"The Last Survivor"
Omar L. McQueen
Photo - The Bolivar Breeze, 1941
(August 28, 1941; The Bolivar Breeze; Special 50-Year Anniversary Edition 1891-1941)
"Omar L. McQueen, 82, of the Vandermark road, Scio township, is the last surviving member of the crew of men who drilled the now famous Richburg well in 1881. The well located on the Reading farm, Richburg hill, was drilled in April 27, 1881. After nearly half a century of production, the well was pulled several years ago. Mr. McQueen was born in Friendship October 2, 1853. He has lived on Vandermark road since 1914. One of the old driller's fondest dreams came true in 1939 when a six-ton monument was erected by a group of oil men at the site of the first Richburg well. The late John Moran of Bolivar was the drilling contractor.