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 52
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In 1880 Mr. Mundell married Mary Frances Doss, a native of Alabama, and daughter of Henry Lee and Wealthy (Clements) Doss, of old southern ancestry. Her father was in the Confederate service for a time during the Civil war. Afterward he moved to Missouri, thence to Texas, and, after the marriage of his daughter, settled in the Indian Territory. Both he and his wife are now deceased. Six children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mundell, but one died in infancy, and another, Sadie M., in childhood. Those now living are: Carrie S., Alpha Pearl, Ida May and Wealthy A.
J AMES M. BRINDLEY is numbered among the enterprising farmers of Mustang town- ship, Canadian county. When he came to Oklahoma in 1893 he bought a relinquishment and has since given his attention to the cultiva- tion of this property, which lies on section 28. township 11, range 5. Much of his time is de- voted to his orchard, which covers fifty acres and contains all of the best varieties of fruits. This of course adds greatly to the value of his place, and there is also a vineyard that is in bearing condition. Taken altogether, the place is one of the best in the township, and the owner is recog- nized as a progressive and deserving man.
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Mr. Brindley was born in Indiana, a son of Abijah and Margaret (Cardwell) Brindley, na- tes, respectively, of Indiana and North Caro- lina. His paternal ancestors came from England, and were pioneers in this country, as were also the Cardwells. When our subject was three years old his father died, and he was only nine when death deprived him of his sole remaining parent. At that time he secured work on a farmi and thenceforward was self-supporting. He continued as a farm hand until he attained his majority, when he started out in the world for himself. He had little to call his own, and what he has gained represents his unaided efforts. Leaving Indiana, he tried his fortune in the west. married and established his home on a farmi in Nemaha county, Kans., where he tilled the soil for eight years. From there he came to Okla- homa in 1893 and settled on the place he still owns.
In polities Mr. Brindley is a Democrat. He believes in education and has served efficiently on the school board. While he is not identified with any church, he is in sympathy with religious work and a believer in the doetrines of Chris- tianity.
In 1885 occurred the marriage of Mr. Brind- ley to Miss Emma Brown, a native of Ohio. They are the parents of five children, Edward W., Roy M .. Jason B., James G. and Charles K.
J OHN R. STIVERS, who served in the ca- pacity of constable under the appointment of Governor Steele, prior to the organization of Oklahoma territory, is one of our most pro- gressive and representative citizens. He takes great interest in the welfare of the Republican party, and keeps thoroughly posted in all of the prominent issues of the day.
The maternal great-grandfather of the above- named gentleman was Rufus Bennett, a liero of the Revolutionary war, and his patriotic spirit has been found in each succeeding generation of his posterity. He fortunately survived the dread- iul Wyoming valley massacre in Pennsylvania and followed the peaceful avocations of a tiller of the soil. He married a lady of the same sur- name as himself, Martha Bennett, and their daughter, Celesta, was born on their farm in the Keystone state. She became the wife of Randall Stivers, a native of Kentucky, and the paternal grandfather of our subject. Of their children born in Pennsylvania, Thomas B. became the father of John R. Stivers. For a wife, Thomas B. Stivers chose Catherine Stucker, who, like- wise, came of an old and respected family of that section of the Union. In occupation, Mr. Sti- vers was a joiner and carpenter, and made a good livelihood.
The birth of John R. Stivers took place in Luzerne county, Pa., in 1842. He was less than fourteen years of age when he commenced to work, driving horses on the towpath of the northern branch of the Susquehanna canal. When he was fifteen he undertook the heavy work of logging in the woods, and for some time was employed in peeling tanbark for use in the tanneries.
When nineteen years old, John R. Stivers en- listed in Company C. One Hundred and Forty- third Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, and for three years, or until the war was terminated, he stood at his post of duty, making a record of which he has reason to be proud. Though such a young man, he carly was fighting in the thick- est of the fray, and, among the numerous impor- tant battles in which he participated, Chancel- lorsville and Gettysburg should be mentioned. In the last-named terrible strife he was wounded and when he had sufficiently recovered he was placed in detached service in the quartermaster's department of the Fifth Army Corps. Just pre- vious to the second draft in New York state, the brigade was ordered to Hart Island, New York harbor, for the purpose of guarding prisoners and affording protection in case of riot. All on detached duty were then ordered to report to their respective companies. When the Civil war had ended, our subject was honorably discharged and mustered out of the service at Harris- burg, Pa.
