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    Oil meant work. Oil meant money and prosperity. Small towns became tent cities overnight. Buildings were thrown up to house tile influx of people coming to dig the money out of the ground. In 1927 seven new cities and 35 city additions were filed with the county clerk. The seven towns that blossomed for a time were Pearson, Wamego, Alexander Heights and Shipman in the St. Louis oil area, Wyan at the Wey, Highland Gardens east of Shaw­nee, and

OUR NEW DEAL

            Frenzied development of Pottawatomie county's oil fields in the late twenties boosted prosperity to a new high. Roads were built. Cities were built. People made money.

But when the house of prosperity crashed in 1931, oil development also slowed down almost to a halt. Banks failed. The national slump threw its shadow over the county and the channels of trade choked. Property value dropped. Men lost jobs. Men lost money. Ambitious boom-time undertak­ings turned into white elephants. People were blue.

          In the post-war depression it was an oil man who appeared on the scene and made people smile. This time it was President Franklin Delano Roose­velt. Slowly the nation began to crawl back to normal. By 1936 Pottawato­mie County was definitely on the road to recovery with the rest of the nation. The national debt was still mounting. Millions were still unemployed. But people were buying and selling things.

            The Public Works Administration was one of the first moves made by Roosevelt's New Deal to bring back prosperity. Cities were offered 30 per cent grants on building projects.

            Since removal of the county seat from Tecumseh in March, 1931, county offices had been located in Shawnee office buildings. Grabbing at this chance to save money on a new county building, the citizens voted a $175,000 bond issue in 1933 to qualify for the federal grant of $81,000. Shawnee donated a part of Woodland Park for the court house site. By June 28, 1935, the new building was ready for occupation. Jubilant county officials moved their desks and records into the smart new building, and on July 3, 4, and 5 of that year, a huge celebration formally dedicated the building.

            Among the veteran county officials who participated in that memorable celebration were:

District Judge Leroy Cooper: Judge Cooper has been serving this county as a judicial official since 1925 when he was appointed assistant county at­torney. Cooper was born March 11, 1902, at Maud. Educated in Maud schools and in Cumberland University, he was admitted to the bar in 1923, and prac­ticed law at Maud until he went into the county attorney's office in 1925. In 1928 Cooper was elected county judge. In 1930 Cooper continued his climb with election to the superior judge post. After a four year term in this office, he was elected district judge in 1934. (Democrat, Mason, American Legion, Elk, South Methodist.)

County Judge J. Knox Byrum: A Pottawatomie county son, born in 1904 at Asher, Judge Byrum was educated in Shawnee public schools, Oklahoma Baptist University, and the University of Oklahoma law school. Byrum was admitted to the bar in 1927, elected to the state legislature in 1928, served as Shawnee municipal judge from 1930 to 1934 and in 1934 was elected county judge. (Mason, Elk, Democrat, First Baptist.)

Court Clerk Sam Coleman: In 1893 Coleman came from Mississippi to In­dian Territory with his father, W. M. Coleman. In 1899 his family settled on a Pottawatomie county farm five miles west of Shawnee. Coleman moved to Tecumseh in 1924 to take up his duties as county assessor. After two terms in this capacity, Coleman retired to private life, then returned to public serv­ice in 1933 when he took office as court clerk, (Mason, Elk, Baptist.)

Sheriff Walter C. Mosier: Believing that an extensive system of records is essential to a law enforcement agency, Sheriff Mosier has emphasized this phase of the work during his administration. Today the office has complete information of 1,400 cases that have come from this county. Before Mosier was made undersheriff in 1930 by Bill Roberts, he had been storekeeper for the Santa Fe railroad for 15 years. He took time out during the war to teach machine-gunning to Uncle Sam's soldiers, then in 1919 was transferred by the railroad from Arkansas City to Shawnee. Mosier was elected sheriff in 1934. (Mason, Elk, American Legion, Kiwanis, First Methodist.)

County Treasurer Stanley Grimes:  When R. W. Grimes brought his family to homestead east of Tribbey in 1896, Stanley Grimes was but six months old. Grimes attended Ashby grade school, south of the present city of Macomb, and Tribbey high school. During the war he served in the navy, returning to work in three banks--Macomb State, Tribbey Security State, and the Tecumseh First National. In 1921 Grimes worked a year in the treasurer's office, then returned to Tribbey to operate a store. In 1925 he became chief clerk in the register of deeds office. He held this position until 1932, and in 1931 was elected treasurer. (Mason, Kiwanis, Methodist.)

County Assessor Bell H. Hunter:  Hunter's first job in Pottawatomie Coun­ty was helping his father, W. R. Hunter, develop their farm northeast of Shawnee. Hunter completed his education in Tecumseh high school, then at­tended business college. From 1902 to 1904 he worked for his father who was recorder of deeds. After operating a barber shop for a time, Hunter returned to the farm northeast of Shawnee where he remained until 1933 when he be­came assessor. Hunter was one time president of the Anti-Horse Thief as­sociation. A prominent farmer, Hunter pioneered in terracing work in 1923.

State Representative Kenneth Abernathy:  Born January 16, 1906, in Shaw­nee, Abernathy was graduated from Shawnee high school in 1923, then went to Columbia university where he was graduated in 1927. The next three years he spent in Oklahoma University's law school, where he graduated second in the class, and was a member of the Order of Coif, comprised of the upper ten per cent of each class. Abernathy also coached debate and taught public speaking while at Norman. Since then he has practiced law with his father and served two terms in the legislature. (Chamber of Commerce director, Rotary. Member Presbyterian board of trustees.)

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COUNTY OFFICERS BEFORE STATEHOOD

Appointed by Territorial Governor 1891--H. G. Beard, commissioner first district; Samuel Clay, second district; A. M. Clardy, third district; W. R. 'Asher, county judge; J. H. Woods, county attorney; Oscar G. Lee, county clerk, succeeded by F. E. Adams; John A. McCartney, county treasurer, suc­ceeded by Davis Hardin; C. J, Benson, county superintendent.

