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 7
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April 1, the board again met in special session, to consider the applications for seed grain, and satisfactory arrangements were made for the negotiation of seed grain warrants, to cover the amount of grain applied for up to that date.
The board appointed the 19th day of August for a special elec- tion to be held in the office of the Sioux Falls Granite Company, for the purpose of determing the question whether the citizens residing
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
in that territory will organize a city to be known as East Sioux Falls. The county commissioner districts were redistricted, it having become necessary by reason of a law passed by the last legis- lature creating two commissioners for the city of Sioux Falls. . The new districts were fixed as follows:
District No. 1. Benton, Brandon, Mapleton, Red Rock, Wayne, Sioux Falls, Split Rock, South Sioux Falls and Valley Springs.
District No. 2. Dell Rapids, Burk. Logan, Highland, Lyons. Sverdrup, Edison and Palisade.
District No. 3. Buffalo, Clear Lake, Taopi, Grand Meadow, Humboldt, Hartford, Wellington and Wall Lake.
Districts Nos. 4 and 5. It was decided not to fix the boundaries of these districts until the precincts in the city of Sioux Falls had been redistricted.
At the August meeting the result of the election in East Sioux Falls was found to be 142 votes for incorporation and none against. and the proposed territory, was by the board declared to be an incor- porated city under the name of the city of East Sioux Falls. The resignation of C. O. Bailey as district attorney was accepted, and WV. A. Wilkes was appointed to fill vacancy. Mr. Wilkes refused to accept and D. R. Bailey was appointed and accepted on the 21st of August. The salary of the court house janitor was fixed at six hun- dred dollars a year, and I. F. Angstead appointed janitor.
October 17, the forenoon was spent in inspecting the court house, after which the auditor, treasurer, county judge and sheriff were instructed to move into their respective rooms in the new court house building, and the afternoon of the same day was spent in moving.
At the meeting December 4, it was ordered that the Minnehaha county court house, built by the Sioux Falls Granite Company, be accepted and warrants drawn on the general fund for balance due the company. It was also ordered that the offer of J. M. Bailey of twelve thousand dollars for lots 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, block 4, J. L. Philips Addition to Sioux Falls, be accepted.
The following resolution was adopted:
"WHEREAS, the duties of the district attorney by recent legisla- tion have been greatly increased and the terms of the court, which it becomes his duty to attend, have been doubled in numbers, and WHEREAS, there is now pending in the court about sixty cases which require his attention, now be it Resolved, that the salary of the dis- trict attorney for the balance of the term be and is hereby fixed at the rate of two thousand four hundred dollars per annum, and that the salary for the state's attorney for the next term commencing Jan- uary 1, 1891, be and hereby is fixed at the same rate. This is to in- clude such clerk hire and stenographic work as may be necessary in connection with the duties of his office."
1891. At the January session, 1891, Dr. LeBlond was elected county physician for the ensuing year. The Sioux Falls Press, Argus-Leader and Dell Rapids Times were made the official papers for the county.
At the July session a petition of the citizens of Garretson, ask-
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
ing for the incorporation of a city, was received by the commis- sioners and an election was ordered to be held in the "Hotel Gar- retson " on the 25th day of July for the purpose of determining the question.
August 22, the board met and the city of Garretson was declared incorporated, in accordance with the vote cast at the election held for that purpose.
At the September session which met September 7, the board discussed the matter of supplying the election precincts in the county with thirty-eight booths and forty-five compartments. After figuring the cost of same it was deemed advisable to advertise for bids for their construction. The resignation of D. C. Rice, county surveyor, was received and accepted and T. M. Patten was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The contract for making booths was awarded to H. Gremmels, he being the lowest bidder. The court house janitor's salary was raised from fifty to sixty dollars per month.
1892. January 4, the board met in regular session and the new members W. O. Colton and John T. Lee qualified and took their seats.
February 9, N. E. Stickney was elected superintendent of the poor-farm. The Dell Rapids Times, Sioux Falls Press and Argus- Leader were declared the official papers of the county.
At this session the auditor was directed to advertise for bids for steel cages for the county jail. A resolution was passed that for the next year the board would not allow to exceed $840 for clerk hire in the office of the clerk of courts, and would not allow that sum unless it could be paid out of any excess over $2,000 there might be in the earnings of the office.
