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 83
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A. D. WRIGHT. One of the qualities which the typical American, perhaps more than any other, possesses, and which inspires the greatest respect in the world's judgment. is his pluck or "grit," as it is commonly termed. It is truly wonderful to observe the fortitude and perseverance which he maintains in the face of almost any obstacle or reverses, and the
prosperity which he richly deserves finally crowns his indefatigable efforts in the majority of instances.
To those acquainted with A. D. Wright, these thoughts very naturally recur, and to compara- tive strangers a brief resumé of his career will readily suggest the same. This pioneer drug- gist of Chandler was born in Beekman, N. Y., his father, William H. Wright, in Orange county, N. Y., and his paternal grandfather lived and died in the same state. The father, who was a carriage manufacturer and proprietor of an undertaking establishment at Beekman, was an honored early settler of that place, and died there in 1888. His widow, formerly Miss Eliza Beardsley, was born near Danbury, Conn., and is still residing in the Empire state. Two of her nine children died when young, and one has passed away since reaching maturity. One son is Rev. George WV. Wright, pastor of a Congre- gational Church in Boston, Mass. Another son, Thomas E., is connected with the National stock-yards at East St. Louis, Ill., and John L. is a farmer in the neighborhood of Sabetha, Kans.
A. D. Wright's birth occurred February 9, 1863, in Beekman, and there he was educated in the public schools, later attending Wilbraham (Mass.) Academy, where he was graduated in 1883. For a year thereafter he was bookkeeper in a New York city house, and during his father's last years was required at home. When he had settled up the business after his father's death, the young man determined to become a settler of the "promised land"-Oklahoma-and on April 22, 1889, located a lot on Noble ave- nue, in Guthrie. There he built a frame store, 18x24 feet, and started in the drug business as a member of the firm of Lillie & Wright. Meet- ing with success, he then opened another drug store on Harrison avenue, and retained his inter- est in both until September 22, 1891, when he came to Chandler. Here a drug store was kept at first in a tent, 12×14 feet in dimensions, it having been hauled from Guthrie for the pur- pose. In the following year the old partnership was dissolved, Mr. Lillie continuing in busi- ness at Guthrie. In the summer of 1800 the firm built a frame store at Tohee, Logan county, Okla., but later this was moved to Chandler and placed on Manvil avenue, near Tenth street. In April, 1896, the building was destroyed by fire, but with characteristic energy Mr. Wright immediately built a stone block. 25x35 feet in size, and equipped it with a new stock of drugs. The cyclone of 1897 leveled it to the ground, and, though his own life was imperiled, he es- caped with a severe fracture of one leg. After these extremely trying afflictions in such quick succession, no one for a moment expected that
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SAMUEL D. DECKER, Chandler.
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he would persevere in his laudable undertaking, but it was only a short time ere he had built another store (this time a frame) and there he .continued in business. Moving the build- ing away in 1899, he built a substantial two- story brick building. 25x70 feet, with a stone front. On February 9, 1900, the fire fiend again destroyed Mr. Wright's store, the loss being total. Once more he built on the site where four of his stores had stood in succession, and particular attention was given to the fine plate- glass front. A large line of drugs and toilet requisites, paints and oils, wall-paper and simi- lar articles are kept in stock, while a specialty is made of filling prescriptions.
Seven years ago Mr. Wright bought a quar- ter-section of land half a mile north of Chandler, and this he still owns, having improved it and leased it to good tenants. His residence on Eighth street was built under his direction, and the lady who presides over its hospitalities was Miss Nellie McGuire prior to her marriage to our subject. Born in Paoli, Kans., she is a daughter of James McGuire, an early settler of Chandler. Three sons, Albert, Carl and Fred, bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wright.
For one term our subject served as a mem- ber of the council of Chandler. Initiated into the Masonic order here, he now belongs to Chandler Lodge No. 10. A. F. & A. M. In the Odd Fellows order he is a past officer of Chan- dler Lodge No. 9, and is its representative to the grand lodge. He also is identified with the An- cient Order of United Workmen. In the Meth- odist Episcopal Church he is a trustee and is secretary of the board of officers.
