USA > South Dakota > Jerauld County > A history of Jerauld county, South Dakota > Part 21
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The people of the northern townships petitioned the county commis- sioners to have the hill road west from Alpena graded for the benefit of the farmers in that part of the county who marketed their produce and obtained their supplies at that station. The petition was laid over and never granted.
The east half of sections 12 and 13 of Media township, on the 6th of July, were made a part of Wessington Springs township, and on July 30th the commissioners made an order attaching all of sections 1, 12. and 13 of Media township to Wessington Springs township for all purposes.
A bridge was built across the Firesteel creek in the northeast corner of Viola township and one over Smith creek in the southern part of Logan.
Judge A. I. Churchill died on June 19th, and on petition to the gov- ernor, Alonzo Converse was appointed to fill the vacancy.
About May Ist a mass meeting was held at Wessington Springs to arrange for soliciting aid for the people of Russia who were suffering from famine. Over $70 in money were collected at the meeting and com- mittees appointed in each township to collect money, or grain to be for- warded to the national committee in New York where a ship was waiting to take it to the scene of destitution. Several hundred dollars were col- lected, but no report was ever made of the exact amount.
Railroad projects were again rumored, and it was said that a road known as the Huron, Wheeler & Denver Ry. was to be pushed through at once and that the Great Northern Ry. Co. was behind the move. The story of the Midland Pacific from Sioux Falls west was revived and people thought it would certainly be built.
On the 10th of February a mass meeting was held at the instance of The Goodland, (Kan.) Rain Co. to take action on a proposition to be submitted by the company to the people of the county. The company for the purposes of their operations had divided the state into districts, 30x 50 miles in extent. Their proposal was to produce from one-half to two inches of rainfall over the district when desired, they to receive $600 therefor, which amount they were willing to take in county warrants. The meeting voted to ask the county commissioners to issue a warrant for $60, being Jerauld county's portion for the preliminary effort. The commissioners refused and there the matter ended.
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Sunday school work was continued as usual in various parts of the county. The county convention was held at Wessington Springs on July 7th and the monthly institutes continued in the western townships. In Wessington Springs a Congregational Sunday School was organized on April 3rd, which has been continued to the present time. A Sunday School was started at the Dale Center school house and continued during the summer.
In Pleasant township a meeting was held on the 8th of May to take steps toward erecting a Congregational church building in the central part of the township.
A district W. C. T. U. convention was held at Wessington Springs on May 25th, at which several counties were represented.
Entertainments were held in Alpena and Franklin townships to prov- ide libraries for the Liberty and Dry Run schools.
A company of farmers was formed in August in Alpena and Franklin townships with D. P. Burnison, president, and Geo. E. Whitney, secre- tary, to hire their season's threshing done. The company controlled about 1500 acres of grain.
About the same time John Sime began the construction of the large two story frame house that for years stood as a land mark in the north- west part of Franklin township.
In Crow Lake township a gentleman named Welsh, a teacher of vocal music, opened a singing school, and also one in the Kellogg dis- trict in Anina township. Both were a success.
At Alpena but few changes occurred in business matters. The Pres- byterian church society purchased the old store building at the northwest corner of Main and 2nd streets. The society continued to occupy this building until 1901, when the new church was built.
In the year 1892 J. J. Hillis began business as a barber and continued it until 1897 when he sold to L. N. Tillery. In 1902 A. M. Winters purchased the business from Tillery.
On Nov. 10th a change was made in station masters, Mr. M. J. Rem- shaw going into the station at Aberdeen and A. Amundson taking the vacancy at Alpena.
In January, 1892, the Bank of Alpena incorporated with L. N. Loomis, D. F. Royer and H. J. Wallace, owners of the stock. This bank had been an exception among the banks of the state in the rates of in- terest charged, and with the change to a corporation, by it and the bank at Wessington Springs, the rate began to be lowered in all the surround- ing towns.
At Wessington Springs, several changes occurred in the business interests.
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After the death of Dr. A. M. Mathias, which occurred on the 23rd of January, Mrs. N. C. Hall took sole charge of the drug store and in May became proprietor of it.
About the first of May R. C. Smith opened a drug store in the old Stephens building, which he continued until the next year, when it was destroyed by fire.
