DEATH TAKES WHIT GRANT, FIRST MAYOR
Attorney Came to City In 1893. Took Consistent Interest in Growth
WAS ILL ONE WEEK
Former Official Always Had Highest Respect From Civic Leaders
Whit M. Grant, 76 years old, friend of Oklahoma City since its "baby city" days, died Saturday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Wallace Lee, 2102 West Eighteenth street. Health preserved by years of outdoor activities failed finally and Grant was stricken with illness Monday. His condition was not considered serious until Saturday afternoon, he died about 7 o'clock. From the time of Whit McDonough Grant's coming to Oklahoma City in 1892, when he practiced law, he had taken a consistent interest in the developing of the growing city and its industries.
Chosen First Mayor
When the people became dissatisfied with the old aldermanic form of city government, in 1910, and won a fight for the commission form, Grant was chosen as the first mayor. A committee of fifty-three business men led the movement for reform in the political system. The leaders of the committee, Henry Overholser, J. M. Owen, and C. F. Colcord, nominated a republican and a democratic candidate for the mayoralty as well as nominating the other commissioner candidates. In the general city election, Grant won a close race from J. F. Warren, republican candidate, at that time president of the Farmers National bank.
Was Able Man
"Whit Grant was one of the finest men who ever came to Oklahoma City." Colcord said Saturday night when he learned of his friend's death. "Whit was a very able man and honorable in every way. He served with me on the board of directors of the old State National bank. I don't know of a man I have as high a regard for as Whit Grant."
Grant is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Lee of Oklahoma City and Mrs. George L. Stiles of Santa Monica, Calif., by a brother, Dr. W. W. Grant of Denver; by two sisters Mrs. Charles Whitaker of Forest Hills, Long Island, and Mrs. E. G. Rayland of Denver; by a sister in law, Mrs. James H. Grant of Denver, and by a newphew, James B. Grant Jr., of Denver. Funeral arrangements will not be announced until word is received from relatives living in other cities, Lee said Saturday. Grant's body is at Street & Draper parlors.
Elevator Firm Founded
After operating a feed and fuel business on West First street for some years, Grant founded the Oklahoma City Mill and Elevator company, according to Lee. This elevator and mill was founded in February, 1900, according to recollections of T. C. Thatcher, vice president and general manager. At that time the mill's capacity was 400 barrels of flour a day. In 1909 Grant sold his interests in the mill to J. Perry Butrum of Texas. Frank Kell of Wichita Falls and Thatcher then bought control of the mill that Grant had built. Friendship of Grant and Edward H. Cooke and George L. Cooke in the operation and direction of the affairs of the old State National bank, which finally became the First National bank, was recounted by George Cooke.
Counsel for Officers
"Whit Grant was interested in the bank through friendship with Edward Cooke, president and later chairman of the board of directors of the First National bank," George Cooke said. "He was made a vice president and though he never took an active part in direction of the business he was the adviser and counsel for the other officers. Later he served as attorney for the bank." In telling of Grant, Cooke said "We were great friends. He was a very fine man in every respect and a good, loyal friend at all times. Hecame to Oklahoma City about the time the bank was started." Cooke told of Grant coming to the Oklahoma City after leaving as United States attorney for Alaska from 1887 to 1889, first serving under the administration of Grover Cleveland. During that time he cleared up the _______cases involving rights at seal hunting that had been so long in dispute between the United States and Great Britain.
[Source: The Oklahoman December 11, 1927 Page 5]

PIONEER CITY MAYOR BURIED
Funeral for Whit Grant Attended by Hundreds of Friends
Whit M. Grant, pioneer city mayor was buried Wednesday at _____in Fairlawn cemeter, while hundreds of friens who had worked with him as attorney, business man and politicaians looked on. He died Saturday night in the homd of his daughter, Mrs. Wallace Lee. 2102 West Eighteenth street. Funeral services were conducted by the Rev. James Mills, dean of St. Pauls cathedral. Services were held in the Street and Draper funeral home. Grant came to Oklahoma City in 1892 and took an active part in civic affairs throughout his entire life. He was the city's first mayor under the commission formof governemtn elected in 1910. He was associated with the city history of the Oklahoma City Mill and Elevator company and the old State National bank. Active bearers were Guy Blackwelder, Robert Smith, George Cooke, Samuel_______, Henry Hoffman and John E. ___/ Honorary bearers were ________, C.F. Colcord, _______, Dr. J. B. Rolator, Ed Overholser, T. D. Turner, Judge Tom G. Chambers and A. L. Welch.
[Source: The Oklahoman December 15, 1927 Page 26]

