{"id":12037,"date":"2024-01-29T09:40:00","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T14:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/?p=12037"},"modified":"2024-01-29T09:41:36","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T14:41:36","slug":"grouse-creek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/?p=12037","title":{"rendered":"Grouse Creek"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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By Edgar Castillo<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Because early people depended on bodies of water for survival and travel, they were among the first geographical features to receive names. They served as key points and markers. Their names were given by the Indigenous people, plainsmen, voyaging pioneers, settlers, explorers, and <\/span>hunters<\/span><\/i>. In fact, these waterways were probably known by the same or similar names or description by Native Americans, using words expressing the same meaning or description.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The origin of names attached to some Kansas creeks, streams, and rivers are mostly known. Others are unknown or uncertain. Some waterways names have been lost to history. Their stories as to why they were named, forgotten. They are now merely erected signs to passing motorists and hikers who cross them.<\/span><\/p>

Grouse Creek, Ks is one of those. The creek\u2019s namesake \u2013 the grouse \u2013 is a game bird and was named after the abundant numbers of birds that flourished in the area.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Grouse? In Kansas? Yes. Two types of prairie grouse to be exact. The Greater and Lesser Prairie Chicken. Both types of plains grouse were very prominent across the prairies of the Sunflower State up until the early part of the 20<\/span>th<\/span> century. Written and eyewitness accounts of staggering numbers were often chronicled in journals and observed during travel. Their numbers have significantly declined, affected by agriculture and the loss of crucial natural habitat. There are still strongholds scattered about in regional pockets throughout the state.<\/span><\/p>

The 4.42-mile-long creek is situated in Cowley County, Ks between the towns of Dexter and Silverdale. Grouse Creek is within easy distance of Wichita and Emporia, each major hubs for cattle and commerce during the time period. It lies about twenty miles from the Oklahoma border in the southeastern part of the state. The creek is nestled in what old-timers in the 19<\/span>th<\/span> century used to refer to as Grouse Valley. Again, named for the numerous grouse found across the low area of land that was surrounded by rolling mounds of the southern portion of the Flint Hills.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Grouse Creek, often referred to as \u201cthe grouse\u201d in the mid-1800s, is a well-watered, pristine, south flowing creek. In the 1830s the two-hundred-mile, road-like passage, The Osage Indian Black Dog Trail, ran east and west, crossing the creek. Thousands of people, wagons, horses, and cattle passed along the flowing streamlet at least twice a year. Those early trailblazers used Grouse Creek as a reliable source for clean, running water. The creek also supplied important timber belts for building and lumber materials, livestock shelter, and its bottomland made for fine crops and orchards. The area was bountiful with wild game, turkey, waterfowl, quail, and of course\u2026grouse or prairie chickens. For the early settlers, prairie chicken was a regular diet item. They were relatively easy to procure through mass shooting of huge flocks or caught with vast nets. <\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Research was unable to pinpoint exactly when the creek was officially named. However, it is known that in 1856, two years after the Kansas-Nebraska Act, the territory was being extensively surveyed. U.S. Army Lieutenant Ingraham wrote in his journal he had crossed Grouse Creek in March of that year. Using this as a baseline, it is highly evident that Grouse Creek had received its name prior to him arriving at the junction.<\/span><\/p>

Historical references in journals, diaries, logs, and history books tell us just how prominent prairie grouse were in the surrounding area. They are almost incidentally described, yet their existence is powerful enough to be accounted for.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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1868<\/b> \u201c<\/span>That summer and fall buffalo were hunted for winter meat by Wichita\u2026and always there were prairie chickens, thousands of them\u2026<\/span><\/i>\u201d \u2013 diary, Wichita\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

1869<\/b> \u201c<\/span>We had camped a day\u2019s ride south of Emporia\u2026on the prairie were plenty of prairie chickens.<\/span><\/i>\u201d \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u2013 journal, Emporia<\/span><\/p>


