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 4
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
In 1867, Ole Gunderson, Foster Gunderson, Martin Gunderson, John Johnson, Larson Sweet, J. Larson, Ole J. Arnson and their families settled in the county.
During the session of the legislature which begun December 26, 1867, at Yankton and concluded January 10, 1868, an act was passed to reorganize Minnehaha county. John Nelson, John Thompson and William Melvin were appointed county commissioners and Edward Broughton register of deeds.
In the spring of 1868, John O. Langness and Sivert and Gullick Kringen started west, from Minnesota, to find a place suitable to organize a colony. They found no place that suited them so well as the Sioux Valley, and returning to Minnesota they came back in the fall, bringing with them a large number of Scandinavians, among whom were the following: Gudmund T. Ravlo and his sons, who are still living in the county; Nils Iverson, Iver and Nils Nilson, Rol- lof Pederson, J. Krogstad, Lars Kvarnmo, Jens Berg, Peder and Thomas Paulson; Paul A. Risvold and his two sons, Andrew and Peder Risvold; Gudmund Dalemo, Ole Thompson, Guttorm Eklo and his son Peter Magnus; John Bruaas, who settled at Baltic; Halvor Nyhus, Thorsten and Jonas Nassan and Ole Hougtro. O. B. Iverson and Ole Bergerson settled in Spiit Rock, and John Walker also set- tled there about this time. John Langness brought with him a whip- saw, which was in constant demand in constructing the houses the settlers began to build. Ole Thompson and Mr. Langness would saw two hundred feet of boards with this saw in a day, John Thompson sent to the "old country" for one of these saws, and afterwards procured another nearer home, and there were two or three others in use in this vicinity. This method of manufacturing lumber by the early settlers affords a striking illustration of the limited advantages and resources of pioneer days.
John Anderson Ole and Gunder Thompson settled about two miles from the present city of Dell Rapids. Ole Thompson used to help the Indians break their lands, and as his plow accomplished the purpose far better and in much shorter time than their implements, they gave him the name of "Maka-jubbedu-tanka" or "The great land- breaker."
A large number of settlers came into the county during 1869, and several people located at Sioux Falls and engaged in business. Among them were N. E. Phillips, R. F. Pettigrew, John Hunter,
33
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Jephtha Duling, Clark G. Coats, and D. B. Reynolds. Mr. Duling brought his family, and moved into a cabin built by one of the sol- diers very near where the Burlington depot now stands. At that time the only women Mrs. Duling found in Sioux Falls were Col. Duffy's family, and two of the soldiers' wives. Mrs. Duling, however, was accustomed to the privations of frontier life, having lived with her husband at Fort Randall from 1863, until his discharge in 1865, and then on a ranch in Charles Mix county until they removed to Sioux Falls. Later on Mr. Duling built a house on the bank of the river near the cabin in which they first lived. In 1874, during a heavy wind, he was struck by the roof of an old shed and instantly killed. Mrs. Duling soon after removed to Dell Rapids, where she married James H. Bishop, and resided until her death, which oc- curred August 18, 1894.
In those early days the only place where supplies of any kind could be purchased was at the sutler's store kept by C. K. Howard, and the prices paid would delight the hearts of the merchants in Sioux Falls nowadays, who have to contend with numerous competi- tors and keep up in the race of "cut prices." Then a spool of thread sold for fifty cents, calico was fifty cents a yard, and molasses two dollars a gallon.
During the legislative session in 1868-9, a memorial to Congress was passed, stating that Fort Dakota was no longer needed as a pro- tection to the settlements on the Big Sioux, and praying that it might be removed to Medary, sixty-five miles north of Sioux Falls, which resulted in the military post at Sioux Falls being vacated on the 18th day of June, 1869.
In 1870 the military reservation was opened to settlers, and immigration steadily increased. Among those who came were Nils Noregaard and Nils Lauritsen from Denmark, who took up land along the river below the present site of Dell Rapids. James Nisbet, A. W. Hunt, Wm. Dockstader, John Hoy, Mr. Richardson, and Byron D. Graves settled west and south of Dell Rapids. John Bippus, and Colonel Charles Allen settled at the Falls, and Dr. J. L. Phillips and John McClellan returned during this year to the scene of their old labors. Dr. Phillips came in June, and brought his family, and they moved into the officers quarters, located where E. J. Daniels' store is now.
