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 22
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In all of the joys and sorrows of his active life Mr. Shaw has found a true helpmate in his wife, formerly Miss Hannah Young. She was orphaned when she was a child, her parents, Joseph and Sarah Young, dying in Ohio. Six children blessed the marriage of our subject and wife, namely: Charles C., now living in the Chey- enne Nation; Joseph O., who is married and car- rying on a portion of his father's farm in this township; John M., who is a student in the schools of Oklahoma City; Bert, Edward and Roy, who are on the home farmn.
Politically Mr. Shaw is a Democrat. He has served on the local school board, and meets his obligations as a patriot and voter. He is inter- ested in everything relating to progress, and is striving to give his children good educational ad- vantages, as he fully realizes the importance of practical training for life's serious duties.
C READ WAYLAND TAYLOR was born in Lee county, Miss., June 26, 1860. His father, Samuel, was born in Amherst county, Va., and his mother, Elizabeth, is a native of Greenville, S. C. The paternal grandfather, Samuel Taylor, was the nephew of President Zachary Taylor, and the maternal grandmother. Ann Marks Dozier, was of French descent, and
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D. A. AND ELIZABETH SMITH, Kingfisher County.
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of distinguished ancestry. Many of the mem- bers of the Taylor family have distinguished themselves in their respective localities and oc- cupations, and fought with courage and distinc- tion in the Revolutionary war.
When fourteen years of age, Samuel Taylor was taken by his family to southern Alabama. where he clerked in a general merchandise store, and later became a partner in the same concern. After his marriage he sold out his interest, and removed to Mississippi, and as a planter became a prominent member of the community. He seemed to have a particular aptitude for agricul- ture, and his ability in this direction received substantial recognition from his county, for at the state fair he was awarded the gold cup, in token of having the best improved and managed plantation in the state. In this manner he amassed a fortune, and at the outbreak of the war his property was valued at $100,000. For the service of his country at this critical time he equipped a regiment, and although in favor of the Union, he served as a Whig in the army of Virginia, in the belief that this course would best protect his possessions. During the war he lost the greater part of his property, and had but little money and land left after the cessation of hostilities. He terminated his useful and successful career in 1883, his wife having pre- ceded him.
C. W. Taylor was one in a family of five sons and four daughters. He had excellent educa- tional opportunities, and graduated at the Van- derbilt University, at Nashville, Tenn. Having equipped himself for the profession of law, he practiced for three years at Tupelo, Miss., and while here wrote the charter for the town of Leighton, which he named, and of which he was appointed mayor by Governor Stone. He mar- ried, in Shannon, Miss., Bell Kidd, daughter of Capt. W. Kidd. Her mother was formerly Sarah Wallace, a lineal descendant of William Wallace, and of an old Virginia family. To Mr. and Mrs. Taylor has been born one son, William Hart- well, who is now eight years of age.
After his marriage, Mr. Taylor removed to Patean, I. T., where he assumed charge of the insurance society known as the American Benev- olent Association, of St. Louis. This position he filled with credit, attending to the affairs of the company in Oklahoma and the Indian Ter- ritory. Mr. Taylor is a man of exceptional force of character and determination. The amount of work accomplished by him exceeded that of any other representative in the United States or Canada, in which countries the organization does the largest business. His home is now in Wilburton, and he is accounted an admirable acquisition to the city of his adoption. At this writing he is traveling for the Yukon Mill and
Grain Company. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are prom- inent in religious circles, and are members, re- spectively, of the Church of England and the Methodist Episcopal Church.
D. A. SMITH, who owned more farm lands in Kingfisher county than any other cit- izen, resided in a commodious home on the northwest quarter of section 17, Grant town- ship. He was intimately connected with the up- building of the county for more than a decade. and was justly entitled to a place among the founders of this commonwealth.
The ancestors of our subject were of German descent and were early settlers of Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Philip Smith, a hero of the Revolutionary war, moved from Pennsylvania, his native state, to Indiana in 1816 and cleared a farm in the wilderness. He became well-to-do for that period, owning four hundred acres of valuable land. He died at the advanced age of seventy-four years. The maternal grandfather, Samuel Haynes, also removed from the Key- stone state to Indiana in 1816, and there he was ' later numbered among the enterprising farmers of Washington county.
