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 77
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J JESSE GREENE POLAND. Among the public-spirited citizens of Guthrie, Jesse Greene Poland ranks with the foremost, and is justly considered one of the founders of its prosperity. He has lent his means and influ- ence towards the support of worthy enterprises, and has ever advocated all improvements calcu- lated to permanently benefit the city and terri- tory.
The Poland family is of German descent; and at an early period in this country's history one branch was planted in Tennessee. The grand- father of our subject, Jacob Poland, was born in Owen county, Kv., and his last years were passed on his plantation in Boone county, same state. The birth of our subject's father, Jesse H .. occurred on a plantation situated on the Watauga river. Carter county. Tenn. He was a successful agriculturist and managed a large farm in Owen county, Ky., for many years. His death occurred when he was in his eighty-third vear, at his old homestead in Owen county. His wife, Miranda J., was a daughter of Greene Shelton, of South Carolina, and of English an- cestry. Her father served in the war of 1812, and his father was a soldier of the Revolution. his leader being General Greene. Greene Shel- ton. named in honor of the great officer, removed to Owen county. Ky., at an early day, and there passed the remainder of his life, which came to a close when he was in his seventy-sixth year. Mrs. Miranda J. Poland, now in the sixty-third year of her age, still resides in Boone county. Ky. All but one of her nine children are living. Jesse H. Poland had two sons and two daugh- ters by a former marriage, and two of the num- ber are deceased. The two sons were soldiers in the Confederate army. Jacob H. served under General Lee in Virginia, and died in Owen county. David L., who was a private in the Fourth Kentucky Cavalry, now lives in Owen county, Ky.
Jesse Greene Poland was born in Poplar Grove, Ky., May 17, 1851, and lived on a farm in that state until he was twenty-two years of age. After his marriage he engaged in farm- ing on his own plantation for several years, but the attractions of a commercial life finally led him to other enterprises. In 1876 he engaged
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in the drug business and for seven years he was the leading pharmacist of Poplar Grove. In 1884 he opened a drug store in Mulberry Grove, Crawford county, Kan's., and at the end of two years he sold out and went to Colorado. He entered land in what then was known as Las Animas county, and assisted materially in the founding and building up of the town of Boston. When the new county of Bacca was organized, and the fight between Boston and Springfield for being made the county-seat was decided in favor of the latter place, Mr. Poland soon disposed of his real-estate interests in that locality.
Coming to Oklahoma in November, 1889, our subject established a flour and feed business in Guthrie, and has successfully conducted the en- terprise ever since. In addition to this pursuit, he embarked in the grocery business in 1891, on the corner property adjoining his other store. Both of these ventures have prospered, nor do these alone represent the extent of his financial interests here, for he holds stock in the Guthrie Creamery Company, which concern he helped to organize, and he also owns valuable real estate in the city and vicinity. Some of the most de- sirable city residence property which belongs to him is located on Capitol Hill. his own home also being in that neighborhood.
As previously stated. Mr. Poland has pro- moted many enterprises which have been of un- told value to Guthrie. He was actively con- nected with the organization of the Fair Associa- tion and until recently was one of the board of directors. That in municipal affairs the man, rather than the party. is the chief need of a city, was shown when, in the spring of 1899. Mr. Poland, though a Democrat, was elected to the council by a good majority in a strong Re- publican ward. He has been chairman of the fire department committee and under his able management the local system has been greatly improved. He also has served as a member of committees having in charge the city water- works and parks. When he became a resident of Guthrie he was affiliated with the Baptist de- nomination. but since that time he has been one of the loval workers in the Methodist Epis- copal Church South. He aided in the building of the church edifice, has been superintendent of the Sunday-school, and at present is the stew- ard and treasurer of the official board, and is a triistee as well.
In 1873 Mr. Poland and Miss Dora Ennis were married in Poplar Grove, Ky. She is a daughter of William R. and Margaret (Green) Ennis, natives of the Blue Grass state. Her father was a prominent business man and farmer of Owen county, and during the Mexican war served this government in the commissary de-
partment. He has passed to the silent land and his widow is yet a resident of her native state. Three sons bless the union of our subject and wife, namely: Walter Byron, Wallace Jerome and Thomas Greene. Walter B. and Wallace J. are employed in their father's business and are enterprising young men. The former, who is a member of Governor Barnes' staff, with the rank of captain, made a trip to Paris, France, in 1898.
