USA > Oklahoma > Tulsa County > Tulsa > The history of Tulsa, Oklahoma > Part 24
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JAMES H. SYKES.
The roster of the bar of Tulsa county includes the name of James H. Sykes, who has made for himself a distinct vantage place as one of the representative lawyers engaged in practice in the city of Tulsa and whose law business in con- nection with Indian titles is now conceded to be larger than that of any other lawyer in the state. He maintains his office headquarters in the Robinson building.
Mr. Sykes was born at Morristown, Hamblen county, Tennessee, on the 5th of January, 1887, and is a son of Joshua J. and Alice ( Burnett) Sykes. In earlier years Joshua J. Sykes was actively identified with navigation interests on the Tennessee river and later he became a prosperous farmer in Hamblen county, Tennessee, where he remained until 1910, when he came to Oklahoma and obtained land in the vicinity of Broken Arrow, Tulsa county. He is one of the progressive exponents of agricultural industry in this section of the state and continues as a prominent and honored citizen. His wife passed to the life eternal on the 3Ist of December, 1914, at the age of fifty-six years : her father was a pioneer clergyman of the Baptist church in Tennessee.
The early educational discipline of James H. Sykes was obtained in the public schools of Tennessee, and in 1899 he was matriculated in Emory & Henry College. at Emory, Virginia, where he pursued his higher academic studies until 1901. Thereafter he was employed by the Southern Express Company and was promoted to the position of auditor in its offices at Chattanooga, Tennessee. This position he retained one year and in the meanwhile he attended the night classes in the law department of Chattanooga University, in which institution he completed in one year the prescribed three years' course, and at the end passed the bar examination with the highest markings ever recorded in the state of Tennessee. He received his degree of Bachelor of Laws in the year 1905 and after a brief period of practice in the city of Chattanooga he came to Oklahoma in 1906 and established himself in the practice of his profession at Tulsa. His technical ability and forceful per- sonality brought him into favorable consideration in connection with public affairs in the new commonwealth, and in 1912 he was made the democratic nominee for representative of the third district of Oklahoma in the United States congress. In this connection he had the distinction of being the only democrat to carry Tulsa county, the district, however, giving a vote that brought victory to his oppo- nent, Hon. J. S. Davenport of Vinita. As a forceful and effective campaign speaker Mr. Sykes stumped the state in the campaigns of 1909, 1912 and 1916, but impaired health prevented his similar participation in the presidential cam- paign of 1920. In 1914 he was elected a representative of Tulsa county in the state legislature and in this office he made an excellent record of loyal and effective service in behalf of his constituent district and of wise general legislation. He
James N. Sykes
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was specially interested in the support of measures pertaining to oil and gas pro- duction and the support of the various charities of the state and he introduced and ably championed a number of important bills within the period of his service in the legislature. Mr. Sykes is an active and popular member of the Tulsa County Bar Association and the Oklahoma State Bar Association. lle has achieved unequivocal success in the work of his profession, and in this connection it is interesting to record that he is a cousin of the distinguished New York attor- ney, Martin W. Littleton. His practice is one of broad scope and importance in connection with Indian titles, as well as in connection with oil and gas production interests and probate matters. Mr. Sykes is a loyal booster of his home city and state, is liberal and progressive in his civic attitude, and gives support to worthy charities and benevolences and church work, with a high sense of personal stew- ardship.
November 18, 1903, recorded the marriage of Mr. Sykes to Miss Carrie Morgan of Flintstone, Georgia, and her death occurred November 27, 1906. She is survived by one daughter, Carrie Brycea.
BENJAMIN O. ANGEL.
Among those successfully active in the real estate field of Tulsa is Benjamin O. Angel, who came to this state from North Carolina, his birth having occurred in Franklin, November 29. 1874. his parents being Andrew and Margaret Angel, who were also natives of Franklin, where the father followed the occupation of farming and where he was also very active in church and Sunday school work.
