Newspaper extracts 1908

Pottawatomie News Items
1908 - 1919
(extracts)

1908 The OKLAHOMAN, January 3, 1908, pg. 5:
Shawnee Police Chief Sims to receive $500 back pay. Mayor Stearns apparently had refused to sign warrants for suspended time but when Chief Sims was cleared of a charge against him the Judge ruled he should receive back salary.

The OKLAHOMAN, January 5, 1908, pg. 4:
News item about Ezra Pennington, age 26, special rural agent for the Pioneer telephone and telegraph company and living in N.Y., and Miss Eva Rupert, age 32 of Choctaw City, being married in Shawnee. Grooms parents are listed as Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson Pennington of Okla. City

The OKLAHOMAN, January 9, 1908, pg. 7:
Report of public meeting to be held in the Shawnee City Hall to fnish the organization of a "100,000 club". The article mentions that J.M. Aydelotte was the temporary president and A.M. Coffin was temporary secretary.

The OKLAHOMAN, January 21, 1908, pg. 5:
News item reporting that Mr. and Mrs. H.F. Daugherty went to Shawnee, "last evening" and would be visiting relatives. Mrs. Daugherty was to stay for an extended visit, but Mr. Dougherty would return to Okla City in a few days.

The OKLAHOMAN, March 27, 1908, pg. 27:

COUNTY ATTORNEY IS NOT SATISFIED, Suicide Theory of Mrs. Palmer's death may be explored--reports about the death of Mrs. Charles Palmer by poison on March 17th--perhaps a suicide. Mrs. Palmer was 25 years old and had been married 8 months. County authorities not sure her death was suicide; examined b a cornoner's jury and buried Tuesday, however jury only recessed to give County Attorney Bigger time to investigate. Also mentioned are Chief of Police Simms and Sheriff Pierce.

SHAWNEE AMATEURS ACTIVE--Article about amateur base ball booming in Shawnee. The Rock Island team and the amateur team having try-outs.
ASSAILANT OF MRS CUPPER IS INDICTED--Events mentioned are that Will Johnson was the assailant of Mrs. Mary Cuppy on the afternoon of March 26th, 1927 and was charged with her murder in the first degree. Physicians were Dr. T. E. Evans and Dr. J.A. Walker and they told a jury that Mrs. Cuppy "came to her death through a general break down, due directly to the assault." Johnson would not comment. (Note--names were copied as they appeared in the paper, Cupper/Cuppy.)

The OKLAHOMAN, April 10, 1908
BANK BEAT BANK IN CLOSING OUT; Collections are $120,000 Short in Pottawatomie County Deal.
J.H. Woods, referee in the consolidated case of W.J. Riggs against the Oklahoma National Bank presented report and judgement was approved for $6,426.+

The OKLAHOMAN, June 11, 1908
LIVE WIRE FATAL TO 2; Shawnee Children Electrocuted in Street--Third Is Seriously Injured
Willie Motsendasher age 12, son of Mrs. Sarah M. Motsendasher, was killed instantly when he touched a guy wire that had become crossed with a wire belonging to the Shawnee Gass and Light. His companion, Theodore Prather who was 9 years old was knocked unconscious when he rushed to Motsendasher. Thirteen year old Edie Olizer, daughter of Mrs. Ollie Olizer was killed instantly later in the day when she touched a swinging electric light wire.

The OKLAHOMAN, Aug 23, 1908
"Shawnee Will Entertain the Missionary Workers"
This article tells about the 1st annual convention of the Oklahoma Christian Missionary Society to be held in Shawnee. The year before this group was formed from the two territorial organizations. The sessions were to be held at the First Christian church with Pastor Frank L. VanVorhees and his congregation entertaining. Mrs. Cosson, of Shawnee was to deliver the address of welcome.

The NEW YORK TIMES, August 31, 1908:
ARREST MANY NEGROES, Oklahoma Officials Indulge In Drag-Net Search for Girl's Assailant. Reports that 75 negroes were placed under arrest in Shawnee in an effort to apprehend a negro who attacked Miss Kate Fane, of McAlester. The assailant apparent ambushed the girl and stuck her over the head with a revolver three times. She was unconscious for two hours.

THE OKLAHOMAN, October 23, 1908
HEAVIEST PROPERTY AND CROP DAMAGE IN SHAWNEE VICINITY; Village of Dale, Pottawatomie County, Is Under Water and Communication Cut Off--Frost Predicted to Follow Storm. Seventy-two hours of practically ceaseless rainfall.

