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 28
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As time progressed, the people of the village desired some
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amendments to the charter, but as this could not be accomplished by legislation, and the provisions of the general law for the incorpora- tion of muncipal bodies were more to their liking, the village board on the 4th day of March, 1895, took the necessary steps and dissolved the corporation of the village, and reincorporated under the general law as the Town of Valley Springs.
There is not a village in the state that has a better grade of schools, and a higher percentage of church-going people. It has three church organizations, but no saloon, three resident ministers, but no lawyer. Its business men are thrifty and enterprising, and but few have fallen by the wayside.
The village has outgrown the two story school building which was erected in 1878, at a cost of $1,600, and the old bank building is rented for one department. At the present time 109 scholars are enrolled in the three departments into which the school is divided. The number of scholars of school age within the village limits is 137. Three teachers are employed, and Prof. J. A. Ross, one of the best and most efficient teachers in the county, is in charge of the school.
All lines of business usually found in villages of the size of Val- ley Springs, are not only well represented, but there are some en- terprises of which the people are justly proud. In 1878, L. K. Lee, then a resident of Valley Springs, built a flouring mill of 100-barrel capacity. It is a first-class mill in every detail, and its product grades high upon the market. He also built an elevator of upwards of 30,000 bushel capacity. The mill has been owned and successfully operated by the Valley Springs Roller Mill Company since 1893. The Hubbard & Palmer Elevator Company handles grain at this point, and the capacity of their elevator is ample to meet the de- mands of its patrons.
In June, 1896, the Valley Springs Creamery Company was or- ganized. It is not incorporated, but is organized on the co-operative plan. At the present time there are upwards of seventy-five share- holders. The public-spirited citizens of the village, in order to aid in the project, adopted a novel plan of procedure. They organized the Valley Springs Building Association, with shares of stock at twenty-five dollars each, and secured $1,000 in this way, which was used in erecting a creamery building. The use of this building was given to the creamery company free of charge as long as it was operated as a creamery. During the year 1898 the company paid $8,945.69 for 1,469,273 lbs. of milk. From this milk 63,895 lbs. of butter was made, which was sold for $10,946.64. The whole cost of the plant, including a skimming station at Corson, is a little upwards of $3,000. It has three separators, and so far has been running at only about one-half its capacity. It has been well conducted, and is under able management. J. J. Urquhart is president, Tolle J. Bye vice president, J. G. Kimball secretary and manager, Charles La- throp treasurer and L. Christianson buttermaker.
To summarize -- Valley Springs has good educational advantages and church privileges, excellent business facilities, and a thrifty, en- terprising, honest class of citizens.
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NEWSPAPERS.
VALLEY SPRINGS ENTERPRISE .- This was the first newspaper published in Valley Springs. T. J. Martin was the proprietor and editor, and for several years published a good local paper, but re- moved to Toledo, Ohio, in 1890, where he published a newspaper until his death, which occurred December 19, 1897.
VALLEY SPRINGS VIDETTE .- In the summer of 1891, the Valley Springs Publishing Company was organized, and the last week in September of that year the first issue of the Valley Springs Vidette appeared. The following March, Charles E. Hill assumed the edi- torial control and management of the Vidette, and since then it has been a good local newspaper, is well patronized, and a credit to the town.
CHURCHES.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. - A Congregational church was organized at Valley Springs June 11, 1878, with a membership of thirteen. In 1884 a commodious church building was erected at a cost of about $2,000, which was all paid during the same year, $500 having been granted by the Congregational Church Building So- ciety, and the balance raised by members and friends. The build- ing was dedicated November 2, 1884. The following ministers have acted as pastors of the church in the order named: The Revs. J. A. Palmer, S. F. Toby, H. G. Miller, D. H. Clapp, C. W. Wiley, W. H. Watson, W. Mooney, B. F. Marsden, M. A. Ball, W. C. Gilmore. Services are held morning and evening every Sunday, and a Ladies' Aid society, a Missionary society and a Sunday school. with an average attendance of fifty, are connected with this church. The present membership of the church is fifty-one.
FREE WILL BAPTIST CHURCH .- This church was organized May 31, 1885, with three members. In 1886 the Rev. J. J. Hull be- came its pastor, and a church building was erected that year at a cost of about $1,000. In April, 1890, after having built up a very prosperous church, he was succeeded by the Rev. R. A. Coats, who remained until the fall of 1893, when he accepted a call from Estherville, Iowa, and the Rev. George W. Mathews became its pastor. In 1895 the Rev. R. A. Coats returned to Valley Springs and again assumed the duties of pastor of this church. He was succeeded by the Rev. M. W. Dodge and in 1899 Mr. Dodge was succeeded by Rev. M. L. Dewey. The membership is now seventy- seven, and there are two Aid societies and a Sunday school of one hundred members connected with this church.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. - This church has an organization, but no church building. The pulpit is supplied by the Rev. T. Morris, and a church building is soon to be erected.
