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 30
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
Mr. Howe gained considerable practical busi- ness experience from his association with the Welcome grocery store in Guthrie, under the management of Mr. Clark, and later turned his attention to general farming, working for a time with his father and subsequently with N. Foster. February 12, 1899, he was united in marriage with Jessie A. Trout, a daughter of William O. and Dilla (Morton) Trout. In January of the same year he purchased the site of his present home, located on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 2, township 17, range 2 west, Logan county. Since taking possession of his land the Eastern Oklahoma Railroad has made an invasion, the intention being to erect a station on one corner of his property, to be called Russell Station. This will. of course, be a matter of great convenience to the surrounding residents, a fact with which Mr. Howe consoles himself when somewhat re- gretting the mutilated condition of his premises.
Mr. Howe entertains liberal ideas regarding politics, and usually votes for the man that he considers the best. He has no political aspira- tions and is content to leave to others the man- agement of the political wheels. His fraternal associations are with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Lodge No. I, and with the Giant Oaks, Lodge No. 1, at Guthrie.
Mr. and Mrs. Howe are active members of the Christian Church, of which Mr. Howe is a dea-
189
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
con and toward whose charities he is a liberal subscriber. He is wide-awake and enterprising, and although, comparatively speaking, a young man, he has already evinced thie qualities requi- site for reliable and substantial citizenship. A daughter, Ruth Alfaretta, born May 21, 1900, blesses his marriage.
A. A. HUMPHREY has resided within the borders of Oklahoma since the time of its opening, April 22. 1889, and today he is one of Guthrie's wide-awake and shrewd business nten. He is prominently connected with various enterprises in Guthrie. His fellow-citizens have honored him with a seat in the city council for the past six years, and he served as president most of the time. He is a native of Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa, where he was born December 19, 1853, and is a son of P. D. Humphrey.
. The Humphrey family is of Scotch extraction, and our subject's grandfather was the family immigrant to Cedar county, Iowa, having moved there from Columbus, Ohio, in 1848. Although he carried on agricultural pursuits, he also offici- ated in the pulpit of the Methodist Church in Tipton. He died at the age of ninety years. P. D. Humphrey was born in Columbus, Ohio, but came with his father to Cedar county, Iowa, where, in later years, he started the first nursery in the county. In 1871 he started a nursery in Story county, Iowa, but in 1885 disposed of both nurseries. He was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Downing, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Preston Downing, who set- tled in Cedar county, Iowa, in his early life. She died in 1865, leaving a husband and eight chil- dren, all of whom are still living.
His early training, which he received in the comnion schools of his native district, Mr. Hum- phrey supplemented with a course in Grinnell College, and in 1871 he took charge of his father's nursery in Nevada, Iowa. He continued there until the business was disposed of in 1885. after which he went to Des Moines, Iowa, and carried on a loan business. Upon the opening of Oklahoma he settled in Guthrie, where he is now prominently engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, in the latter representing the following companies: Springfield. Hart- ford. Phoenix of Hartford. Pennsylvania Fire. Sun Fire of London, New York Underwriters, Scottish Union of Edinburgh, Phoenix. Brook- lyn: Milwaukee Mechanics, and Lloyd's Plate Glass. Of this latter insurance company he is general agent for Oklahoma. A public-spirited citizen, he is actively engaged in furthering and fostering worthy enterprises. He was one of the promoters and is now a director of the Ark- ansas, California & Gulf Railroad, which he
helped to promote and which is to run from Atoqua through Guthrie to the northwest.
At Mapleton, Iowa, Mr. Humphrey married Miss Anna Frary, a native of Wisconsin, and a graduate of the Iowa State Agricultural College at Ames, Iowa. In politics Mr. Humphrey is an ardent and unswerving Republican, and one of his party's representative men. He was a mem- ber of the first council and helped to organize East Guthrie and Capitol Hill. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows (to which his father also belonged), Knights of Py- thias, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He as- sisted in the organization of the first board of trade in Guthrie and is a prominent member of the Guthrie Club. Mrs. Humphrey is an active member of the Congregational Church.
L OOMIS G. MEIGS, an enterprising far- mer of Canadian county, has taken an active part in the upbuilding of his com- munity and is highly respected by all of his neighbors and associates. He is a native of Fond du Lac county, Wis., his birth having occurred October 14, 1862. With his parents, Ebenezer and Mary (Babcock) Meigs, he resided until he was about eighteen years of age, his home being in the city of Fond du Lac for some time. Then he found employment as a bridge builder, giving his time to that branch of industry for several years. Later he went to Ogle county, Ill., where he engaged in farining during one season.