In his boyhood Benjamin O. Angel attended the country schools, spending his youth on the home farm, where he early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He learned, too, the valuable lessons concerning the worth of industry and perseverance. Leaving home at the age of twenty years he made his way to Oklahoma territory, where he became a cow-puncher, riding the range in Oklahoma and in Texas for a period of eleven years, being associated with J. W. Weaver, a prominent rancher of Mud Creek near Duncan, Oklahoma. In 1912 Mr. Angel went to Seattle, Washington, and engaged in the transfer business for three years, but in 1915 returned to Oklahoma City, and established an insurance agency, there remaining one year. He spent the succeeding year in various towns of the state and in the latter part of 1916 came to Tulsa, where he became interested in the White Angel Real Estate Company, operating under that name until 1917, when the firm of B. O. Angel & Company was formed for the conduct of a real estate business. They build their own homes, draw their own plans and do their own construction work and through the intervening period a profitable business has been carried on by this firm, while their efforts have also constituted an element in general progress and improvement. Mr. Angel is also engaged in the oil business, operating in the Nowata and other fields.
In 1905 there was celebrated the marriage of Benjamin O. Angel and Miss Margaret Nichols, a daughter of Oren and Amanda Nichols. Her father re- moved from Arkansas to Oklahoma and has large landed interests in this state. He was one of the pioneers of Stephen county and is a foremost resident of Duncan and vicinity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Angel belong to the First Baptist church of Tulsa, in the work of which they take a helpful part. Mr. Angel also cooperated heartily in all war activities and has always stood for those interests
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which contribute to public progress and improvement. His political support is given to the democratic party, but he has no desire for public office. He belongs to the Real Estate Exchange and his interests center in the development of his business, which has been carefully directed and has brought him substantial returns. He is also a Mason, belonging to Tulsa Lodge, No. 71, A. F. & A. M.
WILLIAM A. VANDEVER.
Enterprise and progressiveness have caused William A. Vandever to carry his labors into new fields, to seek undeveloped opportunities and to reach the goal of success by carving out paths that no others have followed. Tulsa has benefited by the efforts of Mr. Vandever, who is a most alert, wide-awake and progressive merchant, possessing both initiative and determination. He was born at Irving, Montgomery county, Illinois, May 24, 1874, a son of William C. and Sarah E. (Grantham) Vandever. His grandfather in the paternal line was Dr. Aaron S. Vandever, who was born in Kentucky and who became a pioneer physician of Vandalia, Illinois, when that city was the capital of the state. He afterward removed to Springfield when the capital was changed and was closely associated with the pioneer development of the Mississippi valley, while in the line of his chosen profession he won distinction as a skilled physician and surgeon of that period. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in the Thirteenth Missouri Regiment and served until he sustained injuries from which he died. His son, William C. Vandever, was born in Vandalia, Fayette county, Illinois, in 1851, and acquired his early education in the public schools of his native state. In his youth he learned and followed the cooper's trade and continued to devote his attention to work of that character until his retirement from active business in 1905. In early manhood he wedded Sarah E. Grantham, who was born in Irving, Montgomery county, Illinois, in 1853, a daughter of Isaiah and Margaret (Mann) Grantham, both of whom were representatives of old pioneer families of Illinois. Mrs. William C. Vandever, who survives her husband, is now residing at Irving, Illinois. She is a loyal member of the Christian church, as was also her husband. His political allegi- ance was given to the democratic party. To him and his wife were born five sons and five daughters.
William A. Vandever, who was second in order of birth in the family, at- tended the public schools of his native town until he was through high school. He started out in the business world when a youth of fifteen by securing a clerkship in a dry goods store of Irving, being thus employed for four years. When twenty years of age he went to St. Louis and became connected with the Grand Leader, one of the largest mercantile establishments of the city. Later he occupied a similar position with the firm of D. Crawford & Company of St. Louis, and after a few years in the silks and dress goods departments, he was advanced to the position of buyer for the linen, wash dress goods and lining departments. He occupied that position of responsibility until 1903, when he resigned and made his way to the Indian Territory, desirous of becom- ing identified with the development of this section of the country, which was entering upon an era of rapid and successful growth. On the 10th of February, 1913, he took up his abode in Tahlequah, the present judicial center of Cherokee county, Oklahoma, and afterwards he became associated with Benjamin C. Beane, in organizing a firm for the conduct of a retail dry goods business.
