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 82
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In 1892 Mr. Wells made a visit to Minnesota and Dakota, where his sister and brothers were living, and decided to stay for several years, en- gaging in general merchandising. In politics Mr. Wells is independent, and has no desire for pub- iic office. His name was before the convention for member of legislature, but he refused to qualify. He is fraternally associated with the Masonic order at Del Norte, Colo., and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was married in 1875. in Harper county, . Kans., to Louisa Devore, a daughter of Harvey J. Devore, who settled in that county in 1874, being the first white man there. To Mr. and Mrs. Wells have been born two children, Archie O., who is a traveling photographer, and James WV.
It is doubtful if any man in the territory is more familiar with the western plains and the habits of the Indians than is Mr. Wells. An inveterate traveler, he has amassed an immense amount of interesting information, and a corre- sponding fund of good common sense, which he applies to the problems of every-day life. He is respected and esteemed by his fellow-citizens, and is a valuable addition to the community in which his lot is cast.
P ROF. MOSES J. JOHNSON. Langston University has given prominence to many able educators, and among the most poput- lar and successful is Professor Johnson. Born in Newton, Baker county, Ga., March 31, 1864. he there grew to manhood, making his home on a farm. When a lad of eight years he began at-
tending the district school, and early evinced a lively interest in his studies. In 1877 he entered the preparatory department of Atlanta Univer- sity, where he continued three years. Then, in 1880, he entered college, and after four years of close application to his studies was graduated with honors, in June, 1885, with the degree of A. B.
In March, 1878. Professor Johnson had charge of a district school in Houston county, Ga., and earned money enough by teaching to pay his way through college. He taught three months in the year except in the winter of 1880- 81, which he employed wholly in teaching in order to earn money enough to pursue his studies. There were about forty students in his class at the beginning, and about eight at the close, and he indulges in pardonable pride at the thought that he was one of the eight suc- cessful graduates.
Upon leaving college, Professor Johnson went to Florida and taught at Lake Maitland in the fall and winter of 1885 and 1886. His next, move was to Ennis. Tex., where he was engaged as principal of the colored schools, and where he remained seven consecutive years. He was re-elected for the eighth, but resigned in the summer of 1893. Then coming to Oklahoma, he took part in the rush for homes. September 16, 1893, and succeeded in filing his claim, but sold it in 1894. After teaching for one year in the grammar grade in Kingfisher, his election as principal of the colored high school followed and he remained thus occupied two years.
Prior to this, in 1892, Professor Johnson had been granted a life certificate to teach in the state of Texas, on account of his phenomenal success as an instructor. In 1897 he resigned his position at Kingfisher and afterward was elected to a chair in Langston University. At Ennis, Tex .. February 21, 1894, he married Mrs. Susie Caesar. They have no children. He votes the straight Republican ticket and is a leading member of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
F CABIUS F. FERGUSON. United in the person of whom the following lines are penned are many of the sterling and notable qualities of the Scotch and German races, chief among his characteristics being the integrity and justice, the industry and adherence to a plan of action, once decided upon, for which his. ancestors were celebrated. His great-grand- father, Thomas Ferguson, was a native of the Highlands of Scotland. whence he emigrated to the colony of Virginia. There his son, An- drew, and Andrew's wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Ross, were born and reared. They were farmers and patriotic citizens, giving their influence to the upbuilding of their beloved na- tive state. At length they joined the great tide of humanity which surged across the plains to- wards the setting sun, and for some years they dwelt in Greene county, Ind. Upon their home- stead in that county occurred the birth of Eleazer Ferguson, father of our subject, and when he ar-
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rived at man's estate he chose for a wife Anna Springer, who was of German extraction, and was likewise a native of the Hoosier state.
The worthy couple removed to Iowa, where they improved a farm, upon which Fabius F. Ferguson was born, June 2, 1860, and where his mother died. At the age of ten years he accom- panied the family to Kansas, where they became well-to-do and respected citizens. In his youth he learned the lessons of thrift and industry which have been the prime factors in his suc- cess. He was occupied in agricultural pursuits in Kansas, and in 1882 he was numbered among the enterprising farmers of Kingman county, where he took up a claim and remained for seven years.
