History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 24

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 998

USA > South Dakota > History of South Dakota, Vol. I > Part 24

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CHAPTER XXVII

THE FIRST NEWSPAPER.

On July 2, 1859, the first issue of the Dakota Democrat made its appearance. It was a five- column, four-page publication, well edited and well printed. The two outside pages were de- voted to stories, anecdotes and verses, very much of the character of the patent pages of the present day country paper, and the two inside pages were devoted to editorial and local news. So far as known no complete copy of the first issue is in existence. The writer, however, has a copy which is printed only on the outside and con- tains no matter of local interest except a poem by Gov. Henry Masters, and as it was probably the first purely literary production in Dakota and, too, one of the few scraps of evidence as to the bent of Governor Masters' mind it is here re- produced :

SIOUX FALLS.

Thou glidest gently, O thou winding stream, Mirroring the beauty of thy flowery banks, Now yielding to our soul's Elysian dreams, For which we offer thee our heartfelt thanks.

O, tell us why thou tarriest here so long, Oft curving hack upon thy flower-decked path, Loitering as if an angel's song,

Where once was heard the warwhoop's sound of wrath.

Tchankasondata, is the sunset land Thou rivalest in beauty all thy own, Sporting the waters of a merry hand Of lakelets that support thy Naiad throne.

Oft has the Indian maiden spell-bound stood, With her enamoured lover near thy side, Breaking the silence with a "washta"-good, As loving they watched thy onward tide.

Their vows of love still dimple on thy face, Which oft are spoken in thy watery ear, The vows of Nature's children, told with grace, And with a loving trust, devoid of fear.

Then roll along, thou bright and lovely Sioux, And whilst thou dalliest with each favored spot, Peninsulas of beauty spring to view, Reflecting each a happy Eden lot.

But tell me what arrests thy progress now? Thou tremblest like a culprit doomed to pain, An isle of beauty sits upon thy brow, Then fear not-hope; resume thy course again.

Tchankasondata, thou hearest now the shout, Ha-ha, proclaiming that the falls are here, Beauty has hither marked thy course throughout, Now grandeur woos thee for his consort peer.

Solemnity and loveliness unite, As o'er thy rocky bed thou strugglest forth, Telling with foaming crest from many a height, In voice of many waters of thy worth.

Here at thy falls ere many moons shall wane, A city full of busy life shall rise, And thou, O Sioux, shall learn that seeking gain Is not what sons of men most prize.

The name of Samuel J. Albright appears as editor and proprietor and also the declaration that the paper is published in the "Democrat

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

building, northeast corner of Bridge and Main streets." No copy of the second issue has been found and presumably there is none in existence. Number 3 did not appear inntil August 26th, which indicates the irregular dates of its issue. This third number contains a three-column editorial setting forth the advantages of Dakota as a place of settlement. This statement is really conservative in its general tone, though whoever relied upon the proposition that "soundings of the Big Sioux made during the present summer, by a gentleman from the east who designs placing a steamboat upon it, proved entirely satis- factory, that good navigation may be obtained as high up as Sioux Falls," was no doubt more or less disappointed. The following political notices appear in this issue :

TERRITORIAL CONVENTION.

A convention of the citizens of Dakota Territory will be held at the Dakota House, Sioux Falls City, on Saturday, the third day of September next, for the purpose of nominating a candidate for delegate to represent the said territory in the congress of the United States during the ensuing two years.

Sioux Falls City, August 10, 1859.

ELECTION NOTICE.

Notice is hereby given that on Monday, the 12th day of September, 1859, at the several election pre- cinets in the county of Big Sioux, an election will be held for the following named officers, to wit:

A governor, secretary of the territory, a delegate to congress, four members of the territorial house of representatives, two members of the territorial council, a judge of probate, a district attorney, three county commissioners, a sheriff, a register of deeds, a county treasurer, a coroner, two justices of the peace, two county assessors and two constables, elec- tion to be held in the first precinct at the Dakota House, second precinct at the house of Henry Mas- ters, third precinct at the house of Charles Philbrick.

