Kingfisher Biographies, Page 5

PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF OKLAHOMA 1901

Biographies on this page:

Moss, Prof. G. D.
Phillips, Thomas F.
Overton, S. R.
Showalter, A. H.
Solomon, Dempsey W.

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PROF. G. D. MOSS,
who is now serving his fourth term as superintendent of schools in Kingfisher county, has made an enviable record as an official. Well fitted by education and experience for his special line of work, he has instituted many practical changes and has reduced our school system to a state approaching perfection. He stands high among the leading educators of the west and is looked up to as an authority in these matters. For several years he served as president of the Kingfisher County Teachers' Association, and in 1900 was instrumental in organizing the Teachers' and Patrons' Association of Kingfisher county, of which body he is now acting as chairman. In 1898 he was appointed by Governor Barnes as a member of the territorial board of education. For some time he has been identified with the Territorial Teachers' Association and for several terms has been a member of its executive committee.

In tracing the ancestry of Prof. Moss, it is learned that his forefathers were southern people. His grandfather, Marcellus J. Moss, was born in Garrard county, Ky., and for a wife he chose a Miss Renfro, whose father was a hero of the Revolution. He served under the leadership of Washington, and on one occasion when he was in camp the great General, in the course of a little conversation, asked the soldier it" he intended to go to see a certain place taken, then held by the British, and he replied sturdily, "No, but I am going to help take it." M. J. Moss lived in eastern Tennessee for a period, and later removed to Knox county, Ky., where he passed his declining years. He was of German descent and his wife was of Scotch extraction.

The parents of Prof. Moss were R. J. and Frances (Burch) Moss, natives of Claiborne county, Tenn., and Knox county, Ky., respectively. In his early manhood Mr. Moss engaged in farming and stock-raising in Knox county and became prosperous and influential in that locality. Though of southern birth he was in sympathy with the Union, and when the Civil war broke out he enlisted in a Kentucky regiment, but on account of ill health was not called into service.

In the fall of 1889 he came to Kingfisher county, and is still living on his homestead. His wife is a daughter of Thomas C. and Mary (Word) Burch, natives of Garrard county, Ky. The former was of Irish descent, and the latter was of English ancestry. Mr. Burch's forefathers settled in North Carolina at an early period, and thence members of the family went to Virginia and finally to Kentucky. During the Civil war Mr. Burch enlisted in the Union army, and held a commission as lieutenant of a Kentucky regiment, as did his son, John W. Burch.

Prof. G. D. Moss was born near Barboursville, Knox county, Ky., on Christmas day, 1855, the eldest of four children. Two of the number are deceased, and Mrs. Eliza C. Smith now resides in this county. Their mother died when our subject was in'his sixteenth year. In 1857 the family located near Crab Orchard, Lincoln county, Ky.. and in his boyhood G. D. Moss laid the foundations of his education in the public school. Later he attended private schools in what is now Bell county, and then entered Tazewell College at Tazewell, Term. In 1877 he was graduated in Masonic University at Somerset, Ky., where he had pursued a scientific course. As early as 1873 he had engaged in teaching and at intervals was thus employed, in order to obtain the funds for his collegiate course. For some time he taught in the schools of Garrard county, Ky., and then became principal of a school in Lancaster, Ky. After officiating in that position for two years he was promoted to the post of principal of the primary department of the Garrard Female College in the same city. Later, he was superintendent of the Boston Academy of Whitley county, Ky., for two years. In the meantime, however, he went to California and was employed in his usual vocation in Santa Barbara county, and for some time resided in Fresno county, where, in addition to teaching, he was interested in the raising of live stock. In 1883 he returned to Kentucky on account of his father's poor health, but in the spring of 1890 he removed to Kingfisher county.