First elected officers 1892--J. H. Dougherty, judge; E. B. Mundy, attorney; James H. Gill, sheriff; Willard Johnston, clerk; G. A. Newsome, treasurer; C. T. Slattery, superintendent; R. H. Hager, first district commissioner; Wil­liam Weise, second district; J. J. McAlister, third district; J. H. Smith, register deeds.

Populists elected 1894-W. A. Ruggles, judge; W. L. McFall, attorney; W. B. Trousdale, sheriff; J. W. Slaughter, register deeds; J. M. Bull, superin­tendent; R. A. Timmons, surveyor; McCoughan, Coroner; G. A. Hathcock, M. A. Fowler and John H. Hoover, commissioners.

1896 (Populists returned to Ute Democratic fold)--J. D. F. Jennings, judge; W. J. Lackey, attorney; W. J. Dickerson, sheriff; W. M. Durham, treasurer; S. M. Ramsey, register deeds; G. M. Southgate, clerk; R. R. Bertrand. sur­veyor ; L. E. Cooley, superintendent; T. J. Shawhan, commissioner first dis­trict; A. L. Gilliam, second district; John H. Hoover, hold over in third dis­trict. (Trousdale-Dickerson race contested. Dickerson won by four votes.)

1898--J. D. F. Jennings, judge; L. G. Pitman, attorney; G. M. Southgate, clerk; W. M. Durham, treasurer; S. M. Ramsey, register deeds; W. B. Trous­dale, sheriff; R. R. Bertrand, surveyor; John H. Allen, superintendent; Rob­ert M. Chandler, first district commissioner; Charles Myers, second district; E. A. Howard, third district.

1900--W. S. Pendleton, judge; L. G. Pitman, attorney; Sidney Schram, sheriff; Allice Shelton, superintendent; J. C. Bristow, assessor; “\V. R. Hunter, register deeds ; Thomas McColgan, treasurer; G. M. Southg ate, clerk ; C. M. Bradley, weigher; J. D. Hodges, surveyor; Robert Chandler, commissioner first district; F. W. Creel, second district; William H. Hunt, third district.

1902--W. L. McFall, judge; S. P. Freeling, attorney; W. A. Grace, sheriff; D. W. Spencer, treasurer; Moses Ginn, assessor; R. E. Waller, superintendent; J. H. Davis, weigher; J. D. Hodges, surveyor; W. R. Hunter, register deeds; Kib Warren, first district commissioner; W. J. Brown, second district: Marion Lamm, third district.

1904--W. N. Maben, judge; S. P. Free ling, attorney; W. A. Grace, sheriff; W. C. Perry, treasurer; W. S. McCaskill, clerk; R. E. Waller, superintendent; M. C. Flemming, coroner; E. L. Timmons, surveyor; George Stone, register deeds; R. H. Hagar, first district commissioner; G. W. Price, second district; C. C. Chapell, third district. (These served until November 16, 1907, after statehood electron.) ,”

1907--E. D. Reasor, judge; W. R. Biggers, attorney; E. A. Pierce, sheriff; C. Perry, treasurer; J. L. Cotten, clerk; George Stone, register deeds;” Clarence Robison, superintendent; Martin Fleming, coroner; Moses Ginn, weigher; R. H. Hager, first district commissioner; W. G. Price, second district; N. A. J. Ticer, third district. (Office held until first Monday in Janu­ary, 1911.)

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Legislative, Judicial Officers Prior to Statehood

            Legislative officers before statehood consisted of a lower house member elected by Pottawatomie County, and an upper house (council) member elected jointly by Pottawatomie and Lincoln counties.

1892--C. J. Wrightsman, council; J. W. Moyle, representative. 1894-James E. Doom, council; N. B. Deford, representative. 1896-Charles M. Brown, council; Wright Christian, representative.

1898--Hugh McCreedie, council; J. G. Combs, representative. 1900-J. F. Todd, council; Robert E. Wood, representative.

1902--J. O. Blakeney, council; Dr. B. F. Nesbitt, representative. 1904-Charles 1\1:. Brown, council; Milton Bryan, representative.

In 1907--M. F. Eggerman was named state senator, W. F. Durham, Milton Bryan, and W. S. Carson representatives.

            Prior to statehood, Pottawatomie, Oklahoma and Cleveland counties com­posed one judicial district, presided over by a United States district judge, appointed by the President. The district judges were trial judges in their districts and together constituted the territorial Supreme Court. At statehood Pottawatomie and Lincoln counties were united in one district, with an elected district judge. U. S. district judges prior to statehood were; John G. Clark, Henry W. Scott, J. R. Keaton, and B. F. Burwell.

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From “Oklahoma Place Names” by Dr. C. N. Gould

Pottawatomie---Corruption of Algonquin term, Pottawatomink, meaning “Peo­ple of the place of fire:

Canadian--Named “la Riviere des Canadiens” after French Canadian traders who operated in this country around 1750.

Tecumseh--For the Warrior Tecumseh. Translated means “walk across.” Hotulka-”Wind people.”

Harjo--Cherokee for “reckless, desperately brave.”

Romulus and Remus, Pink and Brown-Examples of the twin-name fad. Asher-For W. R. Asher, first county judge.

Dale--For Frank Dale, stern federal judge.

McLoud--For J. W. McLoudd, Choctaw railway attorney.

Macomb--For a Santa Fe railway official.

Oklahoma Flag

            In 1915 the state legislature abolished the old state flag of red and white and designated green and white as the new state colors. The Daughters of the American Revolution in 1924 sponsored a movement for a new state flag, and from several designs picked that of Mrs. Louise Funk Fluke, daughter of Shawnee's librarian, Mrs. R. W. Funk.

