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 43
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Joshua and Julia (Knight) Donart, parents of our subject, were natives of Pennsylvania, and, with their respective families, removed to Ohio at an early day, there passing much of their lives. All of the grandparents of Charles Do- nart, with the exception of his paternal grand- mother, who died in Coles county, Ill., passed to their reward in Ohio. The mother of our sub- ject died when he was young, and his father mar- ried again. He made his home in the Buckeye state until about a quarter of a century ago, when he removed to Indiana, and now, well along in years, he is living, retired from active toil, in Portland, Ind.
Charles Donart was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1846, and his boyhood was spent upon a farm in his native state. He attended the little "red schoolhouse," where he acquired a liberal education. He continued to cultivate farms in Ohio until 1886, when he went to Kansas, and there was similarly engaged as a means of ob- taining a livelihood. April 22. 1889, he started from the northern line of Oklahoma and located a claim in the southwestern part of section 24, township 19, range 2. His right to this prop- erty was contested warmly in all the courts, but in every trial he won the victory, and now is in undisputed possession of the farm. He has ma- terially increased its value, building a comforta- ble house and barn, and fencing the land. Boomer creek, which is the eastern boundary of his homestead. affords plenty of water for his live stock, and is a valuable attribute of the property. The Eastern Oklahoma Railroad trav- erses his land, and the shipping facilities at- forded by it are an appreciated feature of this locality.
The marriage of Mr. Donart and Miss Sarah A. Heath was solemnized July 26, 1869, in Mer- cer county, Ohio. She is a daughter of James and Nancy Heath, who were respected citizens of the Buckeye state. Mrs. Donart has been a faithful helpmate to her husband, and, with
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ANTON CAHA. Keokuk Falls.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
him, is actively interested in the United Breth- ren Church of Stillwater, which they were in- strumental in organizing. Of their children, the third and fourth, Clarence R. and Cora M., who live at home, are also identified with the church membership. The son, a young man of exceptional ability, is the bookkeeper in the First National Bank of Stillwater. James H., the eld- est son, is married and is town clerk of Still- water. Chauncey W., the second son, is mar- ried and is the proprietor of a farm in Payne county. The younger children are Mabel H., G. Herbert, Eda L., and Charles E.
A NON CAHA. The name of Caha is inter- ( tingly interwoven with some of the most e irring events of later European history and heroic sacrifice for the cause which they deemed right. The first members of which there is any record are heard of in Moravia, where Anton Caha was born, in the town of Klanchov, May 9, 1856. His parents, Joseph and Maria (Dvorak) Calia, were inspired with a lofty pa- trio ism and suffered the fate of many who have fought for their country's honor. Joseph Caha was the commander of the Twenty-third Regi- ment of Brünn, in 1848, and, upon turning his arms against Austria, lost his life and his prop- erty was confiscated. . In the face of such calam- ity his family became exiled from the land of their long-time allegiance, and were scattered in different directions throughout Europe and America. A brother of Joseph came to America and served in the Civil war, and it was upon his recommendation that his brother's wife, her sec- ond husband and two sons came to America about 1867. The mother of Anton Caha located in Colfax, Neb., and homesteaded a claim of eighty acres. Here the youthful Anton received his early training and education in the public schools, and at the age of sixteen became self- supporting by engaging in the creamery busi- ness with several others of like inclination. This proved a very profitable and pleasant occupa- tion, and in time they built a number of cream- cries in different localities.
While living near Colfax, Neb .. Mr. Caha was united in marriage with Rosalie Carny, a native of Bavaria. In time Mr. Caha lost much of his money, and, in the hope of recuperating his losses, his brother accompanied him to Okla- homa at the opening in 1889, and, upon locating upon a contested claim, he lost the remainder of a hard-carned competency. The melancholy for- tunes of his native land of Moravia seemed to have followed him to this country of supposed promise, for in the meantime his wife had died. his children were scattered, and he had not the wherewithal to purchase the necessities of life.
Thus, overwhelmed with misfortune in a strange land, he was, nevertheless, stout of heart and ready to face unflinchingly the problems and dis- asters that the future might hold. In 1895 he came to the Pottawatomie country, and after a time bought a saw-mill on time, and removed it to where his home is at the present time. This enterprise enabled him to gain a footing, for he paid his debts, and erected a cotton gin, which was operated for some time.
