Jerauld County, South Dakota - The whole text, 1909 (part 6 of 10)

On December 27th, 1895, a notice was published in the Alpena Journal calling a meeting for December 31st, at Odd Fellows Hall for the purpose of forming a co-operative creamery company. At the time appointed a large number of farmers assembled and took an earnest part in the project. D. H. Wood was made chairman of the meeting and Henry T. Griggs secretary. A preliminary organization was perfected and 23 shares, at $50 each, were taken. The meeting then adjourned to Jan. 7th. This was one of the most important events in the history of the county. It may properly be said to mark the end of the hard times, in Jerauld county.

The business depression that followed the panic of 1893 continued through 1896. In August wheat was 31c to 36c per bushel; oats 10c; rye 15c; flax 50c. In the hope of bettering their condition the Williams, Miles, Shryock, Hawthorne, Hill, Converse and other families moved into southern states, some going to Mississippi, some to Georgia. In January Mrs. N. C. Hall sold her drug stock in Wessington Springs, which was moved to Carthage, and later she removed to Fitzgerald, Georgia. In the years that followed several of these families returned to Jerauld county, among them being, Miles, McDonald, Williams and Hawthorne.

The teachers' institute was held June 29th to July 9th with Prof. Jones of Chamberlain, again conductor, and Miss Conley, of Woonsocket, assistant.

In October the pastor of the M. E. church reported a membership of 127 in the societies of that denomination in Wessington Springs, Viola and Media townships, with 10 probationers.

On Sept. 1 8th an agricultural exhibit* was held at Wessington Springs, that was well attended from all parts of the county. The vegetable and household exhibits were in a large tent that had been secured for the occasion. A pony race, foot race and ball game were parts of the entertainment. The pony race was won. by Marion Corbin's pony "White Stocking." The foot race was won by S. E. Pflaum of Logan township. The ball game was won by the Artesian team over the Wessington Springs nine.

The board of county commissioners re-organized January 6th with P. H. Shultz as chairman. Nothing but the merest routine business was done by the board during the year. Not a single special session was held.

The only change among the newspapers of the county was in the Sieve office Feb. ist, W. F. Yegge retiring to be succeeded by G. W. Backus. Mr. Yegge began publishing "The Local Press" at his farm in Chery township.

In March M. S. Cowman, who had been a resident of Yankton Co., Dakota, since the year 1868 moved up from Gayville, S. D., and rented the Parkhurst ranch, which extended across the Bateman Gulch south of Wessington Springs.

On June 12th the old settlers of Western Jerauld county had their annual picnic at Waterbury, and on the 23rd the prohibitionists had a political rally at the same place.

Later in the season the old Herring store building was torn down and the material used in the construction of a barn on what was then known as the Martin ranch northeast of Waterbury.

On March 30th the farmers of Logan township met at the Glen post office to discuss the matter of establishing a co-operative creamery at that point.

May 5th was one of the most important days in the history of the northeast portion of the county, for on that day the Alpena co-operative creamery began doing business.

The first graduating exercises of the Alpena public schools occurred on May 22nd, Supt. Williams presenting the diplomas to a class, composed of Gertrude Pearce, Ethel Davenport, Wena and Carrie Nolt, and Hattie Strain.

In Dale township arrangements were made for a series of revival meetings to be held at the Center school house, beginning in December, Rev. Jensen, of Bates, Hand county, was engaged to conduct the meetings. The extremely severe winter prevented the plan being carried out successfully.

As the winter, which began in October, increased in severity and the snow continued to fall and pile up in great drifts, the jack rabbits gatherecl in droves about the tree claims and groves. It was no unusual thing to see several hundred of them in a single grove. The grass and unhusked corn was deep under the snow and only jthe trees were left for them to eat. The snow was from ten to twenty feet deep in all groves and this enabled the rabbits to reach the young and tender limbs. On the branches and bark of the trees the animals fed. The damage was great. Hunting parties were formed and large numbers of rabbits killed to save the trees.

The Templeton post office which had in the spring of 1889 been relocated on the northeast corner of section 35 in Harmony township, at the residence of C. G. Smith, postmaster, changed hands in the spring of 1896, by the resignation of Mr. Smith. Mr. J. R. Eddy, the new postmaster, purchased the house in which the office had been kept and moved it a half mile east where it was held until he could get permission from the government to take it to his residence on the east side of section 25 of the same township. The permission was granted in June and the office continued its journey to the new postmaster's home. Mr. Eddy then purchased a stock of goods and opened what has even since been known as the Templeton store.

The commencement exercises of 1896 at the Seminary occurred on June 10th. The class had as members, Mary E. Huntley, F. Loren Kent, Roy Campbell, and Cora Sickler.

The diploma and bronze medal, won by the Wessington Springs Seminary at the Chicago Worlds' Fair was received by the institution about the 20th of June. These mementos are still preserved among the treasures of the school.

In August a co-operative grain company was formed at Wessington Springs with O. O. England, Prest., and R. S. Vessey, Sec. The purpose of this company was to furnish a grain and coal market in Wessington Springs during the fall and winter. In the following April the company dissolved, having accomplished its purpose. It had purchased over 25,000 bu. of grain and handled 435 tons of coal. During the long, hard winter of 1896-97 the local market for coal afforded by this company relieved distress in hundreds of instances.

Sept. 15th J. W. Snart, who had been in business in Waterbury for a number of years purchased the J. D. Morse hardware business and building in Wessington Springs.

During the first week in September the Congregationalist society began soliciting subscriptions with which to build a church in Wessington Springs.

November 27th was a cold, windy day and the air was full of drifting snow. But few people were on the streets of Wessington Springs and those few were hurrying to get in somewhere. In the afternoon one after another of the business men dropped in at Albert & Vessey's store to chat and while away the time. In the course of the conversation the subject of a co-operative creamery was mentioned and preliminary steps were taken to form a company and get the concern in operation. Again, on Dec. 26th, another meeting was held, this time called for the purpose and a temporary organization perfected.

By December 7th the snow had been blown about until it lay in ridges and drifts everywhere. The roads had been worn full of what was termed "chuck-holes" into which sleighs would plunge with great force, sometimes jerking the horses out of the road into the deep snow, or throwing the driver from his seat. The grade over the hills west of Wessington Springs had become badly cut up with these holes. On the day mentioned Geo. Homewood was driving down the grade with a sleigh load of sacks filled with wheat. As the sled pitched into one of the numerous holes some of the sacks were thrown forward on to the whiffletrees. The team became frightened and instantly broke into a run. A moment later George was thrown from the load and the team crashed against the east side of the stone bridge and went over taking the load with them to the bottom of the ravine about twenty feet below. George escaped without injury, but one of the horses was killed by the fall.

In 1896 interest in politics became intense. Every man was a politician. Free silver vs. gold standard was discussed at public meetings in halls, in tents, in the open air. People gathered on the street corners and sidewalks in twos, threes and dozens and asserted or denied many things about which they knew but little. It was talked in the stores and shops, in the churches and homes, by the road side and in the fields. It was indeed a campaign of education. Men who had graduated from the best colleges in the land, and who could describe nearly every great campaign from the ''retreat of the ten thousand," to the surrender of Lee at Appomottox found themselves confronted suddenly with a great national question, involving the civil and commercial history of the world. In a short time nearly all were compelled to admit their ignorance of the subject and then they began to study. Probably at no other time in the history of the world have the voters given such earnest attention to a great public question as was given by the American people to the issues involved in the campaign of 1896.

But two tickets were put in the field in Jerauld county. The populists held their convention on the 12th of September and after recommending the nomination of Jefferson Sickler of Harmony township for state senator, put out the following county ticket :

The Republicans named T. W. Lane, of Crow township, for the senate and O. T. Dye, of Buffalo county, for the house. For the county ticket they named for

J. W. Harden, of Franklin township, was named for secretary ofstate on the populist ticket, but shortly after receiving the nomination he suffered a stroke of paralysis which prevented his taking an active part in the campaign. Mr. Harden was one of the ablest debaters in the state and but for his unfortunate illness would probably have been elected.

The winter which began Oct. 29, 1896, held with almost unbroken vigor until the first of April, 1897, the thermometer registering 17 below zero on the 17th of March.

During the winter there had been storms besides many days that were unpleasant. Many animals were lost for want of hay that was buried under the great drifts of snow. In many cases the stacks of hay were buried and not found until the snow melted in the spring. Then many of the stacks were 'surrounded by water and ruined. As the snow melted every rivulet became a river in size. The trains of the James River division of the C. M. & St. P. were abandoned for several weeks. At Alpena the mail was brought from Woonsocket on a hand car run by business men of the place. The mail and passengers from Woonsocket to Wessington Springs were carried across the Firesteel in a boat. Mr. Geo. Backus, publisher of the Sieve at Wessington Springs, printed his issue for April 2nd on any kind of paper he could get for the purpose, because his ready-prints could not be brought over the Firesteel. The April meeting of the county commissioners was postponed because the high water rendered the roads impassable.

With the new year prices of farm products and other commodities began to show an upward tendency. In March wheat was bringing 65c, oats 15c, and corn 20c ; by the close of the year wheat had arisen to 70c per bushel.

