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 66
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During January, 1893, Mr. Brown became foreman of the job and book department of the Daily State Capital at Guthrie, Okla., and held that position until May, when he became a sales- man and collector in Nebraska and Colorado for the Kansas City Journal. This position he was holding at the time of the great labor strike in Denver in 1803, and he witnessed the hanging of the dago murderer in that city during the strike. August 1, 1893. he returned to Kansas, and the following month made the run into Oklahoma. securing the claim which he still owns. Through the medium of the various papers with which he has been connected, and also by his personal in- fluence, he has endeavored to promote the suc- cess of the Democratic party, to which he ad- heres. He is a member of the Fraternal Aid As- sociation and is secretary of the local lodge. The Modern Woodmen of America also number him on the list of members. In religion he is an adherent of the Christian Church, and at this
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writing is a trustee of the congregation in Bra- man. In 1899, on the 22nd of August, he mar- ried Jodie Lee Farris, daughter of Mrs. W. R. White, of Braman. They and their child, Hazel Fern, have a pleasant and comfortable home in the town to whose progress Mr. Brown has been so active a contributor.
J. J. RACKLEY, owner and proprietor of the Oklahoma Furniture Company, in Okla- lahoma City, has the largest furniture and undertaking establishment in Oklahoma and In- dian territories. He was born near Wilmington, N. C., February 28, 1852, and is a son of Peyton and Margaret (Gavin) Rackley, descending from a prominent old family of North Carolina. His great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolu- tionary war. His grandfather was also born in that state, and lived there all of his life, dying at the age of ninety-five years.
Peyton Rackley was born near Wilmington. 'N. C., in 1800, and engaged in the manufacture of carriages and wagons in his native town. He, too, attained an advanced age, dying in 1894. He married Margaret Gavin, whose birthplace was near that of her husband, and who died at the age of sixty-five years. Of this union were born eight children, six of whom are living. Two sons served in the Confederate army. By a for- mer marriage Mr. Rackley had eight children, and of these five are now living. There were four sons who fought in a North Carolina regiment in the Confederate army during the Civil war, one of them being wounded. Our subject is the only member of the family in Oklahoma.
Reared in North Carolina, J. J. Rackley at- tended a private school for a short time. At an early age he learned the carriage maker's trade, and in the fall of 1870 settled at Rocky Com- fort, Ark., where he was employed at cabinet- making and carpentering. In the fall of 1871 he went to Corsicana, Tex., and engaged in con- tracting and building for two years, thence going to Kaufman, the same state, where he followed the trade of a cabinet-maker and also engaged in contracting. ' In the fall of 1873 he went to Salado, Tex., where he manufactured furniture and gradually drifted into the furniture and un- dertaking business. After eighteen months in that town he embarked in the manufacture of furniture and in the undertaking business at Belton, Tex. In May, 1882, he removed to Bur- nett. Tex., and continued in the same line of business for twenty-one months. Next going to San Angelo, that state, he followed his occupa- tion there for ten years, but in June, 1894, sold out and purchased a store at Gainesville, same state. That business he conducted until Octo- ber, 1899, when he sold out.
Coming to Oklahoma City, Mr. Rackley estab- lished the Oklahoma Furniture Company and purchased an entirely new stock. In the Opera house block he has a spacious store, 75x140 feet, with a basement 50x100 feet. He carries the most complete stock of furniture, carpets, cur- tains, etc., of any store in the city, and also has a large patronage in the undertaking business. He is sole agent in the territory for White's sewing machine. In 1898 he opened a branch store in Purcell, I. T., which is the largest and best in its line in that city. He carries on both a whole- sale and retail business, and enjoys a very exten- sive patronage through this vicinity. In Ellis county, Tex., he owns a farm of three hundred and fifty-two acres, adapted to general farming, also has property in San Angelo, Pulaski and Gainesville, Tex., and in Oklahoma City owns the property at No. 25 Second street. He is an active member of the Commercial Club.