D. A. Smith was one of the eleven children born to Philip and Rebecca (Haynes) Smith, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Six of the number are still living and five reside in Indiana. The birthplace of our subject was on the old homestead in Indiana, where he was born June 28, 1837. There he grew to maturity, receiving a good common-school education. In 1857, when he was twenty, he married, and for some years he carried on a farm comprising one hun- dred and sixteen acres. In 1868 he came west and purchased a farm in Brown county, Kans., and from that time until his removal to this ter- ritory was accounted one of the most enterpris- ing citizens of Washington township.
Soon after the doors of Oklahoma were opened to general settlement, Mr. Smith came to Kingfisher county and bought a farm, the deed to which was the first one made out in the county. His family joined him in August, 1803. and within a short time success crowned their united efforts. As good opportunities presented he invested in additional land, until he he owned. at the time of his death, July 22, 1900, eight hun- dred acres in Grant township. He planted three hundred and twenty acres of wheat, and in 1800 realized twenty-five bushels to the acre, on an average. From fifty to one hundred acres are devoted to the raising of oats, and a well-kept or- chard, comprising about two hundred trees, and a small vineyard are highly productive. Mr. Smith built a substantial house and barns and made many other improvements. Indeed, it is
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said that he improved more land than any other man in this or neighboring townships, and he also dealt extensively in real estate and farm lands.
For years prominent in the Grange and Farm- ers' Alliance in Kansas, Mr. Smith served in the office of Master Granger at one time, and was one of the promoters of the Kingfisher Farm- ers' Grain Elevator. He served as a member of the local school board for some time, and his influence extended to all worthy enterprises. In politics he was a Populist, and while a resi- dent of Kansas he acted as a justice of the peace.
June 28, 1857, Mr. Smith married Elizabeth Mayfield, of Indiana. Seven children were born to them, namely: Wilber, now living in Cana- dian county; Charles, whose home is near Yukon; Luther, a resident of this township; Alonzo, who is at home; Emma, wife of H. A. Price, a merchant of Everest, Kans .; Lydia A., wife of E. L. Weaver, of Noble county, Okla .; and Cora, wife of Frank Jones, a farmer of this territory. Mr. Smith was a member of the ' church from the age of fifteen years, and con- tributed liberally to the support of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, with which he was iden -- tified. In his death the church and community experienced a heavy loss.
G I EORGE A. TODD. A pioneer of Okla- homa and of Perry, George A. Todd is one of our patriotic citizens whose names should find an honored place in local history. His paternal grandfather, Alexander Todd, a hero of the war of 1812 and of the Mex- ican war, was a remarkable man in many re- spects. He was a typical frontiersman, a great Indian fighter, and very fond of hunting. One of the pioneers of Columbiana county, Ohio, he spent the greater part of his long life there. associated with its agricultural development. He lacked but a few months of reaching the century mark when his career drew to a close.
The parents of our subject were John and Elizabeth (Eells) Todd, natives of Columbiana county, Ohio. The mother was a daughter of George Eells, also an early settler in the Buckeye state, and, like the Todds, of English descent. In 1858 John Todd . removed with his family to Green county, Ind., where he carried on a farm for two years, then returned to his native county, but for a number of years past has dwelt near Owensburg, Ind. He is in his sixty- third year, and has survived his wife, who do- parted this life in Ohio when about thirty-seven years old. Their youngest son, Ira D., is an Indiana farmer, while Frank W. is similarly employed in Payne county, Okla. Mrs. Anna
M. Morgan, the only daughter, resides in Osage City, Kans.
George A. Todd was born February 24, 1858. in the neighborhood of New Lisbon, Ohio, in which place he completed a high school course and then engaged in teaching in the vicinity. In 1879 he came to the west, and found employ- ment as a carpenter at Osage City, Kans .. and later commenced contracting and building there. For several years he was the manager of a local lumber yard, owned by L. W. Brown, and be- came thoroughly familiar with the demands of the trade.
