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 39
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Ind., he attended the local schools for a period. as he felt the need of a better education. Later he obtained a position as a clerk, and was vari- ously employed for a few years.
On the 10th of October. 1870, W. E. Malaley came to the west and purchased a farm near Burlington, Coffey county, Kans. After carry- ing on that place for a period he leased land in Jackson county, same state, and turned his at- tention more especially to the cattle business. In 1872 he made his first trip into Oklahoma. and for several years was employed in the Indian . service at Darlington. On the 5th of July, 1874. while coming north on the Chisholm trail, with a United States escort. Jolin D. Miles and a lieu- tenant from Fort Sill, they discovered the body of Patrick Hennessey, partly consumed by fire. He had been killed in the vicinity of the town of Hennessey, and his remains were buried at the spot now marked by a monument. Continuing in the Indian service until 1875, Mr. Malaley then went to Wichita, where he and J. A. Covington engaged in train bossing for the gov- ernment, making trips between Wichita and Dar- lington, instructing Indians in the mode of trans- portation. In the meantime he also was engaged in the cattle business at Pond Creek, at which point he kept a small hotel, for it was a stage station. He also acted as the first postmaster of the place, where he remained until it became necessary for him to leave the territory in ac- cordance with the president's proclamation.
As early as 1879 Mr. Malaley had gone to Texas and established a ranch near Wheeler. at the mouth of the Sweet Water river. For eight years he was interested in raising cattle there and then sold out his interest in that section. He was one of the leaders in the movement of securing leases for cattle ranges in the Cherokee. Cheyenne and Arapahoe strip, and was finan- cially interested in the great concern known as the Cheyenne & Arapahoe Cattle Company. os at one time he had $76,000 invested in the same. The president's proclamation necessitating evac- uation of this property caused him a heavy loss. and an exceedingly severe winter also proved disastrous to cattle men. Nevertheless he was instrumental in preserving order, and, being un- der the protection of government troops, he fre- quently arrested desperate characters, some of whom were engaged in distributing ammunition and whiskey. He was a leader in the pioneer days of this locality and has experienced some exciting times. Naught but his great courage and coolness in times of danger saved his life on more than one occasion, and among the names which the Indians gave to him is one especially significant, as, translated, it signifies, "White Man Chief-sees all the time." He it was who originated the plan of paying the red men a
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certain amount per head for allowing cattle to have range of the prairies, this matter being satisfactorily arranged with Chief Bushy Head. Mr. Malaley continued in the cattle business until 1890, with residence in Caldwell, Sum- ner county, Kans., when he returned to Texas, and continued in the same line of business in Lipscomb county, there managing a ranch of seventy, thousand acres, but still making his home in Caldwell. In May, 1893. he dis- ; posed of his extensive interests there and came to Hennessey, where he bought one- half interest in the livery business of W. T. Ha- . vard. Together they continued until 1899, when our subject purchased his partner's interest, and since that time has been alone in business. The Red Barn, as the livery and sale stable is known, is the largest in the city, and without doubt is one of the finest in equipment of any in the ter- ritory. The proprietor handles a great nuniber of horses and mules annually and makes a point of keeping an excellent line of carriages and road wagons. In addition to this enterprise he has been engaged in the grain business for some time and had a branch office at Waukomis.
For several years Mr. Malaley was a member of the Panhandle Live Stock Association. In politics he is a Republican and has been very active in national and county affairs. Some time ago he served for a year as a member of the city council, and was again elected to the council in 1900, but the multiplicity of his business duties leads him to decline many public honors. Fra- ternally he was initiated into Masonry in Coro- nado Lodge No. 9. A. F. & A. M., of Hennessey, and he now has reached the thirty-second degree, belonging to Guthrie Consistory. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias. Gener- osity is one of his chief characteristics, and many are his donations to charities and church organ- izations.
The marriage of W. E. Malaley and Miss Katie Lamb took place in Wellington, Kans., in 1880. She is a native of Bethel, Morgan county. Ill., and was reared to womanhood in that state, and in Kansas received a good education. Our subject and wife have one child, namely, William Eugene.