In Salado, Tex., Mr. Rackley married Melissa Cone, who was born in Washington county, Tex., and is a daughter of Jesse W. Cone, who came from Georgia, and now is a manufacturer and builder in Texas. Six children were born to this union: Ora, now Mrs. Stevenson, of San Antonio, Tex .; Ula, the wife of H. C. Boney, of Gainesville, Tex .; Mrs. Mabel Bennett, of Little Rock, Ark .; Maggie; Jamie and J. J., Jr. In San Angelo Mr. Rackley served as director of the Coucho National Bank, and was a member of the school board. He is identified with the Woodmen of the World, Fraternal Union and Mystic Circle. Religiously he and his family are members of the Christian Church, of Okla- homa City.
H JON. SILAS E. SEELY. It is the good fortune of Oklahoma to have, among its citizens and public officers, a number of men who have served in positions of responsi- bility in other sections of the United States, and whose wide experience and superior ability qualify them to aid in the progress of this ter- ritory. Among the number mention belongs to Silas E. Seely, who was elected to the territorial legislature in the fall of 1900, and has since given his attention largely to the discharge of the duties connected with that office. In addi- tion, he superintends the management of his farm in Logan county, comprising the northwest quarter of section 33. township 15, range 3.
Mr. Seely was born in Oakland county, Mich., September 27, 1834, a son of Samuel and Susan (Clingen) Seely. His youth and early manhood were spent in Michigan, and he received an academic education in Northville, that soit :. In 1853 he went to Iowa, where he engaged in teaching, also served as deputy county treas-
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urer and recorder of Guthrie county. Upon the death of the treasurer, he was appointed to fill the office, and while filling that position he devoted his leisure hours to reading law. In the spring of 1856 he moved to Nebraska, where, in connection with his duties as a teacher, he continued to study law, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. During the same year he was elected to the Nebraska legislature, where he served for two terms.
Upon the breaking out of the Civil war, Mr. Seely enlisted in the Second Nebraska Cavalry, and for nearly three years was acting captain of his company. Until his transfer to the depart- ment of Nebraska, he was connected with the department of Missouri, his service being prin- cipally upon the frontier. After the close of the war he bought a farm in Andrews county, Mo., and combined agriculture with the prac- tice of law. In 1874 he was elected to the office of circuit clerk, and that position he filled for eight years. April 22, 1889, he made the run to Oklahoma, and secured some very good land in Guthrie, as well as the claim he now owns and manages. He is a stanch believer in Re- publican principles, and has cast his vote for every Republican presidential candidate since the candidacy of U. S. Grant. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
At Pittsfield, Ill., in 1864, Mr. Seely married Mary I. Brown who was born in Quincy, Ill. Her parents were natives of New York, and her mother descended from the Adams fam- ily, of Revolutionary fame. Mr. and Mrs. Seely have two sons and four daughters, of whom two reside in Missouri and four in Oklahoma.
W TILLIAM ARMSTRONG. There is something in the euphony of the sub- stantial family name of Armstrong which seems to designate the character of those who bear it, for as a rule they are men and women of more than ordinary intelligence and worth, thrifty and industrious, and enjoy a good posi- tion in their various places of abode. The gen- tleman in whose history we are now interested was born in Shelby county, Ill., February 5, 1848, and is consequently in the prime of life. His parents were Edward and Margaret (Gra- ham) Armstrong, natives of Indiana, to which the substantial old family emigrated at an early day. Edward Armstrong lived in his native state until twenty-two years of age, then pushed on into Illinois, locating in Shelby county when very few settlements had been made. He set vigorously to work, accumulated a good prop- erty, engaged extensively in farming, and de- parted this life about 1869, carrying with him the respect of his community. The mother had died
in Illinois, about 1851, when her son William was too young to realize his loss.
After the death of his father, William Arm- strong, in due time, disposed of his interest in the estate and for several years engaged in farm- ing on rented land. He then went to Texas. where he sojourned eighteen months, and from there removed to Barber county, Kans., where he followed farming until settling in Oklahoma. Here his first dwelling was a dugout, in which the family lived four years. A one and a half story log house was then put up. After five years this was destroyed by fire, together with all the family belongings, including an organ and some valuables which could scarcely be re- placed by money. By patience and persever- ance, however, a good modern farmhouse was built near the site of the old one, and a sub- stantial barn and other outbuildings have changed the scene to one of prosperity and more than ordinary thrift and comfort.
