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 66
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Politically Mr. Kelsch is a Democrat. Frater- nally he is a member of the Improved Order of Red Men, the Ancient Order United Workmen and the Sons of Herman. He attends the Catho- lic Church. While in Wichita, Kans., he mar- ried Maggie Kuhn, who died in 1883.
J I OIIN A. CORBIN has a well-conducted claim on the northwest quarter of section 22. township 19. range + west, Logan county. He was born in Belmont county, Ohio, AAugust 4. 1833. and is a son of David and Sophia Cor- bin. Hlis paternal grandparents immigrated to America and during the voyage over David Corbin was born on the sailing vessel in the mid- lle of the Atlantic ocean. The mother of John 1. was a native of West Virginia, where she died at the age of seventy-two years, her husband living to the advanced age of ninety-one years,
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six months and four days. When the son was three years old he was taken by his parents to Wood county, W. Va., and remained there until 1887. His father was a farmer who gained con- siderable prominence during his residence in Virginia, and the son was surrounded with many ennobling influences, and the usual opportunities for acquiring a fair education. He lias devoted his life to farming almost exclusively, his first independent venture being in Davis county, Mio., where he remained for about six years, thence to Fillmore county, Neb., and from there to his present claim in Oklahoma.
In 1862 Mr. Corbin enlisted as a private in Company G, Fifteenth Virginia Infantry, and served his country with courage and valor for two years. He participated in many of the im- portant battles of the war, including those of Gettysburg and Winchester. He was mustered out in Richmond at the end of the war.
Mr. Corbin was married in Wood county, W. Va., to Maria Louderman. Of this union there are four children: David W., now deceased; Timothy S., now living in Davis county, Mo .; George W., deceased; and Becca C., now Mrs. Miller of Davis county, Mo. Mrs. Corbin died in 1874, in Wood county. W. Va. Mr. Corbin married, in 1875, Mrs. Jane Carr, and there are the following-named children of this marriage: Mrs. Hattie Fullerton, living in Putnam county, Mo .; John R., at home; Mrs. Eliza Cassidy, who resides near her father's farm, and Allen H., at home.
The political affiliations of Mr. Corbin are with the Republican party. He is an active mem- ber of the Baptist Church and interested in all that pertains to its welfare.
G EORGE R. POLSLEY. The results at- tained after years of trial and hard work inseparable from a successfully conducted farm have more than justified the expectations of Mr. Polsley, who has to show for his pains one of the best equipped and cultivated claims in Cimarron township, Kingfisher county.
On the paternal side the Polsley family is of English extraction. G. R. was born in Indiana in 1850, and was reared to an agricultural life in Page county, lowa, receiving his education in the public schools. His father, John H. Pols- ley, was a Virginian, and migrated to Indiana. where he lived for several years, becoming a man of influence and prominence. Fortunate in the possession of considerable of this world's goods, he owned two farms on the fine of Delaware and Henry counties, but with the object of bettering liis fortunes, he removed to Des Moines, Iowa. in the fall of 1853, and settled in Page county the following spring. As a farmer and merchant
in Clarinda, he passed the remainder of his days, and died in 1879, at the age of eighty-six years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and as com- pensation for his services to the country, re- ceived a land grant of one hundred and sixty acres in Arkansas. He was twice married, his first wife being a Miss Collins, who became the mother of sixteen children, two of whom are living. A brother of John Polsley, Daniel by name, was, in his time, a very prominent attorney and jurist of West Virginia. His services to his country were rewarded by President Lincoln, who appointed him the first lieutenant-governor of the state, and he also served for two terms as United States congressman from West Vir- ginia.
The mother of G. R. Polsley was Phebe (Jones) Polsley, who was born in Virginia and died, in 1889, in Iowa, at the age of sixty-six years. She was the mother of eight children, five of whom are living: Octavius, of Iowa; George R .; Edgar, of Omaha, Neb .; Hadley, in Iowa; and Perry A., in Kansas. One brother and two half-brothers of G. R. Polsley were in the Civil war. Robert, who was with the First Nebraska regiment, died during the service and was buried in Kentucky. Augustus Hayman enlisted in the Twenty-third Iowa Infantry, and died at Duvall's Bluff, Ark. Daniel sur- vived the vicissitudes of war and is living in Omaha, Neb. O. L. died in Iowa in 1885, and Paulina died in Clarinda, that state, when a young girl. Jacob Polsley, a half-brother of our subject, settled at Wahoo, Neb., adjoining the city, in the early 'zos, and became a prominent farmer of that region. He was a Mason of high standing, having attained the thirty-second de- gree. John Barnes, another half-brother, served as county superintendent of schools in Indiana. and in 1862 moved to California, where he died thirty years later. Rudolph also moved to Cali- fornia and made his home with his brother, John Barnes; he died in 1895. Mrs. Amand Dragoo and Mrs. Mary Rees died in Indiana; Mrs. Bet- sey Powers died in California: Mrs. Emily Veach lives in Iowa, and Mrs. Sarah Chapman died in the last-named state in 1870.
