Marshall County, SD History - Books .....Britton 1886
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Book Title: History Of Marshall County, Dakota

BRITTON.

    During the spring of 1883 a few claim shacks were built on what now
comprises the town site of Britton; the squatters little dreaming that three
years of time would bring them a railroad, a nourishing town and county seat.
Wm. Ross, of Stena township, while tramping over this portion of Miller township
the latter part of April, 1883, became tired and lay down. He fell asleep, and
awoke when the sun was fast sinking in the western horizon; about twenty rods
from him were eleven antelope quietly grazing, where Mr. Hindman's lumber yard
now is, near the railroad, unconscious of the proximity of a human being. In
almost the twinkling of an eye they were over the hill and out of sight. J. B.
Squier and F. P. Squier, from Fargo, came here in the spring and squatted on
claims; J. B. on se. 1/4, section 23; F. P. on sw. 1/4, section 24; D. C. Bell
on ne. 1/4, section 26, and Harry Plaisted on nw. 1/4, section 25. During the
summer Col. Britton came here to visit the Squires and conceived the idea that
it would be a splendid location for a town site. August 14, 1883, he chartered
the Dakota and Great Southern Railway, to extend from Tower City to Sioux City.
The road was surveyed through this county by November 15, 1883.

    November 23, 1883, H. R. Turner script the w. 1/2 of sw., 1/4, section 24,
and bought Bell's relinquishment of the ne. 1/4, section 26; also placed
soldiers' additional homestead script on e. 1/2 of ne. 1/4, section 26, and used
his homestead right on the west half of the same quarter section. Late in
December he engaged Thos. Allison to plat the script 160 acres on sections 24
and 26. He completed and filed the plat of the original town, Jan. 19, 1884,
with register of deeds of Day county. J. B. Squier made final proof January,
1884, and in February Sam Denton surveyed the same. It was named Fair View
Addition and plat filed April 9th, '84.

    Harry F. Plaisted, having made final proof, engaged Sam Denton to plat his
farm, and filed his platted addition March 16, 1885, now known as Plaisted's
Addition to Britton.

THE BRITTON LAND AND TRUST COMPANY.

   April 6, 1885, the Britton Land and Trust Company was incorporated by the
following named gentlemen:

    Capt. Vander Horck, of Ft. Sisseton; D. T. Hindman, of Britton; M. Jorgenson
and H. J. Dale, of Wilmar, Minn; S. J. Watkins, of Fargo, and H. R. Turner, of
Britton.

BRITTON LUMBER COMPANY.

    In December, 1883, the above named company was organized by Wm. Drury, of
Verdurett, Ill. A. M. Byers and W. H. Holmes, of Aledo, Ill., and D. T. Hindman,
of Britton, the only resident member of the company who conducts the business,
being assisted by Wm. Sentman, from Altona, Pa. In January, 1884, Mr. Hindman
shipped 50 car loads of lumber to Andover and engaged 50 teams to haul this
immense quantity of lumber to the platted, or really a paper town until then.
The writer could see nothing in the future that would ever justify this large
outlay of capital, and like many others considered "that man Hindman a leetle
off," and the whole business a "wild cat" scheme; the sequel shows Mr. Hindman's
business capacity and judgment. The first building was erected by Jno. P. Holman
and Isaacs in February, 1884, to accommodate those hauling lumber. Capt. Poor
did the carpenter work. Mrs. Sexton was the first woman to live in Britton. She
and her husband came here from what is now Haupt and took charge of the
boarding-house. Our genial friend Coppock, the pioneer barber, was there, and as
now, shaving persons, when the writer was introduced to him by Mr. Sexton about
the middle of March. Early that spring Sergeant Snyder, of Ft. Sisseton,
purchased the boarding-house, which has since been conducted by Mrs. Snyder, and
known as the Snyder House. Sergeant Snyder went with his command to Ft. Totten
in 1884, and has served in the regular army in Dakota over sixteen years. He
comes home about once a year on furlough.

PIONEER BUSINESS MEN.