In 1885 Mr. Meigs wisely concluded to come to the west, as he believed that better opportuni- ties awaited him here. For about two years he was occupied in agricultural labors in Reno county, Kans., and then. having learned of the fine, fertile land in Oklahoma, he decided to await the opening of the territory, and in the meantime he lived in Kansas and upon a squat- ter's claim, which he took up, in No Man's Land.
Since June. 1889, Mr. Meigs has dwelt in Canadian county, and for a period a dug-out was his only shelter. His property, which has been much improved during the eleven years it has been in his possession, is located on the south- eastern quarter of section 34. township 14. range 6. He frequently has found his practical knowl- edge as a carpenter of great use to him, and his services as such have been in demand wherever he has lived since reaching maturity.
The wife of Mr. Meigs was also one of the plucky pioneers of Oklahoma, as she came to this territory in 1889 and took up a homestead claim, being granted a deed thereto. The place is on the northeastern quarter of section 13. township 13. range 6 west, but it has now passed into other hands, as Mrs. Meigs sold it a few
190
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
years ago. She was Miss Alice Gragg prior to her marriage, and Shelby county, Ill., is her birthplace. She is a daughter of Charles and Harriet (Lowe) Gragg, and accompanied them in their removal to Kansas in 1883. In that state also she took and proved up a pre-emption claim. On the 5th of June. 1895. she became the wife of our subject. As the sod-house in which she then was living was comfortable, the young couple made it their home for some time, and their only child. Edith Lucy, was born in that humble abode. They now have a larger and pleasanter residence. During 1900 our subject purchased eighty acres adjoining his home place, and now resides on the eighty-acre tract.
Politically Mr. Meigs is independent and en- tirely without ambition to occupy public posi- tions. When living in Kansas he became a mem- ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Religiously he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and has officiated as a deacon in his own congregation.
The father of the subject of this sketch, Eben- ezer Meigs, was born July 25, 1823, in High- gate, Vt., and in 1856 he went to Fond du Lac, Wis. Four years subsequently he wedded Miss Babcock, and two sons blessed their union. Lu- ther, who is a progressive farmer, is a resident of the state of Washington. For three years Eben- ezer Meigs served as deputy sheriff of Fond du Lac county, Wis. He is still living, honored and revered by all acquaintances, and makes his home with our subject.
A LBERT W. LAKE., The Lake family, of which Albert W. is a worthy representa- tive, was numbered among the inhabitants of Virginia for some time. His father, Thornton Lake, removed from his home in the Old Domin- ion to Warren county, Ohio, and there occurred the birth of Albert W. Lake March 2, 1842. Fourteen years later two important events in the life of the youth took place-the family's removal to Indianapolis, Ind., and the death of the mother -Mrs. Abigail (Seagraves) Lake. The father. who was carrying on a successful blacksmithing business, soon married again, and the son con- cluded to make his own way in the world thence- forth.
Going to Ohio and thence to Pennsylvania. he entered the employ of some cattle drovers at Harrisburg, and was sent on business to Kan- sas. Later he returned as far east as Ohio and then engaged in feeding and shipping cattle to the city markets. Afterward he went to eastern Tennessee, where he worked in the timbered lo- cality, getting lumber. Before he realized the great crisis imminent in the country, war was declared, and, as he was in a region hostile to all
northerners, he had great difficulty in getting safely across the division line. Part of the way north he escaped by concealing himself on a boat and going to Cairo, III., he then went to Mat- toon, in the same state. Soon he returned to In- dianapolis to visit his father and to make ar- rangements for enlisting in the Union army.
Becoming a private in Company B, Eighth Indiana Infantry, Mr. Lake commenced an army career that extended over four years and one month. He took part in the battles of Pea Ridge and Peach Mountain, and was actively engaged in the siege of Vicksburg. During the famous charge of May 22, 1863. a shell burst in front of the place where he happened to be and his eyes were injured and his eyebrows singed. Soon afterward he was promoted to the post of cor- poral. At Port Gibson his going after some water was the signal for an attack which finally merged into a fierce battle. Later he was en- gaged in the battles of Raymond, Jackson. Champion Hill. Black River, Bayou Lafourche. La .; and at Point Isabel, Tex., was among the forces who captured Fort Esperanza, built by General Scott. He then went home on a fur- lough, and, having veteranized, he returned to the south. and from New Orleans his regiment was sent on a transport to Washington, a nine days' trip. Joining Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley, the regiment was at Cedar Creek when the commander made his famous ride from Win- chester. After the engagements of Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek Mr. Lake and his comrades re- turned to the south and served under General Sherman. He was honorably discharged Sep- tember 21, 1865.