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MRS. WHIT GRANT SUDDENLY DIES LAST MIDNIGHT
Stroke of Apoplexy Ends Life at Her Home Without Warning
WIFE OF CITY MAYOR
Had Retired to Her Room In Apparent Good Health After Auto Ride
Mrs. Catherine Wagley Grant, wife of Mayor Whit M. Grant, died at the family home, 417 West Thirteenth street, last midnight. Death was due to an immediate stroke of apoplexy, as pronounced by Dr. J. B. Rolator, who arrived thirty minutes after the attack and only a few minutes before actual death. According to the friends who assembled at the home following the sudden sickness of Mrs. Grant, the attack was a complete surprise. During the evening she and Mayor Grant were out auto riding for a couple of hours. They returned about 10 o'clock. The usual family conversation occurred before retiring at 11 o'clock. Mrs. Grant kissed her daughter, Miss Marguerite, and went directly to her room. Her spirits were of the best and no intimation of physical complaint had been heard. About 11:30 the mayor heard a slight noise in Mrs. Grant's room. He went in to ascertain the cause and found her lying on the floor, where she had evidently fallen from the bed. He immediately called Dr. Rolater and advised the remainder of the household. Dr. Rolater used every haste possible but was too late to be of assistance. Death was due to a sudden attack of apoplexy, a malady to which it was not know Mrs. Grant was subject. Mrs. Grant was 56 years old. She was a native of Jacksonville, Illinois. Had resided in Oklahoma City since 1893, when the mayor removed here. Besides her husband, she is survived by three children, Mrs. Fred Patterson, Mrs. E. P. Jervey and Miss Marguerite Grant, all of whom live in the city. There have been no funeral arrangements and no announcements will be made until later Monday.
[Source: The Oklahoman June 10, 1912 Page 1]


MANY ATTEND GRANT FUNERAL
Floral Offerings from Friends Were Numerous and Beautiful
Few funeral services taking place in Oklahoma City have been so generally attended as that of Mrs. Whit M. Grant, wife of Mayor Grant, which was held Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock at the family residence, 417 West Thirteenth street. City officials, business associates of Mayor Grant and many friends of the family crowded the house in their desire to pay their respects to the dead. A platoon of police and several companies of men from the fire department formed in line on Main street, marching in a body to the house. Following the Episcopal burial service, rend by Rev. William Neely Colton dean of St. Paul's cathedral, the police and firemen formed a guard of honor, reaching from the house to the pavement, while the body was born to the hearse. The funeral procession was one of the longest in the history of the city, a large assembly attending the last rites at the grave. Never, perhaps, have so many beautiful and lavish floral offerings been seen, the flowers sent as a tribute to the dead and tokens of condolence and affection to the living, entirely filling two rooms. The casket was covered with a coverlet of carnations and ferns, the fit of the members of the Duplicate Whist and Thursday Bridge clubs, of which Mrs. Grant was a member for many years.
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Adopt Resolutions
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Mayor Grant's Fellow Commissioners Express Sympathy
Resolutions of sympathy with Mayor Whit M. Grant were passed Tuesday afternoon at a short meeting of the remaining city commissioners signed by Commissioner W. H. Hampton, as mayor pro tem and attested by City Clerk C. G. Goucher. They read as follows:
Whereas The death angel has visited the home of Hon. Whit M. Grant mayor of this city, and removed there from his wife, and,
Whereas, It is our desire, as brother members of the board of commissioners of this city, to give to our brother and to the members of his family a token and memorial of our sympathy in this dark hour; therefore, be it:
Resolved, That we, his brother members of the city of Oklahoma City, extend to our honored mayor and the members of his family our earnest sympathy in the awful loss of wife, mother, and friend, the severing of the golden link, the placing between them and the loved one of the gate to the sepulchre, the final farewell of earth; and to say to them that the "Star of Hope" is certainty; on the beautiful shore of the land of love on the other side of what we call death, there is one more beckoning hand, one more voice sweetly calling from the eternal home of the soul, and, be it further
Resolved, That as a memorial of our sympathy and esteem the clerk be instructed to enter these resolutions upon the journal of this day's proceedings, to send a copy to our honored mayor and his family, and to furnish a copy of same to the press of the city for publication.
[source: The Oklahoman June 12, 1912 Page 12]

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