Clematis: The Rise & Fall of the Oklahoma Socialist Party

Note to the reader, 23 April 2019. The following is the introduction to a book I never finished. Still, the subject of the rise and fall of the Socialist Party of Oklahoma remains important.

Used by permission of “Dave & Cari” (davencari).

Dedicated 

to the author’s grandfather, 

Thomas Franklin Pounds (1891-1966),

 who farmed all his life in Lincoln County,

starting at the age of nine,

 and never owned an acre of land, 

and to his father George Benjamin Pounds (1862-1941), 

who tried farming and failed. 

Handicapped with a game leg, George abandoned the farm in 1906,

when his wife died

and he had to send his children out to work,

but he never forgot the promise of Socialism.

Map of Lincoln County, 1902, showing towns within a twenty-mile radius of Chandler

Lincoln County News, 20 March 1902

Introduction

“East Chandler” was what the county seat’s two newspapers were calling it at the turn of the century. There may have been some teasing in thus naming the sprinkling of hamlets to the east, as though Chandler were a metropolis instead of a small town with a population of 1,200, but the principle that colors all of the language that has survived in newsprint from this period was Hope. It was a hope shared by every small town in the state--the state which in the first ten years of this study, 1897-1907, was not even a state but twin territories named Indian and Oklahoma. It was most immediately a hope for growth, and thus it was a hope for a railway, for only railways could provide the access to markets that farmers needed and the goods and services desired by their wives. Then it became a hope for direct representation in the legislature and for laws providing relief for the farmers’ crippling burden of debt.

“Hope is a thing with feathers,” wrote Emily Dickinson, suggesting another, less immediate kind of Hope, one that had a way of coming and going, not obeying human beck and call. The bird of promise between 1897 and 1918  was socialism, especially the Socialist Party of Oklahoma but also the earlier populist movements, which alone held out hope for the struggling farmer. 

In the current political climate, it is difficult to discuss socialism,  since our own American socialist traditions have been forgotten, repressed, and misrepresented. Who today remembers the nineteenth-century utopian colonies of New Harmony, Brook Farm, the Oneida Community, and half a dozen more? Who stops to consider that, as one Davenport editor writes, without socialist ideas we’d still be living under a feudal monarchy? 

We approach closer to modern memory when socialism becomes unionism, the drive to organize workers in order to end the sweatshops:  to outlaw child labor, to make work places safe, and to shorten the hours of the working week. This was urban, industrial labor unionism, and yet the problems facing farmers were equally urgent, problems of unrelenting poverty produced by cycles of debt from which it was structurally impossible for them to emerge. 

In the first decades of the 20th century, the Socialist Party drew significant support from many different groups, including trade unionists, progressive social reformers, populist farmers, and immigrant communities. Agricultural and industrial labor combined in various forms to play a large role in every presidential election from 1880 to 1916. The Socialist presidential candidate, Eugene V. Debs, who visited Oklahoma several times and even spoke in Chandler, won over 900,000 votes in 1912 and 1920, while the party also elected two United States Representatives (Victor L. Berger and Meyer London), dozens of state legislators, more than a hundred mayors, and countless lesser officials.

To recall this history requires a strenuous act of cultural memory, amounting indeed to cultural restoration. The strongest expression of socialism in the United States occurred, not in the cities of industrial America, but in the small towns and hamlets of rural Oklahoma. There, writes the historian Jim Bissett, “in the first two decades of the twentieth century, a remarkable movement emerged that successfully elected its candidates to a myriad of state and local offices. In many areas of the state, socialists surpassed Republicans as the Democratic Party’s most potent challengers for political office, and between 1914 and 1917 the Socialist Party of Oklahoma was without question a major political force in the sooner state” (Bissett 3).

Socialism entered the Twin Territories from the Old South via Texas. Poor white homeseekers found that the homestead ideal had been “aborted by the land speculator and the monopolist.” In the 1870s agents of the northeastern and British speculators acquired huge domains of timber- and ranch-land, while the Democrats who had “redeemed” Texas from the radical Republicans of reconstruction, granted twelve railroad corporations 32 million acres of land from the public domain, an area larger in size than the state of Indiana. First Texas and then Oklahoma were the picnic grounds for “one of the juiciest barbecues of the Gilded Age” (Green 1-2).

The opening of Indian Territory in the land run of 1889 and of Oklahoma Territory in the run of 1891 just threw more meat on the barbecue pit.  In these flames arose and fell the Socialist Party along with Clematis (and countless villages like it). A study of the census reveals this with stark clarity.  In 1891 every householder had a claim, so all were prospective land owners. Twenty years later, as shown by the 1910 census, which had columns to show whether land was rented, owned or owned-with-a-mortgage,  65% of the heads of houses in North Fox township (Clematis) were renters, 25% owned the land but with a mortgage on it, and only 10% had a clear title. The inalterable law of debt (high credit costs, low prices on cotton) meant that the mortgaged homes would soon go the banks and merchants. In another ten years, the hamlet of Clematis was dead and vanished.

The case allows no argument, only elaboration. 

The end of socialism as the name of working people’s party of hope came with the Red Scare that followed the Russian Revolution in 1917. The Palmer Raids were the 1918-1920 equivalent of McCarthyism and the anti-Communist hysteria of the Cold War, reaching into every corner of the nation. The blackening of the name of socialism with the tar brush provided by the Russian Revolution, combined with the superpatriotism of 1917-1918 to spell the end of the Socialist Party of Oklahoma, including the southeastern sector of Lincoln County, where it had thrived due to its proximity to Indian Territory.

Lincoln County was part of Oklahoma Territory. By its position on a roadmap it may seem to belong more to the western plains than to the eastern cotton country, but throughout most of the two decades here under consideration Lincoln was the second largest cotton growing county in the state. To understand this, the dividing line must be drawn correctly. Start at the extreme northeast corner of the state and pencil a diagonal line to its middle, then from there follow your straightedge due west to the border with the Texas panhandle. Or, just use the highways. following the Will Rogers and Turner Turnpikes to Oklahoma City and go straight west on Interstate 40. The land to the north and west of these lines is Republican country. To the south and east is Little Dixie, the heart of what used to be Oklahoma’s Democratic Party (Goble, “Southern Influence,” 293). Much of Lincoln County is to the north and west, since the line runs right through the county seat of Chandler. To the southeast are Davenport, Clematis, and the Sac and Fox Agency, and across the county line is Indian Territory. One county, two culturally distinct areas.   

To give the names of the hamlets of “East Chandler” is to make a roll call of the vanished: Anvil, Arlington, Chuckaho, Clematis, Clifton, Dent, Guild, Handley, Manila, Mills, Lambdin, Lydia, Parnell, Rossville. To these should be added the names of Davenport and Sparks, which have had their ups and downs but but they got railroad lines and they endured. The traveler who drives east of Chandler today will search in vain for the others. Nothing remains except the deep-dug cellars of the school houses, and the scattered stones of the cemeteries. Time has battered and effaced the stones, but local pride has preserved the cemeteries that enclose them.

The present small book collects the “Clematis” columns as they appeared first in the Chandler News, starting with an 1898 notice and sporadic notices between that year and 1900. The column picked up steam in 1901 and and chugged along until the post office closed in 1905. It was reborn in the Davenport New Era in 1912 and flourished irregularly from that date to 1917. Thus the total period covered is from August of 1898 to December of 1917. 

The vanished hamlet of Clematis is of no importance in itself, but it represents the fate of a hundred small rural communities in Oklahoma that blossomed for a moment around the turn of the century and then withered away like Jonah’s gourd.   

The history of Clematis in the era of its postoffice can be read in Don E. Sporleder’s “The Early History of Davenport, 1891-1907,” in a short subsection which takes up hardly one column in the triple-columned 1500 pages of the massive Lincoln County Oklahoma  History (1988). Davenport sprang up in the first few week following the land-run of September 1891 in the former Sac and Fox Indian reservation. Its original location was four miles south of the present town. When it was moved north in 1898, two new post offices were created, one at Clematis and another at Handley. These were the days before Rural Free Delivery, when there were no rural routes, and every farmer wanted a postoffice within a few miles of his home. 

The first postmaster at Clematis, William A. Hogan, wanted it to be called Hogan, since it was located on his farm. How it came instead to acquire the name of a flower is not known, according to Mr. Sporleder, but “it is commonly thought that it was chosen because of the abundance of flowering, woody vines of Clematis that grew in the Dry Fork bottoms near the Hogan home” (LCH 113). 

By October of 1898, the post office had been moved south to the Chris Nash homestead near Victor School and Oscar G. Robertson was appointed postmaster. From that time on, the Victor settlement became known as Clematis, and to this day the Clematis Cemetery bears the alternative name Victor, as the weathered sign marking it attests. 

This was one of the first cemeteries to be established in the area. It was on a plot of land near the Victor School (named for settlers who had come from the now vanished community of Victor in Kansas), which was located on the Chris Nash homestead (section 26 of 14N-R5), one mile east of old Davenport. On the popular Find-a-Grave website, it is listed only as Victor, whereas the older okcemeteries.net lists both names. The older website shows 39 burials and a dozen illegible field stones; the newer one has 50 memorials, a dozen of which being creations of the author.

