From the Muskogee Daily Phoenix:
The footprint Dr. F.B. Fite made on Muskogee and northeastern Oklahoma more than 100 years ago is visible today.
His descendants have been physicians here. A grandson served as mayor and a great-grandson is an attorney here.
Fite was born Oct. 17, 1861, in Carterville, Ga., the son of a physician. At age 19, he joined his brother, Dr. R.L. Fite and his half-brother, Dr. J.A. Thompson, in Tahlequah for the study of medicine. He also had charge of a drug store for a part of his time there.
He obtained a teacher's certificate from the Cherokee Normal Institute and taught school one term before being admitted in 1884, he was admitted to what later became the medical college at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. He graduated at the top of his class in 1886 and returned to Tahlequah for two years.
He then continued his studies, serving as first assistant to Dr. John A Wyeth at the Polyclinic Medical School and Hospital in New York. It was there he learned the latest surgery techniques.
He returned to Indian Territory and on Nov. 1, 1889, opened his medical practice in Muskogee. Besides being involved in his practice, Fite also almost immediately became involved in civic affairs.
In 1896, he was named a director of the newly-organized Muskogee Board of Trade, the first group of businessmen in the new town on the prairie. He was asked that year to serve as president of First National Bank. Instead, he became a board member and vice-president.
Fite built a building to house the Dawes Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes in order to get them to set up their headquarters here.
Fite twice served as mayor: From April 6, 1905 to April 11, 1906 and again from Dec. 26, 1919 to April 13, 1920.
He also was a member of the Knights Templar, Odd Fellows and Elks. Fite also was active in the Indian Territory Medical Association and later the state medical group.
Fite had five children, including a daughter, Frances Fite Ambrister. Two of his sons became doctors: Dr. William Patton Fite and Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, who also practiced in Muskogee. Two became attorneys; Julian Bixby Fite, who practiced in Muskogee, and Francis Bartow Fite Jr., who practiced in Seattle, Wash.
Several of his grandchildren became the fourth generations of Fites to practice medicine. Several others became attorneys. One, Coleman Fite, became a geologist and, like his grandfather, served as Muskogee's mayor.
One of the crown jewels of Fite's legacy is the mansion he built at North 16th Street and Denison Street.
Dorothy Fite, who married Coleman Fite in 1958, said she was always told Fite had been interested in serving as governor of the state of Sequoyah when it was being discussed that Indian Territory should be admitted to the Union as a separate state from Oklahoma Territory. When it became apparent all of the area would be one state, Fite dropped his political aspirations in favor of Muskogee resident Charles N. Haskell.
"The intention always was that this was going to be his home, but it was stately enough to be a governor's mansion," Dorothy Fite said.
The house served many years as the family's residence before becoming a medical clinic. Today, it houses a mortgage company and is being restored and remodeled.
"Unfortunately, they will not have the wonderful staircase in the house," Dorothy Fite said. "As you walked in the front door to the back, there was this wonderful staircase to either side."∼*First surgeon in IT.
Son of Dr. Henderson Wesley Fite b. 27 Nov 1824 in McMinn Co., TN, d. 2 Nov 1911 in OK, son of Peter III Fite b. 15 Jan 1791 in Rowan Co., NC; & Sallie Turner Denman b. 3 Sep 1823 in Franklin Co., GA, d. 13 Apr 1891 in Sherman, Grayson Co., TX, daughter of Felix Gilbert Denman b. 1797 & Nancy G. Hutchison b. 1795.
He married on 13 Oct 1889, Julia Theresa Patton (Cherokee, buried at this cem.) b. 29 Dec 1867 in Vinita, CN, IT; they had the following children: Dr. William Patton (buried at this cem.) b. 31 Aug 1890 who married Maurine Mitchell; Frances b. 24 Sep 1893 who married Hubert Ambrister; Francis Bartow Jr. b. 20 Dec 1895 (buried at this cem.); Dr. Edward Halsell Sr. (buried at this cem.) b. 1899; and Julian Bixby Fite (Attorney) b. 30 Sep 1906 in Muskogee, Creek Nation, IT, (buried at this cem.).
**From the Chronicles of OK: Dr. Fite was a good man, being survived by five children. There is one daughter, Mrs. Frances Fite Ambrister, Oklahoma City; and four sons, Dr. William Patton Fite and Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Julian Bixby Fite, Attorney-at-law, Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Francis Bartow Fite, Jr., Attorney-at-law, Seattle, Washington.
