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. IV, Part 83

Author: Thoburn, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradfield), 1866-1941
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 656

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. IV > Part 83

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CHARLES L. WILLIAMS. The energentic and popular postmaster of Maysville, Charles L. Williams, has held his present office since 1914 and has won the gratitude and confidence of the people of the community by the earnest manner in which he has endeavored to better the service. Prior to 1914 his training had been principally along business lines, but he had also held various offices in which he gained experience that was of value to him in taking the postmastership.

Mr. Williams wos born in DeSoto County, Mississippi, September 17, 1875, a sou of S. and Mary (Quillen) Williams. The family, originating in England, first settled in Alabama as pioneers on coming to America, and later went to Mississippi, where the name was also known among the first settlers. S. Williams was born in Mississippi, in 1830, and enlisted from that state during the Civil war in the army of the Confederacy, serving through all the four years of warfare. In 1882 he re- moved to near Fayetteville, Arkansas, where he secured a farm, but in 1889 sold his land and moved to White- head, Oklahoma, where he continued his farming opera- tions. His death occurred in 1900, at Antioch, near Whitebead. He was a democrat in politics. Mr. Williams married Miss Mary Quillen, who was born in 1841, in Mississippi, and who still survives her hus- band, making her home at Maysville. There were seven children in the family, as follows: J. H., who resides nine miles south of Maysville, on his farm; Charles L .; Etta, who married D. E. Branam, a carpenter and build- er residing in the eastern part of Oklahoma; Josie, who married J. H. Barnwell, a farmer residing at Mays-

ville; her twin, Jesse, engaged in farming in the west- ern part of Oklahoma; Katy, who married Oscar Dean, living seven miles South of Maysville, near Antioch, on a farm; and Delia, who is the wife of J. W. Keller, a wholesale flour dealer of Wynnewood, Oklahoma.

Charles L. Williams attended the schools of Arkansas and at Whitebead, Oklahoma, receiving the equivalent of a modern high school education. He was reared on the farm of his father and remained with him until the elder man died, at which time he went to live with his uncle, J. R. Ham, with whom he spent two years, during which he completed his education. In 1902, at the opening of the town, he took up his residence at Maysville and engaged in the mercantile business, but after three years sold his interests and went to Pauls Valley, where he secured a position as a clerk. Two years later he resumed operations in mercantile lines at Maysville, but after a year sold out and went to New Mexico, remaining there for six months. Again he returned to Maysville and engaged in the insurance business until 1914, and during this time for three years held the office of city clerk. In 1914 he received his appointment from President Wilson as postmaster of Maysville, an office which he has faithfully and capably filled to the present time. Mr. Williams is a stalwart democrat, and was formerly clerk of the Garvin County Democratic Club. He is a. member of the Baptist Church, in which he has served as deacon, while fraternally he is a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to Valley of Guthrie Consistory No. 1, and to Maysville Lodge No. 232, Ancient, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, of which he has been secretary and senior deacon.

Mr. Williams was married at Maysville, in 1907, to Miss Pearl Crouch, daughter of S. B. Crouch, who is a: truck farmer and resides at Maysville. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have no children.

JOHN FREDERICK MCCULLOUGH. The successful sales- manship of fire, life and accident insurance involves the possession of qualities and attributes not possessed by the ordinary individual. This is one of the most difficult vocations in which a young man may engage and also calls for the expenditure of great energy and tireless persistence, but the rewards are commensurate with the labor involved, and the successful insurance man has in his possession a business which places him among the substantial men of his community. Of the men who have built np prosperous enterprises in this line at Oklahoma City, John Frederick Mccullough is an excellent example. He came to this city in 1908 and for several years was connected with an established business, but for the past three years has been at the head of an agency of his own and has developed it to important proportions.

John F. Mccullough was born at Urbana, the county seat of Champaign County, Illinois, March 13, 1882, and is a son of Albert Carl and Fanetta Cecelia (Shaw) Mccullough, natives of Illinois. The eldest brother of Albert Carl Mccullough served three years as a soldier during the Civil war, and was afterwards clerk and connected with the clerk's office of Champaign County, Illinois, continuously for twenty-five years. He was later state auditor of Illinois for sixteen years, retiring from that office in 1912, and his death occurred in June, 1914. On Mr. Mccullough's mother's side, his ancestors, the Blakes, date their residence in America back to the arrival of the Mayflower, being of English origin. On his father's side, his people came from Scotland and settled in Pennsylvania during the early days of the state's settlement.

