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 92
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During his residence in Stillwater, Mr. Lyt- ton's avenues of activity have been largely the outgrowth of his connection with the People's party, in the issues and principles of which he has unbounded confidence. He served as coun- cilman for one term, and has been a member of the school board. He was elected the second mayor of Stillwater, and while holding this, the highest municipal office within the gift of the people, he more than ever proved his substantial interest in all that pertains to the upbuilding of the locality. During his regime the town has taken on an added importance among the cities of the county and territory, its modernity es- tablished, and its care for the comfort and convenience of the people, by the erection of the water-works and the electric-light plant.
The early life of Mr. Lytton was practically uneventful. He was born in Augusta county, Va., April 20, 1862, and is a son of J. F. Lytton, also a native of Augusta. His grandfather, Samuel Lytton, who was born in Augusta county in 1806, was a farmer and manufacturing cooper. The great-grandfather, Abraham, came of an old Maryland family, and removed to Vir- ginia, where he engaged in agricultural pur- suits. J. F. Lytton removed from Virginia to Indiana in 1833, and conducted farming inter- ests in the vicinity of La Fayette for nine years. He subsequently returned to Augusta county, Va., where he worked at his trade of cooper, and also managed his farm. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company C. Fifth Virginia In- fantry, as first lieutenant, and served all through the war in Stonewall Jackson's Brigade. In a battle in 1862, he was wounded in the head, but recovered, joined his regiment, and followed its fortunes until peace was declared. From 1865 until 1875 he worked at his trade in Virginia, and then removed to Appanoose county, Iowa, and engaged in farming until 1879. He then re- moved to Gage county, where he improved a farm, and in 1890 came to Oklahoma, and lo- cated a claim. After three years of farming he retired from active participation in the affairs of life, and is living in retirement in Stillwater. His wife; formerly Rebecca A. Curry, was born in Rockingham county, being a daughter of a
farmer of the same county. Her grandfather, Benjamin, was born in Virginia, and was of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lytton, three are living: C. E. is engaged in mining in Colorado; Dalc and Metta reside in Stillwater; Lillie died at the age of thirteen, and Clyde at the age of five years.
Untilhis thirteenth year, Mr. Lytton was reared in Virginia, and then went with his parents to Indiana, where he attended the public schools and learned to be a model farmer. In 1883 he removed to Nebraska and engaged in agricul- tural pursuits until April 22, 1889, when he lo- cated a claim two and a half miles east of Still- water, on Spring creek. This was improved and fitted with all modern conveniences, and there he conducted farm pursuits until 1891, when he took up his residence in Stillwater, and engaged in the agricultural implement business. This has since been his occupation, and the enter- prise is conducted in a modern building, 25x80 feet in dimensions. There is also a warehouse, 20x40 feet, besides numerous sheds for the stor- ing of surplus stock. Mr. Lytton is the pos- sessor of several lots, improved and otherwise. In his business capacity he is agent for the Deer- ing binders and mowers, the John Deere farm- ing implements and buggies, the Studebaker wagons and buggies, the Moline wagons, and the Minnesota Chief threshers. In the spring of 1900 Mr. Lytton broadened his interests by opening a branch of his implement business at Ripley, Payne county, where he built buildings, and is carrying on a successful business. The residence of Mr. Lytton, on the east side of the city, is a credit to the locality in which it is sit- uated.
In Schuyler county, Mo., occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Lytton and Alice Holbert, born in Appanoose county, Iowa, and a daughter of John Holbert, a farmer from West Virginia. Of this union there are three children living, Clyde F., Ora Gladys and Alyna. Fraternally Mr. Lyt- ton is associated with the Masonic order. Lodge No. 6, of Stillwater; St. John's Commandery No. 4, K. T., of which he is secretary and a charter member; and with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a member of and generous contributor to the Christian Church, of which he is a member of the board of trustees and an elder.
C LEM WHITE, postmaster at Tecumseh. was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in Oc- tober of 1863, and is a son of Samuel and Emily (Moore) White. His father carried on farin pursuits during the years of his activity. removing west to Kansas in 1867, and for three years engaging in farm work in Linn county,
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but subsequently he moved to Wilson county, where he homesteaded a claim in 1870. At the time the family settled in Wilson county, Clem White was a child of seven years, and in that county he grew to manhood, meantime being trained to an appreciation of the dignity and utility of agricultural life. When a boy he was diligent in his studies in the public schools. At the age of eighteen he entered the Kansas Nor- mal College, at Fort Scott. His early efforts were directed to educational work, and for six years he taught in the schools of Wilson county, the money thus earned being used in the con- tinuance of his education. In 1888 he entered the Chicago Medical College, but after a year of study there he returned to Kansas.
