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 61
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Mr. Overton has not confined his efforts ex- clusively to the affairs of the railroad, but has devoted much time and study to various enter- prises, which have placed him in the front rank of citizens and promoters of the general good. Upon coming to Oklahoma he laid claim to a quarter section three miles out of Hennessey. which was later sold. In addition to the brick Overton block, in which the affairs of the rail- road are conducted, he has built three stores on Main street, as well as a fine residence on the corner of Oklahoma avenue and Thompson street, the grounds of which comprise thirteen acres, and the appointments of which are thor- ouglily modern and arranged with an idea for comfort and elegance. The equipments include a water-works system, arranged from a wind- mill, and tank with a storage capacity of seventy- five barrels. This permits of baths and running water in the house, which are luxuries at all times in comparatively new towns. On the grounds are numerous trees that produce cool shade in the summer time, and also other trees that bear apples, peaches, plums and a variety of
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other fruits. One might look far without com- ing upon so complete and homelike a dwelling place.
Mr. Overton has been twice married, the first to bear his name having been Flora Wilcox, who was born in Wisconsin, near La.Crosse. and died in Octavia, Neb. She was the mother of one child, Blanche. The second Mrs. Overton was formerly May Needham, of Bellwood, Neb., and born in Michigan. Mrs. Overton is a daughter of W. H. Needham, a grain dealer of Hennessey. Of this union there are three children: Marvin, Basil and John. Mr. Overton is politically affili- ated with the Republican party and has been conspicuously identified with its undertakings. He was a member of the first council and twice re-elected, and has since been mayor of the city for one term. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a member of the Encampment. He is interested in the Presbyterian Church and contributes lib- erally toward its support, while his wife and daughter are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Overton is one of Hennessey's most es- teemed and reliable citizens and is regarded as an able acquisition to the many who have been in- strumental in its successful upbuilding.
D R. ALPHONSO JOSEPH ALSTON. Among the prominent townspeople and useful business men of Langston, none stands higher than the popular physician whose name appears at the head of this sketch. He is what may be properly termed a self-made man. having carved out his success through his own persevering industry and uprightness of char- acter. He has the patronage. professionally, of the best people of the community, and is stead- ily advancing with the success of the growing lit- tle city which he has selected for his home. He owns the only drug store in the place, and couse- quently enjoys the monopoly of trade in that direction.
Dr. Alston is a South Carolinian, having been born at Winnsboro, S. C., in 1860, and is the son of Jerry and Harriet Alston, who died when he was a mere lad. He spent his carlier years in his native town, and at the age of fifteen went to Washington, D. C., equipped with a very good education. Soon afterward he entered Howard University, from which he was graduated five years later. He had some money and added to it sufficiently to pay his way while studying medicine, and being graduated in the class of 1890, lie began the practice of his chosen pro- fession in Hopkinsville. Ky .. and was more than ordinarily successful. Wishing to see something of the southwest and its possibilities, he then came to Langston and established his drug store
and at the same time took up his practice with: the same careful attention that had marked his former course in the Blue Grass state. For the first two years his practice was largely among people of limited means, but as his skill became known the demand for him was correspondingly broadened, and he is now on the road to pros- perity.
Dr. Alston was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Barnett, of Langston, March 27, 1897. The doctor's estimable lady was born in Dodd. Tex., and came to Oklahoma with her parents in 1892. The young couple own and occupy a pleasant home, and besides this property the doctor owns several town lots-the proceeds of his practice in this vicinity. Politically, he votes the straight Republican ticket, but has no aspira- tions for office.
G EORGE NORTON BEEBE, the well- known chief electrical engineer for the Oklahoma City Electric, Gas & Power Company, was born in Marietta, N. Y., Decem- ber 15, 1862, and is a son of S. T. and Harriet (Norton) Beebe, also natives of the Empire state. where the mothier still resides. She is a daughter of J. C. Norton, a retired farmer of New York. Our subject's paternal great-great-grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. The grandfather. Asa Beebe, was an iron worker, and spent his en- tire life in New York. For many years the father of our subject was employed as a machinist in a foundry and machine shop in Mexico, Oswego county, N. Y., where he died when over forty years of age. In his family were only two chil- dren: Frank, who died at the age of twenty-one years, and George Norton Beebe.
