A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume II, Part 63

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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Quite early in the boyhood of George A. the family removed to Canada and in the prov- ince of Ontario his first schooling was ob- tained, it being afterward continued at the

MICHAEL F. DUNLEAVY

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. After complet- ing a course 'at the Winnipeg College he was matriculated at Barnes University of St. Louis, Missouri, from which he was graduated in the class of 1906 and in that city com- menced the practice of medicine. In the fol- lowing year he removed to Muskogee, Okla- homa, where he still resides and practices. His wife was formerly Miss Lillian Neumeis- ter and their son is William Melvine Smithett. Dr. Smithett is a member of the A. F. & A. M.

DR. DANIEL MOSCO RANDEL. A Muskogee physician not only of thorough professional education but of broad literary and business training, Dr. Daniel M. Randel is a native of Tennessee, born in Perry county, June 17, 1866. His parents were Harvey O. and Lucy A. (Dyer) Randel, his father being also a native of Tenessee of an old established fam- ily, originally English. On the maternal side the ancestry is pure Scotch. For many years the father was a successful merchant and busi- ness man and now resides at Davenport, Oklahoma.

The Doctor's early education was obtained in the public schools of Perry county and having passed through them he pursued a course at the Missouri State Normal School at Cape Girardeau, from which he was grad- uated in 1889 with the degree of A. B. Sub- sequently he attended the Queen City Busi- ness College at Quincy, Illinois. His matri- culation as a medical student was at the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons, St. Louis, and in 1890 he was graduated from that in- stitution with the degree of M. D. Later he pursued a special course in opthalomology under Drs. George Edwards and James Moore Ball, of Union City, Tennessee. His post graduate work in his professional specialty was pursued under Dr. Herman Knapp, head of the Opthalmic Institute of New York City. Dr. Randel commenced practice at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1894, and has from the first con- fined himself to the treatment of the diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. After nearly ten years of successful professional work in that line he came to the Indian country in 1903 and located at Muskogee where he has established a fine practice and continued to add to his high professional reputation. Be- sides conducting a large private practice he is officially connected with the Midland Valley Railroad and with the Oklahoma institution for the blind and deaf.

Dr. Randel was married to Miss Mamie Brown, of Rochester, Pennsylvania, and the two children born to them are Brown W. and Harvey O. Randel. The Doctor is a man of great energy and wide popularity, these two traits being illustrated by his membership in such clubs as the Town and Country and Wal- halla and from the fact that he is an enthusi- astic and inveterate sportsman and hunter. His kennel of hunting dogs is one of the finest in this part of the state and on his private grounds he has a beautiful fishing lake which he not only patronizes himself but which is open to his numerous friends. Dr. Randel is also a golf enthusiast and to add to the ac- tivities already mentioned he devotes consid- erable time to the raising of fancy horses and blooded cattle.

CHARLES JOSEPH DUFFY, architect of Mus- kogee, in the county of that name, is well known for his professional work both in Flor- ida and Oklahoma. Born in Wilmington, Delaware, on the 5th of July. 1822, he is a son of Patrick J. and Katherine (O'Brien) Duffy, his father being a native of the north of Ireland and the mother, of the state of Delaware. Mr. Duffy obtained his early edu- cation in the public schools of Wilmington and at St. Mary's College. Belmont. North Carolina, from which he was graduated as a student in the scientific course.

At the time of the graduation of Charles J. Duffy from college his father was conducting an extensive contracting business at Macon, Georgia, and the younger man was received into the firm as a member of P. J. Duffy and Son. In this connection he mastered the trade of a bricklayer and, with the dissolution of the partnership in 1893, he followed that vo- cation for some time in Atlanta and other large cities, being employed by the Remington Construction Company of New York City and M. T. Lewman and Company of Louisville. In 1904 he located in the city of Jacksonville. Florida, where he designed many of the build- ings erected after the fire that devastated that city. On account of ill health, however. he was compelled to leave Jacksonville, and in 1908 opened an office at Muskogee as an archi- tect and superintendent.

