46 Sioux City Academy of Science and Letters. 



EARLY CITY POmTICS. 



The year before I came to Sioux City there occurred 

 a three-cornered contest^ for the County Seat between 

 Sioux City, Smithland and Sergeant's Bluft'. Sioux City 

 outvoted the others, and got the prize. 



The election was held near the corner of Sixth and 

 Douglas streets at the United States land office. ^ Out 

 in the street in front of the office there was a well. A 

 barrel of whisky was brought, placed beside the well 

 and tapped. Whisk}^ was as free as water that day, 

 and as easily obtained. 



The first election after I came to Sioux City took 

 place in Aug., 1857. It was the charter election, i. e., 

 the election when a city charter was voted on. The 

 charter carried unanimously. I was one of the judges of 

 the election, and as Kirkie [Cartier], "the wild French- 

 man," came up to vote someone challenged his vote on 

 the ground that he was not a citizen of the United States, 

 but he swore that he was. I administered the oath to 

 him, closing with the words, "So help you God," w^here- 

 upon he exclaimed, "I hope so, too, for no one else ever 

 helped old Kirkie [Cartier]. 



A number of votes were sworn in in this way, among 

 them that of Joe Leonais and others who had been fur 

 traders for the American Fur Company. We did not 

 know whether they were legally citizens or not, but it 

 was safe to have them swear in their votes. 



At these early elections we voted everybody. Every- 

 one who could swear in his vote did so. Half-breeds 

 were generally challenged, but since they were always 

 willing to swear in their votes they were allowed to cast 

 them. 



There were three wards in Sioux City at this time 

 [Aug., 1857]. Two aldermen were chosen from each 

 ward. I was chosen an alderman from the Second Ward. 

 My colleague was Enos Stutsman. Since the city gov- 

 ernment was not organized at this time, as will be ex- 

 plained, we never served the city in the capacity of coun- 

 cilmen. 



1. This county seat election was held on April 7, 1856. 



2. Incorrect. The election was held at Thompsontown or Floyd's 

 Bluff. The incident following, though it probably did not apply to 

 this election, was more or less typical of early elections here. 



