Robert Bent and Bent Creek

This is an 1885 map illustrating the area around Cantonment in the Cheyenne Arapaho reservation. The post was located on the south side of the North Canadian River. A dashed line represents the military road from Fort Reno (south of the post) to Fort Supply (northwest of the post). A branch of the road turns west toward Cantonment.

A dashed line is shown continuing west from Cantonment along the south side of the river for a few miles, and then it stops at a creek.

This report from a Kansas newspaper identifies Robert Bent as the caretaker of Cantonment in 1882: "Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, October 19, 1882. The first copy of the Cheyenne Transporter our eyes have beheld for two months arrived yesterday, and is dated the 13th inst. We see by it that Agent Miles has placed Bob Bent in charge of the abandoned post at Cantonment and that the teams and wagons taken from Payne’s party have been sent north to be delivered to the owners. ......."

I believe that Robert Bent owned a ranch in this vicinity, and think that it may be possible that this road leading west from Cantonment may be a road to Bent's ranch. On modern maps, there is a Bent Creek in this vicinity. It is a few miles west of Seiling, Oklahoma.