OKGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any
format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must
obtain the written consent of OKGenWeb State Coordinator.

Presentation here does not extend any permissions to the public. This
material can not be included in any compilation, publication,
collection, or other reproduction for profit without permission. Files
may be printed or copied for personal use only.
=====================================================================

WILLIAM A. DARLING
Vol. 3, p. 1214-1215

The new towns that have sprung up in Oklahoma since statehood have
drawn to themselves much talent of a quality that is seldom found in
towns of equal size in older settled communities. New Wilson is an
example of this truth, for among its citizens the town numbers a good
many men of the various professions that have proved themselves
worthy of larger fields of activity. Among such men in New Wilson may
be mentioned Dr. William A. DARLING, who came to this city in 1896.
Since that time he has conducted a general medical and surgical
practice, and for eighteen years he has been the owner and proprietor
of the foremost drug store in the town, known as the Corner Drug
Store. He has been identified with other business movements here,
too, and has in many ways shown his enthusiasm for the town and its
future progress.

Dr. William A. Darling was born in Hunt County, Texas, October 7,
1870, and he is the son of William C. and Mary (WHITE) Darling.

William C. Darling was born in Ohio in 1842 and he died in Grayson
County, Texas, in 1872, when the subject was a child two years old.
He was the son of Hector Darling, also born in Ohio, though his
people were of New York birth, who came to Ohio in their young years.
The family had its origin in England and the first of the name to
settle in America came in Colonial times, settled in old New York and
were proprietors of a shipyard there. Hector Darling was killed in
Hunt County, Texas, by Shelby's men in 1865, because of his northern
sympathies.
He was among the early pioneers to Texas, and was prominent as a
stockman there for some years.

William C. Darling went from Ohio, his native state, to Hunt County,
Texas, in company with his father, and he was married in that state
in the year 1869. His wife, Mary WHITE, was born in Texas in 1849,
and after the death of her husband in 1872, she went back to Hunt
County with her small son, from Grayson County, where she had lived
during the years of her wedded life. In 1873 she married E. J. JONES,
a farmer and stockman of Grayson County, Texas, and they later moved
to Jack County and are living there at this writing. Seven children
were born of this union. Lavonia, the eldest, married W. A. WHITSETT.
They live in Jacksboro, Texas, where Mr. Whitsett conducts a Farmers'
Union Store. Medie is a stock farmer and lives in Harmon, Oklahoma.
Addie married William SMITH, a farmer and stockman of Jacksboro,
Texas. Thomas is connected in business with his brother, Medie. Leila
is married and lives in Jacksboro, where her husband operates a
cotton gin. Myrtle married a Mr. CANTRILL of Jacksboro and Jacob is
still in the home of his parents.

William A. Darling attended the public schools in Texas until he was
eighteen years old, and later entered the Physicians and Surgeons
College in Dallas, Texas, from which he was graduated with the class
of 1905 with the degree M. D. This he followed with a course of
training in the Physicians and Surgeons College in Kansas City. His
first practice was carried on in Jack County, Texas, after which he
came to McMillan, Oklahoma, in November, 1894, and was engaged in
medical practice for a year. He then moved to Reck, Oklahoma, where
he spent a year and a half in practice, and in 1896 came to Hewitt,
which later became Wilson. Here he has since conducted a general
medical and surgical practice, and he has made for himself a name in
his profession that is well worthy of him and his efforts. Eighteen
years ago he established a drug store in the town, calling it the
Pioneer Drug Store. In later years it has come to be called the
Corner Drug Store, and it is known to be the best patronized
dispenser of drugs and druggists' sundries to be found in this
section of the state.

In 1908 Doctor Darling organized the Darling Telephone Company and
built a telephone system through the district. He it was who built
the first telephone line into the oil field, and it is a notable fact
the he carried the line through in five days, that being the fastest
work on record. In 1915, he sold his system to the Pioneer Telephone
Company, since which time he has devoted himself exclusively to his
profession and his drug store.

Doctor Darling is now serving as city physician, and he was a member
of the school board here in the years prior to statehood. He has long
been a member of the Church of Christ and is prominent in its support
and in the work of that body. He is independent in politics, and
fraternally is associate with the Masons, Wilson Lodge No. 76, A. F.
& A. M., and Pecan Camp No. 116, Woodmen of the World, and a charter
member of that camp. He is prominent in both orders, and has held
various offices in the years of his membership.

In 1891 Doctor Darling was married in Hunt County, Texas, to Miss
Betty BLEWETT, a native of Missouri. They have three children.
William B., the eldest, ably assists his father in the management of
the drug store. Esther is a student in the local schools and Myrtle
is yet too young to enter school.

Doctor and Mrs. Darling have a host of staunch friends in and about
New Wilson, where they have been long and favorably know, and they
are leaders in the best social activities of the town and county.
They are representative of a type of citizenship that makes for
solidity and character in any community, and they have been worthy
influences in shaping the trend of thought and action in their home
town.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Jacque Hopkins Wolski on November 4, 1998.