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 9
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In Washington county, Ark., Mr. Lake mar- ried Miss Mary Mock, a native of that place, and a daughter of John Mock, who was a soldier in the Confederate army and a large farmer of Arkansas, where he died in January, 1900. By tltis union were born three children, namely: Madge, Clyde and Helen Gould Kathleen.
During his entire residence in Pawnee Mr. Lake has been prominently identified with pub- lic affairs and has exerted an influence in the community. Out of all the counties in the strip he was the only appointed officer that was after- ward elected to a county office. He was ap- pointed county clerk and filled that position until April, 1894, when he received the appointment for sheriff. The following fall he was elected to the latter office on the Democratic ticket over two opponents, and so creditably and satisfac- torily did he fill that office that he was re-elected in 1806 by nearly five hundred majority. In January, 1899, he retired to private life, and has since devoted his time and energies to his busi- ness affairs. He operates his farm on Bear creek, and in 1895 he laid out a forty-acre addi- tion to Pawnee. While sheriff of the county lie was an active member of the Territorial Sheriffs Association, and he now belongs to the Con- mercial Club of Pawnee, the Knights of the Mac- cabees, and Pawnee Lodge No. 17. A. F. & A. M., of which he is a charter member, having been made a Mason in Washington county, Ark. His political support has always been given to the Democracy, and he has ever faithfully per- formed all duties of citizenship.
H ON. HARPER S. CUNNINGHAM. In the legal fraternity of Oklahoma are many merr of exceptional gifts and talent, prom- intent among them being Mr. Cunningham, who is also one of the leading Freemasons of the country and an enthusiastic worker in that great order. He was born near Dresden, Muskingum county, Ohio, October 31, 1846, a son of Dr. William Patterson Cunningham, and a lineal descendant of George Cunningham, who came from the north of Ireland to America in 1629, and settled with George Calvert, Lord Balti- more, in Baltimore, Md. Samuel Cunningham, the grandfather of Harper S., was a native of Virginia, and in early manhood settled in west- ern Pennsylvania. In return for his services in the war of 1812 he received a grant to one hundred and sixty acres, but did not locate upon it for some years, when he took it up in Iowa. In religion he was of the Scotch Covenanter faith.
Born in Washington county, Pa., Dr. William P. Cunningham graduated from Jefferson Gol- lege in 1818. Afterward he began the practice of his profession in Muskingum county, Ohio, whence he went to La Motte, Iowa, and from there to Hopkinton, Iowa, where he also car- ried on farming and occasionally preached. Later he became a pioneer physician of Toledo, Tama county, Iowa. In 1867 he settled in Washington county, Kans., near Parallel, where he established a large practice, and remained until his death, in August, 1875, at the age of sixty-seven years. He married Saralı Kilpat- rick, who was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1828, and is still living in Washington county, Kans. Her father, William Kilpatrick, was a native of the north of Ireland, and settled at Irish Ridge, Muskingum county, Ohio (after a short residence in Coshocton county). There he founded a Covenanter Presbyterian Church. In that vicinity one of his sons still lives. The children of Dr. W. P. Cunningham are Harper S .: Mrs. Jane Nungesser, who died in Iowa: William Perry, who died in early manhood: John S .. of Manhattan, Kans .: Robert Bruce, of Junction City. Kans., who has been con- nected with the Union Pacific Railroad since 1867; and Emma, who resides with her mother at the old homestead.
In the Hopkinton Collegiate Institute. of which his father was an organizer, Harper S. Cunningham was a student for a time. and until the family moved to Tama county, Iowa, in 1862. In the fall of 1863 he enlisted in Company G. Fourteenth Iowa Infantry, with which he ac- companied General Banks on the Red River expedition. He was present in the engagements of Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant Hill. After the expedition, he was taken sick with small-
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pox and sent to the Helena hospital, where he remained until he was well enough to rejoin his regiment. Subsequently he took part in the pursuit of Forrest through Mississippi and Ten- nessee, and then pursued Price into Missouri, being under command of Gen. A. J. Smith. Afterward he was on guard at Tipton until the regiment was mustered out of service. Next he became a member of Company A, Fourteenthi Iowa Residuary Battalion, and was sent to Camp Butler, Ill., where his regiment formed a part of the guard that marched behind Presi- dent Lincoln's bier from the state house to the cemetery. In August, 1865, he was honorably discharged from the service. After returning home he attended the high school at Toledo, Iowa, for eighteen months, when he was ap- pointed deputy registrar of deeds for Tama county, and served as such until 1867. Going then to Kansas, he took up a homestead in Riley county, proved upon it, and carried on farming until 1870.
