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. 2 > Part 12
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The ancestors of W. L. Taylor were Scotch- Irish, and his paternal grandfather was born across the Atlantic. He lived in Pennsylvania for many years, and then decided to become a settler of Onio, but died while making the trip thither. He had been a soldier in the colonial army during the war of the Revolution, and for his gallant services had been granted a land warrant, entitling him to a homestead in Han- cock county, Ohio. On a portion of this property, to which his family succeeded. the county seat is now located. His son, Charles, father of our subject, was born in the Keystone state, and re- moved west in early childhood. Ile became wealthy and influential, and one of the best- known men of Hancock county. He was the owner of considerable farm land. besides some valuable town property, and twenty acres which he laid out in town lots, comprising what was known as Taylor's addition to Van Buren. He was a Presbyterian in religion and an active worker in the church. He died in 1897, loved by a large circle of friends, at the age of seventy- three. His widow died in 1806, when in her sixty-third year. All but two of their twelve children survive, and two of the number are in Oklahoma, Robert L. being a farmer of Blaine county. Mrs. Taylor was Miss Caroline Fair- child in her girlhood, and her birthplace was in Bedford county, Ohio. Her father, Amos Fair-
child, was born in Maine, and for years was num- bered among the prosperous farmers of Ohio.
W. L. Taylor's birth occurred near the pa- rental homestead in Van Buren, Hancock county, in 1844. He received the usual training of country lads, and at eighteen he re- sponded to the president's call for patriotic sons of the Union, and enlisted in Company K, Sixty- fifth Ohio Infantry. With his comrades he par- ticipated in many of the severest campaigns of the war, serving, altogether, three years and three months, being honorably discharged on account of disability, January 13, 1865. He fought in the great battles of Shiloh, Stone River and Perryville, and at Chickamauga was wounded and taken prisoner by the Confederates. Owing to his condition, his captors were not averse to exchanging him for one of their own men, and the transaction was effected on the battle-field seventeen days after Mr. Taylor's capture. For one week he was in a hospital at Nashville, but as soon as possible he returned home on a sixty days' furlough. Later he served in the invalid corps at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Ill.
Resuming his ordinary life duties, Mr. Taylor entered Findlay College in the autumn of 1865, and pursued his studies for about a year. His health, however, was so impaired, both by his army service and his application to his books, that it was found advisable for him to go to the pine woods of Michigan. There he passed two years and was materially benefited. He then went to Cherokee county, Kans., where he re- mained upon a farm until 1871. During the ensuing fourteen years he was occupied in gold and silver mining near Eureka, Eureka county, Nev., and met with fair success. as at one time he owned a producing mine. In 1884 he returned to Ohio, where he remained four years, carrying on the manufacture of brick and tile at North Baltimore, Ohio.
On the 17th of April, 1889. Mr. Taylor left Ohio for Oklahoma, and a few days later made the race for a homestead, starting from Buffalo Springs, fifteen miles from the land which he claimed. This property, situated in sections IO and II (eighty acres in each section), Cimarron township, he at once commenced making im- provements upon, and later purchased a quarter- section of section 2, thus increasing his posses- sions to three hundred and twenty acres. Ile keeps an excellent grade of cattle and horses and is considered a progressive farmer. In April. 1897. he bought the Dover Town Site Com- pany's rights, devoted a portion of his farm to the enterprise, and, having a new survey made. placed Taylor's addition on the market. He has been very successful as a dealer in real estate. and has handled some of the business blocks of the town, as well, at present owning several
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
buildings there. In 1899 he organized the Okla- homa Central Telephone Company, with its headquarters at Kingfisher. Since it was incor- porated, he has acted as the treasurer of the com- pany, which is, and will be, a great factor in the upbuilding of this portion of the territory. Fra- ternally, he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge and the Grand Army post at Dover.
Thirty years ago the wedding of Mr. Taylor and Miss Jemima A. Daniels, of Illinois, took place, in Pleasant View, Kans. Their elder son, Mahlon E., possessing the same patriotic spirit that animated his father and grandfather, enlisted in the government service, becoming a member of Troop A, First Nevada Cavalry, and went to Manila, Philippine Islands. After serv- ing with his comrades for two years, he was honorably discharged, his term of enlistment having expired, and since that time he has been engaged in journalistic work in that far-away city, being connected with one of the leading newspapers, and also having other business in- terests in Manila. Fred N., the younger son, is at home with his parents.