<\/span>1871<\/b> \u201c\u2026the gun and the trap were the main dependence. One winter Mr. Ferrier shot, and trapped over 600<\/span><\/i> dozen prairie chickens, which he shipped to Wesport.\u201d<\/span><\/i> \u2013 Kansas Historical Archives, Butler County<\/span><\/p>

1871<\/b> \u201c<\/span>Edward Strasser and his son, George came to Butler Co. Edward became a professional hunter, and hunted quail and prairie chickens which he killed in considerable quantity. <\/span><\/i> Some accounts said that it was by the thousands and killed a great many of them in the early days, they being a common article of food with the early settlers.<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201c<\/span>Some accounts said that it was by the thousands and shipped them to St. Louis, Mo. Markets. It developed into quite a profitable-business and the money which Edward received in this way.<\/span><\/i>\u201d <\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u2013 Kansas Historical Archives, Butler County<\/span><\/p>

1873<\/b> \u201c<\/span>Prairie chickens were so plentiful that they frequently destroyed crops.<\/span><\/i>\u201d \u2013 diary, McPherson County<\/span><\/p>

1875<\/b> \u201c<\/span>Grouse were so plentiful that when great flocks rose in the air, they sounded like thunder.<\/span><\/i>\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

1877<\/b> \u201c\u2026and prairie chickens were to be found in great numbers in Butler County when we first came here\u2026<\/span><\/i>\u201d<\/span> – diary, Butler County<\/span><\/p>

1878<\/b> \u201c\u2026walking along the creek, we could see grouse perched atop trees\u2026they took to flight from the hills in small clouds, flying to the horizon.\u201d \u2013 diary, Dexter<\/span><\/p>

1879<\/b> \u201c\u2026we rode half a day west from the Grouse and found flocks of prairie chickens\u2026over two dozen were shot\u2026\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0 \u2013 journal, Silverdale<\/span><\/p>

1881<\/b> \u201c<\/span>the prairie was almost alive with prairie chickens\u2026<\/span><\/i>\u201d \u2013 journal, Silverdale<\/span><\/p>

1882<\/b> \u201c\u2026prairie chickens were common in those days and we only used the breasts, and a little boy and I had to pick them. We also had to clean quail.<\/span><\/i>\u201d \u2013 diary, Walnut (renamed Arkansas City)<\/span><\/p>

1884<\/b> \u201c\u2026huge flocks of hundreds of prairie grouse would fly into feed at first light from their roost. It was truly a remarkable sight.<\/span><\/i>\u201d \u2013 Kansas Historical Archives, Butler County<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Dozens of entries were found that reflected on the sheer number of grouse that were observed. It is evident grouse were so visually impactful to the people inhabiting the area as well as those passing through that written accounts were made of the birds. They served as a crucial food source and a profitable livelihood for market hunters. It is no wonder that Grouse Creek took its name from the extensive amount of prairie chickens within the entire vicinity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In present times, local businesses have taken on references that reflect back to the area\u2019s past. Names such as Grouse Creek Outfitters, Grouse Valley Lodge, and a host of others are what stand, connecting them to Grouse Creek or Grouse Valley.<\/span><\/p>

Prairie chickens can still be seen in the area, however visions of massive flocks of prairie chickens with their telltale flight pattern of flap, glide, fast flap, glide motions are sadly gone. They are but visions of the past sadly. Numbers so great that they will never be witnessed nor written about again. Grouse Creek is but a subtle reminder of how a flowing brook got its name. Its story, also lost to history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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To explore hunting opportunities and gather information, please visit the Kansas Department of \u00a0Parks & Wildlife website.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Because early people depended on bodies of water for survival and travel, they were among the first geographical features to receive names. They served as key points and markers. Their names were given by the Indigenous people, plainsmen, voyaging pioneers, settlers, explorers, and hunters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":12049,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[78,77,82],"class_list":["post-12037","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hunting","tag-beyond-the-mason-dixon","tag-hunting","tag-upland-hunting"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Untitled-design-3.png","acf":[],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12037","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=12037"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12079,"href":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12037\/revisions\/12079"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/12049"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/feathersandwhiskey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}