Pierre in Hughes County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
John Sutherland and the Capital Fights
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 18, 2016
1. John Sutherland and the Capital Fights Marker
Inscription.
John Sutherland and the Capital Fights. . Born in Canada, John Sutherland taught school in Wisconsin and received his law degree from Brown University. He came to Dakota Territory in 1884. The young Scottish attorney led Pierre’s campaign committee to resounding victories in the “capital wars” of 1889, 1890, and 1904. In those raucous statewide elections, voters chose Pierre over Huron, Mitchell, Sioux Falls, Watertown, Chamberlain, and other challengers. Sutherland was a Progressive Republican. His 1904 capital campaign slogan, Stand Pat for Pierre, reflected his support for Theodore Roosevelt, whose 1904 re-election campaign theme was Stand Pat. In 1905, State Representative Sutherland introduced the legislation that started the construction of the State Capitol, which workers completed in 1910. Sutherland was president of the Pierre Board of Education and Pierre Board of Trade, as well as active in the South Dakota State Historical Society and Baptist Church. He died in 1941 and is buried in Pierre’s Riverside Cemetery. This house on the corner of North Huron and West Capital Avenues was the Sutherland family home. The building across the street to the east was dedicated the John Sutherland Building in 2010 in honor of his contributions.
Born in Canada, John Sutherland taught school in Wisconsin and received his law degree from Brown University. He came to Dakota Territory in 1884. The young Scottish attorney led Pierre’s campaign committee to resounding victories in the “capital wars” of 1889, 1890, and 1904. In those raucous statewide elections, voters chose Pierre over Huron, Mitchell, Sioux Falls, Watertown, Chamberlain, and other challengers. Sutherland was a Progressive Republican. His 1904 capital campaign slogan, Stand Pat for Pierre, reflected his support for Theodore Roosevelt, whose 1904 re-election campaign theme was Stand Pat. In 1905, State Representative Sutherland introduced the legislation that started the construction of the State Capitol, which workers completed in 1910. Sutherland was president of the Pierre Board of Education and Pierre Board of Trade, as well as active in the South Dakota State Historical Society and Baptist Church. He died in 1941 and is buried in Pierre’s Riverside Cemetery. This house on the corner of North Huron and West Capital Avenues was the Sutherland family home. The building across the street to the east was dedicated the John Sutherland Building in 2010 in honor of his contributions.
Erected 2011 by State of South Dakota. (Marker Number 702.)
Location. 44° 22.192′ N, 100° 21.171′ W. Marker is in Pierre, South Dakota, in Hughes County. Marker is at the intersection of West Capitol Avenue and North Huron Avenue, on the right when traveling west on West Capitol Avenue. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, at the northwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Pierre SD 57501, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. John Sutherland and the Capital Fights Marker (wide view; Sutherland house in background)
Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 318 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
