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 68
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return. He was admitted to the bar at Welling- ton, Kans., in 1890; to the Supreme Court of Oklahoma in 1897, and to the Supreme Court of the United States in April, 1897.
At the opening of Oklahoma to settlement, on the 22nd day of April, 1889, Mr. Ferguson lo- cated at Kingfisher, where he built up a good law practice, remaining there until the 16th day of September, 1893, at which time he removed to Enid, which seemed to offer larger possibilities.
Mr. Ferguson has been a lifelong Republican. having attended, as a delegate, nearly all the territorial conventions of his party in the terri- tory since its organization, and has been an active advocate for statehood for Oklahoma. He was the secretary of the first statehood conven- tion held in Oklahoma after its organization, it being held in Oklahoma City late in the year 1890. Fraternally he is associated with Ma- sons, and joined the order in Enid.
In addition to his law practice, Mr. Ferguson devoted considerable of his time and thought to the management of his farms, whereon he breeds thoroughbred cattle, mostly Herefords.
April 24, 1894, he married Della Far Kelly, who was born in Kansas April 24, 1875, and is the daughter of L. and Annie (Willian) Kelly. To Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson has been born one child, Donald Kelly Ferguson.
J.S S. DOBSON. The carly days of Joseph S. Dobson were spent on his father's farm near Rockford, Ill., where he was born Oc- tober 12, 1852. His parents, George and Eliza- beth (Goodwin) Dobson, were well-to-do agri- culturists who moved to Osage county, Kans .. in 1868. At the end of a year and a half, they took up their residence in Butler county. same state, remaining there from 1870 until 1889.
J. S. Dobson was among the foremost of those who made the famous run to Oklahoma April 22. 1889, reaching the east line and having little difficulty in pre-empting his claim, which is located on section 23, township 17, range I west, Logan county. His early training amply quali- fied him for an agricultural and business life. . and there was not wanting the usual opportti- nities for a good common-school education. When seventeen years of age he joined the Nine- teenth Kansas Cavalry, and during his associa- tion with the same had many interesting experi- ences. For six months he served under General Custer, and engaged in a number of skirmishes with the red men. Subsequently he returned to his home in Kansas and started to farm for himself. His father encouraged his desire for independence by presenting him with a fine team of horses, and though at first he rented land, later he bought eighty acres, which proved
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to be particularly wild and difficult of cultiva- fair common-school education and came to tion, all obstacles being overconte, however, by . Oklahoma in 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick the owner's persistency and patience. When he had brought it to a high state of cultivation he decided to sell the place, and forthwith bought two hundred acres in the same county. have three children: Dewey, born on the home farm, December 5, 1897; Roy, born November 30, 1898; and a son (as yet unnamed), born Au- gust 5, 1900.
Upon taking up his claim in Oklahoma, Mr. Dobson, while breaking the land, lived in a tent until such time as he could build a log house, which he succeeded in accomplishing during Oc- tober. Now he has a very desirable and com- fortable house, finc barns and ample outhouses. A fine orchard of three acres yields an output of many kinds of fruit.
Mr. Dobson was married June 3, 1883, to Ellen Burcham, a native of Adams county, Ill., and a daughter of Henry and Mary (Hardesty) Bur- cham. Of this union there are seven children: Archie, Eli, Henry. Anna, Edna, Ralph and Richard, the last three born in Oklahoma. In 1876 Mr. Dobson cast his vote for Hayes, but has since been identified with the Populist party, and has served as a delegate to many of its con- ventions. He contributes largely towards edu- cational and other enterprises.
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L EWIS FREDERICK. Among the young men who are successfully engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in Canadian county, none is more reliable and energetic than Lewis Fred- erick, who is carrying on operations on the southeast quarter of section 4, township 14, range 8 west. He is a native of Illinois, born near Tuscola, Douglas county, September II, 1873, and is a son of Casper and Margaret Frederick. The mother died when our subject was about nine years old, but the father is still living.
Mr. Frederick passed his boyhood and youth on the home farm, and acquired a good practical education in the district schools of the neigh- borhood. Before coming to Oklahoma he en- gaged in farming upon rented land in Illinois. It was in 1893 that he became a resident of Ca- nadian county, Okla., and he has since lived upon his present farm, having erected thercon a comfortable residence, which is still his honc. He is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, but cares nothing for political prefernicht. having always refused to accept office.
