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 6
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
WHEREAS, the board of county commissioners have found it nec- essary to reconstruct the building known as the county jail and upon due consideration it is found that no additional expense is incurred to the county by reason of the removal of the said jail, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the building known as the county jail be removed and erected upon lot 13, block 30, in Brookings and Edmunds addi- tion to Sioux Falls, and the said county jail to be constructed and completed according to contract, and the plans and specifications on file in the county clerk's office." It was also ordered at this meeting that each civil township be furnished twelve copies of the township law, at the county's expense.
1881. At the January meeting the Dakota Pantagraph was made the official newspaper for the ensuing year.
IOI,
48,
5, Wall Lake
6, Wellington
IOI, 102,
9, Mapleton
IO2,
52,
47, (fractional)
13, Palisade
104,
51
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
The following resolution was adopted (January 12, 1881):
Resolved, that the chairman of this board be directed to correspond with the delegation of our county in the territorial legislature, re- questing their influence and exertion looking to the early passage by the legislature of a bill authorizing the board of county commission- ers to issue and negotiate their bonds in amount sufficient to com- plete the payment for the county buildings authorized to be built by vote taken in November, 1879, and which buildings are now approach- ing completion with insufficient funds to pay therefor. And that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to our said delegation."
At the regular meeting convened April 4, the following appoint- ments were made for the board of insanity: J. C. Morgan for the term of two years, and R. J. Wells for the term of one year.
At a special meeting of the board held May 11, it was decided that an additional lot would be required for more room and conven- ience, adjoining the jail ground; and it was ordered that lot 12, in block 30, Brookings and Edmunds addition to Sioux Falls be pur- chased for the sum of four hundred dollars. The following resolu- tion was also adopted:
"Resolved, that a special election will be held throughout the sev- eral precincts in the County of Minnehaha, D. T., on Thursday the 9th day of June, 1881, at which time the legal and qualified electors will determine by their votes the following propositions:
First. Shall there be built as soon as possible the following bridges in Minnehaha county, to-wit:
1. One bridge across the Sioux river in the village of Sioux Falls.
2. Reconstruction of the bridge across the river in Sioux Falls township between sections 32 and 33 on the Lincoln Center road.
3. One bridge across the Sioux river between sections 7 and 18 in Sioux Falls township.
4. One bridge across the Sioux river in Split Rock township.
5. One bridge across the Sioux river in Sverdrup township.
6. One bridge across the Sioux river in the village of Dell Rapids.
7. One bridge across the Split Rock in Brandon township.
S. One bridge across the Split Rock in Palisade township.
9. One bridge across the Beaver Creek in Valley Springs township.
10. One bridge across the Skunk Creek in Wayne township.
11. One bridge across the Skunk Creek near the line between Hartford and Grand Meadow townships.
12. One bridge across the Skunk Creek in Burk township.
13. One bridge across the Slipup Creek in Mapleton township.
Second. Shall the county commissioners borrow twenty thousand dollars for such pur- pose, at not more than seven per cent. interest per annum, payable in twenty years?
Third. Shall a tax of one mill on the dollar annually hereafter be levied upon the taxable property of the county to provide a sinking fund and to pay the interest upon such indebtedness?
I. N. Neher and D. S. Stinson were granted a license to run a ferry across the Sioux river in the village of Dell Rapids from date until January 1, 1882.
At the regular session of the board July 8, license was granted Lewis Spawn and others to run a ferry during the year across the Big Sioux river on the section line between section 28 and 33 in town- ship 101 of range 48.
52
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
The following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, that all children that now are or hereafter may become inmates of the county poorhouse be bound out as soon as parties can be found to take them."
At a regular meeting August 15, upon notice of S. McCormack, that the county jail building was completed as called for by contract, the board visited the building and inspected it. It was found com- pleted in accordance with the plans and specifications, and was ac- cepted by the board.
1882. January 2, license was fixed at two hundred dollars per annum. Lewis Spawn was granted a license to run a ferry across the Big Sioux at Banning's crossing during the year upon the pay- ment of one dollar. Parliman and Frizzell were appointed counsel for the board for the ensuing year. Doctors J. C. Morgan, C. P. Bissell and W. B. Parker were chosen as county physicians for the year ensuing. The publication of the proceedings of the board was awarded to The Pantagraph, and the job printing required by the county to The Times.
