1897 Handwritten Letter Rathbone Oklahoma Territory Bonebreak Hardware McCormick Mower

Approximately 5" by 8" 

Some creases due to mailing in envelope.

Lot 397X

A McCormick mower was a horse-drawn or tractor-drawn mechanical device used for cutting grass, hay, or other crops. It was first patented by Cyrus McCormick in 1834, and his design was later improved upon by his son, Cyrus Jr. The McCormick mower was a significant innovation in agriculture, as it allowed farmers to cut crops more quickly and efficiently than with traditional hand tools.

The basic design of the McCormick mower consisted of a rotating blade that cut the crop, and a series of gears that transmitted power from the horse or tractor to the blade. The blade was mounted on a platform that could be adjusted to control the height of the cut, and the whole device was usually pulled behind the horse or tractor. Over time, various improvements were made to the design of the McCormick mower, including the addition of a reel that helped to guide the crop towards the blade.

The McCormick mower was an important precursor to the modern mechanical mower, and it played a key role in the mechanization of agriculture in the 19th and 20th centuries. Today, many antique McCormick mowers are still in use as part of historical farming demonstrations and living history exhibits.

J.E. Bonebreak (1862-1936) was a prominent businessman, politician, and civic leader in Oklahoma during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bonebreak was born in Indiana and moved to Kansas as a young man, where he worked as a clerk and studied law. In 1889, he moved to Guthrie, Oklahoma, which was then the capital of the Oklahoma Territory, and established a law practice.

In addition to his legal work, Bonebreak was also involved in various business ventures, including real estate, banking, and oil exploration. He was a founder of the Guthrie National Bank, which later became the First National Bank of Guthrie, and he also helped establish the Oklahoma Union Telephone Company.

Bonebreak was also active in politics, serving as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1904 and 1908. He was elected to the Oklahoma Senate in 1912 and served as president pro tempore of the Senate from 1915 to 1917.

In addition to his business and political pursuits, Bonebreak was also a civic leader who was involved in many community organizations and initiatives. He was a founder and president of the Oklahoma State Historical Society, and he also served as president of the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce.

J.E. Bonebreak was a prominent figure in the development of Oklahoma during its territorial and early statehood periods, and his legacy is still felt in the state today.

The Oklahoma Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 2, 1890, until November 16, 1907, when it was joined with the Indian Territory under the name Oklahoma to become the 46th state.

The Oklahoma Territory was created by the Organic Act of 1890, which divided the former Indian Territory into two separate territories: the Oklahoma Territory and the Indian Territory. The Oklahoma Territory was carved out of the western half of the former Indian Territory and was bounded on the north by Kansas, on the east by Arkansas and Missouri, on the south by Texas, and on the west by New Mexico Territory.

The Oklahoma Territory was settled by pioneers, many of whom were African American and Native American, seeking land and opportunity in the newly opened territory. The territory's economy was based on agriculture, particularly wheat farming, and cattle ranching. The discovery of oil in the early 1900s also contributed to the territory's growth and development.

In 1907, the Oklahoma Territory and the Indian Territory were merged to form the state of Oklahoma, which became the 46th state of the United States.