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 31
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
ing, and a son owns a fine farm in Blaine county, on the South Canadian river.
In 1883 Mr. Kelley was elected sheriff of Wil- son county, and at the expiration of his term was re-elected, giving entire satisfaction to all. Since coming to this locality he has acted as a school director in Altoona township, and here, as for- merly, in Wilson county, has materially assisted in the building of schoolhouses. In 1896 he was nominated on the Republican ticket to the office of sheriff, but was defeated by a majority of one hundred and forty-four votes, on account of a fusion ticket. When better known throughout this region he was elected sheriff, his majority being three hundred and thirty-eight votes and a fusion ticket again being in the field. In Janu- ary, 1899, when he entered upon his new duties here, he removed to Kingfisher and bought some property in the city. He was re-elected in November, 1900, for a term of two years. He is popular with all law-abiding citizens and is an honored member of the Oklahoma Sheriffs' As- sociation. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and a member of Kingfisher Post No. 2, G. A. R.
The marriage of Mr. Kelley and Nancy E. Anderson took place in Linn county, Kans., in 1866. She is a native of Macoupin county. Ill., and a daughter of J. W. Anderson, whose death occurred in Wilson county, Kans., in 1899. Dur- ing the Civil war he served in the Federal army as a private in a Missouri regiment, and at Lex- ington, Mo., was captured by the enemy, but later was released on parole. Of the six chil- dren who bless the union of our subject and wife, Charles M., the eldest, holds the office of deputy sheriff and jailer of Kingfisher county. Walter B., the younger son, is a successful far- mer of Blaine county, and during the Spanish- American war served in the First Oklahoma Regiment. Mary E. is engaged in teaching in the city schools of Kingfisher. Emma M. is a teacher in Blaine county, and Laura is num- bered among the teachers of this county, while Carrie M. is yet a member of the parental house- hold.
R. J. KESTER. The history of Kingfisher would indeed be incomplete without men- tion of the public-spirited endeavors of Mr. Kester, who, as manager and proprietor of the Kester bus line, livery and sale stable, and blacksmith shop, has contributed not a little towards the convenience, progress and upbuild- ing of the town of his adoption. Since taking up his residence here in April of 1889 the vari- ous lines of his activity have been flatteringly successful, and the public have come to have an appreciation of his upright and reliable methods of conducting business. In keeping with the
196
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
constantly increasing patronage, he has contrib- uted to the agreeable aspect of the town by erect- ing a homelike and commodious residence, and has in many other ways indicated his desire to be foremost in all that pertains to the advancement of the general good.
The Kester family figured prominently in the early history of Pennsylvania, and the paternal grandfather was born there. He was a Quaker, and a devout and industrious man, as were his ancestors before him. R. J. Kester was born in Philadelphia May 5, 1855, and was a son of Wil- liam Y. and Eliza (Buckus) Kester. William Kester was a merchant tailor in Philadelphia, and served with distinction during the war of 1861-65. enlisting in a Pennsylvania volunteer regiment. After the cessation of hostilities he settled in Frankford, Pa., and in 1878 moved to Roanoke, Va., where he continued to be engaged in the merchant tailoring business until his death. His wife was of Scotch-Irish descent, and was a daughter of Reuben Buckus, a meat dealer of Philadelphia. She died in Virginia. Of her nine children eight reached maturity. the oldest of whom, and the only one to remove to the west, was the subject of this sketch.
Mr. Kester was reared in Pennsylvania and de- rived his education in the public schools of Frankford, a suburb of Philadelphia. When four- teen years of age he began to earn his own living while learning the tailor's trade from his father. In 1878 he sought the west as a more promising field for his efforts, and settled in Dodge City, Kans., where for several years he served as dep- uty sheriff. Subsequently he spent some time in different parts of Kansas and Texas, until. in 1889, he permanently located in Kingfisher. His residence was at first located one and a half miles southeast of the town. on Uncle John's creek, where he diligently applied himself to improv- ing his land, and upon which he lived for five years, finally selling his farm and moving on to the town of Kingfisher. He now owns a farm thirteen miles northeast of the city, which is highly improved and a source of considerable revenue to its owner.
.
