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 30

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 30

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CHARLES W. WILSON. Noted for his sound judgment and keen business sagacity, Charles W. Wilson is re- garded as one of the safe and sound financiers of Wood- ward County, and his connection with the Security State Bank of Mooreland, of which he has been cashier since 1914, has resulted very advantageously to that concern. Mr. Wilson came to the West in his youth, with little to aid him save his ambition and energy and after a num- ber of years spent in Kansas came to Oklahoma in a business capacity in which he displayed qualities that led to his introduction to banking circles.

Born July 3, 1863, on a farm in Lenawee County, Mich- igan, Mr. Wilson is a son of Charles B. and Rosa M. (Hill) Wilson. His father was born in 1832, at Thomas- ton, Connecticut, where the family was well and favorably known and where the grandparents were born, and was one year old when taken to Lenawee County, Michigan. There Charles B. Wilson was reared on a pioneer farm, was given an ordinary education and as a young man engaged in teaching school, although later he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits and succeeded to the ownership of the farm which had been proved up by his father. An industrious and enterprising man, his life was passed in the peaceful pursuits of the soil, and his

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mr. Stamper

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death occurred on his Michigan farm April 20, 1900. In his community he had an excellent reputation in business circles, while his good citizenship was evidenced on all occasions. In 1857, in Michigan, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Miss Rosa M. Hill, who was born in 1837, in Connecticut, daughter of Rollin R. and Milli- cent (Kasson) Hill, natives of Litchfield County, Con- necticut. She was taken as a child to Michigan, where she was reared and educated and prior to her marriage was, like her husband, a teacher in the public schools. Her death occurred February 8, 1884, aud thirty years later, in 1914, one of the classrooms of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Morenci, Michigan, was dedicated to her as a memorial to her faithful and devoted work in behalf of that congregation during the early days. Two sons and one daughter were born to Charles B. and Rosa M. Hill, namely: Clarence A., Luella Josephine and Charles W. Clarence A. Wilson of this family was born August 14, 1859, in Lenawee County, Michigan, and was given good educational advantages, being graduated from Valparaiso College, at Valparaiso, Indiana. He took up banking in 1884, when he was elected cashier of the Wakefield State Bank of Morenci, Michigan, a position which he still retains, being one of the best known bank- ers in that part of the state. He was married in 1904 to Miss Marie Beauchamp, a native of Newport, Ken- tucky, and they are the parents of two daughters : Charlotte and Millicent. Luella Josephine Wilson was boru in Lenawee County, Michigan, February 20, 1861, and early displayed literary talent of more than ordinary order. In addition to being a magazine writer of note, she was secretary of the Writers' Club of Toledo, Ohio, and held that position at the time of her death, April 20, 1912. She married Frank Smith, a native of Ohio, in 1886, and they became the parents of two children : Herbert W. and Dorothy.

Charles W. Wilson was reared on the home farm in Michigan and received his education in the public schools of Lenawee County. At the age of twenty-two years, in 1885, he left home to seek his fortune in the West, his destination being Harper, Kansas, where he secured a position in a flouring mill. During the fifteen years that followed he worked at milling at different points in Southern Kansas, and in various capacities, and became well and favorably known to the people of Barber County, in that state, who, in 1902, elected him to the office of county clerk. The manner in which he discharged his duties during his first term resulted in his election to succeed himself in 1904, and the entire four years of his incumbency were marked by faithful, capable, energetic and conscientious performance of duty. In 1907, 1908 and 1909, Mr. Wilson was assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Kiowa, Kansas, where he gained excel- lent experience, but in 1911 he transferred his activities to Oklahoma, coming to Mooreland to accept the manage- ment of the grain elevator of the Alva Roller Mills, a concern which is being capably managed by George A. Harbaugh, with a large mill at Alva and a chain of grain elevators in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Mr. Wil- son soon became known as a business man of unusual capacity and in 1914 was offered and accepted the cash- iership of the Security State Bank of Mooreland, of which office he has since been the incumbent. This is one of the sound and conservative financial institutions of Woodward County, established in 1906, whose depositors come from Woodward and the surrounding counties. He has maintained his position as a man of substantial busi- ness qualities and exceptional character, and is rapidly becoming one of the most prominent and successful citi- zens of his locality. Fraternally, Mr. Wilson affiliates with the Masons and the Knights of Pythias, in both of

which he has numerous friends. Since attaining his majority he has been an unswerving republican.

