A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume II, Part 38

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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Accompanying his parents to Iowa and later to South Dakota, where he managed farms for the family, W. F. Varnum sub- sequently engaged in mercantile pursuits for three years. In 1898 he became general manager for the Herreid Milling Co., of South Dakota, continuing at that three years, and in 1905 went to Wewoka, where he engaged at general merchandising busi- ness. He successfully operated this until February, 1908, when he took the position of cashier of the First National Bank of this place. Politically, he is a defender of Re- publican party doctrines and has held posi- tions of trust and honor. At Gale, South Dakota, he was postmaster four years; six years a member of the legislature in South Dakota-four years in the lower and two years in the upper house. In each and every

Theo Shackelford

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public position he has proven himself true and manly in the discharge of every known duty. Mr. Varnum has full charge of the interests of the bank of which he is the cashier. It was the first bank organized within Seminole county, the date being 1902. A state bank, under Arkansas laws, with a capital of $10,000 was opened and national- ized later in the same year with a capital of $25,000. The present discounts and loans are $52,000, and the deposits are nearly $50,- 000. This is accounted one of the safest and most solid of the many good financial concerns within the new state of Oklahoma.

Mr. Varnum 'was married, October 24. 1895, in South Dakota, to Miss Eliza Pol- lock, born in Kansas, in 1872. She is a lady of refined tastes and an excellent companion for her husband. Her father was Robert Pollock, the mother being a Miss Young before marriage. Both parents are natives of Scotland, where they were made man and wife, emigrating from that country to America in 1870, and locating in Kansas. Later they moved to South Dakota. The father was a farmer and Presbyterian min- ister in Scotland, and in this country, a farmer and local preacher in South Dakota. where he vet resides. He is a Republican and had the honor of having the town of Pollock named for him. His children were as follows: James, vice president of the Pollock State Bank: Archibald, farmer ; Maggie, unmarried ; Eliza, Mrs. Varnum. The children of Mr. Varnum and wife are : Joseph E., born 1896; Robert D .. 1898 ; Eve- lin L., 1901; and Alice V., 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Varnum are exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and frater- nally Mr. Varnum is a member of Seminole Lodge, No. 147, F. and A. M., and the Broth- erhood of American Yeomen, of DesMoines, Iowa.

In conclusion, it may be stated that Mr. Varnum has descended from among the first families in this country. The original Var- num family came over in the Mayflower, landing at Plymouth Rock on the "stern and rock-bound coast" of New England, and their offspring have been prominent in many ways in building up this great nation. Jo- seph Bradley Varnum was a member of the American Congress from 1295 to 1817, and speaker of the house from 1807 to 1811, and member of the senate from 1811 to 181%. being president pro tem of the senate in 1813.

PROF. THEODORE SHACKELFORD, the highly competent superintendent of the graded schools of Konawa, is a pioneer of that place and has been an important factor in the organization and upbuilding of that section of the great and ever changing southwest. He was born in Benton county, Missouri. and reared in Chariton county, of that state. The date of his birth was December 16, 1854. He obtained a good common school education and attended Central College and the State University, after which he engaged in teaching in Missouri, being principal of schools in some of the smaller towns and a popular and capable instructor in Mis- souri for a number of years. He married in his native state, March 24, 1881, and con- tinued to teach there until 1894, when he removed to Oklahoma, locating at Tecum- seh, where he was employed to take charge of the city schools, as the principal, which place he filled for four years, after which he taught at Moore, Cleveland county, and at Asher. Pottawattomie county. In all he taught about twenty years.

When the railroad was built to the south- east and Konawa was platted, Prof. Shack- elford was the first settler there. This was July 4, 1904, and when he went to the post- office on the first day of its service, he re- ceived the first letter delivered from the office. He had the distinction also, to estab- lish the pioneer lumber yard of the new town and thus furnished the lumber for the first buildings erected. He was also elected the first mayor of the place, and he has been a dominant, praiseworthy factor in all the many business enterprises which have start- ed since the railroad entered this section. In 1904 he accepted the position of super- intendent of the graded schools of Konawa. His school building had four rooms and 250 pupils were enrolled. More room being de- manded, bonds were issued for the erection of the same, under Professor Shackelford's management, and the educational affairs are progressing so the attendance may be quad- rupled in a short time. Mr. Shackelford has bought and sold much realty and as- sisted in building up the town. including the churches. He has erected a commodious residence and has rented properties. In church choice, he is of the Methodist de- nomination, and active in church and Sun- day school work.