The means by which the mail was delivered in the early years provides a touch of excitement. Mr. Sporleder writes, “The post office was located in a small frame building in the northeast part of the Nash claim, not far from the cotton gin and smithy shop. Robertson picked up mail daily from a ‘crane’ or ‘gibbet’ where Train No. 208 crewmen on the Frisco Railway ‘hooked’ a mail sack as the train speeded on by the Schuessler farm three miles north of Clematis” (LCH 113) The hooking of the sack was surely a thrill, and probably safer than the pitt bulls and Rottweilers that await the ambulatory postal worker today.

For Mr. Sporleder, the rise of Clematis is marked by the establishment of a postoffice in June 1898 and its fall by the discontinuance of the postoffice in January 1905, but the matter is not so simple. It is true that the postoffice provided a center for village life, but its disappearance did not mean that the village also disappeared. The people of Clematis did not pull up stakes and move away when the postoffice closed. They simply drove their wagons or rode their horses the additional four miles to the new Davenport townsite to pick up their mail. Chandler started Rural Free Delivery in March 1904, Carney in May of the same year, and it reached Clematis by September 8th as RFD no. 5.

The Clematis column of the Chandler News, which had died with the closing of the postoffice, then sputtered briefly in the Davenport Leader, came back strong in the Davenport New Era, first briefly in 1912, then for 17 weeks in 1915, peaking in 1916 and 1917, when it  appeared almost every other week, often on the front page. (Under the pen of Dew Drop, it was spelled Clematus rather than Clematis). One looks for some explanation of this rebirth of Hope.

The key factors were cotton, roads, and a sense of political power. The price of cotton had fallen from 8.6 center per pound in 1890 to 6.98 cents in in 1899, but then it began to rise. From 9.1 cents in 1900 it rose to 13.5 cents in 1910, reaching a high of 35 cents in 1919. The farmers’ cash crop was bringing them more money, and this relative affluence is reflected in the columns for 1915-1917. They are longer, speak little of the difficulties of agricultural life, and largely devote themselves to the social whirl of visits among family and friends and to the courting of young folks. 

In addition, roads were improving, and there was a prospect not only of a state highway system but eventually of a national one. During the 1910s civic leaders strove mightily to get a branch of the Ozark Trail routed through Davenport, and in 1916 they succeeded. (In 1924 it would become State Highway 7 and in 1926 U.S. Highway 66.) What we might call proto-66, which followed various of the trails that made up the Ozark Trail, ran due east from Chandler, and then some miles south of Davenport it turned north, passing through the “East Chandler” area and into Davenport. When Highway 66 was designated in 1916, blocks of Broadway were paved with bricks supplied by the Davenport Brick and Tile Company. This bricked stretch, with its dips marking the intersections, was still slowing speedsters in my high school years (1959-1963), and in 2004 it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. (Clematis never made the National Register. Its only monument today is the cemetery.)

The third factor was political power. Widespread economic misery had the effect of radicalizing Oklahoma’s farmers and laborers. In 1890 the People's Party (commonly known as the "Populists") was organized from elements of the Farmers' Alliance, the Knights of Labor, and the Union Labor Party. The group set August 13, 1890 as the date for the first territorial convention of the new political organization, which sought to challenge the dominant Democratic and less potent Republican parties in the Oklahoma Territory.

Despite being surprised by an unscheduled election, the Populists still managed to win election to several seats in the first territorial legislature, including a sweep of Payne County's senator and three representatives. One indicator of this fervor was the presence of a socialist newspaper, The People’s Press, which ran from February 1905 until October 1907, but a survey across the state of kindred newspapers in the first two decades of the century reveals there are at least thirty-three more (Bissett 242-43).

Six Republicans, 5 Democrats, 1 Populist, and 1 Republican-leaning Independent were elected to the 1890 Territorial Senate, while the first House of Representatives included 14 Republicans, 8 Democrats, and 4 Populists. Oklahoma was a three party state from the outset.

The People's Party remained an effective political entity for two more election cycles. In 1892 it advanced a full slate of its candidates, and in November 1894 it seemed to score a breakthrough, outpolling the candidate of the Democratic Party for Congress by drawing 33% of the vote in a losing effort.

The party was ultimately shattered in 1896 amidst a bitter division between "fusionists" who sought to cooperate with the Democratic Party headed by William Jennings Bryant and those who wished to stick to “the middle of the road" by nominating a full slate of candidates in the name of the People's Party. The victory of the fusionists over the mid-roaders, followed by Bryan's defeat at the polls in 1896, nearly destroyed the People's Party, but the ground was cleared for a new political organization to represent the interests of the common people against the monied interests which dominated each of the old parties. This would be the party of hope, the Socialist Party.

*    *    *    *    *

This brief introduction has already presented a few of the prominent family names in the Clematis story. The rest are to be found in the indexed concordance at the end of this book. The columns and ads for the years 1898 to 1906 are from the Chandler News unless otherwise specified, and the rest are from the Davenport New Era. The News has an introduction inserted at 1898 and the New Era at 1912, marking the year that each began to publish a  Clematis column.

It remains for the author to justify the infliction of another book of local history on the reading public. I have little, except the hope of restoring to the state of Oklahoma part of its Socialist history and the notion that the reading of social columns from old newspapers gives pleasure. Though I have no kinfolk in Clematis Cemetery, as a fourth-generation descendant of Lincoln County homesteaders, I confess that I am moved by the hopes and the sufferings of these obscure lives. 

It might behoove me here to repeat Abraham Lincoln’s favorite phrase (from Thomas Gray’s “Elegy in a Country Churchyard”) about “the short and simple annals of the poor,” but prominent men also visited. Politicians, they were working their electorate. These included John Embry, U. S. Attorney for Oklahoma Territory; J. B. A. Robertson, later to be Governor; and E. L. Conklin, founder of the Union National Bank. 

Indicative of the roots of the agricultural revolt I have earlier described is the fact that at this time Lincoln County had the distinction of having more banks than any other county in the state. It was nothing less than a plague.

There were at that time seven national and fourteen state banks in the county. The pioneer bank of the County was the Union National Bank of Chandler. It had its origin at the Sac and Fox Agency in connection with the trading firm of Hoffman, Charles and Conklin, and was first known as the "Bank of Hoffman, Charles, and Conklin." It was moved to Chandler on September 22, 1892, chartered in 1897, and changed to the Union National Bank, in 1902, with a capital stock of $50,000. (Ragland 426?)

Through a process known as grafting or gouging--a euphemism for fraud, intimidation, and theft--a few whites became owners of huge tracts of land in the reservations and Indian Territory, standing to make enormous profits when the region was opened to white settlement. (On this topic, the great document is the original, never-published Chapter 4 of Angie Debo’s And Still the Waters Run. In the sanitized version published by Princeton University Press in 1946, the chapter was called “The Grafter’s Share.“ In the original typescript, she called it “The Vulture’s Share.”). For this, they required banks. Men of the banking breed cast dark shadows as they circled like buzzards above the farms and Indian lands. To include a figure like E. L. Conklin is to shift from the brief annals of the poor to the endless and never-to-be disclosed ledgers of the rich. 

Conklin began his career as a trader at the Sac and Fox Reservation, took advantage of the chaos created by the Indian allotment legislation of 1887-1908, quickly acquiring the money to found and preside over the Union National Bank, later infamous for its quick foreclosures on farm mortgages. Conklin built himself a mansion in Chandler that still stands, and he ended with all the glory he could muster, his mouldering dust enshrined in a mausoleum in Chandler’s Oak Park Cemetery. This monument to greed and the shark's ethics continues to disturb the visitor’s gaze, while the same person visiting Clematis Cemetery today finds a scant two dozen legible markers. The rest of the graves are sandstone, their inscriptions long since obliterated by rain and wind, or unmarked field stones, or they carry no marker at all.

Wayne Pounds

Tokyo, 2014

Population of Lincoln County 1907

The population of Lincoln county is given by townships, according to the special federal census taken in July 1907. The figures for each township include all towns located within it. Clematis was in South Fox. (A map of townships appears with the index at the end of this book.)

Bryan 988

Chandler        3503

Cimarron        1644

Creek 3142

Iowa 1446

Keokuk 3510

Kickapoo 1270

McKinley 1227

North Choctaw 1530

North Fox 1202

North Seminole 1551

North Wichita 1278

Osage 1898

Otoe 1264

Pawnee 1263

Ponca 927

South Choctaw 1452

South Fox 1962

South Seminole 1165

South Wichita 960

Tohee 1308

Union 1140

Wellston 1663

_____

Total 37,293

South Fox Township

Township 14N, Range 5E

Clematis is in the SE quarter of section 23, the name obscured by a white X indicating a school between the letters “m” and “a.” Oklahoma Territory 

Original Land Records: http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~oklincol

The Chandler News was published in Chandler from 1891-1909. Established, edited and published by Charles E. Hunter as a weekly newspaper each Saturday for $1.50 a year, it was the first paper in the town. The News consisted of 4 pages. Hunter, from New York, was on the third train to arrive in Guthrie before the Land Run in 1889. One of the first printers and publishers in the Oklahoma Territory, he set up his office in a tent. In 1892 Hunter sold to Harry B. Gilstrap who edited and published it with his sister, Effie, until 1907. Still a weekly newspaper, the Chandler News boasted they had 1250 readers out of the 1430 population living in Chandler in 1905 and had reduced the weekly rate to $1.00 per year.

