w º º N º N - º - s cº-º-º: - º sºº º º - … - º The band of the air God." N - ºº:: - - --~~~~ --~~~~ --~~~~ - - --------------- --- THE WILLIAM L. CLEMENTS LIBRARY - - Purchased from the Trust Fund of Lathrop Colgate Harper LITT. D. HON. D. A. HARVEY, Oklahoma’s First Congressman. no ILLUSTRATED HISTORY O K L A H O M A. ITS OCCUPATION BY SPAIN AND FRANCE – ITS SALE TO THE UNITED STATES ITS OPENING TO SETTLEMENT IN - 1889–AND THE MEETING OF THE FIRST TER- IRITORIAL LEGISLATURE. BY NMA RIO N T UTTLE ROC Ex. TOPERA, KANSAS: C. B. H. A. Nº I.I.T ON & SON, - Prixtºn's Bila Nik Book MAKERs AND STATIONERS. 1890. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1890, by MARION TUTTLE ROCK, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. BLOMGREN BROS., & CO., ENGRAVER8. Chicago, Ill. 2. Ø Ż Ż Ø Ż Ż 2. - D Register U. S. Land Office, Guthrie. g - - To HON. JOHN I. DILLE, Register of the United States Lamd Office at Guthrie, To WHOSR EXECUTIVE WISDOM, HIGH LEGAL ATTAINMENTS, ENERGY AND LIB- ERALITY IN THE FAITH FUL AND IMPARTIAL DISCHARGE OF HIS OFFICIAL DUTIES, THE PEOPLE OF ORLAHOMA. O.W.E A DEBT OF GRATITUDE, AND FOR WHOM THE AUTHOR ENTERTAINS THE HIGHEST PERSONAL ESTEEM- THIS VOLUME, IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED. MARION TUTTLE ROCK. - PREFACE. IN PRESENTING this work to the public, the author recognizes the widespread demand throughout the country for a clear, comprehen- sive, and reliable description of the new and delightful country known as Oklahoma. Although this work includes a history of the Terri- tory from its opening to white settlement on April 22d, 1889, the primal object of the work is to impart correct information relative to the topography, climate, soil, productions, rainfall, temperature, water supply, amount of timber and prairie lands, educational advantages and prospects, religious privileges, character of the people, and other valuable and interesting facts connected with a Territory that has been of such prominent interest for the past fifteen years. In a con- densed and readable form this material and important information is now most respectfully presented to the public. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY. The Discovery and Occupation of the Country West of the Mississippi River by the French and Spaniards—Its Purchase and Occupation by the United States in 1803. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER I. Indian Treaties in 1865–6–Opening of Oklahoma by Congress.......... CHAPTER II. Temporary Occupation of Oklahoma by Boomers under the Leadership of Captains Payne and Couch in 1880–1884–Leath of Captain Payne —The President's Proclamation Opening Oklahoma–Entering the Territory–The City of Guthrie Organized. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER III. Opening of the Land-office–Arbitration Boards Organized–East Guth- rie and Capitol (ſill Organized–Scenes and Incidents at the Opening, CHAPTER IV. The Settlement of Guthrie–Chamber of Commerce Organized–Open- ing of the Postoffice–The Charter Convention. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER V. The Settlement of Oklahoma City–Its Rapid Growth and Great Com- mercial Advantages—Its Fine Buildings—Opening of the Land-office, CHAPTER VI. Description of the Physical Features of Oklahoma, Including all of the Unoccupied Indian Lands Soon to be Opened to White Settlement —The Climate, Water, Timber, Soil, and Minerals Carefully Noted. PAGE. 36 69 Viji CONTENTS. CHAPTER VII. PA The Friends of Oklahoma–Statesmen and Journalists—The Killing of Captain W. L. Couch—Portraits of Distinguished Men... . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER VIII. Society in Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Churches of Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER X. Memorable Events—Reception of Congressmen at Guthrie–Oklahoma's First Anniversary–Decoration Day–Grand Reception to the Edit- ors' Association—Arrival of Governor Steele and the Reception Ten. dered Him–Attempt to Form a Provisional Government–Banquet and Ball Tendered the First Legislature at Guthrie and Oklahoma CHAPTER XI. The Public Schools of Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XII. The Famous Statu Quo Order and its Effects... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XIII. Banks, Bankers, and Banking in Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XIV. Description of the Cities of Kingfisher, Norman, Edmond, Frisco, El Reno, Mulhall, Hennessey, Lincoln, Perkins, Downs, and the Neutral Strip and its Towns... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CHAPTER XV. The Bench and Bar of Oklahoma–Federal Appointments for Oklahoma –Governor Steele's Appointments–Census of Oklahoma—Miscel- laneous–Political Parties Organized. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161 170 CONTENTS. ix CHAPTER XVI. Railways of Oklahoma–Towns and Cities on their Lines–Altitude of the Country. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197 CHAPTER XVII. Meeting of the First Legislature of Oklahoma—The Attempt to Locate the Capital—A Graphic Description of the Exciting Scenes in Both Houses... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 CHAPTER XVIII. The Press of Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224 CHAPTER XIX. The Cherokee Commission—Treaties with the Indians. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230 CHAPTER XX. Oklahoma City; its Present and Future Prospects—Mention of its Pio- neer Men—Address of Hon. Sidney Clarke. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 CHAPTER XXI. Biographical Mention of Men who have been Prominent in Shaping the Institutions of Oklahoma–Hon. M. W. Reynolds' last Editorial on the Land of the Fair God. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index to Biographical Sketches. PAGE Allen, Hon. John M................................. 113 Admire, Hon. J. V., Kingfisher............... 252 Allison, Judge William M....................... 267 Barnes, Hon. C. M., Guthrie................... 48 Brown, Hon. Charles H., Guthrie. ... 51 Baker, Congressman Chas. W..... ... 106 Bleuler, C. W., Guthrie...... 163 Burke, J. J., Oklahoma City. ... 226 Boles, Col. John J., Guthrie.................... 270 Cunningham, Hon. Harper S., Guthrie... 52 Clarke, Hon. Sidney, Oklahoma City...... 107 Couch, Captain W. L., Oklahoma City.... 110 Caruthers, Allen, Guthrie................. --- Cunningham, Geo. S., Guthrie Cannon, W. T., Guthrie........................... 272 Clark, Hon. Samuel W....... --- Corkin, Archie, Guthrie............-------------- Dille, Hon. John I., Guthrie.................... 47 De Steiguer, Rodolph, Guthrie 165 De Steiguer, Louis, Guthrie..... ... 166 Daniels, Arthur N. . ......... ... ... 221 Delaney, Capt. J. C., Oklahoma City...... 240 Dunham, Arthur W., Oklahoma City...... 274 Delaney, L. R., Guthrie........................... 268 Flynn, D. T., Guthrie.............................. 64 Fancher, H. C...... 259 Farwell, Guy G. ............ ... 260 Foster, Hon. John........................ ......... 273 Greer, Frank H., Guthrie........................ 67 Gammon, F. R., Guthrie.... 166 Gardenhire, Hon. Geo. W............ 219 Gault, Mayor W. J., Oklahoma City 242 Galbraith, C. A., Oklahoma City... ... 245 Galloway, John M., Guthrie.................... 248 Herriott, Major Geo. F., Guthrie............ 66 Harrison, President Benj........................ 97. Harvey, Hon. David A., Oklahoma City. 239 Hammer, Capt. A. B., Oklahoma City..... 243 Hackney, Hon. W. P., Guthrie --- Hoffman, Leroy V., Guthrie.................... Hitchcock, W. B., Guthrie........... :----------- Jamison, Gen. J. C., Guthrie.................. 255 Kincade, Robert, Oklahoma City............ 167 Lowe, Judge T. J., Guthrie..................... 49 Munford, Dr. M., Kansas City, Mo......... 105 Mansur, Hon. Chas. H.................... ... 115 Murdock, Hon. M. M......... 115 McLean, C. R., Guthrie...... 163 McNeal, J. W., Guthrie........................... 164 PAGE. Merton, Hon. W. M., Guthrie.................. 222 McMaster, Frank, Oklahoma City.......... 225 Martin, Hon. Robert.......... ................... 250 McElhinney, A. M., Guthrie... 257 Mulhall, Zach, Mulhall Meadows, W. P. Guthrie........................ 263 Morgan, Hon Dick T., Guthrie. 265 Meeker, William H., Guthrie.... 266 Marquart, D. W., Norman... 267 Marsh, John, Guthrie......... 269 McCabe, Edward P., Guthrie. 271 Noble, Hon. John W............................... 99 Orput, Geo. D., Guthrie........................... Overholser, H., Oklahoma City, Onstott, Col. J. H., Guthrie... ... - O'Donnell, John F., Guthrie.................. Perkins, Hon. Bishop W. ........................ Peters, Hon. Samuel R........................... Peyton, Dr. C. A. Oklahoma City Peace, D.C., Guthrie.............................. Reynolds, Hon. Milton W..... ................ 99 Ragsdale, J. M., Guthrie......... ... ........... 163 Richardson, T. M., Oklahºma City........ 242 Robberts, Hon, Jacob C. Kingfisher...... 253 Risley, Theodore G. Guthrie. ... 262 Reaves, R. S., Guthrie............ 273 Ross, Col. D. M., Guthrie... ... 266 Riling, James, Guthrie... ....................... 269 Springer, Hon. William M....................... 113 Struble, Hon. Isaac................................. 114 Spencer, H. F., Guthrie............... .......... 168 Sawyer, H.W., Oklahoma City .... 226 Stiles, Capt. D. F., Oklahoma City......... 244 Steele, Hon. Geo. W................................ 247 Speed, Hon. Horace, Guthrie.................. 249 Spengel, Mayor A. J., Guthrie............... 256 Soward, Col. Thomas H., Guthrie........... 261 Stone, John F., Guthrie.......................... 264 Shanklin, Col. John H............................ 275 Thompson, W. P., Guthrie....................... 64 Thomas, W. A., Guthrie...... . 168 Terrill, Hon. Ira N .................................. 256 Terry, Prof. Frank, Guthrie.................... 258 Whitley, H. J., Guthrie........................... 62 Wallace, Eugene, Oklahoma City............ 167 Wheeler, J. H., Oklahoma City............... 167 Walker, C. P., Oklahoma City................. 244 Westervelt, Emery E., Guthrie................ 269 Young, D. C., Guthrie............................. 267 List of Illustrations. PORTRAITS. PAGE. Harvey, Hon. D. A..... Frontispiece. Martin, Hon. Robert . . . . . . . . . Munford, Dr. M. . . . . . . . . . . . . - - 7. 2 Admire, Hon. J. V. . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Mansur, Congressman Chas.... Baker, Congressman Chas. S. . . 18 McLean, C. R. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Barnes, Hon. C. M. . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 Mulhall, Zach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brown, Hon. Chas. H. . . . . . . . . . 210 Merton, Hon. W. H. . . . . . . . . . . Boles, Col. J. J.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 McElBinney, A. M. . . . . . . . . . . 'Cleveland, ex-President Grover, 9 Cunningham, Hon. Harper S... 52 Clarke, Hon. Sidney. . . . . . . . . . . 108 Classen, Anton H. . . . . . . . . . . . 176 Caruthers, Allen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250 Dille, Hon. John I... . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Delaney, Capt. J. C. . . . . . . . . . . . 240 Dunham, Arthur W. . . . . . . . . . . 274 Daniels, Arthur N. . . . . . . . . . . . . 220 Delaney, L. R. . . . . . . . . . * * * * * * * 268 Flynn, D.T.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 Fugate, J. B. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120 Farwell, Guy G. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 Greer, F. H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 Greene, Edward B. . . . . . . . . . . . 186 Gardenhire. Hon. Geo. W. . . . . . 216 Gault, Mayor W. J.. . . . . . . . . . . . 242 Herriott, Major G. F. . . . . . . . . . . 67 Harrison, President Benj... . . . . 96 Hammer, Judge A. B. . . . . . . . . . 244 Jones, T. S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254 Lowe, Judge T. J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Morgan, Dick T. . . . . . . ------- Marquart, D. W. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Noble, Hon. John W. . . . . . . . . Orput, Geo. D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - Overholser, H. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Onstott, Col. J. H. . . . . . . . . . . . . O'Donnell, John F. . . . . . . . . . . . Perkins, Congressman B. P.. . . Ragsdale, J. M. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reaves, R. S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Springer, Hon. W. M. . . . . . . . . . Soward, Col. Thomas II. . . . . . Spencer, H. F. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steele, Hon. Geo, W. . . . . . . . . . . Speed, Hon. Horace. . . . . . . . . . Spengel, A. J. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry, Prof. Frank. . . . . . . . . . . Thomas, W. A... . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas, E. D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thompson, W. P.. . . . . . . . . . . . . Whitley, H. J.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Young, D. C. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * EUILDINGS AND SC EN ES. Ruins of the Mission Pedro on the South Canadian Scene on the Rock Island Route near Kingfisher “The Land of the Fair God,” Captain Payne's Settlement on the Stillwater in 1884 PAGE. 22 104 266 98 65 257 xii LIST OF II, I, USTRATIONS. Guthrie, April 27th, 1889. . . . . .------------------------------------------- Sooners Staking off Lots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Jail, Guthrie... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - Guthrie, May 1st. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Holding Down Lots at Guthrie April 23d. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Voting for Mayor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Land-office, Guthrie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. Excursionists in the Arbuckle Mountains. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scene on the Cottonwood at Guthrie... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Herriott Block, Guthrie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ------------------------- April 22d at Oklahoma City... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Scene on the North Canadian River at Oklahoma City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Henry Wills' Block, Oklahoma City... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pettee and Bassett Block, Oklahoma City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H. Overholser's Hotel, Oklahoma City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H. Overholser's Block, Oklahoma City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H. Overholser's Opera-House, Oklahoma City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -------- Cheyenne Village in the Antelope Hills. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arrapahoe Princess. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cheyenne Princess. . . . . . . ------------------------------------------------- Indian Tepee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arrapahoe Indians Gambling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Commercial Bank May 4th, 1889. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Commercial Bank October 19th, 1889 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Guthrie National Bank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The National Bank of Guthrie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bank of the Indian Territory, ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bank of Oklahoma City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . International Loan and Trust Company's Building, Guthrie - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- -- -- -- … -- Oklahoma City. . . . . . ** º -- º … -- … -- Street Scene at Edmond. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . View of the Canadian River on the Rock Island Route. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scene on the Santa Fe near Guthrie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scene in Cleveland County on the Santa Fe Route. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scene on the Rock Island Route near Kingfisher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Scene on the Rock Island Route. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assembly Hall of the First Legislature. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - Scene in Cotton Yard at Oklahoma City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kuhlman Block, Oklahoma City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . O. T. Bassett Block, Oklahoma City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Interior of Bank of Oklahoma City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Post-office Block, Oklahoma City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RUINS OF THE MISSION PEDRO ON THE SOUTH CANADIAN. [From Photograph.] º º º SCENE ON THE ROCK Island ROUTE NEAR KING FISHER. [From Photograph.] º/Kº *% S º, ! sº OKLAHOMA THREE CENTURIES AGO. In the year 1541, De Soto discovered and explored the region of country in which is embraced the Territory of Oklahoma. In 1673, Father Marquette, with a few Canadian followers, also explored the country along both banks of the Mississippi nearly to its mouth, but, like his predecessor, made no settlement. - In 1682, La Salle arrived from France, and took possession of the country in the name of Louis XIV, in whose honor he named it Lou- isiana. No settlement was made or colony founded, however, before 1699, when Iberville, with a number of colonists, settled at points east of the Mississippi. In 1706, New Orleans was founded by Bienville. In 1712, the French monarch gave to Anthony Crozat a fifteen-years’ exclusive privilege of trading in all of this vast region: he also gave him the privilege of shipping slaves to this country from Africa. In 1717, Crozat, finding the enterprise unprofitable, turned the province over to one John Law, a prominent speculator of that day. He too met with financial disaster, and in 1723 Bienville again appeared on the scene, and made large improvements along the Mississippi. From that time until 1762 this entire region of coun- try was under the direction of the French crown, when it was secretly transferred to Spain, and was ruled with an iron rod for thirty-eight (5) 6 HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA. years, or until 1800, when it was restored to France. Three years later, in 1803, it was sold to the United States for $15,000,000 by Napoleon. At that time it embraced all of the present States of Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Dakota, Kansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and the Indian territory, bounded on the south by Texas, and on the west by New Mexico. - During the thirty-eight years that this vast area of country was under the direction of the Spanish crown, this country—Oklahoma —as also the country to the north and west, was thoroughly ex- plored, and a scheme was inaugurated to build a cordon of missions that, starting from the Gulf of Mexico, would extend to the Pacific ocean on the north and west. The scheme, however, was but partially carried out, for after building a dozen or more of these costly presidios, or garrisons, commencing on the Matagorda bay and running north, the strain on the Spanish exchequer became so severe that it was entirely abandoned, leaving nothing but a few grand old ruins in southern Texas and New Mexico to mark this religious and warlike enterprise. As before stated, the United States became the owner of this country in 1803, and notwithstanding the fact that no portion of the Louisiana Purchase offered such inducements in the way of climate and soil as this, while the country on every side has been opened to - F." civilization, this, the Italy of North America, has been orbidden ground to the white man. The justice, the sound policy of shutting out the people—its owners—and devoting such a vast area of fine territory to tribes of indolent Indians, that the people that this country has been closed against have had to support, is a question too deep for the author, who will, therefore, leave its answer to more profound and abler pens. It was in the year 1816 that the Government conceived the project of dividing this territory up into Indian reservations, and from the year following until 1889 the project was carried out, and over twenty- five million acres of choice lands have been devoted to that purpose. In 1835–6, reservations for what are known as the five civilized tribes, namely, the Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks, and Seminoles, were set apart and taken possession of by thºse tribes. These five nations were originally located at the south, in States east of the Mississipi river, and they were induced to exchange their lands there for those now occupied by them. Here is another bit of history in the exchange of these lands that is by no means commend- able to this Government. º year later Na i. Colo Indi New unde aS lore H. OCea, part cost] run I that ruin war] COUll. Lou and - F. orb of s area, this too ( prof of d year five tribe Sem Thes of t land, histo able º \\ || \y\! § \\||º Sºº §º º §§ | -> § § - º | º º/% t º º N. º f? § | º w ſ | Alſº - || s Nº. \\?\º |3: ! |\\\ º - º jº | º - º º º º jº º HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. 7 At the breaking out of the war of the rebellion all of these tribes espoused the cause of the South, and at the close of hostilities the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks, and Seminoles were induced to transfer back to the Government fourteen million acres of their lands, at prices ranging from fifteen to thirty cents per acre. Of these lands, Okla- homa proper, that was opened for settlement by the President’s procla- mation, embraces one million three hundred and ninety-two thousand six hundred and eleven acres ceded by the Creeks, and four hundred and ninety-five thousand and ninety-four acres ceded by the Semi- moles, by a treaty ratified in 1866. CHAPTER I. (CONTRIBUTED BY M. W. REYNoLDs.) “Down the rivers, o'er the prairies, Came the warriors of the nation, Painted like the leaves of autumn, Painted like the sky of morning, In their faces stern defiance, In their hearts the feuds of ages.” I am requested by the author of this work to write the opening chapter, and especially to give my recollection of the council held at Fort Smith, A. in 1865, which I reported for the New York Tºwne, and by which the title to Oklahoma became vested in the Government, and other facts connected with the history of these lands subsequent to the treaty of 1866–framed in 1865. A chapter else- where gives a full and succinct account up to this date. The council of 1865 was a notable one. On the part of the Gov- ernment such distinguished statesmen and generals as W. T. Sherman, General Parker, Governor Stanley, of Minnesota; Senator Henderson, of Missouri, and Judge Cooley, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, acted as commissioners. The representatives of the Indian tribes were no less conspicuous and brilliant. Indeed, if the truth must be told, so far as power of expression, º of Indian treaties, and real ora- tory were concerned, the Indians had decidedly the advantage. Their great leaders, John Ross and Col. Pytchlzne, were still living, and were active participants in the grand council. John Ross had been chief of the Cherokees for over forty years. He had governed wisely and well, and no one man ever had such a power over the Cherokees as had this noted chief. Col. E. C. Bardinat was then comparatively a young man, but he was then, as now, the most gifted and powerful in elo- quence of all the Cherokees. He was just out of the Confederate Congress at Richmond, as delegate from the Cherokees. He was fiery and excitable, but not pyrotechnic and lurid. His eloquence was heroic and impassioned, but not vapid or ebullient. He was a pronounced figure in the convention, and though difficult to restrain, he gradually became conservative, and his ancient loyalty to the Gov- ernment was restored, and from that day to this no man among the Cherokees has been more loyal to the flag nor more desirous of carry- (8) unovº ºn. - --- - - I - cha For 7.º Gov. subs whe T elºn I- Gen. of M aS C( less far a tory ºne - - in the the ( and grea activ this man Quen Cong fiery Was pron he g ern Ind Cher no the lost wº ºne - HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. 9 ing out the known policy of the Government towards the Cherokees and other Indian tribes. Mayes was then an unknown quantity. Ex-Chief Busheyhead has acquired his fame among his people since the date of that council. - The commissioners on the part of the Government were charged with making known to all the tribes of the Southwest the policy of the Government, who were assembled, it was reported, seventy-five thousand strong, numbering not so many, but a very great multitude of chiefs, warriors, sachems, leading men, women and children. The Cherokees, Cheyennes, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Seminoles, Creeks, and the tribes of the plains, including Kansas Indians, nearly all came. The Indians were told that the war had ended, peace had been pro- claimed, that the work of reconstruction and rehabilitation was now being carried on between the North and the South, and that the former relations of the semi-civilized tribes with the Government must be restored; that they had gone into the rebellion, and consequently for- feited all treaty rights, and that all property once owned by them was now under the terrible ban of confiscation. But the Government, the commissioners said, was not disposed to deprive them of a home; that their red brothers who had remained loyal must be provided with homes; that the persons they had recently sold as slaves must be declared freedmen, and have the same rights as themselves if they chose to remain members of the tribe; and that consequently their former reservations, if restored to them, must be curtailed and restricted in order that the freedmen and loyal red brethren in the North inhab- iting Kansas, Nebraska, and the Dakotas might have homes among them. It was largely a Kansas idea, and prominent Kansas men were there to enforce it. General Blair and Hon. Ben. McDonald, brother of Senator McDonald, of Arkansas, Gen. Blunt, Eugene Ware, C. F. Drake, the Fort Scott banker, and others were present as per- sistent inside counsellors and lobbyists. Kansas was then plastered all over with Indian reservations. She wanted to get rid of the Indi- ans, who owned all of her western plains and her choicest lands in Southern Kansas. It was a matter of compulsion with the Indians. They had lost all rights of property and all title to lands. Conse- quently they yielded whatever was asked. The Creeks and Seminoles ceded the western portions of their reservations, including Oklahoma– the home of the red man—to the Government, for the purpose, as the Government declared, to colonize friendly Indians and freedmen there- on. Thus titles parted from the Indians, and Payne and his boomers declared it was public land and open to squatter settlement. Prae. tically they were correct; technically they were wrong, as the ceded 10 HISTORY OF OKLA HOMA. lands became Government lands but not public lands, as no act of Congress had thrown them open to settlement. Consequently Payne and his followers were technically tresspassers, and could not acquire inchoate squatters’ rights. Payne was a typical boomer, big-brained, big-hearted, broad-breasted and broad-shouldered. He was built to carry a great burden of responsibility. He was as brave as a Nu- midian lion. It was his constant agitation of the question of o ening Oklahoma to settlement, together with the wise counsels and fearless acts of such dauntless spirits as Captain Couch, that finally compelled Congress to act. - The “cattle barons” would have remained in possession of the country till the close of the century but for these raids of Payne and Couch, and the constant agitation of the question through the public press. This prodding of the boomer agitation fired the dull con- science of Congress, and caused that body in the last hours of the waning administration of ex-President Cleveland to pass a bill throw- * about 2,000,000 acres open to settlement. t happened this wise: The Fiftieth Congress was slow with its work. Upon the heels of the going out of the Cleveland administration even the appropriation bills were behind. The Indian Appropriation bill was unacted upon forty-eight hours before the hour for the inaug- uration of the new President. The victorious party was threatened with that terror of an administration, and especially of an administra- tion just coming into power—an extra session of Congress–to act upon appropriation bills. The defeat of the Indian Appropriation bill would compel an extra session. Mr. º the efficient chair- man on territories during all of the Cleveland administration, had done all a mortal man or a Congressman could do to pass the Okla. homa bill. It was his pet measure. He was cruelly maligned and charged with being in the interest of the cattle men, and secretly working to defeat the measure. No one in Oklahoma believes this; and the people here ought to, and do know, as much about Oklahoma legislation as any one else. That he was and is the devoted, loyal, consistent and always reliable friend of Oklahoma, no one acquainted with the facts will gainsay. But he was beaten in the Senate—beaten by the cash of the cattle barons, beaten as he had often been beaten in the House. During this session of Congress there rapidly came to the front a young Western man of conspicuous ability and brilliant parts. Of political necessity he had no chairmanship of a committee, and had to make his way to leadership in his committee and in the House, which he did with wonderful rapidity and force. For his noble efforts for HON. W. M. SPRINGER. HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. 11 Oklahoma, the name of Congressman B. W. Perkins, of Kansas, will always be revered in this territory and commonwealth. Judge Per- kins was on the Indian Committee. The Indian Appropriation bill in conference was placed in his hands. He attached thereto a rider which ave Oklahoma all the legislation it ever had until May, 1890, and opened #. fertile fields and rich valleys to the melody and music of homely toil, that have already made them resonant with the rich voices of in- dustrial developments. He said to the senator in conference who had defeated the Springer bill: “ Pass this Oklahoma legislation as a rider to the Indian Appropriation bill, or the Indian Appropriation bill shall not pass;” and the senator surrendered. The bill passed, and Oklahoma got its first legislation. It comprised Oklahoma proper. It left a tract ten times as large to be treated for through a Conan ISSIOIn. The President, soon after the adjournment of Congress and his in- auguration in 1889, issued his proclamation declaring Oklahoma would be opened to settlement on April 22d, at high noon, and warn- ing all parties not to enter upon such lands prior to said day and hour, and till then that such entry would work a forfeiture of all rights of entry subsequently to any portion of these lands. In spite of the warning, the attempts to get upon the lands were numerous, and by Sunday at high noon, twenty-four hours previous to the legal opening, the hills of Guthrie were covered with snow-white tents, and town lots were staked out, and public meetings were held for hours previous to high noon on April 28th. The woods were full of con- cealed boomers. Excitement ran high. The public pulse beat and throbbed with the true boomer spirit. The immigration fever raged fiercely. It was a craze. All along the line of Southern Kansas the camp-fires of the anxious emigrants were lighted, and the country was aroused as it has rarely been in the history of the immigration of mighty peoples. The prow of Æneas' vessel as it kissed the proud waves of the blue Ægean in search of another Troy caused no ripples of excitement to be compared with the scene that was witnsssed as the steam-driven locomotive came plunging down the quiet cottonwood valley and unloaded from its fifteen trains in half a day over ten thou- sand people, so that at nightfall, when the “Sun descended set the clouds on fire with redness, Burned the broad sky like a prairie,” There were not less than fifteen thousand people on the half section of land surrounding the land office. There was one little frame building—the United States land office. People slept in tents, who 12 HISTORY OF OR LA I/OMA. had them; they wrapped themselves in blankets, if they were provi- dent enough to bring them. Many laid down upon the cold April ground, supperless and with no covering except the drapery of night studded with stars. At evening's mellow close Mustered here the savage foes, But when the morning sun arose Cities filled the land. Metaphorically, newspaper writers talk about building cities in a day. Here was a city of fifteen thousand souls congregated and as- sembled on less than a section of land in less than half a day, and most of them came to stay. They had heard and read much of Okla- homa. They believed it to be a land of promise, and the supersti- tious Mexican never watched more intently for the coming of the Fair God, than did the ardent boomers for the opening of the beauti- ful land. Thus the territory was opened, and an empire reclaimed to civiliza- tion and settlement. The scenes and incidents—many laughable and ludicrous in the extreme, others heroic and illustrative of the sublimest fortitude, were without a parallel, and will never be paral- lelled. There are no more solitudes to awaken to the sturdy blows of sturdy pioneer men. There are no more territories to settle. With the settlement of Oklahoma the mighty wave of immigration has reached its ebb. The steed Progress has outstripped the god Ter- minus. The rush to Kansas came nearer a parallel to Oklahoma than anything in the present age has ever witnessed, but the rush to Kan- sas plains was the resultant of a mighty impulse moved and controlled by a dominant idea or sentiment. There was no sentiment in the set- tlement of Oklahoma. Men came from every State–from the South and from the North, from the bleak and barren coast of New England, and from the golden sands washed by the Pacific seas. They came here for homes, and to build up a strong, sturdy, and cos- mopolitan civilization, that in its results shall surpass that of any of the States. They came as brothers, and if they brought their rifles, the first year has demonstrated a greater love for law and order, for peace and tranquility, than any seventy thousand people in any of the States and territories. And this while Congress hesitated, and for twelve months left this brave and high-minded people without the semblance of laws. The Oklahoma movement was without a precedent, for the reason that it had been a treasure locked up by Congress, and kept just in the reach of the people while a cordon of States had surrounded this . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - then in ºn - - - - ºld ºn build ºn in nº ºn all dº nº a ºn of Okla º persº- the ºne nº lººd others nº ºut nº ºn nºt in tº set ºn sº ºn the ºn ºn and ºn to build up sº is ºlº tº - | º || ||º | * º -- | º ||| |||| s º ! | | | | º º | \ | º history of oktahoma. 13 magnificent park of the red man. The wave of settlement and civil- ization beat upon the breast of fair Oklahoma and sought possession. Her railroads, the modern civilizers and mighty factors of industrial development, came to the borders and knocked for entry. One– that mighty colossus of roads, that has done more than all other agencies in reclaiming great deserts and peopling vast solitudes in the western States and territories: the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe road obtained a right of way and built through the very heart of Oklahoma on to the Gulf. At opening day it was equipped to do the monstrous business the people forced upon it, and it did its great work in a manner never equalled in the transportation service. It sent out fifteen splendidly equipped passenger trains on the 22d day of April, 1889. The freight it handled last season was simply enor- mous. No accident occurred during all the exciting hours of those busy April days. Except for the railroad, no such movement of people and freight could have been had. It was a grand triumph for the railway transportation and freight service. Now that law |. been secured, and the real work of building up an industrial commonwealth as near perfect as human ingenuity can make it has commenced, and the capacities of this wonderful land amply demonstrated for the highest culture, we can reasonably antici- pate that here will be founded and built a commonwealth that will sº shine among the brightest and best in the galaxy of American tates. - CHAPTER II. I beheld the westward marches Of the unknown crowded nations. All the land was full of people, IRestless, struggling, toiling, striving, Speaking many tongues, yet feeling But one heart-beat in their bosoms; In the woodlands rang their axes; Smoked their towns in all the valleys. As mentioned in the preceding chapter, at the council held at Fort Smith in 1866, the Creek and Seminole Indians ceded the western ortion of their reservations, including Oklahoma, to the Government. t being the purpose of the Government, as stated by its commis- sioners, to employ the lands ceded to it as that time on which to settle friendly Indians and freedmen. The lands, however, were not employed for that purpose, but remained the property of the Govern- 14 HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA. ment, awaiting Congressional action to open them to settlement. From 1866 to 1870 but little was done to influence Congress to open these lands to the public. In the last-mentioned year, however, Cap- tain David L. Payne, then a member of the Kansas legislature from Sedgwick county, organized a movement looking towards the occu- pancy and settlement of that portion of the Indian country known as Oklahoma, or “beautiful land,” as signified in the Indian language. It was not only the opinion of Captain Payne, but of many able lawyers of the country, that, by the terms of the treaty of 1866, these lands, which had been actually surveyed, became a part of the public domain, and were therefore open to white settlement. With this view of the case, in December, 1880, Captain Payne organized a large colony, which assembled on the north line of the Cherokee outlet, near Arkansas City. The military authorities being notified of the movement, a company of United States cavalry, under command of Colonel Copinger, was dispatched to Payne's camp to prevent any attempt by the colonists to enter the Indian territory. In the mean- time, the colonists had moved their main camp from Arkansas City to Hunnewell, their line extending along the north border of the outlet, between the two cities named. Colonel Copinger warned the colo- nists that any attempt to cross the line into the Indian country would be forcibly resisted, the President of the United States having issued a proclamation to that effect. The lines of the colonists occupied one bank of what is known as Bitter creek, while the troops occupied the other. Here the colonists remained for several days, during which time they received large accessions to their numbers; they were also thoroughly º on a military basis. The colony at this time numbered 600 stalwart men, with a large number of women and children. On Sunday, December the 12th, while thus º a forward movement, divine service, conducted by the colony chap- lain, was held and attended by Col. Copinger, his officers and men, as also by a large number of people from the surrounding country, nearly all of whom were in strong sympathy with the colonists. It was a thrilling spectacle—soldiers and colonists praying together, and singing hymns of praise; the Stars and Stripes being fanned by the breeze from both camps, while “The Star Spangled Banner” was ren- dered with deep emotion, soldiers and colonists joining in the chorus. Captain Payne and his followers had sent a petition to the Presi- dent praying for a modification of the executive orders forbidding them to enter the territory. No answer being received to their peti- tion, on the 14th of December Dr. Robert Wilson, of Austin, Texas, was appointed a delegate to Washington in the interest of the colo- HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. 15 mists. On the same day the colonists broke camp and marched to Caldwell, some thirty-five miles, where they were joined by a large number of recruits. The troops moved along with the colonists with- out interfering in the least with their movements. Many of the citizens of Caldwell joined the colonists in a mass meeting, at which resolutions were adopted fully endorsing the movement and the right of the people to enter the Indian territory. A petition was also pre- pared and forwarded to the President, asking that he allow the colo- mists to enter the territory, the troops to accompany them as an escort. Neither the President nor Congress, however, could be in- duced to render any aid, and the colonists became disheartened; and as Captain Payne was arrested about that time, charged with trespass- ing on Indian lands, being deprived of their leader they temporarily disbanded. Upon the trial of Captain Payne at Fort Smith, Arkan- sas, the validity of the treaty of 1866 was brought into question. It was a point upon which the Secretary of the Interior and some of the most profound attorneys of the Union differed. The trial of Payne resulted in his being held in bonds of $1,000, which was immediately furnished, and the Captain returned to his home in Kansas. This, his first ex º, although a failure, was followed by four others, at each of which Captain Payne succeeded in entering Okla- homa with formidable colonies. They built houses, laid off farms, and planted crops. At each time, however, he was driven out by United States troops. His last expedition was made early in 1884, when, with a colony of 500 people and 250 wagons, he effected a settlement in that portion º §. known as the Stillwater district, in the northeast portion of the territory. In this, as in pre- vious expeditions, the colony was dispersed by the troops, and Cap- tain Payne and his officers were taken to Fort Smith, where they were refused a trial, and were taken before the United States Court at Topeka, Kansas, where they were accorded a trial at the fall term of 1884. The Captain came out of the contest victorious, the deci- sion being that Oklahoma was public land, and that he was guilty of no crime in his attempts to settle upon the same. - This decision infused new life and confidence into the boomer Cap- tain—as he was called and his followers. He immediately com- menced to reorganize, and would in a few days have entered the promised land with the largest and most powerful colony that he had ºver before organized, when suddenly, ...! without a moment’s warn- ing, while at breakfast in the Barnard House, at Wellington, Kan- sºs, on the morning of November 28th, 1884, he fell dead in the arms of one of his faithful followers. With victory in sight, the dread 16 HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. summons came, and Captain Payne entered upon and possessed his home in that land where no military stood guard with gleaming bay- onets to question his right of entrance. His remains were followed to their final resting-place by a large concourse of grief-stricken people. “Behind, the long procession came Of hoary men and chiefs of fame, With heavy hearts and eyes of grief, Leading the war horse of their chief.” Captain Payne was a whole-souled, genial gentleman, and one of the most popular men in the West. He was a brave and true friend, and a generous foe. Captain W. L. Couch, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work, accompanied Captain Payne in his last attempt to establish a colony in Oklahoma. After the death of the latter, Captain Couch, in the autumn of 1884, entered the territory with a colony of about 500 men. They effected a settlement and made permanent improve- ments in the northeastern portion of the territory, where they were allowed to remain unmolested until January, 1885, when they were escorted out of the territory by the United States troops. This was the last attempt to settle the territory before it was formally opened to homestead settlement by Congressional action. No further evidence is necessary to show the patience and forbear- ance of the American people than the fact that nearly fifteen million acres of as fertile land as can be found in the United States was, from 1866 to 1889, forbidden ground to the foot of the white man. It is both marvelous and humiliating to contemplate the fact that wealthy cattle corporations should have been permitted to occupy unmolested for over twenty years lands from which honest free-born American home-seekers were driven off at the point of the bayonet. The determination and fearless persistency of those dead heroes, Cap- tains Payne and Couch, whose lives were sacrificed in the work of opening Oklahoma to settlement, at last forced Congress to realize the fact that any further pandering to the interests of the cattle barons would not be tolerated by the people. In 1888, the Springer bill, which provided for opening the Indian country to settlement, although defeated in the Senate, opened the way to partial success, and through Congressman Perkins, who at the eleventh hour, so to speak, of the Fiftieth Congress, attached to the Indian Appropriation bill a rider which was carried by the Appro- priation bill, even in the face of Senators who were working for the cattle interests; and thus after twenty-four years' patiently waiting, © ; s s HISTORY OF OR LA II OMA. 17 the people of this country have secured the opening to settlement of territory that in the immediate future will develop into one of the finest and most prosperous States in the American Union. - “The rudiments of empire here Are pastic yet and warm; The chaos of a mighty world Isrounding into form.” On the 2d day of March, 1889, the bill opening Oklahoma was signed by Grover Cleveland, the President, and on the 22d day of the same month President Harrison issued the following proclamation: BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. A PROCLAMATION. WHEREAs, Pursuant to Section eight, of the Act of Congress approved March third, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, entitled “An act making appropria- tions for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian Department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes, for the year ending . June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, and for other purposes,” cer- tain articles of cession and agreement were made and concluded at the City of Washington on the nineteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord eigh- teen hundred and eighty-nine, by and between the United States of America and the Muscogee (or Creek) Nation of Indians, whereby the said Muscogee (or Creek) Nation of Indians, for the consideration therein mentioned, ceded and granted to the United States, without reservation or condition, full and complete title to the entire western half of the domain of the said Muscogee (or Creek) Nation, in the Indian Territory, lying west of the division line surveyed and established under the treaty with said Nation, dated the fourteenth day of June, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, and also granted and released to the United States all and every claim, estate, right or interest of any and every de- scription in and to any and all land and territory whatever, except so much of the former domain of said Muscogee (or Creek) Nation as lies east of said line of division surveyed and established as aforesaid, and then used and occupied as the home of said Nation, and which articles of cession and agreement were duly accepted, ratified and confirmed by said Muscogee (or Creek) Nation of Indians by act of its council, approved on the thirty-first day of January, eigh- teen hundred and eighty-nine, and by the United States by act of Congress approved March first, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine; and WHEREAs, By Section twelve of the Act, entitled “An act making appropri- ations for the current and contingent expenses of the Indian Department, and for fulfilling treaty stipulations with various Indian tribes, for the year ending June thirtieth, eighteen hundred and ninety, and for other purposes,” approved March second, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, a sum of money was appro- priated to pay in full the Seminole Nation of Indians for all the right, title, in- terest and claim which said Nation of Indians might have in and to certain –2 18 HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. - lands ceded by article three of the treaty between the United States and said Nation of Indians, concluded June fourteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, and proclaimed August sixteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six, said appro- priation to become operative upon the execution by the duly appointed dele- gates of said Nation, specially empowered to do so, of a release and conveyance to the United States of all right, title, interest and claim of said Nation of In- dians, in and to said lands, in manner and form satisfactory to the President of the United States; and WHEREAs, Said release and conveyance, bearing date the sixteenth day of March, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, has been duly and fully executed, approved and delivered; and WHEREAs, Section thirteen of the act last aforesaid, relating to said lands, provides as follows: SEC. 13. That the lands acquired by the United States under said agreement shall be a part of the public domain, to be disposed of only as herein provided, and sections sixteen and thirty-six of each township, whether surveyed or unsurveyed, are hereby reserved for the use and benefit of the public schools to be established within the limits of said lands, under such conditions and regulations as may be hereafter enacted by Congress. That the lands acquired by conveyance from the Seminole Indians hereunder, except the six- teenth and thirty-sixth sections, shall be disposed of to actual settlers under the homestead laws only, except as herein otherwise provided (except that section two thousand three hundred and one of the Revised Statutes shall not apply): And provided further, That any person who having attempted to, but for any cause failed to secure, a title in fee to a homestead under existing laws, or who made entry under what is known as the commuted provision of the homestead laws, shall be qualified to make a homestead entry upon said land: And provided further, That the rights of honorably discharged Union soldiers and sailors in the late civil war, as defined and described in sections twenty-three hundred and four, and twenty-three hundred and five, of the Revised Stat- utes, shall not be abridged: And provided further, That each entry shall be in square form as nearly as practicable, and no person be permitted to enter more than one quarter section thereof, but until saidlands are opened for settlement by proclamation of the President, no person shall be permitted to enter upon and occupy the same, and no person violating this provision shall ever be permittted to enter any of said lands or acquire any right thereto. The Secretary of the Interior may, after said proclamation and not before, permit entry of said lands for town-sites, under sections twenty-three hundred and eighty-seven, and twenty three hundred and eighty-eight, of the Revised Statutes, but no such entry shall embrace more than one-half section of land. That all the foregoing provisions with reference to lands to be acquired from the Seminole In- dians, including the provisions pertaining to forfeiture, shall apply to and regulate the disposal of the lands acquired from the Muscogee or Creek Indians by articles of cession and agreement made and concluded at the city of Washington, on the nineteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eighty-nine. Now therefore, I, Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested by said Act of Congress, approved March second, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine aforesaid, do hereby declare and make known, that so much of the lands as aforesaid acquired from or conveyed by the Muscogee (or Creek) Nation of Indians, and from or by the Seminole Nation of Indians, respectively, as is contained within the following-described boundaries, viz.: Beginning at a degree of longitude ninety-eight west from Greenwich, as surveyed in the years eighteen hundred and fifty-eight and eigh- teen hundred and seventy-one, intersects the Canadian River; thence north along and with the said degree to a point where the same intersects the Cim- CONGRESSMAN CHAS. S. BAKER. HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. 19 arron River; thence up said river, along the right bank thereof, to a point where the same is intersected by the south line of what is known as the Cherokee lands lying west of the Arkansas river, or as the “Cherokee Outlet,” said line being the north line of the lands ceded by the Muscogee (or Creek) Nation of Indians to the United States by the treaty of June fourteenth, eighteen hundred and sixty-six; thence east along said line to a point where the same intersects the west line of the lands set apart as a reservation for the Pawnee Indians, by act of Congress approved April tenth, eighteen hundred and seventy-six, being the range line between ranges four and five east of the Indian Meridian; thence south on said line to a point where the same intersects the middle of the main channel of the Cimarron river; thence up said river, along the middle of the main channel thereof, to a point where the same intersects the range line be- tween range one east and range one west (being the Indian Meridian), which line forms the western boundary of the reservation set apart respectively for the Iowa and Kickapoo Indians, by Executive Orders dated respec- tively August fifteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-three; thence south along said range line or meridian to a point where the same intersects the right bank of the North Fork of the Canadian River; thence up said river, along the right bank thereof, to a point where the same is inter- sected by the west line of the reservation occupied by the Citizen Band of Pottawatomies and the Absentee Shawnee Indians, set apart under the provisions of the treaty of February twenty-seven, eighteen hundred and sixty-seven, between the United States and the Pottawatomie tribe of Indians, and referred to in the act of Congress approved May twenty-three, eighteen hundred and seventy-two; thence south along the said west line of the aforesaid reservation to a point where the same intersects the middle of the main channel of the Canadian river; thence up the said river, along the middle of the main channel thereof, to a point opposite to the place of begin- ning, and thence north to place of beginning (saving and excepting one acre of land in square form in the northwest corner of section nine, in township sixteen north, range two west, of the Indian Meridian in Indian Territory, and also one acre of land in the southeast corner of the nortwest quarter of section fifteen, township sixteen north, range seven west, of the Indian Meridian in the Indian Territory (which last described two acres are hereby reserved for Government use and control), will at and after the hour of 12 o'clock, noon, of the twenty-second day of April next, and not before, be open for set- tlement, under the terms of and subject to all the conditions, limitations and restrictions contained in said act of Congress approved March second, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, and the laws of the United States applicable thereto. And it is hereby expressly declared and made known that no other parts or portions of the lands embraced within the Indian Territory than those herein specifically described, and declared to be open to settlement at the time above named and fixed, are to be considered as open to settlement under this procla- mation or the act of March second, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine aforesaid; and Warning is hereby again expressly given that no person entering upon and 20 HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. occupying said lands before said hour of twelve o'clock, noon, of the twenty- second day of April, A. D. eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, hereinbefore fixed, will ever be permitted to enter any of said lands or acquire any rights thereto, and that the officers of the United States will be required to strictly en- force the provision of the act of Congress to the above effect. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington, this twenty-third day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independ- ence of the United States the one hundred and thirteenth. [SEAL BENJ. HARRISON. By the President, JAMES G. BLAINE, Secretary of State. From the 2d of March, 1889, when the act of Congress opening Oklahoma to settlement became a law, until the 22d day of April fol- lowing, there was a constant congregating of people along the south line of Kansas. They came from all points, from the east, west, and north. They came singly, in squads, and colonies. Never before, in the history of this country, was there such an excitement, such a uni- versal desire to secure homes, as was witnessed at the opening of Sººº. SOONERS STAKING OFF LOTS. Oklahoma. Although a country comparatively unknown to the masses, beyond the newspaper descriptions given of it, there was a general movement towards it, as soon as it was known that its lands were to be opened to the white man. The movement was confined to no class or condition in life. The rich and the poor, the refined and the ig- norant, all joined in the onward march to Oklahoma. On Sunday, the 21st of April, the day before the opening of the Territory, it was estimated that at Arkansas City alone there were ten thousand people awaiting the hour to enter the Territory. There were also large num- bers at Caldwell, Hunnewell, and other points along the south line of Kansas. Arkansas City, however, was the chief point at which the HISTORY OF OKLAHOMA. 21 people congregated, and the city and adjacent country wore a Fourth- of July aspect for several days before the opening. The streets and business places were thronged; the hotels were packed; nearly every vacant place in and about the city was covered with tents. Many of the private houses were filled with representatives of the Oklahoma tidal wave; so that those who reached that point on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday prior to the notable 22d, found it next to impossible to procure either lodging or board. The scenes in and about the depot on Sunday night reminded one of the vast, surging crowds at the Philadelphia railway stations during the Centennial of 1876. The wildest confusion prevailed, and all efforts by the officers of the road to clear their grounds were entirely futile. The scenes on Monday morning beggar description. Fully ten thousand people were clam- oring to be allowed to board the first train. It was a typical Bull tun from daylight until the last of the fifteen trains for the south had left the depot, at 11 A. M. As each of these fifteen trains passed the southern boundary of Kansas and entered upon the beautiful prairies of the Cherokee outlet– - “Stretching in airy undulations far away, As if the ocean in its quietest swell Stood still, with all his rounded billows Fixed and motionless forever *— the human freight in every coach uncorked its exuberance in shouts and cheers that fairly shook the ground. As the first train reached the northern boundary of Oklahoma, it was halted until the remain- ing trains reached the same point, as near as the track would permit, where they remained until signaled by the commanding officer of the troºps stationed at that point to cross the line into the promised land. Thousands of people, some in wagons and carriages, some on horse- back, and some on . were massed on the north line of the Terri- tory, awaiting the signal to enter. Many of the home-seekers who were in carriages and wagons unhitched from vehicles their fleetest horses, which they mounted for the race. Now and then an impa- tient rider would cross the line, the exact location of which was only known to the º and those familiar with the country, and it was amusing to see with what alacrity he would scamper back when chal- lenged by the sentinels. While a large majority had no idea about the topography of the country they were about to enter, or where or in what direction they would find a desirable piece of land, there were some who had, either in person or through friends, made selections in advance, which afforded them a decided advantage over their com- petitors in the race. While awaiting the signal to start, groups of 22 - HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. men studying maps, charts, and hastily drawn diagrams of Oklahoma were seen all along the line. Riding to a high º of ground, where he could be seen for miles each way, with a flag in one hand and a bugle in the other, the signal officer took his position. At precisely 12 o'clock he raised the bugle to his lips and gave the signal blast, long and loud, "..."; and dropping the flag at the same moment. Then began the race for homes–a race beyond the power of pen to adequately describe. It was a race free to all. None were barred. Neither sex, age, or circumstances were imposed as conditions. The Government was the starter, and the American people were the rac- ers. Cheers and shouts from ten thousand souls, a refrain to the bugle notes, sent their echoes o'er hill and plain, arousing into life the solitude of the enchanting surroundings. The race began. The fleet racer and the plow horse are given free reins, and plied with whip and spur. Away, away, they scale the hills, And thunder ºf the plains. The long railway trains, too, with ear-piercing shrieks from their engine whistles, joined in the race. From the windows of every coach came shouts of cheer and the waving of flags and handkerchiefs to those that were racing to the south on either side of the fast-flying trains. The ranks of the racers are diminishing on every side; they are seen to leap from their horses; a happy shout, a waving of their hat, the setting of a flag or stake. They have taken a homestead. Oklahoma was the home of the white man. Among the many amusing, and at times thrilling, incidents that occurred on the trains, was one in which a man was so impatient and so anxious to secure a home that he jumped from the train while it was running at a high rate of speed. He notified his friends on the train of his intention, and placed in their care his baggage, with the following instructions: “After jumping from the train, if you see me arise from the ground and wave this flag, throw my baggage off; if I do not get up you may know that I am killed, and you can take my baggage on to Guthrie.” Taking a position on the rear platform of the train, he sprang off, and went rolling and tumbling along the ground for several feet without sustaining injuries that prevented his waving his flag. His baggage was thrown off, and the author sincerely hopes the brave but rash man secured one of the best claims in Ok- lahoma. While the foregoing scenes were enacted on the north line, thou- sands entered the Territory from the south, crossing the South Can- adian at Purcell, a city of some 2,000 inhabitants, situated on the 22 --- - |- --- --- - - - - ºrses a stake. ºne ºn tº nºn- and at times - men Stu Were See he coul bugle in 12 o'clo long an Then be adequat Neither Govern ers. C bugle n. the solit fleet rac whip an The l, engine * coach ca to those trains. are Seen hat, the Oklahon Amon occurred so anxiol Was I’ll Il the train the follo me arise if I do n my bagg of the tra ground f waving h hopes the lahoma. While sands ent adian at - - - - - nº ºn at tº ºn tº - to all -- iºnosed - - ºne ºn an people ºn thousand souls a - I - the nº of lººs and no son ºn eithe ºld of ºrs are minishin ºnny sº The nº - - - -- - -- - - - - NSN ºv - N N HON. ROBERT MARTIN, First Secretary of Oklahoma. HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. 23 right bank of the Canadian river, just across the south line of Okla- homa, while hundreds crossed the river above and below the city, nearly all taking possession of quarter sections of land that they had selected weeks before the opening. This made the race very exciting, yet the advantage was largely in favor of those who had made their selections in advance, and hence knew the nearest and best route to the objective point. Many, after making the race at a break-neck speed on the best blooded horses, secured for the occasion, were enraged to find, upon reaching the coveted quarter section, that it had already been taken by some one whose watch was a little faster than standard time, or who had been hiding in the woods until the appointed hour, when they emerged from their hiding places and boldly took posses- sion of such claims as pleased them, in defiance of law or the Presi- dent’s proclamation. In many instances there would be several claimants for the same subdivision of land, all setting up the claim of being the first to enter upon it, but as there was no means of de- termining which was the first man on the land, the most determined, whether first or not, generally held it, while the other claimants made selections elsewhere. In many instances, combinations were formed, from which men were chosen to enter the Territory at unguarded points on the south and east line, for the !". of making selections of choice lands, and learning the locations of section corners and sec- tion lines, after which diagrams and maps were made from which each member of the combination drew a quarter section. This af. forded great advantage over those who obeyed the law. The Potta- watomie country on the east line, as also the Indian country on the west, offered large º for entering the Territory before the hour named by the President, as those portions of the border were not protected by soldiers to any extent. Orders were issued that all railway trains entering the Territory from either the north or south should be held at the line until 12 o'clock noon, and while trains from the north obeyed this order, it was disregarded by those coming in from the south, as the first train from that direction reached Guth- rie, some sixty miles from the south line, before 12 o'clock on the opening day. Before crossing the river at Purcell, a town-site company was formed by those awaiting the hour to cross the line, and as soon as the bugle signaled the start, they rushed pell-mell for the bottoms on the left bank of the Canadian, where they laid out the town of Lexington, which is now a "..."