Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-03-09
Our Correspondent Visits the ..LoweIl
Of the West" and Graphically
Describes the Town and
People.
Advantages and Brilliant Prospects
II the Town.
Large immigration and Rapid Settlement Of
- Government Lands.
Some Mention OF the Leading business
Men.

Some Old codger once said "See Venice
and die" by which he doubtless sought to
convey the idea that to see that ancient and
interesting city was the summit of human
ambition, and that thereafter there was
nothing further TO live for. Just now the
great ambition Of ahost of people from all
parts of the country is to see Sioux Falls,
and-not die, but possess themselves of
property in the town and adjacent country.
The fame of Sioux Falls; Of its beautiful 10.
cation; Of lis healthfulness; of its wide
awake, enterprising and Intellectual citi-
zens; OF the boundless and fertile country
around, which pours the products of its
well.tilled acres into the commerce of the
town: and last, but not least. of its unr:-
vailed water power of almost limitless ca.
pacity, have gone abroad, and people from
all sections are flocking hither to enter land
under the several acts of congress-, to pur-
chase city lots. to erect buildings and to en-
gage Ia business. Every day brings large
accessions to the numbers already here, aud
the cry is, still they come. The hotels are
crowded to their utmost capacity; the beard
ing houses have eager customers for all
their hash; the livery stable keepers are
taxed to their utmost capacity to supply
new corners with conveyances to visit the
adjacent country where government land is
yet to be had; the lumber dealers are up to
their ewes in business; the merchants are
busy the lawyers and land agents are peck
citing frequent and fancy fees for making
out papers and commissions on sales; and
the mechanics and laborers are nil employed
at good wages. The noise of the saw and
the hammer is heard in all parts of tie
town from morning till night; new build.
ings are going up in every direction; old
ones are being enlarged and improved to
meet the increasing demands of trade, and
altogether the town presents an appearance
of life and prosperity which reminds the
ancient scribe of the palmy days Of 1867.
This is the Sioux Falls Of to-day. Let us
60 back and look at the beginning.
In 1853 Ezra Willard, now president Of
the Omaha National bank, came to Sioux
Falls in behalf offs company known as the
Dubuque Town company, and made a claim,
including the Falls, the island and adjacen,
land, now known as Brookings claim. D. NJ.
Mills, now a citizen of Union county, We
believe, was employed by Mr.. Willard to
reside upon and "hold" the claim, which he
did for seven months, receiving for his ser.
vices the sun of 500 per month. About
the same time John McClelland came to the
Falls, and excepting a few brief intervals,
has resided here eyer since. John is one Of
the old Originals" is well and favorably
known to all the old settlers throughout the
territory, and, unlike most pioneers, the
fortunate possessor of much valuable pro.
perry. In June, 1856, and about q week after
the gentleman above named came here, a
company Of St. Paul men, styling themselves
the Dakota Land company, arrived and
located a townsite adjoining tbs first claim.
This company also located the towns Of
Flandreau, Medary, Amazonia lat the mouth
of the Split ROCKY and several towns in
western Minnesota. Among the members
of the Minnesota company, or if not men,
bers of the company, who came here about
that time, were Byron NJ. Smith. Judge W.
w. Brookings, Maj. J..W. Evans, Maj. F
J. Dewitt, A. G. Fuller and Capt. James
Fisk. Capt. James Fisk subsequently be-
came somewhat noted in Minnesota and Da.
kota as an organizer of expeditions to Mon
tana and the Black Hills. In August, 1857,
the number of settlers was augmented by
the arrival of Dr.. J. L. Phillips, l.. B. At
wood, ]. P. Jarrett, Albert Gilgore, Smith
Kinzie and others, most of whom were
members of the Dubuque town company,
At this time the town was surveyed and
plated and a handsome photographic map Of
the plat was published. In 1858 more set
tiers came in, and among the number we're
the familiar names of Capt. Geo. P. Wal
dron, Barney Fowler and James NJ. Allen.
In this year a newspaper, called the Dakota
Democrat, was started by s., J. Albright,
the publication of which was ~irreeularly
continued until 1862, when the settlers were
driven out by the Indians, and the building
in which the press was located destroyed by
FIRE. About the same time q provisional