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 5
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The board met December 1, 1871, pursuant to a call for special
41
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
meeting, present Charles Allen and Ole Bergerson. The verbal resignation of John Bippus, superintendent of public schools, was received and accepted, and Cyrus Walts was appointed to fill the vacancy.
1872. January 1, at the regular meeting of the board, there were present John Thompson, chairman, and Ole Bergerson. The county clerk being absent, W. H. Holt was appointed clerk pro tem. Newton Clark, member elect, presented his official bond, which was approved. W. R. McLaury presented a bill for attorney's services in case of Dakota Territory vs. G. W. White, which was allowed at five dollars. A petition was presented for a county road beginning at southwest corner of section sixteen, township one hundred and one, range forty-nine, thence west as per petition filed, which was accepted and road ordered opened. It was then resolved that all accounts must be duly certified before acceptance by the board.
The following accounts were presented and allowed: Halvor Olson, Thomas Paulson and Ole O. Langness, four days each in locating county road number two, at two dollars per day; John O. Langness, two days surveying county road number two, at four dol- lars per day. Wm. H. Holt, county clerk pro tem, was empowered to issue license for the sale of spiritous liquors in Minnehaha county at his discretion, license being paid and good and sufficient bonds being given.
On January 16, the board of county commissioners met again, pursuant to a call for a special meeting. There were present John Thompson, Ole Bergerson and Newton Clark. A motion was made by Newton Clark "that the rate of license be fixed at thirty dollars per annum for persons selling spiritous liquors in Minnehaha county in quantities less than one quart, in connection with general mer- chandise, and at one hundred dollars per annum for license for saloon keepers in said county," which motion was carried. The resignation of W. S. Bloom, county clerk, was tendered, to take effect February 1, 1872, and on motion was accepted. The board then proceeded to vote for county clerk by ballot. W. R. McLaury received two votes and N. E. Phillips one, whereupon W. R. Mc- Laury was declared elected to fill the unexpired term. The county clerk was then instructed to serve notice on dealers in liquors in Minnehaha county, that license to sell liquors must be taken out prior to January 25, 1872.
At the next meeting of the board held April 1, on motion of John Thompson, a petition for the construction of a bridge across the Big Sioux river, at a point where said stream is crossed by the public highway, in the southeast corner of section thirteen, township one hundred and one, range fifty, was rejected so far as it related to a two mill tax, but by motion of the same member of the board, the question of appropriating one thousand dollars to build the bridge as above stated, was ordered to be submitted to the voice of the people at the next general election. The official bond of O. B. Iverson, county treasurer, was fixed at four thousand dollars, examined and approved, and "the old bond held responsible to the present date."
At the next meeting of the board, held July 1, the petition of R.
42
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
S. Alexander and others asking for an appropriation of five hundred dollars, subject to the voice of the people at the next general election, to build a bridge at Dell City, was accepted. By action of the board the following places were designated for holding the next general election: precinct number one in the barracks, precinct number two at Soren Bergerson's, precinct number three at John O. Langness' school house. The board also contracted with Wm. Van Eps for four ballot boxes complete, at one dollar and twenty-five cents each. The board then adjourned until the next morning, when the financial statement of the county was examined and ordered printed. It was as follows:
"Financial statement of Minnehaha county, D. T., for the year ending June 30th, A. D. 1872: Total amount of tax levied $628 71
Amount of interest collected on delinquent tax 2 50
Total
$631 28
Total amount of cash received. 340 92
Total amount of warrants received 3 79
Total amount of interest received 2 57
Total amount delinquent tax 269 00
Total
$631 28
TERRITORIAL TAX.
Amount levied
$ 94 30
Amount cash collected
46 97
Amount delinquent tax
47 33
Total
$ 94 30
Amount of cash on hand
$ 46 97
COUNTY TAX.
Amount levied
$251 48
Amount cash collected
$107 41
Amount of warrants received
IS 42
Amount delinquent tax 125 65
Total
$251 48
Amount of cash paid on warrants
70 80
Amount of cash in hand 36 61
Total
$107 41
ROAD AND BRIDGE TAX.
Amount levied
$ 62 87
Amount of cash collected
$ 31 13
Amount of receipts received
37
Amount of delinquent tax
31 37
Total
$ 62 87
Amount of cash on hand
$ 31 13
43
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
SCHOOL DISTRICT TAX.
Atnount levied
$125 74
Amount of cash collected
$ 63 27
Amount of cash collected for license.
