Text of Ziebach Co., SD History (1982) - pages 233 - 256
	This file is the text of the book, "South Dakota's Ziebach County, 
	History of the Prairie", published in 1982 by the Ziebach County
	Historical Society, Dupree, SD

	Permission to publish this book in electronic form was given by Jackie Birkeland,
	member of the Historical Committee. This book is copyright, 1982 by the Ziebach
	County Historical Society, Dupree, SD.
 
	Scanning and OCR by Terri Tosh <chipnter@lnd.com>, final editing by Joy Fisher,
	<sdgenweb@yahoo.com>.



Chapter 15 
TIME MARCHES ON by Thelma Frame

WORLD WAR I ERA
     The “Redelm Record” and “Dupree Leader” from 1917-18 provide an excellent 
barometer of the mood of this era.
     Several themes recur: The Extreme Patriotism, the Train and Automobile, The 
Influenza Epidemic and The Social Life.
     Patriotism was evident in every issue. How proud the community was of the boys 
who went to "serve the colors".
     The train was mentioned in every issue. The arrival and departure of passengers, 
local and visiting was duly noted. The arrival of carloads of vegetables and other 
supplies and the departure of carloads of livestock and grain were reported. The erratic 
schedule, like the weather, was always a topic to be commented on. The train was so 
vital to life on this frontier.
     The coming of the Ford (always the Ford) made the local news column. Names of 
persons buying cars, people traveling by "Ford route" and the roads (muddy or dusty) 
were frequently mentioned.
     Influenza stalked Ziebach County as it did the rest of the world in 1918-19. There 
were weekly reports of those who had the flu, those who recovered and, sadly, those 
who didn't. Many schools were closed for several weeks and notices of social events 
being canceled because of the flu were common.
     Most of the people who came here to live were young so there were many marriage 
and birth announcements and very few obituaries.
     The main feeling from studying these papers, however, was the optimism of the 
people. And what fun they had! Each week there would be notices of barn dances, 
schoolhouse dances, pie and box socials, card parties, picnics, church services and 
school programs.
     An item from the “Dupree Leader” of July 5, 1917, is typical.
     "Mr. and Mrs. Peter Sorenson were tendered a Charivari at their home northeast of 
town on Tuesday night of last week. About 35 of their friends were present. After going 
through the regular routine of a Charivari, if any, a little stronger, as Mr. S. J. Jeffries, Sr. 
was among the promoters -- the party repaired to the large barn of O. W. Hurst where 
dancing was the means of passing time until 5 o'clock in the morning. Social affairs like 
this are the means of bringing the people of a neighborhood together and put them to 
guessing, who's next?"
     These old papers bring an immediacy to World War I.
     Each issue carried news and letters from the "boys serving the Red, White and Blue". 
Events in the lives of the young soldiers were reported from the farewells extended at 
parties at their home and at the train, their life in camp and overseas, the tragedy which 
struck some and the joyous return of others.
     The July 5, 1917 issue of the “Dupree Leader” stated that Governor Norbeck had 
appointed Dr. F. H. Creamer, L. W. Henderson and James Stewart to the "Exemption 
Board". Their duties were to pass on exemption from war draft. Young men registered 
and appeared before the exemption board for classification. Each man was assigned a 
number and lottery was used to determine who would be called. A young man who was 
called could appear before the exemption board if he felt he had a good reason not to go 
to the service.
     The July 19, 1917 issue of the Leader contained the following item: "Last Friday, 
Frank Carson, son of John F. Carson, boss farmer at Thunder Butte sub-station, 
received summons from headquarters ordering him to report to Brookings where 
Company "C", of which he is a member is stationed. He left the next day. Frank seen 
service with that company last year on the border of Mexico, so the life of a soldier is not 
new to him, and he responded like a true American, leaving here with the best wishes 
from all for his safe return."
     The banner headline of the September 27, 1917 Leader reads "Citizens of County 
Bid Boys Farewell." Saturday last about 9:30 a.m. 16 young men left for the Cantonment 
at Fort Riley, Kansas, the second contingent from Ziebach County to the training camp. 
A parade in the morning previous to the arrival of the train was one of the largest seen 
here for some time past. The parade started at the High School at about 8 o'clock 
headed by the Dupree band. Following were members of the Red Cross, then the 
teachers and pupils of the Dupree School, Veterans of the Civil and Spanish Wars and 
the new soldier boys, then the citizens generally, bringing up the rear. The march on the 
street continued north until opposite the Fox Ridge Hotel, thence to the depot where the 
new soldier boys formed a line facing the crowd. After several patriotic airs by the band, 
a short talk by attorney Henderson, and a song by the school children, the crowd formed 
to bid the boys a farewell and godspeed, then awaited the arrival of the train. While 
waiting for the train, Mayor Shelton, in his usual good way, suggested that a purse be 
taken for the boys and passed the hat. A neat sum was collected, which was turned over 
to Mr. George Wakefield Till who was selected by the local board to take charge of the 
men.
     About ten minutes before the departure of the train, the boys were once again called 
in line and marched into the coaches. As they took their places a cheer went up amidst 
the smiles and tears of all."
     The men who were honored that day were: Gustave Yeshko, George Diermier, 
William Nelson and George Jennerson from Dupree; Frank Rosenstock, Jack Neigel, 
John Held and George Till from Eagle Butte; August Hanneman and George Sargent 
from Redelm; Willie Krone and Charles Kercher from Isabel; Oscar Nelson, Harry Olson 
and Joseph Shockley from Glad Valley and Leo Sinkey from Lantry. Lloyd Dunbar of 
Faith was with the next contingent to leave October 11, 1917.
     The March 7, 1918 issue of the “Leader” tells of Ed Hodgdon leaving to visit relatives 
in California before enlisting.
     The September 6, 1918 issue of the “Redelm Record” had this headline story: 
"Ziebach County Boy Among the Missing. The destroyer 209 that was sunk off the coast 
of Fire Island Light by the freighter Taussig on August 27 last shows sixteen persons to 
be victims. Among the missing enlisted men is Edwin F. Hodgdon. He had a claim near 
Lantry."
     The American Legion Post in Dupree was named for Edwin F. Hodgdon, the first 
Ziebach County resident to lose his life in the War.
     From the May, 1918 “Leader” comes this item: "Among the drafted boys who left for 
Camp Lewis, American Lake. Washington last Saturday was Thomas Slow, a full-
blooded Sioux Indian from Cherry Creek. Although being exempt from service by being a 
non-citizen Indian*, Tom said he wanted to go fight for his country, considering it his duty 
and that he was no better than his white brothers. This of patriotism is commended and 
puts him an example of true Americanism in the eye/ the general public." *(Indians were 
wards the government rather than citizens of the United States).
     A local news item from the May 16, 1919 “Redelm Record” states: "The Misses Kate 
and Alice Aspdin left for Cherry Creek this morning to be present at the feast in honor of 
Paul Widow. They were chaperoned by esteemed Sargent C. J. Williams of the 
Canadian Army.''
     Everyone was urged to become involved in this war. An advertisement read: "Shall 
we be more tender of our dollars than we are of blood of our sons? Buy your Liberty 
Bond today! ''
     Red Cross news was prominent -- Dupree Redelm, Cherry Creek, Thunder Butte and 
Glad Valley all had active chapters. Benefits were given to raise money and the women 
~ regularly to sew and knit garments for the soldier boys. Money and clothing were sent 
to help the cold and starving people, especially of Belgium.
     While the women sewed for the Red Cross and served "wheatless and meatless" 
meals the men did their part by joining the Home Guard. The July 12, 1917 issue of the 
Dad Leader contained this item urging the organization of the Home Guard: "While we 
anticpated no great need for their services in loyal orderly South Dakota, there may be 
some purpose and a desire for organization in the larger places. Unused arms and 
accouterments now in National Arsenals are to be distributed use of the State Guards. 
Before the South Dakota National Guard leaves and while there may be secured to 
assist in drilling, would seem a more fortunate time to get the Home Guard started". The 
State Council of Defense organized local chapters to replace National Guard while the 
Guard was on active duty. Ziebach County had several and notices of meetings and 
those who had Guard duty each week were faithfully reported.
     The last issue of the paper available was on June 27, 1918, so like the last chapter of 
an interesting book, which is missing, our story World War I ends less than five months 
before the final victory, November 11, 1918.
     Womans Suffrage was also granted during this period.
     Before the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution became law in August 1920, 
only fifteen states offered full voting privileges to women.
     The South Dakota Legislature granted this right to women in 1918.
     The February 21, 1918 issue of the Dupree Leader had this item: "The following is 
the list of names of those who are assisting in the registration of the women of the 
county: Mrs. Rosenthal, Redelm precinct; Mrs. Buttrick, Pickerville precinct; Mrs. 
Pladsen, Graham precinct; Mrs. Russell Smith, Lone Tree precinct; Mrs. Zeal, Barren 
precinct; Mrs. Talbot, Engelhard; Miss Blanche Miller, Davis.
     "Volunteers for the other precincts, come forward. Women over 16. Everybody 
register."
     Another item appeared in the May 2, 1918 issue:
     "Notice to Electors -- the following are the official party ballots to be used at the 
county primary election: Republican -- White, Democrat -- Yellow, Prohibition -- Blue, 
Socialist -- Red."

