The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-02-06
CoUNcn GRovE.
800. Preeent md Future.

)ther, excepting Lawrence, which mas i
more interesting history than Council
Grove. She is one of the oldest trading 4
posts in the state, and, could the lives Of I
al the men who have trodden her soil
be written in a book. it would tale ua-
fold that would amply justify using the
adage, Truth is stranger than fiction"
About the year 1910, the land on which
Council Grove is situated was selected
by the Kansas Indians for n reservation,
and this tribe, which then numbered
fifteen hundred or more, removed
from the Kaw valley and pitched
their tents in a grove near this place A
few years later John c. Fremont passed
through and staked out the Santa Fe
wagon road, which in artery years became
perhaps the greatest thoroughfare of this
kind ia the United States. Council
Grove was for many years the last trad
ing point on this road from Independ-
ence, Mo, to Santa Fe New Mexico.
G. NJ. Simcock and Seth Hays were
among the first to brave the storms of
frontier life and furnished supplies for |
the immense trains that We're almost |
daily passing.
1t is said that a council held with the |
Indians originated the name which has
since adhered to the place. The Kaws
were at one time deadly enemies of the
Pawnee and Cheyenne tribes, and many
uneasy nights have been spent by the
residents of the Grove on account of
threatened raids from hostile tribes. On
the hill west of town stands ii belfry
which was erected and bell placed
therein for the purpose of warning citi-
zens against raiding savages.
| In the early history of the place, Hon.
T. S. Huffakcr figured prominently.
Having been sent as missionary to the
Indians. He erected large school
| building in which he educated several
Indian boys, who, while they lost track
of their letters did not forget the English
language, aud became influential men,
bers of the tribe. Mr.. Huffaker render
cd the Indians much valuable service, in
recognition of WHICH they presented him
half section of land on which he now
resides.
| When l first saw Council Grove, al
most seventeen years ago, it was mere
village; but it now contains about fifteen
hundred inhabitants, and the brick
blocks on Main street will compare favor
ably with many cities of larger growth.
Among the business men l
recognize a few familiar faces, but the
greater number, who were here from '63
to '73 have removed to other points and
many of them were swept into the
melstrom of financial ruin, which rob
bed so many industrious citizens of their
well earned fortunes.
Council Grove, like many other Kan
sas towns, tried To put on airs" few
years ago, and without the requisite two
thousand, managed to become city OF
the second class. For time all went
well, but in the course of several year:
when leading men began to fail, she -'re
r pented of her airs" and by IL popular
2 vote shook Off her stolen honorS, and Il
present has no form of city government
G Many of the prominent citizens claim
: that this was IA mistake and an effort viii
I be made to re -establish the old form. l
Is claimed that as there is no council Il
C enact laws, nor officers TO enforce then
r other than constable and sheriff, there i
d greater tendency to rowdyism thar
formerly existed.
On last Monday night the glass wa
C broken out of the front door of Mr.. Atch
: ison's bakery and pane of glass was re
c moved from Mr.. Stevenson's confection
:, cry A few candies and sixty cents il
h money constituted the amount of booty
The boys employed in the Republical
II printing Office were suspicioned as bC
Il ing the guilty parties, and at the IL
J. stance of Mr.. Atchison county attorne
John Maloy had warrant issued for til
arrest of W. A. Moriarty and Charlie
in White. The trial took place to-day 1
As the court house, and was largely attended
ne Circumstantial evidence sufficient I
ar convince the jury of Mr.. Moriarty'
to guilt was produced, and he was fined tie
as dollars and costs, but through his alto
to ney gave notice that lie would appea
to Mr.. White proved an alibi and was r
ey leased.
re Among the prominent business men
n have met several formerly of EmpOri
We Among them, Mr.. Spencer, druggis
Ii. Will Sunderland, in charge of Whitley
ID. Henson's branch store, and Mr.. Seame
er who is preparing to engage extensive
re in the lime trade. Mr.. Davidson, forr
S. erly of Americas, has one of the fine
hardware and stove stores in the west
IN, Uncle Charley Columbia still chuck
ch over that sewing machine which his b.
Z. took ut the NEWS baby show last ia
IS. Council Grove has, to my ccrta
in knowledge, one first class hotel, the Co
us mercial House, kept by Mr.. w. F. Nj
in tin, and l am told the Rightly house
SO also good.
Dy. can see no reason why the Grove
ly. not now in u prosperous condition, a
I'm rs she has nobly battled with many m
in fortunes, she will no doubt make stea
progress in the future. A. w. S