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 20
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C HARLES E. DENNIS has reason to be proud of the success which he has achieved in Perry, of which he is a pioneer business man, and one of the foremost in all progressive movements. Beginning in a humble manner, as most of our citizens were forced to do, he grad- ually worked his way upward, and now ranks high among the founders of this thriving little city.
The paternal grandfather of our subject, Bat- son Dennis, was born near Louisville, Ky., and at an early period removed thence to Indiana, later to Bloomington, Ill., and in 1857 to a farm in the neighborhood of Seneca, Kans. Thus he was a pioneer of three of the leading states, which, in turn, were considered as on the west- ern frontier of advancing civilization. The ma- ternal grandfather of C. E. Dennis, Elijah Huff. was born in the Hoosier state, thence went to Illinois, and spent his last years near Seneca. Kans., his age at death being eighty-one years. He volunteered and fought in the war of 1812. and on two occasions was captured by Indians. but fortunately made his escape.
The parents of our subject are B. J. and Nancy (Huff) Dennis, natives, respectively, of Indiana and Illinois. The mother, who was born and reared near Lawrenceville, Ill., is yet living. Two of their eight children died when young; Mary departed this life in Perry: John died in Kansas, and W. G. was accidentally killed near Fort Scott January 13, 1901. George F. and E. J. are in the grocery business in Perry. B. J. Dennis assisted in putting up the first house in Seneca, Kans., and for many years was a farmer of that locality. In April, 1897, he bought a claim sitt- ated nine miles west of Perry and is still living on that place. During the Civil war he volun-
teered his services to the government three times, but each time was rejected on account of physical disability.
Charles E. Dennis was born in Sencca, Kans., on Christmas Day, 1861, and was reared on a farm in that locality, there receiving a public school education. At eighteen years of age he opened a barber shop at Oneida, Kans., and car- ried on that enterprise until he came to Perry, for a period also being financially interested in a nursery business. On September 16, 1893, he made the race to Noble county and staked out a lot in Perry, at the place where he now resides. For two weeks he occupied a tent which he put up here, and in which he conducted a barber shop until he completed a frame building in Seventh street, near the public square. This structure remained in that location until January, 1894, when it was removed to the present site of the Exchange Bank.
Since 1895 Mr. Dennis has devoted his entire attention to the real-estate, loan and insurance business, and, indeed, from the date of his arrival here, he has been more or less occupied in deal- ing in local property. Three weeks after he- came to Perry he started to build a residence on the lot where he has dwelt for more than seven years, and later he added other wings and im- provements to the house. His first partner was Mr. Pinkerton, the firm being known as the Banner Land Company. The business relations between the gentlemen were terminated by mu- tual consent two years ago, and on New Year's Day, 1899, the new firm of Hansen & Dennis commenced its successful career. Mr. Dennis has handled large loans in Noble, Payne, Paw- nee, Logan, Garfield and Kay counties, lending money on farms and chattels and also dealing in town property. The firm is the largest and longest engaged in the insurance business here, representing sixteen of the leading companies. A branch office has been established at Billings, Noble county, and marked success is attending the partners' efforts. Mr. Dennis is a director in the Noble County Bank, and is a member of the Commercial Club. He has built several resi- dences here besides his own, and yet retains some of them.
In his political creed our subject has always been an active Democrat. For the past fifteen years, in Kansas and Oklahoma, he has served on the county central committees of Nemaha and Noble counties. In April, 1899. he was elected to represent the third ward in the Perry council, and is chairman of the street and alley committee and a member of the finance com- mittee. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge. Ancient Order of United Work- men, and is recorder and treasurer of the home lodge.
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In Oneida, Kans., Mr. Dennis married Emma Brown, a native of Cass county, Mo., and daughter of Samuel C. Brown, of West Virginia. Her paternal grandfather was a Virginian planter, and her father owned a good plantation in West Virginia prior to his removal to Cass county, Mo., where he was a pioneer farmer. In 1892 he settled in Perkins, Okla., and died at the home of our subject when in his eighty-fourth year. His widow, formerly Susan C. Bowen, lives with Mr. Dennis and is in her eightieth year. She is a daughter of James Bowen, and was born in West Virginia, in which state he died. Mrs. Dennis is one of nine children who grew to ma- turity, but three of the number are deceased. James V. is a farmer of Johnston county, Mo .; Michael A. is engaged in mining near Webb City, Mo., and George H. is in the transfer business in Missouri; Mrs. Lizzie Rice and Mrs. Alice Siegfield reside in Perkins and Perry, respect- ively. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis are the parents of two sons, Fred and Howard.
