Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1883-03-24
WASHINGTON SPRINGS.

WASHINGTON SPRINGS.
The early history of the country
surrounding Washington Springs is
but another chapter Of the history Of
the great Territory Of Dakota: the
first white visitors to this section be-
ing a couple of Canadian traders who
came here IN 1854 to trade for furs. In
1895 LeSeur visited the Dakotas of the
upper Mississippi and the northwest
aid found q tradition among them
that their ancestors came from the
north, across the great water, having
been driven from their native land by
war. He believed the Dakotas were
from China and Tartary and, that they
found their way here by being driven
first to the North Sea Islands and
thence in boats to this Continent. and
supports his theory by the similarity
of the language of the two peoples.
At that early day the Dakotas occu-
pied all the country from the Missis-
sippi to the mountains. Another of
the early writer's IN speaking of the
tribes says: "The Dakotas came down
from the north and drove the Omahas,
Ottoes and Iowas from this section
where they had long lived in power
and pride hunting and holding their
annual sacred council at the Great Red
Pipestone quarry in P%ipestone county,
MINI. Before this conquest the Da-
kotas were called Nedeaes-sioux
(meaning enemy from the termlna-
ton of which word is derived Sioux"
the name by which they are now gen
orally known.
In the spring of 1850 the Indians
were removed to their reservations
and this country was then the lawful
prev of the land hunter. The early
settlers, however, did little else than
hunt and trap in this immediate neigh
borhood. taking their peltry to the
trading posts on the Missouri.
At the time of the memorable Min.
nesota massacre in 1862 there were a
number of trappers who visited the
"Hills" regularly on their hunting ex-
cursions; one of these trappers being
named Wessington; when attacked by
the Indians they fled for the Hills but
were pursued apd killed near the Big
Springs. In honor to the man who
thus offered up his life and mingled
his hearts blood with the waters gush-
ing from the rocks, the Hills and the
Springs have since been known by the
name Of Wessingtolsy-
The Washington Hdlks are, more pro-
perly speaking, table lands" being an
elevated plateau from 50 to $50 feet in
height: the ascent from the south be
ing gradual for 35 or 40 miles and from
that point gradually descends unit, in
the northern distance they mlngle with
the leyel lands of the valley seemingly
bounded by the sky. The highest points
Of the Hills are, - the township
line between q ssiIo7- and 1903 III
range IS, the slope ftvfn there back to
the Missouri river being gradual, This
table land is beautiful rolling prai-
RE with good soil easy to subdue and
cultivate, producing crops equal to any
in the choicest portions Of the terri
tory. A short distance west of the
eastern edge OF the Hills there are
thousands Of acres of the most fertile
soil awaiting the coming OF the set
tier.
The climate on top of these Hills is
all that can be desired; up SO high
that no miasma reaches. they are
Touched by a light that hath no name
A glory never sung"
The Springs, just at the foot OF the
Hills on the east, send forth pure wa
tiers, and waters charged with iron,
sulphur, magnesia and other proper
ties, all health giving and health-res-
toring in their effects so that we have
here all the natural charms that in
duce SO many people to visit southern
California during the summer season.
Invalids can come here and find that
fullness and beauty of life that is so
frequently denied them in other and
older settled portions of the United
States.
The. soil in all this region Of our
try is wonderfully retentive Of mois-
ture SO that the disastrous effects of
drouths are reduced to Il minimum it
is a black rich alluvium and loan
practically ineXhaustible; it is all
strongly impregnated with lime and
other essential qualities Of a superb
grain and grass bearing soil.
The first white settlers here were
Levi Hahn and A. Nicholson who came
here in 1876. MI. Hahn having a squat
ter's right on the claim through which
uns the Big Springs, while MI. Mich
olson was located three or four miles
above on the claim o owned by Mr..