FIRST: Mayor of Ponca City, OK
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 36° 42.225 W 097° 04.946
14S E 671286 N 4063722
Wheeler Dealer, as we would call him today, but he got things done.
Waymark Code: WMZKMP
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 11/25/2018
Views: 3
County of memorial: Kay County
Location of memorial: Sidewalk, Grand Ave. @ 2nd St., Ponca City
B. S. BARNES
Pioneer Founder
and First Mayor
of Ponca City
1847 - 1906
GRAND AVENUE
Ponca City 1899
VISION
"When B.S. Barnes came to Oklahoma Territory prior to the 1893 Land Run, he had a vision to start a city. He selected the site of Ponca City for its ample water, a river crossing and access to the railroad. He organized the "Ponca Townsite Company" and sold $2 chances on lots to the settlers gathered to make the land run. At noon, September 16, 1893, the signal gun was fired, and the race for free land began. [photo: First City Hall]
TENACITY
"Barnes chose an area where he wanted his city and hired surveyors to lay it out, staking the corners of each city lot. Northwest of Barnes' chosen area was Cross, a town assigned by the government for settlement. The railroad stopped in Cross, but Barnes wanted it to stop in Ponca.
With a few friends, in the dark of night, he moved the Cross depot to Ponca City. The the train stopped here.
CHARACTER
"The early successes of Ponca City are due to the foresight, excellent judgment, indomitable will and untiring effort of B.S. Barnes. In all the difficulties, Mr. Barnes never faltered as a leader. The citizens always had confidence in his ability and integrity and, five days after the run, they elected him as their first mayor.
~ Ponca City Rotary Club
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