The Republican party in Wilson county, in the fall of 1889, elected Mr. White county clerk, in which capacity he served most efficiently for one term of two years. His record in the office was most creditable to himself, and so satisfac- tory to his party that, at the expiration of his term, they renominated him for further service in the same capacity. However, the Democrats and Populists, forming a fusion ticket, secured the defeat of the Republican candidates, and Mr. White met with the common fate of the mem- bers of his party, although he had the satisfac- tion of leading his ticket by many votes, being defeated by seven votes only.
During February of 1892 Mr. White came to Oklahoma and settled in the vicinity of Dale, where for four years he and a brother conducted agricultural enterprises. In addition, he assessed township No. 3, now Tecumseh, as well as three or four other townships, his being the first as- sessments of each. Afterward he entered the land office in Oklahoma City, where he was em- ployed as special clerk for several months. He was also deputy postmaster at Tecumseh for eight months. In 1894 he went to Central City, Colo., and for a year engaged as assistant su- perintendent of mines for his brother. On leav- ing Colorado, in the fall of 1895, he entered the dental department of the Northwestern Univer- sity, at Chicago, Ill., from which he was gradu- ated in 1896, with the degree of D. D. S. Re- turning to Tecumseh, he opened an office and gave his attention to the practice of his profes- sion, continuing the same until he accepted the appointment of postmaster. To this office he was appointed in May, 1898, and since then he has given his attention to its management. As proof of his success in the position, it may be stated that there has been an increase in salary of $300, which is, with one exception, the largest increase of any of the offices in the territory. The verdict is unanimous that no town in Okla- homa has an office more systematically con- ducted than the one at Tecumseh, and almost
the entire credit for the same is due to the pres- ent capable and resourceful postmaster.
The marriage of Mr. White took place in 1898 and united him with Susan Viola Sands, of Lampasas, Tex. They are the parents of one child, Pearl Emily, who was born on the home farm March 23, 1900.
Sharing the toils and hardships of the early days of Pottawatomic county, Mr. White is now enjoying some of the success which is coming to the region. He has the greatest faith in the fu- ture of Oklahoma, and especially in the progress of this portion of the territory. In politics he has always given his support to the Republican party, and, believing in its principles, he has earnestly advocated them. He has done good service for his party, especially during presi- dential campaigns, and the official position he nows holds comes to him a deserved return for his services in the past. He is a man of broad general knowledge and intelligence, and is well informed in matters professional and political.
E ARNEST FREDERICK BALLARD, an enterprising farmer of Noble county, has made good use of the past seven years, for during that period he has developed a wild tract of land into a well-cultivated and very desirable homestead, abundantly proving his business ability and determination of character. He pos- sesses the qualities which insure success; and, as from childhood he has been perfectly familiar with farming in all of its details, he is a practical agriculturist.
The parents of our subject, Col. David Ellen- wood and Sarah Louise (Bowen) Ballard, were natives of Franklin county, Vt. In 1837 the former accompanied his parents to Sparta, Ohio, his father being a merchant. In 1847 the latter settled in Lansing, Mich., where he established himself as a general merchant, continuing the business until 1852, when he met with the loss of his entire stock and store by fire. Later he moved just out of town, where he established a vegetable garden on forty acres of land now in- cluded in North Lansing. There he died in Oc- tober, 1885.
When Colonel Ballard was fourteen years of age he went to Toledo, Iowa, and was employed as a clerk in the store of an uncle, William Henry Harrison, a distant relative of Benjamin IIarri- son, the recently deceased ex-President of the United States. At twenty-one years of age, in 1857. he went to Leavenworth, Kans., and dur- ing the winter taught in the Grubb district, near Powhattan, Brown county, Kans. At the out- break of the Civil war, he raised a score or more of men in Washington and Marshall counties, Kans., and paid their way from Marysville to
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Fort Leavenworth, where he joined Company H, Second Kansas Cavalry, as a private soldier. He was first lieutenant in the Second Kansas Cavalry from January 10, 1862, to February 15, 1865. From the latter date to December 31, 1866, he was quartermaster-general (with the rank of colonel) of the state of Kansas. In 1868-69 he was assistant assessor of United States internal revenue for the fourth district of Kansas. In 1872-73 he was railroad assessor of the Twelfth District of Kansas. He was a mem- ber of the first state legislature in 1861, and again in 1878 he was elected from the Wash- ington county district to the legislature.
