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. V, Part 28

Author: Thoburn, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradfield), 1866-1941
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 644

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. V > Part 28

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. Shotwell is aligned as a staunch and effective supporter of the cause of the democratic party and is a birthright member of the Society of Friends, but as there is no church of this denomination at Okmulgee he attends and supports the local Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He is affiliated with the Okmulgee Lodge A. H. T. A. and also with the lodge of the Knights of Pythias.

In 1878 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Shotwell to Miss Carrie Pilgrim, who was born in Iowa but who was reared principally in Kansas, where her parents established their residence in 1874. She was a daughter of Philip and Amelia Pilgrim, both of whom were born in Germany. The supreme loss and bereavement in the life of Mr. Shotwell came to him when his devoted wife was summoned to eternal rest, on the 29th of April, 1915 .. and her memory is revered by all who came within the sphere of her gracious influence. She was active in church and social life after coming to Oklahoma and for two years she had charge of the work and instruction of the Girls' Canning Clubs of Okmulgee County. In con- clusion is entered brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Shotwell: James T. is one of the pro- gressive farmers near Cushing, Payne County; Orlando has the active supervision and control of the old home- stead farm upon which his parents established their resi- dence when they came to Oklahoma, in 1892; Earl is manager of the cotton-seed oil mill at Chandler, Lincoln County, Oklahoma.

THOMAS C. SHACKLETT. Coming to Oklahoma Terri- tory with his parents when a lad of nine years, the

1854

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

present postmaster of Yukon, Canadian County, has here fouud ample opportunity for worthy achievement and has proved himself one of the world's productive workers, the while his present official position vouches for the estimate placed upon him in the community in which he maintains his home.

Born in Meade County, Kentucky, on the 5th day of November, 1880, Mr. Shacklett is a son of Jesse S. and Susan M. (Easton) Shacklett. When he was five years old, in 1885, his parents removed from the old Bluegrass state to Southwestern Kansas, and from the latter state they came to Oklahoma in 1889, thus becoming pioneers of the new territory when it was thrown open to settle- ment. The family home was established in the old town of Friseo, Canadian County, and later removal was made to Yukon, a uew village in the same county, where the father conducted a hotel for some time, his death having there occurred in 1910 and his widow still maintaining her home in this now thriving little city, in which her son is postmaster. In earlier years Jesse S. Shacklett devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits, and thus the boy- hood days of the postmaster of Yukon were principally compassed by the conditions and iufluences of the farm, in Kausas and Oklahoma. He made good use of the advantages afforded him in the public schools of Canadian County, within whose borders he has been a resident since he was nine years old, and here he followed various vocations until his appointment to the office of postmaster of Yukon, his commission having been given iu April, 1914, and his administration, careful and efficient, hav- ing gained to him the approval of the community. In politics, as may be inferred, he is a staunch supporter of the cause of the democratic party, and in a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World. The maiden name of his wife was Orie McComas, and they have uo children.

GEORGE A. MCDONALD. Every progressive city now has its chamber of commerce, or an organization of similar purposes though perhaps under a different name. The chamber of commerce at Shawnee is a particularly virile and efficient body, and is made up of practically all the high class and responsible business men and pro- fessional men of the city. In that one organization are represented the best resources and the best ideas and ideals of the city.

It is as secretary of the Shawnee Chamber of Com- merce, an office he has held for the past five years, that George A. McDonald has performed his most important service in that city. Mr. McDonald is himself a business man and has had a considerable breadth and depth of experience, though he is still young. He has lived in Oklahoma ten years, and for a time was connected with railroading in this state.

The McDonald stock of which he is a representative came from Scotland to Virginia before the Revolutionary war. His great-grandfather, William McDonald, was a Virginia planter. The grandfather, James McDonald, was born in Virginia and spent his life as a farmer and planter in that state. Mr. George A. McDonald of Shawnee was born in Springfield, Ohio, October 21, 1875.

