Fort Drinkwater, in western Chase County, Kansas, was built in 1857 by Orlo H. Drinkwater and W. L. Fowler on Drinkwater's farm. The fort served the area settlers as a refuge during Indian disturbances until 1868. It was built along what called Cedar Creek,[1] or Cottonwood River.[2] In 1862, Drinkwater became the area's postmaster and his fort home served as the post office for several years, until the town of Cedar Point, Kansas, was established a mile to the west.[1]
After Drinkwater built a stone house on a nearby hill, Fort Drinkwater was completely abandoned and collapsed after years of neglect.[3]
References
- ^ a b Lila T. Dwelle and Ruth D. Grimwood, "Cedar Point," Chase County Historical Sketches (N.p.: Chase County Historical Society, 1948), vol. II, p. 305.
- ^ William Least Heat-Moon (March 11, 2014). PrairyErth: A Deep Map. HMH. p. PT494. ISBN 978-0-547-52747-5.
- ^ William C. Pollard, Jr., Forts and Posts in Kansas During the Civil War: 1861-1865 (Charleston: CreateSpace, June 2015), p. 59.