At the April session, the bids for furnishing the county jail with steel cells were opened. The Pauley Jail Building Manufact- uring Co., and the Fred J. Meyers Manufacturing Co., put in bids as follows; S6,243 and $6,141. After a thorough examination of the matter the contract was awarded to the Pauley company to furnish six steel cells and place them all complete in the jail at the sum named in the bid. At this session the auditor was instructed to ad- vertise for a clock to be placed in the tower.
The following June, the board, after a thorough discussion of the demand for bridges in various sections of the county, decided that bridges should be built at the following places: "At Fuller's crossing on Skunk creek in Lyons; at Rathburn's crossing on Skunk creek; at John Thompson's on the Sioux river; at St. Olaf's church on the Sioux river; at Higgin's crossing on the Split Rock; and on the line between Valley Springs and Split Rock on Beaver Creek." Ten bids were received from bridge companies, and the contract was awarded to S. M. Hewitt & Co., for the sum of $6,482. Bids for the tower clock were opened, and being unsatisfactory, the auditor was directed to advertise again.
In July the board voted to loan the State World's Fair Commis- sioners the sum of $2,000, to make an exhibit at the Columbian Ex- position. The Howard Clock Co., was contracted with to furnish a clock for the court house tower, for the sum of $2,320. The treas- urer reported a cash balance on hand of $16,095.08.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
In September the auditor reported that the treasurer had in his hands for collection during the year of 1891 taxes to the amount of $56,187, that he had collected $29,185, and that there were county warrants outstanding to the amount of $14,255.
In October, George L. Wood was appointed a committee of one, to look after the survey of the boundary line between Minnehaha and Moody counties.
At the meeting in December, the following resolution was offered by Commissioner Wood: "WHEREAS, John McKee who has been a member of the county board of Minnehaha county nine years, and its chairman eight years, is about to sever his connection with the board; and WHEREAS, he has by his honesty of purposeand impartiality in the transaction of the business that has come before the board, not only from his district but from the entire county, performed the duties of his office with great diligence and faithfulness, now be it Resolved, by his associates, that he merits the thanks of every citizen of the county, and we cordially endorse his official career as worthy of imi- tation by his successors in office. Resolved, that this resolution be spread upon the minutes and published with our proceedings."
1893. January 3, the resignation of George A. Knott as com- missioner of the 4th district having been filed with the auditor, the board accepted it, and calling in Judge Parliman proceeded to fill the vacancy by appointing Frank S. Emerson. John T. Lee was elected chairman of the board. At this session C. P. Bates was appointed as one of the commissioners of insanity for the term of two years. The Sioux Falls Press, Dell Rapids Times and Syd Dakota Ekko, were the newspapers appointed to publish the proceedings of the board for the ensuing year. Dr. T. S. Roberts was appointed county physician and F. S. Emerson purchasing agent for the county. W. O. Colton and F. S. Emerson were appointed a commit- tee to procure furniture for the rooms of the circuit judge and super- intendent of schools. N. E. Stickney was contracted with as super- intendent of the poor-farm for one year.
In February, the board authorized Commissioner Colton to aid persons living in his vicinity, who had their crops destroyed by hail the year before, in procuring seed grain. The board by resolution fixed the minimum prices for the lease of school lands, those under cultivation not to be less than fifty cents per acre.
At a meeting in April the board offered a reward of $400 for the capture of Dr. A. M. Fisher and his delivery in Minnehaha county to the sheriff.
The contract for building such bridges as the county commis- sioners might order during the ensuing year was let to S. M. Hewitt & Co.
John T. Lee and A. J. Berdahl were appointed a committee to visit the hospital for insane at Yankton, to ascertain the feasibility of caring for the mild cases of insanity at the poor-farm.
W. O. Colton was appointed to aid the county surveyor T. M. Patten in settling the boundary line between Minnehaha and Lake counties, and John T. Lee to aid the surveyor in fixing the boundary line between the counties of Minnehaha and Lincoln. They were
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
directed to set stone monuments, three feet in length and six inches square, on the boundary lines one mile apart on section corners.
The auditor was directed to prepare a record of all bridges built in the county since 1880, and to keep a record of all bridges built in the future.
The county treasurer reported that he had received $2,000, the amount loaned commissioners of World's Fair, and he was directed to "turn it over to the general fund."