As early as 1860 Colonel Ballard bought a half-section of state land on the Little Blue river, which is part of his present large farm of eight- een hundred and fifty-five acres, located at Bal- lard's Falls, Little Blue township, Washington county, Kans. He and his comrades, Messrs. Pierce and Bowen, laid out the town of Wash- ington, the county seat. In 1869 he pre-empted the southeast quarter of section 15, township 3 south, range 5 east, sixth principal meridian. He remained upon his Washington county farm until October, 1899, when, after the loss of the old home by fire, he moved to Washington, leav- ing his farm in charge of Frank, his son, who is two and one-half years younger than the sub- ject of this sketch.
Colonel Ballard was the first county clerk of Washington county, Kans. He was born March 20, 1836. His wife, Sarah Louise, was a daugh- ter of Sarah Louise (Harris) Bowen (the latter a daughter of Richard Harris). She was born November 13, 1844, and became the wife of David E. Ballard December 25, 1865. Ten chil- dren were born of their union, namely: Earnest, F., Louise, Frank, Mable, Miriam, David Chan- cey. Winnifred, Mark Appleton, Anna Alice and Stella Louise. All except the second child, Louise, are living. The ancestry of Richard Har- ris is traced through Nathaniel, Richard and Sergeant John to Thomas Harris. The ancestry of David E. Ballard is traced through Appleton and Frederick to Sherebish, who came from England in 1755, and settled in New York, after- ward serving in the Revolution against his na- tive land, in behalf of the land of his adoption.
The grandmother of Earnest Ballard was Ephemia Ellenwood, born near Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 9, 1800: and died at Lansing. Mich., in the spring of 1888. She was married to Appleton Ballard in 1830. Her father. Cap- tain Ellenwood, who was a seafaring man and commander of a merchant vessel, was robbed and murdered in Halifax harbor, after disposing of a cargo of merchandise. This marriage re- sulted in the birth of ten children, viz .: Allen I .. Sindenia A., David E., Henry D., Eunice L.,
Alonzo, Everett, Anna L., Sarah A. and Alice. All of these but the first two and the fifth are living. All five sons served in the Union army and the first, Allen, died for his country and fills an unknown grave on the battle-ground of the Wilderness.
The maternal grandfather of Earnest Ballard was Mark Bowen, a son of Jonathan Bowen. who was born at Royalton, Vt., in May, 1810. and died in August, 1859. He was of Scottish ancestry, and claimed descent from the family of Robert Bruce.
The birth of Earnest Ballard occurred in the old Bethany College building of Capitol Hill, at Topeka,-Kans., December 22, 1866. After living in the city mentioned, and in Manhattan, same state, for a period, he was taken to his father's Washington county farm, where he grew to manhood. In 1893 he took charge of a portion of the old homestead. During September of that year he went to Mulhall, Okla., thence to Or- lando. Upon September 16, 1893, he made the race for a claim, securing his present farm, the southeast quarter of section 10, township 21 north of range 2 West Indian meridian, in War- ren Valley township. He will never forget the exciting events connected with the race for a home, nor the many changing scenes through which he passed. He recalls vividly
"The rush and run at the first gun That bade us speed away O'er hill and valley to the spot We thought it best to stay. And make ourselves a home."
Through the shady vale and over the rocky hill they raced, while all around them the wide expanse of prairie was crowned in autumn's colors.
"O'er a bare stretch of burnt-off land, With smoke clouds ranging round; Through steep ravine, past gulch on either hand. To gain ourselves a home in this, THE PROMISED LAND."
On his claim Mr. Ballard soon erected a story and a half house, 16x28 feet in dimensions. planted four or five acres with a variety of fruit trees, and placed the land under cultivation. He has met with success in nearly all of his under- takings, and is a man of influence in his com- munity. When in Kansas, he was chosen as clerk of Little Blue township, and again in 1880. the following year, was chosen to occupy the same office. In 1888 he voted for Benjamin Har- rison, but subsequently became a Populist, and in 1804 was the first candidate of that party in Noble county for the position of county treas- urer.
