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 67
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95
SCAR LEAFQUIST, a successful agri- culturist from other shores, was born in Stjernvik, Sweden, in 1867. He came to America in 1884, and is a son of Olof and Gus- tafa Leafquist, born in Sweden and now living on a farm in Kansas. Upon his arrival in Amer- ica our subject settled in Cloud county, Kans., and worked on a farm by the month for several years. He was married to Mollie Leckburg, of Cloud county, Kans., and a daughter of Charles J. and Fredrika Leckburg. Of this union there are two children: Ethel, born in Kansas, and Sylva, born in Oklahoma.
After his marriage, Mr. Leafquist engaged in agricultural pursuits for about three years, and coming to Oklahoma in 1890 he bought a claim on the northeastern quarter of section 4, town- ship 19, range 4 west, Logan township. His land is very well improved and has all the modern labor-saving appliances, also good barns, house and excellent orchard. The farm was person- ally conducted by the owner until last year, when, for various reasons, he decided to rent it out to another party, and now he is manager of the hardware department for S. T. Rice.
Mr. Leafquist is much interested in the politi- cal and fraternal movements of the community. He is a Republican, and has been assistant post- master for two years. During his association with the Populist party, from which he later withdrew, he was elected treasurer of Marshall township. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and since he took up his residence in Marshall has become a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders. Mr. and Mrs. Leafquist are active members and workers of the Baptist church and liberal contributors toward its charities.
During his residence in the new territory Mr.
431
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Leafquist has shown a remarkably judicious and well-balanced interest in the affairs of the town- ship, and has proved no exception to the expec- tations of Americans as to the industry, frugal- ity and integrity of the sons of Sweden.
W ALTER J. CLARKE. Among the prom- inent and influential citizens of Canadian county who devote their. time and ener- gies to agricultural pursuits is the subject of this review, who owns and successfully operates a fine farm on the southwest quarter of section 2, township 14, range 7 west. He was born in Victoria county, Province of Ontario, Canada, January 29, 1859, and is a son of Hugh Gilbert and Ellen (Burke) Clarke, both natives of Ire- land. The mother crossed the Atlantic with her parents during childhood and settled in Canada. but the father remained in his native land until reaching man's estate, when he, too, came to America. He was a jeweler by trade and was quite extensively engaged in that business in Canada for several years, but finally sold out for $10,000 and inoved to Calhoun county, Iowa, where he spent the rest of his days.
When the family removed to lowa Walter J. Clarke was about nine years old. and his early education, acquired in the country schools, was supplemented by a course at the Iowa Agricul- tural College, which he attended for two years. At the age of twenty he commenced teaching in the home school, and successfully followed that occupation three years, two in Iowa and the other in Nebraska. While in the latter state he accepted a position as railway mail clerk, his route being between Lincoln and Alliance. A year later he came to Oklahoma, making the run April 22, 1889, from Buffalo Springs to Kingfisher, where he secured two lots, which he sold the following fall for $250. On the 23d of .April. 1889. he located upon his present claim. and immediately turned his attention to its im- provement and cultivation. His first home here was a rude dugout, which in 1892 was replaced by his present comfortable residence. Besides this property he also owns a fine residence and five lots in El Reno.
On the 28th of August. 1893. Mr. Clarke was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Fitzpat- rick. of Webster county, Iowa, who was born there and educated at the Convent of Mercy, at Fort Dodge, where she spent three years. Her parents, Daniel and Johanna (Connelley) Fitz- patrick, as children were brought by their re- spective parents to the United States, their mar- riage being celebrated in Webster county, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have three children. Anstin William. Walter and Mary.
Mr. Clarke cast his first presidential vote for
Grover Cleveland in 1884, and has always been a stalwart supporter of the Democratic party and its principles. He was the first clerk elected in Rock Island township, Canadian county, and most capably filled that office for one term. In 1890 he was the first county superintendent elected by the people, and two years later was elected county clerk and filled that position for one term in a most creditable manner. Relig- iously both he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church in Okarche.
