USA > Oklahoma > Tulsa County > Tulsa > The history of Tulsa, Oklahoma > Part 12
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WILLIAM C. STEGER.
A man whose advancement has been the result of his own ability and well directed efforts, William C. Steger is not only an influential exponent of the real estate business in the city of Tulsa but is also known as one of its most loyal, liberal and public-spirited citizens. He was born on a farm in Franklin county, Kentucky, and the date of his nativity was August 8, 1880. He is a son of J. W. and Mahala (Browner) Steger. The father gained precedence as one of the leaders of agricultural industry in Franklin county, later became manager of a large plantation in Shelby county, Kentucky, and passed the closing years of his life in Carter county, that state, as did also his wife, both having been
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devoted members of the Baptist church, in which he served as superintendent . of the Sunday school.
The period of the boyhood and early youth of William C. Steger was marked by the influences of the Kentucky farm on which he was reared and in the work of which he early began to aid, so that his attendance in the public schools was confined principally to the winter months. At the age of sixteen years he found employment with the Olive Hill Brick Company, at the princely stipend of fifty cents a day, and his characteristic energy and receptiveness caused him to gain a thorough knowledge of the various details of the business with which he was thus identified, with the result that he was made assistant superintendent of the plant. Later he was employed in shoe factories at Cincinnati and Portsmouth, Ohio, and from this field of service he turned to become a locomotive fireman on the line of the Norfolk & Western Railroad. After three years of applica- tion in this capacity he was called to a position in the general offices of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen, where he was assigned to the charge of the joint protective boards, at Peoria, Illinois. In 1908 Mr. Steger went to Tyler, Texas, where he became a successful exponent of the real estate business and served also as immigration agent for the Gulf, Texas & Western Railroad, the line of which had been built by Joseph J. Jermyn, one of the country's lead- ing operators in the production of anthracite coal. Through having charge of townsites and the settling of homeseekers on the lands adjacent to this railroad, Mr. Steger gained specially wide and valuable experience in the handling and exploiting of real estate, and in 1911 he was made special agent for the Mag- nolia Park Land Company, a leading corporation in the development and settle- ment of lands on the Gulf coast of Texas.
Fortified by such ample and varied experience Mr. Steger was well equipped when, in 1914, he established himself in the real estate business at Tulsa, Okla- homa, where he has found ample scope for his splendid initiative and construc- tive talents. In connection with his real estate operations he has specialized in the handling of high-grade securities, and his activities have been helpful in furthering the general civic and material progress and prosperity of this section of the state. In 1919 he was one of the organizers of the Steger Investment & Development Company, of which he became general manager, and this corpo- ration functions primarily in the handling of industrial sites, his operations thus far having been principally in the Red Fork district of Tulsa county. He is associated also with oil production enterprise in this section of the state and is vice president of the Tulsa Real Estate Exchange, in the organization of which he was an influential figure. Mr. Steger is an active member of the Lions Club, of which he has served as president, and for two years he was chairman of the allied civic committees of Tulsa, besides which he was a member of Mayor Hubbard's advisory committee. His broad vision and distinctive public spirit were shown in his having been one of the first men to suggest and advocate the plan of obtaining a Tulsa water supply from Spavinaw creek. He was cam- paign manager in connection with the project of bonding the city for the carry- ing out of the plans for the new water supply, and this has passed on record as one of the greatest campaigns of the kind in the history of Oklahoma. The faculty of leadership is splendidly developed in the aggressive personality of Mr. Steger, and this, as coupled with his initiative, ability and unqualified civic loy- alty, has proved fortunate for the city and state of his adoption, his services for the communal benefit having been unstinted and constructive. He is an active member of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, holds membership in the Tulsa Advertising Club, and during the period of America's participation in the World
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war he gave his aid to war activities with characteristic vigor and earnestness. He was chairman of the war camp community service and was a leader in all local drives in support of the various governmental loans, Red Cross work, etc. Mr. Steger is a democrat because he wishes to be a democrat, and he invariably has a reason for the faith that is his, so that he is well fortified in his political convictions, though he has manifested no ambition for public office nor political preferment. Mr. Steger is a member of the Baptist church. In the Masonic fraternity he still maintains affiliation with Aurora Lodge, No. 48, Free and Ac- cepted Masons, at Portsmouth, Ohio, and in addition to his various York Rite affiliations he is actively identified with Indian Consistory, No. 2, Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite, at McAlester, Oklahoma, and has been since 1919 secretary of the Scottish Rite Society of Tulsa. He holds membership in Akdar Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Tulsa, and is chairman of Saba Grotto, No. 58, M. O. V. P. E. R. Mr. Steger is a popular member of the City Club and Automobile Club of Tulsa, and in his adopted city and state he has a wide circle of friends in both business and social relations. At the historic Ute Pass he has been the most influential figure in the develop- ment of a summer colony at Ute Park, near Colorado Springs, Colorado.
