Council Grove Chapter, NSDAR, is named for a historical location near NW Tenth Street and the North Canadian River in Oklahoma City. Although Council Grove in western Oklahoma County has a venerable history and tradition, much older than Oklahoma City, it is not often mentioned as part of our early-day legacy.
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Council Grove was an important part of the “Unassigned Lands.” Although it was in the Creek Nation, it was a gathering place for many of the Plains Indians. It provided good spring water with a large grove of cottonwood, elm, and oak trees, making it an attractive spot for Indian Councils. In 1858, Jesse Chisholm opened a trading post nearby. This great trader is remembered for the famous cattle trail named for him, although he was never a part of the cattle business. During the run of 1889, homesteaders quickly purchased much of the area. The first sale was on 1 December 1896 to I.F. Melrose, who obtained forty acres at $2.00 per acre with the title signature of President Grove Cleveland.
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1859 Meeting between Comanche leaders and a U.S. congressman
1865 Council held with Comanche and Kiowa Indians and Confederate leaders 1884 Army barracks constructed for troops building Fort Reno 1889 Became part of territory opened for settlement 1941 Bronze marker placed by the Oklahoma City Chapter NSDAR and the Parks and Recreation Department of Oklahoma City to mark the location of Council Grove 1947 Council Grove Chapter, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, was organized on 9 November 1947. The chapter was confirmed by the National Board of Management on 9 December 1947. |