The Chandler Publicist began in 1894 as a weekly newspaper published and edited by Mrs. W. H. French. The weekly consisted of 8 pages at $1.00 per year. The Publicist was the official paper of Lincoln County and supported the People’s Party and prohibition. In 1897 the masthead title changed to The Publicist. W. H. French continued as publisher. The motto of the paper was “Equal Rights to All and Special Privileges to None - Jefferson.”

Source: http://gateway.okhistory.org/explore/collections/

Concordance of Names around Clematis

Abbreviations used below: 

BLM: Bureau of Land Management, www.blm.gov/

FAG: Find-a-Grave, www.findagrave.com/

GOH: Gateway to Oklahoma History, //gateway.okhistory.org

LCH: Lincoln County Oklahoma History, 1988

LLR: Lincoln County Oklahoma Territory Land Records, maps and lists of names from 1903

OKC: www.okcemeteries.net

Twp: Township

Note: This concordance makes no attempt to identify ball players, visiting fishermen, persons from far out of town, performers in social programs, or itinerate preachers and politicians. “Unidentified” means the U.S. Federal Census for 1900-1910 and the sources above have been checked without finding a viable record. Parenthetical notes about family relationships are from the newspapers and have not been documented by the author. 

For each entry, the dates at the end guide the reader to the page(s) where the name occurs. Where some names occur in over-abundance. I have used “etc.” to show that there are more notices than appear in the index. My use of initials and the titles Mr., Mrs., and Miss follows the newspaper usage, where first names of adults are usually not given.

A

Adams, C. Z., Mr. and Mrs. (Agnes, sister of Mrs. Young and sister-in-law of Mrs. Sawyers): BLM shows he homesteaded section 7 of North Creek Twp. 12 Aug 1915, 18 May 1916, 15 Mar 1917, 5 Apr 1917, 12 Apr 1917, 3 May 1917, 10 May 1917, 24 May 1917, 12 Jul 1917, 26 Jul 1917, 1 Nov 1917, 8 Nov 1917, etc. This is Charles Zachariah (LCH 455). He and his wife are buried in Davenport Cem.

Adams, Eldon: 13 Apr 1916.

Adams, Elmer (son of C. Z.): 15 Jul 1915, 27 Apr 1916, 5 Apr 1917, 12 Apr 1917, 19 Apr 1917, 10 May 1917, 17 May 1917, 24 May 1917, 7 Jun 1917, 12 Jul 1917, 1 Nov 1917.

Adams, Elmer, Mrs. (sister of Mrs. Jess Morris): 9 Aug 1917.

Adams, Mrs. Laura: 6 Dec 1917.

Adams, Minnie (Erminnie Clementine, daughter of C.Z. Adams): 22 Jul 1915, 12 Aug 1915, 19 Aug 1915, 23 Sep 1915, 7 Oct 1915, 28 Oct 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 9 Mar 1916, 5 Apr 1917, 12 Apr 1917, 27 Apr 1916, 19 Apr 1917, 10 May 1917, 24 May 1917, 28 Jun 1917, 12 Jul 1917, 26 Jul 1917, 16 Aug 1917, 27 Sep 1917, 1 Nov 1917, etc. 

Adams, Mrs. Elmer: 28 Jun 1917,  

Adams, Mrs. E. G.: 9 Aug 1917, 16 Aug 1917, 27 Sep 1917.

Adams, N. R. (Ninian, son of Mr. and Mrs. C. Z. Adams), Mr. and Mrs.: 4 Aug 1904, 31 Dec 1914, 13 Apr 1916, 10 May 1917, 17 May 1917, 7 Jun 1917, 16 Aug 1917, 27 Sep 1917, 1 Nov 1917, 6 Dec 1917. Buried in Davenport Cem. with wife Agnes Pryor Adams.

Adams, Robert “Bob”: 5 Aug 1915, 15 Mar 1917, 19 Apr 1917, 10 May 1917, 26 Jul 1917, 1 Nov 1917, 8 Nov 1917, 6 Dec 1917.

Adamson, Freddie (brother of Mrs. Stockwell): 15 Oct 1914.

Alfred, Edgar: Unidentified. BLM shows a James M. Alfred in North Seminole Twp, and he also appears in the LLR. No known relationship. 26 Sep 1904.

Alfred, Vernon: 15 Jul 1915.

Allred, A. L. (possibly Alfred): unidentified. 22 Aug 1912.

B

Bailey, J. W. (father-in-law of H. G. Rice): BLM shows John W. Bailey in section 9 of North Creek Twp. 23 May 1901, 28 Nov. 1901, 27 July 1905. Buried in Prague Cemetery.

Bailey, W. W.: Mistaken initials. See entry above.

Baley, Mrs. Maude (sister of A. H. Crouch): 10 Dec 1914.

Barksdale, Shirley, Miss (niece of Mrs. Chowning): 9 Aug 1917.

Bates, Oscar., Mr. and Mrs.: 16 Sep 1915, 7 Oct 1915, 20 Jan 1916.

Beck, Carson: 24 Dec 1914, 12 Aug 1915.

Blaney, Garnet: 3 Dec 1914.

Boggs, J. C.: Probably an error for “John E. Boggs,” best known in Lincoln County for the general store he ran in Chandler for decades. 18 May 1905. Buried in Oak Park Cem., Chandler.

Boggs, Will: 13 Jan 1916.

Bray, Earl and Edda: 5 Aug 1915, 5 Apr 1917, 9 Mar 1916.

Bridge, Ed.: 9 Mar 1916.

Bridge, H. A.: BLM shows Henry A. Bridge, proved homestead in 1905 in section 13 of Chandler Twp. 26 Sep 1904. Buried in Oak Park Cem.

Briggs, Miss Iva: Alfred C. Briggs homesteaded section 28 in South Keokuk Twp. From at least 1901 until 1904 Iva Briggs taught at the Sac and Fox school. On 3 Nov 1904 she married Albert Burton Ottinger of Maple Hill KS. 7 Nov 1901,  29 May 1903, 5 May 1904.

Broadside, Mrs.: 25 Aug 1904.

Brothers, Lyle: 14 Jul 1910.

Bryant, George (cousin of Mrs. G. W. Hall): 31Aug 1916.

Bullock, George, Mr. & Mrs. (niece of Mrs. Chowning): 9 Aug 1917.

Burns, Bud: 16 Aug 1917. Two men named Burns homesteaded in Lincoln Co. (James A. and William H.) but neither of them near South Fox. Relation to any of the Burnses listed here unknown.

Burns, Dewey: 17 Feb 1916.

Burns, Emerald: 16 Aug 1917.

Burns, Ethel: 4 May 1916.

Burns, Hobart: probably Hobert Burns. 27 Jul 1916. Buried in Stroud Cem.

Burns, May/Mae, Mrs.: 10 Aug 1916, 21 Sep 1916, 9 Aug 1917,  16 Aug 1917.

Byrne, Peter: Proved homestead in 1902, section 1 of North Wichita Twp. 19 June 1902. His wife, Ollie Byrne, is buried in Arlington Cem., while Peter is buried in Davenport.

C

Cadwalader, John G. Proved homestead in North Seminole Twp 1902. Died in McDonough Co. IL in 1922, buried in Bushnell Cem. 

Cage, Roy: 9 Aug 1917.

Campbell, Jim: 26 Jul 1917, 16 Aug 1917.

Carlston, C.: 23 Sep 1915.

Carlson, Huldia: 15 Jul 1915, 22 Jul 1915, 19 Aug 1915, 23 Sep 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 25 Nov 1915,  2 Mar 1916, 9 Mar 1916, 13 Apr 1916, 11 May 1916, 27 Jul 1916, 3 May 1917, 6 Dec 1917, etc.

Carroll, M. H. (Myron H., father of Mrs. O. G. Robertson): Born in NY in 1842, died in Cloud Co. KS in 1907.  7 Nov 1901.

Cash, John: 4 Aug 1904.

Castleberry, Marion/Marvin: 18 Nov 1915, 13 Jan 1916, 29 Jun 1916. Perhaps the S. M. Castleberry who was a teacher at the Clematis School (LCH 320).

Castlebury: see Castleberry.

Chapman, Mrs.: 16 Sep 1915.

Chastain, Ed., Mr. and Mrs. (sister of Mrs. A. H. Crouch): 12 May 1910, 15 Oct 1914, 24 Dec 1914, 31 Dec 1914, 12 Aug 1915. 

Chastain, Elgy: 24 Apr 1903.

Chastain, Harley, Mrs.: daughter of the Tullises. 24 May 1917, 9 Aug 1917. 

Chastain, Mary: 16 June 1910.

Chowning, Ernest (brother of George B. and J. B. Channing): 12 Apr 1917, 19 Apr 1917, 19 Jul 1917, 8 Nov 1917. Buried in Davenport Cem.

Chowning, George B. (brother of J. B. and Ernest Channing): 11 May 1916, 27 Sep 1917, 6 Dec 1917. Buried in Davenport Cem. 

Chowning, J. B. (brother of George B. and Ernest Chowning): BLM shows his father William B. Chowning in section 15 of North Fox Township. 12 Sep 1901, 12 Apr 1917. Buried in New Zion Cem.

Chowning, Mrs. (mother of Mrs. Henderson and Mrs. James Leake): 19 Apr 1917, 12 Jul 1917, 9 Aug 1917, 27 Sep 1917.

