Faulk County, SD History .....Chapter XIX Co. Commissioner's Records 1909 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 7, 2005, 4:55 pm CHAPTER XIX. FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S RECORD At a meeting of the county commissioners held at LaFoon, Monday, September 8, 1884, Commissioner H. A. Humphrey and M. J. Jarvis present the county was divided into thirteen election precincts with the following voting places: No. 1. School house near section 31, township 120, range 66. No. 2. House of S. E. Purdy on the southwest quarter of section 21, township 120, range 68. No. 3. House of Edward Stickle. No. 4. House of Charles Rathke. No. 5. House of Abram Griffee. No. 6. School house at Harrington. No. 7. Office of Union House at Faulkton. No. 8. Office of Bottum & Johnston, LaFoon. No. 9. Office of hotel at DeVoe. No. 10. School house on section 7, township 117, range 66. No. 11. School house on section 16, township 117, range 68. No. 12. House of C. S. Clare, southwest quarter, township 118, range 70. No. 13. Office of C. H. Ellis in Ellisville. The following were appointed judge in said precincts: No. 1. R. O. Thayer, W. P. Randall and C. H. Maxwell. No. 2. Alex Garrick, D. Roy Jones and W. M. Walker. No. 3. George B. Dyer, Cephus R. Saunders and J. L. Robinson. No. 4. Chas. Rathke, B. Rathke and Otto Mielke. No. 5. Abram Griffee, J. V. Smack and B. H. Clark. No. 6. W. G. Faulkner, J. W. Bass and J. H. Shirk. No. 7. E. S. Brown, E. H. Thayer and E. C. Sage. No. 8. Joseph Powell, C, M. Kellogg- and A. H. Yost. No. 9. S. P. Clark, W. R. Davis and W. W. Morse. No. 10. August Harmon, Jacob Parsons and Joseph Brown. No. 11. Harris Pool, Charles Geddis and A. A. McCoy. No. 12. Charles S. Chase, D. O. Hillman and M. O. Shuttle. No. 13. C. F. Geer, W. W. Gwinn and J. Parsons. On December 8, 1884, the commissioners held a special meeting, Commissioners Humphrey and Jarvis present, at which considerable important business was done, and a dead lock created on the location of county seat. Action appealed from by J. A. Pickler. Finally Commissioner Humphrey absented himself from the meeting. Commissioner Jarvis adjourned the meeting to the next day at which time Commissioners Jarvis and Hume met and finished up the business and adjourned sine die. On January 5, 1885, the new board of commissioners met, consisting of Charles Marvin, John L. Chain and J. H. Wallace. The efforts to change the county seat from LaFoon to Faulkton was responsible for the change of commissioners from three to five by the territorial legislature of 1885. On April 25, 1885 this order came up for consideration. The action of the board was such as to cause great dissatisfaction in the western part of the county and a special election was called which resulted in the election of C. H. Ellis to the office of commissioner. The election taking place according to the apportionment or subdivision of the county commissioners. Morgan G. Millard, Charles Marvin, Alex Garrick, J. H. Wallace and John L. Chain were declared elected commissioners. An appeal was taken from their decision and the appeal was prosecuted by John A. Pickler so far as the election of Alex Garrick was concerned, in the district court at Aberdeen, Judge Smith presiding, and decided in favor of the election of C. H. Ellis. On the 7th of September, 1885 C. H. Ellis became an active member of the board for the remainder of the term. At an election prior, to January 4, 1886, Alex Garrick was elected a commissioner in place of John L. Chain. At the first session of the board for the year 1886, on motion of Commissioner C. H. Ellis, it was voted that no license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in Faulk County for the year 1886, and on that vote the yeas and noes were ordered and Millard, Wallace, Garrick and Ellis voted yea and Marvin no. The board of county commissioners for the year 1887 were: Charles Marvin, Alex Garrick, D. S. Smith, O. D. Johnson and J. S. Nevins, and the first meeting held at LaFoon, the county seat, on January 3, 1887, and in place of J. W. Johnston, who had held the office of secretary up to this time, I. Allen Cornwall was duly elected and