J OHN CROSSWHITE. a prominent and progressive farmer of Canadian county, re- siding on the northeast quarter of section 9, township 14, range 7 west, was born in Boone county, Mo., April 2, 1854, and was about three or four years old when his parents, William and Margaret (Turner) Crosswhite, moved to Platte county, that state, where the father purchased a farm and spent his remaining days. Our subject grew to manhood on the home farm, and is in- debted to the public schools of the neighborhood for his educational advantages. At the age of twenty he started out in life for himself, and for a couple of years worked as a farm hand by the month, after which he rented land and engaged in farming on his own account in Wyandotte county, Kans.
While engaged in farming in Jackson county, Kans., Mr. Crosswhite was married, November 19, 1873, to Miss Jane Barker, a native of that county, and a daughter of William and Arzela (Hainline) Barker. She received a fair com- mon-school education. To our subject and his wife have been born seven children, namely: Charles, a native of Wyandotte county, Kans .. who is now married and lives in El Reno, Okla .: Lewis, who was also born in Wyandotte county. Kans., and is still at home with his parents: Margaret, John, Jane, Lillie and McKinley, all at home.
From Kansas Mr. Crosswhite returned to Platte county, Mo., where he lived a little over a year. His next removal was to Custer county. Colo .. where he remained about three years. working for the Basic Mining Company. The following three years were spent in Fremont county, Colo., where he owned and operated forty acres of land. In the spring of 1890 he came to Oklahoma, and located at once upon his present farm in Canadian county, which at that time was but slightly improved. but is now tin- der a high state of cultivation.
Reared as a Republican, Mr. Crosswhite has always affiliated with that party, and has been a stanch supporter of its principles. He has served as a delegate to the conventions of his party and has done all in his power to insure its success.
-
432
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
C HARLES EDMUND ESTABROOK, who has been located in Oklahoma City since 1891, conducts a store at 600 South Robinson street, and carries in stock a com- plete line of groceries and general produce. A business man of tact and ability, he caters to the tastes and demands of his customers, and enjoys the patronage of leading citizens of the community.
Mr. Estabrook was born at Natick, Mass., November 2, 1852, and was the third child of John Estabrook. The latter was born in Scot- land, and was quite young when he came to this country with his parents and located in Massachusetts, where he was a merchant and owned several vessels, doing a large coasting trade. He died when our subject was but eight years of age. His wife, Nancy West, was born in Massachusetts, of English parentage, and died in Providence, R. I., in 1884. They had two sons and two daughters. One son, Eugene, is now in Johannesburg. South Africa, where he is engaged in engineering and assaying.
Charles Edmund Estabrook was reared in Natick. Mass., until he reached his nineteenth year. He attended the public schools and at an early age was set to work, learning the cooper's trade in Boston, and subsequently learned the trade of a barber. but the latter he could not endure, owing to the confinement and the neces- sity for standing so much. In 1871 he settled in East Hannibal, Pike county, Ill., where he pur- chased a farm on the Mississippi river, compris- ing two hundred and forty-five acres, and there he engaged in grain and stock-raising until 1883. In March of that year he sold out and moved to Hand county, S. D., where he homesteaded a quarter-section twenty-five miles from Miller. He carried on general farming and raised sheep and cattle to a considerable extent. In 1891 he sold out and came to Oklahoma City, where he started a wholesale produce and commission business at No. 122 Main street. In February, 1893. he embarked in his present business, erect- ing a two-story building. 20x65 feet, at the cor- ner of Robinson and Pottawatomie streets. He also erected a comfortable residence on the ad- joining property, and built two other houses on adjoining lots. His home is at No. 600 South Robinson street.
Mr. Estabrook was united in marriage with Amanda Rouse, a native of Pike county, Ill .. and a daughter of Noah S. Rouse, who settled in Illi- nois in 1847. having come from Kentucky. To this union were born four children: Mrs. Myrtle Minnick, of Oklahoma City: Arthur, who is
engaged in business with his father; Emma, and Mildred. In political principles Mr. Estabrook is a Republican, and in Dakota served as a township assessor. In religious faith and fel- lowship he is a Methodist: fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men.
T HOMAS L. JERNIGAN, one of Logan county's most enterprising and substantial farmers, resides on the northeast corner of section 19, township 17, range I west. He was born in the fifteenth district of Robertson county. Tenn., May 23. 1854, and is a son of Elisha T. and Agnes (Stone) Jernigan, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. The Jernigans were among the early settlers of Virginia, while the Stone family came from North Carolina. Our sub- ject's father was a farmer throughout his life and died in 1868.
