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 93
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Samuel Davis; and Caroline, wife of A. C. Van- derpool, of Montana.
Born April 21, 1841, in Clay county, Mo., Wil- liam G. Owen is now in the sixtieth year of his age. Growing to manhood on the old farm, he learned the lessons of thrift and industry, and at the same time acquired a practical knowledge of mathematics and the sciences. For a number of years he owned and carried on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in his native county, and gradually drifted into the special business of rais- ing live stock. In 1886 he sold his property and went to Montana, where he bought 'and operated a farm for two and a half years. When it became known that Oklahoma was to be opened he de- cided to seek a home in this more equable cli- mate, and, luckily for him, he managed to sell his ranch in the spring of 1889. In May follow- ing he came to this county and purchased a claim in section II, where he still lives. He raises large crops, of wheat and corn and keeps a good grade of horses and live stock. He has placed ninety acres under the plow and has carried into execution a great many improvements, which have materially increased the value of the farm. He opened a quarry in 1893 and derives a rev- enue from this, it being one of the very best in the county.
During the first three years of the Civil war Mr. Owen served as a member of the Missouri state militia, and much of the time was on guard duty, for he lived in a region which literally was a battle-field of contending factions, and he had just cause for anxiety for his home and loved ones. At last, bidding farewell to his young wife and little ones, he enlisted in the ranks of Company H, Forty-fourth Missouri Infantry, and with his .regiment participated in a number of hard-fought battles. He was assigned to the Western Division of the army, being in the Twenty-third Army Corps, under the leadership of Generals Smith and Thomas. After taking an active part in the battles of Corinth, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn., he went to the south and was employed in the arduous campaign which included the fierce battles of Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley. He continued in the army until the war had been brought to an end, when he was honorably discharged. His first presidential ballot had been cast for Lincoln, and ever since that time he has been a stalwart friend of the Republican party.
In 1862 Mr. Owen married Ellen Michaels, and of the thirteen children born to them two have been called to the silent land. Winfield, the eldest surviving child, is of great assistance to his father in the management of the home farm, and the younger sons. Daniel P., George W., Charles N., William and Archie, have each contributed their share toward the general good
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of the family. Rachel is the wife of John Good- night. and Minnie is the wife of James Graves, while Roxie May, the youngest daughter, is yet with her parents.
A LBERT PLOEGER. Among the German- American farmers of Logan county, who are playing an important part in its devel- opment, Albert Ploeger stands in the front ranks. His pleasant home is situated in the southwest- ern quarter of section 10, township 15, range 3 west, and his postoffice is Seward.
Philip Ploeger, the father of our subject, was born in Westphalia, Prussia, and there. he fol- lowed the architect's business for many years, meeting with success. He married Josephine Herdes, and in 1865 he left his family and came to the United States, where he believed better opportunities awaited them. At first he located in Philadelphia, and later went to Leaven- worth, where he found an abundance of work in his line. In 1871, after he had made a good start financially (his services as an architect be- ing in great demand), and after he had made ample provision for his loved ones, his wife and two children joined him. As Leavenworth af- forded him scope for his acknowledged ability and skill, he won an enviable reputation and fortune. A few years ago he removed to this township, where he is living quietly. He is in his eightieth year.
Albert Ploeger was born in Luechtringen, in the province of Westphalia, October 18, 1852, and there obtained an excellent education in the common schools. When he was fourteen years old he commenced learning the trade of a stone- mason, and earned about half a thaler per day for some time prior to his departure for America, in 1871. For a few months subsequent to his arrival here he was employed at his trade in the town of Scipio, Kans., and when the great fire of October laid much of Chicago in ashes he went to that city, as he foresaw that his services would be in demand. Later he returned to his parents' home in Leavenworth, and then went to Deni- son, Tex., and subsequently to Lawrence, Kans. Then for a few years he spent the winter season in the coal mines near Leavenworth, while dur- ing the remainder of the year he worked at his trade. At last he embarked in agricultural pur- suits, and, after cultivating a farm in Jefferson county, Kans., for a number of years, he came to Oklahoma in August. 1889, and bought the northeast quarter of section 9, township 15. range 9. His family joined him within a few weeks, and for about a year they resided in a log cabin, later moving into a frame building made of cottonwood lumber. At the close of the sec- ond year his aged father also came to this town-
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ship and settled upon the claim which is the pres-' ent homestead of our subject. In 1897 the young man erected his comfortable, substantial house, and year by year has added improvements. His thrifty vineyard comprises two acres, and in liis orchard he has planted about six hundred trees, many of which are now bearing abundant har- vests.
