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 79
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modious modern residence, but later disposed of it at a good price.
Fraternally Mr. Unger is past commander of Irwin McDowell Post No. 19, G. A. R., of Enid, and is identified with the Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In his po- litical creed he is a stanch Republican. .
In Burlington, Iowa, Mr. Unger married Mary E. Endicott, who was born in Monmouth, Ill., and died in Burlington, leaving one daughter, Cora, now the wife of W. R. McKee, and mother of a little son. James R. Mr. McKee is a na- tive of Burlington, a son of R. W. and Sarali J. McKee. He has lived in this territory since it was opened, with the exception of a short pe- riod spent in Illinois, in 1890-91. In the sum- mer of 1892 he embarked in the flour and feed business at Hennessey, and since September 16, 1893, has been engaged in the same line of busi- ness at Enid. Here he has also dealt extensively in grain, and is at present the principal owner of the electric light plant.
F RED EHLER. The representative place which Hennessey has taken among the prominent cities of Oklahoma for several years past must be attributed to the enterprise and progressive spirit of her business men, a leader of whom is the subject of this article. During the nine years of his residence here he has been a power in the upbuilding of the city, and is looked up to and consulted in all affairs of local importance.
Of German extraction, Mr. Ehler is a son of Harmon and Catherine (Schrell) Ehler. The father was born and reared in Baden, Germany, and came to the United States in his early man- hood. Settling in West Alexandria, Preble county, Ohio, he pursued one line of business- that of a merchant tailor-in that place for forty- four years. He commanded the esteem of all who knew him, and when he was called to his reward the entire community deeply mourned his loss. He passed into the silent land in No- vember, 1899, when he was in his sixty-eighth year. His wife, who was born in Preble county. Ohio, is still living at their old home. Both have been members of the Lutheran denomina- tion, and their lives have been exemplary in every respect. Mrs. Ehler's father, George Schrell, a native of Baden, Germany, was one of the pioneers of Preble county. Ohio, where he attained the ripe age of seventy-five years. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ehler two reside in Dayton, Ohio, namely: George, who is engaged in the manufacture of cigars: and Mrs. Mary Emerick Harrison still dwells in West Alexandria, Ohio, and Joseph and Mrs. Sarahı Herget are citizens of Hennessey. The
former came to this locality as early as 1887, and now is in business with our subject.
The birth of Fred Ehler took place in West Alexandria, Ohio, December 23, 1863, and in the excellent grammar and high school of that town he obtained a liberal education, supple- menting his knowledge by a thorough scientific course in the Ohio state university, at Colum- bia. In 1885 he was graduated in that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Science, and then took up the study of pharmacy. Returning to his native town he engaged in clerking in a drug-store until 1886, when he went to Ander- son, Ind., and for three years was similarly em- ployed there.
Eleven years ago Mr. Ehler came to the west, and for a couple of years made his home in Kingman, Kans. There he officiated as teller of the Kingman National Bank, but resigned that position nine years ago, in order to become a citizen of Hennessey. Here he embarked in a general merchandise business, and soon built up a trade which fully equaled his sanguine hopes. At first his store was 25x60 feet in dimensions, but, this being inadequate, he built a substantial building (the first brick store in Hennessey). 25x100 feet, and two stories in height. At length this building also was outgrown, and in January, 1899, Mr. Ehler purchased the block on Main street which he now occupies. Converting the two stories into one, 75x100 feet, he thus boasts the largest floor space of any dry goods estab- lishment in this territory. It became advisable to change the business into a department store. and, with the exception of heavy hardware and implements. about everything imaginable can be purchased here. The Ehler Dry Goods Com- pany is known far and wide, and the name is a synonym of enterprise and square dealing. Vis- itors from eastern cities never fail to express surprise at the magnitude and system of this con- cern, and give the proprietor great credit for what he has accomplished.
