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 7
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ritorial laws as the " First Methodist Episcopal Church of Sioux Falls," the incorporation being effected August 31st ,1875. The trustees were: A. W. Manning; C. W. McDonald, Mrs. L. E. Gale, H. J. Whipple and James Morrison. The Rev. B. B. Scott was the appointee of the Conference in 1875. He was succeeded in 1876 by the Rev. W. Fielder. During Mr. Fielder's ministration the society was exceptionally prosperous. His ability, sterling in- tegrity and manly worth, together with his zeal for the Master, in- creased the membership, and attracted such audiences, that the lit- tle room was no longer large enough for their accommodation, and the Society took steps for the erection of a more commodious build- ing in which to hold services. September 10th, 1877. two lots on the corner of Main and Eleventh Streets were purchased for the Society, and the project for building a church was so far matured that on the 18th of September, the Rev. W. Fielder, R. C. Haw- kins and C. W. McDonald were elected a Building Committee and charged with the erection of a church building to cost not less than 83,000. The plans were furnished by A. V. Lambert, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, and the contract for the carpenter work taken by Messrs. Weston & Petterson, of this City. The basement is built of stone; is 32 feet, 10 inches, by 50 feet, 10 inches, and nine feet between floor and ceiling. The audience room is 32 by 30 feet, side walls 1S feet in height, center of ceiling 24 feet from floor. The bell tower is 53 by 11 feet at the ground floor, and S feet square above the ceiling of audience room, and 57 feet high. The doors and win- dows are gothic. The audience room is finished in solid ash and walnut. The total cost of the building when dedicated in August, 1879, was $4.616.40. In 1879 the Rev. S. P. Marsh was assigned to Sioux Falls, and was succeeded in 1880, by Rev. L. Hartsough. Early in the present year the society built a parsonage on the lot adjoining the church. 20 by 30 feet. one and one-half stories above the basement.
Congregational Church .- The Congregationalists were among the first of the denominations to occupy Sioux Falls, establishing an ecclesiastical organization here July 1st. 1872. with the Rev. J. A. Palmer as pastor. The church accommodations were of a very limited nature, the Society at first using the old barracks for its public worship. At the completion of Allen's Hall, the church found a new home, and again changed its place of holding service at the completion of Phillips' Hall. Mr. Palmer's pastorate ended
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HISTORY OF SOUTHEASTERN DAKOTA.
in 1874. He was succeeeed, in 1875. by the Rev. A. D. Adams, who continued as pastor until 1878. He was in turn succeeded by the Rev. J. N. MeLoney, who is the present pastor. On the 6th of March, 1879, the Society was incorporated as the "First Congre- gational Church of Sioux Falls," with Dr. J. L. Phillips, A. Gale and O. Q. Holman as Trustees. Early in the year, 1879, Messrs. E. A. Sherman, J. B. Young and R. J. Wells were elected a Build- ing Committee and charged with the erection of a church, 36 by 58 feet. with a lecture room, 16 by 27 feet. A contract was made with S. MeCormack, and the church was completed in August , 1879. The church is situated on the west side of Dakota Avenue, between Eleventh and Coats streets. Present membership of the church, eighty-five.
Protestant Episcopal Church .- Bishop Clarkson, of the Epis- copal Church, was early in the field, and secured two lots for the location of a church for the Episcopal society, which he established here. A building, 20 by 40 feet, to which has since been added chancel and vestry rooms, was built in the summer of 1872. The Society, under the name of Cavalry Episcopal Church, was organ- ized September 30th, 1873, by the election of E. G. Wheeler, Senior Warden; F. D. Cowles, Junior Warden; C. H. Winsor, W. A. Cory. J. A. Hand, J. M. Washburn and Dr. J. Roberts, Vestrymen. The Rev. W. H. H. Ross was the first Rector, and acted in that capacity until May, 1874, when he was succeeded by the Rev. W. W. Fowler. At the close of Mr. Fowler's pastorate, the Rev. Mr. Huntington was Rector for a few months, and was followed by the Rev. W. P. Case. Upon Mr. Case's departure from the city. Rev. T. B. Berry was sent to take charge of the society. Soon after the death of Mrs. Berry, which occurred in the spring of the pres- ent year, Mr. Berry resigned his pastorate, and returned to New York State, since which time the church has been without regular services. The present officers are: G. V. Quilliard, Senior Warden; G. W. Lewis, Junior Warden; A. T. Fleetwood, E. G. Wright and R. Fleming, Vestrymen.
