Yale University Library

YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

i938

HISTORY OF
FAULK OOUNTY
SOUTH DAKOTA

BY
CAPTAIN C. H. ELLIS
TOGETHER WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES
OF
PIONEERS AND PROMINENT CITIZENS

ILLUSTRATED

1 9 O 9

RECORD PRINT
FAU1KTON, S. D.

INTRODUCTION.
The first quarter of a century has passed since the real
work of pioneer life began in Faulk county: — the work of
transforming the wild, unbroken prairie, the home of the
buffalo, the wolf and the wild and uncivilized red man — of
blotting out the well worn Indian trail, extending from the
eastern to- the western boundary of the country.
A work that means so much for us, that has been carried
forward with such telling results, as the years go by, shall
ever remain an enduring foundation upon which our future
social, political, intellectual and moral greatness must
stand, demanding a more enduring record than legend or
story — Facts welf authenticated, facts from the well stored
memory, from brief records placed in historical form, before
the ruthless hand of Time removes the heroic band from
our midst.
For the accomplishment of such a work is this History
of Faulk County written.
And to the men and women who composed that heroic
band, who left home, with all its social surroundings that
enter so largely into the present life, and builded greater
than they knew in laying the foundation for a more liberal,
broader and higher education and a nobler manhood and
womanhood, is this work dedicated.
C. H. Fllis.
Faulkton, S. D.

THE AUTHOR

11

CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
It is not our home and immediate surroundings that
are to be considered in the making up of actual and pros
pective conditions from a financial, social, political and
moral standpoint; but the civil government, the national
and state organizations, the higher powers, to which we
are to look to guide and protect us.
While among the youngest of the states, South Dakota
occupies the fore-front in actual wealth and material pros
perity. In i889 she exchanged her territorial relations
with one general government for those of equal sovereign
statehood in the Great American Republic. With an area
of 76,000 square miles, divided almost equally east and
west into two parts by the Missouri river, (with the excep
tion of the famous Black Hills country, which contains
one hundred square miles located in the south-western
part of the state, of the richest mineral deposits on the face
of the globe) , the entire state with a soil of unsurpassed
fertility, with climatic conditions superior to all its sur
roundings, underlaid by the greatest artesian basin in the
world, furnishing an inexhaustable supply of water for any
and all purposes, when and wherever wanted; it needs but
time and an intelligent appreciation of its wonderful re
sources to secure a world-wide reputation that shall secure
an agricultural population second to no state in the union.
With a population of only six to the square mile it
produced in 1901:
Wheat, 35,000,000 bushels, valued at  $18,000,000.00

12

Corn, 70,000,000 bushels, valued at  35,000,000.00
Other grains and Agricultural Products  35,000,000.00
Hay Products  10,000,000.00
Live Stock  35,000,000.00
Dairy Product. . . . ,  ¦  9,000,000.00
Wool.Hides and Furs  4,000,000.00
Gold and other Minerals  13,000,000.00
South Dakota now ranks among the states of th,e
Union: Third in the production of corn, third in the pro
duction of wheat, first in the production of flax, fifth in the
production of barley, oats and rye, eighth in the produc
tion of wool, tenth in tlie production of live stock, and
actually produces more wealth in proportion to its popula
tion than any other state in the Union, as is proven by
government statistics and other reliable data.
The climate is free from malaria, mild, invigorating and
healthful, for which reason the death rate in the state is
the lowest in the Union. The summers of South Dakota
are moderate, without any excessive heat, the most de
lightful season of the year being the long, beautiful autumn,
and the winters are so mild that the live stock are grazing
on the range all winter without shelter of any kind.
The annual mean temperature of the state for the year
1906, determined from forty-three stations having a com
plete record, was 45 degrees. Wheat growing is, and
must continue to be, one of the important branches of farm
ing and is carried on at the present time with great profit.
The crop for 1905 averaged fifteen bushels per acre. While
South Dakota is sadly deficient in lumber for building
purposes, the deficiency is largely made up- in the vast de
posits of material for the best Portland cement, which can
be utilized in the erection of more permanent and cheap,-
er buildings, when durability is taken into consideration.

13

With her vast deposits of coal and the introduction of al
cohol for the purpose of light, heat and power, a better and
a more desirable supply is at hand.
The following statistical record of 1906 ought to find
a place in the permanent record of the production of wealth
supplied to the world in one year. The following is an
official report, viz:
Wheat, 37,494,108  $20,931,877.24
Corn, 77,414,331  33,224,299.30
Oats, 51,324,557  12,831,139.25
Barley, 24,603,257   7,380;077.10
Flax, 2,283,156  •  2,383,156.00
Speltz, 4,558.708  1,367,612.40
Hay, 3,073,554 tons  14,868,770.00
Potatoes, vegetables and Fruit....  5,000,000.00
Dairy Products  7,500,000.00
Eggs and Poultry  •  5,000,000.00
Honey, 90 tons  25,000,00
Ivive Stock  36,000,000.00
Wool and Hides,  300,000.00
Mineral and Stone  :  9,000,000,00
Total  145,812,831.29
New wealth per capita,  :  278.00
No more convincing proof of the prosperous condition
of any state can be produced than her bank resources, to
gether with the valuation of all classes of property. The
banks of South Dakota have. $70,198,433.62, and a total
valuation of all classes of property of $260,630,977.00; but
the true yaluation is estimated at a billion of dollars.
South Dakota has no bonded debt and the limit of tax
levy cannot exceed 2 mills to the dollar, as provided by the
constitution . The rate of taxation in South Dakota is low
er than in any of the Northern states.

14

EDUCATIONAL ADVANTAGES.
South Dakota is the best equipped state in the Union
for educational purposes. She is proud of her common
schools. Where there are children to go to school, teachers
are provided and school houses built: The school law con
templates that every child in the state shall receive the
benefit of a common school education and makes liberal
provisions to attain that end. It provides for the trans
portation to school of all children living at an unreasonable
distance from schools. Free school books are furnished,
and libraries are also provided. Two sections of land in
each township were set apart for school purposes by the
general government, which assures a very low rate of tax
ation for the common schools. With four normal schools,
one at Aberdeen, one at Madison, one at Sp^arfish and
one at Springfield, and a school of Mines at Rapid City,
a State University at Vermillion, and ah Agricultural Col
lege at Brookings, the supply of teachers should be equal
to all demands.
Denominational schools are as follows, viz: Methodist
colleges at Mitchell and Hot Springs, Congregational col
leges at Yankton and Redfield, Presbyterian at Huron, the
Baptist at Sioux Falls, the Scandinavian Lutherans at
Sioux Falls and Canton, and the Episcopalians at Sioux
Falls. The Roman Catholics have well equipped academies
at Aberdeen, Sturgis, Elkton, Marion, Vermillion and
other points, and. the Mennonites at Freeman.
The population is cosmopolitan, being composed, as
reported by the census of 1905, of 33,473 Scandinavians,
17,873 Prussian Germans, 12,365 Russian Germans, 22,144
Canadians, 5,564 settlers, from England, Scotland and
Wales, 3,298 Irish, 1,566 Hollanders and the balance of the
population, Americans.

15

By occupation the people are engaged as follows:
Eighty-two thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven are
farmers, of which 57,288 own their own homes; 16,821 are.'
engaged in domestic and personal service, 15,247 are in
trade and transportation: 14,327 follow mechanical pur
suits, and 7,877 are in professions. There are over 150,000
school children enrolled in the public schools of the state.
Three fourths of the farmers own the land they till, -a most
gratifying and satisfactory fact from a financial standpoint.
Seventy-eight per cent of the population are native born.
The state of South Dakota has provided liberally
for her most unfortunate class, the insane, as well as to
guard society from the most vicious element of the popula
tion. The hospital at Yankton has large, well constructed
buildings where these unfortunates are well cared for.
The Northern Hospital for the insane and feeble-minded
has been erected at Redfield, where a certain class of the
insane are cared for. The penitentiary at Sioux Falls is a
modern structure, well suited for the purpose for which it
was built and is under the best possible regulations. The
state reform school is located at Plankinton. Its equip
ment consists of several large buildings, suitably furnished,
and a 640 acre farm. The deaf mute school at Sioux
Falls and the asylum for the blind at Gary are also
well equipped institutions. The Soldier's Home at Hot
Springs, with its well constructed buildings, is an institu
tion' of which the state can well be proud.
The psople of South Dakota are congenial and hospit-.
.able, and as a. class, morally, socially and intellectually,
•worthy and reliable. South Dakota as a state in the Ameri
can Union , stands in the front rank and is one to which
every citizen of Faulk county may well feel proud to own
allegiance.

16

CHAPTER II.
STATE HISTORY.
While it was as early as A. D. 1850, that a few hardy
adventurers settled within the bounds of what is now re
organized as the state of South Dakota there was no real
conception of its vast and imposing natural resources
until 1875, and it was five years later before the real tide
of immigration set in. So far as its real existence as a de
sirable land for homes and civilization is concerned, there
was gradual development and passing through an experi
mental stage of nearly two decades, before actual facts be
came fixed in intelligent minds that it was actually one of
the most, if not the most desirable agricultural and mining
state in the Union.
The following, published about 1890 in the Dakota
Outlook, is the best and most reliable information in regard
to the early history of South Dakota, obtainable:
"As originally organized Dakota included Montana,
Idaho and Wyoming, thus embracing about a half million
square miles.
"The first settlement of Dakota by white men was in
1812, when a few of the Scotchmen wno composed the Assi-
naboine colony of Lord Selkirk, settled at or neat where
Pembina now is. These loyal subjects of the British crown
were not a little annoyed, years after, to learn that they
had been tilling the soil and breathing the air of the land
presided over by Uncle Sam's 'bird o' freedom,' and most
of them moved northward.

17

"it does not appear to be definitely known when the
first settlers came into South Dakota. The party of Lewis
and Clark (1803-6) were the first white men to explore the
Missouri river to its source, and the report of the expedi
tion, published in 1814 probably gave the first information
of Dakota.. . But the accounts of the extreme cold and other
hardships which the explorers encountered were not such
as to make this land inviting. While the course of empire
took its westward flight, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado and
Kansas became the promised land of the eastern emigrants.
Dakota was considered a part of the Great American Desert,
a land of barren sands in summer, and of snows and frosts
in winter. "Sometime, however, about the year 1850, a few hardy
adventurers settled in Dakota, and their magnified ent crops
of wheat bore unmistakable evidence that this was, indeed,
a goodly land.' Their reports caused others to come, and
by the year 1858 thriving settlements had been made along
the Missouri at Elk point, Vermillion, Yankton and other
places, and at different points along the Big Sioux. These
settlements were upon Indian land, which was finally deded
in the spring of 1858.
"During the next two or three years a large number of
settlers came in and the people began to move for the for-
mation of the Territory of Dakota. In these early days the
citizens of Sioux Falls were no less energetic and enters
prising than they are now. They not only discussed the
matter, but proceeded to organize a provisional govern'
ment, choosing also a full list of territorial officers.

18

"This was during the latter part of 1859. On the 8th
of November of the same year there was held at Yankton a
meeting, the object of which was to petition congress to
organize the territory. A similar meeting was held at
Vermillion on the day following. The organization was
not accomplished, however, until February, 1861, and the
approval on the organic act on March 2nd, was one of ths
last official acts of President Buchanan.
"William Payne, the first governor, entered upon the
discharge of his official duties May 27, 1861. A census
showed the population to be 1,786.
"On September 16, there occured the first election, at
which J. B. S. Todd was elected delegate to congress.
"The first legislative assembly met on the 17th of
March, 1862 and adopted a full code of laws.
"in 1870 the census showed a population of 14.181, of
whom 12,887 were white. This was a small gain for ten
years; but little was yet known of the natural resources of
Dakota. "Up to this time two-thirds of the population of the
.territory lived in the counties of Union, Yankton and
Clay. "A gradual increase continued until 1875, when the
Dakota boom may be said to have begun. At this time
gold was discovered in the Black Hills, and almost all the
papers in the country published wonderful stories of the
precious yeliow nuggets that were found there. Adven
turers flocked in from every direction. Not only did they
find gold, but they found also, millions of acres of the
very best land, and that the country was one of the most

THE OLD SOD SHANTY ON THE CLAIM

21

healthful in the world. While thousands passed onward
to the Hills many stopped on this side of the Missouri.
Many more, attracted by the marvelous stories of the gold
en wheat fields crowded into North Dakota. In that sec
tion where in 1878 there could not be found 1,000 people,
there are to-day 100,000 people/the assessed value of
whose property last year was over three hundred million.
South Dakota has nearly a quarter million of people, whose
property, assessed on a scale much lower than that of
North Dakota, is over one billion in valuation."
The following extract from a letter from the distin
guished and much beloved Ex-Governor Faulk in regard to
the creation of Faulk county, now in the posession of the
author, will be of interest not only for the important facts
but from the source from which they are obtained: "I
know from my own personal knowledge, that in the winter
of 1873 , during the administration of Governor Burbank
and Gen. Edwin McCook, the territorial secretary, was
acting governor, Governor Burbank being absent in the
east. The legislature passed a bill creating several coun
ties, among which was Faulk county.' No other county
had been previously created by the Dakota legislature
covering any portion of the territory embraced in this
county. And the same is true to the best of my recollec
tion as to all the. other counties created that winter. It
was organized under the laws of the territory while Ordway
was Governor, the date and facts relating to which you
will find in the Times, or other papers published in your
vicinity at that period.
"in the winter of 1883 an attempt was made to pass a
bill through the legislature cutting off range 72 . and 73

22

from the west side of Faulk county and adding them to
Potter county. County seat rivalry appears to account
for this very singular movement, at any rate it. was resisted
so vigorously that a compromise was effected at the last
moment by which only one tier of townships was taken
and which left the present county seat within three miles
of the geographical center of the county.
' 'You- wished me to say something about the very be- ,
ginning of general knowledge concerning this portion of
South Dakota. I will briefly allude to its history prior to
1861, the time of the organization of Dakota Territory.
Previous to that date, and before the act of congress cre
ating the territory of Minnesota,, the Missouri river formed
the western boundary of Wisconsin and aU that portion
laying east of the Missouri river was embraced, in the
county of the St. Croix. But afteij- the. state of Minnesota
was created, congress in 1849,, caused it to be. attached.
to Minnesota,, and the legislature of Minnesota changed its,
name to Dakota county or, at least it formed a portion of
that county. All of that portion of Dakota laying west of:
the Missiouri river was taken ' from the territory of Neb
raska. "When- 1 came to- Dakota in 1861, this huge territory-
embraced what are now the four, states North and Southi
Dakota, Montana and Wyoming and a part of Idaho — an
area of 350,000. square miles. This was more than one
third of the whole of the Louisiana Purchase. This vast
region was really as little- known to the most of the Ameri
can people as if it had been located in the darkest portion
of Central Africa. The Lousiana Purchase, in which-
South Dakota is situated, was. made by President Jef.-

23

ferson in 1803, and contained about 1,000,000 square
miles, which was obtained at thenominal cost of $15,000,000,
It had onee been claimed by Spain by right of discovery ,
then sold to France, and by France transferred to the
United States."
Gov. Faulk finished up his most interesting letter with
the following, which is most 'highly appreciated by the
people of our county: Andrews, the historian, in his
"'Historical Atlas of Dakota," published in 1884 at Chicago,
after giving a general sketch of the geographical features
of the country, concludes with this paragraph:
"The climate soil and productions . of Faulk county
•compare favorably with other counties of central Dakota,
-and the county is being settled and occupied by a very su
perior, class *of people, largely from .Illinois,,' Iowa, Minneso
ta and Wisconsin."
This was the verdict of history eleven years ago,, and
to-day I am very sure it may be written that it has lost
nothing of the distinction awarded to it by the publisher
.of the Atlas ,of Dakota.

-CHAPTER IU.
FAULK COUNTY,
Faulk :Gounty, South Dakota, is located on "the east
:side of the divide between the waters of the James and
.Missouri Rivers„ and, strictly speaking, is in the James
River valley and is bounded on the north by Edmunds
•county, on the south by Hand and Hyda counties, on the east
~by Spink and on the west by Potter counties. The county
has an area of one thousand and eight square miles-, con
sisting, by government survey, of Townships 117, 118, JJL9

24

and 120 north, and range 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71 and 72
west, being twenty-four miles north and south, and forty-
two miles east and west. It is watered by Scatters ood
lake and Snake or Nixon creek, which rises in the south
western portion of Edmunds county and the coteaux
upon the extreme western line of Faulk county, which for
ages had been the feeding ground of vast herds of buffalo,
until they had been exterminated by the Indians who
roamed upon the plains.
The field notes of government . surveyors gave a most
discouraging account of the whole region, and, when in
April 1882, a party of three home-seekers from Missouri
left the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at Redfield and
started out in a westerly direction, on a three days' tour of
exploration, one would have said it was inspiration rathefr
than sound judgment, that prompted their movement.
But after a most careful exploration, in place of a "barren
waste scattered over with growing cactus, " they beheld a
beautiful, slightly rolling prairie covered with luxuriant
grasses and the clear waters of the Nixon. They returned
with a most happy report that it was a "goodly land," and
one to be earnestly sought after. This party consisted of
Alexander LaFoon, D. S. Smith and T. H. McMullen.
The location they selected was upon the south side of the
creek, in what proved to be Township 118, range 68.
(The government survey had not then been made. ) Their
plan was for a large colony, but the arrival of others broke
up their arrangements so that their 'plan, so far as a Mis
souri colony was concerned, never materialized. A para
mount idea was the location of a future county seat, and,
but for the subsequent coming of the Chicago & Northwest-

25

ern Railroad, there is little doubt but LaFoon, in place of
Faulkton, would have been the county seat today.
The first party of immigrants located permanently up-
on the ground in June, 1882, and among them were T. H,
McMullen, Booth, Russell and Whitehead. Additions
were soon made to the colony, and among them were
some of the strong, influential men of our county at the
present day. About this time a party of home-seekers
from Charles City, la., located on the creek about five
miles west of them in Range 67, and christened their
town Faulkton, in honor of the distinguished and hon
ored Governor Faulk, for whom the county was named,
Faulkton at once became an active competitor for
the county seat. On Dec. 21st, 1882, the first number
of the Faulkton Times appeared, with H. A. Humphrey,
editor and publisher. It is claimed that the Times was
the first paper printed in Faulk county, yet the LaFoon
Hecord, A. E. Evans, editor; Evans & Geddis, proprie
tors, was a very close second. On Dec. 25th the La
Foon town site was platted. Each of the papers left
no stone unturned in advocating the advantages- and su
perior claims, of its own location.
The struggle to control the county organization and
secure the county seat became the one and only theme of.
-conversation and effort that commanded first attention.
It soon became evident that a new factor must be taken
into consideration. Gov. Ordway, through his son,
'George L- Ordway, and one Tibbits, who' had been a
business partner of - George L- Ordway in Denver, Colo
rado, had put up the county organization, including the
(county seat, to the highest bidder, A den of fhieyes

26

were in control and must be recognized. The Faulkton
Times, in commenting upon the transaction, said: The
deal was a public one, and much of it a matter of pub
lic record. It was consummated in broad daylight, — as.
a matter of fact barter, — without a blush of shame, and
the participants candidly conversed about the amount of
land and money paid. The people of the county were
disgusted and outraged that their interests should have
been made an article of merchandise, and their most
sacred rights should have been put up by the governor
and sold to the highest bidder as an article of speculation"
An intelligent and candid writer, who was familiar with
all the circumstances at the time, said: "Faulk county
residents are entirely excusable for the part taken by
them in this piece of open bribery, because it was im
possible to procure an organization of their county with
out yielding to the demands of the organizer. There
were at least 2,500 people in the county at the time of
its organization and they were suffering great inconven
ience and expense for want of local government. A math
ematical calculation has been made by a resident, and his
figures show that if Faulk county had paid $10,000 in cash
six months ago for an organization, the people would have
been ahead today in a financial sense."
It can, therefore, readily be seen that after so large ex
perience, and the disastrous consquences of delay, the citi
zens of Fauik county were ready to resort to any process
which would give them government. They were forced
into a bargain by the procrastination of a scheming execu
tive. Faulkton had made her bid, and of course LaFoon
must go her one better. Nearly a section of adjoining

27

land, half of the town site and $3,000 was the price paid.
As soon as this man Tibbits had time to confer with Govern
or Ordway, commissions were issued to Thomas L- Humes,
Matthew J. Jarvis and Hervey A. Humphrey, appointing
them commissioners of Faulk county, with full power to
organize said county. On the 5th day of November, 1883,
they met at the office of J. A. Pickler, Esq., in 'Faulkton,
each of them presenting his commission of appointment to
" the office of county commissioner in and for said Faulk
county, by His Excellency, N. G. Ordway, Governor of
the Territory of Dakota. The commissioners qualified ac
cording to law and organized as a board by the election of
Hervey A. Humphrey as chairman, and on motion, Geo.
W- Fifield was elected temporary secretary. On motion
of Commissioner Hume, Joseph H. Bottum was elected by
ballot, register of deeds.
On motion the board adjourned to meet at the office of
D. N. Hunt & Co', at LaFoon in said Faulk county on
Wednesday, Nov. 7th, 1883, at 10 o'clock a. m.
The board met pursuant to adjournment and J. H.
Bottum was elected clerk pro. tern. C. F. Hardy was
elected judge of probate. By a vote of two to one LaFoon
was declared the county seat.
At the afternoon session E. C. Sage was chosen sheriff;
George J. Jarvis, assessor; H. S. Utley of DeVoe, county
treasurer; Miss Angie Harrington, superintendent of
schools; E. Baldwin, county surveyor; J. S. Bates, coroner;
Frank Turner and C. M. Kellogg, justices of the peace;
J. T. McKinley and Edward Chapman, constables.
Other and continued efforts were made to remove the
county seat five miles west to Faulkton and that much

28

.nearer the geographical center of the county, but , as the
eastern part of the county was first and more densely in-
, habited, , always resulted in favor of LaFoon, and it is quite
evident that LaFoon would have remained the . county seat
. until the present day if the coming of the Chicago & North-
, western railroad had not aided Faulkton; so soon
, to be followed by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
railway, with a branch road from Aberdeen to Faulkton
and Orient near the southern line of the county. Even
then LaFoon was able to dictate its terms of surrender and
come as equals, with equal rights and privileges, including
their homes, their churches and their public buildings.
On Sept. 18, 1884, the first convention for the elec
tion of county officers was held at LaFoon composed of the-
following citizens:
Precinct No. 1 G. S. Rice, L. H.. Bailey, Ed. Clif
ford, James Devine and Charles B. Chambers.
No. 2 1 M. Purdy, C. C Getting and A. Garrick.
No. 3: Morgan G. Millard, G. W. McTier and G. B.
Dyer. No. 4 1 Charles Rathke and Otto Mielke.
No. 5: Harry H. Sprowls,. J. B. Smack and B. H.
Clark. No. 6: J. A. Pickler, W. G. Faulkner, J. W. Bass
and J. H. Shirk.
' No. 7:; P. B. Durley, Ed. Hoisel, H. A. Humphrey
and' J. W.. Hayes
No. 8: A. B. Sheldon, R. G. Morton, Joseph Powell,
C. B. Oakes and A. E. Evens.
No. 9: H. S. Utley, George M. Butterfield, Alex
Miller and Travis.

FAULK COUNTY STATE FAIR EXHIBIT, 1904

31

No. 10: Robert Kmapton, F. M. Brown and J. M.
Miles. No. 11: H. Chain, H. Pool, Orin Strevel and H.
Metz. No. 12: D. N. Hillman, Geo. A. Morse and Chas.
F. Chase. No. 13: C. H. Ellis, W. W. Gwin and John Parsons.
The convention was called to( order by Judge C. H.
Derr and Morgan G. Millard and A. E. Evans were chosen
secretaries. The following persons were placed in nomi
nation for the several county offices, all of whom were
elected on Tuesday after the first Monday in November,
1884: C. H. Derr, judge of probate; Frank A. Pangburn,
clerk of district court; James W. Johnston, register of
deeds; P. E. Knox, treasurer; Mrs. Angie Rose, county
superintendent; for sheriff, L. M. Buland; for assessor,
E. G. Sage; for coroner, Dr. L- M. Sprowles; for surveyor,
B. H. Clark; for district attorney, C. C. Clifford; for jus
tices of the peace, Frank Turner, W. R. Davis, W. G,
Faulkner and D. S. Smith; for constables, J. W. Bass, C.
B. Oakes, Ed. Hoisel and Channey J. Cooper.
John L- Chain was nominated for county commissioner
for the second commissioner district.
The following persons were chosen to the republican
convention at Pierre: John A. Pickler and John L- Chain.
To the district convention at Redfield, W. S. Belknap, C.
H . Ellis, M. L- Wood and F. M. Brown. Thus ended the
first organized and well attended county convention in
which, there was a consciousness that it was the people and
not politicians that were then in control of county affairs.

32

CHAPTER IV.
COUNTY ORGANIZATION.
No history of Faulk county can be complete without a
careful, review of the unusual methods adopted by the Gov
ernor, N. G. Ordway, through his son, George L- Ord
way, and one Tibbits,'' who had been a business partner of
George L- Ordway in Denver, Colorado. As reference has
been made to this affair in a former chapter, the writer
will confine himself to extracts and editorials from the
press of that day. The following affidavit is from the
columns of the St- Paul Pioneer Press.
FAULK COUNTY.
"Thomas, H". McMuUin,, one of the town site proprie
tors of LaFoon, in an affidavit sworn to before C. H..
Squire, notary public, Faulk county, says:
On or about Sept. 2., 1883, William B. Tibbits came to
LaFoon and exhibited a letter from George L- Ordway,.
son of Gov. Ordway, stating that Tibbits came to Faulk
county for the purpose of looking it over with reference to»
its organization .. Tibbits stated to me that the county would.
be organized as soon as he reported to the governor, and in
accordance with his report. I met Tibbits at the office of :
D. W. Hunt, in LaFoon. There were present, beside-
Tibbits, C. F. Hardy, Di R.„ Miller,.. John Hough,, E. W.
Rogers and myself, all of whom were- members of the' town.
site company, and D. S. Smith, who had land adjoining..
Conversation was had with Tibbits relative to the location
of the county seat, Qn.s of the party proposed, to, Tihbits;

33

that he become a partner in the town site of LaFoon. To
this Tibbits assented. The meeting then broke up and
Tibbits withdrew. The balance of the party being a major
ity of the shareholders of the town site, called a meeting at
which it was agreed to give Tibbits one-half of the town site
of LaFoon, comprising 160 acres. They also concluded to
give him all the land they could get donated and whatever
money they could get subscribed. It was agreed that those
who donated the lands should execute deeds to Tibbits, and
that the deeds and money subscribed should be placed in
the hands of D. R. Miller of Redfield, to be delivered and
paid to Tibbits whenever Faulk county should be organized
and the county seat located at LaFoon. I proceeded at
•once to procure the deeds of property donated, and D. R,
Miller and John Hough went to work to raisa money. I
obtained deeds from- Andrew Greenwald, Alex LaFoon,
Louis Kneisel, Jr., Lee M, Sprowls,, James P, Rathbun„
James W. Johnston, William T. Hensley, Lawrence W,
Hensley, Darius S. Smith, Joel C. Booth and Nora Reppy
for 380 -acres of land in all. After I had procured thoss
deeds they were shown to Tibbits, who expressed himself as
highly gratified at the result. He was also informed of the
.amount of money subscribed., and which I then understood
-.and have sinee been informed, amounted to about $3,000.
The deeds were delivered to D. R. Miller of Redfield
with a paper accompanying them signed hy each stating
that they -(the deeds) were to be delivered to William B.
"Tibbits upon the happening of a certain event, to-wit:
'when the commissioners of Faulk county were appointed
•by the governor, and the county seat located at LaFoon.
After the delivery xif the deeds Mr, Tibbits went away.

34

He said he was going to Bismarck to see the governor and
make his report. I saw Tibbits again Oct. 1, 1883, in the
presence of D. R. Miller in the latter's bank at Redfield.
Miller said it was all right, but that the deeds would have
to be changed and made out to him (Miller), and that he
would convey to Tibbits. Miller stated in the presence of
Tibbits that the reason for changing the deeds was because
it appeared too open and barefaced to have the deeds go
direct to Tibbits. In accordance with this request, new
deeds were executed to D. R. Miller. I wrote out four of
the deeds myself. One of the deeds; that of Kneisel, was
not changed, but went on record direct from him, to Tibbits.
The deed of Nora Reppy was also changed, but her deed to
Tibbits has not yet been recorded. I have been informed ,
and so understand, that the money subscribed, amounting
to about $3,000, was paid to D. R. Miller, to be paid by
him to Tibbits, and that it was so paid. Tibbits subse
quently returned again from Bismarck to Redfield, and
stated .that the governor wanted a petition asking for the
appointment of the commissioners that we wanted.
Thereupon a petition was prepared and privately circulat
ed around LaFoon and the eastern portion of the county,
asking for the appointment of Thomas L. Humes, Mat
thew J. Jarvis and Hervey A. Humphrey. This petition
was forwarded to the governor, and the parties above
named were appointed the commissioners of Faulk county.
E. S. Spinden,
one of the town site proprietors of Faulkton, in an affidavit
made before W. S. Bowen, notary public, Yankton county,
stated he met Gov. Ordway in June, 1883 — after numerous
petitions for organization had been sent to him — and repre-

35

sented the urgent necessity for an immediate organization
of Faulk county. In August, 1883, he saw George L.
Ordway at Pierre and was informed by the latter that he
had sent W. B. Tibbits to Faulk county to look the ground
over, and that the parties interested could confer with Tib
bits. On returning to Faulkton, Spinden met Tibbits,
who said he had been there to investigate and report,
Spinden told Tibbits that it was unnecessary to keep up
pretenses, and that he was prepared, as president of the
Faulkton Town Site company, to make an offer for the
county seat. The town site company offered Tibbitts, or
those for whom he was acting, 120 acres of land adjoining
Faulkton, 250 lots in the town site and $1,000 in cash.
Tibbits remained ten days in Faulkton and then went to
LaFoon. He assured me that we should have an oppor
tunity to make a second bid if necessary. Afterward I
¦went to Pierre and told Tibbits we would add to our offer
the hotel in Faulkton and $1,000 for him (Tibbits) per
sonally. I regarded him as acting for Gov. Ordway, to
•whom he said he was to report. It was understood by us
all that a bonus must be given Gov. Ordway before the
commissioners were appointed. Of the three, members of
the board, two -were residents, at the time of their ap
pointment, of Spink county.
H. A. Humphrey,
of Faulkton, and one of the commissioners of Faulk county
.appointed by Gov. Ordway, in an affidavit before C. H.
Squire, notary public, Faulk -county, states that the letter
-written and signed by George L. Ordway, the governor's
¦son, and brought by Tibbits to Faulkton, stated that Tib
bits came there for the purpose of looking the county oyer^

36

in view of its approaching organization. Humphrey had
several interviews with Tibbits, who said he wanted to see
the most prominent men in various localities, and gave
Humphrey to understand that the county would be orga
nized in accordance with his report. He further gave
Humphrey to understand in a manner not to be mistaken
that he was prepared to receive and consider any proposi
tion that might be made to him in regard to Faulkton's
securing the county seat. On being asked what proposi
tion LaFoon had made, Tibbits replied that "that was
confidential. ' ' Humphrey also states that he has been
informed by men who subscribed to the LaFoon fund, that
Tibbits had received large amounts of money and land in
consideration of the location of the county seat at LaFoon.
George W. Fifield, P. B. Durley, H. A. Humphrey
and J. A. Pickler of Faulkton, and Thomas H. McMullin
of LaFoon, in a joint affidavit before C. H. Squire, notary
public, Faulk county recite the facts in regard to the re
peated efforts of the citizens of Faulk county to obtain
organization. Petition after petition was forwarded for
this purpose in vain. The affidavits state that during the
period of eleven months between the time the county should
have been organized, as required by law, and the time it
was finally organized, Faulk county was without local
government or any court of justice, without schools, being
without the power to levy taxes for their support. That
many settlers, residents of the county, in making final
proof on their claims, were put to great trouble and ex
pense by being compelled to travel with their witnesses, a
distance of from thirty-five to forty miles to an adjoining
county to reach an officer who could administer the neces-

37

sary oath. That litigants and witnesses were compelled to
travel a like distance at like expense in any action or pro
ceeding at law.
Nora Reppy,
a property owner residing near LaFoon, in an affidavit be
fore J. M. Miles, clerk of the district court of Faulk county,
states at the time of Tibbits' visit to LaFoon, as the repre
sentative of Gov. Ordway, she was asked how much of her
land she would give to have the county seat at LaFoon.
She gave forty (40) acres, being the southwest fourth of
section 17, township 117, range 68, a deed for which she
executed to Tibbits and delivered to D. R. Miller, a banker
of Redfield, to be given to Tibbits when LaFoon got the
county seat. She understood that the land donated by her
self and others was for the governor, and that" LaFoon 's
chances for the county seat depended on the amount of
money and land donated.
The certified copies of the deeds on record in the office
at LaFoon of J- H. Bottum, register of deeds for Faulk
count, Dakota, which accompany the affidavits, show the
following transfers:
Louis Kneisel, Jr., to William B. Tibbits, 40 acres;
consideration, $1. Andrew Green wald to D. R. Miller,
20 acres; consideration, $1. Alexander LaFoon to D. R.
Miller, 40 acres; consideration, $1. . Lee M. Sprowls to
D. R. Miller, 40 acres; consideration $1. James P. Rath-
bun to D. R. Miller, 20 acres; consideration, $1. William
T. Hensley to D. R, Miller, 20 acres; consideration $300.
Lawrence W. Hensley to D. R. Miller, 20 acres; considera
tion, $1. Darius S. Smith and Adelia M. Smith, his wife,
to D. R. Miller, 60 acres; consideration, $1. D. R. Miller

38

and Delia B. Miller, his wife, to William B. Tibbits, 380
acres; consideration, $2,800.
The description and amount of property conveyed by
Andrew Greenwald and others ta D. R. Miller correspond
with that of the property conveyed by Miller and his wife
to William B. Tibbits, except in one instance, where twenty
acres are deeded by Miller to Tibbits in lieu of the forty
acres deeded to Miller by Alexander LaFoon. The other
twenty acres may have been allowed Miller, who is a Red-
field banker, as his per cent for negotiating the transaction.
The lands deeded to Tibbits, included the forty acres
given by Nora Reppy whose deed was not recorded.
The value of the sixty acres immediately joining the
town sits may be estimated at $1,500. If LaFoon has a
"boom" this spring, this land can be platted and sold so
as to. bring anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000: The value
of the remaining 300 acres is about $3,700, ranging from
$10 to $15 an acre, the latter figure applying to 140 acres
situated within a radius of half a mile from the town site.
The value of the one-half interest in the 160 acre town site
proper, which Tibbits received according to the affidavit of
Thomas H. McMullin, cannot be less than $10,000 to its
owner, if he will handle it properly. It is extremely pro
bable that $15,000 will be .realized this year by the owner
of that one-half interest.'"
That Gov. Ordway, if not entirely responsible for the
whole transaction, was hand and glove with George L-
Ordway and Tibbits, was so evident to the people of the-
territory, as to call forth the following from the territorial
press and the Chicago Inter-Ocean,
Campbell County Courier: Poor Governor Ordway

ALONG THE NIXON RrVER NEAR FAULKTON

41

wails to the Secretary of the Interior because the task of
organizing new counties is imposed upon Dakota's Execu
tive. He also wails because the law does not give the ex
ecutive power to remove or suspend the commissioners
whom he has appointed, or their appointees as county
officials. The Governor also intimates that designing men
aim, through organization, to gain control of county poli
tics. No one in Dakota remembers of Ordway, in his an
nual message to the legislature, -saying anything about be
ing relieved of the task of organizing new counties. Why
, did he not make this wail to the legislature, instead of the
interior department, if hs wanted any action taken upon it.
But to protest because he cannot hold the official ax over
his appointees' heads, thereby dictating their acts, is simply
kicking because his political power is not extended, in
stead of contracted. "Oh! consistency." Ordway has
evidently been asked to give some explanation of his delay
in organizing counties, as his W2ils are a sort of appendix to
his report, and he has dished up something which may sat
isfy congress, but not Dakotans — they know he does not
want to be relieved of the task of organization, and that
his report about designing men is nothing but another
blow at our people, whom he delights to defame. That
there are some designers, is not to be denied, but Ordway
generally sees that only his friends, or those designers who
make it an object to him, succeed in their designs. He
does not consider the wishes of the people whom he should
aim to please.
Cavour Independent: — Governor Ordway is receiving
scourgings on all sides and not without abundant provoca
tion. It is one of the bitter things that accompanies terri-

42

torial government that we must call our own Uncle Sam
to help us out of this shameful predicament. We're of age
and able to take care of ourselves, Uncle — admit us and
see how deftly we will shift (Ordway) for ourselves.
Mitchell Capital: — Register McCoy, of the Aberdeen
district, is at Washington, attending a meeting of the
National Republican convention which assembled in that
city on Wednesday of thisweek. While there he will be
able to check-mate some of Ordway'» schemes, opposing
the endorsement of McCoy's appointment.
Press & Dakotan: — Delegate Raymond has introduced
in congress a bill to establish the territory of North Dakota
by dividing the present territory on the forty-sixth parallel.
Mr. Raymond has taken early opportunity to carry out his
promises, and to occupy an open position against the
schemes of the Ordway clan to retain Dakota intact. He
has taken this action in accordance with the wishes of
ninety per cent of his constituents.
Andover Gazette:— The appointment of T. C. McCoy
as register of the Aberdeen land office was confirmed on
Tuesday. This is good news for the people of southern
Dakota, but a "bad pill" for Governor Ordway.
Press & Dakotan: — C. T. McCoy has won in the fight
against Ordway. McCoy's nomination as register of the
Aberdeen land office was made to the senate by the presi
dent Tuesday night. This is an open vindication for Mc
Coy. Ordway has been charging him for a year or two
past with complicity in Douglas county matters of unsavory
repute, but this false accusation has fallen to the ground,
and the object of his venom is clearly the winner in the
contest. Charges of dishonesty are Ordway 's weapons of

43

offense and defense, but in this particular instance the
means employed are liable to assume the size, proportions
and peculiarities of a boomerang. Mr. Ordway himself
may be called upon to explain his suspicious connection
with the original organization of Douglas county and the
mysterious disappearance of Walter Bown, chief witness in
the case. Mr. McCoy's success is a subject for congratula
tion. He is an old resident of Dakota, a capable man and
one worthy of the place bestowed upon him.
Exchange: — The next popular prairie song will be en
titled, "The Old Man's Losing' his Grip. " Not the grip
he carries his county seat deeds in, but the grip he had on
the powers in Washington. The McCoy appointment in
dicates that things are slipping through his fingers.
Faulkton Times: — A petition to the President tore-
move Governor Ordway, the robber executive of Dakota, is
being circulated in every county. As none feel more deep
ly the tyranny and exasperating conduct of this barnacle
upon our body politic than the people of Faulk county, it
is hoped and believed that said petition will be unanimous
ly signed by our people, and by none more gladly than
those so outrageously bled by him in connection with his
Redfield deal in organizing the county.
Chicago Inter-Ocean: — Popular disapproval of the acts
of Governor Ordway, which has been noted from time to
time in the Dakota correspondence of the Inter-Ocean, has
at last taken the shape of a pointed petition to the Presi
dent, embodying the prayer of a people for the removal
from office of an executive who, it is claimed in general
terms, "is not fitted for the place by education, experience,
or qualities of mind, heart or character." This move of

44
an intelligent, law and order loving people for the removal
of their Governor, whose present administration is alleged
to be scandal to Dakota and upon the public service, is
made the subject of correspondence in another column, and
should certainly receive the attention of the country, and
be given careful consideration by the President, to whom
the appeal is made. There may be more things charged to
the account of Governor Ordway than can be substantiated,
but it is not to be supposed that the people are signing the
petitions in every county in the territory, without some
reasonable measure of just provocation. Affidavits bearing
on Governor Ordway 's acts in relation to the organization
of new counties and the capital commission scheme, are to
accompany the petition.
At the present day it is impossible to form the least
conception of the scorn and contempt in which Governor
Ordway was held, and the wrath and indignation aroused
against him throughout the territory. It was not alone in
the County of Faulk that his system of bargain and sale
was set up. Hand, Hyde, Potter and other counties were
victims of his system of plunder. At last he was brought
to the bar of justice. A United , States grand jury found
two indictments, against him. Ona plea of lack of juris
diction the case was thrown out of court, and what all the
people believed to be a consummate scoundrel, escaped the
just penalty of the law.

45

CHAPTER V.
'" ! '8,THE first settler.'
At the present date it has been decided that Hiram
Rose was- the first white man to locate in Faulk county.
In the Autumn of 1881 he made a location and erected a
shanty upon the shore of Scatterwood Lake in . township
120, range 66, and remained there through the winter of
1881 and 1882. But if we are correctly informed, it was
more for the purpose of trapping and hunting than for .a
permanent location. In April of 1882, D. S. Smith, Alex
ander LaFoon and T. H. McMullin from Hillsboro, Mis
souri, arrived at Redfield in Spink county and started out
on a tour of observation, the object in view being a perman
ent location. Although Mr. McMullin was the first to
move his family into the new settlement, the town was
named after Mr. LaFoon. The long years, and influential
and commanding positions filled, placed D. S. Smith of
Faulkton, in line to claim the honor of being the first pio
neer settler in the county. The LaFoon settlement re
ceived important additions from Wisconsin, while a party
from Charles City selected the present county seat on the
bank of the Nixon and put forth desperate effort to secure
for their settlement the honor of becoming the leading town
in the new and important county. Among the men of
qualities who were members of the LaFoon colony, were:
J. H. Bottum, J.W.Johnston, F. A. Seaman, Dr. J. P.
Rathbun, I. Allen Cornwell, W. H. Race, Hon. F. M.
Byrne, Judge C. H. Derr and J. P. Turner, who have re-

46

mained, and are active and influential citizens of Faulkton
at the present day.
The first settlers of, Jfaulkton were mostly from Iowa,
and came here in the spring of 1882.
LOOKING BACKWARD.
It is impossible for us to realize the changes that a few
years bring into our every day life, save as they enter in
and become a part of it, and not even then, unless some
written record is made to recall them to mind. Only a
quarter of a century has passed since the full consciousness
entered into the minds of men that Faulk county, South
Dakota, was really a goodly land, to be sought out as a
home for civilized men.
Government surveyors who made preliminary surveys,
gave no word of encouragement to induce the homeseeker
to even "come to see." Only one small body of water
(Scatterwood Lake) was known to exist within all its bor
ders. The western line of the county was on the divide
between the waters of the James and Missouri rivers, and,
lying at the foot of the coteaux, had the appearance of a
low region of country, while in reality it was nearly 1,000
feet higher than the eastern line of the county.
In thespring of 1882 the tide of emigration set strongly
toward Dakota Territory. A party of three, leaving the
Chicago & Northwestern railroad at Redfield, started
out on a three days' trip in a westerly direction. The trip
was one of most remarkable surprises. A beautiful ex
panse of rolling prairie covered with luxuriant grasses lay
out before them. A creek of delicious spring waters-God's
best gift to man — proclaimed it a "goodly land," much
to be desired by any intelligent homeseeker. Not only

47

the rich, luxuriant grasses, but the deep trodden paths,
proved it to have been the feeding place of vast herds
of buff alo for many long years.
The report that these first explorers, Alexander La
Foon, D. S. Smith and T. H. McMullin gave, soon brought
others. Before the winter of 1883-4 nearly all the land in
the eastern half of the county had been located. LaFoon,
Faulkton and DeVoie had become active, enterprising cen
ters, around which intelligent- and industrious homeseekers
were located. In March, 1884, C. H. Ellis, Chas. V.
Ellis, Joseph McGregor and Rufus Richie, who came from
Michigan to Beadle county in 1882, located on the line of
the railroad survey made by the Chicago & Northwestern
railroad in township 117, range 72. The Ellisville post-
office was soon established, and before the season ended,
most of the land in ranges 70, 71 and 72 had been taken.
As late as 1882, the buffalo, antelope and coyotes had full
range in Faulk county. In June, 1884, it was transformed
into homes and farms, with all that makes up happy com
munities.

48

CHAPTER VI.
BUFFALO IN FAULK COUNTY. ~
The deep worn trails or tracks and numberless bleached
heads and bones of the American bison that were scattered
over the prairies of FaUlk county, gave to the early pioneers
the most positive assurance that at a time when the wild
Indians roamed unmolested over the western prairies, this
was a favorite feeding ground for vast herds of buffalo,
which have now become almost exterminated in the great
North-west. The westward march of civilization had come in too
close proximity, even before actual settlement had com
menced in the county. Only one small herd of buffalo were
seen by the early settlers, and two or three single animals,
one of which was followed and killed near LaFoon, as the
following account from the LaFoon Record of Nov. 3rd,
1883, shows:
"C. A. Ritter of this place, shot a buffalo three miles
west of town on Thursday, with a shot gun. The animal
came from the north, and a party of residents of 119-68 fol
lowed him several miles with Joseph Powell's team, from
the claim of Herbert Geddes, where he was first discovered.
Upon overtaking the animal three miles west of town, Mr.
Ritter rode up within thirty feet of him and shot him with
No. 6. shot just back of the shoulder. That was a lucky
day for LaFoon. On the same day news came that the
commissioners were appointed, two for this place and one
for Faulkton. Blessings as well as misfortunes, never

AT INDIAN CARNIVAL, FAULKTON, S. D.

51

come singly. Buffalo steak is now on tap at the hotels"
through the kindness of Mr. Powell, who brought it to
town on Friday morning, and threw up his hat when he
heard that LaFoon had the county seat. Remember, two
for LaFoon and one for Faulkton."
One . was seen near Ellisville in the south-west town
ships of the county; but no effort was made to kill or
capture him. In fact, so sudden and almost mysterious
was the departure of all large game after the coming of the
white man, that Faulk county is almost without a record
along this line.
And yet sportsman may find an occasional coyote or
prairie wolf and a. few prairie dogs. In their season ducks
and geese: in their northward flight, find here ,a f avorite
feeding' and resting, place, and with the jack and cotton
tail rabbits, prairie chicken, plover and snipe, make excel
lent and exciting, pleasure for the experienced sportsman.

52

CHAPTER VII.
THE BLIZZARD OF JAN. 12, 1888.
Nature's changes are nowhere more marked and signal
than upon the broad prairies of the Dakotas. Beyond all
conception as to numbers and splendor, were the charming,
sunshiny days and moonlight nights, yet they were some
times suddenly, without warning, interrupted by the most
dreadful cyclones in summer and yet more terrible blizzards
in winter. On the 12th of January, 1888, all nature smiled to
usher in a most delightful day. It was a most beautiful
winter morning, warm and gracious, with soft, variable
breezes. One moment, bright, warm, glorious; the next
moment, without the slightest warning, the terror fell with
unexpected fury. An indescribable terror that pen cannot
picture, swept over the great northwest. For fifteen hours ,
it continued, blinding, impenetrable and intensely cold,
the atmosphere filled with needles of ice driven by a furious
wind with a terrific roar, producing an intense darkness
and shutting out objects only a few feet away. In a mom
ent it was gone and. the sun came out as beautiful as a
morning in May. Its work of death was ended.
In South Dakota one hundred and twelve perished and
many more sustained life long injuries. In Faulk county
the following sad record was made and published at the
time: "At Faulkton the blizzard began at 10 a. m. on Thurs
day, January 12th, 1888, and spent its force by two or

53

three o'clock, Friday morning, making the duration of the
storm in all its fury, about sixteen hours. The wind
freshened up again Friday, drifting such snow as had not
already found permanent lodgement, and the mercury fell
rapidly to'24 below zero Friday night, dropping perhaps to
its lowest point, nearly 30 below, on Sunday morning.
"Faulk county with her 5,000 population, scarcely
averaging in the county, a family to the square mile, fur
nishes four names for the fatal list, viz: Joseph Metz of
117-68. Mr. Metz was a strong man in the prime of life.
He went out into' the storm to look after and care for his
stock, got lost and perished. William Klemp of 119-71,
went out into the storm just at night to care for his stock,
has not been found and is supposed to have perished.
(His body was subsequently found in an unoccupied sod
shanty more than a mile from his home.) Mr. Klemp was
in the full vigor of manhood, and many will remember his
marriage last September. . Miss Ella Lamar, aged 29 years,
teacher at the Auman school house, seventeen miles south
west of Faulkton in the Ellisville school district; Carrie
Auman, aged 8 years, a pupil of Miss Lamar's. The
teacher and pupil left the school room to go to Mr. Auman's
house, a distance of forty rods, nearly with the wind.
Their bodies were found as far beyond the house for which
they started, as the house was distant from the school ¦
house. Had they remained in the school-room they would
have been safe.
"Herman and Edwin Giese, aged respectively 12 and
9 years, of 117-70, were at school with Miss Lamar, and
against their wishes, accompanied her and little Carrie Aii-
man from the school house into the storm. The boys re-

54

port that when Miss Lamar gave out they all lay down and
remained until Friday. The snow had drifted over them
and gave some protection. Though badly frozen, the boys
were able to walk a half mile to Henry Hillman'.s and said,
"they could not wake the teacher and Carrie — they were
dead." When the storm burst with its fury the Faulkton
primary and intermediate schools were in full progress,
Mrs. McCoy and Mrs. Bissell, teachers. A rescue party
was organized, a rope was fastened to the hotel door, and
with the coil in hand, the party struggled on and succeeded
in reaching the intermediate school house. Another rope
from there and they were soon at the primary school,
where, with the assistance of the teacher, the pupils were
tied to the rope and taken to the intermediate school build
ing, with an experience that led to no further efforts in that
direction. Teachers and scholars were compelled to re
main in the intermediate school room until Friday morning.
Dakota blizzards are among the things of the past.
Volumes of incidents, which neither pen nor pencil could
describe, that might have been written, are forgotten; yet
the dark, blinding, roaring storm once experienced, ever
remains an actual living presence, that has marked its path
way with ruin, desolation and death. The 12th of January,
1888, is, and long -will be, remembered, not only by Dako-
tans, but by many in the northwest, not for the things we
enjoy, love and would see repeated; but for its darkness,
desolation, ruin and death, spread broadcast; for the sor
row, sadness and heartache that followed in its train.
The following from the Faulkton Times of that date
will give a fuller account of that terrible storm that swept

55

with such fearful force over the northwest, though largely
referring to incidents outside of Faulk county:
' 'During Wednesday a snow storm from the southwest
prevailed most of the day and into the night. Thursday
morning snow was still falling with little or no wind and
without any indication of the storm that broke upon Faulk
county from the northwest at about 10 a. m. The mercury
then stood at 18° above zero, and was still above zero at
night, and the cold was by ho means intense during the
storm. The wind was furious, the volume of snow im
mense, and the storm was much the worst of any ever ex
perienced since the settlement of the county, "it was a
blizzard' ' and no mistake, though hardly to be compared
to the three days' blizzard of 1873, as experienced in Min
nesota and Iowa and as the recorded death roll in Minne
sota and northwestern Iowa testifies in confirmation of the
recollection of those who were there. The blizzard of '73
lasted for three consecutive days and nights without cessa
tion, and the loss of life in northwestern Iowa and Min
nesota was very great. They were then as Dakota is now,
a newly and sparsely settled country that made it compara
tively impossible to find shelter from the storm if caught
out on the prairies. That was fifteen years ago. Fifteen
years from now Dakota will be so settled and developed as
to render the loss of a life in such a storm as unlikely and
comparatively impossible as in Iowa today. At this place
the blizzard begun Thursday at about 10 a. m. and had
spent its force by 2 or 3 a. m. Friday morning — the wind
easing down to a calm at 9 a. m. — making the duration of
the storm in all its fury about 16 hours. The wind fresh
ened up again Friday, drifting such snow as had not al-

56

ready found permanent lodgement, and the mercury fell
rapidly to 24 below zero Friday night, standing about the
same Saturday night, dropping perhaps to its lowest point
Sunday morning to near 30° below.
The telegraphic reports now give the death roll of Da
kota, as perfected and complete, at 100. This is not large
considering its realm-like area — two and a half times as
large as all New England, and almost three times as large
as Iowa—- and its widely scattered inhabitants, and, as the
morning was not bad, the loss is composed mostly of those
caught away from home, though in some instances lives
were wantonly sacrificed by going out into the storm, at
tempting to go home, or to some other place of safety near,
and death was the penalty of not realizing the danger, and
exercising the good judgment to remain where they were
safe. Faulk county, with her 5,000 population, yet scarce
ly averaging in the country a family to the square mile,
furnishes four names for the fatal list, viz:
Joseph Metz, of 117-68. Mr. Metz was a strong man
in" the prime of life. He went out into the storm to look
after and care for his stock, got lost and perished.
Wm. Klemp, of 119-71, went out into the storm just
at night to care for his stock,, has not been found, and is
supposed to have perished. Mr. Klemp was in the full
vigor of manhood, and many will remember of his marriage
last September. Miss Ella Lamar, aged 29 years, teacher at the Auman
schoolhouse, seventeen miles southwest of Faulkton in the
Ellisville school district.
Carrie Auman,. aged 8 years, a pupil of Miss Lamar.