Dr. Fite is survived by thirteen grandchildren: Francis Bartow Fite, III, William Patterson Fite, Mary Fite, and Julia Rector Fite, all of Seattle, Washington, and children of Francis Bartow Fite, Jr.; Pauline Ambrister, Oklahoma City, daughter of Mrs. Frances Fite Ambrister; Jane Fite, William Patton Fite, Jr., James Mitchell Fite, and Frances Fite, children of Dr. William Patton Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma; Edward Halsell Fite, Jr., Fulton William Fite, and Coleman Bartow Fite, children of Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Betty Jo Fite, daughter of Julian Bixby Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Dr. Fite is survived by three sisters: Mrs. Bob Bradford, Seattle, Washington; Mrs. W. B. Treadwell, Lufkin, Texas, and Mrs. Mary Montgomery, Houston, Texas.
There were two brothers, Judge A. W. Fite, for many years Superior (Circuit) Judge at Cartersville, Georgia, who died about ten years ago; and Dr. R. L. Fite, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, who died in December, 1937.
The footprint Dr. F.B. Fite made on Muskogee and northeastern Oklahoma more than 100 years ago is visible today.
His descendants have been physicians here. A grandson served as mayor and a great-grandson is an attorney here.
Fite was born Oct. 17, 1861, in Carterville, Ga., the son of a physician. At age 19, he joined his brother, Dr. R.L. Fite and his half-brother, Dr. J.A. Thompson, in Tahlequah for the study of medicine. He also had charge of a drug store for a part of his time there.
He obtained a teacher's certificate from the Cherokee Normal Institute and taught school one term before being admitted in 1884, he was admitted to what later became the medical college at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. He graduated at the top of his class in 1886 and returned to Tahlequah for two years.
He then continued his studies, serving as first assistant to Dr. John A Wyeth at the Polyclinic Medical School and Hospital in New York. It was there he learned the latest surgery techniques.
He returned to Indian Territory and on Nov. 1, 1889, opened his medical practice in Muskogee. Besides being involved in his practice, Fite also almost immediately became involved in civic affairs.
In 1896, he was named a director of the newly-organized Muskogee Board of Trade, the first group of businessmen in the new town on the prairie. He was asked that year to serve as president of First National Bank. Instead, he became a board member and vice-president.
Fite built a building to house the Dawes Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes in order to get them to set up their headquarters here.
Fite twice served as mayor: From April 6, 1905 to April 11, 1906 and again from Dec. 26, 1919 to April 13, 1920.
He also was a member of the Knights Templar, Odd Fellows and Elks. Fite also was active in the Indian Territory Medical Association and later the state medical group.
Fite had five children, including a daughter, Frances Fite Ambrister. Two of his sons became doctors: Dr. William Patton Fite and Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, who also practiced in Muskogee. Two became attorneys; Julian Bixby Fite, who practiced in Muskogee, and Francis Bartow Fite Jr., who practiced in Seattle, Wash.
Several of his grandchildren became the fourth generations of Fites to practice medicine. Several others became attorneys. One, Coleman Fite, became a geologist and, like his grandfather, served as Muskogee's mayor.
One of the crown jewels of Fite's legacy is the mansion he built at North 16th Street and Denison Street.
Dorothy Fite, who married Coleman Fite in 1958, said she was always told Fite had been interested in serving as governor of the state of Sequoyah when it was being discussed that Indian Territory should be admitted to the Union as a separate state from Oklahoma Territory. When it became apparent all of the area would be one state, Fite dropped his political aspirations in favor of Muskogee resident Charles N. Haskell.
"The intention always was that this was going to be his home, but it was stately enough to be a governor's mansion," Dorothy Fite said.
The house served many years as the family's residence before becoming a medical clinic. Today, it houses a mortgage company and is being restored and remodeled.
"Unfortunately, they will not have the wonderful staircase in the house," Dorothy Fite said. "As you walked in the front door to the back, there was this wonderful staircase to either side."∼*First surgeon in IT.
Son of Dr. Henderson Wesley Fite b. 27 Nov 1824 in McMinn Co., TN, d. 2 Nov 1911 in OK, son of Peter III Fite b. 15 Jan 1791 in Rowan Co., NC; & Sallie Turner Denman b. 3 Sep 1823 in Franklin Co., GA, d. 13 Apr 1891 in Sherman, Grayson Co., TX, daughter of Felix Gilbert Denman b. 1797 & Nancy G. Hutchison b. 1795.
