a thirty-second degree Ma- son ; chairman of the board of trustees of the grand lodge of Odd Fellows; has served several times as a delegate to the Knights

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of Pythias lodge, of which he is an active member, and is a very prominent speaker at dedicatorial services for the Woodmen of the World and delivers addresses on any and all occasions when placed on the pro- gram by his friends. He was once active in promoting the interests of the Confed- erate Veterans, having been honored with the office of Commander of the Trans-Mis- sissippi Department of that organization. He is six feet and six inches in height and weighs two hundred and fifty pounds. He walks erect, and looks as fresh and rugged as a man of thirty years. He is command- ing in presence, alert in business, as indus- trious as a man well can be, withal, pos- sessing the elements of a distinguished citi- en.

Mr. Skeen was united in marriage, De- cember 20, 1877, to Matilda Folsom, daugh- ter of Col. Sampson Folsom, a Chickasaw Indian, whose parents were among the first settlers of the Nation and from Mississippi. The children of this union are: James Wal- ter, a partner in the Wapanucka Trading Company ; Fannie, wife of J. O. Surrell, a druggist of Wapanucka, and Cora, who mar- ried Claude M. Heflin, also a Wapannicka druggist.

NEWTON H. SIMMONS, of Tishomingo, sheriff of the county of Johnston, was born in Williamson county, Tennessee, January 22, 1863, a son of Newton C. Simmons, a a farmer, born in the same county and now a resident of Ft. Worth, Texas. The latter brought his family from Tennessee to Texas in 1872 and first located fourteen miles south of Waco, Texas, where he was a tiller of the soil until 1898, when he moved to Ft. Worth. He was the son of a farmer, his father being Garrett Simmons, who settled in Williamson county, Tennessee, as a young man and there spent his years. New- ton C. Simmons married Laura Turner, daughter of a farmer, who died in Louisiana while on a trading trip into that state. Mrs. Simmons bore her husband a large family and died near Lorena, McLennan county, Texas, May 20, 1885. The issue of their union was: Price, of Ft. Worth, a member of the firm of Cook & Simmons, dealers in mules; Newton H .; Robert L., of Gar- vin, Oklahoma; Dock, of the same place ; Thomas, of Pottawattomie county, Okla- homa; Texas, wife of Fred Davis, of Deca- tur, Texas.

Newton H. Simmons, of this memoir, re- mained at home with his parents until twen- ty-five years of age, when he commenced an independent career as a farmer in Mc- Lennan county, Texas. He resided there until 1897, when he decided to cast his lot in the Indian country and settled, first on Red River, just south from Willis, and there remained two years, when he removed to a point near Tishomingo, where he was engaged in stock farming, and only aban- doned it when he was called to assume the duties of the office of sheriff of his county. He offered himself as a candidate for sheriff as a Democrat, as his ancestors show a long line of adherents to that political creed and he follows in their footsteps. He made the race for the nomination against nine can- didates and having won he was made his party's candidate. The result of the final election revealed a normal Democratic ma- jority of nearly two thousand in the county and he kept pace with the ticket and was an easy winner.

December 15, 1886, Mr. Simmons was married, in McLennan county, Texas, to Julia Rowan, a daughter of James Rowan, who married Louisa Stovall. The children of the Rowan union were: William, of San Angelo, Texas ; Mollie, wife of George Ash- craft, of Rogers, Texas; Ella, wife of Jesse Harris, of Temple, Texas; Dollie, married Gus Kinnard, of Killeen, Texas; Julia, Mrs. Simmons, and Clemmie, now Mrs. Peavy- house, of Rogers, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Sim- mons have the following children: Lillie, born October 22, 1887, wife of Will J. Potts, of Johnston county ; Clarence, May 1, 1891; Tina, February 8, 1901; Claude, March 27, 1902, and Vivian, November 5, 1903.

Mr. Simmons is identified with the Ma- sonic and Odd Fellows orders, as well as holding membership in both orders of the Woodmen. He possesses farm lands in Johnston county and is modestly'and un- assumingly conducting the affairs of his office, meeting the requirements of his posi- tion and surrounding himself with such aids as do much credit to the sheriff's office.

