USA > Oklahoma > Tulsa County > Tulsa > The history of Tulsa, Oklahoma > Part 31
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On the 22d of September, 1903, Mr. Sharp was married to Miss Josephine Parker, daughter of Henry J. Parker, one of the leading oil men of the United States, residing at Parkers Landing, Pennsylvania. The children of this marriage are : H. Parker, who is a graduate of the Peabody high school of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is now a student in Harvard University; and Martha Louise, who was born September 11, 1907, and is attending school in Tulsa.
Mr. Sharp is today a man of wealth and liberal culture and the position of his family is one of high social standing. He belongs to the Country Club, the City Club and also to the Chamber of Commerce, being much interested in the plans and efforts of that organization for the city's benefit and upbuilding. He like- wise belongs to the United Presbyterian church and is much interested in work for boys, being a director of the Boys' Home of Tulsa and of the Young Men's Chris-
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tian Association. His attitude is that of the big brother who recognizes the en- ticements and temptations that surround the youth and who endeavors in every possible way to safeguard the lad and develop the best and the strongest in him in preparation for the demands and responsibilities of life.
DAVID LESLIE DOBIE.
David Leslie Dobie, an oil producer of Tulsa, was born in Hayward, Wis- consin, November 19, 1887. His parents were David and Bella (Logie) Dobie. The father, who was born in Ontario, Canada, was a lumberman and land owner of northern Wisconsin, where he conducted important business interests. His religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church and he belonged also to the Masonic fraternity, loyally following its teachings. His political allegiance was given to the republican party until Woodrow Wilson became a candidate for the presidency, when he supported the democratic party. He died February 10, 1921, at the age of sixty-five years and is survived by his widow, who is also a native of Ontario, Canada.
David Leslie Dobie enjoyed excellent educational privileges, being graduated from the University of Wisconsin with the class of 1910. He afterward attended the University of Oregon and won his Bachelor of Arts degree with the class of 19II. For some years he resided in Superior, Wisconsin, but in 1916 came to Tulsa, where he has since practiced his profession as an oil geologist and is also interested in oil production. In fact he is familiar with various phases of the oil industry and his professional and business interests have been wisely conducted, bringing him substantial returns.
In 1914 Mr. Dobie was married to Miss Claire Keeley of Hudson, Wisconsin, a daughter of Daniel Keeley, one of the early settlers of this section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Dobie have two children : Mary Belle, five years of age; and Eliza- beth. The religious faith of the parents is that of the Episcopal church and they cooperate heartily in activities and efforts for the uplift of the individual and for public benefit as well. The liberal educational training which Mr. Dobie received along broad scientific lines well qualified him for the work which he has done as an oil geologist in the southwest and has made his opinions largely an accepted authority upon many questions relative to the oil fields of this section of the country.
WALTER L. DOBIE.
Walter L. Dobie, an oil geologist, operating in the fields around Tulsa, was born in Superior, Wisconsin, December 17, 1888. His father, David Dobie, was of Canadian birth, coming from Ontario across the border into the United States. He devoted his attention to the lumber business and to real estate interests and his home was in Superior, Wisconsin, at the time of his death on February 10, 1921. The high principles which governed him in his relations with his fellow- men had their root in his membership in the Masonic fraternity and in the Presby- terian church. He married Bella Logie, also a native of Canada.
Walter I .. Dobie obtained a public school education and afterwards attended the University of Wisconsin, in which he completed his course by graduation
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with the class of 1915, winning the Bachelor of Arts degree. He specialized on engineering and geology courses and for two years he did geological work for the state of Wisconsin. He afterward taught in the Rollo School of Mines in Missouri for a year and in 1917 he came to Tulsa, being associated with Mowry Bates of Kentucky. He is now connected with his brother in the practice of his profession and he belongs to the American Society of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers. He is constantly seeking to further acquaint himself with the scien- tific principles which underlie his profession and at the same time broad practical experience is bringing to him wide and thorough knowledge.