William Armstrong and Miss Louisa John- ston were married in Shelby county, Ill., in No- vember, 1872. Mrs. Armstrong is the daughter of Francis and Sarah Johnston, the father a native of Ireland. He emigrated to America when a young man, and, settling in Illinois, fol- lowed farming in Shelby county the remainder of his life. The mother died there also. The family consisted of two sons and three daugh- ters. One of the sons is deceased. The other. Jacob Johnston, is a farmer of Shelby county, Ill. One sister lives in Illinois and one in Okla- homa.
Mr. Armstrong and his estimable wife are the parents of four children. Francis Edward is married and engaged as an assistant telegraph operator at Dover. Deloria J., Mary M. and Graber J. remain at home with their parents. The youngest child was born during the so- journ of his parents in Kansas. The elder chil- dren were born in Illinois.
On the 22nd of April, 1889, Mr. Armstrong made the run from the north line and located on the southeast quarter of section 30, town- ship 18, range 4, Logan county, to the devel- opment of which he has since given his atten- tion. He has watched the growth of the terri- tory with just pride in the thought that he has added his quota to its growing prosperity. Po- litically in his earlier years he trained with the Republican party. During the reign of Peter Cooper greenbackism he sided with the princi- ples of that genuine philanthropist; after Cooper's death and the subsidence of his intlu- ence, Mr. Armstrong returned to the straight Republican fold, where he is contented to re- main as long as its principles seem to him those best calculated to bring about the era of liberty and justice. He and his excellent wife
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GEORGE HOWELL,
Pawnee.
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are members in good standing of the Christian Church.
G I EORGE HOWELL, a well-educated and intelligent Pawnee, who is now serving as interpreter and clerk for W. B. Webb at the Pawnee agency, was born near Geneva, Neb., about 1868, and was given the name of Howell while attending school at that place. His father, Ter-re-re Cox, was a native of the same state and belonged to the Skee-dee band of Pawnees. In early days he was one of the braves or warriors of his tribe and carried to his grave a number of scars received in battle with the Cheyennes and Sioux. When the tribe set- tled down to more peaceful pursuits he became a member of a company of Pawnee soldiers under command of the agent for many years, and in recognition of his services received a cer- tificate, which shows that he was the second soldier in the Skee-dee band of Pawnees, and speaks of him as the true and faithful friend of the white men and very much respected. His wife, Skah-ruh-kah-rah-hah, belongs to the same tribe, and died at the Pawnee agency in 1893, at about the age of forty-five years. It was in 1875 that he brought his family to this place, where he served as policeman until old age com- pelled his retirement. His death occurred June 25, 1885. In their family were two sons and six daughters, and with the exception of one daughter all are still living, our subject being the sixth in order of birth. His brother, Joseph Howell, is a farmer of Osage City, Pawnee county.
George Howell came with his parents to Paw- nee where he was principally reared and edu- cated. For a time he engaged in farming on his father's land two miles north of Pawnee agency, but in 1886 entered the Haskell Institute at Lawrence, where he was a student for three years, Colonel Kohposki being superintendent at that time. On his return to the agency he was assistant blacksmith in the government shop for three years, and was then appointed farmer at the Pawnee Indian School, where he instructed the pupils in agriculture. Later he was made assistant farmer at Pawnee Agency, which position he held until it was abolished, and was then appointed messenger and acting police at the agency, at the same time serving as deputy sheriff of Pawnee county under M. F. Lake for two terms of two years each, during which period he attended to nearly all of the sheriff's duties among his own people. In 1896 he was transferred to the Ponca Indian school as head farmer, which position he held until 1808, when he resigned and turned his attention to farming on his own account at Osage City,
where he owns one of the finest farms in the territory. It consists of four hundred and forty acres under a high state of cultivation and im- proved with good buildings, which stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. In 1899 he was made interpreter and assistant book- keeper at the Arkansas Valley Bank, and held that responsible position until he entered the employ of the United States government as interpreter and assistant clerk at the agency, under W. B. Webb.
In 1890 Mr. Howell married Susie Gray, by whom he had three children, two that died in infancy, and a son, Lawrence T. Mrs. Howell died September 18, 1896.
