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 23
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in escaping injuries, for which his daring fre- quently made him a special mark. For several years he held the appointment of head usher in the senate chamber of the Illinois capitol, and thus came into personal relations with many of the leading statesmen and prominent men of that day and section of the west. Though now cighty-five years of age he is still enjoying life, his home being in St. Louis, Mo. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Woods, and in the vicinity of Jacksonville, Ill., her brothers were well-known and extensive cattle dealers. George, eldest child of Captain Keller and wife, is de- ceased, and their only daughter, Alice, is the wife of John Williams, of the Omaha Stock Ex- change.
The birth of C. H. Keller occurred July 20, 1845, in Macoupin county, Ill., and his elemen- tary education was obtained in the common schools of his native state. When he was only sixteen years of age he offered his services to his country, and, with his patriotic father, enlisted in the gallant Thirty-second Illinois. He was as- signed to Company C, and served in the ranks until 1864, when he veteranized and continued to fight for the Union until its future was forever assured by the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He took part in many hard-fought campaigns, and went with Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and thence to Washington. He was at Shiloh under the leadership of General Grant, and took part in the siege of Vicksburg.
Upon returning home, at the close of the war, Mr. Keller commenced learning the tinsmith's trade, which he continued to follow for fifteen years. In 1875 he went to St. Louis, and about that time commenced taking contracts for fur- nishing railroad ties. He supplied several rail- road companies with material for construction, and was very successful in these undertakings in Texas. At length he opened a hardware store in Gainesville, Tex., which he managed until 1889. At that time he removed his stock of goods to Oklahoma City, where he did business for two years under the firm name of Keller & Warren. Then, selling out, he turned his attention ex- clusively to agriculture and stock-raising, in which line he has been very successful. At the time of coming to this county he located a claim on section 28, Crutcho township, and dwelt there during the period that he kept his store. This homestead he sold to S. B. Miles, in 1897. but has continued to lease it ever since, and in addi- tion to this has leased two other quarter-sections of land. Thus he has had possession of three- quarters of a section of land, all in one body. On an average, he has one hundred and fifty acres planted in wheat, and reaps an abundant harvest annually. He also makes a specialty of raising fine Hereford cattle and Norman and
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Clyde horses, and is scoring a success in this direction.
For two years Mr. Keller served as a justice of the peace, and he also has acted as a member of the school board and as secretary of the same. Politically he is a Populist. The boys who wore the blue ever have had a warm place in his heart, and he has been the commander of the Grand Army post in Gainesville, Tex., and of Dixon post in Oklahoma. He also belongs to Okla- homa Lodge No. 3, A. F. & A. M., and was the first master of the lodge under its charter. More- over, he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and with the Anti-Horse Thief Association.
Twenty-six years ago Mr. Keller married Mary Gillaspy, and their only child is John Lee, who was born March 19, 1898. An adopted son, Charles D., is now serving in the Thirty-third United States Infantry, in the Philippines, and an adopted daughter, Ada R., is yet a member of our subject's household. The family holds mem- bership in the Christian Church and contributes liberally to religious and charitable enterprises.
W ILLIAM H. JOHNSON, M. D., now in his seventy-third year, is the oldest physi- cian of Lexington and vicinity. He may be termed a "doctor of the old school," in the sense that he has ministered to the needs of the frontier people during the major portion of his professional career, often living in districts be- fore roads had been made, and experiencing the hardships which the pioneer physician knows. How often has he left his cosy home, going out into the bleak, stormy night, traveling for a score or more miles, fording swollen rivers, and trav- ersing the wind-swept prairies, or threading his way through forests untracked by man. Truly he has played a noble part in the early history of regions where civilization is making marvelous strides from year to year.
Born in 1828, Dr. Johnson was reared at his birthplace in Sangamon county, Ill., and in Ohio. His father, Thomas T. Johnson, was a tanner by trade, and owned an old tannery at Jamestown, Ohio, which had been in the family for a long period. He belonged to the Society of Friends, and continued active in the church until his death, which took place in West Lancaster, Ohio, when he was in his eighty-seventh year.