Our subject was only a year old when the family removed to Mexico, N. Y., and his educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of that city and the Mexico Academy. He was eight years of age at the time of his father's death, and at the age of seventeen he commenced learning the machinist's trade in his father's old shop. serving a three years' apprenticeship. After working for a time at his trade in Syracuse, N. Y., he returned to Mexico, where he attended the academy one year. In October, 1884, he went to Napa, Cal .. to take charge of the ma- chinery in a large tannery, and remained in that position for two years and a half, after which he was employed in a woolen mill for a short time, and then opened a machine shop of his own in Napa. For six years he served as chief engineer of the Napa City Water Works, and while holding that position superintended the building of their new plant on the storage sys- tem.
In March, 1897, Mr. Beebe came to Oklahoma
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City as chief electrical engineer for the Okla- loma Gas & Electric Light Company, and the sanie year became a stockholder and director of the company. The old plant was burned down and a new one built with double the capacity, and in 1900 the company was reorganized as the Oklahoma City Electric, Gas & Power Com- pany.
In Mexico, N. Y., Mr. Beebe was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Wheeler, a native of Syracuse, that state. They are now prominent members of the Presbyterian Church of Okla- homa, and Mr. Beebe is one of its trustees and secretary of the board. In politics he is inde- pendent. In manner he is pleasant and cordial, which, combined with his sterling worth, makes him one of the popular citizens of his adopted city.
T' HOMAS T. SETTLE was a general mer- chant engaged in the Indian trade at the Darlington agency, and the substantial suc- cess that he attained was evidence of both his character and ability. He came to this country from St. Louis, Mo. He was born in Christian county, Ky., and was a southerner in every root and fibre of his being.
Joseph Settle, the father of the Darlington merchant, was born in New Hampshire, but moved to Kentucky about 1818, and spent fifty years on one farm in Christian county. He owned four hundred acres of land, and devoted it to a general system of farming, making wheat, tobacco and stock his inain reliance. He died in 1869, at the age of seventy-four. Ilis wife, Amy Martin, also was a native of New Hamp- shire. She was the mother of nine children. of whom now living are the following-named: B. B. Settle, of Memphis, Tenn .; Joseph: Mrs. Tiny Cockrell; Mrs. M. E. Harelson. of Ballard county, Ky .: Mrs. M. B. Richardson, and Mrs. Fannie Burgess, of New Providence, Tenn. The mother died on the old homestead. when over seventy-eight years of age.
Thomas Settle grew up on the Kentucky farm and received a good common-school education. When a young man he taught school for a year, and then engaged in the tobacco commission business at Paducah, Ky., with a brother. under the firm name of Settle Brothers. He continued there until 1874, when he disposed of his inter- est in the firm and went to St. Louis, where he manufactured smoking tobacco until, in 1882. his plant was destroyed by fire. The company which he formed to manufacture fertilizer material from tobacco stems was known as the Hill-Settle Tobacco Fertilizer Company. In 188; he bought offt certain parties in Darlington and became connected with Caldwell & McGregor. under
the firm name of Settle, Caldwell & Company. This arrangement continued for about two years, when Mr. Settle bought out all the other inter- ests and associated himself with Mr. S. A. Rath- burn, the combination being known as Settle, Rathburn & Company. The firm had two estab- lishments, one at Kingfisher, and one at Dar- lington. In 1890 the partners divided, Mr. Rathburn remaining at Kingfisher and Mr. Settle taking charge at Darlington. Here he opened a general line of merchandise, which he man -. aged with great success. With the exception of one year, when he was away from his busi- ness, he gave it close and constant attention. He also held the postmastership, and had the office in his store. He carried about ten thousand dollars' worth of goods, and was very successful in his business from the time of his arrival in Darlington. He owned his own store building. which is 35x100 feet, and two residences in the town. He was a member of the St. Louis Com- mercial Travellers' Association and of the Ma- sonic order, and was a popular and genial gentle- man. His death occurred September 28, 1900, at his home in Darlington.
Mr. Settle was married in Ballard county, Ky., to Miss Louise Elvira Woodson, a daughter of Miller Woodson. She died in 1896, leaving three children; Fannie is the wife of J. O. Hickox, and they have three children, Miller Woodson, Joseph Oscar, Jr., and Mary Louise. Ernest T. married Sadie Reed, and has two chil- dren, Ernest T .. Jr., and Fred Forest; Amy D. is at home.
