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 3
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It is not an important matter, but the statement by Mr. Al- bright that "Henry Masters was originally a Massachusetts man, and removed here from Dubuque, Iowa, with his family and effects" should be corrected. Gov. Masters was born in Bath, Maine, and came from the city of Brooklyn, N. Y., to Sioux Falls, his family remaining in Brooklyn, with the exception of his son Harry, who came here some time after his father, probably in 1859. Gov. Mas- ters, on one occasion at least, preached a sermon in Sioux Falls, the first sermon preached in the county, and probably the first within the present limits of the State of South Dakota. It was in support of the Swedenborgian faith.
On the 10th day of August, 1859, a convention was called to meet in Sioux Falls City to nominate a candidate for delegate to Congress, and, as Mr. Albright says in his narrative, "a few days subsequent to the adjournment of the convention, the community was startled by the information that he (Gov. Masters) had been stricken with apo- plexy at his home, and that death had followed the stroke," and as Gov. Masters died on the 5th day of September, it is undoubtedly true that there was a convention held on September 3, and was the only convention held that vear, for it is a fact that candidates for other offices were nominated at this time.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
In reference to the nomination and election of Judge Kidder for delegate to Congress in 1859, we do not hesitate to affirm that the fol- lowing statements can be fully substantiated. Judge Kidder came from St. Paul to Sioux Falls late in August, 1859, and was nominated for delegate to Congress on Saturday, the 3d day of September, and left Sioux Falls for St. Paul the forepart of the following week; that before the election took place, A. G. Fuller, who was absent at the time the convention was held, returned to Sioux Falls, and was so displeased with the fact that Judge Kidder had been nominated in- stead of himself, that the name of Judge Kidder was taken from the ticket and Mr. Fuller's substituted, and Mr. Fuller was voted for in the Sioux Valley. After the election Mr. Fuller went to St. Paul, and it was arranged between the two candidates that Judge Kidder should have the election, and a return was made from Pembina show- ing that Kidder had a majority over Fuller, and he received the cer- tificate of election.
Gov. Masters was nominated for governor at this convention, but his death created a vacancy on the ticket. Mr. Albright soon after the convention went to St. Paul, and during his absence his name was put on the ticket for governor in place of Henry Masters. Mr. Albright was elected governor, but, we are informed, did not qualify, and was displeased with his election, stating that he would prefer to be a member of the House, and its speaker, the same as he was the year before, and a certificate was issued to him as a member of the House.
At the top of the first editorial column of The Democrat in its issue of November 8, 1859, the following appears:
"APOLOGETIC.
" An unavoidable absence eastward, prolonged beyond desire or expectation, and our inability at the time of departure to procure mechanical aid in our office, must be our apology for the hiatus of several numbers which has occurred in the publication of the Demo- crat. A like occurrence has been provided against as far as may be in the future, and we trust that our readers will, in view of the causes which led to it, excuse the one just passed."
The last issue of The Democrat before this, was on the 26th day of August, 1859.
When the second session of the legislature convened on Wednes- day the 2d of November, 1859, it adjourned from day to day until Monday, the 7th, for want of a quorum. On that day Mr. Albright was nominated speaker by Representative C. Cooper, and was elected unanimously, and acted as such during the session of the legislature, which adjourned on the 18th of the same month. A bill was intro- duced in the House (H. B. No. 5) "providing for the death or resigna- tion of the governor" passed by the House on November 14, and by the Council November 16. It is a disputed question who was the governor after the death of Gov. Masters, but, according to the best information obtainable, we are confident that this bill No. 5 made the
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Hon. W. W, Brookings (who was then President of the Council) ex officio Governor. He signed the certificate of Judge Kidder's elec- tion as delegate to Congress "W. W. Brookings ex officio Gov- ernor," and sent it to him at St. Paul, but Judge Kidder sent it back requesting him to sign it as "Acting Governor," which he did.
The members of the legislature were as follows:
COUNCIL.
Midway and Rock counties J. B. Amidon, W. W. Brookings. Big Sioux and Pipestone- L. B. Atwood, James McCall.
Vermillion and Yankton -- Joseph Scales, J. B. Greenway.
HOUSE.
