G.B. Bristow came from Texas to Mountain View and from Mountain View to Roosevelt in September, 1905. 
   He and Harry Ware formed a partnership, running a general merchandise store, [leaving] his family at [nearby] Mountain View until he found a house for them to live in.  About a month later, in October, there was a bad tornado at Mountain View.  When Bristow heard about it, he hired a surrey from the livery stable and drove to Mountain View, fearing that his family had been killed, [but] when he got there, he found that they were all safe.  The tornado had torn the back porch off their house, lifted it over the huse and completely destroyed a school house across the street from them.  It was a happy reunion and time for prayer and thanksgiving.  The family moved to Roosevelt [after that]. 
   Bristow as later a gin manager, depot agent and rural mail carrier.  He was Grand Master of the Masonic Lodge in the state of Oklahoma in 1925. 
   Mr. and Mrs. Bristow reared seven children, Ruth, Roy, Paul, Effie, Susan, Beebe and Lela.  Susan married Eliga (Lige) Smith and they still live in Roosevelt [as of that time].  Susan and Lige retired from the Postal Service in 1968.  She had 30 years and eight months service and he hadd 25 years and eight months service. 

   Charles Street bought a relinquishment south of Roosevelt in 1901.  He helped haul lumber by team from Hobart to build houses.  His daughters were Lulu and Carrie. 

   Dr. Henry Beckham, a native of Tennessee, came to the new town in 1902.  He drove a horse and buggy all over the country, day or night, as he was needed.  He stayed here and practiced medicine for the rest of his life.  Dr. and Mrs. Beckham reared six children, Byron, Merrill, Marcia, Lawrence, Lloyd and Venice. 

   E.H. Tate came from Kansas in 1901.  He drew a homestead two and one half miles northeast of Roosevelt.  He thought the town was going to be built just west of his land.  When the railroad was built, it missed that location and naturaly the town was built close to the railroad.  Mr. and Mrs. reared three children, Muriel, Venice and Eddie. 

   Robert R. Root came from Winfield, Kans. In 1906.  He worked at the Citizens Lumber Co., and later went in the hardware business with a Mr. Stevenson.  In 1910 he bought Stevenson's partnership and operated the business by himself until his health failed in 1947.  Root married Ruth Bristow and they reared three children, Robert LeRoy, Mary and Paul. 

   Mrs. Sarah Elvina McClure and children, Elsie and B.M., came to Roosevelt in 1909.  She bought a building on the east side of Main street and operated a bakery for a year and a half.  Then she built on to the building and operated a hotel for 25 years.  She cooked and served delicious meals. 

   G.S. Stafford came from Texas to Roosevelt in 1904.  He located one half mile south and two-thirds east of the present town of Roosevelt.  In 1907 he moved to Roosevelt where he worked as a barber for 43 years. 

   F.J. Cooper came to Roosevelt in 1900 from Ellis County, Texas.  He lived on a farm nine miles west and one and one-half miles north of Roosevelt.  He was married to Miss Flossie Henson in 1903.  The couple had three children, Muriel, C.E., and J.T.  J.T. and his family still live at Roosevelt. 

   Mr. and Mrs. Ben Albright came to Roosevelt in 1901, living on the relinquishment they bought, east of Roosevelt.  They built a nice three room sod house and lived in it for years and years. 

   Abner Marks and family came to Roosevelt in 1901 from Springfield, Mo., and he drew a claim. 

   Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Shackelford came from Pond Creek, Okla., and bought a relinquishment northwest of Roosevelt.  They reared their family there.  Mrs. Shackelford died in 1940.  They had two children, Earl and Zelma. 

   Mr. and Mrs. John Fears and family were pioneers, coming here from Pond Creek, Okla.  They lived northwest of Roosevelt. 

   Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Harrell came in 1902, and settled on a farm northeast of Roosevelt. 

   S.A. Glover and family came to Roosevelt in 1902 and put in the first blacksmith shop. 

   F.B. Douthit and Low Ford had a feed and coal store in the early days. 

   Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Smith came from Hiawatha, Kans., in 1902 and bought a relinquishment east of Roosevelt. 

   Jim Armour who lived east of town moved in and served on the town council. 

