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 65
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A. BROX, Kingfisher' County.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Levara, the wife of J. Rolland, the editor of the Neola Times, of Neola, Iowa; Charles L., a dentist at Mound City, Mo .; William, with the Hess Manufacturing Company; Larkin C., a druggist at Wardner, Idaho. There are six drug- gists in the family, and it is proud of all of its representatives in the business. The motlier died in 1900.
Dr. Smith was reared to manhood in Henry county, Ind., and received his higher education at the Spiceland "Quaker" college and at the North- western Christian University at Indianapolis. He tauglit school at home a few years and then attended the Kansas City Medical College in 1879-80 and the University Medical College at Kansas City in 1897-98. For a period he prac- ticed medicine in Barber county, Kans., and then removed to Meriden, in that state, where he remained three years longer. In 1889, when Oklahoma was thrown open to settlement, he was among the first to enter, and locating at old Reno City, soon had a practice of wide extent. He took up a claim in Reno township, and in 1891 moved a drug store on the farm, and improving the homestead, followed his prac- tice all the time. In 1895 he traded his farm, then in a high state of cultivation, for a drug stock at Okarche. This he retains and continues his practice at the same time. In both lines he is very successful. He is a Democrat, and was elected the first coroner in Canadian county, but was compelled to resign by the pressure of pro- fessional duties. In 1893 he was married to Miss Minnie Stambaugh, a charming and grace- ful lady, who has proved in every respect a fit companion to the doctor.
A. BROX. When but ten years of age. Mr. Brox crossed the seas from Germany to America, with his parents, and upon their arrival here, in 1866, located in Atchison county, Kans. There, and in Doniphan county, whither the family later moved, he received a practical. home training, and the education afforded by the public schools.
In the fall of 1874 he went to Colorado, and for three years was engaged in the mining camps in the vicinity of Georgetown, and also inter- ested himself in the dairy and gardening busi- ness. In 1877 he returned to Atchison county, Kans., where, after farming until 1884. he settled in Sumner county, same state, where he bought land seventeen miles northwest of Caldwell. and devoted his time to general farming and stock- raising. In January, 1891. Mr. Brox took up his residence in Oklahoma, and bought the farni upon which he has since lived, located on Tur- key creek, and of which seventy acres is bottom land. The family joined hint the following year.
At the present time one hundred and ten acres are under cultivation, which is principally de- voted to the raising of wheat. A good orchard has been set out, containing about four hundred trees, and bearing all kinds of fruits. To the owner thereof belongs the distinction of having the largest cherry orchard in Kingfisher county, the trees yielding from $30 to $60 worth of fruit per year. The place is fenced in, requiring about three miles of fence, and the water facilities are especially adapted to the raising of fruit and stock.
In 1891 Mr. Brox erected a commodious and comfortable house, at the time the best in the county, and at the present time has few supe- riors. In 1880 occurred the marriage of Mr. Brox and Hattie Martin, of Doniphan county, Kans., and to them have been born six children: Josephine C., Arthur J., Jessie Vienna, Edna Rue, Grace Ruth and Roy Henry.
Mr. Brox is one of the most progressive and wide-awake farmers of the township, and has various interests remote from his immediate con- cerns. In politics he is associated with the un- dertakings of the Democratic party, and has held a number of local and other offices. An enthusiast on the subject of education, he has contributed time and money to bettering the opportunities of his locality, and was a member of the township board for two terms, also director of the school district for the same length of time. He rendered valuable assistance in the erection of schoolhouses, and further demonstrated his interest in the public welfare by helping to build the bridges over Turkey creek. A strange fact is that Mr. Brox has, while occupying his orig- inal farm, lived in three townships, viz .: Cimar- ron, Hennessey and Center, the variety being caused by the changing of the township lines. He was one of the original organizers of the Farmers' Mill Company, at Hennessey, and is treasurer of the company. He is also proprietor of the Brox & Pulver brickyard, at Kiel, King- fisher county, the owner of considerable town property at that place, and senior member of the livery and feed firm of Brox & Martin, at Kiel. He is also a stockholder and director in the Central Oklahoma Telephone Company.
C HARLES CHAMBERLIN enjoys the dis- tinction of having surveyed and laid out Oklahoma City and hundreds of other western towns. A civil engineer by occupation. he has followed that calling in various parts of the country since early manhood, and at the present time is city engineer of Oklahoma City.