[photo –  Waiting for the train to take the soldier boys – World War I]

[photo – Lloyd Dunbar, World War I soldier]

[photo – Lloyd Dunbar’s son, Bill, at the South Pole in 1962]

THE TWENTIES
     Old newspapers are a time machine. We're traveling back to the 1920's via “The 
Dupree Leader”, “The Redelm Record” and “The West River Progress”.
     Wounds of the Great World War had not yet healed when the decade of the 20's 
began.
     "ZIEBACH COUNTY'S INDIAN SOLDIER HERO BROUGHT HOME TO HIS OWN 
PEOPLE. Echoes of the Great World War are heard by us all from time to time but none 
have come to Ziebach County so acutely since the day of the armistice as when the 
body of Pvt. Moses Clown, Indian soldier of the United States army, was brought back 
from France to his own people. It arrived in Dupree from Jersey City last Saturday and 
none who witnessed the scene at the depot will ever forget it. The father, mother, 
brothers and sisters of the dead soldier, together with a large number of their friends, 
had gathered to await the coming of the train and as it came slowly to rest and the flag 
covered coffin in the express car came into view, a great wail of sorrow went up from the 
waiting throng. As it was unloaded, the grief-stricken Indians gathered around with loud 
lamentations, laying hands and heads sadly and pitifully upon the flag and deeply 
affecting all who witnessed the scene. The body, followed by Indians and white people in 
sad procession, was taken to the Congregational church where it remained throughout 
the night. Mr. H. J. Thornton, Congregational minister at Highmore, this state, who was 
visiting friends here, spoke a few words of consolation and cheer to the sorrowing 
Indians, who were then left to their sad vigil together with a guard of honor from the 
American Legion.
     Early on Sunday morning the body of the brave soldier was taken north to the banks 
of the Moreau River where elaborate preparations had been made for burial the 
following day. At noon on Monday a large delegation left Dupree including the members 
of the American Legion, under the post commander, Dr. F. H. Creamer, and Mr. H. J. 
Thornton, who had been requested to conduct the funeral services.
     At a point about three miles east of Thunder Butte sub-station a large Indian camp 
had been established. To the visitors from Dupree and surrounding towns it looked like a 
canvas city as their cars came into view over the summit of surrounding hills and 
descended to the river bank. In the center was a great tepee which had been specially 
constructed to contain the body. Its outer side was adorned in Indian fashion with 
illustrations of the tribal history and Old Glory floated beside at half mast. At two o'clock 
the funeral service began."

     James D. Stewart, proprietor of “The Dupree Leader” reflected on the early days of 
this county in an article appearing June 8, 1922.
     "LEADER BEGINS ITS TWELFTH YEAR. A glance at the heading of this paper will 
show that we begin with this issue Volume 12 of the DUPREE LEADER. This means 
that another year of life has gone by and that one more has begun.
     Reference to our files will show that our anniversary days have always found us in a 
thoughtful mood and that we have developed the habit of looking back over the road we 
have traveled. Not because it is our road alone but because our experiences and 
adventures have been those of all the early comers who entered this new territory in 
1910 and became its pioneer settlers. We have told the story before of how that hardy 
band pitched their tents on the open prairie, having little in their possession beside the 
vision of a flourishing city and surrounding country which would one day reward their 
courageous efforts. Those dreams were prophetic, for while we have not yet created a 
second Chicago we have developed a city of which we are proud, and our contributory 
territory is second to none in its rich development. We are glad to have had a part in this 
work and to have partaken of the life of our new country from its opening. As we begin 
this new year our determination is strong to work always for the best interests of Ziebach 
county." 
     Enough of "turning back". It's time to be on with the events of this great period of 
growth in our history.
     "Optimism" is the word which best describes the twenties. The country was 
developing. People were enthusiastic.
     New homes were being built and old ones remodeled. Wiring for electricity or having 
a telephone installed were front page stories. (Remember the Central telephone office 
with all the wires and plugs?) Note this item: 
     "Fred Campbell has built a small building on his lots west of the Thomas-Jeffries 
blacksmith shop and placed a large watertank on the top of the same. He will pump the 
water from a well he has nearby to the tank and use it for irrigating his garden. He 
expects to install a bath tub and shower also in the building, and it will prove of no little 
convenience to Fred and his friends."
     Not only were homes improved, but wells were drilled and dams built to assure a 
constant supply of water. Thomas Lovelady, who lived 5 1/2 miles south of Redelm, built 
a huge dam measuring 200 feet long, 18 feet high and 20 feet wide in about 1922.
     Most farm families milked from ten to twenty-five cows and sold cream. The cream 
was taken to a local cream station in town, or to the train depot to be shipped to another 
point where the price was a little higher. Empty cream cans by the dozens were left on 
the platform by the depot so it might take quite awhile to find the ones with your name on 
them. The cream check probably bought all of the groceries and some of the clothes for 
the family.
     Town folks, too, often had a milk cow. A small shed provided a barn for the night. 
Someone gathered the town herd every morning, took them to pasture and brought them 
back at night.
     Chickens were also kept by both town and country folks. State college experts at 
Brookings gave advice on how to preserve eggs with water glass. Water glass was a 
liquid which was mixed with sterilized water in a stone crock. In the spring, when eggs 
were plentiful, they were placed in this solution and they would keep for months. These 
eggs were used mostly for baking during winter months.
     The whereabouts of the threshing rigs, along with the yields, were reported in fall 
issues of the newspapers. Many men were needed to run the machine, haul bundles 
from the field to it and wagon loads of grain from it. It left a huge stack of straw to be 
used for livestock bedding.
     "Cooking for threshers" was a mammoth job for the women. It meant mid-morning 
lunch, dinner, mid-afternoon lunch and always supper, too. Local news items told who 
was helping if extra hands were needed in the kitchen. A variety of fresh meat was not 
readily available since butchering wasn't done until cold weather, but there was always 
chicken! After a month or more of threshing, the crew could hardly look at another piece 
of fried chicken.
     When threshing was finished, many men went to the eastern part of the state to husk 
corn for a couple of months.

[photo – The Saturday night bath in the 1920’s]

[photo – Having fun in the Moreau River in the late 1920’s]

[photo – Babe Woodward, Otto Albers and Orville (Dude) Woodward, with the fish they 
caught at Cherry Creek in the 1920’s]

     Instructions for building ice houses could be had free from the state college at 
Brookings. Huge quantities of ice were harvested at the Lantry Dam and brought by train 
to be stored in the big ice house in the northeast part of Dupree. Almost every farm had 
an ice house and a cave. The coldest days in January or February were ideal for putting 
up ice. It would last all summer when properly packed with sawdust or flax straw.
     Hunting and trapping were prevalent during the 20's. Bounties were paid by the 
county for coyotes, magpies and gophers. Many children earned some pocket money in 
this way. 
     This item was in The Leader June 1, 1922. 
     "Matt Clasen, who has lived in this district for the past twenty-four years, left 
yesterday for his home on Flint Rock Creek northeast of Faith after a short visit  in 
Dupree. He is a hunter and trapper,  and in years gone by the Matador, L7 and  other big 
cattle companies paid him a  good bounty for gray wolves, so destructive to their herds. 
In later years he hunts  coyotes and smaller furbearing animals, already this season he 
has captured nine teen coyotes. He is a new subscriber to the  LEADER."

[photo – Otto and Mattie Albers with their first harvest of furs. This earned $101.21 in 
1922]

[photo – Vin Jeffries trapping coyotes on the L/Y ranch, 1923]

     Matters of health received a lot of news space. Leila Rowley was hired as county 
nurse in 1921. This is her first report.
     "REPORT OF THE COUNTY NURSE. 
No. of schools visited ...............48 
No. of pupils weighed, measured and inspected ................... 619 
No. of physical defects ............. 399 
No. of undernourished (10% or more) .................. 157 
No. of abnormal tonsils ............ 184 
No. with decayed teeth .............225 
No. abnormal vision ................73
     Saturday, October 8, we held a dental clinic. Dr. Teskey, of Faith, done the work. 
Twenty-two teeth were filled and eighty were extracted. Drs. Teskey and Creamer both 
done the extractions.
     Sunday, October 16, Drs. Ross and Creamer removed tonsils and adenoids for the 
school children. Tuesday, October 18, another clinic was held for the same children. 12 
children have had this work done.
     There is a great deal to do in this county yet, as can readily be seen by a glance at 
the above numbers."
     Removing tonsils and adenoids was a routine performance. A Dr. Robbins would also 
come from Pierre to assist Dr. Creamer. The hospital would be full of beds with patients 
"coming out" from the ether used as an anesthetic. Unless there were complications the 
patients were only kept a few hours.
     Common afflictions were heart disease, pneumonia, tuberculosis, grippe, scarlet and 
typhoid fever and appendicitis. There were many more deaths reported during the 
second decade of this new county.
     Accidents from runaway horses, automobiles and farm machines were common.
     Someone being called back "home" to mourn the loss of parents or other relatives 
was told of in almost every issue of the paper.

