Jerauld County, SD History .....Chap 13, 14; Part Two 
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Chapter 13.

   Educational work in the county began in 1883, with the numerous private, or 
subscription schools that were started in the various townships and continued 
until the public schools began in the summer and fall of 1884.

   I think I have mentioned all the private schools taught in the county in 
1883, except the one commenced by N. J. Dunham in the latter part of December, 
in the building purchased by the county commissioners in February, 1884, for the 
register of deeds office. In that school were four of Mr. Kinney's children, 
five of Mrs. Blowers', two of J. W. Thomas', Lewis Stephens, Harry Taylor, now 
mayor of Mellette, S. D., and John Woodburn, now postmaster at Hinsdale, Mass.

   On January 14th, 1884, Miss Emma Cady began a private school with nineteen 
scholars in Rev. Wm. Paganhart's home in Viola township.

   In the spring of 1884 Miss Rachel Crawford opened a school in a building near 
where the Dale Center school house now stands, which was attended by Mattie, 
Nellie and Robert Mercer, John and Rose Youngs, and Sarah, Mina and Lillie 
Chapman.

   In the village of Waterbury Miss Hattie Waterbury taught a private school in 
the summer of 1884, in George Waterbury's house. Among the pupils were Clara 
Leeds, now Mrs. Wm. Fry of Aberdeen, Grace De Ment and children from the Prue, 
Rowe, Herring and Merwin families.

   In the summer of 1884 Miss Ida Martin taught a school in Anina township that 
closed Aug. 23rd.

   Early in the spring of 1884 Miss Helen Cooley taught a private school in a 
claim shanty near Sulphur Springs.

   The school boards of some of the townships made preparations for starting the 
public schools as soon as the townships were organized for school purposes.

   Supt. Hazard appointed the 1st day of April, 1884, for the examination of 
teachers.

   The first public school to be opened in the county was in Pleasant township 
on the 5th day of May, 1884, with A. J. Miller as teacher.

   In July, 1884. the old log house that Mr. Smart had purchased from Levi Hain 
several years before was repaired, seats and desks, of rude make, put in it, and 
there Mrs. E. V. Miles, opened the first public school taught in the present 
limits of the city of Wessington Springs.

   The county school-text-book committee, composed of the following persons, as 
delegates from the townships of the county, met on the 28th of June. 1884, at 
the county building in the county seat to select the books to be used in the 
public schools:

Alpena—L. N. Loomis.
Custer (Media)—Theo. Dean.
Pleasant Valey—B. R. Shimp.
Wessington Springs—Wm. Hawthorne.
Lincoln (Blaine)—L. F. Daniels.
Viola—Fred Kieser.
Anina—A. D. Cady.

   Of this committee. Supt. Hazard was chairman and B. R. Shimp was secretary.

   The Pioneer W. C. T. U. sent to attend this very important meeting a 
committee of its members as follows: Mesdames Hall, Smart, Spears and Albert. 
These ladies presented a petition to the text-book committee, asking that 
temperance books be selected, including "Elementary Temperance Lessons for the 
Young" and "Steeles Hygienic Physiology." which were adopted. The committee then 
selected, "Robinson's Arithmetic," "Swinton's Geography," "Harvey's Grammar." 
''Ridpath's History," and "McGuffey's Readers and Spellers."

   The first civil action brought in a Jerauld county court was the case of T. 
H. Null vs. B. R. Shimp, before F. T. Tofflemier in the spring of 1884. N. J. 
Dunham was attorney for the plaintiff and R. M. Magee for the defendant.

   The first tax received by the county treasurer was from the C. M. & St. P. 
Ry. in the month of March, 1884, by way of the territorial treasurer, $26.71 on 
four miles of track in Alpena township.

   The first tax paid into the county treasury by a resident of the county was 
$1.00 school poll, by S. H. Melcher.

   The branding committee held its first meeting April 7th, 1884, R. S. Vessey 
was elected chairman. No records can be found of any of the proceedings of this 
committee.