45 00
Amount of delinquent tax
62 47
Total
$170 74
Amount of delinquent tax
62 47
Amount of cash on hand
108 27
Total
$170 74
COUNTY SINKING FUND TAX.
Amount levied
$ 94 30
Amount of cash collected
47 14
Amount of delinquent tax
47 16
Total
$ 94 30
POLL TAX.
Amount enrolled
$265 5C
Amount of cash collected
$117 00
Amount of receipts received
3 00
Amount exempt
7 50
Amount of delinquent.
138 00
Total
$265 5C
Amount refunded on illegal tax
16 50
Amount allowed on receipts
3 00
Amount exempt
7 50
Amount delinquent tax
138 00
Amount cash on hand.
100 50
Total
$265 50
"(Signed.)
W. R. McLAURY, "Clerk Board County Commissioners."
At the next meeting of the board held July 30, a petition of J. C. Ervin and sixty-two others, praying "for the establishment of an election precinct, with the place of voting to be at the school house at Dell City, said precinct to be known as precinct number four" was granted. The board then proceeded to levy the tax as follows: four mills on each dollar of the total valuation of property for county fund; county sinking fund, one and five-tenths mills; road tax, five- tenths mill; road and bridge poll tax "specific" one dollar and fifty cents on each poll over twenty-one and under fifty years of age; school poll tax, one dollar on each poll over twenty-one and under fifty years of age; territorial tax, one mill; total amount of tax levied, eight mills on each dollar of the total valuation.
The following resolution was introduced and passed:
"WHEREAS, it appears to this body that unjust complaint has been made from various sources against Mr. John O. Walker, sheriff within and for Minnehaha county, D. T., complaining that the said
44
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
John O. Walker has been guilty of negligence in the performance of his duties as sheriff, Ergo: having duly considered the circum- stances connected therewith, we do exonerate the said John O. Walker from all blame connected therewith or with which he may be charged.
"Signed,
"NEWTON CLARK. "JOHN THOMPSON. "OLE BERGERSON."
On October 12 the board met and canvassed the returns of the general election held October 8, 1872, for territorial, district and county officers.
For delegate to Congress, Wilmot W. Brookings received 122 votes, G. C. Moody 118, M. K. Armstrong 69, and John Hunter 3. (M. K. Armstrong was elected by theterritorial vote, at this election.) For register of deeds, N. E. Phillips received 177 votes, and W. H. Holt 125. For probate judge, H. J. Whipple received 169 votes. For county superintendent of public schools, A. Thorne received 159 votes. For sheriff, V. R. L. Barnes received 37 votes, C. A. Lins- trom 159 and Daniel Scott 69. For coroner, J. L. Phillips received 161. For county surveyor, John O. Langness, 107. For district attorney, A. Sweeny, 134 votes. For county commissioner, R. S. Alexander, 159. For justice of the peace, S. Pruner, 148, C. An- derson, 131, R. Anderson, 154. For constable, J. H. Moulton, 136, A. Larson, 133, O. J. Aasen, 144.
1873. At the meeting of the board January 20, Wm. H. Holt was appointed sheriff to fill vacancy and accepted. The following resolutions were also adopted: "That the county surveyor be in- structed to put up mounds at each angle, also at distances not more than one-fourth mile from each other on straight lines. Also to place sight mounds on high points on all county roads hereafter sur- veyed, so as to enable the road supervisors to find the lines." The following also appears in the record of this meeting: "Petition for a road from Sioux Fallsand Schunk creek to Wall Lake. Also a road from the quarter section post on the south boundary of section thirty-five, township one hundred and one, range forty-nine via of Raymond's intersecting Sioux Falls and Schunk creek road. And from Raymond's west, intersecting the road from the Sioux Falls and Schunk creek road to Wall Lake. Viewers appointed-Wm. Van Eps, Cyrus Walts and Newton Clark. That they areinstructed to meet and view said road as soon as the ground thaws. Board settled with Ole B. Iverson per Wm. H. Holt as deputy county treasurer, leaving a balance in his hands to be delivered to his successor, H. J. Whipple, of two hundred and nine dollars and twenty-six cents. Dated January 21, A. D. 1873. N. Clark, Chair- man Board of Commissioners." The assessor, Ole Bergerson, is also instructed as follows: "in assessing town property that he exercise his own discretion; general merchandise, at general market value; horses and mules over one year old, class one, old or young, at ten to twenty-five dollars; class two, work horses, seventy-five
45
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
dollars; class three, fine stock, at one hundred and twenty-five dol- lars. Cows, not to exceed twenty dollars. Work oxen, class one, fifty dollars; class two, seventy-five dollars. Young cattle, to use discretion. Sheep, not to exceed one dollar fifty cents. Swine, to use discretion. Improvements on land breaking per acre, two dol- lars. That the county license for the sale of liquor be fifty dollars per annum throughout the county." Albion Thorne was also ap- pointed "district attorney in and for the district and County of Minnehaha."
