USA > Oklahoma > Tulsa County > Tulsa > The history of Tulsa, Oklahoma > Part 21
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In 1919 Dr. Houser was married to Miss Jennie Carlson, of Independence, Kansas. He is well known in Masonic circles, having become a member of Consistory No. 2 at Guthrie, Oklahoma, of the Scottish Rite and of Akdar Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Tulsa. He also belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and he is identified with the Country Club and other leading clubs of Tulsa.
ARCH D. GRIDER.
A man of keen business discernment and sound judgment, Arch D. Grider has made for himself a prominent place in business circles of Tulsa as president of the Arch D. Grider, Inc., and vice president of the Buffalo Refining Com- pany, refiners and marketers. He was born at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 6th day of May, 1878, a son of Daniel and Sarah J. (Elson) Grider. Both parents were born in Wisconsin and are now living in Milwaukee, at the ages
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of seventy-six and sixty-eight, respectively. Daniel Grider won prominence in the brick manufacturing business, which line of work he followed for many years, becoming financially independent. He is now retired and enjoying the many luxuries to which his early years of labor entitle him.
The public schools of Milwaukee afforded Arch D. Grider an education and upon putting his textbooks aside his first work was in connection with the lime and cement business at Milwaukee. For some time he remained in that work and then engaged in the lithographing business, operating in both his native city and Chicago for five successful years. In 1915 he came to Oklahoma and located in Tulsa, becoming interested in the oil business, which he con- ducted as Arch D. Grider, Inc. He later organized the Buffalo Refining Com- pany and has served as its vice president ever since. Major Gordon W. Lillie, known as "Pawnee Bill," and Edward M. Wiest are owners of the latter or- ganization, which operates a refinery at Yale, Oklahoma. Mr. Grider is an astute business man with marked executive ability, who delights in solving in- tricate and involved business problems and possesses such marked strength of character that his vocabulary contains no such word as fail.
In September, 1913, occurred the marriage of Mr. Grider and Miss Claud- ine Brice, the ceremony being performed at Paw Paw, Michigan. Mrs. Gri- der passed away on the 31st of October, 1920, and her death came as a severe blow to her husband and many friends.
The political allegiance of Mr. Grider is given to the republican party, in the interests of which he takes an active part. His religious faith is that of the Protestant church and fraternally he is identified with the Masons and the Elks. In addition to the above named business connections Mr. Grider is vice president of the Pawnee Bill Oil Company and director of the Continental Refining Company. He is an active member of the Tulsa Petroleum Club. His extensive business interests claim the greater part of his time and attention and he has beautifully appointed offices in the Nebraska building. A per- sistent, resolute and energetic worker he has kept his hand steadily on the helm of his affairs, manifesting at all times strong executive power, and his forceful personality, together with the keenness of his insight and the soundness of his judgment, have brought him to a foremost position in business circles of Tulsa.
CARL W. GILLETTE.
That Carl W. Gillette is a man of unusual business ability is manifest in the results which he has achieved as general manager of the Max Oil Company, and with his splendid powers of organization and executive force he combines a pleasing personality and sound judgment regarding men. He is a native of Missouri, born at Sarcoxie on the 15th of December, 1886. His parents were William K. and Ida W. (Andrae) Gillette, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of James M. Gillette, to be found on another page of this work.
Carl W. Gillette was reared in Missouri, where he received the greater part of his education, but removed to Tulsa at the age of eighteen years and com- pleted his education in the high school here. After putting his textbooks aside he engaged in the abstract business, becoming secretary and manager of the Fidelity Abstract Company of Tulsa, which connection he maintained for five years. After selling his interests in that business Mr. Gillette went to Vinita and opened a set of abstract books for J. W. Orr, who had a chain of twelve
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banks, one of them being the First National Bank of Tulsa, of which institu- tion our subject became assistant cashier. After a year in that bank Mr. Gil- lette engaged in business for himself and in 1919. he, with others, organized the Max Oil Company, of which he became general manager. He does real estate on the side, having started two additions in Tulsa, and makes a specialty of building and selling homes.
