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SAMUEL MORTON RUTHERFORD
Vol. 3, p. 1278-1279
Book has photo

Among the members of the Oklahoma legal profession, none has a
better record for straightforward and high professional conduct, or
for success earned with honor and without animosity, than has Samuel
Morton Rutherford, one of the oldest and ablest practitioners at the
Muskogee bar. While Mr. Rutherford's practice is broad and general in
character, he is probably best known as a master of the criminal
branch, in which he has won distinction by an excellent display of
unusual professional talents.

Samuel Morton Rutherford was born at Lewisville, Lafayette County,
Arkansas, February 16, 1859, his father being Robert B. Rutherford, a
noted lawyer of the bar of Arkansas, born in that state at Little
Rock, and a member of the Scotch family which on coming to America
first made its home in Virginia. Mr. Rutherford's mother belonged to
a well know family of South Carolina, where she was born at
Greenville, and bore the maiden name of Sallie Wallace BUTLER. Robert
B. Rutherford, born in 1837, passed his life in Arkansas, and for
many years successfully practiced law at Fort Smith, also for several
terms serving on the bench of the Circuit Court. He was a Confederate
Veteran of the Civil war, and was highly esteemed both as a citizen
and a legist. His death occurred in 1901, when he was sixty-nine
years of age.

Samuel Morton Rutherford was reared at Fort Smith where he received
his early education in the public schools. After some preparation he
entered Emery & Henry College, where he was graduated in 1883, with
the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and following this became a law
student in a law office at Fort Smith, where he was admitted to the
bar. Scarcely had he commenced practice when he was appointed, in
1884, under sheriff of his county, a position which he held until
1892, and then removed to Atoka, Indian Territory, where for two
years he was United States Commissioner. In 1895 Mr. Rutherford was
appointed United State marshal for the Northern District of Indian
Territory, and continued to act in the capacity for two and one-half
years. On March 28, 1895, Mr. Rutherford became a resident of
Muskogee, which city he has continued to make his home. When he left
office as United States marshal, he began to give his entire
attention to the practice of law, and soon attracted to himself
business of the most general in character, he has won the reputation
also of being one of the ablest criminal lawyers in Oklahoma. He has
long been active among the leaders of the democratic political party,
having been chairman of the Indian Territory delegation to the
National Democratic Convention held at St. Louis in 1904, and in 1908
served in the capacity of presidential elector. Fraternally, Mr.
Rutherford is a prominent Mason, belong to the Knights Templar and
the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also will known in Odd
Fellowship and has numerous friends in fraternal circles, all over
the state. With his family, he attends the Episcopal Church.

In 1890 Mr. Rutherford was married to Miss Sallie Dillard, and to
them there have been born four children, namely; Helen K, Samuel
Morton, Jr., John Dillard and Jane Wallace.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Charmaine Keith, January 27, 1999.