J JOHN ARTHUR RECK, M. D. For sev- eral years Dr. Reck has occupied an impor- tant place in his profession, and is steadily working his way upward to yet greater rank as a physician and surgeon. He is of German extraction, his grandfather, George Reck, hav- ing been born in the vicinity of Frankfort, and during the great war on the Continent he served as an officer on the staff of Napoleon. At an early period he settled in Cape Girardeau county, Mo., where he was numbered among the pio- neer settlers. His son, Frederick H., father of our subject, was born on the old homestead in Missouri, and when the Civil war came on he enlisted and served in the Union army, for he was a strong abolitionist in principle. He was a member of Company C. Second Missouri In- fantry, and gave long years of patriotic service to his beloved country. Afterwards he became connected with the Grand Army of the Republic. and for years he has also been a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church. He has resided for some time in Lutsville. Mo., and has sur- vived his wife, who died in February, 1899. She was Miss Adeline Whitledge in her girlhood, and was a native of Cape Girardeau county, Mo., in which section her father. Elza Whitledge. of North Carolina, was an early settler. He died there in 1893, at a very advanced age. His grandfather Whitledge was a hero of the Revo- lutionary war. The only brother of our subject, Edward, is the postmaster at Lutsville, Mo., and the only sister. Cora, is married and resides at Marble Hill, Mo.
The birth of Dr. John A. Reck took place near the town of Appleton, Mo .. April 6, 1867. He was reared upon a farm and supplemented his common-school education by a course of study in Mayfield Smith Academy, at Marble Hill, Mo. He then engaged in teaching in his own county for two years, after which he was graduated in the Pocahontas high school. He then resumed teaching. and at the end of three years was made principal of the schools of Appleton, in which capacity he served for two years. Later he was honored with the position of postmaster of Lutsville, and acted as such for one year. and in the meantime took up the study of medicine
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with his uncle. Dr. Sanders, of that town. Sub- sequently he entered the Marion-Sims College of Medicine, in St. Louis, and after being grad- uated there in 1893 he commenced practice at Lutsville. About two years rolled away, when he was appointed to the post of government physician to the Creek Indians, his headquar- ters being at Wetumka, I. T. He remained there for five years, at the expiration of which period he resigned his office and in June, 1899. came to Oklahoma City, where he established himself in private practice.
Dr. Reck served as a census enumerator in his native county in 1890, and while living there he also served as deputy assessor of that county for three years. He always has borne a repre- sentative part in the affairs of the communities in which he has dwelt, and has won the respect of all concerned. He belongs to the Alumni Association of Marion-Sims College of Medi- cine; was made an Odd Fellow in Lutsville, and was initiated into the Masonic order at Holden- ville, I. T. Politically, he has been a stanch Re- publican since becoming a voter, and religiously he is a Presbyterian.
In Marble Hill, Mo., the doctor married Mil- dred Anna, daughter of Rev. D. W. Graves, who was a native of Virginia, and has been a pastor in the Baptist Church. Mrs. Reck was born in Montgomery county, Mo., and was graduated in the Kansas City high school and the Con- servatory of Music of that place, after which she taught music very successfully until her mar- riage. To this union a little daughter. Helen Elizabeth, has been born, and her presence is like sunshine in her parents' pleasant home.
J. C. TALMADGE made no mistake when, a few years ago, he decided to cast in his lot with the people of Enid, with prophetic vis- ion seeing the great future awaiting the county- seat of the "banner agricultural county of Okla- homa," as it has been termed. Having made his decision, he proceeded, with characteristic en- ergy, to perform his full share towards the grand desideratum, and, as one of her founders and builders, richly deserves a prominent place in her roll of honor.
A son of Noah and Lavina (Forrest) Tal- madge, our subject represents two sterling old eastern families. His paternal grandfather was a manufacturer of wagons in New Jersey, and Noalı Talmadge is a native of that state. In his early manhood he learned the ship carpenter's trade, which calling he pursued at Hawley, Pa .. tintil 1853. when he removed to Illinois. There he located at Lockport, where his brother, Daniei Talmadge, owned a boat-yard. Some years later he went to Lacon, Marshall county, Ill., and car-
ried on a farm in the vicinity, also working as a builder. He now makes his home in the pretty village of Wyoming, Ill. His wife, who was a niece of the celebrated actor, Edwin Forrest. . was born in Hawley, Pa., and died several years ago in Illinois. Of their seven children, two died when young and only four survive.
