Tour the Town – Historic Homes in Claremore

Historic Homes in Claremore

Recently, several Claremore residents have asked about the original owners of their vintage homes.  Here is a reference that may help.  Unless otherwise noted, the following list of early historic Claremore homes, their owners, and a few cursory notes comes from the book Recollections of Early Rogers County: Stories of Early Homes, Buildings, and Pioneers, written by the Rogers County Historical Society, Claremore, Oklahoma, 1987.  For those who would like to read the entire book and discover more information about each home, a copy of this publication can be found in the Will Rogers Library, Claremore.  The homes are listed by street.  The primary focus was Fourth Street.  Not all homes are on the list. The address is listed first, homeowners and dates purchased follow.  Only the earliest homeowners or most notable are listed. Extra information is found in parentheses. This gives a starting place to begin further research. Enjoy.

SECOND STREET aka Patti Page Boulevard

300 East Second Street

1907 or 1908 Howard H. and Dorothy Kaho

303 East Second Street

1906 Leo & Anna[1]Moore   (businessman; president and one of the founders of Claremore Federal Building and Loan Association, 1921; abstracting business)

306 East Second Street

Dr. Anderson

313 East Second Street

1906 Morris Haas (ladies wear store, built Columbia Building/County Courthouse with AL Kates and Alex Dennison)

406 East Second Street

Lan and Maude (Hockenhull) Wilson (hardware store owner)

1911 home moved from 301 East Third Street & Choctaw Avenue

THIRD STREET aka Will Rogers Boulevard

108 Third Street

Frank & Marie O’Bannon[2]

East Third Street & Chickasaw Avenue

First Baptist Church

Second building dedicated 1915 – raised 1969

1970 new building

213 East Third Street

Albert L & Elnor C. Kates[3]

301 East Third Street & Choctaw Avenue

1911 Lan and Maude (Hockenhull) Wilson

1980 Stratton Taylor

Third Street and Choctaw Avenue

1910 – 1915 W.H. Wyckoff

1923 BB (Bert) & Alta Ward Knowlton (Buick dealership, Claremore)

306 East Third Street

Martin (Hatch)

1908 Harry Martin (homebuilder)

420 East Third Street

1914 Gilbert Gregory  (post office mail carrier)

Charles & Rose Whitt

433 East Third Street

Littlefield

C.B. & Lillie B. Littlefield (1st mortgage company in Claremore)

1920 OK and Ida Fowler

1928 CD & Lillie Page (owned East Side Grocery)

633 East Third Street

1915 Parsley Indian Allotment Land

Tom Kight (attorney, 7 terms in House of Representatives, Judge)

Son, H.Tom Kight, Jr., and wife Mildred (attorney, Oklahoma Senator, Oklahoma Highway Commissioner.)

1215 West Third Street (Bayless Addition)

1907- 8 Sam Barcus

1924 Walter & Bertha Barcus

1980 – 1986 Doll Museum (Charl & Wanda Moore)

 

FOURTH STREET

119 East Fourth Street

John A & Anna W Bell[4]

125 East Fourth Street

J Casper & Anna Lipe[5]  [6]

202 West Fourth Street 

1906 built

1922 Braden family

121 North Chickasaw & Fourth Street

Belvidere Mansion

1907 John M and Mary Bayless (banker, Bank of Claremore; builder, Sequoyah Hotel & Windsor Opera House; railroad builder)

109 East 4th Street

Judge H Jennings

203 East Fourth Street

W.C. Kates (newspaper publisher, “The Claremore Weekly Progress”)[7]

210 West Fourth Street (American Four Square)

1902 Dave and Sue Williams

1910 – 1943 – Mr & Mrs H Tom Brown   (owner Browns Market, County Commissioner, State Senator; school teacher)

Formerly “The Pink House”

205 East Fourth Street

Minor H. & Pearl Gordon[8]

205 North Choctaw Ave & East Fourth Street

1902 – George Decatur & Francis Bayless Davis   (banker, Bank of Claremore)

Mary Ella Davis

207 East Fourth Street

In 1962 – ‘63 Mrs. Guy Orlando (Maud) Bayless

208 East Fourth Street

Webb Littlefield[9]

221 East Fourth Street

1907 Walter Shaw (lawyer)

302 East Fourth Street

1909 William E. Moody (purchased land 1907)

303 East Fourth Street – 1930

Alvey Benson Mayberry

307 East Fourth Street

Freeland   (Eastlake Victorian)

Land 1909 Joseph E. Freeland

W.P. William “Perce” & Nancy Shasta Lane Johnston (abstractor)[10]

[Nancy – daughter of Dr. Andrew J. Lane and Lucinda Elliott Journeycake Lane; Dr. Lane attended Will Rogers’ birth]

CWA Davis (Frisco Railroad Agent; piano teacher)

W.E. “Buck” & Elizabeth Lee Sunday (real estate; businessman; founders of Claremore Library, Cherokee Council; co-author of Gah Dah Gwa See)

327 (321)[11][12]East Fourth Street

John Quincy Adams

403 (401) East 4th Street (Victorian Style renovated to Federal Style)

1906, FA Neilson (owned 1^stmercantile in Claremore) Land purchased from Cherokee Nation

1908, Charles F & Maggie Godbey (1^stBank Claremore, cashier; Deacon 1^stPres., Claremore)

1922, JC Bushyhead (physician, son of DW Bushyhead, Principal Chief of the Cherokees)

W.C. Kate’s (editor of “Claremore Weekly Progress,” father A.L. Kates.)

