USA > South Dakota > History of Dakota Territory, volume I > Part 94
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The Hamilton settlement was the next point where a little colony of white people had made a settlement on Platte Creek, on the east side of the river. This was the home of Major Hamilton and his sons and a few others. Hamil- ton had been on the frontiers over fifty years, and had become quite famous. He is referred to in another chapter. As the necessities of the Government required the transmission of a voluminous mail, all the forts and agencies above Randall were supplied once a week; and the telegraph was extended from Yank- ton to Fort Sully in the early 'zos, being built by the United States Government. The Hamilton settlement was the last of the white settlements on the public lands in that direction.
The old Town of Mixville in Todd County had not prospered. and all of Dakota in Todd and Gregory counties, had been included in the Great Sioux Reservation. Sixty-five miles east of north of Yankton lay the Village of Sioux Falls, which after seven years of repose, had been released from the burden of a military reservation, and was growing rapidly. It contained the old military barracks, four stores, a hotel, about three hundred people, and there was then talk of starting a newspaper. Twenty miles south, on the Big Sioux, was the new Town of Canton, with a population of over one hundred, the county seat of Lincoln County, with two or three stores and two hotels, a widely scattered hamlet, a schoolhouse, and great expectations. Sixteen miles south of Canton. by the road, was "Buck Wheelock's" town, Eden, which boasted a postoffice. There were three country postoffices below Eden, in Union County, named respectively, Virginia, Sioux Valley and Le Roy, then came Richland. at the mouth of Brule Creek, where there would be found a store, hotel, postoffice, and two residences.
Above Vermillion twelve miles, on the Vermillion River, was the Bloom- ingdale Flour Mills, owned by James McHenry and John W. Turner and operated by water power. A postoffice was established here; six miles farther was a new
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539
HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY
point called Lodi. Swan Lake, in Lincoln (now Turner), County was a post- office on the Yankton and Sioux Falls route, and Bergen, Yankton County, east of the James River, was also a postoffice. Both have long since been discontinued.
The James River Valley had been explored by homesteaders to a point called Rockport in the southern part of Hanson County, where a settlement was made; also one at Maxwell City, and at Olivet in Ihutchinson County, but no mail route had been established in that direction. Gen. C. T. Campbell's ranch on Dawson Creek, Bon Homme County, was a favorite stopping place for explorers, and ranchmen, who traversed the country from Yankton over the James River Valley.
On the Red River of the North, the Town of Pembina was becoming an important center. The northern part of the territory had been erected into a judicial district, the third, and the United States District Court held two terms annually at Pembina, Chief Justice George W. French, presiding. The United States custom house and land office were located here, a number of stores were doing business and trading for furs, a good hotel had been built by Mr. Stuts- man : and nearby was being erected Fort Pembina, garrisoned by United States troops. St. Joseph was another postoffice on the Pembina River, thirty miles west of Pembina, then an important point. There were a few flourishing farming settlements on the Red at this time, and land was being homesteaded in Pembina County, and also in Richland County at the headwaters of the Red. There was also a postoffice at Fort Abercrombie.
A few homeseekers had also gone into Brookings County in 1870, and selected land, but no mail routes had been established north of Sioux Falls.
Dakota Territory had increased in population during the ten preceding years from about two thousand to 14,200, but the only permanent towns or trading centers that were established during the decade were Canton, Lincoln County ; Springfield, Bon Homme County ; and Lincoln (now Meckling), in Clay County. The other towns that survived had their beginning before the territory was organized. Union and Clay counties had gained largely in their farming popu- lation ; Yankton County had not done so well. Bon Homme and Yankton had profited by the Bohemian immigration ; Minnehaha and Lincoln were just begin- ning to attract settlers. But there was no longer a disposition to decry Dakota ; it entered its second decade with a reasonable certainty of rapid growth and moderate prosperity.
DAKOTA FINANCES
REPORT OF THE TERRITORIAL TREASURER, FOR 1869-70
Treasurer's Office, Yankton, D. T., Dec. 31, 1870.
To the llonorable Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Dakota :
Gentlemen :- In compliance with the statute approved January 3, 1863, t have the honor to submit the following report of the condition of the finances of the territory during the past two years. The following statements will show the amount of receipts and disburse- ments of the treasury during the fiscal years of 1869 and 1870; balance on hand December 31, 1868; and balance on hand December 31, 1870.
