Muskogee County, Oklahoma - Chapter 24: Modern Muskogee, 1922

Chapter 24: Modern Muskogee

ACT - SEPARATE AGENCIES AROLISHED - FIRST MUSKOGEE ELECTION NOTICE - FIRST CITY OFFICIALS - THE DESTRUCTIVE FIRE OF 1899 - MUSKOGEE IN 1900 - WM. H. WOODWARD - STREET RAILWAY - MUSKOGEE ICE & POWER CO. - MUSKOGEE 's WATER WORKS - MUSKOGEE CITY GOVERNMENT - MUSKOGEE LAW LIRRARY - MUSKOGEE. A FINANCIAL CENTER - RANKS - MUSKOGEE COUNTY COURT - HISTORY OF MASONRY IN MUSKOGEE - KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS -

From 1872 to 1898 Muskogee had grown to be a thriving town of 3,500 inhabitants, with substantial homes, good store buildings and other public improvements, yet no person had title to the lot which he occupied and had improved. Such documents as warranty deeds and abstracts of title were unknown throughout the Indian Territory. The title to all of the real estate was vested in the Indian Tribes, each Indian having, by common consent, taken possession of a certain tract of land which he called his own, although he had no vested title nor deed of conveyance.

When a white man who was not a citizen of the tribe wanted to build a home or erect a business house, he simply rented or bought the right of possession to a lot from the Indian who was in possession of it. If a white man desired to sell or trade his home or store building, he could not execute a deed to his lot, but could only execute a bill of sale for his improvements, which carried with it the right to occupy the lot upon which the improvements were located.

Visitors and prospectors from the states, accustomed to warranty deeds and abstracts of title, were puzzled at this condition of affairs and were naturally slow to invest their money, either in buildings or lots. Old timers, however, who had invested their fortunes here, seemed to have implicit confidence in the Government and the tribe, hoping that at some time, in some manner, they would be able to secure complete title to the lots which they had improved and their confidence was not misplaced.

Condition Without Parallel

Prior to 1898 the condition of the white inhabitants of Indian Territory had no parallel anywhere in the history of the United States. Scores of villages of from one hundred to one thousand inhabitants, and thirty or more substantial towns having a population of from one thousand to thirty-five hundred, had grown up, having comfortable homes and spacious business houses, yet having no municipal governments, no public schools, no authority to raise funds by taxation, no real estate titles ; yet all were fondly hoping that Congress would sooner or later furnish relief from their precarious condition.

The creation of the Dawes Commission by the Act of March 3, 1893, marked the beginning of congressional action looking toward the breaking up of tribal titles and conditions. This act provided for the appointment of three commissioners whose duties were to try to persuade the Five Civilized Tribes to agree to the extinguishment of their tribal titles to lands, either by selling the same to the United States or by allotment or division of their lands to the members of the tribes in severalty. By the Act of March 2, 1895, the commission was increased in number to five members. As stated elsewhere this commission did not meet with much success for several years, for the reason that the Indian tribes were emphatically opposed to abandoning their tribal titles, customs and mode of living. They were apparently willing to permit the white man to remain here, to rent their lands and carrv on mercantile business, so long as he paid a reasonable occupation tax to the tribe, but they protested against any interference with their tribal institutions or conditions.

Act Of June 10, 1896

On June 10, 1896, Congress passed an act enlarging the duties of the Dawes Commission by providing that it should proceed to hear and determine the applications of all persons who might apply for citizenship in any of the Five Tribes, and to make a complete roll of all persons who were entitled to tribal rights. This was the first step taken toward the curtailment of the authority of the tribal councils, for prior to the passage of this act, the tribal councils had exclusive jurisdiction in the matter of determining who should be enrolled as members of their respective tribes.

This Act of Congress gave the commission a somewhat better standing with the Indians, for it convinced them that the commission would now do something besides "negotiating" with them.

Again, the Act of Congress of June 7, 1897, after making an appropriation for salaries and expenses of the Dawes Commission, provided that on and after January 1, 1898, the United States courts in Indian Territory should have original and exclusive jurisdiction and authority to try and determine all civil cases in law and equity thereafter instituted, and all criminal cases for the punishment of any offense committed after January 1, 1898, by any person in the Territory, and that this act should apply to all persons in the Territory, irrespective of race.

This act further provided that the laws thereafter enacted by the tribal legislatures should not take effect until approved by the President of the United States.

Prior to 1898 each tribal council or Legislature was unrestricted in its legislation and its courts had exclusive jurisdiction in causes of action arising between its own citizens. Thus, little by little, the Indian officials saw their tribal sovereignty disappearing, but they persistently refused to enter into any agreement with the Dawes Commission, concerning the disposition or division of their lands. They repeatedly reminded the commission that their old treaties provided that these lands should be theirs "as long as grass grows and water runs," and that they should possess and enjoy it, unhampered by the white race.

By this time the leading members of Congress decided that the time had arrived when more drastic action on their part was necessary and on J une 28, 1898, the Curtis bill, which, perhaps, was the most far-reaching in its effects, of any act of Congress applying to Indian Territory, became a law.

The Curtis Act

Jt provided that when the roll of Indian citizenship of any tribe should be completed and its land surveyed, the Dawes Commission should proceed to allot its lands among its citizens, giving to each, as far as possible, his fair and equal share.

It provided that any town having a population of two hundred or more might incorporate as provided by the statutes of Arkansas and proceed to form a municipal government.

It provided for a townsite commission for each incorporated town, with power to survey and plat townsites, and to decide how much the claimant of any lot should pay to the tribe in order to perfect his title.

That the secretary of the interior should have the right to locate an Indian inspector in the Indian Territory to perform any duties required of him. This inspector, in the person of Hon. J. George Wright, arrived in Muskogee -about August 20, 1898, and was practically the governor of the Territory for several years afterward.

