The following letter from E.E. Weeks to H.R. Wilmsen, secretary of the commercial club, will sow to what extremes other towns are going in their efforts to divert attention from the advantages offered homesteaders at this place. The letter is self-explanatory, and as it covers the ground very thoroughly further comment is unnecessary;
Minneapolis Minn. March 15, 1910
H.R. Wilmsen
Dear Sir;
I am writing you relative to the situation here as it affects the future of McIntosh. Mr. Patterson and Mr. Nelson have both been here and have seen something of what is being done by the Twin City Homesteaders’ club. These gentlemen have probably told the businessmen of McIntosh the situation as they saw it when here. I simply desire to emphasize any information they have given to the business men and add such information as I have received since these gentlemen returned to McIntosh.
There is no question but what McIntosh is the only logical town from which to drive to view the reservation and to which to ship their goods when making settlement. But the homesteaders here are being misled. As late as last evening they were informed that the branch lines of the Milwaukee railroad into the southern part of the reservation would be completed in time to carry passengers and freight for the opening. This we know will not be accomplished. This information came from Mobridge, as has considerable more of the same kind.
Every effort is being put forth to induce the settlers to go to Mobridge to view their land and to ship to that point when making settlement. LeBeau has had a man here for the past tow months boosting and working for that town. Literature has been and is being circulated advertising these towns.
Another matter that is of vital interest to the business men of McIntosh is that of provisioning and outfitting these homesteaders. Thanks to your vice president of the commercial club, an effort to supply the homesteaders with knockdown houses built here in Minneapolis has been blocked and the lumbermen having years on the reservation have been given an opportunity to get this business.
Along the same line, last evening the homesteaders were informed at their regular weekly meeting that they should purchase all their supplies in the city; that there is no place on the reservation where farming implements, furniture and other supplies can be obtained. Fortunately, I was present at that meeting and corrected this statement.
McIntosh is due to get a lot of business whether the city advertises or not. But if a little business is a good thing to have, a large amount of business is certainly better. It is up to the business men to say whether they will be content with a small volume or not. If the business men of McIntosh do not get together and push matters now they are going to lose some mighty profitable business.
While I am here and elsewhere I will be glad to do all that I can to advance the interest of our city. What is needed here at the present time is some literature advertising the advantages of McIntosh.
I should like to have been present at the banquet given by the club on the 12th.
Trusting that you will feel free to call upon me at any time I can be of assistance in boosting our city, I am
Yours Truly, E.E. Weeks.
Taken from Corson County Chief March 20,1910

Tanner is Discredited-Advance Guard of Homesteaders Quick to see conditions Regarding Locating.

E.E. Weeks and C.A. Patterson returned the latter part of last week from their trip to the twin cities, where they attended to business matters a few days. Mr. Weeks attended a meeting of the Twin City Homesteaders Club while in the cities and explained the particulars in connection with Tanner’s visit to the city. From information which Mr. Weeks received while in the cities and from other sources, it appears that when Tanner visited Lemmon he was provided with free automobile service for two or three days on a trip to the Timber Lake and Firesteel country. When he came to McIntosh he was accorded the same treatment that all the homesteaders receive here-no more and no less. No special effort was made to provide special entertainment for him by reason of his position as president of the homesteader’s club, and this fact was no doubt the reason that he got his hammer in operation against McIntosh. Mr. Weeks stated that the members of the club are not paying any heed to Tanner’s advice as regards this country, but will look into the matter for themselves.
Last Friday evening a representative of the Chief spent an hour in conversation with two gentlemen from Minneapolis who were looking the country over. These gentlemen were S. Swenson and W.W. Hall. Mr Swenson holds No. 15 and is a member of the organization of which Tanner is president. Mr. Hall is a passenger conductor on the Northern Pacific and was representing his daughter, who is also a member of the club, being the holder of No. 146. Upon Tanner’s recommendation these gentlemen went to Lemmon, from which place they expected to drive over the reservation. On arriving there they quickly discovered that it would take at least a day longer to cover the territory than from McIntosh, and it was impossible to engage the services of an automobile for less than $50.00 per day. The natural result was that they came to McIntosh on the first train and made the trip to the south country from this point. This was done in one day at a much lower expense per day than it would have cost them to go out from Lemmon. They informed the Chief that they were well taken care of at this point; that the prices for everything were very reasonable for a new country and that the quality of the service was of the highest order. They were well pleased with the treatment accorded them on every hand and left with a feeling of friendship for our people in general. That this will result in much good for the city cannot be disputed. They have nothing but good words to say for the city and others will come here on their recommendation. The Chief has no ill will for Lemmon. It is a good city, but is too far from the reservation for the accommodation of homesteaders who intend to locate on the reservation. Another thing to be taken into consideration the act that the facilities of Lemmon are taxed in taking care of the homesteaders going into the country south of that point. In justice to the substantial business men of Lemmon it should be stated that generally they were not in favor of giving this man special accommodations on the occasion of his visit to that city, and that he was entertained and junketed around the country by a class of land sharks and alleged locators who have no recognized standing in the city.
McIntosh is going to take care of these people in a more approved manner, and the fact that this is being at the outset will have the effect of establishing a good name for the city. This has been the intention from the beginning and the fact that no special effort was made to have this man use his influence for the city signifies that the plain unvarnished truth regarding the city was all that anyone desired. He was made acquainted with conditions here in no uncertain manner, both by observation and information on questions which he put to our people. What reports he circulated theretofore had not even a temporary effect on keeping the people away. Only a few days were required to set things right, and the manner in which his advice was ignored bears proof positive that there was nothing reliable in his reports. He did not harm us but place himself in a very undesirable light in advising people to go where it would cost them much more to accomplish the same purpose. The city is crowded with homesteaders from day to day and before another issue of the Chief leaves the press the crowds will be something enormous. McIntosh is being recognized solely upon its merits and despite the opposition of other towns is receiving its just rewards in every particular. Where people are determined to do things right there is only one natural result; this is the state of affairs in McIntosh and we are commencing to reap the rewards.
taken from Corson County Chief- May 4, 1910

