USA > South Dakota > Minnehaha County > History of Minnehaha county, South Dakota. Containing an account of its settlements, growth, development and resources Synopsis of public records, biographical sketches > Part 1
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978.301 M66b 1142776
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00829 5393
·
HISTORY
.... OF ....
MINNEHAHA COUNTY,
SOUTH DAKOTA.
CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF ITS SETTLEMENTS, GROWTH, DEVELOPMENT AND RESOURCES. AN EXTENSIVE AND MINUTE SKETCH OF ITS CITIES, TOWNS AND VILLAGES, THEIR IMPROVEMENTS, INDUSTRIES, MANUFACTORIES, CHURCHES, COLLEGES, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES. SYNOPSIS OF PUBLIC RECORDS, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, PORTRAITS OF EARLY SETTLERS AND OTHER PROMINENT RESI- DENTS. ILLUSTRATIONS OF PUBLIC BUILD- INGS, RESIDENCES, FARMS AND SCENERY.
BY DANA R. BAILEY.
BROWN & SAENGER, PTRS., SIOUX FALLS
1899.
UNDER GOD THE PEOPLE RULE
1142776 PREFACE.
In the preparation of this work the chief object sought after was to give the people of Minnehaha county a brief account of the principal events which made it the most populous and notable county in the state. In doing so, a conscientious and unsparing effort has been made to attain such a degree of accuracy as will place the book among the authoritative records of what has transpired in our local history; and if it shall be so recognized I shall feel such a sense of satisfaction as will compensate me in a great measure for my labor. For its success as a business enterprise no flattering hopes have been entertained.
The reminiscences of early times; the privations and dangers experienced by the pioneer settlers; an accurate review of the social and commercial growth and development of the county, together with carefully prepared biographical sketches of residents of the county who have made their impress upon her affairs, find place in this volume and will furnish an interesting retrospect of by-gone days.
In this labor I have been especially assisted by Miss Anna B. Ericson, who has rendered most valuable and faithful services throughout the work.
I am also indebted for much valuable information to pioneer residents, the press, the clergy, the custodians of public records, and the secretaries of fraternal and kindred societies, and to each and all I desire to publicly tender my acknowledgments and thanks.
D. R. BAILEY.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, July 6, 1899.
INTRODUCTORY.
The County of Minnehaha is situated in the southeastern part of South Dakota, and is about equidistant from the northern and south- ern limits of the famous Sioux Valley. It is bounded on the east by Rock county, Minnesota; on the south, for a distance of seven miles, by Lyon county, Iowa, and by Lincoln and Turner counties; on the west by McCook county, and on the north by Lake and Moody coun- ties, South Dakota. It is twenty-four miles in extent north and south, and thirty-four miles east and west, and contains twenty-four townships, the eastern tier being fractional. The general surface is undulating, or what is usually termed rolling prairie; except to a limited extent along the larger streams where it rises abruptly and is more or less broken. The soil is a rich black loam from one to three feet deep, with a fertile porous subsoil. For the growing of cereals and vegetables the soil is unsurpassed, and its productive properties are not appreciably diminished by successive crops without the use of fertilizers. Two valleys along the banks of the Big Sioux river and Skunk creek extending nearly through the county, north and south, are worthy of mention. They vary from one to three miles in width, with a level, smooth surface, and no better or more fertile land can be found in the Northwest. The uncultivated portions of these beautiful valleys are covered with a luxuriant growth of grass yielding on an average two tons of hay per acre. Strictly speaking, there are no natural forests, but fringing the Big Sioux river there is at intervals a large growth of trees, which adds greatly to the beauty of the landscape, and also affords a large amount of fuel. In addition to this, there is upon nearly every section of land one or more large groves of growing trees which were planted and cultivated by the early settlers. The county is well watered; the Big Sioux river, the largest stream, enters it from the north, ten miles west of the east line and flows in a southerly direction until near the south line, where it turns upon its course and pursues its windings north, east and south, about twenty miles fur- ther before leaving the county. At several points it furnishes ample power for manufacturing purposes, and at the city of Sioux Falls for a distance of half a mile it falls in a series of cascades ninety-one feet, and forms one of the most beautiful and picturesque sceneries in the state. Skunk creek, another important stream, enters the county from the north, nine miles west of the Big Sioux river, and
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