In September of the Same year Prof. Moss opened Kingfisher Academy, the first educational institution of the kind in the territory. At the end of a year he resigned that position in order to accept one in the Cheyenne Indian School at Cadclo, Okla. In 1892 he became superintendent of the Rainy Mountain Indian School at Anadarko, this territory, but in the spring of 1893 ne returned to this county, where he engaged in teaching for another year. In the fall of 1894, soon after his return, he was nominated on the Republican ticket as county superintendent, and was elected by a majority of one hundred and seventy-two votes. In January, 1895, he entered upon the duties of his responsible office and carried out the wishes of the people so efficiently that in the following year he was renominated by acclamation, and was elected by a majority of forty-four votes over the fusion ticket. In 1898 he was again nominated by acclamation and scored a triumphant success in the ensuing election, as he received six hundred and twenty-six votes over the fusion ticket. In 1900 he was again renominated by acclamation and elected for the fourth time. He is the only superintendent in the territory who has been elected to serve the fourth term. The public has become interested in making manv improvements in the county schools, and while many changes have already been instituted more radical ones are in view. It is hoped that a good system of grading the common schools, increasing the length of terms and providing more and better school buildings muv soon be carried out. The demand for a higher standard and better facilities is increasing, and much of this sentiment may be attributed to the efforts of Prof. Moss, who stands for progress. At the time of his taking charge of this line of work the summer normal was held only three weeks, but each year the term was increased in length until it now covers a period of eight weeks. Under his supervision there are one hundred and nineteen districts in the county outside of the city of Kingfisher, and one hundred and twenty-five teachers are employed outside of the city.

From his youth Professor Moss has been interested in agriculture, and at present he owns a good homestead, situated four and one-half miles to the northeast of the county-seat. He is a member of Kingfisher Lodge No. 4, I. O. O. F., of which he is past noble grand. He also is identified with Kingfisher Lodge No. 2, A. O. L. W. A zealous member of the Baptist church, and a great worker in the Sunday-school, he has served as superintendent for the past seven years. Politically, he is an ardent Republican.

The marriage of Prof. Moss and Miss Lizzie J. Patterson took place in Kentucky in 1878. Mrs. Moss was born near Crawfordsville, Ind., and is a lady of good educational attainments. Their oldest child, Reuben A., enlisted during the Spanish-American war and served in the hospital corps. Later he re-enlisted in the army and is now serving in the Philippines. The younger children are named respectively, Anna Maun and George Herbert.

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S. R. OVERTON.
To Mr. Overton belongs the distinction of being the oldest agent on the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad in Oklahoma. The business was conducted at the beginning of his residence in Hennessey in the rather limited compass of a box car, but has long since outgrown these primitive surroundings, and is now located in the brick block on Main street, 25x90 feet in dimensions, erected by this enterprising representative of a great railroad.

The ancestors of the Overton family were citizens of the English crown. The grandfather, John Overton, after coming to America, settled with his family at Sandusky, Ohio, and later removed to Wisconsin. His grandson, S. R. Overton, was born in Lodi, Dane county, Wis., and is a son of John and Lucina (Otto) Overton, natives, respectively, of England and Schenec-tady, N. Y. John Overton came from England with his father, and passed his childhood in Sandusky, Ohio, going thence to Dane county, Wis., and from there in 1877 to Parker, S. D., where for many years he engaged in general farming.

Lucina (Otto) Overton was a member of the distinguished Teller family, her father, John Otto, having married Eliza Teller, a daughter of John Teller, who was born in Schenectady, N. Y., February 15, 1800, and located on a farm in Allegany county, N. Y., but later removed to Girard, Erie county, Pa. In 1862 he settled in Morrison, Whitesicle county, 111., where he died in 1879. The founder of the Teller family in America was William, a native of Holland, who was born in 1620. In 1639 he came to New York and settled at Fort Orange, where the king of Holland had appointed him trustee of a tract of land. His descendants have been conspicuous in various walks of life, perhaps the most brilliant of that name being Hon. Henry Moore Teller, whose career in the United States senate while representing his adopted state of Colorado has been characterized as the splendid achievement of a truly great and noble man. The Otto family is of German descent, and the great-great-grandfather was the son of Duke Otto, and came to the United States during the early part of the last century. His son, Otto, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and the grandfather of Lucina Overton, who died in Dakota. She was the mother of twelve children, five of whom are living, three daughters and two sons, of whom S. R. is the youngest son and the only one residing in Oklahoma; one son, John, is living in South Dakota; Adele has attained distinction in the intellectual and social life of Denver, Colo., and in 1871 became the assistant principal of the Denver high school, the same year she had graduated from the University of Wisconsin with the degree of A. B. She is a member of the Daughters of the Revolution, and treasurer of the Colorado State Society. Marie is living in Denver, where she is engaged in teaching; and Hattie is in Chicago, having married George Otto, of that city.

