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 22
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J. C. ROBB, Kingfisher.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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which has since been the scene of his pains- taking efforts.
June 13, 1894, occurred, in Anthony, the mar- riage of Mr. Armantrout and Ruth Fain, a native of Tennessee, and a daugliter of Capt. J. S. Fain, a farmer near Dandridge. During the Civil war he served in the Union army, as captain of Com- pany A, Ninth Tennessee Cavalry, and for two wears served as a scout, piloting the army through the mountains to Kentucky. Later he accomplished the feat of destroying the saltpeter works in Tennessee. AAfter the war, Mr. Fain engaged in farming in Tennessee, and in 1884 came to Kansas and located on a farm near An- thony, where he has retired from active partici- pation in the affairs of business. His wife, for- merly Jennie Mitchell, was also a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Wylie Mitchell, a farmer and county officer. The great-grand- father, Mitchell, was a member of the constitu- tional convention of Tennessee, held at the end of the war, and was a prominent man in the affairs of his state. Mrs. Armantrout is one of nine children, five of whom are living. The others are: J. P., in Anthony, Kans .; F. H .; Eliza: Myrtle, and Ruth. To Mr. and Mrs. Armantrout has been born one child, Gertrude. Mr. Armantrout is a member of the Oklahoma Photographers' Association. In political affilia- tion he is connected with the Democratic party, but has no political aspirations. Fraternally, he is associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Home Forum. With his family, he is a devoted member of the Presby- terian Church, and contributes generously to- wards its support.
J. C. ROBB. The history of this popular and well-known business man of King- fisher will be of interest to many of his fel- low-citizens. Just in the prime of early man- hood, he has achieved much for one of his Years, and dates his prosperity from the time when he cast in his lot with the inhabitants of this territory.
llis paternal grandfather. William Henderson Robb, was born in Ohio, and was of Scotch descent. At a very early day he settled in Illi- mois, and thenceforth was numbered among its agricultural class. He died at Prairie City, 111 .. in 1875, aged seventy years. He volunteered as a soldier in the war of 1812 and served with the rank of captain. His son, W. 11 .. father of 1. C. Robb, was born at Oquawka. Ill., and. hay- ing been admitted to the bar, was for many years engaged in practice at Leon, Iowa, meeting with marked success. He served as prosecuting at- torney for the county, and subsequently acted in the same capacity in Edwards county, Kans.,
for three terms. From 1881 to 1885 he was special deputy agent to the Indians, traveling in different parts of the west, and made the large settlement or payment to the Wisconsin tribes. At the close of that service he removed to Kinsley, Kans., and in 1892 came to Kingfisher. The following year he located upon a farm near Enid, and is engaged in practice in that town.
Fifteen years ago the death of our subject's mother occurred in Leon, lowa. Prior to her marriage she bore the name of Mary Harrah, her father being John N. Harrah, who was a native of Virginia, and of English descent. Hle was a pioneer of Ohio, and of Bushnell, 111 .. and died in that town in 1897, in his ninety-third year. Mrs. Mary Robb was born near Bushnell, and passed her lite in Illinois and Iowa. Of her ten children four are deceased. One son, Will- iam II .; an expert mechanic, has been in the United States navy for several years, serving on the monitor, "Monadnock," much of the time, and at present is in the navy yards at San Francisco, Cal.
The birthplace of J. C. Robb is in Leon, Iowa, and the date of his birth is April 30, 1866. He received excellent educational advantages in the grammar and high schools and subsequent to his graduation he entered Drake University. at Des Moines, where he pursued his studies for two years. In 1884 he took a position as con- missary clerk at Quapaw, 1. T., under his father, 'and discharged his duties very creditably. At the end of eighteen months, in 1885, he went to Kinsley, Kans., where he occupied a clerkship in the postoffice for a year. His next experience was in the railroad business, as he was placed in charge of the passengers' ticket office of the Santa Fe road at Colorado Springs, and later served in the interests of that company in Den- ver. Having acquired an excellent reputation for ability and reliability, he then received greater honors and trusts, in all of which he acquitted himself with credit.
