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 68
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In Denton, Tex., in 1890, Judge Keaton mar- ried Mrs. Lucile (Davenport) Johnson, a native of Tyler, Tex., and a daughter of William Dav- enport, who was consul-general to Mexico from the Confederacy during the Civil war. He was a large landowner in Texas and an influential man in his community. Mrs. Keaton is a graduate of the Dallas Conservatory of Music, and before marriage was a successful teacher of music. They have a son, Clarence, who is a student in the en- gineering department of the Vanderbilt Univer- sity at Nashville, Tenn. A member and for one
term treasurer of the Democratic Territorial Central Committee, Judge Keaton has always taken an active interest in politics, and has served as a delegate to nearly all the conventions held in Oklahoma by his party .. He is a mem- ber of the Territorial Bar Association and be- longs to the Commercial Club of Oklahoma City. As a citizen he is esteemed by all who know him, and his personal popularity increases > with long acquaintance.
W ALTER S. COLLINS, who is success- fully engaged in agricultural pursuits on the southwest quarter of section 14, township 14, range 7 west, Canadian county, was born in Independence, Jackson county, Mo., August 26, 1861, a son of Stephen and Betty (Eaton) Collins, the former a native of Kentucky, the latter of Canada. During their childhood they moved with their respective parents to Missouri, where they were married. The father, an architect, contractor and builder, is still living in Plattsburg, Clinton county, Mo., at the age of sixty years.
There our subject grew to manhood and at -. tended school. At the age of sixteen he com- menced working with his father at the car- penter's trade, and continued to follow it as long as he remained at home. In 1882 he went to Las Vegas, N. M., where he worked as a journeyman carpenter one year, and later was in Silver City until he removed to Lordsburg. He was next in Dallas, Tex., where, in connection with house building he also engaged in bridge building for the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad. After two years spent in that state, he returned to New Mexico and made his home in Albu- querque, until the opening of Oklahoma. Mr. Collins arrived here in May, 1889, coming with a neighbor in a wagon. He located at once upon his present farm and living in a tent for two months, constructed a dug-out, which was his home for two years. Taking his family back to his old home in Plattsburg, Mo., he worked at his trade while there, and in this way secured the money with which to build a box house, 12x26 feet, on returning to his farm. While away on another trip to Missouri this house was burned, and in 1897 he erected his present com- fortable home. He has a small orchard of budded trees upon his place, and has made other improvements which add to the value and at- tractive appearance of the place.
Mr. Collins has been twice married-first in Santa Fe, N. M., to Miss Lillian Cool, by whom he had one son, Walter S., who was born November 22, 1889, on the farm where the family now reside. On the 6th of June, 1894. Mr. Collins was united in marriage with Miss
JUDGE JOHNSON WHILES. Ralston.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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Alice Scott, a daughter of James H. and Eliza (Hadlock) Scott, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. By this union there are two children-Jessie May, born May 2, 1895, and Clarence Scott, born August 14, 1896.
Since casting his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland, in 1884, Mr. Collins has been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party, but never an office seeker. He is an active and con- sistent member of the United Brethren Church, assisted in building the house of worship in his locality, and is now a member of the board of trustees.
J UDGE JOHNSON WHILES, of Raiston, Pawnee county, is one of the honored pio- neers of Oklahoma, with whose history his own has been closely associated during the past eleven years-the span of its official existence. He is a native of Kentucky, his birth having oc- curred in 1839, and his father, L. B. Whiles, also was born and reared in the Blue Grass State, while his mother, Mahulda, was also a native of Kentucky. His paternal grandfather was born in Ireland, whence he emigrated to America at an early period. He participated in the war of the Revolution and later became a pioneer of Kentucky.
The boyhood of Judge Whiles passed un- eventfully upon his father's plantation until the Civil war came on, when he enlisted in the de- fense of the Union in Company K, Third Ken- tucky Infantry. He took part in many of the most important battles and campaigns of the war, and faithfully stood at the post of duty until November, 1864, when his term of enlist- ment expired. He fought in the battles of Stone River, Chickamauga, Shiloh, Prairieville, Ken- esaw Mountain, Resaca, Lookout Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, Lost Mountain, Big Shanty, Atlanta, Georgetown and Jonesboro. In the conflict at Stone River, one of the fiercest battles of the war, he was wounded in one hand and both arms by a charge of buckshot, and though he still carries several scars, he did not lose but one day in the ranks on account of his injuries. He was honorably discharged from the service at Louisville, Ky., and returned to his home and family.
