Leroy "L. R." Kershaw (1880-1969) was an American attorney, banker, businessman, cattleman and political candidate. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Muskogee, Oklahoma area and the founder of Morris, Oklahoma. He was born on December 6, 1880 in Elmwood, Illinois, the son of David R. and Jennie Mariet (Cole) Kershaw. He led the team in scoring as the football running back for the Elmwood High School Trojans in 1900. The team went undefeated that year, winning twelve games scoring 87 points versus the competition, which scored only 11 points all season. On July 25, 2013, which was nearly 113 years later, the Elmwood Weekly Post published a headline story about the undefeated team, with the team photo posing the question: "Was Elmwood's 1900 football team the best ever in school history?"
Kershaw graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois with a degree in Law where he was a charter member of the law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta in 1904.
Professionally, he first became an Immigrant Agent for the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, selling land to farmers along the wide railroad right-of way in Northeastern Oklahoma. With the connections he had established with the railroad, he platted the town site of Morris, Oklahoma, in 1904, before statehood. He was one of the founders of the Farmer's State Bank in Morris, (Indian Territory) Oklahoma (in 1905) and the First National Bank of Morris, Oklahoma (in 1908). Active in state politics since 1905, L. R. Kershaw was nominated to the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, which became the new state of Oklahoma in 1907.
In 1910 he purchased the controlling interest in the National Bank of Okmulgee, Oklahoma. In 1910, a young L. R. Kershaw played host to the Vice President of the United States, James S. Sherman, in his visit to Oklahoma City. In 1912, Kershaw began a long career as a cattleman. Kershaw served as a Director of the American Aberdeen-Angus Breeder's Association from 1916 through 1920. Kershaw showed the Grand Champion Steer, Muskogee Boy at the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago in 1917. In March, 1918, this prize steer was offered for sale in a public auction held in the lobby of the Lee-Huckins Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City for the benefit of the American Red Cross. The auction brought $3.16 a pound for the steer, for a total of $5,890 for the Red Cross Fund, establishing a world record price. The coat from the steer was made into an overcoat for U. S. President Woodrow Wilson and the meat was processed for General "Blackjack" Pershing's staff in France. Later that year, Kershaw was elected President of the Southwest American Livestock Show. In 1919, Kershaw won the Grand Champion Steer trophy, with Muskogee Boy II, the brother to Muskogee Boy at the Texas State Fair in Dallas. That same year, his prize bull, Plowman, won the Grand Champion Bull trophy at five of the nation's most prestigious livestock shows. Plowman claimed 53 grand championships, more than any other show bull, living or dead.
The bull was sold in Kershaw's 1920 sale for $40,000 - a price unheard of at that time and a world record for many years. There has never been another herd of cattle that has shown over as wide an area of country and won so many premiums as that belonging to Kershaw. The herd had won 266 grand championships, 685 first place rankings, 376 second-place, 186 third-place, 79 fourth-place and 53 fifth-place rankings, within a period of six years, bringing to the owner innumerable cups and silver trophies. He showed his prize herd of cattle in more than 22 cities in 8 states, and in Canada.
In 1920, as President of the Southwest Livestock Show, he convinced officials with the Armour and Company packing house in Chicago to contribute $200,000 charged to advertising to go towards the construction of a Livestock Pavilion at the Oklahoma City stockyards. The new facility, the largest of its kind in the Southwest, was completed in 1922. As a public servant and as a business leader in his hometown of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Mr. Kershaw was a member of the Council of Defense during World War I. From 1924 through 1926, he was the Muskogee County Republican Party Chairman. In 1924, he was appointed as a delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1924, he married Clara Amanda Harrison, of Princeton, Indiana. Their first child, Patricia Ann was born the next year. In 1927 they produced their first set of twins, Robert Eugene and Elizabeth "Betty" Kershaw and in 1933 they produced a second set of twins, Jean Mary and Joan Mary Kershaw. In 1930, Kershaw was a Republican candidate for the Governor of the state of Oklahoma. Starting in 1926, and through the Great Depression he was appointed by the U. S. Treasury Department, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as the receiver for a number of national banks, located in three states, including Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas. At one time, he was receiver for 13 banks during the depression.