It provided that the United States would no longer pay tribal money over to the tribal officials for disbursement, but that such payments would thereafter be made by the secretary of the interior or his agents directly to the individual members of the tribe.

The Curtis bill also included and approved the agreement, which the Dawes Commission had finally persuaded the Choctaws and Chickasaws to enter into, providing for the individual allotment of their lands.

Although the agreement between the Dawes Commission and the Creek Nation, providing for the allotment of Creek lands and the winding up of all the tribal affairs of the Creeks, was not approved until March 1, 1901, and the Cherokee agreement, July 1, 1902, yet the passage of the Curtis act was a signal for everybody to get busy.

The Dawes Commission brought several hundred men to Muskogee, who were employed as surveyors, land appraisers, field agents, stenographers and clerks. The annual salaries and expenses of the commission were gradually increased from forty thousand to about four hundred thousand dollars.

mission, he was unable to give the work much personal attention, and Hon. Tarns Bixby was appointed acting chairman, and the influence of his indefatigable energy was soon manifested throughout all branches of the commission's work. Some idea of the magnitude of the task of the Dawes Commission may be gained by noting that it included the equitable division of 29,523,966 acres of land of almost every imaginable kind and quality, among 101,505 legal claimants. In addition to examining and passing upon the legal status of the 101,505 Indian citizens, who were found to be legally entitled to share in the tribal lands and funds, the commission was compelled to investigate and decide upon the claims of thousands of other applicants who were rejected. Carloads of ignorant, shiftless people were shipped into the territory from the southern states, by designing schemers, in the reckless endeavor to get them enrolled as possessing a greater or less degree of Indian blood, and their claims had to be investigated and decided by the commission. In short, the task of the commission was no less than that of settling up more than one hundred thousand individual estates.

Separate Agencies Abolished

When the Government abolished the separate agencies, which for many years had been maintained for each tribe, and established in their stead the Union Agency for all the Five Tribes, with headquarters at Muskogee, the office of Indian agent became one of great magnitude and responsibility, and brought to Muskogee two hundred or more additional stenographers and clerks, many of whom were women.

It became his duty to place each allottee in possession of the land assigned to him by the commission, and to remove therefrom all squatters Or other adverse claimants.

Under the direction of the United States Indian inspector, it occasionally became his duty to remove certain white men, who had become obnoxious or objectionable to the Indians, from the boundaries of Indian Territory.

He had to report upon the advisability of removing the restrictions of certain Indians so that they might handle and dispose of their land as they saw fit.

He was required to collect the tribal tax on cattle belonging to non-citizens and also the tribal tax imposed on non-citizen merchants, lawyers, physicians and others engaged in business throughout the Territory.

He was also the disbursing agent for the Five Tribes, having to make occasional distributions of money to the individual Indians, which payments usually amounted to several million dollars annually.

The arrival of these numerous Federal employes, together with the frequent visits of hundreds of Indians, attorneys and witnesses on Indian business, aided very materially in causing Muskogee to change very quickly from the character of a quiet, frontier village to that of a thriving, modern city.

Prior to 1898, Muskogee had no municipal government of any kind. The town had just been incorporated and it now became necessary to elect some officials to transact the town's business.

First Day Of June, 1898

FIRST DAY OF JUNE, 1898, for the election of officers, said election to take place in the building recently occupied by Misses Hannan & Cobb as a millinery store and now moved on the East side of Lake Street and South of Masek's tailor shop, at which time and place all bona-fide male residents of Muskogee, above the age of twenty-one, who have re-

Mayor, Patrick J. Byrne; recorder, W. R. Shackelford; city attorney, J. G. Lieber ; city treasurer, Geo. H. Williams ; councilmen, P. N". Blackstone, W. S. Harsha, A. W. Robb, F. B. Severs, and C. W. Turner. The desire of the voters to eliminate politics from their city affairs was shown by the fact that Messrs. Byrne, Lieber, Williams, Blackstone and Severs were Democrats, and the others were Republicans.

These officials served without compensation except a meager allowance granted to the recorder and attorney, notwithstanding the fact that they had a laborious and responsible task ahead of them. A complete municipal government must be formed and funds provided for carrying it on. The officials, assisted by some of the public-spirited citizens, went to work energetically, and soon had mapped out a plan of city government and had prepared a code of city ordinances. A board of health was created, a police system organized, including a police court. The most serious difficulty which confronted them was that of raising sufficient revenue with which to meet the necessary running expenses of the city and to provide any of the many public improvements needed, for up to this time no taxes could be levied against town lots and many of the taxable buildings were of cheap construction, not warranting a high valuation for taxable purposes.

The new administration was just beginning to get the city's affairs in fairly good shape and was formulating ambitious plans for the future when the destructive fire of Februarv 23, 1899, occurred which laid in ashes almost the entire business section of the town. Remembering the handicaps - the embarrassing circum- stances under which the officials and citizens were laboring, in their efforts to build a city it would seem that the sight of the smoldering remains of whole blocks of the best part of the young city might have discouraged them from attempting to carry forward their plans, already formulated, but not so; their misfortune seemed to strengthen their determination to go forward and to increase their activity in that direction. Some of the men who sustained the heaviest losses in the fire were first and foremost in their determination to build bigger and better buildings. One of the first steps taken in this direction was the formation of a good volunteer fire department which was supported in part by the city. Another step, intended to protect the future city against loss by fires, was the adoption of an ordinance which provided that no more frame buildings should be erected in the business section.