His father, Samuel McDonald, was born at Romney, in Hampshire County, West Virginia, or Old Virginia as it was then, in 1842. His birthplace was afterwards the scene of one of the important battles in the Civil war. Samuel McDouald was reared in West Virginia, went in young manhood to Springfield, Ohio, where he mar- ried, and he lived in that locality the rest of his days, passing away in 1895. By occupation he was a farmer,' was a democrat in politics, and took a very active part in the work of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in

which he served as a steward, trustee and deacon. During the war between the states his only participa- tion in military affairs was as a member of the Home Guard in West Virginia. Samuel McDonald married Emily Collier. She was born in Springfield, Ohio, and is now living in Yellow Springs in that state. To - their marriage were born the following children: James R., a tinsmith living at Purcell, Oklahoma; Edith O., wife of D. F. Hupman, a farmer at Springfield, Ohio; Harry E., who is in the real estate business but has no settled location or permanent residence; Thomas F., a farmer at Urbana, Ohio; George A .; Lewis Clark, a carpenter and builder at Middletown, Kentucky.

The country schools of Clark County, Ohio, gave George A. McDonald his first advantages, and he also had the benefit of some college training, having finished the sophomore year in Antioch College in 1897. His early years had been spent on his father's farm, and he enjoyed much of the wholesome and rugged discipline of country life. He taught school in Jefferson County, Kentucky, as principal of rural schools two years, but soon found school teaching unsatisfactory. After taking a course in telegraphy he was employed as telegraph operator on the L. & N. Railroad at Louisville, and remained in the service of that railroad company until January 1, 1906.

That was the date when he became identified with Shawnee. For the first two years he was a clerk with the Rock Island Railroad offices in Shawnee. Going into business for himself, Mr. McDonald was one of the successful grocery merchants of the city until 1911. In that year he was elected secretary of the chamber of commerce, and has since given practically all his time and attention to the duties of this office. He is also secretary of the Retail Merchants Association, secretary of the Provident Association, secretary of the Potta- watomie County Fair Association, and a stockholder in the Fidelity Building and Loan Association. His offices are in the Convention Hall Building.

In politics he is a democrat. Like his father, he takes much interest in the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Shawnee and is a steward. He is affiliated with Shawnee Lodge No. 107, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and with Shawnee Chapter No. 32, Royal Arch Masons.

In 1903, at Middletown, Kentucky, he married Miss Lucy E. Mitchell, daughter of Robert S. Mitchell. They have one son, Samuel Vance, who was born November 5, 1905, and is now a student in the public schools of Shawnee.

BIRT ARTHUR WAGNER. During the past fifteen years Mr. Wagner has played an important part in the public affairs of Woodward and Ellis counties. He is now filling the office of court clerk of Ellis County and has his home at Arnett. Mr. Wagner is one of the genial and popular citizens of Ellis County, a man of undoubted integrity, and exercises both competence and honesty in all his public and private dealings.

He was born January 8, 1877, on a farm in Nemaha County, Kansas, a son of Arthur H. and Cynthia (Peaver) Wagner. The Wagners came originally from Germany. His paternal grandfather was George Wagner, a native of Germany. Arthur H. Wagner was born March 12, 1853, in Putnam County, Ohio, and has spent all his active career as a farmer and mer- chant. In 1874 he moved out to Kansas and became an early settler on a farm in Nemaha County, close to the northern line of the state. He lived there and cultivated the soil until 1892, and then went to Kansas City, Kausas, where he engaged in business eight years. In 1900 he

C. W. Sha ~

1855

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

came to Oklahoma and set up in business at Woodward, and in 1901 moved to Shattuck, where he was likewise one of the first merchants. In 1902 he was appointed postmaster of Shattuck and held that position seven years. Arthur H. Wagner was married in Union County, Ohio, October 8, 1874, to Miss Cynthia Peaver. Her father was John Peaver, who married a Miss Poling, and both were born in Virginia. Mrs. Wagner was born May 14, 1854, in Union County, Ohio, and she died at Kansas City, Kansas, October 21, 1915. She was a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was devoted to church and home and children. She was the mother of seven, five sons and two daughters, namely : Harry, born August 27, 1875; Birt A .; John Peaver, born September 17, 1878; Elsie, born July 9, 1879; Grace, born August 25, 1881; George, born August 12, 1883; Roy Foster, born August 12, 1885.

