The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-08-07

Lucy. Neb., Aug. 6.--At,er fighting
for four years with shotgun and ,c.
Iolyer to protect her homestead from
claimjumpers, Mrs. Vera Taylor, "a
woman homesteadcr. living near this
town, has gone to Washing.on to lay
her case before the onic.a', of The
general land office.
She has fought her case hrouZh
the local courts. through the district
land office and into the general land
office, and in order TO obtain Justice
and retain possession of the home
stead upon which she has lived for
seven years, she has gone TO Wash.
ington to lay her case before the
fountain head of the rules governing
the homesteading of land.
Seven years ago Mrs. Taylor came
from Omaha and took uu a home
stead under the Kinkaid laws. which
permit the homcsteading of Giu acres
OF land of a certain character She
was unused to farm work and learned
only by bitter experience the ways
Of farm life. During the first year
she had six work horses to die She
had little cash to start with and the
death Of horse after horse, and the
necessity of replacing each one, cut
a deep hole in her funds.
But she persevered and eventually
was winning out" when 5 ]. Mar
tin filed a contest on her homestead,
and under provision of the land laws
laid claim to 320 acres Of her $40
acre farm. And that portion claimed
by Martin contained the very best
land-in fact. contained all the till
able acres of the homestead
Mrs. Taylor protested anI Martin
only laughed. I'm strictly within
my rights. I'll get that farm he.
said.
well, YOU won't" answered ,le
little woman. 81
She Wins First Round.
Martin took his case to the local
land office and won IA decision. But
before he had an opportunity to prof,
it thereby, Mrs. Taylor secured an in
junction and filed motion for a re-
a In rnh ..,V.i,,
concluded, Mrs. Taylor was given the
decision.
For a year or more nothing was
heard of Martin regarding the case
But in that time Mrs. Taylor had
several brushes with boisterous
boys and cattle men. who resented
her appropriation of a rortion of their
range. and who were determined that
no farmers should settle in that vlcin-
ity.
But with the aid of a Winchester
rifle and her ever ready revolver and
steady nerve, Mrs. Taylor kept right
on living on her homestead, and was
finally permitted to live in peace.
But two years ago Martin resurrect- /
ed his old claim, and asked the local
land office for a rehearing of his case.
This was given. and before Mrs Tay-
lor had gathered her forces of de
tense. Martin had secured a second
decision from the land office.
Mrs. Taylor Immediately asked a re
nearing, but Martin, within his de-
'ision, ignored the appeal, and started
o take possession of the disputed ,
and ,
One afternoon Martin and a survey ,
n drove up to Mrs. Tdylor's farm. J
limbed out Of their rig and the sur
eyOr unslung his instrument prep Q
ratory to making survey of the dis
uted property.
Before he got to work Mrs. Taylor
trolled down from the house. y
What do YOU want here?" she de. c
handed.
This is my property and we are
ding to survey it," answered Martin. F
NO, you are not" firmly said little a
Lrs. Taylor. You are going to move -
list as fast as you can" Saying which g
le suddenly produced from the folds
her dress a big Colts revolver and
)vered Martin.
AS a result, the two men left the a,
1mestead, Martin swearing that he T
ould return with an officer and run CT
e desired lines. ..
He was as good as his word and
2 next morning, accompanied by the
ryeyor and the sheriff of the coun- g.