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VERIS E. MCINNIS
Vol. 3 p. 1135-1136

It is not unusual for one to meet in a community as full of men 
restless to reach still higher successes, whether in business, or 
political or professional life, as Oklahoma City undoubtedly is, men 
who have worked their way to position and independence over the hard 
and tedious self-made road. In this class is found Veris E. McInnis, 
a lawyer of standing at the Oklahoma bar, and a man who has worked 
his way up through a collegiate and university training, over the 
rough paths that must be traveled by the young practitioner, to a 
place of recognition in his chosen profession.

Mr. McInnis was born in Monticello, Mississippi, in 1880, and is a 
son of William F. and Caroline (O'MARA) McInnis. The American 
ancestors of the family were David M. and Rachel Rebecca McInnis, 
who were married in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1780, and in 1814 
emigrated to the United States in a company of 118 persons, which 
landed in Virginia, but later formed a small colony in North 
Carolina. There Mr. and Mrs. McInnis reared a family of eleven 
children. The grandfather of Veris E. McInnis was a Mississippi 
planter prior to the war between the South and the North, and when 
hostilities broke out offered his services to the Confederacy, was 
accepted, and served bravely and faithfully as an officer throughout 
the war, in which several of his sons, uncles of Veris E. McInnis 
were also engaged.

William F. McInnis was born in Mississippi, there grew to manhood, 
and early turned his attention to mercantile pursuits. He was a man 
of good business talents, and until 1890 continued to be actively 
engaged at Monticello, being also prominent in public affairs and 
for some time serving as postmaster and superintendent of schools. 
In 1890 Mr. McInnis went to McKinley, Texas, where he spent five 
years in business, and in 1895 went to Sherman, Texas, there 
carrying on successful activities until his death, August 14, 1910. 
Mrs. McInnis, also a native of Mississippi, still survives the 
father.

While attending the public schools of Texas, Veris E. McInnis formed 
the decision that his would be a professional career, and that his 
training therefor should come about through his own efforts. 
Accordingly he learned stenography and shorthand, applying himself 
so earnestly to learning these vocations that when he was still a 
lad of fifteen years he was doing stenographic work, with the 
receipts for which he was able to take the literary course at Austin 
College, Sherman, Texas. He graduated therefrom in 1899 with the 
degree of Bachelor of Sciences. Mr. McInnis pursued his law course 
at the University of Texas law School, Austin, Texas, being 
graduated from that institution with his degree of Bachelor of Laws 
in 1902, and while there acted in the capacity of stenographer for 
the law department of the university.

Being admitted to the bar at the time of his graduation, Mr. McInnis 
entered upon the practice of his profession at Sherman, in 
partnership with A.L. BEATY, which firm subsequently became Smith & 
Beaty and later Smith &WALL. Mr. McInnis left Texas in 1906, in the 
employ of the Frisco Railroad Company, and until the close of the 
year 1907 held the position of traveling claim agent of the law and 
claim department in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas and Missouri. On January 
1, 1908, Mr. McInnis located permanently at Oklahoma City, in charge 
of the personal injury claims of the Frisco lines in Oklahoma, but 
in 1909 gave up this office to devote himself to his regular 
practice, which he has continued successfully to the present time. 
Mr. McInnis maintains offices at No. 232 American National Bank 
Building. He practices in all the courts and has been successfully 
connected with several cases that have attracted attention and have 
given him prestige in his calling.

Mr. McInnis is a member of the Kappa Alpha (Southern) fraternity and 
of the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. His religious faith is 
that of the Presbyterian Church, and he attends with the 
congregation of the First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City. Mr. 
McInnis is unmarried and resides at No. 1214 North Broadway Street, 
Oklahoma City.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Earline Barger, December 16, 1999.