Jerauld Co., SD - Description and History, 1884 This file is a complete transcription of the descriptive information about Jerauld County as found in A. T. Andreas' "Historical Atlas of Dakota", 1884. JERAULD COUNTY This county is centrally situated in southern Dakota, midway between the Missouri and Dakota rivers. It contains fifteen congressional townships, being three townships wide, north and south, and five long, east and west. It is divided near the center, north and south, by the eastern slope of the Wessington Hills, which extend entirely through the county. The plateau of the hills and the western slope are drained by two branches of Crow Creek, which discharges into the Missouri River in Town 106, north, in Buffalo County. The eastern portion is drained by Firesteel Creek, which finds its way to the Dakota (James) River, at Mitchell, in Davison County. There are a number of small lakes in the county, the principal of which are Crow Lake, on Section 22, 23, 26 and 27, in Town 106, Range 55, and two shallow lakes in the northwest part of the county, one in Town 108, Range 66, and the other in Town 108, Range 67. There is a considerable marsh in Town 108, Range 67 and several others in Town 106, Range 63. The northwest part of the county around the heads of the two creeks, and is considerably broken by ravines and bluffs, but not sufficiently to interfere with its cultivation. This part of the county is finely watered. We have copied a considerable portion of the following history of Jerauld County, from sketches published in the "Herald" at Wessington Springs, in the latter part of the winter of 1883-4: "A portion of what is now known as Jerauld County when this part of Dakota was divided into counties was first called Wetmore -- Wetmore County by the act of the legislature being comprised of Towns 105,106,107 and 108, Ranges 63, 64, 65, and 66. The legislature of 1877 consolidated the counties of Wetmore and Cragin, calling the consolidated counties Aurora. The legislature of 1883 again divided Aurora county, taking the three tiers of townships on the north of that county and attaching three townships on the west from the unorganized county of Buffalo, and named the new county Jerauld; so that as at present constituted the county of Jerauld comprises Townships 106, 107, and 108, and Ranges 63, 64, 65 and 67. The question of a division of Aurora county, and the establishment of Jerauld county with its present boundaries, was submitted to a vote of the people of the latter county April 17, 1993. The total vote polled was 174, of which 149 were for division and 25 against, leaving a clear majority in favor of the proposition of 124. The first white visitors to this section were a couple of Canadian traders who came here in 1651 to trade for furs. In 1695 Le Sueur visited the Dakota of the Upper Mississippi and the northwest, and found a tradition among them that their ancestors came from the north across the great water, having been driven from their native land by war. As the time of the memorable Minnesota massacre in 1862, there were a number of trappers who visited the "Hills" regularly on their hunting excursions; one of these trapper being named Wessington; when attached by the Indians they fled for the Hills, but were pursued and killed near the Big Springs. In honor to the man who thus offered up his life and mingled his heart's blood with the waters gushing form the rocks, the Hills and the Springs have since been known by the name Wessington. The Wessington Hills are, more properly speaking 'table lands,' being an elevated plateau from 50 to 350 feet in height; the ascent from the south being gradual for 35 or 40 miles, and from that point gradually descends until in the northern distance they mingle with the level lands of the valley seemingly bounded by the sky. The highest point of the Hills are near the township line, between Towns 107 and 109 in Range 65, the slope from there back to the Missouri River being gradual. This 'table land' is beautiful rolling prairie, with good soil, easy to subdue and cultivate, producing crops equal to any in the choicest portions of the Territory. A short distance west of the eastern edge of the Hills there are thousands of acres of the most fertile soil awaiting the coming of the settler. The climate on top of these Hills is all that can be desired; up so high that no miasma reaches, they are "Touched by a light that hath no name, A glory never sung." "The Springs, just at the foot of the Hills on the East, send forth pure waters, and water charged with iron, sulphur, magnesia and other properties, all health- giving and health restoring in their effects so we have here all the natural charms that induced so many people to visit southern California during the summer season. Invalids can come here and find that fullness and beauty of life that is so frequently denied them in other and older settled portions of the United States. "The soil in all this region of country is wonderfully retentive of moisture, so that the disastrous effects of drought are reduced in a minimum; it is a black rich alluvium and loan, practically inexhaustible; it is all strongly impregnated with lime and other essential qualities of a superb grain and grass