Baptist Church .- Through the efforts of the Rev. A. W. Hilton, the members of the Baptist Church were gathered together, and an organization of the society effected, July 4th, 1875. The society at this time numbered ten members, with the Rev. A. W. Hilton as pastor, who continued to act in that capacity until August 1st, 1878. On the 6th of October, 1877, the society was legally incor-
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porated as the "First Baptist Church of Sioux Falls," with Messrs. M. T. Hogaboom, F. P. Dobson, and M. W. Boulet as Trustees. September 1st, 1878, the Rev. H. E. Norton accepted the pastorate of the church, which position he held until October 1st, 1881, the society at present being without a pastor. There are now twenty- five members of the church, of whom M. T. Hogaboom, B. F. Roderick and M. W. Boulet are Trustees. Arrangements are about complete for the building of a house of worship, the society in the meantime holding regular services in Sherman's Hall.
The Methodist Church-On the 11th of November, 1878, the Free Methodist Church perfected an organization, A. W. Hays, R. Hanson and E. E. Warren, being elected Trustees. The first pas- tor was the Rev. S. P. LaDue. Mr. LaDue was succeeded by the Rev. D. W. Cook, the present pastor. The society have a small church building on Fourth Avenue, near Coats street, of which A. W. Hays, C. E. Ulrich and George Hyde are the Trustees.
Second Adventists-The Second Adventists effected an organi- zation in Sioux Falls during the summer of 1879, their minister having frequently visited the place during the previous year. They now hold services regularly each week in Sherman's Hall. The Rev. E. B. Whitney is pastor. They are now about to incorpor- ate the society as the "Seventh Day Adventists," the trustees being John Hays. L. W. Jones and W. T. Henton. The society have purchased three lots south of the school house, and are awaiting the arrival of the material. ordered some time since, so that they may erect a church thereon, 24x36 feet.
Unitarian Church-The Rev. John Visher visited Sioux Falls during the summer of the present year and found members enough to form a Unitarian Society. Their place of holding service is Germania Hall. Pastor, Rev. John Visher.
Lutheran Church -- The "Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Con- gregation of Sioux Falls" was organized January 10th, 1877. with the Rev. O. O. Sando, of the Norwegian Evangelical Luther- an Synod of America, as pastor. Mr. Sando remained pastor un- til August 7th, 1881, when the Rev. A. J. Lee took charge of the congregation at Sioux Falls. Split Rock and Slidre. The Society was incorporated under the general Territorial laws on the 31st of December, 1879, under the title of "The Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Congregation of Sioux Falls," with K. Thompson, C. E. Jousberg and J. Henjum as Trustees. The Society has purchased
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the west one-third of lots 1. 2 and 3 of block 6. Phillips' Sioux Falls, upon which they intend building a church in the near fu- ture: at present their services are held in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Present membership of the Society, about fifty.
Swedish Lutheran Church-The Augustanus Synod of the Swed- ish Lutheran Church effected an organization among the members of that denomination, living in and around Sioux Falls, in the year 1873. They now have on their cirenit over one hundred members, and are building a church in township 101, range 47, northwest of Sioux Falls. The pastor is the Rev J. H. Randahl.
Catholic Church .- St. Michael's Society was organized in April, 1879. by the Rev. Father Knauf. with about thirty members. A church was built in West Sioux Falls, which, together with its con- tents, was destroyed by fire June 23, 1881 : loss, about $2,000. Since the destruction of their church, the society has held its services in VanEps' Hall. The society is not as yet incorporated. though steps have been taken to that end; the acting Trustees are: M. Gerin, P. P. Boylan and John Norton. The plans for a new church e lifice have been made and accepted; the new structure is to be of brick. 40 by 75 feet, side walls 21 feet above basement, with sacristy 40 by 20 feet. two towers, one 20 feet, the other 50 feet above side walls. Estimated cost of the building, when complete, $8,500. The pastors since the organization of the society have been the Rev. Father Knauf, Rev. Father Brogan and Rev. Father Wm. M. Maher, the present pastor, who began his labors here last Angust. The present membership of the society is about two hundred.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The first official action having for its object the establishment of public schools in Sioux Falls, was in 1871, when the County Super- intendent, John Bippus, designated the boundaries of School Dis- trict No. 1. as embracing all of township 101, of range 49. This action of the County Superintendent was approved by the County Commissioners July 3d, 1871, but nothing further was done until April 14th. 1873, when County Superintendent A. Thorne issued a notice for the first school meeting in the District. The notice was directed to Edwin Sharpe, and appointed the meeting at the bar- racks on the 29th of April.
