Hotel DeVann – Explore Claremore History

The Hotel DeVann, Claremore’s Premiere Hotel

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Claremore, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, January 1894. Source: Tulsa City-County Library. Wichita Avenue (JM Davis Boulevard), Catalayah Avenue (Lynn Riggs Boulevard), Missouri Avenue. First Street, 2nd Street (Patti Page Boulevard), 3rd Street (Will Rogers Boulevard), 4th Street. The DeVann was, most likely, the 3-story “hotel” on Lot 6, Block 61.

Not many people remember that Clem Rogers owned a hotel in Claremore once upon a time. “There is a hotel in Claremore bearing the name Will Rogers,” The Claremore Progress affirms in September 1931, “but few people know that way back in 1895 Clem Rogers, father of Will, owned a hotel of his own. This hotel, a wooden structure, was located on what is now known as Highway 66 on a site now occupied by J.W. Hammett’s tin shop. The name of the hotel was the Hotel DeVann, and it was operated by Mr. Rogers’ daughter (Mae Mary Rogers Yocum Stine).[i]

“… The Hotel DeVann at a liberal estimate, cost $50,000 to construct… In 1895, board could be obtained for as low as $6 per month. There is a record of a man and his wife who boarded there for some time for the sum of $12 per month…The hotel was named after Mr. Rogers himself, whose name was Clem Vann Rogers.”[ii]

The January 1894, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Claremore, Indian Territory, Sheet 1, shows a three-story framed “hotel” with one-story front porch, on the east side of Wichita Avenue (aka J.M. Davis Blvd.) about half way between Second Street and Third Street (aka Will Rogers Boulevard). It is conjectured that this wooden structure was the Yocums’ Hotel DeVann. This building disappears from the June 1896, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Claremore, Indian Territory, Sheet 1, but is replaced by a “tin shop” as early as the November 1898, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Claremore, Oklahoma, Sheet 2.

The first known advertisement for the Hotel DeVann was found posted in the Claremore Progress, September 8, 1894. “The Hotel DeVann. J.M. Yocum, Proprietor. Near the Frisco Depot. Our table is supplied with all that the market affords. Free hack to and from all trains carrying passengers. McDaniel & Walkley. Livery Feed and Sale Stable in connection with the Hotel DeVann.”[iii]

McDaniel & Walkley ran a horse-drawn cab service “to carry passengers to and from the train for the Hotel DeVann.” Fred Kay, manager of the Cary House, at Nowata, became clerk of the DeVann in November 1894.[iv]

That December, “Considerable emotion was created at J. Bean Burgess’ boarding house… by the appearance of six masked men outside about half past ten o’clock. It (was) supposed that they came after A.J. Blackwell who was under guard there. Whether their intentions were serious or only a bluff can only be conjectured. Blackwell was moved to the Hotel DeVann.”[v]

A.L. Kates, publisher of The Claremore Progress, remembers in an article titled “Hotels of Claremore As I have Known Them,” “When we started living at the McDaniel House (arrived Claremore, June 1893), a new three-story hotel was being built to be known as the Hotel DeVann, and we were given the first room finished in it.”[vi]

Banker Charley Godbey also reminisced about the adventure he and his wife had upon their arrival in Claremore, February 13, 1895. “Arriving at the station here, we were approached by W.R. Aven, who stated that he wanted the job of hauling the banker’s household goods. We informed him that we had no house as yet and would not take them out of the car until we could find a home. So he directed us to the Hotel DeVann, the leading hotel, which was just across the street from the Frisco depot, where the J.W. Hammett tin shop now stands. Arriving at the hotel we met Mr. and Mrs. Mat Yokum, Mrs. Yokum being a sister of Bill Rogers. Here we arranged for supper and a room for the night.”[vii] Claremore, he remembered was “very small, but (had) plenty of cowboys and out laws.”

“We secured board for a sum of $24.00 per month for both of us, very high board at that time, but we were putting up at the best hotel in town.”[viii]

That spring, J.M. Yocum had “his popular hotel, the DeVann, papered down stairs and in the halls, which adds greatly to its appearance.”

The perfect wedding venue, Judge Schrimsher married in January 1895, “at the Hotel DeVann Edgar Halfmoon and Miss Susie Smith.”[ix] Miss Armstrong, of Coody’s Bluff, arrived in Claremore in April “to attend the wedding of her sister at the Hotel DeVann.” “Ben Scovel, of Coffeyville, and Miss Lenora Armstrong, of Coody’s Bluff, were married at the Hotel DeVann …, Clerk LaHay officiating.”[x]

Also in April, The Claremore Progress advertised, “Drs. Davis and Mason, dentist and optical specialist, will be at the Hotel DeVann on next Friday, May 3^rd. Dr. Davis, the dentist stands high in his profession and comes here with the best recommendations. He uses all the latest appliances and preparations for extracting and operating painless. He is not only skilled in extracting teeth, but is prepared to do the finest of work in all branches of his profession. Dr. Mason the optician, who accompanies him is a specialist in his line, and will afford our readers, who are troubled with their eyes, an opportunity to have them examined by one who has made it an especial study.”[xi] These were followed by a “Dentist in all its branches. W.B. Badby, D.M.D., at the Hotel DeVann.”[xii]

Mrs. A.B. Seymour, of Coffeyville, Kansas, came to Claremore in December 1895, to “the Hotel DeVann to take orders for dressmaking. All those who desire dresses made in the latest fashion would do well to call. She will cut and fit on those days.”[xiii]