filed his official bond which was approved as was also that of H. D. Chamberlain for sheriff, C. E. Warner for treasurer, A. A. McCoy for county school superintendent, C. H. Derr for county judge of probate, A. D. Griffee for assessor and Frank Turner and F. M. Brown for justices of the peace. On April 25th, 1887, a petition was presented to the board of county commissioners and by them approved, for the legal organization of the city of Faulkton. The election was to be held on the 25th of May, 1887, and C. A. Morse, F. A. Pangbtirn and Fred Griffee were appointed judges of election. In July of that year an exciting election was had by the county commissioners to secure a county auditor. The election board consisted of the board of commissioners together with the Hon C. H. Derr, judge of probate and C. E- Warner, county treasurer, seven in all, four votes being a majority and necessary to elect. The election commenced at the opening of the afternoon session and extended into the middle of the next afternoon. Twenty-one ballots were taken in which no candidate succeeded in getting more than three votes. On the twenty-second ballot, the other coveted vote, the fourth was forthcoming and M. P. Springer was declared elected. At the regular election in November 1887, the following officers were elected: county commissioner for district No. 1, J. A. Day, for district No. 6, Chas. Marvin. The first canvas of votes for county officers that we find recorded was on November 9, 1888. It was at an adjourned meeting. The full board of commissioners consisting of Chas. Marvin, J. A. Day, D. S. Smith, J. S. Nevins and O. C. Johnson were present. J. H. Shirk having received a majority of the votes for register of deeds, was declared elected, as was W. B. Monroe, treasurer; John L. Chain, auditor; H. D. Chamberlain, sheriff; C. H. Derr, judge of probate; M. Summy, assessor; Frank Turner, district attorney; B. F. Ruhlman, county surveyor; J. P. Rathbun, coroner. County commissioners for second district, Fred Reynolds; third district, O. C. Johnson; fourth district, J. A. VanValkenberg. O. C. Johnson, J. A. Day and Fred Reynolds, committee to settle with county treasurer, C. E. Warner reported that accounts were correct and balance of $10,804.38 paid to W. B. Monroe, treasurer elect, and receipt for that amount is in the hands of retiring treasurer Warner. Faulk county sent the following delegates to the Sioux Falls convention, who were elected on May 14, 1889, viz: H. A. Humphrey, J. G. Davis and Peter Couchman. The October election of 1887, held on the fifth day of that month, at which time the first officers of the state of South Dakota were elected, was of too much interest and importance not to have a place in this history. At a republican state convention held at Huron, the following nominations were made all of whom were elected, viz: for governor, Arthur C. Mellette; lieutenant governor, James H. Fletcher; secretary of state, A. O. Ringsrud; state auditor, L. C. Taylor; state treasurer, W. F. Smith; superintendent of public instruction, G. L. Pinkham; attorney general, Robert Dollard; commissioner of school and public lands, O. H. Parker; judges of supreme court, Dighton Carson, A. G. Kellum, John E. Bennett; judge of circuit court, H. G. Fuller; members of congress, Oscar S. Gif-ford of Canton, and John A. Pickler of Faulkton. At the county election that fall the following were elected: For state senator 35th district, Frank M. Byrne; representative to the legislature 34th district, E. Clarence Sage; county judge, C. H. Derr; temporary seat of government, Pierre 748; Huron 216; Watertown 142; Sioux Falls 10 and Mitchell 1 vote. For the prohibition clause in the constitution, 626 votes in favor and 459 votes against. At an election held Novembers, 1889, the following were elected county commissioners, viz: For commissioner, district No. 1, Robert Maxwell received 108 votes and was elected; district No. 3, W. G. Faulkner received 69 votes, being a majority cast and was elected; district No. 4 R. G. Morton received 103 votes and was elected and as commissioner in district No. 5 William Buss received a majority of ballots cast and was