USA > South Dakota > Jerauld County > A history of Jerauld county, South Dakota > Part 10
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was once fired. The thing was securely chained to a heavy saw-horse. when some one suggested that it might "buist." There was sufficient force in the suggestion to cause the onlookers to gather about the outside of the building and watch the result by peeping through cracks and knot holes. A long iron rod, that could be pushed through a hole in the side of the shop to the forge fire and then swung to the priming of the gun, was given to Joe Herring and then all waited for the iron to get hot. At last the end of the rod showed a tinge of red and Herring swung it to the touch hole of the gun. The noise was deafening. The great saw horse and cannon were lifted by the shock nearly to the joist of the build- ing, but the gun had stood the strain, and so had the box, for not a shot had touched it. Afterward the cannon was provided with sights, and mounted on a frame so that it could be easily trained upon any object. It afforded much amusement in the hunting seasons and abundance of noise on succeeding Fourth of July celebrations for many years. Several of these miniature canons were afterward made, one of which is now said to be at Gann Valley.
In 1884 the business houses on the Main street of Waterbury were arranged about as follows :
The main, or business street of the town, ran north and south. Start- ing at the north end of Main street and going down the west side the first structure was a tent in which a Mr. Rowe had a tin-type gallery. Next to that, on the south and at the corner of the block was Mrs. Rowe's hotel, the Waterbury House, south of which ran an east and west street. A few years later this hotel was torn down and moved to Buf- falo county. On the south side of this street and at the northeast corner of the block was a building put up by Maj. Rice, afterward Probate Judge, and Henry Herring, later a county commissioner. The building was two story 30x40. A few years later this building was sold to Mr. Wilbur Doughty, who moved it to the old C. V. Martin farm northeast of town and made it a part of a mammoth barn, which was struck by lightning and burned some time in the later 'gos.
Then came Martin & Putnam's law office, a one story building, which was finally made a part of Martin's house on his farm.
Next came Allan Snart's grocery store, 20x32, afterward used for hardware and general merchandise by John Snart. This building was burned in the great prairie fire of April 28, 1899. It was two stories in height.
South of Snart's store stood Bert Brown's residence, a small building that had been brought from Sulphur Springs.
The next structure was J. M. Hull's drug store and general mer-
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chandise store, afterward owned by O. P. Hull, and finally torn down and moved to Harvey, a suburb of Chicago, where it yet stands.
The "Michigan Hotel," built by Light and Stanley, stood next to Hull's drug store. This was the building in which Chas. Gingery was cared for after the great blizzard of 1888. It was finally sold to Fred Holzer, who moved it to a farm in Buffalo county.
At the southeast corner of the block was Geo. N. Price's residence. This was the hotel put up by Dr. Jones in 1883. A few years later it was sold to Bert Healy, who moved it to Wessington Springs and now occupies it as a residence.
On the northeast corner of the opposite block across the street south stood Price's livery barn. It also was later moved to Wessington Springs and made a part of the livery barn owned by Mr. Price at that place. It is now occupied by H. A. Butler. On the same lot a few years later Mr. Snart also built a barn which was also taken to the county seat.
By the side of Price's barn Sam Leeds' blacksmith shop was placed when it was brought over from Sulphur Springs. A few years later Homer Vrooman bought that building and took it to his farm in the east part of the township.
The next building was the last one on the west side of the street. It was the house, or shanty, brought out from Polo, Ill., by Ed and Dan Waterbury in February, 1883. It now forms a part of Clark Wetherell's house at the Waterbury P. O.
Then crossing the street east and going north the first building was a barn owned by E. S. Waterbury, although further south, where the ground begins to slope off into the valley, J. A. Paddock and Rufus Wil- son had a livery barn, built into the side hill.
Fronting on the street about the middle of he block and north of Waterbury's barn, was Henry Merwin's wagon shop.
North of the wagon shop stood Wallace DeMent's blacksmith shop. in which the "canon" was made. Both these buildings were afterward bought by E. S. Waterbury and made a part of the barn above mentioned and burned in the fire of 1899.
On the northwest corner of this block was a building erected by Jolin Eagan and Henry Bass for a flour and feed store. It was 20x30 feet in size, one and one-half stories high. Later the rooms above became bachelor quarters for 8 or 10 young fellows. The building was even- tually taken away.
