Prominent among the foremost physicians and surgeons of Alfalfa county is Z. J. Clark, M. D., of Ingersoll, who has a large and lucrative practice, and as a young man of promise is fast winning for himself a prominent and honored name in the medical profession. A native of Illinois, he was born at Metamora, Woodford county, but he was educated as a boy and youth in Kansas, attending the schools of Sedgwick and Kingman counties.  A young man of high ambitions and ideas, Z. J. Clark joined in the memorable race to Oklahoma, in 1893, and had the good fortune to secure a claim near Ingersoll. living upon the claim, which is still in his possession, until after he had proved up, Mr. Magee subsequently went to Kansas City, Missouri, and entered the Kansas City Medical College, where, in 1900, he was graduated with the degree of M. D. Returning immediately to Alfalfa county.  The Doctor acquired valuable town property, and as above mentioned still holds title to his original claim.  Dr. Clark married, in 1902, Mary L. Jobs, and they have two children, Hallie E. and Evert E. Politically Dr. Clark invariably casts his vote with the Democratic party; fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Independent Order of Odd

J. G. Duncan is especially noted as being one of the five men that founded the enterprising and flourishing town of Carmen, buying its present site, in 1901, from the Oriental Railroad Company. He was born, in 1850, in Wisconsin, but was reared and educated in Minnesota, being brought up on a farm. In 1868 he moved with the family to Pottawatomie county, Kansas, where he assisted his father in the improvement of a farm, remaining beneath the parental roof for about two years.  Going to Wichita, in 1870, Mr. Duncan began life for himself as a cowboy, in that capacity trailing over the Oklahoma ranges among the very earliest of its cattlemen, continuing in that business several years. At the different openings of the Oklahoma and Indian Territories, Mr. Duncan has made three races, and still owns some farming property. After the opening of the old Woods county, he located the first postoffice within its limits. It was called Eaglechief, and his wife served as its first postmaster, while he became the pioneer merchant of the place. Removing from there to Augusta, Mr. Duncan there continued in mercantile pursuits until the establishment, in 1901, of the town of Carmen, as above mentioned. Transferring, his building to Carmen, it has here built up a large and thriving business, carrying in his well equipped store a fine assortment of general merchandise, including groceries, queensware, hardware and dry goods. In his business career Mr. Duncan has been uniformly successful, and since coming to Oklahoma has acquired a fair share of this world's goods, owning valuable town property, and farm lands.  Mr. Duncan married, in 1878, Mary L. Whitworth, and to them three children have been born, namely: Alfred, Grover, and Charles. Politically Mr. Duncan is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party and fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, to which his son Alfred also belongs.

Harold Verne Keith was born in 1903 in Lambert, Oklahoma Territory. He attended Northwestern State Teachers College and the University of Oklahoma, where he earned a Masters Degree in history, and was also sports editor for the student newspaper. During the work for his master's thesis he interviewed 22 veterans of the Civil War who lived in the area. From 1922-1923, he was a teacher in the Aorita Consolidated School System. Keith served as the University of Oklahoma Sports Publicity Director from 1930-1969. He had a continuing interest in long-distance running. He died in Norman, Oklahoma of congestive heart failure on the 24 February 1998. He won the 1958 Newbery Medal for his historical novel Rifles for Watie, which is based on the interviews he did for his Master's thesis. Rifles for Watie also won the 1964 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award.

H. B. Kliewer, a leading banker of Cherokee, was born, March 18, 1880, in southern Russia, and came with his parents, Abraham and Minnie (Nachtigal) Kliewer, to America while yet a boy.  Reared and educated in Central Kansas, H. B. Kliewer became interested in the art and science of profitably handling and managing money when young, and for a number of years was engaged in the banking business at Hillsboro, Marion county, Kansas. Coming from there to Cherokee, Oklahoma, in 1907, Mr. Kliewer organized the Alfalfa County National Bank, capitalizing it at $25,000, erecting the handsome two-story brick building in which it is located, and has since served as its cashier, a position for which he is admirably fitted by education and experience. Public-spirited, energetic and liberal, Mr. Kliewer is a valued member of the Cherokee Commercial Club, and takes an active interest in town and county affairs.  Mr. Kliewer married, in 1900, Mary Loewer, and they have one child, a son named Clarence.

