by Aliessia Jones, The Chisholm Collections Specialist
Ash Brothers Lumber Company officially opened its doors in June 1921. It was founded by brothers James Ash (born 1888) and William “Bill” Ash (born 1891). Their father, William A. Ash, was a carpenter, and both sons followed in the same trade before establishing their own lumber business. The Ash family first arrived in Kingfisher during the Land Run of 1889 and the brothers literally grew up with the country. The business provided lumber and building materials during a period of significant growth in Kingfisher and the surrounding region. Early newspaper advertisements, including one from April 1939 in the Kingfisher Free Press, promoted the company as a reliable source for “everything that is needed to build, repair, or remodel.”In 1937, Nathan Hanner joined Ash Brothers as an employee at age 20. He worked alongside the founders for several years and became a business partner in 1954. Hanner became the sole owner of the company following the death of both Ash brothers. He continued to operate the lumberyard until his retirement in 1990, at which point the business closed.
During its nearly 70 years in operation, Ash Brothers Lumber Company became a familiar presence in the Kingfisher community. In addition to its core business, the company also participated in local events. Records show that Ash Brothers sponsored a T-ball team, in at least 1985, indicating continued engagement with community activities late into the company’s history.
When Hanner retired in 1990 at age 72, he closed the doors of the business, bringing an end to a company that had helped build much of the area—literally and figuratively. What remains today at our museum are pieces of that story: old newspaper clippings, Ash Bros order slips, worn paper flags likely waved at local parades, the official corporate seal, and the occasional memory of a little-league team. These fragments might seem small, but together they tell a story of work, community, and quiet endurance.
Although Ash Brothers Lumber Company is no longer in business, it remains part of Kingfisher’s commercial and civic history. The company’s long tenure, local roots, and consistent community involvement made it a notable example of small-town industries in 20th-century Oklahoma.