Coan, Flynn (cousin of Mrs. G. W. Hall): 13 Apr 1916, 4 May 1916.

Coder, C. D.: probably Coder, D. H.

Coder, D. H. (David H.), Mr. and Mrs. (parents of Mrs. Smith Manning): 21 Jan 1915, 22 Jul 1915.: 16 Sep 1915, 23 Sep 1915, 7 Oct 1915, 28 Oct 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 13 Jan 1916, 17 Feb 1916. Both buried in Davenport Cem.

Coder, Flossie: 15 Jul 1915, 5 Aug 1915, 19 Aug 1915, 16 Sep 1915, 23 Sep 1915, 28 Oct 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 20 Jan 1916, 2 Mar 1916, 27 Apr 1916, 12 Jul 1917, etc. 

Coder, Ocie: 5 Aug 1915, 28 Oct 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 20 Jan 1916.

Coffee, Aaron: 15 Aug 1912.

Coller, Grace: unidentified. 15 Oct 1914.

Collier, Benton: 26 Nov 1914, 24 May 1917. 

Collier, Jess: 6 Dec 1917.

Collier, Naoma: 21 Jan 1915.

Colord, Thomas Daniel: 18 May 1916.

Combs, Bill: 12 Apr 1917.

Conger, F. S. See Conger, T. S.

Conger, John (probably brother to T. S. Conger): BLM shows John A. Conger in section 28 of South Fox, as does the map. 2 May 1901.

Conger, T. S.  (Theron, probably brother to John): 1900 census for Fox Twp shows Theron with wife Cynthia with four children. LCH states Cynthia Conger was the first post mistress of Davenport, and the office was located in the Conger home and store (LCH 110) GOH shows Theron started a grocery store in October 1897 in  old Davenport (four miles south of the present Davenport) and proved patent on his farm in December of the same year. In 1903 he was elected Treasurer of Fox Twp.  28 Feb 1901, 7 Mar 1901, 28 March 1901.

Conger, Will: BLM shows William Conger in section 27 of Pawnee Twp in NE Lincoln County. 6 Feb 1902, 19 Jun 1902. 

Conges, T. S. See Conger, T. S.

Conklin, E. L.: Edgar Lewis Conklin has 3 records at BLM: two in sec 34 of Ponca Twp and one in Payne Co., all dating from 1919. Associated with the Sax and Fox Agency from 1894. His first bank had its origin at the Sac and Fox Agency and was first known as the Bank of Hoffman, Charles, and Conklin. It was moved to Chandler on September 22, 1892, chartered in 1897, and changed to the Union National Bank, in 1902. Built a mansion in Chandler in 1897. Died 1923, buried in Chandler’s Oak Park Cem., where a mausoleum marks his meteoric rise from at the Sac-and-Fox trader to President of the Union National Bank. 13 Jun 1901, 12 June 1902. 

Cook, Harm (=Harmon), Mr. & Mrs.: 26 Jul 1917, 16 Aug 1917.

Cook, T. J.: Probably Thomas Jefferson Cook of McKinley Twp., Chandler. Died in Marlow Oklahoma in 1911. His mother Lydia McClain Cook is buried in McCorkle Cem., northwest of Chandler. 12 Sep 1901.

Cook, Tom: Thomas O. Cook, son of Hiram and Louis Cook, buried in Clematis Cem. Thomas and his wife Gertie lost a small son named Dorsia, also buried in Clematis Cem.

Cowger, Will: BLM shows him in section 1 of Iowa Township. 9 May 1901.

Cox, Lester: 5 Nov 1914.

Cox, Roscoe: 5 Nov 1914. Buried in Chandler, Oak Park Cem.

Crawford: Probably Chester G. Crawford, who homesteaded section 25 of South Fox Twp.  6 Feb 1902.

Crouch, Arch (A. H.), Mr. & Mrs.: 5 Nov 1914, 5 Aug 1915, 23 Sep 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 24 Feb 1916, 9 Mar 1916, 13 Apr 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 27 Apr 1916, 11 May 1916, 18 May 1916, 13 Jul 1916, 26 Jul 1917, 4 Oct 1917, etc.

Crouch, Mary Jane (Waters), Mrs. (sister of Mrs. L. M. Cupp and Mrs. A. H. Crouch): 5 Aug 1915, 3 Aug 1916, 10 Aug 1916 (obit). Buried in Clematis Cem.

Crouch, Mrs. Minnie: 19 Nov 1914, 24 Dec 1914.

Crouch, Violet (daughter of Mrs. A. H. Crouch): 9 Mar 1916.

Cupp, Alice: 24 Dec 1914, 5 Aug 1915, 2 Mar 1916, 27 Apr 1916, 31Aug 1916, 15 Mar 1917, 5 Apr 1917, 28 Jun 1917, 28 Jun 1917, 26 Jul 1917, 9 Aug 1917.

Cupp, Carl (son of L. M. Cupp): 24 Feb 1916.

Cupp, Clevie (niece of Bell and Bertha Waters): 15 Jul 1915, 30 Sep 1915, 7 Oct 1915, 17 Feb 1916, 2 Mar 1916, 27 Apr 1916, 12 Apr 1917, 10 May 1917, 17 May 1917, 7 Jun 1917, 28 Jun 1917, 26 Jul 1917, etc. 

Cupp, Edna (daughter of L. M. Cupp): 24 Feb 1916.

Cupp, Lee: 15 Aug 1912, 10 Dec 1914, 24 Dec 1914, 13 Jul 1916.

Cupp, Loy: 15 Aug 1912, 5 Nov 1914, 19 Nov 1914, 24 Dec 1914, 24 Feb 1916, 18 May 1916, 13 Jul 1916, 27 Jul 1916, 1 Nov 1917. 

Cupp, Luther (L. M.)  & Mrs. (Florence E., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Waters): Luther Cupp was among the early-day school board members of Clematis School. 21 Jan 1915, 19 Aug 1915, 20 Jan 1916, 24 Feb 1916, 24 Feb 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 4 May 1916, 13 Jul 1916, 4 Oct 1917. Buried along with his wife in Kendrick Cem.

Cupp, Mrs. (daughter of Mrs. Waters): 5 Aug 1915, 15 Mar 1917, 7 Jun 1917.

Cupp, Mrs. George: 1 Nov 1917. 

Curtis, Mr. and Mrs.: 12 Aug 1915.

D

Daft, Mr.: Unidentified, probably a joke. 29 May 1903. 

Davis, J. J.: Unidentifed. 22 Aug 1912.

Daniels, John: 19 May 1910.

Davis, James C.: BLM shows him in section 9 of South Fox, 1902. LLR map shows Alfred B. Daggett there but no Davis. See “History of Davenport” in LCH (112-13). Buried in New Zion Cem. 18 Apr 1901.

Dean Henry: 19 Nov 1914, 3 Dec 1914, 31 Dec 1914.

Dean, Henry, Mrs. (former Mamie Cupp): 16 Sep 1915, 21 Sep 1916,  9 Aug 1917.

Devlin, Edward: 26 Nov 1914.

Devlin, Mrs.: 18 Jul 1912.

Dickinson, Bart: LCH (1355) identifies him as Barton Thomas Dickinson. In 1903 married Amy Edith Underwood in Davenport. Died in 1930 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 26 Sep 1904.

Douglas, Buster (son of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Douglas): 18 May 1916.

Douglas, C. H. (Cordues): BLM shows John E., Edward, and Robert H. Douglas in South Choctaw and South Seminole Twps. 15 Jul 1915, 22 Jul 1915, 19 Aug 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 30 Nov 1915, 2 Mar 1916, 13 Apr 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 11 May 1916, 18 May 1916, 13 Jul 1916, 21 Sep 1916, etc.

Douglas, C. H., Mrs. (mother of Mrs. W. S. Smith and Mrs. Pearl Smith): 15 Jul 1915, 5 Aug 1915, 16 Sep 1915, 23 Sep 1915, 30 Sep 1915, 7 Oct 1915, 28 Oct 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 24 Feb 1916, etc. 

Douglas, Custer (son of Mrs. C. H.): 15 Oct 1914, 15 Jul 1915, 5 Aug 1915, 16 Sep 1915, 20 Apr 1916, 11 May 1916, 13 Jul 1916, 27 Jul 1916, 10 Aug 1916, etc. 

Douglas, Dorothy:  15 Oct 1914, 15 Jul 1915, 22 Jul 1915, 5 Aug 1915, 12 Aug 1915, 16 Sep 1915, 28 Oct 1915, 17 Feb 1916, 24 Feb 1916, 2 Mar 1916, 9 Mar 1916, 13 Apr 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 27 Apr 1916, 12 Jul 1917, etc.

Dunn, Henry: 15 Jul 1915.

E

Elliott, M. H.: BLM shows Matthew H. Elliott in sec 6 of 1 North Fox (not South). Buried in Oak Park Cem. 3 May and 28 May, 1901 22 Aug 1912.

Embry, John (1869-1960): Homesteaded in section 18 of North FoxTwp, north of Davenport. Served two terms as Lincoln County Attorney, 1894-98, and was also County Judge and the Mayor of Chandler. Appointed United States Attorney for Oklahoma Territory in 1906, he served the Western District until 1912. In 1910 he and Oscar Ameringer led the fight to restore the right to vote to blacks who had been stripped of that privilege by the so-called "grandfather clause." Buried in Oklahoma City. 7 Mar 1901, 19 Jun 1902.

