Faulk County, South Dakota - Chapter 2: Vstate History, 1909

Chapter 2: Vstate History

While it was as early as A. D. 1850, that a few hardy . adventurers settled within the bounds of what is now reorganized as the state of South Dakota there was no real conception of its vast and imposing natural resources until 1875, and it was five years later before the real tide of immigration set in. So far as its real existence as a desirable land for homes and civilization is concerned, there was gradual development and passing through an experimental stage of nearly two decades, before actual facts became fixed in intelligent minds that it was actually one of the most, if not the "most desirable agricultural and mining state in the Union.

The following, published about 1890 in the Dakota Outlook, is the best and most reliable information in regard to the early histor}' of South Dakota, obtainable:

"The first settlement of Dakota by white men was in 1812, when a few of the Scotchmen who composed theAssinaboine colony of Lord Selkirk, settled at or near where Pembina now is. These loyal subjects of the British crown were not a little annoyed, years after, to learn that they had been tilling the soil and breathing the air of the land presided over by' Uncle Sam's 'bird o' freedom,' and most of them moved northward.

"it does not appear to be definitely known when the first settlers came into South Dakota. The party of lyewis and Clark (1803-6) were the first white men to explore the Missouri river to its source, and the report of the expedition, published in 1814 probably gave the first information of Dakota. But the accounts of the extreme cold and other hardships which the explorers encountered were not such as to make this land inviting. While the course of empire took its westward flight, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas became the promised land of the eastern emigrants. Dakota was considered a part of the Great American Desert, a land of barren sands in summer, and of snows and frosts in winter.

"Sometime, however, about the year 1850, a few hardy adventurers settled in Dakota, and their magnificient crops of wheat bore unmistakable evidence that this was, indeed, a goodly land. Their reports caused others to come, and by the year 1858 thriving settlements had been made along the Missouri at Elk point, Vermillion, Yankton and other places, and at different points along the Big Sioux. These settlements were upon Indian land, which was finally deded in the spring of 1858.

"During the next two or three years a large number of settlers came in and the people began to move for the formation of the Territory of Dakota. In these early days the citizens of Sioux Falls were no less energetic and enterprising than they are now. They not only discussed the matter, but proceeded to organize a provisional government, choosing also a full list of territorial officers.

"This was during the latter part of 1859. On the 8th of November of the same year there was held at Yankton a meeting, the object of which u^as to petition congress to organize the territory. A similar meeting was held at Vermillion on the day following. The organization was not accomplished, however, until February, 1861, and the approval on the organic act on March 2nd, was one of ths last official acts of President Buchanan.

"William Payne, the first governor, entered upon the discharge of his official duties May 27, 1861. A census showed the population to be 1,786.

"in 1870 the census showed a population of 14.181, of whom 12,887 were white. This was a small gain for ten years; but little was yet known of the natural resources of Dakota.

A gradual increase continued until 1875, when the Dakota boom may be said to have begun. At this time gold was discovered in the Black Hills, and almost all the papers in the country published wonderful stories of the -I^recious yellow nuggets that were found there. Adventurers flocked in from every direction. Not only did they find gold, but they found also, millions of acres of the very best land, and that the country was one of the most healthful in the world. While thousands passed onward to the Hills many stopped on this side of the Missouri. Many more, attracted by the marvelous stories of the golden wheat fields crowded into North Dakota. In that section where in 1878 there could not be found 1,000 people, there are to-day 100,000 people, the assessed value of whose property last year was over three hundred million. South Dakota has nearly a quarter million of people, whose property, assessed on a scale much lower than that of North Dakota, is over one billion in valuation."