Returning home, Mr. Stivers engaged in car- pentering work until 1869. when he went to Shelby county, Mo., and bought a farm. In the Centennial year he went to Winfield, Kans .. where he raised one erop, and then, going to the town of Grenola, in the same state, he resumed his former employment as a carpenter. About a year later he embarked in a livery business, which he disposed of in 1881, and later he was similarly occupied in Cowley and Harper coun- ties, same state. In 1884 he sold his livery and for a twelve-month carried on a grocery at Harper. His next move was to the Chickasaw Nation, where he engaged in farming until Okla- homa was opened to the public. Making the run into this county with a host of others, he secured his present quarter-section of land, it being located in the northeastern portion of sec- tion 22, township 11, range 5. Canadian county. He has met with marked success in his endeav- ors to raise paying crops, and also deals profita- bly in cattle and hogs. He has a well-kept orchard, a vineyard and a fine variety of small fruits.
In 1880 Mr. Stivers wedded Emily A., daugh- ter of William and. Catherine (Varvel) Thornton. all of Missouri. The parents are now residents of this county, and are highly esteemed by all who
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know them. Seven children bless the union of our subject and wife, namely: Grace T., Frank R., Annie E., Floyd, Mabel B., John Ray, and McVay.
J. A. HATCHETT, M. D. Among the prom- inent physicians of Canadian county, no one is hield in higher respect than Dr. Hatchett, of El Reno. He was born March 4. 1853, in Montgomery county, Mo., a son of LeRoy Hatchett, and a grandson of Joseph Hatchett. The family is of English origin, being able to trace their ancestry in a direct line back to the sixteenth century.
Joseph Hatchett was a Virginian by birth, but in early life became one of the pioneers of In- diana, whence he removed to Hancock county, Ill., where he lived for a while, not far from the town of Warsaw. He was a minister of the Christian Church, in which he held long pastor- ates, his last having been in Abingdon, Knox county, Ill. He was a pioneer preacher of that denomination, and a contemporary of Barton Stone and Alexander Campbell, prominent lead- ers in the early church history of those states. He and his sons assisted in driving the Mor- mons from Illinois, a measure to which the people were obliged to resort.
LeRoy Hatchett was born in Indiana and ac- quired his education mainly through his own efforts, attending school when he could in his native state and in Illinois. A self-made man in the truest sense implied by the term, he be- came one of the efficient ministers of the Chris- tian Church, carrying on his active labors in various parts of Illinois, Missouri and Kentucky, where the influence of his good works are yet visible. Now, at the age of seventy-nine years. he is living retired, at Martinsburg, Mo., being the last of his father's family. He married Mary Adams, a daughter of Lebanon Adams, of Ken- tucky, and the descendant of an old family of that state. Her father became an cariv settler of Louisana, Pike county, Mo .. where he spent his last years. She died at Farmington, Mo. Of the five children born of their union, but two are living, a daughter and one son, the doctor.
J. A. Hatchett received his elementary cduca- tion in the public schools of Moberly, Mo., and in other towns of Randolph county in which his youth was spent. At the age of nineteen years he began teaching, and when he had accumulated sufficient money to defray his expenses com- pleted the course at the Kirksville ( Mo.) Normal School. He subsequently resumed the occupa- tion of a teacher in Missouri, having been princi- pal for a while in the Middlegrove and Renick schools. While thus employed he began the study of medicine with Dr. J. F. Keith, of Stur-
geon, Mo. In 1882 he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, and in the spring of 1884 he was graduated from the Missouri Med- ical College at St. Louis, in which he took a post- graduate course in 1891. In 1896 Dr. Hatchett. who has been a lifelong student, never neglect- ing an opportunity to advance his knowledge of the science of medicine, took a post-graduate course in Chicago, and in 1899 took another course in the city of New York, studying under physicians of eminence in their profession.