The marriage of our subject and Mary J., daughter of Timothy and Rachel (Thompson) Morgan, was solemnized February 15, 1866. She was born in Hancock county, Ind., and at the time of her marriage resided in Fulton county, same state. Of their children six survive. namely: Laura, who married Michael Wheeler. now of Dewey county, Okla., and has four chil- dren: Nora A. (a deaf mute), who is at home: Stella, wife of Milton Ewing, of this township. and mother of three children: Oscar, who is a member of Company L. First United States In- fantry, now stationed at Jefferson Barracks, Mo .: Ida, who is at home; and Benjamin Harrison. The latter was born on the day that Harrison was nominated for President, and, as Mr. Lake had been well acquainted with him since the stormy war period, he named his son in his honor.
For the score of years which followed the close of the war Mr. Lake lived in Indiana, en- gaged in farming, in Fulton, Cass, Miami, Han- cock, Shelby and Kosciusko counties. He then went to Maryville, Mo., where he turned his at-
1
.
-
HON. J. H. PARKER, Kingfisher.
4
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
oh 193
tention to teaming for a year, and subsequently he raised vegetables near Wichita and delivered the produce of his farm to regular customers in the city. In 1889 he came to Oklahoma, mak- ing the run from Buffalo Springs, and October 15, after several futile attempts to locate a farm, secured his present place on section 22, town- ship 13, range 6 west, Canadian county. For six months he lived in a tent, and then built a sod- house, which sheltered his family until 1899. when he erected a comfortable frame house. 16x26 feet in dimensions. He has instituted nu- merous valuable improvements upon the place. which is now ranked among the valuable pieces of property here. His grandfather had been a slave-owner in Virginia, and he was reared in the Democratic creed, but he turned his alle- giance to the opposite party. He has been a loyal worker among the Republicans. and the first political convention ever held in Canadian county was assembled in his own humble sod- house. Fraternally he is a member of Captain Payne Post No. 9, G. A. R., and has occupied all the official positions in the same.
H ON. J. H. PARKER. The family of which this well-known resident of Kingfisher is a member, was founded in America in the fall of 1633, at which time William Parker crossed from England and settled in Dover. N. H. Shortly afterward he became one of the original proprietors of Hartford, Conn .. and served as a deputy to the general court of Con- necticut. During the Pequod war he enlisted in the service and assisted in driving the treacher- ous Pequods from the vicinity. His son. Jo- seph. married Hannah Gilbard (or Gilbert), and their son, Jonathan, a prominent worker in the Congregational Church, married Eleanor Post. Next in line of descent was Matthew, a large land owner of Saybrook, Conn., and a member of the Connecticut militia. By his marriage to Edith Houls, Matthew Parker had a son, James. whose birth occurred in 1764, and who married. in Vermont, Mary Peck, of Woodbridge, Conn. In 1789 he settled in Vermont, and in 1804 he entered the ministry of the Congregational Church, to which his subsequent active years Were devoted. Much of his work was of a home missionary character. With his saddle bags. lie was accustomed to travel for miles, on horse- back, through the sparsely settled regions of Vermont, ministering to the spiritual welfare of the settlers. He married a daughter of Lieut. Thomas and Rebecca Peck, the former a par- ticipant in the Revolutionary war until his death.
The oldest child of Rev. James Parker was Sophronia, who became the wife of E. M.
Royce. The second child and oldest son, Homer Elihu, was a very prominent statesman of Ver- mont, and twice represented his district as mem- ber of congress, after which for twenty years he was associate justice of the supreme court of Vermont. Ami James, a son of Rev. James Parker, was born July 24, 1802, and was li- censed to the ministry September 30, 1828, and ordained on the last day of the same year. Ac- cepting a pastorate at Danville, Canada, he gave his time assiduously to building up a congrega- tion and church. His work was faithfully done. with a self-sacrificing devotion to the cause of Christianity. That his efforts were appreciated is shown by his long service in the same pastor- ate, for he remained at Danville forty-one years, retiring only when advancing years rendered it unwise for liim to continue in charge of heavy responsibilities. He is remembered in that town as a man of irreproachable character, and one whose influence worked powerfully for the cause he professed; his own life was so self-sacrific- ingly given to the Lord's work that he won even the most indifferent to a sympathy previ- ously unknown. He died in Danville, October 28, 1877.