At the next meeting, February 3, an offer was received from J. C. Ervin, publisher of the Dell Rapids Journal, to publish the minutes of the proceedings of the board for one dollar per year. The offer was accepted, and the Dell Rapids Journal was made the official newspaper of Minnehaha county, and all official papers and public documents of every kind requiring publication were ordered to be published in this newspaper at the due legal rates of the Territory, except the proceedings of the board, which were to be at the price named and agreed upon. It was resolved. "that the county attorney be hereby instructed to enforce to the best of his ability the law in regard to the selling of intoxicating liquors in Minnehaha county, D. T."
April 14, the date appointed for the next meeting of the board, the following entry of proceedings appears on the records. "Severe rain and snow storm made it impossible for the board of county commissioners to meet as per adjournment of April 7th. Attest, N. E. Phillips, county clerk."
On the 22d of April, the board again met, and allowed the ac- count of John Bippus for seven dollars, fifty cents, for a book case to contain the records of the district court of Minnehaha county. The financial statement for the year ending June 30, 1873, showed that the total amount of tax levied was one thousand seven hundred and ten dollars and forty-nine cents; the total amount collected, eight hundred and fifty-three dollars seventy-four cents, and the amount of delinquent tax, eight hundred and fifty-six dollars ser- enty-five cents.
1874. On January 7, the Sioux Falls Independent was made the official paper for the year 1874, upon the same conditions as dur- ing the preceding year. It was also ordered that the county license for the sale of liquors should be thirty dollars per annum, and the following resolution was passed: "Resolved, That we recommend that the justices of the peace require persons making complaint in behalf of the Territory of Dakota in cases of criminal procedure to give bonds for the payment of costs." A petition was presented for a ferry across the Big Sioux river on or near the lines between sec- tions nine and ten at Dell Rapids, asking that steps be taken to pro- cure bids for the building and maintenance of the same. On motion it was ordered that notice be issued and posted to the effect that "oral bids" would be received at the clerk's office in Sioux Falls, on the 9th day of February, 1874, for the building and maintaining of such ferry for the term of five years.
At the next meeting, February 9, "license was granted to B. D.
1
46
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Graves, Peter Morse and R. S. Alexander, for the term of five years for a ferry charter across the Big Sioux at Dell Rapids, under the provisions of chapter 16, laws of 1865-6, with all the rights and priv- ileges thereby granted."
1875. At the next meeting of the board held April 5, the county liquor license was fixed at forty dollars per annum.
At a regular meeting held July 6, the board fixed the salary of the district attorney at two hundred and thirty dollars for the year 1875.
1876. On January 3, the Sioux Falls Independent was again made the official newspaper of the county for the ensuing year. The salary of the county clerk was fixed at five hundred dollars to be paid quarterly.
In April, N. E. Phillips resigned his office, not being able on account of increased business to give it the attention it required, and John Bippus was appointed register of deeds and ex officio county clerk to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.
At the regular meeting of the board July 3, Andrew J. Berdahl tendered his resignation as sheriff, being about to move from the county, and John W. Callender was appointed to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term.
On July 17, the board ordered that the county treasurer be in- structed to reserve the road fund on hand July 1, which had not been accredited to any road district, and to pay the same to R. F. Petti- grew to be by him expended in the construction of a bridge across the Sioux river at the foot of Eighth street in Sioux Falls, upon the receipt by the county clerk of a bond executed by said R. F. Petti- grew and approved by said clerk for the completion of said bridge on or before the 20th day of October, 1876.
1877. January 3, The Sioux Falls Pantagraph was made the official newspaper for the year 1877.
May 9, at a special session, the board selected the names from the assessment roll of 1877 from which grand and petit jurors were drawn ..
1878. January 9, the board instructed the county treasurer to pay out of the county sinking fund the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to the building committee for the completion of the bridge across the Sioux river at what was known as "Clark's Crossing."
