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 74
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In the spring of 1899 Mr. Dunn was nomina- ted on the Democratic ticket as alderman from the second ward, and his great popularity was evidenced by the vote of two to one which elected him in a Republican ward. He is chair- man of the public improvements committee, and a member of the committees on ways and means, ordinances, and public buildings. In 1892 he became a member of the territorial Democratic central committee, of which he was secretary until 1894, and served as chairman for two years, when he resigned. He was also a member of the congressional committee of Oklahoma from 1894 to 1896. In 1892 he was elected delegate to the national Democratic convention. but did not attend. He was appointed a delegate to the Anti-Trust Conference in Chicago February 12, 1900.
At Bethany, Mo., Mr. Duinn was united in marriage with Kate Heaston, who was born there and is a daugliter of Col. D. J. Heaston. The latter was born in Indiana and was a colonel in a Missouri regiment during the Civil war. He
served in the state senate and legislature of Mis- souri. One son blessed this union, namely : Truman. Fraternally our subject is a member of the Knights of Pythias, Benevolent Protec- tive Order of Elks, and Modern Woodmen of America. In religion Mrs. Dunn is a member of the Christian Church.
T HOMAS N. FARRIS is a well-known far- mer of Canadian county, residing on the southwest quarter of section 13, township 13, range 7 west, his postoffice being El Reno. Mr. Farris was born in Gasconade county, Mo., March 15, 1841, and is a son of A. D. and Saralı N. (Fletcher) Farris. When he was two years of age his father, who is still living at the age of eighty-six years, moved to Schuyler county, Mo. There he grew to manhood on a farm and re- ceived a fair education in the common schools.
At the age of twenty years, in 1861, Mr. Farris enlisted in Company K, Twenty-first Missouri Infantry, and was under the command of Gen. A. J. Smith, also serving under General Grant. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth and Tupelo, Miss., and in several engagements in Louisiana. Near Memphis, while being trans- ported, he had his ankle and foot crushed be- tween the bumpers. He was laid up but a short time before he begged to return to his company; however, he was unfit for duty for over two months. In 1865 he was mustered out and re- turned to his home in Schuyler county, Mo. Soon afterward he went to Macon, Mo .. and engaged in the grocery and dry-goods business, continuing there for five years. While in Macon he married Miss Minerva Bristor, who was born in Steubenville, Ohio, and is a daughter of H. M. and Minerva (Ruple) Bristor. She received an excellent education, and is a graduate of a ladies' seminary.
From Macon, Mo., Mr. Farris went to Elk county, Kans., where he took up and improved a claim, but this he subsequently sold and pur- chased other land, meeting with success in his enterprises. In 1889 he came to Oklahoma and settled where he now lives, purchasing the land from the first settler and homesteading it. The place is well improved and has a heavy yield of crops.
Mr. and Mrs. Farris are parents of five chil- dren: Etta B. received a good education and is a teacher; Herbert N., who has also been a teacher, and now lives in Altona, Kingfisher county, married Sarah Keown, and they have a (laughter, Fern; Henry F., who married Alice Olmstead, lives on a claim of his sister in Cana- dian county: Homer D. and Howard B. are at home. Mr. Farris is a Republican, and voted for Lincoln in 1864. In 1894 he was the Repub-
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lican nominee for county clerk, but was defeated by thirty votes. He and his family are members of the Christian Church. Fraternally he joined the Masonic order in Macon City, Mo., and is a charter member of El Reno Post. G. A. R., in which he is past commander and adjutant.
C HARLES F. COLCORD. Prominent among the business men of Oklahoma City is this gentleman, who for almost a quarter of a century has been identified with the inter- ests of the territory, while his name is insep- arably connected with its political history. He is a man of keen discrimination and sound judg- ment, and his executive ability and excellent management have brought to the enterprises with which he has been connected a high degree of success.
Mr. Colcord was born August 18, 1859, on Cane Ridge, Bourbon county; Ky., in the vicin- ity of the Cane Ridge meeting house, celebrated in connection with Alexander Campbell, the founder of the Christian Church. His father, W. R. Colcord, was born in the same house, and was a son of Charles B. Colcord, a native of Mas- sachusetts and an early settler of Kentucky. Our subject now owns the homestead of his uncle, F. P. Colcord, which is located two and a half miles from Paris, Ky., on the Lexington and Maysville pike.
