The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-12-19

stances and number Of people who
contributed to the first development
OF oil in this county but the greatest
portion of the credit for this develop
ment and for the growth that has
come to Ardmore and to Carter county
as a result of that discovery be-
longs to Roy M. Johnson.
When Mr.. johnson came here TO es-
tablish a weekly paper and a job
printing office he observed the first
thing that the streets here We're
paved with asphalt. He learned that
the asphalt was mined near Ardmore.
During his residence in Beaumont he
learned that asphalt is nothing more
or less than sand and rock saturated
with petroleum. He concluded that
II there Is asphalt here that there
must be oil and he never changed
his opinion.
While working diligently to estab-
lish paper, and just how hard that
work Is no one but another newspaper
man knows, he kept constantly in
mind that there is oil in this country.
The story of the mortgaging of his
plant, the story OF his borrowing
from every man that would lend
has been told before, but Mr.. Johnson
raised all the money he could and
invested that money in the Healdton
field. In the meantime the govern
ment held a land sale and when
offerings were made of lands that
lie at Healdton, Mr.. johnson was a
bidder just as long as he could raise
the money to make the first pay
ment.
He and his associates induced the
drilling of a well, he advanced from
n weekly newspaper man to a million
aire over night.
The big buying that he did at Heald-
ton has characterized his purchases
since that time II he believes in
acreage he believes in 1t thoroughly
enough to invest lots Of money. II
he believes in friend he believes in
him sufficient to make any sacrifice
for him.
he sold out his paper and entered
the oil business. He has $4,000 acres
In the township to the northwest
Of Healdton where pay gas has already
been found. where oil Is oozing from
the surface in several places, where
water wells on the farms have had
to be abandoned on account Of oil and
the chances are just as good there for
q big field as they were at Healdton,
and should acreage prove good he
will make enough money on that
acreage almost TO pay the national
debt. His energy has contributed TO
much development work not only In
Oklahoma but in other states since
he made his first money Rt Heald-
ton.
While he has invested much money
IN leases he has made a number Of
permanent investments. He has an
interest In the Simpson building, he
owns refinery stocks, he owns much
other Main street property and he
has a number OF farms that he
owns in fec. He has built home
north Of the city that is admired by
many hundreds Of people and he owns
acreage close 10 the city that will
become part OF the townslte. He
owns bank stock and serves on a num-
bcr Of boards OF financial institutions.
He has n great asset In his cheerful
ness. In his regard for others, In his
respect for the feelings Of others, in
his unimpeachable honor, in the clcan-
illness Of his life and these things
have resulted In surrounding him with
an unusually wide circle Of friends
The cnly occasion on which his asso-
ctates ever object TO his acts is
whom they reprimand him for being
more generous than his income will
Justify. He Is man who gets the
principal part OF tho joys of life
out Of the friendship and good will
Of others and his popularity was at
tested when as Republican he was
elected In a Democratic community
to serve on the board Of county COM
missioners. The Democrat, jeff O'Brien,
whom ne defeated need not feel
that his standing contributed 10 the
triumph Of Mr.. johnson because the
voters In the other districts expressed
disappointment when they learned that
they could not vote for Mr.. johnson
and had he been In q race that was
county-wide he would have won as
easily as he did in the one district
Mr.. Johnson was married to Miss
Dessie otey, teacher in the city
schools, and baby has blessed their
home. HIS recreation is found In his
homo and in the joys Of entertaining
his friends In his home.