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Notwithstanding his well known caution and respect for conservative measures in banking, he has the progressiveness and courage of the present, and while carefully conserving the interests of the depositors has contributed materially to the growth and development of the institution, the prominence of which adds to the prestige of the community. Mr. Wooldridge was born in Russell County, Kentucky, September 22, 1877, and is a son of Jesse and Nancy A. (BLANKENSHIP) Wooldridge, and a member of a family which came from Ireland to America during colonial times and settled in Virginia. Jesse Wooldridge was born at Jamestown, Russell County, Kentucky, November 3, 1844, and there grew up, was educated, and married, his wife having been born in the Blue Grass State in 1847. In 1869 he went to Northwestern Missouri, where he spent two years, but soon returned to his native state, and remained there engaged in farming and stockraising until 1894, when he again went to Missouri. After two year; he removed to Eddy, McLennan County, Texas, where he continued actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1906, and then came to Hollis, where he now makes his home, practically retired. Mr. Wooldridge has been industrious and energetic all his life, and although now over seventy years of age, still takes a keen interest in affairs of an agricultural nature. In political matters he is a democrat, but has not been an office seeker, while his fraternal connection is with the Masons. He has been a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mrs. Wooldridge died in Missouri, in 1896, aged forty-nine years, the mother of six children: Ada, who is the wife of G. D. MABERY, a farmer of Eddy, Texas; Bart M., of this notice; May, who married Bell SASSER and resides on his farm at Memphis, Texas; Mervin H., who is engaged in the hardware business at Hollis, Oklahoma; Everett R., who is engaged in farming in the vicinity of Hollis; and Walter R., who is a banker and resides at the home of his parents. Mr. Wooldridge was married a second time in 1899, when united in marriage at Eddy, Texas, with Mrs. Martha (SHELTON) HIX, a native of Tennessee, but a resident of Bruceville, Texas. One child, Thelma, has been born to this union, she being a student in the public schools. Bart M. Wooldridge was reared on the home farm and secured his education in the public schools of Russell County, Kentucky, being graduated from the high school there in 1894. Until 1898 he remained on the homestead, engaged in assisting his father in its operation, and then turned his attention to educational work and for five years taught in the country schools of McLennan County, Texas. Mr. Wooldridge's advent in Oklahoma took place in 1903, when he located at Martha, and was principal of the school there for two years. While he had gained a reputation as an efficient and popular educator, he was not satisfied with his progress, and in 1907 entered the Altus State Bank, in the capacity of bookkeeper, giving up his teaching work entirely. Through faithful and competent performance of duty he was promoted to the position of assistant cashier and remained with that institution until 1909, when he organized the Martha State Bank, of which he was cashier until January 1, 1914. On February 1, 1914, he came to Headrick to accept the position of cashier of the Citizens Bank, and this he has retained to the present time. This institution was established in 1904, the founder being J. E. ERNST, and in 1912 the present handsome banking house was erected on the corner of Main and Fourth streets. The capital of the bank is $10,000, its officials are W. E. SANDERSON, president; J. R. MCMAHAN, vice president, both of Altus; and B. M. Wooldridge, cashier, and it is known as one of the substantial financial concerns of Jackson County. Mr. Wooldridge has thoroughly established himself in the confidence of the people of this community, and his own well-known integrity has done much to attract business to the bank's coffers. He is a director in the Wichita Southern Life Insurance Company of Wichita Falls, Texas. In political matters Mr. Wooldridge is a democrat, but he has selected his career and has followed it closely, and in it public service has played no part. With his wife he attends the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which both are active members, Mr. Wooldridge being a member of the board of stewards. His fraternal connections are numerous, including membership in Altus Lodge No. 62, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Altus Chapter No. 60, Royal Arch Masons; Altus Council; Eldorado Commandery, Knights Templars; Altus Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star; and Altus Lodge of Odd Fellows, and he is also a member of the Oklahoma State Bankers Association. In September, 1909, at Altus, Oklahoma, Mr.Wooldridge was married to Miss Crowell HAM, daughter J. R. Ham, of Artesia, New Mexico. They have no children. Transcibed by Jeanne M. Misleh, 23 July, 1999. SOURCE: Thoburn, Joseph B., A Standard History of Oklahoma, An Authentic Narrative of its Development, 5 v. (Chicago, New York: The American Historical Society, 1916).