Smooth government official linked to homestead frauds in Dakota era
Columbus reports that George Letcher, alleged leader of a Williams county firebug gang, must serve a ten year Ohio penitentiary term after Ohio Supreme Court refusal to review. Once a Mitchell resident, Letcher and an associate allegedly extorted homesteaders by fraudulent land filings while aging U S land office officials failed to curb the scheme. Letcher’s extradition from California involved dramatic kidnap and transport to Ohio.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chamberlain
S. D
Columbus O
George Letcher
Williams County
Ohio
Callifornia
State Supreme Court
South Dakota
Letcher
Mitchell
William Letcher
James A. Garfield
United States Land Office
Dakota Territory
O. T. Letcher
Register
Dakota
Minneapolis
San Jose
Cal
California
San Francisco
Martinez
East
Cedar Trees in Vermillion Struck by Red Fungus
In Vermillion South Dakota on Main street cedar trees have turned orange from a jelly like cedar apple fungus. Experts say spores from nearby thorn apple trees carried by the wind infected the cedars and the trees may die this season, with potential of more cedars becoming victims.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Vermillion
S. D
Duel with a cow shocks Beresford clergy man
In Beresford South Dakota on June 8 Reverend H W Jamison pastor of the Congregational church fought a charging cow on West Hemlock street to save his young son who had approached the calf. The clash left the reverend with bruises but his act prevented injury to the child and the minister is famed for his strength and courage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Beresford
S. D
H. W. Jamison
Congregational Church
West Hemlock Street
Mr. Jamison
Farnham Acquitted in Galvin Murder Case
Deadwood South Dakota June 6 The jury has acquitted W P Farnham of the murder of Richard Galvin in a verdict that finds him justified in the killing. The case drew local and regional attention as details emerged during the trial.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Deadwood
Farnham
Richard Galvin
S. D
W. P. Farnham
Carnegie Gift Opens Deadwood Free Public Library
The Deadwood South Dakota public library, funded by four gifts totaling 14000 from Andrew Carnegie, opens to residents. The city council allocates 1500 for annual maintenance and new books have been added to the collection. Dr A J Sutton has accepted a call at the First Baptist church in Concordia Russia after three years in Deadwood. Mrs Jennie Snow, a pioneer of the Black Hills since 1877, dies in Deadwood.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Deadwood
S. D
Andrew Carnegie
A. J. Sutton
First Baptist Church
Concordia
Rus
First Baptist
Nebraska
Iowa
Jennie Snow
Black Hills
Cheyenne
Sioux Indians Build Railway Extension in South Dakota
Sioux Falls dispatch notes Sioux workers contract and grade sections for the Chicago Milwaukee St Paul line from Chamberlain to the Black Hills. A crew of 25 Sioux from Crow Creek agency works on Missouri River island under John Van Patter, with Louis Louden also contracting grading. Indians at Crow Creek and Lower Brule agencies replace old labor roles by taking on road work and proving they can earn a living.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sioux Falls
S. D
Milwaukee & St. Paul
Chamberlain
Black Hills
Missouri River
Crow Creek
H. D. Chamberlain
United States Indian
John van Patter
Louis Louden
Lower Brule
Butcher August Allen Dies After Railway Yard Accident
Huron South Dakota dispatch reports August Allen died Thursday evening from leg injuries after a Wednesday night incident in Chicago and Northwestern yards. Authorities believe intoxication led to a fall onto tracks where a switch engine and cars ran over him. No local relatives are known. Allen was a butcher, recently working at Hitchcock market.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Huron
S. D
Allen
Chicago and Northwestern Railway
Hitchcock
Huron Graduation Class Marks Largest City School Showing
