Drought and financial depression
made claiming land a dream come true in the inviting Oklahoma Territory. Women
were allowed to claim land as long as they were single or widowed, and at least
twenty-one-years of age. African Americans also saw this land run as an
opportunity and rushed into the area. Native peoples, however, were legally
forbidden from staking claims.
Woman staking claim in 1889 Oklahoma.
When the first Oklahoma Land Run was announced in 1889, people had only ONE MONTH to prepare! Imagine learning of this and scrambling to take advantage of this. There was no guarantee that you'd get anything if you waited on the border on April 22. At noon the gun, boomed and you would have ridden out amidst thousands of others who probably wanted the same land that you do...
Waiting for the 1889 land run to start.
My latest book is a part of a series that focuses on the white settlement of Oklahoma--specifically the land runs. Interesting history! Now, add in romance and mail-order brides. A winner!!
4/8/5 Stars on Amazon (after 44 ratings!)
He
wants her, needs her. But, will he ever find a way to express his emotions to
her?
Michael Brewster needs a wife as he sets up a new business. That’s all! No
complications or tender feelings will soften his hard heart or get in the way
of his plans to build an empire.
Hetty Fields arrives by train on the very day of the first Oklahoma Land Run.
She’s a day late, upsetting her groom's perfect schedule. Add to that, she does
something to him that threatens to awaken his sleeping emotions. And then he
sees the baby…
Why didn’t she warn him about the baby? How can he want a woman he doesn’t
entirely trust?
If you enjoy sweet romance set against historical events with light suspense,
this book is one for you to read!
Every year since the end of
the Civil War, Americans celebrate the lives that were lost in war.
The practice of strewing
flowers on the graves of those lost to battle started centuries ago in
early Rome. The practice continued in parts of Europe. With so many dead as a
result of the Civil War, and with so many buried in less-than-ideal situations,
the desire to pay tribute to those who gave their all.
General John Logan
With
his General Order Number 11, dated May 5, 1868, General John Logan called for a
nationwide observance which would be known as Decoration Day. It
was first observed nationally on May 30, 1868.
The
objective was “for
the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise
decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during
the late rebellion.” In addition to the decoration of graves, Decoration Day
was also to be observed with “fitting services and testimonials of respect as
circumstances may permit.”
May 30, 1873 Decoration Day at the Old Amphitheater at Arlington Cemetery President Ulysses S. Grant and General John Logan
Veterans
and their loved ones, as well as widows, orphans, and other bereaved, responded
with great enthusiasm. That year, 183 cemeteries in 27 states celebrated
Decoration Day, and observance only grew in the years that followed.
General
James Garfield (not yet president) gave a speech at Arlington National Cemetery
with other generals. During the observance, 20,000 graves of Union and
Confederate soldiers were decorated.
Fort
Stevens near Washington D.C. had a small cemetery with 40 soldiers buried
there. One of the soldiers buried was the son of a widow who lost three sons to
the war. She laid 40 wreaths on 40 graves during that first Decoration Day.
At
City Hall in Washington D.C., a laurel wreath was placed on the head of the
Lincoln statue.
The
Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati lined the route to the cemetery with
half-mast flags. Floral wreaths were laid on the graves of soldiers and
speeches were given.
By
1890, all the northern states had made it an official state holiday.
The
South didn’t celebrate Logan’s Decoration Day until after World War I, when the
holiday shifted from honoring Civil War dead to honoring the American dead of
all wars. Instead, Southerners paid tribute to their Confederate dead locally
on days throughout spring and early summer.
Prior
to 1868, the first Decoration Day was celebrated—unofficially and largely
unrecognized until recently. To read an in-depth discussion of what is often
considered the first Decoration Day—an event that was celebrated in the South,
please CLICK HERE.
The
celebration of Decoration Day grew to remember all those who sacrificed their
lives for their country.
Eventually,
the day became Memorial Day, and it was celebrated on May 30 until Congress
passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1968.
Since
1971, Memorial Day has been celebrated on the last Monday of May.