J. B. GIVEN. As cashier of the Citizens Bank at Ponca, Kay county, Mr. Given has proved himself one of the most substantial, thorough and conservative business men of his city. These traits of mind and character, added to a strict integrity and all-around reliability, make him especially qualified for the position of trust which he so ably fills.
A native of Olathe, Kans., Mr. Given was, nevertheless, reared and educated in Pennsylva- nia, graduating from the high school at Carlisle, and from the department of electrical engineer- ing at Lehigh University, South Bethlehem, Pa., from which latter institution he received the de- gree of B. S. Soon after leaving college Mr. Given selected Oklahoma as a possibly favored location for the future, and upon locating in Ponca at once became interested in the banking business. As one of the organizers of the Citi- zens Bank he owned about half of the capital stock, and at the start was made cashier, which position he still retains.
At the time of the erection of the bank build- ing, on Grand avenue, Mr. Given superintended the construction, and is interested in the minutest detail connected with the running of the bank. Those who have profited by his ex- cellent business methods aver that in the length and breadth of the territory one would look in vain for a more trustworthy and honorable guar- dian of the people's funds.
In politics Mr. Given is affiliated with the Re- publican party and is interested in all of its un- dertakings and issues. He has never been an office-seeker, preferring to devote all of his time and attention to the affairs of the bank. At
present, however, he is city treasurer of Ponca He is a member of the Oklahoma Bankers' As- sociation, and is otherwise identified with the affairs of his state and locality. Mr. Given is not married.
H OWARD M. HAMBLIN, M. D. England is the ancestral home of the Hamblin fam- ily, and the first members to realize the broader possibilities of a life in America crossed the seas in 1639 and settled at historic Plymouth, in - Massachusetts. About 1730 their descend- ants, going north, located in Portland, Me., and here they have since lived and guided their for -. tunes into prosperous channels.
Dr. Hamblin was born in Portland, Me., in 1850, and is a son of Joseph F. Hamblin, a na- tive of Gorham, Cumberland county, Mc. His youth was spent in Wisconsin, whither his father had removed, and where he was engaged in gen- eral farming and in the lumber business. The education of H. M. was received in Minnesota. Keokuk, Iowa, and in St. Louis, and included, aside from a good common-school education. courses at Keokuk Medical College and the American Medical College at St. Louis.
In 1875 Dr. Hamblin began the practice of medicine at Hamilton, Ill., removing after a time to Westboro, Mo., where he successfully con- ducted a large and lucrative practice for several years. In 1883 began a series of disturbances for the doctor, arising from his location on gov- ernment land in Iowa, which land was contested by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad and an English syndicate. The matter was long and bitterly dealt with and carried through all of the lower courts, finally being decided by the United States Supreme Court in 1895. As a party to the contest Dr. Hamblin was three years settlers' delegate to congress. In 1886, while the con- test was in progress, he was appointed Indian physician, and was stationed at Winnebago. Neb., until 1800. At that time he moved 1. southern Kansas to await the opening of the Cherokee strip. Meantime he worked up quite a practice in Winfield. With the vast army of other home-seekers he made the run and located . in Newkirk, securing a fine residence lot.
Much of the doctor's success in his of profession arises from the fact that he leaves pa stone unturned which enables him to koop : touch with the best progress of his word parts of the world. Every few years he makes it trip to eastern hospitals, and there studies the advancement along all lines and renews his in terest and enthusiasm for a calling in which 'n has attained so great a degree of success. In 1804 he organized the board of United Stat Pension Examiners, at Newkirk, and was th
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FARM RESIDENCE OF O. Y. WHIPPLE, Kingfisher County.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
first president of the board, holding the position until 1897, when he resigned. He has at times served as secretary of the state boards of Illinois, Indiana and Missouri. Though a Democrat, and interested in the undertakings of his party, he has never been an office-seeker. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic order, having joined the organization twenty years ago. At the present time he is medical examiner for the Select Friends and for the National Aid Society.