Locating in Brookville for a time, Mr. Cun- ningliam was employed by the Union Pacific Railway Company, first as brakesman, then as yardmaster. While there he began to read law. In 1872 he was elected justice of the peace. Two years later he was elected probate judge on the Republican ticket. In October, 1874, he re- moved to Salina, Kans., on account of a vacancy in the office of probate judge, and remained there until June, 1889, in the meantime continu- ing his studies under Judge Mohler, with whom after being admitted to the bar in 1876, he formed a partnership, which lasted for five years. In January, 1881, he entered upon the duties of county attorney, just at the beginning of the prohibition enactment. At the end of the term he was defeated for re-election to the office, on account of lis vigorous prosecution of the prohibition law violators, losing the election by just seven votes. In the spring of 1883 he was appointed by President Arthur as receiver of the land office to succeed Mr. Hanback, who was elected to congress. This position he held until a change of administration, and retired in August, 1887, resuming his law business.
In 1889 Mr. Cunningham came to Guthrie, where he is now actively identified with local affairs. In the fall of 1802 he was elected to represent this district in the territorial legisla- ture, where he assisted in securing the passage of the territorial library bill, and in having the present civil code adopted. He had the adminis- tration measures in charge, and was successful in securing needed legislation, also in putting through the legislature many bills of importance. May 27. 1807, he was appointed attorney-gen- eral of Oklahoma, a position that he filled with great credit until March 1, 1900.
In Waterville, Kans., Mr. Cunningham was made a Mason. He is now a member of Guthrie Lodge No. 2, A. F. & A. M. He united with the Royal Arch Chapter in Salina, Kans., and is now connected with the Guthrie Chapter. In Salina he also joined the commandery, and served as past eminent commander; later he became a charter member of Guthrie Com- mandery No. I, K. T. At the organization of the Grand Commandery in Oklahoma, in Febru- ary, 1896, he was made grand recorder, an office that he held until April, 1898, in the mean- time doing all the hard work attached to the office, during the formation and establishment of the grand commandery, without' salary. In April, 1899, he was elected deputy grand commander of the Knights Templar for Oklahoma. A year later he was chosen grand commander for Oklahoma, which position of honor and influence he now holds. He took the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite at Salina, Kans., and was presiding officer of the four Masonic bodies at Salina until appointed deputy of the Supreme Council of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for Oklahoma, by Al- bert Pike, Grand Commander, since which time he has had charge of the Scottish Rite in this territory. He was elected to receive the thirty-third degree (honorary) of Masonry, and in November, 1890, was coronetted at Fort Leavenworth, in a Provisional Council called by Brother Carr, Sovereign Grand Inspector General. He was made inspector general for Oklahoma, being elected an active member of the suprenie council in October, 1899, and is still a member, being one of a body of thirty- three that rule the Scottish Rite. He is a charter member and was Chief Rabban of Isis Temple, N. M. S., of Salina.
Perhaps no event in Mr. Cunningham's career is so important as his connection with the building of the Masonic Temple. The plan had been dear to the hearts of all Masons in the territory since its settlement, but undoubtedly the credit for the achievement rests largely with Mr. Cunningham. Largely through his influ- ence was set at work a train of influences re- sulting in the structure at Guthrie that is the pride of every Mason in Oklahoma. On Maundy Thursday, 1890, Mr. Cunningham called the 'Scottish Rite Masons of the territory together. But three responded, the others being Brother Cannon of the Pittsburg (Pa.) Consistory, and Brother Metcalf of the Chicago Consistory. They celebrated the feast in as ample form as circumstances permitted. . This feast has been observed every year since then. When they had thirty members a Lodge of Perfection was or- ganized, and when the membership reached ninety, a Consistory was organized, January 19,
ROBERT WILSON, D. D. S., El Reno.
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18. From that time began the real planning for a permanent building, which was secured after much hard work, and with the willing co- operation of the active Masons of the territory. The order was indeed fortunate to have Mr. cunningham interested in the success of the enterprise and desirous of carrying it forward to completion.