Our subject received a good education in the college near his home, and when about nineteen years of age commenced teaching school, but only followed it one year. He has a good recol- lection of seeing the different armies passing back and forth near his home during the Civil war, and his father lost considerable property during that deadly struggle, though he was not engaged in either army. The homestead was twenty-eight miles north of Nashville, Tenn. After giving up school-teaching he became a traveling salesman for the Rosebank Nursery, of Nashville, and during the two years he was in that employment visited many places in Mis- sissippi, Alabama and Georgia. Returning home, he bought the old homestead. and. to- gether with farming, was engaged in the tobacco business. He continued there until November. 1889. when he located in Oklahoma, where he shortly afterward took up his present property. The country was then wild, and soon after tak- ing up the claim he built a one-room house. TIXI2 feet. There he lived about a year, and in the spring of 1890 set out part of his present orchard. The orchard now comprises about six acres, which he has set out from time to time. and has since erected his present house. He also has a vineyard of about half an acre, which vields him a large supply of grapes each year. Our subject has always been very successful in tilling the soil and is an honor to his chosen occupation.
Thomas Langford Jernigan and Miss Ida L. Yates were united in marriage April 14, 1881. She, too, is a native of Robertson county, Tenn .. and received her education at the same school that her husband attended. Her parents are Robert and Sally (Pope) Yates. This union was blessed by the birth of three children. named as
B. H. BERNTSEN, Kingfisher.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
A 435
follows: Robert E., now taking a course in the business college at Guthrie, Okla .: Amon L .; and Thomas C., all born on the old homestead in Robertson county, Tenn. Our subject has always supported the Democratic ticket and cast -his first vote for Tilden in 1876. He was raised a Methodist, while his wife is a Baptist.
B. H. BERNTSEN. So many of the sons of Holland have mingled their fortunes with our own liberty-loving people that we have come to regard their presence among us a necessary adjunct to the all-around advance- ment of the country, and to rely upon their wise and conservative methods and strict, cleanly principles. The traits that we have come to ad- mire in the sojourners from Holland are em- bodied to a large extent in the prominent brick manufacturer of Kingfisher, B. H. Berntsen. Hle was born in Holland, April 5, 1863. in the province of Gelderland. Here also his father, Gerhart Berntsen, was born, and during the ear- lier years of his activity was engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. In 1867, when his son, B. H., was four years old, he brought his family to the United States, leaving Bremen on a sailing ves- sel called the "Keppella." The voyage took fifty-one days and was attended by violent storms and retarding calms. They settled in Atchison, Kans., where Gerhart Berntsen was engaged in the business of brick manufacturing on the Missouri river. His efforts were attended by gratifying success, and he is now retired and living in Kingfisher county. The paternal grand- father, Bernard Berntsen, was born in Holland and was by occupation a tobacco manufacturer. The mother of B. H. Berntsen, Mary Dunk, was born in Holland, and was a daughter of John H. and Antonia (Daman) Dunk. She died at her son's home in 1899, at the age of seventy- two years. She was the mother also of a daugh- ter, Mrs. Antonia Spresser. of Downs township, Kingfisher county.
B. H. Berntsen was educated in the public schools of Atchison, Kans., and under his father's able tutelage learned to be an expert brick man- ufacturer. His first independent venture after leaving his father's works on the Missouri river was as foreman in a Kansas City brickyard. In 1889 he went to Denver, Colo .. and until 1891 was employed as molder in the yards, after which he returned to his former home in Atchi- son. In 1892 began his residence in Kingfisher, and his association as molder with the firm of Robertson & Spicknell. In the latter part of the same year he changed his residence to the Chey- enne and Arapahoe country, and for five years carried on farming thirty miles northwest of Kingfisher, in Blaine county. He at once began
the improvement and cultivation of his land, and it is to-day a source of pleasure and profit to him, and a relaxation from the cares incident to the care and management of his city inter- ests.
