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 49
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The pleasant home of Mr. Bear is presided over by his estimable wife, formerly Miss Kittie Fairchild. She is a native of Syracuse, N. Y .. and was living in Wichita, Kans., at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Bear are the parents of twin daughters, Bernice and Mildred.
L OUIS N. BAKER, a successful agricultur- ist of Logan county, is a native of France. his birth having occurred in the province of Lorraine September 15, 1851. When he was eight years of age he accompanied his parents, Alfonse and Margaret (Tole) Baker, on a sailing vessel to the United States. They arrived at their destination, New Orleans, at the end of a voyage. of thirty days' duration, and thence proceeded to St. Louis, Mo., by way of the Mississippi river. The family made a home in that city and staveil there for a few years, then removing to Calhoun county. Ill. The father bought a farm and had begun its improvement when the war of the Re- bellion came on and he felt impelled to testify his allegiance to his adopted country by going to its defense. He enlisted in the three months' service, and subsequently veteranized and re- enlisted. this time for three years. He took part in some important military campaigns and passed safely through numerous battles. For about a year after he returned to the peaceful duties of life he was employed in the transfer business. and afterward gave his attention to farming.
RICHARD HENNESSY, Canadian County.
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Louis N. Baker stayed with his parents until he attained his majority and became a practical farmer. He then married Melvina Jones, of Cal- houn county, Ill., the wedding taking place Sep- teniber 22, 1872. They became the parents of one child, George W., who lives in Logan county, Okla.
For several years after his marriage Mr. Baker cultivated leased land, and by industry and dili- gence in business laid aside a snug little sum. In 1877 he took up a homestead in Rooks county, Kans., and there he spent twelve years of unremitting toil, with the reward which was his just due, for he succeeded in developing a model farm and made a good living for himself and family. In 1889 he was among the' eager settlers who made the rush into Oklahoma as soon as it was legal to do so, and, locating a claim in section 18, range I, township 17, he dwelt there until the following September, when he settled at his present place on section 5, range I west, in the same township. Here he has made substantial improvements and greatly increased the value of the property. A comfortable house, two good barns, a wind-mill and an orchard of more than twenty acres are among the features which plainly show that the owner is progres- sive and wide-awake to modern methods. He devotes his time almost exclusively to his farm and family, taking little part in public affairs, though he uses his ballot on behalf of the Re- publican party.
The first wife of Mr. Baker died while living in Kansas. He married his present wife, formerly Miss Hannah Marshall, September 18, 1889. She is a native of Appanoose county, Iowa, and is a daughter of William and Mary (Conger) Marshall. In 1889 she came to Oklahoma and homesteaded the tract of land now owned by herself and husband, and their residence for the past eleven years. They are the parents of four children, who are named, respectively: Emma, Allen, Fletcher and Clara.
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R ICHARD HENNESSY is a well-known farmer, residing on the southeast quarter of section 1. El Reno township. Canadian county, where he located on the day the territory was opened for settlement, April 22, 1889. He was born in Ireland, and at the age of fourteen Years came to the new world, locating in Brook- ivn, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, making that city his home for twenty years. When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, serving a five years' apprenticeship, and for the same length of time was in the government en1- ploy during the Civil war, having charge of the construction of ammunition boxes. He also made the gun carriage and slide, used during
the Civil war on the men-of-war. Later he had charge of the men building the Bethel Sunday- school on Brooklyn Heights. He was married in Brooklyn to Miss Margaret A. Farrell, and to them were born seven children, three living: Thomas, a resident of El Reno, Okla .; Mrs. Mary Frances Murphy and Mrs. Margaret R. McIntire.
In 1868 Mr. Hennessy removed to Chicago. Ill., where he had charge of the county jail some time and was foreman for Hennessy Brothers, contractors, superintending the erection of the Chicago Cathedral, a Polish church on Noble street, the Webster Avenue Church, and the West Side Catholic Church. After the great Chicago fire, in 1871, he moved to Lake Forest, a suburb of Chicago, and lived there two years, following his trade. In 1875 he went to Craw- ford county, Kans., where he bought a farm, and in connection with its operation continued to work at his trade, securing some large con- tracts at the county-seat and erecting some of the best buildings in the place. While a resident of that county he served as township trustee four years.
