Before the Founding of Lawton
Land Lottery and Auction
Game
Teaching Materials
|
|
|
The final step in the Land Lottery took place from August through October. People who were lucky enough to have their names drawn were sent postcards. The postcards told the people when to come to one of the two Land Offices to file their claims. If someone did not show up at the Land Office on the assigned day, the clerks skipped that number. |
|
|
| They
went on to the next number. All of the people were given a second
chance to appear at the end of the day to file their claim. If they
still were not present, they were deemed to have given up their right to
make their claim.
Two things went on at the same time. The lottery began. And the town lots were auctioned to the highest bidder for cash. |
 |
| “During the 20 days filing period,
they were filed at a rate of 125 a day. I happened to draw No. 140
in the Fort Sill or Lawton district and was the 132nd man to file.
One man was killed; he had filed just the first or second day before the
opening. Where the town now stands was nothing but a mesquite prairie
at that time.”
- J. T. Howard, Homesteader
|
 |
|
 |