Roosevelt was the first large prairie dog town.  When the Blackwell, Enid and Southwestern Railroad, (now the Frisco), was built through Kiowa County, Mexicans were employed in large numbers to do the work.  Native food was scarce and shipping fresh meats was expensive.  The situation was readily solved during the time the gang was working in the vicinity of the present site of Roosevelt, for the Mexicans ate the prairie dogs. 
   Parkersburg, later known as Roosevelt, was a town in the early days.  Not a large town, to be sure, but it had aspirations for growing and becoming large enough to deserve recognition as one of the flourishing cities of southwestern Oklahoma. 
   The plan was fostered by the Parkersburg Development Company, an organization headed by C.S. ("Cap") Winn, John Mansell and a man named Petree.  This company was organized before the opening of the country and before a definite location for the new town could be decided.  Their organization called for a town to be laid out somewhere in the new country on a railroad, which at that time was not built.  Consequently, any location that might be made was little more than a guess. 
   When this company was organized, certificates were sold which would entitle the holder to one lot in the townsite for each certificate purchased.  The company officials finally decided on a site and named their little town Parkersburg in honor of a Mr. Parker of Fort Worth, Texas, a brother-in-law of C.W. Winn. 
   Only two buildings were in town.  One of these was a grocery and feed store owned and operated by C.W. Winn, and the other was occupied by Hutton Brothers, grocers, and run by J.D. and Bob Hutton. 
   Arrangements had been made for obtaining land gifts from persons who owned farms adjoining the site.  The farmers agreed to give 40 acres of their land to the townsite company to induce them to develop the town.  One man, thinking the townsite plans wouldn't be changed, refused to part with his 40 acres.  When this decision became known, the development company arranged to procure the land to the north and the new town opened later about half a mile north of the first site chosen. 
   Charley Hunter, well known in the early days as an organizer of townsites and townsite companies, next became interested in the town.  He organized his company under the name of ‘BES Line Townsite Company'. 
   The claim on which the town was to be built was that of a Mr. Allen, whose son, Bob Allen, was at one time deputy sheriff of Kiowa County.  Hunter bought a relinquishment from Allen and proved up on the land in his own name, 40 acres being set aside for the original townsite, and the remaining 120 acres being retained by him as a homestead. 
   Parkersburg proved to be an unsatisfactory name for the new town.  Another town of the same name had been started southwest of Clinton.  The U.S. Postal Department would not recognize a second town of that name in Oklahoma Territory. 
   Hunter had been a "Rough Rider" under Theodore Roosevelt. [Hunter, Charles E., Sgt. Troop D., Enid, Okla. Territory, on Rough Riders Muster-Out rolls] .  He was deeply impressed by the man who [later became] President of the United States.  It was only natural, then, that he should select the name of "Roosevelt" when a new name was needed for the town. 
   The certificates which had been issued by the ‘Parkersburg Development Company' were never redeemed at their face value.  There were not enough lots left after all the transactions had been completed to distribute one lot for each outstanding certificate.  There certificates were worth slightly more than half value, and the remaining lots were prorated among the certificate holders.  The ratio was about that of five certificates for three lots.  Hunter was obliged to deed half of the town lots of Roosevelt to the ‘BES Line Railroad' in return for privileges which they had granted him.  All of the town lots except those which were distributed to certificate holders were then offered for sale at general auction.  This sale was held in September, 1901, after which, the gradual growth of the town began. 
   ‘President Theodore Roosevelt's trip to the town that was named after him was one of the highlights of the early days'. L.C. Cheuvront said.  He believes is was in 1903. 
   The President had heard of US Marshall Abernathy, famous for his skill in catching coyotes alive.  Roosevelt wanted to see him in action, so he arranged the trip to [nearby] Frederick.  He wanted to come to Roosevelt to see Charley Hunter, one of his ‘Rough Riders'. 
   The President rode into town on horse-back, traveling from Snyder, where he had come by rail.  Cheuvront remembers President Roosevelt the way the history books describe him, ‘just one of the fellows'. 
