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 95

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 95

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HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

located on a road that for many years was traveled more by men charged with crime or chargeable with crime, and the officers who were pursuing them, than any other class. The other class was composed principally of Arkansas people of good name who were on their way to the growing land of Texas. This road led on the Indian Territory side to trails that ended in the Seven Devils Mountains that were the rendezvous of thieves and outlaws thirty to fifty years ago. Over this road traveled Elos Taylor, a light horseman of the Choctaw Nation, and Tom Graham, who after statehood became a sheriff of MeCurtain County, Oklahoma, each an arm of the law that sought to establish order in a region where law was little regarded or respected. Over this road the officers brought many bad men into Texas, some of them dead of gunshot wounds received in battle, and some of them alive.

This road on the Indian side led by a favorite meeting- place of the Choctaws known among the white settlers as Bon Ton. Near it was the home of Jefferson Gardner, once a beloved governor of the Choctaw Nation, and near it, in recent years, a son of Governor Gardner was killed. At Bon Ton was held one of the largest political meetings of the celebrated campaign in 1894, in which Thomas W. Hunter, of Hugo, and Green McCurtain were rival candidates for the governorship, and on this occasion Green McCurtain was the principal speaker. He spoke in Choctaw and one who came after him spoke in English, whereupon there resulted a fight in which a score or more of Indians participated. Elos Taylor was on hand with his faithful Winchester, the butt of which he used on heads that spilled much blood while he restored order. There are many interesting stories of Bon Ton, but this incident only was witnessed by George T. Arnett, who is now one of the leading lawyers of Idabel.

George T. Arnett was born in Red River County, Texas, in 1884. His father was also born there and there married Ida Kincaid, and there the father was killed in 1894. George W. Arnett, grandfather of George T., was a native of Arkansas who traveled the trail to Texas before the outbreak of the war between the states. James Kincaid, the maternal grandfather of George T. Arnett, was an early settler of Texas, entered the Confederate army at the age of sixteen years, and served throughout the period of the Civil war. George T. Arnett's education was obtained in the public schools of Texas, Tyler Commercial College and the law depart- ment of Cumberland University. He was admitted to the bar in Oklahoma in June, 1915, after having been admitted to the bar in Tennessee in January of that year. Prior to beginning the practice of his chosen profession he was engaged in the real estate business at Idabel, and still has some interest in that business and follows it to a certain extent. While he is practically a newcomer to the legal fraternity, he has already estab- lished firmly in the confidence of the people, and is in the enjoyment of a practice that promises well for the future.

Mr. Arnett is not married, but makes his home with his mother at Idabel. He has one brother and two sisters, namely: Mrs. Sallie Hamil, who is the wife of a farmer living at Manchester, Texas; Miss Jessye, who began teaching at the age of fourten years, has attended the Texas State Normal School and the Southeastern State Normal School of Oklahoma, at Durant, and is now a teacher in the schools of Idabel; and Samuel, aged twenty-one years, who lives at Idabel with his mother. George T. Arnett is a member of the Christian Church, affiliated with the Woodmen of the World and the Woodmen Circle, and is professionally connected with the MeCurtain County Bar Association.

BERT A. HUDSON. The qualities of persistence, good management, common sense and enterprise have prevailed in the energetic career of Bert A. Hudson, a former cashier of the Bank of Randlett, Oklahoma, and now president of Farmers State Bank, Temple, Oklahoma, winning for him an enviable position among the business, political and social elements of his adopted community. In addition to being well known in banking circles, he has also entered the field of journalism, and in various ways has made his influence felt upon the commercial interests of Cotton County. Mr. Hudson is a product of the agricultural regions of Missouri, where he was born on the old Hodge homestead in DeKalb County, March 22, 1875, a son of James M. and Fannie (Oldham) Hud- son.