Ester, Joe: 28 Jun 1917.

F

Fagin, Alex (both names variously spelled): The LLR map shows him in section 27 of South Fox Twp. LCH describes him as “a pioneer black homesteader” who operated a store on his claim east of the old Davenport post office, where sections 21, 22, 27, and 28 meet (111). 13 Jun 1901, 29 Aug 1902, 12 May 1910, 19 May 1910, 21 July 1910. He is buried in Booker Cem.

Farmer, Alex: 24 Apr 1903, 4 May 1905.

Farnsworth, H. E. Secretary, Socialist Territorial Convention, 1900. Not otherwise identified.

Ferris, Elder: Unidentified. 4 Apr 1901. 

Fisk, Mr.: 18 Jun 1912.

Fitzpatrick, Isaac: BLM has two Fitzpatricks, Alvin J. and Robert E., in Lincoln County. GOH reveals that Isaac and Robert were brothers and operated a well drill.  28 Nov 1901. 

Fowler, Bessie (cousin of Minnie Adams): 31Aug 1916.

Fowler, E. R.: Unidentified. The Fowlers at BLM are Alvin M., Benjamin R., Calvin W. John M. Oscar G., and Walter. 9 Jan 1902.

Fowler, L. L.: Unidentified. See above. 28 Mar 1901.

Fowler, W. H.: BLM shows Walter Fowler (no middle initial) patented section 20 of South Choctaw Twp. This is William Harris Fowler, buried in Davenport Cem. 28 February 1901, 28 Mar 1901, 9 Jan 1902, 6 Jun 1912.

G

Gibbons, Mamie: 16 Sep 1915.

Gibbons, Maude: 16 Sep 1915. Buried New Zion Cem.

Gibbons, Marion: 13 Jan 1916.

Gibson, Ed: 5 Apr 1917, 17 May 1917, 19 Jul 1917, 8 Nov 1917.

Gilstrap, Harry B.: the long-serving editor of the Chandler News. 9 Jan 1902.

Gordanier, Frank D.: BLM shows he homesteaded section 25 of South Fox Twp. 19 Jun 1902.

Gore: 21 Jan 1915.

Gouker, Albert (A. E.), Mr. and Mrs.: 29 Aug 1912, 24 Dec 1914, 22 Jul 1915, 5 Aug 1915, 12 Aug 1915, 23 Sep 1915, 30 Sep 1915, 28 Oct 1915, 30 Nov 1915, 20 Jan 1916, 11 May 1916. Albert Gouker and his wife are both buried in Gable Cem.

Gouker, Grandpa (William Gouker): 5 Nov 1914, 24 Dec 1914. Buried in Gable Cem. 

Gouker, Mrs. Grace (Gracie, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Stockwell, sister to Stella Stockwell Newnam): 18 Jun 1912, 31 Dec 1914,, 5 Aug 1915, 15 Aug 1912, 29 Aug 1912, 16 Sep 1915.

Gouker, Thelma (daughter of Mrs. A. E. Gouker): 19 Nov 1914, 5 Aug 1915, 16 Sep 1915, 30 Sep 1915, 20 Jan 1916.

Graffenreid, J. H. D. E.: 15 Mar 1917.

Guth, Mrs.: Unidentified. 29 May 1903.

Gutke, A., Mr. and Mrs.: GOH shows that in 1906 he sold some lots in Chandler to W. P. Minsum. Otherwise unidentified. 30 Jan 1902 and 20 March 1902.

H

Hale, J. (John) M.: homesteaded in Chandler Twp. 12 Sept 1901.

Hall, Charlie: 20 Apr 1916, 13 Jul 1916.

Hall, George W., Mr. and Mrs: 17 Feb 1916, 24 Feb 1916, 2 Mar 1916, 9 Mar 1916, 13 Apr 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 27 Apr 1916, 4 May 1916, 21 Sep 1916, etc.

Hall, Viola [daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Hall]: 24 Feb 1916.

Hammack, W. R.: 12 Aug 1915, 7 Oct 1915.

Hammok, William: 24 Dec 1914.

Handley, H. G.: 18 Nov 1915, 2 Mar 1916.

Handley, M. C.: The initials “M. C.” is probably the editor’s error. BLM shows that John A. Handley homesteaded in North Seminole Twp in 1903. John Amos Handley was also the first postmaster at the village of  Handley. A descendant’s memoir is in LCH (824), and he is buried in Davenport’s New Zion Cem. 20 March 1902.

Hanson, Edna, Miss: 10 Dec 1914, 22 Jul 1915.

Hardick, Cornelia: 24 Apr 1903.

Hardick, Lewis V. (father of Pearl): 18 Apr 1901, 25 Apr 1901. Buried in Prague Cem.

Hardick, Pearl (married Albert Tevebaugh). 24 Apr 1903, 29 May 1903.

Harris, Arthur: 19 Dec. 1914, 27 Jul 1916.

Harris, Joe: 15 Oct 1914, 3 Dec 1914, 10 Dec 1914, 24 Dec 1914, 21 Sep 1916.

Harris, Preston: 26 Nov 1914, 3 Dec 1914.

Harris, R. L., Mr. and Mrs.: 26 Nov 1914, 24 Dec 1914, 21 Jan 1915, 22 Jul 1915, 27 Apr 1916, 26 Nov 1914.

Harris, Zora, Miss: 15 Oct 1914, 5 Nov 1914, 19 Nov 1914, 24 Dec 1914, 9 Mar 1916.

Harrison, Mr. and Mrs.: unidentified. 15 Oct 1914.

Hayes, Lemond: 15 Jul 1915, 25 Nov 1915.

Hendershot, Sid: BLM shows a Sidney B. Hendershott, who homesteaded section 14 of Union Township. 23 Jan 1902.

Henderson, Mrs.: dau. of Mrs Chowning, 12 Jul 1917, 16 Aug 1917, 1 Nov 1917.

Hensley, Ed: 12 Aug 1915. 

Herrold, Prof.: 8 Nov 1917.

Hill, Bud: 14 July 1910.

Hobbs, Orval: 22 Jul 1915, 5 Aug 1915.

Hoffman, Mrs. (sister of Mrs. F. W. Pryor): 21 July 1910.

Hoffman, Roy, Col. Son-in-law of E. L. Conklin. 22 Jul 1909. Buried Oak Park Cem., Chandler.  

Hogan, W. A.: BLM shows William A. and wife Abigail Hogan in S 1/2 of SE 1/4 of sec 12 (joint patent). Their daughter Lula took the S 1/2 of the SE quarter of  section 11 (double listed as Lula Blaney, her married name). This made the two families neighbors, separated only by the section line. Both patents proved July 1902, though by that date William was dead. William, Abigail, and two of their children are buried in New Zion Cem. See Interchapter 1899.  LCH (113) states that William A. Hogan was the first postmaster of Clematis. Buried at New Zion Cem. with his wife. 12 Aug 1898, 14 Apr 1899.

Holden, Tom: 4 Aug 1904. 

Holder, John: BLM shows no John Holder. List of names for 1903 map has 3 Holders but none with the right initials. 20 Jun 1901, 29 Aug 1901, 24 Apr 1903, 25 Aug 1904.

Holder, Mr.: BLM shows Gustavus, Samuel B., and Walter W. Only the homestead of the last is close to Clematis. Samuel’s farm was purchased for the Agra town site (LCH 29). 18 and 25 Apr 1901.

Holder, Thomas: As above. 13 Jun 1901.

Holmes, Thomas J. Chairman, Socialist Territorial Convention, 1900. Not otherwise identified. 20 Dec 1900.

Hopkins, Mr. and Mrs.: 18 Jul 1912.

Horne, Alonzo, Rev. and Mrs.: 26 Nov 1914, 25 Nov 1915, 28 Jun 1917. 

Hudley, Mrs.: Unidentified. 29 May 1903.

Huffman, James: BLM shows only Charles L. in section 12 of Union Twp. There’s an undated Huffman grave, no first name, at Kellerby Cem. LCH (108) reports that in 1894 J. M. Huffman was president of the Library at Clifton, a nearby village. 2 May 1901.

I

Ingenthron, Oliver: 22 Aug 1912, 3 Dec 1914. Buried in Davenport Cem.

Ingram, Esther, Miss: 9 Mar 1916, 16 Aug 1917.

Ingram, Flynn: 28 Jun 1917. 

Ingram, John: See entry below. 6 Jun 1902.

Ingram, W. H.: The only Ingram at BLM is William H., who homesteaded section 33 of North Wichita Twp near the village of Handley. 1 Jun 1905. 

Ingram, Lucinda (married Archie Myers): 7 Jun 1917, 27 Sep 1917.

Ingram, Mr.:  16 Aug 1917.

Ingram, W. H. (brother of “Mr. Ingram”): 4 Oct 1917.

J

Jacobs, K.: 23 Sep 1915.

Jenkins, Ben: 15 Sep 1910.

Jewett, Marion: 18 Nov 1915.

Johnson, Claud: 18 Jun 1912, 15 Aug 1912.

Johnson, Margaret: 15 Aug 1912.

Jones, Miss Flemmie: 27 Sep 1917.

Jones, Col.: 22 Aug 1912. Walter Wilberforce Jones of Kansas was a Civil War officer who moved to Lincoln County, where he served as County Attorney and Judge. The “Col.“ is probably honorific. Buried in Mount Hope Cem., Montgomery Co. KS.