    H. H. DOAVNES, from Maryland, came through here with Major Jewett's
surveying party in the fall of '83. The following spring he and Chas. E. Printup
opened the first grocery store in Britton. The railroad not being completed that
year they quit business, and Mr. Downes returned east. Returned here last winter
and under the firm name of Downes & Co. Is doing a large grocery business.

    MARSHALL VINCENT, from Three Mile Bay, New York, located a claim at Andover,
which he sold to Wm. Mills. In March, 1883, erected the building now occupied by
A. Lawrence, and April 9th opened a flour and feed store. Mr. Vincent was
elected county commissioner in 1884, and ably represented the Britton District
of Day county.

    C. M. FURBER, originally from Massachusetts, came here from Andover and
early in April '83 opened his hardware store; recently sold out to H. H. Rice.

    THE DAYLIGHT OFFICE was built early in the spring see history of the Daylight.

WOODDELL & PALMERLEE.

    Richard D. Wooddell and Albert S. Palmerlee, from Dodge Center, Minn., came
here in April and built their present business place, and are doing a general
merchandise business. They also handle horses and cattle. It is a cold day when
Wooddell has not a horse to trade or sell.

    S. C. W. Hall, from Dodge Center, Minn., is their right hand man.

    The following is a list of those not yet mentioned, now engaged in business
in Britton:

MERCHANTS.

    The New York Cash Store was opened in August, 1885, by Wm. Culver, from
Livonia, Livingston Co., N. Y.

    The business is conducted by his sons, George and Marvin Culver. They have
just completed a large store 24x80.

    Richard S. Waking, from Princeton, Wis., came here in '83 and located claim
on section 1. Opened his present business place in December, 1884. H. L. Stokes,
now over in the Missouri country, was associated with him until March, the
present year.

    H. H. Downes & Co., groceries.

    H. W. Hormann, from Westport, Minn., opened his general merchandise store
last May.

HARDWARE.

    A. Lawrence, from Pontiac, Ill. came here Oct. 12, 1884, and opened his
present business place.

    Furber & Bell bought out H. H. Rice, July 1886.

PHOTOGRAPHER.

    S. S. Augur, from Stark Co., Ill., came here last fall, and last spring
opened a photograph gallery.

FURNITURE.

    John Wallace, from Wilmot, Dak., opened his furniture store last March.

MEAT MARKETS.

    Chas. N. Pierce from Joliet, Ill., opened the first meat market in 1884.

    A. G. Waterburry, from New York, in 1885, recently engaged in the butcher
business.

   Alonzo M. Noble, from Sioux Falls, opened the first bakery the beginning of
last June.

    John Glasaner, from Lisbon, opened a dairy and laundry last April.

    G. W. Thiel, from Hartford, Wis., opened his harness shop May, 1885.

    Oscar Rindermann, from Otter Tail Co., Minn., opened his shoe shop Jan. 1st,
1885.

DRUG STORE.

    The Rose Brothers, from Lisbon, started the present drug store in the summer
of 1884. Later sold out to G. L. Baker, who originally came from Bureau Co.,
Ill. Mr. Baker is the present postmaster, and sold the drug business to Dr. Wm.
E. Young.

    DR. YOUNG, the pioneer physician of Britton, was born in New Brunswick and
graduated at Ann Arbor in June, 1882; came here from Lisbon in 1884. Dr. A. H.
Marsh, dentist, recently located here; came from Lisbon, Dak.

HOTELS.

    The Snyder House is mentioned elsewhere. The Dwight House was built by Chas.
Lancaster and G. L. Baker in 1884, and until recently known as the Lancaster
House. Mr. Lancaster disposed of his interest and went to Webster. Last winter
the genial and popular host, Chas. A. Dwight, for several years landlord of the
Dunn House, Montevideo, Minn., came here from Andover. His father, Deloss
Dwight, makes it his home with him. The Summit House was built by the Quarve
Brothers in the spring of 1884, who came here from Spring Grove, Minn. The
Quarve Bros, know their business thoroughly and conduct a first-class hotel.

