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 33
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to avoid future difficulties he annexed the Ol of . Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry, and died in the Oliver to his surname, making it Frank Olsmith. service: Ransom served in the Sixty-eighth Illi- nois, and now lives in Logan county, Ill .; Abra- ham is in Kingfisher, Okla .: Milton died in Logan county, Ill .; Thomas F. is living in King- fisher; and Albert was burned to death when very young. This change was effected at Topeka, Kans., by act of the legislature. In 1877 he began to work up an Indian trade in partnership with Louis and Picket, and in 1879 went to Waco, a new town in Texas, where he established a gun store. Two years later he went to El Paso, Tex., and Born February 18, 1849, in Logan county, Ill., Thomas F. Phillips was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools of his township. During April, 1864, he enlisted in Company D. One Hundred and Forty-fifth Illi- nois Infantry, at Springfield, Ill., and was sent into Missouri, under General Siegel, to deal with General Price. They assisted in putting an end to his activities in Missouri and Arkansas. He was mustered out of service after six months and returned to his former home in Logan county, where he again engaged in his former occupation of farming. six weeks later to San Antonio, where he fol- lowed his line of business for six years. He then located at Paris, Tex., until the opening of Okla- homa. April 22, 1889, he located at Guthrie, on the east corner of Harrison and Division streets. where he built a small shop and conducted the first gun store in Oklahoma. He is now located at No. 115 Division street, and has the largest store of the kind in the territory. He also han- dles sporting goods of every type, and cigars. and formerly manufactured guns and rifles. He has the record for the best shooting in this sec- tion and also won a number of medals in other states in which he has contested.
Mr. Olsmith was united in marriage in Wines- burgh, Ohio, with Emma A. Iseley, who was born at Millersburg, Ohio, and by whom he has four children: Vernon G .. Edwin S., Bessie .A .. and Mary. He is a strong Democrat, and served as police judge one term. also two terms as coun- cilman for the third ward, and was a member of the first legal city council. He is a member of Hartranft Post No. 3. G. A. R., of which he was chaplain ; and Woodmen of the World. Re- ligiously his wife is a Methodist. He is a mem- ber of the Guthrie Commercial Club and is one of the business committee: and is secretary and treasurer of the Guthrie Gun Club.
T HOMAS F. PHILLIPS. The first mem- bers of the Phillips family in America came here from Germany at an early day and set- tled in North Carolina. The first relative of whom there is a distinct recollection is the grand- father, Abraham, who was born in North Caro- lina and became a pioneer in the early history of Indiana. His efforts were later cast in Caldwell county, Mo., where he died at the age of eighty- four years. His son Andrew. the father of Thomas F., was born in New Salem, Washing- ton county, Ind., and in 1853 located in Logan county, Ill., where he died in 1854. His wife. Jemima (Ratts) Phillips, was born in Indiana. and is the daughter of Rinehart Ratts, of North Carolina, who carly settled in Indiana, and died there. His wife is now residing in Atlanta, Ill .. and is over seventy-six years of age. She became the mother of seven children: Jacob en- listed in the Thirty-eighth Illinois Regiment during the Civil war and is now residing in Cald- well county, Mo .; Rinehart enlisted in the
In 1866 Mr. Phillips settled in Jasper county, Mo., near Carthage, where he owned a farm of two hundred acres, and successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising. In 1873 he changed his occupation to that of grocer. the place of business being located in the city of Carthage. Not content to remain there in- definitely, he engaged in the flour business in Joplin, Mo., for about two years, after which he returned to his farm in the country and contin- ted to buy and sell stock until 1886. After sell- ing out the large farm and its furnishings he located in Ford county, Kans., where he bought a farm eight miles from Dodge City, stocked it, and proceeded to engage in general farming and stock raising. At the opening of Oklahoma he made the run from the state line and located near Kingfisher, where he conducted a large dairy business, having brought with him to the territory a drove of milch cows. When on the road to a prosperous and paying business, a drove of Texas cattle came through the county, some of them straying to his land. and, ' from association with their southern kind, his own cattle sickened and died, entailing upon him al- most a complete loss.
