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 19
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In 1878 occurred the marriage of Mr. Lucas and Rebecca Van Fleet, of New Jersey. They are the parents of three promising sons, named, respectively, E. R., Leslie and Cecil.
S AMUEL H. McCORMICK, M. D. To the veterans of the Civil war a special place of honor should be given in the history of this now prosperous republic. Dr. S. H. McCor- mick, a well-known citizen of Banner township. Kingfisher county, comes of a patriotic family. many of his relatives, as well as himself, having battled and suffercd for this, their beloved coun- try .. Several of his ancestors and their near relatives were soldiers of the war of the Revolu- tion, prior to which time they had lived in Virginia. His grandfather, Samuel McCormick, was a native of the Old Dominion, born in the city of Wheeling (now in West Virginia). When Indiana was a young state he cast in his fortune with her few inhabitants, and for that time he was considered a rich farmer, as he owned half a section of well-improved land and had abun- dant means. He died at the advanced age of seventy-nine years.
William, father of S. H. McCormick, was born on the old homestead in Virginia, and set- tled in Owen county, Ind., in its early annals, taking up a claim near the one owned by his father. Many years later, in 1870, he removed to Kansas, and has since resided upon a claim which he located in Cowley county. He has been extensively engaged in agricultural pur- suits, and has dealt to a large extent in live- stock. During the war of the Rebellion he was a soldier in the Union army for thirty months, identified with Company G, Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry. For years he has been prominent in
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Grand Army circles in Kansas, and in his vicin- ity is well known for his activity in the promo- tion of the Republican party interests. His faithful wife, who in her girlhood was Miss Nancy Mulkey, departed this life in 1898, in her eightieth year. Five of their nine children sur- vive, namely: Samuel; Elizabeth, Mrs. Bastin, of Cowley county, Kans .; Ethel, wife of G. C. Bolend, of Kingfisher; Mattie, wife of William W. Dill, of Wichita, Kans., and Mrs. Alice May- berry, of Pueblo, Colo. The birth of Samuel H. McCormick occurred in Owen county, Ind., and his boyhood was spent in the Hoosier state. He was only sixteen years of age when he en- listed in the same company as did his father- Company G, Thirty-eighth Indiana Infantry. The youth served for one year in the "Army of the Cumberland," and at the battle of Murfrees- boro was severely wounded. For two days and nights he lay suffering on the battle-field, at last being taken to the field hospital and later to Nashville. Soon discharged on account of his disability, he was sent home and there slowly recovered his health. His studies had been in- terrupted, and he now resumed his high school course, subsequently entering Bloomington State University. In 1869 that institution con- ferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Science, and he then turned his attention to the more serious duties of life.
After devoting three years to the drug busi- ness in Bloomington, Ind., during which time he had pursued medical studies, the doctor em- barked in practice at Worthington, same state. At the end of two years he removed to Saline City, Ind., where he pursued his chosen calling for a period, and then became a resident of Genda Springs, Kans., in 1880. During the nine years of his residence in that thriving town he enjoyed a large and growing practice, but be- lieving that still better opportunities awaited him in Oklahoma, he came 'to this territory, April 22, 1889. He was fortunate in securing a good claim in the southwestern part of section 17, Banner township, and began making good improvements upon the place. Planting some three hundred trees of different varieties of fruit, he has carefully watched the growth of his young orchard, which is now bearing good harvests. In connection with the general farming which he carries on, he engages in general practice of his profession, and has won the respect of the coniniunity. Desiring to further qualify himself for his work, he took a course of lectures in the Louisville State University in Kentucky, being graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine in 1893. He was a member of the Indiana State Medical Society, and in 1878 volunteered his services in the yellow fever epidemic in the South. As a member of the Howard medical
corps, he stayed through the long sixty days' siege and at length succumbed to the fever him- self.
Neglecting none of the duties devolving upon a public-spirited citizen, Dr. McCormick loyally assisted in the organizing of the local school district, serving as a member of the board of education for several years, and has favored various local improvements. Politically, he is a stalwart Republican, and socially belongs to the Kingfisher Lodge of Odd Fellows, and for- merly was active in the Masonic order.