1909 The OKLAHOMAN, January 16, 1909
ROONEY TRIAL RECALLS FEUD; Federal Liquor Case From Pottawatomie County Up At Guthrie.
Trial of M.A. Rooney charged with selling liquor to Indians. The article say the trial "has again brought into prominence a Pottawatomie county feud which kept things lively at Keokuk Falls, just across the ine from the Seminole nationa, until that town was finally abandoned and all of its buildings moved elsewhere." Tells that Rooney and Edward Tomlinson ran a distillery at Keokuk Falls before statehood. Their activities caused bitter conflict with some citizens. In December, 1905, Tomlinson was killed at Keokuk Falls by Felix Grundy. Rooney was "now" being tried.

The OKLAHOMAN, February 12, 1909
SHAWNEE WINS EASILY IN COUNTY SEAT FIGHT; Tecumseh the Defeated Rival In Pottawatomie County Will Contest Election.
Report on results of county seat election for Pottawatomie county: Shawnee 4,948 and Tecumseh 3,026 giving Shawnee 162 votes more than the necessary 60 percent. Long fight expected before matter is settled.

The OKLAHOMAN, February 27, 1909
WILL NOT PROBE CAUSE OF DEATH, Charged That Shawnee Woman Brought About Own Death...Husband Will Decide. Article reports that the case of the death of Mrs. C. E. Johnson will result in no warrants be sworn out. She apparently died "of a criminal operation." The final decision on further investigation depends on the husband's testimony as to whether her death was at her own hand. At the time of this article, the husband had accompanied the wife of his body to Springfield, MO.

----------- ADULTERY IS CHARGE. Eugene W. Bass and Dora Hoppes arrested on adultery charges brought against them by the wife of Mr. Bass. Mrs. Bass lives in Missouri. Bass & Hoppes were running a rooming house in Shawnee. Mr. Bass was jailed but the woman was released on her own recognizance because she was in a "delicate condition."

The OKLAHOMAN, May 12, 1909, pg. 1:
WOMAN SLAIN BY INDIAN, MAN SAYS, Mrs. Colclasure Killed in Darkness With Companion Near Shawnee.
Murder victim was Mrs. Mollie Colclasure, an attractive young widow. She was shot and her body was found the next morning in as pasture near town. Shooting was described by Claude Garman was the last one seen with her. Mrs. Colclasure had earlier told Mr. Garman of a jilted lover, an Indian, and that the man who did the shooting "talked like an Indian." (includes a photo of Mrs. Mollie Colclasure.)

The OKLAHOMAN, July 21, 1909
INDICT HAGAR ON PERJURY CHARGE; Pottawatomie County Commissioners Arrest Echo of Maben Trail.
Report on 14 indictments returned to the superior court grand jury. Those indicted: Robert H.H. Hagar, suspended Pottawatomie county commissioner who was charged with perjury for testimony during grand jury investigation in the spring of 1909. The grand jury was investigating District Judge W.N. Maban and County Attorney Virgil Biggers.

The OKLAHOMAN, Sept 3, 1909, pg. 5: Article reports results of officers elected for the Fraternal Order of Eagles which held their state aerie in Shawnee. People from Shawnee mentioned are as follows:
State president, Martin C. Flemming of Shawnee, 198
State conductor, Frank P. Stearns of Shawnee, 198
Trustees: T. Brown of Shawnee, 198; O.P.M. Zimmerman of Miami, 1812.

An evening banquet was held and the program included P.O. Cassidy of Shawnee serving as toastmaster. Banquet program listed the following from Shawnee: Mayor F.P. Stearns, "Fraternal Orders." Hon. J.D. Lydick, "How an Eagle Should Use His Wings." S.P. Freeling "Our Guests."

1910 THE OKLAHOMAN, April 5, 1910
Shawnee Graduates listed--Lois Budd, Hazel Reed, Maggle Higgins, Elma Stiehl; Pauline Leachman, Royce Wyant, Frank Zeliff, Jo Ragland, Carrie Ragland, May Chrisney, Lulu Moore, Cecilia Tatom, Clare Gleason, Nina Pring, Newton Lale and Robert Loy.

The OKLAHOMAN, August 7, 1910
Pottawatomie county attorney's office to call special grand jury to investigate alleged election frauds. County Attorney Holt was running against William Beatty of Wanette. Others mentioned in the article: J.D. Lydick, secretary of the county election board; E.E. Hood, local attorney; J.L. Roebuck and H.T. Douglas, business men and directors of the Chamber of Commerce; Virgil Biggers; B.B. Blakeney; J.H. Maxey; F.M. Williams; S.A. Sheldon.

