USA > South Dakota > History of southeastern Dakota, its settlement and growth, geological and physical features--countries, cities, towns and villages--incidents of pioneer life--biographical sketches of the pioneers and business men, with a brief outline history of the territory in general > Part 11
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DELL RAPIDS.
R. S. Alexander and daughter, E. F. Metcalf, Geo. Forrester, R. T. Alexander, Lewis Hewlitt and a Mr. Hooke.
Hewlitt carried the mails first on foot; afterwards, during the snowy weather, in an Indian cutter made of ash poles and cotton- wood boards; and when the snow disappeared, on foot and on horseback alternately. The mail was carried in a grain sack. In the spring Thorne moved the postoffice to his claim on the south- east quarter of section 4. The office was in fact kept, during the eighteen months of Mr. Thorne's service as Postmaster, in a small trunk, which he still preserves as an interesting souvenir of the time. The Postmaster's salary for the first eighteen months amounted to the magnificent sum of eighteen dollars. Byron D. Graves succeeded Mr. Thorne as Postmaster. The settlement was at first called Dell City, the name of the postoffice being simply Dell, The name of the town was changed to Dell Rapids in 1872, which name the Postoffice Department also adopted in the follow- ing year.
In 1871 the first paper was printed by J. C. Ervin. It was called the Dell City Journal, was printed at Webster City, Iowa, and issued at Dell Rapids, or Dell City, as it was then called. Albion Thorne was the local editor. Ervin moved to Dell Rapids in 1872, and the paper was continued until some time in 1873, when Ervin moved to Marshall, Minn. From that time no paper was printed at Dell Rapids until February, 1879, when E. C. Whalen began the publication of the Dell Rapids Exponent. Whalen ran the paper for a period of seven months, when Albion Thorne suc- ceeded as editor and proprietor. On the first of January, 1880, Mr. Thorne sold the paper to Charles E. Griswold, the present editor and proprietor. The Exponent, as conducted by Mr. Gris- wold, is what its name indicates, being a neat, newsy publication, and a clear and creditable exponent of the necessities and opinions of its constituency.
The first store in Dell Rapids was established by Byron D. Graves in 1873, 'on the northeast quarter of section nine. A Mr. Cowen, also built a store in the following year, which store was shortly va- catedby reason of his death. Gust. A. Uline came to Dell Rapids, in February, 1874, and took possession of the store vacated by Cowen. In May, 1874, John E. Halleck, Graves and Lukens united in business near the mill-site, opposite Uline's establishment. In the fall of 1874 M. C. Lyons purchased the store of Halleck, Graves
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEASTERN DAKOTA.
and Lukens, and moved it to its present location, it being the building now occupied by F. E. Huntington as a flour and feed store. This was for some time the first and only store on the pres- ent townsite. Two years afterwards Mr. Uline moved his estab- lishment to its present location.
In 1872 Frank C. Rice commenced to build the first installment of the Dell Rapids Flouring Mill, which he sold in 1874, to Wil- liam Van Eps, of Sioux Falls, for $9,000. This mill forms one of the leading industries of Dell Rapids, and although seriously dam- aged by the floods in the spring of the present year, has been re- built and improved until it is now in first-class condition, fully up to the requirements of the times, and turning out large quantities of number one flour.
A bridge over the river, which had been built at a cost of $2,500, was also washed away by the floods, and has been replaced by a structure which, although costing a much smaller sum. neverthe- less answers the purpose sufficiently well.
The first means of crossing the Big Sioux, established for the convenience of the traveling public. was a small boat, at first bor- rowed, and subsequently purchased by Thorne and others. After- wards, in 1874. a ferry was establishel. a boat with sufficient ca- pacity to carry teams being built by subscription. This ferry was run until the construction of the large bridge in 1877. Thomas Lyons was the ferryman.
In the fall of 1871 a dam was built across the river where the flouring mill now stands, and a saw mill was erected, which remained three or four years. At the first settlement of Dell Rapids the banks of the river in the vicinity were skirted with timber, which has since disappeared in compliance with that principle of utility which sacrifices everything beautiful for the unromantically prac- tical.
