USA > Oklahoma > Woods County > History of Woods County Oklahoma > Part 3
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At first the Cherokees paid no attention to this invasion of their lands, but as the ranchers took on an aspect of permanence, the Indians sent out an agent to collect taxes. They realized that the time had come for them to receive some returns for the use of their property.
Medicine River
K
N
S A
S
Salt Fork
9
8
10
Arka
No Man's Land
24
23
Cattle
Companies
18
27
22
.
--
5
13
21
To
1
1
20
Allansas
an
26
19
4
River
12
14
Pret.
1
15
5. Canadian
Cattle Companies
Osage Res.
12.N. Y. Cattle Co. 20. B. H. Campbell
2. Ponca Res.
9. Medicine Lodge 13. Gregory & Eldred 21. Bates & Co.
3. Nex Perces Res. 10. Caldwell
14. Day Brothers 22. Drum & Snider
4. Otoe Res.
11. Arkansas City 15. Dickey
23. W. H. + K. Corbin
Strip = 58 x 130 miles Opened for settlement, Sept. 161893.
5. Camp Supply
16. Quinlan
6. Saline Res.
> Salt Plains
24 Rice + Ewing 17. Texas Cattle Co. 25. Comanche Pool 18 Eagle Chief Pool 26. Greever + Houghton 19. G. A. Thompson 27. Location of Alva
Map 3. Cherokee Strip Cattle Companies.
The Cherokees
TEXAS
13
Wolf Cr.
1
cimarron
Steek
Salt
18
Engle Chief c,
River
1.
Bear
25
n sas
16
Cattle Companies
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
Difficulties Arise
As more and more men brought their cattle to the Outlet many difficulties arose. Some refused to pay the fees demanded by the Cherokee government, caus- ing honest cattle-men-as well as the dishonest ones- to be involved in constant trouble. There were no fences, and the various owners experienced much irritation in the attempt to keep their herds separated. Finally, in the spring of 1880, a meeting was held at Caldwell, Kans., at which time an organization of cattle-men was formed. During the next few years this organization work- ed effectively as an aid to the settle- ment of disputes and the fixing of boundaries. But many annoyances still persisted. They reached a climax when the Department of the Interior -- which handled Indian affairs-pro tested against the white man's use of Indian lands. While the government Chas. H. Eldred, Executive Secre- tary of the Cherokee Strip Live Stock Asso- ciation. was debating about what should be done with the ranchers, the cattle-men themselves were not idle. They decid- ed to form their loose organization into a compact association, and to secure from the Cherokee nation a lease of the Out- let. This plan was finally accomplished. On May 19, 1883, Chief Bushyhead, of the Cherokees, signed the contract giving to the Association a lease of the "Strip" for five years for the sum of $100,000 a year.
Character of the Organization
The organization thus established was known as "The Cherokee Strip Live Stock Association." All
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
persons or companies occupying a range in the Outlet who agreed to pay the assessments were allowed to be- come members of the association. In October, 1883, the lease went into effect and the first payment was made. The Cherokees had asked that it be paid in silver, and the treasurer of the organization had to take $50,000 in silver all the way from Caldwell to Tahle- quah, the Cherokee capital. That must have been an exciting trip; as it was certainly a dangerous one.
Surveys, Ranches and Brands
The Cherokee Live Stock Association was a most unusual concern. It had no authority behind it except the consent of its members, but for seven years it played a vital part in the development of Indian territory. The affairs of the Association moved with remarkable smoothness. The lands of the Outlet were surveyed and the boundaries of each range fixed. Every ranch adopted a certain sign, or brand, with which its cattle were marked and easily distinguished. The different brands became so numerous that "brand books" had to be published. They are curious little volumes, filled with hundreds of strange signs and symbols which have no meaning to any except those who once "rode the ranges." The grazing territory was divided among a little more than one hundred individuals and firms, but the number indirectly connected with the organization was many times that. Many members of the Associa- tion were men of unusual ability and influence. Their power made itself felt not only in the cattle industry, but in politics and the movements of big business con- cerns. (See Map 3.)
