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 89
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Being advised by his physicians not to ride horseback, Mr. Offield abandoned the cattle business and in 1887 started a livery at Henri- etta, Tex., which he conducted until he settled in Oklahoma. In May, 1889, he located a claim fifteen miles northwest of Oklahoma City, in the bottom land on Spring creek, in Spring Creek township, section 15, township 13, range 4. He improved his farm and again became interested in the stock business. By the purchase of an adjoining tract of fifty acres he became the pos- sessor of two hundred and ten acres altogether. Here he raises cattle and horses, and is exten- sively engaged in buying and selling, his ship- ments being made from points on the Santa Fe. Choctaw, and Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroads. He also owns a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres at the head of Deep Fork, in Council Grove township. For a time he en- gaged in the wholesale butcher business in Okla- homa City, owning large slaughter-houses on the Canadian river, an ice house, a packing- house and a refrigerator of large capacity.
Mr. Offield was united in marriage with Eva Curry, at Henrietta, Tex., October 29, 1890. She was born in Shelby county, Ill., and is a daughter of Thomas and granddaughter of Nathan Curry The latter was a farmer in Tennessee, and most to Shelby county, Ill., where he died. Thomas Curry was born in Tennessee and also engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1877 he moved son: Illinois to Rockwall county, Tex., and in INSS1 settled in Henrietta, where he died in 1804. He married Eliza Jane Wilson, who was born in Tennessee and whose father, Samuel Wilson. was a pioneer of Shelby county, Ill. She now
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resides near Henrietta, Clay county, Tex. Seven children were born to them, six of whom grew to maturity. Of these, three reside near Hen- rietta, Tex., and three are in Oklahoma, as fol- lows: George, in Washita county; Mrs. Anne Lowe, in Oklahoma City; and Mrs. Offield. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Of- field: Marvin Glenn, Clarice, Paul Curry, and Robert. Politically Mr. Offield is a Democrat, but does not aspire to office. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America.
D ANIEL B. ZIMMERMANN, who makes his home in Mustang township, Oklahoma county, is a native of Ohio. His parents, Christian and Anna (Zimmerman) Zimmerman, were born in Switzerland, and married in the Buckeye state. They resided upon a farm, and were prospered in their pioneer labors of clear- ing and improving the place until death sud- denly invaded their happy home circle. The father, while engaged .in cutting timber in the forest, was felled to the ground by a falling tree. His widow and two sons, Daniel B. and William H., managed to carry on the farm, and with true courage met the cares which fell to their share.
When not yet eighteen years of age, our sub- - ject enlisted in the Fifty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served about sixteen months. He took part in many of the hard-fought batties and campaigns of the last year of the Civil war, and though he had narrow escapes without num- ber, he was only once wounded. At the battle of Knoxville he was in the thickest of the strife for three days, and at last was wounded in the knee. After the surrender of General Lee, the whole division of the army to which our subject belonged was ordered to the frontiers of Texas, where an attack under Maximillian was ex- pected. Owing to the alertness of our govern- ment, this movement was prevented, and the troops were finally discharged. Mr. Zimmerman was honorably discharged at Victoria, Tex., and immediately returned to his Ohio home. In the meantime, however, he had sustained a severe sunstroke in the glaring summer heat of the Lone Star state, and for a period it seemed that his life must pay the penalty.
Prior to his enlistment in defense of the Union Mr. Zimmerman had commenced learning the blacksmith's trade, and until 1871 he followed that calling. He then removed .to . Mitchell county, Kans., and there carried on a farm until .. 1894, when he came to Oklahoma. In March of that year he bought the farm where he now re- sides, on section 11, Mustang township, Okla- boma county. Ere long he had greatly in-
creased its value by judicious expenditure of labor and capital. He raises fine crops of wheat each season, and also meets with success as a producer of cotton and alfalfa. He pays special attention to the raising of Hereford cattle, and always owns some fine live stock.