James M. Hudson, a member of the old American family of Hudsons of Tennessee, and oue of eighteen brothers, was born at Maysville, Missouri, in 1851, and now resides at Kansas City, Missouri. For many years he has been a railroad man, having for a long period been foreman of the construction and maintenance de- partment of various railroads running out of Kansas City, Missouri, including the Rock Island, the Burling- ton, the Maple Leaf and the Wabash, althoughi his head- quarters were maintained at Weatherby, Missouri. In 1902 he removed to Cement, Oklahoma, where he was engaged in farming until his retirement. During the period of the Civil War, Mr. Hudson operated the Hodge homestead, so-called from its original owner, Robert H. Hodge, who was an uncle. Mr. Hudson's agricultural ventures as a young man, however, were not satisfactory, as the greater part of what he raised was confiscated by the soldiers. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, is a democrat in politics, and while residing at Weatherby served on both the town council and the school board. He married Miss Fannie Oldham, a native of Missouri, and a member of a family of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and they have had six children, as follows: Bert A., of this review; Lutie, who died in 1907, at the age of thirty- two years, as the wife of Frank Stewart, a farmer; Ora, who for the past twenty-one years has been cashier of the Weatherby (Missouri) Bank; Ollie, who is the wife of C. W. Aldrich, chief train despatcher for the Pedro Route, and a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah; Alvin, who is a railroad man and resides at Kansas City, Mis- souri; and Clyde, who in former years held high official positions with various railroads, but is now manager for the American Telegraph and Telephone Company, Kansas City, Missouri.

Bert A. Hudson completed the course of study as prescribed in the grammar schools of DeKalb County, Missouri, graduating from the eighth grade in 1892, at which time he secured a position in the railroad yards of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, at St. Joseph, Missouri. He remained for eighteen years on that division, and through faithful performance of duty, industry. and integrity won promotion to various posi- tions, acting successively as trainman, operator and station agent. On April 1, 1902, he went to El Paso Division, with the same railroad, and acted as station agent on that division until 1905, then going to his father's farm, at Cement, a property which he culti- vated until 1909. During his residence there he also acted in the capacity of station agent. Mr. Hudson left the farm January 22, 1910, and came to Randlett, having been appointed vice president of the Bank of Randlett, and in July of the same year succeeded to the position of cashier, which he held until December 12, 1915, at which time he bought the Farmers State Bank of Temple, Oklahoma, and was made president of that institution January 1, 1916.

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The Bank of Randlett, one of the strong and sub- stantial institutions of Cotton County, was established in 1907 as a state monetary concern, the first to be founded on the "Big Pasture." Its first home was at the corner of Main and C. streets. On December 21, 1912, it bought out the Farmers and Merchants Bank, consolidated the two as the Bank of Randlett, and moved the offices and vaults to their new location, on the opposite corner of the same streets, where the bank now has well-appointed and thoroughly equipped premises. The present officers are: President, Guy C. Robertson; vice president, P. B. Carnahan; cashier, Ernest Knight, and assistant cashier, F. T. Wagner, who is also city treasurer. These men are all well and favorably known in business circles, and have the confidence and regard of the people of the community. The capital stock of the bank is $10,000, with a surplus of $1,000. Mr. Hudson is a member of the executive council of the State Bankers' Association.

In 1913, in company with Jerry Crowley, J. M. Alex- ander, W. W. Fowler and H. W. Davis, Mr. Hudson bought the Randlett Progressive, and at the same time purchased a full set of new printing presses, type and equipment: This newspaper, a non-partisan organ, has been developed into a decidedly paying venture, and circulates throughout Cotton and the surrounding coun- ties. Its list of subscribers is growing daily, and the merchants, having found it to be an excellent advertis- ing medium, are supporting it generously. Its publishers aim to give the people a reliable and well-edited sheet, and that they are succeeding in their efforts is evi- denced by the enthusiasm with which the Progressive is being received. The modern offices and plant are located on Main Street. Politically a democrat, Mr. Hudson served as a councilman of Randlett until he left there, and at all times worked faithfully for the best interests of the place. He is fraternally affiliated with Cement Lodge No. 297, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of which he is a past master by service, and with Lawton Chapter, Royal Arch Masons.

On June 25, 1913, at El Reno, Oklahoma, Mr. Hudson was united in marriage with Miss Christina Spence, daughter of J. R. Spence, a farmer near El Reno. They have no children.

WILLIAM H. WATKINS. For twelve years past William H. Watkins has been devoted to the newspaper busi- ness, and is now the owner and editor of three thriving papers in as many places, all in Oklahoma. He is well known and prominent as a leader in Helena, and in such other places as he has business interests, and especially in Helena has he been conspicuous for his activities.

Mr. Watkins was born on January 25, 1867, on a farm in Washington County, Ohio, and is a son of Edward T. and Marie (Thornton) Watkins.