   Between May 2nd, 1883, and April 3Oth, 1884, three hundred and forty-five 
Jerauld county settlers made proof at the Mitchell U. S. Land Office for 55,200 
acres of land.

   The first matter to come up in the county probate court was the appointment 
of an administrator for the estate of Chas. Burger of Harmony township, who had 
been killed by lightning. The appointment was made May 5th, 1884.

   In the summer and fall of 1884. railroad projects were numerous and some 
surveys were made. One was a line known as the Huron & Southwestern to reach the 
Missouri River by way of Wessington Springs.

   In August of that year it was announced that a road would be built at once 
from Sioux Falls to the Missouri river, going through Jerauld county by way of 
Crow Lake and Waterbury to Fort Thompson.

   In the summer of 1884 Mr. M. W. Young, of Blaine township, burned a kiln of 
25,000 brick, which he offered for sale. This was the first and probably the 
only, effort ever made to establish a brick yard in the county. He took one 
wagon load to Wessington Springs on Sept. 10th, and for some time kept a notice 
running in the Herald offering the brick for sale at his farm in Blaine 
township.

   The first auction sale ever held in the county was at the farm of J. A. 
McDonald, south-east of Wessington Springs, by Robert Johnston, who offered for 
sale 1 cow, 100 chickens. 1 Champion mower, some carpenter tools and house-hold 
goods. N. D. Wilder was auctioneer.

   During the summer and fall of 1884, Hiram Blowers and Calvin Ott were dealing 
in grain at Wessington Springs.

   The first coroner's inquest in the county was on the body of Allan Brayton, 
at the residence of Mr. Barber in Franklin. The Coroner was Dr. D. F. Royer and 
the jury was composed of Isaac Pearce, F. W. Whitney and W. C. Corother. The 
date of the inquest was May 23rd, 1884. The verdict was, death by accidental 
shooting.

   F. T. Tofflemier resigned his position as Justice of the Peace July 7, 1884, 
and M. C. Ayers was appointed to fill the vacancy.

   In November, 1884, Mrs. Spears began building the office part of the Willard 
Hotel on the corner lot south of Wilder's store.

   Several changes were made in the mail service of the county during the year 
1884. On the 1st of March the line from Elmer (Wessington Springs), to Huron was 
discontinued and a daily line established between Elmer and Woonsocket.

   A post office named Gordon was located in October at the residence of Elijah 
Moon on section twenty-six in Anina township. It was supplied by the Elmer-
Plankinton line.

  In Chery township Stock P. O. was established in June, with M. E. Small as 
postmaster.

   On May 1, 1884, the Elmer-White Lake mail line was changed from a weekly to a 
semi-weekly service, leaving Elmer Tuesdays and Fridays, and returning 
Wednesdays and Saturdays.

   A tri-weekly mail service was established between Elmer and Waterbury, on 
July 1st, with G. N. Price as carrier. The round trips were made on Tuesdays, 
Thursdays and Saturdays, leaving Elmer in the morning and returning in the. 
evening. The compensation was $390 per year.

   One of the most gratifying things done for the people of Wessington Springs 
by the Post Office Department was changing the name of the office from "Elmer" 
to that of the town in which it was situated. For months the people had 
petitioned for the change without success. Many had despaired of getting their 
wish granted. But Mr. Peter Barrett, the postmaster kept up hope and persevered. 
At a meeting of the board of county commissioners in the summer of 1884, Mr. 
Barrett made an offer of twenty-five dollars to anyone who would get the change 
effected. Mr. Melcher, one of the commissioners, told him to renew his petition, 
settling forth in it that the school township and the platted village were both 
named Wessington Spring, that the newspaper published in the town was named the 
Wessington Springs Herald, then have it signed by the county officials and bring 
it to him. This was done. Mr. Melcher then sent the petition to his personal 
friend, Gen. John Eaton, at Washington, with a letter requesting that he go 
personally to the Postmaster General and ask that the change be made. The 
petition was granted at once and the change made to take effect October 1, 1884. 
Mr. Barrett paid the twenty-five dollars by giving Mr. Melcher a deed to a lot 
in Wessington Springs, which he held for several years and then sold to O. J. 
Marshall.

