Thanks very much! Extremely helpful. Page is a good friend and worked at Perkins School of Theology (SMU) where I also work.
Here's a little problem. I've been looking at early settlements like Sand Spring (1840), Iron Ore Creek (1840), Buckner (1841/2) Throckmorton (1842), Colbert's Ferry (1842, prior to Colbert himself), the William Whitley Wheat settlement (1842). Add Breckinridge (Dallas County, 1843), and they all fall on or close to the route that is roughly 75 today. As far as I can see, none were on the Military Road except Fort Johnston if the Military Road indeed followed SH 289 = Preston Road roughly where it is today.
Were there any settlements on the Military Rd/Preston Rd prior to 1844 or thereabouts? If not, or if there were only a few, why would settlers prefer more easterly locations? Did the Military Road expose them to the open prairie in a way that might have made them vulnerable to Plains Indians?
/ted
Here's a little problem. I've been looking at early settlements like Sand Spring (1840), Iron Ore Creek (1840), Buckner (1841/2) Throckmorton (1842), Colbert's Ferry (1842, prior to Colbert himself), the William Whitley Wheat settlement (1842). Add Breckinridge (Dallas County, 1843), and they all fall on or close to the route that is roughly 75 today. As far as I can see, none were on the Military Road except Fort Johnston if the Military Road indeed followed SH 289 = Preston Road roughly where it is today.
Were there any settlements on the Military Rd/Preston Rd prior to 1844 or thereabouts? If not, or if there were only a few, why would settlers prefer more easterly locations? Did the Military Road expose them to the open prairie in a way that might have made them vulnerable to Plains Indians?
/ted