Mrs. Hamblin was formerly Julia A. Clark, and she is the mother of one son, who is attend- ing the college in Stillwater.
O SCAR Y. WHIPPLE. Upon coming to Sherman township, Kingfisher county, in 1889, Mr. Whipple's sole worldly posses- sions were a team of horses and two cows. From this comparatively small beginning he has risen to a prominent place in the community, and is accounted the second largest stock-owner in the township. His well-managed claim is located on the northwest quarter of section 23, and upon it have been made all the improvements possible during the years of Mr. Whipple's ownership. In company with a brother, Ernest, and a friend, George H. Yomans, he made the run from Buf- falo Springs on the famous 22d of April, and secured the claim upon which he has lived, at 12:30 of the same day. The first summer some of the land was broken, and at the present time one hundred and twenty-three acres are under cultivation. His large interests have since neces- sitated the renting of other land, and he usually raises about two hundred acres of wheat, with an average of seventeen bushels to the acre. A good orchard is planted with a variety of fruit- bearing trees, and there is a vineyard that has more than exceeded the expectations of the owner. In 1893 was erected a comfortable and fine-appearing residence, and the barns and out- houses are commendably substantial. Mr. Whipple devotes all of his time to the bettering of his surroundings, and the results of his pa- tience and enlightened methods of conducting his enterprises have more than compensated for the trouble and hard work involved.
Mr. Whipple was born in Adams county, Iowa, in 1859, and is a son of William Whipple. Upon his father's farm in Iowa he received his early training, and had more than the average oppor- tunity for acquiring an education, studying at the Crescent high school and at the Iowa State University. Subsequently he made a practical application of the knowledge thus acquired and taught school for one term. In 1883 he went to South Dakota and engaged in general farming in Folk county for three and a half years, going thence to Rush county, Kans., where he contin-
ued farming until the opening of Oklahoma. Among his other interests in the territory, Mr. Whipple owns, in partnership with his brother, E. W., a J. I. Case threshing machine, which has proved a source of revenue as well as a con- venience to the surrounding agriculturists. In the matter of politics he has taken active part, and is a believer in the principles advocated by the Populist party. Before the districts were or- ganized he became a member of the school board, and has held the position ever since, be- ing much interested in educational affairs. He was also township clerk for two years. With his family he is a member of the Church of Christ in Christian Union, and takes an active part in all of the religious work of the locality. Since its organization he has been a teacher in the Sunday-school, and is one of the official board of trustees, as well as clerk.
Mrs. Whipple was formerly Minnie J. Garret- son, of Iowa, and she is the mother of six chil- dren, viz .: Lillie, Waldo (deceased), Ethel, Ray, Eva and Paul. Mr. Whipple has investments in gold mines near Colorado Springs, and is a member of the Albion Gold Mining & Milling Company, of Colorado Springs. He is also one of the largest owners of the Farmers' Milling Company, of Hennessey, and is secretary of the board of directors, also bookkeeper of the com- pany.
J OHN A. HANSEN. The career of this rep- resentative business man of Perry is one that inspires the public with admiration. He literally has been the "architect of his own for- tunes," for, beginning to fight the battle for a livelihood when he was only thirteen years of age, and possessed of few advantages, he stur- dily forged his way to the front ranks, winning the high regard of every one with whom he had dealings.
Born in Chicago, Ill., January 20, 1860. J. A. Hansen is a son of O. and Marie (Tallofson) Hansen, natives of Norway. The father, who was a cabinet-maker by trade, came to America in 1865. and found employment in New York City and Chicago. In 1860 he went to Cedar- vale, Chautauqua county, Kans., and was the first permanent white settler in his township. He continued to operate a farm there for ten years, at the end of which time he opened a furniture store in Cedarvale and conducted the business for two years. In 1881 he embarked in the work of establishing Sunday-schools in Kan- sas, and devoted twelve years to that noble un- dertaking. For seven years or more he lived upon a farm in Sheridan county, Kans., but since January. 1900, he and his wife have made their home with our subject. Another of their sons,
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Thorval D., is a farmer of Noble county, and Hakon, the eldest, is engaged in business at Manhattan, Kans. The only daughter, Mrs. Amelia Foster, lives in Sheridan county, Kans. The parents are earnest members of the Presby- terian Church, and are loved and honored by all who know them.
