USA > South Dakota > Faulk County > History of Faulk County, South Dakota, together with biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 11
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this canvass. He was a candidate for governor on this new party ticket and in his speech of acceptance did not mention the pending amendment. Before adjourning the conven- tion adopted a long resolution containing seven or eight declarations, among them one that "No citizen should be disfranchised on account of sex," but so far as any party advocacy was concerned the question was a dead issue.
A bitter , contest was being made between Huron and Pierre for the location of the state capital, and the woman suffrage amendment was freely used as an article of barter. There were thirty thousand Russians, Poles, Scandinavians and other foreigners in the state, most of whom opposed woman suffrage. The liquor dealers and gamblers worked vigorously against it, and they were reinforced by the women "remonstrants" of Massachusetts, who sent their literature into every corner of the state.
At the election, November 4, 1890, the amendment re- ceived 22,072 ayes, 45,862 noes, majority opposed, 23,790. The Republicans carried the state by 16,000 majority.
At this same election an amendment was submitted as to whether male Indians should be enfranchised, it receiv- ing an affirmative vote of forty-five per cent .; that for women suffrage received thirty-five per cent. Of the two classes of voters it seemed the men preferred the Indians. It was claimed by many, however, that they did not understand the wording of the Indian amendment and thought they were voting against it. (A graphic account of this campaign, with many anecdotes and personal re- miniscences, will be found in the "Life and Work of Susan B. Anthony," chapter XXXVIII. )
As the school suffrage possesssed by women applied
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only to trustees and did not include the important offices of state and county superintendents, and as it was held that the franchise for this purpose could be secured only by a constitutional amendment, it was decided to ask for this. Through the efforts of Mrs. Anna R. Simmons and Mrs. Emma Cranmer, officers of the state association, a bill for this purpose was secured from the legislature of 1893. As there seemed to be no objection to women voting for school trustees, it was not supposed that there would be any to extending the privilege for the other school officers. It was submitted at the regular election in November, 1894, and defeated by 17,010 ayes, 22,682 noes, an opposing majority of 5,672.
In 1897 the above ladies made one more effort and se- cured from the legislature the submission again of an amendment conferring the full suffrage on women. The campaign was managed almost entirely by Mrs. Simmons and Mrs. Cranmer. The national association assisted to the extent of sending a lecturer, Mrs. Laura A. Gregg, of Kansas, who remained for two months preceding the elec- tion; and one hundred dollars' worth of literature also was furnished for distribution. The Dakota women raised about one thousand five hundred dollars, and every possible influence was exerted upon the voters. The re- turns of the election in November, 1898, gave for the amendment 19,698; against 22,983; adverse majority, 3,285.
In 1890, the amendment had received thirty-five per cent. of the whole vote cast upon it; in 1898, it received forty-seven per cent. The figures show unmistakably that the falling off in the size of the vote was almost wholly a nong the opponents.
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Petitions have been presented to several legislatures to grant municipal suffrage by statute, but a bill for this pur- pose has been brought to a vote only once, in 1893, when it was passed by the senate, twenty-seven ayes, eleven noes; and defeated in the house by only one vote.
ORGANIZATION .- After the defeat of the suffrage amendment in 1890, a more thorough state organization was effected and a convention has been held every year since. That of 1891 met in Huron and Mrs. Irene G. Adams was elected president. Soon afterwards she com- plied a leaflet showing the unjust laws for women which disgraced the statute books.
In 1892 a successful annual meeting took place at Hastings and Mrs. Mary A. Grosebeck was made president. In September, 1893, the convention was held in Aberdeen during the Grain Palace Exposition. The state president and the president-elect, Mrs. Emma A. Cranmer, had charge of the program for woman's day, and Mrs. Clara Hoffman, of Missouri, gave adresses in the afternoon and evening.
In 1894 Mrs. Anna R. Simmons was elected president and continued in office for six years .. This year one hun- dred dollars was sent to aid the Kansas campaign. During 1894 and 1895 she made twenty public addresses and held ten parlor meetings. At the convention in Pierre in Sep- tember, 1895, she was able to report fifty clubs organized, with seven hundred members. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, chairman of the national organization committee, was present at this convention.