During World War II he began platting residential subdivisions on the north and west side of Muskogee. He financed many of these homes with his own capital, offering many first-time home buyers the opportunity to own their own home. These additions included Kershaw Heights, Kershaw Circle, Kershaw Acres, East Park Place, Ridge Crest Addition, Home Acres 1st and 2nd Additions, Lincoln Park and Carver's First Addition. Kershaw lived in the family home at 1320 West Okmulgee until his death on June 25, 1969 at the age of 88. He was survived by 28 grandchildren. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, by the National Park Service in 1984 as property #84003322.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._R._Kershaw
Kershaw graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois with a degree in Law where he was a charter member of the law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta in 1904.
Professionally, he first became an Immigrant Agent for the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, selling land to farmers along the wide railroad right-of way in Northeastern Oklahoma. With the connections he had established with the railroad, he platted the town site of Morris, Oklahoma, in 1904, before statehood. He was one of the founders of the Farmer's State Bank in Morris, (Indian Territory) Oklahoma (in 1905) and the First National Bank of Morris, Oklahoma (in 1908). Active in state politics since 1905, L. R. Kershaw was nominated to the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, which became the new state of Oklahoma in 1907.
In 1910 he purchased the controlling interest in the National Bank of Okmulgee, Oklahoma. In 1910, a young L. R. Kershaw played host to the Vice President of the United States, James S. Sherman, in his visit to Oklahoma City. In 1912, Kershaw began a long career as a cattleman. Kershaw served as a Director of the American Aberdeen-Angus Breeder's Association from 1916 through 1920. Kershaw showed the Grand Champion Steer, Muskogee Boy at the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago in 1917. In March, 1918, this prize steer was offered for sale in a public auction held in the lobby of the Lee-Huckins Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City for the benefit of the American Red Cross. The auction brought $3.16 a pound for the steer, for a total of $5,890 for the Red Cross Fund, establishing a world record price. The coat from the steer was made into an overcoat for U. S. President Woodrow Wilson and the meat was processed for General "Blackjack" Pershing's staff in France. Later that year, Kershaw was elected President of the Southwest American Livestock Show. In 1919, Kershaw won the Grand Champion Steer trophy, with Muskogee Boy II, the brother to Muskogee Boy at the Texas State Fair in Dallas. That same year, his prize bull, Plowman, won the Grand Champion Bull trophy at five of the nation's most prestigious livestock shows. Plowman claimed 53 grand championships, more than any other show bull, living or dead.
The bull was sold in Kershaw's 1920 sale for $40,000 - a price unheard of at that time and a world record for many years. There has never been another herd of cattle that has shown over as wide an area of country and won so many premiums as that belonging to Kershaw. The herd had won 266 grand championships, 685 first place rankings, 376 second-place, 186 third-place, 79 fourth-place and 53 fifth-place rankings, within a period of six years, bringing to the owner innumerable cups and silver trophies. He showed his prize herd of cattle in more than 22 cities in 8 states, and in Canada.
In 1920, as President of the Southwest Livestock Show, he convinced officials with the Armour and Company packing house in Chicago to contribute $200,000 charged to advertising to go towards the construction of a Livestock Pavilion at the Oklahoma City stockyards. The new facility, the largest of its kind in the Southwest, was completed in 1922. As a public servant and as a business leader in his hometown of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Mr. Kershaw was a member of the Council of Defense during World War I. From 1924 through 1926, he was the Muskogee County Republican Party Chairman. In 1924, he was appointed as a delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1924, he married Clara Amanda Harrison, of Princeton, Indiana. Their first child, Patricia Ann was born the next year. In 1927 they produced their first set of twins, Robert Eugene and Elizabeth "Betty" Kershaw and in 1933 they produced a second set of twins, Jean Mary and Joan Mary Kershaw. In 1930, Kershaw was a Republican candidate for the Governor of the state of Oklahoma. Starting in 1926, and through the Great Depression he was appointed by the U. S. Treasury Department, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as the receiver for a number of national banks, located in three states, including Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas. At one time, he was receiver for 13 banks during the depression.
