Full text of "History of Minnehaha Co." Chapter 4
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CHAPTER IV.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS - TRRRITORIAL AND STATE OFFICERS.
Three conventions have met at different times in the city of Sioux Falls,
each of which drafted a state constitution which was submitted to the vote of
the people within the present limits of the State of South Dakota. The
instrument prepared by the last convention is the constitution under which the
state was admitted into the Union. To this result the citizens of this county
contributed their full proportion of labor and thought. It is fitting therefore,
that a brief history of what was known at the time as "the struggle for
statehood" should appear in this volume.
During the session of the territorial legislature in 1883, a bill passed
both Houses providing for a constitutional convention to be held at the capital
in October of that year for the purpose of framing a constitution for a state to
comprise all that portion of the Territory of Dakota south of the forty-sixth
parallel. This measure did not become a law, owing to the fact that Governor
Ordway would not approve it, and did not return it to the legislature with his
objections.
At the same session of the legislature the seat of government was removed
from Yankton, and a commission of nine were appointed to locate and establish it
elsewhere on or before the first day of July, 1883. The course of the governor
and his supposed hostility to the southern portion of the territory, and the
fact that the seat of government was on wheels and would probably be located at
some place without regard to the convenience of that portion of the territory
south of the forty-sixth parallel, aroused the representative men in this
section, and disregarding all former affiliations, they determined to put in
operation the machinery to secure statehood as quickly as possible.
A delegate convention of the people was called to he held at Huron June
10, to devise a plan of action. Prior to the meeting of the convention some
strong articles were published in the newspapers, advocating the right of the
people south of the forty-sixth parallel to proceed at once to organize a state.
The division of the territory having been refused by Congress, and the usual
method of adopting a constitution and asking for admission into the Union having
been prevented by the adverse action of Governor Ordway, it was urged that the
people could exercise their reserved and extraordinary rights vested in them by
the constitution of the United States, and in their sovereign capacity create a
state.
The convention assembled. It was composed of the strongest and most
capable men then residing in the territory represented. It was a great
convention in every respect, and did its work with a calm deliberation and
sagacity that encouraged the friends of the movement. The address to the people,
setting forth the causes leading to the demand of division and admission, rose
to the highest plane of assertion of political rights. A great metropolitan
newspaper at the time, in commenting upon this address, said: "There must be a
copy of the Declaration of Independence somewhere in the southern part of Dakota
territory." E. W. Caldwell of Sioux Falls was chairman of the committee which
prepared the address.
The ordinance adopted by this convention presented a full and concise
statement of the facts as they existed, and resolved and ordained "that for the
purpose of enabling" the people of that part of Dakota south of the forty-sixth
parallel to organize and form a state government and make application for
admission into the Union of the States, a delegate convention is hereby called
to meet at Sioux Falls on Tuesday the 4th day of September, 1883, for the
purpose of framing a state constitution republican in form, and doing and
performing all other things essential to the preparation of the territory for
making application to the general government for the admission of such part of
Dakota into the Union of the States, and that said convention shall be composed
of one hundred and fifty members." This ordinance also provided that the
election of the members to this convention should be held on August 1, and
provided for the canvass of the returns and issuing of certificates to the per-
sons elected.
In selecting the place for holding the constitutional convention, the
final vote stood, Sioux Falls 212, Deadwood 92.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1883.
On the day appointed, 120 delegates elected to this convention met at
Germania hall in Sioux Falls and the remainder of the delegates were all present
before the close of the convention.
The late Hon. John R. Gamble called the convention to order, and J. W.
Taylor of Canton, acted as secretary. The roll of the delegates was called, and
then, upon the request of the chairman, the Rev. J. N. McLoney, pastor of the
Congregational church at Sioux Falls, offered prayer. Hon. Jefferson P. Kidder,
associate justice of the supreme court, administered the oath to all of the
delegates present. A. C. Mellette was called to the chair. On the second day,
the permanent organization of the convention was effected by the election of the
Hon. Bartlett Tripp, president; C. H. Winsor, secretary; H. M. Avery, first
assistant secretary; and T. A. Kingsbury, second assistant secretary; Joseph M.