On the opening day in Oklahoma Mir. Robb came to Kingfisher as local representative of the Santa Fe, the cross stage line, and the Wells- Fargo Express Company. In addition to this, he served as assistant to the postmaster. J. W. Mills, and in September, 1890, was made chief deputy of the United States marshal. William Grimes, Guthrie being his headquarters. On the roth of April. 1892, he located a claim on Cooper creek, ten miles northwest of King- fisher, and in September resigned his positions. in order to improve his property. In 1895 he was appointed under-sheriff by B. W. Burchett. and served in that capacity for two years. Po- litically he is a stanch Republican.
In July, 1807, Mr. Robb embarked in the grain business in Kingfisher, and in the follow-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing year erected the elevator known by his name. It has a capacity of twenty-five thou- sand bushels, and is operated by steam power. Within such a short time, the trade which Mr. Robb has built up in this locality is really won- derful, and rapidly increasing in, volume. In January, 1900, he handled over twenty-two cars a week at his elevator, shipments being chietly to southern and coast ports. He is a charter member of the Grain Dealers' Association of Oklahoma and Indian Territories, and in the winter of 1899-1900 was its secretary. In 1898 he opened a feed and seed store in the court- house block, in Kingfisher. This is by far the largest place of the kind in the county, and be- sides doing a large wholesale and retail business in flour and feed, he deals extensively in all kinds of seeds, including broom corn.
In 1890 Mr. Robb married one of Kingfish- er's popular young ladies, Miss Sally Belle Cleaver, daughter of Nathan B. Cleaver, a police justice of this city. She was born in Lebanon, Ohio, and received, a liberal education. Her father was a prominent citizen. of Lebanon, and served as sheriff of Warren county for some time. A little daughter, Helen, graces the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robb.
J. J. WEIMER, whose pleasant home is situ- ated in section 21, Cimarron township, Kingfisher county, came to this locality from Sumner county, Kans .. on the 22nd of April, 1889, and has been actively associated with the upbuilding of this territory, which, at no distant date, assuredly will be admitted to the sisterhood of states.
Of German ancestry, the Weimer family has lived in Pennsylvania for several generations, contributing largely to the welfare of that pros- perous state. They were numbered among the pioneers of Somerset county. Pa., and there oc- curred the birthis of our subject and his parents, Samuel and Priscilla (Mckenzie) Weimer. The mother passed to her reward at the age of three- score years, but the father is yet living upon the old homestead in his native county, and of their ten surviving children only two are in the west. the other being a resident of Buena Vista county, Iówa.
J. J. Weimer was born in 1855, and spent his boyhood in the usual occupations of farmers' sons. For several years after his marriage he lived in Frostburg, Md., and in 1881 came to the west, believing that his fortunes would thereby be bettered. For eight years or more he was actively engaged in farming, and met with fair success in his undertaking, yet he was glad to avail himself of a chance to locate in Oklahoma. On the day that this land of promise was opened
to home-seekers he made the race from Buffalo Springs, on the north, and secured the claim which he has since been occupied in improving. At first a board hut, six by eight feet in dimen- sions, served as a shelter, and later, a substan- tial dug-out, twelve by twenty feet, made a comfortable home for three winters. In time, this was supplanted by a better one, twenty by twenty-four feet in dimensions, and thus, step by step, the proprietor has advanced, prudently keeping out of debt, and providing for his family as well as his means would permit. He reserves only enough land for his orchard and pastures, planting the rest with wheat and corn. Three excellent wells and two hundred bearing trees are among the improvements which he has made on the place, and thus a sufficiency of pure water and a variety of fruit are assured. He keeps a good grade of live stock and has made somewhat of a specialty of feeding hogs.
Politically, Mr. Weimer is a Democrat, and for five years has been a member of the township board of officials. That he has attained success may be seen from a glance backward of eleven years, when he arrived in this territory $200 in debt, and .a glance at his desirable farm, which stands as a monument to his good management. In the fall of 1900 Mr. Weimer built a handsome residence, 18x31 feet, two stories in height. For several years he has been a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and both himself and wife have been specially interested in the work of the Sunday school, serving, respectively, as superintendent and teacher for years.
The marriage of Mr. Weimer and Miss Nancy Crow took place in Allegany county, Md., in 1881. Their eldest son, Reginald, is a resident of Cumberland, Md., and the others are at home. namely: Taney. Rellie, Benjamin, Myrtle Della and Roy.
J OHN G. WICK has been a resident of Oklahoma since its opening, and during the first eighteen months here lived upon a claim, but in 1891 came to El Reno, where he engaged in his occupation as a blacksmith. He is a native of Baden, Herdhen, Germany, his birth having occurred January 2, 1852.