S AMUEL DAVID DECKER. The law al- ways has attracted to its ranks a certain type of men, gifted with special qualities which best find expression along the paths of this profession, battling for the rights of man- kind. Samuel David Decker, a member of the well-known firm of Decker & Wagoner, of Chan- dler, is an able member of the Lincoln county bar, and has taken a very active part in the up- building of this future state, with whose desti- nies his own have been closely connected for more than a decade.
Mr. Decker is a son of James and Sarah (Ed- wards) Decker, and grandson of Elisha H. Decker and the Rev. Jonathan Edwards. The latter was named in honor of his celebrated an- cestor, who was his great-grandfather, the colo- nial New England minister. It is a curious fact that every generation of this family has had one Rev. Jonathan Edwards, of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and many of the Ed- wards have attained distinction in one field or
another of human activity. Mrs. Decker, mother of Samuel David Decker, was born in Pike county, Mo., whither her father had gone from New York state at an early day. She was called to her reward in March, 1866, and six of her eight children survive. James Decker, who is a native of Waverly, N. Y., was a pioneer of Pike county, Ill., where he settled in 1836. For fifty- eight years he has dwelt in Cambridge, Ill., or immediate vicinity, formerly being a practical agriculturist. Now retired from active cares, he is quietly spending his declining years in Cam- bridge, and has celebrated the eighty-sixth an- niversary of his birth. His father, Elisha H. Decker, also attained extreme age, his death occurring at South Bend, Ind. In early man- hood he was a lumber merchant of Bradford county, Pa., his son James being associated with him in the same pursuit. Making rafts of logs, they floated them down the Susquehanna river to various points, and in addition to this enterprise, they were extensively interested in farming. For some time E. H. Decker operated a farm near Middleton, Ohio, and later improved a home- stead near South Bend, Ind.
Born in Cambridge, Ill., November 10, 1848, Samuel David Decker was reared to maturity with his seven brothers and sisters. Two of the number have been summoned to the silent land, Mrs. Elizabeth Tarbox, who died in Kansas City, and William P., who died in Bradford, Ill., while making a visit, though his home also was in Kansas City. With his elder brother, George W., now engaged in farming near Jew- ell, Kans., he served during the Civil war in the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Infantry. He remained in the ranks throughout that long and dreadful conflict, and upon one occasion was wounded in the leg. George W. participated in twenty-three important battles and accompa- nied Sherman in his great march to the sea. James Decker, the third brother, is a farmer in the neighborhood of Williamsburg, Kans., and Elisha, the youngest, is foreman in the whole- sale dry-goods house of Burnham, Hanna, Mun- ger & Co., of Kansas City. The younger sisters are Mrs. Catherine Peterson, of Coffeyville, Kans., and Mrs. Annie Freeman.
For fifteen years Samuel David Decker lived at his birthplace, pursuing his studies in the pub- lic schools, and about the time of his anniver- sary, in the fall of 1864. he enlisted in Company C, Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, being mustered into the Federal army at Columbus, Ohio. Thence sent to Chattanooga, he took part in campaigns south of that city, and faithfully stood at the post of duty, wherever assigned, until he was mustered out in August. 1865. Then the young man, who possesses considerable talent as a public speaker, entered a theatrical company,
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and followed that line of business for four years, traveling in all parts of the United States. He then was but little past his majority, and after being employed in different occupations, he finally determined to enter the legal profession, accordingly taking up studies along that line. In 1875 he was a student in the office of Mock & Hand, the latter now associate-justice of the Illinois supreme court. On June 18, 1878. he was graduated in the law department of the University of Iowa, and two days afterwards opened an office in Beloit, Kans., where he re- mained a little more than a year. Then locating in Burr Oak, Kans., he was elected as county attorney of Jewell county, in the following year. Removing to the county seat, Mankato, he served for two terms, being re-elected at the ex- piration of his first term. Having made an ex- cellent record as an official and lawyer, Mr. Decker's future was assured, and in the spring of 1885 he engaged in practice at Oberlin, Kans., and continued there about five years.
