In 1882 a man by the name of Frank B.Ward came to Dakota Territory
from Carthage, NY to work with surveyors for the Western Town Site
Company. Frank liked what he saw and brought his wife and daughter from
NY to live here. Originally the town site was on the bank of the
Redstone Creek, but is was decided that a better location was to be had
so the buildings were moved to the present location of Carthage. Frank
Ward persuaded the Town Site Company to name the town after his
hometown in NY. J.A. Windedahl homesteaded the land that is the site of
the town but sold it to the Western Town Site Company of which Frank B.
Ward, founder of the city was in charge. Mr. Ward named the streets for
his brothers, Franklin, Thomas, Buell, and Harris. Because of this
honor, Frank Ward said he would reserve a lot and present it to the
first boy born in Carthage. A son arrived at the James Coughlin home in
time to claim the lot and the boy was named Carthage James Coughlin.
Mabel Rodney was the first girl born in our town. At age of 6 months
Carthage had a population of 250, 34 businesses, one lawyer, one
doctor, one resident minister, four Church Societies, and a school.
Carthage residents took pride in their town's appearance and the
conveniences of sidewalks, (2 inch pine planks), cross walks, a
telephone system, first jail, and town well, roads and bridges leading
into the town were added. At the turn of the century and the early
1900's Carthage was prospering and growing.
Then on June 10th 1910 a tragic fire struck the business district. On
that fateful evening almost half of the Carthage businesses were burned
to the ground. The newspaper account read, "Carthage has been dealt a
staggering blow, and though she will rise from the ashes a rejuvenated
city, it will take time and much money. But the grit of our people is
phenomenal and their spirit will accomplish wonders." The town did
"come back" and has both suffered and prospered over the years, but it
still remains a town whose people have grit and spirit and whose motto
and goal is "Carthage, here to stay."