COUNCIL GROVE

city, seat (1871) of Morris county, east central Kansas, U.S., on the Neosho River. The settlement started as an Indian campground in a grove of oaks near the river, where a treaty was concluded (1825) between the federal government and the Kansa and the Osage Indians to permit the surveying of the Santa Fe Trail (from the Missouri River to Santa Fe, then in Mexican territory). The following year the first of many wagon trains rested at Council Grove, the last supply point before Santa Fe. After the arrival of the railroad in 1883, it became a shipping point for livestock and farm produce. The city remains an agricultural processing and shipping centre dealing primarily in grain, poultry, and livestock. Frontier landmarks include the Pioneer Jail (1849; the only one on the Santa Fe Trail), the Madonna of the Trail Monument, honouring pioneer women, and Hays Tavern (1847). The Kaw Indian Mission (1851) is now a museum. Custer's Elm, 100 ft (30 m) tall and 16 ft in circumference, supposedly sheltered Lieut. Col. George A. Custer's troops in 1867 during an expedition against the Indians. The Council Grove Reservoir, 3,000 ac (1,200 ha), is nearby. Inc. 1858. Pop. (1990) 2,228.