In 1876 Dr. McCormick wedded Anna Cof- fey, who died, leaving two children: Samuel L., of Kingfisher, who died in April, 1900, and an infant, also deceased. The present wife of the doctor formerly was Mrs. Ida Barnum, of this county .. Her father, David McPherson, who now lives on a farm east of Dover, Kingfisher county, was born in West Virginia, and moved to Henry county, Mo., at an early day. Thence going to Harper county, Kans., in 1889, he came to Oklahoma in the fall of that year and purchased a claim in Excelsior township, where he now resides. His wife, mother of Mrs. Mc- Cormick, was Miss Sarah Wood, of West Vir- ginia, in lier girlhood, and of their three chil- dren Mary is deceased, and the only son is William McPherson, of this territory. By her previous marriage Mrs. McCormick had one son, Clyde.
J OHN F. MCGRATH, who has been one of the foremost business men of El Reno since locating here, is a member of the well- known firm of W. F. McGrath & Co., grocers.
Mr. McGrath was born in Worcester, Mass., in 1833, and on the maternal line comes of a Quaker family of Uxbridge, Mass. His father. John McGrath, was born in Ireland, and was a young man when he came to America about the year 1815, locating in Worcester, Mass. He en- gaged in contracting and building there until his death, at the age of sixty-three years. In Massachusetts he was united in marriage with Mehitable Aldrich, who was born in that state and was a daughter of George Aldrich. Three children were born to them: Mrs. Ellen R. Hop- kins, of Peabody, Kans .; John F .; and Edward, deceased, who was in the Nineteenth Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil war and was severely wounded.
John F. McGrath was reared in Worcester. Mass .. and received his education in the public schools, graduating from the high school about 1850. When fourteen years old he entered the printing office of the National Aegis of that city, learned the trade, but never followed it, as lie disliked the business. In 1850 he began
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clerking in a dry goods store; and after serving an apprenticeship of three years, continued two more years. He went to Wisconsin in 1855 and located in Portage City, where he engaged in the grocery business for five years. In 1860 he went to Bad Axe county, Wis., a' d was identi- fied with the Diamond Joe Line, the Northern Line and the Dubuque Packet Companies on the Mississippi river during the war. He then engaged in the grocery business at Hastings, Minn., until he located at Newton, Kans., two years after the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad was built through there. He engaged in the grocery business and was a very promi- nent man there. He served as councilman for two years, and built two brick stores and two dwellings there. He was connected with the German National Bank as a director, and was in- terested in Mounds Ridge Bank of McPherson county. In 1885 he removed to Topeka, Kans., and followed the real estate business until April 22, 1889, when he went to Guthrie, Okla. Locat- ing a lot there, which he soon sold, in May, 1890, he settled in El Reno. Constructing a building on Bickford street, he engaged in the real estate and banking business. He organized the Com- mercial Bank, and served as its cashier unti! the fall of the same year. He continued his real estate transactions until 1895, when he started in the grocery business, and met with success from the start. In 1897 he took his son into the firm, the firm name becoming W. F. McGrath & Co. He owns and has built numerous resi- dences and business houses in El Reno, and is one of the most progressive citizens here.
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Mr. McGrath was married in Groton, Tomp- kins county, N. Y., to Eliza Peck, who was born there and died in Topeka, Kans. They be- came parents of two children: Warren F., and May, who died in Topeka, Kans., at the age of twenty-one years. He formed a second union with Mary M. Farnham, who was born in Ver- mont and was reared in New York State.
Fraternally, he was made a Mason at Portage City. Wis., and belongs to that order here. He is one of the oldest Masons in the territory, having joined the order in 1855. He is a Royal Arch Mason, being secretary of the Chapter, and is the ex-recorder of the Knights Templar here: and a member of India Temple, N. M. S., of Oklahoma City. He is a member of the Baptist Church of Topeka, Kans. Politically, he is enthusiastic in his support of the Repub- lican party.
Warren F. McGrath was born in Hastings, Minn., April 24, 1872. The year of 1887 was spent with his father and family in California. He received a good intellectual training in the public schools of Newton and Topeka, Kans .. and was graduated from the high school of the
latter city. In 1890 he came to El Reno and was identified with the Commercial Bank, and in 1891 became bookkeeper for the Stock Exchange Bank and continued as such for six years. In 1897 he became identified with his father in the grocery business under the firm name of W. F. McGrath & Co. He was mar- ried in El Reno to Lottie E. Strong, who was born in California, and they have two children: Mildred May and Margaret Blanche. Relig- iously, he is a Baptist.