The following extract from a letter from the distinguished and much beloved Ex-Governor Faulk in regard to the creation of Faulk county, now in the posession of the author, will be of interest not only for the important facts but from the source from which they are obtained: "l know from my own personal knowledge, that in the winter of 1873, during the administration of Governor Burbank and Gen. Edw4n McCook, the territorial secretary, was acting governor, Governor Burbank being absent in the east. The legislature passed a bill Creating several counties, among which was Faulk county. No other county had been previously created by the Dakota legislature covering any portion of the territory embraced in this county. And the same is true to the best of ray recollection as to all the other counties created that winter. It was organized under the laws of the territory while Ordway was Governor, the date and facts relating to which you will find in the Times, or other papers published in your vicinity at that period.

from the west side of Faulk county and adding thein to Potter county. County seat rivalry appears to account for this very singular movement, at any rate it was resisted so vigorously that a compromise was eJEFected at the last moment by which only one tier of townships w^as taken, and which left the present county seat within three miles, of the geographical center of the county.

You wished me to say something about the very beginning of general knowledge concerning this portion of South Dakota. I will briefly allude to its history prior ta 1861, the time of Jhe organization of Dakota Territory.. Previous to that date, and before the act of congress creating the territory of Minnesota,, the Missouri river formed the western boundary of Wisconsin and all that portion, laying east of the Missouri river was embraced in the county of the St. Croix. But after the: state of Minnesota, was created, coixgress in 1849, caused it to be attached to Mirmesota, and the legislature of Minnesota changed its-, name to Dakota county or, at least it formed a portion of. that county. All o£ that portion of Dakota laying west of the Missiouri river was taken from the territory of Nebraska.

"When r came to Dakota in 1861, this huge territoryembraced what are now the four states North and South Dakota, Montana arwi Wyoming and a part of Idaho - an area of 350,000 square miles. This was more than one third of the whole of the Louisiana Purchase. This vast region was really as little known to the most of the American people as if it had been located in the darkest portion of Central Africa. The Lousiana Purchase, in which, ^outh Dakota is situated, was made by President ]ei- ferson in 1803, and contained about 1,000,000 square miles, which was obtained at thenominal cost of $15,000,000. It had once been claimed by Spain by right of discovery , then sold to France, and by France transferred to the United States."

Gov. Faulk finished up his most interesting letter with the following, which is most highly appreciated by the people of our county: Andrews, the historian, in his -"Historical Atlas of Dakota," published in 1884 at Chicago, after giving a general sketch of the geographical features the country, concludes with this paragraph:

The climate soil and productions of Faulk county -compare favorably with other counties of central Dakota, -and the county is being settled and occupied by a very superior class of people, largely from lUinoiSj lowa^ Minnesota and Wisconsin."

This was the verdict of history eleven years ago, and to-day I am very stue it may be written that it has lost nothing of the distinction awarded to it by .the publisher -of the Atlas of Dakota.

and 120 north, and range 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72 west, being twenty-four miles north and south, and fortytwo miles east and west. It is watered by Scatterwood lake and Snake or Nixon creek, which rises in the southwestern portion of Edmunds county and the coteaux upon the extreme western line of Faulk county, which for ages had been the feeding ground of vast herds of buffalo, until they had been exterminated by the Indians who roamed upon the plains.

discouraging account of the whole region, and, when in April 1882, a party of three home-seekers from Missouri left the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at Redfield and started out in a westerly direction, on a three days' tour of exploration, one would have said it was inspiration rather than sound judgment, that prompted their movement. But after a most careful exploration , in place of a " barren waste scattered over with growin'g cactus," they beheld a beautiful, slightly rolling prairie covered with luxuriant grasses and the clear waters of the Nixon. They returned with a most happy report that it was a "goodly land," and one to be earnestly sought after. This party consisted of Alexander LaFoon, D. S. Smith and T. H. McMullen. The location they selected was upon the south side of the creek, in what proved to be Township 118, range 68. (The government survey had not then been made.) Their plan was for a large colony, but the arrival of others broke up their arrangements so that their plan, so far as a Missouri colony was concerned, never materialized. A paramount idea was the location of a future county seat, and, but for the subsequent coming of the Chicago & Northwest-

The first party of immigrants located permanently upon the ground in June, 1882, and among them were T. H. McMullen, Booth, Russell and Whitehead. Additions were soon made to the colony, and among them were some of the strong, influential men of our county at the present day. About this time a party of home-seekers from Charles City, la., located on the creek about five miles west of them in Range 67, and christened their town Faulkton; in honor of the distinguished and honored Governor Faulk, for whom the county was named.