In all of his business affairs Mr. Ploeger is practical and progressive, and he bears an en- viable reputation for integrity. He is not a poli- tician nor office-seeker, but his ballot is given to the candidates of the Democratic party. Fra- ternally he is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Mr. Ploeger married Lizzie Johle December 27, 1874. and twelve children have blessed their union. She, too, was born in Germany, but was brought to the United States when she was six months old, and when she was eleven years old was left an orphan in St. Louis. The eldest child of our subject and wife, Katie, married Thomas Franks, of Iron Mound township, and they have one son, Carl. Joseph, who wedded Johanna Thomas, resides in Colorado. Albert, Bertha, Anna, Martha, Ethel and Lizzie are at home. Sophia and Mary, twins, are deceased, the for- mer dying at the age of twelve years and the latter when only three months old. Louis, the sixth child in order of birth, was accidentally killed on the farm. Josephine, the youngest, died at tlic age of four months.
A. C. OSTROM. Previous to coming to Oklahoma, in 1889, Mr. Ostrom led a somewhat eventful life, the occupation in which he was most interested, that of railroad- ing, necessarily taking him into various parts of the country. He was born in Glenville, N. Y .. in 1834. and reared on his father's farm. After studying for several years in the public schools. and learning to be a good farmer, he spent a number of years working in the city, on the old and new reservoir, and while there he drove a team during the day and went to school in the evening in New York City. Just before the war he went south and entered upon a long period of railroad life. With the beginning of hostilities his run was from Savannah to Macon, Ga., as fireman on the road. June 23, 1863, he was pro- moted to be engineer, and had some rather lively and interesting experiences. In 1864 he, with others. were captured by Sherman's army, in Savannah, and held as prisoners of war for sev- eral weeks. Previous to his capture he carried the prisoners to Andersonville and also con- veved troops. While a prisoner he took the oath of allegiance to the United States, February 10, 1865, being sworn before Lieutenant-
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Colonel Robert P. York, at Savannah, Ga. One of his most treasured remembrances of the war is the packet of original papers wherein is indi- cated his oath of allegiance to the constitution of the United States. Mr. Ostrom has also in his possession some Confederate money and stamps, which he earned in various ways during the war.
The Ostrom family is of German descent, al- though the paternal grandfather, David, was born in New York state. He was quite a promi- nent man, especially in a political sense, and was several times a member of the general assembly of New York. He was a prosperous farmer of Glenville, N. Y., where he died at the age of sixty-four years. The parents of A. C. Ostrom were Lansing and Abigail (Carroll) Ostrom, na- tives, respectively, of New York, and Worcester, Mass. The grandfather Carroll was a unique character, and played a conspicuous part in his town. He was a Democrat of the uncompromis- ing kind, and a big man, and was always ready for fight. The mother of our subject had thir- teen children, nine of whom grew to maturity. Lansing Ostrom spent the majority of his days near Glenville, N. Y., and died within fifteen miles of his birthplace, at the age of seventy- eight years. He was a farmer, merchant and speculator, and amassed considerable of this world's goods during his energetic and enter- prising life.
After the war A. C. Ostrom decided to go west, and in 1865 took a position on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, running from Clin- ton, Iowa, to Belle Plaine. He later engaged with the Illinois Central Railroad Company until 1872, when he went to Texas, and worked on the Texas Pacific, and the International and Great Northern as foreman of the grading. After this experience Mr. Ostrom spent two years on a cattle ranch in the Panhandle country, known as the T. J. F. ranch. In ISS7 he moved to No Man's Land, and lived there until the opening of Oklahoma, when he made the run from the Cheyenne line and secured his present farm. The claim is located on the south half of the northwest quarter and the north half of the southwest quarter of section 26, township 15. range 7. He at once began its improvement. setting out all manner of fruit trees and engaging in general farming and stock-raising. The land is well watered and adapted to the raising of stock.