Huron South Dakota held its commencement exercises on Friday evening with a large audience. The class consisted of seventeen girls and ten boys a notable male majority. Diplomas were presented by Hon. A KE Taylor president of the board of education. Each graduate received gifts such as flowers books and other tokens.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ing. Huron
S.D
A, KE. Taylor
Board of Education
Yankton College Commencement Week Highlights
Commencement week events unfold at Yankton college with a baccalaureate sermon by H K Warren for the class of 1905 and an evening address by Rev George D Wilder Tung Cho China. Activities include concerts, board meetings, prize contests, and alumni reunion. a charivari party at Bernard Gonnem’s home caused property damage but arrests were avoided by payment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Yankton
Yankton College
Congregation
H. K. Warren
C. Prisbie
Ray Ellis
W. T.T. Hughes
Anna Bagstad
Mary Shaw
Dretsbach
Christian Associations
George D. Wilder
Tung-Cho
China
Conservatory of Music
Rliges
Board of Trustees
Academy
Frank T. Bayley
D. D
Denver
Colo
Dakin Hall
Bernard Gonnem
Bonesteel Congregational Church Opens in Bonesteel
Sioux Falls dispatch reports the First Congregational Church society at Bonesteel dedicated a new church building today. Dr. W. H. Thrall of Huron led the dedication. the structure cost about $4,000 and Rev. J Arthur Smith will serve as pastor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sioux Falls
S. D
First Congregational Church Society
Bonesteel
W. H. Thrall
Huron
Southcentral
South Dakota
J. Arthur Smith
May rainfall totaling 4.23 inches boosts crops in Pierre
The weather bureau reports 4.23 inches of rain in May at Pierre South Dakota. Only one light shower caused surface runoff. the rest soaked the ground improving vegetation for early June across the state’s section.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pierre
S. D
Weather Bureau
Death in a Pond Near Pukwana Drowns Youth
June report from Pukwana South Dakota describes the drowning of 21 year old Fred Nelson son of Hans Nelson a farmer eight miles north of Pukwana while bathing with two companions at a pond near his home He was swimming his third crossing when cramps struck and he disappeared beneath seven feet of water before his friends could help.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pukwana
S. D. Pukwana
S. D
Fred Nelson
Hans Nelson
Vermillion South Dakota Shooting Tourney Closes
The three day state shooting tournament in Vermillion ends with the live bird shoot. Kline of Spirit Lake defeats H G Taylor for high average, breaking 558 of 600. C C Russell wins the live bird final and state championship. officers named include H G Taylor president Alvin Shaw vice president H A Gayhart secretary and Fred Dray treasurer with Hot Springs as likely 1906 host.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Vermillion
S. D
State Association
H. G. Taylor
Meckling
Kline
Spirit Lake
C. C. Russell
South Dakota Sportsmen's Association
Alvin Shaw
Delmont
H. A. Gayhart
Hot Springs
Fred Dray
Beresfore
Taylor
Pierre Saves Grow With School Savings Fund
Pierre South Dakota June 8 over 32000 in the National Bank of Commerce from the city school savings system. The fund has grown mainly from pennies and nickels saved from candy purchases. Deposits earn 5 percent interest after six months and are added to principal. Withdrawals are light. The year shows a $689.92 gain, total deposits reaching $2069.17.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pierre
S. D
National Bank of Commerce
Defrauded Uncle Sam in Public Land Case
United States charges William T. Harsnell of St Paul with fraudulently acquiring about twenty quarter sections of public lands in Lyman and Stanley counties. Receivers and clerks transport Chamberlain records to St Paul for testimony in the U S Circuit Court case initiated after a Washington investigation by Special Inspector Moore.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William T. Harsnell
Chamberlain
S. D
L B. Laughlin
C. B. Taylor
United States Land Office
St. Paul
Minn
United States
Moore
General Land Office
Washington
Lyman
Stanley
United States “Circuit Court of