Faulkton at once became an active competitor for the county seat. On Dec. 21st, 1882, the first number of the Faulkton Times appeared, withH. A. Humphrey, editor and publisher. It is claimed that the Times was the first paper printed in Faulk county, yet the LaFoon Record, A. E. Evans, editor; Evans & Geddis, proprietors, was a very close second. On Dec. 25th the La- Foon town site was platted. Each of the papers left no stone unturned in advocating the advantages and superior claims, of its own location.

The struggle to control the county organization and secure the county seat became the one and only theme of -conversation and effort that commanded first attention. It soon became evident that a new factor must be taken into consideration. Gov. Ordway, through his son, George L. Ordway, and one Tibbits, who had been a business partner of George E. Ordway in Denver, Colorado, had put up the county organization, including the county seat, to the highest bidder. A den of thieves were in control and must be recognized. The Faulkton Times, in commenting upon the transaction, said: ' The deal was a public one, and much of it a matter of public record. It was consummated in broad daylight, - as a matter of fact barter, - without a blush of shame, and the participants candidly conversed about the amount of land and money paid. The people of the county were disgusted and outraged that their interests should have been made an article of merchandise, and their most sacred rights should have been put up by the governor and sold to the highest bidder as an article of speculation" An intelligent and candid writer, who was fainiliar with all the circumstances at the time, said: "Faulk county residents are entirely excusable for the part taken by them in this piece of open bribery, because it was impossible to proctu'C an organization of their county without yielding to the demands of the organizer. There were at least 2,500 people in the county at the time of its organization and they were suffering great inconvenience and expense for want of local government. A mathematical calculation has been made by a resident, and his figures show that if Faulk county had paid $10,000 in cash six months ago for an organization, the people would have been ahead today in a financial sense. ' '

It can, therefore, readily be seen that after so large experience and the disastrous consquences of delay, the citizens of Faulk county were ready to resort to any process which would give them government. They were forced into a bargain by the procrastination of a scheming executive. Faulkton had made her bid, and of course LaFoon must go her one better. Nearly a section of adjoining land, half of the town site and $3,000 was the price paid. As soon as this man Tibbits had time to confer with Governor Ordway, commissions were issued to Thomas L. Humes, Matthew J. Jarvis and Hervey A. Humphrey, appointing them commissioners of P'aulk county, with full power to organize said county. On the 5th day of November, 1883, they met at the office of J. A. Pickler, Esq., in Faulkton, each of them presenting his commission of appointment to the office of county commissioner in and for said Faulk county, by His Excellency, N. G. Ordway, Governor of the Territory of Dakota. The commissioners qualified according to law^ and organized as a board by the election of Hervey A. Humphrey as chairman, and on motion, Geo. W. Fifield was elected temporary secretary. On motion of Commissioner Hume, Joseph H. Bottum was elected by ballot, register of deeds.

On motion the board adjourned to meet at the office of D. N. Hunt & Co. at LaFoon in said Faulk county on Wednesday, Nov. 7th, 1883, at 10 o'clock a. m.

The board met pursuant to adjournment and J. H. Bottum was elected clerk pro. tem. C. F. Hardy was elected judge of probate. By a vote of two to one LaFoon was declared the county seat.

At the afternoon session E. C. Sage was cho'sen sheriff; George J. Jarvis, assessor; H. S. Utley of DeVoe, county treasurer; Miss Angie Harrington, superintendent of schools; E. Baldwin, county surveyor; J. S. Bates, coroner; Frank Turner and C. M. Kellogg, justices of the peace; J. T. McKinley and Edward Chapman, constables.

nearer the geographical center of the county, but as the eastern part of the county was first and more densely inhabited, always resulted in favor of LaFoon, and it is quite evident that LaFoon would have remained the county seat until the present day if the coming of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad had not aided Faulkton; so soon to be followed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railway, with a branch road from Aberdeen to Faulkton and Orient near the southern line of the county. Even then LaFoon was able to dictate its terms of surrender and come as equals, with equal rights and privileges, including their homes, their churches and their public buildings.

