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 18
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This was but the beginning of his marine life. however, for the day after his arrival in the metropolis, Mr. Longendyke shipped for Queenstown, Ireland, in the craft, "Emma," and thence proceeded to Liverpool. There the
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good ship was loaded with a cargo and sailed for Brazil, conveying two of the first railway en- gines ever used in that country. In return, the ship received a cargo of coffee, and started for Falmouth, England, and received orders to sail to Altoona, a port near Hamburg. There the sailors saw Princess Alexandra, who was on her way to England, there to become the bride of the Prince of Wales. Our subject next took a round trip on the Atlantic, sailing from Glas- gow on a vessel engaged in the lumber trade with Canada, and, after a short stay in Quebec, returned to Liverpool. Taking a position as sec- ond mate on the Elizabeth, bound for Columbo, Ceylon, by way of the Cape of Good Hope, he had the opportunity of visiting niany of the ports of the antipodes, among them being Ma- dras, Rangoon, Bombay and Singapore. Dur- ing the detention of the vessel at the last-named city, while awaiting a cargo, he joined the crew of a small ship going to Shanghai, China, and there obtained a place as second mate on the Lancashire, which went to Manila, Luzon Is- land, and was loaded with sugar, for the Ameri- can trade. Misfortune awaited the brave little freighter, and the long trip to San Francisco was never completed, as the sea engulfed her at a point about sixty miles south of Formosa. The crew escaped in life-boats, and made their way back to Manila. There our subject took passage in a packet to Macow, thence to Hong Kong, where he accepted a position as mate on the King of Algeria, and. going to Manila, aided in loading the vessel with manilla for the Bos- ton (Mass.) trade. This long voyage was his last one on the "salted seas," completing the most eventfal period of his varied career- eight years "before the mast." He rounded Cape Horn twice, the Cape of Good Hope thrice and once passed through the Suez canal. Going to Buffalo, N. Y., soon after his arrival in Bos- ton, he embarked on the schooner, F. T. Barney, and upon reaching Chicago, was made second mate of the vessel. At Marquette, he joined the crew of the George Worthington, acting as mate for a year or more and then being pro- moted to the post of captain, in which capacity he served for two seasons.
In 1869 Mr. Longendyke went to the west on a hunting expedition, spending the winter in the Dakotas. Then at Stillwater, Minn., he tried his hand at rafting, going as far as Burlington, Iowa, and his next enterprise was with the St. Paul railroad, having charge of a gang of bridge builders during one summer, after which he en- gaged in contracting for bridges and other rail- road construction. For two years he carried on a hotel business at Monticello, Iowa, and then. returning to Davenport. he became a pilot and master of a ship plying the Mississippi and Rock
rivers. For a period he was financially inter- ested in coal mining, operating mines at Blos- somberg, Ill., and running a line of barges to Davenport, Muscatine and Rock Island.
Twenty-three years ago Captain Longendyke located at what now is the town of Burdette, Kans., and for a year was engaged in erecting a mill there. Then he went to Hodgeman county, where he gave his attention to agricul- ture and to the live stock business, his trading point being Dodge City. Soon he made a great name as a stockman, and was chosen as presi- dent of the Western Central Kansas Stock As- sociation. He transacted a large and lucrative cattle business for several years, and in the meantime edited a newspaper known as The Cowboy. In 1887 he became the secretary of the Dodge City Cattle Company, and was sent to Rio Janeiro, South America, to secure land. After satisfactorily performing his mission, he returned to the north and then was employed by the Brazilian Improvement & Investment Company. Again he was sent to Brazil, and secured some valuable mineral concessions on Rio Grand De Sule river, but two months later Dom Pedro was exiled, and in February, 1890, our subject returned to Kansas.
In May, 1890, Mr. Longendyke came to Ok- lahoma and was installed as mayor of new El Reno shortly afterward. In 1891 he came to Kingfisher and that summer started the first cold storage plant here. In company with J. K. Wilson he represented the Anheuser-Busch Brewing Company, and since 1892 has been that firm's sole agent here. He superintended the building of the cold storage plant, which has a large capacity, and in addition to attending to the local business, he has sub-agencies at Pond Creek and Medford. He owns a quarter-section farm, which he leases, it being located about twelve miles north of this city. He also has invested in the new Opera-house company and in the Farmers' Elevator Company. Politically, he is active in the ranks of the Democratic party, and for three years served as a member of the council from the second ward, being re-elected in 1900. While in Pawnee county, Kans., he was a justice of the peace, and for a period acted as clerk of the district school board at Burdette, Kans. In Davenport he joined the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen, at Dodge City was made an Odd Fellow and now also belongs to the Red Men.
