USA > South Dakota > Faulk County > History of Faulk County, South Dakota, together with biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 3
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the rich, luxuriant grasses, but the deep trodden paths, proved it to have been the feeding place of vast herds of buffalo for many long years.
The report that these first explorers, Alexander La- Foon, D. S. Smith and T. H. McMullin gave, soon brought others. Before the winter of 1883-4 nearly all the land in the eastern half of the county had been located. LaFoon, Faulkton and DeVoe had become active enterprising cen- ters, around which intelligent and industrious homeseekers were located. In March, 1884, C. H. Ellis, Chas. V. Ellis, Joseph McGregor and Rufus Richie, who came from Michigan to Beadle county in 1882, located on the line of the railroad survey made by the Chicago & Northwestern railroad in township 117, range 72. The Ellisville post- office was soon established, and before the season ended, most of the land in ranges 70, 71 and 72 had been taken. As late as 1882, the buffalo, antelope and coyotes had full range in Faulk county. In June, 1884, it was transformed into homes and farms, with all that makes up happy com- munities.
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CHAPTER VI. BUFFALO IN FAULK COUNTY.
The deep worn trails or tracks and numberless bleached heads and bones of the American bison that were scattered over the prairies of Faulk county, gave to the early pioneers the most positive assurance that at a time when the wild Indians roamed unmolested over the western prairies, this was a favorite feeding ground for vast herds of buffalo, which have now become almost exterminated in the great North-west.
The westward march of civilization had come in too close proximity, even before actual settlement had com- menced in the county. Only one small herd of buffalo were seen by the early settlers, and two or three single animals, one of which was followed and killed near LaFoon, as the following account from the LaFoon Record of Nov. 3rd, 1883, shows:
"C. A. Ritter of this place, shot a buffalo three miles west of town on Thursday, with a shot gun. The animal came from the north, and a party of residents of 119-68 fol- lowed him several miles with Joseph Powell's team, from the claim of Herbert Geddes, where he was first discovered. Upon overtaking the animal three miles west of town, Mr. Ritter rode up within thirty feet of him and shot him with No. 6 shot just back of the shoulder. That was a lucky day for LaFoon. On the same day news came that the commissioners were appointed, two for this place and one for Faulkton. Blessings as well as misfortunes, never
AT INDIAN CARNIVAL, FAULKTON, S. D.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILD N FOUNDATIONS
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come singly. Buffalo steak is now on tap at the hotels through the kindness of Mr. Powell, who brought it to town on Friday morning, and threw up his hat when he heard that LaFoon had the county seat. Remember, two for LaFoon and one for Faulkton,"
One was seen near Ellisville in the south-west town- ships of the county; but no effort was made to kill or capture him, In fact, so sudden and almost mysterious was the departure of all large game after the coming of the white man, that Faulk county is almost without a record along this line.
And yet sportsman may find an occasional coyote or prairie wolf and a few prairie dogs. In their season ducks and geese in their northward flight, find here a favorite feeding and resting piace, and with the jack and cotton- tail rabbits, prairie chicken, plover and snipe, make excel- lent and exciting pleasure for the experienced sportsman,
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CHAPTER VII. THE BLIZZARD OF JAN. 12, 1888.
Nature's changes are nowhere more marked and signal than upon the broad prairies of the Dakotas. Beyond all conception as to numbers and splendor, were the charming, sunshiny days and moonlight nights, yet they were some- times suddenly, without warning, interrupted by the most dreadful cyclones in summer and yet more terrible blizzards in winter.
On the 12th of January, 1838, all nature smiled to usher in a most delightful day. It was a most beautiful winter morning, warm and gracious, with soft, variable breezes. One moment, bright, warm, glorious; the next moment, without the slightest warning, the terror fell with unexpected fury. An indescribable terror that pen cannot picture, swept over the great northwest. For fifteen hours it continued, blinding, impenetrable and intensely cold, the atmosphere filled with needles of ice driven by a furious wind with a terrific roar, producing an intense darkness and shutting out objects only a few feet away. In a 111om- ent it was gone and the sun came out as beautiful as a morning in May. Its work of death was ended.
