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 59
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ponderous weight over gulches and up steep inclines.
The life of one who has so materially foreseen the requirements of his adopted town is naturally of interest to those who would be benefactors of their localities. Mr. Bittner is a native of Canada, where he was born in 1860. His suc- cess may be attributable to the sturdy strength! of mind and body so often associated with the sons of the north, and to the thrift and honesty of purpose inherited from his German ancestors. His father, Henry, and his mother, Mary (Alles) Bittner, were born in the Hessian province, Ger- many, and upon coming to America located in Canada, in 1845. They were farmers during the years of their activity, and in 1860, after the birth of their son, Josiah, removed to Michigan, and settled in Osceola county. There, on a farm, Josiah grew to manhood, and received his edu- cation in the public schools and at the high school at Napiersville. He lived at home until thirty-five years of age, and, after completing his education, learned the milling and millwright trade at Reed City, Mich. While living at the latter place, he was united in marriage with Lu- cinda Bonesack, of Lapier county, Mich., and a (laughter of Joseph and Mary Bonesack. Of this union there are four children: Siron, Ce- lesta. Ervin and Mildred. All of the children were born in Michigan, and are living at home.
In 1895 Mr. Bittner came to Oklahoma and bought forty acres of land in Union township. Payne county, where he at once began the erec- tion of a flour and feed mill, of seventy-five bar- rels' capacity. He also built a cotton gin, and has ever since successfully operated both. Mr. Bittner has also built two residences on his place, the other one being occupied by his part- ner and brother-in-law, Mr. Alles.
In national politics Mr. Bittner is a Repub- lican and has always voted the Republican ticket. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic order, and with the Knights of Pythias, at Reed City. With his wife, he is a member of the Ger- man Evangelical Association.
W A. VICKERS, who is well known in railroad circles, had the distinction of opening the office of the Frisco Railroad in Oklahoma City and the station on the fron- tier between Sapulpa and Oklahoma City. Oc- tober 14, 1898. He is now serving as agent for the same company in the latter city.
Mr. Vickers was born in Girard, Crawford county, Kans., and is of English descent. The family was established in Maryland at an cariy day, and the grandfather of our subject was a well-known stockman of Cumberland. He served from West Virginia in the Civil war, with
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the rank of first lieutenant. He was living at Parkersburg, W. Va., at the time of his demise. Hon. A. J. Vickers, the father of our subject, was born at Wheeling, W. Va. During the Civil war he served from West Virginia, being in the army for four years, and held the rank of first lieutenant at the time of his discharge. He was twice wounded in battle. In 1865 he went to Missouri, and two years later to Craw- ford county, Kans., where, in March of 1867, he opened, a store. After having conducted that business until 1879, he removed to Ellis county, Kans., where he served for four years as re- ceiver of the United States land office at Hays. He then returned to Girard, Kans., but after conducting a store there for one year, went to Pittsburg, the same state, where he carried on a store, meeting with good results.
In 1900 A. J. Vickers came to Oklahoma City, Okla., and has since engaged in the real-estate business. During his residence in Kansas he served three terms as representative from Craw- ford county in the state legislature. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His wife, Maggie McIntosh, was born in Dodge- ville, Wis., and is of Scotch ancestry. Her father, Robert McIntosh, was born in Ohio and at an early day settled in Wisconsin, being a merchant of Dodgeville. He then moved to Lecompton, Kans., and still later to Girard, Kans., where he resided at the time of his death. He served as probate judge for many years, and also engaged in the practice of law. While in Ohio during the Civil war he enlisted for service and went to the front.
The only son and oldest of four children born to his parents, W. A. Vickers was born Att- gust 21, 1869, and was reared in Girard, Hays City, and Pittsburg, Kans. He attended the public schools and the Pittsburg high school, from which he was graduated in 1889. He was then identified with his father's business until December, 1800, when he entered the employ of the Frisco Railroad at Pittsburg. Although he began at the very bottom, by careful atten- tion to his work and faithfulness to the company employing him, he received merited promotions from one position to another until he was made agent. He was agent at Pittsburg from 1895 to 1896, and at Galena until August. IS98, when he was sent to the new extension of the road in Oklahoma, and opened the station between Sa- pulpa and Oklahoma City, October 14, 1898, also organized the forces employed there. From March until September 1, 1899, he was stationed at Fort Smith, Ark., as agent. He then returned to Oklahoma City and has since served as local agent for the company. An enterprising citizen and capable official, he is popular both with the . born to his parents, is a native of Pope county, railroad men and the people in general. He has
erected several fine residences in Maywood Ad- dition.
