The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-04-25
BOOMERS AT SEWARD
Old Timers Decide to Honor Memory
of Payne.

Seward, O. T, April 24.-The reunion Of
the old-time Payne boomers, and the old
/ settlers generally, which was held here
Monday, was great success. A great
many people from far and near gathered
under the shade Of those fine oaks to hear
an address delivered by the following
| boomers and old settlers Judge Mock Of
Guthrie, Mr.. Cameron of Guthrie. ICY
clone Walker of Columbia, and Captain
| George Cooper Of Seward. who was one
of Paynes steadfast friends and CO
workers booming the opening Of Okla
! homa for settlement.
Captain Cooper was elected president
of the Payne Memorial association A
committee was appointed to visit the
towns of Oklahoma and to raise funds
for the erection of e monument to Okla
homa's hero. A short biography of Cap
tain David G. Payne. rendered, was IN
part as follows:
Captain David G. Payne was born on
farm in Grant county. Indiana, December
80. 1895, and lived there until the spring
of 1855 In that year, being then a little
over 81, he starteu west to hight the Nor
mons, who were at that time very trou-
blesome. He got as Iar as DOniphan
county. Kansas, and there found the ex-
citement was over. It was there he join
ed the Free Soil party. Being very fond
Of frontier life and daring. he enlisted as
a private in 1851 in the Seventh Kansas.
After three months of hard fighting he
became promoted to captain OF Company
T. In 1860 he was honorably discharged
at Fort LeavenwOrth with the rank of
major After this he went out west with
Kit Carson to fight Indians. and was af-
forwards known as the Cinnamon
Scout" During the year Custer was kill
ed he was in the Blac-- Hills prospecting.
1t was there he first form me ac-
quaintance Of Captain George Cooper,
who Afterwards became vice president of
the Payne Oklahoma Boomers associa-
ton The man who talks with any OF the
old boomers VIII be told that David @.
Payne first heard about the government
title to Oklahoma while doorkeeper IN
Washington in 1876, and thought about
the matter with more or less frequency
and Indifference until while living on a
ranch in Sedgwick county. Kansas. near
Wichita he was elected to the legisla-
ture. Then he determined to make
fortune in obtaining a homestead in ok
lahoma, the land where the milk and
honey flowed. The first organized band
of raiders to invade Oklahoma and TO try
TO omen it for settlement left Arkansas
City. April go 1880 This first company
was thirteen strong. with officers as fol-
lows. President, David @. PAYNE; vice
president. Mr.. clzlehurger; treasurer, Geo.
Cooper. and yVfcks. surveyor. They came
as far south as Fort Russell on the Gin
arron There they were captured and
taken out by the United States soldiers.
Payne while sitting at ,--e breakfast table
in Wellington. Kan, December Z. 1854.
suddenly expired. He died as he had
lived. booming the opening OF Oklahoma
and fighting the cattlemen- Others may
have felt as much interest in the open
ing Of Oklahoma to settlement as Can
tain Payne. but certainly none others
have devoted as much time and energy
To the accomplishment Of this work as
he He began the movement at a time
when it was very unpopular, hence ne
was the object Of very much unfaTarahie
criticism and abuse; but he did not allow
this 20 daunt him and continued 10 sur
round himself with class Of followers
who had the nerve 10 stand for their
rientz. Assisted by these he continued
lighting. and just as victory vas about
10 perch upon his shoulders he was SUM-
rnored 10 that land where peer aad peas
ant alike stand on aa eaiai footing