('pon starting out in life for himself, G. R. Polsley went. in 1878. to Ford county, Kans .. and pre-empted a claim of government land, upon which he lived for seven years, but on which he failed to prove up. Later, while con- ducting a grocery enterprise at Spearville, Kans., he met with considerable success, and lived for a time in Andrew county, Mo., whither he went in 1885. Four years later he changed his loca- tion to Nebraska. In 1891. with his family, he went to Dover. Okla., to await the opening of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe country, making the run from the east line and secured his present
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claim on the northwest quarter of section 20, Cimarron township. In the fall of 1892 the fan- ily joined him to share his life in the new sur- roundings, and pending the erection of more commodious quarters, lived in a log house of rather small dimensions.
Time and patience have accomplished much for this originally crude and wild claim. There are now one hundred and twenty acres under cultivation, with a fine house and outbuildings, an orchard of eight acres. containing all kinds of fruit-bearing trees, including two thousand peach trees, cherry trees, apple and plum, and there is also a fine vineyard and five hundred walnut- bearing trees. The claim is devoted to general · farming and stock-raising, but Mr. Polsley makes a specialty of wheat.
Mrs. Polsley was formerly Nancy E. Allen, a daughter of James Allen, a man of excellent character and extended influence, who is now living, at the age of eighty-five, an active life in Andrew county, Mo., where he settled several years before the war. During the war he was a member of the Home Guard, and when oppor- tunity offered rendered valuable service in the cause of anti-slavery. He married Abigail Dan- ford, and they have six children living: Julette, Mrs. Leeper; Martha, Mrs. Miller; George; Abigail, Mrs. McCulla; Mrs. Poisiey, and La Fayette. To Mr. and Mrs. Polsley have been born eleven children: Minnie, Edgar G., Elsie, Clyde, Maude, May, Clarinda. Guy, Alvin, Odessa and Rubie. Aside from his farm inter- ests, Mr. Polsley has ever taken an active part in all movements for the improvement of his township. He has shown especial interest in securing the passage of the free home bill and in instituting measures for the improvement of the roads. He served nearly three years as trus- tee of Cimarron township and has served as clerk of the school board for about five years.
W ILLIAM H. REXROAD. Worthy ad- dition to the vast army of pioneers of Oklahoma, William H. Rexroad takes first rank as agriculturist, blacksmith and wagon maker, and energetic promoter of the best enter- prises for the upbuilding of town and county. Located on quarter section 32, township 16, range 2 west, Logan county, his claim is among the best watered and most advantageously cul- tivated.
Born in Highland county. Va., June 2, 1849. he is a son of Henry and Caroline ( Peniger) Rexroad. Henry Rexroad was born in West Virginia, and was of Pennsylvania Dutch an- cestry. Caroline Rexroad is of English ancestry. Their son, William, was reared in the little town oi Monterey, the county seat of Highland
county, where his father conducted a blacksmith and wagon-making establishment. The lad went to the district schools until his twelfth year, when he entered the home shop, and, un- der his father's instruction, became an expert in his trade. This association was continued until the breaking out of the war, when the father left for the scene of hostilities, and the little shop never again rang with the cheery sound of his anvil, and his loved ones saw him no more. Though a Republican at heart, Henry Rexroad was forced to join the Confederate army or hide himself in the woods. He chose the former course, and enlisted in the Thirty-first Virginia Infantry, and served until 1865, when he was killed in the battle of Petersburg, a short time before the surrender.