In August, 1919. Mr. Dobie was married to Miss Ruth Peter of Oregon, and since coming to Tulsa to make their home they have gained many warm friends. enjoying the hospitality of a large number of the attractive homes of this city.
MAX A. PISHEL.
Max A. Pishel, an oil geologist with an extensive clientage, having since 1918 practiced his profession independently in Tulsa, was born in Thuringia, Germany, November 29, 1877, a son of Ferdinand and Louise ( Uhlman) Pishel. The father was a brewer of Germany and never came to the United States.
Max A. Pishel pursued his education in the public schools of his native country to the age of fifteen years, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world and has since made his own way in life. He resorted to various lines of work in order to obtain an education, for he was ambitious to promote his knowl- edge by further study and at length he entered the Iowa State College at Ames. Iowa, where he won the degrees of Mechanical Engineer and Bachelor of Science in 1906. Also during his college days he became a member of the Delta Upsilon. He afterward pursued postgraduate studies in the sciences at Freiburg, Saxony, Germany, specializing in geology and ore deposits. He then returned to America and became connected with the United States Geological Survey, working in that capacity until 1914 at various points in the west. In the latter year he was made geologist in charge of the north central Texas division of the Texas company and located the first deep oil well at Breckinridge. In 1916 he became associated with the Southwestern Petroleum Company as geologist and so continued until 1918, when he entered upon private practice, operating all over the mid-continent field, comprising some of the largest pools in the state, especially in the Osage, and he is interested in drilling and leasing properties. His comprehensive study and broad experience enables him to speak with authority upon questions relative to his profession and he is now a valued member of the American Asso- ciation of Petroleum Geologists and of the American Institute of Mining Engi- neers.
In 1912, at Binghamton, New York, Mr. Pishel was married to Miss Emily Grace Treadway, who is a graduate of the Syracuse University of New York and who has taken postgraduate work at Columbia University. Prior to her marriage she was a successful teacher. Her parents were Charles B. and Mary Treadway, the former a traveling salesman, now living in San Diego, California, where he has retired from business. To Mr. and Mrs. Pishel have been born two children: Max Albert, whose birth occurred September 4. 1913; and Robert Gordon, born July 7, 1917.
Mr. Pishel is a member of the City Club and his wife is also well known and active in club circles, belonging to the Collegiate Club and the Pan-Hellenic Club.
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Both are consistent followers of the teachings of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Pishel gives his political endorsement to the republican party. He has never had any occasion to regret his determination to come to America and make this country the place of his residence and the center of his interests, for he has here found excellent opportunities for advancement and in their utilization he has reached a creditable and satisfactory professional position, being now well known in connection with the oil development of the southwest.
WOODSON E. NORVELL.
Though he is still a young man Woodson Easley Norvell figures as one of the oldest lawyers in continuous practice at the bar of Tulsa county, and he is not only one of the representative members of that bar, with specially high reputation as a constitutional lawyer, but he has also been prominent and influential in the affairs of the Masonic fraternity and for five years served as grand orator of the Masonic grand lodge of Oklahoma. A man of fine intellectual and professional attainments, a loyal and progressive citizen of Tulsa, and a lawyer who is an in- sistent observer of the unwritten ethical code of his profession, which he has honored by his character and services, he is eminently entitled to recognition in this history.