April 22, 1889, Mr. Todd went to Oklahoma City, and engaged in the lumber business, but in October of the same year became the gen- eral manager of the Guthrie business of T. M. Richardson Lumber Company, and continued to live there until Noble county was opened, when he was sent, as the representative of the same firm, to Perry, and conducted the yards at the corner of Sixth and B streets until the company sold out.
From January, 1897, to January, 1898, George A. Todd served as a member of the Town Site Board, which had in charge the deeding of cer- tain town-sites: the northern part of Enid, at Jonesville; the northern part of Woodard, and the north, northeastern and western part of Perry. By act of congress this board was dis- banded at the end of 1897. Mr. Todd soon thereafter became the superintendent of the Perry Water, Light & Ice Company, to which he has since devoted his energy. The electric light plant is well equipped, and has a capacity of sixty arc lights. The water-works are in fine running order, and the ice plant, which has a capacity of ten tons a day, supplies many of the leading families and business firms. Mr. Todd also owns the O. K. Coal Company, and deals in all kinds of coal and fuel, as well as building materials.
One of the organizers of the Noble County Bank, Mr. Todd continued his connection with the board of directors until 1900, when he dis- posed of his stock. In the spring of 1894 he was appointed on the board of commissioners of Noble county, and owing to the efforts of that body, the county was placed upon a sound finan- cial basis. He has been a member of the city council and of the Commercial Club, doing all within his power to promote the interests of this locality. In political faith he is a Demo- crat. Fraternally, he belongs to Perry Lodge No. 15. A. F. & A. M .; to the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World. and to the Guthrie lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
In his native county, Mr. Todd married Miss
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Maggie McPherson, also born in the county. They are the parents of four children, Hugh Harland, who is at present a student in the Alva Normal School; Ethel Elizabeth, Olive Matilda and Lora Viola, who are at home. The family attend the Perry Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Todd has served as a trustee.
W. N. WALKER, postmaster of Stillwater, was appointed to his position of trust by President Mckinley in 1898. It is needless to say that his services have given all- around satisfaction, and that he is more than ever firmly launched in the confidence and es- teem of his fellow-townsmen.
A native of Jefferson county, Kans., where he was born April 22, 1868, Mr. Walker is a son of Harvey Walker, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, and, upon starting out in the world for himself, became a farmer in Ohio. In 1855 he located in Kansas, and purchased new land in Jefferson county, which he developed, and upon which he lived until his death in Winches- ter, Kans., in 1899, at the age of seventy-nine years. His property, which amounted to three hundred and twenty acres, is still in the family. He was a free-state man. The mother, Anna (Nelson) Walker, was born in Ireland, and after becoming an orphan while yet a child, she came to America, and was married to Mr. Walker in Pennsylvania. She is still living in Winchester and is seventy-four years of age. She is a de- voted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the mother of nine sons and two daughters, who are, with the exception of one son, all living. W. N. being the youngest. C. C. is cashier of the Payne County Bank, at Per- kins; C. D. is an attorney at Atchison; M. D. has a fruit farm at Atchison; M. L. is vice-president of the First National Bank at Stillwater: O. L. is the wife of William McKenney, of Winches- ter; E. L. is a farmer at Mulberry, Kans .; S. R. is a farmer near Stillwater; Anna B. is now Mrs. Stevenson, of Winchester: and H. M. is a stock- man near Winchester, Kans.
Until his twentieth year, W. N. Walker lived in his native county, and after receiving his education in the public schools, entered, in his fifteenth year, the Baker University, at Baldwin City, Kans. After three years he went to the Atchison Business College, where he completed the course. In the fall of 1889 he sought the
larger possibilities of the west, and spent four months in Denver. Colo., and, after a short time in Atchison, located for a year in Portland, Ore. In the spring of 1802 he took up his permanent location in Stillwater, and went into the mer- cantile business with his brother. M. L ... under the firm name of Walker Bros. Their place of
business was located on the corner of Main and Eighth streets. At the opening of the strip in September of 1893, Mr. Walker made the run from the strip line and located on a claim six miles north of . Stillwater, which he improved. and then sold in 1898. The same year occurred his appointment as postmaster, which position he has since held.