The early training of Birt A. Wagner was acquired in the public schools of his native county and in Kansas City, Kansas. After leaving school he served an apprenticeship at the baker's trade, and that was his regular work for five years. Not long after his father came to Oklahoma he followed on January 1, 1901, and was soon taking an active part in local affairs in Woodward County. He served two years as deputy county clerk of that county. On coming to the state he had taken up a claim in Wood- ward County near Shattuck, and he is thus to be con- sidered among those who have helped to develop the land in this new state. For a few years he also was assistant postmaster under his father at Shattuck and for one year carried mail on a rural route.

On the organization of Ellis County he was soon active in its affairs, and served as deputy county clerk in 1910- 11-12. During 1914-15 he was clerk of the Shattuck branch of the Ellis County Court at Shattuck. In No- vember, 1914, he was elected on the republican ticket court clerk of Ellis County and is now giving all his time and attention to those responsibilities. Fraternally Mr. Wagner is a Mason.

On January 18, 1908, at Shattuck, Oklahoma, he mar- ried Miss Kathryn Lee Ewing. She was born March 4, 1881, in Buchanan County, Missouri, a daughter of Wil- liam J. and Cassie (Patton) Ewing, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Missouri. Mrs. Wagner in addition to the training of the public schools attended the Synodical College at Fulton, Missouri, graduating with the class of 1902. She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church. Her death occurred April 6, 1910, at Shattuck. She is survived by one child, Charles Edward, who was born February 11, 1910.

CHARLES W. SHANNON, A. M., is known as a promi- nent figure in educational and scientific circles in Okla- homa. He has been an able and popular instructor in geology at the University of Oklahoma, and is now director of the Oklahoma Geological Survey, with office in the library building of the university at Norman, Cleveland County.

Mr. Shannon is a scion of one of the sterling pio- neer families of the fine old Hoosier State, of which he himself is a native son. He was born in Tipton County, Indiana, on the 3d of August, 1879, and is a son of Alexander and Elizabeth J. (Foster) Shannon, both of whom were born and reared in that county. Alexander Shannon passed virtually his entire active life as one of the representative agriculturists in the vicinity of Tipton, the county seat. He was born in the year 1855, and died at Brazil in 1910. Elizabeth J. Shannon was born in 1858 and died in 1906. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shannon were devoted members of the United Presbyterian Church, in which he served as deacon and trustee. Of the children, C. W. Shannon Vol. V-7

of this review is the eldest; Herbert died in babyhood; James Vinton wedded Miss Grace Poling of Bloom- ington, Indiana, and both are now missionary teach- ers in a school maintained under the auspices of the Presbyterian Church on the Island of Hainan, China.

The lineage of the Shannon family traces back to staunch Scotch-Irish origin and the original American representatives settled in Virginia in the colonial era of our national history.

Mr. Shannon acquired his early education in the pub- lie schools of his native state, where he was graduated in the high school at Tipton as a member of the class of 1900. During the ensuing spring and summer he was a student in the University of Indiana at Blooming- ton. For three years he was retained as teacher in the Bryan School in Tipton County. During this time he continued his studies in the university by attending the spring and summer sessions. He finally completed a full academie course in the university, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1906, and from which he received at that time the degree of Bach- elor of Arts. The following year he received the degree of Master of Arts from his alma mater. He has since taken effective post-graduate studies in the University of Indiana, specializing in geology and other branches of science.

In 1902, at Bloomington, Indiana, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Shannon to Miss Mary E. Pinker- ton, who was born and reared in Indiana, and who is a daughter of the late Charles Pinkerton, a represen- tative merchant at Muncie for many years prior to his death.

From 1907 to 1911 Mr. Shannon was teacher of science in the high school at Brazil, Indiana. During this time he was also in the employ of the Indiana State Geological Survey, in connection with which he covered and made specific reports from seventeen dif- ferent counties.

In September, 1911, Mr. Shannon came to Norman, Oklahoma, and assumed the position of field geologist for the Oklahoma Geological Survey. He served a few weeks in this capacity and was then appointed in- structor in geology at the University of Oklahoma. After teaching one semester he resumed his position in connection with the Geological Survey of which he has been the director since January, 1914. His work in this office has been carried forward with utmost effi- ciency and discrimination, and will prove of enduring value to the state from both a scientific and a utilitarian standpoint.