The marriage of Rev. Mr. Parker took place in Vermont, August 6, 1829, and united him with Evelyn Squire, of Fairhaven, that state, who died in Danville in April, 1886. To their union were born eight children, those besides J. H. being as follows: Maria S., of Danville: Mi- randa L .. wife of Rev. John McKillican, of Mon- treal; Mary, who died at six years; Martha Ann. who married W. W. Telfer and died in 1863; Edward James, a produce merchant residing in South Hero, Vt .: and Edna Mary, wife of Rev. David Watkins, now living in Mexico.
In Danville, where he was born February 20, 1848. J. H. Parker received his primary educa- tion in public schools and prepared for college in the academy. In the spring of 1866 he ma- triculated in Middlebury College in Vermont, from which he graduated in 1869 with the de- gree of A. B. Five years later the degree of A. M. was conferred upon him. From 1869 to 1870 he taught school as principal of an academy at Chester, \'t. He then entered Chicago The- ological Seminary, from which he graduated in 1873 with the degree of B. D. In September of that year he was ordained to the Congrega- tional ministry at Vermontville, Mich., and en- tered upon the duties of pastor of the church in that place. During his pastorate there he mar- ried Miss Carrie A. Griswold, who was born in Vermontville, and whose father, Roger W. Gris- wold, was one of the original colony from Ver- mont that settled and named Vermontville.
The fall of 1874 found Mr. Parker pastor of the Congregational Church in Pontiac, Mich.,
10
194
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
where he was stationed until 1876. He then accepted a position in Bay City, Mich., where he was the first pastor of the Congregational Church of that place and had charge of the building of a house of worship. For almost four years he labored in that locality, meeting with excellent results. Afterward he spent a few months in northern Michigan, recuperating his health and engaging in missionary work. Dur- ing 1880 he accepted a pastorate in Peoria, Ill. After two years he went to Atlanta, Ga., where for a year he had charge of the work of the Y. M. C. A. Meantime he organized a Congre- gational Church in that city, and he resigned his position with the Association in order to be- come pastor of the church, afterward continu- ing with that congregation for eighteen months. He then spent eight months in Storm Lake, Iowa.
During the fall of 1884 Mr. Parker became pastor of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Wichita, Kans. He continued there until 1888, after which he was for six months in charge of Bethany Church, Chicago, Ill. Dur- ing his stay in Wichita he was president of the board of trustees of Fairmount College and of- ficiated in that capacity until his removal to Oklahoma. During the summer of 1889 he ac- cepted an appointment as superintendent of the work in Oklahoma and came to Guthrie, where he started the first church in the territory. De- cember 22, 1889, he officiated at the organiza- tion of a Congregational church in King- fisher, which was the second congregation organized in the territory. As pastor of this church he continued for two years, meantime carrying on the general work. He organized congregations at El Reno, Downs, Hennessey, Seward and other towns, and it is largely due to his efforts that there are now eighty church organizations in Oklahoma.
In the fall of 1890 Mr. Parker organized Kingfisher Academy. and was chosen president of the board of trustees. Five years later he organized Kingfisher College, with himself as president of the board. In 1896 the building of needed college structures was begun, and from that time to this the work has moved stead- ily forward. It is worthy of note that this is the oldest educational institution in the entire territory. The success of the work is due to the efforts of Mr. Parker, assisted by the gener- ous and public-spirited citizens of Kingfisher. Besides the college and academy, he is also in- terested in the academy at Carrier, Garfield county, which was founded in 1808: and one at Jennings, Pawnee county, which was estab- lished in 1899.