A LBERT F. MASTERMAN. The marked financial ability and executive genius of the subject of this sketch, added to his personal popularity, were the reasons for his being called by the people to the responsible office which he is now holding-that of treasurer of Canadian county, Okla., and, needless to say, he is giving complete satisfaction to all concerned. The influence which he has exerted for the advance- ment of this region cannot be overestimated, and he always is confidently relied upon to do everything within his power in the promotion of the right and true.
Born in Nelson township, Tioga county, Pa., March 24, 1857, our subject is a son of Matthew and Mary (Runyon) Masterman, who were na- tives of Lincolnshire, England, and of Germany, respectively. The paternal grandfather, Henry Masterman, removed from Lincolnshire to Penn Yan, N. Y., and there, as formerly, devoted his energies to agriculture. His four sons and three daughters were reared to take useful places in the world's activities, and eventually became citizens of the great West. When the time came for him to leave home, Matthew Masterman located in Tioga county, Pa., with his family, and in a little over a year he settled in Mill Creek, Iowa county, Wis. There he cleared a farm of the heavy growth of timber, and after the death of his wife, in 1859, went to Salem. Ind., where he carried on a drug business until in 1878, he received the summons to leave his earthly labors. . His wife was the daughter of Milo Runyon, whose last years were passed in farming near Penn Yan, N. Y. William, the eldest son of Matthew and Mary Masterman. sleeps in an unknown grave in the South, as he died from wounds received in the gallant charge which he and his' comrades of Company G. Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteers, made during the siege of Vicksburg. The second son, B. F .. now a prominent physician in Independence, Kans., was assistant surgeon of an Indiana regi- ment while the Civil war was in progress. Mrs. Mary E. Ranyard resides in Wisconsin: Mrs. Ellen Calkins makes her home in Mount Blanco. Colo., and Mrs. Agnes G. Edmunds lives in
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Kansas. John is a well-known contractor of Spencer, Iowa, and Emmett is vice-president of the Kansas National Bank of Wichita, Kans.
As previously stated, A. F. Masterman was in his third year only when death deprived him of his mother's care, but his eldest sister, Mrs. Ran- vard, took care of the boy until he attained the age of fifteen years. The youth then became a member of his brother John's household. in Spencer, Iowa, where he completed his educa- tion in the high school. He then became a clerk and in 1880 began learning the drug business in a local establishment. where he remained for four years, also serving as deputy county treas- urer of Clay county, Iowa. Having determined to become a resident of Oklahoma whenever it should be opened, the young man went to Elk City, Kans., where his brother Emmett was con- ducting a drug store, and continued as his clerk for nearly five years. In the meantime he served as a member of the city council for one term and was the city clerk for a like period.
Soon after his arrival in Oklahoma City. April 22, 1889, Mr. Masterman located the lot on which the opera-house now stands, and later sold it to Mr. Overholzer. In January. 1890, he came to El Reno, with which place his des- tiny has since been united. He had shipped a stock of drugs to Okarche, the terminus of the railroad, hauled lumber from that point to El Reno, and built the second store erected here. Situated on Beckford street, it still remains in his possession. In the meantime the track was being constructed, and the car containing his drugs was the first carload of merchandise brought to this point. The first druggist in this section of the county, he continued in the busi- ness until the spring of 1897, and was connected with many other local enterprises. One of the organizers of the First National Bank, and for some time vice-president of the institution, he then disposed of his interest in the same, only to return later to the ranks of the stockholders.
As a member of the first board of city fathers, Mr. Masterman accomplished much for the in- fant town of El Reno, and in the spring of 1898 was elected to a position on the board of edu- cation, later becoming vice-president of the or- ganization. His general ability and grasp of all practical affairs rendered him a fitting candidate for the responsible office of county treasurer, and in the fall of 1898 he was elected by a small majority over the "fusion" nominee. He is a loyal Republican and one of the great workers in the interests of the party. Besides acting as a delegate to numerous conventions, he has been a member of the territorial central committee, for two years was the chairman of the executive committee of the same, and from 1804 to 1898 was chairman of the county Republican central
committee. Socially, he is a Mason of high standing, being a charter member, past master, and the present secretary of El Reno Lodge No. 7, A. F. & A. M .; a charter member of Key- stone Chapter No. 9. R. A. M .; and charter member of Ascension Commandery No. 3, K. T., and identified with India Temple, Mystic Shrine. He also is a past officer in the Odd Fel- lows' order, and belongs to the Woodmen of the World.
