First Convention in Brookings County

The bronze spells him Coddington; the county named for him has one d. George S. S. Codington, a minister living at Medary and counted a Congregationalist or Presbyterian, was nominated a constable at this 1877 convention and went on to sit in the Dakota territorial House of Representatives in 1877 and 1878. The legislature created Codington County in 1877, the year he served, and it was organized in 1878. He died of tuberculosis in Wisconsin, and where he is buried is not known.

What the plaque says

First Convention in Brookings County Created 1862; Organized 1871; Convention 1877 The County, created on paper in 1862, was organized July 3, 1871 and by 1877, there were communities at Lake Hendricks, Oakwood, Lake Village and Medary, and all had delegates to the nominating convention called to order by C. H. Stearns, County Central Chairman at Medary on October 6. Arthur S. Mitchell of Oakwood was named Chairman; R. W. Crawford, Medary, Secretary. The credentials committee was Martin Trystad, Medary, J.P. Heggerman, Lake Hendricks and Byron E. Pay, Oakwood. They certified Heggerman, Henry Peterson, Peter Ingrebritson and Julius S. Burlie of Lake Hendricks; M. N. Trystad, Lars Engleson, Erick Trystad, W. Harvey, H. I. Stearns, Charles Nicholson and Crawford of Medary; Mitchell and Pay, Oakwood and K. K. Kuel, Ole Olson and J. A. Fosvig, Lake Village as delegates. They then proceeded to name the slate headed by Trystad and Pay as Commissioners; James Hauxhurst was named for Register of Deeds; Wm. Harvey, Sheriff; H. H. Simmonson, Assessor; E. P. Smith, Probate Judge; C. H. Stearns, Treasurer; J. A. Foswick, Superintendent; D. M. Dolson, District Attorney; Ole Bogen, Coroner; Ole D. Peterson, J. L. McMaster, J.C. Beardsley and Ole Sneve were the justice nominees and Jacob Johnson, Rev. G. S. Coddington, for whom that county was named; William Miller and Ole K. Olson were to serve them as Constables. Brookings County had jumped from 163 in 1870 to 4965 in 1880 and by 1877, a County office was worth having and hence this first convention. Erected 1960 by Brookings County Commissioners and State Historical Society

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Medary Townsite — steps away
• Medary First Townsite Dakota Territory — steps away
• Brookings County / Moody County — 1.0 mi
• Hagensick's Resort — 3.9 mi