Chapter 12

CHEYENNE-ARAPAHO OPENING

The Cheyenne-Arapaho Land Run began when the cavalry men fired their guns into the air at noon on April 19, 1892. People who were twenty-one years of age or older could place their stake in a 160 acre tract of land; live upon it for five years; make improvements and the deed was theirs. They rode in covered wagons, rode horseback and ran on foot to acquire this land in the third of five land runs into Oklahoma Territory.

Our kinfolks who lived in and around Canadian Texas, only had to journey 20- 25 miles to the Texas-Oklahoma border in order to participate in this land run. Judy Tracy tdale55@aol.com of Cheyenne, Oklahoma, compiled a list of “runners” who entered from the west side (Texas line) on that adventurous day. It was quite a surprise to find the name Henry M. Anderson (age 82) on the list of participants!  There are no family stories about his claim, or if he stayed on his  claim. We do know that Henry passed away four years later at his ranch in Hemphill County, Texas. Many settlers left after two Cheyenne Chiefs told them to leave within “three sleeps”. We do know that this threat would not have bothered Henry or his sons 

Other ANDERSON names on the list of runners were Archie, Fayette, J.A., John H. and Martha Emma, W. W. ( William Walter) and Susan, Ab (Albert?),and Ben. Not shown on the list was Henry’s grandson William Henry Anderson, who made his claim near Red Moon, Oklahoma Territory.

Other names of interest were Herman and Charles E. Guernsey. Charlie was the uncle of my mother, Alida Guernsey Anderson. Uncle Charlie and his wife Mary came from Adobe Walls area of the Texas Panhandle to make the run. He had already led a varied an interesting life. As a government scout, he had been appointed by President Grant in 1869 to lead a colony of Quakers from Smyrna, Iowa to Indian Territory near present Chandler, Oklahoma. It was hoped that the peaceful ways of the Quakers would have a civilizing effect on the Sac and Fox Indian

When Charlie arrived to make his run to “F” county (later named Roger Mills County), he received a last minute notice that he was given a commission as Territorial Sheriff, until an election could be held. His appointment was made by the man for whom Roger Mills County was later named, Roger Q. Mills, a Texas Congressman.   This was quite a disappointment to Charlie, as he came there to make the run. Unfortunately, it was too late to decline the appointment . In 1903 Charlie moved again to purchase the land where the Oklahoma City Stockyards plus Wilson and Armour Company meat plants, were later built.

A map of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Reservation shows how close the land run was to  our kinfolks Texas ranches.

The 3.5 million acres of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Reservation was opened by a proclamation from President Benjamin Harrison on April 12, 1892. The land run followed on April 19, 1892. This was 23 years after the Cheyenne – Arapaho Indians, living in Colorado, were moved to Oklahoma Territory and promised by the U.S. Government that it would be their land. Another broken promise.

The “sooners” ( those settlers who tried to stake their claim before the official date) shunned this land opportunity, giving the “boomers” time to deliberate and to evaluate various claims. Relinquishments later sold for a horse, a buggy or as little as five dollars. Some settlers declined to participate as they thought the region so barren that “about the only sure crop was the rattlesnake”. Cheyenne – Arapaho Opening, Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society.

Henry and Sarah’s grandson, William H. (Black Bill) Anderson, along with his parents, Albert and Nancy Anderson, made claim on Rush Creek, about 18 miles north and west of Cheyenne, Oklahoma Territory. This was in the Red Moon Agency area(named for Chief Red Moon).  After the land run a reservation school was built to teach the Cheyenne and Arapaho children how to farm. Albert and Nancy did not stay long, but Bill and his wife Tommie Lee stayed on the claim for 22 years, during which time he obtained his Homestead Deed. They then moved to Strong City, Oklahoma, where he became a Roger Mills Deputy Sheriff.

                                                                                                       Red Moon Homestead 1904

Top left…Orren, father William Henry Anderson, Noma, mother Tommie Lee.

Bottom left…Lillie, Virgil and baby Jack Anderson.

Life in Red Moon area was not easy. “Not even food and water were certain. Much of the water was hard and gypy. Families often scoured the prairie for bleached buffalo bones to sell for food”. William had a garden and livestock, but his daughters said he preferred to make a living playing cards (Faro). Another “tough times” story of life in the early Oklahoma Territory.