On January 6th, 1897, the board of county commissioners organized for the year by electing David McDowall chairman. During the summer two bridges were built across Sand Creek in Alpena township by the county, one on the line between sections 18 and 19 and the other between sections 20 and 21.

On November 16th and 17th a two-days woman's suffrage convention was held at Wessington Springs. This was a county affair, papers being read and addresses, made by residents of the county. Only one address being made by a non-resident speaker.

In July F. M. Steere moved into the county with 1600 head of sheep and rented the S. H. Albert farm and the school section in Wessington Springs township.

On August 15th the county court house was struck by lightning. The bolt hit the flag staff that stood on the center of the roof and went through the lower flor of the building in two rooms but made no marks except a small hole in the center of the state attorney's office, and a little splintering of the floor in the office of the state attorney and county superintendent. The wires that held up the stove pipes in these two rooms were melted. It was on Sunday and no one was in the building. Not a shingle on the roof was injured, although the flag-staff was shattered.

At the election held in November but one county officer was elected and that was a commissioner from the first district. The populists nominated Mr. F. A. Olin, of Blaine township, and the Republicans named J. E. Reynolds of Franklin. But little interest was taken in the election. But little more than half of the populist vote was pooled in the four townships, otherwise their candidate would have been elected.

At the close of the spring term of the public school at Alpena Prof. O. W. Coursey presented diplomas to the graduating class in which were Misses Minnie Yegge, Effie Barber, Fannie Pogmey, Lottie Pcgney, May Royer and Mr. John Knolt.

The county normal institute was held July 5th to 15th at Wessington Springs, Prof. J. W. Jones, jr., being the conductor, assisted by Geo. O. Williams and O. W. Coursey, principal of the Alpena school.

A few days after the close of the county institute Mr. Coursey. opened a normal school at Alpena, which he conducted until the 1st of September.

One of the great events of the year in the county was the G. A. R. district encampment which was held at Wessington Springs on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of July.

In January Bert Healey, who had for several years been proprietor of a grocery store at Waterbury opened a harness shop in J. W. Snart's hardware store. In July Mr. Healey moved his building and stock from Waterbury to Wessington Springs and started what he afterward devel-

Wessington Springs seems to have had a hard time of it in getting a co-operative creamery established. Another meeting to discuss the subject was held on the 14th of July, but with no immediate results.

In Logan township the creamery project was pushed and by the close of the year arrangements had been completed for the establishment of a strictly modern creamery early in the succeeding spring. The foundation for the building was finished during the forepart of December,- and the building material purchased and during the winter placed on the ground at Glen. The mason work for the structure was done by Anton Reindl of Crow Lake township.

In August, 1897, J. W. Snart having resigned the position of postmaster at Waterbury, Mr. W. E. Waterbury was appointed to the position. Mr. Snart had held the position since the 17th day of March, 1886.

The Wessington Springs Seminary graduated the class of 1897 on the 8th day of June. The members were Myrtle G. Price, Abbie F. Whitney, Esther V. Danburg, Lucy A. Hartman, Vivian Hill, William F. Adabar, Simeon J. Whitney and Parker F. Whitney.

In the spring Mr. R. Vanderveen succeeded to the business of the Co-operative Grain Co. at Wessington Springs and added a stock of lumber. About the same time W. N. Hill, also began handling grain, coal and lumber.

About the 1st of October C. S. Jacobs began work at the harness business in the building built by Jas. F. Ford in 1883. This is now managed by Mr. Jacobs' son. C. L. Jacobs in another building.

Dr. G. S. Eddy changed his location in October from Wessington Springs to Anaheim, California, and the county seat was again without a physician.

On November 27th the Universalists, who had been holding their services in the school house, held a meeting to mature their plans for building a church. A location committee was appointed and the taking of subscriptions carried on.

During the year the Wessington Springs ball nine played a number of games with teams from surrounding towns and made a record of which the community was very proud. The team attended the tournament at Kimball and won the first prize, defeating the club from Plankinton and also the one from Gann Valley.

In the latter part of April W. H. Rogers closed the Willard Hotel at Wessington Springs and the building was then rented by Wm. Brodkorb, who took possesion about the first of May.

Some idea of the rental value of Jerauld county wild land at this time may be obtained from the fact that 240 acres owned by the county in sections 27 and 28 in Media township were leased by the board to J. W. Barnum in April for a term of three years at five dollars per annum. There seemed to be no basis from which to fix values of any kind of property. Wheat, in March, sold at 80 cents per bushel and soon after went to $1.00, but in September it was selling at 45c to 50c. A horse for a cow was considered a good trade. Yet in the month of February the county treasurer collected $10,000 in taxes, the largest sum ever collected in one month up to that time, in the history of the county. The assessors' returns from the various townships reported the total valuation of real and personal property in the county at $1,001,339. Upon this amount the county board, in September, levied a tax of, county fund, 7 mills ; bridge fund, 2 mills ; sinking fund, 2 mills ; general county fund* 2 mills ; state tax, 3 mills ; making a total of 16 mills. The county debt was rapidly decreasing and warrants rose to 98 cents on the dollar. At the September meeting the county commissioners transferred $1000 from the bridge fund to the general county fund.

In the mail service of the county some changes were made during the year. The contracts for carrying the mail over the different routes leading from Wessington Springs were let in January, to take effect the first of July. The route to Woonsocket, daily, was let to Wm. Keene at $120 per year; to Miller, N. J. Tutts, twice a week, $386; to Crow Lake, twice a week, G. Cowles, $194.59; to Waterbury, daily, G. Cowles, $4:4-59; to Mount Vernon, twice a week, J. E. Franklin, $308.07. Mr. Franklin failed to meet the requirements of his contract on the first of July and G. N. Price continued the service until the first of September, when Andrew Mercer took the route, which had been changed from Mt. Vernon to Mitchell. A new route was established between Crow Lake and Glen with H. P. Will of Logan township, carrier.

The only change among the newspapers of the county in the year 1898 was at Alpena, where Mr. Lou Knowles succeeded H. T. Griggs, Sept. 9th as publisher of the Journal.

The county teachers' institute was held at the Seminary chapel in Wessington Springs June 13th to 18th, with A. H. Avery, of Woonsocket, conductor, and Geo. Q. Williams and AJiss White as assistants.

During the year the Alpena co-operative creamery had been a great success. The manager's report showed that from Dec. 1st, 1897 to Dec. 1, 1898, the creamery had taken in 1,149,618 pounds of milk, made 50,364 pounds of butter, for which it had received $7,853.44 and paid to its patrons $6,087.07. The farmers elevator company had been equally successful and during the season shipped fifty cars of grain and paid to its patrons $16,500.

At Wessington Springs, during the fourteen months that followed the meeting at Albert & Vessey's store on the 27th of November, 1896, Geo. W. Backus, editor of the Sieve, continually agitated the subject of establishing a creamery at that place. At length he succeeded in getting the business men sufficiently interested to form an organization, and in January and February, 1898, arrangements were completed for building and equipping a co-operative creamery at Wessington Springs, with a capital stock of $8,000.00. The first regular meeting of the stock holders was held February 10, 1898, when Chas. Walters, C. S. Barber, H. C. Gyle, Richard Vanderveen, W. H. McMillan, C. Knudson and Geo. Homewood were made directors, T. L. White, manager, H. J. Wallace, treasurer, and C. S. Barber, president. On the 22nd of February Mr. White resigned as manager and R. Vanderveen was elected to the vacancy, Mr. Vanderveen resigned as director, and Geo. R. Bateman was put in his place. The contract for putting up the building was made with E. L. Smith. The total cost of the plant when completed was $2,679.21. The institution was opened for business on the i6fh day of May.

At Glen P. O., in Logan township, the people pushed forward their creamery project with a good deal of energy and by the first of April the plans were all completed and they were waiting for warmer weather to commence operations. Mr. T. A. Butterfield, of Burt, Iowa, was employed as butter-maker, and on May 3rd the first milk was received.

In March a creamery skimming station was established at Campbell's artesian well in Blaine township with Wm. Brownell as manager. It was run in connection with the Woonsocket creamery.

In January, 1898, R. S. Vessey, of Wessington Springs and J. D. Chamberlain, of Alpena, began a move to get a telephone line extended from Woonsocket to both the Jerauld county towns, but the plan was not put in operation until the next year.

The year 1898 saw young cattle advance to prices that bordered on the ridiculous. It was not uncommon to see yearling animals sell for $23 to $28 per head. Large numbers of steers were brought into the country and sold to farmers, on contract, and at prices that almost rendered a profitable deal impossible. Whole train loads at a time were brought into Alpena and contracted, 50 to 100 in a bunch to any one who could get control of range enough for grazing. Before winter set in thousands of animals were delivered back to the companies from whom they had been obtained, but not often with any profit to the man who had cared for the cattle during the summer months. From Alpena, alone, 165 cars of cattle were shipped to Sioux City and other markets. The same business was continued during the succeeding two years.