flows in a southerly direction until near the south line, where its course turns to the east and forms a junction with the Big Sioux. Split rock river, a stream of considerable size, also Slipup, Pipestone and Beaver creeks, drain the eastern portion of the county. In the western portion there are some small streams, and several bodies of water of sufficient extent to find a place upon the maps of the county; but only one of them, Wall Lake, located in the southwestern part, is worthy of the name of lake. Good water in abundance can also be found anywhere in the county at a depth of from twenty to eighty feet. From exclusive wheat raising, which until recently was the chief industry of the county, its enterprising farmers are turning to diversified farming, and extensive corn and wheat fields can now be seen side by side. The raising of all kinds of stock is also engaging their attention, and a lively interest is being taken in dairying, and creameries are rapidly increasing in number. Fruit raising is still in its infancy, but gives promise of good success. One of the pecu- liarities of the County of Minnehaha is the outcrop of the Sioux quartzite in large quantities, especially at certain points near the Big Sioux river. It is a fine building stone, and is also being used extensively for the paving of streets, varying in color from a light gray through all the shades of pink and purple to a deep red, and although as hard as steel, owing to its peculiar formation, can be cut into blocks of almost any size. Its commercial value is already recognized, but as its merits become better known and appreciated it will undoubtedly be more extensively used, and become a valuable commodity for export. It is a county with fine roads, and iron bridges span the large streams. No county in the state has better railroad facilities; the Great Northern, the Omaha, and the Milwau- kee lines each traverse the entire length or breadth of the county, and the Burlington and the Illinois Central roads run into the city of Sioux Falls. Sioux Falls is the largest city in the state, and is the commercial center of a large extent of territory. Dell Rapids is another important city in the county, situated twenty miles north of Sioux Falls. Garretson and East Sioux Falls are also incorporated cities, and South Sioux Falls, Valley Springs and Hartford are in- corporated municipalities, while Brandon, Corson, Sherman, Baltic, Ellis, Humboldt, Colton, Rowena and Ben Clare are properly desig- nated as villages.
The educational and social advantages of the county are excep- tionally good, compared with any other county in the state, and we might go further and successfully challenge any county in the Northwest of the proximate age, population and wealth of Minnehaha, to point to as many educational institutions in successful operation. The residents of the city of Sioux Falls are especially proud of the institutions of learning located in her midst, evidencing as they do the intelligence, liberality and enterprise of her people. She has classical and commercial colleges, a Lutheran Normal school, and the All Saints' school for the education of young ladies, in addition to the public schools which are models of efficiency in the educational field. Public schools are maintained in every neighborhood in com- fortable, well furnished school houses presided over by professional
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
teachers competent to instruct and rapidly advance the pupils. Church societies are almost too numerous to mention, the church edifices comprising all grades from the imposing cathedral to the pretty little church on the prairie, are inviting inducements to immigration.
In summarizing the advantages the county offers to all classes of people-capitalists, professional men, mechanics, tillers of the soil, and common laborers-we point to the remarkable healthfulness of the climate, the commercial importance of the location, the fer- tility of the soil and its adaptation to all kinds of husbandry, its good roads and unsurpassed transportation facilities, and last but not least, the superior educational, religious and social advantages that are enjoyed by the residents of the County of Minnehaha.
In presenting to the public a history of events which, as a whole, have transformed the territory comprising the County of Minnehaha from the habitation of the Indian to the abode of a prosperous, happy people, as outlined above, the writer has met with unexpected difficul- ties. It is the beginning-the early events in the history of all local- ities, that are sought after and prized by those who follow the pioneer. But a large percentage of pioneers move on as civilization advances, leaving behind them, at the most, only fragmentary records and shadowy traditions of their doings, and the recollections of those who remain, seldom harmonize.
Only such events are chronicled in the early history as appeared to be well authenticated. Subsequent to the pioneer stage, it has been largely a matter of selection from a wide field of data, and un- doubtedly some things appear which might have been left out without materially detracting from the work, and some events omitted which would have been interesting.
But as it is, the History of Minnehaha County is submitted to the public, in the full belief that it will meet with a kind and appre- ciative reception.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY HISTORY.