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS .- A lodge of this order was instituted about ten years ago, and has at the present writing thirty members. The officers are: Dr. Geo. W. Bliss, C. C .; E. B. Palmer, V. C .; F.
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M. Eastman, P .; J. J. Urquhart, M. of E .; E. A. Harris, M. of F .; W. R. Brill, M. of A .; L. S. Hetland, K. of R.
MODERN WOODMEN. - This organization was effected about three years ago, and is in a flourishing condition. Its present offi- cers are: Lew Allen, venerable counsel; D. A. Shaffer, worthy adviser; Archie Kimball, clerk; E. A. Harris, banker; Wm. Brill, escort; Steve Markuson, watchman; Eli Jones, sentinel.
ROYAL NEIGHBORS OF AMERICA. An organization of the R. N. A., a companion of the Modern Woodmen, is one of the societies existing at Valley Springs. The officers are: Mrs. Cora Brill, oracle; Mrs. Elizabeth Bell, V. O .; Miss Winnie Pinney, M .; Mrs. Alma Markuson, R. P. O.
FRATERNAL BROTHERHOOD OF THE WORLD .- This order has recently established a branch office in Valley Springs with the fol- lowing officers: Dr. Geo. W. Bliss, president; Mrs. Geo. W. Bliss, V. C .; H. A. Cadwell, escort; Charles Pottinger, clerk; M. L. Riley, overseer; R. P. Cadwell, Past P.
OFFICERS OF THE VILLAGE OF VALLEY SPRINGS, FROM 1883 TO 1895 AND OF THE TOWN OF VALLEY SPRINGS FROM 1895 TO 1899.
1883. W. H. Riddell, president; J. E. Hallett, Paul Zimmer- mann, J. Dunham and Geo. Cassady, trustees; F. Mellen, justice; D. B. Cook, treasurer; F. C. Bell, clerk; Henry Howe, marshal; Charles Harvey, street commissioner. D. B. Cook declined to act as treasurer and R. Barnett was appointed.
1884. W. H. Riddell, president; J. E. Hallett, P. Zimmerman, Geo. Cassady and J. Dunham, trustees; F. Mellen, justice; F. C. Bell, clerk; Richard Barnett, treasurer; Edson Wheeler, marshal and street commissioner.
1885. J. E. Hallett, president; T. B. Riley, F. C. Bell, F. East- man and C. Pottinger, trustees; D. W. Lawrence, clerk; Z. R. Biggs, justice; R. Barnett, treasurer; Charles Harvey, street commissioner; Edson Wheeler, marshal.
1886. J. C. Shephard, president; Geo. Cassady, W. H. Riddell, G. W. Wright and Charles Harvey, trustees; L. P. Mosier, justice; C. Barnett, treasurer; D. W. Lawrence, assessor; clerk, T. J. Martin; Edson Wheeler, marshal.
1887. A. L. Whaley, president; G. W. Wright. Charles Harvey, John Bowman and J. L. Harrington, trustees; W. A. Hill, clerk, Richard Barnett, treasurer; L. P. Mosier, justice; Charles Bender, marshal.
1888. G. W. Wright, president; N. J. Deisher, J. Bowman, Charles Harvey and Charles Eschels, trustees; Dell Hill, clerk; H. Howe, justice; Richard Barnett, treasurer; J. D. Burghardt, marshal. July 9, H. Howe resigned and J. L. Harrington was appointed justice.
18
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
1889. G. W. Wright, president; N. J. Deisher, M. H. Gibbs, H. D. Kenyon and Charles Harvey, trustees; J. D. Burghardt, justice; E. W. Schmidt, treasurer; W. H. Riddell, clerk; James Eschels, marshal.
1890. L. K. Kee, president; Eli Jones, Richard Barnett, T. B. Riley and J. C. Kimball, trustees; Geo. Wright, clerk; E. W. Schmidt, treasurer; W. H. Riddell, justice; James Eschels, marshal.
1891. Geo. Cassady, president; T. B. Riley, J. G. Kimball, Eli Jones and R. Barnett, trustees; E. W. Schmidt, treasurer; J. D. Burghardt, justice; W. H. James, clerk; John Conover, marshal.
