Pontotoc Co., Oklahoma - 1904 Roff News Articles Submitted by: Sharon Crawford okbits@cox.net ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. ==================================================================== 1904 Roff, Pontotoc Co., Oklahoma June 3- The summer and fall of 1904 will witness the greatest immigration to Indian Territory of any year in the history of the territory. The total land area of Indian Territory is 31,000 square miles. The population in 1890 was 180, 182, in 1900 was 392,000, an average yearly increase of 21.76 per cent. At this rate the population at the close of the year 1904 will be 796,034. There are 87,000 Indians and 20,000 Negroes on citizenship rolls. The only school system in Indian Territory is that of the tribal schools, maintained by the several tribes. This has been augmented this year by an appropriation of $100,000 by congress, which will be used to strengthen the tribal schools, establish new schools and provide for attendance of white children at the tribal schools. In all the towns there are public schools, maintained by taxation, Each town directs its own school system and pays the expenses. It is estimated that there are 100,000 school children in the Territory. There are 200 newspapers published in Indian Territory, twenty of which are dailies. There are forty-five presidential post offices, according to the report of 1903, and the gross receipts for that year, ending September 30, were 3220,000. There are 630 fourth class post offices. This makes a total of 675 post offices, which is a greater number than is found in one-third of the states of the Union. Since the census of 1903 there have been 250 post offices established. The percent of the population engaged in agriculture is exceeded in only three states, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Arkansas. There are now 232 banks in Indian Territory. One hundred of them are national banks. All these have been established within the last fourteen years and within the last two and a half years there have been established seventy five national banks, five times as many as was established in all the New England states combined. In 1900 there were 2,500 miles of railroad in Indian Territory. There is now 4,500, either in operation or under course of construction. There has been more railroads building in Indian Territory and Oklahoma within the last three years than in any other two states in the Union combined. There are now six railroad companies building new lines in Indian Territory. The valuable farm land in the Indian Territory is estimated at 15 million acres. These figures are taken from the records of the Dawes commission. Of this, 15 per cent was in cultivation last year. There are about two million acres of land where phone is found in commercial quantities and there is an abundance of hard wood of all kinds. The latest statistics obtainable gives the value of farm animals at 55 million dollars. There were one quarter million bales of cotton raised last year which was about two thirds of a crop. It is estimated that on account of the increased acreage, 400,000 bales will be raised this year. Potatoes will be one of the leading crops. It is estimated the farmlands of Indian Territory are 800 million dollars, exclusive of two million acres of coal land and pine lands. There is an oil belt which extends from Bartlesville about 100 miles and is forty miles wide. This field has been tested. It may be larger. The number of manufacturers in 1900 was 780. It has more than doubled within the last three years. -- C.A. KOONEY in K.C. Star. If anybody can beat the record of Deputy Sheriff Frank CARTER, of Lawton, the Democrat would like to hear of it. Mr. and Mrs. CARTER have been married 18 years and they have 23 children, 15 boys and 8 girls. It is related that 17 of the children had the measles at one time. In order to supply them with water when the fever was at its height, a hose was attached to a faucet and it was passed from one to the other without their parents being disturbed. It was a little trying on the nervous system when these 23 children all had the whooping cough at once, and each trying to its best to whoop louder and longer than all the rest. There are seven sets of twins. The family resides in a house of five rooms, and because of numbers special arrangements had to be make. In one room is a monstrous bed into which all the boys pile at night, lying cross ways. The same arrangements obtain in another room where the girls sleep, although there is a little more room to turn over. It was impossible to find a table which would fit in the house and at the same time seat all the children but there is no second table.they draw lots each week as to which ones will have seats at the table and the rest stand up or sit out on the porch. The clothing bill is something large, but some of the boys are now getting old enough to work a little for themselves, and this is a great assistance. Mrs. CARTER, who was Miss Lissie SHAW, is only 39 years of age and her husband is but 41 years old. Both were born and raised in LaOrange, Texas, where they were married. The couple moved to Oklahoma in 1901, at the opening of the Territory and settled at Lawton, where they have lived since. - Lawton Democrat LATIMER - CARDEN Wedding Wednesday night in the parlors of the Donnally Hotel, Mr. J.R. LATIMER, of Cement, OK. and Mrs Grant CARDEN of Roff were married by Rev. J.M. Carvear. A large number of friends of both parties were present to witness the ceremony. After the ceremony had been preformed the guest were invited into the dining room where refreshments were served. Mr. LATIMER is a prominent citizen of Cement and that place will be their home.The Enterprise joins their friends is extending congratulations and wishing them a long and happy married life. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 10- Prof. E.E. MATTHEWS, wife and daughter, passed through this morning in route home to Roff, I.T., from Cooper to which place they had been to attend the funeral of Mrs. MATTHEWS mother, Mrs. MARTIN, who died there on the 6th. Prof. and Mrs. MATTHEWS was once connected with Hunt county schools at Kingston, and have a host of sympathizing friends in this their and bereavement. - Greenville, Texas, The Daily Banne Mr. R.S. STURMER, and family have arrived in Roff to reside permanently. Mr. STURMER is a brother-in-law of co. Goe. W. MERRILL and has bought the roff baker. The family will reside in the resident formerly occupied by Dr. B.M. SPEER. The Enterprise welcomes Mr. STURMER and his family to our city. Mr. WILMOTH, of Scullen died Wednesday and was buried Thursday at Hickory with Masonic honors. Several member of the Roff Lodge attended the funeral. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 17- Dr. John GRANT Dead Roff was sadly shocked at the sudden death of Dr. John GRANT which occurred at his home in Sherman, Texas at 6:40 o'clock last Monday morning. All our people are familiar with the serious accident which befell home some two months ago in which his limbs were broken. Dr. GRANT has lain these many long days suffering until pain, the greater part of the time in plaster or paris-- and just when it seemed that he would certainly recover, he himself being unusually cheerful and expecting to leave his room on crutches next day, he was taken away. While the physician was looking after his wounds he exclaimed with difficulty," I am smothering to death", and in spite of every effort he died in a few moments. It is thought that the death was the result of neuralgia or rheumation of the heart rather than traceable to any complication of the accident. Roff is deeply grieved over the loss of Dr. GRANT. He was a man of brains, means and power and his citizenship was worth much to this town. Col. P.S. WITHERSPOON, of Gainesville, Texas, one of the big cattlemen of the southwest was in Roff this week. Geo. MCKNIGHT, one of Ada's prominent business men, was here Saturday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 24- Wednesday morning at 8:20 Rev. T.B. BUCHANAN said the words which united Dr. W.W. COX and Miss Ala May PRINCE as husband and wife. The ceremony took place at the bride's home in the parlor at the Prince hotel. In the presents of relatives and a few friends. After receiving congratulation the happy couple were taken to the depot where they took the train for the groom's home in Roff, I.T. A number of friends met them at the depot to bid them goodbye and sprinkle them with rice. On last Wednesday at the home of the bride's parents at Dolberg, Mr. Bob KING and Miss Della FORD were married, W.H. HARPER of this city officiating. After the ceremony ice cream and cake were served and all went merrily on. A large crowd was present and participated in the pleasantries of the occasion. The young people are well known is their community, and their many friends wish for them a long and happy life. J.M. VANWINKLE, the potato king of Roff, has been busy this week harvesting the crop he has raised on his farm. It is difficult to tell just what the out-put of the farms will be, but Mr. Van Winkle tells us he has hardly got started yet and so far has shipped five carloads to northern markets. C.M. PARRISH was called to Sulphur Thursday of last week to embalm the remains of Jno. WILSON who was drowned in a creek two miles from Sulphur while seining with a party. Mr. WILSON was a young man 33 years old and had been in Sulphur for several months. The remains were shipped to Salloa, Kansas H.D. RICHARDSON has commenced work on the well at the new gin and will have the gin in readiness to handle his share of the cotton at the opening of the season.. BURNETT Bros. will give a grand ball with a grand march in Roff opera house on Wednesday eve., June 29, at 8 o'clock. Tickets 75 cents, ladies free. Go and have a good time. good music. Mr. S.C. GALBRAITH, of Sherman, Texas, arrived in the city Monday to spend a few days with his friend R.F. CRUMLEY. These gentlemen spent several days on the creek fishing this week. In the United States Commissioner's court in the Indian Territory, Southern District: L.R. HACKETT, Plaintiff M.L. EMBREE and Jeff ROSE, Defendants. The defendant, M.L. EMBREE, forewarned to appear in this court in thirty days and answer the complaint of the plaintiff, L.R. HACKETT. Witness my hand this 23 day of May 1904. B.F. TALBOTT, U.S. Com. Jon. CASTEEL, Attorney. A.L. BULLOCK is hereby appointed attorney for non-resident. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- July 22- The Newspapers of the Territory are congratulating Editor SHACKELFORD of the Wynnewood News Era on his recent marriage to Miss Ella CROSSETT. The Enterprise joins the press boys in wishing them a long and happy life. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Setember 2- Miss Lula, the accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cull LAND was married to Lee PERRY last Sunday at her parents home just north of Ada. Mr. PERRY is the son of William PERRY. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- October 7- Mr. J.L. MILBURN, an old and highly respected citizen of Hickory died Monday and was buried Tuesday in Hickory Cemetery under the auspices of the Masonic Fraternity of which he had long been an honored member. Quite a number of Roff Masons attended the funeral. Mr. MILBURN was 66 years old, born in Green Co. MO. and located in Texas in 1873 until 1880 when he moved to the Territory where he since lived. He leaves a wife and four children.