John F. Mccullough was educated in the common schools of Champaign County, Illinois, and in the year

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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

1901 graduated from the high school at Urbana. As a lad he was reared amid agricultural surroundings, and his boyhood was spent on the home farm, but sub- sequently he turned his attention to the baker's trade and followed that successfully for oue and a half years. Later he spent five and a half years in the mill supply business, and in 1908 decided to try his fortuues in the West and accordingly came to Oklahoma City, where, January 1, 1909, he engaged in the insurance business. The greater part of Mr. Mccullough's experience was obtained with the firm of A. C. Farmer Compauy, of which he was iu charge of the insurance department for three and one-half years, at the end of which period he embarked in business ou his own account. He has at this time a local agency for the Aetna Life Insurance Company for Oklahoma City, and also looks after the interests here of several of the leading old line fire insurance companies. Mr. Mccullough is a rare type of the real live wire in a business way, meeting people on terms that appeal to them, and being a "mixer" of the highest degree. He has succeeded in gaining the implicit faith of the public in his business character, while his numerous friends trust him without stint. His offices are situated at Suite Nos. 914-15-16 Herskowitz Building.

At Brooklyn, New York, May 7, 1905, Mr. McCullough was married to Miss Caroline Anna Clist, daughter of Albert and Martha (Taylor) Clist, uatives of England. Two children have been born to this union: John Milton, July 4, 1907; and Ruth Clist, January 9, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. McCullough are members of the Wesley M. E. Church. He is a Master Mason, belonging Siloam Lodge No. 276, of Oklahoma City, to Cyrus Chapter, No. 7, R. A. M., Oklahoma Commandery, No. 3, and India Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. The MeCullough home is located at No. 1205 West Twenty-ninth Street.

CHARLES C. HOLDEN. When Charles C. Holden or- ganized the First State Bank of Willow in 1910, he was elected to the post of cashier of the bank, and he has held that position down to the present date. Mr. Holden was born in Wise County, Texas, on October 27, 1887, and is a son of J. H. Holden, who was born in Missouri in 1865.

The Holden family was established in Kentucky in pioneer days and men of that name helped to mould the fortunes of the state, and many of them are to be fouud within her borders today. The branch with which we are concerned at this writing pioneered into Missouri a good many years before the Civil war period and there J. H. Holden was born. From Missouri he moved to Wise County, Texas, as a young man, and there mar- ried. He came to Grier County, Texas, in April, 1888, a pioneer to another new country, and homesteaded 160 acres of land about four and a half miles southeast of what is now the Town of Willow. Today Mr. Holden owns eight quarter section tracts of land in addition to the original quarter section which he got on his home- stead rights. He has devoted his time to farming and stock raising there, a business in which he has spent his life, and in which he has been very successful. Diversified farming, and the breeding of blooded cattle and horses, occupy him ou his Oklahoma farm.

Mr. Holden is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and an elder in it. He is a member of Willow Lodge No. 488, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is presi- dent of the First State Bank of Willow, of which the subject is cashier.

Mr. Holden married Starr Craven, born in Texas in 1869, and seven children were born to them. They are briefly mentioned as follows: Charles C. of this review was the first born. Lula married Charles Mckinney, and

they live in Denison, Texas, where Mr. Mckinney a fireman on the K. T. line. Annie married Roy Gaithe; manager of the Cameron Lumber Company of Willow where they have their home. Esther remains with he parents. De Witt is in high school in Granite, Oklahoma James and Frank arc in the public schools.

Charles C. Holden attended the public schools in Grie County and after his graduation from high school en tered the Central State Normal, where he spent tw years, leaving in 1906, to assume the principalship o the Grier County schools. He served in that office fror 1906 to 1910, and in the latter year he organized th First State Bank of Willow, in company with his fathe who became president of the new concern. W. J. Under wood is vice president, and Mr. Holden is cashier. The bank has a capital of $10,000 and a surplus of $1,000 In 1912 Mr. Holden brought about the erection of : modern bank building for the First State Bank, located advantageously on Main Street.

Mr. Holden is a democrat. He has served worthily 01 the local school board, has been town treasurer, and i: now a member of the council. He is a member of the U. S. A. Presbyterian Church and an elder therein. His fraternal affiliations are with the Odd Fellows, Willow Lodge 488, the Modern Woodmen of America, of Granite Oklahoma, and Willow Camp, Woodmen of the World. He is a member of the Oklahoma State and American Bankers associations.