In March, 1890, Mr. Decker became a citizen of Guthrie, and during his six years of residence at the capital was an efficient member of the school board while all of the fine school build- ings were in process of construction, much of the time being president of the board. About five years ago he came to Lincoln county, and, believing that a change of occupation, for the time being, would prove beneficial to his health, he commenced farming in Pawnee township. Nearly three years were devoted to that enter- prise, and for that length of time he served as postmaster of Harvey, under appointment of McKinley. In 1896, when the town of Stroud was established he opened a law office there. but in April, 1899, came to Chandler, forming a partnership with Julius S. Newby, county at- torney. The cyclone of 1897 injured him seri- ously, but he has recovered from its effects. Formerly he was an active member of several fraternities. among them the Grand Army of the Republic. Politically he is a strong Repub- lican.
The wife of Mr. Decker's youth was Miss Maggie Sturgis, of Indianapolis. Ind., prior to their marriage. She was born in Cincinnati. and died in Oberlin, Kans. The only daughter of this union, Mrs. Emma Hamlin, lives near Berwind, Colo. Arthur, of Battery F. the Fourth United States Light Artillery, has been in the Philippines since March, 1809, and has taken part in a number of skirmishes in and around the city of Manila and on the Island of Samar. Victor, the younger son, is now studying law and taking a one year's course of stenography and typewriting at the Capital Business College, Guthrie, Okla. In 1896 our subject married Miss Addie Morrow, of Ober-
lin, Kans. She was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, and is a daughter of Rev. W. W. Morrow, of St. Paul, Kans., a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which denomination she is identified. Two children bless this union, namely, Earl and March. The family has a very pleasant home and is extremely popular in the best circles of Chandler society.
C OL. J. M. CLARK, a highly respected member of the Chandler bar, is a sterling representative of an old southern family. His paternal grandfather, James Clark, was a native of Scotland, who came to this country in childhood, with his parents. His home was upon an old Virginia plantation, and when the war of 1812 came on, he enlisted in the defense of the land of his adoption. His son, John M., father of the colonel, was born in Halifax county, Va., and at an early period he became a settler of the vicinity of Paris, Tenn. His health failing, some years later, he decided to try the balmy climate of Cuba, but died at New Or- leans, while on the way to that lately liberated isle. His widow, Mrs. Martha (Hurt) Clark, died July 21, 1861. She, likewise, was born in Halifax county, Va., and her father, J. M. Hurt, also was a native of the Old Dominion. Her grandfather Hurt was a planter of Virginia and later of Tennessee, and his father was one of the Irish colonists of the state named in honor of the "virgin" queen.
Col. J. M. Clark is one of the nine children of J. M. and Martha Clark. Two of the number died when young, and three others have since passed away. His brother, R. T., was surgcon in a Tennessee regiment, and another brother. A. V., also served in the Confederate army. The colonel was born April 27, 1834, in Halifax county, Va., and was reared on a Tennessee farm. In his youth he attended Paris Academy and in 1850 he attended Bethel College. He continued to live the life of a farmer until the outbreak of the Civil war, also devoting his attention to legal studies.
In September, 1861, the Forty-sixth Tennes- see Volunteers was organized, electing Mr. Clark as colonel of the regiment, and as such he served until April 7, 1862, when he was cap- tured and sent to Johnson's Island, remaining there until exchanged in the following October. Prior to his capture he took part in the twenty- four days' bombardment of Island No. 10, and participated in different campaigns of impor- tance. At the time of his being exchanged, he returned home, resigned his commission, and was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Depart- ment, and was with Taylor on the Red River campaign. He was actively engaged in the bat-
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tles of Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant Hill, in the latter being slightly wounded. From that time until the close of the war he was stationed in Louisiana and Texas. For some time he has been the commander of Camp No. 1012, Confed- erate Veterans.
In 1871 Colonel Clark was admitted to the bar of Paris, Tenn., where he continued to prac- tice for nearly a score of years. In 1885 he was appointed by President Cleveland to an office in the Indian service department, and was stationed at Santa Fe, N. M., for the ensuing five years. At the end of that period he resigned, and in December, 1891, after careful considera- tion, took up his residence in Chandler. Here he soon built up a large and representative prac- tice, and in 1892 was elected police judge, in which capacity he served efficiently for one term. Again, in 1896, he was elected to this responsible office, and has been his own successor ever since. In 1892 he was nominated by the Democratic party to the probate judgeship, and was elected by twenty votes, but the commissioners threw out the ballots of one township, and gave the position to his opponent. As a member of the school board of Chandler, he has been actively interested in the cause of education here, and besides the fine $10,000 high school, two other small schoolhouses have been constructed dur- ing his service on the board.
