Does anyone know exactly where the Deleware Mountains are? They are mentioned as a landmark near the S. Canadian River somewhere between the mouth of Little River where the Edwards Trading Post/Ft. Holmes was located, and old Camp Arbuckle near Byars.

According to the Whipple map, dating 1855, found in the Chronicles of Oklahoma, Autumn 1950, Delaware Ridge was southeast of Beaversville, the site of old Camp Arbuckle on the California Road (north of present Rosedale.) An 1856 map by J. H. Colton & Co. places Delaware Mountain on the California Road directly south of old Topofkee Town. Both of these maps are distorted because of a surveyor's error. Whipple's journal from a point near present Stuart in Hughes County, states he was guided along the dividing ridge between the Canadian and headwaters of the Boggy to avoid canyons and "steep hills of Delaware Mountain." Whipple moved by winding NW to SW until he reached the rolling prairie extending to Black Beaver's village (old Camp Arbuckle.) This description would place the mountain near Ada. Simpson's journal, found in Chronciles, Summer, 1960, dating to 1849, places Delaware Mountain at 146 miles from Ft. Smith. Marcy on the same journey said he went south and then west from Edward's Post to pass around the mountains which border the Canadian River until he reached the Delaware Mountain or Mount (the terms are often used interchangeably.) The Mount was a important landmark on the California Road, mentioned by most writers because of the view.Later descriptions of ascending the Mount has allowed it's exact placement to be determined as in the SE1/4, Sec. 5, T.3N, R.6E, Pontotoc County near the southwest corner of Ada.
The Delaware Mountains, however, are thought to extend northeasterly from the vicinity of Fitshugh to near Allen. If this has confused you, check into the references I cited. They explain it better and have maps.

I certainly appreciate knowing where is located esecially the legal

Thanks, I've heard that Beaversville/Camp Arbucle was located in the vicinity of both Byars & Rosedale. I guess the Delaware Mountains must be the high point where that old plant is in SW Ada.

Any ideas as to the exact locations of Camp Holmes on Choteau Creek. Captain Marcy described it as being one mile north of the bend in the S. Canadian as it turns due west.

Has anyone visited the location of Ft. Holmes/Edwards Trading House on Little River & the S. Canadian?

I'm currently living in Missouri but hope to get the opportunity to do a little fishing by canoe this summer on the S. Canadian. I hope to be able to get close to these old, obscure places and maybe visit them.

Camp Arbuckle is definitely north of Rosedale. Nothing exists to mark its presence however. Even the brackish creek the troopers complained about is dried up.

Chouteau’s trading post: From Simpson’s report: “Old Fort Holmes...nearly opposite Camp 26 at this time a locality with a name, but no habitation...grass wood and water found to the right and left in the ravines. The well defined and isolated grove of trees about five miles to the eastward of Ft. Holmes, and which is marked on the maps will be found to be a capital landmark to show the emigrant his whereabouts.” There were four maps made on this expedition and they are probably with the National Archives. The closest I’ve found to an exact description to Camp Holmes or Chouteau’s post is from Grant Foreman’s Advancing The Frontier, p. 232: ...The exact location...was a spring on a small creek, both still bearing the name of Chouteau, on the east or north side of Canadian (as the river bends north) about 5 miles northeast of present Purcell. The camp’s life was short lived, simply being the site of the signing of a treaty with the Plains Indians and the post was active for only 3 years. The location was a favorite camping ground and seasonal village for many tribes. After the Civil War, a Negro village and a buffalo camp both existed there for short periods of time. I can’t give a more accurate description and wouldn’t if I could because it’s an important historical site and if anybody’s gonna be digging in there, it outta be the State Archeologists.

Edward’s post and Chisholm’s further downstream are pretty well known and have been visited by any number of people. Not much to see, but I’m sure a local could help you located them.

And, you might want to check the water level before trying to canoe on the Canadian in the summer. Normally the water’s about six inches deep with a quicksand bottom. And, if its in flood, its ten times as dangerous.

If you want more information on Chouteau's Post and old Camp Holmes see Chronicles of Oklahoma, Sept. 1935

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tower,

I just finished that volume on the Chronicles. It seems that Choteau Creek was diverted to flow into the Canadian north of Lexinington, instead of south of the town. Van Zandt determines that the location of Camp Holmes is on the hillside 3/4 miles east of US-77 and 3/4 miles north of the town.

According to author George Shirk http://digital.library.okstate.edu/Chronicles/v027/v027...22camp%20arbuckle%22 "Old" Camp Arbuckle was located about one mile north of Byars, and about one mile west. He mentions the Oklahoma Central Railway having once operated there. This explains the the old railroad bridge across the S. Canadian. The bridge has been used for decades as a one-lane bridge connecting Wanette with Byars-Johnsonville.