Mrs. Fluke's winning flag is described as follows:

Device: In the center of field, the circular shield of an Osage warrior, made of heavy buffalo rawhide, fringed with pendant eagle feathers; super­imposed across the face of the shield, the red man's calumet, or pipe of peace, and the white man's olive branch.

Colors: Field, sky blue; shield, buckskin or light tan; feathers, white shading into brown tips; small crosses, white; calumet, stem light buff, with pipe bowl and pendant tassel, dark red; olive branch, olive green.

Symbolism: The blue field signifies loyalty and devotion; the shield im­plies protective warfare, when justifiable; the small crosses on the shield are the Indian's graphic sign for stars and may indicate lofty ideals or a purpose for high endeavor; the shield thus surmounted by, but always subservient to, the calumet and olive branch, betoken a predominant love of peace by a united people,

THE STORY OF SHAWNEE

            Months before Pott country was opened for white settlement, Shawnee had already become a city in the blue prints of ambitious promoters.  Most of those who stood on the line that September day in 1891 were depend­ing on lady luck to help them get a good deal. But a few wise ones had re­arranged the cards in their favor, so to speak, and had checked every detail to make sure there would be no miscarriage of their plans to establish a town in this new and fair country.

            When a post office and trading post was established in the '70s at Shaw­neetown, west of the Indian sanatorium, a town somewhere in the vicinity was practically assured. But it remained for men of vision to make that a reality.

            Sometime before the opening we find Martin J. Bentley traveling about the country, selling lots in Brockway townsite, to be established in Pott country. One such sale was made to Joe Clark while he was still in Mis­souri. ¹

            In early September, 1891, Bentley was in Oklahoma City awaiting the President's proclamation opening the country. He received orders from the two Chicago men who were affiliated with him in the Brockway Townsite Company to come to Chicago. While stopping at Parsons, Kansas, Bentley learn­ed that September 22 had been set as the opening date. Realizing he would not have time to go to Chicago and back, he returned to Oklahoma City and from there on handled the promotion himself. ²

            Previously Bentley had become acquainted with a group of men interested in the new country. They talked of Brockway, then made plans to carry out their dreams. In December, 1890, John Beard and Dave Perriman made a hunting trip into Pott country near the present site of Shawnee. They re­turned with such glowing tales about the location that A. B. Beard, John's father, and Bentley made an exploration trip into the region. On their return, the group agreed that Brockway would be north of the river near the Kickapoo reservation line.

            In the afternoon of September 20 the group left for Pott country. Mem­bers of the party were Bentley, A. B. Beard, H. G. Beard, John W. Beard, Joe Clark, Dr. Munger, a Mr. Alley. J. T. Farrall, L. E. Troxell, Miss Etta B. Ray, Miss Lola G. Beard, J. W. Gee, Lyman F. Beard and Phillip Ray. ³

            After the excitement of high noon, September 22, a check up showed that Etta B. Ray had staked the northwest quarter of section 19, being south and east of Kickapoo and Highland, Lola G. Beard had staked the southwest sec­tion of section 18, Beard had driven his stake east of Miss Ray's, and Farrall had claimed the ground that is now south Shawnee.

            On Christmas day 1891 there were three men in Shawnee. John Beard prepared dinner, then rode over to ask Captain Richard A. Timmons and Gus Darrow, who was staying with him, to come over for the feast. Darrow was sick, but Timmons joined Beard. After dinner they loaded up their pipes and began dreaming. On a piece of paper they outlined their proposed town­site. Across the plat, north and south, Timmons drew a line and called it the Santa Fe railway. Across the plat, east and west, Beard drew a line and called it the Choctaw railway.

            A month later events began moving toward realization of these dreams. Several groups joined the Brockway settlers, including the family of Joe Clark. Clark settled in a tent home 100 yards northwest of the Beard street bridge. Neal Clark, his son, recalls the wildness of the country as being its most outstanding feature. “Yapping coyotes were one of the first indications of the nearness to the primitive,” Clark writes. “That first night in our tent home the terrifying yells of Kickapoos brought memories of Custer's last stand. An impenetrable forest extended north from the river for one or two 2 miles. There was hardly a stretch where one could see more than 100 yards.” 

            It was in this tent home that Bertha Clark started Brockway's first subscription school. Here also were held the settlement's first religious services. A week or so later another school was started by Miss Gertrude Norris.

            That spring and summer the growing band of pioneers chopped out a main street, the present Farrall Avenue, and two side streets, Beard and Broadway.  Other settlers, many through the influence of Bentley, joined the crowd so that by the fall of 1892 the village assumed the proportions of a city.

            During the first year the settlement was known variously as Brockway, Forest City and Shawnee. Finally after an all-night argument in an Okla­homa City hotel, the name Shawnee was chosen. Henry Beard championed the name Beardville. Bentley wanted Chicago, while Farrall held out for Shawnee.

            Prior to this meeting, the townsite had been laid out, leaving 28 acres of each quarter section for Woodland and Farrall parks, as required by law. Because of the necessity of establishing ownership of the tract, Shawnee was not recognized until 1894. But the pioneers went ahead and marked out the town and named streets. Beard and Farrall streets were named for the two men. Park Street was so named because it ended at Farrall Park. The city market place once centered just south of the railroad tracks on Market. For his wife, Farrall named Louisa Street.

              Following is a lineup of business houses in the winter of 1892, as given by Joe Clark: At the east end of Main Street on the south side was Howell's grocery, later sold to Harve Cook. Next was Will Morris's Blue Grass hotel. Across Broadway near the middle of the block was Phelps' printing shop, in which was published a few issues of the “Shawnee Chief.” In the next house lived W. J. Legg, first blacksmith. Next was the residence occupied by Morris while the hotel, was being built, which became the home and grocery store of John Boswell after Morris moved to the hotel.