Public Library

The convention was called to order by Judge C. H. Derr and Morgan G. Millard and A. E. Evans were chosen secretaries. The following persons were placed in nomination for the several county offices, all of whom were elected on Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1884: C. H. Derr, judge of probate; Frank A. Pangburn, clerk of district court; James W. Johnston, register of deeds; P. E. Knox, treasurer; Mrs. Angle Rose, county superintendent; for sheriff, L,. M. Buland; for assessor, E. G. Sage; for coroner, Dr. ly. M. Sprowles; for surveyor, B. H. Clark; for district attorney, C. C. Clifford; for justic^s of the psace, Frank Turner, W. R. Davis, W. G. Faulkner and D. S. Smith; for constables, J. W. Bass, C. B. Oakes, Ed. Hoisel and Channey J. Cooper.

The following persons were chosen to the republican convention at Pierre: John A. Pickler and John E- Chain. To the district convention at Redfield, W. S. Belknap, C. H . Ellis, M. E. Wood and F. M. Brown. Thus ended the first organized and well attended county convention in which there was a consciousness that it was the people and not politicians that were then in control of county affairs.

County Organization

COUNTY ORGANIZATION. No history of Faulk county can be complete without a careful review of the unusual methods adopted by the Governor, N. G. Ordway, through his son, George L,. Ordway. and one Tibbits, who had been a business partner of George ly. Ordway in Denver, Colorado. As reference has been made to this affair in a former chapter, the writer will confine himself to extracts and editorials from thepress of that day. The following aiBdavit is from thecolumns of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

McMullin. one of the towm site proprietors of lyaFoon, in an affidavit sworn to, before C. H., Squire, notary public,. Faulk county, says:

On or about Sept. 2, 1883, William B. Tibbits came to- LaFoon and exhibited a letter from George L. Ordway,, son of Gov. Ordway, stating that. Tibbits came to Faulk county for the purpose of looking it over with reference to its organization. Tibbits stated to me that the count>- would be organized as soon as he reported to the governor, and in accordance with his report. I met Tibbits at the office of D. W. Hunt, in LaFoou. Tliere were present, beside Tibbits, C. F. Hardy, D. R. Miller, John Hough, F. W. Rogers and myself, all of whom were members of the town; site company, and D. S. Smith, who had land adjoining.. Conversation was had with Tibbits relative to the location* of the county ssat. On? of the party proposed to, Tibbits, that he become a partner in the town site of LaFoon. To this Tibbits assented. The meeting then broke up and Tibbits withdrew. The balance of the party being a majority of the shareholders of the town site., called a meeting at which it was agreed to give Tibbits one-half of the town site 'of LaFoon, comprising 160 acres. They also concluded to ^ive him all the land they could get donated and whatever money they could get subscribed. It was agreed that those who donated the lands should execute deeds to Tibbits, and that the deeds and money subset ibed should be placed in the hands of D. R. Miller of Redfield., to be delivered and paid to Tibbits whenever F'aulk county should be organized and the county seat located at TaFoon. I proceeded at vonce to procure the deeds of property' donated., and D. R. Miller and John Hough went to work .to raise money. I 'Obtained deeds from Andrew Greenwald, Alex LaFoon,, Xouis Kneisel. Jr.. Lee M. Sprowls, James P. Rathbun, James \V. John.ston, William T. Hensley,, Lawrence W. Hensley, Darius .S. Smith, Joel C. Booth and Nora Reppy for 380 acres of land in all. After I had procured those -deeds they were shown to Tibbits, who expressed himself as highly gratified at the result. He was also informed of the amount of money subscribed, and which I then understood and have since been informed, amounted to about The deeds were deliveied to D. R. Miller of Redfield with a paper accompanying them signed by each stating thafthey (the deeds) were to be delivered to William B. 'Tibbits upon the happening of a certain event, to-wit: when the commissioners of Faulk county vrere appointed by the governor, and the county seat located at LaFoon. After the delivery of tlie deeds Mr. Tibbits wejit away.