J. G. Kimball not qualifying, T. D. Haight was appointed trustee.
1892. Geo. Cassady, president; R. Barnett, Eli Jones, T. B. Riley and T. R. Haight, trustees; W. H. James, clerk; E. W. Schmidt, treasurer: C. Pottinger, justice.
1893. C. Dillon, president; G. Hullett, Eli Jones, W. A. Hill and J. G. Kimball, trustees; G. W. Wright, clerk; E. W. Schmidt, treasurer; C. Pottinger, justice.
1894. F. M. Eastman, president; T. D. Haight, Geo. Cassady, F. L. Skillman and O. A. Hulett, trustees; E. W. Schmidt, treas- urer, W. H. James, clerk; C. C. Pottinger, justice.
1895. W. J. Carey, president; W. G. Elv, T. D. Haight, F. L. Skillman and G. W. Wright, trustees; W. H. James, clerk; N. J. Deisher, treasurer; James Jameson, assessor: J. D. Burghardt, justice.
1896. W. J. Carey, president: James Eschels, E. A. Harris, Charles E. Hill and T. B. Riley, trustees; W. H. James, clerk; F. M. Eastman, justice.
1897. Charles Haight, president; L. S. Hetland, Charles Pot- tinger, and James Eschels, trustees; W. H. James, clerk; F. L. Skill- man, treasurer; James Jameson, assessor; Frank Eastman, justice.
1898. Charles Haight, president; L. S. Hetland, Charles Pot- tinger and James Eschels, trustees; H. W. Ferguson, clerk; F. L. Skillman, treasurer; Wm. Brill, marshal; Frank M. Eastman, justice.
1899. E. W. Schmidt, president; E. A. Harris, L. S. Hetland, James Eschels and Sander Swenson, trustees; W. C. Gilmore, clerk; F. L. Skillman, treasurer; F. M. Eastman, justice; Wm. Brill, marshal.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BURGHARDT, J. DEWITT, is a native of Broome county, New York, and was born January 12, 1852. He lived there until he re- moved to Valley Springs in May, 1881. He resided in Red Rock township for a few years, and there held the office of justice of the peace for three years, and has also held the same office in Valley Springs for the same length of time. He has for several years been engaged in the implement business in the village of Valley Springs, and is well liked as a neighbor and citizen.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
BURKHOLDER, ROLLA W., was born at Carlisle, Pa., February 6, 1854; attended the city schools until fifteen years of age; then was employed in a general store five years, and in a grocery store seven years; in 1881 removed to this county, and located in Valley Springs on July 4, and opened a hardware and general store; in 1886, sold out, and engaged in the collection business until 1890, when he was em- ployed for three years in the Indian service at the Lower Brule Agency; at the expiration of that time he returned to Valley Springs, and has been engaged in farming since then. Mr. Burkholder has been chairman of the board of supervisors in Valley Springs town- ship several years. He is a man of positive characteristics, never on the fence, outspoken upon all public questions, and a participator in all local matters, a good neighbor, and a good citizen.
CASSADY, GEORGE, is a native of Harrison, Ohio, and was born in 1849. He resided for some time in Indiana and Minnesota and came to Valley Springs in this county in June, 1878, where he has since resided. Soon after the railroad station was established at Valley Springs he was appointed station agent there, and has held this position since that time. He has been president of the village four years, a member of the school board nearly all the time since his residence there, and town and school treasurer for several years. His careful, conservative business qualifications, together with his honesty of purpose and genial manners, have made him one of the most respected citizens of the county.
CONOVER, JOHN, was born in Onondaga county, New York, Sep- tember 16, 1843, and was reared on a farm and educated in the dis- trict schools. During the rebellion he enlisted in the First New York Light Artillery for three years, but after thirteen months of service was discharged for disability. He again enlisted in the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery for one year, serving ten months and until the close of the war. For a few years he resided in Minnesota, but removed from there to Red Rock, this county, in 1883. He now resides in Valley Springs.
DEISHER, N. J., was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September 24, 1854. He resided there and in Illinois and Nebraska before his coming to this county in March, 1886. He located at Val- ley Springs, where he engaged in the banking business until 1895, when he removed from the state. Mr. Deisher was a very active citi- zen while a resident of the county, and he enjoys the distinction of being the first banker in Valley Springs.