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
Cherokees Sell the "Outlet"
In 1888, at the end of the five-year period, the Association with great difficulty renewed its lease for another five years, this time having to pay $200,000 a year. In spite of a seemingly promising future the cattle men soon after were forced to see the break- down of all their plans. After the opening of the Okla- homa lands, in 1889, the insistent clamor for the open- ing of western Oklahoma mounted swiftly. The de- termined home-seekers hurled a constant volley of attacks against the ranchers. Finally Congress appoint- ed a Commission to buy the Cherokee land and pave the way for settlement. The Indians for a long time refused to sell, since the price offered them by the government was much smaller than that paid by the Live Stock Association. At last the Cherokees gave in when they were given to understand that they would lose their territory without any recompense whatever if they refused the government's offer. That blasted the last hope of the cattle-men. They were given a specified period of time for the removal of their herds, and by the spring of 1893 the Cherokee Strip Live Stock Association had ceased to exist. In September of that year the "Outlet" was opened for settlement, and the huge ranges were divided into small sections of land upon which the eager "boomers" might establish their homes. But, though the reign of the cattle-men was short, they left their imprint upon the history of northwestern Oklahoma.
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
CHAPTER X "OKLAHOMA BOOMERS"
Why White Men Wanted Oklahoma
As the advancing army of frontiersmen pushed its way across the Mississippi river and settled the great central portion of our country, the region which is now Oklahoma was left isolated and almost untouch- ed by the white man's influence. Then, when the avail- able lands in surrounding states were all taken, adven- turous settlers began turning their eyes to the beautiful Indian territory. There they saw abundant natural resources, fertile fields, a mild and healthful climate- all unpopulated except for a few cattlemen and the scattered Indian bands. Small wonder that they thought: "Why should the cattle-men be allowed in the Indian country when other settlers and homeseekers are kept out? Why should the Indians be permitted to control so much more land than they either need or use?"
In the national capital a prominent Indian, Elias C Boudinot-son of the Elias Boudinot who had favored the Cherokee removal half a century earlier-advocated opening part of the Indian territory for white settle- ment. As a result of Boudinot's agitation there quickly spread a mounting enthusiasm about the unopened region. Thousands of people determined to take the matter into their own hands and to become "squatters" on the land. They refused to be daunted by the restric- tion of the government or the opposition of the Indians who were angered at the idea of giving up any of their land. These men were called "boomers" because they insisted on settling the Oklahoma lands before they were formally opened.
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
Work of Payne
The "boomer" movement centered in one man, Captain David L. Payne. He was a picturesque figure -tall, dark, gaunt, accustomed to life in the rough-a typical westerner. He had tried his hand at being many things: a soldier of the Civil War, Indian fighter, traveler in the West, postmaster, member of the Kansas legislature, and finally, doorkeeper of the House of Representa- tives in Washington. It was during his stay in the Capital that he came into contact with Boudinot and became interested in the Okla- homa question.
When once Payne's DAVID L. PAYNE, Father of "Oklahoma Boomers." enthusiasm was arous- ed he let no grass grow under his feet. Early in 1880 he left Washington for the West. From that time until his death in December, 1884, he was the moving spirit among the "boomers." He spent those years in one constant succession of at- tempts to lead colonies of settlers into Oklahoma. The goal of the homeseekers was that rich region just west of the Five Civilized Tribes, a large area which had
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
never been assigned to Indians and which remained al- most totally uninhabited.
From border towns on the North and from points along the Texas line Payne led groups of settlers. Every time he entered the territory he was stopped and ex- pelled. Several times he was arrested by soldiers and thrown into jail. After repeatedly being seized and driven out of the country the United States federal court gave the decision that Payne could not be held for conspiracy to violate the United States laws. Each of the colonies he organized was broken up and forcibly ejected.
Boomers Not Discouraged
But the eager boomers were not discouraged, and every rebuff only added to their determination to win the desired end. Payne and his followers started a newspaper, "The Oklahoma War Chief," which they devoted entirely to propaganda concerning their course. Using it as their tool they bitterly denounced the cattle- men who had appropriated most of the western section of the state for their own use. Such fiery language as the following: the public lands thus filched from the people by the cattle kings. and empires of the public lands fenced by these monopolists" appear- ed in their paper.
Following the sudden death of Payne the "boomer" movement continued under his friend and associate, Captain Couch. He got together a large band of boomers who stubbornly resisted expulsion. Finally they gave way when 600 troops were sent to
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
oust them. This was the last attempt to settle Okla- homa without the approval of the government.