THE OKLAHOMAN, September 17, 1910
Paul Corley, 20 years of age, died after a short illness of typhoid fever. Born in Stevens county, Texas. Survived by his mother, his step-father and 2 sisters. Funeral at First Baptist church.

The OKLAHOMAN, December 8, 1910
BIGGERS SEEKING REINSTATEMENT; Disbarred County Attorney of Pottawatomie Applies to High Court.
Biggers had turned "state's evidence" before the Pottawatomie county grand jury. His evidence caused indictment of District Judge Maben.

1912 The OKLAHOMAN, April 14, 1912, pg. 11:
SHAWNEE HAS BIG GRADUATION CLASS. Article reports "one of the larges classes in the history of Shawnee high school was to graduate--42. Other statements were that "new ideas" had be introduced into school work with the best of results." Principal of the school was listed as Hall. List of graduates: Misses Mary Blake, Iva Chrisney, Bladys Cowdrey, Edna DeWitt, Laura Fauble, Pearl Heal, Nellie Humphries, Emilie Kucera, Ruth Lowe, Camilla McKeller, Ruth Mansfield, Madene Martin, Aline Pelphrey, Florence Ratliff, Rosa Sims, Emma Singleton, Ione Snyder, Elizabeth Teall, Vestal Threatt, Mary Bell Watts, Enda Wilson, Lula Wingate, Mabel Wingate, and Paul Alvis. Ebert Boylan, Ben Campbell, John Campbell, Joe Davis, Welcome Elston, Max Ernest, Haylor Fisher, Temple Hart, John Langston, Ralph Lowe, Paul Loy, Mack McConkey, George Martin, Roy Mullen, Hugh Ogburn, William Payne, Eugene Pendleton, Frank Rushton.

1915 The OKLAHOMAN, April 4, 1915
Classified Ad: WILL TRADE two nice suburban residences clear in Shawnee for equity in Oklahoma City property. Urey G. George, Shawnee, Okla.

1916 The OKLAHOMAN, April 9, 1916
UNCLE SAM AIDS 100 SHAWNEE MEN TO ORGANIZE CLUB; Rifles Are Sold to Citizens Who Desire to Learn to Shoot; Business Men Practice at Least Once a Month on Local Range.
Shawnee--Rifle club organized uner the rules of the National Rifle association. Each member equipped with an army Springfield rifle. Shawnee Rifle club approved by the war department at Washington under an act of congress approved April 27, 1914. Officers: Frank D. Keller, president; Guy T. Foster, vice president; S. J. Ward treasurer; Tony G. Malahy, secretary; and Hary A. Pierson, executive officer. Members: F. V. Askew, O.O. Black, A.N. Blair, E.E. Breckenridge, Charles Bishop, George M. Barton, W.J. Byrum, John Bossler, N.S. Barnett, W.H. Budd, W.F. Brill, Dan/Don Beeler, L.C. Bocher, C.J. Becker, W.G Becker, W. Bowley, S.E. Brussels, Charles A. Bell, W.J. Barnett, E.T. Carson, R. W. Congson, F.L. Carson, C.M. Cade, H.B. Crews, H.T. Douglas, N.M. Douglas, W.E. Dougherty, R.L. Drimon, Charles W. Ellison, L.C. Elaton, W.H. Ernest, G.T. Foster, Martin C. Fleming, J.E. Fitzgerald, C. H. Fitch, L.D. Ford, George R. Futrell, A.G. Gish, E.S. Henf, L.G. Humphreys, B.R. Hanes, Edward Howell, C.S. Howell, Harper Hughes, W.L. Ingham, B.F. Ingram, John W. Jones, Walter Johnson, S.B. Jinks, Frank D. Keller, E.K. Knouse, N.P. P. Keene, George L. Knapp, Robert Leachmann, S.J. Larson, S.H. Lester, John Lydick, Charles Lassiter, T.G. Malahy, Sam O. Malahy, A.D. Marlin, E.L. Moore, W.L. Myer, B.G. Morgan, A.S. McClure, O.H. Marmaduke, C. Nucholls, H.A. Pierson, R.F. Pontier, Horace Peay, F.H. Pike, R.E. Powers, H.T. Riddle, C.M. Reber, E.C. Rorer, C.L, Rorer, Frank Roudhouse, H.J. Sullivan, A.V. Short, J.S. Spann, H.F. Smiley, Fred K. Sage, H.C. Smiley, M.E. Stansbury, C.O. Thomas, George Tayman, Guy Taylor, Waldo Thorn, S.J. Word, Charles W. Wells, W.J. Wilson, C.G. Witte, C.R. Wallace, E.R. Waite, A..F. Williams, E.A. Walker, E. Watrous, O.H. Weddle, Gilla Wood, Otis B. Weaver, Frank D. Zeliff.

