USA > Oklahoma > A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume II > Part 37
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Joseph B. Cobb, son of the above, and the father of Thomas S., was reared in Texas, married and settled there on a farm, but later engaged in the mercantile business, at Gainesville. He continued to trade there many years, but finally retired and now re- sides at Denison, Texas. In politics, he is a Democrat. He made a popular merchant
and was prominent in the Methodist church. He was connected with the Masonic order and also the Odd Fellows. His children were as follows: Thomas S., Joseph B., of Shawnee, Oklahoma ; Mattie O., Mrs. G. B. Cato; George E., a railroad man ; James H .. a railroad man ; William G., a business man ; Robert L., a student; Earl, a student and at home ; Fred, also at home and in school.
Thomas S. Cobb remained at his parents' home until he was eighteen years of age, when he engaged in the railway mail serv- ice, during which time he studied law and. in 1896, was admitted to the bar at Gaines- ville, where he opened an office and prac- ticed his profession until 1901, when he moved to Lawton, Oklahoma, taking up his profession there, where he continued until 1904, when he went to Wewoka. He has always been a party worker in the Demo- cratic ranks, and in consequence, received the nomination for county judge, to be voted for at the first statehood election, November. 1904. He was successful at the polls and set about, with others, to organize a good county government. First of all, the county had to be bonded for $24,000, to run the county until the taxes could be levied and collected. The Seminole capitol building was used for a courthouse temporarily. The judge takes much interest in the affairs of the county and has invested in lands and now holds three good farms, which he leases out. The products of these are mostly cot- ton and corn, which are sure crops in this section.
Politically. Judge Cobb has been a cham- pion in the Democratic party : chairman of the committee for the eighty-first district in 1906, and was in the highest councils of his party. He engaged in the land business at Wewoka and thus became an important citi- zen of the county. Both he and his estim- able wife are worthy members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and he is connected with the Odd Fellows and Elks fraternities.
Judge Cobb was married in Texas, in 1895, to Miss Lillian L. Smith, born in Red River county, Texas, in 1818. She is a lady of culture and refinement and also possesses rare business qualifications and assists her husband much in his affairs. She is the daughter of W. B. B. Smith, now of Ft. Worth, Texas, a popular real estate man. He is a sound business man and is an hon- ored member of the Odd Fellows order. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Smith
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.
are: Lillian, Mrs. Cobb : William A., a rail- road conductor ; Birdie, Mrs. J. B. Sugall : Lona. Mrs. H. Walker ; Wallace B., a physi- cian : Vera, unmarried. The judge and wife are parents of one child : Randall S., born July 8, 1897.
TOM D. DOTSON, high sheriff of Seminole county, Oklahoma, the first to fill such office after Statehood was effected, is a native of Mississippi, born, January 13, 1864. He is the son of William and Sally A. (Greer) Dotson, both natives of Mississippi and from old and highly honored Southern families. William, was a son of Thomas Dotson, a large land owner and slave holder, who was prominent at the opening of the Civil war in 1861. He raised a regiment of which he was made colonel and four of his sons were in his command. The entire family possessed much bravery and the father was promoted for his gallantry and bravery to the rank of general and was placed at the head of a brigade and was always on duty and at the head of his troops. He partici- pated in many hotly contested battles, and marched through numerous long and try- ing campaigns. He was at Shiloh, where he fell, as did three of his sons, all giving up their lives in defense of their rights as citizens of the Southland. The son Wil- liam, who served in the same regiment, was the only one of five in the family who re- turned home when the bloody contest was finished. He was taken prisoner at Shiloh and imprisoned at Alton, Illinois, where he was held a long time but finally made his escape by digging out, and then joined Quantrell's band, with whom he remained a year when he started to join his old regi- ment and was again captured and taken to the Rock Island prison, where he remained until the war ended, which was over two years later. His long confinement and poor care impaired his health and arriving home in June, 1865, he died in July of that year. Prior to the war, he was a prominent and successful planter. Politically, he always supported the Democratic party and was well informed in state and national affairs. Thus the heads of five Southern families were wiped from the face of the earth by a Civil war, both sides of which honestly contended for their supposed rights. Five years later, William Dotson's widow mar- ried J. F. Greer, a blacksmith, and they re- moved to Texas, remained there three years and then went to Arkansas, in which state
he followed his trade for twenty years, when his health failed and in 1894, Tom Dotson brought both him and his wife to Indian Territory, locating at Center, where Mr. Greer lingered an invalid for eighteen months and died in 1896. His wife, also an invalid, survived until 1902, when she was released by death.
