USA > South Dakota > Minnehaha County > History of Minnehaha county, South Dakota. Containing an account of its settlements, growth, development and resources Synopsis of public records, biographical sketches > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94
On the 22d day of May, 1880, petitions containing in the ag- gregate the names of 145 legal voters of the county were presented to the county board, asking to have the question of township govern- ment submitted to a vote of the people of the county. In pursuance to the request of the petitioners, a special election was ordered, and held on Monday the 28th day of June, and resulted in favor of town- ship government, 582 votes being cast for, and 88 against.
On the 8th day of July, the county board canvassed the vote and numbered the townships, commencing with Valley Springs as num-
260
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
ber one, and so on through township one hundred and one, then Red Rock as number seven, concluding with Buffalo as number twenty- four.
By the provisions of this law the electors of the several town- ships were required at the first election to choose by ballot a name for the township to take the place of the number fixed by the county board.
Since the passage of this act, the law governing townships has been changed from time to time to meet the wants of the people, so that at the present time a well digested system appears upon our statute books, and its provisions are generally understood by those interested. It is to be hoped that there will be very little legislation in the future in reference to this subject, and only such legislation as the exigencies of the times may imperatively demand.
VIEW BELOW THE FALLS-SIOUX FALLS.
PANORAMIC VIEW IN MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
VALLEY SPRINGS TOWNSHIP.
(101-47)
This township is situated in the southeast corner of the county. It is bounded on the east by the Minnesota state line, and on the south by the Iowa state line. It has some excellent farms and farm buildings and, comparatively speaking, no waste land. The main branch of Beaver creek, which enters Palisade township on section thirty-four and runs in a southwesterly course through Red Rock township, enters Valley Springs on section four, and continuing in the same course leaves the township on section seven. The other branch has its source in the southeast corner of the township, and runs in a northwesterly course until it forms a junction with the main branch on section thirteen in Split Rock township. The south line, which is the Iowa boundary line, was surveyed in July, 1852; the east, Minnesota boundary line, in July, 1862; the west, by Cortez Fessen- den, in July, 1862; the north, by M. K. Armstrong, in October, 1864, and the subdivisions were made by Carl C. P. Meyer in October, 1864. It contains 15,117.82 acres.
S. A. Johnson and Alfred Larson, and perhaps some others, took up land in this township as early as 1870. Frank G. Anderson and Stephen Danielson located there in 1871, and from that time the town- ship was quite rapidly settled. In June, 1872, Jonathan Dunham and M. L. Wood took up land in section three, and a Miss Nancy Mer- chant pre-empted a portion of the northwest quarter of the same sec- tion, where the village is now located. Messrs. Dunham and Wood erected a residence, and commenced breaking the land, and thinking the location favorable for a business center, made application for the establishment of a post office. January 1, 1873, the Valley Springs post office was established, and Jonathan Dunham appointed post- master, the office being at Mr. Dunham's residence. A. C. Stone was . the second postmaster, and for a while the office was at his residence, but was afterwards removed to the store of Stone & Howe. The next postmaster was P. E. Howe. In 1876, Alfred Larson was ap- pointed postmaster, and in 1880, he was succeeded by Charles Olson. The first store was established by A. C. Stone and P. E. Howe in the fall of 1873. The first blacksmith shop was that of C. O. Remming on the north side of the railroad, which was opened in the spring of 1876. In November, 1880, W. W. Bell opened the first harness shop. A man by the name of Ljungren erected a store building 20 by 50 feet, two stories high, in 1878, and engaged in the hardware busi- ness. On the 4th day of June, 1878, a station was established on
264
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
what is now the C., St. P., M. & O. railroad, and Valley Springs can boast of having the first railroad station in Minnehaha county. The first marriage was that of P. E. Howe and Frances H. Acker, and the ceremony was solemnized by the Rev. J. W. Rigby June 28, 1874. The first birth was that of a daughter to John C. and Martha Shepard. The first school was taught by Miss Ida Shafer during the summer of 1874. One of the present school buildings was erected in the summer of 1878, at a cost of $1,600, and is a fine two-story structure. The building which is now the Central House, was erected in 1878, for a private residence. In 1879, it was purchased by Grove Hemsley, and used as a boarding house one year, when it was enlarged, and has since been used as a hotel, under the efficient management of Frank Mellen, who is still the proprietor. The Val- ley Springs Cemetery Association was organized May 2, 1879, and the grounds are located on the southeast quarter of section 3, and contain ten acres.
BEN CLARE.