The History of Minnehaha County properly begins with an act of the first territorial legislature, approved April 5, 1862, and entitled "An Act to Establish the Counties of Lincoln, Minnehaha, Brook- ings and Deuel."
Section 2, of this act reads as follows: "That so much of the Territory of Dakota as embraced in the following boundaries be and the same is hereby established as the County of Minnehaha, begin- ning at the south-west corner of the State of Minnesota; thence west to the south-west corner of township one hundred and one, north, of range fifty-three, west; thence due north to the north-west corner of township one hundred and six, north, of range fifty-three, west; thence due east to the boundary line between the State of Minnesota and the Territory of Dakota; thence south on said boundary line to place of beginning.
"Section 5. And be it further enacted, that for judicial and election purposes the counties of Lincoln, Minnehaha, Brookings, and Deuel form one and the same county, with the county seat at Sioux Falls City, in the County of Minnehaha.
"Section 6. And be it further enacted that the county seat of Minnehaha county be established temporarily at Sioux Falls City."
To trace the series of evolution which made this event possible, it is necessary to give the reader some idea of the history of Dakota prior to this date, but the writer will confine himself strictly to that portion which relates particularly to Minnehaha county.
Leaving to the ethnological student the unsettled problem of the origin of the Indian nations, who for centuries were the inhabitants of this vast country, and passing over the period from the seven- teenth century, in which is included the dispersion of the powerful Indian tribes of the Northwest; the ceding of the entire northwestern territory by France to Spain in 1762; the receding to France in 1800, and the purchase of the same by the United States in 1803 for fifteen million dollars; the gradual development and reaching out of civiliza- tion toward "The Land of the Dakotahs" first by trading posts established by fur companies; the famous Lewis & Clark expedition in 1804 (being the first American explorers to ascend the Missouri river into what is now known as Dakota); the establishment, in 1808,
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
of the Missouri Fur Company, to which the first settlements here may be ascribed; the missionary labors of Father DeSmet in 1840; the act of Congress in 1849, by which a portion of Dakota was in- cluded in the new Territory of Minnesota-all of which are parts of the history of the country-we come to 1851, in which year was en- acted what may properly be termed "the beginning of the end."
· At Traverse de Sioux, Minnesota, in 1851, the treaty between the United States and the upper bands of Dakota Indians was con- summated, giving to the government a portion of land in which was included that part of the present County of Minnehaha lying east of the Big Sioux river. This constituted a part of the Territory of Minnesota until May 11, 1858, when Minnesota was admitted to the Union and its western boundary was defined by a line running due south from the foot of Big Stone Lake to the Iowa state line, leaving a tract about thirty miles in width extending from this new boundary to the Big Sioux river to be included in the new Territory of Dakota.
April 18, 1858, a treaty was made by the government with the Yankton Indians by which the latter ceded to the United States all lands owned by them, except 400,000 acres, the eastern boundary of which was the Big Sioux river, and included that portion of Minne- haha lying west of said river.
The first person to give the world any information in regard to the falls of the Big Sioux was Nicollet, who in 1839 was sent out by the government of Quebec to treat with certain western tribes of Indians. He wrote a sketch of his travels in the Northwest, which was after- wards published, wherein he gave a description of the beautiful and picturesque falls of the the river then called by the Indians "Te-han- kas-an-data" or the "Thick-wooded-river." A copy of this sketch found its way into the hands of Dr. George M. Staples, of Dubuque, Iowa, sometime during the summer of 1856. The natural advantages of the falls at once struck him, and he took steps to secure possession of the delectable valley.
At that time speculation in lands and town sites was at high tide, and the doctor without difficulty soon organized the Western Town Company of Dubuque, Iowa. The following named persons com- prised the company: Dr. G. M. Staples, Mayor Hetherington, Dennis Mahoney, Austin Adams, S. P. Waldron, William Tripp, and a number of others whose names the writer has been unable to obtain. Mr. Ezra Millard of Sioux City, Iowa, was employed by the company to ascertain the location of the beautiful falls of the Big Sioux, and was instructed to take up under the laws of the United States three hundred and twenty acres of land contiguous to the falls for a town site in the name of the Western Town Company. Early in Novem- ber of the same year, Mr. Millard accompanied by Mr. D. M. Mills, also of Sioux City, started out to obey instructions. They followed the east bank of the Big Sioux, and after several days' travel came within sight of the promised land.