The Destructive Fire Of 1899

At half past five o 'clock on the morning of February 23, 1899, numerous pistol shots and the shrieking of the railroad engines aroused the denizens of Muskogee from their slumbers to witness the most destructive fire in the history of the city. The fire originated in a cluster of three or four little, frame, Negro shacks located on the north side of Court Street, just opposite the new Federal Court building, now the Railway Exchange building. A cold, bracing wind was coming from the northwest and as the town had no fire protection, the flames spread rapidly toward the east and south. The first floor of the court building was damaged to some extent, but being one of the few brick buildings, it was saved. A frame hotel building owned by William Mann was the next to burn. From there the fire swept down Main Street, destroying all the buildings on both sides of the street, from Court Street to Broadway, and extending on eastward, the depot and Railway Hotel were reduced to ashes. The brick buildings of the First National Bank, on the southwest corner of Broadway and Main Street, and of the Patterson Mercantile Company on the southeast corner, served to prevent the fire from extending south of Broadway. The principal buildings destroyed were the Maddin Hardware Co., Garrett building, Chandler's Store, the new Turner block and Opera House, the Shackelford building, the Downing and Katy hotels, depot, freight house and telegraph office, including also quite a number of small buildings. The records of the Dawes Commission, the United States Indian Agent and Indian Inspector, which were located in the Turner block, were also destroyed. The new English block and the Patterson Mercantile Company's brick building were badly scorched, but only slightly damaged. While the fire was raging at its worst, one citizen who had met with a slight loss, approached Clarence Turner, bewailing his misfortune. Mr. Turner, whose loss exceeded that of any other individual, coolly replied : "Yes, it seems pretty bad, but there are more goods where these came from." Main Street, at that time, was the principal business street of the city, and while, to some, the loss seemed almost irreparable, yet, before the ashes of the ruins had scarcely cooled, the enterprising citizens began planning to build a bigger and better Muskogee.

Muskogee In 1900

The United States census report of 1900 credited Muskogee with a population of 4,254. At the beginning of the new century there were several two-storv store buildings and the first two business blocks three-stories in height were being erected. At that time the Patterson Mercantile Co. employed thirty-eight people in its store and cotton gin; the Turner Hardware Co. forty-three people: Harsha & Spaulding, thirty-eight: Maddin Hardware Co.. twenty-five : John Sanders, contractor, forty : the Katy Railroad, eighty-five: Dawes Commission eighty, and forty-six persons were employed in connection with the United States Court. A contract had just been awarded for the construction of the $150,000 water plant, the new Katy hotel and depot was completed and the City Council had just purchased the first steam engine for the volunteer fire department.

William H. Woodward

One of the first of the newer class of merchants to locate in Muskogee was W. H. Woodward. He was bora in Kingston Springs. Term., in 1857. and upon arriving at young manhood he located in Nashville and engaged in the sale of dry goods for several years. In the Fall of 1898 he came to Muskogee and began business with a stock of general merchandise in the new English block, but within three months his entire stock was destroyed by fire! As soon as the English block was repaired, he started again in the same building with a new supply of dry goods, ladies' dress goods, men's clothing, etc., and for several years his store was one of the most attractive places in the city.

Street Railway

During the latter part of the year 1904, Captain Ira L. Reeves and attorney X. A. Gibson petitioned the City Council for a Street car franchise. Captain Reeves promoted the company. The street cars were ready for passengers by March 15, 1905, and on the morning of that day the first run was made to the Frisco depot and return. The first car was filled with prominent ladies and gentlemen, with Mayor S. M. Rutherford as motorman and C. N. Haskell as conductor. Mr. Haskell demonstrated his ability as a money getter by collecting $59.35 from the passengers on the first trip, the money being turned over to a committee to be held in trust for the Y. M. C. A. which had not vet been organized. On the return trip motorman Rutherford ran into a team of mules at the corner of Third and Court streets which had dared to dispute with him for the right of way. Captain Reeves was the first president of the street car company and managed the system for some years after its organization.

The street car company of today operates thirty-three miles of track, with lines extending out in ten directions from the business section of the city and employs a force of sixty-five men. Through careless, indifferent management, the rolling stock of the company has become somewhat dilapidated but the present managers are promising some material improvements at an -early date.

Muskogee's first gas plant was completed on the 17th day of April, 1905. It was built by the H. M. Byllesby Company, of Chicago and was owned by the Muskogee Ice and Power Company.

The Hinton Opera House was completed and dedicated to the public on the night of December 9, 1905, with the play entitled ''Babes in Toyland." Some of the seats for the opening night sold as high as $20. each, and the first night's receipts amounted to about $9,000.

Muskogee And Northeastern Oklahoma 417 Muskogee Ice & Power Co

A few, little, private light and power plants were installed during the last decade of the past century, but immediately following that famous fire of February 23, 1899, which event the old settlers regard as the death of the old and the birth of the new Muskogee, Clarence Turner induced a few friends to join him in building a combined plant which would furnish the town with an adequate supply of ice, electric light and power, and the Muskogee Ice & Power Co. was organized and a plant erected on South Cherokee Street at a cost of $30,000. It was regarded as a great improvement for the town at the time it was put in operation, and it supplied the city's needs for several years, but the rapid growth of the city soon made it necessary to rebuild and very materially enlarge the plant.

On March 1, 1903, this plant was sold to H. M. Byllesby & Co., of Chicago, and has been enlarged from time to time, to meet the increasing demands of the growing city. The new company also covered the city with a network of pipe for natural gas, so that almost every home and many of the factories are now supplied with natural gas for fuel.

As early as 1899 the citizens and City Council realized the importance of securing an adequate supply of pure water for the already growing city. The Katy pond, in the north part of the city, which had been furnishing water for the engines of the only railroad and for the cotton gins, was already drying up, and the drinking water obtained from wells sunk in various neighborhoods was not of the best quality.