57

The teacher and pupil left the schoolhouse to go to
Mr. Auman's honse,. a distance qf forty rods— nearly with
the wind. Their bodies were found as much farther be
yond the house. Had they remained in the schoolhouse
they would have been safe.
Herman and Edwin, sons of Ludwig Giese, of 117-70,
aged respectively 12 and 9 years, were at school with Miss
Lamar, and against their wishes, accompanied her with
little Carrie Auman from the school house into the storm.
The boys report that when Miss Lamar gave out they all
lay down and' remained till Friday morning. The snow
had drifted over and protected them. The boys were not
so badly frozen as reported. They walked a half mile to
Henry Hillman's and said, "They could not wake the
teacher and Carrie — they were dead. ' '
Thus it will be seen that those who perished in Faulk
county left a place of safety, defied the storm, braved death
and perished. Others went miles in the storm unharmed,
Mr. Wood walked from Seneca to Faulkton, 22 miles,
traveling almost east, with the storm in the north-west. ^
Frank Fluent came to town from Mr. Kirk's, who
lives seven or eight miles northwest of town, Frank said
he kept cool, didn't hurry and was careful. He came in
warm and unfrozen in any way. Mr. Wood and ¦ Mr,
Fluent well illustrate what cool, strong men can endure
and accomplish when successful in keeping their reckoning.
Miss Maggie Dunn, a teacher near Polo, northwest
Hand county, perished in the storm. Miss. Dunn had gone
to her school before the storm set in, and none of her
scholars arriving she started back only to lose her life a few
steps from the house where she boarded,.

58

A woman named Shoultz and a boy by the name of
May were frozen to death in northeast Hand county.
In Faulkton the pupils of the primary and intermedi
ate departments were gathered in. the intermediate .school
room. Mrs. Bissell and Mrs. McCoy, their teachers,
remained with them during the night. A few parents
took their children home and provisions were taken
to the schoolhouse and all were made comfortable for the
night. John Keithley was one of the most effective work
ers in opening communication with the schools and provid
ing for the wants of the children.
A current of electricity extended across the west por
tion of the town, from C. C. Moulton 's, on the banks of
the Nixon, southwest to the C. & N. W. depot. Messrs.
Moulton, Pierce, McCaffry, Howe and others relate inter
esting experiences relating to the electric phenomena.
Volumes of incidents could be written giving details of
individual experiences, etc., that would be of more or less
interest but our space forbids.
¦:'" The latest authentic summary of blizzard fatalities re
ported from Minneapolis sho.ws ninety-seven dead in Da
kota, thirteen in Minnesota, six in Iowa, seventeen in Ne
braska and two in Montana. Total 135 .
It will likely be a week yet before the facts and rumors
are all sifted out and the correct figures known. The
totals are not reported' for Kansas and Texas."

STEAM BREAKER IN FAULK COUNTY

61

CHAPTER VIII.
FAULKTON.
The selection and the location of the City of Faulkton,
was from the first, far above any other location within the
bounds of the county. Its central location commended it,
not only to those who came to see it, but attracted the at
tention of all land seekers.
The first settlers, as a class, were of the type not only
to assure success to the enterprise in which they engaged,
but to attract and draw others to them.
Among that heroic band, who early in 1882 turned
their backs to all the rest of the world with undying de
termination to turn these bleak and desolate acres upon the
banks of the sluggish Nixon into delightful, happy homes
and a prosperous, enterprising commercial center, no one
was more devoted, or in a position to do as much for the
accomplishment of this most desired object, as Capt. H. A.
Humphrey. Quick to see and prompt to act, on the 21st
day of December, 1882, The Faulkton Times, H. A. Hum
phrey, editor and proprietor became an active force in the
shaping of the destiny of the town and county.
On October 28th, 1882, the town site had been platted
and became a matter of record, A. B, Melville, Preston B.
Durley, G. B. Eastman, H. A. Humphrey, John Mahara,
J. A. Collins, William G. Kelley, J. Wood, Francis H.
Fluent and Frank Smith, being the incorporators. Subse
quent to this time many others had joined these first set
tlers and a most heroic fight had been put up to secure the
location of the county seat at this place.

62

But all that came, became an integral part in their
efforts for the accomplishment of the one single purpose,
the one central idea, that of making Faulkton the county
seat. In the accomplishment of this object their efforts
never ceased and their faith never faltered until the sur
veyors for the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad company
sealed a compact that virtually settled the question in their
favor. Among those who are entitled to equal credit in the
accomplishment of this work, are Major John A. Pickler,
Capt. J. H. Wallace, Frank Turner, A. A. Colgrove, A.
W. Morse, F. A. Pangburn, J. W. Hays and C. C. Moul
ton, all of whom are identified with Faulkton 's interests at
the present time.
It was not until the coming of the Chicago & North
western Railroad in 1886, that the important question of
the real status of Faulkton as the town and future county
seat, was fully and definitely settled.

63

chapter viii continued.
LaFOON.
The beautiful location of the first county seat of Faulk
county, with its miles of broad prairie and its rich, luxuri
ant grasses, supplemented by the fact that the eastern part
of the county was first settled, and largely by a class of
real homesteaders, made an active, growing business town,
and at the coming of the Northwestern Railroad, had it not
been for the fact that superior railroad facilities pointed to
Faulkton, all other circumstances and conditions were in
its favor and it would have continued its onward, prosper^
ous and commanding course.
With such men as D. S. Smith, J. H. Bottum, F. A,
Seaman, H. D. Chamberlain, W. H. Race and Dr. J. P.
Rathbun; with the LaFoon Record, E. A. Evans, editor
and proprietor, the recognized official paper of the county,
LaFoon 's interests were well cared for, giving every as-
surance, not only to its own citizens, but to every impar
tial observer, of present permanency and future prosperity,
»:This state of things continued with increasing strength
until the inhabitants awoke to the unwelcome fact that the
final survey of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad had
been made, the line passing to the south of them and direct
to Faulkton, their persistent rival for county seat honors.
Quick to see and apt to take advantage of their remain
ing hope, LaFoon was soon on wheels, passing westward
over the prairies to become an integral part, if not a con
trolling factor in the upbuilding of their late persistent and
unyielding riyal.

64

CHAPTER VIII CONTINUED.
DEVOE.
On the 23rd of May, A. D. 1882, H. S. Utley, C. J.
Cooper and A. F. Clark were the first settlers at this, to be
a permanent center in the new county. Mr. Utley's family
did not arrive from Wisconsin until April, 1883. On Au
gust 20th, 1882, Butler Lambert and Robert Young ar
rived from Wisconsin and settled in the immediate neigh-
hood. Rev. P. E. Knox, J. H. DeVoe, John Dubois, E.
M. Jessup and George Butterfield were added to the set
tlement before the close of the year.
A store was opened by Messrs. Crossly & Baird, a post-
office called Cresbard, established, and a Sunday school or
ganized at the store, which proved entirely too small for the
number who desired to attend. A house of worship was
promptly erected, and in 1884 they had a Sunday school
with an average attendance of fifty -three, and preaching
once in two weeks by Rev. Clinton Douglas, of Faulkton.
In 1884 the DeVoe correspondent of the LaFoon Record
gave the names of the following pioneers, viz: Peter Phil
lips, T. B. Norton, 'Rush Francis, John Hoskin, D. Roy
Jones, R. M. Griffith, C. C. Gettings, Thomas Morris, J. J.
Price,.J. H. Thomas, J. W. Tucker, J. H. Tucker, C. E.
Kittinger, Harry Ressigue, M. C. Baker, Chas. O'Connell,
E. Evans, G. W. Cropsey,'and Fred Benson, who had lo
cated in that vicinity up to that date. In May, 1882, the
tide of immigration had set toward eastern Faulk county.
almost every day brought its party of pioneer settlers.

65

New centers of population were established. Cresbard,
Millard, Zell, Miranda, Orient and Harrington became fa-
milliar names to the pioneers of the new county.
It was not until late in the autumn of 1883 that the
government survey was completed in western Faulk county,
and the land was opened for settlement early in the spring
of 1884.

66

CHAPTER IX
THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE COUNTY.
Late in the autumn of 1883 the west half of range 70
and all of ranges 71 and 72 were without a settler. Early
in March, 1884, C. H. Ellis, who had been located at Wes-
sington in Beadle county for two years, started on a trip
of exploration of these lands, which had just come into the
market. Leaving the line of the Dakota Central railroad
at St. Lawrence, in Hand county, and taking a northwest
erly direction, with his brother, Chas. V. Ellis, Joseph
McGregor and Rufus Richie, they arrived at Mr. Conner's,
section 3, township 119, range 69 for dinner. In the after
noon they traveled about six miles north and eight miles
west, and stopped for the night at a sod shanty on section
34, township 118, range 70. The following day until 3
o'clock p. m. , was spent exploring land in township 117
in ranges 71 and 72, and a location was decided upon on
section 1, in township 117, range 72.. They then started
in a southeasterly direction, hoping to reach Ree Heights,
on the Dakota Central railway. A few minutes past 5
o'clock p. m., they sighted a shanty, which they decided
to try to reach for a stopping place for the night, and
which they judged to be not over three miles distant. Urg
ing their weary horses as best they could, at dark the shanty
was yet in the unknown distance, but to their great joy a
light appeared at the window. At a few minutes past 9
o'clock the horses came to a sudden stop and could not be
urged further. Upon examination they found themselves

67

at the top of a deep ravine. As they made this discovery
the light in the window went out; but after a few loud
halloos, to their delight it reappeared. Soon a. man, light in
hand, made inquiry as to who was there and what was
wanted. A few minutes later he was with the party and
piloted them to a very comfortable stopping place for the
night. The following day they reached their home at
Wessington, via Ree Heights.
With their railroad base established at Ree Heights, a
few days later the party of six, with wagons loaded with
lumber, made their second trip to the new location, which
they had already christened EHisville. When about fifteen
miles from Ree Heights and near the foot of a low range of
coteaux that extended east and west along the north line of
Hand and Hyde counties, they had their first experience
with the sudden atmospheric changes peculiar to the Dako-
tas. In an instant, from a beautiful, balmy, sunshiny af
ternoon, the weather changed and there were dark, whirl
ing clouds and furious, piercing winds that shut out all hope
of their reaching their destination that night. Their course
was promptly changed to due west, where they had dis
covered signs of civilization, which proved to be the home,
consisting of a house and barn, of a pioneer settler. After
a heroic struggle they suceeded in reaching the place and
were mad<e comfortable for the night.
The following morning they started due north and at
the foot 'of the coteaux or hills, discovered a creek of con
siderable size. They decided to follow its course in a
northeasterly direction through the hills to the south line
of Faulk county, where they discovered a small lake out of
which the creek before mentioned flowed, and then made

68

their course northeast about six miles to EHisville. After
they had eaten a cold dinner the work on the shanty com
menced, and before night closed An upon them they had
completed a good, board shanty 10x14, set up the stove,
made themselves comfortable for the night and felt quite at
home. This party consisted of G. H. Ellis, George Hines,
Otto Hines, Charles V. Ellis, Theodore Rector and Joseph
McGregor. A land locating office was opened, a post-office
established, with semi- weekly mail from Ree Heights, a
printing office, store and school house soon followed.
EHisville was located on section 1, township 117, range 72,
on the line of survey by the Chicago & Northwestern rail
way, with the positive assurance from the officers of that
company that the road would certainly be built on the line
of that survey. EHisville was twenty miles south and west
of Faulkton, twenty-five miles north and west from Ree
Heights and twenty miles north of Highmore. And if the
railroad officials had carried out their part of the agreement
EHisville would today be the leading and most influential
town in western Faulk county.
It was not long before Highmore became the railroad
town for mail and all other communication with the out
side world, on account of the shorter distance, Even
twenty miles over the prairie in the heat of summer, or
cold, storms, and high, piercing winds and drifting snow,
of winter without a single landmark by which to determine
one's bearing, was a most severe and trying experience,
that demanded courage and heroism which taxed the full
power of the inexperienced pioneer. But for a light sus
pended twenty feet in the air, many a land-seeker would

S. F. THORN'S OLD SOD SHANTY IN 1888

71

have spent a night in the prairie. Not that the experience
of the pioneers was more exciting or tragic than many
others; but as an illustration of the common lot of the first
settlers upon the broad prairies of the great northwest, is
this sketch published.
While some of these settlers are among the prominent
and influential citizens of Faulk county to-day, .many of
them were young, unmarried men , who, after "proving up"
their claims, returned to their former homes, leaving their
lands unimproved. Many of these broad acres are now
upon the market at prices that make them the most valu
able of any land in Faulk county, when the price at which
they can be bought, is taken into consideration.

72

CHAPTER X.
THE PIONEER SETTLER.
(financial.)
The history of the pioneers and early settlers of Faulk
county has nothing materially different from what could
be recorded of thousands of others. There have been hard
ships and disappointments, there have been sickness and
discouragement, the drouth and hot waves; the blight, the
wind and tornado, with the hard storms of winter. To
those without the knowledge and experience to meet and
successfully contend against such conditions, they brought
disaster and ruin, which, together with homesickness,
drove many a hardy pioneer to seek other, and, as they
then thought, better and more desirable locations. Those
years which brought little but disappointment and unre
quited toil, have long since passed, we hope and believe,
never to return . Climatic changes have been marked and
signal, and with the experience and superior knowledge of
the enterprising, intelligent and persevering husbandmen,
they have been turned to the advantage and actual advance
ment of the country and prosperity of the people.
The return now and then of one of the disheartened
and disappointed pioneers, who left in the years when crop
failure was the rule rather than the exception, has almost
invariably been followed by admission that it would have
been far better to have remained and continued the strug
gle until the wonderful change that climatic conditions and
perseverance have wrought on every hand, were available
to aU.

73

Could the history of all those who came to Faulk county
in the eighties be written, and careful comparison be made
between those who have struggled on through sunshine
and storm, through adversity and prosperity, and who are
now in possession of so many broad acres that make up the
happy, prosperous homes now in the possession of these
enterprising farmers and stockmen, and those who yielded
to privation and hardship, it would be self evident that
here, as in every other instance, perseverance and a heroic
struggle come out very far ahead.
And as year after year, with its abundant harvest and
increasing prosperity comes to Faulk county, each adding
to the happy homes the broad acres under cultivation,
many times multiplied, with it -5 waving grain and luxuri
ant grasses, grazing herds and various industries, support
ing a population of 25,000 and occupying her right position
as the garden of South Dakota. This looking forward is
not visionary nor imaginary, but based upon careful obser
vation and fully realized in all save actual numbers.

74

CHAPTER XI.
THE FIRST MEMORIAL DAY.
Among the pioneer settlers of Faulk county, the vete
rans of 1860-1864 were a goodly number, who had served
their country in the Civil War. On the near approach of
May 30, 1884, there was a general desire to appropriately
observe this national holiday. Upon the coming of the day
the people went forth ' with flowers to decorate the graves
of our fallen heroes. The rains descended to baptize the
floral offerings that came from sincere and sympathetic
hearts. While the day opened rainy, and unfavorable to
those intending to come from distant parts of our county,
the patriotism, love of country, enterprise, and intelligence
indicated by the number who did come, necessitated the
idea of an indoor meeting being abandoned, and an out
door meeting to be held. The procession was formed at
the school house, headed by some thirty children bearing
wreaths of flowers; next came fifteen old soldiers, of which
the following is a roster, viz:
John H. Shirk, Co. E, 79th Reg., Penn. Vol. Infantry;
J. P. Sutton, Co. D, 34th Reg., Iowa Vol. Infantry;
H. K. Hursh, Co. A, 89th Reg., Indiana Vol. Infantry;
L. K. Parmenter, Co. A, 14th Reg., Illinois Vol., Infantry;
J. W. Parker, Co. G, 45th Reg., Illinois Vol. Infantry;
G. Niederauer, Co. G. 1st Reg., Michigan Vol. Infantry;
Rev. C. Douglas, Chaplain, 18th Reg., Mo. Vol. Infantry;
W. H. DuBois, Co. D, 9th Reg., Indiana Vol. Cavalry;
J. A. Pickler, Major, 3rd Reg., Iowa Vol. Cavalry;

75

M. Summy, Co., , 9th Reg., New York Cavalry,
H. A. Humphrey, Co. A, 8th Reg., Illinois Cavalry;
Peter Hawn, Co. Q, 8th. Reg., Illinois Cavalry;
George J. Jarvis, 3rd Wisconsin Battery;
P. B. Durley, Q. M., 124th Reg., Illinois Infantry;
J. S. Hamilton, U. S. Navy.
Then followed a large body of citizens. The column
marched from the school house to a monument erected
above a new made soldier's grave. The procession formed
on three sides of the monument and grave, when the
president of the day, Capt. J. H. Wallace, announced that
exercises would be opened by prayer by Comrade Chaplain
Clinton Douglas, followed by singing "Cover Them Over,"
by the Glee club.
The children then decked the base of the monument
with wreaths and covered the grave appropriately with
flowers. Then followed an able and eloquent oration by
Major J. A. Fielder, whieh was followed by the song,
"Battle Cry of Freedom." The program closed with the
reading, by Miss Ella Hamilton, of Will Carleton's beauti
ful Memorial Day poem, entitled, "Cover Them Over With
Beautiful Flowers."
The exercises were so intensely interesting that an
hour was spent in reminiscences and song before the
patriotic company broke up.

76

CHAPTER XII.
NEW SOCIAL RELATIONS.'
No one element in human character is more marked
and goes farther to make life happy and enjoyable than the
readiness with which Americans, whether from the east or
from the larger and more liberal west, adapt themselves to
their immediate surroundings through their happy, genial
sociability, the intuition with which they wisely select and
appropriate, until the past, with all its loving and loveable
association, is largely exchanged — though not forgotten —
for present, active, living associations, to continue while
life may last.
These elements of character, so prominent among the
first settlers of Faulk county, dispelled all loneliness and
brought the pioneers from various sections of the Union
into one satisfied, happy and congenial society.
The extent to which this was accomplished in Faulk
ton may be realized from the following items published in
the Faulkton Times of February 10th, 1884, a little more
than a year after the first actual settlement of the town:
"The Chautauqua Circle with invited guests to the
number of nearly half a hundred, met at the residence of
Major Pickler on Friday evening last, to celebrate the
birthday anniversary of the Scottish poet, Burns, by appro
priate literary and musical exercises. If the unanimous
and enthusiastic decision of those present can be adjudged
correct, this proved to be the most enjoyable evening in
the three months history of the circle. And was carried
out by the following programme:

77

Caledonia March, organ and violin— Messrs. McElherne
and Howard.
Biography of the Poet — F. A. Pangburn.
Song, "Annie Laurie"— Mrs. Douglas, Mrs. Fifield and
Mrs. Darby.
Recitation, "Man was Made to Mourn" — P. B. Durley.
Song, "Sweet Af ton "—Messrs. Turner, McElherne and
Howard.
Recitation, "Tam O'Shanter"— Frank Turner.
Recitation, "Bide a Wee"— Mrs. Darby, Mrs. Fifield and
Frank Turner.
Recitation, "Northern Farmer" — F. S. McElherne.
Recitation, " McPherson 's Farewell" — C. H. Howard.
Medley of Scottish Airs, organ and violin, — Messrs.
McElherne and Howard.
Recitation, "John Anderson, my Jo, John" — Mrs.,. Pickler
assisted by J. A. Pickler.
Sentiments by the Circle.
"Auld Lang Syne," by the company.
In a programme so entirely well executed it seems
scarcely just to discriminate, but the biography of the poet,
by Mr. Pangburn, was such an admirable criticism of the
life and character of the poet, that it is deserving of special
mention. And the recitation of Tam O'Shanter, by Mr.
Turner, was faultless in force, dialect and expression, as
was Tennyson's Northern Farmer, so findy rendered by
Mr. McElherne. The music was good, as it always is in
charge of those to whom that part was assigned. As a
happy reminder of the occasion, the name "Robert Burns,
1759," in silver letters on cardinal streamers was promin
ently displayed. It. is a pleasure to note the increasing in-

78

interest in, and love for the best literature of the age,
which the C. L. S. C. brings to its members. Let others
be organized in the county."

# #
*

"On Saturday evening last one of those pleasant sur
prises that sweeten life and awaken the heart to newer and
tenderer sympathies, found its intended victim in the per
son of our worthy bachelor friend, Mr. Bernard Paulson,
and happened in this way: A few days ago, Captain and
Mrs. Humphrey discovered, in looking over the Times of
a year ago, a reference to Mr. Paulson's birthday occuring
on the 9th of February. With their characteristic trait of
doing something to make people happy, they decided to
make arrangements, unknown to Mr. Paulson, to celebrate
it this year. They accordingly invited him to spend the
evening with them, and extended the invitation to as many
friends as could be accomodated in their snug little home.
On the evening named, as the company turned the curve in
the road which brings the house into full view, there was a
spontaneous burst of admiration as they caught sight of it,
beautifully illuminated, every window radiant, looking like
a fairy picture, with its background and foreground of
snow, over which the lights were brilliantly gleaming.
We were met at the door by the genial host and hostess ex
tending a welcome to all, and soon found ourselves under
benign influences radiating from the big base burner in an
atmosphere that spake not of the winter without. When
all the guests had assembled, Capt. Humphrey in a few well
chosen words, in which he said something about bachelors
needing someone to assist them in celebrating anniver-

MIRANDA BAND

81

saries, introduced Mr. Paulson as the honored guest of the
evening, it bdng the occasion of his 47th birthday. Mr.
Paulson's surprise found expression in kindly thanks, also
remarking that his birthday had not been celebrated since
ten years ago, and that a friend had written a poem for that
occasion, which he, in looking over other papers that day
had found and put in his pocket and which at the request
of the company he read, and his happy countenance and
cheerful acquiescence in the pleasures of the evening gave
evidence of his appreciation of the honor intended. Well,
we wish space would permit us to tell about the refresh
ments — how delicious was the ice cream, how we had real
wedding cake all the way from Illinois, and sponge, and
delicate, and chocolate and other cake, and amber coffee
with real cream, etc., etc., and the sprightly conversation
and amusing games, among them that of prominent men,
when Mr. Paulson kept us guessing so long about Barnum,
and Mr. Munroe did likewise with Daniel Boone, and
others equally good,. and how reluctantly the party rose to
go at nearly the midnight hour and took leave, wishing
Mr. Paulson many happy returns, and expressing their in
debtedness to Captain and Mrs. Humphrey for one of the
happiest evenings spent in our new Dakota,"

"The Congregational church of Faulkton was organ
ized on Saturday, January 6th, by adopting a carefully
drawn constitution, articles of faith and covenant. And
at an adjourned meeting held on Wednesday afternoon,
January 10th, there were thirteen members who entered
into covenant, and there were seven more who proposed to

82

unite at the first communion. The following officers were
elected at the adjourned meeting: Pastor, Clinton Douglas;
Trustees, M. Summy, P. B. Durley and Geo. A. Morse;
Deacons, P. B. Durley, S. N. Whittlesey; Treasurer, E. E.
Pierce; Clerk, R. G. Newton. An examining committee
and a committee on music were also chosen. The church
voted to have regular service every Sunday at 11 o'clock,
and a prayer meeting at the pastor's house every Wednes
day afternoon at three o'clock. Communion at the hour
of regular service, every two months, beginning on the
first Sabbath in January."

83

CHAPTER XIII.
THE FIRST ELECTION.
A county organization had been secured with appointed
officials; but not until the national election of November,
1884, had county and district conventions been held, and
the LaFoon Record, Vol. II, No. 36, Evans & Geddes pro
prietors, of November 1, 1884, published the following
National Republican ticket:
For president, James G. Blaine, of Maine; for vice
president, John A. Logan, of Illinois. Territorial ticket:
For delegate to congress, District of Dakota, Oscar S. Gif-
ford. Legislative ticket, sixth district: For councilmen J. P.
Day and J. H. Westover; for representatives, J. A. Pickler,
G. W. Pierce, J. T. Blackmore, and M. L- Miller; County
Ticket: For Judge of Probate Court, C. H. Derr; for
Clerk of District Court, F. A. Pangburn; for Register of
Deeds, Jas. W. Johnston; for County Attorney, E. G. Clif
ford; for County Treasure, P. E. Knox; for Sheriff, L- M.
Buland; for Superintendent of Schools, Mrs. A. P. Rose;
for Assessor, E- C. Sage; for Surveyor, B. H. Clark; for
Coroner, L. M. Sprowls; for Justices of the Peace, Frank
Turner, Darius S. Smith, W. R. Davis and W. G. Faulk
ner; for Constables, J. W. Bass, C. B. Oakes, Edward
Hoisel and C. J. Cooper; for County Seat, LaFoon; for
County Commissioner, Second District, John L- Chain.
The following account of the First Republican County
Convention, published by the Faulkton Times of Sept.
1884, is entitled to a place of record as a historical event of
that day.

84

"Faulk county has had her first county convention for
the nomination of county officers. It assembled at LaFoon
last Saturday pursuant to call. Shortly after 11 o'clock,
the hour set for the convention to meet, the delegates, can
didates and spectators — about an equal number of each —
assembled at the school house, and were called to order by
C. H. Derr. The call was read by M. L. Wood, who
placed in nomination L- H. Bailey for temporary chairman.
Morgan G. Millard and A. E. Evans were chosen secretar
ies. On motion the delegation of each precinct named a mem
ber of the committee on credentials. The following per
sons were named:
Precinct No. 1, G. S. Rice,
Precinct No. 2, Mark Purdy,
Precinct No. 3, Geo. B. Dyer,
Precinct No. 4, Chas. Rathke,
Precinct No. 5, J. V. Smack,
Precinct No. 6, W. G. Faulker,
Precinct No. 7, P. B. Durley,
Precinct No. 8, Chas. Oakes,
Precinct No. 9, H. S. Utley,
Precinct No. 11, Harris Pool,
Precinct No. 12, Geo. A. Morse,
Precinct No. 13, C. H. Ellis.
There bdng a contest from number 10 no member of
thecommitte was allowed from this precinct.
Qn motion the chairman appointed the following com
mittee on permanent organization; R. G. Morton, M. G
Millard, H. A. Humphrey and two others whose names
are not given.

85

On motion each precinct designated a member of the
County Central Committee. The following now constitute
the Central Committee:
Precinct No. 1, J. P. Randall,
Precinct No. 2, W. M. Walker,
Precinct No. 3, Morgan G. Millard,
Precinct No. 4, Chas. Rathke,
Precinct No. 5, H. W. Rdnicke,
Precinct No. 6, J. H. Shirk,
Precinct No. 7, P. B. Durley,
Precinct No. 8, C. H. Derr,
Prednct No. 9, A. F. Clark,
Prednct No. 10, J. R. Dutch,
Prednct No. 11. M. L- Wood,
Prednct No. 12, Geo. A. Morse,
Precinct No. 13, Wm. H, Lower,
On motion the chairman appointed the following as a
committee to place in nomination delegates to the Pierre
and Redfidd conventions:
P. B. Durley, B. H. Clark, F. M. Byrne and Charles
Chambers. The convention then adjourned until 1 p. m.
When the convention met in the afternoon the com
mittee on credentials reported the following delegates:
1— G. S. Rice, L- H. Bailey, Ed. Clifford, James
Devine, Chas. Chambers.
2— M. Purdy, C. C. Gettings, A. Garrick.
3— Morgan G. Millard, G. W. McTier, Geo. B. Dyer.
4— Charles Rathke, Otto Mielke.
5— Harry A. Sprowles, J, V. Smack, B. H. Clark.

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6— J. A. Pickler, W. G. Faulker, J. W. Bass, J. H.
Shirk. 7— P. B. Durley, Ed. Hoisel, H. A. Humphrey, J. W.
Hays. 8— A. B. Sheldon, R. G. Morton, Joseph Powell, C.
B. Oakes,- A. E. Evans.
9— H. S. Utley, Geo. M. Buterfield, Alex Miller,
R. Travis. 10— Robert Knapton, F. M. Brown, J. M. Miles.
11— H. Chain, H. Pool, Orin Strevel, H. Metz.
12 — D. O. Hillman, Geo. A. Morse, Chas. S. Chase.
13— C. H. Ellis, W. W. Gwin, John Parsons.
Geo. A. Morse presented. a minority report on precinct
No. 10 recommending Theodore Speltz and August Seemer
to seats in the convention, but this was voted down and
the delegation above named admitted to seats.
Committee on permanent organization reported in
favor of making the temporary organization permanent,
which report met the unanimous endorsement of the con
vention. The convention then proceeded to the nominations.
C. H. Derr received 46 votes for the nomination of
probate judge and was declared the unanimous choice of
the convention for that office.
On motion it was ordered that the first vote in all the
succeeding nominations be considered informal.
Frank A. Pangburn, of Faulkton, received 40 and J.
W. Miles, of LaFoon, 6 votes for the nomination of clerk
of district court. The nomination of Mr. Pangburn was
made unanimous.

87

Before the convention assembled it was plain to be
seen that the nomination for register of deeds and county
clerk had narrowed down to Charles I. Crow, of DeVoe,
and Jas. W. Johnston, of LaFoon. No other candidates
were talked of . On the informal ballot Johnston received
27 and Crow 19 votes. The nomination of Johnston was
made unanimous.
For treasurer, P. E. Knox received 37 votes and E- G.
Sage 9.
For county superintendent of schools, Mrs. Rose re-
received 37 votes and Mr. Davis 9.
For sheriff L- M. Buland received 30 votes and Harry
Chamberlain 16.
For assessor E. C, Sage received 17 votes, F. A. Sea
man 15, Samuel Davisson 8, A. A. Garrick 3, A. E. Clark
3. The name of Davisson was then withdrawn in favor of
Seaman. The second ballot resulted as follows: Sage 28
votes, Seaman 18.
Dr. L- M. Sprowles was nominated by acclamation for
the office of coroner.
B. H. Clark received 46 votes for the nomination of
surveyor. E. C. Clifford and Geo. J. Jarvis were the candidates
before the convention for district attorney, the former re
ceived 42 votes, the latter 4.
Each of the foregoing nominations were, in their turn,
and with a hearty and good natured shout, made unanimous.
The following were nominated for justices of the peace;
Frank Turner, W. R. Davis, W. G. Faulkner, and D. S.
Smith. For constables: J. W. Bass, C. B. Oakes, Ed.
Hoisel and Chauncy J. Cooper.

88

The report of the committee on nomination of dele
gates to the Pierre and Redfield conventions was taken up
and adopted. Following are the delegates: To the Pierre
convention, J. A. Pickler and John L. Chain; to the Red-
field convention: W. S. Belknap, C. H. Ellis, M. L- Wood
and F. M. Brown.
The following resolutions were adopted by a unani
mous vote of the convention:
Resolved, 1, That in this, the first republican conven
tion of Faulk county, we affirm our allegiance to the prin
ciples of the republican party and, although deprived of
the privilege of expressing our preference by the ballot, we
desire to voice our sentiment in favor of James G. Blaine
and John A. Logan for President and Vice-President of
the Nation, and that we invite all persons without regard
to former party affiliation to join and cooperate with us in
furthering the common interests of our county.
2nd, That deeming the division of this territory and
the admission of that porfion south of the 46th parallel as
a state, paramount in importance to all other political ques
tions, we respectfully and persistently demand such nat
ional legislation as. will secure this result.
3rd, That we are unalterably opposed to the admission
of the territory, as a whole, to statehood.
4th, That the thanks of the party are due to the gen
tlemen comprisng the Wood and Derr committees for the
masterly and satisfactory manner in which thev united
their conimittees, thus restoring harmony .in the party, and
that we pledge our earnest support to the ticket today nom

inated by the convention.

ADAM SANGSTER'S RESIDENCE, ELLIS VILLE, S. D.

91

The following resolution recommending J. A, Pickler
as a candidate for the territorial legislature and instructing
the delegates to the Redfield convention to support him
was introduced by G. S. Rice in a brilliant and eloquent
speech. Whereas, It seems to be the desire of the republicans
of Faulk county to present the name of a Faulk county
citizen for the office of member of the legislature, be it
therefore, Resolved, That our delegates to Redfield be instructed
to use all honorable means to secure the nomination of
Mr. J. A. Pickler as candidate for said office.
The Major responded in a few touching words, thank
ing the convention for the honor conferred, and pledging
himself, if elected, to faithfully protect the interests of the
people. The resolution was unanimously adopted.
Thus, having' finished its labors, the first county con»
vention of Faulk county adjourned to meet at the polls and
elect the ticket. A more intelligent and harmonious body
we have sddom seen. The order and system with which
the proceedings were carried on showed, on the part of all,
a familiarity with the public business,"

92

CHAPTER XIII CONTINUED,
NEW POSTOFFICES.
On October 17th, 1882, the Faulkton postoffice was
established, being the first one in Faulk county. On the
24th of July, 1884, one year and nine months from the
establishment of the first office, there were twelve post-
offices doing business in the county, viz: Faulkton, LaFoon,
DeVoe, Wesley, Roanoke, Scatterwood, Cresbard, Har
rington, Newton, Myron, Mason City and EHisville, with
mail and stage routes as follows: From Miller, in Hand
county, to Faulkton; tri-weekly from Faulkton to Aber
deen, in Brown county; from Athol, in Spink county, tri
weekly and from Highmore, in Hyde county, to EHisville,
semi-weekly. An educated, intelligent, law abiding class of citizens
were to be found in all parts of the county. " Schools were
established, the Sabbath observed, there were ' Sunday
schools in numerous places and religious services were reg
ularly held and were well attended.
The people had come from their old homes in different
sections of this country, from Canada, and quite a number
from Europe, to find a common home in Dakota, to become
Dakotans, neighbors and friends, with common interests
and a common purpose, to succeed. Not to be satisfied
with conditions of the past, but to improve upon them, to
surround themselves with better and more enjoyable asso
ciations, to lay the foundation broad and wide for greater
social, intellectual and political advancement and pros
perity.

93

CHAPTER XIV.
THE DONATION OF A CHURCH BELL-
Among the early settlers of Faulk county there was no
one of broader and more liberal view than Capt. John
Douglas, who located in the extreme western part of the
county, or one who took a deeper interest in the general
upbuilding of society. His family, his town or his im
mediate surroundings were far from being the whole world
to him. Among the public spirited acts of Capt. Douglas,
and one that reached our people in a way not to be forgot
ten, was his influence in securing to a struggling congre
gation a fine toned bell that continues to ring out upon
every Sabbath morning a call to assemble, recognize and
"Praise Him From Whom all Blessings Flow."
The interest in and appreciation of the act by the
people of Faulkton, is best told by the following extracts
from the local paper of that week:
"Judge J. Douglas, of Lonaconing, Md., father of
Capt. J. Douglas of Seneca, has presented to the Congre
gational church of this place a 550-pound bell, tone "a."
The bell will be shipped from the McShane bell foundry of
Baltimore, and will cost $140. The bell is the free and
generous gift of Judge Douglas, and one that will be most
acceptable and gratefully received by the church and fully
appreciated and enjoyed by all. It is anticipated that its
welcome tones will be heard in Faulkton within a month."
THE BELL.
"The Times last week mentioned the arrival of the
bell donated by Judge J. Douglas of Lonaconing, Maryland,

94

to the Congregational church of this place. On Saturday.
afternoon it was raised by willing hands to its place in the
belfry of the new church — which is an ornament to the
town and county — and an impromptu service was held.
Among other choice selections rendered by the choir, was
the following hymn, written for the occasion by C. C.
Moulton, leader of the choir, which, with its perfect ren
dering, seemed a happy inspiration, aptly expressing the
sentiment and feeling of the hearts of all:
Thanks be to God
Our bell has come!
Its tones our hearts rejoice.
Now, let a joyful song of praise
Ascend from heart and voice.
Its clarion tone,
From yonder tower,
Shall o'er these prairies ring!
Inviting all to come to church
And worship Christ, their King.
With grateful hearts
Our thanks we send
To him w ho gave the bell;
And may the blessings of our God
With him forever dwell.
Rev. Douglas, pastor of the church, spoke with much
feeling in behalf of his people, giving Judge Douglas the
thanks and God the praise. Others spoke, representing
the generous sentiment of other churches, in congratula
tion of Rev. Douglas and his people in gratitude to Judge
Douglas for a gift so unsectarian as to be of equal pleasure
and benefit to all; in representation of the sentiment of

95

thanks, universally shared by the citizens of the town, for
the generous gift; praise for the good genius of Judge
Douglas, in discovering the key that would open to him
the door of every home in Faulkton, and the improving by
him of an opportunity to reach directly and at once the
hearts of all our people by the single stroke of the bell; in
acknowledgement of the gratitude of the people for the
beH — the first church bell in the county — the hanging of
which would mark an event in the progress of the develop
ment of the county and the building of Faulkton, that
would be looked back to as a mile stone in our history.
As supplementary, and in addition to such action as might
be taken by the church, the following resolutions were un
animously adopted:
Whereas, Judge John Douglas, of Lonaconing, Mary
land, has presented a church bell to the Congregational
people of this place; and,
Whereas, Its tones, sounding from the belfry of their
church, are enjoyed and appreciated by all the people of
Faulkton; therefore,
Resolved, That the citizens heartily unite with the
people of the Congregational church in extending to Judge
Douglas most sincere and grateful thanks for his thought
ful and generous gift.
Resolved, That a unanimous vote of thanks is due
Capt. J. Douglas, of Seneca, through whose interest and
influence the magnificent gift of his father, Judge Douglas,
was made to the people of Faulkton.
Capt. J. Douglas, of Seneca, accompanied by his
daughter, Miss Jessie, and his sister, Mrs. Beltz, of Ohio,
was present at the hanging of the bell. The Captain spoke

96

jn modest depreciation of the magnitude of the gift, in the
estimation of his father, and, while he gracefully acknowl
edged the expressions of thanks and gratitude, thought
theni greater than would be desired by him,"

97

CHAPTER XV.
VETERANS OF THE CIVIL WAR,
Among the early comers to Dakota were a large num
ber of Civil War veterans. To those who were able to en
dure the hardships and privations of pioneer life, the home
stead, pre-emption and tree claim laws of the United States
offered great inducements. To a class of men whose busi
ness had been destroyed by the ravages of the Civil War,
there was much to lead them. Grand Army posts were
organized, and while the discussion of political affairs was
excluded from regular post meetings, there is not a doubt
that the power and influence of these organizations did
much to shape and materialize the political ascendancy of
republican party in Faulk county, and in fact in the entire
State of South Dakota.
The old soldiers as a class were second to none in
sturdy manhood, and in their, devotion to home and
country. These brave men are answering to the last roll call-
Soldiers' homes will be turned to other uses and the Grand
Army posts will soon close their doors forever to the veter
ans of the Civil War.
The Fault ton post has borne upon its rolls many
honored names of veterans who have already answered the
last roll call. At the present time seventeen names ap
pear upon the roll. Many of the old soldiers are too feeble
to regularly attend the meetings of the post, and were it
not for the assistance and encouragement they receive from
the loyal members of the devoted and hard working
Woman's Relief Corps, who so faithfully came to their
support, they would have ere now, ceased to exist. This
popular, worthy and successful organization bears upon its

98

rolls at the present day the names of the following earnest
and faithful workers:
John A. Pickler
John Swearngen
M. S. McDearmon
Geo. J. Jarvis
John W. Hays
A. A. Andrews
Thomas O'Neil
D, W- Pillsbury

John A. Shirk
Robert Knapton
C. H. Derr
A. J. Sprague
John Pafford
Jasper Wakefield
Edwin MoComb
Henry A, Wilkinson

W. H. LOWER'S FARM HOME, SENECA, FAULK COUNTY"

101

CHAPTER XV CONTINUED.
GRAND ARMY POST
Phil H. Sheridan Post, No. 72, Department ©f South
Dakota, is located in the city of Faulkton, in Faulk county.
The first regular step toward effecting the organization
was at the time of holding the memorial service, heretofore
referred to in this history, on the 30th of May, 1884. Major
Pickler was elected commander of the post. Since its or
ganization the names of one hundred and eight veterans
have been borne upon its rolls. Removals, death and other
causes have reduced that number to eighteen. The follow
ing worthy comrades have been elected to the office of
commander: J. A. Pickler Charles H. Gardner
M. S. McDearmon John H. Shirk
M. Summy H. W. Bailey
Ernest Thiede A. P. Cavit
George J. Jarvis Joel Rush
John W. Hays John Pafford
A. J. Sprague
After 24 years, in 1908, Major Pickler was again elect
ed post commander.
At an early day a lot was set aside in the Faulkton
cemetery for soldiers of the Civil War, in which the fol
lowing have been laid to rest, and where, each Memorial
Day markers are set up and the stars and stripes wave over
their graves, viz:

102

Levi Morse A. A. Morse
Henry M. Metz James Carn
Adam Findeis Henry Potter
Joel Rush Solomon Trude
Clark Rice
Ere another twenty-four years shall have passed, the
hall of the Faulkton Grand Army Post and Woman's
Relief Corps will cease to exist so far as its present users
are concerned, but as a memorial to its worthy dead may it
ever stand.

103

CHAPTER XVI.
EDUCATIONAL.
It was not long that the sod shanty stood alone; for
these early, persevering pioneers were of that class who
had enjoyed and highly prized educational advantages.
The sod school house came as an accompaniment to the
humble homes that in a day sprang up over the broad
prairies, so lately the home of wild beasts and wilder
Indians, who roamed undisturbed over these beautiful
prairies. The education of their children was among the
first duties of parental life, and with food and clothing
stood in equal rank, all absolutely necessary.
There were sources of worry connected with, and a
part of, school life. The going to and coming from school
along a dim and almost unmarked ' trail, the occasional
predatory bands of Indians passing in close proximity, and
the storm and blizzard, that left desolation and death in
their train, were all to be contended with, and added, much
to the burden of life that bore so heavy upon these sturdy
pioneers. Yet, in spite of all these, the good work went on.
The school was so highly prized and its importance so
fully realized, that it kept equal pace with the best efforts
of pioneer life. Even those who had enjoyed few educa
tional advantages, became interested and were anxious for
their children to improve every opportunity to learn. The
sod school house was soon succeeded by good, substantial
frame buildings, and as early as 1886, became landmarks
even in remote parts of the county, by which the location
of various pioneer settlers were described.

104

Townships were organized for school purposes, taxes
levied and good, comfortable school houses erected wherev
er required. From the first, Faulkton was prominent and
active in the interest of education. Among the early
teachers were, Mrs. McCoy, Mrs. Bissell, Mrs. Putney,
Mr. Pangburn, Mrs. G. S. Staples and Mr. Coste. Rev.
Mr. Curtis, Mr. George A. Morse, C. C. Moulton, J. H.
Bottum, C. C. Norton, Mr. Bissell and Mr. Bryden were
active supporters in all that advanced the interests of the
common schools. It was not until 1900, that the present
school building, suitable to accommodate all the schools in
Faulkton was erected.
In 1901 the High School was organized with Prof. J.
F. Armstrong, principal, and Rev. Mr. Curtis, Mrs. Frieze,
Lula Pickler and Miss Coman, teachers.
In 1908 the Faulkton High School is the equal of any
high school in the state, its graduates passing a creditable
examination for taking a collegiate course, and of as high
intellectual, social and moral standard as those with whom
they associate.
The present board of education is C. C. Norton, clerk;
J. H. Wallace, treasurer, and the following board of direct
ors; F. M. Byrne, J. H. Bottum, C. C. Norton, P. H.
O'Neiland Frank Turner. Prof. H. B. Callin, superin
tendent, with a most excellent corps of assistants, are ad
vancing the high standard of excellence the school has al
ready attained.
The county superintendent of schools, Mrs. I. M. Al-
den, makes the following report as to the schools in the
county for 1907:

105

"There are one thousand six hundred and thirty-one
pupils enrolled in the county and there are eighty-two
school houses, valued at $56,000. There were seventy-
eight teachers employed, to whom $21,694 were paid for
monthly wages. Eae-h district contains a school library.
The total expenditures for district schools for the year
A. D., 1907, was $53,976.82."

106

CHAPTER XVII.
THE RAILROAD,
It was not until 1886 that the railroad question was set
tled, and that year, Oct. 28th, regular trains commenced
running from Faulkton to Redfield. On August 7th,
Engineer Miller of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul
Railway, with his engineer corps, arrived at Faulkton on
the survey from Aberdeen, via Roscoe, to Orient. The
location of these roads settled the question of the location
of town sites along their lines, and changed the county seat
from LaFoon to Faulkton. The county seat question hav
ing been settled for all time, and nearly all the townships
for school and election purposes with business centers es
tablished. There was a consciousness of permanent, rather
than pioneer, settlement, a security of home and business
relations that could not be realized while this important
question, that means so much to every civilized community
was in doubt.
Altogether, 1886 was an eventful year in the history of
Faulk county. Possibly more real homes were established
by the arrival of wives and children to occupy the humble
but substantial houses that had been erected by the enter
prising and self-sacrificing husbands and fathers, that with
high hopes of better conditions had preceded them, than in
any other one year in its history.
But with the coming of the railroad towns were not
only made, but their downfall assured. LaFoon, with its
homes, school houses, churches and county building, was

107

on wheels to become an integral part of Faulkton. Harring
ton was lost in Burkmere and EHisville, save in name, be
came Seneca. Business centers became fixed, new social
surrounding assured and a general consciousness felt that
a foundation had been laid upon which future structures
should be erected and future greatness established for all
time.

108

CHAPTER XVIII.
FAULK COUNTY IN 1908.
Faulk county is most favorably located in Central
South Dakota. It is a little north of the geographical cen
ter of the state and embraces a most beautiful portion of
that most wonderful wheat bdt that produces No. 1 hard,
and is known all over the world. In extent it is north
and south, twenty-four miles; east and west, forty-two
miles comprising a total area of one thousand and eight
square miles divided into twenty-eight congressional town
ships, six miles square. It is a high plateau, slightly roll
ing, lying east of, and at the foot of, a light range of
coteaux that divide the waters of the James from those of
the Missouri river, and gradually sloping toward the James
river. The Snake, or the Nixon, river rises in the extreme
western portion of the county and runs east through its
center, emptying into the James river near Ashton in Spink
county, supplying a large region with beautiful, clear
spring water. In addition to the water from the river,
springs and lakes, there are now in Faulk county 360 flow
ing artesian wells, which have completely removed Faulk
county from the dry belt into the "sure crop" region of
the country. There are now thirteen railroad towns in the county,
five besides the City of Faulkton, on the main line of the
Chicago and Northwestern railroad from Gettysburg, in
Potter county, to Watertown, Brookings, St. Paul, Min
neapolis, Milwaukee and Chicago. Three are on the

ELEVATORS AT CRESBARD, S. D.