[photo of un-named family, horse and wagon]

     Horses still furnished most of the transportation as the decade began.
     '' MAKES LONG DRIVE OVER RESERVATION. Agent C. D. Munro and Mr. L. J. 
Rochford, of the Cheyenne Agency, stopped at the Shelton Hotel overnight Thursday 
while on the return from a trip to Cherry Creek. They had made an extensive tour of 
inspection over the reservation. Starting from the Agency, they followed the river to a 
point west of Mobridge, thence to Promise and back to Trail City, going from there to 
Timber Lake and Isabel, coming from the latter point to Dupree. From Cherry Creek they 
made a trip in the vicinity of Rattle Snake Butte and returned to Cherry Creek before 
coming here. They made the rounds with a team and cutter, and when they reached 
home, estimated the trip would cover a distance of about 350 miles -- a good travel, 
especially with the roads in the condition they were at that time. Using the words of Mr. 
Rochford, the driver: "We found no roads, they were covered with two feet of snow, so 
we just took a beeline over the prairie for the point we wanted to go, over snow and 
fences."
     The automobile changed life everywhere. It revolutionized it in this remote area 
where "town" might be thirty miles away. During the teens, cars were still a novelty, but 
before the end of the twenties, virtually everyone had one. In the teens, travel to distant 
points was by train, now people "motored". Cars were still referred to as "tin lizzies", 
especially when they frightened a team of horses.
     A local item in the Redelm Record in April, 1926 read: "Sure keeps one busy keeping 
track of all the car deals around here." To be sure there was much to keep track of. No 
longer was every car a Ford. Now people were buying Chevrolet (sold by Frank 
McDaniel of Lantry), Oldsmobile, Jewett-Six, Star, Buick, Overland-Six, Chrysler and 
Dodge. Chevrolet and Reo trucks were purchased as were Fordson, Rumley and Hart-
Parr tractors.
     In September 1921 this ad appeared: "FOR SALE: Ford touring car with self starter 
and demountable rims." Another ad in December of that year enticed the buyer to "Buy a 
motor car warmer and don't freeze while making drives this cold weather."

[advertisement for Ford automobiles, 1921]

     The wonders of automobile travel are revealed in this front page article in September 
1921.
     "TRIP WAS MADE TO THE HILLS AND RETURN WITHOUT A MISHAP--RECORD 
TIME COMING HOME. Escorted by G. A. McGarraugh of the Farmers State Bank, and 
Jos. J. Simandl, superintendent of construction of the bridge across the Cheyenne river. 
seven Shriners and two ladies left Dupree at 10:25 last Friday morning for Deadwood. 
The occasion was a visit by the local Shriners to Naja Temple and witness the 
pilgrimage of the class of 18 novices across the hot sands of the desert to the city of 
Mecca. The day was a most propitious one for the trip. The number making up the party 
were: Messrs. G. A. McGarraugh, M. H. Kaufman, John:Hinkel, W. W. Davidson, J. D. 
Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. Jos. J. Simandl and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Smith.
     Short stops were made along the route, the first being at Faith. The party left that 
point at 11:20 and at Sulphur creek stopped for dinner and left at 1:20. Marcus was 
passed at 1:50 and White Owl at 2:25. Twenty minutes later the Black Hills were sighted, 
and every stop from then on, the party would sing:
     "Cheer! cheer! the gang's all here," etc., which added to the joy of the trip. The Belle 
Fourche river was crossed at 3:55; Bear Butte passed at 4:55; Ft.
Meade at 5:10 and Sturgis reached at 5:20. 35 minutes later the pass was made through 
Whitewood and Deadwood was reached at 6:30.
     A host of new industries were spawned to accommodate the use of the auto. Filling 
stations and garages sprang up everywhere. In January of 1922 it was reported that Gus 
Yusko went to a trade school in Chicago to learn to vulcanize tires.
     In 1926 the Congregational Church had its thought for the week on the front page. 
This is one preacher's view of the automobile.
     "We are living in the age of the automobile. A Fifth Avenue tailor says: "the genuine, 
well dressed gentleman is getting hard to find. Instead of clothes made to measure, 
everybody is buying a ready-to-wear suit at half price, saving the money for gasoline." 
There is going on an exchange of one extravagance for another, we save on cigars, 
diamonds, hats and party dresses, and this money goes into the auto. Very well, let' er 
go. The world is the gainer. It means tan, brawn, sound sleep and good digestion, 
against pale cheeks, weak eyes, and nerves that need a bracer. The man with an auto 
takes with him the family, while before, the old-time horse had a one-man wagon and he 
went alone. The wife along is a governor to the social engine, and a rudder to keep the 
husband's eyes off the flappers. Sure, but don't buy an auto if you don't see how to pay 
for it. Debt is a rope to your foot, cockleburrs in your hair, a fly in the cold cream of your 
beauty dope. Keep within your financial speed limit, or fate, like a small town constable, 
will surely pinch you. Since Adam and Eve were shoplifters, and helped themselves to 
fruit and fig-leaves which they could ill afford, extravagant people will find a way to waste 
time and money. No use however for us to have melancholia. Turn 'er over, and we'll 
take a run to the church next Sunday.
     Sunday School at 10 A.M.
     Morning Worship at 11 A.M.