In 1857 he married Patience Black, daughter of Moses and Kate Black, of Kentucky, and commenced keeping house upon a farm in Pu- laski county, Ky. Of his children three survive, namely: George, who is living in the Osage Nation, and is engaged in agricultural pursuits, and Fred and Jonathan, who are at home.
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In 1868 Judge Whiles came to the west, and for six years thereafter carried on a farm in
Montgomery county, Kans. During the fifteen years which followed he was extensively en- gaged in the cattle business in Indian Terri- tory, and June 27, 1889, came to Oklahoma, bringing his cattle and dealing in live stock here for a period. He was the first elective pro- bate judge of Payne county, and served for two terms in that capacity. For one year he served as police justice at Stillwater, and is now acting in the same office at Ralston. He proved up his claim and then gave it to his sons, becoming the proprietor of a general store at Stillwater and of one at Pawnee. Later he sold out the Still- water business and, removing to Pawnee, re- mained there for about a year as a merchant. Then, coming to Ralston, he embarked in the same line of business, and is prospering here, as elsewhere. When a resident of Stillwater he was identified with the Christian Church, and with the Grand Army lodge, in the latter holding official positions. For thirty-five years he has been a stanch member of the Masonic order, joining it at Mount Gilead, Ky. He has been connected with the Anti-Horse Thief Associa- tion since coming to the west. Formerly he was an earnest advocate of the Republican party, but of late years has been affiliated with the Democrats.
C TTO BURST. During the decade that he has made his home in Oklahoma Mr. Burst has not only gained a position among the persevering, energetic farmers of Logan county, but, at the same time, he has assisted, indirectly, in the development of the territory. The fact that, beginning here without means, he was able to secure in a few years a well-improved farm and a good home, has encouraged others to cast in their fortunes with the country and has thus been of benefit to the region. For a short time he has made his home in Guthrie, but during most of his residence in Oklahoma he has lived on his farm, occupying the southwest quarter of section 25, township 17, range 2, five miles northeast of Guthrie. The place is one of the best around and does credit to his judgment in selecting it as his homestead. Since he came here, in 1891, he has made many improvements on the land, including the erection of a substan- tial farmhouse, a barn and granary, and a wind- mill, besides which he has planted an orchard of all kinds of fruit and a vineyard now in bearing condition. Water for the farm is furnished by a never-failing spring. The various cercals are raised for which experience has proved the land to be adapted. The owner gives his attention closely to the management of the place, and its excellent condition is due to his industry. When he became a pioneer of this most recently opened
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portion of the United States, it was with the determination to endure hardships and over- come obstacles, in order that he might gain a competence and a home for his family. His choice in casting in his lot with the pioneers of Oklahoma he has never regretted. On the other hand, he has reason to rejoice in his decision to leave the more densely populated region where he had resided and where it would have required years for him to become the owner of a farin.
When he was a boy Mr. Burst had no advan- tages. He was born in Baden, Germany, August 12, 1858, and was seven years of age when his parents, Philip and Mary (Suhm) Burst came to America, arriving in this country after a voyage of twenty-one days, and proceeded to St. Louis, where his father followed the tinner's trade. Had it not been for the early death of the mother, the family might have been prospered. But that bereavement broke up the home and scattered the family. Otto was sent to St. Vincent's Orphan School, an institution under the control of the Roman Catholic Church. Through the aid of the authorities of that school, he was given a home with a farmer in Clinton county, Ill., and there he remained until he was twenty-one. With $200, paid him by his foster-father, he started out in life for himself. Being familiar with farm work, he selected agriculture for his occupation, and for some years cultivated a rented farm. When he was twenty-two years old he married Miss Annie Ess, who was born in Clinton county, Ill., and is a daughter of Benja- min and Eliza (Karhoff) Ess. When she was nine years old her mother died. Afterward she was adopted and reared by a family in Clinton county and was given a common school educa- tion.