In January W. L. Arnold began operating a feed store and continued it until February 17th, when he bought the stock of Berger & Son. About the 10th of March Mr. Arnold sold his stock to the National Union company, he remaining as manager. The plan of this corporation was to secure the trade of members of the farmers alliance. To do this they offered to each member in good standing (whose dues were paid) a re- turn in cash at the end of six months, or a year, an amount equal to two per cent of the total sum of his cash purchases, and in addition thereto a share in the company protfis. The company did not live long enough to make any returns, nor divide any profits.
About the 20th of April G. N. Price and J. M. Spears made a deed, whereby Price quit running a hotel and Spears stopped taking teams at the hotel barn.
C. W. England opened a tobacco store in the old Herald building on the north side of Main street, and Will Spears had a barber shop in several different rooms along Main street.
S. T. Leeds purchased the old machinery building on the northeast corner of Main and 2nd Sts. and about the first of September began work there as a blacksmith.
In March Wm. Kline set up an emery wheel in his shop, probably the first wheel of its kind in the county.
The creamery had so far proved a great help to the farming con- munity and in September the tread wheel which had furnished the power was taken out and a steam engine put in its place.
At the Seminary. the first class was graduated on June 23rd. The graduates were Misses M. Della England, Ellen M. Vessey and Anna M. Martin.
The Post Office became a money order office in March.
The price of wheat had dropped to 43 cents per bushed in October.
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Chapter 6.
The year 1893 will be remembered by men, and in history, as the year of the great panic. The cause of it will probably always be a mat- ter for discussion by politician, statesmen, economists and historians. But that is a part of it with which this chronicle has nothing to do. We have to do only with events that affected Jerauld county.
People were recovering from the disaster of two years before, and many who had left the county then were returning and a hopeful spirit · was common. Farm produce was bringing a better price ; hogs $7 per hundred weight; cattle $2.50 to $4.00 for stockers; wheat 6oc to 70c per bushel, and there was an activity in real estate that had not been seen for ten years. A large acreage of all kinds of grain was planted. This condition continued until June. Then the crash came. Many there were who said, "We told you so," but they obtained little heed. Men were too astounded and stupified to care for that. In an instant a cyclone of adversity had swept the county and left ruin and despair everywhere.
Dunn & Co.'s commercial agency reported 16,650 failures in the U. S. with aggregate liabilities amounting to $498,000,000 besides the liabil- ities of railroads in the hands of receivers, which amounted to $1,122, 217,833, with millions of laborers out of employment.
By October wheat was selling at 25 to 30 cents per bushel, mixed cattle $1.25 per hundred weight, and everything else in proportion. Every day brought news of additional failures and additional thousands of workmen out of employment. Of what use was the surplus of crop, when there was no busy laborer to buy it? Jerauld county granaries were well filled, and the herds numerous, but these products of the farm could not be sold for enough to pay the cost of production. To the credit of Jerauld county be it said that in that year of the panic and the years that followed but two business houses closed their doors and they did not have the aid of the sheriff nor writs of attachments. Like wayfarers caught in a storm, the people adjusted themselves to the situation as best they could and waited for the tempest to pass.
But aside from the effects of the financial difficulties the affairs of Jerauld county and its people kept on about as usual.
The new commissioner, D. B. Paddock, took the official oath January 3rd and the board organized by electing Mr. Schaefer chairman.
The expense to the county of relieving the poor during the first quarter of the year was $16.75 ; during the second quarter, $64.85 ; during the third quarter, $193.89; and during the last quarter, $18.80. Total for year $294.29.
A county bridge was built by Daniel Kint, of Alpena, across Sand
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Creek in the northeast part of Dale township and another across the same stream south of Alpena. W. N. Hill built a bridge for the county at the west end of Crow Lake across Smith Creek, and one in the south- east corner of Logan township across the same stream. He also built a county bridge across the Firesteel in the northeast part of Viola.
So the work of the county board was performed to the satisfaction of everybody. In September they levied the usual tax for the different purposes and in November Mr. Schaefer was re-elected from the middle district over J. E. White, of Wessington Springs township, Mr. Schaefer receiving every vote in his home precinct.
During the summer and autumn there was the annual rumor about the Midland Pacific Ry., but it ended there ..
The yearly Sunday School convention was held on the 6th of June, and in Sept., from the 4th to the 15th, the county teachers' institute was in session with Prof. Savage, of Kimball, conductor, and Miss Barber, of Buffalo county, for the third time assistant conductor.
