On March 24, 1901, Denver was born in Kentucky. The Grigsby family moved to Sapulpa when Denver was six, just before Oklahoma statehood, in 1907. He and his siblings made many new friends and became a part of Sapulpa and its history.
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Denver would graduate from Sapulpa High School in 1921, alongside Frances Hutt, the opera singer and nearly-First-Lady-of-the-United-States we wrote about a couple of weeks ago. As Hutt made news about her singing and performances while at the High School, Grigsby made a splash in the news for his performances on the diamond.

In high school, Denver was the pitcher on the mound. Not only could he throw, he could bat, too. In the Sapulpa Herald, Babe Ruth was given a nickname of “king of the swing” and the “mighty swat artist.” Other nicknames George Herman “Babe” Ruth were the “the Bambino” and the “Sultan of Swat.” Grigsby was often compared to some of the greats in baseball when it came to homeruns.

Sapulpa High School Sappers, then before being renamed the Outlaws, before being renamed Chieftains, came home as baseball champions in 1920 and 1921. “By winning four straight games, one of which was a thirteen inning game, the Sapulpa High School ball team is coming home tonight the champion team of the great new state of Oklahoma. Shawnee, Norman, Miami, and Nowata went down to defeat at the hands of the locals…Sapulpa was ready to come home with the bacon.

“Grigsby starred pitched throughout the series, having pitched the Miami and Nowata games besides otherwise making himself famous.” The Sappers were acknowledged as one of the best teams in high school baseball.

These great games and the extraordinarily versatile player of Denver Grigsby caught the attention of the New York Yankees. At the end of 1921, Grigsby signed on to play for New York. At the time, Babe Ruth was being transferred from Boston Red Sox to New York Yankees during the 1919-1920 seasons. Grigsby would’ve played alongside one of the best home run hitters of all time.

However, he went to spring training with the Yanks in New Orleans. He was converted from a pitcher to an outfielder, and competed for an outfield position against Babe Ruth and others. He was farmed out to Albany, NY in the Eastern League. He later went to Sioux City, Iowa in the Western League. The town of Sapulpa also had their own Minor League team, the Sapulpa Yanks.

Grigsby came back to Sapulpa and played his heart out to earn the spot in the Major Leagues. “Denver Grigsby sets a new home run record. Boy! Page Babe Ruth, Ken Williams, Home Run  Baker, and all the mighty swat artists. Then tell ‘em this story: Denver Grigsby, outfielder with Sapulpa Yanks, smashed all the present day home run records in the major leagues and tied the world’s record hung up since the first organized baseball game when he knocked four home runs yesterday!”

Grigsby was immediately “gobbled up” by the Chicago Cubs after receiving word on the great batter. “Denver Grigsby, Sapulpa’s offering to the major leagues, has won his berth in the outfield with Killefer’s Chicago Cubs, National League aggregation. He would be flown out to California for the Cubs training in February 1923.

While training in California in 1923, Denver turned twenty-two. He was praised by the Cubs. “Denver Grisby, who will soon reach the age of 22, is one of the most promising young outfielders in Killefer’s roster of recruits.” Grisby threw right-handed, and batted left, and was said to be “one shining light.” “That young man is right handed and he has plenty of power back of his cast. Denver throws low and he paints speed on his throws. Grisbsy is proving the most apt pupil. Grigsby is fast and rangy and stands well at the plate. He bats left-handed and hits the ball hard. Thus far he has displayed no weakness against pitchers.”

His contract stated he would earn $400 per month for his services*. He earned three seasons with the Chicago Cubs. In 1924, Grigsby was a starter. “Grigsby had a respectable career batting average of 2.89 with an on base percentage of .355 over a period of 199 MLB games.” He also had 73 RBI, 179 hits, and had 3 home runs during his time in the Major Leagues**.

*Note: in 1924, the earnings of $400 per month (or $4,800 a year) is nearly $7,000 a month (or $84,000 a year) in today’s inflation.

**Note: there have been debates about Denver Grigsby being awarded the Rookie of the Year in 1924. The actual award for Rookie of the Year didn’t begin until Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. The Most Valuable Player in 1924 went to Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees. However, there was an article after Grigsby’s death about Grigsby being Chicago Cubs’, the clubhouse, Rookie of the Year. However, on the Baseball Reference website, is the only place that mentions this status of the 1924 Rookie award. The website states: “exceeded rookie limits during the 1924 season.” This does not prove nor disprove the claim of Rookie of the Year for Grigsby.

Sadly, in the middle of the season in 1925, Grigsby broke his collarbone. He was out for the rest of the season. He was then sold to the Minor Leagues for the Kansas City Blues. He played for the Blues for eight seasons.