Mr. Shannon is a valued and influential member of the Oklahoma Academy of Science, of which he served three years as president. He is also a member of the Indiana Chapter of the Sigma Xi fraternity, a national scientific organization whose membership is confined to those college students and graduates who have achieved independent scientific research work. He is a demo- crat in his political allegiance, and is a member of the board of education of Norman. Both he and his wife are zealous members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he was a teacher of the Young Woman's Christian Association class of the Sunday School until January 1, 1916, when he was elected supervising superintend- ent of the Sunday School. He also serves as one of the trustees of the church.

Mr. and Mrs. Shannon are prominent and popular factors in the leading social activities of Norman, the principal educational center of the state, and both are specially appreciative and loyal as citizens of this vig- orous young commonwealth. They have two children, ---

1856

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

Gayle L., who was born May 1, 1906, and Viola Ruth, who was born November 19, 1914.

CALVIN E. BRADLEY, M. D. The medical profession of Kiowa County, 'Oklahoma, is capably represented at Mountain View by Dr. Calvin E. Bradley, who although one of the younger members of the profession has made a substantial reputation for himself in professional cir- cles as well as in the confidence of the people of his community. Born in Phelps County, Missouri, April 16, 1885, he comes honestly by his predilection for his calling, being the son and grandson of physicians and the bearer of a name which has been honored in medicine and sur- gery.

On the paternal side, Doctor Bradley is a grandson of the founder of the family in the United States, Dr. Calvin Bradley, a native of England, who emigrated to the United States, first settled in North Carolina and subsequently moved to Georgia, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession for many years, and where his death occurred. Doctor Bradley's maternal great- grandfather Burns was the emigrant of the family from Scotland. Dr. W. A. Bradley, the father of Dr. Calvin E. Bradley, was born in North Carolina, in 1852, and from his native state removed to Georgia, subsequently going, in 1880, to Phelps County, Missouri, where he was married. He was a graduate of the Southern Medical College, one of the distinguished institutions of Atlanta, Georgia, and after eight years of practice in Phelps County, moved his family in 1888 to Houston, Texas County, Missouri, where he continued to be engaged in practice until his death, in 1911. He was an able and thorough practitioner and held a substantial place in the ranks of his calling. A democrat in politics, he filled various local offices within the gift of his fellow towns- men, while his fraternal connection was with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Doctor Bradley married Miss Elizabeth Burns, who was born in 1865, in Missouri, and died at Houston, that state, in 1888, daughter of Dr. Edward Burns, who for many years was a physician aud surgeon of Newburg, Missouri, where his death oc- curred. Two children were. born to Dr. W. A. and Elizabeth Bradley: Calvin E., of this review; and Kate, who became the wife of C. F. Peake, and resides in Texas County, Missouri, where Mr. Peake is county superintendent of schools.

Calvin E. Bradley received his early education in the public schools of Houston, Missouri, where he was grad- uated from the high school with the class of 1901. He received his early medical training under the able pre- ceptorship of his father, and enrolled as a student at Barnes Medical College, St. Louis, Missouri, where he was graduated with the class of 1905, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Doctor Bradley began active prac- tice at Newburg, Phelps County, Missouri, where his paternal grandfather had been well known as a practi- tioner for years, but in 1908 removed to Memphis, Ten- nessee, where he remained during that and the following year. In 1909 he went to Dewey, Oklahoma, where he gave up professional work for a time to engage in the oil and drug business, but in 1912 came to Mountain View and resumed practice, and has continued to the present time in a constantly growing general medical and sur- gical business. He occupies well-appointed offices in the Reynolds Building on Main Street, where he has every appliance and instrument for diagnosis and treat- ment of diseases. Doctor Bradley keeps in close touch with every advancement made in medical or surgical work and is a close student of the science, besides holding membership in the organizations of his calling. He has been an active democrat, but his only public service has

been that of coroner, an office which he filled while a resident of Phelps County, Missouri. He is popular in fraternal circles, and is a member of the local bodies of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

Doctor Bradley was married February 4, 1916, to Miss Louise Stinson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Stinson, of Mountain View, Oklahoma.

PATRICK J. KELLY. The intellectual alertness, vigor and circumspection of Mr. Kelly make him a specially effective and valued executive in the responsible office of which he is the popular incumbent, that of cashier of the Yukon National Bank, in the progressive little City of Yukon, Canadian County, and his unqualified hold upon the confidence and good will of the people of this favored section of the state is indicated by the fact that he served six years as county clerk of Canadian County, his residence in Oklahoma dating from the year 1892, when he came to the newly organized territory from the State of Iowa.

