The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-06

When Ardmore was nothing more
| than row of frame shacks, with
| board sidewalks, and mud streets, L.
c. Slaughter, now president Uf the
Slaughter Motor Company, came to
| this city with mis- family and eStab-
iished a homestead. This occurred in
1889, when Ardmore's population was
about 500. The lot which Mr.. Slaugh-
ter took up was located in what is
now First avenue, southeast. Dur
ing the first eight years he resided
IN this city, Mr.. Slaughter engaged in
the grocery business at 4 East Main
street. where the Dixie store is now
located Mr.. Slaughter had purchas-
ed the Dot and frame building, one
story in height, which was destroyed
by fire Mr.. Slaughter Immediately
erected another structure of brick and
two stories 'in height, which was also
destroyed by fire when the conflagra-
ton swept over the town in 1895.
Mr.. Slaughter then erected the build
ing which is now standing on the
site. He sold it TO Mrs. A. M. Burch
in 1914.
Mr.. Slaughter was one OF the pro
gressive citizens who have made pos
sble Ardmore as it is today. He has
always taken a keen interest in civic
affairs, and has devoted great deal
of his time in municipal activities. The
second year after Ardmore was in
corporated, Mr.. Slaughter served as
q member of the board of aldermen,
and also served a period of two terms
sometime later in the same capacity.
In 1902. he was appointed as chief
of the fire department of this city
and with this appointment became the
first paid chief in the service of the
city. He he'd this office for 10 years. |
3 months, and % days. Mr.. Slaught-
er states that he has always remem-
bered the time he spent on this posi-
ton because of the nature of the work. |
which was mt that time very different |
from the manner in which the fire
department is conducted at the present
time Horse drawn vehicles were then
n use by the fire department, and
With the dirt streets. travel was very
'ough, especially when the thorough
ares were muddy, and double the
number of horses usually used were
'equired to pull the fire wagons. When
he city government was changed and
board of commissioners established,
'ir. Slaughter served one term as a
member of the board.
His first venture in the automobile
BUSINESS was in 1915, when together
With L. d. Nelms. he organized the
Slaughter Motor Company which is
he local agency VI the Maxwell and
chalmers cars.
Mr.. Slaughter was born at Bonham,
Texas in 1857. Until he was q years
Id, he worked in the flour mill own
d by his father. after which he went
o Jimtown. where he ran q gin
Mil for himself. Jimtown was vii
age near Leon, Okla, and is now out
4 existence.
In 1873 he married Miss Annie
'homas, of B1nham. Texas. Two
hildrcn %. the couple, who are living Q
tins city. are Dudley r. Slaughter.
nd Mrs. Winnie Nelms.
AFR. Slaughter was one Of the pio-
eer automobile dealers of the city.
ie began in small way as very
ew autos were sold in the early days
'ut OF this small beginning he has
uilt a mammoth business. His ter !
Itory comprises a large area reaching
rom the Arkansas line on the east
The Cotton county oil area on
he west. His company Is one of the
rgest distributing companies Of the