USA > Oklahoma > A history of the state of Oklahoma, Volume I > Part 33
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The founding of the ordinary American town has been a matter of natural growth. A cross-roads point, an eligible location on a waterway, or a railroad station, has furnished the usual incentive for the gath- ering of people into a town community. Around the cross-roads tavern, the post- office or mill, people singly or in small parties have chosen to settle, and by grad- ual process of growth and accretion a vil- lage has come into being, and perhaps later a city. But it has all come about by an evolutionary process, the inhabitants fell naturally into habits of social life and co- operation, and the attainment of civil gov- ernment and organized institutions was effected as quietly as the simplest functions of life are performed.
But in Oklahoma, the development that took place elsewhere in months or years, was forced to completion in almost a day- it was the compression and reinforcement of natural forces such as are needed to produce a miracle, and in this respect one
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is justified in speaking of the rapid expan- sion of Oklahoma and the founding of its towns in almost a day as miraculous.
The history of Oklahoma's growth dur- ing the first few months after the opening can best be illustrated by describing the founding of the principal centers of popu- lation. The history of its largest city, while in itself a story of unusual interest, is remarkable for its suggestive facts and incidents illustrative of the conditions that prevailed quite generally over the terri- tory. While upwards of ten thousand peo- ple were congregated on the townsite of Oklahoma City, busily engaged in select- ing lots, building homes and setting up quarters for trade and their regular voca- tions, other similar groups of people were engaged in building the towns of Guthrie, Kingfisher, Edmund and others. All over the territory, and at the same time, men were actuated by similar ambitions, and partook in activities that produced similar results. The history of a dozen towns dates back to April 22, 1889, and the stor- ies of a hundred "pioneers" selected from these different points would tally in their prominent features.
On Sunday, April 21, 1889, says a con- temporary historian, seven buildings stood
' The old post trader's house that formed one of the buildings described as being on the site of Oklahoma City at the opening had three claim- ants, and became a subject of dispute that forms one of the permanent records of the war depart- ment, from the fact that Captain Stiles was called to prevent the destruction of the building by two of the claimants, the rights to the prop- erty being at that time in the hands of the United States court at Muskogee. The account of the building as given in the military reports is an item of historic interest: "The property in question consisted originally of a trader's store and small corral. They were erected a few years ago by Mr. Decker as a postoffice and trader's store for the convenience of the employes of the Santa Fe Railroad, then building, and to facili-
along the Santa Fe Railroad in the bend of the North Fork of the Canadian. They were: the depot, section house, postoffice building, a government building, the home of the railway agent, a boarding house, and an old stockade1 used by a stage com- pany for an office. The high ground north- east of the depot was occupied that morn- ing by four companies of United States infantry and a troop of the Fifth Cavalry, with Brigadier General Merritt, of the De- partment of the Missouri, in command.
The day passed without special incident. The south-bound train in the evening brought a crowd of eager passengers, but only a few of them succeeded in eluding the guard at the depot, and the rest were carried on beyond the limits of the forbid- den ground. The soldiers were on hand to preserve order and enforce the regula- tions prescribed for the opening.
At noon on Monday, the 22d, the sol- diers and others congregated at the Santa Fe depot awaited with great interest the result of the signal which they knew had been given to the crowding throngs just outside the Oklahoma boundaries. They did not have to wait long. By twenty minutes past twelve, says the chronicler of the "First Eight Months of Oklahoma City,"" white tents dotted the country as
tate trade with Indians and others. Mr. Decker was an Indian trader, and failing to have his license renewed, sold the buildings to J. S. Evans, post trader at Fort Reno. Mr. Evans died not long after and the heirs of his estate sold the property to Mr. Sommers, quartermaster agent and now United States commissioner. On the death of Mr. Evans, post trader, 'Major' C. B. Bickford got the United States contract for transportation, and put up a corral outside the original corral, and purchased an interest in the old store and corral." Bickford was one of the claimants at the opening.