In 1910 Mr. Holden was married in Willow to Miss Zuna Ross, a daughter of A. T. Ross, a farmer of Granite, Oklahoma. The Holdens have two children,- John, born June 20, 1911, and Ruby, born June 12, 1914.

EDWIN G. MCCOMAS. Judge McComas is a representa- tive of one of the prominent and influential families of Beckham County, and upon his assumption of his duties ou the beuch of the county court he removed from Elk City to Sayre, the county seat. He was admitted to the bar of Oklahoma in 1909 and thereafter continued in the practice of his profession. at Elk City, metropolis of Beckham Couuty, until his election to the office of judge of the county court, in November, 1914. He entered upon the discharge of his judicial duties on the 1st of January, 1915, and his initial year of service has been marked by circumspection, scrupulous care, broad and accurate knowledge of the law and admirable facility in applying that knowledge to the conservation of equity and justice. His election was for the regular term of two years and it is assuredly a matter of his own volition if he fails to continue on the bench after the expiration of his present term.

Judge McComas was born at Sturgeon, Boone County, Missouri, on the 17th of February, 1870, and is a son of Dr. James M. McComas, who is one of the pioneer physicians and surgeons of Beckham County, and who is still engaged in the active practice of his profession at Elk City,-a man of high attainments and a citizen well known for his high-minded civic loyalty and public spirit, a review of his career, with incidental record con- cerning the family history being entered on other pages of this publication, so that it is not necessary to repeat the data in the present article. It may be noted, how- ever, that Judge MeComas is a scion of staunch Scotch- Irish stock, and a representative of a family that was founded in Virginia in the colonial period of our national history.

In the schools of his native town Judge McComas acquired his early educational discipline and after his graduation in the Sturgeon High School, as a member of the class of 1891, he accompanied his parents on their removal to the City of St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained until the time of his coming to Oklahoma, in

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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

1901. Here he held for some time a position with the Weatherford Milling Company, at Weatherford, Custer County, and later he was identified with business affairs at Elk City, Beckham County, where his father estab- lished himself in the practice of medicine in the year 1900. In 1906 Judge McComas was a student in the law department of the University of Missouri, and for the ensuing two years he attended the law department of the celebrated Vanderbilt University, in the City of Nash- ville, Tennessee. As previously stated, he was admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 1909, and engaged in the practice of his profession at Elk City, where he soon proved his powers as a versatile trial lawyer and well fortified coun- selor, with the result that he built up a substantial and representative law business, to which he gave his close attention until his election to his present judicial office, this preferment showing the estimate placed upon his ability and character by the voters of Beckham County. He served one year as acting city attorney of Elk City and prior to his election to his present office he had gained secure vantage place as one of the essentially representative members of the Beckham County bar. He is at the present time secretary of the Oklahoma County Judges' Association, and is an influential and apprecia- tive member of the Beckham County Bar Association. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Elk City Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

At Marietta, this state, in 1914, was solemnized the marriage of Judge McComas to Miss Mary B. London, and they are popular factors in the leading social activities of the attractive little city in which they maintain their home.

ERNEST SULLIVAN, M. D. The allied professions of medicine and surgery have a capable and worthy repre- sentative at Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, in the person of Dr. Ernest Sullivan, who was in practice at Maysville until March, 1916, when he moved to Pauls Valley. Doctor Sullivan belongs to the old North Carolina family of that name, and was born at Decatur, Alabama, July 16, 1881, a son of W. E. and Josephine (Stover) Sullivan.

W. E. Sullivan, his father, was born at Decatur, Alabama, in 1853, and in 1887 removed as a pioneer to Italy, Ellis County, Texas, where lie now makes his home, being engaged in farming and the raising of stock. He is an active member of the Baptist Church, a demo- crat in his political views, and is a man of standing and influence in his community. He married Josephine Stover, who was born at Decatur, Alabama, in 1853, and they have had eight children, as follows: C. L., who is a graduate of Barnes Medical University and now engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Elmore City, Oklahoma; Ernest; Lulu, who married E. G. Grafton, who is connected with the state educational department at Austin, Texas; Avis, who is the wife of Sam Watson, of Italy, Texas, a dealer in farm loans, real estate and blooded horses; E. S., a physician and surgeon of Okla- homa City, with offices in the Colcord Building, and a graduate of Barnes University; Charles, a student at Baylor Medical College, Dallas, Texas; Robert L., a graduate of the University of Texas, Austin, and now a practicing attorney at Waxahachie, Texas; and Tullie, a graduate of the Denton (Texas) State Normal School and now residing with her parents.