During the forepart of the year several literary societies were conducted in the county districts. In Chery township these entertainments took the form of "spelling schools." At the Webber school im Anina township, and also in Blaine township the societies were for the purposes of debates and recitations. In Alpena' township at the Sand Creek school house a night school for the study of German language was held every Monday and Tuesday evening. At Wessington Springs a literary society was organized that was continued during several winters.

In the church circles of the county there was considerable activity during the year. In Viola township the German M. E. building was completed by the middle of February and a few weeks later a fine bell was sending forth its tones from the belfry arch. The building was dedicated June 1 2th, Rev. Hein pastor. The dedicatory sermon was by Rev.-Kaste, of Redfield, presiding elder, and sermons were also preached by Rev. C. Schulz, of Charles City, Iowa, and Dr. McLean. The congregation derived great satisfaction from the fact that the building was dedicated free of debt. On the 16th of the following October Rev. Hein was succeeded as pastor by Rev. Westphal.

At Alpena a ladies aid society was organized in connection with the M. E. church, Dec. 30th, with Mrs. Davenport, president. The charter members were Mrs. R. Davenport, Mrs. A. F. Smith, Mrs. R. H. Stokes, Mrs. T. Welch, Mrs. Alice Smith, Mrs. T. A. Thompson and Mrs. R. T. Blank.

On March 26th the Free Methodist church formed a new conference district, composed of the Alpena, Bates, Sweetland and Wessington Springs circuits.

A fire company was organized at Wessington Springs in April with W. F. Bancroft as chief. This was the first organized fire company in the county.

May 30th, Decoration Day, had from the first organization of the G. A. R. in the county been duly observed at Alpena, Waterbury and Wessington Springs. But up to this time Alpena had felt the want of a suitable place upon which to raise the national colors. It was therefore determined to erect a flag pole in the main street of the village. A pole was prepared and on the morning of Decoration Day it was put in place and the flag hung at halfmast in honor of the nation's hero dead.

The Congregationalists and the Universalists each began building a foundation for a church at Wessington Springs in July. The former laid the cornerstone of their edifice on July 23rd, but did not begin work on the superstructure until in September. The Universalists had completed their building and held the first services therein on Nov. 27th. The Congregationalists held watch meeting in . their new church Dec. 31st.

About the 15th of February L. N. Loomis sold his interest in the Bank of Wessington Springs to H. J. Wallace, who took his son D. C. Wallace into the business, the banking firm being thereafter known as H. J. Wallace & Son.

The commencement exercises of the Wessington Springs Seminary for the class of 1898 were held on June 7th. Diplomas were granted to Edith H. Hill, Fannie C. Miller, Cora I. Horsley, Fred N. Dunham,

May 21 st a meeting was held at Woodburn Hall to organize a military company to be in readiness for a further call for soldiers in case one should be made for service in the war with Spain, which had been declared in April. As a result of this meeting a company was formed with 51 members, T. L. White, captain; Criss Spears, 1st Lieutenant and Wm. Brodkorb, 2nd Lieutenant.

At Alpena O. W. Coursey resigned his position in the public school and accompanied by Jerry Turman, went to Sioux Falls as soon as the president issued the call for troops, and became members of the 1st South Dakota Regiment, which rendered distinguished service in the Philipine Islands.

Although neither of the villages in Jerauld county celebrated the national holiday, yet the day was generally observed. At Crow Lake the people gathered at the residence of Dr. S. H. Melcher for a picnic celebration. In Viola township a large crowd gathered at the P. H. Shultz homestead and enjoyed a picnic celebration. The same observance of the day occurred in Harmony township at the residence of Eugene Coleman. At Glen, in Logan township, a large concourse assembled and enjoyed races, ball games and other sports. "In Franklin township a picnic was held at the residence of J. W. Harden. At Wessington Springs two celebrations were in progress at the same time. The Universalists had a large tent near the grove in which patriotic speeches were made, followed by a picnic dinner while a number of Sabbath schools united in a celebration in the Bateman Gulch south of town. The day passed with no extreme manifestation of enthusiasm until the stage driver in the evening brought the news of the naval victory at Santiago. Then the bonfires flamed, the anvils roared, the rockets pierced the sky and the great event was celebrated as fully as it was possible to do in a little country village in the heart of the great plains.

F. M. Brown purchased of Wm. Kline his blacksmith shop, and barn Sept. 10th. This building Mr. Brown afterward enlarged and made into the livery barn that now stands on the east side of 2nd street north of Vessey Bros, store.

About the 15th of October R. M. McNeil bought the J. W. Snart hardware store. A few days later Bert Healey moved his harness shop and notion goods to a small building he had moved from Waterbury to

In politics the situation began early in the season to show symptoms of change. In September both parties put tickets in the field. The populist ticket was as follows :

The county commissioners did little but routine work in the year 1899. During that time Treasurer T. L. White called in all the outstanding warrants, and as there were no bonds outstanding the county began doing business on a cash basis. The board re-organized on the 7th of January by electing P. IT. Shultz, of the 2nd commissioner district, chairman.

April 4th the board granted to the Dakota Southern Telephone Co. the right to set telephone poles on the edges of the highways of the county, but not so as to obstruct the use of the public roads. On April 10th the work of setting poles for the line from Woonsocket to Wessington Springs commenced and was completed in August.

At a special meeting the forepart of May the commissioners appropriated $600 to be loaned to people who had suffered loss by the terrible prairie fires that raged during the latter part of April, and later appropriated $100 to help pay the expense of bringing the 1st South Dakota Regiment home from San Francisco.

During the year the Jerauld county board arranged with the commissioners of Brule county to put in a fifty-four foot steel bridge across Smith Creek on the south line of Logan township to cost $100, each county paying one half the expense. The bridge was completed in November.

On Sept. 5th the board made the lowest tax levy in the history of the county as follows : State tax 2 and two-fifths mills : county general, 6 mills ; bridge fund, I mill ; sinking fund, i mill.

Politics attracted blit little attention in 1899 as only a county commissioner from the 2nd district was to be elected. The populists renominated P. H. Shultz of Viola township and the republicans named John Grant of Wessington Springs township. Mr. Shultz was re-elected.

Among the newspapers of the county two changes were made during the year. J. W. Sheppard succeeding G. W. Backus in the editorial management of the Sieve on February 10th, and E. M. Cochran following Lou Knowles on the Alpena Journal Dec. 29th.

As the flocks of sheep enabled many settlers to retain their home during the hard times, so the creameries slowly but surely started the farming communities on the way to prosperity. A few cows living on the prairie grass, furnished milk that, sold to a creamery, enabled the farmer to keep up his bills at the local store and meet his small necessary cash outlay. All through the year 1899 grain prices continued low, wheat about 50 cents, and corn 15 to 20 cents per bushel. In December wheat at Alpena was selling at 49 cents per bushel, while a dollar would only purchase sixteen pounds of sugar. Wages of all kinds were correspondingly low. The average teacher's wages for the county including the village schools was but $29 per month. The cattle business reached its highest point that year (1899), over 4000 head being contracted to farmers at Alpena alone between January 1st and April 1st. But while the cattle business was speculative and unprofitable, in the way it was conducted, dairying was a legitimate part of farm industry.

The Alpena and Glen creameries were kept in operation all through the winter of 1898-99, but the one at Wessington Springs was closed during the cold season. A skimming station was established at Charles Walter's artesian well in Viola township and another at Albert's artesian well in Chery township, both being in connection with the Wessington Springs creamery, and both run by well power.

Among the mail carriers some changes were made during the year. About April 15th James Weast took the route from Wessington Springs to Waterbury. In June Howard Pope became proprietor of the Woonsocket stage line, but sold it to W. V. Dixon about August 15th.

Sometime in the forepart of May Wm. Brodkorb returned to his grocery business at the corner of Main and 3rd streets, and was succeeded in the Willard Hotel by his son Herman. About the first of July the hotel was leased to J. J. Hillis, who ran it in connection with the Woodburn House. At this time Herman Brodkorb purchased his father's, grocery business, and on the evening of the 4th of July Wm. Brodkorb, Sr., started on a trip to his Fatherland with no definite plans as to when he would return. He was absent from Wessington Springs just ten weeks.

Both the Congregational and Universalist churches were dedicated this year, the former on the 18th of October, and the latter on the 18th of June.

The class of 1899 was graduated from the Seminary June 21st. The members were James H. Hall, Eva J. Whitney, Lawrence A. Pinard, J. Irving McNeil, Edna R. Vroomann and W. A. Harden.

By this time the Wessington Springs public school had grown until the school building erected by E. L. Smith in 1884 was too small to accommodate the number of pupils. On the 30th of August the people voted to build another and larger school house and bonds were issued for that purpose. The new house was built on the east side of 3rd street opposite the Universalist church, by Mr. C. P. Christensen, and the school took possession of it Dec. 18th. The old school house was sold for $151 to the German Lutheran church of Alpena and Franklin townships, who moved and used it for religious purposes. After the founding of the town of Lane the old school house was moved to that place, where it is still in use as a church.

O11 the 2nd of September the whole county was shocked and grieved by the sudden death of H. J. Wallace, the Wessington Springs banker. After the death of Mr. Wallace the bank was continued by his son D. C. Wallace, until September 20th, when the institution was purchased by R. S. Vessey, J. H. Woodburn and F. G. Vessey.

