TWO
TRUE ACCOUNT OF
PIONEER DAYS
Craig S. Thomas Writes Inter'
estingly of Frontier Life in
South Dakota
THE NUMEROUS HARDSHIPS
He Tells of the Privations of
Those Days Thirty
Years Ago
Craig S. Tliomas, president of the
board of trustees of Sioux Falls col
lege, lias prepared a history of the
early days of South Dakota, a part of
which follows:
The fact above all others which the
Atlantic states are slow to understand
is the marvelously rapid growth of
the west. This is especially true of
that part of the west through which
runs the treacherous Missouri.
Storms, floods, blizzards, cyclones, In
dians, prairie fires, sod houses, wolves,
bears, trackless prairies, deer and
game of all kinds in abundance—such
are the ideas which many easterners
have of this portion of the west,where
not a few large cities are located and
bumper crops are raised.
Such lack of knowledge of present
western conditions is doubtless due to
two facts. First, to the hardships of
early western life, which, by letters to
friends, and newspaper records, were
thoroughly advertised in the east:
and, second, to the provincialism of
many eastern people who travel little,
regard the place where they live as
the center of civilization, and forget
that those who have built up western
cities and towns are people from the
most ambitious and enterprising
classes of the east.
As a matter of fact, not one tithe of
the early hardships in the west has
ever been told.
In many places water had to be
hauled in barrels for miles, and even
then was sometimes taken from
dammed-up draws in which cattle
waded and drank.
For several years in succession, be
cause of drought, hot winds, or grass
hoppers, crops failed. At such times
many families had neither means witli
which to live nor cash to leave the
country, and farms had to be mort-
mg covering their bodies but thin
calico dresses.
Prairie fires, set by sparks from en
gines and by careless smokers or camp
ers, swept the prairies like demons.
All the available inhabitants of a town
went out by wagon loads, often two or
three times a week, to tight the
flames. Valuables, piled in trunks or
boxes, were buried in gardens to save
them from destruction. Household
goods were carried to the middle of
plowed fields, only to be set on fire
by tumbling, flaming Russian thistles,
and, notwithstanding all efforts to
prevent it, whole towns were often
destroyed by the flames.
Winter biizzards, with snow as fine
as sifted flour, a 60-mile wind, a cruel
temperature, and the atmosphere so
laden with electricity that one couid
not come near a stove without receiv
ing a severe shock, blinded both men
and cattle, and wrought destruction
upon every living thing out of doors.
Buying coal for fuel was like pur
chasing diamonds, and could be in
dulged in only by people of means.
For many even wood was out of the
question because of the long distance
to it. Hay was twisted into large
doughnut-like whisps and burned in
stoves straw was tramped into sheet
iiOn, boiler-like holders, the covers of
the stove removed, and the filled
holders placed over the fire upside
down so that the flames might eat
slowly from bottom to top cow chips
(dried dung) made hot fires, and were
preferred to either hay or stray.
Many were prostated by fever and
ague and the few well women of a
neighborhood went from house to
house to bake and do housework for
those who were sick while occasional
visits from Indians kept a whole
neighborhood afraid.
At first orops were usually disap
pointing. An old pioneer once told
me that land, like a colt, had to be
subdued, and that many, not under
standing this, became discouraged
and left before the land had lost its
wilderness.
Floods occasionally damaged the
property of those who had farms in
the river bottoms, keeping the land
too wet to cultivate, submerging early
crops, and sometimes sweeping away
buildings and drowning stock.
But into these hard conditions came
a hardy people.
The early settlers from this part of
the west were largely from the old
world, often from conditions of pover
ty and sometimes of oppression. A
I luiiua LittVA tu vc UJUIC- uuuujyCaijv nym*
anG tf,e
single room shack or dug-out on the
wide spreading prairies of a free land,
and upon acres that were their own,
was a home of which the owners were
justly proud. Although not a tree
was in sight, and the boundless green
expanse of spring was often soon with
ered by furnace winds and the merci
less summer sun although clouds of
grasshoppers often left not a shred of
growing crops, or flaming tongues
licked up the meager harvests which
the newly broken sod yielded, these
people were inured to hardships:
these conditions were bad enough, but
they had no better to which to turn.
Homes they must make for their fam
ilies, and they stuck to the task with
grim determination.
Asa reward of such perseverance,
conditions have entirely changed.
