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 55
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The early years of Mr. Kukuk were inter- spersed with attendance at the public schools, and at the age of fifteen years he began to pre- pare for future independence by learning the butcher's trade. For six years he successfully conducted a market at the corner of State street and Archer avenue. On account of his wife's failing health, he went, in IS90, to the Chicka- saw Nation, but his hopes of recovery were doomed to disappointment, for she died at Paul's Valley. At Chickasaw he engaged in his former occupation until 1893, at which time he removed to his present location in Perry.
Mr. Kukuk has been twice married. His first wife was formerly Bertha Burkhart, a native of La Salle county, Ill., and the mother of two children, Freddie and Emma. The second Mrs. Kukuk was Hattie Hulbert, a native of Lincoln, Ill. Of this union there is one child, Alvin. Mrs. Kukuk is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Kukuk is in politics a Repub- lican, and a member of the Commercial Club of Perry. Fraternally he is widely associated with the different organizations, and is a men- ber ot the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was treasurer for two years, and is now trustee and is a member of the Encampment. He is also connected with the Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America and the Order of Maccabees.
Mr. Kukuk is an enterprising citizen, and is appreciated for his many sterling qualities, and for his thoroughly reliable business methods. He has ever shown a commendable interest in all that pertains to the improvement of his town and locality, and contributes generously toward the same as opportunity offers.
G EORGE M. SOUTHGATE, county clerk of Pottawatomie county, was born in Boone county, Ky., October 24, 1859, and is a son of Dr. Bernard and Eleanor (Fleming) Southgate. The early life of Mr. Southgate was on the uneventful order, and not unlike that ex- perienced by the average farmer's sons. He was well schooled in the various duties incident to the conducting of a large and well-regulated farming enterprise. Interspersed with this occu- pation was industrious application at the district schools, where he received a fair education, which has since proved to have been the nucleus of re- search and study along many lines and a keen observation of human nature and events.
In 1872 his young life was saddened by the death of his father, and this was soon followed by the loss of the mother. Left thus alone in a cheerless childhood, he came under the care of an aunt, and continued to live on the old home- stead until 1884. At this time he undertook an independent venture, and in Nashville, Tenn., was employed in the city assessor's office as chief clerk for about eighteen months. In 1885 he went to Cowley county, Kans., and farmed on rented land, and later entered the mercantile business at Akron, Kans. This proved an un- fortunate undertaking, for he lost nearly all that he had invested.
In search of more promising conditions, Mr. Southgate determined to avail himself of the promising country of Oklahoma, and October 24, 1891, took up land, which he owned for a short time, but later sold, buying another tract,
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to which he afterward made additions. He now owns, with a brother, six hundred and forty acres of excellent farm land, five miles east of Shawnee, and in the northeast part of Potta- watomie county. This land is under fine culti- vation, and is provided with the most modern and up-to-date appliances.
The marriage of Mr. Southgate and Berla A. Gilbert, of Tecumseh, occurred July 3, 1898. Mrs. Southgate is a daughter of N. W. and Eliz- abeth (Congleton) Gilbert, and is the mother of one child, Eleanor, born in Tecumseh May 17, 1900. Mr. Southgate is, in national politics, a Democrat, and has held various local offices within the gift of the people. He was elected county clerk in 1896, re-elected in 1898, and again in 1900. Fraternally he is associated with Tecumseh Lodge No. 13, A. F. & A. M .; Royal Arch Chapter; the Commandery; and shrine, of Oklahoma City; also with Tecumseh Lodge No. 24, I. O. O. F., and with Lodge No. 7, A. O. U. W. He is regarded as one of the enterprising and substantial members of the community at Tecumseh, and has made many friends since coming to Oklahoma.