William Gulager, of Tahlequah, and Col. George S. Thebo, of Paris, Texas, were registered as guests at the Hotel DeVann. [xiv] Newly married B.R. Bracefield and wife, from Tulsa, spent a few days at the Hotel DeVann using this hotel as their honeymoon retreat. [xv] Claremore’s premiere hotel was “becoming more popular than ever under the management of mine Host and Hostess, W.R. Gaddis and wife.”[xvi]

Quite sadly, The Claremore Progress announced, December 7, 1895, another worthy guest, “James Latta died yesterday afternoon at the Hotel DeVann at 3:20 after a long and serious illness. The deceased was aged 69 and had resided in the Cherokee nation for the past quarter of a century. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church and highly esteemed by all who knew him.”[xvii]

The ultimate community tragedy was to strike Claremore’s premiere hotel in January 1896 with the report called “Claremore’s First Big Blaze. The Popular Hostelry – The Hotel DeVann – No More. $10,000 Worth Property Destroyed. It Has Come at Last. Six Buildings Now in Ashes.

“A little before two o’clock Saturday morning last, a good portion of our population was aroused by the repeated firing of firearms (for fire alarm) in the business portion of our town. The lower end of town was all lit up and every business man started with the fear that it might be his place of business.

“When the Progress man arrived on the scene the fire was well under way. The three buildings west of the DeVann was all ablaze and the Hotel DeVann was well under way. Hundreds of willing workers were removing the goods from the Hotel DeVann, W.W. Chambers’ building and Davis Hill & Co’s. general merchandise store.

“A stand was taken to confine the fire to the Hotel DeVann and the five adjoining buildings, and by active work and a liberal supply of water, the effort was successful and the Davis Hill and Co’s. store building on the corner, the LaHay building, the barber shop, the butcher shop, the Trilby restaurant and the Hotel DeVann sample room were saved. Had the fire got hold of these buildings, Halsell’s big brick would have been in great peril, and a good part of the business portion of the town would undoubtedly been burned down. While the loss falls heavily on those burned out, the town can congratulate itself that it is no worse. The lack of wind helped the fire fighters there being hardly a breath of air stirring. The workers succeeded in getting out only a little over $300 worth of furniture from the Hotel DeVann…

“The losses as far as we can learn will foot up about $10,000 with only $2,500 insurance. They are made up as follows:

“W.R. Gaddis, furniture in Hotel DeVann, $3,500. Insurance $1,000. About $300 worth of furniture saved. (Note: hotel proprietors owned the business and furnishings only, not the building.)

“C.V. Rogers, Hotel DeVann, $3,500, insurance $1,500…

“Several of the boarders lost part of their clothes and little trinkets that they had in their rooms.

“Several of the boarders at the DeVann made their toilet out in the night air with all nature gazing upon them… Joe LaHay was the first one aroused in the DeVann and the whoops he let out soon awakened even the heaviest sleeper… Dr. Linn saved enough of his shoes from the wreck to supply all those who left the DeVann in such haste that they forgot theirs. Everybody was wearing them. The origin of the fire is a mystery…

“The burning of the Hotel DeVann is a severe loss to our town as well as Mr.& Mrs. W.R. Gaddis, under whose uniting management it had become recognized as one of the best kept hotels in the Territory. They had spared no money in furnishing it throughout in an elegant style, and the almost total loss of their goods, together with being thrown out of the business just at present is a severe loss to them that all regret. It is sincerely hoped that they will soon be established in a new brick hotel here, which our town is sadly in need of.”[xviii]

By Christa Rice, Claremore History Explorer

Sources:

[i] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8565002/mae-mary-stine Mae Mary Rogers Stine. Birth 31 May 1873. Death 25 Jul 1909 (aged 36). Spouse: Matthew John Yocum (1865-1896); Frank Charles Stine (1874-1954).

[ii] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Oklahoma). Monday, September 28, 1931 P. 4. Newspapers.com.

[iii] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, December 7, 1894. P. 2. Newspapers.com.

[iv] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, November 17, 1894. P. 5. Newspapers.com.

[v] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, December 1, 1894. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

[vi] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Oklahoma). Thursday, February 13, 1930. P. 5. Newspapers.com.

[vii] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Oklahoma). Thursday, February 19, 1925. P. 4. Newspapers.com.

[viii] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Oklahoma). Thursday, February 15, 1923. P. 2. Newspapers.com.

[ix] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, January 12, 1895. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

[x] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, April 13, 1895. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

[xi] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, April 27, 1895. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

[xii] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, July 6, 1895. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

[xiii] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, December 21, 1895. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

[xiv] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, August 31, 1895. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, November 16, 1895. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

[xv] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, November 16, 1895. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

[xvi] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, October 12, 1895. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

Col. W.R. Gaddis, at one time proprietor of the popular Hotel de Vann here, died at Mineral Wells, Texas last week, where he was stopping with the hope of benefitting his health. Claremore Progress (Claremore, Oklahoma). Saturday, February 3, 1900. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

[xvii] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, December 7, 1895. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

[xviii] Claremore Progress (Claremore, Indian Terr.). Saturday, January 18, 1896. P. 3. Newspapers.com.

The full story about the Claremore Downtown Fire, January 1896, can be found here. https://exploreclaremorehistory.wordpress.com/2023/01/18/claremore-fire-january-1896/

Claremore Fire – January 1896

Shockingly, on Saturday, January 18, 1896, Claremore, Indian Territory, suffered a tremendous fire. The Claremore Progress reported the devastating event.

“Claremore’s First Big Blaze. Popular Hostelry – The Hotel DeVann – No More. $18,000 Worth of Property Destroyed – It has Come at Last. Six Buildings Now in Ashes.