" This unique little book, printed at Oklahoma City in 1890, containing 110 pages in pamphlet form, was written by "Bunky," and aside from this name the historian gave no hint of his own
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far as the eye could reach. At fifteen min- tives on the site of Oklahoma City within an hour and a quarter after the signal gun for the opening. This is the statement of the historian "Bunky," who gives the fol- lowing account of the colony's operations on the opening day. Rev. James Murray, utes after noon the representatives of the Seminole Land and Town Company stepped off the Santa Fe right of way and began laying off lots on Main street. The nearest legitimate starting point for the rush being fifteen miles away, it is evident . a Methodist minister, was president of the that these were "sooners."
But at 19 minutes past one o'clock there arrived, after a hard ride from the Cana- dian river to the southwest, a party of Kansans who had conformed to the condi- tions of the rush. They included some notable names in the history of Oklahoma City.3 The first train arrived, from Pur- cell, at 2:05 p. m. As soon as it crossed the river eager men began leaping from the cars, some of them jumping from the windows, and scattered over the townsite and vicinity, setting stakes and appropri- ating the most eligible lots they could find. It is said that twenty-five hundred people came with this train. Each one had his stakes ready, many with their names writ- ten on them, and as soon as their feet touched the ground the crowd broke into all directions and raced over the ground to find a place to drive stakes. One old lady drove her stakes between the railroad ties, and it required considerable persua- sion on the part of the soldiers to convince her that the right of way was not open to settlement.
The Oklahoma Colony, made up of men from several towns in Kansas and orga- nized long before the opening for the pur- pose of laying out a town, had representa-
individuality. His real name was Irving Geffs. Some time before the incidents which he de- scribes he had taken too much liquor, and on re- covering his senses found that he was a regularly enlisted soldier of the United States army, a position for which he had no special liking, but it was several years before he was able to get out. He was with the infantry that camped at Okla-
company, and C. P. Walker, secretary. "They left Purcell at noon, Saturday, April 20, and drove up the Canadian to the southwest corner of township 10 north, range 3 west, where they went into camp. By Monday noon, the 22d, the crowd was increased by other arrivals until it num- bered over three hundred. By a vote of the people, D. Walker, of Greeley, Kansas, was elected captain. Upon comparison, it was found the watches in the crowd dif- fered fully one-half hour. Mr. Kincaid of Cherryvale, Kansas, and Rev. James Mur- ray rode in a one-horse top buggy and reached the townsite of Oklahoma City in one hour and fifteen minutes, a distance of fifteen miles. Mr. Harrison and C. P. Walker-the company's surveyor and sec- retary-had been on the scene but a few minutes before the arrival of Mr. Kincaid and Rev. James Murray, and were at work on the government reservation, not know- ing that it had been withdrawn for military purposes. When this fact became known, they commenced operations west of the railroad, and erected a big tent. This tent · was made the headquarters of the Okla- homa Colony, and about three o'clock the polls were declared open and voting com- menced for mayor and city clerk. When
homa City the day before the opening, and on leaving the army remained in the city for some time. He was a left-armed scribe, a clever writer, and was in the employ of some of the first news- papers of the city, especially with Frank Mc- Master.
'See sketches of J. H. McCartney, John Holz- apfel, Delos Walker, in Volume II.
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the votes were counted-over four hun- dred having been cast-it was found that James Murray was elected mayor and C. P. Walker city clerk. While this election was going on, Hon. Sidney Clarke of Lawrence, Kansas, and Gen. J. B. Weaver of Iowa-as representatives of the Semi- nole Town and Land Company-addressed the people from a wagon, protesting against the election, and called for a pub- lic meeting at the intersection of Main and Broadway the following evening."
The history of the provisional govern- ment of Oklahoma City embraces the prin- cipal events of the first year of the city's existence. The provisional government was the object of such active hostility on the part of the minority party, and in- volved so many questions of fundamental importance in the career of the new coun- try, that it was made the subject of an exhaustive inquiry by Congress, and the records of the time may be found largely in the reports made to Congress during its fifty-first session.
Though an attempt to organize a city government was made on the opening day, resulting in the election of James Murray for mayor, it appears that !this attempt failed through the opposition of the "Sem- inole" party. The immediate objects of such organization were to create a corpo- ration with authority to enter a townsite
. Call for Mass Convention. Oklahoma City, April 26, 1889.
