USA > Oklahoma > Portrait and biographical record of Oklahoma; commemorating the achievements of citizens who have contributed to the progress of Oklahoma and the development of its resources, V. 1 > Part 15
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In 1866 Mr. De Baun was united in marriage with Miss Angeline Pogue, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of John Pogue. She died June 17, 1898, leaving two children: Iona, who has successfully engaged in teaching in the city of El Reno seven years and owns a well cultivated farm of eighty acres, which she homesteaded soon after coming to the county and which she now rents; Nora A., a teacher in Union City, Canadian county.
By his ballot Mr. De Baun always supports the men and measures of the Democratic party, but will never accept office. He is an active and prominent member of the Christian Church of El Reno, in which he has served as an elder
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several years. He also organized the Sunday- school at the Rich Valley schoolhouse, has served as superintendent of the same; and con- ducts a Bible school at Pleasant Hill, Canadian county.
G EORGE D. FOSTER, an enterprising farmer of Banner township, Kingfisher county, resides upon a well-improved homestead in section 25. He is well entitled to the prosperity which he now enjoys, for with fortitude and determination he endured the years of pioneer struggling, and by his own energy amassed a competence.
Born in Butler county, lowa, in 1866, George D. Foster is a son of Wallace and Ruth S. (Cow- dery) Foster, natives of Orange county, Vt. The latter, who is a lady of remarkable force of char- acter and excellent education, comes from fine old New England stock, some of her ancestors dating back there to the time of the Mayflower. Her parents, David W. and Clarissa (Tarbell) Cowdery, natives of the same county as herself, spent their entire lives in that locality. He was a very successful business man, dealing chiefly in cattle and horses, and during the Civil war purchased horses for the government. He also was president of a bank and was prominent in political circles, his opinion having great weight with his own (the Democratic) party. His long and useful life came to a close in 1891, when he was in his eighty-first year. His parents were Eliliu and Hannah (Fifield) Cowdery. the latter a daugliter of a wealthy farmer of New Hampshire. Elihu Cowdery, who was quite a society man in his youth, and who attended numerous balls, chose a pretty schoolteacher for his wife. He lived to be almost four-score years old and she died at about sixty. Elihu Cowdery was the youngest son of Dr. and Ruth (Wick- ham) Cowdery, natives of Massachusetts. The former ran away from home when he was a lad. and enlisted in the colonial army during the Revolution. He formed the acquaintance of Colonel Wickham, and subsequently married the officer's daughter. The doctor enjoyed a large and paying practice, both in the Bay state and
in Vermont, where he finally located. Mrs. Ruth S. (Cowdery) Foster, as previously mentioned, possesses fine native talents and culture. She completed her higher education in Randolph Academy and in South Royalton, qualifying herself for a career as a teacher. Prior to her marriage, in 1856, she had demonstrated her peculiar fitness for the task of instructing the young, and of late years she has returned to her carly calling to some extent, and to the satis- faction of the public. For nearly three decades her lot was cast with the inhabitants of Butler
county, Iowa, and in 1885 she removed, with her family, to Sumner county, Kans., whence they later came to Oklahoma.
George D. Foster received excellent educa- tional opportunities in Iowa, and, guided by his mother's example and wide experience, he quite naturally adopted the same vocation, teaching. In 1885 and for some years succeeding that, both taught schools in the vicinity of Mayfield, Kans., and in Comanche county, same state. In April, 1889, when the territory of Oklahoma was thrown open to white settlers, they made the race into this region, coming from the western boundary line. Accompanying them were Jona- than Morgan and daughter, and each of the four located claims. They crossed Cimarron river west and north of Kingfisher creek, thus cov- ering a distance of fifteen miles. The claims which they selected and reached at one-thirty in the afternoon, have been each and all de- veloped in a business-like manner, doing credit to the owners. Mrs. Foster was once alone in her 10x12 log cabin for three weeks, though there were no doors or windows in her tiny home for protection.