“A little before two o’clock Saturday morning last, a good portion of our population was aroused by the repeated firing of firearms in the business portion of our town. The lower end of town was all lit up and every business man started with the fear that it might be his place of business.

“When the Progress man arrived on the scene the fire was well underway. The three buildings west of the DeVann were all ablaze, and the Hotel DeVann was well underway. Hundreds of willing workers were removing the goods from the Hotel DeVann, W.W. Chambers’ building and Davis Hill & Co.’s general merchandise store.

“A stand was taken to confine the fire to the Hotel DeVann and the five adjoining buildings, and by active work and a liberal supply of water. The effort was successful and the Davis Hill & Co’s store building on the corner, the LaHay building, the barber shop, the butcher shop, the Trilby restaurant and the Hotel DeVann sample room were saved. Had the fire got hold of these buildings, Halsell’s big brick would have been in great peril, and a good part of the business portion of the town would undoubtedly been burned down. While the loss falls heavily on those burned out, the town can congratulate itself that it is no worse. The lack of wind helped the fire fighters, there being hardly a breath of air stirring. The workers succeeded in getting out only a little over $300 worth of furniture from the Hotel DeVann. W.W. Chambers succeeded in getting out nearly all of his goods, and Davis Hill & Co. had all their goods, furniture and machinery out as everyone expected to see their building go at any moment.

“The losses as far as we can learn will foot up about $10,000 with only $2,500 insurance. They are made up as follows: W.R. Gaddis, furniture in Hotel DeVann, $3,500. Insurance $1,000. About $300 worth of furniture saved. C.V. Rogers, Hotel DeVann, $3,000, insurance $1,500. Teece Chambers, two-story building on the corner of Front and Second streets, $800, no insurance. Joe Chambers, two-story building and marble shop $650; stock of goods, $350, no insurance. W.W. Chambers, two-story building and annex to Hotel DeVann, $700; goods not saved $50; cash $500; no insurance. Davis Hill & Co., damage to goods by removal $200, no insurance. Robbins & Patterson, marble patterns and tools $400, no insurance. Uncle Joe Teague, who slept in the Teece Chambers building, had all his belongings and goods burned up, he barely escaping with only the suit on his back. The total loss foots up $10,300, with insurance of $2,500.

“NOTES: Nobody was hurt. The homeless were well taken care of by our citizens. The fire emphasizes our need of better means for fighting fire. Everything was moved out of the City Barber shop and Trilby restaurant. Several of the boarders lost part of their clothes and little trinkets that they had in their rooms. Several of the boarders at the DeVann made their toilet out in the night air with all nature gazing upon them. We nominate Tom Patterson for the chief of the fire department which we hope to see Claremore organize at once. Joe LaHay was the first one aroused in the DeVann and the whoops he let out soon awakened even the heaviest sleeper. While Uncle Joe Teague’s losses did not run up into the thousands, he lost everything he had. What more could a man lose?

“It took Bob Hill all the next day to get his goods back in shape in his building, but he felt good to think he had a place to put them. Dr. Linn saved enough of his shoes from the wreck to supply all those who left the DeVann in such haste that they forgot theirs. Everybody was wearing them. The origin of the fire is a mystery, by what we can glean it is likely to remain such in spite of the many theories advanced. There seems to be no doubt that it first originated in the second story of the Joe Chamber’s building which was unoccupied at the time. Carpenters had been at work there on Friday and when they quit, locked it up and it is not known that anyone was in there afterward.

“C.W. Fort, adjuster for the Home Insurance Co., of New York, and J.W. Hoffman, adjuster for the London and Lancashire Insurance Company, were in our city Wednesday and adjusted the insurance on the Hotel DeVann and furniture. The claims were paid in full, C.V. Rogers receiving $1,500 and W.R. Gaddis $1,000. Mr. Hoffman also represented the Pennsylvania Fire and Springfield.

“Uncle William Chambers loses his all by the fire, with the exception of his small stock of goods. He had no insurance on his building and had stowed away in the second story of his building about $500 for safe keeping. In the excitement of moving out, he forgot that a few days previous he had taken the money out of his trunk and hid it upstairs. He would have had plenty of time to have gone and got it if it had occurred to him.

By Christa Rice, Claremore History Explorer

If you are curious about other Claremore fires, just click on the links below.

Claremore Fire – January 1896

Claremore Fire – February 1900

Claremore Fire – December 1905

Claremore Fire – April 29, 1907

Claremore Fire – January 9, 1912

Bayless Home Destroyed By Fire – December 1926

Sources:

[1] Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 50, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 18, 1896, newspaper, January 18, 1896; Claremore, Indian Territory. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182824/: accessed April 24, 2019), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

James Eudorous and Harriet Ann Sheldon Latta

CW5A7082 JE Latta (2)

In December 1895, The Claremore Progress reported, “James Latta died yesterday afternoon at the Hotel DeVann at 3:20 after a long and serious illness. The deceased was aged 60 (69) and had resided in the Cherokee nation for the past quarter of a century. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church and highly esteemed by all who knew him.”[i]

James Eudorous Latta,[ii] a wagon master and farmer, was the husband of Harriet Ann Sheldon Latta a Christian, Park Hill missionary, and well-educated teacher, originally from New York.[iii] They had at least four children James Gardner Latta (1863-1934), Dwight Hitchcock Latta (1867-1915), Amanda M. Latta Hanley (1870-1942), and Thomas A. Latta (1872-1931).