407 East Fourth Street

Ernest Feland[13]

410 East Fourth Street

Bourke & Marguerite Bayless / Mary Ella Campbell (daughter)

415 East Fourth Street

1910 Ernest pharmacist

1918 – Sydney & Elizabeth “Bess” Vinson (drugstore)

417 East Fourth Street

William & Sally McClure[14]

433 East Fourth Street & Seminole

1943 – Guy Orlando & Maud Bayless

502 East Fourth Street & Seminole

Hall/Gordon

1902 – 1910 Judge William Hall

1910 Dr. Minor H. Gordon

East Fourth Street

Frank H. & Blanch Bortle[15]

East Fourth Street

W.E. Ault[16]

East Fourth Street

JH Bayes[17]

FIFTH STREET

106 East Fifth Street

1900 Robert Hill   (owner Hill-Henley hardware)

124 East Fifth Street (English Tudor)

1919-1920 Judge Jennings

Fifth Street half-way between Weenonah and Chickasaw

1892 First United Methodist Church

1939 North & South united

315 East Fifth Street

1907 Alex & Laura Dennison (originally had two towers/turrets)

1944 Eltinge & Pauline Streeter

410 East Fifth Street

Shanklin E Gilkeson (sister of Blanch Dirickson Mrs. Wayne Bayless)[18]

533 East Fifth Street (American Four Square)

Nannie Parsley’s Indian Allotment (Kates-Davis Addition)

1910 Stokes (plaster contractor)

Sam & Oneta Hayes

Corner of Fifth Street & Seminole Avenue

Mr. and Mrs. John C. Dirickson[19]

Wayne & Blanch Bayless[20]

Corner of Fifth Street & Seminole Avenue

Prof. EA MacMillan[21]

Choctaw, between Fourth and Fifth[22]

Wayne & Blanche Bayless

Corner Fifth and Choctaw[23]

Mr. & Mrs. Earl Gibbs

 

SIXTH STREET

122 West Sixth Street

1908 Walter & Mabel Burgess   (Lock Joint Pipe Co.)

Built by Henry Burgess and Samuel Benham (carpenters)

202 West Sixth Street (Princess Ann – Victorian)

1908-10 William A. Briscoe, Sr. (City Market, grocery, Representative from Rogers County)

323 East Sixth Street

1906 land purchased by William E. Halsell (banker, established First Bank of Claremore w/ Clement Vann Rogers)

1910 built James F. Collins (Collins Drug Co. at 505 W 3^rdStreet, aka Will Rogers Blvd.)

Sixth Street & Florence

1907 First Christian Church

1947 new building at Fifth Street & Florence

? Four Square Gospel church

7^thSTREET

7th & Weenona (northeast corner)

Henry S Burgess (carpenter)

Built by Henry Burgess and Samuel Benham (carpenters)

423 North Seminole at Seventh (Prairie Style)

Dr. William Franklin & Geraldine Hayes (VP Bank of Claremore, partner w/ Dr. JC Bushyhead)

1922 – Hayes / Gilstrap

Col. Lee & Doris Gilstrap

TENTH  STREET

1000 East Tenth Street

1906 James Fugett Fippin

built by Laben Barcus (builder from Cassville, Mo.)

leased to Col. and Mrs. Phillip Clayton, Commandant of OK Military Academy

1935 David J Faulkner

ELEVENTH STREET

916 East 11^thStreet

Chambers

1882 Wille E. & Nan Carey Chambers (Indian allotment; businessman)

opened first store in Claremore 1882

cemetery across street (Mrs. Chamber’s mother – Melinda Downing Carey McCoy come to Ok on Trail of Tears)

1923 – Mr. Gaylor

Southeast corner of Eleventh Street & ?

Ward Boarding House

1904 William Wyly & Addie Bell Handlin Ward

CHEROKEE AVENUE

114 North Cherokee

1882 John Bullette (pioneer businessman)

803 North Cherokee Avenue

Hammett (block 24 purchased 1897)

James Warner Hammett

1008 North Cherokee

Rufus & Mildred Burgess (carpenter; interior decorator)

 

CHICKASAW AVENUE

617 North Chickasaw (Southern)

1918 built by H. Tom Brown

1919 Ben Mehr (one of the first gas stations in Rogers County)

 

FLORENCE AVENUE

107 South Florence Avenue

1955 Mrs. Talley

521 North Florence

1907 land purchased

1908 James Mooring and Martha (Mattie) Pauline Eaton York (daughter of George Washington Eaton, builder) (James – singing school teacher, Rogers County Assessor, Claremore City Clerk)

SEMINOLE AVENUE

401 North Seminole (American Four Square)

1906 land Hubert L. Rose (Cherokee Nation)

1909 HH Makemson   (Insurance & Real Estate)

 

ADDRESS Not Given

Hutchison

Queenie Baughn Hutchinson

1927 Burt & Edna Raye Tusing

 

By Christa Rice, Claremore History Explorer

 

Sources:

[1]1920 United States Federal Census

[2]1920 United States Federal Census

[3]1920 United States Federal Census

[4]1920 United States Federal Census

[5]Kates, W. C., editor. Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 23, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 23, 1915, Newspaper, December 23, 1915; (http://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181581/ : accessed November 27, 2014), Oklahoma Historical Society, The Gateway to Oklahoma History, http://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

[6]1920 United States Federal Census

[7]Kates, W. C. Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 23, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 6, 1916, newspaper, January 6, 1916; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181583/: accessed April 6, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[8]1920 United States Federal Census

[9]Kates, W. C., editor. Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 23, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 23, 1915, Newspaper, December 23, 1915; (http://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181581/ : accessed November 27, 2014), Oklahoma Historical Society, The Gateway to Oklahoma History, http://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

[10]1920 United States Federal Census

[11]1920 United States Federal Census

[12]1910 United States Federal Census

[13]1910 United States Federal Census

[14]1920 United States Federal Census

[15]Kates, W. C. Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 24, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 2, 1916, newspaper, March 2, 1916; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181591/: accessed April 6, 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. 24, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 2, 1916, newspaper, March 2, 1916; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181591/: accessed April 6, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[17]Kates, W. C. Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 23, No. 7, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 25, 1915,newspaper, March 25, 1915; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181543/: accessed March 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[18]The card game auction bridge, the third step in the evolution of the general game of bridge,[1] was developed from straight bridge (i.e. bridge whist) in 1904. The precursor to contract bridge,[2] its predecessors were whist and bridge whist.

Auction bridge trick scoring, bonus scoring, and penalty scoring are radically different from contract bridge, and there is no concept of vulnerability in auction bridge.

Bidding rules are nearly the same, although in contract bridge bidding many complex artificial bids and bidding systems have evolved.   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auction_bridge

[19]Kates, W. C., editor. Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 23, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 30, 1915, Newspaper, December 30, 1915; (http://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181582/ : accessed November 27, 2014), Oklahoma Historical Society, The Gateway to Oklahoma History, http://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

[20]Kates, W. C. Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 23, No. 53, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 3, 1916, newspaper, February 3, 1916; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181587/: accessed April 6, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[21]Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 20, No. 48, Ed. 1 Friday, December 27, 1912, newspaper, December 27, 1912;Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181331/:accessed March 22, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[22]Kates, W. C., editor. Claremore Progress. And Rogers County Democrat (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 24, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 11, 1917, Newspaper, January 11, 1917; (http://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181636/ : accessed July 25, 2015), Oklahoma Historical Society, The Gateway to Oklahoma History, http://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Sequence 13.