After coming to Stillwater, Mr. Walker mar- ried Mary P. Ralston, a native of Kansas. Of this union there is one child, Harold Theodore. Mr. Walker joined the Masonic fraternity No. 6. A. F. & A. M. In politics he is associated with the Republican party and has been a delegate to various county and territorial conventions. He occupies an enviable place in the estimation of the community in which he resides, and is accounted one of Stillwater's most enterprising and reliable citizens.
R. B. THOMPSON. Though comparatively . speaking a young man, having been born
in West Virginia in 1871, Mr. Thompson has already received the reward of conscientious application to business, and is accounted one of the most prominent and promising attorneys in Kay county.
Mr. Thompson recalls a youth free from con- ventionality and somewhat given over to adven- turous undertakings. At the age of thirteen he had finished his education at the public schools and graduated from the high school, which training seemed to his expanding mind sufficient preparation for the future requirements of an independent existence. Neglecting the usual formalities incident to home leaving, this youthful scion of his father's house departed. sans adieux or advice, for the glowing possibil- ities of the far west. With commendable enter- prise, he began to work on the farms of Ne- braska, and at such other occupations as came his way, keeping in touch the while with the happenings of the world, and increasing his knowledge by reading and observation
When old enough to assume the responsibil- ity, Mr. Thompson began to teach school, and in this way saved sufficient money to back up his determination to make a success of his life. and to enter upon the study of law, for which he evinced particular inclination. In due time he entered the law department of the Nebraska University, and was graduated from the same in the class of 1802. He began the practice of his profession in Creston, Neb., going thence to Ponca. of the same state, and practiced in the state, federal and superior courts. In March of 1000 he formed a partnership with W. L. Bar- num, at Ponca, Kay county, Okla., and the firm; has since conducted a general law business,
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being admitted to all the courts of the territory. Mr. Thompson is the organizer of the Ponca City Ice and Refrigerator Company, and is now seeking a franchise from the city for an electric light plant, with all prospects favorable.
Aside from his professional duties, Mr. Thompson is variously interested in the affairs of his adopted town, and is prominent in the politics of his locality. As an ardent Republican he has been active in all the undertakings of his party, doing especially effective work during the campaigns. Fraternally, he is associated with the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. In the estimation of all who are familiar with the incidents of his life, he is deserving of great credit for the suc- cess which has crowned his efforts, and for his ability to turn to good account opportunities that would to many seem entirely out of reach.
H. L. FOREHAND. One of the best types of the frontiersman is found in H. L. Forehand, who for the past decade has made his home in Lexington. On the plains and prairies of the great southwest he experienced the vicissitudes of a frontier life, and from pov- erty gradually worked his way upward to a con- dition of affluence and esteem. The burdens of life fell upon his shoulders when he was a mere child, but he manfully met every responsibility, and, by indomitable spirit, conquered all obsta- cles in his pathway, ultimately meeting with the success which he richly deserved.
A son of Blake Forehand, our subject was born in Tennessee sixty-two years ago, and in 1849 accompanied his father to Travis county, Tex., where a settlement was made near Web- ber's Prairie. At the age of thirteen the lad went to Williamson county, same state, and there grew to manhood, with few advantages. He ob- tained a scanty education in the schools of his community, and has been largely dependent upon himself for everything which has contribut- ted to his success. All departments of agricul- ture and stock-raising were mastered by him when he was a comparatively young man, and at an carly day he commenced dealing in cattle and horses. For many years he conducted two large ranches, aggregating seven hundred acres, and kept large herds of cattle and horses. Fully thirty-two years ago he commenced driving herds across the Indian Territory into Kansas, selling at Salina, usually. In following the old Shawnee trail, he passed over the site of Lex- ington, little thinking that a flourishing city would soon stand here, numbering him among its population.