The Dakota Pantagraph and the Sioux Falls Independent were made official papers, each paper to be paid one-half legal rates. On motion the board decided to receive bids at the next regular meeting to furnish rooms for county paupers, such rooms to be furnished according to certain plans on file at the county clerk's office. Also at the same meeting notice was ordered given that "sealed bids for making county map will be received, to be made according to specifi- cations on file at said office."
February 1, the board made a settlement with the county treas- urer, found his accounts to be correct, and the balances shown there- on were as follows:
47
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Balance on hand January 1, 1878.
Territorial fund
$ 1,633.11
County fund
1,042.54
school fund
2,429.95
sinking fund
2,284.46
judgment fund
96.62
road fund
437.60
District school fund
2,833.81
Total
$10,758.09
April 1. the board fixed the liquor license at two hundred dol- lars per annum. The salary of the county attorney for the year 1878, was fixed at two hundred dollars.
July 2, at a regular meeting, the board ordered "that the county treasurer pay out of the county fund, derived from the issuing of liquor licenses, the sum of one thousand dollars to the building com- mittee having in charge the construction of a bridge across the Sioux river at the Tenth street in Sioux Falls, on condition that said com- mittee have said bridge completed and open to the use of the public on or before October 1, 1878.
1879. January 6, Ole Bergerson retired from the board, having served continuously from 1871. During this session, the assessor was instructed to assess real and personal property as follows:
Lands inside the corporation of the village of Sioux Falls from $ 20 00 to $ 100 00 per acre
Lands in township 101, range 49, outside corporation
from
2 00 to
40 00 per acre
All other lands except timber lands
from
1 50 to
10 00 per acre
Timber land
from 3 00 to 25 00 per acre
Business lots in the village of Sioux Falls
from
100 00 to
1000 00 per
lot
Residence lots in the village of Sioux Falls
from
5 00 to
200 00 per
lot
Lots in the town site of Dell Rapids
from
1 00 to
40 00 per
101
Lots in the town site of Valley Springs
from
1 00 to
100 00 per
lot
Lots in the town site of Brandon
from
1 00 to
5 00 per
lot
Lots in the town site of Wall Lake.
from
1 00
per
lot
Road bed of the Worthington and Sioux Falls R. R., per mile.
3000 00
Stallions and jacks first-class
150 00
Stallions and jacks second-class
100 00
Horses first-class
50 00
Horses second-class
30 00
Horses third-class
10 00 to
20 00
Mules and asses classed same as horses.
Yoke work oxen
40 ou to
50 00
Cows
S oo to
12 00
Cattle 3 years old.
S oo to
10 00
Cattle 2 years old.
6 oo to
8 00
Swine
50 to
3 00
Sheep
1 00
Vehicles
10 00 to
50 00
Sleighs
5 00 to
15 00
Breaking on government land
at
1 00 per acre
48
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
The Dakota Pantograph was made the official paper of the county for the ensuing year. It was ordered that the county clerk procure a lease from E. A. Sherman of ground for jail purposes. License for selling intoxicating liquors was fixed at two hundred dollars for the ensuing year.
A special meeting of the board was called on May 8, for the purpose of appointing a board of "Commissioners of Insanity." On motion of Commissioner Burke, Dr. J. C. Morgan was appointed as a member of said board, and on motion of Commissioner Jones, John Bippus was appointed the other member.
At a regular session of the board July 11, the following reso- lution was adopted: "Resolved, that at the next general election to be held on the 4th day of November next, there will be submitted to the qualified electors of the county, the question involving the issu- ing of county bonds for the purpose of raising money to purchase ground for a county jail and county poorhouse, to construct suita- ble buildings thereon, and furnishing them complete; that said county bonds shall be issued for the amount of ten thousand dollars, to run ten years, with interest at the rate of eight per cent. per annum, payable semi-annually; and the said bonds shall be sold at no lower price than the face thereof; and it is hereby provided, that a copy of said question substantially shall accompany and be posted with the notices of election." It was also ordered, "that the village calaboose be refitted, and arrangements made for the removal therein and board and care of the county prisoners."
At the regular session, October 6, John Bippus resigned the of- fice of commissioner of insanity, and R. J. Wells was appointed to fill the vacancy.
1880. January 5, A. Clendenning, the commissioner elect, hav- ing qualified, took his seat, A. Gale retiring. The license for the sale of liquors was fixed at two hundred dollars for the year ensuing. E. Parliman was appointed counsel for the board at a salary of five dollars per day, when called upon to appear, and to be retained as county attorney when so required. The Tenth street bridge in Sioux Falls was formally accepted by the county, and the indebted- ness existing on the 1st of January, 1880, amounting to one thousand twenty-three dollars and eighty-two cents, was assumed.