In 1875 J. R. Richardson entered into the agricultural imple- ment business at Dell Rapids, which fact has not a little to do with the growth of the community, as through his instrumentality at first, supplemented by other enterprising dealers who came later, the farmers were placed in possession of the improved implements of husbandry. Mr. Richardson was also for a time interested in the Inmber trade.
An act of the Legislative Assembly in the spring of 1877, estab- lished a Territorial road from the Minnesota State line through to
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DELL RAPIDS.
Ft. Thompson. by the way of Dell Rapids and Madison. Dell Rapids subscribed liberally to the project and cansed the survey of the road. The survey was conducted by Albion Thorne as far as Herman. and by R. S. Alexander thence to Ft. Thompson. The object of this road was to open up communication to the Black Hills. and the highway was of considerable importance to Dell Rapids until the coming of the railroad. Alexander and Thorne made a preliminary survey to Pipestone, Minn .. as early as 1875. to ascertain the advantages of the route for the Southern Minne- sota Division of the C .. M. & St. P. R. R. Co. The first train reached Dell Rapids from Flandreau on the 17th of September, 1880. and connections were. during the present season per- fected through to Sioux Falls. The town of Dell Rapids issued bonds to the amount of $12.500 in aid of this road.
There are two large grain elevators at Dell Rapids owned and operated by La Crosse. Wis .. firms, and the lumber interests. which are extensive, are controlled by the firms of Drew Bros., John Paul and W. F. Coleman.
The Dell Rapids Bank is the outgrowth of the commercial ne- cessities of the present year, and was established by Messrs. Mc- Kinney & Scougall. of Sioux Falls and Yankton. Mr. Geo. H. Johnson is Cashier.
The population of Dell Rapids is variously estimated at from 600 to 800. Its growth of late has been of much greater rapidity than for a number of years past. The town was incorporated un- der special act of the Legislative Assembly in 1879.
CHURCHES. SCHOOLS AND SOCIETIES.
The Baptist Church of Dell Rapids was organized in July. 1872, and has a roomy church edifice. The organization of the Congre- gational Church was effected in the spring of 1873. This society also has an appropriate building. The Episcopal Society occupies Episcopal Hall. and was organized in the winter of 1880-S1. The Presbyterian Society. organized in August. 1872. has an edifice in process of completion, as has also the Methodist Episcopal Society of recent organization.
The Union Sunday School. organized in the winter of 1872, was continued until 1880, all denominations uniting, and was very largely attended. It continues to be successfully held. although in 1880. the Baptist Society organized a separate and flourishing Sabbath School, the number of whose pupils is 117. Peter Morse
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEASTERN DAKOT.A.
is Superintendent of the Baptist, and E. S. Tresidders Superintend- ent of the Union Sn.iday School organization.
An attempt was made to build a school house as early as 1872. The building, which was to be of stone, was to be paid for by sub- scriptions to the amount of $1.50 per each male resident of the district, either in money, materials or labor. The subscriptions, however, were not forthcoming, the work being thrown on the hands of the contractors and never completed. In 1875 a second and successful attempt was made, the structure being erected on the credit of the district. Since the erection of the present school building, the educational facilities have been excellent, and a very satisfactory grade has been maintained. Mrs. C. A. Codington is the Principal.
Dell Rapids Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O. F .- This lodge was instituted May 22d, 1876, by William Blatt assisted by Ralph R. Briggs and Zini Richey, and is in a flourishing condition, having a member- ship of over thirty. The Lodge built a new hall, twenty-two by sixty feet in dimensions, in 1880. The applicants for charter were W. B. Parker, Thomas Lyons, Wm. M. Carr and Geo. W. Hoyt. Present officers: M. R. Kenefick, N. G .: W. B. Parker, V. G .; O. H. Smith, F. S .; L. N. Loomis, R. S .: Albion Thorne. Treasurer.
