Welcome To
Kiowa County, Oklahoma
Thank You, Veterans.
The Final Inspection, Parts 1 & 2, by Sgt. Joshua Helterbran
This is an Independent site in association with the American History
and Genealogical Project for the history and genealogy of Kiowa County
OK. We hope to build what will be a valuable resource in researching
your ancestors in Kiowa County. Please drop by often to see our progress.
The history of Kiowa County is as colorful as a summer sunset. I grew up in Kiowa County. I remember those hot summer days, and the big prairie moon. Looking at the stars, millions of diamonds in a black velvet sky, what had they seen, silently watching, over the millions of years? They were a silent witness to the changing landscape and evolution of this tiny speck called earth, in such an enormous universe.
I could sit in the evenings, listening to the crickets, watching the fireflies flitting here and there----and with my imagination, travel back to the time when this prairie was untamed, when it was the home of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache that lived here on a Reservation. Listen close------ you can hear distant drums and voices raising to the sky in prayer, joy or mourning the death of a warrior
In the early days of the free roaming plains tribes,
great herds of buffalo wandered this area. The tribes followed them
as this was their main source of of food, clothing and tools.
I could almost see the buffalo, and villages with the tipi's reaching
for the clouds. I can hear softly on the wind, an owl hoot, and the
call of a mockingbird. In modern times, these are natural sounds of
the night in Kiowa County. But, in the time before, in my imagination,
it is the communication between these warriors of the plains. The Wichita
Mountains have seen the battles fought here, the smoke signals that
sent word to others of approaching enemies, or a gathering of celebration
of a successful hunt.
The county was named for the Kiowa that lived here. These fierce warriors are credited with stopping the progress of the Pacific railroads westward for forty years. The Kiowa were first located along the Columbia river in Canada, in 1700, when the British Columbia traders wrote of them. They migrated south to the Upper Yellowstone, into the Black Hills where Lewis and Clark came upon large encampments of Kiowa, then continued downward, through Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado to Oklahoma and Texas. They settled along Elk Creek, near the present site of Hobart.
This land of the Kiowa was shared by the Kiowa-Apache, sometimes called the Plains Apache, and the Comanche. Later in the 19th century, a small band of Chirachahua Apaches, Geronimo's people, were moved from Florida to near Fort Sill. They remained P.O.W.'s for 27 years, until after Geronimo died, before they were allowed to go home. There are still descendents of Geronimo's band living in Oklahoma.
There are Indian names in Kiowa County that are familiar to all school children. The names of the great warriors of these tribes still echo across the plains from a by-gone time. From the Kiowa, we hear the names of Gul-Pah-Go, the first Chief Lone Wolf, Santanta (White Bear) Satank (Sitting Bear), Adveta (Big Tree), Zip-ko-ete (Big Bow), the Kiowa chiefs who led their people during the time the whites were closing in the People. Some of the Kiowa have towns and communities named after them, such as Gotebo, Komalty, Lone Wolf, and the Kiowa-Apache Chief, Koon-Ka-Zachey.
Every school child is aware of Quanah Parker, Chief of the Comanche. This Warrior was as fierce in War as he became in peace. It is astounding, the fans that Quanah Parker has, around the world.
Prior to the lands being opened for settlement
to Whites, in the 1880's, Texas ranchers began to rent pastures for
their herds. This short grass prairie was ideal ranch land.
On the 125th anniversary of the Declaration Of Independence, July 4,
1901, President William McKinley, proclaimed the lands of southwestern
Oklahoma be opened to white settlement. It was decided to have a land
lottery, as when other portions of Oklahoma Territory had been "opened"
by "runs". These proved to be violent, uncontrollable, and
lawless.
Several days before the ticket booths were to be set up, Chief Lone Wolf of the Kiowa attempted to obtain an injunction restraining the Department of Interior from opening the lands to settlement. Although the speech of Lone Wolf was eloquent, it was to no avail. About 3,500 Indians received their allotments and two million acres, about 3,000 square miles were ready to be opened. The land was divided into 3 counties, Kiowa, Caddo and Comanche. 165,000 envelopes equaling 160 acres each were given out.
The moon has seen many things as it traveled across the sky. It saw the coming of the whites and the passing of the buffalo; the wild free ways of the Indian gave way to civilization. It has seen the church doors open to black, white, brown and red, worshiping the same God. In no other state or country has there been so much change.