PIERRE NUMA CHARBONNET, M. D.
Among the younger members of the medical profession who have won a name and place that many an older physician and surgeon might well envy is Dr. Pierre Numa Charbonnet, who was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, October 19, 1890, his parents being Joseph Numa and Mathilde (Gibert) Charbonnet, who were likewise natives of the Crescent City. The father was an honor graduate of Tulane University, winning his M. D. degree in 1887. He entered upon active practice in New Orleans, where he specialized in chil- dren's diseases. His death occurred in his native city in 1899.
His son, Dr. Pierre Numa Charbonnet of Tulsa, pursued his early educa- tion in the St. Aloysius College and afterward attended the Virginia Military Institute, where he was well known as a member of the football team, while at the same time he made creditable record in his studies. He afterward attended Tulane University in New Orleans and won his M. D. degree on the completion of his course with the class of 1916. For a year he was connected with the Charity Hospital in New Orleans as pathologist. He was also path- ologist to Hotel Dieu in New Orleans, and was instructor in surgical pathology at Tulane University for two years He made steady professional progress and in 1916 he went to the French Hospital in San Francisco as house gynecologist. There he was located when America entered the World war and being a member of the Medical Reserve Corps he was called to active duty at Fort McDowell in San Francisco on the 24th of March, 1917. Later he took the examination and was commissioned first lieutenant in the regular army. He went to France with the Eighteenth Railway Engineers, being stationed for a time at Bordeaux. He was then transferred to general headquarters at Paris and was made assistant supply officer in the office of Chief Surgeon of the Lines of Communication. Later he was promoted to the rank of captain and became commanding officer of the Medical Department, surgical instrument and X-ray repair shop. He was afterward liason officer between the French and American medical departments for the district of Paris, and for a while
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in charge of the evacuation of the wounded in the Paris district. In April. 1918, he was gassed while inspecting a hospital near Amby and in June, 1918. was evacuated to the United States. He had been recommended for a majority (temporary rank) but the armistice was signed ere he received it. He spent one year in the United States General Hospital No. 18, at Waynesville, North Carolina. Upon his recovery he was sent to Denver at United States Army Gen- eral Hospital, No. 21, as assistant chief of the surgical service. Later he was transferred to Fort McDowell, where he was chief of the surgical service, and where he remained until he resigned. In May, 1920, he came to Tulsa and in July opened an office, since which time he has specialized in obstetrics and gynecology and has won a notable place both as a physician and surgeon. He belongs to the Tulsa, Oklahoma State and American Medical Associations and is constantly broadening his knowledge through scientific research and investi- gation.
On the 22d of October, 1918, in Waynesville, North Carolina, Dr. Char- bonnet was married to Blanche R. Rogers. of Winfield, Kansas, a daughter of Ernest Richard Rogers, a retired farmer of Winfield. They have one son, Pierre Numa, Jr.
