Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Russia To Kansas To Oklahoma


One last stop on our Hughes-Ortner family research vacation. Because of the direction of our trip, we have taken the Ortner family in reverse. Our last stop, Marion County, Kansas, was George Ortner's first stop. George, Maria and baby Jacob came from Russia in 1879 with Christian and Katharina and more of George's siblings arriving in 1881. Property deeds show the Ortners eventually owned land a few miles southwest of Hillsboro, Kansas after having lived with other families they had known in Russia.

George and Maria were the first to arrive in Kansas and the last to leave for Christian and Christian C. (one of George's brothers) were a part of the land run across the Cimmaron River into newly opened land in Oklahoma Territory on April 19, 1892. George and Maria came a year later.

Notice the date on the deed of property from Christian and Katharina to George - just one month before the land run.





In order to homestead on federal land, one of the qualifications was that the individual either had to be a citizen of the US or have filed the first papers, the Declaration of Intention. In March of 1892, Christian had received his Certificate of Citizenship. During this time period, Katharina automatically became a citizen when her husband became a citizen.





There is so much more to tell about the Hughes and Ortner families, and as time allows, more will be posted. So, drop back by periodically and learn more about these wonderful folks.

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