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 69
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Our subject uses his franchise in favor of the nominees of the Democratic party, but he is not an aspirant to public offices.
W ILLIAM KNECHT, whose home is on the southwest quarter of section 8, town- ship 14. range 7 west, is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to Canadian county. He was born in the Rhine Province, November 18. 1848, a son of Peter and Lena (Sontgerath) Knecht. At the age of twenty-five he emigrated to America, and soon after landing in New York proceeded to La Salle county, Ill .. where he worked by the month as a farm hand for several years. Next he made his home in Marshall county. Ill., where he was similarly employed for a time, and, securing a start in this way, he at length rented land, and successfully engaged in its operation.
There Mr. Knecht was married, October 25: 1887, to Miss May Bogner, who was born in Marshall county, a daughter of Louis and Ger-
trude (Weber) Bogner. By this union eight children were born, namely: Louis, Lena, Wil- liam and Leo (twins), Gertrude, Anthony, Jo- seph and May.
Mr. Knecht continued to operate rented land in Marshall county, Ill., until 1893, which year witnessed his arrival in Canadian county, Okla. Purchasing his present farm for the sum of $1,300, he has since devoted his time and attention to its improvement and cultivation with most gratifying results. Here he has since been pros- pered. In 1896 he bought the southeast quarter of section 30, township 14, range 7 west, and in 1899 purchased the southeast quarter of section 7. On landing in this country he had only five dollars with which to begin life in a strange land and among a strange people, but he is now quite well-to-do, and his success can be attrib- uted to his own industry, good management and excellent business ability. He was reared in the Catholic faith and confirmed at the age of twelve years. In politics he is a Democrat.
G I EORGE K. KAISER, who has been lo- cated in Oklahoma City since the open- ing, is proprietor of a large establishment at the corner of Robinson and Second streets, where he deals in paints, oils and wall paper. Born in Schwabland, Wurtemberg, Germany, April 23, 1859, he is a son of Jacob and Cather- ine (Kuller) Kaiser, also natives of Wurtemberg. After their marriage his parents came to Amer- ica, settling in Lincoln, Logan county, Ill .. where the father died about 1886, and the mother in 1864. Seven children resulted from their union, four of whom grew to maturity, and two are now living: George K., and Jacob, who resides in Nokomis, Ill.
George K. Kaiser was but a year old when. in 1860, his father came to this country, making the trip to New York City in ninety days, on a sailing vessel. He lived in Illinois until after his mother died, when he was taken back to Germany by his father, but about one year later. after the second marriage of the father, they returned to Illinois. He attended the public schools of Lincoln, and when fourteen years old went to Bloomington, Ill., where he served an apprenticeship to the trade of a painter in the shops of the Chicago & Alton Railroad He was employed at coach-painting and made quite a reputation as a varnisher. continuing there about five years. In 1874 he came west and traveled and worked at his trade in Mis- souri, Kansas and Colorado, and in 1876 joined a surveying corps in the Black Hills, when the great rush was being made to that section. For nine months he was on the government survey,
S. H. MONTGOMERY,
Enid.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
sectionizing the country, meantime having. nu- merous fights with the Sioux and Nez Perces tribes, and having several very narrow escapes. Upon the close of the season, he went to Ne- braska City, thence to Denver, South Park, Pueblo, Silver City and Leadville, Colo., where he engaged in prospecting and mining about one year. . Next he went to southern Kansas and followed his trade at Wichita, Caldwell, Win- field and Wellington.
During the ensuing three years Mr. Kaiser was employed at intervals in the shops of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad at Spring- field, Mo., after which he traveled over Ne- braska, working at his trade. About 1885 he returned to Wichita and engaged in contracting and painting. April 22, 1889, he left the west line of Oklahoma and located a claim in Cana- dian county, eight miles north of Yukon, on Deer creek in Frisco township, the land compris- ing the northwest quarter of section 7, township 13, range 5 west. During the six years of his residence on the farm he made many valuable improvements and still owns the property. In the meantime, from the earliest days of Okla- homa City, he followed his trade here, and in 1895 began contracting and painting. Two years later, in addition to contract work, he . established a store at No. 114 Robinson street, where he carries a stock of paints, oils and wall paper. In 1899 he moved to his present quar- ters on Robinson and Second streets. Among the contracts he has had may be mentioned those for the residences of D. W. Gibbs. Judge Bunwell, James Monnan and J. P. Allen, the Lion store, and the Baptist and Christian Churches. In 1895 he built the modern home at No. 429 East First street, in which he now lives.