While playing ball, Grigsby lived off and on in Sapulpa. He even surprised the town with a wedding and marriage to a local woman, Louise Coley. “The romance of the pair dating back to the days of ‘readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmetic.’” The news broke out about their marriage almost a full month after their ceremony. After the surprising announcement, friends of the newlyweds threw a party. “In recognition of Mr. Grigsby’s popularity among baseball fans the predominant motifs used in the decorations were baseball gloves, mitts, bats, and masks.”

Grigsby was selected to the All Star Team on two different occasions while with the Blues. He then went to Montreal in 1934. The following season he played for Tulsa in the Texas League. His baseball career ended in 1935.

He and Louise settled down in Sapulpa, and made home at 223 N Linden. Denver leased the Skelly Service Station at 517-519 E Dewey before purchasing the lot and naming it the Grigsby’s Skelly Service Station. Grigsby retired from the station service in 1972. Denver Grigsby passed away on November 10, 1973 at Bartlett Memorial Hospital.​

Mabel Bourne was born in Chicago on August 16, 1876. Mabel was the only child of Stephen Bourne and Martha Ellen Bourne. Stephen was a merchant in Chicago and had been a Civil War veteran. Martha, a suffragist, was one of the first women in the country to edit a newspaper.

Mabel found fame at an early age. At ten years old, she began giving beautiful readings, establishing her as a great child elocutionist or orator. With this, her family hoped she would have a stage career. However, she used her voice for another stage, as a public servant.

Mabel married her husband, Joseph Bassett, a railroad conductor, at the age of 16. She continued her schooling, and graduated in St. Louis from Missouri School of Social Economy*. They had three children Clara, Clyde, and Herbert.

*Note: Today, the program is named School of Social Work at the University of Missouri.

The family moved to Sapulpa, Indian Territory, in 1902. They lived at 318 S Linden. Joseph continued his work for Frisco. By 1910, Joseph became a night guard at the County Jail; he retired the following year.

Mabel, in 1910, organized the Creek County Humane Society, one of the first in the state. She also helped establish the first Children’s Home, at 408 S Walnut.

At the same time, she and her family were managers and editors of the local newspaper, the Sapulpa Daily Star. Herbert was the circulation manager and Mabel became the society editor*. 

*Note: Sapulpa Daily Star was owned and operated by Joseph and William Cathriner; this was located at 8 N Water. It was short-lived, until mid-to-late-1913, when it was sued for liable, and lost the case.

In August 1911, Mark Hillies, Commissioner of Public Safety, advised the town that he believed it would be in best interest to retain Mabel Bassett as Police Matron. “Since my incumbency of the office, Mrs. Bassett has rescued four young girls…she daily administers to the sick and poor, aiding those who are distressed…she saves her salary many times over by providing ways for the distressed, sick, and poor.” He further explained that she would not have the authority as a patrolman, with arrests, raids, etc. but to aid those in need.

The following winter, January 1912, the Katz Department Store owner, Lester Katz, wanted to donate from his inventory “proper winter clothing” for those in need. He teamed up with Mabel to donate the clothes to the ones coming to Mabel’s office: children, mothers, and even working men.

At the end of the next summer in 1913, townsfolk and Mabel were able to end the summer days before school started on a high note.

Mabel Bassett organized a group of citizens to help bring entertainment to about 150 children. These children piled into ten or so “big autos.”

In 1913, not many streets had a complete pavement, however, that didn’t stop the enjoyment of riding in the back of the car. “Piled into autos, the kids were thrilled over the paved streets of Sapulpa for two hours.”

Ten citizens helped along with Mabel to take the children to the big lake. They were able to spend another hour or so in the water. They sipped on ice cold lemonade that evening. “The ‘party’ lasted four hours and not a mishap occurred.”

That same week, Mabel Bassett put an ad in the paper pleading for old school books. She said she would gladly take in any book that pupils had finished, and give them to students in need.

The town praised Mabel for her service. “It is such things as these that helps a community, brings neighbors closer together, and teaches love for the better in the hearts of the rising generations. Mrs. Bassett is doing a splendid work.”​

In 1913, Mabel Bassett wanted to pursue more, outside of Sapulpa, to aid the state. In September 1913, she announced her plans to run for the State Office of Charities and Corrections*.

*Note: The office was established in 1907 to investigate the entire system of public charities and corrections in the State; such as jails, prisons, industrial schools, hospitals, dispensaries, orphanages, and many others were under the umbrella.

Ten years later, in 1923, she became Commissioner of the Charities and Corrections. She held this position until 1947. She had stayed in Sapulpa in those 10 years before gaining the position as the Police Matron and Humane Agent.

While in office, Bassett followed the footsteps of Kate Barnard, first woman to hold state office in Oklahoma*. During this time in office, the Legislature underfunded the office, but she managed to achieve many tasks.