Mr. Latta was considered, in the 1880 Census of the Cherokee Nation, to be one of many people “residing in said District, not recognized as Cherokee citizens, and who are under permit, either by the Nation or U.S.” Mr. Latta was employed by Mrs. Arminta R. Vann, sister-in-law to Major Murrell, of Park Hill (Hunter’s Home).[iv] At one point in their lives, it is said that the Latta family lived on farmland near Claremore. Perhaps there was a connection with Jennie Lind McClellan, wife of rancher Charley McClellan, who had been “born at Park Hill, Indian Territory in 1850. She was a daughter of the well-known Cherokee Presbyterian preacher, Stephen Foreman,” a coworker with the Lattas at Park Hill.[v]

A later notice in the Claremore Progress newspaper, December 14, 1895, announces, “Died. Latta, James E. – Friday evening December 5^th, at 3:30 o’clock, after an illness of two weeks, aged 68 years and 11 months. Deceased had been a continuous resident of the Cherokee nation since 1854, with the exception of three years when he was connected with the mission school of Nuyaka, in the Creek nation. During his long sojourn among this people he was a constant worker in the church of which he was for fifty years a member and enjoyed the confidence and respect of all who knew him. Deceased leaves a wife, five children, four brothers, and two sisters to mourn the absence of a kind and tender husband, a loving father and affectionate brother – he has gone beyond recall, ‘a rest come at eventide.'”

As a tribute T.A.L. [perhaps Thomas A. Latta] writes in the newspaper:

“Our Father.

Hark! Hear the roar of the tempest;

Hear ye the wild billows roll!

But fear not, through Jesus atonement,

All is well with thy tempest-tossed soul.

Dark are the waters and troubled,

Dim grows the aged eye;

But listen; the cold lips are murmuring,

‘I am not afraid to die.’

Through faith, he has met and vanquished,

The foe that all must meet;

Has crossed the dark river in triumph,

Resting at Jesus’ feet.

Peace, oh ineffable sweetness!

Peace through the Savior’s blood;

Peace, oh, blessed assurance!

At home and at peace with his God.

T.A.L.”

“Card of Thanks. To the many friends who were so kind and untiring in their efforts to assist us during the death of our beloved father and husband, James E. Latta, we desire to return the sincere thanks and heartfelt gratitude of A Broken Family.”[vi]

The Fayetteville Weekly Democrat, 12 December 1895, adds more details.

“Death of James E. Latta. Mr. James E. Latta, for many years a well-known and highly respected citizen of Arkansas, died at Claremore, I.T., on the 6th inst, after a lingering illness in the sixty-eighth year of his age. He was born in South Carolina, but was reared principally in Washington county in this state his father being one of the pioneer settlers of that section. For the last ten years of his life he was a resident of the Indian Territory, Mr. Latta was a man of strict integrity of character, and in his circle of acquaintances was highly esteemed and respected. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church for the greater part of his life. He leaves a devoted wife and five children to mourn the loss of a loving husband and kind and indulgent parent. Many friends and relations will sympathize with him in their great bereavement. He was a brother of Mrs. James Mitchell, of this city. – L.R. Democrat. [vii]

Upon his death, December 6, 1895, Mr. Latta was laid to rest in Claremore’s Woodlawn Cemetery. Mrs. Latta continued on with her life’s work until she too passed to Glory nearly twenty years later, on April 12, 1915.

Tahlequah’s Cherokee County Democrat reported, “Mrs. H.A. Latta Passes Away (From Tuesday’s Daily Arrow.) Mrs. H.A. Latta, aged 80 years, died at Fargo, Okla., several weeks ago, but it was not until quite recently that the intelligence was received at this place. Deceased was at one time a resident of the Park Hill neighborhood, and conducted a school at the old Murrell place. Previous to her marriage to Jas. A. Latta, who was in charge of the Murrell farm at Park Hill, she was a teacher in the old Mission school under the charge of Rev. Dr. Samuel Worcester, the noted missionary to the Cherokees. Mrs. Latta was superintendent of the Sunday school conducted some thirty years ago in the church of the Rev. Stephen Foreman at Park Hill, and there are yet living in the community a number of citizens who will hear with regret the news of her death.”[viii] It is stated on Mrs. Latta’s grave marker that she was the “Founder of Greenwood Church, 1901.”

It is courageous pioneer families such as the Lattas who settled in Claremore and elsewhere, who built the strong foundation of the Oklahoma we know and appreciate today.

By Christa Rice, Claremore History Explorer

Sources: Oklahoma newspapers are sourced through The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[i] Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 44, Ed. 1 Saturday, December 7, 1895, accessed April 24, 2019.

[ii] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8505904/james-eudorous-latta Accessed December 8, 2019.

James Eudorous “Jim” Latta. Birth 9 Jan 1827, York County, South Carolina. Death 6 Dec 1895 (aged 68), Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma. Burial Woodlawn Cemetery, Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma. Memorial ID 8505904. Spouse Harriet Ann Sheldon Latta (1833-1915). Children [John Sheldon Latta (1858 – 1935)], James Gardner Latta (1863-1934), Dwight Hitchcock Latta (1867-1915), Amanda M. Latta Hanley (1870-1942), Thomas A. Latta (1872-1931).

Year: 1850; Census Place: San Antonio, Bexar, Texas; Roll: M432_908; Page: 275A; Image: 273. Ancestry.com.

Year: 1860; Census Place: Vineyard, Washington, Arkansas; Roll: M653_52; Page: 488; Family History Library Film: 803052 Ancestry.com.

[iii] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103684993/harriet-ann-latta Accessed December 8, 2019.

