Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1910-09-01
RARLY HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND
UNION COUNTY
(By NJ. B. Kent, Historian for Old Settlers
Association Of Union COUNTY. s. D.

(By NJ. b. Kent, Historian for Old Settlers
Association Of Union County, s. D.
History records the fact that the
French began trading up the Mis-
souri, IN 1854 LoiselleS trading post
was built in 1895. 1t was located on
Cedar Island, IS miles below Pierre,
aud strongly fortified.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition came
August 2l, 1904 Sergeant Charles
Floyd died Aug. 20 a short distance
below Sioux City. A couple of miles
west of Elk Point Captain Lewis killed
a very large buffalo, and named the
locality Buffalo Prairie"
In 1922 William Ashley and Andrew
Henry, of Missouri, Went to the head
waters of ,he NJ ssouri and established
trading posts, camping IN Union county
two nights.
General Henry Leavenworth entered
Dakota, June 20, 1928 At Yankton Que
of the boats was snagged and six SOL
diers drowned. This was The tirst mill
tary expedition to visit Dakota
On July %, 1859, the log cabin of Eli
B, Wilson was completed at Elk Point.
1t was the first abode of white man
between Sioux Point and Green Point.
Theophlle Brughier had settled at
Sioux Point in l848, and Ad0lph Mason
in 1852, and Victor Cordier al Green
Point in 1854.
Elk Point and Green Point were un-
doubtedly named by the Indians as des-
ignating localities where elkS in large
numbers could be found. Audubon, the
scientist and savant, mentions Elk
Point in 1912, and Miss Liant in 1882.
Joseph Labarge and wife came in
December, 1859, and took the claim
so long owned by Runyan Compton
Mrs. Labarge was the first resident
white woman and Joseph Lab trge, Jr
the first white child born in Union
county. He is now living in Sioux City,
Iowa.
Nov. l, 1859, David Benjamin, Bart
lett NJ. Sheldon, William Adams and
M. II. SOmers arrived from Minnesota
by OK team and took claims near Elk
Point. The Adams claim was contest
ed by M. d. Weston and is known in
legal circles as the greatest land contest
in the history of our courts. Such men
as the late Judge Isaac Pendelton and
William L. Joy of Sioux City were en-
gagged as counsel. Weston won.
The townsite of Elk Point was sur
veyed in the simmer of 1861. The
first town council was: John r. Wood. .
President, Myron Sheldon, William
Adams and Preston Hotchkiss, Alder .
men.
Marsh and Ruskin owned the first
stage line TO Fort Randall, and Hedges
Bros. were their successors. Abe and
Fred Strobel and Runyan Com pton
were among the force of drivers.
The first artisans to arrive in Elk
Point were Leonard Taggart and Caleb
The first school house was of logs.
dirt floor and rOof, and was built largely
through the efforts of Lieut.. Wood.
The trst teacher was Norris j, Wallace,
nov nearing the end of lifes journey
The scholars were Misses Hattie,
Maggie. Mary and Eveline Wood, Chas.,
Lorenzo, Uriah Wood, Christina. An
drew, Calmer and Anthony Rome,
Lizzie Alcorn, Peter Simons, and half |
breed Sioux Indians from Sioux Point.
E. B. Wilson was The flrst postmaster.
appointed in March, 1860, by Gen1.
Holt.
The firsS general store was opened IN
the summer of 1865 by Harve, Fair
child and Robert r. Green, their first
load of goods being brought from Dd-
buque by wagon.
The first ter m of court was held in the |
log school house. Judge Kld,ler pre- sid
ing. David Benjamin was sheriff and |
Runyan Compton clerk. The first case
was the divorce of one Sterling Parker.
The first lawyer to locate in Union coun
was Harry Mcneil, who died in 1872,
and J. A. Wallace, who came In 1868. |
All the early arrivals among the legal
fraternity have passed into eternity, in
cluding George Stickney, Alexander
Hughes, Uriah HI. Akers, Ezra w. Mil
Ter, J. A. Wallace, and E. C. Ericsson,
none OF whom were more sincerely
lamenied than the latter.
The first frame building in Elk Point