Then came an east and west street. On the north side of this street stood, where it now stands, the building now owned by W. E. Waterbury. The main part was used for a feed store, and contained the post office. Upstairs was the News printing office, founded by Samuel Dunlap in
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June, 1883. This paper had several owners in the next few years, among them being, Remington, Cross, Dunlap and C. V. Martin, the latter com- bining it with the American Home and the name was then changed to "The Waterbury Home-News." It was finally sold to B. B. Blosser, of the True Republican, and taken into that office at Wessington Springs.
In the center of the crossing of the two streets a well was dug and walled up with stone. For twenty-five years it has afforded an abun- dance of the best of water for every thirsty creature that has passed that way.
North of the post office was an implement shed where E. S. Water- bury sold farm implements and by the north side of that was Frank and Harry Waterbury's meat market. Both of these buildings were one story structures. The machine shed was finally taken to E. S. Water- bury's homestead on the NE of 28-107-67, while the meat market building was taken to Harry Waterbury's claim in Buffalo county.
Next was the American Home printing office run by M. B. McNeil. That structure was moved by E. N. Mount to a claim held by him in Buffalo county.
Beside the American Home office was E. N. Mount's harness shop, in later years purchased by W. E. Waterbury for use on his homestead. the NE of 9-107-67, where it stayed until "proof" for the land was made, when it was brought back to town and sold to Bert Healey. He used it for a harness shop and notion store in Waterbury for some time, finally taking it to Wessington Springs, where he continued to use it for the same purpose until it was burned in the fire that destroyed M. A. Schaefer's drug store several years later.
Then came A. N. Hill's hardware store, a two story building, with living rooms up stairs. It now forms a part of Clark Wetherell's barn at Waterbury P. O., on the NW of 26-107-67.
By the side of the hardware store Mr. Hill put up a building intended for a temperance pool hall, and rented it to Wm. Eads. The enterprise was a failure and the table finally broken up. The building was moved away.
The next was a two story structure having a law office below, where T. H. Null, now of Huron, S. D., first hung out his sign as an attorney at law. This building was put up by a man named Bond. In the room occupied by Null in 1884 a man named Hart afterward had his real estate office for several years. In the rooms up stairs C. V. Martin, a . year later had his printing office. What finally became of the building is not known.
On the same side af the street was an implement shed run by Val Martin, a real estate office by Remington and Pound, a shoe shop oc-
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cupied by Pat Sweeney, now of Sioux City, and another shoe shop run by Chas. Haas. Somewhere on the east side of the street Will Eads had a furniture store, probably in the same building where he started his pool hall.
Late in the fall a public school house was built a few rods north of the business part of the town-about forty rods from the Waterbury House.
The first minister located at Waterbury was a man named Bain, of the Presbyterian church. He was in almost mortal fear of Indians and wolves. He took a claim a few miles from town and had a shanty built on it. During the first night of his stay on the claim, the wolves were so noisy and came so close to his shanty that he never repeated the venture. He always carried with him, when going out of town, a brace of revolvers and a couple of knives. He stayed only long enough to "prove up" on his claim and then returned to Ohio.
While business was developing at Waterbury, J. N. Cross was trying to establish a mercantile business at Templeton, but with poor success.
At Alpena, aided by the railroad, the business interests made more rapid growth.
In the spring of 1884, W. S. Crowthers started a livery stable, which he continued for several years.
New grain houses were built in the summer of 1884, one by D. R. Putnam & Co., which was run by J. T. Johnston and one by Bassett, Hunting & Co., operated by a young man named Milham. Both these warehouses were afterwards changed to elevators.
In this year Jack Crawford put up a blacksmith shop where he worked for a year or more.
On the 19th of May, 1884, Mrs. Mary Barber, and Miss Betsy Litch- field opened a hotel in the building that had been formerly used as a hardware store and named it the Revere House.
This year Chas. R. and D. S. Marwaring in company with Win. Voss, began operating a lumber yard at Alpena.
On the northwest corner of Main and 2nd streets W. L. Arnold built a store used for general merchandise, which he occupied until 1886.
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Chapter 13.
Educational work in the county began in 1883, with the numerous private, or subscription schools that were started in the various town- ships and continued until the public schools began in the summer and fall of 1884.
I think I have mentioned all the private schools taught in the county in 1883, except the one commenced by N. J. Dunham in the latter part of December, in the building purchased by the county commissioners in February, 1884, for the register of deeds office. In that school were four of Mr. Kinney's children, five of Mrs. Blowers', two of J. W. Thomas', Lewis Stephens, Harry Taylor, now mayor of Mellette, S. D., and John Woodburn, now postmaster at Hinsdale, Mass.
On January 14th, 1884, Miss Emma Cady began a private school with nineteen scholars in Rev. Wm. Paganhart's home in Viola township.
