Royal Stanton Litchfield (abt. 1868 - 1916)

Born about Jun 1868 in Centerville, Allegany County, New York, United States

Husband of Mary S. (Howe) Russell — married about 1897 in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States

Died 21 Mar 1916 at about age 47 in Independence, Montgomery County, Kansas, United States

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Biography

Few Franklinville boys have enjoyed the degree of commercial and financial success that has been won by Royal S. Litchfield. He has ever been a close student of affairs, a polished orator and after dinner speaker, lodge man, and good mixer with men, and has made steady progress in his business career, and the end is not yet.

Mr. Litchfield graduated from Ten Broeck Academy in 1889. He spent some time as clerk in the Ferris drug store, later entered the Farmers National Bank as Teller, was soon made cashier, and later when the Farmers National and First National Banks were consolidated, he was chosen cashier of the Union National Bank, a position he filled until he resigned April 19, 1904. He was closely associated with the leading industries of the village, a partner in the Ontario Knife Co., when it was sold to the present management, a member of the School Board, etc., etc. For several years he was Master of Franklinville Lodge No. 626 F. & A. M., and he exemplified the work in a very effective manner. As Superintendent of the First Presbyterian Sunday School he brought it up to a high level of efficiency and interest.

When Mr. Litchfield decided to seek broader fields of endeavor he went west, and located at Independence, Kansas. He became President of the First National Bank of that city, and the institution has enjoyed a remarkable growth. He became interested in the early development of the oil fields in Oklahoma, and his oil company began operating in September 1906, with immediate and unbounded success. Their first 24 wells averaged from 150 to 3,000 barrels each, and soon they were producing 10,000 barrels of oil daily. These holdings were sold for $284,000, and the money came from Holland in gold coin, and Mr. Litchfield went to New York city, and stood on the pier and literally watched "his ship come in".

Mr. Litchfield is a frequent visitor to his old home town, and has on many occasions remembered his early Franklinville, by generous gifts to church and other organizations. Mrs. Litchfield was Miss Mary L. Howe of Franklinville, class of 1895, Ten Broeck Academy.

From: Franklinville, NY in Pictures and Story, August 1914, Page 154.

Sources

• https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/K4KY-G9J

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93527118/royal-stanton-litchfield