Ponca Townsite Company

06/13/2026

Remembering the Workers Behind the 101 Ranch

As Ponca City’s 101 Wild West Rodeo brings attention to one of Oklahoma’s most recognized historical legacies, it is worth remembering that the story of the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch was built not only by the famous names associated with it, but also by the countless workers whose efforts made the operation possible.

Most history books focus on the Miller Brothers, the Wild West Show, famous performers, and the ranch’s national reputation. What is often overlooked are the men and women who performed the daily work necessary to keep one of America’s largest ranching operations functioning.

Among those workers was Walter Mayfield.

Family records and family history indicate that Walter Mayfield worked for the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch during the early 1920s. He was not one of the public figures associated with the ranch. He was not the owner, a performer, or a celebrity.

He was a worker.

One of Walter’s responsibilities involved tending the ranch orchards. Family accounts indicate that he helped harvest apples, sort them into baskets for events and activities, and sell apples to spectators attending local events.

While these responsibilities may seem simple when viewed through a modern lens, they were anything but insignificant. The 101 Ranch was a diversified business operation that relied on multiple sources of income. Livestock, agriculture, entertainment, produce sales, and numerous supporting operations all played a role in the ranch’s success.

Every worker was expected to contribute. Every task had value. People who could not pull their weight generally did not remain employed for long. The success of the ranch depended not only on leadership, but on the workers who performed the daily tasks that kept the operation moving forward.

Walter was one of those workers.

His contributions may not have appeared in newspaper headlines, but they were part of the foundation that supported one of the most famous ranches in American history.

A few years later, Walter and his wife, Elsie, welcomed a daughter into the world on November 24, 1928, while residing in the 1200 block of South 8th Street in Ponca City. That daughter would later become the grandmother of Alan Keller, creating a direct family connection to both the 101 Ranch era and early Ponca City.

As the 101 Wild West Rodeo celebrates the ranch’s history, it is also an opportunity to recognize the workers whose names may have been forgotten by time. Ranch hands, laborers, orchard workers, tradesmen, cooks, teamsters, and countless others helped build and sustain the operation.

The story of the 101 Ranch was not written solely by the people in the spotlight.

It was also written by the people behind the scenes who showed up every day, did their jobs, and helped make one of Oklahoma’s greatest historical legacies possible.

Nearly a century later, their contributions remain an important part of the story.

06/13/2026

Why Local History Matters

For some, local history is something they read about in a book. For others, it is part of their family’s story.

Walter and Elsie Mayfield welcomed a daughter into the world on November 24, 1928. They lived in the 1200 block of South 8th Street right here in Ponca City.

That little girl would later become my grandmother.

When I look at old photographs, newspaper articles, and historic buildings, I am not just looking at the history of Ponca City. I am looking at the community where my family lived, worked, raised children, and built their lives nearly a century ago.

My family’s connection to this area extends beyond that generation. My great-grandfather worked for the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch during the 1920s, connecting our family to one of Oklahoma’s most recognized ranching operations during a time when Northern Oklahoma was experiencing tremendous growth and change.

That does not make our family’s history more important than anyone else’s. It simply means that local history is personal.

Many residents today have moved here from other places, while others can trace their families back through multiple generations in Ponca City and Kay County. Both are important parts of our community. But with each passing year, there are fewer people who personally remember, or have direct family connections to, the people and events that shaped this area.

That is why preserving local history matters.

Every family has a story. Every neighborhood has a history. Every photograph, document, and memory helps tell the story of Ponca City.

The goal is not simply to remember the past. The goal is to ensure that future generations understand the people, places, and events that made this community what it is today.

History is not just about where Ponca City has been.

It’s about understanding where we came from and why it matters.

06/12/2026

Local history is more than old buildings, photographs, and newspaper articles. It is the story of the people, businesses, ranches, and communities that helped shape Ponca City and Northern Oklahoma.

The founder of this page, Alan Keller, has a personal connection to that history through family ties to the Miller Brothers 101 Ranch. His great-grandfather Walter Mayfield worked for the ranch during the 1920s, creating a direct connection to one of the most significant ranching operations in Oklahoma history.

That family connection sparked an interest in preserving and sharing the stories that helped build our community. From the Cherokee Strip era and the 101 Ranch to the oil boom, downtown businesses, and community leaders such as Lew Wentz and E.W. Marland, every generation has contributed to the history of Ponca City.

Another historic name connected to the community is the Ponca Townsite Company. Originally associated with the founding and development of Ponca City, the name has appeared in various forms over the years. In February 2023, Alan Keller reintroduced the Ponca Townsite Company name as a way to honor and help preserve the history and heritage of Ponca City and the surrounding region.

The purpose of this page is simple: to preserve local history, encourage discussion, share photographs and stories, and ensure that future generations understand the people and events that helped create the community we know today.

History belongs to everyone. If you have photographs, documents, family stories, or memories connected to Ponca City, Kay County, the 101 Ranch, local businesses, schools, churches, or community events, we invite you to share them.

Together, we can preserve the past for future generations.

06/12/2026

When discussing the history of Ponca City, the name Lew Wentz deserves to be remembered alongside the community’s greatest builders and benefactors.

Lewis Haines “Lew” Wentz arrived in Ponca City during the early Oklahoma oil boom and became one of the most successful oilmen in the nation. Through the development of oil properties throughout Kay County and northern Oklahoma, he built a fortune that at one time placed him among the wealthiest individuals in America.

Unlike many wealthy businessmen of his era, Wentz is remembered not for a grand estate or historic mansion. In fact, he never married and reportedly lived primarily in a suite at the Arcade Hotel in downtown Ponca City. Today, there are no major historic homes in Ponca City commonly associated with Lew Wentz. Instead, his legacy is found in the community projects and charitable programs he supported. (Wikipedia⁠)

Wentz provided land for what is now the Lew Wentz Memorial Golf Course, funded public recreation projects, supported youth camps, helped establish programs for children with disabilities, and created educational foundations that provided opportunities for generations of Oklahoma students. (Wikipedia⁠)

Many longtime residents also recall stories of children receiving shoes, clothing, and other assistance through charitable efforts supported by Wentz and the organizations he funded. Whether through education, recreation, or direct assistance, his focus was on helping young people succeed.

More than 75 years after his passing, the impact of Lew Wentz can still be seen throughout Ponca City and across Oklahoma.

His legacy was not measured by the home he lived in, but by the lives he helped improve.

Do you have family stories or memories about Lew Wentz, Wentz Camp, the Arcade Hotel, or the programs he supported? Share them in the comments below.

06/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CpGTMLT84/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Today’s Most Endangered Location is the Bert McCarty Furniture Building in Ponca City. It was built in 1920 and is a contributing structure for the Downtown Ponca City Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s a two-story stucco-clad building with two storefronts. In 1909, Bert McCarty purchased a furniture business he had previously worked in, later adding undertaking as well. Around 1920, he took over this building and moved his businesses there. It’s endangered because it’s rapidly deteriorating due to a leaking roof, falling rear facade and asbestos. If it is lost, it will be a large missing piece in historic downtown Ponca City.

06/05/2026

10/23/2025

On this day in 1913, New Ponca looses its name to Ponca City, this name change reflected growth of many new buildings hotels and population moving from the settlement area of Cross, which was later abandoned.