The marriage of Mr. Masterman and Miss Sadie A. Ellsworth was celebrated in Milwau- kee, Wis .. in 1881. She is the daughter of Wil- liam Ellsworth, who died recently at Mazo Manie, Wis., and was born on a farm near Madi- son, same state. Three children bless the union of this sterling couple, namely; Lois, Zella and Uinta .. The family have a very attractive home, one of the handsomest residences in the city, and besides owning this desirable property, our subject has two excellent farms in this terri- tory.
J. N. MITCHEM. This gentleman has had many years of experience in dealing in wool, hides and furs, and since 1895 has made his headquarters at El Reno, Okla. He was born in Georgia, his native county being Morgan, and the date of his birth is November 29, 1843. He is a son of Murrell Mitchem.
Murrell Mitchem was a native of North Caro- lina, where his parents had resided many years, and his trade was that of a millwright and car- penter. He moved to Morgan county, Ga., where he followed his trade, and died there when our subject was a lad of but ten years. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Arnold, a native of Georgia, and daughter of James Arnold, who was a planter of that state, and later moved to Sabine county, Tex., where he died in 1861. Mrs. Mitchem passed from this life in 1897. She was the mother of three daugh- ters and six sons, of whom five are still living. They are as follows: Henriette, who died in Georgia: Emily, still residing on the old home- stead in Morgan county, Ga .: Malinda, also liv- ing in Georgia; Columbus, who was a soldier in the Confederate army, belonging to Com- pany E. Fifty-third Georgia Regiment, was wounded at Gettysburg, and killed in the battle of the Wilderness; Eugene, who was in the Georgia Cavalry, and died in prison, being taken a captive in the first battle: Henry S., who also was in a Georgia regiment, but died after the close of the war; Emery F., and Alonzo, still of Morgan county, Ga .; and our subject.
J. N. Mitchem was raised on the farm and his carly training was obtained in a subscription school. He remained at home until the Civil
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war broke out. At the first tap of the drum he went to Savannah, where he spent six months assisting in the building of Fort Boggs, and upon the completion of the fort enlisted in Com- pany E, Fifty-third Georgia Regiment, in Mc- Claus' Division, Longstreet's Corps, and under Gen. Robert E. Lee. He took part in many se- vere engagements, among them the battles: Seven Pines, Va .; Petersburg, Va .; Malvern Hill, Va .; Sharpsburg, Md. He was shot through the body, and on account of his injuries was given a sixty days' furlough, but before the expiration of his furlough. joined the regi- ment, which was in the fighting fine at Fred- ericksburg, and was active in the first battle of the Wilderness; Salem Church; Gettysburg; Funkstown; Culpeper Court-House; Mary- land Heights; under General Longstreet, re- inforced General Jolinston at Chickamauga; next was at Sweetwater; and at Campbell Sta- tion, Tenn., our subject was shot through the right arm. Four out of five physicians wanted to amputate the limb, but our subject would not consent, and went home, where he remained until the close of the deadly struggle. In the fall of 1866 he went to Sabine county, Tex., where he spent the first year on his grandfather's estate, but returning to Georgia, engaged in farming until 1869. Returning to Sabine county, Tex., he farmed until 1875, when he went to. Lampassas county, Tex., and engaged in freighting to Austin; also dealing in wool and hides. He then continued in the same line of business between Brownwood and St. An- gelo, Tex .; then . between Brownwood and Goldthwaite, Tex .; for two years transported supplies from Brownwood to Lampassas. Tex .: and then from Brownwood to Ardmore. In the fall of 1893 he went into the hide business. and in 1895 changed his headquarters to El Reno, Okla., where he is the most extensive buyer and shipper of hides, fur and wool. He ships from thirty to forty cars of hides per year, each car containing from 26.000 to 50,000 pounds. and at one time made a $15,000 shipment, which was the largest shipment ever made from Okla- homa territory. He has branch houses at Enid, Oakdale, Weatherford. Chickasha, and has a store at Wynnewood, I. T. The shipments are chiefly to St. Louis and Chicago.