Dr. Johnson owes his education entirely to his own studious habits, for his advantages were not of the best. He attended the Cincinnati public schools for some time and at home commenced laying the foundations of medical knowledge. Subsequently he pursued a course in the St. Louis Medical College, but his work there was interrupted by the outbreak of the Civil war. He at once enlisted in an infantry company, of which
he was made assistant surgeon. Later he became a private in the One Hundred and Forty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and for one year was chief clerk to the adjutant-general, S. B. Moe. In summing up his army experience, suffice it to say that the doctor took part in some of the most important campaigns of the war, being in the Fourth Army Corps, of the Army of the South- west. He fought in twenty-one hardly-contested battles, and three times was struck by bullets, though not seriously injured. At Shelbyville, Ky., he was captured, with some of his com- rades, by John Morgan, and, perforce, was . obliged to take an oath not to re-enter the army. Disdaining his captor utterly, he nevertheless was back in the Union lines within six hours afterward, and participated in the battle of Perry- ville, Ky. He continued at his post of duty until the close of the war, being mustered out at Co- lumbus, Ohio, in the summer of 1865."
For a score of years Dr. Johnson was engaged in practice in different places in the west, and was very successful, in spite of the fact that he had given less years of his life to collegiate prep- aration than do the physicians of the present , time. For twelve years he was located at Savan- na, in the Choctaw Nation, I. T., after which he lived at Johnsonville, same territory, for a year. When there were only three or four shanties, or, by courtesy, houses, here, he became a resident, and two days after his arrival received his first professional call. He had come provided with a good supply of medicine from his Savanna drug- store, and for several years, with Dr. G. P. John- ston, had the monopoly as a physician and sur- geon in this whole community. Of late years he has been practically retired, giving his attention to other activities.
No one, perhaps, has done more for the tip- building of Lexington than Dr. Johnson. He constructed twenty houses, some of which he sold and the remainder rents. He also owns the German Hotel building and deals extensively in real estate, accommodating his patrons, as best he may, for many buy property on long time and liberal terms. For a period he served as a mem- ber of the city council, and his political support is given to the Republican party. In the Masonic fraternity he rose to the Royal Arch degree and formerly was an active member of the blue lodge and chapter. In the Odd Fellows Society he was past grand of the lodge. He also has been a Knight of Honor.
In 1878 Dr. Johnson married Emma January, in Arkansas. They have four children, namely: Maggie, Thomas B., Nellie and Roy. The wife and mother has been a true helpmate, sharing the doctor's pioneer cares as far as lay within her power, and cheering him by her counsels and unabated affection,
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R OBERT J. NISBETT, a farmer, politician and enterprising and substantial citizen of Lexington township, Cleveland county, was born in Robertson county, Tex., in 1855. All through his early life he had the example of a successful and industrious father before him and the advantage of an excellent home training. He was educated in the public schools, and his days were not unlike those of other country-bred youth. His father, Alexander, was a native of Tennessee, and removed to Texas when that state was but sparsely settled, and, in the midst of the crude conditions incident to all pioneer life, made an enviable name for himself as man and farmer. During the Civil war he served in the Confederate army, and died in 1875, at the age of fifty-five years. The mother of R. J. Nis- bett was, before her marriage, Catherine Henry. Her father, Robert, was born in Ireland, and upon coming to America settled in Alabama, then in South Carolina, and later in Texas, where he amassed a large property, having obtained several land grants from the government. Up to the Civil war he owned many slaves, and wielded an extended influence in many direc- tions. He participated in the battle of San Ja- cinto, when Texas won her independence, and worked all his life for the best interests of the commonwealth.
From childhood R. J. Nisbett was surrounded with things agricultural and with the manage- ment and care of stock .. In 1879 he went to western Texas and engaged in the cattle business for fifteen years. At times he had as many as one thousand and two hundred head, and was successful as a buyer, seller and raiser. When the cattle market went down he lost heavily. While living in Scurry county he attained to prominence in the political affairs of the com- munity, and was elected probate judge of the county, on the Democratic ticket.
