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Sioux Falls,Dakota South - Minnehaha/Lincoln County - Mark Bridge Token :

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Medals & Tokens Start Price:250.00 USD Estimated At:500.00 - 1,000.00 USD
Sioux Falls,Dakota South - Minnehaha/Lincoln County - Mark Bridge Token :
Obverse: Mark / Bridge / Sioux Falls / S. Dak. Reverse: 2 1/2. White metal, 25mm, extra fine condition.
Mark Bridge came to Sioux Falls when he was twenty years old in April of 1878. He had immigrated from a small town in Lancashire, England. He spent a few years working at various occupations before settling into the Commercial Hotel business. Historian Dana R. Bailey explained Bridge became the Hotel's proprietor in 1896. Bailey records before Bridge was proprietor of the hotel he "was elected alderman from the First ward [in 1885], and re-elected in 1889, holding this office for nine years" [Bailey, no year, 467]. Bailey intimates there were better men in the county who were more qualified than Bridge to hold office, but it seems because he was so popular with the townspeople, he won the elections despite his lack of intelligence. Bailey used words such as strong and sagacity to describe Bridge. Nevertheless, whether meritorius of public office or not, Bridge was a factor in local politics who could not be ignored. He left his mark on Sioux Falls.