J OHN W. LEWIS, cashier of the First Na- tional Bank of Tecumseh, has done as mitch, undoubtedly, for the prosperity of this thriving place as any of its business men. The faith which he has maintained in the future of this town has been backed by works which have counted strongly against adverse condi- tions and have resulted in marked progress.
Like a multitude of men who are to-day occu- pying positions of prominence in their commu- nities, John W. Lewis was born upon a farm and reared to the industrious, useful life of the tiller of the soil. A son of Robert A. and Eliza- beth A. (McKelvey) Lewis, he was born January 28, 1854, in St. Louis county, Mo. His educa- tion was gained in the district schools, and he continued to reside upon farms in his native county for some time after attaining his majority. Removing to Henry county, Mo., he there car- ried on a farm, also devoting some attention to the raising of live stock. In 1882 he located in West Plains, Mo., and for about ten years was at the head of a livery establishment. also doing a flourishing transfer business. Selling out in 1802, he came to Tecumseh, and organized the Bank of Tecumseh, which was opened for busi- ness September 15. For three years and three months he did not lose a day and never was ab- sent from his post, though during a part of this period he lived upon a farm six miles from Te- cumseh, and went back and forth night and morning. This place, situated on the Canadian river. he had homesteaded, and for eighteen months lived upon the farm, improving it as fast
as possible. The bank with which he has been so long connected was merged into the First National Bank of Tecumseh in 1900, and is ranked among the leading institutions of the . kind in the territory.
With five other citizens, Mr. Lewis organized a company four years ago, and came to the res- cue of Tecumseh, whose fate was trembling in the balance, as the railroad had been put through five and a half miles from this place, and things looked dark. These thoroughly enterprising cit- izens proceeded to construct a branch railroad. and furnished its entire equipment, finally selling out to the Choctaw Railroad, in February, 1900, and thus it has become a part of its system. To Mr. Lewis is due the credit of originating the plan for raising the $24,000 employed in building the court-house. Having laid the matter before the committee appointed to attend to the great enterprise, it was decided to adopt his plan, and thus there is to-day a court-house which would be a credit to any county, east or west, and it also serves as quarters for the postoffice. The liberality and public spirit of Mr. Lewis are too well known here to require special comment, and from time to time he has invested in real estate. at present owning several fine business lots and three brick stores, 25x90 feet in dimensions.
The marriage of Mr. Lewis and Miss Ida M. Brown took place in Henry county, Mo., October 31, 1877. Their only child, Austin B .. is a promising young man, a graduate of the Spaulding Commercial College of Kansas City. the class of 1900. The family is identified with the Presbyterian Church, the father being an elder in the congregation.
In his political faith Mr. Lewis is a Demo- crat, and, though he has not cared for public office, he has served in the council. Fraternally he is a Mason, belonging to Tecumseh Lodge No. 13. A. F. & A. M., of which he has been senior warden. The Royal Arch and Knights Templar degrees he received at Oklahoma City. and was there exalted to the Mystic Shriners.
J. C. McGINLEY, agent for the Fred Heim Brewing Company and a retail ice dealer of Norman, first came to this territory on the 2d of January, 1801. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, his birth having oc- curred in Ireland, in April. 1866. There his parents, Frank and Hannah (Cassidy) McGin- lev, still reside, the former being engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. Our subject's paternal grand- father was John C. McGinley, and the maternal grandfather was John Cassidy, both of whom were life-long residents of the Emerald Isle and farmers by occupation.
Mr. McGinley, of this sketch, is the second in
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
order of birth in a family of seven children, six of whom are still living. He has two brothers in the United States: Frank, a resident of Nor- man, Okla .; and James, of New York City. The first seventeen years of his life our subject spent on a farm in his native land, and attended the national schools. He then came to America, be- ing the first of the family to locate on this side of the Atlantic. In the fall of 1883 he became a resident of St. Louis, Mo., and from there went to Texas, being engaged in clerking in different places in that state. He spent two years in Dal- las. On the 2d of January, 1891, he came to .Norman, Okla., and embarked in the liquor busi- ness, which he carried on for five years. On selling out he went to Leadville, Colo., and en- tered the employ of the Arkansas Valley Smelter Company. He was also engaged in prospecting and mining until the fall of 1898, when he re- turned to Norman. In 1900 he accepted the agency for the Fred Heim Brewing Company at this place, and has built up a good trade for that firm. He has a refrigerator capacity of three cars. He is also successfully engaged in the retail ice business. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and in his religious connections is a mem- ber of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, of Norman.