In 1889 Mr. Hennessy went from Purcell to Erin Spring, thence to Fort Sill, from there to Anadarko, then to Fort Reno, and from there he made his run on the opening day, April 22, land- ing on his present claim at twenty-seven minutes past twelve. He filed his claim in due time and at once began its improvement and cultivation. He built a house, set out fruit trees, fenced the entire tract, made two wells, and placed acre after acre under the plow until he now has a highly cultivated and well improved farm, which stands as a monument to his thrift and industry. He is successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and also does some contracting and building. He erected the first hotel in El Reno for the land company, and has worked for the government at Fort Sill and Fort Reno, erecting quarters for the soldiers stationed there. Politically he is a stanch Democrat, and relig- iously is a member of the Catholic Church.
R EV. G. DePREITERE has accomplished a great work and is extremely popular with his parishioners. Possessing a fine educa- tion and indefatigable energy he neglects no opportunity of advancing the interests of the church, and for this reason is held in high es- teem. A sketch of his life undoubtedly will prove of interest to his innumerable friends, and the following has been compiled:
The family from which Father DePreitere sprang is one of the oldest in Flanders, and for many decades his grandiather and father, both
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of whom bore the Christian name of Franeis, have been numbered with the merchants of that province. The grandfather was born in the town of Renaix, while the father, as well as the subject of this article, are natives of Courtray. The lat- ter's mother, whose maiden name was Frances Meersehart, was born in Russeignies, Flanders, and her father, Francis Meerschart, was a mer- chant in that town for years, and also for a period was similarly engaged in Renaix. Our subject's parents are still living at their old home, and are devout members of the Catholic church. It was a great joy to them when one of their sons con- cluded to devote his life to the church; their other son is engaged in business with his father in Courtray.
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The birth of Father DePreitere occurred Jan- uary 28, 1871, in the town just mentioned, and there he received his elementary education. La- ter he was a student in the college of Saint Amandus, of Courtray, and in 1891 was gradu- ated with honors. He then went to Roulers, where he entered the local theological seminary and pursued a course in philosophy. At the end of a year he matriculated in the college of the Immaculate Conception, in Louvain, Belgium. Three years later he was graduated in that insti- tution, and on the Ioth of February, 1895, was ordained in the Dominican Church, by the bishop, the Right Reverend J. F. Van Der Stap- pen. At once assigned to the diocese of Okla- homa and Indian territories, Father DePreitere sailed for America on the 7th of September of the same year, and, arriving in Guthrie, was im- mediately sent to Muscogee. In that vicinity he ministered to the people under the supervision of Father Ketcham until the close of 1897,
Coming to Hennessey in December he en- tered upon his important duties as pastor of St. Joseph's church, which has grown wonderfully in wealth and membership, now comprising some eighty families. Soon after coming here he or- ganized a mission church at Enid, which is now known as St. Francis, and in 1899 a beautiful house of worship was erected for the congrega- tion. It is considered one of the largest and finest churches in the territory, and on the Ist of May, 1900, it was formally dedicated. In 1900 another church was built at O'Keene, under the guidance of Father DePreitere, who also is in .charge of missions at Billings, Garber and Mar- shall. He is well known in Kingfisher, Garfield and Blaine counties, in all of which he has lab- ored assiduously to advance the interests of the church. During the past year it has been nec- essary for him to have an assistant in his work, which is growing to vast proportions. He is loved by his people and possesses the esteem of all who know him, even of those who belong to other denominations.
F RANK A. DINKLER, who served in the responsible position of city treasurer of llen-
nessey for six years (from 1893 to 1899), is a successful business man and able financier. His standing in the commercial, political and fraternal circles of this eity is of the best, and his friends are numerous, here and elsewhere.
