Assuming that there are many in Sayre who would be interested in a little of the history of the early days of the town, I am taking the liberty of writing of the why's and wherefores of my having been there to participate in the founding of the famous division city of western Oklahoma. Having learned that the Choctaw, Oklahoma and Gulf railroad, (now the rock Island), was to extend west from then terminus of Weatherford, I left my home I New Mexico with the object of locating in some town in western Oklahoma which would be selected as the division point. Hearing from the best authority available that Berlin was to be that place, I made that my objective. The trip necessitated a day's journey by stage from Canadian down the Washita valley to Cheyenne in company with that famous old stage driver a Mr. Sellers. Practically that entire section was in the Bowman and Trammel pasture and woe be unto him who would dare transgress its domain by staking out a homestead there in.
My father had made preliminary arrangements for the purchase of the Berlin Venture, J. E. Curren who in company with John Eller (who was to be my printer-partner), had proceeded me there by several weeks. After a few days survey of the sandstone, Coffeybean and other well vegetated creeks which were the recognized headquarters of many coveys of quail and prairie chicken, I was at last sworn I and installed as editor in chief. Our cash receipts came almost entirely from final proof notices, but pumpkins, water melons, eggs, wood an in fact almost anything that could be used in our bachelors den was legal tender for a years subscription.
It was necessary to have our ready print or patent inside editions brought over land from Weatherford and occasionally we missed connections I which event we found it necessary to use store wrapping paper, torn from the rolls at the Richardson or Larimore stores. Dick Cook was the chief dispenser of liquid refreshments to the thirsty in those days and a large number of other smaller fountains chose to play a second fiddle. Charley Rosser, and the Caudill boys were the budding youths at whom the belle's of the village were then making eyes. But as time went on, the railroad was extended to Elk City and we soon learned to our dismay that Berlin was not to be listed on the route after considerable survey, and that a route of lesser grades along the river was to be chosen instead. There was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, but there was nothing to do but to move to the north Fork of Red river.
No one at that time had even heard of the name of Sayre and it was not until some time afterward that the town was named after a citizen of Pennsylvania who was one of the chief stockholders in the Choctaw railroad. I was present later at the naming ceremony, which was attended by some officials of the railroad, Beews Erick and C. W. Hendricks for the townsite company and practically all the citizens of the village. The event was the occasion for the raising of the first large United States flag on a flagpole located at the corner of the bank, of which institution Henry Eichenberger was then cashier. Mr.Sayre presented the flag to the city
Our old rag town of Long Creek, which was the first settlement, was a lively place while all the workmen were employed in building the bridge. It was there that Mr. Branch started his store and where Melerholtz's place was a popular to the road workers as is Texas Guinan to nightclub seekers in Harlem.
After a few months we moved east a few miles to Short creek and again later to the present townsite, after we had been told that this would be the last move, and definite site. Soon came every line of business endeavor and it was soon apparent that this was indeed the founding of a city, which was in later years destined to become one of commercial importance. Among some of the pioneer business men who chose to cast their lot in the budding new metropolis were H. Bonebrake, John Whitehurst, J. D. Ciey, Carl Fowler, W. H. Wagner, Hugh Bell, Fleetwood Bell, L. Ginsburg, Dr. Stone, "Doc" Smith, E. P. Gum, D. W. Welty, thurmond Bros., Ursi Keen, H. Jenks, Nell Dukelow, tom turner, J. Frank Trimble, Earnest Beatty, Jeff Elliott, Orin Dillon, A. D. Jones and many other whose names I have forgotten. T. L. Keen, (father of Ursi and Irville), was the first postmaster of Sayre. After publishing the Sayre Venture for about a year, I changed the name to the Sayre Headlight. At about the same time, I was appointed United States Commissioner which position I held until I disposed of my interests to Henry A. Russell of Doxey.
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