George Washington IMEL

                   "In 1893, the Cherokee Outlet, a region below the southern Border of Kansas, was made available to settlers.  Everyone 21 years of age was eligible to file for a farm of 160 acres.  Thousands of families made the "Race" on September 16, 1893, across the Kansas line into the prairie lands of Oklahoma.  The government had previously surveyed the area and a marker was established every mile.  Many stories have been told of the excitement and confusion on the day of the "Opening". Every type of vehicle was there, as well as people on horseback and on foot.  The government officers kept the unruly citizens in line until the guns were fired at noon - which was the signal to start the mad race.  George W. Imel, Jr. and his two brothers, John and Joseph, rode horses and staked out claims in the "Cherokee Run" of Oklahoma in 1893. George Jr. was 13 miles east of Guthrie, Oklahoma, the capitol. At that time Langston, a colored town, was their address. Joseph's farm was 1 mile and John's farm 3 miles west of George's farm. The brothers cut logs and built a house and bank barn on their farms along a small stream. Later George sold his farm and moved to Kansas. John sold his farm and went to Texas. Joseph also left Oklahoma. George had two farms located near Faulkner, Kansas. When he developed tuberculosis, George sold his two farms and bought a general merchandise store in Faulkner, Kansas. He was also the Postmaster in Faulkner for many years. Ida, George's wife, operated the rural telephone company switchboard from their home in Faulkner during that period."