At Topeka, Kans., Mr. Vickers was united in marriage with Ethel Freebom, who was born at Kingman, Kans., and is a graduate of the Topeka high school. They are the parents o: one child, Mildred. Mr. Vickers joined the Ma- sonic fraternity at Pittsburg, Kans., and is still a member, belonging to the Chapter, R. . 1. MI .. and commandery, K. T., at Pittsburg; Ararat Temple, N. M. S., of Kansas City, Mo. The Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Hoo Hoos also number him among their mem- bers. He is a Republican in politics and is a member of the City Club, being on the adver- tising committee. Religiously his wife is a men- ber of the Episcopal Church.
H ON. WILLIAM A. EVANS, M. D. One of the stanchest friends of Oklahoma is the gentleman of whom the following lines are penned, and though his residence here dates back only four years, he has abundantly proved his firm belief in the great future state. When a citizen of Jones City he was untiring in secur- ing improvements for the inhabitants, and changes for the better were effected. His home is now in Cordell, Washita county.
As his surname indicates, Mr. Evans is of Welsh descent. Two brothers bearing the pa- tronymic crossed the Atlantic at an early period and took up their abode in North Carolina. The paternal great-grandfather and the grandfather of the doctor were reared in Tennessee. Ilis father, James W. Evans, was a native of Mis- soutri, and in 1850 crossed the plains in the hope of becoming rich by mining in the gold fields .of California. He soon abandoned the idca, how- ever, and sought a livelihood in the regular lines of employment. For eighteen years he was the editor and proprietor of a daily newspaper, pub- lished at Stockton, Cal., and at the end of that period returned to his old Missouri home. He was the author of a work that found favor with the public. During the administration of President Grant he was appointed deputy cashier. under his brother, who was cashier of the United States land office at Boonville, Mo., and while acting in that capacity he died in 1872. In political principle he was a Democrat, and championed the rights of the people in a mas- terly way, though he was fair and just, and not an unreasoning partisan. His wife, who died in Pope county, Ark .. was Calidonia Nichols in her girlhood, and Giles county, Tenn., was the place of her birth.
Dr. William A. Evans, who was the only child Ark., the date of his birth being March 21, 1849.
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He was reared in Missouri, and received a lib- eral education. When he had arrived at an age where he must decide upon his vocation in life, he chose the career of a physician, and mas- tered the theoretical science in the St. Louis Medical College, where he had the degree of Doctor of Medicine bestowed upon him. In 1887 he located at Faulkner's Gap, Faulkner county, Ark., a town situated about fourteen miles north of Little Rock, and after devoting three years to the practice of his profession there he removed to Marshall, Ark., where he remained until 1893. During the ensuing three years he was established in Carrolton, Carroll county, Ark., and in 1896 came to Oklahoma. Here he settled upon a small farm in the "Seven C. Flat" district, in Springer township, and grad- ually without effort, won the regard of the peo- ple and his medical services came into demand. In 1889, when Jones City was instituted, he cast in his lot with her residents, and built the hand- somest residence in the place. In addition to carrying on his medical work, he was interested in the buying and shipping of wheat produced in this region, his chief purchasers being Lang- berg Brothers, of St. Louis, Mo. Several of the leading insurance companies employ him as medical examiner. In 1900 he removed to Cor- dell, in this territory.
The Republican party finds in the doctor an influential factor, for, after thoroughly studying the merits of the two great parties of this coun- try, he departed from his early training and de- cided in favor of the party mentioned. While a resident of Carroll county he was honored by being elected to the house of representatives in the Arkansas legislature, the fusion ticket of Republicans and Populists uniting upon him as a suitable person to stand for the welfare of the people. Needless to say, he justified their confi- dence, and, needless to say, he loyally upholds the platform and policy of his progressive party. A member and clerk of the school board. he gave his influence to the important task of se- curing good school advantages. He has been affiliated with the Masons and Odd Fellows. but, owing to his removal from the towns where his membership was held, he is not now an active worker in their interests.