   Jacob Steidinger came to Roosevelt in 1901.  He was born in Stuttgart, Germany.  He drew a farm located four miles east and two north of Roosevelt.  His daughter, Marie and her husband, Frank Gray, still live on that place [at time of writing].  Marie says she has the patent which was issued by Theodore Roosevelt.  She said she assumed he had to live on the place five years before he was given the land since the patent was dated 1906. 
   Steidinger lived in the upstairs part of the barn that housed his meager supply of livestock.  He lived there for seven years before building a regular house and then he batched three more years before he married Anna Braun. 

   L.C. Cheuvront, who bought a relinquishment in 1901, built and ran the first drug store in Roosevelt.  He liked to tell of an incident that happened in front of his drug store one day. 
   He had a lot of fun out of the bobcat he bought from a fellow going through the country.  The coach made a special stop in front of the drugstore, where the bobcat was kept in a cage, for the passengers to look at.  Cheuvront recalls one lady passenger who, when she saw the caged animal, immediately started pleading its case.  She began to berate the cruel people who would tie up such a nice kitty, all the time getting closer and closer to the cat.  At exactly the right moment, the animal lashed out with a paw [and] caught her dress, ripping it from the neck to the hem and all but disrobing her.  Badly frightened, she decided the kitty wasn't so nice after all. 
   Cheuvront later sold the drug store to S.E. Hobson, and he and Jimmy Hines formed the Citizens bank.  Mr. and Mrs. Cheuvront reared one son, Clifton. 

   Mr. and Mrs. S.R. Smith came to Roosevelt in March, 1903.  They bought a relinquishment from a Mr. Lacy, one mile west and one mile south of Roosevelt.  While still living on the farm, Smith worked in town for G.A. Wilson and Duff Grocery store.  Later he managed a store on the east side of main Street known as P.A. Pruitt Grocery.  He began work on the railroad and in 1912 was appointed section foreman.  He was then moved to Rocky, then to Cordell and finally back to Roosevelt where he served as section foreman for many years.  Mrs. And Mrs. Smith reared seven children, Eric, Eliga, Joe, Opal, Curtis, Rex and Dona.  Eliga, Eric and Rex still live in Roosevelt [at time of writing]. 

   Ralph Farrar Sr., came to Roosevelt from Waxahachie, Texas in 1901.  He bought a relinquishment four miles northeast of Roosevelt.  He proved up on the land and farmed it until 1903 when he rented to F.M. Battles, who had a section of land adjoining the Farrar place.  Farrar married Goldie Scheihagen in 1909 and came back to Roosevelt.  They reared six children, Ralph Jr., Mary Anna, Kathryn, Roger, Frances and Thomas Henry.  Ralph Jr., married Isabelle Edmundson and they still live in Roosevelt [at time of writing]. 

   Walter Edmundson came to Roosevelt from Marysville, Kans., in 1901.  He came to work in the bank for Harvey Edmundson, his brother.  Walter went back to Marysville in 1910 and married Mary Culkin, then came back to Roosevelt to work in the bank.  They reared three children Isabelle, Walter Jr., and Mary Jane. 

   Harvey Edmundson came to Roosevelt from Marysville, Kans., in 1901.  He homesteaded a place three miles west of Roosevelt.  In 1903 he came to town and opened the "First Bank of Roosevelt". 

   J.P and J.C. Johnson came from Waco, Texas.  In 1903 they bought a relinquishment southwest of Roosevelt in the Gladson community.  J.C. (Uncle Chris) stayed at that time.  In 1906 Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Johnson and family Rugy and Shirley [followed, then] Mrs. Johnson and children came by train, and Johnson drove through in a buggy pulled by two horses.  He crossed the Red River near Ringgold, Texas, there being no bridges at that time.  The farm home consisted of one room and a half dugout.  Most activity of the pioneer community was centered around the Gladson school house, where they had Sunday School, and preaching just now and then.  The family was active in church and school affairs.  Ruby married Gailon Ford and shirley married Lonita Reneau.  Shirley retired from the postal service after 45 years as a rural carrier. 