George D. Foster brought seven cows and three ponies from Kansas, but, aside from this stock, had little means. Industry and persever- ance, however, are the most important factors in success, and many improvements were at once instituted by him. He planted an orchard and vineyard, and has made a specialty of raising wheat, for which his land is well adapted. To- day he owns five hundred acres of desirable land, and keeps from seventy-five to one hundred head of cattle, besides horses and hogs. For several years he taught school during the winter term, thus acquiring funds for needed improvements on his property. He is a highly esteemed citizen, and was a charter member and secretary of the Farmers' Alliance. Politically, he is indepen- dent. In all of his pioneer labors he has found an able helpmate in his wife-formerly Miss Cansadie Morgan-the young lady mentioned above. They were married nine years ago, and have two promising sons, Don and Fred.
L. J. GUNN. the genial editor of the El Reno News, has contributed largely to the de- velopment and growth of the town of his adoption, and is an important factor in its social and intellectual life. He was born in La Salle county, Ill., November 23, 1867, and is a son of Levi Gunn, a native.of Massachusetts, and who removed first to Vermont and then to Daven- port. Iowa. In 1849 he took up his residence in La Salle county, Ill., where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and was prominently iden-
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titied with the affairs of the community. His wife, Sarah C. (Lewis) Gunn, who was born in Ohio, comes from an old Virginia family, and is of Welsh descent. They were Quakers, and among the early settlers of La Salle county.
Mr. Gunn received an excellent home train- ing, and was surrounded by the usual influences incident to the life of the average western farm- er's son. He studied in the public schools, and later at the normal school at Great Bend. grad- uating in the scientific course in 1889. He then spent a year in Texas, and in 1890 began the study of law in Great Bend with Day & Smith, and was admitted to the bar in 1892. As a start- ing point for the practice of his profession he selected Kansas, where he lived until 1893, when he took up his residence in El Reno. For seven years he here engaged in the practice of law with the most gratifying results. In 1895, Mr. Gunn was appointed receiver of the Canadian County Republican, which, however, did not in- terfere with the carrying out of his large and lucrative law business. In 1896, in partnership with Mr. Clyde Musgrove, he started the El Reno News, which since has been conducted under the most auspicious and amicable condi- tions, and is of immense influence among the members of the Republican party, because of its lucid and impartial adherence to the princi- ples of Republicanism. Mr. Musgrove, a sea- soned newspaper man from South Haven, Sum- ner county, Kans., came to El Reno in the fall of 1890. The News is a weekly publication, and supports a good job office in connection with its general printing.
Mr. Gunn's varied interests include his posi- tion as a member of the territorial board of education of the normal school, the appointment coming through Governor Barnes in 1897. He also is a member of the El Reno club. In El Reno he was married to Carrie Wattson. a daughter of George F. Wattson, postmaster of El Reno.
M AJOR STEPHEN N. BRADFORD. The biography of Stephen Nelson Bradford naturally divides itself into three cras: the period when he sailed the high seas, his subse- quent experience as an officer in the Union army, and the closing and least eventful years of his career, when he lived the quiet life of a farmer. He belonged to a family identified with the history of America from its earliest settle- ment, tracing his lineage to one of two brothers who came over in the "Mayflower." One of these brothers, William Bradford, was in 1621 elected the second governor of Massachusetts and served continuously until 1633; two years
later was again elected and re-elected in 1637, 1639 and again in 1645. The father of Stephen N., whose name was the same as his own, had a brother who served as a governor of New Hampshire.
At Jersey Shore, Lycoming county, Pa., the subject of this sketch was born in April, 1823, and in infancy was taken by his parents to Warren county, N. J. When he was fourteen he was apprenticed to the printer's trade in Bel- videre, but the occupation was uncongenial, and he determined to seek his fortune elsewhere. Going to the Wyoming Valley, he secured work in a pine swamp and later ran two boats on the Delaware and Hudson canal. About that time he formed the acquaintance of an old "salt," Samuel Fields, whose stories of the sea inflamed his mind and aroused his desire to become a sailor. With Mr. Fields he went to Sag Harbor, L. I., and in August of the same year (1838) they sailed on a whaling ship for the Cape of Good Hope, thence to the island of Java, Sand- wich Islands and Bering strait. Many and ex- citing were his experiences during this voyage. Frequently he narrowly escaped a watery grave. At Honolulu his comrade, Fields, had been taken ill and sent ashore, and he remained with him, in order that he might receive proper care. On the recovery of his comrade they secured work and remained in Honolulu for a time, then went to a beautiful island some distance away, where they found and explored a spot more lovely than they had ever seen. Had it not been it was in so lonely a region, they would have been content to remain there until death.