In 1868 Mr. Zimmerman married Miss Sa- lome Buhlman, of Ohio birth, though her par- ents were natives of Switzerland. Four children were born to this worthy couple. Two died in infancy, and the others, Mrs. Hattie Withem, and Thomas E., are residents of Mitchell county. Kans., the latter carrying on his father's old homestead. Mrs. Salome Zimmerman died in Kansas during the first year of the family's residence there, and in 1872 our subject married Mrs. Anna Elizabeth Zimmerman, whose first husband possibly was a distant relative of his. She is of Swiss extraction, and was born in the Buckeye state. By her first marriage she had one son, William Otto Zimmerman. Twin daughters were born to our subject and wife. namely: Alice, who is the wife of Benton Tay- lor, a Missouri farmer: and Alma, who is the wife of William Stemons, a blacksmith, in the same state. The younger children are named. respectively: Freddielena, Christian J., Ferdi- nand O., Daniel A., Emil H., Olive, Frank B .. and Florence. The sons have been performing their share towards the development of the farm. and are rising young agriculturists. In no sense of the word a politician, our subject is allied to no party, and votes independently. The Lu- theran Church embodies the faith of the family.
T HOMAS L. BURNS, one of the most suc- cessful farmers of Deer Creek township, Oklahoma county, was born in Baltimore. Md., February 16, 1843. His father, Martin Burns, was born in Ireland, and is of Scotch- Irish descent. The mother was also a native of Ireland. They came to America at an early day and settled in Maryland, where they conducted a mercantile business in Baltimore. Their son. Thomas, was left an orphan when but an infant. and an elder brother, who had in the meantime removed to Kentucky, gave him a home and brought him up. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, and received a fair education in the public schools.
When the Civil war broke out Mr. Burns en- listed in the Confederate army, and served four years in the army of Virginia, winning a notable war record, and participating in many of the important battles of the war. He experienced most of the vicissitudes incident to a campaign. and was three times wounded. After being taken prisoner he was exchanged on the sick and wounded list, and, upon recovering sufficiently.
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resumed his position in the regiment. He was mustered out after the surrender of Lee, and returned to his former home and occupation. After attaining a competence, as a reward for constant application and industry, he was unfor- tunately the victim of the money crisis of 1873. and lost much that had been acquired by years of toil.
In 1873 Mr. Burns was united in marriage with Bell Hundley, daughter of Charles and Nannie (Keiser) Hundley, natives of Kentucky. After his marriage Mr. Burns continued farming in Fayette county, and in 1888 removed to No Man's Land, now Beaver county. Okla., where he continued his former occupation. After the opening of Oklahoma he came in May of 1889 to Deer Creek township, Oklahoma county, and located on the southeast quarter of section 32, township 14, range 4, where he has since indus- triously applied himself to farming and stock- raising. At one time since his residence here a cyclone almost dissipated his good opinion of the new country and swept away most of the improvements on his farm. He was also visited by severe bereavement in the loss of his son in August of 1889, and his wife in November of the same year. Left thus alone, with seven chil- dren, Mr. Burns sent them, for a time, to Ken- tucky. He is still a widower.
Mr. and Mrs. Burns were the parents of the following named children: William F., who is deceased; Charles L., now in Kentucky, a tele- graph operator at Richmond; Mary. now Mrs. John Schwoerke, who lives in Oklahoma City; Patrick, a soldier in the Philippines; Stella, who is keeping house for her father; Forest, Thomas and Robert, at home. Patrick, who is not yet twenty-one years of age, volunteered in the Cuban army, and June 22, 1899, enlisted in the United States Infantry, and is now in the Philip- pines, on the gunboat "Florida." He has been promoted five times, and is now a captain.
Mr. Burns is greatly interested in the progress of his adopted locality, and may be depended on to further every progressive movement. He believes in the best educational facilities pos- sible, and has held the position of director on the school board. While devoting his energies to general farming, he makes a specialty of the cultivation of wheat, in which he has been re- markably successful.
M ILTON McMURTRY, M. D., of Okla- homa City, commands a large and lucra- tive practice in this city and the surround- ing country, making a specialty of surgery. He has always been a student of his profession, feel- ing it necessary to study constantly in order to keep abreast of the rapid strides being made in
medical science. His natural ability, together with his excellent training in some of the best medical schools our country affords, has made itself apparent in the many complicated cases which he has successfully treated.
Dr. McMurtry was born in Fulton, Mo., Au- gust 11, 1853, and is of Scotch descent. His grandfather, Levi McMurtry, was born in Ken- tucky, and was an early settler near Fulton, Cal- laway county, Mo., where he engaged in farming. Calvin McMurtry, the doctor's father, was born in Kentucky, and for years was captain of a steamboat on the Mississippi river between St. Louis and New Orleans. In partnership with his brother William he owned a boat. Later he was a merchant at Fulton, Mo., then at Granby, New- ton county, Mo .. and finally at Mountain View, Ark., where he died. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He married Joicy Davis, daughter of a Christian minister; she died at Fulton, Callaway county, Mo., when her son Mil- ton was six years old. They were the parents of two daughters and one son, but one of the daugh- ters died when a child. By a second marriage Mr. McMurtry had three daughters and two sons, of whom two daughters are deceased.
