Robert Paine BREWER
"Now president of the First National Bank of McAlester, Mr. Brewer has been actively associated with banking affairs in old Indian Territory and the new state for almost twenty years.
In fact, almost his entire life has been identified with this section of the country. He is a son of Rev. Dr. Theo. F. BREWER, who for thirty years was a missionary among the Indians of Indian Territory and has long been one of the most active and best known ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, now holding a pastorate at Eufaula. The interesting and useful career of Reverend Doctor BREWER is sketched on other pages.
Robert Paine BREWER was born at Boonsboro, Arkansas, December 3, 1876, and when eight months old his parents came to Muskogee, Indian Territory, in which community he was reared. For his higher education he was sent east to the noted old Webb School At Bellbuckle, Tennessee, was for two years a student in Vanderbilt University at Nashville, and in 1896 graduated Master of Arts from the Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas.
His education finished, he returned to Indian Territory, and became one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Checotah. He served as assistant cashier from its organization until 1901, and then participated in the organization of the First National Bank of Quinton, in which he became cashier. He remained with that institution until 1909, when he accepted promotion as cashier of the First National Bank of McAlester. For the past six years, Mr. Brewer has been actively identified with this large institution, one of the strongest banks in Eastern Oklahoma, and in August, 1915, was elected its president. In the meantime he became identified with the organization of other banking institutions in Oklahoma, and now holds stock and has official relations with about twenty banks in different parts of the state. Though a comparatively young man he is today regarded as one of the ablest bankers and financiers in Oklahoma.
His public spirited citizenship has been on a par with his business career. He has accepted many opportunities to work in behalf of the various communities where he has lived, and though a loyal democrat has sought no political office and in fact has had no time for the duties of such position. In Masonry he has attained the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite, is a member of the Mystic Shrine, and is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His religious membership is in the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
In 1901 Mr. Brewer married Miss Lucile BARNETTE, of Missouri. Their two children are Elizabeth and Robert Paine Brewer, Jr."