During World War II he began platting residential subdivisions on the north and west side of Muskogee. He financed many of these homes with his own capital, offering many first-time home buyers the opportunity to own their own home. These additions included Kershaw Heights, Kershaw Circle, Kershaw Acres, East Park Place, Ridge Crest Addition, Home Acres 1st and 2nd Additions, Lincoln Park and Carver's First Addition. Kershaw lived in the family home at 1320 West Okmulgee until his death on June 25, 1969 at the age of 88. He was survived by 28 grandchildren. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, by the National Park Service in 1984 as property #84003322.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._R._Kershaw
Leroy "L. R." Kershaw (1880-1969) was an American attorney, banker, businessman, cattleman and political candidate. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Muskogee, Oklahoma area and the founder of Morris, Oklahoma. He was born on December 6, 1880 in Elmwood, Illinois, the son of David R. and Jennie Mariet (Cole) Kershaw. He led the team in scoring as the football running back for the Elmwood High School Trojans in 1900. The team went undefeated that year, winning twelve games scoring 87 points versus the competition, which scored only 11 points all season. On July 25, 2013, which was nearly 113 years later, the Elmwood Weekly Post published a headline story about the undefeated team, with the team photo posing the question: "Was Elmwood's 1900 football team the best ever in school history?"
Kershaw graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois with a degree in Law where he was a charter member of the law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta in 1904.
Professionally, he first became an Immigrant Agent for the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, selling land to farmers along the wide railroad right-of way in Northeastern Oklahoma. With the connections he had established with the railroad, he platted the town site of Morris, Oklahoma, in 1904, before statehood. He was one of the founders of the Farmer's State Bank in Morris, (Indian Territory) Oklahoma (in 1905) and the First National Bank of Morris, Oklahoma (in 1908). Active in state politics since 1905, L. R. Kershaw was nominated to the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, which became the new state of Oklahoma in 1907.
In 1910 he purchased the controlling interest in the National Bank of Okmulgee, Oklahoma. In 1910, a young L. R. Kershaw played host to the Vice President of the United States, James S. Sherman, in his visit to Oklahoma City. In 1912, Kershaw began a long career as a cattleman. Kershaw served as a Director of the American Aberdeen-Angus Breeder's Association from 1916 through 1920. Kershaw showed the Grand Champion Steer, Muskogee Boy at the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago in 1917. In March, 1918, this prize steer was offered for sale in a public auction held in the lobby of the Lee-Huckins Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City for the benefit of the American Red Cross. The auction brought $3.16 a pound for the steer, for a total of $5,890 for the Red Cross Fund, establishing a world record price. The coat from the steer was made into an overcoat for U. S. President Woodrow Wilson and the meat was processed for General "Blackjack" Pershing's staff in France. Later that year, Kershaw was elected President of the Southwest American Livestock Show. In 1919, Kershaw won the Grand Champion Steer trophy, with Muskogee Boy II, the brother to Muskogee Boy at the Texas State Fair in Dallas. That same year, his prize bull, Plowman, won the Grand Champion Bull trophy at five of the nation's most prestigious livestock shows. Plowman claimed 53 grand championships, more than any other show bull, living or dead.
The bull was sold in Kershaw's 1920 sale for $40,000 - a price unheard of at that time and a world record for many years. There has never been another herd of cattle that has shown over as wide an area of country and won so many premiums as that belonging to Kershaw. The herd had won 266 grand championships, 685 first place rankings, 376 second-place, 186 third-place, 79 fourth-place and 53 fifth-place rankings, within a period of six years, bringing to the owner innumerable cups and silver trophies. He showed his prize herd of cattle in more than 22 cities in 8 states, and in Canada.
In 1920, as President of the Southwest Livestock Show, he convinced officials with the Armour and Company packing house in Chicago to contribute $200,000 charged to advertising to go towards the construction of a Livestock Pavilion at the Oklahoma City stockyards. The new facility, the largest of its kind in the Southwest, was completed in 1922. As a public servant and as a business leader in his hometown of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Mr. Kershaw was a member of the Council of Defense during World War I. From 1924 through 1926, he was the Muskogee County Republican Party Chairman. In 1924, he was appointed as a delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1924, he married Clara Amanda Harrison, of Princeton, Indiana. Their first child, Patricia Ann was born the next year. In 1927 they produced their first set of twins, Robert Eugene and Elizabeth "Betty" Kershaw and in 1933 they produced a second set of twins, Jean Mary and Joan Mary Kershaw. In 1930, Kershaw was a Republican candidate for the Governor of the state of Oklahoma. Starting in 1926, and through the Great Depression he was appointed by the U. S. Treasury Department, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as the receiver for a number of national banks, located in three states, including Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas. At one time, he was receiver for 13 banks during the depression.
