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HARRY F. SINCLAIR
Vol. 3, p. 1075-1076

While it may be true that the destinies of some men are controlled
by "a lucky star," the majority of those who achieve something worthy
of the name are undoubtedly under the leading of some stronger and
more substantial influence. While fortune may come to those who wait,
it is more likely to result from an active pursuit. Even in a land of
such opulent resources and opportunities as America, the qualities
which finally win are usually a strong element of persistence,
industry, intelligent handling of resources and a rugged integrity.

For several years Tulsa has been the headquarters for many of the
most prominent oil operators in the country. Many fortunes have been
made and lost in that district, and the city has perhaps as many men
of large wealth as any other locality in the Southwest. In this group
of the unusually successful and enterprising is Harry F. Sinclair.
Mr. Sinclair was one of the earliest oil operators in Southern Kansas
and in the Northern Oklahoma fields. Those who have followed his
activities most closely could never be persuaded that his success,
even in this uncertain and precarious industry, has been a matter of
luck. Mr. Sinclair has shown faith as well as enterprise, has
exhibited courage as well as persistence, and the lessons of
experience have not daunted him in looking far ahead, and in
exercising a judicious optimism in all his ventures. It is an
interesting fact of his career that some years ago he gave up the
humdrum routine of a store to venture his capitol and foresight and
courage in competition with the fascinating possibilities of oil
development. Among business men in Tulsa and Northeastern Oklahoma
Mr. Sinclair's name is closely associated with another well known
figure at Tulsa, Patrick J. WHITE, since together they have effected
some of the greatest productive developments in the oil and gas
district of Oklahoma. Mr. Sinclair's interests are not entirely
confined to oil and gas, and banking as he is of the men of varied
affairs in the business and civic life of Tulsa.

A native of Wheeling, West Virginia, where he was born July 6, 1876,
Harry F. Sinclair is a son of John and Phoebe (SIMMONS) Sinclair. His
father was born across the Ohio River from Wheeling at Woods field,
Ohio and died in 1899 at the age of fifty-one. The mother was born in
Wheeling and is still living. There are two children, and Mr.
Sinclair's older brother is Earl W., now first vice president of the
Exchange National Band of Tulsa. These brothers have reason to be
proud of their father's record as a Union soldier during the Civil
war. He enlisted and went to the front when still in his teens, and
by gallantry and merit was advanced to the rank of lieutenant, and
was one of the youngest commissioned lieutenants in the Union army.
After the war he engaged in the wholesale drug business at Wheeling,
subsequently removing to Independence, Kansas, and was a retail
druggist in that city until his death. He and his wife were members
of the Presbyterian Church and in politics he was a republican.

It was in Southern Kansas that Harry F. Sinclair spent his early
life. His education came from the public schools at Independence and
he was also a student of the University of Kansas. One the death of
his father he assumed the responsibilities of managing the drug store
at Independence. This seemed to him a slow way to fortune, and his
energies and talents required a more expansive field. At the age of
twenty-six he sold out in order to give his entire attention to the
oil developments which were then attracting the notice of the world
in the southern part of Kansas. With only limited capital and with
practically no experience, he staked both his faith and credit in
sinking one of the pioneer wells in the district about Independence.
He struck oil and one success quickly led to another.

It was a natural transition for him to transfer his enterprise to
Oklahoma, just across the line from Kansas. Her he was among the
first to operate successfully in the oil fields. His first well in
this state was put down near the Kansas line. Unlike many operators
his "strikes" have been much more numerous than his failures, and
there are now men who would not readily follow the judgment of Harry
F. Sinclair in anything connected with oil and gas. Old timers in the
business about Tulsa give him credit of being one of the shrewdest
operators in the country, and if anyone could be pronounced an
infallible authority in productive oil operations, probably Mr.
Sinclair would have as valid a claim to such title as any man in
Oklahoma. In making up his successful record as a business man the
two qualities of ability and reliability have gone hand in hand, and
men who deal with him have as much confidence in his integrity as
they have in his judgment. At the present time he is a member of the
firm of White & Sinclair, which is one of the largest if not the
largest operating company in the State of Oklahoma. He also entered
into the national game, baseball, for recreation and pastime and,
seeing the possibilities for a successful business on a big scale,
will devote his time to providing his efforts in this line as
successful as his oil interests and banking institutions. In one of
the recent publications it was said that: "By his recent action in
reducing the price of admissions to big league baseball, Harry F.
Sinclair, millionaire owner of the Newark Federal league team, has
the thrilled the baseball world and has made Newark, New Jersey, the
center of a storm which will only cease after the novel experience
has been given adequate time to show its worth."

Mr. Sinclair is also a vice president and director of the Exchange
National Bank of Tulsa and is a director of the First National Bank
of Independence, Kansas. He is affiliated with the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks and with a number of social clubs.
Politically his actions are independent of part. On June 20, 1904 he
married Elizabeth M. FARRELL, who was born in Kansas. While his
career has brought him wealth and abundance, Mr. Sinclair has not
been spoiled by good fortune, is plain spoken and modest, pleasant in
all his personal and business relations, and one of the most public
spirited citizens of whom Tulsa as a community is proud.

Typed for OKGenWeb by: Vickie Neill Taylor Nov. 23, 1998.