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 45
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In February of 1890 Mr. McBride decided to associate himself with the larger possibilities of Oklahoma, and bought the southeast quarter of section 21, township 18, range I east, Payne county, which is under a high state of cultivation and has a fine orchard attached. Fifty acres of the claim are cleared, and there are two springs, which add to the convenience of watering stock. In September of 1899 Mr. McBride purchased the store known as the Paradise store, and post- office. In February of 1900 he was appointed postmaster by President Mckinley, and during his term of service has given great satisfaction. Independent in politics, he has held a number of important local offices within the gift of the people, including that of township clerk, of which he was second in the township. Fraternally he is associated with Lodge No. 5, A. O. U. W., at Stillwater, and with the Modern Woodmen of America, being a charter member of the lodge at Coyle. Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. McBride four are living. Jessie is thirteen years of age, and was born in Kansas; Melvin, also born in Kansas, died at the age of two and one- half years; Verner was born in Oklahoma, and is eight years of age; Lois is six years old, and was born in the territory; and Eunice, aged three, was also born here.
Mr. McBride is a progressive and enterprising farmer and enjoys the good-will and respect of all who know him. He is interested in all that pertains to the improvement of his county and locality, and generously contributes toward the maintenance of her institutions. With the Chris- tian Advent Church himself and `family are closely associated, and are ardent workers therein.
L OUIS MYERS. One of that Grand Army of the Republic, whose ranks are rapidly being diminished, Louis Myers deserves a high place in the esteem of the people who have entered into the promised land of peace and prosperity on account of the noble part taken by himself and his brave comrades who wore the blue in the days when our fair land was shaken to its foundations. For nearly twelve years he has been a resident of Stillwater, and closely as- sociated with its upbuilding, and few citizens are better known throughout this part of Oklahoma.
Born near Cincinnati, in Brown county, Ohio, in November, 1838, Louis Myers is a son of
W. C. and Catherine (Carmichael) Myers, na- tives of Pennsylvania and farmers of the Buck- eye state for a number of years. Both died in Ohio, and three of their ten children are de- ceased. George Myers enlisted in the Fifty- ninth Ohio Infantry during the Civil war, and his life was a sacrifice on his country's altar. Another brother of our subject, Wesley Myers, resides in this city, as also does a sister, Mrs. McGrew.
The first great event in the life of Louis Myers (for his youth was quietly passed upon a farm) was his enlistment in response to the president's call for defenders of the Union, in April, 1861, at the beginning of the war. When the three months had elapsed, and it became evident that this was a mere prelude to the terrible strife which was to follow, Mr. Myers re-enlisted in Company H, Fifty-ninth Ohio, and with that regiment participated in more than a score of the most important battles of the war. Among them were Mill Springs, Crab Orchard, Shiloh, Corinth, Pittsburg Landing, Iuka, Jackson's Landing, Holly Springs, Perryville, Wildcat Mountain, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Knox- ville, Ringgold, Rocky Face Ridge, Buzzard's Roost, Kennesaw Mountain, Resaca, Lost Mountain, Pumpkin-vine Ridge, Marietta, Love- joy's Station, Atlanta and Peach Tree Creek. In the last-named engagement Mr. Myers, who thus far seemingly had led a charmed life, while acting as a sergeant, July 19, 1864, was slightly wounded in the left leg. He would not leave his post of duty for long, and the following day was in the thickest of the fight, when he was shot through the left lung and shoulder. He fell to the ground, unconscious, and about fifteen min- utes later staggered a short distance and fell. Soon he was carried to the rear of the lines, but for several hours lay insensible in camp. Three days his couch of suffering was a board under a tree, but finally he was sent to the hospital at Lookout Mountain, and two weeks later to Nashville. In August he was sent home on a furlough, and in December of the same year was mustered out of the service at Columbus, Ohio.
