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 41
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WHOLESALE TRADE .- In 1883, the firm of Houser & Woodland established a tobacco house in Sioux Falls, and for a few years en- gaged in both the wholesale and retail of cigars and tobacco. In June, 1886, a wholesale grocery house was established by Ward & Frick, who continued the business until June, 1888, when it was sold to Jewett Brothers & Jewett. From that time the wholesale trade has been constantly growing in importance. New lines have been added from year to year, until Sioux Falls has become a recognized whole- sale center in the commercial world. One feature, and the most im- portant one of all, is the large percentage of trade in goods manufac- tured at home, which gives employment to a large number of laborers. Some of these manufacturing industries have already been noticed, but a long list might be added. The manufacture of flour, carriages, brooms, candy, cornices, awnings, blank books and ready- prints, help to materially swell the wholesale trade of Sioux Falls. All the leading manufacturers of farm implements make Sioux Falls a distributing point for their goods, and some of them have erected extensive buildings to accommodate their business. Residents of the city engaged in this line of trade have also been compelled to erect buildings on a large scale to meet the requirements of their rapidly increasing business. The wholesale trade in fruits, liquors, root beer, mineral waters and summer drinks is not inconsiderable in amount. Perhaps no more striking proof of the rapid strides the wholesale trade has made during the last decade could be mentioned than the fact that Jewett Brothers & Jewett shipped into Dakota in 1884, the first carload of sugar, and during the year 1898, shipped
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into Sioux Falls alone one hundred and twenty carloads of the same commodity. If the annual amount of the wholesale trade of the city should be expressed in dollars, it would undoubtedly surprise even those who are engaged in contributing to the same. It got into the million column several years ago, during the hard times, and since the clouds of financial depression have rolled away it has increased with surprising rapidity, three wholesale firms doing a business of upwards of a million dollars annually. The packing house industry, so long of doubtful realization, is now an assured fact. Other indus- tries upon which a large amount of capital has already been ex- pended, will soon be taken from the doubtful list and add largely to the volume of trade.
Prophesy is at all times uncertain, but when all the elements of fulfilment are discernible above the horizon, advancing towards the zenith with military precision in battle array, it is only calling atten- tion to the inevitable when the assertion is made, that the wholesale trade of Sioux Falls, now in its infancy, will prove to be one of the great factors in her future growth and prosperity.
COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATIONS.
BOARD OF TRADE .- The first association which could be prop- erly called a board of trade was organized in Sioux Falls, January 9, 1884. Associations had previously been formed for the advancement of the commercial interests of the city, but they were short-lived and accomplished very little in that direction. But at this time the busi- ness men took hold of the matter and perfected a strong organiza- tion. Major E. G. Smith was its first president, and the board for several years did some good work in advancing the commercial in- terests in this locality. During the time of its greatest activity H. H. Keith and R. F. Pettigrew were presidents of the board. About the time the commercial depressions began it was merged into or superseded by the
COMMERCIAL CLUB .- The members of this club for two or three years made great efforts to keep up the interest and promote the objects for which the board of trade was originally organized, but like everything else it financially had to yield to the force of circum- stances, and after having for several years been devoted almost ex- clusively to social matters, it finally on the 3d day of January, 1899. ceased to exist.
BUSINESS MEN'S LEAGUE .- This organization was perfected in April, 1897, and meets in the council chambers the first Tuesday in each month. Since its organization the league has been actively en- gaged in promoting the commercial interests of the city, and it is not too much to say that no organization of its kind in the city has been more enterprising and successful than this league. It is a business men's league in all that the name implies, and the people of Sioux Falls are proud of its efficient management. Its first officers were D. L. Mckinney president, B. H. Lien vice president, G. Schlosser secretary, and E. J. Daniels treasurer. In 1899, H. H. Keith was elected president of the league.
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SIOUX FALLS JOBBERS' AND MANUFACTURERS' ASSOCIATION. This association was organized in Sioux Falls July 1, 1893, with the following charter members: Jewett Bros. & Jewett, wholesale gro- cers; Fred A. Miller, general agent McCormick Havesting Machine Co .; B. C. McCrossan, wholesale fruit; C. G. Ferguson, manager St. Olaf flour mills; Scott & Thompson, wholesale machinery; D. F. Smith, sugar broker; Geo. E. Wheeler, Cascade Milling Co .; Foley & Wadsworth Implement Co .; W. W. Brookings, linen mills; Geo. E. Hill, wholesale stoves and hardware; Brown & Saenger, book binders; Wuest Bros., cigars and tobacco; John W. Tuthill Lumber Co .; Sherman Bros. & Bratager, threshing machines; J. K. Haugh- ton, wholesale butter and eggs; Eureka Milling Co., oatmeal manu- facturers; Haley & Chase, wholesale fruit; Hickey & MacNamara, wholesale liquors; L. T. Dunning, druggist; Sioux Falls Candy Co .; Sioux Falls Brewing Co .; Sioux Falls Gas Co.