declared elected. On October 9th the records show commissioners J. A. Day, Charles Marvin, D. H. VanValkenburg, Fred Reynolds and O. C. Johnson present and voting for a clerk of court. At the same meeting the appointing board accepted the resignation of D. H. VanValkenburg as a commissioner for district No. 4, and appointed Wilber J. Porter to serve in his place and also accepted the resignation of O. C. Johnson. At the next session, the appointment of Wilber J. Porter was reconsidered and an election ordered. On the 10th the resignation of Chas. Marvin, commissioner, was accepted to take effect at the end of this session. The appointing board appointed George J. Jarvis a commissioner to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Chas. Marvin. On October 8, 1889, on motion of commissioner J. A. Day, the commissioners proceeded to elect a clerk of the circuit court and county courts to take effect immediately after the President of the United States issues his proclamation, admitting South Dakota to statehood. On the second ballot, H. W. Bailey received three votes, being a majority and was declared elected. On November 8th, 1889 an adjourned-meeting of the county commissioners was held at Faulkton with the following elected and appointed commissioners present, viz: J. A. Day, Fred Reynolds, George J. Jarvis, R. G. Morton and W. G. Faulkner. At this meeting the official bond of Hon. C. H. Derr, county judge was approved. On January 6th commissioners met in regular session, all present, viz: Fred Reynolds, W. G. Faulkner, R. G. Morton, Robert Maxwell and William Buss. R. G. Morton was elected chairman of commissioners. At this meeting a committee on rules was appointed. Committee reported and report accepted. The following committees were appointed, viz: On justice of the peace reports, Faulkner, Buss and Morton; on revenue, Maxwell, Reynolds and Morton; on fees and salaries, Buss, Maxwell and Morton. The Seneca Sun and Faulk County Record were made official papers for the year. On July 16th, 1890, the county commissioners-as a board of equalization fixed the value of land per quarter section as follows: In Precinct No. 1, $500.00 In Precinct No. 2, $500.00 In Precinct No. 3, $475.00 In Precinct No. 4, $475.00 In Precinct No. 5, $475.00 In Precinct No. 6, $475.00 In Precinct No. 7, $525.00 In Precinct No. 8, $325.00 In Precinct No. 9, $500.00 In Precinct No. 10, $500.00 In Precinct No. 11, $500.00 In Precinct No. 12, $475.00 In Precinct No. 13, $475.00 At the meeting held on October 6, 1890, arrangements were made for the coming November election and judges of election appointed for the several election precincts, and whereas R. W. Maxwell had resigned the office of county commissioner, it was voted to accept the resignation to take effect when his successor was elected and qualified. State Senators: The counties of Faulk and Potter constitute one senatorial district. In 1889, Hon. Frank M. Byrne was elected from Faulk county and in 1890 the Hon. R. W. Maxwell from this county was elected. In 1892 a Potter county man was elected; in 1894, Hon. D. S. Smith of Faulkton was elected senator; in 1896, a Potter county man was again nominated and elected. In 1898, Hon. J. H. Bottum of Faulkton was elected. In 1900 the right of Potter county was recognized; in 1902, Mr. Bottum was again elected; in 1904, Mr. Whitlock of Potter county was again elected and in 1906 Hon. Frank M. Byrne, our present senator, was elected. The following are the representatives from this county since the state of South Dakota was admitted to the Union: In 1889, E. C. Sage and Wilbur Elting. In 1890, Hon. W. S. Belknap and Capt. John Douglas. In 1892, Hon. Alexander Miller and re-elected in 1894. In 1896, Hon. James B. Devine, who was re-elected in 1898, Andrew J. Porter in 1900 and re-elected in 1902. In 1894, Hon. Frank Turner was elected representative to the legislature and in 1896, ex-representative Alexander Miller was re-elected, and now has the republican nomination for re-election. The following is the list of county officers since 1890. ELECTED IN 1890: For register of deeds, John H. Shirk. For auditor, John L. Chain. For clerk of