Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-03-09
Oklahoma Monuments.

Few people in Oklahoma have forgot
ten Col. David L. Payne. However.
lest they forget. Senator Campbell has
introduced in the Oklahoma legislature
a measure which has for its object the
erection of a monument commemorate
ing the deeds 'of that worthy man. He
was the original Oklahoman, says \
Guthrie correspondent of the st Louis
be-Ddemocrat. He started the agi-
tation which finally forced the United
States government to open Oklahoma to
settlement. He accomplished this by
leading numerous raids of boomers into
the territory, then q part of Indian
Territory, now Oklahoma. After the
Indians relinquished their title to the
lands in 1866. Payne considered it Cow
eminent land, open to settlement, and
claimed that the cattlemen who We're
holding it under pretense of a lease
from the red men and We're making one
big pasture of it We're occupying it
wrongfully.
After years of hardship and persist
ent endeavor Payne forced the govern
ment to recognize the rightfulness of
his claim and as a result the Land of
the Fair God is now dotted with farm
houses and prosperous cities. Its fine,
broad acres, once trod by herds of cat
tie and inuring to the benefit of only a
few now produce the wealth which
makes 100000 people happy. The land
on which only fourteen years ago were
a few ranchhouses is now filed with
prosperous homes and contented fire.
sides.
Payne organized his first expedition
of boomers in Wichita, Kan. in 1880. 1t
consisted of between 800 and AGO men.
who We're not soldiers of fortune, but
bona fide homeseekers. They made their
first camp in Oklahoma at Rock Falls,
Just across the line from Hunnewell,
Kansas. They paused there a few days
only, when they proceeded to what is
now Oklahoma county. and Payne
staked off the first claim, six miles
from the present site of Oklahoma City
There they remained about six months,
, breaking the sod and improving the
claims on which they had squatted
They intended to make their permanent
homes there, but the cattle barons OBJ
jected so strenuously that the govern
ment was induced to send in troops
and eject the boomers. They were ar
rested on the charge of melting insur-
rection. but We're never tried. They We're
released as soon as they were beyond
the border of Oklahoma. No sooner
/ were they free than they banded them
! selves together again and soon after
ward again entered Oklahoma. This
time they were located at what is now
Saltwater. in Payne county, named for
the bold homeSeeker. They were all
lowed to remain there but few months
being again elected by the soldiery.
This performance was repeated time
after time. Payne having led not less
than eleven expeditions into Oklahoma.
His forces augmented each time.
The last time Payne came into Okla
homa he was followed by 1900 men. His
career was ended at Wellington. Kan
sas, in April 1884, whe he dropped dead
of heart disease. He is buried there.
| Payne's work was taken up by his
chief lieutenant, Capt. Crouch, who was
so persistent in making raids that the
government saw the only way to end
the trouble was to open the land to set
| tlement.
| Oklahoma therefore, owes David l.
Payne a great debt which the people
will be glad to partly repay. at least.
! in the erection of monument to his
memory Like Homer dead. seven
cities claimed, there are several cities
! in the territory which desire the mon
unaent of Payne to be located within
their respective borders. The Campbell
bill locates it at Oklahoma City, but
Blackwell. Saltwater, Enid. kingfisher
and several others believe they are en-
titled to it.