In 1899 Mr. H. V. Hinckley, a civil engineer from Kansas, was employed by the city to devise plans by which the city could be assured of an inexhaustible supply of pure water. After a thorough investigation Mr. Hinckley recommended that water be brought from Grand River, a beautiful stream, four miles northeast of the city. This river comes down out of the Cherokee hills and its clear, crystal water is not contaminated by the refuse from oil wells, and is free from other impurities. Muskogee was not yet able to raise any funds by taxation except upon personal prop- erty and the cost of laying pipe and installing the necessary machinery to carry out the plans of the engineer seemed too great for the city to undertake. The city officials and citizens, however, foresaw the necessity of having an unlimited supply of pure water, if their anticipations of a real city in the future were to be realized, and within a short time bonds were issued in the sum of $150,000, and water, sufficient to supply the. needs of the city at that time, was brought from Grand River. As the city increased in population the water system was enlarged, until, at the present time, the city water system has a capacity of 6,000,000 barrels per day. representing an investment of $1,200,000. Xo other investment has ever been made by Muskogee which exceeded in real value and importance to the future welfare of the city, the cost of its Municipal "Water Works. Its superiority over that of any other system in the state was but recentlv demonstrated bv the action of the Legislative Commission in locating the $500,000 Soldiers' Memorial Hospital in Muskogee, in preference to any of the other ten cities which had applied for it.

Muskogee City Government

From the date of its incorporation in 1898 down to the year 1910, Muskogee's municipal affairs were carried on under the old aldermanic style, with two councilmen chosen from each ward and a mayor elected at large. Party politics controlled the elections and politicians controlled or dictated the selection of city employes, party allegiance rather than efficiency, being, too often the test of eligibility. As the years advanced, the rapid growth of the city called for extensive public improvements and the expenditure of rapidly increasing amounts of public funds, which created a sentiment among the taxpayers in favor of taking the city's affairs out of politics and placing them upon a purely business basis. Early in 1910 the business men of the city organized a 1 1 Charter Government Club," and advocated the adoption of the commission form of government. This form of municipal government had proven very successful in Galveston, Texas, while recovering from the results of its terrible flood disaster. Des Moines, la., had been operating under a commission form of government for several years and was finding it vastly superior to the time-worn aidermanic form. Xumerous other progressive cities were adopting it, and at the earnest solicitation of the business men of Muskogee, the City Council reluctantly consented to submit the proposition to the voters of the city. Franklin Miller, Myron White, E. M. Eades, DeRoos Bailey, Preston C. West, John D. Benedict, A. C. Trumbo and IT. L. Jackson were chosen by the voters to write the new charter. The charter provided for four commissioners and a mayor, each to be given entire charge of one department of the city's business and each to be held responsible for the successful management of his department. The charter was adopted, and the Charter Government Club nominated a non-partisan ticket, pledged to put into effect the provisions of the charter. The politicians, however, who were opposed to the new form of city government because it meant the loss of distribution of city patronage to them, nominated a partisan ticket and elected it.

The commission form of government failed, not because it was not good, but because the officials elected to carry out its provisions had no sympathy with the reform movement in municipal affairs and made no earnest effort to put into practice, either the spirit or the letter of the charter provisions.

Wrangling over the distribution of patronage and over questions of conflicting authority among the various city officials continued until early in 1920 when the citizens drafted a new charter providing for the managerial form of government of the city. By this time a majority of the voters of the city had become convinced that the administration of the city's affairs should be conducted upon a business basis rather than as a political machine, and with that end in view Muskogee's new charter providing for the managerial form of government was adopted by a vote of the qualified electors of the city on the 25th day of February, 1920.

It provides for the election of a mayor and sixteen councilmen. The councilmen are nominated by wards on a non-partisan ticket and they, together with the mayor, are elected at large, biennially.

They appoint a city manager who has charge of all the departments of the city. The council adopts all ordinances and the mayor signs all contracts. The council appoints a city manager, city clerk, city treasurer, park board, library board and a vice mayor.

The city manager appoints all other officers and employes and has power to dismiss any of them whenever, in his judgment, the interests of the city so require. Neither the mayor nor any member of the council has any right to request or recommend any person for appointment to any position except on the request of the manager. The manager is given full authority over the city's business and he is held strictly responsible for results.

In his first annual report to the City Council, Mr. Robert P. Harrison, the efficient city manager, enumerates the most important things accomplished during the year, among which are : No overdrafts or deficiency judgments in any department. A reduction in city taxes for the ensuing year. Paving of certain streets, heretofore begun, has been completed.

The ricketv viaduct over the M., K. & T. Railroad has been overhauled and rebuilt. Police night patrol has been furnished the residence part of the city. The water works owned by the city have been repaired and strengthened. Established city automobile and blacksmith shops in which employes make necessary repairs. Abolished some useless city offices and combined others. Appointed a purchasing agent who buys all city supplies in open market at lowest cash prices. Built a fine athletic park with concrete grandstand capable of seating 2,000 people. Completed Honor Heights Park with a pretty lake and popular bathing resort.

Muskogee Law Library

A meeting of the Muskogee Bar Association was called during the month of January, 1910, for discussing ways and means of establishing a central law library for the use and convenience of the lawyers of the city. It was agreed that a library association should be formed and that as rapidly as funds would permit, a complete case library, sets of selected cases, standard cyclopedias and digests, statutes of the various states and publications of the Interior department relating to Indian lands, would be secured.

On February 6, 1910, the Muskogee Law Library Association was incorporated with about sixty members. The first board of directors were : DeRoos Bailey, C. L. Thomas, George C. Butte, Edgar A. de Meules, Sam V. O 'Hare and W. T. Hutchings.

It was decided, at first to fix the membership fee at $250, and sixty-two lawyers subscribed for membership at that price. Many young attorneys, however, did not feel able to pay that fee, and in order that they might not be debarred from the use of the library, the membership fee was reduced to $50 in February, 1912, and the annual dues fixed at $25.