In 1877 the doctor married Fannie B. Rev- nolds, and six children bless their union, namely: Dell J., May, Henry H., Willie W., Clyde and Dortha. The oldest, Dell T., twenty-two years of age, has a good education, and taught in the public schools of Carroll and Madison counties, Ark., from his fifteenth year until recently, but now is bookkeeper and salesman for a firm in Jones, Okla.
Dr. William A. Evans is now living in Cor- dell, the county seat of Washita county, Okla.,
where he has good property, a good practice and is examining physician of the Insane Board of Washita county.
G EORGE WILSON, who, during the course I of his long and industrious life was en- gaged in various occupations, to all of which he brought a conscientious and painstak- ing application, spent the last years of his life on the southwest quarter of section 14, township 9, range 3 west, Cleveland county. In no sense could his life be called a narrow one, for he saw much of the world and learned to understand and appreciate human nature.
Of Irish descent, the parents of Mr. Wilson came from Ireland and settled in New York City during the early part of the century, and here their son George was born July 18, 1838. They became discontented with their prospects in America, and, after a time, returned to their native land, and engaged in agricultural pur- suits. George Wilson was reared to an apprecia- tion of the dignity and usefulness of an agricul- tural life, and received a good education in the public schools. After he became grown his ex- istence took on an element of interest and ad- venture, for he joined the English army, and served that country for five years. During this time he served with courage in the Crimean war, the incidents of which he was ever fond of re- lating. About the time of the close of the Civil war he determined to return to America, and, upon arriving in the States, located in Grayson county, Tex., where he worked at his trade of stone-mason, which he had learned in Ireland before joining the army. He rapidly forged his way to the front, and in time became a contractor of stone work, and operated successively in Den- ison. Fort Worth and Houston, Tex.
While living in Grayson county, Mr. Wilson met his future wife, Maggie Chriswell, whom he married March 24, 1874. Mrs. Wilson was born in Georgia, and is a daughter of Charles and Martha (Kyle) Chriswell, who went to Texas about 1872, where their daughter received a good common-school education. After his marriage Mr. Wilson continued to live in Grayson county until the fall of 1889, and then settled on the claim in Cleveland county, where he died March 12, 1800. The farm has since been managed by the family, and is a well-improved and profitable investment. The buildings and appliances are modern and convenient, and general farming and stock-raising is carried on.
Mr. Wilson was a Republican in national poli- tics, but never aspired to office of any kind. He was a helpful and respected member of the com- munity in which he lived, and was an influence; for good in all of his relations with life. To Mr.
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and Mrs. Wilson were born five children, viz .: George, who was born March 18, 1876; John, February 2, 1878; Octavia, in 1880; Edward, February 15, 1883; and Mary. All of the chil- dren were born in Texas.
H UBERT REDING. Farming has been the chief pursuit of Mr. Reding throughout life, and in it he has attained success, and to-day, within the borders of Oklahoma county, a more prominent and influential agriculturist cannot be found. He engages in farming on a large scale, having four hundred and eighty acres now under cultivation, of which three hun- dred and thirty-five acres are devoted to the rais- ing of wheat, and his highly cultivated farm lies in Greeley township. He was born near Buffalo, N. Y., in Wyoming county. His father, Henry Reding, a native of Luxemburg, Ger- many, emigrated to this country in 1834, and settled near Buffalo, N. Y., in the village of Shel- don, where he followed the shoemaker's trade, in connection with farming. Afterwards he moved to Goodhue county, Minn., where he later retired, and where he died at the age of seventy-eight years. He married Katherine Weber, whose parents were born in Germany, and they had eleven children. She died in Buf- falo, N. Y., aged seventy years.
