Reminiscences of John H. Charles. 51 



DAKOTA TERRITORY. 



In 1861 Dakota Territory was organized. Settlers 

 iiad been going into that region for several years. Most 

 of them passed through here on their way. Sioux City 

 was also their depot of supplies, a kind of headquarters 

 or capital for that territory. Some of our people went 

 over there to settle. When Indian troubles threatened 

 Dakota settlers fled here for refuge. Hence Sioux City 

 and Dakota Territory had much in common in those days. 



The settlers in Dakota used to be jealous because 

 their judges and other officials often lived in Sioux City 

 while holding office over there. But it was better living 

 here and I couldn't blame them. 



We used to go over there at election times to see 

 that some did not vote too often and that all got a 

 chance; in fact, to see that no frauds were permitted. 

 At the first election in Dakota, after the territory was 

 organized, for the choice of a delegate to congress, J. 

 B. S. Todd was a candidate and was elected. His oppo- 

 nents were [A. J.] Bell, regular republican, and Chas. P. 

 Booge, independent. Todd was the people's candidate. 

 He had been elected first mayor of Sioux City four years 

 earlier and his friends here were interested in his can- 

 didacy. I recollect that some of us went over the river 

 when election day came to watch the proceedings. Todd 

 was there,! but later in the day he went up to Vermillion 

 and left me to look after his interests. The Frenchmen 

 fell out and began to quarrel and fight and had an awful 

 time. I wouldn't go through that experience again for 

 all Dakota. Finally', when the votes were counted, it 

 was found that less than 1,000 had been cast, but of 

 these Todd had received a majority, and so was elected.^ 

 Todd had hardly gone down to Washington before he 

 came back appointed by President Lincoln a Brigadier 

 General and went into Northeastern Missouri to fight 

 the guerillas. 



BUSINESS INTERESTS. 



During my first four years in Sioux City, i. e., from 

 1856 to 1860, I was engaged in the real estate business. 



1. At Sioux Point, where Frost, Todd & Co. liad one of their 

 stores. 



2. The vote stood: Todd, 397; Booze, 110; Bell, 78. 