Mr. Wilson was married October 26, 1892, at Medicine Lodge, Kansas, to Miss Lizzie C. Clark, who was born February 14, 1872, at old Osage Mission, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had no children. She is a member of the Presbyterian Church and has taken an active interest in its work.

WILLIAM P. HARPER. A resident of Oklahoma City since 1889, Judge Harper has here been engaged in the practice of law since 1891 and he holds secure vantage- place as one of the representative members of the Oklahoma bar. Under the territorial regime he served as judge of probate of Oklahoma County and of this office he was the incumbent also at the time when Okla- homa was admitted to statehood, in 1907. He controls a large and important law business, has been influen- tial in public affairs in the territory and state, and is one of the progressive and liberal citizens of Oklahoma City, where he maintains his well appointed law offices at 207-9 Majestic Building.

Judge William Philip Harper was born at Wheeling, Delaware County, Indiana, on the 18th of February, 1859, and is a son of Charles A. aud Mary J. (Wen- dall) Harper. His father was a lawyer by profession and for a number of years was engaged in the practice of his profession at Muncie, the judicial center of Dela- ware County, Indiana, and there the subject of this review initiated the study of law under the effective pre- ceptorship of his father, after he had duly profited by the advantages afforded in the public schools of his native state. From 1876 to 1885 Judge Harper was a resident of Clinton County, Indiana, and he then came to the West and passed three years in the State of Kansas. In December, 1899, the year in which Okla- homa Territory was organized and opened to settlement Judge Harper numbered himself among its pioneer set- tlers, and he has wielded not a little influence in the civic and material development and progress of both territory and state. Upon coming to the territory he established his residence in Oklahoma City, where he resumed the study of law and where he was admitted to the bar in 1891. He here engaged in the practice of his profes- sion and in 1894 he was elected, on the republican ticket, to the office of judge of the Probate Court of Oklahoma County, of which position he continued the efficient and valued incumbent for a term of two years, within which he did much to systematize, solidify and make authoritative the important business of this ter- ritorial court of the county. After his retirement from office the judge again engaged in the general practice of his profession, and few lawyers have been more prominently associated with important litigations and legal interests in the state than has he. He retains at the present time a large and representative clientage, is well known to his professional confreres throughout the state, and commands unqualified popular confidence and esteem. In 1902 he was again elected judge of pro- bate, and he continued in the effective administration of the affairs of this office until the admission of Okla- homa to the Union, in 1907, having retained the post during the pending agitation and legislation incident to the creation of the new state. Since that time he has given virtually his undivided attention to his large and important law business, and his name merits enduring place on the roster of the pioneer members of the Okla- homa bar. The judge has continued a stalwart and ef- fective advocate of the principles of the republican party and is one of its influential representatives in Oklahoma.

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In the city that has long been his home was solem- nized the marriage of Judge Harper to Miss Cora B. Gregory, and she is a popular factor in the representa- tive social activities of Oklahoma City. Judge and Mrs. Harper have three children, Annabel, Wendel and Wil- liam P., Jr., the family home being an attractive resi- dence owned by the judge at 2204 West Nineteenth Street.

GEORGE A. JOHNS is member of the well known law firm of MeCrory & Johns of Okmulgee, and besides a large general practice he is well and favorably known over the county as former county judge.

He was born in Pekin, Illinois, June 14, 1880, son of J. J. and Elizabeth (Weber) Johns. His father was born in Pekin, Illinois, but his mother was a native of Germany, and came to Illinois when a child. She is now living in Chicago. The father died at Quincy, Illinois, in 1896, at the age of forty-six. He was a merchant during all his active career, and had stores at Pekin and Quincy.

One of five children, George A. Johns, remained in the home of his mother until 1908. He finished his education in Northwestern University, where he was graduated in the law department in Chicago in 1906 with the degree LL. B. He was admitted to the Illinois bar in 1906 and practiced law in that state for a year or so.