Succeeding his birth, which occurred December 22, 1859, Mr. S. R. Overton received his early training in Wisconsin, and studied at the public schools and at the high school, from which he graduated with honors. At the early age of sixteen he began to teach school and continued the same for three terms, later going to South Dakota, where he taught for two terms. In the meantime he had taken up the study of telegraphy, and in 1878 began to operate for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, transferring his station in 1880 to Dakotah City, Iowa. In 1881 he located at Laurens, Iowa, where he spent four years, and later he lived in Luverne, the same state, for two years. From 1887 to 1889 he was engaged in the same occupation at Octavia, Neb., when he retired for a time to engage in business at Lincoln, Neb. Subsequently he engaged with the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad, being located for a time at Pratt City, Kans., before taking up his permanent residence at Hennessey in 1889.

Mr. Overton has not confined his efforts exclusively to the affairs of the railroad, but has devoted much time and study to various enterprises, which have placed him in the front rank of citizens and promoters of the general good. Upon coming to Oklahoma he laid claim to a quarter section three miles out of Hennessey, which was later sold. In addition to the brick Overton block, in which the affairs of the railroad are conducted, he has built three stores on Main street, as well as a fine residence on the corner of Oklahoma avenue and Thompson street, the grounds of which comprise thirteen acres, and the appointments of which are thoroughly modern and arranged with an idea for comfort and elegance. The equipments include a water-works system, arranged from a windmill, and tank with a storage capacity of seventy-five barrels. This permits of baths and running water in the house, which are luxuries at all times in comparatively new towns. On the grounds are numerous trees that produce cool shade in the summer time, and also other trees that bear apples, peaches, plums and a variety of other fruits. One might look far without coming upon so complete and homelike a dwelling place.

Mr. Overton has been twice married, the first to bear his name having been Flora Wilcox, who was born in Wisconsin, near La Crosse, and died in Octavia, Neb. She was the mother of one child, Blanche. The second Mrs. Overton was formerly May Needham, of Bellwood, Neb., and born in Michigan. Mrs. Overton is a daughter of W. H. Needham, a grain dealer of Hennessey. Of this union there are three children: Marvin, Basil and John. Mr. Overton is politically affiliated with the Republican party and has been conspicuously identified with its undertakings. He was a member of the first council and twice re-elected, and has since been mayor of the city for one term.. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a member of the Encampment. He is interested in the Presbyterian Church and contributes liberally toward its support, while his wife and daughter are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Overton is one of Hennessey's most esteemed and reliable citizens and is regarded as an able acquisition to the many who have been instrumental in its successful upbuilding.

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THOMAS F. PHILLIPS.
The first members of the Phillips family in America came here from Germany at an early day and settled in North Carolina. The first relative of whom there is a distinct recollection is the grandfather, Abraham, who was born in North Carolina and became a pioneer in the early history of Indiana. His efforts were later cast in Caldwell county, Mo., where he died at the age of eighty-four years. His son Andrew, the father of Thomas F., was born in New Salem, Washington county, Ind., and in 1853 located in Logan county, Ill., where he died in 1854. His wife, Jemima (Ratts) Phillips, was born in Indiana, and is the daughter of Rinehart Ratts, of North Carolina, who early settled in Indiana, and died there. His wife is now residing in Atlanta, Ill., and is over seventy-six years of age. She became the mother of seven children: Jacob enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Illinois Regiment during the Civil war and is now residing in Caldwell county, Mo.; Rinehart enlisted in the Twenty-eighth Illinois Infantry, and died in the service; Ransom served in the Sixty-eighth Illinois, and now lives in Logan county. Ill.; Abraham is in Kingfisher, Okla.; Milton died in Legan county, Ill.; Thomas F. is living in Kingfisher; and Albert was burned to death when very young.

Born February 18, 1849, in Logan county, Ill., Thomas F. Phillips was reared on his father's farm and educated in the public schools of his township. During April, 1864, he enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Forty-fifth Illinois Infantry, at Springfield, Ill., and was sent into Missouri, under General Siegel, to deal with General Price. They assisted in putting an end to his activities in Missouri and Arkansas. He was mustered out of service after six months and returned to his former home in Logan county, where he again engaged in his former occupation of farming.

In 1866 Mr. Phillips settled in Jasper county, Mo., near Carthage, where he owned a farm of two hundred acres, and successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising. In 1873 he changed his occupation to that of grocer, the place of business being located in the city of Cartilage. Not content to remain there indefinitely, he engaged in the flour business in Joplin, Mo., for about two years, after which he returned to his farm in the country and continued to buy and sell stock until 1886. After selling out the large farm and its furnishings he located in Ford county, Kans., where he bought a farm eight miles from Dodge City, stocked it, and proceeded to engage in general farming and stock raising. At the opening of Oklahoma he made the run from the state line and located near Kingfisher, where he conducted a large dairy business, having brought with him to the territory a drove of milch cows. When on the road to a prosperous and paying business, a drove of Texas cattle came through the county, some of them straying to his land, and, from association with their southern kind, his own cattle sickened and died, entailing upon him almost a complete loss.