On January 18th diptheria made its appearance among the students at the seminary, and quarantine followed. For several weeks the school was closed and the most heroic efforts of the faculty were required to care for the sick. Yet, the school was able to graduate a class of one student at the regular commencement exercises on the 23rd of June, when a diploma was granted to Mr. N. B. Gormley. During the spring months the students at the seminary prepared exhibits of their work. which were sent to the educational department of the Worlds Fair at Chicago.
On the evening of November 28 the "Sunshine Makers," a society of children organized by Miss Emma Freeland, one of the seminary teach- ers, celebrated their first anniversary. This band of little folks had been true to their name and continued so for several years, carrying their bright, cheerful efforts into many places that otherwise would have been gloomy enough.
In connection with the Wessington Springs M. E. Church a junior league was formed Feb. 12th, and on June 24th the W. C. T. U. organ- ized a Loyal Legion with seventeen members.
A district encampment of the G. A. R. was held at Wessington Springs on the 3rd, 4th and 5th of July, which was attended by veterans of the civil war from all parts of the state. The principal speakers were Gov. C. H. Sheldon, and Congressman W. N. Lucas. On the next day after the close of the encampment the W. R. C. was reorganized and for several years thereafter was a helpful auxiliary to E. O. C. Ord G. A. R. Post.
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The Congregational church which had now become a strong society erected a parsonage, completing it in November.
The annual county spelling contest on March 1Ith, was won by the Franklin township class, composed of the following students: Misses Lena Whiffin, Julia Doctor and Atkinson.
In February Mrs. P. R. Barrett, who for so many years had been the efficient postmistress at Wessington Springs, resigned her position and G. R. Bateman was appointed to the office.
The village of Wessington Springs, on May 3rd, applied to the county commissioners for permission to incorporate, which was granted subject to an election called for May 15th. The vote was favorable and on May 29th the following officers were elected :
Trustees-J. H. Woodburn, F. W. Whitney and H. J. Wallace.
Clerk-J. K. Freeland.
Treasurer-F. G. Vessey.
Assessor-D. B. Segar.
Justice-Geo. R. Bateman.
Marshall-H. C. Stephens.
The village trustees met on June 2nd and elected J. H. Woodburn president of the board. On July 12th the county commissioners declared the village incorporated.
In the autumn the village trustees awarded to Andrew Mercer the contract for making a stone arch in each of the two gullies that crossed the west part of Main street. One of the arches-the west one-was completed in December, the work being done by Anton Reindl.
The only change among the newspapers of the county was in the Sieve office-C. W. Hill succeeding B. W. Moore as editor.
In this year. 1893, several changes were made in business affairs in the county. .
W. L. Arnold, having cleared himself from the entanglements of the National Union Co., again commenced business in the old Kinny building in Wessington Springs. Later in the season he purchased the building where C. N. Hall had been conducting his harness business and moved in there.
Mr. Hall took his harness work out to his farm in Media township.
J. H. Vessey opened a general stock of merchandise in the room vacated by Mr. Arnold and continued the business until December when he sold the stock to C. W. Lane.
In the spring Mr. Wm. Brodkorb began running a meat market in the old Hackett building on the south side of Main street. In the fall he put up a building at the southeast corner of Main and 3rd streets. This was the first permanent market in Wessington Springs.
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J. A. Crawford began blacksmithing in a new shop located between Albert & Vessey's store and Price's livery barn.
About March Ist O. O. England began doing a hardware business on the north side of Main street, in the old Herald building. This business was continued by Mr. England for a number of years.
April Ist Pat McDonald engaged in the farm implement business in Wessington Springs.
At Waterbury a gentleman named Harris rented the old Rice & Her- ring building and in March opened a general merchandise store.
At Alpena Messrs. E. G. Kinsman and James McDowell dissolved partnership as blacksmiths, McDowell going to Minnesota and Kinsman continuing the business alone until 1908, when he sold to his son George and a newphew of the same name.
Probably the most important event in Alpena during the year 1893 was the building of the city scales. This was done in accordance with the statute requiring every incorporated town in the state to provide a set of public scales and appoint a weighmaster who should have a set of U. S. standard weights and measures for testing all weights and measures used by any person in doing business with the public. Senator Milliken". had introduced the law and had it passed by the legislature and he insisted upon compliance with its provisions.
Chapter 7.
