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 28
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field, Kans. The young couple have two chil- drer, Wilda and Flora.
In religious faith Mr. Wenner is a Presby- terian, and no one was more actively interested than he in the building of the Perry church. He acted as chairman of the building committee and at one time served in the offices of trustee and treasurer of the church board. He belongs to the Perry Commercial Club; is a member and officer of the Home Annuity Society, and is past commander of the Woodmen of the World.
C APT. J. V. ADMIRE. The family repre- sented by Captain Admire, of Kingfisher, descends from German ancestry. but has been identified with American history for many years, and first settled in North Carolina. Squire Admire, a Kentuckian by birth, removed to Johnson county, Ind., and from there to Illinois, where he engaged in farming until his death. His son, Rev. James B. Admire, was a native of Oldham county, Ky., and was reared in that state and Indiana. He became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and con- tinued in the service of the Indiana conference until his death, in Warrick county, Ind., October 15, 1861, in the forty-second year of his age. When the war cloud fell upon our country, his sympathies were with the north, but his death, at the beginning of the war, prevented his en- listment in the Union service. Several of his brothers had taken part in the war with Mexico, and the family was noted for patriotism and valor. He married Rachel Veatch, who was born in Indiana, of Scotch-Irish descent, and whose father, Jacob Veatch, was a farmer throughout life. In the spring of 1861 Mr. and Mrs. Admire became ill with the typhoid fever, and neither recovered, the wife dying one month before the husband. At the same time their eldest son, J. V., was stricken with the dread disease. Youth and a vigorous constitution en- abled him to withstand the inroads of the disease, but he was ill for many months, and it was not until 1862 that he had recovered sufficiently to permit his enlistment in the army. Two of his brothers, Squire and James H., also served in the army, the former, now living in Warrick county, Ind., belonging to the One Hundred and Twentieth Indiana Infantry, and the latter, now a resident of Texas, serving in Company E, Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry. There were nine children in the family, and of these seven grew to mature years, and four are now living.
In Johnson county, Ind., J. V. Admire was born October 15, 1842. He was educated in country and village schools and one year at Delaney Academy, Newburgh, prior to the war. In August, 1862, he volunteered as a private in
the army, becoming a member of Company E, Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry. This was a War -. rick county company, all of its original members and several of its recruits being from that county. It was enlisted under the auspices of Dr. Eli Lewis, of Newburgh, Ind., who received from Governor Morton a commission as a second lieutenant for the purpose of recruiting volun- teers. He was afterward surgeon of the regi- ment. Organization was completed with one hundred and one men; altogether it had one hundred and sixteen. Five were killed in bat- tle, thirteen died of disease, and seven were dis- charged on account of disease. The enlistment of the original members was dated August 12, 1862; muster-in to the United States service, August 18, 1862; and muster-out, June 22, 1865. From Camp Lewis, Evansville, Ind., the regi- ment marched south. The first year's service was in the vicinity of Owensboro, Madisonville, Morganfield, and Henderson, Ky. The different companies of the regiment were distributed through the various parts of this district, Com- pany E being for several months at Henderson, engaged in provost and guard duty. Early in 1863 the regiment was mounted, and was organ- ized especially for scouting service, pursuing, capturing and breaking up the guerrillas with which that part of the state was overrun. The company was stationed at Madisonville after the regiment was mounted. During this period the service was dangerous and trying, but without any noted battles. At the time of John Mor- gan's raid through Kentucky, southern Indiana and Ohio, most of the companies of the regi- ment engaged in the pursuit.
August 12, 1863, the regiment began its march across Kentucky and East Tennessee to Knoxville. They assisted in the capture of Knoxville and in all of the East Tennessee cam- paign, their principal battles being Bean's Sta- tion, Hickory Ford, and Blountsville. In the spring of 1864 they were dismounted at Madi- sonville, Tenn. A few days later they joined General Sherman's army, Second Brigade, Third Division, Twenty-third Army . Corps. They took part in all of the exciting incidents con- nected with the march to the sea, and fought in the battles of Dallas, Dalton, Resaca, Snake Creek Gap, Peach Tree Creek, Buz- zard's Roost, Kenesaw Mountain, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and (under Thomas) Franklin and Nashville; having been transferred, at the close of the Atlanta campaign, to Tennessee, where they participated in the two battles last named and the pursuit of Hood to the Tennessee river. Thence they were sent to Fort Fisher via Ohio river, Cincinnati, Washington, Annapolis and steamer, and took part in the fighting from the mouth of Cape Fear river to the capture of Wil-
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mington, N. C .; joining Sherman's army at Goldsboro, N. C. After the surrender of Gen. Joseph E. Johnston, the regiment was mustered out of the service, at Greenville, N. C., and soon afterward paid off and honorably discharged at Indianapolis, Ind.