In 1800, having accumulated a comfortable fortune, Mr. Forchand retired from active busi-
ness life, and since that time has dwelt in Lex- ington. Here he has made investments in town and country property, and devotes much of his time to looking after the same. He owns the old homestead in Williamson county, where his father dwelt for a score of years, and also owns and rents a good farm situated three miles north of Lexington. Two of the first brick buildings constructed in this city were put up by him, and he yet is the owner of two substantial business blocks on the main commercial street. All local affairs receive his attention, and, as he is actively interested in whatever tends toward the welfare of the community. he does everything within his power for the public good. For five years he served as a member of the city council, having been elected by his Democratic friends. He has always given his political support to the Demo- cratic party and rejoices in its triumphs.
In 1865 Mr. Forehand married Miss Nancy M. Ashton, in Williamson county, Tex., and has found in her a true helpmate. They occupy a handsome modern residence, which was con- structed in the autumn of 1899 and is furnished in excellent taste. They have numerous friends here and elsewhere, and take genuine pleasure in entertaining them in their beautiful home.
A NDREW HUTCHIN. One of the founders of Lexington, and for about twelve years one of the prosperous agriculturists and stock-raisers of Cleveland county, as well as a leading attorney-at-law, the subject of this article is entitled to a prominent place in the annals of this territory. He enjoys the honor of having been the first man in Cleveland county who tried a jury case, this event taking place at Norman, the county seat. In 1891 he was elected county attorney, and two years later was favored with re-election to that important office. He was the nominee of the local Democratic party, and was an active worker in its ranks until recently, when he became affiliated with the Populists, and in the fall of 1000 was their candidate for the office of county attorney.
A native of De Witt county, Ill., born in 1849. Mr. Hutchin is a worthy representative of a sterl- . ing family of the Prairie state. His father, John Hutchin, was a well-to-do farmer and stock- raiser, highly respected in his community, and his mother was Miss Elizabeth Proud in her girl- hood. Reared in the usual pursuits of a country lad, Andrew laid the foundations of a good con- stitution and a successful future. In his boyhood he attended the "little red schoolhouse" of the period, and later took up the study of law. He lived until he reached his majority in Illinois. and received his higher education in Knox Col- lege. A quarter of a century ago he was admit-
CaKa Killer
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ted to the bar, and initiated his legal career in Clinton, Ill., the town which had known him from his early years.
In 1879 Mr. Hutchin determined to try his for- tunes in the growing west, and for the following decade lived and labored as a professional man at Wellington, Kans. When Oklahoma was opened to settlement he made the race and bought a claim adjoining the present town of Lexington. Here he has dwelt ever since, and, by well ap- plied energy, has developed a beautiful home- stead. His orchards supply him with a large va- riety of fruit, and all of the improvements which may be seen on the place are substantial and sensible. The owner makes a specialty of raising fine Jersey cattle and is successful in nearly all of his enterprises.
Educational affairs, as well as all public mat- ters of progress, receive a due share of his atten- tion, and for some time he was a director of the school board of Lexington. In Illinois he was an active member of the Odd Fellows order, and he still retains his membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in the Woodmen of the World. He has found it a beneficial plan to seek in country pursuits the relaxation which professional men really need, and, by systematic arrangement of his duties, does not allow any conflict in the two occupations. In all of his joys and sorrows he finds a true helpmate in his wife, formerly Miss Mattie Burke, who was united in marriage to him in 1895.
C HARLES H. KELLER. Among the most progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Crutcho township, Oklahoma county, stands Charles H. Keller, a public-spirited citi- zen, highly esteemed by all who know him. He is faithful to every duty of citizenship, is a stanch and trusted friend and neighbor, and is actuated by noble principles in his daily life. His record is that of a man of honor, and to his posterity he will leave a name of which they may be proud.
The father of our subject, Capt. Abraham D. Keller, was a native of Kentucky, and at an early day removed to Illinois, where he was engaged in farming for a number of years. Later he em- barked in the hardware business at Mattoon, Ill., and became well-to-do and influential as a citizen. At the first call for troops to defend the Union he enlisted in the Thirty-second Regi- ment of Illinois Volunteers, and served for three years. For a time he held the rank of first lieu- tenant of his company, but subsequently he rose to the captaincy, and won new honors and com- mendation in every campaign in which he par- ticipated. At the battle of Hatchie, Miss., he received a wound which did not prove very se- rious, and with that exception he was fortunate
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