Like many another brave hero of the war, Mr. Myers began the active private career of a citizen under most disheartening conditions. The mere wreck of his former self, he resumed agri- culture in his native county, and remained there until the spring of 1880. Then, settling near Winfield, Kans., he improved and later sold a farm, after which he lived on a homestead near Tisdale, Kans. April 22, 1889, he proceeded to Guthrie, and in the following June came to Still- water. Here he immediately engaged in the livery business, running a hack between Orlando and Stillwater for nine years, and having charge of the mails. In 1898 he sold out and bought
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what is known as the Blue-bell Barn, at Perry, and his son, W. C., now is manager of the enter- prise. In 1900 Mr. Myers, Sr., built a substan- tial brick and stone barn, 56x100 feet, in Still- water, and is conducting this business. The stable is the largest of the kind in the county, the one at Perry being a close second, and both barns are managed in a systematic way, meriting the approval of the public. They are feed and sale stables, and a fine line of horses are always to be found here. Mr. Myers is the possessor of the famous pacer, "Abdallah Prince."
Two years ago the Republicans of Payne county honored Mr. Myers by electing him to the office of county weigh-master, in which ca- pacity he served until November, 1900. He al- ways has been a stanch Republican, and in the fraternities is a loyal member of the Grand Army lodge of Stillwater.
In Brown county, Ohio, Mr. Myers married Miss Sarah E. Metzger, likewise a native of that section. Their eight children are living, namely: Alonzo, who is employed as a conductor in the electric railway service at San Francisco, Cal .; Mrs. Minnie Swope, of South McAlester, I. T .; W. C., who is the manager of his father's busi- ness in Perry; James, who is engaged in the transfer business in Stillwater; Myrtle, Mrs. . George Butchart, of this city; John, employed with his father; Elijah, who is a druggist here; and Iva, who is at home. Mrs. Myers is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church, as are several of the children.
L EOPOLD OBREITER. One of the most loyal, patriotic citizens of Oklahoma is the gentleman of whom the following history has been compiled, Leopold Obreiter, a hero of the Civil war. The blood of the sturdy, patriotic Greeks flows in his veins, as, for four hundred years backward into the mists of medieval days, his ancestry is traced to the upper class of that once grand, world-commanding nation. Many of his forefathers were noted for wealth and learning, and some, going into the rising empire of the old Teutonic race, became titled men and members of the nobility of Germany.
Joseph, father of Leopold Obreiter, was born in Germany, whence he emigrated to the United States fifty-three years ago. He was numbered thenceforth among the farmers of Lancaster county, Pa., and a portion of the valuable home- stead which he improved is now included within the limits of Lancaster City. When in the sixty- ninth year of his useful life he was summoned co his reward in Philadelphia. His wife, who had previously died at their old home in Lan- caster county, when in her fifty-fifth year, was Stevanna Bauer in her girlhood, and the place
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of her nativity is in the grand duchy of Baden, Germany. Seven of her eight children survive, Herman, the fourth, having been killed by the Indians in 1867, while he was crossing the plains, on the way to California with a large supply of merchandise, which, of course, was lost. Theresa, who married Florian Becht, and Adelaide, who wedded Jerome Schreck, are widows. John, the eldest, owns part of Wheatland, the old home of James Buchanan, at Lancaster, Pa. Joseph and William are engaged in business together in Ho- boken, N. J., and Jacob, the youngest of the fam- ily, is a citizen of Michigan.
The birth of Leopold Obreiter took place in Philadelphia, Pa., August 23, 1847, and until he was thirteen years old he lived upon his father's farm in Lancaster county. Then he commenced learning the printer's trade in the office of John Bears' Sons, in Lancaster City, and at the end of two and a half years he was accounted thor- oughly capable in every department of the busi- ness, including the bindery.
In 1862, though but fifteen years of age, Leo- pold Obreiter enlisted in Company E, Twenty- ninth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and served until August 10, 1865, in the Irish Bri- gade, with Sumner's grand division, and in the Ninth Army Corps. The gallantry of the youth on the field of battle and at his post of duty, wherever it happened to be, resulted in his being entrusted with important tasks, and gradually he was promoted, until his responsibilities were not in proportion to his age. He was made a ser- geant during the battle of Antietam, and, when in front of Petersburg, was made lieutenant of his company. For some time he was one of the color guards of the Ninth Army Corps, with the rank of corporal, and at Georgetown, Md., was placed on provost duty. When he had he- roically battled for his country until war had ceased, he took part in the Grand Review at Washington, and the date of his honorable dis- charge from the service is as given above, Au- gust 10, 1865. Five months afterward the love for army life, which had been fostered in him, so far asserted itself that he joined Company G, Sixth United States Infantry, regulars, and dur- ing the reconstruction period was stationed in North and South Carolina for three years. Then, for a like period, he was located at Fort Gibson, in the Cherokee Nation, and aided in the work of constructing the Missouri River, Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad through Kansas. By merit he rose to the rank of first sergeant, and on many occasions was acting sergeant-major of his com- pany. The last period of his army life was at Fort Hays, in western Kansas, and January 10, 1872, he received his honorable discharge from the army.