In early life the father of our subject engaged in farming in Kentucky. He served as a major in the Confederate army during the Civil war, and was a member of Gen. Kirby Smith's staff. After the war he removed to Louisiana, and owned the first sugar plantation above New Or- leans. In 1869 he sold his property there and removed to Corpus Christi, Nueces county, Tex .. where he operated a ranch until 1876. His next location was Comanche county, Kans., which was headquarters for the cattle company with which he was connected, it being known as the "Jug outfit," on account of having a jug as a brand. In 1877 he assisted in organizing the Comanche Pool, composed of twelve large cattle companies. For some time he made his home in Wichita, but in 1880 came to this territory and took a claim one-half mile west of Oklahoma City, where he now resides.
The marriage of W. R. Colcord united him with Maria E. Clay, also a native of Bourbon county, Ky., and a daughter of Green Clay, who was born in the same state. The Clay family was founded in this country by three brothers. uatives of England, who settled in Virginia, and from one of these Henry Clay was also de- scended. Our subject's great-grandfather, Sam- ttel Clay, who served with distinction as an officer in the Revolutionary and Indian wars, re-
moved from Virginia to Kentucky at a very early day, and became the owner of the largest tract of land in Bourbon county, some of which is still in possession of his family. Our subject is the oldest of the four children born to W. R. and Maria E. (Clay) Colcord, the others being William and Harvey, both ranchmen of Gila county, Ariz .; and Mrs. Maria L. Griffith, of Denver, Colo.
In 1866 Charles F. Colcord removed with the family to Louisiana, and three years later to Texas, where he grew to manhood on his father's ranch, being practically reared on a bronco. In May, 1876, he came to what is now Oklahoma (then public domain) and located one hundred and fifty miles northwest of Oklahoma City, having his camp as a cattleman at a large spring at the head of Salt Plains, on the Cimar- ron river. Colcord Spring was named in his honor. He was then manager of the Jug outfit. Mr. Colcord's first permanent camp in Comanche county was just across the line from Kansas, and he had charge of about thirty-five hundred head of cattle. In 1877 he assisted in organizing the Comanche Pool, which owned between fifty- eight and sixty thousand head of cattle.
Mr. Colcord and his father owned a ranch in Kingman county, Kans., where they kept over three hundred thoroughbred Shorthorn cows and some fine bulls brought from Kentucky. They also had a herd of Polled-Angus cattle upon their ranch, and were among the first cat- tlemen in what is now Oklahoma. After the Comanche Pool was disbanded, in 1885, our subject went to Flagstaff, Ariz., where he was general manager of the Arizona Land & Cattle Company for three years. In 1888 he located on his own ranch in Barber county, Kans., which he had owned for several years, and which con- sisted of twelve thousand acres.
On disposing of his cattle business in 1889, Mr. Colcord came to Oklahoma City, and by Mayor Beal was appointed the first chief of po- lice, which proved a very trying position the first two years. He was appointed deputy United States marshal by R. T. Walker, then United States marshal here, and in the fall of 1890 was the Democratic candidate for sheriff of Oklahoma county. Although there were thir- teen candidates against him, he was nominated on the first ballot, and the nomination was then made unanimous. As the Democratic candidate he ran against C. H. Ford, Republican, and George Thornton, independent, and was elected by a good vote. Hle assumed the duties of the office in January, 1891, and served until January, 1893. At the next election the Republicans planned his overthrow by pasting the Populist candidate's name on their ticket: however. he lacked only one hundred and forty-one votes of
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securing a victory. In 1893 he took the govern- ment cont act to guard and feed the prisoners in the United States jail, and kept it for nearly four years, under United States Marshals Grimes, Nix and Nogle.
In the meantime, when the new strip of ter- ritory was opened for settlement, in September, 1893, he located near Perry, where he established what was known as the Kentucky stock farm, and turned his attention to raising standard- bred horses and Shorthorn cattle, having about one thousand acres in his ranch. While residing there he served as deputy United States marshal in charge of the fourth district at the head of fifteen men. In June, 1899, he returned to Okla- homa City, and has since engaged in the real- estate business. He built the Colcord block, 50x 100 feet, on Broadway. also owns three other business blocks on Main street, and several resi- dences in the city, and is interested in the State National Bank, of which he is a director. In January, 1900, the firm of Colcord, Galbreth & Shelley was formed, and they are now doing a large real-estate, loan and insurance business. with office in the postoffice block.