Frederick Wick, father of our subject, was a farmer and stock raiser, and died when the lat- ter was a year old, and the mother, whose maiden name was Regina Steinegger, died in Fredericks- ville, Ill. She had two sons: our subject, and Frederick, who resides in Fredericksville, Ill. J. G. Wiek was a lad of twelve years when his mother brought her family to the United States. They sailed from Havre in the boat "Munsey." the voyage occupying fifty-eight days. Landing in New York City, they went to Highland, Madi-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
son county, Ill., where our subject began attend- ing school, and later in his youth, as he was busy learning his trade during the day, went to a night school. Beginning at nineteen years, he served ar apprenticeship of three years to the blacksmith's trade in Highland, and from there went to Geneseo, Ill., where he had a shop of his own. However, he only remained there until 1874, when he went to Marshalltown, Iowa, and opened a shop, and a year later engaged in business at Fountainelle, at first as an employe. In 1883 he sold his shop. and, going to Cali- fornia, started in business at Los Angeles, where he continued two years. At the end of that pe- riod he returned east to Sterling, Kans., where he followed his trade. In 1889 he located on a claim at Kingfisher, Okla., but after spending eighteen months tilling the soil, sold his farm to return to his trade. Locating in El Reno, he went into partnership with a MIr. Dowell, the firm name being Dowell & Wicks, but at the end of two years he bought out his partner, and has since been carrying on the business alone. His shop is located on Wade street, and having a thorough knowledge of his business, he has built up a large and lucrative trade. He owns his home, which he built on East Wade street.
Mr. Wick has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Melscena Leach of Iowa, and they had three children: Spencer J., Fountainelle, and William Oscar. His second union was with Miss Henriette Allen, a native of Michigan, and this marriage has resulted in the birth of three children, namely: Harold George: John D., who died at the age of fourteen months; and Lela. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he has served as noble grand, and is secretary of the Encampment. In polities he supports the Democrats. A member of the volunteer fire department of El Reno, Company No. 1, he has served as treasurer of the same for three terms; is one of the company's oldest members, and has attended many of the firemen's tournaments held in the territory.
H ON. GEORGE F. WATTSON, a veteran of the Civil war, who saw hard service throughout that dreadful conflict, is a prominent man of El Reno and is now serving as postmaster. During his long career he has held many offices of public trust, and never has failed to discharge his duties in a most satisfactory manner to his constituents.
Mr. Wattson was born in Adrian, Mich., Au- gust 19, 1843, and is a son of Charles R. and Jane (Mathews) Wattson. His grandfather was Job Wattson, who was born in Philadelphia. The latter was a glazier by trade, but later followed the hotel business. He was living at Adrian,
Mieli., at the time of his demise. The family is of English extraction and was early established in Philadelphia, where it was prominent in the Friends Society. Charles R. Wattson was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and when a young man moved to Adrian, Mich., where he was a commis- sion merchant. His first warehouse there was at the end of the Erie & Kalamazoo Railroad (now the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- road). He also engaged in the grain business until 1847, when he became totally biind and gave up his business. In 1852 he removed with his family to Delaware county, Iowa, and later to a farm seven miles east of Decorah, Iowa, in Winneshiek county. In 1865 he removed to Worth county, where his sons were living, and in 1872 went to Poway Valley, Cal., dying near San Diego at the age of sixty-eight years. Re- ligiously, he was of the Episcopal faith. He married Jane Mathews, who was born in Glamor- ganshire, Wales, and died in Michigan. Her father was a man of wealth and traveled round the world twice. The Mathews family record is traceable back to the ninth century, and its mem- bers have all been of high caliber. Mrs. Wattson died in 1847. Three children blessed this union: Edward, who went to California in 1859, and died at Port Townsend. Ore .: Charles Chauncy, and George F., whose name appears above. Charles C., who served in Company D. Third Iowa Infantry, lost an arm in the battle of Hatchies Run. He now lives at Poway Valley, Cal., and formerly was a member of the lower house of the California legislature.
