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 65
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After his marriage Mr. York lived in Illi- nois for about eight years, moving thence to Dallas county, Iowa, to a farm which he owned and operated. This farm was composed of three hundred and twenty acres of land, upon which coal was located. He sold the place, and after doing so oil was discovered, and it is now owned by the Omaha Gas Company. For a time he continued to reside in Iowa, on his father-in- law's farm, until a few months before the open- ing of Oklahoma, when he went to St. Clair county, Mo., and later came to the territory, where he pre-empted the claim on which he afterwards lived. This and the claim of one hundred and sixty acres purchased later by his widow constitute well-improved land, with con- venient and well-constructed house and out- buildings, running water and modern appli- ances for conducting farm work.
To Mr. and Mrs. York were born ten children, who are a source of comfort and pride to their widowed mother. Viola is the wife of Mr. New- man, a farmer living in Oklahoma; James is in Iowa; Lewis is living at home; Joseph resides in Missouri; William is a farmer in Oklahoma; Cora is now Mrs. Hendricks, and lives in the territory; Fred works the home place; Effie is now Mrs. Johnson, and lives in Oklahoma; Maud Lucinda and Elsie Virginia are at home.
H ON. HENRY SHEPLOR, one of the fore- most citizens of Oklahoma county, has resided here only eight years, but has be- come widely known on account of the active part which he has taken in public affairs. In 1884 he was a member of the Illinois state legislature, and in 1892 his name was brought forward here as a nominee for the territorial council, but, be- cause of his short residence here, he withdrew from the canvass. He has occupied numerous minor offices with marked ability and zeal, and has won the admiration of the public by his in- tegrity and devotion to its interests.
The paternal great-grandparents of Mr. Shep- lor came to Allegheny county, Pa., from Ger-
many, and there they assisted in the early settle- ment of that now prosperous region. John Sheplor, next in the line of descent to our sub- ject, was born in the Keystone state, and when Ohio was a wilderness, of which the Indians held full possession, he removed to the state and cleared a farm in the vicinity of Lancaster. He was a typical pioneer, and, by hard and persever- ing toil, won an abundant competence. In his early life he taught school, and, for his day and limited opportunities, he was well informed. He used his ballot for Democratic nominees, and his posterity have largely followed in his political footsteps.
Philip, father of Henry Sheplor, was born in Pennsylvania, and grew to maturity in Ohio, where he became a successful farmer. In 1839 he removed to Coles county, Ill., where he not only served as a justice of the peace and trustee of his township, but also was a candidate for sheriff on the Democratic ticket. He was a trustee and loyal member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and attained the ripe age of four- score and three years. To himself and wife, whose maiden name was Nellie McCawley, six- teen children were born, and ten of the number reached their majority. Mrs. Sheplor was a na- tive of Fairfield county, Ohio, and she died in 1851, during the dread epidemic of cholera. Amy, the eldest daughter, is the wife of Lewis Hill, of Colorado, and Ellen is Mrs. William Robinson, of Spring Creek township, Oklahoma county. Benjamin F. resides in Illinois, and Samuel lives in Indiana. The other members of the family are Edward (the oldest child), John, Andrew, Elizabeth, Henry and Thomas J.
Henry Sheplor was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, and early learned the business of farming. In 1854 he settled on land in Morgan county, Ind., where he was extensively engaged in stock- raising and agriculture. He owned seven hun- dred and forty acres of fine land, and at times had fully one thousand Poland-China hogs, and great herds of cattle and high-grade horses. He dealt in live stock to such an extent and so success- fully that he amassed a large fortune. In 1879 he returned to the old Illinois homestead, which he bought, together with other property there. and continued to dwell in that locality until 1892, when, on account of poor health, he dis- posed of his real estate and came to Oklahoma. Here he has fully recovered his health and strength, and is carrying on his farm in his usual progressive and business-like manner. He owns a quarter section of land, and, besides his large orchards and vineyards, fertile pastures where he raises a good grade of cattle, horses and hogs. he has one hundred acres under cultivation, and at the county fair has taken first premiums upon wheat, corn and other products.