During World War II he began platting residential subdivisions on the north and west side of Muskogee. He financed many of these homes with his own capital, offering many first-time home buyers the opportunity to own their own home. These additions included Kershaw Heights, Kershaw Circle, Kershaw Acres, East Park Place, Ridge Crest Addition, Home Acres 1st and 2nd Additions, Lincoln Park and Carver's First Addition. Kershaw lived in the family home at 1320 West Okmulgee until his death on June 25, 1969 at the age of 88. He was survived by 28 grandchildren. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, by the National Park Service in 1984 as property #84003322.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._R._Kershaw
Kershaw graduated from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, Illinois with a degree in Law where he was a charter member of the law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta in 1904.
Professionally, he first became an Immigrant Agent for the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, selling land to farmers along the wide railroad right-of way in Northeastern Oklahoma. With the connections he had established with the railroad, he platted the town site of Morris, Oklahoma, in 1904, before statehood. He was one of the founders of the Farmer's State Bank in Morris, (Indian Territory) Oklahoma (in 1905) and the First National Bank of Morris, Oklahoma (in 1908). Active in state politics since 1905, L. R. Kershaw was nominated to the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention, which became the new state of Oklahoma in 1907.
In 1910 he purchased the controlling interest in the National Bank of Okmulgee, Oklahoma. In 1910, a young L. R. Kershaw played host to the Vice President of the United States, James S. Sherman, in his visit to Oklahoma City. In 1912, Kershaw began a long career as a cattleman. Kershaw served as a Director of the American Aberdeen-Angus Breeder's Association from 1916 through 1920. Kershaw showed the Grand Champion Steer, Muskogee Boy at the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago in 1917. In March, 1918, this prize steer was offered for sale in a public auction held in the lobby of the Lee-Huckins Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City for the benefit of the American Red Cross. The auction brought $3.16 a pound for the steer, for a total of $5,890 for the Red Cross Fund, establishing a world record price. The coat from the steer was made into an overcoat for U. S. President Woodrow Wilson and the meat was processed for General "Blackjack" Pershing's staff in France. Later that year, Kershaw was elected President of the Southwest American Livestock Show. In 1919, Kershaw won the Grand Champion Steer trophy, with Muskogee Boy II, the brother to Muskogee Boy at the Texas State Fair in Dallas. That same year, his prize bull, Plowman, won the Grand Champion Bull trophy at five of the nation's most prestigious livestock shows. Plowman claimed 53 grand championships, more than any other show bull, living or dead.
The bull was sold in Kershaw's 1920 sale for $40,000 - a price unheard of at that time and a world record for many years. There has never been another herd of cattle that has shown over as wide an area of country and won so many premiums as that belonging to Kershaw. The herd had won 266 grand championships, 685 first place rankings, 376 second-place, 186 third-place, 79 fourth-place and 53 fifth-place rankings, within a period of six years, bringing to the owner innumerable cups and silver trophies. He showed his prize herd of cattle in more than 22 cities in 8 states, and in Canada.
In 1920, as President of the Southwest Livestock Show, he convinced officials with the Armour and Company packing house in Chicago to contribute $200,000 charged to advertising to go towards the construction of a Livestock Pavilion at the Oklahoma City stockyards. The new facility, the largest of its kind in the Southwest, was completed in 1922. As a public servant and as a business leader in his hometown of Muskogee, Oklahoma, Mr. Kershaw was a member of the Council of Defense during World War I. From 1924 through 1926, he was the Muskogee County Republican Party Chairman. In 1924, he was appointed as a delegate to the Republican National Convention held in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1924, he married Clara Amanda Harrison, of Princeton, Indiana. Their first child, Patricia Ann was born the next year. In 1927 they produced their first set of twins, Robert Eugene and Elizabeth "Betty" Kershaw and in 1933 they produced a second set of twins, Jean Mary and Joan Mary Kershaw. In 1930, Kershaw was a Republican candidate for the Governor of the state of Oklahoma. Starting in 1926, and through the Great Depression he was appointed by the U. S. Treasury Department, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as the receiver for a number of national banks, located in three states, including Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas. At one time, he was receiver for 13 banks during the depression.
During World War II he began platting residential subdivisions on the north and west side of Muskogee. He financed many of these homes with his own capital, offering many first-time home buyers the opportunity to own their own home. These additions included Kershaw Heights, Kershaw Circle, Kershaw Acres, East Park Place, Ridge Crest Addition, Home Acres 1st and 2nd Additions, Lincoln Park and Carver's First Addition. Kershaw lived in the family home at 1320 West Okmulgee until his death on June 25, 1969 at the age of 88. He was survived by 28 grandchildren. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, by the National Park Service in 1984 as property #84003322.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L._R._Kershaw