JAMES H. ARNOLD, one of the leading mer- chants of Millcreek, and who for nearly a quarter of a century has been identified with that domain now known as Oklahoma, was born in Douglas county, Georgia, De- cember 16, 1869. His father was Anderson Arnold, a native of the same county, and born in 1830. The latter took the vocation

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

of his own father, that of farming, for he had a large plantation and a mill, and he also owned slaves. Anderson Arnold was one of the sons furnished by his father to the Confederacy for its struggle with the Union, in the terrible conflict between 1860 and 1865.

The wife of Alston Arnold, grandfather of James H., was Nancy Thompson, who died in November, 1907, at the advanced age of one hundred and three years. Their children were: Mart, who was killed in the Confederate cause; Abijah, who lost his life in the same war; Benjamin, died in Georgia ; Polly, married Charles Baggett, and died in Georgia ; Abbie, became the wife of Jesse Prickett, of Sand Mountain, Ala- bama; Imo, who married Thomas Sell- man, of Douglas county, Georgia, and An- derson.

Anderson Arnold engaged in the mill and tanning industry in Georgia, after the Civil war. He left the state in 1883, intending to locate in Texas, and stopped in Eastland county for a time, but decided to return cast and settled in Sebastian county, Ar- kansas. He remained there until 1886, when he followed his son to the Chickasaw Na- tion. dying at Millcreek in 1903. He mar- ried Mary Parish, a daughter of J. J. Parish, a native of North Carolina. She died at Mead, Oklahoma, in 1901.

The issue of Anderson Arnold and wife was: Imo, of Rock Creek, Oregon, wife of Stephen Meskimens; Sallie, wife of Lee Onstott, of Portland, Oregon: Frank, of Tupelo, Oklahoma; Benjamin, who died in Millcreek, Oklahoma, and left a family ; James H., of this sketch: Robert, of Oco- nee, Oklahoma; and William, of Shawnee, Oklahoma.

James H. Arnold was reared in the coun- try and acquired the elementary principles of an education almost by picking it up. When he took "French leave" of the family in Arkansas, in 1885, sought his for- tune in the new and wild country within the Chickasaw Nation, where he was only able to do hard manual labor. He had spent a few years in Arkansas, where he located by mere chance, and the surroundings were not suited to his tastes and he suddenly and unceremoniously started life for himself. He was conscious of the value of time and money, and he demonstrated great industry on the farm as a common hand. When he had gotten far enough from home, he

stopped, being then at the mouth of the Washita river. Cotton picking was going on then and he took part in it and thus se- cured money sufficient to support himself. After two years of farm work, he went to Ardmore and there worked for wages for a time, farmed and secured a small capital, with which he put in a limited stock of goods at Provence. He prospered as he had hoped to there. He was postmaster four years at that point and in 1900 left for Millcreek, in which place he purchased the first town lot offered for sale. He erected his store house in the tall and tangled grass and weeds of the main street and began his business career there. The next year he erected his stone business house, the first of its kind within the place, and has continued to take an active interest in the more substantial things of the town. He was one of the organizers of the Millcreek Savings Bank and also of the Merchants and Planters National Bank, which was its successor, and one of the directors of this financial institution. He owns his residence and much other property within the spright- ly inland city in which he makes his home.

In his political choice, Mr. Arnold favors the Democratic party and has been in favor of Statehood from the first agitation of the question, and was a delegate to the state Democratic convention which nominated the first State ticket of the Democratic party. He was also delegate to the county conven- tion and has served his town four years as an alderman. In his fraternal relations, it may be stated that he holds membership with that most excellent fraternity, the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Ar- nold was married near Provence, Oklahoma, March 31, 1892, to Mattie Miller, daughter of James Miller and wife, Mary (Shear) Miller, of Mount Vernon, Missouri. The issue by this union is: Goallie and Katie.

