‘Late Sooner' a rich testament to Oklahoma's early settlers

Sally Jadlow weaves a tale of hardships and successes as Sanford Deering stakes his claim in Oklahoma Territory long after the bugle sounded April 22, 1889.

In "The Late Sooner” (Roots and Branches, $16.95), she shares a story of historical facts from her great-grandfather's experience of making a late claim in pockets of land available shortly after the run.

Jadlow had opened her mother's antique cabinet and found a speckled brown ledger with crinkling yellowed pages belonging to Deering. It had ragged edges and was handwritten, containing dates and descriptions from his daily life in the 1880s.

The basic story follows each dated line of the ledger with his comments. The historical facts were carefully researched.

This book is certain to be of great interest to anyone whose ancestors made the runs into Indian and Oklahoma territories or who appreciates those who did. It describes the struggles, heartaches, hardships and trials of settlers determined to prove their claim to a quarter-section of land. They faced famine, drought, prairie fires and claim-jumpers during the years following the land runs and were required to live on the 160 acres for five years to earn their right to receive a signed patent from President Cleveland.

Jadlow's story is a tale richly deserving a read by those of us now enjoying the opportunities and development of this state.

— Russ Long