Mr. Dinkler is a worthy representative of a family which traces its line back four hundred years in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. His great- great-grandfather, his great-grandfather, George Adam Dinkler, and his grandfather, Adam Dinkler, were proprietors of extensive landed estates, and were correspondingly looked up to and wielded considerable authority. Our sub- ject's' father, Joseph Dinkler, was born in the same. German state sixty-four years ago, and when twenty years of age he came to the United States. For a short time he was employed in a glass factory near Pittsburg, after which he .located in Churchtown, a place situated seven miles from Marietta, Ohio, and there he con- ducted a mercantile business until 1877. That year he removed with his family to Brook- ville, Kans., and, soon became one of the successful farmers and stock-raisers of that sec- tion. In 1893 he located a claim in Del Norte. Garfield county, Okla., and is yet living there. His wife, Susanna, mother of our subject, was born in Suizheim, Baden, Germany, in 1842, and died in Kansas May 12, 1892. She was a daugh- ter of Ignatius Walter, and was brought to Amer- ica by her parents when four years old. Her father, who was a gardener, was employed in Pittsburg for a period and thence removed to Churchtown, Ohio, where he turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits. He departed this life in 1880, wlien about four-score years old. and his wife, who lived until 1886, was then nearly ninety.
Frank A. Dinkler, born November 14. 1863. near Marietta, Ohio, is one of ten children, four of whom now reside in Hennessey, namely: him- self and brother, Joseph A., who are engaged in the drug business together: Emma and Fred- erick; Mary, the eldest of the family, lives with her aged father: Mrs. Louisa Eichman. the sec- ond daughter, lives in Topeka, Kans .: John, as- sessor of his township, is engaged in farming and stock-raising at Brookville, Kans., and Wil- liam is living in Burlingame, Kans .: George died at the age of twenty-one years, in Wichita, and Susan died in her seventh year.
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Having obtained a liberal public-school edu- cation, F. A. Dinkler commenced his business career as a clerk in a drug store at Brookville. Kans., and remained with the firm of Freeman & Co. for two years. The following year he spent on his father's homestead, and then hie returned to the drug business, being employed
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1. M. S. Crowley and T. W. & H. Carlin. of Brookville, until the store was destroyed by fire in February, 1890. . The firm then located in Salina, and F. A. Dinkler opened a new store in April, 1800! on the site of the one which had been burned. He conducted it until February of the following year, when he removed to Kanop- olis, Kans., and was similarly occupied there for a few months. A favorable opportunity present- ing itself, he disposed of his business October I, 1891, and during the next six months was em- ployed by his old firm, the Corlins, at Salina.
In April, 1892, Mr. Dinkler came to Hennes- sey and bought the drug store owned by Arch Claywater. Since that time he has carried on the business, and now is looked upon as a pio- liver druggist here. He keeps a fine line of drugs and sundries, books and stationery. wall- paper and similar supplies. Of late years he has been branching out to some extent as a whole- sale merchant, filling orders of neighboring town druggists. A member of the Oklahoma Phar- macists' Association, he served as its vice-presi- dent for some time. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In polit- ical affiliations he is a Democrat. He is one of the original members of St. Joseph's Catholic church of this city.
R. H. DRENNAN. A leader in the commer- cial world of Oklahoma, and an important factor in political circles. R. H. Drennan. of Hennessey, is well entitled to a place in local history. Though he contended against many difficulties in his youth, he possessed the quali- ties which eventually win success, and by his own unaided genius has worked out his destiny in a masterly manner.
The youngest of six children, whose parents were William and Eleanor (Henry) Drennan. ' R. H. Drennan never knew the watchful care and love of a father, as that parent was still- mone to the silent land prior to the birth of the 3011. For many years the senior Drennan had been engaged in a mercantile business in his : dive city. Belfast, Ireland, and the family had madle plans to come to the United States in the saminer of 1860, little thinking that death was to remove their head and mainstay. The widow, who was a native of County Antrim, Ireland. concluded to carry out her original intention. Arvertheless, and bravely sailed to the western world. firm in the faith that here her children would have better opportunities. That she was right is shown by the prosperity which they all enjoy. James being a well-to-do farmer and weekman of Mahaska county, Iowa: William J. . Joseph being rich farmers and dealers in . stock, their homes in Adams county, same
state, and David being the manager of R. H. Drennan's elevator in Waukomis, Okla. The only daughter. Mrs. Effie Septor, is a resident of Adams county, Iowa.
The birth of R. H. Drennan occurred July 10. 1860, in Madison, Wis., in which town the re- cently bereaved family had taken up their abode upon arriving in America. When he was eight years old the lad removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, and was reared upon a farm, attending the com- mnon schools in the meantime. He continued to operate the old homestead until he was twenty. when he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of wild land in Adams county, Iowa, and for the ensuing eleven years devoted himself assiduously to the management of the property, also becoming well known as a stock-raiser.