In politics Dr. Charbonnet is a non-partisan, supporting men and measures rather than party. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church. He is well known in club circles, his membership being in the Petroleum and Uni- versity Clubs, and he belongs also to the American Legion, thus maintaining his comradeship with those who, like himself, did active duty in the World war to curb the militaristic ambitions of Germany. He is yet a young man, alert, ambitious, studious and enterprising, and step by step he is advancing in his chosen profession, his position already being one that many a physician of twice his years might well envy.
HENRY NAUERT GREIS.
Henry Nauert Greis, oil and gas producer of Tulsa, who well deserves classification with the captains of industry because of the ability and enterprise which he has manifested in the development and control of important interests, was born at Buffalo, New York, July 5, 1880, a son of Jacob M. and Mildred N. Greis. The public schools of his native city afforded him his educational opportunities and passing through consecutive grades he was graduated from the Central high school and afterward entered the United States Military Academy at West Point, thus receiving thorough educational training. Advancing step by step in his business career he has come to control extensive and important interests and figures as one of the most prominent and influential business men of Tulsa. He is a director of the Liberty National Bank of this city, also vice president of the Central Torpedo Company, president of the Wyoming Torpedo Company, president of the Packard Oklahoma Motor Sales Company. president of the Atlantic Petroleum Corporation, with offices in the Cosden building, and altogether is one of the best known oil and gas men in this section of the country. He has won notable success through the development of his oil interests and in other lines as well. He came to Tulsa as a gas expert and oil producer, and step by step has advanced until he has reached his present commanding position. He has displayed notable sagacity in discriminating between the
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essential and the non-essential in all business affairs and has so directed his efforts as to make the best possible use of time, talent and opportunity.
In politics Mr. Greis is a democrat, thoroughly informed concerning the leading questions and issues of the day, but never an office seeker. Ile is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to Delta Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Tulsa ; to Mount Sinai Chapter, R. A. M., of Buffalo, New York; to Indian Consistory, A. A. S. R., of McAlester, Oklahoma ; to Trinity Commandery, K. T., of Tulsa ; and to Akdar Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and in the last named is captain of the Akdar Arab Patrol. He is likewise a member of Tulsa Lodge, No. 946, B. P. O. E. There are few leisure moments in his life. Important and extensive interests make heavy demands upon his time and energy and he has become indeed a dynamic force in the business world of the southwest.
WILLIAM LLOYD LEWIS.
William Lloyd Lewis, the active manager of the Liberty National Bank, his official title being that of vice president of the institution, was born in Ottawa, Kansas, October 16, 1889. His father, George W. Lewis, is a native of North Carolina and in an early day removed to Kansas, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of that state. Since 1889 he has lived in Oklahoma and has devoted his life to the occupations of farming and stock raising, becoming prominently known as a leading stockman of this state. He now makes his home at Stillwater. He served with the Union army during the Civil war and has always been a loyal supporter of all interests that tend to benefit community, commonwealth or country. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church and he is active in the church and in connection with many local affairs of value to the community in which he resides. He married Elvessa Moore, who was born in Kansas, and they have become parents of ten children, nine of whom are living.
William Lloyd Lewis pursued a public school education and then continued his studies in the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College at Stillwater, from which he was graduated with the class of 1908. When his textbooks were laid aside he turned his attention to the banking business, becoming assist- ant cashier of the Bartlesville State Bank of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. There he gained experience which constituted a valuable foundation for his later success. In I911 he came to Tulsa and through the intervening period has been active in the Liberty National Bank as its vice president. This bank is capitalized for two hundred thousand dollars, has a surplus of fifty thousand dollars and its deposits now amount to about three million dollars. Its busi- ness has been developed along the most approved lines of banking and the officers have at all times been most careful to safeguard the interests of de- positors, at the same time utilizing every legitimate method to advance the business interests of Tulsa and the surrounding country through judicious loans. While Mr. Lewis occupies a prominent place in financial circles, he is perhaps even more widely known as a horseman. He is the owner of six world cham- pions, displayed at Louisville, including Mass of Gold, a world champion five gaited gelding and also grand champion five gaited saddle horse of the world. He is likewise the owner of Vernon Holt, champion standard bred stallion of the world, which won the coveted ribbon at Lexington, Kentucky, Adelaide Geneé, grand champion mare of the world, Admiral King, champion
Vol. III-8
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stallion, and Violet Heming, champion harness mare of the world. Out of twenty-two shows he won eleven firsts and twenty-two seconds. Tulsa, as well as Mr. Lewis, is extremely proud of his stable, as he has owned and trained some of the finest horses of the world.
