Faulk County, South Dakota - Chapter 19: From County Commissioner's Record, 1909

Chapter 19: From County Commissioner's Record

At a meeting of the county commissioners held at Ea- Foon, Monday, September 8, 1884, Commissioner H. A. Humphrey and M. J. Jarvds present the county was divided into thirteen election precincts with the following voting places:

No. 2. House of S. E. Purdy on the southwest quarter of section 21, township 120, range 68. No. 3. House of Edward Stickle. House of Charles Rathke. House of Abram Griffee. School house at Harrington. Office of Union House at Faulkton. Office of Bottum & Johnston, LaFoon. Office of hotel at DeVoe. No. 10. School hovise on section 7, township 117, range 66.

On December 8, 1884, the commissioners held a special meeting, Commissioners Humphrey and Jarvis present, at which considerable important business was done, and a dead lock created on the location of county seat. Action appealed from by J. A. Pickler. Finally Commissioner Humphre\- absented himself from the meeting. Commissioner Jarvis adjourned the meeting to the next da}- at which time Commissioners Jarvis and Hume met and finished up the business and adjourned sine die.

The action of the board was such as to cause great dissatisfaction in the western part of the county and a special election was called which resulted in the election of C. H. Ellis to the office of commissioner. The election taking place according to the apportionment or subdivision of the county commissioners. Morgan G. Millard, Charles Marvin, Alex Garrick, J. H. Wallace and John h. Chain were declared elected commissioners. An appeal was taken from their decision and the appeal was prosecuted by John A. Pickler so far as the election of Alex Garrick was concerned, in the district court at Aberdeen, Judge Smith presiding, and decided in favor of the election of C. H. Ellis.

At the first session of the board for the year 1886, on motion of Commissioner C. H. Ellis, it was voted that no license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in Faulk County for the year 1886, and on that vote the yeas and noes were ordered and Millard, Wallace, Garrick and Ellis voted yea and Marvin no.

The board of county commissioners for the year 1887 were: Charles Marvin, Alex Garrick, D. S. Smith, O. D. Johnson and J. S. Nevins, and the first meeting held at LaFoon, the county seat, on January 3, 1887, and in place of J. W. Johnston, who had held the office of secrelis tarv up to this time, I. Allen Cornwell was duly elected and filed his official bond which was approved as was also that of H. D. Chamberlain for sheriff, C. E. Warner for treasurer, A. A. McCo^^ for county school superintendent, C. H. Derr for county judg-e of probate, A. D. Griffee for assessor and Frank Turner and F. M. Brown for justices of the peace.

On April 25th, 1887, a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners and by them approved, for the legal organization of the city of Faulkton. The election was to be held on the 25th of May, 1887, and C. A. Morse, F. A. Pangburn and Fred Griffee were appointed judges of election.

In July of that year an exciting election was had by the county commissioners to secure a county auditor. The election board consisted of the board of commissioners together with the Hon C. H. Derr, judge of probate and C. E. Warner, county treasurer, seven in all, four votes being a majority and necessary to elect. The election commenced at the opening of the afternoon session and extended into the middle of the next afternoon. Twenty-one ballots were taken in which no candidate succeeded in getting more than three votes. On the twenty-second ballot, the other coveted vote, the fourth was forthcoming and M. P. Springer was declared elected.

At the regular election in November 1887, the following officers were elected: county commissioner for district No. 1, J. A. Day, for district No. 6, Chas. Marvin.

The first canvas of votes for county officers that we find recorded was on November 9, 1888. It was at an adjourned meeting. The full board of commissioners consisto >

O. C. Johnson, J. A. Day and Fred Reynolds, committee to settle with county treasurer, C. E. Warner reported that accounts were correct and balance of $10,804.38 paid to W. B. Monroe, treasurer elect, and receipt for that amount is in the hands of retiring treasurer Warner.