    Fearer Bros, of Wahpeton, have erected a large restaurant with a public hall
above.

NURSERIES.

    H. E. Henry, Home Nursery.

    Geo. S. Vanderveer, Worth-western Chain of Nurseries.

SALOONS.

    The Fulton Brothers, from Green Co., Wis., came here from Wilmot, Dak., in
June 1884.

    Norman Sturgis, from Greenville, Mich., came here in May, 1885.

    C. D. Gaylord, from Cleveland, Ohio, came here May 20, 1884.

BANKS.

    Bank of Britton was established May, 1885, by N. J. Berston, from Yonkers,
N. Y., and L. Guillaudeu, from Jersey City, N. J.

    Job. Voak & Co. opened their banking house last April, with J. J. Aplin as
cashier. Mr. Alpin was for many years cashier in Grundy County, Iowa.

    Marshall County Bank was established January, 1886, by C. J. Harlow and G.
H. Craig, from Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Craig is the cashier.

LIVERY STABLES.

    E. W. Blood, of Green Lake, Wis., built his present barn in 1884, and is the
pioneer liveryman.

    Atchison Brothers, originally from the north of Ireland, came here from
Lisbon, in 1885, and built their present large barn the same season.

BRICKYARD.

    E. L. Howe came here from Dayton, Minn., and has just started his brickyard
south of town. We are unable to state the quality of the brick, but he being an
old hand at the business we predict success to his enterprise.

LUMBER AND COAL.

    The Dougherty Brothers came here from Green Bay, Wis., last February, and
bought out W. J. Ryse, near Britton. Are engaged in the lumber business.

    H. A. Salzer & Co. from LaCrosse, Wis., have a lumber and coal yard.

    The Dakota Lumber Co. have just put in a lumber yard.

BLACKSMITHS.

    S. T. Miles & Son and John Voigt each have a first-class blacksmith and
machine shop.

    James P. Mathews, from Norfolk, Ont., opened the first jewelry store last May.

    John S. Johnson, from Nova Scotia, contractor and builder.

    W. Stone, from Orinoco, Minn., has recently started the first wagon shop.

    Jno. D. Stanley, from Huron Co., Ont., came here in 1884, is now deputy
sheriff.

    Frank Hessel, from Heerenveen, Netherlands, came here in 1884, and has been
engaged as foreman in the Daylight office since.

    Jno. McCullough, from Red Wing, Minn., opened his agricultural implement
depot last February.

    J. T. Thompson came here in '84, and for a time was connected with the
Daylight. Thos. Taggart came here from Brown's Valley. Chas. Burgoyne, from
Lisbon in 1885.

LEGAL LIGHTS, REAL ESTATE AND LOAN AGENTS.

    E. A. Cooper is the pioneer land agent of Britton and was appointed clerk of
District Court in 1885, and recently was succeeded by Thomas Plaisted, of Lowell
township.

    A. Sherin, from Peterboro, Ont., came here in 1884. He was formerly a
minister and preached the first sermon ever preached in Britton in Downes store
in June 1884.

  J. H. McCoy, from Mason Co., Ill., where he was admitted to the bar in 1880,
is in partnership with H. R. Turner.

    T. M. Plaisted who is now clerk of the Court.

    Thos. B. McDonough, from Chicago, studied law in Chicago, was admitted to
the bar by the Supreme Court in 1880; came here in 1883 and settled on section
1, in Stena township; was elected district attorney of our county last year. The
Kirk Brothers came here in 1885 from Sioux City, Iowa.

    J. E. Dyer, from Spring City, Tenn., came to Dakota in the employ of the D.
& G. S. R. R., as auditor in 1883. Came to Britton July 1st, 1884; that fall was
elected Probate Judge of Day Co., and last July was elected Register of Deeds
and County Clerk of this county.

MAIL SERVICE AND STAGE ROUTES.

