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Oklahoma Historical Society's - Chronicles of Oklahoma


LEWIS MILTON POE   1863 ? 1941 

Judge Lewis Milton Poe was born at Russellville, Arkansas, August 29, 1863, the 
son of Elijah Holley Poe and Eliza (Green) Poe, and died at Tulsa, Oklahoma, March
8, 1941. 

Judge Poe was married to Lou Lane at Dallas, Arkansas, June 28, 1885, and of that
marriage the following children were born: Myrtle Poe, a daughter; Roy Robert Poe;
Elijah Holley Poe; Lewis Lane Poe; Lewis Milton Poe, Jr., and John Hunter Poe, sons.
The widow and all children survive him. 

Judge Poe was admitted to the practice of law at Dallas, Arkansas, in 1885, and 
continued in practice there until he moved to Pawnee, Oklahoma, at the opening of
the Cherokee Outlet in September, 1893. He was a delegate to the National Democratic
convention at St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904. On his moving to Pawnee he and Harry
Campbell entered a law partnership under the name of Poe & Campbell, for the
practice of law, which partnership continued at Pawnee and Tulsa until Judge Poe,
on the erection of the state, was elected on September 17, 1907, first District 
Judge in the 21st Judicial District, including the County of Tulsa, and assumed 
office on the admission of the State into the Union on November 16, 1907. The 21st
Judicial District at that time was composed of Osage, Payne, Pawnee and Tulsa counties,
Judge Poe being the only Judge in the District as then constituted. 

Judge Poe was always active in civic and political affairs and projects looking 
to the general welfare of the community, and was largely instrumental in preparing
all papers and notices looking to the incorporation of Tulsa as an incorporated 
town and headed the committee that went to Muskogee and appeared before the United
States Court and procured the decree incorporating the town in 1898. 

He was elected and served as the third Mayor of Tulsa and represented Tulsa County
in the Fifteenth Legislature of the State of Oklahoma. 

Shortly after coming to Tulsa he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and
was thereafter continuously active in its affairs, serving as Sunday School superintendent,
Trustee, and in other official capacities. He was a charter member of Tulsa Lodge
No. 71 A. F. & A. M. of Tulsa, and served as Worshipful Master of the Lodge.

Judge Poe, after serving two terms as District Judge, retired from the bench, resuming
the practice of law, which he continued until the time of his death; interment at
Rose Hill Cemetery, Tulsa, Oklahoma. From the time he came to Tulsa he enjoyed an
extensive and lucrative practice until he was elected District Judge, and after 
retiring from the bench his practice was extensive and profitable. 

Judge Poe, in both his private and professional capacities, was a man of the highest
character, life morally clean and steadfastly maintaining the finest and highest
traditions of his profession. As District Judge he so conducted his court that there
was never any suggestion of irregularity of any kind. He conducted his court with
ability and the highest sense of judicial conduct and ethics. He was fair and unbiased
in all 

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decisions, never influenced by friendship, animosity, bias or pressure of any kind.
A good man and fine citizen, a devoted husband and father, who proved his faith 
by his works, is gone from our association, and will will be so remembered. 

Harry Campbell. 

Tulsa, Oklahoma