|
The
Beginning...The City of
Beresford was founded in 1883 by the Chicago Northwestern
Railroad. The Western Town Lot Company, which platted the City,
was a  real
estate development company owned by the railroad. The city was
named after Lord Charles Beresford, an Irishman who became a
prosperous admiral in the British Navy, and who invested in the
railroads. The cities of Alcester, Ireton, Hawarden, Hurley and
Parker were also named after railroad investors.
A resolution
was passed on July 12, 1884, by the Union County Board of
Commissioners, that upon a majority vote of the residents of
Beresford, the city would be incorporated as a town. The store
of Jerome Mangan was the polling place. Thus, the entity of
Beresford, Union County, Dakota Territory, was created. After
its incorporation, the city was divided into five districts and the
following trustees were elected to make up the first town
council: P.C. Stukey, D.C. Choquette, Ed Johnson, G.S. Joscelyn,
and W.B. Glidden. The City Clerk was J.R. Carleton, the
Treasurer, C.A. Potter, the Accessor was J.B. Booker, the Marshal was
John Davis and P.E. Maynard was the Justice of the Peace.
First
Merchants...The first
structure that was built was that of D. Choquette, (pronounced Sackett
by the pioneers). In this place Mr. Choquette operated Beresford's
first saloon. The structure was later destroyed by fire.
David Stephen, a man who thrived on new business adventures, was the first general
store merchant in the area. In 1872, his general store was open
for business at Stephen's homestead, two and one-half miles south of
the present site of Beresford. This Scotsman, David Stephen, who
had been born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1841, gave the cheerful name,
Sunnyside, to his store and the post office he maintained on his farm.
Like other
pioneers, Stephen planted broom corn. He planted a few acres of
broom corn to make a supply of brooms to sell in Sioux City so his
freight wagon for store supplies would not have to run empty on the
trip down to Sioux City. It was a three-day trip of broom
selling and buying supplies. Mrs. Stephen and their children ran
the store in his absence.
Business was
good at Sunnyside, but Mr. Stephen thought it could be even better at
Calliope (now Hawarden), Iowa. Mr. Stephen constructed a large
store there, moved his goods from Sunnyside and continued to buy
grain, hogs and cattle at Calliope, Iowa. In 1883, the railroad
was being built and the Beresford people wanted Mr. Stephen
back. They showed their sincerity in this popular businessman by
offering him three lots in town. David accepted this offer and
moved his store building, which still stood at Sunnyside, to the west
part of his lots. later he built a new store building facing
east on the corner of North and Third. This was named the
Farmers Exchange, owned and managed by David Stephen, his wife and six
children.
The
Railroad...Any historical
account of the birth and growth of Beresford would be seriously
lacking without considering the effects of the railroad. The
rails were the determining factor of when and where the town would
sit. Considering the recent struggle just to maintain rail
service, it is difficult to imagine a time when rail companies, in
fervent competition, raced each other to crisscross the northern
plains with iron rails; however, such was the case in the mid to late
1800's and, in the  process,
thousands of prairie towns were spawned. History related that
villages sprung up on rumor alone that the rails were heading in that
direction, only to vanish if it chose another route. So, in the fall
of 1882, when the Hawarden-Iroquois Line of the Central Division of
the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad finished its grade to the Sioux
River, the rumor quickly spread that, at the return of warm spring
weather, the line would push on with even greater fervor. This
was exciting news to the area settlers who had been tempered by years
of drought and grasshoppers and were eager to establish a center of
commerce. Then the Western Town Lot Company revealed the site of the
depot, which hasn't changed since, constructed of town buildings soon
began.
The
Pioneers...J.E. Sinclair
is spoken of as the first grain buyer in Beresford, he operated in a
flat house across from the depot. Al Richards came from LeMars,
Iowa at a very early date and building an elevator, operated it for
several years. It was owned by the Beresford Grain
Company. Slagle's elevator then followed, that company being
engaged in grain buying. Dr. White was the pioneer doctor, along
with Dr. A.V. Elliott, who also settled in Beresford during the early
days. The first harness maker was George Bruehler.
Banking...The
early banking history of the town is of special interest. C.A.
Potter came in from his farm northeast of town, and started the Bank
of Beresford. He was a good banker, but banking in those days
was done under difficulties, and when A.J. Ames came along and offered
to buy him out, he sold. Mr. Ames was of a speculative nature, and did
much for the development of the town, but was not able to overcome the
fact that he purchased the bank without funds, and it eventually went
broke. By this time, the place of business had been moved from
the  original
site to a central location on Main Street. There were few laws for the
protection of the depositors' money, and all who had money in the bank
lost it. H.J. Meidell came from Clear Lake, where he had been
interested in the lumber business, and securing added capital,
purchased the fixtures of the defunct bank, and revived the
institution. Later it became the Beresford State Bank. In
an early day, also, the Schatezels came from Freeport and established
the Union Banking Company on the corner. They were good
bankers, and made good, but were severe with their customers.
Later the bank was organized with O. Ofstad as president, and Albert
Hegness as cashier. It is of interest to note that the formality
of organizing the town corporation was not gone through with until the
following year, 1884.
Source
Beresford, South Dakota Centennial Book 1884-1984
Original
Midi Composition by Bruce DeBoer
Compositions are
copyright 1999 by Bruce DeBoer
"It Takes Two Wings to Fly." from Winds of Time
|