What is so very interesting about our nation’s wonderful history can be discovered through historical connections we make between famous Americans, and quite often, places we frequent. Or, places we visit. Or, in my case, the restaurant which serves the best bread pudding.
One of my – How did this come to be? – started off as an affinity for bread pudding. Bread pudding in Council Grove, Kansas. Bread pudding served at Hayes House 1857.
Hayes House 1857. Benjamin Franklin. Daniel Boone. Council Grove, Kansas…
Council Grove’s origin…
In the earliest part of our nation’s 19th Century, in what would – 29 years later – go on to become the Territory of Kansas, in 1825, westward-focused American settlers had been eager to identify quicker (and better) trade routes heading west. With this impetus for expanding trade to the west in mind, a treaty in 1825 had been negotiated between United States commissioners and the Osage Indians. Negotiated in a section of the Great Plains where frontiersmen gathered. Rested. And congregated. Before continuing on…west.
In the early part of the 19th Century in what today is Kansas, as United States trade – and United States trade routes – were being expanded to the west, one 1825 treaty entered into by the United States with Indians – the Osage Indians – extended what would go on to become one of the most famous passageways – passageways, trails, routes, roads and/or highways… – in all of United States history.
This trail…one 900-mile United States trade route.
This trail…starting out in a small town, 100 miles to the east of Kansas City, Missouri.
This trail…its origin, a small town which had been founded by European setters in 1816.
This trail…beginning in that small town – to the east of Kansas City – which had been named for one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.
This trail…one would, at that time, first get onto in Franklin, Missouri.
Franklin, Missouri…a town named for one of the United States most famous Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin.
This trail…ultimately arriving in, Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The passageway we are speaking to? The Santa Fe Trail.
The treaty we are speaking to? That had been a treaty between United States commissioners and the Osage Indians. A treaty which extended our Santa Fe Trail to the west. Extending the Santa Fe Trail through a section of, what would later go on to become, the Territory of Kansas. This trail, later extending through what would go on to become, the State of Kansas.
The treaty entered into between United States commissioners and the Osage Indians in 1825 was centered upon a meeting spot for frontiersmen traveling west.
In 1825, there had been no incorporated United States town through which this section of the Santa Fe Trail was now extended.
In 1825, there had been no organized territory through which this section of the Santa Fe Trail was now extended.
This 1825 treaty – extending the Santa Fe Trail though a most-scenic part of the largest tall grass prairie in the United States, the Flint Hills – focused on an area of the Plains where fellow travelers would gather their wagons. They’d form wagon trains. And they’d head west.
This area of the Flint Hills was then referred to simply as the “Grove.”
“The Grove”…named for, a grove of trees.
This 1825 extension of the Santa Fe Trail would wind along – what had been at that time – simply, the main street, in the “Grove.”
The unincorporated territory in which this section of the Santa Fe Trail had then been extended – in 1825 – would go on to become a formal United States Territory. In 1854. This territory would go on to become the Territory of Kansas.
This grove of trees would go on to become an incorporated United States city. Twenty-six years after the Territory of Kansas became the State of Kansas. The grove of trees would go on to become…Council Grove, Kansas.
Council Grove was incorporated as a Kansas city in 1887.
And that old main street in the “Grove?”Our main street would go on to become …Main Street. In Council Grove.
Which brings us to our link between the “Grove,” the Santa Fe Trail, Council Grove and…Daniel Boone.
But first…Seth Hayes.
This Hayes “house” started serving American pioneers three years after the Territory of Kansas was incorporated as a United States territory.
In 1857, the Hayes “house” originally started out as a Santa Fe Trail trading post. Becoming, a Santa Fe Trail trading post…coupled to a Santa Fe Trail restaurant. Located – then, and now – on the Santa Fe Trail.
With its ongoing – and current – historical position, quite literally, on the Santa Fe Trail, this Hayes “house” ( lower case “h” was started by Seth Hayes.
Seth Hayes.. Founder of Council Grove, Kansas.
Seth Hayes… A rancher. A tavern owner. A trader. And a publisher.
Seth Hayes… Who grew up in the Kansas City, Missouri neighborhood where I myself commuted to, to get to my Kansas City real estate office. In Westport.
That original Hayes house? Well, that original Hayes house that Seth Hayes built was really a Hayes log cabin. A log cabin that Seth Hayes built along the Neosho River. A log cabin – along the Neosho River – which both functioned as Seth Hayes’ home. I.e.:. where Seth Hayes lived. And as a trading post. A Santa Fe Trail trading post.
That log cabin in the “Grove” that Seth Hayes called “home” was home to both Seth Hayes – Hayes himself, a bachelor – and Seth Hayes’ adopted daughter. Seth Hayes’ adopted daughter…was a freed slave.
The trading post that Seth Hayes, quite literally, built – his original log cabin – which would go on to evolve, over 165 year, to become our Hayes House 1857? That was a business venture headed by A.G. Boone.
A.G. Boone…the grandson of, Daniel Boone.
Seth Hayes…the great-grandson of, Daniel Boone.
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