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 68

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 68

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and moved his stock of goods to the newly opened dis- trict known as the Cherokee Strip, establishing a store at Perry. Then in 1901 he moved to Frederick, and here has followed the real estate business. His offices are in the Amos Building, which he owns. For the past fifteen years he has handled many thousands of acres of farm land in Southwestern Oklahoma, and handles city prop- erty, farm lands in Tillman County and other counties of Oklahoma and Texas, and probably has the chief busi- ness of its kind in Tillman County.

Mr. Amos is a democrat, attended the Methodist Epis- copal Church, aud is affiliated with Lodge No. 1217 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and with the Woodmen of the World. In his native state of West Virginia in 1875 he married Miss Alice D. Morgan, whose father was William Morgan, now deceased, a West Virginia farmer. They have two children: Frank, who has built up a large insurance business at Woodward, Oklahoma; and Fairie, who is the wife of D. S. Tant, au attorney living at Vernon, Texas.

WILLIAM F. CARSON. A prominent and successful representative of real estate and loan business in western Oklahoma is Mr. Carson, who maintains his residence at Beaver, judicial center of the county of the same name, where he is in charge of the office and business of the Renfrew Investment Company, the headquarters of which are in the City of Woodward. On other pages of this work is given a review of the career of the president of this important company, Rufus O. Renfrew, and to that article reference may be made for further information concerning the company and its extensive operations.

William Frank Carson, who has been a resident of Oklahoma since 1900, was born on his father's farm in Champaign County, Illinois, on the 23d of June, 1874, and is a son of William G. and Martha Jane (Bales) Carson. His father was born in Vermilion County, Indiana, in which state he was reared and educated and when, in 1855, he removed to Illinois and became one of the pioneer settlers of Champaign County, where he settled on a preemption claim which he obtained from the Government. His entire active career, marked by consecutive industry and unpretentious worth of charac- ter, was one of close identification with the great and fundamental industry of agriculture, and through his well-directed endeavors he achieved independence and definite prosperity. He was a staunch democrat of the old school and though he was ever loyal and public- spirited as a citizen he never desired or held political office. Both he and his wife early became zealous members of the Universalist Church, and he exemplified his faith in his daily life, his death having occurred in the City of Champaign, Illinois, on the 10th of Novem- ber, 1906, after he had been a resident of Champaign County for a full half century.

On the 22d of February, 1854, was solemnized the marriage of William G. Carson to Miss Martha Jane Bales, who likewise was born in Vermilion County, Indiana, the date of her nativity having been August 27, 1834, his birth having occurred in that county on the 29th of June, 1829,-dates that clearly denote that the respective families were founded in that section of the Hoosier State in the early pioneer days. Mrs. Carson, who still retains her home at Champaign, Illinois, is a daughter of Caleb and Emily (Spangler) Bales, natives of Virginia, and of her ten children-two sons and eight daughters-four daughters died in infancy,-Maria, Ella, Elizabeth and Laura. Emily Josephine, who was born December 20, 1858, became, in 1881, the wife of Eugene A. Ford, and they have four children,-Amos Carson, William Van Pelt, Martha Belle, and Eugene Bartholo- mew. Caleb W., who was born December 10, 1860, was

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reared and educated in Champaigu County, Illinois, and in his native state he continued his residence until July 5, 1885, when he removed to Ashland, Kansas, where he accumulated a very large estate and where he was the largest individual taxpayer in Clark County at the time of his death, which occurred August 13, 1915. He served eight years as postmaster at Ashland, during both administrations of President Cleveland, and was a leader in the ranks of the democratic party in that sec- tion of the Sunflower State. He attained to the thirty- second degree in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of the Masonic fraternity, besides being affiliated with the Mystic Shrine. In March, 1886, he wedded Miss Martha Congeleton, who survives him, as do also their four sons and one daughter,-Paul C., William G., Frank Lee, Caleb W., Jr., and Hazel Ellene. Ellen A. Carson was born August 11, 1864, was united in marriage on the 27th of February, 1890, to Hon. John I. Lee. Their only child, Irving Allen, died in infancy. Mr. Lee, who died at Cordell, Washita County, Oklahoma, on the 25th of December, 1914, was editor and publisher of the Clark County Clipper, at Ashland, Kansas, from 1885 to 1890, and thereafter served until 1892 as clerk of the District Court of that county. From 1894 to 1898 he was register of the United States Land Office at Dodge City, Kansas, and in 1901 he came to Oklahoma Territory and engaged in the lumber and coal business at Cordell, where he passed the residue of his life. He was influ- ential in democratic political activities in Kansas and likewise after his removal to Oklahoma. Mary Marc Carson was born August 9, 1867, and on the 20th of August, 1886, she became the wife of Dr. David P. Sims, their only child being a son, Carson, and the family home being maintained at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Miss Luvilla B. Carson, who was born January 22, 1870, remains with her widowed mother.