Edward Watkins was himself a native Ohioan, born in 1836 at Stafford, and his parents were natives of Mary- land. He has been a farmer and saw-mill man all his life, and is now living retired at Wichita, Kansas, at the age of seventy-nine. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served as a private in Company M, Ninety- second Ohio Volunteers, for three years. He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and saw much fighting in the years of his service. He was married in 1865 to Marie Thornton, daughter of Elijah and Mary Thornton. Mrs. Watkins was born at Stafford, Ohio, in 1835, and she was the mother of three sons and two daughters, all now living. The first of their children was William H. of this review. George W. was born June 24, 1869, and now lives in St. Johns, Oregon. Estella was born Sep- tember 9, 1872. She married John Sellers in 1892 and

now lives in Wichita, Kansas. Winifred was born Sep- tember 29, 1874, and married George Jones in 1898 and lives at Cunningham, Kansas. O. E. Watkins was born on May 31, 1882. He is in the railroad service in Wichita.

William H. Watkins was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools of Cunningham, Kansas. In 1891 he commenced the study of telegraphy and a year later became station agent and telegraph operator for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. He was employed by them at different stations for twelve years. In 1903 Mr. Watkins established The Advocate at Sharon, Kansas, which he edited and published for a year. In 1904 he moved the plant to Ringwood, Oklahoma, buying The Leader and consolidating the two plants. He still operates The Leader. In 1914 he established a branch of the paper in Oklahoma, and in 1915 he bought out The Star at Helena, Oklahoma. He operates the three papers under the firm name of Watkins & Sons, his three sons being associated with him in the enterprise. They are John A., Virgil L. and Edward V.

Mr. Watkins is a Mason, and politically he is a staunch republican. He was married on January 28, 1892, at Crisfield, Kansas, to Miss Lillian M. Hutchings, daughter of Charles and Mary (Standley ) Hutchings. She was born October 15, 1873, at Walton, Kansas, and her parents are natives of Indiana, who pioneered to Kansas in young life. They live now in Major County, Oklahoma. The three sons born to Mr. and Mrs. Watkins have already been named. John A. was born on July 4, 1893; Virgil Lloyd on September 1, 1895; and Edward Vernon on January 28, 1898.

ANDREW J. GRAYSON. It was with a broad and thor- ough experience as a merchant and banker that Andrew J. Grayson entered upon his public duties as postmaster at Blanchard following appointment from President Wilson in July, 1913. Practically all his active career has been spent in the Red River country of Northern Texas or in what is now the State of Oklahoma. He is an Oklahoma pioneer and has lived at various points in old Indian Territory and the new state for fully twenty- three years.

The Grayson family was of Scotch stock and came to Virginia in colonial times. His grandfather, John Grayson, was born in Virginia and more than a century and a quarter ago settled the old Grayson homestead in Madison County, Alabama. It was in that county of Alabama that Andrew J. Grayson was born October 19, 1852. His father, James Gordon Grayson, was born in the same county in 1805 and died there in 1862, having followed farming and stock raising all his active days. He was a democrat in politics. James G. Grayson mar- ried Paralee Wright, who was born in Alabama in 1821 and died in 1876. Their children were: J. W., who is now seventy-seven years of age, is still living as a farmer in Madison County, Alabama, and has been quite promi- nent as a citizen and as a member of the State Legisla- ture; C. A. Grayson, who occupies a part of the old homestead in Alabama; A. C. Grayson, a farmer in Madison County; Fannie, of Waxahachie, Texas, widow of Robert King, a farmer; Emma Polk, who married David Allison, a farmer in Madison County, Alabama; and Andrew J.

Andrew J. Grayson as a boy attended the public schools in Madison County, Alabama, and in 1872 com- pleted his early education in the high school at Summit, Blount County, Alabama. Then until 1876 he remained on his father's Alabama plantation and then farmed independently in that community for three years.

In 1879 Mr. Grayson moved to Northern Texas, was

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a farmer in Cooke County for three years, and in 1882 entered the service of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad at Denison, Texas. He was a railroad man four years and for two years conducted a grocery business at Denison. The next four years were spent in the furni- ture and grocery business at Wolf City, Texas. It was in 1892 that Mr. Grayson identified himself with what is now the State of Oklahoma, locating at Ardmore, Indian Territory, where for two years he was furniture dealer and undertaker. The same business he continued at Tecumseh, Oklahoma, for seven years, and in 1901 moved to Earlsboro, where he became active as a banker and for six years was president of the Bank of Earlsboro.