Harriet Ann Sheldon Latta. Birth 26 Aug 1833, New York. Death 12 Apr 1915 (aged 81), Fargo, Ellis County, Oklahoma. Burial Sunset Cemetery, Ellis County, Oklahoma. Memorial ID 103684993. Spouse James Eudorous Latta (1827-1895). Children [John Sheldon Latta (1858 – 1935)], James Gardner Latta (1863-1934), Dwight Hitchcock Latta (1867-1915), Amanda M. Latta Hanley (1870-1942), Thomas A. Latta (1872-1931). Headstone “Founder of Greenwood Church 1901.”

[iv] Ancestry.com. Oklahoma and Indian Territory, Indian Censuses and Rolls, 1851-1959 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Selected Tribal Records. The National Archives at Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas.

[v] https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/82297871/person/310183551242/media/93aa3346-7b9e-44e6-9d0a-33ff66849a06?_phsrc=AaX1&usePUBJs=true Accessed: December 9, 2019.

“Charley McClellan. #350” by John McClellan. History of Rogers County Oklahoma. Claremore College Foundation. c. 1979. p. 289.

[vi]Claremore Prog ress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 45, Ed. 1 Saturday, December 14, 1895, accessed January 24, 2020.

[vii] https://www.newspapers.com/clip/36381486/death-of-james-e-latta-fayetteville/

[viii] Cherokee County Democrat (Tahlequah, Okla.), Vol. 29, No. 35, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 13, 1915, accessed December 8, 2019.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14935638/john-sheldon-latta Accessed April 4, 2020. John Sheldon Latta. Birth 3 Aug 1858, Park Hill, Cherokee County, Oklahoma. Death 21 Dec 1935 (aged 77), Marshall, Harrison County, Texas. Burial Greenwood Cemetery, Marshall, Harrison County, Texas. Memorial ID 14935638. Spouse Susan Edwinna Rogers Latta (1867 – 1942). Children Thomas Edoras Latta (1888 – 1942); Helen May Latta Benger (1888 – 1957); Wina Rae Latta Calhoon (1894 – 1986); John Ernest Latta (1897 – 1970); Hazel Ruby Latta Phillips 91900-1995); Jewel Latta Kent (1908 – 1979).

Tour the Town – The Hotel DeVann, J.M. Yocum’s Popular Hotel.

Tour The Town – The Hotel DeVann, J.M. Yocum’s Popular Hotel.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Claremore, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, January 1894. Source: Tulsa City-County Library. Wichita Avenue (JM Davis Boulevard), Catalayah Avenue (Lynn Riggs Boulevard), Missouri Avenue. First Street, 2nd Street (Patti Page Boulevard), 3rd Street (Will Rogers Boulevard), 4th Street. The DeVann was, most likely, the 3-story “hotel” on Lot 6, Block 61.

J. Matthew Yocum, was Proprietor of the Hotel DeVann, Claremore, Oklahoma, in 1894. Yocum who had married May Rogers, October 9, 1892,[1] was the son-in-law of Clem Vann Rogers and brother-in-law of Will Rogers.

The Claremore Progress, September 8, 1894, advertised, “The Hotel DeVann. J.M. Yocum. Proprietor. Near the Frisco Depot (on the west side of Claremore). Our table is [supplied] with all that the market affords. Free hack to and from all trains carrying passengers. McDaniel & Walkley, LIVERY FEED AND SALE STABLES. In connection with the Hotel DeVann.”[2]

In the spring of 1895, J.M. Yocum had “his popular hotel, the DeVann, papered downstairs and in the halls, which [added] greatly to its appearance.”[3]

“Ben Scovel, of Coffeyville, and Miss Lenora Armstrong, of Coody’s Bluff, were married at the Hotel DeVann …, Clerk LaHay officiating.” [4]

The Hotel DeVann became “more popular than ever under the management of mine Host and Hostess, W.R. Gaddis and wife.”[5]

Newly married B.R. Bracefield and wife, from Tulsa, spent a few days at the Hotel DeVann using this hotel as their honeymoon retreat.[6]

James Latta was not so fortunate. He died, December 6, 1895, at the Hotel DeVann after a long and serious illness. “The deceased was aged 60 and had resided in the Cherokee nation for the past quarter of a century. He was an elder in the Presbyterian church and highly esteemed by all who knew him.”[7]

Shockingly, on Saturday, January 18, 1896, the Hotel DeVann met its demise, in Claremore, Indian Territory’s, first big fire. The Claremore Progress reported the devastating event.

“Claremore’s First Big Blaze. Popular Hostelry – The Hotel DeVann – No More. $18,000 Worth of Property Destroyed – It has Come at Last. Six Buildings Now in Ashes.

“A little before two o’clock Saturday morning last, a good portion of our population was aroused by the repeated firing of firearms in the business portion of our town. (The firing of repeated gunshots was the customary fire alarm of the times.) The lower end of town was all lit up and every businessman started with the fear that it might be his place of business.

“A stand was taken to confine the fire to the Hotel DeVann and the five adjoining buildings, and by active work and a liberal supply of water. The effort was successful and the Davis Hill & Co’s store building on the corner, the LaHay building, the barbershop, the butcher shop, the Trilby restaurant, and the Hotel DeVann sample room were saved. Had the fire got hold of these buildings, Halsell’s big brick would have been in great peril, and a good part of the business portion of the town would undoubtedly have been burned down. While the loss falls heavily on those burned out, the town can congratulate itself that it is no worse. The lack of wind helped the firefighters, there being hardly a breath of air stirring. The workers succeeded in getting out only a little over $300 worth of furniture from the Hotel DeVann. W.W. Chambers succeeded in getting out nearly all of his goods, and Davis Hill & Co. had all their goods, furniture and machinery out as everyone expected to see their building go at any moment.

