This was in the March, 1996 issue of Scientific American, page 10, in the "50, 100, and 150 years ago" section.

March 1846 -

"A wonderful account is given of the discovery of a monstrous wild man, in the swamps about the Arkansas and Missouri line. His track is said to measure 22 inches; and his toes as long as a common man's fingers. We are of the opinion that either the 'wild man,' or the man who raised the story, is a great monkey."

Credit: David Bittner