L OUIS D. HOLSONBAKE. Descended from the French Huguenots, the Holson- bake family have been identified with many of the important happenings in American his- tory, and the latter-day members have found in this land of large possibilities the peace, and prosperity, and religious freedom denied their struggling and persecuted forefathers. The great-grandfather, Daniel, was born in France, and emigrated to America prior to the Revolut- tionary war. With his wife, Jeannie, he had tilled the soil of his native land, and upon coming to America settled in South Carolina, where they raised a large family to habits of industry and thrift. Jeannie Holsonbake's brother, Lieuten- ant Doolly, commanded one of the United States vessels off the coast of South America during the Revolutionary war, which was forced to sur- render, the members of the crew being taken prisoners, and held at Charleston, S. C. They eventually made their escape from the British, and joined the land forces, Lieutenant Doolly later becoming aide on the staff of General Lafayette, and was wounded in the capture of Yorktown. The paternal grandfather, Louis D. Holsonbake, for whom his grandson is named, was born in Edgefield district in South Carolina, and became a prominent man in the community which claimed his allegiance. By occupation a mechanic, he later became in turn a distiller, statesman, and military man, and at a very early day was a member of the Georgia legislature. In the pursuit of the various inter-
ests which claimed his attention he accumu- lated a goodly share of worldly goods. He was a man of high moral character and of a decid- edly anti-slavery turn of mind. During the Seminole or Florida war, he was captain of the Georgia state militia, and served with courage and distinction, capturing the great Indian chief, "Witherford," of the Seminole tribe. After a life of active usefulness, he died in Manchester, Tenn., in 1868, at the age of ninety-five years.
The next in line of succession, Jephtha Hol- sonbake, the father of Louis D., was born in Franklin county, Ga., January 19, 1824. He was reared in his native locality, and in 1845 removed to Altamont, where he engaged as a railroad man, and in 1855 changed his head- quarters to Chattanooga, Tenn., and assumed charge of the Nashville and Chattanooga Rail- road machine shops. In 1858 he removed to Corinth, Miss., and served in the capacity of foreman of the mechanical construction of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad. In 1859 he undertook a different line of occupation, and in Drew county, Ark., began to manufacture iron plows. He there built up a large and lucra- tive business, which terminated disastrously dur- ing the war, for on the day of the battle of Shiloh, when his son was fighting for the Con- federate cause, his shops were reduced to ashes, and the work of years became the disaster of a lifetime. In the hope of retrieving a lost for- tune, this undaunted citizen repaired to Texas and engaged in the cattle business. He died at Dallas, Tex., in 1870, at the age of forty-six years. His wife, formerly Martha . Jane Smith. was of English descent, and was a member of the Boyd family of England. She became the mother of three children, of whom Louis D. is the oldest. James is deceased, and Martha is the wife of William Arnold. Mrs. Holsonbake died in Texas in 1871.
Louis D. Holsonbake was born in Franklin county, Ga., May 5, 1844. His boyhood days were associated with the vicinity of Chatta- nooga, at the base of Lookout Mountain, and the very scant opportunity for schooling was found at the little log schoolhouse at the foot of Raccoon Mountain. The erudition for which he is to-day renowned is the result of more recent application, of profound study along many avenues of thought, and keen observation of human nature and events. His natural desire for knowledge was so far ahead of the ability to gratify it that it was necessary for him to read an article over twice before the meaning became clear. While yet a young boy, he went 'into his father's machine shop and became an expert mechanic in wood and iron, but did not leave the home circle until the declaration of
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war sundered the ties in thousands of families over the land. His first night in camp was the first spent away from the home shelter. As a member of the Confederate army he enlisted May 15, 1861, in what later became Company B, Second Arkansas Cavalry, under General Beauregard. At Munfordville the company saw hard service, and were also active in many minor skirmishes. Afterwards, under General Price, he participated in the famous raid in Kan- sas and Missouri, and was captured at Chilli- cothe, Mo., in 1864, and imprisoned on John- son's Island. While there he was treated with great respect and kindness, quite at variance with his preconceived ideas of existing condi- tions. During the war he was brevetted lieu- tenant, and in the fall of 1863 was made captain. At the capture of Carrollton, Mo., he com- manded the regiment, and also at Mexico, Mo., which he fought with sixty-four men. At the battle of Shiloh, when a private, he assisted in the capture of Sherman's battery, and in the winter of 1863-64 commanded a company of cav- alry in Arkansas. At the battle of Centralia, Mo., in the winter of 1863-64, he witnessed the killing and wounding of all of the Union army men while fighting guerrillas. September 29, 1864, his horse was killed by a cannon shot, and in the fall he was slightly wounded.