Returning to the Quaker City, Mr. Obreiter
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was connected with the street railroad business for a short time, and in the autumn of the same year located upon a farm in Christian county, Ill. For a score of years he dwelt in that vicinity, and, in addition to his agricultural labors, was long engaged in merchandising at Grove City, carrying a stock amounting in value to thirty thousand dollars. In February, 1891, he came to Edmond, Okla., where he dealt in real estate to some extent for a period, but soon bought his homestead in section 15, Britton township. The place was practically unimproved, and he at once commenced making marked changes and now has eighty-five acres under the plow. He raises a fine grade of Shorthorn cattle, but is known most widely as a poultry-man. He devotes his chief attention to the raising of thoroughbred Black Langshang chickens, and at exhibits has taken two gold medals at Houston, Tex., and others at Guthrie, Arkansas City and other points. His reputation as a raiser of fine poultry is not limited, for he sells and ships specimens to well-known people in all parts of the Union. Twenty years ago, in Illinois, he first became in- terested in this business, and thousands of these beautiful birds have been sold by him at high prices. Being considered an authority, he be- came one of the charter members, and later was made president of the Territorial Poultry Asso- ciation, of which he now is the treasurer. He has contributed articles of recognized worth to many leading poultry journals.
Politically a stalwart Republican, Mr. Obrei- ter is a member of the county central commit- tee, and two years ago was a candidate for the office of county commissioner. For a number of years he has been a school director, and in the fraternities is a Knight of Pythias and a Good Templar, a Mason, and past noble grand of Grove City Lodge No. 275, I. O. O. F., in Illi- nois. His influence is always given to progres- sive movements, and he is a stanch friend to schools, churches and temperance. For some time he served as teacher of the Sunday-schools of Methodist and United Brethren churches.
In 1880 Mr. Obreiter married Emma Irvin, who died within a few years. His present wife bore the maiden name of Florence Smith, and their four children are named, respectively: Irene E., Marta M., Pearl S. and Claude P. They are promising students of the local schools and are receiving excellent advantages.
- OSEPII E. POWELL. As a hero of the Civil war, if for no other reason, J. E. Pow- ell, of Stillwater, is entitled to a place of honor in the rolls of the country for which he fought and endured untold hardships in the long, weary years of her peril. Almost his entire ma-
ture life has been spent on the western frontier, and his experiences have been varied and ex- tremely interesting.
Born in Seneca county, Ohio, in 1838, J. E. Powell is a son of Robert and Chloe (Daniels) Powell, natives of Pennsylvania, and carly set- tlers in the Buckeye state, where they spent their lives upon a farm. In 1857 our subject went to Illinois, and for the ensuing three years worked for farmers in Henderson and Warren counties. Two-score years ago he came to the west, and, after spending a year in Holt county, Mo., took up his residence in Wyandotte county, where he remained until 1874.
In the meantime the great war of the Rebel- lion was waged, and July 21, 1861, the young man enlisted in Company A, Sixth Kansas In- fantry, at Fort Leavenworth. During the next three and a half years he was actively engaged in border warfare, chiefly in Missouri and Arkan- sas, finding the bushwhackers, commanded by Price and Quantrell, enemies not to be lightly esteemed. He was in innumerable skirmishes with these outlaws, and during the Camden raid met his Waterloo at the hands of some of the Quantrell men. Seeing one of his friends and comrades, Granville Freeman, hard pressed and in a hand-to-hand combat with one of the guer- rillas, he went to his aid. The rebel, who had a shotgun strapped to his side, raised it and sent a bullet into Mr. Powell's right knee, after which he was taken captive. For a whole month the soldier boy languished in a prison, without re- ceiving proper medical attention, and at length, when he was sent to Fort Smith, it was found necessary to amputate his leg. For weeks he was confined to the hospital, but finally was mus- tered out of the service January 24, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth, and returned to his home in Wy- andotte county.
