William Couch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Couch
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William L. Couch in 1888
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| 1st Mayor of Oklahoma City | |
| In office April 27, 1889 – November 11, 1889 |
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| Preceded by | position established |
| Succeeded by | Sidney Clarke (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 20, 1850 Wilkes County, North Carolina |
| Died | April 21, 1890 (aged 39) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
William Lewis Couch (born November 20, 1850 – died April 21, 1890) was an important leader in early Oklahoma history. He was born in North Carolina and later lived in Kansas. William Couch is best known for leading the Boomer Movement. This group wanted to settle land in what was then called Indian Territory. He also became the first temporary mayor of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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William Couch's Early Life
William Couch was born in Wilkes County, North Carolina, on November 20, 1850. He was the oldest child of Meshach H. and Mary Bryan Couch. After the Civil War ended, his family moved to Kansas. William did not have much formal schooling. However, he was known for being a very strong reader.
William married Cynthia Gordon, a Quaker woman who was older than him. In 1871, William and Cynthia moved to Butler County, Kansas. They bought a farm near Douglass. Around 1874, a railroad was built nearby. William then stopped farming to start businesses in Wichita. He sold grain, ran an elevator, traded horses and mules, and owned a hardware and grocery store. He lost money in some of his businesses. But his livestock sales helped him support his family.
Leading the Boomer Movement
In 1879, William Couch heard David L. Payne speak. Payne talked about land in Indian Territory that he called "Oklahoma Country." Payne believed this land was public and should be free for settlers. However, the U.S. government was moving Native American tribes onto these lands. They warned people not to settle there.
Even so, Couch became very excited about Payne's movement. He officially joined the "Boomers" in 1880. William moved his family back to Douglass so his father could help care for his five children. William then became more active in the movement. He looked for good places where settlers could claim land.
Early Boomer Expeditions
In February 1883, William Couch led a group of Boomers into Indian Territory. They wanted to claim land. The army stopped them, arrested them, and held them at Fort Reno. They were then sent back to Kansas. Couch immediately started planning new trips into Oklahoma Country. He led two more groups, one in August 1883 and another in April 1884.
Couch Becomes Leader
William Couch became the main leader of the Boomer Movement after David L. Payne died. Payne passed away from a heart attack in Wellington, Kansas, on November 28, 1884. One of Couch's first actions as leader was to guide about 300 settlers. They traveled from Wellington across the Cherokee Outlet into Indian Territory.
On December 12, 1884, they reached a stream they named Still Water. Soon, U.S. Cavalry soldiers arrived. They cut off the Boomers' supplies. The settlers were arrested and forced out of the territory. After being released, Couch spent several years in Washington, D.C. He worked to convince the government to open the "Unassigned Lands" for settlement. His efforts eventually helped make this happen.
Becoming Oklahoma City's First Mayor
William Couch took part in the Oklahoma Land Run on April 22, 1889. This was a race to claim land in the new territory. Soon after, on April 27, 1889, he was chosen as the temporary mayor of the new Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He served as mayor until he resigned on November 11, 1889.
On April 4, 1890, William Couch was shot by J. C. Adams. This happened during an argument over his land claim. William Couch died from his injuries on April 21, 1890. Adams was arrested and went to prison for several years. The land claims of both men were eventually canceled.
