Minnehaha County, South Dakota - Chapter 8: Orcxaxization of School Districts -- South, 1899

Falls College-All Saints School Lutheran Normal School

xVt the second meeting' of the coiint\' commissioners of Minnehaha county, held April 3, 1871, at the store of W. S. Bloom, in the \ illag-e of Sioux Falls, James A. Hand was appointed superintendent of schools. At a special meeting of the board on April 12, this appointment was rescinded for the purpose of appointing Mr. Hand county attorney, and John Bippus was appointed county superintendent of schools. The first official act of Mr. Bippus under this appointment was to divide the county of Minnehaha into school districts, and a report of the division he made was submitted to the board of county commissioners at their next meeting, July 3, 1871. This report was adopted by the board, and seven school districts were created.

School district No. 1, comprised the entire township of Sioux Falls; No. 2, nearly the entire township of Mapleton; No. 3, sections one, and part of twelve in Benton, three sections in the northwest corner of Mapleton, four sections on the east side of Lyons, and twelve sections in Sverdrup; No. 4, ten and one-half sections in the north and west part of Sverdrup, and eight sections in the south and west part of Dell Rapids township; No. 5, the township of Wayne; No. (), the township of Split Rock, and No. 7, the townshi]) of Brandon.

These original districts were subsequently divided and subdi- \ided and other districts organized as the population of the county increased. There have been as many as one hundred and thirty districts, but through consolidations the number has been reduced, and at this writing 1899; there are one hundred and twenty-two school districts in Minnehaha county in which schools are taught. The number of persons of school ag^e (6-21 years) in the county is 7.100, and the average attendance during the last school year was 3,619.

South Dakota School For Deaf-Mutes

The South Dakota School for Deaf-Mutes was established in the fall of 1880 under the name of Dakota School for Deaf-Mutes, and was located at the City of Sioux Falls.

Mrs. D. F. Minofus, ncc Miss Jennie Wright, now a resident of San Dieg-o, Cal., took the first steps tow^ard the establishment of the school, which has g-rown to such proportions during- the past eig-hteen years.

Upon her arrival here, Mrs. Ming-us secured the co-operation of Rev. Thomas B. Berry, an Episcopal minister, who had been instructor in the New York and Maryland schools for the deaf.

There were at this time four deaf children in Sioux Falls - Hester Black, Willie Hanley, and two brothers, Lewis and Harry Garrison. These children Mrs. Ming-us and Mr. Berry took into their care, and soon added a fifth, Andrew Sieverson, from the vicinitv of Sioux Falls.

The work of educating- these children was carried on in a private dwelling-, and the expenses were paid by private donations. In the latter part of the summer following-, Professor James Simpson, for three years a teacher in the Iowa institute for the education of the deaf, and brother-in-law of Mrs. D. F. Ming-us, came to Sioux Falls and assumed the manag-ement of the school. A fund of SI, 000 was donated by the City of Sioux Falls, besides an appropriation of 32,000 from the territory, and a site of ten acres, which was the g-ift of E. A. Sherman, R. F. Pettig-rew and L. T. Dunning-, all of Sioux Falls, and Isaac Emerson of Melrose, Mass.

A frame structure 36x40 feet and a wing- 16x24 feet, containingfourteen rooms, was at once erected upon the site donated. This building- was ready for occupancy October 21, 1881, on which date the pupils were removed to it. There were then seven pupils, Sarah Collins of Sioux Falls and Willie Richmond of Bon Homme county having- been added to the previous inmates.

The first board of directors was made up of the following* gentlemen: E. A. Sherman president; Amos F. Shaw treasurer; E. G. Wrig-ht secretary and C. K. Howard, all of Sioux Falls, J. O'Brien Scobey of Brookings, Rev. G. C. Pennell of Deadwood, C. A. Lounsbury of Bismarck, V. P. Thielman of Parker and O. S. Gilford of Canton.

During its session of 1883 the territorial legislature appropriated the sum of $12,000 for the erection of a new building-. At the beginning of the term of 1884-5, the frame structure w^as vacated, and the main building occupied.