On the 14th of May, 1917, occurred the marriage of Mr. Gillette to Miss Bess Stackhouse, a daughter of David and Mary ( Troup) Stackhouse, the former a native of Kansas and the latter of Scotland. Her father engaged in the farm loan business in Kansas until his death in 1896 and was regarded as one of the progressive men of the community. Mrs. Stackhouse is still living. One child has been born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Gillette, Maxine, her natal day being the 29th of December, 1919.
Mr. Gillette gives his support to the republican party, in the interests of which he has taken an active part, although he has neither sought nor desired public office as a reward for party fealty. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and his fraternal affiliations are with the 'Masonic order. Thoroughness is one of the marked characteristics of Mr. Gillette and he has mastered every detail of his own business. He has a very wide and favorable acquaintance and occupies a position of prominence by reason of his business ability and standing, his social qualities and his public spirit.
J. L. RIVKIN.
J. L. Rivkin is proprietor of one of the most attractively appointed pho- tographic studios in the southwest and displays a high degree of art in his chosen life work. Constant study and broad experience have continually pro- moted his efficiency and the extensive patronage now accorded him is indicative of his ability. Mr. Rivkin is a native of Russia. He was born in Kiev, the capi- tal of the Ukraine, in 1877, and .was educated under private tutors. Coming to America he spent eight years in study at the Chicago Art Institute, beginning his career as an artist under John Vanderpole and Charles S. Boutwood. He established a studio on Logan boulevard, Chicago, there remaining until he came to Tulsa at the solicitation of F. de Gueldre, with whom he was asso- ciated for some time, while later he acquired the business. Mr. Rivkin has won the enviable reputation of being the leading artist of the state and ranks with the highest in the profession throughout the country. Nature endowed him with talent in this direction and his power and discriminating tastes have been continuously developed. His work shows interpretation such as only the finished artist employs. Mr. Rivkin's studio in Tulsa is artistic in every de- tail. He attends many state and national conventions of photographers, where he is often called upon for papers or for lectures upon subjects relative to the art. His professional attainments were based upon three years' study and experience in Kiev, Russia, before coming to the United States, upon practical training in the Morrison studio of Chicago, his long Art Institute experience and his further investigation that has kept him in touch with all the scientific methods of photography, while his own artistic nature has been the supple- ment to his acquired skill that has made him a foremost artist of the country.
On the 23d of September, 1910, Mr. Rivkin was married to Miss Tanya Mesirow, who has assisted him in his work and has in great measure aided
J. L. RIVKIN
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him in winning the success which the studio enjoys. Mr. and Mrs. Rivkin have one son, David. Mr. Rivkin is connected with B'nai B'rith and he is a public-spirited citizen, interested in all movements for the general good. Progressiveness has actuated him at every point in his career, whether relative to his chosen vocation or the public interest.
A. RAY WILEY, M. D.
Dr. A. Ray Wiley, whose surgical practice, extensive and important, estab- lishes his high standing in professional circles, entered upon his career in Tulsa in 1913, immediately following his graduation from the University of Oklahoma. He was born in Kansas City, Kansas, June 14, 1890, and is a son of Dr. C. Zenos Wiley, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. He attended the public and high schools of Tulsa and during his youthful days was active in athletic circles. Following his graduation from the high school in 1909 he entered the medical department of the University of Oklahoma, where he pursued his studies through the ensuing scholastic years. He next entered the University Medical College at Kansas City and later spent nine months as an interne in the City Hospital of Kansas City, Missouri. He then again became a student in the University of Oklahoma and was graduated with the M. D. degree in 1913. During his college days he became a member of the Alpha Kappa Kappa.