Faulk county sent the following delegates to the Sioux Falls convention, who were elected on May 14, 1889, viz: H. A. Humphrey, J. G. Dayis and Peter Couchman.

The October election of 1887, held on the fifth day of that month, at which time the first officers of the state of South Dakota were elected, was of too much interest and importance not to have a place in this history. At a republican state convention held at Huron, the following nominations were made all of whom were elected, viz: for governor, Arthur C. Mellette; lieutenant governor, James H. Fletcher; secretary of state, A. O. Ringsrud; state auditor, ly. C. Taylor; state treasurer, W. F. Smith; superintendent of public instruction, G. L. Pinkham; attorney general, Robert Dollard; commissioner of school and public lands, O. H. Parker; judges of supreme court, Dighton Car- son, A. G. Kellum, John E. Bennett; judge of circuit court, H. G. Fuller; members of congress, Oscar S. Gifford of Canton, and John A. Pickler of Faulkton. At the county election that fall the following were elected: For state senator 35th district, Frank M. Byrne; representative to the legislature 34th district, E. Clarence Sage; county judge, C. H. Derr; temporary seat of government, Pierre 748; Huron 216; Watertown 142; Sioux Falls 10 and Mitchell 1 vote.

At an election held November 5, 1889, the following were elected county commissioners, viz: For commissioner, district No. 1, Robert Maxwell received 108 votes and was elected; district No. 3, W. G. Faulkner received 69 votes, being a majority cast and was elected; district No. 4 R. G. Morton received 103 votes and was elected and as commissioner in district No. 5 William Buss received a majority of ballots cast and was declared elected.

On October 9th the records show commissioners J. A. Day, Charles Marvin, D. H. VanValkenburg, Fred Reynolds and O. C. Johnson present and voting for a clerk of court.

At the same meeting the appointing board accepted the resignation of D. H. VanValkenburg as a commissioner for district No. 4, and appointed Wilber J. Porter to serve in his place and also accepted the resignation of O. C. Johnson. At the next session, the appointment of Wilber J. Porter was reconsidered and an election ordered.

On October 8, 1889, on motion of commissioner J. A. Day, the commissioners proceeded to elect a clerk of the circuit court and county courts to take effect immediately after the President of the United States issues his proclamation, admitting South Dakota to statehood.

On November 8th, 1889 an adjourned meeting of the county commissioners was held at Faulkton with the following elected and appointed commissioners present, viz: J. A. Day, Fred Reynolds, George J. Jarvis, R. G. Morton and W. G. Faulkner.

On January 6th commissioners met in regular session, all present, viz: Fred Reynolds, W. G. Faulkner, R. G. Morton, Robert Maxwell and William Buss. R. G. Morton was elected chairman of commissioners.

At the meeting held on October 6, 1890, arrangements were made for the coming November election and judges of election appointed for the several election precincts, and whereas R. W. Maxwell had resigned the office of county commissioner, it was voted to accept the resignation to take effect when his successor was elected and qualified.

State Senators: The counties of Faulk and Potter constitute one senatorial district. In 1889, Hon. Frank M. Byrne was elected from Faulk county and in 1890 the Hon. R. W. Maxwell from this county was elected. In 1892 a Potter county man was elected; in 1894, Hon. D. S. Smith of Faulkton was elected senator; in 1896, a Potter county man was again nominated and elected. In 1898, Hon. J. H. Bottum of Faulkton was elected. In 1900 the right of Potter county was recognized; in 1902, Mr. Bottum was again elected; in 1904, Mr. Whitlock of Potter county was again elected and in 1906 Hon. Frank M. Byrne, our present senator, was elected.

In 1894, Hon. Frank Turner was elected representative to the legislature and in 1896, ex-representative Alexander Miller was re-elected, and now has the republican nomination for re-election.

For county justices of the peace, F. P. Smith, F. A. Pangburn, F. M. Bacon, George Trainor, John Palraeter, Isaac White, Andrew Penning and C. B. Oakes.