Dickson, sergeant-at-arms; Lynn Parmley, William McCormack, Sioux Grigsby and
George Dickson were appointed pages.
The executive committee appointed at the Huron convention re-ported as
soon as the convention was organized, that it had received $590.50, and expended
$413.50, leaving a balance of $177.00, which was turned over to the convention.
On the third day of the convention Mrs. Marietta Bones, of Day county,
obtained permission to address the convention for five minutes in support of a
petition, which she presented from the citizens of Day county, asking that "a
section providing for female suffrage be incorporated in the constitution."
Permission was granted, and she addressed the convention for four minutes only.
In justice to Mrs. Bones, we ought perhaps to say, she has since then been
converted and is now opposed to female suffrage. After the appropriate
committees had been appointed, the convention went to work with a will, and
during the greater part of the time held three sessions daily. It completed its
work and adjourned on the 19th day of September.
No abler body of men ever assembled within the boundaries of the State of
South Dakota for any purpose whatever. To enumerate all those in the convention
who were strong representative men, qualified and equipped for the work they had
to do, would result in almost a complete roll call of its members.
The members from Minnehaha county were R. F. Pettigrew, M. Grigsby, W. W.
Brookings, B. F. Campbell, John Bippus, Albion Thorne, G. D. Bannister and W. C.
Lovering.
The constitution adopted was an admirable document, and by comparison with
the organic law of the State of South Dakota at the present time, it will be
seen that this convention did not labor in vain. The incorporation of
prohibition was strenuously advocated, but the convention wisely concluded that
it was inexpedient to burden its adoption at the polls with such an issue. But
to allay all opposition to it for this reason, the constitution provided that
amendments should be submitted to the vote of the people whenever a majority of
the members elected to the legislature should vote to do so, and also any
amendment asked for by a petition to the legislature of five thousand legal
voters, should be submitted to a vote of the people within six months after the
adjournment of the legislature. The vote upon the adoption of this constitution
was 12,336 for, and 6,814 against. The vote in Minnehaha county was small, but
there was an even five hundred majority against its adoption.
The following committee was appointed by the convention to wait upon
Congress with the constitution in the interest of admission to statehood:
Bartlett Tripp of Yankton, A. O. Kellam of Chamber-lain, John R. Whiteside of
Vermillion, M. H. Day of Springfield, John M. Pease of Mt. Vernon, W. H. Brayton
of Ree Heights, S. H. Bronson of Howard, James A. Ward of Pierre, John Cain of
Hurun, A. W. Hager of Mitchell, O. S. Gifford of Canton, George Freeman of Elk
Point, James Baynes of Alexandria, F. M. Goodykoontz of Chamberlain, Robert
Dollard of Scotland, C. H. Winsor and W. W. Brookings of Sioux Falls, Newton
Edmunds of Yankton, A. C. Mellette of Watertown, B. G. Caulfield and G. C. Moody
of Deadwood, H. J. Campbell of Yankton, E. W. Foster of Frankfort, Thomas
Sterling of Northville, A. Boynton of Lennox, R. W. Welch of Plankinton, and R.
C. Lake and C. L. Wood of Rapid City.
The convention also appointed an executive committee and clothed them with
power to advance the cause of statehood, but as there was a restrictive clause
in the schedule declaring "that nothing in this constitution and schedule
contained shall be so construed as to authorize any officer elected under the
provisions of this constitution to undertake the exercise or discharge of his
official duties, until this constitution shall take effect by the admission of
the state into the Union," no effective work was done by them.
After the Huron convention, but before the adoption of this constitution,
the seat of government was located at Bismarck. This act on the part of the
commissioners only intensified the feeling in southern Dakota for division and
admission.
A great effort was made in the northern part of Dakota to create a
sentiment throughout the territory in favor of "One Great State" and it had its
advocates south of the forty-sixth parallel; but the southern people could not
be converted to this view, and day by day grew more and more determined that a
division of the territory should be made, and statehood accomplished.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1885.
