Edward Mooring Pointer. On January 5. 1910, death removed one of the ablest lawyers and best known citizens of Sequoyah County in the person of the late Edward Mooring Pointer. Mr. Pointer was just in his prime at the time of his death, and for some years enjoyed a large practice as a lawyer, and was a leader in public affairs, having been the first District Court clerk of Sequoyah County after Oklahoma statehood.

While most of his life was spent in old Indian Territory and Oklahoma State, he was a native of Arkansas, born near Indian Bay June 17,1868. His father, Samuel Pointer, married a Miss Mooring.

Reared in Arkansas, he took his higher education in the Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tennessee, from which he was graduated after intervals of several years from both the literary and law departments. After leaving college he was employed as a teacher in the Cherokee Male Seminary at Tahlequah, and was then principal of the public schools at Claremore, Oklahoma. By the aid of teaching he was able to continue his studies for the law and in 1897 graduated LL. B. from the Cumberland University. Locating in what is now Sequoyah County, he soon had an enviable reputation as a lawyer and a promising and profitable practice.

His work as a public spirited citizen and in the democratic party enabled him to impress his personality and influence upon Oklahoma at a time vital in its political progress. He gave time and energy to the promotion of the statehood movement, and it was under statehood that he gained his first distinguished position in public affairs. He was endorsed by members of the bar and by a host of personal friends as nominee for the office of clerk of the District Court for Sequoyah County, and was elected and gave his time and ability to the discharge of his duties until his death. He would have been renominated and re-elected to the same office had his death not occurred before that honor could be paid him.

The late Mr. Pointer was also interested in the firm of Mayo Brothers, general merchants, at Sallisaw. He is remembered for the commendable interest he took in public measures, his progressiveness, his fidelity as friend and neighbor, husband and father, and to the end enjoyed the high esteem and respect of all who knew him. He was an active member of the Knights of Pythias, and in religious matters affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

In 1900 he married Miss Patsy (Martha) Mayes. Mrs. Pointer is a daughter of Jesse and Cherokee (Adair) Mayes, representing two of the most prominent families of the old Cherokee Nation. Mrs. Pointer is still living in Sallisaw, and her two children are named Samuel Jesse and James David Pointer.