New Phoenix, Muskogee Dr. Tilly Hospital, Muskogee

The library of today contains over seventy thousand carefully selected volumes, including the leading Federal and State Reports and the standard textbooks on legal subjects. Aside from the State library it is regarded as the best law library in Oklahoma.

Muskogee, A Financial Center

For the past forty years Muskogee has been the acknowledged financial center of Eastern Oklahoma. Before any banks were established the pioneer stores, the Patterson Mercantile Co., J. E. Turner, Turner Hardware Co., S. B. Severs, Spaulding Mercantile Co. and the Maddin Hardware Co. served the community as quasi banking institutions, extending financial accommodations to the farmers throughout Eastern Oklahoma.

The First National Bank was organized August 1, 1890, it being the first bank in Indian Territory to organize under the National Bank Act of Congress. Robert L. Owen, now United States Senator, was its first president, and C. H. Warth its first cashier. This bank received the hearty support of the business men, was a pronounced success from the date of its organization, and for more than thirty years past has steadily retained its rank of being the largest financial institution in this section of the country.

The Commercial National Bank, the second largest bank of Eastern Oklahoma, opened its doors for business on December 13, 1899, at the northwest corner of Broadway and Main Street. It was the successor of the Commercial Bank of Muskogee, a private institution organized in 1897 by D. H. Middleton, George H. Williams, Ira B. Kirkland, John R. Dill and several other men. Mr. George H. Barnes, a wealthy financier from Ohio, became president of the new national bank, and David N. Fink its cashier. A few years later Mr. Barnes built the office building on Third Street which bears his name, a ten-story, fireproof structure, and the Commercial National Bank was moved to this new building. Upon the death of Mr. Barnes, the cashier, Mr. D. N. Fink, was promoted to the office of president, a position which he is eminently qualified to fill.

The Exchange National Bank

This bank has steadily increased its assets and has gradually grown in favor with the people from the date of its opening for business, nine years ago. One interesting feature connected with the history of this bank is the fact that no change has ever been made in its principal officers, Mr. M. Board having been its president, W. T. "Wisdom its vice president and Thomas F. King its cashier, since the date of its organization.

Centeal State Bank

The Central State Bank, chartered under the Oklahoma Guaranty Bank law, began business in May, 1910, having purchased the business of the Night and Day Bank, which had been conducted by Mr. R. H. Beard. The officers of this bank are all young men, each one of whom had acquired a practical knowledge of the banking business while in the employ of the older banks. Their extensive acquaintance and good standing assured them patronage from the beginning. Mr. J. A. DeWitt is president and C. T. Thompson cashier.

Muskogee National Bank

Early in 1901, Mr. A. W. Patterson and his son-in-law, Mr. A. C. Trumbo, arrived in the city and started the Bank of Muskogee in a little box house about twelve feet square, at the southwest corner of Second and Okmulgee streets. Three years later they erected the Iowa building, a substantial four-story brick building on the same corner, and the rapidly growing bank was given better quarters in the new building. By the way, thexIowa building installed the first elevator in the city and the natives, for many months, regarded it with feelings of awe and fear. Oftentimes, they would climb the several flights of stairs rather than take chances in landing safely via the elevator. The business of the Bank of Muskogee increased rapidly and on February 10, 1908, it became the Muskogee National Bank. In 1916 this bank bought the five-story Mid-Continent building, at the northwest corner of Third Street and Broadway, and in 1918 the bank moved into its new location, where it is still conducting its extensive business. Within a month after this last removal, Mr. Patterson died and Mr. Trumbo succeeded him as president of the bank.

Security State Bank

The Security State Bank is Muskogee's newest financial institution, it having commenced business under the Guaranty Bank Act, on April 11, 1919. It, too, was organized and is managed by young men who had received good training in other banks. It has gained rapidly in the amount of its deposits and has made a good record during its three short years of life. Milton G. Young, its president, and Garland C. Jackson its cashier, had been connected with other banks in the city for several years prior to branching out into business for themselves.

Based on the United States census report of 1900, this shows an average bank deposit of $488.24 for every man, woman and child in Muskogee, which is certainly a remarkably good showing, especially when it is remembered that the whole nation is experiencing a season of financial depression.

In addition to these banks, Muskogee also has three trust companies and three building associations, all of which are in a prosperous condition.

The Muskogee County Court is one of the largest, if not the largest court of its class, in the United States. Some time ago the Muskogee Daily Phoenix published the following account of the scope of its work : upon the estates of approximately twenty-five thousand wards, it takes second place to the New York Probate Court in purely probate business.

"The scope of authority of the county courts in Oklahoma is wider than in any other state. Because of this, the Muskogee County Court returns more revenue by half than the District and Superior courts combined.

"Judge Enloe V. Yernor has a wider jurisdiction in both civil and criminal cases than the judge of the City Court. He has all the jurisdiction of a committing magistrate in felony cases, original jurisdiction in misdemeanor cases and jurisdiction in civil cases in which not more than $1,000 is involved.

"The County Court is also the juvenile court; it has exclusive jurisdiction in probate matters; it transacts the business of the state widows' pension law; it issues marriage licenses; it collects the inheritance tax; it dispenses the Confederate soldiers' pensions and sends old soldiers to the Confederate homes ; it handles cases of insanity and its judge is chairman of the county excise board. The total value of the estates administered by the Countv Court will run into millions of dollars. One or two freedman estates alone are worth more than a million dollars each. At one time within the past two years, Judge Yernor had on hand about one hundred and twenty-seven thousand dollars.

"Never is his balance with the county treasurer less than $10,000. The larger part of this money comes from the sale of oil and gas leases on minors' lands."