In 1914 Mr. Lewis was married to Miss Lina Tuttle, daughter of Claude Tuttle, and they have two children: Betty Jane, three years of age; and Lina Lee, age two months.
That Mr. Lewis is interested in oil and gas properties, as well as in banking, is indicated in the fact that he is an accepted member of the Petroleum Club. In fact he is one of the popular representatives of that organization. He belongs as well to the Tulsa Country Club and is a director and treasurer of the Chamber of Commerce, cooperating heartily in all the activities of the latter organization for the benefit and upbuilding of the city, the extension of its trade relations and the advancement and upholding of its civic standards. In addition to his beautiful home in Tulsa he owns a farm seven miles from the city and it is there that his world champion horses are found. Mr. Lewis is always approachable and genial and is one of the best known and most popular residents of Tulsa, enjoying the friendship and warm regard of people of all classes, thus making his life history of interest to his many friends.
MAJOR ALVA JOSEPH NILES.
Major Alva Joseph Niles, who is also entitled to be called General by reason of his service with the National Guard, while his title of major was won in the World war, is now the president of the Security State Bank of Tulsa. A well defined policy has characterized his entire life and thorough- ness and earnestness of purpose have constituted the basis of his constantly growing success. He was born at Whitehall, Illinois, on the 5th of April, 1882, and back of his own military record was the example of his father, Albert G. Niles, a veteran of the Civil war. The father was born in Sandusky, Ohio, and when but fourteen years of age enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of Company C, Fifty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he fought from the beginning until the close of hostilities. He was the youngest man to enlist at the first call of President Lincoln for troops to crush out rebellion in the south. After the war he became a farmer of Illinois and eventually settled in Oklahoma, during the period of its early development. The last fifteen years of his life were spent in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and other sections of the state with his son, and he passed away on the 19th of April, 1917. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Ruth, was born in Greene county, Illinois, and died when her son, Alva J., was quite young. The family numbered seven children, of whom one died in infancy, while the others are still living.
Alva J. Niles was educated in the public schools of Winfield, Kansas, and in the Winfield College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1900. His youthful experiences were those of the farm-bred boy who is reared upon the western frontier and who bears his part in the arduous task of developing new land. He was ambitious to gain a good education and it was his own labor that made this possible, for he provided the funds that enabled him to pursue his college course. At length he entered the real estate and loan busi- ness in Newkirk, Oklahoma, as an employe, there continuing for a year, and
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later he spent three years in the same line in Blackwell, Oklahoma. In 1903 he was appointed treasurer of school lands of Oklahoma, with headquarters in Guthrie, then the capital of the territory. There he remained until 1906, when he received appointment to the position of adjutant general of Oklahoma by Theodore Roosevelt and continued to serve in that capacity until Oklahoma territory became a state, continuing his residence in Guthrie through the inter- vening period. It was then that he turned his attention to the banking business and became active in the management of a chain of banks in various towns of this state. He so served until 1914. when he came to Tulsa and entered the business circles of this city in connection with the oil industry. In this he met with substantial success. Steadily he had worked his way upward, but the mere outline as herein given indicates little of the plans and methods which he has followed. He has always pursued a definite purpose and has been inflexibly loyal to seven rules which he laid out for himself in young man- hood. His observation of life and its opportunities, his study of the methods of successful men and his sound deductions led to his adoption of seven principles which are briefly summed up as follows: Be honest; Hustle; Be courteous ; Be a good American; Stay by your friends; Apply what educa- tion you have; Plan for the future. He knows that no man can win legitimate success if he be not honest and no one has ever questioned the integrity of his methods. He has been equally loyal to the other principles which he has laid down for himself and which young men might well adopt as a course to pursue if they would attain an honorable name and place as Mr. Niles has done.