As boat-steerer and ship carpenter, our sub- ject started on a ship for the sperm whale re- gions. His friend had previously left for the States, but he was not alone, as a devoted native accompanied him, a man who had been his com- panion during his life at Honolulu and whose devotion had won for him the name of "Friday." After six weeks, the ship was wrecked on a rock near a barren island, to which officers and crew repaired. It was only through the efforts of the ship carpenter and his man "Friday," the former of whom dived for the ship's valuables and pro- visions, that the lives of the men were saved. A new schooner was built out of the wreck of the old. and after months on the island, a new start was made; but off St. Catharine a terrible storm arose, the sails were shivered to shreds, the mainyard carried away, and the faithful "Friday" washed overboard and lost, to the deep grief of his master, who, even years afterward, could not mention his name without tear-filled eyes.
Returning to the Wyoming Valley, Mr. Brad- ford settled on a farm there. At the outbreak of the war of Mexico, it was his ambition to go to the front and his name was the first put
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down in forming a company, but illness pre- vented his active service at the time. However, as soon as he had recovered, lie went to Balti- more, enlisted as a private, marched to Mexico, took part in several battles, and returned a lieu- tenant. In 1849 he went to New Bedford and shipped as carpenter on the whaler "Huntress," bound for northern seas. There, as in the pre- ceding voyage, misfortune attended him. A ter- rible storm wrecked the ship on the banks of Kamtschatka, a wild peninsula in the northern seas. On those barren shores the crew remained for six. days, when they were taken on board another whaler and returned to the Sandwich Islands. There Mr. Bradford was welcomed by his former friend, King Kamehamera, who urged him to settle for life on the island Oahu. He, however, had no desire to marry the king's daughter and settle among the people there. Soon he started for another whaling trip and vis- ited China, Society Islands, Juan Fernandez, where (the relations between the captain and crew not being pleasant) the men resolved to remain. They built a cabin and lived on game and wild fruits, but Mr. Bradford soon wearied of life there, and embraced the first opportunity to return to the States, where he landed with $3.50 in his possession. The ship anchored at San Francisco and from there he went to Sacra- mento, where he secured employment at $7 a day. He and his employer were about the same age and soon became close friends. Indeed, Mr. Wolfe took such a liking to the young sailor that he took him into partnership, trusting him with the management of all his business, and so well did Mr. Bradford discharge every trust that the two at length came east with about $30,000, which was divided equally. This is remarkable when it is remembered that, during the two years of his residence in the west, Mr. Bradford had served the state in its Indian wars one-third of the time.
Returning east, he purchased a farm and a hotel at Waymart, Pa. His roving tendencies, however, soon took him back to California, whence he returned cast, and later started to Kansas, but not liking the prospects, again re- turned to Pennsylvania: later went back to Kan- sas, founded Bradford City on the California stage line and for a time was prosperous, but lack of water caused the enterprise to fail, and he again went back to his early home. Major Bradford was a remarkable man in many ways, and was a fine soldierly appearing man, one who would attract attention anywhere. His popu- larity in Kansas was shown by his appointment as a member of the first governor's staff of Kan- sas. On the first call for troops in the Civil war, he opened a recruiting office and soon raised a company, which he offered to Governor
Curtin. The governor, on reviewing the com- pany, exclaimed "The finest company of men I have ever seen; they are accepted." Captain Bradford was made major of the Fifteenth Penn- sylvania Infantry, and went to Washington, re- turning home at the end of the three months of service. At once lie raised another company for three years and again he was promoted to be major, being assigned to the Seventy-seventh Regiment. One of his fiercest battles was that of Pittsburg Landing, where he took a promi- nent part. Shortly afterward he fell into the enemy's hands, but later was exchanged. He was then appointed provost-marshal and opened his office in Scranton, Pa,, which office he held until February, 1865.