Early in the summer of 1884, an active campaign was inaugurated in South Dakota
to secure the election of members to the legislature to convene at Bismarck in
January, 1885, who were favorable to the division of the territory, and
statehood for that part south of the forty-sixth parallel.
The object of this was to obtain the passage of a law authorizing the
holding of a constitutional convention to draft a constitution for southern
Dakota, and to provide the means for defraying the expenses of such convention.
It was a successful campaign. The "Band Wagon" labeled "For Division and
Admission" was driven all over southern Dakota, and its approach was a source of
great rejoicing and enthusiasm by all the candidates for legislative honors.
The legislature convened and a bill was promptly introduced and passed,
authorizing the holding of a constitutional convention at Sioux Falls, September
8, 1885.
Preceding the enacting clause in this law, there was a preamble setting
forth that the welfare of the people would lie promoted by the establishment of
a permanent government, sovereign in character, republican in form; that the
territorial system of government had no stability, was temporary in character,
possessed no sovereign power, did not meet the requirements of the people; that
it had always been the wise policy of the present government to foster and
encourage the development and settlement of the territories until such time as
their population should be sufficiently numerous to entitle them to be admitted
into and become a part of the United States, and that that part of the Territory
of Dakota south of the forty-sixth parallel, contained a population sufficient
to entitle it to admission, and that Congress had so declared by its action upon
the bill for the admission of such part of Dakota into the Union; that it had
all the other necessary qualifications, and that the people were desirous of
being enfranchised and enjoy all the privileges of American citizenship.
At the time of the enactment of this law, Gilbert A. Pierce was governor,
and he approved it March 9, 1885.
This law provided for the election of three delegates on the 30th day of
June, 1885, apportioned among the several counties of southern Dakota; and that
each county that should be organized before the date of the election, should be
entitled to one delegate in the convention.
The compensation of the members of the convention was fixed at $2.50 for
each day's attendance, and five cents a mile for each mile necessarily traveled
in going to and returning from such convention.
This act directed the convention when assembled, to draft a constitution
for that portion of Dakota south of the forty-sixth parallel, and to provide for
an election by the people of the proposed state, at which election the
constitution should be submitted to the people for ratification; that the state
officers, members of Congress, members of the legislature and all other officers
provided for in the constitution should-be elected, and that the convention
should have power to provide all necessary means for holding such election, and
for assembling such legislature when elected, and for carrying into effect all
the purposes of such constitution.
It also conferred the power on the convention to provide the manner of
presenting the constitution to the Congress of the United States, and to do and
ordain all things necessary to be done for the purpose of carrying into effect
the government of the state as soon as it should be admitted to the Union.
It also appropriated for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the
convention the sum of twenty thousand dollars; but provided that the members
should not receive pay for a session of more than thirty days.
The convention assembled at noon on the 8th day of September, 1885, at
Germania hall, in the city of Sioux Falls, and was called to order by the Hon.
John H. Teller, secretary of the territory, and prayer was offered by the Rev.
A. Jamieson, pastor of the Methodist church at Sioux Falls. The roll of the
delegates elected was then called by Secretary Teller, and the oath administered
by him to all those who were present. The Hon. A. J. Edgerton was unanimously
elected president; John Cain of Huron, secretary, and H. M. Avery of Sioux
Falls, assistant secretary.
Upon the organization being perfected, Henry Neil of Grant offered a
resolution that the convention adjourn sine die. This resolution was prefaced
by a preamble declaring that it was not the desire of the people of the
territory that the southern portion should be admitted separately to statehood;
but that they desired admission of the whole territory as one state. A motion
was made that the resolution be laid on the table, and upon the yeas and nays
being called for, it resulted in 59 votes for and 12 against, whereupon a motion
was made to reconsider the motion to lay on the table, and that the motion to
reconsider be laid on the table, which motion prevailed without division. The
necessary committees were then appointed and the rules and order of business
adopted, and the convention, in imitation of its predecessor of 1883, went at
the work before it with commendable promptitude and energy. This convention had
among its members a large number of the "old war horses" in the interest of
statehood for southern Dakota, quite a number of them having been prominent
leaders in the convention of 1883. It was a distinguished, representative body
of men. The delegates from Minnehaha county were: E. P. Beebe, A. J. Berdahl, W.