WILLIAM PANTON ZACHEUS GERMAN, jun- ior member of the law firm of Hutchings and German, of Muskogee, and a leading member of the local bar, is a native of Tex- as, born in Fannin county, February 28, 1877. His parents are James L. and Eliza (Paxton)

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

German, his father being an old-time Missouri farmer of an English family, while his moth- er's ancestors were Scotch-Irish. Mr. Ger- man's early education was obtained in the public schools of Whitewright, Texas, at a later date attending Grayson College, in the same town, and the State University at Aus- tin. In 1891 he was graduated from the law school of the latter institution with the de- gree of LL. B. and in the same year was ad- mitted to the practice of his profession at Whitewright as the partner of William S. Vernon under the firm name of Vernon and German. This connection continued until 1904 when he became a resident of Musk- ogee and became associated with the law firm of Hutchings and Murphy.

On January 1, 1906, he became a member of the firm then formed of Hutchings, Mur- phy and German and by the withdrawal of Mr. Murphy, January 1, 1909, the partner- ship assumed its present style. The senior member of the firm has a high reputation in this part of the state and the firm as a whole is among the progressive and reliable legal firms of Muskogee county. Although Mr. German is a remarkably busy man he al- ways finds time to be sociable and natur- ally is an active fraternalist, having been for a number of years actively identified with the orders of Elks and Knights of Pythias. Mr. German was married to Miss MI. Gussie Ward, of Fayette, Missouri, daughter of Albert Ward, a well known business man who now resides at Rocheport, Missouri. They have one child: Mary Eliz- abeth German.

WILLIAM M. HARRISON, a leading lawyer and citizen of Muskogee, is a native of Mon- ticello, Drew county, Arkansas, born on the 27th of August, 1854. He is a son of Wiliam M. and Permelia (Fairchild) Harrison. In the active period of his career his father was a widely known lawyer and jurist of Arkan- sas. In his earlier years he was an active and able teacher, and was esteemed through life as a cultured and learned gentleman. The Harrison family traces its ancestry to Scotland, its American emigrants settling in Maryland before the Revolutionary period. Ilon. William M. Harrison, the father, came of humble parentage, his sire being a ship- carpenter and a farmer. His immediate an- cestors on the maternal side were Mississippi planters.

William M. Harrison, of Muskogee, re- ceived his education in the public and Ma- sonic schools of Arkansas, and at the State University, prior to assuming his professional studies. He spent four years in the University of Arkansas, after which he entered the Uni- versity of Virginia, at Charlottesville, from which he graduated in 1880 with the degree of LL. B. One of his class mates was Sena- tor James P. Clarke, of Arkansas. Mr. Har- rison commenced the practice of his profes- sion at Pine Bluff, that state, being associated with his father. He served there for two years as municipal judge, and then went to Sherman, Texas, in the course of his general prospecting tour for a professional location. Coming to the Indian Territory in 1889, he entered the country of the Oklahoma "boom- ers," and, while he did not take part in the "rush," he reaped a good financial harvest by attending to the ceaseless legal entanglements of those who did participate. He was the first to try a case before the United States court which was established that year. In 1895 Judge Charles B. Stuart appointed him United States commissioner with headquarters at Cameron, Indian Territory ( now Le Flore county, Oklahoma). Two years later Mr. Harrison's father died at Pine Bluff, and he went to that city to settle his affairs. While thus engaged he was appointed assistant pros- ecuting attorney of the district, and after serving in that position for three years re- turned to the Oklahoma Territory, locating at Shawnee. He practiced there for some time, and then removed to Muskogee. Since becoming a resident of the latter place he has been associated professionally with Judge John R. Thomas. F. L. McCain, Esq., and Judge F. B. Beall, who is his present partner.

Mr. Harrison's wife was Miss Margaret Dial, to whom he was married at Holly Grove. Arkansas, February 3, 1887. Mrs. Harrison is a daughter of Captain J. H. Dial, a planter and merchant of Monroe county, that state. and she is the mother of three children- Lizzie Canfield, who died when three years of age: Jerry Fairchild and William Mace Harrison.

As a matter of recreation and considerable profit, Mr. Harrison spends considerable of his time in the improvement of his farm in Arkansas, raising both the standard crops and fruits. As to pure recreation, he is fond of fishing and hunting, and whenever possible indulges in these pastimes. His social and fra-

Hmm Harrison

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

ternal interests are widely extended, and he is quite prominent in fraternal circles. He was among the few Knights of Pythias, who at McAlester, in 1890, organized the grand lodge of that order, and in 1894 was elected grand chancellor. In 1885 he was initiated into the fraternity as a member of Juliet Lodge, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He is also an active member of the Indeepndent Order of Odd Fellows. It should be added that his tastes are also military, having served as cap- tain of the "Garland Grays," while residing in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and being the cap- tain of the first Uniformed Rank of the Knights of Pythias in the Indian Territory.