*Note: Kate Barnard, elected in 1907, was a key player in educational laws, ban on child labor, and handled many acts of public service.

Mabel Bassett established a women’s unit of the Oklahoma State Penitentiary. She also is credited to making wife-and-child-desertion a felony. Mabel also was among the first to promote a State Pardon and Parole Board in Oklahoma, and standards for state juvenile and state’s mental institutions. In 1925, also to her credit, she transferred African-American juvenile delinquents from the State Penitentiary to a Training School, or Industrial School, in Boley*.

*Note: This would become the John Lilley Correctional Center.

In 1932, she ran on the Democratic ticket for a seat in the House of Representatives. She lost to a Moore teacher, Will Rogers.

Mabel retired in 1947. When Mabel passed in 1953, Governor James Berry had ordered her body to lie in state at the State Capital’s Blue Room, so the public could mourn her passing.

Today, the Mabel Bassett Correctional Center is a prison for women located near McLoud, opened in 1974, was named in her honor for her civil duty. She was also inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 1937 for her public service.
“As long as there’s breath left in me, I’m going to fight for the people who put me here,” Mabel Bassett.

(Information from: Mabel Bassett Correctional Center; Oklahoma Hall of Fame; Oklahoma Historical Center; Wikipedia)

The video above was filmed by Otis R. Rule, owner of Rule Furniture, of Sapulpa. It was donated by Wendell Evans, grandson of Rule.

The videos below were found on Youtube.

Richard C. Nelson, the first known black officer of Sapulpa. Patrolman Nelson’s first article praised him for working along with the Sheriff’s Department in 1913, stating “Officer Nelson Grabs a Party Wanted in Lincoln County for Stealing from Sheriff”. Within his first year as a patrolman, Officer Nelson’s first wound-on-duty would be from a drunken couple. Officer Nelson was (nearly) shot in the face, receiving a burn on his cheek from the gun powder. Little did he know, not even 10 years later, he would be inflicted with a  similar wound that would kill him.
 
By 1918, the City Directories began listing Nelson as Deputy Sheriff. Although his position was for the black community of Sapulpa, Officer Nelson had high marks and standings in the community. Mrs. Nelson owned a Meat Market for a short time within their household at 208 N Hickory from 1920-1924.
 
A respected citizen, and a former interpreter for the Native American agency, Legus Brown was in a car accident with his brother, Tom. The other car had the passengers of Officer Nelson, David Croston, and Floyd Conner. Legus stated that shortly after exiting his own vehicle to check on Nelson’s vehicle, gun shots rang out. Both Nelson and Croston were shot in the head and killed instantly. Legus claimed self-defense, and his brother, Tom Brown, and Floyd couldn’t describe the scene when police arrived.

The morning after the shooting the articles about the night stated:
"Nelson and Croston were found dead beside their car on the road, just east of the Pageant grounds...Floyd Conner came to the sheriff's office and was an eye witness to the shooting...
At the Glass undertaking parlors that Nelson had been shot twice. One shot was said to have entered at the left corner of the mouth, coming out at the back of the neck, and the other above and behind the right ear, emerging over the left eye. Both shots were pronounced fatal, the one through the mouth breaking his neck...
The bullet striking Croston is said to have entered the corner of the right eye, and to have emerged back of the right ear. Apparently all wounds were made by a steel bullet...
Conner stated they passed another car and accidently struck it, tearing loose the bumper. An argument started over the accident, and both Nelson and the [Native Americans] drew guns. Nelson put his gun up offered to pay for the damage saying he was a deputy sheriff, and started to take one man's name when the shooting started...
Brown has a good reputation as a law abiding citizen. He was one of the first men from here to volunteer for duty in the army during the war ([World War I]). He owns a farm near here...
Both Nelson and Croston also bore good reputations here. Nelson, who was 36, had a number of years experience as a deputy sheriff and policeman. He was married and had thirteen children. He owned a store in the addition. Croston was 24. Their bodies were taken to the Sapulpa Funeral Home undertaking parlors ([Glass Funeral Home])."
 
However, Legus Brown confessed to the shooting and killing of Officer Nelson and Croston. Little is known about the trial, however, the jury acquitted the Browns the following year*.
 
The Nelson family moved to Detroit, Michigan by 1931. In May 1990, The Michigan Chronicle wrote an article on the Nelson family. It stated: “William Nelson is proud that his father, Richard C. Nelson, was once considered the fastest gun in Oklahoma...members of his family were recognized as Creek County community leaders among White residents as well as Black ones.”

*In the Sapulpa, Tulsa, and Oklahoma City newspapers, states that Legus Brown was a known, wealthy Native American, and had killed (in self-defense, drunken brawls, and other cases) at least five people in the 1920s-1930s. All cases he was acquitted.