Horton, William

Commerce Oklahoma, April 16 One of the first mill operators in the Oklahoma lead and zinc mining field and a man who had followed the mines since he was first old enough to work, William Horton, 38 year old Commerce man, died in the American hospital at Picher Oklahoma, Monday afternoon from burns received while working at the Cherokee Mine Sunday. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Episcopal church in Commerce by the Rev. R. F. Franklin at 3:30 this afternoon. Burial was in the G.A.R. cemetery at Miami.

Horton was working alone at the Cherokee Mine Sunday afternoon when his clothing caught fire and was burned completely off before fellow workmen arrived at the scene of the accident. It is believed he had spilled gasoline on his clothing, which became ignited while he was burning a pile of old waste he had been using in working on mill machinery. Fellow workmen pointed out that his clothing would not have burned so rapidly and thoroughly unless it was saturated with gasoline or oil.

Mr. Horton was born in Joplin Missouri in 1891. He lived there until 1909, when he came to Commerce [then Hattonville Oklahoma], with his two brothers Nola Horton and Oscar Horton. William had worked as a mill hand in Joplin mines and soon after coming to Commerce secured a job as mill boss at the old Lost Trail Mine, one of the original workings in the Oklahoma Field, which was operated by T. L. Robinson. The Lost Trail Mine operated for 10 years, with Horton as the first and last mill boss. Later Horton worked for the Bluebird Mill, Republic Mill, Prairie Mill, Pioneer Mill, Rainbow Mill and Cherokee Mill, during which time he became one of the foremost millmen in the district with a wide reputation among workers and operators. Mr. Horton is survived by his wife, Mrs. Alta Horton; one son, Coney Horton; two brothers, Nolia Horton and Oscar Horton; and six sisters, Mrs. J. H. Hew, Mrs. Charles Grubbs, Mrs. Murray Clark, Mrs. Ralph Ruench, and Mrs. Otto Gorsuch, all of Joplin Missouri, and Mrs. Charles Lewis of Commerce. The Mitchelson undertaking company of Commerce was in charge of the funeral.

Note: Two different spellings of Nolia Horton / Nola Horton.