At the advent of Mrs. Phillips, there were only seven white women in Sioux Falls; and during the summer, in connection with Mrs. C. G. Coats, she established the Pioneer Union Sunday School. It was during this year that social matters began to have a stand- ing in the community.
The spring of 1871, opened auspiciously for Minnehaha county, and a large number of the most desirable class of citizens came to Sioux Falls and the surrounding country to make for themselves permanent homes. Improvements on quite an extensive scale were made during this year. R. F. Pettigrew built an office, Joe Dupries the Central House, W. H. Corson the Cataract Hotel, Wm. Van Eps a large store building; all of which were occupied for business pur- poses. During the fall of this year the first residence was built at
3
34
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Dell Rapids, then known as Dell City. The residents at the close of the year felt greatly encouraged by what had been accomplished during the year, and were hopeful that 1872 would materially in- crease their prosperity and lessen the privations of pioneer life. They were not destined to disappointment,
During 1872, new industries sprung up in Sioux Falls and Dell Rapids, and considerable land was taken up in the county by actual settlers; a saw mill was built at Dell Rapids by Dennis Rice, and a store building was erected during the summer; a newspaper outfit arrived the latter part of April, and the Dell City Journal soon made its appearance. In Sioux Falls several buildings were erected; C. K. Howard build a store 20x64 feet; Charles Hamilton, a photograph gallery; an Episcopal church was built; John McKee established a harness shop; J. J. Hancock, a shoe store; Blade & Castor, a meat market; Edwin Sharpe a lumber yard; and a bakery and restaurant were also among the new business enterprises. A weekly newspaper was started by W. R. Kiter on the 10th of April; the fourth of July was celebrated on the Island, and R. F. Pettigrew delivered the oration; the "Dive" was torn down, and a temperance society organ- ized. Artemas Gale, Melvin Grigsby, and Thomas H. Brown were among the new settlers during this year.
It has not occupied much space in giving in detail the improve- ments in the entire county prior to 1873, but during this year so much was done towards the development of this section that a gen- eral statement must suffice. Immigration set in early, and the Sioux Falls Pantagraph is responsible for the statement that "the prairies were teeming with schooners from the states." On the 15th day of May the Sioux Falls Independent, a weekly newspaper edited by C. W. McDonald, made its first appearance. The land office was opened for business in Sioux Falls June 9, and on that day seventy-three declaratory statements, sixty homestead and six cash entries were made, covering 22,240 acres of land. The Webber & Hawthorn grist mill commenced operation May 26. It appears from the Sioux Falls Pantagraph, in its issue of August 27, that there were thirty- two buildings in process of erection at that time in Sioux Falls. At the close of the year the Sioux Falls Independent enumerated the buildings completed during the preceding six months, and the list comprised twenty-five business buildings and fifty-nine residences; thirteen of these buildings were two stories high. A schoolhouse was also built, 22x40 feet. The Methodist congregation had at the close of the year a church building 20x 26 feet nearly ready for occu- pancy; and during the summer thirty thousand brick were manufac- tured by D. H. Tolbett. In the issue of the Sioux Falls Pantagraph of July 16, it appears that the barracks had been purchased by True Dennis, and in its next issue, July 23, "the barracks have been taken down and removed;" so there need be no question as to when these old landmarks of Indian warfare disappeared from the public view. At the close of the year Sioux Falls had eight lawyers, three physi- cians, two resident ministers, twenty carpenters, five masons, two hotels, two restaurants, two lumber vards, two blacksmith shops, two hardware stores, two meat markets, two wheelwright shops, two
35
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
bakeries, one paint shop, one barber shop, one livery stable, two dealers in agricultural implements, and six general stores. It is needless to add that the people of Sioux Falls enjoyed the holidays in 1873, so much having been accomplished.
During the winter of 1873 4 social affairs engaged the attention of the residents of Sioux Falls as never before; church socials, balls. sleigh rides, "and other festivities," as one of the local newspapers expressed it at the time, were of frequent occurrence.
With the coming of spring quite a large number of people ar- rived in the county to settle, and some of the townships had their first settlers about this time.