Hoping to gain a new start, Mr. Phillips located on some school land, where he fanned until 1885. He was then appointed receiving clerk in the United States land office, under Caldwell and E. G. Spilman, which position he filled for two years, resigning this place to become United States Marshal under Chief Deputy Marshal Nagle, with headquarters at Guthrie, where he remained until the close of the administration. In 1898 he removed to Kingfisher, where his first business efforts were directed to an interest'in the hardware and implement trade, under the firm name of Conley & Phillips. The firm has been very successful and cater to a constantly increasing trade. Mr. Phillips owns one hundred and sixty acres of land six miles from the town, at the mouth of Kingfisher creek. He also owns a quarter section ten miles northwest of Kingfisher, on Cooper creek. Another interest is that of the coal and feed business, he being a member of the firm of Phillips & Phillips in Kingfisher.

In Jasper county, Mo., Mr. Phillips married Sarah Baker, who was born in Sangamon county, Ill., and is a daughter of John F. Baker, of Kentucky. Her paternal grandfather, Thomas Baker, was a farmer and an early settler in Illinois. Her mother, Rebecca Patterson, was born in Kentucky and reared in Illinois, being a daughter of James Patterson, an early settler in Logan county, Ill., where he died. To Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Phillips have been born five children, four of whom are living. George A., who is a farmer, is living with his father; Minnie is the wife of A. J. Phillips, of Kingfisher; John F. is chief clerk in his father's store; and Arthur B. is with the feed business of Phillips & Phillips. Mr. Phillips is a Democrat in politics and has been chairman of the county committee for a number of years, also served as a member of the territorial Democratic committee, and has in various ways been identified with the political doings of his township. He is a member of Grand Army of the Republic, Post No. 2, of Kingfisher. With his family he is associated with the work and charities of the Christian Church.

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A. H. SCHOWALTER.
With certain reservations, it may be maintained that success, at least in a fair measure, comes to those who are deserving of the blessing. The ambitious, enterprising, industrious American citizen is rarely to be found in the great class of malcontents, who clamor against the institutions and policy of this great nation, but, rather, is grateful and proud of the fact that he is classed among the loyal sons of the republic.

Mr. Schowalter of this sketch is a worthy American, and an honored citizen of Kingfisher, with whose destinies his own have been linked since the opening of Oklahoma. He is a son of Peter and Mary (Eymann) Schowalter, natives of Bavaria, Germany. The father was born in September, 1818, and after his marriage crossed the Atlantic, thenceforth to make his home in the United States. In 1845 he settled in Ashland county, Ohio, and seven years later, in 1852, purchased a homestead in Lee county, Iowa. After spending three decades in that county, engaged in the tilling of the soil, he passed to his reward, loved and respected by all. His faithful wife survived him twelve years, dying in 1894, when about seventy years of age. Her father, Jacob Eymann, also was numbered among the farmers of Iowa for several years prior to his death. Peter Schowalter and wife were adherents of the religious sect called Mennonites, and the former was one of the trustees in his church. Of the ten children who lived to maturity, seven sons and a daughter survive.

A. H. Schowalter was born near Franklin Center, Lee county, Iowa, March 28, 1856, and passed his boyhood in the quiet routine of farm life. He had but limited educational advantages, but possessed a determination to learn, which has made him the well-informed man that he is today. He continued to assist in the management of the home farm until 1878, when he went to Summerfield, Ill., and became an employee of a prosperous agriculturist in that vicinity. With him he continued for two years, and in the meantime attended a private school, where he perfected himself in several branches of practical knowledge.

