One of Council Grove/WesTen’s Historical Residents…

…is a Bright Spot as well as the topic for the Thursday, May 12th Historically Local Speaker Series. That resident is Montford Johnson, The Chickasaw Farmer, the inspiration for the Chickasaw Nation’s feature film “Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher” available on Netflix. Chickasaw tribe historian, Jeannie Barbour, will be the featured speaker on Thursday, May 12, 7PM-8:30PM at Castle Falls Venue, 820 N MacArthur. There is no charge, but registration is required here.

The life of Johnson is a true Western epic, spanning from his birth in 1843, through the tumultuous years of the Civil War and its aftermath, the Land Rush of 1889 and the establishment of his great ranching empire along the famous cattle highway of the American West, the Chisholm Trail. Another WesTen/Council Grove historical resident, Jesse Chisholm, convinced Johnson to establish cattle ranches and trading posts in Indian Territory to serve fellow First Americans.

Hosted by the WesTen District and Castle Falls Restaurant & Venue.