   In the winter of 1883—84, Mr. Stetson, who kept the Stetson P. O. in 106—66, 
proved up on his land and then resigned his position as postmaster. The office 
was then moved to Chancy Barber's house on the NW of 35, where Mr. Barber kept a 
small stock of groceries. In the latter part at May, 1884, Mrs. O. E. Gaffin 
became postmisteress and took charge of the office, which she retained until the 
office was moved to Lyndale and the-name changed, March 1, 1885.

   In May 1884, the people of Wessington Springs and vicinity began to make 
preparations for a Fourth of July celebration. Mr. T. D. Kanouse, one of the 
foremost orators of the territory was engaged to deliver an address; the 
Waterbury brass band was employed, and many games advertised. On the 31st of 
May, those interested in the base-ball held a meeting and organized a team, with 
J. T. Johnston as captain. The team began practice on a diamond located near 
where the Universalist church stands. In June a challenge was sent to the ball 
nine at Woonsocket for a match game at Wessington Springs on July 4th. The 
challenge was not accepted and an invitation was then extended to Alpena. Here 
they found a team willing to cross bats with them and arrangements were 
perfected.

   In the latter part of June, Mr. A. S. Beals and Mr. Hindman were employed to 
make a liberty pole which was set up on the 2nd of July, at the center of the 
crossing of Main and Second Streets.

   A galvanized iron tank made by Morse and LaPout was placed over the big 
spring and the water works pipe extended into it so that people on the street 
could have cold water direct from the fountain head.

   The celebration was a success, for although a storm cut short the oration, 
the ball game was won by the home nine with a score of 23 to 15. This was the 
beginning of ball playing in the county and led to many close and exciting games 
in the years that followed.

   A county fair association was organized June 4th, 1884, with O. G. Woodruff, 
of Alpena, president and M. D. Crow, of Media, secretary. The committee on 
bylaws was composed of J. F. Ford, of Wessington Springs. H. A. Pierce, of 
Harmony and M. D. Crow. At the organization twenty-six shares were sold at $10 
each. This amount was increased to sixty shares on July 16th, and was further 
advanced to one hundred on July 23rd. The society then proceeded to incorporate 
the members mentioned in the charter being E. S. Waterbury, S. H. Melcher and J. 
F. Ford. After incorporation the association elected permanent officers as 
follows:

President—O. G. Woodruff.
Vice President—E. S. Waterbury.
Secretary—J. F. Ford.
Treasurer—S. H. Melcher.

   Executive Committee—W. J. Wiliams, W. I. Bateman, B. G. Cummings, W. T. Hay, 
and Wm. Austin.

   The dates set for the fair were Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, October 
14th, 15th, and 16th, 1884. For exhibition three hundred and forty-one entries 
were made. First premiums were awarded as follows:

   S. H. Melcher—2 yr. grade Durham heifer; Suffolk sow and pigs: Suffolk sow; 
and best display of farm products and garden peas.

   M. W. Young—2 yr. bull; roadster stallion; and stallion for all purposes.

   C. W. Hill—Durham cow; 4 yr. thorobred bull; thorobred Durham calf: early 
potatoes, late potatoes and pumpkins.

   O. G. Woodruff—Grade Durham bull five years old.

   Mrs. E. H. Wheeler—Thorobred calf.

   L. G. Wilson—Six-year-old Jersey cow.

   B. V. Eagle—Two-year-old stallion; 1 yr. old filley; and carriage team.

   W. T. Hay—One-year-old horse colt.

   L. F. Russell—Four-year-old gelding; span of two-year-old mares; three-year-
old mare; best team for all purposes.

   Ed Dwyer—Spring colt.

E. Nesmith—Three-year-old stallion.

   O. F. Woodruff—Farm or draft stallion.

   R. Vanderveen—Draft team.

   John Dukes-—Two coarse-wool bucks; two coarse-wool ewes; T yr. buck and flock 
of five sheep.