GEORGE WOODRUFF IRWIN, a real es- tate dealer of Muskogee, has obtained an extensive business in that line both because of his fine business abilities and quite a tho- rough legal education. He is a native of the town of Kankakee, Kankakee county, Illinois, son of Joseph L. and Mary A. ( Devoe) Irwin. After obtaining his early education in the pub- lic schools of the city of Kankakee he pur- sued special courses in stenography and type- writing, making such progress in the branches last named that he obtained an appointment as official court reporter of Kankakee county. He then studied law two years and became con- nected with the Illinois Central Railroad in the office of W. J. Harahan, of Kankakee and later with the chief engineer of the road, J. F. Wallace, at Chicago. In 1897, he resign- ed his position with the Illinois Central to be- come assistant secretary and treasurer of the Illinois Eastern Hospital for the Insane, at Kankakee. In 1901 the Dawes Commission had been organized and was about to start for the scene of its labors in Indian Terri- tory and Mr. Irwin fortunately secured a position in the enrollment division of that body. Later he was placed in charge of all the details connected with the contest division and remained thus employed until June, 1906, when he resigned his position in order to en- gage in the real estate business as well as in the development of several oil interests which he had secured. These lines of business have since profitably occupied his time and he is now established as a substantial business man and citizen of Muskogee.

Mr. Irwin was married to Miss Cora E. Cotton, daughter of A. W. Cotton, a Kankakee (Illinois) merchant and their two children are Vinita, christened for the Oklahoma city of that name, and George C. Irwin.

DR. GEORGE LEE KNEBEL, a progressive and able young dentist of Muskogee, is a native of Edwardsville, Illinois, a son of John G. and Marie (Ruff) Knebel, his father being a lead- ing lumber merchant of St. Louis and a native of Illinois of German extraction. The fore- fathers on the maternal side are also of the same nationality.

The doctor received his early education in the public schools of Illinois later pursuing a higher course at the Christian Brothers Col- lege and being graduated from the St. Louis high school. He then entered the St. Louis National Dental College subsequently pursuing his professional studies at the Marion Sims Medical College, also of that city, from which he was graduated in 1904 with the degree of D. D. S. He at once located for practice at St. Louis, being first associated with the office of Dr. Cates. Not long afterwards, however, he was attracted to the Indian country by its promising future and opened an office at Mus- kogee, Oklahoma, where he has since been a progressive professional man and an enter- prising citizen.

ERNEST LAWSON KISTLER. Although among the younger members of his profession, Ernest L. Kistler, of Muskogee, has earned a sub- stantial reputation both in official and private practice. He is a native of Guilford county, North Carolina, born February 16, 1875, to Samuel F. and Emma ( Prather) Kistler. Both of his parents are also natives of North Carolina, his father being a merchant and far- mer and a member of an old established Ger- man family, and his mother's ancestry is pure English.

Mr. Kistler's early education was obtained in the public schools of his native county, and he afterward pursued higher courses at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkan- sas, and still later attended the National Nor- mal University of Ohio. He later took up the study of law, and was admitted to prac- tice at Tecumseh, Oklahoma, on the 18th of February, 1897. It was at that place that he commenced his professional work, and he has since been engaged in continuous practice within the limits of the present state of Okla- homa. At Shawnee he practiced as a member of the firm of Wood and Kistler. Later he removed to Holdenville, Indian Territory, and while there received the appointment of assist- ant United States attorney for the western district of Indian Territory, continuing in this office from October 2, 1903, until July 1, 1902.

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA !!

During this period his residence was at M11s- kogee, and this has since been his home city.

Mr. Kistler is an active member of the Mus- kogee Bar Association and the Oklahoma State Bar Association, and in his fraternal re- lations is a Scottish Rite Mason and identified with the order of Elks. He married Miss Ruby L. Coleman, a daughter of L. J. Cole- man, of Whitesboro, Texas, and he is the father of one child, Arthur Lee Kistler.

GEORGE HARIOT LOWERRE, JR., who came from his native town of Yonkers, New York, in 1907, and settled at Muskogee, is here en- gaged in the business which he followed for a number of years in the Empire state, that of a sand and gravel contractor. He is a son of George H., Sr. and Fannie (VanSice) Lowerre, the family being a mixture of French, Scotch and Dutch stock. The father, who was a native of New York, traces his ancestry to France and to Scotland, while the maternal forefathers originated in the Neth- erlands.