1917 The OKLAHOMAN, July 11, 1917, pg. 14:
NICHOLS WILL IS FINALLY SETTLED, Harriet N. Cook, Deceased, Declared Heir to Shawnee Man's Estate. Names mentioned in the article are Enos Nichols, deceased, December 21, 1911, leaving an estate valued at $300,000. Alex Fisher, administrator and husband of the niece of Mr. Nichols. Grand-niece, Harriet Nichols Cook who had filed a petition in 1913 claiming to be the sole heir and next of kin to Enos Nichols. Harriet Nichols died in Salem, New Jersey. After her death Etta Phebus of Pittsfield, Illinois claimed Enos Nichols had left a will making bequests to several persons but that the will had been "unavoidably lost." Chief Justice Sharp decreed in county court that the "lost will" was denied and instructed that the court proceed with distribution of the estate based on the decree that Harriet Nichols Cook was the heir.

The OKLAHOMAN, Dec 9, 1917, pg. 32:
POTTAWATOMIE MEN CERTIFIED FOR ARMY, Only One Files Additional Claim for Exemption.
Twenty men who were all residents of Pottawatomie county were certified by the district board for western Oklahoma for military serivce. All appealed to the district board for temporary exemptions until Dec. 1. Only Victor H. Nuckolls, of Shawnee, filed additional affidavits asking for a permanent exemption. Nuckolls was reported to work for a company with government contract to furnish uniforms and other equipment for the troops--sounds like he was turned down! Other's mentioned: John Elmer Epperson, Tecumseh; William F. Gerhard, Shawnee; E.P. Clark, Dale; Frank Martin Campbell, Trousdale; Granville H. Lassiter, Pottawatomie county; James W. Brewington, Prague; William Henry McGraw, Tecumseh; Merchant Cromwell, Asher; Roy M. Marton, Maud; Ora Harridge, Maud; Claud C. Clapp, Tecumseh; Solomon Hodge Basham, Shawnee; Alfred J. Moore, Shawnee; E.H. Brooks, Tecumseh; William J. Heatherage, Trousdale; Joseph N. Alloway, Shawnee; Herman Schepers, Shawnee; Walter Gresham Self, Konowa.

1918 The OKLAHOMAN, June 12, 1918, pg. 4:
SHAWNEE BOY DEAD ON FIELD OF BATTLE
Corporal A. Gill, of Shawnee, died on the battle fields of France. Parents listed as Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Gill. Names not given for four brothers and a sister.

The OKLAHOMAN, Oct 10, 1918, pg. 6:
POSTOFFICES DISCONTINUED, Red Moon and Romulus to Go Off Oklahoma Map.
Washington, Oct 9th - postoffices at Red Moon in Roger Mill's county and Romulus in Pottawatomie county, Oklahoma ordered discontinued October 15 (1918).

The OKLAHOMAN, August 3, 1919, pg. 41:
SHAWNEE BOY ONLY SOLDIER AWARDED HIGHEST MILITARY HONOR BY US AND BELGIUM., Sergeant James M. Cooney Doesn't Like to Tell of Brave Deeds, But Records Show Them. Reports that Cooney single-handed took 43 Germans. Fought on Belgian Sector for Seventeen Days with small band of soldiers.

The OKLAHOMAN, August 28, 1919, pg. 12:
POWER WIRE KILLS YOUTH AT SHAWNEE, Children Started to Play With Trolley Line.
Sammy Blackwell, 5-year-old son of A.L. Blackwell was killed instantly late August 27th when he tollk hold of a live wire carrying 2300 volts. His father was the manager of the Shawnee-Tecumseh interurban electric line. Mentions that a brother and sister who were playing with him ran to the father when their brother was electricuted rather than trying to rescue him--this saved their lives.

The OKLAHOMAN, October 21, 1919, pg. 4:
SHAWNEE MAN KILLED IN BARN LOFT FALL, Neck Broken in Dropping Through Floor Hole. Fifty-nine years old Frank Baugh, a farmer who lived 5 miles west of Shawnee died instantly early the morning of Oct 20th when is fell from the loft of the Beard Street wagon yard barn. Other's mentioned: Pete Hardin, nephew. Mr. Baugh to be buried in the Mission here.

New Index

Home