[23]Kates, W. C., editor. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 24, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 13, 1920, Newspaper, May 13, 1920; (http://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183542/ : accessed August 22, 2015), Oklahoma Historical Society, The Gateway to Oklahoma History, http://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

A.B. Mayberry Served His Coworkers, His Community, His Church – Part II

A.B. Mayberry Served His Co-workers, His Community, His church – Part II 

If you would like to read “A.B. Mayberry Served His Co-workers, His Community, His Church – Part I,” please click here.

Alvey Benson Mayberry. Photo Courtesy of Jacob & Lauren Garrison, Mayberry Mansion.

Claremore Church Leader

There was much written about A.B. and Docia Mayberry’s dedication to serving their church – the First M.E. Church of Claremore. Most notably, A.B. presided as Superintendent of the Sunday school for a season. There appeared to be no separation in their minds about serving the Lord, their community, and their country.  Each was braided into the entire tapestry of their lives.

A Service Flag was a banner displayed by family members to honor their loved ones serving in the United States Armed Forces. This banner had “a white field with a red border, with a blue star for each family member serving in the Armed Forces of the United States during any period of war or hostilities.  A gold star (with a blue edge) represents a family member that died during Military Operations.”[1] As the U.S. was in the throes of World War I, in June 1918, the First M.E. Church, Claremore, held a “Service Flag” unveiling ceremony to honor their eighteen men who had died serving their country in the fight to preserve worldwide freedom. For this event, A.B. Mayberry served as the scripture reader choosing Ephesians 6:10-20 (KJV – ‘Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil…’) for his Bible text. “The dedication of the Service Flag at the First M.E. Church Sunday evening was one of the most beautiful and impressive services ever held in the church. The program was a success from start to finish, and though solemn, was greatly enjoyed by the large audience. After the opening prayer by Rev. T.T. Coup, A.B. Mayberry read Ephesians 6:10-20 and Miss Beulah Bassman sang, “Keep the Home Fires Burning,” following which the boys and girls of the Sunday School gave “The Spirits of the War Council” which depicted the necessity and patriotism of labor and food conservation. …The dedicatory address by the pastor, Rev. E.C. Moore was well rendered and will long be remembered as was testified by the moistened eyes… The timely service, in a small measure, expresses our appreciation of our eighteen boys who have made the supreme sacrifice for liberty and humanity.”[2]

December 1918, A.B. Mayberry was once again in a leadership role at the M.E. church. This time he guided those congregated, in prayer when the new pastor, Rev. H. Tomison, and his family were honored with a reception given by members of his new flock. At this reception, “a large crowd, consisting of the members of the church and friends, was present to extend them a hearty welcome.” Food, fellowship and an interesting program were enjoyed. The ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic,’ A.B. Mayberry’s prayer, an address of welcome by H.H. Makemson and more were presented. “Rev. Gardner told, in a very amusing way, of the ‘absent treatments’ frequently administered to the Claremore pastors by their congregation. In due time those present were served with sandwiches, cake, and coffee by the ladies of the church.

The occasion was a very pleasant one, and the spirit of co-operation and good fellowship was manifest thruout [sic] the entire evening.”[3]

L. Ida Lawley. “Souvenir Booklet, Claremore, Oklahoma, 1910-1915.” Muskogee Printing Co….Muskogee, Oklahoma. p.11. Courtesy of the Belvidere Mansion (RCHS) Archives.

Yet A.B. Mayberry is best known for the leadership role he took in the M.E. Church Sunday School.  In March 1919, “A.B. Mayberry, J.E. Lafferty, T.C. Coup, Miss Ruie Coup, Mrs. L.B. Shaw, Mrs. H.H. Makemson and Rev. Howard Thomison, of the Methodist church, went to Oklahoma City” to attend the State Sunday School Convention held in the capital city.[4] That October, Claremore was selected as the meeting place for the County Sunday School Convention for 1920. When the County Sunday School Convention officers were elected, A. B. Mayberry was chosen as State Committeeman for Rogers County.[5] At a meeting of the Methodist Sunday School Board at the end of 1919, A. B. Mayberry was elected to be the First M.E. Church’s Sunday school Superintendent for 1920.[6]

That same year, “in the Brotherhood class (a group within the Methodist Church) a Gospel Team was organized with S.B. North as captain; A.B. Mayberry, A.W. Kelley, and H.H. Makemson as lieutenants.  The newly organized team went to Foyil and put on a Gospel Team meeting in the afternoon that was productive.  “It is the intention of the team to put on a Gospel Team meeting every Sunday afternoon at some point near Claremore.”[7] These were to be good old revival meetings in locations near Claremore.The following April (1920), S.B. North, H. H. Makemson, A. B. Mayberry and others went to Miami, Oklahoma, as delegates from the Methodist Gospel Team, to organize a team for the church in Miami.[8]

In an interesting side note, as the gospel revival work was going on, Mrs. A. B. Mayberry was “on the sick list for several days.”[9]

As Claremore High School graduated the largest graduating class in its history in May 1920, (among its thirty-one members being Edward Bushyhead and Mary Ella Davis – grand-daughter of John and Mary Bayless), A.B. Mayberry again took a leading spiritual role. “Commencement exercises were held at the Baptist church and were excellent throughout.  A church full of people saw this fine class formally finish their high school course with individual credit and receive their diplomas as a mark of honor and merit … Then followed a beautiful chorus, “Merry June,” by the Girls’ Glee Club while A.B. Mayberry pronounced the benediction.”[10]