“NOTES: Nobody was hurt. The homeless were well taken care of by our citizens. The fire emphasizes our need of better means for fighting fire. Everything was moved out of the City Barbershop and Trilby restaurant. Several of the boarders lost part of their clothes and little trinkets that they had in their rooms. Several of the boarders at the DeVann made their toilet out in the night air with all nature gazing upon them. We nominate Tom Patterson for the chief of the fire department which we hope to see Claremore organize at once. Joe LaHay was the first one aroused in the DeVann and the whoops he let out soon awakened even the heaviest sleeper. While Uncle Joe Teague’s losses did not run up into the thousands, he lost everything he had. What more could a man lose?

“C.W. Fort, adjuster for the Home Insurance Co., of New York, and J.W. Hoffman, adjuster for the London and Lancashire Insurance Company, were in our city Wednesday and adjusted the insurance on the Hotel DeVann and furniture. The claims were paid in full, C.V. Rogers receiving $1,5000 and W.R. Gaddis $1,000. Mr. Hoffman also represented the Pennsylvania Fire and Springfield.

“Uncle William Chambers loses his all by the fire, with the exception of his small stock of goods. He had no insurance on his building and had stowed away in the second story of his building about $500 for safekeeping. In the excitement of moving out, he forgot that a few days previous he had taken the money out of his trunk and hid it upstairs. He would have had plenty of time to have gone and got it if it had occurred to him.

“The burning of the Hotel DeVann is a severe loss to our town as well as Mr.& Mrs. W.R. Gaddis, under whose uniting management it had become recognized as one of the best-kept hotels in the Territory. They had spared no money in furnishing it throughout in an elegant style, and the almost total loss of their goods, together with being thrown out of the business just at present is a severe loss to them that all regret. It is sincerely hoped that they will soon be established in a new brick hotel here, which our town is sadly in need of.”[8]

By Christa Rice, Claremore History Explorer

Sources:

All newspaper sources below are accessed through, The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[1]Wertheim, Arthur Frank, and Barbara Bair, Editors. The Papers of Will Rogers, Vol. 1, November 1879 – April 1904. University of Oklahoma Press: Norman. 1996. Page 138.

[2]Kates, A. L. Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 2, No. 31, Ed. 1 Saturday, September 8, 1894, Claremore, Indian Territory. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181861/).

[3]Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 11, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 13, 1895, Claremore, Indian Territory. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182920/).

[4]Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 11, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 13, 1895, Claremore, Indian Territory. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182920/).

[5]Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 36, Ed. 1 Saturday, October 12, 1895, Claremore, Indian Territory. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181978/).

[6]Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 41, Ed. 1 Saturday, November 16, 1895, Claremore, Indian Territory. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182877/).

[7]Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 44, Ed. 1 Saturday, December 7, 1895, Claremore, Indian Territory. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182099/).

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8505904/james-eudorous-latta James Eudorous “Jim” Latta. Birth 9 Jan 1827, York County, South Carolina. Death 6 Dec 1895 (aged 68), Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma. Burial Woodlawn Cemetery, Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma. Memorial ID 8505904. Spouse Harriet Ann Sheldon Latta (1833-1915). Children James Gardner Latta (1863-1934), Dwight Hitchcock Latta (1867-1915), Amanda M. Latta Hanley (1870-1942), Thomas A. Latta (1872-1931).

[8]Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 50, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 18, 1896, Claremore, Indian Territory. (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182824/).

Mr. & Mrs. C.F. Godbey, Pioneer Citizens of Claremore

30 Years a Citizen of Claremore –

Mr. Charles Francis Godbey[1] and Mrs. Margaret Viola Godbey[2] were enthusiastic early settlers in Claremore, Indian Territory, arriving February 13^th, 1895. Mr. Godbey came to serve as cashier of the First National Bank, Claremore (Authority to organize approved in Washington and announced in Claremore February 1895;[3] Bank opened to receive deposits March 1895;[4] Charter granted March 2, 1895 and announced in the newspaper as a document received April 1895.[5]). Mr. Godbey was working intently at the bank by December 1895.[6]

In 1918, the Claremore Progress reported, the “First National Bank is a well-managed institution, the value and importance of which to the community it is impossible to over-estimate. The officers of the First National Bank are: John Dirickson, president; S.E. Gilkeson, vice-president; C.F. Godbey, cashier, and R.A. Patton, assistant cashier. The Board of Directors is composed of the following well-known gentlemen: John Dirickson, R.A. Patton, F.A. Anderson, W.L. Lowery, C.F. Godbey, S.E. Gilkeson and E.B. Kearns. The First National Bank is the oldest bank in Claremore and its career has been an honorable one; its business has always been large and its management, judicious and progressive, keeping step with the growth of the city. It has customers, many of whom have been its constant patrons since it was first established. It has, by its safe management, sustained the highest credit and unbounded confidence of the people. The cashier is the man with whom the average bank patron comes in contact and on whom much of the success of the bank depends. Mr. C.F. Godbey, who has filled this position in the First National Bank since its organization in 1895, is courteous and considerate of all who have any business with the bank, and is ever striving to make the First National Bank a bank of service; therefore it is not strange that the bank has grown. Banks conducted along the right lines by the right men always succeed, and it is a timely prediction that each year will continue to show a substantial increase in its resources.”[7]