February 11, at the semi-annual settlement with the county treasurer, the balance on hand January 1, 1880, was as follows:
Territorial fund.
$ 797 53
County fund
1,027 38
County school fund
1,272 20
Sinking fund 1,165 06
Judgment fund
170 00
Road fund
1,198 23
District school fund
3,474 25
Bridge fund
381 20
Interest on R. R. bonds
460 92
Village of Sioux Falls
562 83
Total
$10,509 60
49
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
The board decided to accept the offer of H. L. Hollister, to pur- chase the county bonds at a premium of one-fourth of 1 per cent., and ordered that said bonds be executed and delivered to said H. L. Hol- lister, as follows: Bonds for five thousand dollars to be signed and delivered immediately, and the balance whenever the county commis- sioners shall need the funds in the erection and completion of jailand poorhouse buildings, as contemplated. The offer of N. E. Phillips to sell the southeast quarter of section 27, township 102, range 49, with the buildings and improvements thereon, for the sum of one thousand five hundred dollars, was accepted by the board for the county poor grounds, and lots 1 and 2, block 4, in J. L. Phillips' addition to Sioux Falls, was purchased of W. D. Roberts for the county jail grounds at the price of eight hundred dollars. Plans and specifications for the building were also accepted and notice requesting bids ordered pub- lished for ninety days in the official paper of the county.
At the regular meeting which convened April 5, the county su- perintendent of schools reported a deaf and dumb person, and it was ordered that a report be forwarded to the governor of the territory, as provided by law, that the education of such person might be pro- vided for.
May 20 the sealed bids for a county jail and poorhouse were ex- amined, and the contract awarded to S. McCormack and T. S. Strat- ton for the sum of eight thousand five hundred and fifty-one dollars, they being the lowest bidders. W. M. Walters was appointed su- perintendent, and the board of commissioners were to constitute a building committee in the construction of said buildings.
A petition was submitted to the board at this meeting, asking that a special election be called for submitting to the vote of the peo- ple the question of organizing the county into civil townships as pro- vided by law. It was ordered that such special election be called on the 28th of June, 1880.
At the regular meeting of the board July 8, the following resolu- tion was unanimously adopted:
"WHEREAS, The legal voters of the County of Minnehaha peti- tioned the board of county commissioners assembled in regular ad- journed session on the 20th day of May, 1880, to call a special election to submit the question of township organization, and in pursuance of and by authority of law, a special election was thus called and held on the 28th day of June, 1880, and it appearing from the returns made by the judges of election of the several precincts of the county that a majority of all the votes cast were in favor of township organi- zation, the votes standing as follows:
For township organization - 582 votes Against townshiporganization 88 votes
therefore, be it
Resolved, in pursuance of "an act providing for the organization of civil townships and the government thereof," approved February 18, 1879, that the County of Minnehaha be and is hereby divided into civil townships, and the boundaries of the same are hereby fixed and
-
50
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
determined and numbered in the order of their description as fol- lows, to-wit:
Township 101, Range 47, (fractional) Numbered
I, Valley Springs
2, Split Rock
=
IOI,
49,
3, Sioux Falls
44 IOI,
50,
4, Wayne
IOI,
51,
52,
47, (fractional)
7, Red Rock
102,
6 6
48,
S, Brandon
102,
49,
66
10, Benton
I02,
50,
66
II, Hartford
IO2,
51,
66
12, Humboldt
IO3,
103,
48,
14, Edison
103,
49,
15, Sverdrup
103,
50,
16, Lyons
=
IO3,
51,
17, Grand Meadow
IO3,
52,
18, Clear Lake
104,
47, (fractional)
19, Highland
104,
48,
66
20, Logan
104
49,
21, Dell Rapids
66
50,
22, Burk
104,
51,
23, Taopi
104,
=
52,
24, Buffalo.
At a special meeting August 30, W. M. Walters resigned his Office as superintendent of the public buildings in process of erection, and P. W. Duffy was appointed in his stead.
At the regular meeting October 6, a petition was presented, signed by H. L. Hollister and forty-seven others, asking the board to take the necessary action to secure another location for the county jail. This petition was accepted and the following resolution adop- ted:
"WHEREAS, H. L. Hollister and citizens of Sioux Falls, have offered to purchase a lot and donate the same to the County of Min- nehaha, in consideration that the county jail shall be removed and built thereon,
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