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 58
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The birth of Dr. Joseph G. Street occurred at Chapel Hill, Tenn., March 8, 1847. and his boy- boaal was passed on a farm. In the spring of 1804 he enlisted in the Twenty-first Tennessee rivalry, and through the campaigns at Mur- Free-boro, in Mississippi and Tennessee. saw Hard service under General Forrest, taking part
in the battles of Springfield, Franklin and other important engagements. After the war he com- menced the study of medicine in Nashville, and was graduated in the Atlanta Medical College in 1867. For the ensuing six years he was act- ively engaged in practice in Petersburg, Tenn., after which he was located in Nashville three years. In 1876 he settled in Mexia, Tex., where he was very successfully occupied in the practice of medicine and surgery six years. In the inean- time he had embarked in outside enterprises, and had owned and carried on two drug stores and a furniture establishment. In 1885 he re- moved to Dallas, Tex., where he conducted a flourishing furniture business until the 15th of December, 1891, when he came to Oklahoma City. Arriving here, he purchased the business of J. B. Bank, and since that date has been carry- ing on a furniture and undertaker's establish- ment. In 1893 he built a substantial block, 25x75 feet in dimensions, and also erected a warehouse, 25x40 feet, one story high. He car- ries a well-selected stock of furniture and carpets and everything essential in the undertaker's line. Branching out, he built stores at Shawnee and Stroud, but later disposed of his business in those towns. Ilis present place of business is at Nos. 214-216 W. Main street, Oklahoma City, where he built a substantial and valuable three-story block in 1900. IIe also owns several valuable city res- idences and other property.
Before leaving Lincoln county, Tenn .. Dr. Street married Ida, daughter of Dr. A. M. Hall. a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. During the Civil war the last-named served as a surgeon, and at present is engaged in practice in Fayetteville, Tenn. The eldest child of Dr. Street and wife, Gertrude, graduated in Ward's Seminary, at Nashville, and is now the wife of Horace Wilson, of this city. Hall P., the eldest son, was graduated in the city high school, later attended the University of Chicago, and then was graduated in the Chicago College of Embalmers. He is now engaged in manufacturing enterprises and is agent for brokers in Oklahoma City. Both himself and his father are members of the Na- tional Association of Embalmers and the latter assisted in organizing the Territorial Embalm- ers' Association, and was its first president. Jo- seph G., Jr., and Allen are students in the local schools.
Fraternally, Dr. Street is a Mason, a member of the Woodmen of the World, the City Club and of Camp Hammond No. 14. Confederate Veterans' Association. He is a Democrat of the Jeffersonian school, though he is in favor of pro- tection and expansion. Hle is a trustee and active member of the Presbyterian Church, and uses his means and influence on behalf of all worthy enterprises. He served as city treasurer
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one termi, and faithfully discharged every duty devolving upon him.
G EORGE W. SLOAN has many causes for gratitude in this world, not the least of these being the fact that lie has one of the best homes, and the brightest, most interesting families in the territory. These, added'to his general success as an agriculturist, and his prom- inence in the community as an enterprising and influential man, would seem to indicate many estimable traits of character. That the scenes among which his lot has been cast have ever been replete with interest and diversity is ac- countable in a large measure for his progressive ideas and advanced methods of conducting his various enterprises.
The ancestors, also, of the Sloan family are entitled to mention, having in divers ways con- tributed to the progress and achievement of the localities in which they have lived. The parents, A. G. and Sereptia, were natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Tennessee. A. G. Sloan was a typical hardy pioneer of the progressive, indus- trious kind, who hewed his way through all man- ner of difficulties, and was rewarded with suc- cess in the end. The father and mother went at a very early period to Indiana. Later, with his brother and sister-in-law, he removed to Mis- souri, the journey being anything but a com- fortable one, and accomplished with but one wagon and a pair of horses. The wagon was utilized to convey the bedding and immediate household necessities, the men walking most of the way, and the women varying their walking by occasional rides on the backs of the horses. Their destination proved to be what was then Van Buren county, Mo., but which is now Cass county, and there, on the banks of a stream, these wanderers started a whip-saw to saw lum- ber. In order to get enough money to start housekeeping, they sawed lumber for twenty-five cents a hundred. Mr. Sloan then took up a claim upon the ground where Kansas City now stands, and later a claim on Big Creek, where Pleasant Hlill is located. Later on he came into the pos- session of one thousand acres on Grand river. which he retained until the close of the war, when he portioned it off to his children, with the ex- ception of some that he sold, and one hundred and sixty acres which he retained for himself. The latter part of his industrious life was spent at Paola, Kaus., where he died in 1891.