Mr. Niles' father was but fourteen years of age when he became connected with the Civil war. Mr. Niles was a youth of sixteen when the country again needed military aid and he together with two brothers at once responded, be- coming a private of the Twenty-first Kansas Volunteer Infantry in 1898 for service in the Spanish-American war. He was the youngest man to respond to the first call for volunteers for that struggle and served throughout the war in the Philippines. In 1916, when it seemed expedient to send troops to the Mexican border, Mr. Niles went with General Pershing as captain of infantry and was on active duty from June, 1916, until March, 1917, being connected with Company C of the First Oklahoma Infantry, which company he organized in Tulsa. At the outbreak of the World war he recruited Company C, First Oklahoma Infantry, to its full strength and later was promoted to the rank of major. He was made inspector general of the Seventh American Division and was in active service in France until February, 1919. He participated in engagements in the Toul sector, also in defensive operations in the Toul sector and offensive operations in the Meuse-Argonne engagement. He had formerly become adjutant general of the territory of Oklahoma and has held every rank from private to that of brigadier general in the Oklahoma National Guard, extending over a period of seventeen years. Immediately upon his return to the United States after serving in France he organized the Security State Bank of Tulsa, of which he became the president. The bank has enjoyed notable growth under his control. His policy is well defined, his progressiveness is tempered by a safe conservatism and he most carefully protects the interests of depositors while upbuilding the institution along lines of substanital improve- ment and advancement.
In January, 1906, Mr. Niles was united in marriage to Miss Ethel M. Mc- Neal, who was born at Medicine Lodge, Kansas, but was reared and educated in Guthrie, Oklahoma, a daughter of the late Joseph W. McNeal, a very promi-
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nent citizen of Oklahoma, who opened the first bank in the state at Guthrie. He was also the republican nominee for governor in 1910. To Mr. and Mrs. Niles have been born two children, Joe Allen and Marie Louise, aged respectively fourteen and twelve years and both now in school. Mrs. Niles takes a very active and helpful interest in church and philanthropic work and is continually extending a helping hand where assistance is needed.
Mr. Niles is a member of the Spanish War Veterans, being twice elected department commander, and is one of the national organizers of the American Legion. He is likewise a member of the Military Order of Foreign Wars and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In politics he is a republican, active in support of his party, and was chairman of the republican state campaign committee in 1910. Both he and his wife are consistent members of the Pres- byterian church and their social position is an enviable one. Major Niles was the youngest man ever created a thirty-third degree Mason. He belongs to Delta Lodge, No. 425, A. F. & A. M .; has taken all of the Scottish Rite degrees and is a member of Akdar Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He likewise belongs to the Elks lodge, is a member of the Tulsa Country Club and of all the leading clubs and social organizations of the city. He is president of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce and is keenly interested in everything that has to do with the wel- fare, progress and upbuilding of the city. His is a notable career, for at the age of thirty-eight years he is a veteran of three wars, has been a recognized leader in political circles, is a prominent figure in banking circles and, moreover, is a truly representative American citizen, loved and honored by all who know him.
DELBERT A. KOONS.
Delbert A. Koons of the Eastern Torpedo Company of Tulsa, was born at Ossian, Indiana, June 29, 1874, and was one of a family of five children whose parents were Philip and Elizabeth (Porter) Koons. The father, who was a lumberman and handled railway timber, settled in Fort Wayne, Indiana, at an early day, removing from Danville, Pennsylvania, prior to the Civil war. He served with the Union army during the period of hostilities between the north and the south and loyally defended the stars and stripes. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also a faithful follower of Masonry. He passed away in November, 1920, at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. The mother, who was born in Akron, Ohio, is still living, making her home near Ossian, Indiana.
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