In 1857 Mr. Powell married, in Illinois, Amanda J. Murray, who departed this life March 16, 1871, leaving four children, John, Ellen and Fred, who now live in Payne county, and have families of their own, and Edward, who lives in the Osage Reservation. October 1, 1871, Mr. Powell married Sallie Egerton, by whom he has eight children. Her parents, Jane and Rebecca Egerton, lived and died in North Carolina. The eldest son, Jacob Marion, and the third son, George, are married and farmers of this county. The others are at home, namely: William, Frank, Rose, May B., Florence and Nettie.
Twenty-six years ago Mr. Powell located in Cowley county, Kans., and later became a settler of Chautauqua county, same state. In the fall of 1880 he came to Oklahoma , and, having bought a relinquishment to a claim in the southern part of Payne county, made good improvements, and finally sold the place, and for some time lived in
GEORGE DOLLINGER,
Ingalls.
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Stillwater, in order to provide his children with better educational advantages. He invested his capital in a good brick store in the town, and subsequently traded it for his well-improved farm in the southern part of section 24, township 19, range 2. The land is furnished with an abun- dance of water by the Boomer creek, which forms one of its boundaries, and a well-built house and barn, and a thrifty orchard, producing a large variety of fruits, make this a model farm.
In his youth Mr. Powell's advantages were very limited, and, realizing the value of an edu- cation, he is determined that his children shall be better provided for in this respect than he was. He has met with many reverses, and his financial experiences in Kansas were very disheartening, for he lost about $8,ooo of his hard-earned money. in Wyandotte county and $6,000 in Cowley county. Practically he had to commence at the bottom of the ladder again when he came to Oklahoma. He receives a pension from the gov- ernment and certainly is trebly entitled to it. Po- litically he has always been a Democrat. He was elected county weigh-master, to succeed Louis Myers, and now resides in the city of Stillwater.
G I EORGE DOLLINGER. While engaged in the general merchandise business in In- galls, Payne county, Mr. Dollinger has won the confidence and esteem of all who appre- ciate honest business methods, and are possessed of the desire for the best interests of their grow- ing town. As a postmaster, he has faithfully discharged his duties to the public, thereby substantiating his reputation of long-standing reliability.
Mr. Dollinger was born in Douglas county, Kans., in 1867, and is the son of Charles and Emma Dollinger. Charles Dollinger was a blacksmith by trade, and a conscientious and painstaking workman. His son, George, was reared in town until his ninth year, at which time the father moved into the country, and combined his trade with the occupation of general farming. The youth received a fair edu- cation at the public schools, and learned to be a model farmer. When twenty-one years of age his independent spirit asserted itself, and he decided to depend for the future upon his own resources. He accordingly engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits in the same locality, and was fairly successful in the enterprise until the open- ing of Oklahoma.
Two weeks after the run Mr. Dollinger arrived in the vicinity of Ingalls, purchased a claim, and at once began its improvement. Not con- tent'with the prospects of a future indefinite resi- dence there, he eventually sold his possession,
and opened a grocery store in Ingalls. With the growth of the town and the added demands for a more general line of goods, Mr. Dollinger wisely branched out in his business and stocked up with all-around necessities. Since then he has met with an extended patronage, and has come to regard his adopted town as a desirable place in which to live. Aside from the store in which his business is conducted, he is the owner of a fine residence.
January 1, 1900, Mr. Dollinger was appointed postmaster of Ingalls by President Mckinley. He was married, in 1899, to China Parmley, a daughter of L. F. and O. T. Parmiley. Of this union there is one child, Ila, who is not vet a year old. In national politics Mr. Dollinger is a Republican, and firmly believes in the princi- ples and issues of his party. His first presiden- tial vote was cast for Benjamin Harrison. Fra- ternally he is associated with the Odd Fellows. which organization he joined while living in Kansas in 1888. He is now a member of the lodge at Stillwater. With his family, he is con- nected with the Lutheran Church, and sub- scribes generously towards its support.
F RANCIS M. RILEY. The prosperity of any community depends upon its business ac- tivity, and the enterprise manifest in com- mercial circles is the foundation upon which is builded the material welfare of town, state and nation. The most important factors in public life at the present day are, therefore, the men who are in control of successful business inter- ests, and such a one is Mr. Riley, a prominent citizen of Oklahoma City.