In South Dakota one hundred and twelve perished and many more sustained life long injuries. In Faulk county the following sad record was made and published at the time:
"At Faulkton the blizzard began at 10 a. m. on Thurs- day, January 12th, 1888, and spent its force by two or
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three o'clock, Friday morning, making the duration of the storm in all its fury, about sixteen hours. The wind freshened up again Friday, drifting such snow as had not already found permanent lodgement, and the mercury fell rapidly to 24 below zero Friday night, dropping perhaps to its lowest point, nearly 30 below, on Sunday morning.
"Faulk county with her 5,000 population, scarcely averaging in the county, a family to the square mile, fur- nishes four names for the fatal list, viz: Joseph Metz of 117-68. Mr. Metz was a strong man in the prime of life. He went out into the storm to look after and care for liis stock, got lost and perished. William Klemp of 119-71, went out into the storm just at night to care for his stock, has not been found and is supposed to have perished. (His body was subsequently found in an unoccupied sod shanty more than a mile from his home.) Mr. Klemp was in the full vigor of manhood, and many will remember his marriage last September. Miss Ella Lamar, aged 29 years, teacher at the Auman school house, seventeen miles south- west of Faulkton in the Ellisville school district; Carrie Auman, aged 8 years, a pupil of Miss Lamar's. The teacher and pupil left the school room to go to Mr. Auman's house, a distance of forty rods, nearly with the wind. Their bodies were found as far beyond the house for which they started, as the house was distant from the school house. Had they remained in the school-room they would have been safe.
"Herman and Edwin Giese, aged respectively 12 and 9 years, of 117-70, were at school with Miss Lamar, and against their wishes, accompanied her and little Carrie Au- man from the school house into the storm. The boys re-
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port that when Miss Lamar gave out they all lay down and remained until Friday. The snow had drifted over them and gave some protection. Though badly frozen, the boys were able to walk a half mile to Henry Hillman's and said, "they could not wake the teacher and Carrie-they were dead."
When the storm burst with its fury the Faulkton primary and intermediate schools were in full progress, Mrs. McCoy and Mrs. Bissell, teachers. A rescue party was organized, a rope was fastened to the hotel door, and with the coil in hand, the party struggled on and succeeded in reaching the intermediate school house. Another rope from there and they were soon at the primary school, where, with the assistance of the teacher, the pupils were tied to the rope and taken to the intermediate school build- ing, with an experience that led to no further efforts in that direction. Teachers and scholars were compelled to re- main in the intermediate school room until Friday morning.
Dakota blizzards are among the things of the past. Volumes of incidents, which neither pen nor pencil could describe, that might have been written, are forgotten; yet the dark, blinding, roaring storm once experienced, ever remains an actual living presence, that has marked its path :- way with ruin, desolation and death. The 12th of January, 1888, is, and long will be, remembered, not only by Dako- tans, but by many in the northwest, not for the things we enjoy, love and would see repeated; but for its darkness, desolation, ruin and death, spread broadcast; for the sor- row, sadness and heartache that followed in its train.
The following from the Faulkton Times of that date will give a fuller account oi that terrible stor.n that swept
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with such fearful force over the northwest, though largely referring to incidents outside of Faulk county:
"During Wednesday a snow storm from the southwest prevailed most of the day and into the night. Thursday morning snow was still falling with little or no wind and without any indication of the storm that broke upon Faulk county from the northwest at about 10 a. m. The mercury then stood at 18º above zero, and was still above zero at night, and the cold was by no means intense during the storm. The wind was furious, the volume of snow im- mense, and the storm was much the worst of any ever ex- perienced since the settlement of the county. "It was a blizzard" and no mistake, though hardly to be compared to the three days' blizzard of 1873, as experienced in Min- nesota and Iowa and as the recorded death roll in Minne- sota and northwestern Iowa testifies in confirmation of the recollection of those who were there. The blizzard of '73 lasted for three consecutive days and nights without cessa- tion, and the loss of life in northwestern Iowa and Min- nesota was very great. They were then as Dakota is now, a newly and sparsely settled country that made it compara- tively inpossible to find shelter from the storm if caught out on the prairies. That was fifteen years ago. Fifteen years from now Dakota will be so settled and developed as to render the loss of a life in such a storm as unlikely and comparatively impossible as in Iowa today. At this place the blizzard begun Thursday at about 10 a. m. and had spent its force by 2 or 3 a. m. Friday morning-the wind easing down to a calm at 9 a. m .- making the duration of the storm in all its fury about 16 hours. The wind fresh- ened up again Friday, drifting such snow as had not al-
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ready found permanent lodgement, and the mercury fell rapidly to 24 below zero Friday night, standing about the same Saturday night, dropping perhaps to its lowest point Sunday morning to near 30° below.
