Gayle, I would hope that you would keep us posted on what you find out about Mrs.Dorrance. I;m wondering if in Ponca City they have any kind of records there since they do have the statue of the Pioneer woman.. I have some old facsimilies pages printed of the Ark. City newspapers of the land rush. I will try and find them and see it there is any mention of women in the run. Good Luck, very interesting article. Keith Lowrey. ----- Original Message ----- From: gayle <[email protected]> Subject: [OKROOTS] Oklahoma Land Runs - first woman to acquire land > Holyrood KS Newspaper > 2 May 1889 > " In the race last Monday there were three or four ladies entered for the > race and > the only one that succeeded in getting a claim was Mrs. M. E. Dorrance. She > was one of > three that got to the east shore of the Canadian river and the first to > cross the Choteau > creek. The way Mrs. Dorrance handled her horse showed her to be superior > amongst most > of the men in that line. It would take a man with considerable nerve to > make the run she > made and make it successful as she did and we are led to believe that if > there had been > many such women in the race, with as good horses, that the men would have > stood much of a > show to have got their claims. We hope that she may go through her long and > happy life > with as much as she did in her ride for claim in Oklahoma. (Purcell > Register) > Mrs. Dorrance is a sister to our townsman J. C. Powell." > > > The above Mary E. Dorrance is my aunt. From the date of the newspaper > article it appears she entered into the first race for land. Her son-in-law > was the Editor of the Purcell Register and those early newspapers have not > been located. He often sent news to the paper in Holyrood, KS where other > family members lived. My question is...could it be true only three or four > ladies entered the race and she was the only one who succeeded in getting a > claim? I contacted the Oklahoma Historical Society a number of years ago, > and they had no information on this woman. > > I would welcome your thoughts. > > Gayle > [email protected] > > >