John A. Hansen was reared upon a Kansas farm and finished his elementary education in the schools of Cedarvale. At thirteen years of age he took a position in the Centralia (Kans.) State Bank as a messenger, and so faithfully performed his duties that he was soon promoted to a clerkship, and then became a bookkeeper in the institution. After spending five years in the bank he went to Kansas City and accepted a position of general clerk of the Lombard In -. vestment Company, later was made the book- keeper, and then for two years was the firm's cashier in the Omaha branch office. Assigned then to a similar position in a Texas office of the house, he remained there for a year, and then returned to Kansas City, where he was in charge of the insurance department of the com- pany until Noble county was about to be opened for settlement. Resigning his position Mr. Han- sen came to Perry and opened one of the first lumber yards here, continuing business as a member of the firm of Hansen & Nims until 1895, when he sold out.
In the autumn of 1894 Mr .. Hansen was the Republican nominee for the office of sheriff and was elected by a good majority, leading the ticket. Thus the first elected sheriff of Noble county, he entered upon his duties and held the position until January, 1897, when he declined to become a candidate again. From that time until the present he has been actively engaged in busi- ness, was appointed and acted as receiver of the First State Bank, of this city, and, after settling its affairs, bought Mr. Hudson's insurance busi- ness. In January, 1899, the firm of Hansen & Dennis was formed, and together these gentle- men are conducting a large and increasing busi- ness, dealing in real estate, making loans on farms and chattels, making abstracts of titles and representing fifteen old-line insurance compa- nies.
Mr. Hansen is an influential member of the Territorial Underwriters' Association, and was appointed as a delegate to the national meeting of insurance agents at Milwaukee, Wis., August 3. 1900. He belongs to the Perry Commercial Club and is a director in the Noble County Bank. He is a Knight of Pythias, and is a charter mem- ber of Perry Lodge No. 15. A. F. & A. M., of which he was worshipful master for two years. He also holds an official position in the Perry Chapter and belongs to Perry Commandery No. 6, K. T. Politically he is an ardent Republican,
and has served on the Noble county committee. He occupies a comfortable modern house, which he erected in the northwestern part of the city.
F RANK A. HUTTO was born in Tipton county, Ind., May 27, 1861. His father, Isaac N., is a native of Johnson county, Ind., and subsequently engaged in agricul- tural pursuits in Tipton county until 1866. He then removed to Washington county. Kans., and settled on the frontier, ten miles from Washington, on Joy creek. In order to secure the best possible educational advan- tages for his children he went, in 1880, to Man- hattan and engaged in the fruit-growing indus- try, and in 1892 took up his permanent residence in Stillwater, where he is retired from active par- ticipation in business affairs. During the Civil war he served with courage and distinction in Company I, Twenty-sixth Indiana Infantry as sergeant, until his discharge for physical disabil- ity. Two of his brothers, John and Wesley, were also in the Civil war, and gave up their lives for their country. Mr. Hutto is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his church relations are with the Methodist Episcopal denomination. His wife, formerly Mary Miller, was born in South Bend, Ind., and is a daughter of Alexander Miller, of the same county and state. Alexander Miller was a schoolmate of Colfax and a Meth- odist Episcopal minister, who settled in Kansas in 1862, living first in Marshall county, and later removing to Washington county. He was an earnest pioneer of the church to which his ef- forts belonged, and was also a farmer. He died at the age of seventy-eight years. The paternal great-grandfather Miller served in the war of 1812, and was in the same regiment with the grandfather Hutto. His demise occurred in comparative early life, and his widow later mar- ried Rev. Charles Lamb, the noted Methodist Episcopal minister.
