A history of the state of Oklahoma ( Volume 2 )

Description

HISTORY OF THE

STATE OF OKLAHOMA

J. M. Aydelotte. One very important chapter in the history of Shawnee is the career of its wealthiest and most enterprising citizen, J. M, Aydelotte. October 4, 1898, when Shawnee was a village, he came here. Possessing the character that begets confidence, he soon took the lead in some undertakings of great importance to the town and had little difficulty in securing the capital needed to finance them. One of the crucial largest industries of the city is the Shawnee Cotton Oil Company, of which Air. Aydelotte is and has been president since he established the business in 1898. This was the first factory for cotton seed oil in this vicinity, and remembering the foremost position of Shawnee a few of the cotton centers of Oklahoma, it is readily understood why the business has had such an important bearing on the business welfare of the city. The cotton industry was in its infancy in Oklahoma when the factory was built, and received in this way a stimulus that was very needful for its future development. Mr. Aydelotte was also builder of the Shawnee compress, in 1904, which All through its second year pressed 66,000 bales, and thus increased Shawnee’s position as a great cotton market.

In 1903, when the upheaval in the city government of Shawnee occurred, resulting in the removal of the mayor and five coun-cilmen, the man designated by the citizens as chief executive of the city to undertake the work of civic cleansing was J. M. Aydelotte. All through the partial term for which he was elected, he made the specifications for the first paving the city had, and the contract was carried out by his successor in office. Furthermore, he reorganized the city government, and the most substantial a part of Shawnee’s progress as a civic community dates from his first term as mayor. It was All through that time that the Santa”Fe Railroad was brought to Shawnee, an event that ranks

second in importance to the construction of the first railroad to this town. He was One of the crucial commissioners appointed to buy the right of way and make the contract for the railroad to enter the city. At that time the population of Shawnee was five thousand, and the rapid increase since that date should be partly attributed to this additional railroad.

In 1905 Mr. Aydelotte was elected to a full term as mayor of Shawnee. When he entered office the city’s financial condition demanded immediate attention. The city treasury was empty, and city warrants were selling at a discount. It is without doubt one of the high tributes which have been accorded his administration as mayor to point to the truth that when his term was up in 1907 that the city treasury had a balance of $29,000. But it is conceivable to indicate many other additions to Shawnee’s municipal improvement All through this time. The city hall was built, three fire stations were erected and equipped, and $165,000 worth of contracts were left for sewers and the extension of the water works. The bonds that were sold to cover these improvements commanded a premium of four per cent. The M. K. & T. Railroad, which had proposed a line some ten miles south of Shawnee, was induced to build through this city, largely as the result of the persuasion and efforts of Mayor Aydelotte. The Chamber of Commerce, which has recently taken so energetic a part in promoting the city’s improvement, was organized on account of his efforts, and he is one of its most active and efficient members.

J. M. Aydelotte was born in Princeton, Indiana, January 31, 1862, a son of Oscar N. and A. J. I Redburn) Aydelotte the former a native of Covington, Kentucky, and the latter of Maryland. The public schools of Indiana and a commercial school at Lexington, Kentucky, supplied him with his
HISTORY OF THE

STATE OF OKLAHOMA

J. M. Aydelotte. One very important chapter in the history of Shawnee is the career of its wealthiest and most enterprising citizen, J. M, Aydelotte. October 4, 1898, when Shawnee was a village, he came here. Possessing the character that begets confidence, he soon took the lead in some undertakings of great importance to the town and had little difficulty in securing the capital needed to finance them. One of the crucial largest industries of the city is the Shawnee Cotton Oil Company, of which Air. Aydelotte is and has been president since he established the business in 1898. This was the first factory for cotton seed oil in this vicinity, and remembering the foremost position of Shawnee a few of the cotton centers of Oklahoma, it is readily understood why the business has had such an important bearing on the business welfare of the city. The cotton industry was in its infancy in Oklahoma when the factory was built, and received in this way a stimulus that was very needful for its future development. Mr. Aydelotte was also builder of the Shawnee compress, in 1904, which All through its second year pressed 66,000 bales, and thus increased Shawnee’s position as a great cotton market.

In 1903, when the upheaval in the city government of Shawnee occurred, resulting in the removal of the mayor and five coun-cilmen, the man designated by the citizens as chief executive of the city to undertake the work of civic cleansing was J. M. Aydelotte. All through the partial term for which he was elected, he made the specifications for the first paving the city had, and the contract was carried out by his successor in office. Furthermore, he reorganized the city government, and the most substantial a part of Shawnee’s progress as a civic community dates from his first term as mayor. It was All through that time that the Santa”Fe Railroad was brought to Shawnee, an event that ranks

second in importance to the construction of the first railroad to this town. He was One of the crucial commissioners appointed to buy the right of way and make the contract for the railroad to enter the city. At that time the population of Shawnee was five thousand, and the rapid increase since that date should be partly attributed to this additional railroad.

In 1905 Mr. Aydelotte was elected to a full term as mayor of Shawnee. When he entered office the city’s financial condition demanded immediate attention. The city treasury was empty, and city warrants were selling at a discount. It is without doubt one of the high tributes which have been accorded his administration as mayor to point to the truth that when his term was up in 1907 that the city treasury had a balance of $29,000. But it is conceivable to indicate many other additions to Shawnee’s municipal improvement All through this time. The city hall was built, three fire stations were erected and equipped, and $165,000 worth of contracts were left for sewers and the extension of the water works. The bonds that were sold to cover these improvements commanded a premium of four per cent. The M. K. & T. Railroad, which had proposed a line some ten miles south of Shawnee, was induced to build through this city, largely as the result of the persuasion and efforts of Mayor Aydelotte. The Chamber of Commerce, which has recently taken so energetic a part in promoting the city’s improvement, was organized on account of his efforts, and he is one of its most active and efficient members.

J. M. Aydelotte was born in Princeton, Indiana, January 31, 1862, a son of Oscar N. and A. J. I Redburn) Aydelotte the former a native of Covington, Kentucky, and the latter of Maryland. The public schools of Indiana and a commercial school at Lexington, Kentucky, supplied him with his