Twice married. A. G. Sloan was the father of nineteen children. By his first wife, Betser Stanford, he had seven children. Of the second marriage twelve children were born, right of Whom reached maturity, namely: Mrs. Eliza-
beth Milton; Mrs. Jennie Dale: Mrs. Sarah Rebecca Sloan, who married a cousin; Alfred O., deceased; George W., the subject of this article; Mrs. Mollie Adams, Mrs. Katie Tribby and Mrs. Anna Burrell. Of these, Alfred (). died in Walla Walla, Waslı., of blood poisoning from the effects of a piece of a hatpin, which re- mained imbedded in his thigh. He was wounded with the pin December 25, 1890, and died on the last day of that year.
The youth of George W. Sloan was sur- roundedby the influences usually brought to bear upon the lives of striving farmers' sons. He studied at the schools of the neighborhood as occasion offered, and diligently mastered all of the details of farm work. January 15, 1875, he took as a wife and helpmate Miss Nora Miner, a daughter of Almon and Harriet Taft Miner. of Gentry county. Mrs. Harriet Miner proved her worthiness to be the wife of a struggling pioneer and when her husband enlisted for the war in Gentry county, she accompanied him to the scene of hostilities, and for three years served her country in caring for the wounded and cook- ing for the well. Mr. Miner's experiences dur- ing the war were not wanting in interest. At Gettysburg, where he was color-bearer, his horse was shot from beneath him, and a ball grazed his nose and knocked the flag out of his hand. He also fought at Warrensburg and at Stone River.
In 1883 G. W. Sloan went to Sumner county, where he remained until the opening of the ter- ritory. With a host of other similarly expectant home-seekers, he made the run on the famous 22nd of April, 1889, and on the 24th bought off a man on the southwest quarter of section 18. township 17, range 3 west, Logan county. Start- ing with no improvements, he put up the first plastered house in this part -of the territory, then known as the Big White House. In other re- spects, as well, the farm is a credit to its owner and to the locality in which it is situated. He is especially proud of his orchard. which is ac- counted one of the best in the territory. Fra- ternally, Mr. Sloan is associated with the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 10, at Crescent City, and has passed all of the chairs; he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of Crescent City. Mrs. Sloan is an ardent worker in the Christian Church, and is considered a genial acquisition to the social and industrial life of the township. She is a member of the Rebecca Lodge and has filled all the offices. The other members of this harmonious family are: lda Anna. the wife of George W. MeCammon. and the mother of one child, Mabel, all living in Cres- cent township; Mary E., a capable teacher. now in charge of a school in Crescent City, and, with the other children. Alice V. Bessie La, and . VI- fred .A., she is living at home.
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D ANIEL JONES. As he was the propri- etor of a ranch on which the town of Dover now stands, fully a quarter of a century ago, Daniel Jones may well be entitled one of the pio- neers of this region, and, in fact, he spent many years prior to 1875 on the frontier, becoming thoroughly familiar with western life in all of its phases. He possesses the enterprise and energy of the true frontiersman, and, being a natural leader, has been chosen to occupy numerous pub- lic positions in the past, at present serving as deputy United States marshal in Kingfisher county, Okla.
A son of Endsley and Lydia (Wright) Jones. members of the Society of Friends, Daniel Jones was born near Winchester, Randolph county, Ind., in 1845. His father, who was a native of North Carolina, died while making a visit in Dover in 1894, when he was in his eighty-second vear. His widow, now living in Iola, Kans., has reached the age of eighty-two years.
Reared upon the parental homestead in the Hoosier state, Daniel Jones acquired a liberal education in the common schools and local sem- inary. He delighted in hunting, and at an early age determined to see something of the great west. Making a memorable trip along the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers, he finally settled near Wellington, Kans., where he bought and proved up a claim. He was one of the first town marshals and trustees of Wellington township, and was an early deputy sheriff of Sumner county, Kans. In 1873 he again commenced his travels in the west and southwest, and as his uncle, Hiram Jones, was then agent to the Qua- paw and Seneca Indians, he spent some time in that vicinity. In 1875 he bought the Traders' Ranch, owned by Lee and Reynolds, and changed the name to Red Fork Ranch. Here supplies of all kinds were kept for sale to the cattlemen, freighters and Indians. This ranch occupied the present site of Dover and was on the old Chisholm trail. It was operated by Mr. Jones for five years, and, as it was situated on the old stage line, a relay of horses was also kept.