The Hutto family is first represented in Amer- ica by two brothers who came from Germany some time during the last century and located in South Carolina. They were Lutherans, and one of them, John by name, settled in Kentucky in later years, after freeing his slaves in South Carolina. He served in the war of 1812, and died in his adopted state of Kentucky. His son, David, the grandfather of Frank A., was born in South Carolina, and located in Tipton county, Ind., then the great Indian reserve. There he established a home and reared his family, and eventually terminated his useful and enterprising existence. Ile served in the war of 1812, and was in the battle of Tippecanoe.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Frank A. Hutto was one in a family of thir- teen children, six sons and five daughters. Six sons and two daughters are now living, and of these, two sons and two daughters are living in Oklahoma, and four sons are in Kansas. The early education of F. A. Hutto was acquired at the subscription schools and later at the public schools. In 1878 he entered Lane University, at Lecompton, Kans., and in 1879 taught school in Washington county. Entering the State Ag- ricultural College in 1880, at Manhattan, he was graduated in 1885, with the degree of B. S. In the meantime he had continued his school teach- ing during 1883-84, in Riley county. The year of his graduation Mr. Hutto was principal of the McPherson high school for one year, and then located in Topeka, Kans. Previous to re- moving to Manhattan, he had studied law with Joe Lowe, of Washington, and after going to To- peka continued his researches with the firm of Welsh, Lawrence & Welsh, and was admitted to the bar in 1887.
Mr. Hutto was appointed by Governor Martin to organize the new county of Garfield, and after making his report to the governor he lo- cated in Ravanna, Garfield county, and became its first county attorney. In 1889 he settled in Kingman, Kans., and practiced law until 1890, at which time he took up his permanent location near Stillwater. In 1889 he had located a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on Boomer creek, which has since been his home, and af- fords a valued relaxation from the worries and responsibilities incidental to his many sides and active life. At the first election of county offi- cers, Mr. Hutto was elected county attorney, and served during the term. In the fall of 1898 he was elected to the Fifth General Assembly, by a majority of two hundred and seventy-one over the fusion candidate, and ran far ahead of his ticket. During the sittings of the assembly he was prominently identified with many important committees, eleven in all, including the commit- tee on elections, education, county and county lines, quarantine and industry. He was largely instrumental in securing the appropriation for the Agricultural and Mechanical College, the largest appropriation so far secured for any edu- cational institution in the territory.
In 1898 Mr. Hutto was asked to assume charge of the newly created chair of history and political economy in the Agricultural and Me- chanical College, which position was accepted, and at the same time he was made librarian of the institution. In both of these capacities the officials of the college have had reason to con- gratulate themselves upon the wisdom of their choice. The library is in an especially flourish- ing condition, and will soon have over ten thou- sand volumes.
In Garfield county, Kans., occurred the marriage of Mr. Hutto and Lydia Arnold, who was born near Bloomington, Ill. Of this union there are two sons, Charles and Arnold. Aside from his duties in connection with the college, Mr. Hutto is greatly interested in the general educational facilities of the town, and has done much to improve the methods and opportunities. He is a member of the school board. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Mac- cabees, and the Modern Woodmen of America. As a Republican he has been conspicuously iden- tified with the undertakings of his party, and was one of its organizers in the territory. From 1892 until 1898 he served as chairman of the Republican county central committee, and later held the same position on the territorial com- mittee. He is a member of the Territorial Bar Association, and of the Board of Trade. In 1892 he organized the Sons of Veterans in Stillwater, but the organization has since then ceased to exist. He belongs with the Presbyterian Church and is an elder of the same. It is doubt- ful if any man in the city has more actively thrown his energies into the general improve- ment and upbuilding of his locality than has Mr. Hutto, and he is regarded as one of the town's most enterprising and substantial citizens.
G EORGE A. MASTERS. Perry is excep- I tionally fortunate in her fine class of busi- ness men, for, unquestionably, the stand- ing of a town depends upon the character of its commercial citizens. One of the original set- tlers of Perry, George A. Masters has been ac- tively associated in its upbuilding, and was one of its pioneer grain merchants.
Born near Savannah, Ashland county, Ohio, October 14, 1854, our subject was reared upon a farm, and when less than nine years of age was deprived of his father, whose life was a sac- rifice to his country. He bore the name of Alex- ander Masters, and, like his son, he was a native of Ashland county. His father, Nicholas Mas- ters, was born in Somerset, Pa., in which locality his parents located upon their arrival in this country, their native land being Holland. Nich- olas Masters was a pioneer in Ashland county, Ohio, and his son, Alexander, also passed the major portion of his life upon a farm there. When the Civil war came on. the latter enlisted in Company H, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and participated in some of the most important campaigns of the central southern states. While valiantly fighting in the siege of Vicksburg, he was killed, May 3, 1863. Upon his faithful wife devolved the arduous duty of rearing their three sons and daughter. She bore
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