Register C. L. Brockway
Colonel Haperman Dies in Ottawa Civil War Veteran
Colonel Doug Haperman of LaSalle County died in Ottawa on June 3. He served throughout the Civil War and was a known local veteran.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Haperman
Ottawa
Ill
Douglass
LaSalle County
Students in Free-For-All Fight at South Dakota University
Ten South Dakota University students engaged in a campus brawl with downtown locals after threats of trouble. Cooper, a baseball player, suffered a neck gash from a knife. Dougan had a broken nose. Numerous others reported bruises to heads and limbs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Vermillion
S. D
South Dakota University
Cooper
Dougan
Mitchell High School graduation amid fireworks scare
Mitchell South Dakota June 5 1900 The Mitchell high school commencement attracted about 1300 spectators. A youth flashed fireworks outside a second story window triggering a fire alarm and a temporary panic. Ruth E Wilson gave the salutatory and Bessie B Elion the valedictory. 22 diplomas were awarded by I H Winsor with praise for Hoff and Ramer.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mitchell
S. D
Mitchell High School
Ruth E. Wilson
O. L. Branson
Bessie B. Elion
I. H. Winsor
Board of Education
Northwest
F. MH. Hoff
M. M. Ramer
Great find of gold in Roubaix Black Hills camp
Edgemont S D June 5 reports Roubaix mining camp in the Black Hills paved with gold. Samuel Mulholland shows free gold specimens from Clover Leaf mine dump, street fragments containing dollars worth of gold. He plans to pursue extraction, believing the broken rock holds thousands in gold.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edgemont
S. D
Roubaix
Black Hills
Samuel Mulholland
Mulholland
Mulhol
Large scale plowing reshapes Wagner area with flax sowing
Wagener South Dakota reports extensive breaking up of Indian heirship land near Wagner for flax sowing. Over 20 000 acres in eastern Charles Mix county to be broken this summer by steam plows and traction engines. Wheeler notes land values and town property have doubled in two years. C A Padley Milwaukee official praises Wagner's rich territory and predicts strong future growth. Farmers finished corn planting and small grain looks promising.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wagener
S. D
Wagner
Charles Mix County
Milwaukee Railroad
Yankton
C. A. Padley
Milwaukee Company
South Dakota to Host National Railroad Commissioners Convention
Sioux Falls reports say committees have begun preparations for the National Association of Railroad Commissioners annual meeting set for Deadwood on August 16. It will be the association’s first SD convention, with strong focus on government control of railroad rates and both pro and anti-control speakers expected.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sioux Falls
S. C
State Board of Railroad Commissioners
National Association of Railroad Commissioners
Deadwood
South Dakota
Counterfeiter Den Found in Cemetery Near Sioux Falls
Federal agents raid the old Rowland cemetery near Sioux Falls and arrest Levi Clark an ex convict linked to a counterfeiting ring. The search yielded dies molds and other equipment used to fabricate counterfeit money and connected Clark to A G Sharp recently charged in Yankton with passing counterfeit coins.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sioux Falls
United States
Rowland
Yankton
Levi Clark
Clark
Tie
A. G. Sharp
Sharp
Sioux
Jtfells
Building the Capitol Feet of Pierre Business Leaders Plan Funds
Pierre South Dakota business leaders propose forming a state chartered company with P F McClure A Ewart and C C Bennett as directors to issue 130000 dollars in stock for 13000 acres of state building lands. The aim is to raise 150000 dollars for a wing of the capitol with 20000 dollars on hand and use land sales to finance the rest, expediting construction by January 1907.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pierre
S. D
P. F. McClure
A. Ewart
C. C. Bennett
Petit Jury Drawn for U S Court in Pierre