Mr. Norvell was born on a farm in Linn county, Missouri, on the 9th of August, 1880, and is a son of George H. and Lucy F. (Edgar) Norvell, both natives of Missouri and representatives of sterling pioneer families of Linn county, that state. George H. Norvell was not only one of the successful farmers of Linn county, Missouri, but was an influential figure in public affairs of a local order, as may be inferred when it is stated that he served thirty-two years as a member of the board of trustees of his township and for the greater part of this time was chairman of the board. Mr. Norvell gave four years of gallant service as a soldier of the Union in the Civil war, as a member of Company C, Eighteenth Missouri Volunteer Infantry. With this command he participated in many of the important campaigns and battles of the war, and was wounded at the battle of Shiloh, but thereafter took part in the Atlanta campaign, including the historic siege directed by the Union forces against the Georgia metropolis. In later years he maintained a vital interest in his old comrades and perpetuated the more gracious associations and memories of his military career by his active affilia- tion with the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he served several years as adjutant. Mr. Norvell continued his residence in Missouri until 1903, when he came to Tulsa, Oklahoma, acquired extensive land holdings in this section of the state and was successful and influential as a pioneer exponent of the real estate business at Tulsa. A man of fine personality and distinctive ability, he was the friend and confidant of many of the influential men of the city and county, his circle of friends being coextensive with that of his acquaintances, and his personal influence and well directed business activities have added definitely to the growth and progress of Tulsa along both civic and material lines. He was one of the highly honored pioneer citizens of Tulsa at the time of his death, on the Ist of July, 1919, and his widow still maintains her home in this city. He was a stalwart advocate of the principles of the democratic party and his religious faith was that of the Baptist church, of which Mrs. Norvell is a zealous member.
Woodson E. Norvell found the period of his childhood and early youth com- passed by the wholesome and invigorating influence and associations of the home
WOODSON E. NORVELL
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farm, and in addition to aiding in the work thereof he also found employment in sawmills in the old home section of Missouri. At this stage of his career he attended school principally during the winter months and he relied upon his own resources in gaining his higher education. He completed a two years' course in the Missouri State Normal School at Chillicothe, and thereafter was for two years a student in the Presbyterian College at Brookfield, Missouri. In that place he began the work of preparing himself for his chosen profession, taking up the study of law in the office of the representative firm of Lauder, Johnson & Lauder. He came to Oklahoma territory prior to attaining his legal majority, and a few months after his twenty-first birthday he passed a successful examination and was admitted to the Oklahoma bar on the 27th of September, 1901, at Taloga, the present judicial center of Dewey county. At that place he served his novitiate in work of his profession, there he was active in political affairs and served as secretary of the democratic county committee. He continued in practice at Taloga until 1903. in August of which year he came to Tulsa and numbered himself among the pioneer lawyers of this section of the Indian territory. He has long controlled a large and representative practice, in which he has specialized on Indian titles and homicide defenses, and in the latter department he has attained to a statewide reputation.
At Taloga, Oklahoma, on the 7th of November, 1903, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Norvell to Miss Norma L. Ogan, a daughter of Gilpin and Phoebe (Farner) Ogan, representatives of old and influential families of Linn county, Missouri, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Norvell having served as a member of one of the early sessions of the Missouri legislature. Gilpin Ogan was a farmer by vocation and was a young man at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Norvell were childhood friends in Linn county, Missouri, and their youthful romance has been notable in its gracious permanency. Mrs. Norvell is prominent in connection with the representative social activities of her home city, both she and her husband were active in war work during America's participation in the great World war, and she was chairman of the reception committee which wel- comed General Pershing on the occasion of his post-war visit to Tulsa. Mr. and Mrs. Norvell have two children : Lucille and George Eldon.