My post was late today because I was busy meeting a
book upload deadline. Joshua’s Bride, the first book in
the Land Run Mail Order Brides series is currently on pre-order and scheduled
for release on June 3, 2022.
Have you ever been in love with a place? Maybe love is not the right word, but I have a deep fascination for Guthrie, Oklahoma. To prove my love, I will give away one copy of A RUN FOR LOVE and one copy of A WIFE BY CHRISTMAS to two lucky commenters.
Although I was a history major in college in New Jersey, somehow I missed the story of the Oklahoma Land Run. In most of my classes, my professors seemed more interested in bouncing from one war to the next. I guess that’s what happens when you have mostly males teaching history. A little over four years ago, when we settled in Oklahoma, I took a job in the Archives Division of the Oklahoma State Library. It was there I learned about the Land Run. I researched it, and read everything I could get my hands on. The story of these brave men and women who left places they were familiar with, to race with thousands of others to get a piece of land, captivated me.
Oklahoma Land Run
In my research, I discovered two main cities resulted from the Run. One was Oklahoma City—the present capital of Oklahoma, and the other was Guthrie, which was the Territorial Capital. Once Oklahoma became a state, the capital was moved. While I researched this amazing piece of Americana, the idea for a romance novel grew. Eventually, I had to find a way to stop the voices in my head, so my fingers hit the keyboard, and the story of Tori and Jesse ensued. Once A RUN FOR LOVE was completed, I decided to write a story about another character in that book, and A WIFE BY CHRISTMAS told the tale of the youngest niece, Ellie.
Before I started A WIFE BY CHRISTMAS, I took the forty minute ride from my house to Guthrie−camera, pen, and paper in hand. I was enthralled. You can see from the pictures that Guthrie has kept a lot of the old buildings. Some of them date back to the year of the Land Run.
On April 22nd, 1889−a bright, sunny day−thousands of men, women and children circled Oklahoma Territory (formerly Unassigned Lands), and waited for the bugles to blow, and the cannons to roar. Precisely at noon, the race began. The land-hungry pioneers raced on horseback, in wagons, on bicycle, and some even on foot. The area was so immense that not too long after the race began, the runners had disappeared. Some never saw another soul until they claimed their land. Of course, nothing is perfect, and the race had its cheaters−dubbed “Sooners.” These claimants snuck into the territory before the official start of the race. Some uncaught Sooners waited until the homesteaders nearly arrived, and jumped onto their horses and rode until the animals were sweating and out of breath, making it seem as though they had just arrived. Another Sooner was already living there with a plowed garden and onions sprouting several inches high! Years of lawsuits followed the Run, straightening out titles to land that had been illegally claimed.
Guthrie, Oklahoma after land run 1889
Guthrie started that day with zero population and a tiny train station, and ended with more than ten thousand people living in tents. By the end of the first week, buildings had already been erected, and a thriving town established.
Guthrie retains early aura
Guthrie today has kept its small town flavor. I recently attended the 89er Celebration−the anniversary of the Land Run. Lots of activities were scheduled−a rodeo, chuck wagon feast, old time baseball game, and a parade. People from all over the state descended on Guthrie to honor the men and women of the Land Run. The many antique stores did a booming business.
Guthrie utilizes early buildings
A couple of weeks ago, I typed the words “The End” on the manuscript for A PRESCRIPTION FOR LOVE, the story of the oldest nephew (Michael) in A RUN FOR LOVE. At least two more stories are planned. Writing about Michael, a pharmacist, drew me to the drug store museum in Guthrie. Another trip to that town produced the pictures indicating the early nineteenth century pharmacy was well stocked with medicines, some good, some questionable.
Old-fashioned drug store still in Guthrie
I hope you enjoyed this little bit of history that I find so fascinating, and the pictures showcasing the town one hundred and twenty-three years after horses thundered over the plains, carrying riders full of hope and dreams.
Buy link for A RUN FOR LOVE: http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/a-run-for-love/
