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Canadian County, Oklahoma
Canadian County, Oklahoma Biographies
James T. Riley M. D.
has successfully practiced medicine at El Reno since the fall of 1908. He came to this state with unusual equipment and training, and his successful practice and standing merely represent the accumulated resources of his natural ability and thorough education. Doctor Riley is a graduate of the Union University at Albany , New York , with the degree M. D. in 1907. He had previously spent two years in the medical department of the University of Buffalo , whore he served as an interne in the Sisters of Charity Hospital one year and then followed with two years at Albany . After passing a successful examination before the New York State Medical Board he was licensed to practice in that state, and in 1908 came to Oklahoma, and after examination was similarly licensed. In the fall of 1908 ho located at El Reno and has built up a profitable general practice. He is anesthesian at the El Reno Sanitarium and lecturer to the Training School for Nurses, on the subject of materia medica and fever nursing. Doctor Riley is a member of the Canadian County and the Oklahoma Medical societies and the American Medical Association. Doctor Riley acquired the means for his medical education by teaching in the public schools of New York State five years. His literary education was obtained in au academy at Mexico , Oswego County , New York , at which place he was born February 11, 1880, son of Terence Riley, a native of Ireland , and Margaret (Driscoll) Riley, a native of New York State . In 1909 Doctor Riley married Miss Frances E. Burrows of Oklahoma City. In religion he is a Catholic and has affiliations with the Knights of Columbus. [" "A Standard History of Oklahoma", 1916, By Joseph Bradfield Thoburn Transcribed by Cathy Ritter
James I. Phelps
Among the older members of the bar of Western Oklahoma, whose services date back to the earlier territorial days, James I. Phelps deserves particular mention, having been one of the leading lawyers of the El Reno bar nearly twenty years. He has built up a good practice and has a high reputation for the successful results in many important cases which have passed through his hands. Mr. Phelps is also one of the most popular men of Canadian County , both among the members of his own profession and in the general body of citizenship. James I. Phelps was born in Southeastern Texas at Newton , June 20, 1875, a son of Elza V. and Mary A. (Simmons) Phelps. His father was a native of Louisiana and his mother of Mississippi , but they were married in Texas , and have lived in the southeastern part of the state since their marriage. Their home is now at Bronson, in the Texas pine belt. The father is a farmer, and James I. Phelps grew up on a farm in Southwestern Texas . He attended the public schools, and finished his education in Ford College at Newton , where he was graduated. Following his collegiate work he entered the law department of the Texas State University and in 1899 was graduated LL. B. The day of his graduation was the 14th of June and on the following morning he bought a ticket and boarded the train for El Reno , Oklahoma. El Reno was then improving fast and growing rapidly into a metropolitan city, and as he brought ability and thorough training into his profession Mr. Phelps was not long in establishing himself securely in the ranks of the local bar. He has always enjoyed a good practice and at the same time has taken an active part in democratic politics. Mr. Phelps was police judge of El Reno in 1900-01, resigning in the latter year to become probate judge of Canadian County . He held that office for six years, until the time Oklahoma became a state. Judge Phelps is now chairman of the Canadian County Democratic Central Committee. He is a member of the Christian Church. February 1, 1903, at El Reno Judge Phelps married Miss Lydia B. Malcolm, daughter of J. F. and Phoebe Malcolm. "A Standard History of Oklahoma", 1916, By Joseph Bradfield Thoburn - Transcribed by Cathy Ritter
William Bruce Catto, M. D. Among the men who have risen to prominence in the Oklahoma medical fraternity in recent years, Dr. William Bruce Catto, of El Reno , should be given mention. A physician by inheritance, comprehensive training and inherent talents, he has steadily risen in the profession of his choice, and although still a young man has accomplished achievements that many men gain only after years of devoted effort. Doctor Catto was born at Warrensburg, Illinois, May 28, 1882, and is a son of Dr. William and Florence M. (Nightingale) Catto, the former a native of Scotland and the latter of England. As a young man, Dr. William M. Catto was taken by his parents to Canada , where he was educated for the profession of medicine, being graduated from the medical college at Toronto . Following this he came to the United States and took hospital work at New York , but soon moved to Illinois , locating first at Warrensburg and subsequently removing to Decatur . He was very successful in his calling, and would have undoubtedly made a noted name for himself, but was not allowed to enjoy the fullest measure of success, for he met his death in a railroad accident when but fifty years of age. Mrs. Catto, who survives him, is the mother of two sons: William Bruce and Keith Angus. William Bruce Catto was a child when taken by his parents to Decatur , and there his early educational training was secured in the public schools. This was supplemented by a course at Bunker Hill Military Academy , following his graduation from which he entered Leland Stanford, Jr., University. Doctor Catto then took up the study of medicine in the medical department of the University of Louisville, at Louisville, Kentucky, from which ho was duly graduated with his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He first engaged in practice at Stedham , Oklahoma, and later, for one year, was surgeon of AH Saints Hospital, at McAlester , this state, but in 1909 took up his permanent residence at El Reno , and this city has continued to be his home and the scene of his labors to the present. Here he has attracted to himself a large and representative practice, and his undoubted talents have gained him not only material success, but a high and established reputation in his profession. He is a member of the Canadian County Medical Society, the Oklahoma State Medical Society and the American Medical Association, as well as the Southwestern Medical Association. When he left college he did not give up his studies, for he has ever been careful to keep himself fully informed as to the discoveries made in medical science, and has done post-graduate work at the Physicians and Surgeons Medical College, at Chicago. Fraternally, Doctor Catto is a Master Mason and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In his political views he is a democrat, but his profession has engrossed him to the exclusion of more than a good citizen's interest in public matters. Doctor Catto is a communicant and supporter of the Episcopal Church. "A Standard History of Oklahoma", 1916, By Joseph Bradfield Thoburn - Transcribed by Cathy Ritter