The first officers were C. A. Jewett president, D. F. Smith sec- retary, and F. A. Miller treasurer. On the 19th day of October, 1893, the railroad from Sioux Falls to Yankton being completed, this association, in order that the event might be properly celebrated, gave a banquet to the railroad officials and all the business men along the line, entertaining about seven hundred people. It was a success in every way.
The purpose of the association is to advance the wholesale inter- ests of the city, and its work has not been confined to giving enter- tainments. The freight tariff for Sioux Falls, and railroad legisla- tion have engaged the attention of this association, and not without effect.
The officers elected in 1893 were re-elected in 1894. In 1895 J. K. Haughton was elected president.
INSURANCE COMPANIES.
INSURANCE COMPANY OF DAKOTA. This company was incor- porated the latter part of February, 1883. William G. Taffinder, Charles H. Wynn, Homer W. Johnson, W. W. Brookings, Edwin E. Sage, L. D. Henry, T. S. Goddard, C. H. Vincent, Andrew C. Phil- lips, and H. L. Hollister were the incorporators. The capital stock was $100,000, with the right to increase it to $500,000 at the pleasure of the company. A. C. Phillips was its first president and T. S. Goddard secretary. The Daily Press published the foregoing list of charter members on the 24th day of February, 1883, and also said that the incorporators were among the leading business men of the city of Sioux Falls. Of these ten incorporators only one, C. H. Vin- cent, is a resident of the city at this writing; three are dead, and the others are living elswhere.
The first policy of the company was written on the 29th day of May, 1883, and on the 1st day of July, 1883, the company had re- ceived in premiums the sum of $1,377.91. During the balance of the year the business gradually increased under the general manage- ment of Mr. Taffinder.
At the annual meeting of the stockholders in January, 1884, the following directors were elected: H. S. Hills, J. B. Young, C. H.
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Vincent, E. E. Sage, T. S. Goddard, D. J. Brown and J. F. Eastman. H. S. Hills was elected president, Eastman vice president and D. J. Brown secretary. During the spring of that year a change was made in the management. H. S. Hills resigned the presidency and H. L. Hollister was elected in his place, W. C. Hollister was elected treasurer and E. A. Averst of Iowa, an insurance man of large ex- perience, arrived in Sioux Falls the 17th day of May, 1884, and as- sumed the duties of secretary.
From this time on the business of the company grew rapidly for a few years. Its report for the year 1884 showed the receipts to have been $182,000, and the expenses $92,630, ($10,000 of which was for a ten per cent dividend declared and paid). At this time the office was located in the Masonic Temple, and the office force num- bered twenty-five persons.
The management of this company remained practically the same until April, 1888. The volume of business was large, but during the latter part of 1887, various rumors were afloat as to the solvency of the institution. and the business methods of the company were severely criticised. At the last mentioned date there was a consoli- dation of this company with the Western Fire & Marine Insurance Company; the new company retaining the name of the Insurance Company of Dakota. The capital stock of the reorganized company was $200,000.
After the reorganization, the affairs of the company became more and more complicated and its business was at a stand still. On the 22d day of August, 1888, an entire new board of directors took charge of its affairs, and it was then hoped that the company would soon secure the confidence of the public and the business become prosperous. The new board consisted of A. M. Crosby of Luverne, Minnesota, J. M. Searle, E. G. Butts and F. W. Gail of Stillwater, Minnesota, George E. Wheeler, Charles E. Johnson and C. C. Cran- dall of Sioux Falls. A. M. Crosby was elected president, George E. Wheeler vice president and C. C. Crandall secretary. But this reor- ganization did not restore public confidence, and within a few days Mr. Crosby was appointed receiver of the company. His appoint- ment did not meet with the approval of the creditors, and an appli- cation was made by them for his removal and the appointment of a new man in his place. This resulted in the resignation of Mr. Crosby and the appointment of John Lewis of Sioux Falls on the 24th day of September, 1888, who at once proceeded to close up the affairs of the company, and the Insurance Company of Dakota passed into history.