Besides being involved in banking, both Mr. and Mrs. Godbey were exceedingly active in community affairs, constantly promoting the finest points of Claremore. Mrs. Godbey was president of the Presbyterian Church’s Ladies Aid Society[8] and served in the church choir.[1] She was a member of the Memorial Day music committee,[9] a member of (and often hostess to) the Quest Club,[10] a member of the C.C.C. Club,[11] and the Red Cross Unit No. 1,[12] to name a few. Wife and husband both being avid supporters of the Claremore Library Association, as early as January 1900, Charles F. Godbey “tendered the library association the free use of one of the rooms in the bank building, having the same neatly papered, and the association now has very neat quarters.”[13]

Mr. Godbey was an elder of the First Presbyterian Church,[1]a member of the Oklahoma Banker’s Association,[14] a member of the Claremore Commercial Club,[15] a Claremore delegate to the Good Roads Association,[16] and he served on the committee on finance for the 1915 city-wide Revival.[17]

Eventually, the Godbeys moved into the home on 403 East 4^thStreet that is sometimes still referred to as the Godbey home today.[18] Here they entertained their many friends and neighbors, such as the J.M.Bayless family, who were prominent bankers and business people of Claremore.

When the Godbeys celebrated 30 years of residency in the Claremore community the Claremore Progress shared this recollection of their early Claremore days with this detailed article. You’ll want to have a collection of Claremore Sanborn maps in hand when you read it, and you won’t believe your eyes with the revelation that there were hog wallows in front of each place of business on main street? Yetm in the end, it is as true today as it was 93 years ago, “Yes, surely Claremore, in the past 30 (or even 123) years, has grown.”

“30 Years a Citizen of Claremore –

“Thirty years ago today, Friday, February 13^th, Mr. and Mrs. C. F. Godbey landed in Claremore to make their future home, coming here from Vinita. The purpose of Mr. Godbey’s coming was to open the First National Bank here, which had just been organized by Vinita capitalists. Mr. Godbey indulged in a little reminiscence Friday, on the occasion of the anniversary of his 30^thyear in Claremore, now the home of the famous Radium Water.

“Leaving Vinita at 10:00 o’clock in the morning on a mixed train, containing freight cars and one combination passenger, baggage and mail car, and after loading and unloading freight, and stopping to shoot a jack rabbit or two, we finally landed in Claremore about 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

“Arriving at the station here, we were approached by W.R. Aven, who stated that he wanted the job of hauling the banker’s household goods. We informed him that we had no house as yet and would not take them out of the car until we could find a home. So he directed us to the Hotel DeVann, the leading hotel, which was just across the street from the Frisco depot, where the J.W. Hammett tin shop now stands.”

“Arriving at the hotel we met Mr. and Mrs. Mat Yokum, Mrs. Yokum being a sister of Bill Rogers (aka Will Rogers). Here were arranged for supper and a room for the night. This ended our activity during our first day in Claremore, 30 years ago.

“The next morning we looked the town over for a house, but nothing suitable was found and for a time we were undecided what to do, whether to go back to Vinita, or to unload and stay. Finally, we selected one room over the First National, then located near the Frisco station, a site now occupied by the Mason Garage. We arranged with the hotel management for three meals a day at $12 per month each.”

“We found the bank charter had not been issued and the fixtures had not been set in place, while the safe was discovered in the middle of a mud hole in Main street. The safe was being moved by Joe Alton, the transfer man, who had loaded it on his wagon. In transporting the safe he went into the mud hole and turned the wagon over, dumping the safe into the mud hole. And there it was left. Arrangements were then made with Frank Woods and Tom Patterson to place it in the bank vault for the sum of $5. Five dollars would go a long way in those days.

“During the next two weeks, while we were waiting for the charter, things at the bank were put in shape. J.F. McClellan made the first deposit.

“The first officers of the First National Bank were: W.E. Halsell, president, C.V. Rogers, vice president, C.F. Godbey, cashier, and Arthur Cook, bookkeeper. No telephone, adding machines, or loose-leaf ledgers were used.

“To give some idea of what the town looked like at that time, we will say that the Cooweescoowee district court-house stood on South Wichita avenue, near Cat Creek, the Chambers Drug Store, Hotel DeVann, Comer and Evans General Store, Bob Hill Hardware, First National Bank, Bolings Drug Store and F.A. Neilson General Store fronted on Wichita towards the Frisco railroad. The post office, a frame building about 12 by 24 feet, was then located where the A.D. Motor Company now stands and the building now occupied by the Collins Drug Store and the Forum Buffet was just being completed. A drugstore owned by Ed White was housed in the present Collins stand, while there was a barber shop in the present location of the Forum. The Claremore Progress was housed in a little frame building, about 10 by 18 feet, where the Sequoyah Hotel now stands. The Felt Bakery location was then a stone building, the old Gibbs building next, and on the corner where Talleys are now located was the P. Foley and Co., big general store.

“In the next block was nothing important except the big stone building, now housing the Palace Laundry, was just being completed for an opera house. The First National Bank, as has been mentioned, was located where the Mason Garage now stands and there was a small tin shop on the present site of the Mason Hotel. The Browning Pain Store was then the scent of a livery stable while the W.G. Julian Grocery store and Harlow and Williams hardware was located where the building housing Hales Grocery and Nowlin Feezell now stand. R.H.W. Gray had a lumberyard on the Vinson drug corner and from Vinson’s to the Haas Store it was vacant. On the back of the Brogan lot there was a small picture gallery and the Rader Plumbing Shop was the residence of John Davis.

“The Presbyterian church was what is now known as the Joplin Hotel and the Baptists had a frame structure on their present site. The North Methodist just dedicated what is now the Christian Science, to which we had the pleasure of donating our first Sunday.

“The only school was a two room frame building where the Hiawatha building now stands, later made into brick, on which we again had the pleasure of donating.

