Changes

The land along the Dorcheat was settled by the Caddo [[Indians]]. The names "Dorcheat" and "Bistineau" come from the Caddo and mean "people" and "big broth," respectively, the latter a reference to floating plant debris still found  in the lake. In 1835, the Caddo signed a treaty with the United States government and left the Dorcheat country. A few white traders, trappers, and hunters had arrived in the area even before the Indians left. The early settlers used the Dorcheat because of log jams on the Red River, which were later eliminated by Captain Henry Miller Shreve (1785-1851), for whom [[Shreveport]] is named.<ref name=lebreton/>​

The land along the Dorcheat was settled by the Caddo [[Indians]]. The names "Dorcheat" and "Bistineau" come from the Caddo and mean "people" and "big broth," respectively, the latter a reference to floating plant debris still found  in the lake. In 1835, the Caddo signed a treaty with the United States government and left the Dorcheat country. A few white traders, trappers, and hunters had arrived in the area even before the Indians left. The early settlers used the Dorcheat because of log jams on the Red River, which were later eliminated by Captain Henry Miller Shreve (1785-1851), for whom [[Shreveport]] is named.<ref name=lebreton/>​

Isaac Alden, who arrived from New Orleans prior to the [[War of 1812]], was one of the first white settlers in the Dorcheat country. A decade later, John Murrell arrived from [[Tennessee]]. Newett Drew, a native of [[Virginia]] and an ancestor of Judges Richard Maxwell Drew, [[Richard Cleveland Drew]], [[Harmon Caldwell Drew]], R. Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995), and current Circuit Judge [[Harmon Drew, Jr.]], constructed a [[sawmill]] and gristmil] at Dorcheat in 1821, from which appeared the settlement of the defunct Overton community in south Webster Parish. The settlers were dependent on the connection with the Red River as a tributary of the [[Mississippi River]].<ref name=lebreton/>​

Isaac Alden, who arrived from New Orleans prior to the [[War of 1812]], was one of the first white settlers in the Dorcheat country. A decade later, John Murrell arrived from [[Tennessee]]. Newett Drew, a native of [[Virginia]] and an ancestor of Judges Richard Maxwell Drew, [[Richard Cleveland Drew]], [[Harmon Caldwell Drew]], R. Harmon Drew, Sr. (1917-1995), and current Circuit Judge [[Harmon Drew, Jr.]], constructed a [[sawmill]] and [[gristmill]] at Dorcheat in 1821, from which appeared the settlement of the defunct Overton community in south Webster Parish. The settlers were dependent on the connection with the Red River as a tributary of the [[Mississippi River]].<ref name=lebreton/>​

Overton became the seat of government of Claiborne Parish; in 1871, Webster Parish was separated from Claiborne Parish. Plagued by [[epidemic]]s, Overton was eventually abandoned. The Claiborne Parish seat of government was shifted east to Athens, and then the current location of Homer. Meanwhile, Charles Hanson Veeder (1796-1871), a [[New York]] native, established Minden in 1836, and the new community soon outgrew Overton. Veeder established the defunct Minden Female College, considered the oldest college in Louisiana. In time, farming declined along the Dorcheat, as [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]] strikes occurred in Webster Parish during the 1920s.<ref name=lebreton/>​

Overton became the seat of government of Claiborne Parish; in 1871, Webster Parish was separated from Claiborne Parish. Plagued by [[epidemic]]s, Overton was eventually abandoned. The Claiborne Parish seat of government was shifted east to Athens, and then the current location of Homer. Meanwhile, Charles Hanson Veeder (1796-1871), a [[New York]] native, established Minden in 1836, and the new community soon outgrew Overton. Veeder established the defunct Minden Female College, considered the oldest college in Louisiana. In time, farming declined along the Dorcheat, as [[petroleum]] and [[natural gas]] strikes occurred in Webster Parish during the 1920s.<ref name=lebreton/>​