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HON. MARTIN EDWIN TRAPP
Vol. 3, p. 1215-1216

The present lieutenant-governor of Oklahoma is thirty-eight years
old. His father was an eighty-niner, and the son grew up in the
atmosphere and imbibed the exhilarating characteristics of a new
country. As a political figure his career has been one of exceptional
interests both from the standpoint of service and the high honors
which were paid to him unsolicited and at such an early age. He was a
member of the first state administration of Oklahoma, having been
elected the first state auditor, and in 1914 was recalled from the
management of a prosperous business at Muskogee to assume the duties
of lieutenant-governor and president of the senate. He still claims
the City of Muskogee as his permanent home, but resides during the
official term at the Skiwan Hotel at Oklahoma City.

Born in Kansas in 1877, Lieutenant Governor Trapp is the son of
Charles F. And Mary C. (CAPPS) Trapp, the former a native of Missouri
and the latter of Mississippi. His grandfather was a noted pioneer
character in Missouri. Rev. William Trapp, who was born in Tennessee
and was long familiarly known as "Uncle Billy Trapp" went to Missouri
when a youth about the time the state was admitted to the Union, and
for many years lived in close touch with the Indians, even to the
extent of speaking their language. He became identified with the
Christian Church as a minister and was especially well known for his
work with that church and as an evangelist of great persuasion and
ability. He was three times honored by election to the Missouri
Legislature but was chiefly known for his evangelical work. He died
in 1876 when about seventy years of age. Charles F. Trapp grew up to
become a farmer, was a pioneer in Kansas in 1861, and on April 22,
1889, arrived in Oklahoma with the original settlers. He secured a
homestead seven miles from Guthrie and developed it and made for
himself a substantial reputation as a farmer. He is still living
while his wife passed away in 1894,

Twelve years old when he came to Oklahoma, Martin Edwin Trapp
continued to attend school in some of the early institutions of the
territory, and did his academic work in the Capitol City Business
College at Guthrie. In 1898 he was enrolled in the profession of
teaching and was employed in that vocation during the years 1898- 99-
1900. While teaching he also continued study along special lines,
taking three branches each year, and at the end of the school term if
1900 passed a successful examination and was granted a special
territorial professional certificate qualifying him for life as a
teacher.

However, his active connection with that profession was terminated
when, in 1900, he became a commercial traveler and for the following
four years sold goods to the retail merchants all over Oklahoma. In
this way he acquired an extensive acquaintance and had a great
following of loyal friends all over the territory but in Logan County
particularly. While still traveling as a commercial representative in
1904, without any solicitation on his part, indeed in the face of his
personal objections, he was nominated on the democratic ticket for
the office of county clerk of Logan County and in November of the
same year elected by a majority of 1111 votes. That was an expression
of confidence which attracted wide attention in political circles in
Oklahoma, since Logan County was from the beginning of territorial
days a republican majority of about 1500 votes. His service as county
clerk continued from January 1, 1905, until the close of the
territorial regime. While in that office he was again made the object
of a spontaneous call for further public service. In spite of his
public statement to the effect that he could not consent to become a
candidate for the office, his name was placed on the democratic
ticket as the nominee for the office of state auditor, and in the
first election for state officers his name added great strength to
the ticket and he was chosen by a substantial majority. From the
beginning of statehood on November 16, 1907, Mr. Trapp was state
auditor of Oklahoma until January 9, 1911. At that date he left
office and established himself in the municipal bond business at
Guthrie, and continued that work until January, 1913. In the
meantime, since November, 1913, he has made his home in Muskogee.

At the democratic primary election of 1914 he was nominated for the
office of lieutenant-governor, and the general election of November,
1914, resulted in another handsome tribute to his high political
standing. He entered upon the duties of his office January 11, 1915,
for a term of four years. As lieutenant-governor Mr. Trapp's policy
has been always guided by a desire to do those things which the law
contemplated he should do and leave undone those things which the law
contemplated he should leave undone. As presiding officer of the
senate he has personally presided throughout the entire session of
the Fifth Legislature and the senators give him great credit for
expediting the work of that body. He has improved the efficiency of
the organization and increased the volume of its work by having the
sessions commence early in the morning and continue all day, with
frequent night sessions. In consequence the senatorial session
recently concluded has set a high record in the number of laws of
urgent importance. It has also performed a great deal of corrective
legislation, made necessary by reason of the rush of inadequate laws
that were enacted as urgent measures following the admission of the
new state.

Mr. Trapp is one of the leading Masons of Oklahoma, having taken
thirty-two degrees of the Scottish Rite, belongs to the Oklahoma
Consistory of the Valley of Guthrie, and has local affiliations with
Guthrie Lodge No. 35, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is also
affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Guthrie,
Guthrie Lodge No. 426 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
and the Modern Woodmen of America. In 1900 he became a charter member
of Guthrie Council of the United Commercial Travelers' Association
and still has membership in that organization.

On November 7, 1907, only a few days before Oklahoma became a state,
Mr. Trapp married Miss Lou C. STRANG who was born in Kansas, a
daughter of Judge J. C. Strang, a native of New York State, and now a
resident of Guthrie. Judge Strang was at one time a member of the
Supreme Court of Kansas, and since locating at Guthrie served as
attorney general of Oklahoma Territory.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Jacque Hopkins Wolski, November 18, 1998.