Joseph A. Deen, M. D. As an early settler in that section of Oklahoma once known as the Chickasaw Nation, Doctor Deen has made his life one of exceptional value in the old Indian country and has helped to establish modern communities where not many years ago were profligate red men. large unfilled areas of forest and prairie, cattle ranches and hiding places of men accused of violating every law of God or man. His brain and hand were partially instrumental in the building of the Town of Hickory in Murray County, where he deserves some of the credit for the building of two churches and a modern school building and the organization and provision of a home for the Masonic and Odd Fellows lodges. For several years Doctor Deen has been well established in his practice as a physician and surgeon at Ada.

He was born in Austin, Texas, in 1876, a son of John R. and Mary (Bacon) Deen. His father, also a native of Austin, was an early business man of that city, and married and reared his family there, his wife being also a native of the same city. Doctor Deen has one brother and one sister living: T. W. Deen, a banker at Ardmore, Oklahoma; and Mrs. Stone W. Webster, wife of a furniture dealer at Oklahoma City.

Doctor Deen’s primary education was obtained in the public schools of Texas, and after leaving high school he entered the Southwestern University at Georgetown. Texas, where he was graduated A. B. in 1894. In 1896 he began his medical education in the Barnes University at St. Louis and took his degree M. D. from that institution in 1902. He has never since ceased to be a student and has kept himself apace with all the developments of modern medicine. In 1909 he completed a post-graduate course in the Tulane Medical School at New Orleans, and in 1912 took a hospital post-graduate course in Barnes University.

In 1902 Doctor Deen located for practice at Ardmore, Oklahoma, and remained in that city two years. He then removed to the new Town of Hickory, and was for seven years.engaged in caring for a large practice there and also in promoting the general upbuilding of the community. For three years after leaving Hickory he practiced in Western Oklahoma, and in 1912 located at Ada, where he now has a large and satisfactory practice. Doctor Deen is a member of the Pontotoc Medical Society, the Oklahoma Medical Society and the American Medical Association, and is a member of the Pontotoc County Insanity Commission.

Doctor Deen was married at Hickory, Oklahoma, in December, 1904, to Miss Ada Mitchell. They have two children, Othel, aged ten, and Gerald, aged eight. In Masonry Doctor Deen is affiliated with the Lodge and Royal Arch chapters, and is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is secretary of the Democratic County Central Committee of Pontotoc County, secretary of the Pontotoc County Democratic Club, secretary of the Democratic County Finance Committee and a member of the Democratic Central Committee of Ada from the Fourth Ward. Above these various interests Doctor Deen can be called an enthusiastic member of that large organization of men in Oklahoma known as boosters, and is one of the solid, substantial citizens of his home town.