Regarding County Division

The Morristown World last week contained an article by the young hired man who conducts that paper telling the people that the county should be divided on a line running north and south at a point seven miles east of McIntosh to a point nine miles south of the north line of Corson county, then six miles west and continuing south to the south line of the county. The World then goes on to state that the needs of the west and east ends of Corson county are so vastly different that it is imperative that the county should be divided at the coming election.
There are many features connected with this attempt to divide the county which The Chief will explain to the voters of the county between now and the 8th day of November. In the first place the move was instigated by purely selfish interest-the best interests of the taxpayers of the county not being taken into consideration in the least. At the time of the location of the county seat last year a bitter contest was waged for county seat honors, McIntosh, Morristown and McLaughlin all had aspirations for the county seat; Morristown and McLaughlin realized full well that neither town stood a “ghost of a show” in a three-cornered fight. These two formulated an agreement to vote for McLaughlin against McIntosh. The result at the election gave McIntosh the honor by a comfortable majority. In the meantime the Milwaukee Land company donated a block of ground in this city for courthouse purposes and the city of McIntosh has constructed a fine building to be used as a courthouse at a cost of about $4,000. , which is now completed and which is supplied with a large vault for the safe keeping of all the records of the county. The building affords the county better courthouse accommodations that exist in many of the older counties east of the Missouri river. In short, the county is provided with the best courthouse which any county as young as Corson ever had in either of the Dakotas.
Naturally, a feeling of jealousy has existed in McLaughlin and Morristown at the outcome of the election last summer and the further fact that the wide-awake citizens of McIntosh took upon themselves to furnish the county with an up-to-date courthouse. Realizing that under these conditions it would be absolutely impossible to bring about a change of location of the county seat, the over-zealous people of these two little hamlets conceived the scheme of dividing the county and make each town a county seat. Accordingly, a petition was circulated in the two places calling for a vote on division as close to McIntosh as possible. At the last meeting of the board of county commissioners, Chairman McGowen of McLaughlin and Commissioner Duncan of Thunder Hawk, constituting a majority of the board, voted in favor of submitting the question at the fall election. The people of McLaughlin and Morristown do not seem to have the interest of the taxpayers of this new county at heart in the least, and Commissioners McGowen and Duncan seem to be in favor of voting thousands of dollars of taxes upon the new settlers in the county in order to further the personal interests of the business men of these two little towns. These towns are small and their citizens probably consider that two sets of county officers and the business which naturally comes to county seat towns will more than pay the increase of taxes on their personal property by means of salaries for public offices and increase in business, while the new settlers on the farms will be compelled to pay the double expense of maintaining two county organizations.
At present, the county is large and the country is new. For over a quarter of a century it has been customary to have large counties while the country is sparsely settled. Such was the case with the counties of Williams, Ward, McHenry, McKenzie, Bottineau, Stutsman, Billings and Morton in North Dakota. All of these counties are practically as large and some of them much larger that Corson. The only one which has ever been divided is Ward, which was three times as large as Corson, and it was not divided until ten years after being thickly settled and at the time of division there were over 9,000 voters in the county. After division both counties are now larger that Corson. Morton county, just north of us, was organized over twenty years ago and at the present time is twice as large as Corson. The people of that county have not yet come to the conclusion that it is time to make a division. In this state two years ago there were five counties as large or larger than Corson-Butte, Pennington, Meade, Stanley and Lyman. Butte was at least three times as large as Corson, and because of the fact that one railroad just touched the southwest corner at Belle Fourche, where the county seat was located, the county was divided into three counties two years ago, the smallest of which is just t trifle smaller than Corson. The other large counties in South Dakota have been organized from eight to twenty years and have not yet been divided.
Under the circumstances the taxpayers will readily observe that there is no immediate demand for county division. The county is only a year old; the homesteaders have not got well started into the county as yet; there is a scarcity of taxable property and for the next few years the newcomers will be composed of that thrifty class of young farmers and business men who are for the most part just starting in life and who are entitled to every encouragement possible rather than the hardships which the selfish desires of the two towns would bring about. They have obligations to meet in making payments on the appraised valuation of their homesteads. The prompt meeting of these payments will do more to develop the country than anything else, while on the other hand, the necessity of paying the expenses of maintaining two county organizations will make it more difficult to meet these payments. Therefore, county division at this time would create a “heavy burden in taxation to those who own deeded lands and on the personal property of the business men and homesteaders. A transcontinental railroad runs the entire length of the county and McIntosh, the county seat is very accessible to all the towns along the line. Excellent hotel and other accommodations are to be had here and the city is the largest on the reservation.
The people of McLaughlin and Morristown have only their selfish interests at heart in the matter. Especially in this the case with the owners of the townsite of Morristown. They desire to increase the sale of their town lots and obtain big prices for them because of the possession of a county seat. They know that the burden of taxation will be greatly increased; they expect to overcome this by means of increase in business and the holding of public office; they know this additional expense must be paid and they expect it to be assessed against the newcomers by means of taxation. Is this a fair proposition? Will the voters of the county approve of such a policy? Will they go to the polls and vote for double assessment in the face of the fact that it has for a quarter of a century been the part of wisdom of the pioneers of both Dakotas to get along with as little public expense as possible? The Chief thinks not.
Taken from Corson County Chief July 20, 1910