Ben Clare is a station on the Illinois Central railroad, located on the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section thirty- three, in Valley Springs township. It is the first station on this line of road in the state, and is nicely located. At the present time there are only a few buildings at Ben Clare, but the surrounding country is occupied by prosperous farmers, and in the near future a thrifty village is sure to grow up. It has two grain warehouses, a general store, blacksmith shop, and a Methodist church building, be- sides the depot. A post office was established soon after the railroad station was located. I. G. Woodward was the first postmaster, but since his resignation Henry Doman, Frank Bowen and Severt Sever- son have held the office in the order named.
CHURCHES.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH .-- A church was organized at Ben Clare in the spring of 1890, which was called the Ben Clare Methodist Episcopal Church, with a membership of thirty-five. During the fall of 1893, a handsome church building was erected east of the town site of Ben Clare, at a cost of about $2,000, which was principally paid by the members of the church. It was dedi- cated on Sunday, January 14, 1894. The following ministers have had charge of the church: the Reverends H. B. Green, H. B. Clear- water, S. S. Hookland, S. C. Olds, G. W. Shindlar, E. Honeywell, Nathan Fawell, H. C. Eberhart and Thomas Morris. Services are held in the church every two weeks. Sunday school is held every Sunday, with an average attendance of forty-five. A Woman's Aid society and a Chapter of the Epworth League are also connected with the church.
BEAVER VALLEY SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH .- This church was organized in 1875 by the Rev. C. W. Wretloff. Services were held in the school house until in 1880, when a large and commodious church building was erected on the northwest quarter of section 6
265
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
in Valley Springs, at a cost of two thousand five hundred dollars. A parsonage was also built near the church, at a cost of one thou- sand three hundred and fifty dollars. The following ministers have succeeded Mr. Wretloff, in the order named: J. H. Randall, A. Sundberg, Dr. C. J. Ellofson, and Rey. Sundquist, who is the present pastor. Services are held every Sunday, and the member- ship of the church is about two hundred. There is a Sunday school connected with the church, with an average attendance of about fifty scholars, also a Christian Endeavor and Young People's society.
LIST OF TOWNSHIP OFFICERS 1881-1899.
The first meeting of the town board was held January 10, 1881. The supervisors were J. E. Hallett, chairman, S. A. Johnson and A. T. Arneson; clerk, George Cassady; assessor, W. G. Butterfield.
1882. Supervisors, J. R. Jackson, chairman, Arne T. Arneson, Tolle J. Bye; clerk, George Cassady. At a meeting of the board April 15, smallpox having broken out in the township, several strin- gent orders were made to prevent the spread of the disease. Special constables were appointed to enforce the orders made. May 8, D. B. Cook was paid $350 for building a bridge over Beaver creek.
1883. Supervisors, Rolla Burkholder, chairman, Arne T. Arne- son, Madison Bennett; clerk, Charles P. Bissell; assessor, F. C. Bell; treasurer, W. H. Riddell; justice, D. B. Cook; constable, C. J. Conway. June, 5, C. P. Bissell resigned as clerk, and George Cas- sady was appointed.
1884. Supervisors, W. R. Burkholder, chairman, S. A. John- son, Madison Bennett; clerk, W. H. Gibbs; treasurer, Geo. Cassady; assessor, D. B. Cook; justice, A. C. Gibbs; constable, W. J. Carey.
1885. Supervisors, W. R. Burkholder, chairman; Madison Ben- nett, S. A. Johnson; clerk, W. H. Gibbs; treasurer, Geo. Cassady; assessor, C. C. Snook; justice, A. C. Gibbs.
1886. Supervisors, W. R. Burkholder, chairman, Madison Ben- net, S. A. Johnson; clerk, W. H. Gibbs; treasurer, Geo. Cassady; assessor, D. W. Lawrence; justice, Lewis Spawn; constable, Joe Carle. October 26, M. H. Gibbs resigned, and W. H. Riddle was ap- pointed clerk.
1887. Supervisors, W. R. Burkholder, chairman, Madison Ben- nett, Olof Olson; clerk, W. H. Riddell; treasurer, Geo. Cassady; assessor, F. M. Bunn; justice, J. L. Harrington; constable, W. J. Carey.
1888. Supervisors, Charles Harvey, chairman. Olof Olson, Madison Bennett; clerk, W. H. Riddle; treasurer, Geo. Cassady; assessor, Henry Howe; justice, Lewis Spawn; constables, W. J. Carey and C. D. Scheffer.
1889. Supervisors, Charles Harvey, chairman, Olof Olson, A. T. Arneson; clerk, W. H. Riddle; treasurer, Geo. Cassady; assessor, Charles Pottinger; justices, J. H. Harrington and Geo. Rockwood, but Mr. Rockwood failed to qualify, and C. J. Conway was appointed.