Shortly after, more room was needed, and two years after securing the appropriation for the main building, another appropriation from the territor}', this time S16,000, was obtained. The erection of the boy's dormitory was then commenced, and was completed in the spring of 1886. Both buildings were made of Sioux Falls granite, the first being trimmed with with red bricks and the last Avith red pipestone from the famous quarries in Minnesota.

Main Building Boy S Dokmitoky

was the sum of S56,0()0, obtained in February, 1887. A shop buildinowas erected, also a barn, lM)th built of Sioux Palls o-ranite. A water tank holdino- 525 barrels, and a wind mill were put up, and twenty acres of land adjoininjy;- the orig-inal site were purchased.

Up to the summer of 1887, the superintendent and his wife, with an assistant part of the time, were the only teachers, but the school had increased to such proportions that additional teachers were needed.

The openino- of the school in the fall of 1887 saw three teachers, a])p<)inted durino- the summer ready to take up the work. These were Miss Emma Von Behren, Miss M. Prances Walker and Mr. H. McP. Hofsteater. After a year of teaching-. Miss Walker resig-ned her position and was succeeded by Mr. Prank R. Wrig-ht. After another year Miss Von Behren resig-ned her position as teacher and accepted that of matron of the school, which position had been held for live years b}- Miss Ida E. Wrig-ht. Previous to the appointment of Miss Wrio-ht as matron. Miss Kate Harringfton held this position for a short time. Mrs. M. L. Simpson was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Miss Von Behren 's resig-nation. Mrs. Simpson had been for several years a teacher in the St. Louis day school for the deaf. Miss Von Behren held her position as matron until 1891, when she resig-ned and was succeeded by Miss M. Prances Walker, formerly a teacher in the school. Mr. Wrig-ht also resig-ned in 1891, and Miss Von Behren ag-ain became a teacher. In 1892, Mr. Hofsteater resig-ned and Phil L. Axling-, one of the first g-raduates of the school, was appointed to fill the vacancv.

An art department was created in the latter ])art of 1889, and Charles A. Eocke, a g-raduate of the Iowa school for the deaf, was appointed instructor. Pailure to obtain sufficient ])rovision for the maintenance of this department, caused it to be (liscontinued, and Mr. Eocke left the school in the spring- of 1892.

In the fall of 1889 the territory was divided and the states of North and South Dakota were created. The following- winter the North Dakota leg-islature established a school for her deaf children. As a result of a conference between Governor Mellette of South Dakota and Governor Miller of North Dakota, the children of the last mentioned state attending- school at Sioux Palls were sent home in April, 1890. Prior to that time the pupils in the South Dakota school numbered forty-seven. Thirteen belong-ed to North Dakota, and before the close of the term one or two others had left the school, leaving- thirty-two pupils. Within three years after, the number'of ])upils had increased to forty-eig-ht, while at the same time ten or twehe had g-raduated, or left never to return as pupils.

During- the year 1892, a ninetv-ton round silo was built, and tinsame year it was filled with corn ensilag-e, raised on the twenty acres of land belong-ing- to the school. This ensilag-e constituted almost the sole feed for ten cows and some fifty head of sheep. For the latter a frame addition to the barn was built in the fall of 1892, the bovs of the school doing- the work with the assistance of a carpenter.

One of the first trades taug-ht in the school was printing-, a small outfit being- purchased in May, 1887, and the publication of a small paper was commenced in December of the same \^ear. About a year after, carpentry and the tinner's trade were introduced. Farmingoperations have been carried on more or less from the first, and today the results of the labor in this direction stand out very conspicuously.

Several of the older boys are instructed as thoroughh' as possible in practical farming and dairying. After one term the tinner's trade had to be abandoned by reason of lack of funds to pay for the services of a competent foreman. Printing- continued to be taug-ht. The boys received their first lessons in the art from H. McP. Hofsteater, one of the teachers, and in December, 1887, started a small leaflet called The Advocate. The paper circulated first at home, but in January following- it was enlarged and sent out as a fortnig-htlv, under the title of The Dakota Advocate, and later it became a weekly.