William Frank Carson, the second son and yougest child in the above mentioned family, passed the period of his childhood and early youth upon the homestead farm which was the place of his birth, and after duly availing himself of the advantages of the public schools of Champaign County, Illinois, he pursued a higher course in what is now the great Valparaiso University, at Val- paraiso, Indiana. He continued to be associated with the work and the management of his father's farm until 1899, when he removed to Ashland, Kansas, where he served as deputy clerk of Clark County. In that city he was thereafter associated with his only brother in the mercantile business for a period of two years, and upon coming to Oklahoma, in 1900, he established his home at Curtis, Woodward County, where he continued in the same line of enterprise four years. He had entered claim to a tract of Government land in that county and in 1904 he perfected his title to the property. In 1910-11 Mr. Carson held a clerical position in a mer- cantile establishment in the City of Woodward, and in 1912 he there assumed the position of bookkeeper in the head office of the Renfrew Investment Company. In October of the same year he was assigned to the management of the company's office at Beaver, where he has since continued the alert and efficient incumbent of this position, in which he has done much to extend the business controlled from this office.

Mr. Carson is found aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the democratic party, is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, and both he and his wife are specially zealous and valued members of the Presby- terian Church at Beaver, in the Sunday School of which he has served three years as superintendent. It is worthy of incidental note that this is the oldest exclu- sively Presbyterian Church in the state, its organization

having been effected in 1886, when Beaver County was still a part of the region commonly designated as No Man's Land,-prior to the creation of Oklahoma Terri- tory. Mr. Carsou is secretary of the Beaver Gospel Team, and also secretary of the Beaver County Sunday School Association.

At Reinbeck, Grundy County, Iowa, on the 14th of April, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Carson to Miss Grace B. Klein, daughter of Herman E. and Katherine (Kline) Klein, both natives of Iowa, where their respective parents settled in the early pioneer days. Mrs. Carson was born on her father's homestead farm in Grundy County, Iowa, on the 4th of September, 1876, and in her youth she received excellent educational advantages, through the medium of which she prepared ` herself for service in the pedagogic profession. For eight years prior to her marriage she was a successful and popular teacher in the schools of her native state and in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Carson have five children, whose names and respective dates of birth are here noted: Francis Klein, March 26, 1902; Ellen Belva, June 1, 1905; Ernest Lee, September 1, 1906; Willis Spangler, July 26, 1910; and Luvilla Grace, July 22, 1912.

WILLIAM HENRY MILLER. To found a town and to exercise such a kindly and wholesome supervision over its welfare as to deserve the title of "town father" is an enviable distinction. That is only one phase of William Henry Miller's participation with the life and affairs of Oklahoma. He is one of the real pioneers, was out in "No Man's Land" in the primitive days of that country, and has participated in a number of the important land openings and as a homesteader, cattle raiser, civil engineer, teacher, business man, has played an unusual part in the development of this great state. His present home and activities are centered at Buffalo, which he founded.

He was born March 17, 1858, in a log house on a farm in Knox County, Missouri. At the age of three years left an orphan, he was reared by John Miller as his foster father and lived with that worthy Missouri gentleman the first twenty-seven years of his life. In the meantime he had made the best of his opportunities and had secured the equivalent of a liberal education. In 1881 he graduated from the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois, and in 1884 he completed the work in the North Missouri State Normal at Kirks- ville, Missouri, near his old home. The following two years were spent as a teacher in Missouri.