Hoping to gain a new start, Mr. Phillips lo- cated on some school land. where he farmed until 1885. He was then appointed receiving clerk in the United States land office, under Caldwell and E. G. Spilman, which position he filled for two years, resigning this place to be- come United States Marshal under Chief Dep- ntv Marshal Nagle, with headquarters at Guth- rie, where he remained until the close of the administration. In 1808 he removed to King- fisher, where his first business efforts were di- rected to an interest in the hardware and imple- ment trade, under the firm name of Conley & Phillips, The firm has been very successful and
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cater to a constantly increasing trade. Mr. Phil- lips owns one hundred and sixty acres of land six miles from the town, at the mouth of King- fisher creek. He also owns a quarter section ten miles northwest of Kingfisher, on Cooper creek. Another interest is that of the coal and feed business, he being a member of the firm of Phillips & Phillips in Kingfisher.
. In Jasper county, Mo., Mr. Phillips married Sarah Baker, who was born in Sangamon county, Ill., and is a daughter of John F. Baker, of Ken- tucky. Her paternal grandfather. Thomas Ba- ker, was a farmer and an early settler in Illinois. Her mother, Rebecca Patterson, was born in Kentucky and reared in Illinois, being a daugh- ter of James Patterson, an early settler in Logan county, Ill., where he died. To Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Phillips have been born five children, four of whom are living. George A., who is a farmer, is living with his father; Minnie is the wife of A. J. Phillips, of Kingfisher; John F. is chief clerk in his father's store: and Arthur B. is with the feed business of Phillips & Phillips. Mr. Phillips is a Democrat in politics and has been chairman of the county committee for a number of years, also served as a member of the territorial Demo- cratic committee, and has in various ways been identified with the political doings of his town- ship. He is a member of Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 2, of Kingfisher. With his family he is associated with the work and char- ities of the Christian Church.
H ON. C. T. PROUTY. As a soldier, as a business man, and as a public official, Col. C. T. Prouty has made a record of which he may well be proud. Popular with all, his friends may be said to be limited by the number of his acquaintances. At an early age he was thrown upon his own resources to a large extent, owing to the death of his father, and therefore he may be justly called the architect of his own fortunes.
The founder of the Prouty family, to which the colonel belongs, was established in America by one John Prouty, who was of Scotch de- seent, and whose home was in the northern part of Ireland prior to his removal to the New World. Political troubles in the Emerald Isle led him to seek a new home, and for years he was a citizen of Boston, Mass. Our subject's father. Dr. Hugh Prouty, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., and in his early manhood he was gradi- ated in a medical college at Buffalo. Settling in Monroeville, Ohio, he engaged in the practice of his profession, with good success, for years. While in the west on an excursion to Sault Saint Marie, about 1851, he was accidentally drowned. Ilis wife, whose maiden name was Margaret
Tice, also died when the subject of this article was a child.
The birth of C. T. Prouty occurred in Mon- roeville, Ohio, June 12, 1840, and, as previously noted, lie was left an orphan ere he reached the age of twelve years. His school advantages were limited and his youth was spent in farming. In 1858 he went to Carlinville, Ill., where he ob- tained employment on farms during the summer season, while in the winter he taught school, a fact which speaks well for the studious and am- bitious spirit which animated the young man.
In September, 1861, Mr. Prouty offered his services to his country, and was mustered into Company A, Thirty-second Illinois Infantry, as a private soldier. He served in the Army of the Tennessee and took part in the battles of Fort Henry, Donelson and Shiloh. In the last-named engagement, which took place in April, 1862, he was severely wounded in the cap of his right knee, and it was not until September, 1862, that he was able to rejoin his regiment. Upon the recommendation of General Hulbert, under whom he had fought gallantly at Shiloh, he was appointed by Governor Yates as an aide on his general's staff, with the rank of captain. For his conspicuous bravery at Shiloh he was brevetted lieutenant-colonel by Governor Yates. He par- ticipated in the second battle of Corinth, Miss .. and thereafter was a member of General Hul- bert's staff. as previously mentioned.
In October, 1863, owing to his physical disa- bility, Colonel Prouty resigned from the army and returned to his old occupation of teaching. In the spring of 1864 he again turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits in the vicinity of Carlinville, and in the fall of 1864 was appointed deputy Internal Revenue collector of the sev- enth district, but at the end of a year resigned his office. In 1868 he was honored by election to the Illinois state legislature, where he served for one term to the satisfaction of all concerned. Then for a few years he was successfully en- gaged in a mercantile business in Carlinville. but apparently fate did not destine him to the private walks of life for any length of time, as in 1874 he was appointed postmaster of his town by President Grant. At the expiration of his term he was favored with reappointment by Hayes, and again in 1882 by Arthur. After offi- ciating in that position for twelve years, or until a change of administration rendered his resigna- tion advisable, he concluded to remove to the west.