   Unlike the way Presidents travel today, accompanied by a retinue of Secret Service men, secretaries, reporters, etc., President Roosevelt traveled practically alone.  ‘He didn't need guards,' Cheuvront said, ‘he could have whipped a half dozen men by himself.  Besides, no one wanted to kill Roosevelt.'  He made the trip on to Frederick by horseback and Cheuvront was in the party, which accompanied him. Cheuvront remembers the hunt, and how U.S. Marshall Abernathy, on of the best known marshals in the southwest, ran down coyotes on his horse, catching them with his bare hands. 
   Roosevelt's first water supply was a town well equipped with a windmill, which kept a reserve supply in a 5,000 gallon tank.  It was in the middle of Main Street. E.S. Perkins, an engineer, was given the contract for digging the well and putting in the equipment at a cost of $1,700.  It was in financing this proposition that the first municipal bonds were floated in Roosevelt. 
   A horsepower outfit was used in digging the well.  A horse traveling around in a circle caused the bit to rise and fall and eventually pound out the well to a depth of 286 feet.  A wooden tower was erected and the reserve tank and 12 foot windmill installed.  Hose toughs were built and were in almost constant use after completion.  A faucet made water from the tank more easily accessible to citizens of the town, who came there with buckets and pitchers to get it. 
   Considerable excitement was prevalent when the well was completed and water began to rise.  Citizens of Roosevelt were hopeful that the well would eventually overflow and become an artesian well.  Their hopes were blasted when the water ceased to rise after it had come within 20 feet of the top. 
   The windmill eventually was blown away and the storage tank could be used no longer.  Water was pumped by hand by those who used the town well.  This condition continued until the city water works were completed. 
   Bonds in the amount of $20,000 were voted by Roosevelt for the development of the waterworks, but it was found impossible to sell these bonds.  John Simpler eventually took over the bonds and put in the waterworks.  
   The Rev. W.R. McKnight, a Presbyterian minister of Roosevelt in the early days, made a fight to rid the town of all saloons.  He established the first church in town.  The building was of wood construction, adequately suited for a church, and far more substantial than many other buildings. 
   It was in this building that the first school ever assembled in Roosevelt was held.  It was impossible to build a school house at first and some place had to be found in which the children of school age might be assembled.  Instruction was given by just one teacher.  
   McKnight was consistently opposed to the saloons.  His only means of fighting them was through the church by creating an opposing sentiment and through the county probate court.  At that time it was necessary for the applications for an operating license of a saloon to carry the signature of 30 taxpayers who lived in the ward in which the saloon was located.  Obtaining the 30 signatures at first was an easy matter, for the signature of anyone was accepted.  So long as these signatures were not contested, the saloon keeper was able to receive a license. 
   McKnight knew of these practices and he also knew that if only voters who paid taxes were allowed to sign the licenses, it would be almost impossible to obtain the necessary 30 signatures.  Consequently, he contested every application for a license. 
   The Roosevelt town council took an interest in the struggle and raised the tax on saloons.  They kept increasing it until finally the tax became so high that it was almost impossible for saloons to exist. The fight finally became one-sided through the efforts of McKnight and the high tax imposed by the council.  The two forced the last saloon, the Hugh Carr Saloon, out of existence in 1905, two years before statehood when all saloons were abolished in Oklahoma. 
   The Priscilla Club was the first ladies club organized in Roosevelt.  The Country Club was also a pioneer ladies club as was the Twentieth Century Club, generally called the ‘T.C. Club'. 
   The story of the laying out of the cemetery is an interesting one.  The E.A.  Coulter family, which had moved here from Brown County, Kans., to build and operate the first hotel, had three children seriously ill with typhoid fever.  Coulter remarked one day that if one of the children should die, he would want the burial in Roosevelt. 
   Townspeople proceeded to lay out the present cemetery.  Bill Potts and Bob Hutton staked it off. 
   They thought little Nona Coulter would be the first to be buried, but she got well.  Mrs. L.D. Licklider, wife of the first postmaster, was the first person buried in the Roosevelt cemetery. 
   The land which had belonged to Charley Hunter and all the surrounding land was of good rich farming soil and the town early proved a popular trading center.  The fall of 1901 was very dry but rain came in March, 1902, making it possible for the homesteaders to start breaking their sod.  Old-times recall Gene Hetzel breaking a lot sod that spring with a pair of little mules and a small sod plow.  The homesteaders raised more cotton in 1902 on their new plowed ground than they could pick.  They were still picking it in April, 1903. 
