What Do You Really Know About Sioux Falls Pioneer R.F. Pettigrew?

20 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Sioux Falls Pioneer Richard Franklin Pettigrew (1848-1926).

Inscribed on the R.F. Pettigrew monument at the Sioux Falls Levitt shell...”If you didn't drink whiskey, play cards, use your fists or otherwise intimidate, you didn't belong in the arena with Frank Pettigrew."

Richard Franklin Pettigrew wasn't just another frontier politician—he was a complex figure who shaped Sioux Falls in ways that still resonate today.

Here are 20 surprising facts about this fascinating pioneer R.F Pettigrew:

1. He arrived in Sioux Falls at age 21 with just $45 in his pocket and a fierce determination to succeed in the Dakota Territory.

2. Pettigrew helped establish the city's first newspaper, The Sioux Falls Pantagraph, in 1876.

3. He was instrumental in bringing the railroad to Sioux Falls, personally lobbying railroad companies back East.

4. As Dakota Territory's delegate to Congress, he fought tirelessly for statehood—but opposed splitting Dakota into two states.

5. He became South Dakota's first U.S. Senator when statehood was achieved in 1889.

6. Pettigrew owned extensive real estate throughout Sioux Falls, including the land where Falls Park now sits.

7. He established the city's first electric light company and waterworks system.

8. Despite his Republican beginnings, he later became a fierce critic of big business and imperialism.

9. He opposed the Spanish-American War and American expansion into the Philippines.

10. Pettigrew founded several banks and helped establish Sioux Falls as a regional financial center.

11. He was an early advocate for women's suffrage, unusual for politicians of his era.

12. His mansion on South Summit Avenue was considered one of the most elegant homes in the region.

13. He personally recruited families from the East to settle in Sioux Falls, offering them land deals.

14. Pettigrew helped establish the South Dakota Agricultural College (now SDSU).

15. He was known for his photographic memory and could recall details from conversations years later.

16. Despite his wealth, he often walked to work and lived relatively modestly by choice.

17. He collected Native American artifacts and was respectful of local tribal cultures.

18. Pettigrew wrote extensively, publishing articles in national magazines about frontier life.

19. He lost his Senate seat partly due to his opposition to the gold standard, which was unpopular locally.

20. Today, Pettigrew Home & Museum preserves his legacy, showcasing his contributions to Sioux Falls' development.

From penniless pioneer to influential senator, Pettigrew's story embodies the ambitious spirit that built Sioux Falls into the thriving city we know today.