Andreas' History of Beadle County, 1884 - Early History - City of Huron

Source: Andreas, A T. Andrea's historical atlas of Dakota. Chicago: A. T. Andreas, 1884; [Printed by] R. R. Donnelley & Sons, The Lakeside Press.

p. 146, col. 1--continued

EARLY HISTORY.

Probably the first settlement in this county dates from the month of April, 1879, when Charles Miner located at the mouth of Pearl Creek on Section 14, Town 109, Range 61 [Clifton].  This gentleman spent some time in building and breaking on his claim and made permanent settlement in the spring of 1880. 



In June of the same year Andrew J. Sweetser and his son Charles H., Captain Smith and George Bigelow visited the county.  This party occupied about four weeks in looking it over and then returned to Sioux Falls.


On the 13th day of July following Andrew J. Sweetser and his son, in company with J. S. and S. S.  Neilson, left that place to make a permanent settlement in Beadle County.  On their return they found Martin Baum living on the James River, about two and a half miles north of Pearl Creek, where he had  located a week or so before.  These men selected their claims, proceeded to Springfield, and made the  first filings in this county with the exception of the Cameron filings.  Andrew J. Sweetser filed on the  southwest quarter of Section 35, Town 111, Range 60 [Cavour]; J. S. Neilson on the southeast quarter of  Section 5, and the northeast quarter of Section 8, Town 110, Range 60 [Richland]; S. S. Neilson on the  southwest quarter of Section 4, and the northwest quarter of Section 9, Town 110, Range 60 [Richland].  In  September Dennis H. Flynn, P. H. Flynn, Dennis Flynn, M. C. Flynn and J. P. Flynn made settlements on Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8 in Town 110, Range 60 [Richland].

During the winter of 1879-80, the Sweetsers, Neilson brothers and Martin Baum were the only  parties who wintered in the county.  From the spring of 1880 the settlement became general and  continuous.

p. 146, col. 2

The Chicago & Northwestern Railway traverses the county from east to west, dividing it into two  nearly equal parts, and its Columbia branch, running north, cuts the northern half into nearly equal  parts.  The Chicago Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway is built through the western part of county, north  and south.


The population of Beadle County is mostly American, with some Germans and a sprinkling of other nationalities, and numbers about 10,000.  It is one of the largest and best counties in southeast Dakota, and is in course of rapid development.

CITY OF HURON.--On the 10th day of May, 1880, the original town was platted by the  Chicago & Northwestern Railway Company.  The first plat consisted of eleven blocks, bounded by First, Third, Ohio and Iowa streets. Twelve more blocks were added in the fall of 1880.

In October, 1881, the second addition of eight and one-half blocks and the Capitol grounds were laid out.  In  April, 1882, twelve and one-half blocks were added, and in June the fourth addition of eight blocks  was made.  On the 5th of August, 1882, eighteen blocks were completed, being the fifth and last  railway addition, making in all seventy blocks, including the Capitol grounds.

In addition to the railway plats, Geo. W. Sterling and L. B. Black laid out six blocks, situated five blocks west of the limits of  the last railway addition, and on the line of Third street.

On the 8th day of June, 1882, G. W. Sterling platted nine blocks, commencing two blocks south of the Capitol grounds, and on the west line of Dakota avenue.

Col. E. W. Foster and F. I. Fisher platted nine blocks directly opposite Sterling's  addition, on the east side of the avenue.

In the fall of 1881, W. J. Eunis laid out six blocks adjoining Foster and Fisher's addition, on the south.

In August, 18_2, East Huron, lying south of Third and one block east of Ninth street, consisting of  six blocks, was platted by Pettigrew & Runkle, and on September 18, and addition of twelve blocks  was made.

In 1882, F. I. Tisher platted nineteen and one-half blocks on Sixth and Montana streets, and L. C. Bloodgood laid out six blocks to the north of Sterling and Black's addition.

In 1883,  Messrs. Whipple & Walsh platted nine blocks on Dakota avenue and Fifteenth street.

The first structure on the town site was a building moved from the high ground near the river and  placed by W. B. Ingersoll and John Cain at the corner of Dakota avenue and First street.  It was 12 by 16 feet in size, and from it was issued the first copy of the Beadle County Settler (now the Huron Times), published by Jno. Cain.

The second building was moved from McCook County shortly after by Messrs. VanBranken and Strahorn.  It was 14 by 10 feet in size, and used as a hotel and land  office.