There was no change in the board of commissioners in January, 1894, but they reorganized on the 2nd day of the month by electing David McDowall chairman.
Caring for the poor during the first three months cost the county $40.12: 2nd quarter, $305.24; 3rd quarter, $145.00.
A steel bridge was built across a branch of Crow Creek in Crow township south of Waterbury in July, the work being done by W. N. Hill. In the village of Wessington Springs the second stone arch was completed on Main street between 2nd and 3rd streets.
By the first of October it was apparent that the county must again furnish seed grain to some of the farmers of the county, and the com- missioners requested that a mass meeting be held in each township to ascertain the amount needed, but stating that not more than fifty bushels would be furnished to any one person. The meetings were held and the following report made to the board :
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Blaine, 1200 bu .; Anina, 100 bu .; Crow Lake, 180 bu .; Logan, 60 bu .; Franklin, 220 bu .; Wessington Springs, 410 bu .; Media, 825 bu. ; Pleasant, 578 bu .; Crow, 200 bu. ; Alpena, 950 bu. ; Dale, 850 bu .; Chery, 900 bu. ; Marlar, 500 bu. ; Viola, none; and Harmony none. Total 6973.
In the spelling contest that occurred on the 17th of March the class from Blaine township made a tie with the class from Franklin township for the first prize, and with the class from Alpena township for the second prize. This was the last of the contests.
The county teachers' institute was held July 9th to 20th, Mr. A. G. Savage, of Kimball again being conductor, assisted by J. W. Harden and S. F. Huntley.
On the 13th of May the Wessington Springs Epworth League, which society had maintained its organization since 1889, celebrated its 5th anniversary, and in July it entertained the League's state convention.
. In April the Universalists began holding union Sunday School at the public school building.
Rev. T. Donoghue accepted the position of pastor of the Free Me- thodist church in November.
At the Wessington Springs Seminary the class of 1894 received its diplomas at the June commencement. The members of the class were Effie and Nellie Reed, Anna S. Hanebuth, Leora Smith, W. A. Baldwin. George H. Grace and Thomas V. Fear.
In October a change was made in the Wessington Springs mail service by the appointment of Mrs. Eva V. Whitney to the position of post- mistress.
On the night of Friday, Jan. 12 the old Stephens building, then oc- cupied by R. C. Smith's drug store, was burned. The building and con- tents were a total loss. Mrs. Anna Hawley, now Mrs. James Weast, who with her family lived in the upper rooms, lost everything.
Mr. J. C. Longland sold his creamery building in Wessington Springs to C. W. Lane, in February, and moved to Artesian.
The stock of merchandise that C. W. Lane purchased of J. H. Vessey in the previous December was sold in March to J. R. Milliken, who moved it to Alpena.
At Waterbury Levi Harris, who had been in mercantile business there a little over a year sold his stock and moved to Miller in Hand county.
At Alpena George Arne began in January to close out his mercantile stock and in February moved to Iowa. It was into the room vacated by Arne that Mr. Milliken moved the stock he purchased from Lane at Wessington Springs.
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In June a very enthusiastic Free Methodist camp meeting was held in R. J. Eastmans grove four miles south of Alpena.
In September W. P. Shulz, who had built a machine for drilling ar- terian wells, began work on a well for P. H. Shultz on the latter's farm in Viola township and in November the well was completed.
The work undertaken by Mr. Shultz was so highly appreciated by the people of the county, that the well machine owned by him, valued at $4000, has, by tacit consent, been exempted from taxation, and never listed by the assessors.
About the same time Wm. Kline and Pat McDonald contracted with S. H. Albert to put down an artesian well on his farm in Chery township. They completed the well the next summer.
Politics was at the highest pitch of excitement almost continuously from 1892 to 1896. The campaign of 1894 was probably the most per- sonal of any the county ever saw. A Jerauld county humorist said poli- tics was "epidemic ;" two years later he pronounced it "endemic." The Independents had changed their name to "Populists" and the contest was between them and the Republicans.
On August IIth the Republicans named a ticket as follows :
Register of Deeds-D. F. Moulton.
Treasurer-F. S. Coggshall.
Auditor-B. B. Blosser.
Sheriff-H. C. Stephens.
Judge-C. D. Brown.
Attorney-S. B. Tidd.
Clerk of Courts-C. G. Smith.
Supt. of Schools-S. F. Huntley.