He married on 13 Oct 1889, Julia Theresa Patton (Cherokee, buried at this cem.) b. 29 Dec 1867 in Vinita, CN, IT; they had the following children: Dr. William Patton (buried at this cem.) b. 31 Aug 1890 who married Maurine Mitchell; Frances b. 24 Sep 1893 who married Hubert Ambrister; Francis Bartow Jr. b. 20 Dec 1895 (buried at this cem.); Dr. Edward Halsell Sr. (buried at this cem.) b. 1899; and Julian Bixby Fite (Attorney) b. 30 Sep 1906 in Muskogee, Creek Nation, IT, (buried at this cem.).
**From the Chronicles of OK: Dr. Fite was a good man, being survived by five children. There is one daughter, Mrs. Frances Fite Ambrister, Oklahoma City; and four sons, Dr. William Patton Fite and Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Julian Bixby Fite, Attorney-at-law, Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Francis Bartow Fite, Jr., Attorney-at-law, Seattle, Washington.
Dr. Fite is survived by thirteen grandchildren: Francis Bartow Fite, III, William Patterson Fite, Mary Fite, and Julia Rector Fite, all of Seattle, Washington, and children of Francis Bartow Fite, Jr.; Pauline Ambrister, Oklahoma City, daughter of Mrs. Frances Fite Ambrister; Jane Fite, William Patton Fite, Jr., James Mitchell Fite, and Frances Fite, children of Dr. William Patton Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma; Edward Halsell Fite, Jr., Fulton William Fite, and Coleman Bartow Fite, children of Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Betty Jo Fite, daughter of Julian Bixby Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Dr. Fite is survived by three sisters: Mrs. Bob Bradford, Seattle, Washington; Mrs. W. B. Treadwell, Lufkin, Texas, and Mrs. Mary Montgomery, Houston, Texas.
There were two brothers, Judge A. W. Fite, for many years Superior (Circuit) Judge at Cartersville, Georgia, who died about ten years ago; and Dr. R. L. Fite, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, who died in December, 1937.
From the Muskogee Daily Phoenix:
The footprint Dr. F.B. Fite made on Muskogee and northeastern Oklahoma more than 100 years ago is visible today.
His descendants have been physicians here. A grandson served as mayor and a great-grandson is an attorney here.
Fite was born Oct. 17, 1861, in Carterville, Ga., the son of a physician. At age 19, he joined his brother, Dr. R.L. Fite and his half-brother, Dr. J.A. Thompson, in Tahlequah for the study of medicine. He also had charge of a drug store for a part of his time there.
He obtained a teacher's certificate from the Cherokee Normal Institute and taught school one term before being admitted in 1884, he was admitted to what later became the medical college at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. He graduated at the top of his class in 1886 and returned to Tahlequah for two years.
He then continued his studies, serving as first assistant to Dr. John A Wyeth at the Polyclinic Medical School and Hospital in New York. It was there he learned the latest surgery techniques.
He returned to Indian Territory and on Nov. 1, 1889, opened his medical practice in Muskogee. Besides being involved in his practice, Fite also almost immediately became involved in civic affairs.
In 1896, he was named a director of the newly-organized Muskogee Board of Trade, the first group of businessmen in the new town on the prairie. He was asked that year to serve as president of First National Bank. Instead, he became a board member and vice-president.
Fite built a building to house the Dawes Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes in order to get them to set up their headquarters here.
Fite twice served as mayor: From April 6, 1905 to April 11, 1906 and again from Dec. 26, 1919 to April 13, 1920.
He also was a member of the Knights Templar, Odd Fellows and Elks. Fite also was active in the Indian Territory Medical Association and later the state medical group.
Fite had five children, including a daughter, Frances Fite Ambrister. Two of his sons became doctors: Dr. William Patton Fite and Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, who also practiced in Muskogee. Two became attorneys; Julian Bixby Fite, who practiced in Muskogee, and Francis Bartow Fite Jr., who practiced in Seattle, Wash.
Several of his grandchildren became the fourth generations of Fites to practice medicine. Several others became attorneys. One, Coleman Fite, became a geologist and, like his grandfather, served as Muskogee's mayor.
One of the crown jewels of Fite's legacy is the mansion he built at North 16th Street and Denison Street.