We, citizens of the city of Oklahoma, request the meeting in mass convention of all citizens of the city for the purpose of nominating a tem- porary mayor and city recorder to hold their offices until such time as there may be elected by ballot their successors, which election shall be held within five days from and after the election of said temporary mayor and recorder. Such mass meeting to be held April 27, 1889, at the hour of 6:30 o'clock p. m., and every citizen of said city shall be entitled to a voice. The elec-
under the defective laws by which Okla- homa was opened. For this reason it was necessary that the company or organiza- tion engaged in the promotion of the town- site should control this civil authority in order to secure the rewards of its enter- prise; hence the determined fight made by the Seminole Company to control the gov- ernment of Oklahoma City.
Consequently, after the first few days of confusion, while the survey of the site was being made by the rival Seminoles and "Citizens" party, a call was issued, on April 26, by the former, for a mass conven- tion of the citizens, for the purpose of cre- ating a temporary government for the city."
It was a remarkable assemblage that convened the following evening, with the slanting rays of the sun falling across the red earth of the newly worn streets and reflecting in long shadows the rough houses and tent shelters that clustered about the intersection of Main and Broad- way. A chairman was appointed (Ledru Guthrie), and then the convention pro- ceeded to the unanimous adoption of some articles of government that of themselves prove a high capacity for self-government that then resided in the controlling element of Oklahoma City's population. Only two nominations were made for the provisional offices of mayor and recorder, and William L. Couch, the lieutenant and successor of
tion of said temporary mayor and recorder shall be by the voice, and shall vest in them the power to appoint police to preserve the order of said city, and the power to call said election for per- manent mayor, recorder and prescribe the manner of holding said election. Said mass meeting to be held at the corner of Main and Broadway.
(Signed) Ledru Guthrie, J. B. Weaver (not a citizen of the city, but living near the same), John B. Banks, S. Lum Biedler, W. P. Easton, J. E. Carson, J. D. Drake, 'T. B. Riley, G. A. Biedler, p. m., O. H. Violet, Sidney Clarke, Bluford Wil- son, D. A. Harvey, W. P. Shaw.
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"Boomer" Payne, was chosen for mayor, and William P. Shaw for provisional re- corder." It is said that at the conclusion of the convention, all united in a grand chorus of "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow." That a host of settlers, suddenly gathered in one spot from all parts of the country, united in voicing the familiar doxology, whatever may have been the depth of feeling with which it was sung, is hardly less significant of the homogeneity of this typical American as-
" Record of Mass Convention.
Oklahoma City, Ind. T., April 27, 1889. At a mass meeting of the citizens of Oklahoma City, held pursuant to the foregoing petition and call, the Hon. Ledru Guthrie was chosen chair- man and O. H. Violet secretary. The chairman having explained the purpose of the meeting, Hon. Bluford Wilson moved the adoption of the following resolutions, which were unanimously adopted:
"Whereas we, the people of Oklahoma City, in the Indian Territory, for the more adequate pro- tection of property and for the better preservation of order and to form a more perfect union, do ordain these resolutions to be in force and effect:
"First. That there shall be elected one tem- porary mayor, who shall hold his office for the term of five days or until the successor is duly elected and qualified.
"Second. That there shall be elected one tem- porary recorder, who shall be elected for five days, or until a permanent provisional successor is duly elected and qualified.
"Third. It shall be the duty of the tempor- ary mayor to call an election for the first day of May, 1889, for mayor, for recorder, for police judge, for city attorney, and city treasurer, for six councilmen, which call shall be by proclama- tion signed by said temporary mayor and at- tested by said temporary recorder and shall be posted in three public places in said city at least two days before the day of said election, and shall proclaim the manner, the time, and the places of holding the same. He shall be ex-officio chief of police, and shall have power to appoint such additional persons as police as he may deem necessary to preserve good order; he shall have power to designate and appoint three judges for each voting place, who shall have charge of the ballot boxes and the counting of said ballots.
"Fourth. The temporary recorder shall make a complete record of this article in a book for
semblage than the unanimity with which they adopted resolutions providing for a civil government.
Following the appointment, in conven- tion, of temporary officials, Mayor Couch issued a proclamation for a regular elec- tion, set for May Ist. The corner of Main and Broadway was one polling place, and all who lived south of Clarke street (now Grand avenue) were to cast their ballots at the corner of California avenue and Broadway." The results of this first city
that purpose, together with the proclamation by the mayor, and shall perform such other duty as may be imposed upon him by the mayor or council before his successor is elected and qualified.