But the year 1874, which began so promising, will long be re- membered by the older inhabitants as a year of adversities. Multi- tudes of grasshoppers visited this section, and complete destruction followed in their wake. All the crops were destroyed, and a large number of the settlers who had expected to raise enough to supply their wants were doomed to bitter disappointment. To meet this emergency a society was organized, and T. H. Brown visited the east and obtained a large quantity of clothing and food, which was distributed by the society; and $534.68 in money was also raised for the same purpose. The improvements during this year would not compare favorably with the year preceding, but several residences and a few business buildings were erected in Sioux Falls, and Valley Springs township had its first school and-marriage.
The events which make up the history of the county to the be- ginning of the year 1875 have been stated in the chronological order of their occurrence, and comprise the most important events that transpired during her transition state-from the home of the savage to the dawn of civilization.
It was during the early seventies that Minnehaha county passed through the most trying stage of her existence, and it is fortunate that the settlers were composed of men of remarkable energy and enterprise. During this period, mills, stores, shops, churches and schoolhouses were built, regular terms of court were established; the affairs of the county came under the control and management of a board of commissioners; projects for better transportation facilities 1142776 were being considered, and the limitations of pioneer life were fast disappearing.
How to best present to the reader the events that have trans- pired since then, has been a source of considerable anxiety to the writer. At first it was thought the better way would be to continue to chronicle the events in the order of their occurrence, but as the work progressed it became evident that this method was impractica- ble, especially after determining to give an account of the settlement and development of each township and municipality by itself, includ- ing a large list of biographical sketches of the residents.
The plan was therefore adopted of first giving an account of the county commissioners' proceedings, courts and other kindred sub- jects in which all the people of the county are equally interested, to be followed by the local history of each township and municipality.
CHAPTER II.
SYNOPSIS OF SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT OFFI- CIAL PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF BIG SIOUX AND MINNEHAHA COUNTIES-LIST OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.
In December, 1857, the governor of Minnesota Territory ap- pointed the following named persons, all of Sioux Falls City, as county officers for Big Sioux county as defined by the legislature of Minnesota, a portion of which consisted of what is now Minnehaha county: James L. Fiske was appointed judge of probate; W. W. Brookings, district attorney; J. L. Phillips, justice of the peace; James Evans, sheriff; James Allen, register of deeds, and ex officio county clerk; William Little, James McBride, and A. L. Kilgore, commissioners; but no record of their proceedings has been found.
The only record of any proceedings ever had by the Board of County Commissioners for the County of Big Sioux which we have been able to obtain is taken from The Democrat published at Sioux Falls City February 18, 1860, and reads as follows:
"January 28, 1860.
"Met pursuant to adjournment.
"Present: Messrs. White, Kelts, and Greenway. Mr. White in the Chair.
"Mr. White requested that the report of the Committee on County Buildings be postponed until the next meeting of the Board, which was agreed to.
"Mr. Greenway moved that the Board confer with the Commis- sioners of Buchanan county, with a view to securing their co-opera- tion in erecting a bridge across the Big Sioux, at some suitable point near the falls. Motion adopted.
"Mr. White suggested that a bridge be built across the Slip-up creek, and, on motion, it was ordered to be put under contract at once.
"Mr. Kelts moved that a county road be constructed from Sioux Falls City to the limits of Big Sioux county, to intersect the Medary road. Passed.
37
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
"Mr. Greenway moved that the last Saturday of each month hereafter be the regular meeting day of the Board. Which motion passed.
"Mr. Greenway introduced the following resolution:
" Resolved, That the Board will receive sealed proposals for the erection of a court house and jail up to the first day of June next. Passed.
"Mr. Greenway moved that rent at the rate of $300 per annum, be paid for the use of such offices in M'Call's block, as may be required for county purposes, until the completion of the county buildings, which motion passed, veas, 2; navs, 1.
"Mr. Kelts moved that the meeting now adjourn, which motion prevailed and the Board adjourned until the last Saturday in February.
"J. M. ALLEN, "Clerk Board Co. Com."
Probably the first County Warrant ever drawn under any show of authority within the present limits of Minnehaha county was drawn by these commissioners. It is now in the hands of Arthur C. Phillips, Esq., and reads as follows:
"Sioux Falls City, January 13, 1860.