J. C. Talmadge was born January 9, 1851, near Hawley, Pa., and was reared to maturity in Illinois. His elementary education was obtained in the public schools of Lacon and Peoria, and on the old homestead he became familiar with farming in all its departments. From 1878 to 1882 he was employed as a clerk at Hays City, Kans., and then went to Durango, Colo., where he was similarly occupied for nine months. Re- turning to his old home, he remained three months, after which he was numbered among the agriculturists of Anthony, Kans., for several years, also conducting a drug business in the town for a period. Disposing of his interests in that locality he next became a citizen of Coro- nado, Kans., and for two years was engaged in a banking business in the place. In April, 1891, he made the race from El Reno to Cloud Chief, Washita county, Okla., and while there served on the first board of county commissioners of that county. On the 16th of September, 1893, he came to Enid, and at once embarked in the transfer business. His twenty-one competitors in that line discontinued their calling, one by one, until he alone remained. Until 1899 he car- ried on a thriving business, handling the mail, express matter, and the bulk of the local trans- ferring trade. In 1896 he opened a livery stable, opposite the Hubbard House, and about a year afterward disposed of the same.
In the meantime Mr. Talmadge had com- menced building residences and business blocks on Broadway, Grand avenue and Monroe street. and by his means and influence has been a lead- ing factor in the improvement of Enid. He was one of the organizers of the Garfield County Fair Association, and now is one of its largest stock- holders and a member of the board of directors. He lias been greatly interested in fine horses, and has been the owner of two thoroughbreds. well known throughout the country, namely: Dick Clarkson, with a half-mile record of :483. and Practitioner, whose record, a mile in 1:41, is remarkable.
In Democratic political circles of Enid Mr. Talmadge is very popular. He was once ap- pointed to serve on the city council, and for one term served as a duly elected alderman, repre- senting the fourth ward. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow.
August 1. 1875. his marriage to Miss Nancy E. Clevinger took place in Illinois. She is a native of Circleville, Pickaway county, Ohio, is
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27 Thamer
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nell educated and a favorite in society, and holds her church membership with the Congregation- alists. Mr. and Mrs. Talmadge have three chil- dren, named, respectively, Roy, Leonora and Wayne.
L. F. KRAMER is a leading representative of the business interests of Oklahoma City, and his connection with various en- terprises and industries has been of decided ad- vantage to the locality, promoting its material welfare in no uncertain manner. Of excellent business ability and resources, he has attained a prominent place among the substantial citizens of the territory, and is a recognized leader in public affairs.
Mr. Kramer was born in Spencer county, Ind .. September 14, 1859, and is a son of Chris- tian Kramer, a native of Etzbach, Germany, who came to this country with his brothers at the age of thirteen years, and settled near Cin- cinnati, Ohio, but later removed to Spencer county, Ind., where he followed farming throughout the remainder of his life. He served a as county trustee for many years: was member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and was a Lutheran in religious belief. In early life he was a member of the Indiana State Militia, and participated in the Panther creek fight in Kentucky. His wife, who still survives him, and makes her home in Newtonville. Ind .. bore the maiden name of Eva Biedenkoppi, and is a native of Pennsylvania. Her father was one of the early settlers of Spencer county. Ind.
1 .. F. Kramer is the third in order of birth in a family of ten children, six sons and four daugh- tors, He remained on the home farm until twenty-one years of age, when he commenced learning the carpenter's trade. and worked as a journeyman for one year. after which he fo !- lowed photography for a time. He next went south. floating down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Lake Providence. La .. where he oh- tained a position as government foreman with the Mississippi River Improvement Company. at Wilson's Point. remaining there eighteen months. Captain Ilyder was then in charge of the work, and from him Mr. Kramer received the best of treatment. He made a great repu- tation as a boat-builder, and constructed the boats used in the regatta on Lake Providence.