Mr. Cunningham is a charter member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in "thrie, and is past exalted ruler of the same, and a member of the grand lodge. The Jolin A. Logan Post of Salina numbers him among its members. In politics he has always been a Republican. While he was in the army he voted for Lincoln for president.
In. Toledo, Iowa, November 7. 1867, Mr. Cunningham married Evaline L. Herrick, who was born in Toledo, Ohio, and is a daughter of Charles Herrick, now of Guthrie. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are named. as follows: Charles Arthur, a real-estate dealer in Kansas City, Mo .; Harper James, who is mining in Cripple Creek, Colo .; and Evalina, wife of E. McClung, vice-president of the El l'aso Lumber Company, of Cripple Creek.
R OBERT WILSON, D. D. S., one of the most intelligent and interesting men to be found in Oklahoma, has had a varied ex- perience in life, having mined for gold on the Pacific coast, hunted for diamonds in Africa. raised coffee and tropical fruits in Central America, and worked at the dental profession in many places. He was born in Pittsburg, Pa .. a son of James Wilson, who was a native of England, to which country his paternal grand- father had moved from Scotland. Emigrating to Pennsylvania, James Wilson carried on farm pirsuits there until 18449. For several years afterward he resided on the old National pike, at New Concord, Ohio, and thence removed to Lawrence, Kans., where he died at the age of ninety-four years. In religion he was a Scotch Presbyterian. His wife, Isabella, daughter of Robert Kelley, of England, died at the Ohio homestead, aged eighty-six years.
The oldest son and third child of his parents. Robert Wilson was reared in Pennsylvania and Ohio, and after completing his education he tattglit school for two years. Having saved a small sum of money, he then, at the age of twenty years, went to California in 1854. via New York and Panama. He engaged in mining ott the Yuba river and later studied dentistry in San Francisco, under Dr. Kellum, a dentist si note. Subsequently he practiced in different California towns, including Marysville, North
San Juan, Downieville and Orleans Flat, re- maining there fifteen years. At various times he prospected for gold in Idaho, Utah and Mon- tana, and in 1862, near Owyhee, Ida., he dis- covered a rich gold quartz mine, but could not remain there at that time on account of the hostility of the Indians. Returning to the settlement, he was stricken with mountain fever, and could not go there again for two years; when he did go, the mine was occupied by others, who afterward sold it for a half million dollars.
In 1871 Dr. Wilson started on a trip around the world, taking his dental outfit with him. On arriving at Cape Town, Africa, he concluded to stop and investigate the working of the diamond mines at Kimberly. This mine was originally an oval-shaped mound, twenty-six feet in height, lying on the boundary line between the Free State and the Transvaal Republic. There, from the lips of an old transport rider, he was told the following story of the accidental dis- covery of diamonds in that region: An old Dutchman engaged in hauling freight from the coast to the interior had traveled over the · veldt for many days without finding any good pasture. On reaching the mound he decided to let his oxen graze for a few days on the Vaal river bottoms, so stopped near the house of a Boer farmer, whose little sons were playing a game with some Hottentots. The children used pebbles in their play, and the Dutchman noticed that the middle rock was a very pretty. bright stone, and picking it up he spoke to the boys about it. They became indignant and ran away, saying that he might keep the rock if he were mean enough to spoil their game. Taking up the stone the Dutchman went to the house, where he told the frau that he would like to pay for the stone and keep it. She told him to take it, that the boys could get plenty more just as pretty. On reaching Johannesburg. he showed his treasure to Dr. Atherstone, who. after testing it, bought it for one hundred and fifty pounds, and forwarded it to London. On his next trip to the interior, the Dutchman stopped at the Boer's house and gave to the old frau one-half of the proceeds, which she accepted with the exclamation "Almighty." and tucked it away in a stocking between her feather beds. The great news spread in every direction, and people from all parts of the Vaal rushed there to seek for diamonds, many camp- ing on the hillock, under the shade of the few mimosa trees that stood on the hillside. Men digging in the hillside with their fingers occa- sionally scratched out a diamond, others who followed the oxen as they browsed among the thorn brushes sometimes were lucky enough to find one of the brilliant stones. Thus was
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discovered what became the most valuable mine on earth.