            On the north side of Main Street, starting at Beard stood a saloon. Next was Jones' meat market, next a store on the west side of Broadway. On the east side of Broadway was another that later housed the “Choctaw Supply,” operated by Frank Stearns. Next was the residence of a Mr. Adams, early Sunday school organizer. The last building all the north side, and opposite Howell's grocery, was the general store of J. P. Miller, the town's first justice of the peace.

            South of Main street on Broadway was Mrs. Lyle's restaurant; next a real estate and insurance office of V. W. Ives. Around the corner on Hays Avenue, west of Broadway, was the Joe Clark livery and feed barn. John Gutheridge and Berry Eastes had a saw mill at the corner of Broadway and Oakland Avenue. Later Bentley built on the southeast corner of Main and Beard Shawnee's largest store building.

            In the fall of 1892 Mrs. Dr. E. E. Larkins became the town's first salaried teacher. The following year Charley Hamilton became the first school prin­cipal, with Miss Susie Zeliff his assistant.

            That same year was built the town's first inter-denominational church. A rough oak and cottonwood structure, it stood at the corner of Bell and Far­rall streets. By 1895 a number of groups had become strong enough to pull out and build their own houses.

            Also by 1895 prosperity had hit Shawnee in a big way. The year 1893 was Shawnee's first depression year. All development stopped and many pulled up stakes and moved to Tecumseh and other places. But by the next fall Shawnee had become assured of the Choctaw railroad.

            The winter of 1894 Shawnee became a typical boom town with shysters, slickers and sinners. But at the same time there came far-sighted business men to pitch their lot with Shawnee. From Tecumseh came G. T. Patrick, Geo. E. McKinnis, J. M. Remington, C. C. Pottinger, C. J. Benson, W. S. Search, J. H. Maxey and others.

            With the Beard and Farrall title to the townsite land secured, the first town election was held October 18, 1894. Elected to the board of trustees were H. G. Beard, chairman, J. M. Berry and M. B. Wells. Clay Barnard was named town clerk.

            The first police force consisted of A. H. Grall, marshal, R. M. Collier, W. N. Norris and G. W. Brown, policemen. Hiram Holt was city assessor, C. J. Fisher, city treasurer; W. S. Field, city attorney; D. A. McMillan, street com­missioner; W. L. Vernon, justice of the peace. The school board included Ben Dierker, J. S. Mills and W. J. Legg,

            Because a route through Shawnee as it stood would have necessitated an additional fill, the railroad was charted through the north end of the townsite.

            Eighth Street was marked off as the new main street and lots were offered to southtown businessmen who would move their buildings. That spring “Old Kentuck” Mason, the mover, was kept busy putting rollers under the town.

            The new main street built up rapidly. Two two-storied bricks went up at the same time. One at Main and Broadway later housed the J. H. Maxey First National bank, and the other. at Main and Bell, was for H. B. Dexter's bank. A three-storied hotel was soon built at Main and Union.

            Willard Johnston relates an interesting story in connection with work on The First National bank building. Maxey was president and Johnston was I cashier of the bank. They had

talked with townsite officials and been offered  the choice of four corner lots on Main street in return for a promise to “open a bank and do business within 30 days in a temporary building; and to build  within six months a two-story brick building, size not less than 50 by 80 feet.”  

             “We bought a box house in southtown for $5, Johnston relates.” Across the room we built a temporary counter with some pine slats in front. The safe we installed just inside the back door on a platform sloping toward the door, so that in case of fire we could knock a prop out from under the safe and it would roll out onto the ground. You see, this safe was burglar proof, but not fireproof.

            “When we started work on the brick building, we moved the safe to the back end of the lots and placed it under some big oak trees. When we closed business that day, I balanced the books and took the cash to put it into the safe. Everyone along Main Street saw me, and shortly men came wanting to know if I was going to leave the safe there all night. I replied that the safe would be safer “in the woods” than in the bank, because it was not fireproof, and if anyone wanted to make off with it, they would have to lift it from the ground instead of off the building floor.”

            As the weeks passed, the construction crew laying rails from Oklahoma City neared Shawnee. On the afternoon of the third of July, the rails were within a quarter of a mile of Kickapoo street. The construction crew was offered a bonus and all the beer they could drink if they completed the line into town by noon the next day.

            A few seconds after noon, July 4, 1895, the line was brought to Park Street. In came the construction train with James McNerney at the throttle, and Bill Martin helping him as fireman. Following it was an excursion train with 15 flat car loads of people and beer. It was engineered by Al Dietrich, and fired by John Rutty.

            Shawnee proceeded to celebrate its rebirth in a picnic the like of which the town had never seen before.

____________________

Data from Neal Clark and Mrs. Kate Chatman.

As told by Bentley to E. L. Estes.

Data from John Beard.

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            Routing of the Choctaw through Shawnee meant the birth of “New Shawnee,” but it remained for location of the repair shops to give the founda­tion necessary for industrial growth. Terminal facilities were established in February, 1896, and by that summer the shops, which had been at McAlester, were located in Shawnee. As in the case of the railroad itself, the town gave a land bonus to get the plum.

            The following 15 years was a period of intense activity and marked ex­pansion for Shawnee. From a population of 350 in 1894, Shawnee jumped to a population of 2,500 by April 4, 1896, when it was declared a city of the first class. In 1897 the city voted $35,000 in bonds for waterworks. Prior to that time individual water wells had been used exclusively, and each building had its barrel of water in front for fire protection. Also in that year, J. C. Fisher was granted a franchise to operate an electric light plant. From his first plant on South Bell street Fisher furnished current for ten arc lights that had to be trimmed every day.

            Seat of the city government was set up a half block south of the present Mammoth building. This frame structure was occupied by the fire depart­ment, jail and city offices until the present city hall was built.