Tom Dotson's manhood never forsook him, but he kindly cared for his invalid mother and step-father, during all the try- ing years of their suffering and gave them a Christian burial. Tom was the only child born of the Dotson marriage and he was born while his father was a prisoner of war. The Greer marriage had for its issue: Sally, Ida, Molly, all dead now, and one son, Ben- jamin, is now a business man of Wewoka.
Tom D. Dotson assisted in the black- smith's shop of his step-father and obtained a good common school education. He con- tinued at home until twenty-four years of age, when he moved with his step-father and mother to Arkansas, where he aided the former at blacksmithing, and there mas- tered the trade at the anvil and glowing forge. At the age of eighteen years, he went west and was employed on a large cat- tle ranch in Colorado, where he was a genu- ine cowboy, working on a salary until 1886, when he returned to Arkansas to care for his mother. He remained there and car- ried on farming. He was married in 1891 and in 1894 he removed the families to In- dian Territory, where he kindly cared for the mother and step-father until their death. He followed farming here also and was successful. Later he engaged in clerking and collecting for a Center firm, following this for two years, when he made general collecting his special business. He also be- came interested in the cattle trade and fin- ally succeeded in gathering about him one hundred head of cattle. He finally ex- changed his cattle for land which he leased, after which he engaged with W. C. Bellow, an extensive merchant, of Ada, he looking after collections and assisting in the credits, notes and mortgages. After two years at this, he in 1905 went to the Seminole coun- try and located at Konawa and there en- gaged in the real estate business, with a partner and continued successfully until Ok- lahoma became a state, in 1907, when he was elected high sheriff of Seminole county. During his last year at Konawa, he was city
W.7. Bury and
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.
marshal and there he had his first political experience.
After his election in the autumn of 1907, he went to Wewoka and assisted in the or- ganization of the county government. He has made an excellent sheriff, and always does his duty fearlessly and in keeping with the dignity of his important position. He has had in his keeping from one to twenty-seven prisoners ever since he held the sheriff's office. His prisoners have among their number the worst type of crim- inals, including those whose sentence is ten years, and many who are yet to be hanged for the crimes they have committed. Mr. Dotson has been active in the saddle and otherwise in bringing to justice the many lawless characters in his section of the new state. He has around him a strong force of competent deputies, seven in number gen- erally. Aside from his official duties, he has bought, sold and handled considerable land, including tribal lands. He has a goodly tract of land himself, which is becoming more and more valuable.
One of the important steps in this man's career was his marriage in Arkansas, to Miss Cora Lee Mauldin, born in Mississippi in 1869. She is a lady of culture and refine- ment and a faithful helpmate for her worthy husband. Her father is H. M. and her mother Molly (West) Mauldin, both na- tives of Mississippi. The father entered the Confederate service, serving through the long Civil war period and went to Texas, from which state he moved to Arkansas and in 1893 to Indian Territory, locating at Healdton, west of Ardmore, where he en- gaged in ginning business. In 1894 he re- moved to Pontotoc county and resumed gin- ning of cotton. Later, he sold out and went to Pottawattomie county and purchased a farm, remained two years and in 1906 moved to Seminole county, where he remained un- til his death, December 23, 1907. Political- lv, he was a stanch Democrat. He was an alderman at Wewoka and a worthy mem- ber of the Christian church, as was his fam- ily. His widow resides at Konawa. Their children are: Malissa, Mrs. Joseph Ram- age ; Joe, a salesman in Kentucky : Cora Lee, Mrs. Dotson ; Lora, wife of J. Sloan : Mag- gie, Mrs. Duncan : Jesse, a drug clerk ; Lutie, unmarried : Dick, a salesman. Mr. and Mrs. Dotson have children as follows: Clarence, born February 26, 1898; Jewell, September 8, 1902 : Fay, November 8, 1905. Both par- Vol. II-13.
ents are exemplary members of the Chris- tian church. Mr. Dotson is connected with the Masonic order and Woodmen of the World.