A Sioux Falls report states a regular term petit jury for the United States court at Pierre has been drawn by Jury Commissioner D S Gildden and Clerk Oliver S. Pendar. Jurors reported at 10 a m on Tuesday June 13 and include E B Dawson Vermillion J B Clark Gettysburg Frank Phinney Dean John A Blatt Lead R H Cook Kimball J O Conrick Chamberlain John Bertrand Alexandria Dan Dona thoe Jr Sioux Falls E A Bruce Yankton Henry I Stearns Brookings J N Cooley Sioux Falls H C Silken ison Alsen Hugh Smith Howard W R Burkholder Irene J F Nichols Wheeler M T Hogaboom Sioux Falls Iver Bagstad Volin Octave Lagsier Lead M W Sheafe Jr Watertown George Carr Flandreau M C Connors Spearfish A Hall Aberdeen Richard F Cyrons Carthage Harry Clark Hot Springs J L Robbins Sioux Falls Co A Sells Sioux Falls B E Taylor Woonsocket Nick Marx Kranzberg J Rathgeber Yankton Percy Russell Deadwood
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sioux Falls
United States Court
Pierre
Haseen
D.S. Gildden
Oliver S. Pendar
E. B. Dawson
Vermillion
J. B.clark
Gettysburg
Frank Phinney
Dean
John A. Blatt
Lead
R. H. Cook
Kimball
J. O. Conrick
Chamberlain
John Bertrand
Alexandria
Dan Donathoe, Jr
E.A. Bruce
Yankton
Henry. I. Stearns
Brookings
J. N. Cooley
H. C. Silkenison
Alsen
Hugh Smith
Howard
W. ‘R. Burkholder
J. F. Nichols
Wheeler
M. T. Hogaboom
Iver Bagstad
Volin
Octave Lagsier
M. W. Sheafe, Jr
Watertown
George Carr
Flandreau
M. C. Connors
Spearfish
A. Hall
Aberdeen
Richard ‘F. Cyrons
Carthage
Harry Clark
Hot ‘Springs
Memorial Day Observances Across South Dakota
Aberdeen held a grand Decoration Day at Riverside Cemetery with a 21 foot monument of Branite base 11 by 4 feet and a soldier statue. In Huron Memorial Day was widely observed with a parade by G A R W R C Battery A and the National Guard, graves decorated with government headstones and flag holders. Bridgewater also marked the day with a parade of veterans and students and a program at the opera house followed by cemetery flowers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aberdeen
S. D
Goldier
Robert Anderson
Huron
Uron
Cornet Band
Battery A
South Dakota National Guard
Grand Army
Bridgewater
Opera House
Land Being Broken by Steam Power Near Ethan
In Ethan South Dakota on June 2 a large amount of land is being broken this spring by steam power. Two local outfits operate within a few miles of town while another works farther away owned by nearby farmers. Traction engines replace horse teams for efficiency and lower cost per acre.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ethan, S. D
Ethan
Dakota Central Telephone Line Extension Near Ethan
A gang begins work on Dakota Central line west of Ethan connecting farmers to Mitchell. A carload of poles arrived, and the Davison County Farmers' Telephone company also receives poles and starts thirty five miles of line. The two systems will supply farmers with phones.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ethan
S. D
Dakota Central ‘Telephone Company
Mitchell
Davison County
Debates Set Between South Dakota and Iowa Universities
Negotiations for next year place the state universities of Iowa and South Dakota in a planned debate with possible article changes. South Dakota continues to boost debating activity as interest grows among students. Rapid City wins Black Hills Athletic meet with 43 points, Sturgis 33, Deadwood 18, Indian School 4, Lead 1. about 200 attendees arrive by special train.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Vermillion
S. D
Iowa
South Dakota
South ‘Dakota
Debating Board of Control
University of South Dakota
South
Rapid City
RapidCity
Black Hills Athletic Association
Vermillion Opens Promising South Dakota State Shooting Tourney
Vermillion hosts the three day South Dakota state shooting tournament with strong turnout. H. G. Taylor serves as president and George Harrim as secretary as prominent local and professional shooters gather for the event.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Geo. Letcher
Carnegie
Milwaukee
Red Men
Bonesteel Church
School Savings Bank
Uncle Sam
Railroad Commissioners
THE
Capitol
Dakota Central
U. of S. D
George Harrim
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!