Right here the writer will take the liberty to contradict the fiction which has been frequently published, that the party upon approaching the falls were intercepted by a band of Indians, and although neither party was conversant with the language of the
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
other, the travelers could not misunderstand the meaning of the Indians who, taking the travelers' horses by the bridle and turning them about, silently pointed in the direction from which they had come, and that the party immediately hastened back to Sioux City. Such an incident happening at the first approach of white men to the falls of the Big Sioux for the purpose of permanent occupation, would always add piquancy to the events that transpired, and it is with some misgivings whether it would not be better to let it stand, that the writer asserts that nothing of the kind took place. The fact is, the party had a surveyor with them, and in the name of the Western Town Company took undisturbed possession of three hun- dred and twenty acres of land, and D. M. Mills one hundred and sixty acres. The company selected the southwest one-fourth of section nine, and the northwest one-fourth of section sixteen and Mr. Mills the southwest one-fourth of section sixteen. In a history of Southeastern Dakota, published in 1881, the land taken up at this time is very differently described, but the description above is cor- rect beyond question. Mr. Mills built a log house above the falls, ten by twelve feet in size, and then returned to Sioux City for the winter.
In May, 1857, the Western Town Company sent Jesse T. Jarrett, John McClellan, Farwell and Oleson to the Falls, to hold and im- prove the town site located by the Mills party. They arrived at the Falls about the first of June.
Meanwhile, in the winter of 1856-7, the Dakota Land Company was chartered by the legislature of Minnesota Territory, for the purpose of securing the best locations for future towns in the pro- posed Territory of Dakota, and it is to the efforts of this company, that the location of the western boundary of Minnesota must be as- scribed, they being anxious to have the desirable tract lving east of the Big Sioux river included in the new Territory.
The original incorporators of this company were: W. H. Noble, J. R. Brown, A. G. Fuller, S. A. Medary, Samuel F. Brown, James W. Lynd, N. R. Brown, F. J. De Witt, Baron F. Friedenriech, B. M. Smith, Artemas Gale, Parker Paine, Thomas Campbell, Judge Charles E. Flandrau, and a number of others. The representatives of the company left St. Paul in May, 1857, Dakotaward. They pro- ceeded to the Big Sioux river, and in what is now Brookings county located the town of Medary, which they intended to be the capital of the new Territory. Continuing their journey down the river they located the town of Flandrau, named in honor of Judge Flandrau, and then pushed on to Sioux Falls. But in reaching that point they found themselves anticipated, and the Western Town Company in possession of the prize. However, they were not to be so easily crowded out after all their efforts, and in the name of the Dakota Land Company took up three hundred and twenty acres of land south of the Falls, which included that present portion of the city known as Gale's Sioux Falls; and erecting a log house thereon, near where the Burlington depot is now located, named their settlement Sioux Falls City. James L. Fiske and James McBride remained to hold their claim, and the balance of the party returned to St. Paul.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
The population of Sioux Falls now numbered five souls, Messrs. McClellan, Farwell, Oleson, Fiske and McBride, and although repre- sentatives of rival companies, they dwelt in peace and harmony, fear- ing only their common enemy, the Sioux. They were not troubled, however, until late in July, when the Indians rose in great numbers, and threatened the extermination of all the settlements on the Big Sioux river.
We have read in some of the newspaper accounts of the early history of Dakota, "that Col. Noble about this time, with fifty men in his employ, while locating a road from Fort Ridgley to South Pass was driven back by the Indians." This has been denied, and one of the first settlers in Sioux Falls is authority for the statement "that Col. Noble was not molested by the Indians, but after having spent fifteen thousand dollars appropriated for the purpose of locating the road, endeavored to get another appropriation, but was unsuc- cessful."
