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Biographies on this page: Addington, T. F. Bannister, C. R. Bradford, H. C. Carney, John J. Clark, J. W. Cromer, A. O. Fitzgerald, M. Fogg, H. L. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ T. F. ADDINGTON, the present postmaster of Yukon, Canadian county, is one of the stanchest Republicans and most enthusiastic Oklahomans within the limits of the state. He is a shrewd and popular Indiana man, born on the 6th of January, 1854, son of John L. and Nancy (Fansher) Addington. The family was originally located in North Carolina, from which state the paternal grandfather, James Addington, moved to Wayne county, Indiana, where his son (the father of T. F.) was born. John L. Addington was a farmer, a carpenter and an itinerant Methodist preacher in that section of ththe e state, but in 1858 removed with his family to Kansas. He transported them by ox-team, returning by means of the same conveyance in 1860. But this taste of the farther west remained so agreeably with him that in 1865 he moved to Iowa, where he died in 1878. His wife, who was a Tennessee woman, passed away during the same year. Postmaster Addington was educated in the common schools of Iowa, and after farming for several years went to Texas. This was in 1874, when he was twenty years of age. He at once entered with vim into the life of the country, scouring the ranges as a cowboy and joining Company C, Frontier Battalion of the Texas Rangers. He remained with this noted and useful military organization for about a year, participating in several exciting scouting expeditions against the Indians, in pursuance of the determination of the state and national authorities to keep the savage marauders out of the state. In 1889, with the opening of the lands, he located six miles south of Yukon, returned to Texas and brought his family hither, and remained on his farm in that locality until 1902. In the year mentioned he was appointed postmaster of Yukon, then bringing his family to reside in the city. Since almost a boy Mr. Addington has been active in politics and since coming to Oklahoma has served as a delegate to nearly all the Republican convention's in which his home locality was concerned. He has been chosen county commissioner of Canadian county for two terms, and in March, 1907, was honored with the chairmanship of the committee which presented the resolutions to the El Reno convention endorsing Taft for the presidency. In 1883 he was married to Myrtle Maxey, daughter of T. J. Maxey, a native of Illinois but a pioneer of Oklahoma. Four children have been born of their union, as follows: Macy L., assistant postmaster of Yukon; Maxey O., Luceille and Arkie. The Postmaster is a member of the Masonic Lodge of Yukon No. 22, and is also identified with the W. O. W. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ C. A. BANNISTER. Prominent as an attorney, a stock-raiser, a Republican and a public man, C. A. Bannister is one of the strong men of El Reno and Oklahoma, having enjoyed that varied and broad experience in practical affairs which makes an especially valuable citizen in a new and developing country. He was born in Starke county, Indiana, on the 6th of November, 1854, being a son of James and Sarah (Odenbaugh) Bannister. The father was a native of Kentucky, and when thirty years of age removed to Ohio, where he married, his wife being a native of that state. After living for a short time in Indiana, the family went to Colorado, and resided for fourteen years upon a fine homestead of 320 acres, fourteen miles north of Pueblo. The father and his growing sons made many improvements on the place, among which was the building of a reservoir, and the property is still known as Bannister's Ranch. The next shifting of the family residence was to San Jose, California, where the parents both died and are buried. C. A. Bannister received his education. at its early stage in the public schools of Colorado, and his first practical work in the world was on his father's ranch. He early commenced the study of law, in connection with the management of various live stock interests. In 1876 he went into Kansas in order to place some cattle on the market, settling in Comanche county and remaining there for a short time. He then removed to Platte county, that state, where he remained until 1889 engaged in the cattle business and the study of the law. On the 24th of November, 1888, he was admitted to the Kansas bar, and on the 22nd of the following April attended the opening at El Reno, he being one of the first settlers upon the lands after the firing of the gun. He bought a relinquishment claim, lived on it and improved it for seven years, then sold the property and in 1896 moved into town. At his admission to the Oklahoma bar in 1896, Mr. Bannister commenced practice at El Reno. With his good practice he has also carried along important interests of a political and a public nature, having become known as an active and influential Republican. In 1909, when Bird McGuire was a gubernatorial candidate, he was a member of the territorial Republican committee, and held the office of cattle inspector when the state board came into existence. Since he became a resident of Oklahoma, there are few Republican conventions in which his section is interested to which he has not been a delegate, and he was a member of the first Republican state convention, March, 1908. For the past two years he has also served as oil inspector for Canadian county, all of which goes to demonstrate that Mr. Bannister, both as a pioneer and a citizen of today, is an Oklahoman of true spirit and worth. He was married in Kansas, on the 23rd of June, 1878, to Josephine W. Hanks, a native of that state and daughter of J. W. Hanks, who now resides in Enid, Oklahoma. The five children born to them are as follows: Alvin E., who enlisted in the Sixth Cavalry, served in China and the Philippines, and is now connected with the gas company at El Reno; Charles Wesley, employed by the El Reno Electric Company; Dora, now the wife of Chauncey Andrews, and also living in that city, and Charles Box and Benjamin Grover Bannister, both residing in El Reno, the former also in the employ of the electric company. