Before the Founding of Lawton
Land Lottery and Auction
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Teaching Materials
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Lawton was not much of a city for the first two months. It was more like a pasture filled with tents than a town site. An official government was not set up right away. People were too busy building their homes and businesses. This created problems that took years to resolve. |
The Tent City |
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and the First Two Banks At the same time the homestead winners filed their claims, those who wanted to work and live in town lined up to buy town lots. The homestead winners lined up to file their claims. First National Bank was set up in a tent. City National Bank rolled in a small wooden building. |
| On that first day, it became obvious that the half section south of the town site was not too likely to become farmland. James R. Woods and Mattie Beal claimed this half section. |
James R. "Hog" Woods |
Mattie Beal |
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