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 42

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 42

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).

Judge Marshall was married at Robberson, Garvin County, Oklahoma, to Miss Nettie Vandagriff, daughter of S. J. Vandagriff, a farmer now residing in Comanche County, Oklahoma, and four children have been born to this union: Maude, born April 20, 1902, attending public school; Lois, born March 22, 1903, also a public school student; Blanche, born December 2, 1909, attending public school; and John, born November 2, 1913.

DR. ROSS STATLER CANNON is a physician and surgeon of note and although he has lived at Hydro for only one year to date he has already gained the faith of his fellow men and is rapidly building up a splendid patron- age. Prior to coming here he was engaged in profes- sional work at Sterling, Oklahoma, for thirteen years and while there was deputy health officer of Comanche County.

A son of Thomas M. and Kate Wood (Statler) Cannon, Doctor Cannon was born at Neosho, Newton County, Missouri, February 17, 1877. The father was a native of Indiana, where he was born in 1849, and he was summoned to the life eternal in 1880, at which time the doctor was but three years of age. He was a grist and flour miller and removed from the Hoosier State to Neosho, Missouri, in young manhood. In politics he was a republican. Mrs. Cannon was born at Bedford, Penn- sylvania, in 1850, and she now maintains her home at Albany, Oregon. After being widowed she taught in the Seneca, Shawnee and Wyandotte Indian Reservation schools and subsequently was superintendent of the Pot- tawatomie Indian School, north of Topeka, Kansas; of the Ponca Indian School, three miles from Ponca City; and of the Lagoona Schools, at Lagoona, New Mexico. She was engaged in the profession of teaching for fifteen years and was very popular and successful in that line. During her work in the various Indian reservations she collected a remarkable series of Indian photographs which were unfortunately burned in her trunk in the depot fire at Lagoona in 1903. Two children were born to Mr.

1902

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

and Mrs. Cannon: Ross S. is the subject of this sketch; and Thomas M., Jr. is a resident of Albany, Oregon, where he is a registered druggist and operates a poultry ranch.

Doctor Cannon attended the public schools of Neosho, Missouri, and also those of Cassville and he completed his high-school course in the City of St. Louis, Missouri. Iu 1898 he was graduated in the St. Louis Medical College, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He entered upon his professional practice at Newkirk, in Kay County, Oklahoma, and remained there until 1901. He was coroner of Kay County and also served as medical exam- iner ou the insanity board, aud was county physician. In 1901 he located at Sterling, in Comanche County, Okla- homa, and remained there until April, 1914, which date marks this advent at Hydro. He was deputy health officer of Comanche County while a resident of Sterling and there controlled a large and lucrative practice. His offices at Hydro are in the Opera House Building on Main Street. He is a staunch republican in politics and is a member of the Comanche and Kay County Medical Societies and of the Missouri State Medical Society.

In Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 1914, Doctor Cannon married Miss Cleo V. Collier, a daughter of R. S. Collier, who is living in retirement at Hydro. Doctor and Mrs. Cannon are both popular in connection with the social activities of Hydro and their home is the scene of many attractive gatherings.

HUSER & HUSER. One of the ablest law firms of Okfuskee County is that of Huser & Huser, both of whom have made a fine record as attorneys and citizens and they now control and handle a large share of the important litigation in the local courts. The firm com- prises Judge William A. Huser and his brother, Eugene Huser. They have their offices at Okemah. William A. Huser is a former county judge of Okfuskee County and Eugene Huser is now serving as city attorney.

Judge William A. Huser was born in the geographical center of Spencer County, Indiana, July 12, 1872. His birth occurred on a farm, and just ten miles from the old homestead was the little cemetery where Lincoln's mother, Nancy Hanks Lincoln, was buried, and as a boy he frequently visited her grave. Judge Huser is of old American and Revolutionary stock. Two of his Revolutionary ancestors, Thomas Chancellor and William May, were both buried in Spencer County, Indiana. His great-grandfather, Robert Huser, was also in the Revo- lutionary war and was buried in Kentucky. Both May and Chancellor were present at the surrender of Corn- wallis, at Yorktown, in 1781, at the close of the Revo- lution.

The parents of these brothers were John Thomas and Martha E. (May) Huser. The former was born in Switzerland County, Indiana, in 1842, and the latter in Spencer County in 1846. John T. Huser grew up in Marion County, Indiana, but spent most of his life in Spencer County, where he died October 22, 1900. The mother died at Okemah, Oklahoma, in 1912. The father spent all his active career as a farmer. The parents had only two sons, Eugene being the older.