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They opened the establishment under the name of the Boston Store, and in 1904 they removed to the young but thriving little city of Tulsa, which at that time had a population of about thirty-eight hundred. Here they organized the Beane-Vandever Dry Goods Company, and although they began business on a minor scale, trade steadily increased, becoming one of gratifying proportions. After a few years Mr. Beane sold his interest to the Vandever Brothers, who have since been in control of what is today a most substantial business, carried on under the firm name of the Vandever Dry Goods Company. The store is thoroughly modern in its equipment and appointment and is broad in its scope. An extensive stock is carried in the various departments and the highest stand- ards are maintained in the conduct of the trade. There are few dry goods stores in the state that can compare with this establishment, which is a monu- ment to the enterprise and progressive spirit of William A. Vandever and his brother. Aside from his commercial interest he is a director in many banks and financial institutions and at all times his judgment is recognized as sound, his discriminations keen and his enterprise unfaltering. He is closely associated with movements that have to do with the development of trade and commerce and with the upbuilding of the city. He is active as a director of the Chamber of Commerce and as a member of the Traffic Association and the Retail Mer- chants Association. He is likewise a member of the Rotary Club.
On the 25th of July, 1900, Mr. Vandever was united in marriage to Miss Mame C. Delmore, who was born in Boone county, Missouri. Fraternally he is connected with Tulsa Lodge, No. 71, A. F. & A. M., also with Tulsa Chapter, No. 52, R. A. M. He is ex-president of the Oklahoma State Retail Merchants Association, was twice president of the Retail Merchants Association of Tulsa and was president of the Rotary Club from June 12, 1917, to June 12, 1918. He was also active in the World war work, and was instrumental in bringing several railroads through to Tulsa. He is an enthusiastic worker for civic betterment and a liberal contributor to every worthy cause that is put forth in the name of charity or religion. He holds to high standards and recognizes his duties and obligations in every relation of life. Coming to the southwest and casting in his lot with the early residents of Tulsa, he has been a con- tributing factor to the upbuilding and progress of the city, and is today numbered among its most prominent and representative men.
CLIFTON T. EVERETT.
Clifton T. Everett entered the First National Bank in February, 1918, with considerable business experience and has since been advanced to the position of assistant vice president. He was born on a farm in Carroll county, Missouri, May 1, 1888. His father, William Albion Everett, was born in Virginia and in his childhood days became a resident of Missouri, where for many years he followed farming. He now lives in Tulsa and is engaged in the real estate business. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church and fraternally he is connected with the Masons. He wedded Mary Summers, who was born at Westplains, Missouri.
Their only child is Clifton T. Everett, who attended the public schools of Missouri to the age of fifteen years and afterward became a student in a high school at Oklahoma City. He started out in the business world as an employe in a clerical position with the Rock Island Railroad Company, with which he
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remained for two years in Oklahoma City and in 1908 he removed to Tulsa, where he became identified with the lumber business in connection with his father. A year later he entered the employ of the Clarke & Bates Lumber Com- pany at Kansas City, acting as assistant manager for the firm at Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Subsequently he spent a year and a half as bookkeeper with the wholesale grocery house of Ratcliff-Sanders Company at Tulsa and on the ex- piration of that period was advanced to the position of manager of the credit department and made secretary-treasurer of the company, having charge of the east Oklahoma territory. He continued to act in that capacity until February, 1918, when he entered the First National Bank in charge of the credit depart- ment. He was afterward made assistant cashier and later was advanced to the assistant vice presidency, in which official connection he continues to the present time.
