Notation:  Charles Gristwell Jones served as Mayor twice, but is pictured only once in the Daily Oklahoman picture pringed on December 11, 1921 on page 46

D. V. LACKEY 1910 to 1911 Source: Daily Oklahoman that was printed on December 11, 1921 on page 46, with an accompaning story below.  Photos are in numberical order as the men served in office.  Beginning in the upper left corner across to the right:  Capt. W. L. Couch, Dr. R. J. Berle, David W. Gibbs, W. J. Gualt, Oscar R. Mitscher, N. Button, Charles Gristwell Jones, J. R. Allen, Lee Winkle, J. F. Messenbaugh, N. M. Scales, D. V. Lackey Whit M. Grant, Ed Overholser, and Byron D. Shear.

Provisional mayors following land run:

No.	Name	Entered office	Left office
1	William L. Couch	April 27, 1889	November 11, 1889
2	Andrew Jackson Beale	November 27, 1889	December 30, 1889
3	D.W. Gibbs	July 15, 1890	August 9, 1890

No.	Name	Entered office	Left office
4	W.J. Gault	August 12, 1890	April 12, 1892
5	O.A. Mitscher	April 23, 1892	April 9, 1894
6	Nelson Button	April 9, 1894	April 13, 1896
7	Charles Graham Jones	April 13, 1896	April 12, 1897
8	J.P. Allen	April 12, 1897	April 10, 1899
9	Lee Van Winkle	April 10, 1899	April 8, 1901
10	Charles Graham Jones	April 8, 1901	April 13, 1903
11	Lee Van Winkle	April 13, 1903	April 10, 1905
12	J.G. Messenbaugh	April 10, 1905	April 8, 1907
13	Henry M. Scales	April 8, 1907	April 11, 1910
14	Dan V. Lackey	April 11, 1910	June 8, 1911
15	Whit M. Grant	June 8, 1911	April 13, 1915
16	Edward Overholser	April 13, 1915	December 24, 1918
17	Byron D. Shear	December 25, 1918	April 7, 1919
18	John Calloway Walton	April 7, 1919	January 9, 1923
19	Mike Donnelly	January 9, 1923	April 4, 1923
20	O.A. Cargill	April 4, 1923	April 12, 1927
21	Walter C. Dean	April 12, 1927	April 12, 1931
22	C.J. Blinn	April 12, 1931	November 7, 1933
23	Tom McGee	November 7, 1933	April 9, 1935
24	John Frank Martin	April 9, 1935	April 11, 1939
25	Robert A. Hefner	April 11, 1939	April 8, 1947
26	Allen Street	April 8, 1947	April 7, 1959
27	James H. Norick	April 7, 1959	April 9, 1963
28	Jack S. Wilkes	April 9, 1963	May 3, 1964
29	George H. Shirk	June 16, 1964	April 11, 1967
30	James H. Norick	April 11, 1967	April 13, 1971
31	Patience Latting	April 13, 1971	April 12, 1983
32	Andy Coats	April 13, 1983	April 14, 1987
33	Ron Norick	April 14, 1987	April 9, 1999
34	Kirk Humphreys	April 9, 1999	November 3, 2003
35	Guy Liebmann	November 3, 2003	March 2, 2004
36	Mick Cornett	March 2, 2004	Present