WILLIAM F. BUNYARD, who was the first commissioner of Seminole county, Oklaho- ina, and who helped to finance the new county at its organization, was born in Mis- sissippi, May 13, 1859. He was reared to farm labor and taught the science of good farming. He obtained a good common school education and started out in life about on an even footing with the youth of his native country. He is the son of Isaac R. and Elizabeth ( Butler) Bunyard. The fa- ther was a native of Dallas county, Alabama, and the mother of Mississippi. The grand- father, James Bunyard, was of North Caro- lina, and a prominent agriculturist. He moved to Mississippi and remained there until he was eighty-five years of age, when he went to Arkansas where he died a Mis- sionary Baptist, well known and greatly be- loved.
Isaac R. Bunyard was reared in Alabama where he married and settled on a farm and raised much stock. He thus continued to successfully operate until the Rebellion came on. He served in the war during the last two years, on reserve duty, guarding Yankee prisoners. At the termination of the war he resumed farming and has con- tinued in that line of operation ever since. He now resides within three mles of where he settled sixty-seven years ago. Political- ly, he is a lifelong Democrat, well posted regarding all state and national matters, and he has never cared to hold public office, but is known as an honest, upright farmer. He belongs to the Missionary Baptist church and in fraternal matters is a Mason. His good wife and his companion for so many years, died in the month of June, 1904. She was the daughter of William Butler of South Carolina, who became a pioneer in Mississippi. He was a prominent planter and highly respected, and he passed away in Mississippi aged eighty-six years. Isaac Bunyard and his wife, Elizabeth Butler, were the parents of the following children : George W., served through the Civil war and was a war prisoner for a time, but soon was exchanged : Mary, Mrs. J. Hughes, whose husband served in the Confederate army: Sarah, Mrs. W. Hayes ; Celesta, Mrs. T. G. Ramie; Henry M., a Baptist minister ;
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.
William F., of this notice, and Larkin J., a farmer and blacksmith.
William F. Bunyard remained at home until nineteen years of age. While his fa- ther was engaged in the service of the Con- federacy, he with a brother was his moth- er's main support. They farmed and kept the family together, although both were quite young at the time. When nineteen years old, his father gave him his time and he set forth for himself, choosing farming and when twenty years of age married, con- tinuing on the farm for fifteen years, after which period he embarked in mercantile life. After a few years he resumed farming and in 1899 he removed to Texas, where he rent- ed a farm in Williamson county, and con- tinued to till the soil until he moved to Oklahoma in 1902. He located at Oklaho- ma City and there engaged in railroad con- struction work which he followed until the autumn of 1903, when he removed to Semin- ole county and leased an Indian farm, near Wewoka. In his two leases he had one hundred and fifty acres under cultivation, besides a pasture and some meadow land. He continued three years at successful farm work, raising diversified crops and some stock. He produced more vegetables than he could find ready market for. He raised cotton to the amount of three-fourths a bale per acre the first few years and had an average of fifty bushels of corn per acre. He then changed his lease to a farmi con- taining four hundred acres. more than half being under fine cultivation. Since then he has paid special attention to the production of cotton. The poorest season being that of 1907, when he had sixty-five bales of cotton and over three thousand bushels of corn. He raises cotton and corn in great abun- dance. He is thoroughly posted about the great possibilities of this wonderful farm- ing section and sees for the new state a great and prosperous future.
Politically, he is a Democrat. He has never cared to hold public office, but con- sented to hold the position of county com- missioner in the interests of good county government. He was appointed by the gov- ernor at the opening of statehood, in No- vember, 1907. His administration has been one of credit to himself and his fellow coun- trymen. His motto is "Truth and honesty must prevail." The first stroke of finance made in the newly formed county was the bonding for twenty-four thousand dollars,
which carried the county through until taxes could be levied and collected. Bridges and road-making and a temporary courthouse all had to be provided for. At present the Seminole capitol building is used free of charge for county purposes. Mr. Bunyard is a member of the Missionary Baptist church. He belongs to the Woodmen of the World and in all his dealings is broadmind- ed and honest.