After the restoration of peace, Mr. Holson- bake returned to his former home in Arkansas. and in 1867 removed to Shelby county, Tex., where he followed the trade of carpentering. After a year he went to Collin county, Tex., and was engaged until 1875 as a carpenter and con- tractor. In 1875 he removed to the Chickasaw Nation, and on the banks of the Red river branched out in the cattle business, and engaged in the manufacture of plows, and was a general blacksmith. This line of occupation was suc- cessfully carried out until 1886, when he re- moved to Johnsonville, of the same state.
Mingled with the early ambitions of Mr. Hol- sonbake was a desire to preach the gospel of humanity and good-will, and in 1860 he became .a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After removing to Texas in 1869 he was licensed as a local preacher, and for nineteen years en- gaged in good works in the Methodist Church, conducting missions through the southwest, mostly in the Indian Territory, acting in the capacity of preacher and educator to the white settlers, Indians and negroes of the Chickasaw Nation. All the while the most friendly rela- tions existed between himself and the Indians and the negroes.
With thousands of others of like intent. Mr. IIolsonbake made the run April 22, 1889, from! the Pottawatomie line on the cast, and pitched his tent under the big black oak which now
adorns his yard. He began at once to breal: the land and prepare the soil for the reception of the seed. His original intention was to develop an excellent fruit farm, and with this in view he set out the first trees November 7, 1889, and has since been continually adding to the orig- inal numbers. At the present time he has sixty acres of orchard and vineyard and has made $750 from grapes, $200 on apples, $300 on peaches and $too from blackberries. As a hor- ticulturist, Mr. Holsonbake has no superior among the residents of the locality in which he lives. He is experimenting on forty varieties of peaches, with a view of ascertaining the kind best fitted for the soil and climate of Pottawato- mie county. In the raising of fruit he is ably assisted by his wife, who is especially interested in the vineyard and the development of special varieties of fruit.
In addition to his various enterprises of a commercial nature, Mr. Holsonbake has marked literary ability, and has contributed many arti- cles to current literature, some of them finding their way into the first periodicals of the day. He has written the "Chronicles of Oklahoma," the "Boomer's Sermons," and has two romances in process of writing. He is well known as a writer and public speaker, and has more than a local reputation. Since coming to the territory, he has been the historical secretary of the Okla- homa Methodist Episcopal conference, and col- lected the data of the church in the Indian Ter- ritory and Oklahoma, which was subsequently turned over to his successor.
March 16, 1864, occurred the marriage of Mr. Holsonbake and Sereptha Vick, a native of Georgia. Of this union there have been three children: James O .; Lillie, who is married and lives in Lexington; and Effie, wife of John Myers, of Lexington.
In national politics Mr. Holsonbake is a Re- publican, having sworn allegiance to that party when he laid down his Confederate uniform. He was nominated for probate judge of Cleve- land county on the Republican ticket, but was defeated. He was temporary chairman of the convention in August of 1900, and is a mem- ber of the county central committee. In prop- agating the principles of Republicanism he has taken a prominent stand, and has ever worked for the best interests of his party. During the campaign of 1896 he delivered a series of lec- tures on "Signs of the Times." He is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as in other years, and still holds a certificate for focal preaching. He still exerts a wide influence from the pulpit, and often preaches at Guthrie, Pur- cell and Lexington. His labors among the needy are often tiring in the extreme, and al- though he often arrives at home late Sunday
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night, the early Monday morning sun finds him at work on his farm, in an effort to induce the soil to produce abundantly. Although starting from small beginnings in the territory, his va- rious capacities for well doing have resulted in generous returns morally, intellectually, and materially, and he is to-day recognized as one of the loyal-hearted pioneers who have vastly aided in the best development of a land of won- derful resource.
