We The People

Look closely. These faces are not fiction. They are husbands and fathers, mothers and daughters, brothers and sisters, family and friends. They are diverse in ethnicity, background, occupation, and age, and they all live in or near Stillwater. Few were born here. The 1900 Federal Census reveals Payne County’s largely immigrant origins: birthplaces include 44 of the 45 states, and at least 19 countries: England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Holland, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Bohemia (Czechoslovakia), Italy, Russia, Mexico, and Canada.

Despite their differences, however, residents share something profound. Not everyone will take the risk and choose the unknown, but they did. They came for opportunity—to forge better lives, start families, and build homes. Together they created a community and today they are not just succeeding. They and the rest of the state are excelling.  In 1907, Oklahoma boasted the 9th highest literary rate and the highest rate of home ownership.

Ethridge was a freshman and belonged to Sigma Beta Chi. He played baseball and left guard for the first football team in school history to defeat the Oklahoma Sooners.

No one predicted an Aggie victory…the game was played at the Fair Grounds (Oklahoma City) and fully 5,000 people gathered to witness the contest for state supremacy…The Aggie team outplayed the Sooners in every quarter.

A self-proclaimed city of schools and churches, Stillwater has more churches than saloons—a rare distinction in Oklahoma. The Lutheran and Catholic churches largely serve immigrants and first-generation Americans.

Harry Donart was one of Stillwater’s first teachers and remembers the conditions in September, 1889:

I can assure it was no picnic at this first school…For equipment we had none. The seats were crude benches with straight backs set at right angles to the seats, too high from the floor, so the little ones could not touch the floor with their feet, an instrument of torture instead of comfort.

Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, McKenna served in the Civil War as both a soldier and a sailor on the USS Pontoosuc. His pierced ears are very unusual for the time and perhaps correspond to his time in the Navy.

Jefferson School is a vast improvement over earlier efforts at building schools on the great Plains.

See anything missing? Some students aren’t wearing shoes.

Built in 1902, the Horse Barn houses the university’s draft horses.

Nick is a first generation American born in Missouri to Dutch parents and studies agriculture.

He spent most of his career making and selling butter for creameries, including SS Borden Company in Chicago, before starting his own.

Colglazier played baseball at A&M. Sports were a constant in his life.

He worked as Physical Director at Chilocco Indian School and was named Vice President of The State Amateur Athletic Union.

Frank pursued science and the stage at Oklahoma A&M. He has performed in Mikado, Pirates of Penzance, Princess Ida, Fortune Hunters, and more. He was also a member of Glee Club, the Science Society, played football, and was Chief Field Musician.

After serving in WWI, he earned his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Chicago and took a position at the University of Oklahoma where he instructed and mentored students for the next 41 years.

Old Central was the first building on the A&M campus. Old Central still stands today and houses the Honors College.

Born to one of Stillwater’s founding families, Fern was the 4th Lowry to attend A&M. She was active in Student Council, Girls Athletic Association, 16 Club, Debate Team, Drama, German Club, Literary Society, Yearbook Staff, and YWCA.

After completing her BS, she enrolled at Cornell College and earned a BA in 1918 before returning to Oklahoma to begin her career in social work. Over the next 30 years Fern tirelessly advocated for women and children.

Beulah studied home economics.

After graduating she married and soon began a family. They lived in Oklahoma City where Beulah played an active role in the community, serving as President of both the League of Women Voters and Planned Parenthood.

Originally the Hueston Hotel, the Nichols Hotel is located at 10th and Main. White oleander and rocking chairs make for a pleasant and relaxing porch.

The little boy on crutches is Howard Cawood and the building behind him is the Commercial Hotel. He lived there with his parents who managed the property.

As a young man he studied for a few years at Oklahoma A&M before marrying and starting a family. His occupations ranged from newspaper salesman to farmer to stockman.