COLUMBUS S. PENISTON, merchant of Ryan, popularly known over all this vicinity as "Bud" Peniston, has been, identified with that section of the Red river country now included within Jefferson county since 1887. He came to Indian Territory in that year, with a meagre education and fresh from his father's Arkansas farm. Sugg brothers at that time had one of the largest ranch outfits in this locality, and for a couple of years he was in their employ as cowboy, beginning at a salary of fifteen dollars a month. After this experience he began his career in merchandising and during the following years was associated with the enterprises of several well known business firms on both sides of the river; was with J. H. Harper, hardware merchant of Terral for eighteen months; with Ralls and Garrison as their clerk in the same town. He came to Ryan in 1893, where he became clerk for J. H. Harper in the hardware and implement business. A year later he opened a grocery business of his own, the firm being Pinkard, Ralls and Peniston, but the destruction of the store by fire left him without capital and at the foot of the ladder again. For a time he worked for wages at any occupation he could find, and in the course of that period was representative over portions of Oklahoma and Texas for the McCormick Harvester Company. For four years he was with the establishment of O. B. Garrison; was in the stock business two years, was clerk for Sid Webb at Bellevue, Texas, and on returning to Ryan became a member of the firm of Jackson and Company, general merchandise. When their stock was divided a year later, Mr. Peniston took the groceries and has, since conducted that line of business. During all his residence in this part of the country, Mr. Peniston has maintained a reputation of strictest integrity both in business and personal conduct and is a citizen of high standing. He is a member of the common council of Ryan, and in politics is a Democrat.
Mr. Peniston was born in Drew county, Arkansas, April 4, 1863. His grandfather, Anthony Peniston, was of English birth, and died in Petersburg, Virginia, in 1813. John G. Peniston, father of the merchant whose career has been above told, was born in Petersburg, Virginia, in the early years of the nineteenth century, and when he passed away at Ryan August 15, 1906, he was ninety-five years old. He had a rather remarkable life. Self-educated, he had worked as apprentice in a newspaper office in his native town until he was twenty-one. He was a soldier in the Creek and Florida Indian wars and was the last of the pensioners of those wars to die. From his native town he moved to Georgia and opened a watering resort at Catossa Springs. About 1854 he moved to Drew county, Arkansas, and thenceforth was identified with the pursuits of the farm. At the time of his death he was the oldest Mason in Oklahoma in point of years. His religious affiliation was with the Missionary Baptist church. His wife was Sallie Smith, of Georgia, who died in Drew county, Arkansas, January 26, 1876. Her children were: William G., of Ryan; Thomas, deceased;John G., deceased; Wayne, of Randolette, Oklahoma; Ernest, of Ryan; Virginia, wife of W. G. Wilson, of Drew county, Arkansas; Columbus S.; Mary, wife of Robert Scarborough, of Ryan; and Joseph, of Drew county, Arkansas