Ill

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, on its extension from
Aberdeen via Roscoe, in Edmunds county, and Faulkton,
to Orient. The Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad, passing
through the northern part of the county from east to west
to the Missouri river at LeBeau, has five stations, around
which are springing up live and promising towns. A
grade from Aberdeen direct to Pierre, passing through the
county via Faulkton from northeast to south west, which,
if not ironed in the near future, will be as soon as the
traffic along its line actually demands it. The completion
of this line will make Faulk county one of the best, as far
as railroad facilities to meet the demands of the agricul
tural industries are concerned, in all the northwest.
Typographically, Faulk county is without a peer.
Its gradual descent from the western line of the county to
the eastern line, though slightly rolling, gives many of the
most delightful views to be found. Its high altitude, clear,
bracing atmosphere, its charming, sunshiny days and love
ly, moon shining and starlight nights are entrancing to the
beholder. Its luxuriant grasses and quick response to the
tiller of its soil, are the wonder and admiration of the
agriculturalist. Its high altitude or some unknown cause gives shorter,
milder and more desirable winters than are found either
immediately east or west of the county. The soil is heavy,
fertile and very productive, adapted to stock-raising and
farm products of every variety. Wheat, oats, corn, flax,
barley and rye are staple crops. All varieties of vegetables
are successfully raised in the most enormous quantities and
of the finest quality. Though a comparatively new county,
Faulk county took the third premium in 1885 and the sec-

112

ond premium in 1887, for the best county exhibit at the
Territorial Agricultural Fair. At the State Fair at Aber
deen in 1891, Faulk county took the first premium on gen
eral farm products; also at the State Fair at Yankton in
1903 and 1904 and at Huron in 1905. In fact she has
never made an exhibit without receiving a premium, which
speaks volumes for her climate conditions, the fertility of
her soil and the perseverance and skill of her husbandmen.
The rich, nutritious buffalo grass, which is indigenous
to the entire county, not only in the usual grazing season,
but through the entire year (unless covered with snow)
furnishes abundant feed to keep horses and neat stock in
good growing condition. For the winter of 1907T8 there
was only a part of one day in which, the snow was too deep
for stock to live and thrive upon the range. I learn from a
reliable farmer and stockman that his horses and neat
cattle steadily thrived and actually gained in flesh through
the entire winter. The season of 1908 has returned an
abundant harvest, commanding high prices on the market
and the outlook for the future was never so encouraging
as at the present time.
The climate is delightful, the atmosphere dry, but rain
is generally abundant when most needed. The roads are
muddy only for a few hours after the rain ceases, the water
passing down into the ground almost immediately. The
seasons are as early, the summer is as long and the autumn
as late, as in states farther east and south of South Dakota.
Seeding is generally completed here before it is begun in
Northern Iowa and while Minnesota, and Wisconsin are
snowbound.

113

The most careful observation warrants the opinion
that nowhere in northern latitude can a more desirable lo
cation be found for successful diversified farming, than in
Faulk county, South Dakota, where there is abundant
room for an agricultural population of 20,000 or 25,000.
In 1883 and 1884 a large number of persons came to Faulk
county for the sole purpose of securing a quarter section of
government land under the preemption law, and, after
proving up — making final proof — -returned to their homes,
holding their land as an investment, until it should be
come more valuable. Thousands of acres of these lands
are now on the market and can be obtained for less than
half the price of inferior and less productive lands in north
ern and central Iowa.
The future of Faulk county, from a financial, social
and intellectual standpoint, is exceedingly flattering, The
steady westward trend of emigration warrants the predic
tion that Faulk county lands will soon be in the hands of
actual, industrious farmers, becoming the richest and
most prosperous in its various agricultural productions and
placing more of them upon the market, than any other
county in the northwest.
Another important fact to be taken into account by
the home-seeker, is the educational advantages of Faulk
county. More than 35,800 acres of these rich, fertile lands
constitute a school fund in perpetuity. While a wise
policy may determine that they shall not be sold, they can
be rented and the rich, luxuriant grasses utilized for hay-
and pasturage, while at no very distant future a revenue
should be realized to materially lighten the burden of taxa
tion for our common schools.

114

With the best of school facilities and commodious
houses of worship at almost every desirable point in the
entire county, one can make no mistake in securing a quar
ter or half section of these rich, productive lands for a per
manent home.
The city of Faulkton, the county seat, is located on
the bank of the Nixon river on sections 14 and 15, town
ship 118, range 69, near the geographical center of the
county, and with its immediate suburbs has about 1,000
inhabitants. A commodious, well constructed and con
venient court house, good for the next fifty years, four
churches — Methodist Episcopal, Congregational, Free
Methodist and Roman Catholic — a fine school building with
school second to none in its primary and preparatory
courses, a high school of the first order.
With an intelligent, educated class of citizens, deeply
interested in sustaining the high standard attained, and
with a determination that the education of the young peo
ple of this city shaH hold them in the front rank, our edu
cational facilities would appear to be assured.
The Masonic Lodge and Royal Arch Chapter of
Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Maccabees,
Workmen, Woodmen, Eastern Star, Ladies of the Macca
bees, Degree of Honor, Woman's Relief Corps, Grand
Army of the Republic, Tuesday Club, Modern Brother
hood of America and the various organizations connected
with the churches, speak well for the social, intellectual,
moral and rdigious standing of the people.

115

CHAPTER XIX.
FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S RECORD
At a meeting of the county commissioners held at La
Foon, Monday, September 8, 1884, Commissioner H. A.
Humphrey and M. J. Jarvis present the county was divid
ed into thirteen election precincts with the following voting
places: No. 1. Schoolhouse near section 31, township. 120,
range 66.
No. 2. House of S. E. Purdy on the southwest quar
ter of section 21, township 120, range 68.
No. 3. House of Edward Stickle.
No. 4. House of Charles Rathke.
No. 5. House of Abram Griff ee.
No. 6. School house at Harrington.
No. 7. - Office of Union House at Faulkton.
No. 8. Office of Bottum & Johnston, LaFoon.
No. 9. Office of hotel at DeVoe.
No. 10. School house on section 7, township 117,
range 66.
No. 11. School house on section 16, township 117,
range 68.
No. 12. House of C. S. Clare, southwest quarter,
township 118, range 70.
No. 13. Office of C. H. Ellis in EHisville.
The following were appointed judge in said precincts:
No. 1. R. O. Thayer, W. P. Randall and C- H.
MaxweU.

116

No. 2. Alex Garrick, D. Roy Jones and W. M.
Walker. No. 3. George B. Dyer, Cephus R. Saunders and J.
L- Robinson. No. 4. Chas. Rathke, E. Rathke and Otto Mielke.
No. 5. Abram Griffee, J. V. Smack and B. H. Clark.
No. 6. W. G. Faulkner, J. W. Bass and J. H. Shirk.
No. 7. E. S. Brown, E. H. Thayer and E. C. Sage.
No. 8. Joseph Powell, C, M. Kellogg and A. H. Yost.
No. 9. S. P. Clark, W. R. Davis and W. W. Morse.
No. 10. August Harmon, Jacob Parsons and Joseph
Brown. No. 11. Harris Pool, Charles Geddis and A. A. McCoy.
No. 12. Charles S. Chase, D. O. Hillman and M. O.
Shuttle. No. 13. C. F. Geer, W. W. Gwinn and J. Parsons.
On December 8, 1884, the commissioners held a special
meeting, Commissioners Humphrey and Jarvis present, at
which considerable important business was done, and a
dead lock created on the location of county seat. Action
appealed from by J. A. Pickler. Finally Commissioner
Humphrey absented himself from the meeting. Commis-'
sioner Jarvis adjourned the meeting to the next day at
which time Commissioners Jarvis and Hume met and fin
ished up the business and adjourned sine die.
On January 5, 1885, the new board of commissioners
met, consisting of Charles Marvin, John L. Chain and J.
H. Wallace. The efforts to change the county seat from LaFoon to
Faulkton was responsible for the change of commissioners

117

from three to five by the territorial legislature of 1885.
On April 25, 1885 this order came up for consideration.
The action of the board was such as to cause great
dissatisfaction in the western part of the county and a
special election was called which resulted in the election of
C. H. Ellis to the office of commissioner. The election
taking place according to the apportionment or subdivision
of the county commissioners. Morgan G. Millard, Charles
-Marvin, Alex Garrick, J. H. Wallace and John L- Chain
were declared elected commissioners. An appeal was tak
en from their decision and the appeal was prosecuted by
John A. Pickler so far as the election of Alex Garrick was
concerned, in the district court at Aberdeen, Judge
Smith presiding, and decided in favor of the election of
C. H. Ellis.
On the 7th of September, 1885 C. H. Ellis became an
active member of the board for the remainder of the
term. At an election prior to January 4, 1886, Alex Garrick
was elected a commissioner in place of John L. Chain.
At the first session of the board for the year 1886, on
motion of Commissioner C. H. Ellis, it was voted that no
license be granted for the sale of intoxicating liquors in
Faulk County for the year 1886, and on that vote the yeas
and noes were ordered and Millard, Wallace, Garrick and
Ellis voted yea and Marvin no.
The board of county commissioners for the year 1887
were: Charles Marvin, Alex Garrick, D. S. Smith, O. D.
Johnson and J. S. Nevins, and the first meeting held
at LaFoon, the county seat, on January 3, 1887, and in
place of J. W. Johnston, who had held the office of secre-

118

tary up to this time, I. Allen Cornwell was duly elected
and filed his official bond which was approved as was also
that of H. D. Chamberlain for sheriff, C. E. Warner for
treasurer, A. A. McCoy for county school superintendent,
C. H. Derr for county judge of probate, A. D. Griff ee for
assessor and Frank Turner and F. M. Brown for justices
of the peace.
On April 25th, 1887, a petition was presented to the
board of county commissioners and by them approved, for
the legal organization of the city of Faulkton. The elec
tion was to be held on the 25th of May, 1887, and C. A.
Morse, F. A. Pangburn and Fred Griffee were appointed
judges of election.
In July of that year an exciting election was had by
the county commissioners to secure a county auditor. The
dection board consisted of the board of commissioners to
gether with the Hon C. H. Derr, judge of probate and C.
E. Warner, county treasurer, seven in all, four votes being
a majority and necessary to elect. The election commenced
at the opening of the afternoon session and extended into
the middle of the next afternoon. Twenty-one ballots
were taken in which no candidate succeeded in getting
more than three votes. On the twenty -second ballot, the
other coveted vote, the fourth was forthcoming and M. P
Springer was declared elected.
At the regular election in November 1887, the follow
ing officers were elected: county commissioner for district
No. 1, J. A. Day, for district No. 6, Chas. Marvin.
The first canvas of votes for county officers that we
find recorded was on November 9, 1888. It was at an ad
journed meeting. The full board of commissioners consist-

HOTEL AND BUSINESS BLOCK, CRESBARD, S. D.

121

ing of Chas. Marvin, J. A. Day, D. S. Smith, J. S. Nevins
and O. C. Johnson were present.
J. H. Shirk having received a majority of the votes
for register of deeds, was declared elected, as was W. B.
Monroe, treasurer; John L- Chain, auditor; H. D. Cham
berlain, sheriff; C. H. Derr, judge of probate; M. Summy,
assessor; Frank Turner, district attorney; B. B\ Ruhlman,
county surveyor; J. P. Rathbun, coroner.
County commissioners for second district, Fred Rey
nolds; third district, O. C. Johnson; fourth district, J. A.
VanValkenberg. O. C. Johnson, J. Av Day and Fred Reynolds, com
mittee to settle with county treasurer, C. E- Warner re
ported that accounts were correct and balance of $10,804.38
paid to W. B. Monroe, treasurer elect, and receipt for that
amount is in the hands of retiring treasurer Warner.
Faulk county sent the following delegates to the Sioux
Falls convention, who were elected on May 14, 1889, viz:
H. A. Humphrey, J. G. Dayis and Peter Couchman.
The October election of 1887, held on the fifth day of
that month, at which time the first officers of the state of
South Dakota were elected, was of too much interest and
importance not to have a place in this history. At a re
publican state convention held at Huron, the following
nominations were made all of whom were elected, viz: for
governor, Arthur C. Mellette; lieutenant governor, James
H. Fletcher; secretary of state, A. O. Ringsrud; state audi
tor, L. C. Taylor; state treasurer, W. F. Smith; superin
tendent of public instruction, G. L- Pinkham; attorney
general, Robert Dollard; commissioner of school and public
lands, O. H. Parker; judges of supreme court, Dighton Car-

122

son, A. G. Kellum, John E. Bennett; judge of circuit
court, H. G. Fuller; members of congress, Oscar S. Gif-
ford of Canton, and John A. Pickler of Faulkton. At the
county election that fall the following were elected: For
state senator 35th district, Frank M. Byrne; representative
to the legislature 34th district, E. Clarence Sage; county
judge, C. H. Derr; temporary seat of government, Pierre
748; Huron 216; Watertown 142; Sioux Falls 10 and Mit
chell 1 vote.
For the prohibition clause in the constitution, 626
votes in favor and 459 votes against.
-- At an election held November 5, 1889, the following
were elected county commissioners, viz: For commission
er, district No. 1, Robert Maxwell received 108 votes and
was elected; district No. 3, W. G. Faulkner received 69
votes, being a majority cast and was elected; district No. 4
R. G. Morton received 103 votes and was elected and as
commissioner in district No. 5 William Buss received a
majority of ballots cast and was declared elected.
On October 9th the records show commissioners J. A.
Day, Charles Marvin, D. H. Van Valkenburg, Fred Rey
nolds and O. C. Johnson present and voting for a clerk of
court. At the same meeting the appointing board accepted
the resignation of D. H. Van Valkenburg as a commis
sioner for district No. 4, and appointed Wilber J. Porter to
serve in his place and also accepted the resignation of O. C.
Johnson. At the next session, the appointment of Wilber
J. Porter was reconsidered and an election ordered.
On the 10th the resignation of Chas. Marvin, commis
sioner, was accepted to take effect at the end of this session.

123

.The appointing board appointed George J. Jarvis a com
missioner to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of
Chas. Marvin.
On October 8, 1889, on motion of commissioner J. A.
Day, the commissioners proceeded to elect a clerk of the
circuit court and county courts to take effect immediately
after the President of the United States issues his proclama
tion, admitting South Dakota to statehood.
On the second ballot, H. W. Bailey received three
votes, being a majority and was declared elected.
On November 8th, 1889 an adjourned meeting of the
county commissioners was held at Faulkton with the fol
lowing elected and appointed commissioners present, viz:
J. A. Day, Fred Reynolds, George J. Jarvis, R. G. Morton
and W. G. Faulkner.
At this meeting the official bond of Hon. C. H. Derr,
county judge was approved.
On January 6th commissioners met in regular session,
all present, viz: Fred Reynolds, W. G. Faulkner, R. G.
Morton, Robert Maxwell and William Buss. R. G. Mor
ton was elected chairman of commissioners.
At this meeting a committee on rules was appointed.
Committee reported and report accepted.
The following committees were appointed, viz: On
justice of the peace reports, Faulkner, Buss and Morton;
on revenue, Maxwell, Reynolds' and Morton; on fees and
salaries, Buss, Maxwell and Morton.
The Seneca Sun and Faulk County Record were made
official papers for the year.
Qn July 16th, 1890, the county commissioners as a board
of equalization fixed the value of land per quarter section
as follows:

124

In Precinct No. 1, $500.00 In Precinct No. 7, $525.00
In Precinct No. 2, $500.00 In Precinct No. 8, $325.00
In Precinct No. 3, $475.00 In Precinct No. 9, $500.00
In Precinct No. 4, $475.00 " In Precinct No. 10, $500.00
In Precinct No. 5, $475.00 In Precinct No. 11, $500.00
In Precinct No. 6, $475.00 In Precinct No. 12, $475.00
In Precinct No. 13, $475.00
At the meeting held on October 6, 1890, arrangements
were made for the coming November election and judges
of election appointed for the several election precincts, and
whereas R. W. Maxwell had resigned the office of county
commissioner, it was voted to accept the resignation to
take effect when his successor was elected and qualified.
State Senators: The counties of Faulk and Potter con
stitute one senatorial district. In 1889, Hon. Frank M.
Byrne was elected from Faulk county and in 1890 the Hon.
R. W. Maxwell from this county was elected. In 1892 a
Potter county man was elected; in 1894, Hon. D. S. Smith
of Faulkton was elected senator; in 1896, a Potter county
man was again nominated and elected. In 1898, Hon.
J. H. Bottum of Faulkton was elected. In 1900 the right
of Potter county was recognized; in 1902, Mr. Bottum
was again elected; in 1904, Mr. Whitlock of Potter county
was again elected and in 1906 Hon. Frank M. Byrne, our
present senator, was elected.
The following are the representatives from this county
since the state of South Dakota was admitted to the Union:
In 1889, E. C. Sage and Wilbur Elting.
In 1890, Hon. W. S. Belknap and Capt. John Douglas.
In 1892, Hon. Alexander Miller and re-elected in 1894.
In 1896, Hon. James B. Devine, who was re-elected in
1898, Andrew J. Porter in 1900 and re-elected in 1902.

125

In 1894, Hon. Frank Turner was elected representative
to the legislature and in 1896, ex-representative Alexander
Miller was re-elected, and now has the republican nomina
tion for re-election.
The following is the list of county officers since 1890.
ELECTED IN 1890:
For register of deeds, John H. Shirk.
For auditor, John L. Chain.
For clerk of courts, H. W. Bailey.
For sheriff, J, K. Sechler.
For assessor, Henry Joynt.
For county judge, Hon. C. H. Derr.
For county attorney, Hon. J. H. Bottum.
For county treasurer, E. H. Thayer.
For county surveyor, J. W. Johnston.
For coroner, Dr. J. P. Rathbun.
For county superintendent of schools, W. R. Davis.
For county justices of the peace, F. P. Smith, F. A.
Pangburn, F. M. Bacon, George Trainor, John Palmeter,
Isaac White, Andrew Penning and C. B. Oakes.
For constables, O. M. Moe, C. D. Sutton, A. M.
Thompson, J. E. Stevenson, Jesse Nevins, Winfield White,
C. A. Warner and Jerome Ross.
ELECTED IN 1892:
Judge, Hon. C. H. Derr.
Auditor, C. C. Norton.
County treasurer, E. H. Thayer.
Register of deeds, J. W. Johnston.
Sheriff, J. H. Hays.
Clerk of court, H. W. Bailey.
State's attorney, Hon. J. H. Bottum.

126

Superintendent of schools, W. R. Davis.
County surveyor, A. M. Bass.
Coroner, Dr. J. P Rathbun.
Assessor, J. L- Randall.
County commissioners, Jasper Wakefield, F. E. Hat
field, W. G. Faulkner, A. J. Haskins, and William Buss,
chairman of the Board.
At the election held November 6, 1894, 'the following
county officers were elected:
County judge, C. H. Derr.
Register of deeds, Lewis Severance.
County treasurer, William H. Smith.
Sheriff, J. H. Hays.
Clerk of Court, H. W. Bailey.
State's attorney, D. H. Latham.
County school superintendent, F. A. Pangburn.
* County assessor, William Kellett.
Coroner, Dr. J. P. Rathbun.
Justices of the peace, C. B. Chambers, M. E. Drake,
Jerome Ferguson, J. W. Shaver, J. W. Hays, Chas. Griffee,
and J. H. Emery.
County commissioner for 2d. district, F. E. Hatfield;
3rd district, S. D. Peck.
The defalcation of W. B. Monroe, county treasurer,
presented a most difficult problem to the county commis
sioners. There were failures of crops, money could not
be had on securities. Banks were failing, the money was
gone, and just what steps should be taken to obtain it was
difficult to decide. Just who was to blame, or in fact, if
there was any one that had committed any intentional
wrong was an open question. With these financial con-

127

ditions existing to enforce the conditions of the treasurer's
bond would have ruined some of the bondsmen. It is
doubtful if any one knows just what the tax payers lost by
the unfortunate affair.
The lesson of the past is only valuable to direct us in a
wiser and safer course for the future.
November 5th, 1895, election for county commissioners
was held in commissioners district No. 1 and No. 5, and J.
B. Devine and William Buss elected respectively.
For 1896, the Republican-Record was made the county
official paper.
At the state election of 1896 held on the 9th day of
November A. D., 1896, the following county officers were
dected: County judge, George J. Jarvis.
County auditor, W. G. Faulkner.
Register of deeds, Lewis Severance.
County treasurer, William Smith,
County sheriff, O. M. Moe.
Clerk of court, H. W. Bailey,
State's attorney, D. H. Latham.
Superintendent of schools, Frank A. Pangburn.
-County assessor, William Kellett.
Coroner, Dr. Samuel Hall.
Surveyor, J. F. Armstrong.
County commissioner, 1st district, J. J. Price.
County commissioner, 2d. district, James F. Nestor.
County commissioner, 3d. district, Christ Sorenson.
County commissioner, 4th district, W. R. Hall.
On the 2d day of November, 1897, J. J. Price was
elected county commissioner in the first district, and Wil
liam Buss in the 5th district.

128

At the general election held November 8th, 1898, the
following county officers were elected:
County judge, George J. Jarvis.
County auditor, O. A. Rogers.
Register of Deeds, George H. Stoddard.
County treasurer, Frank M. Byrne.
County sheriff, O. M. Moe.
Clerk of court, Henry Joynt.
State's attorney, Frank Turner.
County superintendent of schools, Belle F. McCoy.
County assessor, George S. Stevenson.
County coroner, Dr. Wm. M. Edgerton.
County surveyor, J. W. Johnston.
County commissioner 2d district, J. F. Nestor.
County commissioner 3d district, John D. Smith.
County commissioner, 4th district, Ernest Thiede.
County officers elected November 7th, 1899, county
commissioners full board, viz: William Buss, J. F. Nestor,
John D. Smith, Ernest Thiede and Henry Resseguie.
At the general election, November 6th 1900, the fol
lowing county officers were elected, viz:
County treasurer, Frank M. Byrne.
Register of deeds, George H. Stoddard.
County auditor, O. A. Rogers.
County sheriff, J. W. Smith.
Clerk of Courts, M. S. McDearmon.
State's attorney, Frank Turner.
County judge, George J. Jarvis.
County superintendent of schools, Belle F. McCoy.
County assessor, George S. Stevenson.
County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong.

CATHOLIC PARSONAGE, ZELL

131

County coroner, Dr. Wm: M. Edgerton.
County commissioners, January 4, 1901, William Buss,
chairman; Earnest Thiede, N. Freitag, O. P. Howe and
H. Resseguie. At a meeting of the board of county commissioners on
November 12, 1901, present) O. P. Howe, Herman Freitag,
and Ernest Thiede. On motion, Ernest Thiede was re
quested to act as chairman. Announcement was made of
the death of William Buss, late chairman of the board.
On motion the board adjourned until one o'clock p.m.
At the afternoon session, Ernest Thiede, O. P. Howe,
Herman Freitag and Henry Resseguie were present and on
motion, the board proceeded to elect by ballot a commis
sioner to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Commis
sioner Buss.
Fred Clark received a majority of votes cast and was
declared an elected commissioner for the 5th district, to
fill the vacancy caused by the death of William Buss.
At an election held on the 4th day of November 1902,
the following county officers were elected, viz:
Treasurer, Albert Gooder.
Register of deeds, Frank M. Ramsdell.
Auditor, W. G. Faulkner.
Sheriff, John W. Smith.
Clerk of court, M. S. McDearmon.
County judge, George J. Jarvis.
Superintendent of schools, S. S. Strachan.
Assessor, N. F. Metz.
Surveyor, J. W. Johnston.
Coroner, Albert J. Jones.
County commissioner, F. E. Clark in district No. 5
and E. W. Ford in district No. 1.

132

At a meeting of the board of county commissioners on
the 4th day of July, 1904, the proposition was submitted to
the legal votes to see if they would vote to build a $50,-
000.00 court house at the county seat, and issue county
bonds for that amount to pay the same.
At an election held on the 8th day of November, A.
D., 1904, the following county officers were elected, viz:
County judge, George J. Jarvis.
Auditor, W. G. Faulkner.
Register of deeds, Frank M. Ramsdell.
County Treasurer, Albert Gooder.
Sheriff, N. F. Metz.
Clerk of court, Charles Coste.
State's attorney, D. H. Latham.
County school superintendent, S. S. Strachan.
County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong.
Coroner, Dr. Wm. M. Edgerton.
County commissioner, 2d. district, O. P. Howe.
County commissioner, 3d. district, George Lloyd.
County commissioner, 4th district, E. H. Thayer.
At a meeting of county commissioners held on Novem
ber 15th and 16th, 1904, plans were adopted and advertise
ments for bids for a new court house were ordered.
At a commissioners' meeting held on September 5th,
1905 , the following estimate as a basis for levying taxes
were presented, viz:
County auditor and clerk  $1200.00
County treasurer, deputy and clerk  $2030.00
County judge  $ 499.97
Sheriff and deputy  $ 507.84
Superintendent of schools  ,......$ 900.00

133

County commissioners  $1271 .70
State's attorney.  ,  $ 600.00
Clerk of court.'.  $ 129.76
Jurors fees  $ 317.20
Witness fees, justices courts  $ il5.95
Justice of peace  $ 126.80
Board of health  $ 15.50
Poor relief funds  $ 758.56
Books and stationery  $ .815.45
Printing and advertising  $1074.16
Election expenses  $ 574.75
Light, fuel and repair county building  $ 593.00
Wolf bounty  .•  $ 211.00
Postage and express  $ 187.02
County assessor,  ;   $1063 .00
Miscellaneous items  $1013.80
Commissioners of insurance  $ 30.45

$13976.79
On the sixth day of November, 1906, for the election
of congressmen, state and county officers, the following
were dected:
Congressmen, Philo Hall and William H. Parker.
For governor, Coe I. Crawford.
Secretary of the state, D. D. Wipf.
Attorney general, S. W. Clark.
Faulk county judge, George J. Jarvis.
County auditor, W. H. Race.
Register of deeds, John P. Shirk.
County treasurer, C. L- Fisk.
Sheriff, N. F. Metz.

134

Clerk of courts, Chas. E. Coste.
State's attorney, J. H. Bottum.
County superintendent of schools, Mrs. I. M. Alden.
County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong.
County commissioners, Lewis Severance and Wilson
Brown, 5th district.
The first session of the county commissioners for the
year 1908 met at the auditor's office at the court house on
January 7th, 1908. County commissioners all present, viz:
Lewis Severance, John Olen, George Lloyd, E. H. Thayer
and Wilson Brown. E. H. Thayer was elected chairman.
The first session of the board of county commissioners
ever held was on November 5th, 1883, at the law office
of J. A. Pickler. Looking back over a period of twenty-
fiye years, we find the foundation laid and a steady growth
that has only to be maintained for another quarter of
a century to make a record, and place Faulk county in a
position to be looked up to, not only approved by her own
citizens, but by the united people of the commonwealth.
The first meeting of county commissioners for the
year 1908, was held on January 7th. With the following
commissioners present, viz: Lewis Severance, John Olen,
George Lloyd, E. H. Thayer and Wilson Brown.
E. H. Thayer received a majority of votes cast and was
declared elected chairman of the board of county commis
sioners. At this session, as well as subsequent ones, the board
confined itself largely to routine county business.
In the general line of advancements the increasing de
mand for increasing expenditures has been guarded by the
board.

135

At the September meeting the following itemized ac
count of expenses for 1906 was reported as a basis for levy
ing taxes for the year 1907, viz:
County auditor and clerk  $1200.00
County treasurer   $1533.00
County judge  '.  $ 600.00
County sheriff, deputy and bafliff  $1170.87
County superintendent of schools  $ 937.80
County commissioner  $ 666.75
State's attorney  $ 600.00
Clerk of courts  $ 420.45
Stenographer  $ 151.50
Justices of the peace  $ 801.45
Jurors and witness fees, circuit court  $1135.78
Relief of county poor  $ 528.73
Books and stationery  $1200.90
Printing and advertising  $ 515.75
County election  -  $ 848.13
Light, fuel and repairs county buildings  $1390.59
Janitor  $ 641.56
Wolf bounty  $ 149.50
Postage and express  $ 14-9 50
Miscellaneous  $3214.65
$17866.60
Judges for the primary election together with the ex
penses of national, state and county election for 1908 con
stitute no small share of county expenses.
The last important event to record from the county
record was the canvas of the national, state and county
votes as polled in this city and county at the national dec-

136

tion on the 3d of November 1908, which proved that every
man voted for by the republican electors of this county
were duly elected to the office to which they had been nomi
nated. The following republican ticket comprises the
entire list:
For President of United States, William H. Taft.
For United States senate, Coe. I. Crawford.
Representatives in congress, Charles H. Burke and
Eben W. Martin.
Governor, R. S. Vessey.
Lieutenant governor, H. C. Shober.
State treasurer, George G. Johnson.
Secretary of state, S. C. Polley.
State auditor, John Hiring.
Attorney general, S. W. Clark.
Superintendent of public instruction, H. A. Ustrud.
Commissioner of school and public lands, O. C. Dokken.
Railroad commissioner, 2nd district, F. C. Robinson.
State senator, Frank M. Byrne.
Representative, Alex Miller.
County auditor, W. H. Race.
Register of deeds, J. P. Shirk.
Treasurer, C. L. Fisk.
County judge, George J. Jarvis.
Sheriff, George D. Hughes.
Clerk of courts, Chas. E.. Coste.
State's attorney, J. H. Bottum.
County superintendent, Mrs. I. M. Alden.
Assessor, Soren Hansen.
County surveyor, J. F. Armstrong.
Coroner, Fred A. BoUer.

137

County justices, C. C. Norton; A. T. Ericsen, D. S,
Smith and A. M. Strachan.
Commissioner 2d district, John Olen.
Commissioner 3d district, Chas. H. Peck.
Commissioner 4th district, Emerson H. Thayer.

138

CHAPTER XX.
FAULK COUNTY.
By D. H. Smith, Esq.
In an article written by one of our oldest and most in
fluential citizens for another publication in 1904, covering
much ground that has all ready been occupied, the follow
ing extracts deserves a place and will be of interest and
real value for information and historical facts they contain:
"Faulk county is so named after that illustrious citi
zen and stateman, Ex-Governor Faulk, of Yankton. This
county was first inhabited by parties from near St. Louis,
Mo., in the summer of 1882, among whom was D. S. Smith,
A. LaFoon, Thomas McMullen and J. C. Booth, also on
the eastern extremity by Lou Reed and Hiram Rose. By
some mistake range 66 was unattached to any county.
The territorial legislature of 1883 added this range to
Faulk county and detached range 73 from Faulk and added
it to Potter county. Faulk county is centrally located in
what is termed the great artesian basin of South Dakota
and within the last two years something over eighty-five
flowing artesian wells have been completed and at this
time are supplying from eighty to one hundred gallons of
water each per minute. Faulk county is to day conserva
tively estimated to contain 6000 inhabitance. Major John
A. Pickler from this county has been honored with four
elections to the United States house of representatives."
"As is the case in many of the early settled counties
comparatively few practical farmers were among the set-

ELVIN W FORD, RESIDENCE, UNION, FAULK COUNTY

141

tiers, and final proof put a good deal of the land of the first
settlers of the county into possession of mortgage com
panies and non-residents by mortgage foreclosures. Sincethe
lands have been falling into other hands, marked progress
has been noted in the prosperity of the county, wheat rais
ing is successful and profitable and with some of our farm
ers becoming a specialty. Corn is fast becoming and in a
large portion of the county is already established as one
of the staple crops, stock raising has become an important
industry with quite a number of successful ranchmen in
our county, the county is by nature well adapted to this
pursuit. I attributed the enviable position that Faulk
county occupies to day to cohesiveness of the people and
the production of the soil; and notwithstanding the slovenly
and neglectful manner in which a portion of our agricul
turalist have done their work, nature asserts her superiorty
and brings forth abundant crops. Our people are inteli-
ligent, happy and prosperous, they are improving the bene
fits of our school system, and the youths of our county are
applying themselves in a way that assures us that our
county will stand with the foremost in the young, pros
perous and progressive state of South Dakota."
A HEALTH RESORT.
Faulk county lies east of the divide, between the waters
of the Missouri and James river. Strictly speaking it may
be claimed that only' the east half of the county is in the
James river valley, yet the rise is so gradual to an eleva
tion of less than fifteen hundred feet at the Potter county
line as to be almost imperceptible to a casual observer.
Snake creek christened by the early settlers of Faulk
ton, Nixon river, takes its rise in the coteaux or hills in

142

Potter county, runs in an easterly direction entirely across
the county, flowing into the James river in Spink county.
The land is sufficiently rolling to secure the best of
drainage, not only for the natural flow of water but for the
hundreds of artesian wells that have become an important
factor to the wealth and prosperity of the county and I am
fully satisfied that they have not in the least interfered
with the wonderful, life giving power of remarkable sun
shiny days and powerful bracing atmosphere that our high
altitude vouchsafes to us.
Believing as I do, and that opinion based upon careful
observation and practical experience, Faulk county is
not only a good place to secure abundance of this world's
goods, but to secure (at last) good health and the con
tinued use of vital forces.
In 1884 I came to southwest Faulk county, suffering
from wounds received in the army, producing contusion of
the left breast and paralysis of the left side. With a wife
and a family of small children on my hands, there was a
desperate struggle for life. After several, changes, among
them a year upon the gulf coast of Texas, without any
permanent improvement, in the spring of 1884 I located
in the western range of townships in this county. While
my improvement was not rapid, it was marked and steady
and in the summer of 1886 I was comparativdy free from
suffering and able to take up constant employment. These
conditions continued until I left Faulk county for Wash
ington, D. C, in 1889.
I had not been absent from here one year before there
was a renewal of my trouble, which finally culminated in
a complete breakdown in the spring of 1907 at which time

143

I could not dress and undress myself without assistance.
In August, of that year I returned to Faulk county. At first
I was unable to see any improvement, in fact, not until the
last of April, 1908, had I been able to see much improvement.
At the present writing, December 22, '1908, there is a
decided and most happy change for the better. As I look
back to A. D., 1825, when I first saw the light of day or
even to fifty years ago, when I saw more light, I am
admonished by the infirmities of passing years, that old age
is approaching and evidently has been hastened by hard
ships, privation, and wounds received in army life, but
with uninterrupted sunlight, clear, pure bracing air, water,
whether from the surface or brought up from deep down in
the depths of mother earth, tinctured with health giving
properties, almost the essence of life, I have almost forgot
ten that four score and three years have already passed by.
As I look around and see the freedom from disease,
the sturdy, well preserved people wdl advanced in life and
realize what the glorious sunlight, the clear, dry, cool,
vitalizing air and the clear sparkling water, a beverage
prepared by God Himself, has done for them, I am inclined
to place these health giving and health restoring properties
in the first and highest place in all of God's gifts to man.

144

CHAPTER XXI.
EARLY HISTORY.
Robinson, in the History of South Dakota, Vol. 1,
page 399, says:
"Faulk county was named after the third Governor of
the territory, and dates from January 8, 1873. It was not
organized until October 25th, 1883, when Governor Ord
way appointed commissioners for that purpose. The
county seat was located at LaFoon but soon removed to
Faulkton. The railroad reached the county in 1884 (evi
dently a misprint as Faulk county was without a railroad
until the fall of 1886.) The earliest exploration of the
county was probably by William Dixon, in one of his trips
to the James river in 1828. The county is upon the line
of travel from the Missouri to the Minnesota, and John C.
Fremont and Joseph N. Nicollet passed through it in 1839,
Dr. Stephen R. Riggs in 1840. James R. Brown made
many trips through this section in the thirties. Scatter
wood lake in the northeastern portion, was a famous Indian
camp. Faulkton is the chief town. John A. Pickler of
this county was representative in congress from 1889 to
1896. Howard Fuller, judge of the supreme court.
Major Humphrey, adjutant general from 1897 to 1901.
Area 1016 square miles, population 3547."
We are under obligations to D. H, Latham, Esq. for
the following interesting communication upon this interest
ing subject: "General John C. Fremont and party visited what' is
now Faulk county in 1839.

145

"Doane Robinson, our state historian, has discovered
by delving into the records and reports of General Fremont
on file in the war department at Washington, that General
John C. Fremont and party traveled across what is now
Faulk county in the year 1839, and no doubt was one of
the first white people to visit this section.
"in 1839, Dr. Joseph N. Nicollet, the famous French
scientist, came up the river to Fort Pierre, accompanied by
General C. Fremont, then a young man. They were in
the employ of the government and had been sent out to
map the Dakota country, the first official action of this
kind. They remained at Pierre for several weeks, prepar
ing for their work, and then set out for the James river
and arrived at Medicine knoll, near Blunt, on the evening
of July 3. At midnight Fremont went to the top of Medi
cine knoll and fired guns and rockets in celebration of the '
national anniversary. After traveling part way to the
James they stopped to fish at Scatterwood lake, Faulk
county, finally reaching the river at Armadale grove in
Spink county. This grove was a famous camping place
for the Indians and early travelers. Thence they passed
up the James and across to Devils lake, and thence
back down the coteaux to Lake Traverse and Big Stone,
whence they left the state, going down the Minnesota to
St. Paul. '
"In traveling across the country from Blunt to Scat
terwood lake, General Fremont and party must have
crossed the Nixon river in the vicinity of Faulkton, about
July 5th, 1839."

146

CHAPTER XXII.
TOWN ORGANIZATIONS IN FAULK COUNTY.
Town Township Range Date of Organization

Arcade

117

68

July 15, 1908

Centerville

118

67

January, 1905

DeVoe

119

67

Spring of 1905

Emerson

120

68

May 15, 1900

Enterprise

120

70

July 20, 1901

Elroy

119

72

March 4, 1890

Fairview

120

67

March 7, 1893

Freedom

120

69

1896

Hillsdale

117

67

March 7, 1905

LaFoon

118

68

January, 1889

Latham

118

71

March 1, 1885

Myron

119

68

March 5, 1901

Orient

117

69

October 3, 1887

Pioneer

118

66

January 1, 1905

Pulaski

119

69

1891

Saratoga

119

70

July 27, 1891

Seneca

118

72

March 1, 1904

Sherman

120

72

February 23, 1892

Union

120

66

March 5, 1907

Wesley

119

66

May 20, 1905

Zell

117

66

1888

The seven remaining townships in the county, viz:
Clark, Bryant, EHisville, Irving, Tamworth, township 117,
range 71 and township 119, range 71, without regard to
township lines, are arranged into school townships, with
.the following officers:

147

Clark school township, 120, range 71,
Joseph Heintzman, chairman,
Edward Ford, clerk.
Joseph Sahli, treasurer.
Bryant school township, part of township 118, range
70, with the most of township 119, range 71,
John Barrett, chairman.
J. H. Peck, clerk.
August Weyand, treasurer.
Irving school township, all of township 117, range 70,
one-third of townsTiip 118, range 71 and one-half of town
ship 117, range 71:
O. M. Roberts, chairman.
P. J. Maloney, clerk.
Christ Hansen, treasurer.
EHisviHe school township, township 117, range 72 and
one-half of township 117, range 71:
Frank Arzt, chairman.
P. M. Christensen, clerk.
Adam Sangster, treasurer.
Tamworth school township, all of township 118, range
69, less the city of Faulkton, which is located upon sections
fourteen and fifteen in this township.
The following are the school officers in Tamworth
township: Fred Kleeblatt, chairman.
F. A. Paugburn, clerk.
Emerson Thayer, treasurer.
The village and railroad station of Orient are in the
town of Orient. The villages of Zell and Rockham on the
Chicago & Northwestern railroad are both in the town of

148

Zell. The village and railroad station of Miranda are on
section 1, in the town of Arcade. The town and railroad
station of Burkmere are on section 7, township 118, range
70. The village of Seneca is an important and flourishing
railroad center for western Faulk county and eastern Potter
county. Millard station is ten miles north of Faulkton in
the town of Pulaski on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
railroad. The following are the several railroad stations in Faulk
county on the line of the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad,
viz: Chelsea in the town of Union; Cresbard in Emerson;
Carlyle in Enterprise and Onaka in Sherman.
At the present time Cresbard has become an import-
tant, flourishing business center.

RESIDENCES IN CRESBARD, FAULK COUNTY

151

CHAPTER XXIII.
TOWN OFFICERS.
ARCADE.
Oren Strevel, H. H. Metz, and W. A. Milligan, super
visors. John Grau, clerk.
Sam Loy, treasurer.
John Noble and R. Alexander, justices of the peace.
CENTERVILLE.
The first town officers were: George M. Johnson, CM,
Hammond and Henry Nicholson, supervisors.
Victor Moberg, clerk.
R. E. Travis, treasurer.
CO. Moberg, assessor.
D. W. Pillsbury, justice of the peace.
Officers for 1908: George M. Johnson, CM. Ham
mond and Henry Moberg, Supervisors.
Victor Moberg, clerk.
R. E. Travis, treasurer.
A. W. Moberg, assessor. -
DEVOE.
First town officers: Alex Miller, J. B, Devine and I. H.
Lerew, Supervisors.
A. B. Clifford, clerk.
Lewis Severance, treasurer.
W. T. Jackman, assessor.
• Officers for 1908': Alex Miller, S. W. Lerew and J. A.
Devine, Supervisors.

152

A. B. Clifford, clerk.
Frank Smith, treasurer.
W. T. Jackman, assessor. EMERSON.
First board of town officers: Jacob Gabler, Mack
Baker and Jasper Wakefield, supervisors.
Frank Currier, clerk.
J. A. Day, treasurer.
A. A. Andrews, assessor.
J. J. Price and J. F. Luke, justices of the peace.
Officers for 1908: Henry Thiede, chairman of the
board of supervisors.
Frank Currier, clerk.
J. F. Luke, treasurer.
Jacob Fillbach, assessor. ENTERPRISE.
First board of town officers: S. G. Akers, J. L. Ran
dall and W. A. Stephenson, supervisors.
L. W. Dawson, clerk.
Nels McClain, treasurer.
William Wade, assessor.
H. Y. Wallace and O. A. Olson, justices of the peace.
Officers for 1908:— T. P.. Nestor, Allen Law and Ole
Olson, supervisors.
W. O. Landon, clerk .
James F. Nestor, treasurer.
H. W. Ward, assessor. a>. ,
E. F. Guernsey and Nels Olson, justices of the peace.
ELROY.
Roland Hill, treasurer.
William O. Lester, assessor.
William 0. Lester, clerk.

153

FAIRVIEW.
First board of town officers: P. Deitz, R. O. Thayer
and John Younkin, supervisors.
J. T. Yates, clerk.
E. -McComb, treasurer.
S. R. Ogden, assessor.
E. D. Eldred and E. G. Clizbe, justices of the peace.
Officers for 1908: William Hunter, George Horen,
and H. O. McComb, supervisors.
A. E- Jewell, clerk.
R. N. Styles, treasurer.
C. A. Thompson, assessor.
J. C. Hanson andD. W. Welton, justices of the peace.
FREEDOM
W. W. Thomas, Henry F. Holden, and Ed. Bohnke,
supervisors. F. W. Holscher, clerk.
William Holscher, Jr., treasurer.
John Bohnke, assessor.
John C. Smith and John Witzel, justices of the peace.
Officers for 1908: Henry F. Holscher, Herman Hols
cher and Henry F.. Malts, supervisors.
F. W. Holscher, clerk.
William Holscher, Jr., treasurer.
John C. Smith, assessor.
Herman H. Holscher and John Mclntyre, justices of
the peace. HILLSDALE.
Officers for 1908: M. Stammers, Chairman of the board
of Supervisors. B. F. Ruhlman, clerk.

154

William Hogeboom, treasurer.
John Christianson, assessor. LA FOON.
First town officers* A. M. Warner, Jacob Geist and
L. L- Anderson, supervisors.
Soren Hansen clerk.
James Purdon, treasurer.
John Blair, assessor.
Samuel Purdon, justice of the peace.
Town officers for 1908: H. W. Simpson, J. E. Hutch
inson and W. H. Smith, supervisors.
Charles S. Schenck, clerk.
Frank Schenck, treasurer.
Charles Hogg, assessor.
James Warner, justice of the peace.
LATHAM.
First town officers: J. S. Smith, A. J. Hagan and B.
J. Finney, supervisors.
J. O. Johnson, clerk.
H. M. Dahl, treasurer.
T. J. Schomebem, assessor.
T. J. Potter, justice of peace.
Officers for 1908: A. J. Hagan, T. J. Potter and
William Zdlman, supervisors.
J. O. Johnson, clerk.
H. M. Dahl, treasurer.
Fred Kettleman, assessor.
T. J. Potter, justice of the peace.
MYRON.
First town officers, J. H. Treat, Joseph PoweU and
William Blair, supervisors.

155

C. E. Chapman, clerk.
W. H. Lehman, treasurer.
G. E. Frink, assessor.
W. H. Reinecke and Scott Demmery, justices of the
peace. Officers for 1908: John Younkin, C. H. Paul and W.
A. Childs, supervisors.
C. E. Chapman, clerk.
A. J. Wakefield, treasurer.
G. E. Frink, assessor. orient.
First town officers: John J. Conway, Barney Deeney
and David Mooney, supervisors.
Edward M. Hand, clerk.
Lewis J. Pratt, treasurer.
Samuel Downs, assessor.
John Reilly and Joseph B. Sprowles, justices of the
peace. Town officers for 1908: Albert Gooder, chairman of
board of supervisors.
H. P. Weidman, clerk.
N. A. Gardner, treasurer.
J. W. Thomas, assessor.
A. H. Robbins, justice of the peace.
PIONEER.
First town officers: T. N. Brown, Robert Knapton
and Lewis G. Reed, supervisors.
George Mead, clerk.
Oscar Babcock, treasurer.
Wilson Brown, assessor.
Town officers for 1908: Thomas N. Brown, William
T. Loesch and Robert Knapton, supervisors.

156

George Mead, clerk.
Joseph Kegler, treasurer,
Fred E. Clark, assessor. PULASKI.
First town officers: W. H. Elliot, E. Thiede and
Soren Hanson, supervisors.
E. B. Littlefield, clerk.
O. N. Beim, treasurer.
G. W. Hulet, assessor.
W. H. DuBois, justice of the peace.
Town officers for 1908: Hans L- Hanson. John Mc
Grath and H. Korrup, supervisors.
Nicholas Wik, clerk.
Andrew Seim, treasurer.
Elias Loken, assessor.
John McGrath, justice of the peace.
SARATOGA.
First town officers: John L- Robinson, Amos Voss
and Henry Hazelhorst, supervisors.
Morgan G. Millard, clerk.
V. R. Freeman, treasurer..
G. P. Moberg, assessor.
George Wakefield and Morgan G. Mfllard, justices of
the peace. Town officers for 1908: A. C. Voss, William Haga-
dorn and L- W. Freitag, supervisors.
Henry Hazelhorst, clerk.
August Weyand, treasurer.
L- W. Freitag, assessor. SENECA.
Town officers for 1908: M. Geiver, Adolph Reinecke
and. Elias Roseland, supervisors..

157

D. C. Hobart, clerk.
J. T. Snell, treasurer,
William Kellett, assessor.
A. Frayn and A.M. Thompson, justices of the peace,
SHERMAN.
First town officers, J. S. Nevins, Martin Mickkelsen
and Paul Linke, supervisors,
George McGraw, clerk.
Charles O'Neil, treasurer,
E- F. Schuler, assessor,
O. P. House, and F. H. Simmons, justices of the
peace. Town officers for 1908: James P.Paulson, Paul E,
Berg and Henry Iverson, supervisors,
Knud Hanson, clerk,
Hans Hanson, treasurer,
Herman Berg, assessor.
L- C. Paulson and R. S. Patterson, justices of the
peace. UNION,
First town officers: H. F. Bittner, Harry Tinker and
F. D. Persons, supervisors.
Elmer D. Evans, clerk,
A. A. Tracy, treasurer,
E. W. Ford, assessor.
R. W. Maxwell, justice of the peace.
Town officers for 1908: J, H, Finley, Uriah Tinker
and E. P. Holland, supervisors.
Howard Africa, clerk.
CM. Mortensen, treasurer.
A. L- McWhinney, assessor.
K. W, Maxwell, justice of the peace, ¦

158

WESLEY.
First town officers: A. M. Strachan, John Sebring
and Henry Benson, supervisors.
Henry Joynt, clerk.
August Koester. treasurer.
H. F. Reed, assessor.
Town officers for 1908: John Weiderhoft, H.J. Hunt
and J. P. Joynt, supervisors.
Josiah Sensecal, clerk.
Fred Batteen, treasurer.
H. F. Reed, assessor. ZELL.
First town officers: William Ben worth, Christ Harder
and Matt Keppler, supervisors.
John Tweed, clerk.
William Buss, Sr. , treasurer.
Herman Pohl, assessor.
Henry Stemper, and F. M. Brown, justices of the
peace. Town officers for 1908: William Kinner, James H.
Stemper and Frank Pentman, supervisors.
George H. Hermann, clerk.
Frank Bruggeman, treasurer.
P. S. Hand, assessor.
J. P. Smith and Henry Arms, justices of the peace.

