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 66

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 66

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).

The public schools of his native place afforded to Leroy E. Tooker his early educational advantages and after completing the curriculum of the high school he pursued a higher course of study in the University of Illinois at Champaign. He left the university in 1909 and immediately came to Oklahoma, where his parents had established their home in the preceding year. Here he put his scholastic attainments to practical test and utilization by becoming a representative of the peda- gogie profession. As such he devoted two years to teach- ing in the public schools of Beaver County, his suc- cessful work including a year of service as principal of the village schools of Beaver, in 1910-11.

On the 19th of June, 1911, Mr. Tooker purchased the plant and business of the Beaver County Democrat, and in the following year he founded the Forgan Enterprise, of both of which weekly papers he has since continued editor and publisher and both of which he has brought up to a high standard,-especially as purveyors of local news and as exponents of the general interests of Beaver County. Since assuming control of the Beaver County Democrat, which is the pioneer newspaper of the county, he has effected its absorption of the La Kemp Mirror, the Ivanhoe News and the Forgan Enterprise in the Beaver County villages of the names designated, and thus he had made the Beaver County Democrat a paper of specially wide circulation and dominating influence in the county, its political proclivities being indicated by its title. Both through his paper and in a personal way Mr. Tooker stands exemplar of civic progressiveness and spares neither time nor effort in his efforts to promote the social and material advancement and wellbeing of

1984

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

Beaver County and its people. In the time-honored Masonic fraternity he has received the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and he is affiliated also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He holds membership in the Presbyterian Church, of which his parents have been zealous members for many years. This energetic, wide-awake and pro- gressive young journalist is still numbered among the eligible bachelors of western Oklahoma, and it is need- less to say that this fact does not in the least militate against his popularity in social circles.

CHARLES S. BAXTER. When he was eighteen years old Charles S. Baxter began learning the printer's trade. His work as a printer and publisher and editor have been for nearly a quarter of a century identified with old Indian Territory, the Texas Panhandle and extreme Northwestern Oklahoma. He is now editor and owner of the Guymon Democrat, which is the official organ of Texas County and the City of Guymon. A democrat him-' self, he has not been without considerable influence in his party, and as a veteran Oklahoma editor is well known among his professional brethren all over the state.

He was born November 5, 1868, on a farm in Living- ston County, Missouri, a son of W. H. H. and Nancy (England) Baxter. His father, a son of Richard Baxter, a native of Kentucky, was born in Mercer County, Ken- tucky, February 22, 1835, and in early boyhood went with the family to Missouri, where he was engaged in farming for many years. At one time he served as county judge of Polk County, Missouri. His death occurred at Bolivar, Missouri, January 7, 1902. He was married in 1850 at Lexington, Kentucky, to Miss Nancy England, who was born September 17, 1837, in Mercer County, Kentucky, a daughter of Mathew England, also a Kentuckian by birth. To Judge Baxter and wife were born nine children, four sons and five daughters, namely: John, who now lives in Springfield, Missouri; James R., a printer by trade living at Bolivar, Missouri; Charles S .; Frank, deceased; Mollie, wife of William Burton of Bolivar, Missouri; Nannie, wife of Harry Lightfoot of Bolivar, Missouri; Maggie, who is un- married and living at Bolivar; Myrtle and Mattie, both deceased.

Charles S. Baxter acquired his early education in the public schools of Livingston and Polk counties, Missouri. Though reared on a farm he early conceived an ambition and aim to become a printer, and took up the trade at the age of eighteen. He has never deserted the printing shop for any length of time during the past thirty years. It was in 1891 that he moved to Indian Ter- ritory and located at old Rush Springs in the Chickasaw Nation, where he became one of the editors of the Landmark for three years. In 1895 he moved to Dal- hart, Texas, and for a year was editor of the News at that place. In 1906 he came to Guymon, and has since been foreman, editor and owner of the Guymon Demo- crat, which was established in that year. This paper has a large circulation, and is a very flourishing concern as a business proposition. It has a modern equipped plant. Mr. Baxter is a thoroughly seasoned newspaper man, and has had fewer reverses to his credit than the average editor and publisher.

Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a member of the Christian Church. On August 21, 1901, at Bolivar, Missouri, he married Miss Ida Newport, a daughter of A. M. New- port, who was born in Dallas County, Missouri. Mrs. Baxter was born in Dallas County, September 21, 1868. To their marriage have been born five children, three sons and two daughters: Willie Lee, born September 21,

1902; Monroe, now deceased; Bertha, born October 9, 1905; Dorothy, born September 9, 1907; and Charles Louis Jr., born May 30, 1912.

REV. FRANK J. STOWE. The pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Blackwell is one of Oklahoma's ablest church- men. He has the distinction of being one of the few ministers of the gospel who sat as a delegate in the constitutional convention of Oklahoma. As a teacher, preacher, church organizer and leader of movements for both personal and civic righteousness, his experience covers a large field and in many states.

Rev. Mr. Stowe took charge of the church at Black- well in January, 1913. This church was organized in May, 1896, and was only a mission supplied by ministers resident of other places for some time. The first local pastor was Rev. J. R. E. Craighead from Pennsylvania. The formal organization of the church occurred on Thanksgiving Day in 1898. The first church building was brought to Blackwell from Arkansas City. It had been a mission church and constructed from funds sup- plied by New York. The old church building cost only $560, and is now used, since remodeling, as a manse. The second regular pastor in charge was the Rev. Thomas B. Barrier, who came in 1903 to serve four years. Under his pastorate a modern brick edifice was constructed at a cost of $8,000. It is well furnished and arranged for modern church work, containing a large audience room, a young men's room, with other rooms in the basement. The church is out of debt, and the business organization is unusually systematic and thorough, and all the bills, including the pastor's salary, are paid monthly. There is a fine Sunday-school with about 250 scholars enrolled, while the church membership numbers about 350. There are twelve elders and twelve on the business board. There are women's societies and missionary organizations and young people's societies. In 1907 Rev. T. H. Hawley began his ministry of two years, followed by Rev. B. Kuntz, who also served two years, and on January 20, 1913, Rev. Frank J. Stowe accepted the call to this church.

Frank J. Stowe was born in Lockport, Illinois, May 11, 1868. His father, William Stowe, who was a farmer and stockman, was born at Jamestown, New York, a son of Nathaniel Stowe, and a relative of Professor Stowe, husband of Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin. The Stowes were an old and prominent family of New York State. Rev. Mr. Stowe's mother was Laura Barnard, who was born at Ravenna, Ohio, and a sister of Capt. James Barnard, who served with a gallant record as an officer in an Ohio regiment during the Civil war. Rev. Mr. Stowe has a brother, H. B. Stowe, a railroad man at Streeter, Illinois. Both the parents are still living and now have their home at Lockport, Illinois.

Rev. Mr. Stowe spent his boyhood on a farm, with more or less regular attendance at the public schools. His education was continued in this wise until the age of seventeen, and after that he was employed in looking after the details of farm work on his father's place of 100 acres. His ambition was for an education and for a calling which would enable him to express his ability and character and service for humanity. He finally wen' to Boston, Massachusetts, and received $100 a year a: salary while working as an apprentice in a wholesale jobbing house. He also attended school at Boston paying his own way and taking special work in the Boston University, and the course at Emerson College where he was graduated in 1895. He then became : teacher of the college at Waynesburg, Pennsylvania While in Boston he was also a worker in the mission and slums of that city. He continued his studies whil

John Foster

1985

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

teaching, and finally entered the Cumberland University at Lebanon, Tennessee, where he remained as a student and teacher for eight years, completing his theological studies there and receiving the A. M. degree. His first regular pastorate was at Murfreesboro, Tennessee, on the site of the famous battle of Stone River. All the officers of the church board were former Confederate soldiers.

In 1907 Rev. Mr. Stowe removed to old Indian Ter- ritory, becoming pastor of the Presbyterian Church and president of Industrial College at Wynnewood. He was soon afterwards chosen a delegate to the constitu- tional convention, and took a very important part in its deliberations. He was a member of the liquor traffic and educational committees, and impressed his ideas and ideals on several important clauses of the organic law. After five years as a pastor at Wynnewood he took a church at Purcell for two years, and then accepted the call to Blackwell.