No. 1. Showing the receipts from the different counties for 1869:
Union County $208.00
Clay County 1 10.00
Yankton County 198.25
Bon Homme County. 32.00
Total $548.25
No. 2. Showing receipts from same for 1870:
U'nion County
$ 300.00
Clay County 328.00
Yankton County 388,60
Total
.$1,017.56
540
HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY
Balance January 1, 1869. $ 1.4.80
Grand total for two years. 1,580.61
Disbursements for year 1869 $ 574.50
Disbursements for year 1870. 926.75
Total disbursements $1.501.61
Balance in treasury December 31, 1870. $ 79.36
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
T. K. HOVEY, Territorial Treasurer.
FIRST TELEGRAPHI LINE
The first telegraph line constructed in Dakota was built by John F. Daggett, S. V. Clevenger, and D. M. Percy, all of Sioux City, during the summer and fall of 1870, and was completed from Sioux City to Yankton, on Monday, December 5th, of that year, when the first office was opened and messages sent and received on that day. The office was in the new St. Charles Hotel, Capital Street. Actual work on the line was begun about October Ist, under the supervision of A. T. Dinney, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Cottonwood and ash poles were used because they could readily be procured, the plan being to replace them with red cedar which could be obtained in the country west of Yankton. The length of the line, with its necessary switches, was sixty-seven miles. The cost was $8.000, or about one hundred and twenty dollars a mile. Yankton, Vermillion and Sioux City contributed toward the building of the line, and offices were opened at these points on the same day. Mr. Daggett was the operator at the Sioux City office ; William Lower, in charge at Vermillion, and Mr. Clevenger took charge of the Yankton office. The first rates established would appear exorbitant if charged at the present time. For ten words from Yankton to Vermillion, 35 cents ; to Sioux City, 75 cents : to Omaha, $1.75; to Chicago, $2.65 : to Washington, $3.90; New York, $4.35. No office was established at Elk Point at first, owing to the failure of the parties to come to an understanding regarding the subsidy.
1
An act of Congress passed in February, 1871, provided for the construction of a telegraph line, under the direction of the United States Government War Department, from Yankton to Fort Sully by way of Fort Randall. the cost not to exceed $8,000 for each 100 miles. The act also provided that the ownership of the line should not vest in the United States but in the contractors or builders of the line, and the $80.00 a mile paid by the Government should be a loan to be repaid in telegraph tolls, the Government holding a lien upon. the line until the sum advanced was repaid. The same parties who constructed and owned the Sioux City and Yankton line built the Fort Sully extension ; and in 1872 the Government established a weather bureau and signal station at both Yankton and Sully.
THE DECENNIAL CENSUS
The Federal census taken June Ist, 1870, disclosed the following important information regarding the population, improvements, and many other items, of the Territory of Dakota. The census was taken at that time under the direc- tion of the United States marshal, Laban H. Litchfield :
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541
HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY
Towns, Counties, Forts. etc.
Dwellings
Number
Number Families
Inhabitants
Total No.
Males
No. White
Females
No. White
No. Colored
Females
No. Colored 0 8
Foreign Born
No. Males
No. Females
Yankton County
534
5,36
2,007
1.193
877
16
II
461
271
Union County
779
763
3,510
1,919
1,575
5
572
403
Deuel County
8
44
163
15
3
62
83
10
Minnehaha County
230
220
712
403
300
0
0
142
93
Clay County
808
704
2,623
1,502
1,116
2
3,3
419
347
Bon Homme County
173
172
608
360
230
Q
124
93
Jayne County
3
3
5
4
0
1
0
0
0
Hutchinson County
12
12
37
25
1 2
0
0
10
5
Pembina County
183
183
1.213
379
2.1
414
390
207
114
Fort Totten and env
43
43
243
161
22
60
87
66
17
Fort Buford
36
36
454
400
32
80
5
197
Fort Stevenson
27
16
151
134
8
2
7
70
3
Fort Rice and env.
()
27
215
187
23
3
2
90
8
Grand River Agency
8
12
134
616
86
18
25
382
19
Buffalo County
51
51
2.45
159
16
22
49
08
2
Todd County
37
37
3.37
254
67
7
9
93
1.4
Charles Mix County.
