The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-04-20
Several Actively Operate Own
Wells-Many Become I'M
mensely Wealthy
LEASES SELLING FOR
$4,000 PER ACRE
Feminine Owners Work With
Men and Know All Best
Prospects in District


adept operators in Oklahoma oil
lands. In the older fields in the south
est many women have become rlch
even millionaires--Deca OF own
ing real estate that happened to be
located within the territory where OIL
\, as found. This is true Ia particular
as regards women OF Indian blood,
for IL is nothing uncommon 10 ma
women among the Cherokee, Usage
Delaware and Creek tribes who have
acquired immense wealth from inns
source. but for women TO become op-
orators and to play the game TOT
themselves is now being done here for
the FIRST time.
Ea this field, the same as in the
oklahoma fields, there are also wo-
men land owners Who are fast acqulr;
mp wealth, and among these are Wo'
men OF Chickasaw and Choctaw IN
dian blood who took their land allot'
lnents In this locality in 1904, when
congress decided TO divide the lndiah
s1q nds,. aex eanita ~, all Leases here IN
.stss proved. fff'fd IRE 49, ~ l;sts2 y
i $1,000 an acre, white NJ tae oUNlSln I,
ouertiy given TO secure oil and gas
tights, and in addition, too, the land
owner retains an eighth royalty IN
whatever minerals may be found on
tho land
The woman operator in this field
started soon after the first well was
brought In. about seven months ago.
She was Miss Villa Richards, OF Wau-
,l,o
IL deeds for Jefferson county the
6fst woman in Oklahoma TO hold that
office.
Miss Richards is not woman suf-
fIagist, although she believes women
are entitle/ TO hold office II they can
be elected and 10 engage in whatever
business lines they may desire. When
the oil business started in this To-
Guilty, therefore, Miss Richards de-
ermined TO become a participant,
With the result that at the present
ime she is the holder OF several hun
dred acres OF leases and has bought
and sold oil and gas rights on land
during the past four months, show
ing a business acumen that has made
her one OF the prominent figures.
Miss Richards first entered the
political game several years ago when
Waurike and Ryan. ancient rivals.
we're fighting II out for county seat
donors. She became an ardent sup
porter OF Ryan and a neverfaltering
campaigner- for that city although
Waurika proved later 10 be the win
ner Then two years ago she made
tile race for register OF deeds, secur-
ing the nomination over a resident
II Waurika-and In Jefferson county,
thus far 10 secure the Democratic
nomination Is considered the same as
icing elected Miss Richards success
in winning this office has encouraged
he women Of other counties 10 max
ready to try for the honor but il also
alarmed the men 10 such an extent
hat the legislature responded with
the law that bars the women hence
lOi ward
To hold extensive zinc and lead
land in the Arbuckle mountains,
north OF Wilson, in addition to being
\ heavy investor i'm oil and gas leases
here. Is the distinction Of Miss Ger.
tTude Sober, OF Davis, a native or
iowa school teacher, expert on min
oral titles and all around business
woman. That she understands what
constitutes a good mineral title can
be testified 10 by numerous men who
tried to wrest from her the zinc and
lead claims that she still holds in the
Arhuckles She spends a great por-
ton OF her time in a cabin on her
mountain claims her possession OF
which has been sustained by the
courts.
Miss Sober IS an advocate OF the
ballot for women and declares ffe-7~e-
nan should pay taxes who is not per-
mitted to vote.
Miss Sober is firmly convinced that
another Joplin district Will be de-
veloped in the Arbuckles and II was
his faith that caused her to fight in
The courts. whenever necessary, TO
hold her mountain lands. She has
Gathered and sold much OF the zinc
carbonate that she has found, but
says the lead and zinc mining bust
ness Is one for rich men only, for the
-eason that expensive concentration
mills must be installed and shafts
sunk into the earth II was this fact
hat led her recently 10 lease her
mountain holdings 10 a Kansas syn
dictate under contract to do imme-
date drilling
A woman who has struck II rich on
this field because OF being iahu
owner is Mrs. George Garrison. OF
Oklahoma CITY and Los Angeles,
whose husband was killed in battle
With Negro outlaw. All Hunter, sew
eral years ago, while Garrison was
Sherifl Of Oklahoma county. Later.
Inc Negro was lynched by mob be-
,suse OF the officers assassination
Included In the estate left by her
husband were several hundred acres
~ land, scattered throughout five
separate sections This land has
advanced rapidly In value. and oil
ellis are now being drilled both
north and south OF her holdings. Mrs
harrison is still buying additional
racts.
Another woman land owner Is Mrs.
carrie L. Mcclure. OF McAlester. who.
with her dsuRhters. Margaret Sadye
and Mrs William Burkhardt. OF
Smithville. inherited several hundred
acres OF land IN this locality some OF
which r. included now within the
lnroven FIELD There are two hig pro
aacihg oil wells on the land. which
e. now considered worth several
thousand dollars per acre Mrs. Nc
Clures husband was one OF the moss
inportant men of ChoctOw blood dur