bearing soil. "The first white settlers here were Levi Hain and a. Nicholson, who came here in 1876. Mr. Hain having a 'squatter's' right on the claim through which runs the Big Springs, while Mr. Nicholson was located three or four miles above, on the claim now owned by Mr. Wallace. "In 1878, P. R. Barrett came to the Hills, filing on his claim May 23d and beginning actual residence June 1st. Some idea of the difficulties to be overcome by the pioneers of that day may be inferred from the fact that the lumber for Mr. Barrett's house had to be hauled by team from Beaver Creek, Minn., eighteen miles east of Sioux Falls. At the same time that P .R. Barrett moved on his claim in Section 1, Town 107, Range 65, his brother, Moses Barrett, filed a homestead in Sections 11 and 12 of the same township, and his brother Ogden Barrett began improvements on his tree claim in Section 5, Town 107, Range 64. "In April, 1879, W. H. Stearns purchased the squatter's right to the Big Springs, Mr. Hain moving a mile further north and building another log house. "In May of the same year John McCarter took up his residence about three miles south of the Springs where he has since resided. Mr. Strong settled on the claim now held by the Rev. Jordan, and his son-in-law, Mr. Tucker, settled on the claim now held by the Grant brothers; these parties remained but a short time and returned to the east. The other comers in 1879 were Paddock Steves, M. Thornton and J. A. Palmer who settled in Town 108, Range 65. "In the spring of 1880 the number of settlers were further increased by the coming of the Solbergs, who settled east of the Springs, Ezra and William Hill, followed later in the season by Hudson and Bromwell Horsley, Chas. Cherry, Charley Williams and C. W. Hill who settled in Town 108, Range 64, the latter buying the claim of Paddock Steves. "July 4th, 1880, was celebrated by the settlers with a picnic which was participated by fifty of the residents, there being four others in the neighborhood who did not attend. "The first religious services at the hills were conducted by the Rev. M. E. Chapin who preached in Mr. Barrett's house on the 9th of May, 1880, and organized a Sunday school after the preaching service, which was reguarly kept up until October of that year with Ogden Barret, now of Sioux Falls, as superintendent. Nothing more was done with the Sunday school until the fall of 1881 when it was reorganized with H. Blower as superintendent and Mrs. S. Barrett as assistant, and has held regular sessions from that time to this. "While in one sense the colonists around the Springs were prospering during this year, they yet had some unpleasant experiences in regard to parties visiting them between dark and daylight with no just conception of the rights of meum et tuum; in the fall of 1879, P. R. Barrett, lost two pigs; in March 1880, a cow was taken, belonging to a Mr. Hewitt; on the 6th of May two horses were stolen from P. R. Barrett, the shanties of Steves and Palmer were robbed, Palmer's being torn down, Stephen Smith settled near the big spring in Town 108, Range 65 in the summer of 1880 and missed a colt very unaccountably. During the winter of 1880-1 C.W. Hill lost a three quarters Durham calf between one and two years old. In the fall of this year the houses of Messrs. McCarter Strong and Tucker were burned, together with their contents (except such portions of the latter as were carried off) while the parties themselves were absent from the house. "The year 1881 brought an additional number of settlers J.W. Thomas locating east of the Springs in May of that year. J. G. Campbell, W. F. and W. E. Smart, Alden Brown and A. B. Smart located the latter part of May; Mrs. Ridddle filed on her claim in June and took up her residence in the fall; Mr. Geo. Wallace bought the Nicholson claim in June; C.W. P. Osgood and D.W. Shryock cam e in August; H. Blowers, R. S. and W. I. Bateman and Will Crawford came in September, all settling near the Springs. H. A. Miller, Henry and Albert Lauder and A. Kirkman settled in Township 108, Range 65. "Mrs. Dr. N. C. Weems came in February, 1882, and during the early spring months T. Tofflemire; C. D. Brown, H. J. Wallace, C. W. McDonald, J. Scott, B. F. Wiley, John Chapman, Geo. R. Bateman and C. T. Hall settled in the immediate neighborhood of the Springs. "Since the early spring of 1882 the growth of the community has been healthy, the people making their homes here being of the best class of eastern people, coming because they find here all the essentials for making their residence pleasant. "The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Wessington Springs was organized March 30, 1882, and articles of incorporation adopted April 8th. At the first quarterly meeting of last year it was decided to build a house of worship 26x40 feet on the ground, fourteen feet studding on the sides and a small belfry. Mr. R. S. Bateman was selected to obtain the necessary subscriptions for the enterprise. Through his persistence and the liberality of friends at home and in the East, a sufficient amount was raised to justify the erection of the building. By the time the material was on the ground the building committee was practically reduced to R. S. Bateman and C. W. McDonald, who