Jerauld County, SD History .....Wessington Springs 1883 ************************************************ 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 February 17, 2005, 9:27 pm Wessington Springs The early history of the country surrounding Wessington Springs is but another chapter of the history of the great Territory of Dakota; the first white visitors to this section being a couple of Canadian traders who came here in 1634 to trade for furs. In 1695 LeSeur visited the Dakotas of the upper Mississippi and the northwest and found a tradition among them that their ancestors came from the north, across the great water, having been driven from their native land by war. He believed that the Dakotas were from China and Tartary and that they found their way here by being driven first to the North Sea Islands and thence in boats to this Continent, and supports this theory by the similarity of the language of the two peoples. At that early day the Dakotas occupied all the country from the Mississippi to the mountains. Another of the early writers in speaking of the tribes says: "The Dakotas came down from the north and drove the Omahas, Ottoes and Iowas from this section where they had lang lived in power and pride hunting and holding their annual sacred council at the Great Red Pipestone quarry in Pipestone county, Minn. Before this conquest the Dakotas were called Naedeaes-sioux (meaning enemy) from the termination of which word is derived "Sioux," the name by which they are now generally known. In the spring of 1859 the Indians were removed to their reservations and this country was then the lawful prey of the land hunter. The early settlers, however, did little else than hunt and trap in this immediate neighborhood, taking their peltry to the trading posts on the Missouri. At the time of the memorable Minnesota massacre in 1862 there were a number of trappers who visited the "Hills" regularly on their hunting excursions; one of these trappers being named Wessington; when attacked by the Indians they fled for the Hills but were pursued and killed near the Big Springs. In honor of the man who thus offered up his life and mingled his heart's blood with the waters gushing from the rocks, the Hills and the Springs have since been known by the name Wessington. The Wessington Hills are, more properly speaking, "table lands" being an elevated plateau from 50 to 350 feet in height; the ascent from the south being gradual for 35 or 40 miles and from that point gradually descends until in the northern distance they mingle with the level lands of the valley seemingly bounded by the sky. The highest points of the Hills are ____ the township line between towns 107 and 108 in range 65, the slope from there back to the Missouri river being gradual.This "table land" is beautiful rolling prairie with good soil easy to subdue and cultivate, producing crops equal to any in the choicest portions of the territory. A short disrance west of the eastern edge of the Hills there are thousands of acres of the most fertile soil awaiting the coming of the settler. The climate of these Hills is all that can be desired; up so high that no miasma reaches, they are "Touched by a light that hath no name A glory never sung." The Springs, just at the foot of the Hills on the east, send forth pure waters, and waters charged with iron, sulphur, magnesia and other properties, all health giving and health-restoring in their effects so that we have here all the natural charms that induces so many people to visit southern California during the summer season. Invalids can come here and find that fullness and beauty of life that is so frequently denied them in other and older settled portions of the United States. The soil in all this region of country is wonderfully retentive of moisture so that the disastrous effects of drouths are reduced to a minimum; it is a black rich alluvium and loam practically inexhaustible; it is all strongly impregnated with lime and other essential qualities of a superb grain and grass bearing soil. The first white settlers here were Levi Hain and A. Nicholson who came here in 1876, Mr. Hain having a "squatter's right on the claim through which runs the Big Springs, while Mr. Nicholson was located three or four miles above on the claim now owned by Mr. Wallace. In 1878 P. R. Barrett came to the Hills, filing on his claim May 23d and beginning actual residence June 1st, Some idea of the difficulties to be overcome by the pioneers of that day may be inferred from the fact that the lumber for Mr. Barrett's house had to be hauled by team from Beaver Creek Minn., eighteen miles east of Sioux Falls. At the same time that P. R. Barrett moved on his claim in section 1-107-65, his brother Moses Barrett filed a homestead in sections 11 and 12 of the same township, and his brother Ogden Barrett began improvements on his tree claim in sec. 6-107-64. In April, 1879, W. H. Stearns purchased the squatter's right to the Big Springs, Mr. Hain moving a mile further north and building another log house. In May of this year, 1879, John McCarter took up his residence about three miles south of the Springs where he has since resided. A Mr. Strong took a claim just north of Mr. McCarter, living there about a year. The other comers during 1879 were Charley Williams, Stephen Paddock, Hudson Horsley, Mr. Tucker, M. Thornton and J. A. Palmer. In the spring of 1880 the number of settlers was further increased by the coming of the Solberg's who settled east of the Springs. C. W. Hill and family, who bought the Paddock claim in town 108-65, and C. Cherry. July 4th, 1880 was celebrated by the settlers with a picnic which was participated in by fifty of the residents, there being four others in the neighborhood who did not attend. The first religious services at the Hills were conducted by the Rev. M. E. Chapin who preached in Mr. Barrett's house on the 9th of May, 1880, and organized a Sunday School after the preaching service; which was regularly kept up until October of that year. Nothing more was done with the Sunday School until the fall of 1881 when it was re-organized and has held regular sessions from that time to this. While in one sense the colonists around the Springs were prospering during this year, they yet had some unpleasant experiences in regard to parties visiting them between dark and daylight with no just conception of the rights of meum et teum; in the Fall of 1879 P. R. Barrett lost two pigs; in March 1880 a cow was taken belonging to Mr. Hewitt and on the 5th of May two horses were stolen from Mr. P. R. Barrett. In the fall of this year the houses of Messrs. McCarter, Strong and Tucker were burned together with their contents (except portions of the latter as were carried off) while the parties themselves were absent from home. The year 1881 brought an additional number of settlers, J. W. Thomas locating east of the Springs in May of that year. J. G. Campbell, W. F. and E. Smart located the latter part of May; Alden Brown and A. B. Smart came in July; Mrs. Riddle filed on her claim in June and took up her residence in the fall; Mr. Geo. Wallace bought the Nicholson claim in June; C. W. P. Osgood and D. W. Shryock came in August; H. Blowers, R. S. and W. I. Bateman and Will Crawford came in September. Mrs. Dr. N. C. Weems came in February 1882, and during the early spring months F. T. Tofflemire, C. D. Brown, H. J. Wallace, C. W. McDonald, J. Scott, B. F. Wiley, John Chapman, Geo. R. Bateman and C. T. Hall settled in the immediate neighborhood of the Springs. Since the early spring of 1882 the growth of the community has been healthy, the people making their homes here being the best class of eastern people, coming because they find here all the essentials for making their residence pleasant. The First M. E. Church of Wessington Springs was organized March 30th, 1882 and articles of incorporation adopted April 8th, 1882. At the first Quarterly meeting of this year it was decided to build a house of worship 26 by 40 feet on the ground, 14 feet studding on the sides and a small belfry. Mr. R. S. Bateman was selected to obtain the necessary subscriptions for the enterprise, and we understand he is meeting with good success, the majority of the funds necessary to build with having been already pledged. The Big Springs property having been purchased by Dr. C. S. Burr, now of Mitchell and an interest therein sold to Mr. D. A. Scott a town site was platted on the N E quarter of sec. 13-107-65 in the spring of 1882. We have thus hurriedly stated what the surroundings are and some of the reasons why we consider this one of the best locations in the Territory, to which the attention of all parties seeking a location is respectfully invited. To the first parties building upon the site inducements will be given that will not be extended to those who come later. The moral of which is that each and all should come at the earliest possible moment and secure the advantages which are now waiting to be enjoyed. Source: Wessington Springs Herald, Vol I, No. 1, page 8, columns 1 & 2; March 24, 1883 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sd/jerauld/history/other/gms88wessingt.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/sdfiles/ File size: 9.5 Kb