J. M. ALLEN, Clerk Board County Commissioners. Dated this 6th day of August, A. D. 1859.

There is also an editorial notice of the ap- proaching convention which is noteworthy as an attempt to avoid saying anything and a column of locals in which not a single name of a citizen

is mentioned. Here are a few samples : "The saw and grist-mills are again in operation after a suspension of a couple of weeks. The atmos- phere of late has been drier than the parched throat of a wassailer after a night's debauch. The prairies have been burning to the north and west of the falls during the present week. The grain crop is well harvested hereabouts, the hay is cut and the corn and potatoes will soon be ready to gather in. A good road is now marked out leading from Sioux Falls City to the mouth of the James on the Missouri. Two emigrant teams arrived over it last week."

Among the advertisements in this issue are those of Albright & Allen, real estate, who also offer four shares of stock in the Dakota Land Company for sale at one hundred and fifty dollars each ;. J. W. Evans, carpenter and builder ; J. McCall, stone-mason ; Albert Kilgore, blacksmith ; John Rouse, shoemaker, and J. L. Phillips, M. D., physician and surgeon. The St. Paul & Min- nesota Packet Company advertise that they will run steamers regularly to St. Peter, Mankato, New Ulm and the Lower Agency, "as long as the stage of water will permit any boat on the river to run."

The fourth number came along on November 8th and the editor heads his columns with an apology for the "hiatus." This is the most interesting issue of the Democrat which has been preserved in that it contains a full report of the doings of the Dakota Land Company for the previous year and its estimate of the several points occupied by it. In addition to Saratoga, Mountain Pass, Lynd and Redwood Center, in Minnesota, reports are made on the following Dakota properties :

RENSHAW, at the mouth of the Upper Couteau Percee, connecting with the Sioux at the Big Walnut timber, twenty miles north of Medary and near Lake Preston. This location embraces three hundred twenty acres of land, well improved.

The site of Renshaw was, according to Byron E. Pay, who visited the place, a short distance north of the present location of Estelline in Hamlin county.

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

MEDARY, the county seat of Midway county, the first organized county in Dakota, situated on the Big Sioux at the crossing of the government road and twenty-five miles due west of Mountain Pass. Two hundred twenty acres were script here.

FLANDRAU is the county seat of Rock county, at the junction of Couteau Percee with the Sioux, fif- teen miles south of Medary. Six hundred forty acres.

SIOUX FALLS CITY, established seat of govern- ment of Big Sioux county and the recognized capital of the territory, at the falls of the Big Sioux, the head of navigation on that river, terminus of the Transit railroad west, sixty miles south of Mountain Pass and one hundred miles up from the Missouri. Three hundred twenty acres.

EMINIJA is the county seat of Vermillion county, at the mouth of the Split Rock river and Pipestone creek, on the Big Sioux, thirteen miles below the Falls and at the more practicable head of navigation for large steamers. Six hundred forty acres.

COMMERCE CITY is situated at the great bend of the Sioux on the Dakota side, half way between Sioux Falls City and the Missouri, a natural site for a town. Coal and timber plenty. At a point to which steamers of any class may ply in any stage of water. Three hundred twenty acres.

The ambitions of the Dakota Land Company, however, were not satisfied with these eligible town sites and thriving cities; they wanted the earth. The report continues :

The expedition in charge of Messrs. Brawley and Smith, which left this city in June, have ere this time planted the flag of the Dakota Land Company on each valuable site as may be found from the mouth of the Sioux to old Fort Lookout on the Mis- souri and on the James, Vermillion and Wanari riv- ers. They have sounded to the points to which steamers may practically run and there have also commenced the nuclei of towns. Their movements will be seconded by the more timid and adventurous and, the way being paved, a lively emigration will follow up. This party went down the river from Sioux Falls City by boat in the latter part of June on their way to the upper Missouri.

There are more than two thousand miles of nav- igable waters bordering and within the ceded por- tions of Dakota and this company will have already secured the most desirable centers for trade and com- merce and governmental organization on all these rivers.

This fourth edition of the Democrat also contains a report of the deatlı of Governor

Masters, which occurred from an attack of apoplexy, at his home on his farm, which was located at what is now the corner of Duluth and Eighth avenue in Sioux Falls. The Governor was a native of Bath, Maine, and was fifty-three years of age at his death. His son Henry was with him at his death. The Democrat pays a high tribute to his worth.