The marriage of the captain and Miss Caro- line Hickson took place in Davenport, lowa, October 31, 1871. She is a native of that city, and is one of nine children born to John and Edith (Shumard) Hickson. Four of her brotli- ers served in the Civil war, three being identified with fowa regiments and one with an Illinois
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regiment. One of the number died while in the army. The parents were natives of New Jersey, the mother being of French descent, and a daughter of Joseph Shumard. John Hickson was an early settler of Scott county, Ill., as he located a farm there in 1839, and his death occurred twenty years later. His widow resides in Dixon, Iowa, in which place much of Mrs. Longendyke's girlhood was passed. She pre- sides with grace and dignity over her attractive home, and, like her husband, is very popular with all of her acquaintances.
W ILLIAM LAYTON. The indefatigable energy which the English people pos- sess, and by which they have made such wonderful strides along the lines of progress in every department of life's activities, finds an ex- ponent in William Layton, who has improved a fine homestead in Cimarron township, King- fisher county, and is numbered with the practical agriculturists and stock-raisers of Oklahoma ter- ritory.
Born in Northamptonshire, England, in 1843, Mr. Layton is a son of Thomas Layton, who was a prosperous tiller of the soil. For some time after arriving at maturity our subject en- graged in farming on a large scale, and often kept a good-sized herd of cattle. In 1886 he removed with his family to the United States, where he believed that better opportunities for abarrethat could be had, and this he has moved to his orde satisfaction, realizing a snug bude fortune within a few years, as the result of the til The first winter of his stay in this hogy Halle Land was spent at Ogle county, Ili., ao of the spring of 1889 he removed to Harper ounis. Kans,, where he rented a farm until Ok'shoma was thrown open to settlement.
April 22, 1889, Mr. Layton made the race into this fond of promise, and, though he was not wasful in securing a claim such as he de- ren. he purchased his present homestead on the foflemming day, filing papers to the same on the 4th of May. That summer he passed in Kansas, but in the autumn commenced building a good, substantial housc, and sct about the task of making other improvements upon the place. Now he has placed one hundred and twenty acres under cultivation, and as he desired more land for the raising of wheat he bought prop- erty until he now owns four hundred acres, and plants all but one hundred acres of this with wheat. It was seven years after his settlement here that he had sufficient means ahead to enable him to buy some coveted land-the southwest- ern quarter of section 4. Kingfisher township, though two years previously he had invested in righty acres situated in the southwestern part
of section 14. He raises short-horn cattle, horses, mules and hogs, and is realizing good financial returns from live stock. The appear- ance of the farm buildings and every portion of the homestead speaks well for the enterprise of the owner, who has been ably assisted in his labors by his four sons, all promising young men.
Since receiving the riglit of franchise Mr. Lay- ton has voted for Democratic men and meas- ures. He is a member of the local school board and was influential in organizing the educational system now enjoyed by the children of district No. 115, acting on the first board of directors here.
July 19, 1873, in England, Mr. Layton mar- ried Elizabeth, daughter of John and Charlotte (Groom) Negus. The father was the oldest ten- ant on the great estate of the Duke of Bleuch, and his ancestors, for three hundred years, lived and died on that same landed possession, which some centuries ago belonged to the Montagues. The home of the Negus family was within two miles of Birnwell Castle, and the dwelling of the Grooms also was not far from the village of Polebrook, on the same estate, and they, too, for generations were tenants of the Dukes of Bleuch. Mrs. Layton, the youngest of three children, is the mother of four manly sons, namely: Charles W., Thomas A., John N. and Harry, and, without exception, they are a credit to their esteemed parents, and, like them, are de- servedly popular with all of their acquaintances.