The claim of Mr. Caha is located on the north- west quarter of section 22, township II, range 6 west, Pottawatomie county, and is devoted to general farming and the raising of cotton, corn, cattle and hogs. His place is well improved, and is a creditable acquisition to the locality in which it is situated.
To the eventful life of Mr. Caha has been added considerable frontier experience. While living in Fremont, Neb., he became captain of a Turner Society, and, after the Custer massacre, organ- ized a company of militia, of which he was cap- tain. They were called out by the government and made a campaign against the Indians. At Nine Springs, where, in a severe fight, Lieutenant Chery was shot, Mr. Caha was wounded in the right knee and was incapacitated for six weeks. In national politics he is a believer in the princi- . ples of the Republican party. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Oklahoma City. Mrs. Caha is buried in Oklahoma City. She became the mother of five children, all of whom are living: Fred, Henry, Ernest, Alfred and Lottie. The first two were born in Nebraska, and the other three in Canadian county. Mr. Caha has won the es- teem of all who appreciate the sterling qualities which have enabled him to rise above the dis- couragements of his life, and to attain to the prominent place which he occupies as a valued citizen of a promising community.
H ENDERSON FRAME, one of the veterans of the Civil war, was born in Montgomery county, Ill., in 1844, a son of Robert and Serena (McCaslin) Frame. The father was a native of Ohio, and came to Illinois in an early day, accompanied by his father. He took up land in Montgomery county, and continued to devote his attention to its cultivation, thoughi by trade he was a carpenter. Later in life he removed to Crawford county. Kans., where his widow is yet living. She was born in 1822, in Kentucky, and her father took up his abode in Montgomery county. Ill., at about the same time as did the Frame family.
At the age of eighteen years Henderson Frame responded to his country's call for loyal defenders, and enlisted for one hundred days, in
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Company H, One Hundred and Forty-third Illi- nois Infantry. When his time had expired, the young soldier again volunteered in the ranks, and until the close of the long, weary war served in Company G, Third Illinois Cavalry, much of . the time being on detached duty. Nor did this finish his army career, for the Indians on the western frontier were proving so troublesome that it became necessary for the government to quell their rebellion, and Mr. Frame was one of the sturdy young men called into requisi- tion. With his regiment he went to the Dakotas, where the Sioux Indians were on the war-path, and for some time he served in that region, with his headquarters at Fort Snelling.
Resuming his interrupted business life, Mr. Frame continued to reside in Illinois until 1871. when he located in Crawford county, Kans., and at the end of eighteen months went to Sumner county, same state. There he was actively occu- pied in agricultural labors until 1889, when he started from the northern line of this territory and made the race for a claim. Securing one in the southeastern part of section 34, township 18, range 2, he proceeded to improve the property, and planted a fine orchard, which was bearing excellent harvests at the time that he disposed of the farm, about two years ago. Then, coming to Perkins, Payne county, he purchased a livery stable, of which he is yet the proprietor. He has taken an interested part in the upbuilding of this town, and resides in an attractive modern house, which he built after coming here.
On the Ist of April, 1868, Mr. Frame married Mildred A., daughter of Stanford and Ann Rob- ertson, of Montgomery county, Ill. They be- came the parents of nine children, all of whom are living, though the devoted wife and mother was called to the silent land in 1890. Five years later Mr. Frame married Mrs. Mary Dickey, of this territory, and one child, Blanche, blesses their union.
In national elections Mr. Frame has always voted for Republican nominees. Fraternally he is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He also is affiliated with the Odd Fellows, and was one of the first members of the order here to take steps toward a local organ- ization. With his brethren he was interested in the building of a substantial brick and stone structure, in which the lodge is to have quarters.
J OSEPH A. HANNA. There is no doubt that Oklahoma has made swifter strides to- wards wealth and universal prosperity within the first decade of settlement by the white race than any other region in the west, and in striving to solve the reason of this phenomenal growth one conclusion is invariably reached, viz .: that
this fertile land and beautiful country attracted to its borders a host of exceptionally intelligent, practical farmers, well qualified to deal with the problems presented.