Justice, Bart: 24 Dec 1914.

Justice, Ike: 24 Dec 1914.

K

Keith, John: 18 Nov 1915.

Kerns, Lottie: 22 Jul 1915.

King, Nute: 28 Oct 1915, 18 Nov 1915.

Kirkpatrick, Dr.: Unidentified. 4 Apr 1901.

Knight, Daniel: BLM shows that in 1903 Daniel D. Knight proved a homestead in section 12 of North Seminole Twp. 26 Sep 1904.

L

Leake, James, Mr. & Mrs. (daughter of Mrs Chowning): 15 Mar 1917, 16 Aug 1917, 27 Sep 1917, 4 Oct 1917.

Leake, James: 5 Apr 1917, 19 Jul 1917.

Linkford, Dr. J. H.: Unidentified. 20 Jun 1901.

Lyle, Dolly, Miss: 15 Aug 1912.

Lyle, Floyd: 2 June 1910.

Lyle, George: BLM shows that George W. Lyle homesteaded in Dewey County. 19 May 1910, 16 June 1910.

Lyle, Stiles: 19 May 1910, 10 Dec 1914.

Lyle, W. H., Mr. and Mrs.: 14 July 1910.

Lyle, W. M., Mrs.: 12 May 1910.

Lynch, Mrs. Kate: 25 Aug 1904.

M

Madden, Mr. Scott: unidentified. 19 May 1910.

Mann, H. B. (Harold): 21 Jan 1915, 15 Jul 1915, 21 Sep 1916.

Manning, Smith, Mr. & Mrs. (she is the daughter of D.H. Coder): 22 Jul 1915, 30 Sep 1915, 13 Jan 1916.

Martin, Bonnie: 5 Apr 1917, 26 Jul 1917.

Martin, Mr.: 3 May 1917.

Massey, Curtis M.: named in Riggs’ socialist Honor Roll, 30 Jan 1915. Buried in Davenport Cem. 

Massey, T. W.: 29 Aug 1912.

Matlock, M. E.: unidentified. Named in Riggs’ socialist Honor Roll, 30 January 1915.

Mays, Mr. Unidentified: 30 Apr 1908.

McKinley, Mrs.: Wife of President William McKinley, who would be assassinated in September 1901. 23 May 1901.

Miller, Elmer: 5 Aug 1915. 

Milton, Lawrence: 10 Dec 1914.

Minson, Otie: 12 May 1910, 16 June 1910, 17 May 1917. 

Mitchell, F. A. (Fuller Andrew): 16 June 1910. His wife is the daughter of Col. S. C. Morgan. Buried New Zion Cem.

Mitchell, John: 30 Nov 1915.

Moore, E. B. (Elisha): 15 Jul 1912, 22 Aug 1912, 30 Jan 1915. County judge, 1914 and after. A 1918 New Era column calls him “inventor of Germicide Ointment, chief pill dispenser at the Owl Drug Store, and champion checker player of this section.” Buried in Davenport Cem. 

Morgan, S. C., Col. (father of Mrs. F. A. Mitchell): Unidentified. 6 Jun 1912, 22  Aug 1912. 

Morris, A. J. (Andy):  BLM records Andrew J. Morris in South Keokuk Twp. He may have had some connection with the Sac-and-Fox Agency. 28 Feb 1901, 28 March 1901, 9 May 1901, 8 Aug 1902.

Morris, Jeff, Mr. & Mrs. (Mrs. Morris is a sister to Mrs. Elmer Adams; Mr. Morris may be “A.J.,” above): 9 Aug 1917.

Morrow, Hazel: 26 Jul 1917. 

Myers, Archie (married Lucinda Ingram): 3 Dec 1914, 27 Sep 1917.

Myers, Louis: 21 Jan 1915.

Myers, Lucy, Mrs.: 13 Jan 1916. Buried Clematis Cem.

Myers, Lydia, Miss: 18 Aug 1910. Buried Clematis Cem.

Myers, Mrs.: 5 Aug 1915.

Myers, Robert: 9 Aug 1917, 8 Nov 1917.

N

Nash, Mrs. Bessie: 31 Dec 1914.

Nash, Chris: BLM shows no Chris Nash but it does show several other Nashes. His older brother Nathan (see below) patented his homestead in section 26 of South Fox Twp in 1898, but the 1903 map shows "C. Nash" there. LCH relates that “Pioneers Chris Nash, Nathan Nash and Oscar G. Robertson established a cotton gin on the north part of the C. Nash homestead” in section 26 of South Fox Twp (p. 111). The Victor School was located on his homestead (LCH 113). 18 Apr 1901

Nash, Ed: See next entry. 25 Apr 1901, 23 May 1901. 

Nash, John: 24 Apr 1903.

Nash, Nate: BLM shows Nathan Nash in South Fox Township, sec 26. Nate was Chris’s younger brother. One was a carpenter, the other a blacksmith. Nate’s brothers were Chris, Edward and William. Only Nate and Chris stayed in Davenport. Nate Nash is buried in Davenport Cem. 13 Jun 1901.

Nash, Ralph (son of Chris Nash): 11 Jul 1902, 28 Oct 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 5 Apr 1917.

Nash, Rosa: Wife of Chris Nash and onetime postmistress at Clematis. 20 Mar 1902. 

Nestlerode, Frederick S.: BLM shows him in section 14 of South Fox Township. 6 Feb 1902.

Newnam, Clarence: 30 Nov 1915, 9 Mar 1916, 28 Jun 1917. 

Newnam, G. W. (George): 15 Jul 1915, 9 Aug 1917. See LCH, p. 1124. Buried at New Zion Cem. with his wife.

Newnam, “Little George”: 28 Oct 1915.

Newnam, L. C. (Lee), Mr. and Mrs.: 15 Jul 1915, 22 Jul 1915, 12 Aug 1915, 16 Sep 1915, 23 Sep 1915, 30 Sep 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 30 Nov 1915, 13 Jan 1916, 20 Jan 1916, 17 Feb 1916, 2 Mar 1916, 9 Mar 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 19 Apr 1917, 24 May 1917, 9 Aug 1917, etc.  See Leeland Clayton Newnam in LCH, p. 1121.

Newnam, Muriel: 18 Nov 1915, 9 Mar 1916, 13 Apr 1916, 29 Jun 1916, 27 Jul 1916, 10 Aug 1916, 9 Aug 1917.

Newnam, Otho B. (son of Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Newnam, married Stella Stockwell), Mr. and Mrs.: 5 Aug 1915, 12 Aug 1915, 30 Sep 1915, 28 Oct 1915, 30  Nov. 1915, 13 Jan 1916, 20 Jan 1916, 17 Feb 1916, 24 Feb 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 18 May 1916, 3 Aug 1916, 19 Apr 1917. Buried in White Dove Cem. 

Newnam, Scott: 30 Nov 1915.

Newnam, T. S.: 17 Apr 1904.

Niccum, C.: BML shows Cicero Niccum in section 29 of South Fox township near Handley. First postmaster of Chuckaho (LCH 293), another aspiring village, he is buried in Davenport’s New Zion Cemetery. 18 Apr 1901.

Niccum, Mr. & Mrs.: 9 Aug 1917.

Nunn, Lula: 28 Jun 1917. 

O

O’Kelley, Clint (brother of Mrs. Thomas Warren): 3 Dec 1914, 31 Dec 1914.

O’Kelley, Mrs. Bertha: 19 Nov 1914, 26 Nov 1914.

Okelty: unidentified (O’Kelley?).  5 Nov 1914.

Oliver, Mr. C.: BLM shows only Arthur T. and Samuel Oliver. LCH states that he was Clerk of the Daggett School Board. Daggett was a village between Clematis and Davenport. 28 Nov 1901.

Oliver, Charlie (same as above?): 20 Apr 1916.

Orr, Mr. & Mrs.: 26 Jul 1917.

P

Pace, Geneva: 13 Apr 1916.

Pace, Lottie, Miss: 2 Mar 1916.

Pace, Mr. (James Knox).: 29 Aug 1912. Buried in Clematis Cem. 

Palmer, C.: 19 May 1910.

Patterson, Bob: 21 Sep 1916.

Patterson, Howard: GOH shows he witnessed several proved patents in South Fox Twp between 1897 and 1902. Otherwise unidentified. 9 Jan 1902. 

Patterson, James, Mr. (son of Solomon Patterson) and Mrs.: 12 Apr 1917, 3 May 1917, 28 Jun 1917, 26 Jul 1917.

Patterson, Mr. and Mrs.: 27 Apr 1916. 

Patterson, Mrs. Ola: 6 Dec 1917.

Patterson, S. R. (Solomon, father of James): 19 Jul 1917. Buried in Davenport’s New Zion Cem.

Perkins, Mr. and Mrs.: 23 Sep 1915.

Pinson, Asa: 25 Nov 1915.  

Pinson, Miss Grace: 18 Jun 1912, 5 Apr 1917, 24 May 1917. 

Potter, Mr.: BLM shows three Potters but none in South Fox or near it. 28 March 1901.

Preiss, Irene: 18 Jun 1912, 15 Aug 1912, 29 Aug 1912, 15 Jul 1915, 22 Jul 1915, 5 Aug 1915,12 Aug 1915, 19 Aug 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 13 Jan 1916, 20 Jan 1916, 17 Feb 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 18 May 1916, etc.