            By 1898 the first school building in Woodland Park had become too small for the rapidly growing city. Men began constructing a two-story building just west of the old one and on the site of the new civic auditorium. This building also replaced a grade school that had stood near the present library site, In the fall of 1895 George Patrick became Shawnee's first school superintendent. Geo. E. McKinnis was principal under Patrick, and succeeded him as superintendent.

            The months during which the Choctaw case was pending were the critical ones so far as Shawnee's life and death is concerned. But the years between 1897 and 1900 were critical from the standpoint of Shawnee's future place in the state. In 1897 Shawnee and Oklahoma City were about the same size. But by 1900 Oklahoma City had the Santa Fe, Choctaw and Frisco railroads, and a population of 10,037. Shawnee had only the Choctaw and 3,462 citizens.

            It was a railroad battle tor survival, like the one that had taken place a few years previously between Shawnee and Tecumseh. Just as Tecumseh muffed its chance to be one of the state's leading cities, so Shawnee consigned itself to secondary ranking among state cities.

            In 1897 Shawnee was the liveliest spot in the territory. And so it was only natural that Judge Parker and Dennis Flynn, representing the Frisco railroad, should come to Shawnee seeking an ear on their proposal to build. The two spent some time talking to the powers around town. But the big powers around town weren't so favorably impressed. These bosses enjoyed their uncontested domain in which their word and will was the absolute law. If the Frisco should build through, it would mean a bigger town, competition, and the end of their sweet monopoly. And so these kings told the Frisco representatives, in so many words: “Gentlemen, get on your horses and ride out. We'd sooner pay you $30,000 to stay out than ten cents to come in.”

            Smaller men who bowed to the will of the mighty justified their support by reasoning: “A railroad from north to south would build many small towns along the way, and therefore take trade from Shawnee!”

            A similar incident appears to have happened concerning the Forth Smith and Western railroad. Once in 1902, and again in 1906 representatives of the road made overtures to Shawnee, but both times were turned away because of some local difficulty or difference of opinion.

            Shawnee did get its railroads in 1903 and 1904, but too late to count in the race for state supremacy. Both the Frisco and Santa Fe planned branches through Shawnee, but only the Santa Fe came, bringing its shops. C. J. Ben­son and Jim Aydelotte figured prominently in securing the Santa Fe for Shawnee.

            June 15, 1903, the first Santa Fe train pulled into its Shawnee station. February 11, 1904, the construction crew working on the Katy railroad, now the Oklahoma City, Ada and Atoka, reached Shawnee, and that same year the Shawnee-Tecumseh Traction Company built its line to Tecumseh.

            As originally planned, the M., K. & T. line crossed the southwest part of the county near Burnett. Shawnee leaders became interested, but soon dropped the matter. It is possibly due to the persistent determination of Geeorge E. McKinnis and Will Havner that Katy officials decided to come by Shaw­nee. McKinnis financed Havner in a private survey of the substitute route. These maps and figures, together with the story of Shawnee's phenomenal growth, impressed the railroad officials who finally decided it would be worth a few extra miles to come by and pick up some of Shawnee's business.

            Railroad building was only a small part of the activity during this bright period in Shawnee's history. Streets were paved, a $125,000 waterworks ex­tension bond issue was voted, office buildings and homes were built by the score, and by statehood Shawnee boasted of 27 factories in addition to a huge volume of retail business.

            By 1909 Shawnee's school system included five ward schools, a new high school building and 27 teachers. Meanwhile other cultural forces were not idle. In October, 1901, the Shawnee Library association was formed with a small membership and 100 volumes that had been the private circulating library of Mrs. Frank W. Boggs. The following two years 200 books were donated or purchased.

            By 1903 the association had talked the city into a three-fourths levy for library purposes, thus qualifying for Andrew Carnegie's support. With a site given by the city, the association secured $15,000 for the building which was dedicated October 17, 1905. Books at that time totaled 1,370.

            The library association named the officials until 1912 when the city took over the task of appointing library employees. Mrs. J. C. Parker was the first librarian in 1901. Mrs. R. W. Funk became librarian in 1909 and still holds that position.

            The statehood election brought good news for the W. C. T. U., but bad tidings for Shawnee and for every other town in Pottawatomie County. Due to the proximity of dry Indian Territory, Shawnee had enjoyed much of its prosperity as a result of the liquor trade. Statehood dried up this source of business. Then came the money panic and loss of the county seat fight with Tecumseh. For a grand finale there came slick promoters to fleece the citi­zens out of several hundred thousand dollars. But that is part of another story.

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            Behind the columns of Oklahoma Baptist University's administration hall lie years of perseverance and hard work by church leaders striving to build a great institution of higher learning; and years of persistent effort by Shawnee leaders who wanted that institution here.

            Location of the university in Shawnee was due primarily to the efforts of George E. McKinnis. In fact, it was at a dinner at his home in 1902 that the idea was born.

            That year the Baptist conventions of Oklahoma and Indian territories held their annual meetings in Shawnee. During the session the two con­solidated into the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Two leading divines, guests of McKinnis, were commenting on this step toward harmony when the opinion was ventured that Shawnee would be an ideal location for a Baptist school of higher learning. Not just a small college, but a real university that would take its place among the state's best.

            Gradually the idea of a state Baptist university developed until in 1909 the church was considering the bids of seven towns for location of the school. Offers made by Guthrie, Oklahoma City, Shawnee and Sulphur were considered the best, and a committee of 24 was named to study them. An additional $100,000 bonus offered by 1. N. Putnam, Oklahoma City real estate dealer, swung the decision to Oklahoma City.

            At the Chickasha convention in 1910 events took on a new angle when it developed that a satisfactory contract could not be made with Putnam. McKinnis, representing Shawnee, stepped in with renewal of the offer of $100,000 and 60 acres of land, and secured a contract locating the institution in Shawnee.