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For years Mr. Sheplor has attended the Dem- ocratic conventions of his county and state, and frequently has presided over the deliberations of these bodies as chairman, and several times has served as chairman of the county central com- mittee. When in Illinois he held the office of road commissioner for three years, and in Mor- gan county, Ind., was township assessor and county land appraiser. In 1898 he was elected justice of the peace, and still is acting in that capacity, besides being a member of the school board of district No. 74. In 1884 he was elected to the Illinois legislature and served one term of two years. In the Masonic order he attained the Royal Arch degree, but later applied for a de- mittance.
The first wife of Mr. Sheplor, whose maiden name was Eveline Haase, died and left three children, Dora I., now the wife of E. A. French: Seymour A. and Darius E. The present wife of our subject, formerly Mrs. Nellie (Shidler) Lisher, is a daughter of Benjamin F. Shidler, a native of Ohio. She has one son, Oliver B. Lisher, by her first husband, James N. Lisher. Mrs. Sheplor is proficient in music, and for twenty-six years was a teacher of the art, both on the piano and organ. In 1886 she became actively connected with temperance work in Illinois, and the following year she was honored by being made president of the Sixteenth Con- gressional district, comprising ten counties. In Cumberland county, Ill., she was president of the Sunday-school. Association for four years. In 1893 she was chosen president of the Wom- an's Christian Temperance Association of Okla- homa Territory, and from that year until 1900 she also served as territorial evangelist for the W. C. T. U. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Like her husband, she is interested in educational matters, and is now the president of the local school board. They hold membership with the Oklahoma City Methodist Church, Mr. Sheplor formerly having served as one of its trustees.
S AMUEL JAMES CONNER, one of the prominent and successful farmers of Okla- homa county, is a good type of the hardy frontiersman-one who has had his own way to make in the world, and who, though he has en- countered innumerable obstacles, which might well have discouraged a man of less strength of character, has mastered every difficulty, and now, as a result of his energy and persevering industry, finds himself well-to-do and influential in his community.
Samuel James Conner is a native of Susque- hanna county, Pa., his birth having occurred January 6, 1840. He was left an orphan in
early childhood, and grew to manhood in his home county, and when he was twenty years of age, left home and, going to New England, spent two years or more there, employed at various kinds of business. Believing that he should prefer the great and growing west, he then went to Colorado, where, as he was a strong and capable young man, he had no diffi- culty in obtaining plenty of work, and that of a responsible and lucrative nature. He was em- ployed for a long time by different express com- panies, and then located upon a ranch on Smoky Hill.river.
In 1868 Mr. Conner went to Texas, where he embarked in the business of raising cattle and horses on the range, and for a score of years gave his entire attention to this enterprise. He kept a good grade of stock, and never experi- enced any difficulty in disposing of his droves when the time came to sell them. Sometimes his cattle and horses numbered several thousand head, and it was a constant source of anxiety to the owner, who thus had his entire fortune and the work of a lifetime, almost, at stake. In 1885 he moved his stock to Gila county, Ariz., and remained there until 1889. In July of that year he bought his present farm on section 29, town- ship 12, range 2, Crutcho township, and began its improvement. Under his watchful care and well- directed labors this homestead has been devel- oped into a splendid farm, and its value is stead- ily increasing. He has planted ten acres of suit- able land in orchards and small fruits, and has devoted four acres to a vineyard. In addition to carrying on his accustomed farm work and stock-raising, he manufactures wine, for which he finds a ready sale. In 1890 he secured some excellent live stock in Arizona, and brought it to his farm, where it is his pride to keep only a high grade of horses and cattle. Everything about his homestead bears the impress of his constant attention, and intelligent management of each detail, and by perseverance he has suc- ceeded in making a model farm out of what was an uncultivated prairie a few years ago. He is thoroughly deserving of the success which he has achieved, and his example is well worthy of being followed.