George H. Lowerre, Jr. received his educa- tion at Yonkers, New York, being a student in both private and public schools. His first business experience was secured in the real estate field at New York City and he after- ward continued in this line at Yonkers and other parts of the state. In 1907 he removed to Muskogee, Indian Territory, and established his present growing business as a contractor in sand and gravel supplies. Mr. Lowerre married Miss Rose Keniefick, daughter of William Keniefick, a resident of Kansas City. He has therefore provided in every way for his permanent and comfortable residence in his new home.

HARRY ROSWELL DENTON. Although a lawyer by profession, Harry R. Denton, of Muskogee, is extensively engaged in the busi- ness of buying and selling leases of oil and gas lands. He is a native of the Hawkeye state, born at Manchester, February 4, 1870, son of Nixon and Mary Ann ( Magil) Denton. Mr. Denton is of Irish parentage although his father was born in England. He received his education in the schools of his native Iowa town and at the state university, but on account of an affection of the eyes he was unable to graduate from that institution and entered the services of the Union Pacific Railroad. Through a course of persistent study, however, he acquired such a knowl- edge of the law as enabled him, in 1894, to secure admission to the bar at Green River.

Wyoming. He began practice at Rock Springs in association with Hon. C. C. Ham- lin, and thus continued until 1899 when he re- moved to Kansas and engaged in the raising of fruit. News of the oil excitement, with Muskogee as its center, there reached him and he therefore came direct to this place, becom- ing at once a member of Wheatly and Den- ton, now among the most extensive dealers in oil and gas leases in the locality. Mr. Den- ton's wife was formerly Miss Emily F. Beadle, a resident of Rock Springs, Wyoming.

CLARENCE WILLIAM TURNER, the prominent hardware merchant of Muskogee, is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, born on the 18th of June, 1857. His father, J. E. Turner, married a Miss Ayres. The son was educated in the public schools of his native city and Fort Smith, Arkansas, and in 1820, when thirteen years of age accompanied his father to Ok- mulgee, then in the Indian Territory, where the latter engaged in business as a licensed trader. In 1875 he pursued a course at Jones Business College, St. Louis, Missouri, after which he commenced business as an indepen- dent trader.

Mr. Turner continued to engage success- fully in business at Okmulgee until 1882. when he removed to Muskogee and purchased the establishment of J. S. Atkinson, the hard- ware merchant, which became the basis of his own large interests in that line. The new modern hotel, "Turner," which is the pride of the city and considered its most imposing building, is named in his honor. as a compli- ment to his ability, enterprise and honorable standing. Mr. Turner's wife was formerly a Miss Butler, of Eufaula, Indian Territory, and the children born to them are Tookah, Clarence and Marion. Mr. Turner is a Re- publican and on Citizens ticket was on the first board of the city when organized. He is affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., belonging to Muskogee Lodge No. 28.

JOHN HENDERSON STANFIELD, holding the rank of sergeant in the United States army and attached to the general recruiting serv- ice with headquarters at Muskogee, is a na- tive of Marshall, Arkansas, where he was born August 16, 1871. His parents are H. J. and Mary E. (Brackett) Stanfield. His fath- er is a farmer and carpenter, a native of Ten- nessee, and the paternal family is of substan- tial Scotch and English ancestry. The gene- alogy on the maternal side is traced to Eng- land.

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HISTORY OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA.

John H. Stanfield was educated in the Arkansas public schools and soon after finish- ing his education became a clerk in the gen- eral store of J. R. Baker, of Paradise, Texas. After five years in that employment he re- moved to the Indian country, attracted thither by the opening of the Cherokee strip in Sep- tember, 1893. He first located at Enid where he engaged in various stock enterprises for about three years and then enlisted in the Twenty-third Infantry Regiment of the Unit- ed States army then stationed at Fort Clark, Texas. After remaining there for two years he was sent to the Philippines and took an active part in the campaigns of the Spanish- American war, remaining on the islands for some time after the conclusion of the hostili- ties. His entire service in the Philippines covered a period of about four years. He was present at the capture of Manila, August 13, 1898, took part in the fierce activities of the Moros at Jolo and in the Island of Mundano and, in fact, participated in many other well known engagements connected with Filipino insurrection. He then returned to the United States and was stationed with his regiment at Fort Ethan Allen, in Vermont, and at Plattsburg, New York, after which (in 1902) he was transferred to the recruiting service of the regular army at Oklahoma City and Muskogee.

