president of the Eagle-Picher Lead Company, one of the biggest operators in the Ottawa county Oklahoma mining district, and after whom the town of Picher was named, died Sunday night at Chicago, according to word received in Miami Monday morning by A. C. Wallace, who represents the Picher legal interests here. Mr. Picher was 45 years old. He is survived by his wife, and four children. Burial arrangements have not been made, but he will be interred either in Joplin Missouri or California. The story of the rise of Oliver S. Picher to be head of one of the biggest mining corporations in the United states, is an interesting one and shows how the son of a rich man, thrown on his own resources, can be as big if not a bigger success than his father. Mr. Picher's mother died a few hours following his birth. He was sent to his grandparents in California. He graduated from the Leland-Stanford university in California and was later sent to Columbia university where he graduated from the Columbia school of law. Mr. Picher's father, Judge Picher, was the head of the Picher Lead Company at Joplin, so when the son finished school he went to his father's home at Joplin. Judge Picher permitted the son to remain at home for a few days and then he informed him that he had done all he could for him, that he had paid the expense of his schooling and that it was up to "him to make his own way." Mr. Picher went to New York where he entered the law offices of Elihu Root, afterwards secretary of state. After serving eighteen months as one of Mr. Root's assistants, he returned to Joplin. Mr. Picher's grandfather had made a fortune in the Idaho lead and zinc fields and the fact that his father was also in the same business. TOWN MOURNS LOSS OF MAN - Oliver Shepherd Picher is dead, but here in Ottawa county Oklahoma stands a monument in the form of a bustling little city of 10,000 dedicated in perpetuity to honor the name of the captain of industry whose enterprise and foresight transformed this section from a verdant hay field to one of the greatest zinc mining centers the world has ever known. When the news reached Picher Oklahoma, Monday, that the president of the Eagle-Picher Lead Company had died at Chicago, the news spread rapidly and the manifestations of grief and respect among the 1200 or more employees of the company's mines here was great. The town feels a loss of a great benefactor. Mr. Picher visited this town several times during its five years of history and each time he was here he did something for the people of the town, and something beneficial that he was not asked to do. Those who knew him best said that he had a personal interest in watching the progress of the town that was named after him, and his actions were in accord. Lloyd A. Daniel, city attorney, said that the Chamber of Commerce will pass a resolution of respect probably at their next meeting. Mayor W. E. Robbins said that he favored the closing of the business houses during the hours of the funeral Wednesday afternoon as a mark of respect. Whether the mines of A. E. Bendelari, agent [Eagle-Picher interests] will close Wednesday afternoon was not announced this morning but some action of respect will probably be decided upon by the mining interests today.

PICHER-BURIED IN ILLINOIS - W. A. Wallace left Miami Monday night for Chicago where he will accompany the body of the late Oliver Shepherd Picher to Winnetka Illinois, where funeral services are to be held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Episcopal church at that place. Mr. Picher, who was president of the Eagle-Picher Lead Company, died at Chicago early Monday morning. The town of Picher, in Ottawa county Oklahoma, was named after him.

Obituary.