After the war Major Bradford removed to Missouri and settled on a tract of raw land. Three years later he went to Grand Rapids, Mich., and engaged in the real estate and loan business. After five years, he moved back to Missouri, where he remained for three years. He then sold one-half the farm of two hundred and forty acres and bought a hotel at Stewarts- ville, DeKalb county, Mo., where he was en- gaged in the hotel business for seven years. Then, leasing the hotel, he went to Arkansas City, thence to Willow Springs, and from there to Oklahoma. At first he located on a claim, but this he afterward gave to an old soldier, and he came to the place near Guthrie where his widow now lives. He took out homestead pa- pers and cultivated the land, making of it a good farm. He remained there until ill health caused him to go to Guthrie, in order that he might be nearer to his physician. There he died Novem- ber 29, 1898. . In spite of his roving life, he was a man of domestic tastes, fond of his home, de- voted to his family and friends, and, after the war, he steadily refused to re-enter politics. He was a very generous man, but his charities were quietly performed, few knowing of them except the recipients.
By his first marriage Major Bradford had four children, three of whom reside in Michi- gan and the fourth is a Congregational minister living at Lowell, Mass. His second wife died in Grand Rapids, leaving two children, both of whom are in Oklahoma. While in Grand Rap- ids he married Miss Frances J. Berry, of that city, who was a daughter of David and Ellen (Reightmeyer) Berry. Their marriage was sol- emnized April 20, 1879. Since the major's death Mrs. Bradford has been the recipient of a pen- sion of $25 a month. She also has had the post- office at Lawrie, having been appointed post- mistress November 28, 1809. She is a lady of culture, refinement and quiet tastes. Her devo- tion to her husband and to duty and her love of home are among her strongest characteristics.
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J OHN S. FULLUM, who is a practical and prosperous farmer of section 9, Cimarron township, Kingfisher county, has been asso- ciated with the development of this region for over eleven years, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. A son of John and Jane Ful- Inın, he was born in Ireland, and was brought to America in his infancy. For twelve years the family resided in Quebec, Canada, and then, i11 1851, removed to Dubuque, Iowa. Seven years later, they settled in Fillmore county, Minn., where they prospered as agriculturists, but in 1877 another change of location was de- cided upon and they became residents of Bour- bon county, Kans. The venerable father de- parted this life the year following, aged nearly eighty years, and was survived only a short period by his devoted wife.
As has been noted, John S. Fullum was reared in Quebec and Iowa, and had hardly passed his majority when the Civil war commenced. In 1862 he enlisted in the Minnesota State Militia (for, in the meantime, he had become a resident of that commonwealth), as the Chippewa and Sioux Indians had risen in a threatening way against the white settlers, taking advantage of their comparatively unprotected condition. as the regular troops were engaged in civil warfare. At several points Mr. Fullum and his comrades fought battles with the red-skins, the severest ones being those of Wood Lake and New Elm. Subsequently he enlisted in Company K, Fourth Minnesota Infantry, and served until June. 1865. During this service he participated in the nu- merous engagements in Georgia, under com- mand of General Sherman, in the famous march to the sea, and afterwards had the honor of taking part in the grand review at Washington, and received his honorable discharge from his country's service at Louisville, Kv., June 12, 1865. He had battled under the gallant Gen. John A. Logan at Savannah, Ga., and acted under the leadership of General Corse at Al- toona, Ga.
For twelve years after the close of the war. Mr. Fullum carried on the duties of a farmer in Fillmore county, Minn., and then took up liis abode in Bourbon county, Kans. After his father's death, he went to Caldwell, Kans., where the mother died, and in 1887 the young man started for California with his family, driving a team to the coast, and visiting Oregon, also. They soon returned to Kansas, however, mak- ing the journey by train, and located in Chero- kee county. In June, 1889, Mr. Fullum came to this county, and, finding that a claim in section 9, Cimarron township, was yet vacant, he lost no time in filing papers for the property. This wild prairie land has been wonderfully trans- formed by his arduous labors, and that very year
he managed to raise a small crop, late though it was in the season when he took up the work. For nine years his family were sheltered in a sod house, 14x28 feet in dimensions, and now they occupy a substantial house, thirty-four feet square. At present he has one hundred and twenty acres under cultivation, and in order to meet his requirements, he rents additional land. He raises a good grade of cattle and hogs, and finds a good market for all of the products of the farm. A well-kept orchard and vineyard afford his family plenty of excellent fruit, and each member of the household takes pride in maintaining the fine appearance of the place.