A steam-heating apparatus was placed in the main building- as early as 1885, and about two years after the completion of the bo3's' dormitory the building was heated by steam. In January, 1891, electric lig-hts were placed in all the buildings, including- the barn.

The school term beg-ins on the second Wednesday in September in each year, and closes on the second Wednesday in June following-. All pupils return to their homes for a summer vacation of twelve weeks. The course of study pursued in the school consists of the English lang-uag-e, composition, history, arithmetic, geog-raphy, grammar, physiolog-y, penmanship, drawing- and bookkeeping.

During the whole period since the school was opened, the health of the pupils has been g-ood. Every pupil has recourse to the bath apartments at least once a week. They are always furnished with g-ood, serviceable clothing, well-cooked and wholesome food, and comfortable beds. In study, labor, and recreation, constant watchfulness is exercised over their health, as well as their intellectual and moral training-.

In Professor Simpson's report covering- the time from November 30, 1890, to June 30, 1892, he stated that they had obtained throug-h the United States census office the names of over one hundred and twent}' deaf persons between the age of six and twenty-one years residing- in South Dakota. Of this but fifty-six had availed themselves of the benefits of this school, while the remainder were g-rowing- up to manhood and womanhood in total darkness. He thinks it is an outrag-e on civilization, and a disgrace, and an exhibition of rank ignorance on the part of the parents and guardians who refuse to allow the afflicted children the benefits of the school. "Education is necessary for every child, but more so for the deaf, for obvious reasons." The proper age at which deaf-mutes should be sent to school is between six and ten, according to health and growth.

bined system," that is, sig-ns and the manuel alphabet are used in teachino- all, and articulation is taug-ht to those only whose vocal org-ans have not been sufficiently impaired to render them incapable of utterance.

The number of pupils during- the school year of 1893 was fortyeig-ht, and during- the school years of 18*)4 and 18*)5, there were in attendance each year forty-seven pupils. At the close of the school in June, 1805, the following- persons were in charg-e of the school: Professor James Simpson, superintendent; Miss Hester E. Bridg-es, matron; Phil L. Axling-, Mrs. M. L.Simpson and Miss M.F.Walker, teachers.

The school has been under the care of a board of directors, a board of trustees and finally a board of charities and corrections. This last mentioned board consists of five members, who have in their charge besides the school for deaf-mutes, the state reform school, the South Dakota hospital for insane, and the South Dakota penitentiary.

Governor Lee in his annual messag-e in January, 1899, said of this school that "no state institution is conducted in a more energetic and conscientious manner than the deaf-mute school under the able manag-ement of Professor Simpson and his wife."

Sioux Falls College

In July, 1881, a mass meeting- of Baptists in the southern half ol Dakota Territory was held in Madison, and during- this meeting- a committee was appointed to secure offers from different localities for the establishment of an institution of learning- to be under the guidance and control of the Baptist denomination. Edward Ellis, A. W. Hilton, A. S. Orcutt, M. J. Lewis and B. Morse were appointed such committee. The citizens of Sioux Falls made an offer of $6,000 in cash and land, for the location of the institution in the City of Sioux Falls, which offer was accepted. A board of trustees was elected, and the institution named Dakota Colleg-iate Institute. The school opened September 18, 1883, in the basement of the Baptist church, where it was held for two years. Professor Hardy C. Stone was in charg-e of the work until his death February 11, 1885. During- that year the school was reorg-anized and then became known as the Sioux Falls University, and the Rev. E. B. MeredUh was elected president. He held this position until January 1, 1.895, when he was succeeded by Professor E. A. Ufford, who resig-ned after having- been in charge one year, and Professor E. B. McKay took his place and remained its president until his death, when Professor A. B. Price, the present incumbent, was appointed.