At the meeting, so appointed, Mr. A. Gale was elected Director, R. F. Pettigrew, Clerk; and D. S. Goodyear. Treasurer. Although Sioux Falls was then dignified with a school organization, its ofli-
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cers were powerless to act, as the district had neither school house apparatus or funds wherewith to pay teachers. To overcome these difficulties, a special meeting of the voters of the District was called for the 12th of May, at which time a tax on the property in the District, of one per cent., was voted to be expended in building a school house, and a further tax of one-fourth of one per cent .. was voted to be used in the purchase of school furniture. At this meeting, John Bippus, R. H. Booth, H. J. Whipple and R. F. Pet- tigrew were appointed a committee to select suitable grounds for a school house. This committee reported, June 2d, the selection of six lots in block two of Gales' addition and a corresponding num- ber in block 7. of J. L. Phillips' addition, adjoining. These lots were afterwards purchased by the District, being the ones now oc- cupied by the High School building. The voters present at the meeting directe l the Board to proceel at once to the collection of the tax voted, and to take such other steps as they deemed neces- sary in order that the school might be in operation at the earliest possible moment. The most sanguine of the people were sure that a public school would be started in a few days, or weeks at farthest, but they were doomed to disappointment. The Treasurer had doubts in regard to his authority to collect the tax, and by the time he had satisfied his doubts, and got fairly to work, he found his warrant was of no use to him, he having held it until it had ex- pired. The taxes he had collected were returned, and the project for the immediate commencement of the public school was for the time abandoned. At the annual meeting held September 6th. 1873, Mr. A. Gale was elected, Director, H. J. Whipple, Treasurer, and C. W. McDonald, Clerk. To the Board, as thus constituted, was committed the task of providing nine months of school during the ensuing year, the collection of a tax of three-fourths of one per cent. on all the taxable property in the District, and the building of a school house to cost not exceeding $1,000.00. In order to carry out their instructions, the Board engaged the most available room in the town, and on Monday, the 15th day of September, 1873, the first public school of Sioux Falls was opened in the Lib- bey building (now a part of the Commercial Hotel), on Main street, with Miss Clara Ledyard as teacher. They also entered into a contract with Edwin Sharpe for the erection of a building for school purposes, 22x40 feet, with twelve-foot ceiling, for $985.00.
The collection of the tax voted, was resisted by some of the tax
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pavers, and a petition for an injunction was presented to Judge Shannon, asking the Court to restrain further proceedings in its collection. The prayer of the petition was not granted; the taxes were collected, and on the 5th day of December, 1873, the school house was finished and turned over to the district to the satisfac- tion of all parties concerned. The second term of school, in the town of Sioux Falls, was taught by H. J. Whipple, beginning Jan- uary 12, 1874. The next term of the public school was taught by Miss Mary H. Cory, beginning April 27th. 1874.
By the fall of 1874, the number of children in the district enti- tled to the privileges of the public school had increased to such an extent that an additional school room, and an additional teacher, were found necessary. To meet this want, the building used by the Methodist Society for church purposes was secured. and Misses M. H. Cory and Clara Ledyard engaged as teachers; the officers of the district being the same as during the year 1873.
The School Board elected in 1875, was: A. Gale, Director: C. Walts. Treasurer, and C. W. McDonald. Clerk. The teachers during this school year were Misses M. H. Cory, E. F. Cowdrey and C. Ledyard.
At the annual election, in 1876, T. H. Brown was elected Direc- tor. the other officers holding over. The teachers selected were: Hon. Newton Clark and Miss L. C. Bryan.
During the session of the Legislature, in 1877, the school law was so amended as to make the election of officers come in the spring instead of the fall as before. In accordance with this requirement, an annual school meeting was held April 3d. 1877, at which T. H. Brown was elected Director for one year; C. W. MeDonald, Clerk for two years, and C. Walts. Treasurer for the ensuing three years. The teachers, during this school year, were L. D. Henry, Principal; Miss L. C. Bryan, teacher of the Interme- diate Department, and Miss S. Wagner, teacher of the Primary Department.
The increasing needs of the district, for more school room, were presented to the district at the annual meeting, in 1878, at which time it was decided to build another school house, sufficiently large, not only for the present, but also for the near future. After sev- eral meetings had been held, and the reports of several committees had been heard, a Building Committee, consisting of T. H. Brown, C. W. MeDonald, C. Walts. J. B. Young and N. E. Phillips, was
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selected, and instructed to proceed with the erection of a building substantially as suggested by the School Board. After consulta- tion with the Board, the plans were drawn by C. A. Wilbur, of Dubuque, for a frame building, veneered with brick, 60 feet square two stories and basement with stairways and entrances on the out- side; each floor to be divided in the center, both ways, making eight school rooms, each 30 feet square, the rooms on each floor connecting by an octagonal room in the center of the building. The Building Committee was further charged with the furnishing of the building with seats, heating apparatus, etc. The contract for the erection of the building was let to John D. Cameron, and the work was done in the fall of 1878 and spring of 1879.