In 1908 he was admitted to the Oklahoma State Bar, and since then has had his home in Okmulgee. In 1913 he formed a partnership with C. B. MeCrory under the firm name of MeCrory & Johns.

It was in 1911 that Mr. Johns was elected county judge of Okmulgee County and served in that office with admirable efficiency for two years, one term. In politics he is a republican and a Knight Templar Mason and Shriner. In 1910 he married Florence Collins, who was born in Binghamton, New York, daughter of Daniel Collins. They have one child, Ellen.

THOMAS LOVE LILLARD. An extensive and progres- sive agriculturist of Osage County, and a prominent citizen of Pawhuska, Thomas Love Lillard is a man of worth and stability, and enjoys the fullest confidence and esteem of the community in which he resides. A native of Kentucky, he was born, September 20, 1860, in Boyle County. His father, Thomas Madison Lillard, was for many years engaged in the cattle business, during his earlier life buying and selling in Charleston, South Caro- lina, and in New York City, his operations being largely confined to those two cities. Subsequently buying land in Kentucky, he devoted the remainder of his years to the raising of stock, and to farming, both he and his wife dying on their Kentucky plantation. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Bright, eleven children were born.

Remaining on the home place until after the death of his father, Thomas Love Lillard was well trained in the art and science of agriculture, which he selected as his occupation in life. Coming to Oklahoma in 1901, he resided at Ponca five years. In 1906 he located at Pawhuska, where he has since been profitably engaged in general farming, making a specialty of stock growing, in partnership with T. P. Kiger, being widely known as junior member of the enterprising firm of Kiger & Lillard. He is a democrat in his political relations, and both he and his wife are valued members of the Christian Church. Fraternally he belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. Lillard married September 20, 1893, Miss Alice Hubble, who was born in Boyle County, Kentucky, March 3, 1865, a daughter of Levi and Martha (Stigall) Hubble, who reared three children, namely: William, who died at

the age of twenty-four years; Alice, now Mrs. Lillard; and Laura, wife of George Shelby. Mr. Hubble spent his entire life in Central Kentucky, his death occurring there in 1896. His widow survived him many years, dying in 1915, in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where she had been a resident for eight years.

Mrs. Lillard is a woman of rare ability and accom- plishments, scholarly in her attainments, and possessing a winning personality. As a young lady she received excellent educational advantages, being graduated, in 1882, from Hamilton College, in Lexington, Kentucky, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and in 1884 taking a post-graduate course at the same institution. She then taught a year in the Miller School, in Cincinnati, taking charge of the classes in English, after which she estab- lished a private school in which she prepared pupils for college. Subsequently she attended to the correspondence and banking business of her father, who was an extensive stock grower and breeder of fine saddle horses, and an able assistant in making Kentucky famous in that line of industry. The family meeting with financial reverses after the death of her father, Miss Hubble again assumed her duties in the school room, and after teaching for a time in Ponca, Oklahoma, accepted a position in the Paw- huska High School, with which she continued two years.

Interested in everything pertaining to the advancement of the educational status of Oklahoma, Mrs. Lillard assisted in the organization of schools, and since Okla- homa assumed the garb of statehood she has been a member of the examining board for teachers in Osage County, a position for which she is amply qualified. In October, 1912, she was appointed county superintendent of the Osage County schools to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of W. E. Gill, and in November of that year was elected to the same responsible position. Giving such eminent satisfaction in the discharge of her duties during the next two years, Mrs. Lillard was honored with a re-election to the same high office in 1914 for a term that will not expire until July 1, 1917. In the perform- ance of her duties Mrs. Lillard covers an area of 2,300 square miles, some of the schools of which she has the supervision being widely separated. She was elected to her present office on the democratic ticket, and has the distinction of being the first woman to fill the position in Osage County.

Mrs. Lillard is an active worker in the church, and is prominent in club affairs, belonging to both the mother 's department and the art department of the Pawhuska Woman 's Club.

Mr. and Mrs. Lillard have a fine family of children, three in number, namely: William H., Alice, and Mary Bright, and they have also reared a nephew, William Lillard. Mr. Lillard has in his possession a complete genealogy of the Lillard family, compiled and published in 1890 by his brother, John T. Lillard, an attorney in Bloomington, Illinois.