Eight years after his marriage Mr. Burst removed to Carroll county, Mo., where he hoped he might meet with greater success than was possible in Illinois. He rented a farm and turned his attention to its cultivation. It was not long, however, before he saw that the high prices at which Missouri farm land was held rendered the purchase of good land impossible: so, when Oklahoma was opened to settlement, he deter- mined to seek a home here. He brought with him his wife and two sons, Benjamin Otto and Philip Benjamin, the former of whom was born in Clinton county, Ill., and the latter in Carroil county, Mo. Since they settled in Logan county three daughters have been born to them, Emma. Minnie and Agnes. The family is identified with the Roman Catholic Church, and the children are being reared in that faith. Mr. Burst has never cared for office and has not sought polit- ical prominence, but he is known as a pro- nounced Democrat, and his party at all times is sure of his support.
L AFAYETTE CAMPBELL. The history of Mr. Campbell contains much of inspiration to the most casual hearer, and lessons of pluck and perseverance can be gleaned from its recital by everyone. He was born December 7, 1849, in Travis county, Tex., and is a son of Thomas L. and Clarissa (Wilter) Campbell. In the spring of 1861 the father, who was a strong Union man, decided to remove further north and, as it afterwards transpired, he settled in what was a very hotbed of rebellion and conflict, Pettis county, Mo. Two of his sons enlisted and served in the Federal army, and every member of the family was eager and willing to do ali within his power to bring about the restoration of peace and unity. Even our subject, then a lad of only twelve years, was anxious to enlist, and reluctantly remained at home, assisting his father in the necessary work of the homestead and care of the family.
When he was eighteen years of age Lafayette Campbell removed with the family to Cherokee county, Kans., and two years later took up some government land in Chautauqua county, same state, paying $1.25 an acre. In the meantime, he had managed to secure a fair education by private study and reading, and had even taught school to some extent. When a favorable oppor- tunity presented itself he sold his property and embarked in merchandising. Then, in company with his father, he undertook the building of a business block costing about $5,000 and, ere this was completed, they were financially crippied and had to dispose of the property. The young man then engaged in teaching again, and tried hard to retrieve his fortunes. When Oklahoma was opened, he and his venerable father, then about eighty years of age, concluded to take up homesteads here. The elder man made the trip in a wagon, driving a team, and our subject came on horseback. The latter settled on his present land, the southeast quarter of section 7, township 17, range I west, and the father made a settlement on a claim on section 18, same township, and before his death, September 23: 1893, had developed a good farm.
Though he only had one pony, our subject joined forces with those of his brother-in-law, and managed to break some land, and was the first one in the township who started to build a house, his being made of logs, and situated on Antelope creek. In order to obtain necessary funds he spent the following winter in Kansas, teaching school, and then bought a few cows and another pony. His family, who came here in October, 1880, thus spent their first winter in the territory alone, in the newly completed cabin. The next summer, Mr. Campbell was successful in raising a crop which provided him with suf- ficient means to meet the expenses of the suc-
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ceeding winter, and thus, year by year, he has prospered in increasing ratio. In 1898 he bought an additional eighty acres of land, and has insti- tuted valuable improvements, including the planting of an orchard. He has bought and paid for several hundred dollars worth of farm machinery, and has discharged all of his finan- cial obligations. His land is well watered and fertile, and as high as thirty-two bushels of grain have been produced per acre. He keeps a good grade of live stock, and is practical and progres- sive in all his methods.
In February, 1891, Mr. Campbell was elected township trustee, and by virtue of holding that office, was authorized to act as assessor also. After serving in that capacity two years, and then being out of the office for a like period, he was again elected, and for four successive years assessed the township. In 1872 he cast his first presidential ballot for Grant, and of late years has sided with the Populists. Religiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The marriage of Mr. Campbell and Miss Ida Alice Crews was solemnized October 24, 1883, in Chautauqua county, Kans. She was born in Riley county, that state, and is a daughter of Frank and Louisa (Waddle) Crews. The chil- dren born to our subject and wife are: Thomas F., Hubert, Lee, Luella, May, Marcus D., Ruth, George William and Laura Anna.