It was in 1886 that Mr. Miller moved out to that portion of the present State of Oklahoma which then on the geography was marked as No Man's Land. There he followed the profession of civil engineer until 1891, in which year he resumed teaching. He taught the first public school in what is now Harper County, and was superintendent of city schools at Shawnee in 1896-97, and in 1898-99 superintendent of the city schools of Blackwell.

While in No Man's Land he was in the cattle business in 1886 and 1891, together with his work as a surveyor. He lived the thoroughly primitive life of the place and time. He ate buffalo meat when buffalo still contended for the prairies with domestic cattle, and he bore all the hardships of the frontier, including existence in sod houses. He was also a factor in that short-lived govern- ment known as the Territory of Cimarron, which was set up to furnish jurisdiction and competent local govern- ment for the narrow strip of land between the Texas Panhandle and Southern Kansas and Southern Colorado. He was elected to the senate of the provisional govern- ment and was the first territorial assessor in 1889-90.

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As a civil engineer he surveyed nearly all the old town- sites of No Man's Land.

In 1891 Mr. Miller took part in the opening of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indian reservations. In 1893 he likewise participated in the opening of the Cherokee Strip, locating at Blackwell. In 1899, removing to old Woodward County, he secured a claim on Buffalo Creek. On a portion of that land he subsequently laid out the present Town of Buffalo, and gave to it the enterprise which started it as one of the flourishing town centers of Northwestern Oklahoma. In 1896 he was elected the first county surveyor of Harper County. In his own Town of Buffalo he erected some substantial buildings, and he has contributed generously to every public insti- tution in the town. He owns a model farm of 280 acres adjoining the townsite, has a complete set of buildings,' and also a modern home, and owns about 700 town lots. In politics he is a democrat, but has never had time for political work.

Mr. Miller has also distinguished himself in the field of invention. He is inventor of an ore separating ma- chine on which he has a patent, and which has met the test of practical experience in the mines of Mexico. He is also patentee of a grain separator and thresher combined.

For much of what is best in his life's accomplish- ment Mr. Miller credits his able wife. On April 5, 1888, at Columbia, Missouri, he married Miss Fannie E. Turner. She was born in that university center on November 7, 1866, and she and her husband were school mates prior to their marriage. Mrs. Miller has been more or less closely identified with educational work since she was sixteen years of age. She now ranks as the leading authority on primary school work in Oklahoma. She and her husband are active members of the Christian Church and she has taken a specially active part in Sunday-school, having been secretary of the Oklahoma State Sunday School Association. She taught the first school in Blackwell and was connected with the schools there for seven years, while Mr. Miller conducted the first school in Harper County.

H. C. WALLACE, D. O. At Blackwell one of the physi- cians who can claim a patronage of exceptional numerical strength and value is Dr. H. C. Wallace, who is one of the leading representatives of the School of Osteopathy in Oklahoma, and has met with unanimous success during the fifteen years of his residence at Blackwell. Within twenty years the practice of osteopathy, starting in re- stricted localities and hampered by prejudice, has spread from coast to coast, and has won its place with older schools of medicine, and largely because of the work of Doctor Wallace the influence of the science is very ap- parent in Northern Oklahoma. Doctor Wallace is Resi- dent Physician and Manager of the Southwestern Osteo- pathic Sanitarium of Blackwell, and the existence of this institution must be credited mostly to his untiring efforts to place his profession in the front rank, and provide suitable care for the adherents of the osteopathic system of treatment. Starting in 1912 with a small sixteen- room frame building, the institution has grown to its present dimensions. It has become one of the largest osteopathic institutions in existence, with one of the largest and finest hospital buildings and most complete and modern equipment of any hospital of any kind in the Southwest, having a capacity which can be utilized for about 100 patients, and beautiful grounds and park surrounding the building, and situated on the highest land in the city.