Dell Rapids Lodge No. S, I. O. G. T .- Instituted in March, 1881; has a membership of about one hundred, which number composed its charter membership. Present officers: W. B. Parker, W. C .; Mrs. Mary Thorne, V. C .; Eber Wilde, F. S .; C. E. Griswold, R. S .: Eugenie Parker, Treasurer; C. W. Shelton, Chaplain.
OFFICIAL DIRECTORY.
President of Council-Gust. A. Uline.
Councilmen-Gust. A. Uline, C. S. Gifford, George Heywood, Julius A. Mar- tin, O. H. Smith.
Clerk -- Lewis Loomis.
Treasurer-Henry A. Cadd.
Attorney -- Albion Thorne.
Justice of the Peace-Thomas Lyons.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Bank-Mckinney & Scougal, G. H. Johnson, Cashier.
Attorneys-Thorne & Bolster, Wright & Hall, M. R. Kenefick.
Physicians -- W. B. Parker, O. O. Sawyer.
Dentist-J. E. Nutting.
General Merchandise -- Gust. A. Uline, Geo. Heywood, Geo. Whitman, Cross- man Bros., John Nanghten.
Newspaper -- Dell Rapids Exponent. C. E. Griswold, Editor and Proprietor.
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DELL RAPIDS.
Druggists -- Henry Cobb, Henry A. Cadd.
Clothing, Etc .-- J. S. & J. C. Lee.
Hardware -- John F. Scriver, C. J. Johnson.
Agricultural Implements-C. J. Johnson, John F. Seriver, J. R. Richardson.
Harness Shops .- Loomis & Nisbet, S. E. Tresidder.
Postmaster .- A. C. Folsom.
Furniture .- Edgar A. Harvey, L. C. Harrington & Son.
Wagon Works .- L. C. Harrington & Son.
Restaurants .- R. W. Harper, E. A. Richardson.
Jeweler .- R. A. Knight.
Lirery .- John F. Demeree, M. W. & W. D. Richardson.
Millinery .- Hager & Nisbet.
Lumber .- C. L. Coleman, C. S. Gifford, Agent; John Paul, E. R. Jones, Agent ; Drew Bros, Eber Wilde, Agent.
Hotels .- Merchants, Albion Thorne; Western Hotel, S. H. Burke; Exchange, V. A. Potter.
Saloons .- Mike E. Collins, Win. G. Driscoll, Cornelius Johnson.
Elerators .- Cargill Bros., R. Stowell, Agent; Bonner & Hodges, Scott Stew- art, Agent.
Flouring Mills .- Wm. VanEps.
Depot Agent .- F. F. Powers.
Drays .- M. C. Lyons, M. F. Coville.
Butchers .- W. C. Putnam, Remington Bros.
Shoemaker .- B. D. Graves.
Blacksmith .- L. S. Winsor.
Barber .- Mac. Culbertson.
Flour and Feed .- W. F. Huntington.
Sewing Machines,-Mrs. E. A. Ervin.
Photographer .- L. V. Bean.
Painters .- Sam Averill, John E. Hoyt.
Masons .- A. Pitzer, R. D. Hickman, John J. Hoyt, Joseph E. Davis.
Carpenters .- I. F. Angstad.
Boarding House .- B. D. Woodruff.
VALLEY SPRINGS.
The township of Valley Springs is bounded on the north by Red Rock Township, on the west by Brandon Township, on the east by Minnesota, on the south by Iowa, and contains twenty-four sec- tions of land. The village of Valley Springs is located on the northwest quarter of section three, and the land whereon it is lo- catel was pre-empted by J. Dunham, M. L. Wood and Miss Nancy Merchant, the land occupied by the present townsite having been owned by Miss Merchant.