In Paris, Tenn., the marriage of the colonel and Miss Annie Porter took place in 1853. She is a native of Kentucky and is the mother of five children, namely: Mrs. Elizabeth Wilkinson, of Texas; Mary, of Chandler; William, a drug- gist in Salt Lake City; and Annie and John, of Texas, the latter being a farmer.
More than forty-five years ago, Colonel Clark was initiated into the Masonic order in Paris, Tenn., and rose to a high position in the fra- ternity, belonging to the chapter and command- ery of Paris, and to the consistory and Mystic Shrine of Nashville. In religion he is a Presby- terian, his membership being with the Chandler Church, in which he now serves as an elder and as superintendent of the Sunday-school.
R EV. E. V. REYNOLDS. One of the pio- neer mission-workers of Oklahoma is Rev. E. V. Reynolds, whose coming was eagerly looked forward to by multitudes of his flock, widely scattered as they are. It is safe to say that few priests of the Catholic Church in this coun- try have had a more difficult field of labor than he, and yet he is devoted to his work, and spares himself naught when he feels that duty is calling him here or there. His record as a missionary, if written in full, would be of great interest to the general public, for it comprises many a
touching incident, many a stirring adventure, and many a deed of true fraternal sympathy and helpfulness to the poor and unfortunate regard- less of race or creed.
A native of Nicholasville, Jessamine county, Ky., born July 28, 1859, Father Reynolds is a son of James and Anna (Genty) Reynolds. The father, who was born in Ireland, settled upon a farm near the town mentioned soon after his arrival in this country, and is yet living there, industriously employed in managing his home- stead. An interesting incident attended his wife's coming to the United States, and, briefly, it is thus summarized: Born in Dublin, Ireland, in her girlhood she became a fine swimmer, very fortunately. Left an orphan, she deter- mined to accompany some acquaintances to the New World. where she believed one in her cir- cumstances could better make a livelihood. When twelve years old, she embarked in a small boat with her friends, on the way to a large sailing vessel anchored in Dublin Bay, and ready to start toward the setting sun. The small, un- seaworthy boat suddenly began to sink, and the young girl, as a last resort, jumped from a win- dow and swam to the shore. With the excep- tion of a man by the name of Burke, she was the only one saved. Nothing daunted by her thrilling experience, she embarked the follow- ing day on another lighter, and made the entire voyage to New York City in safety. For some years thereafter she lived in a convent in that metropolis, fitting herself for life's battles, and at last was married, in Paterson, N. J., to Mr. Reynolds. She became the mother of eleven children, six of whom survive, and for more than two-score years her home has been in Kentucky.
Father Reynolds was reared upon the paren- tal homestead, near Nicholasville, Ky., and in 1874 entered St. Joseph's College, at Bards- town, same state. At the end of a three years' course there he matriculated in St. Charles Col- lege, near Ellicott City, Md., and, completing a classical course, was graduated in 1889. Four more years were spent by him in pursuing a the- ological course in St. Mary's Seminary, of Balti- more, where he was graduated in the spring of 1893. At once coming to Oklahoma, where he was destined to carry on a great pioneer work, he remained at Sacred Heart until the return of Bishop Meeschaert, who ordained the young man as a priest in December, 1893.
After serving as an assistant priest at Mus- cogee, I. T., for eight months, Father Reynolds was appointed pastor of the Church of Our Lady, at Quapaw. I. T., and about a year later took charge of St. John's School in the Osage Nation. Mastering the language of the tribe, and remaining in their midst from August 15,
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1895, to September 1, 1898, a much longer time than any of his predecessors there, he met with gratifying success in his labors.
Then becoming pastor of the Church of Our Lady of Seven Sorrows, at Chandler, which was established in 1893, he entered upon a much wider field of effort, as may be gathered from the fact that during the first year he traveled over fifteen hundred miles on horseback in this region. He has been pastor of three churches besides the one at Chandler, namely: St. Mi- chael's, fifteen miles south of this place; St. Wenislaus', twenty-eight miles southeast of Chandler: and St. Peter's, at Chusing, Okla .; building houses of worship at the two last-men- tioned points. Having organized congregations at Stroud and in the Sac and Fox Agency, he succeeded in getting churches constructed for them in 1901, and, besides this, organized par- ishes at Rossville and Hilton. Several other missions in this county and in the adjacent part of the Indian Territory have been ministered to by Father Reynolds, among them being Cor- ney, Harvey, Portland, Wellston and Keokuk Falls. He has the distinction of being the first white man ordained in Oklahoma for the mis- sionary work, and by his wisdom and sympa- thetic helpfulness has endeared himself to thou- sands.