Milton McMurtry was reared in Fulton, Mo., until 1861, when, war troubles being rife, they removed to Portland, and in 1866 went to Granby, Mo., where he attended the public schools. He taught school there one term, and in 1873 entered Westminster College at Fulton, where he remained one year. Next he entered upon the study of medicine, under the direction of Drs. Foster and Hughes at Mountain View, Ark., and subsequently entered Missouri Medi- cal College at St. Louis, from which he was grad- uated in 1877. For two years he practiced at Mountain View. In 1879 he entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City, from which he was graduated in 1880, with the degree of M. D. He then practiced one year at Little Rock, Ark., nearly a year at Brenham, Tex .. one vear at San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and fifteen months at Denison. Tex. In 1885 he located at Erin Springs, Chickasaw Nation, twenty-five miles west of what is now Purcell, and practiced there for five years.
April 22, 1889, he located a claim four and one-half miles northwest on Deep Fork, and re- sided there until he could prove up on the land. Meantime, in the fall of 1800, he began to prac- tice at Purcell, acquiring an extensive patronage as far south as Berwyn and north to Lexington and Norman. By means of post-graduate work he has perfected his knowledge of the medical science and enhanced his professional skill. In 18gt he attended the Polyclinic College in Neu York City: in 1804 studied in the Post-Graduate College, New York City; and in 1898 took spe-
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cial graduate work in Washington, D. C., and at Baltimore, Md. In January, 1900, he came to Oklahoma City, where he has built up a valuable practice. He is especially skilled in surgery, making a specialty of that branch, and his work has been attended by unqualified success. His office is located at No. 1203 Main street.
In Batesville, Ark., Dr. McMurtry married Nellie Byers, youngest daughter of Judge Wil- liam Byers, for many years a district judge at Batesville. They have one son, Milton S. While a resident of Purcell the doctor was surgeon for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, and the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroads. He is a mem- ber of the American Medical Association, the Oklahoma Medical Association, the American Association for the Study and Cure of Inebriety. and formerly was connected with the Interna- tional Association of Railway Surgeons. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows. He is a communicant of the Episcopal Church.
H ON. LEE VAN WINKLE, mayor of Okla- homa City, is one of the progressive busi- ness men of this enterprising place. As president and general manager of the Oklahoma Sash and Door Company, he is intimately associ- ated with one of the successful concerns of the city. This company was organized by himself and W. S. Darling in September, 1897, and is a close corporation, connected with the U. N. Roberts Company, of Davenport, Iowa, where the man- ufacturing is largely done. The business is ex- clusively wholesale, and shipments are made throughout this and Indian territories and Texas, it being the only organization of the kind in all this section of the country. In its building, which is 62x300, and one and two stories in height, the company has a full equipment of sup- plies, so that they are able to fill all orders with- out delay.
Mr. Van Winkle is a member of the old New York family of the name, originating in Holland. His father, Peter, was born in New York City, " and, early orphaned, supported himself from boyhood, following the blacksmith's trade for some time. In 1858 he moved to Benton county, Ark., and built a wagon shop, later put up a saw and grist mill on the White river, and. as a result of his energy and perseverance, became one of the largest lumbermen in the entire south, own- ing forty thousand acres of pine land, besides four large saw-mills and sash and door factories. His lands lay principally in Benton, Carroll and Madison counties. The qualities which gave him prominence in business also made him a power in local affairs. His influence was ap- parent in many beneficial movements. He was a
public-spirited citizen, anxious to conserve the best interests of his locality. A number of good roads he opened and improved at his own ex- pense. As a member of the board of county commissioners he favored every plan that seemed advantageous to the county. He served as postmaster, having the office in his store. During the Civil war he served in the commis- sary department, having charge of the building of barracks and the construction of winter quar- ters. Like so many others, the war caused the loss of his entire property, and he found himself. at its close, without means or business, but he started anew and soon laid the foundation of his subsequent large success. In politics he was a Democrat. fraternally a Knight Templar Mason. and in religion a Baptist and a deacon in the church. He died in February, 1883.