In addition to his farm lands Mr. Ostrom owned a number of city lots in Okarche, which he secured in the run of 1892. He has thus had many interests in his adopted state. In 1889 he married Mrs. J. Amanda (Thomas) Emmons. widow of Asa Emmons, a native of Trenton. N. J. Her father was Andrew Thomas, of North Carolina, who lived nearly all his life in Indiana,
and died after moving to Missouri. His wife, Cynthia Ann (Green) Thomas, of Indiana, was the mother of six children, five of whom; are liv- ing: Henrietta, the wife of Charles Warn, of Iowa Falls, Iowa: Mrs. Ostrom; Ruth, the wife of Joseph Spealman; John A., who resides in Kansas City, Mo .; and Charles P., of Oregon. Mrs. Ostrom is the mother of three sons: Wil- liam, living in Jackson county, Mo .; David H. Emnions, of Colorado Springs, Colo .; and Fen- ley Emmons, living at home.
From a comparatively small beginning in the territory Mr. Ostrom has come to be one of the most successful farmers in his township. When he arrived here he was the possessor of six cows and two horses. He is a self-made man in the broadest sense of the word and entitled to the confidence and esteem which his fellow towns- men readily accord him.
P ATRICK RODEN. Ireland has contribu- ted multitudes of lier ambitious, able sons to the United States, and the part which they have played in the development of the wil- derness cannot be overestimated. In the person of the subject of this review is found one of the best representatives of the Emerald Isle and one of the energetic pioneers of the west.
Born in 1832, in the land of the shamrock, Patrick Roden spent the happy days of boyhood there, but when the years of trouble and famine brought death and suffering to that fair land he decided to try his fortunes in the New World. In 1849, accordingly, lie sailed across the At- lantic, and soon after arriving on these shores set out for the great west, then awakening into beauty and productiveness under the magic wand of advancing civilization. Endowed by nature with the qualities which are needed in the successful farmer, young Roden at once began to make progress in his struggle for a place of respect in his new country. Thrift, economy and sterling integrity brought to him the reward which he rielily deserved, and for forty years he made his home in central Missouri. In the course of years prosperity crowned his efforts, and he owned a finely improved homestead, comprising one hundred and seventy-five acres. When the Civil war came on he suffered severely from the ravages of the contending armies, and frequently had his crops destroyed and his cattle and live stock confiscated. With a brave heart, how- ever, he did his best, and soon retrieved his for- tunes so that he became known far and wide as , a well-to-do farmer. He raised a general line of crops, and made a specialty of keeping horses, miules, cattle and other stock.
Nine years ago Mr. Roden came to Oklahoma and bought the claim where he now resides, in
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Oklahoma township, Oklahoma county. The land was practically wild, and under his indus- trious labors has been changed into a beautiful country-seat. One hundred and ten acres are de- voted to the raising of wheat, and a large har- vest is garnered here each year. Altogether Mr. Roden has placed one hundred and twenty acres under the plow, has fenced his property, built a substantial house of six rooms, which is further enhanced in value by a cool, tight cellar, and convenient barns and a carriage-house and three fine wells add their quota to the general desira- bility of the place. Every improvement made is an eloquent testimonial to the common sense and enterprise of the owner, who has neglected none of his wider duties as a citizen while attend- ing to the needs of his family. In political mat- ters he uses his franchise in behalf of the meas- ures advanced by the Democratic party.
In St. Louis Mr. Roden married Sarah Con- lan, who died May 30, 1900. Of the children who came to bless their hearts and home three manly sons are left to them. Thomas, the eld- cst, is a resident of Mexico, Mo .; Patrick, Jr., is the paying teller in the Oklahoma City National Bank, and Lawrence, who is at home, is aiding in the general work of the homestead.
F RANK SWAYZE, a progressive business man of Oklahoma City, is a contractor and plasterer, and has had the contracts for many of the principal buildings and resi- (lences in the city since he has located herc. Mr. Swayze was born in Scranton, Lackawanna (then Luzerne) county, Pa., and is a son of G. C. and Caroline (Knapp) Swayze. His grand- father, Philip, was born in South Wales, and upon coming to this country settled at Hack- ettstown, N. J., and later at what is now Dalton, Lackawanna county, Pa. He was engaged in the manufacture of shoes on a large scale before locating at Dalton, and there followed the hotel business until his death. He served in the war of 1812. bearing the rank of lieutenant.
G. C. Swayze was born in Hackettstown, N. J., and after moving to Scranton, Pa., was a contractor and plasterer there about twenty-five years. During a visit in Kansas, he died at Win- field, aged sixty-nine years. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted for three months' serv- ice from Pennsylvania, and then re-enlisted for three years. He was taken captive in Virginia and was incarcerated in Andersonville for about one year. When he, with other prisoners, was being moved to another prison, he made his es- cape from the cars. He bears an honorable rec- ord of service during the war, in which hic suffered many hardships. His wife was born in Deposit, N. J., and died in Pennsylvania. She
was a daughter of Asa Knapp, a native of Scot- land, who was employed as a blacksmith and carriage manufacturer in New York, and who served throughout the war of 1812. This union resulted in the birth of six children, five of whom are now living.