In Crutcho township, Oklahoma county, Jo- seph Allen Hanna is accounted one of its sub- stantial citizens, and thus he is deserving of honorable mention in its history. He inherited a portion of his business ability, perhaps, from: his father and paternal grandfather, both of whom were men of prominence and wealth in the early days of Indiana's annals. His grand- father, the well-known Gen. Robert Hanna, once in command of the Indiana State Militia, with the rank of general, was a native of North Caro- lina, whence he removed to the Hoosier state at an early day, reaching Indianapolis long ere the railroads were built to the place. He bought a farm of eighty acres, now a part of the city, and devoted himself to the cultivation of the land. His death occurred in a railroad accident.
Thomas J., father of Joseph A. Hanna, was born. in Indianapolis in 1826, and died in 1900, in McCordsville, Ind., where he was one of the oldest residents. For years he was extensively engaged in farming and handling grain and live stock. In addition to owning an elevator at McCordsville, he put down the first natural gas well in that part of the state, and was president of the McCordsville Gas Company. He also operated a gas plant with twelve miles of pipe- lines, and was the prime mover in all local enter- prises of importance. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary J. Bolton, departed this life in 1856. Robert, their eldest son, resides in Cowley county, Kans., and Frank L. lives in Indiana. Mary E. is the wife of Dr. Newhouse, of Frank- fort, Ind.
The birth of Joseph A. Hanna, the second child of his parents, occurred October 13, 1850, in Vernon township, Hancock county, Ind., and his early years were spent upon a farm near McCordsville. He received an excellent educa- tion in the public schools, completing his studies in those of Indianapolis and the Northwestern University, near Chicago. When he reached his majority, he went to Detroit, Mich., and for several years was employed in the office of the paymaster of the United States, Department of the Lakes. Then, returning to his native state, he resumed the general farming and stock- raising business, with which he had become fa- miliarized in his youth. During the winter terms of school he engaged in teaching for five seasons, and at the town of Mohawk, Hancock county, he carried on a general store two years. also handling grain and live stock.
In 1884 Mr. Hanna removed to Butler county. Kans .. where he purchased a half-section of land, and devoted his attention chiefly to the
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raising of sheep. He was the owner of some fine registered Merinos, and won more than a local reputation for the high-grade animals which he raised on his farm. He was connected with this enterprise for a period of five years, in the meantime teaching a school two terms. When Oklahoma was opened, he made the race, April 22, 1889, and secured a farm, eighty acres being situated on section II, and the same amount being on section 12, Crutcho township. After living on the place three years, during which time he made many improvements, he left the farm, owing to a legal proceeding which had been entered against him by parties laying claim to the same property. Going to Lincoln county, Okla., he entered into partnership with another man, and bought a claim, but, as he was not satisfied with the outlook, soon gave it up and went to Oklahoma City, where he en- gaged in managing a hotel on California avenue, and later conducted the Columbia Hotel.
The financial panic of 1893 so crippled Mr. Hanna that he practically had to begin where he had begun upon attaining his majority, at the bottom rounds of the ladder leading to success. He returned to Indiana and gave his energy to his former work of agriculture, and at the end of six years had partially retrieved his standing. With his old-time faith in Oklahoma, he re- turned to its borders in 1899, and bought land in section 14, Crutcho township, Oklahoma county. The improvements upon the place amounted to little, but he at once set about the great task of making it one of the model farms of the county. Part of the land is located along the river bottoms, and abundance of water is afforded by Silver creek. He makes a specialty of raising sheep and keeps a good grade of Poland-China swine. Each season he ships live stock to St. Louis, receiving the highest market prices. The farm is well adapted to the raising of stock, and recently the owner built six hun- dred rods of fence, with special reference to the protection of his sheep, and he has just com- pleted one of the best barns in the county.
Politically Mr. Hanna is independent, but has been closely identified with the Greenback party since its organization, and, indeed, was influen- tial in its formation. He aided in the establish- ment of the first Greenback Club in Indianapolis, and at one time was a candidate for the office of clerk of the circuit court of Hancock county. As might be expected of one who so long was connected with educational work, he is deeply interested in schools, and as a member of the board in this township aided materially in meet- ing this need of the younger generation. In 1800 he aided in organizing the Farmers' Alli- ance of this territory. In 1876 he married Clara Gaskins, of Indiana, and their only child, Homer
C. Hanna, is living at home, and is a young man of much promise.
H ENRY CLAY FINLEY, who is now at the head of one of the largest and most flourishing groceries and meat markets of Oklahoma City, eminently deserves classification among those purely self-made men of the terri- tory who have distinguished themselves for their ability to master the opposing forces of life and to wrest from fate a large measure of suc- cess. He arrived here April 22, 1889, and the following day opened a store in a tent, IOXIO feet, with a stock of groceries which cost him but $12.