In 1880 Mr. Schowalter went to Halstead, Kans., where he devoted his time to farming until 1882, when he became interested in the lumber business. For two years he was in the employ of D. C. Ruth, and then during the ensuing three years was with the Halstead Lumber Company, buying timber for the firm in different parts of the south. In 1887 he became a citizen of Tribune, Greeley county, Kans., where he was connected with its development, and transacted a lucrative real estate business. He served as a member of the city council and accomplished much for the place, though he resided there but little over two years. April 22, 1889, he came to Kingfisher, located some lots here and at once commenced making improvements. During the following six years he was associated with the Michigan Lumber Company and then, selling out, he bought out the Alexander Lumber Company, whose yards cover over a quarter of a block, at the corner of Admire avenue and Seventh street. The firm is now known as A. H. Schowalter & Co., and a large stock of lumber is always carried. An extensive trade has been built up by the enterprising firm, and in addition to their other enterprise they deal extensively in coal and wood. Mr. Schowalter is identified with the Missouri & Kansas Retail Lumber Dealers' Association.

At the organization of Kingfisher, Mr. Schowalter was chosen as a member of the council, and when elected to represent the first ward of Kingfisher he served as chairman of the finance committee. At present he holds the office of treasurer of the city school funds. A fine school-house has been constructed, besides which other improvements are being made here in the educational system. In politics he is an earnest advocate of the Republican party. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in both of which orders he has held official positions. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and is a liberal contributor to many worthy religious and benevolent enterprises.

The marriage of Mr. Schowalter and Miss Lizzie Ashworth, a native of Jewell county, Kans., took place in Kingfisher, November 6th, 1894. They have a pleasant home, the sunshine of which is their charming little daughter, Twyla, four years of age.

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DEMPSEY W. SOLOMON.
Mr. Solomon was of English and Dutch ancestry, and several generations of the family have dwelt in America. His great-grandfather, Lewis Solomon, of South Carolina, enlisted in the colonial army during the war of the Revolution, and once, while he was away from home, a party of Tories visited his plantation. Proceeding to confiscate whatever they desired, the feelings of grandmother Solomon became well wrought up, quite naturally, and at last, when they took some yarn which she valued, she could stand their lawlessness no longer, and, seizing a poker, routed the enemy. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Lewis Solomon, Jr., was born in Franklin county, N. C., in 1780, and at the age of eighteen years he wedded Sarah Bowden, daughter of John Bowden, a well-to-do citizen. In 1811 the worthy couple removed to Logan county, Ky., and two years later they became residents of Muhlenberg county, same state. In that section of the state their seventh child and the father's namesake, Lewis, was born, April 1, 1812. In 1825 the family removed to the new state of Illinois, making the journey with a one-horse cart, which contained their household effects. The mother and three younger children rode in the cart, but the rest of the family, twelve in all, walked nearly all of the distance. The father had met with a serious financial reverse in Kentucky, as his hard-earned fortune was swallowed up in the failure of the Commonwealth Bank. For a couple of years they lived within five miles of Jacksonville, Ill., and from the spring of 1827 until the death of the father in August, 1849, they dwelt in Palmyra township, Macoupin county, same state. The wife and mother departed this life in the preceding February.

Judge Lewis Solomon, as he was later known, early manifested unusual ability, despite his humble circumstances and meager educational advantages. At twenty he enlisted in the war against the Blackhawk Indians, under command of Capt. John Hines and Colonel DeWitt. He was in active service for two months, and once, when supplies of food were cut off, he was without bread for five days. After his return to his accustomed pursuits he was elected corporal, and later captain, of a company of militia, and finally attained the rank of major of the Sixty-second Regiment of Illinois Infantry. At twenty-one he entered forty acres of land, which he proceeded to clear, and frequently he chopped wood at forty cents a cord. In 1835 he became interested in the lead mines at Galena, Ill., and in time he was known for his large landed possessions in Palmyra township, Macoupin county. In 1839 he was elected assessor of the county end served a year, and in 1843 he was made a justice of the peace, acting as such eleven years, when he resigned. In 1852 he was elected to the legislature, where he won wide fame, owing to his active service on important committees. In 1857 he was further honored by being the people's choice for county judge, and after four years in that office he was sent as a delegate to the constitutional convention. In 1870 he was elected to the Illinois senate, where, as ever, he maintained his Democratic principles and earned new laurels. The marriage of Judge Solomon and Nancy Ann, daughter of John Fink, of Kentucky, took place June 23, 1836. She died in 1863, and on the 8th of May, 1866, Mr. Solomon wedded Mary Ann Butcher. Nine children were born to the first marriage of the judge, namely: Mrs. Louisa Mills and Francis M., who reside in Illinois; Thomas J., who died in that state; Dempsey W.; Mrs. Annie E. Gatchell, Mrs. Martha Smith, of Illinois; John L., of Greenfield, Ill., and LaFayette and Alien B., of Palmyra, Ill. The birth of D. W. Solomon occurred near Palmyra, Ill., December 15, 1844. After completing his public-school education he attended Blackburn University, at Carlinville, Ill., and then, for eleven years, devoted a large share of his time to the work of teaching. Later he purchased a farm and was numbered among the successful agriculturists of that locality for some years. The public elected him to the county board of supervisors, and in that office he acted for several terms, one term being chairman of the board.