In 1808 Mr. Berntsen started his brick manu- facturing yard in the town of his adoption, and the demands of an ever-increasing trade neces- sitated the building of a larger plant in 1900. The new enterprise is located in the northern part of the town, the ground surrounding it com- prising one hundred and sixty acres of fine bot- tom lands, making it one of the finest farms in the territory. Besides the plant for the manu- facture of brick, Mr. Berntsen has a fine orchard on his land, and everything about the place is conducted on the most advanced and liberal lines. The capacity for brick-making is unlim- ited, as the supply of fine brick clay abounds in the neighborhood.
Mr. Berntsen was united in marriage with Amelia Kapelle, a native of Westphalia, Ger- many, and a daughter of Henry Kapelle, a resi- dent of Kingfisher. To this couple have been born seven children: Gerhart, Willie (deceased), Louise, Mary, Nellie, Antonia and Fred. In religious belief Mr. Berntsen is associated with the Catholic Church. From a political stand- point he is exceedingly liberal, and invariably votes for the man he thinks best qualified to fill the position. He has in many ways won the appreciation and esteem of his fellow-townsmen and is regarded as a credit to the social and com- mercial interests of Kingfisher.
M ORTON MITCHELL. The career of the gentleman named above is one of interest. as it presents a record of thriftiness and frugality which cannot but be admired. He is one of the successful farmers of El Reno town- ship, Canadian county, in which he owns two hundred and forty acres of land, and the high standing he enjoys to-day is the result of his in- dividual efforts, representing years of hard and consistent work.
Born in 1862, our subject is a son of Elihu and Joanna (Blake) Mitchell. His father moved to Kansas in 1871, and took up a homestead in Chase county. He followed farming all of his life, dying at the age of sixty years, and the wife and mother was about fifty years old at the tinie of her demise. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary Ann Spring: Ed- ward E., of Canadian county, Okla .: John M .. also a farmer of Canadian county; Isaac; and Morton, our subject.
Morton Mitchell was nine years of age when he moved to Kansas with his parents, and he grew to maturity in Chase county. He received
:1
436
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
a common school education, and at the age of sixteen years went to Joplin, Mo., where he worked at mining and in a lumber yard for some two years. In 1885 he moved to Pratt county, Kans., and, pre-empting a quarter section of land, continued to live there for three years. He sold out for stock and then returned to Chase county, where he lived until September. 1889, when he located in Oklahoma. Buying the northwestern quarter of section 24. El Reno township, Canadian county, of this he put eighty-five acres under the plow, the remainder being pasture and meadow land. He also pur- chased eighty acres north of the river, in section II, besides which he rents considerable land, farming in all about three hundred and twenty acres. His principal crop is wheat, and he also has a good peach orchard. He has been en- gaged in stock raising to a considerable extent, keeping only high grade Short Horn cattle. His property is well improved and is well equipped for successfully carrying on farming. He built a good, substantial frame house, in which he resides with his family.
In 1889 Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage with Amanda Sharp, of Chase county, Kans., and they are the parents of four children. namely: Effie, Glen, Pearl and Guy. Politically our subject favors the principles advocated by the Populists, but is not active in party affairs.
W ILLIAM M. HATFIELD, M. D. Prom- inent among the substantial men of Mul- hall is the well-known Dr. Hatfield, who ministers to the bodily ills of his community and enjoys that confidence and respect naturally given to the successful and esteemed physician. He is a native of Minnesota, born in Rice county. February 27, 1858, and the son of David and Matilda (Gorrell) Hatfield, natives of Ohio. The parents were early pioneers of Indiana, in which state they were married, and they moved from there first to Minnesota, and then, in 1870, to Jefferson county, Kans., where the father settled on a farm and spent his last days. The mother died in August, 1900.
Young Hatfield spent his childhood and youth on the farm with his parents, receiving his rudi- mentary education in the public schools. In 1875 the whole family returned to Indiana, on account of the grasshopper plague, and while there our subject attended the Ossian high school. After returning to Kansas he engaged in teaching, though only nineteen years old, and soon afterward began to read medicine in New- ton, Iowa, with his mother's brother, one of three physicians of that family. In 1883 he en- tered the medical department of the Iowa State University, in Iowa City, from which he was
graduated in 1886. In the meantime he had practiced considerably with his uncle, Dr. J. R. Gorrell, and continued with him some time after graduation. Upon returning to Kansas he lo- cated in Osage City, entering into partnership with Dr. W. L. Schenck, but was there only one year.