Eugene Huser was born in Spencer County, Indiana, August 12, 1867, and continued to reside there until June, 1903, when he moved to Comanche County, Okla- homa, and joined his brother in the practice of law at Okemah in July, 1912. He had a common school educa- tion back in Indiana, and after going to Oklahoma studied law in Comanche County, where he was admitted to the bar in 1912. He is an active democrat, a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd

Fellows. In 1889 Eugene Huser married Cora Farris, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of George and Emily Farris. To their marriage have been born seven sons: James Alston, George Thomas, Oliver Stanley, Samuel Jennings, Ellis Alvin, Herbert M. and John Marshall.

William A. Huser spent his early years on the old homestead in Spencer County, Indiana, and besides an education in the local schools he attended the law department of the Indiana State University at Bloom- ington, and in 1893 was admitted to the Indiana bar at Rockport. He took up practice in his native county, and left a promising business there in 1899 to come to Oklahoma. He established his first home at Hastings, in Comanche County, but at statehood moved to Okfus- kee County and engaged in practice with C. B. Connor, under the firm name of Connor & Huser. In 1910 Mr. Huser was elected county judge of Okfuskee County and gave a careful and efficient administration of those duties during 1911-12. In 1912 he was a candidate before the democratic primaries for congressional nomi- nation, but was defeated. Since then he and his brother, Eugene, have been associated as partners.

Judge Huser is democratic member of the state com- mittee from Okfuskee County. He is a member of the American Historical Association, belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, is a Knight Templar Mason, and is now Master of Okemah Lodge No. 234, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is also affiliated with the Knights of Pythias.

In 1904 Judge Huser married R. M. Pettit, who was born in Iowa, daughter of C. G. and Jennie Pettit, who now live in Jefferson County, Oklahoma. Judge Huser and wife have two daughters, Margaret and Elaine.

ELMER C. WHEELER. The business enterprise of Elmer C. Wheeler has been an important factor in con- serving the property and civic rights of the people of his blood and race in Oklahoma. Mr. Wheeler is descended from two stocks of American Indians, with an important admixture of the French pioneers who first explored and traversed the country west of the Missis- sippi. He is now the head of a prominent family at Pawhuska in Osage County and is carefully looking after the large interests which are under his supervision as a result of the allotment in severalty of the Indian lands of the Osage Nation. .

Mr. Wheeler was born in Thurston County, Nebraska, March 17, 1878, a son of M. P. and Eliza (Loise) Wheeler. His father was born in Wisconsin in 1846, and his mother was born in Nebraska in 1847. These parents were married in Richardson County, Nebraska, and moved from there to the Omaha Indian Reserva- tion, on which they lived until June, 1891, when they ' came with other members of the tribe to Pawhuska, in Indian Territory. Mr. Wheeler's mother was a daughter of Edward Paul and Mary Jane (Barada) Loise. They belonged to some of the earliest French families in the vicinity of St. Louis. Mr. Wheeler's mother first mar- ried Antoine Cabaney, and had one son by that union. Mr. Wheeler's grandfather was half Osage and half French origin, and his grandmother was half French and half Omaha Indian. His grandfather established a trading post at what is now the City of Omaha, where a Frenchman by the name of Edward Sarpy, in the employ of the American Fur Company, had established a post in the early '40s, this enterprise giving the first distinction to the site now occupied by that flourishing city. Mr. Wheeler's grandfather lived at Omaha until a short time before his death, when he went to St. Louis and there fell a victim to the cholera. Mr. Wheeler's

1903

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

great-grandfather on his mother's side was Mitchell Barada, who was one of the first white men to locate west of the Missouri River. He was with the historic expedition of Lewis and Clarke that explored the Mis- souri River to its source early in the nineteenth century, and a number of years later he made three trips to California after the discovery of gold, and died in Nebraska. Mr. Wheeler's parents both reside in Osage County, his father being a retired farmer. They had ten children, five of whom died in infancy, and the five now living are: Paul E., of Cleveland, Oklahoma; Elmer C .; Lovania, wife of L. E. Brock, a rancher in Osage County; Anna, wife of Jack Weinrich, a merchant at Pawhuska; and Alma, living with her parents.