MEN WHO HAVE GUIDED CITY AFFAIRS

First Election Was Unique And Resembled Lottery; Government Settled Down Quickly

By Edwin G. Skinner

Less than thirty-three years ago, Oklahoma City did not exsist.  The territory it now covers was then a part of the vast prairie known as "the Oklahoma country," bearing few signs of human havition and untouched by civilization.  It's growth has been nothing short of phenominal, possibly never parelled by any other city in the United States of the world.  From a mere point on the Santa Fe railway, distinguished from other precisely similar points by a signbooard, beside the railroad tracks, it has grown to a city of a population approximating 100,000, leading every other city in the state.  On March 3, 1889, by a "rider" on the Indian appropriation act, Oklahoma was declared open to settlement, April 2, was named as the opening day by President Harrison.  The first day of Oklahoma City's exsistance brought nearly 10,000 inhabitants here from every state in the union.  Rushing in by train, by wagon, horseback and in every other way possible, men began settling upon land here with such rapidly that before nightfall a tented city had risen upon the prairie, and civilized beings were moving in every direction.  Since Oklahoma was not at that time a state, nor even a territory, there was no legal authority for the organization of municipalities and no powere to make such laws.  There was no organization, no laws and no governemnt except such as were generally applicable to federal territory.  The first semblance of orgainization of a city was brought about when the newly arrived settlers found that building of temporary houses on the land that had held claim to was leading to a disarrangement that would result in much confusion whern it came time to lay off the townsite into lots and blocks.  It was then that the whole populace was called together in a mass meeting, April 22, to discuss plans for the proposed city and provide for surveying it into lots and blocks.  Angelo C. Scott was elected as the temporary head of the assemblage.  He also presided at a second meeting held the following Saturday night, after the preliminary survey had been completed.  Lacking definite authority for the organization of a municipality , those first settlers were at a loss to know what sort of a government to institute.  Soon, however, it was suggested that a provisional mayor and councilment be elected to serve until further organization could be perfected.  That first election was conducted upon the purest of democratic lines.  The entire populace was called together to express his wishes, and the selection was made by acclamation.  Candidates were put forward.  Among them was Capt. W. L. Couch, who the other candidates were has passed from the memory of the few of the original settlers still living here.  Each candidate was placed atop a large goods box, where his fellow citizens might view him.  Since hardly any of the men were known to others of the gathering before the opening date for settlement, the selection was a matter of picking the man who appeared to be most capable of holding the office of mayor.  In order to fascilitae the counting of votes, the citizens were divided into groups in accordance with their desires. Forming into single file, each troup then marched past a central point, and the number of men composing it counted. The tabulation showed that Captain Couch had been elected. Captain Couch immediately took office. He served until October of that year. Since it was required that each settler live on the land he had claimed within six months from the date of the opening. It became necessary for Captain Couch to resign his office as provisional  mayor and move to his land, a short distance from the central part of the townsite. Captain Couch was afterward shot and killed by a man named Adams, according to the story told by men who knew him. The killing was the result of a dispute between Couch and Adams over the claim to the site upon which the courthouse of Oklahoma county now stands. Succeeding Captin Couch was Dr. A. J. Beale, who was known as the first elected mayor. He also resigned in order to  move to land which he had laid claim to, leaving the office vacant in July 1890, according to the story told by '89er's. In May, 1890, congress passed an act known as the enabling bill, providing for the organization and incorporation of municipalities. Oklahoma City was then organized and was incorporated about the time of Dr. Beale's resignation. He was succeeded to the office by D. W. Gibbs, and architect, who had been serving as chairman of the board of trustees. Gibbs was empowered to exercise the functions of mayor in July, 1890. The board, which he had headed, divided the municipality into wards and called an election for city officers at that time. In the election following, W. J. Gault, was elected for mayor. He served until April 1892.  It was during hid administration that the old Choctaw railway was built, and a part of the money was raised for its construction by Oklahoma City. Mr. Gault was known as one of the most efficient business men ever to head the city government, early residents say. Opposing Gault in the mayorality race in 1890 was Henry Overholser. By a peculiar conincidence, the sons of the two men afterward were opposing candidates for the same office. In the later election, however, W. D. Gault was defeated by Ed Overholser. Following Gault was O.A. Mitscher, who served from April, 1892 to April, 1894. During his administration, negotiations were started that later resulted in the building of the Frisco railway through Oklahoma City. Nelson Button was the next mayor. He served from  April, 1894 until April, 1896. In April, 1896, C. G. Jones became mayor. He was known as "Grist Mill" Jones, because he had established and operated the first mill in the city. He served until April, 1897. Later he was again selected for the office, serving from April, 1901 until April, 1903.  J. P. Allen follow Jones to the office of chief executive of the city. He served from April, 1897, until April, 1890. He was succeeded by Lee Van Winkle, who after serving his first two-year term, was re-elected to succeed Jones at the expiration of his second term. Dr. J.F. Messenbaugh became mayor after the expiration of Van Winkle's second term. He served from April, 1905 until April 1907. Them came Henry M. Scales, who took office in April, 1907. It was at this time that the term of office of the mayor was increased from two to four years. Scakes, however, resigned in October of 1910, and his term was completed by Dan V. Lackey, who had been head of the council. During the latter part of Scales'tenure of office and the early part of Lacky's administration, the city was thrown into considerable confusion by a street car's strike. At the expiration of Lackey's term, the commission form of government for the city was adopted. Whit M. Grant was elected mayor and served from May, 1911 to April, 1915.  Ed Overholser was the next holder of the office. After serving approximately three years and  ten months, he resigned, and his term was completed by Byron D. Shear, formerly municipal counselor, who served until April, 1919.
Source:  The Oklahoman December 11, 1921 Page 46

