Although Sidney became an incorporated town in 1911, its birthdate goes back to 1888. The story goes that a petition for a post office for the new townsite was being held up until a proper name had been chosen. The name, Eureka, had been sent in before, but there was already an Eureka in the state. Mr. and Mrs. Walters and their six year old son, Sidney, were living in the home of Justice of the Peace, Hiram Otis, at the time. Judge Otis had grown very fond of Sidney, his young fishing partner. While he was making out the papers, he decided, on the spur of the moment, that Sidney would make a good name for the new town.
The election to decide whether Sidney, population 386, should incorporate was held on April 21st, 1911, resulting in 55 votes for and one vote against incorporating. Election of a town council was held on June 2nd, resulting in electing Thomas Gardner, banker, as the new mayor. Edgar A. Kenoyer, A. D. Ferris, John Carey, George Carpenter, and Ben Mercer were the new aldermen. L.H. (Jack) Turner was appointed clerk and assessor for the town. June 12, 1911, was the date of their first council meeting. Appointments of interest were: John Smith, ex-Indian fighter from Ft. Buford, as treasurer and tax collector; A. D. Ferris as secretary, and Jack Carberry as city marshall. Ordinance number one was adopted, stating that saloons be restricted to not more than two in the town of Sidney.
Excerpt from “The Municipal Story” by Mary Hammes Mercer, Our Jubilee