In 1884 Dr. Hatchett began the practice of his profession in Sturgeon, Mo., and from there in 1886 he went to Clark, Mo., where he remained six years. In 189t he settled in El Reno, where he has built up an extensive and lucrative prac- tice, and won an extended reputation for skill and ability as a general practitioner. He has been very prominent in local matters, having served as president of the board of health from 1893 until 1899; has been a member of the El Reno school board since 1892, during which time great advancement in educational affairs has been made, new school buildings having been erected, the schools graded and other improve- ments formulated. For six years he was presi- dent of the pension board, having been appointed under President Harrison, continued through the administration of Cleveland, and reappointed by President McKinley, serving until he ie- signed to go to New York. He was one of the organizers of the Territorial Medical Associa- tion, of which he was president in 1897. Fra- ternally he is an Odd Fellow, and politically he affiliates with the Democratic party.
In Sturgeon, Mo., Dr. Hatchett married Mary Turner, who was born in Audrian county. Mo .. being a descendant of one of its oldest and most respected families. Dr. and Mrs. Hatchett have three children, namely: Ray T., Olivette, and Louisa. Mrs. Hatchett is a member of the Christian Church, in which she is an active worker.
I OSEPH SVANDA is a successful agricul- turist from other shores who has made a name for himself in his adopted territory of Oklahoma. He was born in Bohemia December 20, 1865, and in 1880 came to America, locating first in Omaha, and later settling near Iowa City. where he engaged in general farming and stock- raising. In the fall of 188o his parents and six brothers came from Bohemia and made their home with him. For years they successfully and amicably conducted their farming enterprises. finally moving to Aurora county, S. D .. and farming at White Lake for two years.
At Omaha Mr. Svanda married Anna Spican. of Bohemia. For six years he engaged in the
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GEORGE W. WHITE, Canadian County.
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tron-moulding business in Omaha. After travel- mg over the territory he took up his abode in oklahoma City, and for four years engaged in the grocery business, after which he sold out his interest and moved to the Cherokee strip. In North Enid he conducted a large and successful business in the mercantile line, and also shipped hay and grain. While living there he became identified with the best interests of the place, and was president of the Farmers' Mill and Ele- vator Company, that erected the mill in which he conducted his business. He also was interested in the political developments of the community, and held the position of councilman for some years.
In 1899 Mr. Svanda thought to better his con- dition by a change of location, and moved to Yukon, where his parents and brothers are en- gaged in farming. Here also he has taken a great interest in the politics of the community, and has several times been a delegate to the county Republican conventions.
To Mr. and Mrs. Svanda have been born three children: John, William and Anna. Mr. Svanda is held in high esteem by the people of his local- ity, who appreciate his various excellent quali- ties, his integrity and reliability, and the spirit of generosity which impels him to lend material and other assistance whenever he is called upon to aid in the public welfare. In fact he is a credit to the many sons of Bohemia who have cast their lot among the free-loving people of America. and aided by their ability and sterling national traits the development and improvement of her resources.
G EORGE W. WHITE, who faithfully served his country throughout the Civil war, is deserving of special mention in the annals of Canadian county. In days of peace, as well as in those troublous times, he has loyally met every obligation as a patriot, and, as he justly deserves, he holds a high place in the hearts of his neighbors and associates.
The parents of Mr. White were Orin and Es- ther (Wagner) White, of New York state. They became pioneers of Wisconsin, making the jour- ney to that state by way of the great lakes, and landing at the place now called Milwaukee. Soon afterward they went to the town now known as Waukesha, and subsequently the father opened a jewelry store in Racine. The mother died at her home in that thriving city in 1851, and ten years later Mr. White enlisted in the Eighth Wisconsin Infantry, often termed the "Eagles." He nobly stood at his post of duty, winning the commen- dation of his superior officers, but the hardships and exposure to inclement weather under- mined his health and he died with typhoid fever
and was buried at Sykestown, Mo. Like the majority of inventors, he never realized much from the numerous inventions which he orig- inated, though several of them possessed un- doubted merit. He had patent rights to a valuable improvement for lightning-rods, a knitting- machine and the Beehive sewing-machine (used in sewing up the legs of boots), and the tele- phone, in one of its crude forms.