“In those days cattle, hogs and horses roamed the streets at will. The merchants and the restaurant men fed the hogs the garbage from their front doors and most every merchant had a hog wallow in front of his place of business.

“The end of the Frisco railroad to the west was Red Fork and the railroad managed to run one train a day each way, some days. The Missouri Pacific ran one train a day each way, south of a morning and north of an evening in order to make a daylight run through the Indian Territory on account of train robbers who then worked at night.

“Claremore then had the only bank between Coffeyville, Kans., and Ft. Smith, Ark. Yes, surely Claremore, in the past 30 years, has grown.”[19]

By Christa Rice, Claremore History Explorer

[1]Wilcox, Erice. “Charles Francis Godbey” : b. 31 May 1869; d. 29 December 1939 (age 70). ). Woodlawn Cemetery, Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma. Plot: NA.-1.-L13-5E. ID #33785013.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33785013/charles-francis-godbey. Accessed April 27, 2018.

[2]Wilcox, Erice. “Margaret Viola Godbey”: b. 14 November 1871; d. 19 June 1946 (age 74). Woodlawn Cemetery, Claremore, Rogers County, Oklahoma. Plot: NA.-1.-L13-4E. ID #33785027.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33785027/margaret-viola-godbey. Accessed April 27, 2018.

[3]“The application for authority to organize the First National Bank at Claremore has been approved by the authorities at Washington.”

Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 1, Ed. 1 Saturday, February 2, 1895, newspaper,February 2, 1895; Claremore, Indian Territory. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183638/: accessed April 27, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[4]“The first National Bank of Claremore opened to receive deposits Thursday. They have not commenced to loan money yet from the fact that their charter has not yet arrived. It is expected in a few days.”

Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 5, Ed. 1 Saturday, March 2, 1895, newspaper, March 2, 1895; Claremore, Indian Territory. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182786/: accessed April 27, 2018),The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[5]“Treasury Department, Office of the comptroller of the currency. Washington March 2^nd, 1895. Whereas, by satisfactory evidence presented to the understanding it has been made to appear that “The First National Bank of Claremore” in the city of Claremore, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, has complied with all the provisions of the Statutes of the United States, required to be compiled with before an association shall be authorized to commence the business of banking. Now Therefore, I, James H. Eckles, Comptroller of the currency, do hereby certify that “The First National Bank of Claremore” in the city of Claremore, Cherokee Nation, Indian Territory, in authorization to commence the business of banking, as provided in Section fifty-one hundred and sixty-nine of the Revised Statutes of the United States. In Testimony Whereof, Witness my had and seal of office this second day of March, 1805. James H. Eckels, Comptroller of the Currency.”

Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 11, Ed. 1 Saturday, April 13, 1895, newspaper, April 13, 1895; Claremore, Indian Territory. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182920/: accessed April 27, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[6]Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 3, No. 47, Ed. 1 Saturday, December 28, 1895, newspaper,December 28, 1895; Claremore, Indian Territory. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183385/: accessed April 27, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[7]Kates, W. C. Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 23, No. 51, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 20, 1916, newspaper, January 20, 1916; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181585/: accessed April 6, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[8]Smith, Clark. The Claremore Messenger. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 13, No. 23, Ed. 1 Friday, May 31, 1907,newspaper, May 31, 1907; Claremore, Indian Territory. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc178152/:accessed April 20, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[9]Larner, J. H. The Rogers County News (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 10, Ed. 1 Wednesday, May 25, 1910,newspaper, May 25, 1910; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc956613/: accessed July 30, 2017), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[10]Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 38, Ed. 1 Saturday, October 10, 1908, newspaper, October 10, 1908; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182271/: accessed April 27, 2018),The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

Claremore Messenger. (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 18, Ed. 1 Friday, March 31, 1911, newspaper, March 31, 1911; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc178373/:accessed March 19, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[11]Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 19, No. 32, Ed. 1 Friday, September 8, 1911, Newspaper, September 8, 1911; (http://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181256/ : accessed November 24, 2014), Oklahoma Historical Society, The Gateway to Oklahoma History, http://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

[12]Kates, W. C., editor. Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 26, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 28, 1918, Newspaper, February 28, 1918; (http://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182711/ : accessed November 28, 2014), Oklahoma Historical Society, The Gateway to Oklahoma History, http://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

[13]The Claremore Progress. (Claremore, Indian Terr.), Vol. 7, No. 41, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 27, 1900, newspaper, January 27, 1900; Claremore, Indian Territory. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183216/m1/3/?q=Bryan+library: accessed November 10, 2017), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[14]Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 19, No. 17, Ed. 1 Friday, May 26, 1911, newspaper, May 26, 1911; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181242/: accessed March 19, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[15]Claremore Messenger. (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 19, No. 2, Ed. 1 Friday, December 12, 1913, newspaper, December 12, 1913; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc178561/:accessed March 25, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[16]Kates, W. C. Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 23, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 6, 1915, newspaper, May 6, 1915; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181549/: accessed April 27, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[17]Kates, W. C., editor. Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 23, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 17, 1915, Newspaper, June 17, 1915; (http://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181555/ : accessed November 27, 2014), Oklahoma Historical Society, The Gateway to Oklahoma History, http://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

[18]Rogers County Historical Society. Recollections of Early Rogers County: Stories of Early Homes, Buildings and Pioneers. Claremore, Oklahoma, c. 1987. p. 21-22.

[19]Kates, A.L. The Claremore Daily Progress (Claremore, Oklahoma) Vol. XXXII – No. 52. Thursday, February 19, 1925.

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Tour The Town – The Hotel DeVann, J.M. Yocum’s Popular Hotel.

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