Selling his farm in 1893, Mr. Drennan came to Hennessey, and on July 23d embarked in an entirely new line of business. Starting the pri- vate bank, which became well known, he was its sole proprietor until 1898, when he regularly in- corporated the present Hennessey Bank, himself being president of the institution. He has con- ducted its affairs in an able manner and has won the esteem and confidence of all with whom he has dealings. In January, 1899, he instituted the Waukomis Bank, and was its president until he sold out in the spring of 1900. Soon after arriv- ing in this city he commenced his extensive transactions in grain and live stock, and has long been a member of the Oklahoma Stock Growers' Association and the Texas Stock Growers' As- sociation. besides being a charter member of the Grain Dealers' Associations of Oklahoma and Indian territories. He is in partnership with J. W. Smith. and their interests are numerous and varied. They own and operate four eleva- tors, that at Hennessey having a capacity of twenty-five thousand bushels, that at Waukomis fifteen thousand, and that at Enid ten thousand bushels. In addition to these the firm has a grain elevator at Garber, Okla., and own over two thousand acres of farm land, situated in Kingfisher and Garfield counties. This property is rented to responsible tenants, and another tract, comprising ten thousand acres, is under the management of the partners. The ranch is located on Main Creek, a branch of the Cimar- ron river, near Waynoka, Wood county, Okla., and is enclosed with fences. On this fine ranch a specialty is made of raising cattle, about one thousand head being kept. A high grade of Herefords are of the number, and each year about three hundred head of the common stock are fattened for market at Hennessey, shipment being made to Kansas City.
For several years Mr. Drennan has served as a member of the Hennessey council, and since casting in his lot with the people of this territory
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he has attended every general convention of the Democratic party within its borders. He has been honored with positons on various committees, both of the territorial and county associations, and has been a great worker in the cause. Fra- ternally he is a Knight of Pythias.
The marriage of Mr. Drennan and Miss Frances Voorhees took place in Corning, Iowa, in 1893. They are the parents of three children, namely: Melvin, Gladys and one unnamed. Mrs. Drennan, who is a native of Monmouth, Ill., and received a liberal education, attends the Congre- gational Church of this city, and, with our sub- ject, is very popular in the best local society.
J ABEZ A. FELT, postmaster of Hennessey, is one of our most popular citizens. Cour- teous and attentive to the demands of the public, and systematic and faithful in the dis- charge of his duties, he merits and receives the commendation of even his political opponents.
The ancestors of our subject were New York people, and his parents, Newell and Sarah (Ful- ton) Felt, were natives of Jefferson county, that state. At an early day the father removed to Mount Vernon. Olio, where he was engaged in the distillery business for twenty-one years. Then he went to Fort Wayne. Ind., and gave his attention to the stock business for a period, after which he became a resident of Blairstown, Iowa, and there was numbered among the agricul- turists of that locality. In 1871 he located upon a farm near Delphos, Kans .. and quietly pursued the "tenor of his way" until death released him from his labors, in his seventy-fourth year. His wife also has entered into rest, and of their four children one has passed away -- Barrett, who died in St. Joseph, Mo. Jesse, the eldest, cashier of the Ottawa County Bank of Minneapolis, Kans., served for four years in the Civil war as a mem- ber of the Twentieth Ohio Infantry, being mus- tered out as adjutant of his regiment, with the rank of first lieutenant. Charles, the second son, is engaged in farming near Delphos, Kans.
In Mount Vernon, Ohio, J. A. Felt was born August 24, 1850. IIe passed his boyhood in his native town, receiving a liberal education in the common schools. In the spring of 1864 he went to Fort Wayne, Ind., and for six months acted as a newsboy, for in those times of war the public deemed the newspaper as absolutely essential as daily food. In the autumn of the same year the youth went to Blairstown. Iowa, and, while com- pleting his education in the local schools and seminary, lived with his parents upon the farm. Subsequent to his graduation in Blairstown Som- inary, he located a homestead on Pike creek, near Delphos, Kans., and, while carrying on general farming and stock-raising, devoted a
portion of his time to the milling trade, learning the same in the Delphos mills. At the end of fourteen years thus occupied he engaged in the sale of agricultural implements at Delphos, and devoted two years exclusively to that enterprise, meeting with success.