However, the attitude of the Indians was of such a threatening character that the Dakota Land Company withdrew Fiske and McBride from Sioux Falls. McClellan, Farwell and Oleson, were now left in sole possession, and recognizing the fact that they were in no position to defend themselves, and deeming discretion the better part of valor determined to withdraw from the scene for a time. They placed their personal effects in a canoe, and starting from the foot of the falls navigated the Big Sioux to its mouth. The Sioux Valley was once more deserted by white men, but not for long.
On the 17th day of August, 1857, the Western Town Company sent Messrs. J. T. Jarrett, J. L. Phillips, W. W. Brookings, S. B. Atwood, A. L. Kilgore, Smith Kinsey, John McClellan, Callahan and Godfrey from Sioux City, Iowa, to Sioux Falls. D. M. Mills also joined them at Rock river. This party took with them machinery for a saw mill, tools and implements for building, and a large stock of provisions, which were transported by a team of horses and sev- eral ox-teams. They were obliged to travel slowly, the teams being heavily laden, and it being often necessary to bridge the streams to be crossed on the way, so that it was not until the 27th of August, after ten weary days, that the party arrived in sight of the Falls.
To those of the party who now came for the first time, the scene was inexpressibly grand and beautiful, and all joined in three rousing cheers. An encampment was made north of the island, and the next day each member of the party selected a claim for himself.
On the 29th of August, four of the party, Jarrett, Mills, Atwood and Godfrey, started back to Sioux City, for more provisions, leaving the others at work. In about ten days Jarrett returned, ac- companied by Dr. Staples, one of the directors of the company.
When the party first set out, Jarrett was appointed by the company the agent in charge, but being a man particularly unfitted for the position, he at once became involved in trouble with some of the other employes, and Dr. Staples having been sent out with authority to make a change, removed Mr. Jarrett and appointed W. W. Brookings, agent.
The men worked untiringly, building a saw mill, a stone house
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
and a store. The two last mentioned structures were located on what is now north Phillips avenue, near three small houses. Upon the map showing the survey made in August, 1859, this stone house is located on the northwest quarter of section sixteen, and was called the "Dubuque House," but the fact is, it was located on the south- west quarter of section nine, near the south line of the section, and was on what is now lot twelve or thirteen of block twenty-five in Syndicate Addition.
Several of the party went back to Sioux City, leaving only six men in the settlement. These pursued their labors undisturbed by the Indians, save once, when some of the men run across a small party near the settlement, but they retreated as hastily as the settlers, and so caused no alarm.
On October 10, however, towards evening, about a dozen Indians rode down over the bluffs, and terrifying the men with their yells, surrounded the one pair of oxen which had been left, and before the astonished settlers came to their senses, had driven them away.
Four of the men undertook to follow the Indians, leaving two to guard the camp, but their efforts to rescue the oxen were unavailing, and they soon returned to spend an anxious night. The Indians were known to be hostile and another and more serious attack was momentarily expected. With the breaking day their fears were somewhat allayed, and the arrival of Mr. Brookings, who had been absent for some days, helped to encourage them. The days passed away uneventfully until the middle of October, when the Dakota Land Company sent a party of seven men to look after their interests, and the entire population now began to make preparations for passing the winter at the Falls.
At the time winter set in they were in a fairly comfortable con- dition, having besides the saw mill and store building, three dwelling houses, one of them the stone one already mentioned. The men who spent the winter at the Falls were as follows: Messrs. W. W. Brookings, J. L. Phillips, John McClellan, L. B. Atwood, A. L. Kil- gore, Smith Kinsey, Charles McConnell, R. B. Mckinley, S. D. and E. M. Brookings, representing the Western Town Company, and James L. Fiske, James McBride, James W. Evans, James Allen, William Little, James McCall and C. Merrill representing the Dakota Land Company.
At this time the Sioux Falls settlement was under the jurisdic- tion of the Territory of Minnesota, and in what is known as Big Sioux county, which then comprised not only the present County of Minnehaha, but also a large portion of the adjacent region, and in December the governor of Minnesota appointed the following officers for the county, Sioux Falls being the only settlement: James Allen, register of deeds; James Evans, sheriff; James L. Fiske, judge of probate; W. W. Brookings, district attorney; J. L. Phillips, justice of the peace; Wm. Little, James McBride and A. L. Kilgore, com- missioners, but there are no records showing that the officials qual- ified or acted under their appointment.
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