G Ralph Ellis, Deputy Constable

Bristow, Creek County 

On Saturday afternoon November 6, 1915, 26 year old G. “Ralph” Ellis was deputized along with A. U. Alcorn by Constable C. C. Hartman to assist him in raiding liquor joints and gambling houses in Depew later that evening. The three lawmen arrived in Depew about 7 PM and raided several places before midnight and captured a quantity of liquor. They next proceeded to the Armstrong place, which served as a dance hall, plus a liquor and gambling joint, arriving about midnight. The officers broke in the door and arrested the participants of a dice game except for a few who escaped. Alcorn was left to guard the prisoners away from the house while Constable Hartman and Ellis returned to wait on any of the men who fled who might return. The officers arrested one man in the yard and Ellis was left to guard him while Hartman went inside. A little while later about 1 AM the morning of Sunday November 7, 1915, Hartman heard shots outside and ran to find Ellis dead from being shot several times including once in the head and once in the heart. Ellis’ gun was missing along with his prisoner. Ellis was survived by his wife and was the son of Deputy U S Marshal William N. Ellis.

Oscar Marcellus Terry, Deputy Sheriff

Creek County Sheriff's Office

On Friday morning about 10 AM February 7, 1913, 35 year old Deputy Terry was in the out-house of the Tracey livery barn in Bristow when his 38 caliber revolver fell from its holster and discharged as it struck the floor. The bullet pierced his leg then struck him just under the nose, ranged inward and lodged somewhere at the base of his brain. After initial treatment by a local doctor in Bristow, Deputy Terry was taken to University Hospital in Oklahoma City where he died the next afternoon. X-rays showed that the bullet had damaged the brain and was inoperable. Deputy Terry was survived by his wife Gertrude and five children. He was buried in the Oak Lawn Cemetery in Bristow.

Thomas E. Tyus,, Deputy Sheriff

Creek County Sheriff’s Office 

The late evening of Wednesday, July 19, 1911, Deputy Tyus had gone to the home of L. M. Nichols in Bristow to make an arrest. When he did not locate the suspect at the home he went to a neighbor’s house and set on their porch to await the suspects return. Tyus apparently feel asleep on the porch while waiting. The neighbor lady, Mrs. Sankie was in the house and saw the deputy sleeping on her porch about 2 a.m. She then went for the night watchman, W. A. Rider. When Rider arrived and tried to awaken the deputy on the dark porch, the deputy jumped up and started fighting with Rider. Neither man knew the other was an officer. Rider was able to fire one shot wounding deputy Tyus. Deputy Tyus died from his wound later that day, July 20th about 5:30 p.m.

 Deputy Tyus was a widower of about one year and was survived by a son and three daughters.