R. D. LOVE, M. D. The Love family is of Irish descent, and many of their mem- bers have distinguished themselves in va- rious lines of occupation, and figured conspic- uously in the professions, principally that of law. As opportunity offered and inclination dictated, they fought with courage and fidelity for their adopted country, some in the Revolu- tionary war, others in the war of 1812, and the Mexican war. The grandfather, John G. Love, was born in Tennessee, and in 1820 settled in St. Augustine, Tex., where he became a promi- nent alcalde, or judge, having been an attorney in Tennessee at the time Texas was under the administration of the Mexican government, and Sam Houston was sheriff. During those stirring days Mr. Love had ample opportunity to display his wisdom as a member of the bench, and his memory is cherished with all the other incidents so dear to the hearts of the people of Texas. In 1836 he fought with Houston in the revolution of Texas, and was on his staff. After the restoration of tranquillity, he engaged extensively as a farmer, later practicing law, and eventually becoming district judge, which posi- tion he held until his retirement. He died in 1866, at the age of ninety-six years.
In the same town in Texas which had wit- nessed the best exertions of his grandfather, R. D. Love was born April 17, 1853. His father, John E., was also born in. St. Augustine, and reared and educated there. In 1849 he sought the larger possibilities of the far west, and trav- eled to California via the Panama route, but re- turned to his native state at the expiration of three years. He then bought land near St. Augustine, and conducted large agricultural in- terests, which were suddenly terminated in April of 1861, by his being killed in the town where so large a part of his life had been passed. The mother was formerly Susan V. Wood, of St. Augustine, and a daughter of Reuben Wood, a native of Tennessee. Reuben Wood was a spec- ulator, who in 1824 settled in St. Augustine, and died in Memphis, Tenn., in 1852. During the Mexican war he was an officer in the army, and served under General Taylor. The mother of Mr. Love is living in Brenham, Tex.
Mr. Love is the oldest in a family of five chil- dren, four of whom are living. One brother, John E., is ex-sheriff of Woodward county, and is a cattle man. For the first nine years of his life R. D. lived on his father's farm near St. Augustine, and then went with his parents to Brenham, Washington county, where he re- ceived the greater part of his education in the public schools, and where he lived until his sev- enteenth year. He then returned to his native city and entered the St. Augustine Academy, eventually going to the Sam Houston State Nor- mal, at Huntsville, from which he was graduated in 1885. His education was not acquired with- out great effort on his part, for at the age of eighteen he began to teach school, and thus was enabled to pay for his higher attainments. After graduating he continued to teach for one year in the Goldthwaite high school, and in 1887 be- gan the study of medicine in the Louisville Med- ical College, at Louisville, Ky., from which he was graduated in 1892. In the meantime he had been practicing medicine in Evant, Tex., since 1888, with the proceeds of which he completed his course at the college.
In 1892 Dr. Love began the practice of his profession in Greenville, Tex., and in 1893 took up his residence in Perry, Okla., arriving on the opening day, and, as if prophetic of his future success, was called to set a broken arm within two hours of his arrival. Since then the doctor has had no cause to regret coming to Perry, for his conscientious and able mastery of the best tenets of the profession has won for him the con- fidence and patronage of a large following.
With the idea of ever pressing forward along the lines of his chosen work, Dr. Love went to Chicago in 1898 and took a full course at the Chicago Clinical College. Upon his return he continued his ministrations among the physic- ally disabled, and, to all intents, is a perma- nent and valuable acquisition to this progressive and promising town. He finds pleasing relaxa- tion from the arduous duties of his profession in overlooking the affairs of his farm, which is lo- cated to the north of Perry, and adjacent to the town, and contains eighty acres. In the town proper he has erected a residence at the corner of H and Ninth streets. Dr. Love was married in Perry to Pearl M. Oakley, who was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Of this union there is one child, Lem Garnett.
Aside from the immediate concern of his pro- fession, Dr. Love has interested himself in many of the enterprises for the upbuilding of his lo- cality, and is regarded as a public-spirited, enter- prising citizen. He was city physician for a time, county coroner for a term, and has been county physician on different occasions. Since 1894 he has served as local surgeon for the
LOGAN PAYTON, Cleveland County.
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Santa Fe route. He is a member of the Terri- torial Medical Association, the Santa Fe Medical and Surgical Association and the American Medical Association. For over twenty years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, now holding membership in Perry. He is also a member of the Encampment, the Knights of Pythias, the Fraternal Aid, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, having been admitted a Knight of Columbia in the Royal Tribe of Joseph. In political affiliation he votes with the Democratic party, and actively engages in the undertakings and issues of his party. He is present at most of the conventions, and other- wise makes the weight of his influence felt. He is prominent in religious matters, and is a mem- ber of the Christian Church.