At Alpena J. D. Chamberlain engaged in the farm implement business and in the course of the year put up a warehouse for his stock of machinery and later put up another building in which he placed a stock of furniture. That was the beginning of the furniture business in Alpena. I11 November he sold a half interest in the machinery business to Herman Scheel.

July 15th was a "red letter" day for Alpena school township. In March the treasurer had called in all the outstanding school warrants, and on this day in July the board had obtained possession of all school township bonds and with appropriate ceremony all the old warrants and bonds were publicly burned. The school township was free from debt.

Sometime in April Dr. J. E. Shull opened an office in Alpena and was soon after joined by his partner Dr. Bullock. The firm continued until about Aug. 1st, when Dr. Bullock retired from the practice in Alpena.

The year that closed the 19th century began in an exceedingly mild and open winter. No snow and but little cold weather. Several games of baseball were played in different parts of the county during January and February. In many of the business houses the hies were allowed to go out and the outer doors left open. No one in Jerauld county had a sleigh ride that winter.

The County commissioners reorganized January 2nd by electing J. E. Reynolds, of the first district, as chairman. I11 August Mr. Reynolds was taken with a very severe attack of typhoid fever that incapacitated him for any further service on the board.

In the forepart of January the board made an agreement with R. S. Vessey, manager of the Dakota Southern Telephone Company, to put a 'phone in the county treasurer's office, to be used by all county officials and the public in the village of Wessington Springs, for a rental of $20 per year.

On May 14th Joseph Pons ford was given a contract for the construction of a bridge across Crow Creek in Crow township. The work was completed in time to be accepted by the county commissioners and paid for at the meeting in September.

The county commissioners on Oct. 3rd, acting under a law, the enactment of which had been secured by Senator Loomis in 1898, reduced the salary of the county attorney for the next two years to $100 per year.

About three o'clock in the morning of October 13, fire was discovered in the county* jail and the building was soon destroyed. The origin of the fire, though strongly suspected, was never certainly known.

The assessors' returns from the various townships gave the assessed valuation of all the real estate and personal property of the county in 1900 at $1,102,536. The tax levy for the years was as follows: State 2 seventenths mills ; county 3 mills ; bridge five-tenths mills ; insane 1 mill.

During the year the prices of farm produce remained low, but land values began to show a decided advance. In the east part of the county several quarter sections were sold at from $800 to $1,500 per quarter. At this time the only real estate man in the county actively engaged in the business, was O. J. Marshall, who was also a bonded abstractor.

Late in the autumn a disease, known as the cornstalk disease, broke out among the farm herds of cattle, all over the northwestern states. In Jerauld county the loss was quite heavy.

Business changes were few in the county during the year 1900, and but few improvements of any kind were made. In Chery township Wm. Kline, assisted by W. P. Shulz, completed his artesian well about Dec. 1st and in Marlar Dr. J. E. Shull began the task of drilling a similar well on his ranch in the northeast part of the township. This last effort continued for many months and was finally abandoned after the drill had been driven to a depth of over 1,725 feet.

In the mail service of the county but little change was made. The Sullivan P. O. in Anina Township was discontinued. In the west part of the county a short star route was established from Waterbury to Gann Valley with Mark Abermathy as mail carrier. April 1st A. M. Slocum became mail carrier on the Wessington Springs- Waterbury route.

The Woodburn House, at Wessington Springs, was purchased by Carl Hall Feb. 5th, and the name changed to "The Carlton House," Hall retained charge of the hotel until April 17th, when Miss Chandler and her mother rented it and cantinued its management until the forepart of Sept., when it passed into the hands of A. C. Parfitt. About Dec. 15th A. J. Evans became landlord of the Carlton House and remained in charge of it for several months.

About the first of March Mr. O. O. England purchased a carload of furniture, and with his son and daughter, G. T. England, and M. Della England, opened a furniture store in a building erected by Joseph Weibold on the southwest corner of Alain and Third streets. This was the beginning of the furniture and undertaking business in Wessington Springs which with careful management has now become large and profitable.

Sometime in January Nate Spears bought the confectionery business of Howard Pope and for a short time thereafter ran it in connection with his barber shop.

At that time there were standing on the south side of Main Street between 2nd and 3rd streets the old Thayer Bank building, occupied by C. W. McDonald, Bert Healey's notion store, M. A. Schafer's drug and grocery store and two small office buildings. Before daylight on the morning of the 6th of July fire broke out in the Schaefer building. It with all the other buildings in the row were destroyed. A few months later E. L. Smith and O. J. Marshall put up a double store building on the ground where the burned structures had stood. Into one room of the new building Air. Healey again opened a notion store on Dec. 1st, J900, and about the same time Air. Bancroft moved the post office and the True Republican printing office into the other room.

December 1st Howard Pope and Air. Afennill opened a blacksmith and woodwork shop in a building then standing on the south side of Main street east of the Vessey store. They set up a feed mill, which was run with power furnished by a geared windmill.

At Alpena J. D. Chamberlain opened a hardware store with a stock he had obtained in a real estate deal. The D. H. Wood hardware store was sold by that gentleman on July 16th to Grant Anderson, who has continued the business to the present time.

At 7 o'clock on Wednesday evening, Dec. 5th, 1900, the first ring of a telephone bell was .heard in Alpena and the village was then in close touch with all the surrounding towns.

In the fall of the year the Sioux Falls brewing company attempted to establish a wholesale and retail liquor store in Alpena, but the concern was of short duration.

The Wessington Springs school house which had been purchased for church purpose by the Ev. Luth. Zion Church and moved to the south part of Alpena Township, was dedicated May 13th, 1900, with Rev. Lack as pastor.

Rev. R. A. Brough was engaged as pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Alpena., beginning his work on May 13th. The conference appointee for the M. E. Church, made in October, w.as Rev. W. B. Stewart.

The year 1900 being the time for a presidential election the Republicans of Jerauld County hoped to recover some more of the political field that had so long been occupied by their opponents. The election, though lacking much of the bitterness that had characterized former campaigns, was hotly contested for the more important offices. The tickets placed in nomination were as follows :

The election occurred on Nov. 6th, with the result that the Populists retained the offices of Treasurer, Auditor, Sheriff and Attorney. The balance of the places were filled by the Republicans. The Prohibitionists had nominated a full legislative and county ticket but practically dropped the contest in the early part of the campaign.

With the beginning of the century an era of business activity set in that, probably, has never been equaled. In the Dakotas this was most noticable in the rapid selling of real estate. Land prices doubled and doubled again, before people began to realize that the long deferred "boom" had struck the great prairie country. Men who had complained that they were "land poor" suddenly found themselves rich beyond their most optimistic dreams. But few people realize how much of this was due to the real estate men. Every village and city became the headquarters of from two to a dozen dealers in South Dakota land. Prior to 1901 nearly all the real estate business of the county had been done by O. J. Marshall of Wessington Springs ; but during that year D. C. Wallace, located at Alpena, and F. M. Steere, at Wessington Springs, formed a partnership in the real estate business and during the year sold an immense acreage to buyers from other states. John Chamberlain, L. N. Loomis and Ray Barber, all of Alpena, engaged actively in the business at that point, while D. F. Moulton and R. S. Vessey each had an office at the county seat. Later the National Land Co. opened office at Alpena with L. Elliott and A. C. Doubenmier, managers. The method of handling was such as to force the price upward. The agent required the owner to put a net price on his land. The real estate broker then sold the land at whatever he could get above the owner's price, taking the excess as commission. In this way fortunes were made in a few years by both buyers and brokers.

The rapid sales of land called for men to do abstracing, and bonded abstractors were located in every county seat. In Jerauld County C. W. McDonald filed his bond as an abstractor in April and soon had all he could do it that line. In July the Jerauld County Abstract Co. was formed.

The numerous land deals were of great benefit to the county in the collection of delinquent personal and real estate taxes, which were a lien on the land and must be paid before an abstract could show a clear title.

But land prices were not the only evidences of prosperity. Mortgage sales of all kinds ceased almost entirely except in a few cases where foreclosure was necessary to perfect a land title. The price of farm products began to go up. In October wheat was selling at 52c ; corn 40c ; hogs $6.10; butter 13c; eggs 15c. The creameries were the greatest sources of wealth aside from the rise in the value of land. At Alpena the creamery took in over two million pounds of milk and made almost 89,000 pounds of butter during the year 1901. In January, 1901, the Glen Creamery reported that during the preceeding year it had paid to its patrons $11,836.13, while the institution at Wessington Springs did an equally good business. In the banks of the county the deposits increased to $22.00 per capita of the county population. In ^Alpena, for the first time in several years all four grain elevators were in operation handling the immense crop produced that year. The county treasurer's report made in January, 1901, showed that during the preceeding three months the county had not paid out a dollar for relief of the poor and during the next three months the amount expended for that purpose was but $7.65.

At Glen, in Logan Township, Mr. Frick was compelled to add twenty feet to the length of his store building to accommodate his growing business. At the Walter's skimming station in Viola Township Mr. Otto Wagner built a store in the forepart of the season and for some time drove a good trade in such articles as the farmers needed.

