Reuel Haskell

  General Notes:

Reuel Haskell was the first mayor of Leipsic, Ohio when it was incorporated in 1882. Like his brother Charles Nathaniel Haskell, he moved west to Oklahoma and his descendents still live in and around Tulsa, Oklahoma.

In March, 1907, Reuel's brother Charles Nathaniel Haskell began publication of The New State Tribune in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Reuel worked there for some years. Reuel's marriage notice in 1910 to his second wife speaks of Reuel as being "one of the best known newspapermen in Oklahoma having been connected with the New State Tribune in Oklahoma City and Muskogee for several years".

I have often wondered about where the name Reuel came from. There is a biblical origin of the name "Reuel." At Exodus 2:18, Reuel, better known as Jethro, was Moses' father-in-law. The "Reu" means shepard or friend. And the "el" means god. This may not be the origin as far as Reuel Haskell is concerned, but it is the most likely. Traditionally it might have been pronounced "Roo-EL". Eldon Coller recalls the name being pronounced "Rawl" or "Ra-eL".

According to a letter written by Reuel's son, Reuel Haskel Jr., he died when he was 87 years old. The letter states "Dad, you know, was 87, when he died, and was active to within a half day of his death - joking and making faces at those who dropped in, right up to the very end. He just wore out, laid down and died".

The 1880 U.S. Census transcription mispelled Reuel as Revel.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence: 25 1/2 E. 5 St. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 1921-1930. Source is address and postmark on mail.

2. Residence, 1927, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Taken from a letter written by Reuel Haskell in 1927.

3. Residence, 1935, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Taken from a letter written by Reuel Haskell in 1935.

4. Residence, 1880, West Leipsic, Liberty Township, Putnam County, Ohio. ⁶⁵

5. Occupation: Farmer, 1880, West Leipsic, Liberty Township, Putnam County, Ohio. ⁶⁵

6. Residence: 25 East Fifth Street, Rock Flats, 1910, Oaklahoma City, Oklahoma. From a letter written to Alice Paulina Leary on October 13, 1910.

Reuel married Margaret Jane Miller, daughter of George Miller and Sarah Ann Kitchen, on 26 Nov 1874 in Putnam County, Ohio. (Margaret Jane Miller was born on 24 Jun 1857 in Ohio, died on 16 Jul 1908 in Muskogee, Oklahoma and was buried on 18 Jul 1908 in Green Hill Cemetery, Muskogee, Oklahoma.)

Reuel next married Mrs. Marion Rock on 24 Sep 1910 in Oaklahoma City, Oklahoma. (Mrs. Marion Rock died on 1 Nov 1922 in Bakersfield, Kern County, California.)