Mr. Kelly was born in Chariton County, Missouri, on the 3rd of July, 1863, and is a son of Patrick and Rose (Barrett) Kelly, both natives of Ireland and both resi- dents of Iowa for many years prior to their death. Patrick Kelly was identified with the great basic industry of agriculture during virtually his entire active career in America. He was a farmer in Missouri until 1881, when he removed with his family to Iowa, where he con- tinued his activities as an agriculturist and stock grower and achieved a due measure of independence and pros- perity, both he and his wife having been devout com- municants of the Catholic Church, and having lived lives of distinctive usefulness and honor. He whose name introduces this article is indebted to the public schools of Missouri for his early educational discipline and was eighteen years of age at the time of the family removal to Iowa, in which state he taught several terms of dis- triet school.

In 1892 Mr. Kelly left the Hawkeye state and came to Oklahoma Territory, where he filed entry to a claim of land in Canadian County. He perfected his title to this property, but eventually disposed of the same. In 1899 he assumed the position of deputy in the office of the county clerk of Canadian County, and he retained this post at El Reno, the county seat, until he was elected, county clerk, in the autumn of 1904, this advancement having been a well justified reward for his former effec- tive service. He assumed office in January, 1905, and after serving six years he retired from office on the 1st of January, 1911, his long and efficient tenure of this important position having been terminated only a short time when, on the 1st of March, 1911, he was chosen cashier of the First National Bank of El Reno. He retained this position until July 1, 1912, when he assumed the duties of his present office, that of cashier of the Yukon National Bank, his careful and progressive admin- istration having been a potent force in the developing of the substantial business of this institution, which bases its operations on a capital stock of $25,000.

The political views of Mr. Kelly are shown by the staunch support which he accords to the cause of the democratic party; he aud his wife are communicants of the Catholic Church, and he is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus, and the Modern Woodmen of America.

In the year 1912 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Kelly to Miss Agnes Fitzgerald, who likewise was born and reared in Missouri, and both are popular figures in the representative social activities of their home com- munity.

1857

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

WILLIAM MARSHALL GALLAHER, M. D. A specialist in the medical profession at Shawnee since 1909, whose practice is confined to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, Doctor Gallaher has not only been a valuable professional man to this city, but has fitted in with all departments of civic progress, and has been especially enthusiastic as a worker in behalf of school improvement. He is now secretary of the board of education.

Born in Roane County, Tennessee, March 1, 1877, Doctor Gallaher is a member of a branch of a family that came originally from Ireland and first settled in Pennsylvania about Revolutionary times. From Penu- sylvania one branch of the family moved to Tennessee, and another to Missouri. Doctor Gallaher's father, D. H. Gallaher, was born in Knox County, Tennessee, in 1836, and died in Roane County in 1904. His entire active career was spent as a farmer and stock raiser. For two years he was a soldier on the Southern side of the Civil war, and was wounded during the Shenandoah Valley campaign. In politics he was a democrat, was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and of the Masonic fraternity. He married Mattie Owen, who was born in Tennessee and still resides on the old homestead in Roane County. Their children were: Lucy, wife of S. R. Stegall, a feed and grain merchant at Chattanooga, Tennessee; Albert, who died in 1880; Daisy, who married C. W. Lackey, a physician and surgeon in Texas, and both are now deceased; R. O., who is county engineer of Knox County, with home at Knoxville, Tennessee; Mayme, who is a music teacher and makes her home with her mother in Tennesee; G. H., a farmer and stockman in Roane County; Dr. Wil- liam Marshall; Sally, wife of R. O. Wheeler, a farmer and stockman in Ellis County, Oklahoma; and Mattie, wife of Elmer Sineknecht, a mine operator at Oliver Springs, Tennessee.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Author: Thoburn, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradfield), 1866-1941 Publication date: 1916 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The American Historical Society Number of Pages: 644

Author: Thoburn, Joseph B. (Joseph Bradfield), 1866-1941
Publication date: 1916
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The American Historical Society
Number of Pages: 644