George F. Wattson was reared in Michigan. where he lived until 1852, when he went to Iowa and worked upon the farm. In May, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Fifth Iowa Infantry, and was mustered into the army in July, at Burling- ton, Iowa. He served in the engagements at Fort Madrid. Iuka, Corinth, siege of Vicksburg. Champion Hill, Black River Bridge, and at Jack- son, Miss. After the siege of Vicksburg he was taken sick and upon his recovery was placed on detail duty at Memphis for six months, by Gen- eral Hulbert. He rejoined his regiment at Huntsville, Ala., and was at Kingston when his term of enlistment expired, receiving his honora- ble discharge in August, 1864, at Clinton, Iowa. In September of the same year he re-enlisted in Company M, Fifth Iowa Cavalry, a consolidated regiment, and was sent south. He served at Spring Hill, Franklin, Nashville and Duck River, and followed Hood to Tennessee, then to Alabama. He was at Selma, Montgomery, and Macon, going to Macon with Wilson. It was a great cavalry raid with such men as Generals Forrest and Wheeler to contend with, and many stores and towns, including Selma. Columbus and Macon, were captured by the Federals.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Soon after the close of the war the regiment was sent here and there until finally mustered out in Nashville; receiving an honorable discharge at Clinton, lowa. He was never seriously wounded, but was slightly injured many times and had many narrow escapes. After the war he engaged in the mercantile business at Northwood, Worth county, Iowa, for two years, then started in the drug business there. He continued in that voca- tion for nine years, and in the meantime, in 1873, was elected sheriff of Worth county. He held that office for six years, then was mayor for one year, and served in the council for three or four years. In. 1881 he was appointed postmaster of Northwood, Iowa, and after holding that office a year resigned, and in 1883 was elected repre- sentative of the eighty-sixth district, comprising three counties. He served in the twentieth gen- eral assembly, which re-elected Allison to the United States senate, was chairman of different improvement committees, and was very active in the work of that session, but refused a renomina- tion for that office. Having drawn up a railroad measure to strengthen the railroad commission and give the state the power to bring suit, he secured its passage, and it not only now is the law of Iowa, but also was adopted by Wisconsin and other states. It compels railroads to run trains over the roads where they hold a charter. thus establishing a precedent which originated with him. He continued in the drug business at Northwood until 1888, when he was burned out. and in the fall of 1889 removed to Vernon, Tex .. because of poor health. He engaged in the real estate business there until March, 1892, when he located at El Reno. There he was employed in the same line of business, and in a short time located a claim in Canadian county, which he improved. Later returning to El Reno, he was appointed postmaster of El Reno in July, 1897, in which capacity he has since efficiently served. Mr. Wattson was married in Northwood, lowa, to Felixem Wardali, who was born in Springfield, Ill., and died in El Reno in 1895. They had four sons and one daughter. as follows: George H., who is in the hardware business at Chamberlain, S. D .: Mrs. Carrie G. Gunn, of El Reno: Charles G., chief elerk in the El Reno postoffice: Robert K., and Kenneth E. He formed a second matrimonial alliance at El Reno with Mrs. Ada Birney, a native of New Hamp- shire.
Initiated into the Masonic order at North- wood, Iowa, Mr. Wattson now is a Royal Arch Mason of El Reno. He now belongs to El Reno Post No. 7, G. A. R., and is past commander of the lowa post to which he formerly belonged. He is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he is a Repub- lican and is president of the El Reno Club.
A. J. THOMPSON, the present popular post- master of Okarche, and one of the leading business men of this place, was born in Crawford county, Pa., and is a son of George and Eliza (Gearlieart) Thompson, natives of Ver- mont and Pennsylvania, respectively. In early life the father moved to the Keystone State, and in 1841 to MeHenry county, Ill., where he spent the remainder of his life, both he and his wife dying there at the age of eighty-four years. He was a member of a Vermont regiment in the war of 1812, and was a farmer by occupation. In his family were ten children, eight of whom are still living.
On the home farin in McHenry county, Ill., A. J. Thompson grew to manhood. Soon after attaining his majority the Civil war broke out and he enlisted in Company F, Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry at the first call for troops. He was on detached duty most of the time in the commissary department at Memphis and New Orleans, but participated in the battle of Shiloh, with his regiment, and was wounded in that en- gagement. After three years of faithful service, he was honorably discharged at Springfield, Ill., in 1864.