Preiss, John: 15 Aug 1912, 22 Jul 1915, 19 Aug 1915, 17 Feb 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 18 May 1916, 10 Aug 1916, 21 Sep 1916,  1 Nov 1917.

Preiss, Paul: 15 Aug 1912,  24 Dec 1914, 31 Dec 1914, 22 Jul 1915, 17 Feb 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 21 Sep 1916, 1 Nov 1917.

Preiss, Roy (son of W. J. Preiss): 16 Sep 1915, 30 Sep 1915. 

Preiss, Walter J., and Mrs.: Walter Preiss was one of the early-day school board members of Clematis School. Buried in Logan Co., where he had originally homesteaded. All the family members listed here are also buried in Logan Co. except for two small sons, Adophe and Lawrence, who are buried in Clematis Cem. 19 May 1910, 5 Nov 1914, 24 Dec 1914, 31 Dec 1914, 22 Jul 1915, 30 Sep 1915, 9 Mar 1916, 27 Apr 1916, 31Aug 1916.

Price, W. A.: 30 Nov 1915.

Price, W. J., Mr. and Mrs.: see W. J. Preiss.

Pringey, J. C.: 22 Aug 1912. Probably to be identified with Joseph Colburn Pringey, later elected to the US House of Representatives, where he served from 1921 to 1923. Buried in Oak Park Cem.

Pryor, Emmett: 12 May 1910, 14 July 1910. Buried in Clematis Cem.

Pryor, F. W., Mr. and Mrs. (Fillmore W. Pryor’s first wife was Martha Tevebaugh, daughter of Job Tevebaugh): 2 May 1902, 12 May 1910, 21 July 1910, 15 Sep 1910, 20 Jun 1912, 21 Jan 1915, 11 Jan 1917. Martha died in 1916 while Fillmore remarried and lived until 1947. Both are buried in Davenport Cem.

Pryor, Jim (James W.),  Mr. & Mrs. (parents of Ruby May Pryor): 19 Sep 1912.

Pryor, Mamie (after Nov 1914, Mrs. Harry Dean): Among the early day teachers at Clematis School (LCH 320). 2 June 1910, 14 July 1910, 15 Sep 1910, 18 Jun 1912.

Pryor, Mattie: 2 June 1910, 14 July 1910, 21 July 1910, 29 Aug 1912, 19 Sep 1912.

Pryor, Mrs.: 29 Aug 1912.

Pryor, Ollie (teacher at the Clematis school): 27 Feb 1908, 15 Sep 1910.

Pryor, Ruby May (infant daughter of James and Annie Pryor): 19 Sep 1912. Buried in Clematis Cem.

R

Reed, Elwood: 3 Aug 1916, 10 Aug 1916.

Reed, Marven, Mr. and Mrs.: 29 Aug 1912.

Reed, Mrs. Eva (possibly same as Mrs. Marven Reed): 29 Aug 1912. 

Reeves, Charley: 12 May 1910.

Rice, H. G., and Mrs.: BLM has Francis M. and Thomas W. Rice, one in South Seminole Twp and one in Pawnee Twp. H. G. Rice is the son-in-law of J. W. Bailey. 25 Apr 1901, 23 May 1901, 7 Nov 1901, 29 Aug 1902.

Ridder, Mr. (school teacher from Chandler): 22 Jul 1915.

Riggs, Lonnie: editor of the Lincoln County Socialist in 1915. 16 Jan 1915, 30 Jan 1915.

Robbins, Mrs.: BML has Charlotte E. and Francis M. Robbins in section 25 of South Fox. 20 Jun 1901.

Roberts, Phil: BLM shows Philip E. Roberts homesteaded in 1897 in section 35 of South Fox Twp. 7 Nov 1901, 24 Apr 1903.

Roberts, Pink: 2 June 1910.

Robertson, Ed: 19 Jul 1917.

Robertson, County Attorney: J. B. A. Robertson (James Brooks Ayers but known as “JBA”). In 1900 he and Bill Tilghman ran for office on the Democratic ticket in a Republican stronghold, Robertson for County Attorney and Tilghman for Sheriff. Both were elected.  Robertson was appointed judge in the Tenth Judicial District in 1908, ran for Governor in 1910 and 1914, and was elected in 1918. 4 Apr 1901.

Robertson, J. C. and wife: John C. and Sarah C. Robertson were the parents of Oscar G. Robertson. John was one of the founders of the Carney Cem. Society in 1905 and is buried in Carney Cem. 28 Nov 1901.

Robertson, L. E.: Lemuel E. Robertson, brother of O.G. Robertson. Buried in Carney Cem. 9 Jan 1902.

Robertson, Marie: daughter of Oscar G. Robertson. 27 Jul 1905.

Robertson, Oscar G. (son of John C. and Sarah Robertson above): Homesteaded section 23 of South Fox in 1902. With Chris and Nathan Nash, established a cotton gin on the north part of the Nash homestead. Robinson and both of the Nash brothers were carpenters and contractors. In 1904 he was in partnership with D. R. “Doc” Owens, and the gin was moved to Davenport. Postmaster of Clematis in 1899 and possibly thereafter. 14 Apr. 1899, 25 May 1900, 23 May 1901, 28 Nov 1901,9 Jan 1902, etc. Buried in Davenport Cem. 

Robertson, Mrs. Oscar (Ivy May, wife of Oscar G. Robertson): 6 Jun 1902. Buried with her husband in Davenport Cem.

Robinson, Mrs. Oscar: Should be Robertson, not Robinson. 6 June 1902.

Rogers, Harry: 6 Dec 1917.

Rowland, Miss Annie: Unidentified. 26 Sep 1904.

S

Sawyer, J. M., “Jeff”: BML shows a John Sawyer in sec 10 of Wellston Twp and a Moses W. Sawyer in the same section, no Jeff or “J.M.” He is buried in Oak Park Cem. with wife Lora. 28 March 1901, 18 Apr 1901, 12 Sep 1901, 8 Aug 1902, 18 Nov 1915, 9 Mar 1916.

Sawyers, Bell: 3 May 1917.

Sawyers, Mrs.: 24 May 1917. 

Sears, John: BLM shows him in section 11 of South Fox Township. 11 Jul 1901.

Selton, Tom: Unidentified. 20 March 1902.

Sexton, Lee:  BLM shows John B., Thomas W., and William H. Sexton, all in South Keokuk Twp, sections 25, 29, & 30.  The 1900 census for Calvin Lee Sexton shows him in Keokuk Twp, age 21, and the 1903 maps reveals a cluster of Sextons living near each other around section 30. Calvin Lee Sexton is buried in Maricopa Co. AZ. The two children mentioned in the Clematis column are buried in Clematis Cem. 12 Jun 1902, 13 Jun 1902, 4 Aug 1904..

Sexton, Tom: BLM has Thomas W. in sections 25 and 30 of South Fox Township. Not otherwise identified. 9 May 1901.

Shaughnessey, Will: Unidentified. 23 Jan 1902.

Shotwell, Superintendent: BLM shows the homestead of Elijah B. Shotwell in Pawnee Twp near Avery, proved in 1901. In 1899 he was one of the first teachers at Stroud School, District No. 54. In the later 1890s he became Superintendent of Schools (LCH 235, 303). 30 Jan 1902.

Simpson, Clyde: 13 Jul 1916, 10 Aug 1916.

Simpson, Coxie: 11 May 1916, 18 May 1916, 13 Jul 1916, 10 Aug 1916, 5 Apr 1917, 10 May 1917, 17 May 1917, 7 Jun 1917, 28 Jun 1917, 26 Jul 1917. 

Simpson, Jess, Mr. and Mrs.: 10 Aug 1916.

Simpson, Martha: 17 Feb 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 27 Apr 1916, 11 May 1916, 18 May 1916, 10 Aug 1916, 21 Sep 1916, 10 May 1917, 24 May 1917. 

Simpson, May/Mae: 17 Feb 1916, 12 Apr 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 11 May 1916, 27 Jul 1916, 21 Sep 1916,  27 Apr 1917, 10 May 1917, 17 May 1917, 24 May 1917, 7 Jun 1917. 

Simpson, Mrs.: 15 Mar 1917.

Simpson, Rosetta: 13 Apr 1916, 29 Jun 1916, 10 Aug 1916, 9 Aug 1917.

Sims, Charley: At BLM the only Sims is John T. Sims in sec 9 of North Fox Township. However, C. Sims appears on the LLR map in section 26 of South Fox Township. 10 Sep 1902.

Sittler, Miss: 19 Apr 1917.

Smith, Frank: BLM shows three men named Frank Smith homesteading in Lincoln Co. between 1891 and 1903, but none in twps close to Clematis. Pleasant School (District No. 72) was one mile west and five miles south of Davenport, in South Fox Twp. In Jan 1895, a Frank Smith was a teacher at Anvil School (LCH 35). 26 Sep 1904.

Smith, Mrs. Pearl (daughter of Mrs. C. H. Douglas): 19 Nov 1914, 3 Dec 1914.

Smith, Senate, Mr. and Mrs.: 12 May 1910, 19 May 1910.

Smith, Spence: 16 June 1910.

Smith, Thornton: 22 Jul 1915.

