2015 Fall Western Trip: Amherst, WI to De Smet and Rapid City, SD

Monday, 9/21:  Flandrau State Park, New Ulm, Minnesota.

We drove past miles and miles of corn and soybeans today as we left Wisconsin and passed into Minnesota.  Flandrau State Park is located along the shore of the Big Cottonwood River.  The park was nearly empty.


Tuesday, 9/22:  Lake Thompson State Recreation Area near De Smet, South Dakota.

We followed Route 14 again, and for the second day in a row, we had a campground nearly to ourselves.  The Lake Thompson State Recreation Area is a beautiful campground along Lake Thompson which is one of the largest natural lakes in South Dakota.


Again today, we saw miles and miles of corn and soybeans.  The soybean combines were out in full force as we traveled from Minnesota to South Dakota.

De Smet is only 5 or 6 miles from the campground, so we visited the Laura Ingalls Wilder Homestead.  Laura is the author of the widely read "Little House on the Prairie" series.  Laura's parents homesteaded here and are buried in the De Smet cemetery.  Interestingly, my great great grandmother homesteaded here and is also buried in the De Smet cemetery.  Judy and I drove to the cemetery and after a bit of searching, found her gravestone, along with several other Sipher relatives. My cousin, Don Sipher is the family genealogist and he detailed the following:

"In 1883, with the William Smith family, Polly Sipher ( Civil War widow) and her four "boys" (now grown men) left Macomb, NY and headed to the Dakota Territory to homestead on government land. The men went first and built soddies. They lived near DeSmet, SD, northwest towards Spirit Lake (Section 26, Township 112, Range 57). DeSmet was the setting for the “Little House on the Prairie” that told the story of the Ingalls family, who moved to DeSmet in 1879.

Homesteading might seem to be an easy way to get a farm, but in practice was a difficult task. Only half of the homestead entires filed before 1900 were ever completed. In order to claim 160 acres offered by the government, an individual must build a home on the land, cultivate the land, live on the property 6 months every year, and do so for five years. Often no significant crops could be raised for two years, and the individual would have to support his family with other work. If the farm was a distance from town, finding work while living on the farm was difficult. Land could also be purchased at a minimal price, but the requirements of a home and cultivation remained.  

In the 1900 census, Polly (age 75, b March 1835, VT) is found living by herself in Spirit Lake, Kingsbury Co., SD. Polly sold her land in 1902. Near the end of her life Polly had a stroke and was an invalid for six years, living with her son George. She died 8 March 1907 and is buried in the DeSmet SD cemetery. Her Last Will and Testament was as follows:

I, Polly Sipher, of DeSmet, South Dakota, being of sound mind and memory, do hereby make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, to wit: First: I desire that as soon after my decease as may be convenient, that all my just debts, including funeral expenses and a reasonable amount for a suitable tombstone, shall be paid by my executor herein after named. Second: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my son, George F. Sipher the one-half of all my personal property that may be left after the payment of my debts as foresaid. Third: I hereby give, devise, and bequeath to my sons, A. J. Sipher, Ernest W. Sipher and Hosea B. Sipher the remaining one half of my personal property share and share alike. Fourth: I hereby appoint my said son George F. Sipher to be the executor of this my last will and testament. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand this 23rd day of August 1905. Polly x Sipher"

The De Smet vist was an interesting glimpse back into both Sipher family history and frontier history.

Wednesday 9/23:  Rapid City KOA, Rapid City, South Dakota.

We took Route 14 until it intersected Interstate 90 at Wall, South Dakota.  The trees became scarcer, and the corn and soybean fields turned to sunflower and milo fields.  Billboards everywhere advertised "Wall Drugs, the largest drugstore in the world."  So we checked it out.  What a ripoff!!  It turned out to be a collection of shops selling trinkets and souvenirs.  We spent about 30 minutes there.  So instead, we went across the street and had a beer at the Badlands Saloon and Grille.  A young couple sat next to us and we struck up a conversation.  They asked about Wall Drugs, and we gave them our opinion.  They said they would check it out.

We drove on and checked in at the KOA.  This was the first stop at a private park.  Every other stop so far had been a state, county, or city park.  After three days of traveling, it was time to take a break. So, we are staying here for three nights.  Checking out the Badlands and Mount Rushmore will be on the agenda for the next couple days.