PROF. HUGH GRAHAM FAUST. To a rapidly increas- ing number of Oklahoma school men Professor Faust of Shawnee is becoming known for the ability with which he is administering the fine public school system at Shawnee and also for the influential work which he is doing in professional organization. Ever since graduat- ing from college Mr. Faust has been in school work. He has spent about fifteen years in the profession, and is a man of ripe scholarship, of dignified manner, and of splendid character. He is just the man for the heavy responsibilities which he now carries as city superin- tendent of Shawnee schools.

A Tennesseean by birth, he is a native of New-

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market, Tennessee, where he was born, January 28, 1879. His parents were M. L. and Belle (Parrott) Faust. The Fausts came originally from Germany, but at a very early time in colonial history, having located in Vir- ginia and going across the mountains into Tennessee about the time of the American Revolution. Another branch of ancestors was the Sawyer family and repre- sentatives of that name fought on the American side in the war for independence. Some of the Fausts were soldiers in the Federal army during the war between the states, while Mr. Faust's maternal ancestors were found in the Confederate army.

M. L. Faust was Born at Newmarket, Tennessee, in 1850, and has spent practically all his life in that com- inunity being a substantial farmer and stock raiser. He is also a good citizen and for a considerable term of years has served as a member of the board of educa- tion in his home locality. He has taken an especially active part in the affairs of the Presbyterian Church, and served many years on the official board. The mother, whose maiden name was Belle Parrott, was born in Granger County, Tennessee, in 1847. She became the mother of seven children, briefly noted as follows: Edna, wife of Beecher Coxe, a merchant at Newmarket, Tennessee; L. C. Faust, who lives at Newmarket and is engaged in the raising of blooded stock; Professor Hugh Graham; Professor C. J. Faust, who was superin- tendent of schools in Knox County, Tennessee, and died at Knoxville in 1903; Lynn E., who is an automobile dealer in Hood River, Oregon; Leon, engaged in mercan- tile business at Hood River, Oregon; and Dr. G. T. Faust, who was graduated from the Louisville Medical College in 1914 and is now practicing medicine at Dor- chester, Virginia.

Hugh Graham Faust had the average opportunities and advantages of the country boy. He had an ambition for things beyond the horizon of the farmer's son, and was not satisfied with the education which the public schools in the vicinity of Newmarket could afford him. He afterwards entered one of the oldest and best small col- leges in Tennessee, the Carson & Newman College at Jefferson, where he was graduated A. B. with the class of 1906. At different times he has interrupted his work or has accepted the leisure afforded by vacation periods in order to continue his studies in higher institutions. Much of his post-graduate work has been done at the University of Chicago.

It was in 1900 that Mr. Faust did his first practical work as a teacher in the public schools of Jefferson County, Tennessee. He remained there two years, and in 1902 became principal of the Bearden High School in Knox County, Tennessee, remaining there also two years. This was followed by a position as teacher in Jacks- boro, Tennessee, where he was principal of the Camp- bell County High School three years.

On coming to Oklahoma Mr. Faust was superintendent of the city schools at Weatherford for two years, spent another three years as superintendent of schools at Fred- erick, and in 1914 was called to the heavy responsibilities connected with the superintendency at Shawnee. In 1915 he was re-elected on the basis of his first year's record and for a term of three years.

Other activities should be referred to in this article. During the scholastic year of 1905-06 he was instructor at Greeneville and Tusculum College at Greeneville, Ten- nessee. After coming to Oklahoma he served one year as president of the Tillman County Teachers Association. During the summers of 1903 and 1904 he took post- graduate work in the University of Tennessee. He is an active member of the Pottawatomie County Teachers Association and in the Oklahoma Educational Association

is chairman of the City Superintendents Division, of which Supt. H. L. Nicholas of Holdenville is secretary. In politics he worked with the democratic party. He is a deacon in the Presbyterian Church, and fraternally is identified with Shawnee Lodge No. 106, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Shawnee Chapter No. 32, Royal Arch Masons; Shawnee Commandery No. 36, Knights Templar; and with the Weatherford Lodge of Knights of Pythias, in which he is past chancellor commander. He is a member of the Shawnee Commercial Club, of the Provident Club of Shawnee and belongs to the Fidelity Building & Loan Association. He was a member of the Avis Society of the University of Chicago.