We are proud of the Indian Peoples, who have shown us another way of life and will not loose sight of the Indian way of living and the wonderful legends of the Kiowa, Comanche and Apache that lived on these prairies.
| Great Western Cattle Trail |
We honor all our Kiowa County Veterans, past and present, and Veterans everywhere. We salute them with love and thanks. We realize our freedom isn't free, but is bought and paid for, for us by our SOLDIERS, SAILORS, MARINES and AIRMEN, who have fought and died so we may enjoy this gift of freedom. Our service men and women are now serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. These young people are standing on that line in the sand between us and those that would destroy our way of life. They are there just as their fathers, grandfathers, great-grandfathers were for the past 231 years. Be proud of them and let them know. When you meet a service person, thank them for their service and let them know it is appreciated.
Major John Mullins, USA (Ret.) Silver Star,
Vietnam
Oklahoma's General Tommy Franks
has Kiowa County ties.
Okie Party In Korea,
1946
Men
and Women from Oklahoma serving in The Persian Gulf and Elsewhere
In the Tribal Buriel Grounds, there are veterans of another time. This is a list of Kiowa - Comanche - Apache Army Scouts.
Thank you to the many families and residents of Kiowa County that sent me names for our Veterans List. Your loved ones are remembered.
Please visit Bill Finch's Hobart Photo Album.This page has photo's of Hobart's 100th Birthday Parade While there, click on "Ice Storm" and see photos of the Ice Storm in Hobart in February, 2002.
Hobart is coming alive again! Read the latest Hobart News
In May, 1905 a tornado struck Snyder OK leaving a trail of death and destruction. The superintendent of Snyder Schools, Professor Charles Landon Hibbard and his family was killed except for two sons, Lloyd and Edward. Edward's son, Charles (Chuck/Dick) Landon also has passed March, 2003, losing his battle with cancer. This Memorial page is dedicated to him and to cancer patients everywhere. "Chuck's Hats For Chemo" is a project started by Chuck's wife Ginny Hibbard. Please visit the memorial and read how you can help. This is a worthwhile project, not only for Kiowa County, but any county, anywhere. Help spread the word about "Chuck's Hats For Chemo" and help show chemo patients, "someone cares!"
These links will provide you with more information on Oklahoma
These maps may be helpful to locate the area where your Kiowa County families lived. Click on any township/range to get a closeup view.
Kiowa County Township/Range Matrix
Kiowa County Range and Township Map
Communities of the County
Kiowa County Resources
Kiowa County Public Library 201 S. Main St. Hobart, OK 73651 |
Addie Davis Memorial Library 301 N. 4th St Mountain View, OK 73062 |
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Kiowa County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 191 Hobart, OK 73651 |
The Hobart Democrat Chief 432 S. Main Hobart, OK 73651 |
Mountain View News 319 Main Mountain View, OK 73062 (580)347-2231 |
Kiowa County Democrat 610 "E" St. Snyder, OK 73566 (580)569-2684 |
Department of Health Division of Vital Statistics NE 10th and Stonewall Oklahoma City, OK 73105 |
Oklahoma Genealogical Society P.O. Box 314 Oklahoma City, OK 73101 |
Oklahoma State Historical Society 2100 N. Lincoln Oklahoma City, OK 73105 |
State D.A.R. Library Historical Building Lincoln Blvd. at NE 19th ST. Oklahoma City, OK 73105 |
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POST KIOWA COUNTY
QUERIES
VIEW KIOWA COUNTY QUERIES, January-June, 1998
VIEW KIOWA COUNTY QUERIES, July-December, 1998
VIEW 1997 QUERIES
Are you researching those skittish ancestors in Kiowa County? Maybe
they crossed paths with someone else's back then. Listed here are Kiowa County Researchers that are looking too.
You may see a thread among their names. If you would like your name
posted here, just email Ethel Taylor your name, email address, and
four surnames. Remember, If you make a contact, please let me know,
so it can be shared!
View My Guest book
Sign My Guest book
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This information compiled, prepared and submitted to this site by Ethel Taylor and remains the property of the submitter
NOTICE: Ethel Taylor grants that this information and data may be
used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on
all copied material, for personal and genealogical research. These
electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit, can
not be copied over to other sites, linked to, or other presentation
without written permission of Ethel Taylor.
Copyright, 1997-2012
Updated 6/14/2013
Background
Courtesy Pat Calton
Trees Images Courtesy Feebleminds
Animated Gifs