On the end of May. 1897, in Oklahoma, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Frederick and Miss Clara Bruch, who was born in Reno county, Kans. Her parents, Edwin and Sarah (Koons) Bruch, were natives of Indiana and Ohio, respectively, and were married in the former state, whence they removed to Kansas in 1877. The mother died when Mrs. Frederick was about six years old. The latter received a
D EWWILTON JEFFRIES. Among the enterprising and successful farmers of Logan county the subject of this article is numbered, and, during his eleven years of residence herc he has been very influential in the development and improvement of this new country. His home is situated in the south- eastern part of section 17, township 15, range 3. and Seward is his postoffice address.
Born in Clay county, Mo., September 28, 1856, our subject is a son of William and Susanna (Goode) Jeffrics, who removed to Jefferson county, Kans., when he was a lad of twelve years. He grew to maturity there and thor- oughly mastered the details of agriculture, also gaining a practical business education in the common schools. When he arrived at his ma- jority he embarked in business on his own ac- count by renting land in Jefferson county, and at the end of a few years of well-applied industry he was enabled to purchase eighty acres of land. From 1881 until August, 1890, he continued to cultivate his property there, but when this more fertile and highly desirable territory was opened to the white race he decided to cast in his for- tune here. He first came to Oklahoma in the summer of 1875, and again in 1889, remaining only about two months, when he returned to Kansas, but the following February found him again in Oklahoma. He then bought one hun- dred and sixty acres of land, the property where he has since made his home, and at once, with characteristic energy, he commenced making improvements on the place. In connection with his general farming he devotes considerable at- tention to the raising of stock, and at present he has about fifty head of cattle. His fine or- chard, of some five acres, now is bearing a good harvest cach ycar and promises even better in the near future.
On Thanksgiving day, November 27, 1870. Mr. Jeffries married Ella Carter, a native of Jefferson county, Kans. She is a daughter ot Robert and Amanda Carter, and by her mar- riage is the mother of six children. The four elder children were born in Jefferson county, Kans., namely: Otto, Effic Lee, Susan Amanda and Otis. Omar and Obert C. were born in Oklahoma. The eldest son, Otto, and the two daughters are students at the normal school at Edmond, and the two younger children are at liomc.
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CHARLES O. BLAKE, El Reno.
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Reared in the principles of the Democratic party, our subject is a worker in local politics, and has been a delegate to the county conven- tions for several years. For two years he has been a justice of the peace, and though this township usually has a Republican majority, he was elected to fill the office of trustee. Frater- nally he is a member of Guthrie Lodge No. I. A. O. U. W., and he also belongs to several horse-thief protective associations.
C HARLES O. BLAKE. A resident of El Reno, and one of the leading attorneys of Oklahoma, this gentleman is widely and favorably known through his professional prac- tice, and by reason of his connection with the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, as its attorney. A son of C. B. Blake, he was born October 29, 1860. at - Blake's Landing, Gallia county, Ohio. He is of English descent, his great-grandfather. David Blake, having been born and reared near London, England. David Blake immigrated to this country when a young man, and became a pioneer settler of Marietta, Ohio, locating near the old blockhouse, where he and one of his brothers had a shipyard in which they built many vessels for use on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. He acquired a good property, and. having bought a farm at Blake's Landing, spent his closing years there. He was loyal to the country of his adoption, and served as a soldier in the war of 1812, being afterwards an officer in the state militia.
Ansel Blake, Mr. Blake's grandfather, was born in Marietta, Ohio, where he learned the trade of a ship-builder. and during his early life built flatboats, barges, and other vessels used in transporting freight down the rivers to New Orleans. From a tract of wild land in Gallia county, near Blake's Landing. he developed a valuable plantation, known as "The Elms." on which he spent many years, living there until his death, in 1807. at the venerable age of ninety- five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Trowbridge, came of distinguished Rev- olutionary stock. and of a family somewhat noted for its longevity. She also died in 1897, being then ninety-three years old.