Midway and Pipestone counties -J. W. Evans, C. Cooper, J. E. Peters, William Stevens.
Big Sioux -- John Rouse, George Freudenreich, R. M. Johnson. S. J. Albright.
Vermillion and Rock-William Little, Albert Kilgore, Amos Shaw.
The council organized by electing W. W. Brookings, president, C. S. White, secretary, B. Jarrett, messenger, M. V. B. Fisk, ser- geant-at-arms.
The members of the House were sworn in by J. McCall, and organized by electing S. J. Albright speaker, L. W. Stuart clerk, John Kelts sergeant-at-arms.
It is hardly probable that any members of this legislature were residents of Vermillion or Yankton counties. In looking up their residences, and especially the places where elections were held, we have come to the conclusion that no votes were cast in the Missouri Valley. The Hon. J. R. Hanson, now residing at Yankton, was a resident of that place in 1859, and in response to a letter written him in regard to the matter, he says: "There was a public meeting held at Yankton November 8, 1859, which declared among other things as follows: "We do not approve of any election that has been held, nor will we participate in any that may be held in any portion of this territory for the purpose of electing a delegate to Congress, but we trust in the wisdom and justice of Congress to provide us with a legal form of government at an early day." Copies of this resolution were ordered sent to Vermillion, Big Sioux, Bon Homme and Atkin- son to be read at meetings to be held at those places. This resolu- tion was subsequently adopted at Vermillion, but I don't know about the other places.
"From the foregoing it is fair to presume that no vote was had for delegate to Congress, representatives to a legislature or terri- torial officers. My personal recollection is that we did not partici- pate in that election.'
This would seem to settle the question that this provisional
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
government was participated in almost exclusively by Big Sioux county, and especially so when the members of the legislature, Greenway, Brookings, Amidon, Evans, Peters, Little, Kilgore, Scales, Stevens and Shaw, accredited to Midway, Rock, Pipestone, Vermil- lion and Yankton counties, were well known residents of Big Sioux county.
We are indebted to the columns of The Democrat for a partial report of the proceedings of this legislature. Memorials to Congress to extend a territorial government over Dakota, to recognize Judge Kidder as a delegate, to recognize and ratify the laws passed, and to establish a land office at Sioux Falls, were passed. A bill providing for filling a vacancy in case of the resignation or death of governor, and bills for fixing the boundaries of Big Sioux county, and estab- lishing the counties of Scott and Buchanan, were passed. Bills pro- hibiting the setting of prairie fires, the running at large of cattle and swine, the incorporation of the Sioux Falls Manufacturing Co., and the establishing of supreme and district courts were killed. Joint resolutions appointing a public printer, providing for the printing of the laws passed, and instructing the delegate to Congress to ask for the appropriation of $6,000 to defray the expenses of the government of Dakota for the current year, were passed.
The year 1860 was a very quiet one, the settlers anxiously awaiting the result of Judge Kidder's efforts in their behalf. Very few immigrants came. Among those were J. B. Amidon and family. The year 1861 saw the hopes and expectations of the ambitious population realized. March 2, President Buchanan approved the bill for the organization of Dakota Territory, and President Lincoln hastened to perfect the government by appointing the following offi- cers in accordance with the organic act: William Jayne of Illinois, governor; John Hutchinson of Minnesota, secretary; P. Bliss of Ohio, chief justice; L. P. Williston of Pennsylvania and J. L. Will- iams of Tennessee, associate justices: W. Gleeson of Maryland, dis- trict attorney; W. F. Schaffer, United States marshal.
By a provision of the organic act, Dakota was made a distinct land district, and G. D. Hill of Michigan appointed surveyor-general. The name of "Dakota" was given to the territory for the reason that the numerous tribes of Indians who had inhabited this region from the earliest times known to the whites bore the general name of Dakotas, although each tribe had its peculiar name aside from the general one.
The officers appointed by the president at once entered upon the discharge of their duties, and in June of the same year Dakota had a regular government. On the 13th day of July, 1861, Governor Jayne issued his first proclamation, dividing the territory into judicial dis- tricts and assigning the judges for each.
July 29, 1861, Governor Jayne issued his second proclamation. dividing the territory into legislative districts, and appointing Sep- tember 16, for a general election, when members of the legislature and a delegate to Congress should be elected.