He said- he was going to Bismarck to see the governor and make his report. I saw Tibbits again Oct. 1, 1883, in the presence of D. R. Miller in the latter's bank at Redfield. Miller said it was all right, but that the deeds would have to be changed and made out to him (Miller), and that he would convey to Tibbits. Miller stated in the presence of Tibbits that the reason for changing the deeds was because it appeared too open and barefaced to have the deeds go direct to Tibbits. In accordance with this request, new deeds were executed to D. R. Miller. I wrote out four of the deeds myself. One of the deeds, that of Kneisel, was not changed, but went on record direct from him to Tibbits. The deed of Nora Reppy was also changed, but her deed to Tibbits has not yet been recorded. I have been informed, and so understand, that the money subscribed, amounting to about $3,000, was paid to D. R. Miller, to be paid by him to Tibbits, and that it was so paid. Tibbits subsequently returned again from Bismarck to Redfield, and stated that the governor wanted a petition asking for the appointment of the commissioners that we wanted. Thereupon a petition was prepared and privateh^ circulated around lyaFoon and the eastern portion of the count}'^, asking for the appointment of Thomas L. Humes, Matthew J. Jarvis and Hervey A. Humphrey. This petition was forwarded to the governor, and the parties above named were appointed the commissioners of Faulk county.

one of the to\\n site proprietors of Faulkton, in an affidavit made before W. S. Bowen, notary public, Yankton county, stated he met Gov. Ordway in June, 1883 - after numerous petitions for organization had been sent to him - and repre- sented the urgent necessity for an immediate organization of Faulk count}^ In August, 1883, he saw George L. Ordway at Pierre and was informed by the latter that he liad sent W. B. Tibbits to Faulk county to look the ground over, and that the parties interested confer with Tibbits. On returning to Faulkton, Spinden met Tibbits, said he had been there to investigate and report. Spinden told Tibbits that it was unnecessary to keep up pretenses, and that he was prepared, as president of the Faulkton Town Site company, to make an oifer for the -county seat. The town site company offered Tibbitts, or those for whom he was acting, 120 acres of land adjoining Faulkton, 250 lots in the town site and $1,000 in cash. Tibbits remained ten days in Faulkton and then went to IvaFoon. He assured me that we should have an opportunity to make a second bid if necessary. Afterward I to Pierre and told Tibbits we would add to our offer the hotel in Faulkton and $1,000 for him (Tibbits) per- :sonally. I regarded hjm as acting for Gov. Ordway, to -whom he said he was to report. It was understood bj^ us all that a bonus must be given Gov. Ordway before the commissioners were appointed. Of the three members of the board, two were residents,, at the time of their appointment, of Spink county.

of Faulkton, and one of the commissioners of Faulk appointed by Gov. Ordway, in an affidavit before C. H. ,'Squire, notary public, Faulk count}^ states that the letter written and signed by George L. Ordway, the governor's .son, and brought by Tibbits to Faulkton, stated that Tib- ;bJtsc3me there for the purpose of looking the county over.

in view of its approaching organization. Humphrey had several interviews with Tibbits, who said he wanted to see the most prominent men in various localities, and gave Humphrey to understand that the county would be organized in accordance with his report. He further gave Humphrey to understand in a manner not to be mistaken that he was prepared to receive and consider any proposition that might be made to him in regard to Faulkton's securing the county seat. On being asked wdiat proposition LaFoon had made, Tibbits replied that "that was confidential." Humj^hrey also states that he has been informed by men who subscribed to the LaFoon fund, that Tibbits had received large amounts of monev and land in consideration of the location of the county seat at LaFoon.