In 1884 our subject was united in marriage with Clara M. Mair, a daughter of Hugh G. and Cynthia S. (Miller) Mair, who are natives of Glasgow, Scotland, and Pennsylvania, re- spectively. Five children bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson, their nanies in order of birth being as follows: Hugh F., Linus E., G. Springer, Geneva M., and Chattie M.
When the "promised land" of Oklahoma was thrown open to civilization, he came to Union township, Canadian county, and bought his present fine homestead. With but small means, aided by the industry and economy of his wife. he rapidly turned his farm of native grass into one of picturesque beauty, prolific with fruits and vines, securing such results as but one of rare talent and energy could accomplish under like circumstances. Mr. Ferguson's careful study of horticulture and extensive experience in the nursery business have qualified him to make selections of the best varieties of fruit and vine- vard stock, and with his careful husbandry of the same his farm is second to none in choice fruits. His extraordinary development of his orchards has gone far towards establishing the quality of lands in his county for horticultural purposes, which success has distinguished him in the citizenship of that county. There is no man in the county having greater acquaintance and. with the universal respect and esteem in which he is held by the people, he stands as one of the county's leading men.
B ENJAMIN FRANKLIN KELLER owns a valuable farm of eighty acres near Guth- rie, and, owing to the many changes and additions he has made on the place, it is consid- ered one of the best in this region. A contractor and builder, he had the foresight to know that Oklahoma would require an army of men in his trade at the time of its opening, and therefore he directed his footsteps in this direction on that 22nd of April, 1889. Arriving in Guthrie, he
found a city of tents, and, owing to the multi- tudes there, he proceeded into the country, and at three o'clock p. m. began staking a claim -his present farm-situated on the northeast quarter of section 13, Iron Mountain township. . Turning backward a few pages in the life of our subject, it is learned that he is of Holland- Dutch descent upon the paternal side. His grandfather, Jacob Keller, removed from Hol- land to New York state in the carly part of this century, and passed the remainder of his life upon a farm near Johnstown, N. Y. His son, Nelson, father of B. F. Keller, was three years old at the time of the family's removal, and since his marriage he has dwelt in Mercer county, Pa. In 1862 he purchased six hundred and forty acres of land near Greenville, and proceeded to clear and improve what then was a tract of wild land. He is still living upon the old homestead, now almost ninety years of age. He has been a Whig and Republican, and in religion is a stanch Presbyterian. His wife, Jane, also sur- vives, both coming of a race noted for longevity. She was born in Toronto, Canada, a daughter of Baptist and Jane Brush. The father was born in Scotland, and in early manhood became a pioneer of Canada, and later of Mercer county, Pa. When the war of 1812 was being waged he and three of his brothers took part in the con- flict, and at the battle of Lundy's Lane one of the brothers was killed, while another was wounded. He lived to be over four-score years, and his wife was about ninety at the time of her demise. .
B. F. Keller, who was born January 28, 1848. near Shakeleyville, Pa., is one of seven brothers and sisters. Andrew is engaged in farming in Ohio, and Sanford and Elmer are residents of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Amanda Belyck lives in Maysville, Pa. Eunice is a citizen of Jamestown, Pa., and Clara is at home with her aged parents.
B. F. Keller was reared as a farmer's boy. and mastered the elementary branches of knowl- edge in the "little log schoolhouse." It was a matter of deep regret to the youth that he was too young to be admitted to the army service. for he was an ardent patriot and friend to the U'nion. The Civil war was drawing to a close when, at length, he was accepted as a recruit in a Pennsylvania regiment, but he had pro- ceeded only as far as Pittsburg. on his way to the south, when the news came that Lee had sur- rendered, and he was sent home. At sixteen he was apprenticed to a carriage manufacturer, at Greenville, for three years, but, finding the con- finement of a shop telling upon his health, he afterwards became a carpenter, builder and con- tractor. During the ensuing years he found abundant employment in his chosen calling. and. from a desire to see something of his own coun-
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try, he worked in many parts of the Union. His business and travels led him to Maryland. New York, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Iowa, Missouri and Kansas. In 1884 he was employed in Florida, and there became connected with the improvement of an orange grove, situated in Conway, Orange county. In 1888 he went to Baxter Springs, Kans., where he was the leading contractor for a period, and within a year assisted in the building of thirteen business blocks and the fine art school. Bring- ing his chest of tools, he, with two acquaint- ances, made the journey into Oklahoma in a wagon, and from that day to the present lie has had more employment than he can do justice to. For two years he had quite a monopoly here, and, among others, he superintended the building of the dormitories of Kingfisher College and Langston Univer- sity. On his homestead he raises wheat and fruit, making a specialty of the latter product. He planted twenty-two acres with fine varieties of fruit trees a few years ago and has about twenty-five acres of orchard, one-half of whose trees are in bearing condition. Peaches, apples and pears, raised here in great quantities, find a ready market in the city, and a vineyard of sev- eral kinds of grapes also is yielding excellent crops to-day. Fine springs afford an abundance of water to the live stock always kept upon the farm. The proprietor is becoming an authority as a horticulturist and nurseryman in this local- ity, as success usually attends his efforts. For five and a half years he was burdened with con- testants' suits, other parties unfortunately laying claim to this property also. He faithfully meets every obligation of citizenship, his ballot being given to the nominees of the Republican party in national elections.