McIntosh’s New Schoolhouse

It gives the Chief considerable satisfaction to produce a view of McIntosh’s new school building which was recently finished and in which school is now being held. While not an exceptionally large building, it has four well finished rooms and is constructed in such a manner that additions can be built without affecting the appearance of the architecture of the exterior of the building. The presents size of the structure is 32x60, two stories in height and built several feet above the ground to allow for a full basement which is well lighted and ventilated. The building is provided with a heating plant which is situated in the basement, as is also ample storage room for fuel. On the first floor are two school rooms and two on the second floor. These are provided with recitation and cloak rooms and halls. The architecture of the entire building is so arranged as to provide the best light possible and the least danger from fire. As a matter of fact the building is strictly modern in every respect. The rooms are plastered with sand finish walls and every precaution was taken in its construction for the best of sanitary conditions.
An entire block of ground was purchased for school purposes and it is the intention of the school board to expend considerable labor and funds in providing trees and otherwise improving the grounds during the coming summer. In this they have the hearty cooperation of everyone in the city, and in a very few years the city will have the most beautiful school grounds to be found in this section of the state.
The people of the city take great pride in the new building and many strangers have been heard to pass very complimentary remarks as to its general appearance. It is located so as to present a very imposing appearance from trains passing through the city, and hardly anyone passes through McIntosh on the day trains without seeing it. Good school facilities always have a tendency to induce people to locate in a town and McIntosh is certainly at the top notch in this respect. The building will answer all purposes for several years to come and when more room becomes necessary the same plan of architecture can be carried out in making additions to the building.
Taken from Corson County Chief February 15, 1911

A large number of ex-service men met at the court house last Saturday evening to complete the organization of the Ralph T. Ankerson Post for the American Legion, and to elect officers which resulted as follows;
C.L. Eskelson, Post Commander, Harris Rinderneck, Post Vice Commander, W.K. Douglas, Post Adjutant, Loyd Simonson, Treasurer, Earl Peck, Post Historian, Dr. L.B. Pitts, Post Chaplin.
In the election of the above officers, the Post have men who will look after betterment of the organization and will work to make the organization a success. New members who joined the Legion Saturday evening are, Fred B. Baxter, Tony Green, E.E. Brennecke, Alex Campbell, Harry C. Waffle, M.G. Buel, Gomer Lewis, Jas. A. Couture, B.F. VerDouw, Lorenzo Miller, Wm. McNally, A.B. Brunette, Dave Sudit, Harry Sandoz, Ralph S. Shoemaker.
The next meeting of the Legion will be held Sunday afternoon February 8th at the court house. At this time they will initiate new members and take up other business that might come before the meeting.
Taken from McIntosh Globe-Chief January 29, 1920

County Seat Fight for Sioux County

A big meeting of the county seat promoters of Sioux county was held at Morristown Tuesday afternoon with a large attendance present from all parts of the county. This was the second meeting held here to unite on a permanent location of a county seat of that county, and the removal of same from the present location at Ft. Yates, which will be submitted to the voters at the next general election. At the former meeting held here two weeks ago Selfridge was considered for the honors and committees were appointed to attend to the preliminaries and report at the meeting Tuesday. The committee were not prepared to make a definite report at this meeting and a number of conflicting matters came up so the meeting was adjourned to a future date.
The proposition of voting the location of the county seat directly north of Morristown has been quietly discussed the past few months and every indication is shaping itself to that effect and will have the unanimous support of the voters in the western part of the county. The C.M. & St. Paul railroad official was here Tuesday to consider the matter of lending their aid in a county seat fight and he was taken out to the proposed county seat site which is located about sixty rods north of main street of Morristown in Sioux County, and expressed himself more in favor of a county seat here than at Selfridge. It would prove to be the best move for the residents of the county as it would give them a county seat on the main line of a transcontinental railroad and easy access to the thickly settled portion of the county where the heavy taxpaying farmers reside. The business men of Morristown will also help support this proposition and will donate a court house and site to the people of Sioux County. As shown in the past that a county seat located as above would be the most practical place is the fact that all the meetings pertaining to the business of the county among the residents of the west, as well as those of Selfridge, are held at Morristown, which is the shortest distance to the thickly settled population. With the backing of the railroad and businessmen of Morristown, and the settlers located in the west end of Sioux, it looks as if the seat of government for Sioux county has started on its way to this locality.
Taken from Morristown World March 10, 1916

Selfridge After County Seat

The Voters of Sioux County, adjoining us on the north, will be given an opportunity to vote on the proposition of moving the seat of government from Fort Yates to Selfridge, at the next primaries, if no unforeseen obstacle prevents. The people from the Selfridge community are very anxious to have the county seat there, as they deem it the most centrally located place in Sioux county, being about 30 miles from the east end of the county and 45 miles from the west, and located practically in the center from north to south. They have held several meetings in Morristown recently for the purpose of perfecting their plans for the campaign, and we are informed that they will have the cooperation of the railroad company.
If Brother Milliman of the Morristown World, has his way, he will have the county seat located just sixty rods north of the main street of that town, over the North Dakota line, but that don’t seem to appeal to the voters of Selfridge from the way they talk. Mr. Millman also states that the people of Morristown will donate a court house and site if they will locate the county hub of Sioux county there and assist to pull the honors from the Fort city. We had not given the proposition much thought until we read last week’s World, thinking it was beyond our jurisdiction, but if there is any chance of having a North Dakota county seat located in South Dakota, or nearby, we have an idea that the business men of McIntosh will go the World proposition one better. It is only a short distance from McIntosh to the North Dakota line, and if the people of Sioux county will locate their seat of government here, we will furnish the electric lights, also a court house and site.
Taken from McIntosh Globe-Chief March 16, 1916