            Work on the administration building was started in 1911 and completed in 1914. Today the beautiful campus and modern buildings, costing in the aggregate of $500,000, do honor to the vision and efforts of the founders. Loyal support from 250,000 Baptists in Oklahoma and the central location assure the university success and permanency.

            Before the first university classes in the new building could be held, church leaders found themselves up against another difficulty, sly swindlers who wanted to make away with all the money intended for the building.

            While an agreement on the location of the Baptist school in Shawnee was being made, the Benedictine fathers had agreed to establish their St. Gregory's College in Shawnee, and the sly swindlers had advanced a grandiose scheme for a packing town.

            Upshot was that the three projects were linked into one enterprise. The Shawnee Development company was formed, which was to handle the sale of lots to obtain bonuses for the projects. Revenue was to be divided between the three to keep construction going.

            When it became difficult to get money for work on the Baptist building, an investigation was begun which revealed the packing town enterprise to be purely a hoax. The man who headed the Armourdale group turned out to be a fly-by-night promoter who had already put over one fraud at Sapulpa. There was never any sign of a contract with any packing company in existence. The promoters had made their money by padding the cost of building the packing plant that was never intended to pack.

            A quick meeting of the Shawnee Development company stockholders ousted the responsible officials and elected new ones, whose first act was to salvage the Baptist and Catholic acreages by deeding them to the schools.

* * * *  * *

            The packing town fraud was a staggering blow to a town that had suffered much since 1907. Prohibition at statehood ended the profitable liquor trade and gave Shawnee its first real taste of depression. By the next year when things had begun .to run smoothly again, there came men to spin dreams of riches while they frisked the people's pockets.

            Newspapers had warned about false insurance companies, but that didn't keep the Western and Southern Insurance company and its promoter, a Mr. McRae, from “taking” the citizens to the tune of $200,000 or so. Two legiti­mate insurance concerns, operated by Shawnee men, were absorbed by the fraud.         

            Bold as the packing town and insurance schemes were, they held no light to the brazen plan of designing citizens to steal the fertile lands of the Kickapoos.

            Promoters had enticed a number of Kickapoos into Mexico with promises of a land where they could live free of the white man. June 21, 1906, Wash­ington associates secured passage of a bill permitting these Mexican Kickapoos to sell their allotments. The stampede was on. Glittering promises were held out to those who would go to Mexico and dire threats for those who balked. Things ran smoothly until outsiders began to horn in on the thievery. This cross-bidding boosted prices. The original promoters got mad, opened their mouths and started squealing “fraud.”

            The ensuing investigation whitewashed the whole deal. Then the Mexi­can government stepped in to charge fraud. A Mexican revolution, coupled with the willingness of those under fire to return the land they had stolen, ended the case and freed the Shawnee men who had been jailed.

            While the grand stealing party was still in full swing, the original promoters designed themselves a little sideshow to pick up $40,000 that had been allotted the Kickapoos. The bill appropriating this fund, for some reason, designated that its disposition should be decided by a council of Kickapoos to be held in Douglas, Ariz. There were only five Kickapoo families in Doug­las, Ariz., and these five had been persuaded to turn the money over to a corporation that was to be operated by their friends, the wolves in sheep’s clothing. Hearing of the plan, Indian Agent Thackery at Shawnee loaded up enough Kickapoos to go down and spoil the party.

            And so the Kickapoos, perhaps a bit bewildered by it all, settled back to the routine after almost losing $40,000 and upwards of $200,000 in farming land.

* * * * * *

            The period between 1907 and 1923 might be classified, roughly, as Shaw­nee's quiet years. Progress was made, to be sure, but nothing like that of the years just before and after.

            From 1895 to 1907 Shawnee prospered and grew into one of the state's most prominent cities. The national panic in 1907, prohibition, and the big frauds that cost the town much needed capital, ended this golden era with a sudden jolt. The world war naturally quickened the pace, but at the same time forestalled any real progress. Then post-war depression left Shawnee completely in the doldrums. The national railway strike pushed the barometer of trade still lower. Then a miracle happened. Oil came and started making over the town.

            Development of the Cromwell pool broke the downward swing of busi­ness, but it remained for discovery of the Earlsboro and St. Louis fields to start Shawnee careening on an unprecedented wave of prosperity.

            Vacant houses filled rapidly throughout 1926. Property value doubled and trebled. By 1927 demand for space had started a building boom that kept permits above $1,000,000 a month for nearly two years.

            In 1926 a junior Chamber of Commerce was organized with Harry Stroud as secretary. The senior commerce body was led by Edson R. Waite, who had been secretary for eight years.

            Civic leaders felt the town would be better served by one organization, and so in April, 1927, effected a merger and brought Ford C. Harper from Kansas to manage the organization. His first job was construction of an adequate first class hotel.

            Through the efforts of this new club, Hilton A. Phillips, who had made a small fortune in his Earlsboro oil holdings, was induced to build what is now the Aldridge Hotel.  The Chamber of Commerce raised $40,000 to purchase the site and was given a 99 year lease for office space in return.

            The Shawnee Masonic badies then started a campaign for a new building which was completed in 1930.  Doctors Anderson, Carson and Hughes built their hospital on Ninth Stree in 1928. Added to the city’s business district were the Norton motor company building, Gaskill understaking company building on North Union, Plaza Hotel, Gus terminal, Shawnee News building, the M. c. Patrick Blue Front stoe on East Main, the American National bank buiding and the Bison and Criterion theater.

            Shawnee’s street paving was doubled and hard-surfaced highways were extended over the county.  Jefferson Terrace became the city’s first exclusive residential district.

            Population jumped to 23,000 in 1930. That same year brought radio sta­tion KGFF from Alva with Ross Porter as manager. And that same year gave Shawnee victory in its 35-year fight for the county seat.

