A standard history of Oklahoma; an authentic narrative of its development from the date of the first European exploration down to the present time, including accounts of the Indian tribes, both civilized and wild, of the cattle range, of the land openings and the achievements of the most recent period, Vol. III, Part 78

Author: Thoburn, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradfield), 1866-1941
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 660

USA > Oklahoma > A standard history of Oklahoma; an authentic narrative of its development from the date of the first European exploration down to the present time, including accounts of the Indian tribes, both civilized and wild, of the cattle range, of the land openings and the achievements of the most recent period, Vol. III > Part 78

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In politics Mr. Franklin maintains an independent attitude and gives his support to men and measures meeting the approval of this judgment, without consider- ing strict partisan dictates. His wife holds member- ship in the Episcopal Church at Ardmore. He is identi- fied with the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce and the Dornick Hills Country Club, and his Masonic affiliations are as here designated: Ardmore Lodge, No. 31, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons; Ardmore Chapter, No. 11, Royal Arch Masons; Indian Consistory, No. 2, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at McAlester, in which he has received the thirty-second degree; and India Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Oklahoma City. He holds membership also in Ard- more Lodge, No. 648, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, and the Ardmore Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America.

At Lacon, Illinois, in August, 1902, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Franklin to Miss Mary Cecile Collyer, daughter of the late John A. Collyer, who was a success- ful contractor and builder in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin have two children, Chester, who was born October 17, 1903, and Priscilla, who was born March 23, 1913.

STEPHEN A. HORTON. The career of Stephen A. Hor- ton, one of the thoroughly learned and capable mem- bers of the Oklahoma bar, well illustrates what may be accomplished by the following out of an honorable pur- pose with firm determination and manly self-reliance. His only resource when he began active life was natural

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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

ability, but he possessed immense will power and am- bition, and was enabled to make the most of every opportunity that arose. His home training had been an admirable one, and very early in life he learned the value of self help, as well as the homely virtues of frugality, industry and fidelity. He set himself a high ideal, and in a practical, common-sense way, has directed his every effort toward its attainment, with the result that now, in the strength and vigor of manhood, he has achieved a most gratifying success in his profession, and has a firm place in the confidence of his fellowmen.

Mr. Horton is a Texan by nativity, born in Hunt County, February 6, 1871, a son of Stephen M. and Mary M. V. (Bridsong) Horton. His father, a native of Alabama, followed school teaching in that state until the beginning of the Civil war, at which time he enlisted in an Alabama regiment of volunteers and served four years under the stars and bars of the Confederacy. With the defeat of the Lost Cause, like many of his fellow-Southerners, he migrated to Texas, there to en- deavor to gather together the broken and scattered threads of life, and continued as an educator in the Lone Star State until the time of his death, in 1908. Mrs. Horton, who was born December 25, 1839, in Pan- ola County, Texas, still survives and makes her home at the old place in Hunt County.

The early education of Stephen A. Horton was secured in the public schools of Hunt County, and Calhoun Col- lege, at Kingston, Texas. He was but sixteen years of age when he left the parental roof and took his place among the world's workers, first entering the cattle business in West Texas and then the mercantile business at Wheelock, Texas, where he spent eight years, from 1888 to 1896. From early youth, however, it had been Mr. Horton's ambition to enter the legal profession, and while pursuing his duties in the marts of commerce or discharging his duties in the livestock field, he devoted his nights to the study of law, and it has been this ele- ment of determination and perseverance that has made him a lawyer of high standing not only before the State Supreme Court, but before the highest Federal tribunal. He took his examination for the bar in 1896 and was admitted to practice by the District Court, and in the following year was admitted by the Supreme Court of the State of Texas. After practicing at Wheelock for a short time, Mr. Horton went to the Panhandle coun- try of Texas, from whence he came to Oklohoma City in 1903, where he was admitted to the Supreme Court of the Territory of Oklahoma, and upon the advent of statelfood was admitted to the Supreme Court of the State of Oklahoma. Here he practiced alone until 1904, when he became a member of the firm of Davis & Horton, a partnership which continued until 1905. In 1909 he was with W. O. Mitchell, as Mitchell & Horton, and from May, 1912, to January, 1913, was with A. M. Munden, as Munden & Horton, but since the latter date has practiced alone, and has a large and profitable business in the higher courts not only of the state but of the country. He has probably as complete and ex- tensive a law library as there is to be found in the state. Ever studious, industrious, conscientious, and alive to the interests of all his clients, thorough in the preparation and complete in the presentation of all his cases, fair minded and honorable in his methods of trial, he has become recognized as a most capable and successful practitioner, a safe counselor, and a lawyer thoroughly learned in every branch of his calling. He maintains membership in the various organizations of the profession, and is fraternally connected with the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Masonry, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Horton's religious affiliation is with the Methodist Epis-