Meets Death By Freezing

Mr. C.W. Shaw, one of the prominent and most highly respected farmers of the Cedar Valley district was frozen to death during the terrible blizzard of last Saturday evening.
Mr. Shaw started out from McIntosh between four to five o’clock Saturday afternoon on his way to his home seven miles northwest of this city, just as the blizzard stared up and began raging. In fact, even at this time with the fine snow that was falling, accompanied b a stiff northwest wind, it was most treacherous for even man or beast, to buck up against.
He reached the home of C.W. Buel about five miles out, which was on his way home, around six o’clock, and stopped and chatted with him. Mr. Buel putting forth every effort to have him stay there for the night, but feeling confident that he could make the trip, continued on his journey.
As he had gotten about a mile further on, he unhitched his team for the sleigh, and started out on foot but was unable to go a trifle over a hundred yards, before he fell face downward, with his arms spread out before him, and succumbed to the inevitable. This was about three quarters of a mile from his home, and the body was found not over five feet from the main traveled road.
The team was sighted from his home sometime Sunday afternoon on a hill nearby, and were at the barn early Monday morning after the storm had subsided. Mrs. Shaw and the girls were very much alarmed and worried all this time as to Mr. Shaw’s whereabouts, and were not informed of the sad affair, until about ten o’clock Monday, when their neighbor, C.A. Bowman, who had been after a load of coal, related about finding his dead body along the road, pretty much covered with snow.
This is one one of the saddest calamities that has ever happened in this section. He leaves to mourn him a beloved wife, two daughters living at home, Catherine and Fern; two married daughters in Ohio; also two sons Claude and Cal, the former a piano salesman with headquarters at Redfield, and the latter a salesman for a Cincinnati house.
The deceased came to this country about two years ago, and established a farm home north of McIntosh, built a handsome residence, besides otherwise improving the place, with the expectation of making it his permanent home. He liked the country very much, and was a booster at all times for this section of South Dakota. He had engaged in diversified farming, and was meeting with good success.
Mr. Shaw was sixty-eight years of age, a grand old man and was enjoying fairly good health when taken by the Grim Reaper’s hand. He was always cheerful, kind, considerate, honorable in every way, and a most loving husband and father. His loss is a severe one to this household and the sincerest sympathy of the entire community is extended them in their terrible affliction. It is not known as yet, where the burial will take place, but it is thought that the remains may be shipped to his old home at Finley, Ohio, although we understand, he had always expressed a desire to be buried here. His son, Cal, is expected home tomorrow when arrangements will be determined upon.
Taken from Corson County News February 8, 1917

Worst Tie-Up in Years

This section has been visited by a succession of blizzards during the past week or ten days, and the storm appears to have been quite general over the northwest, which has caused the greatest railroad tie-up known of in years. Engines ditched and rolling stock in a demoralized condition everywhere. The Milwaukee railway has been doing everything possible to cope with the situation, but the problem has been a most discouraging and hopeless task to make much headway. While the situation has been as bad from both directions out of McIntosh as one could expect to see, still it is said to have been worse on the H. & D. division, between Aberdeen and Minneapolis. However, in this immediate locality, with favorable weather for a few days, trains should again be running on schedule time, west and east for a short time again, at least.
Last evening, No. 3, which had been tied up in the yards, left for the west, and this morning No. 16, which had been snowbound at Lemmon, and two divisions of No. 18, all arrived from the west, and it is thought that by tomorrow, the track will be cleared to Mobridge. Two engines and a caboose had been stalled about five miles east of town near the Waffle farm, and a train load of hogs about three miles west of town, for several days up to late Wednesday, and a large number of the hogs were frozen to death, probably a loss to the shipper of around $5,000. as the shipment had been accepted at the owner’s risk.
The railroad crews have been putting in some pretty hard licks, working hand and hand with the railroad company, in an effort to make it possible to move trains, and are deserving of their just share of the praise, as well as the railroad company, for their noble efforts.
The farmers and ranchers of this locality all seem to have been prepared for the uncertainties of the weather man, and we have heard of no cattle losses anywhere. There also seems to be plenty of feed in the country, and no complaint is to be heard from an source, expecting that it has been rather inconvenient not to be able to get mail. However, the town was full of farmers Wednesday, and all appeared to be in a happy frame of mind, and apparently contented with the situation.
Taken from McIntosh Globe-Chief February 8, 1917

Supt. Mossman Makes Visit

Superintendent Mossman was over from Fort Yates last Saturday in company with some of his deputies and U.S. men and when they returned to Fort Yates Sunday afternoon, they had with them a complete drilling outfit, sever empty barrels, jugs, bottles and about twenty-five gallons of finished product.
In riding across the prairie northeast of McIntosh in Sioux county, someone discovered smoke coming from a place in a cut-bank, supposedly where no one lived, and upon closer investigation, a complete distillery was discovered. A man giving his name as Davies, was peacefully resting beside an outfit where some hundred proof “moon” was being manufactured. Mr. Mossman was informed and the Sunday raid is the result of the find.
Mr. Mossman, with his able assistants, went to the place as directed and found Davies still at work with his “still”. They placed him under arrest, but being under the impression that the outfit did not belong to Davies, they decided to wait for someone to come after the finished product, but their wait was in vain. They remained at the still from Sunday afternoon until Monday morning, but no one showed up and the officers had fasted as long as they could and gave up and took Davies back to Fort Yates with his outfit and all the “moon”. A well and everything needed in the manufacture of hootch was in the cave, and it was possible to turn out a good quantity in a short time with the large still, and it was located in such an out of the way place that only by accident it was discovered. There has been many rumors as to who the outfit belonged but Davies will undoubtedly take the blame and if it did not belong to him no one will be any the wiser. It was considered one of the best equipped outfits located on the reservation, and the officers considered it a great find.
Taken from Corson County News August 5, 1926