The City of Muskogee has reason to be proud of her Masonic history. Muskogee Lodge No. 28 now referred to as the "Old Lodge" was chartered November 7, 1888. The first officers were: P. J. Byrne, worshipful master ; J ames A. Scott, senior warden ; W. N. Martin, junior warden; A. TY Robb, treasurer; Frank S. Darby, secretary; Frederick B. Severs, senior deacon; Clarence \Y. Turner, junior deacon, and H. H. Edmondson, tiler.

John W. Markham of Webbers Falls Lodge No. 14 was the first moving spirit for the organization of a new lodge at Muskogee, but it devolved upon James A. Scott, the "Old \Yheelhorse of Masonry," to do the preliminary work necessary to start.

wrote J. S. Murrow, at Atoka, grand secretary of the Grand Lodge of Indian Territory, for a petition for dispensation. This original petition for dispensation was signed by John W. Markham, James A. Scott, Clarence W. Turner, Oliver P. Brewer, H. H. Edmondson, Andrew W. Robb, Napoleon B. Moore, J. B. Cobb, Eobert W. Hill., Frank S. Darby, Orange Fuller, Patrick J. Byrne, Frederick B. Severs, Pleasant Porter, Robert L. Owen and William N. Martin.

After the lodge had had sufficient practice to be efficient it went to Fort Gibson and exemplified the work in Alpha Lodge No. 12, at that place. Florian H. Nash was then grand master of the Grand Lodge of Indian Territory and granted the dispensation for the lodge under the name of Checotah Lodge and at the Grand Lodge meeting held at Fort Gibson in 1888 granted a charter under the name of Muskogee Lodge No. 28. The lodge at Eufaula had taken the name 4 'Muscogee" but cheerfully relinquished that name to Muskogee and took the name of Eufaula No. 1.

Many of the members of Muskogee Lodge at that time, afterward became prominent in the Grand Lodge. Patrick J. Byrne was elected grand master ; Leo E. Bennett was grand master, and afterward grand treasurer for many years; James A. Scott was elected grand master at Ardmore August 11, 1897, and it was during his administration that the first thousand dollars was raised for the Masonic Orphans' Home; Robert TV. Hill was grand orator and deputy grand master.

The charter members of Muskogee Lodge have nearly all completed their journey; have nearly all crossed the "great divide" and gone to that "undiscovered country."

Robert TV. Hill, now living in New York, and James A. Scott, in Muskogee, are still active in Masonic work. Muskogee Lodge has had a steady growth and now numbers over six hundred members.

Muskogee Chapter, Eoyal Arch Masons

Muskogee Chapter of Royal Arch Masons No. 3 was granted a dispensation in the year 1890 with the following names as its first officers: Robert TV. Hill, high priest; Napoleon B. Maxey, king; Patrick J. Byrne, scribe, and J ames A. Scott, secretary.

Territory was held at Muskogee, November 6, 1890, and Muskogee Chapter of Roy al Arch Masons was granted a charter at that meeting. Robert W. Hill, Napoleon B. Maxey, Patrick J. Byrne and Robert W. Hamilton were its first elected officers. They all became prominent in the Grand Chapter. Leo E. Bennett was elected grand secretary in 1912 and held that position until his death in 1917. He was succeeded by James A. Scott, who holds the office at this time. Muskogee Chapter is now one of the largest and most influential in the state. Robt. W. Hill, N. B. Maxey, Z. T. Walrond, H. J. Evans and J. A. Scott have each served as grand high priest.

Muskogee Commandery was granted a dispensation October 1, 1891, and was chartered August 11, 1892. It was really brought into existence by Robert W. Hill, who was made its first eminent commander and wTho was also the first grand commander of Indian Territory Grand Commandery. All of the records of Muskogee Commandery and of the Grand Commandery were burned in the big fire of 1899, but old Masons say that Robt. W. Hill was eminent commander; Patrick J. Byrne, generallissimo, and Zachary T. Walrond, captain general. The first conclave of Muskogee Commandery was held in October, 1891. The commanderies of Parsons, Kan., Monett and Springfield, Mo., assisted in the work. A class of thirteen received the order of knighthood. On account of his activity in Masonic work generally, James A. Scott was selected to be the first to receive the orders of knighthood in the Indian Territory.

The Grand Commandery of Indian Territory was organized at Muskogee, December 27, 1891, and five of its officers were selected from the Muskogee Commandery, viz., Robert W. Hill, Patrick J. Byrne, Leo E. Bennett, Zachary T. Walrond and James A. Scott. Patrick J. Byrne and Zachary T. Walrond were afterwards elected grand commanders and later H. J. Evans was elected to that high office.

At the time of the consolidation of the Grand Commanderies of Indian Territory and Oklahoma, the number of the Muskogee Commandery was changed from No. 1 to No. 2 because of the fact that Guthrie Commandery had been originally chartered first.

Muskogee Commandery has always exercised a strong influence in the Grand Commandery. James A. Scott was elected grand commander of the new Grand Commandery of Oklahoma in 1915.

Muskogee Council No. 2, Royal And Select Masters

The rapid growth of Muskogee and the active interest taken by Muskogee Masons in Masonry was instrumental in the formation of Muskogee Council No. 2, Royal and Select Masters, on the 24th day of August, 1894. The names of Zachary T. Walrond, Leo E. Bennett, Napoleon B. Maxey, H. J. Evans and D. J. Eddieman appear as the first officers. The council has a large and active membership and is growing rapidly. James A. Scott is at present grand recorder of the Oklahoma Grand Council, also recorder of Muskogee Council.