30
30
152
34
I
53
64
17
0
Total
.3.240
3,102
14,188
8,151
4,543
720
765
3,208
1,461
during Year
during Year
No. Deaths
during Year
No. Births
Cannot Read
Number
Cannot Write
Number
Voters
Number
by Inhabitants
Estate Owned
by Inhabitants
Estate Owned
Value Personal
Yankton County
O
I
48
41
53
118
933
785.330
516,035
Deuel County
0
0
I
I
II
41
4-4
8.380
3.450
Minnehaha County
O
6
8
13
37
138
21.940
35,500
Lincoln County
0
0
21
68
106
2,39
90,800
57.190
Clay County
4.4
17
131
104
277
671
756,339
424.770
Bon Homme County
()
3
16
I
21
210
158.270
121,520
Hutchinson County
O
O
3
0
I
15
15.850
3.750
Pembina County
*1
7
40
529
529
129
97.600
22.545
Fort Totten and env
2
I
4
87
87
40
131,500
35,200
Fort Buford
1
7
1
1.4
1.4
82
42,500
34.300
Fort Stevenson
O
I
2
0
21
0
14.500
Fort Rice and env ..
C
1
3
1
1
18
0
23.950
Grand River Agency
O
I
I
0
0
9
0
15,000
Cheyenne Agency
0
0
L
4
70
34
9,000
50,000
Buffalo County
0
3
6
59
59
45
5.500
50.430
Todd County
3
2
0
31
31
30
18.400
11,800
Charles Mix County
5
101
-105
1,528
1.528
3.407
$3.207.040
$1.879.105
Number of Farms-Yankton, 350; Union, 581: Deuel, 3: Brookings, 14: Minnehaha, 28; Lincoln, 32: Clay, 420: Bon Homme. Ho; Hutchinson, 2; Pembina, 73: Buffalo, 7; Todd. 23; Charles Mix. 23.
Number Deaf and Dumb-Yankton County. 1; Union. 1; Clay. 3; total. 5. Yankton City, I.
Number Idiotic-Clay County. 3.
Number Blind-Yankton. 2: Union, 1: Clay, 2; total. 5. Yankton City. I.
Number Insane-Yankton, 1: Union, I; Bon Homme, 1: total. 3. Yankton City. 1.
The population of the United States and territories by this federal census was 38.555.083
Foreign Born
6
Brookings County
44
356
184
118
30
24
98
58
37
7
IO
11
9
6
2
7
5
3
74
2
Fort Sully
77
77
154
148
1
I
I
02
0
Cheyenne Agency
1 2
Towns. Counties,
Forts. etc.
Union County
8
1,600
1.870
Brookings County
0
2
5
0
I
5
0
O
Jayne County
O
0
Fort Sully
3
II
58
58
30
35,650
30,750
Total
172
744
$1.084.370
$336,135
100
70
13
5.000
2,000
Value Real
No. Marriages
745
Lincoln County
Males
542
IHISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY
TERRITORIAL POLITICS-BURLEIGH IN THE FIELD
The reader of this history is well informed of the political party situation in Dakota prior to 1870. Practically there had been no democratic party in the territory or in the United States during the administration of Andrew Johnson which terminated in March, 1869. The democratic party was allied with the President in his reconstruction policy, and its members as well as republicans, were the recipients of his favors in the appointments to various Government positions throughout the United States. The assassination of Mr. Lincoln made a vacancy in the office of President which Vice President Johnson was called upon to fill by authority of the Constitution, but this did not give him the confidence of the people to the extent that Mr. Lincoln had possessed it, and with his eleva- tion to that high office came the anxious question whether he would follow in the steps of his predecessor-the greatest fear being that he would be less char- stable in his dealings with the "ex-rebels," as the people of the revolted states were called, than would Mr. Lincoln have been, whose kindliness and sympathy for the unfortunate were among his prominent traits of character : and Mr. John- son, early in his career as President, emphasized his attitude toward the leaders of secession by his oft-repeated declaration that he would "make treason odious." Circumstances, however, forced Johnson into a position of practical antagonism to the ruling sentiment of the republican leaders of Congress on the reconstruction question, and naturally enough the democratic party took sides with him because of this antagonism to republican leaders, and not because he represented democratic principles, or was endeavoring to foster any policy of that. party regarding the reconstruction of the revolted states, for both policies-that of the President as well as Congress-were probably republican in their origin, and both had the sanction and active support of prominent republicans of the country. And it may fairly be claimed that had Mr. Lincomi lived to carry forward his recon- struction plan, whatever it may have been, because of the confidence reposed in him by the people, the President and Congress would have worked in har- mony, and there would have been no serious division between the executive and legislative departments of the Government.
In Dakota, if the reader will remember, at the republican convention of the year 1866, when the first symptoms of a division between Congress and the Presi- dent were publicly manifested in our political gatherings, the democrats of Dakota responded to the calls made by the republican or national union party, in attending caucuses and conventions, and were able by the preponderance of their numbers, caused by republicans declining to indorse the Johnson policy, to capture the organizations and make the nominations for legislative and county officers from their own political flesh and blood.