. In 1871 Mr. Conner married Amanda Dobbs, who has been a faithful wife and a devoted mother to their children. She was born in Falls county, Texas, November 7, 1848, and is a daughter of Chesley Scott and Malena (Skid- more) Dobbs, natives, respectively, of Indiana and North Carolina. A11 save one of Mr. and Mrs. Conner's children are living. Robert Emmett, the eldest, died in Arizona in 1885, as the result of the accidental dis- charge of , his rifle. Lettie May is the widow of Henry Loy, and resides in Brazos,
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Tex. Lenore. (Mrs. William Hammie) lives near Belmont, Okla. Samuel Cornelius is a citi- zen of this county. The others are: Fanny, Ultimus Scott, Callie, Joel, Malena Florence and Kate, all at home. Fraternally Mr. Conner for- merly was actively associated with the Masonic order, and took the Royal Arch degree, but, on account of his isolated life on the plains, was compelled to ask for a demit from his lodge. For a number of years he has belonged to the Anti-Horse-Thief Association. A high courage and alertness and fertility of resource were de- veloped in him during his frontier existence, and, like all plainsmen of the early days; he has had many an interesting and thrilling experience with desperadoes and Indians.
W ILLIAM T. HARNESS. An industrious and successful man, Mr. Harness is re- membered as a worthy addition to the localities in which he resided, and which were invariably benefited by his business ability and strict adherence to the best tenets of citizenship. He came to Oklahoma at the opening, April 22, 1889, from Purcell, I. T., whither he had re- moved in 1887, and succeeded in locating a claim near Lexington, Cleveland county. He at once began to prepare the land for the reception of the large number of fruit trees which have since yielded such an abundant harvest, and which ยท numbered, in all, seven thousand five hundred trees. The orchard is eighty acres in extent, and the vineyard covers three acres, and from the latter Mr. Harness made wine in abundance, which, however, was only intended for home consumption. In the development of his or- chard he expended nine years of arduous and studied application, with the result that it has not an equal in the county. It contains four thousand standard-grade apple trees and two hundred pear trees. The peaches have a wide reputation for excellence of flavor and large- ness of size, and are grown on one thousand trees. Since his death, Mrs. Harness lives on the farm which was the especial pride of her husband, and with her family endeavors to carry out his plans. He was regarded as an authority on fruit culture, and his advice and counsel were eagerly sought by those contemplating a like occupation. Upon this model farm general farming is engaged in to a limited extent, and hogs are raised in marketable quantities.
Mr. Harness was born in Hardy county, W. Va., and was a son of Conrad Harness and of Anna (Tucker) Harness, natives of Virginia. He was reared in Missouri, whither his father had taken his family, and was educated at Boon- ville. After his marriage, in 1872, to Lucinda Downing, who died in 1885, Mr. Harness re-
moved to Texas and located on a cattle ranch in Clay county, and remained there between 1875 and 1887. He engaged in a large cattle business and had a large ranch. In 1887 he came to the Indian Territory and changed his mode of occupation, and engaged in the mercan- tile business, in partnership with his brother. D. F. Harness, of Oklahoma City. Here he was gratifyingly successful, and relinquished his prospects only in recognition of the superior possibilities which he wisely discerned in a resi- dence in the newly opened territory.
During the war Mr. Harness served in the Missouri militia, and was a private in the Con- federate army. He was greatly interested in the cause of education, and served on the school board while living in Lexington. He was also a generous contributor towards education, and spared neither time nor money in furthering its best interests. To Mr. and Mrs. Harness were born three children: Mrs. Ora Upp, of Salt Lake City, Utah; Mrs. Kelley Bowden, and Jessie. Mr. Harness' second marriage occurred in 1889, with Anna Holladay, of Kentucky, and of this union there was one daughter, Mary.
B. F. WATERSON, M. D. Few of the resi- dents of Choctaw City are better known throughout this part of Oklahoma county than is Dr. Benjamin Franklin Waterson, who is in great demand as a family physician and sur- geon, and often is called to points fifteen miles or more from his home. Faithful and tireless in the interests of the sick and suffering, he has won the love and admiration of all who know him, and richly deserves a place in the history of Oklahoma and her pioneer founders.
From an early age the doctor has been de- pendent upon his own resources, and in the hard school of life has learned the severe lessons which instill sympathy and fellowship in the heart of mankind. He was born in Searcy county, Ark., March 1, 1858, and when a mere child was taken to northern Arkansas by his father, Robert A. Waterson. Death deprived the lad of his parents when he was young, and at a tender age, when he should have been attended by the comforts of a home and the care of a kind father and mother, he was obliged to hire out as a worker in the "world's broad field of battle."