Dr. Wiley chose Tulsa as a favorable location, coming to this city imme- diately after his graduation. Here he entered upon private practice, but in 1917- 18 specialized in the study of surgery in the Polyclinic Hospital of New York and there served an interneship covering fourteen months, while later he became house surgeon of the hospital there. In 1918 he was made a captain of the Okla- homa National Guard. In 1920 he took postgraduate work in surgery in the New York Post Graduate Hospital at New York city. He confines his attention to surgical practice and his work of this character is of an important nature. He is division surgeon for the Frisco Railroad. He is regarded by all who know aught of his career as a most efficient man, who has developed ability and skill of the highest order and added to his efficiency is a pleasing personality that renders him very popular. He is now surgeon for the United States Fidelity & Guarantee Company and handles surgical cases for all of the biggest oil com- panies operating in this section of the country.
In Tulsa, in 1912, Dr. Wiley was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Owens, a native of Monticello, Kentucky, and a daughter of Abraham B. Owens, who came to Tulsa in 1903, becoming one of the pioneers here. He engaged in the real estate business, acquiring large holdings which included many important business structures and he is now numbered among the capitalists of the city. Mrs. Wiley is quite prominent in social and club circles in Tulsa. Dr. Wiley finds his chief recreation in motoring and has travelled extensively through the east and south in this way. He is a good road enthusiast and in 1920 was vice president of the Tulsa Automobile Club. He belongs also to the City Club and the Civitan Club and fraternally is connected with Delta Lodge, No. 425, A. F. & A. M., and has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in the Con- sistory at Guthrie. He likewise belongs to Akdar Temple of the Mystic Shrine. His political endorsement is given to the republican party, but without desire or ambition for office. He is an active member of the Baptist church and supports all measures for the public good, while his professional relationship is with the
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Tulsa County, Oklahoma State and American Medical Associations. Moreover, he is widely known through his valuable contributions to the leading journals of the medical profession.
MARK E. DAVIS.
Tulsa numbers among her prominent and progressive business men Mark E. Davis, who since 1911 has made this city his home. In 1913 he formed a partnership with Alfred G. Heggem, becoming junior member of the firm of Heggem and Davis, oil producers. The same year this firin took over the Oil Well Improvements Company, Mr. Davis becoming vice president and general manager. This company manufactures and sells the control casinghead and roller oil saver and their territory is the whole world, wherever petroleum is produced, and their product is handled through jobbers. The company's manu- facturing plant is located at Collinsville, Oklahoma.
Like many other prominent men of Tulsa Mark E. Davis is a son by adop- tion; his birth having occurred at Youngstown, Ohio, on the 24th of August, 1871, his parents being Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Jones) Davis. Both Mr. and Mrs. Davis were natives of Wales, from which country they came to America in infancy with their parents. The father followed the coal business in Youngs- town, Ohio, until his death in 1876, and was a representative citizen of the com- munity. The death of his wife occurred one year later.
Mark E. Davis was reared and received his education in the schools of Youngstown, Ohio, and after putting his textbooks aside became associated with the Chatfield and Wood Paper Company of Cincinnati, with which firm he re- mained five years. At the end of that time he accepted a position with the Deim and Waring Paper Company, likewise of Cincinnati, and spent the next four years with them. He then engaged in the paper brokerage business at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the operation of which he was active for twenty years. or until 1911, when he came to Tulsa. Mr. Davis has been very successful in all of his undertakings and especially in his present business.
The political allegiance of Mr. Davis is given to the republican party, in the interests of which he takes an active part. In the conduct of his business affairs Mr. Davis has ever followed progressive and constructive methods, he takes a keen and active interest in civic affairs and his cooperation can at all times be counted upon to further any plan or measure for the general good.
JAMES H. McBIRNEY.
James H. McBirney is the dean of the banking fraternity of Tulsa and is prominently known as the president of the National Bank of Commerce. Ability has brought him prominently to the front and his success is the direct result and outcome of persistent earnest labor and intelligent direction. A native of Ireland, he was born in County Tipperary, March 1, 1870. His father, Hugh McBirney, D. D., was a Methodist Episcopal minister, who came to the United States and was for thirty years engaged in preaching the gospel in southern Kansas, having direct and extensive influence over the moral development of
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that section of the country. Eventually he removed to Tulsa, where he retired from active ministerial duties and here passed away in January, 1919. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Susan Mark, was also a native of Ireland, and is still living. By her marriage she became the mother of twelve children, six of whoni survive, and all are residents of Tulsa, while three of the brothers are con- nected with the National Bank of Commerce.
