In 1901, the Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Lands in southwestern Oklahoma Territory,
were broken up and a lottery on over two million acres for homesteads was
held. Mostly, what was won, were 160 acre parcels of land in three counties,
Kiowa, Comanche and Caddo. But, sometimes there were unusual "winnings" besides
the land!
One young lady, Miss Fannie Mae Bramblett, age 24, a school teacher in Coleman
Co. TX, south of Abilene, won a claim in Kiowa County. But, she also apparently
won some suitors for her hand in marriage, along with, (or perhaps, because
of!) her claim. Miss Bramblett's great niece,
Ms. Jacqueline Gray has graciously offered some of the letter from the
young men seeking marriage, to the Kiowa County site. This material remains
the property of Ms Gray, and can not be copied or duplicated in any form
without her permission.
"My great aunt May was teaching school in Coleman City, TX, having graduated
Baylor College in 1898, when she won her claim of 160 acres in what became
Burford, OK. She was 24 yrs old at the time. In 1903 she married George Arnold,
who owned a number of properties in Snyder, among them a Grocery operated
by him and W. Lee Dunn. They lived in Snyder for 9 years, before selling
out and moving to the mountains of New Mexico to homstead some property there.
My Aunt lived in NM until she died in 1975 at the age of 98."
August 8th 1901
Miss Fannie M. Bramblett
Dear Madam
I thought I would rite you a few lines as I sean your name with the lucky
ones that got places in the new country. I tried to get a place but did not
get anything but after I looked over it I was glad I did not get one as it
is very poor out there. I don't see anything to back it up is all. I went
for I heard that there was going to be a girl given away with every place
so I thought that I might stand a show to get one as I am single yet but
I don't want a claim I just want the girl as she would be better than all
the land in the new country to me
Are you going to file on your place or not?
you had better let it go as you are a single womanas you cant make a living
out there by your self. Have you been married or not if it aint asking to
much of you, how old are you and do you ever think anything of getting married.
If you don't file on your claim I would like to correspond with you for a
while as I am from Ft. Worth myself. My pa has freighted from Ft. Worth to
Coleman City a long time ago. I would like to hear from that place very much
as I like that country. I have some relatives living there yet but I lost
track of them. I do believe that I have got the prettiest little cosin in
Texas. She is about 20 years old but as pretty as the Texas girls ever gets
and you no they get verry pretty down there. Well I hope you will answer
this and tell me all the news. So I will close for this time if you will
correspond with me for a while I would like it very much. I will send my
picture to you and you can see how I look. Hope you will send yours.
So goodbye for this time.
Geo. O. Booker
Lexington, Okla.
Sept. the 20th 1901
Dear Madam
I thought I would rite you a few lines as I was so lonesome as I am batching
and picking cotton and as I have never heard from you yet I thought you might
bee sick perhaps and I could look you up. I hope you did not get mad over
that letter that I rote you some time ago or over my picture did you.
Well fannie I am the same old boy and you will find that I am right after
that little heart or yours and I will bee untill you answer my letter for
I don't get tired of a girl till she says for me to quit. Now fannie don't
you think eny thing of getting married or have you got a best fellow?if you
have not I am him, say so
Well annie I don't know whether you are Miss or Mrs but I don't care for
I am looking for a true loveing wife and I am not agoing to stop till I find
her. But didnt you admire my picture very much. It is sweet isnt it. Now
fannie you had just as well rite to me as not for I will never quit untill
you do for I no you cant help but love that picture I sent you and you would
love me if you could see me for I am the loveingest boy you ever see. Belive
me fannie for that is the gospel truth as that is all I ever tell. Fannie
I would like to call you my swetheart as I no you are a nice little girl
and want a boy to loveyou and help you make a living in this world and I
can love you if you would let me. What do you say fannie about that. Fannie
you are not a going to live single all you live are you. When there are little
hearts tha ach for you and with you they would bee happy day and night. Now
fannie rite to this poor broken hearted fellow who would like to link his
heart with yours and go through life with you as a mate as I no I could love
you as any one could and I no you could love me as much. Fannie rite and
say you love me a little if it wont hurt you and if you will you will never
regret it for you will find a good true heart in the one that rote those
few lines to you. Fannie don't bee so selfish to one that wants to love you
an call you his own dear little girl. Now fannie think of me as I do you
and rite to me.
Dear fannie if others bee as fair what are their charms to me I rather no
nor care for thou art all to me.
Please don't get mad as this is my heart and I am sincear in my doing so.
Rite soon. I would like to be your friend if no more.
your sincerely
G. O. Booker
p.s. beelieve ms fannie for my heart is on fire for you alone and without
you it will still burn but with you it would bee happy all the time
lovingly
Oscar
Lexington O. T.