Thunder Hawk Banker Arrested

Sheriff W.A. Hanson went to Minneapolis last Saturday night and returned Monday with G.J. Mack in his custody. Mr. Mack was former cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Thunder Hawk and was arrested on a charge of embezzlement. The depositors of the defunct bank of Thunder Hawk employed a special accountant, so we are informed, to go over the books and he found what he believed sufficient evidence to arrest Mack on the embezzlement charge, and they proceeded to do so.
Mr. Mack was arrested at his home in Minneapolis and brought here to answer the charge. His bond was fixed at $1500 which he furnished and he returned to Minneapolis.
Mack is an exceptionally fine fellow and it seems hardly possible that he would juggle the funds of the bank, and of course he is not guilty until sufficient evidence is produced to prove him such. He seems satisfied that there would be nothing to the case and will be on deck to prove his innocence when the time comes to do so.
Taken from Corson County News September 16, 1926

Former Thunder Hawk Banker Case in Court

The December term of the District court for Corson county convened Tuesday with Hon. Judge Eddy presiding. The greater part of Tuesday was taken up with the reading the calendar and Wednesday the case of the State of South Dakota vs. G.J. Mack charged with embezzlement was commenced. The prosecution is being attended to by attorneys Harry R. Wilmsen, C.E. Sutcliffe, Ray Williamson of Aberdeen and Murray of Mott, North Dakota, while Morrison and Skaug are defending Mr. Mack. The case is attracting considerable attention and it will be a battle royale between the opposing attorneys. Up to this writing only a few witnesses have testified and the time has been occupied in getting in exhibits by the attorneys for the prosecution.
The embezzlement charge is being tried on a supposition that Mr. Mack, while cashier of the Farmers State Bank at Thunder Hawk, bought 500 bushels of flax for $2000 and later sold it for a larger amount and did not turn the profit over to the bank, thereby giving what is supposed to be grounds for an embezzlement charge. The North Dakota attorney was hired by a committee of depositors of the defunct bank at Thunder Hawk. The case will require considerable time and court will be in session several days. The records of the bank and also of the elevator at Thunder Hawk are being exhibited and there will be many law technicalities discussed before the case is closed.
Taken from Corson County News December 8, 1927

Early Morning Fire Destroys Jewelry Stock

An early morning blaze gutted the George Bierlein jewelry store this Thursday morning, and only for the quick response of the McIntosh fire department, the west side of Main street would have been a mass of ruins.
Ted Green, who was on his way to the Boot’s Cafe for lunch at about two thirty, noticed a smoke coming from the sides and windows of the Bierlein building, and he immediately turned in the fire alarm. He was the only person on the street and had it not been for him noticing the fire at that time, the building would have been beyond control. The fact that the building was covered with tin, confined the blaze to the interior and the flames were easily extinguished but not before the interior was gutted and the entire stock practically ruined.
In spite of Mr. Bierlein's heavy loss, it was a lucky fire, as the Yellowstone Lodge adjoining the store on the south, was filled with roomers and it is very likely that some fatality would have happened had the fire gotten beyond the confines of the Bierlein building and set the rooming house on fire. The wind was blowing from the north and the buildings south would have been reduced to ruins if the fire had gotten beyond control. The roomers in the Lodge were awakened at about the same time the fire alarm was turned in, and it was a pajama party for awhile and the roomers looked for new quarters.
Origin of the fire is unknown, but it is the opinion that defective wiring is responsible. Mr. Bierlein carried some insurance on the building and stock, but his loss will be very heavy.
Taken from Corson County News April 25, 1929

Where Names Originated

An interesting story of how many towns in Corson County were named is told in a letter received from Mrs. H.H. Smee, Spokane, Wash., former resident of Wakpala;
She says; “My husband, who assisted the Milwaukee railroad in securing right of way in Corson county, was asked to submit some Indian names for their stations. Two were selected. One was Mahto, which was part of my son’s Indian name. The name was Mahto Heklagecha or Hollow Horn Bear, whose head was engraved on the nickel of that period. The other was Tatanka after Tatanks Iotake, Sitting Bull.”
Telling of the naming of other towns, she continued: “Wakpala was named by Harry McLaughlin who had a trading store there. Itooha Wakpa being the Indian name of Oak Creek. McIntosh of course was named after Mr. McIntosh, head contractor; Walker and Lemmon after cattlemen and McLaughlin after Col. James McLaughlin.
When we were visiting in McLaughlin last October we met many railroad men who were among the first to cross the river, when the road ran as far as Cashmere and are still on the road. Not many people know that Mr. Bake, chief engineer at that time, made the original survey which ran up the Moreau river, through Wyoming and the Lola pass in Montana, and terminated at Eureka, Calif. The first white settlement in Corson county was the old agency at the mouth of the Grand River, which was moved to Fort Yates, N.D.
The first newspaper published west of the river was at Old Fort Rice in Morton county. The oldest white resident living in the Indian country when we were there was Basil Clement, grandfather of William Claymore.
Taken from Corson County News August 6, 1942.