In county matters but little occurred outside of routine business. The board reorganized January 3rd, by electing P. H. Shultz, commissioner from the second district, chairman. At this meeting the board decided to build an addition to the court house and put in another vault. It was also necessary to rebuild the jail and repair the cells. The contract for putting up the two buildings was let to Samuel Marlenee, the total cost being about $2,500. It was planned to build the new jail on the block south of the Willard Hotel, but a strongly signed petition from the people of the town resulted in placing the building on the hill near the couit house, where it now stands.

section corner post between sections 20 and 21 in Media Township and running east through the center of sections 21, 22 and 23 to half-section corner post between sections 23 and 24, thence north one mile, thence east 80 rods to end of lane, which is 80 rods east of half-section corner between 13 and 14. They also reported in favor of abandoning the highway between sections 16 and 21 ; 15 and 22; 14 and 23; 21 and 28; 22 and 27.

On the evening of April 22nd a young man, riding one horse and leading another, arrived at Wessington Springs and stayed over night. The animals were valuable ones and the young fellow was anxious to sell one of them. He offered the horse at a price so low that Mr. Price, the liveryman, became suspicious that all was not right. In the morning the man departed taking the horses with him. About an hour after he had left the town a telephone message was received from Huron telling the sheriff, Chas. Knudson, to look out for a man who had stolen a team of horses near that place and was supposed to be somewhere in the vicinity of Wessington Springs. The sheriff invited Mr. Price to go with him and together they set out in pursuit of the man with the animals. They overtook him at the residence of J. A. Paddock in Crow Township. They were close upon the fellow before he discoverede that he was being pursued. He was requesting Mr. Paddock to open a gate that stretched across the road, when that gentleman remarked that "Those men who are following seem to think otherwise/' The young man released the led horse and attempted to escape on the other. Mr. Price drew a revolver and began firing. The horseman immediately stopped and surrendered. He proved to be the man wanted by the Huron parties.

In November a man named Rornboldt stole a span of heavy draft horses from Ray Barber at Alpena, but was captured with the stolen property. At the request of States Attorney Francis, a special term of the circuit court was called and the prisoner was sentenced to two years in the penitentiary on a plea of guilty. This ended the perpetration of crimes of that character in the county.

The annual picnic of the old settlers' association of western Jerauld County was held at Pierce's grove, two miles west of Templeton, on the 14th of June. This grove then became the meeting place for the association in subsequent years.

On May 15th a district W. C, T. U. convention was held at Wessington Springs in the Congregational Church. This was followed on June 28th by a county Sunday School convention in the same church.

The county teachers' institute was opened June 17th and continued two weeks in the Seminary Chapel, Prof. Doderer, of Chamberlain, conductor.

On July 3rd, 4th and 5th a district G. A. R. re-union was held in W hite's Grove at Alpena. Like all such gatherings, the old veterans were greeted with an immense concourse of people from Jerauld, Sanborn and Beadle Counties.

The only change made in the mail service in the county was in Viola Township, where the Ada post office was re-established, with Mr. J. C. Miller as P. M. This occurred in April.

Among the churches and societies some changes and additions were made. In Pleasant Township a Farmers' Club was organized that socially was a great help to the west side of the county. On June 30th a Congregational Church was organized at Fauston and on July 7th it was received into the fellowship of churches. The new church started out with 22 members. In the autumn the society employed Samuel Marienee to put up a church edifice for them and on the 7th of November the corner stone was laid.

At Alpena the Presbyterian society began the construction of a new church building. The contract for the carpenter work was given to Samuel Marlenee, who began work on the 7th of November. A lodge of "Brotherhood of America" with 21 charter members was organized in January and the "Royal Neighbors" in August. These were fraternal insurance societies.

May 5th the German Lutherans dedicated a new organ which they had purchased for their church in the south part of Alpena township. A sermon in the German language was preached by Rev. Gebhardt, of Conova, and one in English by Rev. Lack, the local pastor. Rev. Lack resigned as pastor in December.

On November 30th a brass band was organized at Alpena with 15 pieces, to which seven more instruments were added the next week. This organization became one of the prominent musical aggregations of the state.

The only change among the newspapers of the county was in Alpena, when R. E. Dye on April 5th succeeded E. M. Cochran in the office of the Journal.

About the first of June Ray Barber began building at Alpena one of the finest livery barns in the state. It was 42 feet wide by 96 feet in length.

Sept. 1st C. W. Miller purchased the Alpena hotel of Mrs. Barber and Mrs. Thompson and took possession. At about the same time the C. L. Coleman Lumber Co. established a yard at Alpena.

During the first week in December W. H. McMillan and J. D. Chamberlain purchased the Alpena meat market of Andrew Mercei, and a few days later W. R. Wiley bought the furniture store and business at Alpena of J. D. Chamberlain.

In August Mr. Chamberlain had purchased the Presbyterian Church building on the north side of Main street in Alpena, opposite Odd Fellows Hall and fitted it up for use as a general store.

At Wessington Springs the first business transaction of the year was the sale of the local telephone company's line to the Dakota Central Telephone Co. This occurred on January 1st, 1901.

A few days later Mr. Vanderveen sold his lumber stock and business to E. B. Paddock, who ran the business alone until September, when he sold a half interest to W. T. McConnell.

The latter part of March Homer Hackett began the erection of a building for use of the England furniture company. G. T. England, successor to the company, still occupies the building, which he has since purchased.

In April W. T. George and W. T. McConnell located in Wessington Springs to engage in business. The coming of these gentlemen was probably the first step in the making of a greater Wessington Springs. Mr. George purchased a half interest in the Vessey store, which then took the name of Vessey-George Mercantile Co., and Mr. McConnell became president of the Bank of Wessington Springs.

On May 3rd E. M. Cochran rented and took possession of the Carlton House in Wessington Springs, but retired from it in October and was succeeded in its management by C. N. Hall, the owner.

Howard Pope sold his interest in the blacksmith business to which he and Mr. Minnill had added feed grinding. This change occurred in May and a little later Mr. Menniil sold a half interest in the business to Homer Hackett.

About the first of October Dr. Smith and Prof. E. G. Burritt opened a drug store in the Weibold building on the southwest corner of Main and 3rd streets.

Sometime in the forepart of the year Mr. M. Kieffer, undoubtedly one of the most skillful masons in the state, located at Wessington Springs and began working at his trade.

Among the prominent people of the county who died during the year were Ambrose Baker of Marlar township ; J. H. May, of Alpena township and C. M. Chery and Mrs. C. M. Spears of Wessington Springs.

On January 7th, 1902, the county commissioners re-elected P. H. Shultz chairman of the board, being the only time in the history of the county that a member has been given that position two times in succession.

O11 March 1st of that year the cash in the hands of the treasurer was a little more than $20,000. Never before had the county funds reached so high a figure.

In July the county purchased of Mrs. Johanna McDowall a tract of land for a road through the hills on the east line of the county. In August the board took up for final adjustment the matter of a highway through Media township west from the end of the grade west of Wessington Springs. For many years this had been a vexatious subject. Many "views" and surveys had been made, but with no practical results. But this time a survey was made, the notes recorded and the land purchased for the road that now extends from the county seat to where it strikes the section line road between sections 8 and 17 in Media township.

As the time for the bienniel election approached the parties prepared for the contest. The Republican party put forth the following ticket :

The result was the election of the entire Republican ticket except the candidate for sheriff. This was the first sweeping victory of the Republicans in twelve years.

In 1892 the government established a post office at the sod house of Jacob Stickley in Pleasant township. There O. E. Corwin opened a store at the' same time. Both continued about a year.

In March the county furnished the plank and street commissioner Wm. Hawthorne for the village of Wessington Springs laid a sidewalk from the Willard Hotel to the court house.

A month later, Aug. 3rd, the new Congregational Church at Fauston was dedicated and on Sept. 21 the same ceremony was conducted for the new Alpena Presbyterian Church. On October 19th the Alpena M. E. Church was out of debt and celebrated the occasion by publicly burning the mortgage that had rested on the church so many years. In connection with the same church a charter was granted to a Junior Epworth League society on Dec. 15, 1902.

Early in 1902 the M. E. Society at Wessington Springs decided to erect a larger church building on Fourth Street, a block north of Main Street and offered the old church, built by the early settlers in 1883, for sale. It was purchased by the Solberg Swedish Lutheran Society of the south part of Franklin township, but was not moved to its new location until 1904. The Methodist Church at Wessington Springs began the erection of their new building in the summer of 1902, but it was not completed until the next year. In the meantime the society obtained the use of the Universalist building.

The Society of Friends in Harmony Township moved a building owned by them in Hand County to a location they had obtained on the south side of Peirce's Grove, two miles west of Templeton, and established that as their meeting place in the county.

During the first week in January, 1902, R. E. Dye succeeded Richard Davenport as postmaster at Alpena. Later in the season the postoffice and printing office were placed under one roof at their present location.

April 1st W. E. Waterbury gave up the old Waterbury P. O. and it was moved three miles east to the residence of Clark Wetherell who had been appointed P. M.