In the spring of 1884 Miss Rachel Crawford opened a school in a building near where the Dale Center school house now stands, which was attended by Mattie, Nellie and Robert Mercer, John and Rose Youngs. and Sarah, Mina and Lillie Chapman.
In the village of Waterbury Miss Hattie Waterbury taught a private school in the summer of 1884, in George Waterbury's house. Among the pupils were Clara Leeds, now Mrs. Wmn. Fry of Aberdeen, Grace De Ment and children from the Prue, Rowe, Herring and Merwin families.
In the summer of 1884 Miss Ida Martin taught a school in Anina township that closed Aug. 23rd.
Early in the spring of 1884 Miss Helen Cooley taught a private school in a claim shanty near Sulphur Springs.
The school boards of some of the townships made preparations for starting the public schools as soon as the townships were organized for school purposes.
Supt. Hazard appointed the Ist day of April, 1884, for the examination of teachers.
The first public school to be opened in the county was in Pleasant township on the 5th day of May, 1884, with A. J. Miller as teacher.
In July, 1884, the old log house that Mr. Smart had purchased from Levi Hain several years before was repaired, seats and desks, of rude make, put in it, and there Mrs. E. V. Miles, opened the first public school taught in the present limits of the city of Wessington Springs.
The county school-text-book committee, composed of the following persons, as delegates from the townships of the county, met on the 28tl of June, 1884, at the county building in the county seat to select the books to be used in the public schools :
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Alpena-L. N. Loomis.
Custer (Media)-Theo. Dean.
Pleasant Valey-B. R. Shimp.
Wessington Springs-Wm. Hawthorne.
Lincoln (Blaine)-L. F. Daniels.
Viola-Fred Kieser.
Anina-A. D. Cady.
Of this committee, Supt. Hazard was chairman and B. R. Shimp was secretary.
The Pioneer W. C. T. U. sent to attend this very important meeting a committee of its members as follows: Mesdames Hall, Smart, Spears and Albert. These ladies presented a petition to the text-book committee. asking that temperance books be selected, including "Elementary Tem- perance Lessons for the Young" and "Steeles Hygienic Physiology." which were adopted. The committee then selected, "Robinson's Arith- metic," "Swinton's Geography," "Harvey's Grammar," "Ridpath's His- tory," and "McGuffey's Readers and Spellers."
The first civil action brought in a Jerauld county court was the case of T. H. Null vs. B. R. Shimp, before F. T. Tofflemier in the spring of 1884. N. J. Dunham was attorney for the plaintiff and R. M. Magee for the defendant.
The first tax received by the county treasurer was from the C. M. & St. P. Ry. in the month of March, 1884, by way of the territorial treasurer, $26.71 on four miles of track in Alpena township.
The first tax paid into the county treasury by a resident of the county was $1.00 school poll, by S. H. Melcher.
The branding committee held its first meeting April 7th, 1884, R. S. Vessey was elected chairman. No records can be found of any of the proceedings of this committee.
Between May 2nd, 1883, and April 30th, 1884, three hundred and forty-five Jerauld county settlers made proof at the Mitchell U. S. Land Office for 55,200 acres of land.
The first matter to come up in the county probate court was the ap- pointment of an administrator for the estate of Chas. Burger of Harmony township, who had been killed by lightning. The appointment was made May 5th, 1884.
In the summer and fall of 1884, railroad projects were numerous and some surveys were made. One was a line known as the Huron & South- western to reach the Missouri River by way of Wessington Springs.
In August of that year it was announced that a road would be built at once from Sioux Falls to the Missouri river, going through Jerauld county by way of Crow Lake and Waterbury to Fort Thompson.
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In the summer of 1884 Mr. M. W. Young, of Blaine township, burned a kiln of 25,000 brick, which he offered for sale. This was the first and probably the only, effort ever made to establish a brick yard in the county. He took one wagon load to Wessington Springs on Sept. 10th, and for some time kept a notice running in the Herald offering the brick for sale at his farm in Blaine township.
The first auction sale ever held in the county was at the farm of J. A. McDonald, south-east of Wessington Springs, by Robert Johnston, who offered for sale I cow, 100 chickens, I Champion mower, some car- penter tools and house-hold goods. N. D. Wilder was auctioneer.
During the summer and fall of 1884, Hiram Blowers and Calvin Ott were dealing in grain at Wessington Springs.
The first coroner's inquest in the county was on the body of Allan Brayton, at the residence of Mr. Barber in Franklin. The Coroner was Dr. D. F. Royer and the jury was composed of Isaac Pearce, F. W. Whitney and W. C. Corother. The date of the inquest was May 23rd, 1884. The verdict was, death by accidental shooting.