The still existing jealousy between the two Sioux is indicated in the following derogatory comment:

A party recently returned from Sioux City (on the Missouri in Iowa) reports a large proportion of the inhabitants of that town are becoming thoroughly disheartened with their future prospects and large numbers are leaving for the more flourishing points in Dakota. The blighting frost which came upon them before their grain was matured and destroying in one night the labor of an entire season, together with the fact that the towns on the Sioux and Mis- souri are beginning to take away the trade which heretofore has been their almost entire means of support, has been the principal cause of the higeria which has taken place recently. Almost every house is said to be tenantless and of the three hotels built to improve surrounding property, not one is occupied. The chills and fever, which prevailed among them very generally during the past summer, has somewhat abated since the commencement of cold weather, we are happy to learn, so that at least one of their troubles have partially ceased for a time. We com- miserate the people in and about our sister city and hold out to them the glorious Eden of the Sioux val- ley as a spot to which they can flee from sickness, stagnation and starvation-a country at once free from miasmatic Missouri bottoms or bleak and ster- ile Missouri mountains.

In this issue the editor was anticipating the early arrival of G. P. Waldron and family from Dubuque and of Henry Masters, Jr., who had gone east to bring out his father's family. Wil- mot W. Brookings' card as attorney and coun- selor at law appears, and the editor mildly sug- gests that cord wood or grain will be. thankfully received on subscriptions. The proceedings of the legislature are reported in this issue.

No copy of the fifth issue is available and it is probable that it is not in existence. Number six was published December 15th and continues the report of the doings of the legislature, a con-

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

densation of which will be given in the following chapter. The probability of congressional action in behalf of Dakota at the then convening session is discussed at length, and shows the helpless condition of the settlers without the protection of law. The hanging of John Brown is reported on the local page, but there are no local stories of consequence.

The only other copy of this publication which has come under notice is number nine, printed February 18, 1860, in which nothing of historic interest is developed, if we may except the pro- ceedings of the county commissioners of Big Sioux county, at which a committee was ap- pointed to confer with a like committee from

Buchanan county relating to the construction of a bridge across the Sioux near the Falls, and a bridge was ordered built across Slip Up creek. The following resolution, introduced by Mr. Greenway, passed: "Resolved, that the board will receive sealed proposals for the erection of a court house and jail up to the first day of June next."

It is probable that this was the last issue of the Democrat. Congress failed to create the ter- ritory and Mr. Albright, becoming discouraged over the delay, left for the South sometime in the spring. Later the publication was revived for a brief period, as the Independent, by a Mr. Stewart.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE ELECTION OF 1859.

As will be noted from the previous chapter, the ambitious statesmen of Sioux Falls City had called a second territorial convention to con- vene at the Dakota House in Sioux Falls City on Saturday, September 3, 1859. for the purpose of nominating a candidate for delegate in congress and on the day mentioned almost the entire popu- lation met in solemn conclave to perform this grave duty. Alpheus G. Fuller, the first repre- sentative, was over at the newly established Yankton agency when this momentous event took place, never doubting, however, that the honor of a renomination awaited him, but the wise men behind the movement at St. Paul had other plans. A few days before the convention Judge Jef- ferson P. Kidder, a citizen of St. Paul, was dis- patched to the Sioux for the purpose of accepting this nomination to congress. He arrived in Sioux Falls less than a week before the convention oc- curred, but the advantage of having a gentle- man of Judge Kidder's ability and wide acquaint- ance for their representative at Washington was so apparent that he was promptly and unani- mously chosen. At the same time Henry Masters was nominated for governor. James M. Allen for secretary of state and a full legislative ticket placed in the field. Judge Kidder was nominated on Saturday and on the following Tuesday morn- ing he returned to St. Paul and was not again in Dakota for several years.

On Monday, September 5th, Henry Masters, acting governor and candidate for re-election, died. The name of Sammel J. Albright was sub-

stituted for that of Masters. Before the election came off Alpheus G. Fuller returned and when he learned that he had failed of a re-nomination he was filled with righteous indignation and re- solved to bolt the convention and run as an in- dependent candidate, which resolution he put into practice with such success as to, it is declared by Judge W. W. Brookings, secure a large majority of the votes actually cast at the election, which occurred on September 12th. The new settlers on the Missouri did not vote. Samuel J. Albright visited the Pembina country to conduct the election there. After the election Mr. Fuller returned to his employment at Yankton agency.

