History of Dakota Territory, volume I, Part 30

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1198

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The distinctive topographical feature of the territory is a vast plain, gently undulating, which covers nearly four-fifths of its area. This feature extends west of the Missouri River, though broken to a much greater extent by rivers and creeks and by the "bad lands," marked on most of the older maps as the "mauvaise terres," a French term having the same significance as "bad lands." and beyond these the Black Hills, which cover an area of 3,200 square miles, have an average elevation of 6,000 feet, one of its mountains, Harney's Peak, rising to an altitude of 8,200 feet above the sea, the highest point in the United States cast of the Rocky Mountains. The Turtle Mountain region, which lies in the extreme northern portion of the territory, embraces about eight hundred square miles. Its highest peak is called Butte St. Paul, in the County of Bottineau, and is 2,300 feet above sea level. For a description of the "bad lands" and Black Hills, so far as was known at the time, the reader is referred to Professor Hay- den's lecture delivered at Yankton in 1866, and to Sully's Indian campaign of that year, which are given in this book.

The Wessington Hills in Jeratild and Hand counties form a conspicuous land- mark in that region, with an elevation nearly equal to the Turtle Mountains, and extend from the northern limit of Brule County, entirely across the County of Jerauld to about the center of Iland County.

HOW WYOMING BECAME A PART OF DAKOTA

The western boundary of Dakota was early modified by the organization of the territories of Idaho, March 3, 1863, and Montana, May 26, 1864. The entire Territory of Montana, and a portion of Southeastern Idaho, had been included in the original boundaries of Dakota, but by section 18 of the Montana act it was provided that until Congress shall otherwise direct all that part of the Territory of Idaho included within the following boundaries, to wit :

Commencing at a point formed by the intersection of the 33d degree of longitude west from Washington, with the 41st degree of north latitude; thence along said 33d degree of longitude to the erest of the Rocky Mountains; thence northward along the said erest of the Rocky Mountains to its intersection with the 44th degree and 30 minutes of north latitude; thence eastward along said 44th degree and 30 minutes north latitude to the 34th degree of longitude west from Washington; thence northward along said 34th degree of longitude to its intersection with the 45th degree of north latitude : thence eastward along said 45th degree of north latitude to its intersection with the 27th degree of longiude west from Washington ; thence south along said 27th degree of longitude west from Washington to the 4Ist degree of north latitude; thence along the 41st degree of north latitude to the place of beginning shall be and is hereby incorporated temporarily into and made a part of the Territory of Dakota.

Under this change Dakota received the entire range of the Black Hills with the Wind River and Big Horn Mountains, the sources of the Missouri, Yellow- stone, Platte and Big Horn rivers, and also Fort Laramie, South Pass and Fre- mont's Peak, about one-half the territory included four years later in the Terri- tory of Wyoming lying west of Nebraska, which was organized as a separate territory in 1868-69, though its organic act became a law as early as 1866, the delay in organization being due to the disagreement between President Johnson and Congress.

DAKOTA'S MEDICAL SIDE

The Department of Agriculture, United States, says of the soil in the Terri- tory of Dakota :

The lightness and porosity of the freshly upturned soil of Dakota is a marvel to one who would expect sogginess from the luxuriant growth of grass. This lightness suggests sand and shallowness, but we see that it is a salient feature of rich land. Nature has pur- sued a conservative course toward Dakota, enabling her to hoard her wealth, and her citizens should hear this ever in mind, so as to increase the treasury of this wonderful country. There is no region that Iknow of with so generally rich a soil.

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A scientific authority, Dr. F. C. Duncan, of Chicago, visited Dakota in early years for the purpose of studying its climate, soil and waters, and subsequently published his conclusions, which are very interesting and valuable. He says :

Every country, territory and town has a medical side and none is more interesting than Dakota. The location, ingredients of the soil, water peculiarities and rare atmosphere, no doubt account to a certain extent for its invigorating climate. Besides being rich in agri- cultural promise it is destined to be a health resort. The effects of the water upon the health brings me to look at the medical side of the water question.

The persons who drink the well water of Dakota should not be troubled with bihous- ness, at least not until the soda is replaced by potash, which may take place after long cultivation. Those who drink water from the Dakota (James ) River should not complain of kidney trouble. The action of magnesia on the bowels is well known. None need buy any purgative pills when alkaline water can be drank freely. The sick may take it with decided beneficial results. The fat people should visit Dakota and drink bitter well water. It is the anti-fat. The action of the river water upon the digestive organs will be beneficial. There is nothing in these waters that is deleterious to health unless used to excess.

