HAMLIN COUNTY. This county is situated in the valley of the Big Sioux, 
immediately north of the 3rd Standard Parallel and in the second tier of 
counties west of the Minnesota state line. It contains fifteen congressional 
townships, equal to 345,600 acres. The Big Sioux River flows through the eastern 
portion of the county. It takes a somewhat winding course, but has a steady 
current and high banks. The valley of this river, which is from one to six miles 
wide, is rich and fertile.

	The general surface is rolling prairie, perfectly drained. Numerous lakes 
and lake beds spot the surface, principal among which is Lake Poinsett.

	The surface of the county is generally level or gently undulating; the 
soil is a black loam, from eighteen inches to two feet in depth, underlaid by a 
good clay subsoil.

	The prominent feature of the topography is the great amount of water 
surface in proportion to the total area; there are a half dozen lakes which 
cover in the aggregate an area of 15,000 acres, not including marshes and lake 
beds, which cover of at least 12,000 additional acres, or nearly one-twelfth of 
the total area of the county. Lake Poinsett is the largest of these lakes, with 
a surface of something over 8,000 acres. It is a beautiful sheet of water.

	ORGANIZATION.- In August, 1878, Jacob Hanson, Magnus Hanson and Lewis 
Nelson were appointed commissioners to organize this county. They held their 
first meeting on the 10th day of September, 1878, at the house of Lewis Nelson, 
and appointed the following officers:

Register of Deeds, John M. Hoyt; 
Sheriff, J. S. Boswell; 
Judge of Probate, J.W. Hubbell; 
Treasurer, J. Cass; 
Surveyor, E. S. Wicklin; 
Justices, O. Andersen, William Marshall, Jacob Cass;
Constables, E. Erickson, -- Hoxford, and S. Colgrove.

	At this meeting the county was divided into three commissioner's 
districts, and it was ordered that the county business be transacted at the 
Spalding-Boswell ranch until further notice.

	On the 26th day of September, 1878, the county was formed into one 
election district, and the house of Lewis Nelson was designated as the polling 
place for the election to be held in November following.
At this election the following officers were chosen: 

Commissioners, M. Hanson, J. Cass, J. Boswell; 
Register of Deeds, J. M. Hoyt;
Judge of Probate, J. S. Boswell; 
Superintendent of Schools, J. A. Waters;
Treasurer, H. P. Archer; 
Assessor, O. H. Merrick; 
Justices, P. Shelsta, C. P. Parsons, W. H. Rowe.

	The question as to the location of the county-seat was also voted upon; 
the contesting points being Spalding and Section 23, Town 114, Range 52. Twenty-
five votes were polled, of which Spalding received fifteen and secured the 
location. The present county officers are: 

Register of Deeds, C. F. Lake; 
Clerk of court, C. P. Parsons; 
Judge of Probate, Jno. Hayes; 
Sheriff, J. A. Waters;
Surveyor, R. C. Evans; 
Coroner, G. W. Daniels; 
Treasurer, H. P. Horswell; 
Superintendent, A. I. Darnell; 
Commissioners, Jacob Cass, O. C. Swift; J. Hanson.

	The settlement of this county dates from May, 1878. Among the early 
settlers were: Jacob Hanson, Magnus Hanson, Lewis Nelson, James S. Boswell, 
Jacob Cass, O. C. Swift, Jno. C. Sharp, D. F. Winters, J. A. Winters, C. G. 
Cass, S. Colgrove, James Horswell, H. P. Archer, Jno. T. Vine, Leroy Morrill, J. 
S. Keator, D. J. Spalding, D. J. Bender and others.

	The settlements are largely in the eastern portion, adjacent to the 
Watertown branch of the Dakota Central Railway, and around Lake Poinsett; though 
other portions are settling quite rapidly and will soon be occupied by an 
industrious and thrifty population.

	ESTELLINE is situated in the southeast corner of the county. It was laid 
out by the agents of the railway company, in September, 1882. The site was 
secured as follows: 80 acres in the southeast quarter of Section 23, Town 113, 
Range 51, from William Lohr; 20 acres in the southwest quarter of Section 24 
from George Lohr, and 80 acres in the northwest quarter of Section 25, in the 
same town and range, from A. B. Avery.

	On the 24th day of August, 1882, J. W. Clark took charge of the railway 
company's business at this point, which included the sale of lots.

	In September, 1882, C. P. Gould put up the first business establishment, a 
general store, and shortly after N. Durkin erected a saloon building. In 
October, H. P. Archer and Jacob Stein put up business houses, and C. Prescott 
erected the Sioux Valley House. In the same month John Eisback erected a 
blacksmith shop, and Frank Carson a saloon building, and, in November, E. G. 
Nelson put up a general store.

	During the spring of 1883 G.W. Van Dusen & Co. erected a 30,000 bushel 
steam elevator, and in the fall the Winona Milling company added another, having 
a capacity of 7,000 bushels.

	CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.- the Catholics and Baptists in 1883 erected church 
edifices, and a fine school building was also erected at a cost of $2,000.

	NEWSPAPERS.- The first issue of the Estelline Bell appeared on the 4th day 
of August, 1883, published by Messrs. Carrick & Parrott, in November, 1883, the 
paper became the property of T. H. Carrick. It is an ably conducted sheet.

	The Bank of Estelline was established in November, 1883. It is a branch of 
the Bank of Brookings, and is under the management of Messrs. Hayes and Brown.

	The population of the town is about 300.


	CASTLEWOOD.- this is a flourishing town on the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railway about ten miles north of Estelline. The Hamlin County Times is published 
at this point by C.F. Lake. This paper was first issued at old Estelline, or 
Spalding's ranch, in the spring of 1880, by G. W. Hopp.

	ELKHORN, FLOWERFIELD, KELLERTON, OPDAHL, OTTO, NORA, HAYTI, AND POINSETT 
are post offices in various portions of the county.