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 80
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Dr. Delos Walker was reared on a farm and attended the district schools. He also grad- uated from Conneautville Academy, and then taught school. In 1858 he began the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. James L. Dunn. April 22, 1861, he enlisted for three months' service in the Pennsylvania Volunteers. He was mustered out at the end of that time. and in the fall entered the medical department of the University of Michigan. In the summer of 1862 he enlisted for nine months as captain of Company B, One Hundred and Thirty-seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, and participated in the battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Chancel- lorsville and others. In February, 1863, he was commissioned major of the regiment and was mustered out in August of the same year. Re- turning to the University of Michigan, he was graduated in 1864 with the degree of M. D., after which he engaged in practice at Medina, Lenawee county, Mich.
.A short time afterward Dr. Walker went to Pennsylvania as surgeon of the Twentieth Pro- vost District, and later joined Adjutant-General Russell at Harrisburg for the purpose of organ- izing a company. This accomplished, he re- ported with the men at Camp Curtin, and, get- ting together eight companies, took them to Roanoke Island. There he completed the regi- ment, which was reorganized as the One Hun- dred and Third Pennsylvania Infantry. He served as lieutenant-colonel during the spring
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and summer of 1865, remaining under Gen. John A. Palmer in North Carolina until the close of the war. July 1. 1865, he took one-half of the regiment to Baltimore, Md. They were mus- tered out at Camp Curtin about August I.
Resuming professional duties, Dr. Walker en- gaged in practice at Conneautville, Pa., for a time, and subsequently at Union City, Erie county, Pa .. where he was surgeon for the Phil- adelphia & Erie Railroad and pension examiner for the government. In the spring of 1867 he removed to Greeley, Anderson county, Kans., and practiced there with unqualified success for a period of twenty-two years, his son being asso- ciated with him during the time subsequent to 1885. Together they came to Oklahoma City April 22. 1880. and launched upon a lucrative practice. They have since continued here and are among the most prominent physicians of the district. Our subject assisted in organizing the Oklahoma Territorial Medical Association, of which he served as first president, and has since been a prominent member. He was active in the Oklahoma City Medical Society, and worked hard to make a success of the organization.
Dr. Walker was married in Pennsylvania to Emeret Greenfield. a daughter of Archibald Greenfield, who moved to that state from New York. Her brother, Dr. R. M., served in the Civil war when a boy. Two children were born to this union: Maud, who died at nineteen years ; and Harry. who graduated from the Bellevue Hospital Medical College in 1884, and is prac- ticing with his father. He is married and has three children: Roscoe. Joseph and Delos. Our subject was made a member of Lodge No. 211, A. F. & A. M .. at Greeley. Kans. He is a mem- ber of the Grand Army Post at Oklahoma City. In politics he is a supporter of Populistic prin- ciples and is a Bryan Democrat, having been. very active in the workings of the Populist party.
HOMAS F. ADDINGTON, who is the owner of a valuable and highly-improved homestead1 in Mustang township. Canadian county, has experienced frontier life in all its vicissitudes, and literally has been the architect of his own fortunes. Within the past cleven years he has made steady progress toward an assured competence, and has won the honor and esteem of his neighbors and associates.
The early colonists of Virginia had among their number an Addington, from which Thomas F. Addington is directly descended. He and his family came from one of the foremost families of England at that time, and the name has ever been associated with worthy, respected people. During the French and Indian wars some of the iamily served as scouts. A spirit of courage and
patriotism has always animated them. From the Old Dominion the family went to North Caro- lina several generations ago, and in that state occurred the birth of Mr. Addington's great- grandfather, also his grandfather, James Adding- ton. The latter removed to the frontier state of Indiana early in its history, and in its almost un- broken solitudes John L., father of Thomas F., was born and reared. For years he was a farmer and miller, and carried on a thriving business in Indiana until an unforeseen flood swept away his grist and lumber mills. Thus practically wrecked financially, he determined to retrieve his for- tunes in the west. In 1858, with his family, con- sisting of wife and five sons, one of whom was married, he set out for a distant home, the entire journey being made with ox-teams. Arriving in Anderson county, Kans., he took up a home- stead, and, with renewed hope, began its culti- vation. He lost a small herd of cattle by the Texas fever, and in 1860 the fierce drought, which destroyed all of his crops, left him almost penniless.