The feeling engendered, in regard to the collection of the tax voted in 1873, took a practical turn, and petitions were presented to the county authorities asking for the formation of other Dis- tricts. At the hearing of the petitions, January 9th, 1874, six sec- tions in the northeast corner of the township were attached to Dis- trict No. 16. At the same time, sections 10, 14, 15, and the por- tions of 9 and 16 lying on the east side of the Sioux River, were designated as School District No. 25.
The first meeting in District No. 25 was held November 28th, 1874, at which time J. F. Webber was elected Director, O. P. Wes- ton, Clerk. and A. F. Shaw. Treasurer. The first term of public school on the east side of the river was taught by Miss Allie F. Storey, beginning May 31st, 1875.
At the annual meeting in 1875. H. W. Lewis was elected Direc- tor, O. P. Weston, Clerk, and A. F. Shaw, treasurer. There was no school taught in the district during this school year, the district electing to pay tuition of the scholars attending school in District No. 1, and expending the moneys raised in the erection of a school house. At the meeting held in May, 1877, the same officers were re-elected, and three lots purchased from A. F. Shaw for a school house site. The school during the summer was taught by Miss Alice Morrison.
At a special meeting held July 28th, 1877, F. M. Harthorn was elected Director to fill the vacancy caused by the death of HIr. Lewis. At the annual meeting held April 2nd, 1878, M. A. Stick- ney was chosen Director for three years. The teacher, during the summer, was Miss Inda Bryan, the fall term of school being taught by Miss Cora Chamberlin. The last meeting of the district, as a
HISTORY OF SOUTHEASTERN DAKOTAA.
separate organization, of which there is any record, was on Janu- ary 16th, 1879, at which resolutions were passed in opposition to the bill then before the Legislature for the consolidation of Districts 1 and 25. and the organization of an Independent School District, to comprise all the territory embraced in the corporate limits of the village of Sioux Falls.
The number of children in the two districts, entitled to the bene- fits of the public schools, as shown by the Clerk's reports, for the several years that they were separate organizations, was as follows: 1873, 136: 1875, 130; 1877, 170: 1874. 140: 1876, 170: 1878, 289.
At the session of the Legislature, in 1879. the Independent School Distriet of Sioux Falls was incorporated, its limits to be indentical with the corporate limits of the village of Sioux Falls. T. H. Brown. C. W. McDonald, C. Walts, A. F. Shaw, O. P. Weston. E. A. Sherman, E. Sharpe and B. F. Campbell were made a Board of Education for the village of Sioux Falls; by the terms of this bill, the said persons were to qualify on or before the first Monday in March, 1879, and enter upon their duties on the first Tuesday of March. 1879. From the time the Board of Education assumed the duties assigned them by this act of the Legislature, School Districts Numbers 1 and 25, in Minnehaha County ceased to exist.
The first meeting of the Board of Education for the village of Sioux Falls was held March 11, 1879. C. W. McDonald failing to qualify. N. E. Phillips was appointed to fill the vacancy. At this meeting T. H. Brown was elected President of the Board, and N. L. Plflips, Secretary.
The teachers selected for the balance of the year, were: L. D. Henry. Principal; Misses L. C. Bryan, C. E. Chamberlin, Sarah Wagner. for the Main Street school, and Mrs. Annie Roberts, for the East Side school.
April 1st. 1870, E. O. Kimberly was elected Secretary of the Board. May 14th, 1879, Mr. Kimberly having resigned his posi- tion as Secretary, C. M. Morse was elected to fill vacancy. Sep- tember 13th, 1879, Mr. Morse resigned his office, and F. L. Bayce was elected Secretary of the Board, which position he has since filled. T. H Brown resigned his position as a member of the Board August 5th. 1879, and John Bippus was appointed to fill the va- cancy. On the 13th of September, 1879, E. A. Sherman was elec- ted President of the Board, which position he held until the selec- tion of a new Board in Mareh, 1880.
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The teachers of the winter term of 1879-80 were: L. D. Henry, Principal; Misses Mina L. Fletcher, Louisa C. Bryan, Maud W. Rouse, Cora E. Chamberlin, Sadie Wagner and Nellie Blanchard.