In June, 1872, a small frame building was erected, the lumber being brought by ox-teams from Worthington, Minn., which build-
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEASTERN DAKOTA.
ing stood where the residence of D. B Cook now is, and was built by Messrs. Dunham and Wood, who first arrived at this point by stage from Worthington to Sioux Falls, passing through the fu- ture town of Valley Springs, May 24th, 1872. The land was pre- empted by these gentlemen, June 10th, of that year. lumber being immediately procured with which to build their residence. The first land broken, was by M. L. Wood, for garden purposes, during June. During the summer of 1872. one hundred acres of land were broken. Shortly afterwards, a claim was taken up by Edson Wheeler in section four.
Application was immediately made for a postoffice, but a com- mission was not received until January 1st, 1873. The selection of a name was made by Mr. Wood, who, by reason of the beautiful valley in which they had "pitched their tents," and the great number of springs which it contained, decided upon the name of "the valley of springs," or Valley Springs. J. Dunham was ap- pointed Postmaster, which position he held one year, the postoffice being kept at his residence. A. C. Stone was the second Postmas- ter, the postoffice being moved to his residence, and subsequently Iceated at the store of Stone & Howe, whence it was afterwards moved to MeLauren's store, P. E. Howe being appointed Postmas- ter. Mr. Howe was succeeded by Alfred Larson in 1876, and occu- pied the position until July, 1880, when Charles Olson, present Postmaster, was appointed.
H. P. Ljunggren and C. M. Johnson located on section thirty- three in town 102, range 47, now known as Red Rock, about one-fourth mile from the village of Valley Springs -- May 4th, 1872, taking each a claim of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. L. also took a claim of one hundred and sixty acres for Ole Oleson in sec- tion four, Mr. J. taking a like claim in the same section for G. Anderson. In August, 1872, Mr. L. built a sod house on his claim, as did also Mr. Johnson, the former breaking forty acres during that summer, and the latter twenty acres.
The first election was held at the residence of Loren Burgenson, near Split Rock River, during the fall of 1873.
The first school held at Valley Springs, was begun during the summer of 1874, in a house bought by the citizens of School Dis- triet No. 15, of G. Hemsley, and was taught by Ida Shafer. The present school building was erected in the summer of 1878. at a cost of $1,600, and is a fine two-story structure.
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VALLEY SPRINGS.
The first store was established by A. C. Stone and P. E. Howe, under the firm name of Stone & Howe, and was opened in the fall of 1873, in the building now used by Geo. E. Henton as a resi- dence. Stone & Howe used this building as a store about two years. The next store started was by L. F. McLaurin, of Wor- thington, Minn., in a building located where George E. Henton's blacksmith shop now stands, and which is now used as a harness shop, on the south side of the railroad. Alfred Larson was installed as manager, and conducted the establishment two years. The building was then sold, and the goods sent to Mankato, Minn.
Social gatherings at Valley Springs were inaugurated at the res- idence of A. C. Stone, about the first of August, 1873, in honor of the completion of the building. About ninety people, of whom sixty-five were adults, participated in the festivities of the occasion.
June 28, 1874, the first marriage at Valley Springs was solemn- ized, the contracting parties being Mr. Perry E. Howe and Miss Frances H. Acker, Rev. J. W. Rigby, a Methodist minister, being the officiating clergyman. The first birth was that of a daughter to John C. and Martha Shepard.
C. O. Remming opened the first blacksmith shop, 16 by 20 fcet in dimensions, on the north side of the railroad, in May, 1876. A blacksmith shop was also established by Geo. E. Henton in 1879. Edson Wheeler established the first harness and saddlery store, a like establishment being also opened by W. W. Bell in November, 1880.
Mr. Ljunggren completed the erection of his hardware store in August, 1878. The establishment is 20 by 50 feet in dimensions, and is two stories high, the first story being used for the require- ments of the business, the second story for dwelling apartments.
The Congregational Church of Valley Springs was organized in the summer of 1878, the first Trustees being J. R. Jackson, F. C. Bell and D. B. Cook. There were eighteen members at the time of organization. Rev. J. A. Palmer was installed as the pastor. Services were first held in Larson's Hall. Since 1879, the Society has used the upper story of the present school building.
