Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1889-03-29
A BACK NUMBER.
The Initial Efforts FIR Da-
kOta's Division and
Statehood.
7 weIve Years Ago the First Organiz.
atom Was Made in
Ysnkton.
Scraps From the Records of the
Past Relative to the Great
Movement.

Dakota's esrly history is found mostly
in the columns of the few newspapers OF
its primitive days and among there the
Press and Dskossian was the first end
gave the most exclusive attention TO a
record of current events. SO there is a
great deal OF valuable history in the
bound volumes of its past.
farming backward through the files OF
our paper in search of evidence concern
ing the fest tor statehood, we find
itsin an extended report of o meeting
held in Ysnkton on the evening Of April
l9, 1877. The Press and Dakotaian OF
that date contains this item:
The first meeting called in the interest
OF a state organ q ,tion will be held as
the oourt house this evening, commence
ing at eight O'Clock. This is one of the
most important subjects which the
people OF Dakota have yet been called
to consider An it ia hoped that there
will be y full attendance and q free in
terchange of opinion.
The Press and Dakotaisn OF April Goth
contains a report of the meeting, which
was large aud es foil Of enthusiasm as
any Of the later statehood gatherings.
The meeting was callei to order by
Andrew F. Bnrleigh. Oliver Shannon
nominated Captain q. E. Brooks for
chairman ami he was duly elected. G..
w. Kingsbury was made secretary,
The record proceeds to state that
Oliver Shannon moved the appointment
OF q committee on resolutions and that
the chair appointed General w. d. Ell.
Beadle, Oliver shannon and T. A.
Kingebury a, such committee.
Phil X. Fauik was called on for q
speech and in response mtds q strope
ar2ument in b hall o! statehood.
After this address the committee on
resolutions .Ddsie . report as long Of
q m ms arm. The resolutions wert
addre sell TO the people Of the
nation and the mgr OF
tie Unite St.tes. Toey Gale
attention to. Cakot.' Is $4,000 people and
100 600 square niles of area, demanded
the division of the territory on q central
east and west line and the immediate
admission Of the southern bali, which,
of the population of the entire territory.
Resolution number four stated that
South Dakota had ct that time (twelve
years back) o%utgrows Its territorial con-
dition and IVES entitled TO the blessings
OF self government. Finally the resola>
tions invited all mankind TO join in the
effort to achieve division and statehood
for the south halt of Dakota.
These resolution were adopted smi6
great enthusiasm end then a letter wat
read from Delegate Kidier endorsing
the move and promising to aid it IN con.
sress.
General W. II Fl. Bsadla followed
with an address breathing the full spirit
If patriotism, division and admission
and at the close Of his remarks General
VIM. Trlpp, P. A. Dutour, George H.
Hand and g. d. Gruber spoke In behalf
Of the state.
This meeting was adjourned until the
evening of April 23i, when 1t ~reeonvened
At the second meeting General w. 81
a. Beadle, G.. W. Kingsbu,y, A. f
BurIeigh, Oliver Shannon, Q. E. Brooks
and George a. Hand were appointed 81
executive committee to memorielize con
gress in behalf OF division aud statehood
A resolution presented by Governol
Pennington was adopted calling on til.
people Of Dakota to orgapigs loca
societies for the promotion OF the state
hooa cause and asking such societies I,
ce-opsrate with the Ysnkton statehood
organization.
This meeting closed with remarks b,
Chief Justice P. O. Shannon,G Governor J
IL, Pennington. BARTLETT Tsipp. Governo