George W. White was born April 3, 1842. in Cortland county, N. Y. His education was nec- essarily limited, as the primitive schools of Wis- consin in his boyhood were few and poor. He had commenced learning the carpenter's trade when the war between the north and south began, and though he was only nineteen years of age he possessed the same patriotic ardor which animated his father. He enlisted in Company A. Fourth Wisconsin Infantry. After the battle of Port Hudson his company was provided with horses, and later was counted among the regular cavalry. Much of Mr. White's army service was in the department of the Gulf, and at the end of three years he veteranized. In 1862 he was un- der the leadership of Gen. Benjamin Butler, and proceeded on a transport up the Mississippi river nearly to Vicksburg. On the way the troops took part in a number of skirmishes, and the boat ran the blockade on her return journey and was under heavy fire as she passed the bat- teries at Grand Gulf. Mr. White had two es- pecially narrow escapes during the war. On one occasion he was the mark for a squad of about twenty Confederates, and though they wasted considerable ammunition on him he almost miraculously escaped without being even slightly wounded. He had started out on his trusty horse to seek a favorite gun which had been lost, and was surprised by the enemy. Another time he had refused to accompany a comrade on an even- ing expedition, and thus escaped being captured. In December. 1865. he was a convalescent in the hospital at Camp Distribution, near New Or- leans, when he was mustered out of the service. though he had been detailed as an escort to Gen- eral Sheridan, while his own regiment had been sent to the Rio Grande river locality.
Returning to his old home in Racine he con- tinued to reside there until 1883. when he re- moved to Shelby, Polk county, Neb. For a few years after the close of the war he conducted a photographer's business, and when he found it unprofitable he engaged in carpentering work. often taking and executing contracts. When he went to Nebraska he bought two hundred and forty acres of wild land, and for a period he was occupied mainly in the building of bridges and in contracting. In this manner he earned the means to make desirable improvements upon his home- stead, and it was not until 1891 that he finally
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disposed of the property. In July, 1889, he came to Oklahoma and located on the land where he lives to-day-his shelter at first being merely a shanty. Later he built a substantial sod-house, and in January, 1890, his family came to the new abode. In the winter of 1892-93 he put up the comfortable dwelling which stands on the farm, and in 1897 he bought another quarter section of land. Thus he now owns the southern half of section 29, township 14, range 6 west.
The marriage of Mr. White and Mrs. Helen M. Dunn took place. in Racine, Wis .. December 13, 1866. She is a daughter of William H. and Mary (Mitchell) Higgie, and by her marriage she is the mother of five sons and two daughters, namely: Lillie, wife of Frank Ingalls, of Creek Nation: George M., who married Sophia Bailey, and resides in section 20, township 14: Mary G., wife of Frank T. Kidd, of Springfield, Ill .: Al- bert, Clarence, Garfield and Marshall. With the exception of the last-named, who was born in Nebraska, the children are natives ot Racine, Wis. William Dunn, the child of Mrs. White's first marriage, resides with her.
In 1864 Mr. White cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, and ever since that time he has been a stanch Republican. In 1896 he was elected to the office of township clerk. While a resident of Nebraska he served on the local school board, and meantime a schoolhouse was built in the district. In 1892 he was actively concerned in the effort to secure a postoffice at Clearmont, and three years later the name was changed to Racine. He has had the contract for the building of three bridges, one at Daniel's crossing, across Uncle John's creek: another known as Brown's bridge, and a third at Daniel's Crossing, when the first one there had been swept away by a flood. While living in Racine, Wis., he became a member of McDonough Lodge No. 137, I. O.O.F., and, besides filling ail of the chairs in the lodge, he was chosen as its representative to the grand lodge of the state. He also acted in the capacity of deputy grand master of the Encampment.
H ON. THOMAS R. REID. A successful lawyer of El Reno, an honorable business man, and one of the leading politicians of Oklahoma, Mr. Reid has been influential in the territorial domain, and as speaker of the house during the Fifth General Assembly has won a place of prominence among the foremost men of this section of the Union. He was born July 16, 1864, in Shawneetown, Gallatin county, Ill., a son of Rev. Robert Reid, and comes of dis- tinguished Scotch ancestry on both the mater- nal and paternal sides.
Robert Reid, the grandfather of Thomas R.,
was born. in Scotland, where for many years of his earlier life he was engaged in silk manufac- turing, but subsequently immigrated with his family to America, locating in Nova Scotia. He was a man of deep religions convictions, and a stern defender of the faith in which he was reared, having been a "Blue" Presbyterian of the deepest hue. Eventually all of his children settled in Illinois, and three of his sons rendered excellent service to the country of their adop- tion as soldiers in the late Civil war.