In local politics Mr. Ehler has been promi- nent in the Democratic party, and for some time has been connected with the county and city central committees of that body. For two terms he served in the city council.of Hennessey, and was chairman of the committee on improve- ments. At the time of the building of the city high school, of which we are justly proud. Mr. Ehler was the treasurer of the board of educa- tion and handled the funds with marked wisdom and foresight. In 1894 he aided in organizing the Kingfisher County Fair Association, and has since acted as its secretary. A tract of forty acres, adjoining this city, is devoted to fair- grounds, and each year an excellent fair is hekl here. The buildings, sheds, and general accom- modations for exhibits, as well as an exception-
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ally fine half-mile race track, speak well for the enterprise of the officials, of whom Mr. Ehler is one of the most actively interested. This fair association, with six others, comprise what is known as the Oklahoma Racing & Fair Circuit, which in 1900 had nearly thirty thousand dollars in stakes and purses. Mr. Ehler was made a Mason in Coronado Lodge No. 9, A. F. & A. M., and is the present master of that honorable body. He also is affiliated with the Wichita (Kans.) Consistory. In religion he is a Lutheran, ad- hering to the faith of his ancestors.
W ILLIAM D. FOSSETT, chief office dep- uty United States marshal at Guthrie, is a typical frontiersman of the best class, fearless and cnergetic, ambitious and prompt to act, ready for any emergency, cool and suffi- ciently conservative -- in a word, just the kind of citizen needed in a newly opened locality, and especially valuable on account of his ster- ling integrity and patriotism.
It will be no surprise to those who know him well to learn that W. D. Fossett comes from the sturdy old Scotch-Irish stock which has fur- nished America with a multitude of its best and most enterprising citizens. His father. John Fossett, was born in Dublin, Ireland, thotig !: his parents were from Scotland. In early man- hood, John Fossett married, in Glasgow, Scot- land, Miss Susan Corrigan, a native of that city. The young couple soon removed to this country, and took up their residence near Watertown. N. Y., on a farm. Thence they later went to Wisconsin, and in 1862 the father located in Minnesota. His death occurred in Caldwell. Kans., when he was in his seventy-ninth year. The wife and mother died in the Empire state when in her sixty-ninth year. In religious faith she was a Catholic, while Mr. Fossett was a Presbyterian. Seven of their nine children arc living. John and Isaac H. served during the Civil war in the First Minnesota Cavalry, and both received honorable wounds while fighting for the Union.
William D. Fossett was born November 3, 1852, on a farm near Watertown, N. Y., and when he was four years old accompanied the family to Oshkosh, Wis., and in 1862 went with them to Minnesota. He was reared as a farmer's boy, and received a common-school education. In 1872 he went to Kansas, and engaged in the cattle business on the Smoky river, near Solo- inon City. Ile had some experience about this time as a marshal in Texas, and upon returning to Kansas became one of the first marshals of Caldwell. For several years he dealt extensively in live stock, often going to Monterey, Mexico. and driving as many as five hundred horses,
sometimes, to Emporia, Kans., where he shipped the animals to Michigan and other eastern points. The life of a drover in those days on the plains, among outlaws and desperadoes, who cared nothing for the laws of God or man, was one replete with danger, and many a narrow es- cape did Mr. Fossett havc. His natural cour- age and presence of mind alone saved him on more than one occasion, and he has many thrill- ing accounts of hair-breadth escapes. As a marshal he was particularly set apart for death, and though his life was frequently threatened. and more than once he was a target for the as- sassin and several of his deputies were killed, he seemed to lead a charmed life. While he was the marshal at Caldwell he had a lively encounter with seven outlaws who attempted to rob the bank. He continued to hold the position for seven years, at the end of which time he re- signed. While on a trip to Monterey, Mexico, to buy horses, his party of seven was ambushed by Mexican bandits, who killed and plundered the bodies of five of the party.
In '1882 Mr. Fossett located upon a ranch on Chikaskia Run, in Kingman county, Kans., and there he engaged in raising cattle. Later he took contracts for building sections of the Missouri Pacific, the Denver Midland, and the Bald Knob & Memphis Railroads, and in each of these enterprises was thoroughly successful. He then became interested in the construction of a levee along the Mississippi river, but, in common with many other contractors at that time, lost heavily, owing to the bad weather and high water that winter. In April, 1889, he located a farm on the present site of Kingfisher, Okla., and, as thousands of persons selected lots on this same property, the first decision of the local office was against him, but, appealing the case, he received a favorable verdict, and finally was sustained by the secretary of the interior. False affidavits, however, were filed, and the whole matter, from the beginning, had to be reviewed. It was not until the close of three years of lawsuits that Mr. Fossett received his patent to forty acres, which was proved up under the town-site act, and for which he paid ten dollars an acre. IIc retains the greater por- tion of this property, though he has disposed of some building sites to good advantage. His suit, which gained widespread attention, was the first contested case in the territory. In 1888 he was in the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company, as special agent in the claim department.