Mr. Norvell has continued his active part in political affairs, served several years as a member and secretary of the Tulsa county democratic committee, and represented the Creek-Tulsa district in the legislature during 1907-8. In this connection he had much to do with the formative legislation of Oklahoma and he was assigned to important house committees in the first session of the state legis- lature. He drafted the amendments that cut the excise tax to one-half of one per cent, and this percentage continued in force about ten years. He was active also in defining legislation in connection with oil production in Oklahoma, though at that time the state had only five counties in which oil was being produced. He continued in service as chairman of the democratic county committee of Tulsa county for three terms, but at the present time is not active in connection with practical political affairs. Mr. Norvell has twice served as master of Tulsa Lodge, No. 71, A. F. & A. M., and has been specially prominent in connection with Masonic affairs in the state, his service as grand orator of the Masonic grand lodge of Oklahoma having covered a period of five years, within which time he was orator at the laying of the corner stone of the state capitol, as well as of the Tulsa high school and other prominent buildings. He assisted in the organization of the Tulsa Law Library Association and served as chairman of its board of trustees. He is past president of the Tulsa County Bar Association, and in con- nection with the Masonic fraternity he is past patron of Tulsa Chapter, No. 133,
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Order of the Eastern Star; was vice-president in 1920 of the Tulsa Scottish Rite Society ; is chairman of the library committee of the Masonic home at Darlington, Oklahoma ; has Scottish Rite affiliations with Indian Consistory, No. 2, at Mc- Alester ; and has a life membership in Akdar Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Mr. Norvell is a zealous and valued member of the Oklahoma State Historical Society, and in this connection he has been a close student of history in general and has gained authoritative knowledge of ancient history. He is a member of the Missouri Society of Tulsa, and in all respects has entered with characteristic earnestness and loyalty into the communal interests of his home city and state. He keeps to his high standard as a student of law, avails himself of the best in the literature of his profession, and since establishing his residence in Tulsa has taken a special course in the law depart- ment of the University of Chicago. One of his professional confreres who has known him long and well has given the following estimate of Mr. Norvell: "His success in his profession is primarily to be attributed to his perfect knowledge of the law and his unswerving fidelity to the just cause he consents to represent. He excels in constitutional law and he has been influential in the Masonic fraternity in Oklahoma since the territorial days. He has given twenty years of his life to Masonry, aided materially in establishing the first Masonic lodge at Tulsa, and served as master of this lodge (Tulsa Lodge, No. 65) prior to the admission of Oklahoma to statehood. He has contributed freely to the library of the Masonic Home at Darlington, and portions of the orations he delivered while serving as grand orator of the Masonic grand lodge of Oklahoma have been reprinted in the annual reports of many of the Masonic grand jurisdictions of the world."
JOHN SAMUEL DAVENPORT.
John Samuel Davenport, president of Davenport-Warriner & Company. wholesalers of general merchandise at Tulsa, Oklahoma, and also senior partner in the firm of Davenport & Ratcliff, insurance, loan and bond agents, is a native of Kentucky, his birth having occurred in Kirkwood, Mercer county, on the 22d of October, 1876; his parents being John W. and Maude (McAfee) Davenport, both of whom were natives of Mercer county.
The father devoted the active years of his life to general farming and stock raising, which he has successfully followed ; and is also a director of the Bank of Harrodsburg, Kentucky. He is likewise engaged in the implement, auto- mobile, harness, and saddlery business under the firm name of The Harrodsburg Implement Company. He is one of the leading and substantial business men of Harrodsburg and that section of the state, his commercial, financial, and agricultural interests placing him in a position of prominence in business circles. He is also a recognized leader in the democratic ranks and for four years he filled the office of county judge. He is deeply interested in everything pertaining to the general welfare of his community and has at times been called on to fill various public offices of honor and trust. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. In 1898 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away at the age of thirty-two years.
John S. Davenport, one of a family of seven children, attended the public schools of Kirkwood, Kentucky, and also Daughters College at Harrodsburg, after which he spent two years as a student in Central University. During his college days he became a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and was
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active in athletic circles. His initial step in the business world was made in connection with merchandising at Kirkwood, Kentucky, where he continued for three years in his original position and then became bookkeeper with the Curry Grocery Company, a wholesale concern of which he later became credit man. After a time, in recognition of his capability, he was made secretary and treas- urer of the Curry Grocery Company, which position he held for four years. In 1904 he came to Tulsa, then in the Indian territory, being connected with the Ratcliff-Sanders Company, wholesale grocers, and after eight months was made manager of the Tulsa branch. Later he was transferred to the Vinita branch, where he acted as manager for three years and returned to Tulsa in 1908. Here he became buyer and assistant manager at Tulsa, which was then head- quarters of the business.