   C. B. Blake—-Fine-wool bucks; fine-wool ewes.

   H. Blowers—Three pigs.

   W. Brownell—One boar pig. 

   M. A. Cummings—1 yr. old Berkshire boar. 

   R. M. Magee—Best display of poultry. 

   E. H. Ford—Plymouth Rock fowl.

   S. Young—Pekin ducks.

   J. S. Lynn—Flax.

   Wm. Arne—Onions.

   W. Towner—Squashes.

   J. O. Shryock—Cabbage.

   H. Lowder—Field corn.

   E. L. DeLine—Carrots.

  Lady Equestrian—ist prize, Maud Tofflemier; 2nd. Mrs. K. Shryock.

   In the baby show W. V. Dixon's baby girl won 1st prize. $10. offered by Mr. 
P. R. Barrett.


Chapter 14.

   Politics, like the buffalo, the Indian and Coyotes, seems to be indigenous to 
South Dakota. From the fact that white men seemed to become imbued with it as 
soon as they crossed the boundary line, in the old territorial days, the idea 
has become prevalent that the disease was here ahead of them.

   The first political meeting in Jerauld county, after its organization, was in 
April, 1884. The occasion was the election of one delegate to represent the 
county at the territorial republican convention called to meet at Huron April. 
23, to select delegates to the national convention.

   The meeting was held at the office of the register of deeds. April 19th and 
was a "Masse" affair composed of eleven or twelve voters. N. J. Dunham was 
selected as the delegate.

   The first regular caucus held in the county was the one which met at the 
county building in Wessington Springs on Feb. 15th, 1884, for the purpose of 
nominating school officers and a name for the school township. The first motion 
was by Mr. A. B. Smart in nominating W. I. Bateman for the chairmanship of the 
meeting. After the caucus had disposed of the business pertaining to the 
schools, it proceeded to elect a county committeeman for the Republican party of 
the county, that was expected to be formed in the near future, and also a 
Republican township committee. J. F. Ford was elected to the county committee, 
and E, L. DeLine, W. I. Bateman and C. W. McDonald were made a committee for the 
precinct.

   It had been planned to have the same course followed in all the townships, 
but some neglected it and only the following members were elected to the county 
committee.

Wessington Springs—J. F. Ford.
Crow—U. E. Babb.
Harmony—H. A. Pierce.
Franklin—I. P. Ray.

   A call for a meeting of the committee to be held on May 4th, 1884, was made 
by Mr. Ford, about the middle of May. The committee met at the time appointed 
and preceeded to organize the party for the county by filling the vacancies in 
the county committee and appointing a committee of three for each township. J. 
F. Ford was elected chairman of the county committee and M. D. Crow, secretary. 
The township committees were as follows:

Marlar—J. M. Corbin, Frank Marlaur and C. C. Sapp.
Crow—U. E. Babb, E. S. Waterbury and C. V. Martin.
Logan—James Long, William Niemeyer and Z. P. DeForest.
Harmony—O. O. England, I. N. Rich and N. J. Dunham.
Pleasant—A. W. Dean, O. E. Gaffin and John Sullivan.
Crow Lake—D. F. Moulton, R. Y. Hazard and S. H. Melcher.
Chery—P. B. Davis, H. J. Wallace and G. W. Bolton.
Media—M. D. Crow, Conway Thompson and B. G. Cummings.
Anina—S. S. Moore, O. F. Kellogg and A. D. Cady.
Dale—O. W. Richardson, A. Mercer and Frank Eastman.
Wessington Springs—C. W. McDonald, Wm. Hawthorne and W. I. Bateman.
Viola—J. M. Primmer, L. G. Wilson and Wm. Dixon.
Alpena-—L. N. Loomis, F. W. Whitney and D. F. Royer.
Franklin—-Joseph Doctor, W. P. Pierce and D. M. Black.
Blaine—B. Wheeler—(probably J. M. Wheeler), M. W. Young and Thos. Bigger.

