[OKGIS] Barren Fork or Baron Fork?

Fri Sep 1 10:34:42 CDT 2006

The GLO Plat does not show a community, only the "Baron P.O."  (Section 
26, Township 17 North, Range 25 East).  Do you know where the community of 
"Barren Fork" is located?  Further research shows that the town of Baron 
was "founded" in 1868 by a man by the name of Howard, who came to Oklahoma 
from Connecticut.  Mr. Howard was also the first postmaster of Baron, when 
the post office was established in 1895, so the spelling of the community 
"Baron" is certain, although I haven't discovered why he gave it that 
name.  It is only the spelling of the watercourse that is in question. 
Incidentally, the Railroad was already in place when the 1897 GLO Survey 
was performed.  It's Right of Way was obtained in 1893.  The railroad 
plans that I have show the name "Baron" written at the appropriate 
location in Section 26, and 2 of the land owners in that area are shown as 
"Howard".  The watercourse on the Railroad Plans is labeled as "Barron 
Fork".
So far, I have only examined the GLO Plat.  I will read the survey notes, 
if I get time, to see how the spelling is, and if there are any other 
references.

"David W. Wheelock" <David.Wheelock at oda.state.ok.us> 
Sent by: okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu
09/01/2006 08:50 AM
Please respond to
Oklahoma GIS Community <okgis at gis.gis.ou.edu>

To
"Oklahoma GIS Community" <okgis at gis.gis.ou.edu>
cc

Subject
RE: [OKGIS] Barren Fork or Baron Fork?

Does the 1897 survey that you refer to also indicate the community of 
"Barren Fork"? 

If so, where is it located relative to the Baron Post Office?

From: okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu [mailto:okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu] 
On Behalf Of wtackett at fd9ns01.okladot.state.ok.us
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 11:51 AM
To: Oklahoma GIS Community
Subject: Re: [OKGIS] Barren Fork or Baron Fork?

The Original Government Survey Plat of 1897 depicts both, the Baron PO 
(Post Office) and the "Barren Fork of the Illinios River".  I will do some 
more checking. 

Dan Hough <dhough at ou.edu> 
Sent by: okgis-bounces at gis.gis.ou.edu 
08/31/2006 11:44 AM 

Please respond to
Oklahoma GIS Community <okgis at gis.gis.ou.edu>

To
Oklahoma GIS Community <okgis at gis.gis.ou.edu> 
cc

Subject
Re: [OKGIS] Barren Fork or Baron Fork?

David,

My copy of Oklahoma Place Names, Second Edition, has an entry for Baron, 
  a post office in Adair county from 1895 to 1942.  It states that the 
local name for the community was Barren Fork, from the Barren Fork of 
the Illinois river.

Don't know if that helps.

Dan

David W. Wheelock wrote:
> Hi Folks,
> 
> I just did a new delineation of the Scenic Rivers Watershed and am 
> attributing the data, and have again come up against the question of the 

> correct spelling of Baron/Barren Fork Creek.
> 
> Here's the problem.  The Oklahoma Scenic Rivers legislation spells it* 
> Barren Fork*, but the USGS quad maps have* Baron Fork*.  There is a town 

> called Baron close to it, as well, so it may have been named after 
> that.  However, when I Google “Baron Fork Creek Oklahoma” I get 88,000 
> hits; whereas, when I Google “Barren Fork Creek Oklahoma” I get 98,000 
> hits.  It appears that both terms are in equally common use, although 
> possibly Baron Fork may have been the original spelling.
> 
> Does anyone have any insight or knowledge that might help us resolve 
> this issue this issue?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> David Wheelock     Application Specialist    _ __david at oda.state.ok.us_
> 
> Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry
> 2800 North Lincoln Boulevard
> Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4298
> Phone: (405) 522-5477 FAX: (405) 522-3590
> ___http://www.oda.state.ok.us_____
> 
> "We are usually convinced more easily by reasons we have found 
ourselves,
> than by those which have occurred to others."
> Pascal
> 

-- 
Dan Hough email:dhough at ou.edu
Oklahoma Biological Survey
Norman, OK  73019

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://gis.ou.edu/pipermail/okgis/attachments/20060901/11c90b3d/attachment.htm