RESIDENCE OF W. A. LEHMAN NEAR FAULKTON

161

CHAPTER XXIV.
THE COMING OF THE RAILROADS.
Among the early settlers the question of business cen
ters was a matter of no small interest. While LaFoon and
Faulkton were struggling for county seat honors, DeVoe
was looking on hoping their disagreement might redound
to her benefit. With some, a division of the county be
came a matter for discussion . With the western part of
the county especially it was difficult to see how anything
was to be gained by such a move.
While a railroad survey had been made from Redfield
through range 117, through the county, influences were
being brought to bear to induce the Chicago & Northwest
ern railroad company to change their line. All were hope
ful, but none sure, as to what the final outcome would be.
In fact it was not until the summer of 1886 when the final
survey came to Faulkton and Seneca, leaving LaFoon and
EHisville out in the cold, that any definite calculations
could be made. In October, 1886, Zell, Rockham, Miran
da, Faulkton, Bjurkmere'and .SeneeacBecame railroad sta
tions and necessarily centers of business to the exclusion of
other competing points; soon to be followed by Millard,
Faulkton and Orient, stations on the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul railroad. In 1906 the survey of the Minneapo
lis & St. Louis added the five stations of Chelsea, Cresbard
Wecota, CarlyleandOnaka, giving most desirable centers of
trade to a large and much needing section of our county.
By reason of the extensive breadths of country under culti-

162

vation and the prosperous condition of the farming com
munity, these new, stations may look for the rapid up
building of enterprising, prosperous towns, some of which
are already discussing the question of city organization .
The first to be reached by the traveler upon the Minneapo
lis & St. Paul railroad is the new and enterprising town of
Chelsea. CHELSEA.
The new town of Chelsea is located five and one-half
miles from the Edmunds county line and about one mile
from the Spink county line, in Union township and upon
the new extension of the Minneapolis & St. Louis railway
from Watertown to LaBeau.
It is surrounded by one of the richest settlements in
this county if not in the state of South Dakota.
With their large and attractively built farm buildings
and well tilled broad acres together with an abundance of
artesian water for power and domestic purposes, assure the
rapid building up of a prosperous and enterprising city.
With two reliable banks doing an active but conservative
business, enterprising and prosperous merchants, intelli
gent and industrious mechanics, a good start has already
been made upon the road to its future greatness .
The Chelsea Herald, Howard Africa, editor and pub
lisher, a live and enterprising paper, speaks well through its
list of advertisements for the intelligent business methods
of its enterprising citizens.
While a home maker will give enlarged cultivation and
increasing prosperity to a surrounding agricultural region it
offers to the active up-to-date professional and business
man a most desirable location.

163

A railroad ride of ten miles west through a well culti
vated, beautiful country dotted with fine farm buildings
and pleasant homes, brings you to the rapidly growing
town of Cresbard. CRESBARD.
Cresbard is located eleven miles from the east line of
Faulk county and five miles from the Edmunds county
line in the town of Fairview, on the line of the Minneapo
lis & St. Louis railroad, and is surrounded with as fine,
if not the finest body of land and best improved farms in
Faulk county.
Here, as everywhere, the upbuilding and prosperity
of the town must depend upon the agricultural improve
ments of its immediate surroundings. In this particular
direction, at the present time, Cresbard stands in the front
rank among her sister villages in Faulk county, with a
large class of independent farmers, with their many broad
acres and fine farm buildings in their own and surround
ing towns. Located upon a line of railroad commanding
a line of business second to none in the northwest, with a
class of intelligent enterprising business men, second to
none in the county, the future of this young and enter
prising town is already assured. To he more specific,
neither climate, soil, or its adaptation to the various cereal
crops of the great northwest is in an experimental stage,
that has been completely and satisfactorially passed, not
only all the small grains, but corn is as successful, as upon
$125.00 per acre land in Illinois and Iowa and late practi
cal experiments assure us that the sugar beet will yield as
large a per cent of sugar as in any part of our common
country. To the enterprising, practical farmer, the

164

chance is yet open to exchange their $100.00, $150.00 and
$200.00 land for these valuable and productive Faulk county
farms, at a much lower price. The first twenty-five years
of improvement and development in Faulk county has
passed and with it has come wonderful changes, marked
development, great prosperity; in place of the humble, de
pendent pioneers — the prosperous independent farmer with
his hundreds of acres of improved land worth from $40.00
to $50.00 per acre.
With confidence, looking into the near future when the
lands shall not only double in value, but on every line the
changes shall be greater with increased prosperity, accum-
lated wealth shall make these homes second to none in the
great northwest. With such surroundings and such de
mands for the necessities and luxuries of life, the advant
ages of a permanent location and successful business in the
new and growing village of Cresbard must commend itself
to every thinking progressive business man. The follow
ing is a list of business already in the new and enterprising
town: Cresbard Grain Co., grain, coal and flour, B. DeMersh-
mann, manager.
Security Elevator Co., H. O. Hanson, manager.
Pacific Elevator Co., C. L. Gange, manager.
Eagle Roller Mills, C Tenold, manager.
Imperial Lumber Yard, lumber, etc., S. W. Bakke,
manager. Central Lumber Co., George M. Tinker, manager.
Gange & Palmer, farm implements, etc.
G. Bruneau, blacksmith and machine shop.
City Livery Barn, livery, feed and sale barn, A. A.

Thelan, proprietor.

165

Hotel Cresbard, F. H. Potter, proprietor.
C. Niemeyer, clothing and gents furnishings.
The Beacon, job work and printing, F. O. Mark, edi
tor and proprietor.
George Ham, barber shop, bath room.
Hotel Moliter, lunch counter in connection, A. D.
Moliter, proprietor.
City Meat Market, Wm. Lockwood, proprietor and
stock buyer.
Fountain & Chute, hardware.
Cresbard Mercantile Co., general merchandise, H.
R. Ives, manager.
E. Geist, hardware and furniture.
Wilson Bros., farm machinery, etc.
City Pool Hall, L- Deloy, proprietor.
Cresbard Land Co., real estate, J. B. Hein, manager.
Farmers State Bank, John A. Day, president; W. P.
Holmes, cashier; C H. McCoy, assistant cashier.
The Bank of Cresbard, A. M. Moore, president; P. H.
O'Neil, vice president; P. W. Loomis, cashier.
T. F. Forsythj general merchandise.
J. Bentson, drugs.
McKay's, general merchandise and ladies furnishings.
City Restaurant, G. Cloutier, proprietor.
Home Bakery, Mrs. M. Moore, proprietor.
City Dray Line, B. Mosher, proprietor.
WECOTA.
Wecota is a new town on the extension of the Minne
apolis & St. Louis railway, about 300 miles west of Minne
apolis and 65 miles east of the Missouri. It is located in
the heart of the "New Empire," in a well settled farming

166

and stock raising country. The farmers here are all well
to do and independent, have fine homes, good outbuildings
and good bank accounts.
The crops are always good here and this section has
not had a crop failure in 12 years. Wecbta has three large
elevators, a state bank, grocery stores, general stores, drug
store, hardware store, lumber yard, livery barn, implement
and harness dealers, etc. A section house and stock yard
are also located here. The business men who have located
here are of the broad minded, enterprising sort such as are
to be found in the west, and they are enjoying a good trade
and are glad they are here. Although not more than a
year old, Wecota has a start in life that would take several
years to accomplish in the states east of here and its citi
zens are of the kind that would make a town thrive and
grow in a country that was not endowed by nature with
an ideal climate and soil such as is found in this vicinity of
the "New Empire." The town has no dead ones or croak
ers who are ever ready to belittle the efforts of its enter
prising citizens' in making Wecota grow. It is bound to
advance steadily. They have the soil, the climate and the
push and energy to back it up and they invite the business
men, the farmers, laborers and mechanics who are 'strug
gling along in the stunted and over crowded communities
east of us, to come here, acquire the western spirit and
grow up with us.
Wecota is ten miles directly, north of the county seat,
with a beautiful stretch of farming land fast being put
under cultivation, with the following well established
places of business, viz:
Wecota State Bank, E. J. Levong, cashier.

167

Archer's Merchandise Store, conducted by Frank Arch
er and his experienced wife.
Hardware store, G. P. Kakkan, proprietor.
Grocery store and postoffice, James Mclntyre, post
master. Wecota Independent, R. S. Holder, editor and pro
prietor. Drug store and pool hall, J. W. Balsom, proprietor.
Livery stable and agricultural machinery, Lars Jacob-
son, proprietor.
Wecota Hotel, E. A. Magnuson, proprietor.
Independent Elevator Co., James Mclntyre, mana
ger. Pacific Elevator Co., Peter Christensen, manager.
CARLYLE.
Carlyle is located on the Minneapolis & St. Louis rail
way in the town of Enterprise, eight miles west of Wecota.
On April 23d, 1907, the town was started by Mr.
Peavey and Mr. Ward. Since then Mr. Peavey retired,
selling his interest to T. R. Kenderdine; Messrs Ward and
Kenderdine now own the townsite and while they are in
the banking business, do not neglect their townsite and
other interests. With the telephone and their general
land business and the newspaper, (The Carlyle Gazette) they
find themselves among the busiest, men in Faulk county.
The following lines of business are represented in this
new and lively town:
Central Lumber Company, E. A. Brewster, mandger.
Dakota Town Lot Company, E. A. Magnussen, local
manager. The first and most important public building is a first

168

class school house. Rapid improvements and rushing of
business are the order of the day.
Banking and real estate, Messrs. Kenderdine &
Ward, proprietors.
General store, Henze & Luscher, proprietors.
Hardware and farm implements, William Olson,
proprietor. Carlyle Hotel, Michael Gengler, proprietor.
Livery stable, T. R. Kenderdine, proprietor.
Pool and billard parlors, Michael Gengler, proprietor.
Carlyle Gazette, Fred Linch, proprietor.
Blacksmith shop, P. G. Hancer, proprietor.
Barber shop, Carl Jennings, proprietor.
Meat market, Good Brothers, proprietors.
Pacific Elevator Company, J. F. Nestor.
W. H. Henze, postmaster. ONAKA.
Onaka is located on the line of the Minneapolis & St.
Louis railway, in the township of Sherman, six miles from
the west line of Faulk county and four miles from the Ed
munds county line. The town is only one year old and
has now about two hundred inhabitants, and is one of the
best towns on the line of the Minneapolis & St. Louis rail
way in this county and has one of the best, if not the best,
hotel in the county.
The following, is a complete list of business houses in
the town, viz:
State Bank of Onaka, R. S. Patterson, cashier; is also
doing an important real estate business and owns the town-
site property.

SISTERS CONVENT AND SCHOOL, ZELL, S. D.

171

Two stores for general merchandise, Patterson & Mc
Carthy and M. F. Schwick, proprietors.
Hardware, Christ. Dufloth, proprietor.
Central Lumber Company, L- H. Rose, proprietor.
Pacific Elevator Company, Henry Dufloth, manager.
Independent Elevator Company, H. Iverson, manager.
Pool and billiard hall, Herman Berg, proprietor.
Saloon, Lockwood & Iverson, proprietors.
Meat market, Patterson & McCarthy, proprietors.
Livery Stable No. 1, George Riley, proprietor.
Livery Stable No. 2, J. S. Nevins, proprietor.
The Onaka Hotel, all modern improvements, steam
heated, brick building, 20 rooms, J. M. Young, proprietor.
Postoffice and confectionary, Mrs. Mary Crom, pro
prietor. Drug store, Dr. Olson from Iowa, proprietor.
A new school house.
Catholic church.
From location and surrounding farm property this is
destined to become one of the best and most prosperous
towns in the county.

172

CHAPTER XXIV CONTINUED.
THE TOWN OF ZELL.
As the west bound train over the Chicago & North
western railway leaves Redfield in Spink county, South
Dakota, the first station to be called is Zell, in Faulk
county. It is a town of about three hundred inhabitants.
The first settlers were from Germany and Austria, in re
ligious faith, Catholics. While forming an enterprising,
industrious community a Catholic church and "School have
been and now are prominent features in the makeup of the
town. Among the early settlers were Leo Heppler, Wen
zel Heppler, A. Schade, M. Heppler, Eustace Weis, Jos.
Abris, Frank Spannbauer, Leonard Jungferdorf and P. J.
Berger. As early as the beginning of 1883, Rev. Bishop
Marty began to look after the spiritual interests of this
people. Rev. J. Lameseh was the first resident priest.
died July 5, 1895 and was laid to rest in the local cemetery.
On the 15th of April, 1883, more than a year before the
arrival of the resident priest, the people had decided to
have a sisters' convent which was for the time being, to
serve as a church and school.
The St. Mary's Boarding School for young ladies and
children, under the management of Benedictine sisters,
has been a power in the inteUectual and moral uplifting of
the young. The need of a larger and more modern church
had been felt for some years, but not until the coming of
the present parish priest, Rev. F. S. Meyer, in 1904, did
the enterprise take tangible form.

173

The summer of 1904 was a time of deep interest to the
good people of Zell, as the beautiful new church took on
form, the interest continued until the completion and dedi
cation of the church, which is not only an honor to the
town, the people who so readily furnished the means and
successfully carried it forward, but the entire county. In
size 40x100, with a tower 75 feet high, in artistic design
and finish, it is the equal if not the superior of any church
edifice in the county. An illustration of the Zell church
and St. Mary's school may be found in this history.
The following is a partial list of business enterprises:
General Merchandise, Chris. Lutz, proprietor.
Post Office, Frank Bruggeman, postmaster.
Atlas Elevator Co., Henry Arend, manager.
Western Elevator Co., George Miller, manager.
Refreshment Parlor, Raymond Jungworth, proprietor.
Blacksmith Shop, Chas. Bosch, proprietor.
Carpenter Shop, John Hoesing, proprietor.
Lumber Co., Henry Arend, manager.
Hotel, Philip Kolegraff, proprietor.
* ROCKHAM.
Rockham is located on section 32, 117-66, Faulk coun
ty, and has a population of about 250. Has good graded
schools, German M. E. church and English M. E. church,
and also hold meetings here of the German Luthern de
nomination. It has two banks, three general stores, furniture store,
drug store, harness shop and shoe repairing, two hotels and
one lunch counter, three land offices, general hardware
and farm machinery, two lumber yards, livery barn, meat
market, three elevators, coal sheds and a newspaper also a
good opera house.

174

The business men are energetic and are alert for any
business enterprise that will benefit the town. They are
courteous in their business and invite all that are looking
for a good place to locate to investigate here before they
decide on a location.
The country is settled by wide-a-wake farmers and
stock raisers and produces a good amount of grain and live
stock. This is a great shipping point for farmers and is
one of the best towns west of Redfield on the Chicago &
Northwestern line.
The stores here keep their stock of goods up to those
that are located in towns three times the size of this and
you are able to purchase goods here at a price that will
astonish you.
The business firms of Rockham:
State Bank of Rockham.
J. P. Smith, furniture and undertaking.
WolterBros., general merchandise.
W. D. Hudkins, land office.
T. G. Irwin, meat market.
A. D. Irwin, stock buyer.
Hagman, Moore & Co., general merchandise.
Farmers State Bank of Rockham.
The Rockham House.
R. L- Dean, hardware and farm machinery.
Rockham Telephone Exchange.
The Rockham Record, L- E. Howard, edi'tor.
F. A. Grabinski, land office.
D. H. Lynde, land office and insurance.
C. A. Smith, drugs and stationery.
C. A. Buss, general merchandise and post office.

175

The Hammond House, J. L- Hammond, proprietor.
City livery and horse exchange.
Shoe shop, Wm. Kissner.
Dray line, C. W. Miller, proprietor.
Express and telegraph office, R. M. Walker, agent.
Atlas Lumber Co., Ed. Kolegraff, agent.
Blain Lumber Co., W. H. Blevins, agent.
Atlas Elevator Co., G. A. Buss, agent.
Sleepy Eye Milling Co., C. W. Wolcott, agent.
Eagle Roller Mills, Ed. Mack, agent.
Billard hall and barber shop, P. J. Hand, proprietor.
New barber shop, A.L- Card, proprietor.
Blacksmith shop, Severance & Son, proprietor.
Millinery, Mrs. F'. Severance.
Cement block factory, A. C. Levtzow.
Plaster and Stone mason, Henry Levtzow.
Physician and surgeon, Dr. H. J. Seeman.
MIRANDA.
Miranda is the third station on the Chicago & North
western railroad in Faulk county and is located eight miles
west of Rockham and nine miles east of the county seat,
on section one in Arcade township. It is surrounded by a
rich, well farmed agricultural territory, which gives it a
large grain shipping business and a good lumber trade. It
'is too near Faulkton to do a large mercantile business.
It has two stores, a lumber yard and two grain eleva
tors. It is an important business center.
The following is a full list of the business places of the
town: General merchandise, Pierce & Haag, proprietors.
Hardware and postoffice, O. C. Riedlinge, proprietor
and postmaster.

176

Lumber and building material, Philip Findeis, pro
prietor. The Atlas Grain Elevator Co., Philip Findeis, mana
ger. J. T. Scrogg Grain Elevator & Coal, J. E. Scroggs,
manager. Miranda railroad station, J. E. Moel, agent.
R. Alexander, pool hall and harness shop.
J. H. Niemeyer, blacksmithing and feed grinding.
Miranda State Bank, Philip Findeis, president; J. A.
Rouse, cashier.
The Miranda Hotel, the Misses Olson, managers.
Livery stable, Joe Pesha, proprietor.
Agricultural implements, H. Grabinski, agent.
Real estate, J. A. Rouse.
Since the organization of the town Miranda has main
tained a band and orchestra, which has proved a credit to
the town and an honor to all that are identified with it.
An illustration of the musicians may be found in this his
tory. ORIENT.
Orient is located in the southeast corner of Orient town
ship, ten miles from Faulkton and . on the south line of
' Faulk county. It is the southern terminus of the Roscoe
and Orient branch of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
railroad. Its distance from Miller in Hand county has
given it a large amount of trade from the northern part of
Hand county. Surrounded by large tracts of improved
farming land it furnishes ample business for its four large
grain elevators. It has a flourishing coal and lumber trade
and meets a large and increasing demand for farm machin-

177

ery and general merchandise. With a fine large school
building and two churches, the Methodist Episcopal and
Catholic, the intellectual and spiritual welfare of the people
are well cared for.
In addition to the four grain elevators there is a farm
ers' independent platform from which shippers may load
and unload cars without paying tribute to anyone.
The Conway Brothers, William McKay general mana
ger, have one of the largest if not the largest business
place in Faulk county. In addition to a well stocked
store of dry goods, groceries and a heavy stock of ready
made clothing, they have a full stock of hardware with
lumber and coal, and an extensive assortment of farm
machinery. Messrs. Reilly & Pagel have a well filled store of
general merchandise and ready made clothing, with shelf
hardware, dealing also in paint and oils and farm machin
ery. Orient State Bank, N. A. Gardner and general mana
ger. Hotel, C. P. Forrest, proprietor.
Drug store, Dr. F. L- Mitchell, proprietor.
Eggerling & Hand, general merchandise.
Bakery and confectionery store, L- L- Sebring.
Meat market, E. N. Dignan.
Meat market, Deinslake & Reglin, proprietor.
Blacksmitn shop, A. Adamak, proprietor.
Blacksmith shop, August Zellmer proprietor.
The Orient Argus, Carl Thomas, proprietor.
Restaurant, Mr. Mellue, proprietor.
Bryant & Loomer, C. A. Steinke, Bartley O'Donnell,
contractors and builders.

178

Pool hall and barber shop, W. N. Meyers, proprietor.
N. A. Johnson, painter and paper hanger.
BURKMERE AND MILLARD.
The stations at Burkmere on the Chicago & North
western railroad, and Millard north of Faulkton on the
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad have found two
almost unsurmoun table obstacles to material growth. The
surrounding lands have been held largely unimproved and
for speculation, and their nearness to Faulkton with her
attractive market and social surroundings has proved ob
stacles that could not be overcome. The amount of land
that has lately passed into the hands of enterprising and
industrious farmers and the large shipments of grain from
these stations, is producing a marked change in their im
mediate surroundings, that will invite business industries
and the upbuilding of live and prosperous towns.

MRS. EMMA KLINE'S RESIDENCE, SENECA, S. D.

181

CHAPTER XXIV CONTINUED.
SENECA.
The village of Seneca is located in the town of Seneca,
on the line of the Redfield and Gettysburg branch on the
Chicago & Northwestern railroad, fifty-four miles west of
Redfield and twenty-two miles west of Faulkton, the
county seat of Faulk county, and in the center of one of
the finest sections of rich agricultural and grazing land to
be found in the great northwest. From its location and
surroundings, it is, and ever must remain the important
business center of western Faulk county. At this writing,
Seneca contains two hundred twenty-five inhabitants and the
following business houses and with its various branches
of business indicates a live, enterprising town, viz:
Hardware and agricultural machinery, F. E. Hatfield
& Son, proprietors.
Hardware, Benson Brothers, proprietors.
Drug store, Hobart & Bickell, proprietors.
Post office, William Kellett, postmaster.
General store and meat market, O. A. Rogers, manager.
State Bank of Seneca, J. A. Dixon, cashier.
Farmers State Bank, B. A. Chester, cashier.
Bakery and grocery store, Frayn & Beath, proprietors.
Real estate, N. A. Hagan, manager.
Seneca Land Co., M. E. Stevens, manager.
Land office, A. C. Rudine, manager.
Palace Restaurant. A. T. Erickson, proprietor.
Barber shop, John Christie, proprietor.

182

Job work and printing, John Snell, proprietor.
Seneca Journal, John Snell, editor.
Livery stable, Ernest Ream, proprietor.
Livery stable, Peter Putes, proprietor.
Pool, billiards and bowling alley, E. D. Smith, pro
prietor. Saloon, Nugent & Christianson, proprietors.
Blacksmith shop, John Miller, proprietor.
Lumber and coal, A. J. Eaton.
Lumber and coal, William Bell.
Atlas Elevator, William Bell, manager.
Sleepy Eye Elevator Co., B. A. Chester, manager.
M. E. church, Rev. Tanner, pastor.
Catholic church, Rev. Father Keene, parish priest.
First class graded school, Prof. R. J. Calkins, princi
pal.

183

CHAPTER XXV.
FUTURE GROWTH.
The future growth and prosperity of the business cen
ters are dependent here as everywhere upon the law of
supply and demand. While the laws of trade give active
employment to an army of workers whose many wants
must be supplied, it is to the creators of wealth that we
must look, and upon them depend for the development and
prosperity, that constitute1 actual advancement and future
greatness. To the tiller of the soil — the farmer — must we
look and upon him depend for the supplementing of
nature's vast resources, in soil, sunshine and climate.
Practical illustrations upon every hand shows us that Faulk
county stands in the front rank with the class of her citi
zens not only in physical efforts, and in all the departments
of labor but in the use of mechanical appliances to produce
the most with the least possible expense. The seeder, the
header and the steam thresher many times multiplied the
labor preformed in former days, as did also the steam
breaking outfit, turning from eight to twelve furrows to
which is attached a pulverizer, leaving that which one
minute before was unbroken prairie, in fine condition for
the seeder. It is impossible for us to make at this writing
a correct estimate of the amount of virgin prairie that has
been transformed into cultivated fields with growing crops
since the first of April, A. D. 1909, with the fifty -three, of
these steam and gasoline outfits, and the many four and
six horse teams that have not been idle and which had

184

been depended upon for all the breaking until within the
last four years.
We venture the opinion that seventy-five thousand
acres is a very conservative estimate. Seventy-five thous
and acres of wheat and flax, more than was produced last
year, will go far in placing Faulk county in the front rank
among the oldest and most wealthy counties in the state.

185

CHAPTER XXVI.
FAULKTON.
As a business center Faulkton stands preeminently
in the front rank, with the following branches of business
established on a firm foundation, and doing a good paying
business, viz:
The Security State bank, A. W. Morse, president.
The Merchants Bank of Faulkton, A. M. Moore,
cashier. General merchandise, C. M. Whitney & Son, pro
prietors. Grocery and shoes, N. J. Frayn, proprietor, J. C.
Lingo, manager.
General Merchandise Co.,'W. J. Grater, proprietor.
General Merchandise, George Stoddard, proprietor.
General Merchandise Co., W J. Frad, proprietor.
Bakery, N. J. Frayn, proprietor; J. C. Lingo, manager.
Meat market, F. M. Ramsdell, proprietor.
Hardware, stoves, etc., Hollandsworth-Hart Co., pro
prietor; T. Picton, manager.
Hardware, farm machinery and general merchandise,
* J. H. Wallace, proprietor.
Farm machinery, harness and coal, A. A. Colgrove,
proprietor. Drug store, F. T. Reid, proprietor.
Drug store, S. Hall Jarvis, proprietor.
Furniture, A. Boiler, proprietor.
Watches, jewelry and silverware, L. A. Walker, pro
prietor.

186

Watch and clock repairing, W. A. Bowers.
Merchant tailor, C. Niemeyer.
Ready made clothing, C. Niemeyer, proprietor.
Newspaper and job printing, Bickell & Rice, pro
prietors. Newspaper and job printing, Fremont Young, pro
prietor. Faulkton Record, Bickell & Rice, editors.
Faulkton Advocate, Fremont Young, editor.
Postoffice, Eva M. Young, postmaster.
Millinery and dress making, Misses E. & J. Pad
dock, proprietors.
Millinery, Mrs. G. F. Kreasch, proprietor.
Blacksmithing, horse shoeing and repairing, J. P.
Turner, proprietor.
Blacksmithing, horse shoeing and repairing, James
Cramer, proprietor.
Harness shop, Butler Lambert, proprietor.
Harness shop, John Bass, proprietor.
Automobile repair shop, Butler Lambert, proprietor.
Livery and sale stable, Headly & Clark proprietors.
Livery and sale stable, Snider & Branneman, propri
etors. Queen City Hotel, Capt. C. H. Ellis, proprietor.'
The Gem Hotel, Rose M. Grater, proprietor.
Mart's Inn Hotel, M. J. Jarvis, proprietor.
Restaurant, Douglas Bros., proprietors..
City plumber, Geo. Zaelke.
Western Telephone Exchange, Mrs. J. H. Hays, pro
prietor. Opera House, A. W. Morse, proprietor.

187

Pool, billiards and bowling alleys, Tuttle & Ingalls,
proprietors. Pool and billiard hall, Barney McGough, proprietor.
Atlas Lumber Co., C. J. Moll, manager.
Atlas Elevator Co., Olaf Opsetta, manager.
Faulkton Roller Mills, C. B. Dodge, proprietor.
Hollandsworth-Hart Lumber Co., Thos. Picton, man
ager. Elevator, C. E. Warner, proprietor.
Bag-ley Elevator Company.
Real estate, F. M. Byrne.
Real estate, A. P. McDowell.
Real estate, F. A. Seaman.
Real estate, C. B. Chambers.
Real estate, Jensen Bros.
Real estate, F. A. Oulton.
Real estate, J. W. Hays.
Real estate, Phelps & Griff ee.
Real estate, Burr & Seaman.
Abstract office, I. A. Cornwell.
Abstract office, J. W. Johnston.
Stockman and cattle buyer, P.'H. O'Neil.
'Bus line, C. H. Ellis, proprietor.
'Bus line, S. F. Thorn, proprietor.
Painting and paper hanging, Chas. Greener.
Painter and paper hanger, H. J. Keppen.
Painter and paper hanger, Robert Drolet.
Undertaker and embalmer, F. A. Boiler.
Photographer, M. A. Cass.
Barber shop, Jarvis & Hansel, proprietors.
Barber shop, Geo. F. Kreasch, proprietor.'

188

Dray line, A. W Phelps, proprietor.
Dray line, S. F. Thorn, proprietor.
Dealer in ice, J. M. Dunsmore.
Dealer in ice, A. J. Flint.
Architects, contractors and builders, W. J. Dodds,
Claus Johnson and M.S. McDearmon. ,
Contractors and builders, J. T. Garwood, A. L- Allen,
and Wm. Nicholas.
House moving contractors, C. W. Miller & Son, and
E. J. Tuttle.
Stone masons and plasterers, E. Hulet, J. C. Church,
Vanmeerbeck & Ottart.
Surveyor and civil engineer, J. F. Armstrong.
Auctioneer, D. T. Lindburg.
Grain buyer, A. J. Wakefield.
Coal dealers, Atlas Elevator Co., J. H. Wallace, C E.
Warner and A. A. Colgrove.
Dealer in flour, butter, cream and eggs, T. R. Nan-
ney. Dealers in milk cream, live and dressed poultry, D.
Roberts & Son.
Cement block factory, Vanmeerbeck & Ottart, propri
etors. Rag carpet factory, Victorena Rush, proprietor.
Notary publics, A. M. Moore, A. W. Morse, D. H.
Latham, Mrs. D. H. Latham, Ruby McDearmon, Frank
Turner, Eva Hines, C. B. Chambers, and I. A. Cornwell.
Stenographers and typewriters, Mrs. D. H. Latham,
Miss Ruby McDearmon, Miss Mary Bryden, Miss Mayme
Brewer, Miss Fannie Bottum, Miss Gertrude Cornwell,
Miss Rhea Griff ee and Herbert Chambers.

MACK BAKER'S FARM RESIDENCE

191

PROFESSIONAL.
Pastor Congregational church, Rev. A. A. Wood.
Pastor Methodist Episcopal church, Rev. E. Holgate.
Pastor Free Methodist church, Rev. D. Waller.
Pastor Catholic church, Father Reilly.
ATTORNEYS.
Hon. J. A. Pickler, retired.
Hon. J. H. Bottum, judge of circuit court,
Frank Turner.
George J. Jarvis, judge of county court.
D. H. Latham.
F. E. Snider, state's attorney for Faulk county.
PHYSICIANS.
W. M. Edgerton, M. D.
Abbie A. Jarvis, M. D.
D. Carson, M. D.
A. J. McDowell,. D. D. S.
Foster H. Pierce, V. S.
C. B. Reynolds, V. S.
FAULKTON CITY GOVERNMENT.
Dr. W. M. Edgerton, mayor.
A. W. Morse, treasurer.
J. F. Armstrong, auditor.
F- E. Snider, city attorney.
C. C Norton, assessor.
S. F. Thorn, chief of police.
ALDERMEN.
First ward, H. L. Headly and Frank Oulton.
Second ward, C W. Miller and F. T. Reid.
Third ward, A. Boiler and W. B. Foncannon.

192

SCHOOL BOARD.
.J. H. Bottum, Frank Turner, P. H. O'Neil, J. F.
Armstrong and N.J. Frayn, directors.
J. H. Bottum, president; Frank Turner, vice president;
C C. Norton, clerk. HIGH SCHOOL FACULTY.
J. Jones, Jr., superintendent.
Hazel Louise Tompkins, first assistant principal.
Nellie Bottum, second assistant principal.
Mrs. J. Jones, grammar department. ,
Mae Race, first intermediate.
Mayme Byrne, second intermediate.
Margaret Nichol, primary department.
FAULKTON CEMENT BLOCK BUILDING FACTORY.
The manufacturing of concrete or cement blocks, one
part Portland cement and ten parts sand, has become an
established business in this city. A visit to the factory
secured the following information from the gentlemanly
proprietor, Mr. Vanmeerbeck.
There are now two buildings in the city of Faulkton,
a barn owned by Mr. Ernest Hulet and the two story
building on the corner of Ninth avenue and Court Street,
the first floor of which is occupied by the Faulk county
Abstract Company, I. Allen Cornwell manager, and P. H.
O'Neil's office. The second floor by the Faulkton Com
mercial Club. Three thousand blocks are now completed
towards a building for Mr. A. A. Cplgrove, 50 by 100 feet
and two stories.
These blocks are 24 inches long, 10 inches wide and 8
inches high, they are in two parts attached by four one-
fourth inch wire rods, allowing an air space through the

193

middle of the wall, which will prevent all frost or dampness
from the coldest of winter weather or extreme heat in sum
mer. The room required for this establishment is 20 by 28
feet with a shed 10 by 20 feet. The machinery used, includ
ing a gasoline engine, costs $700. A very little additional
machinery would double the capacity of the factory,
which is 70 or 75 blocks per day. As now running it re
quires a crew of three men at a cost of 30 cents per block.
With some improvements in location and machinery and on
a larger scale, these blocks should be had for $20.00 per
hundred and completely displace lumber for the outside
wall,- if not for the partitions for the most of our buildings,
at a much less cost while they would be almost fire proof.

194

CHAPTER XXVII.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION.
ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS.
Among the first settlers of Dakota Territory were
members of this ancient and honorable order. Yet it was
not until 1863 that a charter was granted for St. John's
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons at Yankton, under the
jurisdiction of the grand lodge of Iowa, with the following
list of officers:
Melanhen Hoyt, Master.
Douner T. Bramble, Senior Warden.
John Hutchinson, Junior Warden.
Moses K. Kingsbury, Secretary.
George W. Kingsbury, Treasurer.
George N. Proper, Senior Deacon.
F. M. Liebach, Junior Deacon.
Blight E. Wood, Tyler.
This was followed by Increase Lodge No. 257 at Ver
million in 1869, Elk Point Lodge No. 288 in 1870, Minne
haha ' Lodge No. 328 at Sioux Falls was instituted that
year and in 1875 Silver Star Lodge No. 345 was in
stituted at Canton. Delegates from these five lodges met
at the hall of Elk Point Lodge on June 22, 1875, and
adopted a constitution and by-laws for a Grand Lodge and
petitioned the Grand Lodge of Iowa under whose juris
diction they were acting sfor authority to organize under
a separate jurisdiction.

195

It was not until the spring of 1887 that any decisive
steps were taken to organize a Masonic lodge in Faulk
county. The following brethren having obtained their demits
from the lodges to which they belonged, received authority
to meet and work under a dispensation from the Grand
Lodge of Dakota Territory, viz:
Ira C. Adams Charles W. Dunkel
Roswell Bottum Edward Ensch
John Butman Charles H. Gardner
I. Allen Corn wdl Jeremiah H. Howe
John- Darby A. D. Hursh
Chalkley H. Derr Herman A. Kaeppler
John Douglas George A. Morse
Caleb H. EUis Charles C Moulton
John A. Pickler Donald W. Pillsbury
Tanson O. Sanborn A. Smith
Frederick Teed , James H. Wallace
Preston H. Wilson
On the 17th of June, 1887, they met at Faulkton and
perfected their organization by the election of officers.
While working under a dispensation sixteen members were
admitted. On June the first, 1888, the Grand Lodge of
Dakota Territory granted a charter for Faulkton Lodge No.
95, and on July 5, 1888, the first regular communication was
held at which brother James S. Huston, of Redfield Lodge
No. 34, haying been appointed Deputy Grand Master
instituted the lodge and installed its officers. After appoint
ing John A. Pickler Grand Marshall he proceeded to in
stall the following officers, they having been duly
elected:

196

Ira C. Adams, Worshipful Master.
I. Allen Cornwell, Senior Warden.
George C. Bissell, Junior Warden.
George A. Morse, Treasurer.
Charles A. Morse, Secretary.
H. A. Kaeppler, Senior Deacon.
H. D. Chamberlain, Junior Deacon.
C H. Derr, Senior Steward.
D. Bryden, Junior Steward.
D. S. Smith, Tyler.
Since July 5th, 1888, there has been ninety-four men
good and true, made Masons in Faulkton Lodge No. 95.
The following officers have been elected and installed
for the year 1909:
Hubert L- Headly, Worshipful Master.
Frank T. Reid, Senior Warden.
Clark L. Streeter, Junior Warden.
Alvin M. Moore, Treasurer.
James P Turner, Secretary.
I. Allen Cornwell, Chaplain.
Adelbert J. McDowell, Senior Deacon.
Arthur W. Phdps, Junior Deacon.
William J. Dodds, Senior Steward.
John Dignan, Junior Steward.
William Garrick, Tyler.
While a number have removed from the county and
taken their demits with them, the grim reaper— Death has
made his inroads, so that the present membership is re
duced to seventy-seven.
After the division of Dakota Territory, North and
South Dakota remained under one Masonic Jurisdiction
until 1899.

197

Free Masonry has found a very fruitful field in South
Dakota, counting among its members many of the state's
most talented, influential and reliable citizens. Today
there are lodges of Free and Accepted Masons and chapters
of Royal Arch Masons. YORK MASONRY.
The York rites of Free Masonry in Dakota Territory date
from February 25th, 1885, when charters were issued for
chapters at Yankton, Sioux Falls, Deadwood, Canton,
Huron, Watertown, Brookings, Flandfeau, Redfield and
others to the number of fourteen, delegates from which met
at Sioux Falls, July 8, 1885 and proceeded to organize the
Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons for South Dakota.
This branch of this ancient order together with the auxili
ary order of the Eastern Star have found a very fruitful
field in this state. The class of people who constituted the
pioneer settlers of Faulk County w ere of that degree of
intelligence that required just such social, and intellectual
enjoyment that this popular and influential organization
was prepared to supply.
It was not until December 21, 1888, that discussion
and agitation culminated in a meeting at the Masonic
Hall at Faulkton, at which decisive measures were taken
to secure from the Grand Chapter a dispensation under
which to meet in view of a permanent organization .
The first meeting under a dispensation was held at the
Masonic Hall in Faulkton, Jan. 23, 1889, with the follow
ing active members':
Companion R. G. Morton, High Priest.
Visiting Companion C. H. Ellis, King.
Companion H. S. Humphrey, Scribe.

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Companion M. S. McDearmon, Captain, of the Host.
Companion I. Allen Cornwell, Royal Arch Captain:
Companion J. A. Pickler, Grand Master Third Veil.
Companion C. H. Derr, Grand Master Second Veil.
Companion Jerome Ferguson, Grand Master First Veil.
Companion G. A. Morse, Secretary.
The Most Excellent High Priest read the dispensation
under which the Chapter was acting. It was decided to
elect a secretary and treasurer. Companion George A.
Morse was unanimously elected to fill both of the offices.
The following is the record of the first Stated Cqnvocation
of Faulkton Chapter No. 30 Royal Arch Masons, held at
the Masonic Hall, Faulkton, South Dakota, July 10, 1889.
Companion, H. S. Williams, of Aberdeen Chapter No.
14 South Dakota, a duly appointed Deputy, Most Excellent
Grand High Priest, installed the following elected officers,
viz: Companion R. G. Morton, High Priest.
Companion H. S. Williams, King.
Companion Ed. W. Lowe, Scribe.
Companion M. S. McDearmon, Captain of the Host.
i Companion P. H. Wilson, Past Scribe.
Companion I. Allen Cornwell, Royal Arch Captain.
Companion H. D. Chamberlain, Grand Master Third
Veil. Companion F. A. Seaman, Grand Master Second Veil.
Companion David Bryden, Grand Master First Veil.
Companion Geo. A. Morse, Treasurer.
Companion C. A. Morse, Secretary.
Companion J. A. Pickler, Guard.

JOHN HARRINGTON, FARM RESIDENCE

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The passing years have brought no unusual changes.
Some of its valued members have been called to the Supreme
Lodge and if found worthy, to enter into the Sanctum
Sanctorum above. Others have removed to other jurisdic
tions. From the surrounding community good men and
true have been found to take their places .
The opening year of 1909 finds a membership of
seventy Companion Royal Arch Masons, with the following
elected and appointed officers, viz:
Companion A. M. Moore, High Priest.
Companion I. Allen Cownwell, King.
Companion A. D. Griffee, Scribe.
Companion Thomas Picton, Treasurer.
Companion C E- Haskins, Secretary.
Companion A.J. McDowell, Captain of the Host.
Companion A. W. Morse, Royal'Arch Captain.
Companion A. A. Garrick, Grand Master Third Veil.
Companion A. W. Phelps, Grand Master Second Veil.
Companion John Dignan, Grand Master First Veil.
Companion N. J. Frayn, Guard.
EASTERN STAR.
Faulkton Chapter No. 69 Order of the Eastern Star
was organized in May 1907, and June 11th of that year re
ceived their charter.
This organization is composed of the wives, widows,
mothers, sisters and daughters of Master Masons. Al
though the Eastern Star is closely related to the Masonic
fraternity, it is no part of that ancient institution, but be
comes active in advancing the principles of Free Masonry.
From seventeen charter members there has been a
rapid growth of nearly one hundred members. Regular

202

meetings are held on the second and fourth Monday even
ings of each month. The officers for the present year
(1909) are as follows:
Inez Armstrong, Worthy Matron.
James Turner, Worthy Patron.
Abbie A. Jarvis, Associate Matron.
Mayme Bryden, Conductor.
Frances Cornwell, Associate Conductor.
Adah, Nellie Bottum.
Ruth, Nora McDearmon.
Esther, Louise Simon.
Martha, Mattie Colgrove.
Electa, Jane Lockey.
Elizabeth Jones, Secretary.
A. M. Moore, Treasurer.
Rheta Garrick, Chaplain.
Ruby McDearmon, Organist.
Sue Phelps, Warden.
Emma Moore, Sentinal.
Alice Morse of Faulkton is Grand Associate Matron
of the Grand Chapter of South Dakota.
THE INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
The Odd Fdlows of Faulkton in the early eighties
organized a lodge of considerable size which continued un
til about 1893, when owing to the hard times, and there
being no hall in the town that was suitable to hold meet
ings, which they could procure, they surrendered their
charter. This lodge was known as Nixon River Lodge.
On May the 2nd, 1906, Faulkton Lodge No. 169, I. O.
O. F. was organized with a good membership and is now
considered a good strong working lodge.

203

There is also a lodge at Chelsea, South Dakota, of
which I am unable to give the name and number. Also at
Cresbard where New Empire Lodge was organized on April
the 15th, 1909. These two lodges are located in good
thriving towns, along the line of the M. & St. L- rail
road, and in a portion of the county that is well populated
and in one of the finest agricultural sections of South Da
kota, and are destined to become strong aud influential
organizations. LILLY REBECCA LODGE.
There was on the 19th day of April, 1909, organized
in Faulkton, Lily Rebecca Lodge No. 116 with twenty-five
members, and has a bright future before it, with the fol
lowing officers:
Dora Louise Simon, Noble Grand.
Frances Champlin, Past Grand.
Anna Bixler, Vice Grand.
S. Belle Jarvis, Secretary.
Ada Dunsmore, Treasurer.
Millie L- Ellis, Warden.
Victorena Rush, Conductor.
C. E. Coste, Inside Guardian.
Ralph Warren, Outside Guardian.
James Dunsmore, Right Supporter to the Noble Grand.
Ada- Alden, Left Supporter to the Noble Grand.
Mrs. C. E. Coste, Right Supporter to the Vice Grand.
Violetta Shaver, Left Supporter to Vice Grand.
Emily Niemeyer, Chaplain.
ANCIENT ORDER OF UNITED WORKMEN.
The Ancient Order of United Workmen perfected an
organization in Faulkton in 1889. This is a fraternal and

204

insurance organization and has always been popular with
the business men of this city and has taken a strong hold
upon the rural population of the county.
DEGREE OF HONOR.
In December, 1898, the Degree of Honor organized a
temporary lodge in Faulkton, and since that time has been
in active operation. In that time it has paid three thous
and dollars or more on account of the death of members.
From the twenty-six, who were charter members, the order
rapidly increased in number until nearly one hundred had
identified themselves with it. The promptness with which
death losses have been paid has done much to give the lodge
both financial standing and a social influence both in the
city and surrounding country, and as a beneficiary organi
zation is well worthy the sympathy and patronage of a
much larger number. Meetings are held on the second and
fourth Saturdays of each month. The last meeting of
each month, refreshments are served and especial attention
is given to the social side of the order.
The order has had its home in Hay's Hall ever since
his block was erected and is in good financial standing.
The following are the officers for the year 1909:
Mary Griffee, Past Chief of Honor.
Victorena Rush, Chief of Honor.
Ann Thorn, Lady of Honor.
Louise Simon, Chief of Ceremonies.
Minnie Pangburn, Recorder.
Eva M. Young, Financier.
Emma Seaman, Receiver.
Altia Edgerton, Usher.
Frank Pangburn, Inner Watch.
S. F. Thorn, Outer Watch.
Mrs. Emma Rice, Advisor,

205

ORDER OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE MACCABEES.
This order was introduced into Faulkton eleven
years ago and a Hive established and a strong organization
secured. After a destructive fire, with hall, charter and para
phernalia all destroyed, the order has never recovered from
this heavy blow. The organization is barely kept up on
account of the insurance benefits secured through this
society. George Zaelke, Commander.
R. M. Whitney, Recorder.
THE LADIES OF THE MACCABEES OF THE WORLD.
This order was introduced into Faulkton in November,
1897, and a live working Hive of twelve members secured,
which was soon increased to seventy-five, fifty of whom
were benefit members.
A fire in which their lodge room, charter and parapher
nalia were destroyed was a hard blow to the organization.
The social members soon dropped out and by reason of that
and the removal of benefit members there are at the pres
ent time only thirty-five members, with the following offi
cers: Inez Armstrong, Lady Commander.
Millie L- Ellis, Lieutenant Commander.
Emma Burge, Record Keeper.
Mattie Colgrove, Finance Keeper.
Emily Niemeyer, Chaplain.
MODERN WOODMEN OF AMERICA.
Faulkton Camp No. 2774 of the Modern Woodmen of
America was organized in April, 1895, with ten charter
members, being a social order with fraternal features.

206

While the organization has received the hearty support of
the community and acquired a good membership, there has
not been a single death or a dollar of insurance paid out
since its organization in 1895.
The present officers are:
C L- Streeter, Venerable Commander.
F. A. Seaman, Clerk.
A. Boiler, Banker. •
MODERN BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICA.
The Modern Brotherhood of America organized a lodge
in the city of Faulkton in 1903. This is a fraternal and
insurance organization and has secured a very rapid
growth, having a membership of one hundred. Frank A.
Pangburn is president of the organization and Mrs. Eva
M. Young, secretary. GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
Phil. H. Sheridan Post No. 72, organized in 1895, has
had an eventful history. At one time, with one hundred
and twenty-three Civil War veterans in the county, one
hundred and two had their names upon the roll.
Through the earnest and persistant efforts of the
Woman's Relief Corps the Post has a place of meeting in
a fine Grand Army and Relief Corps building.
Many members have removed from the state and with
in less than one year five have answered to their last roll
call. There are now only fifteen members, the oldest
being in his eighty-fourth year and the youngest member
sixty-three. The ownership of the lot and building is vested in the
Grand Army Post and the Woman's Relief Corps and when
the last roll call has been sounded the property will revert
to the city of Faulkton for a public library building.

207

The following is a list of officers:
John W. Hays, Commander.
. A. A. Andrews, Senior Vice Commander.
H. A.- Wilkinson, Junior Vice Commander.
George J. Jarvis, Adjutant.
M. S. McDearmon, Quarter Master.
Thos. O'Neil, Officer of the Day.
- L. D. Wood, Officer of the Guard.
A. J. Sprague, Chaplain.
woman's relief corps.
Phil. H. Sheridan Woman's Relief Corps No. 43 under
territorial jurisdiction and 19 South Dakota jurisdiction
was organized May 24, 1888, with twenty-one charter
members as follows: Sarah B. Humphrey, Alice M. A.
Pickler, Helen M. Bissell, Hattie F. Douglas, Lottie A.
McDearmon, Belle F. McCoy, Nettie E. Haskins, Susan C.
Moulton, Retta H. Miller, Carrie B. Norton, Hester A.
Swearngen, Emma B. Miller, Lydia M. Bonsey, Viola E.
Wallace, Mary Etta Talcott, Jane E. Hughes, Martha
Andersen, Mary E. Summy, Silvia G. Bottum, Alia A.
Bottum and Mattie M. Johnston.
This organization has been one of the most devoted,
successful and efficient working Relief Corps in the west.
Too much credit cannot be given for the beautiful, com
modious Grand Army hall, now worth two thousand dol
lars, and for the sympathy and encouragement extended to
our comrades in sickness and in health, and for the most
loyal support, when the last sad roll call has sounded.
The following ladies have served as president of the
Corps in the following order named: Mrs. Humphrey,
Moulton, McCoy, Pickler, Wallace, Finney, Stoddard,

208

Whipple, Hays, Rush, Miller and Mrs. Spencer, now act
ing president. This corps . has also had the honor of having two state
department presidents, viz: Sue C Moulton and Alice M.
A. Pickler. The following are the officers for A. D., 1909:
Eliza Spencer, President.
Frances C. Champlin, Vice President.
Frances Hays, Junior Vice President.
Mary A. Finney, Secretary.
Emma Rice, Treasurer.
Victorena Rush, Conductor.
Emily Niemeyer, Chaplain.
THE TUESDAY CLUB.
The Tuesday Club of Faulkton was organized in the
fall of 1897 as a literary club exclusively for ladies. Meet
ings were to be held every Tuesday evening from October
first to May first.
The early membership was limited to sixteen and in
later years to twenty.
For several years Shakespeare's plays were the chief
study, and not one year has passed without some study
of one or more of the plays of the greatest master of litera
ture. Carlyle said: "The study of history is the preliminary
to all right and full understanding of anything we can ex
pect to find in books," and the club recognizing the fact,
has made thorough study of the history of nearly all the
great nations of the world. With the history has been in
cluded the study of geography, literature, art, music,
government and the people. Three complete years have

METHODIST CHURCH, CRESBARD

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CRESBARD

211

been devoted to the study of America and three years to
the study of England. Other countries studied are Ger
many, Russia, Scandinavia, Holland, Belgium, Italy,
Switzerland, Greece, China, Japan and Mexico.
Each year one program at least has been devoted to
both the question of Household Economics and the Woman
Question; In 1906 the club raised one hundred dollars to pay for
trees to be planted in the city park.
During the club years 1906-7 the club wrote a "progress
ive story" the main incidents of which were all authentic
facts in the knowledge or experience of the writers. The
story was named "Three P's" or Pioneer Pen Pictures of
Dakota, and was published in book form in the fall of 1907 ,
and has met with a ready sale.
The "open meetings" of the club, once or twice a year
have always been counted among, the leading social events
of the year.
In October 1907, the tenth anniversary of the organi
zation of the club was celebrated by a grand banquet, to
which husbands and friends, to the number of seventy-five
were invited.
The following is the list of presidents names from the
beginning: Belle F. McCoy, Sylvia G. Bottum, Mable R.
Morse, Carrie M. Norton, and Sue C. Moulton.
The club joined the "State Federation of Women's
Clubs" in 1900, and has been identified with all its pro
jects for general welfare and charity.
CHAUTAUQUA LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC CIRCLE.
The history of the county would not be complete
without at least a brief mention of the Chautauqua Liter
ary and Scientific Circle of the winters of 1887-88, 1888-89.

