“First Election in Northwestern United States”

Lewis & Clark reached a point in what is now Sioux City on August 20, 1804 near the mouth of Floyd River. Sergeant Charles Floyd, who had taken sick with a ‘Biliose Chorlick’ the day before, died near a bluff on the east side of the river. The small river was named for him. The next day they passed the Big Sioux and on the evening of the 22nd, they tied up on the north bank of the river at a point they called Elk Piont, on account of the elk seen in the vicinity. The two captains, who shared their leadership, as does a partnership, each partner having exact equality, conducted their own primary election and nominated Privates Pat Gass, a Pennsylvanian; George Gibson from the same state and William Bratton, the expedition’s blacksmith, for the vacancy left by Floyd’s death. This was the first election ever held in the Louisiana Purchase and the Northwestern part of the United States. Pat Gass was the winner with nineteen out of a possible twenty-seven votes, if only soldiers and that seems most probable, could vote. Gass proved to be a most acceptable sergeant and his journal furnished a most worthy auxiliary to those kept by the two captains.

Union County, Elk Point, Union County Courthouse (1988)