Mr. Chamberlin was born in North Walling- ford, Vt., August 16, 1834, and is a son of James and Lucinda (Doubleday) Chamberlin. His
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father was born in England, and when a young man came to this country, with two brothers, locating in North Wallingford, Vt. He was a contractor in the mountains and also followed the lumbering trade. He and his wife, who reared only one child, died but a week apart, when our subject was fourteen years of age.
Charles Chamberlin was reared in Vermont until the fall of 1848, when he went to Warren county, N. Y., and worked in a broom handle factory. When seventeen years old he went to Washington county, N. Y., and attended school two years, studying civil engineering in a pri- vate engineering school. In 1853 he went to New Jersey on a railroad survey for the Raritan & Delaware Bay Railroad. Returning to New York City, he followed his occupation eight years, nearly all of which time he served as one of the city engineers. During the Civil war he attempted to enlist with Col. Alexander T. Shaler, but failed to pass examination owing to poor health. In 1865 he went to St. Paul, Minn., and in the spring of 1866 with a party made a southwest preliminary survey with the view of getting a land grant for what is now the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Rail- road. He continued until it went into the hands of the construction company, and was then chief engineer for that road until he entered its land department as examiner of railroad land, with headquarters at St. Paul.
In 1874 he located at Great Bend. Barton county, Kans., and in January of the following year entered the employ of the Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, having charge of the town sites department. He laid out town sites all over Kansas in 1886 and 1887, including over one hundred towns on the various branches and extensions, his headquarters being at Topeka, Kans., until 1889. In March of that year he was sent to secure data and lay out the towns along the Santa Fe line in Oklahoma. He remained three weeks, secured data for eleven towns, then returned to Topeka and set the draftsmen at work upon it. He abandoned all except Guthrie. Edmond. Oklahoma City and Norman, and came to the territory with four parties, leaving one at each of the towns and himself locating at Okla- homa City on Saturday, April 20, 1880. On . Monday he began laying out the city and con- tinued until its completion. He has since been located here, with the exception of two years at Kansas City. He became the first city engineer . and for the past eight years has served efficiently in that capacity, establishing the grades of the city about 1895. Possessing no little ingentity. he invented the first single cylinder double act- ing pump, which was said by George Hale to be the best in the country, but as the pump manufacturers were overstocked with the other
kind, they could not be persuaded to take it up. In 1891 he built a residence at No. 114 Second street, where he now resides.
Mr. Chamberlin was married in . Lesueur county, Minn., to Miss Jennie Jones, who was born in Pittston, Pa., and was but two years old when her parents-Thomas and Mary (Roberts) Jones, natives of Wales-located in Minnesota. She had four brothers and a brother- in-law who saw service in the Federal army dur- ing the Civil war. Fraternally Mr. Chamberlin is a Royal Arch Mason. He was one of the organizers of the Association of Civil Engineers and Surveyors of Oklahoma, and served as its first president.
J. C. SWINK has been a resident of the ter- ritory since 1892, and in these busy hust- ling years has secured a fine standing for himself, not only by his pluck and push, but also by his manifest integrity and genial spirit. He is the proprietor of the Okarche roller mills, which under his management has become widely known both for the quality and the quantity of its output. He came here from Kansas City when in the prime of life and his manly charac- teristics at once were recognized and given the place they deserved.