" No. 1. "Pay to Samuel J. Albright three dollars. "JAMES M. ALLEN, Clerk.
$3.00.
"C. S. WHITE, "Pres. pro tem Co. Com."
Mr. White was killed by the Indians two or three years later in Minnesota. Mr. Kelts, at the time he was commissioner, had a claim on the land where Levi S. Carter now resides, north of the City of Sioux Falls, and soon after went to Montana. Mr. Green- way was a Virginian, and after a short residence here he and his wife went further west).
The first territorial legislature, which began its session at Yankton, March 17, and concluded May 15, 1862, enacted chapter twenty-three of the session laws providing for county officers.
It required only twenty legal voters to organize a county, and when organized it was to have the following county officials, viz .: three county commissioners; a register of deeds, who was also cx officio clerk of the county board, sheriff, judge of probate, coroner, justice of the peace, constables, county surveyor, and district attor- ney. The duties of county commissioners were prescribed, and their compensation fixed. The governor was authorized to nominate and with the advice and consent of the council, appoint such officers, to hold their respective offices until the first general election and their successors had qualified.
During this session 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, were legalized; the County of Minnehaha was established,
38
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
and the following county officers appointed by the governor: Judge of probate, 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.
As already appears, all the settlers in this vicinity were driven away by the Indians during the summer of this year, and no records of official proceedings by these officials can be found.
By an act of the legislature approved January 4, 1868, the County of Minnehaha was reorganized, with boundaries as established by the legislature in 1862. John Nelson, John Thompson and William Melvin were appointed county commissioners, and Edward Brough- ton, register of deeds. The commissioners were empowered to appoint all other officers necessary to complete the organization of the county. There are no records of their official proceedings, but on the 31st day of December, 1871, the legislature passed an act legalizing the official acts of the commissioners, the register of deeds, and Ole Bergerson as justice of the peace of Minnehaha county.
On the 8th day of January, 1873, an act of the territorial legisla- ture fixing the boundaries of a large number of counties was ap- proved, and the boundaries of the County of Minnehaha as they now exist were then established.
The first record of the proceedings of the Board of County Com- missioners of Minnehaha county commences with the 13th day of February, 1871, and the following comprises a brief summary of their official acts from that time to June, 1898.
"Sioux Falls, D. T., February 13th, 1871.
"Pursuant to call the Hon. Board of Commissioners met at the store of W. S. Bloom for the transaction of such business as might properly be brought before them. Present, Ole Bergerson and John Thompson. On motion John Thompson was chosen chairman of the board. On motion the board decided to hold their meetings at W. S. Bloom's store until more suitable rooms were provided. The official bond of John Walker as sheriff with Ole Bergerson and Hans Larson as sureties was examined and approved. The official bond of Bernt S. Peterson as constable and Peter Knutsen and Knut Peterson as sureties was examined and approved. The official bond of Ole B. Iverson, probate judge and county treasurer with Charles Allen and John McClellan as sureties was examined and approved.
"On motion adjourned to the next regular meeting first Monday in April, A. D. 1871.
"Attest: W. S. Bloom, County Clerk. "Minnehaha County, D. T."
April 3, 1871.
Commissioners met and transacted the following business: The county was divided into districts as follows: All of the county south of township one hundred and two west of range forty-eight, dis- trict number one; all the county east of range forty-nine, district number two, and all of the county north of township one hundred and one, and west of range forty-eight, district number three. The
39
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
official bond of W. S. Bloom as register of deeds and county clerk was examined and approved. A petition of the citizens of district number two was read, approved and granted, asking for a road from a point on the southeast quarter of section twenty-one, township one hundred and one, range forty-eight in Minnehaha county, where the Blue Earth City mail route crosses the said quarter section, and from thence to cross the Big Sioux river at what is known as the Iverson crossing, and from thence to Sioux Falls, following section and quarter lines where practicable. Knut Knuteson was appointed justice of the peace in district number two. Ole J. Aasen was ap- pointed constable in district number three, and John McClellan was appointed constable in district number one. The following named persons were appointed road supervisors for their respective dis-
tricts: John McClellan, district number one; Amos O. Bursem, district number two; John Langness, district number three. James A. Hand was appointed superintendent of public instruction for the county. The account of Frank O. Wisner for printing tax lists, amounting to ten dollars, was examined and allowed, and warrant ordered drawn on receipt of warrant book.