In 1804 Mr. Kester started in the livery and sale stable business, and instituted the Kester bus line, which meets all trains upon their ar- rival in and departure from the town. His barn is located a half block from the Kingfisher hotel and one block from the United States land and postoffice. While owning and running the black- smith shop, he has a master of the trade in charge. who makes a specialty of horse-shoeing. Mr. Kester makes a special study of the breeding of standard-bred horses, and is the possessor of some valuable specimens of horse flesh. Among others may be mentioned. Kittie Kester, sired by Commodore Wilkes, who has a record of 2:21
and is one of the fastest horses in the territory. He also owns Major K., a five-year-old, which are but two of a large array of expensive and reliable breed of thoroughbreds.
Mr. Kester was married in Dodge City, Kans .. to Nellie White, a native of England, and they have one child, Frank B., now living in Arkan- sas. Fannie Kester, an adopted child, is living at home. Mr. Kester is now serving his fourth term as a member of the city council for the First ward, and he has been chairman of the finance committee. In political affiliation he is con- nected with the Republican party, but holds very liberal ideas regarding the politics of the admin- istration. Fraternally he is associated with the Knights of Pythias. He is esteemed for his many admirable and progressive traits of character and his liberality and broad-mindedness when deal- ing with public questions of the day.
C HARLES E. JONES. The ancestors of the Jones family were industrious agricul- turists among the mountains of Wales, and when the paternal grandfather brought his little family over the seas in search of better condi- tions in America he brought with him the thrift. industry and cleanly morality of the hardy moun- taineers. He settled in Newark, Ohio, and en- gaged in general farming until his death. His son, D. D. Jones. the father of Charles E .. was born in Wales, and was but eight years of age when the family came to the United States. Dur- ing the Civil war he enlisted in the Twenty- seventh Ohio Infantry and served for nearly four years, being engaged most of the time up and down the Mississippi river. After the war he
became interested in farming in Illinois, near . Norris, but removed to Creston, Iowa, in 1887. and engaged in general merchandise business. Fraternally he is a Mason and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife was for- merly Louise M. Evans, of Newark, Ohio, a daughter of Evan Evans, born in North Wales and an early settler in Newark. They were the parents of three children, of whom Charles E. was the third child and only son.
.C. E. Jones was born December 8. 1866. and was reared on his father's farm in Illinois until his tenth year, when the family moved to Iowa. His education was derived in the public schools. at which he diligently studied, and at Lenox Academy in Iowa. In 1886 he started out in life for himself and engaged with the Chicago, Bur- lington & Quincy Railroad Company as an oper- ator on the west Iowa division, where he re- mained until 1880. At this time he went to the Black Hills and operated on the Q system until 1800, when he changel to the Chicago & Rock Island, with headquarters at Marion, Kans. IIe
1
1
of 199
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
also served in the capacity of relief agent at sev- eral points on the road until 1893. when a posi- tion was offered him as bill elerk in the freight department at Wichita, Kans. The latter posi- tion he retained until 1895, when he succeeded to his present and responsible position as freight agent at Kingfisher. Under his wise manage- ment, since 1899 the business has increased five times over. The shipments include immense quantities of wheat ; and Kingfisher is the largest shipping point of the Chicago & Rock Island road in the territory.
In 1891 Mr. Jones married Geneva Reese, daughter of John Reese, a farmer in Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Jones have been born three chil- dren, two of whom are living-Ross and Keith. Pearl died at the age of two and a half years. Mrs. Jones is an ardent worker in the Presby- terian church. Fraternally Mr. Jones is asso- ciated with the Royal Arch Masons of King- fisher, No. 8, and is a member of the Cyrene Commandery No. 6. He is also connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In pol- ities he believes in the principles of the Repub- lican party, but he has never been an office- seeker. He is a broad-minded and enterprising member of the community and enjoys the con- fidence and esteem that are his by virtue of his many excellent traits.
M AJOR PAUL JUNDT, who is commis- sary-general, with the rank of major, on the staff of Governor Barnes of Okla- homa, has served in this capacity for the past three years, and has won general commendation for his efficiency. Possessing unusual ability as a business man and financier, he also has had experience of no limited nature in military tac- ties and military matters in general, and thus is eminently qualified for the special duties al- lotted to him as a state official.