The Claremore Christian Builders, a federation of the Claremore Bible Class, met at the First Baptist Church in October 1920 for organizational purposes. It was stated that this was “an organization composed of the Men’s Bible classes of the different churches in Claremore and their work is of a constructive and up-building movement for the betterment and a greater Claremore.  The organization met every fourth Monday night, usually at the Baptist church.”[11] Officers at the organizational meeting were elected and A.B. Mayberry was chosen as president. A. B. Mayberry led a general discussion, following the adoption of the Constitution and By-Laws, on the future work of the organization.[12] At its first regular meeting, The Claremore Christian Builders met at 8 o’clock on the fourth Monday evening of October at the First Baptist church, “with President A. B. Mayberry presiding.  About 50 members were present and the following business was transacted: Song service led by Supt. A.W. Bevers, with F.C. Stevens at the piano; remarks by A. B. Mayberry on how to make the association a success. Minutes of the meetings held October 4^th, and October 14^thwere read and approved.”[13]

At its second monthly meeting, the Claremore Christian Builders gathered at the High School Auditorium where President A. B. Mayberry presided and a goodly number was present. “The evening was spent in singing several selections accompanied by the O.M.A. (Oklahoma Military Academy, located in Claremore) orchestra, composed of C.O. Brown, leader, Tom and John Loden and J.H. Deal.“[14]

The Christian Builders continued to meet on Monday evenings throughout the year.[15] The August meeting was held at the Baptist Church “in regular session, Pres. A.B. Mayberry in chair. The program consisted of song service, led by D. Esco Walker, a season of prayers, discussion of the proposal to buy a moving picture machine for the High School, and many other matters were discussed for the betterment of Claremore and its vicinity.” It was “the urgent desire of the officers that the members of the different Men’s Bible classes in the city become active members and attend as often as possible.”[16]

A reception for all of Claremore Schools and the Oklahoma Military Academy’s schoolteachers was a community event held at the high school auditorium and was sponsored by The Christian Builders, together with the Community League. A program was arranged for this event and refreshments were served. A.B. Mayberry, President, and D. Ferrara, Secretary, encouraged all Christian Builders to be present for this service event.[17]

Also in the fall of 1920 the Rogers County Sunday School Convention was held, November 5, 1920, at the Presbyterian church, Claremore, Oklahoma.  Committeeman was A. B. Mayberry; President, R. A. Atkisson and Secretary, Addie Blair.[18]

But as is often the case in such a busy life, plans did not always go smoothly as expected.  In December 1920, it was noted that “the superintendent of Sunday school for the M.E. Church, Mr. A.B. Mayberry, was absent on account of sickness…[19] He continued on the sick list for several days.”[20]

In the spring of 1921 to increase Sunday school attendance the Methodists came up with an ingenious idea – they devised an attendance contest in which, actually, everybody who attended, won. “The Methodist Sunday School at Nowata and the Methodist Sunday school of Claremore have entered into a three months attendance contest. The contest began last Sunday with Claremore six points in the lead.  Let’s keep ahead by being 100 percent loyal to our Sunday school.  Loyalty to our school and loyalty to Claremore should prompt every member of the school to do his ordered best to put our school ahead of Nowata with a safe margin.  Loyalty to our Master and His work and our duty to the unsaved should inspire us with an unconquerable zeal that will ensure our success.  Every Methodist and every member of the school is urged to individually and collectively work for the betterment of our school.  Manifest your interest and good intentions by being present every Sunday. Nothing succeeds like success.  A. B. MAYBERRY, Superintendent.”[21]

In April 1921, two very important issues were put before the Methodist Church’s leadership. The first was that teachers and officers were encouraged to be present at the regular monthly meeting of the Methodist Sunday school Board. A report was given from the state convention and a definite program formulated for April and May’s attendance activities.  “It is your duty to be there. Please respond.  A.B. Mayberry, Superintendent.”[22] And at a special session of the Quarterly Conference of the Methodist church, a campaign was voted on to begin raising funds for a new church.  “A.B. Mayberry, W.H. Bassmann, A.W. Kelly, S.B. North and B.J. See were elected to a committee to launch this work in connection with the drive for the Oklahoma City College.  More room is badly needed and the new church movement is one in the right direction.”[23]  The following week, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Thomison, J.E. Lafferty and A.B. Mayberry left “for Miami (Oklahoma), to attend a district conference of the Methodist church.”[24]

Methodist Day was observed in Claremore on a Sunday in June 1921. “The Methodists of Claremore and other towns and communities thruout [sic] Rogers county had a very pleasant and profitable all-day meeting Sunday which was largely attended.  The Sunday school, as the opening service of the day, had unusually interesting features and an attendance of 343.  Upon the adjournment of Sunday school, the congregation went to the high school auditorium, where the services were continued.  Quite a number of visitors were present, Foyil being well represented.  Supt. A.B. Mayberry made a pleasing speech of welcome to the visitors, stating that the purpose of this get-together meeting was to encourage and hearten Christian Workers and show the strength of Methodism in Rogers County.  Mr. Mayberry also noted the growth of the Claremore Sunday school and church membership in the past three years.  The Methodist Sunday School in Claremore is the second largest school in the Tulsa district.  The male quartet of Inola rendered a special number and there was also a solo by Mr. Wheatley. Rev. Thomison preached a splendid evangelistic sermon and many became deeply interested, one large class of boys being led to realize their need of divine guidance.  One young man united with the church. At the close of the preaching service, the company repaired to the church lawn where a splendid picnic lunch was served to some 490 people.”[25]

A.B. Mayberry continued to be active in The Brotherhood Class of the Methodist church.[26] In November 1921, Rev. Thompson, pastor of First Church, Tulsa, visited the meeting and spoke on the “Safety of the Nation.” “A.B. Mayberry also spoke briefly on ‘How to improve the Sunday school.’ The ladies of the church were invited as guests of the Brotherhood Class, and an enjoyable evening was spent by all.”[27]

The ladies were invited again in December. It was reported, the “Members of the Brotherhood Class of the Methodist Sunday School proved themselves to be very good entertainers … at the open meeting of the class, to which the ladies of the church were invited, the main feature of the entertainment being in honor of Thanksgiving Day.  The church was comfortably filled with members and friends of the Brotherhood and King’s Daughters’ Classes.  The following well-rendered program occupied the greater part of the evening: Music, Church Songs; Prayer, Rev. T.C. Coup; Welcome to King’s Daughters’ Class, Rev. H. Tomison; Coming of the Pilgrims, Beulah Eldridge; Traits Concerning the Pilgrims, A.B. Mayberry; Thanksgiving, Ocie Mayberry; The Way of Modern Thanksgiving, G.N. Goddard; Readings, Mrs. R.R. Heath; Pantomime, Pilgrims going to Church; Corn Song, Edith Spangle; When the Frost is on the Pumpkin, H.H. Makemson.  At the close of the program, a social hour was spent, during which members of the Brotherhood Class served pumpkin pie and coffee.  The evening was a very enjoyable and profitable one.”[28]