In 1867 Mr. Fullum married Sarah Claypole, and the following children were born to the worthy couple: Mary is the wife of George Cor- coran. of Caldwell, Kans., and Jane is the wife of Harry Miller. John, Joseph, Thomas and William are yet at home. Born in England, Mrs. Fullum was brought to the United States in her infancy, and for eight years the family dwelt in the vi- cinity of Elmira, N. Y. The father, William Claypole, was engaged in farming in Minnesota for a score of years, and spent his last days in Caldwell county, Kans., dying in his seventy- seventh year. He was a stanch Republican and stood well in the regard of all who knew him. Religiously, both he and his wife were devout members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her maiden name was Rebecca Ogden, and by her marriage she became the mother of ten chil- dren, only four of whom are living. She de- parted this life in 1898, in her seventy-fifth vear.
From the time when he cast his first presiden- tial ballot until the present, Mr. Fullum has bcen unwavering in his allegiance to the Re- publican party. He assisted in the organization of one of the first public schools erected in this territory, and has acted on the school board of his district, doing everything within his power to promote the interests of his community.
W I. GOFF. A popular and well-to-do citizen of El Reno is the above named gentleman, who represents the An- henser-Busch Brewing Company in this city. lle was born near Perryville, Vermillion county, Ind., August 20, 1859, and is a son of David Goff, and grandson of Almond Goff.
The Goff family are of sturdy Holland-Dutch extraction and for many years resided on the 1Hudson river in New York. Our subject's great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war and died in New York state, and his grandfather was in the War of 1812. The latter was a native of New York state, and resided there all his life, engaged in the cultivation of
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the soil. His farm originally was covered with a dense forest, which he cleared away and put in a good state of cultivation. David W. Goff was born in Vermillion county, Ind., and was reared to farming, which he made his life's vo- cation. He was in the Civil war, being a mem- ber of an Indiana regiment, but at first was rejected from service. In 1868 he settled in Jefferson county, Kans., near the town of Os- kaloosa, where he carried on farming and stock- raising. In 1886 he retired and is now spending his latter days in Emporia, Kans. He is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was united in marriage with Miss Lillis Hale, whose birthplace is near Twin Grove, Green county, Wis. Her father, who was a native of Indiana, was an early settler of Wisconsin, and died when Mrs. Goff was about seven years of age. She had two brothers who were in the Civil war: Marion, who was killed at Resaca, Ga .; and William, who now lives at Fort Scott, Kans. They belonged to the Fourteenth Wis- consin Regiment.
Our subject, the only son of a family of seven children, all of whom are still living, was reared in Jefferson county, Kans .. his father moving there when he was a lad of nine years. He at- tended the public schools of that community and later pursued his studies in Baker University at Baldwin, Kans., for one year. Upon leaving school, he engaged as a clerk in a drug store in Oskaloosa, in the meantime ntaking a study of pharmacy, and some two years later started a store of his own in that town. Selling out he secured a position with McPike & Fox, whole- sale druggists, but after remaining in their employ about a year, again started in the drug business,-but this time at Lyons, Rice county, Kans. He continued there some years. during which time he was agent for the Pacific Express Company. From there he went to Anthony, Kans., and embarked in business, but remained only a twelvemonth. In 1892 he located in El Reno, O. T., where he obtained a position with Anheuser & Busch, and a short time after enter- ing their employ he became agent for the firm. Since the different railroads have been started his territory has been extended throughout the southern part of Oklahoma. He has since started up the Goff Bottling Works, which is the largest plant of its kind in Oklahoma, all kinds of soda water and soft drinks being manuiac- tured. Our subject is an enterprising and indus- trious citizen, and enjoys a wide acquaintance throughout the territory.
Mr. Goff was married in Atkinson. Ill., to Miss Magdalen Myers, a native of that state, and to them has been born one child. Imogene. In politics he is an uncompromising Republican. Hle is a member of the El Reno Club, of which
lie is also treasurer; the K. of P .; and the .A. O. U. W. Our subject is a thorough musician and was the organizer of the Goff Cadet Band, of which he is also leader. This band is well known throughout the territory, and for excellent music it can't be beaten in this section of the country.
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