212

It was the .aftermath of a small circle which was the
source of much pleasure in the earliest days of Faulkton,
of which Mrs. Pickler was president and her home head
quarters. The later circle, with few exceptions, met weekly at
the home of George A. Morse and his sons, A. W. and
C. A. Its membership was composed of doctors, lawyers,
merchants, bankers, editors, ministers, housewives, young
men and maidens, about fifty in all, and the flow of wit
and wisdom was unsurpassed in any other literary circle of
the land. C. A. Morse was president of the circle both
years. There were many notable events in connection with
these meetings that cannot even be mentioned in a short
article, but who of the old crowd will ever forget Frank
Turner's recitation of'Tam O'Shanter," or the lecture on
Burns by Captain Douglas of Seneca, or the time the gen
tlemen played "Pyramus and Thisby" from Shakespeare's
"Midsummer Nights Dream." Joe Bottum played the
part of "Bottum," Joel Booth the part of "Pyramus,"
Leslie Bailey, "Thisby," A. W. Morse, "Wall," and C. A.
Morse, "Moonshine."
The birthdays af all the great authors were appropri
ately cdebrated in turn, and many brilliant papers were
read. The greatest event in the circle's history was when
Albion W. Tourgee lectured in Faulkton on ' 'Socialism
and its Allies," and a grand reception by the circle, at the
"Morse House," at which he read selections from his own
writings. His gracious, friendly cordiality was fully ap
preciated by those present and he seemed equally pleased
with his entertainment and entertainers.

213

THE SWASTIKA CLUB.
This organization is composed of young ladies and the
membership is limited to sixteen . The object is for social
and intellectual improvement. The meetings are held from
September to June on every Tuesday evening and the so
ciety has proved a perfect success for' the first year of its
existence. There has been general enthusiasm among all the
members to faithfully perform the work assigned them.
This club was organized in March 1908 and in July
became a member of the State Federation of Women's
Clubs. The first president of the club was Margaret Frayn.
The following are the present officers of the club:
Mayme Byrne, President.
Margaret McDowell, Vice President.
Katherine Harty, Secretary and Treasurer.
Margaret Nichol, Press Correspondent.
FAULKTON COMMERCIAL CLUB.
Leading all the improvements in the city was the
erection by I. Allen Cornwell of his fine concrete block on
the corner of Ninth_ avenue and Court street. The
first floor supplies two of the finest offices in the city,
one occupied by the Faulk County Abstract Company,
• supplying every facility and abundance of room for its im
portant and ever growing , business, the other by P. H.
O'Neil, who, on account of his extensive cattle business
is now known throughout the state as "South Dakota's
Cattle King." In addition to his dealing in neat stock,
Mr. O'Neil has made some extensive deals in real estate
which brings him well up as a real estate man.

214

The second floor of this building is the home of the
Faulkton Commercial Club. It contains four spacious and
conveniently arranged rooms with all modern improve
ments and conveniences. It has been furnished most
sumptuously and with every facility to care for and attract
a large membership. No organization has ever started
out under more favorable circumstances or made more per
fect arrangements to interest and hold together its more
than one hundred members.
Its genial affable and social president, Mr. P. H.
O'Neil, seconded by the mayor of our city, Dr. William
Edgerton, vice president of the organization, will do much
in providing not only the pleasing and companionable en
joyment that such an organization should afford, but in
bringing the members of the club in one solid phalanx to
support anything that tends to the upbuilding or the social,
moral and financial advancement of the city.
With the fact before her that each year adds largely to
the value-of surrounding farm lands, more largely to the
number of acres put under cultivation , together with the
rapid and almost unparalled increase in bank deposits
Faulkton must keep a pace in the onward march, and her
Commercial Club if true to themselves and the general
prosperity of our city must lead in the onward march.
The following is a full list of its efficient and popular
officers: Hon. P. H. O'Neil, president; Dr. William
M. Edgerton, vice president; Dr. A. J. McDowell, secre
tary; A. M. Moore, treasurer. The board of directors con
sists of all the above named officers, together with Messrs
A. Boiler, A. D. Griffee and Frank Oulton.

215

CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
The Congregational church of Faulkton had its birth
in the fall of 1883 in a rough board building sided up with
sod when a few earnest devoted christian men and women
met to organize themselves into church fellowship. This
organization was perfected January 10th, 1884, with thir
teen members by whom the following officers were elected,
viz: Rev. Clinton Douglas, pastor; P. B. Durley and N.
S. Whittlesey, deacons; George A. Morse, P. B. Durley
and M. Summy, trustees; E. E. Pierce, treasurer; R. G.
Newton, clerk. For more than two years the church oc
cupied a rented building. These were the days of small
things commencing before the organization of the county
and keeping full abreast with its development and improve
ments. Four years after the organization found itself in a
large well furnished church costing $4000.00 with a fine
toned bell ringing out its calls to worship. The bell was a
gift of Judge John Douglas of Lonaconing, Maryland.
To these thirteen members has been added more than
150 more and through all its years under eight different
pastors, stood in the front rank of moral reform and earnest,
devoted christian work.
After a two year pastorate, Rev. J. L- Fisher has just
severed his relation with this church to accept a call to a
sister church in Omaha, Nebraska. Doubtless before this
writing ii in the hands of our friends another worthy minis-

216

ter will have taken up the work just laid down, for while
God removed the workmen His work has and will go on to
the end of time.
In February, 1909, the church extended a call to Rev.
A. A. Wood of Fond du Lac, Wis., who is now faithfully
and acceptably discharging the duties of his important office.
CATHOLIC CHURCH.
On the 15th of August A(D., 1903, Rev. Father Reilly
called a meeting to arrange plans for a new Catholic
church in Faulkton.
There were seven earnest and devoted members who
responded to the call, viz: P. H. O'Neil, Patrick Duggan,
J. L- Grater, Henry Nicholson, Bernard McGough, Nicho
las Kennedy and Thomas O'Neil. Plans were adopted
and approved by Bishop O' Gorman and the work went
forward. A church building 36 by 60 was erected, an honor to
the city and a monument of devotion to the cause it repre
sents. In the summer of 1904, the church writh a seating
capacity of two hundred, at a cost of $7,000.00 and free
from debt, was ready for dedication , and on September 14th
of that year, Bishop O'Gorman of Sioux Falls, assisted by
Revs. Father Nolon of Sioux Falls; MacConnachie of Red-
field; Myers of Zell; Monohan of Gettysburg and Reilly of
of Orient, dedicated and set apart the fine edifice to the
service of Almighty God.
This was a most important event in the history of the
Catholic church in Faulkton and its immediate vicinity,
giving new life and power to its influence in the community.
Its worshipers have now increased to forty families and

217

still greater good will soon be accomplished through the
influence of a resident priest.
FREE METHODIST CHURCH.
The Free Methodist church of Faulkton, South Dako
ta, was incorporated on the 15th day of January, A. D.,
1900. Rev. Rufus Earl at that time purchased the build
ing from the Presbyterian denomination. Rev. Earl was
pastor of this church two years, afterwards moving to
Port Arthur, Canada, where he has since died and gone to
his eternal reward. Since Rev. Earl's pastorate of the
Faulkton circuit there has been four different ministers
serving this charge, Rev. W. N. Vennard, now of Wessing-
ton Springs; Rev. Gallaway, of Indiana, who has since
passed to his reward; Rev. W. D. McMullen, now pastor of
the Wessington Springs circuit and the present pastor Rev.
Daniel B. Waller, who was born in the state of Ohio in the
year 1866, and at the tender age of two years was left
motherless, and some of you know what home is without a
mother. He was let to do about as he pleased, so he grew
up something like Topsy. At the age of fifteen he left his
home and became a wanderer upon the face of the earth;
became a victim to bad habits and waded into sin, but he
will ever thank God that he had a praying mother, and he
was told by his sisters after he grew older that the last
words of that sainted mother was offered in prayer for her
baby boy and often times in after years when he would have
went into sin and probably crime, the thought of that
deathbed scene and that prayer from those loving lips
which were growing cold with the death damps, caused
him to stop and look with horror upon that road that leads
to hell and eternal night. Thirty years after that prayer

218

was offered, thank God, in the year of 1889 he became a
follower of the Lord. He was called shortly after conver
sion to preach God's eternal truth which he has been en
deavoring to do for the past six years and can say today:
He is walking in the light, and his path is shining
bright,
And there is no more night, where he dwells.
This old world he bids adieu, and its pleasures fade
from view;
All things now to him are new; all is well.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In 1885 Rev. Thomas Simmons was appointed by the
Dakota Annual Conference, missionary for Faulk county,
and located his family in Faulkton. And from that time
there has been regular Methodist religious services held in
this place. '
For two years the society was without any fixed place
of worship, but in 1887 the present commodious church
building was erected under the direction of Rev. Thomas
Simmons. For three years Rev. Simmons continued in charge of
his missionary work in the county. After the dedication
of the Faulkton church, Faulkton and Orient became an
independent charge.
At that time, with the failure of crops and hard times
that necessarily followed, it was a Herculanean effort to ac
complish such a work, for which Rev. Simmons and the
members, and the friends of the church, are deserving of
great credit.
This church, like others, has had its seasons of pros
perity and adversity, but through all these years has sus-

 " ¦¦¦¦  -

.¦¦'¦¦¦¦¦¦ ....... ...

W^^^^^M

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AND PARSONAGE, FAULKTON

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, FAULKTON

CATHOLIC CHURCH, FAULKTON

223

tained Methodist preaching. At the present time under
the pastorate of Rev. Ernest Holgate, who has entered up
on the fourth year of his labors with this church, there is
a very prosperous condition of affairs, a church member
ship of one hundred, a Sunday school of one hundred and
fifty, an Epworth League of sixty and a Ladies Aid of fifty
active, working members.
In 1903 the present parsonage property was purchased.
This makes the Methodist Episcopal church property in
Faulkton worth eight thousand dollars without a dollar of
indebtedness against it.

[By Rev. Thomas Simmons. J
, By the counsel of his physician in the spring of '84
Rev. Thomas Simmons was induced to try Dakota ozone
for his broken down health. The experiment was so suc
cessful that in the fall of '85 he entered the Dakota Con
ference to help build the empire of the Dakotas. He was
given the choice between a charge at $800 and parsonage
or to organize Methodism in Faulk county. He chose the
latter and became the first M. E. pastor of Faulk county
and January 15, 1886, began revival work at Eatondale
schoolhouse, closing a two week's meeting by organizing
a class of twenty-four members, then went to Hope Center
schoolhouse and in about a fortnight organized another
class of thirty-eight members. Next at LaFoon a class of
twenty-six, then to DeVoe where a class of thirty-three was
organized, closing the season with a nine* day's meet
ing at Roanoke (now Cresbard) organizing with forty j
two members. The work of the year embraced one hun
dred and twenty conversions, two hundred accessions to

224

the church, nine Sunday schools with preaching appoint
ments. Rev. Chas. Chapman, a local preacher from Iowa,
rendered good assistance in supplying these appointments
with preaching. There was no possible place to hold ser-
vices in Faulkton until the fall of 1886 when the new
schoolhouse was secured and the first M. E. church of
Faulkton was organized comprising the following names:
J. A. Pickler, Alice M. A. Pickler, Lula Pickler, Mrs.
Clark, Ollie Ireland, Mrs. Dr. Goslee and Anna R. Sim
mons. A Sunday school was organized with Mrs. Sim
mons as superintendent and J. A. Pickler, bible class
teacher, which office he has held with delight till his pres
ent sickness, except during his absence in congress.
From the schoolhouse we went to a new store building,
thence to the town hall and then into an abandoned saloon,
after some scrubbing and disinfecting, we called it Salva
tion hall and had one hundred conversions in our first
revival. By this time the M. E. swarm had multiplied so we
began to provide for a new hive. Having bought the sheet
ing and dimension lumber for a new church, we built with
it a temporary building to accomodate the congregation of
two hundred, and when ready put it into the new church,
meantime using a tent for church services. A happy peo
ple responded to P E. Fielder's call for $1100 to meet, full
arrears and enjoy Dr. Stafford's dedication sermon on the
last Sabbath of September '88 and the first Methodist
church of Faulkton was committed to the sacred trust of
the Board of Trustees, J. A. Pickler, Alice M. A. Pickler,
C. E.Warner, Nora Warner, C H. Seeley, Mrs. M. M.
Johnson.

225

The three year time limit permitted the pastor but one
Sabbath in his new pulpit. But he went rejoicing over
such results — from almost nothing had sprung into exis
tence — three full charges, seven Sunday schools, three new
churches built and dedicated, besides two preaching ap
pointments given to the Athol charge. Truly God wrought
marvelously in these three short years.
MYRON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
In the early spring of 1883 a few christian neighbors
gathered at the home of Mrs. K. Wirts, on section 3-119-69
and organized a Sunday school which, with many changes,
is still in existence.
The following spring, 1884, Rev. Clinton Douglas of
Faulkton, learning of this Sunday school and the interest -
edness of the people in it, called on some of the prominent
workers, offering his services for an occasional sermon on
Sunday afternoon.
The interest increased, and in April, 1895, an organi
zation was perfected, called the Congregational church of
Myron with the following members and officers:
Members, S. L- Maltby, Mrs. J. A. Stoddard, Mrs.
Louise Kimball, Mrs. Kate Wirts, Miss Annie Wirts,
Joseph Powell, Mrs. Sadie Powell, Wm. Bigelow and Mrs.
Helen L- Treat.
Pastor, Rev. Clinton Douglas.
Deacons, Joseph Powell and Stephen Maltby.
Trustees, J. H. Treat, Joseph PoweU and Wm. Bigelow.
Clerk, Mrs. H. L. Treat.
Treasurer, Mrs. Sadie, Powell.
About this time steps were taken for a permanent
church home, and by the united efforts of pastor, people

226

and Church Building Society, the now existing Myron
church was erected on section 7-119-68 and dedicated in No
vember, 1896.
M. Bodine and J. H. Treat drew the first load of
stone onto the ground for the church.

227

CHAPTER XXIX.
THE WOMAN SUFFRAGE QUESTION.
No history of Faulk county would be complete without
an account of the earnest and persistent work done by
some of our Faulk county ladies along the line of the
Woman Suffrage movement.
As early as 1872 the territorial legislature lacked but
one vote of conferring equal suffrage upon the women of
South Dakota. While the territory was too sparsely settled
for thorough and successful organization , there were
enough earnest, intelligent, educated women scattered over
the territory to keep the fire burning, and in this respect
Faulk county occupied an enviable position, with more
than a score of active workers. Mrs. Anna R. Simmons
and Mrs. Alice M. A. Pickler should receive special men
tion. In 1879 the territorial legislature passed a law giving
women the right to vote at school meetings, but the school
township law of 1883 which required regular polls and a
private ballot instead of special meetings, abrogated that
right. At the meeting of the territorial legislature in 1885
Major J. A. Pickler early in the session introduced a bill
in the house granting full suffrage to women of the terri
tory, as Under the organic act, the legislative body had to
prescribe the- qualification for the franchise. The bill passed
the house, February 11, by a vote of twenty-nine ayes to
nineteen noes. Gov. Gilbert A. Pierce who had been
appointed only a few months before by President Arthur,
failed to recognize the greatest opportunity of his life, the

228

power to enfranchise fifty thousand American citizens by a
single stroke of his pen . Such an opportunity seldom
comes to an American citizen and when so stupidly ignored
turns pity into contempt. In 1887 a law was passed en
larging the school suffrage possessed by women and giving
them the right to vote at all school elections and for all
school officers and also made them eligible for any school
office. At this time under the liberal land law of the Unit
ed States, more than one- third of all the land opened to
settlement in the territory was held by women.
In the same legislature of 1887, another effort was
made to pass an equal suffrage bill and a committee from
the franchise department of the Woman's Christian Tem
perance Union, consisting of Madams Helen M. Barker,
S. V. Wilson and Alice M. A- Pickler appeared before the
committee and presented hundreds of petitions and able
arguments. The committee reported favorably but the
bill failed in its passage to become a law. This is by no
means the extent of women's work and influence in South
Dakota. In all its history they have been a power in all
social and moral legislation, especially in regulating where
it was not possible to control.
In 1885 the American Women's Suffrage Association
held a national convention in Minneapolis, Minn., which
was attended by some of the most active and progressive
men and women of this part of the state, and who took an
active part in its proceedings.
The material for the following write up for another
work was furnished the writer by Mrs. Alice M. A. Pickler
of Faulkton, who is one of the most influential workers in
the Woman's Suffrage Association in the northwest and has

229

been honored with the presidency of the South Dakota
State Suffrage Association. In June, 1883, a convention
was held at Huron.
[History of South Dakota (Robinson), chapter 102,
page 597:]
"The territory of Dakota was created in 1861, but in
1889 it entered the Union divided into two separate states,
North and South Dakota. As early as 1872 the territorial
legislature lacked only one vote of conferring full suffrage
on women. The sparsely settled country and the long
distances made any organized work an impossibility, al
though a number of individuals were strong advocates of
equal suffrage. In 1879 women were given the right at
school meetings. In 1883 a school township law was
passed requiring regular polls and a private ballot instead
of special meetings, which took away the suffrage from
women in all but a few counties.
At the convening of the territorial legislature in Jan
uary, 1885, Major J. A. Pickler (afterwards member of
congress), without soHcitation, early in the session intro
duced a bill in the house granting full suffrage to women,
as under the organic act the legislative body had the power
to prescribe the qualifications for the franchise. The bill
passed the house, February 11th, by twenty-nine ayes,
nineteen noes. Soon afterward it passed the council by
fourteen ayes, ten noes, and its friends counted the victory
won. But Governor Gilbert A. Pierce, appointed by Presi
dent Arthur and only a few months in the territory, failed
to recognize the grand opportunity to enfranchise fifty
thousand American citizens by one stroke of his pen, and
vetoed the bill. Not only did it express the sentiment of

230

the representatives elected by the voters, but it had been
generally discussed by the press of the territory and all the
newspapers but one were outspoken for it. An effort was
made to carry it over the governor's veto, but it failed.
In 1887 a law was passed enlarging the school suffrage
possessed by women and giving them the right to vote at
all school dections and for all school officers, and also mak
ing them eligible to any elective school office. At this
time, under the liberal provisions of the United States land
laws, more than one-third of the land in the territory was
held by women.
In the same legislature of 1887 another effort was made
to pass an equal suffrage bill, and a committee from the
franchise department of the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union, consisting of Mesdames Helen M. Barker, S.
V. Wilson and Alice M. A. Pickler, appeared before the
committee and presented hundreds of petitions from the
men and women of the territory. The committe of both
houses reported favorably, but the bill failed by thirteen
votes in the house and six in the council.
It was mainly through women's instrumentality that a
local option bill was carried through this legislature, and
largely through their exertions that it was adopted by sixty-
five out of the eighty-seven organized counties at the next
general election.
In October, 1885, the American Woman Suffrage As
sociation held a national convention in Minneapolis, Minne
sota, which was attended by a number of people from Da
kota, who were greatly interested. The next month the
first suffrage club was formed in Webster. Several local
societies were afterwards started in the southern part of

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233

the territory, but for five years no attempt was made at
bringing these together in a convention.
At the New Orleans Exposition, in 1885, the displays
of Kansas, Dakota and Nebraska taught the world the ar
tistic value of grains and grasses for decoration, but it was
exemplified most strikingly in the Dakota's Woman's De
partment, arranged by Mrs. J. M. Melton, of Fargo.
Among the industrial exhibits was a carriage robe sent from
a leading furrier to represent the skillful work of women
in his employ. There were also bird fans, a curtain of
duck skins and cases of taxidermy, all prepared and cured
by women, and a case of work from women employed in
the printing office of the Fargo Argus. Four thousand
bouquets of grasses were distributed on Dakota Day and
carried away as curious and beautiful memorials. All
were made by women in the territory.
The long contention as to whether the territory should
come into the Union as one state or two, was not decided
until 1889, when congress admitted two states. Thence
forth there were two distinct movements for women suf
frage, one in North Dakota, and one in South Dakota.
SOUTH DAKOTA.
[The editor is indebted to Mrs. Alice M. A. Pickler,
of Faulkton, president of the State Woman Suffrage Asso
ciation, for the material contained in this part of the chap
ter.] In June, 1883, a convention was held at Huron to dis
cuss the question of dividing the territory and forming
two states, and a convention was called to meet at
Sioux Falls, September 4th, and prepared a constitution
for those in the southern portion . The suffrage leaders in

234

the East were anxious that this should include the fran
chise for women. Mrs. Matilda Joslyn Gage, of New York,
vice president at large of the National Suffrage Association ,
lectured at various points in the territory during the sum
mer to awaken public sentiment on this question. On Sep
tember 6th a petition signed by one thousand Dakota men
and women, praying that the word "male" should not be
incorporated in the constitution, was presented to the con
vention, accompanied by personal appeals. There was
some disposition to grant this request, but the opponents
prevailed and only the school ballot was given to women ,
which they already possessed by act of the legislature of
1879. However this constitution never was acted upon.
The desire for division and statehood became very ur
gent throughout the great territory, and this, with the
growing sentiment in congress in favor of the same, in
duced the legislature of 1885 to provide for a convention at
Sioux Falls, composed of members dected by the voters of
the territory, to form a constitution for the proposed new
state of South Dakota and submit the same to the electors
for adoption, which was done in November, 1885. Many
of the women had become landholders and were interested
in the location of schoolhouses, county seats, state capitals.-
and matters of taxation. As their only organization was
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, a committee
was appointed from that body, consisting of Alice M. A.
Pickler, superintendent of the franchise department; Helen
M. Barker and Julia Welch, to appear before the committee
on suffrage and ask that the word "male" be left out of
the qualifications of electors. They were helped by lettersr
to members of the convention from Lucy Stone, Henry B.

235

Blackwell, Susan B. Anthony, Lillie Devereux Blake and
others of national reputation. Seven of the eleven mem
bers of the committee were willing to grant this request,
but there was so much opposition from the convention lest
the chances of statehood might be imperiled, that they
compelled a compromise and it was directed that the first
legislature should submit the question to the voters. They
did incorporate a clause, however, that women properly
qualified should be eligible to any school office and should
vote at any election solely for school purposes. This ap
plied merely to school trustees, as state and-county superin
tendents are elected at general and not special elections.
The constitution was ratified by the voters in 1885,
with a provision that "the legislature should at its first
session after the admission of the state into the Union, sub
mit to a vote of the electors at the next general election,
the question whether the word 'male' should be stricken
from the article of the constitution relating to elections and
the right of suffrage. ' '
Congress at that time refused to divide the territory
and thus the question remained in abeyance awaiting
statehood. In 1889 , an enabling act having been passed by congress,
delegates were elected from the different counties to meet
in convention at Sioux Falls to prepare for the entrance of
South Dakota into statehood. This convention reaffirmed
the constitution adopted in 1885, and again submitted it to
the voters, who again passed upon it favorably, and the
territory became a state November 2, 1889.
The first legislature met at once in Pierre and, although
they were required by the constitution to submit an amend-

236

ment for woman suffrage, a vote was taken as to whether
this should be done. It stood in the senate, forty yeas,
one nay: absent or not voting, four; in the house, eighty-
four yeas; nine nays, twenty-one absent.
On November 11, 1889, Miss Anthony, in response to
urgent requests from the state, made a lecture tour of
twelve cities and towns and addressed the Farmers' Alliance
at their convention in Aberdeen, when it officially indorsed
the suffrage amendment. On her return home she sent fifty
thousand copies of Senator T. W. Palmer's great woman
suffrage speech to individual voters in Dakota under his
frank. A State Suffrage Association had been formed, with S.
A. Ramsey, president; Alonzo Wardall, vice-president; the
Rev. Mr. Barker, secretary, and Mrs. Helen M. Barker,
treasurer and state organizer; but the beginning of this
campaign found the women with no funds and very little
local organization. Mr. Wardall, who was also secretary
of the Farmers' Alliance, went to Washington and, with
Representative and Mrs." J. A. PicHer, presented a strong
appeal for assistance to the national suffrage convention in
February, 1890. It was heartily responded to and a South
Dakota campaign committee was formed, with Miss
Anthony chairman. The officers and friends made vigorous
efforts to raise a fund and eventually five thousand five
hundred dollars were secured. Of this amount California
sent one thousand dollars; Senator Stanford personally gave
three hundred dollars; Rachael Foster Avery, of Philadel
phia, the same amount; Mrs. Clara L- McAdow, of Mon
tana; two hundred and fifty dollars; a number gave one
hundred dollars, among them United States Senator R. F.

237

Pettigrew, of South Dakota, and different states sent vari
ous sums. The speaker raised about one thousand four
hundred dollars, which went towards paying their expenses.
Over one thousand dollars were secured by other means.
Most of the state workers donated their expenses.
The first of May, Miss Anthony returned to South Da
kota and established campaign headquarters in Huron. A
mass convention of men and women was held and an active
state organization formed, with Mrs. Philena Everett John
son, president; and Mr. Wardall, vice-president, which co
operated with the national committee and inaugurated an
active campaign. The new state had adopted as its motto,
"Under God the People Rule, " and the suffragists wrote
upon their banners, "Under God the People Rule; Women
are People." A large number of national speakers came in
the summer. Local workers would organize suffrage clubs
in the schoolhouse and these efforts would culminate in
large rallies at the county seats where some noted speakers
would make addresses and perfect the organization-.
Those from the outside who canvasssed the state were
Henry B. Blackwell, editor Woman's Journal, Boston; the
Rev. Anna Howard Shaw, national lecturer; Mary Seymour
Howdl, of New York; the Rev. Olympia Brown , of Wis
consin; Matilda Hindman, of Pennsylvania; Carrie Chap
man Catt, of Washington; Laura M. Johns, of Kansas; Clara
Berwick Colby, of Nebraska; the Rev. Helen G. Putman,
of North Dakota, and Julia B. Nelson, of Minnesota. Miss
Anthony was always and everywhere the moving spirit and
contributed her services the entire six months without pay.
When three hundred dollars were lacking to settle the final
expenses she paid them out of her own pocket. Mr. Black-

238

well also donated his services. Most effective state work
was done by Mrs. Emma Smith DeVoe, of Huron, and the
home of Mr. and Mrs. DeVoe was a haven of rest during
the campaign. Among the other valuable state workers were Dr.
Nettie C. Hall, Mrs. Helen M. Barker, and Mrs. Elizabeth
M. Wardall, superintendent of press. A large number of
ministers indorsed the amendment. Two grand rallies of
all the speakers were held, one at Mitchell, August 26th
and 27th, during which time Miss Anthony, Mr. Blackwell,
Miss Shaw and Mrs. Pickler addressed the Republican state
convention; the other during the state fair in September.
The 17th was "Woman's Day," and the fair association
invited ladies to speak. Miss Anthony, Miss Shaw and
Mrs. DeVoe complied. The summing up of the superin
tendent of press was as follows: Total number of addresses
by national speakers, 789; state speakers, 707; under the
auspices of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, 104;
total, 1,600; local clubs of women organized, 400; literature
sent out to every voter.
It would be difficult to put into words the hardships of
this campaign of 1&90-, in a new state throught the hottest
and dry est summer on record. Frequently the speakers
had to drive twenty miles between the afternoon and even
ing meetings and the audiences would come thirty miles.
All of the political state conventions declined to indorse the
amendment. The , Republicans refused seats to the ladies
on the floor of their convention, although Indians in blan
kets were welcomed. The Democrats invited the ladies to
seats, where they listened to a speech against woman
suffrage by E- W. Miller,, land receiver for Huron district

239

too indecent to print, which was received with cheers and
applause by the convention. The minority committee re
port, presented by Judge Bange, of Rapid City, asking for
an indorsement, was overwhelmingly voted down. A big
delegation of Russians came to this convention wearing
yeUow badges, lettered, "Against Woman Suffrage and
Susan B. Anthony."
The greatest disappointment of the campaign was the
forming of an independent party by the Farmers' Alliance
and the Knights of Labor. The Alliance at its convention
the previous year, four hundred and seventy-eight delegates
present, at the close of Miss Anthony's address, had de
clared that they would do all in thdr power to carry the
suffrage amendment, and it was principally on account of
their assurances of support and on the invitation of their
leaders that she undertook the work in South Dakota,
The Knights of Labor at thdr convention in January of the
present year had adopted a resolution that said: ' 'We will
support with all our strength the amendment to be voted on
at the next general election giving women the ballot— be
lieving this to be the first step toward securing those re
forms for whieh all true Knights of Labor are striving."
But the following June these two organizations formed a
new party and absolutely rrfused to put a woman suffrage
plank in their platform, although Miss Anthony addressed
their convention and implored them to keep their promise,,
assuring them that their failure to support the amendment
-would be its death blow. The previous summer H. L.
Loucks, president of the Farmers' Alliance, had made a
special journey to the state suffrage convention at Min-
neappHs to invite her to come to South Dakota to conduct

240

this canvass. He was a candidate for governor on this new
party ticket and in his speech of acceptance did not mention
the pending amendment. Before adjourning the conven
tion adopted a long resolution containing seven or eight
declarations, among them one that "No citizen should be
disfranchised on account of sex," but so far as any party
advocacy was concerned the question was a dead issue.
A bitter contest was being made between Huron and
Pierre for the location of the state capital, and the woman
suffrage amendment was freely used as an article of barter.
There were thirty thousand Russians, Poles, Scandinavians
and other foreigners in the state, most of whom opposed
woman suffrage. The liquor dealers and gamblers worked
vigorously against it, and they were reinforced by the
women "remonstrants" of Massachusetts, who sent their
literature into every corner of the state.
At the election, November 4, 1890, the amendment re
ceived 22,072 ayes, 45,862 noes, majority opposed, 23,790.
The Republicans carried the state by 16,000 majority.
At this same election an amendment was submitted as
to whether male Indians should be enfranchised, it receiv
ing an affirmative vote of forty-five per cent. ; that for
women suffrage received thirty-five per cent. Of the two
classes of voters it seemed the men preferred the Indians.
It was claimed by many, however, that they did not
understand the wording of the Indian amendment and
thought they were voting against it. (A graphic account
of this campaign, with many anecdotes and personal re
miniscences, will be found in the "Life and Work of Susan
B. Anthony," chapter XXXVIII. )
As the school suffrage possesssed by women applied

O. A. SWIFT'S FARM HOME NEAR CRESBARD

243

only to trustees and did not include the important offices of
state and county superintendents, and as it was held that
the franchise for this purpose could be secured only by a
constitutional amendment, it was decided to ask for this.
Through the efforts of Mrs. Anna R. Simmons and Mrs.
Emma Cranmer, officers of the state association, a bill for
this purpose was secured from the legislature of 1893.
As there seemed to be no objection to women voting for
schooltrustees, it was not supposed that there would beany
to extending the privilege for the other school officers. It
was submitted at the regular election in November, 1894,
and defeated by 17,010 ayes, 22,682 noes, an opposing
majority of 5,672.
In 1897 the above ladies made one more effort and se
cured from the legislature the submission again of an
amendment conferring the full suffrage on women. The
campaign was managed almost entirely by Mrs. Simmons
and Mrs. Cranmer. The national- association assisted to
the extent of sending a lecturer, Mrs. Laura A. Gregg, of
Kansas, who remained for two months preceding the elec
tion; and one hundred dollars' worth of literature also was
furnished for distribution. The Dakota women raised
about one thousand five hundred dollars, and every
possible influence was exerted upon the voters. The re
turns of the election in November, 1898, gave for the
amendment 19,698; against 22,983; adverse majority, 3,285.'
In 1890, the amendment had received thirty-five per
cent, of the whole vote cast upon it; in 1898, it received
forty-seven per cent. The figures show unmistakably
that the falling off in the size of the vote was almost wholly
among the opponents.

244

Petitions have been presented to several legislatures to
grant municipal suffrage by statute, but a bill for this pur
pose has been brought to a vote only once, in 1893, when
it was passed by the senate, twenty-seven ayes, eleven noes;
and defeated in the house by only one vote.
Organization. — After the defeat of the suffrage
amendment in 1890, a more thorough state organization
was effected and a convention has been held every year
since. That of 1891- met in Huron and Mrs. Irene G.
Adams was elected president. Soon afterwards she com
plied a leaflet showing the unjust laws for women which
disgraced the statute books.
In 1892 a successful annual meeting took place at
Hastings and Mrs. Mary A. Grosebeck was made president.
In September, 1893, the convention was held in Aberdeen
during the Grain Palace Exposition. The state president
and the president-elect, Mrs. Emma A. Cranmer, had
charge of the program for woman's day, and Mrs. Clara
Hoffman, of Missouri, gave adresses in the afternoon and
evening. In 1894 Mrs. Anna R. Simmons was elected president
and continued in office for six years. This year one hun
dred dollars was sent to aid the Kansas campaign. During
1894 and 1895 she made twenty public addresses and held
ten parlor meetings. At the convention in Pierre in Sep
tember, 1895, she was able to report fifty clubs organized,
with seven hundred members. Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt,
chairman of the national organization committee, was
present at this convention.
Active work was continued throughout 1896 and 1897,
when the submission of a suffrage amendment was secured.

245

The year 1898 was given up to efforts for its success. Mrs.
C. C. King established and carried on almosf entirely at her.
own expense the South Dakota Messenger, a campaign
paper which was of the greatest service. The state con
vention met in Mitchell, September 28th, 29th and 30th.
Miss Elizabeth Upham Yates, of Maine, came as a repre
sentative of the national association and gave two addresses
to large audiences. The following October a conference
of national and state workers ' was -held at Sioux Falls, the
former represented by Mrs. Chapman Catt, the Rev. Hen-
riette G. Moore, of Ohio, and Miss Mary G. Hay, national
organizer. Several interesting public sessions were held.
The annual meeting of 1899 took place in Madison,
September 5th and 6th. The tenth convention met in
Brookings, September 5, 1900. Mrs. Simmons having re
moved from the state, Mrs. Alice M. A. Pickler was elect -
¦ ed president. Mrs. Philena Everet Johnson was made vices
president. Others who have served in the official position-
are vice-president, Mrs. Emma A. Cranmer; corresponding
secretaries, Mesdames Kate Uline Folger, F. C. Bidwell,
Hannah W. Best; treasurers, Mrs. Elizabeth M. Wardall,
Mrs. Marion L- Bennett, Mrs. Clara M. Williams; auditor,
Mrs. John Davis; superintendents of literature, Mrs. Jane
Rooker Breeden, Mrs. Delia Robinson King.
Among the prominent friends of woman suffrage may
be mentioned the Hon. Arthur C. Mellette, first state gov
ernor; United States Senators, Richard F. Pettigrew,
James H. Kyle and Robert J. Gamble; Lieutenant Gover
nor, D. T. Hindman; Members of Congress, J-. A. Pickler,
W. B. Lucas and E. W. Martin; the Hons. S. A. Ramsey
and Coe I. Crawford; Attorney-General, John L. Pyle;

246

Judge, D. C. Thomas; General, W. H. Beadle; Professor
McClennen, of the Madison Normal School, and ministers
of many churches. The Hon. J. H. Patton and the Hon.
W. C. Bowers paid the expenses of the legislative com
mittee of the suffrage association while they were in Pierre
during the winter of 1897 to secure the submission of an
amendment. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, A. J.
Edgerton, was a pronounced advocate of woman suffrage
and appointed a woman official stenographer of his judicial
district, the best salaried office within his gift. Associate
Justice, Seward Smith, appointed a woman clerk of the
Faulk county district court. The list of other men
and women widely known and who have stood faithfully
for woman suffrage would be a long one. Among, them
are S. H. Cranmer, Rev. Ramsey, Mrs. Ruby Smart, Kara
Smart and Floy Cochrane.
Laws. — Neither dower nor curtesy obtains. If either
husband or wife die without a will, leaving a child or chil
dren or the lawful issue of one, the survivor is entitled to
one-half of the separate estate of the other. If there are
no children nor the issue of any, the survivor is entitled to
one-half of the estate and the other half goes to the kin
dred of the deceased. If there are none the survivor takes
all. A homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, or one-
quarter of an acre in town, may be reserved for the widow
or widower. Either husband or wife may dispose of separate pro
perty, real or personal, by deed or will, without the con
sent of the other. Joint real estate, including the home
stead, can be conveyed only by signature of both, but the
husband may dispose of joint personal property without the
consent of the wife.

247

In order to control her separate property the wife must
keep it recorded in the office of the county register.
On the death of an unmarried child the father inherits
all of its property. If he is dead and there are no other
children, the mother inherits it. If there are brothers and
sisters she inherits a child's share.
A married woman cannot act as administrator. Of
several persons claiming and equally entitled to act as ex-
ecntors, males must be preferred to females.
A married woman can control her earnings outside the
home only when living separate from her husband.
The father is the legal guardian and has custody of
the persons and services of minor children. If he refuses
to take the custody, or has abandoned his family, or has
been legally declared a drunkard, the mother is entitled to
the custody. The law declares the husband the head of the family
and he must support the w if e by his separate property or
lahor, but if he has not deserted her, and has no separate
property, and is too infirm to support her by his labor, the
wife must support him and their children out of her sepa
rate property or in other ways to the extent of her ability.
An act of February 21, 1896, makes the wife liable for
necessaries for the family purchased on her own account to
the same extent that her husband would be Hable under
a similar purchase, but ' with no control over the joint
earnings. The causes for divorce are the same as in most states;
six months' residence is required. The disposition of the
children is left entirely with the court.
In 1887, through the efforts of the Woman's Christian

248

Temperance Union, the "age of protection" for girls was
raised from ten to fourteen years. In 1893 they tried to
have it made eighteen, but the legislature compromised on
sixteen years. Rape in the first degree is punishable by
imprisonment in the penitentiary not less than ten years;
in the second degree not less than five years.
The penalty for seduction and for enticing away for
purposes of prostitution is prescribed by the same words,
"is punishable," which in reality leaves it to judgment of
the court, but the statutes fix the penalty for all other
crimes by the words "shall be punished." In addition to
this latitude the penalty for seduction or enticing for pur
poses of prostitution is, if the girl is under fifteen, impris
onment in the penitentiary not more than five years or
in the county jail not more than one year, or by fine not
exceeding one thousand dollars, or both; with minimum
penalty. Suffrage. — The territorial legislature of 1879 gave
women a vote on questions pertaining to the school, which
were then decided at school meetings. This was partially
repealed by a law of 1883, which required regular polls and
a private ballot, but this act did not include fifteen counties
which had school districts fully established, and women
still continue to vote at these district school meetings.
In 1887 a law was enacted giving women the right to vote
at all school elections for all officers, and making them
eligible for all school offices. The constitution which was
adopted when South Dakota entered the Union (1889) pro
vided that "any woman having the required qualifications
as to age, residence and citizenship may vote at any election
hdd solely for school purposes." As state and county

249

superintendents are elected at general and not special elec
tions, women can vote only for school trustees. They have
no vote on bonds or appropriations.
Office Holding. — The state constitution provides
that all persons, either male or female, being twenty-one
years of age and having the necessary qualifications, shall
be eligible to the office of school director, treasurer, judge,
or clerk of school elections, county superintendent of pub
lic instruction. All other civil offices must be filled by
male electors.
There are at present eleven women serving as county
superintendents. They sit on the school boards in many
places and have been treasurers. A woman was nominated
for state guperintendent of public instruction by the inde
pendent party.
Efforts to secure a law requiring women on the boards
of state institutions have failed. The governor is required
to appoint three women inspectors of penal and charitable
institutions, who are paid by the state and make their re
port directly to him. They inspect the penitentiary, re
form school, insane hospitals, deaf and dumb institution
•
and school for the blind. There is one assistant woman
physician in the State Hospital for the Insane. Women in
subordinate official positions are found in all state institu
tions. They act as clerks in all city, county and state
offices and in the legislature, and have served as court
stenographers and clerks of the circuit court. There are
eight women notaries public at the present time.
Occupation. — No . profession or occupation is legally
forbidden to women. Ten hours is made a legal working
day for them. Four women are editing county papers.

250

Education. — All institutions of learning are open
alike to both sexes and there are women in the faculties.
In the public schools there are 1,225 men and 3,581 women
teachers. The average monthly salary of the men is
$36.45; of the women, $30.82. i
The Woman's Christian Temperance Union was the
first organization of women in the state and through its
franchise department has worked earnestly and collected
numerous petitions for suffrage. The Woman's Relief
Corps is the largest body, having one thousand eight hun
dred members. The Eastern Star, Daughters of Rebekah,
Ladies of the Maccabees and other lodge societies are well
organized. The Federation of Clubs, the youngest associa
tion, represents two hundred members. A number of
churches have women on their official board.
In the year 1904 an effort was made, led by the W. C
T. U. of the state, to secure names of verified voters suffi
cient, under the inititative and referendum law, to justify
the legislature in again submitting a woman suffrage amend
ment to the constitution, to the electors of the state. They
presented more than the required number of names to the
Secretary of State, O. C. Berg, whose duty it was to trans
mit the same to the legislature, to be by them submitted to
the people. He refused to receive the petition stating to
the committee of ladies and taxpayers that they might in
voke mandamus to compel him to act if they saw proper.
As it was impractical to do this in the closing hours of the
session they again met defeat. We are pleased to state,
that at this writing, the men of Norway, Mr. Berg's native-
land, have given to their women the same political rights
that they enjoy.

F. D. PERSON'S FAULK COUNTY RESIDENCE

253

In the legislature of 1907 a still larger enrollment of
those who believe that women should vote was presented
and acted upon by the senate in a joint resolution, carrying.
by 24 to 21 and was lost in the house by 51 to 33.
In the legislature of 1909' through the efforts of the
W. C. T. U. a petition of over 12000 names was again
presented in both senate and house and a joint resolution
submitting the amendment to the electors in 1910 was
passed in the house by 56 to 42, in the senate by 34 to 10,
and signed by our broad minded governor, Robert S. Ves-
sey, who has always believed in the broad principles of our
national constitution, recognizing women as citizens in
every sense of the word.
Senator Frank M. Byrne and Representative Alex
Miller, in both the legislature of. '07 and '09, honored the
women and did credit to themselves in this senatorial dis
trict and Faulk county by voting in the affirmative.
Ever since statehood twenty years ago, the Equal
Suffrage Association has maintained an organization auxil-
liary to the National Woman's Suffrage Association.
The annual convention held at Aberdeen, June 18th,
1909, had representative men from republican, democratic
and prohibition parties and women representing the largest
organizations in the state, as accredited delegates. (
The roll call showed the following officers:
President, Alice M. A. Pickler, Faulkton.
Vice-President, Edith M. Fitch, Hurley,
Corresponding Secretary, Florence Jefferies, Ft. Pierre.
Recording Secretary, Rose Bower, Rapid City.
Member National Executive Committee, Anna R.
Simmons, Faulkton.

254

Treasurer, Jennie M. Taylor, Oral.
Auditors, Ruby J. Smart, Wessington Springs and
Jane R. Breeden, Pierre.
Superintendent Press Work, Jane Waldron, Fort
Pierre. President District West of the Missouri River, Nina R.
Pettigrew, Belle Fourche.
The covention dected the following officers:
President, Lydia B. Johnston, Fort Pierre.
Vice-President at Large, Harriette Curtiss, Aberdeen.
1st Vice-President, Mrs. Olson, Lead.
2nd Vice-President Mrs. Margeret Hendricks, Sioux
Falls. Corresponding Secretary, Emma Stiles, Blunt.
Recording Secretary, M. L- Ogin, Mitchdl.
Treasurer, Mrs. Record, Watertown.
Member National Executive Committee, Mrs. Scott,
Sioux Falls.
Auditor, Miss Walker, Bruce.
First Delegate to National Convention, Mrs. Philena
E. Johnson, Highmore.
Second Delegate to National Convention, Florence
Jeffries, Fort Pierre.
Third Delegate to National Convention, Mrs. Mundt,
Pierre. The National Society sent Miss Laura Gregg of Kan
sas and Mrs. Ella S. Stewart of Chicago, who were made
members of the convention, and as this is the third time
Miss Gregg has been in the state much credit must be giv
en her for timdy aid, while Mrs. Stewart's address in the
evening was a very able and convincing one to the very

255

interested audience that filled the court room to listen to it.
Mrs. Pickler, who for nine years has been the State
President, retires from active work on account of illness of
her husband and was elected a life member of the national
organization, Since the convention the Relief Corps and G. A. R.
at their annual encampment have expressed themselves as
favoring the amendment, and the Commercial Club of
Sioux Falls have invited the national association to hold its
convention in Sioux Falls in 1910. Prospects are bright
now that the pioneer women of South Dakota may come
into their own in the twenty- first year of statehood."

256

CHAPTER XXX.
THE FAULK COUNTY COURT HOUSE.
[By Hon. D. H. Latham.]
The present Faulk county court house was erected in
the year 1905, at a total cost of fifty thousand dollars. At
the general election of November 8th, 1904, bonds of this
amount were voted by the people and the proposition
carried by a good majority.
W. R. Parsons & Son, of Des Moines, Iowa', were the
architects and the structure is of the Roman style of archi
tecture. The building was erected by the Gray Construc
tion Company of Watertown. The court house is three
stories high, length 97 feet 6 inches by 65 feet 7 inches in
width with concrete floors and inside walls of hollow brick.
The outside walls are Omaha grey pressed brick, trimmed
with Lake Superior brown sandstone. The court house
presents a fine appearance^ and is conceded to be the best
one in the state for the amount expended.
April 27th, 1905, was a red letter day in Faulk county
for the corner stone of the new court house was placed on
that date with impressive ceremonies by the Masonic
order, county and city officers and residents from all parts
of the county. A strong box was placed in the corner
stone containing the following papers and documents, to-wit:
Printed program of exercises of laying the corner stone
April 27th, 1905, showing pictures of the building, also
copies of the Republican Record and Faulkton Advocate

FAULK COUNTY'S COURT HOUSE

259

announcing the program and sectional map of Faulk
county. Names of the present county officers, city officers and
school officers of the city of Faulkton also Brown & Saeng-
er'.s directory giving names of all state officers and members
of state boards, also published list of all members of last
legislature. Official ballot used by Faulk county in last election,
November 8th 1904.
Certified copy of proceedings of first board of county
commissioners showing date the county was organized and
appointments of first county officers, November, 1883.
A certified copy of resolutions of the board of county
commissioners of July 14th, 1904, submitting question of
voting on the court house bonds, also full certified copies
of all proceedings of said board since said date in regard to
canvass of vote, sale of bonds, letting contracts for the
court house furnishings, lighting and heating the same,
names of contractors and architect and showing total cost
of the building.
Also copies of official newspapers with published rec
ord of said board proceedings pertaining to the court house,
also picture and plans of the court house.
Documents giving history of each church organization
in the city of Faulkton.
History and names of officers of each lodge and order
in the city of Faulkton.
Copies of all newspapers puplished in the county, also
a copy of the first newspaper published in the county.
Names of all public school teachers and scholars attending
school in the county.

260

The first money collected by the first, treasurer of the
county, December 4th, 1883, being seven cents, was kept
intact until this time and the identical coin was deposited
in this box.

261

CHAPTER XXXI.
OLD SETTLERS' ANNUAL PICNICS IN
FAULK COUNTY.
The great events of the year in Faulk county are the
Old Settlers' picnics held in the month of June each year.
The Faulk county Old Settlers' picnic is held at Miller's
grove in DeVoe township, and the Western Faulk county,
Potter and Hyde counties Old Settlers' picnic is held at
Seneca. The two picnic associations were organized about the
year 1895, and were only attended by a few hundred the
first years, but have steadily increased in attendance each
year until now the attendance at the Miller's grove picnic
is three thousand five hundred, and twenty-five hundred at
the Seneca picnic. The entire county turns out enmasse
to these Old Settlers' gatherings and all enjoy the splendid
programs arranged for the occasion.
The pioneers of this part of the state were an intelli
gent, social, hopeful and industrious class of people. The
physically or mentally weak never emigrate — the strong
and courageous do. The true pioneer is a person of in
domitable courage, of great capacity for seeing into the
future. To such men and women we owe much. The
younger generation and new settlers appreciate and feel
the debt of gratitude.
The annual picnics are held for the purpose of bring
ing together the pioneers who suffered privations, endured
hardships and braved the dangers and storms of pioneering

262

in a new country. It is a pleasure now and quite the right
of these early day settlers in these years when they are be
ginning to rest, to meet and talk of the old times and to ex
change stories and reminiscences of the hardships of by
gone days.
It is interesting to note some of the changes that have
occurred in Faulk county since the first Old Settlers' picnics
were hdd. At that time the majority came in lumber
wagons from claim shanties, sod houses and dug-outs.
Now they come, a well dressed people, in top buggies, car
riages and automobiles, from large well built farm houses
with big red barns and artesian wells, driving through
thousands of acres of waving grain and corn fields. We
hope that there may be many more days in future years
when the people shall meet to pay honor that is due the
pioneers.