Dakota may yet be as famous for seckers after health as it now is for agricultural interest. I would advise those who would be benefited by a change of climate to visit Dakota. Whether Dakota answers the requirements of a health resort can be gleaned from its char- acteristics. It is a vast plateau reached from Chicago after passing up through hill and dale, over rivers and picturesque lakes. As far as the eye can reach, for miles and miles, in the growing season, green waving grass and grain is seen below, and a clear blue sky above. The effect upon the mind is most soothing. Dakota is so situated that there are constant breezes coming up the rivers and over the broad expanse of prairie. These increase with the evap- orating heavy dews, and wax and wane with the sun, as in California. The lakes and mois- ture are on the high ground, so that the air is not so dry as in Colorado, therefore there is a large amount of ozone always present.

For dyspeptics, especially, the climate, water and cereal products of Dakota will yet have a great reputation. City business men should take a few weeks' recreation in Dakota, espe- cially in the spring and fall. The mental diversion and physical energy recovered should amply repay them. Young ladies in the Fast suffering from neurasthenia and ennui, would get health by a short residence in Dakota.

The river and surface water is a mild alkaline water. The chief ingredient is magnesia. The soil is loaded with saline ingredients which increase the nitrogenous elements of the food, rendering Dakota products very healthful and appetizing. The people of Dakota are vigorous, intelligent, enterprising and remarkably hospitable. These are features that in the opinion of many medical men will yet make Dakota a famous health resort.

For consumptives and those suffering from diseases of the lungs in general, it will yet rival Colorado and California, especially for the first stage of lung troubles. The absence of low marshes and malaria make it desirable for those troubled with bilious disorders. For diseases of the kidneys and bladder the water of Dakota is especially valuable, rivaling that of any noted water.

IMMIGRATION, CATFISH, AND GOLD DISCOVERIES

There was a fair immigration into the territory during the summer and fall of 1850 after the Yankton Indians had withdrawn to their reservation. There were two ferry boats in operation on the Big Sioux River during most of the latter part of the season, rope ferries, and both were kept fairly well employed. The immigrants settled along the Big Sioux and Brule Creek valleys and as far west as Vermillion, a few getting into the country tributary to Yankton.

The catfish was an important factor in the settlement of Dakota, and in the opinion of many of the early settlers the food problem would have been a very serious one had it not been for the abundant supply of this best of all fishes right at the threshold of the settlements. It is occasionally remarked in these later times that the people of Dakota are not acquainted with the edible merits of this excellent fish, huit send to eastern and western markets for an inferior article. while they have such an inexhaustible supply here at home. The celebrated natt- ralist Audubon made a very exhaustive investigation of the fishes of the Mis- souri about the year 1858 and gave it as his opinion that the catfish was a very valuable article of food, containing in due proportions the constituents that form the very best of food fishes. For scores of years the early traders subsisted al- most exclusively on a diet of buffalo meat and catfish, having vegetables very rarely and small desire for them. This was before the day of canned vegetables.

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The existence of gold in paying quantities in the streams and gulches on the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains in what is now Montana was known to the old fur traders of nearly three-score years ago. Maj. Alexander Culbertson, a member and manager of the American Fur Company of St. Louis, brought down nearly $500 in gold nuggets in the fall of 1859, when he was returning to St. Louis from an inspection of the company's business in the upper river. He obtained the gold from white men, who exchanged it for goods at the trading posts on the headwaters of the Missouri, and who were very reticent regarding how they came by it or where they had procured it, though it was no doubt taken out of the placers in that country by the early prospectors. Major Culbertson had for a companion Maj. Charles E. Galpin, another famous frontiersman and fur trader. They spent the night with the Yankton pioneers early in December, 1859, and exhibited some of the gold, consisting of coarse nuggets, telling them that the mountainous regions of the Northwest were rich in auriferous treasures, that there would be a stampede for this country as soon as it became known, and that the only practicable route, on account of its freedom from hardships and danger, was by way of the Missouri River to Fort Benton. These gentlemen had been on the road from Benton sixty days, visiting a number of trading posts on their way down, and traveling by Mackinaw until the river filled with ice, when they procured horses and pack animals. They were going first to St. Louis, thence to Washington, to urge the establishment of a military post near Benton and at one or two other points as a measure of protection, and as a means of preserving peace with the Indians, who would be apt to resent the coming of the whites into the country.

