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The history of
Bartlesville began with Jacob Bartles, a Civil War veteran who saw
opportunity in Indian Territory.
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Bartles and his family came to the area in 1873 and discovered a land
shaped by three Indian tribes - the Osage, Delaware and Cherokee. He
bought an existing grist mill, then expanded it into a flour mill and,
eventually, a general store and home for his family.
However, Bartles did not start the general store that is given credit
for the birth of Bartlesville. Two employees, William Johnstone and
George Keeler, worked for Bartles until they set out on their own to
open a general store south of the Caney River.
By January 1897, the area around the Johnstone- Keeler store had grown
to include other small businesses and dwellings. Bartlesville, Indian
Territory, was officially incorporated on January 15, 1897.
Keeler had noticed rainbow sheens
on the area creeks and believed that there was an untapped oil supply
beneath the Caney basin. He turned out to be right. On April 15, 1897,
the first commercial oil well in what is now the state of Oklahoma
blew in as a gusher, and the future of our town was ensured. |
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