OLD CATHOLIC CHURCH, ZELL, BUILT 1889

MEHr CATHOLIC CHURCH, ZELL, BUILT 1904

267

CHAPTER XXXI I.
BIOGRAPHICAL
MAJOR JOHN A. PICKLER is a native of Washing
ton county, Indiana, where he was born on the 24th of
January, 1844, being a son of George and Emily (Martin)
Pickler, the former of whom was born in Indiana and the
latter in Kentucky, while both families early settled in the
Hoosier state, in the pioneer epoch. The father of Major
Pickler was for many years engaged in agricultural pursuits,
finally removing to Davis county, Iowa, where he engaged
in merchandising, as did he later in Kirksville, Missouri,
where both he and his wife passed the closing years of their
earnest and useful lives. Major Pickler passed his boy
hood days on the old Indiana homestead and secured his
preliminary educational discipline in the district schools,
after which he completed a course of study in the high
school at Bloomfield, Iowa, where his parents had taken
up their abode. He was later matriculated in the Iowa
State University, where he was graduated as a member of
the class of 1870, with the degree of Bachelor-of Philoso
phy. Shortly afterwards he entered the law department of
the celebrated University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor,
where he completed the prescribed course and was gradu
ated in 1872, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws.
After thus fortifying himself for the work of his exacting
profession he engaged in the practice of law at Kirksville,
Missouri, whence, in 1875, he removed to Muscatine, Iowa,
where he entered into a professional alliance as a member of

268

the law firm of Hoffman, Pickler & Brown, which held
prestige at the bar of the Hawkeye statey and he continued
to be thus associated until coming to Dakota Territory in
1882, since which year he has retained his home in Faulk
county. He possesses one of the largest and best selected
libraries in the state.
Prompted by intrinsic loyalty and patriotism, Major
Pickler early offered his services in defense of the Union
when "grim-visaged war reared its horrid front." In 1862
he enlisted in Company D, Third Iowa Volunteer Cavalry,
in which he became a non-commissioned officer. During
his period of service with this command he was granted a
furlough of thirty days in order that he might attend, in
Philadelphia, a military training school for applicants for
command in colored troops. He was later examined, in
the city of St. Louis, and passed for captaincy, and there
rejoined his regiment to await developments. He con
tinued in active service with the Third Iowa Cavalry until
1864, when he veteranized and rejoined the same company
and regiment, being promoted to second lieutenant, first
lieutenant and finally captain of- Company D, in the mean
while having declined to be mustered in as captain in the
One Hundred and Twenty -second Regiment of the United.
States Colored Infantry. Upon being mustered out of the
Third Cavalry he was made major of the One Hundred
and Thirty-eighth Regiment of United States Colored
Infantry, at the age of twenty-one years, and commanded .
this regiment for several months at Atlanta, Georgia
This regiment was mustered out in January, 1866, and.
Major Pickler then received his honorable discharge. He
participated in a number of the notable engagements of

269

the great internecine conflict and made an enviable record
as a faithful and valiant soldier and able commanding
officer. He retains a deep interest in his old comrades in
arms and is an honored member of the Grand Army of the
Republic In September, 1882, Major Pickler came from Iowa
by raikoad to Mitchell, South Dakota and thence by stage
to Huron, at which point he joined a party of gentlemen
who were going to the center of Faulk county to locate a
town, which they hoped to make the county seat. The
party proceeded by rail to Miller, Hand county, where the
subject of this sketch and others of the company procured
lumber for claim shanties, the material being loaded with
other lumber belonging to others of the party and designed
for the construction of a hotel in the new town. In the
procession that finally proceeded northward over the un-
tram pled prairies there were thirteen wagons, each being
well loaded. For eight miles out of Miller they followed a
somewhat beaten track, but thereafter proceeded across the
prairies without a trail, placing lath on various high points
as they traveled, in order that they might find their way
back by the same route. On sunf all of the second day
they arrived on the present site of Faulkton, locating that
town on the south bank of the Nixon river. The next day
Major Pickler settled upon a pre-emption claim adjoining
the town, and his pleasaut home is located on this property,
a considerable portion of which is now platted into town
lots. He was active in assisting in the organization and
development of Faulk county, being one of the most prom
inent members of the bar of this section.
In politics he has ever given an uncompromising al-

270

legiance to the republican party and has long been known
as one of its leaders in the state. He served as state's at
torney of Adair county, Missouri, and while engaged in
practice in Iowa was a Garfield elector from the second dis
trict of that state. He served as a member of the ¦ legisla
ture of Iowa, and in 1885 was elected to the territorial legis
lature of South Dakota. By his old colonel of the Third
Iowa Cavalry, General John W. Noble, secretary of the
intertor under President Harrison, he was appointed an in
spector in the public land service, in which capacity he
served until his election to congress in 1889. Upon the
admission of South Dakota to the Union, Major Pickler
was elected at large as one of the first members of congress
from the state, the fifty-first congress. He was re-dected
at large to the fifty-second, fifty-third and fifty-fourth con
gresses, and thus was a representative of his state in the
lower house of. the federal legislature for four successive
congresses, within which he accomplished much for the
furtherance of the best interests of South Dakota. He ser
ved as a member of the committees of public land, Indian
affairs, invalid pensions, irrigation of arid lands, alcoholic
liquor traffic and that of claims. He was chairman of the
committee on invalid pensions in the fifty-fourth congress.
He was not a candidate for re-election to the fifty-fifth con
gress but was a candidate for nomination for the United
States senate. He received tlie RepubUcan legislative cau
cus nomination and the unanimous vote of the caucus for
more than thirty days, but the Republicans were lacking
five votes of a majority and as it was deemed improbable
that a Republican could be elected, the representatives of
the party, with one exception, voted for Hon. Jaines H.

MAJ. JOHN A. PICKLER

MRS. ALICE M. A. PICKLER

275

Kyle to succeed himself as senator, and he was duly elected.
The senate succeeding President McKinley's first election
was known to be very equally divided between the Republi
cans and the opposition, and the national Republican com
mittee was very desirous; and so expressed itself to Major
Pickler, that in case it became apparent that a Republican
could not be elected, the Republican strength in South Da
kota be thrown to a man who would, if necessary, vote for
the tariff and financial policies of the Republican party.
In accordance with this expressed desire of the national
leaders, and after protracted support by the caucus, Major
Pickler advised the change of vote from himself to Senator
Kyle, who could be relied upon to support the measures
desired. While acting as chairman of the house committee
on invalid pensions Major Pickler became so popular with
the veteran soldier elements in the Republican party, that
petitions poured in from every direction by the thousands
asking the Secretary of the Interior to appoint him com
missioner of pensions, a request which if seconded by the
man who had been so anxious for him to withdraw from
the race for senator in the interest of the party, when at
last an equal chance for victory was before him, would
have assured his appointment, but the request of thous
ands of comrades was not seconded and the appoint
ment was not made. The Major is identified with the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of
Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He
and his wife are prominent and valued members of the
Methodist Episcopal church in their home city.
On the sixteenth of November, 1870, was solemnized
the marriage of Major Pickler to Miss Alice M. Alt, who

276

was born in Johnson county, Iowa, in 1848, being a daugh
ter of Joseph A. Alt, one of the sterling pioneers of that
state. They have four children, LulaA., wife of W.J.
Frad, dry goods merchant in Faulkton. Madge E., wife
of Prof. N. E. Hoy, editor of the Grand Valley Herald
and real estate dealer at Meadow, Perkins county, South
Dakota, Alfred A., editor of the Aberdeen (South Dakota)
Daily American, and Dale Alice, now a student at Sim
mons College, Boston, Mass.

ALICE M. A. PICKLER is the daughter of Joseph
andEliza Alt. She was born in Johnson county, Iowa, near
Iowa City, in 1848. She comes of a family very old in
America. A paternal ancestor, Michel Drew by name, left
the service of the king a few years prior to the outbreak of
the Revolution, came to America, and enlisted and served
in the Continental army. An ancestor on her mother's
side, Frederick Kepford, was with Washington at Valley
Forge. A family tradition has it that upon one occasion,
as he slept one winter night at his accustomed place under
a baggage wagon, his cue froze fast to the ground. The
names of these ancestors still survive among the Christian
names of the family. Mrs. Pickler's father was born near
Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and when a few weeks old was
taken by his family to Springfield, Ohio, where he lived un
til 1840. He then came to Johnson county, Iowa, and resid
ed on land which he obtained from the government, until
his death, in January, 1904, a period of sixty-four years.
Her mother, Eliza Kepford, removed with her people from
Pennsylvania to the same county in the 'forties, where she
married Mr. Alt and where they had their home together

277

for fifty-six years. She died February 5, 1904, one week
after the death of her husband. They were the last of the
early Iowa pioneers in that vicinity.
Mrs. Pickler lived with her parents upon the farm, at
tending the district school and engaging in the duties de
volving upon a girl living in the country at that time.
She attended the Iowa State University for a period of six
years, commencing when at the age of fourteen. She was
one of the early students of that institution and is a mem
ber of the Elder Daughters of the University. She taught
school a portion of the time during her attendance at the
university, a part of the time in the model school of that
institution. While attending the university she became
acquainted with her future husband, J. A. Pickler, who
was attending at the same time. They were married No
vember 16, 1870, She accompanied her husband during
his law course at Ann Arbor,- Michigan; afterwards they
resided at Kirksville, Missouri, two years and at Musca
tine, Iowa, seven years, from whence they came as pioneers
to Faulk county, Dakota Territory. She was accompanied
to Dakota by her two younger sisters, Kate E. and Nellie
Alt, the wives respectfully of W. G. Faulkner, ex-county
auditor, and D. H. Latham who has been state's attorney
for Faulk county.
Mrs. Pickler's parents' were quiet, but aggressive and
positive, people, who loved good principles as their own
lives, and in this atmosphere their oldest daughter, Alice,
grew to womanhood. The church and the temperance re
form found in her parents warm friends. During the great
Civil war eight of their immediate relatives had a part, ser
ving with fidehty and distinction, Mr, Alt was a Whig

278

and cast his vote for John C. Fremont for President. So
intense was their loyalty that it was deeply impressed on
the minds of the children who were old enough to under
stand the editorials in the New York Tribune, which was
the standard paper in the family. The enthusiasm that
sent hospital supplies to the army at the front was shared
by the children and young people. When the war . ended
a number of the younger soldiers attended school at the
Iowa State University, among them Major J. A. Pickler,
then twenty-two years old. A four years acquaintance in
this pleasant college ended in the marriage of Alice M. Alt
to him. Up to the time of their removal to Dakota, Mrs. Pick
ler's field of work was most and first of all, her family of
three children, the Methodist church and a membership in
the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. When she,
with others in that great territory of Dakota, began to
make homes and "plant the roots of states," a desire for
the same happy environments in the new state that had
been left in the old, led her into more active work along
broader lines. Her husband was a member of the territori
al legislature of 1885, which gave her a wide acquaintance
with many of the best and most active men and women of
the two Dakotas. This friendship she cherishes at the
present time. Her sphere of opportunity was still more
widened upon the accession of statehood and during the
eight years following she became acquainted with a number
of representatives of the western states, who made their
home for a time at the national capital.
Mrs. Pickler has been a member ef the executive board
of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union in her state

RESIDENCE OF HON. J. A. PICKLER

-m

281

for many years. Also was honored as the unanimous choice
for president of the State Relief Corps. She was also
national chaplain of that body in 1900. She was one of the
first trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church at Faulk
ton. She has been a grand officer of the Order of the East
ern Star. In all of these organizations she is an earnest
member, but to her family she is most devoted. The chil
dren, Lula A., wife of W. J. Frad, late editor of the Mitch
ell (South Dakota) Gazette and now dry goods merchant
at Faulkton; Madge E., who has become the wife of N. E.
Hoy, editor of the Grand Valley Herald and real estate
dealer at Meadow, Perkins county, South Dakota; Alfred A.
editor of the Aberdeen (South Dakota) Daily American,
and Dale A., now a student at Simmon's College, Boston,
Mass., have all done honor to themselves and parents in
their college work, and the positions they occupy.
In their pioneer home a large lamp always hung in the
window to guide the lost traveler on the great prairies to a
place of shelter. The home has grown tQ one of ample
size, of the colonial type. The light still shines and friend
or caller there finds the same open-handed hospitality which
helped in the 'eighties to weave the ties that bind in un
broken friendship those pioneers who have made the history
of the state of South Dakota.

HON. JOSEPH H. BOTTUM of Faulk county, South
Dakota, comes of sterling old colonial stock, both on the
paternal and maternal lines and both families are of stanch
English extractions. Record extracts show that two of the
ancestors on the maternal side were valiant soldiers in the
continental line during the war of the Revolution having

282

been participants in the historic battle of Bunker Hill.
The original patronymic in the agnatic line was Long-
bottom, the initial syllable having been dropped after the
establishment of the family in America.
Mr. Bottum is a native of the Empire state, having
been born in West Bloomfield, Ontario county, New York,
on the 26th of September, 1853, being the oldest of
the eight children of Henry C. and Helen M. (Burnham)
Bottum, both of whom were born and raised in Vermont,
as was also the paternal grandfather of our subject, Roswell
Bottum, who was a man of prominence and influence in the
old Green Mountain state, having served for a number of
terms as a member of its legislature and also held other
offices of distinction, public trust and responsibility.
The original American progenitors settled in the Mas
sachusetts colony, and the name has been long and honor
ably identified with the annals of New England. As a
man the father of our subject removed to the state of New
York, locating in Ontario county, where he was engaged in
the mercantile business until 1854, when he came west to
Wisconsin, settUng in Fond du Lac county and became one
of the pioneers of that section.
He was prosperous in his efforts and developed a large
and valuable farm, and is living at the age of 83 years to
gether with his aged companion upon the old homestead.
He always took a prominent part in the politics of county
and state and was for three years a member of the Wiscon
sin legislature. Joseph Bottum passed his boyhood on the
homestead farm in Wisconsin, having been an infant in
arms at the time of his parents removal to that state, and
his early educational discipline was secured in the public

HON. J. H. BOTTUM

MRS. SILVIA G. BOTTUM

285

schools, after which he completed a course of study in
Ripon College in the town of that name, being there gradu
ated as a member of the class of 1877 with, the degree of
Bachelor of Science. Shortly afterwards he entered the law
office of the firm of Shephard & Shephard, of Fond du'Lac,
the interested principals being leading members of the bar
of Wisconsin, and under their able preceptorship he con
tinued his technical study of the law, until 1880 when he
was duly admitted to the bar. He immediately came to
what is known as South Dakota and located at Sioux Falls
where he remained until the spring of 1882 , when he re
moved to Spink county, where he engaged in newspaper
work until March, 1883, when he located in the village of
LaFoon in Faulk county, five miles east of the present
county seat and was there engaged in the practice of his
profession until January, 1887, when the railroad was com
pleted to Faulkton whereupon he removed to this point
where he has ever since been prominent in professional
work and public and civic affairs, being one of the most
successful members of the county bar and being held in the
highest regard in the community as is evident from the
dignified official position which he has been called to fill
in the gift of the people.
When the county was organized in 1883, Mr. Bottum
had the distinction of being its first register of deeds, La
Foon being the county seat. From 1890 to 1894 inclusive,
he served as state's attorney for the county, making an
enviable record as a public prosecutor. In 1898 he was
elected to represent his district in the state senate, serving in
the sixth general assembly and in 1902 he was again chosen
to that important position, having gained the reputation of

286

a conservative and conscientious legislator, thoroughly de
voted to the interest of the people.
In 1906 Mr. Bottum was again chosen state's attorney
for his county which office he so ably and successfully filled ,
that he was unanimously nominated by the republican con
vention of 1908 for re-election, an action that was promptly
ratified at the November election by the electors of the
county by an overwhelming majority.
Mr. Bottum has also served as city attorney for his
home city, and upon the creation of the tenth judicial circuit
he was appointed by Gov. Vessey, judge of the new circuit,
a position which his large, extended and diversified prac
tice has prepared him in a marked degree to fill, with honor
for himself, and to the satisfaction of the people he will be
called to serve.
Judge Bottum is fraternally a Royal Arch Mason and
is also identified with the Knights of Pythias and the
Ancient Order of United Workman. He takes great inter
est in local affairs, especially along educational lines.
In 1885 he was united in marriage with Miss Sylvia
G. Smith, daughter of Hon. D. S. Smith, and to them have
been born seven children, viz: Ndlie, Fannie, Dora, Emily;
Julia, Roswell and Joseph H.

HON. FRANK M. BYRNE was born in Volney, Iowa,
October 23rd, 1858, and received his education in the pub
lic schools. In 1879, immediately after his majority he came to
Sioux Falls, Dakota Territory. The following year he lo- '
cated a homestead in Grant township, McCook county.
In 1888 Mr. Byrne became a resident of FAaulk county.

HON. PRANK M. BYRNE

289

Two years later, 1890, he was elected state senator to the
first South Dakota legislature.
In 1898 he was elected county treasurer for Faulk
county and re-elected to the same office in 1900. In 1906
Mr. Byrne was again elected senator from the thirty-fifth
senatorial district, composed of Faulk and Potter counties, •
and through that session of the legislature his duties were
so successfully and satisfactorily performed that he was re
nominated and elected to succeed himself in 1908.
In the legislature of 1909 his senatorial duties were so
faithfully performed that it is safe to predict that the in
telligent and far seeing constituency that have so cordially
and heartily given him their support, will not permit him
to retire from public life.
Mr. Byrne is a sdf made man and occupies an enviable
position socially, financially and politically among his
fellow citizens; a man of sound judgment, large experience
and yet a comparatively young man. He certainly has a
bright future before him.
In April, 1888, he was united in marriage with Miss
Emma Beaver of Kenton, Ohio. To them have been born
five children, viz: Carroll, Francis, Malcolm, Joe and
Emmons. Mr. Byrne is engaged in the real estate business with
his office on Court street in the city of Faulkton, where he
commands the confidence and respect of the entire com
munity.

PATRICK H. O'NEIL who is extensively engaged in
stock raising and has come to be recognized as the "Cattle
King" of South Dakota, is a native of the Badger state,

290

having been born in New7 Richmond, St. Croix county,
Wisconsin, on the 16th of February, 1866, being a son of
Thomas O'Neil who was born and raised in Ireland and
when a young man came to America and located in Wis
consin, where he maintained a home for forty years.
The subject of this sketch was raised and educated in
Wisconsin until "he attained his legal majority. In 1887
he came to Dakota Territory and located at Faulkton where
he engaged in the meat market business, which soon de
veloped into the live stock industry upon a large scale.
In 1906 Mr. O'Neil had twenty-two thousand acres under
fence, twelve thousand of which he owned, upon, which
roamed his thousands of head of neat cattle and sheep.
That summer he sold ninty-seven thousand eight hundred
dollars worth of stock at one sale, to one man. His aver
age run of sheep was about fifteen thousand head.
In 1906 Mr. O'Neil in the consciousness that the best
interest of Faulk county demanded an increase of popula
tion and the cultivation of its unbroken prairie, yielded to
the increasing demand for more farm land and sold ten
thousand acres of his pasture land to be cut up into farms.
This has not materially changed, but has to some extent
modified, his plan of handling live stock. In fact the un
faltering courage, the undying faith that has urged him on
while others stood still, is a part of the man. His sound
judgment, prompt action and careful looking after the de
tails of every business transaction and every branch of his
business has led to success where others failed, a power
that enables him to carry out his plans and do the work of
half a dozen common men. It is impossible to measure his
business energy and force by any common rule. In a

291

single season to handle ten thousand head of cattle and cut
eight thousand to nine thousand tons of hay, with prosperi
ty following every line of industry, is no uncommon feat
for the subject of our sketch.
Since disposing of his large holdings in real estate,
Mr. O'Neil has found himself in a situation to take up
other business industries.
He has served on the local school board for several
years and taken a deep interest in our educational institu
tion. He is a director in the Merchants' Bank of F'aulkton,
vice president of the Bank of Cresbard and a stockholder
in the Western National Bank at Mitchell and the Redfield
National. He is active in all live stock interests. He has
just returned from the Pacific coast where he was a dele
gate to the American National Live Stock Association
by whom he wras elected a member of the executive
board of the association and made a member of the
committee on transportation. He was appointed on
a committee of five by Governor Crawford to represent
the state at the National Corn Exposition at Omaha, Ne
braska. He was the first president of the Faulkton Com
mercial Club, and is still holding that important local
office. Mr. O'Neil is a republican in politics and an active
worker in the party. He was a delegate to the Republican
National Convention at Chicago last June that placed
Judge Taft in nomination for the presidency; and vice
president of the convention for South Dakota.
Socially he started right, on June 13th, 1888, when he
was united in marriage to Miss Annie Carline and to them
have been born six children, viz: Aloysius B., Johanna,
Mary E., Ignatius Patrick, John Thomas and Henry A.

292

MRS. ANNIE (CARLINE) O'NEIL, daughter of
Bryan and Bridget Carline, was born in Lexington, Illinois.
Her parents were natives of Ireland and were among
the Illinois pioneers, having immigrated "> that state in
1860 and located at Lexington. Eight yi rs later they
moved to Chenoa in the same county where t± ey owned a
beautiful farm and where their children had the ^vantages
of the Chenoa city schools, an advantage that Mi. . O'Neil
has found of almost untold value to her in the activo duties
and responsibilities with which she has been surrounded,
not only as a wife and mother, but in social and church
work, that has been thrust upon her.
As soon after leaving school as her age would allow,
in company with her brother, P. J. Carline, she came to
Dakota Territory, in 1885, and located government land in
Hand county, having used her homestead right upon the
northeast quarter of section 29, township 129, -range 70 in
that county. It was while holding down this claim that
Miss Carline first met Mr. P- H.' O'Neil and on June 13th,
1888, they were united in holy matrimony at holy mass at
the Catholic church at Zell, Faulk county, Rev. Father
Benning, assisted by Rev. Father Menser, presiding. To
them have been born six children. In addition to all the
duties of home life, Mrs. O'Neil has fiUed an important
place in social and christian life, ever lending a helping
hand to her husband, Mr. O'Neil, in the all important
part he has taken in the erection of St. Thomas Catholic
church in thdr home city and in advancing its interests in
every good work. It is not alone upon sectarian lines but,
in every effort for the upbuilding of educational and chris
tian work, both Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil are active and efficient
workers.

P- H. O'NEIL

MRS. ANNIE CARLINE O'NEIL

297

Mrs. O'Neil is a member of the Faulkton Ladies Lit
erary Tuesday Club and is the writer of a chapter in a work
of real merit, edited by the club and given the very appro
priate title of "Pen Pictures of Pioneer Life," a work that
Mr. Robinson, the state historian, speaks of in most com
plimentary terms. For several years Mrs. O'Neil has rep
resented her club at the annual meetings of the South Da
kota State Federation of Women's Clubs and has been as
signed committee work by the state organizer.

REV. THOMAS SIMMONS was born in Indepen
dence, Richland county, Ohio, December 23, 1841, immi
grating to Iowa with his parents in 1852, where they locat
ed in Tipton, Cedar county, where he grew up to young
manhood. At twenty-three years of age he was converted to God
and united with the Methodist Episcopal church. In two
years from his conversion he received a call from God to
preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. He gave up all his plans
for his future prosperity and entered Cornell College, at
Mount Vernon, Iowa, to fit himself for the ministry. At
the close of his college career, he joined the upper Iowa
conference and in 1873 and for eleven years thereafter ad
vanced steadily, in rising grades of appointment, until
through the efforts of Mr. and Mrs. J. A. Pickler, he took
a transfer to the Dakota conference and was assigned to
the pastorate of Faulk county. But one feeble Methodist
Episcopal church was in existence at that time. He tra
veled the whole county through in 1882-1885 holding eight
revival meetings and' organizing as a result of his work
three good charges. To accomplish this work he traveled

298

four thousand miles in an open buggy, through winter's
cold and summer's heat. Four church buildings have been
erected through his labors, viz: at Faulkton, DeVoe, Orient
and Seneca. He was pastor of the first three named from
1884-1885 to 1888 and Seneca from 1906 to 1908. At all
these places he left strong church organizations. At Seneca
he found but one member and the church paid but a nomi
nal salary when he took the charge. When he closed his
pastorate he left a church of forty members able to pay
an eight hundred dollar salary.
In 1893 he was appointed by Bishop Nird, presiding
elder of the Huron district. This office he faithfully and
successfully filled for six years, building up the church and
assisting his pastors; witnessing an average increase of
five hundred souls brought to Christ each year in his dis
trict. Through all the dark days of Faulk county's, history
Rev. Mr. Simmons had . unbroken faith in its future and
all his careful earnings were invested in Faulk county
lands, surrounding a pleasant and happy home adjoining
the city limits of Faulkton.
God has greatly blessed his labors through all the years
of his ministry but nowhere no more marked and signally
than in Faulkton and Faulk county. Two most successful
revivals were held in Faulkton during the winter of 1 886
and 1887, the latter resulting in driving every gambler and
saloon keeper out. of town to the rejoicing of Israel's hosts.

[By Mrs. A. M. A. Pickler}
MRS. ANNA R. SIMMONS was born in Nashville,
Ohio, and came with her parents to Muscatine, Iowa.
Later her home was in Tipton.. Iowa, where she resided a

REV. THOMAS SIMMONS

MRS. ANNA R. SIMMONS

303

number of years. She was educated at Cornell college,
Iowa and ranked among the foremost as a student.
In 1873 she was united in marriage with Rev. Thomas
Simmons, an honored member of the South Dakota Annual
Conference and Methodist Episcopal church. No woman
who ever lived or worked in South Dakota is more widely
known or more thoroughly respected than Mrs. Simmons,
who for six years was president of the South Dakota Equal
Suffrage Association, and for nine years vice president of
the South Dakota Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
FAor more than twenty-five years, she has labored in
reform work, ever seconding , her husbands efforts in his
ministerial labors, toiling unceasingly for. the betterment
of humanity. She has rendered South Dakota most valuable service
in legislative work. The passage of the equal suffrage
amendment by the state legislature in 1898 was largely due
to her efforts. As a speaker she is earnest and convincing,
always impressing her hearers with her honesty of purpose
and nobiHty of soul.
A few years ago Miss Susan B. Anthony invited Mrs.
Simmons to address the franchise committee of the United
States senate. No address before the committee was better
received or called forth more enthusiastic applause. Mrs.
Simmons' lecture at Lake Madison Chautauqua was pro
nounced strong and logical. Her services have been in
demand not only in this, but in every state of the Union.
Whfle Mrs. Simmons has been wonderfully successful
as a reformer, there are few who would undergo the per
sonal sacrifice and hardship which have come to her. She
has more than once tested the truthfulness of the words.,

304

"no lonliness is more lonely, no separation more absolute,
no tears more hot and bitter than is experienced in the lot
of those who would change the world's destiny, heal its
sores and quiet its pains,'.' but believing she was doing the
Master's service, she has gone forward with steadfastness
of purpose and unfaltering faith.
Rev. and Mrs. Simmons came to Dakota in 1884, and
their work in this state has been a benediction to many
lives. Long may this gentle comrade live to work and pray!
"For the cause that lacks assistance,
For the wrongs that need resistence,
For the future in the distance,
And the good that she can do. "

I. ALLEN CORNWELL was born in Arcade, New
York, March 18th, 1853, and is a son of John Cornwell,
who was born and reared in England and served for some
time as a marine in the British navy. About 1830 the
father came to this country and devoted his time and at
tention to farming. In 1834 he married Miss Viletta Sea-
mon, a daughter of Peter Seam on, a full blooded Yankee
and a farmer by occupation , spending his last days in Can
ada. Mr. Cornwell is the youngest of a family of six chil
dren . Two brothers died in the service of their country
during the Civil War.
In his native place I. Allen Cornwell grew to man
hood and completed his literary education in the Arcade
Academy. From 1876 to 1879 he devoted his attention to
the study of law and then conducted the Arcade Leader of
Arcade until the spring of 1883 when he came to Faulk

FAULK COUNTY ABSTRACT BUILDING, FAULKTON, S. D.

307

county, Dakota Territory, with three companions. He
located on land three miles from the town of LaFoon in a
shanty 10 by 12 feet which he erected upon his place. He
lived alone for two years, hauling his supplies from Red-
field, a distance of thirty-five miles. On September 27th,
1885, Mr. Cornwell was, united im marriage with Miss
Katie M. Derr, a daughter of Hon. C. H. Derr, a pioneer
of Faulk county and who served for twelve years as county
judge of this county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Cornwell have been born six children,
viz: Gertrude, Frances, Mary, John, Essie and Inez.
Mr. Cornwell continued to reside upon his farm until
the fall of 1886, when he was elected register of deeds for
Faulk county on the people's ticket, and removed to Faulk
ton to assume the duties of the office.
While filling that position he became interested in the
real estate business in partnership with P. H. Wilson, and
in 1888 also started the Faulk County Abstract Company,
a business that has been exceedingly profitable and is now
owned and controlled by himself and wife, and successfully
managed from their commodious office, in their fine new
building, within a stone's thrqw of the county court house.
Socially Mr. Cornwell is affable and congenial and is sur
rounded by many warm and devoted friends.
Politically he is a democrat and has held an almost
commanding influence in the patty in this county, but his
friendship and sociability is not confined to party lines, he is
ever ready to aid any worthy enterprise. Mr. Cornwell be
came a Royal Arch Mason and has served as master of the
blue lodge four terms and as high priest of the chapter.

308

FRED ANDREW SEAMAN was born in Arcade,
Wyoming county, New York, on March 11, 1857. His
parents were Andrew and Mary A. (Jackman) Seaman, the
former a native of Holland, who came to America when he
was seventeen years of age, with his parents. The mother
was born in Sardinia, Erie county, New York. The father
died in 1882 and the mother has made her home in Faulk
ton, being in her 76th year.
Fred A. Seaman resided in Arcade, New York, until
he was twenty -five years of age. He received a common
school and academic education.
He came to Dakota Territory in 1882 and located at
LaFoon which afterwards became the county seat upon the
organization of Faulk county. He organized the Faulk
county bank in LaFoon in 1885 and became its cashier.
He removed to Faulkton in the faU of 1886, moving the
bank from LaFoon. The bank was closed in 1890. For the
past seven years Mr. Seaman has been engaged in the real
estate business and insurance, both fire and life, in Faulkton.
He was united in marriage, December 2nd, 1886, to
Miss Julia E. Smith of LaFoon, daughter of Hon. D. S.
Smith who has served in the South Dakota state senate.
To Mr. and Mrs. Seaman have been born nine children of
whom two sons and two daughters are living, Leonard 17,
Paul 12, Sylvia 3 andFae Harriet 4 months. Mr. Seaman
is a Mason being a member of the blue lodge and chapter.
Also a member of the Modern Woodman of America, the
Ancient Order of the Royal Arcanun and A. O. U. W.
He is a member of the Congregational church.

309

ABRAHAM D. GRIFFEE is a native of the state of
Iowa, having been born in the city of Oskaloosa on the
21st day of September, 1861, and being a son of Abraham
and Nancy (Higgenbothom) Griffee, the former of whom
was born in Virginia and- the latter in Ohio.
The Griffee family is of German extraction and was
founded in the old patrician state of Virginia in the early
colonial era, with whose history the name has been promi
nently identified. The father of the subject was reared
and educated in Virginia and as a young man removed to
Ohio, where he maintained his residence for a few years,
and then about 1840, made the long overland journey to
Iowa with team and Wagon, being accompanied by his wife
and their three children, the other four children being born
in the Hawkeye state. He became one of the pioneers of
Mahaska county where he reclaimed and improved a valua
ble farm and where he continued to reside until his death
which occurred in 1886. He became a man of prominence
and distinctive influence in the community and passed
away in the fullness of years and well earned honors. His
devoted wife was summoned into eternal rest in, 1899.
Their children, all are living, the subject of this sketch be
ing the sixth in order of birth.
Abraham D. Griffee was born in the town of Oskaloosa,
Iowa, and from his sixth year was reared on a farm, and in
youth was accorded the advantages of the excellent public
schools of his native state, completing a course in the high
school of Oskaloosa. He continued to be associated with
the work and management of the home farm until 1884,
when he came to Dakota Territory and took up land in
F"aulk county, whose organization had been effected about a

310

year previously. Upon his preemption claim he made
good improvements, the place being eligibly located near
the village of Seneca, and there he continued to be engaged
in farming and stock growing until it appreciated in value in
the intervening years. In the year mentioned he came to
Gettysburg, the official center of Potter county, and here en
gaged in the grain business, owning an interest in the ele
vator at that place, and he continued to be identified with
this line of business for the ensuing five years. At the ex
piration of that time he disposed of his interest in the same
and turned his attention to the lumber business at which
he was engaged until 1900. In that year he was elected to
the office of register of deeds for Potter county, where he
gave an able and systematic administration of the office
and was chosen to succeed himself in 1902 for a second
term of two years. In 1904 Mr. Griffee returned to Faulk
county and located at Faulkton where he has been engaged
in business. In January of 1909 he entered into co-part
nership with Mr. A. W. Phelps and they are carrying on a
very successful real estate business.
Mr. Griffee takes a lively interest in public affairs.
Politically he is a democrat and an active worker in the
party. He is a man of ability and strict integrity, and
highly respected in the community. Fraternally he is
identified with the Masonic Order, Knights of Pythias,
Ancient Order of United Workman, Modern Woodmen of
America and Independent Order of Odd Fdlows.
On the 2nd of February, 1886, was solemnized the
marriage of Mr. Griffee to Miss Mary E. Douglas, who
was born and raised in Lonaconing, Maryland, being a
daughter of Capt. John W. and Ellen Douglas. Mr. and
Mrs. Griffee have one daughter, Rhea, who was born July
10th 1887.

D. H. LATHAM

MRS. NELLIE A. LATHAM

315

HON. D. H. LATHAM is one of the prominent law
yers and public spirited citizens now practicing at the bar
of F^aulk county. He is a man who has brought his keen
discrimination and thorough wisdom to bear, not alone in
professional paths but also for the benefit of the county and
state, which has been his home since pioneer days and with
whose interest he has been thoroughly identified.
The story of his life is one that offers a typical example
of that alert American spirit which has enabled many a
person without means, to rise from obscurity to affluence
and worth solely through native talent, indomitable perse
verance and good judgment.
Mr. Latham was born in Wayne county, Michigan,
December 23rd, 1859. The father and mother of our sub
ject were Scotch Irish. His father was a pioneer of Michi
gan where he settled upon a new farm in the year of 1839.
Our subject worked on a farm and taught school, thus
i raising the funds to complete a course in the State Normal'
school and afterwards pursued his legal studies in Detroit.
The call of the west had always been strong with him
and in April, 1884, seized with a desire to try his fortune
'in the west, he came to South Dakota, landing at Huron with
a total capital of fifty dollars. He secured a first grade ,
teacher's certificate and taught in the schools of Beadle
county for one year. In 1885 he came to Faulk county
and filed upon land in DeVoe township where he secured
title to three hundred and twenty acres of land under the
preemption and homestead laws. In April, 1888, he was
admitted to the bar at the first term of court held in Faulk
county. He practiced at DeVoe until 1890, when he
opened ah office in Faulkton.

316

In 1894, he was united in marriage to Nellie A. Alt, a
native of Iowa, where her parents were pioneer settlers,-
her father having. settled in Johnson county, Iowa, in 1839.
In March, 1882, Mrs. Latham came to Faulk county with
the family of her sister, Mrs. J. A. Pickler, and filed upon
government land near Faulkton and still owns the three
hundred and twenty acres upon which she made final proof
in the early years.
In political sentiment Mr. Latham is an ardent repub
lican and he has ever taken an active interest in county and
state politics.
In 1894, he was elected state's attorney and re-elected
in 1896, 1902 and 1904, serving in all eight years in a most
creditable and satisfactory manner.
As one of the early settlers he takes great interest in
the Faulk County Old Settlers' Picnic, held at Miller's
grove each year, and has been chairman of the committee
on arrangements for many years. Mr. Latham has always
had great faith in the value of our black prairie soil and had
the good judgment to invest largely in our cheap lands
years ago and is now the possessor of over two thousand
acres of the best farm land in the county.

ALBERT J. SPRAGUE was born August 23, 1838,
in Erie county, Pennsylvania. When about one and one-
half years old his parents removed to the state of Illinois
and located in Kane county where he grew up to manhood.
In 1855 he removed to Wisconsin and afterwards to Illinois,
but in 1861 became a permanent resident of Wisconsin,
and in 1862 enlisted on the 20th of August in Company B,
Twelfth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until

317

the end of the war, being mustered out of the service in
Washington on *May 31, 1865. He then returned to Wis
consin and took up the duties of civil life.
Mr. Sprague remained a resident of Toronto, in the
county of Sauk, until 1883, when he took up his residence
in F'aulk county, Territory of Dakota, locating upon the
north-west quarter of section 19, township 117, range 67,
and resided there until 1902, when he removed to Faulk
ton. On the 13th of October, 1860, he was united in mar
riage to Miss Susan A. Kinnemon of Ironton, Wisconsin.
To them have been born six children: Almeda Jane, now
Mrs. Breytenbach; Henry C, who now is a resident of
Faulk county; Mary F.; Ada A.; Theresa M., now Mrs.
Wm. Lester, and Herald H., who now resides in Illinois.
Comrade Sprague is a member of Phil Sheridan Post
in Faulkton. Politically he is identified with the republican party.

WILLIAM G. FAULKNER was born of Scotch
parents in December, 1853; his parents' names were John
and Catherine. . He emigrated to this country at the age
of seventeen and with a boy companion landed in New
York, where he had relatives, and spent his first year in
that locality, then went to Bay City, Michigan, remaining
there twelve years. At the end of that time he made a
tour of Montana and North and South Dakota (then Da
kota Territory) and settled on the south-west quarter of
section 20, township 118, north of range 70, Faulk county,
as a preemption, June, 1883. He proved up on the same
and filed a homestead, being the south-west quarter of

318

section 30, township 118, north of range 70. This land is
located near Burkmere, then Harrington.
The board of county commissioners appointed Mr.
Faulkner one of the four county justices upon the organi
zation and he was elected to that position in the succeeding
general election. In 1885 he was appointed one of the
state enumerators to take the census of the county for that
year. In 1889, he was elected county commissioner from
the third commissioner district holding the office continu
ously until elected county auditor in the fall of of 1894,
and after an interim of four years he was again elected
county auditor, his last term expiring in 1906. The peo
ple of the county during this time having voted $50,000
bonds for the erection of a court house. Mr. Faulkner as
auditor in his official capacity had a large part in the con
struction and management of the beautiful and convenient
building that contains the priceless records of Faulk county.
At present he is serving as a member of the State Board of
Agriculture. Mr. Faulkner was married in 1885, to Miss Kate E.
Alt, one of the girls who came from Iowa City, Iowa, in
1883, who took advantage of Uncle Sam's offer to file on
government land. Her preemption was the south-east
quarter of section 34, township 119, north of range 69.
They have seven children, Maud C, -student of Dakota
Wesleyan University at MitcheH and teacher in the county
schools; John A.; Hugh A.; May A., now a student at
Dakota Wesleyan University; George W.; Drew J., and
James D.
Mr. Faulkner with his son's have developed one of the
finest farms in Faulk county, with a comfortable home

W. G. FAULKNER

MRS. W. G. FAULKNER

323

artesian well, immense stock barn, good granaries and
buildings of every kind needed on the large farm which,
with pastures, covers two sections of land. He raises
Percheron pedigreed horses, and good breeds of cattle,
hogs and sheep. Mr. Faulkner as a pioneer office holder
and farmer has fulfilled his duties both in public and pri
vate with tenacity of purpose and strict integrity and is
rated as one of the substantial and prosperous men of
Faulk county.

JOHN H. SHIRK was born in Lancaster county Penn
sylvania, March 12th, 1835; was a descendent of Uhlrich
Scherch (now spelled Shirk) , a French Huguenot, who upon
the revocation of the edict of Nantes' in 1685 . by Louis
XIV, fled to Switzerland.
His son Uhlrich, from whom our branch of the Shirk
family are direct descendants, in company with two broth
ers, emigrated from Switzerland to America about the year
1729 and settled in eastern Pennsylvania.
The subject of this sketch worked on the farm, with
the exception of about four months schooling each winter,
until eighteen years of age, then worked at the blacksmith
trade two years, after which he attended a summer term
of ten weeks at a normal institute at Millersville, Pa. , con
ducted by Hon. J. P. Wikersham, then county superin
tendent, afterwards state superintendent of schools, colonel
of a Pennsylvania regiment in the Civil War and United
States Minister to the Netherlands.
Mr. Shirk taught his first term of school, in Salisbury
township, Lancaster county, Pa., in the winter of 1855-56,
and followed this occupation most of the time until the

324

outbreak of the Civil War, when he enlisted in Co. E. 79th
Pa. Vol. Inf. in September, 1861, and was mustered into
service October 8th, 1861, at Pittsburg, Pa., and assigned
with the 77th and 78th Pa. into a brigade commanded by
General James S. Negley, and embarked on steam boats to
Louisville. He served in the army of the Ohio, first under
General Anderson of Fort Sumpter fame, and subsequently
under General Sherman. In August, 1862, the brigade
was assigned to McCook's corps and participated in the
Buell-Bragg campaign. In December, 1862, they were
assigned to the 14th army corps under General (Pap)
Thomas, where they remained until after the battle of
Chickamauga, when Thomas succeeded Rosecrans in com
mand of the army of the Cumberland. Mr. Shirk was tak
en prisoner September 19th, 1863, at the battle of Chicka
mauga and taken to Richmond where the prisoners were
confined in large tobacco warehouses, under the name of
Libby prison. About December 12th they were transferred
to Danville, Va. , and confined in the prison at that place.
He was in No. 5 military prison from which in February,
1864, in company with a few trusty comrades, he dug a
tunnel and about one hundred and twenty-five prison
ers crawled through, at last to breathe God's fresh air
again, if not to regain liberty.
The squad he was with was out twenty-one days and
got within eight miles of our lines near Suffolk, Va., when
they were recaptured and sent back to Richmond and con
fined in Libby prison dungeon and Belle Island until about
June 1st, 1864-, .when they were transferred to Anderson-
ville prison. In September, 1864, when the rebels feared
that Gen. Sherman would release the prisoners at that place,
they sent them to different parts of the confederacv.

325

The detachment, he was with was sent to Charleston,
S. C, where they herded them on the grounds of the race
track for a month, until the stockade at Florence, S. C,
was completed, to which place they were then transferred
October, 1864, and kept until Sherman, on his famous
march, had already paralleled them, then were loaded on
trains and taken under a flag of truce without exchange or
parole within three miles of Wilmington, N. C, and
within our lines just one week after Wilmington surrendered.
' They there, for the first time in nearly eighteen months
beheld the glorious Stars and Stripes supported by Uncle
Sam's boys in blue, a sight never to be forgotten. From
Wilmington he was sent on a transport to parole camp at
Annapolis, Md., and home to Lancaster, Pa., just three
days before Richmond fell.
Mr. Shirk was married in 1867 to Margaret J. Kunn
and in the spring of 1872 moved to Iowa. The climate of
south-eastern Iowa not agreeing with him, in the spring of
1883 he came to Faulk county, S. D.
He was a member of the school board of Bryant school
township from its first organization, 1884, except one year,
until 1889 when elected register of deeds and served two
consecutive terms, since which time he has held no public
office.

ORLANDO L. STONE was born July 24th, 1861, in
Madison county, New York, and came to Wisconsin with-
his mother when eight years of age.
Mr. Stone cannot remember of ever seeing his father,
who was a soldier in the Civil War, who suffered a horrible
imprisonment in Libby prison, and amid tortures worse

326

than death, was hurried south from that horrible den, to
die in the summer of 1864 at Macon, Georgia.
In the fall of 1881, Mr. Stone married Miss Nellie
Hall, daughter of Dr. Samuel HaU, late of Faulkton. To
them have been born six children, viz: J. Weston, Preston,
MinaL-, Steese, Hattie and Willis. All but Hattie are
now living, she died in the spring of 1908.
On May 1st, 1902, Mr. Stone's home was made deso
late by the death of his wife, the mother of his children.
His children are all at his home, except J. Weston, the old
est son, who is married and lives in the state of Washing
ton. Mr. Stone, like most of Faulk county's pioneers, came
here with very little of this world's goods, but a good share
of courage and perseverence. He successfuly passed
through all the hardships and privations of pioneer life and
is now the owner of nine hundred and sixty acres of valua
ble Dakota land, five hundred of which is in a fine state of
cultivation and the remainder a fenced pasture, all neces
sary improved farm machinery, two sets of good farm
buildings; has twenty-five head of horses, seventy head of
neat stock and a just claim to be counted among Faulk
county's successful and prosperous farmers.
Mr. Stone has always taken a lively interest in public
affairs and is one of the influential citizens of the town of
DeVoe.

HENRY W. REINICKE was born August 4th, 1861,
in Germany and immigrated to the United States with his
paients in 1871, locating in Muscatine, Iowa, where he
resided with his parents until 1884 when he removed to

327

Faulk county, Dakota Territory, and preempted the north
east quarter of section 17, township 118, range 72. After
proving up his preemption he filed a tree claim and a
homestead on the east half of section 8, in the same town
ship where he remained and improved and proved up both
his tree claim and his homestead until 1898, and then sold
out his possessions and removed to Faulkton where he re
mained one year and theh removed onto his improved farm
nine miles north-east of Faulkton, that he had purchased
before settling in the western part of the county.
Since 1899, Mr. Reinicke has remained upon his farm
consisting of four hundred and eighty acres, making exten
sive improvements, including a fine set of farm buildings
and a two inch artesian well. In the meantime a new line
of railroad has been established, bringing the new towns of
Wecota and Cresbard within six and seven miles respec
tively and increasing the value of his farm. '
On January 9th, 1891, Mr. Reinicke was united in
marriage to' Miss Amelia Holstene of Gettysburg, Potter
county, South Dakota. To them have been born four sons,
viz: Frank, Richard, Harry, and Carroll.
Mr. Reinicke in early years was surrounded by such
influences as to lead to a most bitter hatred against intoxi
cating liquors, and to best oppose the evil that grows out of
their use, he has identified himself with and has become an
active and efficient worker in the prohibition party. Re
ligiously Mr. and Mrs. Rdnicke are in sympathy with the
doctrine and usages of the Methodist Episcopal church, but
being so far beyond any local organization of that church,
they have become active and worthy workers in the Myron
Congregational church, which is located near their home.

328

GEORGE H. STODDARD was born at Brandy's Bend
sixty miles from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1857, the
second son qf Holmes and Ellen (Davis) Stoddard in whose
family were nine children. The father who was an iron
worker, was born in this country, as was also the grand
father, but the great-great-grandfather was a native of Eng
land who came to this country prior to the Revolutionary
War, and when the colonies took up arms against the
mother country he aided then as a soldier of the continental
army in achieving their independence. The mother of our
subject was born in England and came to this country when
a girl of fourteen years. Her father, John Davis, was also
an iron worker.
When three years of . age his parents removed to El-
mira, New York, where he grew up to manhood and was
educated, graduating from the high school at that place.
There he w as engaged in clerking for five months and for
three years was employed as an iron worker. In 1878 he
became connected with railroading as a brakeman and held
that position for four years.
Coming west he landed in Faulk county, Dakota Terri
tory, March 24, 1883, and immediately took up a home
stead on which he erected a claim shanty 10x12. Mr. Stod
dard started with a capital of seven hundred and twenty
dollars. At the time of coming to Faulkton to assume the
duties in the office of register of deeds, to which office
he was elected in the fall of 1898, he was the owner
of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land,
two hundred of. which he had placed under a high state of
cultivation and improved with good and substantial build
ings.

329

Since 1904 he has been engaged in trade in Faulkton as
proprietor of a general merchandise store and doing a good
business. In 1885, Mr. Stoddard led to the marriage altar Miss
Effie N. Deloy, a natiye of Wisconsin and a daughter of
Joseph Deloy, a farmer who was born in France and was
proud of his French descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard
have been born eight children, viz: George E., Chas. E.,
Mary E., Ruth M., Florence E., Clarence D., Grace Anna
Belle, and Helen Gladys.
Socially Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard are members of the
Congregational church and of the societies of A. O. U. W.,
the Woodman, M. B. A., and Degree of Honor.

JAMES P. TURNER, a well known and highly re-
sptjf-^.d citizen of Faulkton, is a blacksmith by profession,
a business that has proved exceedingly prosperous since
his coming to this county.
Mr. Turner is a native of Ontario, Canada, born near
the town of Aylmer, December 1st, 1858, and is a son of
James Turner, Vho was born in Scotland and immigrated
to Canada with his father, Donald Turner, a carpenter by
occupation. James P. Turner, whose father died when he was only
two years old, was given a good common school education
'and at the age of nineteen years commenced serving a three
years apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade. On the ex
piration of his apprenticeship he continued to work at his
trade in Canada for two years. In the spring of 1882 he
came to Watertown, Dakota Territory, where he remained
one year.

330

In the spring of 1883 he took up his residence in Faulk
county, and as one of its first blacksmiths started a shop in
LaFoon, which was then the county seat. Soon after the
removal of the county seat to Faulkton in the fall of 1886,
Mr. Turner returned to Aylmer where he was married to
Miss Belle K. Puntine, a native of Canada and a daughter
of John Puntine, a ship builder by trade. As her mother
died when she was but two years old, she was raised by an
aunt in her native land.
To Mr. and Mrs. Turner were born five children, viz:
Hugh A., Jessie A., Frank A., Muriel and Charles.
Since coming to Faulkton Mr. Turner has steadily
prospered financially.

HON. ALEXANDER MILLER of DeVoe, was born
September 3rd, 1845, in Holmes county, Ohio, whese* he
lived until he was twenty-five years of age. From there
he went to Cedar county, Iowa. In the faU of 1875 he
went to Saline county, Missouri. In the fall of that year
he married Miss Emma McCellend of that county. To
them have been born six children, viz: JohnL-, Samuel H.,
Sarah F., William H., James A., and EdnaN., who are
now all residents of Faulk county.
He resided in Missouri until the faU of 1882 when he
moved to Northville, in Spink county and engaged in the
livery business. In 1883 he came to this county and
proved up a preemption, then moved to his present loca
tion and took a homestead. Mr. Miller is one of our most
enterprising and prosperous citizens. He is a practical
farmer and a successful horseman. He has acquired one
thousand nine hundred and twenty acres of valuable land,

DRAFT HORSES ON ALEX MILLER FARM, FAULK COUNTY.

333

six hundred acres of which are under cultivation, while the
remainder is enclosed for pasturing. He has made the
breeding of Percheron horses a specialty. For fifteen years
he has had on an average, one hundred head and often
as many as one hundred thirty. Has much of the best
registered and graded stock in the north-west and keeps
from twenty-five to seventy- five head of neat stock. He has
all necessary machinery, a pleasant, delightful home and
beautiful grove in which thousands of the citizens of Faulk,
Edmunds and Spink counties annually gather to attend the
old settlers' picnic.
¦ Four consecutive times he has been elected to the state
legislature and is a member of South Dakota's house of
representatives at the present time. Mr. Miller stands high
in the confidence and respect of the community in which
he lives and his reputation both as a business man and a
public servant is without reproach.