F. T. Tofflemier resigned his position as Justice of the Peace July 7. 1884, and M. C. Ayers was appointed to fill the vacancy.
In November, 1884, Mrs. Spears began building the office part of the Willard Hotel on the corner lot south of Wilder's store.
Several changes were made in the mail service of the county during the year 1884. On the Ist of March the line from Elmer ( Wessington Springs), to Huron was discontinued and a daily line established between Elmer and Woonsocket.
A post office named Gordon was located in October at the residence of Elijah Moon on section twenty-six in Anina township. It was sup- plied by the Elmer-Plankinton line.
In Chery township Stock P. O. was established in June, with M. E. Small as postmaster.
On May 1, 1884, the Elmer-White Lake mail line was changed from a weekly to a semi-weekly service, leaving Elmer Tuesdays and Fridays. and returning Wednesdays and Saturdays.
A tri-weekly mail service was established between Elmer and Water- bury, on July Ist, with G. N. Price as carrier. The round trips were made on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, leaving Elmer in the morning and returning in the evening. The compensation was $390 per year.
One of the most gratifying things done for the people of Wessington Springs by the Post Office Department was changing the name of the office from "Elmer" to that of the town in which it was situated. For months the people had petitioned for the change without success. Many
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had despaired of getting their wish granted. But Mr. Peter Barrett, the postmaster kept up hope and persevered. At a meeting of the board of county commissioners in the summer of 1884, Mr. Barrett made an offer of twenty-five dollars to anyone who would get the change effected, Mr. Melcher, one of the commissioners, told him to renew his petition, settting forth in it that the school township and the platted village were both named Wessington Spring, that the newspaper published in the town was named the Wessington Springs Herald, then have it signed by the county officials and bring it to him. This was done. Mr. Melcher then sent the petition to his personal friend, Gen. John Eaton, at Washington, with a letter requesting that he go personally to the Postmaster General and ask that the change be made. The petition was granted at once and the change made to take effect October 1, 1884. Mr. Barrett paid the twenty-five dollars by giving Mr. Melcher a deed to a lot in, Wessington Springs, which he held for several years and then sold to O. J. Marshall.
In the winter of 1883-84, Mr. Stetson, who kept the Stetson P. O. in 106-66, proved up on his land and then resigned his position as post- master. The office was then moved to Chancy Barber's house on the NW of 35, where Mr. Barber kept a small stock of groceries. In the latter part af May, 1884, Mrs. O. E. Gaffin became postmisteress and took charge of the office, which she retained until the office was moved to Lyndale and the name changed, March 1, 1885.
In May 1884, the people of Wessington Springs and vicinity began to make preparations for a Fourth of July celebration. Mr. T. D. Kanouse, one of the foremost orators of the territory was engaged to deliver an address; the Waterbury brass band was employed, and many games advertised. On the 31st of May, those interested in the base-ball held a meeting and organized a team, with J. T. Johnston as captain. The team began practice on a diamond located near where the Univer- salist church stands. In June a challenge was sent to the ball nine at Woonsocket for a match game at Wessington Springs on July 4th. The challenge was not accepted and an invitation was then extended to Alpena. Here they found a team willing to cross bats with them and arrangements were perfected.
In the latter part of June, Mr. A. S. Beals and Mr. Hindman were employed to make a liberty pole which was set up on the 2nd of July, at the center of the crossing of Main and Second Streets.
A galvanized iron tank made by Morse and LaPout was placed over the big spring and the water works pipe extended into it so that people on the street could have cold water direct from the fountain head.
The celebration was a success, for although a storm cut short the oration, the ball game was won by the home nine with a score of 23 to
15. This was the beginning of ball playing in the county and led to many close and exciting games in the years that followed.
A county fair association was organized June 4th, 1884, with O. G. Woodruff, of Alpena, president and M. D. Crow, of Media, secretary. The committee on bylaws was composed of J. F. Ford, of Wessington Springs, H. A. Pierce, of Harmony and M. D. Crow. At the organiza- tion twenty-six shares were sold at $10 each. This amount was increased to sixty shares on July 16th, and was further advanced to one hundred on July 23rd. The society then proceeded to incorporate the members mentioned in the charter being E. S. Waterbury, S. H. Melcher and J. F. Ford. After incorporation the association elected permanent officers as follows :
President-O. G. Woodruff.
Vice President-E. S. Waterbury.
Secretary-J. F. Ford.