C HARLES LIEBLER, a grain dealer of Union City, Okla., has had a remarkable career in the business world. Ile has been identified with many business ventures in vari- ous states in this country, displaying unusual ability in each line, and success has always at- tended his efforts. He is one of Union City's most enterprising men, and has been closely identified with the development of the town since its very inception.
Mr. Liebler was born in the city of Krakau, Poland, and comes of a wealthy family of that country. He was given a very good education and during his early days engaged in clerical work and bookkeeping. . At the age of eighteen years he crossed the ocean to America, in the sailing vessel "Constitution," landing in New York City August 22, 1863. He remained there for three years, engaged as a clerk in the mer- cantile business, and in 1867 went to New Or- leans, La. After a period of one year spent in the Crescent City, he went to St. Louis, Mo .. and for two years engaged in buying and selling wood and hides. This was his first venture in
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business on his own behalf and resulted quite successfully. In 1870 he became a partner in a dry goods store at Holden, Mo., and continued as such until 1872, when he went to Athens, Ga., and opened a cigar factory. His business pros- pered and he operated it until 1879, employing three salesmen on the road and a force of thirty workmen in the factory. In 1880 he went west to Caldwell, Kans., and after clerking for a short time became a grain and real-estate dealer. There was a "boom" at Caldwell and his opera- tions assumed large proportions, he doing more than any other man in the building up of the town. He built and sold a large number of houses, and his property holdings were very large. Ile shipped grain all over that part of the west, and, as it was before the railroads appeared in that section, hauled it to Forts Reno and Sill, Okla., also doing a stage business. In 1885 he went down with the collapse of Caldweil's boom, losing about $75,000. In 188g he located at Kingfisher, Okla., going from there to Reno City, thence to Oklahoma City, and dealing in real estate and cigars. July 12, 1889, he came to Union City, when about fifteen people only were located here, and his prosperity has kept pace with the place. For several years he kept a small grocery and then conducted a "general merchandise store for a few years. He is now a grain dealer and buys for the El Reno Mill and Elevator Company, his business being in a very prosperous condition. He was one of the original members of the town-site board, and served as one of the first councilmen and as city clerk for one year. At present lie is serving in the capacity of notary public. He has always been very active in politics, and an ardent sup- porter of the Democratic party, serving as cen- tral committeeman at Caldwell, Kans., and also at Union City for some years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and belongs to the chapter at Albany, Ga. He is a member of El Reno Lodge No. 7. I. O. O. F .. of which he is past grand, and served as deputy grand master at Corbin, Kans., for two years.
OHN SINCLAIR MORROW. Oklahoma J City boasts no business man more enter- prising or successful than Mr. Morrow. He is patriotic and intensely interested in every- thing relating to the progress of this city, and spares no effort to render the place attractive and desirable for residence.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Morrow, Samuel Morrow, was born on the Atlantic, under the English flag. Ilis parents were of Scotch-Irish stock and came to America from the northern part of Ireland. They took up their abode in Woodford county, Ky., where they
engaged in agriculture. Samuel Morrow fol- lowed the same vocation in Woodford county, and there his son, Dandridge, father of our sub- ject, was born. When the last-named was about twenty years old he went to Richmond, Mo., and about 1856 removed to Texas, where he bought a farm four miles west of the site of the present city of Denison, Grayson county. He served as a justice of the peace there many years, and at one time was a member of the Texas home guards. When he retired from active life. he came to Oklahoma City, and, in 1896, died at the home of our subject. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was a sterling. noble man in every respect. His wife, who died in Texas, bore the maiden name of Elizabeth P. Kirtley. She was of French-German extraction and her paternal great-grandfather was an offi- cer in the American army during the war of 1812. She was a native of Woodford county, Ky., of which locality her father was a pioneer. Of the eleven children born to Dandridge Mor- row and wife, six are deceased. George, who served in the army during the Civil war. died in the Indian Territory. Samuel and Preston E. are residents of this territory, and Stiles re- sides in New Mexico.