Born in Rothau, Lorraine, France. July 8. 1847, Major Jundt is one of the five children of Rev. Charles and Julia (Keck) Jundt, natives of Strasburg. The father was a graduate of the theological seminary of his home city, and sub- sequently he held pastorates in Lutheran churches in Alsace and Lorraine. He died in the town of Rothau, at the ripe age of seventy- nine years. His father. Jacob Jundt. was act- ively engaged in the British merchant marine trade with the East Indies, and many a voyage of two or three years' duration did he make, while captain of some first-class ship. He died at his old home in France. The maternal grand- father of our subject, Daniel Keck, was a baker by trade, and conducted a successful business in Strasburg, in which city he resided until
death. The only sister of our subject, Mary, is living in Strasburg. Charles, a brother, is local agent for the Pabst Brewing Company at Shawnee, Okla., while Rudolph is engaged in the cattle business in Spokane, Wash.
When he was thirteen years of age, Major Jundt went to Strasburg, where he matriculated in the famous college located there, and in 1865 he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Science. He then engaged in merchandising in Strasburg until 1868, when he entered the army, and, at the end of a year's service as a private, was made a sergeant of the Eighty- seventh Infantry. Later he turned his attention again to business affairs until the Franco-Prus- sian war came on, when he promptly enlisted in the defense of his country, and was made second lieutenant of his old regiment, the Eighty-seventh, of which he afterwards ranked as first lieutenant. He participated in the siege of Strasburg and the battle of Reichshoffen, and was wounded in the left shoulder during the famous siege, when he, with his regiment. was captured and confined as a prisoner of war at Rastadt. At last he made his escape and joined the forces of Bourbaki, with whom he served until, on account of illness, he was sent to the hospital, and finally was placed in the Reserves, at Paris. Subsequently, he was interested in mercantile enterprises in Paris and Havre until 1883, when he came to America. In 1884 he was sent by the French government to Cochin- China, where he was employed for about a year, and obtained invaluable experience. The voy- ages to and from his post of duty were especially interesting and full of incident, and he was en- abled to gain a good idea of life in Japan, the French possessions in China, and of the condi- tions prevailing in India and other countries where he stayed for a short period.
In 1885 Major Jundt returned to the United States, and for some time was in the employ of a large packing house in Kansas City. After- ward he was engaged in the wholesale and re- tail liquor and cigar business in the same city until 1894. when he came to Guthrie and took charge of the extensive plant and cold storage warehouses of the Pabst Brewing Company of Milwaukee. The refrigerating plant has a ca- pacity of one hundred tons, and from fifty to sixty tons of ice can be manufactured here daily. A wholesale and retail business in ice is trans- acted by the company, the product being shipped to many quite distant points in the terri- tory, and separate plants for the manufacture of ice are maintained in Oklahoma City, Shaw- nee, Okla., and Ardmore, I. T. Major Jundt controls and supervises seven agencies for Pabst in Oklahoma Territory, and by his energy and good business management has greatly in-
200
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
creased the sales for his firm in this section of the Union.
Socially, Major Jundt is highly esteemed wherever he is known. He is a charter member of the local lodge of the Benevolent & Pro- tective Order of Elks, and of the Sons of Her- man. . He also stands high in the Knights of Pythias and the Odd Fellows order, and be- longs to the Guthrie Commercial Club. Polit- ically, he is a Democrat.
H ARRISON LEE, a pioneer of Canadian county, is respected and honored by al! who have known him. He possesses high principles and has never failed in meeting faith- fully the duties resting upon him as a citizen of this great republic. In view of the fact that he gave several of the best years of his early man- hood to the Union, he justly deserves an hon- ored place in the annals of the land. .
The birthplace of Mr. Lee was in Davis county, Ind., the date of his entrance upon the stage of this world being August 15, 1834. His father, Andrew Lee, died when our subject was but five years of age, and as soon as he was old enough to relieve his mother of some of the manifold cares which thus fell to her, he gladly assisted her. Though there was a large family of brothers and sisters, all would have been well provided for by the father's valuable estate, had it been properly administered, but the widow and orphans were robbed. The mother. Mrs. Sylvia (Skaggs) Lee, wisely reared her children, teaching them the foundation principles of suc- cess and usefulness.