Discouraged, the family returned to Indiana by the old ox-team route, and there the father engaged in preaching in the Methodist denomi- nation until the close of the Civil war. Then he went to Iowa, where he found employment as a carpenter until he died, in 1878. His devoted wife, Nancy (Fansher) Addington, was born in Tennessee and died six days after her husband had passed away. He had joined the Masonie order on reaching his majority, and attained the Roval Arch degree.
Born in Indiana, in 1854, Thomas F. Adding- ton early was called upon to share the adversity which was the lot of his parents. In 1873 he left home, thenceforth to make his own way in the world as best he could. Going to Texas, he soon joined the Texas Rangers and assisted in quelling the troublesome Indians. He then em- barked in agriculture in that state. but, as he did not meet with adequate success, he spent a por- tion of his time in freighting. From the winter of 1876 to 1878 he, in partnership with a good hunter, followed the business of hunting buffa- loes. They spent most of their time in the sad- dle. on the path of the buffaloes, and hired others to perform their camp work and attend to the skinning of the animals that were killed. In a period of five months the two hunters, who be- came very expert, killed thirty-five hundred buf- faloes, and skinned and prepared the hides of a great number of these as well. When it became apparent that the huge animals were almost swept from the plains, more than a score of years ago. Mr. Addington resumed the business of freighting, and later entered the employ of a stockman, who had formerly been his captain when he was with the Texas Rangers. During
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the next few years he was in the employ of Cap- tain Ikard in Greer and Roger Mills counties, Okla., and thus became familiar with the char- acter of this beautiful country.
In April, 1889. Mr. Addington made the run into this territory, and, though he found a great deal of choice land already occupied by men who had disobeyed the law, and twelve of whom were later sent to the penitentiary, he selected an ex- cellent tract, his present homestead, and at once began to make improvements here. At first a tent was his only shelter, but this, in turn, was supplanted by a sod-house, this by a small frame building, and finally a large and attractive resi- dence was built. The first year he lost thirty- one head of cattle, but since then he has pros- pered, as he richly deserves. He has been par- ticularly successful in raising Poland-China hogs and other live stock. He has a well-selected line of small fruits, and nearly all of his family ne- cessities are supplied by the farm.
In 1883 Mr. Addington married Myrtle Maxey, who was born in Illinois. Her parents. T. J. and Mattie (Stamper) Maxey, natives of Illinois and Tennessee, respectively, are now residents of Garfield county, Okla. Mr. Maxey served in the Civil war as lieutenant of Com- pany B, One Hundred and Tenth Illinois Infan- try, and prior to the expiration of his term of enlistment he was honorably discharged, owing to poor health.
Politically Mr. Addington is an important lo- cal factor in the Republican party. He was one of the first commissioners elected in Canadian county. For several years he has been an active member of the county central committee, and served on the executive committee of the same for eight years. He was chosen as a delegate to the Republican territorial convention. which convened at Enid, Okla., in June, 1900, to select delegates to the national convention at Philadel- phia. During June, 1900, Governor Barnes ap- pointed him county commissioner to fill the un- expired term caused by the death of A. B. Chas- tain. His personal popularity in his own dis- trict may be judged by the fact that, though this is a Democratic district by a large majority, he came within one vote of election to the territorial legislature.
J: II. BASH, ex-mayor of Hennessey, has been longer engaged in merchandising here than any of our business men, and has contributed his full share towards the upbuilding of the place. Recognizing his executive ability and zeal in the promotion of Hennessey's inter- ests, his fellow-citizens chose him repeatedly to represent them in the city council, and were not disappointed at the outcome. During the six
terms of his service in that honorable body, and the term when he acted in the capacity of mayor, he accomplished much that will permanently benefit this community, and it was a source of regret to a multitude of his friends that he stepped aside from public life in the spring of 1800 and has since devoted his attention ex- clusively to his own large and flourishing busi- ness.