courts, H. W. Bailey. For sheriff, J. K. Sechler. For assessor, Henry Joynt. For county judge, Hon. C. H. Derr. For county attorney, Hon. J. H. Bottum. For county treasurer, E. H. Thayer. For county surveyor, J. W. Johnston. For coroner, Dr. J. P. Rathbun. For county superintendent of schools, W. R. Davis. For county justices of the peace, F. P. Smith, F. A. Pangburn, F. M. Bacon, George Trainor, John Palmeter, Isaac White, Andrew Penning and C. B. Oakes. For constables, O. M. Moe, C. D. Sutton, A. M. Thompson, J. E. Stevenson, Jesse Nevins, Winfield White, C. A. Warner and Jerome Ross. ELECTED IN 1892: Judge, Hon. C. H. Derr. Auditor, C. C. Norton. County treasurer, E. H. Thayer. Register of deeds, J. W. Johnston. Sheriff, J. H. Hays. Clerk of court, H. W. Bailey. State's attorney, Hon. J. H. Bottum. Superintendent of schools, W. R. Davis. County surveyor, A.M. Bass. Coroner, Dr. J. P. Rathbun. Assessor, J. L. Randall. County commissioners, Jasper Wakefield, F. E. Hatfield, W. G. Faulkner, A. J. Haskins, and William Buss, chairman of the Board. At the election held November 6, 1894, the following county officers were elected: County judge, C. H. Derr. Register of deeds, Lewis Severance. County treasurer, William H. Smith. Sheriff, J. H. Hays. Clerk of Court, H. W. Bailey. State's attorney, D. H. Latham. County school superintendent, F. A. Pangburn. County assessor, William Kellett. Coroner, Dr. J. P. Rathbun. Justices of the peace, C. B. Chambers, M. E. Drake. Jerome Ferguson, J. W. Shaver, J. W. Hays, Chas. Griffee, and J. H. Emery. County commissioner for 2d. district, F. E. Hatfield; 3rd district, S. D. Peck. The defalcation of W-. B. Monroe, county treasurer, presented a most difficult problem to the county commissioners. There were failures of crops, money could not be had on securities. Banks were failing, the money was gone, and just what steps should be taken to obtain it was difficult to decide. Just who was to blame, or in fact, if there was any one that had committed any intentional wrong was an open question. With these financial conditions existing to enforce the conditions of the treasurer's bond would have ruined some of the bondsmen. It is doubtful if any one knows just what the tax payers lost by the unfortunate affair. The lesson of the past is only valuable to direct us in a wiser and safer course for the future. November 5th, 1895, election for county commissioners was held in commissioners district No. 1 and No. 5, and J. B. Devine and William Buss elected respectively. For 1896, the Republican-Record was made the county official paper. At the state election of 1896 held on the 9th day of November A. D., 1896, the following county officers were elected: County judge, George J. Jarvis. County auditor, W. G. Faulkner. Register of deeds, Lewis Severance. County treasurer, William Smith. County sheriff, O. M. Moe. Clerk of court, H. W. Bailey, State's attorney, D. H. Latham. Superintendent of schools, Frank A. Pangburn. County assessor, William Kellett. Coroner, Dr. Samuel Hall. Surveyor, J. F. Armstrong. County commissioner, 1st district, J. J. Price. County commissioner, 2d. district, James F. Nestor. County commissioner, 3d. district, Christ Sorenson. County commissioner, 4th district, W. R. Hall. On the 2d day of November, 1897, J. J. Price was elected county commissioner in the first district, and William Buss in the 5th district. At the general election held November 8th, 1898, the following county officers were elected: County judge, George J. Jarvis. County auditor, O. A. Rogers. Register of Deeds, George H. Stoddard. County treasurer, Frank M. Byrne. County sheriff, O. M. Moe. Clerk of court, Henry Joynt. State's attorney, Frank Turner. County superintendent of schools, Belle F. McCoy. County assessor, George S. Stevenson. County coroner, Dr. Wm. M. Edgerton. County surveyor, J. W. Johnston. County commissioner 2d district, J. F. Nestor. County commissioner 3d district, John D. Smith. County commissioner, 4th district, Ernest Thiede. County officers elected November 7th, 1899, county commissioners full board, viz: William Buss, J. F. Nestor, John D. Smith, Ernest Thiede and Henry Resseguie. At the general