GREETINGS FROM WATAUGA, SOUTH DAKOTA. WE ARE COMPILING INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF WATAUGA, SOUTH DAKOTA. THE VILLAGE IS 1 MILE FROM THE NORTH DAKOTA BORDER. SIOUX AND GRANT COUNTIES IN NORTH DAKOTA ARE INCLUDED IN OUR RESEARCH. THE AREA THAT WE ARE RESEARCHING IS 5 MILES EITHER SIDE OF WATAUGA, 23 MILES SOUTH TO THE GRAND RIVER AND 15 MILES NORTH TO AN AREA KNOWN AS PARADISE FLATS.
The Standing Rock Indian Reservation was opened for homesteading with a lottery in November of 1909. The first homesteaders arrived in Watauga in May of 1910. They came from Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. On arrival in May of 1910, the only site marking Watauga was a Railroad section house and sign post.
With the influx of homeseaders, the businesses in Watauga sprang up almost overnight. They included the lumberyards, general merchandise, livery barn, restaurant and implement dealers.
Many homesteaders brought their lumber, machinery, household supplies in an immigrant car.
After the initial building of the businesses in Watauga, the churches and school soon followed.
Many homesteaders only spent 14 months and paid for the 160 acres of land. This land was either sold or rented immediately to neighbors. Many of the present day residents of the Watauga community are descendents of the original homesteaders.
We have been gathering information of the settling of the Watauga area for about three years. We welcome any contact from people with more information. Our collection includes pictures of businesses, homesteads, the homesteaders and community activities.

• Dando Sod House (5 KB)
  T.G.Dando homestead.
• Watauga Sign Post (7 KB)
  In 1910, this is what the early settlers saw as they arrived in Watauga.
• Bigham's first store (25 KB)
  This was the first store built by Bigham's. It was later found to be sitting kitty-corner on main street.
• Bowery Dance (6 KB)
  Another popular form of entertainment.
• Churches and School (7 KB)
  Presbyterian Church on left, built in 1914. Catholic Church on right, built in 1911. School in center, built in 1912.
• Some of the early citizens (19 KB)
  Left to right-Herman Ruhoff, Fred Casey, John Baumeister, Joe and Anna Prochaska, Mrs. Mike Lichter, Mike Lichter, Henry Mollman, Jim Hurley, Jack Bigham
• 1st Corson County Fair (10 KB)
  1910, First Corson County fair was held in McIntosh, SD,10 miles east of Watauga, SD.
• Dr.Longstreth's home in 1912 (11 KB)
  Dr. Longstreth and his family lived here until 1914.He published the newspaper in Watauga as well as tending the sick.
• A farm scene near Watauga, S. D. (19 KB)
  This is the farm scene at John Erz's, northeast of Watauga, S. D.
• More Corson County Fair (22 KB)
  1910 Parade scene at Corson County Fair.
• Businesses in early Watauga (23 KB)
  Top left is the bank. Top right is Watauga Merchantile Co.Bottom left is the Hotel. Bottom right is A. C. Christianson's Hardware Store
• A farm scene near Watauga, S. D. (19 KB)
  This is the farm scene at John Erz's, northeast of Watauga, S. D.
• One mode of transportation. (13 KB)
  Not all the homesteaders arrived by train. This shows Frank Seymour and his brother in law, C.G. Wilson on their way from McFall Missouri to homestead in SD.
• Street Scene in Watauga 1917 (11 KB)
  This shows main street in 1917.
• A map of the area we are researching. (54 KB)
  This map shows the area we are researching.
• Picnic Picture (17 KB)
  Picnic on the Cedar River-Marion Spicer and daughter Mary on the right.
• Brickyard at Watauga (7 KB)
  The brickyard operated from 1921 until 1930. Many buildings in the area were built from Watauga brick or tile.
• Advertisement for 1st Corson County Fair (113 KB)
  This is an advertisement for the 1st Corson County Fair. 1910
• Catholic Church and Priest's House (11 KB)
  This is the Catholic Church (in final construction) and on the right is the Priest's House.
• Presbyterian Church (16 KB)
  Dedication of Presbyterian Church, taken Easter Sunday, 1915
• Early Watauga Baseball Team (8 KB)
  Baseball was a big form of entertainment.
• Elevator in Watauga, 1927 or 1928 (10 KB)
  Elevator being built-when finished it was painted red. In background is Simon Thomsen's hardware store and the general store on left.
• Mabel Williams and her rattlesnakes! (7 KB)
  Mabel Williams and others enjoyed going rattlesnake hunting at Stoney Butte.
• Breaking the sod (10 KB)
  Robert Nehl-Breaking the sod on his homestead-1912,Watauga,South Dakota

• Watauga Tragedy (6 KB)
  Tragedy in Watauga, September 1936
• Watauga Newspaper (1911) (5 KB)
  Article taken from newspaper in March, 1911.
• Watauga Memories by Merle E. Lofgren (14 KB)
  This is an article written by Merle in 1983.
• RESERVATION VILLAGE UP AND DOING (4 KB)
  A newspaper article from December 1922
• School Census (24 KB)
  These are the school census in our area.
• Commercial Club (1923) (8 KB)
  This brochure was put out by the Watauga Commercial Club in 1923.
• Obituaries from the 1940's (26 KB)
  These are some obituaries from the 1940's.
• Sioux County Homesteaders (1 KB)
  These are the Sioux County, North Dakota homesteaders in our area.
• Poem (1 KB)
  Poem by a Homesteader
• Watauga Obits (33 KB)
  Some more obituaries from the Watauga area.
• Helge Farstad Boosts Corson County (2 KB)
  An article from the Dakota Farmer about Helge Farstad.
• St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery (3 KB)
  A list of the burials in St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery at Watauga, South Dakota
• ALPHABETIZED OBITS (283 KB)
  This is all of our obituaries, but Julie put them all in alphabetical order.
• Obituaries (117 KB)
  These are some of the obituaries from our area.
• Paradise Community Cemetery (1 KB)
  A list of the burials in the Paradise Community Cemetery. This cemetery is located in Grant County, ND.
• More Obituaries (72 KB)
  These are some more obituaries from our area.
• CORSON COUNTY GREW UP WITH CHICAGO-MILWAUKEE (6 KB)
  An article about the railroad.
• Corson County Homesteaders (5 KB)
  These are the Corson County Homesteaders in our area.
• TRAIN WRECK (2 KB)
  Train wreck at Watauga!!
• "Run Him In!" "Lock Him Up!" (3 KB)
  The dispute over the county seat of Corson County.
• Poems (3 KB)
  Poems written by people in Pioneer Township
• Watauga Protestant Cemetery (2 KB)
  A list of the burials in the Watauga Protestant Cemetery.
• Grant County, North Dakota Homesteaders (1 KB)
  These are the homesteaders in Grant County, North Dakota closest to our area.
• 1914 and 1921 Gazetteer (1 KB)
  Listings of the businesses in Watauga in 1914 and 1921.
• More Obits (31 KB)
  These are some obituaries of our area.

• Our other web page
• "Taming the Plains" by Rose Tidball

Janice Marie Draper

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