"Fifth. Said permanent mayor and council- men shall constitute the legislative power of said city government, and shall have power to provide by ordinance such rules and regulations as they may deem best for the public welfare of said city.
"Sixth. The temporary mayor, recorder and police appointed under said temporary mayor shall each receive the sum of $1 for their ser- vices."
Pursuant to the resolutions, which were adopted without any dissenting voice, Hon. David T. Lit- tler, of Illinois, put in nomination William L. Couch, Esq., for the temporary mayor, which nomination was duly seconded. William P. Shaw was put in nomination for temporary recorder. No further nominations being made, the chair- man declared the nominations closed, and pro- ceeded to a vote on the nominations. A rising vote having been taken, the chair decided that W. L. Couch had received a majority of the votes cast. Whereupon, on motion of William P. Shaw, the election was declared unanimous. Motion was made and duly seconded that William P. Shaw be declared the temporary recorder by acclama- tion. Carried.
No further business appearing for considera- tion, the meeting adjourned sine die.
LEDRU GUTHRIE, Chairman. O. H. VIOLET, Secretary.
' Proclamation for First City Election.
Whereas: By virtue of authority vested in me by certain articles adopted by the citizens of Oklahoma City, I. T., at a mass meeting held by them in said city on the 27th day of April, 1889, authorizing the calling of an election for per- manent officers therein designated to be held on the first day of May, A. D. 1889, and for the
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election are told in the records of the city recorder."
The city government, though installed May 2, did not enter actively upon its duties until May 6, when it took charge
designation of the manner and time and places for holding the same; and,
Whereas: By section 2 it is provided that at said election to be held under said articles there shall be elected one person who shall be designated and termed mayor, and one person as recorder, and one person as police judge, and one person as city attorney, and one person as city treasurer, and six persons to act as councilmen, who shall hold their offices for the term of one year; and,
Whereas: By section 2 it is provided that the temporary mayor shall appoint three suitable per- sons to act as judges of each election precinct to be named by the mayor, who shall have charge of the ballot-boxes and of the counting of the ballots, and shall report the result of the same to the mayor and recorder, who shall declare said persons receiving the highest number of votes elected; who, after taking and subscribing to the oath of office required generally of such offices as they may have been elected to fill.
Now, therefore, I, W. L. Couch, temporary mayor of the town of Oklahoma City, do proclaim that a general election for one person as mayor, for one person as recorder, for one person as police judge, for one person as city treasurer, for one person as city attorney, and for 'three persons as councilmen from each ward, shall be held in the town of Oklahoma City, I. T., on the first day of May, A. D. 1889, which election shall be by ballot, either printed or written, and each citizen of lawful age of said town shall be enti- tled to vote for said officers, and that the places for voting shall be opened at 8 o'clock a. m. and close at 6 o'clock p. m., and that there shall be two voting precincts dividing said city into two wards as follows: All persons residing north of Clarke street [now Grand avenue] shall be en- titled to vote at the place designated in said ward, which is at the junction of Main and Broad- way; all persons residing south of Clarke street shall be entitled to vote at the place designated in said ward, which is at the junction of Califor- nia avenue and Broadway. The following per- sons are designated to act as judges of the elec- tion north of Clarke street, viz .: J. W. Gibbs, George S. Chase and Moses Neal; and those to act as judges in the ward south of Clarke street, O. H. Violet, John A. Blackburn and James Mur- ray, who shall count and return the ballots to the temporary recorder, who shall canvass said re-
of the affairs of the city. It then found itself unable to preserve order without the aid of the military. From that day to . August 5, according to the report of the commanding officer at Oklahoma City, a
turns and make announcement of the result as soon as can be done.
WILLIAM L. COUCH, Temporary Mayor. Attest: WM. P. SHAW, City Recorder.
' Record of First City Election.
Oklahoma City, Ind. T., May 2, 1889.