The telegraphic reports now give the death roll of Da- kota, as perfected and complete, at 100. This is not large considering its realm-like area-two and a half times as large as all New England, and almost three times as large as Iowa-and its widely scattered inhabitants, and, as the morning was not bad, the loss is composed mostly of those caught away from home, though in some instances lives were wantonly sacrificed by going out into the storm, at- tempting to go home, or to some other place of safety near, and death was the penalty of not realizing the danger, and exercising the good judgment to remain where they were safe. Faulk county, with her 5,000 population, yet scarce- ly averaging in the country a family to the square mile, furnishes four names for the fatal list, viz:
Joseph Metz, of 117-68. Mr. Metz was a strong man in the prime of life. He went out into the storm to look after and care for his stock, got lost and perished.
Wm. Klemp, of 119-71, went out into the storm just at night to care for his stock, has not been found, and is. supposed to have perished. Mr. Klemp was in the full vigor of manhood, and many will remember of his marriage last September ..
Miss Ella Lamar, aged 29 years, teacher at the Auman. schoolhouse, seventeen miles southwest of Faulkton in the: Ellisville school district.
Carrie Auman, aged 8 years, a pupil of Miss Lamar ..
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The teacher and pupil left the schoolhouse to go to Mr. Auman's house, a distance of forty rods-nearly with the wind. Their bodies were found as much farther be- yond the house. Had they remained in the schoolhouse they would have been safe.
Herman and Edwin, sons of Ludwig Giese, of 117-70, aged respectively 12 and 9 years, were at school with Miss Lamar, and against their wishes, accompanied her with little Carrie Auman from the school house into the storm, The boys report that when Miss Lamar gave out they all lay down and remained till Friday morning. The snow had drifted over and protected them. The boys were not so badly frozen as reported. They walked a half mile to Henry Hillman's and said, "They could not wake the teacher and Carrie-they were dead."
Thus it will be seen that those who perished in Faulk county left a place of safety, defied the storm, braved death and perished. Others went miles in the storm unharmed. Mr. Wood walked from Seneca to Faulkton, 22 miles, traveling almost east, with the storm in the north-west.
Frank Fluent came to town from Mr. Kirk's, who lives seven or eight miles northwest of town. Frank said he kept cool, didn't hurry and was careful. He came in warm and unfrozen in any way. Mr. Wood and Mr. Fluent well illustrate what cool, strong men can endure and accomplish when successful in keeping their reckoning.
Miss Maggie Dunn, a teacher near Polo, northwest Hand county, perished in the storm. Miss Dunn had gone to her school before the storm set in, and none of her scholars arriving she started back only to lose her life a few :steps from the house where she boarded.
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A woman named Shoultz and a boy by the name of May were frozen to death in northeast Hand county.
In Faulkton the pupils of the primary and intermedi- ate departments were gathered in the intermediate school room. Mrs. Bissell and Mrs. McCoy, their teachers, remained with them during the night. A few parents took their children home and provisions were taken to the schoolhouse and all were made comfortable for the night. John Keithley was one of the most effectivs work- ers in opening communication with the schools and provid- ing for the wants of the children.
A current of electricity extended across the west por- tion of the town, from C. C. Moulton's, on the banks of the Nixon, southwest to the C. & N. W. depot. Messrs. Moulton, Pierce, McCaffry, Howe and others relate inter- esting experiences relating to the electric phenomena.
Volumes of incidents could be written giving details of individual experiences, etc., that would be of more or less interest but our space forbids.
The latest authentic summary of blizzard fatalities re- ported from Minneapolis shows ninety-seven dead in Da- kota, thirteen in Minnesota, six in Iowa, seventeen in Ne- braska and two in Montana. Total 135.
It will likely be a week yet before the facts and rumors are all sifted out and the correct figures known. The totals are not reported for Kansas and Texas."
STEAM BREAKER IN FAULK COUNTY
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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CHAPTER VIII. FAULKTON.
The selection and the location of the City of Faulkton, was from the first, far above any other location within the bounds of the county. Its central location commended it, not only to those who came to see it, but attracted the at- tention of all land seekers.
The first settlers, as a class, were of the type not only to assure success to the enterprise in which they engaged, but to attract and draw others to them.