At the regular meeting April 6, it was resolved that the sum of one thousand four hundred dollars be appropriated from the county treasury for the construction of a bridge across the Sioux on the Yankton road at a point known as the "Yankton Crossing." It was also resolved that the sum of seven thousand five hundred dollars be appropriated for the following purposes: "Two thousand five hun- dred dollars to aid in the construction of a bridge across the Sioux river at Tenth street in the village of Sioux Falls. Two thousand five hundred dollars to aid in the construction of a bridge across the Sioux river at Sixth street in the village of Sioux Falls. Two thou- sand five hundred dollars to aid in the construction of a bridge across the Sioux river at Eighth street in the village of Sioux Falls." Also two hundred dollars was appropriated to aid in the construct- ion of a bridge across the Slipup creek on the highway between sections 12 and 13, township 102, range 49. Five hundred dollars was appropriated for building a bridge across a slough on the county road on the section line between sections 8 and 17 in Sioux Falls township.
The resignation of Andrew Clendenning as county commissioner was tendered and accepted, and N. E. Phillips was appointed by the board to fill the vacancy.
October 5, the board accepted the proposition of E. A. Sherman for the lease of rooms for county offices and a court room in a build- ing to be constructed and completed for occupancy by July 1, 1883, on the southwest corner of Main and Ninth streets at a yearly rent of one thousand two hundred dollars for the term of five years, or until the county builds a court house.
1883. January 11, 1883, Christian Asleson tendered his resig- nation of the office of county commissioner, and Ransom Walter was appointed his successor.
At the adjourned April session it was resolved to appropriate the sum of four thousand dollars for a bridge across the Sioux river at Eighth street in the City of Sioux Falls, provided, the bridge.
53
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
should cost not less than eight thousand dollars. The new school law was taken up and discussed and on motion rejected.
At the July session, it was ordered that the county superintend- ent of schools be allowed a salary of one hundred dollars for the year ending the first Monday of January, 1884. It was resolved that a special election be held in the several election precincts in Minne- haha county on Wednesday, August 1, 1883, for the purpose of elect- ing eight delegates to represent the county in the State Constitu- tional Convention to be held at Sioux Falls, September 4, 1883, in pursuance of resolutions adopted by the Convention held at Huron in June, 1883.
October 5, the following resolution was adopted: " Resolved, that the County of Minnehaha be and hereby is divided into the following commissioner districts:
"District No. 1, to comprise the township of Sioux Falls (except- ing the city), Wayne, Benton, Mapleton, Sverdrup and Lyons.
"District No. 2, Valley Springs, Split Rock, Brandon, Red Rock, Palisade, Edison and Highland.
"District No. 3, Logan, Dell Rapids, Burk, Taopi and Buffalo.
"District No. 4, Wall Lake, Wellington, Humbolt, Hartford, Grand Meadow and Clear Lake.
" District No. 5, the City of Sioux Falls."
1884. At the regular session, January 7, the liquor license for the ensuing year was fixed at three hundred dollars. It was ordered that seven hundred dollars be appropriated to aid in the construc- tion of a bridge across the Sioux river on the township line between Sverdrup and Dell Rapids. A contract for the bridge was drawn and signed by R. F. Pettigrew and the chairman of the board.
The report of the county superintendent for the year 1883 was as follows:
JANUARY 10, 1884.
Number of districts organized during the year 7
Number of districts in the county in good standing 85
Number of schools in session at the present date .. 60
Number of children of school age in organized territory 3,101
The county superintendent was allowed a salary of two hundred dollars for the ensuing year. It was ordered that gas be introduced to light the county offices and court room, and that the chairman appoint a committee of three to purchase gas fixtures. The publi- cation of the proceedings of the board and all legal notices required by the county was awarded to the Sioux Falls Argus and the Sioux Falls Press.