The paternal grandfather of Mr. Bash was a 'native of Germany, and spelled his surname Bach. For convenience his American descend- ants adopted the style of orthography indicated above. John Bach, the grandfather, was a schol- arly gentleman, and an ardent patriot. . At an early day he came to the United States and fought for its rights in the war of 1812. He was a pioneer of Butler county, Pa., and of Indiana. and in his early manhood followed the trade of a blacksmith. In 1843 he located in the wilds of the Hoosier state, and, clearing a farm, contin- ned to cultivate it until he was well along in years. At the time of his death he had reached his eighty-fifth year, and his son Michael, father of our subject, is now seventy-seven years of age. He, too, has been patriotic, and enlisted in the service of his country in the Mexican war, but was not called into action. When he arrived at his majority he entered a tract of land in the forests of Grant county, Ind., and for fifty-seven years has resided in that immediate locality. He is highly respected and is a pillar in the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. Politically he has given his allegiance to the Democratic party since the time of J. K. Polk. His wife, Phoebe, daughter of Frederick Wiles, was born in the Keystone state, and with the family removed to Indiana about the same time as did the Bash family. Of the ten children born to Michael and Phoebe Bash five sons and two daughters survive, and of these two only, J. H. and Otto R., are resi- dents of Oklahoma.
The birth of J. H. Bash occurred August 12. 1862, in Grant county. Ind. He received a fair education in the common schools of that local - ity, and for a period pursued his studies in the Somerset (Ind.) school. He early became fa- miliar with agriculture, and in the spring of 1886 left home to make his way in the west. After prospecting in Kansas, he settled upon a farm near Dighton, Lane county, and remained there until July. 1889, when he came to King- fisher county and located a farm situated ten miles cast of Hennessey. In May, 1891, he came to the city and embarked in the grocery business at his present location. At first a store, 16x20 feet in dimensions, answered the purpose. but as his trade increased in volume he found it necessary to add a space 16x32 feet, and eighteen months later he moved this structure to the rear
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of the lot and built in front a substantial two- story building, 22x30 feet, and thus the store was sixty-two feet in length. At that time Mr. Bash added a general line of goods, and has carried on a more comprehensive trade ever since. In the spring of 1897 further changes commended themselves to him, and, moving the old store- room to another lot, he built a substantial brick block, 25x100 feet, on his old Main street site, and in the following autumn added 25x40 feet at the rear of the building. Besides this he has built up other business property and yet owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. it being situated five miles northeast of this city.
While a resident of Indiana Mr. Bash married one of the native-born daughters of Grant county. Rachel B. Wimmer, whose family set- tled in that locality in early days. In his frater- nal relations our subject is identified with the Odd Fellows, and politically is independent of party. One of the greatly needed improvements which Hennessey now enjoys was made during his term as mayor,-better fire protection. An excellent chemical engine and equipment was purchased for the city, and a good system was at once inaugurated, whereby it is believed the fire fiend will be defeated in most instances.
J EROME PORTER BEARD. one of the leading farmers of Logan county, owns a fine property comprising the southeast quar- ter of section 6. township 17, range I west. He was born in Huron county, Ohio. October 25. 1847. and is a son of David and Elizabeth ( Beck- ley) Beard. When he was an infant in arms his parents moved to Berrien county. Mich .. and his father settled upon a tract of timber land. out of which he evolved a good farm: but seven or eight years later he removed to Fairfield, How- ard county, Ind .. and embarked in the grocery business, also operating a saw-mill. About 1860 he went to Crawford county. Wis., and carried on farm pursuits near Mount Sterling until the spring of 1866. Meantime he served in the Civil war as a member of Company A. Thirty-first Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and during his three years of active service he took part in many battles and also accompanied General Sherman in his march to the sea. In 1866 he removed from Crawford to Vernon county. Wis., but in 1870 again moved, establishing his home in Dade county. Mo.