The first district comprised the Big Sioux Valley, and to this district was assigned two councilmen and four members of the House.
25
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
The first general election held in the new territory was an ex- ceedingly interesting one. There were three candidates for delegate to Congress: Capt. J. B. S. Todd, independent; A. J. Bell, union; and C. P. Booge, the people's candidate. Of 585 votes cast, Todd received 397, and was declared elected by the board of canvassers, who issued to him the certificate of election as the first delegate to Congress from Dakota.
The members of the legislature elected from the first district were as follows: Council, Austin Cole and W. W. Brookings; House, J. C. McBride, Christopher Maloney, Geo. P. Waldron and H. S. Donaldson.
The first legislature convened March 17, 1862, at Yankton, that place having been designated by the governor as temporary capital. At this session an act was passed establishing the County of Minne- haha, and authorizing the governor to nominate, and with the consent of council, appoint the county officers.
The following officers were elected: judge of probate and treas- urer, J. B. Amidon; register of deeds, Harry Masters; sheriff, J. W. Evans; commissioners, Wm. Stevens, Wm. Amidon, and B. C. Fowler; justice of the peace, James McCall.
An act was also passed legalizing the official acts of James M. Allen as register of deeds, and James McCall as justice of the peace for the County of Big Sioux as organized under the authority of Min- nesota. A memorial to Congress was also passed, praying for the establishment of a military post at Sioux Falls City for the protec- tion of the settlers.
During the previous winter, Company A, Dakota Cavalry, con- sisting of ninety-six men under Captain Nelson Miner, was organ- ized and mustered into service in April, and a detachment of this company was stationed at the Falls. J. B. Watson, John McClellan and A. F. Shaw were members of this company.
The spring and summer of 1862, were full of promise to the young County of Minnehaha, and had the Indians remained quiet all would have gone well with her. Fate, however, decreed otherwise. and the bright anticipations of the little band of pioneers who had toiled and endured so faithfully, were soon to be destroyed.
In August the Indian uprising began again, and horrible massa- cres on the frontier of Minnesota were perpetrated, The news did not reach the Falls until some time afterward, but on the 25th of August an event occurred, which caused consternation among the settlers. This was the murder of Judge J. B. Amidon and his son. They left their home in Sioux Falls City early in the morning, to cut some hay on their land about a mile north, taking their dinners with them. When night came and they did not return, Mrs. Amidon be- came alarmed and notified the soldiers, who, fearing the worst, at once started in search of them. Not until the next morning was their search rewarded and their worst fears realized. They were found in a cornfield, adjacent to the hayfield, Judge Amidon, lying on his face, with a bullet hole through his back, and the son farther back in the cornfield, his body covered with arrows. It was evident that the judge had died instantly, but the boy had survived long
26
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
enough to draw a number of arrows from his body. While the sol- diers were searching for the murderers a number of Indians ap- peared on the bluff with the evident intention of attacking the village, but on the return of the soldiers, they fled and escaped in the timber along the river.
The settlers were now thoroughly alarmed, and when a day or two later messengers arrived with the news of the fearful massacres on the frontier, and with orders from the governor for the soldiers to proceed to Yankton and bring the settlers with them, they hastily gathered up such property as could be easily carried and, with heavy hearts, abandoned the earthly possessions they had fondly called their own.
After their departure the Indians entered the village, destroyed everything they found, and set fire to the buildings. They ended the pioneer labors of the old Smith press by throwing it into the river, where it laid until 1871, when it was rescued and placed on exhibition in the town. A part of it was sold to True Dennis, at that time popularly known as the "village blacksmith," and the bed lav for some time near where E. B. Smith's furniture store is now lo- cated, but Hiram Caldwell, living north of Sioux Falls, took it home and used it for a door step. R. F. Pettigrew discovering the use to which it was being put, and thinking it should be preserved as a relic of the first newspaper enterprise in the county, gave Mrs. Caldwell five dollars for it, and now has it in his possession. Mr. Pettigrew's brother Fred has the spindle. The Indians carried the type away with them, and some of it afterwards found its way back to the settle- ments in the form of ornaments to the pipes which they made of pipestone.