At the close of the session, John T. Lee and A. J. Berdahl re- ported that they had visited the hospital for insane, as directed, and in their opinion "it would be unjust to the patients to remove them from the hospital, and that there were legal obstacles in the way of so doing."
The board met July 3, and ordered the building of a bridge "between sections 7 and 8 in Wayne, in the place of the one washed away in May." The bond of James W. Cone, as abstracter, in the sum of $10,000, was approved. The county treasurer's report was examined and approved, cash on hand, $16,026.20.
The chairman of the board was directed at this session to em- ploy some competent person to thoroughly investigate the offices of the clerk of the courts, treasurer and register of deeds.
August 10, the board passed the following resolution: "Resolved, that it is the sense of the board that the state's attorney of Minne- haha county do desist and refrain from bringing any further actions either civil or criminal under the prohibition act unless such state's attorney is first fully satisfied from all the evidence within his knowledge that a conviction is reasonably certain of being had, and in view of the premises we further request that the honorable cir- cuit and county courts of this county examine carefully any evidence which may be produced before them prior to issuing any process, with a view of placing the force of this law in operation either upon the request of the state's attorney or private citizens."
The commissioners of each district were directed to "prepare a statement of the number of bridges in their respective districts, when built, location and condition, so that a map can be made, and to report at the next meeting of the board September 4."
September 4, the board convened and the auditor made his an- nual report of the receipts and disbursements of the year ending June 30, 1893. The report was substantially as follows: After the equalization by the state board in 1892, the assessed valuation of the County of Minnehaha was $10,560,972. A levy of four mills was made, which amounted to S42,444. The county disbursed during the year $49,613.86; the collection of delinquent taxes during the year enabled the board to disburse this amount. Of the tax levied in 1892, $13,102.50 was delinquent. Registered warrants in the sum of $5,676 were still unpaid. During the year the county expended in building and repairing bridges $11,578.15, and the delinquent tax be- longing to the bridge fund was $2,893.
November 13, the board met and canvassed the vote for judges and county commissioner, and certified that J. W. Jones had re- ceived 1,183, W. A. Wilkes 644 and H. H. Keith 472 votes for judge
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
of the circuit court, and F. S. Emerson 358, W. D. Roberts 254 and C. C. Peterson 87 votes for county commissioner for the fourth dis- trict.
A warrant was ordered drawn to George A. Knott for $192.50, for expenses incurred in bringing Dr. A. M. Fisher from Missouri to Sioux Falls.
Public Examiner Meyers' report of his investigation of the clerk of the courts' office was referred to the state's attorney with direc- tions to report in writing to the board at its next meeting what in his opinion could be done under the circumstances.
1894. At the January session the state board of equalization having raised the assessment of the banks in the county fifty per cent., a refund warrant was ordered issued upon the payment of their taxes for this excess less the amount of the state tax.
The Dell Rapids Times, Sioux Falls Weekly Press and the Syd Dakota Ekko were chosen to publish the proceedings of the board for the year ensuing.
At a meeting of the board March 9, Albion Thorne, clerk of the courts, was directed to make a settlement with the board on or be- fore the 2d day of April, 1894, and to turn over all the monies in his hands earned in his official capacity prior to January 1, 1894.
April 7, a resolution was passed directing the state's attorney to bring an action for the removal of Albion Thorne from the office of clerk of the courts, and also to obtain, if possible, his suspension from office while the action was pending. A refund order, in the sum of $2,940.22, was issued in favor of the county fund for tax of South Sioux Falls for the year 1890, the assessment of the property in that municipality having been declared void for that year, and non-interest bearing warrants on the county fund were ordered issued in favor of those who had paid their taxes for that year in the amount paid by them less the town and school tax standing against them, and the taxes for the year 1890 were abated.
A contract was made with S. M. Hewitt & Co., for one year, for building the county bridges.
On the 28th day of April, the board met and advised with the assessors, as required by law. The state's attorney was instructed to bring suit against Albion Thorne, clerk of the courts, and his bondsmen, for the amount due the county from him in his official ca- pacity.
At the June session the board were petitioned to contract with parties proposing to produce rain, but it was rejected. Afterwards they were so earnestly importuned by those having faith in the ability of the rainmakers, that they entered into a contract of this character.
In July the semi-annual report of the county treasurer showed that there was S21,119.97 on hand in the treasury.