Mr. Swink was born in Clark county, Mo., in 1848. His father, David Swink, was a farmer, Pennsylvania born and bred. He moved to McDonough county, Ill., when his son, whose career is the theme of this writing, was only a baby, and in 1859 sought a home in Franklin county, Kan., where the future Okarche miller grew to manhood. When a boy of only fif- teen our subject enlisted in the Union army, and was enrolled a member of Company , Tenth Kansas Volunteer Infantry, which was afterward converted into mounted infantry. He proved a good soldier notwithstanding his extreme youth, and was with the regiment nearly two years. He was wounded at Westport, and was discharged in 1865. Returning to his father's home in Franklin county, he recovered from the injuries of the war, and in 1867 began his career as a miller in Bates county, Mo. Hay- ing bought a saw mill he ran it for a time, and then built and operated a flour mill for two years. He spent four years in Illinois. In 1878 he went to Chantauqua county. Kans., where he engaged in the hardware and lumber business as a con- tractor. For five years he found this a satisfactory occupation, and then sold out his contracting interests, and was the manager of a cattle ranch in Cowley county, Kans .. for a year. He was with the G. B. Shaw lumber com- pany four months, and for four years was a builder and contractor in Kansas City. Many
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large and imposing buildings are now standing in the residence portion of that city which were erected by him. In 1892 he came to Okarche, and soon after was appointed an instructor in an Indian school, a position he held for four years. He was one year in Santa Fe. In 1899 he returned to this city, built the Okarche roller mill, and operates it himself. He makes a spe- cial brand of flour known as the White Satin, and this enterprise is proving quite successful. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Canadian county, and has a pleasant residence in the city. He votes the Republican ticket belongs to the Masonic order and takes an active interest in all enterprises that look to the improvement of the city. He married Miss Fan- nie Filkins, and they have three children in their family, Pearl, Harry and Alma.
R. A. FEILD, M. D., president of the Cen- tral Oklahoma Medical Association, per- manently located in Enid November 27, 1893, and has since conducted his practice here with gratifying results. He was born in Fort Worth, Tex., October 19, 1856. His father, Julian Feild, a native of Virginia, was left an orphan at twelve years of age, and was thrown upon his own resources. He was ambitious and clever and at a comparatively early age engaged in the mercantile business at Fort Worth, Tex., opening the first store in that town. He was prominently connected with the growth of the city, acquiring considerable political influence, and acting at one time as postmaster. After continuing in the mercantile business for many ycars, he built a mill at Mansfield. Tex., which was the first steam mill in western Texas. In his capacity as miller, he shipped flour to all ports on the gulf and into Mexico, doing what was a remarkable business for that day. The mill was erected about 1859 and its usefulness is still unimpaired; it was sold by Mr. Feild in 1873 and now is operated by another party. During the war Mr. Feild was attached to the commis- sary department and was given the rank of cap- tain. In 1888 he removed to California and bought an orange grove, in which he was inter- ested at the time of his death, in 1897.
The mother of Dr. Feild died in Forth Worth, Tex. She was Henrietta, daughter of Joseph Buoisseau, a planter of Louisiana, and of French descent. She reared a large family, eleven of her children attaining maturity, and of this number five sons and two daughters are still living. One of the sons, Julian Theodore, is a practicing physician in Fort Worth.
Dr. Feild was reared in Tarrant county, Tex .. chiefly in the village of Mansfield. His educa- tion for a time was conducted in the John Collier
College at Mansfield, but at the end of the soph- omore year he left there and entered George- town College in the District of Columbia, where he completed his literary studies. It had been his desire from boyhood to enter the medical profession, and as soon as possible he turned his attention to the study of the science, which during the early months of his reading he car- ried on under his brother at Fort Worth. Even- tually, he entered the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville, studying in the medical depart- ment for one year, going thence to Bellevue Hospital Medical College, N. Y., from which he graduated in ISSo.
That year Dr. Feild located in Fort Worth, Tex., where he practiced medicine for five months, going then to Little Elm, Denton county, of the same state, where he enjoyed a fine patronage from his fellow citizens. He later practiced for a year at Mansfield, and in 1886 went to Wheeler county, remaining there until the opening of the territory. September 16, 1893, Dr. Feild came to Enid, but remained only a few days, when he returned to arrange for his permanent residence here. He was married in Fort Worth. Tex., to Nannie J. Newman, a native of the place, and a daughter of George Newman, who for many years had been a mer- chant there. To this couple have been born five children: Julian, Genevieve, Mava, Roscoe, and George N.
One recognition of merit received by Dr. Feild was his appointment by Governor Ren- frow to the position of coroner of Enid, being the first to hold that office in the town. He is a charter member of the Central Oklahoma Med- ical Association and has been the president of the same for some time. In national politics the doctor is a Democrat, and has served as presi- dent of the school board for two terms. Fra- ternally, he is associated with the Masonic order, Lodge No. 19, at Enid, and with the Woodmen of the World.