On August 4, 1898, at Barkyville, Pennsylvania, Mr. Stowe married Minerva Hunsberger. Mrs. Stowe is a woman of strong native intelligence and of thorough education and culture. She was born and reared at Barkyville, and is a graduate of Findlay College in Ohio, in music and art. For a time she was a teacher in the Waynesburg College of Pennsylvania, and while there formed her acquaintance with Mr. Stowe. Her parents were Abraham and Catherine (Barky) Hans- berger. Her father was a well-to-do merchant, and a member of the Winebrennarian Church. He is now de- ceased, but his wife is living. Rev. Mr. Stowe is a member of the Masonic Order. He is an excellent speaker, a man of strong physique, and is an excellent leader in behalf of any cause which he espouses.

JOHN FOSTER. The name of John Foster will always be associated with the founding and development of the Town of Cushing. From the beginning of his residence there twenty-one years ago, when there was practically nothing to distinguish the townsite, Mr. Foster has made his own activities coincide with the best interests of the community, has exerted his influence and has expended time, energy and means in promoting everything that would give Cushing a proper prestige and standing among the towns of Northern Oklahoma. Cushing is today the center of one of the principal oil and gas fields in the state, and perhaps no town in Oklahoma has a more promising future. No small share of the credit for this accomplishment is due this banker, business man, and influential citizen. Mr. Foster organized and since the beginning has been cashier of the First National Bank of Cushing, and is also vice president of the First National Bank at Yale in Payne County.

A Missourian by birth, and for a quarter of a century a resident of Oklahoma, John Foster was born at Cape Girardeau in Southeastern Missouri June 19, 1864. His parents, T. C. and Eliza (Alton) Foster were born in the same locality, but nine years after the birth of their son, John, they moved to Independence, near Kansas City, Missouri, and ten years later went to Camden Point in Missouri. At the opening of the Sac and Fox reserva- ion of Oklahoma the entire family settled there, and the father followed farming until he retired and he and his wife spent their last days with their son, John, in Cushing. The mother died about eight years ago and he father about five years ago.

The oldest of five children, John Foster spent his early ife on a farm, gained from such surroundings a rugged physique and experience which has proved invaluable to im in his business career. He attended the common chools of Independence, Missouri, and was also given a horough normal training in the State Normal School at

Kirksville. As a part of his early record there should .

be mentioned eight terms of teaching in country schools. At the same time he carried on farming, and that was his vocation until he removed to Oklahoma in February fol- lowing the opening of the Sac and Fox reservation. For a year and a half Mr. Foster ran his sawmill at Candler, also built a cotton gin and was connected for a time with the Sac and Fox Trading Company.

However, his most important achievements are found in the twenty-one years of his residence at Cushing. He and C. W. Carpenter, the two oldest residents of the town, have lived as close neighbors during all these years and have long been associated in the banking business. Mr. Foster was one of the five men who laid out what is known as the "South Addition" to the townsite of Cushing. That is now the heart of the town. Mr. Foster also used his influence in getting the Santa Fe Railroad Company to locate its right of way just where he wanted it and where it would be of the greatest advantage to the growing town. The South Addition to Cushing was a tract of 120 acres. Later Mr. Foster bought fifty acres on the east side, platted this into lots, and those lots are now practically covered with residences and homes. For several years Mr. Foster was engaged in merchandising in Cushing, and had stores at several other points in Payne County, and is still interested in a stock of mer- chandise at Quay.

His work as a banker and practical financier began in 1897, when he organized what was then a state bank, but which in 1903 took out a national charter and is now the First National Bank of Cushing. Mr. Foster has been cashier of the institution since it was organized in 1897. Some of the most prominent residents and business men of Cushing are identified with this insti- tution as officers and stockholders. The president is C. W. Carpenter, Mr. Foster's old neighbor and asso- ciate. The vice president is N. Douglas, and the assistant cashier is Ernest Burford. With a capital stock of $25,000, the First National Bank has surplus and profits according to a recent statement of $13,500, total resources of over $633,000, and its deposits are well upward of $600,000.

