Winfred in Lake County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Lake County / Miner County

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Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 23, 2016

1. Lake County / Miner County Marker

Inscription.

Lake County, also, Miner County. You are about to enter. Lake County. So named because of its beautiful lakes. It had been the realm of the Dacotah (Sioux) Indians with few white intruders until ceded by the Yankton tribe in 1858. In 1857 the Noble's Trail was built across its NE corner and that year Mrs. Wm. Marble, a captive of Inkepadulas's renegade Indian band was rescued at Lake Herman by two Christian Indians. , It was created in 1873 from parts of Brookings, Minnehaha and Hanson Counties and organized October 6th with Herman N. Luce and John T. Hare as commissioners. Settlement began in 1870 when Wm. Lee, John Walker and Herman N. Luce arrived and built the Lee log cabin, its first edifice. Shortly, Madison, named for Madison, Wis. And Herman, named for Luce grew up on the shores of Lakes Madison and Herman respectively. By 1880 its population was 2657 and the coming of the railroad that year shifted the county seat from "Old Madison" to Madison laid out by C.B. Kennedy July 6th 1880. , The first train arrived January 12, 1881. The Swiss Colony at Badus was founded in 1878. Wentworth in 1880, Winifred 1882, Ramona 1887. Madison State Normal was established in 1881 with classes starting in 1883. Its present name, General Beadle State College honors its President W.H.H. Beadle (1889-1906) who was known as the "Savior of the School Lands." From 1890 to 1932 the Lake Madison Chautauqua brought culture and entertainment to thousands , Lake County, 24 miles square, rich in soil and scenery, welcomes you., Miner County. named for Capt. Nelson Miner, Co. A 1st Dakota Cavalry and territorial legislator. The ancient Dacotah (Sioux) Trail from Pipestone Quarries to the Three Rivers of the Sioux, on the Missouri, passed through the county. Later in 1857 Dakota’s first road, the Ft. Ridgely and South Pass Wagon Road passed through here as did the Minnesota and Powder River Road of 1865. , In 1864 Miner County was a part of the gigantic Buffalo County and in 1870 an even larger Hanson County. In 1873 what are now Sanborn and Miner Counties were called Miner and Bramble each 48 miles long and in 1879 they were renamed Miner with Forestburg temporary county seat in 1880. By popular election in 1882 Howard became the county seat. Sanborn Co.was created in 1883. , The first settler in Miner County was M.A. Moore, who took up a tree claim in April 1879 followed soon by many other homesteaders. In 1881 the first train came through Miner County bringing many settlers so that by 1890 the population of the county was 4,928. The County is 24 miles square with many prosperous farms on fertile well drained land abounding in pheasants and small game so that the county is known as a hunter’s paradise. , Howard has the distinction of having the oldest public library in South Dakota. The prosperous towns in the County are Argonne, Canova, Carthage, Fedora, Howard, Roswell, Vilas, and Epiphany., We welcome you to Miner County.

Lake County
So named because of its beautiful lakes. It had been the realm of the Dacotah (Sioux) Indians with few white intruders until ceded by the Yankton tribe in 1858. In 1857 the Noble's Trail was built across its NE corner and that year Mrs. Wm. Marble, a captive of Inkepadulas's renegade Indian band was rescued at Lake Herman by two Christian Indians.

It was created in 1873 from parts of Brookings, Minnehaha and Hanson Counties and organized October 6th with Herman N. Luce and John T. Hare as commissioners. Settlement began in 1870 when Wm. Lee, John Walker and Herman N. Luce arrived and built the Lee log cabin, its first edifice. Shortly, Madison, named for Madison, Wis. And Herman, named for Luce grew up on the shores of Lakes Madison and Herman respectively. By 1880 its population was 2657 and the coming of the railroad that year shifted the county seat from "Old Madison" to Madison laid out by C.B. Kennedy July 6th 1880.

The first train arrived January 12, 1881. The Swiss Colony at Badus was founded in 1878. Wentworth in 1880, Winifred 1882, Ramona 1887. Madison State Normal was established in 1881 with classes starting in 1883. Its present name, General Beadle State College honors its President W.H.H. Beadle (1889-1906) who was known as the "Savior of the School Lands." From

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1890 to 1932 the Lake Madison Chautauqua brought culture and entertainment to thousands

Lake County, 24 miles square, rich in soil and scenery, welcomes you.

Miner County
named for Capt. Nelson Miner, Co. A 1st Dakota Cavalry and territorial legislator. The ancient Dacotah (Sioux) Trail from Pipestone Quarries to the Three Rivers of the Sioux, on the Missouri, passed through the county. Later in 1857 Dakota’s first road, the Ft. Ridgely and South Pass Wagon Road passed through here as did the Minnesota and Powder River Road of 1865.

In 1864 Miner County was a part of the gigantic Buffalo County and in 1870 an even larger Hanson County. In 1873 what are now Sanborn and Miner Counties were called Miner and Bramble each 48 miles long and in 1879 they were renamed Miner with Forestburg temporary county seat in 1880. By popular election in 1882 Howard became the county seat. Sanborn Co.was created in 1883.

The first settler in Miner County was M.A. Moore, who took up a tree claim in April 1879 followed soon by many other homesteaders. In 1881 the first train came through Miner County bringing many settlers so that by 1890 the population of the county was 4,928. The County is 24 miles square with many prosperous farms on fertile well drained land abounding in pheasants and small game so that the county is known

Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 23, 2016

2. Lake County / Miner County Marker

as a hunter’s paradise.

Howard has the distinction of having the oldest public library in South Dakota. The prosperous towns in the County are Argonne, Canova, Carthage, Fedora, Howard, Roswell, Vilas, and Epiphany.

We welcome you to Miner County.

Erected 1957 by Lake County Historical Society and County Commissioners and Miner County Commissioners. (Marker Number 199.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota State Historical Society Markers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 12, 1881.

Location. 44° 0.498′ N, 97° 22.208′ W. Marker is in Winfred, South Dakota, in Lake County. Marker is at the intersection of 233rd St. and 442nd Ave., on the right when traveling west on 233rd St.. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Winfred SD 57076, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Winfred Cemetery Veterans Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Howard Public Library (approx. 7.7 miles away); Miner County Veterans Memorial (approx. 7.8 miles away); Chapel Car Emmanuel (approx. 10 miles away); Ash Grove Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Photographed By Ruth VanSteenwyk, July 23, 2016

3. Lake County / Miner County Marker

(approx. 10.1 miles away); Thormodsgaard Log Home (approx. 10.1 miles away); Luce Historic Cabin Restoration Project (approx. 10.2 miles away); The 37-Star Flag (approx. 10.2 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 5, 2017, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. This page has been viewed 312 times since then and 43 times this year. Last updated on July 17, 2021. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 5, 2017, by Ruth VanSteenwyk of Aberdeen, South Dakota. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.