." little place. The race for homes from the south line was one of the most exciting events of the opening in that portion of the territory. At least a score of fords had been selected by 24. HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. which to reach the Oklahoma side of the Canadian, and as the hour of twelve drew near, hundreds of home-seekers mounted upon fleet horses formed in line at these different fords. On the opposite side of the river, mounted on a beautiful white charger, a target for a thousand anxious eyes, was Lieutenant Adair, of Troop L. Fifth Cavalry. It was from him that the signal to start—a bugle call—was to be given. Like well-trained jockeys, these long lines of riders were seeking for an advantage in the start. All, or many at least, knew the treacherous quicksands of the Canadian, and yet all were eager to be first in plung ing into its waters. They saw the signal officer, watch in hand, away on the opposite shore, and just as the second hand told the hour of twelve he gave the anxiously looked-for signal, and ere the stirring notes from the bugle had reached the ears of those in the furthest end of the column, the foremost horsemen of the line, with yells that would have done credit to a band of Pawnee warriors, dashed into the fords, followed by hundred of others of equally excited riders. It was a furious dash, and horses and riders were literally drenched with water and covered with sand. Wagons and carriages, as thick as they could be crowded together, followed pell-mell the column of horsemen through the ford. The opposite bank gained, the immense throng spread out like a great army, covering the entire country for miles, the advance only falling out of the race as they reached a claim that suited them. And so the race went on until all had driven a homestead stake into Oklahoma soil. While this exciting scene was being enacted by those who entered the Territory by their own conveyances, a number of passenger trains carrying severalthousand people came into the Terri- tory from the south, crossing the Canadian at Purcell. A majority of the passengers disembarked from these trains at Norman, Oklahoma City and Edmond, a comparatively few going to Guthrie. That a large number of people entered Oklahoma before the hour named in the President’s proclamation no one will deny. This is not a matter of surprise, when the situation of the country and the impa- tience of the people to possess the land are considered. On the west- ern, eastern, and southern lines of the Territory were thousands of people awaiting the hour when they could cross the line. Many of these had been waiting for weeks and months, and as the day and hour drew near, it is not a matter of surprise that many crossed the lines which were comparatively unguarded. When once inside the Territory, it was an easy matter to conceal themselves among the wooded hills and ravines, selecting in the meantime such lands as they desired, until 12 o'clock noon on the 22d of April. On the west, east, and south lines of the Territory, aggregating nearly two hundred THE JAIL）GUTHRIE, 26 HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. miles, excellent opportunities were offered for evading the law, and it was from those directions that the larger number came who en- tered prior to the hour named. On the north was the “Outlet,” a stretch of sixty-five miles between the south line of Kansas and Ok- lahoma. This it was difficult to cross undetected, hence the number that entered the Territory, in violation of law, from that direction, was comparatively small. - In many instances persons entered the Territory under the advice of attorneys, that they had a right to do so prior to the hour fixed for the opening, so long as they did not enter upon and occupy the quar- ter section of land they sought to enter as a homestead. An attorney, who had given such advice, afterwards located in one of the cities of Oklahoma, and in the course of his practice he was employed to pros- ecute a contest in which the opposite party was charged with entering the Territory in violation of law. The reader can imagine the sur- prise and embarrassment of the attorney when he was asked by the defendant if he-the attorney—had not received a fee of $5 for ad- vising the defendant to do just what he had done, and for which he was then being prosecuted. The manner of opening Oklahoma, by fixing a day and hour, has been the subject of numerous criticisms, yet, if the people had obeyed the law, a more fair or equitable system could not have been devised. The fault was not in the manner of the opening, but in the shameful manner in which the law was violated. And it was in this, as in all other violations of law, honest men suf- fered through the dishonest acts of their fellow-men. At Guthrie, Oklahoma City, and Kingfisher there was little or no attempt to disguise the fact that those town-sites were selected and staked out in open defiance of law. This was especially true as re- lates to Guthrie, where combinations of men that had organized in the different States weeks before the opening, entered upon the scene on Sunday afternoon, "..." time and Monday forenoon, be- fore the hour named by the President, they laid out and staked off the most valuable portions of Guthrie, thus securing to themselves a considerable portion of the best property surrounding the land office. In securing such lots, and in holding and covering them up after they had secured them, those combinations were materially aided by many of the deputy United States marshals, and especially by such as had violated the laws themselves in entering the Territory. Major Pickler, who was sent to Guthrie in the interest of the Interior De- artment—now a member of Congress from Dakota—says: “As I reached the hills overlooking Guthrie from the west, on my way from Kingfisher, on the forenoon of Monday, the 22d of April, 1889, HISTORY OF OKLA HOMA. 27 the rise of ground where the land office is situated, and for some dis- tance in all directions, was literally covered with men who were selecting, measuring, and staking out lots.” - At the hour of 12 o'clock on the 22d day of April, 1889, the sites now occupied by Guthrie, East Guthrie, West Guthrie, and Capital Hill, with the exception of the Santa Fe station buildings, the ºn: completed land office, and a few tents south of the latter, occupied by U. S. officers, was one vast unbroken prairie, without obstruction save an occasional solitary tree, standing alone like a sentinel on watch. A little after 12 o'clock the first train from the south reached the Guthrie depot, and as it is sixty-two miles to the south line of the Territory from Guthrie it will readily be admitted that it was one of the Santa Fe's fast trains. At a few minutes after 1 o'clock P. M. the first train from the north steamed into the station, and as it reached the depot a scene that baffles description was witnessed. The win- dows | the coaches were opened, and through them baggage and hu- manity in one promiscuous mass began tumbling out, like swallows from their nests in the cliffs, and as men scrambled to their feet, with or without their baggage, all started on a brisk run in search of a lot somewhere, without any definite idea of where they expected to find it. Thus the race was kept up, each additional train giving new im- petus to the wild rush. Trains followed trains in such rapid succes- sion that, before 3 o'clock on that afternoon, the beautiful plateau to the west of the Cottonwood, as also the undulating prairie to the east, south, and north of the land office, that but two short hours before looked like a carpet of green in the distance, now presented all the colors of the rainbow. Tents of all colors, blankets of every shade, flags and streamers of every hue, coats, and in fact anything and everything that could be hoisted to the breeze, were brought into req= uisition. Some served as a shelter for their owners, yet the larger number were devices intended as a notice that the lots so marked were taken. And when 7 o'clock came the whole face of the country, from the railroad to and including what is now Capital Hill, pre- sented a scene never before witnessed in any country. When the shades of night set in more than 15,000 people were on the ground. It was a sultry afternoon, but the heat was entirely forgotten in the wild rush and excitement, and thousands rushed hither and thither hunting for lots. - At nightfall on the 23d of April the pretty plateau upon which Guthrie is built presented the appearance of the bivouac of a vast army. Tents of various sizes and fashion covered an area of over a mile square. Between the land office and the railroad, flanking each 28 HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. side of what is now known as Oklahoma avenue, also on Second and Harrison streets, covering every available foot of ground, were the tents and booths of the gamblers, where every game of chance, from the simple throwing of dice to faro, was openly plied night and day. There was one feature in the gambling, as carried on in Oklahoma at that time, that deserves especial mention. Whether the gamblers that flocked into the Territory were of a higher or more honorable class than is usually drawn into the tide of frontier civilization, or whether the absence of law, and the belted revolver (so commonly worn during the first days of the opening) had the effect of holding that class of men within the bounds of commercial honor, are open questions. It is a fact, however, that very little trickery was allowed, the better class of gamblers being foremost in the work of clearing the field of the disreputable light-fingered robbers. In many in- stances where men were fleeced by this or that device not allowed by the “code,” their money was recovered and returned to them by the more honorable members of the fraternity. There was another feature worthy of notice. There was little or no stealing done. Men would leave their property exposed in tents and on the prairie for hours, and even days, without its being mo- lested. The borrowing of articles, and even money, was a common occurrence among men who were total strangers to each other, and in nearly every instance the property was honestly returned. The most marvelous thing, however, was the peaceful forbearance of the people under the scores of exciting conflicts that arose over claims to city lots. In that we see one of the strongest and most significant ex- pressions of the ability of the people for self-government. At times, it is true, the danger line between a good-humored mob and a riot would be crossed. Then the troops at Camp McArthur would be signaled, and in a few moments a platoon of infantry or a trºop of cavalry would appear on the scene. Their presence was electrical in restoring order. It is due to Captain Cavanaugh, in command of the troops sta- tioned at Guthrie, and to Lieut. Biddle, and the troops under them, to say that the peace and good order that prevailed was largely due to their prompt action and wisdom in protecting the rights of the people. Captain Cavanaugh is a faithful, efficient officer, and the people of Guthrie will always remember him with feelings of grati- tude. On Monday, April the 22d, the day of Guthrie's settlement, there was little or nothing done towards an organization. Groups of men could be seen during the evening discussing the question of organ- GUTHRIE, MAY 1ST. 30 HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. izing the town, but just how such a result was to be reached no one seemed to have a definite idea. So the afternoon and evening of Monday Was largely consumed in making acquaintances and keeping new arrivals off the coveted pieces of ground that had been staked off by the earlier arrivals. HOLDING TOWN LOTS AT GUTHRIE, APRIL 23D. As the evening advanced the noise, bustle, and excitement of the afternoon gradually ceased. The fifteen thousand people that but a few hours before had been rushing hither and thither, selecting and staking out lots, were now wrapped in their blankets, and beneath the clear star-lit sky, on the open prairie, had laid themselves down to sleep. But just as many weary eyelids were about to close in the sweet oblivion of sleep, a gentleman by the classic name of “Joe” was so unfortunate as to have his mule stray off amongst the great throng, and with a friend he immediataly went in search of the lost animal. About midnight his friend found the mule, but in the shuffle had lost “Joe” so with a long-drawn-out, true Western outcry, that awoke the fifteen thousand sleepers on the plains, he cried out: * Ho, Joe; here's yer mule l’’ The manner of the yell, the time of night, and the surrounding circumstances, all conspired to render the incident so ludicrous that the signal was taken up all along the line, until fifteen thousand voices, from almost as many directions, joined in that midnight refrain; and for months after, the silence of the night was startled by that weird, monotonous cry: “Ho, Joe: here's yer mule!” Joe and his mule became common property in which all HISTORY OF OKLA HOMA. 31 took an interest, and was probably a great factor in the organization of the fifteen thousand souls then on Guthrie town-site into a mammoth family. From that time all seemed to feel that the proper introduc- tion had taken place, and a happy familiarity sprang up. Every one seemed to take a pride concerning the regulation and deportment of this new and interesting family, whose property consisted of real estate and chattels, viz., Guthrie town-site and Joe and his mule. Accordingly, steps were taken to organize and arrange for a division of property. - - - - On the morning of April 23d a mass meeting was called, notice of which was given by criers, who, mounted on horses, rode over the town site, notifying the people to meet at the big tent then situated near the northwest corner of Division street and Harrison avenue, to organize a city government and to elect officers. In a short time fully four thousand people had assembled at the place designated. There were numerous resolutions offered. Every man seemed to think himself a statesman, and from their number one would have thought that all the great men of the West had congregated at Guthrie. Many laughable incidents occurred. At the opening of the meeting some one moved that a prominent divine present should "..." the conven- tion with prayer. The chairman thoughtlessly put the motion, which was overwhelmingly voted down; but the worthy man of God, noth- ing abashed, proceeded to pray for the ungodly noes just as fervently as he did for the righteous ayes. After a full expression had been indulged in, that great principle in the American bill of rights-rep- resentation—was adopted, and on motion a list of the States and Terri- tories was called, of which thirty-two were represented in the conven- tion. A committee of one from each State was then chosen, which constituted the committee on permanent organization. That was one of the most marvelous features of the settlement of Guthrie—thirty- two States and Territories were represented in its first organization. After the committee of thirty-two had organized and reported to the convention, a motion was made and adopted to make the preliminary organization permanent. Charles W. Constantine, ex-mayor of Spring- field, Ohio, was elected permanent chairman, and Robert T. Hill secre- tary. The chairman º mounted a dry goods box, and amid en- thusiastic applause addressed the first convention ever assembled in Oklahoma. He called the attention of the people to the anomalous conditions relating to the question of selecting town-sites under the United States statutes, and the act of Congress opening Oklahoma. The people as represented in that convention had settled upon and taken possession of twelve hundred and eighty acres of land, which em- 32 HISTORY OF OKLA HOMA. braced the four town-sites afterwards occupied by Guthrie proper, East Guthrie, West Guthrie and Capital Hill. The situation and the rights of the people under the then existing town-site law were then fully discussed by the leading members of the convention, at the conclusion of which a resolution was adopted, recommending that the occupants of each half section proceed to organize themselves into separate town-site companies, in order to comply with the act of Congress opening the Territory, which says: “The Secretary of the Interior may, after said proclamation and not before, permit entry of said lands for town-sites, under sections twenty-three hundred and eighty-seven and twenty-three hundred and eighty-eight of the Revised Statutes, but no such entry shall embrace more than one half section of land.” Under the resolution as passed the convention proceeded to organ- ize a town-site company on the east half of section eight, township sixteen, range two west, to be known as Guthrie. It is proper to state in this connection that two or three town-site companies that had been organized in Kansas and Arkansas had en- tered the Territory and reached Guthrie in violation of law. One of these organizations, that from Arkansas, filed a plat and survey of Guthrie proper in the land office one minute after 12 o'clock noon on the 22d of April. The reader will see, however, from subsequent events, that the people entirely ignored the rights of these made-to- order town-site companies. A town-site company having been organized by the convention for Guthrie, by resolution the first mayor of Guthrie was elected. There were a number of candidates for the position, among them the chair- man of the convention, who, in a short but decisive speech, declined the honor. This was followed by other nominations and other with- drawals, until at last the exciting contest narrowed down to three candidates: Rev. Dr. Hill, of Oregon; Hon. H. B. Kelley, of Kansas, and Volney Hoggatt, a young attorney from Dakota. The manner of voting was purely democratic, each elector naming his candidate in person. After an hour spent amid the most intense excitement, it. was found to be an impossibility to control the ever-surging crowd sufficiently to secure a majority vote for any one of the candidates. Finally a new method of counting the votes was adopted. Three wagons were drawn up in line, and three tellers, one for each candi- date, mounted the wagons. The voters then formed in lines and marched up to the wagons, and each voter as he passed the wagon containing the teller of his candidate would vote for his choice. Al- though it would seem a difficult matter to successfully stuff a ballot- HISTORY OF OKLA HOMA. 33 box of that description, yet it was done, and after several hours of marching and counter-marching, many returning into the rear line after passing the wagons, thus voting a second or more times, the situation was unchanged, and the convention adj ourned until 9 o'clock A. M. on the following day, Wednesday, April 24, 1889. Promptly at the hour named, the contending factions were on the field. The intervening hours had been industriously spent in arrang. ing for the battle. There was a wicked look on the faces of many of tº excited contestants for their favorites, and as nearly all were heavily armed, those wicked looks were portentous of bloodshed. Chairman Constantine mounted the dry goods box, called the conven- tion to order, and the balloting, ºva voce, was resumed. The line VOTING FOR MAYOR. was formed and reformed and marched by the wagons, the excite- ment growing more intense as the result of each ballot was announced by the tellers. The danger line had been crossed, and as hot words were exchanged scores of hands could be seen intuitively grasping the ever-ready revolver. As ballot after ballot without result was taken, Senator Kelley, of Kansas, after thanking his constituents for the honor they had conferred upon him, withdrew from the contest. Thus the field was left to Hill and Hoggatt, over whom the battle waxed warm during the remainder of the day, without reaching the desired majority. Several times one side or the other would attempt to declare their favorite elected. Then would be enacted scenes that baffle description. The vast throng, composed of fully five thousand excited men, would sway backwards and forwards in angry strife. Contention ran high, and all realized the imminent danger that threatened that, the first convention ever held in Oklahoma. There was a bad element in the crowd, an element that was not there in the interest of the people, but to gratify a morbid curiosity. The con- –3 - 34. HISTORY OF OR LA HOMA. servative element realized the danger, yet it was powerless to avert it, and all momentarily expected to see the green prairie dyed with hu- man blood, notwithstanding the extraordinary executive ability and persuasive powers of Mr. Constantine, chairman of the convention. Fortunately, however, while on the very border of riot, the people were brought to realize that they were then without law; and turn- ing their eyes to the west, a quarter of a mile distant, in plain view —the glinting rays of the sun sparkling from their sabers and bayo- nets—they saw a troop of cavalry and a platoon of infantry. Order was in a measure restored and bloodshed averted. A gentleman who participated in the excitement said: “Finally, matters became very serious, and riot and bloodshed seemed to be the only thing that would satisfy the angry, worn-out crowd, which had been standing in the hot sun all day—each side struggling for supremacy. At this point, when matters were assuming a most dangerous aspect, the can- didates found it necessary to address the people, counseling them to commit no act of violence, each advising an adjournment of the con- vention until the following day, which was by resolution adopted.” Prior to reassembling of the convention on Wednesday morning, the 25th, at a meeting of the candidates and their friends, it was agreed that both Hill and Hoggatt should withdraw from the contest, and that each should select three men, the six men thus selected choosing a seventh man, and that the seven should constitute a committee to report the names of candidates to the convention on the following day. This was, to all intents and purposes, a conference committee, and it was agreed that its decision should be binding on the conven- tion. When the convention reassembled on the morning of the 25th, the candidates announced the agreement that had been reached the night before. This announcement caused intense excitement and wrang- ling. The more hot-headed assumed a defiant air, and insisted that the voting should be proceeded with as on the preceding day. The more conservative element knew that to continue the vote would only end in disaster and bloodshed, and after a most strenuous effort on the part of the chairman, the candidates, and the conservatives, some- thing like order was at last restored. The candidates then named this committee: Hoggatt chose Geo. T. Cunningham, W. P. Thompson and David Graumer, while Rev. Hill named John H. Onstott, General Pierce and D. M. Ross. These six chose as seventh member, United States Marshal Jones, of Kansas. The committee then retired, and the names of General Reese, of Illinois, and Col. D. B. Dyer, of Mis- souri, were presented as candidates. The vote upon which was as fol- HISTORY OF OKLA HOMA. 35 lows: For Dyer, Cunningham, Thompson, Graumer and Jones; for Gen Reese, Onstott, Pierce and Ross. This gave Dyer one majority, which result was reached after a vast amount of wire-pulling and wrangling by the committee. The report of the committee to the convention, naming D. B. Dyer as the first mayor of Guthrie, Was re- ceived with rounds of applause, and upon motion the choice of the committee was nominated by acclamation by the convention. The selection of D. B. Dyer for the first mayor by the committee was made unanimous by the convention. The following gentlemen were then put in nomination as the first city council, who were also unanimously elected by the convention; Rey R. W. Hill, H.B. Kelley, S. S. Sargent, G. D. Orput, J. W. Perkins, J.T. Hill, A. H. Meal, H. J. Whitley, F. F. Hibbard, W. H. Lessing, D. M. Ross, Jas. Moran, T.A. Pampering, J. B. Howard, J. Ellis, W. H. Fallis, Arthur Hill, Geo Ford, A. Zarney. The first session of the council for the city of Guthrie was convenedin a tent on the afternoon of the 27th of April, at which time E. M. Clark was appointed police judge, George Paxton city clerk, and Guy Farwell city treasurer. A board of arbitration and a city marshal were also appointed, of which full particulars are given in another chapter. On June 4th, 1889, an election was called by the people, and D. B. Dyer was re-elected mayor over H. B. Alexander, Geo Paxton was re- elected clerk, Guy Farwell treasurer, Geo E. Ford º C. H. De- Ford marshal, F. P. Cease police judge, and W. D. Lindsey city attorney. At this election the contest was spirited and exciting, al- though º lines were not drawn. A short time after his election Mayor Dyer left Guthrie, and Colonel D. M. Ross officiated as mayor until the November election. It was under Ross’ administration that the work of building up the city was pushed rapidly forward. The first election under the charter, as adopted by the people on the 23d of July, was held on the 5th of November. This was also an election in which politics did not enter. There were two tickets, however, the regular and the people's. The first was headed by D. M. Ross for mayor, and the second by James Dooley. In this, as in the June election, the contest was spirited, and personalities were indulged in to a large ex- tent. The people's ticket was elected, as follows: James Dooley, mayor; H. P. Clark, treasurer; Geo. H. Paxton, clerk; Geo. Ford, register; S. M. Decker and S. A. Neill, justices; W. D. Lindsey, city attorney; Thomas S. Jones, appellate judge; F. J. Hilton, police judge; Harry Ruffner, clerk of appellate court, and Henry A. Deckner, city assessor. The following councilmen were also elected: W. W. Warren, C. E. Hunter, T. J. Wait, J. R. Hale, Geo. T. Cunningham, J. C. Jamison, 36 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, D. B. Kelley, A. H. Waite, Henry Friedlander, and W. H. Fallis. The above-named city officers and council, with the exception of T. S. Jones, Harry Ruffner, F. J. Hilton, H. P. Clark, who resigned early in 1890, formed the city government at the passage of the or- ganic act for Oklahoma, on the 14th of May, 1890. CHAPTER III. “'Tis the wedding of civilization With the savage, the sunshine, and storm; 'Tis the mingling of marvelous forces And minds for ages apart. º: -k -k *: :: -k º: + -- 'Tis the Indian Queen in her beauty, Who beholds, in the sky of the east, The star that has risen to dazzle The savage, the soldier, and priest. 'Tis the star of civilization, Brilliant, burning, and grand, And she welcomes its Votaries coming To dwell in her beautiful land.” Although the youngest among her territorial sisters, Oklahoma commands the wonder and admiration of an ocean-girt continent, be- cause of her stately stridings to pre-eminence. Oklahoma has had marvelous men in the shaping of her future destiny, in the found- ing of those institutions which, in the immediate future, constitute a state in contemplation of law, both human and divine. In the building-up of this soon-to-be new Western State there are those who first sought the domain as pioneers; those who labored with brawn and brain to lay well its future foundation, on which to build the superstructure, rear the dome, and to unfurl therefrom the flag with an added star. These pioneers have moulded a healthy, pure, and loyal sentiment; they have built marts of trade, and estab- fished commercial relations and facilities. And with still higher aims, they have contributed to the head and the heart by founding institutions, which enlighten the mind and ennoble the affections of the heart; institutions not for the present only, but for man's vast future; not for to-day, that night brings to an end, but for “to-morrow, and to-morrow, until the last syllable of recorded time.” At precisely 12 o'clock, standard time, the doors of the Guthrie land office were opened. The Hon. John I. Dille, register, and the 36 TT r rººr p A ºr r" n- those who labor- ºundation on which ºn tº led a health ºne and sº THE LAND OFFICE, THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 37 Hon. C. M. Barnes, receiver, were at their desks, as were also a corps of registering and receiving clerks. There was no rush or excitement. The applicants entered without the least jostling, and after presenting their filing papers retired in perfect order. There were several thousand people around the land office, and a rush and wild scramble was anticipated, and a number of United States marshals were brought into requisition in case their services were needed. The land office was the center of attraction, not only during that memorable afternoon, but for months thereafter. At times during May, June, and July of that year it was no unusual thing to see four and five hundred men in line, and with numbers waiting their turn to enter the office. To avoid confusion, a marshal was stationed at the door, and only those were admitted that had numbers, and whose names were entered on the marshal's book. Before the opening of the land office each morn- ing and at the close each evening, all who were desirous of filing gave their names to the marshal, who entered them upon his books, numbering each one and giving each applicant a corresponding num- ber, which when called would allow the holder to enter the office and file. While this system facilitated business, it was soon perverted into a money-making scheme by “runners” for “land lawyers,” who would have certain names entered and numbers taken, which they would sell to parties who did not want to wait the slow process of en- tering the land office by getting a regular number. In many in- stances these speculative numbers sold as high as $15 to $20. This evil was at last brought to the notice of the register and receiver, and through them a remedy was applied. The scramble was so great to locate desirable tracts at the openin of the Territory, it often occurred that two or more parties "...; reach a quarter section of land at the same time. In some instances a compromise through a money consideration or otherwise would be effected, yet in a large number of cases two, three, and even four and five claimants would settle on the same claim, each claiming pri- ority of settlement. This, of course, caused the filing of a large number of contests, there being at one time over two, thousand cases pending in the Guthrie or eastern land district alone. This condi- tion of affairs not only retarded agricultural development, but pro- duced a large amount of litigation between adverse claimants as to their right to cut timber or grass, or to otherwise improve the land, and in a few instances these difficulties culminated in bloodshed. Almost the first business transacted by the common council of Guthrie was the appointing of a board of arbitration to sit as a court 38 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, for the adjudication of conflicting claims to city lots. The members of the first board consisted of John T. Hill, Dr. S. S. Sargent, Gen. J. C. Jamison, A. B. Crooks, and G. S. Snyder: E. B. Walker offici. ating as clerk. The board elected J. T. Hill as chairman. This board in its decisions ignored all rules of law and evidence as observed in courts of record. The time that a contestant entered the Territory was not taken into consideration. This gave the “sooner” element a decided advantage, an advantage that resulted in the loss of a home. to many an honest poor man. This board was a law unto itself. It was responsible to no other power, and as there was no appeal or re- dress, except through the federal court at Muskogee, many an unfor- tunate litigant submitted to its arbitrary decisions, thus losing what legally and rightfully belonged to him. Now that Oklahoma is under the protecting arm of law and equity, and the rights of the people are protected by the same justice as is guaranteed to the citizens of all the States, it is difficult to conceive how the shameful wrongs and injustices perpetrated by those arbi. tration boards were tolerated by the people. The arrogance and downright impudence indulged in by members of those organiza- tions was not only a burlesque on law, but an insult to common de- cency. They made themselves so odious to the bar and the people that it is marvelous they were tolerated as long as they were. In one of the cases brought before the never-to-be-forgotten Board No. 1, an old attorney, who had located in the city but a few days be- fore, appeared in behalf of one of the contestants, and in the line of his duties filed, or rather attempted to file, a motion, when the presi- dent of the board informed the attorney that before he could . al- lowed to file any motion in that court it must know something about him. The attorney, with a look in which mirth and annoyance seemed struggling for ascendancy, gave an account of himself, in which he expressed a willingness to produce his certificate of admission to prac- tice before the United States Supreme Court. This seemed to satisfy the astute judges, but as the attorney was about to again offer the motion, the president stopped him with the question: “Have you paid your occupation tax ** As the attorney had only been in the city a day or so, he knew nothing about such a tax. The president then informed him that he could not practice before that court until he had added five dollars to the city's cash account. It was the last appearance of that attorney before Board No. 1, although he is now a leading member of the Guthrie bar. In justice to those boards, however, it should be stated that they acted entirely under instructions from the city council. In one in- - --- - - - - - 38 tº D on tº for the ad nº lºins tº of the fin ºn J. C. Jan ating as c in its dec and evºlence as courts of - - - - - - ºntº- was not tº his ºve the decided a lºt resulted in to many - board was a lº ºnto was respo - ºn as there no ºn dress, exc at Musko- man tunate lit - devi thus legally an --- Now th - ºting - ºf law and the ri - --led by guarantee - |- states it nº how the s - injustices pººl º tration b by the people. The anoa downrigh - in by menu of those tions was law ºn sult tº cency. T - - that it is In one No. 1, an ol fore, appeare - his duties ileº - - - dent of the - -no- ºn- lowed to file - - it must somet him. The - ºn miº - annov. struggling - -ount ºn self in wº expressed ºutloº admiss tice before tº - - - seened to the astute - - - motion, the paid your Qº - - city a day or - - º then informed not ºn that on he had add tº dº was appearance - leading me In justic acted entir - - - º - - - - -------- - d. - COL. THOMAS H. SOWARD First Mayor of East Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 39 stance, Major Pickler, who was in Guthrie in the interest of the De- partment of Justice, called on Arbitration Board No. 1, and advised it that whenever it was shown in evidence that a claimant to a lot came into the Territory in violation of the President's proclamation, his claim should not be allowed. The matter was reported to the city council, and the board was instructed to pay no attention to Major Pickler's advice, but to decide in favor of the first occupant in all cases. On the 25th day of April, 1889, at 3 o'clock P. M., the people of East Guthrie assembled ºn masse, on what is now the southeast cor- ner of Broad street and Cleveland avenue, and proceeded to organize a city government. An old flat-boat, employed by the early settlers for crossing the Salt Fork and Cimarron rivers, was turned bottom upwards and used as a speaker's stand and platform. Thos. J. Lowe was elected chairman, and H. H. Moose secretary. Col. Thomas H. Soward and Judge T. J. Lowe were nominated for mayor. The for- mer was elected, and his election was afterwards made unanimous by acclamation. A common council, consisting of Judge T. J. Lowe, D. C. Young, J. B. Fishback, H. R. Wilson, and Zach. Provolt, were also elected by acclamation. H. H. Moose was elected city clerk, L. DeSteiger treasurer, and Smith Winters city marshal. The council at its first meeting appointed as a board of arbitration, with Mayor Soward as chairman, J. A. Cooper and P. N. Daniels. - The city was immediately surveyed and platted, and the work of improvement was pushed forward with vigor. In June of that year a charter convention was called and a city charter framed, which was submitted to the people on the 19th of July and adopted, the first regular election being held on the same day. At that election Col. T. S. Stockslager was elected mayor; H. F. Ardery, clerk and ea officio recorder; J. Scott, treasurer; F. B. Gibka, marshal; A. H. Huston, W. judge; C. H. Brown, judge of the Superior Court; J. L. Van ormer, city attorney, and W. G. Freidley, clerk of the Superior Court. The following councilmen were also elected: A. G. *. Thomas McPherson, A.A. Humphrey, Russell Briggs, G. H. Lynds, L. H. Blackburn, and W. G. Miller. At the regular election, on the 8th of April, 1890, A. J. Spingle was elected mayor, Geo. Cotton clerk, and P. K. Alberts marshal. One councilman from each ward except the first was elected, and em- braced W. T. Ryan, J. Andrews, F. Pratt, Geo. W. Taylor, and Wil- liam Baxter. An amendment to the charter abolished the office of treasurer, city attorney, police and superior judges, city physician, 40 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, city engineer, etc., which reduced the expenses of the city govern- ment about fifty per cent. East Guthrie continued to maintain a quasi government until a consolidation between the Guthries and Capital Hill was effected, in the summer of 1890. As in the case of Guthrie, there were numer- ous charges of dishonesty brought against some of those chosen to manage the municipal affairs of East Guthrie. Many thousands of dollars were collected from the people by the marshal for which no satisfactory account was ever rendered. Unfortunately for the inter- ests of these cities, a considerable number of those chosen to adminis- ter their affairs from the first are charged with entering the Territory in violation of law, and hence had little or no interest in the develop- ment of the country or the growth and improvement of its cities. If it were possible to do so which it is not it would be far better to bury the irregularities in the past management of these cities, and leave no marks whereby their graves could be found by those who in the immediate future will make Guthrie the largest and most pros- perous city in the new Southwest. There were three contests filed by homesteaders on East Guthrie, the trial of which commenced in the local land office on the 20th of November, 1889, and continued until the middle of March in the year following, and was the most important land case ever tried in Oklahoma. This case involved a great many novel questions under the law opening the Territory, for which former decisions of the Land Department of the Government furnished no precedents. The decisions on points involved in the case are most important, because they affect thousands of cases yet pending in the Oklahoma land offices. The local land office decided this case in favor of the city, and the homesteaders took an appeal, and the case is now before the General Land Office at Washington. While the people are sanguine that the finding of the local land office will be affirmed, there is nec- essarily some anxiety over the result. Capitol Hill, which adjoins East Guthrie on the east, and which, since the consolidation of the four cities, is destined to become the most fashionable as well as desirable residence portion of Guthrie, was the last town-site settled upon on the 22d of April. The peo- º upon leaving the different trains that arrived at Guthrie that ay, moved chiefly towards the east, as it was in that direction that the tide of excitement flowed. The best portions of the two first half sections of land directly east of the railroad having been taken by early arrivals, those on the later trains made a run directly for the HON. J. V. ADMIRE Office at Kingfisher. Receiver of the U. S. Land -- º - º Q Q N Nº. - º - º - ſae \\///// ſ W %· Ø?ź - Once at lºng- -------- - - THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 41 beautiful elevation, which was very properly, and by common consent, christened Capitol Hill. At nightfall on the opening day over five hundred people had located on that sightly plateau. May 1st, 1889, a city government was organized by the people at a mass convention, of which A. McCaskey was chairman and S. L. Bechtle secretary. Dr. J. M. Ennis was elected Mayor; S. L. Bech- tle, W. C. Roberts, J. H. Granger, A. McCaskey, and Dr. A. G. McEwin were elected councilmen; S. P. King, treasurer, and O. F. Lowe, city marshal. A few days later the city was surveyed and platted, ten acres—the most elevated portion of the site—being re- served as a site on which to build a state capitol, and seventy acres in the northern portion of the city were set aside for a public park. There were also reservations for church and school purposes. Early in May, 1889, the council appointed a board of arbitration, composed of C. L. Shandany, B. F. Kile, and Dr. F. M. Ackley, of Ohio, who was elected president. There are some features in the city government of Capitol Hill, as compared with that of the Guth- ries, that are deserving of especial mention. There was fairness and equity in the decisions of contest cases; there were no riots or mobs created by lot difficulties; and, what is still more commendable, there were few or none of the settlers there who were charged with enter- * the Territory in violation of law. n July, 1889, a charter convention was called and a charter framed, and on the 27th of August following it was submitted to and adopted by the people. At the same time the following officers were elected: C. H. Cannon, mayor; C. L. Shandony, clerk; J. S. Collin, treasurer; W. C. Malcolm, recorder; J. D. Lockhart, mar- shal; W. H. Riner, police judge; A. McCasky, city attorney; S. P. Judge of the Superior Court, and L. E. Doyle, Clerk of Superior Court. The councilmen elected were: C. L. Doty, B. F. Kile, W. F. Carr, G. T. Smith, and C. R. Nichols. In April, 1890, the second regular election was held by the people, at which A. M. McElhin- ney was elected mayor, W. H. Binder clerk, L. E. Coyle treasurer, W. H. Malcolm recorder, J. A. Lewis marshal, and Wm. Kinkead º judge. The councilmen elected were: C. L. Shandony, L. E. imball, A. McCaskey, A. J. Deal, and M. Steiger. During the demand for residence property in May, 1890, roperty advanced over one hundred per cent., at which advance all | the de- sirable º in Capitol Hill found ready buyers. Capitol Hill, like East Guthrie, has contests pending against it, which, having been decided in its favor by the local land office, were appealed to the General Land Office at Washington. 42 ILLUSTRATED OR LA HOMA, SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN THE EARLY DAYS OF GUTHRIE. As one of the trains came in from the north, and as it was slowing up, two old gentlemen–J. P. Newhouse and Mr. McNulty—threw their baggage out of a window of the second coach, and then followed it. After gathering themselves up, and finding no bones broken, they grabbed their baggage and started pell-mell up the hill in search of a lot apiece. After making the race a short distance, Mr. New- house became exhausted and fell, while Mr. McNulty continued on until he reached a point near where the junction of Springer and Di- vision streets now is, where he located a lot. Late that afternoon he went in search of his friend Newhouse, and found him where he had fallen earlier in the day. In reply to Mr. McNulty’s inquiries, he said he found he could go no further, and concluded to claim the lot upon which he was º He got it, and it proved a very valua- |. location, while Mr. McNulty’s lot was worth less than half of that of the man who could go no further. In the rush up and over the first hill east from the railroad it was a common sight that afternoon to see a dozen or more men with blankets and grip-sacks tumbling and falling over each other in one indistinguishable and unrecognizable mass. The nights for the first two weeks were made uproarious by shouts and the firing into the air of revolvers and Winchesters, and it is a singularly fortunate fact that no one was hurt by the descending bul- lets, as the ground was literally covered with people, and those balls had to strike somewhere. In many of the tents and newly constructed shanties or shacks one could see several kinds of business carried on. In one instance the writer saw a barber shaving a customer, another man selling hard- ware, and still another (a butcher) selling beefsteak—all in one small tent. Wednesday night after the opening a fellow went to a tent and asked the owner for the privilege of sharing it with him during the night, which was quite cold, *"..." his baggage had not ar- rived. The request was granted. ext morning the owner of the tent went out to buy something for breakfast, leaving his lodger ap- parently asleep. When he returned he was astonished to find a new man in possession, and his late lodger non est. The fellow had sold tent, baggage, and lot to the new-comer, and skipped. He was afterwards caught, however, and made to disgorge. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 43 The distance from the Iowa reservation to Guthrie is twelve miles, which distance, if the sworn testimony of a number of men is to be believed, was in several instances made in less than an hour, and that, too, by teams. And still more wonderful, in one instance a fellow, in order to save his claim, he having been charged with vio- lating the law, claimed, and proved, that he made the distance in fifty-eight minutes with an ox team. He lost his claim. A man and his wife who had been separated for years. and between whom divorce proceedings were pending, met face to face on one of the most valuable lots in Guthrie, neither knowing of the presence of the other until they met. They had taken lots adjoining. The man held his lot for a while, and then with true gallantry gave it to his wife, and returned to his home in Missouri. He is a man of means, and quite prominent in Kansas City. In the early settlement of Guthrie, by mutual consent of occupants, a sort of avenue was left between tents for passage-ways. It is a fact that the crowding was so great, that one might leave his tent for an hour, and upon his return it was often a difficult matter to find it, especially so if it was at night-time, the avenues and passage-ways having been filled up with tents of new lot claimants. While taking a stroll on the day of the opening, in passing what is now the corner of Division street and Oklahoma avenue, Receiver Barnes saw a man with a Winchester lying down on the prairie, against the section corner-stone. It was between eleven and twelve o'clock in the forenoon, and the man held a watch in his hand, his eyes intently fixed upon its face. Approaching him, Mr. Barnes asked: “Do you find any game here?” “I ain't looking for game, stranger. I am just waiting for that minute hand to mark twelve o'clock, when I will just roll over onto that quarter section the other side of this stone, and claim it as my homestead. I have been laying here twelve hours, and guess I shall fetch her.” As the second train from the north entered the station at Guthrie, about 1:30 P.M., on the 22d, the passengers began jumping off while the train was yet moving, and several hundred feet from the depot. Every coach was literally packed. The inside, the platforms, and on the top of each car was one struggling mass of humanity. One tall fellow, with eyes fixed intently on the beautiful plateau east of the railroad, threw his grip-sack from the top of the car, and as it struck the ground it burst open, and the contents were scattered in every direction. With one bound the owner followed his baggage, and 44 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, making a dive with both hands for such portions of its contents as he could reach, left the rest of his property on the ground and started for the land office, which he passed on a dead run, holding in one hand an old flint-lock pistol of 1776, and in the other a piece of bologna sausage about fifteen inches long and as thick through as a man's arm. This was all he saved of his wrecked baggage, but he got a lot, and is now a prosperous business man of Guthrie. Geo. T. Cunningham, in the scramble for lots, secured a good one near the land office, and after satisfying himself that he was far enough away from the government acre so as not to be left in the street by the survey, with a smile of satisfaction on his genial face he took possession of his new acquisition. He had no stake, board, or flag to mark the lot as taken, so in order to hold it he had to remain upon it. So seating himself upon his grip-sack he watched the ever- increasing throng as they rushed past him in search of lots further to the east. Seeing a couple of his friends in the crowd he hailed them, and requested that they would hold his lot for a few minutes, until he could go to the depot and get a small tent. This they agreed to do. After an absence of ten or fifteen minutes he returned, and while talking to his friends he discovered a grip-sack setting on his lot. He made a rush for it, hurling anathemas at the head of its owner for trying to steal his lot. He snatched up the offending bag- gage, and running to the north a short distance, hurled it down into a deep “draw,” and then went back to his friends. In a short time he had occasion to use some article contained in his grip-sack, but upon looking around he discovered that his baggage had disappeared. It is needless to say that in his excitement he had thrown his own grip- sack into the draw. Adjoining the city of Guthrie on the south is school section six- teen, towards which many a longing eye was cast during the first days of the opening; but it was not until the fifteenth of May, 1889, that any one presumed to trespass on that portion of the reserved public domain. During the afternoon of that date, however, a report was in some manner put in circulation, that under the law governing mineral land, school sections might, if it could be properly shown that they contained minerals, be entered for homestead or town-site purposes. The only obstacle in the way was to show that the coveted section was mineral land. This was easily done by the fruitful imaginations and elastic consciences of the raiders, many of whom were ready to qualify that section sixteen, in township sixteen, range two west, was mineral land. They did not stop to qualify, THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 45 however, for at four P. M. the excitement was at such a height that a little army of men armed with spades, shovels, picks, and stakes, made a rush for the forbidden ground, and before nightfall they had laid out and staked off the north half of the section into town lots. It was on Saturday the raid took place, and many staid on the lots they had selected all that night and all the next day (Sunday), making the usual improvements—commencing a well or digging a trench for the foundation of a house. The craze was general, and some of the best men in the city joined in the tide and made a run for the school section. One fellow, who had been guilty of several crooked transactions in city lots, selected a quarter block on the school sec- tion, which he sold on Monday forenoon, before the bubble bursted, to an old gentleman from Ohio, for $250, and then left the city be- fore the purchaser was aware of the fraud. One of the most unlucky men that ever visited Oklahoma was W. C. Thompson, who was operator at the Guthrie station for two years before the opening of the Territory. He was engaged to a young lady, a Miss Ella McClerkin, of Topeka, Kansas; and with the open- ing of the Territory, Thompson saw an opportunity to get a good start in life. He would take a claim, and have his intended take one ad- joining; then he would take a good business lot, which he would have his lady-love duplicate; then they would get married. He sent for Miss McClerkin, and she came to Guthrie on the 18th of April, and readily agreed to the three propositions, viz.: two homesteads, two business lots, and a wedding. Thompson, who had excellent opportunities to do so, had selected two fine homesteads adjoining the city, and two fine business lots. He also invested in four tents to hold the homesteads and lots down with. At twelve M. on Monday, the 22d of April, Thompson and Ella made a lively run for their homesteads, but upon reaching them they found them occupied. They then rushed back to the city to take their lots, upon which Thompson had pitched the tents earlier in the day; but misfortune did not come single-handed to Thompson and Ella that day, as they found the tents stolen and the lots occupied by other parties. Ella retired from the race, while Thompson went to select other lots. In doing so he neglected his duties at the station, and there was a collision between two freight trains. The next day Thompson was discharged; and worse than all, Ella packed her trunk and went back to Kansas, and married another man. Here is one of the many amusing signs adopted by lot claimants to indicate possession, which for originality and force would be diffi- 46 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, cult to excel. In the southwestern portion of the city a man had painted in large letters on a board, which he put up on his lot: God helps those who help themselves, But God help the man who monkeys with this lot. It is said the owner of the lot secreted himself, and with a win. chester watched it for several days. Here is another that attracted much attention: This is the only lot I have taken, and the man who takes it from me will never take another lot. In an 8 by 10 shack on one of the business streets was a notorious gambling place with a sign reading: “St. Ann’s Rest.” The many schemes adopted to get whisky in the early days of Oklahoma is perhaps the strongest proof that a high license is the only way to control the liquor question. At one time in the month of May, when the officers were watching closely for contraband liquors, a shrewd fellow realized quite a profit from hiring out fishing poles and lines at one dollar an hour, each line being baited with a quart bottle of whisky. - Here is another plan, by which the Cottonwood river was made to aid in the contraband traffic. A barrel of the stuff was smuggled into the Territory and secreted in the bushes on the opposite bank of the river, where one man would fill bottles, and they were drawn over to the other side by means of a cord, which was so arranged as to be drawn back and forth, the bottle remaining under water. On the evening of the 23d of April, as two men who had been unsuccessful in securing lots were passing along in the vicinity of Cleveland avenue and Division street, they discovered a man wrapped up in his blanket asleep on a lot. They attempted to awaken him, but discovered that he was under the influence of liquor. They then went to the depot, where they procured a tent, which they carried to the lot where the man was sleeping, and quietly pitched it over him. They then went and got their baggage and blankets and took posses- sion of the tent with the sleeping stranger. In the morning the two men arose, and waking up the man, asked him if it was not about time THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 47 he was moving. The fellow looked around him in amazement, and then asked where he was, and how he got there. He was told by the two men that he came to their tent late the night before, drunk, and that they let him stay all night. He went out, walked around while, and then went into the tent and told the two men that he had taken a lot somewheres there, but he could not tell just where; that the lot upon which they were looked, like the one that he had taken, but then it could not be, as his lot had no tent on it. So he left, and that was the last the two men ever saw of him. A few days later they sold the lot for $400, and they too left with their ill-gotten gains. HON. JOHN I. DILLE. A conspicuous figure in the history of Oklahoma is the Hon. John I. Dille, whose appointment by the President as Register of the land office at Guthrie was one of the wisest that could possibly have been made. That he has faithfully and impartially discharged the duties of the important position is the unanimous verdict of the people of Oklahoma. A brilliant and able jurist, his decisions have been so manifestly just and impartial as to command the respect of all, even those against whom he was forced to decide. Mr. Dille is a polished Fº an able scholar, and a universal favorite with the bar of klahoma, of which he is one of its most able and popular members. He was the first and almost unanimous choice of the people for Gov- ernor of the Territory. The settlers who had patiently passed through the ordeal of a quasi government for over a year, anxiously await, ing government and laws, believed, and had a right to believe, that when Congress did organize the Territory, the President would so far respect their wishes as to select the executive and other officers from residents of the Territory; from men who had come here to live, men who were in sympathy with the people. And to secure such a result and to make their wishes known, numerous petitions, private letters, and telegrams were forwarded to the President, all urging the ap- pointment of Mr. Dille. Not only the masses of the people in every city, town, and hamlet joined in these petitions, but almost the entire bar of the Territory, regardless of party predilections, cordially en- dorsed the appointment. Greatly to the disappointment of the peo- ple, however, the President disregarded their wishes and ignored one. of the important principles enunciated in the Republican platform of 1888, in his selection of officers for Oklahoma. And with the highest Regard for Governor Steele, who is eminently worthy of the high posi- tion to which he has been called, time will demonstrate that the best 48 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, interests of the Territory and of the Republican party demanded the appointment of Mr. Dille. His knowledge of the country, his exten- sive acquaintance with the people and their necessities, would have enabled him to organize the *... much more to the advantage and satisfaction of the masses than could a stranger. He should have been Oklahoma's first Governor, and would have been by an over- whelming majority, had the people been allowed to determine the matter at the ballot-box. Mr. Dille was born in Huntington county, Indiana, in 1857, and his boyhood days were spent on a farm. He was educated in the common schools and at the Northern Indiana Normal School. He was educated for the law at the Indiana State University, from which he graduated in 1877. On the first of June in the following year, he formed a co-partnership for the practice of law with the #. J. B. Kenner, of Huntington. On April 1st, 1889, after ten years of a large and successful practice, he severed his connection with the firm to accept the position of Register of the land office at Guthrie, tendered him by President Harrison. In boyhood he espoused the cause of the Republican party, and he has always been an able and zealous supporter and an active worker in that organization. He was elected secretary of the Huntington County Republican Committee; was chairman of the Central Committee of the same county, also chairman of the Con- gressional Committee, and a member of the State Central Committee, of which he was secretary during the exciting campaign of 1888. In 1881 he became a charter member of Huntington Lodge, No. 93, Knights of Pythias, where he attained the rank of Past Chancellor. During the following year he became a member of the Grand Lodge of Indiana, and on the 27th of September, 1889, he was appointed Deputy Supreme Chancellor of the world for the Territory of Okla- homa, since which time he has instituted Oklahoma Lodge, No. 1, at Oklahoma City; Guthrie Lodge, No. 2, at Guthrie: Oklahoma Lodge, No. 3, at Lisbon, and Damascus Lodge, No. 4, at Edmond. On the 21st of July, 1878, Mr. Dille was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Mohn, a lady of refinement and culture. Mr. and Mrs. Dille have four interesting children, Dessie B., Chester B., Eva, and Mamie. HON. CASSIUS M. BARNES. There is no name more intimately identified with the settlement of Oklahoma than that of Hon. Cassius M. Barnes, who was appointed Receiver of Public Moneys of the United States land office at Guth- rie at the opening of the Territory of Oklahoma in April, 1889. His | | ---, -, ------ -------- 48 int ap. SLV. ena and - been when In la his lº COI- was eduº he º --- formed Kenne- and - - a CC- him Republi and of the -- ºllº - party demanded country, his ex sites would nº to to the advanta lie should nº ºn by an one determine tº ºna in 1857, an a educated in tº ºn Indian mal School - in nº ºn ersity from which ºf nº following year, he tºo ol ºn the Hon. J R - 1st lºº ºn years of a large with the firm tº ºn land at Guthrie, tendered used the cause of the ºn an and zealous supporter was elected secretary toº was chairman of unty, alº ºnairman of the Con- - the Central Committee, in tº ºn ºn of lºº. of lºngton Lodge No. 98. ºne of Past Chancellor re- -- | lº nº ºn Knº ºthias During tº follo º of in-li- De hor Ok. No ( Mis Dil Ma Okl Rec rie of the Grand Lodge ºf sº lºº, he was ºppoinº ºn tº for the Territory of Olla- nº Oklahoma Lodge, No. 1 at º | Guthrie Oklahoº Lodge, No. 1 at ºdmond. - - - - - - Dillº was united in nº tº mºnt and cul- --- --- be tº lºº, and - - ºn tº settlement o ºn as appointº ºn at Guth - - - - - C. M. BARNES Receiver Guthrie Land-Office. HON. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 49 ever-courteous treatment of the people of the Territory; his impartial rulings, and honorable record as a public officer and as a citizen, will forever be a part of the history of the early life of Oklahoma. He is Department Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic for the Territory of Oklahoma, and also occupies a prominent position in the Knights of Pythias. He is a most courteous and refined gentleman, and has the peculiar faculty of, making friends of all with whom he comes in contact Mr. Barnes was born in Livingston county, New York, in 1845, and at the age of four years, with his parents, removed to Michigan, where a common-school education was supplemented by a collegiate course. At the commencement of the war, although only in his six- teenth year, he enlisted in the engineer corps, of Battle Creek, Mich- *" and served until the end of the rebellion, a part of the time in the engineer's and a part of the time in the quartermaster's depart- ment. He also served in the military "...]" corps a short time. At the close of the war he settled at Little Rock, Arkansas, where he º in business. In 1869 he was united in marriage with Miss May E. Bartlett, daughter of Judge Liberty Bartlett, a gentleman of prominence in that State. Mrs. Barnes is a queenly woman, of stately presence, and richly endowed with intellectual and social gifts, that combine to make her a leader in society, and a brilliant student in the world of belles-Jeffres. She was one of the organizers of the Shakesperian Club at Little Rock fifteen years ago, and was one of its most active members during her stay in that city. She is a de- voted member of the Episcopal Church, and one of the most efficient workers in the Woman’s Guild. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have three children—two sons, Cassius B., assistant receiver of the Guthrie land office; Harry Cooper, a student at the Michigan Military Academy, and one daughter, Miss Bessie. Mr. Barnes' family joined him in October after the opening, and now they have one of the pleasantest homes in Guthrie. JUDGE T. J. LOWE. Judge T. J. Lowe, who, as reviously stated, was a member of the first city council of East Guthrie, and who was elected a member of the National Democratic Committee for the Territory of Oklahoma, in June, 1890, is a man whose career has been a brilliºnt professional success. He is a gentleman of matchless integrity; a statesman of ºperience; a lawyer pre-eminent for his clear and profound legal *tions; a citizen of unblemished character, and a Democrat 50 ILLUSTRATED OR LA HOMA, of the purest type—conservative and just in his opinions, loyal to the Government, and a staunch advocate of the rights of the people against any form of oppression. Born in the Sunny South—the land of chivalrous men and beauti- ful women—the commencement of the rebellion found him just crossing the threshold of manhood, and with true loyalty to his country and his home, he became a standard-bearer in the ranks of the Southern Confederacy, and bravely fought for what he had been educated to believe the right; but when the surrender at Appomattox closed the sanguinary struggle that had been waged between the North and South, and the Stars and Stripes, the emblem of unity and freedom, floated from the flagstaffs of every city and hamlet through- out the land, T. J. Lowe, the brave young soldier, surrendered . weapons and took upon himself the solemn oath of allegiance to the Government of the United States. And during the twenty-five years that have elapsed since that period–years that have transformed him | from the hot-headed, impulsive boy to the man of clear, calm, and unprejudiced judgment–that oath has been sacredly kept. His fealty to the old flag, his devotion to the Union and his country, has never been questioned. Judge Lowe was born in 1846, in "Caldwell parish, Louisiana. During his early youth his parents moved to Upshur county, Texas. At the secession of the Southern States he enlisted in the Seventh Texas Infantry, and served in the Army of the Tennessee. He was three times wounded, yet he never yielded or abandoned the cause until General Lee laid down his arms, in 1865; then he returned to his home in Texas, where he studied law and was admitted to prac- tice. Among the responsible positions to which he was called were those of county judge, president of the commissioners' court and the school board, and financial agent of his county; also, he was one of the fair commissioners. When he assumed charge of the affairs of the county its treasury was depleted and its credit almost ruined. In less than two years, by hard work and excellent management, Judge Lowe had entirely restored the credit of the county, and its warrants were held at par. When Oklahoma was opened to settlement, in April, 1889, Judge Lowe headed the tide from the “Lone Star State,” and upon his arri- val here immediately resumed the practice of his profession, which he has successfully followed, being now a member of the well-known law firm of Lowe & Brown. In the fall of 1889 he was chosen on the committee sent to Wash- º ſº º Ø º - Ø º º º º % º sº % 3% ºğ - º * Ž% Ż % Ż % Ż WWII 22 º % % º | % % º - źº º --- %2 º %% % W - § º % % * § § Ż Ž %. COL. J. J. BOLES, Guthrie. - - ------ --- JUDGE T. J. LOWE, Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 51 ington in the interest of Oklahoma, where he did vigorous work in the way of securing early and favorable legislation for the Territory. He is an active worker in the Democratic party, is in harmony with its leaders, and is a trusted member of its councils. And as in his boyhood he bore the colors of his country safely through many a hard-fought battle, so now in his ripened manhood, with wise judg- ment and a strong hand, will he carry the pennant of Democracy, and lead his party triumphantly through the great on-coming battle of the two parties, until fair Oklahoma receives upon her brow the crown of Statehood, and takes her place proudly in the foremost ranks of Democratic States. Judge Lowe is especially fortunate in his domestic relations. Mrs. Lowe (formerly Miss Bema Camp) is a daughter of the Hon. J. L. Camp, a distinguished lawyer of Texas, who has filled many honora- ble positions, both state and national. She is an educated, accom- lished lady, a consistent christian worker in the Southern Methodist hurch, and thoroughly qualified to occupy any position with grace and dignity. JUDGE CHARLES BROWN. Judge Charles Brown is a prominent attorney of Oklahoma, and located in Guthrie on the day that the Territory was opened to settle- ment. He has earned a practice and reputation second to no other lawyer in the Territory, and especially distinguished himself in the great contest case of homesteaders against East Guthrie. This im- portant case occupied four months in its trial. The homesteaders who claimed the land were men of means, and nothing that money could command was left undone to secure a victory. Here J udge Brown met as opposing counsel the best legal talent of Oklahoma. It was one of the hottest and most brilliant legal battles ever fought in the West. Every hour of the exciting contest was watched with the keenest anxiety by the two thousand residents of East Guthrie, whose homes were in jeopardy. The court room was crowded dur- ing the entire trial. Every word that fell from the lips of those ladiators of the legal arena was weighed with alternating hopes and fears by those interested. Judge Brown and his client–East Guth- rie-were victorious. The case was appealed. In the winter of 1889, Judge Brown was chosen as one of the delegates to Washington in the interest of Oklahoma legislation; and to him and his colleagues is largely due the early and favorable legislation secured for the Territory. He was also sent to Washing- ton by the city of East Guthrie in July, 1890, in behalf of the city 52 ILLUSTRATED ORLAHOMA, in the appeal taken to the General Land Office already mentioned. Although a Republican, and an earnest and active worker in the party, he has never been an office-seeker. On the contrary, he has persistently refused political preferment offered by his party. - Judge Brown was born in Wisconsin in 1853, and educated at the Waupalo Academy, in the same State. He read law at the Chicago University, and was admitted to practice in 1876. In 1878 he located in Marysville, Kansas, where he practiced his profession with marked success until April, 1889, when he located at Guthrie. In 1875 he was married to º - fine accomplishments. They had four children; the eldest, Charles S., a youth of rare ability and brilliant prospects, died in the spring of 1890, while his father was laboring for Guthrie in Washington. HON. HARPE.R. S. CUNNINGHAM. Among the moral forces, intelligently º that have united with natural advantages to make not only Territory of Oklahoma, a great and enlightened State in the near future, due recognition should be tendered to the wise and excep- tional character of the services rendered and the examples set by such able and useful men as the Hon. Harper S. Cunningham. His has not been merely that formal allegiance which all good citizens owe to the communities in which they live, but an earnest, ". and perpetual defense and encouragement emanating from a eep-seated faith in the bright and prosperous future of Oklahoma. During all of the exciting times incident to the anomalous condi- tion in which sixty thousand people were placed without adequate laws for the protection of life and property, the voice and example of Judge Cunningham were always on the side of justice, forbearance, and good order. From a brief review of his antecedents, the writer finds that Judge Cunningham was born at Dresden, Ohio, in 1846, and at the age of six years, with his parents, removed to Hopkinton, Iowa. He was educated at the Bowen Collegiate Institute, and while yet a student there, at the age of seventeen, he responded to the call of his country by enlisting in the Fourteenth regiment of Iowa infantry, in which he served until the close of the rebellion. He resumed his studies at the close of the war, read law, and was admitted to practice in 1874. In 1868 he was united in marriage with Miss Evelina C. Herrick, of Toledo, Iowa, a most estimable lady. They have a family of three children, two sons and one daughter. During the last-mentioned iss Nellie Hortigan, of Chicago, a lady of uthrie, but the entire - - - º - - - - º ºſº | ºn to the Gº - ºn ºn ºn - -- ----- nº ºn an used political - was born in Wisconsi - and ed ºn in the state -- real law a ºn adºl to nº in in lºº Maº ºne practiced his pºssion will April 188 when he local ºutline tº Miss Nellie loºtiºn of lºgo, a lady ºn Tº had ſoul ºn tº ºldest Charles ºn brilliºn prºpº died in the spring h Ohion ºne to Gº Washington - - - - - UNMINº ºil - intelligently applied that have united nº not only ºntº, but the entire - ºned State in the nº ºdºred to the wise and excep- lººd and the examples set by on lººper S. Cunningham. toºl allººn which all good in ºn tº but an ºnes. - enºmen ºnating from a ºperous tº of Oklahomº ºlden ºn tº malous cond- were placed ºut adequate operty, the and example o the side of forbearance ºntº the ºil dº that Judge - - lio in 1840 at the age º tº loºkinº ºn tº legiate Institute and ºn yet a student ºn he ºn to the his count enth regiºn ºn intº in ºf the renell suneº is studies at and to prº in 1874 marriage ºvelina leniº ºle lady a family ºf three - daught he last ºne §§ §§·~ SÈ §Êt ` ÈR ` ```` ```` § №7 M. NGHA HARPER CUNN HON. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 53 ear he removed to Kansas, where he soon became a leading member of the bar of that State. In 1874 he was elected probate judge of Saline county, and in 1881 was elected county attorney of the same county. In 1883 he was appointed receiver of the United States land office at Salina, Kansas, by President Arthur, the duties of which position he discharged with great satisfaction for four years. In April, 1889, he came to Oklahoma, and exhibited his usual hard and practical sense by locating at Guthrie. From the day he entered the Territory until the present time he has labored enthusiastically and in every possible way for the advancement of her interests, and with the ardent desire to lift her to the proud and commanding posi- tion of the metropolis and capital of this new Southwest. Indeed, there is scarcely an enterprise looking to the general good and advancement of Guthrie with which he has not been identified, and to which he has not rendered the powerful aid that has conserved to make them successful. Politically he is, and always has been, a strong, earnest, unwavering, and unfinching member of the Repub- lican party, and a powerful advocate of its great principles. He was among the warm and earnest supporters of the Hon. John I. Dille for Governor of the Territory. His Republicanism, like his legal acquirements, is of a positive, vigorous character. Judge Cunningham, during his residence here, has made a record second to that of no other attorney in the Territory. In the many important cases involving the town-sites of the Territory, as also the homesteads of settlers, placed in his hands, he has demonstrated that high degree of legal breadth that entitles him to a first position at the Oklahoma bar. He is a careful and painstaking student in his profession, a clear, logical, and eloquent advocate, and a safe and reliable counselor. Mr. Cunningham has taken a most active part in the Masonic organization of the country. He has held high positions in the order, having presided over a commandery of Knights Templar and over all four of the bodies of the Scottish Rite. On the 17th of June, 1890, J udge Cunningham associated himself in business with the Hon. John I. Dille for the practice of law, the name and style of the firm being Dille & Cunningham, making the strongest legal combination in the Territory. 54. ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, CHAPTER IV. THE SETTLEMENT OF GUTHRIE. * Behind the squaw's light birch canoe The steamer rocks and waves; And city lots are staked for sale Above old Indian graves.” “The settlement of Guthrie has no parallel in the world's history,” has been echoed and re-echoed from the rock-bound coast of New England to the wave-washed shores of the Pacific, and from the great frozen lakes of the North to the land of the pomegranate and magnolia. That is true, and it is also true that the world's history furnishes no arallel in which a new country was opened to settlement as was Oklahoma. No new country ever offered such advantages in soil and climate. It was the first and only Territory ever opened exclu- sively to legal homesteaders. In all parts of the Union thousands had been waiting for years to secure homes within its borders. For over fifteen years the bayonets of the Government guarded its fertile valleys, wooded hills, its broad and inviting plains, against the indus- trial civilization of the white man. The eyes of the whole country were turned in this direction. Every movement by Congress in its interest was watched with the deepest anxiety, and when the news was flashed over the wires on the 3d day of March, 1889, that the bill opening Oklahoma had passed Congress and had been approved by the President, wild and enthusiastic shouts, not alone from the thousands awaiting on its borders, but from all parts of the Union, were heard. There was a rush towards its borders from every point of the compass. The old, gray-headed “Forty-niners” who partici- pated in the California gold excitement smiled as they witnessed the rush. History was repeating itself. Combinations of men were organized with alacrity in all parts of the country for the building-up of towns and cities at advantageous points in the Territory. For days before the 22d of April, Guthrie and Oklahoma City were objective points with the masses. The Ter- ritory having been as a closed corporation to the public, its real beau- ties and advantages were comparatively unknown to the masses. It, was therefore amusing to see with what eagerness any and all infor- mation relative to it was devoured by the thousands awaiting the hour for a forward movement. Guthrie, in its beautiful location, had an advantage over all its sister cities in Oklahoma from the start. Its nearness to the northern line of the Territory, the direction from which the larger portion of the people came, together with the pres- THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 55 tage of the land office, made it the leading city in the Territory. It was named the capital by Congress, for the reason that so soon as the additional territory as provided for by the act of Congress passed May 14th, 1890, is opened, Guthrie will be the most convenient point for the people of the whole Territory. This, however, is a question for the people to decide in the future, and with her charming loca- tion, beautiful surroundings, and commercial importance, Guthrie may yet have the capital verdict rendered against her. Guthrie was spoken into life by fifteen thousand people on the afternoon of April 22d, 1889; and if fifteen thousand people assem- bled on the green prairie, with not a shingle between them and the blue dome above, can be said to constitute a city, then long before nightfall on that day Guthrie was a city indeed. It was a city of souls of active, enthusiastic humanity, with neither home or home comforts, with little to eat and less to drink; the cold surface of a town lot for a bed, and the chilly mists of an April night for a blanket. Before the setting of the sun on the 23d Guthrie was a city of tents. There were tents everywhere; tents of every style and every conceivable size, from that of circus proportions to the most diminu- tive playhouse make. Neither the engineer's or surveyor's art had been invoked, and the snowy habitations of the people resembled in their irregularity an enormous flock of snow-white birds that had alighted to rest “in their flight to the sea.” There was neither street nor alley traversing this magical city of tents. As in coming to Guthrie, so in pitching their tents, there was a unity of action; the people seemed moved by the same impulse. To the right of the land office, where nothing but a green prairie was seen at twelve o’clock, two hours later was covered with tents. Turning to the left, nothing but tents met the eye. It was, in fact, a vast city of tents, with fif- teen thousand people winding their way around among them as though they were following the trail of a wounded snake. On the day following, long trains, both from Texas and the north, freighted with lumber and other building material, also patent houses, finished in sections so they could be put up in a few moments, reached Guth- rie, and the work of building the city commenced in earnest. Busi- ness houses and dwellings arose like magic. The machinery of the city government was put in motion, and its ordinances, whether wise or unwise, were generally obeyed, so desirous were all to see the city prosper. An occupation tax that would have been considered appall- º the people during the days of the rebellion was levied and pald. 56 ILLUSTRATED OR LA HOMA, During the first week much inconvenience and suffering was expe- rienced on account of the scarcity of drinking water. he Cotton- wood river and the well at the railway station were the only sources of supply, and as the drain on the latter was beyond its capacity, thirsty mortals were left to choose between a parched tongue and the water of the Cottonwood. On the 26th of April, four days after the opening, a private well was sunk down on the west bottoms, from which a limited supply was furnished the people at the rate of twenty- five cents a bucket or ten cents a quart. The lemonade traffic was enormous. At one time there were over one hundred and fifty of these dispensers of the limpid waters of the Cottonwood tinctured with acid and flavored with lemon plying their vocation in the vicin- ity of the land office. The long lines of men awaiting their turn at the post-office and land office were supplied by a bucket brigade of lemonade venders. The bill of fare for the first few days consisted chiefly of sand- wiches manufactured weeks before and shipped to Guthrie at the opening, and ham and eggs. Quite a sensation was created a few days after the opening by a circular issued by the Cowling Bros., (afterwards proprietors of The Creamerie), that they were then pre- pared to serve meals from tables supplied with table-cloths, napkins, and crockery, with chairs for their patrons to sit on while taking their meals. - So strictly was the law relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors enforced for the first few months after the opening of the i. that it was almost impossible to procure any for medicinal purposes. Many of the pioneers, however, brought pocket editions with them, in case of snake-bite, centipede, or tarantula poisoning. Fortunately, however, there was no demand for liquors for that purpose, so the entire edition was exhausted as a preventive. The absence of whisky from Oklahoma during the first year after it was settled is considered by thinking men as one of the most pow- erful factors in promoting peace and good order, and especially is this true as it relates to the more densely populated communities, where conflicts over town lots were numerous, and sometimes heated. Whenever the people felt that they had grievances that demanded redress, circulars would be distributed and mounted criers sent out, notifying the people to meet on the Government Acre—the Faneuil Hall of the people—where, from a wagon or dry goods box—the public tribune–the people's champions would make known the wrongs, which usually met with such an emphatic condemnation that they were seldom repeated. ExCURSIONISTS IN THE ARBUCKLE MOUNTAINS. [From Photograph.] - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------- - - GUTHRIE. T A ---- J – ~ = © ®, C c © 5 > → ---- ſ º- º = № º ſ= ---- E ON THE COT SCEN §§©---- §ÑOEº - |- THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 57 Although nearly all of the men chosen to administer the affairs of the city were charged with violating the law in entering the Territory, and although many of the ordinances passed by the council, and rules adopted by the arbitration boards, favored those who had violated the law, when the people entered a protest from the Government Acre, the redress was immediate and sure. The following incident will serve as an illustration: By ordinance No. 37, presented by Senator Kelly, of Kansas, a member of the council, a man charged with entering the Territory illegally was put into possession of a town lot. Senator Kelly was the man's attorney. The people spoke from their tribune, and in less than twenty-four hours after the passage of the ordinance it was repealed, and its author, Senator Kelly, was expelled from the council. The rightful owner of the lot eventually got possession. At another time the city police were ordered to eject a party from a lot on Second street, near Harrison, which resulted in drawing to- ether several hundred people, some of whom jeered at the officers, #. which offense one of their number, a young man, was arrested and taken to the city jail, followed by at least two thousand people. The excitement was at a red heat; threats were made, and prepara- tions were begun to raze the jail to the ground, when the mayor be- came alarmed at the threatening aspect the affair had assumed, and ordered the young man released. And the order was not made a moment too soon, for just as the young man was set at liberty, Cap- tain Cavanaugh, with a platoon of United States troops, came up Oklahoma avenue on the double-quick, and, as usual, his appearance was electrical in restoring order. In many instances where ejectment writs were executed by the city authorities immense crowds of men would assemble, and to guard against violence the troops would be called out, and without taking sides, their presence was all that was needed to preserve perfect order. In another place in this work it is stated that the site upon which the city of Guthrie is built is high, slightly rolling, with admirable surface drainage, the whole twelve hundred and forty acres being en- tirely free from a single square rod of swale, swamp, or marsh, from which stagnant water could breed its death-dealing malaria. Encir- cling the city from the northwest to the southeast is a beautiful range of hills, that sweeps gracefully away into the distant table-lands. To the north, its limpid waters sparkling in the sunshine, is the Cimarroa river; while through the western portion of the city, con- 58 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, fined by bold wooded banks, flows the Cottonwood to a junction with the Cimarron at the north. “Spreading between these streams are the wondrous beautiful prairies, Billowy bays of grass ever rolling in shadow and Sunshine, Bright with luxuriant clusters of roses and purple amorpas.” From College Hill on the west to Capitol Hill on the east, a stretch of country which for beautiful scenery is unequaled in Oklahoma, there is a view of many miles in all directions. It was while stand- ing on this last-named hill that Congressman Baker, during the visit to Guthrie of Congressmen in September, 1889, in his address to the people, said: “I can see in my mind a wonderful growth for this country during the next ten years, and then, if Mr. O'Day will kindly invite us, I think we can come here direct on the 'Frisco road. “It has been my good fortune to travel extensively in the East and South and Northwest, but now for the first time I find myself in this section of the country, and my misgivings and fears for its future are now dispelled, and I must rejoice in the Americanism which has enabled you to build up a city of which the world may be proud. In my mind I can behold a magnificent edi- fice, a future capitol, and on the opposite hill a splendid university, and between a thriving and well-built city, with churches, schools, and public build- ings. These are to-day only visions, but if you are true to the right you will some day find them realities.” There were plenty of men in Guthrie, plenty of men in Oklahoma, who went there to make homes for themselves and families. These men were not discouraged—disgusted though they might have been - at the way Congress and the Executive had treated the people. They º the improvement of the city forward, and through their con- idence and enterprise the faint-hearted took courage, and the sound of the saw and the hammer was heard in all parts of the city; fine business houses were pushed forward to completion, fine residences were built, streets were improved, and on the streets, in the business houses and offices, one could see that never-yielding American look on the faces of all, “We are here to stay.” And stay they did, although thousands paid out their last dollar in staying before Congress gave the people government and laws. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. The Guthrie Chamber of Commerce, a most important factor in the building-up of Guthrie, was first organized on the 20th of July, 1889. The first officers elected were: H. J. Whitley, President; G. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 59 S. Cunningham, First Vice President; J. W. McNeal, Second Vice President; C. P. Spining, Secretary; D. T. Flynn, Treasurer. - No decided action towards advancing the interests of Guthrie was taken by the Chamber of Commerce until January 11th, 1890, when a reorganization was effected by electing the following officers; H. J. Whitley, President; A. J. Spengel, First Vice President; J. M. Rags- dale, Second Vice President; C. P. Spining, Secretary; W. A. Thomas, Treasurer. - The following Board of Directors were elected at the same time: H. J. Whitley, A. J. Spengel, J. M. Ragsdale, Geo. T. Cunningham, L. De Steiguer, W. S. Spencer, J. W. McNeal. - The charter members of the organization included such enterpris- ing men as J. A: Ellis, H. J. Whitley, A. G. Herron, W. H. Coyle, S. Spencer, W. H. Merten, A. J. Spengel, C. P. Spining, G. T. Cunningham, Geo. E. Munday, J. M. Brooks, C. W. Bluler, J. T. Saunders, L. De Steiguer, J. W. McNeal, J. M. Ragsdale, L. E. Kim- ball, Geo. S. Cunningham, L. D. F. Crosier, T. R. Phister, Geo. D. Orput, N. M. Carter, E. M. Baldwin, Geo. E. Gray, L. B. Shopland, Jas. Dooley, Frank Greer, W. P. Thompson. Since its reorganization the Chamber of Commerce has done a large amount of useful work for Guthrie. It was the prime mover in in- ducing Oklahoma farmers to plant cotton, and to aid them in the making of their first crop, the Board supplied them with cotton seed and otherwise aided them. In securing territorial legislation the Chamber of Commerce was one of the most effective and powerful influences employed; nearly all of the members were gentlemen of high standing and large influence in Washington, and both individ- ually and as an organization they were untiring in the work of ad- vancing the interests, not only of Guthrie, but of the entire Territory. Its president, Mr. H. J. Whitley, to the neglect of his own private business, at his own expense, went to Washington in the winter of 1889–90, where he spent several weeks in working for Oklahoma legislation. OPENING OF THE POST-OFFICE. Mr. Dennis T. Flynn, Guthrie's first postmaster, was appointed on the 4th of April, 1889. He arrived at Guthrie on the memorable “first train’” ". the north on the 22d of April, and on the Friday following (the 26th of April) he received telegraphic orders—his commission not having been received—to open the office at once, as a large amount of mail matter was awaiting distribution. One of the business blocks of that early date—a tent 10 by 14, situated near 60 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, the southwest corner of the Government Acre, on the site now occu- pied by the DeFord block—served as the first post-office in Guthrie. The lock boxes, call boxes, and general delivery were all on the ground floor, or, in other words, some ten or fifteen bushels of mail matter was dumped on the ground in the middle of the tent, and the work of sorting and distributing commenced. Postmaster Flynn is a man of infinite resources, yet it cannot be denied that his genial face was clouded with a look of anxiety as he entered the folding doors of his palatial office. His commission had not arrived, and as his eyes took in the small mountain of mail matter and his ears drank in the clam- ors of the multitude impatiently demanding their mail, he seemed for a moment undecided whether to take to his heels or wait for the commission. He decided to adopt the latter course, and with as many assistants as the limited space would allow, went to work. The system he adopted to serve the anxious thousands, all of whom knew they had “letters in that pile from home,” was somewhat new to the postal service. He at first arranged two delivery “holes,” up to which he ordered an advance in line, each being entitled to ask for his own mail and for that of one other person, the other person pay- ing from twenty-five cents to one dollar to get his mail, rather than stand in the line an entire day, as was often the case. Those that called for mail for others soon discovered that it could be made a paying business, and it was not until their faces became known to the postmaster and his clerks was their source of revenue cut off. Here is another plan that was adopted: The letters would be as- sorted alphabetically; then a clerk with good lungs would take the packages and mount a dry goods box or wagon, and deliver to those present whose names commenced with the letter of the package to be distributed. To illustrate: The clerk would take package “A,” and announce to the crowd that he would deliver to all present whose names commenced with that letter. And in that way the distribu- tion went on from day to day, until the large accumulations had been delivered. For weeks, however, after the first accumulations had been disposed of, long lines of men, numbering at times as high as one thousand, could be seen from morning till night patiently waiting for their turn to reach the delivery “window.” That Postmaster Flynn discharged the arduous task imposed on him during the first few months after the opening to the general sat- isfaction of the people is conceded by all. It is also conceded that he was one of the hardest-worked men in Guthrie. A few months later a post-office building was erected, and then in postal matters, as in all others, Guthrie indulged in metropolitan Qº Q- --~. - º - - T. D. Rºy Nº. ºr a quºte. 60 Tº TSTT T. L. Q - the corner of the Govern- ºn the site now pie DeFoºd loºk-served post-office in Gutº The es call boxes, and general were all on the group flo other words, some ten or bushels of mail matt- was led on the ground in the nº of the ten and the woºl. of | ºuting cºmmence ºostmaster ºlynn is a man of --- yet it cannot be denied that his genial face was clou of anxiety as he entered the follº doors of his pa His commission had not arrived and as his eyes took in - ºuntain of mail matter and his ears dºnk in the clan. Or: - lºº impatiently demanding the nail, he seemed for - whether to take to his hºl- or wait for the COIn to adopt the latter course, and with as a nº space would allow ºn to work. The Sys- anxious thouse is all of whom knº- ºne from home as somewhat new to ºranged two ºry “holes,” up to line, each being entitled to ask for his ºther person, the other person pay ing dollar to get his mail, rather than sta. - as was often the use. Those that call - discovered that it could be made a payi until their faces ºne known to the in -- their source of revenue out of Jºe ºther was adopted. The letters would be a- sorted alphabetically tº a clerk with good lungs would take the pac and mount a dry goods box or wagon, and deliver to those pre -º commenced with the letter of the package to be dis ºne The clerk would take package A,” and an I- - that he would deliver to all present whose nanºs º- ºr And in that way the distribu- tion went ºn the large accumulations had been delivered tº the first accumulations had been ºn numbering at times as high as one tº -- ning till night patiently waiting for tº - window.” T- the arduous tº imposed on him the opening to the eneral sº- isfa by all. It is also cºded tº he v - -n in ºut-le. A ºuilding erected then in post tº indulged in ºn # s s- | | | r § &Nº. §§ § Ns Nº N&sº Nº. T. D. FLYNN, First Post-Master at Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 61 airs. In the fall of 1889 the Commercial block, much the finest building in Oklahoma, was completed, and in it a large and magnifi- cent room was fitted up, into which the postoffice was moved. CHARTER CONVENTION. The necessity of a city charter became so urgent that early in June, 1889, a convention composed of twenty-five members was elected for the purpose of framing a charter for the city of Guthrie. The first session of the convention was held at the council chamber in Guthrie on the 7th day of June, 1889, when a temporary organization was effected by electing Colonel Thomas S. Jones temporary president, and Prof. E. L. Hallock secretary. The members subscribed to the following oath: We, the undersigned, members of the charter convention of the city of Guthrie, Indian Territory, do each solemnly swear to support the constitution of the United States, the laws of Congress applicable to the Indian Territory, and faithfully perform the duties as members of said charter convention. So help me God. C. H. CANNON. JAS. STEwART. J. W. MCNEAL. THOS. D. CRADDOCK. D. T. FLYNN. ED M. CLARK. G. A. WARD. J. R. COSTEEL. C. B. FREEMAN. JOHN H. ONSTOTT. R. B. COWLING. J. H. HAWKINS. JoBIN J. ENWRIGHT. J. M. RAGSDALE. J. A. ARREMUT. E. L. HALLOCK. WM. TILHAM. THOS. S. JONES. JOS. MORAN. R. R. CARLIN. N. H. STURGIS. JOHN F. STONE. HENRY LINN. JOHN B. ISLE.R. HURBERT WOLCOTT. Subscribed and sworn to before John M. Galloway, U. S. Commissioner. A. permanent organization was effected by electing D. T. Flynn president and Prof. E. L. Hallock secretary. The convention was in session from June 7th until the 8th of the following month, without compensation. The charter as returned by the convention was submitted to and adopted by the people on the 23d day of July, 1889. The charter as produced was a carefully and ably prepared document, and the liberality of the members of the convention in donating their services to the city will always be re- membered by the citizens of Guthrie with the deepest gratitude. 62 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, The growth and rapid development of Guthrie has been due to the zealous labors of the people, and their reward has been far beyond their expectations; and in the future as in the past the great work will continue, the one incentive to be to build up Oklahoma into a reat agricultural State, and Guthrie as its chief commercial city. here is an immense amount of work to be done by the men of this new country, and each one should willingly and zealously do his share. Guthrie must be built up by all the agencies which it is in the power of the people to wield to that end. The spirit of enterprise that has made it what it is must be fostered and cultivated, and all minds and hands should be nerved with new vigor to the work of its advance- ment. The past eighteen months have witnessed in the healthful and ermanent growth of Guthrie what the world has never before seen. ts growth has not been transient, or dependent on transient causes; like her inhabitants, her resources have been and are largely perma- ment. What the people want to do in order to push the city forward and secure a continuance of its present growth and prosperity, is to invite aids from every direction. Nothing within the power of the people should be undone to secure additional railways; outside capital, which can be so advantageously employed here, should be encouraged to seek this point. The settlement of both city and country must be encouraged; trade, mercantile and manufacturing, should be promo- ted; and thus by all pulling together the work will go on, and five ears hence Guthrie will be an object of greater marvel to the world than it is to-day, and the State of Oklahoma, with its inviting, health- ful climate and magnificent farms, will stand without a peer in the sisterhood of States. H. J. WHITLEY. Oklahoma, and especially Guthrie, owes Mr. Whitley a heavy debt of gratitude for the ceaseless and untiring energy he has put forth in their behalf. From the first day of his entering the Territory, he has labored enthusiastically and in every possible way for the ad- vancement of their interests. He has seemingly had but one desire, and that was to raise Guthrie to the proud position of the metrop- olis of the new Southwest, and the capital of the soon-to-be prosper- ous State of Oklahoma. Apart from the many private enterprises in which he bore so important a part, and in which, by his example, he inspired so many others to action which has proved of incalculable benefit to the city, he has given freely of his time and means and influence to secure for Guthrie the capital of the Territory and the THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 63 most prosperous and influential city within the borders of fair Ok- lahoma. º, there is not a single enterprise looking to the gen- eral good and advancement of Guthrie with which H. J. Whitley has not been identified and to which he has not rendered a powerful aid that has chiefly made them successful. Many of the finest buildings in the city bear witness to his zeal and generous assistance; all iden- tify his name with the development of Guthrie. Mr. Whitley was born in Toronto, Canada. His father was the son of the Hon. Nicholas Whitley, of Liverpool, England, and his mother was the daughter of Col. William Johnson, an officer in the English army. When a child, Mr. Whitley's parents moved to Flint, Mich- igan, where he received a practical business education and his early business training, as a partner in the wholesale house of Whitley, Partridge & Co. In 1880 he engaged º in the banking, loan and investment business at Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he re- mained for ten years, and where he still has large property interests. On the 22d of April, 1889, he located in Guthrie, and in company with Mr. Geo. D. Orput, built the first brick block in the Territory, known as the National Bank block, which they afterwards sold to McNeal & Little, now the Guthrie National Bank of Guthrie. In 1890, Messrs. Whitley & Orput built two fine business blocks, of which engravings will be seen in another part of this work. Mr. Whitley is president of the Whitley-Orput Loan and Invest- ment Company, also a director in the Guthrie National Bank, and as before stated, is in many other ways identified with the best interests of the city. He was united in marriage with Miss M. V. Ross, daughter of Wm. M. Ross, one of the oldest and best families in Philadelphia; she is also the niece of Hon. Samuel Ross, noted in Philadelphia for his good works. Her mother was a Virginian by birth. Mrs. Whit- ley is a refined and highly cultured lady, and brought with her to her new home in fair Oklahoma all of those graces and noble qualities that so endeared her to her many friends in Philadelphia and Minne- apolis, her former homes, where she was esteemed as a favorite in the highest social circles. She is a quiet but effectual worker in the Episcopal Guild, and a pure and consistent christian. At the pres- ent writing – August, 1890–she is spending the summer season on the coast of New England with their only son, Master Ross E. Whit- ley, who is a favorite with Guthrie's early pioneers. 64. ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, D. T. FLYNN. Postmaster Dennis T. Flynn was born in Phoenixville, Pennsyl- vania, in 1861, and graduated at Canisius college, Buffalo, N. § y after a six years' classical course. He studied law at Buffalo, and was admitted to the bar, after which he removed to Riverside, Iowa, where he established the Riverside //erald. From there he emigrated to Barber county, Kansas, traveling overland with an ox team. He located at Old Kiowa, where he established the Kiowa Herald, the first subscriber to which was Miss Blanton, now Mrs. D. T. Flynn. This most estimable lady is the daughter of Captain N. B. Blanton, who was a member of the first Kansas legislature, and one of the most prominent actors in Kansas during the Border-Ruffian war. During the rebellion he was a captain in the Union army. Mr. Flynn was largely engaged in business at New Kiowa, Kansas, where he sold $700,000 worth of property in eleven months. He was the first postmaster of New Kiowa, an office which in ten months ran over its classification and became a presidential appointment. Mr. Flynn is a º cultured, genial gentleman, a good lawyer, and an active and influential member of the Republican party. He is an earnest worker for Guthrie, and is always to be found in the front ranks working in her interest. - W. P. THOMPSON. Among the first newspaper men to enter Oklahoma at the opening in April, 1889, was W. º Thompson, the special correspondent for the K. City 7%mes. After graphically describing through the columns of that paper the great derby race for homesteads and town lots, and the many incidents attending the opening of the Territory and the settlement of Guthrié, he became so charmed with the coun- try and the vim and enterprise of the people, that he decided to pitch his business tent in the capital city of the Land of the Fair God. In June, 1889, he established the Daily Wews, of which he is editor and proprietor. It is the leading Republican journal of the Territory, and the only paper in Oklahoma that published the telegraphic news for the first year and a half after its opening. The Wews, although a Republican sheet, has a vein of independence in its composition that will not tolerate trickery or deception in its own party. The individ- uality of its editor is marked in the entire history of the paper, and its reputation for candor, reliability, and the courage of its convictions is universally recognized. Mr. Thompson has seen much of the world, has traveled much, and - º º - S. S. MR. H. J. WHITLEY, President of the International Loan and Trnst Company, Guthrie. D. oºº- ºn gºo. - --- | | - -- MR. GEO. D. ORPUT, Vice-President of the International Loan and Trust Company, Guthrie THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 65 being a close observer and of quick perception, he has profited largely and enriched his mind upon nearly all subjects, whether scientific, religious, or political. He is a student of nature, and entirely free from hobbies of any description. Under his management the News has wielded a powerful influence in moulding the future destiny of Oklahoma. Mr. Thompson is of Indian and Irish parentage, and was born in Bedford county, Virginia, in 1842, and hence is in the noonday of life and the full vigor of manhood. He was educated in the schools of Virginia. At the commencement of the rebellion, with true Vir- inia chivalry, he entered the 37th Virginia regiment, “Stonewall” j. brigade, in which he served two years, and then re-enlisted in the 60th Alabama regiment, in which he served until the surrender at Appomatox in 1865, as the ranking officer of his regiment, al- though only in his twenty-third year. Mr. Thompson was wounded four times—the first time at the first battle of Manassas, and the second time on the 4th of July, 1864, when General Grant sprun the mine in front of Petersburg; the third time at Chickamauga, an the fourth time at the siege of Knoxville. At the close of the war, Mr. Thompson went to Japan, where he remained some two years, and then returned to this country, and shortly after was engaged on the St. Louis Republican, for which journal and the Tºmes of the same city he wrote for several years, when, receiving a liberal offer from the New York Tribune, he entered into an engagemement with that paper, where he remained for over twelve years. His health be- coming impaired, he came West, and engaged on the Kansas City Zºnes, of which he was acting managing editor when Oklahoma was opened, when he came to Oklahoma as before stated. GEO. D. ORDUT. The great State of Illinois was well represented by enterprising, brainy business men in the pioneer column that came into Oklahoma on that never-to-be-forgotten 22d of April, 1889. And there are few, if any, representatives from that State that have proved themselves more zealous friends to Guthrie, or that have worked harder for her promotion, than Mr. George D. Orput, vice president of the Whitley- Orput Loan and Investment Company, organized at Guthrie in the summer of 1890. Mr. Orput came to Guthrie with Mr. H. J. Whit- ley; and he came to stay, and to help make the city the capital of Oklahoma; and to show his good faith and his confidence in the future of the metropolis of the new Southwest, immediately after –5 66 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, reaching Guthrie, in company with Mr. Whitley, he purchased the southwest corner of First street and Oklahoma avenue, where they erected the first brick block built in Oklahoma, known as the National Bank block. It was in the hall of this building that the grand recep- tion was tendered the Congressional delegation that visited Guthrie in September, 1889, which will long be remembered as one of the most brilliant entertainments ever given in the Territory. Mr. Orput was born and educated at Rockford, Illinois. His mother was the daughter of Henry Crill, one of the largest and best-known capitalists in the northern part of that State. His father was the son of Rev. Richard J. Orput, who was one of the pioneer ministers of that State. John B. Orput, brother of the subject of this sketch, is a prominent capitalist, and for many years past has with his family resided at Rockford. The subject of these remarks was for some years connected with the Rockford Hosiery Company; he was also, previous to his locating in Guthrie, quite extensively engaged in business at Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 1889 Mr. Orput was united in marriage with Miss Lillie Turner, daughter of Hon. James E. Turner, of the National Bank of Guthrie, a brilliant and accomplished young lady of high social standing in Springfield, Massachusetts, her former home. Their's was the first large, fashionable wedding celebrated in Oklahoma, the ceremony taking place at high noon, at the bride's residence, on College Hill, West Guthrie. BION. GEO. F. HERBIOTT. A successful life depends upon peculiar mental and physical en- dowments. An active, broad brain gives force to character and aids in running the vital machinery. These requisites are possessed, in a large º by Mr. Geo. F. Herriott, who located in Guthrie in the fall of 1889. Mr. Herriott formerly lived at Indianapolis, Indiana, where he was educated in a strict school of business integrity and enterprise. He came to Oklahoma to stay, and has provided a fine home for himself and family. He has also invested quite largely in real estate, and as an earnest of his confidence in the future of the Capital City, he has completed one of the largest and finest blocks in the city, an engraving of which will be found in another part of this work. He is a thorough-going, broad-viewed business man, and takes an active part in all projects looking towards the advancement of Guthrie. Mr. Herriott is a Republican politically, and stands high in that organization wherever his true merits are known. He was born in Franklin, Indiana, in 1840. He served three years and eight III. I. SUU | {TPUTſū ſae ſı ∞∞∞ ſae №. tae №ģ Ēģ HERRIOTT BLOCK, - sº s - º º - Q - - s - - - - - ------0TT ºld- --- N N. Sº NS §§ º \\ §§ SS aſſ - N §§ § % - \ § % - §§ § % §§§ § § % \\\\? N N§y % § § §§ Š Ø % % %% -- º § % º \\ §sº - SSS Š % % NS /* º % % § % * % º º º:% MA JOR GEO. F. HERRIOTT. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 67 months in the Union army during the rebellion as captain of Com- any G, Third Indiana cavalry, and was promoted to major of the º regiment of Indiana cavalry while serving in the field. He was the Republican candidate for Treasurer of Indiana in 1876, and was renominated for the same position in 1878. Mr. Herriott was successfully engaged for many years in milling and pork-packing, and in the live-stock trade. Previously to locating in Guthrie he resided twelve years in Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1866 he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah T. Brewer, a most estimable lady. They have no children. FRANK H. GREER. One of the most powerful agents in the building-up of Guthrie was the State Capital, under the efficient management of Mr. Frank H. Greer. It was the first paper published in the Territory, and was an important ally in making the Queen City the capital of Okla- homa. It was a successful champion of the people and the best interests of the city. When Guthrie was in imminent danger of drifting into anarchy, and the settlers, tired of waiting the slow move- ment of Congress in providing government and laws, threatened a revolt against the provisional laws of the city, Mr. Greer brought the powerful aid of the State Capital to bear upon the questions, and effectually suppressed the disturbing and riotous elements. His wise counsels for harmony and good order prevailed, and the city of Guthrie º safely through an ordeal that without his aid might have laid er in ashes. Mr. Greer is a young man of the most brilliant qualifications, of astounding energy, and great capacity for work. His decision and firmness are prominent characteristics, and his friendships and aver- sions are strong and lasting. He is an ideal newspaper man in this age, when the editor fills one of the most exacting as well as one of the most conspicuous places in the varied list of the world’s mental occupations. Frank Hilton Greer was born in the historic city of Leavenworth, Kansas, July 21st, 1865. His father, Captain Samuel W. Greer, who organized and commanded through the war Company I, Fifteenth Kansas volunteer cavalry, settled in that city in 1857. The family consisted of six children, four sons and two daughters. The sons were all educated in the newspaper business, and they are all at the present time newspaper men, all having talents especially designed for that profession. In 1882 the father died, and to the care of Frank H. was left the widowed mother and four younger children, 68 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, who have since developed into men and women of notable promi- nence, socially and commercially. Fifteen years Mr. Greer, with his brother, Ed P. Greer, devoted his time to the Winfield Courier, of which he was in turn business manager, city editor, and editor-in- chief. With the opening of Oklahoma came Frank H. Greer and the State Capital. The first issue of the Weekly State Capital appeared March 3d, 1889, three weeks before the opening of Oklahoma. It was issued from Winfield, Kansas, and was profusely and uniquely illustrated, and it circulated all over the United States as an evidence of the enterprise ready to build up the vast domain of fair Oklahoma. Three issues of the weekly were printed before the opening of the Territory, April 22d, 1889, when The Daily State Capital was issued from Guthrie, since which time it has been the leading journal of Oklahoma, its circulation extending throughout the United States. It has always been a fearless and zealous advocate of every measure beneficial to the people, and with the masses, not only of Guthrie, but throughout the entire Territory, it is held in the highest esteem. In º: Mr. Greer was united in marriage with Miss Blanche L. Byers, a lady of rare beauty and social graces, and his domestic life has been as congenial as have his successful labors as a newspaper publisher. |- ¿ № --- - --- - --- . 68 -º-º-º-ºº on ºf . who have ºped into men ºn of notable prº- nence, SOC ºnly ºil-ºrs Mr. Green will brother, I is ºn tº the Winfield Coº- which he was in is manager, city editor, and editor chief. - With noma came ºran Greer and State Ca. of the Wºº. Sº Cººl appen March 3d efore the openinº of Oklahoma was issue Kansas, and was pºsely and uniqu illustrate all over the Unit ºates as an evide of the en - the vast doºn of fair Oklahoº Three iss inted be the opening of Territory - º, Cººl was iss- from Gu be ºne leading journal Oklahom throu ºut the United Sta It has alw - alous cate of every meas. beneficial the nº not only of Guth- but throu it is in the highest este In 188- in man with Miss Blanche Byers, a ºnal ºr and his domestic has been is succº labors as a newspa publisher SN §§ S Š ~ - Š F. H. GREER, Editor “State Capital,” Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 69 APRIL 22D AT ORLAHOMA CITY. CHAPTER W. OKLAHOMA CITY – THE GEM OF THE CANADIAN WALLEY. “I hear the tread of pioneers Of nations yet to be — The first low wash of waves where Soon Shall roll a human Sea.” Oklahoma City stands distinct as a monument to the enterprise, courage, and brains of its pioneer men. Without the prestige of a land office during the first eighteen months of its life, and without the advantages that would have followed had it been named the tem- porary capital, its citizens have joined hands and have built up a magnificent city; a city that stands before the world like a proud queen surrounded by her subjects, and acknowledges no peer in Oklahoma. On either side of its broad streets are business blocks that tower three and four stories high, while the beautiful swelling uplands that surround the city are dotted over with handsome and comfortable homes, with here and there a spire pointing heavenward, with “Storied windows richly dight, Casting a dim religious light.” No city in the Territory has made such progress in building ele- gant, costly, and substantial business blocks and residences as has the peerless city of the North Canadian. The city is largely settled by people from the Southern States, yet there is a sufficient amount of Western force and go-aheadativeness to secure to it the lead of all its sister cities, and to make it the great 70 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, commercial center of Oklahoma. And should it fail in securing the capital of the Territory, its natural advantages are such that no amount of competition can wrest from it the prestige of being the great com- mercial and manufacturing city of the new Southwest. On a level plateau in the fertile valley of the North Canadian river, on its left bank, is situated the metropolis of Oklahoma. Its popula- tion numbers between five and six thousand, and it is having a healthy and rapid increase, its business men being among the wealthiest and most enterprising in the Territory. Its streets are broad, all of its main thoroughfares being one hundred feet in width, and are laid out at right angles and uniform, which shows that in the rush and excite- ment that characterized its settlement on the 22d of April, 1889, the surveyor's art was not lost sight of. The business portion of the city is built on a level prairie, which is about twenty-five feet above the level of the river, which affords excellent sewerage facilities. To the north, on a pretty elevation that sweeps gracefully around to the east of the city, is built up the resi- dence portion of the town. It is a sightly location, and from it the broad valley of the Canadian, outlined on either side with groves and green hills, can be seen for miles to the west, south, and east. The swift-flowing river, which like a thread of silver winds its way through that fertile valley, is the crowning feature of this charming picture. This beautiful area of country is called the Canadian valley, and while its soil is a dark, sandy loam, deep and rich, it is not a valley in the usual acceptation of the term, as the river actually flows along what is known as the North Canadian divide, its altitude being over two hundred and twenty feet above the Cimarron river, while Oklahoma City is situated on the highest point in the Territory, between Arkan- sas City and Purcell. - The country surrounding Oklahoma City for fifteen miles, in all directions, offers larger inducements to agriculturists than any other portion of Oklahoma. It is indeed deserving of the name, The Land of the Fair God. “These are the gardens of the desert; these The unshorn fields, boundless and beautiful, For which the speech of England has no name- The prairies! I behold them for the first time, And my heart swells, while the delighted sight Takes in the encircling vastness.” For mercantile or manufacturing industries, no city in the Terri- tory offers such advantages for the employment of capital as does Oklahoma City. It has utilized the North Canadian river, by con- - - --- º ºn Oºººº- . - of Oklahoma. And sº ºil in securiº Territory its natural advant ºn that no a ºn ºn wrest from it the prest of being the great - ºutaº city of the new Southwest. nºn- ºne valley of the North Canadian is ºne metropolis of Oklahoma. Its pop and six thousand, and it is having ºness men being among the wealthiest Territory. Its streets are broad, all of its one hundred feet in width, and are laid ºut ºn which shows that in the rush and exº- ºutlement on the 22d of April, 1889, the - ºt of. e city is built on a level prairie, which ºne level of the river, which affords To the north on a pretty elevation that the east ºf the city, is built up the res. It is a sightly location, and from it tle outlined on either side with groves miles to the west, south, and east. The ºathºd of silver winds its way through ºn is ºwning feature of this charming picture. ºf unº is called the Canadian valley, and while ºn deep and rich it...is not a valley in the us ºn ºf ºn as the river actually flows along what is ºn Nº ºn divide, its altitude being over tº nº ºn love the Cimarºon river, while Oklahoma ºf point in the Territory, between Arkan- - - Oºlahoma City for fifteen miles, in all ºuts to agriculturists thanºy other is indeed deserving of the name. The Land --- -nese are the gardens of the desert, these --ºlds, boundless and beautiful. --------ee-nº-ºngºland nº-ºn- ºne-penoid them for the first time. -----swell-nue the denºted sº -in-tº-enºir-º-º-º-º: ºr manufacturing industries no city in ºne Terri - for the ºt of cººl as doº- utiliº ºne ºn tº º SCENE ON NORTH CANADIAN RIVER NEAR OKLAHOMA CITY. [From Photograph. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 71 structing a canal about five miles in length, into a four thousand horse-power, for the propelling of the machinery of such manufacto- ries as may locate there. The details of this mammoth enterprise will be found in another place in this work. Its transportation facili- ties are equal to those of any other point, and so soon as the railways now under construction from the east and northeast are completed, it will be the railroad center of Oklahoma. Contiguous to it are some of the finest bodies of the different varieties of timber to be found in the Southwest; just the kinds and quality of timber required in the manufacture of furniture and agricultural implements. The best qualities of clay for brick-making, and building stone of good varie- ties, are plentiful within a convenient distance from the city. Like the Oklahoma country in general, its climate is unsurpassed; its religious and educational advantages, which are more fully set forth in another chapter, are a credit to both the city and the Territory. The artisan, merchant, and capitalist may look elsewhere in vain for a more advantageous location in which to employ their money or muscle; there the prudent and industrious man of limited means can soon secure a comfortable home for himself and family; there the money of the capitalist can be employed so as to yield a large increase. With this brief view of Oklahoma City as it is to-day, the curtain of its life of a year and a half will be lifted, in order that the reader may obtain a glimpse of the past history of this proud young metropolis; and as the exciting scenes and incidents that occurred at the opening of the Territory have already been given in another part of this work, the object of this chapter will be served in a description of the set- tlement and organization of the city. As in the case of Guthrie and Kingfisher, there were a large number of people at the station at Oklahoma City at twelve o'clock on that memorable 22d of April. They were there waiting, and when twelve o’clock was announced, the wild and excited waves of humanity rolled westward over the green ſº that all had been gazing on with longing eyes. People came from all directions, from the railroad right-of-way, from ravines and thickets, all joining in the scramble for lots. It was a wild rush, a good-natured mob, two thousand strong, that stood as godfathers at the christening of this young and peerless queen of the Canadian. A little after twelve o'clock, two town-site organizations put in an appearance. The first (the Seminole) commenced a preliminary sur- vey, having prepared a plat before entering the Territory. They commenced their survey south from what is now Main street, and in less than an hour nearly all the lots on that street were taken. From one until two o'clock, several hundred people arrived from the south, 72 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, many coming on horseback and in carriages from the south line of the Territory, a distance of over fifteen miles, which many claimed to have made in one hour to one hour and twenty minutes. A little after two o'clock P. M. trains from the south arrived with nearly three thousand applicants for claims and town lots, which added largely to the confusion and excitement. Nearly everybody came prepared with stakes, flags, and streamers for marking their claims or lots. Long before the people that arrived on the train had been all served with lots, the train from the north pulled into the station, and several hun- dred new recruits jumped from the train and rushed westward, where they joined the ever-surging mass of humanity, all intent on securing homes. A combination composed of men from different points in Kansas, under the name of the Oklahoma Colony, which had organ- ized some weeks before the opening, arrived from the south about 1:30 P. M. Rev. James Murray was president of the colony, and C. P. Walker secretary. This colony sent their teams and carriages to Purcell by rail on Friday, the 19th of April, and on the day follow- ing, its representatives, Rev. Murray and C. P. Walker, left Purcell and drove to the southwest corner of township ten, range three west, and there encamped until twelve o’clock noon on Monday, the 22d, when they were joined by over two hundred members of the colony. Immediately after reaching the town-site the Oklahoma Colony erected a large tent between Main street and Grand avenue, near the east line of Johnson street, where at about three P. M. an election was held, at which Jas. Murray was elected mayor, and C. P. Walker city clerk. This was the first election in Oklahoma City, although it was only in the interest of a faction. While the Oklahoma Colony was hold- ing its election, two other town-site organizations, the Seminole Town and Land Company and the Gainesville Town Company, were ushing their interests forward with vigor. Hon. Sidney Clarke, of K. and General J. B. Weaver, of Iowa, represented the first (the Seminole), and each addressed the people, protesting against the election then in progress by the Oklahoma Colony, and º: for a general meeting of the people on the following evening. The Gaines- ville Town Company did not waste its time in holding an election or making speeches, but went to work platting and surveying the town- site, while those outside of combinations were staking off lots wher- ever a vacant place could be found. The plateau upon which Okla- homa City is now built, for fully half a mile square, was covered with people. All were selecting lots, regardless of streets or lines; and although confusion reigned supreme, good-humor prevailed, and be: yond loud talking there were neither brawls nor strifes. At nightfall SN \\\\·\ ， ！ - - | BLOCK s? Oklahoma City. HENRY WILL *№ſì\\\\|-= ●\!\ №ſae \cºſ（º№\,\|- § ） |- |- |- º º º ， ， - - ſ ſ ， ！ - - º º ： |- |- |- - PETTEE & CO. AND O. T. BASSETT'S BLOCK, Oklahoma City. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 73 on that eventful day, Oklahoma City had a population of fully six thou- sand people. A few of the more provident had tents, and a few board'shanties were seen here and there, yet a large majority of this enterprising pioneer army were compelled to bivouac for the night in the open air. During the evening meetings were held with a view of devising means whereby the conflicting surveys could be satisfac- torily adjusted. - - - On Tuesday morning, the 23d, the population of this embryo city was astir with the early dawn. No time was spent in making elabo- rate toilets; and with unkempt hair and begrimed faces, the vast throng seemed to have resolved itself into a committee of the whole on ways and means for procuring something to eat and drink; and as both edibles and water were scarce and at a premium, this was no easy task, yet it was accomplished with little or no delay, all taking kindly to the open-air-preserved sandwiches imported from Texas and Kansas, and the black sugarless and creamless coffee. The forenoon was devoted by the different town-site organizations in an ineffectual effort to adjust the different surveys made. No sat- isfactory agreement having been reached, at three o'clock in the after- noon the people met in mass convention, over which A. C. Scott, of Kansas, was chosen to preside, while M. H. Woods, of the same State, was elected secretary. After an exciting and tumultuous session of nearly two hours, the convention decided that the harmony and future prosperity of Oklahoma City demanded that a new survey be made, and to that end a committee of fourteen was chosen to superintend the survey and adjust the claims to city lots. The committee chosen was composed of Messrs. O. H. Violet, of California; M. V. Barney, of Illinois; C. W. Price, of Colorado; M. H. Woods and A. C. Scott, of Kansas; W. P. Shaw and John A. Blackburn, of Missouri; J. B. Wheeler, of Michigan; B. N. Woodson and C. T. Scott, of Texas; A. L. Mendlick, of Wisconsin; D. E. Murphy, of Indiana; W. H. Eby and D. J. Moore, of Kansas. The committee immediately organized by electing J. A. Blackburn president, O. H. Violet vice president, J. B. Wheeler treasurer, and M. H. Woods secretary. On Wednesday morning the committee of fourteen commenced work on the township line running east and west on Reno avenue, making that the southern boundary of the city. This procedure was by many con- sidered arbitrary, and drew together such a vast concourse of people that the military was called out to hold the crowd back so that the committee could proceed with its work. Where there was a dispute as to the right to a lot, the committee decided the question, each claimant paying a fee of one dollar. On Thursday it was reported 74. ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, to the commanding officer that the troops were being used to extort money from claimants of lots by the committee, and the guard was immediately withdrawn. While these scenes were being enacted in the southern part of the city there was much excitement and confusion along the Seminole survey, in the northern portion. The supply of lots, owing to the elastic process adopted by many of spreading themselves out in such a manner that one man would cover a dozen lots, was inadequate to meet the demand, and as a result street-corner meetings were com- mon, and bitter denunciations of the scheming town-site companies were freely indulged in. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday were spent by the committee of fourteen in the work of trying to bring harmony and order out of the chaos and confusion that prevailed, without avail. On Saturday it reached Main street, where it encountered the Seminole survey, an opposition that it was powerless to overcome. The people had al- ready settled on this survey, and the committee soon discovered that any attempt to enforce a change in such settlements would only end in riot and bloodshed. The people stood firm. A sub-committee was appointed to aid the surveyors in their work, but the people would not yield. The surveyors would run their lines and set their stakes, only to have them immediately removed by the people. The danger line had been crossed, and the different town-site companies were forced to realize the fact that the will of the unorganized mass of the people, however expressed, must be respected. The leaders paused. There was a look on the faces of those thousands of home- seekers that was portentous of evil. The excitement was at fever heat, and many a hand was seen to grasp the ever-ready weapon. Bloodshed seemed imminent. About 1:30 P.M. the people began to congregate at the corner of what is now Main street and Broadway, and by two o'clock there were fully four thousand on the ground. The right spirit prevailed, and the vast throng resolved itself into a mass meeting, choosing A. C. Scott as its presiding officer. At that meeting a committee of ten was chosen, five from the north side and five from the south side of the city. General Weaver, Captain W. L. Couch, A. C. Scott, Moses Neal, and M. M. Beatty represented the north side, and Judge J. T. Voss, John Wallace, C. P. Walker, M. V. Barney, and C.T. Scott the south side. Through this com- mittee a compromise was effected, by allowing the south side survey up to what was Clark street to stand, and the |. between Clark and Main streets to be laid out in lots, with five commons. This compromise was reported to and adopted by the mass meeting amid --- =s | | Nº º 2 ºr zºrº - - - – - H. OVERHOLSER'S GRAND Avenue HoTEL, Oklahoma City. a nºn-sºº's bºok. - - -oma City. - 2,24227 H - - - - S BLOCK, H. OVER HOLSER Oklahoma Ci THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 75 loud cheering. At that meeting Captain W. L. Couch was elected temporary mayor, and W. P. Shaw recorder. The meeting also adopted a resolution empowering the mayor to call an election for city officers on Wednesday, May 1st, 1889. - During all of the excitement incident to conflicting town-site claims the building-up of the city was pushed forward with great rapidity, every day seeing a wonderful change in the appearance of the place. The first Sunday in the life of Oklahoma City was most properly observed. The Rev. Charles C. Hembree went to the military camp and secured the services of the chief bugler, Joseph Perringer, to traverse the streets of the town and blow his bugle. By this means the people were induced to congregate at the corner of Main and Broadway, where the Rev. Hembree preached them a sermon, taking as a text the following from II Timothy, second chapter: “Thou shalt therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” This was the first sermon preached in the city. Rev. James Murray and W. P. Shaw also organized and conducted a Sunday school ac- cording to the forms of the M. E. Church, on the hill in the northern part of the city, where the Tabernacle is now built. That was the first Sabbath school ever held in Oklahoma City. In compliance with the resolution adopted on the 27th of April, Mayor Couch issued a call for an election of city officers, which took F. on Wednesday, May 1st, and resulted in the selection of the ollowing gentlemen: W. L. Couch, mayor; John A. Blackburn, re- corder; C. M. Quinton, treasurer; O. H. Violet, police judge; Chas. Chamberlain, city engineer; Sidney Clark, E. G. Hudson, John Wal- lace, C. T. Scott, W. É. Wells, and J. E. Jones, councilmen. The election over, the work of building up the city was pushed forward with renewed vigor; operations were carried on day and night, and at the end of three weeks from its first settlement, Okla- homa City had over two thousand buildings enclosed. In order to comply with the act of Congress limiting town-sites to three hundred and twenty acres, South Oklahoma was surveyed on the 23d of April, and on the 27th following the town was organized by the election of the following officers: G. W. Patrick, mayor; W. T. Bodine, recorder; L. P. Ross, city attorney; N. C. Helburn, city marshal; John Cochran, city treasurer; J. P. McKinnis, S. E. Steele, E. W. Sweeney, E. S. Hughs, and W. L. Killebrew, councilmen. 76 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, Early in June, 1889, the Oklahoma City Board of Trade was or- anized, and the following officers elected; H. Overholser, president; ; os. Geary, first vice president; J. P. McKinnis, second vice presi- dent; W. H. Ebey, secretary; and T. M. Richardson, treasurer. The board had a membership of sixty-four, and included most of the lead- ing business men of the city. It has been, and still is, an important factor in developing the resources of that enterprising city. On the 11th of November, 1889, Mayor Couch tendered his resig- nation, a step that was rendered necessary in order to preserve his rights as a homesteader. Under the circumstances the city council accepted the resignation, and the Hon. Sidney Clark, president of the council and acting mayor, issued a call for a special election, which was held on the 27th of November. Two candidates, Hon. H. Over- holser and Dr. A. J. Beale, were placed in nomination for mayor, and after a very enthusiastic and exciting campaign, Dr. Beale was de- clared elected. The seats of Councilmen J. E. Jones and W. C. Wells, of the sec- ond ward, being vacant, Mayor Beale, on the 18th of December, called a special election to fill such vacancies, to be held on the 30th of December. This met with bitter º and to prevent riot and bloodshed, United States Marshal R. C. Walker notified Mayor Beale that the election could not take place, and there was no elec- tion. The statu quo order was issued during the last days of De- cember, and that practically ended the city government. Early in August, 1890, steps were taken to organize under the laws of Nebraska applicable to cities of the second class, and on the 9th of the month, through a proclamation by the Governor, an elec- tion was held, at which J. W. Gault was elected mayor, J. M. Upshaw clerk, Miller treasurer, W. W. Witten police judge, and H. B. Mitchell city attorney. The following gentlemen were also elected members of the city council: F. W. Brandon, J. C. Romick, John Brogan, James Miller, Dr. Patton, Barrows, Dr. J. A. Ryan, Bayles. - One of the important factors in developing the commercial and manufacturing industries of Oklahoma City is its ditch and water power company, which was organized in June, 1889. Its canal, or ditch, which was completed early in the fall of 1890, is five and a half miles in length, five feet in depth, fifteen feet wide at the bottom and thirty feet at the top, and will º an average of two thousand horse power in high water, and one thousand horse power at the low- THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 77 est stage of water. This canal taps the N orth Canadian river five miles west of the city, and has a fall of about thirty feet. The com- pany was incorporated under the laws of Colorado, and commenced active work in November, 1889. - The officers of the company include C. W. Price, president; John Wallace, vice president and general manager; C. P. Walker, secre- tary, and Robert Kincade, treasurer. The directory is composed. of the following gentlemen: Robert Kincade, J. Wallace, C. W. Price, W. H. Ebey, B. N. Woodson, and F. A. Weimer. - - There is already located on the canal the Jones roller flouring mill of four hundred barrels capacity, the electric light plant (which in addition to lighting the city is to furnish power for the street electric railway), two saw mills, etc. There will also be built immediately a cotton-gin and a cotton-press, for which power has been con- tracted for. The advantages to Oklahoma City of this great enter- prise cannot well be overestimated, as it must secure and draw in that direction many of the manufacturing industries that can be loca- ted advantageously in Oklahoma. The gentlemen at the head of this great enterprise are among the most active and far-seeing business men in the Territory. To them Oklahoma City to a large extent owes its high commercial position, and in their hands the Oklahoma City ditch and power undertaking will develop into a grand success. The first sermon in Oklahoma City was preached by the Rev. C. C. Hembree on Sunday, the 28th day of April. It was an open-air service, and took place on the corner of what is now Main street and Broadway. The Rev. James Murray united in marriage W. W. Wilkinson and Miss Mary Moore, on May 16th, 1889. This was the first marriage in Oklahoma City. Mr. and Mrs. J. Cunningham had a daughter born unto them on Sunday, May 26, 1889. This was the first birth in Oklahoma City. August the 3d, 1889, the first church bell ever rung in Oklahoma City pealed forth loud and clear. On June 5th, 1889, the first burglary in Oklahoma City was com- mitted. The victim was Dr. Scott, and the thief unknown. On Sunday, July 7th, 1889, the first baptism took place; the offi- ciating minister was the Rev. T. J. Head, and the person baptised George McKay. Judge O. H. Violet put up the first street lamp in Oklahoma City. The shack of C. B. Newton was destroyed by fire on the 3d of September, 1889. That was the first conflagration in Oklahoma City. 78 ILLUSTRATED ok, Ahowa, The Citizens Bank was the first that did a banking business in Oklahoma City. Conspicuous in the business circles of Oklahoma City, and fore- most in building up and º it what it is, the metropolis of the Territory and the gem of the Canadian valley, is that enterprising gentleman, Mr. H. Overholser. It is no disparagement to the many other enterprising business men of Oklahoma City to say that Mr. Overholser has done more than any one man in building up that city. Besides eight of the best two-story wooden business houses, all com- modious and attractive, he built the Grand Avenue Hotel, a three- story and basement brick structure, by far the most elegant and popular hotel in Oklahoma; the United States Court House, on the northeast corner of Grand avenue and Robinson street, an elegant three-story and basement structure, with a frontage of fifty feet on the first-named thoroughfare, and one hundred feet on the latter, built of brick, with stone trimmings and iron front; the Grand Ave- nue Opera House, on the southeast corner of the same thoroughfares, which is also a magnificent structure, built of brick, with stone trim- mings and iron front, three stories and basement, with a seating capacity of one thousand. Thus it will be seen that he has con- tributed eleven of the best buildings in the Territory, which he has erected at an outlay of over $100,000. Mr. Overholser has not only done more than any other man in building up Oklahoma City, but his confidence in its future growth and his example have infused a spirit of emulation in others, and as a result, in fine buildings and in commercial importance and pros- perity, it stands as the first city in the Territory. Mr. Overholser is a gentleman of broad and liberal business views, and wherever known has the reputation of being the soul of honor and integrity. He is a native of Ohio, and was born in 1849, and after acquiring a common-school education, entered a commercial college at Cincin- nati, from which he graduated in 1866. He commenced his business life as a dry goods merchant at Sullivan, Indiana, where he remained for some ten years. He then went to Colorado, where he engaged in mining until 1887, when he went to Lake Superior and engaged in the iron trade. At the opening of the Territory on the 22d of April, 1889, he located at Oklahoma City, his present home. And as he is one of the chief factors in building up Oklahoma City, the people there have reasons to congratulate themselves on his choice of a loca- tion. It takes just such men as Mr. Overholser to build up towns and cities. ºiſ. H. OVERHOLSER'S OPERA HOUSE, Oklahoma City. - O ------- Oklaho-º. H. OVERHOLSER, Oklahoma City. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 79 CHAPTER VI. OKLAHOMA – THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. “Those graceful groves that shade the plain, Where rivers roll majestic to the main, Whose breast of waters proudly swells Between the banks that bear the vine; And hills all rich with blossom'd trees, And fields which promise corn and wine, And scattered cities crowning these Whose fair white walls along them shine.” “Oke-lahomea!” (beautiful land) cried the Indian maiden, as her delighted eyes for the first time swept over the broad expanse of the charming landscape of the Indian country, over a century ago. “The land of the fair god!” exclaimed enraptured civilization, as it gazed upon the same charming handiwork of nature, “where all the mead- ows, wide unrolled, were green and silver, green and gold.” There is no country of an equal area on this continent where nature has more lavishly bestowed her gifts than in Oklahoma. It is a land of poetry and song; a land of fragrant flowers and delicious fruits; a land of bright-hued song-birds, making forest, hill, and plain melodious with their sweet symphonies; a land of laughing rills, cool sparkling springs, and shady dells, “where the tender, sweet arbutus trails her blossom-clustered vines.” It is a land where the soft southern winds come ladened with exquisite odors from “Banks that slope to the southern sky, Where languid violets love to die.” It is a land whose caressing air warms into life and maturity the rich, purple grapes of the hillside, and the snowy cotton and golden corn of the valleys and plains. It is the home of the fair god, and the future Mecca of refined civilization. Words cannot paint the beauties of the Indian country. It is a Yºst park formed and lavishly decorated by the artistic hand of nature. Here and there are soft, purling streams, outlined with luxuriant tropical foliage that meets overhead in a canopy, interwoven with ivy and honeysuckles, whose crimson blossoms shine amid the green leaves like bright tongues of flame. The swelling prairie land is an mmense garden of dainty wild blossoms nestling in dewy beds of green, forming a picturesque view of landscape scenery. In the Spring while yet the north country is clasped in the icy embrace of Winter, here “the meadows roll and swell in billowy waves, bearing 80 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, like a white-speckled foam upon their crests a sea of daisies, with here and there a floating patch of crimson clover or a golden haze of buttercups,” which “By dimple brook and fountain brim Uplift in praise their little glowing hands.” Sweet blue-bells, “at whose gentle birth the sod scarce heaved,” enrich with their slender cup blossoms the banks of sparkling streams and rivulets. In midsummer and autumn nature assumes a more gorgeous attire, and the green carpet of the earth is flecked with dashes of scarlet, urple, and gold. At this most delightful season of the year, the ndian summer, * The lands are lit With all the autumn blaze of golden rod, And everywhere the purple asters nod.” That portion of the Indian Territory opened to settlement by the act of March 2d, 1889, lies between the 97th and 98th degrees of longi- tude, and between the 34th and 36th degrees of latitude north. The entire Indian Territory is four hundred and eighty miles east and west, and varies from fifty to two hundred and twenty miles north and south. It lies between 33 deg. 30 min. and 37 deg. 30 min, north latitude, and 94 deg. 20 min. and 100 deg. west longitude. It is bounded on the north by Kansas and Colorado, on the east by Mis- souri and Arkansas, on the south by Texas, and on the west by the Texas Pan-Handle and New Mexico. The entire Indian Territory has an area of 68,269 square miles, or 44,149,264 acres. The total number of Indians occupying this vast area of territory is 81,264, of which the Cherokees number 21,469; the Creeks, 15,000; Choctaws, 16,000; Seminoles, 2,800; Chickasaws, 6,000; Cheyennes, 4,300; Arapahoes, 2,384; Kiowas 1,264; Wichitas, 252; Towaconies, 164: Keechies, 84; Wacos, 56; Penetheka Comanches, 165; Delawares, 82; Coddos, 553; Apaches, 350; Comanches, 1,466; Osages, 1,950; Kaws, 279; Quapaws, 204; Ottoes and Missouris, 280; Pawnees, 1,246; Poncas, 564; Nez Perces, 346; Senecas, 320; Wyandottes, 300; Sacs and Foxes, 440; Iowas, 85; Pottawatomies, 480; Shawnees, 721; Kickapoos, 418. Of fractional tribes there are also 59 Miamis, 144 Peas and Piankeshaws, 98 Modocs, and 115 Ottawas. All of these tribes and fractional tribes, except the five civilized nations, which embrace the Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chicka- saws, and Seminoles, are occupants of the Territory by Executive orders, and, as will be seen in another chapter, a considerable por- tion of the lands so occupied has already been ceded to the Govern- ºr; - - - T º º- c - º E- 2. -- - ºn the early settlers of nial government ºlutionary army, while his tº º of eighteen, Mr. Clarke orcester, Massachusetts. A several publications, and -- concise, and forcible write- - and proprietor of the South ºked ability for five years. ºne ºree Soil party casting his 1852. In 1856 he was a warm In 1858 he moved to Kansas soon became actively engaged in as elected to the legislature, where the leading men of that State - Assistant Adjutant General by ºn chairman of the Republican º' a presidential ºn of 1804, the re-election of Mr. Lincoln, and ºr he was elected to Congress, and in in 1868. He was again before tº º, but owing to his bitter hostility In the winter of 1870 he was dº ey for the United States Senate legislature from Lawrence of whº Clarke became deeply interested anoma to settlement. In his publi- ºnced the theory that the subjug- tion of the Indian Territory to viºlization would be a vast benefit - the surrounding States and the consequent the destruction of to contend that the deplorable condition that e proper laws—the complete would have given the move truest friend Oklahoma ever early settlers of this Territo. ional government. by the modification of atmospheric condition- rease of the rainfall, and to a great extent a winds ºne was one of the tº of the Indians should be bºok- -- ºl- ºn re-rºom ºne ºn- ºned ºn lºss enter- ºn----- w nºn- -o-ºn- |----establis- --- º º & § NS N & Qº NS& § §§ & ºSN §§§ & º º & §§§ § §§§ º Sºº-ºº-º-º-º: HON, SIDNEY CLARKE, Oklahoma City. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 109 up by the strong arm of the Government; that the lands should be taken in severalty in small tracts, and the surplus opened to white settlement on the homestead principle. When Caplain D. L. Payne commenced to agitate the Oklahoma question, Mr. Clarke saw in the movement the entering wedge des- fined to destroy tribal barbarism, and he believed it would be the way that would lead to the establishment of civil government and to found a new American commonwealth. The result thus far achieved has demonstrated his sagacity. He was the confidential friend of Captain Payne and Captain W. L. Couch in their long struggle in behalf of Oklahoma. While he believed the Oklahoma lands were in every "...". sense a part of the public domain since the treaties of 1866, he urged that legislation was the most practical method to open the country, and that gov- ernment should go hand in hand with the advance of the pioneers. After the death .# Payne, and at the request of influential friends in Congress, he formulated, in connection with Captain Couch, the bill introduced into the Forty-eighth Congress by Gen. James B. Weaver, of Iowa, and Senator Charles H. VanWyck, of Nebraska. This was in substance what was known as the “Springer Bill,” which passed the House of Representatives in the succeeding Congress, but was defeated in the Senate by the powerful influence of the cattle syndi- cates. - From December, 1885, up to the close of the Fiftieth Congress, Mr. Clarke was prominent at Washington in laboring to secure Okla- homa legislation. Before the Committees on Territories, with indi- vidual members and senators, and in the metropolitan press, he urged the passage of the measure with all the energy he possessed. His wide acquaintance with the public men of the country, and his exten- sive knowledge of Indian affairs in the Territory, made his services of great value. In all the changing phases of the controversy he was never discouraged, and no hour was so dark but what he saw in the near future the assurance of final victory. - - In the last hours of the session of 1889 he assisted in drafting the amendment to the Indian appropriation bill which opened Oklahoma § settlement—the first step in building here a great and prosperous tate. - Mr. Clarke is richly endowed with all the qualifications essential in a great leader and statesman. His large executive abilities and exten- sive knowledge of legislation render him an invaluable factor in the formation of a new State. A brilliant orator, “great of heart, mag- nanimous, courtly, courageous,” he is one of the most effective pub- 110 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, lic speakers of the age. The inspiration of an intellect brightened by the highest culture and a quick discernment of the public pulse, together with his matchless oratory, enable him to reach the hearts of his audience with any subject that he desires to present. In Con- gress he was a leader among leaders, a statesman among the clearest and most profound minds of America, and wielded a powerful influ- ence in the shaping of Western legislation. Mr. Clarke was married at Seneca, Kansas, in 1860, to Miss Hen- rietta Ross, by whom he had four children, two sons and two daugh- ters. Miss Ross was one of the most accomplished young ladies among the early settlers of Kansas. - Sidney Clarke, jr., is a resident of Oklahoma City, and is one of the brightest and most promising young men in the Territory. George Lincoln, the second son, is a postal clerk on the Seneca & Burlington railway. Miss Lulu Louisa and Miss Ella Maria recently graduated at the State Normal School at Worcester, Massachusetts, and are at present residing at Worcester with Mr. Clarke's sister. Mrs. Clarke died in 1873, and in 1881 he was united in marriage to Miss Dora Goulding, of Topeka, Kansas, by whom he had one child, Miss Josie, now five years old. Mrs. Clarke is a woman of fine education, and has won the esteem of all for her kindness to those in distress among her neighbors and friends. Some years ago, at Seneca, she went, against the entreaties of friends, into a family who were sick with small-pox, nursed them for six weeks, and, cut of from assistance by a rigid quarantine, buried four of the family at midnight with the assistance of a single person. CAPTAIN W. L. COUCH. “His signal deeds and prowess high Demand no pompous eulogy. Ye saw his deeds! - Why should their praise in verse be sung 2 The name that dwells on every tongue No minstrel needs.” The 22d of April, 1890, the first anniversary of the opening of the Fair God land to civilization, was a day of mourning in Oklahoma City. One week before the brave and gallant Captain W. L. Couch had been cruelly shot down while "..."; his homestead. After lingering for a few days upon the borders 9 the great unknown, his heroic spirit burst the fetters that bound it and sailed away upon eternity’s sea. He died on Monday, April 21st, 1890, and was laid to rest the following day upon the beautiful homestead where he had THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 111 hoped to pass his declining years, and for which he had endured the hardships of a pioneer life and braved the opposition of the United States |...