A LEXANDER FISHER is one of the repre- sentative farmers of Pottawatomie county. His claim, located on the northwest quar- ter of section 33, township II, range 3 east, is well improved and has become a source of rev- ente to the enterprising and progressive owner.
A native of Macon county, Ill., Mr. Fisher was born March 17, 1865. His paternal grand- father, Samuel Fisher, removed from Pennsyl- vania at an early day and became a prominent farmer in his locality in Illinois. George, the father of Alexander, was born in Pennsylvania, and his wife. Polly A. (Hendricks) Fisher, was a native of Illinois. Alexander Fisher removed with his parents to Sumner county, Kans., when but seven years of age, and there grew to man- hood on the farm which his father had pur- chased. In this family there were eight chil- dren, four sons and four daughters. Alexander being the fourth oldest. Mrs. Ada Brewster is living in Sumner county, Nans .; Rola and Susan also reside in Sumner county; Alexander lives in Pottawatomie county, Okla .; Henry ched in Sumner county, Kans .. and left two children, Bert and Iva: Mrs. Katie Guinn died in Summer ' county, and left two sons, George and Charles: Jesse died in Sumner county, and left three chil- dren, Mabel, Elsie and Jesse: Lizzie died in Kan- sas at the age of ten years. The parents of these children died in Kansas, the father June 27, 1897, and the mother August 27, 1898.
After receiving a fair education in the district schools, Alexander Fisher started out to shift for himself at the age of twenty-one, and worked by the month for one summer. He then bought a team of horses and rented a farm, upon which he conducted general farming enterprises until 1893. Thinking to better his prospects, he re- moved to Oklahoma City and engaged in the confectionery business, which was eventually disposed of. When the Cherokee strip was opened he made the run to Enid, where he se- cured a lot, and, after remaining about a year. returned to Oklahoma City. As the manager of a boarding-house and an employe in a mill he was fairly successful until 1897, at which time he purchased the claim upon which he has since lived. In addition to the other improvements on his place, he has a good orchard, which is just beginning to bear, and which promises abundant harvests in the future. He takes much interest in the surrounding enterprises that work for the upbuilding of his locality, and is ready to con- tribute time and money for the furtherance of all good and desirable improvements.
In Sumner county, Kans., December 30, 1891, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage with Nellie E. Wilkinson, a native of Wabaunsee county, Kans., and a daughter of James and Sarah (Stout) Wilkinson. Of this union there is one son, George Virgil, born in Oklahoma City, Au- gust 18, 1896.
R OBERT CHANDLER. Well known as one of the commissioners of Pottawatomie county and as one of its foremost agricul- turists, Robert Chandler is deserving of special mention in the history of this locality. The splen- did service which he and his fellow commission- ers have rendered to this, their chosen county, reflects great credit upon them, and amply proves the wisdom of the community in the choice made of officials to carry out public im- provements.
The birth of Robert Chandler occurred Octo- ber 20, 1851, in Marion county, Mo. His par- ents, Taylor and Emeline (Campbell) Chandler. were natives of Kentucky, and accompanied their respective families to Missouri at an early clay, their marriage occurring some years later. The father was born upon a farm near Cynthi- ana, and the mother on a farm near Lexington. Ky., she being a distant relative of the well- known evangelist, Alexander Campbell. Mr. and Mrs. Chandler were among the first perma- nent settlers of Missouri, as it was nearly seventy years ago when they became residents of that then frontier state.
The advantages received by Robert Chandler in his youth were as good as could be expected
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in a new state in the stormy war period. He became a practical farmer and business man, and remained upon the parental homestead until his marriage. Miss Mary Baker, of the same county, was the lady of his choice, their wed- ding taking place in 1879. Four children were born to them, namely: Arthur, Gertrude, Ethel and Curtis. The last mentioned died near Nor- man, Okla., when in his eleventh year, and the wife and mother departed this life in Gentry county, Mo. The second marriage of our sub- ject occurred in that locality, Miss Mary Wil- liams becoming his bride. She is a native of Iowa, and lived in Missouri from childhood. Two daughters bless this union, Leah and Lil- lian.
