On April 15, 1897, the Nellie Johnstone No. 1 oil well came in on the banks of the Caney River. It was the first commercial oil well in Oklahoma. George Keeler and William Johnstone contracted with Cudahy Oil Company to drill the Nellie Johnstone well. The new gusher was named for little Nellie Johnstone, the youngest daughter of William Johnstone. During the 50 years of activity, the Nellie Johnstone No. 1 was a consistent producer, producing from 50 to 70 barrels a day, declining to only a quarter of a barrel per day on its 50th anniversary. The well was permanently shut down in 1948, having produced over 100,000 barrels of oil. It was given to the city as an historical monument. The current equipment and derrick are replicas of the original well.
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Nellie Johnstone No. 1
NE Cherokee Avenue, at Johnstone Park