As the Territorial Capital of the Dakota Territory, Yankton was a hub of political activity. Just six years after arriving in Jamesville, Peter was active in local politics. From 1875-1877, he was one of three Justices of the Peace. At that time, the only other judicial position in Yankton was a probate judge who ruled on inheritance matters.
Peter was a Republican from 1868-1890, serving on numerous party committees including one devoted to matters of the 1883 Dakota Constitutional Convention. The Republican Party had championed the “Homestead Act of 1862” which had undoubtedly contributed to his success as large landowner. In 1890, just a year after statehood, Peter became a Democrat. Given the depth of his involvement with the Republican party, this is surprising.
In the 1880s, eighty percent of the Dakota Territory was Republican. In 1889 when South Dakota became a state, Republicans outnumbered Democrats in the state house 108 – 8; in the state senate the divide was 37 – 3.
Not until 1914, nine years after Peter’s death, would the first Democrat be elected to statewide office. (Prairie Republic: The Political Culture of Dakota Territory, 1879-1889 by Jon K. Lauck)
By every account, Peter was almost prescient in his understanding of business – surely, that skill extended to politics. So, what led him to leave the Republican Party after 22 years?
We spoke to a state historian but no one had an inkling of what issue could have prompted the change. We thought that perhaps the issue of statehood or education – but, again, the historian did not feel that either issue would prompt someone to change parties.
Peter’s son, Joseph (m. Rothmeyer) was a Democrat also. Maybe Joseph made a case to his father to switch parties? The biographical sketch of Joseph in the 1904 edition of The History of South Dakota focuses on his dedication to public service:
Since he [Joseph] was eighteen years of age he has been a member of the school board and he has also been chairman of the board of supervisors. He filled the office of justice of the peace for a term of two years and in all these positions he has been loyal to the trust reposed in him.
Over the record of his public career and his private life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. He is a man well worthy of public regard and as almost his entire life has been passed in Yankton county his career is known to be one that is worthy of commendation, gaining for him the favor of all and the friendship of many. . .
He was tendered the nomination of representative, but not wishing to serve in that capacity refused to allow his name to go before the convention. He has always been affiliated with the Democratic party, and always takes an active part in his party’s campaigns. [it is unclear when his nomination was tendered]
The schools of the Dakota Territory were extraordinary. According to The History of the Dakota Territory (Volumn II, 1915):
[In 1884-1885], the National Commissioner of Education found that Dakota led 22 states in terms of school expenditures. He also found that Dakota had a school house for every 151 people in its borders. In that portion of Dakota known as South Dakota, there was one school house for every 132 people . . . and in that portion known as North Dakota, one school house for every 202 people. . . by this showing it was concluded that proposed state of South Dakota outranked every state and territory in America in its common school facilities.
In the value of permanent school properties, the Dakotas outranked fifteen states and in the number of teachers it employed, it outranked fourteen states. . . . These were official figures of unquestioned authenticity and were considered of great value at the time as a factor in promoting the statehood movement.
Education was important to the Huber family. Joseph’s older brother, Frank (m. Strunk), who was also a democrat, served as the school clerk for a time. There was a Huber School in Yankton and one in Hutchinson County. In the 1880’s the Huber School in Yankton is described as having thirteen rooms. (The History of South Dakota) Joe Huber (b. 1937) attended the Huber School.
As referenced earlier, school lands were a major point of contention in the 1883 South Dakota Constitutional Convention. The federal government had designated 5% of as being set aside for the schools. The schools were to be perpetually financed by sales of the land. Some people felt that the lands should be sold while others advocated for leasing. It seemed like this might have been the issue that resulted in Peter becoming a democrat. However, according to historian Patrick Garry, the issue was not split along party lines – so Peter’s change of party remains a mystery.