engaged E. L. DeLine to superintend the erection of the building, and we now have nearly completed as nearly completed as neat a church as can be found in the northwest -- seated with chairs and warmed with two heaters which make the building comfortable in the coldest weather. "The first marriage was that of Charles Williams and Loretta Hain, in December, 1879. The first death was that of a little daughter of I. C. Bolton in July 1883. "The first marriage in the county as now constituted was that of C. W. McDonald and Miss Fanny Tofflemire. CROW LAKE "The first actual settler in this township was Albert Allyn, who built the first house in May, 1882. Frank Spurla also erected, on the south side of Crow Lake, a sod shanty about he same time. Mr. Allyn broke fourteen acres that summer, and raised the first crop seen in the vicinity of Crow Lake. His wife has the honor of picking the first peas, the first beans, and making the first pie (from pie plant) from plants actually growing on their land. During the summer Mr. Allyn was reinforced by William Harrison, Mentzer brothers and Frank brothers; in October came V. Dusek and family. These were about all the settlers in this part of the county till the spring of 1883, when nearly every quarter section was taken, mostly by bona fide residents. Nine months ago there were not over six horses, fifteen or twenty cattle and twenty people; now there are over 100 horses and mules, over 300 excellent cattle -- Durham, and three-fourths cows and heifers -- about 100 breeding swine -- Poland, China, Berkshire, Suffolk and Jersey Red. There are also a few small flocks of sheep. Population about 150. The crops the past season were good; the hay was abundant and secure in fine order; potatoes, ruta-bagas and all vegetable yielded profusely, and a great quantity had been stored. Corn was only fair, most all being planted late, from 10th to 20 of June. There seems to be on hand a fair supply for all the present population and stock, which is a good record for first year on late sod; another year will no doubt see a large surplus. As a rule the people are well satisfied, and with schools in the near future and the prospect of light taxes, seem to think there is no better country than our Crow Lake valley. Some months ago a post office called Crow Lake was established, with Mr. Allyn as Postmaster. Each week has seen an increase in the quantity of mail matter sent and received, and now it is fully ten times larger than at the start, with good prospect of an increase in the future fully as great. Crow Lake is the finest body of water in this section of Dakota; it covers about 7000 acres, with banks from eight to ten feet on nearly every side; fish are numerous; ducks, geese, swan and pelicans abound during the spring and fall. The land on either side of the lake is rolling. There are a few hills and many lovely valleys. When, in a few years, trees and orchards dot the hillsides, and the corn and grain waves in the valley, no lovelier spot can be found in all southern Dakota. That it was once the favorite resort of the Indian is evident on every hand -- the old camping grounds, the Indian graves on the most sightly hills, all go to show that Crow Lake and vicinity was a favorite spot with the red man, as it now is with the white. STETSON -- Towns 107, Range 66 "This township is one of the best in the county; the principal part of the township is well watered by Smith Creek and its branches, a tributary of Crow Creek. The land is rolling prairie, well adapted for the raising of grain, as well as for raising stock. The first settler in the township was Mr. F. Crittenden who cam in the fall of '82. At that time it was supposed that Town 107, Range 55 was somewhere near the north pole or the end of the world. In May, 1883, Messrs. Stetson (in whose honor the post office established in this township last summer was named), Todd, Linn, Sullivan, Terrill, Sowerwine, Gaffin, Shimp, Vessey Bros., Bower, Byam, Cavanagh, Gaily and Corwin settled in this township -- since followed by other until every desirable quarter has a filing on. The buildings of Messrs. Barber, Todd, Sullivan and Shimp are ample evidence that they intend to make this their home. IN THE NORTHWEST "The first settler in Town 108, Range 66 was O.O. England, who came in the summer of '82. He has an extensive sheep ranch and has done his full share in the development of the county. Among others in this township who are entitled to the appellation of "first settlers" are Mr. Armstrong, James Grieve, G. W. and W. M. Titus, C. G. Smith and C. Brown, who made settlement in 1883. Farther west are J. W. Murphy, Mr. Hammeck, J. Hanson, I. N. Rich, Mr. Mills, J. Collier and Messrs Sickles, Lawton, Marshall, Evans and D. Mitchell, all sturdy pioneers, who will each contribute his share to the building up of the county. TOWN 107, RANGE 65 "The first actual settler in Town 107, Range 65 was Moses Barrett, who settled in the northeast corner of the township in 1878. In the spring of 1882 I. F. Ford settled in the southern part of the township. W. I. Batemand on Section 13. C. W. McDonald on Section 14; later in the season E. L. DeLine settled on Section 8. In the spring of '83 the settlers came in so fast that before the