DAKOTA MUTUAL LIFE ASSOCIATION .-- This association was or- ganized on the 1st day of October, 1884. It was organized on the mutual assessment plan, and its first directors and officials were men of integrity and well known business capacity. Andrew C. Phillips was its first president, and associated with him as directors were H. S. Hills, C. E. Mckinney, W. E. Alexander and A. R. Bryan. The plan was defective, and after two or three years, the direction of its affairs having fallen into less competent hands, it became one of the things of the past, but it faded out of the business world sogradually that no one can fix the exact date of its demise.
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WESTERN FIRE AND MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY .- This company was incorporated by Sioux Falls capitalists December 10,1886. The office was located in the Van Eps block, and quite an exten- sive business was done. J. H. Westover was its president, and dur- ing the month of April, 1888, it was merged with the Insurance Com- pany of Dakota, and as a matter of course, when this company failed a few months later there was nothing left for the Western Fire and Marine to do but settle up its affairs.
THE FARGO INSURANCE COMPANY .- This Company was char- tered in December, 1880, with an authorized capital stock of $100,000, as a fire and hail insurance company, with headquarters at Fargo, D. T. Until the fall of 1884 it did a prosperous business, but that year the hail losses were so great that they crippled the company, About the 10th of September, 1886, it transferred its headquarters to Sioux Falls, and commenced business in the Masonic Temple. At that time the company had a large amount of liabilities, and the real purpose for changing its place of business to Sioux Falls was to ob- tain new capital with which to continue its operations. Its managers were not very successful in getting the people of Sioux Falls involved, and its insolvency was soon apparent by judgments being rendered against it which it was unable to pay. On the 20th day of January, 1887, an execution having been returned by the sheriff unsatisfied, supplemental proceedings were commenced by a Chicago creditor, and the company enjoined from transferring any of its property. On the 27th day of January, an examination was had, and it devel- oped that the company's liabilities were at least $110,000, and that it was hopelessly bankrupt.
In 1885 the company had been so financially embarrassed, that its managment had sought for and obtained new stockholders, who soon found that after having paid in their money they had $80,000 of liabilities to pay off before the company could do business. This they finally concluded to do, and the indebtedness was canceled. It was after it had been again admitted into the business world that unbusinesslike methods were adopted by the management and the integrity of some of its officials questioned. One of the victims in 1885 was W. F. Johnson, a banker of Toledo, Ia., who had put in $30,000, which was a total loss.
In conclusion we will only add that this company which came to Sioux Falls with great flourish went into the hands of a receiver on the 23d day of February, 1887, W. L. Baker being appointed to con- duct the funeral exercises. He did not find assets enough to defray the incidental expenses of the receivership but did find about $200,000 of liabilities, which condition of affairs he reported on the 30th day of June, 1887.
RACE FOR REGISTER OF DEEDS OFFICE.
An incident occurred in 1879 which will for a long time to come be referred to by the residents of Sioux Falls, and as it played an important part in settling the title to one hundred and sixty acres of the land upon which the present residence portion of the city is prin- cipally located, although it will hardly classify with anything else,
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we insert it here, believing that as an interesting reminiscence it will fully compensate for the abruptness of the order of its insertion. Senator Pettigrew, with his usual foresight and resource, was equal to the occasion, as will appear from what follows, which is the result of an interview with him.
In 1876, R. F. Pettigrew purchased from Russell Bennett, of Detroit, Michigan, the southeast quarter of section 17, township 101, range 49, being 160 acres, embracing the best residence portion of the city of Sioux Falls, and received from Mr. Bennett a warranty deed of the tract. The record showed a good title in Mr. Bennett and that he purchased the land of Arkang Reed and J. Reed, her husband. They were half-breeds, Winnebago Sioux Indians; that the purchase of this tract was made by Mr. Bennett previous to the location of the scrip upon the same, by which the title was acquired from the government; that several years afterward Mr. Bennett se- cured a deed from Arkang Reed and J. Reed, her husband, for the same tract. That the first deed was not delivered to Mr. Bennett at the time of its date, but was deposited in escrow with parties in St. Paul, to be delivered when the title was completed by the loca- tion of the scrip.