He has been twice married, first in Mis- souri, to Miss Willie Harris, a native of

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Missouri, descendant of a prominent family, who died September 13, 1898, leaving no children. Her death occurred in her native state to which she had returned on a visit. She was a devout member of the Christian church. January 14, 1906, Prof. Shackelford married his present wife, this being the first wedding within the town of Konawa. Mrs. Shackelford was the widow of Mr. Black. She was born in Texas, a daughter of John Hoffman and wife, who were early settlers in Texas and prominent farmers. The fa- ther served through the Civil war, after which he resumed farming in Texas, in 1902 moving to Oklahoma and locating in Cleve- land county, where he engaged in farming. He is a Democrat in politics. His children were five in all, four girls and one boy, the next to the youngest being Tip, the wife of Prof. Shackelford. Mr. and Mrs. Shackel- ford have two children: Leoti Dora, born November 22, 1906, and Mary, born Janu- ary 21, 1909.

Of the parents and ancestry of Prof. Shackelford it may be subjoined that his fa- ther was William C., and his mother Mary Kennedy Shackelford. The father was born in Tennessee, November 28, 1812, and the mother in Kentucky, December 4, 1821. They were united in marriage in Missouri. In his early manhood, William C. Shackel- ford was a merchant, and later a farmer of some prominence. He owned a number of slaves and was descended from a prominent family of wealth in Tennessee. Both he and his good wife were members of the Metho- dist church and both died in Missouri. They had children as follows: Agnes C., Mrs. B. Newsome; James T., a farmer ; William C., a farmer; Mary, wife of George Newsome ; Martha J., wife of C. Newsome ; Ellen, wife of D. Eads; Josephine, wife of W. J. New- some; Theodore, of this sketch; John F., a farmer; Benjamin G., a professor at Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Madora M., Mrs. G. Britt; Cora L., Mrs. Whittall ; Edward S., in the lumber trade in Oklahoma. The fam- ily are all members of the Methodist church.

CHARLES T. HARRIS, M. D., head of the firm of Harris & Harris, physicians and sur- geons at Konawa, and president of the school board of that city, was born in Ala- bama, February 17, 1870, but was reared on a farm in Texas from the time he was seven years of age. He attended the common schools, gaining his elementary education,

after which he attended Union Hill Acade- my and Union Hill Normal. He then en- gaged in teaching school. In 1892, having chosen the medical profession as the one he wished to follow, he commenced the study of that science with Dr. S. Anthony, of Decatur, Wise county, Texas, as his pre- ceptor, and with him young Harris made visits in his extensive practice, thus obtain- ing valuable information. He continued thus for two years and in 1895 attended medi- cal lectures at the Medical College of Ft. Worth, Texas, working at the carpenter's trade in the summertime in order to secure funds to continue his studies. Thus Dr. Harris took three full courses and com- menced practice April 1, 1898, in Indian Ter- ritory, continuing for two years, after which he attended lectures at Chattanooga, Ten- nessee, where he was graduated in 1901. In 1906 he took a post-graduate course at New Orleans, and another similar course at At- lanta, Georgia, in 1907. He is now an up-to- date physician and surgeon, who thoroughly understands the treatment of diseases, and no man stands higher in his profession in central Oklahoma than Dr. Harris.

In 1898 he came to Belton, in the Chicka- saw Nation, remained three years and in 1902 went to Pottawattamie county, locat- ing at Violet, a mile and a half from where Konawa was afterward located. In 1904, he moved to Konawa when the railroad was put through and the town platted. Dr. Har- ris had two years successful practice at Vio- let, where he encountered about the same class of diseases as he had been accustomed to in Texas and other localities. In his new location the doctor finds few fatal diseases, the climate being favorable to most cases and those coming there from the older states find speedy relief under his care and special treatment. The doctor is the county health officer, also examiner for all of the old line life insurance companies, as well as the bene- ficiary fraternal societies, both he and his brother, jointly, conducting the examina- tions. They are also members of the County, State and American Medical associations. Dr. Harris possesses a complete library of ancient and modern books relating to the science of medicine and he is a great reader of medical publications having a well equip- ped office.

He is connected with the Masonic fra- ternity ; also a worthy member of the Odd Fellows order, Knights of Pythias and the

Chas, I Harris la. Forawa Obla.

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Woodmen. He was one of the organizers and stockholders of the Konawa National Bank.

