Faulk County, SD Biographies.....Smith, Darius S. 1845 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 9, 2005, 11:31 am

Author: C. H. Ellis
    DARIUS S. SMITH is the son of John and Mary (Burroughs) Smith, who were from

North Carolina, and moved to Indiana in 1835. Mr. Smith was born August 19,

1833, and remained with his parents until his majority. He was married May 20th,

1862, to Miss Adelia M. Williams of Jefferson county, Missouri, and was a

resident of that county until 1882, at which time he removed to Dakota

Territory, with his family, consisting of a wife and four children, viz: Silvia

G., now Mrs. J. H. Bottum; Julia E.J now Mrs. F. A. Seaman; Hope S., now Mrs. J.

C. Morrison of St. Paul, Minn.; Mollie I., now Mrs. Fred Mears of Minneapolis,

Minn.; one son of five years died before they left Missouri.



    In April, of 1832, Mr. Smith as president of an association of twenty-five

members started out on an exploring expedition for a settlement upon government

land. On the morning of April 6th he started out from Redfield in Spink county,

Dakota Territory in company with Thomas H. McMullen and Alexander LaFoon and the

evening of that day they were upon the banks of the Snake river where they

decided to locate. At that time they were so pleased with the country that they

made the best possible selection of land for their entire association, upon the

unsurveyed government land and with scrip upon forty acres for a future

townsite, and as they hoped, a county seat for Faulk county. The rapidity with

which settlers from all parts of the country arrived and squatted upon the land,

broke up their plans and disorganized the association so that but very few of

the members ever joined them.



    The first postoffice in the county was located upon their scripted town site

and named Cyclops, by the post-office department, temporarily, until the new

town site should be named, with Miss Norah Reppy, postmaster.



    The first school in this county was taught by Miss Silvia G. Smith and it

consisted of fifteen scholars. The first frame house erected in this county was

built by Thomas McMullen one of the original Missourian party and is now removed

to Faulkton and occupied by A. J. Sprague of this city.



    April 7th, 18&2, Mr. Smith occupied his tent upon the land improved with a

single sod mound, as a mark of settlement, no other work of improvement showing

in all the surrounding country. On the following September he could stand in the

door of his board shanty and count over thirty homes erected and occupied upon

the surrounding land.



    In the early struggle for the location of the county seat, between Faulkton

and LaFoon, Mr. Smith was an active and persistent worker, a safe and reliable,

adviser and a born leader. For twenty years he has served in the important

office of justice of the peace, he has served for two full terms upon the board

of county commissioners and in 1895 and 1896 was a member of the South Dakota

senate. At the last state election he was re-elected as one of the county

justices of the peace, and promptly filed his bond for the faithful discharge of

his duties.



    Mr. Smith has a most desirable residence located near the court house in the

central part of the city, where he and his devoted wife have everything to make

life desirable. Only two blocks away are two of his daughters (Mrs. Bottum and

Mrs. Seaman) with their lovely, interesting families; while only a few hours

ride will bring them to the homes of their other two daughters in Minneapolis

and St Paul, Minn.



Additional Comments:
From:



HISTORY OF

FAULK COUNTY

SOUTH DAKOTA

CAPTAIN C. H. ELLIS



TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS



ILLUSTRATED

19O9

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