Mr. Foster has been very active and prominent in making Cushing a center of the oil and gas development of this part of the state. At one time he owned seven quarter sections of land situated in the oil belt. He helped to organize the Home Gas Company, is a director in the company, which now has several producing wells and is prepared to furnish gas to local factories at the low rate of three cents per 1,000 feet. While Cush- ing has made much development in the past twenty years, its location close to an important gas field will un- doubtedly bring it still greater prestige as a manufac- turing and industrial center. Mr. Foster himself occupies one of the most attractive estates in Cushing, residing in a fine fourteen-room house surrounded with eleven acres of ground. Outside of business affairs his name is one of recognized influence in politics both in Payne County and over the state. For twenty years he has served as clerk of the board of education at Cushing, and under his personal supervision was constructed a handsome $20,000 high school which is now the pride of the town. There are also three modern ward school build- ings of eight rooms each. Mr. Foster has also served on the city council. His office holding has been confined to those of unremunerative positions where the incumbent has opportunities for rendering much service, but witli- out compensation. He is also a power in local democratic politics, and has served as secretary of two state con- ventions, one at Anadarko and the other at Oklahoma City. Mr. Foster helped to organize the Christian Church at Cushing. ' He served as president of the Com-

1986

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

mercial Club several years, and in Masonry is a thirty- second degree Scottish Rite.

In 1895 he married Miss Maggie Culbertson of Cam- bridge, Ohio. Their five children are: Margaret, who graduated from the Cushing High School in 1915; Lucile, Charles, John and T. C.

ZERAL ZENN ROGERS. One of the most prominent names in the history of Frederick since its establishment as a town following the opening of the Kiowa and Comanche country in 1901, has been Rogers. Mr. Z. Z. Rogers is a young business man of that city and at the present time is holding the office of mayor. His father was a pioneer settler and in many ways closely identified with the interests of the growing little city.

The Rogers family was established in colonial America by John Rogers, who came from England. Zeral Zenu Rogers was born iu Clarksville, Arkansas, November 27, 1887, a son of the late William Wayne Rogers, whose death on August 28, 1913, was regarded iu the light of a calamity to the community at Frederick.

William Wayne Rogers was born in Clarksville, Ar- kansas, in 1854, and iu 1891 removed his family to Vernon, Texas, and in 1901 came to Frederick at the opening of the settlement. He was a dry goods mer- chant, and was prominent in church and fraternal affairs. He was president of the board of stewards, chairman of the board of trustees and chairman of the building com- mittee when the Methodist Episcopal Church South erected its home at Frederick. He was also teacher of the Business Men's Bible Class, which at one time num- bered 183 members. He stood high in both the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities. He was past master of Frederick Lodge No. 249, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; past high priest of Frederick Chapter No. 41, Royal Arch Masons; past eminent commander of Freder- ick Commandery No. 19 of the Knights Templar; and was affiliated with the council, Royal and Select Masters, and with India Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Oklahoma City. In Odd Fellowship he belonged to Frederick Lodge No. 223, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, of which he was past grand. Associated with H. W. Leininger and A. S. J. Shaw he organized in 1907 the Southwest Odd Fellows Association, and became first president of that association. Mr. Shaw is now grand master of the State Lodge of Odd Fellows in Okla- homa. The Southwest Odd Fellows Association com- prises the Odd Fellows lodges in Tillman, Jackson, Jeffer- son, Comanche and Cotton counties. Its object is to promote good fellowship and to hold contests to assure proficiency in the working of the degrees. The association held its last meeting at Lawton on April 26, 1915, and in 1914 Mr. Z. Z. Rogers was president. The late Wil- liam W. Rogers was also a member of the first city coun- cil of Frederick, representing the First Ward, and on finishing that term served on the school board continu- ously until his death. He married Miss Addie Truscott, who was a native of Quincy, Illinois. Their children are: A. A. Rogers, who was the first county superintendent of schools of Tillman County, serving two terms, and is now county superintendent of schools at Wilson, Okla- homa; E. E. Rogers is a traveling salesman for Hutchi- son wholesale grocers, and resides at Hutchison, Kansas, and he drew the claim known as the Rogers Addition to Frederick, Oklahoma, the most desirable in the city. Vera is the wife of S. E. Patton, who has lived at Frederick since 1901 aud has been continuously identified with the Oklahoma State Bank of that city as cashier; D. D., who is master mechanic in the machine shops at Wellington, Kansas; B. B. Rogers, who has a position with the government service at El Paso, Texas; Z. Z .; and

J. J., who is now attending the Kansas City Dental Col- lege.

Mr. Z .. Z. Rogers had just finished the high school course at Vernon, Texas, in 1901, when the southwestern section of Oklahoma was opened to settlement and in the same year he joined his father's family at Fred- erick. At that time he was still a boy in years, but soon took up the serious work of life as clerk in a grocery store. He was employed by the firm of Parker & Mc- Connell, was with them nine years altogether, and was promoted from driver of a delivery wagon to keeping books in the office for the last four years. Early in 1911 came his first advancement in politics when elected city clerk, and he served two terms until 1913. His acceptable work in that position was his chief recommendation for election to the office of mayor of Frederick on April 6, 1915. He is now one of the youngest mayors of Okla- homa. The mayor's term runs for two years.