}. An immense concourse of people attended the funeral of the dead hero. The Methodist church was filled to its utmost capacity with the grief-stricken friends and relatives. At the close of an impressive service the sorrowful audience repaired to the grounds adjacent to the church, where its numbers were aug- mented by fully five thousand people from both the city and adjoin- ing country. Here the Hon. Sidney Clarke, an intimate friend and co-worker of the martyred Couch, paid the following eloquent and pathetic tribute to his memory: Death is an impenetrable mystery. To-day we are in the bloom of health; to- morrow we step out into the great hereafter. Like the endless cycles of time, the generation of men march with measured tread from the cradle to the grave. But a few days ago I clasped the warm hand of our dead friend in mine, and with mingled hopes and fears bade him good-bye. Yesterday I returned to find him in the embrace of death, and to-day I come to join with you in honoring his memory and watering with tears his new-made grave. But oh, my friends, how feeble is human language to express the anguish of this hour! Remembering the heroic spirit of him whose mortal frame we this day bury beneath the soil he loved so well, gladly would I say something to cheer the hearts that are bruised and bleeding with unutterable sorrow. But well I know that none but Him who holds in His keeping the mysteries of the universe can assuage the grief caused by this sad calamity. Not only in the sacred circle of his family and friends—to us who knew him but to love him—but to millions throughout the country, the story of W. L. Couch—the story of the life now gone—will be a lesson, a poem, a tragedy. It speaks to us of bravery, of generosity, of charity, of integrity, of sincerity of purpose, of the royalty of truth, of the sanctity of friendship, of the nobility of manhood, of love and hope, of joy and sorrow, of triumphs and of adversities. It tells us that a noble purpose in any life—unyielding for the right—will mas- ter the most difficult problems, and snatch the grandest victories for mankind from the jaws of defeat. It tells us of a man of undaunted courage, and who knew no fear, was generous to a fault, and that he gave up his own life rather than take in self-defense the life of another. No man knew better than Captain Couch the dangerous character of his as- sailant; no man knew better than he the sacred right of self-defense in all civil- ized society; no man was more capable of defending his life, and yet so great was his magnanimity that he carefully evaded any act which would put him in the position of the aggressor. I cannot now speak in detail of the life of Captain Couch. Born in the State of North Carolina in 1850, he moved to Johnson county, Kansas, in 1866, and four years later settled at Douglas in Butler county. In 1880 he became fully identified with Payne's Oklahoma colony, and after the death of Capt. Payne 112 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, in 1884, he was elected president. Through all the years that followed, up to the spring of 1889, you know with what pertinacity, with what unwearied dili- gence, he led the advance guard of civilization against the craft and barbarism which had closed Oklahoma to settlement. To the world at large he was deemed the leader of a forlorn hope, but to him and to his associates it was the path of duty and the way to victory. He believed then and to the day of his death, as I believe now, that Oklahoma has been in every proper sense a part of the public domain since the treaties of 1866. But mindful of the interpretation of the law by the Executive Department of the Government, in December, 1885, he went to Washington and commenced the great work before Congress which bore its fruit one year ago to-day in the opening of Oklahoma to settlement. Alas, that on this anniversary of that notable event, and on the day when the American Congress, aroused to action by the movement of which he was the conspicuous and trusted leader, has crowned this beautiful territory with the majesty of civil government, he is not here to witness the great event! For more than five years I have been intimately associated with Captain Couch in the work he had in hand, and I know how great were his efforts and earnest his purpose to dedicate Oklahoma to free homes and to a free people. I know there was no reserve in his friendship for me, and I know there was none in mine for him. If I ever looked into any man's heart; if I ever compre- hended the value of courage, sincerity and integrity, in human character; if I ever correctly divined the motives and objects of a single human being, I did in the case of my dead friend. It is not too much to say that he was made of the material of which heroes are made. He looked into the future with the grasp of the most comprehensive statesman. He saw before other men saw the future State of Oklahoma, rich in all the attributes of wealth, civilization, and progress. He saw with prophetic eye the millions of happy homes that will dot this fair land in the years to come. He comprehended the transcendent results which, under the beneficent influence of our free institutions, will follow the founding here in the center of the continent of a new American State. Its vast possibilities were as plain to his vision as the rays of a beautiful morning sun. He appreciated the majestic forces of christian civilization marching on and on to the subjugation of a continent. He exemplified the spirit of Whittier's poem: “Each rude and jostling fragment Soon its fitting place shall find; The raw material of a State, Its muscle and its mind! And westward still, the star that leads The new world in its train Has tipped with fire the icy spurs, Of many a mountain chain.” The name and fame of Capt. W. L. Couch will be indissolubly connected with the history of Oklahoma. Only those who did not know the man will ever question the purity of his motives or the grandeur of his character. If there be those who would have deprived him and his family a home on Oklahoma soil after his long and weary struggle for the right, after his sacrifices and suf- ----Uº. ºn as --- 112 lºº- in 1884, he was spring of 1889. gence, he led t which had clo deemed the lea path of duty aſ death, as I belie the public dom: of the law by th he went to Was bore its fruit C Alas, that on th American Cong conspicuous al majesty of civil For more ti Couch in the W earnest his pur] I know there W none in mine fº hended the val ever correctly d in the case of n the material of grasp of the m the future Stat and progress. dot this fair la results which, u the founding h Its vast possib morning Sun. marching on a spirit of Whitti ºn all---that followed ºn ------iºn what unweariº - the craft and bar - the world at large -- tº his associates it - -ed then and to the day ºn in every proper sense -- ºut mindful of the interº - ºne Government, in December -- great work before Congress ºne opening of Oklahoma to set -notable event, and on the day º' ºn by the movement of which he as ºwned this beautiful territory - -or here to witness the great event - been intimately associated with - and I know now great were his eº- -ona to free homes and to a re- endship for me, and I know tº - into any man's heart it ever and integrity in human chara- objects of a single human being ºn too much to say that he was nº up looked into the future - ºsman. Ile saw before other nº in the attributes of wealth civil ºne millions of happy homes tº He comprehended the transºn ce of our tree institutions will nument of a new America tº ision as the rays of a nº-ºil forces of christian civil-tº- ontinent He exemplº- tº nº The name a with the history question the pu be those who Wº soil after his lor Ind- - at lead- issolubly - - - HON. CHAS. MANSUR. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 113 ferings in behalf of the people of Oklahoma of to-day and of to-morrow, after his battle to the death with monopoly and fraud, let them be left to the uni- versal execration of that portion of mankind who despise ingratitude and cover with immortal honor the unselfish heroes of the human race. * * * In his last hours he had no word of reproach for the destroyer of his life. When the grim messenger of death held him in an uncertain grasp, he was as calm and fearless as when in the best of health, >k ºk × Brave, generous, heroic friend! Noble in life, true to duty and to humanity, what a sublime lesson you have left to us, and to those who come after us, in the presence of death! We enroll your name with the heroes of this age and of all the ages who have dared to suffer and to die for principle, for friends, for country, for the good of their fellow-men. For such noble spirits there is no death: “There is no death, the stars go down, To rise upon some fairer shore; And bright in Heaven's jeweled crown, They shine forever more. “There is no death, an angel form, Walks on the earth with silent tread, And bears our best loved ones away, And then we call them dead.” WILLIAM M. SPRINGER. > William M. Springer, of Illinois, the father of the Oklahoma bill, than whom no man either in or out of Congress has done more towards opening the Indian country to settlement, was born in Sulli- van county, Indiana, in 1836. In 1848, with his parents, he removed to Illinois. He graduated at the Indiana State University, Bloom- ington, in 1858; studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1859; was secretary of the State constitutional convention of Illinois in 1862; was a member of the State legislature of Illinois in 1871–72; was elected to the Forty-fourth, Forty-fifth, Forty-sixth, Forty-sev- enth, Forty-eighth, Forty-ninth, and Fiftieth Congresses, and was re- elected to the Fifty-first Congress as a Democrat–21,364 votes, against 18,450 votes for Charles Kerr, Republican, and 1,520 votes for Lafe Swing, Prohibitionist. Mr. Springer is a brilliant lawyer, an able statesman, and the best and truest friend that Oklahoma ever had. HON, JOHN M. ALLEN. - Hon. John M. Allen, Congressman from the First district of Mis- sissippi, another of Oklahoma's champions, was born in Tishomingo county, Mississippi, July 8th, 1847; received a common school educa- tion up to his enlistment as a private in the Confederate army, in -8 114. ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, which he served through the war; after the cessation of hostilities, he attended the law school at the Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, and graduated in law in 1870 at the University of Mis- sissippi; commenced the practice of his profession at Tupelo, Lee county, Mississippi, in 1870; in 1875, was elected District Attorney for the First judicial district of Mississippi; served a term of four ears, and retired from that office; was elected to the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses, and was re-elected to the Fifty-first Congress as a Democrat, receiving 11,353 votes, against 1,732 votes for J. M. Bynum, Republican. HON. SAMUEL R. PETERS. To the Hon. Samuel R. Peters, Member of Congress from the Sev- enth district of Kansas, the people of Oklahoma owe a debt of grat- itude for the valuable aid he rendered in opening Oklahoma, as also for securing for it territorial legislation. He is a native of Ohio, and was born in Pickaway county in 1842. He received a common school education and about three years of a collegiate education; en- listed in the army in the fall of 1861, and was mustered out in June, 1865, having held successively the offices of sergeant, second lieu tenant, first lieutenant, adjutant, and captain in the Seventy-third O. W. W. I.; was elected in the fall of 1874 to the State Senate of Kansas; was appointed in March, 1875, Judge of the Ninth judicial district; in the fall of 1875 was elected to the same judgeship with- out opposition, and re-elected in 1879; was elected to the Forty: eighth Congress as Congressman-at-large from Kansas; was elected to the Forty-ninth and Fiftieth Congresses, and was re-elected to the Fifty-first Congress as a Republican, receiving 38,012 votes, against 22,759 votes for Charles S. Ebey, Democrat; 9,356 votes for S. H. Snyder, Union Labor candidate, and 1,335 votes for E. W. Beeson. Prohibitionist. ISAAC. S. STRUBLE. One of the most effectual workers in º for Ok- lahoma was the Hon. Isaac S. Struble, of Iowa, Representative from the Eleventh district of Iowa. Mr. Struble was born at Fredericks- burg, Virginia, November 3d, 1843, and received his education at the Iowa State University. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and was first elected to the Forty-eighth Congress; was re-elected, and has continued a member to the present time. - ------ - |- ~ |- |- --- -O- 114. -------- Hoºſa, which he atte Tennes sissipp county for the }. iftiet a Den Bynum the cessation of nº ºland University in - 1870 at the University ºf his profession at Tun 1875, was elected District Mississippi; served a term nº was elected to the Forty-ni re-elected to the Fifty-first Con Lº votes, ºins 1,732 votes for - SAMU. Tº PETERS. Peters, ºmber of Congress from ºne people ºf Oklahoma owe a debt here in opening Oklahoma a lºtion. He is a native coºl in 1842. Hº received a ºne is of a collegiate educati ºn of ºil and was mustered out ºvel offices of sergeant, seco ºut ºnd captain in the Seven ºn ºn of 1874 to the State 8 Maº 1875, Judge of the Ninth ºn was lººted to the same judges tº 1879, was elected to the man large from Kansas, was ºn Cºngresses, and was re-elect ºn receiving 88.012 votes ºn Democrat 9,856 votes at and 1,385 votes for E. W. To enth d itude : for se and wº school listed 1865, tenant O. W. Kansa distric Out O eight! to the Fifty- 22,75 Snyde Prohib lahon the E burg, the I was f conti - Sºubiº. kers in providing legislation ºuble of Iowa, Represent ºn Struble was born at ºr lºº, and received his edu admitted to the bar in - Congress; was re-elected |- ºn- © ¿№，---- |-§§ ```` № BISHOP W. PERKINS. HON THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 115 CHARLES H. MANSUR. There are few men whose names are more intimately connected with or who have done more towards the opening of Oklahoma to settlement than Congressman Charles H. Mansur, from the Second district of Missouri. He was a warm and ever vigilant champion for the people in every and all measures brought before Congress, from the time the first bill was introduced by Congressman Springer, until the act of May 14th, 1890, organizing the Territory, became a law. The people of Oklahoma owe Mr. Mansur a debt of gratitude for the warm advocacy of their cause, and his name will always re- main green in their memories. Mr. Mansur was born in Philadelphia March 6th, 1835; received a common school and academic education at Lawrence Academy, Groton, Massachusetts; studied law, and was admitted to the bar at Richmond, Missouri, August 30th, 1856; in 1856 removed to Chillicothe, where he has since resided and prac- ticed law; has been a member of the board of education of Chillicothe for eight years; was a member of the Democratic State Central Com- mittee from 1864 till 1868; was a delegate to the Democratic Na- tional Convention at New York in 1868; was Prosecuting Attorney of Livingston county from 1875 till 1879; was a delegate-at-large to the Democratic National Convention at Chicago in 1884; in 1872 was the joint nominee for Congress of the Democracy and Liberal Republicans in the Tenth district, and was again the nominee of the Democracy in the same district in 1880; was elected to the Fiftieth Congress, and was re-elected to the Fifty-first Congress as a Demo- crat, receiving 21,608 votes, against 16,949 votes for A. C. Eubanks, Republican; 1,328 votes for Larkin Wise, Union Labor candidate, 265 votes for O. M. Shanklin, Prohibitionist, and 2 votes scattering. HON. M. M. MURDOCK. Hon. M. M. Murdock, the philosophical, far-seeing, and able editor- in-chief of that popular Western journal, the Wichita Eagle, has earned a warm place in the hearts of the people of Oklahoma for his untiring zeal and influence in urging the opening of the Indian country to civilization, as also for the many kind and encouraging words he has tendered them in the many struggles and hardships incident to pioneer life. As a politician, Mr. Murdock is one of the broad-gauged, conservative men of the West. A Republican in the fullest meaning of the word, his devotion to the interests of the people never wavers. Under the able guidance of his pen the Eagle stands foremost among the progressive journals of the country. Its icono- 116 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, clastic sword is never allowed to rust in its scabbard when political idols bar the way to the advancement of the people's interests. Mr. Murdock is a native of Virginia, and was born in 1837. At the age of eight years, with his parents, he moved to Lawrence county, Ohio, where he received a sound and practical education in the high schools of that State. In the winter of 1856–7 he came West and located at Topeka, where his first vote was cast, and that vote was against the adoption of the Lecompton constitution. He was present at the inauguration of the first Free State legislature of Kansas, having marched to Lecompton with a military organization of young men, known as the Free State Boys, of which he was corporal. In 1860 he took a claim some six miles from the city of Emporia. In the year following, in company with his brother, he took a load of merchandise to the gold mines at Pike's Peak, where he remained for some months. Having learned the art of printing before coming West, on his return from the mountains he accepted a situation on the Lawrence Republican, which he afterwards resigned to accept a position on the Tribune of the same city. It was during his connection with the last-named journal that the never-to-be-forgotten raid on Lawrence was made by Quantrell. On the night of the raid Mr. Murdock and Mr. John Speer, son of the proprietor of the Tribune, had attended a meeting at the Eldridge House, and as they were returning to the Tribune office they were fired upon by a detachment of the raiders, and young Speer was instantly killed. Mr. Murdock took in the situation at a glance, and after assuring himself that his young companion was beyond human aid, he sprang to his feet and ran across the street and escaped into a newly made cellar opposite from the Eldridge House, where he witnessed the bloody massacre of that memorable night. In September, 1863, Mr. Murdock established the Osage County Chronicle, and in the winter of 1863–4 he was appointed a Governº ment special agent, and afterwards enrolling officer for the counties of Morris, Osage, Lyon, Wabaunsee, and Chase. In 1864 he wº secretary of the State convention, and docket clerk of the Senate in 1865; in 1864 he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel by Governor Carney, and immediately thereafter organized the Santa Fe battalion, which he commanded at the battles of Westfort and Little Blue. In 1865 he was elected clerk of Osage county, and was also secretary of the State convention that year. #. 1868 he was elected to the State Senate from Coffey and Osage counties, and was re-elected in 1870. He sold the Chronicle in 1871, and in the following year established THE LAND of THE FAIR god. 117 the Wichita Eagle, now one of the most influential and widely read journals in the Southwest. In the fall of 1872 he was re-elected to the State Senate, and was president pro tem. of that body at the opening of the session. In 1874 he received 65 votes for Lieutenant- Governor, a position that was entirely unsolicited. In the last-men- tioned year he was appointed postmaster at Wichita. From 1872 to 1876 he was regent of the State Normal School. In 1879 he was re- appointed postmaster for four years. CHAPTER VIII. SOCIETY IN OKLAHOMA. “Sweeter none than voice of faithful friends; Sweet always, sweetest heard in loudest storms.” —Pollock. “The music that can quickest reach And cure all ill is cordial speech.” -- —Emerson. “Our friendship to mankind may admit variety as does our conversation; and as by nature we are made sociable to all, so we are friendly; but as all can- not actually be of our society, so neither can all be admitted to a special actual friendship.”–Taylor. Society is the result of education and refinement, and has its or- ganization through a desire for companionship. Isolation from soci- ety results in a depression of spirits, retards the expansion of the mind, and inclines mankind to morbidness and melancholy. The longing for the sight of a familiar face, for the grasp of a friendly hand, when one is among strangers, is a composite of the nature of mankind. Voltaire says, and says truly, that “society is as ancient as the world.” Man was not destined to live for himself alone. He is “linked in sympathy to his fellow-man, like the keys of an organ.” As the rose is nourished through its many leaf surfaces, and breathes its pleasant odors on the air, so mental vigor is nourished in its sym- pathy with the common interests of society. Emerson declares that “our chief want in life is somebody who shall make us do what we gan. This is the service of a friend. With him we are easily great. There is a sublime attraction in him to whatever virtue is in us. How he flings wide the doors of existence! What questions we ask 118 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, of him; what an understanding we have; how few words are needed! It is the only real society.” “A day for toil, an hour for sport, But for a friend is life too short.” Refinement, education, and society are the three elements that unite in framing the character and reputation of all communities. It is no more a truism that “education forms the common mind” than that society forms the character and reputation of communities. An Eastern writer says: “One of the noted societies of olden days was the one formed for the cultivation of self-denial, and its acme was reached when it threw to the fishes its ‘cup that cheers but not inebriates,’ and put into American history the only detailed account of a social event. The costumes worn were neither lovely, graceful, nor elegant; no smilax twined about the torches; the songs were no doubt whoops, but the entertainers could well lay claim to having the most unique entertainment of the season and of all time for that mat- ter, when they had finished ‘The Boston Tea Party.” Society in Oklahoma, and more especially in the capital city, in its rapid development, its refining influences, and its advanced culture, is one of the most remarkable instances ever witnessed in the growth of civilization. One can scarcely realize that in the brief space of time that has elapsed since the opening of the Territory to settle- ment such advancement were possible. And the wonder is in- creased when the remote and isolated condition of the Territory prior to April 22d, 1889, is considered. Many miles away from the homes of civilization, its undulating plains, wooded hills, and fertile valleys, all forming one of nature's most lovely panoramas, were the home of the Indian. The transition is veritably wonderful. Now society is composed of elements drawn from the four points of the compass. Eastern exclusiveness is merged in Western democracy, while North- ern conservatism joins Southern hospitality in a spirit of harmony and congeniality not found in any other locality. It will be remembered that while there was a city of 10,000 peo- ple in April, 1889, it was not until July that the wives and daughters throughout the country whose husbands and fathers had braved the perils of a pioneer life began to arrive, and their presence brought about a marked change in the observance of many social ameni- ties that had heretofore been ignored. There were many difficulties encountered in the formation of society that are notably absent in older and well-established cities. All met on a plane of universal equality. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 119 For the first time in the history of society there were no class dis. tinctions. Exclusiveness was unknown. The unwritten law of so- cial caste was not recognized. But it was not long before social accomplishments, character, culture, and refinement drew a line of demarkation, and one's social status became as thoroughly recognized as in any Eastern city. The first attempt at organization was a reception given to Con- ressmen C. H. Mansur, W. M. Springer, J. M. Allen, C. S. Baker, º W. Perkins, and S. R. Peters, who visited Oklahoma on the 16th of October, 1889. The reception was given under the immediate supervision of the following committee of ladies: Mrs. W. F. Blocker, Mrs. Finley M. Hotchkiss, Mrs. T. J. Hart, Mrs. O. V. Hays, Mrs. H. C. Nicholson, Mrs. A. H. Meal, Mrs. J. B. Howard, Mrs. Harry Colton, Mrs. Chas. H. Filson, Mrs. Geo. E. Ford, Mrs. J. M. Galloway, Mrs. W. F. Kinkade, Mrs. F. R. Lucas, Mrs. W. P. Meadows, Mrs. R. Patton, Mrs. Harry Ruffner, Mrs. J. C. Tutt, Mrs. W. F. Weyburn, Mrs. T. A. Stockslager, Mrs. W. H. Meeker, Mrs. B. F. Perkins, Mrs. A. N. J. Crook, Mrs. J. M. Brumbaugh, Mrs. T. R. Palmer, Mrs. J. L. Rock, Miss Mackie Jemison, Miss Galloway, Miss Roberts, and Miss Hornbarger. And in point of elegant surroundings, and cultivated, self-possessed, well-attired men and women, the event was a happy surprise, not only to the people of Guthrie, but to the distinguished guests, who were received by the ladies in elegant evening toilettes that would have graced a Washington reception. It was currently reported at the time that a distinguished Senator, noted for his brilliant wit and un- disguised admiration for ladies, who wore upon the memorable occa- sion a plain business suit and flannel shirt, was overwhelmed with confusion to find himself the partner at supper of a beautiful, high- bred woman, who wore, if not a creation of the renowned Worth, a toilette at once the perfection of artistic beauty and richness.” The State Capital of October 16th, 1889, gave the following ac- count: The apartments were lavishly decorated with autumn flowers, grasses, and trailing vines. The banisters of the broad stairway were draped in bright bunting, caught at intervals with clusters of brilliant flowers in pretty relief against a setting of green foliage. The newel posts were crowned with luxu- riant plants; baskets of flowers and grasses hung pendent from the hall chan- deliers. The entrance to the reception room in which the eminent visitors *Mrs. O. W. Hays, oldest daughter of the late Major Downs, of Kansas, a member of the recep- tion committee, was a frequent assistant during her girlhood days at the White House receptions during the Hayes administration. 120 ILLUSTRATED OR LA HOMA, received their guests was festooned with flags and bunting. In this apart- ment the decorations were very elaborate. About the walls were festoons of tri-colored bunting, held in place by clusters of wild flowers. The lace hang- ings at the windows were outlined with sprays of flowers and leaves. The center table under the chandelier was ornamented with antique vases, over- flowing with dainty blossoms. In the dining apartment, refreshments of ices, fruit, and cake were served from small tables draped in snowy linen, and deco- rated in the center with pyramids of fruit and flowers. From this nucleus began the crystallization or formation of society in Guthrie. Social clubs of various kinds were organized; card par- ties, luncheons, receptions, musicales, and high teas followed each other in rapid succession during the next six months; and while they served to relieve the tedium º a long winter, while the people were waiting for Congress to give them laws, they also served to bring society people together, and thus cement in ties of friendship the cul- tured, who had left pleasant homes and congenial friends for the pur- pose of building a new home in Oklahoma. Perhaps it was the more appreciated as no one expected to enjoy here the social relations they had left in their old homes, for some time at least, and the pleasure experienced in meeting friends in every way congenial was undisguised. Among the different clubs organ- ized during the winter was the Calumet, a social and literary society of young people, which had the honor of being the first club organ- ized in the Territory; the Arion Dancing Club, formed of young men; the Pioneer Progressive Euchre Club; the Guthrie Whist Club; the North Side Euchre Club, and the Ladies’ Social and Literary Society, composed of twenty-five married ladies, who met each Friday after- noon for the study of music and literature. Among the more notable social events of the winter that were dis- tinctive for elegance, grace, and brilliancy, was an afternoon recep- tion given by Mrs. C. M. Barnes, wife of Receiver Barnes, of the United States Land Office, to seventy-five ladies, who will always re- member the occasion as a pleasant one in Guthrie's social history. Another equally delightful event was a complimentary reception #. by Judge and Mrs. T. J. Lowe to the members of the Ladies' iterary Society and its friends. The State Capital of that date mentions the occasion as follows: There have been many happy receptions given in the brief social history of this city, but never one that so fully represented the best element of society: and to Judge and Mrs. Lowe, who entertained their guests with the hospitality that finds birth and culture in Southern homes, is due the pleasure of this much-desired event in our society. * * * The decorations were exquisite -- -- º - ºu Gº Tº - ºut-le. 120 received thei ment the dº tri-colored ings at th center table flowing wi fruit, and rated in t From in Guthr ties, lunch other in in served to waiting f society pe tured, who pose of b, Perhap here the socia time at le. Way Congº - ized during of young pe ized in the lº the Pioneer N orth Sidº composed noon for th Among tinctive fo tion giver United St. member th Another equ #. by J º iterary S. mentions t There ha this city, bu and to Judg that finds b much-desire TT. T. IIST 12 A 7" E. In ºn tº 4 Trº ºf ld ºn. wild of flowers and nºted with antique artment, refreshnº raped in snowy line flowers. - vation or formation inds were organized and high teas foll ext six months; and winter, while the nº laws, they also served ent in ties of friendship a congenial friends to O-º- ed as no one expected in their old homes ended in meeting friend mong the different club met a social and litera nor of being the first ºn cing Club, formed of you in the Guthrie Whist dies' Social and Literary lies, who met each ºriº --tº- ents of the winter that illiancy was ºn aftern- ºne of Receive Barn five ladies who will in Guthrie's social was a complimentary - ºne members of ºne º Cººl o - brief social best element with tº he ple- --- * 22 wº- NSN w §§ SNS §§ ES % % % % Ø ~~~ *-- * …~~~ % º - J. B. FUGATE, Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 121 Flowers, nestling in masses of green foliage, bloomed in every available niche and nook. Dainty silken scarfs wrought in gold bullion and beautifully painted abounded everywhere, serving as an artistic finale to the beauty of the parlors. * * * At intervals during the evening sweet symphonies of –“Dear music that can touch Beyond all else the soul that loves it much, Now heard far off, so far as but to seem Like the faint, exquisite music of a dream,” floated through the apartments. The spacious dining hall with its elegant accessories presented a picture of rare beauty. A candelabrum filled with myriads of rose tapers softly lighted the environments. The polished oaken dining table was draped through the center with a plush scarf embroidered with golden-hearted Marguerites and masses of feathery ferns. Arranged about the table were several dainty tete-a-tete tables covered with embroidered linen and set with fragile china and silver. Here and there massive silver baskets overflowed with luscious fruits.” And this in the Land of the Fair God, the very heart of the Indian country, with not a year intervening since the barriers to civilization were thrown down and the great tide of humanity swept in; and this people, the highest type of advanced manhood and womanhood, petitioning and praying a corrupt and criminally negligent Congress for laws whereby they might govern themselves and protect the homes they had reared. The largest and perhaps the most brilliant social event of the winter was an evening reception given to one hundred and twenty- five guests by Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Hart, at their handsome home, which was brilliant with incandescent lights, it being the first resi- dence in the Territory that was lighted with electricity. The envi- ronments were all that wealth and culture could suggest. A pleasant incident of the evening was the arrival of a messenger with a tele- gram from Washington, announcing the passage of the Territorial bill by the House of Representatives. The enthusiasm with which it was received for a few moments, in spite of established usages, testified to the strong and earnest desire of the people for the protect- ing laws of our country. Those who participated in that brilliant event were among the leading society people of Guthrie during the winter of 1889–90, and included the following: Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Spengel, Lieutenant and Mrs. Peshine, Mr. and Mrs. D. S. McKay, Mr and Mrs. B. F. Perkins, Judge and Mrs. J. F. Stone, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. E. Ford, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. H. Filson, Hon. and Mrs. C. M. Barnes, Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Nicholson, Mr. and Mrs. D. T. Flynn, Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Clark, Dr. and Mrs. Van- 122 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, dervoort, Captain and Mrs. Cavanaugh, Judge and Mrs. T. J. Lowe, General and Mrs. J. C. Jamison, Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Spining, Judge and Mrs. J. M. Galloway, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Dale, J udge and Mrs. W. M. Allison, Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Blocker, Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Meadows, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Greer, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Gray, Mayor and Mrs. T. A. Stockslager, Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Freeman, Mr. and Mrs. O. V. Hays, Mr. and Mrs. Finley M. Hotchkiss, Mr. and Mrs. L. O. Dick, Mr. and Mrs. Ed M. Baldwin, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. De- Ford, Mr. and Mrs. Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. D. Orput, Mr. and Mrs. S. K. Van Voorhees, Mr. and Mrs. Turner, Mr. and Mrs. March, Mr. and Mrs. Sutton, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Meeker, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Rock, Mrs. Spencer, Mrs. J. T. Hill, Mrs. James O’Keefe, Misses Anna Jamison, Josie Turner, Mackie Jemison, Grace and May De- Ford, Myrtle Meadows, and Miss Galloway; Messrs. J. W. McNeal, D. S. Kelly, Dr. Whitney, Lieut. Biddle, A. G. Herron, C. W. Blen. ler, C. B. Barnes, W. S. Spencer, E. J. Darlington, A. H. Waite, E. N. Yates, J. F. Saunders, W. M. Salmon, Mayor James Dooley. A large number of brilliant balls were given during the season, the more prominent being a fancy dress entertainment given by the Guthries' Benevolent Society on Thanksgiving Eve to over 350 guests, and a phantom ball on New Year's Eve by the Guthries’ Hospital Society. During the season of fashionable abstinence from social pleasures, the ladies' societies of the various churches gave entertainments that were well received by the people, and considerably augmented the treasury funds. The Woman's Guild of Trinity Church gave a series of afternoon teas that were especially delightful. - - On May 23d, following the appointment of Territorial officers by the President, one of the most elegant receptions and balls ever given in Guthrie was tendered Geo. W. Steele, Oklahoma’s first Governor, by the society young gentlemen of the city. The entertainment was largely attended by leading citizens from all parts of the Territory, and also by a large number of º peºple from Wichita, Win- field, Arkansas City, and other Kansas cities. Guthrie has a large and highly cultivated musical element, and, what is not common in frontier towns, there are among the number graduates of the Boston Conservatory of Music, who would reflect * Governor Steele, at this entertainment, expressed his surprise and pleasure at discovering that Guthrie's society was not surpassed by that of any other city of its size that he had ever visited. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 123 credit on musical circles of any city East or West. And the numerous concerts and musicales given have proved delightful accessories of social life. Nearly all of the churches have excellent choirs, and renditions of the most difficult classical symphonies of the old mas- ters are of frequent occurrence. A prominent factor in the organization of society here has been The State Capital, which published in its Sunday issues during the season full accounts of social events. Taking its past and present condition, there is no doubt that soci- ety in Oklahoma will attain an advanced position not enjoyed in many of the Western States. The foundation is already laid, and another year will witness a structure composed of the very best ele- ments, drawn from the older and more densely populated social cen- ters of the country. CHAPTER IX. THE CHURCHES OF OKLAHOMA. “Like the fair ocean from her mother-bed; From east to west triumphantly she rides, All shores are watered by her wealthy tides. The gospel sound, diffused from pole to pole, Where winds can carry and where waves can roll, The self-same doctrine of the sacred page Conveyed to every clime, in every age.” In the great tidal wave of immigration that swept over Oklahoma on the 22d of April, 1889, all classes of society and all conditions of life were represented. The banker and the beggar, the merchant and the mendicant, the minister and the gambler, all availed them- selves of its flow, and all took passage on its breast to the new land of promise. The land is .." Human nature mounts the throne. The banker opens his vaults from which to meet the temporal wants of man. The minister opens the Bible—the store-house of God— from which he ministers to the spiritual needs of the enthusiastic throng. The temple of God and the mart of commerce are reared side by side. The hum of trade and the voice of prayer mingle to- gether as they float out on the way. Here are seen the advance guards of vigorous commerce and devoted christianity working in unity and aiding each other in the work of industrial civilization. The peaceful manner in which those exciting early days were passed, the brotherly love and forbearance that marked their history, were 124 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, largely due to christian influences. Even before the land was reached the work of the Master was begun. Mingling with the passengers of those densely packed trains that entered the Territory from the north and the south, upon that bright April day, were seen many teachers of the word of eternal life. As these trains reached the boundary line of the Territory, from each coach was heard to peal forth prayers and anthems of thankfulness. The scene was grand and impressive. Joining in those anthems of joy were the gray- haired home-seeker and the beardless youth, from whose pockets and belts were seen half concealed in scabbard or holster the bowie knife and revolver. It was soon discovered, however, that such arms were en- tirely unnecessary, and they were very generally discarded. The different church organizations are largely represented through- out Oklahoma. In the cities especially the work of these different organizations, and their success, were matters of profound surprise, when the limited means of the settlers is considered. The First M. E. church of Guthrie was organized by Rev. E. F. Hill, who was sent here by the authorities of the Church to look after the interests of Methodism. The prospects were not especially in- viting to a representative of the “gospel of peace,” for the town was bristling with the weapons of warfare. However, "...# the week following the opening a number of Methodists were found, and Sun- day, April 28th, 1889, the first services were held in a large boarding tent on Division street, between Oklahoma and Harrison avenues, near where the Lyon & Randall warehouse now stands. The walls of the tent were let down on one side, and a few seats were arranged for the comfort of the audience. The services of a young man were secured to lead the singing, and as the strains of “The Sweet Bye and Bye" floated out upon the tented city, people began to pour in from all directions, until an audience was present variously estimated at from six to eight hundred. The tent was filled, and in the immedi- ate foreground the people were seated, while back of these were men standing or seated on horses. In the tent were five ladies. Meetings were held regularly in this place for a short time, when the pas- tor, deeming it necessary to have an established home for his increas: ing congregation, set about to secure a building site. Difficulties were on every hand. No organization; no board of trustees; no one to share the responsibility; but finally he purchased the six lots on the corner of Broad street and Noble avenue, paying for them him: self till the church should be able to repay him. A large tent 30x60 feet was secured and raised, and Methodism had at last a home. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 125 But it proved a rather unstable one, for a storm or two wrecked it later on to such an extent that it was deemed unfit for further use. A tab- ernacle of equal size was built, boarded up and down, and having a board roof, but no floor. From this on the congregation increased rapidly, and soon the tabernacle was more than filled. It was deter- mined to begin the erection of a church that would do for some years, and build as much as they were able. Times were very dull, the country new, and the people poor, and feeling poorer from the uncer- tainty of titles. But the pastor and trustees and members were de- termined, and by their untiring devotion to the work a fine church building, which will soon be finished, now adorns the site. This, when completed, will cost about $4,500. Much honor is due Rev. E. F. Hill in that he has succeeded in building up so much in such a short time and amid such embarrassments. i. is certainly the right man for the place, and the Methodist people may congratulate them- selves on having had a general as well as a preacher, one whose years of experience well fitted him to grasp the situation and so shape af- fairs that they would be for the best interests of the church. On the first Sunday thirty-five handed in their names, and since that time the number has increased until now the church numbers one hundred and ninety members. - The Methodist Church South entered this new field of labor simul- taneously with the opening of the Territory, and churches were rap- idly organized at all of the more densely populated points. At Guthrie Rev. J. L. Burrow, presiding elder of the Oklahoma district, assumed charge of the work of organizing the church about June 1st, 1889. He delivered his first sermon at the Mayor's office in West Guthrie June 15th, and administered the holy rite of baptism to several children. About June 30th, 1889, Bishop E. R. Hendrix, of Kansas City, Mo., visited the church, and seeing the needs of the people, trans- ferred Rev. James B. Stevenson from the Arkansas Conference to this point, who, upon his arrival, July 10th, immediately began the task of raising funds for the erection of an edifice. Within a few days a suf- ficient sum of money was secured by private subscriptions, and a ver comfortable house of worship was erected. This was the first build- ing erected in Guthrie exclusively for worship, the other churches at that time occupying tents. Dr. Stevenson then commenced the work of looking after his flock, and in a few days an organization was effected, with the following charter members: Messrs. Charles P. Drace, Geo. A. Jasper, Charles B. Wilson, A. J. Deal, John S. Garner, John J. Boles, Charles Garner, 126 II, LUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, Joseph W. Pounds, James P. Murray, H. Reeder, W. R. White, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. T. Brown, Mrs. T. J. Lowe, Mrs. Henry E. Cromwell, and Miss Nora Reeder. Since that time the congregation has steadily increased. The Sunday school was organized at an early day, with Charles B. Wilson as its first superintendent. It is now in a very prosperous condition, under the care of Superintendent Boles. The ladies of the church deserve especial honor for their faithful and unselfish efforts to build up the church. In September, 1889, they met at the residence of Mrs. A. J. Deal and organized a ladies' aid society, with the following officers: Mrs. T. J. Lowe, president; Mrs. A. J. Deal, vice-president; Mrs. J. J. Boles, secretary; and Mrs. J. W. McKenney, treasurer. This society has been a valuable adjunct to the financial interests of the church. The organization has three handsome lots on the corner of Broad street and Vilas avenue, and will soon erect a permanent church edi- fice. The Plymouth Congregational church of Guthrie was organized on the first Sabbath in September, 1889. The Rev. J. H. Parker, of Wichita, conducted the first service. In November of the same year Rev Lemuel Jones, of New York, became pastor of the church, and on December 1st following the first communion service was held, at which eighteen members enrolled themselves. On the first Sunday in January, 1890, the church perfected its organization by "..." O. W. Hays clerk, and W. Lumpkins, H. S. Griffin, and W. M. Brown deacons. A board of trustees, consisting of L. E. Kimball, F. W. Pratt, and F. M. Smart, was also elected. On the 30th of March following a building committee, composed of the º members, was elected: L. E. Kimball, Geo. E. Gray, H. Fielding, an Rev. Lemuel Jones. On March 14th the trustees purchased two lots on Broad street for a church site, and on the 20th of the same month the church voted to build a place of worship on the site purchased. On the 20th of May, 1890, the church numbered thirty-eight mem- bers, and had one of the largest Sunday schools in the city. The first Sunday after the opening of Oklahoma, Rev. Robert Mo- Castin, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Arkansas City, preached in the open air at Guthrie, at the corner of Broad street and Cleve- land avenue. Mr. J. C. Sefton, Sunday school missionary, organized the Presbyterian Sunday school on May 12th, and on June 17th fol. lowing the Presbyterian church of Guthrie was organized, with the THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 127 following members: W. O. Anderson, W. H. McHenry, W. A. Up- church, W. A. Toombs, Jos. F. Saunders, Mrs. J. B. Carson, Miss Alice Carson, Mr. and Mrs. Finley M. Hotchkiss, Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Scoutan, Mrs. B. A. Raleigh, Mrs. S. P. Starr, G. A. Marshall, Leslie Drake, Rose Johnson, Mrs. Jane B. McPherson, Winfield S. Smith, F. C. Herron, M. Duncan, Mrs. Harvey, Mrs. B. V. Warren, Mrs. J. Johnson, S. E. Case, M. A. Harriman, A. E. Robinson, M. M. Mc- Kinnon, Dr. R. A. Paxton, Mrs. Hilla Smith, Wm. Cuppage, Dr. M. S. Stahl, Mrs. M. W. Hornbarger, Miss Galloway, Wm. Lumpkins, W. C. Hale, C. E. Gleeker, J. B. Fishback, A. H. Houston, John C. Rob- ertson, Mrs. J. C. Robertson, Mattie Wagner, Carrie Ida Robertson, and Sherman T. Allen. June 26th of the same year the Rev. Wm. T. King, of the Chero- kee Presbytery, I.T., under a commission from the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian Church, arrived in Guthrie and assumed charge of the church; and under his efficient pastorate the member- ship has increased to seventy, and a handsome church edifice will soon be erected. There is in connection with the church an active, energetic, and successful ladies' building society. The Baptist people were among the first to hold services at Guth- rie and to organize a Sunday school, but finally disbanded. They were aroused to new energy and the importance of an organized body, and to the policy of securing lots for a church site, by the Rev. Thos. Stevenson, who came to Guthrie during the month of September, from the Northwestern Baptist Association, to aid in establishing a church. On October 24th, 1889, the Rev. Longfellow organized the church, with the following charter members: D. L. Melone, S. P. Firestone, W. H. Malcolm, Lee Robbins, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Smith, Mrs. N. S. Filson, Mrs. H. Mikesell, Mrs. M. J. Phelps, Mrs. L. E. Fawbush, and Mrs. L. E. Ketchum. Large additions to the mem- bership have been made since that meeting, and the church at the present writing, under the charge of the Rev. J. S. Nasmith, formerly pastor of the First Baptist church at Wichita, Kansas, is in a very prosperous condition. A church site has been secured, and the erec- tion of a temple of worship will be commenced very shortly. Dr. Nasmith publishes the Oklahoma Baptist, the only religious paper in the Territory. The First Christian church of Guthrie was organized May 5th, 1889, under the leadership of Elder J. M. Monroe, of Wichita, Kansas. J. T. Tout served the church as pastor from September, 1889, to 128 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, about February, 1890. There are about one hundred members of this church in Guthrie and vicinity. Five building lots have been purchased, situated at the corner of Fourth street and Cleveland ave nue, East Guthrie. The church has about completed arrangements to build a fine edifice on these lots. The officers are: Dick T. Mor- gan, Robert Patton, McH. Brooks, elders; John McCoy, D. H. Wil. liams, Junius Oldham, deacons. The Christian Church has prosperous societies at Oklahoma City, Edmond, Frisco, El Reno, and a number of other points in the Ter. ritory. The Second Baptist church of Guthrie has but recently been placed on foot, and a separate organization is scarce perfected. Rev. S. P. Firestone officiates, and his congregation and Sunday school each have from sixty to eighty attendants. The Barnes chapel, of which Rev. A. G. Copeland is pastor, was completed in 1890, and is a model of unique simplicity. The con- gregation is of liberal members, and is increasing. A model Sunday school is conducted, and Rev. Copeland’s charge is no small addition to the Methodist forces, which have proved so strong in Guthrie. The first sermon in the African M. E. Church, of which Rev. J. C. Chrishburg is pastor, was delivered in June, 1889. It has a mem- bership of eighty-five, and a Sunday school of thirty-five. Trinity º church was organized under the direction of Rt. Rev. Henry N. Pierce, Bishop of Arkansas and the Indian Territory, at a meeting held at the residence of Mrs. H. C. Nicholson, on July 2d, 1889. The correct and legal name of the association is “The Rector, Wardens, and Vestry of Trinity Church.” The articles of association were signed as follows: E. L. Hallock, J. V. Robbins, Mrs. T. K. Johnson, Mrs. C. M. Barnes, T. K. Johnson, Thos. J. Richardson, J. E. E. Gove, W. C. Campbell, C. M. Barnes, Mrs. H. C. Nicholson, H. A. Corlett, T. J. Hart, S. G. Williams, Elizabeth M. Weyburn, W. M. Allison, Thomas B. George, Geo. E. Ford, D. M. Crozier, O. V. Hays, F. C. O'Neil, W. A. Toombs, Mrs. Geo. E. Ford, Mrs. Helen Murray, Geo. W. Paxton, W. F. Weyburn, Julia K. Howard, D. M. Ross, Mrs. T. J. Hart, Jno. H. Cotteral, Wm. L. Chitty, Lillie Turner, Holt, Mrs. Emma J. Judah, Mrs. W. P. Meadows. A vestry was elected as follows: C. M. Barnes, T. K. Johnson, - - - - Œ， R. №. º ： № ，º|- | （）---- ， ！ /…！ ）|- - - // /// % |-· % % Q º Q - º - - |- º º º - - º º - º - |-|- 128 Hoº. about - ºne hundred men this ch - building lots hº purcha treet and Clevelan nue, E. completed arrang- to buil thoors are: Dºol gan, R - John McCoy D. H. liams, . - The is societies at Oklahoma Edmon ºr of other points in the ritory. - The lie has but recently be nº on foot scarce perfected S Firesto - - tion and Sunday sº - have fr - The G. Copeland is nº comple nine simplicity gregati reasinº. A model school change is no small to the so strong in Guº The ºn of which Chrish] - - 1880. It la bership - of thirty-five Trini a under the direct Rev. H. - - as and the Indian at a me in Nicholso 2d, 188 of ºne association Rector, Church.” The associatiº unlock Mrs. T ºnes T. K. Johnson Richardson pºll. C. M. ºn C. Nichol- S. G. Willian M. Weyºu B. George, Geo M. Cro, Toombs. A Ford, Miº - ºn W. F. We K. How - no H. Cotte Chitty, Judah Meadows - A vest - ºn 1 S . NSC - N. SN N, nº N º Nºvº. Ñ NN S N Ñ Ñ Ñ Ñ NN Ñ Ñ N V N N N RN NN S A F. SPENCER, Guthr H 162. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 129 Geo. E. Ford, W. M. Allison, T. J. Hart, E. L. Hallock, George Pax- ton, D. M. Ross, J. V. Robbins. The Bishop appointed C. M. Barnes as senior warden, and the following officers were elected by the vestry: T. J. Hart, junior warden; E. L. Hallock, secretary; T. K. Johnson, treasurer. Shortly afterwards the Bishop sent the Rev. Jefferson, who acted as rector until February 1st, 1890. The missionary fund at the disposal of the Bishop being exhausted, and the parish not being able to pay the salary of the rector, the Bishop was compelled to withdraw him, since which time they have been without a clergyman. Regular services every Sunday have, however, been held, the senior warden reading the service, and good music being provided through the efforts of the Woman’s º The congregation have thus been well kept together, and the Ladies' guild have been working in season and out of season for the advancement of the good work. The Woman's guild bought a lot on Noble avenue, between Divi. sion and First streets, and in addition thereto have turned over to the vestry $250, to be used in erecting a chapel. Through the efforts of Mrs. C. M. Barnes, over $250 was raised by donations from friends in other parts of the country. On Christmas a midnight service was held, at which the attendance was so large that the small room used for worship was overcrowded. On Easter Monday, 1890, the usual annual meeting was held for the election of a new vestry. The num- ber was reduced to five, and the following-named gentlemen elected: C. M. Barnes, W. M. Allison, T. J. Hart, Frank Phister, and F. B. Lillie. It has been determined by the church to erect a chapel at once upon the lot purchased by the Woman’s guild, and a building committee was chosen, composed of Messrs. Hart, Allison, and Lillie, who have adopted a plan and will have the building completed this year. Guthrie is the only point in the Territory where any effort has been made to establish the Church. The field is a large one, and it is to be hoped that the Church authorities who have charge of the dis- bursement of its missionary funds will not neglect to provide at least three clergymen for the Territory at an early day. AT EDMOND. The First Presbyterian church was organized by Rev. John H. Aughey on Easter Sunday, April 6th, 1890, with a membership of thirty. The society has secured lots and will erect a church building º April 13th, 1890, Dr. Aughey organized a Presbyterian C. urch at Deer Creek, ten miles west of Edmond. There are in that –9 130 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, - | neighborhood about thirty-five Presbyterians, and the prospects are that a large church will be built up. The Edmond Library and Literary association was organized April 21st, 1890, by Mrs. Jessie Chrittan, with the following officers: Rev. John H. àº. president; Mrs. Fannie Morrison, vice-presi. dent; Mr. A. H. Classen, secretary; Mrs. Jennie Forster, librarian. º has secured by purchase and donation many valuable OOKS. The Edmond Bible society, auxiliary to the American Bible Society, - was organized by Rev. John H. Aughey on May 8th, 1890. The offi- cers elected were: Joseph F. Eades, president; Hon. M. M. Rey nolds, vice-president; Edward Fielding, secretary; J. J. Hunt, treas. urer. In circulating the Bible among the destitute, that organization is very efficient. In May, 1890, the Baptist church of Edmond was organized by Rev. Thos. N. Horner, with a large membership. He also organized a church at Oklahoma Center, nine miles southwest of Edmond. Mr. Horner has done effective missionary work throughout Southern Oklahoma in organizing churches and Sunday schools. AT OKLAHOMA. CITY. The Presbytery of Chickasaw held its first meeting at Oklahoma City on June 17th, 1890, this being the first session ever held in Okla- homa. The ministers present on this memorable occasion were: Rev. John H. Aughey, Edmond; Rev. W. T. King, Guthrie: Rev. W. L. Miller, Oklahoma City; Rev. Frank E. Sheldon, Kingfisher; Rev. Charles C. Hembree, Norman; Rev. S. P. Myer, Stillwater; Rev. R. H. Hill, Muscogee, I. T.; Rev. William Kendrick, Purcell, I. T.; Rev. Silas V. Fait, Anadarko, I. T.; Rev. Robert M. Over- street, Beaver, Ok.; Elder Frank Bowden, Paul's Valley, I. T.; Rev. Wm. J. Moffatt, Paul's Valley, I. T.; Elder G. A. Marshall, Centre, Ok., and Elder T. H. Cuppage, Guthrie. During this session a ladies' missionary society was organized, and the following officers elected: Mrs. W. L. Miller, president; Mrs. W. T. King, vice-president; Mrs. Corette, treasurer; Mrs. Silas Fait, corresponding secretary; Mrs. Wm. Kendrick, recording secre- tary; Mrs. Mary Williams, superintendent children’s work. The Chickasaw Presbytery embraces Oklahoma Territory, the Cherokee and Chickasaw Nation, and all the wild tribes of the Indian Territory. The churches enrolled were: Guthrie, Edmond, Kingfisher, Wash- ington or Deer Creek, Oklahoma City, Norman, Stillwater, Mulhall, THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 131 Purcell, Whete Bead Hell, Paul's Valley, Wynerwood, Ardmore, Anadarkö, and Beaver. The following graphic account of the missionary work of Rev. J. T. Fariss, of West Oklahoma City, illustrates in a forcible manner the hardships and sacrifices of the pioneer men of God who came as an advance guard into the Territory and labored unselfishly in the work of the Master: “At the annual conference of the M. E. Church South, in session at Atoka, I.T., October 27th, 1889, Bishop Hendrik ‘read me out” for West Oklahoma circuit, which was defined by my presiding elder to embrace all territory in Oklahoma lying west of the Santa Fe railroad, and between the North and South Forks of the Canadian river, which is about fifteen miles in breadth by thirty miles in length, embracing four hundred and fifty square miles. I moved to the circuit at once, and began spying out suitable places to preach and to organize churches. I have rode several hundred miles, going from house to house across the prairies, and not unfrequently without a sign of road to mark my course. In the early part of the autumn of 1889, when the country was sparsely settled and the “improvements’ were only temporary and very rude, I found comparatively few families that felt prepared to “take in a Metho- dist circuit rider and his horse for the night. On these rounds I have slept in tents, in dug-outs, in sod houses, and on the ground. But all that has now given way to a much better state of affairs. “The first quarterly meeting held in this portion of Oklahoma was at the house of T. B. Davis, of Pleasant Valley, on December 21st and 22d, 1889, by Rev. J. L. Burrow, presiding elder of Oklahoma district, and myself, ‘preacher in charge” and secretary. A society of ten members was organized there, which has since increased to twenty. F. B. Davis was elected steward, record- ing secretary, and Sunday school superintendent; C. H. Grady and T. B. Davis were elected trustees of church property for the circuit. “Iorganized a society at El Reno, starting with a membership of six persons, that has since increased to twenty. At Union City we have a society of eight- een, and an excellent Sunday school under the care of Mr. R. W. Cummins; at Columbia an organization of eight members and a flourishing Sunday school, E. A. Winsett superintendent; Poe's chapel, near Frisco, five members and a good Sunday school, A. F. Poe in charge; Bernard, nineteen members and a large Sunday school, W. M. McKinley superintendent; and at Moore a society of thirty-three members, and W. C. Perry in charge of the Sunday school. We expect to build houses of worship at all these points this fall or in the spring. The people manifest much interest in the churches and schools, and also in the intellectual, moral, and religious training of their children. The Methodist Church South of Oklahoma City, under charge of Rev. A. J. Worley, was the first church organized in that city, and its history dates from the opening of the Territory. Its Sunday 132 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, a school was organized by W. P. Shaw the first Sunday after April 22d, 1889. The charter members of the church are, in part: W. P. Shaw, Rev. Wm. Bradford, Mrs. B. N. Woodson, Miss May Sew- ell, Rev. S. Armstrong, Mrs. Hattie Brown, R. Q. Blakeney, Dr. C. B. Bradford, Dr. Fletcher Fariss, Rev. J. T. Fariss, F. M. Morris, Chas. McKay, Charity Mansor, Mrs. Nix, Mrs. Dr. Richardson, Mrs. Matt Sigler, Emmet Smith, D. B. Wynn, and Dr. H. B. Woods. The society has a membership at present writing of one hundred, and is building a fine church of native brownstone, that when completed will cost about $6,000. CHAPTER X. MEMORABLE EVENTS. “Lulled in the countless chambers of the brain, Our thoughts are linked by many a hidden chain; Awake but one, and lo! what myriads rise; Each stamps its image as the other flies.” —Rogers. “Perhaps the remembrance of these things Will prove a source of future pleasure.” —Virgil. Monday, the 16th of September, 1889, witnessed a scene of unusual gaiety in the magic city of Guthrie. The event was a grand ovation tendered a delegation of Congressmen who were visiting the Land of the Fair God. The distinguished visitors reached Guthrie on Sunday evening, September 15th, in the elegant palace car “Wyandotte,” of the St. Louis and San Francisco railway, which had been attached to the regular express train on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe line at Arkansas City. The visiting Congressmen were: Samuel R. Peters and Bishop W. Perkins, of Kansas; Chas. H. Mansur, of Missouri; John M. Allen, of Mississippi; Chas. S. Baker, of New York; and W. M. Springer, of Illinois. The Hon. John O'Day, First Vice-presi- dent of the St. Louis & San Francisco line, accompanied the delegation. Early on Monday morning the streets of Guthrie presented a holi- day scene. Delegations of people from all parts of the Territory Game to the city to aid in a grand welcome to those noble friends of Okla. homa. The streets were crowded; the sturdy homesteaders and the city people vied with each other in tendering their eloquent advocates at the bar of Congress an enthusiastic greeting. At ten o’clock the Congressmen entered carriages, and followed by THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 133 a long procession of people in carriages and on foot, were driven to Capitol Hill. Alighting from their carriages the distinguished statesmen were escorted to the beautiful pavilion erected in the center of the capitol grounds, from which they were presented to the vast assemblage by the Hon. John M. Galloway. Mayor D. M. Ross then stepped forward, and in an eloquent address–from which the following are extracts—welcomed the champions of the “Oklahoma bill” : “HoNorABLE GENTLEMEN: I am delegated by the citizens of the Guthries and Capitol Hill to extend to you a cordial welcome to this vigorous young city. We appreciate the motives that prompt you to sacrifice the time and the comforts of your homes, the society of your families and friends, to endure the discomforts and inconveniences necessarily attending upon a tour of this kind. We believe it is our interest and the interest of Oklahoma that has prompted you to do so. You have come in our midst to learn our wants and necessities, that you may be governed in future legislation how we may be benefited by the same. We cannot boast much of our beauty – we have not had time to adorn and embellish the city for which nature has done so much in location. * * * For years the eyes of the American people have been upon Okla- homa, and you have been striving to have the same opened to settlement. After years of arduous toil and many disappointments, to yourselves as well as to us, we were permitted on the 22d day of April last to occupy this beautiful land. For weeks previous to the ever-memorable 22d the well-known emigrant wagon was seen going from all directions to one common center, and that was Oklahoma. Railroads were transporting train-load after train-load in the same direction, until there had been congregated on the borders of this Territory sixty thousand people; and when high noon came —the hour appointed by the Chief Executive of this nation for us to occupy this land—there was one grand advance, as a great army closing in upon a common foe; but we came not as such, but to secure homes. Imagine, gentlemen, for one moment, such a vast number of people, coming from every State in this great nation, and from every quarter of the globe, occupying this Territory in one day, without the semblance of law; and yet we had no lawlessness. Is this not a compliment to American manhood P + 3 + “Gentlemen, believing as we do that you are not prompted by curiosity, that you come as our friends—and we know that you have been our friends in the past—I therefore have called your attention to some of our necessities. To whom else can we appeal? You have been our friends in the past. For years you have been striving to open this land, that we might build up homes here, and to your efforts we are indebted for our presence here to-day; therefore, having been our friends in the past, we know of no one that we can be so fully justified in appealing to for aid in the future. Therefore, gentlemen, give us the protection of the strong arm of this great Government; give us the courts, that our differences may be adjudicated and our grievances settled without being taken far from our homes at an expense that a great majority of us are 134 - ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, unable to bear; give us territorial organization; give us territorial laws; give them to us now; give them to us in our infancy, while we are weak, while we need them; give us our homes that we have built up in this new land; give us land enough to build a city that will be an honor to your generosity and a credit to the Territory which you have already given us; give us a right to enter this land that we may have titles to our homes, that we may establish schools to prepare the youth to occupy our places in the future with a credit to the State which we are seeking to mould out of this crude territory; give us the protec- tion of civil government, clothe us with civil power, arm us with weapons of self-government, and give us those things that you have in your power to give and that we most need, of which you will learn whilst in our midst, and we will make this, the last land of the ‘red man”—the land they have so long occupied for hunting, the grazing grounds of which the cattle barons were kings—blossom as a rose; we will till the soil and make it the happy homes of the thousands already in our midst and the thousands yet to come; we will make it the grand country that the soil and climate justify usin believing it can be made, and in the future we will make a State that will be a worthy sister in the sisterhood of States of this great nation.” Hon. C. H. Mansur being introduced to the people, addressed them as follows: “We are here in your interests, and as your friends. We are here that we may know your condition; to study your wants; to tender you the promise of our strongest endeavors in your behalf. You all know Springer; his name is a household word among you, for he is the father of Oklahoma. You can depend on him as you would on one of yourselves. He and Perkins and Shuble were your final saviors. Both are here to talk to you to-day. Then there is Baker, from New York, where the corn-fields are from a third to one acre, and where the corn-stalks have to push away the clods that the ears may get a breath of air. What wonder comes over him as he gazes on such corn [pointing to a cane-stalk about sixteen feet highl as this!” “ ” * “The Maker of all things never intended that there should be 2,200 acres for every papoose, as exists in the Indian Territory; that 10,000 lazy red men should dominate 60,000,000 acres of land when thousands of whites were homeless. Such a condition is a slur on all the achievements of our fore- fathers. The time has come when poetical justice to the Indian must cease. The Indian and his papooses must divide their 11,000 acres to the household and let civilization in. The superior will predominate, and the time of Indian domination is about at an end. The 60,000 people here in Oklahoma are the dynamite that will explode and tear up all surrounding reigns of the red man. The Springer bill passed by forty-seven majority. All your former friends will be your friends again. I can tell you almost certainly that you will have titles and a territorial form of government by March 1st next. I must say that Guthrie is without a parallel in the history of civilization. Though with: * A large amount of fine agricultural specimens had been brought to the city by the farmers. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 135 out law, you are as lawful as the oldest city in the land. Law is simply the will of the people, and you will to do right. As we look around us we can but wonder, Is it true; is this the result of five month's only of the white man's progress? If the world's fair wants a place where the intelligence, pluck, and progress of the American people can be shown in its full grandeur it should be held at Guthrie instead of Chicago.” Amid a storm of applause, the Hon. B. W. Perkins–the man who in the last hour of the life of the Fiftieth Congress attached the ºrider” to the Indian Appropriation bill, that opened Oklahoma to settlement—arose and addressed the assembly. He designated Guthrie the “infant wonder of the world.” He was glad that the Congressmen, through the royal kindness of Hon. John O'Day, were here to see it. Said he: “You will have a territorial government among the first acts of the next Congress. You only need to let Congress know what you want and you will get it. You have won the admiration of the world by your good order and progress. There may be some embarrassments in the way of a territorial gov- ernment, but your friends are strong enough to remove them. You are the wedge that shall open to civilization the whole of this vast Indian Territory. In the words of the mountaineer who answered Bishop Dudley’s lake-of-brim- stone doctrine, “d – d if the people will stand it’ to have a few Cherokees and cattle barons keep barren the strip north of us. If the Cherokees refuse on technical grounds to sell this land, let the Government say to the Whites, Go in anyhow and make your homes there; make the land bloom like a rose. But you have great prospects here. The Frisco is only waiting for law to come here. You will soon have railroads branching in all directions. I am here to pledge to Oklahoma even more ardent service than I have rendered you in the past.” Hon. Charles Baker was then introduced. He said that when they delegated Mr. Mansur to make the leading address, each had given him his prepared speech; but Mr. Mansur had been unfair in º on his (Baker's) speech. Then he #" it on the farmer knowledge of Mansur for alluding to a stalk of cane as corn, the re- sult of which was a presentation at the close of the ceremonies of a cane top and a bottle of Oklahoma sorghum to Mr. Mansur as a button-hole bouquet. - Mr. Baker, mentioning Guthrie's achievements in five months, wondered what they will be in five years. He hoped then to come through here on the Frisco and view the capital of the State of Oklahoma, with its magnificent churches, universities, palatial resi- dences, and imposing business buildings. Here is to be built a city and country of which the world can be proud. The proudest thing Congress can do is to give Oklahoma territorial government at once. 136 ILLUSTRATED OR LA HOMA, Cheers that fairly rent the air went up as the Hon. Wm. M. Springer, the old and steadfast friend of Oklahoma, was introduced. He said: “My efforts for Oklahoma form the proudest chapter of my life. Six months ago at Wichita I said that were this country opened, cities and towns would spring up in a day. Then this was rhetoric; now it is reality. I have heard little else than Oklahoma for two years. Now that I am here, I am more than pleased. For beauty of scenery, salubrity of climate, and richness of soil, this country cannot be excelled in the world. The lodgment here of white settlements will drive out barbarism west, north and south, and even reach back to the Arkansas and take in the five civilized tribes. “The time will soon come when we will send no more commissions among the red men to see whether or not they will obey the laws of Congress. An Indian is no better than a white man, and the whites are never waited on to see whether they will obey the laws. Congress should not delay two months in opening the Cherokee Strip. It ought not delay forty-eight hours after a Speaker is elected in giving you a territorial government. My bill will be re- formed and moderated there again. It made the time of homestead settle- ment three years. The high type of people who have settled Oklahoma convince me that the time should be eighteen months or two years. The man who fails to vote for my bill this time will be an enemy to his race. You can draw on me on sight for anything you want. Though I am to go back to the ranks instead of chairman, my labors in your behalf shall not slacken.” The Hon. S. R. Peters was the next to cheer the anxiously waiting ioneers with hopes of a speedy action by Congress in their behalf. }. said: “I realized long ago that the Indian Territory was a Chinese wall, barring the enterprise of Kansas from stretching to the Gulf. Oklahoma and Kansas are bound by ties of steel, water, climate, and prairie, and before me I see many from the Seventh district of Kansas. I take a deep interest in Okla- homa, not only because it is a great domain worthy of better than savage things, but because it is now peopled largely by the vim and progress of Kansas. You have accomplished wonders here. Ten thousand people now, under the system of arithmetical progression what will you be in five years? A year ago, had us fellows come along here and described the scene we see here as possible of the future, we would have been greeted with the cry, ‘Rats! Rats!!’ You are living under the common law of life, that of self-preservation, and grandly have you done it. With the strains of Home, Sweet Home’ reverberating in every heart, you are a law unto yourselves. Mayor Ross speaks of ‘star routes." Why, you will need none. Soon you will have railroads in all directions. I bid you God speed in rearing homes here. I shall go back to Congress a harder worker than ever for Oklahoma.” Hon. John M. Allen, who was quite ill at the time, arose from a cot and convulsed the vast throng with his inimitable wit and humor. E. D. THOMAS, Guthrie. ` ， ！ ````ºu §ÈĒŠ№|- ÈŠE§· §È№ È` ©®`' ， …………….