December 10, 1893, Mr. Ballard married Miss
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Artie L. Wertenberger, in Little Blue township, Washington county, Kans. She was born in Andrew county, Mo., a daughter of Frank A. and Cynthia (Bowen) Wertenberger, natives of Toledo, Ohio, or that vicinity. Three children bless the union of our subject and wife: Lydia Myrtle, born December 12, 1895, at their pres- ent home; Louise Eleanor, born in Little Blue township, Washington county, March 3d, 1897; and Ralph Ellenwood, born April 18, 1900, on this homestead.
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E DWARD BRYANT JOHNSON, of Nor- man, is one of the cattle kings of Indian Territory, and is also prominently identi- fied with various business enterprises of Okla- homa, especially with its banking interests. He was born on the Ist of October, 1863, near old Fort Arbuckle, on Caddo creek, Chickasaw Na- tion, and is a son of Montford Thomas Johnson, whose birth occurred at Boggy Depot, which was one of the first distributing points for the Chickasaw tribe after their removal to this ter- ritory from Mississippi.
Charles Johnson, our subject's paternal grand- father, was born, reared and educated in Eng- land, and on his emigration to America located in Mississippi. He was an attorney by profes- sion, and was appointed special agent to assist in settling up the affairs of the Chickasaws in that state. He became their first agent on coming to Indian Territory, and Boggy Depot was named for him, Boggy being the name given him by the Indians, who, on their removal west, became mired in a bog, from which he succeeded in getting them out. He was always a great friend of the Chickasaws, by whom he was adopted, and had the confidence of the entire tribe. He was a delegate to Washington to look after their interests. and was instrumental in getting many benefits for the Indians. He was a Democrat, and took an active part in political affairs in New York, in which city he had an interest in an importing firm. There he died when nearly eighty years of age, his death result- ing from an accident, falling and dislocating his hip. At the time he was hale and hearty. He commanded the respect and confidence of those with whom he came in contact. He married Re- becca Tarntubby, a native of Mississippi, whose father was a Chickasaw and mother a white woman.
Montford T. Johnson, our subject's father, was reared in the Chickasaw Nation, and was educated at the Armstrong male academy, near Tishomingo, I. T. He was engaged in the stock business and carried on a ranch on Caddo creek until 1869, when he removed to a ranch on Wal- nut creek, near Purcell. He made his home at
Johnsonville, on the South Canadian river. twenty-five miles east of Purcell, which place is now called Johnson, I. T., it being named in his honor. He engaged in mercantile business there until 1878, when he removed to Silver City, I. T., on the western border of the Chickasaw Na- tion, and purchased the Caddo Bill Williams res- idence and ranclt. There he continued to engage in merchandising and the cattle business. His wife died in 1880, and in 1881 he went to New York, where he spent two years. In 1883 he married again and located five miles west of Sil- ver City, where he owned the finest home and best farm in the Indian Territory. He assisted in organizing the bank at Minco, I. T., and served as its vice-president until his death, which occurred in 1896, when he was fifty-two years of age. In religious belief he was a Methodist and in his social relations was a Mason. Dur- ing the Civil war he entered the Confederate army as a member of the Chickasaw Battalion, and served on the staff of his brother-in-law. Major Michael Campbell. . His first wife, who bore the maiden name of Miss Mary Elizabeth Campbell, was a native of Texas, and a daughter of Maj. Charles Campbell, who was born in Ireland of Scotch-Irish descent. and was a dis- tinguished officer in the United States army. He had command of a fort in Texas, later was trans- ferred to Fort Arbuckle, and still later to a fort in Alabama. where he died after his retirement. as a commissioned officer, to private life. He married a Miss Bryant, who was also of Scotch- Irish descent. Mrs. Johnson died in 1880. She was the mother of seven children, five sons and two daughters, of whom five are still living. namely: Edward B., our subject; Henry B .. cashier of the First National Bank. Chickasha. I. T., Robert M., cashier of the Bank of Minco. at Minco, I. T .; Tilford T., first assistant cashier : and Benjamin F., manager of an oil mill at Chickasha, I. T.
