Shire Oil Well

Shire Oil Well. . , During the early part of the Winter of 1906, DeWitte T. Finley made a location on the Shire farm, about six miles southwest of Robinson, and successfully drilled in the Shire No. 1. It was drilled to a depth of about one thousand feet, and remained an enigma for some two or three months, during which time leasing rapidly progressed in that section of the county. When this well was finally shot, it produced about 2500 barrels of oil per day, and the fame of the Shire pool was at once established. , Treat, Crawford and Treat, under the management of their genial superintendent, A.M. O'Donnell, immediately leased from Dr. E.L. Birch, 80 acres adjoining the Shire tract on the east and commenced the drilling of a well on this farm, which also proved to be one of the gusher variety, and it was but a short time until some two or three hundred rigs were up in this section. Oil was now an assured fact, and drilling had begun in earnest in this portion of the field. , Leasing now progressed rapidly in all sections of the county, and large bonuses were paid to the land owners, especially in Oblong, Robinson, Martin and Prairie townships, but operations in the producing line were very largely confined to the Shire District.