Among that heroic band, who early in 1882 turned their backs to all the rest of the world with undying de- termination to turn these bleak and desolate acres upon the banks of the sluggish Nixon into delightful, happy homes and a prosperous, enterprising commercial center, no one was more devoted, or in a position to do as much for the accomplishment of this most desired object, as Capt. H. A. Humphrey. Quick to see and prompt to act, on the 21st day of December, 1882, The Faulkton Times, H. A. Hum- phrey, editor and proprietor became an active force in the shaping of the destiny of the town and county.
On October 28th, 1882, the town site had been platted and became a matter of record, A. B. Melville, Preston B. Durley, G. B. Eastman, H. A. Humphrey, John Mahara, J. A. Collins, William G. Kelley, J. Wood, Francis H. Fluent and Frank Smith, being the incorporators. Subse- quent to this time many others had joined these first set- tlers and a most heroic fight had been put up to secure the location of the county seat at this place.
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But all that came, became an integral part in their efforts for the accomplishment of the one single purpose, the one central idea, that of making Faulkton the county seat. In the accomplishment of this object their efforts never ceased and their faith never faltered until the sur- veyors for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad company sealed a compact that virtually settled the question in their favor.
Among those who are entitled to equal credit in the accomplishment of this work, are Major John A. Pickler, Capt. J. H. Wallace, Frank Turner, A. A. Colgrove, A. W. Morse, F. A. Pangburn, J. W. Hays and C. C. Moul- ton, all of whom are identified with Faulkton's interests at the present time.
It was not until the coming of the Chicago & North- western Railroad in 1886, that the important question of the real status of Faulkton as the town and future county seat, was fully and definitely settled.
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CHAPTER VIII CONTINUED.
LAFOON.
The beautiful location of the first county seat of Faulk county, with its miles of broad prairie and its rich, luxuri- ant grasses, supplemented by the fact that the eastern part of the county was first settled, and largely by a class of real homesteaders, made an active, growing business town, and at the coming of the Northwestern Railroad, had it not been for the fact that superior railroad facilities pointed to Faulkton, all other circumstances and conditions were in its favor and it would have continued its onward, prosper- ous and commanding course.
With such men as D. S. Smith, J. H. Bottum, F. A. Seaman, H. D. Chamberlain, W. H. Race and Dr. J. P. Rathbun; with the LaFoon Record, E. A. Evans, editor and proprietor, the recognized official paper of the county, LaFoon's interests were well cared for, giving every as- surance, not only to its own citizens, but to every impar- tial observer, of present permanency and future prosperity,
This state of things continued with increasing strength until the inhabitants awoke to the unwelcome fact that the final survey of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad had been made, the line passing to the south of them and direct to Faulkton, their persistent rival for county seat honors.
· Quick to see and apt to take advantage of their remain- ing hope, LaFoon was soon on wheels, passing westward over the prairies to become an integral part, if not a con- trolling factor in the upbuilding of their late persistent and unyielding rival,
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CHAPTER VIII CONTINUED. DEVOE.
On the 23rd of May, A. D. 1882, H. S. Utley, C. J. Cooper and A. F. Clark were the first settlers at this, to be a permanent center in the new county. Mr. Utley's family did not arrive from Wisconsin until April, 1883. On Au- gust 20th, 1882, Butler Lambert and Robert Young ar- rived from Wisconsin and settled in the immediate neigh- hood. Rev. P. E. Knox, J. H. DeVoe, John Dubois, E. M. Jessup and George Butterfield were added to the set- tlement before the close of the year.
A store was opened by Messrs. Crossly & Baird, a post- office called Cresbard, established, and a Sunday school or- ganized at the store, which proved entirely too small for the number who desired to attend. A house of worship was promptly erected, and in 1884 they had a Sunday school with an average attendance of fifty-three, and preaching once in two weeks by Rev. Clinton Douglas, of Faulkton. In 1884 the DeVoe correspondent of the LaFoon Record gave the names of the following pioneers, viz: Peter Phil- lips, T. B. Norton, Rush Francis, John Hoskin, D. Roy Jones, R. M. Griffith, C. C. Gettings, Thomas Morris, J. J. Price, J. H. Thomas, J. W. Tucker, J. H. Tucker, C. E. Kittinger, Harry Ressigue, M. C. Baker, Chas. O'Connell, E. Evans, G. W. Cropsey, and Fred Benson, who had lo- cated in that vicinity up to that date. In May, 1882, the tide of immigration had set toward eastern Faulk county. almost every day brought its party of pioneer settlers.