The actual result of the election made very little difference, for it was fully determined by the powers that Judge, or rather Governor Kid- der, as he was then called, for he had been lieu- tenant governor of Vermont, should be the con- gressional representative, but it was important that there should be no dissension, for as, in order to make out a case favorably to the creation of a new territory, before congress, it was absolutely necessary to make a fraudulent return of the voting strength of the people, they could not afford to have a contest among themselves, which would reveal the true state of affairs to out- siders. Consequently a council was called and it was decided to call Alpheus G. Fuller off. The delicate mission was entrusted to Maj. Franklin J. DeWitt, who set out to visit Mr. Fuller at the Yankton agency. Precisely what occurred is not recorded, but it is certain that the Major was suc-

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cessful in his undertaking for he soon returned with a very plausible letter from Mr. Fuller in which he pledged hearty co-operation with Gov- ernor Kidder, whose election he conceded. With Mr. Fuller harmonized, it only remained to make a proper showing of the vote, and Secretary of State Allen was quite equal to the emergency. Under date of March 2, 1860, he issued the fol- lowing certificate :

Office of Secretary of Dakota Territory.

Abstract of votes cast at the general election held September 12, 1859, for the election of delegate to congress as per returns from the various counties now on file in this office:

Kidder Fuller Kidder Fuller

Big Sioux County-

First Precinct.

287

Second Precinct. 198

485

33 485 33

Vermillion county

...

Midway county

973

114

Rock county.

...

Pembina county-

Precinct of Pembina ... 110

359

. . 359

1938 147

I hereby certify to the above returns as heing correct.

J. M. ALLEN. Sec'y of Terr.

From all accounts, Samuel J. Albright, although duly elected governor, did not qualify, but soon left the territory and the onerous duties of that place fell upon the capable shoulders of Judge Wilmot W. Brookings, president of the senate. Predicated upon this certificate of the vote cast, Judge Brookings issued a certificate of election to Governor Kidder in the following :

This is to certify that at an election held in the several precincts in that part of the territory of Minnesota without the limits of the state of Minne- sota, and in that part of said territory west of the western boundary of said state (now by common consent called Dakota), on the 12th day of Septem- ber, A. D. 1859, Jefferson P. Kidder was duly elected a delegate to the house of representatives of the United States, he having received the highest num- ber and a majority of all the votes cast at said elec- tion for said office, for two years from the fourth day of March last.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand at Sioux Falls City this first day of December, 1859. W. W. BROOKINGS.

Acting governor of that portion of the territory of Minnesota without the state limits now called Dakota.

These certificates were sent to Governor Kidder, who was not satisfied with them. The abstract of the alleged vote cast was so preposter- ous that he felt that he could not go before congress without some explanation of it, so Sec- retary Allen, at his suggestion, prepared the fol- lowing certificate :

Office of Secretary of Dakota Terr.,

March 2, 1860.

This is to certify that at the election for dele- gate held September 12, 1859, wherein J. P. Kidder was elected, that the returns from the counties of Midway and Big Sioux also included the returns from the counties lying west of the Big Sioux and extending to the Missouri river, comprising the coun- ties of Buchanan, Vermillion, Douglas and Stephens, the said counties having been attached to the coun- ties of Midway and Big Sioux for judicial purposes, they having no permanent organization.

J. M. ALLEN, Sec'y of Dakota Terr.

Governor Kidder also wrote out in his own hand the following as a substitute for the cer- tificate of election issued by Judge Brookings and sent it out to be signed by Brookings and the latter obligingly attached his signature to it.

This is to certify that at an election held in that portion of the former territory of Minnesota not in- cluded in the present state of Minnesota (known as Dakota), on the 12th day of September, 1859, J. P. Kidder received the largest number of votes cast for delegate to congress from said territory and is conse- quently entitled to recognition as such delegate.