The defalcation of W. B. Monroe, county treasurer, presented a most difficult problem to the county commissioners. There were failures of crops, money could not be had on securities. Banks were failing, the money was gone, and just what steps should be taken to obtain it was difficult to decide. Just who was to blame, or in fact, if there was any one that had committed any intentional wrong was an open question. With these financial con- ditions existing to enforce the conditions of the treasurer's bond would have ruined some of the bondsmen. It is doubtful if any one knows just what the tax payers lost by the unfortunate affair.

November 5th, 1895, election for county commissioners was held in commissioners district No. 1 and No. 5, and J, B. Devine and William Buss elected respectively.

County commissioner, 1st district, J.J. Price. County commissioner, 2d. district, James F. Nestor- County commissioner, 3d. district, Christ Sorenson. County commissioner, 4th district, W. R. Hall. On the 2d day of November, 1897, J. J. Price was

County officers elected November 7th, 1899, county commissioners full board, viz: William Buss, J. F. Nestor, John D. Smith, Ernest Thiede and Henry Resseguie.

At a meeting of the board of county commissioners on November 12, 1901, present, O. P. Howe, Herman Freitag, and Ernest Thiede. On motion, Ernest Thiede was requested to act as chairman. Announcement was made of the death of William Buss, late chairman of the board.

At the afternoon session, Ernest Thiede, O. P. Howe, Herman Freitag and Henry Resseguie were present and on motion, the board proceeded to elect by ballot a commissioner to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Commissioner Buss.

Fred Clark received a majority of votes cast and was declared an elected commissioner for the 5th district, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Buss.

At a meeting: of the board of county commissioners on the 4th day of July, 1904, the proposition was submitted to the legal votes to see if they would vote to build a $50,- 000.00 court house at the county seat, and issue county bonds for that amount to pay the same.

At a meeting of county commissioners held on November 15th and 16th, 1904, plans were adopted and advertisements for bids for a new court house were ordered.

The first session of the county commissioners for the year 1908 met at the auditor's office at the court house on January 7th, 1908. County commissioners all present, viz: Lewis Severance, John Olen, George Lloyd, E. H. Thayer and Wilson Brown. E. H. Thayer was elected chairman.

The first session of the board of county commissioners ever held was on November 5th, 1883, at the law office of J. A. Pickler. Looking back over a period of twentyfive years, we find the foundation laid and a steady growth that has only to be maintained for another quarter of a century to make a record, and place Faulk county in a position to be looked up to, not only approved by her own citizens, but by the united people of the commonwealth.

The first meeting of county commissioners for the year 1908, was held on January 7th. With the following commissioners present, viz: Lewis Severance, John Olen, George Lloyd, E. H. Thayer and Wilson Brown.

At the September meeting the following itemized account of expenses for 1906 was reported as a basis for levying taxes for the year 1907, viz:

$17866.60 Judges for the primary election together with the expenses of national, state and county election for 1908 constitute no small share of county expenses.

The last important event to record from the county record was the canvas of the national, state and county votes as polled in this city and county at the national elec- tion on the 3d of November 1908, which proved that every man voted for by the republican electors of this county were duly elected to the ofhce to which they had been nominated. The following republican ticket comprises the entire list:

For President of United States, William H. Taft. For United States senate, Coe. I. Crawford. Representatives in congress, Charles H. Burke and Eben W. Martin.

In an article written by one of our oldest and most influential citizens for another publication in 1904, covering much ground that has all ready been occupied, the following extracts deserves a place and will be of interest and real value for information and historical facts they contain:

"Faulk county is so named after that illustrious citizen and stateman, Ex-Governor Faulk, of Yankton. This county was first inhabited by parties from near St. lyouis, Mo., in the summer of 1882, among whom was D. S. Smith, A. LaFoon, Thomas McMullen and J. C. Booth, also on the eastern extremity by Eou Reed and Hiram Rose. By some mistake range 66 was unattached to any county. The territorial legislature of 1883 added this range to P'aulk county and detached range 73 from Faulk and added it to Potter county. Faulk county is centrally located in what is termed the great artesian basin of South Dakota and within the last two years something over eighty- five flowing artesian wells have been completed and at this time are supplying from eighty to one hundred gallons of water each per minute. Faulk county is to day conservatively estimated to contain 6000 inhabitance. Major John A. Pickler from this county has been honored with four elections to the United States house of representatives."

