Person

Calvin Burford – Kingfisher County, Oklahoma

Scan of homesteading patent issued to Calvin Burford under Grover Cleveland's presidency. — Homesteading patent issued to Calvin Burford under Grover Cleveland's presidency.
Government Land Office

Calvin Burford, a veteran of the Civil War and “Buffalo Soldier,” filed an application for a homestead in Kingfisher County, Oklahoma on October 18, 1890. The land was approximately 36 acres in size and was located in Lot 4, NW1/4 of SW1/4 of Section 30 in Township 18N, and North of Range 5 West near Indian Meridian.

In 1878, Burford married Nica (“Nicsey”) Mills, both originally from Tennessee and where Calvin enlisted in the Union Army. Later, in the 1880s, he married Carrie Hart, who is noted as his widow in Civil War pension records. According to the 1900 census, Burford and Carrie had a son named Calvin, who was nine years old at the time.

Calvin served in the regular army in Chattanooga, Tennessee, from February 14, 1864, to March 18, 1866, as a member of Company B in the 24th Regiment. Before his time with Company B, he enlisted in the second battalion of the 15th Infantry Division within the Union Army. Over the course of his service, Calvin held various roles and ultimately achieved the rank of Sergeant. His distinguished service came to an end when he was honorably discharged due to a severe injury sustained in the line of duty, which led to paralysis.

Calvin made significant enhancements to his 36-acre property, which was valued at $300. His improvements included constructing a log house, a log stable, planting an orchard, building two mills, and cultivating 12 acres of land. Several witnesses, such as his brother Casper Burford (also a homesteader), Abraham Stevenson, Henry Wilson, and Scott Fox, provided testimonials and affidavits affirming the validity of his land claims.

In addition to the land he applied for, the Oklahoma land office records indicate that Burford also owned an additional 160 acres of land. On May 15, 1894, Calvin appeared before the General Land Office, where he presented documentation verifying his rightful ownership of the 36 acres. Subsequently, in 1894, President Grover Cleveland officially signed the document that granted him ownership of the homestead.