On the 12th of May, 1897, at Ponca, Okla., Mr. Howell married Miss Julia Hornbeck, who was born at Fort Laramie, Wyo. Her. father, Joseph Hornbeck, was born in one of the east- ern states of French descent, and in early days was engaged in freighting across the plains. While on one of his trips he was killed in Wy- oming. His wife, Anna Claremore, was born in the northwest and belonged to the Ogolala band of Sioux, but was educated in English. For her second husband she married Charles Rich- ards, a half-breed Sioux, who is now a stockman in the Pine Ridge reservation of South Dakota. By her first marriage she had five children, three of whom are still living. Two are residents of South Dakota, Mrs. Howell being the only member of the family living in Oklahoma. She began her education in a boarding school at Ogolala, S. D., then attended a Quaker Indian school in Indiana for three years, and for six years was a student at the Haskell Institute, where she completed the prescribed course, after which she served as assistant seamstress at the Ponca Indian school until her marriage. She is a very intelligent lady, and has written a num- ber of able articles in regard to the Sioux In- dians, which have been copied in various jour- nals. Both she and her husband hold member- ship in the Episcopal Church. They have two children, Lovina and Kate. In politics Mr. Howell is a Democrat, and in his social relations is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of the Maccabees. He has always been found true and faithful to every trust reposed in him, whether public or private, and well merits the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
W ILLIAM L. SULLIVAN is an enterpris- ing and successful agriculturist of Logan county, residing upon the northeast quarter of section 21, township 19, range 3 west. Born in Meigs county, Ohio, he is a son of Wil- liam and Rachel Sullivan, who were born in l'ennsylvania, but moved from there in a very
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early day and cast their lot with the pioneers of Ohio. There William Sullivan engaged in agriculture, and as he was a shoemaker, com- bined his farm interests with the conducting of his little shop. He was fairly successful, and an important factor in the community in which he lived.
At the age of nineteen William L. Sullivan left his father's farm and went to Johnson county, Kans. After two years, he started on an ex- tended tour through the west, serving for sev- eral years as government surveyor, a position which opened up many new ideas and interests. For many years he was a wanderer in various capacities, part of the time as cowboy and cat- tleman. The wild, roaming life seemed to be to his taste, and has apparently entered into his nature, making it broad and kindly as the sweeping prairies over which he roamed.
Mr. Sullivan was married in Cowley, Kans., in 1872, to Emma J. Bridges, of Sumner county, Kans. Of this union there are eight children: William C., Milton D., Maud E., Grace, Willis, Ralph, Della, and Martha, deceased. All of the surviving children are at home.
April 22, 1889, Mr. Sullivan made the run to Oklahoma, and settled on the northeast quar- ter of section 21, township 19, range 3 west, and has since bought the west half of the northwest quarter of section 21, township 19, range 3, and also leases the southeast quarter of section 16, township 19, range 3. His land is all improved and fenced, and has comfortable quarters for man and beast. One fine thing about the farm is, the abundance of running water. In con- nection with his other work, Mr. Sullivan has run a threshing outfit for several years. He has added to his many improved agricultural implements a fine new steam thresher.
In politics Mr. Sullivan is a Populist, and was elected to the assembly for one term. He has also been township committeeman for cight years. He is an Odd Fellow at Mulhall, con- nected with Lodge No. 12.
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L AWRENCE BAECHLE. Among the many worthy sons of German parentage who have sought the larger possibilities of life in the undeveloped western states and territories may be mentioned Mr. Baechle, who is successfully conducting a general merchandise and black- smithing enterprise on his claim, located on the northeast quarter of section 2, Mustang town- ship, Oklahoma county. He is accounted one of the most thrifty farmers in the locality, and a business man with upright methods of dealing with his- fellow townsmen. His farm is under a high state of cultivation, and is fitted out with
modern improvements and up-to-date, labor- saving devices.
A native of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., Mr. Baechle is a son of August Baechle, who was born in Walzuht, Baden, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in 1850. He was a farmer, and upon locating in Jefferson county, Mo., engaged in general farming, and married Mary Faller !. In 1896 he took up his residence in Mustang township, and is at the present time carrying on farm pursuits. Of his two sons, Tony is liv- ing at home, and Lawrence is the subject of this sketch. A daughter, Rachel, now Mrs. Charles Brand, is living on a farm in Mustang township.