SCAR B. BOXLEY, more familiarly known as "Jack" Boxley, is a typical representa -. tive of western frontier life, with a breezi- ness and good fellowship about him quite exhilarating to the more staid easterners who have located near him in Oklahoma. Among the first to see the possibilities of the territory, he came at breakneck' speed from the Iowa reservation, mounted on a charger that knew no such word as fail when the reins were held by "Jack" Boxley. Once located, he set to work to clear his brush-covered premises, and to put all things in order for the reception of the various kinds of seed he expected to plant. The wide sweep and freedom of the prairies had en-
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gendered large ideas which he proceeded to adapt to the new surroundings. Small matter that his own head was exposed, pending the purchase of a tent, to the doubtful mercy of the elements, so long as the seed was put to work in the soil, with instructions to show a smiling green face with the shortest possible delay.
Born on a farm near Princeton, in Mer- cer county, Mo., Oscar Boxley is a son of William A. and Mary (Ballew) Boxley, of American birth. His mother's ancestors were among the F. F. V.'s of Virginia, she being a descendant of Pocahontas. With the blood of roaming red men in his veins, the con- fines of the farm seemed a barrier to freedom, and when fourteen years of age he shook the agricultural dust from his feet, and started out to follow inclination, wherever she might lead. After walking for fifty miles he brought up with a railroad train, boarded it, and got off at Quincy, Ill., where for a time he worked for a Mr. Collins. Later on he worked for Mr. Smith of Hannibal, Mo. A few weeks hence found him busily engaged in managing the affairs of a ferry boat on the Mississippi river; it must have been an adventurous craft, with plenty of leaks and possibilities for sinking, for it interested him for eight months. Leaving the ferry-boat to a more humdrum personage he was next heard of at Everhart Station, Nev., where the peculiarities of the wood-laden donkeys that he drove up the mountains to the quartz mills were faithfully studied for six months. Leaving the quartz mills, the donkeys, and the mountains, he re- turned for a short time to his former home in Missouri, and presently went to Texas, where he promptly developed into a cowboy of the most finished kind. During the winter he bought and shipped horses to Kentucky and other points, and in the summer time engaged in the cattle business.
The Texas experience ended in 1886, and April 22, 1889, on the opening day, found him located on southwest quarter section 30. town- ship 16, range 2 west, Logan county, with six hundred dollars in his pocket with which to make a start. His first crops were of corn and millet, in the ratio of twelve and six. The corn crop was a failure owing to the tardiness of planting ; the millet output exceeded all expecta- tion. In the fall a large amount of land was covered with trees that in time would constitute an orchard. where apples, peaches, and other varieties of fruit might be harvested. The peach trees bore fruit in three years and the apples were behind them two years. There were also set out all kinds of deciduous fruits-in fact everything consistent with the climate and soil was given a chance to do its best on this especial claim. Mr. Boxley lived in his tent until the :
last of June, by which time he had erected the house which was the first built on the creek. In 1891 he put up a good barn, having used a straw shed up to that time, and a wind mill fol- lowed in due order. There are four wells on the farm, the first one having caved in, thus proving the indisputable presence of water, at a depth of only eleven feet. His farm now consists of three hundred and twenty acres of good land, all well improved. September 1, 1900, he removed to Guthrie, which is now his home, but he still retains the management of his farm. In partner- ship with L. D. Fossett he engaged in business in the Hotel Royal bar.
While entertaining liberal views regarding the politics of the administration, Mr. Boxley is interested in the Democratic party, and has served as delegate to a number of conventions, and was at one time chairman of the county con- vention in Logan county.
During his stay in Texas, while engaged in the cattle business, he was appointed under- sheriff of Ellis county by Sheriff Wash D. Ry- born, a well known Texan frontiersman.
He was also city marshal at Hunnewell, Kans .. during 1882 and 1883, when that town was among the principal shipping points in southern Kansas and one of the liveliest on the frontier. It required a man of nerve and courage to be city marshal, and although almost every day as many as one hundred cowboys or more would congregate in the place, in a very short time "Jack" Boxley's name became well known and respected among the frontiersmen. His fair play in all matters of frontier etiquette, even in the use of firearms as a last resort to restore peace, earned him a place in the regard of all.
