The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-01-25
For Almost a Score of Years Two Towns
Struggle for Supremacy in Business,
in Politics, Religious and
Social Matters.
The Long Struggle Comes to an End
After a Law Suit Carried to the
Supreme Court.

supremacy of Miller over st. Law
renee, as that once pretty and thriving
little city is now almost thing OF the
past
Beautiful Town Site.
The beautiful site for a town on the
F, west banks Of the timbered Turtle
! creek induced the purchase OF the pres
ent location of st. Lawrence by I. o.
Nichols Of its original entryman, CIV.
Sayles. This occurred in March, 1852.
! Nickolswas superintendent of the Da-
: kota Central division of the Chicago Il
! Northwestern railroad With headquar-
| tiers at Huron. His undue activity in
the interest of st. Lawrence was said
to have been one Of the chief reasons
/ for his resignation-by request. The
town site was then purchased by Por-
/ ter Bros. and T.. A. Driver Of Chicago.
The latter was then and is now a
wealthy owner of what is left of ST.
Lawrence original town property.
State Senator John NJ. King of St
Lawrence was an original government
settler on the east bank of Turtle
creek adjoining st. Lawrence, where
he still resides. He first obtained Il
side track and asked for a postotfice
| to be named after himself. For some
reason. probably to avoid duplication
of names. the postoffice department
declined the name OF "King," but SUB
stituted the Latin word for it, ''R -x,"
aftcrwari changing this to the present
! nanie-St Lawrence.
Picturesque Character.
Senator King is one Of the most pie
| turesque characters In public life in
South Dakota. He came from Illinois.
where he was an active greenbacker
under the leadership Of Jesse Harper,
during the memorable greenback craze,
! and is similar in characteristics and
political tendencies to Donnelly of
f, very naturally fell in with Populistic
| theories in this state. and in the sena-
| torial campaign of 1891, when the Pop
| ulists elected Hon. James III. Kyle to
| the United States senate, King hims alf
| received some sixteen votes for the
| United States senate. In 1895 he was
elected senator by the Populists Of
| Hand county.
The long struggle between Miller and
| st. Lawrence began In 1880 by st.
Lawrence parties attempting n coup
upon the Alillers. Henry Miller the
/ father. had located a forty-acre half
breed Sioux scrip. and his two sons
| filed on quarter sections Of government
| land adjoining. The ST. Lawrence
| statesmen placed contests on these
two government claims. the object be-
| ing To prevent the Millers proving
up and obtaining government title to
| the land.
/ Ii was discovered that the transfer Of
Sioux scrip. which was purchased Of Il
| Chicago agent. carried no power of at-
torney with 1t to Henry Miller. Hence
after filing the scrip, deed from the
| half-breed, Alexander DuMerce, TO
whom the scrip was issued by the gov
errment. would give legal title to the
land. Then began an interesting
search for the Indian. DuMerCe. to OBJ
| tain his signature to a power of attor-
ney Of deed. The Millers won, locat-
| ing the half-breed near Devils Lake,
now in North Dakota. and Henry Mil
Ter obtained power Of attorney, upon
which instrument all original trans
fers of property in Miller were made.
! The Miller boys won also on their gov
eminent entries. and both plated adj
ditions to the first forty acres.
Held Balance of Power.
| This was followed by efforts of each
town to have Governor Orlway OF
Dakota Territory, organize the county
| of Hand and select the county seat.
| Governor Ordway came to the scene
of contest. looked the field over. and,
| as the early settlers very forcibly as
sert, with an eye single to the thrift
!, ness. for which he was noted, selected
1 a man known to be for Miller, and one
i equally sure for ST. Lawrence, as coun-
/ ty commissioners to organize the coun-
I ty capital. For Miller he selected Hon.
G.. l.. Livingstone, now OF Pella. Ia.
and for ST Lawrence, Hon. j. Nj. King.
! The third member Of the board was
! Frank G.. Wilkins. Governor Ordway's
private secretary, who thus held the
| nicely adjusted balance of power with
either of the other two commissioners.
/ and could determine the county seat
at will. The first meeting Of this board
was held on the prairie farm Of G. w.