DR. JOHN H. SIMMONS, of Millcreek, wide- ly known physician and surgeon, and one of the first citizens of the town, was born at Townville, South Carolina, November 13, 1854, in which state his ancestors set- tled in the early history of the Palmetto state. They were of Irish origin and his grandfather, James Simmons, was born in Virginia. He married Elizabeth De Ar- mond, whose Irish ancestors were of the first settlement in the Old Dominion state. The unsettled estate of the last De Armond has lain in the Irish treasury for many years

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and awaits a just claimant, who can estab- lish his relationship to the female branch of the family and thereby his right to the for- tune still undisturbed. James and Eliza- beth Simmons were planters of the old time type and owners of slaves. They died near Townville. Their children were: David, who died in Cass county, Texas; James, who passed away in Mississippi ; John, who died in Hope, Arkansas; Charles, father of the doctor; Thomas, who died in Culber- son, Texas, and Edna, who died at Bright Star. Arkansas, as Mrs. William Hardin.

Charles Simmons was born in Lawrence district. South Carolina, his calling being that of a farmer. He was in the state's service in the Confederate cause, during the Civil war and went to Texas in 1820. He located at Linden, where he died in 1882, aged seventy-four years. He was also a slave owner and accumulated a valuable estate prior to the outbreak of the Rebellion. He voted the Democratic ticket and took a pardonable part in the success of his par- ty. although not an office seeker, or with ambition for any political preferment. He married Mary West, daughter of William and Bettie West. Mrs. Simmons died in Linden, Texas, the mother of Elizabeth, who married Charles Simmons and died in Van Alstyne, Texas; William J., who was in the Confederate army and died at Orange Court House, Virginia : David S., died at Richmond, Virginia, while in the same serv- ice ; Edna F., married S. H. Cromer, of Cass county, Texas; Mary E., wife of W. S. Gil- bert, of White Mound, Texas; Dr. John H., of this biography : and Susan C., wife of E. C. Cramer, of Jefferson, Texas.

Dr. John H. Simmons obtained a good primary education in the rural schools at Townville, South Carolina, and passed his early years on the farm. For his life's work he chose the medical profession and pre- pared himself in the medical department of the University of Tennessee. He began his medical study at Linden, with Dr. W. K. Sturdevant, and when ready to engage in practice, opened his office in that town. Subsequently, he took a post graduate course in the New Orleans Polyclinic of Tulane University, and when he sought a wider field for his professional career. he located in Sherman and went from that city to the Chickasaw Nation, in 1898. While in Texas, he was identified with the County Medical Society and with the North

Texas Medical Association. He assisted in the formation of the Chickasaw Medical As- sociation and is a member of Johnston County Medical Society.

In his political relations to his state, Dr. Simmons always manifests the interest of a sincere and prudent citizen. He was anxious for the Territory to be made a state and when statehood finally came, he supported the adoption of the constitution, with a state-wide prohibition of spiritous liquors, and he also supported the general Democratic ticket. The doctor is broad- minded and clear in his conclusions on all public questions. As a physician, he takes advanced grounds, reads all the latest med- ical works and keeps in touch with the more recent discoveries in the science of medicine, this making him a thoroughly up-to-date doctor, who easily copes with the most stubborn diseases which may prevail in the great southwestern country where he prac- tices in a most successful manner.

Concerning his domestic relation, it should be said that he has been thrice married. First. to Lucy Harris, at Linden, Texas. She died leaving him one daughter, Nellie, now wife of George Boyd, of Montague, Texas; and two sons, Floyd, of White Mound, Texas, and Perry, of Jefferson, Texas. By his second marriage, Dr. Sim- mons has one daughter, Emma. For his third wife, he married in Sherman, Texas, Miss Mollie Dixon, by whom he has one son-Earl Simmons.

EDWARD J. BALL, president of the Peoples National Bank of Wapanucka, and one of the pioneer settlers and business men of Johnston county, first located at Emet, in 1842, when a youth of about nineteen years, going there from Meigs county, Tennessee, where he was born, December 29. 1858. His father, William H. Ball, who died in Wapanucka, in 1906, was also a native of Tennessee, being born in 1828, a son of David Ball, who was born and reared in that commonwealth. David Ball was not far removed from the Englishman who founded the family in the United States, and reared a family of nine children.