At the opening of the territory, April 22, 1889, Mr. Nisbett decided to avail himself of the pros- pects which seemed to exist here, and. upon making the run, located on a claim at the head of Little river. This did not come up to his expec- tations, and, after a few months of residence there, he bought the claim upon which he has since resided, and which is numbered among the highly improved farms in the county. The con- trast from its original raw and prairie-like condi- tion and its present resourceful aspect argues a great deal of patient and well-applied energy. Having lost so heavily on the Texas cattle, Mr. Nisbett came here with a practically small com- petence, but with the encouraging assistance of his family he has reached a point from which it is pleasant to view the results of his toil. Owing to the increasing interests, he has been obliged to rent land, and is thus engaged in managing from
two hundred to three hundred acres. He has a good orchard, and a vineyard of five acres. In addition to general farming he raises hogs and horses.
In the fall of 1890 Mr. Nisbett was elected a member of the first territorial council on the Democratic ticket. He was again elected for two years in 1896 on the Populist ticket. He has served as delegate to several state and county conventions, and is active in all of the under- takings of his party. In the improvement and systematizing of the school work his ideas and suggestions have been readily followed. He has been a member and clerk of the township school board and school director for district No. 51. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic order, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Woodmen of the World. With his wife he is a member of the Baptist Church, and has been a deacon of the same for fifteen years. Mr. Nisbett was married in 1875 to Louisa Kay, and of this union there have been seventeen children, eleven boys and six girls, fourteen of whom are living.
E DGAR J. KELLER. A very few of such energetic, wide-awake business men as Mr. Keller are all that is required by a modern town to make it a place of prominence within a short time from its inception. Knowing no such word as fail, they are found ready to give their means and influence to all enterprises of general utility, ready to undertake all manner of respon- sibilities by which the interests of the town may be advanced, and are even ready to sacrifice per- sonal interests to the universal welfare.
That Edgar J. Keller is this type of a citizen his associates and neighbors affirm, with one accord, and, as they express great interest in him, a sketch of his career will find appreciative read- ers. Born in Indiana forty years ago, and reared chiefly in Kentucky, he laid the foundations of a useful business life by supplementing his public- school education by a thorough course in Bry- ant & Stratton's Commercial College, in Louis- ville. He certainly was an apt student, for in a class of about two hundred he carried off the honors, having a gold medal bestowed upon him by the faculty of the institution for general pro- ficiency in his studies. This proud moment in his life occurred in the summer of 1884, and im- mediately afterward he accepted a position as bookkeeper and cashier for the firm of Thomas James & Co., Louisville, Ky., of which his uncle, Thomas James, was the proprietor. He contin- tied to hold that place until Oklahoma was opened to settlement, when he made the race from Purcell, I. T., to Oklahoma City. There he secured some lots, some of which he still owns.
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With characteristic energy he was the first to engage in the manufacture of brick-a much needed article, when so many buildings were to be erected, with lumber very high and scarce- and for two years he operated the plant, located on the Couch Adams claim. Besides, he fur- nished the brick and contracted for the building of the Baker block, the first brick structure in the city. Remaining there, and constantly en- gaged in the manufacture of brick and in general building, he was a pioneer in the upbuilding of that place, and many substantial blocks that are to be seen there were either put up by him or the material used in their construction was fur- nished by him.
In the spring of 1891, when only three small stores stood in Lexington, Mr. Keller settled here, and opened a lumber yard, which he oper- ated for six years, in the meantime also handling farm implements and machinery. Five years ago he erected the Keller & James building, and sub- sequently became the sole owner of the block. He opened a furniture store, also dealing in bug- gies and many other lines of goods, but later sold out, in order to engage in public duties. In 1899 he was one of the organizers of the Lexington State Bank, of which he was elected a director, and this well known financial institution has quarters in a portion of Mr. Keller's building. Having disposed of his bank stock he opened a fine line of furniture in October, 1899, and in connection with that business manages an un- dertaking establishment. His location is in the building above mentioned, where he has all mod- ern facilities for the large line of goods which he carries in stock, at no time having less than $6,000 invested in furniture.