At about the time of the failure of this last colony a bill favoring the opening of the Indian territory was introduced into Congress. Less than four years later the bill was passed and resulted in the first opening in April, 1889. Payne and his followers had not been able to fulfill their desire as promptly as they wished, but they set the spark which finally burst into a sweeping flame. They have been called the "Fathers of Okla- homa." (See "First Opening, 1889," Map 2.)
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
CHAPTER XI
A CATTLE RANCH IN THE "STRIP"
Ranches and Cow Boys
After the members of the Cherokee Live Stock Association had leased the unoccupied lands of the Cherokee Outlet the ranchers definitely established themselves in northwestern Oklahoma. That region was cut up into great ranches, some of them including many thousands of acres. (See Map 3.) The cattlemen usually lived with their families in large and comfor- table houses located somewhere near the center of their ranches. Scattered about the ranch were the cabins of the cow-boys who took charge of the herds. The cow- boy is a familiar figure to every American. He lived in a world of freedom, of space, of activity. Day after day he rode swiftly across the prairies, seemingly un- moved by the forces of nature which bind less adven- turous men.
The Round ups
The activities of life on the western ranches usually followed a certain routine during most of the year; but the occasion of a "round up" provided real excitement. Round ups took place in the fall and spring, and served three purposes. They offered an opportunity for estimating the size of the herd, and for getting some cattle ready for shipping or driving to market, and for marking or branding the cattle with the sign of the ranch to which they belonged. The cow- boys looked forward eagerly to the "round up."
Striking figures they were, with bronzed, ruddy faces, brilliant bandanas, their flannel shirts open at the neck. Around their waists they wore wide cartridge
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
belts, with a brace of handsome six-shooters in fancy leather holsters. Flapping Angora skin chaps almost hid their leather trousers and suggested the "wild and woolly" west. Bright-colored embroideries ornamented their boots, and glittering spurs added a further pictur- esque touch.
Very early on the morning of the "round-up" everything at the ranch began to buzz with excitement. After breakfast the cow-boys rode away over the "range" to find their herds. Owners of neighboring ranches, with their entire families crowded into buck- boards and rattled up to the center of interest. And from the surrounding country other cow-boys came to participate in the day's activities. With much shout- ing, whistling, and cracking of whips the cattle were brought in and driven together to the designated "corral." When all were assembled the herds of the various ranches numbered thousands of head. Then the visiting cow-boys joined those who had brought the cattle together. All the riders were supplied with high- spirited horses, and from the horns of their saddles dangled the lassos which every cow-boy was skilled in using. This occasion aroused the greatest enthusiasm of all who took part in it.
Lassoing and Branding
The signal to begin acted upon the riders like the pop of a gun. Off they dashed, loosing their lassos and whirling along like a hurricane. Imagine the scene; cow-boys with hair flying, bandanas flapping, spurs gleaming in the sun-light; plunging ponies which re- sponded instantaneously to every motion of their riders: the whizzing of the lassos as they hissed through the air and snapped with a crack about the horns of the
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
steers; the lunging and the rearing of the frightened, angry cattle which made desperate attempts to evade the circling lassos; an animated throng of onlookers, with much shouting, laughing, and cheering from all; and overhead the calm blue of the Indian summer sky. As each steer went down a cow-boy leaped from his horse and tied the animal's feet. Then the "branding wagon" followed and completed the task of marking all the cattle with the sign of the ranch, whether it be "Bar Q,", "P Diamond," or "Cross T," etc ..
At noon a "chuck wagon" filled with pots of steaming coffee and an abundance of good things to eat
"Chuck Wagon" on a Cattle Ranch.
was driven out from the "chuck-house." A gala com- pany gathered around. The open hand of good fellow- ship was extended to all. The cow-boys chided each other with good-natured raillery, and compared the
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
number of steers which each had thrown, while the ranch owner was interested chiefly in determining the size of his herd.
Last of Cow Boys and Ranches
On the fertile Oklahoma plains the ranching busi- ness proved immensely profitable, and many owners amassed large fortunes. Those were colorful days in the Cherokee Outlet. But they were doomed to be few, for the onward pressing tide of settlers looked bitterly at the cattle-men who controlled such a large and rich territory. In order to prolong their days of special privileges and rich returns the "Association" spent huge sums of money to bribe congressmen and politicians to favor them. But after the first opening of the Oklahoma Lands, in 1889, the agitation for further openings constantly mounted in intensity until the great army of home-seekers could no longer be suppressed. With the opening of the Cherokee Outlet, in 1893, the great cattle ranches became a thing of the past.