George W. Fifield. P. B. Durley, H. A. H,umphrey and J. A. Pickler of Faulkton, and Thomas H. McMullin of LaFoon, in a joint affidavit before C. H. Squire, notary public, Faulk county recite the facts in regard to the repeated efforts of the citizens of Faulk county to obtain organization. Petition after petition was forwarded for this purpose in vain. The affidavits state that during the period of eleven months between the time the county should have been organized, as required by law, and the time it was finally organized, Faulk county was without local government or any court of justice, without schools, being without the power to levy taxes for their support. That many settlers, residents of the county, in making final proof on their claims, were put to great trouble and expense by being compelled to travel with their witnesses, a distance of from thirty-five to forty miles to an adjoining county to reach an officer who could administer the neces-

Nora Reppy, a property owner residing near lyaFoon, in an affidavit before J. M. Miles, clerk of the district court of Faulk county, states at the time of Tibbits' visit to lyaFoon, as the representative of Gov. Ordway, she was asked how much of her land she would give to have the county seat at lyaFoon. She gave forty (40) acres, being the southwest fourth of section 17, township 117, range 68, a deed for which she executed to Tibbits and delivered to D. R. Miller, a banker of Redfield, to be given to Tibbits when I^aFoon got the county seat. She understood that the land donated by herself and others was for the governor, and that I^aFoon's chances for the county seat depended on the amount of money and land donated.

The certified copies of the deeds on record in the office at LaFoon of J. H. Bottum, register of deeds for Faulk count, Dakota, whi.ch accompany the affidavits, show the following transfers:

The description and amount of property conveyed by Andrew Greenwald and others to D. R. Miller correspond with that of the property conveyed by Miller and his wife to William B. Tibbits, except in one instance, where twenty acres are deeded by Miller to Tibbits in lieu of the forty acres deeded to Miller by Alexander LaFoon. The other twenty acres may have been allowed Miller, who is a Redfield banker, as his per cent for negotiating the transaction. The lands deeded to Tibbits, included the forty acres given by Nora Reppy whose deed was not recorded.

town site may be estimated at $1,500. If L,aFoon has a "boom" this spring, this land can be platted and sold so^ as to bring anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000. The value of the remaining 300 acres is about $3,700, ranging from $10 to $15 an acre, the latter figure applying to 140 acres, situated within a radius of half a mile from the town site. The value of the one-half interest in the 160 acre town site proper, which Tibbits received according to the affidavit of Thomas H. McMullin, cannot be less than $10,000 to its. owner, if he will handle it properly. It is extremely probable that $15,000 will be realized this year by the owner of that one-half interest."

That Gov. Ordway, if not 'entirely responsible for thewhole transaction, was hand and glove with George L. Ordway and Tibbits, was so evident to the people of the territory, as to call forth the following from the territorial press and the Chicago Inter-Ocean, wails to the Secretary of the Interior because the task of organizing new counties is imposed upon Dakota's Executive. He also wails because the law does not give the executive power to remove or suspend the commissioners whom he has appointed, or their appointees as county officials. The Governor also intimates that designing men aim, through organization, to gain control of county politics. No one in Dakota remembers of Ordway, in his annual message to the legislature, saying anything about being relieved of the task of organizing new counties. Why did he not make this wail to the legislature, instead of the interior department, if he wanted any action taken upon it. But to protest because he cannot hold the official ax over his appointees' heads, thereby dictating their acts, is simply kicking because his political power is not extended, instead of contracted. "Oh! consistency." Ordway has evidently been asked to giv^e some explanation of his delay in organizing counties, as his wrils are a sort of appendix to his report, and he has dished up something which may satisfy congress, but not Dakotans - they know he does not want to be relieved of the task of organization, and that his report about designing men is nothing but another blow at our people, whom he delights to defame. That there are some designers, is not to be denied, but Ordway generally sees that only his friends, or those designers who make it an object to him, succeed in their designs. He does not consider the wishes of the people whom he should aim to please.