   In the fall of 1902, on one Saturday afternoon, 50 wagons and teams were tied on Main street of Roosevelt, their owners buying supplies, getting acquainted and having a good time.  The homesteaders took their first cotton to Hobart to be ginned, but in 1903 there was a gin built by the Chickasha Gins.  Wheeler Chamberlin was the first ginner. 
   The Methodist church was organized and built in 1901 by Rev. James A. Cumming.  Other pioneer Methodist ministers following him were Rev. C.H. Chader, Rev. C.B. Morgan, Rev. E.H. Reynolds, and Rev. H.H. Jones. 
   In 1915, Rev. John Thacker, a Methodist minister, came to Roosevelt.  He built a new Methodist church and a big community building in connection with the church.  He had a big congregation.  The community building was used for all community gatherings, school plays, school programs and graduations, as well as all big church gatherings.  It was the only building in Roosevelt at that time that was large enough for public meetings.  Rev. Thacker was here for eight years, from 1915 to 1923. 
   The First Christian church was organized by G.B. Bristow, and a Rev. Haddock, who was the first minister, in 1909.  A big tabernacle was build a block east of Main street in Roosevelt.  Sunday school and church were held in this tabernacle for years. 
   The Presbyterian church was organized and built in 1901 by Rev. W.R. McKnight.  It was a block west of Main street in Roosevelt.  This was the church that was used for a school building in the early days. 
   Guy Parker, early day resident of Roosevelt, give this story of the Great Prairie Fire after the opening in Roosevelt: 
   ‘It was one of the many early day happenings that I will never forget.  It took place on the night of March 2, 1903.  It was a very mild night, no wind and perfectly clear, with a full moon shining.  My room mate, C.S. Ward, and I were sitting on the west porch of the Coulter Hotel.  It was about 9 p.m. when we heard a rumbling in the north and remarked that a freight train must be coming in, but saw no headlight, which would have been visible for about four miles up the track.  In a few minutes we could see a black cloud approaching out of the clear sky and bright moonlight. 
   'I told Ward that I was going to Mrs. Williams' cave, which was just north of the hotel and about the only one in town at that time.  Ward said he would wait and see what it amounted to before he would go. 
   'I made a run and got into the cave about the time it struck, and when it did, it was a complete black-out for some minutes.  After the wind had blown all the loose dirt out of the country, the sky became clearer but overcast with smoke from prairie fires.  When I came out of the cave, I went in the hotel and found Ward there trying to wash the dirt off his face, which looked like it was powder burnt, and it was several months before his skin cleared up. 
  ' The evening being so warm and calm had caused many of the homesteaders to burn off the dead grass for spring plowing and when the wind hit, it scattered the fire over the entire country.  The prairies too, were well scattered with cow chips accumulated over the years of pasturing and those were ignited and rolled over the land to help scatter the fire. 
   'The fire that night burnt many of the few farm buildings that had been built, also many head of livestock.  I remember a family in the Cooperton community that had gone to their cave to escape the storm.  The fire ignited the wood door, and they saved themselves by opening canned fruit stored in the cave and fighting the fire from within. 
   'It was reported that this norther originated up in the Dakotas and swept down through western Oklahoma and on to the gulf.  No rain accompanied the norther and the fast moving dirt and sand seemed to be electrified and caused fire to play over wire fences and metal. 
   'Only a small amount of the land had been broken at that time and the grass was heavy in some sections and not many roads had been worked so the fire had practically no resistance to keep it from traveling.' 
   Guy Parker came to Roosevelt in 1902.  He established Roosevelt's first newspaper ‘The Roosevelt Record', the same year.  He later sold the paper to Frank Leasure, who published it for many years. 
   Parker then went into the insurance business, until his retirement.  He helped many people during the depression to keep their insurance.  He was the oldest continuous resident of Roosevelt when he died Aug. 7, 1971.  He knew the history of Roosevelt better than anyone.  We all miss him very much. 
