Oklahoma,
Is a Territory of the
United States of America, formed in 1890 from the western part of
Indian Territory and the
Public Land strip, or No Man's Land, a strip 167 1/2 miles long and 34 1/2 miles wide, lying north of
Texas and west of long.
100°.
Oklahoma is bounded on the north by
Kansas and
Colorado, east by
Indian Territory, south by
Texas, and west by
Texas and
New Mexico.
Area, 39,030 square miles.
Population, 1890, 61,834; 1900, 398,331.
Capital,
Guthrie.
No Man's Land ceded to the
United States by
Texas......Nov. 25, 1850
Extensive scheme organized to take possession of the portion of
Oklahoma not occupied by
Indians, and parties from
Missouri and
Texas enter the
Territory, but are ordered removed by proclamation of
President Hayes......April 26, 1879
Second proclamation to prevent settlement in
Oklahoma......Feb. 12, 1880
Expedition under
David L. Payne—who had organized in
Kansas the Oklahoma Town Company and the
Southwest Colony —with twenty-five men, enter the
Territory and begin the settlement of the town of
Ewing, but within three weeks they are arrested by United States troops and imprisoned......1880
Payne enters
Oklahoma with a colony of 600 men, women, and children, and founds the town of
Rock Falls......May, 1884
Under proclamation by
President Arthur, July 1, the settlement at
Rock Falls is broken up by United States troops......August, 1884
Many armed men under
W. L. Couch encamp at
Stillwater on the Cimmaron River and defy the military......December, 1884
Couch and his forces surrender to the United States troops, and are marched across the
Kansas line and arrested under federal warrants......Jan. 27, 1885
Inhabitants of No Man's Land organize the
Territory of Cimmaron, not recognized by Congress......1886
Delegates of Creek nation meet in
Washington Jan. 19, and cede the western half of their domain for $2,280,857.10; ratified by the
Creek council Jan. 31, by Congress......March 1, 1889
Seminoles execute a release and conveyance of their lands ceded by treaty in 1866......March 16, 1889
Oklahoma opened for settlement by proclamation of
President Harrison, March 27, to take effect at noon, April 22.
During the afternoon of this day 50,000 or more settlers, encamped on the borders of the
Territory, enter and locate......April 22, 1889
First bank in
Guthrie opened in a tent with a capital of $50,000......April 22, 1889
An attempt to form a provisional government for
Oklahoma fails.
Convention meets at
Guthrie......May 22, 1889
Proclamation of the
President against the occupation of the
Cherokee strip......Feb. 17, 1890
Many “boomers” invade the
Cherokee strip......March 23, 1890
George W. Steele appointed first governor......May, 1890
President Harrison signs act creating
Territory of Oklahoma......May 2, 1890
First election held for representative-atlarge......Aug. 5, 1890
Congress appropriates $47,000 for the relief of destitute persons in the
Territory......Aug. 8, 1890
Milton W. Reynolds, Republican, elected representative-at-large, dies from overexertion during the canvass......Aug. 9, 1890
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493]
First meeting of the legislature at
Guthrie......Aug. 27, 1890
Santa Fe and
Rock Island Railroad companies bring into the
Territory and loan to the needy farmers, without interest, 25,000 bushels of seed wheat......1890
Agricultural College founded in
Payne county; a normal school located at Edmond if the people give it $5,000 and 40 acres of land; a territorial university located at
Norman, Cleveland county; public schools established; Australian ballot system introduced; legislature adjourns......Dec. 24, 1890
Cherokee strip closed to whites by order of
President......Aug. 13, 1891
New Indian lands in
Oklahoma (about 300,000 acres) opened for settlement......Sept. 22, 1891
Resignation of
Governor Steele accepted by
President Harrison......Oct. 18, 1891
Statehood convention meets at
Oklahoma City......Dec. 15, 1891
State Agricultural College at
Stillwater opened......Dec. 15, 1891
Proclamation of the
President, April 12, opens to settlement
Cheyenne and
Arapahoe Indian lands from......April 19, 1892
The Kansas civil code adopted in its entirety......1893
Territorial convention of negroes held at
Guthrie......April, 1893
Cherokee outlet, or strip, about 9,409 square miles, was ceded to the
United States by the Cherokees, May 19, 1893; the
United States paying $8,300,000 in five annual instalments, beginning March 4, 1875, interest 4 per cent. on deferred payments, besides paying $300,000 to the Cherokees at once, and $110,000 to other tribes, making in all about $8,710,000. By proclamation of the
President, Aug. 23, the strip was opened at noon......Sept. 16, 1893
[It is estimated that 100,000 people had gathered on the boundary-line awaiting the opening.]
Tonkawa and
Pawnee reservations opened to settlement......Sept. 16, 1893
Cyclone at
Chandler, thirty-five killed and injured......March 30, 1897
Flood at
Guthrie, great loss of life......April 28, 1897
Geological survey begun......1900
Free homes bill passed by Congress......May 14, 1900
Memorial service in honor of
David L. Payne, “the original
Oklahoma boomer,” held at
Blackwell......Nov. 19, 1900
Tornado destroying many lives and much property......June 8, 1901
Proclamation by
President McKinley opening certain Indian reservations to settlers on Aug. 6, 1901......July 7, 1901
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