Ralph F. Koons, M. D. The personnel of the medical profession at El Reno contains several men of the highest rank as physicians and surgeons, and one of them is Dr. Ralph F. Koons, who has practiced in that city for a dozen years or more and is prominent both in his chosen calling and as a citizen. Ralph F. Koons is a native of Pennsylvania , born at New Columbus January 6, 1876, and is of the typical Pennsylvania Dutch lineage. His parents were John R. and Cecelia Clarissa (Courtright) Koons. His father was born in Pennsylvania and his mother in New York , and they reared three sons. The father was for many years a paper maker, and the home of the family was at Huntington Mills, Pennsylvania . In that village Doctor Koons was reared, and graduated from Bucknell University with the degrees M. A. and Ph. D. He is a graduate in medicine from the University of Michigan , obtaining his degree Doctor of Medicine in 1901, after which for one year he was an interne in the Marine Hospital at Cleveland , Ohio . Doctor Koons in 1902 located at El Reno , and almost from the first has enjoyed particular prestige as a physician. He is an able physician and is also a scholarly gentleman. Doctor Koons is a member of the Canadian County Medical Society, in which he has been honored by all the offices, and he is also a member of the State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. His fraternal affiliations are with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and his church is the Baptist. In 1904 Doctor Koons married Miss Maude A. Conklin. "A Standard History of Oklahoma", 1916, By Joseph Bradfield Thoburn Transcribed by Cathy Ritter
Hon. Peter Parnell Duffy
Head of the commission government of El Reno , an editor, and a writer of forceful and incisive prose and verse, Peter Parnell Duffy has been a well known citizen in Oklahoma for nearly fifteen years, and a high estimate must be placed upon his influence and work both as a journalist and as a public leader. Peter Parnell Duffy was born August 31, 1873, at Louisville , Kentucky , during a brief residence of his parents in that city. His father, Bernard P. Duffy, born in Ireland , came to the United States when about fifteen years of age. The grandparents first settled in Louisiana . Bernard P. Duffy subsequently entered the law and was admitted to practice before the Illinois Supreme Court at Springfield . He began his practice in St. Louis, Missouri, later practiced for a short time in Louisville, Kentucky , and then removed to Maryville , Missouri , where he was a prominent lawyer for eighteen years. While in Maryville he also became identified with newspaper work as editor of a weekly paper. Leaving Missouri he established a home in Columbus , Nebraska , and in that city was associated with his son, Peter Parnell, in publishing the Platte County Democrat. Bernard P. Duffy married Mary Frazier, a native of Scotland . They were married in St. Louis . Peter Parnell Duffy acquired his early education in the schools of Maryville , Missouri , and. in Nebraska , and in that unrivaled training school, a newspaper and printing office. In 1901 he was graduated from Nebraska University , and soon afterwards came to Oklahoma, with the intention of starting up an office for the practice of law. However, his plans were diverted and for the first four years he was a traveling insurance agent with home in El Reno . Mr. Duffy has never for any great length of time been able to get away from the influences of journalism, with which he was surrounded as a youth. His strongest inclination has been toward newspaper work. Some years ago in company with J. W. and T. W. Maher, he bought the El Reno Daily Democrat, and for eight years the firm conducted this as one of the influential daily papers of Oklahoma. During that time Mr. Duffy had also served for four years, during legislative sessions, as private secretary to Lieutenant Governor George W. Bellamy. Throughout his residence in El Reno Mr. Duffy's qualities as .1 civic leader have been recognized and appreciated, and in 1911, when the commission charter first went into effect ho was the choice of the people for the first commissioner of public affairs. This position made him executive head of one of the departments into which the government of El Reno was divided by the new charter, and by virtue of that position he is also ex-officio mayor of the city. Mr. Duffy was elected for one year under the terms of the charter, and in 1912 was re-elected for three years, and again re-elected in April, 1915, making seven years in all when his term expires in 1918. Politically Mr. Duffy is a democrat of the progressive type. He is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1913 he married Miss Olivette, daughter of Dr. J. A. Hatchett of El Reno . Aside from his work on his own paper Mr. Duffy has contributed much special correspondence to Oklahoma papers and to journals in other states. He is a keen student and observer of political and social affairs, and has written many illuminating articles for the public press. To a widening circle of readers he is becoming more and more appreciated as a facile writer of charming verse, and many of his poems have attracted as much attention as his articles on politics and general affairs. "A Standard History of Oklahoma", 1916, By Joseph Bradfield Thoburn Transcribed by Cathy Ritter
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