In 1882 Mr. Chandler commenced operating a farm in Gentry county, Mo., and for about twelve years he continued to reside there. Seven years ago he came to this territory and settled upon land near Norman, Cleveland county. He brought some fine live stock from Missouri, and always has kept a good grade. In Decem- ber, 1895, he located upon his present home- stead, which then was in a wild condition, and only one house was within sight on the prairies. On this land, situated on section 32, township II, range 3 east, he built a comfortable house at a pleasant site, about a mile and a half from the town of Dale, and planted an orchard, be- sides making many other improvements. The peaches grown in this orchard are of a fine quality, equal to any variety ever known. The fields bring forth abundant harvests of wheat and corn, much of the grain being fed to the stock kept upon the premises.
This progressive citizen has been active in the ranks of the Democratic party for many years, attending numerous conventions as a delegate. In 1898 he was elected as a commissioner of this county, and in 1900 was again chosen to this office, being the only commissioner re-elected. In brief, what was accomplished during his first term may be thus summed up: that, whereas the county warrants were at a discount, they are now at par, and the county is $12.000 better off than in 1898. In his own district. Mr. Chandler has succeeded in getting two fine steel bridges, each two hundred and twenty-five feet long. built across the Canadian river, also one of com- bined steel and wood, and one constructed en- tirely of wood. In addition to these, many bridges of lesser importance have been built in various parts of the county, new roads opened, and numerous improvements of great public im- portance have been instituted. In Missouri, Mr. Chandler belonged to Lodge No. 31, I. O. O. F .. with which his father had been identified before the son's birth. Later our subject filled the various offices in MeFall Lodge No. 440. in Mis-
souri, and is a charter member of Dale Camp, in which he has been council commander.
C HARLES LEAVITT BOTSFORD, a leading member of the Norman bar, and probate judge of Cleveland county, is sec- retary of the board of regents of the University of Oklahoma, having been appointed a member of this body in March, 1899, by Gov. C. M. Barnes, and later elected secretary of the board. In all matters of public interest he is concerned, performing his full share towards the prosperity of his community. He ranks high in his pro- fession and belongs to the Territorial Bar As- sociation.
The original spelling of the surname which our subject bears was Abbottsford, Scotland being the old home of the family, which, for many generations, has been identified with New England. His paternal grandparents removed from Connecticut to New York at an early day, and his father, Sherman Botsford, was reared in the Empire state. With his brother, Lucius, he went to Wisconsin when it was a territory and settled upon land about fifteen miles from Mil- waukee. There he cleared a farm and continued to live until claimed by death, in 1851. His widow, Miss Rhoda Look, in her girihood, and a native of Madison county, N. Y., reared their five children, and when the Civil war was in progress saw her elder son, James Sherman, the only one who was old enough to enlist, march away to serve upon southern battle-fields. He was a member of the Fifth Wisconsin Vo !- unteer Infantry, and during his service he was seriously wounded. When he had returned home and had recovered sufficiently, he took up the study of law, and during Grant's admin- istration was appointed United States district attorney. Since 1879 he has lived in Kansas City, and has risen to distinction in his profes- sion. The three sisters are Mrs. Clarissa Allen. who died in Dakota; Martha, wife of David Muir, a wealthy farmer and stockman of Hamp- ton. Towa: and Mrs. Phoebe Wilcox, of Se- dalia, Mo.
Charles L. Botsford was born November 2. 1849, near Waukesha, Wis., and was reared upon the farm. His higher education was gained in the Beloit College and in the University of Mich- igan. In the last-named institution he was grad- uated in the law department in 1870, and for three years thereafter practiced in Sedalia. Mo. Then, removing to Minneapolis, Kans., he spent a decade there, in the meantime serving for two terms as county attorney, and making a highly creditable record for so young a lawver. Dur ing the next four years he practiced in Atchison. Kans., and from 1887 to 1893 was connected
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ERNEST R. BUCKMINSTER, Garfield County.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
with the bar of Concordia, Kans. In July, 1893, he came to Norman, where he is rapidly ad- vancing in his chosen field of endeavor. His popularity was amply demonstrated in 1898, when, in order to please his Republican friends, he consented to run for the office of county attor- ney, knowing well that the Democratic majority here is over five hundred. He ran far ahead of his ticket, being beaten by less than one hun- dred votes, and thus he has the honor of having received the largest Republican vote ever polled in the county for that office. In 1900 he was nominated for probate judge of Cieveland county, and elected by three hundred and fifty- four majority.