Of his domestic affairs, it may be added that he was happily married to Miss Martha P. Culpeper, born in Mississippi in 1860. She is a lady of refinement and intelligence, a daughter of Owen J. and Nancy (Raynor) Culpeper. The father was born in Georgia and the mother in Tennessee, but reared in Mississippi. The Culpeper family was one of much prominence. Owen served through the Civil conflict, dying soon after coming home. He voted the Democratic ticket and was affiliated with the Missionary Baptist church, where he had charge of the singing. His faithful wife survives him and resides with her son, of this notice. The children of this union were: Allen J., a merchant of Alabama ; Theodosia A., unmarried and living with Mrs. Bunyard; Martha P., wife of Mr. Bunyard. Mr. and Mrs. Bunyard were parents of these children: Two died in infancy and the others are-Nancy E., Mrs. Marion Gossett, of Texas; Lanora, . Mrs. L. P. Wind; Alma, Mrs. E. P. Bridges ; Clarence J., at home ; William C., at home ; Olive, Mrs. R. Cagil of Georgia : Carl W., at home; Mamie, Lucille and Willie L., all at home. Death invaded the home circle and separated the devoted mother and wife from her husband, November 21, 1902. She was an exemplary member of the Missionary Baptist church and died in a triumphant faith.
JOHN M. DENNIS, a pioneer farmer in the Choctaw Indian country and who became an early settler in Seminole county, where he is now serving as deputy sheriff, is a na- tive of Texas, born in Cooke county, March 20, 18:1. He was reared on a farm and ob- tained a good common school education. He is the son of Harper L. and Isabell (Cum- mins) Dennis, both being natives of Texas. Harper L. Dennis was the son of John Den- nis, a pioneer in Texas, and a prominent agriculturist and slave owner. He was too old for military duty during the Civil war. He was twice married, the issue by his first union being William, Jesse, Yants, all of
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.
whom served in the Civil war. By the fa- ther's second marriage the children were: Harper, Joseph, Samuel, Albert, Allen.
Harper L. Dennis was born and reared in Texas and united in marriage there. He settled on a farm in Saddlers Bend, Red River country, where he still resides, being now the possessor of large tracts of land, and a successful farmer and stock raiser. He has amassed a good fortune and is ac- counted one of the financially solid and in- fluential men of Texas. In politics, he is a Democrat and active in local politics, but has kept aloof from the cares and annoy- ances of holding public office. He stands high as a gentleman of integrity and man- hood. His first wife died in February, 1885, and in September, 1886, he married again. The children born of the first union were : John M., of this memoir ; Eli, a farmer, near the father ; Robert, a farmer ; Amanda, mar- ried Mr. Jackson; Minnie, died at the age of ten years; Andrew, married and lives on the old homestead; Alice, wife of Mr. Mon- roe. By the second marriage there was 110 issue.
John M. Dennis remained at home with the father until he had reached manhood, and in 1887 married and had charge of his father's cattle one year, then engaged in farming, continuing until the autumn of 1890, when he moved to the Chickasaw In- dian country, where he rented land and fol- lowed farm pursuits, raising corn and cot- ton. The first two years he was highly successful, his land producing three-fourths of a bale of cotton and forty bushels of corn per acre. The next few years, on ac- count of dry weather, he did not have as good a yield. In 1895 he moved to Sem- inole county, locating ten miles north of Wewoka, where he rented land and farmed. raised corn and cotton. He continued there for seven years having excellent crops each season. In the fall of 190? he moved to Wewoka, then a small hamlet, near which he followed the corn and cotton raising and during the next five seasons he had three ex- tra crops, with two years of fairly good ones. He has also raised hogs and cattle and all the supplies needed for his family.
With all of his experience in the past, he believes in the richness of the soil here and sees in his mind a great and prosperous future for Oklahoma. He has signally prospered and is in the possession of a handsome com- petency as a reward for his painstaking and
excellent management. He has erected a commodious residence in Wewoka and is sur- rounded with all of the comforts of modern life on a farm which produces all that tends to make glad the heart of a true tiller of the soil, besides having all the advantage of a life in a new and growing town. He has also bought and sold much realty. Mr. Dennis was reared a Democrat and has sup- ported this party, though he never sought nor held office but in July, 1908, he accepted the appointment of deputy sheriff for Seminole county, which position he is filling with much credit.
He was united in marriage to Miss Mag- gie Gibson, born in Texas in 1869, a daugh- ter of Bradley and Frances (Smithart) Gib- son, who were early settlers in their section of Texas and prominent farmers. Later they moved to Indian Territory where they both died. Their children were: Joseph, James, Clinton, Forrest, Elmer, Lee, Alice, Frances and Maggie, wife of Mr. Dennis. The chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis are: Jesse, born 1892; Elmer, 1893; Minnie, 1896; Alice. 1897; Geneva, 1904; and Vera, 1907. The mother is a devoted member of the Christian church and the father is connected with the Woodmen of the World.