copal Church, South. A republican in politics, in 1907 he was a candidate for the nomination for county judge of Oklahoma County on the republican ticket, but was defeated by Judge James R. Lewis. Mr. Horton's offices are located at Suite 1014-1017 Colcord Building.

In 1891 Mr. Horton was married to Miss Ida J. Taylor, of Robinson County, Texas, and she died in 1899, leaving three children: Roland, born in 1894; Grace, born in 1896; and Lynn, born in 1898. In 1907 Mr. Horton was married to Miss Dora Cummings, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and to this union there has come one son : Ralph, born in 1911. The family home is at No. 1012 North Shartel Avenue.

LOUIS B. RITTER. One of the pioneers of Lawton, Louis B. Ritter, has for the past fifteen years been engaged in business in that city, chiefly as a furniture dealer and undertaker. His career is an exemplification of what industry and persistent ambition can effect in spite of discouraging circumstances and with nothing as a beginning. He has made a commendable business success, has countless friendships in various localities, is one of the most prominent Masons of Oklahoma, and has been frequently honored with those positions which indicate popular esteem.

Louis B. Ritter was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, October 5, 1865. His grandfather Ritter was a Ger- man who emigrated to America and settled in New Jersey. The father was John Ritter who was born May 1, 1830, in Brunswick, New Jersey, moved to Newark, and thence to Scranton, Pennsylvania, where he was foreman in the car shops. In 1873 he removed to Little Rock, Arkansas, became a contractor and builder, and then went upon a farm between Atkins and Marlton, Arkansas. In 1888 he located in Rogers, Arkansas, engaged in the grocery business for a time, and finally retired and died there April 24, 1906. During the Civil war he had been a Union soldier, and afterwards drew a pension. John Ritter married Sarah Elizabeth Place, who was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, August 29, 1840, and is still living at Rogers, Arkansas. Their children were: Louis B .; Laura, who was born in Scran- ton, Pennsylvania, February 14, 1867, and died June 15, 1897, as the wife of Ed Haines, who is a silversmith, living in Kansas; Ida, born at Scranton June 20, 1869, and died March 24, 1872, at Scranton; Hattie, born in Scranton December 20, 1870, and died in childhood; William Henry, born in Scranton July 16, 1873, has for the past twenty-five years been a switchman in the employ of the Frisco Railway, with home at Spring- field, Missouri; Edith May, born June 3, 1877, in Little Rock, died October 15, 1878; and Lillie, born February 21, 1881, in Little Rock, is the widow of William Bow- man, lives with her mother in Rogers, and has a daugh- ter Jewel, attending school there.

Louis B. Ritter was about eight years of age when the family removed to Arkansas, and most of his edu- cation was attained at Little Rock. His work as a practical wage earner began at the age of twelve years, as a helper in a general store at Atkins, Arkansas. He subsequently was employed in the lumber yards at Marlton, Arkansas, until 1892, and was then in the grocery business there for about one year, until selling out. Following this came about three years of expe- rience as a railroad man, at Little Rock and other places in that state. Mr. Ritter removed to Springfield, Mis- souri, in 1896, aud a few months later, in 1897, to West Plains, Missouri, where he was employed for about a year in a clothing house. He then learned the furniture and undertaking business, and from Missouri came to Oklahoma to participate in the opening of the Kiowa and Comanche Reservation in 1901. He arrived at

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Lawton September 13tli of that year, and four days later, on September 17th, found employment with E. W. Williams & Sons, furniture dealers and undertakers. He remained with that firm until January, 1902, then was employed in the same business by Hall P. Street until May, 1902, when Mr. Street sold out. He had no regular employment until September of that year, when he be- came connected with. G. W. Dunn in the same line of business, and in October, 1903, engaged in business for himself at 325 C Avenue. Mr. Ritter's present place of business is at 511 C Avenue, and he now concentrates all his energies upon undertaking.