   On August 1st the committee called the first delegate republican convention 
to meet at the county building in Wessington Springs on the 6th day of Sept., 
1884, at 1 P. M. to transact the following business: To elect two delegates to 
attend the congressional convention to be held at Pierre on Sept. 17, 1884; to 
select six delegates to attend the legislative convention at Mitchell, Oct. 8th; 
to nominate county officers and elect a county central committee. The townships 
were given representation as follows:

   Blaine three; Viola three; Crow Lake three; Anina two: Logan three; Franklin, 
three: Wessington Springs two; Media two; Dale two; Pleasant three; Crow three; 
Alpena three; Harmony two; Chery two; Marlar two; Making a total of thirty-
eight.

   The committee also appointed a committee for each commissioner district of 
the county as follows:

No. 1—L. N. Loomis, Albert Gunderson and J. M. Wheeler.
No. 2—J. E. McNamara, A. J. Lowder and B. F. Goff.
No. 3—H. A. Pierce, E. S. Waterbury and Joseph O'Brien.

   In 1884, Jerauld county had no regularly elected member of the district 
legislative committee, but when the committee met at Mitchell on July 31st, O. 
G. Woodruff of Alpena, attended the meeting and was permitted to represent the 
county.

   On the 6th day of Sept., 1884, the first delegate convention of the 
Republican party of Jerauld county met according to the call of the committee, 
and organized by electing Thos. H. Null, of Wraterbury as both temporary and 
permanent chairman, F. B. Phillips, of Alpena and E. J. Mentzer, of Crow Lake, 
were elected to attend the congressional convention, and H. Herring, O. W. 
Richardson, D. F. Royer, G. McDonald and Joseph O'Brien were sent to the 
convention at Mitchell. The county ticket nominated was as follows:

Register of Deeds—L. N. Loomis.
Probate Judge—T. H. Null.
Clerk of Courts-—Albert Gunderson.
County Attorney—N. J. Dunham.
Supt. of Schools—J. T. Johnston.
County Treasurer—H. A. Pierce.
Assessor—R. S. Vessey.
Coroner—D. F. Royer.
Sheriff—J. M. Spears.
Surveyor—J. M. Corbin.
Justices-—O. E. Gaffin, W. L. Davis, H. P. Jones and C. E. Hackett.
Constables—Jacob Rosenthal, W. E. Dement, Mark Williams and J. C. Johnson.

   The result of the convention was very unsatisfactory to a large number of 
people of the county. The local paper, The Herald, refused to publish the 
proceedings of the convention and for several weeks did not even print the 
ticket. It was evident from the date of the convention that a bitter fight was 
pending. No record was preserved of the personel of the convention, and I have 
been compelled to rely upon my own memory and that of others who were delegates, 
or attendants, on that memorable occasion. The following is the list of 
delegates as nearly correct as I have been able to ascertain.

Alpena—F. B. Philips, O. G. Woodruff and D. F. Royer.
Dale—John Teasdale and O. W. Richardson.
Chery—H. A. Miller and _____.
Harmony—J. R. Eddy and Daniel Mitchell.
Marlar—J. M. Corbin and T. J. Hunt.
Crow—T. H. Null, H. Herring and C. V. Martin.
Pleasant—S. Marlenee, James Foster and Moses Shaw.
Media—Theo. Dean and M. D. Crow.
Wessington Springs—J. A. McDonald and E. L. Smith.
Franklin—W. P. Pierce, O. O. Lindebak and L. J. Grisinger.
Blaine—J. M. Wheeler. Geo. Rychman and Thos. Bigger.
Viola—J. A. Tyner, M. W. Nesmith and T. K. Ford.
Anina—N. E. Williams and C. E. Little.
Crow Lake—Joseph O'Brien, Thos. Henning and E. J. Mentzer.
Logan—J. A. Riegal. H. A. Robinson and H. A. Frick.

   Although that first delegate convention was charged with all sorts of 
political chicanery, it was probably as fair as any that have followed. Each 
candidate did his best to win and to accomplish that result he and his friends 
resorted to every available known political maneuver. Before the day of the 
convention the Republican party in the county had become divided into two 
factions, so bitterly opposed that reconsiliation was impossible. The defeated 
candidates went out of the meeting firmly determined not to be bound by the 
result.