J. W. WALTON. one of the prominent and most esteemed citizens of Kingfisher, is a worthy representative of the "old South." His paternal grandfather passed his entire life in Virginia, and his father, William P. Walton, a native of the same state, was one of the carly settlers of Missouri. He died in 1875. respected and loved by all who knew him, and is survived by his wife, who is making her home in Clinton, Mo. A native of Cooper county, Mo., she is
Louisa, daughter of Samuel Turley, who was born in Kentucky, and was one of the historic "old-timers," associating with Daniel Boone, Kit Carson and others of that heroic band of fron- tiersmen. In 1816 he located. in Cooper county, Mo., which then was an almost uninhabited wil- derness, and after contributing greatly to the upbuilding of that then far western region he was called to his reward, having attained his eighty-third year.
The birth of J. W. Walton, the fourth of nine children, who grew to maturity, took place upon the parental homestead near Boonville, Cooper county, Mo., July 3, 1853. His education was that of the neighborhood schools, and on the farm he acquired practical knowledge of agricul- ture. When he was twenty years of age his father sold his property and removed to Clinton, Henry county, Mo. The young man continued the cultivation of the soil until 1876, when he went to Webster county, Mo., and there became interested in the live stock business. In 1882 he was elected to the position of sheriff of the county and served in that capacity until January, 1885. At that time he became a resident of the thriving place, Garden City, Kans., and for four years was connected with the real estate busi- ness there. Since coming to Kingfisher in April. 1889, he has been extensively engaged in dealing in real estate and in making loans, and to his influence much of the local prosperity is attribu- ted. Few have been more certain of the future of this place, and his confidence has inspired many to make investments and settlement here. In 1892 he located a claim at a point eight miles west of Kingfisher, but he did not retain the property long. From time to time he has built residences and business blocks, and has improved property in various ways. In June, 1899, he embarked in the grocery business also, but sold out in April, 1900, as he found that his real- estate interests demanded his whole attention.
Four years ago Mr. Walton was elected by his Democratic friends to a place in the city council. representing the first ward. He served efficiently for two years, and in 1900 was again elected to the board of city fathers. He is active in the ranks of the party and has been a member of the county central committee. Fraternally he be- longs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Woodmen of the World.
The marriage of Mr. Walton and Miss Maggie Schwendener occurred in Kingfisher September 18, 1894. She was born in Wisconsin, a dangh- ter of Christian Schwendener, now numbered among the farmers of Kingfisher county and of Swiss descent. Three children grace the home of our subject and wife, namely: Louisa, Ruth and James, bright, promising little ones, dear to all who know then.
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A NDREW ARNOTE. The Arnote family has included among its members those who have been conspicuous in the religious world, and who have exerted through the medium of their noble and upright lives a great moral and intel- lectual influence upon their respective communi- ties. A notable follower in the world of unselfish usefulness and large-hearted devotion to the principles of kindliness is this latter-day descend- ant, Andrew Arnote.
Mr. Arnote was born in Ray county, Mo., in 1844. His father, Adam B., of Monroe county, V'a., was reared in Virginia, and moved to Hai- kins county, Tenn., with his parents, when but a boy. When grown, he went, in 1832, to north- ern Missouri, and pre-empted government land, upon which he conducted general farming, and there he lived for the remainder of his life, dying in 1880, at the age of eighty-five years. His father, William, who was born in New Jersey, migrated to Virginia, and from there to Ten- nessee, where he died at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. He was an extensive farmer and stock-raiser, and is still remembered in Haw- kins county, Tenn., in which place he was numbered among the most enterprising and pro- gressive of the early settlers. He was a large land- owner and slave-holder, and had much to do with the development of his locality. An extremely religious man, he was a devout member of the Methodist Church, and an exhorter in the same. He served with courage and fidelity in the war of 1812. His father. Jesse, the great-grandfather of Andrew Arnote, came from England and set- tled in New Jersey at a very early day, where he died at the remarkable age of one hundred vears. One of his ancestors was John Arnote, a famous preacher of England. The mother of Andrew Arnote was formerly Polly Bishop, a native of Virginia. She became the mother of eight children, five of whom are living, viz .: William, Allen, John, Andrew, and Catherine, who is the wife of Robert Womsley. Mrs. Ar- note died at the old homestead in Missouri, in 1899, at the age of eighty-eight.