Mr. Finley was born on a farm near Athens, Ala., May 8, 1859, and remained there until the age of twenty years. He comes of an old Vir- ginian family, though his paternal grandfather spent his life as a farmer in South Carolina, and his father, James Finley, was born and reared there on his father's plantation. On leav- ing his native state the latter removed to Gun- tersville, Ala., and later to Athens, where he made his home until about 1882, when he went to Fort Smith, Ark. He died there at the age of sixty-four years. He, too, was a planter. In early life he married Jane Bruce, also a native of South Carolina, and a daughter of John Bruce, who removed to that state from Virginia. She had six brothers, five of whom were Methodist Episcopal ministers, and of that church she and her husband were active and faithful members. She died in Alabama, at the age of fifty-six years. In their family were eight children: Mrs. Frances Floyd, now a resident of Arkansas; Minerva, who died young; Mrs. Mary York, who died in Fort Smith, at the age of thirty years; Mrs. Margaret Horn and Mrs. Louisa Barber, both residents of Arkansas; John, who died young; James, a farmer, who died in Fort Smith; and Henry C., our subject.
Reared on a farm in Alabama, Henry C. Fin- ley received only a limited education in the sub- scription schools of the neighborhood. In 1880 he went to Fort Smith, Ark., where he engaged in farming for two years, and then removed to the Panhandle country of the Cherokee strip. where he was in the employ of a cattle company. In 1884 he located in Coldwater, Kans., where he was engaged in the butcher business until 1888, and then went to Purcell. I. T .. where he was interested in mercantile pursuits until com- ing to Oklahoma City, April 22, 1889. For some time he carried on business here in his tent, and later rented a store for three years. In 1893 he bought property at No. 135 Main street, and erected thereon a good brick build- ing, 25x80, two stories in height, with a base-
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ment. At the same time he added meat to his stock, and now conducts one of the best gro- ceries and meat markets in the city, occupying his entire building. Besides his business prop- erty, he owns a pleasant home at the corner of Main and Hudson streets.
On the 24th of August, 1886, in Kinsley, Kans., Mr. Finley married Miss Annie Patter- son, who was born in St. Louis, Mo., July 4, 1870. Her father, John Patterson, removed from Indiana to St. Louis, and later to Cold- water, Kans., where he engaged in railroad contracting, but now follows farming in Lincoln county, Okla. Our subject and his wife have two children: Agnes Cora, born in Coldwater, Kans., April 24, 1888; and Robert Lee, born in Oklahoma City, July 15, 1891. The family hold membership in the Presbyterian Church. In politics Mr. Finley is a Democrat. He is a man of excellent business and executive ability, whose sound judgment, unflagging enterprise and capable management have brought him a high degree of success.
W ILLIAM ARMSTEAD HUDELSON is a prominent contractor and builder of Oklahoma City, of whose skill many ex- amples are to be seen on all sides. Thoroughly reliable in all things, the quality of his work is a convincing test of his own personal worth and the same admirable trait is shown in his consci- entious discharge of the duties of the different positions of trust and responsibility to which he has been chosen in business and political life.
Mr. Hudelson was born in Mexico, Mo., May 6, 1856, and is a son of John H. Hudelson, a na- tive of Boone county, that state. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Hudelson, was born in Pennsylvania, and when a young man went to Kentucky, where he married a Miss Phillips. They were among the pioneers of Boone county, Mo., where the grandfather died at an early age. He was a farmer by occupation. The father of our subject was reared in his native county, and in Mexico, Mo., he married Virginia Armstead, who was born there. Her father. Frank Armstead, was a native of Virginia, and a pioneer of Mexico. He, too, was an agricul- turist. In early life the father of our subject followed farming and surveying in Missouri, and in 1859 removed to Dallas county, Tex., where he purchased a farm. During the Civil war he was a member of a Texas regiment, being under the command of Captain Thomas and General Burford. In 1875 he removed to Eastland county, Tex .. where he engaged in the cattle business, and also served as county surveyor four years. Since the 22nd of April, 1889, he and his wife have made their home upon a farm
in Mustang township, Oklahoma county, Okla., and are well known and highly respected in that community. In their family were five children, namely: William A., our subject; Elza, a mer- chant and stock dealer of Stringtown, I. T .: James, who died in Dallas county, Tex .; John H., a railroad builder of Arizona; and Samuel F., a resident of Oklahoma City.
