John Mundt Building

In July, 18^)(), a petition was presented by the citizens of the villaofe of Hartford to the county commissioners praying that an election be ordered to determine the question of the incorporation of certain territory as the Town of Hartford. All the preliminarv proceeding's having- been complied with as required by law, the order was made and an election held on the 1st day of Aug-ust, 18%. The territory comprised the southwest quarter and the south half of the south half of the northwest quarter of section 22 in Hartford township. Having- become incorporated the town was divided into three districts. An election of officers was held on the 10th day of September, 18%, and the following- persons Avere elected: Trustees, Charles Peyder president, George Grover, D. B. Oaks; clerk, Nels Haug-en; treasurer, H. D. Oaks; assessor. Mat Becker; justice, B. P. Parker. September 24, eig-ht ordinances were passed. December 21, B. P. Parker resig-ned as justice and L. P. Bayard was appointed to fill vacancy.

Passage source: History of Minnehaha County, South Dakota. Containing an Account of Its Settlements, Growth, Development and Resources ... Synopsis of Public Records, Biographical Sketches .., published 1899.

The Plain Talker and The Hartford Herald. - In June, 1892, the veteran newspaper man, E. C. Kibbe, came to Hartford, and commenced the publication of the Plain Talker. It was published weekly by the same editor until July 7, 1899. Everyone in this vicinity knew there was such a newspaper as the Plain Talker from the first to the last of its career. There was not an issue of the paper but what Mr. Kibbe took occasion to discuss public questions and public men in his own inimitable way, and sometimes it would look to a disinterested person as thoug-h his earlv education had been neglected in reference to the location of the belt'line. All the newspaper fraternity in the county took occasion to tackle the Plain Talker, and then Avished they had let it alone. It was a g-ood local paper and knal to the interests of its subscribers. In July, IS*)'), Mr. Kibbe sold the plant to Albion Thorne, of Sioux Palls, and removed to the State of Washino-ton. Mr. Thorne at once commenced the pul)lication of the Hartford Herald, its first issue appearing on the Uth day of July, 189<). The people of Hartford have reason to be more than pleased with the Herald, for Mr. Thorne is publishini;- a j^-ood newspaper and is deserving- of a g^enerous patronage.

Passage source: History of Minnehaha County, South Dakota. Containing an Account of Its Settlements, Growth, Development and Resources ... Synopsis of Public Records, Biographical Sketches .., published 1899.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Hartford City - 5,293 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.