W. Brookings, C. S. Gifford and J. B. Goddard.
The convention concluded its labors on the 22d day of September, having
been in session the same number of days as the one two years previous.
The constitution framed by this convention is the Organic Law of the State
of South Dakota.
As independent propositions, the convention submitted the questions of
prohibition and minority representation.
On Tuesday, the 3d day of November, an election was held to determine
whether the constitution should be ratified or rejected, and also to determine
whether prohibition and minority representation should become a part of the
constitution in the event of its ratification.
The election resulted in the ratification of the constitution bv a vote of
25,132 for and 6,522 against.
The vote on prohibition was 15,552 for and 15,218 against. The vote on
minority representation was 11,256 for and 16,640 against.
The question of temporary seat of government resulted in the following
vote: Huron, 12,695; Pierre, 10,574; Sioux Falls, 3,338; Chamberlain, 3,170;
Alexandria, 1,374; scattering, 602.
The official returns of the election in Minnehaha county were as follows:
for the constitution 1,298, against 515; for prohibition 901, against 886; for
seat of government, Sioux Falls 1,842, Pierre 29, Huron 5.
The following state officers were elected: A. C. Mellette, governor; A. E.
Frank, lieutenant governor; Hugh S. Murphy, secretary of state; Frank Alexander,
auditor; D. W. Diggs, treasurer; Robert Dollard, attorney general; A. S. Jones,
superintendent of instruction; W. H. H. Beadle, land commissioner. Judges of the
supreme court, A. G. Kellam, Dighton Corson, and John E. Bennett. Circuit judge,
H. H. Keith. Representatives to Congress, O. S. Gifford, T. D. Kanouse. State
senators, C. K. McKinney, G. H. Johnson. Representatives from Minnehaha county,
Lewis Lyman, J. R. Manning, E. P. Beebe, and Lemuel Shaw. There was only one
ticket in the field in this county.
Before closing its work the convention appointed an executive committee,
and empowered it, in the event of the ratification of the constitution in
November, to call the senators and representatives elected together at such
place as should be selected as the temporary seat of government, to organize as
the legislature of Dakota, and to exercise and perform the duties devolving upon
them as such legislature under the constitution. The chairman of the committee
was Hugh J. Campbell, and immediately after the canvass of the vote on the 25th
day of November, the committee directed the members elect to meet at Huron on
the 14th day of December.
A brief statement of what was done by this legislature may not be out of
place here. Almost the entire number elected presented themselves at Huron at
the appointed time, and the oath of office was administered to them by Hugh J.
Campbell. Both Houses proceeded at once to elect the usual officers of such
bodies. Immediately thereafter the two Houses met in joint session, and Mr.
Campbell administered the oath of office to the state officers, including the
fudges of the supreme court. This completed the first day's work.
The next day Governor Mellette delivered his message to both Houses
assembled in joint session. The most remarkable feature of this message was, in
substance, the declaration that the State of Dakota a politic, created by the
people, was a State not only de facto, but de jure. Of course he did not mean to
encourage rebellion against the United States government, but did mean to be
emphatic enough in regard to the claims of the people, to attract the attention
of Congress. During the same day the senate and house proceeded to vote for
United States senators. In the senate G. C. Moody received 31 votes, being the
entire number of senators present. A. J. Edgerton and Hugh J. Campbell were then
placed in nomination, and Edgerton received 27 votes and Campbell 3 votes. In
the house the first ballot resulted in 52 votes for Edgerton and 30 for
Campbell. The second ballot stood 70 for Moody and 60 for Campbell.
The third day the senate and house met in joint session, when A. J.
Edgerton and G. C. Moody were declared elected United States senators.
A memorial to Congress supplementary to those that had been made by and
under the authority of the convention passed, and on the 17th day of December,
1885, the legislature adjourned.
