The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-06
FERGUSON TO
BE THE ORATOR
AT WAT0NGA
At the Big University CeIe-
bration of That City.
TO BE A GRAND EVENT
People From All Over 0kIaho-
ma VIII be Present

Watonga, Q. T., April a-Ihe people CT
Governor Ferguson home town are max
ing extensive preparations 10 celebrate
the anniversary Of the opening OF the
Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indian country
TO settlement. This VIII be the first csle-
bration of its kind ever held in western
Oklahoma, and at once commands the at
tention Of every man owning property in
the prosperous country west Of the Rock
Island railroad.
One of the central events of the ccle-
bration viii he the address TO be deliv-
cred by Governor Ferguson o. Saturday
afternoon. the 18th. on the 18th there viii
be plenty Of events TO amuse the visitor.
and from all Indications Watoaga viii be
filed 10 overfowing with people on those
TWO days. The railroads have made a
low rate for the occasion. and already
people for miles around are making ar
rsngements to attend this celebration.
One Of the features viii be an oid-fash-
toned Indian dance. The Indians around
this city. that is the majority OF them.
still cling 10 the old customs. and their
dances viii be given with the old spirit
With the advent OF two railroads. the
Rock Island and the Choctaw Northern.
Watonga, the capital Of Blaine county.
made sudden leap TO the front. For
years her people struggled along in the
remote county seat town. waiting until
the next day to receive the news OF the
world around them. Streets laid of in
the regulation style, without sidewalks,
with holes for the reception Of rain water
during rain storms. implanted wooden
4
sent a metropolitan appearance 10 the
visitor who made drives overland to tran
sact business with the merchants or visit
with friends and relatives. Watonga
in its present growth. has passed the
frame building stage Another era has
dawned and it is that of substantial
brick building time. Already big brick
blocks. the heralds Of substantial growth
have been erected. and there ara yet
others to come. The two banks. evidences
Of commercial prosperity. are now loca-
ted in new homes, both constructed OF
brick and finished in the cement for which
the "gyp hills will become famous.
One of. the landmarks Of the town is
Governor Ferguson's Watonga Republican
office. 1t was in this frame building that
the present governor of Oklahoma had
his struggle for the daily bread for him
self and family. That he has succeeded
is only evident when one talks with the
friends and neighbors or Tom" Fergu-
son in Blaine county. In his home town
he is honored for his strict integrity and
moral worth. and it will take much
searching to find man or woman who
has aught to say of Governor Ferguson
other than words Of praise His home.
recently built, IS at once the pride Of
Watonga.It stands in fine portion of the
town. and is Immediately pointed out TO
the visitor as the finest residence in
Blaine county. It is structure which
would be a credit 70 metropolitan Guth-
RE. and the citizens Of watonga rejoice
in the fact that it will remain with them
as an evidence OF the time when Ton
Ferguson was one Of them. active in
looking after the interests Of the growing
town. In his home life he did not hest
tate TO censure what he thought was not
right. and when It came 10 q matter OF
politics there were none quicker than he
to grasp the situation and begin work on
it. His companions Of earlier days in
speaking OF him 10 strangers talk Of Gov
p
postomice or dry goods store he Is spoken
Of as Tom" and Tom Ferguson VIII
he always remain to his friends in Wa
tonga.
Ten years have wrought wonderful
changes ia Blaine county It was then
the home OF the Indian; unbroken. crude
and fit for the civlIizing forces Of the
white man. II was here that the white
man came VINO. tired Of living n older
states. had desire 20 own his own prop
erty and BE- his own boss" doing what
he pleased. and rich fn the idea that by
proper development his owning would in-
crease in value as the Years passed by
The early settler IN the Cheyenne and
Arapshoe country was generally a man
without means. II took man with stay
ing qualities and the ability % make the
almighty dollar last long time 20 make
a success Of life in the western country.
As an evidence Of the fact that the peo-
pie of this country are hustlers. il can -
safely said that nine-tenths q che popu-
lation o. the former Indian c0uutrv oRn
their farms snd homes. The "hoo1aer.
when be landed On hls farm. generally
staid. What money he had was invested
IN n home. Re expected r. make enough
money &c the years allotted hin hy fhe
government 70 Day for his farm. 70 take
up his indehtsdness. A a general thing.
be was successful. ard there are set ses-
eral Thousand acres ~ land owned bv fha
resiserts of Blaine coortv. and ether
counties as vel. 81 this section q che
country which were houestsaded So sheir
present owners. sfauy ~ the farmers ~
the western country are eiacstad- In
fact e majority e them have 2 knowl-
edse ~ the more intricate thiaFs ~ Efe
This g. co1tiaaal surprise 20 rae eass-
erner. for when the western farmer Is
called to higher things he i capable 81
takinE held aad making 3 s1cc~ss 60 ihc
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