The first class g-raduated in 1886, and each succeeding- year a class has graduated from the academic department. President Meredith and F. J. Walsh (who was a professor in this school for seven years), placed all the friends of the institution under great obligations for their untiring, self-sacrificing devotion to its interests. The faculty has been composed of an al)le corps of teachers, and it is not too much to predict that not\/ithstan(ling the financial embarrassment under which it has hitherto labored, it will soon take

The board of trustees have quite recently chang-ed the name of this institution, and it is now known as the Sioux Palls Colleg-e. The accompanying- illustration of the school building- makes it unnecessary to describe it, except that it is seventy-six feet long- and forty feet wide. It is beautifully located southwest of the business portion of the city, with ample g-rounds for colleg-e purposes; and one of the most admirable features of its location is, that it is far enoug-h from the city to secure the tranquility so desirable for a school, while at the same time it is near enoug-h to make it pleasantly accessible from the city.

All Saints School

Bishop Hare, on the 7th day of April, 1884, met by appointment a few" of the most influential citizens of Sioux Palls in the parlors of the Cataract house, to lay before them a project he had in view of locating- somewhere within his diocese an institution for the education of voung- ladies. When they had all assembled, the Bishop made a statement of what he wished to do, and said that he did not come to g-et a bid and then g-o elsewhere to see if he could g-et more favorable terms, but that he had come to the conclusion that Sioux Palls, taking- all thing's into consideration, was the most appropriate place for the institution he was about to establish, and that he would locate it at Sioux Palls upon certain conditions. He then proceeded to say that he had a certain sum of money at his disposal for that purpose, and that his proposition was one of business. That he should require, if his proposition was accepted, the most unqualified assurance that it would be fulfilled on the part of the citizens of Sioux Palls, and that he w^as willing- to gfive an ample bond that he would faithfully perform all that he proposed on his part. He then laid before them the plans of the main building- as it now stands, and said he W'Ould proceed at once to erect it, and have it ready for occupancy as a school for young- ladies in September the following- year. But before ag-reeing to do so he must have a donation of $10,000 in land and cash. His estimate of the cost of the structure was in excess of 540,000. After having- made this proposition he left the room. The citizens present, at once determined that the proposition was one which the people of Sioux Palls could not afford to reject. A vote was taken, and all present voted to accept the proposition, and appointed a committee to see that the land was obtained, and the balance of cash raised. The committee eng-ag-ed in the work assigned them with great zeal, and only a few days elapsed before they had secured the site for the buildings, and the necessary amount of money.

During the summer of 1884, the foundations were built, and on the 11th day of September, the corner stone was laid, with such ecclesiastical and masonic ceremonies as were appropriate to the formal beginning of such a great educational enterprise. A procession was formed at the Masonic Temple, composed of the Knights Templar, Sioux Palls Chapter No. 2, the Blue Lodge and members of the Grand Lodge, in the order named, numbering 140. This pro- cession, at the head of which was the Canton hand, proceeded to Main avenue, then south on Main avenue. Between Fourteenth street and the railroad track it halted to receive the ecclesiastical body, composed of sixteen clerg-yman and several lay members, headed by Bishop Hare, which was approaching from the site of the building-. The Knights Templars formed in open ranks and the ecclesiastical body passed through and took a position between the Knights and the Chapter, after which the united procession marched to the place of the final exercises. The initiatory ceremonies of laying- the corner stone were conducted by Bishop Hare. Psalm 145 was read responsively by the Bishop and the clergy, the Apostle's Creed was recited and other exercises engaged in, after which the Bishop deposited in a copper box in the cavity the articles that had ])een prepared for that purpose. The box was then sealed, and the laying of the corner stone was committed bv the Bishop to the Masonic fraternity. The Grand Lodge took charge of putting the stone in ]ilace. Wm. Blatt of Yankton, Grand Master, had charge of the ceremonies, which were those prescribed by the ritual for such occasions. At the conclusion of the ceremonies several addresses were made. Bishop Hare gave the history of the enterprise, and addressed the multitude present in a very feeling manner; and all who heard him were convinced, that the enterprise so auspiciouslv begun, would under his direction and care not only become in due time an educational institution of great advantage to Sioux Palls, but also a grand memorial of the good Bishop's labors in behalf of the people under his charge.