Two months later a number of men with a small party of soldiers under Captain Miner came back to the deserted village in the hope of finding and taking back with them some of the movable property which had been left behind in their hasty flight. They found the house which had been occupied by W. W. Brookings (standing nearly where the Milwaukee depot is now located), and two others still left, the fire having died out without consuming the buildings as the Indians had expected. Among other things found and saved were some valuable papers belonging to Mr. Brookings, which were kept in a trunk and were partially burned.
By October of this year all the settlements in the Sioux Valley were abandoned, and most of the settlers left the country. A few in Yankton and Bon Homme counties gathered at Yankton, where a good stockade had been built, and remained there through the troublous times, not knowing what moment they might be attacked by the savages and their lives sacrificed. For nearly three years the Sioux Valley remained almost deserted. A long and disastrous In- dian war was feared, and the settlements were unguarded and de- fenceless, and murders and depredations were frequent.
The second session of the territorial legislature convened on the first day of December, 1862, at Yankton, and after two weeks of con- testing and quarreling, was finally organized. The acts passed, relating directly to Minnehaha county, were as follows: the counties
27
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
of Clay, Lincoln, Deuel, Minnehaha and Brookings were made the second council and representative district, and entitled to a repre- sentation of three members of the Council and six members of the House. The counties of Clay, Cole, Lincoln, Minnehaha, Brookings and Deuel were constituted the first judicial district of the territory, with the seat of jurisdiction at Vermillion, and the first Tuesday of May in each year appointed for the court to convene. Memorials to Congress were also passed, praying for the establishment of a mail route from Mankato in Blue Earth county, Minnesota, to Fort Ran- dall in Dakota territory via Sioux Falls, and for the establishment of a military post at Sioux Falls for the protection of the settlers. The latter is giyen in full as a picture of the state of affairs in Da- kota at that date, and reads as follows:
"To the Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
"Your memorialist, the legislative assembly of the Territory of Dakota, would most respectfully represent that the frontier settle- ments of western Minnesota, northwestern Iowa, and southern Da- kota will require for several years to come, military protection to guard the inhabitants and their property from the attacks and plundering of roaming hostile bands of Indians who are constantly ravaging that section of country; further, that all the frontier settle- ments of southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa, and almost the entire valley of the Big Sioux river in Dakota, have been depop- ulated during the past summer through fear of hostile Indians, the inhabitants having been partially butchered in several of these set- tlements; further, that for the last six years, the Minnesota Sioux and the Yankton Sioux have been in the habit of coming down the river of the Big Sioux, to a rendezvous near Sioux Falls, then mak- ing that a base, strike off into northwestern Iowa and southern Da- kota, where they steal, ravage and harass the settlers, then escape before any assistance can arrive from either Forts Randall or Ridgley, and had it not been for the soldiers stationed at Sioux Falls during the late massacre in Minnesota, it is more than proba- ble, that a large number of the settlers in this territory would have met with the same fate as those of the State of Minnesota: There- fore, your memorialist would most respectfully ask, that a military post be established and occupied at an early day as possible on the Big Sioux river, in the vicinity of Sioux Falls. Your memorialist would further represent that said Sioux Falls is about half way be- tween Forts Randall and Ridgley, on a direct line with the same, and that a military post at said point would not only protect the im- mediate vicinity of Sioux Falls, but would amply protect the frontier settlements of southwestern Minnesota, northwestern Iowa, and southern Dakota. A small force of cavalry stationed at said post would be able to keep all hostile Indians north and west of aline run- ning from Fort Ridgley in Minnesota to Fort Randall in Dakota. Further, your memorialist would represent that there is abundance of building material at said Sioux Falls, and your memorialist will ever pray.
"Approved January 2, 1863."
.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
At the legislative session in 1863-4, nothing affecting Minnehaha county was done, and it still remained deserted.