Fourteen years ago Colonel Prouty engaged in the real estate and loan business at Dighton, Kans., and for four years met with marked suc- cess in the enterprise. In the spring of 1800 he became a resident of Kingfisher, where he established a thriving real estate, loan and insur-
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ance business. His former experience was re- enacted, as he soon came to the notice of the public as a leading Republican, and his general ability and fitness for office led to his nomina- tion for council, and although Callahan, his opponent, was extremely popular with his party, the colonel was elected for Kingfisher and Blaine counties. In the Third General Assembly of Oklahoma he played a very important part, as he was chairman of the committees on railroads and agriculture, and was a member of committees on county affairs, ways and means and others. Among the numerous bills in which he was spe- cially interested, those relating to the council and to fees and salaries occupied much of his attention. In 1899 he was appointed by Gov- ernor Barnes to his present responsible office- that of chief grain inspector of the territory, this office having been created by the Fifth General Assembly for the purpose of protecting the local grain merchants, as well as the farmers of this region.
Always a fervent belicver in the platform of the Republican party, Colonel Prouty carly be- came an active worker in the ranks, and from 1864 to 1886, while he lived in Illinois, he was sent as a delegate to every Republican state con- vention. He is now a member of the Kingfisher county Republican central committee, and is considered an important factor in local politics. The interest which he developed in the cause of education while he was a young man has only deepened in the intervening time, and during the period when the schoolhouses here were in proc- css of construction he was president of the school board-some four years-and is yet connected with that honorable body. A charter member and first master of Dighton Lodge, of Dighton, Kans., and a charter member of Kingfisher Lodge No. 8, A. F. & A. M., the colonel has been identified with the order since 1865, when lic was initiated into its mysteries in Carlinville, Ill. He was the commander of Grand Army posts in Illinois and Kansas, and is now con- nected with Kingfisher Post No. 2, G. A. R. Religiously, he is a Congregationalist, and is a trustee and active worker in the Kingfisher church.
February 12, 1863, the marriage of Colonel Prouty and Miss Julia F. Van Osdell, of Carlin- ville. Ill .. was celebrated in that place. Her father. Joseph Van Osdell, was a native of Penn- sylvania, and her mother, whose name in girl- hood was Lucinda Burford, was born in Ken- tucky. The first child of our subject and wife, William, a young man of great promise, and a graduate of Blackburn University, departed this life at Dighton, when in his twenty-fifth year. Frank, the only remaining son, is now acting as assistant grain inspector, with his father. The
elder daughter, Mrs. Alberta Wilkinson, is a resident of Kingfisher, and the youngest of the family, Ida R., lives at home, and is successfully engaged in teaching in the public schools of Kingfisher.
C' LARENCE SIBLEY PETTY, M. D. By diligent study and perseverance, in which he acquired a thorough knowledge of his profession, Dr. Petty stands as one of the rising young physicians of Guthrie, and also stands high in the estimation of his fellow physicians. He was born in Gadsden, Ala., November II, 1871, and is a son of James S. Petty, who was also a physician.
Stephen Petty, our subject's grandfather. was born in Pittsburg, near Raleigh, N. C., of Eng- lish ancestry. From there he moved to the vicin- ity of Selma, Ala., where he owned a large cotton plantation, operated by his many slaves. After the close of the Rebellion he went to Tampa, Fla., where he passed his remaining days. James S. Petty was an only child, and at seventeen he graduated from the University of North Caro- lina; it being his desire to take up medicinc, he entered Tulanc Medical College, but before he could complete his course the Rebellion broke out and he became a private in an Alabama regi- ment, under General Hood. He served through- out that deadly struggle. At the battles of Spring Hill, Franklin and Nashville his regiment was shot all to pieces.
After the war had been brought to a close he completed his medical course and then began to practice at Demopolis, Ala., but from there went to Gadsden, where he continued his practice until death claimed him in 1873. He married Miss Ada Weisinger, who was born in Dallas county, Ala., being a daughter of Jesse Weis- inger, who was a native of South Carolina, and a planter. Her grandfather was a native of Ger- many, but lived in South Carolina for many ycars. After the death of James S. Petty his wife was married to Rev. William Temple Allan, who is an Episcopal rector in Springfield, Mo.
