George Cales, a young man twenty five years old with a wife and one year old son. was one of the pioneers that ran in this race, and was fortunate enough to stake a claim. He rode a young hot blooded mare that ran second to none. After twenty one miles of racing at breakneck speed through tall grass, dust. and heat, the mare was tiring so he stopped and drove a stake with his name on it. This quarter section (160 acres) was located six miles south-west of what is now the town of Newkirk, OK . A town in which my father built many business buildings. He returned to Burden, Kansas for his wife and son.

He loaded a wagon with supplies, also took a plow and a milk cow. He dug a well to provide water for the new home. Also a dugout to provide a place to live. On Dec. 22, 1893, a daughter, Alta, was born. He built one room over the dugout. Later four more rooms were added. Five children were born on this claim, most without the aid of a doctor. One acre was donated for a school which he built. Another acre was donated for a cemetery. One son, Albert Paul, born Aug.10, 1897 lived only one day, and is buried in this cemetery. [Pictures of the cemetery, taken in 1998, are below.]

The pioneers had little or no money and suffered many hardships. After they were settled and built their homes, they would gather at one home or another on Sunday for a basket dinner. One day as they were eating dinner, a young girl was eating a pickle. She screamed and died suddenly. No one seemed to know what to do. They were afraid of a dead person. My father picked her up in his arms and carried her to his wagon. He took her to our home, mother made her a dress and father worked through the night to build a casket.They buried her in the cemetery on our claim.

[This account was provided by George's son Russell. My father, Raymond, was also born in the sod house on June 1, 1895. He died in Tulsa in 1983 and is buried in Forest Lawn, Glendale, CA. The article is attributed to Mrs. Elwood Young, George's sister, but judging from the writing and references to "my father" and "mother" I suspect it was written by my Aunt Alta.--Paul Cales]

Midday in mid-September, hot and dry,

The parched fields lift brown faces to the sky.

A buzzard high in gyratory flight

Marks for his feast below a carrion sight.

While thudding hoofbeats cause the earth to quake,

And eager racers pause to drive a stake,

Here man oblivious to plinth and dome

Pulls taut the canvas roof and calls it home.

While covered wagons halt beneath a tree

And history's hand writes "1893"