The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1891-01-09
NUMBER 45s
THEIR sErTsa pAYs.


"Reminiscences Of Wsll Known Politicians
OF South DAKOTA.
PIERRE, 8. D., Jan. S,-South Da-
kota has some very queer characters
among its citizens, men an3;women who
have seen better days and at times
years ago were prominent political and
social figures in their localities. During
territorialhood . few drifted here with
federal appointments in their pockets,
while others who had run their course
" their homes and saw, position and
power slipping from them, sought this
new Eldorado hoping to better their
conditions. A few may have succeeded,
but in the main competition has been
greater than they expected, and were
1t not for the former positions they oc.
cupied they would be forgotten in the
hum of busy life incident to this portion
Of the west.
Few OF the ex-governors have held
their own and are political leaders today.
Gov. Mellette, the last OF the line under
territorialhood. and the first governor
elected under statehood seems to be the
most successful. He came here from
Muncie. Ind, as register of the Spring.
field land Office, and has more than held
his own. Ex-Governors Edmunds, Faulk
and Pennington reside at Yankton. The
tormer is banker and rich, but has
long ceased to take much interest in
politics. Faulk and Pennington have
not grown rich. The latter came from
North Carolina in the 7O's. but did not
oatch on IS he might Ex-Governor
Ordway, after q stormy administration,
drifted back to his old New Hampshire
home. Ex-Governor Church 10 at Seat
tie, practicing law. Tho only ex-gover-
nor now active In South Dakota politics
Is Mr.. Mellette.
The same condition prevails with
many who came here with com omissions
in their pockets. John II. Raymond,
ex-United States marshal and ex-dele-
gate in congress is dead. Ex-United
States Marshal Burdick is holding an
inferior position in the postofiice de-
partment General Harrison Allen who
held like position some years ago, is a
disappointed politician in North Da-
kota Gilbert A. Pierce. an ex-gov-
ernor fell heir to q short term United
States senatorship in North Dakota, but
1t looks as it the legislature of that
state would not re-slect him. Ex-
receivers and registers OF United States
land offices in South Dakota lie around
thick, but with one or two ex-
ceptions they exert very little
influence in the affairs of the
state. Other men Of newer end fresher
blood are the present leaders. In this
N h.
vival OF the fittest. This array Of ex-
something is not devoid Of ambition.
and do not let modesty keep them from
asking Office. Some years ago their
success was more marked than 1t will
ever be again. and many OF these will
have to be content to close their lives
with the records they made many years
ago.
But there are other characters here
who did not wander into South Dakota
backed by guaranteed livelihood from
the start. Many of these were promi-
nent business men and politicians years
ago. In this city two of those charact-
ers are to be found. James Dowd is
one OF them. Old settlers
of Sioux City and South
Dakota will remember him. At one
time he was general traffic manager OF
the old Southern Dakota railroad.
under O. II. Wicker's management of
that line. He was then prominent
business factor in this pct enterprise OF
Sioux City. Later on he drifted with
Fred Evans to Pierre. and had charge
of his bull train freight business into
the Black Hills. Today he is porter
in the Locke hotel in this city at S12
per month and board.
Another character in Pierre IS j.
Ashley Jones. brother of General
Jones, OF Dubuque. Some years ago he
was president OF the Winona and st.
Peter railroad, man of wealth and
power. This road has become the gigan-
tic northwestern system in Minnesota
and South Dakota. Fifteen years ago
Mr.. Jones came within three votes of
being elected United States senator
from Minnesota. Today he lives in
cave dug into hillside in this olty, and
is physical and financial wreck.
On a homestead in dug outin Camp
bell county lives lonely old man by
the name of Benson. Years ago he was
a bright and wealthy lawyer in West
Virginia, member OF the legislature Of
that state for several terms and promi-
nent in the political councils of his
party. The one word whisky tells
the tale.
1t is only now and then the public
catches glances Of these lives. They
are hidden because Of their failures.
In success men take pride
in their biographies, but in failure they
attempt to hide as much of the past as
they can. Many men are residing in
humble homes in our states whose lives
are romances, who figured conspicu-
ously during the civil war or led In civil
lie. But they have drawn the curtain
over the past, and only occasional
tlimpses can be gained OF what was
once matter OF pride.