At the next meeting of the board, a special one, April 12, 1871, there were present John Thompson chairman, Charles Allen and Ole Bergerson. A petition from the citizens of Split Rock, asking for a road commencing at the southeast corner of section thirty- three, in township one hundred and one, range forty-eight, thence north along the east line of said section, and on the section lines as far as practicable to the northeast quarter of section four of said township and range, and that the county surveyor be requested to locate and establish said road, was granted. The appointment of James A. Hand as superintendent of public instruction was re- scinded, and he was appointed county attorney, and John Bippus was appointed superintendent of public instruction. The abstract of taxable property was received from the county assessor. The account of John O. Walker for forty-eight dollars for services as assessor was presented and allowed. The county surveyor was ordered to lay out and locate road number one as soon as possible, following section and quarter lines as far as practicable. The county clerk was ordered to procure blank books and seals for the county.
The next meeting of the board was held July 3, present John Thompson, chairman, Charles Allen and Ole Bergerson. The official bond of John Hunter, justice of the peace, was approved. Petition number one asking for a road commencing at the point where the Sioux river crosses the section line between sections six- teen and seventeen in township one hundred and one, thence south on section lines as near as practicable to Sioux Falls, was approved and granted, and county surveyor was ordered to lay out such road. Petition number two was also granted, and county surveyor ordered to lay out such road, provided the cost did not exceed fifteen dollars, said road to commence at a point on the boundary line between the Territory of Dakota and State of Minnesota at the southeast quarter of section three, township one hundred and one, range forty-
40
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
seven, thence west following section and quarter lines as much as practicable to Sioux Falls. Petition number three was granted, if cost of surveving road did not exceed five dollars, said road to commence on south line of section thirty-three, township one hundred and one, range forty-eight, thence to Sioux Falls, on section and quarter lines as far as practicable. C. G. Coats, J. Dickson and W. S. Bloom were appointed viewers. The report of the superintendent of public schools, dividing the county into school districts, was received, read and accepted. The report of county surveyor on road number one, with field notes, was read and ac- cepted. The board levied a total tax of one per cent., divided as fol- lows: territorial revenue one and one-half mills; county revenue, four mills; roads and bridges, one mill; school tax, two mills: county sinking fund, one and one-half mills. The county clerk was author- ized to procure necessary blank books for the use of county surveyor and superintendent of public instruction.
Board met again October 2; present John Thompson, chairman, Charles Allen and Ole Bergeson. The official bond of H. W. Lewis, coroner, was examined and approved. A petition for a county road. commencing at the northwest corner of section twenty-three, town- ship one hundred and one, range forty-nine, thence south between sections twenty-two and twenty-three, 240 rods, thence east along the quarter section line 80 rods to quarter post on north boundary of section twenty-six; thence south along the quarter section line through the center of sections twenty-six and thirty-five, to the south boundary of said township, was received and granted, and Messrs. Booth, Robinson and Brown were appointed viewers. Ole O. Langness, Oliver Olson and Thomas Paulson were appointed viewers for the road running from the west line of section sixteen, township one hundred and four, range forty-nine, to Sioux Falls. L. Berger- son, G. Torstenson and N. Neilson were appointed viewers on road running east from Sioux Falls to the Minnesota line and known as road number three.
A special meeting was called October 25, present John Thomp- son, chairman, Chas. Allen and Ole Bergerson. The tax list for 1871 was presented and signed, and the county treasurer ordered to proceed to collect taxes forthwith. The account of Mills & Co., of August 7, 1871, amounting to forty-eight dollars, for seals for county officers, was allowed and warrant drawn. The account of W. S. Bloom for seventy-eight dollars fifty cents cash for sundries, for use of county was allowed and warrant drawn. A petition was received from James A. Hand, asking the county commissioners to request his honor, Judge Brookings to hold a special term of court in Sioux Falls, subsequent to the first day of December, 1871. The accounts of John Thompson for sixteen dollars, Ole Bergerson for fourteen dollars and forty cents, and Charles Allen for twelve dol- lars, for services as county commissioners for 1871, were examined and allowed. Also the account of W. S. Bloom for seventy-five dollars for services as county clerk for 1871, was examined and allowed.
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.