From this time on during the years 1886-7-8, the attention of Congress was
called to the condition of affairs in southern Dakota, and urged to enact such
legislation as would result in the division of the territory, and the admission
of southern Dakota as a state. O. S. Gifford, was territorial delegate to
Congress during all this time, and made great effort to obtain the necessary
legislation, but nothing was accomplished until the Springer enabling act was
approved by President Cleveland on the 22d day of February, 1889. This act
divided the Territory of Dakota on the seventh standard parallel, and fixed the
time when and the place where each should meet to frame a constitution, how the
constitutions should be submitted to the vote of the people, and if ratified and
republican in form and in compliance with all requirements of the Constitution
of the United States, they should become the States of North Dakota and South
Dakota.
The time fixed for the constitutional convention for South Dakota was July
4,1889, and Sioux Falls was selected as the place where the convention should
meet.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, 1889.
At the hour of 12 o'clock meridian, the members elect of the
constitutional convention assembled in Germania hall in Sioux Falls, and were
called to order by Dighton Corson, one of the members. Prayer was offered by the
Rev. L. N. Stratton, and when the roll was called, nearly all the delegates
responded to their names. Chief Justice Tripp then administered the oath, which
was taken and subscribed by the members. A. J. Edgerton and S. B. VanBuskirk
were nominated for president of the convention, but no ballot was taken, Van
Buskirk withdrawing his name, and A. J. Edgerton was unanimously elected by
acclamation. E. W. Caldwell was elected clerk pro tem.
On the 5th day of July, the organization was completed by the election of
subordinate officers. F. A. Burdick of Vermillion was elected chief clerk; Dr.
A. W. Hyde of Brookings, enrolling and engrossing clerk; James Carney of
Deadwood, sergeant-at-arms; Rev. J. A. Wakefield of Brookings, chaplain; Albert
J. Keith, Charles C. Walts and Frank E. Clough, pages.
Although the work of this convention was brought into a limited field, it
did not conclude its labors and adjourn until the 5th day of August.
The enabling act or "Omnibus Bill" as it was called, provided, that at the
election of delegates to the South Dakota constitutional convention of 1889, the
constitution of 1885, and also the articles and propositions separately
submitted, should be submitted to the vote of the people, and if it should again
be ratified, then that constitution should only be amended or added to in such
matters "as relate to the name and boundary of the proposed state, to the
reapportionment of the judicial and legislative districts, and such amendments
as may be necessary in order to comply with the provisions of this act; and if a
majority of the votes cast on the ratification or rejection of the constitution
shall be for the constitution irrespective of the articles separately submitted,
the State of South Dakota shall be admitted as a State in the Union under said
constitution, as hereinafter provided."
At the time of the election of delegates, May 14, 1889, the question of
the ratification of the Sioux Falls constitution was submitted, and it was
ratified by a vote of more than ten to one.
The members from Minnehaha countv to this convention were: Wm. Van Eps, E.
W. Caldwell and dark G. Coats.
The enabling act required that if the constitution of 1885 should be
ratified at the election in May, it should be the duty of the constitutional
convention of 1889 to provide by ordinance for re-submitting it to a vote of the
people on the first Tuesday in October. This requirement the convention complied
with, and the constitution was ratified at the election by an almost unanimous
vote, there being only 3,247 votes against it.
The vote on the prohibition clause was 39,509 for, and 33,456 against.
There was a majority of 21,588 against minority representation.
The vote for temporary seat of government was as follows: Pierre, 27.096;
Huron, 14,944; Watertown, 11,970; Sioux Falls, 11,763; Mitchell, 7,506;
Chamberlain, 2,414; scattering, 44.
TERRITORIAL AND STATE OFFICERS.
TERRITORIAL OFFICERS, 1861-1889.
GOVERNORS.--William Jayne, 1861-3; Newton Edmunds, 1863-6; A. J. Faulk,
1866-9; John A. Burbank, 1869-74; John L. Pennington, 1874-8; Wm. A. Howard,
1878-80 (died in office April 10, 1880); N. G. Ordway, 1880-4; Gilbert A.
Pierce, 1884-7; Louis K. Church, 1887-9.
