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W. D. CLAUD PICKARD
Vol. 3, p. 1204

The duties and responsibilities of the office of sheriff of
Cleveland County were placed upon the shoulders of a very capable
engineer and business man in the election of Mr. PICKARD to that
office in 1912, and he is now giving a most satisfactory
administration of his second term. Mr. PICKARD represents an early
family of the original Oklahoma Territory, and practically grew up
from infancy and acquired his early training and education in this
state.

He was born in Johnson County, Texas, February 1, 1886, but has
lived in Oklahoma since he was four years of age. The PICKARDS were
originally pioneer settlers in Tennessee. His father, W. D. PICKARD,
was born in Middle Tennessee, in 1860, grew up there and married Miss
Emma MASSEY, who was born in the same section of Tennessee in 1857.
From Tennessee the family moved into Arkansas, and in 1883 to North
Central Texas. In the spring of 1890 W. D. PICKARD came as a pioneer
to Canadian County, Oklahoma, only a few months after the original
opening, and bought a relinquishment to 160 acres fifteen miles
southeast of El Reno. After working that claim and developing it into
a first class farm he removed to Norman in 1901, and is now living
there retired from his regular business as a farmer and stockman. In
politics he is a republican and is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. He and his wife have the following children: Maud,
wife of John MCKITTRICK, a dry goods merchant at Norman; W. D. CLAUD;
Clyde, in the real estate business at Norman; Edna, wife of Hugh
HOUSTON, a farmer living east of Lexington in Cleveland County; Ana,
a teacher in the high school at Noble; Lela, who also is an
instructor in the Noble High School.

W. D. CLAUD PICKARD spent the years of his early childhood and youth
on his father's place in Canadian County and while there attended
public school and was graduated from the Norman High School in 1903.
For two and a half years he was a student in the Oklahoma State
University at Norman, but in the fall of 1905 left school and had
some practical business experience for two years. In 1908 he spent a
semester specializing in engineering at the Oklahoma State
University, and from 1908 to 1911 he followed engineering in
practically all the states west of the Mississippi. He made trips
into Canada. He was engaged in installation work and also was
employed to discover and rectify faults and troubles. In 1911 Mr.
PICKARD returned to Norman where he was engaged in the real estate
business with his brother Clyde until his first election to the
office of sheriff in November, 1912. He was re-elected for another
term of two years in November, 1914. His offices are in the court
house, and he is one of the most popular officials of the county, is
a man of solid character, determined purpose, and does every official
duty without flinching.

In politics Sheriff PICKARD is a republican. He is affiliated with
Norman Lodge No. 7, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Norman Camp No.
154, Woodmen of the World, and carried insurance with the Bankers
Life Insurance Company. In December, 1914, at Norman, he married Miss
Ava BERRY, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew BERRY of Norman. Her
father is connected with the city water department. They have one
child, Claud, Jr.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Connie Ardrey, October 12, 1998.