Mr. Thompson spent the next three years in Colorado and Nebraska. He was engaged in trading, merchandising and mining in Alpine, Tin Cup and Frisco, Colo., and carried on milling at MeCook, Neb., for five years. He made the race for a claim when this section of the territory was opened up, April 19, 1892, and located on what is now the Henry Bumhoff farm, near Okarche, but finding his claim disputed, he soon left it and settled in Okarche, where he raised a tent, 18x48 feet, and commenced dealing in fuel and agricultural implements. The same fall he built a warehouse, and has since enlarged his place of business to meet the growing demands of his trade. Ile carries a large and well-selected stock of farm machinery, and also deals in grain and coal. Ilere he has steadily prospered and is to-day quite well-to-do. Besides his business property, he owns a comfortable and commodi- ous home, and another nice residence in the vil- lage, also two or three good farms aggregating four hundred and eighty acres.
In Oklahoma City, Mr. Thompson married Mrs. Mary Rainey, who died in Okarche, leaving two daughters, Myrtle and Mary. He was one of the organizers and a prominent member of Sherron Post No. 27. G. A. R., of which he is past commander, and also a member of Pawnee Tribe No. 17, I. O. R. M., of which he is the present sachem. While not a politician, he takes an active interest in politics, is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and has been a member of the county central committee from Harrison township. He is now efficiently serving as post-
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
master of Okarche, having been appointed to that office by President McKinley. He has taken an active part in the upbuilding and development of the town, was the first to erect a dwelling there, gave the use of his tent for the first religious service, helped to build the first church, and has been first in business undertakings generally.
R. S. TRULOCK is one of the gentlemen who exercise their influence and invest their capital in such a manner as to ad- vance the conditions of Oklahoma, and he enjoys the reputation of being one of El Reno's most progressive and enterprising citizens. He was born August 11, 1868, near Pine Bluff, Ark., and is a son of N. B. Trulock, and grandson of James Trulock.
The Trulocks originated in England, and the family settled in Maryland at an early day, from which state several of the name moved to Geor- gia. James Trulock was born in the state last mentioned, where he was a planter until 1849, when he moved to a plantation nine miles below Pine Bluff, Ark., there living until death claimed him in the year prior to the Civil war. He mar- ried Miss Amanda Beardsley, who was a native of Connecticut, and whose ancestors were in the Revolutionary war. N. B. Trulock was born near Brunswick, Ga., and after the Civil war he and his brother, J. B. Trulock, engaged in the banking and real estate business at Pine Bluff, Ark. He married Miss Marianna Phelps Lewis, of Bridgeport, Conn., and a daughter of Joseph C. Lewis, also a native of Connecticut. He was a carriage manufacturer at Bridgeport, but had his main office in New York City. Isaac Lewis, her grandfather, was a silversmith at Bridgeport. The Lewis family originated in Wales, and the first of the line who came to America was a passenger in the "Mayflower," in 1620. Our subject's mother is still living and is a devoted member of the Episcopalian Church. Of the three children born to N. B. Trulock and wife, our subject and Walter N. are still living. The latter is a cotton buver at Pine Bluff. Ark.
R. S. Trulock received his early schooling at Pine Bluff, Ark., and at fifteen went to Bridge- port, Conn., to enter Park Avenue Institute. there to prepare for college, but after he arrived at Bridgeport his ambition to earn his own live- lihood led him to seek employment in a gas plant, of which his father was a large stockholder. Hle secured a position and by the time he was "(Venteen was manager of the same for his father. When that plant was sold, he began clerking in a hardware store, and at the end of a year became billing clerk in a wholesale grocery, in which his father was interested. He retained that position three years, and in 1894 came to El Reno, to
take charge of the El Reno Ice and Coal Com- pany, in which his father, uncle and himself are interested. Their plant covers about five acres, on which they have a large cold-storage house and several artificial wells. This company ships ice to all parts of the territory, and uses the Boyle improved ice machinery, which can turn out seventy-five tons per day. Our subject is a men- ber of the Southwestern Ice Manufacturing As- sociation, and also is interested in the grain business, being a stockholder in the Choctaw Mill and Elevator Company, which was organ- ized in. 1897. This company buys a large amount of grain during the year, and besides having an elevator in El Reno they have no less than eight 'elevators located at different points along the Choctaw Railroad. The Trulocks also own con- siderable real estate in and around El Reno. Their success is due to good business ability and untiring energy, and honest and straightforward business methods have won for them hosts of friends, who hold them in high esteem.
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