     Foremost of the new industries was the building of roads. Most roads had been trails 
unencumbered by fences. Now the papers were full of stories of road and bridge 
construction and graveling of highways. Bridges were being erected at Forest City on the 
Missouri River, across the Cheyenne and Moreau rivers and no less exciting to local 
people was the bridge across Bear Creek just west of Dupree. When work began on it in 
May of 1922 it was heralded as a great convenience in traveling to Redelm and points 
west.
     Delays in the construction of the road west of Isabel toward Lemmon were often 
commented on. The east-west road through Dupree was number 22 before it became 
212.
     Did you ever wonder how Leedom Pike got its name? This article from January 1, 
1926 might give a clue.
     "We note in the daily press that Chet. Leedom, former Highway Commissioner of 
South Dakota, has been nominated by President Coolidge for the office of U. S. Marshal 
for South Dakota. As soon as his appointment is confirmed by the Senate, Mr. Leedom 
will assume the duties of the office. While a member of the highway commission, it was 
largely through Mr. Leedom's efforts that the west river country was so generously 
endowed with the state road building program, and largely through his support, is due 
the credit for the Dupree-Isabel road and bridge over the Moreau. Chet. is a pioneer of 
western South Dakota, and his world of friends all over the state extend congratulations 
for the merited recognition of his ability and service to the state and the west river 
country. Senators Norbeck and McMasters'and President Coolidge are to be 
congratulated upon naming a man who will fill this important office with credit to the state 
and nation."
     Other newspaper items reflect on the roads. This item was clipped from the Isabel 
News July 10, 1925.
     "The road from Isabel to Dupree is now in excellent shape. You safely direct all 
tourists en route to the Black Hills over No. 65. It was just about twelve years ago when 
a few of the business men at Isabel started the agitation for the bridge across the 
Moreau and all down through the years the fight was kept up until the bridge was finally 
built. A few at Dupree, but they were very few, stuck out for the building of this bridge. 
After the bridge was secured the work of getting the road began and today it is one of 
the finest prairie roads in the state. There should be a lot of tourist travel over this road 
from now on. Many will go out to the park this way and return over the Yellowstone. 
Others will go over the Yellowstone, take in the Hills and return this way."
     From the Eagle Butte News March 12, 1926, comes this comment:
     "Good roads are an asset to any country or community, and Dewey and Ziebach 
counties, for newly settled localities, are well fixed in this respect. With a system of state 
highways passing through all the towns and a trunk highway from the east to the Black 
Hills and Yellowstone Park, every convenience for travel at home and abroad is 
adequately supplied, and the roads are worth the money they have cost. Very few 
people would be willing to go back to road conditions of a few years ago, even if by so 
doing they could save what it cost in taxation.
     Local roads were cared for by people living in the community. Monthly county 
commissioner proceedings reported payment to local farmers for road work done in their 
area. On May 11, 1922, this item was printed: "Mr. Peter Q. Schmidt and Mr. Emest 
Prouty, prominent farmers north of the river, spent Monday night of this week in Dupree. 
They were here with horses to get a road grader to do some work on the roads leading 
to the state highway being graded to Isabel." Most districts had a horse-drawn road 
maintainer and one person was hired to operate it.
     The 18th Amendment which prohibited the manufacture, sale or transportation of 
intoxicating beverages went into effect January 16, 1920. The stage was thus set for a 
fourteen year game of "cops and robbers". The 21st Amendment repealing prohibition 
went into effect December 5, 1933.
The local newspapers were full of accounts of the action. In the fall of 1921 this item was 
seen.
     "SHERIFF MILTON RAIDS A STILL. Last Friday night Sheriff Milton and deputy 
Lester Garrett, under cover of darkness, made a trip to the vicinity of Chase on business 
in their official capacity, and when scouring about the hills found a still in full operation 
with plenty of material. 3men were placed under arrest and brought to town. They were 
given a hearing on Saturday, and released under bonds to appear at the coming term of 
court."
     Another story told of catching a bootlegger about a mile from a country school dance 
in the Eagle Butte area. People from the dance would come to buy hootch. It was hoped 
that the offenders would be severely punished for thus corrupting our young people.
     There were punishments! Many were tried in Circuit Court, fined and sent to prison.
     "Two Gun'' Hart became a legendary figure in the battle of booze.
     "Hart is famous throughout the west as a marksman, and participated in many gun 
battles with outlaws, bootleggers and moonshiners.
     He has served as special Nebraska sheriff and marshal for the department of justice 
of the state of Nebraska, and for the last four years has been serving the federal 
government as a deputy special Indian agent on Nebraska's Indian reservations.
     August 1 he was advanced in the government department, and now is a special 
Indian agent, having charge of deputy agents. His territory also was increased and was 
made to include all of the Sioux Indian reservations in South Dakota.
     During the last four weeks he has been working as prohibition officer in the counties 
of Corson, Ziebach and Dewey, of South Dakota, capturing many booze runners and 
confiscating a hundred gallon still, 600 gallons of mash and 50 gallons of finished 
whiskey in raids, conducted in Ziebach county." Sioux City Tribune.
     "Two Gun" Hart, the government "dry" operative, stopped in town last Saturday 
afternoon with a still and about 30 gallons of moonshine, the result of a raid he made on 
a place about twenty ;miles west of Isabel. He left for the Agency with the complete outfit 
and produce that evening, where it will be stored as evidence for use in prosecution of 
the case when it comes up for hearing in U. S. court.
     "Two Gun Hart" a noted employee of the Federal Prohibition Department and 
company Superintendent Craige of Cheyenne Agency, made quite a haul on a farm in 
the northwest part of the county last week, according to reports. A large still, 50 gallons 
of mash and 50 gallons of finished product was seized and taken to Cheyenne Agency. 
Reports are that Hart takes a dog along when he goes hunting stills, and the dog soon 
leads the investigators to the spot where the still or hooch is concealed, even though it 
be buried. Such being a fact, is it any wonder that Hart has made a reputation of getting 
the goods when he goes out after the moonshiner.
     Many people here remember "Two Gun". It was rumored that he was a brother of Al 
Capone. He must have become overzealous in his role because there was also a story 
about him being found guilty of assault by a jury at Selfridge, North Dakota.
     This item which appeared in The Leader on February 2, 1922 is typical of social 
events reported in every issue. 
     "ENTERTAINMENTS AND SOCIAL MEETINGS HELP TO PASS THE TIME 
DURING THE LONG WINTER MONTHS. Dupree folks seem to have adopted a plan 
which helps to shorten the long winter months by social gatherings, card parties and the 
like.
     Last Thursday night, Attorney and Mrs. Frank Gladstone entertained a number of 
friends at progressive whist at their home in the east part of town, seven tables being 
used. At midnight a delicious lunch was served and enjoyed by the many guests.
     Mrs. J. J. Pollard and Mrs. Effie Leake entertained at the home of the latter on Friday 
afternoon of last week a number of ladies at a whist party, at the close of which a dainty 
lunch was served.
     Miss Viola Oliver entertained a number of her school mates on Monday night of this 
week at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Anson Callen, the occasion being her twelfth birthday 
anniversary. The time was spent in playing games, and a delicious lunch was served 
which the young folks thoroughly enjoyed.
     On Tuesday night of this week Mr. and Mrs. G. A. McGarraugh entertained at their 
home. The pastime of the evening was progressive whist, five tables being used, and a 
royal good time was afforded all present. Before the departure of the guests to their 
respective homes a luncheon and short social visit was enjoyed. 
     It almost seems as if people danced their way through the twenties. There were barn 
dances, schoolhouse dances, bowery dances and dances at the community hall. 
Dances were held after three act plays, with box socials, at farewell or surprise parties. 
Carloads of young people would come from as far as Timber Lake to dance on the new 
smooth floor at the community hall in Dupree. Young people from here went as far as 
Firesteel by car. If roads were blocked, a bobsled made a good conveyance and going 
horseback ten miles to a dance wasn't far.
     We've heard so much about the uninhibited dances of the 20's. Here's an article that 
was clipped from the Wagner Eagle in 1926. 
     "MODERN DANCING AS AN EDITOR SEES IT. We stopped and took a peep into 
the dance hall the other night and we were fully convinced that some of the best 
wrestling matches the world has ever known have not been nationally advertised. 
Somebody's missing a fortune by the sale of ringside seats. If it hadn't been for the 
music, arrests for assault and battery could have been made promiscuously. Some of 
the dancers showed characteristics of first-class A-1 contortionists and some record 
breaking hopskip artists were present with hair oil running down their spinal column and 
their hair plastered back over a cranium that had nothing in it but a burning desire to 
spar with the "Charleston" or "Flee Hop." Yes, our kid was there backing 'em around the 
hall just like the rest, but with a different movement than he puts on when he waltzes the 
lawn mower at home--if he ever did, but he don't. An eighty year old man with the ague 
would be a Beau Brummel in a ball room nowadays. One couple swayed everything but 
their feet--and they didn't have out a parking sign either. Some of the "sheiks" bent over 
their partners at an angle that would make the Hunchback of Notre Dame look as 
straight as a telephone pole. Others grasped their "li'l" girl in a vise grip, and kicked them 
on the shins. More who rolled their stockings than will ever roll a perambulator. The 
music resembled a 1913 Ford running through a galvanized corrugated culvert. My! My! 
Ain't we got fun?"
     He failed to mention brazenly displayed gaudy garters.
     Celebrations were held at every community. The July 3, 1925 issue of the Redelm 
Record tells of the many wagonloads of people coming through Dupree from Thunder 
Butte on their way to Cherry Creek for the 4th of July Celebration.
     All roads led to Redelm for their Pre-Harvest Festival the end of July in 1926.
     Dupree celebrated the 4th of July or Labor Day or both.
     All of the stations, Thunder Butte, Red Scaffold, Cherry Creek and Bridger held fairs 
every fall prior to the big Reservation Fair at the Cheyenne Agency.
     People loved to gather. Any pretext would do. There was church and Sunday school, 
which were often held at the rural school. There were card parties, dinners, ball games 
and picnics. This amusing item was in the news from the Chase area in 1926.
     "The picnic held at Longbrake's in Ward's grove was a rousing success. Everybody 
joined together to make it a pleasant affair and we had it. After a bounteous dinner, Ike 
Lee was persuaded to freeze the ice cream. After turning the freezer furiously for some 
time, Ike peeped inside and found he was turning an empty freezer. There were boys 
races, girls races, horse races and bucking broncos. The' day ended with a dance at Ed 
Lafferty's."
     When Jess Millers got a radio in January, 1926, it was worthy of mention in the 
paper. Friends would be entertained at their home on winter evenings. "Amos and Andy" 
and the "WLS Barn Dance featuring Lulabelle and Scotty" from Chicago must surely 
have been heard.
     It is hard to conceive what a wonder this new device was. Live music, the news, 
weather, hospital reports, comedies and dramas were all yours with a little dial twisting. 
Never mind that they were big cumbersome gadgets often with poor reception and a lot 
of static. They were miracles that came into the living room of every home.
     "The Good Old Days are coming back" was the view expressed by C. G. Worsham of 
the State Department of Agriculture June 1, 1922. 
     "THE GOOD OLD DAYS ARE GRADUALLY COMING BACK.” In the good old days 
prices were better than they are now,' is an expression frequently heard on many farms 
today. As a matter of fact the statement is only partly true.
 The farmer sells his products, meaning everything that he raises for the market, for 28 
percent more than he got in the good old days. The big question is: ''HOW MUCH 
MORE WILL HE HAVE TO PAY FOR WHAT HE BUYS THAN HE DID IN 1913?" And 
that is the large half of the story.
     He sells for 28 percent more but pays 52 percent more than he did in 1913. 
Therefore, when the farmer goes to spend his $1.28 he finds that it will buy just 84 
percent as much as did his dollar in 'the good old days' of 1913.
     It is not so much 'the good old days' that we want back again as a leveling up in 
prices so that the farmer's dollar is on the same basis as other dollars, and this seems to 
be gradually coming about. A year ago the farmer's dollar was worth but 77 cents. Today 
it is worth 84 cents and the indications all point to an even more rapid narrowing of the 
wide spread now existing between the price of what the farmer sells in comparison with 
the price of what he purchases.
     Yes, the good old days are surely coming back, they have got to come back-but they 
do seem to be taking their time about it.''
     In January of 1926 the economy still looked good. A front page story stated: "The 
total deposits in the banks in this area are up, reflecting the prosperity of the farmers and 
stockmen."
     We know how the drama of the 20's ends--the market crashed in 1929! We'll leave 
before the final curtain with this up-beat editorial by Mr. E. L. Schetnan.
     "This week is something of an anniversary to the Progress editor because it was at 
this time in 1910 that he first came out here. At that time there was little enough to offer 
a man, save that everyone was imbued with a spirit of fine intentions and a world of 
courage to affect an improvement and development of the vast expanse of raw prairie 
that lay before one's eye everywhere. Looking back upon that period we almost marvel 
at the change of development that has taken place. Then there was only an unbroken 
stretch of prairie, no towns, no farms, no roads. Today we have fine little towns with 
most of the modern conveniences such as banks, stores, railroads, hotels, schools, 
churches, etc. Our farms can be compared with any in the state; they are well improved, 
productive and give the farmer a comfortable living for the labor expended. At that time 
there were no roads--you had to follow Indian trails or winding cow paths. What a 
change today! You travel in luxurious closed cars over fine highways at the rate of 30 to 
60 miles an hour. By motor you can now travel to the Atlantic or the Pacific coast. Then 
we were virtually outside civilization; today we are in the center of it with national 
highways running through every town. We are connected with the eastern part of the 
state through several bridges that span the mighty Missouri. We can cross that 
treacherous stream at any time. What a wonderful change we have had the privilege to 
observe. And all for the betterment of mankind."