Pioneer Resident Writes History of Corson County

The first mission established by the Catholic Church in Corson county occurred in the year 1879 when Rev. Joseph Stephan, the then U.S. Indian Agent at Fort Yates, North Dakota, selected in conjunction with Rev. Jerome Hunt and Brother Giles, a location near Kenel, S.D., for an Indian Boys’ School. The purpose of this school was to educate the Indian boys and girls for a practical and useful life. It was placed by the government under the care of the Benedictine Fathers and Benedictine Sisters. This school, called in its beginning, “Agricultural Boarding School”, and its Mission, St. Benedict’s Mission, formed the basis for all subsequent activities of the Catholic Missions in Corson County. From it started St. Edward’s Church near Mad Bear’s Camp, S..D. in 1889, St. Bede’s Church at Wakpala, S.D. in 1888,, St. Aloysius’ Church at Bullhead S.D, 1887, St. Ambrose Church at Black Creek in 1891 and Sacred Heart Church near Little Eagle in 1902.
Besides Rev. Jerome Hunt O.S.B. many other priests were active at Kenel, S.D., particularly Rev. Martin Kenel, after whom the boarding school at Kenel was named “Martin Kenel Boarding School” and the postoffice-Kenel. Rev. Martin Kenel presided over the affairs of the U.S. Indian Boarding school for the period of twenty-two years, 1884-1906 and made Kenel one of the best in the Indian Service, by his diplomacy, kindness, learning and eloquence he won the hearts of all-Indians and whites and men of various faiths. The influence of his teaching and that of the good sisters left their imprints upon the Indian youths even to the present day. Many a boy, many a girl remembers them most gratefully.
Another missionary of note was Rev. Bede Marty O.S.B. By his untiring zeal and great energy-travelling up and down the Grand River region for many years, 1888 to 1913, he gained the good will of many an Indian Chief and ever so many followed his good example and finally embraced the Catholic faith. Tho’ dead seventeen years his memory is still revered and loved by all.
Another missionary Father deserving mention in connection with the spread of the Catholic faith in Corson County is Rev. Father Francis Gersheoler, the now pastor of Solen, N.D. He also for a number of years did noble work and by his eloquence and persuasiveness in the Sioux language won over to the faith many a Sioux Warrior. His deeds are not forgotten.
The past fifteen years younger minds have taken the field in the work in Corson County. Foremost among them are Rev. John Vigneron of McIntosh, Rev. Othmar Buerkler of McLaughlin, and Rev Vincent Frech, O.S.B. of Wakpala and of late years also Rev. Sushsland of Kenel. All of these Fathers have taken a vigerous hand in the administration of the spiritual affairs of the Indians and whites entrusted to their care. Since the arrival of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway in Corson county, many a town has been located and in each locality a resident priest has taken up his home where he now successfully performs his duties as the spiritual advisor of his people. In consequence of the activities of so many young and zealous pastors of souls, Corson County has a driving population and many Catholic families are living within its boundary line.
Written by Rev. Fr. Bernard Strausmaier
Taken from Morristown World February 13, 1931

