April 22, 1889, was one of those days which divided history IT would be difficult to find another single day's event which more strikingly reflected the end of the Old West in Oklahoam. As William Watson, John Watson, , Charley A Cobbler and Martin L. Cobler was living in Winfield,Kansas at this time it is safe to assume they were with what was called the Winfield group. In early April, a large number of Winfield and Cowley County, Kansas, men had hired N. A. Haight to go to Guthrie station and survey off a town plat. The soldiers at the station however, refused to let Haight get off the train, and he was forced to draw up a plat based on his view of the location from the train and from notes made where he had helped survey the area in 1873. Some 200 members of the group each contibuted ten dollars to defray expenses, and each was permitted to select a lot from the plat in the order that their fee had been paid. A minister felt the call to distribute religious literature to the wagons as they struggled through the thick mud in leaving. When he offered a printed piece to one sweating, swearing driver, he was told none-too-politely to keep it. "My friend," the reverend asked, "don't you want to go to Heaven?" "That's just where I'm headed." the driver answered with a crack of his whip. "And if I can cross the Cimarron, I'm bound to get thar." For years the small corps of destitute families had clung to the southern border of Kansas, clustering in makeshift camps on the outskirts of Caldwell, Winfield, Hunnewell and Arkansas City. These were the impoverished loyalists who had followed Payne and Couch on their excursions into the forbidden country. They had endured the privations, the hardships, and the forced hands of the military. For almost ten years now they, or others like them, had waited for the day when the govenment would allow them to cross the border and settle on what they had long contended was free public land. From our families history some of our ancestors rode horse-back into Oklahoma Territory for the land run. The description below. All along the line to the west as far as the eye can reach the boomers with their fast horses are ready. In the hands of most are long sticks that look like fishing rods or lances. They are peeled willow rods, pinted at one end with the owners name, and the words on most are "Soliders claim." The intention is to rush their horses at their highest possible speed and as they reach the border of their land to stake their claim pole in the ground while going at full speed, jump by a quick motion of the hand. The desirable claims will be dotted with sticks. To be continued. Phyllis ____________________________________________________________________ Get free e-mail and a permanent address at http://www.netaddress.com/?N=1