Dr. Harris was united in marriage, No- vember 4, 1888, to Miss Sabra R. Thaggard, born in Mississippi, August 13, 18:1, a daughter of T. S. and Eliza (Lee) Thag- gard, both of whom were born in Mis- sissippi. They were prominent farmers and emigrated from that state to Texas in 1882, locating on a farm in Wise county, where they lived until 1890, when they went to Greer county, locating near Olustee, on a farm where the father was very successful. He has retired from farm labors and is now located at Lockney, Texas, where he is en- gaged in the banking business, having fol- lowed it twenty years. In his early life he was a school teacher. He is a radical Demo- crat, but has not cared to hold public office. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. The children of T. S. Thag- gard are: Sabra R., Mrs. Dr. Harris : J. E., C. W., Thomas W. and Henry, all farmers. The issue of Dr. Harris and wife is as fol- lows: Bertha L., born May 4, 1891; Jesse T., May 4, 1897 : Trester, October 12. 1903: Leona, Easter Sunday, 1907. This family are all members of the Methodist church.

Concerning the ancestry and parentage of Dr. Harris, it may be briefly stated that he is the son of Jesse E. and Artie L. (Ger- many) Harris, both natives of Georgia. Jes- se E. was the son of Bradley S. Harris, a native of Ireland, who came to America when a young man, married and settled in the South. He became prominent as a slave and land owner and politically, he always supported Democratic party principles and was well posted in state and national af- fairs. At the date of the Civil war he was in sympathy with the Confederacy, but was too far along in life to become a soldier in that cause. His children were: William A .. a farmer; Jesse E., father of Dr. Harris of this memoir ; John, Thomas, Lee L., Walter, Joe, Jack and Victor B. The father was of an old and highly respected family in Ire- land.

Jesse E. Harris was born in Georgia, March 8, 1844, married and settled on a farm in his native state, but subsequently moved to Alabama. At the age of sixteen years, he entered the Confederate army, serving until the great civil conflict had ended. After the close of the strife, he set- tled down on a farm and in 1876 moved to

Texas, locating in Wise county, where he successfully farmed for fourteen years, then moved to his present place and engaged in banking. Politically, he is a stanch and ever loyal Democrat. He is an enthusiastic church worker, belonging to the Methodist Episcopal denomination. He also takes much interest in school and all educational matters. He is now sixty-four years of age. His good wife died in November, 1893, aged forty-four years. Their children were : Charles T, of this sketch; Edward M., his brother, partner in the medical profession ; Conah L., Mrs. Samuel King; Lela, Mrs. Pyatt; Jesse M., a physician in Seminole, county, Oklahoma ; Laura, unmarried : Pan- ola, unmarried; Luther, a registered drug- gist of Texas.

J. R. McCANTS. The business interests of Seminole county place J. R. McCants among the leaders in industrial circles, for he has attained both prominence and success and at the present time occupies an enviable position among the prominent contractors. He is also a justice of the peace, where his duties are similar to those of a judge, and he is a man of wide acquaintance in Semin- ole county and throughout the state.

He was born at Little Rock, Arkansas, fifty years ago, a son of a farmer and a Civil war officer, Captain W. P. McCants, now deceased. His mother was Cynthia Stearnes. also deceased, and she was the mother of eleven children, three sons and eight daugh- ters. He grew to manhood on an Arkansas farm, and his first business venture was as a farmer, but a little later he accepted the position of deputy sheriff, this being in 1885, and while in that office he had many rough characters to deal with, but he inherited the courage of his soldier father and manfully stood the test. He was in that office in all twelve years, six years under Sheriff R. W. Worthern and the same length of time un- der Sheriff Anson Mills. At the close of that period, Mr. McCants left Little Rock for the Choctaw country, and from there he came to Seminole county, Oklahoma, five years ago and entered upon his successful career as a contractor for railroad ties. In this time he has shipped from Seminole to the United States government four hundred thousand ties, the most of which were ship- ped to Oklahoma City for the interurban line. Steadily and persistently he has been advancing until he now occupies a leading

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place in the business circles of Seminole county, but at the same time he is honored by all for the straightforward methods he has ever followed.

In his native city of Little Rock, Mr. Mc- Cants was united in marriage to Eliza Ren- fro, who was born and reared in Wayne county, Illinois, and their three children are : Robert F., of Shawnee; Katy Belle Mason ; and Effie Delle Caffay, of Seminole county. Mr. McCants votes with the Democratic party. He is a member of the fraternal order of Masons and of the Woodmen.