C. B. Blake was born at Blake's Landing, and has there spent his entire life, being now the owner of the ancestral homestead, "The Elms." For many years he was engaged in flatboating on the Ohio, and also built many of the river steamers, barges and other craft used in transporting passengers and goods. During the Civil war he served as first lieutenant of Company I, Fourth Volunteer Infantry, under General Lightburn, remaining with his regiment mitil, on account of injuries received, he was
inustered out of service for physical disability. He was afterwards sheriff of the county two terms. Fraternally he is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity, and belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic. He married Miss Gratia Ful- ler, who was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, at Fuller's Landing, of which her father, Hon. Al- phonso Fuller, of New York state, was an early settler, and an extensive landholder. Mr. Fuller was also the owner of numerous flatboats, river barges and steamers, and for many years carried on a substantial business in freighting. He was very prominent in military affairs, having been brigadier-general of a company of Ohio militia during the war with Mexico, but was not called to the front. He filled many offices of trust and responsibility, and served as state senator. He was a kinsman -of old Commodore Swain, of Nantucket fame, and some of his Swain rela- tives settled in Ohio, becoming prosperous farm- ers. Of the union of C. B. Blake with Miss Fuller, six children were born, of whom five are living. as follows: Alphonso, a farmer, living near the old homestead in Ohio: Charles O., the special subject of this sketch; Edward, a farmer, residing near Pueblo, Colo .; Ernest E., a grad- uate of Adrian College, Mich., who is in part- nership with his brother, Charles O., and is attorney for the Choctaw Railway Company ; and C. B., Jr., who is professor of biology at Ed- mond, Okla.
Charles O. Blake resided at "The Elms" until nineteen years old, attending the public schools, and the Gallipolis high school, after which he studied law in that city with the firm of White & Holcomb, then attended the Cincinnati Law School for a year. In 1883 he was admitted to the bar in Indianapolis, and after practicing there for a short time went to Red Mountain, Ouray county, Colo., and soon after purchased a mine about seven miles from Ouray, where he was engaged in silver mining for about six months, and where he still retains an interest in the mine. In the spring of 1885 Mr. Blake opened a law office in Coldwater, Kans., where he met with success, for two terms serving as county attorney for Comanche county until he resigned the position. Coming to Oklahoma on legal business, he was pleased with the outlook, and in 1800 transferred his residence and practice to El Reno, where he and his brother, Ernest E., formed a copartnership under the firm name of Blake & Blake, and have since met with eminent success in their profession, having won an ex- tensive and lucrative patronage. In 1898 Mr. Blake accepted his present position as attorney for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail- road Company for Oklahoma and Indian Terri- tory. Likewise identified with other enterprises. he is interested in Colorado lands and irriga-
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tion, and in agricultural pursuits, being the owner of two valuable farms, devoted principally to fruit-growing.
Politically Mr. Blake is a stanch Republican. He is very active in the promoting of educational affairs, and is now president of the board of re- gents of the University of Oklahoma, at Norman, having received his appointment from Governor Barnes, and under Governor Seay he was at the head of the board of regents of the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Stillwater. Frater- nally, was made a Mason and an Odd Fellow in El Reno. He was one of the organizers of the El Reno Club, and is a member in high standing of the Territorial Bar Association.
In Gallipolis, Ohio, Mr. Blake married Miss Cora Bryan, whose parents removed to Ohio from one of the eastern states. Mr. and Mrs. Blake have four children, namely: Bryan Trow- bridge, Marion, Bardwell and Ansel.
TTO A. GRIESEL. Among the most en- terprising citizens of Oklahoma are some that are of foreign birth, who, through their own unaided efforts have overcome the obstacles in the path to success, and are now quite well-to-do. In Mr. Griesel we find a worthy representative of this class. He owns and successfully operated a good farm on the southeast quarter of section 13, township 14, range 7 west, Canadian county. He was born in Austria, December 13, 1861, and was about five years old when brought to this country by his parents, Joseph and Frances Griesel, who lo- cated first in Milwaukee, Wis., where the father worked at his trade of carpenter for three years, and then moved to Topeka, Kans. From there he went to Newton, that state, where his death occurred.
During his boyhood Otto A. Griesel had but little opportunity to attend school, and when left fatherless at the age of sixteen years was thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood. He began life for himself by working as a farm hand by the month and later operated rented land on his own account. He did well at first. but went farther west and pre-empted land and there lost all that he had made.