I. L. Magee, of Cherokee, the subject of this sketch, is an active member of this family, now serving with fidelity as district clerk. A Canadian by birth, he was born near Toronto, in 1865. At the age of five years, after four years residence in Monroe county, Missouri, he was taken by his parents to Linn county, Kansas, where he first attended school.  As a young man I. L. Magee lived with his parents in both Sedgwick and Rice counties, Kansas, and in the latter named county grew to manhood, finished his school work and was married in 1888. Having learned the printer's trade he followed it for fifteen consecutive years in Sterling, Rice county, working in every capacity from devil to managing editor. He was subsequently engaged in the newspaper business at Nickerson, Kansas, for a time, acquiring an excellent and practical knowledge of the work required as editor and publisher. Coming to the newer country of Oklahoma in 1901, Mr. Magee lived for a short time in Woodward county, from there, taking advantage of a most favorable opening for a journalist, coming to Helena, Alfalfa county. There establishing the Helena Free Press, he succeeded in making it one of the leading newspapers of the county, with an extensive circulation, and for four years and five months operated it on a good paying basis. When, in 1907, Mr. Magee was elected to his present position of district clerk, he moved with his family to Cherokee, in the interests of his new office.  Mr. Magee was for some time connected with the military service of the United States, belonging to Company A, Twenty-first Kansas United States Volunteers, in which he was commissioned first lieutenant, which position he held with credit until his regiment was mustered out in December, 1898. In 1900 he organized a company of National Guards at Sterling, Kansas, of which he was captain until he resigned to come to Oklahoma. He is quite prominent in fraternal organizations, belonging to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, to the Knights of Pythias, to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Nelson, Mrs. J. H. — of Helena, Alfalfa County, Okla. Republican. Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 1948.

Owens, Walter — of Cherokee, Alfalfa County, Okla. Republican. Alternate delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 1952.

Schoeb, Roy — of Cherokee, Alfalfa County, Okla. Republican. Delegate to Republican National Convention from Oklahoma, 1960.

L. A. Salter, a well known and prosperous lawyer of Carmen, and the proprietor of one of the most influential newspapers published in this part of the state, the Headlight. Since coming to Oklahoma in the rush of 1893, he has been active in its development, aiding as best he could its every beneficial enterprise, and taking a personal pleasure and gratification in its rapid and substantial growth. A son of M. J. and Sarah (Hinkle) Salter, he was born near Marshall, Michigan, January 7, 1858.In 1871, just as he was entering his teens, L. A. Salter accompanied his parents to their new home in Kansas, where his father subsequently served for two terms as lieutenant governor of the state. After leaving the public schools, he entered the Kansas State Agricultural College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1879. Subsequently turning his attention to the study of law, he was admitted to the bar in Sumner county, Kansas, in 1887, five years after his removal to that place, and continued in the active practice of his profession in that locality for six years. In the meantime, however, he had thought seriously of establishing himself in an entirely new country, and when, in 1893, the race to the Cherokee strip, Oklahoma, was instituted, he joined in it with a will. Locating a claim adjoining the town of Alva, he held it down, and having opened an office in Alva engaged in the practice of law, building up a fine clientage. In 1898, during the exciting times of the Spanish war, Mr. Salter enlisted in Company M, First Territorial Volunteer Infantry, and served until mustered out with his regiment, in 1899.  Removing to Augusta, Oklahoma, in 1900, Mr. Salter there opened a law office, and also established the Headlight, which, in 1901, when the town of Carmen was started, he moved to this place, also taking up his residence here, and here continuing in the practice of law. His paper has the distinction of being the oldest paper in the county that is published under its original name, others that may be older in years having changed names once, or even, perhaps, more times than that. Mr. Salter devotes much of his time especially to his legal work, his sons now having the entire management of the paper, although a part of his attention is given to the advancement of the interests of the Union Real Estate & Townsite Company, of which he is at present an agent.  Mr. Salter married, in 1880, in Kansas, Susanna M. Kinsey, a woman of culture, ability and strong force of character, who while a resident of Kansas had the honor of serving as mayor of Argonia, being the first woman in the United States to hold that position. Mr. and Mrs. Salter are the parents of eight children, namely: Clarence E., Frank A., Win A., Melva, Bertha, Lewis, Leslie, and William.