W. W. BROOKINGS, Governor Ex-Officio.

Armed with these certificates, Judge Kidder appeared before congress on the 12th day of April, 1860, and presented a memorial from the provisional legislature asking that he be seated and also a strong personal petition, backed by a very convincing brief showing all of the prec- edents in similar cases. He had abandoned the idea that a new territory of Dakota existed and adopted the view of the committee of elections in the Fuller-Kingsbury contest of the previous session, that the portion of Minnesota territory

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

not included within the state of Minnesota still existed as Minnesota territory and as the duly elected delegate from that section was entitled to recognition. His memorial and brief were ordered printed and occupy eight pages and con- clude as follows :

The precedents from the admission of Ohio to the admission of Minnesota have all been alike. Mr. Fearing, from the Northwestern territory, was per- mitted, after the admission of Ohio into the Union, to retain his seat. Mr. Jones, elected by that portion of the people of the territory of Michigan who resided without the limits of the state, held his seat after Michigan was admitted. Mr. Sibley, elected after Wisconsin was admitted, by the people of the terri- tory who resided outside of the limits of the state, was admitted to a seat before the territory of Minne- sota was organized. Mr. Kidder was elected by that portion of the people of the territory of Minnesota who reside outside the limits of the state precisely and under the same circumstances as was Mr. Sibley, aft- er the admission of the state into the Union. Why then should he not be admitted to a seat? Do this and there would not seem to be a distinction without a cause; then you will have concluded, so far as this tiersof territories is concerned, a long line of safe precedents, extending from Lake Erie to the Mis- souri river.

Every foot of our public domain is now repre- sented on the floor of the house except this portion. And our citizens are now supplicating congress and pleading by their representative that they may not be deprived of all civil government and thrust from its doors by a forced and constructive interpretation of law.

They have been within the bounds of a civil gov- ernment and legal jurisdiction. They ask that what has solemnly been secured to them, under which they have operated for years, having good reason to be- lieve the same should be perpetual, should not with- out sufficient cause be taken from them.

May they have an advocate on the floor of Con- gress?

Judge Kidder's labors were unavailing. He continued the fight for recognition until the ter- ritory of Dakota was created by law, on the 2d' of March, 1861 ; then he made a last appeal for justice to the extent of his expense incurred, but was refused. This appeal, now in the possession of the State Historical Society, is in Judge Kid- der's handwriting and is about the only record of what he actually did in his efforts to gain recognition :

To the Honorable, the House of Representatives of the United States of America, now in session:

Your memorialist, Jefferson P. Kidder, of the territory of Dakota, respectfully showeth:

That he was elected as a delegate to the thirty- sixth congress of the United States to represent that portion of the territory of Minnesota not included within the limits of the state of Minnesota (then by common consent called Dakota) by the voters there- of. That he appeared before the Honorable House of Representatives of said congress and asked to be admitted to a seat therein, as will more fully appear by a House Miscellaneous Document No. 73, of the 1st session of said congress, hereto attached and made a part of this memorial.

That said Kidder was before said house and its honorable committee on elections during the first session thereof five months and was before the same during the second (2d) session of said congress two months; and on the 2d day of March during said last session the territory of Dakota was created by act of congress; but said Kidder was not admitted to his seat, nor did he ever receive any compensation for his travel, per diem, time spent, or expenses incurred therein.

Wherefore for which he claims that he is entitled to compensation; and states:

That he traveled from his home a distance of one thousand four hundred miles twice, to appear before said congress and that he spent, paid out a large sum of money in prosecuting his claim to said seat to- wit: the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, and your memorialist will ever pray.

JEFFERSON P. KIDDER.

This memorial is not dated, but was probably presented the last days of the thirty-sixth con- gress, about March 3, 1861.

As before indicated, politics had most to do with the failure of the Sioux Falls men to gain recognition. The movement was inaugurated by ardent Democrats, the ramifications of whose organization ran into all of the departments of government. Never were plans better laid, by more acute men, but, to their misfortune, the Re- publican party was born and within four years swept the land. It was agreat revolution, in which party spirit ran high and it was not to be expected that the young Republicans, flushed with their first victories, would be particularly magnanimous to their enemies. Hence the Democratic Sioux Falls movement came to naught.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 24

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn Publication date: 1904 Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen Number of Pages: 998

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 998