Following his former line of procedure, Mr. Keller manufactured the brick used in his own building here, and has continued the enterprise, furnishing a large share of the brick used in the city. From time to time he has invested in local real estate, and to-day owns upward of five hun- dred city lots. Six of the leading fire insurance companies are represented by him, and a large amount of the local business in that line has passed through his hands. He supplies the peo- ple of this community with farm implements and machinery, and has made such an enviable repu- tation for fair dealing that his customers are in- variably friendly toward him.
When a resident of Oklahoma City Mr. Keller was connected with the organization of an Odd Fellows' lodge, the second one formed in the territory, and for some time he served as secre- tary of the same. Ile also was influential in the organization of Lexington Lodge No. 23. I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand. Moreover, he is a member of the grand lodge of the territory and belongs to the Encampment of the order.
In addition to this he is connected with the An- cient Order of United Workmen and the Wood- men of the World. In the spring of 1897 he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of recorder of deeds of Cleveland county and served efficiently for one term of two years. He also has been a member of the city school board for sev- eral terms.
In Carrollton, Mo., the marriage of Mr. Keller and Miss Jennie Trotter took place in 1896. She is a native of that place and a daughter of C. B. Trotter. By the union of our subject and wife four children have been born, their names being, respectively, Edgar Trotter, Elizabeth, Suzanna and John Alfred. Mrs. Keller, who is a most amiable woman, is a graduate of the Carrollton high school, of the class of 1892, and holds a warm place in the hearts of her classmates and friends. Her domestic duties are never so ardut- ous as to cause her to forget her friends and rel- atives in case of sickness or distress.
S. C. HAWK, who is successfully engaged in the loan and insurance business in Lexing- ton, was born in Ohio, February 22, 1853. His father, Jonathan Hawk, moved from Penn- sylvania to Ohio at a very early day and settled in the timber land, where he improved a farm and became a prominent farmer and sheep grower.
Upon his father's farm S. C. Hawk was reared to an appreciation of the dignity and usefulness of an agricultural life, and early displayed habits of thrift and industry. Owing to limited facili- ties, which existed in the state at that time, his education was necessarily limited and confined to the few winter months. In 1873 he removed to Brooklyn, Iowa, where he lived for about seven years. Following this he visited Nebraska and Kansas in search of a desirable permanent location, and in 18SI came into the Cherokee strip and settled just over the line from Arkan- sas City. There he conducted an ambitious gen- eral farming and stock-raising enterprise, and at times had a herd of three hundred cattle. From a very small beginning he developed his land and kept adding to it until he became the possessor of ten thousand acres, which was all fenced in and admirably adapted to the purpose for which it was intended. Here he lived for ten years, and his efforts were abundantly rewarded with suc- cess. He also raised horses and became prom- inent in various undertakings for the improve- ment of his locality.
In the fall of 1891 Mr. Hawk came to Lexing- ton and purchased a farm in the vicinity of the town, which he at once began to improve and which is now one of the best in the neighbor- hood. This farm is still in his possession and is
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MR. AND MRS. B. N. TURK, Enid.
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a source of relaxation from the worry and trials incident to an active business career. From the first of his residence in Lexington, Mr. Hawk has been interested in loaning money. His success- ful business enterprises have led to a position in the community which typifies the most substan- tial and reliable citizen, and which have resulted in the accumulation of considerable of this world's goods, including houses and lands in and out of the town. He owns two buildings on the main business street of the town. In the fall of 1899 he was one of the organizers of the Purcell Bridge Company, of which he was a director, and greatly assisted in the construction of the bridge. He is also treasurer of the Bridge Trans- fer Company. He put up the second cotton gin in the place and operated it for two years.
In 1875 Mr. Hawk married Jane Snyder, and of this union there are five children: Harry, Fred, Thomas, S. C., Jr., and William McKinley. In national politics Mr. Hawk is a Republican and was a candidate for county treasurer for 1900.