Mystic Shrine

Bedouin Temple A. & A. O. N. M. S. was organized July 12, 1911. It is one of the live temples in the Imperial Council of the Shrine and has had a remarkable growth. The membership now numbers over twenty-six hundred. It has a highly drilled patrol, band and drum corps. The Bedouin Temple Building is an exclusive home for Shriners and their friends. It is a unique accomplishment and is indicative of the Muskogee spirit of doing things.

New Lodges

Another indication of the growth of Muskogee and of Masonry therein is the fact that two new Masonic lodges have been created, now making three in all. Oriental Lodge No. 430 was chartered February 15, 1912, and now has nearly five hundred members. It is very prosperous and is growing rapidly. Trinity Lodge, the baby lodge, was granted a dispensation December 14, 1921, and was granted a charter at the last meeting of the Grand Lodge held at Guthrie in March, 1922. This lodge gives promise of a rapid and healthy Masonic growth.

Muskogee Chapter Xo. 14, Order Of The Eastern Star

The Order of the Eastern Star began its career in Muskogee under the name of Astra Chapter No. 14, on June 7, 1891. The name "Astra" was afterward changed to 1 'Muskogee." The first officers of this chapter were: Mrs. Z. T. Walrond, worthy matron ; Patrick J. Byrne, worthy patron ; Mrs. Leo E. Bennett, associate matron ; Mrs. Sallie M. Scott, conductress, and Zachary T. Walrond, secretary. The Star has been and is an auxiliary to all Masonic bodies. It has been especially actiye and helpful in all charity work. It has contributed much to the Grand Chapter. Mrs. Z. T. Walrond and Mrs. Sallie M. Scott have been grand matrons. Patrick J. Byrne, Zachary T. Walrond. Leo E. Bennett and William M. Crawford haye been grand patrons. At this time it has an actiye and influential membership of oyer four hundred and is fully equipped with all the necessary paraphernalia to do its work effectively.

Much of the data of this sketch has been obtained from Mr. James A. Scott, who has been actively connected with the various branches of the Masonic fraternity in Muskogee ever since their beginning.

The Knights Of Pythias

Phoenix Lodge, Knights of Pythias Xo. 3, was instituted in its new castle hall on South Main Street, on the 8th day of March, 1888, by District Deputy Charles Hokey of Hartshorne, with twenty eharter members. At midnight of that day a sumptuous banquet was served at the Katy Hotel. The first officers of the lodge were Dr. Leo E. Bennett, chancellor commander; William A. Maddin, vice chancellor, and E. R. Rulison, master at arms. The lodge grew rapidly from the time of its institution, and it took an active part in the social and civic affairs of the city. When the United States District Court was first opened in Muskogee, its first sessions were held in the castle hall of Phoenix Lodge. When statehood arrived, the Grand lodges of the two territories united into one organization. In the reorganization, Phoenix was permitted to retain its name, but its number was changed from 3 to 103. The lodge is still in a flourishing condition and has a membership of about three hundred.

Muskogee And Northeastern Oklahoma 437 Independent Okdee Of Odd Fellows

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is a flourishing fraternity in Muskogee County, being represented by eight subordinate lodges in the county. In Muskogee City there are two subordinate lodges, with a combined membership of more than six hundred. There is also one encampment (or Patriarchal branch) numbering in excess of two hundred, and one Canton (or Patriarchs Militant), which is the uniformed branch and highest degree of the Order. Besides these there are two Rebekah orders, being Muskogee Lodge No. 17, and Queen City Lodge No. 310, and one juvenile branch, the Loyal Sons, in process of organization.

Muskogee Lodge No. 38 is the oldest of all the branches of Odd Fellowship in the city and county, being chartered by the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma April 13, 1911, with 198 members. The charter was a re-issue at that time, when the two jurisdictions of Indian Territory and Oklahoma were united. The original charter was issued to Muskogee Lodge No. 25, on September 3, 1894. This lodge now has a membership exceeding three hundred.

Excelsior Lodge No. 612 was instituted in Muskogee October 7, 1913, with a charter membership of twenty-five. This lodge has had a remarkable growth and now numbers 300. Dr. W. W. Osgood, who fostered its organization, will be grand master of Oklahoma in October, 1922.

Muskogee Encampment No. 11 was instituted April 15, 1896, with thirty-six members. It has now over two hundred members. One of its members, R. H. Schofield, is a past grand chief patriarch of Oklahoma.

Wagoner Canton No. 1, Patriarchs Militant, was chartered March 27, 1897, with twenty-three members. A new charter will soon be issued changing the name to Muskogee Canton No. 1.

Muskogee and Muskogee County have been factors that count in the growth of the Order in this state. The Grand Lodge has been entertained by them a number of times, with the usual wellknown hospitality of the city. Here was formed, fostered and nursed the great Eastern Oklahoma District Association of Odd Fellows, which comprises twenty-two counties and which has been a power for the Order in the state. And very few years have passed in the history of the Grand Lodge in which Muskogee has not been represented in an official capacity.

It would be difficult to find another citv of thirty odd thousand inhabitants that is so well provided with as many different clubs, all working in harmony for the upbuilding of the city, as are now found in Muskogee. No petty jealousies exist among them, but a generous rivalry in all undertakings which tend toward making a better city and a better citizenship.

The Muskogee Chamber Ok Commerce

Ever since Muskogee began to aspire to be a city it has maintained an active civic club. Theodore Gulick was for many years the secretary of the old Commercial Club which was in existence as far back as 1903, and he filled that office very satisfactorily. He believed in the future of Muskogee and he never missed an opportunity of sounding its praises loud and long, both at home and abroad. Following him, the versatile Col. Clarence Douglas served the city for several years as its Commercial Club secretary. He, also, was a genuine Muskogee booster, and his excellent command of the English language, coupled with a vivid imagination, enabled him to present, at each weekly meeting of the club, such glowing accounts of Muskogee's future prospects that the club members would immediately increase the selling price of their town lots, feeling sure that Tulsa, McAlester and the other towns of the Territory would soon be suburbs of Muskogee.