Smith, W. S., Mr. and Mrs. (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Douglas and sister of Cordues Douglas): 15 Jul 1915, 4 May 1916, 13 Jul 1916, 31Aug 1916.

Soilson, Charles: Unidentified. 1 May 1902.

Sorrells, Tom, Mr. and Mrs.: 28 Oct 1915, 13 Apr 1916, 11 May 1916, 18 May 1916, 27 Jul 1916.

Stigle, Mr. and family: 15 Aug 1912.

Stephenson, L. C. (Leander Carter Stephenson): named in Riggs’ socialist Honor Roll in 1915, he moved back to Kentucky because of ill health and died there in 1918. Buried in Albany Cem., Clinton Co. KY.

Stockwell, C. P., Mr. and Mrs.: 5 Aug 1915, 30 Nov 1915. This is Catlet Proctor Stockwell, Jr., and wife Cordi. They are buried in Gable Cem.

Stockwell, F. M. (Francis Marion), Mr. and Mrs. (parents of Mrs. A. E. Gouker and Stella Stockwell) : 18 Jun 1912, 15 Aug 1912, 19 Sep 1912, 15 Jul 1915, 22 Jul 1915, 5 Aug 1915, 16 Sep 1915, 23 Sep 1915, 28 Oct 1915, 30 Nov 1915, 4 May 1916, etc. Buried in Gable Cem.

Stockwell, Grandma: 12 Sep 1912, 22 Jul 1915, 29 Jul 1915. This is Sarah Ann Stockwell (1835-1915), buried in Gable Cem.

Stockwell, Stella [daughter of F.M. and Cora Stockwell, married Otho Newnam, 1915]: 18 Jun 1912, 15 Aug 1912, 29 Aug 1912, 15 Jul 1915, 22 Jul 1915, 5 Aug 1915, 12 Aug 1915, 19 Aug 1915. Buried in White Dove Cem.

Swanson, Deputy Sheriff: G. W. Swanson was appointed Deputy Sheriff in July 1899. Served as a pall-bearer at Bill Tilghman’s funeral in 1924 along with ex-governor J. B. A. Robertson.  6 Feb 1902.

Sweet, Mr.: BLM has Edgar N. Sweet, section 25 of North Wichita Twp. 7 Mar 1901.

Swinford, Miss Mae: 26 Jul 1917. 

Swinford, Roy: 5 Apr 1917,10 May 1917, 17 May 1917, 24 May 1917, 7 Jun 1917, 26 Jul 1917. 

T

Taylor, Ida:9 Mar 1916, 20 Apr 1916.

Tellis, Mrs.: see Tullis.

Terry, Clifford: 15 Mar 1917.

Terebaugh: common misspelling of Tevebaugh.

Tevebaugh, A. W. (Albert Welton, son of Job Welton Tevebaugh; married Jennie Pearl Hardick, daughter of Lewis Hardick): The Terebaughs are buried in Gracelawn Cem. in Edmond OK. They lost a young child while living near Clematis, Viva Corinne, buried in the Clematis Cem. 29 May 1903.

Tevebaugh, Col.: Job Welton Tevebaugh (last name variously spelled). BLM doesn't show this name but the 1903 landowners list shows him in South Fox Twp. He and his wife Polly Settles are buried at Clematis along with their daughter Lena. His name occurs frequently: 18 Apr 1901, 2 May 1901, etc.

Tevebaugh, Ida (sister of Mrs. F. W. Pryor): 31 Dec 1914.

Tevebaugh, Polly Settles: Wife of Job Welton Tevebaugh. Buried in Clematis Cem. Her obituary appeared 15 Sep 1904.

Tevebaugh, Rena: Should be “Lena.” Lena Jane Tevebaugh died in September of 1903 and is buried in Clematis Cem. 24 Sep 1902, 1 Oct 1902. 

Thompson, Mrs. (Carolyn): wife of Mason “M. L.” Thompson. 10 Apr 1908. Buried in Clematis Cem.

Thrasher, J. C.: No BLM data for Lincoln Co. The infant daughter of F. M. & Mary Thrasher is buried in Arlington Cem., Prague. 4 Apr 1901.

Tilghman, Sheriff: The famous lawman, Bill Tilghman, elected Sheriff of Lincoln Co. in 1900 and 1902. He ran as a Democrat in a Republican County and with ran J. B. A. Robertson as County Attorney. 30 Jan 1902.

Tipton, Samuel: No record at BLM but a Thomas Tipton homesteaded section 35 of Otoe Twp. 26 Sep 1904.

Townsley, Alfreda (daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Townsley): 31 Aug 1916.

Townsley, Bessie: 15 Jul 1915, 22 Jul 1915, 19 Aug 1915, 16 Sep 1915, 23 Sep 1915, 28 Oct 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 20 Jan 1916, 2 Mar 1916, 15 Mar 1917, 5 Apr 1917, 19 Apr 1917, 10 May 1917, 7 Jun 1917, 28 Jun 1917, 12 Jul 1917, 27 Sep 1917, 4 Oct 1917, etc.

Townsley, Bill: 5 Apr 1917.

Townsley, Ernest: 4 Oct 1917.

Townlsey, Fred, Mr. and Mrs.: 9 Mar 1916, 11 May 1916, 31 Aug 1916.

Townsley, Harry (son of Fred Townsley): 11 May 1916.

Townsley, Mildred: 15 Jul 1915, 22 Jul 1915, 23 Sep 1915, 28 Oct 1915, 18 Nov 1915, 4 May 1916, 11 May 1916,  5 Apr 1917, 19 Apr 1917, 10 May 1917, 24 May 1917, 28 Jun 1917, etc. 

Townsley, Mr., and son Saint (?): 5 Apr 1917, 12 Apr 1917.

Townsley, Mrs.: 17 May 1917, 26 Jul 1917.

Townsley, Robert: 20 Apr 1916, 18 May 1916.

Townsley, Sam: 12 Aug 1915, 17 Feb 1916, 20 Apr 1916, 29 Jun 1916, 12 Jul 1917. 

Townsley, Wallace: 15 Jul 1915.

Townsley, Willis: 19 Aug 1915, 8 Nov 1917.

Tryon, Fairbanks: 15 Mar 1917.

Tull, J. T.: No BLM record but the LLR map shows him in section in section 25 of South Fox Township, about a mile SE of Clematis. The 1900 census shows a John T. Hull in Keokuk Twp. 6 Feb 1902.

Tullis, Mr. and Mrs. (probably Mr. and Mrs. James Williard Tullis, buried at Davenport, parents of Mrs. Harley Chastain): 24 May 1917, 9 Aug 1917.

Tunel, Mr., 15 Aug 1912.

Turner, W. A.: 13 Apr 1916.

U

Updyke (Updike), J. F.: Bought John Sears’ place, section 11 of South Fox Township, and appears on the 1903 map but not in the list of names at LLR. 11 Jul 1901.

Ursury, Mr. and Mrs.: Unidentified, perhaps an attempted pun on Usury. 29 May 1903.

W

Walker, Joe: 4 Aug 1904.

Warren, Thomas: 3 Dec 1914.

Wasson, Albert: 12 Jul 1917, 1 Nov 1917, 8 Nov 1917, 6 Dec 1917.

Wasson, Mrs. (mother of Mrs. Elmer Adams): 12 Jul 1917.

Waters, Alfred (brother of Bertha and Bell Waters): 22 Jul 1915, 20 Jan 1916, 11 May 1916. He’s buried at Davenport Cem.

Waters, Bertha and Bell (aunts of Clevie Cupp): 21 Jan 1915, 5 Aug 1915, 19 Aug 1915, 25 Nov 1915, 27 Apr 1916, 15 Mar 1917, 12 Apr 1917, 10 May 1917, 28 Jun 1917. 

Waters, H. A.: 19 May 1910.

Waters, Mr. and Mrs. (parents of Mrs. Cupp): 5 Aug 1915, 11 May 1916,  13 Jul 1916, 15 Mar 1917, 24 May 1917, 26 Jul 1917, 9 Aug 1917.

Wright, Mrs.: 19 Aug 1915, 15 Mar 1917, 26 Jul 1917.

Wilson, Mr.: 8 Nov 1917.

Wilson, Virgie: 18 Jun 1912.

Wilson, J. W.: 10 May 1917.

Wilson, Jim (same as J.W.?): 8 Nov 1917, 6 Dec 1917.

Wilson, Wayne: 19 Apr 1917.

Wright, John: 28 Jun 1917. 

Wright, Julius: 21 Sep 1916, 28 Jun 1917. Buried in White Dove Cem.

Wright, Mrs.: 15 Oct 1914, 20 Jan 1916, 2 Mar 1916, 18 May 1916, 17 May 1917, 24 May 1917, 19 Jul 1917, 9 Aug 1917.

Wright, Mrs. J. E.: Among the early day teachers of Clematis school were Mrs. E. W. Wright and Mrs. Rose Wright (LCH 320).  27 Apr 1916, 8 Nov 1917.

Wright, Rose J. (Clematis teacher): Among the early day teachers of Clematis school were Mrs. E. W. Wright and Mrs. Rose Wright (LCH 320). 13 Jan 1916.

Wrinner, Sam: 19 May 1910, 18 Nov 1915.

Y

York, Mrs. Unidentified. 29 May 1903.

York, John: 24 Apr 1903.

Young, Mrs.: 12 Aug 1915.