Treasurer-S. H. Melcher.
Executive Committee-W. J. Wiliams, W. I. Bateman, B. G. Cum- mings, W. T. Hay, and Wm. Austin.
The dates set for the fair were Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 14th, 15th, and 16th, 1884. For exhibition three hundred and forty-one entries were made. First premiums were awarded as follows :
S. H. Melcher-2 yr. grade Durham heifer; Suffolk sow and pigs; Suffolk sow ; and best display of farm products and garden peas.
M. W. Young -- 2 yr. bull; roadster stallion ; and stallion for all purposes.
C. W. Hill-Durham cow; 4 yr. thorobred bull; thorobred Durham calf ; early potatoes, late potatoes and pumpkins.
O. G. Woodruff-Grade Durham bull five years old.
Mrs. E. H. Wheeler-Thorobred calf.
L. G. Wilson-Six-year-old Jersey cow.
B. F. Eagle-Two-year-old stallion ; 1 yr. old filley ; and carriage team. W. T. Hay-One-year-old horse colt.
L. F. Russell-Four-year-old gelding; span of two-year-old mares; three-year-old mare ; best team for all purposes.
Ed Dwyer-Spring colt.
E. Nesmith-Three-year-old stallion.
O. F. Woodruff-Farm or draft stallion.
R. Vanderveen-Draft team.
John Dukes-Two coarse-wool bucks; two coarse-wool ewes; I yr. buck and flock of five sheep.
C. B. Blake-Fine-wool bucks ; fine-wool ewes.
H. Blowers-Three pigs.
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W. Brownell-One boar pig.
M. A. Cummings-1 yr. old Berkshire boar.
R. M. Magee-Best display of poultry.
E. H. Ford-Plymouth Rock fowl.
S. Young-Pekin ducks.
J. S. Lynn-Flax.
Wm. Arne-Onions.
W. Towner-Squashes.
J. O. Shryock-Cabbage.
H. Lowder-Field corn.
E. L. DeLine-Carrots.
Lady Equestrian-Ist prize, Maud Tofflemier ; 2nd, Mrs. K. Shryock. In the baby show W. V. Dixon's baby girl won Ist prize, $10, offered by Mr. P. R. Barrett.
Chapter 14.
Politics, like the buffalo, the Indian and Coyotes, seems to be indigen- ous to South Dakota. From the fact that white men seemed to become imbued with it as soon as they crossed the boundary line, in the old ter- ritorial days, the idea has become prevalent that the disease was here ahead of them.
The first political meeting in Jerauld county, after its organization, was in April, 1884. The occasion was the election of one delegate to represent the county at the territorial republican convention called to meet at Huron April, 23, to select delegates to the national convention.
The meeting was held at the office of the register of deeds, April 19th and was a "Masse" affair composed of eleven or twelve voters, N. J. Dunham was selected as the delegate.
The first regular caucus held in the county was the one which met at the county building in Wessington Springs on Feb. 15th, 1884, for the purpose of nominating school officers and a name for the school town- ship. The first motion was by Mr. A. B. Smart in nominating W. I. Bateman for the chairmanship of the meeting. After the caucus had disposed of the business pertaining to the schools, it proceeded to elect a county committeeman for the Republican party of the county, that was expected to be formed in the near future, and also a Republican township committee. J. F. Ford was elected to the county committee, and E. L.
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DeLine, W. I. Bateman and C. W. McDonald were made a committee for the precinct.
It had been planned to have the same course followed in all the town- ships, but some neglected it and only the following members were elected to the county committee.
Wessington Springs-J. F. Ford.
Crow-U. E. Babb.
Harmony-H. A. Pierce.
Franklin-I. P. Ray.
A call for a meeting of the committee to be held on May 4th, 1884, was made by Mr. Ford, about the middle of May. The committee met at the time appointed and preceeded to organize the party for the county by filling the vacancies in the county committee and appointing a com- mittee of three for each township. J. F. Ford was elected chairman of the county committee and M. D. Crow, secretary. The township com- mittees were as follows :
Marlar-J. M. Corbin, Frank Marlaur and C. C. Sapp.
Crow-U. E. Babb, E. S. Waterbury and C. V. Martin.
Logan-James Long, William Niemeyer and Z. P. DeForest.
Harmony-O. O. England, I. N. Rich and N. J. Dunham. Pleasant -- A. W. Dean, O. E. Gaffin and John Sullivan. Crow Lake-D. F. Moulton, R. Y. Hazard and S. H. Melcher. Chery-P. B. Davis, H. J. Wallace and G. W. Bolton.
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