 

Biographies of These 15 Leaders of Oklahoma City

A leader of the Boomer Movement and eldest child of Meshach H. and Mary Bryan Couch, William Lewis Couch was born November 20, 1850, in Wilkes County, North Carolina. After the end of the Civil War M. H. Couch moved the family to Kansas, where William grew to manhood. While receiving only a rudimentary education, he was always an avid reader. Couch married his sweetheart, Cynthia Gordon, a Quaker eight years his senior. In 1871 the couple located in Butler County near Douglass, Kansas, where they purchased a farm. After the railroad extended its lines from Emporia to Wichita, Couch followed the line and took advantage of many business opportunities. He became a fixture in the Wichita business community after 1874, selling grain, operating an elevator, trading and selling horses and mules, and running a combination hardware and grocery store. But a change in markets coupled with other financial setbacks cost him much of his hard-earned fortune. After losing the grocery store and paying many of his outstanding debts, he was financially depleted, but he still adequately provided for his family, deriving a steady income from the livestock business. In fall 1879, after hearing David L. Payne talk about the "free land" available for homesteads in the "Oklahoma Country," Couch became a follower of the boomer leader. Payne was most convincing about the fertility of soil, abundance of game, and other wonders of the land. Couch made several financial contributions to Payne's colony, helping to fund the fledgling enterprise, and became familiar with the country, learning the choice locations where he could claim his future homestead. Couch believed Payne's assertion that these were public lands free for the taking, despite government warnings to the contrary. The family returned to Douglass, Kansas, in 1882 so that William could be closer to his father. The elder Couch looked after the family while his son became more active in Payne's colony. By that time, the family had grown to five children: Ira, Minnie Alice, Eugene, Perley, and Albert. Couch's service to the boomers earned him a leadership position. In early February 1883 he led the "Camp Alice" expedition to the Oklahoma country after the boomers' earlier settlement ventures had failed. But this attempt, too, failed when the army arrived, arrested the would-be settlers, and placed them under guard at Fort Reno. Couch entered the forbidden land again in August 1883 and in April 1884. During the April 1884 trip Meshach Couch staked a claim near the present University of Oklahoma Health Sciences complex in Oklahoma City. David Payne's untimely death on November 28, 1884, thrust Couch into sole leadership of the boomers, a roll he did not want. After Payne's funeral the colonists held an emergency meeting and elected Couch their president. The new leader made plans for the next intrusion. By December 8, 1884, Couch had assembled a force of three hundred ready to proceed to Oklahoma from a starting point in Kansas. The throng traveled in the harsh winter weather to a place called "Stillwater," camping at a stream later dubbed Boomer Creek. The settlers set up their winter camp and awaited the inevitable confrontation with the U.S. Army. Lt. M. W. Day had orders to expel the colonists, but the boomers were determined to carry out the wishes of the fallen Payne. Couch was determined they would not fail. Outnumbered by Couch's men, the officer called for reenforcement, including two artillery pieces, and informed Couch that if he and his men did not leave in two days, they would be fired upon. Eventually Couch relented, and the would-be settlers broke camp and dispersed. But the desire to open the forbidden land did not subside even though Couch and some of his followers were subsequently arrested and charged with treason against the United States. Couch and his men were freed after government witnesses failed to appear against them. Like Payne, Couch could not, and would not, accept defeat. He and many others continued to press Congress for opening the land, and after four years the House of Representatives approved the "Oklahoma Bill" on February 1, 1889. The measure was attached to the Indian Appropriations Bill for that year and passed on the last day of the session. Pres. Grover Cleveland signed the bill two days before Benjamin Harrison succeeded him. The proclamation for the land opening was set for noon April 22, 1889, ending the long struggle of Payne and Couch. Like David Payne, William Couch did not hold on to the land he sought for a homestead. Although he made the land run, staked his claim on property in present day downtown Oklahoma City, and was elected the city's first mayor, he did not live to receive title to the property, nor did his widow or his heirs. Couch was shot by J. C. Adams on April 4, 1890, and died of his wound on April 21. Couch's claim was disputed by several other claimants, and title was awarded to Robert W. Higgins. Many of the boomers did not get title to the land they had worked so desperately to open for settlement. Couch finished the work Payne started. Without the efforts of both these men, it would have taken years longer to open the land for white settlement.