Active work was continued throughout 1896 and 1897, when the submission of a suffrage amendment was secured.
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The year 1898 was given up to efforts for its success. Mrs. C. C. King established and carried on almost entirely at her own expense the South Dakota Messenger, a campaign paper which was of the greatest service. The state con- vention met in Mitchell, September 28th, 29th and 30th. Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates, of Maine, came as a repre- sentative of the national association and gave two addresses to large audiences. The following October a conference of national and state workers was held at Sioux Falls, the former represented by Mrs. Chapman Catt, the Rev. Hen- riette G. Moore, of Ohio, and Miss Mary G. Hay, national organizer. Several interesting public sessions were held.
The annual meeting of 1899 took place in Madison, September 5th and 6th. The tenth convention met in Brookings, September 5, 1900. Mrs. Simmons having re- mnoved from the state, Mrs. Alice M. A. Pickler was elect- ed president. Mrs. Philena Everet Johnson was made vices president. Others who have served in the official position- are vice-president, Mrs. Emma A. Cranmer; corresponding secretaries, Mesdames Kate Uline Folger, F. C. Bidwell, Hannah W. Best; treasurers, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Wardall, Mrs. Marion L. Bennett, Mrs. Clara M. Williams; auditor, Mrs. John Davis; superintendents of literature, Mrs. Jane Rooker Breeden, Mrs. Della Robinson King.
Among the prominent friends of woman suffrage may be mentioned the Hon. Arthur C. Mellette, first state gov- ernor; United States Senators, Richard F. Pettigrew, James H: Kyle and Robert J. Gamble; Lieutenant Gover- nor, D. T. Hindman; Members of Congress, J. A. Pickler, W. B. Lucas and E. W. Martin; the Hons. S. A. Ramsey and Coe I. Crawford; Attorney-General, John L. Pyle;
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Judge, D. C. Thomas; General, W. H. Beadle; Professor McClennen, of the Madison Normal School, and ministers of many churches. The Hon. J. H. Patton and the Hon. W. C. Bowers paid the expenses of the legislative com- mittee of the suffrage association while they were in Pierre during the winter of 1897 to secure the submission of an amendment. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, A. J. Edgerton, was a pronounced advocate of woman suffrage and appointed a woman official stenographer of his judicial district, the best salaried office within his gift. Associate Justice, Seward Smith, appointed a woman clerk of the
Faulk county district court. The list of other men and women widely known and who have stood faithfully for woman suffrage would be a long one. Among them are S. H. Cranmer, Rev. Ramsey, Mrs. Ruby Smart, Kara Smart and Floy Cochrane.
LAWS .- Neither dower nor curtesy obtains. If either husband or wife die without a will, leaving a child or chil- dren or the lawful issue of one, the survivor is entitled to one-half of the separate estate of the other. If there are no children nor the issue of any, the survivor is entitled to one-half of the estate and the other half goes to the kin- dred of the deceased. If there are none the survivor takes all. A homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, or one- quarter of an acre in town, may be reserved for the widow or widower.
Either husband or wife may dispose of separate pro- perty, real or personal, by deed or will, without the con- sent of the other. Joint real estate, including the home- stead, can be conveyed only by signature of both, but the husband may dispose of joint personal property without the consent of the wife.
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In order to control her separate property the wife must keep it recorded in the office of the county register.
On the death of an unmarried child the father inherits all of its property. If he is dead and there are no other children, the mother inherits it. If there are brothers and sisters she inherits a child's share.
A married woman cannot act as administrator. Of several persons claiming and equally entitled to act as ex- ecutors, males must be preferred to females.
A married woman can control her earnings outside the home only when living separate from her husband.
The father is the legal guardian and has custody of the persons and services of minor children. If he refuses to take the custody, or has abandoned his family, or has been legally declared a drunkard, the mother is entitled to the custody.
The law declares the husband the head of the family and he must support the wife by his separate property or labor, but if he has not deserted her, and has no separate property, and is too infirm to support her by his labor, the wife must support him and their children out of her sepa- rate property or in other ways to the extent of her ability. An act of February 21, 1896, makes the wife liable for necessaries for the family purchased on her own account to the same extent that her husband would be liable under a similar purchase, but with no control over the joint earnings.