   Although a candidate for clerk of courts had been nominated, the nomination 
was in no way effective, for the supreme court decided, a few days later, that 
that officer was appointed by the judges in the different districts and not 
elective.

   The Democrats of the county met at the Wessington Springs on Sept. 13th to 
organize that party. John N. Dynes, of Dale township, was chairman of the 
meeting and B. R. Shimp, of Pleasant, secretary. A county committee was elected 
consisting of one member from each township, as follows:

Alpena—Geo. D. Canon.
Dale—John N. Dynes.
Chery—Ben Drake.
Harmony—Jeff. Sickler.
Marlar ______
Crow—U. E. Babb.
Pleasant—B. R. Shimp.
Media—John Kugler.
Wessington Springs—R. M. Magee.
Franklin—J. P. Ray.
Blaine ______
Viola _______
Anina _______
Crow Lake—Mr. Hoffman.
Logan _______

   Mr. G. D. Canon was elected chairman of the committee. The following 
resolution, introduced by Mr. Magee, was unanimously adopted.

   "Resolved, that the Democratic party of Jerauld county, Dak., as organized 
this 13th day of Sept., 1884, is in favor of a just and fair representation of 
all the legal voters of the county in the selection of county officers, and 
declares itself opposed to all rings and caprices gotten up by any party, or set 
of men, for the purpose of benefiting a few favored individuals."

   All the commissioner district conventions were held on the 27th of Sept. In 
the first district Mr. Fisher was nominated, without opposition, to succeed 
himself. In the second district Mr. L. G. Wilson, of Viola, was nominated at 
Wessington Springs, to succeed Mr. Smart. In the third district the convention 
was held at Waterbury and was the most stubbornly contested of any convention 
ever held in the county. The convention met at 2 P. M. and continued, with an 
intermision of one hour for supper, until eleven o'clock that night. The 
candidates were S. H. Melcher and Joseph O'Brien of Crow Lake and J. E. 
Sullivan, of Pleasant. On the last ballot O'Brien's strength went to Sullivan 
and he was nominated with one majority. Sixty-seight ballots were taken.

   On the 3rd of Oct., Chairman Canon published the first call for a democratic 
nominating convention, to meet at Wessington Springs on October 11th.

   Meanwhile the trouble in the Republican ranks was taking the form of 
organized opposition.

   A mass convention of those opposed to the Republican ticket nominated on the 
6th of Sept. was called to meet Oct. 25th, to nominate a people's ticket for 
county officers. This call was issued Oct. 10, and was signed as follows:

   O. O. England, J. N. Rich, W. A. Miller. O. J. Marshall, William Bremmer, J. 
O. Grey, E. A Sowerwine, Gordon McDonald. N. E. Williams and M. W. Nesmith.

   The Democrats met in mass convention persuant to the call issued by the 
committee chairman. The Waterbury brass band was engaged for the occassion. A 
motion was made to wait until the meeting of the dissatisfied republicans and 
then "fuse" with them, but it was voted down and the convention proceeded to put 
in nomination a full county ticket. The candidates named were:

Register of Deeds—G. D. Canon.
Sheriff—G. F. Hodges.
Clerk District Court—R. M. Magee.
Probate Judge—H. M. Rice.
Treasurer—C. E. Thayer.
Coroner—Dr. J. M. Hull.
Surveyor—H. J. Wallace.
Supt. of Schools—B. R. Shimp.
Justices—U. E. Babb, O. E. Gaffm, M. C. Ayers and J. O. Gray.
Constables—Henry Krumwied, Mark Williams, John Kugler and L. W. Castleman.

   On October 24th, Mr. T. L. Blank announced in the Wessington Springs Herald 
that he was an independent candidate for election to the position he then held, 
that of register of deeds.