OEL CHAMBERS. One of the most suc- cessful and progressive farmers in Logan county, Mr. Chambers has two claims from which to derive a livelihood, and upon which to expend his natural aptitude for an agricultural life. One of his farms is located on the north- west quarter of section 21, township 17, range 3 west, and the other is on section 16, township 17, range 3 west, which is school land. Upon removing to his new property, Mr. Chambers was not obliged to build a house, there having been one built by the previous owner, which was one of the advantages he derived from not coming to the territory until 1898. The more recent additions are of the most substantial order, and built with reference to carrying on an advanced and lucrative kind of farming. He wisely raises a variety of crops, so that the failure of any one would not be seriously felt. One hundred and thirty-eight acres are devoted to wheat, cotton, oats and corn.
Mr. Chambers was born in Ringgold county, Iowa, in 1860, and is a son of Joel and Elizabeth (Owens) Chambers. His father was born in Virginia and reared on a farm in Tennessee, and his mother was born in Kentucky. They were early settlers in Iowa, and entered land in Ring- gold county, later moving to Worth county,
Mo., where they died when their days of useful- ness were as yet unimpaired. Joel, Jr., was thus thrown on his own resources, and when sixteen years of age he went to Fremont county, Iowa, and rented a farm, and thence going to Mo- nona county in the same state. There he pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land, and successfully carried on agricultural pursuits for eighteen years.
The elder Chambers had a more or less event- ful life. He was a veteran in the Civil war, and enlisted in Smithland, being afterwards stationed at Warrensburg, Mo., from which headquarters he operated upon the bushwhackers, and had to deal with such characters as Quantrell and others of like spirit. A half-brother, Gideon, was also in the war and died at Warrensburg from an attack of measles, and Joseph Chambers who enlisted when but a boy, served under Price and survived the vicissitudes of war. The great- grandfather on the paternal side was a soldier in the Revolution.
Of the brothers and sisters of Mr. Chambers, Becky is married and lives in Kansas City; Mrs. Sarah Campbell resides in Clay county, Neb .; Mrs. Anna Bicknell makes her home in Fre- mont county, Iowa; Elisha is a farmer and lives near Blue Rapids, Kans .; Jackson died six years ago, after arriving at the age of maturity.
In 1898 Joel Chambers, Jr., sold his inter- ests in Iowa and took up his residence in Okla- homa. Though practically a newcomer, he has become identified with the various interests of the township, and evinced a readiness to aid whenever his services are in demand. He was married February 19, 1879, to Elizabeth A. Buckingham of Fremont county, and a daughter of Zachariah and Susan Buckingham, who are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Chambers have been born the following named children: James, who was born December 19, 1880, and is now living at home: Elmer, who died in the territory July 26, 1899; Johnnie is fifteen years of age and living at home; Charles died June 12, 1898; Lee is twelve years old; Esther, eight; Myrtle and Joel two.
In politics Mr. Chambers was a member of the Democratic party until the last election, when he changed to the Republican party. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in Fremont county, Iowa.
C. L. THOMPSON. The followers of that independent calling, farming, are promi- nent in the general make-up of every community, being not only necessary to its ex- istence, but taking an active part in the conduct of its affairs. As one of the representatives of
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this class of citizens in Kingfisher county, we -
present the life history of C. L. Thompson, who has engaged extensively in general farming and stock-raising in Harrison township ever since Oklahoma was opened.
In Knox county, Ill., Mr. Thompson was born June 16, 1855, and is a son of Robert D. Thomp- son, a native of New Jersey. The latter, when a boy of thirteen years, accompanied his par- ents to Ohio, where he grew to maturity in Claremont county. In 1852 he moved to Knox county, Ill., and there spent the balance of his life in farm pursuits, owning a large tract of land. In politics he was a supporter of Demo- cratic principles. He was a prominent member of the Masonic order, and an officer in the Illi- nois Grand Lodge. By his marriage to Miss Sloan, of Ohio, he had eight children, six of whom attained maturity, namely: James, of Kansas; Robert, who lives in western Iowa; Benton, of Taylor county, Iowa; Mrs. Alice Hogan; Mrs. Melvina Freemole, of McLoud, Okla .; and Jennie, deceased, formerly the wife of William Dillie, After the death of his first wife, Robert D. Thompson married Amy Jane Bearmore, a native of New Jersey. They had seven children, three of whom are living, namely: David B., of Fulton county, Ill .; C. L .; and Lillie May. Mrs. Amy Thompson died in 1888, aged fifty-six years; her husband died in 1896, at the age of eighty-six.