Alfred Larson and P. Zimmerman erected the building occupied by Zimmerman & Co., during the fall of 1878. This building is 22 by 40 feet in dimensions, two stories high, the lower story used as a store, with an addition also so used. and the upper story used as a dwelling.
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEASTERN DAKOTA.
The Valley Springs Cemetery Association was organized May 2d, 1879, and is located on the southeast quarter of section three, town 102, range 47, containing ten acres. Its officers are: D. B. Cook, President: George Cassady, Sec'y; J. E. Hallett, Treasurer.
The village plat was surveyed and completed by D. B. Cook in 1878.
The Central House. located on Broadway, was built in 1878, be- ing used as a private residence one year, when it was bought by Grove Hemsley and conducted as a boarding house until 1880. In 1881. an addition was constructed and the house assumed hotel proportions, having now eleven rooms, to which additions will be made in accordance with the necessary demands of trade.
LAKE COUNTY.
The topography of Lake County is nothing if not picturesque. The county takes its name from the number of beautiful sheets of water within its borders. Its first occupancy by white settlers dates from 1871, its organization as a county from 1873. Its early colo- nization was attended with many difficulties and hardships, to the enhancement of which the facetious red man contributed not a lit- tle. The degenerate sons of the once warlike Sioux are sparsely seattered through the county. living by hunting and fishing. and now thoroughly subservient to the dominant race. Until within a few years their escapades were by no means infrequent, but the increasing tide of white immigration here as elsewhere has proved too much for them. One of the characteristic instances of the ab- original lack of sand was when William Lee, an old settler of Lake County, was intercepted by an Indian riding a wild pony and with a rifle duly cocked for the occasion. Riding in front of Mr. Lee, Lo made significant motions with his weapon, accompanied by an unearthly " Ugh !" Lee promptly presented a Colt's revolver, large-size. "Yon no 'fraid Ingin?" queried the savage. "Not by a" - Well not by what a professor of chemistry would eall a " notable quantity." was the intent and meaning of Lee's em- phatic reply. " H -1, Ingin just make fun !" returned the noble red man, as he clapped heels to the flanks of his pony and rap- idly disappeared from view.
The nutritive properties of the native grasses are said to be re- markable. Instances are related of early settlers who, arriving
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DELL RAPIDS.
after the grass had been killed by the frost, cut it in its perfectly dead condition and brought their cattle safely through the winter on this. Isolated from markets and deprived of the means of dis- posing of their crops, the hardy pioneers for some years turned their attention to hunting and trapping, which furnished means of livelihood and profitable employment. In the winter the scanty population devoted themselves to fishing, tons of fish being taken from the lakes and hauled to the various towns on the Missouri, principally to Yankton and Sioux City, where they met with ready sale at good prices.
Sioux City was the principal trading point in those days, from which flour and other provisions were hauled. A neighborhood in those times included a circuit of fifty miles or more, and dances and merry-makings drew attendance from within the radius of a day's journey. The citizens of Lake County no longer patronize Sioux City, and the days of hunting, trapping and fishing as distinctive occupations are already well nigh forgotten. The surpassing beauty and fertility of the prairies surrounding the chain of lakes in the central part of the county, together with the rare loveliness of the lakes themselves, were chiefly instrumental in drawing the nucleus of the present population around their shores, and thus the work of colonization and development began to progress with astonishing vigor and enterprise. The population of Lake county quadrupled in 1878; its present population is about 4,500. The inhabitants are chiefly Americans from adjoining Western States, with a scattering number of Scandinavians and Germans, the latter largely from the vicinity of Milwaukee, and from an en erprising an I thrifty class of citizens who have made extensive investments.