In the fall of this year, (1902), a fire company was organized in Crow Lake township for protection against prairie fires. The officers were J. C. Russell, Joseph O'Brien and B. Weibold. Each member of the company was required to equip himself with certain means for fighting fire and to respond immediately to an alarm.

Numerous changes were made in the banking institutions of the county during the year. The Bank of Alpena on the 22nd of July increased its capital stock to $12,000 and about the same time began the construction

The organization of the Alpena State Bank was completed Aug. 22nd. The incorporators were D. S. Manwaring and Frank Baker of Alpena and C. R. and M. A. Manwaring of Atwood, Iowa, with F. E. Manning as cashier. The capital stock was $10,000. The bank was formally opened for business Sept. 1st. The deposits in this institution during the first three weeks of its existence was $23,000.

In the latter part of December, D. C. Wallace resigned his position as cashier of the Bank of Alpena and moved to Wessington Springs to enter upon his duties as county treasurer.

On Sept. 17th R. S. and F. G. Vessey became owners of the stock of the Wessington Springs State Bank with T. F. Vessey, F. M. Steere, John R. Francis and Gilmore Robins, the latter being of Grinned, Iowa.

The First National Bank of Wessington Springs was authorized Sept. 25th and opened for business on the first day of Oct. The first issue of its currency was on November 19th. The stockholders of the new bank were J. H. Woodburn, John Grant, W. T. George, E. B. Maris, W. T. McConnell, A. R. McConnell, O. J. Marshall, Sarah McConnell, J. B. Collins, W. H. Sutton and C. R. Cornelius, ajl but the last four being directors. The officers were W. T. McConnell, president, J. H. Woodburn, vice-president and E. B. Maris, cashier. The capital stock was $25,000, upon which semi-annual devidends have been paid each year since the opening of the bank. At the close of this history, January 1st, 1909, the bank's surplus ahd undivided profits exceeded $10,000. The new institution began business in the little frame building formerly occupied as a hardware store on the north side of Main street, three doors west of 2nd street. The directors immediately began preparations for a brick building on the corner of Main and 2nd streets on the ground where the Woodburn store building stood. The store building they moved one lot east. Work on the new building commenced Dec. 9th, but it was not completed until the next year.

The year 1902 was one of much business activity in both Wessington Springs and Alpena. At the latter place Grant Anderson started a harness shop in his hardware store in January, and the next month C. S. Jacobs opened a harness shop on the north side of Main street, with his son Louis Jacobs as manager. About the first of August, however, Mr. Jacobs sold his business to Mr. Anderson, who has since done the business for that part of the county.

C. C. Isenbuth sold his mercantile store and business in January to F. A. Franzwa, who took possession February 1st. In May Mr. Franzwa had the first cement walk in the town laid in front of his store and in

In February George Hatch began building a new livery barn, which was completed in early spring. He later in the summer purchased the barn and livery stock of Ray Barber taking possession in August.

T. L. White and Wm. Zink of Wessington Springs put in a stock of farm machinery at Alpena in January and employed Pat McDonald as salesman. In October Mr. White sold his interest in the business to Mr. Zink, who continued alone to the close of the year.

In April and May Andrew Mercer built a restaurant building on the south side of Main street, but in October sold the building and business to G. Evenson.

A. Amundson, who for several years had been in charge of the C. M. & St. P. Ry. station at Alpena, resigned on May 1st and was succeeded by C. G. Boom.

To the real estate men more than all others, probably, was due the increased activity in the various lines of business. At Alpena fifteen cars of immigrants arrived on Feb. 21, brought by the National Land Co., and the next week twelve cars came, independent of local agents. The state was litterally overrun with real estate men taking prospective buyers to different counties to look at land. In November J. W. Doubenmier came to Alpena to take charge of the business of the National Land Co. in place of A. C. Doubenmier.

At Wessington Springs W. FI. Sutton purchased the Kennedy hardware stock the latter part of January and later moved it into the Steere & Wallace building on the corner of Main and 2nd streets.

March 1st Hugh Personius of Woonsocket rented the Carlton House, but in the latter part of March sold to F. W. Dodge. About the first of Sept. Mr. Personius purchased the Willard Hotel, but a few days later sold that, also, to Mr. Dodge.

August 1st W. T. George retired from the Vessey-George Mercantile Co., and the business again passed under the name of Vessey Bros., managed by T. F. Vessey. On the 8th of Sept. Vessey Bros, began putting up a two-story building on the northeast corner of 2nd and Main streets. Into this building they moved their mercantile stock on Dec. 8th and had an "opening" for the entertainment of their customers on Dec. 18th.

In Sept. E. L. Smith erected a store building on the lot east of Brodkorb's meat market, on the south side of Main street for use of N. M. Spears with his grocery stock.

But many things occurred this year tending toward the advancement of general business and social affairs of the county, aside from individual business matters.

On March 8th the Alpena band, which had now become a very efficient musical organization, made its first public appearance and soon became noted in this part of the state.

The Alpena Gun Club had its first contest with outside marksmen, on March 20th and won the game. The Alpena shooters were C. W. Miller, R. Mercer, C. G. Haskins, J. E. Shull and J. H. Verry.

In the early spring of 1902 the village of Alpena found itself entirely free from debt and a strong demand being made for better school facilities. An election was therefore held on April 5th to vote on the matter of creating an independent school district three miles square in the northeast corner of the township. The proposition carried and the new district at once set about the building of an addition to the old school Rouse. Fifteen hundred dollars bonds were voted and issued for the improvements. On Oct. 26 school was opened with 100 pupils divided into three schools.

In August the Alpena Epworth League arranged for a lecture course for the ensuing winter. This was the beginning of a course that has been -continued ever since.

In both Alpena and Wessington Springs the subject of better protection against fire began to be seriously considered. Both towns were ''talking" artesian well, and on Dec. 1st the county seat voted bonds in the sum of $2,500 to carry out the project. Alpena postponed the question until the next season.

For twenty years Wessington Springs had been waiting for a railroad. Each year there had been rumors of railway communication, sometimes in one direction and sometimes in another. But now the people determined to do something to remedy the methods of transportation. A league of business men was formed in February 17th, 1902, to consider all matters pertaining to the welfare of the town. An organization was perfected with C. S. Jacobs, president; W. T. McConnell, vice-president; E. G. Burritt, secretary and Jeff. Sickler, treasurer. These officers were members of an executive committee to which was also added R. S. Vessey, O. J. Marshall and F. M. Steere. A few days later a company was incorporated under the name of the Wessington Springs and Woonsocket Electric Railway Company. A good deal of correspondence was had by the league with civil engineers and capitalists during the next few weeks. On May 9th a couple of railway officials of the C. M. & St. P. came to Wessington Springs and engaged a livery team with G. N. Price as driver. They visited the west part of the county and spent the night at Richards P. O. in Buffalo county. The next day they returned and went on to the railroad. What would come of this visit no one would guess. Disappointments from that source had been so many that none would risk a hope. A meeting was called to consider the feasibility of putting an automobile line in operation between Wessington Springs and Woonsocket. While that was under consideration by the people of the town, the C. M. & St. P. on June 6th began surveying from Woonsocket west. One line was run straight toward the court house in Wessington Springs and another toward the Wallace gulch three miles north. Then the days, weeks and months dragged wearily on and all thought this railroad rumor had gone like the others. December came, and on the 9th of that month Mr. B. H. Eldridge, civil engineer, in the employ of the C. M. & St. P. Co. arrived in Wessington Springs with a full crew of surveyors. They secured board at the Willard Hotel and obtained the use of the office room of the old Carlton House for headquarters. It then became known that a final survey was to be made for a line between Wessington Springs and Woonsocket and that a railroad was to be built from Woonsocket to the Wessington Hills. But, would it be run to Wessington Springs, or would the company destroy the town that the people had kept alive, with hope, for so many years. The year 1902 drew to a close, and one of the hardest winters in the history of the comity settled down over the prairies, leaving the important question unanswered.

On Dec. 13th, 1902, snow began falling in large flakes and continued two days and two nights without stopping. There was no wind and the flakes rested where they fell. The weather was just cold enough to keep the snow from changing to rain until the evening of the 16th, then for a few minutes the rain fell in torrents. This was followed by a cold wave with a northwest wind. The snow was too wet to drift and the crust of water froze until all over the prairie, on hill and in valley, rested a coating of ice from a half inch to an inch in thickness. It was impossible to drive animals through the snow because the ice crust cut their legs like glass. To make a road men had to go ahead and break the ice so the teams could follow. This winter, though not so cold as some, was one of the hardest in which to do farm work, that has even been experienced in the Dakotas.

