On April 22, 1889, Foress Ball Lillie arrived in Guthrie on one of the many trains that
transported the pioneers flooding into the newly opened Unassigned Lands
seeking to make their fortunes. He was thirty four years old and had already made
a name for himself in Kansas, having owned a drugstore in Chapman KS. He had
also served as mayor in Chapman and had established another drugstore in
Dighton, KS. Not satisfied with his life, Foress decided to venture into the new Indian
Territory on the day Guthrie was born. Although he made it to the fledgling city,
his tent and trunk did not arrive until the next day. Not discouraged by the delay he
began his business career, presumably in the open air, selling stationary
and stamps until he could take delivery of his drugs and join the 10,000 who lived in
the tent city that was Guthrie.
He also had a printing press shipped to Guthrie
and printed the Guthrie Getup newspaper.
Foress Lillie was so well known that this post card
dated June 12, 1906, sent from Dinkler Drug
in Anadarko needed no address other than his
photo and the town of Guthrie.
F.B. Lillie was a significant figure in the development of the pharmaceutical industry
in Oklahoma. He helped establish pharmacy law in the Oklahoma Territory and
was a founding member of the Oklahoma Territory Pharmaceutical Association.
He served on numerous pharmacy boards and was a leading figure in both state
and national pharmacy associations and boards. He was a valued member of the
Guthrie community as well a leader in education and the establishment of many
pharmacy associations.
The Lillie Drugstore, having been established on Land Run Day, April 22, 1889 was
not only one of the first businesses in the Indian Territory but stands as a testament
to the entrepreneurship and dedication of the pioneers like Foress Ball Lillie who
settled the State of Oklahoma.
transported the pioneers flooding into the newly opened Unassigned Lands
seeking to make their fortunes. He was thirty four years old and had already made
a name for himself in Kansas, having owned a drugstore in Chapman KS. He had
also served as mayor in Chapman and had established another drugstore in
Dighton, KS. Not satisfied with his life, Foress decided to venture into the new Indian
Territory on the day Guthrie was born. Although he made it to the fledgling city,
his tent and trunk did not arrive until the next day. Not discouraged by the delay he
began his business career, presumably in the open air, selling stationary
and stamps until he could take delivery of his drugs and join the 10,000 who lived in
the tent city that was Guthrie.
He also had a printing press shipped to Guthrie
and printed the Guthrie Getup newspaper.
Foress Lillie was so well known that this post card
dated June 12, 1906, sent from Dinkler Drug
in Anadarko needed no address other than his
photo and the town of Guthrie.
F.B. Lillie was a significant figure in the development of the pharmaceutical industry
in Oklahoma. He helped establish pharmacy law in the Oklahoma Territory and
was a founding member of the Oklahoma Territory Pharmaceutical Association.
He served on numerous pharmacy boards and was a leading figure in both state
and national pharmacy associations and boards. He was a valued member of the
Guthrie community as well a leader in education and the establishment of many
pharmacy associations.
The Lillie Drugstore, having been established on Land Run Day, April 22, 1889 was
not only one of the first businesses in the Indian Territory but stands as a testament
to the entrepreneurship and dedication of the pioneers like Foress Ball Lillie who
settled the State of Oklahoma.
| THE OKLAHOMA DRUGSTORE STORIES SITE IS OPERATED BY THE OKLAHOMA PHARMACY HERITAGE FOUNDATION, A NON PROFIT 501(c)(3) |
| GO TO STORIES IN CHAPTER FOUR |
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FORESS BALL LILLIE | 1855 - 1926 | GUTHRIE OK
| Post Card from the F.B. Lillie Collection: (Box 4 Folder 2, OU Western History Collection, Norman, OK) |
Note:
The address on
the Lillie Drug Co
promotional calendar
dated 1931 is Guthrie,
Okla and the telephone
number reads:
Telephone # 61
The address on
the Lillie Drug Co
promotional calendar
dated 1931 is Guthrie,
Okla and the telephone
number reads:
Telephone # 61
- - - - - - -
Having been born in Texas, Fred Blalock and his brother Jack worked as
druggists and with a series of partners owned the Corner Drugstore in Madill.
In 1945 they became the sole proprietors. The brothers were well respected
businessmen. Fred served as Mayor of Madill and was a long time member
of the City Council.
An incident on Sunday, July 17, 1932 would catapult The Corner Drugstore
into infamy in the history of Oklahoma.
A federal prohibition officer named Wiley U. Lynn walked into the Corner
Drug Store that Sunday and shot Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
Agent, Crockett Long. Seems Wylie Lynn had long held a grudge against
Agent Long for his arrest in connection with the death of the famous lawman
William Matthew Tilghman in 1924.
Agent Long shot back and both men died later from their wounds.
The Madill Corner Drug Store under the ownership of Fred and Jack
Blalock and their partners was forever designated as the site of "The Last
Oklahoma Shoot Out".
druggists and with a series of partners owned the Corner Drugstore in Madill.
In 1945 they became the sole proprietors. The brothers were well respected
businessmen. Fred served as Mayor of Madill and was a long time member
of the City Council.
An incident on Sunday, July 17, 1932 would catapult The Corner Drugstore
into infamy in the history of Oklahoma.
A federal prohibition officer named Wiley U. Lynn walked into the Corner
Drug Store that Sunday and shot Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation
Agent, Crockett Long. Seems Wylie Lynn had long held a grudge against
Agent Long for his arrest in connection with the death of the famous lawman
William Matthew Tilghman in 1924.
Agent Long shot back and both men died later from their wounds.
The Madill Corner Drug Store under the ownership of Fred and Jack
Blalock and their partners was forever designated as the site of "The Last
Oklahoma Shoot Out".
FRED CLAUD BLALOCK | 1893-1955 | MADILL OK
JACK BLALOCK | 1897-1968 | MADILL OK
JACK BLALOCK | 1897-1968 | MADILL OK
An very old saddle bag stored a
variety of pharmaceuticals and
medicines used by the traveling
physician or the pharmaceutical
salesman. Click the photo to see
more detail.
variety of pharmaceuticals and
medicines used by the traveling
physician or the pharmaceutical
salesman. Click the photo to see
more detail.
| CLICK THE SMALL IMAGES UNDER STORIES FOR MORE DETAIL! |