At Beatrice, Neb., Mr. Kaiser was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Grace, who was born at Sag Harbor, L. I .. and is a daughter of William Grace. Her grandfather, Charles Grace, a sailor, came from London, England, and settled at Sag Harbor, L. I. William Grace, who was born in London, England, was a ship car- penter, joiner and painter, and followed his . trade in the shipyards in New York City, migrat- ing from there to Iowa, and thence to Nebraska, where he was a contractor and painter for seven- teen years. Subsequently he made his home in Kansas, and is now living on a farm in south- western Missouri. During the Mexican war he served in the navy. He married Mary E. Hil- dretli, who was born at Sag Harbor, L. I., and died in Nebraska. They had three children, all daughters, and all still living, Mrs. Kaiser being the youngest. One sister, Mrs. Beli Block, resides in Blaine county, Okla., and the other, Mrs. Ella Tomlinson, resides at Wayne,
Neb. Mrs. Kaiser is an earnest member of the Missionary Baptist Church. In politics our sub- ject is independent.
S AMUEL H. MONTGOMERY is a typical frontiersman of the generation which is in its prime at the present time. Alert and quick to grasp every situation, fearless and inde- pendent, he has met and conquered the prob- lems which life has had in store for him, its vicissitudes only widening his sympathies and kindly feelings toward mankind.
The Montgomery family, of which our subject is a worthy representative, originated in Scot- land. His father, Andrew Montgomery, was born near Athens, Ala., and in 1848 he removed to Harrison county, Tex., where he was occupied in farming until after the close of the Civil war, during which period he served as a member of the state militia. In 1866 he located in Grayson county, Tex., where he departed this life in 1874, aged sixty-three years. He is survived by his widow, whose maiden name was Melinda Fisher. Her father, Jacob Fisher, of German descent, was a native of Pennsylvania, where generations of his ancestors had dwelt. In his early manhood he went to Alabama, and there carried on a large plantation until 1852, when he removed to Up- shur county, Tex .. and there also devoted his attention to agriculture. He was called to his reward in 1871. when in his ninety-seventh year.
One of thirteen brothers and sisters, S. II. Montgomery was born in Harrison county, Tex .. December 14, 1852. All but one of the number lived to maturity and eleven are yet surviving. With the exception of himself and brother. Stonewall J., who is engaged in the live stock business in the Osage country. the family is still in Texas. He was reared as a farmer and stock- raiser, and remained on the old homestead in Grayson county until he attained his majority. Then going into the wild country on the Colo- rado river, in Texas, he found employment with cattlemen. and later embarked in business on his own account. Altogether, he spent fifteen years in that portion of the Lone Star state, his ranch being situated at a point about seven miles north of San Angelo, Tom Green county. When Garfield county was to be opened he concluded to locate in this section, and September 16. 1893. made the race for a claim. being fortunate in securing a good one. four miles from Enid. After making his home there for twenty months, he sold the property, and since that time has been a resident of Enid. He operates a ranch in Wood county, Okla., and deals extensively in live stock. Hle keeps a high grade of Herefords and Short- horn cattle and feeds stock for the market. First and last he is a business man, paying little atten-
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tion to other affairs, and in politics is a Demo- crat.
In Brown county. Tex., Mr. Montgomery married Miss Nellie Hall, who likewise is a na- tive of Texas. This estimable couple are the parents of one child, Andrew, who lives with them. Mrs. Montgomery is a member of the Christian Church, and is active in all good works.
W ILLIAM WESLEY MCKINLEY, for- mer postmaster at Kingfisher, was born January 1, 1849. His father, John Mc- Kinley, of Ohio, who was for years a successful miller near Canton, on the Copperas river, owned six hundred acres of land and conducted a large grist and saw mill. He was a very de- vout man, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died near Canton at the age of sixty-threc.