Andrew Arnote spent his youth on his father's farm in his native state, and later became self- supporting when he engaged in farming on his own responsibility. He studied diligently at the public schools, and at the age of twenty-nine be- came connected with the Church of Christ in Christian Union, and soon after began his min- isterial career. In 1874 occurred his ordination by the Missouri council, which was succeeded by a nine years' charge of the Rocky Fork Church. This was followed by seven years of service at Knoxville, and in 1800 Mr. Arnote was sent by the Missouri Annual council as a missionary to Oklahoma, his field covering Sher- man and Skeleton townships, Kingfisher county.
The first meeting was held in the schoolhouse on Bertwell's farm, and the congregation assembled constituted the members of the newly organized church of which Mr. Arnote became pastor in 1891, continuing his service until 1898, when he retired from active participation in pastoral work. During his ministrations he traveled all over the section of country assigned him, which stretched for a hundred miles east and west. In 1893 he began the organization of the different churches in the territory into one body, known as the Oklahoma council, the same being effected at the Spring Valley Church, and of which council he was elected president. The first council meeting was held in January, 1894, at Christian Union chapel. The original president has continued ever since to hold his position, and the organiza- tion is in a- flourishing condition. Whatever of material gain has come to Mr. Arnote has been through the medium of his farming enterprises, for his work towards the uplifting of the people in a spiritual way has been gratuitously given.
October 28, 1866, Mr. Arnote was united in marriage with Maropia Burgess, of Ray county. Mo., and of this union there have been eight children, viz .: Ralph; Edgar; Minnie, who is the wife of M. G. Clevenger; Walter, Perry, Wesley, Arthur and Lillian. In the fall of 1891 Mr. Arnote bought the farm upon which he has since spent the greater part of his time, and brought his family from Missouri to share his home. The land was originally raw prairie, and its present condition of cultivation and utility is entirely owing to the untiring efforts and prac- tical agricultural ability of Mr. Arnote. He makes a specialty of wheat, and usually sows about two hundred acres to this useful and nour- ishiing grain. The harvest averages eighteen to twenty bushels to the acre.
Aside from his farming interests, Mr. Arnote takes a keen interest in all that pertains to the development of his locality. For a time he served as a member of the school board, but re- signed, owing to failing health. During the Civil war he served his country with courage and fidelity, enlisting in Company D. Sixth Mis- souri Cavalry, under Col. E. C. Catherwood, and serving for three years and two months with the Missouri and Kansas division of the army. He witnessed many hard-fought battles, but did not suffer materially from the vicissitudes of war. and was mustered out at Springfield, Mo., March 24. 1865. While living in Missouri he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Tom Gordon Post. at Polo.
To such men as Mr. Arnote Oklahoma owes a . debt of gratitude, for their elevating influence upon the spirit of commercialism, necessarily mingled with the pioneer conditions of all prom- ising lands.
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G I EORGE N. BIXLER. Coming to Okla- homa a poor man, the subject of this sketch has amassed a competence within a few years, and is now on the road to fortune. His paternal ancestors have been American cit- izens for generations, and it is believed that his paternal great-grandfather was a native of Ger- many. Certain it is that lie came to the United States soon after the Revolution, and settled near Harrisburg, Pa., whence his descendants emi- grated to different parts of the Union.
George Bixler, grandfather of our subject, was born near Harrisburg, Pa., and when a young man took up a tract of government land in Ohio. He cleared a farm in the forest, and in 1835 removed to Indiana, where he developed an- other farm in the wilderness, this one being situ- ated on Blue river. He died at the advanced age . of four-score, at his home in Greenfield, Han- cock county, Ind. He had been a very active member of the Dunkard Church, of which de- nomination his cousin, Noah, was a preacher, his home for many years being in Ottawa, Kans.