"The last cow-boy rides into the distance To hobble his bronco close to the sky And build a fire and with head on his saddle Sing softly while lonely hours go by."
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
Second Period, 1893 - 1907
CHAPTER XII
HOW OKLAHOMA AND WOODS COUNTY CAME TO BE A PART OF THE UNITED STATES
Note: All the places mentioned in this story can be found on Map 1.
Locating Woods County on the Map
To understand this story, children, you must have before you a map of North America. (See Map 1.) Find the Mississippi river. Do you see that there are three large rivers that flow into it from the West? The one farthest north is the Missouri; the middle one is the Arkansas and the one farthest south is the Red. All of these rivers rise in the Rocky Mountains. Now all of that vast country bounded on the North by Canada, on the east by the Mississippi river, on the west by the Rocky Mountains, and on the south by the Red river, was once called Louisiana, and for a long, long time belonged to France. The four rivers just named drain all of it. It is 1,300 miles long north and south, and has an average width of 1,000 miles east and west. Can you locate Oklahoma? It lies mostly between the Arkansas and the Red rivers and about midway be- tween the Mississippi and the Rockies. The map even shows the Cimarron and Salt Fork. So you can easily locate Woods county.
French Names
Having located Louisiana, Oklahoma and Woods county on your map of North America, let us see how we got some of those names. About 200 years after Columbus discovered America and about 240 years
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
ago, France had a powerful king, Louis XIV. He was deeply interested in America and he wished to get possession of as much of it as possible. He therefore sent out one of the greatest explorers of all times, Robert de La Salle to discover the mountains, the vast forests, the lakes and the rivers of this new continent and to take possession of all the lands he explored in the name of France. La Salle came up the St. Lawrence river, fol- lowed the Great Lakes to the southern end of Lake Michigan, then crossed to the Mississ- ippi river and was the first white man to float down that mighty stream to the Gulf of Mexico. He then pro claimed that all the THOMAS JEFFERSON, Who bought Louisiana, which in- cluded Oklahoma, from France, in 1803. country drained by the great river should belong to France and he called the country Louisiana after the French king, Louis XIV.
Then the French made a settlement at the mouth of the Missouri and called this St. Louis after the French king too. They also made a settlement at the mouth of the Mississippi and called it New Orleans after the royal family of France. They made still an- other settlement near the mouth of the Red river which they called Natchez. From these settlements or trad-
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
ing posts, the French hunters and trappers followed the rivers, traveling far into the country, some coming even as far as the Cimarron and the Salt Fork,-that is, to our own Woods County. You have already been told about these French Trappers in Chapter I.
Three Owners of Louisiana
After the French had owned Louisiana for almost 100 years, England and France had a great war; France was defeated and had to give all of Canada to England and all of Louisiana to Spain. This made Spain owner of everything west of the Mississippi and south to South America. She owned most of that too. But Spain did not get to keep Louisiana long for in just 40 years France, under the great Napoleon, took Louisiana back and then sold it to the United States in 1803, for $15,000,000. That is how this land in Woods county became a part of the United States.
Of course no one knew in 1803 what this country was like and no one cared very much, for everybody thought it would be a long, long time before white settlers would want to come so far into the wilderness among the savage Indians.
How We Became "Indian Territory"
But settlers came fast into the new country around New Orleans so that the state of Louisiana was admit- ted into the Union in 1812, and in 1819, all of the country between Missouri on the north and Louisiana and Texas on the south and west was formed into the territory of Arkansas, so we became a part of Arkansas. Soon another change came because the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians who were then living east of the Mississippi river were being moved out west to some
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
good uninhabited country full of game that could be given to them for a permanent home. The Indians chose their lands in the western part of Arkan- sas Territory, and so this was cut off from Arkansas and was call- ed the Indian Terri- tory. Our part of the Territory was given to the Cherokees for a hunting ground and was called the Chero kee Outlet. This was arranged in 1828, just 100 years ago, and the government of the United States solemnly promised the Chero ANDREW JACKSON, kees that they might Who was mostly responsible for moving the Indians to Oklahoma. always live here and this land would never be included in any white man's state.