James H. McBirney was but a young lad when brought to the new world and in the public schools of Kansas he pursued his education. He initiated his business career as an employe in the Columbus Bank at Columbus, Kansas, remaining in that institution for three years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Coffeyville, Kansas, and there continued for two years. In 1897 he established his home in Tulsa, where he still resides and throughout the entire period of twenty-four years has been identified with the banking business here. His connection with the financial affairs of the city covers a longer period than that of any other banker. He first became identified with the Tulsa Bank- ing Company, which afterward reorganized the business as the First National Bank, of which he was vice president for some time. In 1904 he became asso- ciated with his brothers and organized the Bank of Commerce. In 1911 this was reorganized under the name of the National Bank of Commerce, of which James H. McBirney, was elected the president with S. P. McBirney and C. B. Wallace as vice presidents and A. F. Hendren as cashier. This bank has a paid-in capital stock of two hundred thousand dollars, surplus of one hundred thousand dollars, and deposits amounting to three million dollars. The bank has had a very successful existence, with business steadily increasing, and its policy has at all times been such as to merit the confidence and support of the general public.
In 1901 James H. McBirney was married to Miss Vera Clinton and they have become the parents of four children : Dorothy, seventeen years of age, who is now attending Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts; Martha. four- teen years of age, attending Dana Hall; Donald, a lad of twelve years, attending Tulsa high school; and Simmons. Mr. McBirney finds his recreation in hunting big game. He is a Mason, belonging to Tulsa Lodge, No. 71, A. F. & A. M., and he has attained the Knights Templar degree in the York Rite and the thirty- second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is also a member of Akdar Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He has membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church, as has his wife, and he is president of the board of trustees. Mrs. McBirney is also active in the church and in social and philanthropic work. In club circles Mr. McBirney is well known through his membership in the Country Club and the Advertising Club, and he is likewise a member of the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, cooperating with that organization in all of its efforts to upbuild the city and develop its interests. His plans have always been well-defined and promptly executed, and the integrity and thoroughness of his methods have been potent forces in the attainment of the very substantial success which is now his.
OTTO KRAMER.
Since 1915 Otto Kramer has been junior member of the firm of Brink & Kramer, general insurance, loans and bonds, with offices at 212-13-14 Oklahoma Gas building. He, like many other prominent men of Tulsa, was born in another state, his birth having occurred at Rockport. Spencer county, Indiana, on the 3d of September, 1875, a son of Henry and Katherine ( Bretz) Kramer. The
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father was a native of Germany and the mother was born in Indiana. When eight years of age Henry Kramer came to the United States with his parents and located in Spencer county, where the grandfather engaged in farming the re- mainder of his life. Henry Kramer was well known as an attorney at law and a banker, being active in those connections throughout his life. He was prominent in politics, serving as county treasurer of Spencer county two terms, deputy treas- urer two terms and as state representative. He made a success of his life and at the time of his death, which occurred on the 3d of January, 1905, he was in possession of three thousand acres of valuable farm property in Spencer county. Mrs. Kramer is still living.
Otto Kramer was reared and educated in Rockport, Indiana, and in due time entered the State University at Bloomington, from which he was graduated in the required time. After putting his textbooks aside he became an employe of the Farmers Bank at Rockport and steadily advanced until he was holding the office of assistant cashier. For twelve years he remained with that institution, at the end of which time he resigned and for one year worked for the government on locks and dams in the Ohio river out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1907 he came to Tulsa and soon afterward was appointed deputy county treasurer, an office he filled satisfactorily for two years. For the following three and one- half years he worked for Charles Page at Sand Springs in various capacities and then in August, 1915, formed a partnership with A. W. Brink, in the insurance, loan and bond business. This firm is operating under the name of Brink & Kramer and is one of the representative business interests of Tulsa.
In June, 1901, occurred the marriage of Mr. Kramer and Miss Mary B. Adams, and to them six children have been born: Katherine E., Clara A., Anna- belle, Sterling O., Karl W., and Frances B.