In the great rush that followed, claims were staked off like a checker board containing thirty-one feet square, each claim being num- bered and sold for a half pound. The claims were all located when Dr. Wilson arrived there, but he bought several and owned seventeen at one time, being next to the largest operator there. Among his employes he had from twenty to one hundred and twenty wild men, some of whom had walked one thousand miles from the interior. The tribal chief would select from fifty to one hundred of his men, send them to the mines with the stipulation that they were not to return until each man had a gun and a goodly supply of ammunition, the penalty for re- turning without these being beheadment. Many of these men were so thin and weak that they were unable to work until after they had been fed for a month; their food consisted of mealie meal, or ground corn, made into mush, with a little salt. It was necessary also to supply them with wood, an expensive item, as the Doctor paid $48 per cord. In order to economize in fuel, neither axes nor saws were furnished the men, who were obliged to pick the wood off in slivers, a hard matter, as the wood was mimosa, very similar to our lignum vitae. The Doctor paid the men from $I to $5 a week, deducting the cost of the mealie meal. Each tribe messed by itself, but when at work were sandwiched together, two of one tribe working by the side of two from another tribe, and each man being impressed with the importance of watching the men of the opposing tribe to see that they did not steal the diamonds. Besides this pro- tection, a white. superintendent had charge of all.
On one of his claims Dr. Wilson found a dia- mond the size of an English walnut. of a brilliant white color, but distributed through it were eight or ten black spots, resembling specks of powder, which so reduced its value that he re- ceived but $3.coo for it, while if it had been per- fect it would have readily brought $200,000. He was gazetted by the governor of Grigua Land West to be one of the board of seven superintendents to care for and operate the mines successfully, the purpose being mainly to secure revenue for the government, and as such he served for two years. Not content with his Kimberly success, he fitted out an expedition to go into the interior of Africa in search of diamonds and precious metals. bearing his own expense, which amounted to more than $20,000. His supplies consisted of ox- trains, with sixty-seven men, himself and sixty- three natives. While traversing the White Water mountain range, he discovered the gold
mines in what is now Johannesburg, then con- tinued his travel until reaching the head waters of the Zambesi, by which time many of his men were down with fever and had to be transported. The oxen were attacked by the Tetze fly, which caused the death of many of them. He was therefore obliged to abandon the expedition. Leaving everything except the very necessities of life between Zambesi and Delagoa bay, he retreated as well as he could, and on reaching the bay found that he had lost twenty-two of his men, among whom were two of his white companions. At the headwaters he was himself stricken with the jungle fever and was sick for. months, being at times unconscious. Finally he recovered, but for seven successive years, even after returning to the United States, he had a return of the fever every summer. At Delagoa bay he waited for a vessel bound for any point toward home. In a month a coaster collecting hides, ivory and India rubber came along, bound for De Urban, Africa. He boarded it, and after his arrival at Natal lay sick for many weeks in De Urban, then secured passage on the Royal Mail post, which passed through Ladysmith and Bloemfontein on its way to Kimberly. During his absence from the latter place his mines had been worked, and he sold some, and left others in charge of an agent. While staying there he was cared for by an English physician, who advised a sea voyage. Starting for England, he arrived in Southampton in the fall of 1874. and in the spring of 1875 he was in New York. Six months later he went to his old home in Ohio, thence to the Hot Springs, where he thought the fever might be "boiled" out of him. thence to Paris, Tex., where he engaged in the practice of his profession until 1889.
Going then to Nicaragua, Central America. with the idea of making investments for himself and others, he found that the proposed canal was not to be built at that time, so did not invest any of his capital, but established himself as a dentist on the shores of Lake Nicaragua. in the old town of Rivas. While there he hunted for gold in the mountains, going to the borders of Mexico, and secured about twenty-one pounds of gold-dust, but found that the ex- penses of mining were so great as to prevent any profits. Returning to Paris, Tex., for dental supplies, instead of going back to Nicaragua, as he had planned, he came to El Reno with a view of making this his headquarters while he explored the Wichita mountains for gold. He has since tested many samples, but has not found anything of sufficient value to pay for further search, so that he is at present devoting liis attention to his profession, in which he has built up a fine practice. After his return from Africa the degree of D. D. S. was conferred
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upon him, in 1882, by the Baltimore Dental College.
Dr. Wilson is an extensive real-estate owner, being the possessor of a model farm sixteen miles west of El Reno, and of a fine plantation of four hundred acres in Honduras, on the Car- ibbean sea. On the latter, which is under the care of a native superintendent, he raises oranges, lemons, coffee and rice. It is situated sixty miles from Trujillo, famous as the only place on the American continent on which Columbus ever set foot, he having landed there on his fourth and last voyage.