The marriage of Mr. Keller and Miss Phianna Condo Hunter took place in Lawrence, Kans., June 5. 1884. Six children were born to them. and four of the number survive, namely: Olive D., Guy Harrison, Amy Viola, and Clarence Victor. Mrs. Keller is a native of Curwensville. Clearfield county. Pa .. and is a daughter of Jo- seph and Jane (Bloom) Hunter, who were of Rocky Hill and Clearfield county, Pa., respect- ively. The father, who was a shoemaker by trade, died carly in life, and the mother and eight children removed to Kansas City in 1860, and three years later settled in Lawrence, Kans. The mother, who was born in November, 1820. de- parted this life in Lawrence in 1800. Her son, Napoleon B., enlisted in a Pennsylvania regi- ment during the Civil war, and died while in the army.
A few facts in regard to the maternal ancestors of Mrs. Keller may prove of interest. The founder of the family in America was William
Bloom, Sr., a native of Germany, born February 26, 1752. He married Mary Mettler, April 2, 1778, she then being in her twenty-fifth year, as her birth occurred April 10, 1754. It is not certain when the family came to the United States, but after they had dwelt in New Jersey and Center county, Pa., for a period, they ar- rived in Clearfield county, Pa., in 1801. It is known that Mr. Bloom served in the ranks of the colonial army during the Revolution. His pioneer farm in Clearfield county was situated about a mile from Curwensville, and by diligence and heroic efforts he developed a model home- stead. He was the father of eleven children, all of whom lived to advanced years, and, with few exceptions, reared large families. A pretty com- prehensive record was kept of them, and by this it appears that Mr. Bloom was the grandfather of sixty-four girls and fifty-five boys who lived to maturity. According to the computations of one of the family, tliere would be sixteen hun- dred and eighty of his descendants in the fourth generation, if the same proportion of births was maintained. The following is copied from the old records, the number of children being the ones who lived beyond infancy: Annie, born October 31, 1779, married Thomas Price, and had two daughters and one son; Isaac, born Au- gust 8, 1780, married Miss Apgar, and had eight daughters and five sons; William, born April 17, 1782, married Miss Roll, and had six daughters and five sons; Elizabeth, born August 22. 1784, married Major Matthew Ogden. and had eight daughters and six sons; John, born January 25, 1786, married Miss Hegler, and had six daughters and five sons; Peter, born February 7, 1789, married Miss McElhatten, and had six daughters and four sons; Benjamin, born December 31, 1790, married Miss McClellent, and had five daughters and three sons: Mary, born September 25, 1792, married Matthew Caldwell, and had eight daughters and six sons: Abraham, born April 10, 1795, married Miss Caldwell, and had four daughters and seven sons; Sally married Richard Rowles, and had five daughters and eight sons: James, born Feb- ruary 28, 1798, married Miss Passmore, and had six daughters and five sons.
Mrs. Ogden was the mother of twenty-one children, several of whom died in babyhood. Mrs. Mary Caldwell was the mother of twenty children, and in the number was a set of triplets. Of this third generation, it is a remarkable fact that only two remained unmarried. one being Dr. W. H. Bloom, of Philadelphia. Nearly every one of the family was a Presbyterian. a Baptist. a Methodist or a Lutheran, and all of the voters were Democrats. A remarkably large propor- tion of the population of Clearfield county bears the family name or is connected with the line
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HON. R. J. BARKER, Logan County.
