Description:
George A. Beidler arrived at Oklahoma Station a few days before the land run of April 22, 1889 to take over the post office from Samuel A. Radebaugh. He purchased five dollars worth of lumber and instructed soldiers from a nearby encampment to construct this log and tin lean-to across from the Santa Fe depot. After the land run Oklahoma City was laid out and the post office came to have the address of 8 W Main. It was a very popular place upon the arrival of trains in the city as citizens gathered around to hear their names called out by Beidler. In this photo Beidler is on the right, his son, Chase is in the center. Some have identified the man on the left as Capt. C. H. DeFord and others as Beidler’s brother Lynn.