Mr. Mitchem owns a fine home in El Reno. and as he is very fond of flowers he has a small greenhouse. An enterprising and progressive citizen, he enjoys the esteem and respect of hosts of acquaintances throughout the territory. In politics he is an independent voter and has re- fused to run for office. He has been twice mar- ried. His first wife was Miss Eliza Burroughs. of Sabine county. Tex., and they had three chil- dren, namely: Vida, a resident of Brownwood,
Tex .; Lulu, who lives at home; and James B., who is a citizen of Sherman, Tex. His second union was with Miss Pauline Cox, a native of Mississippi, their-marriage taking place at Eddig, N. M.
W J. MONTRIEF, who is at the head of the Montrief Transfer Company of El Reno, has a record for service in the Confeder- ate army during the Civil war of which he and his family may justly feel proud. He is captain of the camp of Confederate soldiers at El Reno.
Mr. Montrief was born in Franklin county, Virginia, and is a son of Isaac and Frances (Prunty) Montrief. The family is of French origin, but was established in Scotland at an early day. The grandfather of our subject was born in Scotland, and was the only one of his family to come to this country, locating in South Carolina, where he became a planter. Isaac Montrief was born in South Carolina, and was left an orphan at a very early age. He became a planter in Franklin county, Va., and lived there until his death, in 1871, at the age of sixty- five years. He was on Old Line Whig. He married Frances Prunty, who was born in Franklin county, Va., and was a daughter of Jesse Prunty. Her father was born in Ireland and with three brothers came to America in early manhood, settling in Virginia, where he became a planter. Mrs. Montrief died at Stur- geon, Mo., in August, 1899, aged eighty-four years. Five children were born to Isaac and Frances Montrief, namely: James, who served in a Virginia regiment during the Civil war, and is deceased: Thomas, who also served in a Vir- ginia regiment, and died in Missouri: William J .; Mrs. Louise Oldham of Sturgeon, Mo .; and John F., an engineer of Nevada, Mo.
William J. Montrief was born November 5. 1839, and was reared in Virginia. He attended subscription school in an old log schoolhouse, and received a good education, as the school was of high standard. Early in 1861 he enlisted in the Confederate service as a sergeant under Fitzhugh Lee, in Company C, Tenth Vir- ginia Cavalry, and besides taking part in many minor engagements, fought in the Seven Days Battle, Antietam, Fredericksburg. Wilderness and Gettysburg. He went through the siege at Richmond, most of the time being on detached duty as courier for Gens. Robert E. Lee and Samuel Jackson, and Colonel Davis. He was well suited for this particular work, and when anything special was required he was frequently chosen to do it. While serving as a courier he was never captured, although he had many nar- row escapes. However, while doing scout duty between the lines, lie was captured January 28,
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1865, by Warren's Corps, and was sent to Wash- ington, D. C., before Lee's surrender, and there took the oath of allegiance and was released. He went to Indiana and then to Richmond, Ky., where he taught school for two terms, and then returning to Franklin county, Va., engaged in farming until 1867, when he went to Missouri and followed farming near Centralia, Boone county, for twenty years. Later he started in the livery business at Sturgeon, and bought and shipped horses. He served as mayor of Stur- geon for one term. and as marshal of the court of common pleas for a like period. In 1887 he removed to Fort Worth, Tex., where he was engaged in the live stoek commission business until Mareh, 1892, when he located at El Reno. l'urchasing the first transfer line there, he has sinee continued the business, having seven or eight wagons running. He has met with grand suceess and has the leading transfer business here. He was treasurer of the Gresham Vitri- fied Brick Company until he purchased the whole interest, and now the plant is known as the Montrief Briek Company, the yards of which are located west of El Reno on the Choetaw Junction. He has a large tract of fine elay and the capacity of the plant is 30,000 per day. It is a sueeessful enterprise.
Mr. Montrief was married in Boone county, Mo., with Penelope Hendricks, a native of that county, and they have four boys living: Virgil, who has been in the United States mail service at Iloilo, Philippine Islands, since February, 1897, having charge of Station No. 3: Lilburn, who manages his father's transfer business; Everette, who also is identified with the transfer business; and Oldham. In April, 1894, he was elected to the eity eouneil from the fourth ward, was re-elected for a short term in 1896, and in 1898 was again eleeted. He is chairman of the poliee and ordinanee committees, and during his term many valuable improvements have been made. He is a member of the Christian Church. and is chairman of the board of trustees and chairman of the building committee. He is a Democrat in national polities. In 1896 he was a delegate to the St. Louis National Populist Convention and voted for Bryan for President.
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