During all of these months of weary marches, tedious service and exciting battles, Mr. Ad- mire had acted his part as a brave and valiant soldier. From the ranks he was first promoted to be a sergeant. Before leaving Kentucky, in 1863, he was made a second lieutenant, and after reaching Tennessee was made first lieutenant, the latter commission dating from March 21, 1864. He was commissioned captain November 28, 1864, and commanded his company during the Atlanta campaign, holding the rank of cap- tain until his discharge.
On returning to Indiana, Captain Admire en- tered Asbury (now DePauw) University, at Greencastle, where he remained until the close of his junior year. On leaving college, he started a Republican newspaper in Warrick county and was also admitted to the bar there.
July 23, 1869, found Captain Admire a resi- dent of Topeka, Kans. He selected a farm near that city, and for two years engaged in farming, after which, for six years, he edited the Topeka Times (now the Mail and Breeze). Under President Grant, he served as postmaster of North Topeka for six years. Removing to Osage City, Kans., he practiced law for three years, and afterward for nine years was editor of the Osage City Free Press. During his residence in that town he was postmaster for four and one-half years, receiving the appointment from President Arthur. His recognized ability and public spirit led to his selection by the Repub- licans as their nominee for the Kansas legisla- ture in 1887. He was elected and served with credit to himself, his principal work being as chairman of the committee on assessment and taxation. In 1888 he was re-elected, and the fol- lowing year rendered effective service on the committee of ways and means, also cast his influence for the re-election of Senator Plumb.
At the close of his second term as a member of the Kansas legislature, Captain Admire ac- cepted a position as receiver of the United States land office at Kingfisher Stage Station. He drove over from Guthrie, Sunday, April 21, 1889, and found Kingfisher a town with only one building-a small structure used for the land office. A company of soldiers, commanded by Captain Woodson, was stationed here. He en- tered upon the duties of his office at noon April 22, 1889, and held the position until October 15, 1893, when a change in the national admin- istration caused a change in the office. He then turned his attention to journalistic work, having
formerly bought the World and Journal and consolidated them into the Free Press, which he has published every week since. The World was one of the first newspapers in Oklahoma, and was published in Wichita prior to the open- ing. In addition to his work as editor, he has also been interested in farming, and owns a place five miles west of Kingfisher, on the creek of that name. In September, 1897, he was again appointed receiver of the United States land office, which position he still fills with efficiency. Local movements receive his encouragement, both personally and through the medium of his paper .- The city has no one more devoted than he to its welfare and progress. He has served as a member of the council and acting mayor. When the first movement was inaugurated look- ing toward the establishment of Kingfisher Col- lege, he threw himself enthusiastically into the plan, contributed to the same, aided in founding the institution (which is the oldest college in the territory), and has been one of its trustees from the first. Always a Republican, he aided in the organization of the party in Oklahoma, and was a delegate to the national convention of 1884 that nominated James G. Blaine for president. Grand Army affairs receive his close attention. It has been his aim to keep in touch with all the surviving members of his company, and, after a regimental reunion at Evansville, Ind., Septem- ber 21, 1887, he compiled and published a pamphlet containing a record of his company and its members, sending a copy of the same to each of the "boys." He was the first commander of Kingfisher Post No. 2, G. A. R., and also for one term was honored with the office of adju- tant-general of the Grand Army of Oklahoma.