A practical education fitted Jerome P. Beard for the responsibilities of life. At the age of nineteen years he went to work at the trade of a bricklayer and stone-mason, which he has fol- lowed ever since. After remaining in Wisconsin until 1884 he then worked for two seasons in St. Paul. Minn., after which he followed his trade
at St. Joseph and Kansas City, Mo., and To- peka. Kans., and engaged in building cottages for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad from the Kansas state line to Purcell. In 1889 he left Arkansas City on the first train that en- tered Guthrie at the opening of the territory. Here he took up town lots and worked at his trade. In May of the same year he located the place where he now lives. For a year he lived in a small house, IOX12 feet in dimensions, which room now forms the kitchen of his present house. Later, by adding to this, he became the possessor of a comfortable home. He has a good grove of fifteen hundred trees and a small orchard. In addition to farming he still con- tinues at his trade, and assisted in the erection of the First National Bank building of Guthrie.
Among the other contracts he has had may be mentioned that for the residence of Judge Crook. which is situated about a mile from Guthrie, and was the first stone building erected in the terri- tory. In 1899-1900 he assisted in building the Masonic Temple of Guthrie. He is well versed in all the details of his business and deserves the success with which he has met. Politically a stanch Republican, he has voted for the men and measures of this party ever since casting his first ballot for General Grant in 1872. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
September 6, 1874, Mr. Beard married Ellen Telfer, who was born in Wisconsin. They be- came the parents of two children, namely: Myr- tle, whose home has been with her grandparents since her mother died: and Frank, who is now a student in the Guthrie Business College. No- vember 4. 1889. Mr. Beard was united in mar- riage with Mrs. Lida (Shoemaker) Conway, of Logan county. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and are active workers in the Sunday-school, of which Mr. Beard is the efficient superintendent.
J AMES S. BOYD, a contractor and builder of many years' experience, is engaged in that line of work in Oklahoma City, where he has erected many of the finest residences As a business man he is enterprising and pro- gressive. and takes an active interest in the de- velopment of the city.
Mr. Boyd was born near Kendallville, Noble county, Ind., February 14. 1844. and is a son of James S. and Catherine (Ingle) Boyd, and a grandson of James S. Boyd. The latter was born in Scotland, but, upon coming to this coun- try, with his family, settled in Somerset county. Pa., where he engaged in tilling the soil. The father of our subject was also born in Scotland. and came to this country with his parents. He
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followed the occupation of a farmer in Pennsyl- vania until 1834. when he removed to Ohio. After remaining there for a period of two years, in 1836 he moved to Noble county, Ind., where he was one of the pioneer farmers. In 1850 he moved to LaGrange county, Ind., and engaged in farming. His death occurred there in 1896, at the age of ninety-six years. His wife. Cather- ine Ingle, was born on the ocean between Scot- land and the United States, being a daughter of Isaac Ingle, .who settled in Somerset county, Pa. She died at the age of seventy-two years. This union resulted in the birth of fourteen sons and four daughters. of whom all but two sons grew to maturity. Eleven of the sons and all of the daughters are still living, and one of these, John Boyd, served as a volunteer from Indiana during the Civil war.
James S. Boyd, the seventh child born to his Parents, was reared on a farm until fourteen years old, and received his educational training in the public schools. At that age he was ap- prenticed to the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and after thoroughly mastering his trade con- tinued to work at it in LaGrange until 1869. He then went to Traer, Tama county. lowa. and engaged in contracting and building until 1871. after which he served as foreman of bridge- building on the Burlington. Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad for two years. Upon the ex- piration of that time he returned to contracting and building. In 1879 he settled in Atchison. Kans., and followed his trade, but the next year went to Topeka, Kans., as superintendent of buildings for various firms, and during the fol- lowing ten years superintended the erection of buildings in different parts of the state, including the Soldiers' Home at Leavenworth, the Court- house at Mankato, also a brick block there, and various buildings in Atchison. In 1888 he en- tered the employ of the Union Pacific Railway as foreman in the building department along the line between Kansas City and Denver, removing the divisions from Wamego and Brookville to Junction City and from Wallace and Kit Carson to Cheyenne Wells, Colo. He also built the machine shops at Cheyenne, Wyo.