Elmer C. Wheeler lived with his parents until his marriage in 1903, though much of his time was spent away from home attending different Indian schools. From 1888 to 1890 he was in the Indian School at Genoa, Nebraska, and then spent three years in the Osage Indian Boarding School. From 1896 to 1897 he was in the Chilloco Indian School and graduated in 1897. During 1899-1900 he was in the Indian Training School at Santa Fe, New Mexico, and took his diploma from that institution in the latter year. After leaving school he spent some time in the employ of the United States Government as an engineer at the ice plant in Pawhuska.

On September 23, 1903, Mr. Wheeler was married to Eva E. Rogers. She comes of the noted Rogers family of Oklahoma, and was born in Osage County August 3, 1877, a daughter of Antoine and Elizabeth (Carpenter) Rogers, who are still living and have their home at Wyana. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have one child, Virginia

Rogers. They are also rearing five children by Mrs. Wheeler's sister. Their father was Arthur, a son of Judge Thomas L. Rogers, one of the distinguished citi- zens of Northeastern Oklahoma whose career will be found sketched on other pages of this work. These five orphan children now in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler are: Joseph L., Ellen Elizabeth, John R., Wil- liam C. and Isabel Rogers.

In recent years Mr. Wheeler has been busied in super- vising the allotment of his family and children, com- prising altogether about 6,000 acres. Of this handsome estate about 1,000 acres are already under cultivation as farming land, and the rest is pasture and grazing land. Mr. Wheeler owns two good buildings in Pawhuska, and occupies a substantial home which is the property of his children.

In politics he is a republican, and is prominent in the Masonic order. He is a Knight Templar Mason and is also a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason. His local affiliations are with Wahsahshe Lodge No. 110, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Horeb Chapter No. 63, Royal Arch Masons; Omega Council, Royal and Select Masons; Palestine Commandery No. 31, Knights Templar; Oklahoma Consistory of the Scottish Rite; The Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Tulsa. He is a past master of his lodge and past commander of Pales- tine Commandery. He is also affiliated with the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias.

JAMES A. EMBRY. This name has long had significance in the political life of Oklahoma, and one of its bearers is James A. Embry, now serving as circuit clerk of Lin- coln County. Mr. Embry is a son of one of the early settlers in Lincoln County, and his own life has been spent in this state from early boyhood, a period of twenty-five years. He has recently been admitted to the bar and prior to his election as district clerk in 1912 Vol. V-10

had made an acceptable record as district clerk of Lincoln County.

James A. Embry was born September 21, 1878, on a farm near Owensburg, Kentucky, son of V. R. Embry, now a resident of Jennings, Oklahoma. His father was a native of Kentucky and of old Kentucky lineage, with many of the characteristic qualities of the Kentucky people. V. R. Embry was reared in Kentucky and when a boy in his teens enlisted for service in a Kentucky regiment in the Union army and saw four years' of active service as a soldier. At the beginning of settle- ment in Lincoln County, Oklahoma, he came as one of the pioneers and developed a large farm. He subse- quently removed to the City of Jennings, and died at Morgantown, Kentucky, in February, 1916. He married Miss E. Bratcher, who died some years ago. She trans- mitted some of the noble qualities of her heart and mind to her children, who were six in number, as follows: Clinton, of Lincoln County; John, a prominent lawyer of Oklahoma City; James A .; Iverson; Eliza, living in Iowa City, Iowa; and Hannah, of Oklahoma. The parents were both Methodist Church people.

James A. Embry was eleven years of age when his parents located in Lincoln County, and many of his early recollections are associated with the wilderness conditions which then prevailed in this state. He grew up on a farm, and by the wholesome occupations of the country developed a strong physique and a vigorous mentality. He was educated partly in the public schools of Kentucky and partly in the high school at Chandler, and his early life was devoted to farming and stock raising. He was associated with his brother, John Embry, and later took up the study of law with him and was admitted to the bar in 1914.

In 1904 Mr. Embry married Ivy Boatright, a woman of refinement and culture. Mr. and Mrs. Embry have six children: John, Henry, Glen, Dorothy, Ivy and James A., Jr.

Mr. Embry, like his father, has a military record to his credit, having served for twenty months in the Thirty-third United States Infantry during the Spanish- American war. He subsequently served as lieutenant of the National Guard, and in 1916 was elected department commander for Oklahoma of the United States Spanish War Veterans. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church and he belongs to the Veteran Reserve Corps and is a member of the Masonic Lodge.

WARREN L. THAYER. The first appearance of Warren L. Thayer in Oklahoma was as a harvest man. About fifteen years ago he took up a Government claim in Harper County, and his prosperity and influence has been steadily growing ever since. He is now one of the leading citizens and business men of Laverne.