In 1874 Mr. Botsford married Miss Nellie Ostrander, in Minneapolis, Kans. She was born in Cattaraugus county, N. Y., and died in 1884, leaving three sons. One is deceased, and the others, Frederick and Charles James, are promis- ing young men. The former is a bookkeeper in the National Bank of Commerce, of Kansas City, and the younger is at home and attending the high school. In 1886 Mr. Botsford married Miss Annie, daughter of William Kipp, of Atchison, Kans., and sister-in-law of Judge David Martin, of that state. She was born in Pennsylvania, and by her marriage is the mother of three sons, namely: David Martin, William Kipp and George Sherman.
The pleasant modern residence, on Peters ave- nue, occupied by Mr. Botsford and family, was built under his supervision. In the fraternal or- ganizations he now is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Work- men. His wife is a member of the Episcopal Church, which he usually attends. Kind-hearted and liberal, he gives liberally toward many benevolent enterprises and is ever ready to ex- tend a helping hand to the unfortunate.
E. R. BUCKMINSTER, who has been en- gaged in general farming and stock-rais- ing since coming to Oklahoma in 1893, owns a finely improved property situated on the northeast quarter of section 28, Logan town- ship, Garfield county. Mr. Buckminster was born in Blue Earth county, Minn., and is a son of Richard S. and Abbie Buckminster. His father was born in New York state, and at an carly day migrated to Cook county, Ill., where he married Miss Abbie Fellows. About 1850 he went to Minnesota, and there remained until 1870, when he moved to Osage county, Kans. In 1880 he traveled through Oklahoma before it was opened, but died of fever while on the trip. Throughout his entire life he followed farm pur- suits.
When ten years of age, E. R. Buckminster
left Minnesota for Kansas, where he made his home for sixteen years. Afterward, for seven years, he resided in Howell county, Mo. His ed- ucation was obtained in the public schools of Kansas and in Lane University, at Lecompton, Kans. He taught school in Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas until the spring of 1893, when he went to the Cherokee and Arapahoe country, and passed his time in the Cheyenne country, while waiting for the strip to open. September 16, 1893, he made a run of sixteen miles from South Line, and secured his present claim on sec- tion 28, where he has since resided. At first he made his home in a small hut upon the property, but in a few months erected a house, 12x16 feet, and also made other important improve- ments, including the placing of one hundred and ten acres under the plow, setting out a good orchard and a small vineyard. He is extensively engaged in wheat raising and the cattle business, and has met with success. In the general wel- fare of the county he has taken a deep interest, supporting all measures tending toward its de- velopment, and he stands as one of the most enterprising and progressive men of the section. He assisted in organizing school district No. 63, and served as one of the first directors. For three years he served on the school board. In local politics he is a Populist, and was for a few years a member of the county central committee, and has been a delegate to all county conven- tions." For one term he was justice of the peace, and served as township trustee and assessor for two years.
In Missouri, in 1892, occurred the marriage of Mr. Buckminster and Miss Minnie Horn. a daughter of Lewis C. Horn, who removed from Pennsylvania to Missouri at an early day, be- coming .a large land-owner, and an extensive farmer and stock-raiser. Four children were born to this union, as follows: Lewis, Fred, Norval and Abbie Belle.
JAMES LEONARD BARTLETT. Promi- nent and successful among the many enter- prising men of Logan county is Mr. Bart- lett, a native of Tennessee, born July 15. 1837. and who sought his fortune west of the Father of Waters in the spring of 1878. We find him the owner of one of the finest farms in Oakview township, Logan county, and surrounded by all the comforts which rightfully belong to one pur- sting a career of industry and uprightness. MI :. Bartlett descended from good old Tennessee stock, his parents, Henry and Eleanor (Terry) Bartlett, having been natives of that state. where the mother died when James L. was a mere child. About 1839 the father moved with his family to Missouri, settling on a farm in
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