The causes for divorce are the same as in most states; six months' residence is required. The disposition of the children is left entirely with the court.
In 1887, through the efforts of the Woman's Christian
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Temperance Union, the "age of protection" for girls was raised from ten to fourteen years. In 1893 they tried to have it made eighteen, but the legislature compromised on sixteen years. Rape in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than ten years; in the second degree not less than five years.
The penalty for seduction and for enticing away for purposes of prostitution is prescribed by the same words, is punishable," which in reality leaves it to judgment of the court, but the statutes fix the penalty for all other crimes by the words "shall be punished." In addition to this latitude the penalty for seduction or enticing for pur- poses of prostitution is, if the girl is under fifteen, impris- onment in the penitentiary not more than five years or in the county jail not more than one year, or by fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or both; with minimum penalty.
SUFFRAGE .- The territorial legislature of 1879 gave wonien a vote on questions pertaining to the school, which were then decided at school meetings. This was partially repealed by a law of 1883, which required regular polls and a private ballot, but this act did not include fifteen counties which had school districts fully established, and women still continue to vote at these district school meetings. In 1887 a law was enacted giving women the right to vote at all school elections for all officers, and making them eligible for all school offices. The constitution which was adopted when South Dakota entered the Union (1889) pro- vided that "any woman having the required qualifications as to age, residence and citizenship may vote at any election held solely for school purposes." As state and county
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superintendents are elected at general and not special elec- tions, women can vote only for school trustees. They have no vote on bonds or appropriations.
OFFICE HOLDING .- The state constitution provides that all persons, either male or female, being twenty-one years of age and having the necessary qualifications, shall be eligible to the office of school director, treasurer, judge, or clerk of school elections, county superintendent of pub- lic instruction. All other civil offices must be filled by male electors.
There are at present eleven women serving as county superintendents. They sit on the school boards in many places and have been treasurers. A woman was nominated for state superintendent of public instruction by the inde- pendent party.
Efforts to secure a law requiring women on the boards of state institutions have failed. The governor is required to appoint three women inspectors of penal and charitable institutions, who are paid by the state and make their re- port directly to him. They inspect the penitentiary, re- form school, insane hospitals, deaf and dumb institution and school for the blind. There is one assistant woman physician in the State Hospital for the Insane. Women in subordinate official positions are found in all state institu- tions. They act as clerks in all city, county and state offices and in the legislature, and have served as court stenographers and clerks of the circuit court. There are eight women notaries public at the present time.
OCCUPATION .- No profession or occupation is legally forbidden to women. Ten hours is made a legal working day for them. Four women are editing county papers.
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EDUCATION .- All institutions of learning are open alike to both sexes and there are women in the faculties. In the public schools there are 1,225 men and 3,581 women teachers. The average monthly salary of the men is $36.45; of the women, $30.82.
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was the first organization of women in the state and through its franchise department has worked earnestly and collected numerous petitions for suffrage. The Woman's Relief Corps is the largest body, having one thousand eight hun- dred members. The Eastern Star, Daughters of Rebekah, Ladies of the Maccabees and other lodge societies are well organized. The Federation of Clubs, the youngest associa- tion, represents two hundred members. A number of churches have women on their official board.
In the year 1904 an effort was made, led by the W. C. T. U. of the state, to secure names of verified voters suffi- cient, under the inititative and referendum law, to justify the legislature in again submitting a woman suffrage amend- ment to the constitution, to the electors of the state. They presented more than the required number of names to the Secretary of State, O. C. Berg, whose duty it was to trans- mit the same to the legislature, to be by them submitted to the people. He refused to receive the petition stating to the committee of ladies and taxpayers that they might in- voke mandamus to compel him to act if they saw proper. As it was impractical to do this in the closing hours of the session they again met defeat. We are pleased to state, that at this writing, the men of Norway, Mr. Berg's native land, have given to their wonen the same political rights that they enjoy.
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壹壹大学
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In the legislature of 1907 a still larger enrollment of those who believe that women should vote was presented and acted upon by the senate in a joint resolution, carrying by 24 to 21 and was lost in the house by 51 to 33.