In 1913 Mr. Everett was married to Miss Elsa Probst, a daughter of George C. Probst, a native of Indiana, now an oil producer in Tulsa. Mr. and Mrs. Everett have one son, Clifton T., Jr., now five years of age. Mr. Everett is well known in Masonic circles, belonging to Delta Lodge, No. 425, A. F. & A. M., also to the York Rite bodies, including Oklahoma Consistory, No. I, A. A. S. R., of Guthrie. He has likewise crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of Akdar Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He assisted in organizing the First Credit Men's Association, of which he was the first treasurer and later vice president. He succeeded to the presidency upon the resignation of the incumbent in that office and he was also elected a member of the board of directors. He is likewise a director of the Retail Merchants' Association and is serving as treasurer of that body. He was very active in all war work and has ever stood for patriotic support of those interests which make for higher ideals and for continuous progress in citizenship.
ASKEL J. POLIN.
Askel J. Polin, owner of the Polin Tire Service of Tulsa, was born in Kiev, Russia, April 20, 1882, his parents being Jacob and Ethel Polin, the former a wholesale grain merchant, who died when his son Askel was but eleven years of age.
The boy was thus thrown upon his own resources and there were two sisters and two younger brothers in the family. He had to look after his mother and younger sister, aiding in their support, and his educational opportunities were very limited. He learned something of the grain trade from his father and was but twelve years of age when he came to the United States, working for money to pay his passage. He landed at Philadelphia, where he became a shirt-maker, working eighteen hours per day and receiving a wage of but two dollars and a half per week in the employ of the Seiler Brothers Shirt Manufacturing Com- pany. From this meagre sum, however, he managed to save a few dollars and went to Cripple Creek, Colorado, which at that time was a wide open mining town. There he engaged in the junk business and also worked to some extent in the mines. He then began dealing in horses, training fancy show ring horses for exhibit. He afterward established a livery business at Colorado Springs and his next venture in the business world was made as proprietor of a shoe store at Victor, Colorado. In this last undertaking he was quite successful and in fact his course was one of steady progress at all times. On leaving Victor he
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ASKEL J. POLIN AND THE FIRST TIRE HE SOLD IN TULSA
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went to Goldfield, Nevada, where he operated most profitably in the mines for a time, but lost all that he had saved in a single day. In 1900 he returned east- ward as far as Muskogee, Oklahoma, and there engaged in the oil business but again lost his savings. Starting out anew with undiminished courage and un- faltering spirit he secured a clerkship in the shoe department of the Graham Sykes Department Store, being thus employed for three years. He also had charge of the automobiles belonging to the company and while driving noted that the United States tires were in use for eleven thousand miles, and gave splendid service. This decided him to go into the tire business and he became identified with the John Lombard Tire Company of Muskogee, as a salesman. Later he came to Tulsa and engaged in the sale of United States tires. He sold more tires than any other dealer and for three years conducted a most extensive business of this character. When he began the business he walked from one prospective customer to another, afterward used a bicycle in making his rounds and finally obtained a small car, while today he is the owner of several of the best motor cars on the market. He gives his entire attention to the tire business, which is conducted under the name of the Polin Tire Service. He started in business in Tulsa with a cash capital of twenty-five dollars and today is one of the wealthy men of the city, the secret of his success lying in his unfaltering enterprise, his thorough reliability and his indefatigable energy.
Mr. Polin was married in Muskogee, Oklahoma, to Miss Sadie Stern, a native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, and a daughter of Jacob Stern, engaged in merchandising in that place. Mr. and Mrs. Polin have one child, Jack, and Mrs. Polin is very active in the social circles and women's clubs of Tulsa. Mr. Polin belongs to the Ad Club, to the Young Men's Christian Association and to the Masonic fraternity, his membership being in Delta Lodge, No. 425. A. F. & A. M., while in the Consistory at McAlester he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is also a Noble of Akdar Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Tulsa. He is much interested in the order and is a man of kindly purpose and charitable spirit. He belongs also to the Chamber of Commerce and to the Automobile Club and was active in war when the country needed the aid of all of her loyal sons. During his boyhood days in Colorado Mr. Polin was famous as a bicycle rider, making a notable record on a century run. He has always been a lover of fine horses and this is perhaps his hobby, if he can be said to have one. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the United States, for in the land of opportunity he has made steady progress. his ability and industry bringing him steadily to the front.