In 1879 Mr. Jones located in Caldwell. Kans .. where he remained for three years, in the mean- time holding the offices of town marshal and deputy sheriff. Then, returning to this territory. which always has had great attractions for him. he became the owner of Post Oak Grove Ranch. on Preacher creek, and turned his attention to the cattle business. Again, however, he went back to Caldwell, and there was connected with the real estate and loan business until Oklahoma was opened to settlement. Filing a claim in sec- tion 14, Cimarron township, Kingfisher county, he established stage stations on ranches at va- rions points, in the interests of the Rock Island .
Railroad and spent eight years in these enter- prises. Since 1897 he has made his home in Dover, and for a period carried on a livery busi- ness here. In 1890 he was appointed by Gov- ernor Steele as a census enumerator, and at present is serving as deputy United States mar- shal, under H. C. Thompson. Always an active Republican, he was chairman of the Kingfisher county central committee during the presiden- tial campaign of 1896. Usually he is sent as a delegate to all county and territorial conven- tions, being considered one of our representative citizens and an able exponent of progress.
In 1879 Mr. Jones married Miss Jennie Mc- Donald, of Peoria, Ill. Two sons were born to them, namely: E. D. and Benjamin M. Mrs. Jones departed this life August 10, 1894. and her mortal remains were placed in the Dover cem- etery.
O. J. FLEMING. The ancestry of the Flem- ing family is Scotch,'and the first mem- bers to emigrate to America settled in Virginia, and thence went to Pennsylvania, and then to Kentucky, where they were among the very early settlers. They were people of promi- nence in their respective lines of occupation, and were firm adherents of the Presbyterian Church. The great-grandfather Fleming was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and died at a com- paratively early age. His son, the grandfather of O. J., was a merchant, and a soldier in the war of 1812.
A native of Fredericktown. Mo., O. J. Fleming was born September 25, 1854. His father. A. A. Fleming, was a medical practitioner, and a graduate of the Lexington (Ky.) Medical Col- lege, and of Jefferson Medical College. of Phila- delphia. He worked up an extensive practice in Fredericktown, Madison county. Mo., and during the war served as surgeon of a Missouri regiment. After the war he retired from active participation in the affairs of business, and lived upon his farm in Netawaka, Jackson county. Kans .. where he became a large land-owner. He is now living in Effingham, Ill., and is a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic. Ilis wife. Mrs. Ellen (Wirt) Fleming, was born in Lexington, Ky .. her parents having come from New York, where they were members of an old family. Iler mother, who died in 1882, was the mother of seven children, six of whom are liv- ing, five sons and one daughter. Two of the sons are in Kentucky, one in Kansas, and one in Wisconsin.
Mr. Fleming was reared in Missouri until 1877, when he went to Netawaka. He was edu- cated in the public schools of Fredericktown. and was graduated from the high school in 1870.
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He then entered the state university at Columbia, Mo., and remained until the junior year. In 1872 he changed his location to Boulder, Colo., and engaged in clerking there for four years. Then, returning to Missouri, in 1877 he moved to Netawaka, and interested himself in general farming for two years. Following this venture, he entered upon a general merchandise business, which was continued until 1886. While in Neta- waka he attained considerable political promi- nence, and served as city treasurer. In 1886 Mr. Fleming took up his residence in Kansas City, and engaged in the real-estate business until 1891, when he went to Horton, Brown county, and continued in the merchandise business until 1893.
On September 16, 1893, Mr. Fleming made the run to this territory, and located on a school section, which he afterwards sold. Then coming to Enid, he opened an office for the practice of land law, having been licensed before the inte- rior department while living in Kansas. The Bank of Enid was incorporated and opened in 1893, and in 1894 Mr. Fleming bought it, and continued the business, himself serving as cash- ier and manager. the president being W. W. Letson, of Horton, Kans. January 1, 1900, Mr. Fleming was elected president; W. W. Letson, vice-president, and F. H. Letson, cashier. The oldest bank in Enid, a general banking business is carried on. To those familiar with banking enterprises, it is thought to have a remarkable showing, having been started with a capital of $5,000, which is still maintained, and there is a surplus of $38.oco. It started with $9,000 de- posits, and there is now $100,000. He is one of the incorporators and directors of the Blackwell & Enid Southwestern, and his bank is the de- pository for the road. He was one of the orig- inal promoters of the Enid & Arkansas City Railroad Company, and in the fight between that company and the Rock Island Railroad Company, Mr. Fleming was one of the committee appointed to furnish the money for the contest at Washington, in getting congress to pass a law compelling the Rock Island road to stop all their trains at Enid, and build depots to accom- modate their patrons.