In the legislature of 1909 through the efforts of the W. C. T. U. a petition of over 12000 names was again presented in both senate and house and a joint resolution submitting the amendment to the electors in 1910 was passed in the house by 56 to 42, in the senate by 34 to 10, and signed by our broad minded governor, Robert S. Ves- sey, who has always believed in the broad principles of our national constitution, recognizing women as citizens in every sense of the word.
Senator Frank M. Byrne and Representative Alex Miller, in both the legislature of '07 and '09, honored the women and did credit to themselves in this senatorial dis- trict and Faulk county by voting in the affirmative.
Ever since statehood twenty years ago, the Equal Suffrage Association has maintained an organization auxil- liary to the National Woman's Suffrage Association.
The annual convention held at Aberdeen, June 18th, 1909, had representative men from republican, democratic and prohibition parties and women representing the largest organizations in the state, as accredited delegates.
The roll call showed the following officers:
President, Alice M. A. Pickler, Faulkton.
Vice-President, Edith M. Fitch, Hurley.
Corresponding Secretary, Florence Jefferies, Ft. Pierre. Recording Secretary, Rose Bower, Rapid City.
Member National Executive Committee, Anna R. Simmons, Faulkton.
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Treasurer, Jennie M. Taylor, Oral.
Auditors, Ruby J. Smart, Wessington Springs and Jane R. Breeden, Pierre.
Superintendent Press Work, Jane Waldron, Fort Pierre.
President District West of the Missouri River, Nina R. Pettigrew, Belle Fourche.
The covention elected the following officers:
President, Lydia B. Johnston, Fort Pierre.
Vice-President at Large, Harriette Curtiss, Aberdeen.
1st Vice-President, Mrs. Olson, Lead.
2nd Vice-President Mrs. Margeret Hendricks, Sioux Falls.
Corresponding Secretary, Emma Stiles, Blunt.
Recording Secretary, M. L. Ogin, Mitchell.
Treasurer, Mrs. Record, Watertown.
Member National Executive Committee, Mrs. Scott, Sioux Falls.
Auditor, Miss Walker, Bruce.
First Delegate to National Convention, Mrs. Philena E. Johnson, Highmore.
Second Delegate to National Convention, Florence Jeffries, Fort Pierre.
Third Delegate to National Convention, Mrs. Mundt, Pierre.
The National Society sent Miss Laura Gregg of Kan- sas and Mrs. Ella S. Stewart of Chicago, who were made members of the convention, and as this is the third time Miss Gregg has been in the state much credit must be giv- en her for timely aid, while Mrs. Stewart's address in the evening was a very able and convincing one to the very
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interested audience that filled the court room to listen to it.
Mrs. Pickler, who for nine years has been the State President, retires from active work on account of illness of her husband and was elected a life member of the national organization.
Since the convention the Relief Corps and G. A. R. at their annual encampment have expressed themselves as favoring the amendment, and the Commercial Club of Sioux Falls have invited the national association to hold its convention in Sioux Falls in 1910. Prospects are bright now that the pioneer women of South Dakota may come into their own in the twenty-first year of statehood."
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CHAPTER XXX. THE FAULK COUNTY COURT HOUSE. [By Hon. D. H. Latham. ]
The present Faulk county court house was erected in the year 1905, at a total cost of fifty thousand dollars. At the general election of November 8th, 1904, bonds of this amount were voted by the people and the proposition carried by a good majority.
W. R. Parsons & Son, of Des Moines, Iowa, were the architects and the structure is of the Roman style of archi- tecture. The building was erected by the Gray Construc- tion Company of Watertown. The court house is three stories high, length 97 feet 6 inches by 65 feet 7 inches in width with concrete floors and inside walls of hollow brick. The outside walls are Omaha grey pressed brick, trimmed with Lake Superior brown sandstone. The court house presents a fine appearance and is conceded to be the best one in the state for the amount expended.
April 27th, 1905, was a red letter day in Faulk county for the corner stone of the new court house was placed on that date with impressive ceremonies by the Masonic order, county and city officers and residents from all parts of the county. A strong box was placed in the corner stone containing the following papers and documents, to-wit:
Printed program of exercises of laying the corner stone April 27th, 1905, showing pictures of the building, also copies of the Republican Record and Faulkton Advocate
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announcing the program and sectional map of Faulk county.