In Hutchinson, Kans., Mr. Colcord was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Scoresby. a native of Ellenville, Ulster county. N. Y., and a daugh- ter of Rev. T. S. Scoresby, an Episcopal minis- ter, who died in Hutchinson, Kans., in 1899. By this union have been born six children, namely: Ray, Charles F., Jr., Marguerite, Caroline, Sid- ney and Hattie.
Fraternally, Mr. Colcord is a member of Okla- homa Lodge No. 3. A. F. & A. M .: Cyrus Chap- ter No. 7, R. A. M .: Oklahoma Commandery No. 2, K. T .: and India Temple. A. A. O. N. M. S., thirty-second degree Scottish Rite. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. Always affiliated with the Democratic party, he is deeply interested in public affairs and the good of the community where he resides. He is genial. courteous, enterprising and progressive, and of commendable public spirit.
L OUIS A. FAUBION. It appears to have been the lot of a great proportion of the sons of America that they should win suc- cess by the hardest effort, and, step by step. advance to a position of affluence and honor. How many have and are gallantly fighting for education and a livelihood. conquering each dif- ficulty and earnestly hoping to reach the goal set before them! The life history of Louis A. Fau- bion possesses numerous points of similarity with the great masses of his brother-men, for whom he maintains a sincere sympathy and kind- liness.
Both of the grandfathers of our subject were
pioneers of Indiana, and both crossed the plains and sought fortunes in California, taking six months or thereabouts in making the journey now made in less days. They were known as "forty-niners," and shared the hardships which led to the opening up of the Pacific coast and the great western states. The paternal grand- father was of French descent, and, like many of his ancestral people, he possessed the spirit of adventure and enterprise which have been instru- mental in the civilization of this great republic. At an early day he removed from Indiana to Winchester, Jefferson county, Kans., where he carried on a farm until his death. Washington Bridges, the maternal grandfather of our sub- ject, also was one of the Indianaians who as- sisted in the upbuilding of the west, and for years he lived upon a farm in Missouri.
The parents of L. A. Faubion were Noah and Sarah (Bridges) Faubion, natives of Tennessee and Missouri, respectively. The former departed this life thirty years ago, when he was forty years of age, but his widow is yet living, and makes her home in Topeka, Kans. In his young man- hood he went to Clay county, Mo., where he married and commenced his domestic life on a farm. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Confederate army and served under the leader- ship of General Price. Later he settled in the neighborhood of Winchester, Kans., where he became an extensive land-owner, and subse- quently he was at the head of a milling and lum- ber business at Neosho. Kans., also operating a farm in that vicinity.
Born October 12, 1866, Mr. L. A. Faubion is one of seven children, three of whom are de- ceased, namely: Maggie, Lizzie and Frank. His sisters, Mary Eliza and Agnes, live in Topeka. Kans., while Ella is in California. For some time our subject lived at his birthplace, ten miles north of Kansas City, in Clay county, Mo., and was but four years old when death deprived him of a father's love and care. He lived at Neosho and Olathe, and bad limited school advantages, as at thirteen he commenced running as a news- boy on the Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad, and only at intervals thereafter attended school. He pursued his studies for a brief period at Plum Grove, Kans., and at sixteen years embarked in the mercantile business at Circleville, same state, devoting three years to that enterprise. Going to Topeka. he then entered the street railway service, and continued with the corpora- tion as a conductor after the old horse-car sys- tem had been changed to the modern electric regime. Indeed. he was one of the first con- ductors employed on United States electric lines, and it was not until 1893 that he came to Okla- homa to make a change in his vocation.
For about three years Mr. Faubion was en-
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gaged in ger eral farming upon the quarter sec- son of land which he owns in section 6, township !". range 7 west, Garfield county, and to this property he subsequently added an adjoining quarter section, thus increasing the dimensions oi the place to three hundred and twenty acres. Ilie farm is especially desirable owing to the fact that Clear creek furnishes an abundance of run- ming water. The land is fertile and well-im- proved, and is considered one of the choicest pieces of property in this county. In 1896 Mr. Faubion opened a meat market and feed store in Enid, on the northeast corner of the square, and since that time has added a stock of gro- ceries. He occupies two stores at the corner of Grand avenue and Monroe, and owns a slaugh- ter-house, situated about a mile and a half from the city.
