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. ===================================================================== MARK J. COURTNEY Vol. 3, p 1074 For a number of years one of the leading business men of Copan, Washington County, and a public character as well, identified with important business enterprises and having a hand in civic legislation, Mark J. Courtney was appointed to the office of postmaster in November, 1913, and has continued to capably serve in that capacity to the present time. During a long and active career he has been variously employed, as farmer and stockraiser, as oil and gas producer, as newspaper man and as the incumbent of various official positions, and in each direction has impressed himself upon his community as a man of force of character and general worth. Mr. Courtney was born in Jackson County, Michigan, October 26, 1866, and is a son of J. W. and Elizabeth (SILSBY) Courtney. His father, a native of Barnstable, England, was brought to the United States as an infant by his parents, who located in Jackson County, Michigan, where the lad grew up amid agricultural surroundings. He was engaged in farming at the time of the outbreak of the war between the North and South and enlisted in Company H, Michigan Civil Engineers, with which organization he served three years, always having the reputation of a brave and efficient soldier. In 1879, seeking the broader opportunities offered in the West, he moved with his family to Harper County, Kansas, and there remained as a farmer and raiser of stock until the opening of the Cherokee Strip, in 1893. At that time he came to Oklahoma, and at this time is living in quiet retirement at his home at Lamont, being now more than eighty years of age. His career has been an active and successful one, and in whatever community he has elected to cast his fortunes he has always merited and held the esteem and respect of his fellow-citizens. Mrs. Courtney, who is a native of Michigan, also survives, being sixty- seven years of age. She is the mother of three children: Mark J., of this notice; Anna, who is the wife of J. A. BATES, of Lamont, Oklahoma; and Fred, a resident of this state. Mark J. Courtney was brought up on his father's farm in Jackson County, where he resided until reaching the age of fourteen years, in the meantime receiving his education if the district schools. He accompanied the family in its trip to Harper County, Kansas, where he resided for about thirteen years, farming with his father, and when the Cherokee Strip was opened, in 1893, he took up a claim and settled down to farming and stockraising on his own account. Thus he continued until 1906, in which year he came to Copan and became interested in oil and gas development, and at this time he is president of the Courtney Oil and Gas Company, one of the leading concerns of its kind in Washington County. In 1908 he became the founder of the Copan Leader, a newspaper which he conducted as editor and publisher for five years with much success, winning a wide circulation and establishing a position for the organ in journalistic circles of this part of the state. In 1913, however, official duties demanded his attention to the exclusion of other matters, and he leased his newspaper to other parties. Since the time of his majority Mr. Courtney has been a stalwart democrat and an earnest party worker. On coming to Copan, his executive ability and business acumen were recognized by his election to the office of mayor, this town being the only one in the county where the chief executive's term ran for a period of four years. He gave Copan an excellent administration, but later the form of government was changed so that the charge of civic affairs was placed in the hands of a board of village trustees. Mr. Courtney also served capably and impartially in the capacity of justice of the peace for three years, and as a member of the board of education, in which latter position he was able to accomplish something for the schools, of which he has always been a warm friend. In November, 1913, he was appointed postmaster of Copan, then a fourth-class office and at that time gave up the editorship of his paper. On February 1, 1914, when the Copan office was changed to third class, he was again appointed, and has continued to discharge his duties in a thoroughly efficient and courteous manner. He has been able to introduce several innovations which have contributed to the welfare of service, and Copan has probably had no more popular official. Mr. Courtney is also well known in fraternal circles, a charter member and first chancellor commander of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge No. 507, a charter member of the Knights of Pythias here, a master of the Blue Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and a member of the Rebekah and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Courtney was married December 22, 1897, to Miss Ida CONWAY, who was born in Illinois, and was brought as a child to Kansas by her parents, J. W. and Nancy Conway. Mrs. Courtney is well known in club and fraternal circles of Washington County, and has been president and secretary of the Rebekah.Assembly of Oklahoma. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Courtney: Howard, who was born in 1899; and Leslie born in 1901. Typed for OKGenWeb by Lee Ann Collins, December 9, 1999.