W M. BAKER, who is an extensive dealer in lumber and all kinds of building ma- terial at Okarche, is one of the okler residents of Oklahoma, having been here since 1890. During that year he came from Missouri. his native state. His father, J. W. Baker, is now living in Texas. Growing to manhood on the farm where he was born, in Randolph county, our subject received such educational advan- tages as the times afforded. When he had reached the age of twenty years he left home and went to Oklahoma City in 1895. He entered the employment of the Alexander Lumber Com- pany, and was with them six years, a year at Oklahoma City as their yard man and fore- man: at Guthrie, as manager for one year; and manager at Kingfisher. three years. In 1895 he was sent to Okarche as their manager, and the next year bought out their interests in this city, and set up for himself. Here he has been highly
BENJAMIN KELSCH, El Reno.
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successful in building up a prosperous business from the very foundation.
Mr. Baker and Miss Grace Allen were mar- ried at Kingfisher in 1894. They have one daughter, Ruth, a bright and promising little girl. He is a member of the Pawnee Tribe of Red Men, and holds the office of Brave. He also belongs to Kingfisher Lodge No. 3, K. of P., and is popular in fraternal circles. He de- votes his business hours to his lumber interests. and is paying the price of success. He started in a small way, but by close attention, fair dealing and an accommodating spirit has won and re- tained the public favor to a marked degree.
B ENJAMIN KELSCH. This gentleman has been prominently identined with the manu- facturing interests of El Reno since locating here in 1892, and has contributed his full share toward advancing its prosperity and growth, giving aid to various enterprises of a beneficial nature. A son of Nicholas Kelsch, he was born near Greensburg, Ind .. February 28, 1849. of German parentage. His grandfather Kelschi emigrated from Germany with his family. lo- cating in Illinois, where he spent his remaining years.
Nicholas Kelsch was born in Bavaria. Ger- many, where he was educated. living there until seventeen years old. Coming then to this coun- try with his parents he followed various occupa- tions during his early manhood. having been employed by Gen. W. H. Harrison when he was president of the United States, and also worked for the general's father. He was engaged for a time in steamboating on the Ohio and Missis- sippi rivers, and while in the employ of General Cole worked in the first distillery established in Peoria, Ill. He afterward settled on a farm in Indiana, near Greensburg. but removed from there to Jubilee township. Peoria county, Ill .. one of the most picturesque spots in the entire state, where he carried on general farming until 1881. Going then to Wichita. Kans .. he con- tinued his agricultural labors there until his retirement from active work, and is now spend- ing the closing years of his useful life in the town of Ost, Reno county, Kans. His first wife. Mag- dalene Bombeck, was born in Germany. She died on the Indiana farm in 1853. leaving four children, namely: Adam. now Sving in Peoria county, Ill., and who served during the late Civil war in the Forty-second Illinois Infantry: Michael, of Peoria county. I.t .: Benjamin. the subject of this sketch: and Mrs. Mary Ley. of l'eoria, Ill. By his second wife there were this- ยท teen children. of whom one. John Kelsch, is a Well-known resident of Oklahoma City.
Having been but a boy when he removed with
his father to Jubilee township, Benjamin Kelsch was reared in a country noted for its beautiful landscape, the broad and gently undulating land of the prairies being diversified by abrupt cliffs rising high in the air, or by gently sloping hill- sides. Attending the district schools, or assisting on the home farm, he passed his time until eight- een years of age, when he began work for him- self. Going to Peoria, he secured employment in a brickyard, and was there engaged until 1880, during the last three years of the time being foreman of the yard. Going thence to Wichita. Kans., he established himself there as a manu- facturer of bricks, and carried on an extensive business for a number of years, oftentimes turn- ing out seventy thousand bricks per day. He erected a brick block in the business part of Wichita, doing much while living there to ini- prove the city, and subsequently built a brick block in the city of Kingman, Kans. In 1887, or 1888, when the Wichita boom burst, Mr. Kelsch had reached his limit, and, like many others, could not hold his property, so settled up his business there. Coming to Oklahoma before the opening up of Pottawatomie county, he be- gan the manufacturing of brick in that section of the territory, remaining there until 1892. when he transferred his residence and business inter- ests to El Reno. Opening the first brickyard in the town, he has since conducted a large busi- ness, from which he is reaping excellent results. Recently he has bought five acres of land near the fair grounds, and in the new and modernly- cquipped brickyard that he has there established is manufacturing about ten thousand bricks daily. His manufactures are well known through- out the territory, and in addition to furnishing the brick for many residences and public build- ings he has supplied Fort Reno and the Indian Agency at Darlington with bricks for some time.
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