In Newton, Kans., August 12. 1883. Mr. Grie- sel married Miss Nettie Talman, of that place, who was born in Iowa, and received a fair con- mon-school education. They now have five children, namely: Capitola Medora. Beatrice. Edward, Ruby and Adoiph. On coming to Oklahoma in December, 1890, Mr. Griesel's pos- sessions consisted mainly of two teams of horses. and one of these was composed of horses aged nineteen and twenty-one years, respectively. However, he made the most of what he had.
Until better accommodations could be securedi. he lived in a dugout. As a result of energy and perseverance, he has steadily prospered in his new home.
Mr. Griesel cast his first presidential ballot for James G. Blaine, in 1884, and is still identi- fied with the Republican party. He is an active and influential member of the United Brethren Church, in which he is now serving as steward and trustee, and contributed very liberally to the building of Liberty Church.
J JEFFERSON D. FORD, who is a resident of Oklahoma City, has been engaged in the meat business since early life, and under- stands it thoroughly. He was born at Big Springs, Shelby county, III., December 11, 1859, and is a son of Levi W. and Lucretia Berry (Spain) Ford.
Mr. Ford comes of an old Virginia family, his father, Levi W. Ford, having been born in that state, and moving from there to Shelby county. Ill., where he remained until his death. Ilis wife was born in Shelby county, Ill., of Scotch descent, and now resides at Windsor, Ill. Her father, John Spain, was born in North Carolina, and at an early day settled in Shelby county, Ill., where he followed farming. He was the first postmaster of Big Springs, and held! that office until his death, in the ninety-eighth year of his age, being at that time the oldest postmaster in the United States. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ford, and three are now living.
Jefferson Davis Ford was reared at Windsor, III., and received a limited education in the pub- lic schools. As a boy he was set to work at farming, and also learned the trade of a butcher in all its details .. He worked at his trade in Neoga. Ill., until 1885, when he went west and located at Jetmore, Hodgeman county. Kans. For some years he was in business in that town. July 12, 1889, he entered the employ of Mr. McClure, in the butcher business at Oklahoma City, clerking for him until the spring of 1891. when he bought out Mr. Foy and engaged in business for himself on Robinson street. Ac- quiring a good patronage and meeting with success, he continued the business until June 1, 1900, when he sold out to good advantage. Since July 1, 1900, he has been employed by Armour & Co. as city salesman. At Oklahoma City Mr. Ford was united in marriage with Mary Amanda MeGowen, who was born in Illi- nois and reared in Eldorado. Kans. For a number of years he served as a member of the school board and then resigned. In politics he is a Democrat. He was made a Mason at Neoga, 111., and is now a member of Oklahoma
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Lodge No. 3, A. F. & A. M .; Oklahoma Chap- ter No. 7, R. A. M., at Oklahoma City: Okla- roma Commandery No. 2, K. T .; and India Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Ile is an Episco- palian in religious attachment, and is serving as vestryman.
C APT. ROBERT B. HUSTON. It is the glory of our country that so many of its sons are valiant and brave, proving their patriotism by their active service in times of war. The Spanish-American war has given new names to our national roll of honor and added new luster to our prestige as a republic. Of those who answered the call for volunteers. none was braver than Captain Huston, of Guth- ric. Going to the front, he served both in Cuba and in the Philippines, continuing a trusted offi- ver until death ended his career, while he was bravely discharging his duties in a far-distant land. Though dead. he is not forgotten. His memory will long be preserved as that of a cour- ageous soldier, who gave his life for his country, although it was not a bullet from the enemy's ranks that ended his career, but that insidious and treacherous foe of the soldier, the typhoid fever.
The birth of Robert B. Huston occurred in Hamilton, Ohio, January 25, 1864, his parents being Abraham and Jane (Bell) Huston, natives, respectively, of Ohio and Scotland, the latter being a descendant of the famous Douglas fam- ily of Scottish history. The education of Rob- ert B. Huston was commenced in Ohio and continued in Kansas. In his youth he deter- mined to become a lawyer, and his studies were shaped with that end in view, his readings being carried on in Seneca, Kans. In 1893 he came to Guthrie and opened an office for the practice of law, in which he continued successfully, and with a growing clientele, until the outbreak of dr. war with Spain.