The Rev. W. J. Harris, D. D., followed the Bishop in an address on behalf of the clergy, D. R. Bailey on behalf of the citv of Sioux Palls, the Rev. S. G. Upd3^ke of Watertown on behalf of the Masonic fraternity, and Judge C. S. Palmer and (xovernor (xilbert A. Pierce made eloquent addresses, cong-ratulating the Bisho]), the city of Sioux Palls and the people who would be able to avail themselves of the educational advantages of such an institution of learning.

The building was completed during the summer of 1885, and on the 17th day of September of that year it was dedicated with appropriate exercises to the purpose for which it had been erected. Since that time the building has been materially enlarged, and its ca])acitv as a young ladies' boarding- school greatly increased.

In 1896, an endowment fund for All Saints School of S1<>,<H)0 was presented to Bishop Hare by some of his Philadelphia friends, to mark the completion of his twenty-two years' work as Missionar\- Bishop.

Since the opening of the school in September, 1885, it has been in charge of Bishop Hare as president and Miss Helen Peabodv as principal, assisted by an able corps of teachers, and its patrons have l^een more than pleased with its work and progress, as their messag-es of good will and confidence to the management will verifv.

The buildings are pleasantly located, with ample, well kept grounds, and the arrangements are such as to insure the health and comfort of teachers and pupils. The course of instruction is complete, and the young ladies attending this school enjov all the advantages of a refined home life.

Lutheran Normal School

In the southern part of the city near the South Sioux Palls street car line this school, more generally known as the "Norwegian CoUeg-e," is located. It is a handsome stone structure, erected in 1889 at a cost of $25,000. The citizens of Sioux Falls offered a bonus of S8,000, Pettig-rew & Tate donated four acres of land, and the remaining expenses were paid by subscription and by the Lutheran Synod. The school is supported in part by fees paid by the pupils for tuition, the balance of the expenses being provided for by the Synod. During the fall of 1894 a three-story granite-veneered dormitory was constructed, which has proved a great advantage to the college. Its interior arrangements are very complete, comfortable and pleasant, with all modern conveniences. It was dedicated with appropriate exercises on the 3d day of January, 1895.

The school commenced in the fall of 1889, with fifty pupils and the following faculty: Prof. A. Mikkelsen, teacher of the Norwegian language and theology; Prof. Munson, science and mathematics; Miss S. Mikkelson, instrumental music, and Mr. O. Otterson, vocal music. Prof. Mikkelsen resigned his position in the fall of 1891, when Prof. L. Aga was appointed to fill the vacanc3^to the end of the school year. In 1892-3 the Rev. C. N. Peterson was principal of the school, "and he was succeeded by Prof. H. B. Hustvedt.

In 1894, Prof. H. B. Hustvedt was principal and teacher of the German language; Prof. Hougan, bookkeeping, writing, geography and arithmetic; Prof. Christianson, sciences; Miss K. Johnson, preceptress and teacher in English literature and history; Miss S. Mikkelsen, instrumental music; Miss M. Larson, vocal music; Prof. Langseth, Norwegian language, literature and church history; Prof. A. Mikkelsen, New Testament exegesis, catechetics and pneumatics.

In 1895, the teachers were the same as the year previous, with the exception of Miss Larson, teacher of vocal music, who was succeeded by Carl Mannemd.

In 1896, the faculty consisted of Prof. A. Mikkelsen, principal; Miss Karen Johnson, preceptress; Prof. P. Langseth, Prof. C. Christianson, and Miss M. Galby, a graduate of the Boston Conservatory of Music.

The course of study is four years, and is open to both sexes for the purpose of training young people to become teachers in common and parochial schools. No pupils are admitted under fourteen years of age.

This school has become deservedly popular, and its patrons are not limited to the County of Minnehaha or its immediate vicinity. The graduating class in 1899 numbered seventeen, and the number of pupils has been as high as one hundred. It is one of the institutions of learning of which the people of Sioux Palls are justly proud.