In political faith Mr. Fossett is a stalwart Re- publican. He was appointed chief office deputy marshal at Guthrie by Mr. Thompson, Novem- ber 6, 1867, and is still serving in this capacity. lle is a Knight of Pythias, and in social circles is
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as popular as he is withi railroad men and the most progressive of the pioneers of the great west.
In April, 1885, Mr. Fossett married, in Mc- Pherson county, Kans., Miss Laura Kelso, who was born in London, Iowa, where her father, John Kelso, was engaged in farming. Her mother, Esther, daughter of William Denney, was a native of the Buckeye state, and the father, whose birthplace was in England, died in Iowa. Of the five sons and one daughter born to John and Esther Kelso, all but Samuel, a citizen of Iowa, have taken up their abode in this territory, and are prospering. William is living at Guthrie, Robert at Watonga, John at Crescent, and David at Marshall. Mrs. Fos- sett was reared in Newton, Kans,, and is a mem- ber of the Baptist Church.
J AMES H. FRY. The advent of the subject of this sketch into Oklahoma was made on the engine of the first train that came into Mulhall from Kansas City. Alighting on the pres- ent site of the town, he selected a permanent lo- cationembracing the southwest quarter of section 14, township 19, range 3 west, Logan county. In order to secure his claim he stood in line two days and nights, so great was the demand for claims in the newly opened territory. Soon after securing his land he returned to Indiana and brought back his family. They made themselves as comfortable in the dugout as possible, willing to endure discomforts for the sake of the better time to come. They are now reaping the fruits of their labors, on the same claim, in a well- appointed, modern home, and enjoying the re- spect of all acquaintances.
The Fry family were well known in the old Virginia days as patriots and pioneers. The progenitors of the subject of our sketch settied at an early day in the Shenandoah valley, and there our subject was born May 9. 1829, in the same house where his father. James H. Fry, Sr., first saw the light, and where the infantile years of both were passed. His mother, Nancy E. (Moore) Fry, was a native of that vicinity, born about four miles north of the birthplace of her husband and son, on what was known as Horse- shoe Bend of the Shenandoah.
At an early day James H. Fry. Sr., moved to Fairfield county, Ohio, settling on a farmi four miles east of Lancaster, where he sojourned until 1871. He then moved to Wells county, Ind., and there spent the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of seventy-two years. The mother survived her husband until 1891, and died in the same place at the advanced age of ninety-one years. Grandfather Fry, also a Vir- ginian, was born on the same plantation where
his son and grandson first saw the light. Ile was a successful man in business affairs, at one time owning a plantation of three thousand acres. His descendants own more than three times this amount, and all are prosperous to-day. The grandmother was a daughter of wealthy parents, and was born in what was known as Capon Springs, where hier father owned a large plantation. Both grandfather and great-grand- father Fry served as soldiers in the Revolutionary war. The Frys were among the first colony of American settlers from Holland, twelve miles from the mouth of the Hudson. They were brave and self-sacrificing people, and left the in- fluence of their strong characters upon the sev- eral communities where they were subsequently known.
Grandfather Jacob Moore served in the war of 1812, as also did Grandfather Benjamin Fry, and the mother of our subject moulded bullets for her father's use in that war. The parents of our subject had a family of eight children, of whom three brothers and four sisters are living: Jo- seph S. lives on the old homestead in Wells county, Ind. Thomas H. resides in that vicinity. The sisters are married and have families, and all live in the same neighborhood.