W. H. Rexroad entered upon an engagement with another man, and started out as journey- man blacksmith, traveling around the country for a year, after which he then opened a shop in his native town. He was married in 1869 to Lucy E. Siever, of New Hampden, Highland county, Va. Soon afterward he pre-empted a quarter section claim near Eureka, at Twin Falls, Greenwood county, Kans., adding to it later on until he had in all two hundred and forty acres of land. In addition to his agricultural interests he still conducted a blacksmith shop. the two combining to lend a source of ready in- come. In 1883 he sold out and went to Eureka, the county seat, still conducting his trade and investing in town property. At this juncture Mr. Rexroad demonstrated his ability to seize a glowing opportunity. Oklahoma opened on April 22, 1889, and the following morning th. rising sun found him on hand in the town of Guthrie, with a wagon and an outfit, prepared to prosecute an immediate and large business in the blacksmith and wagon-making trade. In a few days he had opened a shop, and, being one of the first in his line on the scene of action, was fittingly rewarded for his forethought.
In due time Mr. Rexroad bought a claim, which he homesteaded and which is now his home. There were no improvements on the land, and he immediately put up a box-house. fourteen by twenty-four feet in dimensions, and upon the arrival of his family they were installed therein. He has since fenced in his farm and instituted all manner of up-to-date improve- ments, including a house that cost nine hundred dollars. He also owns land in Guthrie.
Mr. Rexroad is a member of the Democratic party, and though he has no political aspira- tions, was elected treasurer of his township in Kansas, and also served as a school director. He is a helpful member of the Presbyterian Church, and helped to build the first church of that denomination erected in Oklahoma.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Rexroad have been born seven children: Edgar is married to Grace Maxey, and is a bookkeeper for a wholesale house in Guthrie; Bessie is a graduate of the high school in Eureka, Kans., and is a teacher at Crescent City, Okla .; Herbert works the home farm; Beryl is a graduate of the Guthrie schools, and is teaching in Logan county; Stella, also a graduate of the Guthrie schools, is married to Dr. Samuel Campbell, and lives at Crescent City; James and Harry, born in 1882, are living at home.
L ACY E. ALTER, a respected citizen of Lo- gan county, is a pioneer of considerable experience on the frontier and possesses the requisites of success, perseverance, energy and courage. He is a practical business man and farmer and is loyal to his duties as a citizen and neighbor.
The parents of our subject were John and Mary (Chamberlain) Alter, of Jasper county, Ind. Lacy E. was born on the old homestead in the county mentioned, October 30, 1862, and was reared to the practical details of agriculture. The father died when the youth was in his seven- teenth year, and the responsibilities of the home- stead thus devolved upon his shoulders. He continued to manage the farm until he attained his majority, and made an excellent record for ability. Then, desiring to see something of the great west and to make a new start, independ- ently, he went to Spink county, S. D., and there he not only was occupied in farming during a portion of the year, but also had charge of schools, and for a period was employed in local elevators. He remained there for four years. and in the meantime took up a pre-emption claim, and bought a tree claim. In 1887 he re- turned to his old Indiana home, where he re- sumed his accustomed duties.
April 22, 1889, he came to Oklahoma by train from Wichita, and, disembarking at Edmond. started out on a prospecting tour. The follow- ing morning lie located on the northwestern quarter of section 17, township 14, range 3 west. In partnership with another enterprising man he afterward established a mill for the grinding of grain, and a saw-mill, where lumber and shingles were manufactured for the local trade. They 'built up an excellent business, but a cyclone blew down an immense cottonwood tree, which, falling upon the miff, destroyed the machinery and rendered the entire plant useless.
The marriage of Mr. Alter and Lela E. Save- took place August 29, 1894. She is a daughter of Henry and Addie (Anstin) Saver, and was born in Charles City. Iowa. When she was two years old the family settled in Richardson
county, Neb., and when she arrived at a suitable age she pursued her studies in the Humboldt (Neb.) high school. Then she taught school for a period, and later further prepared herself for her chosen work by taking a course of training in the Normal at Peru, Neb., where she was graduated in 1886. Subsequently she taught school in Nebraska until December, 1891, when she accompanied her parents to this territory. Here she was in charge of schools for four years. and became the owner of the tract of land where she now resides, the southeastern quarter of sec- tion 23, township 15, range 4 west. One child. Ruth, born August 10, 1898, blesses the union of Mr. and Mrs. Alter.
Politically Mr. Alter is affiliated with the Re- publican party, and, though he is not an aspirant to public office, he attends the conventions of his party and is active in all public affairs. He belongs to the Edmond (Okla.) lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and while a resident of Al- toona, S. D., he was initiated into the Odd Fel- lows order. Both he and his wife are adherents of the creed of the Methodist Episcopal denom- ination.