Hubert Reding was reared and educated in his native town, and until he was twenty-six years of age resided there, following the occupa- tion of a farmer. He then went to Belvidere, Goodhue county, Minn., where at first he car- ried on farming and worked as a stonemason. . In later years he dealt in blooded horses and imported several fine stallions from Belgium. He resided in Goodhue county thirty-five years and at the end of that time was the owner of three hundred acres, which he had put in a fine state of cultivation. In 1894 he located in Okla- homa, where he bought his present farm, three hundred and twenty acres of which lie on sec- tion 17, Greeley township, and the remaining one hundred and sixty acres in Council Grove township. On the greater part of his farm he raises wheat, which yields twenty-five bushels per acre, and he also devotes considerable time to the raising of Poland-China swine and Short- horn cattle. In connection with his sons, he buys and ships hogs extensively. Our subject is an honor to his chosen occupation, is thor- oughly enterprising and progressive, and de- serves a prominent place among the represen- tative men of Oklahoma county. His farm is in an excellent state of cultivation, with a good house, barns and outbuildings, as well as an ex- cellent supply of water, there being no less than three ponds. . In Oklahoma City he owns three
lots, on which he has erected a two-story brick block, now used for office and store purposes.
In 1864 Mr. Reding married Miss Magdalena Kuster, whose parents, Andrew and Margaret (Eley) Kuster, were born in Germany. Ekven children were born to them, of whom the fol- lowing nine are living at home, except the daughter, who is married: William P. is a met- ber of school board No. 54, and treasurer vi Greeley township; George, clerk and treasurer of the Greeley Township Insurance Company and township constable; Clara; Mary, the wi of Martin Denn; Charles, Michael, Elizabeth, Nicholas and Joseph. Our subject helped to organize and is a trustee of the Greeley Town- ship Fire Insurance Company. He is a Demo- crat in politics. Since coming to Oklahoma he has met with success, and during 1897 sold thirteen carloads of wheat on the Board of Trade at Chicago, Ill., for $1.60 per bushel, net.
W ILLIAM T. JAMES, senior partner of the firm of James Brothers, of Lexing- ton, has been closely connected with the upbuilding of this flourishing city for the past eight years. That he is popular with the people is shown by the fact that he has been chosen, time and again, to act as president of the council, and for five years has officiated in that capacity. Public-spirited and enterprising, he advocates improvements, and usually takes the initiative in local affairs.
William T. James was born in Louisville, Ky., about twenty-nine years ago, and continued to dwell in that city until he came to this ter- ritory in 1892. His father, Thomas James, a gentleman of good education and financial abil- ity, has long taken a very active part in the com- mercial and official life of Louisville, and com- mands the respect of his fellow-citizens.
After receiving a liberal education, his ele- mentary course being supplemented by one in the University, William T. James entered upon his business career, for two or more years deal- ing in real estate in his native city. Having learned favorable things about Lexington, he concluded to investigate the matter for himself, and was so well satisfied with the country and its prospects that he cast in his lot with us. In the spring of 1892 he entered into partnership with the well-known citizen, E. J. Keller, and during the following fourteen months trans- acted a large and constantly growing business, dealing in lumber, farm implements and wagons chiefly.
When the brother of our subject, Fred W. . James, came to Lexington, he was admitted to the firm, the style of which was changed to Keller & James Brothers. Together the part-
HON. G. W. BELLAMY, El Reno.
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PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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ners built what is now known as the Keller block, and, as the years rolled by, they branched out into many other enterprises. In 1897 Mr. Keller withdrew from the firm, which since has been known as at present, James Brothers. They carry a $6,000 stock of lumber and building ma- terial, wagons, carriages and other lines. Fully three-quarters of the material used in the con- struction of the buildings in Lexington and vi- cinity has been supplied by this pioneer firm. Both brothers are wide-awake, ambitious young men, filled with the spirit of the age.
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In his political faith W. T. James is as ardent a Democrat as his brother, Fred W., is a Re- publican. Fraternally he is past noble grand of Lexington Lodge No. 23, I. O. O. F., and is deputy grand chancellor of the Knights of Pythias of this place. Both of the James brothers occupy beautiful modern residences, which they built some time ago. The lady who presides over the home of William T. James formerly was Miss Pauline Farmer, of Ce- dar, Mo.