Octo. 5th 1901
Well I am sorry it made you mad to get a letter from a gentleman as I did
not intend to make you mad but you are saddly off when you think that I was
in that country last year for I was never in that place in my life and you
never seen me in your life. If you don't think I am just what I say I am
you can rite to the banker at lexington and find out all about me.it is not
because you have got a claim out in the new country that I rote to you. It
was just because I seen your name in the paper and thought you were single
and might want to marry if you could get a good man. I was out to that country
some time ago. Will go again this winter to look at some land at lone wolf.
Well my heart is not all in ashhes yet. You can tell your ma that it is as
big as a skined mule yet I think I have got as big a heart as eny one has.
I am sorry that you had bad luck with that old man of yours as I guess you
dream of him sometimes don't you.Have you got any children and how old are
you if it is a fair question. I ont like to ask to many questions about you.
Cant you send me your picture so I can see what you look like. I am sorry
my picture looks so old to you but hope you will forgive me for beeing so
fast in riting to you but I was bound to make youanswer one of my letters
before I quit. Hope you will be friendly enough to rite some more to me and
tell me all about things out there. I am still batching and picking cotton.
Your truly rite soon
Oscar Booker
N.B. those lasses down that tator row that is sweet if you are as sweet as
that i would lke to kiss you for shure. Goodby sweatheart.
Oct. 10th 1901
As I read your letter over every day it makes me love you more and more darling.
You are not mad at me but you thought you would play games on me but you
cant do that for I no you are a smart littel girl and as sweet as those lasses
that flowed down that tator row. Now darling May I love you and my poor heart
is still on fire for you and it will never go to ashes for it is to big for
all to burn up. Darling May you are my hearts desire. Darling you are the
apple of my green eye and with you for a wife I would be happy all my
life.darling mae if others be as fair what are their charms to me I rather
no nor care for thou art all to me, yes you are my darling.
Darling Maywhen the name I rite here is dim on the page and the leaves of
this volume is yellow with age then think of me kindly and do not forget
where ever I am I am loveing you yet.
now darling sweet girl give this rume in your dear loveing heart to rest
and remember me as your true loveing friend and remember that I ahve a heart
that is big enough for two as one is you.
O darling Maysay I can call you mine as you are the sweetest girl I ever
new wont you oh do May. Oh May my darling how I would love to press my tobacco
lips on those swwe4et littel lips of yours with the honey dew on them so
sweet as it is. Oh darling it is so lonesom without you here with me. I no
we could have a good time if you were hear now darling send me your sweet
little picture and I will wear it next to my heart Oh say darling wont you
swap hearts with me oh say you will as mine will break if I don't get you
for I do love you sincerely and I am so lonesome without you and i can cook
wash the dishes an sweap the floor and let you sleep if you want to. Oh darling
how I would like to be with you rite this minute as it is about bed time
and I cant sleep since I got your loveing letter. You set my poor brain a
whirling love for I never read a letter so loveing from any girl in my life.
Now darling try to rite me a nother one for I do love to read them. You may
think I am fooling about it but I am in earnest a bout it. Oh darling May
the sweetest girl on earth aint you darling may you littel sweet rose of
Texas you no you are sweet.
Oh darling I do wish I had wings like a turtle dove I would fly to the arms
of my true love May. Oh darling don't get angry at me for it is my heart
that speaks for me to you. Oh darling darling sweet girl don't you no I am
lonesome here by my self. Darling havent you got rume enough in your littel
sweet heart for me. Oh darling say you have oh do for pity sake honey say
you will be mine oh do darling and I will get a claim next to yours and we
will start a goose ranch. We can herd them on one claim and raise some fodder
and hay for them on the other claim. honey won't you be my loveing companio
and pardner through this goose ranch to heaven. Oh say you will darling sweet
girl doe for I would by the happiest boy on earth. Darling is you would believe
me my sweet darling girl for I am cinsear in it and I bellieve I will get
the girl I dearly love best of all the rest and that is my darling littel
May the rose that will never wither nor fade in my heart. Well sweet girl
I will close for this time hoping to hear from you soon darling don't delay
but rite soon as I like to hear from you. You are so sweet so goodby sweetheart
for this time.
Your loveing
Oscar Booker
Lexington, O. T. Indian Territory
press your lips here Hurrah for
it is my kiss Your claim
I hope this wont make you cry
ha ha sweatheart
Temple, Tex
Sept. 7, 1900
Miss May Bramlet
Well i spect you have forgot me i met you when you was down to cameron visiten
and taked a liken to you. Now miss may if it are greeable of you i wud like
ter rite to you and ter com ter sea you we air all well sept papa we air
goin to start to pick cotton sune may i wud like ter swop pictures with yer
i end mine ter you i spect i wil surprise you rite sune from J. Z. Day to
May Bramlet.