In August, upon recommendation of the sheep owners Luke McLachren was appointed sheep inspector for the term of two years.
Two hundred and fifty dollars was voted to the town of Humboldt to pay the expenses incurred in caring for the Krause family while suffering with diphtheria ..
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
The assessed valuation of the county after the equalization by the state board of equalization in August was $9,902,385.
A contract was entered into with E. L. Smith for 250 tons of steam coal at $5.21 per ton, and 100 tons hard coal at $7.95 per ton, and James Henneberry agreed to furnish 40 tons Hocking Valley coal at $5.40 per ton.
September 15, the county treasurer was directed by the board to proceed to collect the delinquent tax of 1893.
From 1876 to 1892 inclusive, the board had canceled from the tax rolls the sum of $11,816.21 of personal taxes that could not be collected.
In November the board canvassed the election returns. At this session the board voted that the judges and clerks of election should receive in the city of Sioux Falls six dollars each, and in all other precincts four dollars each for their services on election day.
In December two hundred dollars was appropriated and warrant drawn in favor of the Woman's Benevolent association of the city of Sioux Falls, to be expended by such association in relieving the poor of the city.
1895. On the 7th day of January the members of the board elected in November qualified, and John T. Lee was re-elected chair- man of the board. The amount of bonds of county officers was fixed as follows: Treasurer, $100,000; sheriff, $35,000; judge county court, $15,000; coroner, $15,000; register of deeds, $10,000; auditor, $5,000; state's attorney, $2,000; surveyor, $1,000; clerk of courts, $2,000; superintendent of schools, justices of the peace, constables and assessors, S500 each.
County Treasurer C. L. Norton turned over to John Mundt, his successor in office, $24,892.39 in cash, $5,675 in school district bonds, and $9,225 in real estate mortgages, being the securities held for loans from the permanent school fund.
A resolution was passed requiring Albion Thorne. as clerk of courts, to report what fees he had received and collected in 1895, and to settle up and pay over to the board the amount of the earnings of his office during the years 1894 and 1895 in excess of the amount he was entitled to retain.
On the 12th day of January the board passed a resolution to the effect that all persons in the county unable to procure seed grain could obtain such by applying to the chairman of the township board where they resided, on or before the first day of February, and to make application upon blanks furnished by the auditor, and also re- quested the chairman of each township board to send all such appli- cations to the commissioner residing in his district, before the 6th day of February.
The Dakota Staats Zeitung, Dell Rapids Times and Hartford Plain Talker were the newspapers selected to publish the proceed- ings of the board.
In February an emergency was declared to exist in reference to the building of bridges at Yankton crossing in Sioux Falls, between sections 5 in Sverdrup and 32 in Dell Rapids, and between sections 28 and 33 in Split Rock, and steps were taken to have bridges built at these points at once.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
On the 8th day of February the board decided to purchase 14,500 bushels of wheat, 30,000 bushels of oats, 3,900 bushels of barley and 600 bushels of corn, to supply the demand made for seed grain by those who were unable to procure it themselves. John T. Lee was directed to make the purchase and to secure as cheap freight rates as possible.
A special session was held on the 4th of March to consider the price to be charged for seed grain, and it was fixed as follows: Wheat, 56 cents, oats, 35 cents, and corn, $1.15 cents per bushel. On the 12th a seed grain fund was created and warrants ordered drawn on the county fund to the amount of $22,000, in denominations of $500 each, to be sold, and the sum received placed to the seed grain fund. The treasurer was directed to purchase $10,000 of these warrants and pay from the sinking fund $7,000, and from the salary fund $3,000.
On the 27th, a special meeting was held. New applications for seed grain were received and acted upon, and grain ordered shipped.
At the April session a contract was entered into with the sheriff to board all prisoners for sixty cents a day, this sum to include bed- ding, washing and all incidentals connected with the care of the prisoners. Another contract was made with S. M. Hewitt & Co., to build county bridges for the year ensuing.
At a session in June the superintendent of schools was directed to keep "copies of the school laws in stock for sale." Warrants in the amount of $9,359.47, to pay for seed grain were ordered issued.
N. E. Stickney, in charge of the poor-farm resigned July 1, and Joseph Hostetter was contracted with to fill his place until January 1, 1896.