Dr. Clarence S. Petty was reared and edu- cated in Alabama. After receiving an academic education he entered the University of Alabama, at Tuscaloosa, and was graduated from that insti- tution in 1892, receiving the degree of A. B. He then went to Fort Smith, Ark., where he took a course in business, and he afterward taught in the business college. As he had always been desirous of taking up medicine, he pursued his studies in that line in the office of Dr. J. C. Daily. When he quit teaching, in 1894. he entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, and graduated from that institution in 1897, being one of the seven who received honors out of a
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elass of fifty-seven. In May of 1897 he chose Guthrie and vicinity as his field of operation, and now has a fine suite of office rooms in the Good- rieh block, on the corner of Oklahoma and First streets. He has already built up a lucrative practice and enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow-citizens. He is a member and ves- tryman in the Episcopal Church.
Dr. Petty was married on Monday evening, December 31, 1900, to Miss Mary Nicholas, daughter of Rev. A. B. Nicholas, of Guthrie.
W ILLIAM HENRY GRAY, one of Okla- homa's most prominent and representa- tive business men, has been actively en- gaged in business in Guthrie sinee the opening days of the territory, and for the past few years has devoted his time to the real estate and loan business, in which he has been very successful. Being a man of business ability, he has always made a sueeess of his undertakings, and is es- teemed as one of the loyal eitizens of his adopted eity. He is a native of Manistee, Mich., and a son of John Gray, who was a native of York- shire, England.
Our subject's grandfather was the family emi- grant, and he brought his wife and two sons with him. He settled in Michigan, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits. Our subjeet's father. John Gray, also took up farming in Michigan, and is now past his seventy-eighth year in life. He married Miss Rebecca Cavell, who was born in Cornwall, England. of French descent. Her father resided in England and was engaged in the boating business. Eight children were born to our subjeet's parents, namely: Charles R., of Riverside, Cal .: William Henry: Mary E., de- eeased: George E., a traveling salesman, residing in Denver. Colo., who came to Oklahoma at the time it was opened, and was a partner with our subject many years. meantime serving on the first board of county commissioners of Logan county, but in 1897 left Oklahoma for Denver: Alfred J., who resides in Riverside, Cal .: Flor- ence, of Travis City, Mich .: Frederick W., a nierehant of Ponca, Okla .; and Albert E., who is a resident of Blackburn, Okla.
William Henry Gray was born August 22. 1852, and spent his early boyhood days at home assisting his father and attending the public schools of his native community. At fourteen years he went to work in a lumber mill. but in 1878 he went to Burrton. Harvey county, Kans .. where he entered into partnership in the mercan- tile business with D. B. Pennock, under the firm name of Pennock & Gray. Selling out in 1882 lie located in Udall, Cowley county, Kans., where he and his brother George carried on a mercan- tile business under the name of Gray Brothers,
and were also interested in the Udall Milling Company. April 22, 1889, they located in Guth- rie, Okla., arriving in Guthrie on the second train from the north at two o'clock. The following year they disposed of their business interest in C'dall. Kans. They first bought a lot, and later in- creased their possessions by buying the adjacent lots, 50x140 feet, on the corner of Oklahoma and Division streets. Building a store, they carried on a wholesale grocery and queensware business. To accommodate their constantly increasing trade, they built a block, 25x80, on the corner lot; this they enlarged in 1893 to 50x140 feet, their building being known as the Gray Broth- ers' bloek. It is a two-story building and one of the best in Guthrie. The Gray Brothers mer- cantile firm was dissolved in 1893, and our sub- ject has ever since been engaged in the real es- tate and loan business. He is interested in the WV. H. Coyle Oil Company, and he has taken a very prominent part in having railroad com- panies extend their roads into Guthrie. He owns a fine home at No. 612 East Noble street, whichi he erected in 1894.
At Burrton, Kans., Mr. Gray was united in marriage with Miss Mary Cone, a native of Memphis, Mo., and a daughter of Col. Lymon Cone, of Burrton. They have two children- Edna R. and Lymon J., both of whom are attend- ing high school. Col. Lymon Cone prepared the Santa Fe Railroad Company's exhibit from Kansas at the Centennial Exhibition. He also represented Oklahoma in the World's Fair ex- hibit.