ALLEN NELSON ROBINSON, local agent of the American Express Company at Musko- gee, is a native of Jackson. Tennessee, born April 5, 1882. He is a son of William J. and Virginia (Thompson) Robinson, his father being a well known manufacturer of that state, and the paternal family of stanch Scotch ancestry. His mother was a native of Virginia and comes of English stock.

Educated in the public schools of Jackson, Tennessee, Mr. Robinson graduated from the local high school in the class of 1899. He re- ceived his first practical experience as a re- porter on the Daily Sun, of Jackson. He held this position until he was nineteen years of age when he entered the service of the Amer- ican Express Company in their Jackson office and remained thus engaged until 1903 when he received the appointment of cashier at the Muskogee office, and in August, 1905. was transferred to Nashville, Tennessee, where he assumed a like position. In October, 1908, Mr. Robinson returned to Muskogee as the local agent of the company and here he has since remained. His marriage to Miss Sarah

Frances Howard occurred at Jackson, Ten- nessee, in 1905.

WILLIAM EDGAR LOOPER, first county clerk of Muskogee county under the state govern- ment, was born in Scott county, Arkansas. April 1, 1874. He is a son of William H. and Aletha A. (Sorrells) Looper, his father being for many years a farmer in that vicin- ity. Here the boy obtained his education in the neighboring public schools and assisted his father on the farm. In his early manhood he began to teach in the district school of Sebastian county and remained thus employed for about four years.

In 1897 he removed to Indian Territory. locating at Webbers Falls and engaging for a time as a farmer and later as clerk and gen- eral salesman in the store of Gibson Brothers. In 1900 he established a business of his own at Tamaha, Indian Territory, under the firm name of Francis Looper and Company. He sold his interest in this enterprise in 1904 and returned to Webbers Falls becoming connect- ed with his former employer and continuing with him as bookkeeper until 1907. In that year, with the coming of statehood, he was elected by the Democracy to the office of county clerk of Muskogee county and as- sumed the duties of that office with the other officials on November 16, 1907. He is a member of the Masons, the Knights of Py- thias and the Woodmen of the World. Mr. Looper's wife was formerly Miss Mallie Murphy, of Spring Hill, Arkansas, and their two children are Vincent and Theo Looper.

MARVIN PIERCE LOOPER, under sheriff of Muskogee county, is a native of Sebastian county, Arkansas, born June 24, 1878. His parents were William Henry and Aletha Ara- belle (Sorrells) Looper and he was reared as the son of a farmer in comfortable circum- stances. After passing through the district schools of his home he pursued a course at Neil's Commercial College at Fort Smith, Ar- kansas. Soon afterward he became a clerk in the general store of H. W. Dixon and Com- pany, of Mansfield, that state and was em- ployed in this and other more responsible po- sitions until 1907. In that year he located at Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, and entered the em- ploy of Gibson Brothers in the same line of business, removing to Muskogee in February. 1908, being an attache of Judge Jackson's court. Subsequently he became under sheriff to R. B. Ramsey. In politics Mr. Looper is an active Democrat.

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Mr. Looper is married to Miss Minnie Bull, of Mansfield, Arkansas, a daughter of Allen L. Bull, of that place. They have one child- Ina Looper.

PHILIP MESMER FORD is a prominent in- surance, bonds and real estate man of Mus- kogee. A native of Owensboro, Kentucky, he was born October 29, 1865, and is a son of William P. and Catherine ( Mesmer) Ford. The father's ancestors were Scotch and Irish while on his mother's side Philip M. Ford comes of German stock and of an old Virginia family.

Mr. Ford's early education was obtained at New Harmony, Indiana, whence the fam- ily moved when the boy was only five years of age. After he left school he also entered business there as a messenger boy with the New Harmony Banking Company. When he came to Muskogee in 1891 he had mastered the practical details of banking and was ap- pointed assistant cashier of the First National Bank of that place. For nine years he was identified with the management and growth of that institution and in 1900 became chief deputy clerk of the United States courts for the northern district of Indian Territory, serv- ing in that capacity under Judges John R. Thomas and Joseph A. Gill. The discharge of such responsible duties gave him a tho- rough training which fitted him to successfully engage in another line of business. He there- fore resigned his position with the United States court and became a member of the Bragdon, Ford and Rulison Company, dealers in insurance, bonds and real estate and he still retains his connection with this substan- tial and progressive firm.

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A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume II, Part 63

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