Mr. Faubion has a pleasant home and family. llis marriage to Miss Sarah Washington, a na- tive of Jackson county, Kans., took place in Topeka, Kans., March 16, 1893. They are the parents of two children. namely: Beryl and Mu- riel. Fraternally Mr. Faubion is a member of the Odd Fellows order and belongs to the En- campiment. In political matters he uses his franchise in favor of Democratic nominees and principles.
F RANK J. FEGER. Few of our foreign- born citizens are better entitled to an lion- ored place beneath the stars and stripes than Frank J. Feger, who devoted four years of his early manhood to the defense of the Union. and on scores of battle-fields proved his love for the land of his adoption. His history is unusually interesting. and his hosts of friends in Garfield county and elsewhere will heartily endorse this little tribute to his worth and ability.
The cares and serious troubles of life fell upon our subject when he was at a tender age. but. with rare devotion and heroism, he proved him- tlf equal to fortune's vicissitudes. He comes of a sturdy race, whose motto might well have heen "Conquer or Die." for he and his fore- fathers were ever ready to offer their lives on the altar of their principles. His paternal grand- Ather. Lawrence Feger, fought under the lead- ership of the great Napoleon. and went on the ling and disastrous march to Moscow. He was the owner of large estates in the vicinity of Karlsruhe. Baden, Germany, and there his son. Peter J. father of our subject, and the latter also were born. Peter I. Feger was a man of prominence in his community, and for many :are represented his people in the German Reichstag, holding an office equivalent to that "& a member of congress of the United States. Indeed. he was yet occupying that honorable
position at the time of his death, when he was seventy-five years old. He owed his long life to his son, Frank J., for, when the Revolution of 1848 was in progress, he joined the party of patriots who were endeavoring to throw off what they deemed to be an oppressive yoke, and when the government gained the mastery Mr. Feger was arrested and sentenced to be shot. His little son Frank, then a lad of about ten years, circu- lated a petition and worked so hard and earn- estly on behalf of his unfortunate father that he finally secured his release, though his property was confiscated. The father, though thus han- dicapped in life's race, bravely took up his bur- dens again, and by intrinsic ability, rose, as pre- viously stated, to a position of honor in his community: nor was he without influence in the councils of his country. His wife, whose maiden name was Francisco Cipher, was a daughter of Lawrence Cipher, a farmer near Karlsruhe, Ba- den. She lived to the advanced age of eighty- nine. her death occurring in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Two of her six children are deceased, and our subject is the only son.
The birth of Frank J. Feger took place March 15, 1839, in Karlsruhe. Germany, and, strange to relate, the feeling and party strife which was so prevalent in Baden about the time of the Revo- lution ran so high that the lad was under great censure by many of the people because he had secured his father's pardon. He was a youth of spirit. it is needless to say, and when he was only thirteen years old he determined to cast in his lot with the great republic across the sea, where the right of men to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" is unquestioned. Leaving Havre for New Orleans, La., in 1852, in a sailing ves- sel. "The Statesman." he reached his destination after a voyage of eighty-two days. Then he proceeded up the "Father of Waters" to Ste. Genevieve. Mo., and for four years worked in- dustriously on farms, in the meantime attending school during the winter terms. In 1856 he went to St. Louis, and, having learned the trade of a blacksmith. followed his calling in different states for a few years.
September 1. 1861. Mr. Feger. then only twenty-two years of age. volunteered in Com- pany G. Ninth Missouri Infantry, and was mus- tered into the service as a private at St. Louis Arsenal. Sent into the Iron Mountain region in Missouri. he was under the leadership of General Grant, then colonel of the Twenty-first Illinois. In 1863 the remnant of his regiment was placed in other organizations, and Mr. Feger and many of his comrades were transferred into Company G. Fifty-ninth Ilinois Infantry. The limits of this sketch will not permit a detailed account of the almost innumerable engagements and im- portant campaigns in which the young man took
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part, bu' the mere mention of some of them will carry a thrill of reminiscence to the minds of many of the veterans of the war. One of his first experiences as a soldier was at the skirmish of Boonville, Mo., and then followed those of Ot- terville and Springfield, Mo .; Pea Ridge, Cape Girardeau, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Iuka, Holly Springs, Florence (Ala.), Lawrenceburg, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Louisville, Perryville, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Dallas, Re- saca, Hoover's Gap, Tullahoma, Lost Mountain, Big Shanty, Pine Knob, Peach Tree Creek, Buz- zards' Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, the siege of Atlanta and Jonesboro, Franklin and Nashville. At Lookout Mountain, in the "battle above the clouds," Mr. Feger was the young man who enthusiastically started the famous song, "Rally Round the Flag, Boys," and the inspiring strains were taken up by the entire Union army, from Lookout Mountain to Orchard Knob. During the singing, which the forces can never forget, Mr. Feger received a flesh wound in the neck, and, though temporarily disabled, the part whichi he had played that day undoubtedly was instru- mental in the achievement of victory and peace. His long four years of active service was termi- nated in September. 1865,' when he was mus- tered out at Nashville, Tenn. He had been commissioned lieutenant of his company by Gov- ernor Yates, but did not serve as such, being in the ranks throughout the war.