ROBERT KNAPTON, a well known, enterprising
and energetic farmer, residing on section 25, Wesley town
ship, Faulk county, South Dakota, and an honored veteran
of the Civil War, is a native of England, born in Leeds,
October 6th, 1843. Having lost his father during his
infancy, he was raised by his grandparents and with the
f amuy came to the United States in 1847 . As a boy he
worked as a farm hand, and during the winter months,
while pursuing his studies in an old log school house, he
worked out of school hours for his board. He was thus
employed until after the opening of the rebellion when on
the 27th of December, 1863, he enHsted in company A.,

334

Twenty-ninth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry,
which was first ordered -to New Orleans. Later the regi
ment was with Gen. Banks on his Red River expedition
and in the engagement of Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant
Ridge. They helped to construct the dam at Alexander
which saved the fleet, and were then sent to Morgonza
Bend where they were given six weeks rest. They next
went to Memphis and on the 24th of August, 1864, to Port
Gibson, where they did patrol duty in the surrounding
country. They then returned to New Orleans and in
March, -1865, were sent to Ciperdor Island in Mobile Bay,
where they remained a few weeks. Crossing the bay they
went to Spanish Fort and later to Fort Blakely, where they
were stationed when the war ended.
Later Mr. Knapton was engaged in garrison duty at
Mobile and from there went to Shreveport, Louisana, where
a large force of confederates surrendered. He then re
turned by boat to Montgomery, Alabama, and was finally
mustered out at Mobile, being honorably discharged at
Madison, Wisconsin, October 9th, 1865. Returning to
his home in that state, Mr. Knapton remained there until
the following spring, when he purchased a team of horses
and began farming on his own account, upon rented land.
Two years were thus passed and in 1867, after his marriage,
he moved to Buchanan county, Iowa, where he made his
home for four years. He then went to Harrison county,
Missouri, but at the end of one year, on account of ague,
he returned to his old home in Wisconsin, remaining there
until coming to Dakota Territory in the fall of 1882. Here
he filed a claim on the north-west quarter of section 25,
township 119, range 66, Faulk county and then returned

335

to Wisconsin. In the spring of 1883 he broke fifteen acres
of his land, and on the second day of November of that
year, brought his family to the home he had prepared for
them, having previously erected a house and barn and
brought out a carload of goods from the east. He now
owns three quarter sections of good land of which three
hundred acres have been placed under the plow. In his
farm operations Mr. Knapton has been eminently success
ful, about two hundred acres is devoted to wheat and eighty
to corn. He generally keeps through the winter about
sixty- five head of neat stock, ten horses for his farm work,
and thirty or forty hogs, which are considered a good in
vestment. Since casting his first presidential vote at regimental
headquarters, in a rice field in Louisana, for Abraham
Lincoln, in 1864, Mr. Knapton has been unwavering in his
support of the republican party. He is identified with the
Grand Army of the Republic, favors prohibition of ,the
liquor traffic and gives his support to all measures whieh he
believes calculated to prove of public benefit.

DARIUS S. SMITH is the son of John and Mary
(Burroughs) Smith, who were from North Carolina, and
moved to Indiana in 1835. Mr. Smith was born August
19, 1833, and remained with his parents until his majority.
He was married May 20th, 1862, to Miss Adelia M. Wil
liams of Jefferson county, Missouri, and was a resident of
that county until 1882, at which time he removed to Dako-
kota "Territory, with his family, consisting of a wife and
four children, viz: Silvia G., now Mrs. J. H. Bottum;
Julia E-,.now Mrs. F. A, Seaman; Hope S-. now Mrs. J.

335

C Morrison of St. Paul, Minn.; Mollie I., now Mrs. Fred
Mears of Minneapolis, Minn.; one son of five years died
before they left Missouri. '
In April, of 1882, Mr. Smith as president of an asso
ciation of twenty-five members started out on an ex
ploring, expedition for a settlement upon government
land. On the morning of April 6th he started out from
Redfield in Spink county, Dakota Territory in company
with Thomas H. McMullen and Alexander LaFoon and
the evening of that day they were upon the banks of the
Snake river where they decided to locate. At that time
they were so pleased with the country that they made the
best possible selection of land for their entire association,
upon the unsurveyed government land and with scrip upon
forty acres for a future townsite, and as they hoped, a
county seat for Faulk county. The rapidity with which
settlers from all parts of the country arrived and squatted
upon the land, broke up their plans and disorganized the
association so that but very few of the members ever joined
them. The first postoffice in the county was located upon
their scripted town site and named Cyclops, by the post-
office department, temporarily, until the new town site
should be named, with Miss Norah Reppy, postmaster.
The first school in this county was taught by Miss
Silvia G. Smith and it consisted of fifteen scholars. The
first frame house erected in this county was built by
Thomas McMullen one of the original Missourian party and
is now removed to Faulkton and occupied by A. J. Sprague
of this city.
April 7th, 1882, Mr. Smith occupied his tent upon the
land improved with a single sod mound, as a mark of set-

337

tlement, no other work of improvement showing in all the
surrounding country. On the following September he
could stand in the door of his board shanty and count over
thirty homes erected and occupied upon the surrounding
land. In the early struggle for the location of the county
seat, between Faulkton and LaFoon, Mr. Smith was an
active and persistent worker, a safe and reliable adviser
and a born leader. For twenty years he has served in the
important office of justice of the peace, he has served for
two full terms upon the board of county commissioners and
in 1895 and 1896 was a member of the South Dakota senate.
At the last state election he was re-elected as one of the
county justices of the peace, and promptly filed his bond
for the faithful discharge of his duties.
Mr. Smith has a most desirable residence located near
the court house in the central part of the city, where he
and his devoted wifehave everything to make life desirable.
Only two blocks away are two of his daughters (Mrs. Bot
tum and Mrs. Seaman) with their lovely, interesting fami
lies; while only a few hours ride will bring them to the
homes of their other two daughters in Minneapolis and
St Paul, Minn.

DAVID BRYDEN was born in Ironton, Wisconsin,
March 21st, 1860, and with his parents removed to Scot
land when he was four years old, that being his father's
former home. After remaining there three years, they re
turned again to Ironton, where his early years were spent
upon a farm, from which come so many of our best,
most reUable and useful dtizens. When twelve years old

338

there was a removal from the farm to the village of Ironton,
where he enjoyed all the privileges of the common schools,
dividing his time between the school and the outlaying
farm, until h* became of age. Upon his twenty- first birth
day he -was married to Miss Eulella J. Blakeslee, who was
born in Ironton, Wisconsin, on the 21st day of March.
1862. To them, March 21st, became a red letter day, be
ing a double birthday and their wedding anniversary.
After their marriage he removed to Reedsburg, Wisconsin,
where he became an experienced hardware business man,
a business that received his attention all through, life. To
them were born five children, one son and four daughters:
David E.,now of Canada; Eva M., now Mrs. Hubert Head-
ly of Faulkton; Elsie L-, now in Minneapolis, Minnesota,
receiving lessons in music; Mayme J., a graduate from the
stenographic department of the Dakota Wesleyan Univer
sity, now holding a position as stenogiapher in the city
of Faulkton; and Janet M., now at home with her mother
and attending the public schools in Faulkton.
In the fall of 1886, Mr. Bryden came to Faulkton to
look over the country in view of a permanent location, and
before leaving, purchased lots on St. John's street, where
he subsequently built a hardware store and for five years
occupied the second story for a residence, then built his
permanent home on the corner of Pearl street and Tenth
avenue. He was a careful and- reliable business man, yet
deeply interested in all that went for the upbuilding of
society, active and prominent in the improvement of the
public schools and general advancement of all that makes
good society. He was, an active, influential member of the
Masonic fraternity. In politics, he was a democrat, but

339

neither politics or- fraternal relations were allowed to inter
fere with business relations, which always received strict
attention, and as the years went by, increased prosperity.
But his home relations and family always occupied the first
and most important place.
Up to the fall of 1901, there was no indication of the
sudden and unexpected end, so soon to come. Through
the summer of 1902, failing health admonished him that
the end might be near. In the early part of November,
accompanied by his devoted wife, as a last resort, he visited
the noted sanitarium at Battle Creek, Michigan, but alas,
the disease had so far advanced that it could not be stayed.
On the22d day of November, 1902, the spirit tqok its flight
to the great beyond. The sad and mournful return was
made to his former home at Faulkton, when followed the
usual and appropriate funeral service at the Congregational
church; followed by the beautiful and impressive services
by the Masonic order, who marched to the final resting
place with all that was mortal of their departed brother. We
close this Sad chapter with the following just tribute. of one
who was present and knew whereof he spoke:
"Mr. Bryden was one of our most enterprising and
energetic citizens, ever ready to assist in any public enter
prise which promised to aid in the upbuilding of our city,
and from a small beginning, had built up a large and pros
perous business and was getting into a position to enjoy
life, when called away by the grim reaper who waits not
for time or circumstances. His last year was one of great
suffering, but was borne with great patience and forti
tude. While not a professed christian , he came to have great
faith in a better life beyond, his last words being, 'we shall
meet beyond the river. '

340

"His father, David Bryden, Sr., died but three months
before. He leaves a wife, an aged mother, four sisters and
five children to mourn his loss, who have the heartfelt
sympathy of all in their bereavement."

JAMES W. JOHNSTON, a son of William E. and
Agnes Johnston of Center county, Pennsylvania, was born
on October 2nd, 1854. When he was fourteen years of
age his parents moved to Lee county, Iowa, where he re
mained until his majority, and where he received the ad
vantages of a first class common school education.
In 1879 he came fo South Dakota and located at Water-
town'. The 12th of January in J.883, he came to Faulk
county. In 1885 and 1886 he was register of deeds and at
the election of 1892 he was again elected to this important
office which he held for two years. Mr. Johnston was an
active worker for the advancement of Faulk county in
terests, especially for the upbuilding of LaFoon, its first
county seat:
On November 5th, 1885, he was united in marriage
to Miss Lizzie M. Cochrane, who was a resident of LaFoon
and at that time clerk of courts for Faulk county. To
them have been born ten children, six of whom died in
early childhood; Belle M., a student at Huron College, S.
D.; Lloyd, Laura and Ralph are yet at home and in the
Faulkton public schools.
In 1893 the Faulk County Land and Title Company
was incorporated with Mr. Johnston, secretary, subsequent
ly Mr. Johnston bought out the other members of the 'firm
and now owns and devotes his time to this important busi
ness.

RESIDENCE OF J. W. JOHNSTON, FAULKTON

343

LIZZIE M. COCHRANE, daughter of John C. and
Sylvia Cochrane, was born at Oshaloosa, Kan., January
13th, A. D. 1860. In early childhood, her parents re
turned to DesMoines, Iowa, where she enjoyed the ad
vantages of their most excellent schools. In March, 1883,
she came to Faulk county and filed on public land which
was subsequently proved up on in accordance with the
public land law.
On November 5, 1884,' she was appointed clerk of
courts for Faulk county by Judge Severance Smith of the
Fifth Judicial District of the Territory of Dakota, which
office she filled with satisfaction to all who had business
with that office and with credit to herself. Upon her
marriage to Mr. Johnston, her resignation was immediately
forwarded to Judge Church, and after" several months her
resignation was accepted and a young man from California
was appointed.

WILLIAM H. LOWER was born in the state of Mich
igan, April 30th, 1851, of German -English parentage.
When about three years of age his parents moved to La
Crosse, in the state of Wisconsin. When he was about
eight years of age his parents retnoved to Vermont, Ontario
county, in the same state, where he enjoyed the privileges
of the common schools until he became of age, and where
he continued to reside until he came to Dakota in 1884.
In 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie M.
Culver, and to them have been born three children, viz:
Roy E., Nellie R., and Madison E. .
Upon coming to Dakota in March, 1884, he immediate
ly located upon a preemption, his present homestead in

344 juA
 ^
township 118, range 72, being now the town of Seneca in
this (Faulk) county, being then, and until 1887, when
the Chicago & Northwestern railroad was completed to
Seneca, twenty-two miles from the nearest railroad point,
Mr. Lower and his devoted wife experienced their full
share of the privations incident to pioneer life. Neither
the failure of crops nor storms of winter deterred him. W hile
others, who had located land near him, became discouraged
and moved away, he struggled on, and today finds himself
in possession of his pleasant home, a view of which may be
found upon page 99 of this history, surrounded by six hun
dred and forty acres of the best of South Dakota's rich,
productive soil, and is counted among Faulk county's re
liable, enterprising and prosperous farmers, and has the
satisfaction of having his oldest son located in his own
happy home upon adjoining land.

ADAM SANGSTER was born in Scotland, July 28th,
1843, and was married to Louisa Lowe in January, 1867.
In 1874, with his wife and two children, Mr. Sangster sailed
from Liverpool for New York, from there to Wabasha
county, Minnesota, where he remained until the 27th of
May, 1884, when he located on the north-west quarter of
section 18, township 118, range 71, Faulk county, and re
turned to Minnesota for his family, consisting of his wife
and six children. Since coming to Faulk country he has
added two more to his family. Through the years of hail,
storms and drought, with the prevailing hot winds that
drove so many of the pioneer settlers from Faulk county,
Mr. Sangster experienced with his large family a full share
of hardships, and -privations. Yet never faltering, never

345

reidy to say die, he worked on, struggled on, with faith in
Him who had promised the seed time and harvest, until
adversity was changed to prosperity, and not only the
necessaries, but the comforts of life were assured,
Mr. Sangster has added to the land he located as a
homestead another quarter section. He has an excellent
set of farm buildings, good farm machinery for diversified
farming, and everything that goes to make a first class agri
cultural home.
Since 1888 he has held the office of postmaster at the
EHisville postoffice to the perfect satisfaction of the sur
rounding community, and a few weeks since he received a
very pohte invitation from the postmaster general to file
his bond for another four year's service.
Mr. Sangster has almost constantly filled the office of
school township treasureror or clerk of EHisville township
and is now finishing up his second term of four years as
treasurer. An illustration of Mr. Sangster' s beautiful
home may be seen on page 89 of this history.

JOHN H. FINLEY was born July 1861, in Guernsey
county, Ohio, and came to Faulk county, South Dakota,
May 1883, and located in what is now the town of Union,
In March, 1893, he married Miss Cevilla Roth of Indepen
dence, Iowa. In common with all pioneers of this county
he experienced all the hardships and privations from hail
and storm, from hot winds and drouth, but with a great
climatic change no doubt brought about by the great num-
of artesian wells, bringing to the surf ace vast quantities of
pure, clear water, forming beautiful lakes, abundant
crops have foHowed, bringing prosperity, as indicated by

346

his fine farm buildings and immediate surroundings.
He finds himself possessor of eight hundred and forty
acres of fine land, three hundred and fifty acres of which
is under cultivation. With thirteen horses, fifty head of
neat stock and sixty hogs, with all necessary farm machin
ery, making a complete outfit for successfully carrying on
his farm work. Forty dollars an acre would be refused for
this fine Dakota farm.

ELIAS ROSELAND was born on July 7th, 1866.
When seventeen years of age he left home and cut loose
from family relations and came to Marshall County, Iowa.
In 1892 he came to Faulk county and located on a quarter
section of land in township 117, range 71, and in 1893 he
married Miss Ida Sangster who was born in Scotland, Janu
ary 13th, 1870, and came to Faulk county with her parents
in the season of 1884. To them have been born two sons,
Clarence and Earl. In 1900 they located their present
home in the town of Seneca in this county. A view of
which may be found in this history.
None of the pioneers of the county are deserving of
more credit or better entitled to recognition than this young
couple, who have succeeded by their own personal efforts
in securing a most desirable and lovely home and laying
the foundation for future wealth and prosperity.

GABRIEL T. ROSELAND was born in Norway, in
1857, and when fourteen years of age commenced a sea
faring life which he followed for ten years. In 1881, ar
riving at the port of Galveston, Texas, he decided to leave
the ocean for a life upon the land. After a year with the

ELIAS ROSELAND'S RESIDENCE, SENECA, S. D.

349

Santa Fe Railroad Company, in the spring of 1882, he went
to Calma, Iowa, and from there to Wisconsin, where he
took a four year's course in the lumber woods. In the
spring of 1886 he came to Dakota and settled upon section
20, township 117, range 71, in Faulk county.
In July of that year he married Miss Lizzie Linton
who was born in Rondout, New York. Her parents re
moved to the state of Wisconsin when she was but three
years old. To them have been born eleven children, eight
boys and three girls who are all living at the present time,
To the quarter section of land first taken, he has added by
purchase eight more. Last year he sold from his stock
ranch between five and six thousand dollars worth of stock,
and now has upon his farm two hundred head of neat
stock, fifty head of horses and thirty hogs.
He is not only a successful stockman, but a practical
farmer. In 1907 he raised 1,300 bushels of wheat, 2,000
bushels of oats, 1200 bushels of speltz, 800 bushels of flax
and 100 bushels of potatoes.
He has a beautifully and pleasantly located farm resi
dence, also a hotel and several lots in the village af Seneca,
the important business center of western Faulk county.
Here we have an illustration of what enterprise, perse
verance, and undying faith in his own judgment will do
in making a man prosper in the settling and development
of a new country.

FREDERICK D. PERSON was born September 28,
1854, in Clyde, Iowa county, Wisconsin, and on September
12, 1885, came to Faulk county, South Dakota, and located
in what is now the town of Union. On March 14, 1889,

350

he was married to Miss Amanda S. Larson, of Dodgeville,
Wisconsin. To them have been born two daughters, the
first died at the age of two years, the second, Lucile Irene,
now sixteen years of age, is a graduate of the Aberdeen
high school and now attending the normal school in that
city. Mr. Person has had a full experience of the hard
ships and privations of Dakota pioneer life. For the first ten
years it was a constant struggle with hail and storm, dry,
hot winds and drought. With climatic changes largely
brought about by artesian waters, producing beautiful lakes
of clear pure water, abundant crops and unusual prosperity
has followed. Mr. Person has a beautiful home, a cut of
which may be found on page 251 of this history. Nearby
is a beautiful lake of five acres of clear pure water surround
ed with a border of thrifty trees. He has six hundred and
forty acres of the best of Dakota soil, seventeen head of
horses, fifty head of neat cattle and thirty hogs. With
three hundred and fifty acres under cultivation and all
necessary machinery for farming, $40.00 per acre would
not be considered a good offer for the farm. Mr. Person
is also a stockholder and vice president of the Chelsea
State Bank.

JOHN HARRINGTON was born 1854 in Freeport,
Illinois, and in 1884 he came to Faulk county, South Da
kota, and located in the present town of Scatterwood. He
then had seven hundred dollars, all of which was lost the
first year by reason of hail storms and fire.
On June 1st, 1886, he was married to Miss Louisa B.
Chambers, who was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1861,

351

and came to Faulk county in June, 1883, and located on a
homestead one and one-half miles west of Scatterwood lake.
To them have been born eight children, seven of whom are
now living, viz: Lawrence, Inez M., James Ray, Austa,
Clara Edna, Mabelle, and John D.
Mr. Harrington had a large experience in the hard
ships and privations of Dakota pioneer life, for the first ten
years, hail, dry, hot winds, drought and tornadoes all were
in his pathway. Every dollar he could earn was expended
in improving his land, in sinking wells and in exerting
every effort to make a home, never loosing faith that it
would be a Faulk county home. Passing over the inter
vening years we find one of the most complete and perfect
farm homes in Faulk county. First of all he settled the
water question. An artesian well, 1100 feet deep, was put
down on the bank of a deep depression, covering an area of
about thirteen acres, which in six months was filled to a
depth of eleven feet, which has been stocked with black
bass, from the United States fish commission to which has
been added several other kinds of fish, and now he has
sufficient fish for home use and will soon have them for the
market. In addition to the supply of water for his beauti
ful lake, Mr. Harrington has installed a five horse power
water motor which supplies power for his twelve thousand,
bushel elevator, together with mills for grinding corn and
other grain for stock and house use. This elevator has
scales for weighing and all improved facilities in modern
elevators for handling grain. The barn, that years ago was
destroyed by a tornado, has been replaced by one 48x60
feet with water piped to the barn and to the pastures. He
has sufficient water for irrigating a small tree claim.

352

In 1907 a fine residence, at a cost of $5000.00 outside
of all labor of teams and personal labor, which was no small
amount, was erected. A fine cut of his buildings, with all
modern improvements, can be seen on page 99 of this
history. In addition to the usual plan of American farming, he
has irrigated for his strawberries and other garden pro
ducts, raising at the rate of one hundred and sixty bushels
of strawberries per acre; and sold from only a few square
rods, $45.00 worth of cabbage, and from a car load of steers
fed on Dakota corn he received $1400.00 on the Chicago
market, and by actual experiment knows that more small
grain can be raised in ten years from a given number of acres
if two of those years the ground has been planted and
thoroughly cultivated to corn, than if it had been planted
every one of the ten years to small grain.
Mr. Harrington has not only found time for the ac
complishment of all these lines of diversified farming but
has done a large amount of work in the advancement of
public enterprise. He has been chairman of the board of
trustees of United Bretheren church in his own town and
has been one of the principal promoters of the Mansfield &
Scatterwood Telephone Company, incorporated with a capi
tal of $25,000.00. He has been on the board of supervisors
for several years, and member of the school board and a
road superintendent.
In the year 1906 he raised and sold from four acres of
ground $400.00 worth of melons, and many were left to
rot on the ground by reason of a lack of market and the
time to gather them.

353

ADAM FINDEIS was born in Germany, January 14,
1825, and was married in 1849, and in 1850 to them a son
was born. After the decease of his wife in 1853, he came
to America. After traveling in the east and south, he
located in St. Louis, Missouri, and on the 30th day of
September, 1861, he enlisted in the service of the United
States and was mustered into service in Company I., First
Regiment Engineer, Missouri Volunteers at St. Louis, Mis
souri, and mustered out of service at East Point, Georgia,
on September 28, 1864, at the expiration of his service.
On the 15th day of February, 1865, re-enlisted and was
mustered into service as a private in Company F., Sixth
Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Cavalry for one year and was
discharged on the 5th day of November, 1865. His resi
dence is stated as Clayton, Illinois.
On the 14th day of January, 1874, he was married to
Miss Margaret Metz at Lacon, Marshall county, Illinois,
and in 1883 he removed to Faulk county, South Dakota.
To them has been born one daughter who is now a resident
of Wisconsin. Mr. Findeis was an industrious hard working Faulk
county pioneer who finished his earthly career and lay down
for his final rest on January 16th, 1905.

JOEL RUSH was born March 8th, 1844 in Green
county, Wisconsin. When twelve years of age his par
ents moved to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he made
his home until 1887. August 15th, 1862, he enlisted in
Company E., 10th Minnesota Regiment Volunteer Infantry
in which he served three full years and a few days, being
mustered out at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, on the 19th of

354

August, 1865. Although enlisted for service in the war of
the rebellion, for a time, the regiment remained in their
own state to settle with the Sioux Indians for their bloody
massacre at New Ulm, his company doing valiant service,
both in fighting, capturing and guarding the "red skins"
until he saw twenty-eight of the five hundred captured
suffer the full penalty of the law for the high crimes
they committed. With the Indian outbreak suppressed, in
1863 the 10th Minnesota was ordered to join the depart-
ment of the south at St. Louis and remained at barracks
through the winter of 1863. This winter was no means
lost time, thorough dicipline and drill were kept up and
raw recruits soon became veterans. From that time to the
end of the war the 10th was on duty in the army of the
west, and proved worthy in every line of duty, an honor to
the state and branch of service in which they served. At
the battle of Tupelo, raid after Price, battle of Nashville,
in pursuit of Hood, in its record in the 16th army corps,
Company E. , 10th Minnesota in wliich Comrade Joel Rush
did his whole duty to the end of the war is one of which
any veteran may well be proud.
On the 15th day of November, 1868, Joel Rush was
married to Miss Victor ena Ogg, who was born in Rasville,
Iowa, February 22, 1850. To. them have been born two
children, a son who died when seven years of age, a daugh
ter, Mrs. Cora C Bowers, who now resides in this city.
Comrade Rush has been a citizen of Faulkton since
1888 and a worthy member of Phil Sheridan Post, No. 72,
Department of South Dakota of which he was past com
mander in 1903, until his death which occurred May 2nd.
1908.

355

CARL NIEMEYER was born in Germany, May 1st,
1851, and emigrated to the United States in 1873 and
located in , Chicago, 111., working at his trade as a tailor
for twelve years.
January 26th, 1876, he was united in marriage with
Miss Emily Wendt, who was born in Germany. To them
have been born six children, viz: Carl Frederick, Lizzie,
Arthur, William, Emma and Edgar.
In 1884 he came to Ashton and engaged in business as
a merchant tailor, remaining there three years until 1887,
when he located in the city of Faulkton, where he has since
resided and contiuued in the business of merchant, tailor
and dealer in ready made clothing.
Mr. Niemeyer is one of our most reliable citizens, is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church, an Odd Fellow,
and in politics a republican.

D. ROY JONES, son of Robert and Catherine (Hum
phrey) Jones, whose parents were natives of Wales, and
emigrated to the United States at an early day and located
in the county of Oneida iu the state of New York.
Mr. Jones was born, November 19th, 1847, in the town
of Steuben, Oneida county, New York, and remained with
his parents, attending school and working on the farm un
til his majority. Mr. Jones remained a resident of Steuben
until 1883. On December 22, 1874, he was united in
marriage to Miss Elizabeth Humphrey of Ixona, Wis., and
to them three children have been born, W. Forrest and
W. Florence, who were born in Steuben, N. Y., and
Edythe Lyle, who was born in Faulk county, territory of
Dakota.

356

In 1883 on March 22nd, Mr. Jones became a resident
of Faulk county and located upon government land, being
the south-west quarter of section 3, township 120, range 68,
and remained on his homestead until 1889, when he re
moved to Faulkton on account of educational advantages
for his children. Since that time Mr. Jones has been en
gaged in the ice and water business in this city.
Mr. Jones has been an active worker in public affairs,
and both he and Mrs. Jones have been active workers in
church circles, being members of the Congregational
church, . organized by Rev. Clinton Douglas, at Cresbard,
and for several years Mr. Jones was superintendent of the
Sunday school.
There had been no material change in family relations,
save that incident to the passing years until September 10,
1906, when their son, W. Forrest, who had arrived at
manhood, and was actively engaged in business as a con
tractor and builder in this city, and who from his fifteenth
year had been a worthy member of the Congregational
church in this city, was suddenly called, tho' well prepared
for the great beyond, leaving a devoted wife and two small
children .

HENRY A. WILKINSON was born December 10th,
1844, in Schennuta county, New York. When five years
of age his father removed to the state of Wisconsin and his
home was in the town of Gainsville in that state until
he was sixteen years of age. In 1861 his father re
moved to Sangamon county in the state of Illinois, and in
1863 he enlisted in the 124th Illinois Volunteer Infantry to
serve in the war of the Rebellion, and in 1865 he received

357

an honorable discharge and was mustered out of the United
States service at Springfield, Illinois.
In 1875 he removed to Butler county, Nebraska, and
remained there until the autumn of 1882, and from there
he came to Sanborn county, Dakota Territory, and took a
homestead and after proving up his government land in
1884, he became a resident of Faulk county, and took
a preemption claim on the north-west quarter of section 22 ,
township 120, range 69, adjoining his tree claim that he
had taken the year befpre. Since that time Mr. Wilkinson
has been a resident of this county. Four years ago he sold
his land and became a resident of the city of Faulkton
where he engaged in the land business. For the last six
months he has been at the National Sanitarium at Hot
Springs, S. D., and has just returned to his home greatly
improved in health.

WILLIAM J. DODDS was born October 15th, 1856,
in the county of Wigton, in Scotland. In 1879 he emi
grated to the United States, and arrived at Lansingburg on
the Hudson on July 4th and remained in the state of New
York, working at his trade as a cabinet maker and carpen
ter until 1883, then he removed to the state of New Jersey,
working at his trade until January, 1900.
On January 1st, 1885, he was united in marriage to
Miss Ursula Comptom of Millington, N. J. To them have
been born seven children, viz: Wenona Louise, Agnew
Comptom, William, Ina, Zelda Randolph, Kenneth Jame
son and Margaret Katherine.
On the 2nd day of January, 1900, Mr. Dodds, together
with his family, became residents of the city of Faulkton,
Faulk county.

358

Since that time he has been engaged as a contractor
and builder in this city. Mr. Do'dds is interested in the
school and in* public affairs, is a republican in politics
and a member of the Commercial club in this city. Among
the residences and other buildings erected by Mr. Dodds in
this city, illustrations of which may be found in this his
tory, are those of C B. Chambers, A. M. Moore, the
Catholic church and the Commercial club building of this
city.

STEPHEN F. THORN was born February 15, I860,
in Hillsdale county, Michigan, son of Albert S. and Louisa
(Mosuer) Thorn. When he was but two years old his
mother was called to Lexington, Kentucky, to visit and
care for her sick and dying husband and she soon returned
with his mortal remains. Then commenced her real life
work in caring for, supporting and raising to man and
womanhood her family of four children.
The subject of this sketch remained at home with his
mother, enjoying the advantages of the school and assisting
her as best he could until twenty years of age, at which
time he was, on the 28th day of July, 1880, united in mar
riage with Miss Anne E. Gibson, of Ranson, Hillsdale
county, Michigan. To them have been born seven children,
Clark E., Norman S., Hamilton H., SpringateL., Delia A.,
LunaG., and Grace G.; the four youngest of them were
born in Dakota after his removal here in 1886.
Mr. ' Thorn located his preemption on the south-west
quarter of section 18, township 118, range 72, and after
proving up under the United States land law, he took a
homestead and in common with other Dakota pioneers,

359

built a sod shanty, an illustration of which may be found
in this history (taken on a Sunday morning as they were
about to start to Sunday school) in which they resided for
nearly five years. Five years later he sold his homestead.
Six years ago he became a resident of Faulkton, on ac
count of the better advantages of education for his children.
Since coming to Faulkton, Mr. Thorn has been engaged
in a very good business, running a 'bus to the train and
other places as circumstances demanded and doing a suc
cessful draying business.
Mr. Thorn is a democrat in politics and while being
recognized by his party and receiving the nomination at the
last election for sheriff, in a county overwhelmingly repub
lican, he failed at election. He is now city marshal.

MERILL S. McDEARMON is of a Scotch descent,
tracing his ancestry to a period prior to the Revolutionary
War, when they emigrated from Scotland and located in
Erie county in the state of New York. And wUen the
Colonial struggle for independence commenced they prompt
ly took sides with the colonists to defend their manhood
against the oppression of the mother county.
The subject of this sketch was born October 14th,
1843, in Erie county, state of New York. In 1844, his
father 'with his family removed to Chicago, 111., where he
grew up to manhood and there enlisted into the 113th
Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was organized
under the auspices of the Chicago Board of Trade in 1862,
and served until June 20th, 1865, when he was mustered
out of service. His regiment saw active service, having
been in sixteen engagements with the Confederate forces;

360

the most strenuous being the battle under General Sherman
at Vicksburg in 1862 and the capture of that city by Gener
al Grant in 1862, when he triumphantly marched into the
captured city on July 4th, of that year.
Mr. McDearmon returned to Chicago after his dis
charge from the army. On November 30th, 1865, there he
was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Ann Russell of Chi
cago, 111., arid immediately took up his residence in Sterl
ing in that state. To Mr. and Mrs. McDearmon have been
born five children, viz, Hattie, who died when eleven years
of age; Mabel, who died in infancy; Harry E., who is a
citizen of Faulkton and .is married to Miss Nora Purcell of
DeVoe, in this county. (He is station agent for the Chicago
& Northwestern railroad company in this city.) Allie, now
Mrs. C. A. E. Whitton of the town of Fairview in this
county, Ruby, who makes her home . with her parents
while for the last eight years she has been engaged as ste
nographer and typewriter in the law office of Frank Turn
er, Esq. , in this city .and is holding the office of notary
public. Mr. McDearmon, since 1883, has been a resident of
Faulk county, and identified with its social and political
affairs, and for four years was clerk of courts for this
county. He is a contractor and builder and has done a
good business in this city and the surrounding country;

ARTHUR W. PHELPS was born in Colfax, Wiscon
sin, February 11, 1873, and on July 11th, 1896, he
was united in marriage to Miss Susie Howell of Deer
Creek, Minnesota. To them has been born one child,
Coila, born September 7, 1897. In 1902 he removed

361

to South Dakota and engaged in the lumber and coal busi
ness at Holmquist, in Day- county. In 1906 Mr. Phelps
became a citizen of Faulkton where he has since resided
and on January 1st, 1909, he entered into partnership with
Mr. A. D. Griffee and engaged in the general real estate
business. Mt. Phelps is a veteran of the Spanish-Ameri
can War. He was a sergeant of Company F., 14th Minne
sota Regiment, and was appointed brigade quartermaster
sergeant of the 30th Brigade Second Division First Army
Corps, and is quartermaster sergeant of the 4th South Da
kota Infantry. Mr. Phelps is a member of the Masonic
order and of the B. P. O. E. and the Modern Brother
hood of America.

FRANK A. PANGBURN was born on December 10th,
1856, in F"ayette county, Iowa. His home with his par
ents was on a farm, yet he enjoyed an excellent opportun
ity for an education, completing a collegiate and commer
cial Course and graduating from the Upper Iowa Univer
sity. After being engaged in teaching school for one year,
in 1882 he came to Spink county, Dakota Territory, and
located government land and then went to LeRoy, Minn.',
and engaged in teaching for six months.
In 1883, Mr. Pangburn came to Faulk county and
took a homestead six miles west of Faulkton, and for four
years, while he was holding down his homestead he was en
gaged in the real estate business at Faulkton. On June
21st, 1887, he was united in marriage to Miss Minnie M.
Johnson, from Cedar county, Iowa. To them have been
born six children, viz: Jessie M., Paul W., Frank J., Mer-

362

rill W. , and a son and daughter who died in infancy. Soon
after his marriage Mr. Pangburn moved on a farm one
mile north of Faulkton where he has since resided.
At the first general election in 1884, after the organi
zation of Faulk county, Mr. Pangburn was elected clerk of
court, but the presiding judge exercised his authority under
the territorial organization and appointed a personal friend
from Iowa to fill that position. In 1889 he became superin
tendent of the Faulkton public schools, and after teaching
for four years he was elected county superintendent of the
schools, which office he successfully filled for four years.
Since that time he has been engaged in farming and stock
raising and in teaching school winters.
While Mr. Pangburn is a loyal and influential member
of the republican party he has never sought preferment,
yet he has always been interested in the advancement of
all educational interests.
Socially, Mr. Pangburn is a member of the order of
United Workmen and the Degree of Honor, also a member
of the Modern Brotherhood of America and at the present
time is president of the latter organization.

EDWARD CHAPMAN was born in Tioga county,
New York, December 20, 1852 and at the age of fourteen
removed with his parents to Cedar county, Iowa, where he
remained until the fall of 1882. when he came to this coun
ty and located a claim and built a shanty, after which he
returned to Iowa. On February 15th, 1883, the land hav
ing come onto the market, he returned to Huron, Beadle
county, and filed on the land and returned to Iowa for his
family and on the 27th of March, was on the south-east

363

quarter of section 3, township 118, range 68, which was
twenty-five miles from the nearest railroad station.
Upon his arrival there he found that somebody had
appropriated and removed the roof from his shanty and
that it was already occupied by at least four feet of snow.
After eating their dinner in the beautiful Dakota sunshine
beside the shanty, and removing the snow from the inside,
the roof of Judge Derr' s unoccupied shanty was appropri
ated and a completed home was occupied that night. Up
on the arrival of his old friend and neighbor, Judge Derr,
lumber had been bought and was on the ground for a roof
to his depleted shanty.
Mr. Chapman was married in Cedar county, Iowa, to
Miss Sara C. Golden, who was born in Pennsylvania, their
marriage occuring September 2nd, 1875. To them was
born January 5, 1882, a son, Delbert, who now resides with
his parents, a source of great comfort to them.
Mr. Chapman in common with nearly all the pioneer
settlers became perfectly familiar with privation, exposure
and all the trials attendant upon drouth, hail and storm,
and suffered total loss of crops in 1888-89, yet he was able
to adapt himself to the changing circumstances and condi
tions, and when, through climatic changes and larger ex
perience, the door to abundant prosperity stood open, he
was prepared to enter in.
He has now at least four thousand dollars' worth of
Norman Percheron horses and two thousand dollars' worth
of neat stock, is satisfied with his experience in Dakota,
and believes that it has been and still is among the most
desirable places for a home and to accumulate property in
the great north-west.

364

THOMAS DEADY was born in New York City, April
18, 1844 and remained in that city and had the advantages
of the schools until the fall of 1868, then went to the state
of Illinois and remained there until the spring of 1883. In
1877 he married Miss Ada Tuttle. To them was born two
children, John Thomas and Edward E. John Thomas is
married and lives in Seattle, Washington. Edward E. is
married and lives in Montana. In the spring of 1883 Mr.
Deady came to Dakota and located in Faulk county where
he has since resided. After the decease of his first wife
Mr. Deady married Miss Lulu May Frink, of Emporia,
Kansas. To them have been born three children, viz:
Cora Lester, Dora May and Jennie May, who are yet mem
bers of his family.
Mr. Deady is now located upon the north-west of sec
tion 14, township 118, range 70 and has a fine farm and
extra good farm buildings. Ninety-five acres are under
cultivation, the remainder being in inclosed pasture.
He has refused seven thousand dollars for this farm,
but on account of a year's severe sickness, sold the most of
his personal property and spent the winter of 1908-9 in the
south.

OSCAR VANMEERBECK was born in Belgium, in
1877 and came to this country six years ago. He is a
mason by trade. Two years ago he engaged in his present
business, the manufacturing of cement building blocks.
Up to the present time it has been in an experimental stage
but with the completion of a barn for Ernest Hulet and the
fine Faulk County Abstract Co. building, with I. Allen
Cornwell manager, it has passed the experimental stage
and become an established business.

FRANK TURNER'S RESIDENCE, FAULKTON

367

Mr. Vanmeerbeck has a contract with Mr. A. Colgrove
to furnish blocks for a building 50 by 100 feet, which is
now in process of construction. It will require about 5,000
blocks.

ALEXANDER GARRICK was born January 8th,
1844, in Delaware county, New York, where he resided,
enjoying all the advantages peculiar to country life, in that
old and well settled part of the country until he removed
to the west in 1878.
In December, 1867, he was married to Miss. Elizabeth
Cowen and to them have been born five children, viz:
James C, Isabella C, William R., Alex A., and Georgia
May, who died when four years of age. The others are
all valued citizens of South Dakota. William R. is now
deputy sheriff of Faulk county and Alex A. cashier of the
Security State Bank of Faulkton.
In the spring of 1883 Mr. Garrick came to Faulk
county and located near Cresbard. Fifteen years ago he
bought and moved onto the E. C. Sage farm one mile from
Faulkton. This farm was bought for $1,400 and a few
days ago sold for $6,400, a clear profit of $5,000. For the
last five years Mr. Garrick has resided in the city of Faulk
ton. He has been elected to the board of county commis
sioners several times. He has taken a great interest in
public affairs and at the age of 64 is a well preserved, active
citizen. Only one mile from town Mr. Garrick owns an
other quarter section of land.
On January 8th, 1909, his life partner, the. mother of
his children, after several months of lingering sickness,
passed to the great beyond, loved and respected by her
family and her numerous friends.

368

DOCTOR J. P. RATHBUN was one of the first settlers
in Faulk county and was successful in his practice as a
physician and when the settlers by reason of drougths and
failures of crops were unable to pay for his services, he was
as ready to respond to every call, as though they had the
money, and many a poor family have reason to remember
him with gratitude, for his visits of mercy, to minister to
the wants of the sick and suffering.
A few months ago Dr. Rathbun removed from Faulk
ton to Wecota, a new town ten miles from this city on the
St. Louis & Minneapolis railroad, w:here he is enjoying a
successful practice.

SAMUEL LOY, son of Samuel and Barbara (Henry)
Loy, was born in Stinesville, Berks county, Pennsylvania,
November 27th, 1853. The family is of German descent
and was founded in the Keystone state at an early day in
the history of this country. When four years old he re
moved with his parents to Schuykill county, Pennsylvania,
where he was reared on a farm and attended the county
schools, until seventeen years of age, when he- returned to
Lehigh county and devoted two years to learning the mil
ler's trade. His salary the first year was forty dollars and
the sec.ond one hundred and fifty dollars. He was engaged
in the milling business in Berks and Lehigh counties for
six years. In 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Janet Faust,
who was of German descent and reared in Berks county.
To them have been born two children, viz: Charles Samuel
and Earl Richard. The oldest was the first boy to grow
up in Faulk county and graduate in any school, he being a
graduate from the Northern Indiana law school.

369

' On leaving his native state Mr. Loy in 1876 went to
Kansas, where he was employed for one year as a house
carpenter and during the following four years was engaged
in the milling business at Fort Leavenworth and Norton -
ville in that state, then after being on a farm for one year,
he removed to Faulk county, Dakota Territory, in 1883,
and on the 15th of March in that year took up his .residence
upon the present farm , being the first to - locate in that
township. Mr. Loy has had a full share of the hardships
and privations, with hail and storm of the early and inex
perienced pioneer settler, with the nearest market thirty-
five miles away.
He has been actively engaged in farming and stock
raising, and has three hundred and sixty acres of valuable
improved land located four and a half miles from the Chica-
cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad station in the village
of Orient. He has also four hundred and eighty acres of
rented land in an inclosed pasture, and is wintering nineteen
head of horses, seventy-six head of neat stock, forty hogs
and a big lot of chickens.
Upon coming upon his farm he built a house 16x22;
additions were made to this until he had a comfortable
home, a good barn, a granary 24 by 34, acorn crib 8 by 42,
hog house 36 by 18, chicken house 40 by 15, and an artesian
well 1122 feet deep with a good flow of water and 1200 feet
of pip ring -to carry water to his buildings and pastures,
Four years ago a tornado destroyed his barn, thereupon
a new one was erected, 64 by 64 and 16 foot posts, and in
the summer of 1908 he erected a new house 32 by 32, two
stories, with concrete cellar under the whole house, six
rooms on the first floor and five on the second, and a garret

370

with three large dormer windows, where four more rooms
could be finished if needed, to which, another year, steam
heat and all modern improvements are to be added.
Mr. Loy is deeply interested in public affairs, especially
on educational lines; has held several school offices. He
has twice been nominated for county sheriff, and once for
county treasurer, receiving more than the party vote, but
the county being overwhelmingly republican, and he, a
democrat, failed of election.

FRANCIS M. RAMSDELL, son of William and Mary
A. (Nixon) Ramsdell, was born August 18, 1862, in Osage,
Mitchell county, Iowa, and removed with his parents to
Moody county, South Dakota, in 1879, and in April, 1884,
located on the north-east quarter of section 7, township 117,
range 71.
On December 25th, 1883, Mr. Ramsdell was united in
marriage to Miss A. Laura Smith, who was born in Bata-
via, Jefferson county, Iowa, on January 18, 1868. To them
have been born six children, viz: William Francis, born
December 18, 1884; Claud Leonard, born October 27, 1888;
Sarah Leone, born December 14, 1892; John Wesley, born
July 5; 1896; Delia Estella, born July 21, 1898, and Earle
Vern, born August 19, 1907.
In addition to his homestead right, Mr. Ramsdell has
located a tree claim entry upon the adjoining north-west
quarter of the same section, which subsequently he proved
up, giving him three hundred and twenty acres of valuable
land. In the fall of 1891 Mr. Ramsdell moved with his
young family to Moody county, but in the fall of 1893 he
returned to his home in this county, happy and contented

FRANCIS M. RAMSDELL

MRS. LAURA RAMSDELL

375

to again become a resident of central South Dakota. Here he
remained satisfied with his farm life until the fall of 1902,
when he being the republican candidate, was elected to the
office of register of deeds for Faulk county, the require
ments of his office necessitating the removal of his fami
ly to Faulkton. In 1904 Mr. Ramsdell was re-elected to
the Same office, rendering in all four years of faithful and
successful service. For the better opportunity of educating
his children , he continued his residence in his pleasant and
commodious home at the county seat, and is now one of
the successful business men of Faulkton.

A. M. STRACHAN was born in in Scotland, June 17,
1850, and immigrated to the United States of America
in 1880 and located in the state of Illinois. In 1883 he
moved to Faulk county, South Dakota, and located upon
the south-west quarter of section 14, township 119, range
67 where he resided until 1896 when he located upon his
tree claim on the south-east quarter of section 19, town
ship 119, range 66 where he now resides.
Mr. Strachan was married in Kalmarnock, Ayrshire,
Scotland, to Miss Catherine Walsh, on September 25, 1873.
To them have been born four children, viz: Samuel, born
at Kalmarnock, Scotland, September 1, 1874; Jane, born at
Kalmarnock, March 2, 1877; Jessie M., born at Kalmar
nock, May 22, 1879 and Thomas W., born at DeVoe,
Faulk county, South Dakota, December 26, 1891.
Mr. Strachan is a practical mechanic and has worked
at his trade as contractor and builder in connection with
carrying on his farm. He was one of the early settlers of
Faulk county to be contented with the amount of land he

376

could successfully improve. He has built up a good home
with a well cultivated farm and is counted among our suc
cessful and prosperous pioneer farmers.
Mr. Strachan always took a great interest in public
affairs and an active part in the county and state organi
zation. A particular interest in public schools and in se
curing an education for his children.

JOHN A. BIXLER was born May 23rd, 1863, in
Stevenson county, Illinois, where he resided until March,
1894, he then removed to Faulk county, South Dakota,
and located about three miles north of Orient. Nine years
ago he secured his present home, two miles east of ' Faulk
ton, where he now resides.
On April 8th, 1897, he was united in marriage to Mrs.
Anna DeLapp, of Yankton, South Dakota, who is now
living. Mr. Bixler is engaged in stock farming, keeping on an
average some two hundred head of neat cattle and is count
ed among our valuable and enterprising citizens. Mr. Bix
ler has served the county as county cattle inspector, is
in politics a democrat and is to be commended for
standing by his political convictions in a county that is
.overwhelmingly republican.

THOMAS PURCELL was born in Somerset, Penn
sylvania, August 15, 1837. He was of Irish descent.
Subsequently he went to Medina, New York, where he was
employed until his enlistment in the 28th New York In
fantry, to serve in the rebellion, on May 22, 1861. On
September 17, 1862 at the battle of Antietam he was seri-

377

ously wounded in his head and on account of his wound
was mustered out of service on June 2, 1863.
After his recovery he served for three years as a
government agent. Then he was a railroad conductor in
the employ of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad on the run
from Cincinnatti to Dayton.
Mr. Purcell moved to DeKalb county, 111., and was
among the first settlers in that county, where he was suc
cessful in farming and stock raising! In the fall of 1882,
Mr. Purcell located land in Faulk county, and while he
had interests that required his presence part of the time at
Athol, Spink county, he held down the government land
securing three valuable quarter sections under the then
existing land laws. ' From 1885 up to the time of his death
on September 22, 1900, he was one of the successful, pros
perous farmers and stock raisers of Faulk county. While
Mr. Purcell was one of Faulk county's leading and pro
gressive farmers he was one of her reliable and active busi
ness men, taking an interest in the financial and political
prosperity of our county,
On December 23, 1863, Mr. Purcell was united in
marriage with Miss Emma Kline of Frederick City, Mary
land, who proved a devoted wife and mother. To them
were born seven children. Soon after the birth of the
youngest in 1879, she was called to surrender all the care
and responsibility of her family into the hands of her de
voted husband and take the journey to the unknown land
from which none ever return, a duty which future events
prove was well performed. ' After his family was grown up
and several of them gone to homes of their own; the sum
mons came and the mortal was called to put on immortali-

378

ty. His children who were then Mrs. J. A. Winerd of
Northville, (now of the state of Washington); Mrs. W. T.
Jackman, of DeVoe; Mrs. W. J. Price and Joseph T.
Purcell of Fargo, North Dakota; Mrs. Nora McDearmon
of Faulkton, Miss Maud Purcell now postmaster of
Cresbard and Miss Rose Purcell, of this city.
While Mr. Purcell had large possessions both of per
sonal and real property, with valuable improvements,
which under his able management yearly become more val
uable, for some time his failing health became a constant
admonition but neither his family, nor the members of the
Phil. H. Sheridan G. A. R., of which he was an honored
member, realized that the end was so near and not until
the end came did his family, friends or the community re
alize the large place he had filled.

WILLIAM B. VINTON was born March 11, 1852, in
Wabash county, Indiana. Before his majority his parents
removed to Kendell county, 111., and from there to Berrian
county, Michigan.
On July 2, 1872, he was united in marriage to Emily
E. Colson, of Tama county, Iowa. There they continued
to reside until 1884 when they came to Faulk county, Da
kota Territory. To them have been born seven children,
viz: Elmer I., Alvin J., Floy M., Frank S., Maude V.,
Charles S. , and Willard D.
On July 2nd, 1884 he filed a preemption claim on the
north-east quarter of section. 23, township 119, range 72.
After proving up his preemption he used . his homestead
right on the north-west quarter of the same section and on
the north-east quarter of section fourteen in the same town-

SAM TOY'S RESIDENCE IN ARCADE TOWNSHIP

381 '
ship, he located a tree claim. After proving up his title
to all the above government land, in 1892 they removed to
Faulkton, on account of better advantages for educating
their children and since that time have remained in the city,
Mr. Vinton politically is identified with the republican
party and always takes an interest in local political affairs;
He is a member of the Independent Order of the Odd
Fellows. Mrs. Vinton is a worthy member of the Metho
dist Episcopal church in Faulkton.