In Netawaka, Kans., Mr. Fleming was mar- ried to Ella Letson, who was born in the state. and is a daughter of W. W. Letson, a native of South Carolina. Her mother, formerly Annie Terrill, was born in Ohio. The Terrill family is an old and respected one in Massachusetts. Mr. Letson came to St. Joseph in 1857, and was in the employ of the express company as express messenger between St. Joseph and Denver. Later he went into the general merchandise business in Nemaha, then in Netawaka, and later in Horton, where he became a large land-owner.
Mrs. Fleming is a graduate of Mrs. Monroe's In- stitute, at Atchison, Kans. To Mr. and Mrs. Fleming have been born two children, Blossom and Edwin. Mr. Fleming is a member of the Territorial Bankers' Association. In politics he is a Democrat. Ile was made a member of the Masonic order at Netawaka, and is a member of Lodge No. 19, at Enid. He served for two years as a school trustee, and has been asso- ciated with the Presbyterian Church ever since he came to the town. He is a progressive and enterprising citizen, and is accounted one of the substantial and reliable men of his locality.
A LBERT L. COCKRUM, cashier of the Far- mers' Bank of Orlando, stands prominent among the substantial business men of the place, and has made for himself a good record in all of the relations of life. He is essentially a product of the west, having been born in Knox county, Mo., November 14, 1861. His parents were Bryant J. and Anna ( Bright) Cockrum, and the father is a merchant of Hurdland, Mo.
The early years of Mr. Cockrum were spent mostly in the county of his birth. At Novelty, Mo., he attended the common school and was graduated from the high school in 1883. carrying off the honors of his class. Soon afterward he commenced teaching in the public schools of his native town, and was given the principalship of the high school there, which post he occupied two years. He then tried the experiment of traveling as a salesman for the Minneapolis Har- vesting Company. In 1889 he made his way to this territory and located on a tract of land four miles west of the young town of Guthrie. Not long afterward he sold this, and with the pro- ceeds opened a mercantile business in Orlando, establishing the first hardware store in the place. For two months he housed his goods in a tent. and in due time put up a frame building, 18x40 feet. for store and residence. He prospered, and eighteen months later put up another franc building, 25x90 feet. In 1898 he also embarked in the lumber business, and had the second yard started in the place. He sold out his lumber in- terests in September, 1899, and the hardware business in February, 1900, in the meantime having established the bank as owner of about three-fourths of the stock.
The wife of our subject was, in her girlhood clays, Miss Etta Bischoff. of Edina, Mo., where their marriage took place in October, 188 ;. Mrs. Cockrum was born in Quincy, Ill., but was edu- cated in Edina, Mo. Of this union there are three children-Harry B., born April 22, 1880. the day the father made the run in Oklahoma for his land; Lee B. and Arthur B.
Mr. Cockrim was born and bred a Democrat.
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and was one of twenty-two candidates for nomi- nation before the convention for register of deeds in Logan county. Though fairly entitled to the nomination, he was counted out. He has served on the township and county central committee and at the present time is secretary of the latter. Socially he is a charter member of Orlando Lodge No. 40, A. F. & A. M., is a charter men- ber of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of Orlando, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a member of the encamp- ment, Modern Woodmen of America, at Perry.
Our subject has two farms in Payne county, Okla., seven miles from Orlando, both well im- proved. In the town he has a residence and half a lot and a store business building. He also has a store building in Billings, Noble county, Okla.
J OHN A. BUCKLES. The Buckles family originated in England, and the first mem- bers to come to America located in Mary- land, where they became large land-owners and planters. The great-grandfather, James, was born in Maryland, and later became a planter in Virginia. His son, the grandfather of John A., located on a farm near Piqua. Ohio, in 1798. On this farm, so long in the family, was born George Buckles, the father of John A., who in later life became prominent as a contractor, and built more turnpikes than any other man in Ohio. He was famed for the excellence and substantiality of his work, and died December 2, 1899. He served with courage and fidelity in the Civil war, and was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics he was a be- liever in the principles of the Republican party. His wife, formerly Mehitable Lloyd, came of a distinguished Welsh family, and is a daughter of John Lloyd, a native of Kentucky, who carly settled in Ohio, probably about 1802, where he engaged in farming in Miami county. He par- ticipated in the war of 1812, and was one of the musicians on Commodore Perry's flagship in the victory on Lake Erie September 15, 1813. He lied at the age of ninety-six. The paternal great- grandfather, Capt. David Lloyd, received his commission under Washington during the Rev- olutionary war. During the greater part of his life lie lived in Maryland and was engaged in the coasting trade. Two of the Lloyd family were colonial governors of Maryland. Mrs. Buckles is still living and at the present time is seventy- mne years of age. Her five children are: John \ .; James H., who is assistant postmaster at Enid; Maggie, now Mrs. W. H. Hoover, of North Dakota; Ada and Ida.
