A HISTORY
OF THE
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
BY
LUTHER B. HILL, A.B.
WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES
VOLUME I
ILLUSTRATED
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
PREFACE
In presenting "A History of the
State of Oklahoma" the publishers feel that little
explanation is necessary. The work describes the "evolution
of a state," and has been prepared according to the
original design that it should be a standard, comprehensive
and authentic reference work. As a casual examination
will show, the history is based upon the original sources,
and authorities are quoted to prove practically every assertion
made.
It should be stated that this is a pioneer work in
this field; that no previous attempt has been successfully
made to compile, on such an extensive scale,the historical
information that pertains to Oklahoma and the Indian Territory.
The material for such an undertaking does not exist within
the State of Oklahoma, the records being available in the
larger collections of older libraries and in the government
archives. For the events of later years, much valuable information
has been obtained from individuals in Oklahoma and elsewhere.
In the preparation of the history the author is particularly
indebted to Hon. Sidney Clarke, of Oklahoma City, who besides
furnishing a large amount of data in the nature of documents
and manuscript, has also read the greater portion of he
general history and has given the benefit of his wide personal
knowledge in revising and correcting the historical material.
Among other local sources, to which acknowledgment
should be made, the Oklahoma Historical Society should be
mentioned. Mr. W. P. Campbell, the custodian of the society's
collection, offered the use of the material in his care,
and was helpful in many ways.
Mr. J. B. Thoburn, who was engaged in the preparation
of his school history of Oklahoma while this work was in
progress, amnifested a kindly interest in this undertaking.
The four maps which are published in the first volume of
the "History of the State of Oklahoma" were reproduced
from the maps in Holcomb and Thoburn's School History.
Of other contributers, acknowledgment is made in
the proper place to Mr. J. L. Brown and Mr. W. F. Harn,
each of whom prepared an article on a phase of Oklahoma
history on which they were well qualified to write. The
author and publishers are indebted to many others in Oklahoma
for interest and assistance in preparing the history.