            In short, oil transformed second-rate Shawnee into a sprightly, aggressive state metropolis of the first water.

* * * * * *

             Shawnee's next period of expansion came in 1935 and 1936 as a result of the national government's effort to lift this country out of the dumps. In addition to the court house which was secured through the Public Works Administration, Shawnee received during these two years a total of $1,512,076 from the federal government.  

            Perhaps the greatest blessing of this public works program was the Deer creek lake which ended for once and for the entire bothersome water problem.  Since 1905 Shawnee had been searching for an adequate supply of pure water. And only after years of delay and costly experimentation is the problem finally solved in the 1,320 acre city lake nine miles west of town.

            Another public improvement gained by matching bonds with federal dollars is the gymnasium and auditorium, located in Woodland Park, which has a seating capacity of 2,490.

            Other results of government spending include improved runways at the, airport, a native stone wall at Fairview cemetery, street improvement, storm sewers, Woodland Park Swimming Pool, concrete stadium at athletic park, filter plant landscaping and the city hall annex.         

Factors in Shawnee's Growth

Mammoth Department Store --Oldest in point of continuous service, established in 1897 by a man named Potts, at the southwest corner of Main and Union streets, the store was acquired March 11, 1900, by George H. Ker­foot. Associated with him were a brother and a cousin, Clarence Kerfoot. A year later George Kerfoot acquired all the stock and in 1903 incorporated the firm with Phil Stuart as vice-president and Mrs. M. J. Knowles, treasurer. By 1906 plans were being made for the present four-story building, with tw o­story annex, which was completed in 1907. Kerfoot, a native of Kentucky, had operated stores at Kingfisher and at El Reno before moving to Shawnee.

Shawnee Milling Company--In 1891 a Mr. Woodward, employed by the Jones Milling company of Oklahoma City, went to Tecumseh and with Jess Johnson and his sister, Mrs. Burns, built a small mill. In 1897 Shawnee do­nated a site and the mill was moved over and operated as the Shawnee Roller Mills. In 1906 J. Lloyd Ford bought the mill. He was joined in 1907 by W. H. Williams, secretary-treasurer who still holds that position. O. F. Campbell joined the firm in 1908 as assistant treasurer and still holds that place. L. D. Ford, a brother, was named vice-president in 1906 and holds that position today. The original daily capacity of 50 barrels was increased to 80 when Ford acquired the mill. Today the capacity is 1,200 barrels of flour, 600 of degerminated corn meal, and a daily capacity of 500 tons of alfalfa, mo­lasses and poultry and dairy feeds. The Shawnee Milling company operates a number of branches over the state, including a 400 barrel flour mill at Okeene, serves 20 states, and exports some to Central America. Ford came to Shawnee from the Acme Milling Company in Oklahoma City.

Clarke and Keller--In 1901 Sidney Clarke came to Shawnee and bought a general produce and seed business operating in the 200 block on East Main Street. Clarke had come to Oklahoma in 1889. In 1905 William Keller joined Clarke in establishing the partnership seed business which has grown con­tinuously since that time. The main retail store has been located at 208 East Main          Street since 1907 when the present building was constructed.

To care for their rapidly growing business, Clarke and Keller built the fireproof unit of their present recleaning and storage plant in 1920, and added a second unit in 1925. Keller came to Shawnee in 1896. Both men have served as city councilman and have been active in civic affairs.

In 1912 Clarke and Keller developed a large irrigated tract in Texas from which are shipped each year millions of Bermuda onion plants. Clarke and Keller are interested in developing a more prosperous system of farm­ing, and are leaders in introducing legumes and pasture crop seeds that aid in soil building.         

Johnson and Templeton--The oldest exclusive men's store in Shawnee was established in 1899. C. W. Johnson came from Illinois and opened the store that year with E. C. Mitchell. It was then known as the Globe Clothing Store. W. L. Templeton, who had come to Shawnee from Texas in 1898, started to work in the store in 1905. In 1902 W. G. Dickson bought out Mitchell and the store became known as Johnson-Dickson. When Dickson died in 1918 Templeton acquired his interest and the store began operating under its present name. Templeton had acquired a small interest in 1910.  

            Templeton is a charter member of Rotary, past president Retail Merchants' Association, and vice-president of the Oklahoma Retail Merchants' Association, Elk, and Mason. Johnson was one of the first officials of the Shawnee Retail Merchants' Association.           

Kib Warren--Moved to Tecumseh in 1894 where he operated a livery stable for two years. In 1896 he moved to a farm near Shawnee, then in 1899 went to work in a Shawnee store. In 1905 Warren bought the Beasley and Smith hardware store and started his firm which he still operates.            It was while Warren was county commissioner in 1905 that this county almost had a race riot. Ruggles and Brooksville schools, one white and one Negro, were in the same district at that time. The Negroes banded together, and elected themselves an all Negro school board. The whites in the district had their guns oiled up ready for shooting when the crisis was averted by a   move to split the school district into white and Negro sections.

.

            It was also during Warren's term that the first extensive road grading was done, and the first complete audit of county books was made. Investiga­tors found that sometime since 1891 discrepancies had slipped into the accounts of every office.

            Warren was a member of the city commission when the manager form of government was adopted, and is the present postmaster. Good roads and 4-H work have been Warren's hobbies.

G. C. Abernathy--In July, 1904, Abernathy came from Arkansas to prac­tice law in Shawnee. He was soon joined by Edward Howell, who now oper­ates an Oklahoma City branch of the law firm. In 1909 Abernathy was ap­pointed first superior judge. He was elected to a four year term in that office in 1910.

            In his professional work since that time Abernathy has specialized in civil cases. For the last 15 years Abernathy has taught the Men's Bible class of the First Presbyterian church. He is one of the seven lay members of the Judicial Commission of the Presbyterian church of America, which is the governing body of the church.

