Aberdeen in Brown County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

F.W. Sallet and the Dakota Freie Presse

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, November 12, 2015

1. F.W. Sallet and the Dakota Freie Presse Marker

Inscription.

F.W. Sallet and the Dakota Freie Presse. . Two German-language newspapers, Dakota Freie Press (DFP) and Neue Deutsche Presse (NDP), were located a short distance from here at 524 South Main St. Owner and editor, Friedrich Wilheim Sallet, emigrated from East Prussia and published DFP for Germans from Russia with NDP for Reich Germans. Aberdeen was a hub for both groups. Begun in 1874 in Yankton, the DFP was purchased by Sallet in 1903 and moved to Aberdeen in 1909., The DFP was "the oldest and most widely distributed newspaper for Germans from Russia in the world." It claimed to have subscribers in 1,500 communities on four continents. Sallet used the DFP as headquarters for a relief department which sent packages to famished Soviet villages in 1921 and four shiploads of dairy cows to supply milk to German orphanages. The DPF carried columns for people seeking addresses of "lost" individuals, operated as a clearing house on land and immigration, and in 1924 became the first U.S. paper allowed re-entry into the Soviet Union., Wrongly suspected of being pro-German, Sallet and his NDP editor, J.F. Paul Gross, were arrested in 1918 and charged for not filing English translations of two articles with the post office. Following the trial, Gross was interned in Georgia while Sallet paid a fine and legal costs. Sallet was defended by Dorothy Rehfeld, the first female attorney to practice in S.D. The NDP ceased publication in January 1918. In 1920, the DFP moved to Minnesota and continued until 1954. After Sallet's death in 1932 his nephew (Dr. Richard Sallet) became editor., Aberdeen Chapter, GRHS. Dr. Harry A. Delker, President. Board of Directors. Jacob Binfet.........Mike Heier. Erwin Eichelberg.........T.J. "Bud" Schaffer. Ben Feickert.........Cathy Schatz. Marvin Warns.......... . Contributors. Father William Sherman..........Ann Roesch Larson. Dr. La Vern J. Rippley..........Fred Roesch. Aberdeen American News..........The Kesslers. Lust Chevrolet - Buick........... Text by Dr. La Vern J. Rippley St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN..

Two German-language newspapers, Dakota Freie Press (DFP) and Neue Deutsche Presse (NDP), were located a short distance from here at 524 South Main St. Owner and editor, Friedrich Wilheim Sallet, emigrated from East Prussia and published DFP for Germans from Russia with NDP for Reich Germans. Aberdeen was a hub for both groups. Begun in 1874 in Yankton, the DFP was purchased by Sallet in 1903 and moved to Aberdeen in 1909.

The DFP was "the oldest and most widely distributed newspaper for Germans from Russia in the world." It claimed to have subscribers in 1,500 communities on four continents. Sallet used the DFP as headquarters for a relief department which sent packages to famished Soviet villages in 1921 and four shiploads of dairy cows to supply milk to German orphanages. The DPF carried columns for people seeking addresses of "lost" individuals, operated as a clearing house on land and immigration, and in 1924 became the first U.S. paper allowed re-entry into the Soviet Union.

Wrongly suspected of being pro-German, Sallet and his NDP editor, J.F. Paul Gross, were arrested in 1918 and charged for not filing English translations of two articles with the post office. Following the trial, Gross was interned in Georgia while Sallet paid a fine and legal costs. Sallet was defended by Dorothy Rehfeld, the first female

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attorney to practice in S.D. The NDP ceased publication in January 1918. In 1920, the DFP moved to Minnesota and continued until 1954. After Sallet's death in 1932 his nephew (Dr. Richard Sallet) became editor.

Aberdeen Chapter, GRHS Dr. Harry A. Delker, President Board of Directors Jacob Binfet.........Mike Heier Erwin Eichelberg.........T.J. "Bud" Schaffer Ben Feickert.........Cathy Schatz Marvin Warns.......... Contributors Father William Sherman..........Ann Roesch Larson Dr. La Vern J. Rippley..........Fred Roesch Aberdeen American News..........The Kesslers Lust Chevrolet - Buick.......... Text by Dr. La Vern J. Rippley St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN.

Erected 1990 by the Aberdeen Chapter, Deutscher Kultur Verein, of the Germans from Russia Heritage Society (GRHS), the South Dakota State Historical Society and the State Department of Transportation. (Marker Number 508.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Settlements & Settlers.

F.W. Sallet and the Dakota Freie Presse Marker (Back) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, November 12, 2015

2. F.W. Sallet and the Dakota Freie Presse Marker (Back)

In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 45° 26.694′ N, 98° 28.776′ W. Marker is in Aberdeen, South Dakota, in Brown County. It is on East Melgaard Road 0.1 miles west of South Lloyd Street, on the right when traveling west. This marker is located on the edge of Melgaard Park. Park at the playground and walk over. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 East Melgaard Rd, Aberdeen SD 57401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East River

and specifically in the James River Valley.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

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 Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Memorial Tree (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Andrew Melgaard (about 500 feet away); South Dakota Boy's State (approx. half a mile away); Northern State University World War I Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Northern State University Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); First United Methodist Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); Aberdeen, South Dakota Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.1 miles away); Masonic Temple, Aberdeen (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Aberdeen.

Marker in the distance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ruth VanSteenwyk, November 23, 2015

3. Marker in the distance

Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 14, 2015, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 989 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 14, 2015, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. 3. submitted on November 23, 2015, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.