The first child born in Kingfisher bears the name of Admire Lewis, and was born a day or two after the opening of the territory. The par- ents were poor, having, like so many others, come to Oklahoma empty-handed. The suggestion was made that the privilege of naming the child should be auctioned off to the highest bidder. This plan was immediately carried out. Captain Admire was the highest bidder, and the boy ac- cordingly received his name. He is now a bright schoolboy, and the captain takes an interest in his progress.
The marriage of Captain Admire took place in Warrick county, Ind., and united him with Miss Emma Lewis, daughter of Dr. Eli Lewis, who acted as surgeon, with the rank of major, of the Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry. Captain and Mrs. Admire have three children: James Lewis Admire, a merchant in Kingfisher; Mina, wife of C. B. Johnston, also of this city; and Eli Lewis Admire, second lieutenant of the Twenty-second Regiment, U. S. A. The younger son enlisted, at the opening of the Span-
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ish-American war, in Company C, First Illinois Infantry, and took part in the siege of Santiago. On the expiration of the campaign in Cuba, he returned to the United States, and in July, 1899, was appointed by President Mckinley second lieutenant of Company A, Twenty-second Regi- ment. Immediately after his appointment he went to Luzon, Philippine Islands, where he has . munerative and satisfactory investment.
since been in active service, as a member of Gen. Fred Funston's brigade.
T HOMAS A. HAGER, whose well-con- ducted farm is located on the southeast quarter of section 17, township 18, range 3, has lived in the territory since the opening in 1889. Owing to his own untiring efforts and progressive agricultural methods, he occupies a deservedly prominent place among the farmers of Payne county. He was born in Barry county, Mich., in 1841, and is a son of Daniel and Nancy Hager, natives of Pennsylvania.
Daniel Hager was a blacksmith by trade and a farmer, and located in Michigan about 1838. He had a good farm, and his shop was located thereon. The family migrated to the west in 1860 and settled in Butler county, Kans., and then began a series of troublesome times, grow- ing out of close proximity to the Indians. Owing to this difficulty they were compelled to change their location, and moved to Lyon county, where the clder Hager died in 1865. Thomas A. Ha- ger had four brothers, who became singularly united during the war, for they all served as sol- diers in Company I, Ninth Kansas Cavalry, and enlisted at Towanda, Kans., October 19, 1861. After their arrival at Leavenworth the company was ordered out on the plains, and until the win- ter of 1863 had their headquarters at Fort Lar- ned. They finally returned to Leavenworth, rejoined their regiment, and operated in Mis- souri and Arkansas. Their most difficult en- counter was with the forces at Bulbio, where they fought for three and a half hours and suc- cessfully routed the Confederates. One of the brothers, Wesley C., died in 1862 at Easton, near Leavenworth. The other three were mustered out at Devall Bluff, in Arkansas, in the spring of 1865, and returned to their home in Kansas, sorely afflicted by the vicissitudes of war. J. D. Hager was rendered permanently blind from sunstroke, and is living at Bartlesville, Cherokee Nation. T. A. was also sunstruck at Bulbio, and has never fully recovered from the effects. J. H. died soon after the war. During the latter part of the service, I. N. and H. R., younger brothers of T. A., enlisted in the Seventeenth Kansas Regiment of Home Guard.
After his father's death, in 1865, T. A. Hager took care of his mother until her demise in
1898. She is buried at Glenwood cemetery, south of the farm. After the war Mr. Hager lived in Cowley county, Kans., for several years, and then made his home in Colorado for a time, going later to western Kansas, and eventually to Oklahoma in June of 1889. His claim is well housed and fenced and has developed into a re-
In January of 1871 Mr. Hager married Lu- cretia L. Show, a daughter of W. D. and Hulda Show. Of this union there have been five chil- dren, three of whom are living, Albert W., Ber- tha W. and Edith R. The children are all living at home. Ida M. died at the age of thirteen in Colorado, where she is buried, and Andrew O. died when a year and a half old, in Elk county, Kans. In national politics Mr. Hager is a Re- publican, and has always been associated with the undertakings of that party. He is a devoted member of the United Brethren Church, and greatly assisted in the erection of the chapel one mile south of his farm.