Services at Methodist Church that fall were reported as good. “There was a decided increase in attendance at the Sunday school and the sessions in all departments were helpful. Rev. Thomison, on his return from the conference, to take up his fourth year of work in Claremore, was met with a large congregation at both the morning and evening services.  At the morning hour, A.B. Mayberry, the lay delegate to the annual conference held in Oklahoma City … made a fine report of the work of the conference.  Rev. Thomison’s report of the work accomplished during the last year by the Claremore church was one of the very best reports made at the conference.  An outline of the ensuing year’s work was also made by Rev. Thomison.  The evening service was a very good one with an unusual interest to all.  Seven persons went forward for prayer and there was one conversion.”  A personal worker’s “year around evangelistic campaign,” was planned for the Wichita area and all local Methodist churches would closely adhere to the program.[29]

The following year, the Methodist Conference met at Ponca City, Oklahoma. Rev. Howard Thomison attended the annual meeting along with Mr. and Mrs. A.B. Mayberry who were elected as lay delegates from the Claremore church.[30]

Finale

On April 24, 1948, at age 69, Alvey Benson Mayberry was laid to rest beside the many other Mayberrys in Claremore’s Woodlawn Cemetery,[31] his work on earth complete.  One imagines that when the Master greeted Alvey at the gates of heaven he must have said, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of the Lord.[32]”

This short biography only begins to tell the story of the long and productive legacy of A.B. Mayberry. Son, Odell attended the University of Oklahoma at Norman.  Son, John Ovid “attended Springfield Business College and graduated O.U. in 1926.” At OU Ovid “played basketball and went out for track, winning many awards.” Daughter, Ocie went on to attend Baker’s University, Baldwin, Kansas. Ovid and Ocie married worthy spouses and had children of their own, providing the senior Mayberrys with many grandchildren.[33]  The Mayberry’s Claremore spirit lives on through the generations that follow them.

As we turn our thoughts to the beautiful Mayberry Mansion that still stands on Fourth Street and North Choctaw Avenue, we return to answering the original question that inspired the writing of this story. “Who was A.B. Mayberry?” We can attest to the fact that A.B. Mayberry was a diligent leader in his workplace, his community, and his church.  All he accomplished through a lifetime of service to others enhanced the lives of the people around him.  His legacy lives on as we consider the beautiful home he left behind for others to enjoy and as his story is told once again to those who will listen and be inspired.

By Christa Rice, Claremore History Explorer

Sources:

[1]“Service Flag.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_flag. Accessed: September 6, 2018.

[2]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 26, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 6, 1918, newspaper, June 6, 1918; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183330/: accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[3]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 26, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 5, 1918, newspaper, December 5, 1918; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182057/:accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[4]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 27, No. 10, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 27, 1919, newspaper, March 27, 1919; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182216/:accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[5]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 27, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 30, 1919, newspaper, October 30, 1919; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183491/:accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[6]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 1, 1920, newspaper, January 1, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182286/:accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[7]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 27, No. 50, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 13, 1919, newspaper, November 13, 1919; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183657/:accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[8]Claremore Messenger (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 26, No. 44, Ed. 1 Friday, April 2, 1920, newspaper, April 2, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc178895/: accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[9]Claremore Messenger (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 24, No. 45, Ed. 1 Friday, November 21, 1919, newspaper, November 21, 1919; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc178877/: accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[10]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, May 27, 1920, newspaper, May 27, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182964/: accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[11]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 25, 1921, newspaper, August 25, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182304/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[12]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 21, 1920, newspaper, October 21, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181863/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[13]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 28, 1920, newspaper, October 28, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182033/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[14]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 2, 1920, newspaper, December 2, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182091/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[15]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 20, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 31, 1921, newspaper, March 31, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181970/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[16]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 25, 1921, newspaper, August 25, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182304/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[17]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 38, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 15, 1921, newspaper, September 15, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183653/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[18]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 47, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 28, 1920, newspaper, October 28, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182033/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[19]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 2, 1920, newspaper, December 2, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182091/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[20]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 52, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 2, 1920, newspaper, December 2, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182091/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[21]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 17, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 10, 1921, newspaper, March 10, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183450/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[22]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 21, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 7, 1921, newspaper, April 7, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182287/: accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[23]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 21, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 7, 1921, newspaper, April 7, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182287/: accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[24]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 14, 1921, newspaper, April 14, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183650/: accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[25]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 26, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 16, 1921, newspaper, June 16, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183357/: accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[26]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 6, 1921, newspaper, October 6, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181952/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[27]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 45, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 3, 1921, newspaper, November 3, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182012/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[28]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 48, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 1, 1921, newspaper, December 1, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182770/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[29]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 27, 1921, newspaper, October 27, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182978/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[30]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 30, No. 36, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 19, 1922, newspaper, October 19, 1922; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183088/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[31]Erice Wilcox, “Alvey Benson Mayberry.” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34084580/alvey-benson-mayberry. Accessed: August 30, 2018.

[32]Matthew 25:23, The King James Bible.

[33]Ortner, Ocie J. “Mayberry.” The History of Rogers County Oklahoma. Claremore College Foundation. c. 1979. #381 p. 310.

A.B. Mayberry Served His Coworkers, His Community, His Church

A.B. Mayberry: Served His Coworkers, His Community, and His Church – Part I

 

Mayberry Mansion, 303 East 4th Street, Claremore, Oklahoma

Recently, the A.B. Mayberry property at 303 East 4^thStreet, Claremore, Oklahoma, was put up for sale. Lauren and Jacob Garrison purchased the home to create a community events venue of what is now fondly referred to as the Mayberry Mansion.  This transaction got us thinking. Who was A.B. Mayberry?