Mr. Gray is a prominent Mason, belonging to Guthrie Lodge No. 3. and is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is also a member of the Guthrie Club, an organi- zation composed of the prominent business men of that city. He has recently been appointed re- ceiver of the National Bank of Guthrie. In poli- tics he is a stanch Demoerat.
- SAAC II. PHENIS is a substantial addition to the colony of settlers in Logan county. His well-conducted claim is located on the northwest quarter of section 15, township 17. range 2 west. Born at Kokomo, Howard county. Ind., January 23, 1849. he is a son of Solomon and Sarah (Coates) Phenis. When six years old he moved with his parents to Lyon county. Kans .. and settled near Emporia two years be- fore that town was laid out. For eight years they continued to reside in that locality, and he has a vivid remembrance of the ruffian border troubles. The father took up a claim, which he cultivated and on which he conducted a large cattle business. In 1863, the population having increased to an alarming extent, they were
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crowded for room, and so moved to Greenwood county, having previously sold their property in Lyon county.
In 1869 Isaac H. Phenis went to Cowley county, where he pre-empted a claim, on which he made his home until the opening of the Okla- homa strip. He was married in 1880 to Alice Norton, of Greenwood county, Kans., a daughter of Austin and Sarah (Tree) Norton. Austin Norton was a soldier in the Union army, and survived but a short time after his return from the war. .
After selecting his site in the new country Mr. Phenis returned to Kansas for his household goods and for his family, and drove back to their future home, where they were forced to live for a time in a tent. He has since made many im- provements on his land and is comfortably situ- ated. There is a flourishing orchard containing several kinds of fruits and a garden in which the most tempting vegetables abound.
Mr. Phenis is a member of the Republican party, having cast his first vote for Grant in 1872. Before coming to Oklahoma he served as a clerk, and for several terms a member of the school board. In 1899, in Oklahoma, he was elected assessor, and in the discharge of his duties has given general satisfaction .. He is a member of the National League Association. To the charities and interests of the Christian church he is a liberal contributor.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Phe- nis. Dora is the wife of Louis Hausman, has three children and lives in Lawrie township; Austin married Anna Hausman. has three chil- dren and lives near Perry: Ferry H. married Nellie Flicker, and they reside in Guthrie, where he carries on a meat market: Harvey H. died at the age of twenty, and is buried in Camp Rus- sell cemetery; Nora and Benjamin H. are at home.
R OBERT AYERS DILLEY, who is a resi- dent of Logan county, is accounted among his neighbors as one of the nseful men of the community. He was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, March 22, 1833, and is the son of Robert and Hannah (McDonald) Dilley, the former of whom was of English ancestry and a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter born in Scotland, from which she emigrated direct to America with her parents when a small child. They settled in Pennsylvania and removed from there to Ohio in its pioneer days. The elder Dilley settled on a farm in the vicinity of Sen- ecaville, and there our subject spent his boy- hood davs. The father was an active business man, and in addition to the development of his land was engaged in the manufacture of car-
riages and salt. R. A. Dilley attended the com- mon school and in 1856 went into Guthrie county, Iowa, locating on a farm and engaging in live-stock business. In 1861 he crossed the Mississippi with an ox-team, going through Denver and locating at California Gulch (where Leadville is now located), in the hunt for gold. He was quite successful, taking out about $16 a day, but was stricken with mountain fever . and obliged to return home.
Soon after the conclusion of this experiment Mr. Dilley went into the army, enlisting in Com- pany C, Fourth Iowa Infantry, and served four years and about sixteen days. He was wounded in the hand at the battle of Pea Ridge. He was at the siege of Vicksburg and at Champion Hills, Jackson, Miss., went with General Sher- man on his famous march to the sea, and at the close of the war took part in the grand review at Washington. He was discharged at Louis- ville, Ky. He was fortunate in keeping out of the hospital, but in the last march through the Carolinas lie contracted a cold which settled in his eyes so that he became nearly blind and had to be led home. For six years thereafter he was an invalid, unable to do anything for himself. L'pon his recovery he engaged in selling ma- chinery in Wisconsin, Illinois, Southern Minne- sota and Dakota. Later he carried on farming and stockraising in Guthrie county, Iowa.
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