The following was printed Cherokee Okla Republican, Dec. 17, 1982, on page 10:
". . . SAND HILL BANKER"
"Vinita Hunt is the only one left of a family of 10 of G.J. McDuffee's
children.
"Her daughter, Nada Bernard, copied this from a Wichita paper dated
1916. The headline read: "Sand Hill Banker Suddenly Stricken." Subhead: "G.J.
McDuffee of Cherokee, OK, Dies in Dispute Over a Loan - Had Been Pioneer Money
Lender in Oklahoma - Friend of the Needy."
"Oklahoma's 'Sand hill banker'--G.J. McDuffee, 70 years old--dropped
dead at his home in Cherokee, Ok., yesterday noon. The news was brought to
Wichita today by an attorney, Webster Wilder of Cherokee.
"Mr. McDuffee was in an altercation with an obstinate 'client' of the
name of Camp, had delayed certain payments on a loan made by the 'sand hill
banker' and is said to have refused to make any payments at that time.
"Then I'll sue," said the pioneer loan broker, shaking his hand high
over his head, a habit when greatly aroused. The arm collapsed and he stumbled
backwards.
"Mary," he called to his wife. Mrs. McDuffee caught him as he fell.
He died in his wife's arms. [Editor's NOTE: He is buried next to wife named Loretta
C. who died three years before him. Mary is a second wife.]
"Mr. Wilder was summoned to the McDuffee home a few minutes before his
train left for Wichita. He found the dead man on the floor. Around the body
were gathered Mr. McDuffee's four young children. The man with whom the banker
had been displeased had gone, very much frightened. (Mrs. Hunt says four
weren't there--that she was married then.)
"For years G.J. McDuffee was the only money merchant in that part of
the country. He 'backed' many cattle men and 'grub staked' hundreds of
speculators.
"At one time not long ago, there were in his home as many as forty
unrecorded chattel mortgages for amounts ranging from $100 to $900. He made
loans sometimes running into the thousands on big cattle deals. His rates of
interest were according to the financial state of the man with whom he dealt.
If the man was unable to pay high interest, a reasonably low rate was charged.
It was otherwise with wealthier men.
"The Cherokee attorney, Mr. Wilder, was in consultation with Wichita
attorneys today. While here,he renewed an old acquaintance with Police Dective
John T. Young."--end of article.