When a youth of sixteen years the tame life on the farm became irksome to our subject and he left home, embarking as a sailor on a vessel bound from New York to Liverpool and Lon- don. He followed the sea until 1853. However. there was an attraction on land even greater than that of the sea, and he therefore went to Fair- field county, Ohio, where he married Miss Mary E. Berger, soon afterward resuming the pursuit of agriculture. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted as a private in Company H. Fifth Ohio Cavalry, Fifteenth Army Corps, and marched with his comrades to the seat of war. He was in some of the most important engage- ments which followed, being at the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Shiloh. Peach Tree Creek, Lookout Mountain, Nashville, Memphis, Crab Orchard, Chattahoochie Heights and in other engagements, later participating in Gen- eral Sherman's famous march to the sea. He was always in good standing with his command- ing officers, being division flag bearer during nearly the entire time of his service. being ap- pointed at Knoxville the morning of the heavy engagement there, when the flag bearer threw down his colors and "took to his heels." Mr. Fry rescued the precious flag and received the promotion for his bravery. He was in the en- gagement at Cherokee Valley, S. C., still carry- ing the flag, the staff of which was splintered. and particles of the wood went through his hand. but he held on to the banner and received the commendation of his comrades and captain. Ile
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watched with Sherman to the sea, fouglit at shivana. Wilmington, Goldsboro, N. C., and Raleigh, and then went sixty miles north on the Richmond & Raleigh Railroad, witnessing the vrender of General Johnston under a sycamore :tre. It is interesting to recall that on this oc -. .... jon thirty thousand Confederate infantry,. ateen thousand cavalry and thirty-six pieces of ordnance and small arms were added to the I'nion victories. The cavalry were granted their horses and small arms and given feed and trans- wirtation as fast as possible. Mr. Fry was de- Laled to go to Louisburg, N. C., to select quar- ters. From there, September 17, he marched to Raleigh, N. C., where the troops turned over their equipments preparatory to the muster-out September 29, which was done at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Fry reached home December 17, 1865, his safe arrival bringing gladness in the hearts of all concerned.
Upon leaving the army Mr. Fry resumed the management of the farm in Hocking county, Ohio. In 1873 he moved to Wells county, Ind., where he farmed until Oklahoma was opened.
There have been born to our subject and his wife a family of two boys and five girls: Clara, Mrs. Eckhart, is a resident of Wells county, Ind., and has ten children: Emma, wife of Reynolds Vore, living in the same county, has five chil- dren: Huldah, Mrs. Fee, who is located not far from her sisters, is the mother of six children; llarvey H. came with his father to Oklahoma and is operating the northeast quarter of section 15: he is married and has two children; Lucy, Mrs. Morrison lives in Clark county, Kans., and has two children; Della, Mrs. Campbell. was married to William Campbell, a brother of Dr. George Campbell, March 16, 1900, and they have one child: Joseph S., unmarried, resides on the farm with his parents.
Politically Mr. Fry is a stanch Republican. With his wife he belongs to Pleasant View Meth- odist Episcopal church, which he helped to or- ganize and to which he has been a generous contributor. He aided in the building of the first church edifice in his vicinity, which was a wood house, but duly appreciated by all interested. There is now a substantial modern building standing on the site of the primitive structure. and this is used both for a house of worship and a school. Mr. Fry has been identified with the Grand Army of the Republic at Mulhall since its organization. His son, Joseph. S., belongs to the Knights of Pythias.
S QUIRE WILLIAM HICKAM. On his well regulated and finely equipped farm, in Logan county, located on section 1, town- ship 19, range 3 west, Mr. Hickam has expanded
a great deal of ably conducted energy, with the result that he now is one of the successful dwellers of this territory of plenty. Running through the land south and east is Beaver creek, a beautiful rock-bottomed stream, that furnishes a plentiful supply of fish. Though not one of the earliest comers to the territory, having ar- rived in June of 1890, he has made the best of his opportunites. On the 11th of that month he bought a claim, for the relinquishment of which he paid $1,000. Returning to Missouri, he came back to Oklahoma and settled upon his claim September 23, 1890. The land had no improve- ments save a partly finished one-room cottage, which was promptly substituted by a coinmodi- ous house; barns and outhouses also being erected.
Previous to coming to Oklahoma Mr. Hickam has led'an uneventful life, with the exception of his interesting war experiences. He was born in Boone county, Mo., September 9, 1839, and was the oldest of the seventeen children (twelve sons and five daughters) of Joseph and Susan (Teeters) Hickam, natives, respectively, of Illi- nois and Missouri. Of his large family the only survivors are Squire W., Samuel L., Shelby and James T. The paternal grandfather was born in Ireland, and, upon emigrating to America, settled in Illinois very early in the century. Joseph Hickam was a courageous soldier in the Seminole war in Florida, and served all through that conflict. When Squire Hickam was nine years old his father moved to Cole county, Mo., and after a year's sojourn there removed to Moniteau county, same state. Set- tling on the banks of the Missouri river he earned . a livelihood by supplying wood for fuel to the steamboats that plied up and down the river. Joseph Hickam and wife, the parents of our subject, are deceased, having spent their closing years in Cooper county, Mo. They had about one thousand eight hundred acres of land, one thousand of which was in one piece. Here the youth grew to manhood, and the memory of his school days is still vivid, surrounded as he was by the necessary crudities that accompanied the early attempts to acquire an education. He used to plod through storm and sunshine to a remote little log school-house, the floor of which was built of puncheon, the seats made of split logs, and rude planks serving for desks. When twenty-three years of age he left the paternal protection, and rented a farm from his father on his own responsibility, which he successfully conducted until the breaking out of the war.