The wife of Peter Van Winkle was Temper- ance Miller, a native of Springdale, Ark., and now living in Lowell, that state. Her father. John Miller, who was of German descent, was a pioneer farmer and horticulturist of Springdale. By her marriage to Mr. Van Winkle eleven children were born, all of whom attained matur- ity and eight are living. One son served in the Confederate army, where he was fatally wounded during battle. Lee Van Winkle was among the youngest of the family. He was born in Benton county, Ark., July 17, 1862, and was reared at Fayetteville, Washington county. His studies were conducted under a lady governess and later under a tutor. In 1883 he graduated from the State University of Arkansas, with the degree of A. B. Immediately afterward he entered the lumber business, operating a mill near Eureka Springs in Madison county. Later he carried on the Van Winkle mills. In 1884, selling his inter- ests to a brother, he went to Pittsburg, Kans .. and embarked in the retail lumber business, con- tinuing there until 1893, and meantime serving two terms as councilman. In the spring of 1803 he came to Oklahoma City, where he took charge of the yards of the Arkansas Lumber Company. on the Choctaw Railroad. The company also had large yards in Choctaw City, Shawnee, Earl- boro and Tecumseh, and he continued as man- ager until the business was closed out, since which time he has been at the head of the Okla- homa Sash and Door Company. While in the retail lumber business he was president for two years of the Retail Lumber Dealers' Associa- tion of Oklahoma and Indian Territory. He has been identified with the lumber business for so many years that he is familiar with every depart- ment, and his long experience and acknowl- edged ability make him a leader in his line of business in the territory.
In Lebanon, Mo., Mr. Van Winkle married Marcella Faulkner, who was born in that town,
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and by whom he has one child, Vere. Mrs. Van Winkle is a daughter of D. W. Faulkner, who built the Frisco Railroad, and who now resides in Bolivar, Mo. She is a member of the Chris- tian Church and an active worker in its Aid So- ciety and Ladies' Guild.
The Democratic party, in the spring of 1899, made Mr. Van Winkle their candidate for mayor of Oklahoma City. He was elected, leading his ticket, though with a small majority. Under his administration the sewer system has been extended, the paving of streets has been started, the water works system has been purchased by the city, the new city hall is now being built at a cost of $35,000, and other beneficial projects have been inaugurated. He was made a Mason at Pittsburg, Kans., and has taken all degrees of Masonry up to the thirty-second, at Oklahoma City, and is past potentate of India Temple, An- cient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He was a charter member of the Knights of Pythias, U. R., at Pittsburg, of which he was captain for eight years after its organization. He is also a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, a charter member of the Com- mercial Club of Oklahoma City, and has been head officer of the Hoo Hoo's in Oklahoma Ter- ritory.
G FORGE DANIEL MUNGER, M. D., whose record as captain in the Federal Army during the Civil war is unexceiled in point of brilliancy and daring, now enjoys an extensive practice in Oklahoma City, where he was the first established physician after the open- ing.
Dr. Munger was born in Dundee, Monroe county, Mich., May 22, 1841, and is a son of Elizar D. and Mary (Simonds) Munger. He comes of a Scotch family, his ancestors living at Munger Manor, Dundee, Scotland. His grand- father was Hon. Elizar Dudley Munger, who served in the state senate of Connecticut for a period of thirty-one years, residing at Norfolk. Conn., where he was a large land-owner and one of the wealthiest men of his state. He served in the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812, and dlied about 1830.
Elizar D. Munger, Jr., was born in Norfolk, Conn., and was a boy friend of and college stu- dent with Henry Ward Beecher. He engaged in farming in Connecticut until 1835, and then settled at Dundee, Mich., where he was a pioneer farmer, clearing a farm of two hundred acres adjoining that city. He possessed a remarkable memory and had a wonderful knowledge of the affairs of the world, being well informed on all subjects. For many years he served as justice of the peace. At the time of his death, in 1884,
he was almost eighty years of age. His wife was of English ancestry and a daughter of Major Asa Simonds, who was born at Middlebury, \'t., and served in the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812. While in command of the Amer- ican forces at Plattsburg, N. Y., when they were driven into the river, Major Simonds lost his life. Mary Simonds was born in Middlebury, Vt., and died in Michigan. Seven children blessed this union, as follows: Martin E., who served as surgeon during the Civil war, was a graduate doctor of medicine, and practiced in California, where he died; Samuel died at the age of seventeen years; Edmund C., of Dundee. Mich., served in the Seventh Michigan Infantry and lost an arm in the battle of the Wilderness: Mrs. Eliza C. Pierce resides in Dundee, Mich .: George Daniel was fifth in order of birth; John, now postmaster at Palmer Lake, Colo., first en- listed in the Seventh Michigan Infantry, later in the Eighteenth Michigan, serving under General Granger, and received a severe wound in the head at Decatur, Ala., where, having been left on the field for dead, he was taken captive by the Confederates, but was exchanged after eight months at Andersonville; Albert H. was a mere youth when he served in the Fifteenth Michi- gan Infantry, and is now a member of the large wholesale firm of Burnham, Munger & Co., of Kansas City, Mo.