SETTLERS DEMAND A LAWFUL GOVERNMENT

In 1859 the question of securing a political organization for the Territory of Dakota was uppermost in the minds of the settlers. (A preceding chapter tells the story of the efforts of the Sioux Falls pioneers. ) It will be readily admitted that there would be little incentive to industry and improvement until the settlers were secure in some form of authorized government that would protect their property and open the avenues for the orderly administration of the law. The Yankton settlers were cordially supported by those of the other settlements along the Missouri slope. United States Senator Fitch introduced a bill to organize the Territory of Dakota and for other purposes December, 1858, which was referred to the territorial committee, but nothing came of it, the treaty not having been ratified, and for the same reason a bill presented by Senator James I. Green, February 4, 1859. was not acted upon. In the House of Representatives on the 29th day of January, 1859, Alexander HI. Stephens, who was about two years later elected vice president of the "Confederate States of America," introduced a bill for the establishment of a territorial government in Dakota. This measure got no further than to be referred to the committee.

A settlers' mass convention was held in the Bramble store at Yankton on the 8th day of November, 1859, where resolutions were adopted, and a memorial to Congress setting forth the needs of the people was authorized to be drawn up and circulated throughout the territory for signatures. D. T. Bramble was chair- man of the convention, M. K. Armstrong secretary, and J. B. S. Todd. Obed Foote and Thomas Frick the committee on resolutions. George D. Fiske, James M. Stone and Captain Todd composed the committee to draft the memorial. Gen. D. M. Frost, of St. Louis, a heavy stockholder of the "Yankton Land and Town Company" and head of the firm of Frost, Todd & Co., was present at this meeting and made an able speech in support of the movement while the committee on resolutions was preparing its report. Others present were J. R. Hanson, George Pike, Jr., John Stanage, Henry Arend, II. T. Bailey, Enos Stutsman, J. S. Presho, Frank Chapel, Charles F. Picotte, Felix LeBlanc and Lytle M. Griffith. Because this meeting and a similar gathering at Vermillion were the first formal steps

JOSEPH R. HANSON Yankton County. Dakota, pioneer of 1858

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taken on the Missouri slope to secure the organization of the territory, the pro- ceedings are herein given in full as taken down and preserved in the archives of the "Yankton Claim Club":

Report of the Settlers' Meeting at Yankton and Vermillion to Urge the Organization of Dakota Territory

At a meeting of the citizens of Yankton and vicinity in Dakota Territory, held at Bramble's store on the 8th of November, 1859, Mr. D. T. Bramble was called to the chair and M. K. Armstrong chosen secretary. The object of the convention, as explained by Capt. J. B. S. Todd, was to take into consideration the necessity for a territorial organization and to draw up and sign a memorial to Congress praying for a legal form of government.

On motion of Captain Todd a committee of three was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the views and wants of the convention. Captain Todd, Obed Foote and Thomas Frick were appointed as such committee. During the absence of the Committee on Resolu- tions, General Frost of St. Louis was called upon and delivered some encouraging remarks to the settlers, which were listened to with most earnest attention.

The Committee on Resolutions reported as follows :

Whereas, The State of Minnesota, composed in part of the late Territory of Min- nesota, has been admitted into the federal Union, and that part of the territory lying outside of the state limits has been declared by resolution of the House of Representatives to be without any distinct legally organized government, "which said resolution was adopted on the 3d day of June, 1858" and the people thereof are not entitled to a delegate to Congress until that right has been conferred upon them by statute, thereby withdrawing from us the protecting shield of the laws of our country and the inestimable privilege of a representa- tive of our wants and wishes at the seat of the Federal Government, and leaving us to be "a law unto ourselves," without providing for the people of the remaining part of the terri- tory any organized government, or guaranteeing to us any of those wholesome provisions by which well ordered society is established, fostered, maintained and protected; and that we are without laws, courts or civil officers, from the mouth of the Big Sioux on the Missouri to Pembina on the Red River of the North; and as we feel the want of those wholesome guards and shields, and of those wholesome rights and privileges, which of right pertain to good citizens, to constitute them a healthy, contented and happy people, to give direction to their will and to provide for their wants in all the forms of government; therefore, be it

Resolved, First, That we, the citizens of Yankton and vicinity in Dakota Territory, earnestly urge upon the Senate and the House of Representatives the condition in which we are placed, not only by the failure of Congress to provide for the people of that part of the Territory of Minnesota outside of the state limits known as Dakota with any form of gov- ernment, but by withdrawing from them that under which they had lived, and denying to them a representative on the floor of Congress; and by withholding from them laws, courts and civil officers, and thereby creating the necessity of an early organization of a legal form of government.