The chain of lakes is a notable feature which should not be passed by without more than mere mention. They intersect the county from the western boundary nearly to the line of McCook County on the southeast, finding an outlet through a stream which bears the euphonious name of Skunk Creek, and finally blend with the waters of the Big Sioux a short distance above Sionx Falls. These lakes vary in dimensions from one mile in width and six miles in length to small bodies covering but a few acres. All are fed by springs, the banks of some showing within a few paces an equal number of trickling streams flowing in equal volumes throughout summer and winter, thus giving to the water unequaled purity. The depth of the lakes varies from eight to
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEASTERN DAKOTA.
thirty feet, from eight to ten feet being the average. There are great variety and unlimited abundance of fish peculiar to fresh water. These attain a size and weight positively astonishing to one unacquainted with the waters of Dakota. Pickerel weighing from fifteen to twenty pounds and buffalo fish weighing from fifty to seventy pounds have been caught, and in certain seasons a wagon load of fish is not considered an unusual day's catch.
Aside from the beauty of the lakes, the abundance of fish and wild fowl in spring and autumn, in addition to the sport which they afford and the ornamentation which they give to a locality otherwise picturesque. they are vastly more beneficial to the country than would be an equal extent of arable lands; for as every ravine and creek within a large tract surrounding them slope towards their beds. the drainage of the county through their agency is made per- fect. while to the herds of live stock which graze upon the prairies in their vicinity. the advantage of pure water and plentiful shade along the banks of the lakes can not be overestimated. Scattered through the county are tracts of land, apparently dry beds of for- mer lakes and ponds, which, although unfitted for agriculture, by reason of periodical overflows. form a series of natural meadows producing an excellent quality of nutritive wild grass. It will be observed from the above that the facilities for profitable stock raising, as well as remunerative agriculture are exceptionally good.
The present county officers of Lake County are: L. M. Coon, E. B. Stacy, P. Zimmerman. Commissioners; J. A. Trow, Register of Deeds: A. MeKay, Treasurer: A. Fish, Judge of Probate: J. G. Wadsworth. Sheriff: W. F. Smith. Clerk of Court: J. B. Walters. Coroner.
MADISON.
No more fitting instance of the wonderful energy and in- domitable enterprise which has characterized the settlement and growth of the great Sioux Valley. can be pointed out than the almost incredible rapidity with which this town has sprung into being and taken position as one of the best known, most substan- tially prosperous and properly influential communities of Dakota. This gratifying condition of things demonstrates in the best way what well directed and united effort is capable of accomplishing when unhampered by individual selfishness or local jealousies. It
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MADISON.
must be borne in mind that there were two Madisons, the old Madison and the new Madison.
To correctly understand this situation, it will first be necessary to give a brief history of old Madison, now abandoned for its young and thrifty successor.
Old Madison, then, dates an existence from 1875, on the 13th of July in which year, the town was platted, the village and lake be- ing named by William Van Eps, of Sioux Falls, from the similarity of the townsite and adjoining lake to the townsite of the Capital of Wisconsin and the lake on which it is situated. Old Madison was located on the shore of Lake Madison, about four and one-half miles southeast of the present town. Not long after the plat was surveyed, Madison was made a trading post by the erection of a building used as a general merchandising store by Brooks & Styles. of Sibley, Iowa. In the autumn of 1875, the County Seat of Lake County was located at Madison, and a large business growth resulted; but the coming of the iron horse was a death-blow to the old town, and the location of the station at the site of the present town was the signal for general preparations to move.
The new Madison is the present terminus of the Southern Min- nesota Division of the C., M. & St. P. R. R., and is beautifully located between Lakes Madison and Herman, being only. one and one-quarter miles from the geographical center of Lake County. It would be difficult to imagine a more desirable location, or one more favorable in every way for the advancement of a community's interests. Surrounded by a fine agricultural section, well settled and developed, it is the focus from out of which radiates activity and prosperity on every side. There is an abundance of good water, clear, bracing atmosphere, and exceptionally healthful con- ditions. The present town was platted July 6th, 1880, by William Van Eps, P. H. Harth, O. E. Batchelder and William Lee. and a general migration from the old town to the new began to take place immediately afterwards. J. W. Davison was the first to open a stock of merchandise in the new town.
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