C. FLETCHER. The history of Mr. J. Fletcher, one of the youngest veterans of the Civil war, possesses many points of special interest, and the following facts have been compiled: Born March 17, 1849, in Frank- lin, Ind., he is a son of J. D. and Nancy (Jack) Fletcher, natives of Pennsylvania. The father was an early settler of Johnson county, Ind., and from 1849 until his death, fourteen years later, was engaged in the harness and saddlery business in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was of Eng- lish descent, while his wife was of Scotch-Irish extraction. Her father. Thomas Jack, was a pioneer of Iowa, where he resided until his death. Mrs. Fletcher was called to her reward in 1874, and is survived by her five children. Thomas, the eldest, now cashier of the First National Bank of Marshalltown, Iowa. served in the Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry during the Civil war. Frank, the youngest son, a gradu- ate of Annapolis, was commander of the United States ship "Cushing." and now is second in command on the "Eagle," also connected with the government navy service. This young man is a genius, and holds a high place in the esteem of the navy department. He has invented sev- cral kinds of rapid-fire and pneumatic guns used on. ships-of-war, and has made himself in- valuable to the government. The two sisters are Emma, whose home is in Florida, and Mrs.
May Richardson, who is a resident of Spokane, Wash.
In his youth, J. C. Fletcher attended the pub- lic schools and college of Oskaloosa. He was but fifteen years old when he yielded to his patriotic impulses and ran away from home in order to enlist. in the army. He became a pri- vate of Company I, Forty-seventh Iowa Infan- try, and was mustered into the one hundred days' service at Davenport. Thence he was sent to Tennessee and Arkansas, where his regiment was in special demand for guard duty, thereby allowing the old and tried veterans, now sadly reduced in number, to take a more active part in the field. With his comrades, the young man received a vote of thanks from President Lin- coln, his term of service coming to an end in October, 1864.
Returning home, Mr. Fletcher held positions as a clerk for some years, and, having thor- oughly mastered the principles of business, en- gaged in general merchandising at Sheffield, Iowa, where he remained for two years. Then, going to Sac county, same state, he laid out the town of Fletcher, on the banks of Wall Lake, on a branch of the Northwestern Railroad. This place soon developed into a flourishing town, and its founder remained there, carrying on a general store, until 1886. During the county- seat fight, he lived in Leota, Kans., and was interested in a hardware business, at the same time owning a store at Sheridan Lake, and one at Eads, Colo.
September 22, 1891, Mr. Fletcher located two lots in Chandler, and erected a store. This build- ing has a curious history. The lumber of which it is constructed came from Minnesota, was shipped to Fort Wallace, Kans., and hauled fifty miles to Coronado, Kans. There it became a structure, 50x40 feet, a bank and a hardware store occupying the first floor, and the second story being used for public meetings. There the great fight over the county scat took place, nine men being killed or wounded, as the excited contestants came to worse than a wordy war- fare. Later the building was moved on wagons to Farmer City, another aspirant for the county seat, and finally did get settled at the winning town-Leoti. There the upper rooms were used for a dance hall until Mr. Fletcher purchased the building. It was carefully torn down, the parts numbered, and in a short time it was put to- gether in Chandler, and filled with a stock of hardware and implements which the owner had brought here from Leoti. Once, when the Lin- coln County Bank was being plundered by a band of robbers, the building was damaged con- siderably by the shower of bullets fired by the desperadoes and officials, and in iSo; the cyclone injured the stores to the amount of about nine
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hundred dollars. Mr. Fletcher rebuilt, and added a wing, 50x120 feet, to the original building. Gradually his hardware trade grew to large pro- portions, and in March, 1899, he accepted a good sum for the stock and business, since which time he has been retired. Upon his arrival in this vicinity, he had located a claim two miles east of Chandler, and, after improving the place mate- rially, sold out in the spring of 1900.
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