   W.C. Reneau came to Roosevelt from Greenville, Texas in 1902.  He bought a relinquishment for a quarter section five miles north of Roosevelt, from a Mr. Simpson who drew it in 1901.  In early 1903 Mrs. Reneau and four children came to their new home, which had two rooms.  The house was enlarged about three times as four more children were added to the family.  The Reneaus were active in community and church affairs. 

   Pyron Peck was manager of the first lumber yard, called the Citizens Lumber yard. 

   Bob Weller came from Maitland, Mo.  He owned the first Hardware store. 

   Dr. James McLean came from tonkawa, Okla.  He was the first doctor, opening a small frame office. 

   Alva Vaught put in the first meat market. 

   The E. Peters family came to Roosevelt from Lexington, Okla., and operated a general store. 

   Alois Lanig, was a native to Stuppach, Germany, where he was born Sept. 23, 1876.  He came from Germany to Kiowa County in 1902 and located three miles west and one mile north of Roosevelt.  He lived on his farm continuously, and worked his own farm as long as his health would permit.  He returned to Stuppach, Germany in 1909 and married Miss Rosina Bauer.  They came back to Roosevelt and continued to live on that farm.  They had three children, John, Joe and Annie.  Joe Lanig and Mrs. Tesla (Annie) Cooper still live near Roosevelt on farms [at time of writing]. 

   E.A. Coulter moved here from Brown County, Kans., about 1902.  He established the first hotel in Roosevelt.  The family later moved to a farm southwest of Roosevelt.  They reared four children, Ethel, Mae, Jess and Angie. 

   S.E. Andrus drew a farm in 1901.  He later moved in to Roosevelt and was justice of the peace for 35 years.  He had lots of experiences in this office.  One day he was assessing a fine on a law-breaker.  This certain law-breaker said, ‘I can't pay that fine, I don't have any money.  You can't get blood out of a turnip.'  Judge Andrus said, ‘I may not be able to get blood out of a turnip, but I can put Old Turnip in jail.' 

   A.J. (Andy) Dunlap started the first bank in Roosevelt in 1902. 

   Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Stoops came from Springfield, Mo., in 1902.  They were both pioneer school teachers, living on a claim northwest of Roosevelt.  They had planned to ride horseback to their respective schools but their horses were stolen and they had to walk.  They reared four children, Paul, Hugh, Beulah and Don.  Stoops taught in the Roosevelt schools for years. 

   Mr. and Mrs. Clark Williams were pioneers.  They lived on a farm northeast of Roosevelt.  They had two daughters, Alta and lela.  Alta married Herman Sheets and Lela married Bill Lohmuller. 

   Mr. and Mrs. Charles Muldowney moved here from Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in 1902.  They lived on a farm northwest of Roosevelt.  They reared their family and they both died their.  Their family consisted of our girls and five boys, Alice, Nell, Dora, Kate, Ray, Tod, Jim, Bernard and John. 

   Mr. and Mrs. Bert Spellman who came here from Colorado Springs, Colo., had the first restaurant. 

   Andres Douthit owned the first telephone system and later sold out to John Lacefield. 

   Miss Bertha Hanner worked in a dry goods store before she married Dr. F.F. Martin. 

   Miss Leta Bunger, from Wisconsin, also worked in a dry goods store before she married G.A. Wilson. 

   Miss Flora Work, who had a millinery shop, married Eutis Stafford. 

   G.A. Saunders owned the first furniture shop and undertaking establishment. 

   C.H. Doyle came to Roosevelt in 1901 as a young man.  He bought a relinquishment two miles north and one mile east of Roosevelt.  He later married Mary Kolte from Missouri.  They reared five children, William, Naomi, Mable and Charlie and May.  Charlie says he is 66 years old now and was born and reared and still lives in the same house, on the same farm, with is wife Velma, that his father originally bought. 

   A Mr. and Mrs. Corn had one of the first stores in Roosevelt, ‘Corn's Groceries and Feed.' 

   Other pioneers were T.J. Cantrall, T.R. Hipp, Tom Evans, John Howard, Edd Moore, H.A. Humble, Claude Stafford, D.W. Tate, J.T. Colvin, J.A. Graves, D.N. Downing, William Hall, J.A. Allard, F.J. Cooper, Grant Butler and Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Corson.