Politically his affiliations have always been with the democratic party. For two years he served on the city council. He is a member of the First Baptist Church at Lawton. His Masonic record is of special interest. He has local affiliations with Lawton Lodge No. 183, Aucient Free and Accepted Masons; with Lawton Chapter No. 44, Royal Archi Masons, of which he is past high priest; with Lawton Council No. 21, Royal and Select Masters, of which he is thrice illustrious master ; with Lawton Commandery No. 18, Knights Templar, of which he is past eminent commander. He is a thirty- second degree Scottish Rite Mason, affiliating with Okla- homa Consistory No. 1 in the Valley of Guthrie, He belongs to India Temple Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Oklahoma City, and also belongs to the Grand Chapter, the Grand Commandery and the Grand Council of Masonry. He is past chancelor com- mander of Lawton Lodge No. 41, Knights of Pythias, and was its first representative to the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. He affiliates with Lawton Lodge No. 71, Independent Order Odd Fellows, and also with Lawton Encampment No. 27 of the same order. Another fraternal relation is with Lawton Camp No. 94, Wood- men of the World. Both he and his wife belong to Lawton Chapter No, 290 of the Order of the Eastern Star, and he is a former member of the Lawton Lodge of Elks. Mr. Ritter is a member of the Chamber of Commerce at Lawton.

On June 23, 1888, in Forest City, Arkansas, Mr. Rit- ter married Mrs. Mollie E. (Clifton) Monroe. Her father, the late W. T. Clifton, was a carpenter at Forest City, Mr. and Mrs. Ritter have no children of their own, but there is a son by her former marriage, P. C. Monroe, now assistant cashier of the First National Bank at Lawton.

GEORGE W. MURPHY. Of the men devoted to the science of healing in Jefferson County, none bring to bear upon their calling finer gifts of scholarship and resource than does Dr. George W. Murphy, who has been engaged in practice at Addington since 1908. Far from selecting his life work in the enthusiasm of extreme youth, the choice of Doctor Murphy was that of a mature mind, trained to thoughtfulness by years of practical experience as a teacher and to full realization of the possibilities and responsibilities of the labors which con- fronted him.

Doctor Murphy was born in Platte County, Missouri, May 25, 1856, and is a son of George and Nancy Jane (Lloyd) Murphy. As the name would suggest, the family originated in Ireland, from whence they emigrated to America prior to the War of the Revolution and settled in the colony of North Carolina. In that state was born the grandfather of Doctor Murphy, Payton Murphy, in 1790. In his young manhood he removed from the Old North State to Kentucky, later to Jackson- ville, Illinois, and finally, in middle age, to Platte County, Missouri, where he passed the remaining ycars of his life in the peaceful pursuits of farming and stockraising, and died in 1862. He married Nancy

Dodson, also a native of North Carolina, who died in the same locality as did her husband.

George Murphy was born in 1812, at Jacksonville, Morgan County, Illinois, and was a young man when he removed to Platte Purchase, Platte County, Missouri. Adoptiug his father's occupation of farming, he settled on a property there and continued to be engaged in cultivating the soil until his death in 1860. He was a whig in politics and religiously was connected with the Christian Church. Mr. Murphy married Miss Nancy Jane Lloyd, who was born in Clay County, Missouri, in 1815, and died in Platte County, in 1865. They became the parents of four children: John C., who is a suc- cessful contractor and builder residing at Hobart, Okla- homa; James C., living on the homestead place in Platte County; Dr. George W., of this review; and Leah, who is the wife of George Endicott, who is carrying on agricultural operations in the vicinity of Pawuee, Okla- homa.

George W. Murphy divided his boyhood days between assisting his father in the work of the home farm and attending the public schools of his locality, and when he had completed the curriculum of the schools there devoted all of his attention to his agricultural work until he was twenty-two years of age. At that time, securing a teacher's certificate, he began work as all educator, first in Wise County, Texas, where he remained until 1893. He had always cherished the ambition of entering the profession of medicine, and in the year mentioned entered the medical department of Arkansas Industrial Union, of Little Rock. The last year in Fort Worth Medical College, which he attended during 1895 and 1896, was graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, receiving all prizes in the first graduating class. He immediately opened an office at Alvord, Texas, where he continued until 1908, then coming to Adding- ton, which has since been his home and field of endeavor. He has a general medical and surgical practice and has steadily advanced in his profession, now holding an honorable position among the practitioners of Jefferson County. He holds membership in the Jefferson County Medical Society, the Oklahoma State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and keeps fully abreast of the rapid strides and developments made in medical science. Politically a republican, he has held several offices, and at the present time is health officer of Addington. While a resident of Alvord, Texas, he was a member of the school board.