Our subject's father. Israel Bixler, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1823, and when in his twelfth year he removed to the then wild country of Indiana. At sixteen years he moved back to Ohio, where he learned the trade of a millwright, and in a short time moved to Iowa. Being a good mechanic and millwright, he erected a saw and grist mill on Skunk river, the first, probably, in that portion of the state. He operated the mill for a short time, and when the excitement over the lead mines in Wisconsin came on he went to that region and spent four years in prospecting. In 1850 he returned to Iowa, and. in partnership with Joel Turney, built a wagon factory, where he was extensively en-
- gaged in manufacturing for nearly a score of years. In June, 1869, he sold out and removed to Arvonia. Kans., where he erected the first mill in that locality, and for ten years engaged in its operation: In 1879 he went to Sumner county, Kans., and is now living retired, at the home of his youngest son. During his prime he led a very active life, and on the frontier suf- fered many hardships. During the Civil war he served for three years in Company I, Western Engineers, under the leadership of Colonel Bis- sell, of St. Louis. For the greater part of this time he was in charge of the tool department in the field, with the Western army, under Grant.
For a wife Israel Bixler chose Caroline M. Noel, who was born near Athens, Tenn .. the daughter of James Noel, a Scotchman. Mr. and Mrs. Bixler were the parents of seven children, of whom George N. is the eldest. John and An- nette died in infancy, and Alice in childhood. Quinn M. is a resident of Willard, Mo .: Allie is the wife of W. L. Campbell, of Osage City,
Kans., and Eleanor is the wife of M. C. Smith, an attorney of Springfield, Mo. The mother de- parted this life at Geuda Springs, Kans., when in her sixty-sixth year.
. George N. Bixler was born in Henry county, lowa, near the town of Mount Pleasant, in 1847. and was reared to maturity in Iowa. He com- pleted his education in the Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, and remained at home until the ontbreak of the Civil war. In 1862 he en- listed in Company F, Seventeenth Iowa Infantry. and served for three years and three months, a portion of the time as sergeant of his company. His regiment was assigned to the western divi- sion of the army, campaigning in Tennessee. Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia. The young man participated in the numerous important bat- tles of the. Fifteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps, and, most unfortunately, was captured at Tillon, Ga., October 13, 1864. For the ensuing seven months he was confined in southern pris- ons, and experienced the horrors of Anderson- ville. Twice, in desperation, he effected an escape from prison, but was recaptured, and only the closing of the war released him. It was his privilege to take part in the grand review at Washington, and to this day the battle-scarred veterans have held a warm place in his heart.
Returning to the peaceful avocations of life. Mr. Bixler pursued a business course in the Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, and in 1866 went to Burlingame, Kans., with an uncle. For the next two years he was engaged in the dairy business, and then purchased a tract of land in Osage county, Kans., which he improved. At the end of six years he sold out to good advan- tage, and in 1875 became a resident of Samner county, same state. For eight years he was in partnership with James Holloway in a general merchandising business at a place now called Geuda Springs. In 1887 he moved to Benton county, Ark., where he was employed as a carpen- ter until December 1890, when he came to Okla- homa and filed a claim as a soldier. Hepurchased his present place, the northeastern quarter of sec- tion 10, Banner township, in February, 1893. No improvements had been made, but the new owner soon had fifty acres under cultivation. He has made a specialty of raising fruit, and the fine orchard which he planted is now producing abundant harvests. Eleven acres are devoted to the apple orchard, which comprises ten hundred and sixty-five trees, and in addition to this there are three hundred peach trees, and a miscella- neous lot of apricots, plums, pears, etc. The vineyard comprises two hundred thrifty vines. and every department of the fruit farm is under the constant supervision of the owner, who neg- lects no feature of his arduous work as a horti- culturist.
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Mitically, Mr. Bixler's sympathies have been with the Socialists for several years. While in chage county he served as justice of the peace for some time, and also was assessor of his town- Jup and a member of the local school board. since coming to Oklahoma he has been a justice of the peace for two terms, and has hekdl other local offices. In the fraternities, he is an hon- Fred member of Dover Post No. 16. G. A. R. and is a charter member of Arvonia Lodge No. 3 :. I. O. O. F.
Thirty-two years ago occurred the marriage i Mr. Bixler and Lucretia J. Standiferd, a daughter of James Standiferd, of Ohio. Seven children blessed the union of this couple, namely: Anna, wife of William Newcomb, of Woodward county, Okla .: Nettie, wife of Adnah Eaton, an employe of the Rock Island Railroad; Cora Alice, wife of E. D. Wickes: Emma, wife of William Thompson, of Fort Smith, Ark .: Carrie, wife of L. Q. Bond: Earl, of St. Joseph, Mo., and Pearl, who is at home.