Pioneer Resident Writes History of Corson County

Corson County was created out of that portion of the Standing Rock Indian Reservation that lies in South Dakota and which was originally included in what was known as Boreman and Schnasse Counties.
These two counties were unorganized counties, Boreman being attached to Campbell county for judicial purposes and Schnasse to Walworth county. That portion of Corson County which was Schnasse county was the territory that lies directly north of the present Ziebach county, extending form the south line of the present Corson county to the North Dakota line. Corson County was created by an Act of Legislature, passed and approved March 2, 1909, and the boundaries were as follows; “Commencing in the middle of the channel of the Missouri River where the line separating the states of North and South Dakota crosses the same thence west along said state line to the one hundred second meridian west longitude; thence south along the said one hundred second meridian to the town line separating towns seventeen and eighteen to the center of the channel of the Missouri River; thence north along the center of the channel of the Missouri river and including in said Corson county all of the islands in said river, to the place of beginning.” Under this law it was attached to Walworth county for judicial purposes.
It was still an unorganized county until July 13, 1909, when at an election called by Governor Vessey, it was created into an organized county, the first officers were elected and a temporary county seat chosen. The Governor appointed an inspector for the various polling places which were as follows; Thunder Hawk, Morristown, McIntosh, Bullhead, McLaughlin, Little Eagle, Wakpala and Farm School.
At that time very few people lived in the territory comprising the county, the only settlements being along the railroad towns and around the Indian substations.
Prior to the election there was a caucus held at McIntosh in a large tent used for church purposes. A ticket was nominated and as far as any history shows they were elected as follows; C.S. Watson, Clerk of Courts; C.A. Green, Register of Deeds; J.F. Strong, Treasurer; N.B. Bartlett, States attorney; Guy Chmalle, County Judge; Ruby Coyne, Superintendent of Schools; George Perry, Sheriff; H.R. Thurber, Coroner; Antone DeRockbraine, Charles Duncan, J.H. McLaughlin, County Commissioners. A county Auditor was elected but there seems to be no authentic record as to who this party was but at the first Board of County Commissioners meeting, F.P. Byrne was appointed County Auditor. Mr. McLaughlin, one of the commissioners of the elected, refused to qualify and at the first meeting of the board, held August 8, 1909 F.W. McGowan was appointed to fill the place. At this time there was no courthouse and the various officers had their offices about town, the County Auditor and Clerk of courts had their office in the residence of N.B. Bartlett, States Attorney, he having built a house and created two office rooms in the front part of it, one of which he used as his law office. This building has been remodeled and now stands directly east of the Odd Fellow hall in McIntosh. the Treasurer had his office in the ear of the Fist State Bank building and as no taxes had been levied until September, 1909 there was very little for the Treasurer to do. Miss Coyne had her office in the First national bank building. The sheriff had his office wherever he resided and the County Judge resided at Morristown and had his office in the First National Bank of Morristown. The Register of Deeds also had his office in the First National Bank building.
At this election for the organization of the county, on July 13, 1909, the people also voted on the temporary county seat and the contest was between Morristown and McIntosh and McIntosh was chosen. However, there seems to be no records available at the county seat to show by what majority.
During the fall and spring of 1910, the city of McIntosh built the main part o the present courthouse on the courthouse square; which had been donated to the county by the Milwaukee Land Company, and the same was turned over to the county free of charge but in later years, when the county desired to build on to this courthouse, the city was reimbursed in part for the building.
In 1910, at the general election, the location of a permanent county seat was brought up and the contest was again between Morristown and McIntosh and it was general understood that the people of McLaughlin and Morristown were voting for Morristown with the idea that the county could later be divided and a county seat located at McLaughlin for the eastern county. McIntosh was again successful which made it a permanent county seat and under the law, the same cannot be moved except by a two-thirds majority.
The town of McIntosh was organized early in 1910 and was the first organized town in the county.
The first newspaper in the county was the McIntosh Globe, published by C.S. Clemenson, the date of the first issue being November 26, 1908 and along the latter part of June 1909, the Morristown World was started. Subsequent to these dates the McLaughlin Mirror as started at McLaughlin and Watauga Progress at Watauga and Corson County Chief at McIntosh. The McLaughlin Mirror was published by W.D. Hurlburt, Morristown World by F.J. Millman, Watauga Progress by W.I. Longstreth and Corson County Chief by Joseph D. Parker. The publication of homestead proofs made it possible for these papers to continue until the majority of the homesteaders had proved up. The Corson County Chief was later taken over by the McIntosh Globe and became known as McIntosh Globe-Chief, which was consolidated with the Watauga Progress and the present publisher, F.J. Scott, later changed the name to the Corson County News. When C. Christensen took over the paper at McLaughlin he changed the name from McLaughlin Mirror to McLaughlin Messenger.
In 1912 there was an attempt to divide Corson County so as to create Elkhorn County out of that portion of the County lying east of McIntosh, the dividing line being established six miles east of McIntosh but this attempt failed and in 1916 there was an attempt to set off a tier of townships along the south line of the County and attach the same to Dewey County, this being a movement to make Corson County so small that it could not be divided into two counties. This movement also failed and again in 1920 the creation of Elkhorn County along original lines was again submitted to the people and was defeated by a fair majority.
That portion of Corson County situated west of township 24 was open for settlement in 1910 although in the drawing for choice of lands was held in the fall of 1909. Applicants for the land had to register at Pierre and Aberdeen and these registrations were drawn in the form of a lottery, a party drawing number one having the first choice to any land located in this territory. Commencing in the spring of 1910, there was a large influx of homesteaders into the county and the population increased very fast, particularly in the western portion. In 1915,the balance of the Reservation was thrown open to settlement but there was very little land available as most of the lands had been allotted to the Indians. In addition to having to live on these lands, in conformity with the United States laws, the homesteaders had to purchase this and from the government by paying an appraised price that had been established by government appraisers, the highest priced land being $6.00 an acre. However the majority of it graded considerable less, the poorest land being valued at fifty cents per acre.
Written by H.R. Wilmsen
Taken from Morristown World February 20, 1931

Recalls Events of Old LeBeau-Dr. Olson Practiced Medicine in Old LeBeau-Witnessed Murder case.

