William L. Spikes. Much of the good that was accomplished in advancing the cause of education in Oklahoma as far back as 1900 had its inception in an understanding on the part of the teachers of the conditions that prevailed in the territories in that day. Oklahoma then had been largely populated by people from the southern states, and the southern teachers with training sufficient for the task who came here had a decided advantage over those who came from the northern states. This condition prevailed for several years, or until the North and South became acquainted in Oklahoma and a new citizenship absorbed the best ideas that both brought here. Texas and her state normals sent some of the best teachers from the South. Among these was William L. Spikes, who came to Western Oklahoma in 1902. He had completed a course in the North Texas Normal College at Denton, Texas, and had five years of successful experience in that state. He taught for three years in the public schools of Beckham County and then left the profession to take up pharmacy. He entered the School of Pharmacy of the University of Oklahoma in 1908 and finished the course the following year. He then engaged in the drug business in Catoosa, but moved to Aylesworth in 1910. Here he has one of the largest stocks of merchandise in the town and one of the largest in a town of that size in the county.

Mr. Spikes was born in Cass County, Texas, in 1877, and is a son of W. B. and Urina (Walker) Spikes. His father was a native of Texas and his grandfather a veteran in the Confederate Army. His early education was obtained in the public schools of Texas, and his professional education was obtained during the years of 1896-7-8 in the North Texas Normal College.

Mr. Spikes was married in 1903, in Denton, Texas, to Miss Nannie Fox. They have five children: Lovella, aged eleven; W. L., aged nine; Orvel Dixon, seven years old; Orleta, five and Verna, three. Mr. Spikes has two brothers and three sisters. J. A. Spikes is principal of the public schools at Wheeler, Texas. Mrs. Alvin Matthews is the wife of an insurance man of Denton; Mrs. W. A. Taliafero is the wife of a merchant in Denton. Miss Hattie Spikes teaches in the public schools in Aylesworth, and H. W. Spikes is a dry goods merchant in the same place.

Mr. Spikes is prominent in fraternal circles as a member of the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. He is a member of the Business League of Madill, though his home and main interests are in Aylesworth, Oklahoma. He owns some valuable farm land in the vicinity of Aylesworth and is actively interested in agriculture and livestock.