Haakon County became part of the United States when land was purchased as part of the Louisiana Territory in 1803. In 1861, President James Buchanan signed a bill forming Dakota Territory and on November 2, 1889, President William Harrison signed a proclamation organizing Dakota Territory into the states of North Dakota & South Dakota.
Between 1861, and 1889, only few people were living in the area that is now Philip. Most of them were ranchers enjoying the miles of open Dakota prairie.
After South Dakota became a state, more settlers would come into the Philip area. Many of these people were drawn to "homestead" in the area around Philip. Under the Homestead Act of 1862 a person could acquire up to 160 acres if they would establish a residence and live on the claim for five years. In addition to living on the claim, they were required to pay a fourteen dollar filing fee and a four dollar fee five years later when they had "proved" their claim. Later, homestead acts would loosen the restrictions of homesteading and increase the land available to file a claim on.
In these days, many of the settlers lived in one room shacks made of sod, logs, or boards and tar paper. In the book Haakon Horizons Majorie Poss Oldenberg writes, "Some of these shacks were so small that the bed had to be raised on pulleys to the ceiling or folded against the wall during the day, and the chairs were set outside at night to make room for the bed."
With the coming of the railroad in 1907, the towns of Nowlin, Powel, Midland, and Philip came into being. Other towns away from the railroads like Milesville, Elbon, Dowling, Grindstone, Hartley, Hilland, Kirley, Moenville, and Ottumwa, sprang up as supply sites for the homesteaders.
In 1890, Stanley County was formed, and later in 1914, the people of Stanley County voted to form the counties of Haakon and Jackson out of the western portion of Stanley County. After Haakon County was formed, the towns of Lucerne, Midland, and Philip fought to determine which town would become the county seat.
Eventually the city of Philip was chosen, probably because the city offered railroad access and an excellent location. At first, the county leased a schoolhouse in Philip to use a courthouse. Later a long, low building with five or six rooms would be built. Then a better three story courthouse was built and dedicated to the people of South Dakota and the pioneers of Haakon County. (Haakon Horizons, 82)
Haakon County became part of the United States when land was purchased as part of the Louisiana Territory in 1803. In 1861, President James Buchanan signed a bill forming Dakota Territory and on November 2, 1889, President William Harrison signed a proclamation organizing Dakota Territory into the states of North Dakota & South Dakota.