Ambition and a firm determination to succeed animated young Waterson, who carly decided to enter the medical profession. Who can know, save one who has passed through a similar ex- perience, of the years of diligent study that the youth, alone and without means or influen- tial friends, had to undergo ere he was admitted to college? What a world of struggle is implied in the familiar phrase, "he worked his way
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through college," and this is true of him. When he had attended the old Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tenn., for a period, he entered the medical college at Little Rock, Ark., and was graduated in 1881 from that institution with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
Locating an office in Marshall, Ark., Dr. Wa- terson immediately began the practice of medi- cine, and, during the nine years of his residence there, won the patronage of the leading families of the place. In the spring of 1892 he came to Choctaw City, where to-day he enjoys a practice which occupies his entire time. Sometimes he is summoned into Pottawatomie county, and even into the Indian Territory, and for that reason, among others, he is associated with the Okla- homa and Indian Territory Medical Societies. He is a member of the Masonic lodge at Okla- homa City, is connected with the Modern Wood- men of America, and is the medical examiner for several well known life insurance companies. He gives his earnest support to the Republican party, and for the past four years has been a member of the local school board, and exerts his influence for the improvement of the school sys- tem of this section.
May 15, 1884, Dr. Waterson married Miss Ona Stephenson, of Searcy county, Ark. Their home and hearts are blessed by their three chil- dren, Olga, Walter and Roy, who are promising students of the Choctaw City school.
J. E. FREEMAN. During the period of his residence in Oklahoma, reaching back to the time of the opening in 1889, Mr. Free- man has been identified, in various capacities, with the development and progress of the terri- tory. First as a homesteader, later as a fruit- grower and farmer, and finally as receiver's clerk in the United States land office at Oklahoma City, he has shown himself to be the possessor of sterling traits of character. His claim is lo- cated in Logan county, but he came to Okla- homa City November 1, 1900, at the time of his appointment to his present office by the United States land commissioners. The position he has filled with tact and ability, winning merited com- mendation in the same.
When a small boy Mr. Freeman accompanied his parents in their removal from London, Can- ada, where he was born May 20, 1855, to Dav- enport, Iowa, where he was educated in the public schools. On starting out to make his way in the world he turned his attention to farming and school-teaching. After a few years he went to Hebron, Thaver county, Neb., and engaged in the hardware business there until 1889. De- siring to take up land in Oklahoma, he made the run April 22, but did not reach his destination
until the 23d. However, he was not doomed to disappointment in respect to homesteading a claim, for he secured a good piece of land, and is now one of the few original settlers of Okla- homa. On the 15th of May he settled on sec- tion 29, township 16, range 2, Logan county. in the midst of underbrush so thick that one of his children was for a few hours lost in it. thereby greatly alarming the family. On the place he planted forty acres in fruit, one-half of which is now bearing, and all of which was prop- agated by himself. From that place he came to Oklahoma City and entered upon his official duties in the land office. However, he still has his home on the farm and his sons work the same.
In politics Mr. Freeman is a Republican. He entertains liberal views in regard to the politics of the administration. Fraternally he is con- nected with Guthrie Lodge No. 2, K. of P.
The marriage of Mr. Freeman took place in Rock Island, Ill., and united him with Miss Cal- lie H. Coon, a native of Pennsylvania. They are the parents of three sons: Ralph Eddy, born in Rock Island county, Ill .; William C. and Raye, who were born in Hebron, Neb.
W ILLIAM FRASS. It is doubtful if any man in Oklahoma is better posted in matters regarding frontier and ranch life, and cattle raising and buying, than is that typical and interesting frontiersman, William Frass. The incident of his birth would suggest the life of a roamer, for he was born on the Atlantic ocean, when his parents were emigrat- ing from Germany to America. Upon the ar- rival of the family in the United States, in 1852, they settled in Texas, where they engaged in agricultural pursuits until the breaking out of the Civil war, when they moved to Leavenworth, Kans.
