JAMES W. COLBERN - Jefferson Co. Okla

Jefferson County, Oklahoma

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Information below was copied from:
"History of Oklahoma" by Luther Hill, published in 1908"

JAMES W. COLBERN, a lumber merchant of Terral, and otherwise a substantial citizen, has been identified with the growth of the locality for a period of twenty-one, years. In 1887 he located in the old town of Doss, Clay county, Texas, having come hither from Johson county, Missouri, where he was born March 16, 1861. While yet an infant he lost his father by death, and when only a boy of seven years was thrown upon his own resources, working for wages and board at various kinds of farm labor, while at the same time struggling to get a fair education. At the age of twenty-six, he left Missouri for Texas, driving through with a team to Clay county, Where he joined his uncle who had preceded him some years before. His relative was a member of the firm of cattle men, Colbern & Powell, and the young man's first work in their interest was performed on, the back of a pony. By economy, prompted by manly forethought, he saved a small capital within a few years, purchased a bunch of yearling steers, and started in business for himself at Doss, Clay county. He there met with a fair degree of success, but in 1902 brought the remnant of, his herd to Terral, disposed of them and entered another field of business. As Terral had no lumber yard he proceeded to establish one, which has since fully met the demands of the community. He also owns a home in the place and is the proprietor of some land in the county. Mr. Colbern is a Democrat in politics and is prominent in Odd Fellowship, being past grand of the local lodge.
Thomas M. Colbern, father of James W., was also born in Johnson countv, Missouri, and for some years followed agriculture in that section of the state. He was killed in 1863, in a political disturbance of the troublous war times. His father William (the paternal grandfather of James W.) was a Kentuckian, a saddler by trade, and a pioneer settler of Warrensburg, Missouri. He married a Miss Simpson and they became the parents of the following: William H., who died at Belton, Cass county, Missouri, as a member of the banking firm of Scott & Company; Sallie, who married John Davis and died in Johnson county, Missouri;Thomas M., the father of our subject; and George Colbern, who passed his last years at Warrensburg, Missouri. Thomas M. Colbern married Angeline, daughter of Samuel McNinch and Rebecca (Myers) McNinch, and his wife died in 1868, the mother of these children: Laura, wife of W. P. Tucker, of Ringgold, Texas; Addie, now Mrs. W. A. Wadell, a resident of Warrensburg; James W., of this review; and Thomas, who passed away unmarried. James W. Colbern was married in Clay county, Texas, on the 7th of December, 1892, to Miss Lue Briscoe, a daughter of Gerard and Charlotte (Smith) Briscoe. Their marriage occurred in Kentucky, when the family came to Texas. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Briscoe are:Mattie, wife of Benjamin F. Denson, of Kansas City, Missouri; John, who is a resident- of New Mexico;Elizabeth, Mrs. William F. Benton, of Belcherville, Texas; Mrs. James W. Colhern; and Peter F. Briscoe, of Terral, Oklahoma. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. James W. Colbern are Charlotte and Ruby .