Alvey Benson Mayberry. Photo Courtesy of Jacob & Lauren Garrison, Mayberry Mansion

On an autumn day, November 20, 1878, in Coles County, Illinois, John and Susan Mayberry welcomed their newborn son, Alvey Benson Mayberry, into the world.[i] Not much is known about young Mayberry until the 1900 U.S. Census which lists the 21-year-old, A.B. Mayberry as an unmarried schoolteacher living in the home of his step-father, J.H. Kennady, and his mother, Susan Mayberry Kennady.[ii] On May 29, 1898, not long before the 1900 census was taken, the widowed Susan Mayberry had married J.H. Kennady, in Saline, Illinois.[iii] A.B. Mayberry would not reside in his step-father’s household for long.

On May 1, 1901,[iv] at age 23, A.B. Mayberry married Miss Viola Leodocia “Docia” Ramsey (February 13, 1883 – April 17, 1971) the daughter of Robert and Nancy Ramsey also of Coles County, Illinois.[v] To them were born John Ovid Mayberry (1904 – 1977); Ocie Jewell Mayberry Ortner (1910 – 1987); and Robert Odell Mayberry (1913 – 1932).[vi] By December 2, 1902, A.B. Mayberry was appointed and served as Postmaster at Texas City, Saline County, Illinois, and was compensated $147.81[vii] for his efforts.

Nine years after their marriage, according to the 1910 census, 31-year-old Alvey B. Mayberry; Leodocia, his 27-year-old wife; their 6-year-old son, John Ovid; and one-month-old daughter, Ocie Jewell, were no longer living in Illinois. They were renting a home on South Third Street, Esculapia, Benton, Arkansas.  Mr. Mayberry had been promoted from being a schoolteacher to being the Superintendent of Public Schools of Rogers County.[viii] Yet this was just one step in the journey towards the Mayberrys’ future in Claremore.

The November 8, 1917, issue of the Claremore Progress announced, “Claremore Adds Another Family – A.B. Mayberry, of Rogers, Ark., has recently accepted a position in the wholesale department of the E.E. North Co. Mr. Mayberry brings his family to Claremore with him and will make this his permanent home.”[ix]

Settling into their new community in 1917, A.B. and Docia Mayberry dedicated themselves to working hard for their community, supporting civic events, and being devoted, active members of their church – the First M.E. Church of Claremore.

Despite their great enthusiasm for Claremore, the Mayberry family did not lose ties with their Arkansas friends and family. In 1919, Mrs. A. B. Mayberry and children, Ocie and Odell, went to Arkansas on a visit and to attend a family reunion.[x] Mrs. Mayberry returned to Rogers, Arkansas, in February 1920 to be at the bedside of her mother, Mrs. Nancy Ramsey,[xi] who at the time was very sick.[xii] Sadly, with a heavy heart, A. B. Mayberry received a telegram from Mrs. Mayberry stating that her mother passed away from this illness at the family farm near Jonesboro, Arkansas. Interment was made at the family burial-place in Illinois.[xiii]

By the 1920 U.S. Census, A.B. Mayberry (41), Docia (36), John Ovid (15), Ocie (9), and Robert Odell (6) were renting a home, living at 330 Third Street (this home still stands at 332 Will Rogers Boulevard), Claremore, Oklahoma. By then Mr. Mayberry was working as a bookkeeper of the wholesale company.[xiv]

It wasn’t until the 1930 U.S. Census that it is recorded that the Mayberrys had moved to their beautiful home at 303 East Fourth Street, now called Mayberry Mansion.  By then Mr. Mayberry was a salesman of school supplies, a wage earner.  A.B. (52), Docia (47), Ocie (20 [sic]), Odell (16) and Lorene Allanso (a 17-year-old female, Native American servant) were living in the home.[xv]

It was in 1932 that tragedy again struck the Mayberry family.  The youngest child, their son, Robert Odell Mayberry died at 18 years of age.[xvi]

The 1940 U.S. Census lists Alvey (61) and Docia (57) as the only Mayberry family members living in the home at 303 East Fourth Street. P.H. Kelley, the 43-year-old Band Master at the Oklahoma Military Academy, and Mae Berie (55) were boarding at the Mayberry residence. Mr. Mayberry continued as a school supply salesman at the time.[xvii]

Claremore Business Leader

Upon removing to Claremore, A.B. Mayberry worked for the E.E. North Company.  The E.E. North Company, owned and operated by E.E. North, ran retail 10-cent stores located throughout Oklahoma and surrounding states.  By March 1920, 10-cent stores were located in Claremore, Nowata, Miami, Chelsea, Picher, and Pawhuska, with more stores planned to be open within the year. E.E. North; his son, S.B. North; C.B. Holtzendorff, F.E. Carlstrom and J.M. Bridwell were on the Board of Directors of the company.[xviii] During his tenure as a bookkeeper at the E.E. North Company, A.B. Mayberry traveled to various Oklahoma cities such as Nowata,[xix] Tulsa,[xx][xxi] Picher,[xxii] Oklahoma City,[xxiii][xxiv] and even as far as Springfield, Missouri.[xxv] On his 1918 World War I draft card, 39-year-old A.B. Mayberry claimed that he was working as a credit man at E.E. North Company.[xxvi]

With a burst of inspiration, in 1920, Claremore businessmen, members of the Claremore Commercial Club, took a “Booster Trade Extension Trip” to surrounding communities to raise awareness and patronage of local Claremore businesses.  This parade of twelve cars, complete with forty Claremore boosters, drove along its route stopping first at Tiawah, then Inola, Chouteau, Pryor, Adair, Big Cabin and Vinita.  In each town Boosters gave goodwill speeches, their traveling band entertained with music, businessmen and preachers shook hands with the public, and Claremore souvenirs were distributed to promote interest in the wealth of fine Claremore businesses available just a short distance down the road.  In this popular extravaganza, A.B. Mayberry and S. B. North represented North Wholesale Company and 10c Store by placing “a souvenir in the hands of every child” that attended the gathering at Pryor.  “Not one of the little fellows changed position while the band was playing, but after the half bushel of tin whistles had been given them by the North 10c Store, and each one was told to ‘blow for Claremore,’ 225 pairs of little lips got busy.”[xxvii] A.B. Mayberry and his co-worker, S.B. North, became the most popular men in the parade.