The members of the Baechle family are intelli- gent and industrious people, and have made many friends since coming to Oklahoma. They seem to be fortunate in all of their undertakings. and are among the most valued residents of their locality. Lawrence Baechle is unmarried. His . store is the center of a great deal of county activity, and he carries a sufficiently large stock to meet the demands of a growing and prosper- ous part of the territory.
C APT. WILLIAM E. TANSEY, a success- ful agriculturist and enterprising citizen. is located on a quarter of section 3. town- ship 17, range 2 west, Logan county. He was born in Morgan county, Ind., October 2, 1837. and is a son of Elijah and Mahala (Burrows) Tansey. Reared on his father's farm, he was surrounded by those sterling influences that in- still practical ideas of life and work into ex- panding minds. As was necessarily the case, the opportunities for acquiring a good education in those days were very meager, and intensified by the amount of work required of the children of the pioneer settlers. However, the lad learned more by observation and quick intelligence than is apparent to many after years of concentrated study in the schools. Early displaying consid- erable mechanical aptitude, he undertook to learn the carpenter's trade with a man who proved a worthy teacher, and with whom he re- mained long after he had ceased to require his help-in fact, until the man died.
In 1850 Mr. Tansey married Martha O. Baro- man, and of this union were born four children: Clara J., who is the wife of O. P. Johnson: Flor- ence F., married to Albert Covert: Dayton, who married Laura Bartland, and is living at Water- ford, Ohio; and Theodore, who is at home.
Mr. Tansey enlisted for the Mexican war in Company B. Fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, serving first under Scott at Pueblo, and later under Taylor at Mexico City. He served for a little over a year and then returned to his home and worked at his trade, at the same time serv-
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ing in the capacity of sheriff of Morgan county. In 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company I, Seventieth Indiana Infantry, and after a short service was promoted to the rank of first licu- tenant, Benjamin Harrison being colonel of the regiment. Their first engagement was at Rus- sellville, Kans., and they took part in every bat- tle on the way to the Atlantic. Mr. Tansey was wounded at Resaca, and was laid up in the hos- pital for four months, after which he was pro- moted to the rank of captain in Company D. Seventieth Infantry. He was with Sherman in his famous march to the sea, and took part in the grand review at Washington.
Upon leaving his native town Webster B. Con- don accompanied his grandfather to Jasper county, Iowa, where he remained from the age of five years until he had reached man's estate. At fifteen years of age he began to learn the car- penter's trade, afterward helping to build many of the houses in Jasper county. In 1882 he went to Texas, where he followed his trade three years. From that time until 1887 he engaged in carpentering.at Cherrydale, Kans. In the inter- ests of the Tim's City Town Site Company he In 1868 Captain Tansey moved his family to Kansas and followed his trade, continuing the same after his removal to Winfield, Kans. While in the latter place he served as police magis- trate, justice of the peace, and later as pro- bate judge for two terms. He came to Okla- homa in 1891, and purchased the site of his pres- . went to the Panhandle country of Texas in 1887, and erected a courthouse and several private houses. Returning to Iowa, he spent a few months there, and then went to Goodland, the county-seat of Sherman county, Kans., where he erected two public buildings. During the early part of 1889 he made his arrangements prepara- ent home. During his first year in the territory . tory to joining in the run to Oklahoma, and he was nominated for the legislature, but being a Republican, and the county Democratic, he failed to be elected: He is a member of Lodge No. 19, A. F. & A. M., at Mooresville, Ind., in which he filled all of the chairs.
W EBSTER B. CONDON. Although dur- ing the past few years Mr. Condon has given his attention particularly to agri- culture, having a neat stock and grain farm on section 6, Boone township, Oklahoma county, he is perhaps best known as a contractor and builder, which occupation he followed in Okla- homa City from the opening of the territory until 1898, meantime building not only many tem- porary buildings, but also a large number of sub- stantial and permanent structures, among them the Batchelder and Canadian blocks, the Pettie and Bassett building, State National Bank build- ing, Burnett and Colcord buildings, and many residences. In 1898 he bought a farm in Okla- homa township, but this he sold in 1900, at the same time purchasing the farm in Boone town- ship which he now occupies, and on which he conducts general farm and stock-raising pur- suits.
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