In 1887 Mr. Felt was elected to the responsible office of register of deeds, in Ottawa county, and accordingly moved to the county-seat, Minne- apolis. Entering upon his arduous duties in Jan- uary, 1888, he served until January, 1892, having been honored by re-election at the expiration of his first term. Upon his resumption of private life Mr. Felt, as formerly, was connected with the implement business until April, 1893, when he came to Hennessey and established a furni- ture and undertaking business as a member of the firm of Binding & Felt. They met with grat- ifying success, and built up a large and con- stantly increasing trade. In the spring of 1897 Mr. Felt sold out to his partner, as his public duties interfered with his business affairs. He had been appointed postmaster by President McKinley, and entered upon his new duties in January, 1898. The office was removed to its present central location on Main street, and many other changes for the better have been effected during Mr. Felt's incumbency.
In Delphos, Kans., the marriage of our sub- ject and Miss Effie Richardson took place Jant- ary 18th, 1874. She was born in Mentor, Ohio, and was reared in Michigan and Kansas. Four children bless this union, namely: Ollie G .. Ro- wena Maud (who is assistant in the postoffice). Flora I. and Floyd E. The family occupy a beautiful home at the corner of Third and Cher- okee streets.
For three years Mr. Felt served as a member of the city board of education, and during this entire period, and until July, 1899, acted as presi- dent. He is an ardent Republican, and frater- nally belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to the Select Knights. In the Congregational church, with which he is identi- fied, he is one of the board of trustees.
W. P. GRIFFIN. Few citizens of Hennes- . sey are better known or more thoroughly liked than W. P. Griffin, who was hon- ored with election to the mayoralty, and served in that capacity about six years ago. His con- nection with Griffin's Band, however, is a spe- cially prominent factor in his popularity, for the city is justly proud of that organization, whose members named it in his honor. From his early youth Mr. Griffin has been an excellent cornetist. and soon after his arrival in Hennessey he be- came actively interested in the organizing of a band. He has been its leader and instructor
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from its inception and may be proud of his inde- fatigable labors, as the band takes rank with the best in the west. It is handsomely uniformed . and makes a fine appearance as an organization.
Both of the grandfathers of our subject were pioneers of Erie county, N. Y., settling there in the early part of this century. Grandfather Griffin, a native of Vermont, removed to Erie county prior to the beginning of the war of 1812, and was numbered among the prosperous far- mers of that region. The maternal grandfather of W. P. Griffin, likewise an agriculturist, partici- pated in the second war waged between this re- public and the mother country.
The parents of W. P. Griffin, D. C. and Almira (l'otter) Griffin, were born near Buffalo, Erie county, N. Y. The father became a contractor and builder, and also followed agricultural pur- suits for many years. Locating in the vicinity of Charlotte, Eaton county, Mich .. he carried on a farm for a period, and in 1880 went to Oxford, Kans., where, as formerly, he devoted his atten- tion to the tilling of the soil. Since 1890 he has been associated in business with our subject, and is an esteemed citizen of Hennessey. His eldest child, Mrs. Ida Wool, died in Santa Ana. Cal., in which city Cecil, the youngest of the family, is now engaged in the lumber business. Mrs. Alice Beekman, the second daughter, resides in Eaton county, Mich.
The birth of W. P. Griffin took place near Buffalo, N. Y., October 16, 1858. When he was about six years old he was taken to Allen county, Ind., and in 1868 went to Vermontville, Mich .. where he was graduated in the high school. In 1880 he went to Oxford, Kans., and for the en- suing five years was employed as a clerk in local stores, except during three winter terms, when he taught schools in the vicinity.
Having become familiar with business meth- ods, Mr. Griffin embarked in trade upon his own account in 1885 at Oxford, and at the expiration of five years admitted his father into partnership with him. The firm of Griffin & Griffin con- dneted a flourishing grocery and queensware business at Oxford until the spring of 1892. when it was decided to remove the stock of goods to Hennessey. Here the partners have prospered, and no firm keeps a finer or better selected stock of queensware in this section of the territory.
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