At the election in March. 1880. W. R. Bourne and E. O. Kim- berly were added to the Board. in place of E. A. Sherman and O. P. Weston, whose terms of office had expired. At the organization of the new Board, John Bippus was elected President. At a meet- ing held July 20th, 1880, T. H. Brown was appointed a member of the Board, in place of N. E. Phillips, who had resigned.
The teachers elected for the ensuing school year, were: J. B. Hawley, Principal: Mrs. C. Everett, Assistant: Misses L. C. Bryan, C. E. Chamberlin. N. Blanchard. A. Allison, and M. E. Bissett. Miss Bissett failing to accept the position tendered her, Miss H. J. Mac Pherson was selected in her stead, and assigned to the east side school.
August 17th. 1880, E. A. Sherman was appointed a member of the Board to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of T. H. Brown. At the organization of the Board in March, 1881, Mr. Sherman was elected President, which position he now holds. The Board of Education at present consists of the following-named gentlemen: E. A. Sherman, T. H. Brown, E. O. Kimberly, C. Walts, E. Sharpe, O. P. Weston, C. L. Norton and W. H. Nel- SO11.
The teachers selected by this Board for the year 1881-82. are, S. E. Young. Principal; Miss Mary Bissett, Assistant; Misses C. A. Parker, Carrie Thompson, Nellie Blanchard. T. M. Rice and Mrs. C. Everett, for the High School building, and Miss L. C. Kinney, teacher in the east side school.
Deaf Mute School-Through the efforts of the Rev. T. B. Berry, of Sioux Falls, and Miss Jennie Wright, of Burlington. Iowa, the "Dakota School for Deaf Mutes" was opened in Sioux Falls on the first Monday in November, 1880. The school was duly incorpor- ated with the following Board of Trustees: C. A. Lounsberry, of Bismarck; O. S. Gifford, of Canton; Rev. J. C. Pennell, J. S. Scobey, of Brookings: Vale P. Thielman. of Swan Lake; Newton Edmunds, of Yankton: C. K. Howard, E. A. Sherman, E. G. Wright and A. F. Shaw, of Sioux Falls. At the meeting held for adopting articles of incorporation. Messrs. Sherman, Wright and Shaw were appointed a committee for the purpose of raising funds to keep the school in operation until the convening of the Legislature in 1SS1. At the
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fourteenth session of the Legislative Assembly of Dakota, held at Yankton in January, 1881. this school was declared to be the "Territorial School for the Education of the Deaf Mutes of this Territory," and appropriations were made for its support and en- largement. By the terms of the law enacted, every deaf and dumb person resident of the Territory, between the ages of five and twenty-one years, is entitled to receive an education of at least five years (including what has already been had), at this institution, at the expense of the Territory: provided, the County Commissioners decide the persons responsible for the care and education of such person are unable to pay such expense. The amount appropriated by the Territory for expenses for such pupil is five dollars per week for each and every pupil. At the same session of the Legislature a conditional appropriation was made, of $2,000, for the erection of suitable buildings for the school. Ten aeres of land and $1,000 have been donated by the city for the school, the site selected be- ing on the bluffs just east of the city. where a building 36 by 40 feet, two stories high, with an ell 16 by 24 feet, has been erected, capable of accommodating twenty-five pupils. The teachers of the school are: Miss Jennie Wright, Superintendent, and Prof. James Simpson. The course of study comprises: language, reading, spell- ing, writing, arithmetie, geography, history and bible lessons. The advancement made by the pupils, during the past year, gives ample evidence that the school is in proper hands, and that the reputation of the Territory will be zealously guarded.
Dakota Collegiate Institute .- The Southern Dakota Baptist As- sociation, at its session July 2d, 1881, decided that the denomina- tion would build a first-class Christian Academy in Dakota, and referred the matter to its Committee on Education. This com- mittee invited proposals from the towns in the southern part of Dakota for the location of the Academy, which were opened by the committee at its meeting in this city September 26th, 1881. Dell Rapids offered $5.500 cash, and Sioux Falls $6.000 cash. On motion. Sioux Falls was unanimously selected as the location. Articles of incorporation of the "Dakota Collegiate Institute" were adopted, and the following Board of Trustees elected: For one year-Rev. E. Ellis and J. B. Young, of Sioux Falls, and P. Morse, of Dell Rapids. For two years-Rev. W. Ross, of Oak- wood; J. H. Drake. of St. Paul; Geo. Morehouse, of Brookings, and B. F. Roderick, of Sioux Falls. For three years- - Rev. J. W.
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