Charles Francis Colcord
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
Charles Francis Colcord (August 18, 1859 - December 10, 1934) was a successful rancher, U.S. Marshal, Chief of Police, businessman, and pioneer of the Old West.
A resolution adopted by the Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce following the death of Charles F. Colcord, December 30, 1934 states, "Affluence came to him but left unspoiled his native gentleness and simplicity. Always he was modest, humble, democratic, generous, just and kind. He remembered the less fortunate friends of his early days."
Colcord took part in the first Oklahoma Land Run. By the end of the excitement, a noisy tent city had sprung up where Oklahoma City is now, and Colcord was its leading citizen. Colcord helped bring law as the town's first Chief of Police. He later built a several story office building in downtown Oklahoma City that is still in use to this day.
By the 1920s, Colcord was a wealthy man. He learned of the wonderful opportunities for cattle ranching in southern Delaware County, Oklahoma and built a 2000 acre (8 km²) ranch there. Nearby a little community was springing up that was later named after the rancher. Mr. Colcord employed many local residents of Colcord, Oklahoma and was very important to the spirit and economy of the growing town.
