THE LAST GREAT LAND GIVEAWAY

For more than a year people had camped in anticipation on the borders of what was then called, Apache, Kiowa and Comanche lands in Southwestern Oklahoma.
The hyperbole screamed, 'The Promised land of Oklahoma , a land of milk and honey. "

Previous land give-aways had resulted in total anarchy and a disregard for law and order, and so it was decided people wanting to settle in the newly opened lands would have to register.

Registration was held in El Reno and Fort Sill for the opening of a lottery and the last grand opening had begun. Earlier in 1891 the Wichitas had ceded their lands from the Washita River to South Canadian, A year later the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache tribes also ceded their lands from the Washita River to the Red River. The way had been paved for white settlement. Manifest destiny, indeed.

The lands of the Kiowa - Comanche country were to be decided by a "land lottery" instead of a race for claims as other openings had. The Fort Sill Miltary Reservation and the Wichita Mountain Forest Reserve were withdrawn from settlement. There were 13,000 quarter sections available. The people had to register at either El Reno or Lawton. The homesteaders were then determined by drawing an envelope which contained a persons name and address. These envelopes were numbered as they were drawn by the land officials. Each person had the opportunity to "stake his claim in turn", according to the number on the envelope. Over 160,000 people registered and obtained their land at El Reno. This was the last large land opening in the present state of Oklahoma.