The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1904-03-26

Memorial Society is
Seeking Datato Per-
petuate Founder S
Memory

c. c. Cowles. of Braman. Okla. re-
cording secretary Of the Payne Mem
orial association. IS now touring Okla
homa and Kansas in search of data
concerning David l.. Payne, the orig
.inal Oklahoma boomer whom the
pioneers OF this territory have always
held In fonjest memory.
The birth Of the Payne Memorial as
ISOLATION took place in the little town
df Braman, Kay county. about two
years ago. The purpose of the asso-
citation is TO erect a monument in
honor OF Payne
Few there we're who seriously con
sidered this matter when the asso-
citation was formed. yet today. the as
soclaton has members in nearly every
county in Oklahoma and is gaining a
stronger membership every day. The
stau il is expected will cost nearly
$4,000 and the greater portion Of this
money the association expects to Sc
cure through the sale cd Captain
Payne's pictures, which are now be
ing sold al a very sa isfactory rate
lt has also been suggested that the
next legislature be petit.oned to ap-
proprlate whatever sum the law mal1-
ers think should be given o the work
There are other plans that the mem
bers OF the association are advancing
fer the purpose of raising the required
amount for the erection of the monu-
ment Il has no. been decided where
the monument will be erected. It is
the opinion of Mr. Cowles however,
that It will be in some central point
cr wherever the association can Sc
cure the larges bonus This 1t is
thought by the officers of the asso-
citation, to be a very feasible plan
for raising the remainder of the
amount should any amount be requir-
ed for completing the structure Gu h.
rie is considered a plausible location,
oN ine to the fact that this city Is the
capital of the territory. Oklahoma
City and Saltwater are also being
considered Sullwa'er is the cOun
VI seat of Payne county, which was
named after the venerable pioneer.
For THIS reason tha. town is consider
ed among the best locations and
should it go after the proposition in
the right way It will probably be sue
Ioessml in getting the monumen.
In connection with Captain David
I l. Payne there is quite a history His
life was one filled with high ambitions
and brilliant dreams He was not a
dreamer in the fun sense Of the word
for he saw many of his schemes bloom
/ GU and cuminate into triumphant
glory. He was termed the original
IOllahoma boomer" because OF his per
sistent efforts to invade the territory
and establish a residence here before
the country was thrown open to set
Element.
Captain Payne first conceived the
idea Of settling Oklahoma when he
was door keeper in the lower house
Of congress. While serving In that
position he discovered that there was
in existence a law making Oklahoma
subject 10 homes'e entries. With
this knowledge he neturned to his
home in Kansas and formed a country
to settle in various portions Of the
territory.
II was the opinion q Captain Payne
and a large majority Of the members
Of the company that by the terms OF
the treaty Of 1866 made by the Greek
and Seminole indians ceding the west
en por ion of their reservations. in,
Guiding Oklahoma TO the government
these lands, which had actually been