1890. Supervisors, Charles Harvey, chairman, Olof Olson, J. G. Kimball; clerk, Louis Hetland; assessor, Charles Pottinger; treasurer, E. W. Schmidt; justices, I. C. Woodard and J. D. Burg-
266
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
hardt; constable, C. J. Conway. I. C. Woodard died, and William Oakes was appointed to fill the vacancy.
1891. Supervisors, Charles Harvey, chairman, J. G. Kimball, Olof Olson; clerk, L. S. Hetland; treasurer, E. W. Schmidt; assessor, F. M. Bunn; justices, W. H. Riddle and W. F. Oakes; constable, J. J. Urquart.
1892. Supervisors, Henry Howe, chairman, Madison Bennett and Charles Haight; P. E. Howe, clerk; W. H. James, treasurer; Harry Kiffe, assessor; Charles Harvey, justice; Charles Fish, con- stable.
Madison Bennett did not qualify and Milton Wright was ap- pointed supervisor.
1893. Supervisors, P. E. Howe, chairman, A. E. Rockwood and Milton Wright; Geo. Wright, clerk; E. W. Schmidt, treasurer; Harry Kiffe, assessor; F. M. Bunn, justice; J. J. Urquhart and Byron Whitney, constables.
1894. Supervisors, J. D. Burghardt, chairman, Frank Allen and L. G. Carlstrom; G. W. Wright, clerk; E. W. Schmidt, treas- urer; Charles Harvey, assessor.
1895. Supervisors, J. D. Burghardt, chairman, Frank Allen and L. G. Carlstrom; P. E. Howe, clerk; Charles Haight, treasurer; Charles Harvey, assessor.
1896. Supervisors, Frank Allen, chairman, Olof Olson and John H. Johnson; P. E. Howe, clerk; S. A. Johnson, treasurer; Charles Harvey, assessor.
1897. Supervisors, Frank Allen, chairman, Olof Olson and John H. Johnson; P. E. Howe, clerk; S. A. Johnson, treasurer; Charles Harvey, assessor.
1898. Supervisors, Olof Olson, chairman, George K. Rockwood and Madison Bennett; Perry E. Howe, clerk; S. A. Johnson, treas- urer; Henry Harvey, assessor.
1899. Supervisors, Olof Olson, chairman, George K. Rockwood and Madison Bennett; Perry E. Howe, clerk; S. A. Johnson, treas- urer; Henry Harvey, assessor.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
ANDERSON, AUGUST, was born in Sweden in 1841. He emigrated to the United States in 1869, and worked as carpenter in Sioux City, Iowa, until 1872, when he decided to brave the hardships of pioneer life, and removed to Dakota. He located in this county, taking up a homestead and tree claim in Red Rock township, which he afterwards sold to Axel Olson, and now resides on his farm in section 7 in Val- ley Springs. He has a good farm, is well thought of by his neigh- bors, and is a good citizen.
ANDERSON, FRANK, was born in Nassjo, Sweden, in 1849. Came to Minnehaha county in 1871, and secured a homestead and tree claim comprising 320 acres in section 7 in Valley Springs, where he resided until his death, which occurred on the 25th day of April, 1895. On that day he and two of his sons had been at work on a quarter sec- tion of land which he owned in section nine, and they were just start-
267
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
ing for home when a severe thunderstorm came upand he was struck by lightning and instantly killed. He was a very industrious hard- working, honest man, and greatly respected by his neighbors. He had accumulated considerable property and left his family, consist- ing of his wife and ten children, well provided for.
ANDERSON, MARTIN, was born on the Lofoden Island in Nor- way, September 20, 1859. He emigrated to the United States in 1868; resided in Iowa for eleven years, and removed from there and settled in this county in March, 1879. He secured the northeast quarter of section 29, in Valley springs were he now resides, and has a good farm with good buildings. He is also the owner of the south- east quarter of the same section. He is a good citizen.
ARNESON, ARNE T., was born in Norway June 25, 1842. He emigrated to the United States in July, 1863, and died at Valley Springs November 13, 1894. When he first arrived in this country he enlisted in the military service, and served until the close of the war. He then settled in Fillmore county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming until 1874, when he removed to Valley Springs in this county. He took up the northwest quarter of section 34 as a homestead, and the northeast quarter of section 21 as a tree claim. He was a very industrious man and a good farmer, and he soon transformed the naked prairie into one of the most comfortable homes in the county. He had the confidence of his neighbors and townsmen, and was frequently chosen to fill the offices of his school district and town- ship. He was a large-hearted man, thoroughly honest and upright, and his death in the prime of manhood was deeply regretted by all who knew him.
