Submitted by
Loyd Bishop

JOHN R. TATE DEAD

John R. Tate died at the home of his daughter Mrs. J. T. Mills in Tonkawa Wednesday afternoon, after an illness of many months. The funeral was held in Tonkawa Thursday afternoon and the body was brought to the I.O.O.F cemetery south of this city, and laid by the side of his wife. A number of the Masons, and others of our citizens attended the funeral. Mr. Tate was one of our most prominent citizens and his death is universally regretted. Active for years in church, municipal and political circles. Mr. Tate has helped materially in making the history of our city and it is not going to be an easy matter to fill his place. A more extended obituary next week.

OBITUARY

John R. Tate was born in Tennessee, March 3, 1847, and died in Tonkawa, Okla., November 18, 1908. He moved to Cowley county, Kans., in 1877 and lived there until the opening of this country to settlement when he came here in September, 1893. Mr. Tate lost his wife in November 1902, and the break in his health is said to have dated from that time. He was one of our active businessman, and served the city as councilman, and mayor for several terms, and his counsel was always sought upon every occasion of moment for this city. An earnest and conscientious republican, he was always a hard worker for the success of the principles and candidate of that party and he was honored in various ways, the most signal honor being that of his election so delegate from Oklahoma to the Republican National Convention in 1900. Mr. Tate was postmaster for about five years and served in that capacity faithfully and well. He was a member of the Masonic and A.O.U.W. fraternal organizations and a consistent member of the Methodist church. In every circle, whether church, social, political or business he had strong friends and admirers and was a man who had the esteem and good will of the entire community. He was magnanimous, slow to anger, charitable and forgiving, and his family life was ideal. This community as well as the county at large will sadly miss our good friend and will with us honestly mourn the loss of a good friend and a good citizen. Surviving Mr. Tate are six daughters and four sons. Mrs. J. T. Mills, Tonkawa, Mrs. J. M. Blood, Medford, Mrs.Glover, South Haven, Miss Nora Tate, Blackwell, Mrs. Lillian Seibert, Muskogee, Mrs. Bertha Davis, and Walter, Ed and LaVern Tate, at Roosevelt, Okla., and Milton Tate of this city.