close of the year nearly every claim in the township was filed on. Among those who have made improvements of the more substantial kind are J. N. Cross, Robert and John Vessey, Cummings Bros., A. McGinnis and others whose names we cannnot now recall. "In the fall of '83 a post office was established on Section 9, called Templeton, with J. N. Cross as Postmaster. Steiger Brothers in Town 106, Range 63 have about 400 acres broken and are well fixed for comfort. "M. W. Young, father and uncle, breeders of horses, have fine stock and are prospering finely. O. C. Solberg has a fine farm of 480 acres all in one body; he raised this year about 600 bushels of grain and has over a hundred acres of ground ready for seeding next spring. THE EASTERN PART OF THE COUNTY "The first settlers in the eastern part of the county were H. D. Fisher, W. P. Pierce, G. Kneriem, I. Ray and father, who came in April and May, '82. These parties are all well fixed with large areas of their claims under cultivation. Mr. Kneriem having raised the last season over a thousand bushels of grain Later in the season came the Starkey brothers, after whom the post office in Town 107, Range 63 established in May, '83, was named. Paul Berlin and Mr. Bowen, whose splendid herds of cattle attest their intention of becoming permanent residents of the county. In October, '82, W. J. and O. E. Williams settled on their claims near the Firesteel and now have 150 acres under cultivation. During the summer of '82 and the early spring of '83, the settlers east and northeast of the Springs came in so fast that it has been almost impossible to keep track of them. Among those who came to stay were Messrs. Whiffin, LaRue, Blank, Weiland, Joseph, Thomas and James Roach and W. W. Woodruff. "With the building of the Jim River division of the Milwaukee road, a little town by the name of Alpena was started in the northeast corner of the county. We are unacquainted in that part of the county, but if the people and the town are as enterprising as the "Journal" published by Loomis & Davis, we are only sorry that we are not better acquainted with the neighborhood. "From the assessor's returns, made between May 20th and June 10th '82, it appears that there were but 223 settles in the whole of Jerauld county while the best informed persons now estimate the population of the county at from 1,000 to 2,500. WESSINGTON SPRINGS "The town of Wessington Springs was platted by Messrs. Burr & Scott in 1882. It is situated on Sections 7 and 18, town 107, Range 64 and Section 13, Town 107, Range 65. Nothing was done toward building up the town however until the spring of 1883, the only building prior to that time being the house of S. Woodhouse which, after a few days, was moved to his claim northeast of the town. "In April, 1883, the first building on the town site ws erected by Reed & Akin, the same building being now occupied by Drake & Magee. "The second building was that of Lew Hoes, followed by the dwellings of A. K. Wentworth and Drake & Smith. "The next buildings to be completed were the office of Dunn & Hackett, followed by the store room of Housel & Arnold. The Wessington Springs Hotel, Tarble & Woodburn, and the store of Stephens Brothers were begun in May. The livery stable of E. B. Orr, the store of S. Kenny and the store building of Applegate were built during June. The Methodist Episcopal Church and the "Herald" building were erected in July. The dwelling of Magee and the blacksmith shop of J. Woodburn in August. The hardware store of Morse & LaPoint and the store of E. H. Ford were built in September. The post office and school house and the office of Ford & Rich were built in November. "The Jerauld County "News" was established November 22, 1883, by W. S. Ingham. "In 1878 a post office was established two miles north of the present town, called Wessington with P. R. Barrett as Postmaster. In the spring of 1883 the name of the office was changed to "Elmer" without any reason being assigned therefor and in spite of a remonstrance sent in by the settlers. A petition to remove the office to the town site and change the name to conform to the name of the town has been granted to the extent that Mr. Barrett was allowed to move the post office of "Elmer" to the town, but the change of name was refused by the department. "In September last Mr. C. E. Bourne and P. R. Barrett each bought fourth interest in the town site, Mr. Barrett taking up his residence in the town. "During the last summer the Springs have been cleaned out, the underbrush around the Springs and along the stream cleaned up, a dam built and water pipes laid from the dam to the center of town; as a consequence Wessington Springs has a system of water works that furnishes the town with water that many of the cites at the East would give thousands of dollars to be possessors of. The town proprietors will, the coming season, continue improvements looking to the making of this place the leading watering place of the northwest. THE SOUTHERN PORTION "One of the first settlers in the south part of the county was L. G. Wilson, who located on the Firesteel in the fall of 1881, and was appointed Deputy Assessor of Aurora County for 1882, and was elected Assessor on the Republican ticket at the election