Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-08-24
PIONEERS ARE COMING.
Two Young COOksvlIIe Farmers Start
for the Southwest to Stake Out
Claim

A canvas-c0vered farm wagon
drawn by team of young mules
came slowly meandering into towr
from the northeast shortly aftel
noon Tuesday. 1t was an outfi
calculated to recall pictures of pio,
neer dAys-days when long cara
vans of such wagons wound theil
serpentine trail toward the west
bearing the race of pioneers who
made the trans-Mississippi wilder
ness blossom like a rose. Upon
this particular wagon was no BAN
ner with kansas or bustl" to de-
note its destination, but it was in
fact belated representation of the
emigrant trains of thirty years ago.
Inside the wagon sat Noah Moo
nav and Lou Swigart, two husky
young farm hands who had been
wringing a little money and good
deal of rugged health out of Nc
Lean county soil by working for
the land owners near Cooksville.
Being filed with the spirit of sd-
venture and daring they concluded
to try a hazard of new fortunes in
the southwest, and that's why
they were aboard their "prairie
schooner" in Bloomington Tues
day, where a strip of new land is
to be opened up TO settlers in the
fall. Neither Moomaw nor Swi-
CART is a native of this county.
The former came from Shenandoah
valley of Virginia, and the latter
from an Ohio farm. Each is about
% years of age, and brawny look
ing specimen of humanity. They
have worked on farms near Cooks
vile for few years, and are now
ready to try it for themselves in a
country where land is less than
800 an acre.
PLENTY OF SUPPLIES.
The wagon in which the young
fellows expect TO drive to the In
dian Territory is well stocked with
substantials for food, but no knick-
knacks. They carry good sup
ply of fire. arms and ammunition,
and expect to furnish their own
fresh meat by shooting game on
their trip across Missouri and Kan
sas. They will do their own cook
ing, camp on the road and 60 the
Quincy in regular '49er style. The
trip from Bloomington to their
is about 800 miles as
the crow flies. By making about
thirty miles a day, they hope to
cover the distance in six weeks.
Their objective point is Oswego, a
town in Labette county, Kansas,
Just over the line north of the
Cherokee nation, where the new
land is to be opened on which
they hope to stake a claim.
Moomaw and Swigart spent the
afternoon in Bloomington, laying
in food supplies, buying maps and
planning the general route for
heir journey. Their plans are
not very well matured after their
arrival on the edge Of the new ter
-itory, but they will act according
10 circumstances after they reach
he border land.
Dan McCullom, another young
arm hand from near Cooksville,
expects to join the pair, going
lown by train and reaching them
by the time the new land is
brown open. The young fellows
nope to stake out a claim and
spend the winter there, so as to be
'eady for putting IN their first crop |
lext spring.
A FINE SUMNER OUTING.
If fol any reason they conclude
lot to locate in the territory, they
Will make the return journey in
heir wagon, having at least en-
Dyed a novel and health-giving
outing. They are, how
'ver, both very sanguine of squat
ing" on a piece of ground that
will prove a valuable farm in fu-
ure years.
These two young men were in
luced to make their venture
argely through conversations
which they have had at various
ines with George Hensley, well
.nOwn farmer near Cooksville.
1ensley went to Oklahoma in 1890
nd staked 100 acres near King
sher, which now brings him a
ood income.
1t is said there will be several
arties of young farmers from Me-
'ean county going to the territory
his fall. Already one or two par
.es have been made up in the
icinity of Leroy.-BlOomington
antagraph.
An Awful Mistake.
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