Oklahoma advertised as great place to live, 1907

Sent to The Frederick Leader and The Frederick Press, November 16, 2010

Oklahoma promoted in 1907 ads

“Oklahoma is the richest, the most populous and the most highly civilized State ever added to the American Union.”

Those words opened a printed message from the Oklahoma Mutual Townsite Company that was delivered to potential property buyers and investors in a November 1907 publication that was distributed in Southern states. The company described life in the new state of Oklahoma as something barely short of heaven.

Oklahoma had become the 46^th state (the 46^th star on the American flag) on November 16, 1907.

The Oklahoma Mutual Townsite Company’s goal was to entice prospective residents or investors to come to southwest Oklahoma for a visit, with the hope of selling farmland or city lots to the visitors. The company provided a free trip to Frederick for inspection, departing from Birmingham, Alabama.

There is no doubt that the Oklahoma Mutual Townsite Company was successful in recruiting many new residents to southwest Oklahoma.

Following is an excerpt from their 1907 publication:

“As Minerva leaped full-armed from the brain of Jove, so Oklahoma comes into the Union a full grown State born of the best that all the other States might give.

“During the past ten years in the ‘Great Southwest’ there has been just one bright blazing star – ‘Oklahoma’ – which has attracted immigrants from all parts of the world. Oklahoma has, within a few years, been transformed from the broad, sweeping prairie plains into a most beautiful and thickly settled farming country, the homes of the progressive farmer and citizen. Cities and towns of great beauty, size and importance have been builded over the State as if by magic.

“There is no other country in all the world that equals Oklahoma in climate, soil and productiveness. There is no other place on the globe where the farmer can more successfully raise corn, wheat, oats, rye, barley, kaffir corn and every other cereal known.”

“The new State of Oklahoma looks to a brilliant future, rich in agriculture, rich in mines and rich in blood; it promises to the people of America that the new star shall never lose its luster.

“Tillman County is situated in the southwestern part of Oklahoma and while it was just opened for settlement five years ago, its development has been marvelous, equaling that of old Oklahoma which has been under construction sixteen years.

“This county has the advantage of being situated in the great rich, Red river valley, and many farmers who came here only four years ago penniless, have today splendid bank accounts.”

“Come to Frederick. You will never regret it for no other town or city can offer you such opportunities, unsurpassed in climate, soil and productiveness – fine schools, all modern improvements, railroad facilities, cultured people; in fact, everything that goes to make an ideal prosperous community.”

“We offer lots 50x140 in the Benefiel Addition to the City of Frederick at the reasonable price of $65 each, payable either all cash or $15 cash and $10 per month until paid for, without interest.

“This Addition is situated one-half mile from the business part of town and is beautifully located in the northeastern part of the city. These are resident lots in the resident district. The adjacent property is being rapidly built up with beautiful new residences, and this Addition will be next to be improved.”

Next week – The Oklahoma Mutual Townsite Company’s 1907 description of life in Frederick.

Joe Wynn is a member of the Tillman County Historical Society Board. He can be contacted by e-mail at tillmanokhistory@gmail.com.

Townsite company advertised Frederick, 1907

Sent to the Frederick Leader and the Frederick Press, November 23, 2010

Frederick promoted in 1907 advertising

Frederick and southwest Oklahoma was promoted heavily to potential new residents and investors in 1907 by the Oklahoma Townsite Company.

The western part of Tillman County was opened for settlement by land lottery in August 1901 and the city of Frederick was organized in 1902. The eastern part of Tillman County was opened to settlement late in 1906.

The Oklahoma Townsite Company distributed marketing materials throughout the United States and arranged for interested individuals to visit Frederick and Tillman County.

Following is the firm’s 1907 information about the city of Frederick:

FREDERICK

“The magic city and county seat of Tillman County is Frederick, situated on the Frisco and Wichita Falls & Northwestern railroads, twenty-five miles northeast of Vernon, fifty miles from Wichita Falls, fifty-one miles from Lawton.

“Frederick has a population of three thousand or more and is five miles west of the “Big Pasture or Comanche Reservation,” where 3,000 families have located within the past six months.

“It is destined to be the best town and the metropolis of this part of Oklahoma.

“There are unlimited resources and opportunities in this fast growing and wonderful western city awaiting future development. It is here the young man of energy and enterprise will find the GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY that will make his future fortune.

Improvements

“Frederick has three banks with deposits of over $500,000, two newspapers, a telephone system, electric light plant, an excellent sewerage system, three grain elevators, a $100,000 oil mill and four cotton gins with a capacity of three hundred bales per day. A 25-ton ice factory is soon to be constructed. There are three large hotels and over one hundred business firms, beside all the professions represented.

Lodges and Churches

“The following lodges are in Frederick – Masonic, Royal Arch, Knight Templars, Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World, Modern Woodmen, Odd Fellows and Eagles.

“There are four handsome church buildings, Presbyterian, Christian, Methodist and Baptist (First Baptist Church in the course of construction costing $15,000. This is the church at 11^th and Grand that would later burn in 1931).

Schools

“The culture and great interest in educational matters of the people of Frederick is shown by the modern and handsome new school building that is being erected at a cost of $25,000 (NOTE: This building was likely the first Frederick High School, a brick building that was located on East Grand where the present Frederick Middle School now stands). The number of pupils is increasing rapidly each year.

Railroads

“Beside the Frisco Railway and the Wichita Falls & Northwestern Railway which has just been completed the Commercial Club of this enterprising and growing little city has entered into a contract with the Gotebo & Southwestern Railway Co. to have their line completed and running within twelve months from date of contract. This will give Frederick three railroads. (NOTE: The Gotebo and Southwestern Railway plans never developed).