He was born in Vermilion county, Ind., April 14, 1844, and on the paternal side is of Scotch- Irish descent. His father, Jacob Riley, was born in Hardin county, Ky., in 1803, and was a son of James Riley, who removed from that state to Indiana, and later to Green county, Wis., where he died at the age of eighty-three years. Jacob Riley was reared in his native county, and re- ceived a fair education for those days. In 1827 he went to Perrysville, Vermilion county. Ind., where he engaged in teaching in the typical pio- neer schoolhouse, built of logs, with dirt floor, greased paper windows, slab seats, and huge fire- place at one end. One of his early pupils. Elisha Rodgers, is still living in Indiana at the age of eighty-eight years. He is the father-in-law of our subject. Mr. Riley continued to engage in teaching for some years, and in early days served as an officer in the Indiana State Militia. He was married in Perrysville, in 1831. to Miss Eliz- abeth Nichols, a native of Greenbrier county. WV. Va., and a daughter of Jacob Nichols, an early settler of Indiana. Mr. Riley established
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the first harness shop in Perrysville, and con- ducted the same until 1842, when he purchased one hundred acres of land and turned his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits. He met with suc- cess in that undertaking and became the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land. He was a Whig and later a Republican in politics, and was highly respected by all who knew him. Re- ligiously he was a member of the Universalist Church. He died in Indiana November 1, 1880, and his wife passed away in 1868. Their chil- dren were William, who died in Green county, Wis .; Hardin, who died in Hot Springs, Ark .; Nancy, who married Isaac Rouse, and died in Indiana; Francis M., our subject; and Jacob R., a prominent and successful theatrical man, who died in Danville, Ill., May 30, 1899.
Francis M. Riley was reared on a farm and obtained his education in the district schools near his boyhood home. In July, 1862, he en- listed for three months in Company H, Seventy- first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mus- tered in at Chicago. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, and remained in the service four months, being mustered out and honorably discharged at Chicago November 29, 1862. Returning home, Mr. Riley took charge of the farm, and later purchased the interest of the other heirs in the place, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he subse- quently added two hundred and eighty-seven acres adjoining. He introduced the first polled angus cattle into Vermilion county, and engaged in breeding them for some time. The cattle. which he raised were sold in various localities, and some were brought by the pioneers of Okla- homa to this territory, and may still be found in Oklahoma county. Mr. Riley established the first tile factory in his section of the state, and operated the same for many years. When the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad was built he succeeded in getting a flag station on his farm, to which was given the name of Riley in his honor. Later he secured a postoffice there, and was made postmaster and ticket agent. The station is only one hundred rods from the Illinois line, a part of his land being in that state, and there he laid out a town. He still owns a farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres near Dan- ville, Ill. He served as county commissioner of his county from 1884 to 1890, and for the last three years was chairman of the board.
On the 8th of July, 1877, in Warren county, Ind., Mr. Riley married Miss' Martha W. Rod- gers, a native of that county, and a daughter of Elisha Rodgers, who was born in Connecticut, and who died March 4, 1900, in Baltimore, Ind., aged eighty-eight years. When a child of six years he was taken to Indiana by his parents, the journey being made overland. Her grand-
father, Allen Rodgers, was also a native of Con- necticut, and was a farmer and cooper by occupation. In early life her father engaged in coopering and, school-teaching, but later fol- lowed farming, and at the time of his death owned about two hundred and seventy acres on the Wabash river, where he had a palatial home. During pioneer days he flatboated on the Wa- bash, Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Or- leans, and also conducted a store and postoffice at the old town of Baltimore, Ind., now extinct. He maintained a very active part in public af- fairs, and served as county commissioner and justice of the peace for many years. He married Mary Moudy, a native of Ohio, and a daugliter of Peter Moudy, also an carly settler of Indiana, and a farmer by occupation. She is still living. They had a family of six children: Mrs. Sarah Talbot and Mrs. Emma Kenney, residents of Warren county, Ind .; Martha W., wife of our subject; A. Lincoln, a farmer of Covington, Ind .; Mrs. Rosa Rouse, who lives near Rileysburg, Ind .; and Peter, who lives on a part of the home farm.
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