The surveyors that had established headquarters in the old Carlton House at Wessington Springs in the last week in December, 1902, continued their work during the first week of January, 1903, and ran several lines from the Firesteel Creek to the hills. On February 19th the railway company notified the people of the town that the nearest approach they could make to the town was the line over which the track was eventually built. They also requested the people to donate the land needed for depot and terminal facilities. The amount thought necessary was 16 or 18 acres. This, Mr. B. F. Hubbard, who owned the land, offered to sell at $75 per acre. A meeting of the Business Men's League was held >on the 2 1st, at which it was voted unanimously to comply with the request and to raise the money by popular subscription. Before the land was deeded to -the company the request was reduced by about 1 1 acres so that only about seven acres were desired by the company. This change was made in the forepart of May. At another public meeting held March 30th, it had been voted to ask the village trustees to levy a tax to pay for the terminal ground. The tax was levied, but its collection was enjoined by the circuit court. The money had already been paid, however.

The work of buying the right-of-way for the railroad began on March 13th, the company paying therefor $30.00 per acre. On May 6th Mr. Kennedy, a railway contractor, arrived with a large force of graders and pitched his camp about a mile east of town, near the right-of-way. The grading was divided into two contracts and was pushed as is the case with all such contract work. By September 1st the grade was completed from Wessington Springs to Woonsocket and laying ties and rails commenced. On September 20th the long looked for day arrived when the construction train reached the end of the line and Wessington Springs had a railroad.

With the railroad came a new influence, before unknown to the village by the hills. In all the years of its history Wessington Springs had been strict in its observance of the Sabbath. By ordinance the village trustees had imposed a fine upon any business man who sold goods on Sunday , except the meat market man, who was permitted to keep his shop open on Sunday until 10 o'clock A. M.

But the railroad threatened to revolutionize the old town in regard to Sabbath observance. The first passenger train to be pulled out of Wessington Springs was an excursion on Sunday Sept. 27th, G. A. Lawler, conductor, and A. Martins, engineer, to the Corn Palace at Mitchell. A great many Wessington Springs people went on that train- The puritanic sentiment of those who stayed at home was greatly shocked. A petition in the nature of a protest was liberally signed and forwarded to the officials of the company, requesting that they desist from running Sunday excursions to, or from, Wessington Springs. At first but little attention was paid to the petition, but at length the expressed public opinion had its effect and the practice of running Sunday trains unnecessarily was abandoned.

The next day, Sept. 28th, the railway company began running a mixed' train daily to Wessington Springs, where they had left a box car to be used as a depot in charge of Mr. Earl, the first station agent. A few days later the long distance telephone line was extended to the depot box car for use of the station agent until the telegraph line could be brought in.. The phone is still in use.

On Oct. 2nd Car No. 46574 was loaded by J. B. Collins with 996- bushels of No. 1 hard wheat. There being no agent at Wessington Springs at that time, the car was taken to Woonsocket by the construction train and there billed to the Van Dusen-Harrington Co., at Minneapolis. This was the first car of grain shipped from Wessington Springs. The price was 79 cents per bushel. The proceeds of the grain was $786.84.

Before the first of October Gotwals & Russell, stockbuyers at Wessington Springs shipped the first carload of cattle over the new road. The stock yards were completed in November, and, when, on the 15th of December the mail began coming to Wessington Springs by rail the town felt its connection with the world was complete.

Starting A New Town

When it became certain that the C. M. & St. P. was going to build west from Woonsocket, L. N. Loomis and T. W. Lane purchased the south half of section 17, of Franklin township and gave the railway townsite company a half interest in the land in consideration of it being made the site of the town to be located between Wessington Springs and Woonsocket. A few days later, May 15th, Mr. Franzwa, who had sold his store at Alpena, began building a store on the railway right of way near where the depot now stands.

About a week later E. H. Wood and F. G. Vessey of Wessington Springs borrowed a small safe which they placed in Franz wa's store building and started "The Farmers State Bank," as a partnership. About the same time the Fullerton Lumber Co. put up* a small office building as the beginning of the first lumber yard in Lane, with G. S. Warren agent.

Before the roof had been put over the Fullerton office building the First National Bank people of Wessington Springs took steps toward the incorporation of another bank, also having the name "Farmers State Bank." The articles were prepared and sent to Pierre to be filed with the secretary of state, and Carl Lange, cashier, procured a dry goods box for a desk and a cracker box for a seat. By permission, he placed them "both in the roofless lumber office, and placing himself behind one and upon the other, was also ready to do a banking business in the name of "The Farmers State Bank." But Vessey & Wood had by this time learned of the move of the rival bank, and had drawn up articles of incorporation which they had recorded. Mr. Wood then took the papers for his bank and went to Pierre. The articles of the opposing bank were sent to the state capital on the same train. Arrived at the office of the secretary of state both sets of papers were presented for filing. The secretary looked over the documents and rejected the one presented by First National Bank because it had not been recorded at Wessington Springs. He then took up Mr. Wood's articles of incorporation and rejected them because the notary in his hurry had neglected to affix his official seal. It was to be a race for the name of the bank. One set of papers must be recorded, and the other must be sealed. Mr. Wood was probably never more thankful for a long distance 'phone. He called up the notary at Wessington

Spring's and told him to come to Pierre at once and bring* his Notarial Seal. It is needless to say that Vessey & Wood became officers of The Farmers State Bank ' of Lane. The other bank became incorporated, but under the name of "The Security Bank," of Lane.

About the same time that the race for the name of the bank was going on Mr. Franzwa forwarded to the post office department at Washington an application for the establishment of a post office at Lane and that he be made the first postmaster. During this time a ball nine and a gun club were organized composed of sportsmen living in the vicinty of the new station. No records have been preserved of the achievements of the gun club, but the ball nine distinguished itself by defeating all the neighboring teams that crossed bats with it. As yet the town had not been platted and persons established on the proposed townsite were only "squatters" with no priority of right.

On the 16th of July the "Jerauld County News," published by R. B. Smith, was issued from an office located in a granary on the northeast quarter of section 19 - the old L. E. Franklin homestead. The paper was a six-column folio and announced decided opposition to saloons. The first subscription order received by the publisher was from Mr. John Klem.

The town was platted about the middle of July and on the 31st the company sold the lots at public auction. Mr. Franzwa received his commission and began to do business as postmaster on the day of the town lot sale.

By this time both banks were duly incorporated and doing business. The directors of the Security Bank were W. T. McConnell, J. H. Woodburn, E. B. Maris, O. J. Marshall, O. O. Lindebak and F. A. Franzwa. The officers of the Farmers State Bank were F. G. Vessey, president; D. H. Wood, vice president and E. H. Wood, cashier. But as it was thought the business of the town would not warrant the continuance of two banks the Security sold its business and outfit to the rival institution on the first day of August.

All was now hustle and hurry in the new town. Hammers and saws sounded from daylight until long after nightfall in strenuous preparation for the approaching winter. In the first days of August the foundation for the bank building was completed and the superstructure erected upon it in time to make it the first permanent building of the town.

On Sept. 1st L. W. Casteman, of Alpena, began selling meat in Lane, and on the 12th the railroad construction train arrived. About the same time work on the L. N. Loomis elevator commenced and in one month it was ready to receive grain.

By Sept. 24th the weather had become so cold that the open granary from which the newspaper had been issued was no longer habitable for a printing office. There was no room that could be rented and the editor was forced to suspend publication until a building could be erected and a room prepared. Between Sept. 24th and October 22nd no paper was issued. The paper then resumed regular issue. On November 12th the name of the paper was changed to "The Lane Pioneer News'' and as such it has made its weekly visit to its readers ever since.

About the 1st of November W. L. Smith became local agent for the Fullerton Lumber Co. at Lane, and has held the position to the present time.

On November 27th two things happened of widely different natures ; one was the organization of The Ladies' Aid Society with Mrs. L. J. Grisinger, president; Mrs. George E. Whitney, vice president; Mrs. R. B. Smith, secretary; and Mrs. R. Nesbit, treasurer; the other was a petition by Nick Wicker to the township board to call a special election to vote on the saloon question.

By November 24th a forge had been set up in the smithy and Samuel Feistner lighted the first forge fire and repaired a "throw-off" lever for the News job press. This occurred in Feistner Bros. shop.

Ed. Eaton named his restaurant "The Star" and served the first meal in it at noon on the last day of November in the building put up by Mr. Franzwa about the middle of May. Up to that time the room had been used as a general merchandise store but these Mr. Franzwa began moving into his new store on the corner which he formally "opened" on the 12th of December.

During all this hurly-burly of building, moving and getting ready for winter probaly no man was of greater assistance to all than Oscar Lindebak who began doing a dray and livery business in November.

Although trains began running into Lane regularly on Sept. 28th and received and delivered freight at that place the railway company had no depot until the next year nor no regular agent. Sometimes Mr. Franzwa receipted for outgoing freight and stored it in his store, or in

But while Lane was coming into existence and Wessington Springs was trying to adjust itself to railway conditions, the town of Alpena was equally busy in taking care of the business demands that were going that way.

The Bank of Alpena moved into its new building during the first week in January. Fred Ferguson and Mason Smith were granted a franchise for a telephone exchange in the town on February 12th "to continue as long as they do business under the same name and management." The telephone exchange was not put in, however, until in Nov. when the work was done by Bert Pinard, of Wessington Springs for another company composed of, A. F. Smith, J. E. Shull, J. M. Johnson, D. S. Manwaring and R. E. Dye. At that time 40 phones were installed.