SECRETARIES.-John Hutchinson, 1861-5; S. L. Spink, 1865-9; T. M. Wilkins,
1869-70; G. A. Bachelder, 1870-2; E. S. McCook, 1872-3 (assassinated September,
1873, by Peter P. Wintermute); Oscar Whitney, 1873-4; Geo. H. Hand, 1874-83; J.
M. Teller, 1883-6; Michael L. McCormack, 1886-9.
CHIEF JUSTICES.-Philemon Bliss, 1861-4; Ara Bartlett, 1865-9; George W.
French, 1869-73; Peter S. Shannon, 1873-81; A. J. Edgerton, 1881-5; Bartlett
Tripp, 1885-9.
ASSOCIATE JUSTICES.-S. P. Williston, 1861-5; J. S. Williams, 1861-4; Ara
Bartlett, 1864-5; W. E. Gleason, 1865-6; J. P. Kidder, 1865-75; J. W. Boyle,
1864-69; W. W. Brookings, 1869-73; A. H. Barnes, 1873-81; G. G. Bennett, 1875-9;
G. C. Moody, 1878-83; J. P. Kidder, 1878-83 (died in office); C. S. Palmer,
1883-7; S. A. Hudson, 1881-5; Wm. E. Church, 1883-6 (resigned); L. K. Church,
1885-7; Seward Smith, 1884; W. H. Francis, 1884-8; John E. Garland, 1887-9;
William B. McConnell, 1885-9; Charles M. Thomas, 1886-9; James Spencer, 1887-9;
Roderick Rose, 1888-9: Charles F.Templeton, 1888-9; Louis W. Crofoot, 1888-9;
Frank R. Aikens, 1889.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.-Wm. E. Gleason, 1861-4; George H. Hand,
1866-9; Warren Coles, 1869-73 (died in office); William Pound, 1873-7 (died in
office); Hugh J. Campbell, 1877-85; John E. Garland, 1885-8; William E. Purcell,
1888-9; John C. Murphy, 1889.
SURVEYORS-GENERAL.-George D. Hill, 1861-5; Wm. Tripp, 1865-9; W. H. H.
Beadle, 1869-73; Wm. P. Dewey, 1873-7; Henry Esperson, 1877-81; Cortez
Fessenden, 1881-5; Maris Taylor, 1885-9.
UNITED STATES MARSHALS.-William F. Shaffer, 1861; George M. Pinney, 1861-
5; L. H. Litchfield, 1865-72; J. H. Burdick, 1872-7; John B.Raymond, 1877-81;
Harrison Allen, 1881-5; Daniel W.Maratta, 1885-9.
DELEGATES TO CONGRESS.-In 1861, J. B. S. Todd, Democrat, the first
candidate for delegate to Congress, was elected over A. J. Bell and H. 0. Booge,
Republicans, Todd receiving 397 votes; Bell, 78; Booge, 110. In 1862, Governor
Jayne and J. B. S. Todd were opposing candidates, Jayne receiving 237 votes and
Todd, 221. Todd contested Jayne's seat and was successful. The succeeding
delegates in Congress were as follows: W. A. Burleigh, in 1864, defeated his
opponent Todd, for a third term. In 1866, Burleigh was again successful, despite
the opposition of W. W. Brookings, also a Republican. In 1868, there was a
lively campaign, Burleigh being a candidate on an Independent ticket for a third
term, opposed by S. L. Spink, Republican, J. P. Kidder and J. W. Tohey,
Independents, and J. B. S. Todd, Democrat. Spink, the Republican nominee, was
successful, and in 1870 was again a candidate, as was also Dr. Burleigh, against
M. K. Armstrong, Democrat. The latter was successful, however, and in 1872, was
re-elected after a bitter campaign, in which G. C. Moody and Judge Brookings
were the opposing candidates. In 1874, J. P. Kidder was the Republican nominee,
opposed by Armstrong, who wanted a third term. Kidder was successful, and in
1876, was re-elected over his opponent, Spink, who in this campaign had been
nominated by the Democrats. In 1878, Judge G. G. Bennett, Republican, was the
successful candidate against Bartlett Tripp, and in 1880, R. F. Pettigrew,
Republican, defeated Capt. M. L. McCormack, Democrat. In 1882, John B. Raymond,
Republican, was elected over Judge Brookings, and in 1884 was a candidate for
re-nomination, but after one of the hottest political contests in the history of
the territory, was defeated for re-nomination by O. S. Gifford, who was elected,
and in 1886, re-elected and served four years. In 1884, Judge Gifford was
opposed by J. R. Wilson, Democrat, of the Black Hills, and in 1886 by M. H. Day.