Farms that 30 years ago discouraged
American owners sold for $1 per acre,
that they might have enough to leave
the country, are now worth from $55
to$75 per acre. Grasshoppers are of
the past the breaking up of the sod
has eliminated prairie fires thorough
cultivation has brought the land up
to its highest efficiency 30 years'
growth of trees has modified the winds
and mollified the storms.
Standing on top of Spirit Mound in
South Dakota, where a hundred years
ago Lewis and Clark stood and look
ed upon treeless prairies, one now sees
a land of splendid homes, each home
nestled in the shelter of an ample
grove of cottonwoods, box elders, sil
ver maples, elms and walnuts, and
many of them boasting good orchards
of apples and plums. The greater
part of this marvelous transformation
has beer wrought within the last 30
years.
MIRACLE TO BE REPEATED
The Country to be Subdued and
Vast Domain Carved into
Counties
It is forty-eight years since the
first agricultural settlement was
made in South Dakota and in that
period the agricultural possibilities
of the state have been pretty well
tried out. Thirty-six first class crops
have been grown. Seven others have
been fair and five have been practical
failures. South Dakota invites com
parison with this record.
The present year opened with un
usual promise. After a prolonged
period of inactivity the great rail
road companies traversing the state
have undertaken vast extension pro
jects and the building of more than
eight hundred miles of new" track in
this state this year is officially an
nounced, Jbs „J»he N
South Dakota Central.
No other state is confronted with a
promise of so much development.
Most of these new lines run into
feitile, but practically, undeveloped
sections. The possibilities presented
for ground floor opportunities in new
business undertakings, town build
ing, county seat locations and free
homes are unequaled anywhere. The
great empire of Butte couuty will for
the first time be thrown open. This
is a land of fertile black muck soil,
luxuriant grasses, clear purling
streams fringed with timber, and
abundant coal deposits. The Waite
and Teton valleys further south will
also be made accessible by new rail
roads, and immigration is pouring
into the region at a rate unequaled
since the great boom days of the
eighties.
In those regions the'miracle of the
old days is to be repeated. Towns
will be built with schools, churches
and all of the activities of high civ
ilization. The vast domain will be
carved into many counties, their cap
itals located and county officials se
lected. The familiar American story
will be enacted again, for almost the
last time. The wilderness is to be
subdued.
These are some of the things that
South Dakota has to offer to settlers
this year. The settled eastern por
tion has also its splendid offerings.
Fertile soil proven by years of depend
able cropping. Business opportuni
ties of the first importance. A hearty
welcome from a prospering and con
tented people who desire more neigh
bors and the increased opportunities
and comforts which a denser popula
tion will enable them to enjoy. Last
year the agricultural products of
South Dakota averaged $278 for each
inhabitant. It is to share in this sort
of substantial prosperity that South
Dakota beckons the homeseeker
hitherward.—Black Hills Journal.
Going to Build
Or beautify your home? Then consult
our cornice department. We manu
facture a large line of house orna
ments, such as will ornament the finest
home, madeijin copper, brass, galvan
ized iron, sheet steel. If our 200 pat
terns do not suit your fancy, we will
make to order any design you bring
us. Our prices on this will be as low
as can be had in any city in this coun
try. You save the freight. The qual
ity of our work will compare favora
bly with the best.
ABERDEEN HARDWARE CO
M. & ST. L. ROUTE
DEFINITELY FIXED
Makes Air Line 36 Miles Long
Across
South
Adds at Least Three New Sta
tions, Bringing Total to 23
in County
Tracing the line of the Minneapolis
and St. Louis survey across the town-1
ship maps in Peterson's new county
atlas it appears that 51 farms are cut.
diagonally in its course of 36 miles,
across the western portion of
countv, going northwest as straight!
as a wild goose could fly. The line
cuts through the southwest corner of
Garden Prairie five and a half miles
west of Verdon, and here, just over in
Brown may be the first station after
leaving Conde. The line, passing
through eastern Kondell, enters Gem
east of the Jim, crossing the river
on the O. II. Doken place. It is
thought the next station will be on
the west side of the river, likely on
the town line between range 02 and
63, being about ten miles from Aber
deen, and on a line seven miles east of
Warner and twelve miles west of
Ferney. The line runs about 15 miles
northwest of the city to the point
where it crosses the couuty line, just
in the southwest cosncr of Carlisle
township. If the tirst towu northwest
of the city is located ten miles out it
will be very close to J. S. Vetter's
farm, and the next station would
likely be in Edmunds county a few
miles west of Berne post office.