Mr. Bennett's attorney in this transaction was Byron M. Smith, of Minneapolis, and therefore he was familiar with all the facts in connection with the title. Of course there was nothing in the ab- stract to show that the first deed had been deposited and delivered after the title was perfected, and as it was a quitclaim deed, there was a serious difficulty in Bennett's title; but the second deed from Arkang Reed and J. Reed apparently made the title perfect. But the fact was that the second deed was from Arkang Reed, the daugh- ter of the original Arkang Reed, to whom the patent was issued, she having married a man by the same name as that of her father, and thus the second deed only conveyed a title to one-fourth interest in the property. Byron M. Smith knew these facts, and after the death of Mr. Bennett, whose evidence was necessary to protect the title, secured a deed from the other three heirs of Arkang Reed, the first, from an attorney by the name of Shillock, who claimed to be the attorney in fact for the heirs. The deed which Smith had pro- cured was made to Milton D. Brown, of Minneapolis, and placed upon record, and a suit commenced against Mr. Pettigrew to recover the property, some time in the spring of 1879. When Mr. Pettigrew came to answer in the case he claimed a chain of title from Arkang Reed and her husband, but upon taking the deposition of witnesses discovered that the second deed only conveved a quarter interest in the property, and therefore he determined to hunt up Milton D. Brown, ascertain who he was and what interest he had in the litiga- tion, and after hunting several weeks found Mr. Brown living with his mother near the Minnehaha Falls, about four miles from Minne- apolis.
Brown knew nothing about the fact that the title had been placed in his name; said he did not own any land in South Dakota, had never made any investment there, and that he was willing to give a special warranty deed of the tract involved, together with affida-
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vits dismissing any lawsuit that might have been commenced in his name. Thereupon Mr. Pettigrew secured the services of Judge Atwater, a prominent lawyer in Minneapolis, and procured a deed from Brown. A few hours afterwards, Brown having met Smith, he returned and demanded a return of the deed from Judge Atwater, and afterwards on the same day, gave another deed to the property to parties in Minneapolis, who started on the same train with Mr. Pettigrew for Sioux Falls to place the same on record. Mr. Petti- grew, mistrusting that an effort of this sort might be made, and knowing of no other way by which his title might be defeated, per- suaded the conductor and engineer of the train to allow him to go upon the locomotive at Valley Springs, and to detach the locomotive from the train when about four miles from Sioux Falls, giving as an excuse of course, to the passengers that the locomotive ran into town for the purpose of securing water. A large number of people were at the depot, waiting for the incoming train, but saw nothing but the locomotive, which ran through the station down to the water tank and took on water, as suggested. Mr. Pettigrew getting off the train at the water tank, went to the recorder's office and recorded the deed. Meantime the locomotive went back for the train and brought it into the station. Theattorney for Smith had telegraphed for a livery team, and scrambling out of the train as fast as he could, got into the carriage and drove furiously for the recorder's office, Mr. Pettigrew standing on the corner watching his flight against time. The attorney, whose name was Bottineau, rushed into the register of deeds' office and said that he wished the deed which he handed to the register recorded first. Thereupon the register in- formed him that he would have to record the deed which had been left with him by Mr. Pettigrew a few minutes before, before he could record his deed. It dawned on Mr. Bottineau that Mr. Petti- grew was on that locomotive which had gone for water.
The deeds filed by Bottineau, although dated many months pre- vious and acknowledged many months previous, were written in Arnold's ink, the acknowledgment, signatures and description, and the ink had not turned black. At Mr. Pettigrew's request the reg- ister of deeds exposed the instruments to the air while they re- mained in his office, and the color of the ink was changed during the two or three days while in his possession.
LITERARY AND BENEVOLENT ORGANIZATIONS.
FIRST PUBLIC READING ROOM .- One of the residents of Sioux Falls in 1875 was the late Mrs. Louisa Churchill Gale, wife of Arte- mas Gale. During the summer of that year she was in the habit of taking daily walks about the little village, and had noticed the hos- pitable looking wide open doors of the saloons, inviting within the youth and homeless men by their bright allurements and apparent good cheer. With Mrs. Gale to think was to act. She at once en- listed the sympathy and aid of several public-spirited citizens, and secured a room over Williams Brothers' store on the site of the present Edmison-Jameson building, for a public reading room, and at once commenced fitting it up with chairs, tables, lights, draperies,
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mottoes and pictures. Newspapers, religious as well as secular, and periodicals, were subscribed for, and books purchased, and the first reading room in the county was opened to the public. For more than a year Mrs. Gale was in attendance, and the rooms were kept open from nine o'clock in the morning until ten o'clock in the even- ing. But she was not permitted to prosecute her good work without obstacles being thrown in her way. What petty persecution could not accomplish, the grasshoppers did, the closing of the reading room. A few years later Mrs. Gale erected a small frame house on First avenue, and again established a reading room, but owing to its location and the want of public interest, she was compelled to aban- don the project which was so dear to her heart. This building was afterwards remodeled, and is at the present time occupied as a dwelling house.