Frank Swayze was born September 17, 1850, and was reared in Scranton and Hyde Park. wherehe received his education in the public and high schools. He learned the trade of a plasterer when a boy, and while his father was in the war was bound out to George Barber, of Wilkes- barre, for four years, a part of this time being spent in attendance at Wyoming Seminary. He was graduated from the latter institution and then worked at his trade in Hackettstown, N. J., for one year. In 1860 he moved west and lo- cated at Auburn, Davis county, Mo., where he followed farming, in addition to carrying on his trade. He was very successful and two years later sold out to good advantage, removing to Stewartsville, where he engaged in the livery business for eighteen months. Unfortunately, he was burned out and lost everything he had.
Going to Gower, on the Wabash Railroad, Mr. Swayze worked as contractor and plasterer on the new buildings along that road for a period of two years, and then moved to Plattsburg, Mo., where he engaged in the same work. In 1885 he went to Kansas City and engaged in contracting and plastering, in addition to dealing in real estate, meeting with success until the collapse of the boom, in which he lost $50,000, which represented his entire wealth. He continued at his former occupation. and in 1891 went to St. Louis, where he was very suc- cessful. In 1897 he came to Oklahoma and set- tled on a farm in Logan county, west of Guthrie, remaining there until 1898, when he moved to Oklahoma City. He is now the largest con- tractor in his line in the city. Among his con- tracts were those for the plastering on the Wind- sor Hotel. Bennett building, all of the buildings of the Oklahoma Building Company on Tenth and Robinson streets, Reed building, the resi- dence of Colonel Stiles, Hickey building, the residence of N. B. Utt, and the Opera-House. He also built two residences for himself, the ope on Pottawatomie street, in which he lives, and one on Ninth street and Central avenue, in Maywood.
Mr. Swayze was married at Plattsburg, Mo .. to Frances E. Mitchell, who was born in that city and is of Kentucky parentage. They became parents of four children: Cove, who is in busi- ness with our subject: Carrie, wife of R. A. Law. of Houston, Tex .: Stella. wife of B. S. French, of St. Louis; and Jonathan, who lives at home. Fraternally, he is a member of George Washington Lodge No. 63. A. F. & A. M., of
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St. Louis, having joined that order while a resi- dent of Plattsburg; Lambskin Chapter, of Kan- sas City: Woodmen of the World; Ancient Order of United Workmen; Select Knights; Junior Order, U. A. M .; Knights of the Golden Eagle, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Oklahoma City Mission. In politics he is a Democrat.
E LMER L. RUSSELL. Just in the prime of manhood, Elmer L. Russell, a prominent citizen of Crutcho township, Oklahoma county, takes a leading part in the affairs of this progressive community, and is actively inter- ested in agriculture and stock-raising. His homestead speaks well for his energy and prac- tical methods, and everything about the place is well kept and attractive.
Of Holland-Dutch extraction. E. L. Russell's ancestors were numbered among the first set- tlers of New York state. His grandfather, Re- turn Russell, was born in that section of the country, and was one of the pioneers of Akron, Olio. For years he was prominently associated with the religious sect known as the "Shakers," and when he died he left a large share of his extensive possessions to that order. He had at- tained a venerable age at the time of his death and was loved by all who knew him. His son, Robert E .. father of our subject, was reared in the faith of the "Shakers," and, though he became quite independent and liberal in hisways of think- ing in his last years, he always retained a feeling of love and reverence for the doctrines instilled in his mind in youth. He went to Walworth county, Wis., when a young man, and there, in the midst of the dense forests, hewed out a farm, which was a model one in every respect. On this same farm, on the spot formerly occu- pied by the house where our subject was born, now stands the famous Yerkes Observatory.