Rev. Robert Reid was born in Scotland, near Glasgow, where he lived until ten years of age, and then accompanied his parents to Nova Scotia. After his marriage he removed to Illi- nois, locating in Gallatin county, where he was engaged in the coal business for a number of years, operating quite extensively at Saline Mines. While thus engaged he began his labors as a preacher of the gospel, and for more than forty years he has been one of the faithful min- isters of Gallatin county. Now, at the age of seventy-six years, he has charge of the church at Saline Mines. Although he has numerous outside interests, having for the past thirty years been superintendent of Saline County Mines, he never in any way neglects his parish, and for many years has not missed a meeting of the Presbytery. An earnest and fluent speaker, he conducts his church services without notes, and during the years that he has been engaged in preaching has made his influence felt through- out southern Illinois, having been instrumental in establishing at least half a dozen churches. freely paying his own expenses, giving gratui- tous service to struggling parishes. In politics he was a Whig in his younger days, and since the formation of the Republican party has been one of its strongest advocates. He married Elizabeth Campbell, who was born near Glas- gow, Scotland, being of the old Argyll Clan Campbell, a lineal descendant of Sir Colin Camp- bell, knighted in 1286, and a grandniece of the Duke of Argyll, former Governor-General of Canada. She died in 1894, leaving nine chil- dren, of whom Thomas R., the sixth child in succession of birth, is the only one residing in Oklahoma.
Thomas R. Reid received his elementary edu- cation in the public schools of Gallatin county. Ill., and at the age of seventeen years began teaching in order to earn money enough to con- tinue his studies at the Southern Illinois Normal University, at Carbondale. Leaving that uni- versity at the commencement of his senior year, in 1886, he began the study of law under Carl Roebel, of Shawneetown, with whom, after being admitted to the bar, in 1889, he formed a partner- ship, which continued until 1804. In 1800 Mr. Reid, who had already become known as a young
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wan of whom much might be expected, was elected to the Illinois state legislature from the o!d forty-ninth district, the Republicans giving him a majority of eight hundred votes. In 1891, in the house, he served on the joint world's fair committee, and on its judiciary committee. and was engaged in the Oglesby and Palmer fight for the United States senatorship.
Early in 1894 Mr. Reid located in El Reno. where he has since established a large and lucra- tive law practice. At once identifying himself with the leading interests of the town and county, he was nominated on the Republican ticket as county attorney, and, having been elected by a majority of one vote, served one session or term. In 1896 he was nominated to the same office by acclamation, but by the fusion of that year was defeated by forty-seven votes. In 1898 he was nominated for the territorial legislature, and re- ceived a majority of more than two hundred votes against fusion, a compliment which he highly appreciated. He was elected speaker of the Fifth General Assembly in 1899, his eleva- tion to the chair being a just recognition of his ability. One of the most important measures with which he has been actively connected is the grain inspection law of the territory, which he drew up, and was instrumental in having passed. This is of great import to the farmers and grain dealers of Oklahoma, as it prevents discrimina- tion against them in favor of coast shippers. who, before the passage of the law, often had undue advantage over the farmers and local grain shippers.
Politically, Mr. Reid is a strong supporter of the principles promulgated by the Republican party, and a faithful worker in its ranks. Fra- ternally, he belongs to the Shawneetown (Ill.) Lodge, A. F. & A. M .: El Reno Chapter. R. A. M .: is likewise a member and past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and a member of the El Reno Commercial Club. His business office i- in Masonic block.
E LIAM LEMASTERS comes of old and dis- tinguished lineage, many of his ancestors having served their country with courage and distinction. He was born in Monongalia county. W. Va., in 1833, and is a son of Septimus 1 .. and Catherine (Jobes) Lemasters, natives of Virginia. The maternal grandfather was born in Virginia, and was twelve years old when Trenton was taken, and he served as dispatchi-bearer in the war of the Revolution until the close of hos- ulties. The paternal and maternal grandfathers vore carly settlers in Virginia, and were men of importance in the community in which their lot . f. cast. They were agriculturists and were " counted successful and progressive meu.
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