………）： …È\\ ` ~Ê. ±√（√ ±S``` W. A. THOMA Guthrie №： ±2222222 №ź Ē№ź £ THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 137 Mr. Springer designated him as the champion story-teller of the House, and the audience were ready to believe it when Mr. Allen got through. He was a new convert on the Oklahoma question, and did what he could for the Springer bill. He was highly gratified to see the good sense of Oklahoma's action so thoroughly attested. He dedicated his best future services to its cause. Following the reception was a grand banquet tendered the visitors by the leading business men of the city. In the evening an elegant reception and ball was given by the ladies of Guthrie to the honored uests, of which full particulars are given in another chapter, and which closed that memorable event. GUTHRIE’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY. Tuesday, April 22d, 1890, was a day of rejoicing in Guthrie. It was Oklahoma's first anniversary. The people were buoyant with hope. They assembled on Capitol Hill firm in the belief that ere the festivities of the day were brought to a close intelligence would be flashed over the wires from Washington that the bill organ- izing Oklahoma had passed. And as the afternoon waned, a thou- sand eyes would anxiously scan the broad avenue leading from the depot to the capitol grounds, over which a messenger bearing the glad tidings was momentarily expected to arrive. Three o'clock had arrived and no messenger. A feeling of disappointment began to manifest itself. But harkſ the signal whistle from the electric light works shrieks out loud and shrill, and five thousand voices join the din: “The news has come;” “The bill has passed;” In the distance, dashing up the avenue, a single horseman is seen. “There he comes!” is shouted from a thousand throats, and cheer after cheer rend the air. The messenger galloped his horse up to the grand stand and handed the chairman a message which purported to be from Washington, in which it was stated that the º had passed. The people were wild with joy; and notwithstanding the report was a ruse, the people were not undeceived until the following day. The twenty-second of April will ever be a Fourth of July for Oklahoma. The romance and fiction and realty—the hallowed as well as laugha- ble memories of the day on which Oklahoma was opened—will grow in intensity as the years roll on. DECORATION DAY. The observance of Decoration Day presupposes graves to decorate— graves in which sleep some members of the vast legion that surren- 138 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, dered their lives for their country. Guthrie had none of these sacred mounds on the 30th day of May, 1890. She had not a single grave upon which the children of a hero could strew flowers, and with tearful eyes say, “Our father fought for the Union.” “How sleep the brave who sink to rest, By all their country’s wishes blest! º: -k -k -k By fairy hands their knell is rung, By forms unseen their dirge is sung.” The day, however, was observed in Guthrie. Business houses were closed, and people of all classes attended memorial services on Capi- tol Hill. The grounds were beautifully decorated for the occasion. Flags, streamers, and flowers were conspicuous everywhere. A col- umn of United States troops under command of Lieutenant Biddle was in attendence, as were also one hundred members of the Geo. W. Steele camp of Sons of Veterans. Colonel Soward with a flag corps of fifty little girls and twenty little boys aided in making the scene imposing and grand. The exercises were opened with prayer by the Rev. Hill, which was followed by short addresses from º D. Losey, post commander of the G. A. R., Professor Frank Terry on the part of the Sons of Veterans, and others. Judge T. C. Sears was then introduced, and delivered a most elo- quent and polished address, from which the following extract is taken: “Sacred, solemn, and sweet, consecrated by love and tearful affection, are the tributes the American people bring to-day to the graves of their patriotic dead. In a thousand cemeteries and upon many times ten thousand graves, loving, tender hands are strewing the treasures of the spring, the garlands of the May. Year by year the silent, invisible army increases, and nearly every boat that crosses the turgid waters of the dark river that separates us from the great beyond, carries over an honored veteran to the vast camp of silence and rest. Since our last floral day many of them have joined their comrades in that near but unexplored country, and have been transferred to that great army that we hope and believe is encamped beneath the shades and bowers of the New Jerusalem, and with the redeemed ones from every battle-field of the Republic are receiving the silent honors of the patriotic and sanctified ones from all peoples: - “On fame's eternal camping ground, Their silent tents are spread; But glory guards with solemn round, The bivouac of the dead.” RECEPTION OF THE EDITORS ASSOCIATION. On the evening of the 17th of May, 1890, the Editors' Association of Northwestern Kansas, en route to Galveston, Texas, was given a THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 139 rand reception and banquet at Guthrie. There were about two hun- i. members of the association, including a large number of ladies. The train bearing them reached Guthrie at 6:10 P.M., where eighty carriages were in waiting, and in which the guests were soon seated after alighting from the train, and driven through the city, preceded by the Guthrie Silver Cornet Band. After making a tour of the city, including Capitol Hill and University Place, they were driven to the Springer Hotel, where they were tendered a reception and elegant banquet by the leading ladies and gentlemen of the city. The most elaborate preparations had been made for the occasion, and the guests were entertained right royally, for which Guthrie and her people were made the recipients of unstinted praise through the columns of the Kansas press upon the return home of the excursionists. At 1:20 Sunday morning they were driven to the depot, where they took the south-bound train on the Santa Fe and resumed their journey to the gulf, all lavishing praises on the Land of the Fair God and its enterprising, hospitable people. GOV. STEELE ARIRIVES AT GUTHRIE. Governor Steele arrived at Guthrie on the afternoon of May 23d, 1890. His coming had been long and anxiously waited for, and it is safe to say that no man ever before received such a sincere and cordial welcome to the hearts and homes of the people as did Governor Steele by the brave citizens of Oklahoma. His coming was the frui- tion of hopes long deferred. It was an event that would crown Okla- homa with territorial government, and place the Land of the Fair God under the protection of a democratic government, a “government of the people and by the people.” The fact that their new Governor was not a citizen of Oklahoma had no place in the hearts of the people. He was the first Governor, the pivot upon which every interest centered, and that was sufficient to insure him a spontaneous welcome. And such a welcome, such enthusiasm! It was the sincere outburst of joy and thankfulness welling up from the hearts of the people at the coming of deliverance. Long before the special train bearing the Governor and his party arrived, the Santa Fe depot was surrounded by thousands of people assembled to give greetings to their Executive. And when far away in the distance a slender thread of smoke outlined against the horizon clothed “in gorgeous draperies of golden clouds,” indicated the approach of the train, cheers of gladness rent the air, and as the train swept slowly into the depot, and the form of the Governor was seen 140 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, descending from the steps, the cheering and applause were deafening. Men swung their hats and ladies fluttered their dainty lace handker. chiefs in token of welcome. The Hon. C. M. Barnes, with other leading citizens, received the Governor and escorted him to a low, open barouche drawn by four milk-white horses. Captain Caven- augh, Mayor James Dooley, and Mr. George Herriott occupied seats in the carriage with the Governor. The long procession, headed by the Guthrie Silver Cornet Band, was formed, and under the manage. ment of Mr. C. M. Barnes, officer of the day, marched up Oklahoma avenue to the joyous music, “Hail to the Chief who in Triumph Ad vances.” After marching through several of the principal streets of - the city, the Governor was escorted to the handsome home of Mr. Barnes, where an elegantly appointed dinner was served. On the following day, May 24th, the people from all parts of the Territory assembled at Guthrie, and joined in tendering the Governor, the Supreme Judges, and other Federal appointees accompanying him, a grand ovation. The procession, numbering fully ten thousand people, was formed at one o'clock on Oklahoma avenue, along which it marched to Capitol Hill, where several thousand people were awaiting its arrival. The Governor was escorted up the steps of the grand pagoda, where he was introduced to the assembled thousands by Mayor James Dooley. After the repeated applause that followed had subsided, the Rev. Lemuel Jones, of the First Congregational church, stepped forward, and in behalf of the people of Oklahoma greeted their new Executive with the following eloquent address of welcome: “If I could voice the ten thousand thoughts of the great multitude; if I could express the pleasure that we all feel as we now stand in the presence of our Governor, the first Governor of Oklahoma; if I could tell you the hearty homage with which we greet you, I should do what I think would be the right thing at this hour, and you and your associates would be overwhelmingly wel- comed. “We are prepared to welcome you. This great concourse is not the rush of the moment. We have been waiting for this opportunity. Some of us have been praying for this day to come. “We receive you as one chosen for us as a people by his Excellency the Presi- dent of this nation. With all the land before him, full of men of ability and trustful workers, and, as we believe, with our best welfare at heart, he selected you for us. Also, the honorable Senate of the United States approved the President's selection. We learn with pleasure that without objecting a dissent the Senate confirmed the President's appointments for Oklahoma. Usually Americans elect their own rulers. If there is anything that can take the place of this, it is for the President and Senate of the United States to choose for no º º cº-º- 140 ºn 4 º' Mº. descendi Men swº chiefs i. leading open ba augh, M in the c. the Gut ment of avenue ! vances.” the city, Barnes, On th Territor the Sup a. grand people, it marc) awaiting grand p: by May. had sub church, greeted welcome - - - plause --- ºuttered their dainty law Lº M. Barºnes. - - - an ºn escorted him tº horses. Captain ºoge Herriott oºº- long procession formed and under tº the day matched º to the Chief who in ºr several of the principal to the handsome non- inted dinner was served. ºn the people from all p- joined in tendering the ºral appointes accompany numbering fully ten tº Oklahoma avenue, alº several thousand peºple escorted up the sºns to the assembled nºted that foll ºf the lºst Congº ºf the people of Oºlº º following eloquent and “If I could expº our Gover homage W. thing at this comed. “We al the mome been pray “We re dent of th trustful w you for u President the Senat Americans of this, it noughts of the great mulº as we now stand in the nº ºnoma if I could tell you ºuld do what I think would nº associates would be overwhelm This great concourse is not tº this opportunity some ºple by his Excellen- in full of men of welfare at near United States a without object ºr on-anon that can tº ea states - - º º w § - N §§ § - w NS --~ ~ N §§ - wº- §§ º S$ §N sº SS º º SN ºw w s s SS § §§ N S § --> º HON. GEO. W STEELE l *First - - - - Governor of Oklaho - homa. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 141 the people such as shall govern them for a term. We certainly appreciate the President's choice and the Senate's approval. “But we receive you also because of yourself. Our excellent daily press has spread before us information about you. We have learned of the service you have done for your country in the time of her need; we have heard of the hon- ors you have received in your own State and home; and the Hoosier State has sent to us already some of our best citizens. So we are indeed prepared to re- ceive you gladly because of yourself. “I need not say, in the presence of this great gathering, that this welcome is united and thorough. It is from all parts of the Territory. “Guthrie is very glad to receive you. She has already experienced many happy days, but this is the gladdest of all. “Oklahoma City also welcomes you—a city of worthy citizens—a city of un- surpassed business enterprise. She is an honor to herself and a credit to the Territory. I am sure she has character enough to welcome you heartily, al- though it is to favored Guthrie you have come. “And there is Kingfisher, guarding for the present our western boundary line. She has some admirable men and some of the best of women—a city of churches and palatial homes and of generous hospitality. I can’t speak too hearty a welcome to you for Kingfisher. “And there is El Reno. Her large, solid, promptly-on-hand delegation speaks well for her. She is decided and enthusiastic in her welcome. To get the right estimate of El Reno you need only to look well at the back of her envelopes. When my attention was first called to this, having only just recently come from New England, I felt a little jealous for the hub of Massachusetts bay. However, I can only wish that the system of railroads that is now on the rear of their envelopes will very soon be in the front of her prosperous affairs. - “I cannot speak as I would like to of Norman and Edmond, Stillwater and Orlando, Alfred and Downs, Hennessey and Lincoln. All are present here to-day. Their presence here must be a welcome that pleases you + 4 + “The material and social combinations in Oklahoma are new and somewhat different from those that have marked any other Territory. There is, for in- stanee, a large Southern population here. I am told that there are as many Southerners as there are Northerners. There is no Mason and Dixon's line here. No sectional ideas or issues are known here. It is possible that we are here to realize, more than in any other part of the country, the very desirable fruit of the war, and that is American brotherhood. No South, no North, but one country, one people. Oklahoma is common ground for the North and for the South. - “We are no doubt soon to be a complete connecting link between the country that lies south of us between here and the gulf and the great North- west that is north of us. When we shall become strong enough we may be able to turn some of the great trans-continental arteries of trade, by which now the increasing productions of the West and Northwest are carried through the lakes, that are closed a part of the year, or around them to the sea- 142 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, board. I say to turn them this way, that they may have another way to all the world, especially to the South American countries, through the ever-open gulf. “It only remains for me to give to you the right hand of welcome. I am advised to say to you that sixty thousand hands join yours to-day, and pledge to you on their behalf immediate and continued, intelligent and affectionate, co-operation under your leadership. “May we not hope to be so prospered materially and so blessed in heaven, and that Oklahoma will be so enlarged to the eastward, and to the westward, and to the northward, that before your administration closes you shall secure for us the place that belongs to us in the flag of the nation ?” In response Governor Steele stepped forward amid the deafening cheers of the various delegations. He then spoke as follows: “FELLOW-CITIZENS: I am not going to detain you in the presence of the impending storm. I have come to you not from any seeking of my own, and I regret exceedingly to have heard since I have arrived here that there are disappointments because some one of your number from this united, prosper- ous, energetic, and great Territory was not given to you as the chief execu- tive officer. I can explain how that happened, and I am going to do it now. It was because you had too much good timber, too many great men, and the task would have been too great for the President to have selected from among them. He wrote (or telegraphed) me, asking if I would accept the governor- ship of this great Territory. And while every business interest would have called upon me to say no, I was flattered by the prospect of governing so ener. getic and live a people, in so great and good a country, and I said yes. “I come to you unpledged, untrammelled by promises. I bring with meno men. I have it in my heart to be as good a Governor as you would have me be. If I fail don’t charge it to my heart. I will do the very best I can to serve the interests of no one place, but of all this beautiful Territory. When I make mistakes, remember that it is natural for the human family to do so, but I will make no more than I can help. I recognize, perhaps far better than any of you can, the great responsibility resting upon me. In this case there has been more left for the Governor to do than has ever been left for any executive before. I believe from looking in your faces to-day that you are going to make this Territory prosperous. [Applause..] I am going to help you. You cannot help me, as I am not the power to make this Territory prosperous. The power is here before me and on the fields to-day. In the matter of officers— I am talking now to the citizens, both Democrats and Republicans, and these are the great leading parties of the country; and without party this Govern. ment cannot exist – I am going to consult as good Democrats as you have where your party is concerned, and I am also going to consult as good Repub- licans as there are in this Territory where their interests are concerned. I am going to do what I believe is right in all things, and I would have you help me and make allowances. Let us work together and get this Territory on her feet. Let us be prepared to welcome the outside world, and then, if we have them, have our political differences afterwards. [Applause..] I promised not THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 143 to detain you. I think I have stretched a little–I cries in the crowd to “go on,” “go on,”]—but I want to especially extend my devoted, fervent and prayer- ful acknowledgment to the ladies who have come out to sustain you. With- out them life would not be worth living, and unless you treat the wife, mother, and sister well, who have braved the possibilities of danger and trouble to come out and toil with you and share your disappointments, you are not my friends.” In the evening the joyous event was transferred to the spacious hall in the Herriott block, which was all aglow with electric lights, and where thousands of fair women and brave men were formally resented to the Governor, the United States Judges, and Attorney, y Hon. C. M. Barnes. At 10 o'clock the same evening, in company with a party of friends, his Excellency attended the first inaugural ball given in Oklahoma, of which mention is made in another chapter. And thus closed an eventful and happy day for the people of Oklahoma and their first Executive. ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE A PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT. About the middle of May, 1889, a call was issued by a few of the leading men of Guthrie for a convention, with a view to organizing a provisional government for Oklahoma. And notwithstanding the movement met with bitter opposition by the people of Oklahoma City, Frisco, the Renos, and Kingfisher, the convention met at Guthrie on the 17th of July, there being ninty-six delegates in attendance. F. W. Green, postmaster at Edmond, was elected president, and M. A. Duff, of Downs, secretary. The various committees were appointed, and after an exciting session of three days the convention adjourned until the 20th of August following. Upon the re-assembling of the convention in August about one hundred delegates were present, nearly every township in the Territory being represented. Many of the leading men of Oklahoma were present. Many favored the propo- sition of adopting a memorial to Congress, and then adjourning until after Congress convened in the fall. The majority, however, favored the idea of organizing the Territory by electing a governor and other provisional officers. And to that end the convention, through its committees, framed an organic act for the Territory, a memorial to Congress, and divided the Territory into counties, all of which acts were adopted by the convention. The delegates opposed to the scheme of organizing the Territory by electing provisional officers, although in the minority, made a brave fight, and it was mainly through their action and influence that the committee in whose hands was placed - 144. ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, the duty of organizing the voting precincts, making apportionments. and calling the election, neglected to act, and as a result the adjourn. ment of the convention in August, 1889, was the end of the scheme, The memorial, however, served to allay the discontented and riotous feeling that began to manifest itself at the time the convention was called. The memorial it sent to Congress, backed by a delegation of prominent citizens, also had a good effect in securing early legisla- tion. Then again, the occasion afforded an interchange of views between the leading men of the Territory, which has proved beneficial to the general welfare of Oklahoma. - The convention adopted the following memorial to Congress, which was duly presented by the following committee, elected by the con- vention for that purpose: To the Senate and the House of Representatives of the United States in Com- gress assembled : We, the people living in that part of the Indian Territory opened to settle- ment under the act of Congress approved March 20, 1889, in convention as- sembled at the city of Guthrie, in said Territory, respectfully show that : The land so opened comprised less than two million acres, and was settled on the first day it was opened for settlement, to wit., April 22d, 1889; that imme- diately upon that day there sprang into existence in said land agricultural communities, villages, towns, and cities—one of those towns containing not less than 8,000 people and another not less than 3,000, and the total population of the land opened being not less than 30,000 people. The population since that time has increased and now numbers not less than 50,000 people. Every quarter section of land fit for agricultural purposes has been settled upon and the towns have been steadily growing. Since April 22d, 1889, the settlers have constructed nearly enough houses for residences and buildings for the busi- nesses which belong to towns of their size. - The towns now located and growing in said land number twenty-seven. The population of this land is chiefly and to an unusual degree composed of law-abiding people, who have come here to make permanent homes for them- selves and build up a desirable community life. Owing to the press of other business upon Congress at the time the bill for the opening of this land was passed, there was no provision for territorial government made by Congress, or for any other government, nor for any law. save as the country might be governed by the United States courts, including the then recently established court at Muskogee, under the laws enforceable by them, it being doubtless intended by Congress that fuller legislation and more complete laws should be provided at its next meeting. As now settled, this Territory has all the social and business conditions wnich would be found in an equal area of territory in one of the old settled States, and has need of as complete protection to its social and commercial conditions. At present, however, there is no provision in this Territory by THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 145 which the property of a decedent may be taken charge of his debts paid, and the fund remaining distributed to the persons properly entitled thereto; nor is there any rule of descents determining to whom the property should be dis- tributed. There is no provision for the solemnization of marriage, nor for the care or adoption of orphan children, nor the protection of wards, nor the administra- tion of their estates. There is no provision for the making or authentication of wills nor the probating thereof. There is no provision for the care of the unfortunate or afflicted, the desti- tute, the aged, blind, sick, or the insane. There is no provision for burial grounds, nor is there any place where the dead may be lawfully interred. There is no provision for the construction or maintenance of public roads or bridges; nor for the establishment or maintenance of public schools; nor for the apprehending of animals running at large or breaking into the fields of the settlers; nor for assignments by insolvents, or the application of their property to the payment of their debts; nor for the incorporation or regulation of banks or savings banks, or a rate of interest upon money. There is no provision for conveyances of lands, or mortgages of lands or goods, nor for the recording of conveyances or mortgages. There is no provision for trusts or powers, nor for the enforcement thereof; nor punishment for breach of trusts. There is no provision for corporations for purposes of trade or business, nor for municipal corporations. There is no provision for labor, material or mechanics’ liens. There is no provision for taxation for any purpose. There is no provision for the protection of the public health, nor for the prevention or suppression of contagious diseases. In criminal matters the laws at present in force in the Territory relate only to crimes against the United States and the primitive forms of violence, such as murder and stock stealing. There is no provision of law as to child stealing, attempted rape, poisoning, abortion, libel or blackmail, reckless burning of woods or prairies, burglarious entry of houses, trespass, embezzlement, altering or removing land-marks forcible entry and detainer, forgery, rioting, carrying deadly weapons, disturb- ing public meetings, seduction, public indecency, profanity, gambling, lotteries, drunkenness, bribery, destroying legal process, official negligence or malfea- sance, creating or maintaining a public nuisance, selling unwholesome, dis- eased, or adulterated provisions or drink, introducing diseased or infected stock into the Territory, swindling, false weights or measures, obtaining money or property under false pretenses, making or using counterfeit labels; nor for many other offenses. By the exceptional and intelligent employment of United States troops and United States marshals, and by the force of an exceptionally cool and intelli- gent and honest public opinion, there has been a degree of public order so far –10 146 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, preserved in this country that is extremely creditable to the authorities and to the people. But it cannot be hoped that such unusual conditions shall perma. nently continue, and those provisions for the preservation of good order and the protection of person and property and the regulation of conduct which obtain in other established communities should be established here. By the provisions of the act of March 2d, 1889, the only modes by which the title to town-sites could be conveyed to the actual occupants of the town-sites, were under sections 2387 and 2388 of the Revised Statutes, by the corporate authorities of incorporated towns, or by the judge of any county court in case the town is not incorporated. At present there is no law under which towns can be incorporated or have corporate authorities; nor can there be a judge of a county court, and therefore there is no mode by which town-sites can be legally entered, or any title to town lots obtained by the inhabitans of the towns. This is a serious detriment to the towns of this Territory, and prevents the building up of many substantial improvements and enterprises in our towns there being a natural indisposition on the part of the settlers to the expending of large sums of money on either residences, business houses, or business plants located upon lots to which they have not title as yet nor any provision of law which under existing conditions can assure them of a title hereafter. Until such legislation is had we can not have fully effective city organiza- tion for the furtherance of the good and the repression of the evils constantly occurring in city and town life. Until such legislation is had it will be almost impossible to have effective rules or laws as to public roads, or to prevent the fencing up of roads through the country—an evil which has been increasing since the time of our settle- ment, until now some of the principal roads are fenced and utterly abandoned, and whole neighborhoods are debarred from any convenient way to any town or railroad. While this large growth has taken place and this settlement has been made in the two millions of acres opened, it is well known that the Government is now negotiating for and expects soon to open in the Indian Territory lands surrounding Oklahoma, amounting to not less than twenty million acres addi: tional. If this large tract is opened and settled with approximately like density and rapidity, there will be as soon as opened a population in the Territory of from three hundred thousand to five hundred thousand new settlers. These, in addition to the people now in the whole Indian Territory, will make a total population in the Territory of from five hundred to seven hundred thousand people. Part of these lands can now be opened for settlement without further ne: gotiation if Congress so desires, and it seems probable that all of the twenty million acres will be open within two years. It is also probable that large bodies of these lands will be opened before this Congress adjourns, and that they will be settled at once, or within a few days after they are opened. That those lands should be opened without a territorial government being prº- vided for them would be to invite calamity, and the necessity of providing * government for them needs no discussion. - THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 147 The government given as herein prayed for would be a nucleus and an aid to put in operation the government needed in the lands that will be opened. It would facilitate their orderly settlement and influence the best class of immigrants to choose the land. - We therefore most earnestly pray that the Congress will, as its first duty upon its assembling, pass an organic act instituting this Territory, and giving to these American citizens a full and sufficient territorial government. F. L. GREENE, President of Convention. M. A. DUFF, - Secretary of Convention. R. LOWERY, Assistant Secretary of Convention. A. MCCASKEY, Corresponding Secretary of Convention. O.V. HAYES, Assistant Corresponding Secretary of Convention. Frank M. Albright. John R. Ash. S. B. Bevans. Tyler Blake. John C. Calhoun. J. R. Clark. R. J. Barker. G. W. Clark. Elbridge Comstock. S. R. Carson. I 3 e In n e t t. A. W. Dunn. W. H. Jackson. C. W. Goodrich. O. Gallagher. Bayard T. Hainer. William J. Ladd. Robert Martin. D. E. McCormick. J. W. McNeal. George Miles. Frank M. Moore. W. B. Overton. Milton W. Reynolds. D. M. Ross. T. J. Hart. W. Lumpkin. J. M. Monroe. James Moran. Dick T. Morgan. Frank Rector. James L. Rock. W. B. Russell, S. E. Seeley. Thomas Seeley. Horace Speed. T. J. Lowe. Franklin Springer. Robert Galbreath. John H. Terrill. J. M. Kuykendall. Ira M. Terrill. W. H. Wilson. B. F. Woodworth. W. H. Merriweather. W. D. Saunders. E. N. Yates B. F. Larsh. J. A. McDonald. P. H. Guthrie. J. M. Ennis T. P. Oliver. J. F. Saunders. S. W. Bradford. ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, T. A. Stockslager. W. B. Russell. H. C. Schilling. W. C. Grafton. Ottimus E. Schow. Hugh Jones. Theo. Pierce. A. C. Staley. C. P. Spinning. John F. Stone. James Potts. Charles McCormick. Newton M. Taylor. W. H. Fallis. James R. Taylor. S. J. Jackman. E. D. Turvin. J. H. Fenlon. W. W. Thomas. A. D. Hecock. lł. C. Vanarsdale. W. D. Lindsay. D. G. Woodworth. C. W. Andrew. Frank J. Wikoff. T. R. Waggoner. S. S. Cole. J. E. Grigsby. N. W. Daniels. W. A. Matherson. James R. Day. J. G. McCall. Frank Guthrie. T. R. McElroy. George A. Garrison. F. M. Vaughn. Alonzo Ervin. On the evening of the 3d of September, 1890, the citizens of Guthrie tendered the legislators and executive officers of Oklahoma a recep- tion which will long be remembered for its enjoyable and brilliant features. Besides the Governor, the judiciary, the legislators, and other high officials of the Territory, the attendance included many prominent people from all parts of Oklahoma. Nothing was left undone by the different committees to render the occasion a memo- rable one in the social history of Guthrie. The entertainment in- cluded a reception and ball in the hall of the house of representatives, which was handsomely decorated and brilliantly lighted with incan- descent lamps, and an elegant banquet, which was served in the spacious hall of the council chamber to over five hundred guests. It was a joyous event, and citizens and strangers were like happy. To the strains of excellent music by the Guthrie Silver Cornet Band. also a string band engaged for the occasion, at nine o'clock the grand march, which was led by Governor and Mrs. George W. Steele, was called, and in which about two hundred couples joined. The pro- gramme contained nineteen numbers, and at the close of the ninth the banquet was announced, and the gay assemblage formed into line by couples and marched to the banquet hall, where, draped in snowy linen, glittering with silver, cut-glass, and china, tables fairly ladened with delicious viands greeted them. The banquet closed with the following toasts and responses, the Hon. Horace Speed officiating as toast-master on the occasion: THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 149 “To the Chief Executive of Oklahoma.” Responded to by Governor George W. Steele. “Our Law-Makers.” Responded to by Hon. W. A. McCartney. “The Judiciary.” Responded to by Chief Justice Green. * Women in Civilization.” Responded to by J. M. Wimberly. “Our Industries.” Responded to by Hon. L. S. Pittman. “Deep Water Harbor.” Responded to by I. N. Terrell. * Oklahoma Cities and Towns.” Responded to by Hon. W. S. Merten. - “Our Friends in Congress.” Responded to by Hon. Sidney Clarke.* “Opening of the Indian Lands.” Responded to by J. L. Brown. BANQUET TO THE DISTINGUISHED LAW-MAKERS OF OKLAHOMA. - The evening of the 10th of September, 1890, was a memorable one in the social annals of Oklahoma City. The occasion was a brilliant reception and banquet tendered the territorial officers and the legislature, and was a notable one for the reason of its elegant appointments, excellent management on the part of the various com- mittees, and from the further fact of its being an assemblage of rep- resentative people throughout Oklahoma. The members of the legislature, the Governor and his family, and the judiciary, together with invited guests, left Guthrie on a special train in the afternoon, and were received at the beautiful city of the North Canadian by a vast concourse of people, who gave them a royal welcome. Later in the afternoon the guests enjoyed a ride about the city and over the beautiful surrounding uplands, where “Gentle gales fanning their odoriferous wings, Dispense native perfumes, and whisper Whence they stole those balmy spoils.” At 9 o'clock the doors of the Grand Opera-house swung open and the invited guests passed in and were received by over three hundred leading people of Oklahoma City, assembled to do honor to the dis- tinguished law-makers of this new commonwealth. It was one of the most notable gatherings of Oklahoma. The spacious auditorium was luminous with light and fittingly decorated with the national *Mr. Clarke, in his response to the toast referred to, greatly praised the grand work accom- plished by Captains D. L. Payne and W. L. Couch; Hon. Milton W. Reynolds; Senator Van Wyck, of Nebraska; Hon. James B. Weaver and Hon. Isaac Struble, of Iowa; Hon. William Warner, Hon. Charles H. Mansur, and Hon. John T. Hurd, of Missouri; Hon. William M. Springer, of Illinois; Hon. Bishop W. Perkins and Hon. S. R. Peters, of Kansas, in the opening of Oklahoma. 150 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, colors. At 9:30 a sweet symphony of music beneath the touch of a skilled orchestra swelled through the vast hall, and the grand march, under the leadership of Governor and Mrs. Steele, opened. Later in the evening a banquet was served in the spacious dinin hall of the Grand Avenue Hotel. Covers were laid for five i. guests, and the menu was extensive and perfectly served. The most enjoyable feature of this royal entertainment was the toasts that followed. Hon. Sidney Clarke, mayor pro tem, presided, and acquit- ted himself of the duties of toast-master in a brilliant and masterly In anner. The toasts and responses were: “The Hon. Geo. W. Steele, Chief Executive of Oklahoma.” Re- sponded to by Governor Steele. “The Judiciary.” Responded to by Chief Justice Green. “The First Council of Oklahoma.” Responded to by Hon. Geo. Gardenhire, president of the council. “The First House of Representatives.” Responded to by Hon. M. H. Daniels, Speaker of the House. “The Oklahoma Bar.” Responded to by Hon. John Foster. “The Ladies of Oklahoma.” Responded to by M. L. Bixler. “The Press.” Responded to by W. P. Thompson, editor of the Guthrie Daily Wews. “The Difficulties in the Way of Legislation.” Responded to by Hon. J. L. Brown. “Oklahoma; why should she not be admitted to a place among the sisterhood of States.” Responded to by Hon. A. M. McCartney. Thus closed an occasion that in after years will be remembered by the happy participants as one of the bright mile-stones that mark the early history of this Fair God land. “A land of promise, a land of memory, A land of promise flowing with the milk And honey of delicious memories.” A SOCIAL EVENT IN OKLAHOMA. An event that will, perhaps, indicate the status of society at Okla. homa City more correctly than any other, was an afternoon reception given by Mrs. Ledrue Guthrie, May 23d, 1890, at her home on Fourth street. A distinctive and delightful accessory of this occº sion was the profusion of dainty wild blossoms that transformed each apartment into a green of nature's loveliness, languoress with deli- cious odors. In the square reception hall pink lotus blossoms pre- vailed; an antique covered table freighted with these exquisite flowers, THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 151 at the foot of the grand stairway, proved a bright picture of welcome to the guests. The parlors were lavishly decorated. Flowers bloomed everywhere; white . with their hearts of gold, and brilliant yellow jonquils were massed with artistic profusion over the piano, pink lotus flowers concealed the mantel, and the chiffonier duplicated a bank of the same dainty blossoms. At the entrance to the second parlor the turkish portieres were drawn aside and revealed a large fan, composed of daisies and sweet violets, “white as milk and perfume laden,” endent from the archway. Refreshments were served in the conser- vatory adjoining the second parlor. Here, too, the most refined and cultivated taste was revealed in the environments. The luncheon table gleamed with its dainty appointments of fragile Sevre and silver. At intervals were placed clusters of white and purple flowers, freshly gathered from their native beds of moss. Throughout it was an event that would have been notable for its elegance in the most exclusive society of any Eastern city. Mrs. Guthrie was assisted in receiving by Mrs. Nettie Chapell, Mrs. John Wallace, Mrs. Eugene Wallace, Mrs. D. A. Harvey, Mrs. W. H. Harper, Miss Carrie Fairchild, and Miss Lillie Hickey. The guests were: Mrs. W. Sandford, Mrs. D. F. Stiles, Mrs. Taylor Flick, Mrs. H. Overholser, Mrs. C. A. Davis, Mrs. W. W. Stone, Mrs. H. M. Stebbins, Mrs. J. B. Rollater, Mrs. Nichols, Mrs. Dr. Hollaman, Mrs. E. B. Fairchild, Mrs. Lizzie Aston, Mrs. W. M. Wolf, Mrs. William Haley, Mrs. J. G. Hickey, Mrs. O. H. Violet, Mrs. John Wand, Mrs. W. A. Monroe, Mrs. D. O. Leach, Mrs. J. B. Banks, Mrs. W. L. Miller, Mrs. C. A. Galbraith, Mrs. Dr. Ains- worth, Mrs. J. Wilkinson, Mrs. Benj. Crocroft, Mrs. C. W. Baird, Mrs. J. W. Johnson, Mrs. Geo. Anderson, Mrs. Freeman Givens, Mrs. D. C. Richardson, Mrs. J. P. Boyle, Mrs. H. A. Brown, Mrs. J. Murray, Mrs. A. C. Peyton, Mrs. B. N. Woodson, Mrs. C. F. Somers, Mrs. J. A. Burt, Mrs. William McClure, Mrs. J. N. Harvey, Misses Annie Robertson, Annie Miller, and Kate and Mary Ellis. 152 ILLUSTRATED OK LA HOMA, CHAPTER XI. [ContRIBUTED BY PROF. FRANK TERRY.] THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF OKLA HOMA. The reminiscences of the first year of white settlement in Okla- homa are of such a character as to impart pleasing and valuable les- sons to the thoughtful student. The unusual manner of the opening of the Territory, the prompt and impetuous rush of the people to occupy the lands, and the anomalous conditions surrounding the set- tlers during that interesting period of patriotic anarchy, developed not only peculiar freaks of human nature, but facts in relation to the general state of the great American mind that the casual observer would scarcely have supposed to exist. The occupation was so sudden and complete, every quarter-section of land being at once entered upon, human habitations appearing on every hand, and large cities springing up as if at the touch of a magi- cian’s wand, that Oklahoma may be said to have passed almost instan- taneously from a native wild to a densely populated community. Had the people who composed this community been of that class who are content with bare existence, no matter how humble or homely, their needs would have been more nearly consonant to the conditions. On the contrary, however, they were a people who had assembled from all parts of the Union, from the most populous cities of the East and the most fertile plains of the West, and representing in their persons the best specimens of manhood and womanhood, and in their ideas the best thoughts of the communities from which they came. Their needs, therefore, were the same as in their old homes, and included all those conveniences and privileges that are blessings of civilized life. How far short then the conditions came of meeting their needs is neither easy for me to explain nor for the uninitiated to imagine. The real state of affairs was as if from a community of like proportions in one of the older States, such as Ohio or New York, that invisible network, the law, were lifted, their courts and other institutions abolished, their churches and school-houses carried a WaW. These first settlers of Oklahoma had no law save the public land laws and the criminal statutes of the United States. How they rose above their conditions, and upon their own well-settled convictions of right founded local provisional governments, is faithfully narrated in other pages of this work. In nothing, however, was there such a m U. PROF. FRANK TERRY. station numph - -ºld sº ºula ºn beli- at tº 153 a conspicu- he matter of popular. If - expre- -- ~- held - books - ºnal gº- tip-toed - ºngº in is for toº has ideº edu- and clot. ºn inds of in Oklan- -table on- ined school- results ust immed ºugh the ºr h school en-ful able earl re- - it was gen- a familiarity and retard his ildren might hed.” But the clamor which the we come to children as as taken on 5 witnessed pear insur- ºbject to be ost satisfac- were started continued came on at fall term, sert itself. ral law on sing local were least ened and he towns was made n-Handle. on Octo- continued wing the ind Mr. H. tº sufficient ll. One nº ºne present |× |- |- |- |- º |- --- THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 153 manifestation of the noble spirit of our people, nor such a conspicu- ous triumph of will over adverse circumstances, as in the matter of our public schools. Popular education has of recent years become indeed popular. If we may believe Walter Scott, a certain ancient and venerable earl re- joiced at the fact that - “Son of mine, Sir Gawain, ne'er could pen a line.” Thus expressing a sentiment largely shared in by the people of that and even subsequent ages. Indeed, in quite recent times it was gen- erally held that ignorance was man's normal state, and a familiarity with books was calculated to fill his mind with unrest and retard his spiritual growth. There was especially a fear that the children might be “tip-toed up higher than ever their fathers was teached.” But a change in this respect has come over the people, and the clamor now is for higher education and for all the knowledge which the Creator has placed within the reach of men. Parents *... come to consider education as essential to the well-being of their children as food and clothing. But few realize the hold this idea has taken on the minds of the people. A forcible illustration of it was witnessed here in Oklahoma, where, in the face of what would appear insur- mountable obstacles to people less determined in the object to be attained, schools were organized and conducted with most satisfac- tory results. In many of the towns small private schools were started almost immediately after the opening of the Territory, and continued through the greater part of the summer; but as the time came on at which schools in the older communities are opened for the fall term, the powerful school sentiment of the people began to assert itself. The people demanded schools, and in the absence of a general law on the subject, the best brains of the Territory set about devising local systems. In the rural communities, where the conditions were least favorable to the organization of schools, a number were opened and conducted throughout the fall and winter months. All the towns opened schools. Perhaps the best record in this particular was made by Stillwater, a flourishing little town on the Northwest Pan-Handle. A school supported at public cost was opened at that place on Octo- ber 20, under the management of Mr. Edwin Clark. It continued for four months, and then closed. About April 1st following the school reopened, with Mr. J. B. Holliday as principal, and Mr. H. S. Donant assistant. The school is still progressing, with sufficient money in the city treasury to maintain it until the coming fall. One hundred and ninety-six pupils have been enrolled during the present term. 154. ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, The little city of Edmond has also made an excellent record. The citizens built a neat frame school-house by private subscription, which was the first building of the kind erected in the Territory. School opened during the latter part of September and continued un- til May. It was taught by Miss Allie McCormick, a very efficient teacher who resides at that place. Certain gentlemen of the town guaranteed the teacher's salary. Pupils were charged a uniform rate of tuition, except in cases of indigent children, ". were admitted free, the tuition being paid by the city government. At the end of the term the school committee, after paying all expenses, had a small balance left in their treasury. - At Kingfisher private subscription schools were taught by Misses Eliza Taylor and Annie Fisher, the school not having adopted the free school system. Schools on the subscription plan were also opened at Frisco, the Renos, Norman, Noble, Lexington, and all smaller towns throughout the Territory. Oklahoma City is blessed with a number of prominent and effi- cient educators. Prof. G. W. Patrick is a young man possessing splendid academic attainments, energy, tact, and the other qualifica- tions necessary to the successful teacher. He came to Oklahoma on the memorable “22d' from East Tennessee, where for years he had been identified with the leading educational institutions of that sec- tion. Prof. F. H. Umholtz, who with Professor Patrick stands at the head of the profession at Oklahoma City, came to this Territory from Kansas. |. is a polished scholar, and an educator of large experience. Prof. E. W. Ewing, Professor Ray, Professor North and wife, are also prominent in the educational work at Oklahoma City. ºny in the autumn of 1889 a number of subscription schools were started at Oklahoma City. Professors Patrick and Umholtz jointly opened a school, but later on the latter opened a school of his own in the north part of the city, while Professor Patrick, associ- ating with himself Professor Ewing, continued the school in South Oklahoma City. These schools were conducted on the tuition plan, and were continued until May, 1890. What is generally known as the city of Guthrie has since its set- tlement, and up to to the present time, been divided into four sepa- rate corporations or cities, viz.: Guthrie proper, East Guthrie, West Guthrie, and Capitol Hill. Each of these cities adopted a separate charter. Each charter created a free school system, and provided for the election of a board of education to have charge of the organiza: tion and maintenance of the schools. These four seperate school THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 155 boards came into existence within the confines of two adjoining square miles of land. During the month of September, 1889, it was agreed by these school boards, while each maintained a separate exist- ence, to unite for the general features of the work before them, especially the organization of a system of graded schools which should include all of the four cities. In this way was organized our famous “consolidated school board.” J. W. McNeal was chosen first president of this board, afterwards succeeded by Dr. McElhin- ney, and he by Geo. W. Taylor. L. J. Kolklosch was then, and is still, the industrious, clear-headed secretary. By this board the writer was elected superintendent of the schools. A corps of ten grade teachers was elected, as follows: Messrs. H. A. Decker, W. H. Riner, R. J. Prichard, Mesdames B. F. Perkins, A. J. Fowler, May D. Meadows, Laura E. Terry, Misses Alma Carson, Carrie J. Ander- son, and May J. Quick. School furniture was purchased, the board issuing warrants in payment thereof. Free school books were ob- tained of Van Antwerp, Bragg & Co., publishers of the “Eclectic” series, Cincinnati, Ohio. City halls and storerooms were rented for the accomodation of the schools, and fitted up for the purpose as well as circumstances permitted. On the 14th day of October the schools were opened, and contin- ued until the 4th day of April, thus completing a term of six months. There were about seven hundred children of school age enrolled, with an average attendance of about five hundred. The plan adopted for meeting the expenses of the schools was the lot assessment plan, and the assessments were paid so freely that the indebtedness of the city on account of the schools will soon be liquidated. Before closing the history of the Guthrie schools, mention should be made of the private school conducted by the Sisters of St. Mary’s Catholic church. That school opened in September and continued until June. It was largely attended and was very successful. In September, Profs. E. L. Hallock and C. M. Hill opened a private school of high grade, under the name of the Oklahoma Academy, which continued about eight months, having during that time a good attendance. So far no mention has been made of the schools in “No-man’s Land,” which section by the organic act of this Territory is now a part of Oklahoma. At the two principal towns in that portion of the Territory—Beaver City and Buffalo–schools have been main- tained during the past two years, while throughout the country dis- tricts the education of the children is being rapidly provided for. The teachers of the Territory have an organization known as “The 156 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, Oklahoma Teachers’ Association.” On the first Saturday after the opening of the Guthrie public schools this association was formed by electing Professor Terry president, Miss Alma Carson vice-president, Mr. H. A. Decker secretary, Miss May I. Quick assistant secretary, and Miss Carrie Anderson treasurer. An executive committee in- cluding the above-named officers, also Professor Hallock and Frank Guthrie, was also elected. The first meeting of the association was held at Guthrie on the 25th of December, 1889, at which thirty-two teachers were in attendance. At that meeting the following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, E. P. Babcock; vice- presidents, Miss Alma Carson of Guthrie, Prof. F. H. Umholtz of Oklahoma City, Miss Eliza Taylor of Kingfisher, Mr. P. M. Howe of Stillwater; recording secretary, Miss Allie McCormick, of Edmond; corresponding secretary, Mrs. May D. Meadows, of Guthrie; treas- urer, Mrs. Allie Kolklosch. On April 17th, 1890, the second meet- ing of the association was held at Edmond, and the third meeting was held in July following at the same place. Altogether this is a good record for the first year's educational effort of Oklahoma. A most commendable sentiment in favor of public schools has been developed, and both teachers and people are preparing for the most active operations in the future. In the terri- torial bill of May 14th, 1890, $50,000 was appropriated in aid of the public schools, which is now being used in building up a healthy and prosperous school system throughout the Territory. The census re- F. of June, 1890, showed 17,300 children of school age in Okla- Onna. CHAPTER XII. THE FAMoUs statu QUO ORDER. Men seldom, or rather never, for a length of time and deliberately, rebel against anything that does not deserve rebelling against.—Carlyle. As mentioned in another part of this work, many of the valuable lots in the Guthries were taken by men who, it is charged, entered the Territory in violation of law. Many of these lots were bought for speculative purposes by other parties, the cities assuming to pro- tect purchasers by the issuance of warranty certificates. Many of these lots were held by non-residents—parties living and doing business in other States. In most instances these lots were without any improvements, and hence could be occupied, improved, and held THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 157 by any one that would take possession of them in good faith. The cities, to protect non-residents and speculators, passed several ordi- nances against what was termed “lot jumping.” For some time these ordinances were generally obeyed by the people, who from the first exhibited a desire to sustain the provisional government until Congress should grant them relief in a territorial organization. Late in the fall of 1889, however, there began to crop out a rebellious spirit, and unimproved lots were taken possession of in defiance of warranty certificates or city ordinances. Arrests and ejectments of “lot jumpers” were of daily occurrence; appeals to the appellate and superior courts of the city were taken in some cases, while in others the protection of the United States court through injunctions was invoked. Forbearance, with the people, had ceased to be a virtue, and all discovered that a crisis was at hand. Public meetings were called, and the question in all its bearings was discussed. The peo- le were terribly in earnest, and the city government did not possess either the physical or legal power to restrain them. At this juncture United States Marshal Walker was invited to attend a meeting of the chamber of commerce, with a view of se- curing his aid in enforcing the laws of the city. Upon being asked by the president of the chamber of commerce if he would not aid in enforcing the laws of the city, Marshal Walker replied: “If in my opinion the city was right, I would assist it; but if in my judgment it was wrong, I should not allow it to proceed.” The Secretary of the Interior was then appealed to, and through him the Attorney General issued his famous “Statu Quo?’ order, in which the United States marshals were instructed to prohibit lot jumping or ejectments. The order was arbitrary and without any legal force, and hence without any penalty for its violation. And while it served to allay the storm that had been gathering for weeks, it was fruitful of many ludicrous as well as exciting scenes. The following will serve to illustrate scores of similar incidents that occurred throughout the city. A valuable lot on Cleveland avenue, between Division and Broad streets, was “jumped” and a dwelling built upon it, which was after- wards removed into the street by the United States marshals. The owner of the house moved it back on the lot, only to have it again set in the street by the marshals, and thus the see-sawing was con- tinued, much to the amusement of the people residing in the vicinity of the contested property. On the 30th of |anuary, 1889, the Guthrie Chamber of Com- - 158 ILLUSTRATED ORLAHOMA, merce, after getting an expression of opinion from United States - Marshal Walker, sent the following telegram to Secretary Noble: “The chamber of commerce, composed of the business interests of this city, by a unanimous vote, respectfully request that you instruct the United States marshal in charge here not to step beyond his authority in matters pertaining to ownership of property. We think that the good order maintained here in the past should warrant you in supporting our city authorities. The affairs of this Territory are in a critical condition, and a territorial government at the earliest possible moment is imperative.” On the 4th of January, 1890, the citizens of Guthrie held a mass meeting with a view of laying before Congress the necessity of terri- torial legislation at the earliest possible moment. Capt. John T. Taylor was called to the chair, and Judge T. J. Lowe being loudly called for, responded by saying he had just returned from Washington, and he was convinced that the proper thing for the people to-day was to urge the imperative necessity for territorial government, and leave the kind of a government entirely to Congress; that the impression in Washington was that we were a precious set of rascals, trying to beat each other and the Government. The Oklahoma delegation, however, had banished such an idea, and were working hard for the Territory. Judge Lowe, in an eloquent and forcible manner, urged the people to abstain from violence, to obey the local laws, and to do all in their power to promote harmony. He said that Oklahoma had been grossly slandered by her own people; by cranks who could only see thievery in their neighbors. The Judge then introduced the fol- lowing telegram, which was sent to the Oklahoma delegation in Washington, after being unanimously indorsed by the convention: With sincere gratitude to our friends in Congress for their honest work in our behalf, we, the citizens of Guthrie, Oklahoma, and vicinity, in mass-meet- ing assembled, beseech an immediate consummation of this work in the passage of some sort of a territorial bill for our relief. The planting season is at hand, and farmers hesitate to sow without protection of law. Uncertainty has stopped improvements and investments. Nine months' waiting has exhausted our resources. In a complete dead-lock we cry for law and titles.” This telegram was signed by the chairman and secretary of the convention, and sent to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, and was read to each of those bodies on the following day. Oklahoma had a few staunch friends in Congress, friends that knew the needs of the people, and who worked unceasingly in their interests. She had enemies too—enemies who for the past fifteen ears had worked in the interest of the cattle barons. Congressman }. checkmated these enemies of Oklahoma on the 2d day of THE LAND of the FAIR god. 159 March, 1889, which served to embitter them more than ever against Oklahoma. By their peaceful conduct and maintenance of order for nearly a year, the people had a right to expect that Congress and the Execu- tive would appreciate their loyalty, and reward them with govern- ment and laws at the earliest moment. In this, however, they were disappointed; weeks and months rolled by, improvements throughout the Territory ceased, investments stopped, and thousands, either in disgust or through necessity, left the Territory. In the whole range of the history of territorial settlement, there is no case parallel to that of Oklahoma in the shameful treatment of the people. The criminal neglect of Congress not only retarded the general improvements in both city and country, but actually bank- rupted one-fourth of the people in Oklahoma. The unkindest cut of all, however, was from the Executive, who by his acts said to the eople, You are incapable of properly managing the affairs of Okla- . It was like a thunder-peal from a clear sky to the people. They could not believe it, and they denounced the report as a vile slander on the President. “Though those that are betrayed Do feel the treason sharply, yet the traitor Stands in worse case of woe.” The leading journals of the Territory sounded the alarm, and warned the President of the danger of such a treasonable act against the avowed º of the Republican party. The State Capital, a leading Republican journal of Guthrie, voiced the sentiments of the people editorially, as follows: The National Republican convention in Chicago in 1888, when Benjamin Harrison was nominated for President of the United States, adopted a plank in its platform declaring that “we are in favor of selecting for the appointive offices of the territories residents of said territories.” This was the platform on which President Harrison was elected. Soon after his inauguration he filled a number of territorial offices. The horde of non-resident applicants Mr. Harrison refused to consider. He obeyed the platform and established the policy that residents were entitled to these offices and would get them While he was the distributor. Now comes the report from Washington that the President has a tendency to appoint outsiders to rule Oklahoma. We don’t believe he will do it. There is less excuse to ignore the Chicago platform in Oklahoma's case than there would have been in making appointments in the northwest territories. We do not believe President Harrison will ignore the wish of Oklahoma people for home rule. He knows that this Territory has produced the greatest exam- ple of self-government known to the world. He knows that the good order, 160 II, LUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, progress, and prosperity maintained here have resulted from a citizenship of the best blood and brains of the land. He knows that here in Oklahoma are men as fully capable of filling the offices provided for this Territory as any he might select from the United States at large. Mr. Harrison certainly knows the grit, hardships, and energy necessary to the building up of Okla- homa to its present high plane. He knows that the offices should go to the men who have earned them; to those who came here with the opening to share the future, whatever it might be, and build here a permanent home. President Harrison and the Republican party cannot afford to insult this proud, marvelous young Territory by sending carpet-baggers to fill the high offices. The people want residents appointed, and if the political future of the Territory is presaged, their wishes will be observed. We want no visitors on the thrones down here. We have admirably governed ourselves without law; we have the material to do it grandly with law. There are applicants for offices in Oklahoma whose endorsements will be as good as ever went to the Chief Executive. Some of these applicants the Presi- dent knows personally to be worthy of any honor he can bestow on them—men who have the highest respect of the people here and of those abroad; men who have been foremost and fairest in making this Territory what it is; men. who understand the situation and would handle it creditably to themselves, to Oklahoma, to the Republican party, and to the Nation. Can the President afford to pass such men by and slap this people in the face by the infliction of itinerants totally ignorant of the conditions here, and who would probably re- main only as long as they continued in position? President Harrison is not the man to reverse a policy when dealing with a people who deserve as much consideration at his hands as do the people of Oklahoma. But it is well to take as a note of warning the report that Mr. Harrison may appoint an outside man. Every paper in Oklahoma ought to renew dec- larations for home rule, in double-leaded force. All parts of the Territory have candidates for the various offices who are eminently qualified and ought - to be recognized. Every citizen should write to the President and urge that Oklahoma men be appointed for Oklahoma offices. The Senate has shown it- self by inserting a home-rule clause in the Platt bill. This is Republican policy; it is decent, fair politics; it is simple justice, and we believe will pre- wail if the President can be made to understand the feelings of the people of - Oklahoma. C. L. MCLEAN, Vice-President of Commercial Bank, Guthrie, ºn-º. President-inner-ºn-ºut- º º --- --~~~ moºn, -ºn- mercial bank gunne. §s § s J. M. RAGSDALE, President of Commercial Bank, Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 161 CHAPTER XIII. BANKS, BANKERS, AND BANKING IN OKLAHOMA. Bankers were the foremost pioneers in Oklahoma, and banking houses were among the first institutions to commence business. In many instances a dry goods box in the open air was made to serve as a cashier’s desk, over which deposits were received and checks aid. Nothing is more significant of Western enterprise and confi- dence than the establishment of banks in Oklahoma. The breadth of banking transactions and the confidence of bankers in the absence of local laws to enforce contracts, during the first year's life of the Territory, is one of the most marvelous features in the history of its º; to settlement. The confidence exhibited by financial pioneers in the future development and greatness of this young commonwealth is truly wonderful. Money and muscle, brain and brawn, met on a common level, and in confidence joined hands in laying deep and well the foundation of what is to be one of the most prosperous and inviting States in the Union. Oklahoma’s promising future, even in the absence of titles and laws, dispelled from capital that timid feeling so universal in older settled communities, and bankers stepped to the front with alacrity, and furnished the money necessary to aid labor in the great work of state building. In this instance capital and labor—interests that are identical–have worked in harmony, and the almost magical results of their labor in building up towns and cities, and in converting the broad prairies of Oklahoma into fruitful agricultural fields, elicit the admiration of the world. And to the broad views and business lib- erality of the pioneer bankers and other financial men of Oklahoma much of this admiration is due. From the bankers and other financial men has come the great, the overwhelming force and influence in moulding the future, and in building up the Territory to its present and prosperous proportions. The bankers and other capitalists have not only provided money for others to employ labor advantageously, but the bankers themselves have been foremost in investing in the erection of banking houses and business blocks of their own; buildings that are the grandest and most imposing to be found in Oklahoma; buildings i. stand as monuments to the confidence and enterprise of Oklahoma bankers. They have been active and determined. They have led manly lives, –11 162 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, and have never withheld a helping hand to the deserving applicant. They have been one of the great factors in moulding the institutions of Oklahoma in such a way that the author of this work with truth- ful pen can say to the thousands that are coming, “Here you will find moulded into form, waiting for you, schools and churches, refined society, good government, and a happy and progressive people.” THE COMMERCIAL BANK OF GUTHRIE. In another part of this work will be found an engraving of the Commercial Bank building, the most imposing, commodious, and attractive structure in the Territory. It occupies the northeast corner of Oklahoma avenue and Second street, and has a frontage of fifty feet on the first-named thoroughfare, and one hundred and forty feet on the latter. It is built of pressed brick, with marble and white limestone trimmings, two stories and basement, and is crowned by an imposing tower. The basement is occupied by the offices of the Daily News, and the Daily Democrat; the first floor by the Com- mercial Bank, the postoffice, a drug store, and a jewelry store, on the Oklahoma avenue front, while on the Second street front are fine offices, occupied by lawyers, insurance agents, etc. The second floor is divided off into eighteen fine offices, all of which are occupied by attorneys and physicians. Both in its exterior and interior finish it is the finest building in Guthrie. The Commercial was the first banking institution to commence business in Oklahoma. It did not throw open its doors on the 24th of April, 1889, as they were not hung at that time, but the anxious Guthrie pioneers were allowed to walk in at that time through the broad doorless opening to deposit their money. - - - On another page will be seen an engraving of the unpretentious structure that served as a banking house for the Commercial Bank at that early day. On the 19th of October, 1889, its present commº- dious quarters were completed and occupied by it, much to the grati. fication of both the bank people and the public, as the business of the bank had far outgrown the cramped accommodations of its old quarters. The interior finish and furnishings of this bank are models of convenience and elegance, while its vaults and safes are of the most modern makes. Its president, Mr. J. M. Ragsdale, is among the most widely and favorably known men, not only in Oklahoma, but throughout the West, where he has earned the reputation of being foremost in !". enterprises, shrewd and energetic as a business man, and safe and The Commercial Bank as shown in the above engraving, which was opened to business April 4th, 1889, and the Commercial Bank of October 19th, 1889, as shown by an engraving on the next page, is the most significant expression of the marvelous growth of Guthrie, the “Magic City” of Oklahoma. - - - --- - - - - - - - - - º | - - - - º - - - - - - ºn tº ºth lºw- ºn in ºne above engraving which was opened - - nº ºn. and ºne ºommercial Bank of October - --- nº an enºwing on the next page is the - º ºf ºne marvelous growth ---on- COMMERCIAL BANK. [First occupied October 19th, 1889.] º=== FE - THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 163 conservative as a banker. Central Kansas as well as Guthrie owes much to J. M. Ragsdale for the part he has taken in public improve- ments, as well as the examples he has set for others. He was born in Indiana in 1845, and spent ten years of his boyhood in Iowa. He served in the 122d Ohio volunteer infantry during the rebellion. He was educated at the Indiana State University at Bloomington, and at Purdie's Business College at Indianapolis, in the same State. In 1872 he moved to Kansas and settled at Newton, where he resided until the opening of Oklahoma. Mr. Ragsdale was always found in the foremost ranks of every business enterprise; and while a resident of Newton, Harvey county, Kansas, he was universally esteemed for his enterprise and integrity of character. In 1886, in company with his brother, Mr. T. P. Ragsdale, he built what was then the finest opera-house and business block combined in Southern Kansas. Mr. Ragsdale is largely interested in agricultural pursuits, and owns a number of the largest and best farms in Harvey county, on one of which he has a large and fine herd of short-horn cattle, which with his Guthrie bank building are his special pride. He has been a con- spicuous figure in Guthrie's business life. He built the first fine business block in the city, which so infused confidence in the future growth and prosperity of Guthrie that other business men followed his example, and as a result there can be seen on the more promi- ment streets of the city scores of as elegant business blocks as can be found in the older settled portions of the country. The president and vice-president of the Commercial Bank occupy the same official posi- tion in the organization of the Stillwater Bank, the Commercial Bank of Norman, and the Bank of El Reno. Mr. C. R. McLain, vice-president of the Commercial National Bank, was born in Illinois, and with his parents removed to Kansas in 1872, where for ten years, with his father, he was largely engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1885 he became one of the organ- izers of the Newton National Bank, now one of the strongest and most popular banks in Southern Kansas, of which Mr. McLain is still cashier and general manager. At the opening of Oklahoma he came to Guthrie, where he remained several weeks assisting in estab- lishing the Commercial Bank. Mr. McLain took an active part in the early life of the city, and few men did more towards harmoniz- ing the people and advancing their general interests. The early pio- neers of Guthrie will long remember the genial face of C. R. McLain, and his untiring efforts for their common welfare. Early in June, 1889, Mr. C. W. Bleuler, of fine business attain- ments and a polished gentleman, assumed the control of the cashier 164: ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, department of the Commercial Bank. Mr. Bleuler takes a lively interest in the development of Guthrie, and with money and influ. ence is doing much in advancing the city’s interests. He has taken an active part in all public moves looking towards the building up of the city, and he enjoys the high esteem of the people both in busi. ness and social circles. The Commercial Bank is now organized as the Commercial Na. tional Bank, with a capital of $300,000; in this stroke of enter- prise holding its rank in the forefront of Oklahoma banks by paving the way for an accumulation of banking capital that will in the near future make this, to a great extent, independent financially, both as a city and a commonwealth. - The Commercial Bank of Norman was opened for business Aug. 8th, 1889, since which time it has been under the successful manage. ment of Ed Corette, cashier. Having all confidence in the town of Norman, this bank soon after opening its doors commenced the erec- tion of a handsome two-story stone building, which they now occupy. This is one of the strongest financial institutions in the Territory. J. M. Ragsdale, its president, is also president of banks at Guthrie, El Reno, and Stillwater. C. R. McLain, vice-president, is the well known cashier of the Newton National Bank, of Newton, Kansas. Norman has one of the finest bank buildings in the Territory, and it is the intention of the bank to nationalize in the near future. THE GUTHRIE NATIONAL BANK. The Guthrie National Bank—of which an engraving will be found elsewhere in this work—was organized June 14th, 1890, it being the first National bank in the Territory of Oklahoma to receive a charter. Its directors include the following prominent business men: H. J. Whitley, Judge Robert Martin, C. M. Barnes, F. M. Hubbell, A. G. Herron, A. W. Little, and J. W. McNeal. Its officers are: J. W. McNeal, president; A. W. Little, vice-president, and A. G. Herron, cashier. - The Guthrie National Bank succeeded the banking house of McNeal & Little, which was established in Guthrie in May, 1889. The bank has been under the personal management of its president, Mr. McNeal, and has justly earned the reputation of being one of the safest and strongest institutions of the kind in the Southwest. - Mr. McNeal has large property interests in Guthrie, and his confi- dence in the future growth and prosperity of Guthrie, with his broad and liberal business system, has earned for him the universal esteem - s: E º i. NATIONA immºn. TITLuº º ". º - º ºſ º H. Hº º §§ º T Nº N n GUTHRIE NATIONAL BANK. -- - - - - ---, ------ --- º º º | º º º - |- º º º º - º -º-º-º-o-º-L Bºº = - H == I ſº ^ --> → __ - ---- - = − = ± | __ == = H T -- - - - - - - | == - - |_ 3%zºzºº ; THE NATIONAL BANK OF GUTHRIE BUILDING. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 165 of the people, as one of the most reliable and enterprising business men in the Territory. And as no man has done more, worked harder, or put more energy and liberality in the work of building up Guthrie, he richly merits the high esteem in which he is held. Mr. McNeal is a native of Ohio, and was born in 1851. His boy- hood days were spent on a farm, and a practical common-school edu- eation was supplemented by a collegiate course of two years. Being dependent to a large extent on his own resources, he taught school during the winter season and attended college during the spring and fall seasons. In 1870 he left the Buckeye State and came West, and since that time has resided and done business in the States of Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, and Kansas. In 1877 he established the Medicine Lodge (Kansas) Cresseſ, which he conducted with marked ability until 1879. He read law, was admitted to the bar during the time he edited the Cresseſ, and practiced his profession for over five years at Medicine Lodge. In 1883 he was elected president of the McNeal-Little-Thompson Bank- ing Company, of Medicine º which in 1886 was reorganized under the name of the Citizens National Bank. In 1888 he sold his interest in the Citizens National, and on the 22d of April in the year following located at Guthrie. In 1878 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary S. Iliff, a lady highly esteemed by her large circle of friends. They have four children, one son and three daughters. Mr. McNeal is building an elegant home on College Hill for his family, and intends making Guthrie his permanent home. THE NATIONAL BANK OF GUTHRIE. The Bank of Guthrie was organized April 1st, 1889, and on the twenty-second of the same month, at a few moments before 2 o'clock, it commenced business in the open air on the spot where now stands its magnificent banking house, an engraving of which will be seen on another page. Since the organization of the Territory it has been changed to the National Bank of Guthrie. It was the first bank to commence business in Oklahoma, and as its business is conducted on that safe, conservative system that never places the funds of de- positors in danger, it has earned a high reputation in business circles throughout the Territory, and is acknowledged as one of the strong banking institutions of Oklahoma. Its officers are: Rodolph De Steiguer, president; Thomas McPher- son, vice-president; Louis De Steiguer, cashier; and J. Elias Turner, assistant cashier. 