Dr. Wilson is a member of Cosmopolitan Lodge No. 1409, A. F. & A. M., of Kimberly,. British Jurisdiction, a Scottish Rite Mason: and is connected with Oetchedron Commandery No. 47, K. T., of Kimberly. At the Fort Worth Consistory he was admitted to the thirty-second degree under the Southern Jurisdiction, Albert Pike officiating. He also belongs to India Temple, N. M. S .; to the Odd Fellow's Lodge and Encampment: and to the Knights of Pythias. While living at Kimberly he was one of the organizers of the Order of Good Templars, American Jurisdiction. In
1896 he was appointed a member of the terri- torial board of dental examiners, and reap- pointed in 1898. Politically he is a strong Republican.
March 27, 1899, Dr. Wilson married Mrs. Leonette (Northrop) Coots, who had one child by her first marriage, Augustine Coots. She was the eldest of the eleven children of Z. N. and Elizabeth (Burke) Northrop. Her father descended from an Englishman who was a pio- neer of Virginia, whence the family moved to Kentucky. Mrs. Wilson's great-great-grand- father was a soldier of the Revolution, and her great-grandfather fought in the war of 1812. Her grandfather, John Northrop, was born in Kentucky and became a farmer in Missouri: he served during the Civil war as captain of a company in the Union army. Z. N. Northrop was a native of Kentucky, but removed to Mis- souri when young and for many years there followed the blacksmith's trade. He is now a farmer in Custer county. His wife, a native of Tennessee, was a daughter of Milton Burke. who descended from a Revolutionary soldier and was born in Virgina, but removed to Texas and served during the Mexican war as a major- general. Subsequently he settled in Camden. county, Mo., where he was a money broker and extensive land owner. , When a girl Mrs. Wilson attended the high school at Lebanon, Mo., from which she graduated. She taught school prior to her marriage. She is a member of the East- ern Star.
A. H. BAGBY, D. D. S., is one of the leading business men and popular citizens of Paw-
nee, where he is not only engaged in the practice of his profession, but is also a member of the firm of Bagby & Patterson, who are suc- cessfully conducting a drug and jewelry store in that place, Mr. Patterson being a jeweler by trade. The doctor owns a claim four miles south- west of the city, and in connection with its cul- tivation he also operates a quarter-section of Indian land adjoining. He is one of the most energetic and enterprising business men of Paw- nee, and is meeting with well-deserved success in his labors.
Dr. Bagby was born near St. Joseph, Mo., on the 16th of April, 1868, his parents being Wil- liam and Carrie (Huffman) Bagby, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively, while the former is of Scotch and the latter of German descent. For some years the father followed farming near St. Joseph, but he and his wife are now living near Plattsburg, Clinton county, Mlo. Her father was Milton Huffman, a native of the Keystone state, and an early settler of Missouri. The doctor's paternal grandfather was William Landon Bagby, a planter of the Old Dominion, where his birth occurred. He, too, became a pioneer of Missouri, and an extensive farmer of Buchanan. Of the nine children born to the parents of our subject, seven are still living. namely: Jennie, at home; Henry C., a physician and dentist of Santa Marie, Cal .; Mrs. Harriet C. Stipe, a resident of Plattsburg, Mo .; Rufus E., an educator of St. Joseph, Mo .; A. H., of this review; Mrs. Anna E. Watson, of Stewarts- ville, Mo .; and Ernest L., assistant physician in the state asylum at St. Joseph.
Dr. Bagby was reared on the home farm, seven miles from St. Joseph, and began his edit- cation in the local schools. For one year he was a student at Plattsburg College, and for the same length of time attended the University of Missouri, at Columbia, after which he engaged in teaching school in Buchanan county, Mo., for one year. In 1896 he entered the Kansas City Dental College, from which he was graduated in 1892, with the degree of D. D. S. He began the practice of his chosen profession at Paso Robles. San, Luis county, Cal., and from there removed to Lompoc. Santa Barbara county, remaining in California until 1803, when he returned to Missouri and at the opening of the Cherokee strip made the run. though it was his intent to return to the Golden state as soon as he had secured his claim. He located west of Perry, but, not being pleased with the country, he re- moved to the village and opened the first drug store in that place. This he conducted in con- nection with his brother, Rufus, and at the same time engaged in the practice of dentistry. In
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