On account of ill health. he was forced to leave, and returned to Indiana, where he en- gaged in the produce business. Most of his produce he sold in the south, running from three to five flatboats down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers each winter. He first made his head- quarters at No. 3 Front street. Cincinnati, and Later at Rockport, Ind. He became interested
in the building of a steamboat, but sold it before its completion. At the opening of Oklahoma he had six thousand bushels of potatoes at Rock- port ready to ship to St. Louis. The first six carloads that were shipped did not bring more than enough to pay the freight. The party with: whom he made a contract to take the remainder backed out, and he was left with three thousand bushels in cars. He then came to Oklahoma to try and sell them here, but the country seemed full of potatoes. He stopped first at Guthrie. but not being pleased with the place, he came to Oklahoma City, with which he was more favorably impressed, and decided to locate here. The date of his arrival here was April 27, 1889. He purchased lots 9 and 10, block 23, on Main street. between Broadway and Robinson street, for which he paid $400 each, and built thereon Hotel Weaver, the first hotel in the city. His first guests were ex-Governor Glick of Kansas, ex-Governor Crittenden, Marshall Jones, and Messrs. Freeman and Severes, two real-estate men. He held his potatoes for some time, and finally sold them at fifty cents per bushel. Re- turning home, he settled up his affairs, and then located permanently in Oklahoma City.
On the Ist of June, 1889, Mr. Kramer renter his hotel and embarked in the real-estate and insurance business, being the first insurance agent here, and the first to make a fire plat of the city. For two years. he continued in that business, and then assisted in organizing the State National Bank, with Messrs. Cook, Will, Riley. Rogers and Gideon, the last two of Texas. He is still a director of that bank. which is the oldest and strongest financial institution in the territory. He was the second candidate for mayor on the Democratic ticket, and was only defeated by thirteen votes, though he made no effort to be elected. Mr. Kramer represented Colonel Prince. of Quincy, Ill., and loaned for him about $80.000 on real estate in this terri- tory. In 1894. in partnership with Whit M. Grant and R. C. McCormick, he embarked in the grain business under the name of the Okla- homa Grain Company, which was incorporated. and of which he was president one year, when the firm dissolved. Mr. Kramer continued in the business, however, and built the elevator on First street, between Robinson and Broadway, on the Choctaw railroad, which has a capacity of one hundred thousand bushels. Later he sold a half-interest to Mr. Grant, and under the firm name of Kramer. Grant & Co., they built an dlevator on the Santa Fe railroad at Ponca City, which has a capacity of twenty-five thou- sand bushels: one on the Choctaw railroad at Calummet, which has a capacity of fifteen thou- sand bushels; and another at Weatherford, on the Choctaw, which has a capacity of eight thiou-
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sand bushels. In the fall of 1899 they began the erection of a flouring mill on First street, between Robinson and Broadway, which was completed in April, 1900, and is a modern plant, supplied with rollers and the latest improved machinery, the capacity being three hundred barrels.
For the past two years Mr. Kramer has also engaged in the coal, wood and feed business, at the corner of Robinson and First streets, and has built up a large wholesale trade in those lines. He has a large warehouse, 175x100 feet, and storage capacity for forty carloads of coa! and three hundred cords of wood. In 1897 he purchased twenty acres of land adjoining the city on the west, which he has converted into a fine driving park, known as the Kramer Race and Ball Park. On its half-mile track Gentry and Patchen made the world's half-mile pacing record, September 22, 1899, in 2:09 and 2:07, respect- ively; also a five and a half furlong world's run- ning race record, by Tartar, in 1:03. These have made the track one of the most famous in the world. The amphitheater will hold three thousand people, and there are about ninety stalls fitted up for caring for race horses. Be- sides his residence and business property in the city, Mr. Kramer formerly owned a fine farm! of eighty acres, two miles northwest of Okla- homa, on which is a good vineyard, a pleasant residence, all modern. improvements. This he sold in 1900 and removed to Oklahoma City.
On the 22nd of April, 1896, Mr. Kramer was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Simpson, a native of Texas, and a daughter of J. L. Simp- son, a prominent farmer and ranchman of Crutcho township, Oklahoma county. Their first child, Louis, died at the age of six months. A younger son, Victor Jennings, was born June I, 1900. Since the spring of 1900 they have made their home at No. 224 Sixth street, where they have a beautiful and attractive residence.