E LISIIA B. OGLE, familiarly known to the people of his community as "Captain Ogle," owns and occupies a well-appointe:1 home on the northwestern quarter of section 12, township 19, range 2 west, Logan county, and is a man prominent in the affairs of his township at large. He first saw the light in Fulton county, Ill., March 8, 1846, and is the son of Jehu and Ruth (Elliott) Ogle, who settled in DeKalb county, Mo., when our subject was a lad of eleven years. The father entered a half section of land and built up a home, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Mr. Ogle of our sketch attended the common school during his boyhood days, and upon the advent of the Civil war enlisted in Company F. Twenty-fifth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, con- tinuing in the army until the close of the war. taking part in the battle of Nashville and several skirmishes with the enemy. being first under fire at Pittman's Ferry, in southeastern Missouri. At Waverly. Tenn., he was seized with an illness that confined him to the hospital for several months at Louisville. Ky. Upon going back to his regiment he remained with the army until the close of the war. He was at the grand review in Washington, soon afterward was mustered out and returned to his home in northern Missouri. where he began farming for himself.
On the roth of September, 1865, Mr. Ogle took unto himself a helpineet, Miss Mary Chen- oweth, of De Kalb county, that state. Mrs. Ogle was born in Missouri, and is the daughter of
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Gideon and Mary (Simmons) Chenoweth. the former now deceased. The mother resides in Oregon, where our subject and wife lived for a short time. They were residents of DeKalb county, Mo., most of the time after their mar- riage until their removal to Oklahoma. In 1884 he went to Arizona and engaged in mining. do- ing fairly well in this venture. He came to Okla- homa in 1889, and located on his present homestead, where he has made good improve- ments. The family consists of five children --- Laura, Mrs. J. Roberts, lives in DeKalb county, Mo., and is the mother of two children; J. H., a clerk in Orlando, is married and the father of one child; Mrs. May Hitsman lives near Or- lando; Mrs. Lottie Powers lives in Orlando, and is the mother of one child; and Frederick re- mains at home with his parents.
Mr. Ogle is a Republican in politics. He served two terms as sheriff of DeKalb county, Mo., and in the spring of 1893 was appointed postmaster of Orlando. He belongs to the Ma- sonic order and is a charter member of Orlando Lodge No. 40, A. F. & A. M.
G I FORGE L. ANDERSON. who was bur- dened by a heavy debt when he first loca- ted in Oklahoma, and for some years thereafter suffered from poor crops or a lack of market, continued to apply himself diligently to his work regardless of his misfortunes, and has won his way to a prominent position among the substantial citizens of his community in Logan county. He has some fine property, living upon the northeast quarter of section 31. township 16, range 3 west. He also owns the northwest quarter of section 31, and the southwest quarter of section 33, in the same township. and in addi- tion to this he farms a quarter section of school land on section 36, township 16, range 4 west.
Ir Jackson county, Ind., Mr. Anderson was born March 9, 1862, and is a son of John and Keziah (Morgan) Anderson. He was three years of age when his parents located at Ring- gold county, Iowa, where they remained about six years. His father then moved to Hempstead county, Ark., where he lived two years, thence going to Sumner county, Kans .. where he pre- empted a quarter section of land and made his home until 1889. At the opening of Oklahoma he came to the territory, but failed to find a lo- cation. Ilowever, later he returned and secured, in Logan county, the claim now occupied by his son George, to whom he sold it about five years later.
George L. Anderson received a fair common- school education, and remained at home until he was nineteen years of age, when he was married.
Buying eighty acres of school land in Sumner county, he continued to live there until the open- ing of Oklahoma, when he made the run from five miles west of Orlando, on horseback, and in three hours located one hundred and sixty acres. The first night he slept on the ground, wrapped in a blanket. The teams having been left at the north line, some of the company went back after them. As the wagon with provisions had been delayed he had nothing but a crust of bread to eat the second and third days. Returning to Kansas in the spring of 1890, he brought his family to the claim. He had $52 in money, and immediately expended $50 of that in the erection of a house, 12×16 feet, some of the lumber for which he brought from Kansas. With the re- maining $2 he hired a part of his land plowed. Corn and provisions he hauled from Kansas, and he also brought from there about fifteen head of cattle. He spent the summer in breaking the soil, and had a very small crop.