   Parker married Myrtle Cleveland.  They reared two girls and one boy, Robert, Elizabeth and Gertrude. 

   ROOSEVELT POSTMASTERS: 
   J.D. Licklider - First Postmaster - appointed in 1902 
   C.S. Ward - Second Postmaster - appointed about 1906 
   Robert A. Lackey - Third Postmaster - appointed about 1914 
   A. Shannon Gibson - Fourth Postmaster - appointed about 1924 
   Jessie Gailon Ford - Fifth Postmaster - appointed July 1, 1935 
   Susan Bristow Smith - Sixth Postmaster - appointed July 3, 1942 
   Marvin Johnson - Seventh Postmaster - appointed August 3, 1963 
   Kenneth Boydston - Eighth Postmaster - appointed October 4, 1968 

   Mountain Glen, a summer resort four or five miles southeast of Roosevelt, was at its height in the early days.  Under the supervision of Rev. W.R. McKnight, it was found desirable to provide some means of transportation for visitors to Mountain Glen.  That was before the time of good roads and when automobiles were a novelty. 
   McKnight found an old two-cylinder, high-wheel, sight-seeing bus that could be bought for $1,000. 
   Brought here from Kansas City, it had seats for 16 passengers.  George Ray, G. H. Parker, E.A. Coulter, Lee Johnson and T.B. Douthit formed a company to help McKnight buy it.  A special mechanic was hired in Kansas City when the bus was purchased.  No one but this man could run the car and he had lots of trouble because it was always breaking down.  He was a high-salaried man, being paid $100 a month. 
   The car made but few trips from Roosevelt and Hobart to Mountain Glen, however, because it was always out of repair.  After the bus had been taken off the regular trip to Mountain Glen, it was still the basis for interesting experiences. 
   A big fair and picnic was to be held at Cooperton.  The Roosevelt band planned to attend and make the trip on the old bus.  While the bus was at Cooperton, it took sight-seers on short rides for 10 cents.  Hundreds of visitors to the fair got their first ride on a motor-propelled road vehicle.  When time came for the bus to return to Roosevelt, luck began to change.  The high gear had been broken and it was necessary to make the trip in low gear, that being the only other speed on the bus. 
   The trip to Cooperton, a distance of 10 miles, had been made in a little more than two hours.  However, it didn't get back to Roosevelt until daybreak the next morning.  The band members were allowed to sleep until car trouble was encountered, when they were awakened to help the repairing.  The ‘Old Bus' touring days were then over. 
   C.S. Ward, second postmaster in Roosevelt, had the first automobile ever operated in town.  It was a high-wheel, one-cylinder affair, scarcely recognizable as the predecessor of the automobile of today.  It was a marvel at that time, and appearance of the car on the street was an event of considerable interest. 
   Later on, G.B. Bristow, Charlie Poston, Dr. Beckham and L.C. Cheuvront all bought Model T. Fords. 
   J.B. Knight (Daddy Knight, as he was called) ran a dray wagon.  It was a small wagon with a high seat.  First he drove two mules, then later he drove two gray horses, to the wago, [hauling] the mail back and forth from the postoffice to the depot.  He hauled all the express and freight for all the merchants.  He was the source of transportation in the early days. 
   Dewey Eaton reminisced about the days when he used to run a ‘Service Car' in Roosevelt in 1916-1918.  If it surprises you to know that Roosevelt had taxi service back in those days, it might also surprise you to know just how good a business it was. 
   ‘There was a lot of money in the country about then and I'd take in all the way from $35 to $80 per day.  Or, I guess I should say, per night, because that was when the most of the business was,' Eaton said.  ‘The most lucrative part was taking passengers to dances.  I'd take one bunch to a dance and then some others there would want to go to another dance.  I'd take them and maybe pick up anothe load there,' adding that ‘sometimes I'd run all night.' 
   At first Eaton had a 1916 Model-T, then worked up to a 1918 Ford and to a 1919 Dodge.  People depended on taxi service for transportation because most folks didn't own cars then.  When they started buying cars of their own, business fell off.  The taxi-cab ‘boom' lasted about two and a half years.  As for expenses out of the money he took in for fares, they didn't run very high, less then five gallons of gasoline for an $80 day.