Dorothy Fite, who married Coleman Fite in 1958, said she was always told Fite had been interested in serving as governor of the state of Sequoyah when it was being discussed that Indian Territory should be admitted to the Union as a separate state from Oklahoma Territory. When it became apparent all of the area would be one state, Fite dropped his political aspirations in favor of Muskogee resident Charles N. Haskell.
"The intention always was that this was going to be his home, but it was stately enough to be a governor's mansion," Dorothy Fite said.
The house served many years as the family's residence before becoming a medical clinic. Today, it houses a mortgage company and is being restored and remodeled.
"Unfortunately, they will not have the wonderful staircase in the house," Dorothy Fite said. "As you walked in the front door to the back, there was this wonderful staircase to either side."∼*First surgeon in IT.
Son of Dr. Henderson Wesley Fite b. 27 Nov 1824 in McMinn Co., TN, d. 2 Nov 1911 in OK, son of Peter III Fite b. 15 Jan 1791 in Rowan Co., NC; & Sallie Turner Denman b. 3 Sep 1823 in Franklin Co., GA, d. 13 Apr 1891 in Sherman, Grayson Co., TX, daughter of Felix Gilbert Denman b. 1797 & Nancy G. Hutchison b. 1795.
He married on 13 Oct 1889, Julia Theresa Patton (Cherokee, buried at this cem.) b. 29 Dec 1867 in Vinita, CN, IT; they had the following children: Dr. William Patton (buried at this cem.) b. 31 Aug 1890 who married Maurine Mitchell; Frances b. 24 Sep 1893 who married Hubert Ambrister; Francis Bartow Jr. b. 20 Dec 1895 (buried at this cem.); Dr. Edward Halsell Sr. (buried at this cem.) b. 1899; and Julian Bixby Fite (Attorney) b. 30 Sep 1906 in Muskogee, Creek Nation, IT, (buried at this cem.).
**From the Chronicles of OK: Dr. Fite was a good man, being survived by five children. There is one daughter, Mrs. Frances Fite Ambrister, Oklahoma City; and four sons, Dr. William Patton Fite and Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Julian Bixby Fite, Attorney-at-law, Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Francis Bartow Fite, Jr., Attorney-at-law, Seattle, Washington.
Dr. Fite is survived by thirteen grandchildren: Francis Bartow Fite, III, William Patterson Fite, Mary Fite, and Julia Rector Fite, all of Seattle, Washington, and children of Francis Bartow Fite, Jr.; Pauline Ambrister, Oklahoma City, daughter of Mrs. Frances Fite Ambrister; Jane Fite, William Patton Fite, Jr., James Mitchell Fite, and Frances Fite, children of Dr. William Patton Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma; Edward Halsell Fite, Jr., Fulton William Fite, and Coleman Bartow Fite, children of Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Betty Jo Fite, daughter of Julian Bixby Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Dr. Fite is survived by three sisters: Mrs. Bob Bradford, Seattle, Washington; Mrs. W. B. Treadwell, Lufkin, Texas, and Mrs. Mary Montgomery, Houston, Texas.
There were two brothers, Judge A. W. Fite, for many years Superior (Circuit) Judge at Cartersville, Georgia, who died about ten years ago; and Dr. R. L. Fite, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, who died in December, 1937.
The footprint Dr. F.B. Fite made on Muskogee and northeastern Oklahoma more than 100 years ago is visible today.
His descendants have been physicians here. A grandson served as mayor and a great-grandson is an attorney here.
Fite was born Oct. 17, 1861, in Carterville, Ga., the son of a physician. At age 19, he joined his brother, Dr. R.L. Fite and his half-brother, Dr. J.A. Thompson, in Tahlequah for the study of medicine. He also had charge of a drug store for a part of his time there.
He obtained a teacher's certificate from the Cherokee Normal Institute and taught school one term before being admitted in 1884, he was admitted to what later became the medical college at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga. He graduated at the top of his class in 1886 and returned to Tahlequah for two years.
He then continued his studies, serving as first assistant to Dr. John A Wyeth at the Polyclinic Medical School and Hospital in New York. It was there he learned the latest surgery techniques.
He returned to Indian Territory and on Nov. 1, 1889, opened his medical practice in Muskogee. Besides being involved in his practice, Fite also almost immediately became involved in civic affairs.
In 1896, he was named a director of the newly-organized Muskogee Board of Trade, the first group of businessmen in the new town on the prairie. He was asked that year to serve as president of First National Bank. Instead, he became a board member and vice-president.