THE DIRTY THIRTIES
     The collapse of the economy coupled with the drought shaped lives in Ziebach 
County during the 1930's. More than ever before National and International events 
influenced what happened here.
     These were headline stories in the big daily newspapers and on the radio, which by 
now was in virtually every home.
Oct. 30, 1929 Stock Market Crashes.
Nov. 30, 1929 Admiral Byrd safely flies to South Pole and back.
April 21, 1930 Lindbergh sets a record from   coast of 14 3/4 hours with wife as navigator 
flies 180 MPH at 14,000 ft.
May 2, 1930 Worst of Depression is over, says   Hoover   
Aug. 6, 1930 Hoover takes up drought relief plans.
Sept. 23, 1930 Soviet undersells our wheat abroad; report 10 cent cut halts export. 
Oct. 1, 1930 Bread lines and soup kitchens familiar sight in cities.
May 31, 1931 Hoover urges nation to be steadfast in the "Valley Forge of Depression". 
March 2, 1932 Lindbergh baby kidnapped. 
April 25, 1932 Nazis gaining power in Europe. 
June 17, 1932 Hoover, Curtis renamed on first ballot at Republican Convention.
Nov. 9, 1932 Roosevelt winner in landslide. 
March 5, 1933 Roosevelt inaugurated, acts to end the national banking crisis quickly. 
March 24, 1933 Hitler Cabinet gets power to rule as a dictatorship.
Dec. 6, 1933 Prohibition repeal ratified. 
July 25, 1934 Cattle die by thousands in Oklahoma drought.
July 1936 Relief to 134,000 families planned for drought area.
Dec. 1936 Edward VIII renounces British Crown to marry Wallis Simpson. 
March 1938 Hitler enters Austria in Triumphal Parade.
Sept. 1939 Britain and France in war with Germany.
     Hoover was reluctant to interfere with the American economy. He called the 
depression "a temporary halt in the prosperity of a great people". He believed that the 
states and local communities should provide relief for their own jobless, but it became 
clear that much more was needed. Congress authorized the Reconstruction Finance 
Corp. (RFC) to loan money to the states.
     The Faith Gazette of July 26, 1932 announced that South Dakota would get two 
million dollars, which would increase employment on state roads.
     Roosevelt was elected by a landslide in November, 1932. He took office March 4, 
1933 and immediately went into action.
     From the 9th of March through June 16, 1933 a special session of Congress 
succeeded in passing legislation which gave the country new hope. The Emergency 
Banking Act helped end the money panic and stabilize the banks. The first 
unemployment relief measures were implemented and the Civilian Conservation Corps 
(C.C.C.) was created. The purchasing power of agricultural producers was restored 
through the Agricultural Adjustment Act (A.A.A.). The National Industrial Recovery Act 
was designed to revive industrial and business activity and to reduce unemployment. 
The "New Deal" was taking shape.
     The West River Progress, a republican decried the "New Deal" and the economy 
would stabilize itself if didn't interfere. The Ziebach News, a democrat paper, saw the 
"New Deal" as giving hope to the hopeless help to the helpless. Whichever political one 
espoused, "New Deal" programs as applied to Ziebach County were in every paper.
     Ziebach County News August 20, 1936. WPA ACTIVITIES ARE DEVELOPING--
BLANKET PROJECTS ARE APPROVED: CASES BEING CARED FOR -- Mr. Koupal of 
Faith, WPA resident engineer for section, was a visitor in Dupree, Tuesday. brought the 
good news that the blanket of dams for Ziebach County was and that by the time the 
next work
starts it is planned that all workmen will placed closer to their homes. At this time other 
than the ones being worked not been approved.
     Following is a review of Welfare activities for Ziebach County:
     Approximately 450 cases in the county have  certified to WPA, with about 325 work-
assigned to jobs.
     There are 100 cases on the resettlement grant
     There are 15 cases on welfare for the month August.
     In all, there are about 450 families in the county that are being taken care of in some 
form of relief.
     There are 10 projects now under construction, as well as one well.
     The commodity department has put out approximately 40,000 pounds of mill feed, 
120 boxes of apples, and 500 sacks of flour.
     The quota for NYA workers has been raised to 55. There are now 48 working. To be 
eligible for NYA employment one must be between the ages of 18 and 25, must not be 
intending to go to school the coming term, and, as yet, from a relief family. Only one 
person in a family is allowed to work.
     Thousands of young men unable to find jobs were put to work by the C.C.C.
     These items from the Faith Gazette tell part of the story.
     April 19, 1933 S.D. to put 1400 men to work in Uncle Sam’s re-forestation projects.
     May 24, 1933 Cheyenne River Indian Reservation Camp has tentatively allotted for 
200 Indian men for six months, making truck trails and range improvements, fences and 
corrals and range water and miscellaneous improvements, fire suppression and erosion 
control.
     Isaac Long of Bridger tells more about this.
     "At the time, (1930's) they had CCC under Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Isaac was 
appointed as a time-keeper. There were twenty men on the crew. They were paid a 
dollar fifty a day, for single persons. They built fence from the junction on the river, north 
along the highway for eight miles, along the boundary of the reservation. The crew 
worked from July 8 through the middle of August. Everything was done by hand. The 
poles were two different sizes, for the flat and for hillsides. They were allowed two 
teams. Fifty cents a day was paid for furnishing a team. One team was to haul water and 
the other, wood. Every other day they went after water. The crew made a 3-wire fence, 
and had four wire stretchers. The wire was pulled on horseback to tighten it. They had to 
lay the wires down through the breaks. John Black Bull, a tall guy, had experience as he 
used to work for the Diamond A. He gave signals for the wire to be tightened. Now only 
Isaac Long and Henry Red Horse are living of that fence crew. After the fence was built, 
they switched to WPA or Works Progress Association and built four big stock water 
dams. They were paid $2.40 a day for single men.''
     Almost weekly there were local news items about young men from our area leaving 
for CCC camps. They were paid $30.00 per month, $25.00 of which was sent to their 
parents: A book of coupons worth $5.00 could be purchased at the camp commissary. 
The frugal paid cash and so were assured of having cigarettes and other personal items 
all month. The reckless ones took their $5.00 to town, blew it, and had to borrow to get 
by until next pay day.
     The plight of the rancher and farmer was in every issue of the local papers. Most 
ranchers were hard pressed to find feed and water for their livestock. Some who lived 
through this period declare that they are still haunted by the sound of cattle bawling for a 
drink of water and something to eat. Water holes had to be monitored regularly to rescue 
livestock mired in the mud.

[photo – Grasshoppers on the Otto Albers farm in 1933]

     These items appeared in the Faith Gazette. June 13, 1934 -- Government Cattle 
Program of Buying. Government appraisers will go into the field to appraise cattle of 
people having to sell or wanting to sell. Contact your community appraiser or agricultural 
agent. June 27, 1934 -- Large numbers of cattle bought by Government. Some cattle 
were in good shape and used for human consumption, others shot. Young calves were 
slaughtered and given to relief. July 11, 1934 -- Suspend buying of cattle due to 
congestion at various plants. No more cattle will be bought. (More cattle were bought 
later, however.)
     The amount paid to the rancher could not be verified by newspapers and after 50 
years, people who very well remember the despair of having to sell, cannot recall exactly 
how much they were paid. It seems to be generally agreed that it was between $18.00 to 
$20.00 for cows and $3.00 for calves. Local cattle buyers with money to invest could 
take their pick of the herd by paying a couple of extra dollars to the distressed rancher.

[photo – Shooting cattle in burying pit during the depression in the 1930’s]

[photo – Farming in the 1930’s]

[photo – Farming in the 1930’s. Mary Ellen and Otto Albers, Lawrence Woodward]

     Huge ditches were dug to bury the cattle that were too skinny to eat. Some of the 
better cattle were butchered locally and distributed to needy families.
     The Milwaukee railroad assisted the Red Cross by hauling clothing, food and 
livestock feed without charge during part of the emergency.
     Local news columns had so many items about people going to other areas in search 
of feed for their cattle.
     Russian thistles were about the only thing which grew, so they were used for 
livestock feed. They were cut green, allowed to dry and then stacked with salt added to 
each layer. The salt prevented them from molding. Some ranchers added molasses to 
make them more palatable and increase the food value.
     Another method of providing feed was told in the Faith Gazette in 1936.
     "FAITH MAN PUTTING UP CACTUS FOR SHEEP FEED. James Land, our genial 
city marshal, not having enough work to keep him busy, has been working his brain 
overtime on a device to burn the spines off cactus that are growing profusely in some 
parts of the country to make them available for sheep feed this winter.
     He mounts a gasoline blow torch on a shovel or fork handle and that is about all there 
is to the invention. The torch is then generated in the usual manner and a man walks 
through the cactus bed, holding the torch in front of him with a swinging motion as 
though mowing grass, applies it to the cactus and burns off the spines. The spines burn 
very quickly and readily, and if the torch is properly applied, a large space can be 
covered in a few minutes, without igniting the cactus leaves which are pulp and difficult 
to burn. Another man follows with a strong stable fork and pitches the cactus into a 
wagon. They are of shallow growth and come out of the ground easily. The sheep will 
eat these cactus very greedily after the spines are removed and with a little grain or oil 
cake can put through the winter with little or no hay.''
     Rural Credit, a state lending agency established in 1927, loaned money to farmers 
and ranchers to help them stay in business. The drought and depression joined forces to 
make it impossible to pay back the loans. By 1932, approximately 36% of all taxable 
land was owned by Rural Credit. The county and Rural Credit sold land by bid back to 
the farmers and ranchers. Some bought for $1.00 per acre. Later there was more 
competition and it was higher.
     The weather is always an important topic of conversation for people whose livelihood 
depends on it, and there was much to talk about in the 1930's.
     Huge tracts of land had been plowed during the 20's and rangeland had been 
overgrazed, leaving bare land unprotected when the drought came.
     The wind, the incessant howling wind, gathered top soil and carried great curtains of 
dust across the continent. The "black blizzards" made it impossible to see for more than 
a few feet. Many people wore masks to protect their throat and lungs. Russian thistles 
blew along fences and into road ditches and caught the drifting soil which often 
completely covered fences. Windows were covered with wet sheets to keep the dust 
from swirling inside the homes.