Cavour Independent: - Governor Ordway is receiving scourgings on all sides and not without abundant provocation. It is one of the bitter things that accompanies terri- torial government that we must call our own Uncle Sam to help us out of this shameful predicament. We're of age and able to take care of ourselves, Uncle - admit us and see how deftly we will shift (Ordway) for ourselves.

Mitchell Capital: - Register McCoy, of the Aberdeen district, is at Washington, attending a meeting of the National Republican convention which assembled in that city on Wednesday of this week. While there he will be able to check-mate some of Ordway 's schemes, opposing the endorsement of McCoy's appointment.

Press & Dakotan: - Delegate Raj-mond has introduced in congress a bill to establish the territory of North Dakota by dividing the present territory on the forty-sixth parallel. Mr. Raymond has taken early opportunity to carry out his promises, and to occupy an open position against the schemes of the Ordway clan to retain Dakota intact. He has taken this action in accordance with the wishes of ninety per cent of his constituents,

Andover Gazette: - The appointment of T. C. McCoy as register of the Aberdeen land office was confirmed on Tuelday. This is good news for the people of southern Dakota, but a "bad pill" for Governor Ordway.

Press & Dakotan: - C. T. McCoy has won in the fight against Ordway. McCoy's ijomination as register of the Aberdeen land office was made to the senate by the president Tuesday night. This is an open vindication for Mc- Coy. Ordway has been charging him for a 3'ear or two past with complicity in Douglas county matters of unsavory repute, but this false accusation has fallen to the ground, and the object of his venom is clearly the winner in the contest. Charges of dishonesty are Ordway's weapons of offense and defense, but in this particular instance the means employed are liable to assume the size, proportions and pecuilarities of a boomerang. Mr. Ordway himself may be called upon to explain his suspicious connection with the original organization of Douglas county and the mysterious disappearance of Walter Bown, chief witness in the case. Mr. McCoyJs success is a subject for congratulation. He is an old resident of Dakota, a capable man and one worthy of the place bestowed upon him.

Exchange: - The next popular prairie song will be entitled, "The Old Man's Losing his Grip." Not the grip he carries his county seat deeds in, but the grip he had on the powers in Washington. The McCoy appointment indicates that things are slipping through his fingers.

Faulkton Times: - A petition to the President to remove Governor Ordway, the robber executive of Dakota, is being circulated in every county. As none feel more deeply the tyranny and exasperating conduct of this barnacle upon our body politic than the people of Faulk county, it is hoped and believed that said petition will be unanimously signed by our people, and by none more gladly than those so outrageously bled by him in connection with his Redfield deal in organizing the county.

Chicago Inter-Ocean: - Popular disapproval of the acts of Governor Ordway, which has been noted from time to time in the Dakota correspondence of the Inter-Ocean, has at last taken the shape of a pointed petition to the President, embodying the prayer of a people for the removal from office of an executive who, it is claimed in general terms, "is not fitted for the place by education, experience, or qualities of mind, heart or character." This move of an intelligent, law and order loving people for the removal of their Governor, whose present administration is alleged to be scandal to Dakota and upon the public service, is made the subject of correspondence in another column, and should certainly receive the attention of the country, and be given careful consideration by the President, to whom the appeal is made. There may be more things charged to the account of Governor Ordway than can be substantiated, but it is not to be supposed that the people are signing the petitions in every county in the territory, without some reasonable measure of just provocation. Affidavits bearing on Governor Ordway 's acts in relation to the organization of new counties and the capital commission scheme, are to accompany the petition.

At the present day it is impossible to form the least conception of the scorn and contempt in which Governor Ordway was held, and the wrath and indignation aroused against him throughout the territory. It was not alone in the County of Faulk that his system of bargain and sale was set up. Hand, Hyde, Potter and other counties were victims of his system of plunder. At last he was brought to the bar of justice. A United States grand jury found two indictments against him. On a plea of lack of jurisdiction the case was thrown out of court, and what all the people believed to be a consummate scoundrel, escaped the just penalty of the law.