Upon personal notice being given by William L. Couch, mayor pro tempore of the provisional government of the city of Oklahoma City, Ind. T., there assembled at 4 o'clock p. m., on May 2, 1889, at the office of Ledru Guthrie, the follow- ing named persons, to-wit: William L. Couch, mayor pro tempore; William P. Shaw, secretary pro tempore; Mr. Sidney Clarke, Mr. E. G. Hud- son, Mr. J. E. Jones, Mr. John Wallace, Mr. W. C. Wells, Mr. C. T. Scott, Mr. Ledru Guthrie, Mr. O. H. Violet, Mr. F. C. Quinton, Mr. John A. Blackburn.
Mr. William P. Shaw, secretary pro tempore of the provisional government of the city, an- nounced the result of the canvass made by the qualified judges of the election held in the city of Oklahoma City for mayor, city recorder, city attorney, city treasurer, and police judge, and six councilmen, to have resulted in the selection of William L. Couch, mayor; John A. Blackburn, city recorder; Ledru Guthrie, city attorney; Frank C. Quinton, city treasurer; O. H. Violet, police judge; Sidney Clarke, councilman; E. G. Hudson, councilman; J. E. Jones, councilman; John Wallace, councilman; W. C. Wells, council- man; C. T. Scott, councilman.
The above candidates were duly elected at the city election held on May 1, between the hours of 8 o'clock a. m. and 6 o'clock p. m.
After the announcement made by the secretary pro tempore, Mr. William P. Shaw, of the pro- visional government, of the result of such elec- tion, the duly elected officials for the city govern- ment of Oklahoma City took the following oath of office, administered by United States Commis- sioner C. F. Sommers:
"We .. do solemnly swear that we will support the constitution of the United States and that we will well and faithfully dis- charge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."
After which certificates of election were given to each official respectively.
Mayor W. L. Couch called a meeting of the council at once, and on motion of E. G. Hudson,
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guard of from five to fourteen men was daily sent to town as occasion required; and from August 5 to October 21, from two to four men were on duty in town every day. With a view to assisting the civil authorities and in repressing the liquor traffic, Captain D. F. Stiles, Tenth Infantry, was designated provost marshal (the title by which Captain Stiles was commonly re- ferred to, but which was not official as in- dicating the scope of his duties or rank). For several months Captain Stiles was the active executive officer of the military at Oklahoma City. His report to Major J. P. Sanger in November, 1889, includes in- formation as to the important occasions when the troops were used to preserve or- der in the city.8
From the day of opening for several months the federal troops had an active part in the regulation of affairs at Okla- homa City, and without their co-operation the authority of the first municipal or- ganization would have been impossible to maintain. The interference of the military in town affairs, as also in its efforts to pre- serve the peace among disputants for land claims, were the subject of much complaint, and charges were not wanting that the commanding officers were not entirely dis- interested in their direction of the move- ments of the troops. The whole matter finally came to the attention of Congress, and a resolution of the senate directed the war department to submit the detailed re- ports and official orders showing the move-
properly seconded and carried, a committee of three was appointed by the chair to confer with the city attorney to prepare the organic act for the government of the city.
The chair appointed Councilmen Clarke, Hud- son and Jones as such committee to advise also with the city attorney.
A motion was made by Councilman Wallace, seconded by Councilman Clarke and carried un- animously, that the mayor appoint a mayor pro
ments of the troops and their connection with affairs at Oklahoma and elsewhere in the Oklahoma country since the opening. In accordance with that request, the sec- retary of war on February 25, 1890, laid before the senate all the official records of the army in Oklahoma for the preceding months, and these form a mass of his- torical data from which much of the fol- lowing account of Oklahoma City is de- rived.
Reporting as to the employment of the United States troops in the city of Okla- homa at the opening, Major J. P. Sanger on November 7, 1889, very exhaustively reviewed the course of events in the city, with particular reference to the employ- ment of the military. General Merritt on assuming personal command of the troops at Oklahoma station just before the open- ing, had issued a circular (April 21) in- forming the settlers that the troops were assembled to protect government property, the United States mails, and to guard the people from lawlessness and disorder. The same day he issued another order announc- ing that the troops were to co-operate with the marshal of the United States courts. Throughout the early months of Okla- homa's history, as appears from the various orders issued, the federal government and military authorities were very scrupulous to observe the exact limits of duty in con- nection with the preservation of peace, without in any way interfering with the civil status as established by the people.
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