At the fourth session of the legislative assembly, begun in Yankton on the 5th day of December, 1864, and concluded January 13, 1865, the following memorial was passed:
"To the Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War:
"Your memorialists, the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Dakota, would most respectfully represent, that the safety of the people of southern Dakota and northern Iowa from the attacks of hostile bands of Indians require the establishment of two small mili- tary posts-one on the Big Sioux river in the vicinity of Sioux Falls, and one at the point on the Dakota river near a straight line between said Sioux Falls and Fort Randall. Sioux Falls is about half way between Fort Randall, Dakota, and Fort Ridgley, Minnesota, and your memorialists are of the opinion that such posts would give better protection to southern Dakota, than the system heretofore adopted, besides being far less expensive; therefore your memor- ialists pray for the establishment of such military posts; and as in duty bound will ever pray.
"Resolved, Thata copy of this memorial be sent to the Secretary of War, Hon. J. B. S. Todd and Hon. A. W. Hubbard.
"Approved, January 12, 1864."
In response to this prayer, on May 1, 1865, a military post was established at Sioux Falls, and Company E, Sixth Iowa Cavalry, under Captain Eicher, was ordered to take possession of the post. A tract of land ten miles long and seven miles wide, comprising the present township of Sioux Falls; sections 13 to 36, inclusive, of Mapleton township; sections 13, 24, 25 and 36, Benton township, and sections 1, 12, 13, 24, 25 and 36 Wayne township was set apart for a military reservation.
Barracks were built by this company during the summer of 1865, also a stone house called the commissary building, as shown in the accompanying illustration. The barracks were located in part on what is now Phillips avenue, between Seventh and Eighth streets, the south end being about 125 feet north of Eighth street. The larger building was about forty feet in width and thirty feet of the south end was west of the westerly limit of Phillips avenue, and nearly the entire north end was in Phillips avenue. A portion of the building at the right was built in 1866.
On the 8th day of June, 1866, Company D, Twenty-second U. S. Infantry, under Col. Knox, arrived at Sioux Falls to relieve the cavalry, which left the same day the infantry arrived, only Dr. Nisley and Mr. Pratt, the hospital steward, remaining.
With the establishment of a military post in the Big Sioux Valley peace and safety were secured, and gradually immigration began, though slowly at first, and it was not until 1869 that the pop- ulation of Sioux Falls became as large as in the spring of 1862.
The first sutler at Sioux Falls was A. F. Hayward, who came
BARRACKS.
COMMISSARY.
OFFICERS' QUARTERS.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
with the establishment of the post in May, but he afterwards sold out to Charles K. Howard.
At the legislative session begun in December, 1865, and con- cluded in January, 1866, a memorial to Congress was passed, pray- ing that a small number of bloodhounds might be placed at each mili- tary post, for the better protection of the lives and property of the citizens from the small bodies of Indians, who were frequently skulking in the tall weeds and timber along the streams, for the pur- pose of theft or murder. Congress was also memorialized for the establishment of a mail route from Sioux Falls to Ponca, Nebraska, by way of Brule Creek and Elk Point, with weekly service thereon. In the summer of 1866, a number of families settled in the county, among whom were John Nelson, John Thompson, Wm. Melvin, Sylvester Delaney, John J. Aasen, Jr., and Ole O. Gilseth. Nelson and Thompson left Goodhue county, Minnesota, with their wives, on June 4. They came across Iowa, and after leaving Spirit Lake saw no white people until they reached Fort Dakota. They took up land about ten miles from the fort, and Thompson is still living where he first settled. Melvin and Delaney took up land in the same vicinity. Melvin soon left for Kansas, but the log house he built is still standing about three-fourths of a mile north of Thompson's place and is occupied by Ole L. Floren and family. An
MELVIN LOG HOUSE.
account of the privations and hardships endured by Aasen and Gil- seth in reaching Dakota, as translated from an issue of the Svd Dakota Ekko, published in November, 1895, will be found in the chapter of reminiscences.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
At the next session of the legislature, which convened at Yank- ton on December 4, 1866, and adjourned January 12, 1867, a memo- rial to Congress was passed, praving that a road be laid out and established from Elk Point up the Big Sioux Valley to Fort Dakota, and asking an appropriation of ten thousand dollars for that purpose. As all supplies for the fort were transported by teams from Sioux City by way of Elk Point, a road from the latter place to the fort was a necessity. A memorial was also passed asking that the unex- pended balance of a previous appropriation amounting to three thou- sand dollars, be applied to improving and bridging the main traveled road from Sioux Falls to Yankton by way of the upper James river ferry.
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