166 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, Its president, Mr. Rodolph De Steigner, was born in Athens county, Ohio, in 1862, and with his parents moved to Missouri in 1868. He was educated at the State University of Iowa, from which he grad- uated with high honors. In 1883 he was united in marriage with Miss Bertie Rogers, a lady of rare attainments, daughter of ãº. J. S. Rogers, cashier of the Park Bank of Cameron, Missouri. ºf Mr. Louis De Steiguer, cashier of the National Bank of Guthrie, º was born in Livingston county, Illinois, in 1864. He is a gentle- man of fine business attainments, and with his brother Rodolph succeeded to the large banking and lumber business of their father at Cameron, Missouri, a business that was organized nearly a quarter of a century ago, and that is still successfully carried on by the subjects of these remarks. Mr. Louis De Steiguer was, for about six }. extensively engaged in the lumber business at Plankington, akota, and in 1882 was united in marriage to Miss Cora Taubman, of that city, a lady who is held in high esteem by her large circle of friends. They have located permanently at Guthrie. - THE BANK OF INDIAN TERRITORY. On the southwest corner of Division street and Oklahoma avenue is located the Bank of Indian Territory, an engraving of which will be seen on another page. It was first º for business in June, 1889, by Norman C. Raff, of Canton, Ohio, and F. R. Gammon, formerly of Boston, Mass., and more recently of Wichita, Kansas, with Mr. Vincent Wallace, of San Diego, California, as cashier. In September, 1889, Mr. Wallace, on account of poor health, was com- pelled to return to California, and was succeeded by the present cashier, Mr. Frank R. Phister. Mr. Phister came from Maysville, Kentucky, and for some years previous to going to Guthrie resided in Decatur, Alabama, where his experience in banking and corpora: tion work qualified him to an eminent degree for the responsible and important position he now occupies. This bank enjoys the reputa: tion of being one of the best managed and strongest institutions of the kind in Oklahoma. It is conservative and cautious, and as it never engages in speculative enterprises, the money of its depositors is never put in jeopardy. Mr. Raff, the president of this bank, has been for a number of years actively identified with Western banking, and is a member of a. family of well-known bankers, whose integrity and honesty are unim- eached. He has recently taken up his residence in New York City, where he will be enabled to render valuable service to his Western connections. & ºx= sº D Jºãº | | *|† º ſlº ji, |º Hººj; | SS | Y BANK OF THE INDIAN TERRITORY, Guthrie. --------------- --- ºne ºnesian vice--- --- - -a- - - - --- --Lºu. -- *- H º § É - |-- - --- º - º ºx S º 5= - Sº- - ~zzºzºr 2×2-2-3-ºf- BANK OF OKLAHOMA CITY. Robert Kincade.............................. President. Eugene Wallace... ................. Vice-President. J. H. Wheeler..................................... Cashier. THE LAND of THE FAIR god. 167 Mr. Gammon, the vice-president, has spent several years in the West, and is therefore thoroughly conversant with its conditions and resources, its people and customs. He is otherwise financially inter- ested in Guthrie, and intends º: it his permanent home. He has full confidence in its future, and is ever ready to aid with his influence and money every and all movements tending towards the upbuilding of this wonderful city. The constantly growing business of this bank, with such references and correspondents as the Hanover National Bank of New York and the National Bank of Kansas City, is a sufficient guaranty of its standing and the business integrity of its management. BANK OF OKLAHOMA CITY. Occupying the most magnificent and º building in the Territory, situated on the southwest corner of Grand avenue and Johnston street in Oklahoma City, is the Bank of Oklahoma City. Engravings of both the exterior and interior of this magnificent structure will be found on another page. This bank was established July 15th, 1889, and as it enjoys the reputation of being one of the best managed and strongest banks in Oklahoma, it has secured a large share of the business of Oklahoma City. This is the only bank in Oklahoma City that has had the confidence, nerve, and en- terprise to build itself a fine structure in which to do business. Its management are men of experience and are careful and conservative bankers. Robert Kincote, its president, is a resident of Mound City, Kansas, and is recognized as one of the leading and wealthy citizens of that State. Mr. Eugene Wallace, a pioneer of Oklahoma, and a gentleman of many years' business experience in the West, is a resident of Oklaho- ma City, and º his personal attention to the business of the bank. Its cashier, J. H. Wheeler, was born and educated in Michigan, and is a young man of fine business attainments. He had an experience of several years in the banking business in Colorado, and is eminently fitted for the important and responsible position he fills. THE BANK OF KING FISHER Was organized May 1st, 1889, with a aid-up capital of $50,000. D. P. Doak, of the well-known banking house of D. P. Doak & Co., of Kansas City, is president. Its vice-president, Mr. T. C. Post, was formerly cashier of the National Bank of York, N ebraska, and is now a member of the Oklahoma legislature. Mr. W. A. Doak is cashier 168 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, of the institution. It does a general banking business, and is consid. ered in business circles one of the solid banks of the Territory. H. F. SPENCER, President of the Capital City Bank, which failed in September, 1890, was born and raised in Cortland county, New York. His earl education was in the New York State Normal School at Cortland, supplemented by a later course at the Ames National Business Col- lege at Syracuse, N.Y. In the year 1877 he came West, and for a number of years was engaged in the cattle business in the Indian Territory, Kansas, and Texas. Just at the time when the ranch fever was at the highest he concluded that it was a good time to sell, and closed out his entire interests at a big figure, and retired from that enterprise with profits many times larger than his original investment. He then engaged extensively in the retail lumber business at various points in Kansas, and again closed out the most of his lumber busi- ness when the cream of it had been pretty well skimmed, having by this time acquired a very respectable fortune. During these latter years he had become interested in a number of banks, which interests he still retains. At the opening of Oklahoma, Mr. Spencer came to Guthrie and identified himself prominently with the interests of the city. He was for a time the head of the lumber firm of Spencer & Erwin. He organized the Capital City Bank, of which he was the president and largest stockholder, and while his extensive interests elsewhere have kept him away a great portion of the time, he still pins his faith to Guthrie, and looks forward to the time when he can make it his permanent home. W. A. THOMAS, Cashier of the Capital City Bank, was born in Louisiana in 1860, but while very young his parents removed to Minnesota, and when he was six years old removed to Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he grew up. He was educated in the high school at Cedar Falls, and afte: wards took a thorough commercial course at the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Ill., from which he graduated with highest honors in 1880. Soon after he was offered and accepted a position as book-keeper in the Union Bank of Abingdon, Ill. A year later he accepted a similar position with the Peoples Bank of the same place. In 1883 he went to Kansas, and soon after entered the Ed- wards County Bank as a book-keeper, which º and that of teller he held until he resigned to accept the cashiership of the Cap- sºlº # == --- Pºiº ºr - - Hå iſ == - tw IN TERNATIONAL LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY'S BUILDING, GUTHRIE ºn------nºs Bulloº, Guº IN - -- --- Co-ºº-º-º: ºu--- ------ INTERNATIONAL LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY’s BUILDING, GUTHRIE. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 169 ital City Bank of Guthrie, bringing to that position the º and experience acquired in nearly ten years of active bank work. In addition to his bank duties, Mr. Thomas is the president of the Guthrie Building and Loan Association, an institution that is doing much good in the way of assisting our "#" to secure homes of their own in the easiest possible manner. e is also treasurer of the chamber of commerce, and a prominent officer in the order of Knights of Pythias. BANK OF EDMOND. The Bank of Edmond, at the city of Edmond, was organized Sep- tember 9th, 1889. John Pfaff is its president, and John L. Mitch cashier. It is a joint-stock concern, with a capital of $10,000. INTERNATIONAL LOAN AND INVESTMENT COMPANY. The International Loan and Investment Company, with a paid-up capital of $100,000, was chartered in August, 1890. Its management includes the following well-known business gentlemen: H. J. Whit- ley, president; Geo. D. Orput, vice-president; John F. Kerper, secre- tary and treasurer. Its directors are: Judge John Rooney, Gen. M. Kirwin, Capt. J. C. Delaney, Robert Martin, H. S. Kline, W. W. Thomas, J. F. Kerper, Geo. D. Orput, J. H. McNeal, and H. J. Whitley. Both in business experience and financial breadth this is the most solid institution in Oklahoma. Its officers and directors are nearly all old and experienced bankers. Messrs. Whitley and Orput have been in the banking business for years. Mr. Kerper, the secretary and treasurer, is also an old hand at the banking business. He will locate with us and have his office in this city in the future. Judge Rooney is president of the Edison Electric Light Company, of Brooklyn, New York. General Kirwin is revenue collector for the Second New York district, and editor of the New York Tablet. Captain Delaney is receiver of the land office at Okla- homa City, and ex-librarian of the Pennsylvania Senate. Judge Robert Martin is the present Secretary of Oklahoma Territory, and is too well known to need further mention. H. S. Kline is a Harrison, Pennsylvania, capitalist, who has plenty of money to use in this coun- try. W. W. Thomas is one of our leading attorneys, and J. W. McNeal is a well-known banker here. The company during the fall of 1890 completed two fine business blocks at Guthrie, which shows what confidence it has in Guthrie, as also in Oklahoma generally. 170 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, CHAPTER XIV. RINGFISHER. “The tepee has vanished, and cities Have arisen in splendor and might, With a future all throbbing with gladness, With progress and learning and light! Where science and art and invention, And wisdom and honor and worth, Shall reign with a grandeur and glory That will crown her a queen on the earth. -k -k -k º: * “Oh, welcome, thrice welcome, the white man To this beautiful land of the West; To its fields that are teeming with plenty, And its zephyrs, the breath of the blest. -k -k :: :: :: ** To the beautiful land where the red man In battle will never ride more.” The delightful little city of Kingfisher, the capital of the county of the same name, is situated about one and one-half miles east of the line dividing Oklahoma from the Cheyenne and Arrapahoe reserva- tions, and twenty-one miles from the south line of the Cherokee Out- let. As only three hundred and twenty acres of land could be entered for town-site purposes under the act of March 2d, 1889, Kingfisher adopted the same plan as did Guthrie and Oklahoma City, and selected two town-sites; one they christened Kingfisher and the other Lisbon. The first named was located on the northeast half of section fifteen, township sixteen, north of range seven west, while the south half of the same section was entered by the latter. Both entries were con- tested by homesteaders, under the claim of prior settlement, which claims were sustained by the local land office; but upon an appeal to the Interior Department the decision was reversed, on the ground that the homestead claimants entered the Territory in violation of law. Lisbon–or Kingfisher City, as it is known under its new organiza- tion—as also the old city of Kingfisher, are beautifully located on a peninsula formed by Johnson's creek, the banks of which are fringed with stately forest trees. The southern portion of these two cities (for they have not as yet consolidated) is just rolling enough to render it delightful for residence purposes, as it affords an extended view of the rich country surrounding it in all directions. The land upon which these towns are built ranges from twenty-five to º feet above the level of the creek mentioned, hence their surface drain- ** I ºf ITTF * INTERNATIONAL LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY., Oklahoma City. - - - - - - - -o-º-Nº ºilº Nº. - Cº- - Lºº ºl) ºust Coºlºº. -noma City. |- - international. - - º na-- rust co- EEE Wy ww. \ W w W - # \ #| || - N º \|| A H º º w º: - - WN - | — F == - º - - º º w N. W w - -º-º-º: -: \ - W > w w \ - E- - == - - == - - INTERNATIONAL LOAN AND TRUST COMPANY’s BUILDING, Oklahoma City. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 171 age is excellent. The Rock Island Railway Company has purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land adjoining the city on the south, upon which it will in the immediate future build machine and repair shops. ğ. the west, stretching away in the distance, their streams outlined with belts of timber, with here and there a wooded hill, are the lands of the Cheyenne and Arrapahoe Indians, of which particular mention is made in another chapter. These lands, when opened to progressive civilization, will add greatly to the commercial importance of King- fisher, and in time will make it one of the most prosperous cities in the Territory. Although without direct railway facilities at the time of its settle- ment, the same excitement, the same wild scramble for city lots, was witnessed at Kingfisher that marked the opening of the Territory at all other central points. The advance of the pioneers was made in two columns, one from the north and the other from the west. The first had to march a distance of twenty-one miles to reach the object- ive point, while the second was massed on the west line of the Terri- tory within one and one-half miles of the site to be located. It is unnecessary to state that long before the first column reached the town-site the most desirable lots had all been taken by the second column, which had taken such an advantageous position on the west. The enthusiasm and excitement in making the race was chiefly con- fined to the column that entered from the west. The officer in command of the troops guarding the line at that point announced to the impatient army of home-seekers that the signal to start would be the discharge of a gun at 12 o'clock noon. Along the line to the north and south as far as the eye could reach were lines of men on horseback, in carriages and wagons, and on foot, all anxiously awaiting the signal. There were fully two thou- sand five hundred home-seekers that nerved themselves for the race on that memorable occasion. Nearly every State in the Union was represented. Enthusiasm, impatience, and anxiety, like waves of sunshine and shadow, swept over the faces of that vast army of pio- neers. With 12 o'clock came the boom of the signal gun, announcing that the embargo to the promised land had been removed, and with loud cheers the exciting race began, and in less than thirty minutes the two thousand five hundred “west-liners,” as they were termed, were in full possession of the beautiful site upon which Kingfisher City is built; and the work of selecting lots was prosecuted with such, vigor that the most desirable property had been staked out long be- fore the column from the north line arrived; hence the half section 172 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, immediately to the north of the one settled upon by those entering from the west line was taken, laid out, and platted under the name of Kingfisher. On the evening of April 22d the old soldiers and Odd Fellows held a meeting at what is now the southeast corner of Main and Roberts streets, at which the situation was thoroughly discussed, and all present pledged themselves to aid in the maintenance of law and order. At 7 p.m. on the 23d of April, 1889, a meeting was held, at which the city of Lisbon–now Kingfisher City–was organ- ized by electing Hon. J. D. Miles mayor, and W. A. McCartney, M. M. Duncan, W. L. Creech, J. H. Huff, and John Garvey as a board of councilmen. The council appointed D. F. Wyatt marshal, J. G. Burns clerk and recorder, and }. V. Admire treasurer. On the 29th of May following, R. C. Palmer, Josiah Hunter, J. C. Cross, and Fred Ecart were appointed a board of arbitration by the coun- cil. In July, 1889, the first regular election was held, at which John D. Miles was elected mayor, and Messrs. F. L. Wallis, C. M. Cade, A. Banks, F. L. Bohling, J. V. Admire, John Garvey, O. K. Rogers, and J. C. Cross to the city council. The affairs of the city were so managed that it prospered, until the general election held on April 4th, 1890, at which Hon. J. D. Miles was re-elected mayor, and J. A. Cooper, W. O. Cunningham, Dr. J. R. Shive, C. P. Wick- miller, F. L. Bolling, and G. C. Gannon, city council. On July 14th, 1890, Lisbon was organized as a village under the laws of Nebraska, made applicable to Oklahoma, under the name of Kingfisher City, the county commissioners appointing J. D. Miles, D. W. Soloman, C. P. Wickmiller, J. H. Dillon, Z. J. Wallice village trustees, and J. C. Cross treasurer, J. W. Preston clerk, O. M. Davis marshal, and R. C. Palmer attorney. There has been a noticable absence of strife and friction in the settlement of Kingfisher. The rights of settlers to lots were so ad: justed at an early day that very few cases were left for the town-site board to adjudicate. On the afternoon of April 24th, 1889, Kingfisher proper was organized at a mass convention of the people, at which Col. Geo. E. Hubbard was elected mayor, and A. Ragland, J. J. Denney, C. A. Morris, O. V. Hays, and Walter Ellis were elected to the city coun- cil. J. W. Sain was appointed clerk and recorder, G. J. Keeney police judge, M. J. Moore city attorney, and S. P. Leighton mar- shal. On the 6th of June following, at the first regular election held, Virgil M. Hobbs was chosen mayor, and T. L. Hughs, F. M. Blair, THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 173 W. F. Doorley, J. D. Bradley, and William Lemoyer were elected to the city council. On the 8th of May following the council ap- ointed the following gentlemen as a board of arbitration: O. E. º R. M. Rogers, R. C. Tobler, John Elston, and Thos. Menzies. On July 14th, 1890, the city organized as a village, the county commissioners appointing as trustees the following gen- tlemen: T. P. Cristy, J. F. Hill, John L. Trout, Oscar Jenson, and LeGrand Marshall. J. L. Trout was appointed clerk, P. H. Roarke treasurer, LeGrand Marshall marshal, and Victor Payne attorney. The contests filed by homesteaders against the Kingfisher town- site, which were not decided until in the fall of 1890, served to re- tard the growth of that city. Since the decision in favor of the city by the Interior Department, however, the town is building up rapidly; and as the location is among the most desirable to be found in the Territory, its future is indeed promising. The religious and educa- tional advantages of the Kingfishers are not excelled by those of any other city in the Territory. The people are enterprising and pro- gressive, and they pride themselves on their fine church buildings and schools. There are two banking houses at Kingfisher, three ably managed newspapers, with a liberal representation of the various mercantile industries, and with the vast area of rich country tributary to it, it enjoys a large and growing business. The land office at Kingfisher was opened at 9 A. M. on the 23d day of April, 1889, by Hon. J. V. Admire, receiver; Hon. J. C. Roberts, register, J. M. Speice and J. M. Paesley, inspectors, being present. Several hundred men congregated around the land office on the after- noon of the 22d, but upon learning that the office would not be opened for business until the following morning, they bravely encamped on the ground around the land office, where they remained during the night. The first application for a homestead filed at the Kingfisher office was made by James D. Dent, on the southwest quarter of sec- tion twenty-two, township sixteen, north of range seven west. Its geographical position and its admirable location will make Kingfisher a strong candidate for the capital when the time arrives for selecting a permanent location for the seat of government for Oklahoma. The unoccupied territory to the west and south of that city, a territory more than twice the area of Oklahoma proper, a ter. ritory that in agricultural advantages is unsurpassed in the Indian country, must, and will when opened to settlement, prove to be the garden-spot of the soon-to-be new State of Oklahoma. There is little 174: II, LUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, risked in the prediction that five years hence Kingfisher will have developed into one of the largest and most prosperous cities of Okla- homa. NORMAN. Norman, the rapidly growing capital of Cleveland county, dates its birth at 12 o'clock noon on the 22d of April, 1889. About five hun- dred stalwart pioneers, chiefly from the South, assembled to do honor at its christening. No city in Oklahoma presents a fairer record than does Norman. She has passed through º ordeal of a de facto gov- ernment with less strife than any of her sister cities. The town was surveyed and staked off into city lots on the afternoon of April 22d, and from that date until the present it has had a continuous and healthy growth. On the 4th day of May, 1889, the citizens of Norman assembled in convention, and elected T. R. Waggoner mayor; George Bloke, clerk and recorder; D. L. Larsh, P. Atkins, E. C. Hall, and A. Kin- cade, a board of councilmen. In November of the same year a second election was held, at which T. R. Waggoner was re-elected mayor, James Grigsley clerk, Atkins, Kincade, McGinley, and Hesser as city councilmen. - The third election by the people was held in April, 1890, at which D. W. Marquart was called to the Mayor's chair, and W. D. Miller and C. L. Roode were added to the board of councilmen. On July 14th, 1890, Norman was legally organized as a village, the county commissioners appointing as trustees W. H. Peck, W. T. Wallace, Charles Streeter, Tyler Blake, and Dr. J. G. Wright, and Bruce Hester as clerk and recorder; H. A. Smock was appointed attor- ney, and A. T. Hunter marshal. On the 1st of September following, D. W. Marquart was appointed treasurer, and C. L. Roode clerk in lace of Bruce Hester, resigned. D. L. Larsh built the first house at Norman; D. W. Marquart was the first postmaster; the M. E. Church South was the first religious organization to build a house of worship. Norman has one bank, two cotton-gins, two weekly newspapers, (the Transcript, organized in November, 1889, by E. P. Inglé, formerly of the Purcell Register. Mr. Ingle is a native of England, and agentleman of fine attainments, and under his editorial management the Transcript ranks among the popular Republican prints of the Territory. The Norman Advance, a. |...}. weekly journal, of which Mort L. Bixler, a member of the first council of the Territory, is editor and proprietor.) The various mercantile industries are well represented, and with as THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 175 fertile country surrounding it as can be found in the Territory, the future growth and importance of Norman, the prosperous capital of Cleveland county, is most promising: Norman is on the Santa Fe, eighteen miles south of Oklahoma City, and seventeen miles from the south line of the Territory. Be- tween it and the south line are the little towns of Noble and Lexing- ton, both situated on the Santa Fe, and both surrounded by as rich a country as can be found anywhere. Nine miles to the north on the line of road mentioned is the town of Moore. Cleveland is one of the best agricultural counties in Oklahoma. Little River, with its numerous tributaries, waters the northern and eastern portions, while the southern and western portions are abund- antly supplied with water by the South Canadian and numerous small creeks. There are some fine belts of timber in the county, and an inexhaustible supply of good building-stone. An area of some eight miles square in the northeastern part of the county is of a light sandy soil and broken. With that exception the entire county is admirably adapted to all kinds of grain, cotton, gº and fruits. Its nearness to the Chickasaw Nation makes Norman the most important cotton market in the Territory. EDMOND. At the territorial convention held at Guthrie in July, 1889, Okla- homa was divided into ten counties. The largest of these was, by Mr. W. B. Overton, a delegate to the convention, christened Ventura, a Spanish word meaning enterprise, of which the thriving city of Edmond was to be the county-seat. The organic act, however, divid- ed the Territory into six counties, thus wiping out Ventura, and bringing Edmond within the boundaries of Oklahoma county. The opinion prevails, however, that with the settlement of the unoccupied lands county lines will be readjusted, and that in such readjustment the county of Ventura will be restored to its former place on the maps of the Territory, with Edmond as its capital. Edmond is located on the Santa Fe railway, which connects the northern network of railroads with those of the South and the Gulf of Mexico, and has a population of about four hundred and fifty, one ably conducted newspaper (The Sun), a bank, good schools, excellent churches, and wide-awake, energetic merchants in nearly every branch of business. Edmond has never had a boom, but enjoys a constant and healthy growth, and has many buildings that would be a credit to a much larger place. It has an efficient city government, and is 176 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, noted for the entire absence of the hard element with which new towns are too often afflicted. This with its healthy and beautiful location makes it a desirable place for any one wishing to establish a home and business in a town. The price of property here is not fictitious, but based upon real worth, and it does not require a stretch of the imagination to see that Edmond rests upon a solid basis, sur- rounded as it is by so broad a scope of fertile and pretty country as is to be found anywhere. Surrounding the town in all directions are gently sloping ridges and wooded hills, interspersed with valleys of unsurpassed ñº. Looking from Edmond is seen in the far distance the dim outline of a high and rolling ridge curving like a horse-shoe, with one heel resting upon the railroad far to the south, and the other an equal distance to the north. That ridge is fifteen miles away, and like a frame to a picture it defines the western limit of Ventura county, and includes about two hundred and twenty-five thousand acres of as rich land as is to be found in any State or Territory, and most of this is tributary to the city of Edmond. In the distance are seen the many bright green ribbons of trees. They mark the tributaries of the three creeks that lend such a charm and beauty to the general landscape. These are from four to five miles apart, and are known as Chisholm, Bluff, and Deer creeks. All have beautiful valleys, and in many places are heavily fringed with excellent oak and walnut timber. They run in a northeasterly direction through the county, and find their way into the Cottonwood, which in turn blends its waters with that of the Cimarron, twenty miles to the northeast. Between all these creeks the land is just sufficiently undulating to drain well, and nowhere do the valleys and highlands meet so abruptly as to make a striking contrast. They often blend so imperceptibly that it is hard to tell where the one begins and the other ends; and so luxuriant is the growth of blue-stem and other grasses that it would be difficult to find a spot that would not yield from one to three tons of hay to the acre. The town-site of Edmond was located on the 22d of April, 1889, and on the afternoon of the 23d over one hundred men met and organ- ized its first city government. James Martin was elected chairman, and S. G. Wiggins secretary. W. E. Drum was elected mayor, R. E. Parshall vice-mayor, S. G. Wiggins secretary, and James Martin treasurer. The following gentlemen were also elected to the city council: J. W. Hardesty, J. W. Allman, Col. M. D. Bird, W. H. Foot, Dr. F. M. Moore, and E. B. Townsend. Logan Cox was ap- pointed city marshal, and R. B. Potts city surveyor. 176 noted for the e towns are too ( location makes i home and busin fictitious, but ba of the imaginati rounded as it is is to be found a Surrounding and wooded hills Looking from E a high and rolli resting upon th distance to the north. - in which ºn and beauti ºne isling to establish priº - ºperty here is nº nº dº not require a stretch nond upon a solid basis ºn pe of fertile and pretty country as directions are gently ridges lºsed with valleys of unsurpassed is seen in the far distance the dim outline of ºne curving like a horse-shoe, with one hº load far to the south, and the other an equal That ridge is fifteen miles away, and like - ertility. frame to a picture it defines the western limit of Venture county, and includes about tº land as is to b is tributary to th many bright grº the three creek landscape. The as Chisholm, Bll in many places timber. They and find their waters with that - Between all th - drain well, and no- as to make a striking contrast, that it is hard to tell wº --- so luxuriant is the growth of ºl be difficult to find L of hay to the act The town-site - and on the aftern ºr ºn an ized its first city --- and S. G. Wigg Parshall vice-m treasurer. The council: J. W. Foot, Dr. F. M. pointed city maſ hundred and tº thousand acres of as riº nº in ºr and most of this - - seen ºn- -utaries on general known alleys and - and waln. the count - turn blends ºiles to the northeast ºn stºlently undulating o the all and highlands meet so abºup They often blend so impercentil e begins and the other ends - e-stem and other grasses that it - lot yield ºn one to tº ºted on the ºn of ºil nº -- - ∞ § № № ~ ```` ∞ ``，```` >§È ````Ņ\\Ņ S` ```` NR. ` ſae É： ſae： Źź £ ！！！！！！！ · Źź ¿ %%%%%%%%% ： £ ANTON H. CLASSEN, Editor “Edmond Sun * ==ź ·- %± ae? %@ź ſ！% ſ@‰. ∞∞∞ ź//º £， ź- ź%ź… ！ɺ ź， THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 177 On the afternoon of April 22d an organization styling itself the Springfield (Mo.) Town-site Company landed at Edmond. It was followed by two other organizations, one styling itself the Chicago Town Company, and the other the Seminole Town Company. The last-named company surveyed and platted the town, and then aban- doned the field that had been taken possession of by the two first- named companies, which had consolidated with the citizens and elected officers as mentioned above. The survey of the Seminole company was adopted with a few unimportant changes, and the work of building up the town was commenced. The following were among the pioneers of that prosperous city: Jas. Currin, Kibby Bros., N. A. Baker, J. Killen, Peter Wilderson, Bush & West, Dr. Peck, J. J. Hunt, P. Miller, W. A. Wall, Col. H. H. Moose, Jos. McGee, M. W. Reynolds, Galbreath Bros., M. Parks, E. G. Burton, J. L. Burns, Henry Jackson, Capt. W. C. Jackson, John Moore, Anton H. Classen, W. Ricketts, J. R. Young, Jas. Martin, Jos. Brown, Jas. Taylor, J. W. Donovan, Geo. W. Foster, R. Farwell, Chas. Edgerton, T. F. Cole, H. Brown, Dr. Woodson, M. Shane, E. C. Montgomery, John Adams, E. Errison, Geo. B. Bennett, J. Eades, John Eades, E. S. Shine, John Card, Henry Morrison, Geo. Wallace, M. G. Wilson, W. W. Miller, John Payenten, and Mr. Siler. On the 1st of June, 1889, the first regular election was held, the council having appointed J. R. Taylor, J. J. Stevenson, and E. V. Davis as judges, and Peter Wilderson, O. E. Schaw, and S. G. Wig- gins as clerks. J. J. Hunt was chosen mayor; J. R. Taylor, J. J. Stevenson, G. C. Foster, J. A. Killen, and W. J. Donovan were elected to the city council. S. G. Wiggins was appointed clerk, Capt. W. C. Jackson police judge, and O. E. Schaw city attorney. Another election was held in April, 1890, at which J. L. Mitts was elected mayor, J. J. Hunter treasurer, T. F. Cole police judge, and R. R. Farwell, Jas. Brown, C. E. Edgerton, P. wº. and E. W. Erisman, city council. - In August, 1890, the village of Edmond was organized by the county commissioners, and T. i. Cole, J. J. Hunt, P. Wilderson, C. E. Edgerton, and James Brown were appointed as trustees, R. B. Farwell as clerk, W. R. Donovan treasurer, and E. W. Erisman mar- shal. The original town-site of Edmond included the southeast quarter of section twenty-six, township fourteen, north of range three west, and the northeast quarter of section thirty-five, township fourteen, range three west. Homesteads were filed upon the same lands by E. B. Townsend and A. F. Smith. In the trial of a contest filed by Town- –12 178 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, send, the local land office decided in favor of Edmond, and Townsend appealed to the General Land Office. In a compromise with Smith, the town secured free from contest 120 acres. The St. John’s Catholic church at Edmond was the first house of worship built in Oklahoma. The first school-house in the Territory was also built at Edmond. Ama Edmond, the young daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Young, was the first child born in Edmond. The infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Price was the first death in that embryo city. F. L. Green – now deceased—was the first postmaster, while Jas. Brown has the credit of taking the first private carriage to that town. CITY OF FERISCO. Nineteen miles from Oklahoma City, and twelve miles from El Reno, on the line of the Choctaw railroad, in the Canadian valley, is situated the little city of Frisco. It has a progressive population of about four hundred, and is in the midst of a country of unsurpassed fertility. The town was first organized on May 1st, 1889, at which time J. T. Godfrey was elected mayor, J. W. Cannon, W. H. Morey, J. R. Coykendall, W. R. Darling, and J. H. Johnson city councilmen. The council at its first session appointed E. W. Smith city attorney, and Wm. Hancock marshal. In June of the same year the city framed and adopted a charter, and in July, 1890, it was organized into a village, the county commissioners appointing as trustees L. Weston, John O. Malley, J. C. Rhodyback, S. T. Cantrell, and C. M. Hone. G. W. McClintock was appointed town clerk, J. D. Connally police judge, and William Hancock marshal. One of the chief historical events of Frisco, an event that gave it prominence throughout the Territory, was the mass convention that assembled there on July 15th, 1889, in opposition to the convention called to meet at Guthrie during the same month for the purpose of organizing a provisional government for Oklahoma. The Frisco con- vention, as it was called, was largely attended by the influential, brainy men of the Territory, and although its action did not prevent the assembling of the Guthrie convention, it is generally conceded that it had a strong influence on its deliberations. Both the Guthrie and Frisco conventions were fruitful of good results. They brought the people from all sections of the Territory together, thus affording opportunities for an exchange of ideas on various subjects in which the people were interested. And there is no doubt but that the action of the Guthrie convention, and the able memorial it passed and sent -º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º- 179 TT r rºcyºn re-ºr-º-º-º-º-------- s - and ºn- --- promise with Smith. : - ºne inst house ºf house in the Teºto- W and Miº nº son of and - - - ºn n- as Brown has the cº- i --- - nº twelve miles from F- - ºn tº Canadian valley, S. a nº population a. ºf unsurpasse f sº at whº - ti More- J councilmen T city atto- al º the f - - was organiº in - - - - - as ºustees W - - annell and E ºn town clerk J. D. Connºl- pº ind - - - - - ºn ºf histºl events of lºco an event that gº p - he Territory was the mass convention tº as--- ºn - 15th, 1889 in opposition to the conven called to ºn it ºutnue during the same month for the ºn- o, ºn tº ºvernment for Oklahoma. The ºriº ve- all-arºe attended by the influential In -to- | although its action did not pre- as --- ention it is ºn- STREET SCENE AT EDMOND, OKLAHOMA. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 179 * to the Fifty-first Congress by a committee appointed for that purpose, aided materially in securing early Congressional action for Oklahoma. That portion of Canadian county surrounding Frisco is well tim- bered and excellently watered, and the abundant crops of corn, wheat, and cotton produced there during the season of 1890 prove it to be one of the very best agricultural sections of the Territory. The North Canadian river at that point offers equally as good, if not better, opportunities for converting it into a vast water-power. The water can be taken from the river some five miles west of the town by ditch or canal, thus securing a fall of over thirty feet, which in an ordinary stage of water would furnish ample power to drive all the machinery that will ever be required in that portion of the Territory. To the southwest of Frisco about twenty miles is Union City, with a !". of about one hundred. Six miles south is Colum- bia postoffice, while to the north seven miles is Mathewson. Frisco has one newspaper, the Herald, established October 3d, 1890, by G. W. McClintock; one private bank, established in the fall of the same year by J. C. Coffman; one cotton-gin, one saw-mill, mercantile houses of the different lines, two churches, good schools, and a progressive, enterprising people. EL RENO. South and east from Fort Reno about four miles, near the south bank of the North Canadian river, on the west half of section nine, in township twelve, range seven west, is located the rapidly growing city of El Reno. It adjoins the Arrapahoe reservation, and is sur- rounded by an agricultural country not excelled in the Indian coun- try. It was first taken possession of at about 3 o'clock P. M. on the 22d of April, 1889, by a Kansas town-site company, composed of men from Wichita, Wellington, Caldwell, and some other Kansas towns, of which Mr. E. G. Smith was president, and Mr. B. J. Dree- son secretary. Two men at Fort Reno had been engaged to enter upon the land after 12 o'clock noon on the 22d day of April, and hold it until the company could reach the point. The president of the company, Mr. Smith, was to enter the Territory from the north, and upon reaching the land-office at Kingfisher he was to file upon the land for the town-site, while the members of the company reached the desired point by driving through the Cheyenne reserva- tion. Mr. Smith, however, failed to place a filing on the land, which being learned by Mr. Dreeson, secretary of the company, who had 180 II, LUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, made a plat and commenced a survey of the town, the entire schemes: of locating a town-site there was speedily abandoned by that com- an W. p º, site, however, offered too many advantages and attractions to remain long unoccupied, and scarcely had the first company folded its tents and stole away, before a Kansas City company, with ex-Gov- ernor Crittenden, of Missouri, as president, ex-Governor Glick, of Kansas, vice-president, and Mr. Geo. Leis, of Lawrence, Kansas, sec- retary, entered upon the scene, and before sunset on that memorable 22d they had taken possession of and bivouaced upon what is now the town-site of El Reno. They immediately secured two old sol- diers to place homestead filings on the half section. The company then leased the land of the soldier homesteaders for a term of ninety- nine years, which, together with a contract in which the homestead- ers agreed to deed to the town-site company after the Government had issued to them a patent for the land, was all the title the company had. It was the active present, however, and not the uncertain fu- ture, that this enterprising and determined company was dealing with; hence it proceeded to plat and lay off into lots the west half of section nine as before mentioned, and also the fractional piece of land lying between the section named and the adjoining Arrapahoe reser- vation. With the prestige of two ex-governors as its executive officers, several Congressmen, and a dozen or more well-known capitalists among its members, the El Reno Town-site Company inaugurated a vigorous boom with little boomlets that scintillated as far east and north as Kansas City. Lots sold rapidly, prices ranging from $25 to $200. The building of the Rock Island road to El Reno, with the prospect of a speedy completion of the Choctaw road, which would afford a more direct outlet to the east, were drawing cards for the town, and before the close of 1889 made it one of the most prosperous towns in the Territory. The first election was held May 3d, at which Dr. Rogers was cho- sen mayor; J. P. Scales, Dr. Patterson, W. F. Sawyer, John A. Mc- Donald, and Mr. Jacobs were elected councilmen. The council ap- pointed Frank Fisher police judge, and John McDonald city attor- ney. There has been no local strife or friction in the settlement of El Reno, and the town from the start has enjoyed a healthy growth. It has two banks—the El Reno Bank, S. W. Sawyer president, and the Commercial Bank, of which J. W. Ragsdale, of Guthrie, is presi- dent, and E. C. McGraff cashier. 180 made a plat al of locating a any. The site, ho ºny -es and a remain long ºlº -- nº its tents and st ºn tº compº- - ernor Crittend - lent ex- Kansas, vice-p * - Lºis of Lawrence retary, entered - ºne - Lefore sunset on that nº 22d they had and ºn ºn upon what the town-site ( immediately secured two º diers to place d tº on the half section. The ºl then leased the tº lºor homesteaders to a term of n. nine years, whi ºther with a contract in which the homestead ers agreed to d the ºn-site company after the Government had issued to them tent ºr the land wºº all the title the company had. It was thºe present ºr of the uncertain in ture, that this tº prising and pºny was dealing with; hence it eded to plat the west ºut of section nine as rementioned piece of land lying between t ºn named apahoe - vation. - With the prº two e º utive on- several Congres ºn and a dozen ºn ºpiº among its mem the El Reno - ºnly inaugural vigorous boom - little boom le. lated as a ºn north as Kansas it lots sold ºld ºr - to $200. The building of the Rock and road to tº the prospect of a speed mpletion of the Choº-, - would afford a more diº utlet to ºne ºn- ºre lºw-in- for the town, and before the close of 1889 made it one of the prosperous town in th ºn- The first electiºn - held ºn at which Dr Rogers was sen mayor; J. P. scales ºr ºn W R ºr John A. Donald, and Mr. colºs - elect ºnnollinº - pointed Frank I - pol º ludº - - ney. There has nº loº. ºo on - El Reno, and the - - - - It has two banks ºn ºn the Commercial I ºn ºn dent, and E. C. M - -- - - - Nº s s s /SSSSSSSSSS SNSS SSS Sº SS Sº Sº ZACH MULHALL, Mayor of Mulhall. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 181 MULHALL. Fifteen miles north of Guthrie and seven miles from the south line of the Cherokee Outlet, on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad, is situated the prosperous little city of Mulhall. The town was organ- ized under the name of Alfred on the 8th day of May, 1889, when the people in mass convention elected W. A. Baty mayor, and T. B. Sullivan, Jas. Bryant, Zach Mulhall, E. H. Harris, J. J. Cumings, and John Griswold city council, by whom the following officers were ap- pointed: L. B. Dyer clerk, Elmer Baker treasurer, W. T. Lewis recorder, and William Ingaldow marshal, the mayor acting as police judge. The original town-site embraced two hundred and forty acres, all of which had been filed upon as homesteads by Messrs. Mathews, Bryant, and Lannon, whose entry the town-site company contested, and which contest was compromised in the spring of 1890, the town-site company withdrawing its contest in consideration of the relinquishment to the company of the eighty acres upon which the city is built. The relinquishment was made by C. P. Lannon and S. W. Mathews, each giving forty acres. The town is located on the left bank of Beaver creek, and is encircled by a low range of hills on the east and south. It has a population of about three hundred, and is surrounded by a rich agricultural country. Along the banks of Beaver creek there are numerous springs of excellent water, while the town is supplied with as pure water as can be found in the Terri- tory from wells varying from twenty to forty feet in depth. The town, as also the surrounding country, is peopled largely from the States of Iowa, Kansas, and Missouri, whose industry and enterprise is shown in the condition of the country as compared to what it was on April 22d, 1889, when the little shack used as a depot and one tent composed the entire improvements at that point. The town is well supplied with mercantile houses, hotels, and shops. It has daily stage connections with Stillwater and Perkins on the east. The first regular election by the people of Mulhall was held in November, 1889, at which the city charter was adopted. Dr. D. McConnelly was elected mayor, and the following gentlemen were elected to the city council: S. Garrett, J. Bryant, T. B. Sullivan, L. S. Kempt, and C. S. Robb. At the regular election held on the first Monday in April, 1890, Mr. Zach Mulhall was elected mayor, and Jas. Bryant, F. É.i. L. S. Kemp, T. Lahone, H. L. McMillen, N. O. Friend, and S. Gar- rett were elected to the city council. Mulhall contemplates organiz- ing as a village under the laws of Nebraska during the present year. 182 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, During the summer of 1890 a fine depot and express office was built at Mulhall by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad; and in April of the same year Mr. Ed K. Watts, a bright young gentleman from Kansas, organized the Mulhall Monitor, an ably conducted inde- pendent weekly journal, which is doing good work in advancing the interests of Oklahoma. With the large area of rich country tributary to it the future growth of Mulhall is indeed promising. HENNESSEY. The thriving little city of Hennessey is situated near the north line of Oklahoma, on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railway, in King- fisher county. It has a population of about five hundred, and is an enterprising, growing town. It was organized by the Hennessey Town Company in May, 1889. Just west of the town is the Big Turkey, a beautiful stream, with banks embowered with large forest trees, forming a perfect background to the picturesque site upon which the town is built. The country surrounding Hennessey is all that could be desired for agricultural purposes. The soil is a dark, sandy loam, and well adapted to the culture of grain, cotton, and vegetables. From its location there is no doubt but that Hen- nessey will be made a county-seat when county lines are readjusted, as they will be when the Indian lands adjoining Oklahoma are opened for homestead settlement. - LIN COLN. The village of Lincoln, which is settled chiefly by colored people, is located among what are known as the Black-jack Hills, north of the city of Kingfisher, in Kingfisher county. The town is built on the northeast quarter of section thirteen, in township seventeen, range six west, and was organized in August, 1889. The town proper has a population of only about three hundred, but as the country sur- rounding it in all directions is divided up into small farms, many of them not exceeding forty acres, while some have been reduced down to twenty acres, the colored population in the immediate vicinity is fully two thousand. These colored settlers are largely from the Southern States, and as a rule they are an enterprising, industrious, and progressive people. They have established churches, built school- houses, and in every way are keeping even pace with the whites in the way of civilization and in developing the resources of this de- lightful country. Mr. R. Hamilton is mayor of the town, and with a well-selected council, manages its affairs in a wise and economical THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 183 manner. Much of the country surrounding Lincoln is not desirable for agricultural purposes, yet, in the hands of this frugal, industri- ous people, it will soon become as productive and prosperous as other sections of Oklahoma. DOWNS. Midway between Guthrie and Kingfisher, on a charming º from which a view of the magnificent country for miles in all direc- tions is had, is situated the pretty little town of Downs, with a popu- lation of about two hundred. It is two miles from the Cimarron river, and half a mile south of the line as surveyed by the Frisco railroad west from Supulpa, and which is being resurveyed by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe, present owners of the old Frisco route. When this line is built, as it undoubtedly will be in the near future, Downs will become a prosperous mercantile town, as it is one of the most desirable points in the Territory to build a home. It is surrounded by as fine an agricultural country as can be found in the Territory, and with railway facilities it will build up rapidly. It was organized by the Downs Town-site Company in June, 1889, which secured 320 acres of land for the site. It has good mercantile facilities, ample church and educational advantages, and an enter- prising and progressive population. PERKINS. The town of Perkins is located on section four, township eighteen, range three east, in the county of Payne. It is eight miles due east from Cimarron City, and about eighteen miles south and east from Stillwater. It is on the left bank of the Cimarron river, and has a population of two hundred. The land upon which the town is located was filed upon on May 17th, 1890, by William Knipe and William Hay. The first town election was held on August 20th, 1889, at which Simon Moore was elected mayor, and Charles Rice, H. Defen- baugh, John Pickerts, Wm. Knipe, and W. Southard were chosen councilmen. A postoffice, with Jessie Stanton as postmaster, was established January 31st, 1890. The country in all directions is Very fertile, and when the Iowa lands are opened to settlement, Perkins will develop into a town of considerable importance. THE NEUTRAL STRIP – BEAVER COUNTY. The Neutral Strip (or No-man's Land, as it is more commonl called) was first settled by stockmen and hunters in 1874. There 184 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, were numerous droves of buffaloes in the country at that time, which made it a favorite resort for both white and Indian hunters. Afford- ing excellent pasturage the year round, many thousand head of cattle from Texas and New Mexico were driven there during the year men- tioned. It was from the stockmen that entered the Strip at that time that the proposition was first made to the Cherokees for leasing the Outlet for grazing purposes. The Neutral Strip contains three million eight hundred acres, and is one hundred and thirty-eight and one-half miles east and west, by thirty-four and one-half miles north and south, and lies between longitude one hundred and one hundred and three west. It adjoins Kansas and Colorado on the north, New Mexico on the west, and Texas on the south. Its chief water-courses are the Cimarron, Beaver or North Fork of the Canadian, and Kiowa rivers, flowing from the west; to the east, the Paladora, Coldwater, and numerous other creeks, tributaries to the rivers mentioned. It is especially noticeable that the water in these rivers and creeks is clear and entirely free from alkalies. The east portion of the Strip is broken and sandy, with but little timber of any kind, and that little is confined to the margins of the water-courses. There is, however, an abundance of buffalo and gama grass on the uplands, while on the bottoms blue-stem grows luxuriantly, which renders it an excel- lent country for stock. There is another feature in these supposed arid plains deserving of especial mention. The average altitude is about two thousand feet above the sea level, or nearly one thousand feet higher than the average altitude of Oklahoma, yet an abundance of excellent water is found by sinking wells to a depth of from ten to forty feet. The central portion of the Strip is high rolling prairie, with a light sandy soil, except along the water-courses, where fertile bottoms of dark loam are found. There is, as in the eastern half, a scarcity of timber, although excellent building-stone of several varie- ties is found in abundance, as is also good clay for brick-making. The western portion is broken and rough, and fit for little else than grazing purposes at the present time, although under a system of irri- gation it could be made productive for all kinds of grain, fruits, and vegetables. Its mineral resources, in the absence of a geological survey, are largely a matter of speculation. Enough, however, has been ascer- tained through º by expert miners to prove conclusively that coal, iron, lead, and silver lie buried in its numerous hills, canons, and gorges. - The organic act of May 14th, 1890, which made No-man’s Land a portion of Oklahoma, called it the seventh county, and by a vote of THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 185 the people at the last election it was named Beaver. Its area is nearly twice that of Oklahoma proper, and it is only a question of time when it will be carved up into four or five counties. Beaver, the capital of the county, and its principal town, is lo- cated thirty miles from the east line, and has a population of about 400. The country around it is devoted largely to agricultural pur- suits, and is well settled with an enterprising people. Gate City, with a population of about 100, is also situated in the eastern portion of the county. Among the other small towns of the county are Buf- falo, Kenton, Garland, Meridian, Blue Grass, Benton, Logan, Mineral City, and Florence. At Mineral City coal has been found which is pronounced by old coal-men equal to Eastern anthracite. Although Beaver county has no immediate railway connection with the outer world, as soon as the Government completes its survey of the land the Rock Island road, which is completed to Liberal, a town on the south line of Kansas, thirty miles from Beaver City, will push its line to that city, and thence south and west to the rich coal-fields before mentioned. The Santa Fe, too, is completed to Englewood, four miles from the east line of Beaver county, and some thirty-five miles from Beaver City. This line will also be completed through the Strip via Beaver City within the next year. The land-office which was located by the Government at Buffalo has been changed to Beaver, and it will be opened as soon as the survey of the land is completed. - The town of Beaver was first settled in 1880 by James Lane, who started a “road ranch’’ for the accommodation of cattle-men. It now has two newspapers—the Advocate, established in March, 1887, º & Brown, and the Tribune, established later by Nicholes & Kirtly. Men familiar with fruit-growing in California, who have visited the Neutral Strip, pronounce it equal in both soil and climate to Cal- ifornia for fruit culture. In fact, no better or more favorable coun- try can be found anywhere for cattle, sheep, and fruit. 186 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, CHAPTER XV. MISCELLANEOUS HISTORY-THE BENCH AND BAR. That there are a larger number of eminent jurists and able lawyers in Oklahoma than can be found in any other country of a like area and population will not be disputed by any one familiar with the breadth of the profession in the º Judges Green, Clark, and Seay, the first occupants of the Supreme bench of the Territory, are among the oldest and most highly esteemed jurists in the States of Missouri, Illinois, and Wisconsin, where they resided when appointed to the bench of Oklahoma. It is true that the opening of land-offices in the Territory has drawn in this direction a large number of “land lawyers” and professional shysters, whose legal acquirements extend no further than the knowledge of drawing homestead papers and con- tests. And while these “black sheep” have sneaked into the legal fold of Oklahoma to quite a large extent, they are not considered as a part of the bar, the members of which are gentlemen of ability, honor, and integrity. The first session of the Supreme Court for Oklahoma was held at Guthrie on the 10th day of June, 1890, at which there were nearly two hundred attorneys in attendance. As Chief Justice Green, with the Associate Justices, Clark and Seay, entered the hall, every head was bared, and attorneys and citizens remained in subdued silence as the clear voice of United States Marshal W. S. Lurty announced that the Supreme Court of Oklahoma was in session. After a short address to the members of the bar by Chief Justice Green, in which it was announced that attorneys in good standing, with certificates of admis- sion to practice before the Circuit and Supreme Courts of the States, would be admitted to practice in the Supreme and District Courts of Oklahoma upon taking the customary oath, the court adjourned until one o'clock P. M. Immediately after the adjournment of the court a bar association for the Territory of Oklahoma was organized. At two o'clock P. M. the court re-convened, when the following attorneys were admitted to practice, each taking the required oath: GUTHRIE AT TORNEYS. D. T. Flynn, S. D. Bailey, C. A. Markland, J. W. Miller, Ed H. Bailey, Stephen H. Bradley, E. S. Dodd, J. J. Merrick, John W. Scothorn, #. T. Summer, Harry R. Thurston, L. B. Lyman, J. L. 186 ILLU MISCEDLANEOUS That there are a larger in Oklahoma than can be and population will not breadth of the profession Seay, the first occupants among the oldest and mos Missouri, Illinois, and Wiscons to the bench of Oklahoma in the Territory has drawn in lawyers” and professional no further than the know tests. And while these fold of Oklahoma to quit a part of the bar, the m honor, and integrity. The first session of the Guthrie on the 10th day two hundred attorneys in the Associate Justices, C was bared, and attorneys the clear voice of United the Supreme Court of Okl to the members of the announced that attorneys in º sion to practice before the Circui would be admitted to practice in the Oklahoma upon taking the customan one o’clock P. M. Immed bar association for the ' two o'clock P. M. the coul were admitted to practice D. T. Flynn, S. D. Ba Bailey, Stephen H. Bra Scothorn, #. T. Sum - - - - nºt jurists and able other country of a liº ºl by any one familiar - Judges Green, Clar - Supreme bench of the Territor bly esteemed jurists in the Stº n, where they resided when ºppº it is true that the opening of land - ºn a large number of lºcal ºutrements e- - ". and into the conside- - of all -- was held were nº Green all every subdued silen Lºy announced ten a shoºt a Lice Green in which entificates of Courts of the nº District the court adiº S SNS - SS NSS § & S S$ EDWARD. B. GREENE, Chief Justice of Oklahoma. wº- ºs-> Sº THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 187 Calvert, Winfield S. Smith, Charles Brown, Silas E. Seeley, Charles W. Ransom, John Foster, D. H. Commager, W. D. Chillson, George A. Outcelt, Charles B. Wilson, H. D. Todd, N. D. Cone, Bayard T. Hainer, John F. Stone, Thomas S. Jones, John M. Galloway, Henry T. Fegan, Emery A. Fuster, J. L. Rock, Albert H. Butterfield, John H. Cotteral, Grant Stanley, Fred M. Elkins, Thomas M. Helen, Daniel R. Widmer, Thomas J. Laws, W. P. Meadows, Horace M. Adams, Patrick J. Cavanaugh, Charles W. Kerns, A. McCaskey, James Henry Hamilton, L. S. Webb, Thomas J. Richardson, John C. Hoſius, J. T. Gealy, George W. Hall, Alexander T. Neill, Benj. F. Dilley, John Hierkey, E. M. Bamford, E. L. Kelso, Eugene B. Bradshaw, John F. Louder, Allen Caruthers, Wallace Thomas, A. N. J. Crook, Horace Speed, Joseph Wisby, Charles M. Garwood, Thomas C. Whiteley, Samuel L. Overstreet, James Paul Grove, Feague Ray, T. Benton Knapp, O. C. R. Randall, James Frank Dale, Harper S. Cunningham, John I. Dille, Ben Carr, Homer C. Fancher, Charles B. Freeman, John J. Boles, T. N. Stockslager, W. T. Willis, W. P. Hackney, Christopher C. Holland, John J. Enright, Charles A, Berger, M. J. Keys, C. J. Yates, Dick T. Morgan, Harry E. Rich, W. W. Williamson, T. H. Soward, F. R. McKennon, J. W. Perkins, S. M. Decker, S. D. Decker, S. W. Comstock, Volney Hoggatt, Wm. J. Points, S. L. Bullard, J. R. Axsom, Herbert W. Wolcott, George S. Cunningham, W. E. Earl, Wm. C. DonCarlos, W. S. Robertson, O. W. Hays, G. C. Hargis, O. R. Fegan, A. H. Huston, W. H. Thompson. OKLAHOMA. CITY AT TORNEYS. W. McClellan, S. Armstrong, J. W. Johnson, O. H. Violet, R. Connella, John Burton, DeWitt C. Lewis, L. N. Keys, Wm. A. Mon- roe, Samuel Murphey, Amos B. Hammer, C. L. Galbraith, Lee G. Pitman, James E. Jones, George W. Adams, Leslie P. Ross, Ledru Guthrue, J. L. VanDerwerker, Lucian H. Barlow, Sidney H. Den- ham, W. W. Witten, J. H. Woods, S. A. Steward, B. N. Woodson, H. R. Winn, S. M. Sutleff, Hugh W. Hillman, Royce Wyant, Huger Wilkerson, Taylor Flick, Robert J. Ray, James L. Brown. Norris Sprigg and Robert H. Lyle, of Kingfisher; E. J. Simpson and Robert Martin, of El Reno: Emery A. Wilson, of Reno City; Robert A. Lowry and Frank Wykoff, of Stillwater; Amos Green, of Lexington, and A. H. Classen, of Edmond, were also admitted. APPOINTMENTS FOR OKLAHOMA. On the 15th of May, 1890, the following appointments for the Territory of Oklahoma were made by the President and confirmed 188 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, - by the Senate: For Governor, Geo. W. Steele; for Secretary, Robert Martin; for Chief Justice, Edward B. Green; for Associate Justices, John G. Clark and A. J. Seay; for U. S. Marshal, Warren S. Lurty; for U. S. Attorney, Horace Speed. In September, 1889, W. C. Grimes, of Kingfisher county, was appointed U. S. Marshal in place of Warren S. Lurty, resigned. APPOINTMENTS BY GOVERNOR STEELE. After entering upon the discharge of his duties as the Executive of Oklahoma, Governor Steele made the following appointments for the different counties: Zogan County.—Lewis H. Laws, clerk; Leander T. Shocky, sher- iff; Richard H. Smithwick, surveyor, Philip H. Wienterstein, coro- ner; Edward P. McCabe, treasurer; Charles B. Freeman, attorney; Charles A. Berger, judge; Thomas Seeley, Geo. E. Gray, and Jas. H. Reinhart, commissioners. Oklahoma County.—A. B. Hammer, county judge; Henry A. Howard, attorney; John M. Martin, clerk; C. H. DeFord, sheriff; L. Bixler, treasurer; William F. Higgie, John A. Hartzell, and Frank- lin Springer, commissioners, and Wm. D. Rust, surveyor. Cleveland County.—Wood Lyttle, sheriff; Robert E. Jones, clerk; Henry A. Smock, attorney; William D. Chillson, judge; Tyler Blake, surveyor; John A. McCartney, treasurer; Schuyler H. Parks, coroner; James M. Bishop, James H. Love, and Albert M. Petite, commis- SLOne]"S. - Canadian County.—Parker S. Smith, clerk; J. T. Godfrey, sheriff; Harlan H. Lamberson, judge; Calvin L. Severy, attorney; Quincy R. Burgesser, treasurer; M. B. Snyder, surveyor. Aºngfisher County.—J. P. Cummins, judge; Daniel F. Wyatt, sheriff; E. C. Cook, surveyor; James Gillen, treasurer; Robert A. Lyle, attorney; C. M. Cade, clerk; John P. Jones, Geo. E. Hubbard, and W. H. Cater, commissioners. Payne County.—Franklin J. Wykoff, attorney; º P. King, judge; Jas. S. Hunt, clerk; Eli Read, treasurer; F. M. Vaughn, sheriff; J. E. Sater, surveyor; Robert F. McMurtry, coroner; Samuel H. Frame, Melborne Peters, and J. P. Wilson, commissioners. Beaver County.—W. D. Mathews, judge; Thomas P. Braidwood, clerk; J. W. McCool, sheriff; Geo. H. Healy, treasurer; D. F. Smith, coroner; A. T. Badle, attorney; J. A. Tabor, surveyor: James B. Quinn, W. J. P. Williams, and John W. Beebe, commissioners. Governor Steele was singularly fortunate in his appointments, as in nearly every instance they gave universal satisfaction. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 189 WATER-WORKS. Although entirely inadequate to meet the future needs of the city, the Guthrie water-works, which were commenced on the 23d day of April, 1889, and completed before the close of the following month, have proved equal to all demands up to the present time. The water is taken from the Cottonwood river through a three-inch main, which is laid on the principal streets. Serving as a stand-pipe is an enor- mous tank situated between Division and First streets, at an elevation of about eighty-five feet above the level of the river. This affords sufficient force to throw a stream of water one hundred feet. In con- flagrations, as in most everything else, Guthrie has proved a marvel. Built mostly of wood as is the city, there was but one fire requiring the aid of the fire department during the first eighteen months of the city’s life. CENSUS OF ORLAHOMA. The United States census taken in June, 1890, showed the popula- tion of Oklahoma to be sixty thousand four hundred and seventeen, of which three thousand three hundred were negroes, which are chiefly located at and in the vicinity of Lincoln, in Kingfisher county. The census also showed that there were at that time seventeen thousand and seventy-one children of school age, and two thousand two hun- dred and seven soldiers who participated in the rebellion, in the Ter- ritory. The population by counties was given as follows: Logan county, 14,254; Oklahoma county, 12,794; Cleveland county, 7,011; Canadian county, 7,703; Kingfisher county, 8,837; Payne county, 6,836, Beaver county, 2,982. During the spring and summer of 1890, with a view to stimulating colored immigration, reports were circulated through the Eastern and Southern States that there were anywhere from ten thousand to twenty thousand colored people in the Territory, when in fact the per cent. of colored people in Oklahoma, according to population, is much smaller than in most of the other States and Territories in the Union. ELECTIRIC LIGHT IN GUTHRIE. Early in the fall of 1889 arrangements were made for lacing electric lights in Guthrie, and the works were completed and !. first electric lights in the Indian Territory were turned on the streets and business houses in November of the same year. Experts pronounced the Guthrie electric light system as the fourth in point of quality 190 ILLUSTRATED ORLAHOMA, and power in the Union. The principal streets, as also the business houses and many of the residences, are now supplied with the electric light. ICE FACTORY. In June, 1890, the Guthrie ice factory, with a capacity of twenty tons per day, was completed and commenced supplying the city with ice. Its capacity will be doubled during the coming year. FIRST CONVENTION OF THE W. C. T. U. The first territorial convention of the Woman’s Christian Temper- ance Union convened at Guthrie on the 8th day of October, 1890, and continued in session for two days. Mrs. Williams, State Lee- turer of Missouri, lectured before the convention on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, the 8th and 9th. The union is well represented in Guthrie, Oklahoma City, Kingfisher, and other cities throughout the Territory. KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. Guthrie Lodge, No. 2, at Guthrie, Oklahoma, was organized Decem- ber 5th, 1889, with thirty-five charter members. The following officers were elected and installed on that date: A. H. Waite, P. C.; F. P. Lindsay, C. C.; B. H. Joy, V. C.; L. S. Webb, Prelate; J. W. Clevinger, K. of R. and S.; W. A. Thomas, M. of F.; E. L. Kelso, M. of E.; M. W. Robacker, M. A. The following are the officials of the lodge at this time: W. M. Allison, P. C.; C. M. Barnes, C. C.; Harry º W. C.; J. C. Hoſius, Prelate; E. N. Yates, K. of R. and S.; C. W. Bleuler, M. of F.; W. A. Thomas, M. of E.; W. M. Tilden, M. A. The lodge now numbers sixty-six members in good standing. Oklahoma Lodge, No. 1, at Oklahoma City, was instituted Novem- ber 19th, 1889, with thirty-four charter members. The following officers were installed: T. M. Upshaw, P. C.; M. L. Bixler, C. C.; W. H. Darrough, W. C.; K. S. Fisher, Prelate; J. Q. White, K. of R. and S.; J. P. Boyle, M. of F.; M. A. Gilbert, M. of E.; John Wand, M. A. At the present time the lodge has a membership of fifty-four. The officers are as follows: K. S. Fisher, P. C.; Ewers White, C. C.; J. H. Hebard, Prelate; H. G. Beard, K. of R. and S.; I. N. Lund, M. of F.; E. W. Dowden, M. of E.; M. S. Miller, M. A. At Edmond, Oklahoma, Damascus Lodge, No. 4, was instituted on May 20th, 1890, and on June 23d, 1890, the following officers were installed: P. R. Prickett, P. C.; H. H. Moose, C. C.; A. H. Clas- THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 191 sen, V. C.; H. B. DeFord, Prelate; W. S. Moon, K. of R. and S.; R. Galbreath, M. of F.; J. D. Turner, M. of E. The officers at present are: R. B. Farwell, C. C.; A. H. Classen, W. C.; H. B. DeFord, Prelate; W. S. Moon, K. of R. and S.; J. D. Turner, M. of E.; C. E. Edgerton, M. of F.; R. Galbreath, M. A. 5. Lodge, No. 3, at Kingfisher, was organized July 16th, 1890, with forty-one charter members. The following have been elected as the officials of the lodge: John Myers, P. C.; T. G. Cutlip, C. C.; Christopher Fouts, V.C.; Rev. Parker, Prelate; H. C. David- son, K. of R. and S.; F. L. Wallis, M. of F.; John Rogers, M. of E.; T. B. Kelley, M. A. GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. The first organization of the G. A. R. in the Indian Territory was at Guthrie, on the 30th of May, 1889, when the Assistant Adjutant- General at Topeka, Kansas, responded to a call of the old soldiers of Guthrie and vicinity to be organized into a G. A. R. post. The first G. A. R. post of Oklahoma was duly mustered, and the follow- ing officers installed: C. M. Barnes, Post Commander; H. T. Sum- ner, Senior Vice-Commander; Daniel Hay, Junior Vice-Commander; A. J. Hacket, Quartermaster; W. H. Merriweather, Surgeon; J. W. Snyder, Chaplain; J. B. Keith, Officer of the Day; J. A. Gilbert, Of- ficer of the {...i. T. A. Stockslager, Adjutant. The name selected for the post was John A. Logan. It was ascer- tained afterwards that a post of the same name was in the Depart- ment of Kansas, whereupon Post Commander C. M. Barnes Sug- gested the name of John F. Hartranft, in honor of the ex-Commander- in-Chief of the G. A. R., now deceased, and one of the commis- sioners appointed by President Harrison to negotiate a treaty with the Indians of the Indian Territory for a cession of their lands, etc. Present Post Commander, M. D. Losey. On the 17th of July, 1890, the following order was issued by Pro- visional Commander Cassius M. Barnes: “The first annual meeting of the Department Encampment of the Indian Territory and Oklahoma will be held at Guthrie, Oklahoma, at 10 o'clock A. M. on Thursday, the 7th day of August, 1890.” On the 23d of June, 1890, the following order was issued: HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY of THE REPUBLIC, : - DETROIT, MICH, June 23, 1890. [Special Orders, No. 21.] I. It satisfactorily appearing to the Commander-in-chief that the comrades of the various posts of the Grand Army of the Republic located in the Indian 192 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, Territory and Oklahoma desire to be organized into a separate department; therefore, so much of said Territory as is attached to the Department of Texas, and so much of said Territory as is attached to the Department of Kansas, are hereby detached from said Departments for Grand Army purposes and erected into the Provisional Department of Indian Territory and Oklahoma. II. Comrade Cassius M. Barnes, of Guthrie, Oklahoma, is hereby appointed Provisional Commander of the new department. III. Under the provisions of Chapter 5, Article X, Sections 1 and 2, of the Rules and Regulations, the Provisional Commander will appoint the regular officers, and immediately thereafter proceed to recommend to these head- quarters (there already being the necessary number of posts organized) the time and place for the meeting of the Department Encampment for the pur- pose of effecting a permanent department organization. By order of [SEAL.] R. A. ALGER, GEO. H. HoPKINS, Commander-in-Chief. Adjutant-General. On July 9th, 1890, the following special order was issued: HEADQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC, DETROIT, MICH., July 9, 1890. [Special Orders, No. 25.] I. The following appointments made by Cassius M. Barnes, Provisional Commander of the Provisional Department of Indian Territory and Oklahoma, are hereby approved: Assistant Adjutant-General, M. D. Losey, Guthrie; Assistant Quartermaster-General, C. W. Smith. II. The Commander of the Provisional Department will cause to be mus- tered in the comrades named. III. Upon the recommendation of the Provisional Commander, the first annual meeting of the Department Encampment of Indian Territory and Oklahoma will be held at Guthrie, Oklahoma, at 10 o'clock A. M., on Thursday, the 7th day of August, 1890. By order of R. A. ALGER, GEO. H. HOPKINS, Commander-in-Chief. Adjutant-General. Persuant to the above order the first annual meeting of the de- partment was held at Guthrie on the date named. The following officers and representatives were in attendence: C. M. Barnes, De- rtment Commander; G. A. Colton, Senior Vice-Commander: C. º Smith, Assistant Quartermaster-General; M. D. Losey, Assistant Adjutant-General. Cramer Post, No. 1, Oklahoma City – H. H. Black, O. H. Violet, and O. H. Hill. Kingfisher Post, No. 2–D. F. Wyatt, A. G. Vinson, and J. V. Admire. Hartranft Post, No. 3, of Guthrie W. M. Allison, T. H. Soward, and Geo. F. Herriott. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 193 Beaver Post, No. 4, of Beaver City–S. G. Black. Rock of Chick- amauga Post, No. 9, of Edmond–G. H. Bennett and Peter Wilder- son. Capt. Payne Post, No. 10, of Frisco–W. T. Burton, Pap Thomas. Post No. 11, of Mulhall–J. F. Linn and A. B. Wood. Fremont Post, No. 12, of Hennessey – W. A. Beegle. Reno Post, No. 13, of El Reno–J. A. Foreman. The posts not º were: Al- bert Carter Post, No. 49, of Norman; Clamore Post, No. 6, of Paw- huska, I. T.; Stillwater Post, No. 7, of Stillwater; J. E. Bennett Post, No. 8, of Muldron, I. T.; W. H. Harrison Post, No. 14, of Poteau, I. T.; R. W. Ragan Post, No. 15, of Colbert, I. T.; W. B. Hazen Post, No. 16, of Oak Lodge, I. T., and Brownlow Post, No. 17, of Bakosha, I. T. The report of the Assistant Adjutant-General shows that there are seventeen posts in good standing. - The Assistant Quartermaster's report shows that the receipts have been $110.68, and the expenses about $53.00, leaving a balance of $57.68. The officers of the department elected for the ensuing year were as follows: C. M. Barnes, of Guthrie, Department Commander; G. A. Colton, of Kingfisher, Senior Vice-Commander; O. H. Hill, of Okla- homa City, as Junior Vice-Commander; Dr. J. Wesley Jones, of Frisco, as Medical Director; Rev. J. H. Mitchell, of Mulhall, Chap- lain. Council of Administration – W. A. Beegle, of Hennessey; A. B. Wood, of Mulhall; J. A. Foreman, of El Reno; M. D. Losey and T. A. Soward, of Guthrie. The Department Commander appointed Wm. M. Allison, of Guth- rie, Assistant Adjutant-General, and C. W. Smith, Assistant Quarter- master-General, who were also installed. Past Department Com- mander T. H. Soward acted as installing officer. Wm. T. Burton, of Frisco, was elected as department representa- tive at Boston, and H. H. Black, of Oklahoma 8. as alternate. A resolution of thanks of the department encampment was ex- tended to Provisional Commander C. M. Barnes, Commander of the Department of Indian Territory, and also M. D. Losey, Assistant Adjutant-General, and C. W. Smith, Assistant Quartermaster-Gen- eral, for the zeal, ability, and efficiency with which they discharged the duties assigned them. The city of Kingfisher was the place selected to hold the next de- partment encampment. The department determined to hold a reunion of old soldiers at El Reno sometime during the month of October, the date to be fixed by the department commanders. -13 194 - ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, An executive committee of five had charge of the arrangements for the reunion, of which Major Foreman was made chairman, with power to select the four other members of the committee from the posts of that part of the Territory. The reunion, which was the first ever held in Oklahoma, took place at El Reno on the 16th and 17th of October, 1890. In speaking of the event, the Wichita Eagle of the 18th of October says: “Yesterday ended the first G. A. R. reunion ever held in the Territory. The clans have come, enjoyed themselves to the fullest extent, and are now dis- persing with the feeling that one needs to have been a soldier boy once in order to properly enjoy the good things of this life. The parade, in which the military from Fort Reno and the Indian scouts from Darlington participated, was the chief out-door attraction. The procession was grand, and eclipsed anything of the order ever attempted in the West. Governor Steele, Depart- ment Commander C. M. Barnes, and Colonel Wade, commander at Fort Reno, have headquarters at the Caddo Hotel, from the balcony of which they viewed the procession. “Many prominent personages were present during the reunion, among them Major Herriott and Dennis Flynn, of Guthrie; Captain Admire and Judge Roberts, of Kingfisher, and Judge Harvey and Hon. A. C. Scott, of Oklahoma City. The weather was rather unfavorable during the first two days, but to- day it could not be better. Major Foreman, of this city, Colonel St. Clair, of Kingfisher, and Major Call, of Frisco, seemed in their element among the ‘boys, and were central figures throughout the reunion. “The visitors are departing with expressions of gratitude to the citizens of El Reno. “The entertainment closed with a grand ball given under the auspices of the G. A. R., Governor and Mrs. Steele leading the grand march.” The first G. A. R. organization at Oklahoma City was effected September 16th, 1889, by C. M. Rawlins, Special Inspector of Kan- sas. The following were the first and second officers appointed: First Roster of Officers. Frank McMaster, Post Commander; O. H. Violet, Senior Vice-Commander; C. F. Johnson, Junior Vice- Commander; A. G. Murray, Chaplain; H. H. Black, Surgeon; John Burton, Quartermaster; Wm. Lewis, Officer of the Day; A. McFad- den, Officer of the Guard; F. L. Cramer, Adjutant. Second Roster of Officers. O. H. Violet, Post Commander; T. J. Hickey, Senior Vice-Commander; H. H. Black, Junior Vice-Com- mander; A. G. Murray, º J. M. Anderson, Surgeon; John Bur- ton, Quartermaster; Wm. Lewis, Officer of the Day; Peter Ismert, Officer of the Guard; O. H. Hill, Adjutant; Frank McMaster, Ser- ant-Major. Post meets second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at Grand THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 195 Army Hall, Bone & McKinnon building, corner of Broadway and California avenue. The first Ladies of the G. A. R. circle was organized at Oklahoma City on March 26th, 1890. The officers elected were: Mrs. Murray, President; Mrs. Hickey, Senior Vice-President; Mrs. Brown, Junior Vice-President; Mrs. Clara Johnson, Treasurer; Mrs. Dr. Munger, Secretary; Mrs. Wright, Conductor; Mrs. Pettyjohn, Guard. |MASONS AND ODD FELLOWS. There was a thorough organization of Masons and Odd Fellows throughout the Territory early in 1889, and both orders are in a flourishing condition, and have lodges which are well attended in nearly every city in the Territory. POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS. There was no attempt to organize political parties or to draw arty lines in Oklahoma during the first year of its settlement. Party feeling and party preferences, however, began manifesting themselves late in the fall of 1889, and on the 17th of January, 1890, the first olitical convention ever held in the Territory was convened by the . ublican party at Oklahoma City. There were over one hundred and fifty delegates in attendance, and the convention was in session three days. Following are the names of the members of the central committee as appointed by the convention: J. M. Canon, Frisco, chairman; A. C. Scott, Oklahoma City, secretary; Geo. H. Dodson, Orlando: R. J. Wikoff, Stillwater: C. B. Freeman, Guthrie: Samuel Murphy, Oklahoma City; A. H. Classen, Edmond; D. W. Marquart, Norman; B. L. Eaton, Hennessey: D. B. Garrett, Lincoln; Frank Rector, Downs; I. Cutright, Frisco; E. E. Wilson, Reno City: Thomas Jensen, El Reno. On the 11th of March following the first Democratic convention met at Oklahoma City. The attendance was about two hundred, and after a harmonious session of three days it adjourned. Judge Amos Green was elected temporary president, and E. B. Green, of Guthrie, secretary. The following territorial central committee was ap- pointed: J. E. Jones, Oklahoma City, president; T. E. Berry, Nor- man, secretary; Charles Van Eaton, Dover; James Shears, Cimarron City; J. S. Mitsch, Edmond: P. Barnard, Downs; J. D. S. Chalmers, El Reno; T. E. º Norman; J. G. Johnson, Noble; J. J. Kirwin, Britton; W. E. Banks, Mustang; George E. Clayton, Seward; J. R. Booth, Matthewson; P. R. Smith, Lexington; J. W. Crider, Hennes- 196 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, sey: T. G. Sutton, Frisco; C. M. Burke, Central City; A. J. Day, Choctaw City; Allen Carruthers and L. Ketchum, Guthrie: D. B. Madden and J. E. Jones, Oklahoma City; E. J. Simpson, Reno City; A. J. Shaw, Union City; J. M. Kuykendal, Orlando; P. Nagle, Kingfisher; Col. Hugh Wilkerson, Oklahoma City, and Virgil M. Hobbs, Kingfisher, delegates at large. The next Democratic convention was held at Edmond on July 9th, 1890. The object of this convention was to place in nomination a º at large for the Eighth Representative district of Oklahoma. Dr. Richardson, of Oklahoma City, was elected chairman, and E. H. Davis, of Guthrie, secretary. Hon. E. F. Mitchell, of El Reno, was placed in nomination, and was defeated at the election on the 5th of - August following by a majority of 278 by his competitor, the late M. W. Reynolds. The third Democratic convention was held at Guthrie on the 19th of August, 1890, for the purpose of placing a candidate before the people in the Eighth Representative district, against A. M. Colson, nominated by the Republicans to fill the vacancy caused by the death of M. W. Reynolds. Judge John M. Galloway was chosen presi- dent, and John R. Clark secretary. Hon. P. S. Nagle, of King- fisher, received the nomination, but was defeated at the election on the 27th of August by A. M. Colson. - On the 9th of October, 1890, the first Congressional convention ever held in Oklahoma convened at Norman. There were about one hundred Democrats present. J. G. McCoy, of El Reno, was ". in nomination for the long term, and J. L. Matthews, of ayne, was nominated for the unexpired term of the Fifty-first Con- ress. The first Republican Congressional convention ever convened in Oklahoma met at Guthrie on the 11th of October, 1890. It trans- acted no business, however, and adjourned until two o'clock P. M. on Saturday, the 18th of the same month, when it convened in the Assembly hall. W. H. Merten was elected permanent chairman, and R. A. Lowrey secretary. There were fifty-four delegates in at- tendance. Captain D. D. Leach, of Oklahoma City, presented the name of Judge D. A. Harvey; Mr. Geo. Outcell presented the name of D. T. Flynn. The name of Hon. J. V. Admire was withdrawn by Colonel Prouty, of Kingfisher. The convention then proceeded to vote, Judge Harvey receiving thirty-six votes and D. T. Flynn sixteen votes. Judge Harvey was declared elected. The convention then proceeded to elect a territorial central com- mittee, selecting one member from each county, as follows: T. P. ſº º - VIEW OF THE CANADIAN RIVER ON THE ROCK ISLAND ROUTE. [From Photograph.] NEAR GUTHRIE E ROUTE SCENE ON THE SANTA F THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 197 Braidwood, Beaver county; A. H. Jackson, Canadian county; D. M. Marquart, Cleveland county; John P. Jones, Kingfisher county; H. F. Ardery, Logan county; D. D. Leach, Oklahoma county; and P. P. Hileman, Payne county. The Alliance party was organized early in the fall of 1889, and was the first political party organized in Oklahoma. CHAPTER XVI. “One day a cloud rose in the east, And when night fell it was aflame; And soon across yon treeless waste, With sounds of winds and waters, came The steeds of Empire, and her star From each plumed forehead flared afar. “The rays of steel before them beam, And close the myriad chariots throng With thunderous wheels, and arms that gleam Are borne by brown hands true and strong. And now, upon her border lands The vanguard of a nation stands.” THE SANTA FE ROUTE. The great Santa Fe Route is to the West what the New York and Pennsylvania Centrals are to the East. It is among the colossal rail- ways of the world, and in the magnitude of its lines, their magnifi- cent equipments and admirable management, it is no discredit to the many other great lines of road to say of it, facile princeps. About the only difference in the history and general breadth of these three great lines is, that the two last followed the path of civil- ization and were built up by the country, while the first opened the path to civilization and built up the country. The two last followed the pioneers, while the first was the pioneer, and awakened into life the vast solitudes of the West by the shrill screams of its engine whistles. The Santa Fe owns and operates more miles of road than any other railway corporation on the globe. Its ribs of steel span the continent from the shores of the *. on the west to the great chain of lakes on the east. With one arm it grasps the transporta- tion commerce centering at Chicago, and with the other does hercu- lean service for the commerce of the Gulf. To epitomize this mammoth transportation system, it is like the ar- 198 II, LUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, terial currents of the human body, and it is no less important for the full development of Western commercial life than blood for the com- plete growth of man. To trace the history of this great system, from its first organization to its present superb proportions, extend- ing a distance of over fourteen thousand miles in every direction of our country, would involve immense labor and research; hence the purpose of these remarks must be served by a general view of its Pº and importance as a transportation line. ollowing in the wake, as it were, of the Santa Fe Route, are seen springing up towns and cities, peopled with men of industry and en- terprise. Agricultural and manufacturing industries are seen spring- ing into life on every hand. Market centers are established; market facilities at largely increased prices for products are secured, and the cost of supplies to those that have pressed forward in the work of re- claiming the West to civilization is largely reduced. In May, 1885, the Santa Fe Route secured from Congress the right-of-way from Winfield, Kansas, to Dennison, Texas, also for a line westward through the Indian country to a junction with its main line in New Mexico. The securing of the right-of-way, and the building of its line through the Oklahoma country on to the Gulf of Mexico, in 1886–7, by the Santa Fe, was an important factor in open- ing Oklahoma to white settlement. As mentioned in the first chap- ter of this work, except for the Santa Fe it would have been impos- sible to have peopled and developed Oklahoma as it has been done in the past eighteen months. The Santa Fe passes through the most beautiful, as also the most fertile, portion of Oklahoma. Entering the Cherokee Outlet some five miles south of Arkansas City, for sixty-five miles one travels over one vast expanse of billowy prairie, dotted here and there with groves. In the spring and autumn this charming stretch of country shows to the best advantage; and, to employ the language of a lady passing through it on the train in the spring of 1890, “it looks like an old settled country, out of which the people have all moved away, taking with them their buildings.” You enter Oklahoma at the little city of Orlando, from which point to Purcell, on the South Canadian river, a distance of about eighty-five miles, the route is through a country where nature has displayed her beauties with a lavish hand. The engravings of scenes along this route, to be seen in another part of this work, fall far short of doing justice to the ever-changing and charming landscapes through which the road passes. To be fully appreciated the country must be seen. In its splendid road-bed and track, its solid and safe bridges and º ºn terial currents ºf tº ºn tor ºn full development a lºt ºn to the ºn growth of ºne history of this great system. roºm its tº present superb proportions, extend ing a distance thousand miles in every direction of º ºf served by a general view of its - as ºsportation line olo e - ºne of the Santa Fe Route are seen spring ºn tº peopled with men of industry and en- tºp alº and manufacturing industries are seen spring- in every land Market centers are established market a largely increased prices for products are secured, and the upplies to those that have pressed forward in the work of re- the West to civilization is largely reduced May 1885, the Santa º Route secured from Congress the ºf-way from Winfield ºnses tº Dennison, Texas, also for a line estward through the ºn ºn a junction with its ºnal line in New Mexico º ºut-of-way, and the bº of its line tº on to the ºlt of In 1886-7 by tº ºut factor in open- our count ºnse labor and research; hence - I white sº in the first chan- t except to ºld have been impose Si peopled and it has been done in t neon month- tº ºe passes tº st -autiful, as also the most f rtion of Oklahoma ºne the Cherokee Outlet son- fi s south of Arkansas Cº. sixty-five miles one travels O vast expanse of billow prairie, dotted here and there with g In the spring and autumn this charming stretch of country s] he best advantage and to employ the language of a lº pº ough it on the train in the spring of 1890, it looks liº old settle country out of which the people have all moved aV- lºng with tº their buildings You enter Oklahoma at tº ºil of Orland fºom which point to ºurcell on the South C. ºn a distance of about º miles, the route - th --- --- ºne has displayed ºuties ºn la - - nes in eV. pa º!!!," " | - º | | | | | | | || || || º'ſ] Fº ſº º THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 199 culverts, its elegant equipment of passenger coaches, its superior freight transportation facilities, the character of its officers, and in the general management of its business, the Santa Fe occupies a first position in the railway system of the country. The advantages of this line to Oklahoma, and its increased impor- tance in developing the Indian country, when its projected exten- sion from Sepulpa west shall have been completed, cannot be over- estimated. Passing south from Orlando eight miles, Mulhall, a beautiful little city, surrounded by a magnificent agricultural country, is reached. Fifteen miles further on, and two miles from the south bank of the Cimarron river, Guthrie, the capital of Oklahoma, is reached. Eight miles further on is Seward; then comes Edmond, one of the prettiest cities on the line. It was here that M. W. Reynolds, the great Western journalist, breathed his last on the 9th of August, 1890. Edmond is surrounded by a densely settled, rich country. Sandwiched between it and Oklahoma City, fifteen miles to the south, is Brit- ton, a small town with a rich farming country on all sides. Oklaho- ma City, the gem of the Canadian, has a population of 6,000, and is one of the most prosperous cities in the Territory. South from Okla- homa City nine miles is Moore, nestling in as rich a country as can be found in Oklahoma. Nine miles further on is Norman; then comes Noble; passing which eight miles the South Canadian, divid- ing Oklahoma from the Chickasaw Nation, is reached. All the towns and cities on this line of railway are fully described in another chapter. The Santa Fe was the first to come to the relief of the farmers of Oklahoma in the fall of 1890 by distributing, free of transportation, and waiting one year for its pay, 10,000 bushels of seed wheat. The following is a statement of the elevations on the Santa Fe above the sea level, measuring from the top of rail at the north end of the depot at each station: Stations. Elevations. Arkansas City, Kansas............................. 1081 feet. Chillocco, Indian Territory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1155 “ Willow Springs, Indian Territory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1117 “ Ponca, º “. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 961 “ Red Rock, … “. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 897 “ Wharton, Oklahoma. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1015 “ Mulhall, “. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................ 951. “ Lawrie, “. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 914 “ Guthrie, “. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............... 847 “ Seward, “. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............ 981 “ Edmond, -- - 1296 “ 200 ILLUSTRATED OR LA HOMA, Britton, Oklahoma ............................... 1227 feet. Oklahoma, “. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1203 “ Moore, “. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1251. “ Norman, “. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1173 “ Walker, “. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1069 “ Purcell, Indian Territory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1036 “ THE GREAT ROCK ISLAND AND PACIFIC ROUTE. The advent of the Great Rock Island into the Territory was greeted with rejoicing, not only by the people anxious to see the advance- ment of the country commercially and in a business sense, but the War Department of our Government saw the approaching realization of its pet scheme to make Fort Reno the largest and handsomest military post in the great West. This point is also on the route of the Rock Island, about thirty-five miles south of Kingfisher. The healthfulness and general advantages of this section for a military post have long been appreciated by the authorities, but the long dis- tance from railways has prevented the improvement of the fort beyond the demands of necessity. It has been necessary heretofore to trans- fer troops and supplies overland, but this is now done away with, and Reno will blossom as the rose, and additions to the buildings and other improvements are certain to follow. A prominent military man has said that Reno will be made even finer than Fort Leavenworth. There are now about nine hundred troops stationed there, and this number will no doubt be doubled or trebled before long. The long marches and attending difficulties are overcome, and through the enter- prise of this great system. Where it once took weeks to make a comparatively short trip by tortuous wagon roads, the handsomely appointed vestibule trains now transport the passenger in a few hours. Oklahoma, a new country, is now blessed with the latter-day im- provements of a civilized people upon the start, where other sections when newly settled by civilized people were compelled to put up with the crudest conveniences of the }. for some time after their set- tlement. In this respect Oklahoma is certainly advanced far beyond the condition of the Western plains when they were settled up by the whites, and the lands are consequently more valuable at the very beginning. - The Great Rock Island Route in Kansas is what may be called a new creation. It did not begin with a few miles, built between fear and hope from one county-seat to another, but sprang into existence prepared to do the transportation business of a great State, over which its branches radiate in every direction; with spacious depots, and with -- | | "|| | º --- | º " || | | | T º | º º |º | º || || º º | º | | º |\lº º | º " | º º |\º º --- | - | |- THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOI). 201 such equipment in the way of rolling stock as had never been seen before in the State, and all within the space of two years. The road from Caldwell into the Territory was built last year, to accommodate the cattle trade, and as if with foresight of the | ". of Oklahoma. The line which brought out cattle last year by the thousands is this year carrying in by thousands the settlers who are to transform the beauteous wilderness of Oklahoma. - At Caldwell the State line is crossed, and the traveler enters the Indian Territory and that portion of territory designated as the “Cherokee Outlet,” or the “Cherokee Strip,” but in the common talk of the country simply as “the Strip.” At Pond Creek the rail. road lands the traveler twenty-six miles from Caldwell in “the Strip,” and almost at the gate of Oklahoma proper. At Pond Creek the new extension of the Rock Island road, built to El Reno, begins; the “old Chisholm trail,” over which hundreds of thousands of cattle have passed on their way northward; the old Government road from Kan- sas to Fort Reno, Fort Sill, Arcadarko, and other main posts and agencies in the º the main road to Texas; the regular stage route from Caldwell to Fort Reno. The traveler does not make his way on stage lines now, but on palace cars over steel rails. The traveler at Pond Creek is in the midst of one of the great pastures of the North American continent; not a mere grassy waste over which roam and lose themselves herds of wild cattle, hunted by wild men, but fenced pastures on a scale unthought of till within a few years; a pasture crossed by a lane from one to two miles wide, and between fifty and sixty miles long, itself a pasture. From Pond Creek going south you will see the green prairies rising in a long wave which seems to end in a sharp crest, but which sinks and vanishes as it is approached, and proves only the beginning of a mile- long slope to a little valley, which crossed, another emerald wave ascends. He will see on the right hand and left the winding timber of streams, usually running to the southeast to empty into the Cim- arl'On. From Bullfoot to the Red Rock ranch and the Cimarron the road runs parallel to and no great distance from Turkey creek and its timber, which end at the Cimarron at Red Fork ranch. From this ranch to the Cimarron the road runs a short distance through sand hills, which, however, are covered with trees and grass, and King- fisher creek, the handsomest stream between Caldwell and Fort Reno, affords along its timbered course a camping ground for thousands. The Kingfisher is a bright, clear stream, thirty feet wide, which has cut its bed in the loamy soil fifty feet deep. #. the water 202 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, 7 and the high banks grow lofty and spreading elms and cottonwoods and other trees. The Indians made winter camps along the shores of the Kingfisher, and the cottonwoods are scarred where the bark has been chopped off to feed the Cheyenne ponies. The Kingfisher has a steady current, and when it is slightly impeded water grasses and aquatic plants grow, something not common in prairie streams. Although much has been written in praise of Oklahoma, it is the concurrent testimony of all who have once visited this region that no pen picture can do it justice. It is well worth the expense of a trip thither, even if one has no intention of becoming a permanent resi- dent. Without seeing, no one would believe it possible that crops so abundant and of such superior quality and flavor could be raised as have been produced from the sod by settlers. Corn, cotton, potatoes, and all kinds of vegetables have made surprising yields; and as for melons and fruits, no soil can be found elsewhere more favorable or better adapted to growing plums, pears, peaches, apricots, cherries, grapes, and small fruits. Within a few years Oklahoma will be universally known as the garden of the West, if not of the entire continent. With plenty of water, timber, grass, rain, a soil whose capacity for production is practically inexhaustible, and a climate so genial that the farmer can plow, plant, sow, and reap nine months of the year, the agriculturist who is satisfied with “good enough” or “better than he expected,” will not take the trouble to look further for the realiza- tion of his wishes. The Indian Territory (or Oklahoma, the heart of it) is as healthful as it is desirable in all other respects. There is no malaria in the atmosphere. In the summer season the mornings are cool, and although at times the middle of the day is hot, towards evening a breeze from the Gulf wafts its refreshing influences over the hills and valleys, making the nights deliciously comfortable and pleasant. HENNESSEY. Hennessey, with a population of three hundred and fifty (as per census last August), is situated on the Great Rock Island Route in Oklahoma, four and one-half miles south of the Cherokee Strip, ten miles north of the Cimarron river, fifteen miles from the Cheyenne Indian reservation, and about forty miles from the Santa Fe railway. The town is beautifully located north of the Little Turkey river, east of the Large Turkey, and west of the Skeleton river. The best of soft water can be obtained here at a depth of fifteen feet. There is also plenty of timber for ties, posts, piling, and fuel. It has two THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 203 schools of about one hundred pupils each, and two churches well attended. The climate is healthy, and the #. thick and of the best quality. Lots are worth from one hundred and fifty to five hundred dollars each. There is plenty of work for mechanics, and at good wages; also two good newspapers, representing in a fit manner the interests of an enterprising American people. The soil is of a dark material, intermixed with a reddish sand, making it very productive and lasting. The rainfall is abundant. Although this country is but little over a year old, it is much more thickly settled and under better cultivation than a great many West- ern sections of ten years' age. - The cattle and hog industry is getting well under way, and in a couple of years the surrounding country will have an abundance of the best grades of stock, as the country is well adapted to the growth of all kinds of grain–corn, oats, wheat, etc., and vegetables, tobacco, and cotton. The present receipts at the railway station average $3,500 per month. OKARCHE. This new town is situated on the southern extension of the Great Rock Island Route, three hundred and sixty-six miles southwest of Kansas City, and ninety-four miles south of Caldwell in Kansas, near the geographical centre of the Indian Territory, being the only railway station near the Cheyenne and Arrapahoe Indian reservation, which, it is expected, will be opened to settlement within a few months. It is situated on a high elevation, surrounded by a beautiful rolling prairie country, spreading out in all directions. It is well watered; Johns creek, running about four miles north, empties into the Cim- arron; another tributary to that river heading about ten miles west, and flowing in a northerly direction. There is some timber on all the Streams. The soil is a rich, sandy loam, of a reddish color when the prairie sod is first broken, but after cultivation showing black. The climate is mild in winter and breezy in summer, with cool nights. There is plentiful rain, and cotton, corn, wheat, tobacco, potatoes, peanuts, and castor beans were cultivated this year, with encouraging results. Cotton especially does well, and it is believed by a great many is destined to be the staple crop of this country. Farmers are also planting orchards, and have set out a great many apple, peach, apri- cot, pear, plum, and crab-apple trees. Churches are already established, and school facilities are excellent. 204 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, All of the proofs of an enlightened civilization are here. The town is young yet, numerous farms in the vicinity not having been filed on until late in the fall of 1890. Pure and clear water can be found in great abundance at a depth of twenty to thirty feet from the sur- face. Moreover, all the larger ravines and creeks have water in them all the year round. MINCO. This booming little town—with the best possible prospects for steady advancement and solid improvement—is located in the north- western corner of the Chickasaw Nation, about four miles from the south bank of the South Canadian river, thirty-eight miles from Kingfisher, and ninety-seven miles from Pond Creek. It is situated on rich and productive soil, on an elevated prairie sloping northward to the Canadian river, thus giving the location the advantage of being near the river and other streams having an abund- ance of timber, while being southward of all the low lands the danger of malaria is removed. Westward a mile or so is the line of the Wichita and Caddo reservation; to the southward lies the Kiowa and Comanche reservation; northward across the river lies Oklahoma, while to the east and southeast lie the far-famed and fertile valleys and slopes of the Chickasaw Nation. In other days this was (and still is) a great cattle-producing coun- try. But while the farmer is making inroads in this immediate see- tion, the country west and southwest teems with cattle, droves of which are constantly moving toward this point for consignment to Northern markets. Being at the terminus of the only railway lead- ing into this portion of the country, Mineo is the distributing point for a tremendous area to the south and southwest. It is the nearest railroad point from which the Government can consign supplies to its agency at Anadarka for the reservation Indians, and is perhaps the most available point for supplying the military post at Fort Sill. The Rock Island Railway Company is building a handsome sta- tion close to the business portion of the town, and has numerous switches, side tracks, an excellent water-tank, commodious stock yards (which are to be still further enlarged), and is making steady preparations to transact an immense business at this place. Through the suburbs runs Buggy creek, a pretty little stream emptying into the Canadian. The climate is delightful and bracing, with cool, pleasant nights during the summer. The water is good, wholesome, and fresh, and can be had in abundance within fifteen feet of the surface. Good THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 205 titles can be secured to lots in town, and farmers can cultivate the soil by complying with an easy and encouraging law of the Chicka- saw Nation. Business houses and residences are going up, and in a short time Minco will be a populous business town, moving onward and upward in the march of civilization. The chief industries at present are farming and cattle-raising. Mineo has four large general merchandise stores, two good hotels, and several other buildings, all of which were erected within two weeks previous to July 4th, 1890. The town is making a wonder- fully rapid growth. The journey to Oklahoma may be best made by the reliable Rock Island, which goes to the heart of the country by the most direct route; gives the best accommodations; attends most carefully to the traveler's health and happiness, and sets the prospector, home-seeker, or tourist down on the old main road by which thousands of men and hundreds of thousands of beasts have traveled to Oklahoma and regions beyond in the past. The road, in spite of the traditions of the past, is as safe as the best-policed streets in the best-governed city in the United States. That portion of the Territory which already shows the greatest development and improvement, and of which El Reno is the natural centre and metropolis, is that lying between the North and South Canadian rivers. Here is a tract that is destined to be the garden spot of Oklahoma, as it now is the choice of all who see it. The sur- face is sufficiently rolling to assure excellent drainage, and is level enough to admit of every acre being tilled. It is well watered by beautiful streams occurring every three or four miles, that rise near the divide separating the two Canadians, flowing either in a northerly or southerly direction. Its soil is composed of a rich sandy loam, and those who have thoroughly tested its properties declare that it is unequaled for pro- ductiveness and lasting qualities. Many farmers there the past sea- son grew vegetables of the finest quality and of the largest size from the new raw sod, and equal in every respect to any produced in the older States. The climate is delightful, possessing the best and most healthful elements of both northern and southern latitudes. Stock feed and fatten all the year round, requiring no extra care during the months of (so-called) winter. The Rock Island road runs from two to five miles from the east line of that magnificent stretch of country known as the Cheyenne and Arrapahoe reservations—a full description of which will be found in another chapter. This will prove the most easy and valuable 206 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, route for settlers to take in order to reach those lands which have been ceded to the Government, and which will undoubtedly be opened to settlement early in the spring of 1891. The lasting gratitude of the farmers of Oklahoma is due to the Rock Island Railroad Company for the aid rendered them this fall (1890), in the way of 12,000 bushels of seed wheat. CHAPTER XVII. THE FIRST LEGISLATURE OF ORIAHOMA. “All persons possessing any portion of power ought to be strongly im- pressed with the idea that they act in trust, and that they are to account for their conduct in that trust to the one great Master, Author, and Founder of society.”—Burke. “Be just and fear not: Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country’s.” In pursuance to the act of May 14th, 1890, organizing the Ter- ritory of Oklahoma, Governor Steele issued a proclamation on the eighth day of July, 1890, calling an election on the fifth of August following, at which time a House of twenty-five members, with one delegate-at-large, and a Council of thirteen, were chosen. There were three tickets in the field—the Republican, the Democratic, and the Alliance. The Republicans elected fourteen members of the House, including a delegate-at-large, and six members of the Council. The Democrats elected eight members of the House and five members of the Council; while the Alliance elected four members of the House and one Councilor. In the House the Republicans had a majority of two over both the opposing parties, while the Democrats and Alliance had a majority of one in the Council. The sharp rivalry that com- menced º out early in the summer of 1889 between Guthrie and Oklahoma City was intensified by Guthrie's being named in the organic act as the place for the convening of the first legislature; hence, the question of locating the seat of government for the Ter- ritory overshadowed all others, and was made the main issue both in nominations and the canvass. The feeling in different sections of the Territory was so intense on this question that party lines were not adhered to, and as a result the vote cast was of little or no value in determining the real strength of either party in the Territory. August the 19th was the date fixed by the Governor for convening the legislature; but death caused two vacancies prior to that date. № ſae|- №. ^^ſº - ºn 10- route to settlers to lose lands which have been cºded to the ºl undoubtedly be opened to settlement ºn lºº. The lasting - ºnes of Oklahoma is due to the Rock Island the aid rendered them this fall (1890) in ºn lºnels of seed wheat. - On ºn XVII. º ºn tººls ºur E. OR ORLA HOMA. nº possessing any portion of power ought to be strongly in- 1 he idea that they act in trust, and that they are to account for t a that trust to the one great Master. Author and rounder of S - - - ... ------ - - ---------- --" in pursuance to tº lººd organizing the Ter- ritor ºf - - ºlºmation on the eiº - ºth of August fo º with one del ºn There were th. nºtic and the - - All- hers of the louse. in the Council. The Dºn el ºuse and five members of the Council, while the All out members of the louse an on no in the louse the Republicans had a majority of twº over both the opposing parties. while the Democrats and Alliance had a majority of one in the Council The sharp rivalry that ºn- menº ºpping out early in the summer of 1889 between Guthrie and on ºn was intensified by Guthrie's being named in the organic act as place for the convening of the first legislature hem ºne question loºting the seat of goº to the le rito- ºn and was made the main issue both - - - - tº ºn nº-ºne of In Oll- and the canvas. The feeling in diº- Ter sº intense on this question tº adhe- a result the vote cast - dete- a strength of either part- - A nº - was the date fixed by the the - two -an-le- º | - Sºlº ASSEMBLY HALL of THE FIRST LEGISLATURE OF or LAHOMA. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 207 On the 8th of August, Hon. C. M. Burke, member-elect to the House, died, while on the day following—the 9th of August – just four days after his election as a delegate at large, the sad news of the sudden death of the Hon. M. W. Reynolds, at his home in Edmond, was flashed over the wires. This necessitated a special election, which was held on the 25th of August, and two days later – August the 27th –the first legislature of Oklahoma, as provided for in sec- tion fifteen of the organic act, convened at Guthrie. The Republican members were: R. S. Barker, W. H. Campbell, A. M. Colson, G. J. Currin, D. C. Farnsworth, C. G. Jones, S. Lewis, W. H. Merten, J. C. Post, W. S. Robertson, J. L. Smith, E. C. Tritt, H. G. Trosper, and J. A. Wimberly. The Democratic members were: W. C. Adair, E. A. Long, M. Neal, S. D. Pack, D. W. Perry, J. M. Stovall, D. W. Talbot, and T. C. Waggoner. The Alliance members were: J. N. Terrell, S. W. Clark, A. N. Daniels, and J. L. Mathews. The Republicans in the Council were: J. L. Brown, John Foster, Chas. Brown, D. Harrady, J. F. Lynn, and W. A. McCartney. The Democrats were: Mort L. Bixler, J. W. Howard, R. J. Nesbit, L. G. Pittman, and J. Smeltzer; the Alliance, Geo. W. Gardenhire; and C. F. Grimmer, Independent. It will be seen from the foregoing statement of party strength in the legislature that the Republicans had won the first political battle in Oklahoma. In the organization of the legislature, however, the fruits of the victory were bartered away through a combination of certain localities seeking advantages. The coalition thus formed for the advancement of local interests, and which intensified the animosity existing between the people of Oklahoma City and Guthrie, included H. i. Trosper, C. G. }. M. M. Neal, D. W. Perry, S. D. Pack, A. N. Daniels, D. W. Talbot, W. C. Adair, J. M. Stovall, T. R. Waggoner, J. L. Matthews, J. N. Terrell, S. W. Clark, and E. G. Long in the House, and G. W. Gardenhire, J. L. Brown, L. G. Pittman, J. W. Howard, Mort L. Bixler, R. J. Nesbit, and Josegh Smeltzer in the Council. The Wichita Eagle, whose Republicanism is of the purest type, comments upon the anomalous condition resulting from the combina- tion as follows: “The situation at Guthrie is not such as to constitute a very high compli- ment to the sagacity and shrewdness of the majority in the first territorial legislature of Oklahoma. With a clear majority in both branches of the legis- lature the Republicans turned over the organization of both to the Democrats. The construction that will be put upon this is, that it is a frank acknowledg- ment that the Republicans areincapable, or are not to be trusted with the impor- 208 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, tant and responsible work of directing and shaping the legislation necessary for the proper government and protection of the people of that Territory. * * They have simply surrendered all of their political advantages, at the most important and critical moment as to the future, into the hands of the opposi- tion, without receiving so much as a promise of reward in return, so far as the public are advised. It is now left for the Democrats to not only shape legisla- tion, but also to decide the question of where the capital shall belocated. That they will use the advantages—that are like so much treasure found—to their partisan advantage need not be stated. “At this distance it looks like the Republicans have made a serious mistake, and if it doesn’t prove to be a costly one in the future, it will be next to a mirac- ulous escape.” At two o'clock on Wednesday, the 27th of August, 1890, the first legislature of Oklahoma convened at Guthrie, in the McKennon op- era-house, which had just been completed and arranged for the accommodation of both branches. The Council met in the spacious hall on the ground floor, where several hundred leading citizens of Guthrie and other sections of the Territory had assembled to witness the interesting ceremonies. - Promptly at two o'clock Hon. Robert Martin, Secretary of Okla- homa, passed up to the º chair and called the Council to order. After prayer by the Rev. Lemuel Jones, a temporary organi- zation was effected by electing Hon. Geo. W. Gardenhire president and Hon. E. P. McCabe secretary; L. G. Pittman, Chas. Brown, and J. W. Howard being appointed a committee on credentials. The meet- ing then adjourned until nine o'clock A. M. of the following day. Secretary Martin, after the adjournment of the Council, immedi- ately proceeded to the House of Representatives, where the members of that branch of the legislature were awaiting him. At precisely 2:30 P.M. he called the first legislative assembly of Oklahoma to or- der, and after prayer by the Rev. Lemuel Jones, the following official oath was administered by Secretary Martin: “You and each of you do solemnly swear that you will support the Constitution of the United States, the organic law of the Terri- tory; and that you will faithfully, honestly, and impartially perform the duties devolving upon you as members of the House of Repre- sentatives of the Territory of Oklahoma. So help you God.” Secretary Martin then addressed Oklahoma’s new law-makers as follows: GENT LEMEN of THE House of REPRESENTATIVES: I wish to say a few words to you on this occasion, although I do not intend to make a speech, in regard to your duties as representatives. This more properly belongs to the person whom you will select to preside over your deliberations during the ses- -o-, - N Tºº L. - ---------------egislature ºn ºn- 208 ILLUSTRATED OK LA HOMA. tant and responsi -shaping the legislation necessa the prope - of the peº of that Territory They have sinn their tº advantages, at the - important to the re. into the hands of the opp- tion, with ºn as a of reward in return, so far as tº public a - lett - Democrats to not only shape legisla tion, bu quest mere the capital shall belocated. That they wil ages relike so much treasure found-to their partisan ºn nº-ed. - “At to ºne nepublicans have made a serious mistake and if it -----stly one in the future, it will be next to a miraº ulous eS - At t Wednesday, the 27th of August 1890, the first legislat - ºnoma convened at Guthrie, in the McKennon op- era-hou- ion had just been completed and arranged for the accommodation of both branches. The Council met in the spacious hall on the ground floor whº sº hºnºred leading citizens of Guthrie and other sections of ºne had assembled to witness the interesting ceremo- Prom - Secretary of Okla- homa, ) ed the Council to order. temporary organi- zation w represident and Hon. E. Brown, and J. W. How - als. The meet- ing ther of ºne following day. Secret of the Council, immediº ately pro- ºtives, where the members of that ºn of the legislºe awaiting him. At precisely 2:30 p. nº called the first legislative assembly of Oklahoma to on- der, and after prayer by the R. Lemuel Jones, the following official oath was alºnistered by Secretary Martin: “You an each of you do solemnly swear that you will support the Consºn of the United States the organic law of the º tory; and will ºthfully honesty and in partially perform the duties upon you º members of the House re- sentative to Oklahoma. So help - Secret ºn ad-sed Oklahº's no lºw- as follows: - GENTL on tº ºsº ºw words to - ºnous in regard to lives to the person wh over - ºne sº- SS N N w N wº \\ N N º N N \\ \ NS NS W º \\ w N N ºw w w ±∞∞∞∞∞∞∞- §§&&&&&&&&&-i\\ſ*> ！！！，，，§§&&&&&aº §©® §∞ ：§ ºv % º º 2 º º 2^ ź Ø ºft Ž Z. Z % ZZZZZZZZ, º Z ZZZZZ CAPTAIN J. C. DELANEY, Receiver of the U. S. Land-Office at Oklahoma City. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 241 On the dusty march, when many would lag behind, I often noticed young Delaney struggling along bravely, and when the fight came on, he was always on hand. But enough; I cannot speak in terms strong enough in his favor as a soldier. As a boy he had no advantages of school; his parents being poor, he had to labor about the mines of Lackawanna County to earn a pittance. During his three and a half years in the army he saved every cent of his pay, and sent it home to his widowed mother and little brothers and sisters. In the army he commenced his “self-education;” was always about my quarters asking for a book and advice. He is entirely self-educated. Since the war I have watched his course with the greatest of interest, and I feel to-day as proud of John C. Delaney as if he were my own son. Such men are the real heroes of our late war, and I do think our country owes them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid. Yours with great respect, - (Signed.) H. J. S.HEAFER, Late Major and Brevet Colonel, 107th Pa. Vet. Vols. At the close of the war he secured work under the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company in Pennslyvania, the officers of which are now connected with and the principal parties interested in the Choctaw Coal and Railroad Company of this Territory. The Captain early developed a taste for politics, and he identified himself with the great Republican party, and since reaching his majority has been one of the most active and best-known workers in State and National poli- tics. His activity in 1884 for Mr. Blaine, and in 1888 for General Harrison, is so well known that anything said in this short sketch would not add to his well-known worth in both campaigns. Let it suf- fice that no man of his age enjoys more fully the affections and high regard of the great leaders of the Republican party than does Captain Delaney. He secured his present position without solicitation on his |..." and that his appointment is one of the most popular made by resident Harrison no one in this Territory will question; that he has captured the hearts of the people of Oklahoma is fully demon- strated by the warm words of praise his manly and courageous course has elicited from the journals of the whole Territory. Captain De- laney is a practical temperance man, who has reached the age of forty- two without learning or knowing the taste of intoxicating liquors of any kind, nor has he ever used tobacco in any form. He is a de- voted husband and father, a most loyal and true friend. He has thor- oughly identified himself with the interests of Oklahoma Territory, and as receiver of the land-office in Oklahoma City he will continue to earn the warmest praise and best wishes of ail the people; for with his colleague, Judge John H. Burford, the register of the land- office, he will hew straight to the line, letting the chips fall where they may. –16 242 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, | While in Washington, working for Oklahoma’s interests, in the winter of 1889–90, Mr. H. J. Whitley, than whom no man did more in securing early legislation for the Territory, was materially aided by Captain Delaney, whose high standing and wide acquaintance at the capital rendered his services invaluable. HON. W. J. GAULT, The first legally elected Mayor of Oklahoma City, was born in Wash- ington County, N.Y., in 1830. At the age of six years, with his family, he removed to Adams County, Illinois, where he received a common-school education. In 1853 he went to California, where he remained until 1856, when he returned home. In 1857 he located in Kansas City, where he remained for twenty years, engaged in manu- facturing brick. In 1876 he removed to Eldorado, Kansas, where he remained until the opening of Oklahoma. He entered the Territory on the first train from the south, on the 22d of April, and located at Oklahoma City, where he engaged in the lumber trade. On August 9th, 1890, he was elected Mayor of Oklahoma City, a position he fills at the present time. - On December 27th, 1859, Mr. Gault was united in marriage at Kansas City to Miss Martha Phillips, of that city. They have three children: Eliza, their eldest (now Mrs. C. A. Crowder), of Eldorado, Kansas; a son, Mr. W. D. Gault, residing at Oklahoma City, and engaged in the lumber trade; and Mary, their youngest, residing with her parents. Mayor Gault is a gentleman of enterprise and energy, and he has always been foremost in all movements looking towards the advance- ment of Oklahoma City’s interests. He is a highly respected mem- ber of the column of solid business men who are pushing Oklahoma City to the front as the metropolis of Oklahoma. D.R. C. A. PEYTON Was born at Charleston, Ill., August 28th, 1853, where he resided until five years ago, when he received an appointment as physician in the United States Indian service, located at Sac and Fox Agency, which position he filled until the incoming of President Harrison. Resigning, he located at Oklahoma City April 22d, 1889. Dr. Pey; ton married the daughter of Dr. W. M. Chambers, late member of the Illinois State Board of Health, the only Democratic member of the Board appointed by Governor Collum. The Doctor is a member of the present City Council, and was chosen president of that body without a dissenting vote. Being a Democrat, he believes in the people ruling the party instead of the party ruling the people. --- º --- º º - - GAULT ---------- | 242 win in the Th - ing fan COIC ren Ka fac ren On Ok 9th at Ka chi Ka en; alw In 16 be. Ci W . un in wh Re- to th th of pe rr ºr rr cºrrid a ºn 17 in nºr T. A frºm Mſ. A n nº as where the Terri and located rade. On ºn a position he in marriage Tº have tº of Eldoradº City an sº residin. and and the advan- ºnly respected nº ºne Oºloº res - physiº and lºok ºn sident ºn is 1880 Dr Pe. ºne member neº- GAULT Oklahoma C J MAYOR. W. i THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. - 243 - T. M. RICHARDSON Is a native of Mississippi, and was born in Chickasaw County, in that State, in the year 1848. He was educated at the schools in the city of Aberdeen, and resided in his native State until 1874, when he removed to Ennis, Ellis County, Texas, where he engaged extensively in business, and was intimately identified with all of the more important enterprises of that city. After a residence of a num- ber of years in Ennis he removed to Albany, in the same State, where he became one of the incorporators of the M. T. Jones Lumber Com- pany, one of the most extensive corporations of the kind in the West. This company has numerous yards throughout Texas, as also along the Santa Fe in Oklahoma, the management of which is under the personal supervision of Mr. Richardson, who is resident partner at Oklahoma City; and his son, Mr. D. C. Richardson, owns one of the finest residences in that thriving town. Mr. Richardson is vice- president of the Oklahoma National Bank, the first bank to nation- |alize in Oklahoma; also, one of the directors of the International Loan and Trust Company, which has built several fine business blocks in Guthrie and Oklahoma City during the past year. Mr. Richard- son is an active, broad-guaged business man, generous and public- spirited, and a prominent factor in building up and developing the resources of his adopted city. CAPTAIN A. B. HAMMER. Among the many who entered Oklahoma on the memorable 22d, Captain A. B. Hammer should be mentioned. Captain A. B. Ham- mer is a Virginian by birth, and still retains many of the character- istics of the people of the “Old Dominion.” He entered the Union army early in '61, and served faithfully until the muster-out of his regiment, having risen from the ranks to a captaincy. After the war he studied law, and rose to a leading practice in the courts of Central Illinois. - - In 1872 he removed to Labette County, Kansas, and in 1881 to Texas, from which point he came to Oklahoma. Having selected Oklahoma City as the place of his residence, he was at an early day identified with the people of that city. He was the first attorney to attack the legality of the imprisonment adj udged against settlers by the local court established under the Seminole regime, and had two prisoners released on habeas corpus before Judge Shackleford early in June, for which and other acts of opposition he had the distin- guished honor of being arrested by the military authorities. He was chairman of the first mass convention to nominate city 244. I LLUSTRATED or LA Howa, officers; also chairman of the first Republican territorial conven. tion; was appointed county judge of Oklahoma County by Gover. nor Steele; has a large practice in the land-office and territorial courts, and all together leads a busy life. The Captain is in perfect harmony with those who have the best interests of the Territory at heart, and owing to his large circle of friends and acquaintances in every part of the country, is destined to be one of the important factors in shaping the future State of Okla- homa. C. P. WALKER, Secretary of the Oklahoma City Ditch and Water-Power Company, was one of the early pioneers, and no man has labored more zealously to surmount obstacles in the way of advancing the city’s best interests. The great success of the company in completing an enterprise that is of the most incalculable advantage to the manufacturing interests of Oklahoma City is largely due to the untiring and presistent efforts of Secretary Walker. CAPTAIN. D. F. STILES. Although occupying a most thankless º during the exciting times incident to the early settlement of Oklahoma, Captain Stiles, as commandant of the military post at that city, was a powerful factor in preserving order. That he was censured by some is not surpris- ing, when all the circumstances are taken into consideration. It were impossible for him to impartially discharge the trust placed in his hands without giving offense to some, yet all right-thinking men will cherish the name of Captain Stiles for the faithful manner in which he discharged the duties of his position. - The following merited compliment to Captain Stiles is taken from the Kansas City Zºnes of July 15th, 1889: “Of the officers of the army stationed in Oklahoma to whom has been con- fided the duty of preserving peace and order in the new Territory, without laws to govern the people, Captain Daniel F. Stiles, Tenth Infantry, provost marshal at Oklahoma City, deserves special mention. The performance of the duties required of this civil-military position has always been marked, on his part, by the most prudent action. He has always recognized civil law as superior to the military, and the fact that in no instance has he overstepped the boundaries of either, thus preventing a clash between the two, is deserving of the highest commendation. Whenever aid or assistance was needed by the new settlers he was always at the front doing that which would meet with the approval of the people. The day following the accident at Oklahoma City, where a num- ber of people were killed and injured by the falling of a grand stand, The 244. - ºf 1. ºn tº nona Count - and office and office- tion; ºn nor ºt- court- - Th ºn those who inter to his lº frien country be ol ºn tºure ºn hom - Secr and Water Power WaS ºn has lººd more to su ancing the º nºt in The - completing - enterprisº of th - to the manufacturing in Okla - unting and presistent Secrº - - - A. less positiºn lºng the time ºf Oklah- ºntain CO))) tº cº - a ºver in p one is no ing, cºnsideration imp gº the trust lago hand - all right- in in will to tº thºu nº which - Tº is tal- the - - “ ( ) fided to go at O. requ the 1 milit eithe coln he W the ber - JUDGE HAMMER. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 245 Times' dispatches said: “Almost as soon as the accident occurred, the military, under command of Captain Stiles, were ordered to the scene and rendered val- uable services in preventing unnecessary confusion.’” C. A. GALBRAITH, A young pioneer attorney of Oklahoma City, is a native of Indiana, and was born in 1860. He graduated from Hartsville College in 1883, and attended the Michigan University law school in 1883–4. In the latter year he was admitted to practice, and located in Texas, where he successfully followed his profession until the opening of Oklahoma. RECEPTION OF THE COMMERCIAL CLUB OF KANSAS CITY. Nothing that has been said or written about Oklahoma City reflects more clearly its many advantages than the subjoined address of welcome delivered by the Hon. Sidney Clarke on that occasion: Gentlemen of the Kansas City Commercial club: In behalf of the municipal authorities of this city, of the Board of Trade, and of all our citizens, I extend to you a most cordial welcome. We welcome you to a city but nineteen months old, with a population of 8,000, and which has already twenty miles of compactly settled streets. You have traveled over Texas, gentlemen; you have witnessed the wonderful growth of her cities and towns and been royally entertained by her people; but in all your long jour- ney you have seen no such city as this. You are now in a city which was born in a day. On April 22d, 1889, five thousand citizens stepped onto this site, made here their homes, and with constantly increasing numbers have built a city which is a marvel in the history of American civilization. Our unrivalled water-power, our electric lights, our churches, our business blocks, our flouring mills and manufacturing establishments, our graded streets, our cotton-gins our hotels and private residences, and the vast extent of trade centering here, are all evidences of what we have been doing since the opening of Oklahoma. to settlement. We came here to build the commercial metropolis of this new Territory, and we are going to do it. We are already in the lead, and with the perseverance of the saints we propose to set Kansas City and Galveston an ex- ample worthy of all emulation. Our business and professional men, our me- chanics, our laborers, our preachers, and our women, are all united in the great work we have in hand. We make our own ice to cool us in summer, and we are constructing a railroad to the most extensive coal deposits between the Mississippi and the Rocky Mountains, not half a hundred miles away, so that we can moderate the temperature of your northern blizzards in winter. To- day is a specimen of our climate, and that is enough to say. In view of these facts, we ask you, gentlemen of Kansas City, to take notice of our geographical position, exactly in the center of the future State of Okla- homa, and from now henceforth unite with us in a compact of commercial 246 II, LUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, reciprocity. May your visit here, and the welcome we extend, coming not only from self-interest, but from our hearts, lead to the establishment of personal and commercial relations between the two cities which will add to the wealth and prosperity of each. We know no North, no South, no East, no West. Other men and other communities may engulf themselves with dead issues if they have nothing better to do, but the people of Oklahoma City propose to “act in the living present,” and to reach out in the future for all the good things the earth can give. Kansas and Texas, Illinois and Missouri, Nebraska and Ar- kansas, California and Massachusetts –the North and the South—have shaken hands in Oklahoma over “the bloody chasm,” and intend to found here a state which ere long will be the peer of any of the commonwealths of the Federal Union. Looking to the northward, we believe that Kansas City is to be the great commercial metropolis in the center of the American continent. Situated as it is on one of the great rivers of the world, six hundred miles from the great mountain and mineral regions of the west, and surrounded by an agricultural area capable of producing sustenance for one hundred millions of people, all permeated with a vast railroad system, the future of your city is assured, and as the years go on it will be the pride and glory of our wonderful civilization. Looking to the southward, we see the port of Galveston, as the chief, speedy, and natural outlet for the surplus products which Oklahoma will soon furnish to the markets of the world. As the Commercial Club of Kansas City joined with many who are here in demanding the opening of Oklahoma to settlement, and was one of the prominent factors in that long and earnest struggle, so we ask you now to join with us in demanding of Congress the money to make a thirty-foot harbor at Galveston, at the earliest possible moment. Within five years Oklahoma will send half a million bales of cotton annually to the mar- kets of the world. If American statesmenship in Congress is wise enough and prompt enough to do its whole duty, not only this product will seek an outlet at Galveston, but also the vast surplus of the varied products of the States west of the Mississippi. Again, gentlemen, I bid you welcome. We regret that your stay among us is so brief. We are proud of your visit, and wishing you health and happiness and prosperity in all your personal and business relations, allow us to express the hope that this is but the commencement of an alliance between the two cities which will last to the end of time. - º - - - º - º º 246 reciprº from S and co and pi men a have 1 the liv earth kansas hands which Union Loo COmm it is or mount area. Cº. perme: as the Iloo and na to the with m and wa ask you thirty- years C kets of prompt at Galw of the l Agai is so br and pro the hop cities W- L- nºt -- Esº W \l III] THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 247 CHAPTER XXI. PIONEERS OF OKLA HOMA – MEN CONSPICUOUS IN DEVELOPING AND BUILDING UP HER INSTITUTIONS. “Coming out from the mist of the ages, Dreaming, a vision I see- A shade that is rounding and shaping, And a goddess seeming to be. -k -k -k -k -k Awake and the vision has vanished, But her voice like music doth roll, * Still sounding the sweetest of echoes Thro' the chambers and aisles of the soul! Yea, the vision has vanished, but white men Now stand on the soil where the red Have ridden in valor barbaric, And hunted, and counted their dead!” The history of the wonderful settlement and growth of fair Okla- homa would be incomplete did it not pay a tribute to the brave and enterprising pioneers that came to the Territory at its opening and have remained, and under many adverse circumstances have aided in building up thriving cities and establishing commercial and manu- facturing industries. They came at a time when the highest courage and the most sublime conception of honor and law with regard to the rights of others were required to maintain order and to sustain a man in his relations to the world. The men who came to Oklahoma on that historical April day, who came to stay, have proven themselves the highest types of a loyal, law-abiding, peace-loving people of whom the world has any knowledge. For over one year this grand pioneer people lived without law, save the universal principles of right, and performed all the functions of citizenship in a manner deserving of the highest commendation. GEO. W. STEELE, okſ. AHOMA’s First Govºr Nor. Although not a pioneer at the opening of the Territory, Governor Steele's relations with and to the advancement of Oklahoma as its first Executive entitles him to a place of honor in this chapter. He is a man of remarkable energy of character, and distinguished for sound and practical judgment. His character and reputation in the civil walks of life, whether as a private citizen, or in public position as the choice of the people, or as an army officer defending the flag of the 248 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, nation, show him to be a gentleman of undoubted ability, firm and honest in his opinions, and of unimpeachable integrity. He is an un- compromising Republican, devoted to his friends, loyal to his party, and fair, courteous, and generous to his opponents. Governor Steele is a native of Indiana, and was born in Fayette county in that State in 1839. When he was four years of age his parents moved to Marion in the same State. A common-school edu- cation was supplemented by a collegiate course at the Wesleyan Uni- versity, at Delaware, Ohio. He commenced reading law in his father’s office in Marion in 1859, and was admitted to the bar in 1861, and in February of the same year he opened an office and com- menced the practice of his profession at Hartford City, in that State. In response to the call for troops in April, 1861, he enlisted as a pri- vate in the Eighth Indiana Infantry, and came out of the army a lieutenant-colonel. He was attached to the Twelfth regiment, when he was chosen first lieutenant. He served in this and various other regiments as lieutenant and major to the close of the war, participa- ting in many a hard-fought battle. In 1880 he was elected to Con- gress by six hundred majority over Gen. J. R. Slack, a popular man in an old Democratic district. He was re-elected in 1882, 1884, and 1886. In May, 1890, he was appointed Governor of Oklahoma by President Harrison, and arrived at Guthrie, the temporary capital, on the 22d of May of the same year, when he was tendered the most brilliant reception ever given in Oklahoma. The people from all parts of the Territory went to Guthrie to welcome their new Gov- ernor. A few days after his arrival, Governor Steele made a tour of the Territory, and was enthusiastically received wherever he went. In an address delivered on Capitol Hill during the reception ceremo- nies tendered him at Guthrie, Governor Steele used the following language, which will live in the records and histories of Oklahoma long after the present generation has passed away: “I have it in my heart to make the people of Oklahoma as good a Governor as they would have me to be.” Governor Steele is a scholarly, courteous gentleman, quick of per- ception, plain, practical, and methodical in every business transaction. In the fall of 1890 he was joined by his family: Mrs. Steele, a lady of rare accomplishments: Miss Meta, a young lady held in highest esteem, and Master Geo. W. Steele, Jr. - JUDGE JOHN M. GALLOWAY Was among the first that entered Oklahoma on the 22d of April, 1889, and was the first United States commissioner appointed for the - - - - - - - - cºm \º - wº- º ºccº N SNº WN º Nºn º §NS N - Sº SN \\ N Nº - N §§ N §§§ § - N - º - Nº - §ºğ W SNºSRNWS - NWRNWS N - - NWNº. 2 NWRNN 2 NWNN ź NºWNNNN %Ž|%22 Nº WN - N Ż2Ż% - N N % 2 - - 2. - - N % 2 2. 2 % Ø 2^\º Øllſ/2^{ % Ø % Ż | & º % o) %a." % % Ż Šs -> Fººs, SS --> -- HON. HORACE SPEED, U. S. District Attorney, Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 249 Territory. Judge Galloway has been a conspicuous figure among the early pioneers, and has always taken an active part in all movements tending to the advancement of Guthrie’s interests. HoRACE SPEED, UNITED STATES DISTRICT ATTORNEY. Conspicuous among the educated and able lawyers that entered Oklahoma on that memorable 22d of April, 1889, none are more de- serving of especial mention in this work than the Hon. Horace Speed, who in May, 1890, was honored with the appointment by President Harrison of United States Attorney for the Territory. Mr. Speed is a polished gentleman and a ripe scholar, and both in his business and social life in this his adopted home he has won the confidence and esteem of the people. His friends throughout the Territory, irre- spective of party, through petitions, private letters, and in person, urged his appointment as the first Governor of Oklahoma. But in the appointment to that office, as in most others, the President made his selection from non-residents of the Territory, yet knowing the worth and legal ability of Mr. Speed, he honored him with one of the most important positions in the Territory. And no more worthy or competent man could have been selected. Mr. Speed is in his twenty-eighth year, and was born and educated in Kentucky, and brought with him to his new home all of those commendable characteristics incident to the refined and educated men of his native State. At the age of seventeen he accepted the position of clerk in the commissary department of the United States army, and was succes- sively stationed at Cincinnati, Detroit, and Omaha. He commenced reading law in 1874. In 1877 he left Omaha and went to Indianap- olis, where for six months he filled the position of clerk of the United States Court. In February, 1888, he resumed his law reading in the office of Harrison, Hines & Miller—the senior member of which firm is now President—where he remained until March, 1889, when he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of his profession. During the latter part of the month last mentioned he removed to Winfield, Kansas, from which point he joined the tidal wave that swept over the bosom of fair Oklahoma on the 22d day of April, 1889. He took an active part in establishing a government for the city. He assisted in framing its articles of organization or charter. He was an active member of the convention that met at Guthrie in July and August, 1889, to consider the advisability of framing and establishing a provisional government for Oklahoma. He was chairman of the committee appointed to prepare a memorial - - 250 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, to Congress, which was adopted by the convention and forwarded to Washington. It was a document remarkable for the able and clear manner in which it presented the condition of the people of Oklahoma to the national legislature. And it may be added that no paper ever presented to Congress in the behalf of Oklahoma was as fruitful in bringing about an early organization of the Territory as that memorial. In June, 1889, Mr. Speed, at the request of the people of the Guthries, visited Washington to aid in securing legislation favorable to town-site titles; also of town lots. He was appointed secretary of the Cherokee Commission, the duties of which position he discharged until the spring of 1890, when he resigned to enter upon the duties of United States Attorney for the Territory. While secretary of the Cherokee Commission he went to Washington, where he remained until May, 1890, engaged in matters relating to the laws and govern- ment of Oklahoma. Mr. Speed is a member of the well-known law firm of Hackney, Speed & Asp, which occupies a first position in the bar of Oklahoma. JUDGE ROBERT MARTIN. The Hon. Robert Martin, the first Secretary of Oklahoma, is a gen- tleman who occupied a prominent position in both social and business circles in Ohio, where he resided for many years. He was born at Frankfort Springs, Pennsylvania, and was educated at the West- minster College in that State, from which he graduated in 1859. At the age of twelve years, with his parents, he moved to East Liverpool, Columbiana county, Ohio, where he spent his boyhood days on a farm. After leaving college he settled in Steubenville, Ohio, where he taught the high school of that city for some time, reading law in the meantime in the office of J. H. Trainer, a distinguished jurist of Eastern Ohio. In April, 1862, he commenced the practice of his profession in company with his preceptor, Mr. Trainer. In August of the same year he enlisted in the Union army as lieutenant in the 126th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served as lieutenant and cap- tain in that regiment. At the close of the war in 1865 he resumed his practice with his former partner, the firm being known as Trainer & Martin. In 1866 he was elected Probate Judge of Jefferson county, Ohio, a position which he filled for nine consecutive years. At the expiration of his term of judgeship he resumed the practice of law at Steubenville. - He was one of the organizers of the Youngstown & Pittsburgh Railway Company, of which he was the attorney for six years. He was appointed receiver of the same road by Judge Baxter, of the % - º º -º-º-ºººººº- --- 250 to C, Was dod - and clº Oklaho- lman] to th nº º prest ºnitºul bring that memorial In - -- ºne of the Guth on fºllº to to ºn inted secretary the C positiºn he discharged until wº. ººl to ent ºn the duties of U. one Tº Whil ºn of the Cher ºn nº to Washington he remained until engaged in ºn tº relatinº to the laws and gover- ment ºn Mº ºpeed is nº ºr noºn lº firm º Speed º Asp- ºn tº nºtion in ºn- bar C -- " ºn Th -- Manti- -- tlem: - led a ºness circle - nº - at Fran - - - |- mins - - |- sº to lºst Liverpool. Colu and out ºnlº --- yºu dº on tº After ºn collº in ºn where he taught nº ºn ºn- in for in a lºw in the mean in the on ºr ºn in is Easte ºn he ºn º of his profes ºn ºr M in nº of the he enlist nion º utenant in ºn 126th lunteer in lieutenant and ºn tain ent - in ºn he resume his p former ºn ºne & M. - - a - --- º -- count - in whº At th of la Railw - was ºne Was - -- " - He univers of the tº --- tº %| / % - § 2. % N 4° / % º N N N % § & N - º ALLEN GARUTHERS, Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 251 United States court, and filled that position for three years. In December, 1887, he removed to Kansas and located in Wichita, and remained there until the opening of Oklahoma, when he joined the Old Soldiers’ Colony of Wichita, and with about one hundred and fifty soldiers settled at Harrison, on the North Canadian, but after- wards located at El Reno, where he resided when appointed Secre- tary of the Territory. Judge Martin is a polished gentleman and an able lawyer, and his appointment meets the unanimous approval of the people of the entire Territory. - On April 2d, 1862, Judge Martin was united in marriage with Miss Adeline S. Gilmore, of Marietta, Ohio, a lady highly esteemed for her many excellent qualities. His family consists of two daughters, one married to Samuel W. Pearce, now residing in Wichita, Kansas, and one married to Jason H. Brooks, residing in East Liverpool, Ohio. MR. ALLEN CARUTHERS. The subject of this memoir is the descendent of a family of jurists and statesmen, whose names are largely identified with the history of the bench and bar of the Southern States, and more especially of the State of Tennessee, where they have been prominent since the early formation of that State. Mr. Caruthers was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, in 1866, and is the son of Hon. William A. Caruthers, who prior to the rebel- lion was for some years register of the United States Land-office at St. Paul, Minn. His grandfather, Judge Abraham Caruthers, who was the founder of the Law Department of Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tennessee, and the author of the work entitled “The History of a Lawsuit,” was for many years on the bench of the State Circuit Court for Tennessee; while his uncle, Hon. Robert L. Caruthers, occupied the bench of the Supreme Court of Tennessee for a number of years, and was elected Governor of that State in 1860. He was also a member of the Congress of the United States, and of the Congress of the Confederate States. A recent number of The Green Bag contains a handsome engraving of “Caruthers Hall,” of Cumberland University, and a portrait of Judge Abraham Caruthers, who was the first Professor of Law in that University. With such honorable antecedents, combined with rich natural endowments, it is expected that Mr. Caruthers will occupy a prominent position in the future history of this Territory. He is a pronounced Democrat, and was closely identified with the Democratic party of his native State. In 1888 he made the canvass as delegate for three counties for the 252 ILLUSTRATED OR LA HOMA, legislature. In the organization of the Democratic party of Okla- homa he was a conspicuous leader, and was elected chairman of the Young Men's Democratic Club of Guthrie, the largest and most powerful organization of the kind in the Territory. He is also a member of the Central Committee of the Territory. When the Demo- cratic party met in territorial convention in January, 1890, Mr. Caruthers was a candidate for temporary chairman, but was defeated by a few votes. Mr. Caruthers is a graduate of the Law Depart- ment of Cumberland University of Tennessee, is a lawyer of fine legal attainments, and a brilliant student in the bel/es lettres world. HON. JACOB V. ADMIRE, Receiver of the United States Land-office for the Western District of Oklahoma, located at Kingfisher, has occupied a conspicuous posi- tion, both socially and politically, since the opening of the Territory. Being a man of large political experience, he was from the start an acknowledged leader in the Republican party, of which he is, and has always been, an able and zealous member. He was named by his many friends throughout Oklahoma as a candidate for the position of first Governor of Oklahoma. His friends also urged his nomina- tion for the first delegate to Congress, but in order to harmonize his party, which was divided, owing to the question of locating the Terri- torial capital, he declined to become a candidate for the position. Mr. Admire is a genial, big-hearted, generous gentleman, always loyal and true to his friends and generous to his opponents. He is a native of Indiana, and was born in Johnson county in 1842. He was educated in the common schools and the Asbury University, from which he graduated in 1866. He read law, was admitted, and practiced his profession for years, both in Indiana and Kansas. He enlisted in Company E, Sixty-fifth Indiana Infantry, as a private, and was discharged at the close of the war a captain. From 1867 to 1869, in connection with his law practice, he edited and published a paper at Newburg, Indiana. He removed to Kansas in 1869, where he practiced law until 1889. He was for six years postmaster at North Topeka, and in 1888–89 was a member of the Kansas legislature. He was also postmaster for four years at Osage City, Kansas, during which time he published the Osage City Free Press. Mr. Admire is an able and eloquent advocate, and as a political organizer has no eer in the West. During the stringent times in the fall and winter of 1889–90, Mr. Admire aided many a hard-pushed homesteader by paying cash for fence-posts, many thousands of which he piled up, where they will be held until there is a market for them. This is only one of the many generous acts of that big-hearted gentleman. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 253 homa is the HON. WILLIAM P. HACKNEY. A central figure in the personnel of the Bar Association of Okla- #. William P. Hackney, senior member of the law firm of Hackney, Speed & Asp, attorneys for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. His professional life has been a grand success, and is characterized by the strictest fidelity to his clients and the highest sense of honor toward his brother attorneys. As an advocate he has no peer at the Oklahoma bar. In his own forcible manner, he is acknowledged to be a power in any court. There are few, if any, that prepare their cases with more care, or that take a case before a jury with such vigor and confidence as does this veteran at the Western bar. His arguments are flavored with an earnestness that seldom fails in captivating the jury, thus bringing them under his control. Members of the bar, as also any and all of his wide circle of acquaintances, will bear testimony to his generous and genial dispo- sition, his manly and chivalrous bearing, and his punctilious regard for the rights of others. His conceptions of honor, justice, and duty are clearly defined and most loyally regarded on all occasions. Mr. Hackney located at Guthrie in May, 1890, when the firm to which he belongs was organized. Prior to that time and for nearly twenty years he resided at Winfield, Kansas, where he earned a high reputation as a lawyer, and for fifteen years was one of the most con- spicuous and influential members of the Republican party in that State. Three times did the people of Kansas honor him with a seat in the House of Representatives, and also with a four years' term in the Senate. He is a native of Iowa, and was born in 1842. In 1850, with his parents, he moved to Illinois, where he spent his boyhood days, until the commencement of the rebellion, when he enlisted in the Seventh regiment of Illinois Infantry, in which he served until peace was re- stored. He participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Al- toona Pass, and the bombardment of Corinth. At the battle of Altoona Pass, he was twice wounded. After the war he read law, and was admitted to practice in 1867, since which time he has successfully devoted himself to his profes- sion. He is in the prime of life, and with his large experience and extensive acquaintance, he is most eminently fitted for the high and important position that has been conferred upon him by the great railway corporation mentioned. JACOB C. ROBBERTS, - º The Register of the United States Land-office at Kingfisher, Okla- homa, was born near Grinnell, Iowa, on October 20, 1850, and is the 254. ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, son of Rev. James F. Robberts. He was raised on the farm and attended country schools until the year 1866, when he entered West- ern College, where he remained for one year, after which, at the age of seventeen, he entered Simpson Centenary College, at Indianola, Iowa, where he completed his education by taking a classical course. In the year 1870 he moved to Decatur county, Iowa, where he was deputy treasurer of the county, and afterwards twice elected to the office of County Superintendent of Schools. He read law in the office of Warner & Bullock, and was admitted to practice in March, 1873. On the 23d day of December, 1873, he was married to Miss Sallie C. Martin, at Leon, Iowa. In the winter of 1877 he resigned the office of County Superintendent of Schools and removed to David City, Butler county, Nebraska, where he followed his chosen profession. In the fall of 1880 he was elected to the sixteenth session of the Nebraska legislature from the Fifteenth Representative District, consisting of the counties of Butler, Platte, and Colfax. He was afterwards re-elected, and served in the seventeenth and eighteenth sessions of the legislature. In March, 1883, he was appointed by Governor James W. Dawes to the office of District Attorney for the Fourth Judicial District. In the years 1885–86–87 he was a mem- ber of the Board of County Commissioners of Butler County, Nebraska, and in the year 1888 he was appointed a delegate to the Deep Water Convention at Denver, Colorado, by Governor John M. Thayer. On the 29th day of March, 1890, he was appointed by President Harrison to the office of Register, which he now holds. Mr. Robberts came into Oklahoma on Saturday, April 20th, 1889, and has been a con- tinuous resident of the Territory since that day. He was endorsed by almost the entire bar of the Territory for one of the "..." Judges of Oklahoma, but failed to get the appointment, the Presi- dent appointing all of the judges from outside of the Territory. Mr. and Mrs. Robberts have four children living: George Burton, aged sixteen; Bessie, aged fourteen; Maggie, aged twelve, and Max M., four years. A little daughter, Freddie, died in David City, Nebraska, in 1873. Mr. Robberts' name was prominently mentioned by the newspa- pers of the Territory for delegate to Congress from Oklahoma, but he declined to become a candidate against his fellow-officer and warm ersonal friend, Hon. J. V. Admire, Receiver of the Land-office at º He has great faith in the future of Oklahoma, and says he is permanently located in the Territory, and expects to live to see it one of the greatest and best States in the Union. - aised on ºn he whº tº read ºn tº Miº session tº ºn tº venteenth and eiº as appoin ºttorney no was a ºnly Neº- Dee ºver nºt ºn ºbel tº as been was ºn ºf the ºn --- - -to- ºn tº - - - Nº. - - - - the ºn - no ºne or ºn - ºf oilanoma - - - to -- THOS. S. JONES, First Appellate Judge in Guthrie. The LAND OF THE FAIR gop. 255 - GENERAL J. C. JAMISON. Few men have been more active, or closer identified with the rowth and development of Guthrie, than General James C. Jamison, º, of Missouri. His tall figure and military bearing have ren- dered him conspicuous in the councils of the people, on the street, and in the various places of business, since the memorable 22d of April, 1889. He was a member of the first board of arbitration organized, and with that integrity proverbial of the man, discharged the duties of the position until the board was abolished. He was nominated and elected a member of the city council in November, 1889, and served the city without renumeration until July 20, 1890, when he resigned. - General Jamison was born in Missouri in 1830. In 1849 he went to California, crossing the plains with an ox team. In 1855 he left California for Nicaragua, where he joined the army of General Walker as a lieutenant of infantry. He was in several hard-fought battles, and was twice severely wounded. After the battle of Granada he was sent to the United States to recruit men, and while doing so at New Orleans he learned of General Walker's surrender to Captain Davis, of the United States war vessel St. Mary's. He was an officer in the Southern army during the late war, and was held a prisoner for a long time at Louisiana, Quincy, St. Louis, Johnson's Island, Fort McHenry, and Fort Norfolk. From 1867 to 1869 he published the Clarksville Sentºnel, after which he published the . Press, which he made one of the most able journals in Missouri. In 1862 he was united in marriage with Miss Sallie A. White, of Clarksville, Missouri. On January 12th, 1885, he was appointed by the late Governor John S. Marmaduke Adjutant-General of Missouri, which office he held until February, 1889. When he entered upon his duties the office of Adjutant-General was a mere sinecure; when he left it, it was a department of the State Government, During the great railroad strike on the Gould (or Southwest) sys- tem of 1885–86, he managed the affairs of the State on those critical occasions with such signal success as secured the peace of the State and the solution of the troubles without the loss of property or a sin- gle life, and which won for him columns of the highest plaudits from all the leading journals of his own State, as well as from those of other States. It was he also who, under instructions from Governor Marmaduke, went to Taney County, Mo., in April, 1886, and forced the Bald Knobber organization of that county, a lawless banding of men together, to call a public meeting of its members at Forsythe on the 10th day of that month and disband. 256 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, HON. IRA. N. TERRILL. In nearly all legislative bodies will be found representatives of classical sublimity and honest grandeur. Hon. Ira N. Terrill, Alli- ance member from Payne county, is of the latter class. His hereu- lean blows in defense of the people's rights made him one of the prominent members of the first legislature of the Territory. He was brave and fearless in the defense of any and all principles that he conceived to be just, and whether in the majority or minority was a matter of the most supreme indifference to him. Mr. Terrill first became prominently noticed during the convention called at Guthrie in the summer of 1889 for the purpose of organizing a provisional government for Oklahoma, in which he took a deep interest and an active part. He there gave evidence of a sound judgment and honest heart, which he so ably demonstrated in Oklahoma's first legislature. Clark county, Illinois, was his birth-place, an event that occurred April 17th, 1853. He was educated in the schools of his native State, and has devoted his life largely to agricultural pursuits. In 1874 he removed to Sedgwick county, Kansas, where he resided until the wave of civilization swept over Oklahoma, when he took advan- tage of the tide and landed in Payne county, where he made himself and family a happy home. He was united in marriage in 1874 to Miss E. J. Parsons, of Decatur, Illinois, and they have a family of four children, two sons and two daughters. MAYOR A. J. SPENGEL. The first furniture and carpet house in Guthrie was opened by A. J. Spengel, who was engaged in the same line of business previous to coming to Oklahoma on the 22d of April, 1889. He took an active part in organizing the people's government, and has proved himself as valuable to the public as a cool-headed counselor as he has been successful in business. He is endowed by nature and education with those commendable qualities of mind that were so essential in meeting the many obstacles that presented themselves in the organi- zation of the city government. Always cool-headed and calm, his influence and example did much to obviate strife and to prevent violence and bloodshed. From the first he gained the confidence and esteem of the public, and the people of Guthrie owe him a debt of gratitude for the ceaseless and untiring energy that he always put forth in their behalf. He has made the interests of Guthrie identical with his own, and his example has inspired many to do the same. While conducting his own business in a most successful manner, he has always been among the foremost in every project to build up the N N § § § N * w - s N s | s § º - N º wº w -- §§ § º N N. - º §§§Nºż º º º N º º- -- --~~~~~~~~~ M &ZŽ N N ŻN& N N ØNºż22. N § ŻN& w N ºx322%22%2 NA ź.}% º --~~~~ N Ż SN 2% SN --~~ N §- § w N N º N N º Vº º s § Nº * W N N N N Nº A. M. McELHINNEY. Guthrie. º º - - - º N - N nº ºl. - ---ºuth- - SN wrºnº SNSN §§ SS Ş N % º N º N --~~ §§ 22. §NS % N S 2 §§§ 4 &º -- ºn Nº M Sº % ~~~ Nº SNNS/4% SN N N §º% NSº SS SN3% HON. A. J. SPENGEL, Mayor of East Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 257 city. He is a gentleman of fine business attainments and of sterling integrity and honor, his whole business life being entirely free from blot or stain. He is first vice-president of the Chamber of Com- merce, vice-president of the Oklahoma Building and Loan Associa- tion, and Master in the Guthrie Lodge of Masons. In April last he was elected Mayor of East Guthrie, the duties of which position he discharged with marked ability and wisdom. In 1887 he was united in marriage with Miss Ella C. Newcomb, of Maine, a lady highly es- teemed by her large circle of friends in Guthrie. They have one child and a bright and happy home. A. M. M'ELHINNEY. Among the pioneers that entered Oklahoma on the memorable 22d of April, 1889, that came to stay, and did stay and give their money and influence in aiding the work of building up Guthrie, was Mr. A. M. McEl Hinney, mayor of Capitol Hill. Upon reaching Guthrie, Mr. McEl Hinney opened a first-class drug and stationery house in the old postoffice building, that has since been moved away to make room for the DeFord block. When the Commercial Bank block was com- pleted, Mr. McEl Hinney moved into one of its spacious store-rooms, where he still remains doing a large and prosperous business. Mr. McEli Linney has always taken a deep interest in and given with a liberal hand to all projects tending towards the advancement of Guthrie. Mr. McEl Hinney was born in Washington county, Ohio, Feb. 23d, 1838. He received a thorough academic education, and being ex- tremely fond of books and of studious habits, there are few better informed men in Oklahoma. At the age of twenty-five years he em- barked in mercantile business in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for six years, when he removed to Lincoln, Nebraska, where he engaged in the real estate and commission business. He also became the pro- prietor of the Tichnor House of that city, which he managed for two years. This was during the great panic of 1873, owing to which Mr. McEl Hinney failed in business, losing over thirty-eight thousand dol- lars. In 1876, with a view of retrieving his losses, he removed to Colorado and engaged in business at the new mining town of Roseta. In 1879 he removed to Silver Cliff, in the same State, where he opened the first store in that place, and was appointed the first postmaster. It would seem from the following statement published in a historical work on Colorado, that Mr. McEl Hinney was compelled to fight a sharp battle to sustain his rights: “Silver Cliff postoffice was offi- cially established on January 28th, 1879, with A. M. McElhinney as –17 258 ILLUSTRATED ORLAHOMA, postmaster. W. L. Stevens, of Alamosa, had got the appointment, but Mr. McElBinney was determined that no stranger from a foreign land should oust him from the office he had started, and a struggle began, which Mr. McElBinney won.” Mr. McElhinney is one of Guthrie's leading and public-spirited men, and is highly esteemed in both public and private life. In Sep- tember, 1872, he was united in marriage to º Lizzie P. Ellis, daughter of Doctor Ellis, of Greensburg, Kentucky. They have six children, four sons and two daughters. PROFESSOR: IFRANK TERRY. The educational development of Oklahoma, and especially of Guth- rie, is largely due to Professor Terry, to whom the public is in- debted for the chapter on education in another part of this book. Professor Terry brought into the work of organizing the common school sytem of the Territory years of experience as a teacher and large executive ability, and as a result the school system of the Ter- ritory has more than kept pace with the marvelous development of Oklahoma. He was born in Lima, Ohio, in 1858. In 1865, with his parents, he moved to Missouri, and secured his education in the schools of that State, and since the age of eighteen he has followed the occupa- tions of teacher and journalist. He was editor and proprietor of the Zafayette County Post, in Missouri, from 1887 to 1889, and was also city editor of the Guthrie State Capital during the summer of 1889, during which time he was elected superintendent of schools. In 1887 he was married to Miss Laura E. Adams, of La Crosse, Kansas, a most estimable lady, who with commendable zeal is aiding her husband in building a permanent home in Guthrie. COLONEL J. H. ONSTOTT Was a pioneer of the 22d, and was one of the seven to decide who should be Guthrie's first mayor. He was a member of the charter convention, and it was on his motion that the services of that body were donated to the city. He is a native of Arkansas, and was born in 1839, and it is reported that he was the first white child born in Fayetteville, Washington county, in that State. He was educated at the Arkansas College, which institution he left to join the Union army at the commence- ment of the war. His father died while he was in Washington City. At the close of the war, with his widowed mother and her family he located in Springfield, Missouri, where he resided for twenty-two ºn tº ONSTOTº ºut- 258 - - - post but land beg M In len tem daug child T] rie, debt Prof scho large ritor Okla H. he m that tions Lafa º, a city edit - - ºr during - ºn of school 1887 - La Crosse lºan a. In 10 is aiding husba Was decide should - ºf the on COIn Ve . - - - nºt ºne of that Were - He ºn in lºº, and it is renº that ºilº ºne in count. a ºne which on ºn ment - - At the ºne located nº reside - - § § S - s ; i i § § s § s N N º § § N § § º 2 %. % COL. J. H. ONSTOTT, Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR G0I). 259 years. He was president of the Southwestern Implement Company, and an extensive dealer in real estate in that city. In 1887 he went to Kansas City and purchased the Splitlog estate in Wyandotte county, Kansas. He engaged largely in real estate and other speculations. Colonel Onstott was a most ardent supporter of the public schools, and in the charter convention offered a resolution to vote ten thou- sand dollars in bonds for public school purposes. He is an active Republican, and his name was presented to Governor Steele as a proper man for one of the county commissioners, but with a mag- nanimity not often witnessed in political matters he withdrew in favor of Hon. E. P. McCabe, of Kansas, who was appointed. He was married in 1869 to Mrs. Veda E. Massey, of Springfield, Missouri. They have three children: Miss Alma, a graduate of Lin- wood College; Miss Edna, a graduate of Helmuth College, Canada; Master John H., Jr. Mr. Onstott will remove his family here this fall. He is a genial, companionable gentlemen, liberal and active in every movement looking towards the advancement of the interests of the people. From the settlement of Guthrie up to the date of the organization of the Territory by Congress, Mr. Onstott was always a conspicuous figure in all movements to promote peace and good order and to advance the interests of the people, socially and commercially. H. C. FANCHER. Among the many worthy and enterprising young men who have been active in advancing the interests of Oklahoma, none are more deserving of favorable mention than Mr. H. C. Fancher, mayor of the ambitious little city of Orlando, at which place he located upon entering the Territory in July, 1889. Mr. Fancher is a native of Illinois, and was born in 1863. He is a graduate from the law de- partment of the University of Michigan, and practiced his profession at the city of Jackson, in that State, previously to locating in Okla- homa. He is a well-educated gentleman, a careful and conscientious lawyer, and a citizen of integrity and worth. Although the execu- tive officer of the city of Orlando, in which he has large property interests, he is engaged in business in Guthrie, being a member of the law firm of O’Brien & Fancher, organized in June, 1890. The senior member of the firm, Mr. W. A. O’Brien, was formerly one of the prominent attorneys of St. Joseph, Missouri, and is a valuable addition to the bar of Oklahoma. ZACH MULHALL. The pretty little city of Mulhall, situated some fifteen miles to the north of Guthrie, on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, was 260 LLUSTRATED ORLA. How A. - - named in honor of Mr. Zach Mulhall, a well-known stockman, who came into the Territory on the 22d of April, 1889, and located upon the land on which a portion of the city of Mulhall is now built. Soon after locating his claim, Mr. Mulhall built one of the best resi- dences in the Terrritoy, which with his family he occupies at the present time. In no way could the reader glean a better idea of the broad, frank, and generous character of Mr. Mulhall than in reading the following extracts from a letter sent by him to the writer: “I was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and reared in the West, mostly on the hurricane deck of a broncho. I have been a cattle-man all my life. I have pastured cattle on the Cherokee Strip for years, and own a pasture there at t present time. I am glad, however, to know that we are all to vacate it soon, and it is to be given to those who should have it. The President of the United States has done a great and good act in the move he has made in this matter. That country belongs to the granger, and I for one am glad he is to get it. I - will give up my portion of it willingly, for it, like Oklahoma, is a great and glorious country to live in, and if all those who take up homes there are as happy as my family are in Oklahoma, President Harrison will receive the heartfelt blessings of thousands.” In a closing paragraph on the city of Mulhall he says: “We have no conflicts among ourselves, and everything goes smoothly. We are going to have the grandest little city in Oklahoma. When we vacate the Strip, my entire attention will be devoted to home affairs, and it will be the happiest moment of my life.” When the city of Mulhall was first located it was called Alfred, but the citizens in honor of Mr. Mulhall, who had been foremost in ad- vancing the interests of the city, requested the Santa Fe Railway Com- pany, and also the Postoffice Department, to change the name to Mulhall, which was readily granted. At the last city election Mr. Mulhall was elected mayor, another compliment that he richly merited. Mr. Mulhall is a broad-guaged, thorough-going business man. He has a fine business education, is the soul of honor in every business transaction, and he is held in high esteem in both business and social circles. It is to such men as Mr. Zach Mulhall that Oklahoma is indebted for her growth and prosperity. - Guy GRAN ville FARw ELL. One of the active and conspicuous figures in the first year's life of Guthrie was Guy G. Farwell, the first treasurer of the city. Mr. Farwell is a young, big-hearted, enterprising man, and his social and liberal characteristics earned him hosts of friends, not only in Guthrie, but throughout the Territory. In 1864, with his parents, he moved º - º º --- º - º - - - G -º-º- ----------- quº. 260 named i - came in - the land - Soon afte - on dences in ºn present t ºute broad, fr ºn the follow “I Was - º hurricane pastured c - - present tir - ºn- - - - - and it. is to - - - -º --- States has ºn a That count - - - - will give t () -- i. glorious cº - - - happy as heartfelt b In a clº --- “We hav are going tº Strip, my e happiest m When t - the citizen - - vancing th an ºe pany, and - ºn- Mulhall, w Mulhall w; - nº Mr. Mu - has a fine - - transaction - - - - circles. I ºn indebted fº - One of t - - - Guthrie w - - \ Farwell is - nº . liberal char - - - but throug N NW N \\ - N Nº. §§ º §Nº º N §§§ º/ §§ § § &% - §§º % §§ § º 2^ § §§§ § º º SS NS º 22/2 Ş N §§§ 22:35 §§ NN Ž N \\ N %3 £333 - º à º º Zºº º % SS %% §§ 2 % * ==# sº § GUY G. FARWELL, First Treasurer of Guthrie. The LAND of THE FAir god. 261 to Illinois, where he received his education. Five years later with his family he remºved to Adair county, Iowa, where with his father he engaged in farming and fine-stock-raising. In 1883 he attended the high-school at Stuart, Iowa, after which he attended the high school at Greenfield two terms. He studied abstracting, and in 1884 engaged in that business in Greenfield. In 1885 he went to Kansas City, where he entered the employ of the Lombard Investment Com- pany, where he remained for one year, filling different | ". of trust to the entire satisfaction of the company. In 1886 he accepted a position with the Jarvis-Conklin Mortgage Trust Company, of the same city, and was placed in charge of the farm loan department. In 1887 he was assigned to superintend the company’s branch house at Columbus, Kansas, where he remained until August, 1887, when he resigned his position and returned to Kansas City, where he engaged in business for himself by organizing a large coal and land company, of which he was chosen secretary and manager, and as such visited New York and other financial centers in the company’s interest. In 1888 he was general sales agent for the Missouri Coal & Mining Com- pany, a position he filled until the opening of Oklahoma. He arrived in Guthrie on the memorable 22d of April, obedient to law and the President’s proclamation. Mr. Farwell was appointed the first treasurer of Guthrie, a position he filled with ability and to the entire satisfaction of the people. He was appointed on the 27th of April, and served until the 4th of November following, when his successor was elected, he refusing to become a candidate for the office, although urged by his friends to do so. As an official he was always ready to aid in any work that presented itself, and in cases of sickness he was often seen in the sick-room doing all in his power to alleviate pain and cheer the sufferer. Mr. Farwell is in his twenty-fifth year. His father, Chas. W. Far- well, his mother, Martha A. Farwell, and a sister, Mrs. Carrie May Voorhees, are residing in Kansas City, and a brother, Fred M. Far- well, is living in New York City. The family are widely and favorably known, and all occupy high positions socially and financially. Mr. Farwell is an active, positive business man. He sees what is needed to be done, and always acts with energy. His motto is res non verba, and his example is made up of acts, not promises. COL. THOMAS H. SOWARD Was born near Minerva, Mason county, Kentucky, September, 1840, and is forty-nine years old. He graduated at Augusta College, Ken- tucky, and studied law with Chancellor Joseph Doniphan in 1860–61, 262 ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, until the breaking out of the war of the rebellion. His father, Colonel Alfred Soward, was a large owner of slaves at that time, but Mr. Soward enlisted in the Union army in Company L, Second Kentucky Cavalry; was elected second lieutenant of the company, and was after- wards promoted to first lieutenant, and to captain of Company B of same regiment on the personal recommendation of General P. H. Sheridan, in whose command he served about two years. He par- ticipated with his regiment in the battles of Shiloh, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, in the campaign from Chattanooga to Atlanta and Jonesborough, and in the Rousseau, McCook, and Kilpat- rick raids, beside a number of smaller engagements. He was in the service from June, 1861, to July, 1865. He remained in Kentucky until September, 1879, when he moved to Winfield, Cowley county, Kansas, and helped with his means and talents to build up that beautiful town. He was register of deeds of that county four years, and with that exception was engaged in """ of his profession. e was married at Winfield, Kansas, to Miss Libbie E. Smith, of Pennsylvania, and they have two children living, Arthur and Nella Soward. Mr. Soward came to Oklahoma April 22d, 1889, and settled in Guthrie. He was elected the first mayor of East Guthrie, and has been practicing law since his arrival. Politically Mr. Soward has always been a Republican. In November, 1890, he entered into a copartnership with the Hon. Charles Brown for the practice of law. Col. Soward is a gentleman of sterling worth and integrity, and has always taken a prominent part in building up Guthrie. The pros- perity and rapid development of East Guthrie during the first year of its life was largely due to the untiring efforts of Colonel Soward as its first executive. THEODoRE G. RISLEY. There are scores of Kansans in Oklahoma that will remember Theodore G. Risley, the brilliant young orator who made the canvass of Kansas in 1888 with the late ex-Governor John A. Martin. Mr. ſ Risley was appointed chief clerk of the United States Circuit and District Courts for the First Judicial District of Oklahoma, and in company with Chief Justice Green arrived in the Territory on the -º of May, 1890. Mr. Risley is a native of the State of Illinois, and was born in Wabash county in 1865. At the age of seventeen he entered the Normal National University at Lebanon, Ohio, where he remained one year, and then entered Northwestern University at |- ·ſae№（ №.！ |×， ！ ſae：（…） № |-№№N №Œ № |- |-№№ |- № № ſae - -- - --- O- ºut- --- % |× ： |×//// %%%% |-%¿ r ºr -r-ºr-º-º-º---T 262 until the Alfred SC Soward e. Cavalry; wards pr same reg Sheridan, ticipated River, Ch. to Atlanta rick raids. service frc He rem to Winfiel talents to of that co the practi He was Pennsylva Soward. Mr. Sow Guthrie. been pract always bee copartners Col. Sowar always tak perity and of its life as its first There al- Theodore G of Kansas i Risley was District Co Company W th of Ma and was bo he entered he remained --> - º - º º - -- º - º - º ºve 22 § º - º % JOHN F. O'DONNELL, Guthrie. mºre LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 263 Geneseo, Illinois, where he graduated, and afterwards taught history and political science in his Alma Mater for six months. He then entered the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Illinois, where he read law, and was admitted to practice. In 1886 he moved to Holton, Kansas, where he practiced his profession and took an active part in the political affairs of that State. In the summer of 1889 he moved to Washington Territory, where he resumed his practice, and where he was prominently identified with the work of the Republican party. In May, as before mentioned, he came to Oklahoma. Mr. Risley is a clear thinker, an eloquent speaker, and a sound and logical reasoner. He has made the science of government an especial study, and young as he is, on that subject and the absorbing ques- tion of tariff he has few peers in this country. It is such men as Mr. Risley that are needed in Oklahoma to take a part in shaping its future destiny. - W. P. MEADOWS, Who was appointed in June, 1890, clerk of the United States Circuit and District Courts for Oklahoma Territory, is a native of Illinois, and was born in Knox county, in that State, in 1847. He was educated at Abingdon College, and read law from 1877 to 1880, and was ad- mitted to practice in the latter year. In 1882 he moved to Smith county, Kansas, where he practiced his profession, filling the position of clerk of the district court of that county from 1883 to 1887. He located in Guthrie on the 22d of April, 1889, where he practiced his profession until his appointment in June as before mentioned. At the age of fourteen, Mr. Meadows enlisted in the Fifty-eighth Illinois Infantry; was wounded at the siege of Mobile, and was taken risoner at the battle of Shiloh. He is a gentleman of pleasing ad- - !. of sterling integrity, and a good lawyer. Having espoused the cause of Oklahoma from its opening to settlement, and located per- manently at Guthrie, he has always rendered a hearty support to every measure looking towards the """ of the city and its advance- ment socially and commercially. In the fall of 1890, Mr. Meadows was appointed United States Commissioner, a position he fills at the present time. - John F. O'Donn ELL. The bar of Oklahoma numbers among its members many brilliant and able men; and few are more deserving of especial mention in this work than John F. O'Donnell, an able member of the profession, who came from Kansas City to Oklahoma at the opening of the Territory. He is a practical, thoroughly read lawyer, and ranks among the best 264. ILLUSTRATED OKLAHOMA, advocates in Oklahoma. He came to Guthrie, where he became senior member of the firm of O’Donnell, Hogatt & Brannan. In October Mr. Brannan retired, and Judge Crook, an old and highly esteemed attorney, formerly mayor of Springfield, Illinois, became a member of the firm. In July, 1890, the firm name was changed to Crook & O’Donnell. - - Mr. O'Donnell was born in Springfield, Illinois, September 24th, 1860. He was educated at Springfield, took a law course at St. Louis, and finished his reading at Springfield, Illinois. He moved to Dakota in the spring of 1883, where he practiced his profession and performed the duties of county superintendent of schools until July, 1887, when he located in Kansas City, where he formed a partnership with James W. Fraher, present city attorney of Kansas City, then first assistant State's Attorney. While in Dakota he took an active inter- est in the common school system, and served two terms as superin- tendent of schools for Hyde county. The school laws of South Dakota were materially improved by him, under the request of W. H. Beadle, School Superintendent of the Territory. In the important contest of Vestal S. Cook, the first test case before the land-office, he was leading counsel for the cross-complainant. Mr. O'Donnell was also attorney in the first lot contest case, wherein a decision was ren- dered in favor of an anti-sooner against a sooner. He is a thorough student, and a warm advocate of our public school system. GEO. S. CUNNING HAM. Prominent among the Arkansas delegation of pioneers was Judge Geo. S. Cunningham, one of the ablest and best-known jurists of that State. During the last days of April, 1889, Mr. Cunningham estab- lished the Merchants Bank at Guthrie, which, in connection with his law practice, he conducted until late in the summer of the same year, when he sold it out to the Commercial Bank, since which time he has given his entire attention to his law practice. In Oklahoma, as in Arkansas, where he occupied the circuit court bench for a number of years, Judge Cunningham occupies a high position. A charge to an Arkansas jury given by Judge Cunningham while on the bench gave him much prominence throughout the West. JOHN F. STONE Was among the young and active pioneers of Oklahoma. He located at Guthrie, where he commenced the practice of law, having associated in business with the Hon. Horace Speed, afterwards appointed United States District Attorney for Oklahoma. With this appointment the ºn ºut- 264 advocates in member of Mr. Branna attorney, fo of the firm. O’Donnell. Mr. O’DC 1860. He and finished in the spring the duties ( when he local James W. F. assistant Sta est in the co- tendent of ºol Dakota were Beadle, Scho contest of We was leading also attorney dered in favo student, and Prominent Geo. S. Cunn State. Duri lished the Me law practice, when he sold given his ent Arkansas, wh years, Judge Arkansas jury - him much prº Was among tº at Guthrie, wh in business wi. States District - - - --- DICK T. MORGAN, Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 265, firm of Speed & Stone was dissolved, and in the fall of 1890 Judge T. J. Lowe and Mr. Stone entered into a copartnership for the prac- tice of law. Mr. Stone is a gentleman of sound legal abilities, and his professional career in Oklahoma has earned for him the confi- dence and esteem of the public. At the first regular election by the people, Mr. Stone was elected one of the justices of the peace for Guthrie, the duties of which position he discharged with marked ability. - HON. DICK T. MORGAN, A leading attorney of Guthrie, and a pioneer of the 22d of April, 1889, is a native of Indiana, and was born in Vigo county, near Terre Haute. He graduated from Union Christian College in 1876, and the following year was made professor of mathematics in his Alma Mater. He taught three years, reading law in the meantime. In March, 1880, he graduated from the Central Law School of Indianap- olis, being the valedictorian of a class of thirty-five. He was elected to the Indiana legislature in the fall of 1880, at the age of twenty-six. Mr. Morgan had the honor of making one of the nominating speeches when President Harrison was elected to the United States Senate. In 1884 he was the Republican nominee for the State Senate, at which time he was the editor and publisher of the Terre Haute /9// Cour- Žer. In 1885 he removed to Garden City, Kansas, where he practiced his profession until April 22d, 1889, when he took passage on the tidal wave for Guthrie. While at Garden City he was attorney for the Santa Fe Railroad Company, and at the time of the Federal ap- pointments was a candidate for United States District Attorney for Oklahoma. In September, 1890, he formed a copartnership with Hon. John L. Pancoast, a prominent lawyer and politician, formerly of Mclºher. son, Kansas. Mr. Pancoast served in the Kansas legislature, and as county attorney several times. He is an able judge of law and an experienced and very successful practitioner. This firm ranks among the best in the Territory. From the beginning at Guthrie, Mr. Morgan was recognized as an able lawyer, and he has not disappointed the public. He has an ex- tensive practice and his clients are increasing rapidly. He gives close attention to business, but his services are in demand as a cam- paign orator in his party's behalf, and on other public occasions. He is a valuable and influential member of society, and has always taken an active part in advocating Guthrie's interests. He is well known over the entire Territory, and is held in high esteem by all classes for his professional ability, his honesty, and his high moral character. *266 ILLUSTRATED or LA Howa, In 1878 he was married to Miss Ora Heath, daughter of Rev. A. R. Heath, a prominent minister of the Christian Church of Indiana. Mrs. Morgan is a graduate of Union Christian College, and is one of our most intelligent and popular ladies. One son, Porter Heath Morgan, a promising lad of ten years, is the result of this union. WILLIAM. H. MEEKER. Among the familiar faces in the land-office is that of William H. Meeker, who was a member of the great Oklahoma caravan that en- tered the Territory on the 22d of April, 1889. He is a polished, educated gentleman, and as contest clerk in the land-office he has made an army of warm friends throughout the Territory. He was born in Portland, Oregon, in April, 1864, and supplemented a com- mon school education by a collegiate course at Columbia College, New York City, and graduated from that institution in 1882. In the year following he moved to Kansas, where he entered the Mis- souri Pacific Railway office as an accountant, which position he filled until 1887, when he resigned to accept a position in one of the lead- ing wholesale houses of St. Louis. At the close of the year 1888 he returned to Kansas, and in April of the following year came to Okla- homa, and located permanently in Guthrie. He was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Pioneer Republican Club, and an ardent supporter of Hon. John I. Dille for Governor. Mr. Meeker is a pleasant, unassuming gentleman, and is universally esteemed for his courteous demeanor and business integrity. COL. D. M. ROSS. No man has been more active or more intimately identified with the growth and prosperity of Guthrie than Colonel D. M. Ross. When Mayor Dyer vacated his office in June, 1889, Colonel Ross discharged the arduous duties of mayor until the election of James Dooley to the position in the fall of 1889. It was under Colonel Ross' administration that Guthrie's prosperity was the most remark- able. He entered the Territory on the memorable 22d, and immedi- ately became a conspicuous factor in moulding and shaping the des- tiny of Guthrie. At the meeting to organize a city government on the 23d day of April, 1889, each State and Territory represented was called alphabetically, and Arkansas was the first State called, and was responded to by D. M. Ross, who was elected to represent that State. In the organization of the city he was elected one of the first councilmen. At the election by the people on June 4th, 1889, Colonel Ross was re-elected to the council, and by that body was º N \ º | º º N S-Sº -> § º §§ NºSRNºNS SNS$WSWill!! RºS N Se: NS NSN HON. D. W. MARQUART, Norman. - --~~ ------- - N N N - - - ------- --- - D. C. YOUNG, Guthrie. a * == * º - - - --~~~~ - - --- -- => - * x a- sº- SS º S. § Ø §§ - S$ $ 2- S$'s S 2- sj.§ #3 S$ SS à º SAs à º S SN à - ~~ -> à 3 - 3. - 3× - -> #3 THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 267 made its presiding officer. In the fall and winter of 1889–90 he was sent to Washington in the interests of Oklahoma, where he remained for nearly two months. Early in the spring of 1890 he was again sent to Washington, where he remained until after the passage of the organic act and the town-site law. Colonel Ross was born in Virginia in 1838. He entered the South- ern army in 1861, and served until the close of the war. In 1867 he located in Indiana, where he remained until 1873, when he removed to Missouri, where he resided until 1888, when he temporarily located at Fort Smith, Arkansas, from which place he came to Oklahoma. Colonel Ross is a zealous Democrat, always true and loyal to his friends and just and liberal to his opponents. D. W. MARQUART, - Mayor of Norman, was born in Allen county, Indiana, February 15th, 1848. He served in the late war in Company H, Ninety-first Indiana Infantry, and in 1866 moved to Adair county, Iowa, and in 1877 was elected county auditor of that county, was re-elected for three con- secutive terms, and held many other positions of trust in said county. He was appointed postmaster of Norman in May, 1889, and was unanimously elected mayor of Norman in October, 1889. D. C. YOUNG, One of the directors of the National Bank of Guthrie, was a member of the pioneer column that entered Oklahoma on the 22d of April, 1889. He came to stay, and with other enterprising men took hold in earnest in building up Guthrie. At the mass convention held in East Guthrie on April 24th, 1889, he was unanimously elected a member of the first council of that city, as mentioned on page thirty- nine of this work. In the fall of 1890 Mr. Young completed one of the finest blocks on Oklahoma avenue, near the National Bank in East Guthrie. By example and influence Mr. Young has ever been active in advancing the interests of Guthrie. Mr. Young was born in Palestine, Illinois, in 1854, and received a thorough education in the schools of his native State. He was for some years the proprietor of the McCammon House, the most popu- lar hotel at Sullivan, Indiana. Mr. Young has built a fine home in Guthrie, a home that was visited by the dread messenger death on the 28th of October, 1890, taking away his bosom companion, a most exemplary and loving wife and an affectionate mother. JUDGE WILLIAM M. ALLISON. Among the many prominent men who have been active in shaping the destiny of Oklahoma, none are held in higher esteem than Judge 268 ILLUSTRATED or Lahoma, Allison, who was appointed United States Circuit Court Commis- sioner for the District of Kansas in the spring of 1889 by Judge Foster, to succeed John M. Galloway. Judge Allison was born in Hancock county, Indiana, in 1849. In October, 1861, at the age of twelve years, he enlisted in the Fifty- eighth Indiana Infantry, being the youngest soldier in the service from that State. After his discharge from the army he returned to his home in Indiana and entered the high school at Knightstown, where he remained one year, and then entered upon the active busi- ness pursuits of life. Having learned the printing business while a boy, he followed it for some years, during which time he held respon- sible editorial positions on !". with which he was connected. He was in turn city editor of the Knightstown Bºnner, city editor of the Indianapolis //y 7%mes, city editor of Julian's Indiana ſºdical, at Richmond. In 1871 he removed to Chetopa, Kansas, where he remained until 1872, when he went to Winfield, Kansas, and estab- lished the Cowley County Telegram, which he published for several years, and then started a daily publication in connection there with. In 1880 he sold his paper to C. C. Black, Mr. Allison being retained as its manager. In 1881 he purchased the Wellington %. which he changed to a Republican paper. In 1883 he sold out his Wellington office and removed to Albuquerque, New Mexico, and bought an interest in the Albuquerque Publishing Company, of which he became manager, and managing editor of the Albuquerque /orn- Žng Journal. After a most successful newspaper career of a year and a half in Albuquerque he was compelled to buy in his old Wel- lington paper on a mortgage, and he disposed of his interest in the Albuquerque Journal and resumed charge of the Wellington paper. In 1884 he disposed of his paper at Wellington and returned to Win- field, where he established the Daily Visitor, which he conducted until June, 1888. On the 22d of April, 1889, he went to Guthrie, which is now his permanent home. L. R. DELANEY. Among the many young men who took an active part in business during the excitement attending the first year's settlement of Okla- homa, none are more deserving of mention than Mr. L. R. Delaney, the faithful and efficient agent of the Santa Fe road at Guthrie. Mr. Delaney assumed charge of the company’s business at Guthrie on the 3d of April, 1889, and it is to his great credit that the enormous traffic of that road transacted at Guthrie was managed without a single accident, and with little or no confusion or delay. -º - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - º º - - - - - º - % º - - - ºut ºil- 268 Allison, sioner Foster, Judg October eighth from th his hon where h ness pu boy, he sible ed was in Indiana at Rich remaine lished t years, a In 1880 as its r which Welling bought he beca Žng Joº and a h; lington Albuqu In 1884 field, w until Ju which is Amol during homa, n the faitl Delaney the 3d c traffic o single at nº -- - -- - - ºn he rºº --- - lion - - - nº ºn tº in tº at nº --- - ºn - - to ºn nº lºan - - - - - - - - - - --- - --- --- - - - - - - --- --- --- --- º - - º - elliºn º - tº - - |- in ºn- - |- -- - - - º N º º º º N ŽS - º --- - º º º - º 2 - ºzzº 2 - ºzºzzº 2 ºzzº º 222222222227 - Ø/2 º s s N www. - NºW Ž222222 -Nºnwº **-º *NWA Ż ºn WW 2227 ~\wº 2222222222 ~ Ż ~ 222 º Ø ~~\\ º 2 L. R. DELANEY, Agent Santa Fe Railroad at Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 269 Mr. Delaney was born at Glenn's Falls, New York, in 1860. He received a practical education in his native town, and came West in 1876, and has devoted his time largely to railroading. He was in the employ of the Santa Fe road eight years before going to Guthrie. He is a courteous, pleasant gentleman, with fine business attainments, and of the most unswerving integrity and honor. The prompt and careful manner in which he has managed the business entrusted to him, and his highly exemplary conduct as a citizen, have won for him the universal esteem of the people of Guthrie. EMERY E. WESTERVELT, Who had charge of the Western Union telegraph office at Guthrie at the opening of Oklahoma, was born in Pennsylvania in 1863, and was educated in his native State. He assumed the management of the Guthrie office May 1st, 1889. He is a faithful and competent gentleman, and is held in high esteem by the people of Guthrie. JOHN MARSH, Who was appointed baggage-master at Guthrie in April, 1889, is a native of Ohio, and was born in 1837. The satisfactory manner in which he discharged his arduous duties during the exciting scenes at the opening proved him to be the right man in the right place. w. B. HITCH cock, Chief clerk in the freight department at Guthrie at the opening, was born in New York in 1861. In 1882 he engaged with the Santa Fe, and has remained in the employment of that company ever since. In the summer of 1889 he was appointed agent at Mulhall, a position he still fills with full satisfaction both to the public and to his em- ployers. JAMES RILING, An attache of the freight department at Guthrie, entered upon the duties of his position on the 22d of April, 1889, and took an active art in the excitement. He was born in West Virginia in 1860. He has the confidence of his employers and the esteem of the public. ARCHIE J. CORKIN, Chief clerk in the freight department at Guthrie, went to that city in July, 1889. He was born in Connecticut in 1860, and is an experi- enced railroad man, with hosts of friends in the Territory. D. C. PEACE Participated in the exciting scenes at the opening of Oklahoma as manager for the Wells Fargo Express Company at Guthrie, and by uniform courtesy to all he has won the esteem of the people. 270 ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, colonel John J. Boles. Colonel Boles came to Guthrie from Arkansas, but to his credit it must be said that he did not accompany the advance delegation that entered Oklahoma a trifle earlier than the hour named by the President. Being an able lawyer, and entering the Territory for the purpose of practicing and expounding the law, with that fairness that characterizes the man he obeyed the law in entering Oklahoma. Mr. Boles is a polished gentleman and a well-trained lawyer. He is a native of Arkansas, and was born in Yell County in that State, and spent his boyhood on the farm. He was educated at the Industrial University of Arkansas, read law, was admitted to the bar, and com- menced to practice at Danville, in that State, at the age of twenty- two. In 1878 he located at Paris, the county-seat of Logan County, Arkansas, where he soon earned a large and lucrative practice. He is a zealous Republican and an active worker in that political organ- ization. In 1880 he received the nomination of his party as representative to the legislature from Logan County, and notwithstanding the fact that he entered the campaign with a Democratic majority of five hundred against him, he was elected by one hundred and twenty-two majority. In the legislature to which he was elected there were nine- teen Republicans, and young as he was, his activity and sound judg- ment soon made him the acknowledged leader of the minority. In June, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Mattie V. Nelson, daughter of Hon. R. J. Nelson, a prominent and distin- guished Tennesseean. Mrs. Boles is a niece of ex-President James K. Polk, and a few months before her marriage graduated from Martin College, Pulaski, Tennessee, her old home. They have two children, John N., aged four years, and Lillian, aged seven years. In 1886 he was nominated for district attorney for the Twelfth ju- dicial district, composed of Logan, Scott, Sebastian, and Crawford Counties; and although a “forlorn hope” party pride and fealty compelled him to enter the canvass in the face of defeat; yet through a vigorous campaign he had the consolation even in defeat of reduc- ing the majority of his opponent over one thousand. With barely one exception, he represented his county in every State convention for the past twelve years; and was also for a number of years a member of the Republican State Central Committee, and chairman of the Logan County Central Committee for nine years. In 1887 he removed from Paris to Fort Smith, where he commanded a large and lucrative law practice, until April, 1889, when as before stated he entered the “promised land,” since which time he has devoted his THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 271 best energies to building up his law practice and in working for the interests of the city. He vigorously opposed the movement origina- ted in the summer of 1889 to establish a provisional government in Oklahoma, taking the position that it would be oppressive to the peo- ple to support the officers necessary to enforce such a government, and further, that it would serve to retard Congressional action. He was elected a delegate to the Frisco convention, which was called in opposition to the provisional government movement, and Mr. Boles was elected on the executive committee to represent Guthrie. In the fall of 1889 he took an active !" in municipal reform, and his efforts were so appreciated that his friends urged him to make the race for mayor; and notwithstanding the fact that he was a resident of East Guthrie, and consequently not eligible to an office in Guthrie proper, he received twelve of the twenty-five votes cast by the dele- gates. Mr. Boles was elected a delegate to the Republican convention which met at Oklahoma City to organize the Republican party, in the fall of 1889. He applied to President Harrison for the appoint- ment of United States Attorney for Oklahoma, which application was endorsed by over one hundred attorneys of the Territory. In the fall of 1889 he removed his family to Guthrie, where he now resides permanently, and is largely interested in Guthrie property. HoN. EDwARD P. M'CABE. Hon. Edward P. McCabe, the first treasurer of Logan county, was born in the city of Troy, New York. When yet a child, with his parents he moved to Fall River, Massachusetts. After a short resi- dence there, his family moved to Newport, Rhode Island, where the subject of this sketch commenced his struggle for an education. His parents sent him to Bangor, Maine, to attend the public schools of that liberal State. He had been at school but a short time when he was called home, and with his parents removed to San Francisco, California, where, after one year's residence, his father died, and with the remainder of the family he returned to Newport, where he be- gan the battle of life in earnest. He entered the office of Shreve, Kendrick & Co., of New York, where he gathered the fragments of an education as best he could during his leisure moments. From New York he went to Chicago, and secured employment of Potter Palmer as clerk and time-keeper on the many buildings then in course of construction by him. He was afterwards appointed to a clerkship in the treasurer's office of Cook county, a position he filled for two years. He then emigrated to Graham county, Kansas, and upon the organization of the county he was appointed clerk, and two years 272 - ILLUSTRATED OKLA HOMA, later was elected to the same position by the people. In 1884 he was elected Auditor of the State of Kansas, to which position he was re- elected by an increased majority, being the only man of his race ever elected by the people to a financial State office in any State of the Union. At the close of his second term a very complimentary reso- lution was passed by the State convention commendatory of Mr. McCabe's official career. Upon the election of President Harrison, he became a candidate for Register of the Treasury, for which position he was strongly endorsed. He was tendered the position of immi- grant inspector at Key West, Florida, which he declined. At the request of a large number of friends be became an unsuccessful can- didate for Secretary of Oklahoma. Shortly after his arrival in the Territory in April, 1890, he was, without personal solicitation, ap pointed treasurer of Logan county, in which the capital of the Terri- tory is located. - - Mr. McCabe is a well-read lawyer, of unsullied reputation, and a most estimable citizen. He is a comparatively young man, and with his ability, and in a country like Oklahoma he has a most promising future. - W. T. CANNON, Mayor of West Guthrie, was one of the pioneers of the memorable 22d, and on the 5th of June following was elected mayor, and on October 5th, 1889, was re-elected without opposition. Mr. Cannon is a thorough-going, reliable gentleman, and has always been fore- most in the building up of Guthrie. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1847, and was educated at the Derry academy of that State. Mr. Cannon is the proprietor of the Americus Hotel, one of the best caravansaries in the Guthries. LEROY W. HOFFM.A.N. There are a large number of young men in Oklahoma endowed with exceptionally brilliant qualifications, a fact that gives assurance of the future pre-eminence of the Territory as a commonwealth peopled with strong, vigorous, brainy men. Especially deserving of mention in this connection is Mr. Leroy V. Hoffman, who came here at the opening of the Territory. He was born at Erie, Kansas, and was educated at Fort Scott in that State. He commenced reading law with Judge Harris, of Fort Scott, and is still pursuing his studies with the well-known law firm of Hackney & Speed, of Guthrie. Mr. Hoffman is one of the most efficient and skillful stenographers in the West, and of the two thousand two hundred contest cases in the land- 272 later w electeſ electe electeſ Union lution McCa he bec he wa grant reques didate Territ pointe - tory i Mr. most 0. his ab future Mayo 22d, 8 Octob is a t most count. of tha one of The - - nº - - - - - only - tº - --- - nº of so - ºil -ºn -- ºne ºn of ºn tº º be nº cº- - ºn an in tº - e it sº in the ºl ºf the ºr ea sºlº reputation and | nº ºne ºn and it - nº most promº no all- an ºn annºn lºys been - estinº nºt at the lº acade- pro ºn non- - - - - - - ºnce - wealth people with e- the fu with sº in thi openin. - educa with - with tº Hoffm West, ºn ºn nº lºng of ºn- ºne ºf - ºut - ºnce . - ºil ºn ºne º ºne - -- ºn- and ºn in ared ºn - - º ==\ *==\ =\ fº º % % % º º - º %2 Ż % - %% º %% º º 3% º ſº Z// - 㺠& º %%º ſº * R. S. REEVES, Guthrie. THE LAND OF THE FAIR GOI). 273 office, in connection with Mr. J. A. Rackerby he has already taken over three million words of recorded evidence. He is a studious young man, of most exemplary character, and his future looks very promising. He is a fine elocutionist, and with a fully ripened legal mind will prove an ornament to the bar of Oklahoma, and also an able advocate. His example could be followed to great advantage by the young men of this country. THE REAVES BROTHERS. On the northwest corner of Harrison avenue and Second street is located the magnificent and imposing hotel of the Reaves brothers, commenced in the fall of 1889, and completed in 1890. It is not only one of the most imposing but one of the best-built structures in the city, and stands as a monument to those enterprising gentle- men. The building has a frontage of one hundred and ten feet on Harrison avenue, and fifty feet on Second street. Its front is of magnesian limestone, pressed brick, and iron, and when fully com- pleted will be the finest hotel in Oklahoma. The rooms are all large and admirably arranged, with southern exposure, every com- fort of guests being amply provided for. Its central location will render it the most popular hotel in the city. The Reaves brothers came to Guthrie on the 22d of April, 1889, and from the start were among the foremost in advancing the interests of the city. None have been more liberal in contributing towards public improvements and in church and charitable works. In the fall and winter of 1889–90 they had a box put up in their place of business in which to place charitable donations, they contributing from $2.50 to $3.00 each week. By example and words they have always sustained the city government, and induced others to do the Saline. JUDGE JOHN FOSTER, Senior member of the Council from Logan county, and one of the oldest men in that body, was born in Niagara county, New York, in 1834. A common school education was supplemented by a regular course at the State University of Michigan, and at the Albany Law School. He proved his loyalty to the Union by serving four years in the army during the rebellion. He went to Oklahoma in the spring of 1890, and is a member of the well-known law firm of Sears. Fos- ter & McKennon. He is an able lawyer, and stands high, both with the bar of Oklahoma and the public. He is a gentleman of the most sterling integrity, and his influence is second to that of no other member of the Council. —1s 274. ILLUSTRATED OK LA HOM., - ARTHUR w DUNHAM. Among the youngest men occupying important positions on the Santa Fe route is Arthur W. Dunham, the company’s agent at Okla. homa City. Mr. Dunham is also agent at that point (the most im- .." shipping station in Oklahoma) for the Wells, Fargo & Co.'s xpress. Some seven years ago Mr. Dunham occupied a position as news agent on the Santa Fe, and being of a quick, perceptive mind he acquired a fair knowledge of telegraphy during the leisure hours he spent at the end of his route, also while the train stopped at the ends of divisions. On the 12th of February, 1885, when he was only in his fifteenth year, he was appointed agent of that company at Burns, Marion county, Kansas. In addition to the duties of that position, in July of that year he was also given charge of the company’s station at Dixon, Butler county, in that State. In September, 1886, he was promoted to the agency for the company at Derby, Sedgwick county, which position he held until February 20th, 1888, when he was again promoted to the agency at Oklahoma City, the great distributing point for Fort Reno, the Cheyenne, the Arrapahoe, and the Sac and Fox agencies, to all of which large consignments of freight are received and forwarded by wagons a distance of from seventy to eighty miles. His ever-courteous deportment has won for him the high esteem of "º" le of Oklahoma City. - r. Dunham was born in Branch Connty, Michigan, May 13th, 1869, and moved to Kansas in 1871. He went to school at Florence, Marion county, and graduated from the high scheol at that place in 1884. HON. SAMUEL W. CLARK. In the person of the Hon. Dan W. Voorhees, Indiana has her “Tall Sycamore of the Wabash,” while in the Hon. Samuel W. Clark Oklahoma feels a pride in her “Tall Hickory of the Stillwa- ter.” Mr. Clark, the Alliance member of the House from Payne County, is a man of giant frame, a big and noble heart, and a well- cultured mind. He may be properly called the iconoclastic sword- bearer of the House, and he never fails to unsheath his weapon in defense of the rights of the people. Mr. Clark is a native of Nº. and was born at Sackett's Har- bor in 1836. He was reared in the State of Illinois, where he ac- quired a practical education. He served in the Union army during the last war, a part of the time in the 36th Illinois Infantry, and the remainder of the time in the 31st Wisconsin Infantry. While in the service he was color-bearer for over two years, When peace was - - - - - 274. TTTT T. Among the you Santa Fe route is homa City. Mr. ortant shipping Xpress. Some s - news agent on th he acquired a fair he spent at the en ends of divisions. in his fifteenth yea- Marion county, K in July of that yet at Dixon, Butler ( in tº promoted to the a which position he promoted to the point for Fort Re Fox agencies, to all and forwarded by His ever-courteou the º of Okli Mr. Dunham w 1869, and moved Marion county, a 1884. In the person “Tall Sycamore Clark Oklahoma ter.” Mr. Clark, County, is a man cultured mind. bearer of the Ho defense of the rig Mr. Clark is a bor in 1836. He - quired a practical the last war, a par remainder of the the service he was - - --- - - - - - - -º- ºr - § -: > SNSSº wº- SS §§ 2 % 2 N W % % % Alt THUR W. DUNHAM, Agent Santa Fe at Oklahoma City. TILE LAND OF THE FAIR GOD. 275 restored he returned to his home in Wisconsin, to which State he had removed in 1857 from Illinois. At the opening of Oklahoma he joined the pioneer army for the new land, and located on a fine claim in Payne County, from which he was called by the Alliance party to a seat in the first legislature of Oklahoma. “The greatest good to the greatest number” is his motto. - On the 10th day of May, 1857, Mr. Clark was united in marriage to Miss Theresa Dean, of New York, a most estimable lady. They have three children, one son and two daughters. - Politically, Mr. Clark has, he says, enjoyed the gift of his fore- fathers, namely, independence: always voting as he in his own way best could see. He voted first for Stephen A. Douglass, and then for Lincoln, Grant, Greeley, Cooper, Weaver, Benj. Butler, and A. J. Streeter. His sympathies are with those who are oppressed, and he believes in equal rights to all and special favors to none. COL: JOHN H. SHANKLIN, The Democratic member of the Townsite Commissioners of Number One of Oklahoma Territory, and assigned by the Secretary of the In- terior to Guthrie, was born in Monroe County, Virginia, (now West Virginia), November 24, 1824. He was raised on a farm, and ob- tained his early education in a log school-house of those primitive times. - Soon after attaining his majority he left the scenes of his boyhood for the wild West, and settled in the then village of Trenton, Mis- souri, in April 1846, and engaged in teaching a country school. When the war broke out with Mexico, he enlisted as a private sol- dier in September, 1847, in the famous Gilpin Battalion, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel William Gilpin, now of Colorado, and spent the winter of 1847–48 on the Arkansas river between the mouth of Walnut creek and Bent’s fort. - In the spring of 1848 he was detailed as Quartermaster and Com- missary Sergeant, and accompanied the Lieutenant-Colonel come manding the three mounted companies of the battalion across the Ratoon Mountains into New Mexico. After receiving supplies at El Moro, the command with rapid marches moved on to the North Canadian, down which they scouted the country to the usual home of the warlike Comanches. These hardy warriors of the Canadian were not at home to extend the usual red man's hospitalities to their white brethern, and perhaps it was fortunate for the little force that they were not. From the Comanche country the battalion crossed the Cimarron to the Arkansas, where it remained until it was ordered 276 I LLUSTRATED OR LA HOMA, º º Missouri, where it was mustered out in September, 1848. - - Colonel Shanklin, upon leaving the service, returned to Trenton, Missouri, which has been his home ever since. Here he again engaged in teaching school, reading such law books as he could get, and storing his mind with useful knowledge in a rofession which he was afterwards to adorn so highly. In 1850 he was united in marriage to Miss Kittie A. Collier. Five children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy, and the others are grown up and married. The wife and mother are holding down the old homestead during the temporary absence of the Colonel. Shortly after their marriage, Colonel Shanklin entered earnestly upon the study of the law, and was admitted to practice in 1851, since which time few men of the profession in his State have won greater renown as a lawyer and profound jurist In 1853 he formed a law partnership with Jacob T. Tindall, which lasted until the com- mencement of the civil war. During the late civil war Governor Gamble appointed him Inspec- tor of the State troops, with the rank of Colonel, and under this ap- pointment he enlisted and mustered into service two battalions of State militia. Being an ardent Union man, and by education and training an uncompromising advocate of the supremacy of the law, he entered heartily into the great work assigned to him, and soon had organized and equipped the Third Regiment of State Militia, and was commissioned its Lieutenant-Colonel, which office he resigned in May, 1862, on account of the death of his law partner, Col. J. T. Tindall, who was killed in the battle of Shiloh. Col. Tindall when killed was a member of the Peace Commission created by statute in 1860–1 to take into consideration the relations of the State of Missouri to the General Government, and upon his death Col. Shanklin was elected to fill the vacancy, and served two short sessions in June, 1862–3, with much distinction as a prudent adviser and statesman. In August, 1862, when the whole State was in violent convulsions from internal war factions, at the request of the Governor he organ- ized the 30th Regiment of E. M. M., and was immediately commis- sioned its Colonel, and placed in command of a district with head- quarters at Chillicothe. Here he remained in active duty during the winters of 1862–3–4–5, and to the zeal and great decision of char- acter displayed by him throughout this trying ordeal the most happy results followed and the supremacy of the law acknowledged and obeyed. ºn tº Lay D of THE FAIR god. 277 After the war the Colonel resumed the practice of law at Trenton. In 1875 he was chosen a member of the constitutional convention which framed the present constitution of Missouri, and many of the provisions of this excellent instrument bear the impress of his genºus and statesmanship. He was also one of the State representatives to the Centennial convention at Philadelphia. He was the leading coun- sel for the State in the celebrated trial of Frank James, at Gallatin, Missouri. - In 1876 he formed a law partnership with M. S. Low, now of To: peka, Kas., and H. C. McDougal, now of Kansas City, Mo., which continued for nine years. He is now the president of the Grundy County Coal Company, of the Trenton Gas and Electric Light Company, and of the Grundy County Butter and Cheese Company, and is a member of the Board of Control of the State Industrial Home for Girls of Missouri, and at present, as stated before, is a member of Board Number One of Oklahoma Townsite Commissioners, assigned to Guthrie. In every position of public trust he has held, and these have been many, Col. Shanklin acquitted himself with marked honor and dis- tinction, and to the perfect satisfaction of his superiors and the peo- ple whom he served. - IIIS LAST WORDS ON OKLAHOMA. The following words of cheer are taken from the last editorial written by that brilliant journalist, Hon. M. W. Reynolds, whose death occurred on the 9th day of August, just four days after his election as delegate-at-large for the Territory of Oklahoma. “A few, a very few, people have become a little discouraged because this sea- son's crops do not seem to justify and verify the great anticipations last year. But it is so everywhere. Texas and Kansas are not doing what they did last year. The fact is, both last year and this year were phenomenal years. Last year, all things considered, was the most productive season for sod crops on both upland and valley we have known in our experience of thirty-three years in this Western country. And this year is unusually, we may say phenomenally, dry here and all through the vast plain region west of the Missouri river. We have known dryer years, but it is dryer here this year than usual. We want to say to the brethern that Oklahoma is all right. Ten years from now Oklahoma will be one of the brightest States in the Union. Ten years from now there is not a settler upon a claim in Oklahoma who, if he is industrious and sober and has his health, will not be worth from $10,000 to $15,000. Our lot is east in a goodly land and there is no land fairer than the Land of the Fair God.” Ficle et Fid ticia. -- Through faith, courage, and perseverance under adverse circum- stances, this volume is completed. Perfection has neither been at- tained nor attempted, yet it is sent forth with full confidence that it will meet the approval of the public. In closing, the sincere thanks of the author are extended to the people—to the pioneer men of Oklahoma whose generous support has rendered this work possible. And more especially will the en- couragement and valuable aid of Hon. Harper S. Cunningham, Mr. H. J. Whitley, Judge T. J. Lowe, Hon. W. P. Hackney, Prof. Frank Terry, Hon. Horace Speed, Mr. H. Overholser, the late Hon. M. W. Reynolds, and the Hon. Sidney Clarke, be held in grateful remem- brance. º - - -