Mr. C. C. Lydick, a bright, young Muskogee lawyer, is now the active secretary of the Chamber of Commerce and is filling thai position very satisfactorily.

The Rotary Club

The Rotary Club is one of the most active of the civic clubs of the city at this time. At this writing it has taken possession of the city in its attempt to entertain the annual Rotary convention of the district composed of the Rotarians of the states of Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma. The first Rotary Club was organized in Chi- cago in 1905 and the order has grown very rapidly in numbers and in popularity. The Rotary Club of Muskogee was organized on September 20, 1912, with 156 members, Mr. Stanley Shelor being its first president. Its motto is : " He profits most who serves best, ' ' and its members seem to be striving hard to make its motto a verity.

The Kiwanis Club

The Kiwanis Club of Muskogee sprang into existence on the 28th day of October, 1919. It now has 121 members, most of whom are active business men of the city. The Kiwanians have demonstrated their desire to promote the best interests of the city, first, by advocating the managerial form of government for the city and by heartily supporting the managerial system since its adoption. This club has also taken an active interest in securing the three bridges which will soon span the Arkansas River, thereby adding materially to Muskogee 's trade territory. During the past year the Kiwanis Club has succeeded in getting the names of the streets of the city marked with neat placards at the street intersections and has assisted in building an auto tourists' camp in the southeastern section of the city which campers have pronounced the most complete in its furnishings of any along the tourists' highways.

Lions Club

Its loyalty along these lines has been exemplified - First : By its active cooperation with the Government during the recent World war in selling Liberty Bonds and supporting the Red

Cross. Second : By its support of the United Charities of the city, its agitation for good roads and clean streets, and its support of a free soup kitchen for the down-and-outers. Third : By its support and encouragement given to the Boy Scouts of the city in promoting their activities.

The Civitan Club

One of the youngest clubs in the city is the Civitan Club. The local club was organized in June, 1921, and now has a membership of sixty. This club is a Muskogee branch of the International league of Civitans which was established only a few years ago, having for its main object the inculcation of the principles of good citizenship. This club has also interested its members in encouraging the building of good roads in Muskogee County, especially those extending in a southeasterly direction from Muskogee.

The Women'S Clubs Of Muskogee

Muskogee is well supplied with active Women 's Clubs of every kind - civic, literary, musical and patriotic. Of the civic clubs, the Noonday Luncheon club is the largest. Although it is but three years old, it has a membership of 400. It sponsored community service for the city and raised $5,000 for the first year's work. The special work to winch this club is devoted is the welfare of the girls of the city, and to aid in this task they have established a beautiful camp for the purpose of giving the girls a place to recreate and spend their vacations. The Noonday has been fortunate in being able to secure several prominent lecturers, the latest being Judge Ben Lindsey of Denver, Colo.

The Muskogee Community Service is only two years old but it has accomplished much good work in that time. The Girl Scouts number several hundred, are organized into several different groups and each group is given an occasional outing at one of the Community Service Camps. A large hall, reception room and kitchen are placed at their service, which are used not only by the scouts but by other groups of girls and women. Public tennis courts and playgrounds have also been established by the Communitv Service.

First Literaey Club Of Muskogee

Women 's Literary Clubs in Muskogee are numerous, the oldest being the New Century Club, founded in 1902, it having been in existence longer than any other club of its kind in the state. The women also have a Shakespeare Club, a History Club, a Delphian Club, a Halcyon Club, a Fortnightly Club and other smaller ones.

The Musical Arts Club is the only large club which devotes its time solely to music. The Saturday Music Club flourished for many years but it was abandoned about 1918.

The Muskogee Indian Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution is an enthusiastic, hard-working group of patriotic women. It secured the enactment of a state law prohibiting the desecration of the American flag, and it has rendered valuable service to the city and state in various ways. About eighty-five women are enrolled as members of this club.

The Women's Christian Temperance Union has a large membership in the city and their activity is shown by the fact that they entertained the state convention in 1921.

No city in the Southwest excels Muskogee in natural advantages, healthful surroundings, transportation facilities, educational advantages, civic righteousness, religious sentiment and its splendid citizenship.

It is located on a gently rolling plain, with natural drainage toward the Arkansas River, three miles eastward ; it has an abundance of oil, natural gas, coal, wood, gravel, sand and building stone within easy reach ; it has four lines of railroads extending out in eight different directions; it has a system of public schools not excelled by any city in the Southwest ; it has numerous civic organizations, all vieing with one another and working harmoniously toward building up a bigger and better city; it has twenty-two churches representing nearly all of the leading religious organizations ; and it has an intelligent, public-spirited citizenship which has demonstrated its utilitarianism by casting aside all personal and political prejudice and establishing a business form of city government under the managerial system.

bile shops, seven banks, six wholesale houses, fifteen drugstores, fifteen furniture stores, eight dry goods stores, twelve clothing stores, ten shoe stores, twentj'-five groceries, ten lumber companies, ten machine shops, thirty oil companies, two oil refineries, four packing houses, ten printing shops, two daily and weekly newspapers, and numerous other shops of various kinds.

The Auto Manufacturing Company employs 100 men, the Cotton Oil Mills sixty men, the Oil Refineries 125 men, the Gas & Electric Company seventy men, the wholesale groceries 225 men, the Muskogee Tool Company fifty men, the Muskogee Iron Works fifty men, the Midland Valley Railroad Shops 325 men, the Kansas, Oklahoma and Gulf Railroad Shops 200 men, the M., K. & T. R. R. Shops 250 men, while the broom factories, mattress factories, tent and awning factories, laundries and other smaller shops and factories give employment to hundreds of men and women.