Names of the present county officers, city officers and school officers of the city of Faulkton also Brown & Saeng- er's directory giving names of all state officers and members of state boards, also published list of all members of last legislature.
Official ballot used by Faulk county in last election, November 8th 1904.
Certified copy of proceedings of first board of county commissioners showing date the county was organized and appointments of first county officers, November, 1883.
A certified copy of resolutions of the board of county commissioners of July 14th, 1904, submitting question of voting on the court house bonds, also full certified copies of all proceedings of said board since said date in regard to canvass of vote, sale of bonds, letting contracts for the court house furnishings, lighting and heating the same, names of contractors and architect and showing total cost of the building.
Also copies of official newspapers with published rec- ord of said board proceeding; pertaining to the court house, also picture and plans of the court house.
Documents giving history of each church organization in the city of Faulkton.
History and names of officers of each lodge and order in the city of Faulkton.
Copies of all newspapers puplished in the county, also a copy of the first newspaper published in the county. Names of all public school teachers and scholars attending school in the county.
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The first money collected by the first treasurer of the county, December 4th, 1883, being seven cents, was kept intact until this time and the identical coin was deposited in this box.
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CHAPTER XXXI. OLD SETTLERS' ANNUAL PICNICS IN FAULK COUNTY.
The great events of the year in Faulk county are the Old Settlers' picnics held in the month of June each year. The Faulk county Old Settlers' picnic is held at Miller's grove in DeVoe township, and the Western Faulk county, Potter and Hyde counties Old Settlers' picnic is held at Seneca.
The two picnic associations were organized about the year 1895, and were only attended by a few hundred the first years, but have steadily increased in attendance each year until now the attendance at the Miller's grove picnic is three thousand five hundred, and twenty-five hundred at the Seneca picnic. The entire county turns out enmasse to these Old Settlers' gatherings and all enjoy the splendid programs arranged for the occasion.
The pioneers of this part of the state were an intelli- gent, social, hopeful and industrious class of people. The physically or mentally weak never emigrate-the strong and courageous do. The true pioneer is a person of in- domitable courage, of great capacity for seeing into the future. To such men and women we owe much. The younger generation and new settlers appreciate and feel the debt of gratitude.
The annual picnics are held for the purpose of bring- ing together the pioneers who suffered privations, endured hardships and braved the dangers and storms of pioneering
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in a new country. It is a pleasure now and quite the right of these early day settlers in these years when they are be- ginning to rest, to meet and talk of the old times and to ex- change stories and reminiscences of the hardships of by- gone days.
It is interesting to note some of the changes that have occurred in Faulk county since the first Old Settlers' picnics were held. At that time the majority came in lumber wagons from claim shanties, sod houses and dug-outs. Now they come, a well dressed people, in top buggies, car- · riages and automobiles, from large well built farm houses with big red barns and artesian wells, driving through thousands of acres of waving grain and corn fields. We hope that there may be many more days in future years when the people shall meet to pay honor that is due the pioneers.
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CHAPTER XXXII, BIOGRAPHICAL
MAJOR JOHN A. PICKLER is a native of Washing- ton county, Indiana, where he was born on the 24th of January, 1844, being a son of George and Emily ( Martin) Pickler, the former of whom was born in Indiana and the latter in Kentucky, while both families early settled in the Hoosier state, in the pioneer epoch. The father of Major Pickler was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits, finally removing to Davis county, Iowa, where he engaged in merchandising, as did he later in Kirksville, Missouri, where both he and his wife passed the closing years of their earnest and useful lives. Major Pickler passed his boy- hood days on the old Indiana homestead and secured his preliminary educational discipline in the district schools, after which he completed a course of study in the high school at Bloomfield, Iowa, where his parents had taken up their abode. He was later matriculated in the Iowa State University, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1870, with the degree of Bachelor of Philoso- phy. Shortly afterwards he entered the law department of the celebrated University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he completed the prescribed course and was gradu- ated in 1872, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws. After thus fortifying himself for the work of his exacting profession he engaged in the practice of law at Kirksville, Missouri, whence, in 1875, he removed to Muscatine, Iowa, where he entered into a professional alliance as a member of
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