At the September meeting of the board the auditor reported that warrants had been drawn during the previous fiscal year to the amount of $102,716.17, and $300 was appropriated for a county ex- hibit at the state fair.
1896. At the January meeting, the Argus-Leader, Dakota Ekko and Valley Springs Vidette were made official newspapers. Dr. T. Y. Stevenson was elected county physician, and Dr. Morgan and A. F. Orr were appointed members of the board of insanity. The clerk of courts turned over $535.35, the balance of fees collected over and above expenses during the year ending December 31, 1895. Dell Rapids, Garretson, Valley Springs, Hartford, Baltic, Brandon, Hum- boldt and Sioux Falls were designated as places for selling chattel mortgage property. Settled with treasurer, cash on hand $56,675.35.
At the April meeting the board contracted with the Toledo Bridge Co. to build county bridges for one year. Petition presented for commissioners to order an action brought against themselves for taking pay in excess of the amount provided by law.
July 6, T. M. Patten resigned as county surveyor.
August 8, the town of Hartford was declared incorporated.
At the September meeting of the board an appropriation of $125 was made to assist Buffalo township in making a road between sections two and eleven; and the salary of the state's attorney was fixed at $1,200 per annum, payable quarterly.
1897. January 4, the newly elected officers qualified; the 5
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Argus-Leader, Syd Dakota Ekko and Valley Springs Vidette were made the official papers and F. S. Emerson was made purchasing agent for supplies for county offices, and A. H. Stites for poor-farm. At the February meeting H. W. Smith's official bond as auditor was filed and approved, and all salaries were made payable monthly. In April the board contracted with S. M. Hewitt & Co., of Minneapolis, to build bridges in the county the ensuing year.
At the July meeting the Valley Springs Vidette, Sioux Falls Journal and Argus-Leader were made the official papers. Contracts were let to J. A. Ward to build two stone bridges, one in Wayne township for the sum of $919.41, and one in Edison township across Pipestone creek at a cost of S810.
The assessed valuation of the county in 1897 was $7,223,224.
1898. At the January session the Argus-Leader, the Sioux Falls Journal, and Valley Springs Vidette were made the official newspapers. On the 20th day of May, the board ordered a warrant drawn in the sum of $500 for the purpose of creating a fund for the use of the private soldiers of Company B, who had enlisted in the military service, and the same day also ordered a warrant drawn in the sum of $550 for a regimental fund for the First Dakota Regiment.
Having brought this synopsis to a recent date, we will close with this appropriate and patriotic act on the part of the County Board.
LIST OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY FROM 1871 TO 1900.
1871-John Thompson, chairman; Ole Bergerson, Charles Allen. 1872-John Thompson, chairman; Ole Bergerson, Newton Clark.
1873-Newton Clark, chairman; Ole Bergerson, R. S. Alexander. 1874-Newton Clark, chairman; Ole Bergerson, R. S. Alexander.
1875-R. S. Alexander, chairman; Ole Bergerson, William Robertson.
1876-William Robertson, chairman; Ole Bergerson, Rolluf Anderson.
1877-Artemas Gale, chairman; Ole Bergerson, S. H. Burk.
1878-Artemas Gale, chairman; Ole Bergerson, S. H. Burk.
1879-Artemas Gale, chairman; S. H. Burk, W. J. Jones.
1880-S. H. Burk, chairman; W. J. Jones, A. Clendenning. 1881-S. H. Burk, chairman; W. J. Jones, A. Clendenning.
1882-S. H. Burk, chairman; A. Clendenning, Christian Aslesen. A. Clendenning resigned April 7, and N. E. Phillips was appointed the same day to fill the vacancy.
1883-S. H. Burk, chairman; Christian Aslesen, Seymour Hill. Chris. Aslesen resigned January 11, and Ransom Walter was ap- pointed the same day to fill the vacancy.
1884-Seymour Hill, chairman; Ole J. Berdahl, Arthur Jones, John McKee, Ransom Walter.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
1885-Seymour Hill, chairman; Ole J. Berdahl, Arthur Jones, John McKee, G. D. Bannister.
1886-John McKee, chairman; G. D. Bannister, Ole J. Berdahl, Arthur Jones, John Thompson.
1887-John McKee, chairman: G. D. Bannister. John Thompson, O. F. Bowles, Arthur Jones.
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