[photo – Hauling manure in the 1930’s]

[photo – Heading for Nebraska in the 1930’s]

[photo – As long as people keep their sense of humor, even insurmountable hardships 
can be endured. Grasshoppers were “no laughing matter”, but read on:
A postcard sent from Pierre to Iowa in 1937 began, “Hoppers grew a little since you left, 
didn’t they? Seeing is believing. In Nebraska they pull wagons, but here we just hop on 
old Hoppy and hop along to town – Ha!”]

[photo – COMING-April 18-19-20-1936 “Tuffy” in his first starring picture “The Mighty 
Treve” At WAPAZO THEATRE, FAITH]

     The extreme heat made headlines in local papers. These items appeared in the July 
16, 1936 Progress.
     "HEAT BROKE THERMOMETER. The thermometer down at the Club Pool Hall 
which for many years has served as a reliable indicator as to how hot or cold it was is no 
more. The heat last Thursday was too much for it and the mercury broke the glass tube. 
Jim Larson says he is going to invest $4 in a new thermometer, but says he isn't going to 
spend his four bucks unless he can get a thermometer that will register up to 212 
degrees." 
     "HOPPERS ARE VERY ABUNDANT. During those hot evenings the grasshoppers 
are swarming into town by the thousands, attracted by the street lights. They fly against 
the walls of buildings and fall down on the cement sidewalks and a fellow could scoop up 
bushels of them."
     "HELGE SANDVEN PASSED SUDDENLY. Helge Sandven, 70, passed away 
suddenly Saturday at about 4:00 o'clock. He and his two brothers, John and Essaias 
were in Dupree and started for home, but four miles west of town he became ill, and 
stopped the car. He was brought back to Dupree and died in Dr. Creamer's office. Death 
was attributed to the heat."
     INDIAN GOLD STAR MOTHER DIED FRIDAY. Mrs. Amos Clown, age 70 of Thunder 
Butte station, died as a result of the excessive heat Friday evening about 7 o'clock. She 
was buried at the Clown cemetery of the Moreau river Saturday afternoon. She was a 
member of the American Legion Auxiliary of Dupree and was the only Gold Star mother 
of the
Auxiliary."
     1936 was a year of temperature extremes. An extremely cold winter was followed by 
a hot summer. July 1936 was the hottest month ever recorded in Ziebach County.
     John Lemke submitted these statistics on rainfall and temperature for that year. 
Government statistics taken 1 mile north of Dupree by W. T. Searson.
January  	.67     		July                   .31
February	.72     		August            1.27  
March              .91		September       .76 
April               1.19		 October           .71 
May                  .06		November       1.75 
June                 .21		December         .16
-----------------------------------------------------
TOTAL RAINFALL 8.06 inches

Temperatures above 95 degrees in 1936
June 7   	95			            July 6		114
June 13	98				July 7		109
June 15	106				July 8		110
June 18	104				July 9		110
June 19	97				July 10	            112
June 24	108				July 11	            107
June 25	107				July 15	             110
June 29	108				July 16   	113
July 4		106				July 17	            109
July 5		110				July 18	            109