M. M. TURLINGTON, M. D. Among those who have attained success in the practice of medicine and surgery in Oklahoma. and whose success has come as the result of thor- ough knowledge and skill stands Dr. M. M. Turlington, the popular physician of Semin- ole. He was one of the first residents of Seminole, arriving here October 2, 1906. He has some business property in the town. The doctor has made deep and careful re- search into the sciences of medicine and sur- gery, to which he is devoting his life, and attended the Fort Worth Medical College being a member of the class of 1896.

Dr. Turlington was born in Dale county, Alabama, in September. 1868, a member of a prominent old southern family of that state. His parents, James M. and Harriet (McLendon) Turlington, died respectively at the age of sixty-three and sixty years. The father served throughout the Civil war in the Confederate army, under the com- mand of Generals Bragg and Johnston, and his death occurred at Hawkins, Texas. The family were of the Baptist faith. The Doc- tor was but a lad of seven at the time of the removal of his parents to Texas, and there he attained to a useful and successful man- hood and received his literary education in Henry College at Campbell, Texas. Mov- ing to Lexington, Oklahoma, in 1891, he taught school for some years and then re- turned to Hunt county, Texas, from whence in 1897 he went to Grand Saline, that state, and eighteen months later to Turlington, Texas, that town having been named in his honor. There he lived for seven years, and in the meantime, in 1900, he was there mar- ried to Mrs. Lulu Leddon Hill, the widow of J. M. Hill, formerly a well known and prominent merchant there. Mr. Hill died when but thirty-seven years of age, leaving two sons, Grady and James. Mrs. Turling-

ton's father, A. M. Leddon, was a Civil war veteran of the Confederate army, a member of Company G, Sixth Alabama In- fantry.

Mrs. Turlington was for seventeen years a popular and successful teacher, and to the Doctor and his wife have been born four children, Marcellus, Bob Williams and Bibb Watson, the last two being twins. The twin of Marcellus died at birth. The Doctor gives his political allegiance to the Demo- cratic party, and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 231, and of the Woodmen of the World, of which he is physician of Seminole Lodge. He is also a member of the board of examiners of the state hospital for the insane at Ft. Supply, Oklahoma. This is the first board appointed by the gov- ernor under the state management. Mrs. Turlington is a member of the Methodist church.

Gus POOL. When Oklahoma was ad- mitted into the Union in 1907. Gus Pool was elected clerk of Seminole county and was instrumental in laying the foundation of a new sub-division of this new commonwealth. Mr. Pool was born in Hopkins county, Tex- as, February 14, 1883. He is the son of James P. and Betty (Pierce) Pool, who were married in Texas. The father was from Alabama and was the son of Napoleon Pool. of that state, where he was prominent among the early settlers. The mother was a na- tive of Hopkins county, Texas, being a de- scendant of an honored pioneer family of that section of the Lone Star state. After · their marriage, the parents of Gus Pool set- tled on a farm and subsequently the father engaged in contracting and building, which he followed with much success, beginning at Mt. Vernon and later removing to Sul- phur Springs, where he died in May, 1908. His wife preceded him in death, dying in 1904. Both were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was con- nected with the Masonic fraternity and stood for all that was good and pure in so- ciety. The children of James P. Pool and wife were: Gus, of this narrative; Birdie, unmarried, living at Sulphur Springs ; Cody B., also of the last named place.

James P. Pool entered the Confederate army at the time of the Civil war in which conflict he served four and a half years. He was once wounded and sent to the hos-

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pital, but soon rejoined his command re- ceiving an honorable discharge on account of disability. He was in the thickest of the great battles of that bloody war and endured much hardship and exposure.

When Gus Pool was eight years of age the family moved to Mt. Vernon, Texas, where he obtained a good elementary edu- cation at the common and high schools. Later he attended Calhoun Business Col- lege. He remained at home until he had reached his majority, coming, in 1904, to the Indian Territory. He first stopped at Sulphur, where he engaged as a bookkeeper for a hardware company for a year then went to Konawa, in the Seminole Nation, engag- ing also there as a bookkeeper and continu- ing thus until he was elected clerk in No- vember, 1901. He made the race on the Democratic ticket and secured the largest vote cast for any candidate in the county. He came to Wewoka, in November, 1901. that being the temporary county seat. There he opened the first set of books within the newly organized county.