WILBURN W. LUCAS, the first man to hold the office of register of deeds for Seminole county, Oklahoma, was elected at the State- hood election in November, 1907, and hence had a hand in laying the corner-stone of the county government of Seminole county. Mr. Lucas is a native of Madison county, Arkan- sas, born October 10, 1878. He was reared to farm labors and obtained his education pri- marily in the district schools, later attending the State University. He is a son of Mark D. and Mary (Counts) Lucas. The father was born in Tennessee and the mother in Arkan- sas. They were united in marriage in Arkan- sas and settled on a farm. The father was prominent in his county for many years, po- litically, being a Democrat and filled offices of public trust and honor. He served as a state senator and was county judge two terms, in Madison county, Arkansas. He was also a minister in the Christian church. At the time of the great Civil war, he enlisted in the Confederate army, serving throughout the war. He escaped without a wound and was never taken prisoner. He saw much of the true army hardship and fought as he believed to be right.
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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.
Both he and his good wife, still remain on the old homestead and enjoying life and wor- shiping around the same altar. The children of their home circle are: Susan, Mrs. Mc- Elhaney ; Laura, Mrs. Hall; . Fannie, Mrs. Harrison; Emma, Mrs. Carter; Lizzie, 1In- married ; Wilburn W., of this memoir; George, a farmer.
Wilburn W. Lucas, remained at home with his parents until he reached manhood. He received a good education, after which he taught school and also carried on farming. When twenty-one years of age, he was mar- ried and in 1903 moved to Oklahoma, locat- ing at Little, in Seminole county, where he engaged in merchandising and continued suc- cessfully at this until 1907. At that date the state held its first election and at that time he was elected register of deeds, when the Seminole tribal relations were dissolved and Wewoka made the county seat for the time being, hence it fell to the lot of Mr. Lucas, to assist in the establishment of the Seminole county government. After his election, he closed out his business and moved to Wewoka and proceeded to open the first set of books for record within the new county. The more than two hundred and fifty instruments filed for record each month are no easy task but he has proven himself the right person in the place and has ably conducted his im- portant position. He is of course aided by a competent force of men who understand the details of the office.
September 17, 1899, he was married to Miss Gussie Smith, born in Arkansas March 21, 1881. She is the daughter of Thomas and Lavina A. (Buchanan) Smith, both natives of Arkansas, where they were married and first located on a farm. Later Mr. Smith engaged in merchandising, contin- uing until 1907. At the last date named, they removed to Wewoka, Oklahoma, where he is actively engaged in the real estate and loan business. Politically, he is a stanch Demo- crat, but looks for no office as he desires none. He belongs to the Woodmen of the World. Both he and his wife, are members of the Christian church. Their children are: Gus- sie, Mrs. Lucas; Andrew G., a merchant of Oklahoma ; Thomas H., a student ; Katie, who died aged three years; Edward, Foster, Carl, and Jennings B., these last four being in school. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have two chil- dren: Mabel, born September 29, 1900, and Mark H., horn September 12, 1906. Both
parents belong to the Christian church and Mr. Lucas is a member of Seminole Lodge, No. 147. A. F. & A. M. and Little Camp, No. 402, W. O. W.
W. F. VARNUM, the popular and capable cashier of the First National Bank of We- woka, Oklahoma, was born May 22, 1868, in Michigan, and reared partly in town and partly in the country. He gained a good common school education and commenced life's conflict about as most boys of his station in life do. He is the son of Rev. Joseph B. and Marva E. (Vibbert) Varnum. The father was born in Canada and the mother in New York state. This worthy couple was married in Michigan. The father belonged to the Methodist Conference of that state, but later, on account of failing health, removed to Iowa, where he engaged in farming. After ten years there he moved to South Dakota and took advantage of the homestead act, securing free government land, which he proceeded to improve and upon which he lived until 1896, when death overtook him. Politically, he was a stanch Republican, and served as a member of the first legislature in South Dakota. He was a worthy member of the Masonic order and had the universal respect of all in every community in which his calling located him, whether as a minister or an agriculturist. His wife passed away at Wewoka, Okla- homa, December 4, 1908, being seventy- three years of age. Four children blessed their marriage union : Olen B., a merchant, of Wewoka: Lelia, unmarried: W. F., of this sketch ; Nettie, who died unmarried.
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