At Chicago in 1909 Professor Faust married Miss Bertha Weiman. Her father was the late Judge Weiman of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Miss Weiman graduated with the degree Bachelor of Arts from the University of Chicago and for several years before her marriage was a successful teacher, being an instructor in one of the high schools in Chicago and in the public schools of Evanston, Illinois.

T. M. BURROW. Among the well known officials of Dewey County, one who has won standing because of ability and faithful service, and popularity by reason of courtesy and fidelity, is T. M. Burrow, clerk of the courts. Prior to his election to his present office, Mr. Burrow was engaged in a variety of pursuits, although his energies were principally devoted to educational work, and the ability which he displayed in this direction was chiefly responsible for bringing him forward as a desir- able candidate for public service. During the three years that he has served he has established an excellent record.

Mr. Burrow was born at Bardwell, Carlisle County, Kentucky, January 6, 1882, on a farm, and is a son of T. W. and Melinda (Shelbourne) Burrow. On the pa- ternal side he belongs to a family which settled in North Carolina during colonial days, having come from Scot- land, while on the maternal side he is also descended from Scotch ancestors, who settled in New York before the Revolution. His father was born at Lovelaceville, Ballard County, Kentucky, in 1847, and was reared, edu- cated and married there, following which he moved across the line into Carlisle County and settled on a farm eight miles east of Bardwell. There he continued to be en- gaged in farming and stock-raising during the remain- ing years of his active life, passing away December 22, 1908. A democrat in his political views, he took a keen, active and intelligent interest in public affairs, and for six years was supervisor of Carlisle County, being the in- cumbent of that office at the time of his death. He was a strong supporter of the movements of the Baptist Church, held a place on the official board for many years, and led a consistent Christian life. His fraternal con- nections were with the local lodges of the Masons and the Odd Fellows. Mr. Burrow married Melinda Shelbourne, who was born in the State of New York, in 1843, and who still survives her husband in comfortable old age, being a resident of Paducah, Kentucky, at her home lo- cated at No. 821 Adams Street. T. W. and Melinda Burrow were the parents of nine children, as follows: Wilmoth, who is the wife of C. W. Black, a farmer and shipper of stock at Kevil, Kentucky; James, who is an Illinois Central Railway engineer and resides at Paducah, Kentucky; Cora, who is the wife of J. H. Peck, a rail- road contractor of Hickman, Kentucky; E. R., who died at Bardwell, Kentucky, aged thirty-six years, as a sales- man; Ira O., a farmer residing at Mayfield, Kentucky; Ada, deceased, who married A. D. Lynn, a farmer of Dewey County, Okahoma; T. M., of this notice; Euphy, who is the wife of N. A. Mabry, a rural mail carrier of

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Paducah, Kentucky; aud A. W., who died at Bardwell, Kentucky, at the age of sixteen years.

T. M. Burrow was reared ou his father's farm uutil he was fourteen years of age, and during his early boy- hood he attended the district schools of Carlisle County. Iu 1896 the family moved to Bardwell, where he became a pupil in the public schools, and this training was fur- thered by attendance at the state normal school, Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he remained for two years, or until 1901. In that year he began his business experi- ence as clerk in a clothing store at Fulton, Kentucky, but at the end of eight months became a fireman in the em- ploy of the Illinois Central Railroad. Mr. Burrow remained in that position for about one year, when, acting upon his belief that the West offered better oppor- tunities for the display of his abilities, he came to Rhea, Dewey County, Oklahoma, where he entered upon his career as an educator. During the next nine years he held positions in various parts of the county as prin- cipal of schools, and was thus brought favorably before the people. In 1912 he was elected clerk of the district court, holding that office for two years, and November 6, 1914, was elected clerk of the courts for a period of two years, the name of the office having been changed. His offices are in the court house, Taloga. Mr. Burrow has always been a stalwart democrat and since coming to Oklahoma has become influential in the ranks of his party in Dewey County. He has been also an enthusias- tic fraternalist, and now belongs to Aledo Lodge No. 415, A. F. & A. M .; Taloga Chapter No. 54, R. A. M., and Taloga Camp, Modern Woodmen of America.

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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: 644

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