1885. At the July meeting, D. C. Rice was appointed county surveyor, to fill vacancy.
1886. January 4, the board met in regular session. The new members, Arthur Jones and John Thompson, qualified and took their seats. The liquor license for the ensuing year was fixed at three hundred dollars. Bids were received for printing the proceedings of the board, and on motion a contract was awarded to the Sioux Falls
54
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Argus at one-fourth legal rates, to be published in both daily and weekly. The salary of county superintendent was fixed at one hun- dred dollars. C. K. Howard resigned his office as county treasurer, and C. L. Norton was appointed to fill vacancy. The resignation of D. C. Rice as county surveyor was presented and accepted. Ped- dler's license was fixed at one hundred dollars for the ensuing year, and auctioneer's license at twenty-five dollars. R. S. Alexander was appointed county surveyor to fill vacancy caused by the resignation of D. C. Rice.
At the meeting held October 4, the following resolution was passed:
Resolved, that at the next general election, to be held in the County of Minnehaha on Tuesday, the 2d day of November, A. D. 1886, the following question be submitted to the legal voters thereof: "Shall the territory be divided?"
The following resolution was also passed:
Resolved, that the chairman of the board of county commis- sioners is hereby authorized to advertise for four consecutive weeks in the Sioux Falls Leader for proposals to adopt or take care of two female negro children until they arrive at the age of twenty-one years.
1887. At the January session Ole Berdahl retired, and the new commissioners, John McKee and O. F. Bowles, qualified and took their seats. During this meeting a resolution was passed to build a barn on the lots at the jail, 16x2+, with 12-foot posts.
At the July session the following appears on record:
"WHEREAS, a petition of more than one-third of the legal voters of Minnehaha county, as shown by the preceding election, having been presented to this board, praying that the question of prohibi- tion of the sale of intoxicating liquors be submitted to a vote of said Minnehaha county, as provided by an act of the legislative assembly of the Territory of Dakota, entitled, 'An act to prohibit the sale of intoxicating liquors by local option,' approved March 11, 1887, on motion the prayer of said petitioners was granted."
The following resolution was also adopted:
"Resolved, that an election be and the same is hereby ordered to be held in said county in accordance with the provisions of said act, on the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November, 1887, at which election the qualified voters of said county shall vote upon the question of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors in said County of Minnehaha."
1888. At the January meeting the following were made the of- ficial papers for the ensuing year, namely, the Argus-Leader, Land and Labor News and Dell Rapids Times. Dr. S. Olney was ap- pointed county physician. January 12 the following resolution was adopted: Resolved, that the board of county commissioners of Minnehaha county, believing that a county auditor is necessary for
55
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
the proper and expeditious dispatch of public business in said county, Now, therefore, be it further resolved, that the said office of county auditor be and the same is hereby created."
April 4, the following resolution was adopted: "Resolved, that the board proceed to appoint a county auditor tomorrow at 10 o'clock A. M.," and in accordance with this resolution, W. W. Cooke was the next day appointed county auditor, and his bond fixed at four thousand dollars.
At the July meeting the following resolution was adopted: "Re- solved, that the question of prohibiting the sale of intoxicating li- quors shall be and is hereby submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of said Minnehaha county at the next general election to be held in November, 1888."
On motion the chairman of the board was authorized to take the necessary steps to ascertain if a good and suitable foundation could be obtained for a court house on the lots owned by the county.
At the September session, W. L. Dow gave it as his opinion "that a good foundation for a court house could be had on the lots owned by the county, provided that the streak of quicksand overlay- ing the blue-clay deposit was not so extensive as to preclude build- ing."
The following motion was then carried: "WHEREAS, we believe it to be for the best interest of the county that proper steps be taken toward the erection and building of a court house for said county, now therefore, Resolved, that we deem it best to issue the bonds of the County of Minnehaha, Territory of Dakota, in the sum of eighty thousand dollars for the erection and construction of a court house for said Minnehaha county, said bonds to be one hundred and sixty in number, each of the denomination of five hundred dol- lars, forty thousand dollars payable in fifteen years and forty thous- and dollars payable in twenty years, with interest coupons attached, bearing four and one-half per cent. interest, payable annually.
And we hereby order that the question of the County of Minne- haha issuing bonds as above described and for the purpose aforesaid be, and the same is hereby submitted to the electors of the County of Minnehaha, Territory of Dakota, at the general election to be held in said county November 6, 1888, and that due and legal notice of said election be given as required by law."