While a number of the republicans remained with the old organization, the larger portion withdrew, and under the leadership of W. W. Brookings, a new republican organization was formed in the territory that made Mr. Brookings its candidate for delegate, in opposition to Doctor Burleigh, the Johnson-republi- can candidate. Burleigh was elected, and during the ensuing two years the con- test between the President and Congress grew more embittered, the breach widened until it was beyond closing or healing, and thousands of republicans who had started in to support the President at the beginning of the division, had discovered that they were being practically landed in the democratic party. had called a halt, and were allying themselves with the now acknowledged repub- lican organization represented in the reconstruction policy of Congress.
Doctor Burleigh was a life-long republican, although he had been one of the principal supporters of Mr. Johnson. He was probably the strongest personality that had ever appeared in the political field in Dakota, although the honor might be divided with General Todd. He was the embodiment of energy ; he was pos- sessed of a liberal education, and had acquired much valuable and varied knowl- edge of practical affairs. Professionally, he was among the best. He was a strong
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543
HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY
common-sense speaker. He was recklessly extravagant in expenditures, and the expenses of his campaigns were not considered a legitimate reason, by himself, for defeat. He had a very large following in the republican party, and could always command strong support from individuals in the opposition. Ile had a faculty of becoming on familiar terms with his supporters and controlling them. He was, taken altogether, a very strong, magnetic, influential man, of good ability in public life ; but during his successful political career he appeared to have less confidence in his own merits as an element of strength in vote-getting than in the less commendable practices of the politician ; and he conducted his campaigns. apparently, with little concern for the methods employed if the methods promised to contribute to his success. He could not be denominated a machine politician, for he was not controlled by any associates, and himself constituted the machine, if he had one. It may be said, however, in extenuation of this phase of his public career, that he believed he was fighting an enemy who would resort to every expedient to accomplish his defeat, and he was compelled, in self-defense, to "fight the devil with fire."
But as the term of President Johnson neared its close, stamped with the dis- approval of the people, and at the same time the term of Doctor Burleigh termi- nated, leaving him without a party, it was discerned that the doctor was not disposed to be counted among the anti-republicans. His pyrotechnic political display in Wyoming in 1868 was said to have been inspired by a desire to keep the territory from electing a Wyoming democrat as delegate. Mr. Spink, the regular republican nominee, was elected delegate. Another two years elapses, and the political conditions in Dakota were no longer chaotic. The breach between the President and Congress no longer existed. Grant was President ; the con- gressional policy had been sustained, and the southern states that had seceded were being restored to the Union in accordance with the congressional plan. Doctor Burleigh was emphatically a republican and ambitious as ever to secure a nomination from that party for the office of delegate. In this he was opposed at first by nearly all the leading republicans of the territory. He had with him, however, a strong contingent of the rank and file, and as his only opponent was Mr. Spink, an able man but poorly equipped for a political leader, Burleigh early succeeded in winning over some of the influential men of the republican party. He also had the sympathy and quiet support of a large number of democrats who were willing to aid in his nomination but would vote for a democrat in case one was nominated, and there was every indication that Moses K. Armstrong would be able to secure the democratic nomination and with it the united support of his party.
The pre-convention battleground in 1870 was Yankton County, and nearly every voter in the county, regardless of his party affiliations, was an interested spectator if not a participant of the struggle between Burleigh and Spink for control of the caucuses and convention which was to elect delegates to the ter- ritorial nominating convention. As the great majority of voters were keenly interested in the strife, it followed that many of the democrats gave a helping hand and voice to help the side he favored, or like the woman in the old-time fictitious story which related that the good wife saw her husband and a bear engaged in a hand to paw conflict, and believing that cach party was entitled to fair play and no favors, shouted: "Go it husband: go it bear;" for in this political duel between these republican factions they foresaw such an irreconcilable division in the republican ranks as would give to the democrats more than an equal chance of capturing the congressman-and the end fully justified their foresight.
Mr. Spink, who then held the delegateship, was a candidate for reelection and the probable choice of the republicans of the territory, though Col. G. C. Moody, an able lawyer, had numerous friends who were urging his candidacy : but the partisans of these aspirants worked in harmony. In this situation the primary caucuses and county conventions were called by the republican com-
544
HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY
mittees, and the contest between Burleigh and Spink, at these primaries, was of the fiercest character. In Yankton County there were three precincts. No. 1. east of James River, where the caucus was held at the farm residence of John J. Thompson. No. 2, at Yankton ; caucus at Stone's Hall. No. 3. at the farm residence of Royal H. Jones, west of Yankton about five miles. These caucuses were held on the 27th of August, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. What was known as the Crawford County caucus system, borrowed from Wisconsin, had been adopted for these caucuses, which required the election of delegates to be made by ballot. It was the forerunner of the later primary election.