The right of way settlements have
about all been made in the country.
East of the river about $60 per acre
was paid, while west of the river, up
to the city, an average of about SSo is
agreed upon. North west of the city
much less is being paid. The right of
way of over 36 miles includes over
430 acres of land which at an average
of $60 per acre amount of nearly
$26,000. In addition to this there are
numerous expenses for moving build
ings. One house and several barns
have to be moved and on the Doken
•n'aaeo irn &rESiab^eirl\tTff6ii,ufflfc ifo
be paid for. Bills of this kind may
run the right of way expense up.sever
al thousand more. Adding the cost
of right of way and yards in the city
the right of way bill through 36 miles
of Brown will exceed $2,000 per mile.
Mat nn««'i
There should be considerable stir
ring at the Opera house on next Sat
urday evening, when Kilroy and Brit
ton will be seen heading the new suc
cess, "An Aristocratic Tramp." There
is a laugh every minute for the most
cynical, and between the laughs there
is also a chance for the sympathetic to
drop a tear. "An Aristocratic Tramp"
contains a sensational automobile
race and explosion and the most sen-
SSHv?
311 train efTeClS
S
p,ctei
E Tn?'
W. E.
ABERDEEN DEMOCRAT, FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 190^
Western
Brown
CUTS DIAGONALLY SI FARMS
MM.tLSut •CMiTtoxii.
Hi
\i/
Klny
«uecn
IN ARISTOCRATIC TRAMP
t0**"erspe
with lnely singing and dancing
cialties galore. These two clever stars
have surrounded themselves with a
politan players while the scenic effects
atST"8
'tnVery
detail-
at 2.30, prices 10 and 25 cents.
Social Science Club
The regular meeting of the
Sc ence club MoW wasS.
Mil attended. The ttaue for paS
two of Which were on the program'
was A Study
in
Government—Eug-
faiot paper was led bv Josenh
and of the second one by (j
ens. Tlle next paper oi th.
the next to the last one for thl
on, is on a live question: Are
Aberdeen
Hunk Hunk, the wild goose, whose liome
Is in tl:t sky
A jnwtini of Ministers inti wild did cry
Where the sun threads the heavens In spring
adv.mce
And darts toward the earth Its
kh'
lance.
Koosu's bill.
beam like a
Now Honk Honk was kind to his clamorous
horde
He believed in the rullug by heart not by sword
And whenever he found lie could better Pie Tact
ile strengthened the armor at that very jilace.
Hut Honk wits In trouble, the season was here
When earth shed lier suow and the leatlow ap
pear
And lie and Ills subjects were met liere In form
l-"or a prophet had told of an oncoming storm.
"Now spc"»k,'' said King Honk Hunk. "Why
raise such a fuss?
l-'wr the weather is lovely, why frighten us
thus?"
And as his words died the assembly grew still
While they heard the bad news from the gray
Ifelieve ye the words from the gray prophet's
mouth,
l'or I've seen Will Hern lu town mitral Inn south
And as men are much wiser than we are, you
know,
\S'e'd better get out e'er we're caught in the
&o mighty King ll iuk Hants and all ins wim
crew
Away to the southward they Hew and they flew
For lack of a !lt pais they all had to fly
And the echo sent back the last quivering cry.
M. B. A. lodge met last Saturday.
Pearl Rogers is or was visiting in
this vicinity.
Paarl Rogers, Grace Porter and Jim
Rogers were in last week.
Mrs. Melvin Smebc and Mrs. Geo.
Holmes were Warner visitors Tues
day.
Quite a few went up Wednesday to
take the teachers' examination Thurs
day and Friday.
Mr. Synoground, president of the
Groton-Ferney Telephone Co., was in
town last week on business.
Fred Kaupp was in town last week
moving phones and putting in the
new switchboard at central.
Ed Payne and family returned re
cently from California where they
have been spending the winter.
liof.
S. s.
better.
and Russia
iu
Vm!
topic is to be treated bT W
Cochrane, superintendent of
schools. Geo. W. Nash °,ty
the Northern Normal andS cr?'
^UUeadintbedta.^'-
Roscoe. a specialist in
diseases of horses will be here for
several weeks giving treatment.