Dr. Hatfield was married September 4, 1888. to Miss Victoria Macomber, of Oskaloosa. Kans., and soon afterward decided upon settling in Oklahoma. Locating in Mulhall in 1893. he is now well established, with a lucrative practice and a comfortable home, with all of the comforts of life and many of its luxuries. The doctor and his excellent wife are the parents of one child, John William Hatfield.
Though too busy with his practice to take any part in politics, he attends to his duty as a voter, supporting the straight Republican ticket. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and serves as examining physician of the home lodge. He was at one time president of the Logan County board of health, and resigned. but later was appointed vice-president. An hon -. ored member of the Territorial Medical Associ- ation, he acted for a time as the treasurer.
J ACOB S. DIEHL. A man of many-sided capabilities and various enterprises for the advancement of the business and other in- terests of the community in which he lives, Jacob S. Diehl has won the co-operation of all who desire the public good. Born in Franklin county, Pa., September 6, 1863, he is a son of Michael L. and Anna (Shetter) Diehl, of German ances- try. Since residing in Oklahoma his claim has been located in the southwestern quarter of sec- tion 5, township 19, range 2 west, Logan county.
Jacob Diehl lived on his father's farm during his childhood days, learning every department of the work and surrounded by the usual in- fluences that go to make up the life of the aver- age country-bred boy. The educational ad- vantages in the district schools were readily and conscientiously taken advantage of, and at the age of eighteen he started out in life for himself as a school teacher. After three years of this occupation in his native county, he continued it in Dickinson county, Kans., for six years. At the same time he interested himself in learning the carpenter's trade, which he practiced to some extent for a number of years.
On September 4. 1888, Mr. Diehl was mar- ried, in Dickinson county, to Lena Manz, a native of Polk county, Iowa, and a daughter of Frederick and Mary (Gfeller) Manz, natives of Switzerland. Of this union there are four chil- dren: Jennie Mabel and Clarence J., born in
437
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Kansas; and Stella Rosa and Elmer William, born in Oklahoma.
In 1890 Mr. Diehl moved to Geary county, Kans., and thence to Stillwater, Okla., and the following fall bought a claim in section 5, town- ship 19, which he still owns and which is under high cultivation. In 1898 Mr. Diehl formed a partnership with L. B. Miller, in connection with the Orlando cheese factory. The concern has a capacity of ten thousand pounds of milk a day, and a full cream cheese, devoid of the filling sometimes employed, is manufactured. They continued to do a flourishing business till De- cember 1, 1900, when Mr. Diehl sold his interest to his partner.
Mr. Diehl is a Democrat and has served as a delegate to a number of conventions. From 1894 to 1896 he served as justice of the peace to the satisfaction of the entire community: he was also assessor for two years, and in 1896 was elected township trustee, which position he filled continuously for four years.
J." BUELL FERGUSON. The bar of Enid is ably represented by Mr. Ferguson, who, since he came here at the opening of this country to settlement in the year 1893, has es- tablished a reputation in his profession as an able lawyer, being at the head of the bar in his city, thoroughly reliable and enterprising, quite in keeping with the growing demands of his adopted city.
Mr. Ferguson was born in Putnam county, Mo., February 18, 1862, and is a son of Joseph J. and Margaret (Webb) Ferguson, natives, re- spectively, of Ohio and Kentucky, and the latter of English descent. Joseph J. Ferguson, who is of Scotch. descent, and was the third youngest of nine sons, married Margaret Webb at Green- castle, Ind., and soon afterwards they moved to Putnam county, Mo., where they reared a family of five children, consisting of one girl and four boys, to-wit: Jennie, Charles . W., Joseph A., J. Buell and Sherman. In the year of 1876 he re- moved with his family to Sumner county. Kans .. near Argonia, where he still resides. The pa- ternal grandfather, William, was born in Scot- land, and, when grown, he and a brother, emigrated to Delaware, where they separated, William moving to' Ohio, where Davion is now situated. In that place he died. aged ninety- seven years, and there his other children now reside.
J. Buell Ferguson was the second youngest in the family, and was educated in the public schools of Missouri and Kansas, graduating from the Lawrence Commercial College, of Lawrence, Kans., in 1884. While there be began the study of law and continued the same after his
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.