In 1861 Mr. Hickam enlisted in the Confed- crate army, under General Price, and served under him during a large part of the campaign. The first battle in which he participated was that of Boonville. June 17; 1861. They
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then went south to Springfield, where General Lyons was killed, thence to Arkansas and Texas and back to Lexington, where Mulligan surren- (lered. At that point Mr. Hickam was so ill that he was taken home. Subsequently he made two ineffectual attempts to rejoin his regiment, being successful the third time. His brother, John L., fought by his side all through the war until the battle of Mine Creek, Linn county. Kans., when he was shot through the breast and instantly killed. S. W. Hickam was made a prisoner at Leesville, Henry county, Mo., and taken to Se- dalia, where he was held for twelve days. Then, becoming ill, he was sent to Jefferson City, placed in the hospital, and there he was confined for sixty-one days, being honorably released December 20, 1864.
April 2, 1865, Mr. Hickam was married to Miss Mahala Clay, a daughter of Gardner and Marguerita (Miller) Clay, of Moniteau county, where they died. To Mr. and Mrs. Hickam have been bran eleven children, four of whom are living. Joseph S. resides with George Victor in the "Strip," in Oklahoma. George Victor has three children and lives in Oklahoma; Lucy V. and Henry M. are at home. In 1874 Mr. Hickam moved to Bates county, Mo., where he rented one hundred and eighty acres for $200 in cash, per annum. After one year he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Barton county, Mo., upon which he lived for eleven years, or until he took up his residence in the territory. He is a prosperous, successful agri- culturist, and exerts an influence upon the com- munity in which he dwells.
D ELOS WALKER, M. D., whose career has been marked by stirring activity, served with high honor in the Civil war. and has been successfully engaged in the practice of med - icine at Oklahoma City since the opening of the territory.
Dr. Walker was born in Conneautville, Craw- ford county, Pa., October 19. 1837, and is a son of William and Sally (Fisher) Walker. His grandfather, who was born in Washington county, Pa .. served in the Indian wars under General St. Clair in Ohio and Indiana. His oc- cupation was that of a farmer and he was one of the pioneers of Erie county. Pa. William Walker. a native of Washington county, Pa., and a far- mer by occupation, engaged in the lumber baisi- ness for many years and owned and operated several saw-mills in Pennsylvania, but in 1866 removed to Anderson county, Kans., where he followed farming until his demise at the age of seventy-four years. His wife was of English descent and came of a prominent old Pennsylva- nia family. . Her great-grandfather and some of
his sons were in active service in the Revolu- tionary war. Her father, Maj. Thomas Fisher, was born in Carlisle, Pa., where he followed farming and operated a grist-mill .. He served in the war of 1812, with the rank of major, and for thirty years was justice of the peace in Crawford . county. At an advanced age he died in Prairie du Chien, Wis. Mrs. Walker was born in Craw- ford county, Pa., and died in Kansas. Twelve children were born to her marriage, of whom seven are now living. James F. settled in Kan- sas and engaged in border warfare, and in the Civil war served with the Second Kansas Infan- try. He was wounded at Springfield, Mo., and left upon the field for dead, but recovered (though losing one arin), and for many years lived in California, where he practiced the legal profession. A. J. Walker served in the Civil war as corporal in the One Hundred and Thirty-sev- enth Pennsylvania Infantry, later as lieutenant in the Ninety-ninth and as captain in the One Hundred and Third Pennsylvania. He met an accidental death in Anderson county, Kans. Jo- seph Walker served in the Fifty-sixth Pennsyl- vania Infantry for a time, and now resides in Cherokee, I. T. William Walker was an under- graduate from the University of Michigan and died at Garnett, Kans.
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