B. N. TURK, county assessor of Garfield county, has played an important part in the upbuilding of Enid, and is held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens. He is a veteran of the Civil war, in which, though a youth, he won distinction by his gallantry and fearless- ness. The boys who wore the blue have ever given him a warm place in their hearts, and at present he is a member of Irwin McDowell Post No. 19. of which he is past commander. To his many friends a review of his army life will prove of interest, and it is accordingly detailed below.
James Turk, grandfather of our subject, was born in England, and at an early day removed to Alabama, where he was the owner of a fine plantation. Late in life he settled in Tennessee, where his death occurred. His son, Caleb, father of B. N. Turk, was born in Montgomery, Ala., and in his youth learned the trade of a harness- maker. For many years he conducted a sad- dlery and harness store at Madisonville, Tenn., and later he resided in McMinn county, same state. At the outbreak of the war he went to Ray county, Tenn., but eventually returned to McMinn county, where he lived until he was summoned to the better land. During the latter part of the Mexican war he enlisted in the army, but was not called into service. The mother of our subject, Caroline, was a daughter of Nicho- las Peck, who served as a probate judge and was prominent in Tennessee. His father before him was a leading member of the legal profession and for many years officiated as a judge.
B. N. Turk was born near Madisonville, Tenn., January 31, 1845, and was only three years old when his mother died. Only three of his seven
brothers and sisters survived, and he is the youngest of the family. During the Civil war his only brother, James, was pressed into the rebel service. He took part in the defense of Vicksburg, and was not sorry when the city was forced to surrender to the Federal troops. Later he enlisted in Burnside's army, and was identi- fied with the Tennessee regiment until the close of the war. He now resides in Indian territory. B. N. Turk attended the subscription schools of Athens, Tenn., but, needless to say, the war se- riously interrupted his studies. As soon as pos- sible he volunteered his services to the Union, becoming a member of Company C, Ninth Ten- nessee Cavalry, in 1863. Desiring to join the main Federal forces at Camp Nelson, Ky., lie and a few of his comrades started to cross the mountains, a distance of about three hundred miles of more or less hostile country, having to be traversed. Knowing that if captured they would be shot as bushwhackers, they observed great caution, traveling entirely at night, and at length were greatly scattered. Mr. Turk and an elderly man remained together, and for three weeks prior to their arrival at Camp Nelson they had no provisions, and were dependent upon the kindness of the inhabitants, some of whom were termed "Union pilots." They had many narrow escapes and suffered great hardships, but at last reached their destination and were mustered into the service. The Ninth Tennessee Cavalry was then ordered to Cumberland Gap, and unfortu- nately were without food for three days, as sup- plies were delayed. On the third day Mr. Turk luckily saw some large apples, and secured three, which saved him from starvation. Later he and his comrades took possession of the Gap, as ordered, and thence proceeded to Nicholsville. Later they joined Burnside at Knoxville, and about that time had more troubles on the score of rations, as for three weeks they were obliged to live on a quarter of the amount of food usually supplied to them. Nevertheless, they succeeded in defeating Longstreet, who made a midnight attack, and the following day General Grant's forces came to their relief. Then proceeding to Nashville, they embarked in a new campaign, in which occurred the battles of Morristown. Blue Springs and Watauga River (where they captured and burned a bridge), Bull's Gap, and Greenville. At Bull's Gap, which they were or- dered to hold, they were surrounded, and, when out of ammunition, were obliged to cut their way out at midnight. At Greenville the Ninth Ten- nessee received orders to make a midnight march, and, with two other regiments, were commanded to take John Morgan, dead or alive. Mr. Turk was then serving as chief bugler, and had to call the boys "to saddle." They routed the army and captured John Morgan, after which
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they engaged in skirmishes and battles until the close of the war. On account of his service as bugler, and because he was with the color- bearer, Mr. Turk had many narrow escapes and frequently saw his comrades on either hand shot down. He was mustered out at Knoxville, Tenn., September II, 1865.
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