     By 1937 the drought began to lose its grip. The June 3rd issue of the Ziebach County 
News had this banner headline and comment. "West River Country Jubilant Over Big 
Rain." Before the general rain, the feeling of general pessimism that prevailed among 
the farmers was grim, but since the heavy rainfall optimism has taken place and the 
feeling is the country can now carry on and make a good yield if conditions continue 
normal."
      Measures to heal the land and promote better care of it were undertaken.
     On February 17, 1938 the Ziebach County News read, "Ranchers in Ziebach County 
constructed 88 dams containing 50,538 cubic yards of dirt and allowed substantial 
(162,303) acres of grazing land to re-seed naturally under the deferred grazing practice 
set out in the provisions of the 1937 Agricultural Range Program. (25cents per was paid 
to allow the land to revert to grazing land.)"
     Fancy pink salmon, tall 1 lb. can, 2 for 17 cents; Wheaties, large 8 oz. package, 11 
cents; fruit jar rubbers, 2 doz. for 7cents; assorted spices, 2 oz. cans, 5 cents; Occident 
flour, 49 lb. sack, $1.50. These were prices quoted in a 1936 Leader Store ad.
     Even with such prices the homemaker had to use all of her ingenuity to stretch the 
money to provide adequate food and clothing for the family. The S.D. Extension Office 
through its clubs tried to aid in this task.
     In the July 23, 1936 issue, these items appeared in the Ziebach County News.  
     "WILL CONDUCT CLOTHING  DEMONSTRATION JULY 31. Another  big day for the 
homemakers in Ziebach  county has been scheduled for Friday,  July 31. At that time 
Miss Ada Johnson,  Home Specialist from State College, will  be in Dupree to conduct a 
demonstration  on "Clothing Economies." This demonstration will be held in the court 
room in  Dupree beginning at 10 a.m. and will  carry over into the afternoon. The women  
are to bring in dresses or felt hats that  they wish suggestions for remodeling.  This 
demonstration as originally scheduled, was to have been on the subject of  "Food 
Preservation" but due to the  drought, the subject has been changed to  "Clothing 
Economic", which includes  the remodeling of garments.
     "REMODELING BEDDING'' TO BE TOPIC MERIFUS. The Merifu Women's club met 
last Saturday at the home of Mrs. James P. Nelsen with 15 in attendance. Mrs. Searson 
and Mrs. Stevens gave a demonstration on "New Deal for Old Clothes". This club will 
hold their next meeting on Thursday, September 24, at the home of Mrs. Charles 
Hersey. Their subject for demonstration at that time will be "Remodeling Bedding."
     "GARMENTS AND FOODSTUFFS. More than 982,911 garments and 6,503 tons of 
foodstuffs were distributed from surplus commodity supplies to needy persons by WPA 
workers, and 151 sewing rooms produced or repaired 331,446 articles. Other activities 
included 234 visits for medical, dental and nursing assistance, and, in public libraries, 
the repair of 26,194 volumes. In addition, 1,454 school lunches were served needy 
children."
     In 1935 a case worker made the following report of an Indian household.
     HOUSE: Worker visited M at his home four miles from the Thunder Butte Station. The 
two room log house had a dirt roof. One room had a regular grain edged floor and the 
other room, used for a kitchen, had a plain board flooring. The house was sixteen by 
thirty-two and both rooms required entire new flooring, beaver board ceiling and walls, 
and weather bearded on the outside, with a shingled roof. The one room used for 
sleeping quarters has one iron bed, a table, three trunks, two chairs, three benches and 
a set of new work harness. The kitchen part has one table, a wash stand, a chair, a 
stove and an old cupboard. The outbuildings consisted of a cave cellar, and a four pole 
shed. The roads leading in and out of M's house were in poor traveling condition. The 
home was on W's allotment of one hundred sixty acres. M stated that he could use a 
barn to hold his team of horses.
     SANITATION: The family hauled water from an open well about two hundred yards 
from the house. There was no privy.
     There was a mass exodus of people from this area during the 30's. Every paper 
carried stories of families literally "looking for greener pastures." Some were helped by 
the government as these items from the July 9 and September 17, 1936 editions of the 
Ziebach County News show.  
     "DROUGHT RELIEF PLANS REVEALED. Will Relocate Drought Residents; Furnish 
Money to Restock Stricken Areas -- Washington: Government plans to aid farmers in 
leaving five drought-stricken western areas were announced Saturday by Harry L. 
Hopkins, Works Progress Administrator.
     Explaining that in parts of North and South Dakota, in northwestern Texas, and parts 
of Colorado and Kansas, it was impossible to provide acreage to replace that ruined by 
erosion, Hopkins said many families in these areas would be helped financially to 
resettle "in other regions where better opportunities for farming may be found." 
     "RESETTLEMENT PUTS $45,981.90 INTO ZIEBACH COUNTY Up TO JUNE 26TH. 
S. D.'s Loans Total $2,991,191, While Grants Total $2,403,649; 46,521 Persons 
Benefited -Sioux Falls (Special to the Ziebach County News): Payments totaling 
$45,981·90 were made in Ziebach county by the Resettlement Administration from July 
1, 1935 to June 26, 1936 according to information announced today by Guy H. Harvey, 
state director for the National Emergency Council.
     Of these payments, loans totaling $16,089.40 were made to 240 persons in Ziebach 
county and $29,892.50 of grants to 299 persons in the county were disbursed.''
     "Gangbusters" was one of the favorite radio programs during the 30's. The country 
revered as much as they feared the gangsters who fought for territory for their 
bootlegging and racketeering operations. Many of the notorious became anti-
establishment heroes. Their criminal actions were front page news as was the ignoble 
end of their careers.
     Al Capone was brought to justice in 1931. The fate of several others was noted in 
1934. Bonnie and Clyde were killed in Louisiana, May 23rd. "Pretty Boy" Floyd killed in 
Ohio October 26th. John Dillinger slain in Chicago July 22nd. "Baby Face" Nelson was 
killed November 28th.
     Ziebach County was not free of criminal activities either. Horse rustling was the most 
common and was often reported throughout the 30's.
     Oscar White Weasel tells about some nefarious characters.
     "At that time (1930's), there was a horse rustler come in this country, must not be 
very far from Faith. They had a slaughter of them horses.
     They had a bunch of hogs in there. They kill them there and then they feed horse 
meat to the pigs.
     I had a good horse and this man that was there, he wants to buy that horse for two 
cows and some money. So I told him OK. "I come after them cattle some time," I said.
     So I went down there one time. I had a pickup with a rack on. It was foggy, early in 
the morning. I stopped my car and I was quite aways standing there watching them and 
a bunch of horses in the corral was running around and I hear a gun shot going off. I 
walk down there and this tripod, a pole, and one post dug in the ground and another 
hook in there. And these horses hang up.
     He got somebody to make a hole and they got a hook and a horse with a harness on 
it and the single hook. They hook that and this horse they laid him out and that hide is all 
pulled off and one guy standing there and fold it up and tied that with baling wire. There 
was quite a bunch in there, them hides. At that time one guy shot another horse. This 
horse is got down, they drag him to that hog where they eat him.
     One guy saw me and went on and say something and they all stand there and look 
around. I thought I was going to get killed.
     One guy came up and he said, "What do you want?" I said, "I want to see the boss. ''
     So he came up and told the guy, "Get them cattle out here and we'll help him load 
up.''
     The horses was cheap then, but the hide costs more money so they took the hide off 
and they ship them out.
     They got caught in Mobridge, I believe it was. I don't know how many trucks they 
caught there with the hide on." 
     The 1930's also had a lighter side. Just as the automobile was making headlines in 
the teens and twenties, the aeroplane was the novelty of the thirties. Daring pioneers 
Byrd, Lindbergh, Coste, Earhard, Post and Howard Hughes took their flying machines 
across the ocean and across the poles.
     The Faith Independent of April 23, 1930 announced that the Wapazoo Theatre would 
soon get Talkie equipment.
     The movies provided an escape for people from their economic and political 
problems. Film stars were idolized. Ziebach County had its own representation in the 
make believe world of Hollywood -- a dog named "Tuffy".
     A news item from the April 14, 1938 issue of the West River Progress reads: "The M. 
E. Reynolds' and Ed Ross' motored to Faith Sunday evening to see the picture in which 
'Tuffy', the famous Ziebach County dog appears. Tuffy was born in the Orvedahl ranch 
southeast of Faith in Ziebach County. He was trained on the ranch. He is the most 
famous dog today."
     The name of the movie was "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine.'' Neighbors remember 
the intelligence of this dog. He seemed to understand any command. He had one brown 
eye and one blue eye.
     Gerhard married Ruth Shaffer (a DHS graduate) in 1932 and they moved to Los 
Angeles in 1935.
     Tuffy appeared in several movies. Orvedahl also toured several states where Tuffy 
and other dogs which Gerhard trained were shown in schools.
     The radio was the one luxury most families managed to keep during the depression. 
Hours of entertainment for the whole family were provided. The "Soaps", popular TV 
programs today, had their beginning in the daytime serial programs of the 30's. (Many 
thought they were 'cereal' programs because prepared breakfast food makers were 
sponsors of many of the shows).
     The April 8, 1937 News ran a picture of a beautiful baby with this caption: "Would You 
Keep a Baby Left On Your Doorstep?" What would you do if you found a beautiful nine-
months old baby girl on your doorstep some evening? Would you keep the child? Call 
the police? Turn the baby over to some public welfare organization?
     That is the problem Ma Perkins, popular radio character, faces.
     A beautiful little baby girl about nine months old has been abandoned. And where, of 
all places but in Ma Perkins' lumberyard!
     Ma Perkins just can't believe that anyone would want to come to Rushville Center 
and desert this darling baby girl. She feels sure that some mystery is connected with the 
whole thing. A hurriedly written note pinned to the blanket read: "Please take care of my 
baby. Her name is . . ." and that's all there was, so if Ma keeps the baby she'll have to 
name her, and will probably need some help on that.
     But finding a name for her baby will only be a part of Ma's worries. How she attempts 
to unravel the mystery surrounding this child-how she fights to keep her until the parents 
are located--that is the story that will enthrall Ma's millions of radio friends in the next few 
weeks.
     Procter and Gamble, makers of Oxydol, the safe no-scrub laundry soap, are the 
sponsors of the Ma Perkins Show. It has been on the air daily, Monday through Friday, 
for more than three years.
     Reading was a favorite pastime. "Gone With The Wind' was the favorite book in 
South Dakota in 1937. Hitler's "Mein Kampf' was also being read by many. Dime 
paperback novels and magazines were passed from home to home.
      Even in these dire times, people never lost their sense of humor. This was taken 
from the Faith Gazette, January 21, 1932.
     "A neighboring editor, hard hit by the depression developed a sense of touch to a 
very high degree. The seat of his trousers are so thin that he can sit on a dime and tell 
which side is up, heads or tails. If the depression lasts much longer, he will be able to tell 
the date on the dime. The question which naturally arises is 'How did he get the dime in 
the first place?"'