Harrison Lee was chiefly employed in agri- cultural labors until the Civil war broke out. and in August, 1861, he enlisted, becoming a member of Company B, Twenty-seventh Indiana Infantry. With his comrades, he participated in many of the important battles of the war, among others those of Antietam, Cedar Moun- tain, the numerous skirmishes and severe fights of the famous march to the sea, under the great leader, General Sherman. In the battle of Burnt Hickory, near Dallas, Ga., Mr. Lee was the color bearer, and thus was a special target for the enemy. His right thumb was struck by a bul- let, and within another second he was shot in the right leg, just above the knee, and his clothing was riddled with more bullets. By the time that he reached South Carolina, after long, forced marches, he was so worn out and ill that he was sent to the hospital. Finally he was transferred to New York City, and received an honorable discharge from the army on that fateful day, April 14, 1865, when Lincoln was assassinated.
Returning to his old home, Mr. Lee resumed his accustomed duties, but for more than a year
suffered greatly from the effects of his armny service. Thus seriously handicapped in many ways, he was necessarily slow in making a good financial start, and after a few years he went to Cherokee county, Kans. Later he settled in No Man's Land, and July 5, 1889, came to Okla- homa and located upon his present homestead, which is situated on the southeastern quarter of section 7, township 13, range 6 west. He has made good improvements and is reaping abun- dant harvests annually.
In 1870 Mr. Lee and Miss Clara Clark were married in Indiana. They became the parents of a son and daughter, namely: Mrs. Minnie Chilcott of Kansas, and Clement, who remains at home and is aiding his father in the cultiva- tion of his farm. Politically, Mr. Lee is a Re- publican, and his first presidential ballot was cast for Fillinore. Religiously, he is identified with the Christian Church, and has long offi- ciated as an elder in the congregation.
J USTUS L. V. MANN, whose home is in section 6, township 17, range I west, Logan county, was born September 27, 1855, in Monroe, Green county, Wis. His father, John Mann, who now is about four-score years old, and resides in Leavenworth, Kans., was born in New York state in 1818, and was the third of thirteen children. From New York he moved to Wisconsin, and in 1859 became a resident of Linn county, Kans. When the Civil war came on he enlisted in Company H, Tenth Kansas Infantry, and served in the ranks as a private for about a year. During that period he took part in numerous skirmishes with the enemy and was actively engaged in the battle of Wilson's Creek. Finally, being disabled by aiding in the work of prying army wagons out of a slough, he was sent to the hospital at Fort Scott, and after six months of treatment by skilled surgeons, it was deemed best to grant him an honorable dis- charge. Afterwards, when he had partially re- gained his accustomed health, he re-enlisted in the military service, this time as one of the Kan- sas Home Guard, who helped to drive General Price out of the state. After the death of his wife, Phoebe (Russell) Mann, in 1870, he spent a few years at his old home in the Empire state, but ultimately returned to Kansas, where he is well known and highly esteemed.
Moses Thurston Mann, grandfather of Justus L. V. Mann, was born near Concord, N. H., and served as a teamster during the war of 1812. He died in Linn county, Kans., at the age of eighty- nine years. His wife. Abigail, was a daughter of Thomas Pane, a soldier in the Revolutionary war.
201
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Justus L. V. Mann was reared in Linn county, Kans., and in his youth received a good com- mon-school education. When he was fifteen years of age he commenced the battle of inde- pendent life and by industry and application managed to lay aside a little capital. For a num- ber of years he farined rented land in Elk county, Kans., and then leased a farm near Ar- kansas City, while he and his family dwelt in a home which he bought in the town. At the time that Oklahoma was to be opened to civiliza- tion he was one of the multitude awaiting the bugle call at midday of the memorable April 22. For a whole month he searched for a location, and at length found an abandoned claim-his present homestead. Hiring a team to convey his household goods here (for he then had no team of his own), he installed his family in a small shanty which he had bought in Guthrie. One reason for his removal to this territory was that his wife and children had been suffering with illness of different kinds, and he hoped that a change would prove beneficial, as indeed it did. Thus he commenced his new life in Oklahoma under rather discouraging circumstances, but he bravely did the best he could and soon affairs began to mend. After reducing the greater part of his land to cultivation, he planted an orchard of some seven acres in extent, and instituted many other valuable improvements.
