Robert Galbreath Jr. (1863–1953) was an American pioneer entrepreneur,

wildcatter A wildcatter is an individual who drills wildcat wells, which are exploration oil wells drilled in areas not known to be oil fields. Notable wildcatters include Glenn McCarthy, Thomas Baker Slick Sr., Mike Benedum, Joe Trees, Clem S. Clark ...

, and oilman in Oklahoma. A native of Ohio, he traveled to Kansas and California in the late 19th century. Returning east by way of the

Indian Territory Indian Territory and the Indian Territories are terms that generally described an evolving land area set aside by the Federal government of the United States, United States government for the relocation of Native Americans in the United States, ...

, he participated with his brother, Herman, in the

Land Rush of 1889 The Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 was the first land run into the Unassigned Lands of the former western portion of the federal Indian Territory, which had decades earlier since the 1830s been assigned to the Creek and Seminole native peoples. T ...

for the unassigned lands. Afterward, he sold his claim and settled in the new town of Edmond. He became an early wildcatter and oil producer. His most notable accomplishment was the discovery of the Glenn Pool oilfield. O'Dell, Larry. ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture''. "Galbreath Robert (1863 – 1953)."
Retrieved May 12, 2014.

Early life

Robert Galbreath Jr. was born to Robert and Sarah A. (née Hill) Galbreath on a farm in

Pickaway County, Ohio Pickaway County is a County (United States), county in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 58,539. Its county seat is Circleville, Ohio, Circleville. Its name derives from the Pekowi ban ...

, on December 23, 1863.Thoburn, Joseph B. ''A Standard History of Oklahoma''. Volume IV.
American Historical Society. 1916. He evidently lived there until he decided to go to Kansas in 1884, where he met with David L. Payne. Payne later achieved notability as leader of the

Boomers (Oklahoma settlers) "Boomers" is the name used for a group of settlers in the Southern United States in what is now the state of Oklahoma. They were participants in the "Boomer Movement." These participants were white settlers from 1879–1889 who believed th ...

in Indian Territory. However, Galbreath did not join the movement, but traveled on to California in 1889. He apparently did not find what he was seeking, because he returned to Indian Territory in 1889. Robert was joined by his younger brother, Herman. They entered the 1889 Land Rush for the Unassigned Lands. The pair claimed land near the present town of Hennessey. They soon sold the claim and moved to Edmond, where Robert served as town marshal and then deputy U.S. marshal.

Settling in Indian Territory

Robert held a variety of jobs after arriving in Edmond, including serving as postmaster and starting a newspaper. In 1892, he married Mary Ellen Kivlehen. Robert participated in the 1893 Cherokee Outlet. Following that experience, he moved his family to

Perry Perry or pear cider is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented pears, traditionally in England (particularly Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Worcestershire), parts of South Wales, France (especially Normandy and Anjou), Canada, Austral ...

, where he published the ''Perry Evening Democrat''. In 1895, he was appointed as a United States commissioner headquartered in

Shawnee The Shawnee ( ) are a Native American people of the Northeastern Woodlands. Their language, Shawnee, is an Algonquian language. Their precontact homeland was likely centered in southern Ohio. In the 17th century, they dispersed through Ohi ...

. (At this time, to have a case for federal court, a commissioner would decide if enough evidence existed). In 1899, Galbreath moved to Oklahoma City to open a real-estate business. There, he formed a business partnership with Charles Colcord.

Wildcatting

Galbreath's career in the oil business began when Colcord and he became partners with Charles "Gristmill" Jones to drill a wildcat well in the newly discovered Red Fork field near Tulsa. The well became a successful producer, providing Galbreath with enough money to continue wildcatting. He then partnered with Frank Chesley and bought a lease on a farm that belonged to Ida E. Glenn and her husband Robert. Ida was a mixed-blood Creek Indian, while Robert was White. She had received the land by allotment. Galbreath reportedly paid about three cents per acre for the lease. Galbreath named the well "Ida Glenn No. 1." The two men operated the drilling rig themselves. On November 22, 1905, it produced a gusher and initiated a major oil boom in the area. The gusher was the first strike in a very large field that Galbreath named Glenn Pool. It became the state's largest oil field. Galbreath moved to Tulsa to continue his activities in the oil fields. Galbreath continued to drill two more producing wells in the Glenn Pool field. Together, these three wells earned him the names "Oil King of the Southwest" and "the richest man in Oklahoma."Davenport, Linda Haas. "History of Glenpool, Oklahoma."
Retrieved May 13, 2014. In 1907, he drilled the first producing well in the Bald Hill Field in Okmulgee County. In 1909, he sold his Glenn Pool holdings to J. E. Crosbie and turned his attention to politics. He defeated W. Tate Brady in the 1912 election for national committeeman of the Democratic Party.

Other business interests

His other business interests included building the three-story Galbreath Hotel in the town of

Bromide A bromide ion is the negatively charged form (Br−) of the element bromine, a member of the halogens group on the periodic table. Most bromides are colorless. Bromides have many practical roles, being found in anticonvulsants, flame-retard ...

, where he intended to develop a health spa based on the local mineral water. The

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

caused the idea to fail. He also attempted to mine iron and manganese in southeastern Oklahoma.

Family

Robert and Mary Ellen had three children: Robert, Leona, George Francis.

Death

Galbreath died on December 12, 1953, in

Tulsa, Oklahoma Tulsa ( ) is the List of municipalities in Oklahoma, second-most-populous city in the U.S. state, state of Oklahoma, after Oklahoma City, and the List of United States cities by population, 48th-most-populous city in the United States. The po ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Galbreath, Robert Jr. 1863 births 1953 deaths American businesspeople in the oil industry Businesspeople from Tulsa, Oklahoma Wildcatters People from Pickaway County, Ohio People from Edmond, Oklahoma People from Indian Territory