During the Civil war R. E. Russell enlisted and served in the ranks of the Union army for a short time. and throughout his mature life he was stanch in his allegiance to the Republican party. In 1863 he moved to Fayette county, Iowa, where he dwelt during his active life. though his death occurred when he was a resi- (lent of Bremer county, Iowa, and when he was in his seventy-seventh year. By his marriage to Mary Levina Jov. who survives him and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. D. C. Lynn, of Shawnee. Okla., four children were born. The eldest, William H., resides in Fayette county, Iowa, and Mary A. is the wife of G. N. Bunce, of Shawnee. The first wife of Mr. Russell was a Miss Williams, and of their five children two are living, namely: Levina, wife of J. M. Brookfield. of Newark, and Francis W., of South Dakota,
who served in the Union army for four years as a cavalryman, and in one engagement was se- verely wounded.
The birth of Elmer L. Russell took place near Lake Geneva, Wis., in 1860. He grew to man- hood in Iowa, and received a common-school education, besides becoming familiar with agri- culture in all its branches. For several years he followed farming in Fayette and Buchanan counties, Iowa, and then engaged in the manu- facture of brick for a number of years. He also was financially interested in a meat market for a few years, and in these different lines of business succeeded very well. In 1893 he came to Okla- homa City, and after residing there for a few months he purchased eighty-eight acres of land in section II, Crutcho township, filing on the property October 5, 1893. Since that time he has instituted many valuable improvements, and in 1896 he built a substantial modern house. In addition to this desirable farm he owns one hun- dred and eighteen acres of heavily timbered land in Robertson county, Tex., and considerable town real estate, including two lots on Fourth street, Oklahoma City. On one of these lots he built a pleasant residence, which he leases. In politics he is a Republican.
November 13. 1887. Mr. Russell married Miss Lillian E. Hoy, daughter of Daniel Hoy, who settled in Logan county, Ill., when that was the frontier, and there cleared a homestead. His former residence was in Pennsylvania. To Mr. and Mrs. Russell four children were born. namely: Robert Rodney, Paul Malcolm, Beatrice Joy and Sarah Alice. The family attend the Methodist Church and are justly popular with every one in this locality.
J.
I MARVIN REMINGTON. The Reming- ton family was founded in Virginia in an carly day, and is of English extraction. Enoch Remington, grandfather of the subject of this article, was a Virginian by birth, and in early manhood settled in Illinois as a pioneer of Dan- ville, where he died. About 1858 Marvin Reming- ton, father of our J. Marvin Remington, moved to Platte county, Mo., where he served as county clerk for several years. During the Civil war he served under General Price. He married Julia Leftwich, whose father, a Virginian, became a pioneer farmer of Carroll county, Mo. By this marriage two children were born, J. Marvin and Laura, the latter being the wife of S. B. Cary, a druggist of Kansas City, Mo.
Near Norburn, Carroll county, Mo., J. Mar- vin Remington was born December 5. 1862. Reared on a Missouri farm until 1873, he then went to Wilson county. Kans., settling with the family on a farm near Humboldt. Later he at-
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tended the public schools of Independence, Mo., for two years, after which he spent a similar period in Woodland College, at Independence. In 1878 he began the study of pharmacy, at tlie same time clerking in a drug store at Norburn. After almost three years he went to Parsons, Kans., and was employed in a drug store there for seven years. His next venture was as a druggist in Mulvane, Kans., in 1886. In the fall of 1887 he went back to Parsons, but soon left there for Kansas City, where he was connected with a pharmaceutical establishment on the cor- ner of Fifth street and Broadway.
The fall of 1888 found Mr. Remington located in Purcell, I. T., where he carried on a drug busi- ness until the opening of Oklahoma. He then located a claim between Purcell and Lexington, on the Canadian river, which claim he improved and cultivated for a year, at the same time con- tinuing the Purcell business and carrying on a drug store in Lexington. In September, 1891, he went to Tecumseh, Pottawatomie county. He had ten wagon-loads of lumber brought into town the day of his arrival and built one of the first stores in the place. He remained there un- til September, 1893, when he opened a drug store in Perry, but ten months later he sold out to return to Tecumseh and resume the drug business there. When Shawnee was started he opened one of its first stores and built a neat residence in the new town, where he still owns improved property. In 1898 he started a store in Chandler, where he owns the Remington building. He continued to make his home in Shawnee until the summer of 1900, when, having some months previous sold his business, he re- moved to Oklahoma, and opened in Lee Hotel, corner of Main street and Broadway, what is said to be the finest pharmacy in the southwest, equipped with every modern convenience and containing a large and valuable stock of drugs, together with the other articles to be found in a first-class drug store, including the finest soda- fountain fixtures between Dallas, Tex., and St. Louis, Mo.
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