R OBERT P. KIRBY. who owns a fine home- stead on section 4. Logan township, King- fisher county, is actively aiding in the great work of developing the resources of Oklahoma. Beginning his career here without means, he has gradually worked his way upward to a position of affluence, and in the meantime has so loyally met cvery obligation resting upon him as a citi- zen that he has won the sincere respect of his neighbors and acquaintances.
In tracing the family history of our subject it is learned that five brothers bearing the name of Kirby emigrated to America from Ireland prior to the war of the Revolution, and in that conflict several of them participated. Three of the brothers settled in Ohio at an early period and the others proceeded further west. Robert P. Kirby, Sr., father of our subject, was born in Warren county, Ohio, whence he went to De Witt county, Ill .. about 1845. There he was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for about fifteen years, and for a portion of this time was a mer- chant at Clinton, Ill. In 1858 he removed to Ossawottomic, Kans., where he was extensively occupied in raising thoroughbred horses. Just
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before the outbreak of the Civil war he started with some live stock for Texas, with the inten- tion of buying a large ranch. He was never heard from by his family, and it is supposed that he was murdered by border ruffians or "Jay- hawkers." He was a man of excellent education and business qualifications, and was held in gen- uine respect by all who knew him. He was sur- vived. by his wife, whose maiden name was Phoebe Graham. She was a native of Warren county, Ohio, and departed this life twelve years ago, in Illinois, at the age of seventy-five years. Two of her children also have passed to the silent land, and of the eight surviving ones only two, R. P. and Mrs. Coppenbarger, are residents of this territory.
The birth of Robert P. Kirby took place in De Witt county, Ill., in 1851, and in his youth he learned the practical details of farming and busi- ness affairs. In 1878 he removed to Sumner county, Kans., and for two years carried on a farm belonging to his brother. Then, purchas- ing the place, he continued to cultivate the homestead until the summer of 1881, when he removed to Franklin county, Iowa, and in com- pany with the firm of Ferris Brothers com- menced raising nursery stock. Later he became the partner of S. W. Ferris, in the same line of business, and continued to devote his energy to this specialty until shortly before the time set for the opening of Oklahoma, when he sold out his interest to Mr. Ferris.
Making the race on the 22d of April, 1889. Mr. Kirby secured a claim on section 33, town- ship 17, range 6, Kingfisher county, and for about three years was actively occupied in ini- proving the place, a large orchard being one of the attractive features of the farm. A favorable opportunity for selling the property presenting itself, he disposed of the farm, and in its stead bought a tract of wild land in the same town- ship, and again set about the task of developing- a good farm. In January, 1898, he traded the place for his present one, which is very fertile and desirable, much of the land lying along the Walnut and Birds' creeks. He has set out a large orchard, and has cleared the timber from several acres, while he retains sufficient forests to meet liis requirements in the future. The creeks mentioned and two good wells furnish plenty of water, and beautiful shade trees, planted with dne regard for the general appear- ance of the premises, add much to the desirabil- ity of the homestead. In addition to his gen- eral farming, the owner raises a good grade of cattle, horses and hogs.
One of the first directors of his district in Banner township, Mr. Kirby labored industri- ously for the cause of education, and, when the school building was being constructed, person-
ally worked on it for twenty-six days, and do- nated this to the community as a token of his zeal. Of late years he has been a supporter of the Democratic party, and is the present chair- man of the county central committee. Fre- quently has he been sent as a delegate to conven- tions of his party, and though he is a great worker in the ranks, he is perfectly disinter- ested, having no desire to occupy any public office or receive any honors.
In 1873 the marriage of Mr. Kirby and Char- lotte Personett was solemnized in DeWitt county, Ill. Their eldest child, Minnie F., is the wife of O. E. Brewster, and the other chil- dren-Alvah Carl, Maude and Blanche-are yet at home, assisting their parents and sharing their joys and sorrows.
H ON. E. H. LONG, M. D., president of the Oklahoma Magnetic Healing Institute, is a man of wide prominence and is one of the largest land owners of Oklahoma, being lo- cated near El Reno, Canadian county.