In 1878, in Platte County, Missouri, Doctor Murphy was married to Miss Annie Owen, daughter of the late Jonathan Owen, who was for some years engaged in farming there. Mrs. Murphy died at Alvord, Texas, in 1900, leaving three children: Walter P., who is superin- tendent of schools of Addington; Eugene, who is sup- erintendent of schools of Hastings, Oklahoma; and Mabel, who is a senior at Addington High School. On December 23, 1900, Doctor Murphy was married a second time when united with Mrs. Annie (Stockton) Rhoades, of Alvord, Texas, daughter of Henry Stockton, deceased, who was a farmer there, as was also her late husband, James Rhoades. Doctor and Mrs. Murphy have three children: Hobart Amory, who is a freshman at Addington High School; Herman Agnew, who is a student in the seventh grade of the public schools; and Truman L., a pupil in the third grade.

WILLIAM H. ROESER. With residence and business headquarters in the City of Tulsa, Mr. Roeser has achieved prominence and definite success in his associa- tion with the oil-producing industry in this section of the state, and he has been identified with this line of enterprise during the major portion of his active career.

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In the City of Marietta, Ohio, the metropolis and judicial center of Washington County, William H. Roeser, of this review, was born on the 23d of March, 1875, and he is a son of William and Catherine (Herschler) Roeser, Jr., both of remote German ancestry and repre- sentatives of families that were early founded in the United States. William Roeser, Jr., was born in the City of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1850, and his wife was a uative of Marietta, Ohio, where she was born in the year 1855, her death having occurred in 1904. Of the six children the subject of this review is the first- born and all of the others likewise are living except one who died in infancy.

William Roeser, Jr., became one of the substantial farmers of Ohio and was also one of the pioneers in the development of the oil industry in that state, besides which he achieved prominence through his active asso- ciation with the turf affairs during the period when horse racing was in its zenith in the United States. He was a true lover of fine horses and for a number of years maintained an admirable racing stable, from which he sent forth many fine standard-bred horses to take part in leading turf events of the eastern circuits, his stable becoming well known for its excellent records and numerous track victories. He became an influential fig- ure in the development of the oil fields of the Buckeye State, his identification with this industry having been initiated in the period of its inception in Ohio, where he continued his operations until 1912, since which time he has been a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he has become largely interested in the same line of enter- prise and where he has contributed much to the further- ance of this important industry. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity.

William H. Roeser is indebted to the excellent public schools of his native city for his early educational disci- pline, which was there effectively supplemented by a thoroughi course of study in Marietta College, in which institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1894. He soon afterward became closely associated with his father's business activities, and in this connec- tion gave supervision to the latter's leases of oil lands, besides following and giving attention to his father's "string" of horses on the eastern circuits. He finally, after gaining authoritative experience in the practical workings in the oil fields of Ohio, removed to Beaumont, Texas, where he assumed the responsible office of man- ager for the Texas District Petroleum Company. His ambition soon led him to engage in oil operations in an independent way, and he remained in the Lone Star State until May, 1904, when he came to Oklahoma and became concerned with oil operations in the field about Muskogee, later remaining for a short time at Cleveland, Pawnee County. Upon leaving this place he went to the City of St. Louis, Missouri, where he maintained his business headquarters and was identified with operations in the oil fields of Southeastern Illinois until 1911, since which year he has been one of the aggressive, enterpris. ing and successful figures in connection with oil opera- tions in Oklahoma, with residence and business head- quarters in the progressive City of Tulsa. His interests in the local oil fields are varied and important, as he is a stockholder in several oil companies, including the Tartar Oil Company and the Katy Oil Company, of each of which he is general manager.