Our subject was only six years old when the family removed to Johnson, where he made his home until 1878. He attended the public schools and an academy in Indian Territory, next be- came a student at Cane Hill College. Ark .. and later took a course in civil engineering at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, where he com- pleted the junior year. He began his business career as a merchant and cattle dealer. and in 1884 took charge of his father's business; the following year he purchased the store, and con- tintied to carry on the cattle business on a per cent of the increase until his father's death. In 1800 he sold the store, and became interested in the bank at Minco. In 1888 he established his ranch on Pond creek three miles from where it empties into the South Canadian river, which he has fenced and improved with good and substan-
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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tial buildings, making it his home until 1899, when he removed to Norman. In connection with his brothers and C. B. Campbell he also owns the Half Moon ranch in the Caddo county, and the Hat ranch in West Chickasaw. He is one of the largest cattle dealers in this section and has shipped as high as four thousand corn- fed steers in one season, and usually feeds three thousand head during each winter. He makes a specialty of the breeding of Poland-China hogs, while his father was the first to introduce full- blooded Shorthorn cattle into Indian Territory. He owns a fine residence in Norman, where he has one hundred and thirty acres of land, on which is an excellent orchard and the best of im- provements. Mr. Johnson is prominently iden- tified with financial interests, and is to-day a stockholder and director of the Bank of Minco, First National Bank of Norman, and the First National Bank of Chickasha, and a stockholder in the oil mill at Chickasha.
At Johnson, I. T., Mr. Johnson married Miss Mollie E. Graham, who was born near Chilli- cothe, Mo., a daughter of R. M. and Marillis (Froman) Graham. She is the fourth in order of birth in a family of six children. Her father was born in Illinois of Scotch descent, and for some years was a miller of Chillicothe, Mo., but in 1883 removed to Caddo Reservation in the Indian Territory, where he followed farming and stock-raising. At present, however, he is engaged in the real-estate business in Norman. Okla. His wife is a native of Danville, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have seven children, namely: Veta, Ina, Neil Robert, Montford T., Belton Graham and Froma, and Arline.
In his political views Mr. Johnson is a Demo- crat, and he has ever taken quite an active and prominent part in public affairs, having been ap- pointed by the interior department on different committees for settling the affairs of the Chicka- saw tribe. He was recently appointed a member of the land appraisement commission to value the land preparatory to allotment, and is also a member of the finance committee to settle all differences and accounts between the Choctaws and the Chickasaws. He was a member of the Chickasaw legislature as a representative during the years 1887 and 1888, and served on the. finance, school and other committees. Also rep- resented the Chickasaws before congress at Washington, D. C. He is a member of the Texas Cattle Raisers' Association with head- quarters at Fort Worth, and the Benevolent & Patriotic Order of Elks at Oklahoma City. He was made a Mason in New York City, and now holds membership in the Blue Lodge No. 5. and the Lyon Chapter No. 46, both of Norman; Oklahoma Commandery No. 2, of Oklahoma City; Guthrie Consistory, and India Temple of
the Mystic Shrine, having taken the thirty- second degree. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Eastern Star Chapter of that order. and of the Christian Church of Norman, of which he is a trustec, having always taken an active part in church and Sunday school work. In business affairs he is energetic, prompt and notably reliable, and in all the relations of life has been found true to every trust reposed in him.
H ON. C. G. JONES. There is no citizen of Oklahoma City who feels a deeper inter- est in its progress and in the development of its resources than does Mr. Jones, who is one of the most influential men of this place. His name is. closely identified with movements that are elevating in character. His aid has been given to measures for the benefit of town and county. Business, educational and railroad in- terests have had the impetus of his encourage- ment. Especially has he promoted the welfare of the territory by aiding in the building of rail- roads. He is president and a director of the St. Louis and Oklahoma City Railroad Company, which was incorporated in May, 1898. He is also president of the company that is building a road from Oklahoma City to Acme, Tex., one hundred and seventy-eight miles distant.
On his father's farm in Cumberland county, Ill., the subject of this article was born Novem- ber 3, 1856. At the age of thirteen he began to make his own way in the world, trading in stock at a time when most boys were playing marbles. When fourteen, he shipped stock to Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. As he grew older, his stock and farm operations in- creased, and he became recognized as an enter- prising young farmer. For several years he served as county supervisor. In 1889 he closed out the mill at Greenup which he had built and for years operated. January 1, 1890, he settled in Oklahoma City, where he built the first flour mill in the territory. This was operated by steam and had a capacity of four hundred and forty barrels. He conducted it until 1897. when it was burned down. His plant was modern roller process, and the products were of the highest grade, receiving the first premium at the World's Fair. At the same time he was given the first prize for wheat raised in Oklahoma.
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