OKGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of OKGenWeb State Coordinator. Presentation here does not extend any permissions to the public. This material can not be included in any compilation, publication, collection, or other reproduction for profit without permission. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ===================================================================== RUFUS EDWARD CLEMENT Vol. 3, p. 1306 A thorough experience in banking and also as a deputy county treasurer qualified Mr. Clement for his present office as treasurer of Cleveland County, an office in which he is now serving his second term. He has spent practically all his life in old Indian Territory and the State of Oklahoma, and began his active career in a local bank at Norman twelve years ago. He was born in Cooke County in Northern Texas, October 24, 1884, but when about one year of age his parents moved to the old Chickasaw Nation of Indian Territory. His ancestors came out of France and located in America in colonial times, and were afterwards pioneers in Tennessee. His father, R. E. Clement, Sr., was born in Texas in 1847, was reared there and was married in that state to Miss Arah J. Burch, who was born in Georgia in 1845. In 1885 the family removed to the Chickasaw Nation of Indian Territory, and in 1898 established a home near Yukon, Oklahoma on a farm. In 1901 the father came to Norman, where he has lived ever since. He is a farmer and stockman, a democrat in politics and a member of the Baptist Church. He and his wife had five children: Thomas E. , engaged in the farm loan business at Norman; Hiram, who died at Norman at the age of twenty-four; Alexander, in the farm loan at Roff, Oklahoma; Rufus E.; and Kate, who lives with her parents. Rufus Edward Clement attended some of the early public schools of the old Chickasaw Nation, and was also a student at Yukon and Norman, finishing his education in the Norman High School. In 190-4 he entered the First Nation Bank of Norman as a remittance clerk, and did that work for five years. During 1909-11 he served as deputy county treasurer and that experience made him so familiar with the details of the office management that he was no stranger to the duties when he was elected county treasurer in November, 1912. In November, 1914, he was re-elected for a second two year term. In the meantime, during 1911-13 he served as cashier of the Bank of Noble, Oklahoma. Mr. Clement is a democrat, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, is active in the Norman Chamber of Commerce, and is affiliated with Norman Lodge No. 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Norman Chapter No. 24, Royal Arch Masons; Norman Commandery No. 38, Knights Templar; and Norman Camp No 154, Woodmen of the World. In 1910 he was married in Norman to Miss Ollie Briggs, daughter of L. L. Briggs. Her father, now deceased, was a merchant and cotton buyer of Norman. They are the parents of two children: Belva, born January 13, 1913, and Louella, born September 24, 1915. Typed for OKGenWeb by Charmaine Keith, October 4, 1998.