   The next day, Oct. 25th, the peoples convention met at the county building in 
Wessington Springs. The room was not large enough to hold the enthusiastic 
crowd. O. O. England called the meeting to order and Thos. Whiffin was made 
chairman. O. J. Marshall, C. E. Thayer and J. A. Tyner were appointed a 
committee on resolutions. The voting was by ballot on the positions of register 
of deeds and county treasurer. The balance of the ticket was nominated by 
acclamation. On the position of register of deeds seventy-four votes were cast, 
of which T. L. Blank received forty-six, H. C. Stephens fifteen and L. N. Loomis 
thirteen. For treasurer W. J. Williams received sixty-nine votes and C. E. 
Thayer nine. When completed the peoples ticket was as follows:

Register of Deeds—T. L. Blank.
Supt of Schools—R. Y. Hazard.
Sheriff—J. M. Spears.
Probate Judge—H. M. Rice.
Treasurer—W. J. Williams.
Assessor—R. S. Vessey.
Coroner—M. W. Nesmith.
Surveyor—J. M. Corbin.
Justices—Hiram Freeman, E. A. Herman, M. C. Ayers and M. W. Young.
Constables—Fred Strasser, H. P. Jones, J. C. Johnson and L. W. Castleman.

   The committee on resolutions made the following report which was adopted:

   WHEREAS: The nominations for the public officers of this, our home, Jerauld 
county, have to a certain extent been made by a ring of political tricksters, 
instead of by the people of the county, be it

   Resolved, The people of Jerauld county, in mass convention, do hereby protest 
against all such dishonesty, trading or trickery, which tends to defeat the will 
of the people.

   Resolved, That we hereby invite all those interested in the cause of honest 
politics, irrespective of party, to join us in the coming election, in obtaining 
a fair square expression of the true will of the voters of Jerauld county.

   Resolved, That we do not advocate the creation of factions, or side issues, 
but demand that good will and peace may be united in securing the express will 
of the people.

   On October 31st Mr. Hazard announced himself an independent candidate for the 
position of Co. Supt. of Schools.

   The candidates were now all in the field and the issue fully understood by 
everybody in the county, which was—who shall have the offices. To this was added 
a quadrangular fight for the county seat.

   Crow Lake, though unplatted as a town, and Waterbury, had both entered the 
race as avowed candidates, Lyndale had been platted in August, and was making a 
hard struggle.

   On October 31st the Wessington Springs Herald printed a bond in the sum of 
$2000 for the fufillment of the "combined proposition" that had been accepted by 
the county commissioners on Jan. 18, 1884. To this bond was attached the names 
of C. S. Burr, D. A. Scott, C. E Bourne, P. R. Barrett, A. B. Smart and Mrs. R. 
J. Smart. The election occurred on Nov. 4th. The bond was never heard of again.

   The contest continued until the last vote was cast on election day. The 
result was as follows:

Register of Deeds—L. N. Loomis. 
Supt. of Schools—J. T. Johnson. 
Sheriff—J. M. Spears. 
Probate Judge—H. M. Rice. 
Treasurer—W. J. Williams. 
Assessor—R. S. Vessey. 
Coroner—D. F. Royer. 
Surveyor—J. M. Corbin. 
County Commissioners:
   1st District—H. D. Fisher.
   2nd District—L. G. Wilson.
   3rd District—J. E. Sullivan.
   County Seat—Wessington Springs. 395; Lyndale, 285; Crow Lake, 71; and 
Waterbury, 64.

   For Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Hazard was defeated by one vote.

   On Nov. 14th, after the returns of the election had been canvassed and the 
result declared, the chairman of the board of commissioners, on motion of Mr. 
Melcher, was instructed to proceed to secure title to the county of the property 
specified in the "combined proposition." Nothing further was ever done about it.

   For the position of county attorney the canvassing board refused to count the 
vote, on the ground that the county was not entitled to such an officer. The 
matter was made the subject of a good deal of bitter discussion for several 
months and finally dropped.


Additional Comments:
From "A History of Jerauld County; From the Earliest Settlement to January 15,
1909" by N. J. Dunham

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/sd/jerauld/history/other/gms99chap1314.txt

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