LADIES' HISTORY CLUB. - One of the oldest and most popular and prosperous literary organizations in Sioux Falls is the Ladies' History Club, which had its beginning as early as December, 1879, when the following six ladies met with Mrs. A. M. Washburn at her residence, namely, Mesdames W. A. Wilkes, C. L. Norton, C. H. Vincent, D. S. Glidden, Alice Watson and Miss Belle Pettigrew. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a plan for a course of reading for the winter, and it was decided to take up English his- tory, with Dickens for a guide. That which had begun for a recrea- tion soon grew into a serious study as the members became inter- ested and the club grew. For nearly three years the study was almost exclusively confined to English and American history and literature, but later French history was taken up. During the first years, there was no regular organization, but the meetings were held regularly and the interest deepened. During the winter of 1881, when the town was blockaded, there was no abatement, though the rooms in which meetings were held were for a time heated by burn- ing screenings from the mill. In the midst of a storm a Dickens' party was given. The club also gave a Longfellow and a Scott evening.
In December, 1881, the membership becoming so large, and the work demanding more preparation, it was decided to draft a consti- tution and by-laws, and to elect officers. Mrs. A. J. Watson was elected president and Mrs. T. A. Robinson secretary; the former holding her position as president of the club until she removed from Sioux Falls in the spring of 1884. From that time until October, 1885, Mrs. W. A. Wilkes and Mrs. D. S. Glidden officiated as presi- dents, and Mrs. T. A. Robinson and Mrs. S. E. Blauvelt as secre- taries of the club.
During the evening of January 28, 1884, a Dickens party was given at the residence of Edwin Sharpe, which was a grand success, there being over one hundred characters represented in costume.
On the 12th day of October, 1885, the club was reorganized, a constitution adopted and a new corps of officers elected. Mrs. R. F. Pettigrew was elected president, Mrs. T. A. Robinson vice presi- dent, Mrs. W. P. Carr secretary, Mrs. C. L. Norton treasurer. At that time there were about thirty members of the club. July 25,
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1892, it joined the General Federation of Women's Clubs of the United States, of which it is still a member. Mrs. D. S. Glidden was for four years the state chairman of correspondence for the Federation, and was succeeded by Mrs. W. G. George. Mrs. Nettie E. Beattie is president at the present writing (1897), Mrs. E. S. Carter vice president, Mrs. W. H. Lyon secretary, and Mrs. G. W. Burnside treasurer. The membership now numbers fifty.
The club for many years was entertained by prominent members at their homes, and especially is Mrs. Glidden entitled to great credit for her untiring efforts in its behalf during all these years. At the present time regular meetings are held every Tuesday after- noon in the Public Library rooms in the Norton-Murry block, and social sessions are held every third week at the homes of the members.
SIOUX FALLS PUBLIC LIBRARY .- The Sioux Falls Public Library Association had a small beginning, but not so small nor obscure that its parentage is unknown. In December, 1879, a num- ber of ladies met at the residence of Mrs. A. M. Washburn and matured a plan for a course of reading during the winter, which course continued for two years. In December, 1881, an organization was effected and was called the Ladies' History Club, with a view of establishing a public library. Previous to this organization a read- ing club had accumulated about fifty dollars, to which was now added about eighty-five dollars, and Mrs. Wilkes was appointed a committee to invest this money in books, which was to form a nucle- ous of this library. About one hundred volumes were obtained and rooms fitted up, and a public library in the village of Sioux Falls was an established fact. Shortly after, through the efforts of the His- tory Club, a second installment of books were added, at the cost of about $160. In 1884, a literary society was organized in the city, called the Humboldt Club, and the two clubs through a joint com- mittee secured the incorporation of the Sioux Falls Library Associa- tion on the 4th day of August, 1886, with a membership of fourteen and the following board of directors: W. J. Skillman, E. P. Beebe, W. R. Kingsbury, Mrs. Eliza T. Wilkes, Mrs. M. A. Kinney, Mrs. Lona I. Robinson. Besides these, the list of charter members in- cluded Mrs. D. S. Glidden, Mrs. M. A. Leavitt, T. H. Brown, S. A. Brown, Wm. Beckler, Joel W. Parker, S. E. Young and H. T. Root.
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