O. C. Williams is a native of Iowa, his birth having occurred in 1873, in Boone county.  During his earlier life, Mr. Williams was manager of a hotel in Boone, Iowa, for a number of years, in that capacity satisfying the wants of the traveling public. Going from there to Wellington, Kansas, he was for nine years employed as a mechanic by the Santa Fe Railroad Company. In 1903 Mr. Williams located in Cherokee, and was here actively and prosperously engaged in the hotel and restaurant business for four years, proving himself a most genial and accommodating host, popular with his patrons, and esteemed by the public.  When he came to Cherokee, Mr. Williams had but fifty dollars to his name. A man of excellent business tact and judgment, wide-awake and alert,  By wise investments, good management, and shrewd  foresight, he has since accumulated a goodly estate, owning now about eight thousand dollars worth of Cherokee property. is actively identified with actual growth and prosperity of Cherokee, Oklahoma, as a dealer in real estate, being associated with the enterprising firm of Bradley & Son. Beginning life for himself as a boy of fourteen years, he has steadily climbed the ladder of success, rising from a condition of comparative poverty to one of comfort and plenty, in the meantime becoming one of the representative men of a more than ordinarily intelligent community.   He is a member of the Cherokee Commercial Club, and belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Charles L. Wilson was born in Pendleton county in the state of West Virginia on the 13th day of February, 1868 and received only the advantages such as are afforded in the common school system. He worked on a farm and could only attend school "when it was too cold weather to work." He accompanied his parents, when six years of age, from West Virginia to Illinois, and in 1885 to Harper county, Kansas. At the age of sixteen years, he went to Stevens county of the last named state is 1887, and went into a printing office, January 1, 1888, and the following March was made business manager of the Hugo Herald.  A long illness with typhoid fever from which he was financially reduced, found him almost stranded and he went to the "Cherokee Strip" and again engaged in merchandising upon a capital of thirteen dollars. He continued in this pursuit at Driftwood, being also postmaster for a time, and finally moved to Cherokee and sold his stock, October, 1905 at Cherokee, where he has since edited the Cherokee Messenger.  It almost goes without saying, that Mr. Wilson is a stanch defender of Democratic principles, for in 1905 he was elected mayor of Cherokee against fearful odds, thus showing his popularity as a worthy citizen. He was connected with the building of the D. E. & G. Railroad into Cherokee; was manager in the campaign for G. W. Wood, of the Eighth district, who was elected by a majority of 239, while the district polled five less than three hundred votes on the Republican ticket. There were ten Republican papers, and one Democratic newspaper supporting the Republican candidate.  He was happily united in marriage, April 13, 1890, to Ella D. Calvert, a popular young woman, who is admired by a large circle of true friends and acquaintances. The children born to bless this home circle are as follows: Frank, Sarah, Charles, Lizzie, Mary. Frances and Clifton. May and Lizzie both died young. 


Leslie Wood came to Oklahoma in the famous run of 1893, secured a claim, and held it down for five years. Locating then in Cherokee, he embarked in journalistic work, for a number of years owning and managing a Democratic newspaper. This he subsequently sold to Mr. Newman, who changed it to the Cherokee Republican. In 1905, Mr. Wood started in the real estate business in Cherokee, and as a dealer in realty has met with most gratifying pecuniary results, his transactions being extensive and lucrative. He is also engaged in the abstract business, in which he is liberally patronized, his skill and ability in correctly making abstracts being well known. Mr. Wood, true and loyal to the highest interests of both town and county, takes much interest in their upbuilding, and generously supports all beneficial projects. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias.