Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-02-20
A Bit OF Retrospect.

A Bit OF Retrospect.
To the Press and DakotaiRn: In view
of our ever increasing prospects OF be-
coming in the near future a mighty city,
il occur to me that as our rapidly grow
ing and changing population, of course
unfamiliar with our traditions; many OF
our young people leaving for other
cities; Others leaving for the country
from whence they return to our sight
no more;-it were we'll to remember the
expressed wishes OF some of the founders
of this beautiful city, and in the names
they have given hold them in remem-
brance. Names more recently bestowed
are already we'll established. For in
stance, we have Mount Marty on the
west of town, college hill or the north.
l have II my mind at present a hill
not so well known by any name, and not
within the limits of the city, but
destined to be in the near future, for
its charming views and the fine drive
Tin summer) which leads to it from the
east of town. Many decades ago this
point was held as their council ground,
by the Indians. Over twenty years ago,
the property owners between this hiii
and town, named the drive from the
brow of the hill to Major DeWltt's cor
ner "Groveland AYepue;'' the hill they
named ''Prospect Hill" These old set
tiers we're Major Dewitt, Major Stone,
Col. Proper, Judge Ransom, Col.
Klngsbury, Major Litohfield and Major
Collamer. AS you see, in those days,
they were "all honorable men,"
On account of this magnificent pros
poet from its verge, the name" prospect
Hip was given. From the brow of this
hill is spread out q view covering miles
OF territory. At its foot, from southeast
to northeast, fer miles, lies the Dakota
river valley. (ln common ~pnrlance called
the JIM Beyond, on the east and north
east stretsh the hills with their ever
changing pictures of light and shade;
ever beautiful, whether covered with
snow in the winter, or green with the
verdure of spring; whether telling of the
wonderful wealth they hold for human
ity in the rank and file of ripened corr
fields and stacks Of grain in the autumn,
or later when in weird mockery the
prairie fires leap along the dried grasses,
oriform in solid phalsnx on the hill tops
and sweep down the sides in grand pro-
cession.
To the south can be sean the Missouri
river, sparkling and shimmering in the
defiance, and on she Nebraska side the
chalk bluffs stand white and cold
through oil chenges OF season. the
view from "Prospeot Hip embraces
river and valley, grand old woods and
broad stretches OF prairie over which in
summer, vast herds of cattle are grazing,
Creeping along the old 'pike" may be
seen.the preirie schooner; hundreds of
wagon loads of produce, both vege-
table and animal, from the
many miles of productive acres tribu-
tsry to Ysnkton pour over its long wind
ing wey daily during the spring and
fall, while in strange contrast the trains
of care with their long clouds of smoke
dash through the valley and over the
bridges which form part OF the extended
picture.
No okkopffnr hos ham on1Jal ~ th,
neglect of our honored %progenitors' labor
of love in giving beautiful names for the
benefit OF posterity--in seeing state
ments made about "Hanson's Hip which
is q mianomes, as q portion Of the hill ia
the property of G. worthy old resident
nsmed Solberger. As in the days OF yore
q score OF years ago, it vas called "Pros.
poet HILL" go mote it be in the years to
come. At the time this name wea given
Judge Hanson named his place Pros
poet Place. Majos Litohfeld called hit
place "Fairvlew," I presume because the
view though fine Was not SO extended Of
that OF his opposite neighbor. Majol
Uollsmer's was The Corner Colone
Stutaman's estate was "The'KnolI," Col
Propper's castle Proper I thinl
Col. Kingsbury designed sending TO
larehes which were to form the entrsnc.
way to his estate, q faceticus way Of OF.
pressing himself Left in the lurch, hi
drive coming out to Groveland avenu,
between tho Stutsman and Collame
estates. I cannot remember that Msjo
Dewitt eger named his place, but as hi
mansion was one where the latch strini
was always hanging ont, and himsel
and wife passed those early years in dis
pensiDg q generous hospitality both t
strangers and friends, We got in the wa
OF always thinking Of IT as aSnnshin
Cottsgs.n Major Stones estate he name