The subject of this review passed his boyhood and youth in Dallas county, Tex., and pursued his studies in its district schools. At the age of eighteen years he commenced learning the car- penter's trade at Richardson. In 1875 he went to Eastland county, Tex., where he was engaged in the cattle business until his marriage, which was solemnized there, September 9, 1880, Miss Alice Steele becoming his wife. She was born in Pickens county, Ga., but was reared and edu- cated in Alabama. Her father, John Steele, was a native of South Carolina, and a son of Andy Steele, who was also born in South Carolina. but was a representative of an old Pennsylvania family. From his native state the latter removed to Georgia, from there to Alabama, and later to Arkansas, where his death occurred. He was a planter by occupation and a soldier of the war of 1812. Mrs. Hudelson's father engaged in merchandising until the Civil war broke out, when he was commissioned captain of a com- pany in the Twenty-third Georgia Regiment. After the war he located in Gadsden, Ala .. where he followed farming, and later was interested in the milling business in Eastland county, Tex. He is now conducting a hotel at Eastland. He married Susan Bedford, a native of Georgia, and a daughter of Jonas Bedford, who was also born in that state, and became a planter of Gadsden, Ala. Mrs. Hudelson's parents are still living. and nine of their ten children also survive. Alice. wife of our subject, is the eldest; James is a resi- dent of Amarillo, Tex .: Robert is a miner of New Mexico; Mrs. Sallie Hill is a resident of East- land, Tex .; Mrs. Ella Westbrook lives in San Marcos, Tex .; Jackson is a cattle-raiser of New Mexico; Jonas is a resident of Dallas, Tex. : Josie and David are both at home. Our subject and his wife have two children: Lena, who is attend- ing the high school of Oklahoma City, and John Elza.
After his marriage Mr. Hudelson located in Cisco, Tex., where he successfully engaged in contracting and building until 1886, when he re- moved to Fayetteville, Ark., becoming one of the principal contractors there. He also followed farming at that place. On first coming to this territory, in March, 1800, he located on a farm in Mustang township, Oklahoma county, near Council Grove, but, after completing a couple of contracts in Texas, he removed to Oklahoma City in November, 1892, and has since engaged
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in contracting and building, with marked suc- cess. He was alone in business until 1899, but is now a member of the firm of Condon & Hudel- son. He has erected some of the finest resi- dences in the city, including the Choctaw depot; the Bennett block, the colored ward school- house; and superintended the construction of the county court house, Webster school building and the Carnegie Library; and helped to build the Masonic Temple and the Times-Journal building.
Politically Mr. Hudelson is a pronounced Democrat, and takes quite an active and promi- nent part in local affairs. In 1897 he was elected alderman from the third ward, and so acceptably did he fill the office that he was re-elected in 1899, and is now president of the council. He is chairman of the purchasing committee, and has been a member of the committees on ways and means, public property, .and the building com- mittee of the public library. During his admin- istration many public improvements have been made, and in the discharge of his public duties he has exercised the same energy, good business ability and sound judgment that has character- ized his private life. He and his wife hold mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and she also belongs to the Eastern Star Chapter of the Masonic fraternity, while he is a member of the Woodmen of the World.
S. J. SOLDANI. With the blood of roving red men in his veins, his life inseparably interwoven with the romanticism and tradi- tion of the primeval days of American occupa- tion, Mr. Soldani has added to his inherited traits of courage and largeness of character the enterprise and progress of the best of his fellow- citizens. While accumulating more than the average of this world's possessions, he has associ- ated himself with the best interests of the locali- ties in which he has elected to reside, and is accounted a worthy and reliable acquisition to the progress of Ponca and Kay county.
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