A Heai.Th Resort

tiers, and final proof put a good deal of the land of the first settlers of the county into possession of mortgage companies and non-residents by mortgage foreclosures. Since the lands have been falling, into other hands, marked progress has been noted in the prosperity of the county, wheat raising is successful and profitable and with some of our farmers becoming a specialty. Corn is fast becoming and in a large portion of the county is already established as one of the staple crops, stock raising has become an important industry with quite a number of successful ranchmen in our county, the county is by nature well adapted to this pursuit. I attributed the enviable position that Faulk county occupies to day to cohesiveness of the people and the production of the soil; and notwithstanding the slovenly and neglectful manner in which a portion of our agriculturalist have done their work, nature asserts her superiorty and brings forth abundant crops. Our people are inteliligent, happy and prosperous, they are improving the benefits of our school sj^stem, and the youths of our county are applying themselves in a way that assures us that our county will stand with the foremost in the young, prosperous and progressive state of South Dakota." A HEAI.TH RESORT.

Faulk county lies east of the divide, between the waters of the Missouri and James river. Strictly speaking it may be claimed that only the east half of the county is in the James river valley, yet the rise is so gradual to an elevation of less than fifteen hundred feet at the Potter county line as to be almost imperceptible to a casual observer.

The land is sufficiently rolling to secure the best of drainage, not only for the natural flow of water but for the hvmdreds of artesian wells that have become an important factor to the wealth and prosperity of the county and I am fully satisfied that they have not in the least interfered with the wonderful, life giving power of remarkable sunshiny days and powerful bracing atmosphere that our high altitude vouchsafes to us.

Believing as I do, and that opinion based upon careful observation and practical experience, Faulk county is not only a good plac2 to S2cure abundance of this world's goods, but to secure (at last) good health and the continued use of vital forces.

In 1884 I came to southwest Faulk county, suffering from wounds received in the army, producing contusion of the left breast and paralysis of the left side. With a wife and a family of small children on my hands, there was a desperate struggle for life. After several changes, among them a year upon the gulf coast of Texas, without an3' permanent improvement, in the spring of 1884 I located in the western range of townships in this county. While my improvement was not rapid, it was marked and steady and in the summer of 1886 I was comparatively free from suffering and able to take up constant employment. These conditions continued until I left Faulk county for Washington, D. C, in 1889.

I had not been absent from here one year before there was a renewal of my trouble, which finally culminated in a complete breakdown in the spring of 1907 at which time

I could not dress and undress my.self without assistance. In August of that year I returned to Faulk county. At first I was unable to see any improvement, in fact, not until the last of April, 1908, had I been able to see much improvement.

At the present writing, December 22, 1908, there is a decided and most happy change for the better. As I look back to A. D., 1825, when I first saw the light of day or even to fifty years ago, when I saw more light, I am admonished by the infirmities of passing years, that old age is approaching and evidently has been hastened by hardships, privation, and wounds received in army life, but with uninterrupted sunlight, clear, pure bracing air, water, whether from the surface or brought up from deep down in the depths of mother earth, tinctured with health giving properties, almost the essence of life, I have almost forgotten that four score and three years have already passed by.

As I look around and see the freedom from disease, the sturdy, well preserved people well advanced in life and realize what the glorious sunlight, the clear, dry, cool, vitalizing air and the clear sparkling water, a beverage prepared by God Himself, has done for them, I am inclined to place these health giving and health restoring properties in the first and highest place in all of God's gifts to man.