At the October meeting it was voted that the building, known as the old deaf mute school be leased for one year for hospital purposes. at a rental of four hundred dollars per year, and that E. J. Sharon and wife be employed to care for the sick in the county hospital at two dollars per day.
November 13, the board met in adjourned session and fixed the license for the sale of intoxicating liquors at one thousand dollars per annum from that date until the first Monday in January, 1889.
1889. January 7, the board met, and the new members Henry Mundt from district number 4, and J. C. Eldridge from district number 1, qualified and took their seats. The county liquor license was fixed at eight hundred dollars. The bond of the county treasur- er was fixed at one hundred thousand dollars, sheriff, fifteen thous-
56
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
and dollars, register of deeds, five thousand dollars, probate judge, five thousand dollars, and coroner five thousand dollars. The salary of county superintendent of schools was fixed at three hundred dol- lars. The Dell Rapids Times, Valley Springs Enterprise and Sioux Falls Argus-Leader were made the official papers for the ensuing year.
At the February meeting Dr. Olney was appointed county physician. Commissioners McKee and Bannister were appointed a committee to examine and accept of plans and specifications sub- mitted for building a county poorhouse, and the auditor was author- ized to advertise for bids for renting the poor-farm. The sketch submitted by W. L. Dow was accepted, and he was instructed to draw up plans and specifications for building the same.
At the March meeting the auditor was authorized to advertise for bids for the building of the county poorhouse, bids to be opened April 15. The county poor-farm containing 120 acres was rented to P. P. Pierce. March 16, the day was taken up in discussing and investigating a site for a court house. It was resolved that the board employ the city engineer, W. L. Dow and Cross & Richards to examine the lots now owned by the county on the corner of Ninth street and Minnesota avenue, and report whether a suitable founda- tion could be had there and the probable extra cost of same. March 18, the afternoon was taken up discussing and examining the differ- ent proposed sites for a court house. March 19, it was moved and seconded that the proposition embodied in the contract of A. Frizzell for the board's action thereon for the sale of lots 10 and 11, Brookings and Edmunds addition, Sioux Falls, Minnehaha county, as a site for a court house, the price of which was reduced from eight to five thousand dollars, be accepted, and with the approval of the board of county commissioners a warrant for five thousand dollars was issued to A. Frizzell in payment of said lots.
The following resolution was also adopted: "Resolved, that the county auditor is hereby instructed to advertise for competitive designs and bids for plans and specifications for a county court house to be built in Sioux Falls, the county seat of Minnehaha county, Dakota; material to be of stone known as the Sioux Falls jasper, on a solid rock foundation with an east and south front, to be three stories in height, including basement; to be built at a cost not exceeding eighty thousand dollars, bids to be opened and considered the 17th of April, 1889. Be it resolved, that the board of county commissioners of the County of Minnehaha, Territory of Dakota, issue the bonds of said Minnehaha county in the sum of eighty thousand dollars, for the purpose of building and erecting a court house on the site purchased by them for that purpose in the City of Sioux Falls, in said county, and that said bonds be issued in pursu- ance of an act of the 18th Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Dakota authorizing and empowering organized counties of said ter- ritory to erect county buildings for court house and jail purposes, and to issue and dispose of bonds to provide funds therefor."
Also " Resolved, that the sale of bonds about to be issued by said county for the purpose of building a court house in said county
57
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
as aforesaid be advertised once a week for four successive weeks in the Bismarck Daily Tribune, a newspaper published in Bismarck, D. T .; in the Daily Argus-Leader, a newspaper published in Sioux Falls, D. T .; and in the Chicago Daily Tribune, a newspaper published in Chicago, Ill .; and that the county auditor be and is hereby author- ized and directed to immediately proceed to so advertise said sale in said newspapers."
At the April session, as the records of the county survey which should have been on file in the auditor's office could not be found, the county surveyor was instructed to procure a book and make a record therein of all surveys that had been made. It was also moved and carried that the contract for furnishing plans and specifications for the court house be awarded to W. L. Dow.