Mr. Roeser is essentially appreciative of the admirable resources and advantages of the state and city of his adoption and is known as one of the loyal citizens and progressive business men of Tulsa. Though he has man- ifested no desire to enter the turbulent current of prac-

tical politics, he accords staunch support to the princi- ples and policies for which the democratic party stands sponsor and takes a lively interest in public affairs of a local order. In the time-honored Masonic fraternity Mr. Roeser has received the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in which his affiliation is with Indian Consistory, at McAlester, this state. He holds membership in Akdar Temple, Ancient Arabie Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in the same city, and his ancient craft affiliation is still with Lodge No. 1, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, in his native City of Marietta, Ohio. He is also an appreciative and popular member of Tulsa Lodge, No. 946, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks.

On the 6th of July, 1896, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Roeser to Miss Ethel Chapin, and they have two children. Like her husband, Mrs. Roeser claims the historic old Ohio City of Marietta as the place of her nativity, and she is the eldest of the five children born to Leander and Adelaide (Young) Chapin, both repre- sentatives of staunch old colonial families in New England.

WILLIAM A. DARLING. The new towns that have sprung up in Oklahoma since statehood have drawn to themselves much talent of a quality that is seldom found in towns of equal size in older settled communities. New Wilson is an example of this truth, for among its citi- zens the town numbers a good many men of the various professions that have proved themselves worthy of larger fields of activity. Among such men in New Wilson may be mentioned Dr. William A. Darling, who came to this city in 1896. Since that time he has conducted a general medical and surgical practice, and for eighteen years he has been the owner and proprietor of the foremost drng store in the town, known as the Corner Drug Store. He has been identified with other business movements here, too, and has in many ways showu his enthusiasm for the town and its future progress.

Dr. William A. Darling was born in Hunt County, Texas, October 7, 1870, and he is the son of William C. and Mary (White) Darling.

William C. Darling was born in Ohio in 1842 and he died in Grayson County, Texas, in 1872, when the subject was a child two years old. He was the son of Hector Darling, also born in Ohio, though his people were of New York birth, who came to Ohio in their young years. The family had its origin in England and the first of the name to settle in America came in Colonial times, settled in old New York and were proprietors of a shipyard there. Hector Darling was killed in Hunt County, Texas, by Shelby's men in 1865, because of his northern sympa- thies. He was among the early pioneers to Texas, and was prominent as a stockman there for some years.

William C. Darling went from Ohio, his native state, to Hunt County, Texas, in company with his father, and he was married in that state in the year 1869. His wife, Mary White, was born in Texas in 1849, and after the death of her husband in 1872, she went back to Hunt County with her small son, from Grayson County, where she had lived during the years of her wedded life. In 1873 she married E. J. Jones, a farmer and stockman of Grayson County, Texas, and they later moved to Jack county and are living there at this writing. Seveu chil- dren were born of this union. Lavonia, the eldest, mar- ried W. A. Whitsett. They live in Jacksboro, Texas, where Mr. Whitsett conducts a Farmers' Union Store. Medie is a stock farmer and lives in Harmon, Oklahoma. Addie married William Smith, a farmer and stockman of Jacksboro, Texas. Thomas is connected in business with his brother, Medie. Leila is married and lives in Jacksboro, where her husband operates a cotton gin.

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Myrtle married a Mr. Cantrill of Jacksboro and Jacob is still in the home of his parents.

William A. Darling attended the public schools in Texas until he was eighteen years old, and later entered the Physicians and Surgeons College in Dallas, Texas, from which he was graduated with the class of 1905 with the degree M. D. This he followed with a course of training in the Physicians and Surgeons College in Kansas City. His first practice was carried on in Jack County, Texas, after which he came to McMillan, Okla- homa, in November, 1894, and was engaged in medical practice for a year. He then moved to Reck, Oklahoma, where he spent a year and a half in practice, and in 1896 came to Hewitt, which later became Wilson. Here he has since conducted a general medical and surgical prac- tice, and he has made for himself a name in his profes- sion that is well worthy of him and his efforts .. Eighteen years ago he established a drug store in the town, calling it the Pioneer Drug Store. In later years it has come to be called the Corner Drug Store, and it is known to be the best patronized dispenser of drugs and druggists' sundries to be found in this section of the state.

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Author: Thoburn, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradfield), 1866-1941 Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The American Historical Society Number of Pages: 660

Author: Thoburn, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradfield), 1866-1941
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 660