The Town of Blanchard was founded in 1907, the year of statehood, and Mr. Grayson has been one of the prominent factors in its development since the begin- ning. He established the principal furniture and under- taking business, and still continues the undertaking line in addition to his public duties as postmaster .. He has done much other public service for this young town, having served two years as a member of the town council and four years as a member of the school board.

He is a democrat, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and for the past twenty years has been affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Chick- asha.

In Madison County, Alabama, in 1873, Mr. Grayson married Miss Eugenia E. Wade. Her father was Robert Wade, a farmer in that county. They have two children: Russia, wife of A. E. Nelson, a cotton broker at Altus, Oklahoma; and Leonard W., who is connected with the Neil P. Anderson Cotton Company at Wichita Falls, Texas, and who married Miss Ruby Van Vactor of Elk City, Oklahoma.

WILLIAM N. TALLEY. Greater historic interest per- tains to the vigorous young commonwealth of Oklahoma by reason of the fact that there are to be found many sterling young men who are proving themselves valuable factors in the industrial and general business activities of a state which they can claim as the place of their nativity and who have the distinction also of claiming a strain of Indian blood, theirs being a matter of just pride in thus being descended from the Indians whose dominion was the first in this now strong and opulent young commonwealth of the Union. He whose name initiates this paragraph is a descendant in the natural line of pure Chickasaw Indian ancestry, his maternal grandfather, a man of strong and worthy character, having been a full-blood Chickasaw.

Mr. Talley has been a resident of what is now the State of Oklahoma from the time of his nativity, has been actively identified with agricultural pursuits, is a skilled mechanic and is at the present time an employe in the shops of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail- road at Chickasha, Brady County. In what is now the City of Davis, Murray County, Oklahoma, William N. Talley was born in the year 1885, and he is a son of William and Agnes (Chigley) Talley. His father was born and reared in South Carolina, was a scion of a sterling old family of the fair Southland, and when the Civil war was precipitated he promptly tendered his services in defense of the Confederate cause, having been a valiant soldier in a South Carolina regiment during the entire period of the great conflict. Within a short time after the closc of the war he came to Indian Territory, where he married and where he eventually became a most prosperous agriculturist and stock-grower and the owner of a valuable landed estate, in what is now Murray County, Oklahoma. On his well improved homestead farm he continued his residence

uutil his death, in December, 1913, at which time he was of venerable age. His wife, who preceded him to the life cternal, was a daughter of Nelson Chigley, who still resides at Davis, Murray County, and who has attained to the patriarchal age of eighty-nine years, in 1915. This venerable citizen, a full-blood Chickasaw Indian, came with other members of his tribe upon their exodus from Mississippi to their assigned reserva- tion in the Indian Territory, many years ago.

William N. Talley acquired his early education prin- cipally at the Harley Institute, at Tishomingo, S. M. White having been at the time the superintendent of the institution, and thercafter he was for two years a student in Hargoe College, at Ardmore. For several ycars thereafter he was actively identified with the great basic industry of agriculture, and he now has profitable employment in the mechanical department of the Chicka- sha shops of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, as previously stated in this article. He and his wife, who have no children, having a pleasant home at 209 North Tenth Street in the City of Chickasha.

On the 16th of. September, 1914, Mr. Talley wedded Miss Myrta Further, who was born and reared in Garvin County, where her parents still maintain their residence in the town of Wynne Wood.

REV. JOHN SMITH. For many years Rev. John Smith has been oue of the most influential men of the full- blood Creek Indians. He has rendered notable service since early manhood iu the cause of Christianity, and has been a leader in the organized church activities of his nation. He has also acquired and has ably managed extensive land holdings, and enjoys the comforts and conveniences of one of the finest homes in the vicinity of Wetumka. Although a fullblood Creek Indian, Mr. Smith's complexion is as fair as a pure Anglo Saxon, and only the closest observer could determine his Indian origin and racial characteristics.

