Wichita eagle., 1890-01-08
KINGFISHER.,
AS 1t Was in the Beginning, Is Now and
Promises TO Be in the Future.
K1NGF1sHER CITY. Ok. Jan. 6, 1Ss


look back upon the week which followed
the opening of Oklahoma, April %, 1899
as a season of much pleasure and happi
ness. 1t was a time of mixed tribula
tions, but today the people are happy il
the thought that they live in Oklahoma
and many in the Kingfsher valley. Il
is but fitting that I call attention to one
OF the very greatest events of modern
history, and one of the very greatest
spectacles of modern times. Imagine
thousands of horsemen all at one accord
charging upon this most coveted country
not counting the thousands of teams at.
tached to all sorts of vehicles. and you
Of its grandeur. The north.
erner passing for the first time
out of the boisterous wintry storms of
Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota and Michigan
into the glowing tranquility of Okla
homa cannot but today feel its spell steal
over him,
Since that event time and space seems
to have vanished. To thousands of those
to whom Kingfsher was previously a
mere name it has become a tangible
fact. The town itself is pleasantly stu
ated upon the banks of the Kingfisher
and Uncle Johns creeks, which divide
it into two portions 1t is the CONNER
clal center of one of the finest pastoral
and agricultural districts in Oklahoma: !:
yet extensive as is the town and widely
settled the district, there are young peo-
pie who can remember the time when it
was trackless plain and the Indian
sought refuge and detied tine civilized
white man. Who the first settler was
there is no record, but ii was some fifty
years ago, near the present site Of
Klngfsher City, who certainly
never dreamed of the brilliant future
that awaited Oklahoma, although its
pastoral and agricultural capabilities
were readily apparent to the eye of Don
Diego DionisIo de Penalosa, who travelled
from Santa F'e to the Arkansas river in
1862, on March 9th of that year thus de-
scribes it:
Through pleasing, peaceful and most
fertile fields, that in all the Indies of Peru
and New Spain, nor in Europe, have any
such been seen SO pleasant and delightful,
and covered with buffalo or cows of Cibola
which caused notable admiration. The
further we entered the country the greater
was the number, with many and very
beautiful rivers, marshes, and springs,
studded with luXuriant forests and fruit
trees of varions kinds, which produce most
palatable plums large and fine grapes in
great clusters and of extremely good fla
vor, like those of Spain. and even bet
ter ~
Its fertility is largely due to the many
rivers and streams with which it is
waIered. The larger rivers are the Cim-
arron, the North and South Canadian
rivers, receiving the waters of Innumer-
able minor streams and creeks. To those
conversant with the geography of the
country it will be evident that the posi-
ton of Kingtisher must eventually make
her mistress of the commerce to large
portion of Oklahoma. Kingfsher de-
rived its name from bird and being
remarkable for the flocking place of
these children of air and gracious crea-
tions of nature, surely most charming
with the flowers.
The government has reserved for land
office purposes one acre. Kingtisher will
probably be proclaimed in short time
as place for holding courts, and there
are plenty of applicants for judgeship as
well as for governor. The latter the Hon.
j. V. Admire seems to be in the lead. A
territorial government should be estab-
lished at once by congress and the coun-
try should be divided into four counties
and no more.
Today we are seriously impeded by
the defective land laws, or no laws. Our
motto is to advance Kingfisher and
transform the former camping ground of
dusky aborigines into busy, thriving
the way for the time when
Kingfisher will be found one of the larg-
est and most progressive cities in Okla
homa country.
MUNICIPAL INSTITUTIONS.
On April %, 1889, the second day after
the opening, the towns of Kingfisher
City, (or Cole Town. kingfisher, and
Lisbon was organized and divided into
wards. The first mayors and aldermen
elected are so we'll known to fame that
they need no mention bv me here. All
were wealthy and honorable first citi-
zens and the three towns have ever
lourished.
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS.
In the same year and day Messrs. Rob
erts and Admire took possession of the
anu oIilCe, diu ouuSe hOSeIS
of deeds. Po-
ice judges were selected TO
discharged the duties of that important
position. They were all attacked by two
and after an exciting chase
Town to Coletown bridge they were cap
.ured by two squaw-men. They were
detained several hours and cross-ques-
Toned, but were found to be harmless
police judges and allowed to take their
departure to hold court O. quietly tele-
graphing the police at Wichita and Kan
,as City to come down and they would
show them where they had been ''stuck !
lp'' by the ruffians. There is more Of
his.
APPEARANCE OF THE TOWN.
had large view of Kingfisher and it |
would have afforded an excellent idea of |
he appearance of the town, but Col. |
Wyatt took it for one of Maj. Wiggins' |
arge maps and carried it off. The |
treets, like those of any first class new |
own, are broad, andsrun at right angles |
With each other. They are kept in a 4
most creditable state of cleanliness. and |
aid with clay and sand. which explains |
he comparative absence of dust storms |
n summer and mud in winter. On the /
dyes of some of the foot-paths trees
ave been planted, which imparts a
,leasant and shady appearance. When I.
ull grown the trees will render the thor
ughfares agreeable promenades during
he summer. The principal streets
AYE been named very appropriately
fter some of the earlier residents OF the /
own. Thus there will be found Eagle,
ole, Marion. Roberts, Admire and Wig
.ins avenues. / have no data as to
whether any of these gentlemen are the
'roud father'of the first white child
sorn' in Kingfisher or not. There was
ne born. The principal thoroughfares are
Roberts and Main streets; the latter ex-