Andrew Jackson Beale, a native of Kentucky and served in the Kentucky legislature, was a Confederate soldier, came to Oklahoma Territory to take part in the Land Run on April 22, 1889.   After William Couch’s resignation, he ran for Mayor against Henry Overholser and won election by fourteen votes.  Upon assuming office, Mayor Beale introduced an ordinance requiring that the Mayor and Council members serve without pay.   He also worked aggressively to resolve questions of lot ownership and promised fair and equitable handling of lot claims, but in December of 1889 the U.S. Attorney General issued an order prohibiting the City’s provisional government from resolving ownership of lots until Congress set up a provisional government for Oklahoma Territory.  Land disputes were a constant source of turmoil during Mayor Beale’s brief term.  Dr. Beale died on January 4, 1909 at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henry Carr of Cynthianna, Kentucky.

David W. Gibbs, a civic and social leader in Oklahoma City, was appointed as Chairman of a Board of Trustees charged with setting up a statutory City government on July 15, 1890.  He was among the principle petitioners for incorporation of the City of Oklahoma City in 1890, and he and the Board of Trustees set elections for City officers on August 9, 1890 under an aldermanic system of government.  D.W. Gibbs operated an ice-cream parlor which housed the City’s first piano, and the townspeople often came to hear his daughter play.  Gibbs’ wife was president of the Ladies Relief Club that raised money to assist the needy.  He was also an architect of note, one of his designs being that of the Wyoming state capitol.  He was also interested in art and music.  Their Oklahoma City home was at Third street and Harvey avenue.  Mayor Gibbs died, Wednesday.  October 19, 1917 at Toledo, Ohio at the home of his daughter, Mrs. D. L. Stine.  His wife preceeded him in death in 1912.  In addition to his daughter, he was also survived by two sons, John and David. (obit)

An original 89er and the first nonprovisional mayor of Oklahoma City, William James Gault was born in 1830 in Washington County, New York. At an early age he moved with his family to Illinois. As a young man he traveled to California, remaining there for three years before settling in Kansas City, Missouri. There he involved himself in the brick manufacturing business. In 1859 he married Martha Phillips, and they had three children (Eliza, William D., and Mary). In 1876 Gault relocated his family to Eldorado, Kansas, serving a term as the city's mayor. On April 22, 1889, he made the Land Run into the Unassigned Lands of central Oklahoma by train, positioning his claim where Oklahoma City developed.  In Oklahoma City Gault established a lumber company, which flourished and gained a regional reputation. On August 8, 1890, after Oklahoma City incorporated under the laws of Nebraska, as warranted under the Organic Act, the residents elected Gault the first mayor, an office he held until 1892. He also helped guide the burgeoning city as president of the chamber of commerce and president of the school board. In 1896 he was elected to the Fourth Territorial Legislature and chaired the committee on municipal corporations. He attended the Congregational Church and was a member of the 89ers Club. William Gault died on April 15, 1899, in Oklahoma City and was interred in the Fairlawn Cemetery. His wife Martha is also interred there having followed him in death in 1921.  Interestingly, he defeated Henry Overholser in the race for the mayor's office, but in 1915 Overholser's son, Edward, prevailed over Gault's son, William, for the same position.

Oscar A. Mitscher was born June 7, 1861, in Hillsboro, Wisconsin.  He came to Oklahoma City in 1889 and was a senior partner in the Mitscher Bros. mercantile business.  He and his wife, Myrta Viola Shear, had three children: Zoe Amelia, Marc Andrew and Thomas Andrew.  Mitscher was elected Mayor in 1892 on the Republican ticket.  During his term, city streets were improved, power plants were built, and sanitary sewers were constructed. The City’s primary revenue source at this time was the annual license fee of $250 collected from city liquor dealers. In 1900 Pres. William McKinley appointed the elder Mitscher as Osage Indian agent at Pawhuska.  Oscar died in 1926 in Oklahoma City.

