History of Canadian County
Source: Jean Kyle
Sand Hills -- site of the last great Indian fight in Oklahoma, fought by a
company of soldiers in 1875 while guarding the Cheyenne and Arapaho agency at
Darlington from an Indian outbreak. Located about a mile northwest of
Darlington.
General Sheridan's Headquarters -- at Fort Reno, where he was stationed late
in the 1870's during the time he was engaged in helping round up the renegade
Indians. Moved to Adams Park on the outskirts of El Reno.
Darlington -- named for Brinton Darlington who was sent to the site in 1869
to establish an agency for the Cheyenne and Arapahos. A Quaker, he was
much
loved by the Indians but was unequal in physical strength for the strenuous
task and died in 1872. His body lies in the Indian cemetery one mile south
of Concho.
Cheyenne Transporter -- First newspaper published in western Oklahoma
launched by Lafe Merritt at Darlington in 1879 for the population at the
Indian agency and for cattlemen who leased Indian lands for their cattle
herds in this area. The paper lasted for six years. It carried the
brands
of all of the cattlemen in this section.
Caddo Springs -- presently known as Concho (named for Agent Shell), was named
for the famed springs located on the old Stage Trail from Caldwell, Kans.,
through Darlington and Fort Reno to Fort Sill. This was a favorite camping
place for both Indians and freighters in the early days due to abundance of
the sparkling cold water. The Cheyenne school was first built here in 1879
and in the 1880's the agency was moved from Darlington to this location and
the name changed from Caddo Springs to Concho.
Mennonite Mission -- built in the early 1890's by the Mennonite church just
east of Darlington.
Fort Reno -- established in February, 1876 to house the troops which were
frequently sent to Darlington to protect the officials of the Indian agency
and the friendly Indians. The garrison provided police protection for the
old Oklahoma area before and during the opening of 1889. Became a
regimental
headquarters during Spanish-American war. Changed to remount station in
1908
to provide mounts for army. In World War II added training of pack outfits
and sent thousands of mules and their drivers to India. Following the war
trained and furnished thousands of mounts and mules for Greece and Turkey.
In 1949 the military activities were abandoned and the property was turned to
the Department of Agriculture.
Chisholm Trail -- The great route for running the huge cattle heads from
Texas to the nearest railroads in Kansas to be transported to the meat hungry
eastern markets. Crossed South Canadian a few miles west of Mustang,
veered
northeast to west edge of present Yukon, then across North Canadian and
northwest to vicinity of Okarche. An estimated two million cattle were
driven over this route before the first railroad penetrated the Indian
country into Texas.
Ghost towns -- Frisco City and Reno City were the outstanding municipalities
platted during the opening as both had aspirations for the county seat.
Frisco City, located three miles northwest of Yukon, settled by Union
veterans, faded away when the Choctaw railway built on the south side of the
North Canadian river. Was an active candidate for the county seat, but El
Reno won the election by devious means. Reno City, located three miles
north
of El Reno, also died when the Rock Island railway built a mile west instead
of passing through it.
Land Drawing of 1901 -- Conducted at the present day site of Irving School in
El Reno when the Kiowa-Comanche lands were distributed by lottery with 30,000
people looking on.
- Return to Canadian
County Biographies, Wills,Stories and Family Histories
- Return to Canadian County
Genealogy
- Return to Oklahoma
Genealogy
- Return to United States Genealogy