BYE, TOLLE J., was born in Norway January 14, 1845. He emi- grated to the United States in 1869, and lived in Sioux City, Ia., and Canton, S. D., before coming to this county in 1873. At that time he took up a homestead and a tree claim, but afterwards sold his homestead, and now resides on his tree claim, the southwest quarter of section 5, in Valley Springs. He also bought 160 acres of school land in section 16, in the same township, and has a good farm. He was a member of the town board in 1882, is a thrifty farmer, and good citizen.
BENNETT, MADISON, was born in Ohio in 1851, but moved with his parents to Wisconsin in 1855, and to Iowa in 1858, where he received his education and resided until June, 1872, when he removed to this county and located in Valley Springs. He took up as a home- stead the northeast quarter of section 30, and has now a farm of 320 acres, well improved. He has been a member of the town board, is a good farmer and a respected citizen.
DANIELSON, STEPHEN, was born in Sweden in 1840. He emi- grated to Wisconsin in 1869; removed from there in 1871, and settled in Minnehaha county. He took up as a homestead the southeast quarter of section 6, in Valley Springs, were he still resides and has a well improved farm with good buildings. He is an enterprising farmer and a good citizen.
DOMAN, LEWIS FRANKLIN, was born in McLean county, Illinois,
268
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
in 1856. He lived there and in Iowa and Kansas before coming to this county, where he located in the fall of 1887. He is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land in sections 20 and 27 in Valley Springs, where he resides and has a good farm.
HARVEY, CHARLES, is a native of Ohio, and was born in 1851. He lived in Winneshiek county, Iowa, eighteen years, and removed to this county in 1873. He then located upon his present farm, the southeast quarter of section 28, in Valley Springs, which he proved up as a homestead. It is now a first-class farm, with good buildings. Mr. Harvey is a good farmer and a good citizen, and has been chair- man of the town board and assessor several years.
JOHNSON, GUSTAF, was born March 31, 1840, in the city of Jon- koping, Sweden. In 1872 he emigrated to the United States, and lived in New York and Connecticut, and removed to Dakota and lo- cated in this county in the fall of 1877, where he has since resided. He took up as a homestead the northeast quarter of section 6, in Valley Springs, where he engaged in farming, and now has a well improved farm, with good buildings. He is a good reliable citizen.
JOHNSON, JOHN O., was born July 2, 1843, in Wisconsin, and came to this county in September, 1873, and settled in Valley Springs. He took up as a homestead the northeast quarter of sec- tion 33, and as a tree claim the northwest quarter of the same sec- tion, where he resided until August 3, 1896, when he was accidentally killed. He held various town offices and was an enterprising and re- spected citizen. During the civil war he enlisted in Company A, 4th Wisconsin regiment for three months, and at the expiration of that time re-enlisted in the same regiment for three years. Upon the capture of New Orleans this company took possession of the post office, and Company A was quartered in the office. Mr. Johnson said that his company could read any letter received at the office, no matter in what language it was written. During the whole time of his military service he was neither wounded, taken prisoner nor in a hospital.
JOHNSON, S. A., is a native of Sweden and was born in 1845. He has been a well known resident of this county since 1870, at which time he came here from Iowa where he first located after com- ing to the United States. He has been a successful farmer, and owns at the present time about four hundred acres of land in Valley Springs. He resides on his homestead in section 7, which is a good farm with substantial buildings. He has held several town and school offices, and is an enterprising and respected citizen.
HOWE, PERRY E., was born January 28, 1851, in Cattaraugus county, New York; was educated in the public schools and at a pri- vate academy, where he studied surveying. His father was a sur- vevor, and at the age of twenty years the subject of this sketch com- menced surveying, and continued in this employment until he re- moved to Dakota. On the 24th day of March, 1873, he arrived in this county and settled in Valley Springs, securing the northwest quar- ter of section 4, where he now resides, engaged principally in farm-
269
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
ing, and has a good farm. He has held the office of county surveyor; has been chairman of the township board, and clerk of the same for the last five years. He is an obliging neighbor, and a respected citizen.
LARSON, ALFRED J., is one of the pioneer settlers, having lived on his present homestead on the southwest quarter of section 8 in Valley Springs since 1870. He has a good farm of 280 acres under good cultivation and well supplied with good buildings. He was con- stable in Valley Springs in 1876, is a good farmer and a respected citizen. He was born in Sweden in 1849, and resided there and in New Jersey and Iowa before coming to this county.