            Mrs. Abernathy has been active in club and church work. Their daugh­ter, Ruth, is head of the New York state bureau supervising physically handi­capped children. Kenneth is state representative. Jack is in the production department of the Sun-Ray Oil Company, Tulsa, and George is a student in the Columbia law school.

Charles Dierker--One of the best known pioneer families of this county is that of Ben Dierker, who made the run in 1889, then came to Shawnee town­site in April, 1892. He was engaged in various enterprises until elected city clerk in 1897. Dierker retired to a farm near Shawnee in 1904 and died in 1911. His widow now resides in California.

            Of the family of eight children, three reside in this county. A daughter, Clara, known as Sister Mary Raphael, is Superior at Sacred Heart Academy. The oldest son, Charles, was born in Oklahoma City, July 10, 1891, and has been practicing law in Shawnee since 1914, where he resides with his wife and three children. Mrs. Dierker is also of a family of pioneers, Mr. and Mrs. Max Wagner, formerly of Tecumseh.

            A second son, B. W. Dierker, was born in Shawnee in 1897. He was for many years with the Rock Island Railway company, but has been deputy county clerk for the last three years. Dierker, with his wife, formerly Freda Ashbaugh, and son William, reside in Shawnee.

            The first Catholic Church service in Shawnee was held in the Dierker home in 1894. Rev. Felix De Grasse, who later became Abbot of Sacred Heart mission, officiated.

Shawnee Herald--More Shawnee history has passed under the masthead of the Shawnee Herald than any other one publication. The paper was estab­lished in 1900 by Charles Barrett. In 1906 W. L. Chapman was named re­ceiver, and a few weeks later W. E. Verity acquired the paper. In 1907 he sold it to Victor Harlow who operated it until 1909. U. S. Russell was editor of the daily for Harlow. In 1911 Otis Weaver came from Ada and bought the News. A few months later he acquired the Herald, then one by one, acquired seven county weeklies. Weaver was backed in his venture by Bob Williams, who was campaigning for governor. A. E. Fell ran a Weekly Transcript for a time, then for nine years was editor and manager of the News Herald for Weaver. In 1920 Weaver sold his dailies for $50,000, then rebought the weekly and published a semi-weekly Herald for a year. The Herald became a weekly in 1921 at Weaver's death. Clyde Robinson, the present owner bought the paper in 1924. Fell is still associated in the Herald Printing Com­pany.

Park Wyatt--After serving two terms in the Tennessee legislature, T. C. Wyatt brought his family in 1893 to the newly opened territory. He moved from Wynnewood to Wanette in 1902. The family lived in a store at old Wanette while the farm house was being built. Wyatt was a doctor, but never obtained a license to practice here. What time he wasn't giving free medical advice to the neighbors, he spent farming.

            Wyatt served in the state constitutional convention, then in 1912 moved to a farm north of Shawnee. Children residing in Pottawatomie County in­clude Park, Shawnee lawyer, Tom, county attorney, and Mrs. A. B. Fisher, St. Louis, Okla.

            Park Wyatt was admitted to the bar in 1910. After two years as assistant county attorney, he practiced law in Tecumseh until 1919, when he moved to Shawnee. Wyatt has been a Christian church deacon, and has taught the men's Bible class since 1919. He was exalted ruler of the Elks in 1922, and was state president of the Elks in 1923. Wyatt has served five terms as presi­dent of the Canadian Valley Area Council of Boy Scouts.

Chamber of Commerce Under Don Foster--Since Don Foster took over the duties of Chamber of Commerce secretary in 1931; many steps forward have been made, in spite of the depression. Among these accomplishments are: Kraft-Phoenix cheese plant; W. J. Small alfalfa dehydrating mill; Designation of highway 18 as a federal road; Organization of the annual old timers' celebration, the 4-H club fair and the vegetable show; Supervision of the O. B. U. and community chest drives, involving $150,000 the last four years; Co-opera­tion with congressmen in the federal court bill, in securing approval of the $250,000 federal building, and in the $150,000 enlargement for the Indian sana­torium; And the organization and maintenance of a civic orchestra for four years.

George K. Hunter--Hunter moved with his father to a farm northeast of Shawnee in 1894. In 1903 George went to work for his father in the register of deeds office. He continued under George Stone and Scott McCaskill for a total of eight years, then in 1912 was elected county treasurer. He served until 1917, giving him a total of 14 years in the court house. In 1915 Hunter bought the Boggs and Wells abstract business and moved to Shawnee. When be left the treasurer's office he devoted his full time to the abstract business and to insurance. Hunter attended Shawnee high school in 1898. He has been clerk of the Baptist church in Shawnee since 1915, and has been clerk of the school board since 1918.

M. M. Henderson---Henderson arrived in Tecumseh from Tennessee in the fall of 1901 and started his Tecumseh Standard. From his rival, A. T. Foster, Henderson acquired the County Democrat in 1907, which he is still operating. He was Tecumseh postmaster from 1915 until 1922, served as highway com­missioner in 1918, and was a member of the state legislature in 1925.

            Henderson was very active in Tecumseh civic affairs until he moved to Shawnee in the summer of 1931. He was for a time mayor of Tecumseh, and in 1928 platted the Henderson addition out of the old Friends' Mission acre­age.

            Since moving his paper to Shawnee, Henderson has remained active in political and civic affairs. When the new court house was dedicated in 1935, Henderson was chairman of the committee in charge.

Municipal Airport--In 1929 the Curtiss-Wright Flying service built what is now the Shawnee Municipal airport. The following year L. E. Regan acquired the service and has been operating it since. The airport today has a valuation of $15,000 and is third in the state in activity.

           Regan believes much of the future development of Shawnee depends on aviation. And for that reason he is pushing efforts to get a new administra­tion building at the airport, and to get an airline from Oklahoma City to Little Rock and Memphis.

Part 3