WORLD WAR II

     Weary souls, who had just come through the taxing drought and depression, watched 
with apprehension as war clouds gathered over Europe and Asia. It was apparent that 
this might easily engulf our county in a fight for our very freedom.
     The Ziebach County News, on December 13, 1941 carried a front page story under 
the heading "U S Declares War on Japanese Government". It is interesting to note that 
''Dupree Victorious in Tourney'' was the banner headline. An editorial in that same issue 
read in part: IT HAS COME! THE WAR, which we all expected and yet found hard to 
believe when news arrived here Sunday evening, has been brought directly to us. Japan 
has declared war on the U. S. and Britain. It is unbelievable--yet it is true. The whole 
world was astounded. Many different tongues and races said over and over again the 
same phrase--"The Japs must have gone crazy".
     In the face of undeniable aggression on the part of Japanese, Roosevelt asked 
Congress and received a formal declaration of war.
     There is much we in Ziebach county can do in the way of economizing, sacrificing, 
furnishing for our army and navy manpower, and aiding all we possibly can our 
government, principally by buying U. S. Defense Bonds and Stamps. The American Red 
Cross has been put on a war-time basis and will need the full support of every person in 
the U.S.A.
     Once again people left the area. Soldiers went to fight the war and civilians left to 
work in defense plants. This decade was dominated by World War II.
     Newspaper headlines tell much of the story of life in Ziebach County during the war. 
These are quoted from the Ziebach County News.
January 8, 1942
     FIRST SOUTH DAKOTA TIRE ALLOTMENTS ARE MADE SUGGESTIONS ON 
HOW TO SAVE WEAR-TEAR ON TIRES
April 2, 1942
     MEN 45-64 TO REGISTER APR. 27 LARGE GROUP TO TAKE ARMY EXAMS - 
Nineteen men were called on the first day; 15 men were called on the second day.
June 11, 1942
     LABORERS NEEDED AT EDGEMONT ORDINANCE DEPOT PROJECT - Laborers 
paid 60 cents an hour and carpenter apprentices 75 cents an hour for 40-hour week, 
with time and one-half for overtime.
June 11, 1942
     $50 MONTH BILL FOR BUCK PRIVATES OKAYED Washington A$50-a-month 
minimum pay scale for the armed forces had the overwhelming approval of Congress 
Monday, effective as of June 1st.
     Buck privates and Navy apprentice seamen will receive $50 monthly. 1st class 
privates and 2nd class seamen will receive $54 and increases for ranks up to and 
including 2nd lieutenants. DEPENDENTS ALLOWANCE The house accepted the senate 
deduction and allowance rates under which a service man with "Class A" dependents 
must allot $22 of his monthly pay to their support, with the government adding $28 for a 
wife, $12 for the first child and $10 for each additional child.
June 25, 1942
     SUGAR STAMPS TO COVER FOUR WEEKS
July 2, 1942
     CO. NEIGHBORHOOD LEADERS APPOINTED - Important Job to Perform - The 
USDA has asked that every county in every state organize their county into 
neighborhoods and appoint one man and one lady in each to act as neighborhood 
leaders. The job of these leaders is important in the war effort.
     At a series of meetings held throughout the county, the following leaders were picked 
to do this job:
     Louise Hinzman, Mrs. Bert Wall, Chris Hansen, Fermen Ohnemus, Mrs. Virgil 
Anderson, Mrs. John Sprague, Leo DeJong, C. H. Holmes, Mrs. Moody Drummond, Mrs. 
Delbert Day, Russel Keckler, Leonard Birkeland, Floyd Parker, Mrs. Chas. Hersey, Mrs. 
Jessie Smith, Vernon Oliver, Mrs. Joseph Cahill, Mrs. Wm. Birkenholtz, Levi Eaton, 
Clarke Edwards, Mrs. Fred Nelson, Mrs. W. J. Pogany, Ludwig Graslie, Clarence Smith, 
Mrs. John Leber, Mrs. L. M. Endahl, Albert Steen, Fred Bierman, Mrs. Gee. Higgins, 
Mrs. Fred Mueller, Oscar Lund, C. W. Young, Mrs. Carl Andrson, Mrs. C. H. Witte, 
Selmer Andersen, Art Ostby, Mrs. Wm. Marple, Mrs. Paul Elfrink, Ross Wince and Otis 
Domina.
August 13, 1942
     SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS. An acute shortage of teachers is noticed throughout 
the state, especially in rural schools. Many small schools will be forced to shut down and 
the larger schools are expecting a record-high in attendance. The Dupree schools still 
have a few vacancies but it is thought that they will be filled by the time school starts or 
soon thereafter. 
August 27, 1942
     PRAIRIE FIRE FRIDAY AT KNIGHT RANCH: SABOTAGE SUSPECTED. Many from 
Dupree were called to the Wally Knight ranch last Friday evening to help extinguish a 
prairie fire started not far from the house.
     The cause was thought to be one of many but the most plausible in this day and age 
was sabotage.
     To support this theory an unidentified horseman was seen scurrying from the scene 
by a witness. The horse was tracked quite a ways west. Local officials together with 
federal authorities are investigating the cause of the fire.
October 8, 1942
     REDUCE SPEED TO 35 WARNS MOTOR PATROL. The United States Government 
and the Governor of the state have asked that all motorists cooperate in the war effort by 
cutting their speed to 35 miles per hour.
October 15, 1942
     TRUCKS, PICKUPS TO REGISTER OCTOBER 22-23-24. In view of the critical 
shortage of rubber and automotive equipment, rigid conservation measures must be 
adopted in order that essential transportation requirements be maintained throughout the 
nation. As a definite step toward this the Office of Defense Transportation issued an 
order requiring that all trucks, and pickups of any description to be operated after 
November 15th, must have a Certificate of War Necessity.
     DUPREE STUDENTS BEGIN INTENSIVE SCRAP HUNT
December 3, 1942
     REGISTRATION OF 18-19 YEAR OLD MALE CITIZENS
December 3, 1942
     WORK... FIGHT... SACRIFICE THEME OF ANNIVERSARY OF ATTACK ON PEARL 
HARBOR. A two-day nation-wide observance of the anniversary of the attack on Pearl 
Harbor will be sponsored by the Office of War Information. Joining in the observance will 
be the War and Navy Departments, all other war agencies, war plants, labor, schools, 
colleges and numerous other organizations.
     The anniversary will be observed Sunday, December 6 and Monday, December 7, 
wherever there are Americans around the world.
December 10, 1942
     SHARE THE RIDE PLAN ORGANIZED LOCALLY. The American Legion Auxiliary 
has made plans which are designed to help out patriotic tire and gas savers, through a 
share-the-ride plan.
     In accordance with this plan, in the event that a car driver must use his car to go out 
of town, he will register his name, destination, and the date he will go, on a blackboard 
that is to be hung in the post office for that purpose.
     Then someone who may have business taking him out of town can check the list and 
get in touch with the person going to his desired destination.
December 10, 1942
     AIR RAID WARDENS APPOINTED FOR ZIEBACH. In preparation for observance of 
the coming practice Blackout that is scheduled for December 14th, 1942, 9:00 to 9:20 
P.M., the following have been appointed as air raid wardens, who will patrol their districts 
to request compliance with the request of the Air Corp Commander to turn out all lights 
for this twenty minute period, and to request all motor vehicles to park and turn off lights.
     Glen Honey, Severin Hegre, Roy Lawrence, Al C. Tibke, Otis Shannon and Henry 
Burgee, Dupree. Carl Becker, Glad Valley. Glen Woods, Cherry Creek. M.E. Reynolds, 
Redelm. Percy Whittlinger, Red Scaffold. James Hi Hawk, Bridger. February 11, 1943
     SHOE RATIONING STARTED TUESDAY
March 18, 1943
     MEAT RATIONING STARTS MARCH 29
March 25, 1943. According to Food Distribution Order No. 26, effective March 31, 1943, 
farmers or anyone who slaughters and transfers ownership of meat, either by sale, trade 
or gift, must obtain a permit under new federal regulations designed to stamp out "Black-
Market" operation in meats.
April 1, 1943.
      DANCE NETS $27 FOR RED CROSS. Members of the Red Scaffold community 
gave a dance last Saturday night at the Red Scaffold hall, the proceeds of which were 
turned over to the Red Cross. It was also a farewell party for Marvin Inamongst, a recent 
army volunteer.
     There was a big crowd, quite a few going down from here, and everyone reported 
that they had a good time.
     Music was donated by Jim Miller and Hersil and Darrell Sprague and transportation 
for the players was donated by Wm. Pooley.
     The ladies of the Red Scaffold community served the lunch.
     $27 was realized from the dance. 
April 22, 1943
     1ST WAAC CANDIDATE LEAVES HERE WEDNESDAY. Recognition as the first 
WAAC candidate from this county goes to Miss Lorraine Makes Trouble, a Thunder 
Butte girl. She left Wednesday morning for Omaha, Nebraska to join the Women's Army 
Auxiliary Corps.
April 22, 1943
     ZIEBACH COUNTIES FIRST WAR CASUALTY. Vaughn Hedges 'Killed In Action'. S. 
E. Hedges of Glad Valley received the following terse telegram from Washington, on 
Monday.
     The Secretary of War desires me to express his deep regret that your son, Private 
Vaughn S. Hedges, was killed in action in defense of his country in North Africa Area, 
March 29. Letter follows,
ULIO,
The Adjutant General
     As far as we are aware this is the first casualty for Ziebach County in the present war.
     This is a listing of items that were rationed in 1943, as appeared in an April issue of 
the Ziebach County News.
     RATIONING REMINDERS: Sugar, 5 lbs.; Coffee, 1 Ib.; Meat, Butter, Cheese, Oils; 
Canned Goods; Shoes, 1 pair; Fuel Oil, 11 gal. each stamp; Gasoline, 4 gal. each No. 5 
coupon; Grocers, Butchers, inventory stock and make stamp points for ration for stamp 
allotments; Restaurants, Hospitals, etc., must register at local rationing boards for their 
allotments of sugar, processed commodities, meats and fats; Tire Inspections, coupons 
for tire inspections.
     On August 14, 1945 the Japanese surrendered and the war was over! The West 
River Progress ran this story in their August 16th edition.
     "Victory Day was quietly observed in Dupree. Flags were up all day Tuesday and at 
about 6:00 o'clock when the Victory message came, church bells rang."
     The long nightmare was over! The boys came home and many took over farms and 
businesses that seemed to be waiting for their youthful energy. Ration books and 
tokens, were discarded. Slowly at first, consumer goods became available.
     Life became easier after the war. For the rest of the decade, people bought new cars 
and machinery. Rural homes were improved with bottle gas stoves and refrigerators.
     The decade ended with a feeling of well-being.

CONCLUSION
     It will be up to the next generation to research the local papers of the 50's, 60's and 
70's, because time gives a better perspective of events and ideas that are relevant to our 
history.
     As an example, there was an article in a May, 1937 paper which stated: "Prairie Dogs 
Gone For Good". There was some regret that future generations would never know the 
charm of these little animals. Now in the 1980's, hundreds of acres in this country are 
being destroyed by these rodents.
     Ziebach County has been in existence only a few short years. Less than 75 years 
ago, the beautiful county was a vast space of prairie land, rough and rugged, only 
inhabited by fur traders and Native Americans. The history of our county is a history of 
all peoples that crossed this area and left footsteps in the sands of time.
     As this book is written, much history is being lived that future generations will look 
back on and say, "In the good ole days when I was young---". They will go on dreaming 
of the years ahead, remembering the days gone by.
     In spite of the many hardships and the changes, many people still live with a great 
pioneer spirit, determined to live and realize the hopes and promise some of their 
ancestors did not live to fulfill. May our prayers and best wishes be with them.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Early 1930's story:
     A seemingly pious school board member was also a bootlegger. His neighbor, of the 
same profession only more notorious, brought his wife over to apply for a teaching 
position. Now that seemed right sacrilegious to hire the wife of a bootlegger to teach 
school children.
     He has met them in the yard, away from the house and was not too receptive to her 
getting the job. He had been bottling some of his product, and as they visited, a few of 
the bottles uncorked with a loud report. Hearing that, the woman's husband remarked, 
"Too much sugar". She got the job.

[photocopy – menu from Miracle Diner, Dupree, SD dated July 1, 1946, ration coupons, 
ration book covers]

[photo – LeBeau, SD]

[photo of child with hore and buggy – “Just waiting for Dad”, Dupree, SD]

[photo – Field of Macaroni Wheat – yield 47 bu. Per acre – 6 miles NE of Dupree on 
Fred Beguhl place, 1915]

[photo – The Dirty Dozen threshing crew. Pete Christonsen, water monkey. 1912]

[photo – Bridge being built over Moreau River]

[photo – Construction work on State Highway Bridge one mile west of Dupree, May 30, 
1922]

[photo of Caterpillar tractor - First Ziebach County Cat] 

[photo – First bridge built by Eb Jones west of Dupree, all logs]