election, November 6th 1900, the following county officers were elected, viz: County treasurer, Frank M. Byrne. Register of deeds, George H. Stoddard. County auditor, O. A. Rogers. County sheriff, J. W. Smith. Clerk of Courts, M. S. McDearmon. State's attorney, Frank Turner. County judge, George J. Jarvis. County superintendent of schools, Belle F. McCoy. County assessor, George S. Stevenson. County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong. County coroner, Dr. Wm. M. Edgerton. County commissioners, January 4, 1901, William Buss, chairman; Earnest Thiede, N."Freitag, O. P. Howe and H. Resseguie. At a meeting of the board of county commissioners on November 12, 1901, present, O. P. Howe, Herman Freitag, and Ernest Thiede. On motion, Ernest Thiede was requested to act as chairman. Announcement was made of the death of William Buss, late chairman of the board. On motion the board adjourned until one o'clock p. m. At the afternoon session, Ernest Thiede, O. P. Howe, Herman Freitag and Henry Resseguie were present and on motion, the board proceeded to elect by ballot a commissioner to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Commissioner Buss. Fred Clark received a majority of votes cast and was declared an elected commissioner for the 5th district, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Buss. At an election held on the 4th day of November 1902, the following county officers were elected, viz; Treasurer, Albert Gooder. Register of deeds, Frank M. Ramsdell. Auditor, W. G. Faulkner. Sheriff, John W. Smith. Clerk of court, M.S. McDearmon. County judge, George J. Jarvis. Superintendent of schools. S. S. Strachan. Assessor, N. F. Metz. Surveyor, J. W. Johnston. Coroner, Albert J. Jones. County commissioner, F. E. Clark in district No. 5 and E. W. Ford in district No. 1. At a meeting of the board of county commissioners on the 4th day of July, 1904, the proposition was submitted to the legal votes to see if they would vote to build a $50,000.00 court house at the county seat, and issue county bonds for that amount to pay the same. At an election held on the 8th day of November, A. D., 1904, the following county officers were elected, viz: County judge, George J. Jarvis. Auditor, W. G. Faulkner. Register of deeds, Frank M. Ramsdell. County Treasurer, Albert Gooder. Sheriff, N. F. Metz. Clerk of court, Charles Coste. State's attorney, D. H. Latham. County school superintendent, S. S. Strachan. County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong. Coroner, Dr. Wm. M. Edgerton. County commissioner, 2d. district, O. P. Howe. County commissioner, 3d. district, George Lloyd. County commissioner, 4th district, E. H. Thayer. At a meeting of county commissioners held on November 15th and 16th, 1904, plans were adopted and advertisements for bids for a new court house were ordered. At a commissioners' meeting held on September 5th, 1905. the follovring estimate as a basis for levying taxes were presented, viz: County auditor and clerk $1200.00 County treasurer, deputy and clerk $2030.00 County judge $ 499.97 Sheriff and deputy $ 507.84 Superintendent of schools $ 900.00 County commissioners $1271.70 State's attorney $ 600.00 Clerk of court $ 129.76 Jurors fees $ 317.20 Witness fees, justices courts $ 115.95 Justice of peace $ 126.80 Board of health $ 15.50 Poor relief funds $ 753.56 Books and stationery $ 815.45 Printing and advertising $1074.16 Election expenses $ 574.75 Light, fuel and repair county building. $ 593.00 Wolf bounty $ 211.00 Postage and express $ 187.02 County assessor, $1063.00 Miscellaneous items $1013.80 Commissioners of insurance $ 30.45 _________ $13976.79 On the sixth day of November, 1906, for the election of congressmen, state and county officers, the following were elected: Congressmen, Philo Hall and William H. Parker. For governor, Coe I. Crawford. Secretary of the state, D. D. Wipf. Attorney general, S. W. Clark. Faulk county judge, George J. Jarvis. County auditor, W. H. Race. Register of deeds, John P. Shirk. County treasurer, C. L. Fisk. Sheriff, N. F. Metz. Clerk of courts, Chas. E. Coste. State's attorney, J. H. Bottum. County superintendent of