When Kiowa - Comanche - Apache lands in Oklahoma
opened to white settlement 1901. There were 505,000
acres reserved as grazing lands. This area became known
as Big Pasture most of region leased for cattle ranching.
Because of soil's fertility, white people sought opening of
Big Pasture to settlement and farming. Congress passed
Act, signed by President Theodore Roosevelt June 5,
1906, providing such opening. Beginning December 10,
1906, farm lands and town lots sold to highest bidders on
sealed bid basis. Bids opened starting March 15, 1907.
Was the last big land opening in Oklahoma.
Within one year's time 2,337 families living in Big Pasture
area. Eschiti and Kell, competing towns, combined in 1908
to found Grandfield.
Only few miles from here, April of 1905, famous wolf hunt
was held led by President Theodore Roosevelt.
Captain R. B. March and troops, with Lt. George B.
McClellan second in command, passed short distance
north of this point 1852 on way to find source of Red River.
- Oklahoma Historical Society 1962 -
Location
Location is on the corner of 1st and Main Street.
34.2318, -98.68322
Photos
Notes
Wikipedia: Big Pasture
he Big Pasture was 488,000 acres (1,975 km²) of prairie land, in what is now southwestern Oklahoma. The land had been reserved for grazing use by the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache tribes after their reserve was opened for settlement by a lottery conducted during June through August of 1901. The tribes, however, leased most of the land out to large ranchers and it became known as Big Pasture. The Big Pasture was maintained for grazing until June 5, 1906, when Congress passed an act (Chapter 2580, 34 Stat. 213) requiring that it be disposed of by allotting 160 acres (0.6 km²), in severalty, to each child born into the tribes after the act of 1900. The remaining land was sold by sealed bid in December of 1906 and the proceeds placed in the U.S. Treasurey for the tribes. This was the last large tract of land opened for settlement in Oklahoma Territory.