Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-12-24
Instead OF a few stub roads, 1t is

kota. Instead OF few stub roads, 1t #
now network Ct railways. The prosper
GUS towns Of Huron, Mitchell, Aberdeen
and the scores of looming, substantial
busiltess pla:ss were unknown. Wher,
they how stand was unbyoken p,airie ano
unknown and unsurveyed. A few adven.
turers had wandered up the Jim River tt
Firestecl, near where Mitchell now stands
few othe,s had located at Medary, neal
the present prosperous town of Brookires
AMI others had gore to Swan Lake, in
Turner County. 1t took faith in those DAYS
to set ones stakes SOY far out, but TODAY
these men are near the southern edge OF
settlement. Since 1881 there has been a
large immigration into Southern Dakota,
and ahead of it came the railroads.
EFFORTS FOR Is1v1s1oN
began MS early as 1872. This was the first
actual move 10 get division on the forty
sixth parallel. Thus for sixteen years the
popularidea has favored division on the
very parallel now proposed. In 1883 the
first move was made to get this division
and the admission of the southern half.
On the 10TH of June that year delegates as
semtled in this city and thoroughly dis
cussed this proposition. and it was unani-
mously recommended that a convention for
that purpose meet at Sioux Falls the fol-
lowing September and frame constitu-
ton. This was done, and adopted by n
vote on the Sd of November following.
But, wishing to be right and sure, bill
was passed by the Legislature at its last
session authorizing such convention and
$D,O00 to pay the expenses of the same.
Again members for a constitutional con-
vention were elected. and again meeting at
Sioux Falls, the body framed another con-
stitution, submitted it to vote of the peo-
pie, and it was carried by large majority.
Under this constitution State officers have
been elected.
Thus has been briefly outlined Dakota's
past. Certainly the efforts of the people
from 1858 to the present day have not been
crowned with the greatest political success.
A long, tedious struggle ensued before they
could get territorial organization, and like
the present efforts to get statehood various
trials resulted before their claims were re-
cognized. There was territorial organic
alton inangurated in 1858, with Henry
Masters as Governor, which fell to pieces
a year later. Then W. w. Brookings was
elected Governor. and he, too, surrendered
year later to give place to the movement
started at Yankton, which succeeded in
1861.
A few of the old actors of those tines vet
remain as patriarchs of the past. w. w.
Brookings is yet hale and hearty, and a
resident of Sioux Falls, Dakota. Bramble
has been cared for by the present admins
tration, and is receiver at Watertown. N.
J. Wallace resides on his farm near Elk
Point, as also does e. NJ. Wilson near the
same place. Duncan Ross farms in the
famous Sioux Valley. j. r. Hanson leads
a private and contented life at Yankton.
NJ. NJ. Rich has been called to his fathers.
G.. w. Kellogg is collector in Sioux City,
and Geo. Stickney is old and gray on his
humble homestead. William Sinner is a
resident of Vermllion. But time has
wrought great changes in the ranks of the
old leaders. Very few of them are at the
front to-day. Another generation has come
to the front, and seem to find about as
much trouble as their predecessors in gain
ing the object sought. While they have nc
Indians to fight, they find the same lazy
savages in their way, and they also find the
same national administration and partisan
ship.
Thus quarter of century has slipped
by since Dakota was given territorial gov
eminent. 1t has its full quote of politica
troubles and disappointments, and the
National Government has given it some
good rulers and some bad ones