schools, Mrs. I. M. Alden. County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong. County commissioners, Lewis Severance and Wilson Brown, 5th district. The first session of the county commissioners for the year 1908 met at the auditor's office at the court house on January 7th, 1908. County commissioners all present, viz: Lewis Severance, John Olen, George Lloyd, E. H. Thayer and Wilson Brown. E. H. Thayer was elected chairman. The first session of the board of county commissioners ever held was on November 5th, 1883, at the law office of J. A. Pickler. Looking back over a period of twenty-five years, we find the foundation laid and a steady growth that has only to be maintained for another quarter of a century to make a record, and place Faulk county in a position to be looked up to, not only approved by her own citizens, but by the united people of the commonwealth. The first meeting of county commissioners for the year 1908, was held on January 7th. With the following commissioners present, viz: Lewis Severance, John Olen, George Lloyd, E. H. Thayer and Wilson Brown. E. H. Thayer received a majority of votes cast and was declared elected chairman of the board of county commissioners. At this session, as well as subsequent ones, the board confined itself largely to routine county business. In the general line of advancements the increasing demand for increasing expenditures has been guarded by the board. At the September meeting the following itemized account of expenses for 1906 was reported as a basis for levying taxes for the year 1907, viz: County auditor and clerk $1200.00 County treasurer $1533.00 County judge $ 600.00 County sheriff, deputy and bailiff $1170.87 County superintendent of schools $ 937.80 County commissioner $ 666.75 State's attorney $ 600.00 Clerk of courts $ 420.45 Stenographer $ 151.50 Justices of the peace $ 801.45 Jurors and witness fees, circuit court $1135.78 Relief of county poor $ 528.73 Books and stationery $1200.90 Printing and advertising $ 515.75 County election $ 848.13 Light, fuel and repairs county buildings $1390.59 Janitor $ 641.56 Wolf bounty $ 149.50 Postage and express $ 149 50 Miscellaneous $3214.65 _________ $17866.60 Judges for the primary election together with the expenses of national, state and county election for 1908 constitute no small share of county expenses. The last important event to record from the county record was the canvas of the national, state and county votes as polled in this city and county at the national election on the 3d of November 1908, which proved that every man voted for by the republican electors of this county were duly elected to the office to which they had been nominated. The following republican ticket comprises the entire list: For President of United States, William H. Taft. For United States senate, Coe. I. Crawford. Representatives in congress, Charles H. Burke and Eben W. Martin. Governor, R. S. Vessey. Lieutenant governor, H. C. Shober. State treasurer, George G. Johnson. Secretary of state, S. C. Polley. State auditor, John Hiring. Attorney general, S. W. Clark. Superintendent of public instruction, H. A. Ustrud. Commissioner of school and public lands, O. C. Dokken. Railroad commissioner, 2nd district, F. C. Robinson. State senator, Frank M. Byrne. Representative, Alex Miller. County auditor, W. H. Race. Register of deeds, J. P. Shirk. Treasurer, C. L. Fisk. County judge, George J. Jarvis. Sheriff, George D. Hughes. Clerk of courts, Chas. K. Coste. State's attorney, J. H. Bottum. County superintendent, Mrs. I. M. Alden. Assessor, Soren Hansen. County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong. Coroner. Fred A. Boller. County justices, C. C. Norton; A. T. Ericsen, D. S. Smith and A. M. Strachan. Commissioner 2d district, John Olen. Commissioner 3d district, Chas. H. Peck. Commissioner 4th district, Emerson H. Thayer. Additional Comments: From: HISTORY OF FAULK COUNTY SOUTH DAKOTA CAPTAIN C. H. ELLIS TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS ILLUSTRATED 19O9 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sd/faulk/history/other/gms30chapterx.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/sdfiles/ File size: 27.5 Kb