Under his father's instruction, William Wes- ley Mckinley also learned to be a miller, and ran the grist mill on the Copperas river for a number of years. In 1892 he shifted the scene of his efforts to Hope, Kans., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1893, when he came to Kingfisher, and bought a farm fourteen miles northwest of the town. His success in general farming was interrupted in 1897, when he was appointed postmaster of Kingfisher by his cousin, President Mckinley, which position he creditably filled until his death, March 16, 1899. Mr. Mckinley's death was brought about through a severe attack of the grippe, which resulted fatally after five weeks of severe ill- ness. He seemed to realize that his system would be unable to bear the severe strain, and with thoughtful solicitude for the dear ones that would mourn the loss of a devoted husband and father, he wrote to President McKinley, asking that his position be given to his wife.
During the years of his activity Mr. Mckinley was a devout member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and a member of the Masonic order. He was married September 30. 1873, in Oquawka, Henderson county, Ill., to Emily Shugart. who was born in Banner. Fulton county, Ill., and was a daughter of John Shu- gart, of Indiana. Her paternal grandfather, Edam Shugart, was an early settler in Indiana, and came from an old Ohio family of German. descent. He was a successful farmer, and after a time removed to Kemp. Kaufman county. Tex., where he continued to farm and raise stock for over sixty years. He fought with courage and distinction in the Civil war, and is now a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In religion he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His wife, formerly Julia Ann Grass, was born in Indiana, and is a daugh-
ter of John Grass, who early came from the east and settled in Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Shu- gart were born four children, all of whom are living, Mrs. McKinley being the oldest. She is the mother of eleven children: Nellie, who mar- ried Mr. Gilbert, died in Kingfisher March 16, 1899. Charles is assistant postmaster of King- fisher; Annie is a clerk in the postoffice; May is general delivery clerk in the postoffice; John operates the home farm in Kingfisher county; Trovers assists on the farm; Floyd, Lizzie, Bes- sie, Thomas, and Ida, who died in infancy.
Mrs. McKinley has demonstrated the right of women to invade lines of industry formerly occupied exclusively by men. At first appointed temporarily to the position in the postoffice, the appointment was confirmed December 13. 1899, since which time she has successfully con- ducted the affairs of the postoffice, ably assisted by her son and daughters. Mrs. McKinley is regarded as a prominent and influential member of the community, who has the interest of her adopted town at heart, and is variously associ- ated with the means of its upbuilding. In 1900 she erected in Kingfisher a comfortable and handsome residence, which is the scene of open- hearted hospitality. 'A source of consolation and opportunity for doing good is found in her asso- ciation with the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics she is always a Republican.
J JOHN McCLEAN, who has been one of the foremost citizens of Oklahoma City since locating here in 1892, is extensively engaged in contracting and building, and has built many brick buildings, having had some of the largest contracts in the place.
Mr. McClean was born near Monaghan, County Monaghan, Ireland, April 6, 1845, his an- cestors, who were natives of Scotland, settling there at the time of the persecution of Protes- tants. He is a son of John and Ann (Boyd) Mc- Clean, and a grandson of John McClean, who en- gaged in farming in Ireland. His father was born near Monaghan, Ireland, where he followed farm- ing and died in 1898, aged ninety-seven years; the mother, who was born in the same vicinity. was a daughter of William Boyd, also a farmer. 'She died in the eighty-fourth year of her age. In her family there were nine children, seven of whom are now living, and six of these are in America.
John McClean was reared on a farm and at- tended the national schools until he was eight- cen years of age, when he began to learn the trade of a stonemason, bricklayer and stone- cutter, serving an apprenticeship of five years. and thoroughly mastering every department of the work. Later he was employed as a journey-
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man for six months. In 1869 he came to Amer- ica, settling in Philadelphia, Pa., and working at his trade until December of that year, when he went to Fremont, Dodge county, Neb., and continued in the same line of work. He also took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land in Saunders county. Later he engaged at contracting and building, both at Fremont and in Saunders county, continuing until the fall of 1892, when he removed to Oklahoma City. He has since been engaged in contracting here and has met with success. Among other contracts, he built the High School building (also helped to build two others), the Dunn, Bennett, Reed, and Reding buildings, Oklahoma Ice and Cold Storage Plant, Williamson-Halsell wholesale building. and the Wyatt building. In 1897 he erected a substantial residence on West Reno street, out- side the city, and here his family make their home.