Second. That the House of Representatives having declared by resolution that "the admission of the State of Minnesota into the Union, with the boundaries prescribed in the act of admission, operate as a dissolution of the territorial organization of Minnesota, and that so much of the late Territory of Minnesota as lies without the limits of the present State of Minnesota, is without any distinct legally organized government," and "the people thereof are not entitled to any delegate in Congress until that right is conferred upon them by statute :" that we do not approve of any election that has been held,* nor will we partici- pate in any that may be held, in any portion of this territory, for the purpose of electing a delegate to Congress; but we trust to the wisdom and justice of Congress to provide us with a legal form of government at an early day.

Third. That a committee of three be appointed by this meeting to draft a memorial to the Senate and House of Representatives, expressive of our views, as indicated in the fore- going preamble and resolutions, and that the same be circulated for signatures among the people.

Fourth. That the secretary of this convention communicate the foregoing preamble and resolution to our fellow citizens at their meeting to be held at Vermillion, and also to those to be held at Big Sioux, Bon Homme and at Kitson precincts, and all others that may be called, and to invite their cooperation with us.

Fifth. That the secretary be requested to forward a copy of the proceedings of this meeting to the committee provided for in resolution Third, and that said copy be attached to the memorial therein directed to be drafted and with it forwarded to the Senate and House of Representatives.

On motion of Mr. Chapel the report was unanimously adopted by the convention.

On motion of Mr. Foote the convention appointed J. B. S. Todd. George D. Fiske and J. M. Stone as a committee to draft the memorial designated in resolution Third.

On motion of Mr. Chapel, the secretary was authorized to furnish a copy of the pro- ceedings of this convention for publication in the Sioux City Register and the St. Louis Republican.

Adjourned sine die.

M. K. ARMSTRONG, Secretary.

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At a meeting of the citizens of Vermillion and vicinity, held at the house of Mr. James Mellenry, on the 9th of November, 1850, on motion J. A. Denton was called to the chair and James Meltenry was appointed secretary.

The object of the meeting having been explained, on motion of Doctor Caulkins a com- mittee of three was appointed to draft resolutions expressive of the wants of the meeting. Doctor Caulkins, Doctor Whitness and Samuel Mortimer were appointed such committee.

The proceedings of the meeting of the citizens of Yankton having also been communi- cated to this meeting and their cooperation invited, it was ordered that the preamble and reso- lutions of that meeting be received by it and the committee on resolutions be requested to consider them. While the committee was absent, General Frost of St. Louis addressed the meeting in a forcible and eloquent manner.

The Committee on Resolutions then reported that it had under consideration the preamble and resolutions of the meeting at Yankton and begged leave to report them to this meeting for adoption, as embracing everything necessary to be done. The preamble and resolutions having been read. the committee was discharged and the preamble and resolutions unani- mously adopted as the views of the meeting. There being no further business before the meeting it adjourned sine die.

(Signed)

JAS. MCHENRY, Secretary.

The memorial was a strong paper and had been prepared with considerable care. Though it failed to secure the affirmative action of Congress at this session, it made a very favorable impression upon the members. It called attention to the necessity and justice of furnishing the citizens of the United States who were here with some form of government. It set forth the situation as it existed regarding the absence of any legal authority in the form of local government, the exposed condition of the settlers to hostile Indians or white desperadoes, the ab- sence of all forms of protection to property except that extended by the settlers to one another in their voluntary associations, the difficulty of pursuing any indus- try or commercial pursuit where an established credit protected by law was a great advantage, and the utter lack of any method by which titles could be ac- quired, thus delaying important and much needed improvements. The memorial was signed by every settler on the Missouri slope, whose numbers as attested by this document reached the surprising total of 428. It was taken to Washington in December following by Captain Todd. No copy of it was preserved, which is to be regretted, and the original may possibly be reposing in a pigeon hole of the archives of the Committee on Territories in either Senate or House. No action was taken by Congress in response to this memorial.

Joseph R. Ilanson is the only one who attended this meeting who is present today at roll call. H. T. Bailey, however, is a prominent citizen of Aten, Cedar County, Nebraska, and occasionally pays a visit to his early friends and acquaint- ances on this side of the river.