The political allegiance of Mr. Kramer is given to the democratic party, in the activities of which he takes a prominent part The religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran church. In the conduct of his business Mr. Kramer displays those qualities which show him to be thoroughly conversant with modern- day business conditions. He is actuated by a spirit of enterprise and progressive- ness that accomplishes results and success is attending his well defined efforts. He has contributed much to the growth and development of Tulsa and is progres- sive and liberal in his ideas and upright in word and deed.
JOHN ROGERS.
John Rogers, one of the able young attorneys of the Tulsa bar, who in his practice specializes in Indian land titles, was born at Weaubleau, Missouri, April 4, 1890. His father, P. J. Rogers, also born in Missouri, has devoted his life to the occupation of farming. He married Frances Dent, and she, too, was a native of Missouri. The son, John Rogers, after attending the public schools of his native state continued his education in the State University of Oklahoma at Norman, where he pursued a thorough course in law to the time of his graduation, winning the LL. B. degree in 1914. He entered upon the active practice of his profession at Holdenville, Oklahoma, on the Ist of July of that year and there remained until the Ist of April, 1915, when he removed to Tulsa and became attorney for the McMan Oil Company, one of the largest oil companies operating in the mid-continent field. Thus within a year after his admission to the bar he rose to a place of great professional prominence
JOHN ROGERS
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and is today regarded as one of the leading corporation lawyers of Tulsa, to which city have been attracted many eminent representatives of the profession. He belongs to the Tulsa County and Oklahoma State Bar Associations and enjoys the high regard and respect of professional colleagues and contempor- aries by reason of what he has accomplished and the ability which he has dis- played in handling the important corporation interests entrusted to his care.
There is another most interesting chapter in his life record, for with Amer- ica's entrance into the World war Mr. Rogers joined the first Officers Training Camp at Fort Roots, Arkansas, on the 9th of May, 1917, and when his course was completed he was commissioned a first lieutenant and assigned to the Three Hundred and Forty-eighth Infantry at Camp Pike, Arkansas. Later he was promoted to a captaincy and was appointed personnel adjutant of the Three Hundred and Forty-eighth Infantry for overseas duty. He went to France, remaining from the 18th of August, 1918, until the 8th of March, 1919, rend- ering valuable service in connection with the efforts to bring German militarism to naught, that world democracy might no longer be curbed by Teutonic power. Mr. Rogers is now commander of Joe Carson Post of the American Legion of Tulsa. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained high rank, as is indicated in his connection with the Consistory and with the Mystic Shrine. His political allegiance has been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is well known in club circles, belonging to the Country Club, University Club, to the City Club and to the Lions Club. The last named is indicative of his deep interest in the material and civic welfare of Tulsa and the adoption of high standards of Americanization everywhere. His religious faith is manifest in his connection with the Christian church. In a word he stands for all that is valuable in the life of the individual and of the community at large.
VERN N. VANDEVER.
One of the most prominent business men of Tulsa is Vern N. Vandever, a member of the Vandever Dry Goods Company, of which he is also director, department buyer and manager. The store is located at 109-11 South Main street but the company is contemplating the erection of a more modern building of about eight stories, at the corner of Fifth and Boston streets. Mr. Vandever was born at Irving, Illinois, on the 16th of October, 1892, a son of William C. and Sarah E. (Grantham) Vandever. Extended mention of his parents is made in the sketch of William A. Vandever, to be found on another page of this work.
Vern N. Vandever was reared and educated at Irving, Illinois, and was grad- uated from the high school in that town with the class of 1911. The following year he came to Tulsa and joined his brothers in the Vandever Dry Goods Com- pany, in which connection he has remained. Thoroughness is one of the marked characteristics of Mr. Vandever and he has mastered every detail of his own business. In addition to his connections with the Vandever Dry Goods Com- pany he is one of the stockholders and a director of the Vandever Investment Company, likewise a stockholder in the Tulsa-Pittsburgh Mining Company and the Hayner Petroleum Company.
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