In Fremont, Neb., Mr. McClean was united in marriage with Maggie Lee, who was born in Monaghan, Ireland, and was seven weeks of age when she was brought to this country with her parents. She died in California, leaving five children: William, who publishes a paper at Wahoo, Nch .; Mrs. Eva Wilson, of Oklahoma City; Lizzie, who lives at home; Mamie, and Esther. Mr. McClean was a second time mar- ried in Oklahoma City, his wife being Nellie Gilbert, who was born in Gadoming, England. They are parents of two children, Ida and Allen Francis. Religiously he is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics supports the Republican party.
D OBSON PEARSON, whose home is lo- cated on the southeast quarter of section 17, township 17, range I west, Logan county, was born in Wright county, Mo., June 20, 1849, and is a son of James and Letha (Bur- row) Pearson.
He spent his boyhood days on the farm, with few opportunities of acquiring an education. This was partly due to the unsettled condition of the country incident to the war. When but three years of age his life was saddened by the loss of his father. The situation, however, was not so distressing as in many cases, because he went to live with his uncle, Dobson Burrow, who gave himself and mother a good home, and whose generosity and kindness and thoughtful care of him has ever been a source of grateful remembrance. When twenty-one years of age, circumstances shaped themselves so that he could go to school. and he conscientiously availed himself of the chance for three years. placing himself in a position to appreciate the
pleasures of reading, in which he has since largely indulged. For his schooling he spent three hundred dollars left him by his father, and he soon after engaged in agriculture on his quarter-section of fine land, also bequeathed him by his father. In this he was unusually suc- cessful, and became prominent in the conimu- nity as an agriculturist of advanced means and ideas.
Mr. Pearson was married in 1872 to Martha Winn, a native of Tennessee, who died in 1878. She was the mother of two children, who died in infancy. Mr. Pearson was married the sec- ond time, in 1879, to Lizzie MeDaris, of Wright county, where she was educated and grew to womanhood, although she was born in Tennes- see. There are five children of this marriage: Ora, Letha, Levi, Sarah and Netty, the last born in Oklahoma.
After his marriage, Mr. Pearson supplemented his agricultural pursuits with that of milling. His mill was erected in Hartville, Wright county, and was equipped with all modern de- vices for milling, with a capacity of a hundred barrels a day. The business was discontinued in 1891, but during the years of its activity was a source of pride to the community and of finan- cial profit to the owner.
G M. PARKER, one of the substantial citi- zens of Oklahoma City, is extensively en- gaged in contracting and building, and has been located here since November. 1889. He was born near Flemingsburg, Ky., January 20, 1856. and is a son of J. L. and Sarah (Jones) Parker. His father was a native of Maryland, and at an early date settled in Kentucky, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1880 he moved to Council Grove, Kans., but spent his last days in Oklahoma City, where he died at the age of seventy-two years. During the Civil war he served from Kentucky. His wife was born in Kentucky, and was a daughter of John Jones, a farmer of that state, where she died. Of her ten children, seven are now living. Three sisters and two brothers live in Okla- homa, and one brother in Arkansas. John M .. who served from Kentucky in the Union army during the Civil war, died in Arkansas City, Kans.
Reared on a farm. G. M. Parker received his education in the public schools. He continued on a farm until 1880, when he moved to Coun- cil Grove, Kans., and there served an appren- ticeship of three years at the bricklaver's trade under his father-in-law, C. A. Towler. At the expiration of his apprenticeship he followed his trade and became foreman of the business of Mr. Towler, serving as such at Council Grove
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until November, 1889, when he came to Okla- homa City. Mr. Towler followed him to this city in 1890, and at once began contracting and building and brick-manufacturing. Our subject served as foreman of the building department of the business and superintended the construction of the Masonic Temple, State National Bank. Batchelder Building, Methodist Episcopal Church, the Christian Church, and many other buildings. In 1896 he began contracting and building on his own account, and has since con- tinued, at the present time being a member of the firm of Parker & Shull, who built the court- house and postoffice building, Barnes & Volts building, Finley & Lec building, the Lion store, and additions to the McGlinchey building. In 1890 he built a modern residence at No. 427 Pottawatomie street.