DUNHAM, JONATHAN, is a native of Tompkins county, New York, and was born September 24, 1821. Mr. Dunham is one of the resi- dents of this county who is qualified to speak of its comparative mer- its, having lived, in addition to his native state, in Canada, Pennsyl- vania, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois before coming here. In 1872 he ar- rived in Sioux Falls, and very soon thereafter took up the east half of section 3 in Valley Springs as a homestead and by pre-emption, and also secured 160 acres in section 27 in Red Rock under the tree culture act. He has now 500 acres of farm land. Mr. Dunham since coming to Dakota has attended strictly to business, and although an
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
active citizen and interested in all public matters, has not been a can- didate for office. He is an independent conservative man, but consid- erate of the opinion of those who differ with him. His rights of citi- zenship are conscientiously exercised, and his influence is felt in all local matters.
EASTMAN, FRANCIS M., was born in Wisconsin, August 2, 1850. After starting out in life for himself he spent a few years in Minne- sota but removed to this county in 1876, arriving in Palisade on the 12th day of March of that year. He took up a quarter section of land as a homestead in section 33, and a tree claim in section 8 in Red Rock township, both of which he has disposed of, and now resides in Valley Springs. He was assessor of Palisade in 1881, president of the village of Valley Springs in 1894, and justice of the peace since 1896. He is a good neighbor and a good citizen.
HAIGHT, CHARLES, was born in Gloversville, Fulton county, New York, July 10, 1852. He resided in his native state and in In- diana and Illinois until 1889. On the 20th day of April of that year he came to Valley Springs, and since then has been in business at that place. He is associated with T. D. Haight under the firm name of T. D. & C. Haight, and the firm is engaged in the hardware, gro- cery, harness, and boot and shoe business. The firm has been suc- cessful, and is doing a good business. Mr. Haight has the respect of the citizens of Valley Springs, and has been elected to school, vil- lage and township offices, in all of which he has proved himself to be a good official.
HAIGHT, T. D., is a native of Albany, New York. and was born 1834. After having lived in Indiana and Virginia he removed to Da- kota and located at Valley Springs in May, 1888. In October of that vear he entered into a co-partnership with his brother, C. Haight, under the firm name of T. D. & C. Haight and bought a stock of hardware of Ed Wheeler, who was then doing business at Valley Springs, and also the grocery stock of Carl Chapman, to which they added the sale of boots and shoes, trunks and harnesses. Mr. Haight is a good business man and the firm has done a successful business. He is a good, reliable citizen.
HARVEY, WILLIAM, was born in Caledonia county, Vermont, on the 1st day of April, 1817, and died at Valley Springs on the 28th day of April, 1895. He was a physician of the old school, and practiced his profession in Ohio and Iowa before coming to Dakota. He ar- rived in this county in June, 1876, and settled in Valley Springs, tak- ing up a homestead in section 19. He continued the practice of med- icine a few years, but gradually retired from this work as old age ad- vanced. He was well liked by his neighbors and was a kind, genial gentleman.
HETLAND, L. S., is a native of Norway, and was born April 21, 1858. He emigrated to the United States in 1872, and resided in Il- linois until the fall of 1879, at which time he removed to Dakota and located at Valley Springs. In 1885 he engaged in general merchan- dizing in the village of Valley Springs in which he has since con-
1
CHARLES E. HILL.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
tinued. He is a good business man, and has made a success of his business. He has held the office of clerk of the town board for two years, was one of the trustees of the village of Valley Springs in 1898, and is one of the best citizens in the village, well liked by his neighbors and customers.
HILL, CHARLES E., was born in Greene county, Ohio, December 1, 1854, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was educated in the city schools. He learned the printer's trade, on the Cleveland (Ohio) Herald. After learning his trade he concluded he would see something of the world before settling down, and he traveled throughout the United States, Canada, Cuba and England, working at his trade for a livelihood. He arrived in Sioux Falls in 1891, and worked for awhile on the Press. In March, 1892, he married Mrs. Emma A. Pixley of Valley Springs, and became the proprietor of the Valley Springs Hotel, and editor of the Valley Springs Vidette, but sold out the hotel business in the fall of 1892, and since that time has given his undivided attention to the management of the Vidette. He is a good newspaper man, and the Vidette has grown to be a good county paper under his editorial control.