As a hard-working, contributing Claremore businessman, A.B. Mayberry was concerned about promoting the educational development of the members of his community.  With this in mind he served on the Commercial Club’s “House Committee” (appointed to look after the sale of tickets and other details) as the Commercial Club backed and made arrangements “to put the Lyceum course (a higher education correspondence course) in fine shape” so Claremore individuals would have opportunity to improve their education and skills by participating in this institution’s higher level course instruction.[xxviii]The following year, at a meeting of The Claremore Commercial Club at the Sequoyah Hotel (March 1921) the “standing committees of the Commercial Club were announced as follows: Education – A.W. Bevers, chairman, A.B. Mayberry, and C.O. Brown.”[xxix] It was fitting that A.B. Mayberry continued to look after the educational well-being of the Claremore community. Business was thriving.  Claremore was growing.  Economic prosperity flourished.

In July 1921, E.E. North’s company celebrated its 13^thanniversary with the following news release. “Last Saturday (July 9, 1921) was the thirteenth anniversary of the E.E. North Store in Claremore.  It was thirteen years ago (1908) that E.E. North first came to Claremore and set up a rather humble New York 5 and 10 cent Store.  By hard work and close application, the business grew and grew. First but two persons were employed. Today there are on the payroll of the E.E. North company 90 persons.  From the humble beginning, there are now, in addition to the large wholesale concern located in Claremore, five other retail stores in the chain, each with a large stock of fresh and seasonable goods.  The stores are located at Claremore, Nowata, Pawhuska, Bigheart, Hominy, and Picher.  After E.E. North had been in Claremore four years, he was joined by his son, S.B., and family.  The junior Mr. North had for some time been at the head of one of the Kress stores at Memphis, Tenn., and it was there that he received the training that has proven so valuable in the upbuilding of the large business that the North Company now represents.  The senior Mr. North and family came to Claremore from New York state.  This state also was the homeland of S.B. and family. Today North Wholesale has the following officers: E.E. North, president, J.M. Bridwell, Vice-president, S.B. North, secretary-manager. Their trade territory at present includes five states Oklahoma, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Texas.  Seven traveling men are employed by the concern and in addition to the comfortable orders they turn in each week, the Wholesale does a large mail-order business.  It can truly be said that the E.E. North Co., is a decided credit to a town much larger than Claremore, but Claremore is appreciative of the magnitude of the concern on this its thirteenth birthday.  May it prosper as the years roll on.[xxx]

L. Ida Lawley. “Souvenir Booklet, Claremore, Oklahoma, 1910-1915.” Muskogee Printing Co….Muskogee, Oklahoma. p. 29. Courtesy of the Belvidere Mansion (RCHS) Archives.

Unfortunately, the E.E. North Company’s good fortune came to an abrupt end.  December 13, 1921, the “E.E. North Company, was duly adjudicated bankrupt.”[xxxi] Mr. and Mrs. E.E. North sold their residence at the corner of Sixth Street and Choctaw Avenue[xxxii]and left Claremore.  They moved to Marlow, Oklahoma, where they made their future home.[xxxiii]

So how did this effect A.B. Mayberry? Mr. Mayberry was “bookkeeper for the North Wholesale Company in Claremore. Later he became a salesman for Peabody School Supplies in Oklahoma,”[xxxiv] wrote Mr. Mayberry’s daughter, Ocie Ortner, in the Mayberry segment found in The History of Rogers County Oklahoma.  In 1942, on his World War II draft card, 63-year-old A.B. Mayberry claimed that he was self-employed.[xxxv] But A.B. Mayberry had other interests besides his job that made him an effective leader in the Claremore community.

Claremore Civic Leader

A.B. Mayberry and his wife, Leodocia were active participants in the civic affairs of the Claremore community.

In February 1918, A.B. Mayberry was in charge of Ward One along with J.H. Stephens, W.D. McClure and J.C. Reed for the sale of Thrift and War Savings Stamps.  During World War I, the Claremore Progress stated it was one’s “patriotic duty to buy these stamps” to support the war effort.  The collection of these funds was “money loaned to the government … money that will be saved for a rainy day.”[xxxvi] A.B. Mayberry served on the collection team for this war effort initiative.

November 1921, it was noted that A.B. Mayberry was elected Corresponding Secretary of the Young Men’s Christian Association of the state of Oklahoma[xxxvii] and again in January of 1922 the newspaper reported that A.B. Mayberry was “a corresponding member” of the Oklahoma State Y.M.C.A.[xxxviii]

Mrs. Mayberry was a helpful hostess according to the Claremore Messenger when it reported, “The Loyal Women of the Christian Sunday School were loyally entertained Friday Evening by Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Bridwell, at their home on South Choctaw in a most pleasant manner… At the close of the business the hostess, assisted by Mrs. A.B. Mayberry and Mrs. Raymond Bridwelll, served her guests with ice cream, wafers, Angel Food cake, and coffee.”[xxxix]

And in the fall of 1922, the ladies of the Big Four Unit of the Methodist Church Ladies’ Aid Society put on an enjoyable six o’clock dinner at the home of A.B. Mayberry, on East Third Street. “The dinner was served on the lawn and consisted of all good things to eat. After the dinner and a good social hour, the president of the Unit called the party to order, and in a nice talk presented the pastor of the church and his wife with a fine quilt made by the ladies, taking the red ribbon at the county fair.  This quilt contained the names of about two hundred and fifty of the citizens of Claremore.  It brought a goodly sum of money into the treasury of the unit and was a most suitable gift and will be highly prized by the recipients.  Mrs. Dale, one of the members, gave an original poem describing the history of the quilt in its making and presentation to the pastor and wife. The members of the Big Four and their families went home feeling it one of the most enjoyable evenings ever spent.”[xl]

According to her daughter, Ocie Ortner, Mrs. Mayberry was known to be active in a variety of other civic affairs such as the Quest Club, Garden Club, and Women’s Christian Temperance Union.[xli] Both Mr. and Mrs. Mayberry focused on the social and intellectual development of the Claremore community, but there was another area in which the Mayberrys invested a large amount of time and energy.

By Christa Rice, Claremore History Explorer

We invite you to continue reading “A.B. Mayberry: Served His Coworkers, His Community, and His Church – Part II” by clicking the link here.

Sources:

[i]Erice Wilcox, “Alvey Benson Mayberry.” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34084580/alvey-benson-mayberry. Accessed: August 30, 2018.

