The Land Run of  '89 and the Oklahoma Territory

Early on, there was trouble between the Boomers and the Sooners. If someone called another person a Sooner, it was taken as a major insult. Fist-fights and gun battles occurred, and a number of men were killed in the struggles between the Boomers and Sooners.

The pioneer farmers who claimed land lived a rough life. For most, a sod dugout was their first Oklahoma home. Those dugouts were horrible. They had no windows and nothing but dirt floors. It was like living in a mud hut. Most survived, but they had hard times. A good example of the hard times can be made by looking in on the pioneers around Stillwater during the summer drought of 1890. The drought was so bad that even weeds died. People went hungry. Some picked wild berries. All they had to eat were jam or jelly sandwiches, without sugar. 

The Hoch family and their sod house with the Reverend and Mrs. Hayes in 1907 (Photo courtesy of the Archives & Manuscripts Division of the Oklahoma Historical Society)

In August, many farmers planted turnips. Rain finally poured from the sky, and the pioneers had good crops. Now they had something to eat besides jam without sugar. For Christmas, all farmers around Stillwater gave their children gift-wrapped whole turnips. Through the fall, all livestock ate turnips just as the humans did. So, the milk tasted like turnips. The meat from cattle, pigs and chickens tasted like turnips. Even chicken eggs tasted like turnips.

Congress passed the Oklahoma Organic Act in May of 1890. The act created Oklahoma Territory by taking the western half of old Indian Territory. The new Oklahoma Territory contained the reservations of the plains Indians as well as the land settled during the run. Plus, the act gave Oklahoma Territory the Panhandle. It had once been known as "No Man’s Land." It was a place where all kinds of criminals hid out. Once it was attached to Oklahoma Territory, the Panhandle was also opened for settlement. 

The Organic Act made Guthrie the territorial capital. President Benjamin Harrison named George W. Steele as the first territorial governor. The new government also had an elected two-house legislature and a judicial system topped by the Territorial Supreme Court made up of three judges. The act divided Oklahoma Territory into counties and provided for county and town government. The Organic Act also allowed the territory to have a congressional delegate. That delegate represented the territory in Washington, D.C. and spoke up about the interests of the pioneers.

The earliest political parties in Oklahoma Territory were the Democrat, the Republican, the Populist and the Socialist parties. By aligning with the small Populist delegation, the Democrats managed to control the first territorial legislature. Control was most important because the legislature was to decide where to put the major state institutions. For example, the Populist George Gardenshire of Payne County was successful in his goal of making Stillwater the home of Oklahoma A&M College, which evolved into Oklahoma State University. Norman became the home of the liberal arts college that evolved into the University of Oklahoma. Other towns became homes for smaller schools, for medical facilities and for various other public institutions.

Additional Resources

Study Guide Questions:

1. How many people made the Run of ‘89? What people could participate in the run and what had to be done after claiming the land?
2. Name four towns that were "born grown" during the Run.
3. What was the "literary"?
4. What was the Oklahoma Organic Act and what kind of government did it establish?
5. What party controlled the first legislature?
6. Who was the first territorial governor of Oklahoma? To what political party did he belong?
7. Who was George Gardenshire and what did he do?

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