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of its founder, and, while few of the Blooms be- came wealthy, it is known that every one has bren self-supporting or independent of public assistance. The grandfather, William Bloom, Jr., was sheriff of Clearfield county, Pa. Many took prominent places in their community and time. and all have been honored and respected.
H ON. ROBERT J. BARKER, who was an efficient and important member of the first territorial legislature of Oklahoma, was chosen to act as one of a committee of three to compile statutes for this now prosperous ter- ritory, and to his sturdy pioneer labors on behalf of this people they are now enjoying a reign of peace and success.
The great-grandfather of our subject, on the paternal side, was Captain Barker, a native of England, and an employe of the British gov- ernment. He was master of an English vessel which plied between the mother country and the American colonies, and his own home was in Jamestown, Va., for many years. His son, William A., grandfather of Robert J. Barker, was born near Jamestown, and his history was closely identified with that locality. He enlisted in the American troops during the war of 1812. and took part in the memorable battle of New Orleans with General Jackson. He married a Miss Hobbs, whose birthplace also was in the vicinity of Jamestown, and who was a descend- ant of one of the royal houses of England.
The father of Robert J. was M. C. Barker, a native of Liberty. Va. He passed his entire life in the Old Dominion, as many generations of his family have done, and at the time of his de- mise. in 1886. he had attained the age of sixty- six years. His widow, who is yet living on her old homestead near Hinton, W. Va., formerly was Miss Julia A. Lilly, and she and her father. Robert C. Lilly, were born and reared in Vir- cinta. The oldest child of M. C. and Julia Barker was. William A., who enlisted in the Con federate army and died March 22, 1862, from the fects of exposure and army hardships. Mary E .. the eldest daughter. is the wife of James E. Lily. and resides near Raleigh, W. Va. John W ... a jeweler, and Thomas B., a farmer and stock-raiser. live near Hinton, W. Va. James L., who also was engaged in agricultural pur- suits. died at his home near Hinton in 1878. Maria E .. wife of Robert Gore, departed this life a: her Hinton residence about ten years ago. Alice A. married Prof. William Houchins, whose specialty is literature. Mrs. Frances Webb lives on the old Barker homestead near Hinton. The wowwcrest daughter. Ollie. is married and resides near Hinton. Joseph I .. is a physician and sur- seon, located at Ilinton, and David R. is em-
ployed as a teacher in the Union (W. Va.) high school.
Robert J. Barker was born at the old family home, previously mentioned, near Hinton, April 28, 1848. He was given excellent educational advantages, and after attending the academy at Cheshire, Ohio, he was graduated from that institution. He then pursued a special course in civil engineering in Hale College, where he was gradnated in 1869, and for the ensuing decade he was actively engaged in educational labors. He first was a teacher in the school at Jumping Branch, W. Va., and later served as principal of the high school of Sulphur Springs, Ind., for a year. Subsequently he held the chair of mathematics in the Normal school at Ko- komo, Ind., until he went to Kansas, where he devoted himself, as formerly, to educational affairs. In 18So he entered another field of enterprise, and for three years conducted a mer- cantile business at Pomeroy, Kans., making a success of the undertaking. He then sold out and, going to Jeffriesville, Mo., purchased the business of Moore & Simons, which he carried on until the early part of 1889. April 22, of that vear, he arrived in Oklahoma, having made a long journey in a lumber wagon, and here he located a quarter-section on section 14, town- ship 17, range 4 west, one hundred and twenty acres of this land being open prairie, and forty acres being timbered. He has greatly improved the place, and has built a comfortable farm- house, barns and fences. The well-kept orchard and fields of beautiful grain speak eloquently of the constant care and wisdom of the owner of the farm. He has a herd of Hereford cattle and raises twenty head or more of this fine stoc !: each year.
In 1871 Mr. Barker married Miss Melissa Malott, who died in March, 1873. Their daugh- ter. Maud O., is the wife of Arsina Stephens. and lives near Kansas City. February 26, 1876. Mr. Barker and Miss Elizabeth K. Palmer were married in Kansas City. Her parents are Judge W. and G. Elizabeth (Utterback) Palmer, na- tives of Kentucky. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Barker are as follows: Frank P., who died in infancy; Ella E., who was born June 11, 1879. and married Charles P. Wilkie: and Frederick C., born October 32, 1881.