Miss Clara Powell, recent night superintendent of the Kirksville, Missouri, Hospital, is the Superintendent and assisting her is a corps of as efficient nurses as are to

be found anywhere. Other physicians and surgeons associated with Doctor Wallace in this institution are Dr. George J. Conley of Kansas City, Missouri, the chief surgeon; Dr. L. S. Larimore, who has charge of the eye, ear, nose and throat and X-ray departments; and Dr. M. M. Estlack, both of Blackwell; Dr. Ernest Ewing of El Reno, Oklahoma; Doctors Mitchell and Mitchell, Dr. W. F. Nay and Dr. N. Triplett, all of Enid, Oklahoma; Dr. P. W. Gibbson of Winfield, Kansas; Dr. N. Howell of Wellington, Kansas; Dr. Fred Thompson of Caldwell, Kansas; Dr. L. Brenz of Arkansas City, Kansas; Doctor Calvert of Ponca City, Oklahoma; Dr. F. C. Davis of Tonkawa, Oklahoma; Dr. E. Hicks of Newkirk, Okla- homa; Dr. F. Barrows of Kingman, Kansas, and a number of others.

Doctor Wallace is a graduate of the American School of Osteopathy and a post-graduate of the Los Angeles College of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.

A downtown office is maintained at Blackwell in the National Block, corner of Main and Blackwell Avenue.

Dr. H. C. Wallace was born near Juniata, on a farm in Adams County, Nebraska, January 21, 1882, and has lived in Blackwell since 1903. . His father, John Wallace, was a native of Vermont, and during the Civil war made a record as a gallant soldier with the Fourth Iowa Cavalry. He came of Scotch ancestry, and for many generations the family has been noted for its integrity and vigor of citizenship. From Vermont John Wallace moved out to Iowa, and was one of the early settlers in Marshall County of that state. He married Ruth Ferguson, a native of Iowa, whose parents came from Pennsylvania. From Iowa the Wallace family moved out to Adams County, Nebraska, where they were among the early settlers. Later the father came to Blackwell in Kay County, Oklahoma, where he is now living at the age of eighty-eight years, being one of the oldest veteran soldiers in Kay County.

Dr. H. C. Wallace grew up in the states of Nebraska and Missouri, receiving his education and graduating from the high school at Grant City, Missouri, and then entered the American School of Osteopathy at Kirksville, where he finished in 1903. In the same year Doctor Wallace married Cora Roten, who prior to her marriage had been a successful teacher. Her father was John Roten of Albia, Iowa. They have two children: John Herbert and Velma Bernice.

H. H. BRENNER. While in a business way Mr. Bren- ner's chief distinction rests upon his work as a banker, he is also a splendid type of the business man and citizen who not only do things but get things done for the permanent welfare and prosperity of his community. His community can hardly be regarded as one town, since, though a resident of Pawhuska for many years, his interests extend all over Osage County, and his associa- tions and friendships include many leading business men all over the country.

As a banker Mr. Brenner has been primarily identified with the First National Bank of Pawhuska, of which he is president. Some years ago, when he took charge of the bank, it was an institution with $25,000 capital, a surplus of $2,000, deposits of $34,000, and the books showed indebtedness at $10,000. At the present time its capital stock is $50,000, with surplus and undivided profits of $32,000, and a total of deposits amounting to over $500,000. The total resources of the First National in May, 1916, amounted to approximately $716,000.

In addition to being president of the First National Bank of Pawhuska. Mr. Brenner is president of the Paw- huska Oil & Gas Company; was formerly president of the Bank of Big Heart, an office which he resigned, thought still remaining a stockholder; was president of

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the Foraker State Bank, now the First National Bank of Foraker, which he organized and managed four years, and at one time was identified with the National Reserve Bank of New York City.

The story of Mr. Brenner's career is one that illus- trates the possibilities of accomplishment. In carlier life he lived in close touch with poverty and his inde- pendence and self-reliance have brought him to an envi- able goal of prosperity and real success. He was born at Golding, in Courland, Russia, now Germany, June 15, 1852, a son of Benjamin and Gertrude (Nattison) Bren- ner. His parents spent all their lives in the old country, and his father in earlier life was a merchant. Mr. Brenner was the youngest of his mother's four children, two sons and two daughters, and by his second marriage his father had also four children, all of whom are living in this country except one. Two are in Memphis, Ten- nessee, and one in Brinkley, Arkansas. Mr. Brenner has a number of nephews and nieces in different parts of the United States.

