The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-12-30
INTERESTING CHAPTER OF
EARLY DAK0T HISTORY

: WHICH ledu Cnef1urOnlte into a rGmln-
iscent mood, and in adding some fur
Their recital, stated that l was in err
ror about Frank M. Ziebach's title of
governor coming to him by reason of
his having been in command of the
militia during the war of the out
! break, when the federal officials fled
the territory, but it was because he
had served as governor of the third
house at Yankton. Simply to get at
the real facts | submitted the matter
to Mayor Joseph r. Hanson, and G.
W. kinssbury, of Yankton, who
| agreed with Colonel Bowen's version
and finally Governor" Ziebach him
self comes forward with letter so
filled with events of the early days
that it seems to me worth publication.
Mr.. Ziebach now resides at Winner,
Trip county, where he is United
States Commissioner.
AS Brother Bowen says the mat
ter is of no public concern and is of
interest only to survivors of old times
The first person elected to the posi-
ton OF squatter governor of Dakota
Territory was DR.. Joel A. Potter of
Yankton and the speakership of the
! sovereign assembly was awarded to
Judge James A. Tufts, both of whom
nave long since responded to the call
or the grim reaper. The first meet
ing of the sovereigns was held in
March, 1862, during the session of
the first territorial legislature. There
was much display of ceremony and
mock official pomp. George w.
kingsbury acted as one of the aides
to Governor Potter and appeared in
a gorgeous majors uniform, the
property of Major w. P. Lyman who
was, short time after the breaking
out OF the war of the rebellion. an
pointed major by President Lincoln
at the instance of John S. B, Todd.
Dakota's first delegate in congress.
Lyman fell in his first battle-not
with the common enemy but with tho
United States senate, which refused
TO agree with the president as to the
fitness of Lyman as a military leader.
Then king" was very handsome
young man, as he is now a very hand
some middle aged one. His dignified
and imposing appearance upon the
occasion made aspirants for military
honors in those days of martial en-
thusiasm, green with envy, but this
is dispersion.
''The only business transacted al
this first meeting of the sovereigns
of Dakota territory was the resigna-
ton Of Governor Potter. 1t was adj
dressed TO and read by Speaker Tufts
and then the meeting decorously
and solemnly adjourned. The pur-
pose or significance of DR.. Potter
act was not disclosed or explained. 1t
may have been a burlesque or d |
negative of the saying anent public
officers that ''feW die and none re-
sign" but if his purpose was to set
an example to be followed by other
officials to the great good of the
public service it signally failed, for
no sooner than the danger from n
dian depredations was removed by
the little band of pioneers who re
manned at Yankton, until all federal
officials who did not fight but ran
away that they might live to run
some other day, came back to their
duties and resumed their positions at
the pie counter.
cat the subsequent informal meet
ing of the sovereigns-therew were no
formalities in those days-I was cleo |
ted as squatter governor, but no fur |
Their proceedings were had during
that first session, and the next meet.
ing of the sovereigns was held and |
the first message delivered in the |
capitol building on the corner of Cap
itol and Fourth streets immediately |
after the adjournment of the second |
session of the legislature of 1868.
"Both you and Bowen are about |
right The first election following
the resignation of DR.. Potter, elicit |
ed for me a scattering application OF
the title OF governor. 1t was more
generally applet during the time
was in command of the defenders of
Yankton and practically all that was
left of the population of Dakota ter
ritory in 1862, but not generally APP
piled until after resumption of the
meetings of the sovereigns and the
delivery of messages in 1871. If
remember correctly the last meeting
of the sovereigns was held and the
last message delivered in Yankton in
1877.
ITO the best of my knowledge the
only survivors of those early day fes-
tivities now living in Yankton are
George w. Kingsbury and Major J.