Historical Marker Program

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Fort Wayne

Adair County
Location: on US-59 on south edge of Watts
Coordinates: 36.105500, -94.574600
Material: Granite
Sponsor(s): Oklahoma Historical Society
Topics: American Indians; Military; Westward Expansion, 1803–1861

Established in 1838 by Lt. Col. R. B. Mason, 1st Dragoons, US Army, at request of Arkansas citizens fearing Cherokees who were being removed from southeastern US. Named in honor of Gen. “Mad” Anthony Wayne, the fort was originally located in NE corner of present-day Watts on a hill, overlooking Illinois River. Considered poor location because many soldiers died there including Capt. John Stuart, 7th infantry. In 1839, fort was abandoned and moved to Beatie's Prairie west of Maysville, Arkansas. That site abandoned in 1842 and troops moved north to establish Fort Scott, Kansas.

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Starr Springs

Adair County
Location: at junction of OK-100 and US-59 on south edge of Stilwell
Topics: American Indians; Environmental/Cultural Ecology; Settlement Patterns; Westward Expansion, 1803–1861

Starr Springs was the head of Sallisaw Creek, a source of water for Stilwell since 1910. The area was the site of the 1853 murder of Andrew Adair and his son, George W. Adair, because of their support for Cherokee removal. The spring was named for George Harlan Starr, a prominent Cherokee, who purchased the site in 1867. The marker is a tribute to D. M. “Mack” Starr, respected and knowledgeable Cherokee historian, who died in 1995.

Note: This marker is missing.