This is a write-up about Rid Durington by the Oklahoma governor.

"Rid" Durington, my neighbor and friend, true and tried, has departed from our midst--gone whither neither human eye may see nor finite mind penetrate. Though we strain with our cimbined faculties to penetrate the veil it were vain. The Infinite Creator alone knows his future. Haven of rest or of labor. Hope--the hope of the soul--binds and constrains us to the belief that in death there is life. The least I can do for this trusted friend is to pen these lines--a feeble tribute to his memory and name.

Robert Lee Durington, known to his friends, as "Rid" was born on the 20th of July, 1868, near Elmo, Kaufman County, Texas. His father, a farmer, was Robert Durington. His mother was Mildred Pierce Durington. Rid was one of a family of three children--a brother, William, deceased and a sister, Mattie who married a farmer by the name of E. C. Johnson, now residing at Erick, Oklahoma.

Before leaving Kaufman County, Rid served the county as deputy sheriff one term, when about twenty-seven years old.

On August 19, 1896 he was married with Miss Mary Agnes Stone. To this union was born five children, one boy and four girls, as follows; Clara, wife of J. W. Deaton; born June 4, 1897, in Kaufman county, Texas; Minon, wife of Roy LaFerves, born August 31, 1893; Irene, wife of John D. Lemons, born October 16, 1906 near Teller, Oklahoma; Miss Frances, unmarried, born Jan. 15, 1911 in Tishomingo, and Bob, the only son born August 5, 1912 near Ardmore. All are living in and near Tishomingo.

Rid and his young wife moved from Kaufman county, Texas to the Indian Territory, and settled on a farm near Teller in the year 1900, and they have resided in this section of the state ever since.

Rid had a paralitic stroke on July 4, 1928, and was thereafter not able to leave the house unattended. Though unable to walk his mind remained clear to his death, which was on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. o'clock, October 17, 1929.

He was a member of the Tishomingo lodge of I. O. O. F. and was buried by that order on Saturday, October 19, 1929 in the city cemetery of Tishomingo, Oklahoma. He was never a member of any church but expressed preference for the M. E. Church South, and was a strong believer in Divine Guidance.

The writer became acquainted with Durington immediately after his settling at Teller and in those early days often met him in the Farmers' Union, where we for the most part, were agreed upon the course the Union should take. For thirty years we have been personal and entiment friends, nowithstanding I have been all along a Democrat and he a Socialist. I am certain each have learned much for one another. He was safely radical and I was sensibly conservative and both honestly striving to accomplish the same thing--the betterment of mainkind in general-- and the condition of the farmer in particular. He was ever striving to prevent his "comrades" from going too far, and was successful. The attempted revolt against the draft at the beginning of the World War that took place in Pontotoc, Hughes and other counties of the state, which caused many good men much serious trouble, did not occur in Johnston county due in a large measure to the wise council of Rid Durington.

Upon the passage of the Enabling Act for State-hood through the efforts of Rid Durington, the Socialists agreed to support my candidacy, if I were nominated by the Democratic party, and there were seven hundred fifty "Red Carders" in the district, and all the socialists but one hundred thirteen voted for me in the general election, notwithstanding a nominee of the Socialist party was on the ticket. Had they voted their ticket in full strength, the Republicans had elected M. V. Cheadle, and I may never have again been head of as a political influence in this sstate-and what is your guess as to the constitution that would now be in force? Certainly it would be quite another document altogether. Rid Durington more than any other man contributed to my election, and hence indirectly, to our present constitution. Well do I remember that when Republican orators from Tishomingo went out over the district to encompass my defeat and the election of their nominee. They preclaimed "the fight to be between the Republicans and Socialists, the Democrats not in it al all." At Teller Rid Durington arose and astonished them by declaring the issue is not partisan but a fight between Bill Murray, backed by the farmers against all opposition. SOme three weeks ago I had the pleasure of talking with him flat of his sick bed, and hear him recount the old days of a quarter of a century ago, and disclose what he then saw in the future and how proud of his conduct and course. It made one wonder if he did not see beyound the vale that bound man's vision, and realize that "God Moves in a misterious way His wonders to perform." These are the things that prompts these lines; that cause my friendship for Rid Durington.

Then sleep Rid Durington, My steadfast friend, true and tried: Sleep on Rid Durington, With the Father of Mercies ever abide.