In 1859 Frost, Todd & Co. sold their Sioux City store to L. D. Parmer and the firm name was changed to that of D. M. Frost & Co., Captain Todd and Mr. Atkinson retiring.

D. Al. Frost of this firm had been engaged in the fur trading business along the Upper Missouri for a number of years prior to the opening of Dakota to set- tlement by the whites. He was a native of New York and had been an officer in the regular army, having graduated at West Point in the year 1844. He served with distinction during the Mexican war, and had resigned his commission in 1853 for the purpose of taking up this fur trading enterprise. He also took an active part in the politics of Missouri, was elected to the Legislature of that state from St. Louis, and became a general of the state militia. He conducted a farm in connection with his other employments, was largely interested in securing the treaty of cession from the Yankton Indians, and aided materially in securing the organization of Dakota Territory. He was a man of wealth and good general ability. On the breaking out of the Civil war in 1861 he joined the Southern Confederacy and attained to the rank of a brigadier general. Ile was still living near St. Louis at the close of the last century.

The winter of 1859-60 passed away very quietly. It was a dull winter and the spirit of enterprise and improvement among the settlers was more fanciful

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than real. The question of territorial organization was all-absorbing. The pio- neers felt that they would be seriously handicapped until Congress furnished them a government under which they could go forward with their work and improve- ments, secure in their property rights. The advantages to spring from an organ- ization had been canvassed over and over again until it seemed that with it they would rapidly achieve fortunes-that immigration would pour in, capital would crowd upon them for investment, their landed interests would rapidly increase in value and many other benefits would follow. Captain Todd spent the winter in Washington working with members of Congress to facilitate the passage of an organic act, and while the feeling was friendly, the active friends of organization found it impossible to push the measure through, and Congress finally adjourned, leaving the territory helpless so far as government was concerned. This condi- tion served as a serious damper on all enterprise during the year 1860.

AN ORGANIC ACT

On the 15th of January, 1861, a second territorial mass convention was held in Bramble's store at Yankton for the purpose of promoting the long deferred organization of the territory. It was not, however, a time when conditions seemed to favor the affirmative action of Congress, and the settlers were by 110 means sanguine of success, but encouraged by recent advices from General Todd, who was in Washington laboring with Congress, the settlers at Yankton felt it their duty to support his efforts as best they could. The nation was on the verge of a long and sanguinary civil war. Congress was torn with dissensions and absorbed in efforts to avert the impending national calamity. Many of the southern states had passed ordinances of secession, and their senators and repre- sentatives had abandoned their seats and returned to their homes to join in the hostilities that rapidly followed. An earnest and carefully prepared memorial was the result of the convention. This document was neatly enrolled and signed by 478 pioneers, which probably included the entire population of the territory and possibly some of Picotte's kindred, and was then forwarded to the presiding officer of the Senate. Little more than a month remained before Congress would ad- journ and a new administration be installed in power, so that the importance of speedy action and unceasing effort was very apparent. Fortune favored the pio- neers despite the many discouraging circumstances of that time. February 14, 1861, Senator Green from the Committee on Territories reported a bill "To pro- vide a temporary government for the Territory of Dakota and to create the office of surveyor general therein," which passed the Senate the 26th of the same month, passed the House March Ist, and received the approval of President Buchanan March 2d, less than forty-eight hours before his term as president expired. It was eleven days later, on the 13th of March, when the good news reached Dakota. There were no telegraph fines north of St. Joseph, Missouri, at that time, and none that extended very far west of the Mississippi River in Iowa, so the good tidings traveled slowly. But it reached Dakota and found the pioneers in a mood to receive it and give it a most generous welcome. It is said that the shouts of joy that went up made the welkin ring and started a jack rabbit stampede for the distant bluffs that was a sight to behold. Laboring men ( and all were of this honorable class) took a day off and went about congratulating one another in language vigorous ; there were handshakes that would abash a pump handle in energetic motion, and laughter loud and long and hearty, and other smiles. Songs were sung and jigs were danced and eloquent speeches of excellent quality and generous quantity were a feature of the joyous occasion. There were no bonfires, but an abundance of hot air and fervid words. It was a never-to-be-forgotten occasion and the enactment of the law was rightly regarded as an important pro- gressive step in Dakota's career.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume I, Part 30

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1198

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1198