Nelson Button was born February 17, 1849 at Pike, Indiana.  He married Emma Bardwell in Marion, Indiana.  They came to Oklahoma City immediately after the Land Run, and was involved in establishing the City’s provisional government.  He was appointed by the County Commissioners to the Board of Trustees chaired by D.W. Gibbs which was tasked with setting up the provisional government.  When the aldermanic form of government was established he was elected as the alderman for the First Ward.  He served in this position for three years and was elected Mayor in April of 1894. As Mayor, Button was instrumental in persuading Congress to deed to the City the 160 acres of land then known as the Military Reservation, thus allowing the City to expand to the east.  Button predicted that Oklahoma City would become great as it possessed the three elements required for greatness, “money, brain, and brawn.”  He died April 27, 1914 at Wasatch, Cache, Utah.

Charles Gasham Jones was born in Greenup, Illinois, on November 3, 1856.  He came to Oklahoma City in January of 1890 and set up the City’s first flour mill.  He also worked to promote development in the City and was a key player in the expansion of the railroads serving the City. Jones’ first term as Mayor lasted only one year, which coincided with an economic depression that gripped the entire nation.  During his second term, the first City Hall building was built on the northwest corner of Broadway and Grand and the water-treatment plant’s capacity was increased to meet the needs of the growing city. Jones’ term was also marked by a wave of vice and lawlessness unsurpassed in the City’s short history.   Robberies took place in broad daylight and passing trains were targeted by armed bandits. No one seemed able to effectively combat the crime wave. After leaving office, Jones remained active in civic affairs.  He was a leader in the movement for Oklahoma statehood and was also involved in the relocation of the state capital from Guthrie to Oklahoma City in 1910.  He and his wife, Tena, had one son.

James P. Allen was elected Mayor during the economic depression that had begun during Mayor Mitscher’s term. Despite the harsh economic climate, Mayor Allen worked to grow the City’s commercial and manufacturing base and motivated like-minded citizens to join him in his efforts. These efforts bore much fruit as the Frisco Railroad, Cotton Compress, Cotton Oil Mill, NS Sherman Machine Shops, Plantsifter Mill, and St Anthony Hospital all chose to build and operate in Oklahoma City. During Mayor Allen’s term, the City also obtained clear title to the land on which the first City Hall was built by settling a lawsuit filed against the City by the initial claimants of the land.  He also served as a Probate Judge of Oklahoma Territory.  He was born August of 1851 in Mississippi and married Virginia R. Smythe on December 14, 1873 in Winston County, Mississippi.

Robert E. Lee Van Winkle was born July 17, 1862, in Benton County, Arkansas to Peter Van Winkle and Temperance (Miller) Van Winkle.  He married Marcella Faulkner, and they had one child.  He was President and General Manager of the Oklahoma Sash and Door Co. and President of the Retail Lumber Dealers of Oklahoma.  When Van Winkle was elected to his first term as Mayor, the City government was still operating out of a dilapidated building at Broadway and Grand.  The City was buying water from a private water treatment company at exorbitant rates and few of the City’s streets were paved.  During his first administration the City purchased the water treatment plant and made major improvements to it.  When Van Winkle was elected Mayor again in 1903, the new City Hall was built and he continued his push for improvement of the City’s government and infrastructure.   During his second administration, the City’s Engineering, Auditing, and Accounting departments were created and he succeeded in securing $2 million to pave City streets.  Although the City made tremendous progress in growth and development during Van Winkle’s two administrations, there was great controversy over the City government’s seeming inability to control crime.  He died in Port Neches, Texas while visiting his daughter on January 4, 1928 and was brought back to Oklahoma City for burial at Fairlawn Cemetery.

