The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-22
0KLAh0MAnS WILL
BUILD MONUMENT
C. {. CoWles of Braman Is in
the City.
COLLECTING SOME DATA
People Want to Remember
David |. Payne.
COLLECTING SOME DATA

/ c. c. Cowles Of Braman, o. r., record
/ ing secretary of the. Payne Memorial as
sociation was in the city yesterday and
gave the Eagle some very glowing ac-
/ counts Of what the. association intends
( to co in the way of erecting monument
in memory Of David l. Payne. Ar.
Gowles has been travelling all over Kan
sas ana Oklahoma in search of data con-
corning the man whom the pioneers of
the land Of the fair God have always
held in fondest memory.
The Payne Memorial association had
its phenomenal birth in the little town of
Braman about two years ago. When
the idea Was at first advanced that a
monument should be erected in honor of
Payne there We're only few who were
seriously interested in the matter. Now
the association has members throughout
the length and breadth OF Oklahoma and
is gaining a stronger membership every
day.
The association has several plans that
its members are advancing for the pur-
pose Of raising the required amount for
the tftttIDA OF llleN monument. MT.
Cowles says that they will not stop short
Of a $25.400 statue and the greater portion
of this money the association expects to
secure through the sale of Captain
Paynes pictures. which are now being
sold at very satisfactory rate In ad-
dition to this, they Will ask the legisla-
ture Of Oklahoma to appropriate what
ever they think should be given to the
work
The place of putting the monument has
not been selected as yet. 1t is the opinion
Of Mr.. Cowles, however. that it will be
erected in some central point or wherever
the association can secure the largest
bonus 1t is thought that this is very
feasible plan for raising the remainder
Of the money should any amount be re-
CURED for completing the structure.
Guthrie is considered u plausible loca-
ton owing 10 the fact that it is the
capital of the territory Oklahoma City
is also good place and Saltwater is stiu
another place favorably thought of. Still
water is he county seat of Payne coun-
~, which was named after the venerable
pioneer. For this reason that town is
considered among the best locations and
if it goes after the proposition in the
right way it viii probably be successful
in getting the monument.
In connection with Captain David L.
Payne there is quite 4 history His life
was one filled with high ambitions and
brilliant dreams He was not a dreamer,
however, in the full sense of the word,
for he saw many of his schemes bloom
out and eliminate into triumphant glory.
Captain Payne first conceived the idea
of settling oklahoma when he was door
keeper in the lower house of congress.
When IN that position he discovered that
there was in existence a law making Ok
lahoma subject to homestead entries.
With this knowledge he returned to his
home in this state and formed a COM
pany to settle in various portions of the
territory.
The first settlement was made at Rock
Falls. in what is now Kay county and
which is about three miles from the pres
ent site of Braman. Here Captain Payne
and his colony of zoo people started
town They built several houses. opened
business places, erected brush shelters
for a place of worship and made numer
Gus improvements on the townsite. There
was also a newspaper established. called
liit W I'll 0llit-. HA4ANiA heNo ~a'NNN' -
CAPTAIN Payne This paper was pub
lished for the purpose Of disseminating
the truth about the matter of opening
Oklahoma to settlement. In August. 1887,
the printing press was destroyed and the
War Chief was never published after
that time.
on divers occasions United States sol
diers raided Captain Paynes camps, but
he and his people were never discouraged
in the least It is said by those who
knew him that he was an inspiration to
his people. He was generous and kind
hearted Ia the presence Of his com
pany he was a power
\ number OF times ne was tied with
rope and led like a brute from Rock
Falls to Texas by negro soldiers. Each
time he went like captive, bat returned
To his people in true hero style. once
when he was taken in this inhuman way
several Of the colored soldiers wept for
CAPTAIN Payne. When the generous
snirited soldiers saw this. he said. sol
diers. YOU must do your duty. You may
feel the pangs Of pity. but you cannot
afford 10 turn me loose. You owe your
country this much loyalty. And, it IS
said that throughout his life he always
showed this tenderness and common sense
Tes,t what is 10 be regretted by his NUM-
eruus friends IS the fact that he never
lived 10 see the land which he loved so
wen opened to settlement He did live
20 see. however. the decision handed down
by the supreme court Of the United states
in regard to The homestead Law. in favor
~ which he had argued for years
lie was truly soldier. statesman, pa
,-iot and martyr. He fought for his coun-
try In the sixties IS mere boz, had q
seat IL, the Kansas legislature when only
a vounr man and died breathing beau
tifaI sentiments for the land Il The fair
COD when in TIE midst Il manhood and
yf-3r one OF his sayings which Is no"
printed IN bold type IN many ok'ahoraa
rev-spauerS ard especially displayed N
che letter heads Of the memorial associ-
o-io7 is. The bouudless spirit q the
oklahoma boomer goes marching On for
ever. IL viii never stop.
Dr.. Cheroworth OF wellington who was