Advertisement

George Washington Huffman

Advertisement

George Washington Huffman

Birth
Atlanta, Macon County, Missouri, USA
Death
14 Jun 1945 (aged 76)
Blackwell, Kay County, Oklahoma, USA
Burial
Burial Details Unknown Add to Map
Memorial ID
View Source
Suggest Edits
George participated in a land run in Oklahoma in September 1893 on the Cherokee Strip and was awarded a claim. George's grandson recalls that George had scoped out which lot was optimal prior to the run. The day of the race, all of the would-be landowners lined up around the perimeter of the strip, waiting for the gun to be fired, signaling the opening of the territory. George ran to his preferred lot, but another man had already pounded his stake into the ground. The man told George of another lot, not too far away, that was also a good choice. George ran to that property, only to find a stake driven there, also. However, the letter of the law required that to secure a lot, an individual needed to plow a strip of land prior to claiming ownership. The owner of the stake, had inadvertently forgotten that requirement in his haste to fetch his family and show them their new lot. George hammered in his own stake, plowed a strip of sod, and claimed the land as his.

George and Lena lost the farm in the Depression. George had loaned money to his son-in-law, Elmer Manny, to purchase a threshing machine. When the loan was not able to be repaid, George wasn't able to pay the taxes on his farm. They still lived on the farm, renting it back from the new owner.
George participated in a land run in Oklahoma in September 1893 on the Cherokee Strip and was awarded a claim. George's grandson recalls that George had scoped out which lot was optimal prior to the run. The day of the race, all of the would-be landowners lined up around the perimeter of the strip, waiting for the gun to be fired, signaling the opening of the territory. George ran to his preferred lot, but another man had already pounded his stake into the ground. The man told George of another lot, not too far away, that was also a good choice. George ran to that property, only to find a stake driven there, also. However, the letter of the law required that to secure a lot, an individual needed to plow a strip of land prior to claiming ownership. The owner of the stake, had inadvertently forgotten that requirement in his haste to fetch his family and show them their new lot. George hammered in his own stake, plowed a strip of sod, and claimed the land as his.

George and Lena lost the farm in the Depression. George had loaned money to his son-in-law, Elmer Manny, to purchase a threshing machine. When the loan was not able to be repaid, George wasn't able to pay the taxes on his farm. They still lived on the farm, renting it back from the new owner.

Family Members

Parents
Spouse
Siblings
Children

Sponsored by Ancestry

Advertisement

See more Huffman memorials in:

Flower Delivery Sponsor and Remove Ads

Explore more

Advertisement