in the same year. The settlers during the spring of 1882 were Dr. Nesmith, T. K. Ford, J. A. Ford, John Philips and Chas. Walters; later Wm. Pagenhart, J. B. Falsom, N. Rhodes, Wm. Towner and F. Voge built on their claim in the fall. "In Town 106, Range 65, S. S. Moore and Julius Swan were the pioneers and settled in the valley on Sections 23 and 26, where they have fine farms and residences. L. S. Cull made perhaps the first improvements on the Hills, being in Section 2 of this township." (End of small print.) THE PRESS Mr. C. W. McDonald, formerly of Sioux Falls, was the pioneer newspaper man of Jerauld County. He is a lawyer by profession as well as a journalist. On the 5th of May, 1873, he commenced the publication of the Siux Falls Independent. On the 6th of January, 1881, t was consolidated with the "Pantagraph," and later in the same year both were merged in the Sioux Falls "Press." Subsequently he visited several counties farther west, and when the county of Jerauld was established in the spring of 1883, was at Plankinton. Looking upon Wessington Springs as a promising point for a business location, Mr. McDonald and William Bateman, Jr., a gentleman who had also seen several years of service in the newspaper line, associated themselves together and commenced the publication of the Wessington Springs "Herald" the first four numbers being printed in Plankinton at the house of William Bateman, Sr. The date of the first issue was March 24, 1883. Upon the completion of a neat, commodious office in Wessington Springs the material was removed thither, and the paper has since been issued there. The firm has established a fine reputation, and the paper is a well-conducted and able exponent of the advantages of Dakota generally, and of Jerauld County and Wessington Springs in particular. Another paper called the Jerauld County "News" was established in November, 1993, by W. S. Ingham. WATERBURY The town of Waterbury, located upon Section 21, Town 107, Range 67, was first settled by E. S. Waterbury, in September, 1882, when he made a claim covering the present town site, which he proved upon April 6, 1993, and immediately thereafter surveyed and laid out the town, which has grown to be a busy place. A post office was established in December, 1882, when there was but one house in the place, and only one other within twelve miles. E. s. Waterbury was appointed Postmaster. The town contains a hotel, several stores, two newspapers, the "News" and the "Herald," two livery stables, one church organization, a comfortable school building, the usual mechanics, and nearly 200 inhabitants. There is a stage route running to Kimball in Brule County and Miller, the county seat of Hand County, supplying four to five mails weekly. The town is pleasantly situated in the Crow Creek Valley, several branches uniting near the place. The country surrounding Waterbury is excellent for general farming ands stock raising, and dairying will some day be among the most profitable industries. The valleys of the branches of Crow Creek vary in width from twenty rods to a half mile or more, and have a rich sandy-loan soil from one to three or four feet in depth. On the table lands and terraces the soil is of the same composition but somewhat less in depth. Water is abundant everywhere in the township in which Waterbury is situated. A settlement which took the name of Sulphur Springs was commenced in this township on Section 29, abut the time of the settlement of Waterbury, and a post office was for a time located there, but he two places being only one and a half miles apart, and Waterbury getting the lead, the post office was discontinued and the business has mostly concentrated at Waterbury. Several efforts were made by the people of Jerauld County to procure the organization of the county before success crowned their efforts. At length in September, 1883, Governor Ordway appointed three commissioners -- Dr. S. H. Melcher, H. D. Fisher and A. B. Smart. The first meeting was held November 89, 1883, and a set of county officers were appointed of which the following is a correct list: Sheriff, J. M. Spears, of Elmer; Deputy, P. C. Stevens; Assessor. L. G. Wilson, of Parson; Probate Judge. H. M. Rice, of Waterbury; Register of Deeds, W. J. Williams, of Elmer; Surveyor, J. A. McFarland, of Stetson; Coroner, Dr. D. F. Royer, of Alpena; Superintendent of Schools, R. Y Hazard, of Crow Lake; Prosecuting Attorney, R. M. Magee, of Elmer; Justices, J. c. Gray, Alpena; F. Tofflemeier, Elmer; M. w. Young, Parson; Constables, James Paddock, O. C. Solberg, L. w. Castleman. The following are the present officers of the county: Commissioners, A. B. Smart, S. H. Melcher, H. D. Fisher, Register of Deeds, T. Linus Blank; Superintendent of Schools, R. Y Hazard; Treasurer, W. J. Williams; Clerk of Court, C. W. McDonald; Sheriff, J. M. Spears; Surveyor, H. J. Wallace. The post offices established to date are Elmer (Wessington Springs), Alpena, Waterbury, Templeton, Stetson, Sullivan, Starkey and Crow Lake. About four and a half miles of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway are in the northeast part of the county. The Huron & Southwestern will cross the county when constructed. The county is divided into twelve school townships.