Ernest Sullivan attended the public schools of Italy, Texas, and the high school at Waxahachie, and in October. 1900. entered the medical department of Barnes University, St. Louis, Missouri, where he studied for one year. In 1901 he located at Antioch, Oklahoma, on Rush Creek, six miles south of Maysville, and there began practice. continuing at that point until 1909. In the Vol. IV-19

meantime he had completed his college course and had received his degree of Doctor of Medicine from Barnes University May 10, 1907. Doctor Sullivan located in Maysville in 1909 and in March, 1916, moved to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, having a splendid general medical and surgical practice, which is steadily growing in size and importance. He is a close student of his calling, a sure practitioner and a steady-handed surgeon and keeps fully abreast of the advancements being made in medi- cine and surgery. His offices are located in the First National Bank Building at Pauls Valley. In 1915 Doctor Sullivan took a general course in post-graduate work at Chicago. A democrat in politics, his only public office has been that of health officer, a position in which he served for four years. His religious faith is that of the Baptist Church. Fraternally, he belongs to Mays- ville Lodge No. 232, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons; Valley of Guthrie Consistory No. 1, thirty-second degree; Lodge No. 1252, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Pauls Valley; and Camp No. 242, Woodmen of the World, Maysville. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Maysville and has various other interests.

Mr. Sullivan was married at Italy, Texas, in 1908, to Miss Queen Colley, daughter of Dr. J. C. Colley, a physi- cian and surgeon now located at Marietta, Oklahoma. Two children have been born to Doctor and Mrs. Sulli- van, namely: Joseph Harold, born November 26, 1909, and now attending the public school; and Mary Jose- phine, horn March 30, 1913.

WILLIAM H. DAVIS. In early Colonial days the emi- grant ancestor of the Davis family came from Ireland and settled in the South. From then to now the family has been identified mainly with the southern states of Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Oklahoma in more recent years, and it is of the Oklahoma branch of the family that we have to do in this instance.

William H. Davis of Lone Wolf, Oklahoma, manager of the Farmers Cotton Oil Company, was born in Cass County, Texas, on August 31, 1874. and is the son of A. K. and Sallie ( Waldron) Davis. The father was born in Cass County, Texas, in 1845, and died there in 1891, where he was a farmer and stock grower all his days. He was a staunch democrat, a Confederate veteran and a member of the Baptist Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Davis were born nine children, William H. being the fourth in order of birth. The others are: Melissa, the wife of Sam Petty, a stock farmer of Idabel, Oklahoma. Dora, who died at the age of twenty-one years. Annie, the wife of H. J. Floyd, a dry goods merchant of Naples, Texas. Frank, living on a Cass County farm. Homer, who died at the age of nineteen. The three youngest children, Sam, Carrie and Nettie, are at home with their mother on the old Cass County (Texas) farm.

William H. Davis attended the public schools of his native county and in 1892 was graduated from the high school. He then began the operation of a cotton gin and was thus occupied for the five years following. In 1898 he gave the work into other hands and went to Enid. in Garfield County, Oklahoma. He was a pioneer to that part of the state, and he farmed there until 1901, when he came to Lone Wolf among the earliest settlers and homesteaded a Government traet of a quarter section, 41% miles east of the town. He still owns this land, but rents it, for his business prevents him looking after it himself. In 1910 Mr. Davis became manager of the Farmers Gin Company, now the Farmers Cotton Oil Com- pany, and he has since held that position. At the present time the company, under his management, is building a new cotton oil mill adjacent to the depot, for con-

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venience in shipping, and the concern is one of the thriving and prosperous ones of the community.

Mr. Davis is a democrat and a member of the local school board. He is a Mason, Lodge No. 371 Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is also affiliated with the Lone Wolf Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen.

In Cass County, Texas, Mr. Davis was married in 1895 to Miss Augusta Carlton, daughter of W. H. Carlton, a farmer and gin operator, now deceased. They have two children,-Marvin and Euna, both attending the Lone Wolf High School.