J OHN THEODORE BRICKNER. Among the multitudes that were drifted to Okla- homa by the tide of fortune was John Theo- dore Brickner, a prominent business man of Guthrie to-day. He originally came from a mo- tive of interest and curiosity, as many others did, knowing that a similar immigration had never l.cen witnessed in the United States, as for years the people had been eagerly awaiting the right to settle in this coveted territory. But once here he found that men of his trade and business-like qualities were in great demand, and he was not -low in deciding to remain.
The grandparents of our subject were natives of Germany. His father, John Brickner, was born in that empire and was but eight years old when he was brought to America by his father, Michael Brickner. They settled in Seneca cenuity. Ohio, and at the time of his death, in 1895. Michael Brickner was in his ninetieth year. Our subject's father, who has been a successful farmer and stock-raiser, is now a resident of Van Wert county, Ohio. The mother, whose maiden name was Caroline Scholl, was born in Tiffin, Ohio, and is a daughter of Adam Scholl, of Ger- man birth, who for many years owned a stone quarry and lime kilns at Tiffin. His death was ette to a premature explosion in the quarry.
John T. Brickner, who was born in Tiffin, Ohio, July 3. 1863, is the second of nine children, and is the only one of the seven who survive that lives outside of the Buckeye state. From Le time that he was two years old he lived on a iam in Vau Wert county, Ohio, and for several 'Far, attended the schools at Delphos. In that place he afterwards learned the carpenter's trade,
serving an apprenticeship of three years. In 1886 he came to the west and for a year was em- ployed at his trade in Kansas City. He then embarked in business on his own account., and on the 22nd of April. 1889, left eight employes at work while he made a trip to this territory. He stayed here about three months, building some of the first structures erected in Guthrie, among others, the office occupied by the first mayor and the old police court-house. After a flying trip of two weeks to Kansas City, the young man returned to his new field of labor. with his business affairs satisfactorily settled. He has built many of the best public buildings and residences in the city and all of the land offices along the line-at Perry, Enid, Alva and Woodward. He also had the contract for St. Joseph's Convent, Bishop Brooke's residence. St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Church, the International Loan & Trust Com- pany's building. Coyle's Oil Mills at Guthrie, the largest in the territory, and superintended the erection of part of Beadle's block. Fre- quently he has executed contracts for work in different parts of this territory, and, without ex- ception, his work has given perfect satisfaction to those concerned. His office and shop are situated at No. III North First street.
The pleasant modern residence of Mr. Brick- ner and family, at No. 809 East Springer avenue. was built by him, and from time to time he has made marked improvements on the place. He was married in this city to Miss Nellie Maloney. who was born in Dubuque, Iowa. She is a daughter of Thomas Maloney, now of this county. Three children bless the union of our subject and wife, namely: Agnes Rose, Mary Clare and John Thomas.
In national political affairs, Mr. Brickner is affiliated with the Democratic party. Frater- nally, he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is a past officer in the lodge. He is chariman of the board of trustees of St. Mary's Catholic Church, of Guthrie.
J AMES M. BRYAN. About the year 1701 John Bryan crossed the seas to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where he later died. Two of his sons, John and William, mi- grated to Rockingham county, Va., probably about the year 1740, and there the former mar- ried and became the father of Major William Bryan, a soldier in a Virginia regiment during the Revolutionary war, and who afterwards served as member of congress from Pendleton county, Va. (now W. Va.). His uncle, William Bryan, had eight sons, one of whom, Cornelius, was grandfather of James M. Bryan, of whose life this sketch is a chronicle. A part of this par-
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ticular branch of the family went into Kentucky with Daniel Boone, and from them sprang, many years ago, the Bryans of the present. Cornelius Bryan was born in Rockingham county, Va., and served during the Revolutionary war. He mi- grated to Scott county. Ill., in 1825. and died there in 1838, meantime following farm pursuits. Of his seven sons, James, the third, was father of James M. He was born in Rockingham county, February 22. 1788, and passed his youth and early manhood in his native county. A valiant soldier during the war of 1812. lic moved to Illinois in 1825. and died there in 1851, at the age of sixty-three years. During the years of his activity he varied his agricultural interests
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