J.G. Messenbaugh was born on January 10, 1873, near Kingston, Missouri.  In 1898, he  graduated from college and medical school, and in 1900 he moved to Oklahoma City and established a large medical practice.  He and his wife, Laura Whisler, had two children. By the time Messenbaugh was elected Mayor in 1905, most of the City’s streets were paved, the sanitary sewer system was in place and improvements to the water-treatment plant were nearly completed.  Mayor Messenbaugh therefore focused on beautification projects. He promoted plans for parks, playgrounds and boulevards lined with trees and flowers throughout his term. Although these projects did improve the City’s image, the City government still did very little to combat the continuing crime wave. Law-enforcement officers ignored illegal gambling and houses of prostitution continued to operate with impunity. Upon leaving office, Messenbaugh continued with his medical practice and kept his staff position at St Anthony Hospital for the rest of his life (obit)

Henry Minor Scales was born in Holly Springs, Mississipi, on March 13, 1869.  He was a graduate of Vanderbilt University and a practicing attorney when he and his wife, Lily Houston Watkins, came to Oklahoma City in 1891. Scales was elected Mayor in 1907 based on the slogan “Let The People Rule.”  Upon election he declared, “This must be a moral city and it can never be while gambling is going on against the law.” During his first term, Mayor Scales directed the Chief of Police to shut down the gambling houses, and the Prohibition Ordinance adopted in September of 1907 closed the City’s 70 saloons.  However, the gambling houses did not remain closed for very long, and bootleggers provided liquor sold at the gambling houses. Mayor Scales was elected to a second term and called for citizens’ help in a “civic cleanup.”  He suspended the Chief of Police, and a grand jury investigated charges of graft and corruption by City officials.  Mayor Scales was cleared of any wrongdoing, but several City and County officials were forced out of office.  A County Sheriff’s Deputy was indicted for various crimes along with several bootleggers and gamblers.  He died December 15, 1918.  (obit)

Dan Lackey had been a member of the City Council for two years when he was appointed Acting Mayor to complete the remainder of Mayor Scales’ term.   He immediately ordered the Assistant Chief of Police to clean up the town.  Police officers went through the gambling houses, demolishing everything inside them.  Mayor Lackey and other City leaders campaigned to make Oklahoma City the state’s capitol, and Oklahoma City became the capitol following a statewide vote on June 10, 1910.   The City replaced its aldermanic form government with a Commission form of government on March 9, 1911. (obit)

Whit M. Grant, an attorney and businessman, was the first Mayor elected under the Commission form of government established in March of 1911.  He had lived in Oklahoma City since 1893. Mayor Grant promised strict law enforcement, but his administration was very lax when it came to enforcing the laws.  The gambling houses that were closed under Mayor Scales’ administration reopened and bootleggers continued to ply their trade.   As City leaders continued to debate ways to clean up the City, voters made two unsuccessful attempts to recall Mayor Grant.  He died December 10, 1927 and was buried in Fairlawn Cemetery.

Edward Overholser was born on June 20, 1869, son Henry and Ione Overholser, came to Oklahoma City in 1890.  He built and operated the first long-distance telephone line in the state and also served as the first Secretary of the State Fair Association and the Manager of the City’s Waterworks.  Overholser ran for County Commissioner and won on a pledge to build a new County courthouse.  After he was elected, bonds were sold for the construction of the courthouse and it was built shortly thereafter.  In 1915, Overholser defeated Will Gault, Jr, in the Mayoral election by a 327-vote margin.  Overholser was successful in his efforts to end the endemic vice and lawlessness in the City.  One by one, the gambling houses and bootlegging operations were shut down and the houses of prostitution were put out of business for the first time since the City’s founding.  The City experienced a serious water-supply crisis during Mayor Overholser’s term, and this led to the creation of the City’s first municipal reservoir that was later named Lake Overholser.  After leaving office, Overholser served as President of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce for nine consecutive terms before his death in April 1931. (see obit)

Byron Delos Shear was born May 12, 1869 in Hillsboro, Wisconsin.  Byron was the borther of Oscar Mitscher's wife Myrta.  He earned his law degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1892 and came to Oklahoma City that same year to practice law.  He and his wife, Ida Malinda Cunningham, had no children.  Shear served as Clerk of the U.S. Court of Oklahoma Territory from 1898 to 1903 and as the City’s Municipal Counselor from 1915 to 1918.  A highlight of Shear’s brief tenure as Mayor was the creation of a Public Sewage Board tasked with developing ways to deal with storm water runoff and sanitary-sewer waste.  He died June 9, 1929.  (see obit)

Source of above Mayor listings and portions of biographies from: http://www.okc.gov/council/okcmayors/index.html

 

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