Volume 10 , Issue 49

1941 Ponca's Pioneer Statues

The Oklahoman, dated Dec. 7, 1941, page 25, headlines read: Five Statues, companions to 'Pioneer Woman," Are Moved From Ponca City to Phillips' Ranch

Ponca City, Dec 6, 1941 -- "Five bronze statues of a pioneer figures which have stood here for more than a decade as companions of the famous "pioneer woman," left Saturday for a new home at Frank Phillips' Woolaroc ranch, near Bartlesville.

The statues, executed at the direction of the late E. W. Marland, were part of a large statuary group envisioned by the former governor as a complement to the "pioneer woman."

For about 11 years they have been along the drive leading from the "Pioneer Woman" to the Marland mansion.

Poncans whose lives symbolized the themes of three of the statues posed as models. They were Col. George L. Miller of the old 101 ranch, who posed for the "cowboy;" John Bull, Ponca Indian warrior who posed for the "Indian chief," and William H. McFadden, financier and ranchman, who posed for the "pioneer man."

The fourth figure was that of Belle Starr, notorious woman bandit.

Bryant Baker, who created the statue of the pioneer woman, sculptured the "pioneer man." The others were done by Joe Mora, western sculptor.

When the Marland Estate, Inc., which embodied much of Marland's real estate holdings, exclusive of the mansion itself passed into the hands of creditors a few years ago, the statues were included. Their sale was in line with the liquidation of much of that property, which has been in progress for several months.

As recently as last autumn, plans were projected to group the statues near the "pioneer woman" and to create a state-owned pioneer park, but lack of available funds prevented development of the project.

Phillips, who is placing the group in his Woolaroc ranch museum, also purchased the 12 models of the "pioneer woman," from which Baker's statue was chosen. They now are at his ranch."
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