Soil

“The land is all right; it will grow anything that is given half a chance by the farmer. It is so level that it will never wash away and is so strong that it will never fail you. Come and see.

“The land is a deep loam of chocolate color, ranging in shade from almost black to the lighter grays. It is here that cotton and wheat belts overlap. Either crop does equally as well and the farmer has his choice and by planting some of each for a money crop does not have to put all his eggs in one basket.

Climate

“A happy medium of latitude and climatic conditions seems to have been found in this section, where the agricultural products of both the North and the South are brought together.

“Droughts are unknown and sparkling streams of pure fresh water traverse the country.

“There is no more healthier place in the world. Malaria, asthma, consumption and catarrh disappear.

“Do you wonder they why Frederick is destined to become a city of 20,000 or more population in a few years and property values DOUBLE and quadruple during that time?”

Joe Wynn is a member of the Tillman County Historical Society Board. He can be contacted by e-mail at tillmanokhistory@gmail.com.

Area was marketed across nation

Sent to The Frederick Leader and The Frederick Press

November 9, 2010

Oklahoma Mutual Townsite Co.

Promoted Area in 1907

In the years following the Oklahoma land opening of 1901, the Oklahoma Mutual Townsite Company marketed the area throughout the nation to potential residents and investors.

The firm advertised city lots and farm land in the areas of Roosevelt, Frederick, Siboney (two miles north of present-day Manitou), and Hobart. R.L. Gosnell, one of Frederick’s founders, served as a vice president of the Oklahoma Mutual Townsite Company.

The firm’s promotional materials featured agricultural photos from bountiful fields, as well as pictures of city buildings and streets. The publications were designed to entice investors and future residents to this area.

An OMT publication from 1907 described crops that could be grown successfully in the Frederick area. Note that the account makes no reference to Tillman County, but to “Frederick country”. This is because, prior to statehood on November 16, 1907, Tillman County did not exist.

The OMT account of area crops in 1907 follows:

WHAT THEY GROW IN THE AREA

   SURROUNDING FREDERICK

Cotton: The King of the money crops is at home in this country making from one-half to one bale per acre. The crop is easily cultivated and can be raised and marketed here for almost one-half what it costs to cultivate the same number of acres in the older states. No fertilizer is needed to help along. A little work to keep clear of weeds and the land does the rest. Cotton requires about the same cultivation as corn.

Corn: The corn crops of the Frederick country have been the wonder of all who have investigated With new land and necessarily crude methods of cultivation the yield has averaged forty to fifty bushels per acre for the last three years and often it has far exceeded that in individual cases where the crop has had good cultivation and care. What one farm will make is this country is possible on almost any other farm with good cultivation.

Broom Corn: Oklahoma is the pioneer in broomcorn cultivation in the Southwest. The yield is of excellent quality and is equal to the best grown in the famous field of Illinois. The yield is generally about one-third of a ton per acre and brings from forty to eighty dollars per ton.

Wheat: Wheat is probably the most important crop of the Frederick country. The lands are peculiarly adapted to its growth and the yield is uniformly satisfactory as to quantity and quality. The yield per acre has averaged 20 bushels. Many crops that have been managed by careful farmers have made this year thirty bushels and over. The land is here and the yield depends largely on the care given it.

Oats: Oats are par excellence; the greatest crop to count up into bushels in this country – seventy-five and even eighty-five bushels being reported in many instances, while the average over the country this year will not be far from sixty bushels.

Alfalfa: This prince of forage crops is one of the staples of the Frederick country, growing luxuriantly and making from three to five crops per year and will average from one to two tons per acre each cutting. The hay equals the finest clover as a forage crop and is sure of high prices as the demand always exceeds the supply.

Apples: Apples do well in this country and our orchards are more eloquent witness to the truth of this statement than anything we can say on the subject. The country is not old enough to have any large bearing trees but the prospects are that in a few years the apple crop of the Frederick country will be a factor in the fruit supply.

Plums and Pears: Both do well and many farmers are setting out orchards of these kinds of fruit. Those trees that are old enough to yield show the most flattering results.

Peaches: Neither California with its famous fruit nor East Texas with its Elbertas can surpass the peaches in Frederick’s country for size or lusciousness. No country on earth can boast of finer peaches of any variety.

Grapes: The whole of Oklahoma country is famous for the fine quality of the grapes that grow luxuriantly wherever planted. The fruit of the vine in any place in this country is equal to that of the finest in California. As wine makers or for table use the Oklahoma grape cannot be excelled.

Melons: The famous Rocky Ford muskmelons can not excel in flavor the melons grown in the Frederick country. The yield is enormous and the quality second to none.

The Georgia watermelons have to go way back and sit down in the presence of the melons grown on the deep loam of the Frederick country. In size there are none that can beat them and in flavor none can equal.

Berries: Berries of all kinds do well. Blackberries and dewberries especially are very fine. This season dewberries have been grown that only required 24 to weigh one pound. The flavor of the berries equals some of the finest grown in the southern middle states which is said to produce the best in this line. The yield is far in excess of that section.

Vegetables: An inspection of the gardens in and around the city of Frederick will be the most convincing argument for the success of all kinds of vegetables.

What is Shipped: Will ship this season between 15,000 and 20,000 bales of cotton, 750 cars of corn and hundreds of cars of oats, wheat, milo maize, cotton seed, broomcorn, beside the cotton seed products from the new oil mill.”

Joe Wynn is a member of the Tillman County Historical Society Board. He can be contacted by e-mail at jawynn@cableone.net.