M ARSHALL A. YOUNKMAN, postmaster at McLoud, is one of the most enterpris- ing of the many who have helped to build up and develop this part of Oklahoma. Though comparatively speaking a young man, he has nevertheless evinced commendable traits of character, which invariably find ready recogni- tion in all new and promising localities. He was born in Jackson county, Kans., February 9, 1871, and is a son of D. M. and Mary B. (Stahl) Younkman, who are at the present time residents of McLoud.
Until about ten years of age, Marshall A. Younkman lived in the little village of Neta- waka, Jackson county, at which time his father removed to Nemaha county, and settled on a farm. Here his son received the training usually accorded the farm-reared youth, and availed himself of the opportunities at the district schools. He early displayed ambitious and in- dependent tendencies, and when sixteen years of age became interested in the drug business, and served as a clerk for four years. Unlike most who come to the territory, he was induced to come hither by an impaired state of health, which rendered a change of climate and occupa- tion necessary. In 1892 he removed to Okla- homa county, and settled on a claim five and a half miles southwest of McLoud, on the south- east quarter of section 23, township II, range I east, which is still in his possession, and in a state of good cultivation.
The marriage of Mr. Younkman and Alice Stowell occurred in Nemaha county, Kans., De- cember 25, 1892. Mrs. Younkman is a native of Nemaha county, and a daughter of John and
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Laura (Jennings) Stowell. To Mr. and Mrs. Younkman have been born two children, Mattie B. and Marshall Arlo, who were born in Okla- homa.
Mr. Younkman is a stanch member of the Republican party, and has rendered prominent service in its various issues and undertakings. He served as central committeeman in his father's stead in Oklahoma county, and has been a delegate to various conventions. He was ap- pointed to the responsible position of postmas- ter May 19, 1898, and has discharged the duties of the position in a manner creditable to him- self, and satisfactory to the inhabitants of his promising town. Fraternally he is associated with McLoud Lodge No. 53, I. O. O. F. In addition to his farm property, he owns land in the city limits, and has been pros- perous in many ways during his residence here. He is a progressive citizen, and inter- ested in all that pertains to the development of his town and locality.
F RENCH J. GENTRY. Men who possess the ambition, enterprise, and good com- mon-sense business methods of Mr. Gentry have ever been important factors in develop- ing the localities in which they have elected to 'make their home.
The family from which Mr. Gentry comes were identified with the very early history of Missouri. The paternal grandfather. was promi- nent in the political and other affairs of Marion county, having been the first sheriff of the county, and his wife was the first white girl in northwestern Missouri. French J. was born on a farm four miles from Hannibal, Missouri, in 1867, and is a son of Joseph M. and Sallie Gen- try, natives of Missouri. Until fourteen years of age, he lived on his father's farm, and was reared to an intelligent understanding of farm methods. His education, begun in the public schools, and continued in the high school at Hannibal, was completed by a university educa- tion at Lexington, Ky.
The first, independent business undertaking of Mr. Gentry was his employment by the Bad- ger Lumber Company, at Medicine Lodge, with whom he remained for the long period of ten years, operating the greater part of that time in southern Kansas, and for two years in Pond Creek. Following this, he traveled for a year with Gentry's famous dog and pony show, in which he had a one-third interest, and on dis- continuing his interest in this enterprise he re- turned to Pond Creek. For one year he engaged in the grocery business, with a fair degree of success, at which time he embarked upon his
present occupation, that of a dealer in lumber, coal, cement, etc.
In 1892 occurred the marriage of Mr. Gentry and Nellie Lindley, a daughter of J. R. and Emma Lindley, formerly of Indiana. Of this union there have been two children: Joseph Malcolm, who is seven years of age, and the first boy born in Grant county; and Glowrene, who is three and a half years of age.
Upon arriving in the territory, Mr. Gentry was the second to be on the town site with a wheeled rig. Since then his fortunes have been cast in successful lines, and he is now accounted one of the bulwarks of the town. In addition to the responsibility attached to the lumber busi- ness, he owns a farm just south of Pond Creek, which is splendidly improved and cultivated, and fitted out with $2,500 worth of up-to-date im- plements and labor-saving devices. He owns, besides, considerable real estate in the town, including the site on Main street upon which his lumber business is conducted. It is 150x200 feet in dimensions. He handles considerable real estate, and is otherwise interested in enterprises for the development of the locality. In politics he is affiliated with the Democratic party, and inherits his inclinations in that direction from a long line of ancestors. Fraternally he is associa- ted with the Masonic order, and has taken all of the degrees, except the Consistory, including the shrine. He is a charter member and past master of the Blue Lodge of Pond Creek, and also a member of the Knights of Pythias, and past chancellor. He is connected with the various lumber organizations. The family are active workers in and members of the Christian Church.