Fite built a building to house the Dawes Commission to the Five Civilized Tribes in order to get them to set up their headquarters here.
Fite twice served as mayor: From April 6, 1905 to April 11, 1906 and again from Dec. 26, 1919 to April 13, 1920.
He also was a member of the Knights Templar, Odd Fellows and Elks. Fite also was active in the Indian Territory Medical Association and later the state medical group.
Fite had five children, including a daughter, Frances Fite Ambrister. Two of his sons became doctors: Dr. William Patton Fite and Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, who also practiced in Muskogee. Two became attorneys; Julian Bixby Fite, who practiced in Muskogee, and Francis Bartow Fite Jr., who practiced in Seattle, Wash.
Several of his grandchildren became the fourth generations of Fites to practice medicine. Several others became attorneys. One, Coleman Fite, became a geologist and, like his grandfather, served as Muskogee's mayor.
One of the crown jewels of Fite's legacy is the mansion he built at North 16th Street and Denison Street.
Dorothy Fite, who married Coleman Fite in 1958, said she was always told Fite had been interested in serving as governor of the state of Sequoyah when it was being discussed that Indian Territory should be admitted to the Union as a separate state from Oklahoma Territory. When it became apparent all of the area would be one state, Fite dropped his political aspirations in favor of Muskogee resident Charles N. Haskell.
"The intention always was that this was going to be his home, but it was stately enough to be a governor's mansion," Dorothy Fite said.
The house served many years as the family's residence before becoming a medical clinic. Today, it houses a mortgage company and is being restored and remodeled.
"Unfortunately, they will not have the wonderful staircase in the house," Dorothy Fite said. "As you walked in the front door to the back, there was this wonderful staircase to either side."∼*First surgeon in IT.
Son of Dr. Henderson Wesley Fite b. 27 Nov 1824 in McMinn Co., TN, d. 2 Nov 1911 in OK, son of Peter III Fite b. 15 Jan 1791 in Rowan Co., NC; & Sallie Turner Denman b. 3 Sep 1823 in Franklin Co., GA, d. 13 Apr 1891 in Sherman, Grayson Co., TX, daughter of Felix Gilbert Denman b. 1797 & Nancy G. Hutchison b. 1795.
He married on 13 Oct 1889, Julia Theresa Patton (Cherokee, buried at this cem.) b. 29 Dec 1867 in Vinita, CN, IT; they had the following children: Dr. William Patton (buried at this cem.) b. 31 Aug 1890 who married Maurine Mitchell; Frances b. 24 Sep 1893 who married Hubert Ambrister; Francis Bartow Jr. b. 20 Dec 1895 (buried at this cem.); Dr. Edward Halsell Sr. (buried at this cem.) b. 1899; and Julian Bixby Fite (Attorney) b. 30 Sep 1906 in Muskogee, Creek Nation, IT, (buried at this cem.).
**From the Chronicles of OK: Dr. Fite was a good man, being survived by five children. There is one daughter, Mrs. Frances Fite Ambrister, Oklahoma City; and four sons, Dr. William Patton Fite and Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Julian Bixby Fite, Attorney-at-law, Muskogee, Oklahoma, and Francis Bartow Fite, Jr., Attorney-at-law, Seattle, Washington.
Dr. Fite is survived by thirteen grandchildren: Francis Bartow Fite, III, William Patterson Fite, Mary Fite, and Julia Rector Fite, all of Seattle, Washington, and children of Francis Bartow Fite, Jr.; Pauline Ambrister, Oklahoma City, daughter of Mrs. Frances Fite Ambrister; Jane Fite, William Patton Fite, Jr., James Mitchell Fite, and Frances Fite, children of Dr. William Patton Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma; Edward Halsell Fite, Jr., Fulton William Fite, and Coleman Bartow Fite, children of Dr. Edward Halsell Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma; and Betty Jo Fite, daughter of Julian Bixby Fite, Muskogee, Oklahoma.
Dr. Fite is survived by three sisters: Mrs. Bob Bradford, Seattle, Washington; Mrs. W. B. Treadwell, Lufkin, Texas, and Mrs. Mary Montgomery, Houston, Texas.
There were two brothers, Judge A. W. Fite, for many years Superior (Circuit) Judge at Cartersville, Georgia, who died about ten years ago; and Dr. R. L. Fite, Tahlequah, Oklahoma, who died in December, 1937.
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