When he came to Oklahoma Mr. Anderson was in debt to the extent of $1,800, but his eighty acres and his Kansas crops saved him. For two or three years crops were fair, but prices were low. and in 1895 the drought prevented him from raising anything but Kaffir corn. During that year he had two hundred and fifty acres in wheat, one hundred and fifteen in oats, and forty in corn, all of which was a failure. However. since that year he has had excellent crops and has been very successful. In 1894 he purchased the quarter on which his father lived. and moved there with his family in 1898. Up to that time he had lived in the small house originally built by him, but he then built his present commodi- ous home. In 1898 he also purchased a quarter of section 33.
January 8, 1882. Mr. Anderson was united in marriage with Mary E. Jarvis, of Portland, Kans., who was born in Hancock county, Ill., and is a daughter of F. J. and IIannah (Sey- erns) Jarvis. They are parents of three children, namely: J. Everhardt, who was born in Summer county, Kans .. and is now seventeen years old: Nora Belle, who was born in Sumner county, Kans .: and Bessie J., who was born in Kansas, and died March 9. 1900, and is buried in Fair- view cemetery. Our subject's first vote, in 1884. was cast for Benjamin Butler. IIe has never bound himself to any party, but is in favor of reform. In 1806 he was a candidate for the nom- ination for sheriff in the People's party. Ile served as township trustee for four years, and assessed the township four times, his work meeting with general satisfaction. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Free Methodist Church at Stockade schoolhouse, and he is a class leader and superintendent of the Sunday- school at the latter place.
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W ILLIAM BROWN. Among the first to anticipate the commercial as well as other needs of the embryo town of Cres- cent City, Okla., Mr. Brown started the first store here, and since then has shown a corre- sponding solicitude for the welfare and well be- ing of her people and institutions. In company with the vast army who sought changes and bet- ter conditions of life in-the new territory, he made the famous run of April 22, 1889, and suc- ceeded in pre-empting a claim which is but the nucleus of his present possessions. It is located on the northeastern quarter of section 14, town- ship 17, range 4 west, where Crescent City now stands. He at once built upon his new land a log house two stories high and sixteen by twenty feet in dimensions, and laid in a stock of supplies for the constantly arriving carly settlers.
The early history of a man who has acquired such a degree of prominence in his adopted ter- ritory is naturally of interest. He was born in Hickory county, Mo., and is a son of John G. and Elizabeth Brown, natives, respectively, of Tennessee and Missouri. In 1862 the family went to Boone county. Mo., where they pur- chased a farm, and spent many years engaged in fairly successful agricultural pursuits. On this farm their son William grew to manhood, and carly displayed habits of industry and thrift, both in his work around the farm and over his studies in the district schools. His education thus acquired was supplemented by a course in the high school at the State University at Colum- bia, Mo. William Brown was not without play- fellows and associates in his early days, for he had four brothers and one sister.
Upon leaving his home to earn an independ- ent livelihood, he went first to Audrain county, Mo., where he remained for three years, and where he rented a farm, thence going to South Haven, Kans., where he was engaged in the mer- cantile business with Ryland Brothers. His as- sociation with this firm terminated with the opening of the Oklahoma strip. though one member of the firm accompanied him to his new claim, and entered into partnership with him in the mercantile business in Crescent City. In 1890 the firm of Brown & Cress built the block now known as the Brown and Cress block, in which successful business has been carried on ever since, general supplies, hardware and agri- cultural implements being dealt in. The firm is a financial power in the community, having many interests of value and importance. Aside from the farms owned by both members of the firm, they lease a school section for grazing pur- poses, the expedient a necessity on account of extensive stock dealings. Mr. Brown owns two hundred and forty acres of farm land and a beat- tiful residence in Crescent City.
Mr. Brown was married in 1891 to Miss Alice Stockton, a daughter of Thomas Stockton, a native of Randolph county, Mo. Her mother was America (Jacobs) Stockton, and is still liv- ing in Missouri, aged seventy-seven years.
Mr. Brown has been conspicuously identified with the Democratic party, having been alder- man or councilman continuously since the in - corporation of the town, and also served as mayor. Under Cleveland's administration he was postmaster, serving for four years and five months; has been delegate to innumerable county conventions, and was one year chairman of the territorial conventions. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Lodge No. 1I, A. F. & A. M., of Crescent City, has passed all of the chairs and was its representative five times. He also is a member of the Guthrie Encampment of Odd Fellows.
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