William Andrew Richardson. The career of this successful and progressive young business man has been chiefly identified with banking at Okeene, where for the past ten years he has been connected in varying capacities and responsibilities with the institution which after several changes is now the State Guaranty Bank, of which Mr. Richardson is vice president.

As to ancestry this branch of the Richardson family came from Ireland to Virginia during colonial times. William Andrew Richardson was born at Henryville in Clark County, Indiana, July 18, 1883. He is a son of W. A. Richardson, who was also born in Henryville, in 1843, and lived there as a farmer and stock raiser up to 1898. In that year he came to Oklahoma, as one of the early settlers, was a farmer in the vicinity of Kingfisher for several years, and then moved to Frederick at the opening of the Southwestern country, taking up a homestead of 160 acres, which he developed and finally sold. He is now living retired at Frederick. W. A. Richardson married Isabella Gray, who was born at Henryville, Indiana, in 1843, and died there in 1895. There were five children: Philo P., who is a farmer at Frederick, Oklahoma; Charles E., an attorney at Clinton, Oklahoma; Clifford M., a farmer at Frederick; Walter R., a grain buyer at Kremlin, Oklahoma; and William A.

William A. Richardson gained his education in the public schools of Henryville, Indiana, and at Kingfisher, Oklahoma. On coming to Okeene in December, 1901, he found his first position in the local postoffice. He was connected with the Okeene postoffice five years, and then in 1906 began the work which has since made him one of the successful young bankers of this section of Oklahoma. He entered what was then known as the First National Bank as bookkeeper, later was promoted to assistant cashier, and since July 1, 1913, has been vice president of the State Guaranty Bank. This bank was originally established in 1900 as the Bank of Okeene. A national charter was taken out and after 1903 it was the First National Bank. In 1908 it became the State Guaranty Bank. The present officers are: R. C. Menefee, of Kansas City, president; William A. Richardson, vice president; O. E. Durham, cashier. It has a capital stock of $10,000 and surplus of $3,000.

While his success is due to close application to the chief business of his career, Mr. Richardson has many other interests in his home locality. He has served as city clerk of Okeene, is now clerk of the school board, is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and secretary of the Laymen’s Association of the state, is a democrat in polities and is affiliated with Okeene Lodge No. 357, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. In 1909 at Okeene he married Miss Rachel Sherwood, daughter of C. W. Sherwood, who is a Methodist Episcopal minister, now living at Okarche, Oklahoma. To their union were born two children: Marjorie Fern, born January 31, 1911; and Freda May, born May 7, 1914.