The marriage of Mr. Mann and Eunice A. Howland, of Elk county, Kans., was solemnized August 16, 1879. She was born in Mercer county, Mo .. and was eight years old when she removed to Kansas with her parents. P. W. and Eunice (Jinks) Howland. The eldest child of our subject and wife, Friend A., was born in Elk county, Kans., October 1. 1880. John W. was born in the same county, July 4. 1883. and Earl E. was born in Cowley county, Kans .. June 4. 1885.
In 18So Mr. Mann cast liis presidential ballot for J. A. Garfield, but of late years he has been a Populist. Fraternally he has been associated with the Sons of Veterans, and religiously with the Church of Christ, his membership being with the congregation at Arkansas City. Several years ago he was honored with an appointment to the office of justice of the peace, and served as such for one year. He then was regularly elected ยท to the same position, but, owing to the fact that there had been a mistake made in the spelling of liis name, he refused to qualify. The matter was righted by his being again appointed to the place, and at the close of one year he tendered his resignation. Only one case was appealed of the many which were submitted to his judgment, and in this particular instance his decision was confirmed by the higher authorities. In all his dealings he is just and upright and thus hie de-
serves the respect and good will in which he is held by all who know him.
C S. MERADITH, M. D. As physician to the physical woes of the residents of Hen- nessey, Dr. Meradith has demonstrated his many-sided ability along the lines of his pro- fession, and his worthiness to be numbered among the capable physicians of Oklahoma. In the discharge of his duties he brings a wealth of research and constantly widening and increasing knowledge, which, when applied to diagnosis and treatment, have been instrumental in gaining for him the confidence and patronage of the larger part of his fellow townsmien. In avenues remote from his chosen work, and which have to do with the needful enterprises of the city, he has shown commendable interest and a generous willing- ness to aid to the extent of his power, thus en- . rolling himself among those who ever strive for the improvement of conditions.
Of English and Welsh extraction, Dr. Mera- ditli was born December 25, 1853, in Greene county, Pa., and is a son of Rev. Thomas Mera- dit!i, a native of Baltimore, Md., and Elizabeth (Waynee) Meradith, born in Fayette county, Pa. Thomas Meradith is a United Brethren clergy- man, and ministered to the spiritual needs of the residents of Greene county, Pa., later going to Farmer City, Ill., where he reared his family, and became identified with the moral and intel- lectual growth of the community. He is now re- tired from active participation in the arduous affairs of life, but during the years of his activity he was an earnest and forceful advocate of the principles of justice and humanity, and has left a trail of kindly deeds and disinterested helpful- ness in the wake of his untiring efforts. Of the material ancestry, who are English, the great- grandfather Waynee settled in Fayette county, at a very early day, on a farm which is still in the possession of the family. On this treasured and richly associated ground was born Charles Waynee, the father of Mrs. Meradith, and it is thus apparent that three generations have here gathered many of the impressions of their lives. Mrs. Meradith died in Illinois. She was the mother of eleven children, ten of whom are liv- ing. C. S. being the only one in Oklahoma. One brother, A. A. Meradith, served in the Civil war in the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, and was in the army of the Potomac. He suffered some of the serious vicissitudes of war, and July 3. 1863, was imprisoned in Andersonville, where he re- mained until the cessation of hostilites. He is now residing at Channahon, Ill., and engaged in agricultural pursuits.
Dr. Meradith was reared in Pennsylvania. where he received a portion of his education in
-
202
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the public schools. In 1868 he accompanied his parents and the other members of the family to Illinois, where he assisted his father in breaking the unimproved ground, and in the various du- ties incident to the management of a well-regu- lated farm. In September of 1874 he began to prepare for future independence by studying medicine, and eventually graduated from the Union Medical College of Kansas City, since which time he has taken a course in the Post- Graduate School and Polyclinic at Chicago. He is a member of the Southern Kansas Medical Association.
March 17, 1891, Dr. Meradith located in Hen- nessey, where he has since conducted a success- fui practice. He is not a specialist, but rather devotes his attention to the all-around medical and surgical requirements of his growing town. In St. Paul, Mian., he was united in marriage with Genieve E. Finch, who is a graduate hospi- tal nurse, and was formerly engaged in home missionary work in Denver. In politics Dr. Meradith is affiliated with the Republican party, although he has no political aspirations. He is wide-awake, industrious and progressive, and is regarded as one of Hennessey's most reliable physicians and citizens,
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.