HUNT, WASHINGTON J., was born in Chenango county, New York, February 23, 1856. He removed with his parents to Fayette, Fay- ette county, Iowa, in 1857, and resided there until he was twenty-two years of age, working on a farm and attending the common schools and the Iowa University. At that age he commenced work as a mason, and followed this trade until he removed to Dakota, where he arrived September 19, 1878. He then took up the northeast quarter of section 14 in Clear Lake, this county, and resided there until 1887, when he removed to Sioux Falls. In 1889 he removed to East Sioux Falls, where he resided, until November, 1898, when he located at Valley Springs. While a resident of Clear Lake he was a justice of the peace seven years, and town clerk five years. He has taught at least fifteen terms of school in this county, and has proved himself to be a successful teacher. He was county superintendent of schools of Minnehaha county in 1893 and 1894, and faithfully performed the duties of the office, ably assisted by his wife, who is well educated and has been a successful teacher in this county since its pioneer days. In 1895, Mr. Hunt was elected a member of the city council of East Sioux Falls. He is an upright, honest man, a good citizen, a kind neighbor, and has a host of friends.
JAMES, WILLIAM HENRY, was born in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, December 25, 1858. He lived in Wisconsin until 1884, engaged in farming and milling, and then removed to Minnesota where he re- mained until the 15th day of August, 1886. At that time he located at Valley Springs, and has been engaged in the grain and insurance business at that place since then. He has held various township and village offices, was clerk of the village board for several years, and made a good official. Mr. James is a genial, good fellow, a good neighbor and esteemed citizen, and justly popular with all who know him.
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KIFFE, H., was born in Mankato, Minnesota, April 12, 1857. He resided in Iowa for a few years, and came from there to Sioux Falls in 1878. Soon after he took up a homestead in McCook county, this state, and in 1879 removed to Rock county, Minnesota, where he remained ten years. In 1889 he returned to this county and settled in Valley Springs. While a resident of Minnesota he held town offices for several years. He is an industrious honest citizen.
KINYON, HOLDEN D., was born in Dodge county Wisconsin, Sep- tember 15, 1854. and resided there until he removed to this county in March, 1886. He settled on the southeast quarter of section 18 in Red Rock, and was so pleased with the country that he induced sev- eral of his friends and relatives from his old home to come here and locate. He held several town offices while living in Wisconsin, and also while a resident of Red Rock. In April, 1890, having removed to Valley Springs village, he was appointed postmaster at that place. He is a reliable, upright man, and well liked by his neighbors.
MELLEN, FRANK, is a native of Boston. Mass., and was born May 18, 1828. He learned the shoemaker's trade and worked at it for several years. Resided for some time in Connecticut, and came from there to this county on the 15th day of August, 1874, and located in Valley Springs, taking up a homestead in sections 3 and 10 of that township. He has resided in the village of Valley Springs since its incorporation, engaged in the hotel business during the en- tire time. He has been justice of the peace a good many years, and has practiced law in the justice court since coming to Dakota, and has acquired quite a good knowledge of law. He is an active, energetic and independent citizen, and is quite a factor in the affairs of the village of Valley Springs.
POTTINGER, CHARLES O., was born in South Bend, Indiana, May 4, 1850. He resided in Illinois and Iowa for several years, but re- moved from the last named state to Valley Springs in March, 1884. He held the office of town clerk in Iowa for two years, and since re- siding in the village of Valley Springs has been assessor and justice of the peace, and one of the trustees of the village since 1897. He is in the grocery and confectionery business. He is a quiet, unas- suming citizen and respected by his neighbors and acquaintances.
RIDDELL, WILLIAM H., was born in Belvidere, Illinois, in 1848, and resided there until he was twenty-one years of age. He then went to Sheldon, Iowa, where he secured a homestead and engaged in farming until May, 1878, at which time he removed to this county and settled in Valley Springs. He engaged in the lumber business for nine years, and then in the mercantile business for about three years. Was township treasurer and clerk, president of the village of Valley Springs, and also a member of the board of education and justice of the peace. In 1885, was a member of the lower house of the territorial legislature from Minnehaha county. It is hardly nec- essary to add that he was a highly respected citizen, and that his de- parture for Oregon in July, 1892, was greatly regretted by all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance.
ยท
W. J. HUNT.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
RILEY, J. W., was born September 15, 1858, in Wisconsin. In 1867 he removed with his parents to Mason City, Iowa, where he received his education and decided to become a teacher. In 1876 he finished a course in the high school and since then has devoted his time to educational pursuits. In 1883 he came to this county, and in October of that year commenced teaching school in the Foster school house in Benton. He remained there three years and then took charge of the Whittier school in Wayne one year. In 1888 he became principal of the village school at Valley Springs, which position he held until 1897. He is an enthusiast in his profession, and has done good service in advancing the standing of the schools in this county. In 1896 he was nominated by the Republican party for county super- intendent of schools, but the Fusion party polled too many votes for his success at the election. Mr. Riley is a genial, good fellow, and an exemplary citizen.
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