Dr. G. D. Munger was reared on his father's farm near Dundee, Mich., until he was fifteen years old, when he went to Lansing, Mich., and clerked in a drug store and attended school. Later he studied in Olivet College until the war. August 22, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Seventh Michigan Infantry for three years' serv- ice. He was advanced to the rank of corporal. then became sergeant of Company D, was made first lieutenant of Company D. March 2, 1864, and captain October 5, 1864. He was a brave and willing soldier, ever ready to do his ful! duty and more. He was one of those men of the Seventh Michigan who volunteered to cross the pontoon bridge at Fredericksburg, one of the most heroic deeds of the war. They crossed under a constant fire from the sharpshooters, twenty men being killed in crossing, but when they reached the opposite side they drove the enemy from their position and captured many men, thus making it safe for the rest of the army to cross. Lieut. William Shafter, now Major- General Shafter, was first lieutenant of Company I of the same regiment. Soon after Lieutenant Shafter was wounded at Antietam our subject took charge of the company, and continued at its head until it was disbanded.
The following engagements were among those in which Captain Munger participated: Ball's Bluff, October 21, 1861; Yorktown, Va .. from
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April 4 to May 4, 1862; West Point, Va., May 7, 1862; Fair Oaks, Va., May 31 and June I, 1862; Peach Orchard, June 20, 1862; Savage Station, June 29, 1862; White Oak Swamp, Va., June 30, 1862; Glendale, Va., June 30, 1862; Malvern Hill, Va., July 1, 1862; Bull Run. Va., August 30, 1862; Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862; Fredericksburg, Va., December 11, 12 and 13, 1862; Chancellorsville, Va .. Ma: 3-4, 1863; Haymarket, Va., in June, 1863; Gettys- burg, Pa., July 2-3, 1863; Bristow Station, Va., November 20, 1863; Robertson's Tavern, Va., November 29, 1863; Mine Run, November 29, 1863; Wilderness, May 5-6. 1864; Potomac River, Va., May 10, 1864; Spottsylvania, Va., May 12, 1864; North Anna, Va., May 24, 1864; Nye River, Va., May 24, 1864; Tolopotamy, Va., May, 30, 31, and June 1, 1864; Cold Har- bor, Va., June 3, 1864; Petersburg, Va., from June 18 to the 22nd, 1864; Deep Bottom, Va., July 27-28, 1864; Strawberry Plains, Va., Au- gust 14, 1864; and Reams' Station, Va., August 25, 1864. He was in command of a detachment of his regiment at Reams' Station, and had or- ders to hold the point at all hazards. Lieaten- ant-Colonel Smith of his regiment received direct orders from General Gibbons to go and tell Captain Munger to hold the point no longer, but fall back. Through fear and cow- ardice, the order never reached its destination, and our subject held out while others fell back and consequently was captured. He was incar- cerated at Libby, Salisbury and Danville until February 22, 1865, when he was exchanged. He returned to his regiment about one month before the surrender at Appomattox Court House. He commanded the right division of his regiment at the Grand Review in Washington, and was mustered out July 5, 1865, at Jeffersonville, Ind.
After a short time at Jackson, Mich., Captain Munger proceeded to Dundee, Mich., where he engaged in the drug. business until 1871, in the meantime reading medicine. In that year he went to Newton, Kans., just before the Santa Fe Road was built through, and started a drug store. He continued until 1874, when he went to Trinidad, Colo., and conducted a drug store in an adobe building, which was a substantial and comfortable structure. In 1877 he settled in Murfreesboro, Ark., and practiced medicine, and later engaged in professional work at Curtis. Ark. In 1884 he was graduated from the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons in St. Louis. with a degree of M. D., and immediately there- after located in Kincaid, Anderson county, Kans.
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