FootNote
The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents... many of which are genealogical gems. With naturalizations,
city directories, war records, newspapers, town records, etc... this new
kid is quickly being recognized as an alternative to Ancestry.
While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Information on these
pages was taken form Bicentennial
History Little Sioux Township, a
book compiled by the citizens of
Little Sioux for the towns
Bi-Centennial project. This is a
very nice book, complete with
pictures and family histories. I
have included as many as space
allows.
The
history of Little Sioux is the story
of the migration of peoples westward
during the mid-nineteenth century,
before and after the Civil War. The
first movement included the Mormons
and land-seekers to the area. A
second movement from the west
occurred around the 1890's when
drought forced settlers out of the
Great Plains. Families came here and
remained for one generation,
their children moving on to greater
opportunities. Some descendants
remained, usually ones of land
owning families. Little Sioux's best
years were those following the Civil
War until the first decade of the
20th Century.
Movement was restricted because of
poor roads and lack of private
transportation. Farm labors were a
necessity, business in town
prospered, social life was centered
in homes, fraternal orders, church
groups and local activities. The
1900's gradually brought
automobiles, good roads, mechanized
farms. Little Sioux was to small to
match job opportunities and other
attractions offered by cities, so
the town suffered loss of business
and people.
Little
Sioux's main center of industry, at one
time, was the saw-mill and grist-mill owned
and operated by Scofield and Sons.
Cottonwood lumber was fairly plentiful and
lumber and flour trade drew patronage from
long distances. Mother Scofield (Olive
Hathaway) was the leader in all social
affairs
At one time, it seemed the mill was the hub
around which the town revolved. when lumber
became scarce and the dam went out at the
mill due to floods, the mill quit doing
business. It caused quite a backslide to the
town and it took some time to recover.
Little Sioux Post
Office
The post office was established in
Little Sioux July1, 1857 with Silas W.
Condit as postmaster. There were
numerous post masters. Monette Fox
became postmaster in 1936 and held that
position for 33 years.
the rural delivery was established in
the first term of Mr. Reynolds, March 1,
1904 with Ed Stucker as carrier. The
route was 28 1/2 miles long and
the salary was $600.
The
number 2 route was also established under
Mr. Reynolds in 1908 with Reginald Conrad as
carrier. The postmaster accompanied the
carrier on his first trip, the route was
only 18 miles long, but was wholly on the
Missouri bottom. The gumbo was so heavy and
bad that they had to stop every few feet to
poke he mud out of the wheels. The wheels
would load up with the gumbo and slide, then
the mud would fall off from one side of a
wheel and it would turn with a chug. Both
soles were torn from the postmaster's shoes.
The men were unable to complete the full
route and returned to the office about nine
p.m. Mr. Conrad went back to the route, got
stuck in the mud and did not get in until
two o'clock the next morning.
Little Sioux School 1885
For a list of students in this picture click Here
In 1856-57, because of the
increasing number of children in Little
Sioux, the interest in education grew.
Because no taxes were levied for school
purposes it was necessary to obtain
contributions. In the summer of 1857 the
first school in Little Sioux township
was taught by Miss Mary Gleason in her
father's house.
The first public
school in Little Sioux village was a log
building 14 by 20 feet, built during the
winter of 1857-58. Parents and others
who realized the necessity of having a
schoolhouse, hauled logs for
construction. The building also served
as a meeting place for religious
services, programs and old time dances.
The first graduating class in the new
two story brick building was in 1900.
Picture below.
1900 Graduating Class From left to right: Earl Lanyon, Leona Hope, William Reynolds, Alta
Seymour, Florence Guyton, James Murray
For a list of Little Sioux Graduates 1900 through 1961, click
Here
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The play Uncle Tom's Cabin
as we know it was given first at Troy, New York, in 1852. The drama grew into such
an industry that it came to be a separate brand of show business with a group of
specialists who did nothing else. Terry's Uncle Tom's cabin company one of the largest and oldest
of these shows, had it's headquarters in Little Sioux for thirty-five
years.
The
first Uncle Tom's Cabin show from
Little Sioux traveled by wagons and
horses. George Setchell was the boss horseman and his son was boss canvass man.
At that time the show had two hundred horses. during the second summer the troupe
was stranded in the Ozarks, but the residents of Little Sioux rallied to the rescue,
salvaging the property and sending the show on to a successful season.
They then toured the Dakotas,
Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa for 10
years.
O. Q. Setchell
from Little Sioux was a bandmaster
in Barnum's Circus when he and his
wife, also a performer in the
circus, organized an Uncle Tom's
company in Lexington, Illinois if
1890. Terry was borrowed from
Setchell's brother-in law, Fred
Terry was a barber in Little Sioux.
Uncle Tom's Cabin Band
Little Sioux Homecoming
In
August of 1919, a group of women met
at Amy Kerr's home to plan some way
to honor the returning soldiers from
World War I. Mrs. Laura Terry was
chosen president of the group; Sarah
Perkins Murray, secretary and Helen
Terry (Enevoldsen) treasurer. As a
name for the event, Homecoming was
suggested by Mrs. A. J. Boylen, wife
of the Superintendent of Schools.
This was selected as the official
name.
To raise money for the
affair, donations were solicited and
a raspberry social was held, the
group serving raspberries with
cream and sugar, coffee and cake.
Today they still hold ice cream
socials to raise money for
homecoming.
The parade was led by
Jesse Breeling, dressed as Uncle
Sam, wearing a stovepipe hat the had
been worn in an election by
Mike Murray, Sr. when Grover
Cleveland was elected president.
Laura Terry made the red and white
striped trousers and Amy Kerr
furnished the long-tailed blue coat
that belonged to her father. Jess
being six feet four inches tall made
a very imposing figure.
Thus Homecoming was begun, to
become a yearly event, held the
latter part of August. The theme of
Homecoming remains the same. Those
who have left Little Sioux come back
home to meet old friends; those who
have remained here greet them for a
happy time filled with reminiscence.
Birth of the Hustler
The
beginning of the Little Sioux Hustler is
best told by quoting directly from the
editorial page of the first sheet,
carefully preserved along with the
succeeding 47 years of the of the paper,
by the Onawa Library.
First the masthead: the Little Sioux Hustler by the Revier
Publishing company. H. W. Kerr, business
manager; C. Nelson, managing editor.
The demand for a periodical in which to expound the virtues
of a bright, beautiful little village,
high under the shelter of the
hills, which stands out so sublimely, as
sentinels guarding, as it were, the
waters of the big Muddy from encroaching
prairies beyond, settled upon the banks
of the Little Sioux River, not far from
where she allows her placid water to
mingle
the
turbulent waters of the great Missouri,
surrounded by the fertile valley, who's
soil produces tenfold.......could a
birthplace be marked in a more fitting
spot than Little Sioux. Could a name be
more appropriate than: THE HUSTLER
1952 Flood
The above pictures
show the mud and water during the flood,
it you look closely at the Tine Myers
house, you will see a line in the middle
of the windows, this is water!
Little Sioux River
floods the bridge and railroad trestle
north of River Sioux, 1952