Under appointment from Governor Steele. in 1890, Mr. Parker became county superintendent
of Kingfisher county, and this position he filled for two years. He was then appointed by Gov- ernor Seay as territorial superintendent of pub- lic instruction and as auditor, to fill a vacancy caused by the death of the superintendent, J. H. Lawhead, the first to hold the office in the terri- tory. In 1893 he was reappointed to the posi- tion, the appointment being confirmed by the territorial council. During his incumbency of the office, he succeeded in effecting a number of improvements of a very desirable nature. Among these may be mentioned the revision oi the educational laws through legislation, by means of which schools were graded and other improvements introduced. In the fall of 1893 he retired from the office. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, always supporting the prin- ciples of the party. Fraternally, he is connected with the Masons and Odd Fellows.
The home of Mr. Parker adjoins the city of Kingfisher and comprises sixty acres, with an orchard of bearing fruits and other improve- ments. He and his wife are the parents of six children: Winifred Edna, who is the wife of C. Frank Pronty, of Kingfisher; Harriet Evelyn, who is the wife of Guy L. Camden, and lives in Washington, D. C .; Mary Adella, who gradi- ated from Kingfisher College in the class of 1900, and represented this institution in an ora- torical contest participated in by representatives of the various educational institutions of Okla- homa; Grace Graham, who is a member of the class of 1904, Kingfisher College; Gertrude Griswold, and Gail Marguerite.
W R. KELLEY, the present able sheriff of Kingfisher county, is one of our most patriotic citizens. He proved his devo- tion to his country in the time of her deep need. and in the peaceful, prosperous years that have since elapsed he has equally stood at the post of dutty, giving an example well worthy of emula- tion.
Born near Pleasant Gap, Bates county, Mo .. February 24. 1842, W. R. Kelley is a son of Daniel Kelley, whose birth occurred in Barron county, Ky., in 1803. He, in turn, was a son of Dennis Kelley, a native of Ireland, who, upon coming to this continent, located in North Caro- lina, and later joined a band of troops of Revolu- tionary patriots from that state, fighting for the independence of the American colonies. When success had been attained by the young country Mr. Kelley joined the tide of advancing civiliza- tion which was tending toward the great, almost unknown, northwest, and became one of the brave pioneers of Barron county, Ky. As early as 1822 Daniel Kelley went to Fulton county, Ill .. to live, and sixteen years later located upon wild
195
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
land in Bates county, Mo. Thus he was one of the pioneers of the prairie state, and for sixteen years was actively associated with its develop- ment, and was twenty years in Missouri. During the last fourteen years of his life he dwelt in Linn and Wilson counties, Kans., the last five years being spent in Wilson county. He was twice married, and of the three children born to his first union none survives. The mother of our subject was Nancy, daughter of Jacob Lutzen- heiser, who came from Germany with his wife and settled on land which later was part of the corporation of Pittsburg. Pa., and for years he carried on a flouring mill, run by water-power. Mrs. Kelley departed this life in 1860, and of her five children two sons and two daughters are left to revere her memory.
In the youth of our subject he attended the old-fashioned subscription school of Missouri, held in a primitive log cabin, and that only for a four months' winter term. In 1858 he removed to Linn county, Kans., where he worked on the home farm until the war came on. His father was a strong abolitionist, and was actively asso- ciated with local home-guard companies during the great border troubles. The patriotic spirit which filled his breast was mirrored in his sons, and both responded to the call of their country. Albert G., now a resident of California, served in the Seventeenth Kansas Infantry.
On the Ist of September, 1861. W. R. Kelley volunteered in Company D. Sixth Kansas Cav- alry, and took the oath of fidelity at Fort Scott, amid the roar of artillery, for the Confederates were in full force in that immediate district, and. within an hour after pledging himself to the Union, the young soldier was ordered "to horse" and to the front. For more than three years he saw active service, taking part in numerous skir- mishes and battles, including those of Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, and Maysville, Ark. On two oc- casions he was struck with spent balls, and, con- sequently, was not seriously injured. On the 24th of November, 1864, he was mustered out of the service as a sergeant, for he had risen from the ranks by bravery and general reliability.
While the war was in progress Mr. Kelley bought a farm in Linn county. Kans., and culti- vated the place from 1865 to 1869, when he re- moved to Wilson county, Kans .. settling upon a farm situated eight miles from Fredonia, and this place, then practically unimproved, became wonderfully productive and desirable under his able management. On the 19th of April, 1892, he came to Kingfisher county and took up a claim on section 18, township 15, range 9, and this property, which he still owns, is now a valuable. well improved country home, the more esteemed for its proximity to Kingfisher creek. Three of his children own quarter-section farms adjoin-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.