Why the White Men Came
But, alas! the government was incapable of en- forcing its agreements. The white men would not keep out of a country so rich and beautiful, with streams of settlers filling Kansas on the north, Texas on the south and Colorado on the west. So in 1890, after the first opening to white settlers much of old Indian Territory was organized into Oklahoma Terri- tory and compelled to submit to white men's govern- ment.
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
An educated Indian suggested the name Okla- homa, because it meant the Land of the Red Men. Then in 1893, this part of the country, the Cherokee Outlet, or Cherokee Strip, was purchased from the Indians for $8,300,000 and was added to Oklahoma Territory. So you see, the United States had to buy our County twice. The next change came on the 16th day of September, 1893, when this country was opened for white settlers. We will next tell the story of "The Great Race."
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
CHAPTER XIII "THE GREAT RACE"
History of the Opening
In April, 1889, the first Oklahoma Lands were offered for white settlement. Following the enthusiasm aroused by that action, it was only a question of time until all the remainder of the Indian lands would be thrown open. For a long time the Cherokee nation refused to sell the lands of the Cherokee Outlet to the Federal government, but in March, 1893, Congress bought that region for the sum of about eight and a half million dollars. In August, 1893 a proclamation was issued which declared that the "Outlet" would be opened at noon on September sixteenth. Thus the way was prepared for the greatest race in American history, and probably in the history of the earth.
The Opening
As the time for the opening approached a motley, surging army of home-seekers assembled and camped all along the margin of the Cherokee Outlet on each side. A veritable melting pot of humanity composed that line. Farmers, laborers, lawyers, ministers, busi- ness men, boomers, adventurers, prospectors, gamblers, ex-convicts, plainsmen, men with banished hopes, and men with high enthusiasm-all met and mingled on a plane of equality. They had traveled to the scene of the race in a varied array of conveyances: carriages, buck-boards, buggies, prairie schooners, covered wagons, carts and ox carts, on horseback, on mules, on bicycles, even on foot. None dared cross the border ahead of time, for by so doing he would forfeit his right to a claim. Just across the line troops of the
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
United States Cavalry rode slowly back and forth, ever present sentinels to remind the excited multitude of the necessity for order.
Thousands Seek Homes
The morning of September sixteenth dawned cool and calm after the sweltering heat of summer. Nothing about the serene blue of the sky reflected the dizzy,
M
The Race for Claims.
agitated anticipation of those who waited-waited for the signal that should send them scuttling across the prairies in a mad chase for homes. Very early in the morning camps were broken, wagons loaded, last prepa- rations made, everything put in readiness for the race. Tense with excitement the orderly mob of humanity
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HISTORY OF WOODS COUNTY
formed itself into a human wall along the boundary of the coveted region. Before them stretched a gently rolling plain scorched by the glare of the summer sun- a land of tall grasses, few trees, and sweeping winds. To the eager throng of waiters it appeared a promised land indeed. Their spirits beat high with hope. Before them lay their chance, the chance of a lifetime!
Race Is Heated
As the sun swung high into the heavens and the hour of twelve drew near many members of the waiting multitude almost forgot to breathe in the intensity of their emotion and expectation. Then, suddenly, the hour was at hand. With deliberate slowness the sol- diers raised their bugles to their lips while thousands of eyes riveted upon their movements. With a shock it came, the long awaited signal; a screech of trumpets, a roar of cannon, a deafening sound of carbines along the line-and the race was on! The sound was not heard before the seething horde bolted across the border with all the raging impetus of churning flood waters suddenly released.
Onward the people dashed, away-away! Down went the grasses beneath the furious pounding of horses' hoofs. Clouds of dust swirled through the air. Protesting carriage and wagon wheels creaked under the strain put upon them by frantic drivers. Riders on horse back whizzed along on the wings of the wind. At several points railroads had pushed their lines into the Cherokee Outlet, and many claim-seekers made the memorable trip on the train. On the top of the coaches they sat, they hung on to the steps, leaned out of the windows, filled the cars until hardly breathing space was left. Madly the race progressed, each participant trying to out distance his neighbors. The heat of the
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