In July, 1915, Mr. Rogers engaged in the drug business with D. H. Hail as partner, and they have a well stocked store at the corner of North Grand Avenue and Ninth Street. Mr. Rogers is a democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and treasurer of its Sunday School and has fraternal affiliations with Fred- erick Lodge No. 249, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; with Frederick Council, Royal and Select Masters; with Frederick Lodge No. 223, Independent Order of For- esters; with the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Praetorians. He is also associated with the Business Men's Association.

At Hobart, Oklahoma, in 1906, he married Miss Ana E. Hancock, daughter of Edward Hancock, who is a farmer at Grandfield, Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have two children: Jim Jack, who was born January 23, 1908; and Trullus Truscott, born October 16, 1910.

ALBERT S. DICKSON. Coming iu 1886 to that sectiou of neutral strip in Indian Territory that was at the time commonly known as No Man's Land, Mr. Dickson established his residence at Neutral City, a true frontier town of period, where he remained until Oklahoma Terri- tory was thrown open to settlement and formally organ- ized, its prescribed confines including the former No Man's Land, when he removed to Beaver, which was made the judicial center of the county of the same name and which originally included also the present counties of Texas and Cimarron. In this now thriving and im- portant town of western Oklahoma he has since continued in the active and successful practice of law, and he is junior member of the representative law firm of Dick- son & Dickson, in which his coadjutor is his brother, Robert E. The firm controls a specially substantial and important practice in this section of the state and its high standing at the bar of Oklahoma determines the distinctive professional ability of its members and their secure place in popular confidence and good will.

On the paternal homestead farm in Andrew County. Missouri, a log house of the pioneer type figured as the stately domicile in which Albert S. Dickson was born and the date of his nativity was February 1, 1867. He is a son of Benjamin Franklin Dickson and Anna (Var Deventer) Dickson, whose marriage was solemnized ir that state in the year 1860.

Benjamin F. Dickson was born in Boone County, Mis. souri, in 1826, his parents having been pioneers of that in the s county, where they established their home on their emigration from their native State of Kentucky. He was reared to adult age in his home county and as : young man he removed to the northwestern part of Mis souri, where he passed the remainder of his life as al energetic, progressive and duly successful farmer. H. died in Andrew County in 1892, when about sixty-si:

virility a tor is F circles, newspape number o His biz 4, 1882. great-gran

Count publie of the politica his und of Pyt the Chu At I was so Edna E on the of Clar souri. De Witt, FRAN papers

ritory at N remai follow Territ practi sentat

el his

Be từ wh Sta the Cit a you of hom etta A and inde souri supp Colle had the i

1987

HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA

years of age, and his wife survived him by a number of years. She was born in Missouri and was a daughter of Granville and Ursula (Clark) Van Deventer, her father having been a scion of the historic old Van Deventer family of Lee County, Virginia. Benjamin F. and Anna (Van Deventer) Dickson became the parents of three sons and two daughters, concerning whom the following brief record is given: Alexander Jackson, born in 1861, is now a prosperous agriculturist and stock-grower of Beaver County, Oklahoma. In 1886 he wedded Miss Belle Baker and they have one child, Anna. Robert, who was born in 1864, was afforded the ad- vantage of Avalon College, at Avalon, Missouri, and is now senior member of the law firm of Dickson & Dick- son, as previously noted. He was the first regularly elected county attorney of Beaver County and since his retirement from that office he has been associated with his brother Albert S. in the practice of law at Beaver. He whose name initiates this article, was the third in order of birth of the five children. Lucy D., who was born in 1869, was educated in the Missouri State Normal School at Strasburg and in 1896 became the wife of Godfrey Stegman, their home being in the City of St. Joseph, Missouri, and their only child being a daughter, Elsie. Bell, who was born in 1872, is the youngest of the children. In 1899 she became the wife of Hugh A. Ellingsworth and they now maintain their home at Helena, Missouri. They have one child, Ever- etta.

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