Surveyor-A. H. West.
Coroner-E. L. Turner.
State Senator-J. R. Milliken, of Jerauld county.
Representative-B. C. Huddle, of Buffalo county.
The Populists held their convention on August 18th and nominated :
Register of Deeds-P. T. Varnum.
Treasurer-M. A. Schaefer.
Auditor-J. A. Paddock.
Sheriff-A. Mercer.
Judge-Wm. Carroll.
Attorney-Daniel Mitchell.
Clerk of Courts-S. S. Vrooman.
Supt. of Schools-George O. Williams.
Surveyor-Chas. Whiffin.
State Senator-C. C. Wright, of Jerauld county.
Representative-Henry Klindt, of Buffalo county.
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Bank of Alpena.
J. R. Milliken.
P. H. Shults.
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In the first commissioner district the Republicans nominated A. Bran- denburg, of Alpena township, and the Populists re-nominated David McDowall, of Franklin.
The election occurred on the 6th of November with the following result :
State Senator-C. C. Wright.
Representative-Henry Klindt.
Register of Deeds-P. T. Varnum.
Treasurer-M. A. Schaefer.
Auditor-J. A. Paddock.
Clerk of Courts-S. S. Vrooman.
County Judge-C. D. Brown.
Sheriff-A. Mercer.
Attorney-Daniel Mitchell.
County Supt .- Geo .O. Williams.
Surveyor-Chas. Whiffin.
Coroner-E. L. Turner.
County Commissioner, Ist Dist .- D. McDowall.
At this election the commissioners on their own motion had submitted two questions to the people: Ist, Shall the county furnish seed grain in the spring of 1895? 2nd, Shall security other than a lien on the crop be required? On the first of these questions a large majority votes "yes ;" on the 2nd an equally large majority voted "no."
On the 18th of December, Mr. Schaefer having resigned his position as commissioner from the middle district, P. H. Shultz, of Viola town- ship was appointed to fill the vacancy.
THE DROUTH.
Maybe it is in accord with the immutable law of "survival of the fittest" that nature tests, by disaster and adversity, the fitness of people to inhabit a land they claim as their own. But be that as it may, certain it is that the people of the Dakotas had enough of trials in the 90s.
The year 1893 with its panic in business and consequent shrinkage in values, and low prices, was followed in 1894 by a season of dry weather that in heat and duration had never been equalled before, nor never has been since, in the territory occupied by the two states. Yet it was but a locality in a drouth that extended that year, from the Allegheny to the Rocky mountains, and beyond.
But little snow fell during the winter of 1893-94 and spring came early. A few encouraging showers came in April and the forepart of May, and then stopped. Not enough rain to beat down the dust fell
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again until the middle of September. Yet such is the ability of the Da- kota soil, because of its formation, to return moisture and resist the effects of drouth, that where crops were properly planted, some fair yields were obtained. Deep plowing was rare, but in 1894 its value was demonstrated. In every instance where the ground was plowed deep and then properly cultivated a fair crop was harvested. In many other fields the grain did not form a kernel. Prices remained the same as in the previous year, for though the supply of farm produce was but about one- half of previous years, in the nation at large, yet the demand for it, then, as always, was measured by the ability to buy. Business depression, closed factories and idle workmen combined to keep the prices down.
In August the people began to inquire about some place to go to get employment. Some suggested one thing, some another. Some prepared to go to Wisconsin and Minnesota, but then came the report of the drouth and terrible forest fires there where over three hundred people had been burned to death in a single county. Senator J. N. Smith who was on a visit to friends in Iowa and Nebraska wrote to the editor of the Sieve at Wessington Springs to the effect that the drouth there was as bad as in South Dakota. Mr. Frank Kutil, of Franklin township, started for Missouri, but when he reached Council Bluffs, he met people from that state, Kansas and other localities all wandering about aimlessly in different directions looking for employment. He crossed the river to Omaha, where he was fortunate in finding a sympathetic stranger who helped him to get work until the next summer. Then he received infor- mation that the boys had raised a good croop on the home farm and with his wife took the train for South Dakota. They arrived at Woonsocket when the grain along the way was turning to a golden yellow, and was met with the news that a terrific hail storm had swept over the north part of Franklin township the previous night and the crops on his farm were utterly destroyed. But others had need of help and he stayed. Like thousands more he prospered in the years that followed.
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