C. W. Miller sold and gave possession of the Reveve House to Mason Smith March 2nd, and about a month later A. N. Louder purchased the Franzwa store and business.

Dr. Jenkinson closed his partnership relations with Dr. Shull in May and in August purchased the practice of Dr. Stewart at Wessington Springs and located there.

The Alpena Investment Co. was organized in May with J. D. Chamberlain as president and A. S. Cory as secretary and treasurer. This company a few days later (May 24th) received of C. H. Prior a deed for a strip of land 66 feet wide by 2.100 feet long on the east side of the platted portion of the town, for use as a public street.

In April a petition was filed with the town trustees asking that the establishment of a saloon in Alpena be submitted to the voters of the town at the next election. The vote was taken May 4th and the saloon was voted in by 12 majority. C. J. Vandergrift applied for license to sell liquor and the application was granted. On June 10th the county commissioners held a special session and approved the saloon bond.

A meeting was held May 25th to consider the subject of putting down an artesian well in Alpena. A contract was entered into with Redfield parties to drill a three-inch well and on August 15th the work was completed at a depth of 713 feet, having a flow of over 600 gallons per minute. A contract was made September 18th for laying the mains for a village water system, which was completed November 18th and a water tank for public use placed on the north side of Main street between the hotel and the depot.

at Alpena with 84 members, and named "Echo Lodge/' The officers were, Mrs. Ella V. Milliken, N. G.; Mrs. Mattie Hillis, V. G. ; A. S. Cory, Sec.; Miss Blanche Hatch, Treas.

W. H. McMillan sold his meat market to Geo. Marston June 23rd. About the same time J. S. Tripp opened a drugstore on the north side of Main street west of Chamberlain's store.

A few days later, the forepart of July, Ray Barber purchased of George Hatch both livery barns and the stock which he continued to own until the next year.

August 10th E. F. Allen came up from Woonsocket and took the management of the Columbia Company's elevator and has retained the position to the present time.

About the middle of August L. W. Castleman purchased the meat market, and K. O. Kettleson of Woonsocket bought G. Everson's restaurant building and business.

About the 20th of August T. L. White bought an interest in the Bank of Alpena and became its cashier, and about the same time M. G. Shull and J. W. Doubenmier opened a pool and billiard hall on the north side of Main street.

In the forepart of September L. D. Miller built a photograph gallery in the west part of the business portion of Main street and T. B. Yegge put up a new store building west of the Revere House.

On September 10th the Alpena creamery that had started many a poor farmer on the road to prosperity was changed to a mere skimming station and the cream was thereafter sold to a cold storage company at Mitchell.

The Wessington Springs creamery, that had, the year before, closed its skimming station at the Albert well, in Chery township, this year closed the station at Walters' well in Viola. The cold storage companies were gradually choking the life out of the co-operative creameries.

At Glen H. A. Frick sold his interest in the store to Wm. Barker who then became postmaster. The business was continued under the firm name of Eberly & Barker.

another attempt was made to get an artesian well in the west part of the county. The flow was struck and the water came to within 32 feet of the top of the casing and there stopped.

In Chery township artesian wells were completed for R. W. Johnson, Geo. McGregor, C. H. La Bau, B. Horsley, and also on the old Wallace farm. The well of B. Horsley was completed at a depth of 883 feet in three days from the time the drill started into the ground. In Viola township P. H. Shultz finished his second well, and Thos. Shryock obtained one near Wessington Springs.

About the middle of March O. O. England moved the Templeton store and post office to the northwest corner of section 36. There it stood until the night of the 24th of November when it was destroyed by fire. It was rebuilt at once and the business continued.

In Blaine township the Parsons postoffice, which had been under the management of Mr. and Mrs. Ole Johnson for a good many years was discontinued on March 31st.

In Pleasant township a Sunday School convention was held June 2 1st. A state conference of the Universalist church was held at Wessington Springs Sept. 10th and the Free Methodists held their state conference at the same town on Sept. 30th.

A town meeting was held February 16th to decide upon a. location for the artesian well. The meeting voted to request the village council to locate the well on the block south of the Willard Hotel. Work on the well began March 31st and continued until June 9th when it was abandoned, the town paying the drillers $1,000 and buying the casing that had been put in the well. The drill had been lost in the first hole, but the second one had been pushed down to over 1,200 feet when water rose to within a few feet of the surface. The town then planned to use it for a pump well, and in the latter part of the season mains were laid from the well to Main Street and the machinery purchased to make use of the well for protection against fire. This plan was never a success. While drilling for the artesian well a flowing stream was found at about 60 feet which landlord Dodge piped into the Willard Hotel, in July. About the first of July Mr. Jensen of Woonsocket, began drilling an artesian well on Miles & Hunter's Addition to Wessington Springs and on the 19th of that month the well was finished with a good flow.

The town on February 2nd granted to D. C. Wallace, J. B. Collins and F. M. Steere a twenty-year franchise for use of the streets and alleys of Wessington Springs for telephone system. In the first half of May the exchange system was completed with about 80 phones. The

In February the Colman Lumber Co. purchased the Vanderveen lumber business and established a yard on 3rd Street north of the public school building, where it is still located. Mr. Vanderveen was retained by the company as their local agent.

I'n the latter part of January Wm. Zink sold his Alpena implement business to Pat McDonald and took John Farrington in as a partner in his Wessington Springs business.

T. F. Vessey, village treasurer, called in all outstanding village warrants, on March 12th. The village was then practically free from debt.

About March 18th R. S. Vessey and C. E. Gingery formed a partnership in real estate business and on April 1st Dr. John Cooper, of Des Moines, Iowa, located his office in Wessington Springs.

Near the middle of April Miles & Hunter's addition to Wessington Springs was laid out in town lots, and about the same time Vessey Bros, bought Mrs. Barrett's one-fourth interest in the old townsite.

In May money was raised by subscription to buy the land necessary to extend Main street east to the section line, but the project was not carried out until November 5th.

The lots on Court House Hill that had been obtained by the county from the townsite company and the people of Wessington Springs in 1885 as the result of locating the court house there, were sold at auction May nth, 1903, the amount received being $2,016.00.

On June 21st Children's Day was celebrated in the new M. E. church building. This was the first regular service in the building, which was dedicated July 12th.

The Fullertons, who bought a yard at the east end of Main Street, in May, was the second great lumber company, to locate in Wessington Springs.

The First National Bank moved into their new bank building on July 1st. The old building vacated by the bank, was at once moved to the south side of Main Street about opposite the new P. O. building and in it Henry Pfaff opened a restaurant.

July 2nd the True Republican printing office was moved into the Tacobs-Bancroft building on the north side of Main Street, built by C. S. Jacobs and W. F. Bancroft. A few days later the post office moved into the same room and was followed by the harness shop which Mr.

During the summer Amos Gotwals erected a building on the east side of Zink & Farrington's warehouse, which was rented by Frank Linn for a confectionery store.

For several months P. H. Hackett and Homer Hackett had been running the feed mill that was formerly owned by Howard Pope and Joe Mennill and also selling farm implements. J. W. Snart now bought P. H. Hackett's interest in the business, and it became known as the Hackett Implement Co.

Bert Healy early in the year had purchased a lot east of the Jacobs- Bancroft building and put up a one story building into which he moved his notion store the latter part of October.

The Sioux City Cold Storage Co. built a small building for their use near the railroad track, in the first week of November. The Wessington Springs Creamery, like the one at Alpena, was doomed.

The Hyde and Loomis elevators were opened for business the forepart of November, and the Lane elevator the 3rd day of December. The latter building was sold as soon as completed to the Khewise-Moven Elevator Co.

Matters educational as well as things amusing were not neglected in the busy year of 1903. A gun club was organized at Wessington Springs as was also a baseball nine. The ball nine distinguished itself in a series of games with the Plankinton team. I11 none of these games did the score exceed six on a side until the last game when the Plankinton team won its , only victory in the series with a score of 8 to 4. This last game was at the Wessington Springs fair and field day October 9th. On that occasion the home gun club was also defeated by the marksmen from Plankinton.

The rapid growth of the town necessitated increased school facilities and in July and August the roof of the school building was raised and another story with two rooms added.

A county meeting of school district officers was held at Wessington Springs on the last Saturday in March at which a resolution was passed recommending that the teachers of the county be paid from $25 to $35 per month.

The June commencement at the Seminary placed diplomas in the hands of the following graduates : Dora Shull, Allie McClelland, Earnest Vennard, Pearl Jackson, Charles Keller, Jesse Morehead, Florence Moulton.

The county commisioners' records for the year contain but little aside from ordinary work. At the January meeting Commissioner R. J. Tracy was made chairman.

"Commencing at a point 34 rods east of the corner of section 30 on south line of Harmony township and running northwest 45 rods, thence west 150 rods, thence west of south 21 rods, thence south west 87 rods, to a point 27 rods west of the half section corner on the south side of section 36 in Marlar township. Commencing at a point 125 rods north of northwest corner of section 36 in Marlar township and running southwest 96 rods, thence south 93 rods, thence 42 rods to a point 77 rods south of the northwest corner of section 36 in Marlar township."