In maps of the United States/Texas/North America between 1820 and 1825, I noticed a place along the Red River in former Miller County, Arkansas Territory called "Williams Settlement." I began a search that took me into the aftermath of a major earthquake.

The Louisiana Purchase gave way to five territories along the Red River. Here are links to some of the congressional papers.

A lot of shenanigans and the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 established the Red River as the southern boundary of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

For Thomas Jefferson, the most important Corps of Discovery in the Louisiana Purchase was the expedition up the Red River of 1806.

In 1805, Dr. Sibley took the testimony of Francis Grappe about French settlements along the Red River in New Orleans Territory.

The census of Native People of New Orleans Territory included descriptions of tribal languages, places, and affiliations.

S.A. Bolton explained living in a dugout in Harmon County, Oklahoma Territory to a WPA worker during the Great Depression.

I found two other maps of Texas, both from the period after Texas statehood (1845), that shows Warren's trading posts.

Pressler's 1867 shows Warren's Trading House sandwiched between Panther and Salt Creek (TX), and near Red Creek (OK), but not on Mud Creek.

Between 1810 and 1813, John Maley journeyed up the Red River and visited Natchitoches twice, but didn't enjoy either visit.

The Killgore Mansion is tied to the Cloud Stark Mansion of Gainesville, Cooke County, Texas... and it's not just based on the time period.

The "Old Southwest," which is dominated by the Red River, is a political rather than a cultural designation.

This photograph depicts "part of Satanta's Kiowa Band at Sutler's Store, Fort Sill, Indian Territory" by either Soule or Bliss.

This 1824 German map of Arkansas Territory is a lot more illuminating than many others from the same period I've encountered.

Zebulon Pike's journey to the Red River was beset with problems and intrigue.

The Cossatot River derives from a French word meaning"crushed head," and in 1833, it was to be spanned by a toll bridge.

Mercer's Colony in northeast Texas received permission in January of 1844 to form a separate land grant process from Peters Colony.

Between 1809 and 1819, a young American named Henry Ker traveled up the Red River from its mouth to its far western reaches search of gold.

The only available photographic documentation of an execution carried out by the Choctaw Nation's Lighthorsemen.

A map from 1872 details some original cattle trails that ran through Texas after the Civil War.