After completing a common-school education, C. L. Thompson engaged in farming on the old homestead, where he spent most of the time until 1886. He then settled in Barber county, Kans., and after renting a farm there for two years went to No Man's Land, where he fol- lowed farming and stock-raising. At the time Oklahoma was opened, he left his family in No Man's Land and came to the west line of the Chicago & Alton country, securing his present tract. He has made many improvements on the place, placing one hundred and thirty acres under the plow, and setting out an orchard of about five hundred trees. In 1894 he built a very fine house, 16x28 feet, and 14x18 feet, which at that time was considered the best house in the entire county. His original holdings were the south half of the southwest quarter of sec- tion 26, and the north half of the northwest quar- ter of section 35, Harrison township, Kingfisher county. In 1899 he bought the southwest quar- ter of section 28, in Harrison township. He carries on general farming and stock-raising. and makes a specialty of Poland-China hogs. lle has three hundred acres in wheat. He is a stockholder in the Farmers' elevator at King- fisher. In politics he is a Populist. He has served as a director on the school board for several years. In religion he is a member of the
Pleasant Valley Christian Church and a deacon in the same.
In 1878 Mr. Thompson married Clara, daugh- ter of Jacob Rockenfield, of Ohio, who was born nine miles from Cincinnati, and for many years was a mechanic and contractor. By his mar- riage to Hannah Sammons, he had eleven chil- dren, five of whom are living, namely: Isaac, of Seattle, Wash .; Cleaves, who served as a musi- cian in the Civil war, and is now living in Hel- ena, Mont .; Wallace, of San Francisco, Cal .: Mrs. Catherine Bassett, of Omaha; and Mrs. Thompson. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Thompson resulted in the birth of eight chil- dren, namely: Blanche, the wife of Edward Eggleston; Jennie R., Forrest C., J. Homer, Hazel O., Lillie May, David Harrison and Sarah Alice.
W ILLIAM T. DARLINGTON is chief en- gineer of the Arapahoe Indian school in connection with the Cheyenne and Arap- ahoe agency, and his connection with this place dates back to 1872. He was born in Columbiana county, Ohio. His father, whose name was Burton, was born in Fayette county, Pa., in 1800, and moved to Iowa in 1842, there conduct- ing a nursery business for a number of years. Throughout his community he was known as a man of high character and ability. As treasurer of Muscatine county he rendered faithful service. In 1868 he was appointed Indian agent by Presi- dent Grant, under what was then called the Quaker policy, and was assigned to the Arapa- hoe agency. In 1870 he established the Dar- lington agency. This was named in his honor, and was a well-deserved compliment. He built up the Indian school, and had full charge until his death, in 1872. He was a Republican and a Quaker .. His father, Stephen Darlington, was born in Chester county, Pa., and spent all his life in his native state. He was an honorable and upright man, and left a good name. His an- cestors came from England long before the Rev- olutionary war, and did much in the work of colonial advancement. Martha (Thompson) Darlington, the mother of William T., had seven children, only one of whom is now living. She died in Iowa at a very advanced age.
William T. Darlington was born in Iowa in 1836, and spent the first seventeen years of his life at home. When he had reached that age he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, to learn the machin- ist's trade, at which he worked until 1861. The country must be saved, and he could help. He did not wait long, but enlisted in Company D, Fiftieth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in 1861. He served three years, and made a noble record, leaving the army as a non-commissioned offi-
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cer. At the beginning of the war he was sent to West Virginia in the army under General Rosecrans, and saw many of the most terrible scenes of that great struggle. He fought at Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Winchester, An- tietam and the Wilderness. In 1865 he was de- tailed to take charge of the machinery in the monitor yards at Cincinnati, and the same year, after his discharge, he made the journey over- land to Denver, Colo., driving an ox team. He followed engineering in the mountains, and in 1872 came to Darlington, reaching here the day after his father's death, and at once took charge of the machinery. He is a Republican, and is a man of high standing and intelligence.
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