SCOTCH HIGH BALLS
g00d and
by
Johnson. Discussion of the
S
of Teachers Commensurate with the
Demands Made Upon Them'
^o will do you
SCOTCH WHISKY
sztrc,sis^atwe
with you, and on our vtrTwu'™
you never had any better
H0NE66IR
Third Ave. West'
$m:
BUILDING A NEW BARN
Fitting it up with a g°°d ^ay wirier is
«"f jV*
not miss getting one that will stay if you get the
LOUDEN TRIPLE CARR|E
It works from the end or the centre of the barn
qo firm as the Louden all steel (x) cross
so firm as the Louden all steel (x) cross Shape Vr"?1*aCTt
can be bent to any angle "cold" without breaking
Louden Feed Carriers make it easy for you to fpPH
stock. Ask to be shown a sample. *ea
Warner News Items
Will Neiger, Alfred Cate aud Chet
Newkirk have installed phones and
will play with the elements awhile.
Jessie Smebe of Mansfield Is here, a
guest of the Warner house and under
the care of our home physician, Dr.
Pickering.
Ray Sweet came down for a stay
over Sunday on the farm, returning to
Aberdeen Monday evening to attend
school again.
Says Mrs. Brown to Conleee "I've a
full house". Says Conlee to Mrs.
Brown "Beats me, I've only got a pair
of queens."
Last week about fifteen of Miss
llassen's pupils surprised her by
marching down in a body and taking
the place by storm.
L. O. Moulton is is still selling horses
and from the appearance of some of
his sales, which have passed through
town, he has some good ones.
Geo. Hasse was up to the directors
meeting in the court house Saturday
»j»«l u.av.^1 tnri iif.lliK JMiiauiJKi
eloquence over the assembly.
Mr. Kllis Haltezore of Ashton came
up Friday night to see whata Warner
dance was like and returned the fol
lowing morning sleepy and happy.
N. M. Morgan is out with a proposi
tion to build a Farmers' Elevator No.
1, and will take subscriptions under
the following plan, shares to be worth
and no one to hold more than 25
shares.
Ralph Homing and Gus Wilson rode
the Woodmen goatr Saturday night
and agreed that Billy was a real soci
able fellow after all. Ills bark being
pretty bad but his bite—well usk
them.
Our baseball manager announces a
ball game with Columbia May 4th and
a double game the 5th with tfie same
team. A dance will be held on the
evening of the fi'th. The team bids
fair to be a crackerjack and all know
Columbia, the little base ball zephyr
of the Jim.
Alma Roby, who has beeD in Ash
ton for some few weeks, returned Fri
day evening to her home and music
pupils and again the orchestral echoes
F'H
not
Resident.
JACKSON, Vice-Pres.
First National
Capital
Surplus $55,000.
say
BROS,
Warranu,.
can
Shane
It
your
surge ar.»und and
u«
ih,
sounding board ti!] iD[
clouds bread up their !it,
disappointed sail away.
Mr. Wellington and wife1
at. Scati.erw.iorl fur ther
tlie f,,riller
is holdingrerini
with marked suci
Sundaj evening lie nieati"
that twelve havejoinedUie
that place. Apparently tit
this place are satisfied
rangement fur evenings
for a goodly crowd attos
ing.
Lat Fhursday evening
lodge of this place held an
per and entertained a
friends royally. It warn
per given by the committee
of the order'', Mrs.ll.fi.'
M. M. Fowler, fortlieomi
vious incetini by Mis E.C
and II. \V. Brown,
went away pleased and hj
Once a year regularly &
as Santa Clans dots p:
the evening of the
brated in Warner under
of the Modern Wood
two numbers were sol
two pair of aching
went sadly homeward
the next morning
must sutler for the p!"
head. We don't know a
inine, they don't say
praising the mine lie if
time, t'asoifs music did
spiring while Ilhnades.tbe
pointed out the way.
At the M. E. churcb.
Tii roc
km
The Best Farm (640 acres) in
way township. Inquire of the ufl
signed for particular.
or ton company
moving picture
Among their pictures
play, which is one of the
modem plays being the
the life and cieatl)
should be interesting to
have heard of• the real
features of their prog
York Firelighters, a_
tion, Finding the Lost
lustra* cd songs. The I
in
twenty-seven
scenes,
tainment. is given under
auspices of our local co
15c, 25c and :15c.
ftUSSell, Ordwaii
J. 11. AS
F- 0. vn\. A
,000.00.
$60
'Deposits over
yH5x
m"
Capital Stl^
8388 JK
Cash on hud and in bank*jM^na
Toul......„„ MMU 00
k|.foflts,'iie'•
Surplus,14""
Circulation
Deposit*
Total-"