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New centers of population were established. Cresbard, Millard, Zell, Miranda, Orient and Harrington became fa- milliar names to the pioneers of the new county.
It was not until late in the autumn of 1883 that the government survey was completed in western Faulk county, and the land was opened for settlement early in the spring of 1884.
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CHAPTER IX THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE COUNTY.
Late in the autumn of 1883 the west half of range 70 and all of ranges 71 and 72 were without a settler. Early in March, 1884, C. H. Ellis, who had been located at Wes- sington in Beadle county for two years, started on a trip of exploration of these lands, which had just come into the market. Leaving the line of the Dakota Central railroad at St. Lawrence, in Hand county, and taking a northwest- erly direction, with his brother, Chas. V. Ellis, Joseph McGregor and Rufus Richie, they arrived at Mr. Conner's, section 3, township 119, range 69 for dinner. . In the after- 10011 they traveled about six miles north and eight miles west, and stopped for the night at a sod shanty on section 34, township 118, range 70. The following day until 3 o'clock p. m., was spent exploring land in township 117 in ranges 71 and 72, and a location was decided upon on section 1, in township 117, range 72. They then started in a southeasterly direction, hoping to reach Ree Heights, on the Dakota Central railway. A few minutes past 5 o'clock p. m., they sighted a shanty, which they decided to try to reach for a stopping place for the night, and which they judged to be not over three miles distant. Urg- ing their weary horses as best they could, at dark the shanty was yet in the unknown distance, but to their great joy a light appeared at the window. At a few minutes past 9 o'clock the horses came to a sudden stop and could not be urged further. Upon examination they found themselves
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at the top of a deep ravine. . As they made this discovery the light . in the window went out; but after a few loud halloos, to their delight it reappeared. Soon a man, light in hand, made inquiry as to who was there and what was wanted. A few minutes later he was with the party and piloted them to a very comfortable stopping place for the night. The following day they reached their home at Wessington, via Ree Heights.
With their railroad base established at Ree Heights, a few days later the party of six, with wagons loaded with lumber, made their second trip to the new location, which they had already christened Ellisville. When about fifteen miles from Ree Heights and near the foot of a low range of coteaux that extended east and west along the north line of Hand and Hyde counties, they had their first experience with the sudden atmospheric changes peculiar to the Dako- tas. In an instant, from a beautiful, balmy, sunshiny af- ternoon, the weather changed and there were dark, whirl- ing clouds and furious, piercing winds that shut out all hope of their reaching their destination that night. Their course was promptly changed to due west, where they had dis- covered signs of civilization, which proved to be the home, consisting of a house and barn, of a pioneer settler. After a heroic struggle they suceeded in reaching the place and were made comfortable for the night.
The following morning they started due north and at the foot of the coteaux or hills, discovered a creek of con- siderable size. They decided to follow its course in a northeasterly direction through the hills to the south line of Faulk county, where they discovered a small lake out of which the creek before mentioned flowed, and then made
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their course northeast about six miles to Ellisville. After they had eaten a cold dinner the work on the shanty com- menced, and before night closed in upon them they had completed a good, board shanty 10x14, set up the stove, made themselves comfortable for the night and felt quite at home.
This party consisted of C. H. Ellis, George Hines, Otto Hines, Charles V. Ellis, Theodore Rector and Joseph McGregor. A land locating office was opened, a post-office established, with semi-weekly mail from Ree Heights, a printing office, store and school house soon followed. Ellisville was located on section 1, township 117, range 72, on the line of survey by the Chicago & Northwestern rail- way, with the positive assurance from the officers of that company that the road would certainly be built on the line of that survey. Ellisville was twenty miles south and west of Faulkton, twenty-five miles north and west from Ree Heights and twenty miles north of Highmore. And if the railroad officials had carried out their part of the agreement Ellisville would today be the leading and most influential town in western Faulk county.
It was not long before Highmore became the railroad town for mail and all other communication with the out- side world, on account of the shorter distance, Even twenty miles over the prairie in the heat of summer, or cold, storms, and high, piercing winds and.drifting snow, of winter without a single landmark by which to determine one's bearing, was a most severe and trying experience, that demanded courage and heroism which taxed the full power of the inexperienced pioneer. But for a light sus- pended twenty feet in the air, many a land-seeker would
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