In 1888, George A. Matthews was nominated by the Republicans and elected, but by
reason of the territory being organized into the States of North Dakota and
South Dakota in 1889, Matthews never had a seat in Congress.
NUMBER OF VOTES CAST FOR DELEGATES, 1861-88.
1861 585 1870 3,227 1880 28,474
1862 458 1872 3,733 1882 47,185
1864 607 1874 6,788 1884 86,937
1866 743 1876 8,614 1886 104,802
1868 3,878 1878 17,653 1888 114,130
There is no record of the Red River Valley vote for 1866.
FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICERS. 1889-1899.
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT.
Soon after South Dakota had become a state, A. J. Edgerton was appointed
United States district judge for the district of South Dakota, and held this
office until his death, which occurred on the 9th day of August, 1896, and on
the 31st day of the same month he was succeeded by John E. Garland, who is the
present judge. W. B. Sterling was United States district attorney from 1889 to
1893, E. W. Miller from 1893 to April, 1897, when J. D. Elliott was appointed.
Cyrus Fry was marshal from 1889 to 1893, Otto Peemiller from 1893 to 1897, when
Edward G. Kennedy was appointed. Oliver S. Pendar was appointed clerk of the
district court June 30, 1890, and of the circuit court June 17, 1890, and has
held this last named position since then. Charles E. Mellette was appointed
clerk of the district court October 29, 1891, and held this office until
December 26, 1896, when Mr. Pendar was again appointed. W. H. Lyon was appointed
United States commissioner April 7, 1890, and held this office until July 1,
1897, when D. J. Conway was appointed.
UNITED STATES SENATORS.-R. F. Pettigrew, 1889, re-elected in 1895; G. C.
Moody, 1889 to 1891; J. H. Kyle, 1891, re-elected in 1897.
MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.-J. A. Pickler, 1889-97; O. S. Gifford, 1889-91; J. R.
Gamble, 1891, died, and J. L. Jolley was elected to fill out the term 1891-3; W.
V. Lucas, 1893-5; Robert J. Gamble, 1895-7; Freeman Knowles and J. F. Kelley,
1897-9; Robert J. Gamble and C. H. Burke present incumbents.
GOVERNORS.-A. C. Mellette, 1889-93; Charles H. Sheldon, 1893-7; Andrew E.
Lee, 1897-9, re-elected in 1898.
SECRETARIES.-A. O. Ringsrud, 1889-93; Thomas Thorson, 1893-7; W.H.Roddle,
1897-9, re-elected in 1898.
AUDITORS.-L. C. Tavlor, 1889-93; J. E. Hipple, 1893-7; Henry E. Mayhew,
1897-9; James D. Reeves elected in 1898.
TREASURERS. W. F. Smith, 1889-91; W. W. Taylor, 1891-5; Kirk G. Phillips,
1895-9; John Schamber elected in 1898.
ATTORNEYS GENERAL.-Robert Dollard, 1889-93; Coe I. Crawford, 1893-7;
Melvin Grigsby, 1897-9; John L. Pyle elected in 1898.
SUPREME COURT JUDGES.-Alphonso G. Kellam, 1889, resigned in January, 1895,
and Dick Haney was appointed to fill out the term and is the present incumbent;
Dighton Corson, 1889, present incumbent; John E. Bennett, 1889 to 1893, when he
was re-elected, but died December 31, 1893, before taking the oath of office,
and was succeeded by H. G. Fuller by appointment January 14, 1894, who is the
present incumbent.