Happy 89'er Day

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foghorn918

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April 22, 1889 the first of the Oklahoma Territory Land Runs takes place. Are any of you descendants from the run of 89?

My Great Grandfather who immigrated from Ireland claimed 160 acres in the run, and my Great Great Grandfather claimed another parcel.

So my roots as an okie are well established.
 

TwoForFlinching

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I remember doing a mock-land run in 89 to celebrate the centennial. We all had stick horses running through the field behind the school.

All of my great-grandparents were born in Texas. All of my grandparents were born in Oklahoma. But they we all born in the same town, same piece of land. Figure that one out.
 

Ethan N

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Haven’t been able to confirm it yet, but suspected that one of my Great Great Grandfathers on my mom’s side made a claim in the land run. Genealogical research of that part of my family has proven difficult, but my Great Grandmother was born in 1890 in Kingfisher County. That combined with some other information makes it likely her dad was in the land run.

My roots as an American go back further than that on my dad’s side. Distant Great Grandfather immigrated from England to Rhode Island in either 1648 or 1651. Ended up settling in Plymouth Colony (now Massachusetts) 8 miles inland. He was the first European immigrant to settle away from the coast in northern New England (possibly all of New England) and very few were as daring until after King Philip’s War over 20 years later.
 
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Poke78

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I remember doing a mock-land run in 89 to celebrate the centennial. We all had stick horses running through the field behind the school.

All of my great-grandparents were born in Texas. All of my grandparents were born in Oklahoma. But they we all born in the same town, same piece of land. Figure that one out.

My kids did the re-creation of the Land Run in the 80s and 90s in elementary school. I understand that has kind of gone away in the culturally-sensitive times, i.e. white privilege, empire-building by the pioneers over the previous inhabitants, etc. My oldest granddaughter, a first-grader, was making comments yesterday at Easter dinner that today would be all about Earth Day at her school. I didn't inquire about "89er Day" or if they did a mock Land Run anymore. Anybody else know what is typically done at OK schools for April 22?
 

saddlebum

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When I was in grade school in the 60's we did the mock land run every year. They would fire a starter pistol and you ran out on The play ground and picked a spot ,stuck four sticks in the ground and wrap string around them to claim your little square and your mom would be standing by with a picnic lunch and spread a blanket on the ground and eat lunch in your square.

P.s. I even took a toy Winchester one year in case of injuns or claims jumpers. I'd to see the snowflakes faces if you did that now
 

SoonerP226

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AFAIK, none of my relations were in any of the Runs, and my blankethead ancestors married into white families before the evil whities could take their land. The only one of my grandparents born in Oklahoma was my dad's mom, but I don't think even her parents would've been old enough to participate, though I don't know much at all about them. (Actually, my mom's dad could've been born in the Nations, as his dad was an itinerant preacher and missionary to the tribes, but I think he was born in Texas.)

In a situation similar to twoforflinching's, although all four of Mom's grandparents were born in Oxford, MS, none of them even met 'til they were in Garza County, Texas.
 

dennishoddy

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My family and wife's family were participants in the land run. Still own the land that was staked along with additional properties that were purchased when family's couldn't handle the range fires, Indian raids, bushwackers and poor weather that didn't make crops. I have two books detailing some of the hardships that were published years ago by the Grant and Kay County Historical Societies so people could tell their stories before they passed on. There are some amazing stories in those books.
We think we might have it rough at times, but nothing like they went through. Tough folks they were.

Interesting side note, wife's uncle bought a quarter section in Western Kay County while in his 20's. (He is 90 now)
Shortly after buying, an elderly guy came down the road and stopped. Told him his brother is the one that staked that piece of land during the run. Before he got it registered, a guy came up on a horse and asked if he was the one that had staked the land, and he replied yes. The horsman pulled out his pistol with no comment and shot him. The bullet hit in a non-vital area, and he returned fire killing the horseman. Elderly guy pointed out where the bad guy had been buried. The landowner succumbed to the wound almost a year later after fighting infections, and disease. The land was bought and sold a couple times before wife's uncle bought it.
The books I have are full of stories just like this. Great reading if your into history.
 

TwoForFlinching

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In a situation similar to twoforflinching's, although all four of Mom's grandparents were born in Oxford, MS, none of them even met 'til they were in Garza County, Texas.

It's a weird story, but the land they bought and settled in Texas was conceded to Oklahoma before statehood. Grandma and her father were born in the same house on the same land, but in two different states. Greer County TX is a wild story of disputed border land.
 

Ethan N

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I have two books detailing some of the hardships that were published years ago by the Grant and Kay County Historical Societies so people could tell their stories before they passed on. There are some amazing stories in those books.
Tried finding information about these on my own, but no luck. Titles, please?
 

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