OTIS GUY BACON, M. D. An accomplished and highly successful physician and surgeon at Davidson in Till- man county, Dr. Bacon is a Tennessean by birth, made most excellent use of his advantages and opportunities, and has been engaged in active practice of medicine for the past eight years.

The Bacon family originated in England, came to America prior to the Revolution, and was early settled in Kentucky. Dr. Bacon was born in Jonesboro, Tennes- see, October 20, 1880, a son of W. S. and Eliza M. (Keebler) Bacon. His father was born in Washington county, Tennessee, in 1851, and has spent all his life in that county, being now a resident at Jonesboro, Wash- ington county. In his younger days he taught school, for many years has been a farmer and is also a skill- ful surveyor and has held the office of county sur- veyor for many years., In politics he is a republican, and has been devoted to the interests of his church, the Methodist, in which he has served on the official board. For more than forty years he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has applied and practiced the principles of that fraternity to his own life. His wife was also born in Washington County, Tennessee. Their children are: Charles Edward, who is a graduate of the Chattanooga Medical College and now a physician in Hawkins County, Tennessee; Maud, wife of S. B. Fer- guson, a farmer and merchant in Washington County, Tennessee; Dr. Otis G .; Bertha Blanche, who died at the age of twenty-two after her marriage to Charles Keys, a farmer in Washington County, and she left a daughter Blanche; Mary, wife of B. T. Campbell, a farmer and stock man at Oxford, Iowa; Samuel Keebler, a farmer at Melrose, New Mexico; Lillian, the wife of Charles Fletcher, a merchant near Knoxville, Tennessee.

Reared in Washington County, Tennessee, Doctor Bacon attended the public schools of Jonesboro, graduated from high school in 1901, and with other useful ex- periences had one year of teaching in Hawkins County. In 1904 he entered the Kentucky Medical School, and was graduated M. D. in 1907 from the University of Louisville. He is a physician who is always ambitious for the highest attainments, and interrupted his practice for a time in 1913 to take post-graduate work in the Chicago Policlinic. His practice began in Hawkins County, Tennessee, in 1907, but in May, 1908, he removed to Milano, Texas, and in October of the same year established his home permanently at Davidson, Okla- homa. He has a good practice, both in medicine and surgery, and his offices are in the Palace Drug Store.

In politics Doctor Bacon follows the example of his father and votes the republican ticket, is a member of the County and State Medical Societies, and of the American Medical Association, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and with Frederick Lodge No. 1217 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. At Davidson in 1910 he married Miss Nettie Campbell, whose father, D. C. Campbell, is a stock man and cot- ton and grain dealer at Davidson. Mrs. Bacon died in 1911 after the birth of her only child, Otis Guy, on December 15, 1911.

IRA A. LEE, M. D. Among the well known medical men of Western Oklahoma is Dr. Ira A. Lee, of Erick, a member of an early colonial family of English origin which was founded in the colony of Virginia and which gave to this country the great Confederate leader, Gen. Robert E. Lee. Doctor Lee first came to Indian Terri- tory in 1905, and with the exception of two years in Arkansas has been engaged in professional labors here ever since, having steadily advanced to a position where his talents are recognized as being of an order entitling him to be classed among the skilled and thorough devotees of the science of medicine of this part of the state. He was born in Ohio County, Kentucky, December 31, 1875, and is a son of John W. and Polly J. (Stidum) Lee.

Robert Lee, the grandfather of Doctor Lee, was born in 1811, in Virginia, one of a family of six sons, whose descendants are to be found all over the South and Southwest. Robert Lee was married in Virginia to a Miss Elum, also a native of the Old Dominion, and after several years they removed to Ohio County, Kentucky, settling as pioneers on a plantation, where for many years the grandfather followed farming and stock raising. In later life he removed to Kansas, where his death occurred in 1881, the grandmother having passed away in Kentucky. Robert Lee served valiantly as a soldier of the Confederacy in a Kentucky volunteer infantry regiment during the Civil war, and lost an arm at the battle of Shiloh, this terminating his service. He was the father of five children, as follows: John W .; Elizabeth, who died in Ohio County, Kentucky; Hardin A., who was a physician and surgeon and met an accidental death in Indiana; Eliza Jane, who died in Ohio County, Ken- tucky; and Armina, who resides in Daviess County, Kentucky.

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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: 656

Author: Thoburn, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradfield), 1866-1941
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 656