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ H. C. BRADFORD. There are few enterprises which promise well for the city of El Reno, county seat of Canadian county, in which H. C. Bradford has not identified himself, either as a founder or a promoter, his activities having ranged from the manufacture of ice to the creation of a beautiful Opera house, which is a source of pride to this section of the state. He is largely interested in cotton and in banking, is a rising Democratic leader, and in everything which he undertakes evinces a versatility, a determination and an enthusiasm, which is so typical of the southern character. Like his father, whose family traditions and home interests logically drew him into the brave ranks of the Confederacy, the son is a valued factor in southern life, but the younger man is devoting his strength and ability to futherance of its interests in a prolonged period of peace. Born at Columbus, Mississippi, on the 7th of July, 1869, H. C. Bradford is the son of J. W. Bradford, a native of Arkansas, where he spent his entire life. The paternal grandfather (also H. C. Bradford) was an early pioneer of that state, and the family was well and highly honored for many years. William B. Bradford, a grand uncle, was military governor of Arkansas, and founder of the city of Fort Smith. During his term of office he established the fort mentioned, and named it in honor of his wife. It was in the state with which, his family has become so prominently identified that H. C. Bradford was educated. The public schools furnished him with the foundation of his mental training, as well as the preparatory institution of Professor Jordan, one of the best known educators of Arkansas. Inheriting his father's business ability, he early ventured into various mercantile enterprises, at the age of eighteen becoming agent for the Waters-Pierce Oil Company, his jurisdiction including 250 miles of territory. This position of responsibility he held for five years, with a judgment and decision which would have done credit to one of long business experience. In 1893 he came to El Reno, and it was typical of his enterprise that he should have embarked in an industrial field which is comparatively new to the southwest�the manufacture of ice. His establishment of an ice factory and his promotion of the enterprise have resulted in the founding of the largest manufactory of the kind in the state. He is a large stockholder in the controlling company and also its secretary and active manager. His ventures into the grain and cotton compress business have also been marked with like success. The latter interest is conducted by the Traders' Compress Company, which Mr. Bradford also organized, and its operations are rapidly expanding, while the business of the ice company has been so developed as to include the output of two factories outside of El Reno�one at Weatherford and the other at Clinton. From 1904 to March, 1908, he was president of the First National Bank of El Reno, and he is a joint owner of the Calumet, Sayre and Erick state banks, so that he is a recognized financial leader in this section of Oklahoma. Not only this, but it was Mr. Bradford who built the beautiful opera house of El Reno, costing $31,000, and really a gem of its kind. He is still president of the controlling company, He has many other interests in the city and surrounding country, but the list is of sufficient length to indicate that he is one of the live, progressive men of the state. His popularity, added to his practical ability, has often prompted his Democratic admirers to request the political use of his name, but his varied and expanding business interests have thus far prevented him from acceding to their wishes. In his fraternal relations, he is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner, and is a past exalted ruler of the B. P. O. E. J. W. Bradford, the father, was long engaged in the mercantile business at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and was thus engaged at the outbreak of the Civil war. From the first he was an enthusiastic supporter of the Confederacy, and his service with the Jefferson Guards stamped him as a brave and efficient soldier. In this organization he first served as first lieutenant, and was at one time paymaster of the army of General Sydney Johnston, with the rank of major, and when that gallant commander was shot, Major Bradford was bravely fighting at his side. For four years he faithfully participated in every battle of his command, and was honorably mustered out of the service as major, only when the Confederacy had reached the limit of human endurance and its financial resources, and laid down its arms as the victim of circumstances. The brave and faithful soldier died at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife, and the mother of our subject, was known before marriage as Georgie Turner, being the representative of an old and honorable family of Mississippi. H. C. Bradford was united in marriage, in 1900, to Miss Donnie Modrall, a native of Gainesville, Texas, and to this union has been born one child, Mary Louise Bradford, her natal day being September 13, 1904. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ JOHN J. CARNEY. Among the able young lawyers of Oklahoma, John J. Carney has a fine record both as a public official of the territory and one of the founders of the state, being one of the most active and useful members of the constitution which forms the basis of the laws of the commonwealth. He is of a West Virginia family, born at Orlando, April 21, 1868, his immediate ancestors being of Irish birth. He received his education chiefly in the country schools of West Virginia, and at the Normal and State University from which he graduated in 1893. Commencing his legal studies at Parkersburg, West Virginia, he was admitted to the bar before leaving that state in 1893. In the year named he came to Oklahoma, stopping for a time at Perry, Noble county, at the opening of the strip. Within a few weeks he had removed to Yukon, Canadian county, and in September, 1894, located in El Reno, where he has since practiced, demonstrating his abilities both as a lawyer, a citizen and a public man. In 1900 and 1902 he served as county attorney, and in November, 1906, was chosen a member of the constitutional convention from the Thirty-sixth district. During the entire period of its deliberations he never missed a roll-call, and as chairman of the editing committee personally performed most of the work of the final revision of the constitution. He was also a member of other important committees. Patrick Carney, father of John J., was a native of Ireland, who came to the United States when he was seventeen years of age, settled in West Virginia when the country was new, and accomplished much toward the development of his home locality. He was accompanied to America by the paternal grandfather, Owen Carney, and the latter's wife (the mother of Patrick), Ellen (Naughton) Carney. Patrick Carney, the father of our subject, died in West Virginia, in 1891, at the age of sixty years. His mother is still living. John J. Carney was married in May, 1895, to Miss Anna Chase, of Missouri, and the five children of their union are: Bryan, Ellen, Lorenzo and Loreno (twins) and John. In his fraternal relations, Mr. Carney is identified with the Royal Neighbors and the Knights of Columbus. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ J. W. CLARK. A lawyer of great practical ability, and since his coming to Oklahoma, several years ago, keenly alive to its best interests, J. W. Clark, county attorney of Canadian county, residing in El Reno, is known as one of the stanchest defenders of the rights and institutions of this section of the state. He is a native of Adams county, Ohio, born on the 13th of January, 1859, and is a son of John S. Clark, a native of that state, coming of one of its most substantial pioneer families. During the active and earnest years of his useful life he was both a carpenter and a school teacher, and still resides in Fayette county, Ohio. Early in the nineteenth century his grandfather came from Ireland, being accompanied by his brother; the latter settled in Kentucky, the former in the Buckeye state. The mother of J. W. Clark was Isabel Moore, who died when he was but a child. J. W. Clark was educated in the public schools of Ohio, and at the high school of Washington Court House, Fayette county, that state. The death of his mother, however, threw many responsibilities upon him at an early age, and from the age of eleven years he virtually supported himself, and earned the money with which to complete his education. In 1878 he removed to Iowa, where he taught school for nine terms, at the same time farming in Appanoose county. Through all his struggles of boyhood and manhood, however, his ultimate ambition was to engage in the practice of the law, and, while earning a livelihood and establishing himself in the community as a citizen of substance and true worth, he was patiently studying and striving toward that end. In 1900 he was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Iowa, although he had been a practitioner since 1898. Mr. Clark removed to El Reno in February, 1901, and has been a progressive figure since that time, both in law and politics. A stanch Democrat and a good campaigner, as well as a thoroughgoing lawyer, in 1903 he was elected city attorney, and after energetically and capably filling the office for about four years was chosen, in 1907, to the even more responsible office of county attorney, the latter, of course, being under the new state constitution. During the first year of his incumbency as city attorney, the Rock Island road was about to cut through the El Reno cemetery, but, in his official capacity, he enjoined the company, and put up such a stanch legal fight that the project was abandoned. In 1906 the Topeka and El Reno Telegraph Company was purchased by the Pioneer Telegraph Company, and patrons of the service were being charged a double price. Through the efforts of the city attorney a close consolidation was effected, and all lines were provided with one switchboard operated at a reasonable price. These are but illustrations of the close and successful attention given by him to the public interests which fall to his keeping. Mr. Clark is also one of the leading Masons of Oklahoma, having filled all the offices in the order. He is master of El Reno Lodge, No. 7; is a member of Ascension Commandery No. 3, serving as eminent commander in 1907, and of the Mystic Shrine at Oklahoma City. He is identified with the B. P. O. E., and in his religious faith is identified with the Christian church. He is widely popular, entirely trustworthy, able professionally, a broad and useful citizen, and a strong member of the community, who is universally esteemed for his high character as well as his good works. In 1880 Mr. Clark was married to Catherine Thomas, the ceremony occurring in Centreville, Iowa, which was her home. Mrs. Clark was born in Kansas, but reared in Iowa, and by this union has become the mother of three children, as follows: Cora E., now Mrs. George H. Lane, of Leadville, Colorado; Austin R. and John W. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A. O. CROMER, D. D. S., is one of the leading members of his profession in Oklahoma, having been a resident of El Reno, Canadian county, for some seven years. He is a native of Troy, Ohio, where he was born on the 24th of February, 1875, being a son of Daniel and Clara (Fuller) Cromer. His father was Daniel Cromer, a Virginian, who came from his native state with his sire, Owen Cromer. Early in life the boy assisted in the work of the home farm, but as a man engaged chiefly in the lumber business, passing away in 1889. His wife (the mother of A. O. Cromer) was born in Ohio. Our subject obtained an education of a primary and commercial nature before he assumed his professional studies, and finally graduated from the Central College of Dentistry, Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1900, soon after his graduation, he came to El Reno, and entered into an active and lucrative practice, both his reputation and his business having reached a high mark. He is a leading member of the Oklahoma Dental Society, of which he was elected vice-president in 1907, and is also identified with the Kansas Dental Society. By his marriage to Evelyn Imboden in 1903 he has become the father of Carl, Constance and Imboden. Fraternally, he is a member of the B. P. O. E.; his religious faith is Methodism, and his standing from every point of view is substantial and honorable. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DR. M. FITZGERALD, one of the prominent Irish-American practitioners and citizens of El Reno, Canadian county, is a native of Chicago, Illinois, where his father also resided for many years prior to his death. After receiving a partial education at St. Mary's-by-the-Lake College, of that city, in 1861 he joined the Union army as a member of the famous Mulligan's Irish Brigade, Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He participated in all the engagements of this fighting command, and in 1865 was honorably discharged as captain of Company H. Captured in the action at Lexington, Missouri, he was a prisoner of war for four months, or until exchanged. His good service was chiefly, however, in the famous campaigns of Virginia, in connection with the operations of the Army of the Potomac. At the conclusion of the war, Captain Fitzgerald returned to Chicago, commenced the study of medicine with Dr. J. H. Taggart, and finally graduated from Rush Medical College. Soon afterward, in 1877, he went to Iowa to commence practice, and remained in that state until coming to El Reno in 1902. During the period of his residence in the Hawkeye state, he acted as special pension examiner under appointment of President Cleveland, and also served as postmaster of Vail, for about eight years. His Democracy was as pronounced then, as it is now, and his popularity has always extended far beyond the limits of his professional activities. Coming to El Reno, he at once entered active practice and his professional standing was soon assured, while in 1905 his personal popularity was demonstrated by his election to the office of county coroner, in which capacity he served for two years. He is a member of the County, State and American Medical associations, and, fraternally, is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus. In 1880, the Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Ellen O'Connell, a native of Indiana, born of Irish parents, and the four children of their union are Catherine, Mary, Ellen and Anna. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ H. L. FOGG, probate judge of Canadian county, residing in El Reno, is one of the young, popular and efficient members of the legal profession, who are performing such valuable service in the establishment and promulgation of the laws in the young state of Oklahoma. Like many other of its stanchest settlers, he comes of an old southern family. His ancestors were Kentuckians, and he himself was born in Montgomery county, of the Blue Grass state, on the 15th of September, 1878. He is a son of Thomas L. Fogg, an honest Kentucky farmer, and his mother was known, in maidenhood, as Katherine Gillaspie. Judge Fogg received his education, literary and professional, in the schools of Kentucky, and in 1901 was admitted to the bar of that state. In the same year he removed to El Reno and commenced the practice of his profession there, and, with the other first officials of the new state of Oklahoma, was elected to his present position. As a Democrat, he had been quite active in politics, under the territorial regime. In October, 1907, the Judge wedded Miss Blanche Fryberger, daughter of W. E. Fryberger, a well known pioneer who is now a business man of El Reno. By nature, Judge Fogg is social and companionable, but his connection with the organized fraternities is confined to his membership with the Masons and the B. P. 0. E. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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