   In 1883 the Alta postoffice in Pleasant Valley was established and the weekly
mail carried by Chas. Coppock to and from the fort. The next spring, 1884, W.
Paul, of Webster, ran a stage line, about one month, from Britton to the fort,
after which E. W. Blood carried the mail and passengers until September. The
settlers chipped in their mites, but Mr. Blood lost money. He also, for a time,
ran a stage line to Andover. About September, '84, a daily mail was established
between Britton and Fort Sisseton. The writer lives within sight of Britton, yet
it requires ten days to get the DayLight or a letter. The mail going around via
Webster, Andover and Haupt, Dayton and Stena postoffices, west of Britton, in
this county, could only get Britton mail by the way of Webster and Groton, a
round-about way of one hundred miles. With the railroad and new mail lines all
this has been changed.

SCHOOL-HOUSE.

   This magnificent building was erected in the fall of 1884, and we may safely
say that few large cities in the Territory can boast of handsomer ones. 

   Three good school-houses were erected at the same time in different parts of
Miller township. E. A. Cooper taught the first school in Britton in the winter
of '83-84, and Geo. Hickman, then County Superintendent of Schools of Day
county, held the first public examination of teachers in Britton, April 1st, 1885

BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

    COL. BRITTON came here from Tower City with Dr. A. O. Squier and P. P.
Squier about the middle of August, 1883, and lodged with J. B. Squier in his
shanty, a small frame house now standing opposite Wooddell and Palmerlee. It
then stood near where Mr. Sherin's house now is, on what is now Fair View
Addition. Col. Britton was the prime factor in the Dakota & Great Southern
Railroad project, and at the time of his above visit determined to locate a town
here. The town site, was platted, as stated elsewhere, and named in honor of
Col. Britton. Col. Isaac Britton was born in Concord, Mass, August 1st, 1826;
railroaded from 1842 to 1865 in Massachusetts, except fourteen months, during
which time he served as Colonel in the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment; was
for two years on the Atlantic & Great Western Railway; in 1867, went to
Cincinnati, where he engaged in railroad supply and contract business; in 1878,
went to Tennessee and built the Tennessee & Sequatche Valley Railroad; August
14, 1883, chartered the D. & G. S. Railroad, which he managed until December,
1885, when the line was sold to J. W. Bishop and Wm. R. Marshall, for the C. M.
& St. P. R. R.

    CAPTAIN DANIEL T. HINDMAN was bom in Butler county, Ohio, and came to Mercer
county, Ill., in 1854, where he resided until his arrival here in 1883-4; served
as Treasurer of Mercer county from 1875 to 1882. He enlisted in Co. "I,"
Seventeenth Illinois Infantry, and served nearly six years; fought in the
following battles: Fredericktown,Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Inka, The
Hatchie and Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss., and at Spanish Fort; recruited for the
army in 1863-4, and was chosen Captain of his company. He served one year in
Texas after the close of the war and was mustered out May 4th 1866. In 1866 he
was married to Miss Viola J. Willits, and has two children. Mr. Hindman came to
South Dakota in 1883 to recuperate his failing health. He spent the summer of
'83 riding over the country on horse back buying cattle and was so much pleased
with the country and his improved health, that he concluded to make Dakota his
home. He built a handsome residence in 1884.

    H. R. TURNER was born in Indiana county, Pa., March 24, 1854; in 1858 with
his parents moved to Henry county, Ill., where his father died in 1860; in '64
moved to Mercer county, Ill., and in 1879 to Wilmar, Minn., where he was
admitted to the bar in 1880; came to Lisbon in 1882 and later to Britton. He is
a good specimen of the genuine Dakota "rustler," of the "get there Eli," type.


Additional Comments:
HISTORY OF MARSHALL COUNTY, DAKOTA.
ITS TOPOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HISTORY, SKETCHES OF PIONEER SETTLERS, WITH THE NAMES
OF ACTUAL SETTLERS, WHERE THEY ARE FROM, AND WHERE THEY LIVE; ALSO THE MILITARY
AND SISSETON RESERVATIONS.
BY
GEORGE HICKMAN.
BRITTON. DAK.: J. W. BANBURY, PUBLISHER. 1886.


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