Kiowa County

Frank Lugert, born in 1869 in Bohemia, was a courageous immigrant who became a prominent pioneer in Kiowa County, Oklahoma. After immigrating to America at age 13, he participated in historic land openings and founded the town of Lugert, establishing a general store and post office. The town thrived until it was devastated by a tornado in 1912, leading to its decline. Despite challenges, Lugert rebuilt and continued to serve the community. He passed away in 1958, remembered for his contributions to the development of Kiowa County.

The narrative chronicles the lives of Harry and Mary Wanzor, Oklahoma pioneers, as recounted by their daughter, Sarah Eva Wanzor Stone, in 1977. They journeyed from Kansas to Oklahoma in 1896, establishing a homestead while experiencing hardships and community life. The story highlights their agricultural endeavors, family milestones, and contributions to local society, culminating in Harry’s death in 1934 and Mary’s later years in San Antonio. Their legacy continues through Sarah’s writing, aimed at preserving their experiences for future generations of Wanzor descendants, solidifying their connection to Mountain View.

Judge John William Mansell, the first County Judge of Kiowa County, had roots in South Carolina before relocating his family to Oklahoma Territory. After facing hardships and numerous relocations, they settled in Hobart, where Mansell served as a respected judge and community leader. His public service and personal life included managing a newspaper and caring for his family amid challenges, such as smallpox and natural disasters. He upheld the belief that public office belonged to the people and was active in local church and civic activities until his death in 1929.

Marie B. Anderson recounts her family’s journey from Tennessee to Oklahoma, detailing her parents’ dreams of the West and their life in Lone Wolf. Growing up amidst challenges, she shares vivid memories of school, family dynamics, and community events. Marie reflects on her childhood experiences, including friendships, hardships, and the transition from horse-drawn transport to automobiles. After leaving Oklahoma in 1918, the family settled in Alabama, where she completed her education and married Forrest Lee Anderson, Jr. Marie’s nostalgic narrative highlights resilience and the evolving nature of her upbringing.

Colonel Lewellen Clay moved to Kiowa County from Michigan at age 15 and established a law practice in Hobart in 1901. He married Edna Finley in 1902, the daughter of the county’s first judge. Prominent in the Masons, Clay shared humorous anecdotes from his life, including his adventurous arrival in Oklahoma and amusing encounters while surveying land. His granddaughter, Sallie Sue Nunn Groves, treasures family stories and writings passed down from Clay.

Arthur T. Henderson, at 83, is likely Kiowa County’s oldest merchant, having operated his store in Cold Springs since 1913. Though the store has diminished to mostly selling soda and bread, Henderson continues to run it partly to stay active and connect with the community. Known for his independent spirit and Biblical scholarship, he is an enduring fixture in Cold Springs, a community that has significantly reduced in population. His life reflects the history of the area and its evolution, as he reminisces about its vibrant past despite the store’s later challenges.

In 1929, at three years old, the author recalls riding Mr. Charley Tannyhill’s horse, an experience that ended with a fall into a plowed garden. Mr. Tannyhill, a local homesteader from Indiana, developed the Circle Dot Ranch in Kiowa County, where he lived a unique life, marked by his time with the Ringling Brothers Circus and his unconventional lifestyle. Known for his generosity, he welcomed visitors and had a quirky personality. He passed away in the 1950s.

Mark and Bill Sauerberg, originally from Holstein, Germany, immigrated to the U.S. in 1891. After ten years of moving south through various states, they settled in Lone Wolf, Oklahoma. They established businesses, including a livery stable and later a dray business, while building friendships, including with Native American Chief Lone Wolf. The town was named Lone Wolf in 1912, reflecting the brothers’ influence. Bill later started a successful chicken farm, showcasing their entrepreneurial spirit and resilience through adversity, including natural disasters and encounters with outlaws.

Before the 1901 opening of the Kiowa-Comanche-Apache Reservation, eastern ranchers leased pastures from Native tribes. Notable among these was the Texas Waggoner ranch. Early cowboys, including Dick Holly, worked for these ranchers in the late 19th century. Holly’s narrative recounts a cattle drive in 1887, detailing challenges such as managing longhorns, finding water, and navigating by stars during night drives. He describes the camaraderie among cowboys, their reliance on trusted horses, and the hardships faced, including harsh weather and limited supplies during their long journey to New Mexico, where they ultimately settled.