John A. Buckles was born May 22, 1860, and was reared on his father's farin. He studied dili- gently at the public schools and in the high
school at Piqua, Ohio, subsequently going to the Agricultural College at Columbus. In 1884 he decided that the West held greater possibili- ties, and, with the hope of bettering his condi- tion, settled in Grant county, Kans., near Ulyssus, and went into the cattle business on quite an extended scale, the buying and selling of cattle taking liim into Texas and over a large part of the West. September 16, 1893, at the opening of the Cherokee outlet, he came to Enid. and in 1894 purchased the Enid "Eagle," which he managed until 1899, when it was sold. It is now called the "Sun Eagle." This enterprise was attended by gratifying results, Mr. Buckles proving himself an admirable newspaper man, and his paper filling the requirements of a mod- ern, up-to-date periodical.
November 1, 1897, Mr. Buckles was appointed postmaster by President Mckinley, and took the oath of office. In July, 1900, was begun a free delivery service, which he was largely instru- mental in instituting, as well as several reforms of like interest and benefit. In 1896 Mr. Buckles was elected delegate to the National Republican Convention at St. Louis that nominated President McKinley, and afterward was a member of the notification committee that proceeded to Canton to inform the president of his nomination. Fra- ternally Mr. Buckles is associated with the Ma- sonic order and with the Ancient Order of Unite 1 Workmen. He was married September 5, rgoo, to Mary A. Hunter, of Piqua, Ohio. .
A. H. BEAM deals in real estate, loans money, writes insurance, and is an ali- around business man of Okarche. with a wide acquaintance and a reputation as a square- dealing, upright business man. He has been in this city since 1893. and was closely identified with the experiences of early days here.
Mr. Beam was born in Huron county, Ohio. in the town of Sherman, where his father had settled when he left New York. The father was a farmer and died when his son was only a year old. Five years later the widowed wife and mother moved to Michigan, where the subject of this article grew to manhood, attending school at Lowell and college at Hillsdale. He was left an orphan at the age of fifteen, and two years later enlisted in the Union army, being enrolled as a member of Company I. Twenty-sixth Mich- igan Volunteer Infantry. During his three years' service he was wounded at Cold Harbor and Farmersville. His regimeut was a part of General Miles' Brigade, Second Army Corps. Army of the Potomac. General Miles wa. colonel of his regiment, and he remained under his command throughout the war. He took part in all of the great battles of the Army of the
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Potomac, excepting those that occurred while he was in the hospital. Honorably discharged July 6. 1865, while in the hospital at West Phil- adelphia, Pa., he went back to Michigan, where he recovered his health under the faithful care of kind friends. He followed farming in that state and in South Dakota, buying a large ranch near Mitchell in 1879. The place he devoted to fancy stock and farming, dealing in fine cattle, blooded horses and high-grade hogs. He lived there fourteen years, and in 1893 came to Okarche through the influence of a friend. Lik- ing the climate and having faith in the future of the town, he opened a real estate office, secured the agency of several prominent fire insurance companies, and almost immediately entered into a comfortable income. He was elected justice of the peace in 1896, and at the same time re- ceived the commission of notary public. All kinds of legal business are transacted by him, and he has been quite successful. He has built a good building on Sixth street, in which he has his office, and owns other valuable property. Thus, in the business world, he is regarded as one of the solid men of the community. In po- litical matters he is a Republican, with inde- pendent inclinations, but takes part in the workings of the party organization. He is a strong worker in the cause of temperance, and helped very materially in the organization of the local lodge of Good Templars, of which he has served as worthy chief templar. He has been clerk of the school board for five years, and any- thing calculated to advance the educational in- terests of the community finds in him a ready helper. He has always taken a lively interest in Masonic matters, and was one of the first mem- bers of the Valley City Lodge, No. 486. at Grand Rapids, Mich. An earnest and active member of the Congregational Church, he does much to promote the religious interests of the city.
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