OLESON, OLOF, was born in Sweden in 1840. He emigrated to the United States and lived in New York, Connecticut, Illinois, Wis- consin and Iowa before he settled on his present farm in this county in 1872. He took up as a homestead the southwest quarter of section 9 in Valley Springs, and like many other early settlers had nothing to begin with, yet to-day he is the owner of a well improved farm of 240 acres with substantial buildings and farm machinery and a large live stock, all of which are unincumbered. He is a good farmer and good citizen, and has held the office of town supervisor for several years.
SCOTT, JOHN, is a comparatively new settler of this county, hav- ing come here in March, 1888. He formerly lived in Ohio, where he was born December 21, 1854; and also resided in Illinois and Iowa for some time. He bought his present farm, containing over 300 acres in sections 27 and 34 in Valley Springs, and resides there engaged in farming. He is a thrifty, successful farmer, has one of the best farms in the county, with substantial buildings and other improve- ments, and well stocked, and during the season of 1898 raised nearly 10,000 bushels of grain on his farm.
SEVERSON, SEVERT, is a native of Norway, and was born August 29, 1863. He emigrated to the United States in 1884 and arrived in Dell Rapids on the 13th day of April, that year. Heis now a resident of Ben Clare, and has been in trade at that place since April, 1894. He has been postmaster at Ben Clare since May 6, 1894, is a good citizen and enjoys the esteem of his neighbors.
SPAWN, LEWIS, was born in Albany county, New York, March 24, 1844. He lived there and in Illinois and Iowa until he removed to this county where he arrived June 1, 1873. He filed a homestead and a tree claim upon the northeast quarter of section 31, and the southwest quarter of section 30, in Valley Springs. For several years he resided on his homestead and during that time held several township offices, and that of justice of the peace for ten years. A few years ago he removed to Brant Lake, S. D., where he is propri- etor of a hotel. He is an active enterprising citizen.
WRIGHT, MILTON, was born in Iowa in 1845. He resided in Iowa and worked on a farm until he removed to Valley Springs in 1882. He bought and now owns a good farm in sections 29 and 30, and is a dealer in live stock. He has held several township offices, and is an ac- tive, enterprising and respected citizen.
270
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY
VILLAGE OF VALLEY SPRINGS.
The village of Valley Springs is pleasantly and favorably located both for residence and business purposes, and since the location of the station on the Omaha line in 1878 its population and business have been steadily increasing.
At a session of the territorial legislature in 1879, an act was passed authorizing the incorporation of the village of Valley Springs, but the people did not perfect an organization under its provisions.
In 1883 another act of incorporation was passed. The territory comprised the south half of the south half of section 34, and the south- east quarter of the southeast quarter of section 33 in Red Rock township, and all of section 3, and the east half of the east half of section 4 in Valley Springs township, making in all a little over 1100 acres of land. This territory of the village has been greatly reduced, and comprises at the present writing only the south half of the northwest quarter and the north half of the southwest quarter of section 3 in Valley Springs township. The charter was nearly the same in its provisions as the one incorporating the village of Sioux Falls; in fact, all the village charters granted in territorial days were similar in character. The government of the corporation and the management of its affairs were vested in a president, who was cx officio a trustee, and four trustees. The other elective officers were clerk, treasurer, and village justice of the peace. The board of trustees was empowered to appoint and remove at pleasure a chief of the fire department, a fire warden, attorney, street commissioner, and marshal. The annual election was directed to be held on the first Tuesday in March.
The first election was held on the 6th day of March, 1883. Forty-six votes were cast, and the following named persons were elected: W. H. Riddell, president, J. E. Hallett, Paul Zimmerman, J. Dunham, and Geo. Cassady, trustees; F. Mellen, justice of the peace; D. B. Cook, treasurer; F. C. Bell, clerk. D. B. Cook declined to qualify, and Richard Barnett was appointed. Henry Howe was appointed marshal. During the summer a village jail was built.
In March, 1884, the village license for saloon keepers from April, 1884, to January 1, 1885, was fixed at $75. In December the license was fixed at $200 per year. In December, 1885, the saloon license was fixed at $600.
In 1886, two cisterns were built, of a capacity of 200 bbls. each, at a cost of $230, and 320 feet of hose and other fire apparatus pur- chased. A town hall and engine room were built, at a cost of $914, and a fire department was organized on the 10th day of June, 1886, with twenty-eight members and W. R. Burkholder as chief.
On the 6th day of August, 1888, a special election was held to de- termine whether the village should issue bonds in the sum of $800 to pay the indebtedness of the village incurred in building engine room and hall. The vote cast was thirty-four for, and one against the issuing of bonds, and the bonds were issued. In December the saloon license was fixed at $700.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.