When his country no longer needed him Mr. Feger went to St. Joseph, Mo., and engaged in merchandising there until 1867, when he settled upon a farm in Center township, near Marys- ville, Marshall county, Kans. For over a quar- ter of a century he was an industrious, respected agriculturist of that community, for fifteen years serving on the local school board and for a pe- riod acting as its president, and also being a justice of the peace for four years. Since Octo- ber, 1893, he has been a resident of Garfield county, Okla., and for five years he conducted a farm situated twenty-two miles east of Enid, the county-seat. He made valuable improve- ments and developed his land into a model farm. A favorable opportunity presenting itself. he sold the homestead December 17, 1898, and re- moved to Enid, where he has since resided. Here he bought the business of William Nick, one of the pioneer merchants of the city, and is carrying on a good trade. He is a dealer in agricultural implements and machinery, repre- senting well known firms of Milwaukee, Wis .. and other cities, and having a full line of Buck- eye mowing machines and binders, Schuttler wagons and Bradley's implements. He belongs to the Kansas City Implement Dealers' Associ- ation and is rapidly extending his business in this locality.
In 1866, in New York City, the marriage of Mr. Feger and Miss Emma Seeler, a native of Saxony, Germany, was solemnized. They have the following named children now living: Louis, who is employed by the Buckeye Machinery Company, and makes his home in Enid; Mrs. Mary Barrett, of Perry, Okla .; Otto, who is the local agent for a Milwaukee business house, his home also being in this city; Charles, a farmer of Otto township, Garfield county; Frank J., Jr., who is in business with his father; and Emma, who is at home.
Politically Mr. Feger is a Democrat, and for two years he served as deputy sheriff under James Bishop. He is a member of Blue Lodge No. 19, A. F. & A. M., at Enid, the Odd Fellows order, Ancient Order of United Workmen, Woodmen of America, and Improved Order of Red Men.
S. S. DANIELS is entitled to the distinction of being the largest, oldest and first furni- ture dealer on the scene at Enid. His suc- cess has been uninterrupted from the time when, at the opening of the strip in 1893, he brought a wagon-load of furniture into the town and be- gan operations from the circumscribed limita- tions of a tent. In 1895 he broadened his busi- ness by engaging in the work of undertaking, and at the present time his combined enterprises are carried on at the store on Independence ave- nue, the undertaking department being located on the second floor. Formerly the business was conducted on Broadway. As an aid to the per- fection of his undertaking knowledge Mr. Dan- iels studied the art of embalming, and graduated in the same. He receives the patronage of the majority in Enid, and has by far the largest es- tablishment of its kind and the most correct ap- pointments
The Daniels family is of French descent. The paternal grandfather, William, was born in Vir- ginia, where he continued to be a farmer during the years of his usefulness. His son, Madison. the father of S. S., was born near Beverly. W. Va., and is at the present time living on the farm adjacent to that owned by his father, upon which he settled when a young man. He is ninety-three years oldl. His wife, Ellen (Skidmore) Daniels, came from Hardy county, W. Va., and was a daughter of Andrew Skidmore, a farmer of that section. Mrs. Daniels died when her son S. S. was twelve years old. She was the mother of nine children, all of whom are living, S. S. being the second youngest and the only one in Okla- homa. Ile was born January 5, 1855, and was reared on his father's farm, and entered into the pleasures and duties that fall to the lot of the average country-bred boy, at the same time
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