H ENRY HOLLMAN, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Canadian county, has a well-improved farm on the southwest quarter of section II, township 13, range 6 west, his postoffice being Frisco.
Mr. Hollman was born in Oldenburg, Ger- many, September 22, 1869, and is a son of Har- ris and Gesine (Klaner) Hollman. He was about seventeen years of age when he came to Amer- ica, the voyage consuming nine days. He landed in New York City, but soon after started west, and located in Burt county, Neb., where he had a brother who had preceded him to this country about one year. For a time he worked upon a farm and afterward rented a farm for one year, meeting with success in his efforts.
In April, 1891, he came to Oklahoma. All claims had been taken up, and he was obliged to buy land. Securing his present property, which was almost wholly unimproved, he set about putting it in condition, with such good results that he now has one of the finest farms in the
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HON. A. C. SCOTT, A. M., LL. M., Stillwater.
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vicinity. He is a highly respected citizen of the community in which he lives. He has never been an office-seeker, but takes an earnest inter- est in current events. In religious faith and fel- lowship he is a member of the Lutheran Church, to which his parents belonged.
June 21, 1900, Mr. Hollman was united in marriage with Mary Lysick, a native of Moravia, and for some time a resident of Brown county, Kans.
H ON. A. C. SCOTT, A. M., LL. M., presi- dent of the Agricultural and Mechanical College, at Stillwater, is one of the most influential educators and public men of Okla- homa. The possessor of talents of an unusually high order, he has, during the past few years, devoted these talents to the cause of education, with a success that is not only gratifying to his friends, but also beneficial to his commonwealth. His identification with the institution of which he is now the head dates from February, 1898, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy in the chair of English literature. Accepting the pro- fessorship, he entered upon his duties with a zeal and efficiency that soon won the commenda- tion of the board of regents, and by this body he was elected president of the college July 1, 1899. He has since given his attention closely to the discharge of his varied and responsible duties. He has won the confidence of the people and the warm friendship of the students, while his executive ability has gained the respect of his associates and co-workers in the institution. Since he became president, the chemistry and library buildings have been completed, the facili- ties of the institution otherwise greatly extended, and both the instructional force and the student body doubled in number. Besides filling the office of president, he continues to act as profes- sor of English literature, a department which his broad reading and literary culture qualify him to fill with the highest credit. His influence as president has been unsparingly used for the benefit of the institution. Nothing has been left undone, the doing of which would advance its interests. His highest happiness has been in promoting its prosperity, and his zeal in its be- half has known no limit.
Nor is the name of President Scott associated alone with the college. He is known, also, through his connection with public affairs from the beginning of the territory's history. Coming to Oklahoma April 22, 1880, he at once began the practice of law in Oklahoma City, and was a prominent figure in the stirring events incident to the founding and upbuilding of that city. In 1803 he was appointed executive commissioner for Oklahoma at the World's Fair, and remained
in Chicago from March until June 15, when he resigned. In 1894 he was elected to the terri- torial council of Oklahoma, and served in the third general assembly as president pro tem. of the senate. During his term he secured the . passage of many important bills, among them the present bond law and the law founding the Historical Society. He passed through the sen- ate a bill abrogating capital punishment, but it was defeated in the house. Another bill, per- mitting prize fighting in Oklahoma, passed the house, but he secured its defeat in the senate. He was a candidate for a second term in 1896, but was defeated by a fusion of the opposing parties. Always an effective public speaker, he was about this time the recipient of flattering offers from the lecture field, and had under seri- ous advisement a proposition to enter upon that work, when the offer of a chair in the Agricul- tural and Mechanical College caused a change in his plans and gave him an opportunity to enter a work which speedily led on to the chief place in the institution.
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