He was seventeen years of age when he set out for the United States, making the journey alone, and arriving at Oxford, Mississippi, with neither money nor influ- ential friends to help him. He lived at Oxford until 1886, having been connected with the mercantile firm of Meyers, Sichels & Company for twelve years. After- wards he engaged iu the mercantile business for himself, and in 1886 first came to Pawhuska, Indian Territory, under appointment from President Cleveland as post trader. Pawhuska was then one of the smallest posts in the Indian Territory. He remained as a trader there until 1890 and then returned to Mississippi, engaging in the merchandise business at Clarksdale. He also bought a large cotton plantation of 2,740 acres in the Yazoo Valley, but met with financial reverses in the management of his enterprise. In 1895 Mr. Brenner returned to Pawhuska, receiving a new appointment as post trader during Cleveland's second administration. Here he laid the solid foundation of his present pros- perity. He was a merchant, and also engaged in the cattle business with Prentice Price of Hominy. It was as a merchant and cattle man that his chief interests were centered for twelve years. In 1903 Mr. Brenner came to the Bank of Pawhuska as president, and his success in raising that institution to one of the foremost in Northeastern Oklahoma has already been mentioned. During the past thirteen years he has devoted most of his time to banking and the oil and gas business. Hc owns extensive real estate interests at Pawhuska, and has effected much for local improvement.

In 1905 Mr. Brenner spent two months in Washington negotiating with Congress for the setting aside of various townsites in Osage County. As a result of his efforts 640 acres were set aside for the townsite of Pawhuska; 160 acres for Big Heart; and similar amounts for Hom- iny, Fairfax and Foraker. The setting aside of thesc townsites was a necessary preliminary to real develop- ment of towns that are now among the most important in Osage County.

In 1903 Mr. Brenner promoted the Pawhuska Oil & Gas Company, of which he is now president. At that time no oil or gas had been produced within twenty-five miles, but he proved his own faith and good judgment by investing his own resources, and now for a number of years this company has been one of the largest in the development of the local oil and gas fields. It is capi- talized at $250,000. Throughout the state Mr. Brenner has interests in land, gas and oil leases.

The original oil and gas leases given by the Osages in 1896 expired in March, 1916. As the authority to lease all the Osage lands is vested in the Secretary of the Interior with the concurrence of the Indian Council,

Mr. Brenner spent the preceding months of January and February in Washington, representing his company. There were many conflicting claims, all requiring careful investigation, and it was a difficult matter to do justice to all. The Pawhuska Oil and Gas Company was suc- cessful in securing 38,400 acres in the vicinity of the City of Pawhuska on terms which made it possible to offer gas to the consumers at reasonable prices. In fact, Pawhuska enjoys the distinction of possessing a larger gas field and cheaper rates than any other city in the United States.

Since getting his citizenship papers Mr. Brenner has been consistently a supporter of the democratic party. He was presidential elector from Oklahoma in 1912, and always active as a party man, and has served as a delegate to many state conventions both in Mississippi and Oklahoma. He has likewise contributed generously to the party treasury, though for himself he has never desired nor has he been willing to accept any honors in the way of office. Mr. Brenner has numbered among his personal friends many of the well known men in politics and business, but deems his most illustrious friendship as that which existed between him and the late Justice L. Q. C. Lamar of the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Brenner is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a member of the Mystic Shrine, an Elk and a Knight of Pythias, and belongs to a number of other social and civic orders. Though born of a Jewish family, in America he has always associated with Gen- tiles almost entirely, but shows his loyalty to his race by membership in the United Israelites and the B'Nai B'rith. He is also a member of both the State and National Bankers' Association and a member of the National Gas Association of America.

In January, 1899, Mr. Brenner married Mary Louisa Morris. She was born in New York State, and they were married at the City of Albany. Mrs. Brenner is one of the leading Pawhuska women in social and benevo- lent affairs. She was one of the founders of the Epis- copal Church of Pawhuska, is a member of the Shakes- peare Club and the Art Club, and spends much of her time in doing good in her community. While they have no children of their own Mr. Brenner is keenly interested in the welfare of his many younger relatives and has generously assisted a number to gain education and to fit themselves for usefulness in business and the profes- sions. When Mr. Brenner came to the United States he had no knowledge of the English language. His mother tongue was German. He never attended school after coming to this country, and has acquired most of his education through close contact with men and affairs. Few men have lived their lives to better purpose than this Pawhuska banker.

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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