His birth occurred February 27, 1880, at Union City, Michigan, a son of Robert M. and Frances M. (Blosser) Thayer. His father, who was of Scotch parentage, was born June 17, 1855, at Jackson, Michigan, and was a lumberman until he came to Oklahoma in 1901. In that year he took up a claim in Woodword County and became active in the organization of Ellis and Harper County. He now owns and operates a large stock farm seven miles from May. Robert M. Thayer was married in 1877 and his wife was born November 30, 1854, at Logan, Hocking County, Ohio, a daughter of Abraham and Miriam (Graffis) Blosser, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania and of Dutch stock. Mrs. Thayer had a college education and is an active member of the Methodist Church. Their children are: Warren L .; Goldie, who was born March 23, 1888, and is now the wife of Bert B. Waltman, a railway official in Denver, Colorado; Pearl Blanche, who was born August 3, 1891, and is now

1904

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

the wife of Bynum Bouse, a rancher at Des Moines, New Mexico; Eruest Blaine, who was born May 7, 1894, and now lives at Laverne, Oklahoma; and Katie Lorena Thayer, who was born July 16, 1896, and is now the wife of W. T. McNeil of Beaver City, Oklahoma.

At the age of seventeen Warren L. Thayer completed a high school course at Knoxville, Tennessee, and at the age of twenty-one graduated A. B. from the Ewing and Jefferson College in Blount County, Tennessee. It was with this education and preliminary experience that he came to Grant Couuty, Oklahoma, and spent his first season in the harvest fields. He also taught school one term. Then in 1901 he settled on his claim of Govern- ment land in Woodward County, and by hard work and good judgment has become one of the extensive farmers of that section, having a large tract under cultivation. For one year he was couuected with the Spearmore State Bank of Laverne, but is now engaged in a prosperous life insurance business at Laverne. He is also interested in oil properties in Oklahoma and Texas as a promoter and developer, and having read law in the intervals of his business pursuits was admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 1916 and is now prepared to practice his profession. Mr. Thayer is a member of the Masonic Order, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically he is a republican.

On January 12, 1910, at Coleman, Texas, he married Miss Sallie May Smith, who was born at Alvarado, Texas, January 8, 1887, a daughter of Thomas and Emma (Quinn) Smith, natives of Texas. Mrs. Thayer is a granddaughter of Deaf Smith, a pioneer scout and fron- tiersman in Texas, a historic character in the Texas Revolution, and his name is indelibly impressed upon Texas geography in Deaf Smith County, which is now the largest county in area in the United States. Mrs. Thayer completed her education in a Texas college. They have three daughters: Helen, born January 19, 1911; Dorothy, born August 24, 1913; and Virginia Pauline, born February 16, 1916.

JOSEPH J. HENKE, M. D. A physiciau and surgeon splendidly equipped for his work of curing the sick, Dr. Joseph J. Henke has gained prestige throughout Caddo County by reason of his natural talent and acquired abil- ity in the field of his chosen work. His professional career excites the admiration and has won the respect of his contemporaries in a calling in which one has to gain reputation by merit and long hours of patient work.

At Westphalia, in Osage County, Missouri, occurred the birth of Dr. Joseph J. Henke, a son of Henry H. and Mary (Radmacher) Henke, the former of whom was born near Osnabruck, Prussia, in 1848, and the latter at Van Buren, Missouri, in 1853. As a young man the father learned the trade of merchant tailor and located at. Westphalia, Missouri, where he is now living retired. He and his wife are the parents of five children, as fol- lows: Joseph J. is the subject of this sketch; William is cashier of the Bank of Erick, at Erick, Oklahoma; Charles is a mechanic and resides with his parents at Westphalia, Missouri; Annie, deceased, was the wife of Heury Eicholz, a well-to-do property owner in St. Louis, Missouri; and Regina is the wife of Andrew Fennewald, a dry-goods merchant at Westphalia.