He was born in 1869 in the Creek Nation, a son of Tecumseh and Betty Smith, both of whom were full- blood Creeks, the former a native of Alabama, brought to Indian Territory with his people when the Govern- ment removed them west of the Mississippi, while the mother was born in Indian Territory and spent all her life there. She died in 1879 at an advanced age and the father passed away in 1883. Both werc uneducated in the English language, but the father, who was a farmer and stock raiser, became prominent in tribal affairs, serving as member of the council and at one time was judge of the Supreme Court of the Creek Nation. During the war between the states he was member of a Creek regiment in the Confederate army. Both parents responded to the influences of Christianity and were long loyally identified with the Baptist Church. Their five children were: Jacob, who died at the age of twenty-thrce; Isaac, who died when twenty-five; Foley, died in childhood; Rev. John; and Mary, who died in childhood.

The only survivor of his parents' children, Rev. John Smith grew up on his father's farm, and was well educated for the part he was destined to play in life. He attended the old Levering Mission near Wctumka and for eight months was a student in Bacon Univer- sity near Muskogee. In the early part of his career Mr. Smith taught among the Indians for about seven years, and then took up missionary work, which he has followed with little interruption to the present time. He was reared in the Baptist faith, and has long been prominent as one of its leading ministers in old Indian Territory. He was one of the managing board of. the Indian, Muskogee & Washita Baptist Association.

11. Ver to

Rev. Ino. Smith

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In politics he is a democrat. Mr. Smith owns a half section of land while his wife has a quarter section, and this fine farm adjoins the Town of Wetumka on the west. In 1915 Mr. Smith completed a beautiful country home, comprising ten rooms and of modern furnishing and equipment, and this house stands on a fine elevation from which may be obtained an extensive view of the town and the entire surrounding country.

For his first wife Rev. Mr. Smith married in 1898 Eliza Yahola, who was born in the Creek Nation and was also a fullblood. She died in 1914 at the age of about thirty-five. No children survived her. In Au- gust, 1915, Rev. Mr. Smith married Addie Carr, who was born near Wetumka April 22, 1878, a daughter of the Rev. Robert Carr, one of the prominent men of Hughes County. Mrs. Smith attended the neighbor- hood schools, the Levering Mission, the Eufaula High School and finished an academic course in Bacone Uni- versity. For about seven years she was a teacher in neighborhood schools, and for three years was matron at the Euchee Mission. Like her husband she is very active in the Baptist Church.

In concluding the history of Rev. John Smith we quote the well written words of G. Lee Phelps, general missionary and co-worker:

"Rev. Jno. Smith is of fullblood Creek Indian blood. He was born in 1869, just as his people were getting back into their devastated country that had been laid waste during the terrible war between the North and South.

"At that time all his people were very poor. Their herds and flocks had been confiscated. Their homes and fields destroyed, and thus it came about that Jno. Smitlı was born in deep poverty.

"When he was nine years of age his mother died and at twelve years of age his father died, leaving him an orphan in the cruel world without a home, but not with- out a friend, for his cousin, Rev. James Bird, took him and gave him a home and sent him to school.

"The first school house was a little log cabin 12x14 and used as the meeting place of the Weogufkee Church as well as for school purposes. This log cabin still stands beside the new frame church and the old ceme- tery near, Hannah, Oklahoma ..

"All the children who attended this first school were very poor. Jno. Smith's only raiment for the entire winter. was a pair of overalls and a cotton shirt. Later he attended Levering Mission School near the Town of Wetumka, and still later attended school at Bacone University, and came under the influence of the immortal Dr. Bacone. After leaving Bacone he taught school for several years among his own people, teach- ing in the same log cabin where he first went to school.

"In 1884 Jno. Smith gave his heart to the Lord and was converted and baptized by his uncle, Rev. Wesley Smith. Fifteen years later he was ordained as a min- ister and became pastor of the Little Quarsarday Church, serving in that capacity for several years.

"In 1902 the writer discovered him and found him to be a live, wideawake, energetic minister. When I first met Rev. Smith, a few of us were trying to re-organize the old Muskogee and Wichita Association, which had not had a meeting for several years, and had practically become extinct. Rev. Smith fell right in with the plan and became an active helper, with the result that the Association was re-organized. A managing board was appointed and three missionaries were elected. Rev. Smith was chosen as one of the missionaries. He served in this capacity for seven years.

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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