On the first of April, 1920, Mr. Davenport dissolved his connection with the firm and established a wholesale grocery business under the firm name of Davenport-Warriner & Company, of which he became president. This com- pany handles various other lines of merchandise in addition to groceries and is conducting a profitable wholesale business in Tulsa and vicinity. When still with the Ratcliff-Sanders Company he became interested in the firm of Daven- port & Ratcliff, who are Tulsa representatives of the Aetna Building & Loan Association, of Topeka, Kansas, one of the largest concerns of its kind in the United States. They also represent the Oklahoma Savings & Loan Association of Oklahoma City. From time to time in his business career Mr. Davenport has extended his business connections and is now vice president of the Field Stationery Company, and is also secretary and treasurer of the Tulsa Camera Record Company, of which he was one of the organizers. His plans are care- fully formulated and promptly executed and he readily discriminates between the essential and the non-essential in all business affairs. He is identified with many business organizations for the betterment of trade conditions. He belongs to the Traffic Club, to the Credit Men's Association of Tulsa, to the Oklahoma and also the Southern Wholesale Grocers' Associations. He is a member of the Tulsa, and the National Real Estate Exchanges, and is also a member of the Fire Prevention Association of Tulsa. His name is on the membership rolls of the Rotary Club, and he is an exemplary representative of Delta Lodge, No. 425, A. F. & A. M., while in Oklahoma Consistory. No. I, at Guthrie he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. He is also identified with the Chamber of Commerce, and gives earnest cooperation to all plans and measures of the organization for the benefit and development of the city.
On the 16th of October, 1901, Mr. Davenport was married in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, to Miss Virginia Moore, a daughter of Mrs. Nannie B. Moore. To Mr. and Mrs. Davenport have been born three children: John Bacon, born in Harrodsburg, Kentucky, in July, 1903; Bowman McAfee, born in Vinita, Okla- homa ; and Lillian Virginia, born in Tulsa.
Mr. and Mrs. Davenport are members of the First Presbyterian church, in the work of which they take active and helpful interest, Mr. Davenport serving as one of the elders of the church, as clerk of the session for the past nine years, and as superintendent of the Sunday school, while Mrs. Davenport is assistant superintendent of the primary department of the Sunday school. She has also been prominent in Women's Clubs in Tulsa, and is very active in support of edu- cational interests. She belongs to the Adelphian Society and is also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, her eligibility to membership coming to her through the paternal line.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Davenport were active supporters of the Tulsa Red Cross, Vol. III-20
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and in fact took a most earnest part in advancing all war drives and activ- ties, doing especially good work in connection with the sale of Liberty bonds. In politics he has always voted with the democratic party, and has served as alder- man of his ward, yet has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He is active in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association, and in fact there is no good work done in the name of charity or religion that seeks his aid in vain, and at all times the name of Davenport is associated with all those inter- ests which are looking to the material, intellectual, social, and moral progress of the community.
HARRY E. BAGBY.
Tulsa numbers among her prominent and progressive citizens Harry E. Bagby, who is associated with the Exchange National Bank in the capacity of special rep- resentative. He was born at Vinita, Indian Territory, his parents being Dr. Oliver and Mary ( Miller) Bagby, natives of Missouri.
Harry E. Bagby acquired his early education in Vinita and at Springfield, Missouri, where he received preliminary training for his more advanced studies in the University of Missouri. He took up electrical engineering and was grad- uated in that course in 1906. During 1916 and 1917 he acted as secretary of the Oklahoma Bankers Association at Oklahoma City, where he resided for two years. He is vice president of the Farmers State Bank at Vinita and with J. A. Wise owns the controlling interest. In 1917 Mr. Bagby came to Tulsa, organizing the Tulsa Clearing House Association and managed it until February, 1920, when he went with the Exchange National Bank as special representative.
Mr. Bagby follows an independent course in politics, voting for the man he thinks best fitted for the office, without regard to party principles. He is frater- nally identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Masons. He has closely applied himself to the mastery of all duties which have devolved upon him at the bank and thus his efficiency has been constantly promoted. He has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his community-in fact there is no more enthusiastic booster of Tulsa than he and he has already gained recog- nition as a leader in movements calculated to promote its welfare.
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