After completing the prescribed course in the public schools of Westphalia, Doctor Henke pursued a business course at St. Joseph's College, at Teutopolis, Illinois, being graduated in that institution in 1892. For two years thereafter he taught school in Osage County, 'Missouri, and he then removed to Westphalia, Texas, where he was engaged in teaching for the ensuing four years. In 1898

he was matriculated as a student iu the College of Physi- cians & Surgeons at St. Louis and was graduated therein April 11, 1900, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He took a post-graduate course in that institution in 1903 and in 1915 did post-graduate work in the Physicians & Surgeons College of St. Louis, Missouri. Immediately after graduating he was an interne in Jefferson Hospital, St. Louis, for one year, and he then located at Lindsay, Texas, where he practiced for a year. In 1902 he came to Hydro and he has the distinction of being the pioneer physician and surgeon in this place. He controls a general medical and surgical practice and the large patronage given him is the best evidence of the faith bestowed in him by his fellow citizens. His offices are located on Broadway just off Main Street and in connection with his life work he is a valued and appreciative member of the Caddo County Medical Society, the Oklahoma State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is a republican in politics and his religious faith coincides with the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. It is iuteresting to note that Doctor Henke, with others, established the Bank of Hydro, and was for years a stockholder in that corporation.

October 29, 1901, in Waco, Texas, Doctor Henke mar- ried Miss Rose Kleypas, a daughter of Bernard and Ber- nadine Kleypas, the former of whom is now deceased aud the latter of whom resides at Waco, Texas. Bernard Kleypas was an officer in the Franco-Prussian war in 1870. Doctor and Mrs. Henke became the parents of three children, the oldest of whom, Bernard H., died at the age of six months; Mildred B. was born November 17, 1906; and Joseph Reid was born November 15, 1911.

DR. G. F. BORDER, prominent surgeon of Magnum, and mayor of the city, is one of the foremost men of his community. He came here in 1900, and in the same year opened the Border Hospital. It was all inadequate in the beginning to the demands of the place, but today he is the owner and proprietor of one of the finest and best equipped private hospitals to be found anywhere in the . couutry. With accommodations for thirty patients, it is always filled to capacity, though it is exclusively a surgical hospital.

Doctor Border was born in San Augustine, Texas, on December 22, 1873, and is the son of G. F. Border, who was born in England in 1838, and who died in San Augustine, Texas, in 1883. Charles F. Border, grand- father of the subject, was an English emigrant to America, settling in San Augustine, Texas, while others of the same generation came over and settled in Ohio, where their descendants may be found today. G. F. Border, Sr., was a boy when he came to America with his parents, and he was reared in San Augustine, where they settled. While quite young he entered the whole- sale hardware business in Galveston, later became the proprietor of a similar establishment, and for many years was thus engaged. He was a major in the Southern army during the Civil war, serving four years in Hood's Brigade. He was severely wounded in the service, and suffered a term of imprisonment. After the war he returned to business pursuits, but he suffered much ill health as a result of his wound, and he finally died from its effects. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and a democrat. He married Elizabeth Brooks, daughter of Gen. T. G. Brooks, who served in the Civil war and after the war was a merchant in San Augustine. She was born there in 1848, and now makes her home with her son, Doctor Border, who is one of their five chil- dren, briefly mentioned as follows: May married S. M. Polk, a mechanic of Mangum. Mattie is the wife of J. M. Burleson, a near relative of Postmaster General

Jagues 2. Austin

1905

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

Burleson, and they live in San Augustine, where he is engaged in the cattle business. Dr. G. F. was the third child. C. L. died at San Augustine, and he was sheriff of the county at the time of his death. Cora married E. H. Roberts, and lives in Dallas. Mr. Roberts is deceased. He was a real estate man of Dallas, and his widow is now the owner of a great deal of land in the state. She has two sons,-E. H. and Isaac, both of whom are medical students in Baylor University.

G. F. Border had his early education in the public schools of San Augustine, and was a graduate of the Patron High School, class of 1891. He later attended Center Texas College, and was graduated from the Louisville Medical College in 1895 and from the St. Louis College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1900 with the degree of M. D. Doctor Border began practice in the U. S. Marine Hospital in Atlanta as assistant sur- geon before he had his degree, and he has since taken numerous post-graduate courses, among the courses at the Chicago Polyclinic, the New York Polyclinic and with Mayo Brothers at Rochester, Minnesota. In 1899 he practiced medicine in Holland, Texas, and in 1900 he came to Mangum, in the same year opening the Border Hospital. It was a small and unpretentious place then, with a few rooms over the City Drug Store, but the demand for places in the little hospital was so great that in 1907 Doctor Border built his present mod- ern hospital at 224 West Jefferson Street. His is the oldest private hospital in the State of Oklahoma, and it accommodates patients from all over the state, from Texas and from other states. Thirty beds is its capacity, and it is owned and managed exclusively by Doctor Border, whose professional work is confined wholly to the surgical field.

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