In 1800 Mr. Boyd went to Chicago for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. but re- turned in the same year and entered the Santa Fe shops at Topeka as coach builder. Two months later, in February, 1891, he was sent to Galves- ton. Tex., where he was employed as coach builder until the spring of 1898, when he per- manently located in Oklahoma City. Previously. in 1801. he had come to this place and purchased lots, and in 1802 erected his present residence at No. 410 Pottawatomie street, where his family now reside. He began contracting and banding here in 1808, and success has attended his efforts
on every hand. Among the residences for which he has had the contract may be mentioned those of W. W. Green, T. J. Courtney and C. H. Ever- est. He is now active in organizing a Builders' Exchange in Oklahoma City.
In Indiana Mr. Boyd was united in marriage with Sarah Cherry, who was born in LaGrange county, that state, and died in LaGrange. Four children were born to bless their home, namely: Burtis E., who is now in Melbourne, Australia : Carl A. and Frank R., both good carpenters. who are now serving in the Philippines in Com- pany L, Forty-fourth Kansas Infantry; and Grace R., who is at home. Mr. Boyd was married a second time at Mankato. Kans., his wife being Sarah Jane Hussey, who was born near Rock Island, Ill. For twenty-four years he has been a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men, and upon the organization of that order in Oklahoma was made a trustee, an office to which he has been re-elected each term. He is a very prominent member of the Grand Lodge, A. O. U. W .; Lodge No. 26, Select Knights; also is connected with the Degree of Honor and the Association of Railway Carmen. Religiously he adheres to the faith of the Christian Church, and politically supports the People's party.
C HRISTIAN BURKER. This worthy Ger- man-American citizen, whose home is on the southwest quarter of section 9, town- ship 17. range I west. Logan county, is in the prime of life and usefulness. He is a son of Gottlieb and Christina (Kuenstle) Burker, the former a stone-mason by trade and extensively engaged in building and contracting. He also owned a farm of twenty acres not far from the home which he occupied in the town of Oberen- singen.
Christian Burker was born September 6. 1867. in Wurtemberg, Germany, in the village above named, and, as is customary with the sons of the Fatherland, he succeeded in acquiring a liberal education in the public school. Then, for two years, he was in the employ of his father as a stone-mason, but, as a brother had come to the United States, the youth determined to try his fortunes here also. Accordingly, in 1883, he sailed for the land of promise, and proceeded from Philadelphia to Tuscarawas county, Ohio. where his brother was living. There he worked for a farmer, who was the proprietor of a saw and giist inill, and it speaks well for the young man that he continued in the employ of this one man for seven years, his work being perfectly satis- factory. From his earnings, which were not large, he managed to save $Soo within eight years, and in 1889 he went to Atchison county. Kans., where he rented land for one year and
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made a good crop. He then worked, as for- merly, for others, by the month until the spring of 1894.
Immediately subsequent to his marriage, which took place at that time, Mr. Burker came to Oklahoma, and, after prospecting several months, invested in his present property. Here he has instituted many valuable improvements, and his thrifty orchard, good buildings and well tilled fields add greatly to the desirability and attractiveness of the farm.
In political matters Mr. Burker is a Demo- crat. Religiously he is a Lutheran, and con- tributed to the building of the house in which he worships, near his home.
The marriage of Mr. Burker and Miss Katie Rouse, of Atchison county, Kans., took place May 23, 1894. She is a daughter of David Rouse, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
W ILSON MARTIN WARREN. Too ยท much credit cannot be given Mr. War- ren for the efficient service he has ren- dered Oklahoma City in the capacity of sanitary police and later as street commissioner, the office he now fills. Where formerly unkept and dirty streets were the rule, they are now the excep- tion, all being well graded and in excellent con- dition.
Mr. Warren was born near Des Moines, Polk county, Iowa, March 10, 1857, and is a descend- ant of General Warren, who fell in the battle of Bunker Hill. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, and is a son of J. K. Warren, who was born in Tennessee, and in 1849 removed to Iowa, where he followed farming. During the Civil war he served for three years, and was with General Sherman on his memorable march through Georgia to the sea, winning an honorable record as a soldier. About 1870 he removed to Kansas and now resides at Leon, that state. He mar- ried Polly Light, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Jonathan Light, who was a planter of Tennessee. but was living in Polk county. lowa, at the time of his death. Eight children blessed this union. all of whom are now living. our subject being the only one in Oklahoma.
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