In religious belief Mr. Kramer is a Lutheran, and in his social relations is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. He was one of the organizers of the Democratic party in the territory: was a member of every city, county and territorial convention until 1897. and has been chairman of the county central committee. He is a stanch advocate of free silver, and a great admirer of William J. Bryan. He was a member of the reception committee that received that gentleman in Oklahoma City before his nomi- nation for president. Mr. Kramer made ar- rangements to have the speech of Mr. Bryan taken down, but the stenographer disappointed him. He then went to Guthrie and got Mr. Bryan to repeat a part of it on the way, and the remainder on his trip to Texas. Our subject then had it published in the Sunday Record. together
with his own criticism on Carlisle's speeches in Kentucky and Tennessee and at his own expense had over five thousand extra copies issued and distributed all over the territory. He has ever . labored untiringly for the interests of his party, and done all in his power to insure its success. He has visited the mountains of the west, and has traveled quite extensively all over the United States, and is thoroughly informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day, as well as all topics of general interest. As a citizen he meets every requirement and manifests a commendable in- terest in everything calculated to advance the moral, social or material welfare of his conimu- nity.
N TEWTON J. MYERS, a veteran of the Civil war, is one of the leading agriculturists of Canadian county, and resides on the south- west quarter of section 23, township 13, range 7 west. He has four hundred and eighty acres on section 23, one hundred and sixty acres on the northeast quarter of section 26, and eighty acres in the southeast quarter of section 27. His postoffice is El Reno.
Mr. Myers was born in Ross county, Ohio, June 19, 1839. and is a son of Henry and Nancy (Mathew) Myers. He was reared on a farm in Ross county until his seventeenthi year, when he went to Lawrence, Kans. He received but a common-school education, as his father died when he was seven years old. In Lawrence he worked as a laborer until the breaking out of the Civil war. when he enlisted in Company A. Third Kansas Volunteers. In 1857 he had taken a part in the struggle in Kansas, helping to leve! thebarricades in Massachusetts street, Lawrence. and, going with Lane and three hundred other men to Lecompton, where they stopped the ses- sion of the pro-slavery legislature. He was mus- tered into service at Mound City. Kans .. under Capt. John A. Foreman, and eight months after organization they applied for pay, but the gov- ernment refused on the ground that they were not properly mustered into the service.
Detailed as a recruiting agent at Troy, Kans .. he remained there until April, 1862, when he was ordered to join the regiment at Camp De- fiance, near Mound City, that state, but before he reached them the regiment moved to Paola. where he joined them, becoming sergeant and color-bearer. During the spring of 1862 they were properly mustered into service and were merged with the Fourth Kansas Infantry, known as the "Democrat" Fourth. The new regiment became the Tenth, known as the "Moral" Tenth. They were ordered on duty at Humboldt, Kans., to relieve the Cherokee In- dians, and had a skirmish at Locust Grove, where
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they captired Colonel Clarkson and his com- mand, taking them by surprise while at break- fast. Moving on to Tahlequah, they captured ( hief Ross and several trunks of gold. Later they were ordered to Kansas, but before reach- ing that state they were detailed to relieve the attack on Lone Jack, Mo. They had a running figlit of ten days, the rebels retreating south. They next fell back to Fort Scott, Kans., where an attack was expected. While at a meeting, the enemy were sighted and the regiment was or- dlered out to drive them away, but they unex- pectedly encountered a force of seven thousand rebels under General Raines. As there were large government supplies at Fort Scott, they removed them to Leavenworth. They next went to Osceola and captured the town and Confed- erate supplies, taking $75.000 in gold. Moving to West Point, while there they marched against the Confederates at Jonestown, driving then out, but in so doing lost the colonel of the Fifthi Kansas Regiment. Next they were ordered to Lexington, Mo., to reinforce Mulligan, but be- fore getting there they heard of his surrender, and set about fortifying Kansas City. When Price moved south, they followed him and were concentrated with the forces of Generals Siegel. Fremont and Lane. The Kansas men were anxious for a fight, and got permission to go foraging, but as they started with too large a force they were ordered back. They went into winter quarters at Mound City, Kans., and made an expedition to Pattenville. Bates county, Mo., where they burned supplies, mills, etc., on ac- count of the murder of two of the soldiers, at home on furlough. Among the various soldiers whom they captured was Lieutenant Cole, whom our subject had paroled.
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