H ON. GEORGE W. BELLAMY. The name of Mr. Bellamy is perhaps best known to the people of Oklahoma through his iden- tification with public and political affairs. Ac- knowledged one of the territorial leaders of the Democratic party, he is a stanch adherent to the principles of his party, and has done much to promote its progress in Oklahoma. In the fall of 1898 he was a candidate for the territorial sen- ate from the seventh senatorial district, and was elected by a majority of two hundred and fifty- five votes. When it is considered that many of his party met with defeat in the election, and that El Reno was at the time a Republican city by one hundred majority, the fact that he re- ceived a majority of one hundred and eighty in the city itself, speaks volumes for his popularity in his home town.
In Waverly, Lafayette county, Mo., Mr. Bel- lamy was born December 3, 1867, and is a son of William H. and Mary E. (Cooper) Bellamy. The family came from England in an early day and settled in Virginia, where the grandfather, William H. Bellamy, was born and reared. Re- moving to Missouri, he became the owner of large hemp-fields and a valuable farm. William H. Bellamy was born in Waverly, Mo., and dur- ing his active life engaged in the commission business in that place, shipping in the days when products were transported entirely by water. During the Civil war he was a member of Col- lins' Battery, Shelby's Brigade, C. S. A., and was wounded while in the service. From the close of the war for a period of more than twenty years he carried on a grain business in Missouri.
April 22, 1889, he made the run to Oklahoma and settled in Norman, where he was a leading Democrat. He was elected the first register of deeds in Cleveland county, and at the expiration of his term was re-elected, but died during the first year of his second term, in November, 1893. In religion he was identified with the Christian Church. Though well-to-do at one time, the Civil war and a disastrous fire subsequent thereto entailed heavy losses, from which he never re- covered. His wife, who was a native of Waverly, Mo., was the daughter of Kentucky parents, who died when she was a child. At this writing she makes her home in Norman. Her eight chil- dren are as follows: George W .; C. B., who is engaged in the drug business as a partner of his older brother; Ella E., wife of J. D. Grigsby, of Norman; Frank P., who died in Waverly, Mo .; Annie M., deceased; Clyde, who makes his home in Norman; G. P., who died in Waverly; and Ida, of Norman.
When twelve years of age George W. Bellamy accompanied the family to Brownsville, Saline county, Mo., where he clerked in a shoe store for four years. Later he was with the Glasgow Shoe Company until 1886, after which he was employed in Foreman's shoe store in St. Louis. In 1887 he went to Sweet Springs as a clerk in the shoe store of A. T. Bellamy. At the opening of Oklahoma he accompanied his father to Nor- man. While at Sweet Springs he studied medi- cine under Dr. Wood, and in the fall of 1889 he opened the first drug store in Norman, but sold out two years later, at the same time starting a new drug store under the firm name of Fenton & Bellamy, also starting a store in Pond Creek as a member of the firm of Bellamy & Blake. Six months later he sold his interest in both stores. In July, 1894, he bought a drug store in El Reno, and the next year moved into the building, which he has since occupied, for busi- ness headquarters. He is a registered pharma- cist. Besides his store, he owns considerable real estate, including the postoffice building in El Reno, and is a director in the Citizens' Na- tional Bank.
After his election to the senate Mr. Bellamy turned his attention to public affairs. Move- ments for the good of the people received his stanch support. During the fifth general assem- bly, in the spring of 1890, he was an active worker, serving as chairman of the enrolling and engrossing committee, and as a member of the following committees: agriculture and highways, railroads, printing, private corporations and cor- poration law, and county and county affairs. Through his instrumentality a number of bills were introduced and passed, among them being an abstract bill, a sprinkling bill, and a bill pro- hibiting the use of the mescal bean by the
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Indians. Governor Barnes, in January, 1899, appointed him a member of the board of regents of the University of Oklahoma, and in the work connected with this institution he has since main- tained the deepest interest. In all movements connected with his party he has been prominent. Not only did he assist in organizing the party in Oklahoma, but he has since largely guided its deliberations and measures. He was the first president of the Young Men's Democratic Club of Cleveland county, has served as a delegate to all territorial conventions, and in 1896 was presi- dent of the Bryan Free Silver Club.
At the general election in November, 1900, he was re-elected to the council by the largest ma- jority any man ever received in his district, and in the organization of the legislature, which fol- lowed, he was chosen president of the council, a distinction never before conferred by that body upon so young a man. As a presiding officer he won the confidence and respect of his co-work- ers by the able and impartial manner in which he presided over their deliberations.
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