J. S. Morrow was born on his father's farm near Dennison, Tex., February 4, 1862. As there were very few schools maintained in that neigli- borhood during his boyhood, he had very sliglit chances for obtaining an education, and the eighteen months, all told, of his schooling was in private institutions. He continued to work on the home farm until he was twenty years old, when he started in business on his own account. and for three years conducted a farm in Grayson county. He then went to Denison, where lie commenced learning the carpenter's trade, but in 1889 embarked in the grocery business in the same town, and gave his chief attention to that line there three years. In September. 1892, he came to Oklahoma City, where he bought out the firm of McDurmott & Jackson, who had opened a provision store at No. 23 Reno avenue. April 23, 1889, the day after the formal opening of the territory to white settlers. After a period. Mr. Morrow sold out this business, but at the end of a year bought it back, and has since car- ried it on. He added a flour and feed business. and every department of this pioneer store has prospered under his able management.
Politically, Mr. Morrow has been a recognized factor in the Democratic party. He was ap- pointed to represent the fourth ward in the city school board, and subsequently was regularly elected to that position. He was influential in forwarding the work of building the old high school, which is now used as the fifth ward gram- mar school, In the spring of 1899 he was elected
W. H. DIVERS, Enid.
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by a good majority as a councilman from the fourth ward, and is still acting in that capacity. Ile is a member of the committees on sidewalks, on ordinances and printing. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and his influence is ever cast on the side of what- ever is elevating.
In his native county, Mr. Morrow married Florence Virginia Franklin, whose birth had occurred near Bowling Green, Ky. Two chil- dren bless their union, Mildred and Ernest. Mr. Morrow built a residence at No. 35 East Reno street, but now resides in a new building at No. 27 West Reno avenue, and here the many friends of this popular couple are entertained with true southern hospitality.
W. H. DIVERS. Standing at the head of his particular line of business in Enid. W. H. Divers is justly entitled to repre- sentation in the history of Oklahoma. He has been actively associated with the development of this immediate locality, and always has main- tained great faith in its future.
Mr. Divers comes of a good old southern fam- ily, his paternal grandfather having been a na- tive of Virginia. His father, Capt. W. S. Divers. likewise born in the Old Dominion, removed to Missouri in early manhood and there engaged in his business as a manufacturer of brick, and contractor for brick masonry. In 1899 he came to Enid, where he is living retired. During the Civil war he served as captain of a Missouri com- pany, and was wounded in one of the battles in which he participated. He married one of Mis- souri's daugliters, Miss Bernetta Wells, who was summoned to the silent land several years ago. Her father, Ransom, was a farmer in Missouri, and some of her brothers were soldiers in the army while the Civil war was in progress. Addie, only daughter of Captain Divers and wife, is Mrs. A. C. Sterett, of Nevada, Mo .: Ran- som, the eldest son, is a painter and contractor at Port Arthur. Tex .: and John, the youngest, is a farmer of Garfield county, Okla.
W. H. Divers was born April 4, 1860, at Knob- noster. Mo .. and during the troublons and unset- tled times of the war in that region he and his mother resided in Millersburg, Callaway county, same state. In 1865 the family located in Texas. but a year later removed to a farm in Clay county. Mo. After spending three years in that section they became residents of Vernon county, Ner .. where our subject completed his oft-inter- rupted studies in the high school. At fifteen he commenced learning the painter's trade, and three years later began business for himself, tak- ing and executing contracts for work. For more than a year be carried on his vocation at Galena,
Kans., and in 1885 settled at Ashland, Clark county, Kans., which was fighting on the ques- tion of being the county seat. He built up a large and lucrative business and won the good will of the entire community.
April 22, 1889, Mr. Divers made the run to Kingfisher, where he secured a lot, and after building on the property, conducted a paying business as a contracting painter. For two terms he served as a member of the city council, and faithfully worked for the interests of the place. On the 16th of September, 1893, he came to Gar- field county, and located a claim at a point two and a half miles northeast of Enid, in the town- ship of the same name. The place, which he reduced to cultivation and greatly improved, he continued to manage until 1899, when he sold it at a good figure. He then resumed his accus- tomed calling exclusively, and controls the best trade in the city. He is thoroughly acquainted with every branch of the business, and has an enviable reputation as a carriage and sign painter, as well as an interior house decorator. Many handsome residences and public buildings here and in other places where he has dwelt are monuments to his skill as an artist, and during the busy seasons he employs a force of a dozen men.