Dr. Long was born in Washington county, Ind., October 12, 1841, and is a son of Harrison and Sarah (Hardin) Long. His grandfather, William, was born in Kentucky, and lived there until his death. Harrison Long was born in Kentucky, and was an early settler in Washing- ton county, Ind., where he owned four farms and was a large stock raiser. He died at the age of forty-five years. In politics he was a Demo- crat. He married Sarah Hardin, who came of a prominent family of Hardin county, Ky., which county derived its name from the family. Her father was Elisha Hardin, who died in Indiana. She died in Oklahoma in 1895. Six boys and five girls were born to this union, and three sons are now living. G. W. Long. who was a non- commissioned officer in the Ninety-third Illinois Infantry during the Civil war, was seriously wounded at Chickamauga, and now resides at Shawneetown, III. J. M. Long served in a Kon- tucky regiment during the Mexican war, and now lives in Linn county, Kans.
The Hon. E. H. Long was reared on a farm in Indiana, and attended the district schools. When fourteen years old he began clerking in a store, and at the age of nineteen entered upon the study of medicine with Dr. W. W. Duncan, of Clay county, Ill. He began practicing in 1864 in Clay county, Ill., and in 1865 was com- missioned by Governor Yates as second lieuten- ant of Company C, One Hundred and Forty- third Illinois Infantry, serving until the close of the war. After he was mustered out he contin- ued his practice and also engaged in the stock business and farming near Lewisville, Clay county, Il., where he owned several farms, ag-
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Shelton Mors
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gregating three hundred and twenty acres. While practicing there he took a course of study in the Eclectic Medical College of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated with the degree vi Doctor of Medicine in 1873. He removed 10 Springfield, Mo., in 1878, and practiced there until 1879, when he located in Fall River, Elk county, Kans., there continuing his professional work. In February, 1889, he removed to No Man's Land, Beaver county, Okla., and prac- ticed in Benton, also engaging extensively in raising cattle and horses. Beaver county was opened April 22, 1889, and was the seventh county. He bought and owned one and one- half sections of land, which he improved and cultivated. In August, 1890, he was elected to the first territorial legislature from Beaver county, receiving a majority of two hundred and twenty-one votes over his two opponents. The doctor is a strong Democrat in his political affiliations, and ran on the straight Democratic ticket. He served during a stormy session of one hundred and twenty days, and took a very active part in the work. In November, 1895, he located in Canadian county, O. T., purchasing a farm twelve miles northeast of El Reno. He is still extensively engaged in raising thorough- bred and standard bred horses, having about sixty-five head of fine horses now, but has closed out his cattle business. He extensively invested in farm lands, and now owns three thousand and forty acres, which he has planted to grain of all kinds. For years he has practiced magnetic healing, the treatment being by the mind or hands, and is now associated with Professor Morehead. He is president of the Oklahoma Magnetic Healing Institute, a chartered institu- tion.
Dr. Long was married in Clay county, Ill., with Catherine Smith, who was born at Paola, Ind., and they have six children living: G. W., who lives on one of his father's farms; Mrs. Margaret C. Russell of Canadian county; Mrs. Lillie O. Moore of Beaver county; Mrs. Laura Hulit of Chickasha, I. T .: Mrs. Bessie Hulit of Chickasha, I. T .; and Frances, who lives at home. Religiously, Mrs. Long is a member of the M. E. church.
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S HELTON MORRIS has one of the finest. best improved, and most carefully managed farms in Logan county. Situated on sec- tion II, township 17, range 2 west, it has been developed from a discouraging state of wilder- ness and sterility, to a condition of utility and resource.
Reared on his father's farm in Henry county, Iowa, where he was born December 2, 1842, he had a fairly happy existence until, in his
tenth year, his young life was saddened by the loss of both father and mother. His parents were Isaac and Martha (Owney) Morris. After- ward the boy lived with his brothers-in-law until his sixteenth year, when he began to long for a change and decided to go to Kansas. There he hired out as a cattleman, and continued in the same line of occupation until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the First Iowa Battery, an independent company. He saw service in various parts of the south, in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and other states, taking part in most of the important battles fought there. His campaign experiences were remarkable in that he was never wounded, cap- tured, or laid up in the hospital.
After his honorable discharge in 1865, Mr. Morris returned to Kansas and bought one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, which he improved and on which he lived until 1869, when he moved to Madison county, Ark. There he bought some land which remained in his pos- session until 1879, when he went to Cowley county, Kans., and bought one hundred and eighteen acres. In 1889 he disposed of his land and was foremost in the rush for the Oklahoma strip, where he succeeded in pre-empting a claim. He now has eleven acres of orchard, the output of which contains many varieties of fruit. His house, barns, and outhouses are of the best possible construction, and the general convenience of things is increased by the posses- sion of a windmill.