In his political affiliations Mr. Barker is a Re- publican, and it was on that ticket that he was elected to the first territorial legislature. He was further honored by being appointed by Governor Steele to the regency of the Agricultu- ral and Mechanical College of this territory, but in 1891 he resigned the regency and was chosen as president of the college. For three years thereafter he acted in that capacity, giving per- feet satisfaction to all concerned in its progress,
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and since he retired from that office he has de- voted his time exclusively to his rapidly increas- ing business interests. He is a past grand in the Odd Fellows order and is past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. With his wife and chil- dren, he holds membership in the Christian Church at Crescent City.
G EORGE W. KERR. As an agriculturist . on broad and advanced lines, and as a citizen who never shirks responsibility when connected with the needs of a friend, or the demands of his prosperous and growing com- munity, George W. Kerr has earned the confi- denee and approval of all within the range of his kindly personality.
Born in Morgan county. Ill., in 1845, he is a son of John and Mary Ann (Woods) Kerr, of Irish and Scotch descent, respectively. His parents came from Ireland in a sailing vessel, and endured a long and perilous voyage, set- tling upon their arrival in America among the very early pioneers of Illinois. His grand- parents eame on a visit to America, but later returned to the old country and died there.
George Kerr lived until his sixteenth year on his father's farm, and became well schooled in the duties of a farmer lad, but had no opportu- nities to acquire an education. During 1862 he enlisted in a regiment and was bound for the seat of war, but his father thought a sixteen-year- old boy too young for such an adventure and took him home. Being an adventurous youth and persistent, he did not allow parental re- straint to interfere with his designs, and in 1864 he ran away from home and joined the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Regulars, at Camp Butler. They went first to Benton Barracks, and thence to Raleigh, Mo., where his company were engaged in building a block house. At the time of Price's raid they were sent after that gen- eral and succeeded in driving him out of Mis- souri. They then went to Alton, and later to Camp Butler, where their warlike experiences terminated, and they were mustered out of ser- vice. After his return home Mr. Kerr turned his attention to farming, and, with the money thus acquired, he succeeded in accomplishing much toward an education. He studied at Pawnee for some time, and when the money was gone de- voted his spare time to reading, and intelli- gent observation, supplementing his general work with a course of medicine. His brother, Charles Kerr, was a physician of considerable prominence, who was also in the Civil war, en- listing in the Tenth Illinois Cavalry, and serving for two years.
In 1886 Mr. Kerr went to Greeley county. Kans., and engaged in the mercantile business.
His was the first store opened in the place. After struggling for a time with the things that people did not seem to want or care to pay for, he re- tired from the scene of his inactivity with a deficit in his account of some three thousand dollars. As the sum represented the extent of his worldly possessions, he did not feel any par- ticular call to again engage in the same line of trade. He then went to Rice county. Kans., and worked by the day for a year and a half, then to Dickinson county, Kans., where he lived four years, and where he was fairly successful. He also bought a farm in Wright county, Mo., upon the improvement of which he labored for nine months. Believing that Oklahoma held brighter prospects than his present surroundings, he traded his farm for the farm here, upon which he has made his home since. It is located on the northwest quarter of section 13, township 19. range 4 west, Logan county, and is highly im- proved, with plenty of running water, fine build- ings and one hundred and fifty acres of tillable land. He makes a specialty of wheat, although he is engaged in general farming.
March 7, 1877, Mr. Kerr married Viola Pence. a daughter of Reuben and Margaret Louise Pence. Her mother died in Christian county, Ill., and her father is still living there. Six chil- dren have been born to this couple: Ethel. who is now Mrs. E. L. Crampton, and is living in Bismark township; J. C. H., the oldest boy; Reu- ben P., George W., Roger C., and James C., all of whom are at home.
Mr. Kerr is a member of the Republican party and has served his county as road overseer, school director, and township central commit- teeman. He was offered the position of enumer- ator of census in his township, but declined. owing to pressure of business of a more personal nature. He has been a member of the Grand Army of the Republic ever since it was organ- ized, and has filled all of the offices of the post. In addition. he is a member of the Select Knights.
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