It would seem that William Frass was of a venturesome disposition, for when he had at- tained his fifteenth year he came to the conclu- sion that his surroundings in Leavenworth were too circumscribed, and that but a small part of the interest of the world could be viewed from his father's home. Consequently he returned to the wide plains of Texas, and for three years found employment on the cattle trails in herding and driving cattle. In 1872 he went to Camp Supply, a western military post, and was em- ploved by a government contractor to furnish beef for the troops. After two years of this work he filled a similar position at Fort Elliott, Tex., and in the same capacity came to Fort Reno, Okla., in 1877. He soon after took an indepen !!- ent government contract to furnish the post with beef, and continued the supply until 18go, at
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which time he again visited Texas. Until 1895 he engaged in the cattle business on the plains, having from eight hundred to one thousand head of cattle to manage.
It was but natural that Mr. Frass should con- tinue to remain in some branch of the cattle business, and that in 1895, upon taking up his permanent residence near Fort Reno, he should engage in the dairy business. He. is at the present time combining his dairy enterprise with buying and selling cattle.
In 1874 Mr. Frass married a full-blooded Cheyenne Indian, which procured for him a citizenship in the tribe. Mrs. Frass has since died, and left to the care of her husband three . children. Mr. Frass was again married, the present Mrs. Frass having formerly been Mary Scott. Of this union there are three children.
Mr. Frass has taken a prominent part in the undertakings of the Western Cattlemen's Asso- ciation. His political affiliations are with the Democratic party, but he has never been an office-seeker. He is esteemed by his friends and associates as a large-hearted son of the plains, who is loyal and generous to a fault, when the needs of friends of the community are brought to his notice.
Q UINCY T. BROWN. No one remains long in the southern part of Kay county without becoming familiar with the name of Q. T. Brown, proprietor of a prosperous mer- cantile business in Braman. His prominence is a just tribute to his merit, which is recognized by all of his associates. Since the opening of the Cherokee strip, September 16, 1893, he has been identified with the history of this region. Mak- ing the run on that day, he staked a claim, which he began to improve, with a bank account of $4. In 1894 he taught the first school in his home district, three miles south of Braman. After two anxious years, during which time his right to the claim was contested by two others, he was obliged to buy off his contestants in order to hold the property. In 1895 he went to Norman and bought out the Territorial Topic, formerly owned by T. K. Miller. As a partner in the en- terprise he had George W. Tracy. After pub- lishing the paper for a year the partners pur- chased the State Democrat and combined the two papers, besides the publication of which they also had the city and county printing. Their paper was the only organ of the Democratic party in the entire county. After a year they sold out to Mr. Jarboe, of Missouri. Returning to his claim, Mr. Brown engaged in farming until the town of Braman was laid out. He then recured a clerkship with B. C. Payne, with whom in September, 1898, he formed a mercantile part-
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nership, the two continuing together until Feb- ruary, 1900, when Mr. Brown purchased Mr. Payne's interest and has since conducted the business alone. He carries stock to the value of $5,000, and occupies a floor space of 24x74. While his mercantile enterprises keep him busy and require close attention, he has not relin- quished his farm interests, but still maintains an oversight of his farm, for which, with its im- provements, he refused an offer of $7,500. He also owns property in Braman.
In a log house in Butler county, Kans., Mr. Brown was born in 1869, the youngest of ten chil- dren, whose father died when he was only four months old, leaving the mother and ten children, without means, on an uncultivated farm in Kan- sas. It is a remarkable fact and speaks volumes for the courage of the mother, that she was able to keep her children together until, as they at- tained maturity, each went forth to do battle with a stern world. One son died in 1873, at the age of twenty years. The others, including the mother, are still living. The first school which Quincy attended was held in a plain board building. with slab seats and puncheon floors. In 1879 the family moved from the farm to the village of Augusta, and there he learned the printer's trade, at which he worked for six years. In 1890 he received a diploma from the high school in Au- gusta. The next year he went to Winfield, Kans., and established a paper called the "College Ad- vance," the receipts from which enabled him to pay his expenses during the freshmen and soph- omore years in the Methodist Episcopal College in that city. In November, 1898, he established The State Democrat at Braman. The following May he purchased a local paper at Blackwell and put the two subscription lists together, con- tinuing the same until 1900.
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