St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-05
THE EARLY HISTORY
Of Dakota, Going Back
Thirty Years to the First
Settler.
Some of the Men Who We're
at the Front, and Notes
Of Them.
Methods Of Swindling the
Government in Indian
Supplies.
Stirring Incident in the Po-
litieal History of Those
Rough Days.

Special to the Globe.
YANKToN, Dak., Jan. 4.-On the eve
of the assembling of the eighteenth
legislative assembly of Dakota, ana
nerbaps the last time that the legiSla-
ture will meet under territorial govern
ment, it will be interesting for the haif
million people who reside within the
borders of Dakota to take a re-
Prospective glance and follow
np the progress of our law
makers from the date of the organiza-
ton of the territory up to the sitting OF
the Eighteenth assembly OF the Dakota
legislature. Familiar recOllections will
be revived by perusal OF the list OF
members of the various legislative
bodies.
IN THE SPRING OF 1887
the interior department, desiring TO
make treaty with the Yankton In
dams, by which their possession IN Wiat
is now Southern Dakota should be
ceded to the government, sent a. ID.
S. White. an attache of the
Indian bureau, to visit the Indians
and induce them to visit Washington
and negotiate a treaty. Mr.. WHITES
mission was unsuccessful, the Indians
being opposed to parting with their
lands, and he returned to Washington
to report the failure of his undertaking.
In the fall of the same year the interior
department requested Capt. }. b. 5.
Todd. then of the firm of Frost, Todd q
Co. post traders at Fort Randall, to
make an effort to induce the chiefs OF
the Yankton to
GO TO WASHINGTON
J.
and make a treaty. Securing the CO.
operation of Charles f. Ptcatte. VINO
had great influence with the Indians,
ane who still resides at 4ankton agency.
Capt. Todd at once succeeded III MS Ell
terprise. and early in the winter OF 1857
started for Washington with the Yank-
ton chiefs. accompanied by Mr.. Picatte
as interpreter. On the 10Th of April,
1858, treaty was made with
these Indians by which they
ceded to the United States all
the lands then owned. possessed
or claimed by them, except 100000 acres
embraced in their present reservation.
In consideration of this cesSiOn the
United States stipulated to pay to them.
orexpend for their benefit, the sum OF
S65. 900 per annum for ten years; 49,
per annum for ten years Thereafter;
and $4,000 per year thereafter, cover
ing a
PERIOD OF FIFTY YEARS.
Immediately after the ratification OF
this treaty A. II. Redfield, of Detroit,
Mich, was appointed agent for the In,
dams. and before winter set in had all
the Indians housed and located on their
reservation, thirty-ive miles above
YanktOn. on the Missouri river.
AS soon as the Indians were removed,
settlers began to pour into the territory,
locating principally at Big Sioux Point,
Elk Point, Vermillion and Yankton.
On the Sth of November, 1859, the set
tiers of Yankton, with d. L. Bramble
chairman, and NJ. K. Armstrong secre-
tary. Mr.. Bramble died in October
last while occupying the office of reg
lister of the United States Land office
at Watertown, and M. K. Armstrong,
after representing Dakota in congress.
moved to Austin, Mimi, where he now
resides. A memorial was passed ask
ing congress to organize the territory.
A similar meeting was held at Nermlll-
ion on the following night.
About this time company OF settlers
from Minnesota and Eastern Iowa COM
menced a settlement
AT SIOUX FALLS,
and organized a provisional govern
ment, with governor and other eXecu-
tive and judicial officers, legislative
assembly, anil elected delegate to con-
gress. On the 18th of July, 1859, a news
paper called the Dakota Democrat. with
S, j. Albright as editor, was started at
Sioux Falls by this colony, the publica-
ton of which was continued, al
though somewhat irregular, until the
organization of the territory by
congress. The organization of the
territory. after the ratification of the
treaty, on account OF the disturbed con-
dition of the country incident to the
causes which led to the breaking out Of
the rebellion, was delayed until 1861.
The organic act was passed in Febru-
airy and approved by President Bucanan
on March 2, 1861. The organization
was perfected by President Lincoln
soon after his Inauguration by the ap-
pointment Of the
FOLLOWING OFFICERS:
William Jayne, of Illinois, gouernOr:
John Hutchinson, of Minnesota, secre-
tary: l.. P. Williston, of Pennsylvania,
and J. l.. Williams, of Tennessee, asso-
ciate justices; Philemon Bliss, of Ohio,
chief justice; William Gleason, of Mary
land, United States attorney: William
F. Schaffer. of Illinois, United States
marshal; George d. Hill, OF Michigan,
surveyor general.
The first United States land Office
was then established at Vermillion,