Mr. Pool was united in marriage. in 1908. at Durant. Oklahoma, to Miss Mae B. Wright, who was born in Texas and with whom he had been acquainted in his child- hood days. She is the daughter of Frank Wright of Hunt county, a prominent cat- tle ranchman, who has had a varied career and many years experience both in Indian Territory and Texas. He moved his fam- ily to Durant, Oklahoma, at one time but later returned to Texas. In 1907 he again moved to Durant where he is now settled on a farm and where he deals in registered stock. He always votes the Democratic ticket. He belongs to the Methodish Church, South, and is widely known and highly respected within all the communities in which he has chanced to live. His chil- dren were: Lilly, Mrs. Barr : Mae B., wife of Mr. Pool ; Lonnie, Fay, and Lavina.

BENJAMIN F. HARMAN, the highly effi- cient treasurer of Okfuskee county, Oklaho- ma, was born in Washington county, Mis- souri, April 12, 1866. a son of Reuben and Vernetta (Kimberlin) Harman. The father was a farmer by occupation and a man who had the confidence and respect of all who made his acquaintance. He was a native of Ohio, of German descent, while the mother was of English ancestry. They remained in Washington county, Missouri, during the

remainder of their lives, the mother dying May 1, 1890, and the father in March, 1903.

Obtaining his education in the common schools, Benjamin F. Harman followed farm life at home, assisting his father in his pur- suits as an agriculturist, and later taking up farming on his own account in Wash- ington county, Missouri. Eventually, Mr. Harman drifted into the mercantile business at Anthony Mills, Missouri, where he con- ducted a store four years, from 1894 to 1898, handling general merchandise. He then came to the southwestern country and opened a general store at Stroud, Oklaho- ma, operating there four years and in 1902 moving to Okfuskee county when that coun- ty was known as District No. Nine, Indian Territory. There he established a business under the firm name of Harman and Ed- wards, the junior partner being J. C. Ed- wards. In 1906 the firm name was changed to Harman & Hicks-the partner being MI. E. Hicks. Mr. Harman still retains his in- terest in the firm.

He was married May 1, 1881, to Miss Su- san .M. Summers, of Washington county, Missouri, born February 9, 1861, a daughter of William H. Summers and wife. Four children have blessed this marriage union : Edwin R., born February 2. 1890, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Oke- mah ; Mary Edith, born November 24, 1894; Nettie Pauline, born July 11, 1898 ; and Neil, born October 18, 1902.

Politically, Mr. Harman is a Democrat and in 1907 he was elected county treasurer of Okfuskee county. He took his official seat on Statehood dav, November 12. 1901. He still looks after his farm interests and though his lands are leased, he ever takes an interest in looking well to the manage- ment of the same and makes the improve- ments necessary to keep pace with the times in which he lives. He has just completed a modern residence in Okemah, which he expects to make his future home. Mr. Har- man is a member of Okfuskee Lodge No. 204, I. O. O. F. of Okfuskee and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, Okfuskee Cam" No. 11115. Mrs. Harman is a member of the Baptist church of Okfuskee.

SAMUEL LAFAYETTE O'BANNON. one of the prominent attorneys practicing at Okemah, Oklahoma, was born in Oktibbeha county. Mississippi, September 23, 1812, a son of William C. and Mary .A. ( Moore) O'Ban-

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non. His father was a farmer and by birth a South Carolinan. The family is of Irish lineage and they were settlers in South Car- olina at a very early date. On the maternal side, the family is of Scotch ancestry, but the mother was born in Alabama.

Samuel L. O'Bannon, of this biography, was educated at the common schools of his native county, after which he attended the Meridian Normal College, preparatory to entering West Point Military Academy, at West Point, Mississippi. After that, he took a two-year course at Bethel College, at Mc- Kenzie, Tennessee. Later, he was graduated from Missouri Valley College, at Marshall, Missouri, in the academic course, with the class of 1900. He next attended the Law School of the University of Mississippi, and was admitted to the bar before the courts of the state of Mississippi, by Chancellor Longstreet, in 1902. He then began the practice of law in the city of Starkville, Mis- sissippi, the county seat of Oktibbeha coun- ty. At first, Mr. O'Bannon was associated in the office of Bell & Daniels, but later went to the great southwest, locating at Ok- emah, Oklahoma, where he devoted his time to law and as a teacher in the subscription school. He was one of the first educators in the Creek Nation of the Indian Territory. Subsequently, he became associated with T. T. Doyle, under the firm name of O'Bannon & Doyle. Since the elevation to the bench of the partner, Judge Doyle, Mr. O'Bannon has followed an independent law practice.

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A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume II, Part 38

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