The Fergusons also participated in the 1893 Land Run which opened the Cherokee Outlet and Strip to settlement.  The Cherokee Strip is actually the 2.5 mile-wide strip across the top of Oklahoma, the result of a surveying error.  The 1893 Run was the fourth and largest Run of about 6.5 million acres.  The Cherokee tribe obtained the land in 1828 and 1835, but lost some control after the civil war (1866 Reconstruction Treaty) Cherokee Outlet Wikipedia.

Cherokees sell land, but have homestead rights

Benjamin Harrison’s presidential proclamation forbade all grazing leases in the Cherokee Outlet after October 2, 1890.  The Cherokee agreed to sell the land at $1.40 to $2.50 per acre.  Cherokees claimed homesteads in the outlet under the agreemen. Oklahoma History.  Cherokee Principal Chief Hoskins has strong opinions about the land run(s).  Hoskins opinion of Land runs.  The National Park Service Homested National Historic Park has a perspective of native Americans.  Homestead NHP of the National Park Service

One hundred thousand land seekers

An estimated 100,000 persons lined the Kansas border on September 16, 1893 to obtain one of the 40,000 homesteads in the 58 by 225-mile area.  Perry, Enid, Woodward and Alva were set up as US General Land Offices.  US Cavalry troops stationed in the territory attempted to prevent “sooners”, but many still managed to claim prime land and town sites.  The land run created Kay, Grant, Woods, Woodward, Garfield, Noble, Pawnee, Alfalfa, Ellis, Harper and Major counties Wikipedia Run of 1893.

Fergusons get land in Grant County

The Fergusons obtained land in Grant County.  However, they went back to Kansas, and upon returning, found the house they had placed on the land was stolen.  Many settlers abandoned sites as unsuitable for farming.

1893 Land Run depicted in films

In addition to various novels, the 1893 land run is depicted in several movies.  Tumbleweeds is a 1925 American silent Western film. The film influenced the Oscar-winning 1931 Western Cimarron, which is based on the Ferguson’s experience.  Wikipedia Tumbleweeds 1925 film

The Cherokee Strip (1925) is a silent Western film that dramatizes the 1893 Oklahoma Land Run. It portrays the lives and struggles of homesteaders, oilmen, and cattlemen participating in the rush to claim land in the Cherokee Outlet. imdb The Cherokee Strip (1925).

Another film Far and Away depicts the 1893 run from Kansas.  It is a 1992 American epic Western directed by Ron Howard.  It stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.  John Williams wrote the music score  Wikipedia Far and Away.

Forever changed landscape

These land runs, and the Ferguson’s participation forever changed the landscape of what was to become the State of Oklahoma in 1907.