Story of Evarts and Old LeBeau never fail to interest residents of this territory, whether they were here in the heyday of those wild western towns or have obtained their knowledge second hand.
The following article by Dr. C.L. Olson of McIntosh, who practiced medicine at LeBeau, when it was booming was published Sunday i J.A. Bailey’s column in the Aberdeen American News. Because of its interest to the people of this territory it is reprinted here:
I have been interested in following your chronicles of the Matador Cattle Co.’s days of old LeBeau and the characters involved in the history of that period. I was an interested eye witness of many of the stirring events of that wild west town from 1908 to 1910. LeBeau was at the zenith of her fame as a cow town at that time following the abandonment of Evarts about 1906 and the extension of the Milwaukee road across the river at Mobridge.
It was nothing at all to see 15 or 20 cow ponies, ‘tied loose’ in front of some saloon or gambling house as the town was wide open. Supplies for the big cattle companies were unloaded at LeBeau, ferried across the river and distributed by freight wagons on the reservation. Train load after train load of Texas longhorns were unloaded there each year and probably an equal number of finished cattle were loaded for market there giving the town a great deal of activity.
Dr. F.H. Creamer of Dupree and myself embarked on the practice of medicine and were in partnership there from 1908 to 1910. Perfect tenderfeet, having both been raised and educated in Iowa, we never found a dull moment in living and practicing in that ripsnorting community. Edward McBride, fluent of tongue and pleasing in manner, was the local editor; Dr. A.V. Rock of Hoven and Dr. W.A. George of Selby were the nearest consulting doctors.
The automobile had not yet usurped the horse as a means of conveyance and times were sort of geared to the horses’ pace. The Matador Cattle Co., was one of the large, good customers as was Capt. Burton C. Mossman’s outfit, which I believe was the Turkey Track. James burr was virtually foreman of the Matador as Dode MacKenzie was a busy man and had lots of outside business to look after.
The Matador lease was just across the river and was a large tract of land on which it was reported the annual rental amounted to $28,000 a year at about 4 cents per ace.
I have a very good picture of James Burr in whose presence I passed many interesting hours. I also have a good picture of a hard bitten character, Sam Robinson, mule skinner and handy camp man, all rigged up for holiday in Aberdeen.
When Dode MacKenzie was killed I was just across the street in my office and I reached him just as he had collapsed on the sidewalk, being aroused by the shooting. with another man, I do not recall his name, I rendered what service was indicated. He was beyond all help and was unable to make any statement. Eye witnesses, as usual, had different versions of the encounter.
One statement was that Dode entered the saloon, leaned on the bar, and engaged in what appeared to be casual conversation with Bud Stevens, the barkeeper, whereupon Stevens pulled a notched gun from underneath the bar and opened fire.
Others contend that he entered the saloon in a staggering manner and demanded to know where he could find Phil DuFran, the proprietor. Stevens’ first shot went squarely through the center of his chest in front, the second through his chest and the third through the chest from the back to front as Dode made for the door without any effort to defend himself.
From the fact that MacKenzie had a gun in his pocket at the time and was an expert in its use it appeared that the attack was so unexpected that no effort or defense was possible. MacKenzie staggered across the street and sagged to sidewalk impossible as that might seem with his heart, liver and lungs so perforated. Like others I feel that the full facts in connection with this case will never be known because of the death of so many of the principal characters.
The death of MacKenzie was a blow to LeBeau as it alienated much of the business from the Matadors, promoting bickering and factional feeling throughout the territory and was generally detrimental. After the unpopular acquittal of Stevens a disastrous fire wiped out part of the town and promoted more gossip.
LeBeau’s disintegration was more rapid than her rise. Her failure to secure the land office (which went to Timber Lake); the failure of the M. 7 St. L. to build its promised bridge and extend its lines west; the penetration of the adjacent territory by the Milwaukee and finally the parceling out of the reservation lands to homesteaders and consequent vanishing herds of cattle, spelled her doom.
LeBeau was a good little rip-roaring section of the last of the wild west in South Dakota, and as full of colorful characters as a good book of fiction. I am glad to have been just a small part of its interesting history. I am informed that there have been three LeBeaus to rise and fall in that locality and perhaps there may still by another in the future.
Taken from Corson County News September 14, 1939

Gives History of Morristown

Anyone traveling on highway 12 would most likely drive past Morristown without a thought, for the history of this little town is buried deep in the memories of its older settlers. There is no outward look that would inspire anyone to look into its past history, yet every town has a history and Morristown is by no means an exception.
With the settlement of the surrounding country there became a pressing need for a place where the pioneers might carry on their business. Answering this need Bert Richards (1907) began a grocery store in his railroad box car, which he also used as the first railroad station. Bert Richards was the first station agent, business man and resident of Morristown. The railroad going through Morristown in 1907 became the nucleus of the growing town. The town became important as a shipping point of thousands of head of cattle. Several thousand Texas long horns being shipped in the fall of 1909 to fatten on the range on the C7 ranch owned by Nels Morris, president of the Morris packing company. Morristown derives its name from him.
With every growing town there has to be someone first in everything so with Morristown there wee many names remembered by our pioneers, the names of the people who first built a store, a doctors office, a hardware, etc. The first doctors office to be set up in Morristown was that of Dr. McAddams. Drs. Suttle, Totton and Bean also practiced medicine in Morristown at one time. The first restaurant was run by Ed Duncan and his wife and the first pool room was run by Tom Duncan and was located approximately where the town jail is now. The first lawyer in Morristown was Pete Healy. Nell Berry trimmed the first hat to be sold from the millinery shop in Morristown. The first marriage to take place in Corson County was the marriage of Claude O. Dunning and Lulu E. McQuoid and took place at the home of Mrs. J.C. Kempton.
Perhaps the only written record of Morristown’s past is in the old files of the Morristown World, which made its first appearance on July 2, 1909.
E.J. Craig owned the first store other than the store Mr. Richards kept in his box car. This store was built north of the present town near the North Dakota border but after lots were sold in Morristown’s present locations (1909) he moved his store building. This building burned down and he rebuilt. This in now the Red and White Store.
Perhaps the first car in Morristown was the one operated by Clyde Palmer in 1909. Several years later with a different car going at the astounding speed of 20 miles an hour Billy Mathews made the remark, “I don’t ever want to ride any faster.”
An Indian scare came to Morristown in the year 1909 when a man came running into the railroad station minus hat and shoes crying “the Indians are trying to scalp me”. The station agent new from the east, believed the story and went into town where he learned that the man bearing the news was crazy, had imagined he was being pursued by the Indians and lost his at and shoes in his run for safety.
The first man who died in Morristown, was a railroad worker and was buried between what is now the liquor store and the gain bins, a road no runs over the spot, whether or not the remains were later moved is not known.
Morristown could at one time boast 2 hotels, 2 banks, 2 law offices, a doctors office, a dentists office and optometrists office and a drug store besides the many other business places, but due to the fires of 1912, 1919 and 1930 many of these were burned down and never rebuilt.
School commenced for the first time in October 1909 with fifteen pupils present. Viola Kempton (Viola Muth) hold the honor of being the first high school graduate. Of the graduates of the Morristown high school several have gone on taking their places in the world as accomplished and useful citizens.
Taken from
Morristown World October 16, 1942-Written by Shirley Mackay, senior