June 12, 1895, occurred the marriage of Rob- ert B. Huston and Miss Vianna J. Roads, who is a daughter of Emanuel and Mary Jane (Rob- bins Roads, and a sister of J. M. Roads (see sketch on another page of this work). Her father, a native of England, came to America at the age of about thirteen years and settled with his parents in Albany, N. Y., but later re- moved to Otsego county, the same state, and for othe time conducted a machine shop in Worces- br. Mrs. Huston was educated in the east, and : a cultured and refined woman, holding a posi- tion of honor in the society of Guthrie, where ' and her only son. Robert Harold Huston, toside.
Vt the opening of the Spanish-American war, Robert B. Huston enlisted in the service. May
5, 1898, he became captain of Troop D, First United States Cavalry. Under his leadership was organized the first volunteer company militia of Oklahoma and he was later chosen its colonel. Going with his regiment to Cuba, he took part in the. actions which gave luster to the Rough Riders, and was himself one of the bravest of that immortal company of valiant men. At San Juan Hill and Santiago he fought with distinguished valor, and in recognition of his services he was brevetted major and com- missioned paymaster, serving until June, 1899, when he was mustered out. In the fall of that year he was appointed captain. of the Forty- seventh United States Infantry, and sailed with his regiment for the Philippine Islands Novem- ber 4, landing at Manila on Christmas day. From that time forward he was a noticeable fig- ure in all engagements participated in by his regiment, and there was no diminution in his patriotic ardor and bravery until he fell a victim of typhoid fever. He died July 6, 1900, and his remains were forwarded to Ohio for interment. August 18. following. Thus passed into eternal rest one who had, on many a battlefield, proved his valor and his loyal spirit. It is to such men as he that our country owes its greatness. So long as the spirit that animated him shall abide in the hearts of the youth of America, so long shall our country be one of the world's greatest powers and resist successfully the encroach- ments of avarice and tyranny.
D OUGLAS H. LYON, a thrifty agriculturist of Logan county, is a man of high princi- ples and aims, and all who know him ren- der a tribute of praise to him. classing him among the public-spirited citizens of this terri- tory. He is well posted in the leading issues of the day, and is governed in all his actions by a conscientious application of the old rule. "the greatest good for the greatest number.
Born on his father's homestead in Fleming county, Ky., February 10, 1842, Douglas H. Lyon passed his boyhood in the quiet, inde- pendent routine of a tiller of the soil. His par- ents were Morris C. and Drusilla (Rollins) Lyon, and of their thirteen children he was the seventh in order of birth. The father was a man of good information for his time and place of abode, and. in addition to managing his large farm, he spent a portion of several years in teaching in the local schools.
Our subject obtained a fair education and a practical idea of farming in all its, departments before he arrived at maturity. In 1861, when he .was not yet nineteen years of age, he married Mary Frances, daughter of Samuel and Amanda (Saunders) Nealis. The lady of his choice was
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a mere schoolgirl, as she had only just passed the fifteenth anniversary of her birth, which event had occurred in Fleming county.
For six years subsequent to his marriage D. H. Lyon labored under the disadvantage of being a renter of farms, but both he and his wife were plucky young people, and at last, by economy and industry, they were enabled to purchase ninety acres of land, and there they resided until 1880. That year they went to Jackson county, Kans., where they settled upon an eighty-acre traet of land which Mrs. Nealis had selected and bought for them, and, in order to meet the nec- essary payment upon the place, Mr. Lyon re- turned to his former home in 1881 and sold that farm, thus discharging all of his indebtedness. He developed his new property during the ten years of his residence there, but, learning of the settlement of Oklahoma, he sold out in 1890 and came to this promised land. Here he bought the southeastern quarter of section 19, town- ship 15, range 3 west, and among the many material improvements which he has made it may be stated that his orchard is particularly fine. He has five hundred peach trees and num- bers of apple trees, while his vineyard furnishes an abundance of grapes. Around his house beautiful shade trees and shrubbery are notice- able features, and everything about the premises is kept in a systematic manner.
Mr. and Mrs. Lyon have a son and daugh- ter, both of whom were born in Fleming county, Ky. . Sarah E., wife of Abraham Denton, of Texas county, Mo., is the mother of two sons and one daughter. Samuel M. Lyon married Cora Smith and has three sons. They reside one mile south of D. H. Lyon.
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