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The Chronicles of Oklahoma
Volume XXI
June, 1943
Number 2
JOHN BARTLETT MESERVE
JOHN BARTLETT MESERVE
By Grant Foreman
Once again the Oklahoma Historical Society is called upon to
note the passing of another of its directors—one it can ill afford
to lose. John Bartlett Meserve was elected a member of the Board
of Directors on July 26, 1934, and since that time made himself
an important member, whose efforts contributed materially to the
conspicuous position achieved by the Society.
Mr. Meserve came to the board with high ideals and a valid
sense of historical values. At the quarterly meetings, and on all
other occasions, Mr. Meserve's judgment and advice were always
constructive and sound. He had a high sense of the responsibilities
of a director of this Society, and his counsel was always listened
to', with the respect to which it was entitled. He therefore became
one of the most important members, and his loss will be grievously
felt.
Mr. Meserve not only attended faithfully to the duties of a
board member as long as his health permitted, but he often con-
llj tributed excellent articles to the Chronicles. This work was prin-
jjL^c\])a.\\y in the field of biographical sketches of men whose stature
pave them an important place in Oklahoma .history. These adventures in biography entailed much labor and research for matter
touching his subjects, which he had the capacity and zeal to incorporate in entertaining accounts with skill and literary competence
that added much to the interest and scholarship of the magazine.
Mr. Meserve will not only be missed because of his high place
in the councils of the Society, but his amiable, dignified personality
and warm friendship, and his congenial contacts with the other
members of the board accentuate the grief and feeling of loss with
which we will all recall our friend.
Of distinguished lineage, John Bartlett Meserve, son of True
Witcher Meserve and Atline Nancy Stearns Meserve, was born at
Waterloo, Indiana, November 17, 1869, and went with his parents
to Kansas the next year. His academic education was limited to
high school. After his graduation, he taught school and read law
for three years in the office of Burton and Moore, at Abilene,
Kansas. Burton was at one time United States Senator from Kansas; Judge Moore, afterward district judge, was later annotater for
the Supreme Court of Kansas. Mr. Meserve was admitted to the
bar by the Kansas Supreme Court, and for ten years practiced law
at Florence, Colorado. During his residence there he was city at-
