Volume 12 , Issue 26

Pioneer Life in Early Oklahoma

Pioneer life in Oklahoma Territory was not easy, but to those who ventured into the wild lands of Oklahoma and Indian Territory it was their dream. It was a ray of light, a chance to own a piece of the American Dream.

It was the late 1800's that the western expansion reached into Oklahoma. 1889 saw the choice portion of Indian Territory opening to white settlement and the first land run. Four years, 1893, Oklahoma Territory opened its lands to the north to white settlement in the second land run.

The first settlers arrived in their covered wagons with few necessities and no luxuries of life. They brought just enough grain with them to plant crops. They lived off the wild turkeys, geese, deer, elk and prairie chickens for their meat.

Their hoes were crude one-room houses built of raw timber and dried blocks of grass and mud. It was not easy keeping their homes warm in winter, even though they kept a small fireplace burning throughout the winter months. The fireplaces, besides providing heat were used for cooking.

A family of eight was considered a moderate sized family for our pioneers back then. Oklahoma's land was mostly grass and clay, which had to be plowed before seeds could be planted a crop could be raised.

Amusements were simple. There were quilting bees. Weddings were occasions of feasting and merrymaking.

Schools in the area were one room log buildings with puncheon floors. Hard long benches served as desks with no backs to them. The studies consisted of three R;s, Reading, Writing and Arithmetic. Boys and girls usually continued to attend school until they were married. Classes were called to the front of the room to recite the lessons. Members of the teaching profession usually received about $25 per month.

The School house served as a meeting house on Sunday for the religious groups. Itinerant preachers brought their Sunday religious lessons to the settlers. Women would it on one side of the house and the men on the other. After services the preacher would be invited to accompany some member home. The entire congregation would spend the rest of the day listening to and getting the gossip of the neighborhood.

Have you thought lately of those pioneers who came before and laid the first bricks in the communities and brought the first civilization to civilized places. Ask yourself, "Could I do what my pioneers had done?"
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