Okeene, Oklahoma

It was a cool, damp, drizzly morning of April 19, 1892, but the weather did not dampen the spirits of the brave pioneer men and women who had journeyed over rough terrains to reach the land known as the Cheyenne-Arapaho Territory. This was the third parcel of land to be opened by a land run, and the fifth overall to become part of the ever-growing Oklahoma Territory.

At one minute past high noon guns were fired. The race was on. It is estimated that 25,000 people participated in the run. Among these were a group of men from the Hennesey area with a vision of a new city. This contingent, whose names were E.E and C.W. Bardwick, T.H. and Will Mansfield, F.S. Christman, E.L. Franklin, Jim Little, Lon Saundere, Jim Atchinson, Dan and Tom Elington, Tom and Doc Taylor, Milt Stettler II, M. Jewell, A. Claywater and Harry Russum. Several of these men had no homestead rights and therefore could not stake claims. C.W. Bardwick secured the SW/4 in Section 18. Frank Christman staked the NW/4 of 19-19-10, while Edward Evans took the SE/4 of Section 13. Jim Atchinson had the NE/4 of 24-19-11. Claywater and Russum secured a half section located two miles south of the townsite. Pat Nagle later obtained the quarter staked by Atchinson.

On this particular Tuesday night all these men gathered around a campfire believed to located near Goforth’s Nappa store. The christening of the future city was the theme of the evening.

There are several recorded accounts of what actually went on that evening, with each with just a bit of a different interpretation of the nights events. However, according to the August 4, 1899 issue of the Okeene Eagle, the men were diverse in the decision of who should name the town. It was recorded that Elmer Bardrick agreed to provide the snake bite, (a early day lingo for a liquor called Duffey’s Malt), if all those involved would consent to allow Tude Mansfield to name the town. This was promptly accepted. During the course of the festivities, Tude evolved the name O-kee-ne, a three syllable word from the words, Oklahoma, Cherokee and Cheyenne.

In later publications, it has been reported that the division of the towns name was Ok-ee-ne, from the same three words. Early day maps of this area however, list the correct O’keene, which gave it an Irish feel. When the citizens found out about this spelling, a protest was formed and had the name changed to the current day spelling of Okeene.

Okeene was soon platted and began a precarious existence by reason of its long distance from the railroad and its wonderfully bad roads. The town located in the heart of the Cimarron Valley was at once settled by a sturdy, energetic, and hardworking class of people from every part of civilization, and at once began to show its concealed wealth.

In the early days of the town, several dry goods and mercantile shops were opened, in addition to, two drug stores, two saloons, several blacksmith shops and eventually three banks. Okeene’s growth was slow at first due to the three day long haul by wagon to bring lumber and supplies from Kingfisher & Hennessey.

Crossing the Cimarron River was treacherous, and few trips were made from Hennessey. Due to the lack of proper transportation and extremely hard soil, farming in the area was slow to develop. However, determination of the pioneers outweighed the conditions, and by the late 1890’s the fertile soil of this valley was showing it’s riches.

Fields of wheat, corn, rye, barley, oats and cotton were common on area farms. An interesting fact was the numerous and abundant varieties of fruit trees that also grew quite well.

In September of 1901, the most exciting single event since the run of 1892 was the arrival of the railroads in Okeene. Both the Rock Island Pacific and the San Francisco Railroads reached the townsite on the same day providing a huge boost to the local economy. Okeene rapidly developed into a thriving city, rivalling the towns of Enid and Kingfisher for the title of the “trade center” of the area. With the railroads and vast improvements in road conditions, new businesses began springing up in Okeene almost immediately. In a very short time this small community had swelled to more than 1,500 residents and over 100 businesses in the downtown business district.

Pioneer settlers in this area, most of which were of German descent, knew what it took to develop a town and its people. The first school was held in a small building on main street, in the area where the First National Bank’s drive-in is now located. The first teacher was Miss Nellie Pratt.

In 1901, a two-room school house was built just west of Okeene Milling. There were eight grades, and school was held from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, then from 1 to 4 p.m. This school had two teachers, Miss Janie Wallace and Miss Smith.

In 1902, a brick building was built in the center of the block where the present school stands. In the early 1920’s, two new buildings were built, and Okeene became the first town in Blaine County to have a high school.

During the early 1900’s, Okeene developed into a rich and healthy community with a vast diversity of business and commerce. The business directory of Okeene, around 1905 listed a brick manufacturing facility, a casket manufacturing company, numerous blacksmiths, three banks, two drug stores, several merchantile and dry good shops, two flour mills, two lumberyards, several churches, which covered most demonitations, a real estate company, several saloons,two hardware stores, produce stores, two railway companies, a community opera house, several restaurants, a local newspaper labelled as the largest in Blaine County and various other business interests. There was even a business college for a brief time.