The first district caucus met at the hour appointed at Thompson's and elected L. H. Litchfield, chairman, and A. K. Marvin, secretary. The following resolution was presented by Mr. Brookings, a Spink supporter :
Resolved, That this is a republican convention, called for the transaction of business relating to the republican party, and that the tellers be instructed to receive votes from no one but recognized republicans : and that when the tellers are in doubt as to the political prin- ciples of any voter, the voter be directed to disclose his political faith before his vote is received.
The motion to adopt the resolution was lost by a vote of 94 to 85, which indicated that there was a number of anti-republicans present ; and the Spink element, under the leadership of Judge Brookings, withdrew and repaired to the house of Mr. Shepherdson, where they held an independent caucus. Those remaining went forward and elected nine delegates to the county convention, namely : Ole C. Peterson, Peter W. Johnson, H. H. Davenport, L. H. Litchfield, John J. Thompson, Christ Brured, Frank Bronson, Iver Bagstad and M. A. Baker, all receiving 95 and 96 votes each.
The Spink party, at Shepherdson's house, elected A. P. Hammon, chairman, and Erick Iverson, secretary, and elected the following named delegates to the county convention : Erick Iverson, Ole Sampson, W. E. Root, Mathias Larson, Clark West, A. P. Hammon, A. L. Van Osdel, Ole C. Peterson, Peter Johnson, and then adjourned.
The second district caucus was held at Stone's Hall on Capital Street, in Yankton, and was very largely attended, showing that the people were deeply interested in the political situation, and political problems. T. W. Hammon was elected chairman, and Turney M. Wilkins, J. D. Boyer and Dr. O. H. Conger, secretaries. Mr. Geo. N. Propper proposed the following resolution :
Resolved, That all persons who will pledge themselves to support and vote for the nomi- nees of the republican convention to assemble at Vermillion on the 6th of September next, and for the nominees of the republican county convention to assemble on the 30th inst., are invited to participate in the proceedings of this meeting, and no one who will not so pledge themselves, shall be allowed to vote at this meeting, and who are supporters of President Grant and his administration. The resolution was unanimously adopted.
George A. Batchelder, O. C. Baldy, William Tripp, James Beadle and Ed Barker were appointed tellers to receive and count the votes. The election of delegates by ballot was then proceeded with ; the attendance was crushingly numerous, and many of the voters were questioned about their political ante- cedents : trouble arose, fraudulent voting, repeating and stuffing the hats was alleged, and finally there was a withdrawal of a large portion of the assemblage, who repaired to the Hanson Building on the opposite corner. The result of the ballot at this caucus at Stone's Hall was the election of T. W. Hammon, J. D. Sears, J. V. Bunker, Henry Arend. Nelson Learned, Simon Eiseman, A. L. Hinman. M. T. Woolley, John Lawrence and Daniel O'Farrel, who received 135 votes cach. The caucus then adjourned.
The withdrawing party gathered at the Hanson Building, where George HI. Hand was elected chairman and J. D. Boyer, secretary. The election of ten delegates was then proceeded with, and the following named chosen : J. D. Boyer.
1
PIONEERS OF DAKOTA TERRITORY
G. W. Kingsbury, editor of the first newspaper in Dakota
H. T. Bailey, of first party of J. H. Shober, President of first emigrants to Yankton Territorial Council
C. J. Holman, builder of the first cabin in Yankton
William Jayne, first Governor J. R. Hanson, chief clerk of first Territorial House
of Dakota Territory
545
HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY
M. U. Hoyt, Rudolph Von Ins, J. R. Hanson, W. E. Babcock. H. J. Brisbine, W'm. Miner, George H. Hland and William Leaning. The caucus then adjourned. The Third District caucus met at the house of Royal H. Jones, and elected Warren Cowles, chairman, and M. B. Doyle, secretary. The following named delegates were chosen: W. Il. HI. Beadle, Frank Bem, George Campbell, Dr. J. W. Wheelock, Jacob Ruffner, Washington Reed, Joel A. Potter, and S. K. Felton, who received 120 votes each. There was another set of delegates voted for, who received about thirty-five votes each, which shows that the caucus was well attended for a rural catteus, and that the voters were awake to their political privileges.
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