David L. Payne | |
|---|---|
 David L. Payne | |
| Born | December 30, 1836 Grant County, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | November 28, 1884 (aged 47) Wellington, Kansas, U.S. |
| Other names | "Father of Oklahoma" |
| Occupation | American politician |
| Spouse | Rachel Anna Haines (common law wife) |
David Lewis Payne (December 30, 1836 – November 28, 1884) was an American soldier and pioneer. Payne is considered by some to be the "Father of Oklahoma" for his work in opening the state to settlement.
He organized, trained, and led the "Boomer Army" on its forays into the Unassigned Lands.[1] Payne's excursions into the Unassigned Lands, trips led by others, and lobbying of Congress by railroad interests eventually convinced the government to open the Unassigned Lands for settlement in 1889, about four years after Payne's death.[2] The formation of Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory followed, and Oklahoma became a state in 1907.
- ^ Blackburn, Bob L. "Unassigned Lands". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture. Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived from the original on December 19, 2005. Retrieved May 23, 2007.
{{cite encyclopedia}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Osburn, William (September 1929). Tribute to Capt. D. L. Payne. Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved May 23, 2007.