EDWARD B. McFARLIN.
One of the well known and progressive young business men of Tulsa is Edward B. McFarlin, manager of the production department of the McMan Oil Company and also assistant treasurer, stockholder and director of the company. He was born near Waxahachie, Texas, on the 11th of September, 1886, a son of Edward P. and M. Isabelle ( Runolds ) McFarlin, the former a native of Texas and the latter of Missouri. The father has devoted his entire attention to farming and is now operating a farm near Seymour, Texas. Mrs. McFarlin passed away in November, 1920.
Edward B. McFarlin was reared and received his education in Texas. After putting his textbooks aside he engaged in the hardware business for some time
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and later organized a company, having charge of a chain of seven stores dis- tributed throughout Texas. From 1905 to 1912 he was active in the conduct of that business but sold in the latter year, becoming associated with the McMan Oil Company, with which company he has since been identified. He has devoted every energy to acquiring a thorough knowledge of the business and has risen to his present position as the result of his own determined effort. He started in the oil business when the company had less than a dozen wells and with the business he has expanded until today he is, because of his spirit of initiative and executive ability, manager of the production department of the company, as well as assistant treasurer, a stockholder and a director. The company produces in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas and in addition operates several casinghead gaso- line plants. R. M. McFarlin, an uncle of our subject, is the owner of the McMan Oil Company.
On November II, 1908, occurred the marriage of Mr. McFarlin and Miss Myrtle Rhea, and to them two children have been born: Robert B., whose natal day was the 9th of September, 1909, and John Rhea, born April 6, 1913.
The political endorsement of Mr. Farlin is given to the republican party and he is well informed concerning the vital questions and issues of the day, but political preferment has had no attraction for him. He finds his satisfac- tion and interest in the upbuilding of his business and his close application and thoroughness constitute the important element in his prosperity. His fraternal affiliation is with the Masonic order, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. In his boyhood days Mr. McFarlin engaged in cattle punch- ing for many years and he is now in possession of some valuable ranch property in Texas. Both Mr. and Mrs. McFarlin are well known in Tulsa and have innumerable friends, who find their home at 1630 South Elwood avenue, a haven of hospitality. Mr. McFarlin maintains offices on the fifth floor of the Drew building.
WALTER J. ATKINS.
Walter J. Atkins, vice president of the Dresser Oil Company, and thus actively interested in the oil industry in Oklahoma, was born in Bradford, Penn- sylvania, January 13, 1892, a son of J. G. and Mary (McDermott) Atkins, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state, where the father was well known as an oil man. He was a representative of one of the old families of New York and passed away in the year 1908. To him and his wife were born three chil- dren, two of whom are living.
Walter J. Atkins attended the St. Bernard's parochial school in Bradford, Pennsylvania, and afterwards was a student in the Westbrook Academy at Olean, New York. He started out in the business world as an employe of the Erie Railroad at Bradford and in 1908 he was transferred to Baltimore, Mary- land, while in 1909 his railroad duties called him to New York. In the following year he left the employ of the railroad company and secured a position in the First National Bank of Bradford, there continuing until 1911, when he resigned to become purchasing agent in the department of public grounds and buildings of Pennsylvania, at Harrisburg, thus occupying a government position for about a year. In 1912, however, he returned to the First National Bank of Bradford, where he continued until 1916, when he accepted a position with Spar-
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row, Harvey & Company, certified public accountants of New York. Fach change in his business connection marked a forward step, bringing him broader experience and valuable knowledge that has been of use to him in his later activities. He became private secretary to C. K. Dresser of Bradford, Penn- sylvania, in July, 1918, at the time Mr. Dresser was active in organizing the Dresser Oil Company. Mr. Atkins was elected vice president and general man- ager and so continues to the present time. He removed to Tulsa in 1919 and from this point has since directed the activities of the company in Oklahoma. He is also assistant secretary and treasurer of the Malta & McConnellsville Gas Company of Malta, Ohio, and is one of the directors of the Cumberland Torpedo Company of Winchester, Kentucky.
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