Near Springfield in Bon Homme County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
First School in Dakota Territory Monument
1860
November 26, 2022
1. First School in Dakota Territory Monument, South Side
South side:
First Teacher
Emma J. Bradford
Pupils
John Bradford · Geo. McDaniels · Leanna Bradford · Ira Brown · Mary McDaniels · Melissa Brown · Geo. G. Rounds · Delia Rounds
East side:
In 1860 near this place was erected the first school house in the territory now comprising the states of South Dakota, North Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana.
North side:
Erected by the Pioneers' Association of Bon Homme County in 1910, with contributions from school children and citizens.
J. L. Turner · G. W. Snow · F. A. Morgan · F. P. Brooks · A. J. Abbott
Committee.
Erected 1910 by the Pioneers' Association of Bon Homme County, with contributions from school children and citizens. (Marker Number 575.)
Topics and series. This historical marker and monument is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1860.
Location. 42° 52.768′ N, 97° 45.814′ W. Marker is near Springfield, South Dakota, in Bon Homme County. It is at the intersection of 311th Street and Bon Homme Road, on the right when traveling west
this page online
Regionally, this marker and monument is in East River. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Replica First Schoolhouse (here, next to this marker); Welcome to the Tabor Lakeside Use Area (approx. 5.7 miles away); Historic Highway (approx. 6½ miles away); Lewis and Clark / Springfield (approx. 6.8 miles away); Graves of Ogden Marsh and Addie L. Marsh (approx. 6.8 miles away); Springfield Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.8 miles away); Tabor (approx. 6.9 miles away); Veteran's Memorial Plaza (approx. 6.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . . Discover Bon Homme County - History.
Excerpt: "The first school was built of cottonwood logs cut down and built into a school house in the northwest section of the village in the spring of 1860. Miss Emma Bradford, the 16 year old daughter of D. P. Bradford, became the first school teacher in Dakota Territory and taught 10 pupils for three months in the spring of 1860 at Bon Homme."(Submitted on January 13, 2023.)
November 26, 2022
2. First School in Dakota Territory Monument, East Side
November 26, 2022
3. First School in Dakota Territory Monument, North Side
November 26, 2022
4. First School in Dakota Territory Monument
Photographed by Roger Dean Meyer, October 16, 2011
5. Bon Homme Village, 1862 County Seat 1884.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 13, 2023. This page has been viewed 973 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 13, 2023. 5. submitted on November 30, 2025, by Roger Dean Meyer of Yankton, South Dakota.