In 1887 Mr. Solomon determined to try his fortunes in the west, and until the opening of Oklahoma he carried on a grocery business at Wichita, Kans. In July, 1889, he came to Kingfisher, and, buying a building on Main street, carried on a thriving boot and shoe business for about a year, after which he embarked in the furniture and undertaking business, his establishment being again on Main street. In the fall of 1895 he sold out, on account of poor health, and a year later was elected on the Democratic ticket to the important office of register of deeds, receiving a good majority of votes. Assuming the duties of his office in January, 1897, he remained there for two years, and then lived retired at his home during the few months of life which were left to him. Throughout his career he was noted for his public spirit and enterprise, and no one was more anxious to provide excellent schools and educational advantages to the rising generation. As a member of the Kingfisher school board he played an important part and aided in the work of constructing the first school building erected in the city. Liberally did he contribute to churches and schools, public improvements and benevolences, and thus truly merits the praise of all. From his seventeenth year he was actively identified with the Christian Church, and served as superintendent of the Sunday-school and on the official board for many years. The Kingfisher church had no more loyal wprker, and when the house of worship was under consideration he performed heroic service on the building committee, and at the time of his death he was a trustee and an elder. Fraternally he was a Mason, and was connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Woodmen of the World. On the l0th of October, 1899, he was summoned to the silent land, and his mortal remains were placed in the peaceful city of the dead, at Wichita, Kans.

Mr. Solomon is survived by his widow, whose maiden name was Lucy J. McPherson. Their marriage took place in Palmyra, Ill., March 25, 1873, at the home of her father, J. W. McPherson, who was a cousin of the noted General McPherson, of Civil war fame. lie was a native of Muhlenberg county, Ky., in which state his father, William McPherson, also was born. The latter's father, Lewis McPherson, a native of Scotland, was one of the earliest settlers in the Blue Grass state, and each of these three generations contributed much to the progress of that section of the Union. J. W. McPherson. who was associated with the agriculturists of Scott county, Ill., for a number of years, removed to North Palmyra, Macoupin county, Ill., in 1863, and in 1885 located near Wichita, Kans., where he was engaged in farming until shortly before his death, which event occurred February 10, 1890, when he was in his sixty-sixth year. For a great many years he had been a valued worker in the Christian Church and long served in the office of an elder. His wife, Mrs. Mary J. (Shanklin) McPherson, was born in Logan county, Ky., in 1827, the daughter of John and Janett (Green) Shanklin. who were of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively. The father lived in Logan county, Ky., from his nineteenth year until 1829, when he took up his residence in Whitehall, Green county, Ill. After his death, in 1833, the family removed to Manchester, Scott county, Ill., where they gave their attention to farming, as formerly. The mother, who now lives with her children in Wichita, is a second cousin of General Thomas, who won distinction in the Civil war. She is a devout member of the Christian Church, and three of her sons were ministers of the gospel. Her children were as follows: Rev. John H., who died in Topeka, Kans.: Rev. Lowell C., who is engaged in establishing churches in Havana, Cuba; William T., who died near Kingman, Kans.; Mrs. Lucy J. Solomon; Samuel W., a farmer in the vicinity of Wichita; R. P., a student in Hiram College. Ohio, and also a minister; L. G. is a resident of Wichita, Kans.; Mrs. Nellie G. Moore, who lives in Kansas City; Mrs. Mary F. Bierer, who resides in Medicine Lodge, Kans., and Mrs. Octavia Parrott, who has her home in Wichita.

Mrs. Solomon, reared in the atmosphere of a Christian home, like her brothers and sisters, early became identified with the church, and always has been an earnest worker for the Master. She received her higher education in Eureka College, Ill. Since coming to Kingfisher she has wielded a great influence for good, and is a valued factor in the Christian Church. An unusual honor was accorded her when she was made chairman of the building committee of the Broadway Church, but she bravely sustained her reputation as an able executive business woman. The only child of D. W. Solomon and wife is Elmer J., who was graduated in the Kingfisher high school and now is bookkeeper for the firm of Loiran & Snow.

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