William J. Whiteman is born
A later county biography places his birth in Clarksville, Texas.
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DOCUMENTED TIMELINE
W. J. Whiteman and Goodwater
A chronological guide separating family history from independently documented events.
About the 1893 date: The Whiteman family dates construction of the home to 1893. Independent Oklahoma Historical Society material establishes the W. J. Whiteman home in Goodwater before Oklahoma statehood. Those are related, but distinct, historical claims.
W. J. Whiteman settles in Goodwater
The 1923 McCurtain County biography says he moved from Clarksville to Indian Territory and settled in Goodwater in 1893. Family history dates the home to the same year.
Goodwater's first postmaster
Historical postal records give Whiteman's appointment as Goodwater postmaster on December 19, 1894.
Territorial directory record
Polk's Oklahoma Gazetteer and Business Directory lists W. J. Whiteman at Goodwater, Indian Territory, including a notary listing.
The Goodwater home is documented
Oklahoma Historical Society photographic records identify the W. J. Whiteman home in Goodwater as built before 1907.
Banking, waterworks and gin
Contemporary newspaper material identifies Whiteman with the Bank of Haworth, the Haworth waterworks franchise and the Haworth Murray Improved Gin.
Publishing
The Haworth Herald lists W. J. Whiteman of Goodwater as a director of the Herald Publishing Company.
Education
A county school-board organization elected W. J. Whiteman president.
Agricultural investment
The Haworth Herald reported Whiteman importing Hereford calves and distributing them in the Goodwater community.
Pioneer merchant
The McCurtain Gazette described him as a pioneer merchant who had operated at Goodwater for many years before statehood, with business, farming and banking interests.
County biography
A published county history records his 1893 settlement in Goodwater and summarizes his farming, merchandising and banking activities.
Death
His obituary again described his long residence in Goodwater and his business and community connections.