Mr. Parker was united in marriage with Nan- nie Towler, a native of Kentucky. Her father, C. A. Towler, removed from Kentucky to Coun- cil Grove, Kans., where for many years he was engaged in contracting and building. Subse- quent to 1890 he was a prominent contractor and builder and brick manufacturer of Okla- homa City, where he lived at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Parker are parents of five ยท children, namely: Fleta, Estella, Calla, Fay and Monroe. He was made a Mason at Flemings- burg, Ky., and now belongs to Oklahoma City Lodge No. 3; also to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Religiously he is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is serving on the board of trustees. In politics he is a Republican.
W ILLIAM REID is one of the representa- tive farmers of Mustang township, Ca- nadian county, Okla., where he has been located since the opening. He was born in Illi- nois, and is a son of Dewitt C. and Mary J. (Crawford) Reid. His grandfather Reid was born in Kentucky, and was captain of a steam- boat on the Illinois river. Dewitt C. Reid was born in Kentucky, was a farmer in Illinois. and is now deceased. His wife is a native of that state. and now lives in Meredosia, 111.
William Reid grew up on the farm, and at the age of twenty-one years went to Meredosia. Ill., where he worked at odd jobs. It was there that he married Sarah E. Masterson, who was born in Ohio, as were her parents. He lived in Meredosia for six years, after which he moved to Missouri and there farmed for three and one-half years. Then engaging in agricultural pursuits in Kansas until the opening of Okla- homa, in the fall of 1889 he located there. He traded his team for the claim on which he now resides, and has since been engaged in general
farming and stock-raising. He has raised many hogs each year in the past, but now devotes his attention to other lines. Having made great improvements on his property, he is meeting with better success than at any place he lias ever been located, and regards Oklahoma as the finest farming country he has ever seen. He has a good orchard of large variety, but makes a specialty of apples.
Mr. Reid and his faithful wife are parents of four children: Maurice C., who is married and lives in San Francisco; Wilbert; George, who is married and is farming in this vicinity; and Leonard, who lives at home. Religiously they are members of the Christian Church. He is a Populist in his political views.
F RANK J. ROBINSON, an enterprising farmer of Logan county, Okla., owns the northwestern quarter of section 6, township 15, range 3 west, and his postoffice is Navina. Born in Tioga county, N. Y., April 27, 1859, lie is a son of Thomas and Laura (Brown) Robin- son. He was but two years of age when his father moved with the family to Bureau county, Ill., where they lived about two years. He then went to Henry county, same state, where he purchased a farm and lived until our subject was seventeen years of age, when he went to Jefferson county, Neb. Though he purchased a farm there, he soon moved to Leavenworth: county, Kans., where he lived for a few years. and then moved to the Otoe Reservation. Liv- ing there until he came to Oklahoma, he then located on a farm in Seward township, Logan county. His wife is now deceased.
Frank J. Robinson received a fair common- school education and lived with his father until twenty-three years of age, after which he worked out by the month for a time. He then rented his father's farm and was married in 1882 in Leavenworth, Kans. In 1890 he came to Okla- homa, with about $325 in money and a little stock. built a house, 16x28 feet in dimensions. upon his present property, and for the first few years had to work very hard to make both ends meet. Ile has been successful and has a well- improved farm, with an excellent orchard of several hundred trees. For the past ten seasons he has operated a threshing machine.
April 25, 1882, he was united in marriage at Leavenworth. Kans., with Naomi Carr, who was born near Whitehall, 111. She is a daughter of William and Jane (Godwin) Carr, and is pos- sessed of a good education. Her father was born in Kentucky, but went to Illinois, where he was married, his wife being a native of that state. Ile went to Lawrence, Kans., when Mrs. Robinson was but eleven months old, and lo-
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cated on the home farm when she was about one and a half years old. Five children bless the union of our subject and wife: Leila, Charles, Frank and Thomas Floyd, born in Kansas; and Luther Orlando, born in Oklahoma. Politically, our subject is a strong supporter of the Demo- cratie party. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Guthrie. He is a man of pleasing personality and is very popular in his community.
W ILLIAM R. MEEK. The early ances- tors of William R. Meek figured conspic- uously in various lines of occupation, and fought bravely on the battlefield whenever duty called. The paternal great-grandfather, Amacy Spencer by name, was a hero of the Rev- olutionary war and served seven years under Washington. He was several times wounded and once, during the progress of a battle, had his neck grazed by a ball.
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