Leonard Mosier moved in a building 14 by 16 ft. for a saloon; E. G. Wheeler hauled lumber from Volga, a distance of sixty-five miles, and erected the first new building on the town site.

The Jim River House was built by Mudgett, Lovell & Fairbanks, and is now the rear part of the Dakota House.  David Bell built a hotel and grocery store, and Robinson & Rowe and Allen & Harris saloon  buildings.  J. H. Alexander erected two buildings, 12 by 16; A. S. Mitchell, a 10 by 12 land office; and Terry & Clark, a saloon.

During the month of May, J. H. Alexander, V. B. Davis, E. P. Caldwell, Jno.  McDonald, Dr. Hugh Russell, Joy Brothers, L. J. Corbin, Charles Reed, M. F. Wright, Arthur M.  Jones, S. W. Roberts, I. J. Mouser, A. H. Risdon, T. F. Nicholl, T. J. Nicholl, M. J. Dineen, E. M. Chase, Major F. F. B. Coffin and others became settlers.

On the 25th day of June, 1880, the first train on the Chicago & Northwestern Railway crossed the  James River bridge, and from that time on the development of the city has been phenomenal.  On the  10th day of June, 1880, a petition, signed by fifty-nine of the citizens of Huron, was presented to the  board of county commissioners, praying for incorporation. The prayer of the petitioners was granted,  and an election ordered to be held at the County Clerk's office in said town, on the 29th day of  January, 1881, as required by statute.  On the 1st day of February, 1881, the town was declared  incorporated, a majority of the people having voted in favor thereof. The corporate limits comprise Section 1, Town 110, Range 62 [Clyde]; the north half of Section 12, Town 110, Range 62 [Clyde]; the south half of Section 36, Town 111, Range 62 [Theresa]; Section 6, Town 110, Range 61 [Custer]; the north half of Section 7, Town  110, Range 61 [Custer], and south half of Section 31, Town 111, Range 61 [Valley], making 2,560 acres.

On the 19th day of February, 1881, the first officers of the town were elected, viz; W. B. Ingersoll,  C. C. Hills, T. F. Nicholl, S. W. Roberts and Edw. Sterling, trustees; H. M. Jewett, clerk, treasurer and assessor; O. A. Cheeney, justice, and R. B. Clark, marshall. The first meeting of the board was  held on the 22d of February,

p. 146, col. 2

1882, and Edw. Sterling was elected president.  The following by-law was adopted:  "The corporate seal of the Town of Huron shall be a device representing on the right a surveyor with a tripod; near him a man driving a stake; on the left, two antelopes watching the surveyors; the landscape to be a prairie  gently rising to the west, and the whole surrounded with the words 'Corporate Seal of the Town of Huron, Dakota,  1881.'"

The clerk also adds the note:

"The above design is based on a historical occurrence.  As the first survey stake was being driven on the town  site, on the corner of Dakota and First street, in May, 1880, there being at the time no buildings erected, two  antelopes stood on the spot where Corbin's (now the Windsor) hotel stands, and watched the scene."  The proceedings were signed by H. M. Jewett as clerk.

The present city officers are:  S. C. Nash, Mayor; A. F. Robinson, F. E. Stevens, Aldermen First Ward; H. Wusthoff, T. A. Dunning, Aldermen Second Ward; W. B. Stiver, Charles Eldridge, Aldermen Third Ward; L. S. Hazen, H. J. Rice, Aldermen Fourth Ward; E. A. Morse, City Attorney; C. B. Felt, Clerk; George Huntington, Treasurer; H. Kerr, Assessor; J. E. Elson, Police Justice; N. Hotalling, Marshal.

EDUCATIONAL.

In February, 1881, the first term of school was held, dry goods boxes being used for desks.  During this summer, a two room house was built; and the following fall and winter two teachers were employed.  In the summer of 1882, a fine site was selected and an elegant brick building erected at a cost of $10,000.  School was opened in November of this year in the new building.  Three teachers were employed and 140 pupils enrolled.  In the summer of 1883 the city had a school population of about 400, and it was deemed necessary to organize an independent district, with a Board of Education to supervise its educational interests.  This board is composed of the following members:  G. B.  Armstrong, president; N. T. Brown, secretary; H. C. Hinckley, George W. Sterling, John H.  Alexander, A. B. Nash, T. J. Nicholl, W. H. H. Jones and John H. Miller.  There are 300 pupils; the school is thoroughly graded and divided into four departments, with a course of study consisting of the  common and higher English branches, general history and Latin.

Next: Church histories