The marriage of Mr. Divers and Miss Hattie L. Northrup was solemnized in Nevada, Mo., in 1882, and one son and one daughter blessed their union, namely: Clyde and Garnett. The devoted wife and mother, who was a native of Missouri, died at her home in Kingfisher in 1891.
In his political affiliations Mr. Divers is a Democrat. He is a Knight of Pythias and is identified with the Uniform Rank of that order. A true patriot, he indorses all movements relat- ing to the promotion of the public schools, good government. and everything which conduces to the general welfare.
R ICHARD OLDHAM, an agriculturist, liv- ing on section 2, township 16, range 3 west, Logan county, was born in Madison county, Ky., March 30, 1871, and is a son of Junius and Mary (Hisle) Oldham, natives of Kentucky, and now living in Guthrie, Okla.
When Richard Oldham was twelve years old his parents moved to Carroll county, Mo., and later to Jackson county. Returning in a short time to Carroll county, he spent the remainder of the time before the opening of Oklahoma. there and in Clay county, of the same state. Under his father's excellent tutelage, he gained a knowledge of general farming, and at the same time acquired a fair education in the district
A
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schools. For a time he was interested with his father in the real-estate business, and after- wards clerked in a hardware store, an occupation with which he had been somewhat familiar from his twelfth ycar, also selling lumber and agri- cultural implements. Since coming to Okla- homa, Mr. Oldham has greatly improved his land, which originally was in an extremely wild state. He is comfortably situated, and the land of his farm is regarded as good as any in the vicinity.
Mr. Oldham was married, December 21, 1893, to Pearl Holden, of Guthrie, a daughter of Wil- liam and Elizabeth (Blackburn) Holden. Wil- liam Holden is a native of Iowa; his wife conies from Harrison county, Ky., and is a relative of Senator Blackburn of that state. Mrs. Oldham had good educational advantages, and is con- sidered a very enterprising woman. Of this union there are three children: Clyde Richard. who was born in Guthrie, Okla., September 12, 1895; Ralph Vernon, born on the home farm, May 26, 1898; and Evelyn Lamoine Oldham.
Mr. Oldham is a Democrat in his political affiliation and fraternally he is a member of Guthrie Lodge No. 2, A. F. & A. M., and of the Woodmen of the World. He and his family are active workers and members of the Christian Church.
W ILLIAM P. DEARDORFF has a farm on section 8, El Reno township, Canadian county, that in completeness of appoint- ments, excellence of cultivation, and profit of production would compare well with many a similar place in the older regions. He came here in February, 1890, from Jackson county, Kans., his birthplace being in that county. There his father, John Deardorff, is still living. He is a native of Ohio, and came into Kansas in 1855, while the border ruffian fight was still going on, and he is living to-day on the same farm which he pre-empted on his entrance into what was then the seat of war. He is a farmer and a stock-raiser on a large scale, and is a man of affairs. He was county commissioner for three terms, and is one of the leading men of the county. He married Miss Mary Gorsage. She was born in Maryland, and was the mother of twelve children, six of whom are now living: Joshua B., of Liberty, Okla .: Mary, the wife of George Helm: William F .: Laura, the wife of William Fairbanks, of Jackson county, Kans .; Effic, the wife of Harry Biggart, also of Jackson county, and Hugh, on the old homestead.
Mr. Deardorff was born in Jackson county, Kans., in 1859, and attained his manhood while living at home. He had such educational ad- vantages as the district school afforded, and was
reared as a farmer's boy, with no other expecta- tion than cultivating the soil all his life. He was a stout and energetic lad, and developed into sturdy manhood. Thrifty and careful, he pres- ently became quite forehanded, and in Septem- ber, 1889, came into the territory, looking for a location. In December of the same year lie bought the relinquishment of the one hundred and sixty acres where he now lives, and on the 8th day of that month put up the main part of the house which now is his home. February 26. 1890, he brought his family from Kansas, and every year they have done better than in the past. The first year he put in forty acres of flax, and devoted himself to the work of improvement. A little later he was able to purchase an adjoin- ing quarter-section, and now owns one-half of section 8. He lias two hundred and twenty acres under the plow and five acres are devoted to an orchard and a small vineyard. He has made all the improvements, front well and mill to barn and house, and may well take delight in the visi- ble and substantial results of his life in Okla- homa. He puts in about two hundred acres of wheat every year. Having become interested in the raising of Shorthorn cattle, he will give them much more attention from this time forward.
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