Registration State: Oklahoma; Registration County: Rogers; Roll: 1852126 Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2005. Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.

[ii](A. B. Mayberry’s birthdate according to this 1900 US census – Nov. 21, 1878.) Year: 1900; Census Place: Rector, Saline, Illinois; Page: 4; Enumeration District: 0089; FHL microfilm: 1240342 Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. The United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

[iii]Ancestry.com. Illinois, Compiled Marriages, 1851-1900 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. https://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?db=IllinoisMarriages_ga&h=363022&indiv=try&o_vc=Record:OtherRecord&rhSource=7602

[iv]Ancestry.com. Illinois, Marriage Index, 1860-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Original data: Illinois State Marriage Records. Online index. Illinois State Public Record Offices.

[v]Erice Wilcox, “ Viola Leodocia “Docia” Ramsey Mayberry.” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34082870/viola-leodocia-mayberry.bAccessed: August 30, 2018.

[vi]Erice Wilcox, “Alvey Benson Mayberry.” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34084580/alvey-benson-mayberry. Accessed: August 30, 2018.

[vii]Ancestry.com. The U.S., Appointments of U. S. Postmasters, 1832-1971 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. This collection was indexed by Ancestry World Archives Project contributors. Original data: Record of Appointment of Postmasters, 1832-1971. NARA Microfilm Publication, M841, 145 rolls. Records of the Post Office Department, Record Group Number 28. Washington, D.C.: National Archives.

Ancestry.com. U.S., Register of Civil, Military, and Naval Service, 1863-1959 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Department of Commerce and Labor, Bureau of the Census. Official Register of the United States, Containing a List of the Officers and Employees in the Civil, Military, and Naval Service. Digitized books (77 volumes). Oregon State Library, Salem, Oregon.

[viii]Year: 1910; Census Place: Esculapia, Benton, Arkansas; Roll: T624_44; Page: 21B; Enumeration District: 0020; FHL microfilm: 1374057 Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: Thirteenth Census of the United States, 1910 (NARA microfilm publication T624, 1,178 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[ix]Kates, W. C. Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 25, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 8, 1917, newspaper, November 8, 1917; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182082/:accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[x]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 27, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 14, 1919, newspaper, August 14, 1919; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182375/:accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xi]Wesley, Darrell.  “Nancy G. Ramsey.” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44479240/nancy-g-ramsey. Accessed: September 10, 1918.

[xii]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 26, 1920, newspaper, February 26, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183183/:accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xiii]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 13, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 26, 1920, newspaper, February 26, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183183/:accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xiv]Year: 1920; Census Place: Verdigris, Rogers, Oklahoma; Roll: T625_1482; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 170 Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch. Original data: Fourteenth Census of the United States, 1920. (NARA microfilm publication T625, 2076 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[xv]Year: 1930; Census Place: Claremore, Rogers, Oklahoma; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0008; FHL microfilm: 2341658 Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2002. Original data: the United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

[xvi]Erice Wilcox, “Robert Odell Mayberry.” https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/34095859/robert-odell-mayberry. Accessed: August 30, 2018.

[xvii]Year: 1940; Census Place: Claremore, Rogers, Oklahoma; Roll: m-t0627-03330; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 66-8 Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: the United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1940. T627, 4,643 rolls.

[xviii]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 26, No. 16, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 18, 1920, newspaper, March 18, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma.

[xix]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 27, No. 37, Ed. 1 Thursday, August 21, 1919, newspaper, August 21, 1919; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183197/:accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xx]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 22, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 29, 1920, newspaper, April 29, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182000/: accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxi]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 30, No. 12, Ed. 1 Thursday, April 27, 1922, newspaper, April 27, 1922; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183339/: accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxii]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 41, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 16, 1920, newspaper, September 16, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc181843/:accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxiii]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 27, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 31, 1919, newspaper, July 31, 1919; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183160/: accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxiv]Claremore Messenger (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 24, No. 31, Ed. 1 Friday, August 1, 1919, newspaper, August 1, 1919; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc178862/: accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxv]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 30, No. 5, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 9, 1922, newspaper, March 9, 1922; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182917/: accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxvi]Registration State: Oklahoma; Registration County: Rogers; Roll: 1852126 Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.

[xxvii]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 28, No. 28, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 17, 1920, newspaper, June 17, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182542/: accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxviii]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 16, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 7, 1920, newspaper, October 7, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182528/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxix]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 19, Ed. 1 Thursday, March 24, 1921, newspaper, March 24, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183517/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxx]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 30, Ed. 1 Thursday, July 14, 1921, newspaper, July 14, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183472/: accessed September 9, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxxi]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 15, 1921, newspaper, December 15, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183512/:accessed September 9, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxxii]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 30, No. 32, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 21, 1922, newspaper, September 21, 1922; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183239/:accessed September 9, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxxiii]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 30, No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 28, 1922, newspaper, September 28, 1922; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182986/:accessed September 9, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxxiv]Ortner, Ocie J. “Mayberry.” The History of Rogers County Oklahoma. Claremore College Foundation. c. 1979. #381 p. 310.

[xxxv]The National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; World War II Draft Cards (4th Registration) for the State of Oklahoma; Record Group Title: Records of the Selective Service System, 1926-1975; Record Group Number: 147 Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. United States, Selective Service System. Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Fourth Registration. Records of the Selective Service System, Record Group Number 147. National Archives and Records Administration.

[xxxvi]Kates, W. C. Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 26, No. 4, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 21, 1918, newspaper, February 21, 1918; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183108/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxxvii]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 17, No. 46, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 10, 1921, newspaper, November 10, 1921; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182484/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxxviii]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 18, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 26, 1922, newspaper, January 26, 1922; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc183028/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xxxix]Claremore Messenger (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 27, No. 1, Ed. 1 Friday, June 4, 1920, newspaper, June 4, 1920; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc178904/: accessed August 29, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xl]Kates, W. C. The Claremore Progress (Claremore, Okla.), Vol. 30, No. 34, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 5, 1922, newspaper, October 5, 1922; Claremore, Oklahoma. (gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metadc182014/:accessed August 30, 2018), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.

[xli]Ortner, Ocie J. “Mayberry.” The History of Rogers County Oklahoma. Claremore College Foundation. c. 1979. #381 p. 310.