William H. Ball served his time as a blacksmith and was pursuing that vocation in Tennessee when the Civil war broke out. He enlisted in the Confederate army and on account of his trade was detailed and spent all of his time smithing for the army. He married Annie, daughter of John Andes, of

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Virginian ancestry, who married in Ten- nessee, Mollie Harvey. To the union of William H. Ball and wife were born, Ed- ward J., of this sketch ; Landon C., of Wap- anucka; Thomas J., of Lehigh, Oklahoma ; and John D., of Wapanucka. Mr. Ball brought his family into the Chickasaw Na- tion along with the first immigration that settled there after the close of the Civil war. After farming on a leased tract of land three years, near Emet, he concluded to engage in merchandising in company with his son, Edward, and with a capital of $500 started in such pursuit. Mr. Ball had secured the establishment of a postoffice at Emet, which then was a place with but little more than a name, and the frame shack which housed the office also contained their little stock of goods, which they sold under the name of W. H. Ball & Co. This firm did business there four years and then moved to Boggy Depot, a place of much more importance, and it was one of the firms of that historic town until 1896, when the final move was made to Wapanucka, then a new town, with some promise of railroad communication.

The firm of Skeen & Ball here succeeded the old Ball firm, during the first six years being located in Old Wapanucka, and it was one of the first firms to identify itself with the new town on the east side of track. It was about this time that Mr. Ball purchased his partner's interest. After an interim of three years, they resumed partnership, or- ganizing the Wapanucka Trading Co., of which Mr. Skeen secured the entire control three years later. Mr. Ball retired and then organized the Ball Company, a mercantile concern with a capital stock. With this he was actively identified until 1905, when he organized the Peoples National Bank and has given his personal attention to this ever since. The Peoples National Bank has a capital of $25,000 and is officered as follows : E. J. Ball, president ; E. O. Loomis, vice president, and S. L. Barnes, cashier. Its official board comprises, besides these offi- cers, C. S. Cobb, of Denison, Texas ; William N. Dunn, of Olney, and F. M. Jackson, J. B. Farris. M. A. Butts and B. Staler, of Wapanucka, and R. R. McLish, of Ard- more. William H. Ball retired from active business when he moved to Wapanucka. where he died in 1906, his faithful wife hav- ing preceded him, in 1903.

Edward J. Ball acquired à very limited education. He took the western fever while young and it was that which ultimately induced his father to bring the family out to Oklahoma. Through active connection with the worlds' affairs, the training of Ed- ward J. Ball equipped him efficiently and the sphere of his operations has developed him into a full, rounded and complete, first-class business man. Politically, Mr. Ball is a supporter of the Democratic party, and in his religious belief favors the Baptist church.

He was united in marriage in February. 1879, to Miss Emma Harrell, a daughter of J. B. Harrell, who married Miss Martha Johnston and reared five children. The Harrells were emigrants from Missouri. The family of Mr. Ball consists of Robert T., who is a merchant and married Lillie Reed; Lula, of the Ball Co .; Dora, wife of J. B. Smith, of Wapanucka; and Nora Ball.

WV. SHERMAN WYRICK, of Wapanucka, one of the promoters of the Ball Company, the largest department store in the little city, of which concern he is the secretary and treas- urer, was born in Marion county, Tennes- see, November 23, 1869. The Wyrick fam- ily is among the oldest in the United States and of German origin. Its foundation was laid in New York state during the pioneer days of the state, and it was there the father of the first Martin Van Buren Wyrick, the grandfather of W. Sherman, was born. Mar- tin Van Buren Wyrick, Sr., drifted down into Wayne county, Virginia, during the first years of our national independence and there Martin V .. Jr. was born, his birth oc- curring in 1298. The latter was a black- smith and moved his family into Marion county, Tennessee, about 1830, where he died ten years later. He first married Jane Riggle, who bore him, John D .; David and James, all of whom passed away in Ten- nessee. His second wife was Sarah Griffith, a daughter of Andrew Griffith, and she died the same year in which his death occurred. She was the mother of George, who died young ; Caroline, who married William Doss, residing near South Pittsburg, Tennessee, and Martin V., the father of W. Sherman, of this memoir.

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A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume II, Part 33

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