May 7, the contract for negotiating the bonds of the county was awarded to Farson Leach & Co. of Chicago, for five thousand five hundred and ninety dollars, they being the lowest bidders. A spec- ial election was ordered for May 14, as required by the congressional Omnibus Bill, to resubmit the constitution of 1885, and to elect three delegates to the constitutional convention to be held July 4, 1889.
May 23, the board met as a canvassing board to canvass the vote cast at the election. The vote of Valley Springs precinct was found to be irregular, and finally the sheriff was sent for the ballot box.
June 20, at a regular meeting of the board, the contract for building the court house was awarded to the Sioux Falls Granite Co. for the sum of eighty-three thousand four hundred and fifty dollars. In accordance with the statute providing for an auditing board to audit the accounts of the county commissioners in the construction of the court house, Porter P. Peck was appointed to act in that capacity with the auditor and treasurer.
The Sioux Falls Granite Co. was required to give bonds to the amount of forty thousand dollars to the county for building the court house.
At the July meeting, W. L. Dow was appointed superintendent of the building of the court house, and was to receive as compen- sation for his services as such superintendent one and one-half per cent of the cost of the building, (the cost not to exceed eighty thou- sand dollars) and was required to furnish a bond of ten thousand dollars for the faithful preformance of his duties. Chairman McKee turned over to Treasurer Swenson eighty thousand dollars, the pro- ceeds from the sale of the bonds which included the county warrant of five thousand five hundred and ninety dollars paid for negotiating said bonds. Treasurer Swenson refused to accept this warrant as part of the proceeds and gave the board a receipt for seventy-four thousand four hundred and ten dollars.
September 24, the county poorhouse was accepted at a reduction of three hundred and forty-one dollars for not being built according to plans and specifications. E. J. Sharon and wife were appointed to superintend the county poorhouse and hospital at a salary of seventy- five dollars per month. The contract for wiring the court house for electric lights was awarded the Cascade Milling Co. at one dollar and seventy-five cents for each 16 candle power lamp. The contract
58
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
for mantels and grates was awarded to the St. Paul Mantel & Desk Co. at four hundred and ninety-four dollars. The contract for plumbing was awarded W. A. Dow for the sum of one thousand four hundred and twenty-four dollars. The Haxtun system for heating the court house was adopted and the contract awarded W. A. Dow for the sum of four thousand eight hundred and fifty dollars. It was also resolved to instruct the contractor to build and complete the tower of the court house according to plans and specifications.
1890. January 6, the board met in regular session the new members, John McKee and Geo. L. Wood taking their seats. The Sioux Falls Press, Dell Rapids Times and Valley Springs Enterprise were made official papers for the ensuing year.
February 4, resolutions were adopted for the incorporation of the town of South Sioux Falls, and notice of a meeting to the voters resident in the proposed town, was ordered. M. M. Smith was ap- pointed superintendent of the poor-farm at a salary of fifty dollars per month for two months.
At the election of February 20, the votes were all for the incor- poration of South Sioux Falls, and the board ordered said town in- corporated. The board figured up the number of bridges in the county and their estimated values, also the value of all other prop- erty belonging to Minnehaha county, and the total was placed at two hundred and forty-seven thousand dollars. The board inspected the different systems of poorhouse government and pauper relief as laid before them and explained by Chairman McKee, and after due delib- eration it was ordered that the Milwaukee system be adopted by the county. It was also ordered that the form of application used by Milwaukee county for temporary relief of the poor be adopted, and the auditor was instructed to get the necessary blanks. It was fur- ther ordered that no relief be granted except on such application.
A special meeting was called March 25, for the purpose of taking action in assisting the worthy and needy farmers to obtain seed grain, and to provide for the payment of interest on the eighty thou- sand dollars of Minnehaha court house bonds. The following reso- lution was adopted: "Be it resolved, that the resolution heretofore passed by this board on January 20, 1890, be and is hereby amended so that there be issued beyond the nine thousand dollars of refund- ing bonds authorized by said resolution a further bond for three hundred and sixty dollars to refund the interest due upon the bonds for the refunding of which said refunding bonds were authorized by said resolution, and that said three hundred and sixty dollar bond authorized hereby shall bear date upon the 15th day of February, A. D. 1890." The auditor was instructed to have printed for the use of seed wheat applicants, a suitable form of blanks.
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.