First Oil Drilling in Kingfisher The Kingfisher Free Press, 60th Anniversary Edition, April 18, 1949 Richard Pappe Sr. was a stock holder and officer of the Kingfisher Mining Company, founded in 1906, that drilled the first oil well in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma. This article from the 1949 anniversary edition of the Kingfisher Free Press chronicles the events of 1906 through 1908. Despite two years' effort the company did not strike oil and was eventually dissolved. Later oil exploration discovered rich oil deposits in the county.
Many oil tests have been drilled in Kingfisher county in the put quarter of a century, and some of them have been commercial producers of oil and distillate. The Cashion area has several good wells, and there is a potential field about five miles north of Kingfisher. Photo: The first oil well drilled in Kingfisher County, OK But none of this activity has been met with the degree of public interest and excitement which characterized the drilling of the county's first oil well, in 1906-08, on the old George Adams place, less than two miles northeast of Kingfisher. (The place Is now owned by Mrs. Gene Peck.) That was before the advent of big oil companies into this territory, and the enterprise was financed by local capital and managed by local people. Sale of leases from time to time as the work progressed brought in money needed to keep operations going. Two holes were drilled. The first went down about 1,000 feet, where "the piping bust" at the bottom of the hole and tool trouble was encountered. Then the rig was skidded and a new hole was put down nearby. This time the well was drilled to a depth of more than 1,800 feet, which was then considered quite deep. Encouraging showings of gas and oil were reported, but nothing which proved to be of commercial value, and the enterprise which began with such high hopes finally had to be abandoned. * * * The story of this first oil well Is told, in part, by the following excerpts from Kingfisher newspapers published at that time: May 10, 1906—A meeting of the stockholders of the Kingfisher Mining Co. was held at the Commercial club rooms Monday night. President Sockler stated that the drilling machinery was in good condition. The drilling began last week and the hole has been put down 256 feet. So much water has been found in the hole that it is impossible to drill with best results, so there has been no drilling for several days. A bailer has been ordered which will obviate the difficulty and greatly facilitate the work. The drilling will be kept up day and night except Sundays. A little over $3,000 has been paid out by the company so far, leaving over $4,000 yet in the treasury. At the meeting Monday night the regular election of directors was held. There were 12 nominations as follows: C. E. Sockler, Geo. Adams, C. E. Moore, W. 4. Brown, Gross Longendyke, J. V. Noel, D. K. Cunningham, R. Pappe, W. L. Reynolds, J. S. Patrick, Wm. Layton and J. R. Lankard. The first eight named were elected, Noel and Cunningham taking the places vacated by Rev. G. E. Stretch and J. E. Tincher. The new directors immediately selected the following officers for next year: C. E. Sockler, president; Chas. E. Moore, vice-president; R. Pappe, treasurer; D. K. Cunningham, secretary. ————— May 17, 1906—The drillers' at the well north of town struck a small pocket of gas at about 200 feet last Friday morning about 3 o'clock. It is thought now that a big gasser' will be brought in here, and that without going very deep. The well is now down about 700 feet. Drilling has been temporarily suspended as a rimmer is expected from Bartlesville, to put the hole in shape for further casing. ————— June 7, 1906—The well is now at a depth of 1,000 feet. C. E. Sockler, member of this enterprising company, showed the writer the result of a test of the salt water which proves it to contain 25 percent salt. If the question of fuel is settled by a strong flow of gas, which it no doubt will be, the salt enterprise alone will put to work an immense amount of labor and capital. ————— Nov. 29, 1906—Work on the present well, which was bored about 1,000 feet, has been discontinued on account of the piping at the bottom being bursted. This incident makes the belief stronger than ever that either gas or oil will be found, as the pressure is what bursted the pipe. ————— Dec. 6, 1906—The stockholders of the Kingfisher Mining company held a meeting at the Commercial club rooms Friday night. President C. E. Sockler had charge of the meeting, and made a statement of the condition of the company. A committee was appointed to confer with the Empire company, another local organization, to see if the two could not be combined. ————— Dec. 20, 1906—It was learned that a great many of the leases which were only for two years, have expired and unless they can be renewed, or other land leased, the enterprise is at a "standstill." Prospects for oil or gas were never better, as in the present well the salt water is in a continual bubble, the result of gas pressure. A committee was appointed to see the lessees and renew as many of the leases as can be made. ————— Jan. 3, 1906—Last Friday night a meeting of the stockholders of the Kingfisher Mining Co. was held at the Commercial club rooms. The committee recently appointed to see about securing further leases made a report. They stated that farmers are willing to see leases taken on their neighbors' land, but are reluctant to lease their own. There was some discussion as to abandoning the whole matter, but it was decided not to do so at present. Messrs. Francis, Zalabak, Brown, Laing, Adams, Gibson and Capt. John Rogers were added to the committee and they were given instructions to secure additional leases if possible and report at the next meeting. ————— Feb. 7, 1906—An important meeting of the stockholders of the Kingfisher Mining company will be held at the Commercial club rooms next Thursday evening. The meeting will be for the purpose of ascertaining what is the best thing for this company to do: Whether to wind up its affairs by converting its property into money and prorating same back to the stockholders; or to take its machinery and go to Kiel or elsewhere, where a sufficient numbers of leases can be obtained, and there prospect for oil, gas and other mineral substances. This notice is given by order of the board of directors on account of the board feeling that a sufficient number of leases cannot be procured near Kingfisher to justify the company in proceeding with the work of drilling here. ————— Feb. 28, 1906—The oil company had a good meeting Thursday night and it was decided that the enterprise should not fall through lack of funds. Many of those present agreed to take more stock and another attempt will be made to put down a hole that will have gas or oil at the bottom of it. Another meeting will be held tonight. Mar. 21, 1906—It was agreed to bore the new well as near as possible to the old one, which will save much expense. Preparations will be made in a short time to begin work on the new well. ————— July 25, 1906—Those mainly interested in boring for oil are looking after the matter with a diligence that is most commendable. The drilling is going forward steadily. At present and for some time past there has been every indication of a good strike here, and oil in small quantities has already been found. The situation never looked better to those interested than today and there is every reason, for encouragement. ————— Oct. 24, 1906—They now have a hole about 1,450 feet deep. At the depth of a little over 1,200 feet they encountered a strata of oil bearing sand, but the manager thought that by going deeper they would strike a richer find, but if not they will shoot the well at that point. Mr. Sockler informs us that the machinery is now in fine shape and that if necessary they can put down a hole 2,500 feet deep with the present equipment. ————— Feb. 13, 1906—It was shown that the well is now down about 1,740 feet. All present appeared well satisfied and enthusiastic. It was decided to push the good work along and as finances are low to sell more stock, They are determined to continue the work until a depth of 2,000 or 2,500 feet is reached unless a "gusher" is struck sooner. ————— Oct. 15, 1906—At a meeting of the board of directors, held Oct. 10, it was decided to place $2,500 worth of capital stock on the market to be sold to residents of Kingfisher county. The oil well is now over 1,800 feet deep and the indications are good. The proposition is that the company raise not less than $2,500 in cash, and unless this amount is sold, the money will be refunded to the purchasers. EDITOR'S NOTE. Here the story ends, as far as recorded in the local newspapers. No further references were made to additional activity, leading to the assumption that the needed additional capital was not raised. "Money panic" conditions were reported about that time.
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