L OGAN PAYTON is remembered as a worthy citizen, reliable friend and excellent agriculturist. He was associated with that part of Cleveland county in which his claim is located from the time of its opening to the out- side thousands until its transformation into one of the garden spots of this promising and fertile territory. His claim, which is located on the southeast quarter of section 25, township 9, range 3 west, Cleveland county, was nct his immediate care upon arriving here, for he started the first dairy in Norman, and for a number of months was engaged in managing it. This gave him a start in the world, for, like many others, he came to the territory in search of the benefits supposed to exist here. After locating on the claim, his family joined him, and they all had a rather trying time for a couple of years. They first lived in a tent for a few months, and then put up a small box house, and occupied the two, and for the next winter occupied a dugout, which served the purpose until the erection of the resi- dence which the family now occupies.
A native of Illinois, he was born February 3, 1853, and is a son of John and Margaret (Sig- man) Payton. When a mere boy his parents removed to Indiana, and later to Linn county, Kans., where he lived until his nineteenth year. During his youth he received only a limited edu- cation, but this was remedied in later years, for he was always a student of events and human nature, and learned much by observation. When about twenty years of age he went to Benton county, Ark., and worked out by the month. While here he met his future wife. Elizabeth E. Sigman, daughter of. Martin and Elizabeth (Cook) Sigman, who had removed to Bates county, Mo., and thence to Linn county, Kans., and from there to Benton county, Ark. Her marriage to Mr. Payton occurred in Collin county, Tex., whither she had gone with her
sister, and whither Mr. Payton had followed. Mrs. Payton lost her parents while living in Bates county, Mo., and she was reared by Isaac and Catherine Massey.
After his marriage, Mr. Payton lived in Collin county for two years, and then removed to Wise county, Tex., where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he later traded for cattle. In order to find better grazing country for his stock, he went to the Indian Territory, and at the time of the opening of Oklahoma was located in the Chickasaw Nation. Mr. Payton was fraternally associated with the Masonic order, and was buried according to the rites of the same, two days after his death, which oc- curred March 14, 1898. To Mr. and Mrs. Payton were born three children: Cordelia, who was born in Collin county, Tex., and is now the wife of Henry Stephen Renner, and lives with Mrs. Payton; Beccher, who was also born in Texas. and is living at home; and Olivia, who died at the age of one year and twenty-one days.
G EORGE DUREN LOCKHART. As postmaster of. Lockhart (the postoffice being located upon his farm) Mr. Lock- hart has satisfactorily discharged the obligations incident to his responsible position, and won the approval of his fellow-townsmen. As a farmer also he takes high rank, and is consid- ered one of the most progressive in the town- ship. His well-conducted farm, located on the northwest quarter of section 15, Spring Creek township, is given over to the raising of fine stock, cattle and horses, and to the cultiva- tion of wheat.
Mr. Lockhart is a native of Anson county, N. C., and was born August 7, 1850. His par- ents, Thomas J. and Mary J. (Duren) Lockhart, were born in North Carolina, and came of old Virginia families. The Lockharts were of Scotch ancestry. George Duren Lockhart was an in- dustrious lad, and carly displayed habits of economy and thrift. When seventeen years of age he went to Texas, in search of improved conditions and better prospects, and after a year's time his father's family joined him. The father bought considerable land, but lost it nearly all during subsequent litigation. Later he purchased some more, and is now residing in Corsicana, Tex. At this writing he is seventy- five years of age.
At the age of eighteen years, Mr. Lockhart engaged as clerk in a dry-goods store in Cor- sicana, and continued the same about five years. He then began to contract on the Cotton Bel Railroad as constructor, but suffered a severe loss owing to washouts on the road. Follow- ing this he clerked in the mercantile business
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ten years, and later undertook farming and stock-raising on a large scale, and was very suc- cessful. In 1889 he sold his farm and for a short time was in the livery business. In June of 1889 he settled on the claim which has since been his home. Here he has been able to more than realize his expectations, and he is well sat- isfied with his change of location and surround- ings. In 1895 the Lockhart postoffice was es- tablished on his farm, and he has been post- master continuously since.
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