January 10, 1867, Mr. Morris married Miss Elizabeth Wood. Of this union there are four children: Charles married Mary McAdams, and lives on a quarter section adjoining his father's land; Margaret is the wife of Sherman Fountain, has four children and lives in Oklahoma; Will- iam L. is married and lives near his father; and Nora is still at home. Mr. Morris is a Repub- lican. He is a member of the Dexter Lodge No. 156, A. F. & A. M., of Dexter, Kans.
H. L. LUCAS, of Cimarron township, King- fisher county, is well and favorably known ยท
to the people of this section of the terri- tory, owing to his efficient and praiseworthy work as treasurer of this township, in which important office he served for two years, and four years in Kingfisher township, having been appointed first to the position by Governor Steele. In 1897 he was a candidate for the office of county commis- sioner, and now is acting as treasurer of his own township. For five years he was clerk of the local school board, and thus assisted in the building of the first schoolhouse erected in this region. When it was completed, Prof. J. R. Hlale was secured to teach the school, which
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enjoys the honor of being the first regular pub- lic school in active educational work in the ter- ritory. He has possessed great faith in this country since he first beheld it, and has done everything within his power to further its prog- ress.
H. L. Lucas is one of the eight children born to Thomas and Sarah (Van de Vender) Lucas, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The father's ancestors were Scotch people who settled in the Keystone state at an early day. He was a crip- ple from the time that he was six years old until his death, in 1898, when he was in his seventy- ninth year. Notwithstanding his misfortune, he accomplished a great deal in his long, useful life, and was highly esteemcd by all who knew him. For seven years he served as an apprentice to the tailor's trade, after which he was em- ployed as a merchant tailor in his native state. and in Indiana and Ohio. From 1856 until 1885 he resided in the Hoosier state, after which he lived in Nebraska until his death. His wife died before his demise, at their old home in Indiana, when she was sixty-eight years old.
The birth of our subject occurred in 1849, in Huntingdon, Pa., and in 1852 he removed with the family to Ohio, and four years later to In- diana, where he obtained most of his education. In 1864, when less than fifteen years old, he en- listed in Company F. One Hundred and Thirty- eighth Indiana Infantry, and served for one hun- dred and twenty-seven days, or until the close of the war, being employed at garrison duty chiefly. For several years afterwards he was occupied in his trade of plastering, in Indiana, and then went to the west, where he prospected in different localities, and in 1869 made an over- land trip to Denver. In 1887 he went to Dawes county, Neb., and there improved a claim, which he sold in 1889, and on that site now stands the town of Marcella.
On the night of April 21, 1889, Mr. Lucas was at the western line of Oklahoma, near King- fisher, and on the following day arrived at the farm which he located at three minutes past twelve, and three days later he filed his claim to the property. A few improvements were in- stituted by him within the next few weeks, and on the 17th of May he was joined by his family, and together they lived in a tent for a short period. In July, however, he completed his present house, which, as it is twenty-eight fcet square, was one of the largest in the country at that time, and yet is one of the best in this section. He was obliged to haul the lumber from Guthrie, and thus the structure was rap- idly and well put up, under the circumstances. One hundred and seven acres are under culti- vation, and most of the remainder of the farm is devoted to the pasture land for the large herds
of cattle and numbers of horses which the owner usually keeps. The fine orchard which he planted compriscs about five hundred trees.
Politically, Mr. Lucas is an ardent supporter of the Republican party. His . first political office was when he was appointed a deputy by the sheriff of Wabash county, Ind., and in that ca- pacity he served for two terms. The satisfaction which he gave to the public led to his being called to higher honors in later life, and always has he justified the wisdom of his friends. For the past five years he has been the quartermaster of Kingfisher Post No. 2, G. A. R., and for a period he was commander of the same. He also is past noble grand of Kingfisher Lodge No. 4, I. O. O. F., and is a charter member of the grand lodge of Oklahoma, in which body he has held official positions. Formerly president of the Farmers' Elevator at Kingfisher, he is now vice-president and a stockholder and a director of the company.
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