REV. J. K. FREELAND. Among the. pioneer set
tlers of Faulk countv Mr. Freeland and his young wife oc
cupied an important position while holding down their
homestead claim- They always had a good and encourag
ing word for everyone. It was in the summer of 18.96 that ',
I became more intimately acquainted with them, and learn
ed to appreciate their earnest purpose, and active work
among the pioneer settlers of. our new settlement and as a
well deserved tribute, and to bring out one remarkable
event with which they were connected, I incorporate this
tribute of respect, in the history of Faulk county. They
have long since removed from this state and are counted
among the useful and influential educators of California.
Among the many with whom I have been acquainted and
with whom I have associated this young Free Methodist
minister and his educated, christian wife holds no second
place. Among the many that I located upon government land
in 1884 and 1885, was Mr. and Mrs. Westfall and their
niece, upon claims adjoining Mr. Freeland's. After a
time Mrs, Westfall, who was quite advanced in years, was

382

taken sick, and that she might receive better care and
nursing, she was removed to her niece's shanty which was
almost within speaking distance. Subsequently I was sent
for to transact some legal business for Mrs. Westfall and
found her confined to the bed and unable to move or change
her position without assistance. After performing the work
for which my presence had been requested and. getting
ready to leave I was requested by her niece to look at Mrs.
Westfall' s feet, and upon doing so found them swollen
almost beyond recognition and from the toe nails extend
ing up into her foot, to my un practiced eye, the blood had
settled and dissolution had already commenced. While ex
plaining to the niece what I thought, she heard her aunt
call and going to the bed received this, to her remarkable
request, that she "Send for Elder Freeland at once to come
and pray for her recovery, and that she would get well."
Her request was promptly granted. As soon as Mr. and
Mrs. Freeland arrived they were told for what purpose
their presence was requested. Subsequently Mr. Freeland
told me that he then experienced one of the hardest strug
gles of his life; that as he believed her to be in a dying
condition, if not already death struck, his first thought
was that it would be sacrilegious to pray for her recovery,
but while endeavoring to frame appropriate words to ex
plain his position, it came to him as plainly as though
audibly spoken, "it is not my faith but hers." Instantly
he fell upon his knees and earnest and persistent pleadings
both by himself and Mrs. Freeland, went up to Almighty
God for the speedy recovery of the sick woman. Soon
after the prayers were ended and they regained their seats .
Mrs. Westfall turned upon her side facing them and said;

383

" I certainly feel a great deal better," and before night,
Mrs. Westfall was out of bed arid sitting in a chair. After
her husband had proved up on his homestead, she removed
to Faulkton and subsequently returned to New York where
she died. These facts coming under my personal knowledge and
observation so impressed me that I have related them to
both religious and irreligious, to the learned and to the un
learned, and after all that has or could be said pro and con,
I believe it to be as really and truly a manifestation of the
power of Almighty God as was ever performed by the
lowly Nazarene, and worthy to be classed as one of the
most remarkable incidents in the history of Faulk county.

OTIS A. SWIFT was born 'in Chautauqua county, state
of New York, on September 15, 1857. His father, Jewel
C. Swift, was a farmer and lived on the same farm from
the time he was two years of age until he was sixty years
of age. He was of English descent and his grandfather,
Jacob Swift, purchased the old farm and settled upon it
when Chautauqua county was a wilderness. Mr. Swift's
mother was of Irish descent, though the family came to
this country several generations before she was born. Her
9
father was a Baptist preacher.
Mr. Swift was the second child in a family of four
boys, and was reared on the old farm. He enjoyed good
educational advantages so far as they were supplied by the
common free public schools of that day, and at the age of
sixteen entered the Forestville Academy, and after a three
year's course there, at the age of nineteen he taught his
first term of school, and from 1876 to 1888 he taught every

384

winter, and during three years of that time he taught the
entire year through. Until 1883 he was attending school,
teaching school and farming.
In March, 1883, he came to Dakota Territory, and from.
Mellette traveled overland to Faulk county, where he pre
empted the south-west quarter of section 30, township 120,
north of range -67. He erected a board shanty and with
his partner, John Day, broke fifty acres of land and put in
to crop. Between them they owned a team, wagon, break
ing plow and harrow. Mr. Swift worked during the sum
mers on his claim and returned to New York during the
winters, where he taught school. In 1885 he and his
partner bought the south-west quarter of section 25, town
ship 120, range 68, and moved the shanty onto this land.
At the time he took up his first quarter section and built
the shanty, there were but three others in sight, and now
within two miles eighty fine farm residences can be seen.
Mr. Swift now owns five hundred and sixty acres of
land, two hundred and thirty of which are under cultiva
tion with a fine set of farm buildings, located only one
mile from the new and growing village of Cresbard, an im
portant station on the Minneapolis & St. Louis railroad.
Three hundred and thirty acres of unbroken prairie is de
voted to pasture, and though until 1892 he gave his atten
tion chiefly to grain;, growing, since that time he has
turned his attention largely to stock. He has been keeping
a. good herd of neat stock, horses and sheep. With other
pioneer farmers, Mr. Swift has had a full share of hard
ships and privations, failure of crops, fire and storms. In
1889 he decided to remove to Mellette and accept a posi
tion as principal of the public schools of that city for two
years.

FREMONT YOUNG'S RESIDENCE, FAULKTON

387

Since his return to his farm, by the introduction of
nearly four nundred artesian well, with their abundant flow
of water into the county, preventing the possibility of an
other siege of drought and a better knowledge of the clima
tic conditions, success and prosperity have steadily followed.
On March 27th, 1888, Mr. Swift was united in marri
age with Miss Julia H. Bryant. Mrs. Swift was born on a
farm in Buchanan county, Iowa. Her father, N. B. Bry
ant, is a native of Ohio, of German descent and an early
settler of the state of Iowa. Mrs. Swift is one of a family
of four children and came to Dakota in 1885., To. Mr. and
Mrs. Swift have been born two children, viz: Clare; born
July 22, 1880, and Martin, horn October, 1892.
In political views Mr. Swift is a republican, and takes
an active interest in local affairs. He is widely known
and respected throughout Faulk county.

^ FREMONT YOUNG was born in Clearfield, Clearfield
county, Pennsylvania, August 14th, 1861, and is the oldest
of a family of four children, whose parents were John C
and Elizabeth (Brickley) Young, also natives of Pennsyl
vania and of German descent. By occupation the father
was a lumberman in the east, but after the removal of his
family to Iowa in 1872, he followed agricultural pursuits.
Mr. Young's great grandfather, John A. Young, emigrated
from Germany prior to the Revolutionary War and was one
of the men who fought so bravely for the colonies in that
conflict. On starting out for himself at the age of nineteen
years, Fremont Young entered the office of the Atlantic
Telegraph at Atlantic, Iowa, to learn the printers trade
and served a three year's apprenticeship.

388

In 1884 he came to Miller, Hand county, Dakota Ter
ritory, and was. employed on the Miller Press until 1888.
when he went to Huron, Beadle county, as a foreman on
the Daily News. After the failure of that paper in the
fall of 1888 he came to Faulkton and worked on the Faulk
ton Record for one year. At the end of that time he and
A.. E. Evans purchased the Faulk County Democrat and'
changed the name to the Faulk County Republican , which
they conducted for four years. Until the fall of 1897 Mr.-
Young was identified with the publication of different
papers in Faulkton. In 1897 he was appointed to the
office of postmaster at Faulkton, which office he filled for
four years. Upon his resignation, his wife, Eva M.
Young, was appointed to fill the vacancy and is now the
popular and successful postmaster in this city after five
years service in that important position.
On first coming to Dakota in 1884, Mr. Young took
up a preemption and built an 8 by 12 shanty thereon, but
sold his relinquishment.
In 1889 Mr. Young wedded Miss Mary E. Kendall,
who was born and reared in the state of Missouri, and is a
daughter of D. F. Kendall, who was a farmer and an early
settler in Faulk county. To them have been born two
children, viz: Pearl J., now fifteen years old, and Madeline
B., age twelve.
In his political views, Mr. Young is a pronounced re
publican, and is now editor of the Faulkton Advocate and
has always taken quite an influential part in local politics.
He has served as delegate to numerous county conventions
of his party, and was a delegate to the republican state
convention in 1892.. He was, also elected alderman of

389

Faulkton that year, and held that office five years, resign
ing upon being appointed postmaster.
Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias
and the Ancient Order of the United Workman.

C. C. MOULTON. The records of the lives of our
forefathers are of interest to the modern citizen, not only
for their historical value but also for the inspiration and
example they afford, yet we need not look to the past; al
though surroundings may differ the essential conditions of
human life are ever the same, and a man can learn from
the success of those around him if he will heed the
obvious lessons contained in their history.
One of the most successful men in Faulkton, South
Dakota, was C. C. Moulton, and through his entire busi
ness career he was looked upon as a model of integrity and
honor, never making a contract that he did not fulfill,
and standing as an example of what determination and
force, combined with the highest degree of business in
tegrity can accomplish for a man of natural ability and
strength of character.
Mr. Moulton was born in Hartford, Connecticut, De
cember 3rd, 1835, and was the son of Spencer and Cloe
(Willingston) Moulton, the former a native of New Hamp
shire and the latter of West Springfield, Massachusetts,
where their marriage was celebrated. Both were of Eng
lish descent and belonged to families wliich were founded
in this country prior to the Revolutionary War, in which
struggle some of the ancestors of our subject, on the ma
ternal side, took part. The father was a paper and powder
maker by trade, invented the machine for sifting powder,

390

used today, and was foreman in a powder mill at East Hart
ford, Connecticut, for some years.
Mr. Moulton was next to the youngest in a family of
twelve children and was principally reared in Springfield,
Massachusetts. At the age of eight years he commenced
attending the common schools of Boston, and remained in
that city until twenty-five years of age, which time was
devoted to the study of architecture with different con
tractors, as he was a natural builder.
He then went to Springfield where he worked two
years in the Wasson car manufacturing shops, and at the
end of that time embarked in business on his own account,
as a contractor and builder, being thus engaged in that
city for twenty -two years. The largest building he con
structed was the Barney & Berry skate . factory at Spring
field. He made the plans for the reform school in Hamp
den county, Massachusetts. In July, 1861, he removed to
Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he erected the Kocken-
dall building, owned by H. W. Phelps, at a cost of six
teen thousand dollars and during his stay there of two
years he erected several other expensive buildings.
Mr. Moulton was joined by his family in Minneapolis
in 1882 and in March of the following year came to Faulk
county, Dakota Territory, to recuperate and locate his son,
W. C. Moulton, on a farm. At that time Faulkton con
tained but one store and there was no railroads west of
Redfield. AH of his goods and supplies were hauled from
Mellette, in Spink county, but in two weeks from the time
be arrived at that place he had a six room house erected
upon the land he had entered in Faulk county.
For two years'he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and

R. L. DEAN, ROCKHAM, S. D.

393

then removed to Faulkton where he had since made his
home, being engaged in loaning money and looking after
his property interests. Mr. Moulton had large interests in
land and houses which together with his money interests
required careful attention.
Out of sixty contractors in Springfield, Massachussetts,
he and one other contractor were the only ones who sur
vived the panic of 1872, and were able to meet all their
obligations. He still owns a block of tenement houses and
a store building in that place, and for the past year the
most of his time was spent in the east visiting and looking
after his many interests.
In 1862 Mr. Moulton married1 Miss Susan C. Chapin
who was born in Warehouse Point, Connecticut, where her
father, Henry Chapin, owned and operated the ferry be
tween Warehouse Point and Winsor Locks, but later was
in the boot and shoe business at Springfield, Massachusetts,
where she was reared. Her early ancestors were among
the Puritans who came to New England in the Mayflower
in 1620. She is of the ninth generation, in descent from
Governor William Bradford who was for thirty years
governor of the Plymouth Colony.
Of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Moulton, only
one, W. C. Moulton, is living. He is married and has one
child, and was in the employ of the Great Northern rail
road at Pipestone, Minnesota,- for more than twelve years,
and is now located in the pleasant home upon his fine farm
near Cresbard in this county.
Since 'casting his first vote for John C. Fremont in
1856, Mr. Moulton was a staunch supporter of the republi
can .party and served as chairman of the first republican

394

county convention ever held in Faulk county. For two
years he was a member of the board of trustees of the state
reform school and in the spring of 1898 was elected mayor
of the city of Faulkton, an honor entirely unsolicited on his
part. The reins of city government were never in more
capable hands, as he was a public spirited and progressive
citizens, willing to do all in his power for the public good
of the community.
He was a member of the Masonic order since 1864 and
formerly affiliated with the Knights of Honor and the
Knights of Pythias. At the age of eighteen he united
with the Methodist Episcopal church, but since coming to
Dakota Territory he was a member of the Congregational
church. He took an active part in religious affairs, assist
ing in building the first church in Faulk county, and
served as superintendent of several Sunday schools. His,
estimable wife also took an active interest in Sunday
school and church work, and on account of their sterling
worth and many excellences of character, both were held in
high regard. Mrs. Moulton is past department commander
of the Woman's Relief Corps of South Dakota.
Mr. Moulton died, at Springfield, Massachusetts, May
26th, 1909.

L- T. WIGHT was born July 29, 1838. He joined
the Union Army in Company D. , 17th Illinois Volunteer
Infantry and served three full years. In 1866 he married
Miss Julia Teachant of Cambridge, Illinois. Subsequent
ly he moved to. Faulk county, South Dakota, where he has
since resided and is counted among our worthy dtizens.

395

EDWIN McCOMB was born October 4, 1840, in On
tario county, New York. In 1862 he enlisted in the Union
Army, in Company F., 126th Regiment, New York Volun
teer Infantry and remained in service until the muster out
of the regiment in 1865. While serving in the eastern di
vision or army of the Patomac, he was wounded at Martins
Ford in 1863. He experienced a full share of the work
that made the record of that celebrated regiment. After his
return from the army he married Miss Catherine Bruglen
of Ontario county, New York. In 1882 he came to South
Dakota and in the spring of '1883 located in what is now the
town of Fairview in Faulk county, where he has since re
sided. He has lately sold his homestead for $6000.00 and
is living with his sister near his old home -where his wife
died March 10, 1896.
Mr. McComb has had the experience of, the average
pioneer settler. First hardship, privation and want, fol
lowed by abundant prosperity. He is a devoted Dakotian
and interested in all that makes it one of the American
Union of States.

J. S. NEVINS was born February 26th, 1843, in the
state of Vermont and enjoyed the advantages of the com
mon school education. Left/ Vermont in his childhood
with his parents to reside in Wisconsin. From Wisconsin
he moved to the state of Iowa. After a residence of four
teen years in Iowa he came to South Dakota in the spring
of 1885 and located in Faulk county, in what is now the
town of Sherman, about one mile from the present town of
Onaka, where he has since resided. On January 1st, 1864,
he married Miss Margaret Kelley, To them have been

396

born two children, one of whom died in infancy; the other,
Miss Mamie, now Mrs. Wm. Crom, is now postmaster at
the village of Onaka.
Mr. Nevins has a farm of three hundred and twenty
acres of valuable land, ninety acres of which are under culti
vation, good farm buildings, and well watered. He now
keeps nine horses. Eighteen months ago Mr. Nevins left
his farm and went into the livery business at Onaka, where
he has a large livery barn and has just completed a fine
residence. He has filled town offices and was for four years one
of the board of county commissioners from the third com
missioner district of Faulk county. Mr. Nevins is counted
among the best and most influential pioneer settlers. *

MR. JOSEPH M. YOUNG was born in Iowa in 1873.
At his majority he left Iowa for Kansas.
In November, 1905, he married Miss Hannah Rey
nolds and to them has been born one child. He is now
well established in the hotel business in the best hotel in
Faulk county, at Onaka, and is doing a prosperous busi
ness and proving to the public that he is an experienced
and practical hotel man.

JAMES F. NESTOR was born in Caledonic county,
Minnesota, on the 20th of March, 1868. He came to
Faulk county in June, 1884, and located on the 'north
east quarter of section 21, township 120, range 70, in the
town of Enterprise.
Mr. Nestor was married in July, 1903. to Mrs. Angerline
Brenack of LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He is among the sue-

397

cessful pioneer settlers of Faulk county, has good farm
buildings and farm machinery, eighteen horses, thirty-five
head of neat stock and fifty hogs.
He has served on the board of county commissioners
for four years, and is counted among the reliable business
men of north-western Faulk county.

ALLEN LAW was born in 1868 in Scotland and came
to America with his parents in 1869 and located in the state
of Maryland. In 1871 moved to Lacona, Iowa, and in the
spring of 188.6 removed to Faulk county, South Dakota and
located in the township of Clark and when twelve years of
age moved, to what is now the town of Enterprise. On
October 16th, 1901, he married Miss Anna Freitag who
was born in Ireland. To them have been born three chil
dren, viz: Allen Jr., Robert and Donald,
Mr. Law has one quarter section of land with good
farm buildings, adjoining the townsite of Carlyle. He has
twelve horses, twenty-five head of neat stock, ten hogs,
and is counted among the enterprising and successful pio
neer farmers of north-west Faulk county.

GEORGE G. RILEY was born in Wisconsin, July 30,
1863, and came to Mellette, in South Dakota, in 1882 and
after a few months visited Faulk, Edmunds and Brown
counties. Mr. Riley has seen much of central South
Dakota with which he has been pleased . He was in Brown
county six years and came to Onaka in July, 1907.
In 1888, Mr. Riley married Miss Addie May Moore
and to them have been born eight children, viz: Maude,
' Grace, Blanche, Wesley, Ervin, Ora, Mabel and Ervia..
Mr. Riley is now doing a good livery business at Onaka.

398

HERMAN BERG was born in Germany on November
18th, 1867, came to America in 1886, locating in the state
of Iowa. Removed to Faulk county, South Dakota in the
spring of 1893 and took a homestead on the north-east
quarter of section 33, township 120, range 72, in the town
of Sherman. On October of 1896 he married Mrs. Kate Heil. To
them has been born two children, twins. He has now ad
ded to his homestead another quarter section of valuable
land. He has good farm buildings, and one hundred acres
under cultivation.
Mr. Berg has rented his farm and moved to Onaka
where he has built the best house in that village. He also
has a pool and billiard parlor and is doing a flourishing
business. Mr. Berg's home is furnished with hot water,
heat and all modern improvements.

H. M. DAHL was bora September 20, 1851, in Nor
way and emigrated to the United States in May, 1872.
His first location was in Wisconsin. Subsequently he
moved to Minnesota where he remained three years and
then came to Faulk county, in April, 1885, and located on
a homestead on the north-west quarter of section 29, town
ship 118, range 71, where he has since resided. Mr. Dahl
has had a full share of hardships and privations in his
pioneer life, sharing his home with a brother, father and
sister. The father has since died.
With the changing years and changed conditions,
prosperity and comfort have come, as it has to nearly all of
the pioneer settlers of this country. He now is the posses
sor of 640 acres of valuable land, good farm buildings.

399

twelve head of horses, eighty head of neat cattle, and good
farm machinery.
Mr. Dahl is one ef the most reliable and prosperous
pioneer settlers of western Faulk county. He has been
treasurer of the town of Latham since its organization and
is now road commissioner for that township.

SELWYN WHITNEY was born January, 1847, in Al
legany county, New York. At the age of 21 he went to
Madison, Wisconsin. After a few years residence in Illi
nois and Kansas, he returned to Rockford, Illinois, where,
on October 8th, 1874, he married Miss Louisa Weeks and
to them have been born five children .
After ten years residence at Rockford he again visited
Iowa and Kansas, and made a five year residence at Bea
trice, Nebraska, but in in 1883 came to Faulk county where
he has settled down for a permanent home.
He is a citizen of the town of Elroy, is chairman of
the board of supervisors and is also on the school board
and is active in all public affairs.
Mr. Whitney has One hundred and sixty acres of valu
able land, eighty- five acres under cultivation and the bal
ance is an enclosed pasture of native grasses.
Mr. and Mrs. Whitney have now five children living,
one is married, one son who he claims is a native Dakotian,
born in 1888, the year of the terrible blizzard, January 14th
of that year. He stands six feet and one inch in his stock
ings and weighs 190 pounds.

J. H. WALLACE was the oldest of eleven children to
grow up to manhood upon the old homestead in the Em-

400

pire state. .Aiding in the work on the farm in the summer,
and attending country school during the winter months.
At the age of twenty-two he went upon the great lakes as a
sailor and remained upon the water ten years, first as sec
ond, then first mate, and later as master of a vessel. In
one storm uponLake Erie, October 10th, 1880, the "Valen
tine" a three mast schooner upon which he was then sail
ing foundered about forty miles from Cleveland and went
down. The crew left the vessel in a life boat, and after
drifting about from one o'clock a. m. until five o'clock p.
m. the next day, finally reached land six miles below Fair-
port, Ohio.
At the age of twenty-eight Mr. Wallace was. united in
marriage to Miss Viola Graves who was born and reared at
Madison, Ohio, and was educated in the common schools
and in a seminary that has been turned into a home for the
widows and nurses of the civil war. On the paternal side
she is of English descent and the family can be traced back
for eight hundred years. Her father was Corlton Graves,,
who was the owner of vessels and for many years sailed the
lakes as master both of sailing vessels and of steamers.
His father's family consisted of fourteen children, sev
en sons and seven daughters, of whom four sons have be
come sailors, and lake captains. The subject of this.
sketch has but one child, Blanche Estella, who is now twen
ty-one years old.
After his marriage Mr. Wallace purchased a farm near
Madison, Ohio, though he occasionally made trips upon
the lakes. His time was principally devoted to agricultur
al pursuits. He had an excellent farm with a stream run
ning through it and improved with fine buildings and tens
acres of fruit.

QUEEN CITY HOTEL, FAULKTON

403

Selling his place in the spring of 1883, he came to
Faulkton, in Dakota Territory, and took up a preemption
in Faulk county. Previous to proving up, a man jumped
his claim as a homestead and it went into lititagation where
it remained for four years, Mr. Wallace being beaten in all
the courts. Afterwards the homestead man left the claim,
and after one year's absence Mr. Wallace filed on it as a
homestead, having had possession of it for fifteen years
prior to proving up. He also took a quarter section of land
under the tree claim law which he proved up, all of which
he has since sold.
The same year of his arrival he embarked in the
hardware and farm machinery business i-n Faulkton in a
little building 20 by 40 feet. To meet the growing demand
of his trade, he had to seek more commodious quarters,
and now occupies a building 75 by 150 feet', well stocked
with staple and fancy groceries, and all kinds of hardware
and farm machinery.
During the early days the nearest railroad station was
A'thol, Spink county, a distance of thirty miles. At that
time he also kept lumber, coal, flour and feed, and often
had three or four teams on tne road hauling supplies and
one in constant use. In 1887 he also conducted a store at
Millard, Faulk county, but his stock was destroyed by fire
on the 4th of July, that year, with a loss of two thousand
dollars. In the spring of 1886 he lost a house, granary,
and five hundred bushels of wheat in the same way. This
loss amounted to between five hundred and one thousand
dollars. Notwithstanding the reverses he has steadily pros
pered in business since coming to Faulkton and is today
one of the most substantial citizens of this city. He is a

404

straightforward, energetic and capable business man and
carries forward to successful completion, whatever he un
dertakes. In his political views Mr. Wallace is a democrat and
has served as a delegate to the conventions of his party.
He has been prominently identified with everything calcu
lated to boom the interests of the town and county. The
first Fourth of July celebration in Faulkton was held in his
uncompleted storeroom which was the fourth building
erected in the new town. He was appointed postmaster
under President Arthur's administration and filled that
office from 1885 to 1888. He was one of the first county
commissioners elected in Faulk county, and served in that
position for one term . Religiously he is a member of the
Congregational church, and socially is affiliated with the
Masons. Mr. Wallace has his own peculiar business methods,
in all his own business transactions'. For forty-six years he
has been his own banker, never having given a check,
handling all his own money, .keeping his own books and
paying all his liabilities in cash, and in sixteen years,,
prior to 1899, had taken in and paid out two hundred and
fifty thousand dollars. He has never been sued or sued.
any man and has never been in court as, a witness but once,
never uses tea, coffee,, tobacco or liquor.

WILLIAM SPRINGATE THORN was born in Hills
dale county, Michigan, June 20th, 1857, where he remained
with his mother until his marrriage, December 1st, 1880..
His father gave up his life in the Union Army in 1864.
To Mr. and Mrs. Thorn have been born, five children

405

Nina', now Mrs. Samuel E. Chapman of DeVoe; Wilford
Springate, Montgomery C, Laura A., and Lester Price.
Upon coming to Faulk county in the spring of 1886,
he was located by the author of this history on a preemp
tion on section 19, township 118, range 72. As soon as
he could prove up his preemption, he took a homestead
and a tree claim, both of these he has proved up and now
has three quarter sections of valuable land, upon which he
resides, about one and one half miles west of the village
of Seneca. One hundred and seventy acres of this land is
under cultivation, the remainder is a fenced pasture of
native grasses. He now has fourteen horses, fifty head of
neat stock, all necessary improved farm machinery, good
farm buildings, and his last year's crop in the granary,
Mr. Thorn came to Dakota with less than one thousand
dollars. Now he has property worth $25,000.00 and
stands among Faulk county's prosperous and influential
farmers.

DANIEL W. PILLSBURY of Centerville, Faulk
county, was born in Canness, New Hampshire, on the 30th
day of June, 1847. He was the only son of Joseph D. and
Claracy (Abbot) Pillsbury. He lived thereuntil his enlist
ment in the 57th Illinois Regiment Volunteer Infantry,
April 27th, 1861, for three years. A re-enlistment in the
veterans, extended his service until his final discharge,
July 4th, 1865. After a residence in the state of Iowa for
fifteen years, he came to this county and located upon tne
government land in township 118, range 67, which is the
present town of Centeryille. In the early years of pioneer

406

life, his was little or no different from the common ex
perience of those who early came to Faulk county. Hard
ships and privation was the lot of all. The years of failure
of crops, the dry and hot wind, the repeated hail storms,
the inexperience in combatting with new conditions, made
one continuous struggle. The changing years brought
change of conditions until prosperity has finally crowned
his efforts, and at the age of sixty-one he stands among the
happy, contented, prosperous farmers of Faulk county.
Mr. Pillsbury recognizes the fact that in union there is
strength and has full companionship with his comrades in
the Grand Army Post of which he is an active member.
He is also a member of the Royal Arch Chapter Free and
Accepted Masons at Faulkton, South Dakota.

ANDREW T. ERICSEN was born in the state of
Wisconsin in 1862, of Norwegian parentage. In 1904 he
located on a farm two miles east of Seneca. Was elected
to a town office in 1905 and now holds the office of county
justice. He is now in the restaurant business at Seneca. Mr.
Ericsen was married to Miss Bertha Anderson in 1882. To
them have been born eleven children, now' attending the
common schools at Seneca.

WILLIAM BELL is one of the early and active pi%
neers of west Faulk county. Has always been interested
in political affairs and may always be depended upon to do
good, square and upright work.
But for a most earnest protest much more would have
been said of this active, rustling pioneer of west Faulk
county.

407

DOCTOR EDWARD ENSCH was born in Belgium,
in 1846. Commenced his education in his native.
city, and after coming to the United States, studied in Chi
cago, Illinois. From fhere he located in Sioux Falls,
South Dakota, and practiced his profession for a time with
a good degree of success. In 1884 he came to Seneca, Faulk
county and commenced the practice of medicine. Here he
built a store, put in a stock of medicine together with gen
eral merchandise, and did a successful and profitable busi
ness, yet was alwa3rs ready to respond to a prof essional call.
Dr. Ensch politically is a democrat and soon after
Cleveland's election in 1886 was appointed .postmaster at
EHisville. In 1885 he married Mrs. Catherine (Deisch)
Tescher, of Wisconsin, and with him she removed to IUi-
nois, and from there to his. new home at EHisville. For
two years this proved a pleasant and successful home.
Upon the coming of the railroad to Seneca, he resigned
his office as postmaster, packed up his goods, placed his
store upon wheels and took a six mile journey to Seneca,
where he was soon reestabHshed in a prosperous and
successful business.
Dr. Ensch is an active Mason and a member of the
Faulkton Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. Profes
sionally he is ready to attend to every call and to the poor
est patient is a ready and faithful attendent.
The Doctor has made many warm and reliable friends
and at sixty is an active, business and professional man.

MRS. CATHERINE (DELSCH) ENSCH was born
of German parentage in the state of Wisconsin, on October
7th, 1855, where she enjoyed the advantages of a common

408

school education. At the age of eighteen' she married
Peter Tescher with whom nearly ten years of very happy
married life, under the most favorable circumstances, were
enjoyed. Five years after his decease a second marriage
was contracted with Doctor Ensch and her real pioneer life
commenced . .
Mrs. Ensch has always been an active business woman.
Her first husband left her with property and in comfortable
circumstances and by' careful and prudent management she
has continued to look after her money matters with good
success. In the community in which she lives, Mrs. Ensch has
many reliable and confiding friends and all with whom she
has social or business relations hold her in high estimation
and respect. She has succeeded remarkably in adapting
herself to the varions conditions with which she is sur
rounded. While at EHisville the duties of the postoffice
and the store were taken up and quickly mastered, and the
store at Seneca has always received her careful attention.
Within the last year she has sold out her store at Seneca
and invested in valuable land property between Faulkton
and Orient, and is in the situation .with less care and re
sponsibility, to enjoy and see more of enjoyable relations of
social life.

JOHN ELLENBECKER was born October 8th, 1849,
in Sauk county, Wisconsin. In 1868 his father moved to
Sterns county, Minnesota, where he resided until he came
to this county in 1885. On the 11th day of March, 1885,
he located in township 117, range 72, and in the following
fall his family, consisting of his wife and five children, came

409

from Minnesota to EHisville to become permanent settlers
intheir new home. His wife's maiden name was Mary
Fishback, whom he married in Minnesota in 1874- To
them have been born nine children, seven of whom are now
living, viz; John J., Peter, Mick, Frank, William, Au
gust, and Andrew.
Mr. Ellenbecker has a farm of one hundred and sixty
acres, one hundred and thirty acres of which are under cul
tivation. Fifteen years ago Mrs. Ellenbecker died, leaving
the young family to be cared for by their father. • Through
all these years his home has been maintained and the chil
dren well cared for. At the present time the youngest is
in his eighteenth year. Three of the boys make their home
with their father, the others have gone out to make homes
for themselves, but all live in South Dakota. Mr. Ellen-
becker has twenty-eight head of horses, forty-five head of
neat stock and twenty-five hogs, and is counted among, the
well-to-do Faulk county pioneer farmers.

MRS. LOUISA THORN was born in Providence,
Saratoga countv, New York, November 6th, 1830, and
lived to the years of womanhood in that state. In 1850
she was united in marriage to Albert S. Thorn and in 1852
moved with her husband to Hillsdale county, Michigan,
•where she for years experienced the difficulties of pioneer
life. In July, 1861, Mr. Thorn enlisted in the army for the
preservation of the American Union, He finished up his
earthly career in January, 1862, dying in the army hospital
at Lexington, Kentucky, Mrs. Thorn leaving her home
and young children, hastened to join her husband at the
hospital to soothe his dying hours.

410

After all was over Mrs. Thorn heroically returned to
her hone ani children and took up the additional duties
that her early widowhood placed upon her. With a family
of five children, not a light or easy burden, in 1885 she
again started out to secure a home upon the Dakota govern
ment lands, to be followed by her now grown up and
married sons, locating upon section 30, township 118, range
72. Mrs. Thorn faithfully performed the duties of a home
steader, living alone in her "shanty upon the claim," a
claim she yet owns and at present prices, worth nearly, or
quite $5000.00. After proving up her homestead, she pur
chased a lot in the village of Seneca and moved her house
upon it where she is now rounding out a well spent life.

MRS. EMMA A. HOOPER, formerly from ( the state
of New. York, came to Faulk county in the spring of 1885
with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Westfall, and was,
located on a homestead, being a quarter of section 30,
township 118, range 72.
Mrs. Hooper had a large experience in the loneliness
and exposure of pioneer life. After proving up on her
homestead in 1891, she married George W. Kline, who
died in 1905, leaving her upon her former homestead, but
in possession of considerable property. Mrs. Kline, who is
now in independent, circumstances, resides in her beautiful
residence in the village of Seneca.. An illustration of her
pleasant, and commodious home may be found on page 179
in this history.

JOHN A. DIXON was born in Iowa in 1877, was a.
graduate of Simpson College at Indianolav Iowa, and was

411

there 'engaged in the banking business, as a profession. Was
cashier of the First National Bank of Coon Rapids, Iowa,
until he came to Seneca, Faulk county. He was married
to Miss Efnma J. Monk on December 7th, 1899. To them
has been born onej child, Theodore, four years old. Mr.
Dixon has been in Seneca for the last three years acting as
cashier of the State Bank of Seneca, and is counted among
the reliable and influential men of the county.

ALEX C. RUDINE was born in Sweden, in
1878, and came to America in 1885 and located in Hyde
county, South Dakota. In 1906 he removed to Seneca,
Faulk county, and engaged in banking, real estate, and
insurance. He has been successful in business and is
counted among the active business men of west Faulk
county .

ARTHUR J. EATON was born in Waukon, Iowa, in
1883,. of American parentage, and is a graduate of the high
school and took a three year course at the Iowa State Uni
versity. For a time he was cashier of the State Bank Pf
Seneca. On June 19th, 1907, he married Miss Lisle Mary
Stewart of Waukon, Iowa. At the present time Mr. Eaton
is engaged in the sale of lumber and coal at Seneca and is
counted among the reliable, active business men of that
town.

WILLIAM KELLETT was born in the state of Indi
ana in 1843. In 1886 he located in Seneca and continued
his employment on the farm until five years ago when he
was appointed postmaster of that enterprising and growing

412

village. Mr. Kellett has taken great interest in public af
fairs ever since he came into the county and has had a full
share of public affairs. He is now serving on his second
term as postmaster to the entire satisfaction of the com
munity. In 1887 he married Miss Livingstone of Monticello,
Iowa. To them have been born three sons and one daugh
ter. Two of the sons are active citizens of Faulk county,
the daughter is married and her home is in Minneapolis,
Minnesota,

NELSON HAGAN, manager of the N. A. Hagan
Land Company, was born in Norway, March 18th, 1870,
and came to America. In 1893, he located in'Faulk county.
Mr. Hagan is one of the many men who have greatly pros
pered through their foresight and good business manage
ment. He owns six hundred and forty acres of valuable
Faulk county real estate, three hundred and twenty acres
in Potter county, and four hundred acres in the state of
Minnesota. No man in Seneca has done more for the im
provement and upbuilding of that enterprising and prosper
ous village than Mr. Hagan.
On the 12th day of October, 1902, he married Miss
Capatora Harris of Mellette, Spink county. To them has
been born one son, who is now in his sixth year.
Mr. Hagan, in common with all the pioneers of this
county, has had a full share of disappointments, hardships,
and privations. Largely his property has accumulated
within the last five years through the rapid increase in
value of real estate, and his own good judgement in the
management of his business affairs.

413

FRANK ARZT was born on February 17th, 1856, in
Australia. In 1867 he came to America and located in
Clinton county, Illinois In 1879 he came to . Brook
ings county, South Dakota, where he remained until Sep
tember, 1888, when he came to Faulk county, and located
on section 18, township 117, range 72 (EHisville), where
he had a farm of three hundred and twenty acres. One
hundred and sixty acres he has lately sold for $27.50 per
acre and has now the best quarter section with good farm
buildings, one hundred and forty acres of which is under
improvement. He also has a house and six lots in the vil
lage of Seneca. He has twenty-five head of horses, twenty-
five head of neat stock and has over five hundred dollar's
worth of hogs. Also a fine lot of poultry, consisting of
geese, turkeys, ducks and chickens. They have also raised
for the last eight years an average of over two hundred
dollars worth of garden truck. Mr. Arzt is a firm believer
in intense cultivation, his wheat averages 16 bushels, oats
30 bushels and corn 30 or 40 bushels per acre.
On November 11, 1877, he married Emilie Matzke, who
was born in 1858 in Australia, and came to this country in
the spring of 1877. To them have been born eight chil
dren, seven of whom are now living, viz: Emma, Joseph,
Marion, Edward, Frank, Newton, and Emilie, two of whom
are married.

EMANUEL GOLDEN was born on the 7th day of
August, 1S27, near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and from
that place was drafted into the Uniqn Army in November,
1862, where he served a full nine mouths, leaving a wife
and six children behind him.

414

In 1864 he moved to the town of London in the state
of Iowa and in the spring of 1883 he removed' to Faulk
county and'took a homestead where he now lives. In 1896
he left this state and moved to Missouri and remained three
and one-half years. Then returned to his old home in this
county. Mr. Golden remembers distinctly of going to see
the men lay the rails for the Baltimore & Philadelphia rail
road in 1836.
He has seen much of pioneer life and now at the age
of eighty-one years is apparently good for several years to
come.

CHARLES P FORREST, of Orient, South Dakota,
was born in Smithfield, Pennsylvania, and was one of seven
brothers. At a family reunion held at the home of L. W.
Forrest, of East Smithfield, these seven brothers, the sons
of Dana Forrest, who was a native of the state of Vermont,
with the father and mother, were all present. Charles P.
Forrest, of Orient, Faulk county was one of the number.
These seven brothers all served in the Union army through
the civil war, and strange to say, neither wounds nor death
overtook them in that long and bloody struggle.
The subject of this sketch is the fourth son of this re
markable family who gathered from their homes in the
east, the extreme north-west and the middle west, to greet
father and mother and each other with a real home greet
ing, forty-two years after the close of that terrible war.
Mr. Forrest is one of our Faulk county pioneers that has
succeeded in accumulating property and in helping. to
build up the prosperous and enterprising village of Orient.
An illustration of his hotel and stable may be seen in
this history

FORREST HOUSE, ORIENT, FAULK COUNTY, S. D.

FORREST HOUSE STABLE, ORIENT, FAULK COUNTY, S. D.

419

ALEXANDER M. THOMPSON was born March 16,
1846, in Whiteside county, Illinois, and remained there
until 1870, when he removed from thereto Madison county,
Iowa. September 12,, 1872, he married Miss Maggie E- Hart
of that place. To them have been born three children,
viz: S. Bell, Egbefy A. and John A., the last of whom is
a born Dakotian. In the spring of 1873 he removed to
Hamilton county, Nebraska, and in September, 1884, to
Faulk county, South Dakota, and located in township 118,
range 72.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have succeeded remarkahly
well in keeping the family together. All are living at the
homestead, although the sons have separate financial in
terests. Altogether they have 480 acres of land, and rent
two sections more. They have 60 horses, 80 head of neat
stock, 11 hogs, 500 sheep and 80 ducks, a fine set of farm
buildings and 170 acres under cultivation besides the
home and rented pasture. Mr. Thompson has had a full
share of the privations and hardships of the early Dakota
pioneers and is now reaping the full reward of those who
remained through years of drought and storm with failure
of crops, while those less fortunate left this county without
additional reward.

PETER SCHMITT was born September 13, 1859, in
Germany, and came to the United States the 26th day of
March, 1881, and in March, 1886, came to EHisville, South
Dakota and located upon the south-west quarter of section
9, township 118, range 72, now Seneca and is now located
on section 14 in the same township. Mr. Schmitt has ex-

420

perienced all the hardships of the average pioneer settler,
but by remaining here, and by hard work, he has now a
320 acre farm, 160 acres improved and a good home. He
has sixteen horses, seventy head of neat stock, thirty-five
hogs, and all machinery necessary to carry on his farm.
February 17th, 1890, he married Miss Leibrich and to
them have been born the following children: Susanna,
John, Gustave, Peter, Aloysius and Emma May. Mr.
Schmitt is one of western Faulk county's most successful
farmers.

F. E. HATFIELD was born Oct. 15th, 1846, in Rush
county, Indiana, and received all the advantages of our
American common schools.. He was seventeen years old
when with his father and family he removed to Mahaska
county, Iowa, where he lived until the spring of 1885,
when he removed to what is now the town of Elroy, where
he remained until the fall of 1906.
In October, 1866 he married Miss Samantha I. Dusen-
berry, of Mahaska county, Iowa. To them have been
born four children, only one of which, Harry D., who is
interested in business with his father is now living.
For the last two years Mr. Hatfield has been engaged
in conducting a hardware and machinery store in the vil
lage of Seneca, F. E. Hatfield & Son, proprietors.
Mr. Hatfield has been interested in public affairs and
in the advancement and prosperity of Faulk county. For
six years he served the county as commissioner from the
third commissioner district.

421

MATTHEW J. JARVIS was born in Baraboo, Wis. , on
May 14, 1850, of English parentage. Moved with his par
ents to Columbus, Ohio, when he was about two years old
and came west with them in 1859 to Richland City, Wis
consin. He afterward moved to and lived at Madison,
Sun Prairie, Richland Center and Cazenovia, Wisconsin.
At the latter place he learned the millers trade and always
worked at it until he came west in the spring of 1880.
On Christmas Day, in 1876, he was married to Abbi'e
Ann Hall, at Reedsburg, Wisconsin. To them were born
five children: Matthew J., S. Hall, Annette, Lucretia and
Maggie Belle, the last dying in infancy .
In February, 1880, he shipped from LaValle, Wisconsin
to Tracy, Minnesota, that being as far as trains ran that
spring, although the track was laid as far as Volga', South
Dakota. From there he drove overland to Pipestone, Min
nesota, and from there to Mitchell, South Dakota, where
he arrived ahead of the railroad. From there he went to
Huron, helped lay out the townsite, and on July 4th, 1880,
read the declaration of independence the first time it was
ever read in Beadle county.
In August, 18.80, he moved to Redfield and built the
first house there, then known as the Jarvis house, now as
the New Central House. Was joined by his wife from
Wisconsin, about September 1, with his two boys and
there on the townsite of Redfield, alone, they put in that
hard winter of 1880 and 1881, living on wheat ground
in a coffee mill and antelope meat.
He was the chairman of the first convention ever
held at Redfield, sent the first express and received the
first express ever received at that office.

422

On August 21, 1883, moved to his farm in this county
and has ever since resided in the county.
Mr. Jarvis located government land in this county on
the first dav of August, 1883. On November 9th, 1883,
was appointed on the first board of commissioners to per
fect the organization of the new county, and since that
time has been actively identified with the social and politi
cal affairs of Faulk county. Since leaving his farm and
removing to Faulkton he -has been engaged in the drug
business, owning a drug store and doing a general land
business. For the last four years he has owned a hotel in
Faulkton. He has been mayor of the city for four years.

DR. ABBIE A. JARVIS (nee Abbie Ann Hall) first
saw the light of day at Shanzerville,. Ohio, on September
16, 1853. She was born of mixed parentage, her father
being a North Carolinian and her mother Pennsylvania
Dutch. She moved from Ohio in 1855 with her parents to
Sauk county, Wisconsin and was educated in the common
and high schools of her day.
She was united in marriage to Matthew J . Jarvis on
Christmas Day, 1876, at Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Came to
Dakota Territory with her husband in 1880, and put in the
winter of 1880 and 1881 at Redfield a year before there
was another house on the town site, living on wheat ground'
in a coffee mill and antelope meat.
To this union have been born five children, M. J.
Jarvis, Jr., S. Hall Jarvis, Annette, Lucretia and Belle,
the latter dying in infancy. In 1883 they moved from
Redfield to a farm in Faiilk county with their family. In
the winter of 1888-1889 they moved to Faulkton, where her

MATTHEW J. JARVIS

DR. ABBIE A. JARVIS

425

husband went into business. In 1890, with a family of
four children, and after, going through all the hardships of
a frontier life, she commenced to read medicine and in
1898 graduated fourth in her class from the Women's Med
ical College of the Northwestern University of Chicago.
After taking a full four years course she returned at once
to Faulkton, where she has ever since had her full share of
practice and she believes the confidence and respect of the
people of the county.
Mrs. Jarvis has been a. resident physician of several
benefit associations, and has been honored with the election
of vice president of the State Board of Pharmacy. She is
a worthy member of the Eastern Star and of the Methodist
Episcopal church.

' JOSEPH H. HAYS was born at Dakota, Stephenson
county, Illinois, October 27, 1862. Died at Faulkton,
South Dakota, October 13, 1908-
His father, who was a veteran of the Mexican War,
died when the deceased was 12 years of age and he being
the oldest boy of the family was left to assume, with his
mother, the responsibility of managing family affairs. He
remained at home until he was married. His mother died
in 1895 at her home in Iflinois.
On November 29, 1883, the deceased was married to
Lizzie Fahs, also of Dakota, Illinois. In the fall of 1884
he came to South Dakota to. procure a home. He filed on
a homestead in western Faulk county and in the spring of
1885 he moved on same and lived there for about eight
years. In the fall of 1892, he was elected sheriff of Faulk
county in which capacity he served four years. He has

426

been a resident of Faulkton since his election to this office.
He leaves a wife and three sisters, Mrs. Margaret
Mitchell, of Dakota Illinois; Mrs. Mary Lambert, of Green
wood, Wisconsin; Mrs. Lottie Powless, of Detroit, Michi
gan; and two brothers, James G., of Akron, Iowa, and
John L-, of Galena, South Dakota, to mourn his loss.
The deceased was a member of the Masonic, K. P.,
M. B. A., D. of H. and A. O. U. W. societies. He was
also a member of the official board of the M. E. church.
Mr. Hays remained a citizen of Faulkton after his
election to the office of sheriff. At the expiration of his
second term he engaged in the live stock and butcher busi
ness, later purchasing the Western Telephone Exchange.
Mr. Hays sustained a great loss in the big' fire on
March 20, 1905, when his market and telephone office were
consumed in the flames. Three hours after the fire he was
doing business. He at once took action looking to the
erection of the Hays block, an illustration of which may be
found in this history. He sobn after sold out his meat
market and devoted his attention to the building up of his
telephone business. The Faulkton exchange was being
constantly enlarged and improved and rural lines run in
every direction from Faulkton. It was his ambition to
build up a telephone system here covering all the central
and western portions of the county and rebuilding the
Faulkton system and improving it until there w?as none-
better in the state. Then he would take life a little easier.
He-had planned for himself and wife a trip to California
where they would spend the coming winter and enjoy a
much needed rest. He finished his life's work. His tele
phone system, rural and city, was extended, improved and

427

enlarged just as he wanted and his ambition was satisfied'..
He had commenced arranging for his much needed vacation
and winter trip to California, when he was suddenly and
without warning stricken by the grim reaper, Death, and
the vacation and rest, which he so much felt the need of,
proved to be the long rest — the long sleep which must come
to all. His work was done. How many pass off this stage
of action with their work finished? Mr. Hays completed
his work because he had a purpose in life and lived to it.
He toiled late and early. He had no family except his
wife. They had plenty.
As a citizen and business man Mr. Hays had no
superior. Faulkton has sustained great losses by fire and
otherwise but none can be compared to the loss through
the departure of Mr. Hays. He was successful in all that
he undertook. He always proved the right man in the
right place in whatever position he was placed. He al
ways took much interest in national and state politics and
was more or less active in local politics. He was always
foremost in all public enterprises. His energy, earnest
ness and clear perception were always great factors in any
cause that he championed. His judgment was sought by
many in affairs of life. No worthy person ever appealed
to him in vain for assistance. His heart was an open book
to all who knew him — simple, frank, kind and just. His
heart was always in the right place— in his work, in his
-words, in his every action and thought. He was especially
kind to children, never passing one on the street, though a
stranger, without a cheerful word and a smile. This of
itself was an index to his character. He never spoke evil
of anyone and could always see some good in everybody.

428 <

If he ever had hatred in his heart he never let it come to
the surface sufficient for anyone to find it out.
As a friend he was perfect if such is possible in man.
His friendship was true as steel and pure as unalloyed gold.
Among all his strong characteristics . his faithfulness to a
friend was the strongest.
His life was a very active one from boyhood days.
His capital with which he built his successful life was
honor, ambition, energy and industry. While he did not
live to enjoy the fruits of his labor as he had planned, yet
his life is a good example to those just taking up the re
sponsibilities of character building for themselves.

>

MRS. LIZZIE (FAHS) HAYS was born April 18,
1863, at Dakota, Illinois. On November 29, 1883, she
was united in marriage to Joseph H. Hays. In the spring
of 1885 her actual pioneer life commenced. Located upon
a homestead nearly twenty miles from any railroad town ,
she, with her devoted husband, with patience and persever
ance, met the lonliness and privations that became a part of
their new life, ever looking forward to better and more
satisfactory conditions and making a persistent and untiring
effort to attain them. One after another who had located
claims near them and who they had counted on to help
build up a prosperous community proved up their claims,
mortgaged them, and left the country, until they were
left comparatively alone. For more than seven long years
she stood by her devoted husband in building up a home
and a reputation, that prepared the way for larger useful
ness and better opportunities for financial success, and not
to be forgotten more .satisfying and enjoyable social sur-

JOSEPH H. HAYS

MRS. J. H. HAYS

HAYS BLOCK, FAULKTON

433

roundings. Sixteen years of almost uninterrupted pros
perity, a most desirable home and home surroundings,
largely relieved from care and responsibility, there seemed
but little more to be sought or desired. On the morning
of October 13, 1908, she awoke to a new experience. The
companion of her youth, the guide and support of mature
years, was suddenly and unexpectedly removed. That
darkness and desolation, that none can realize save those
who have passed through the deep and turbid waters, be
came a reality in her life. The quiet, careful and business
like manner in which Mrs. Hays took up and is managing
the various business affairs and large moneyed interests,
has no doubt lightened her pathway, by giving no time to
look upon the dark waters through which she was com
pelled to pass.

CAPTAIN CALEB HOLT ELLIS was born November
18th, 1825, in the town of Weld, in the then county of
Oxford, state of Maine, where he resided with his parents
until he was twelve years of age, attending the common
schools. Among his early teachers were Dr. Fondice
Barker and one or two of that renowned family of Abbotts.
Nature was lavish of tier gifts to that immediate vicinity.
A beautiful sheet of water two miles wide and seven miles
long, teeming with shining mountain .stream trout, sur
rounded by broad intervales and table land extending to
the very foot of high mountains with lofty peaks, made a
landscape sublime in grandeur, well calculated for lasting
impressions for coming years. In 1837 his parents moved
to Sangeville Village, in Piscataquis county, where for
nearly six years he enjoyed the advantages of one of the

434

best common and high schools of that day. Then, in his
eighteenth year, after six days journey, weary and sore
footed, he was transferred to another school, one of toil,
privation, exposure and hardship, in the wilderness, in the
then territory of Northeastern Maine, in the lumber woods',
on the rivers driving lumber, in the mills, clearing land of
its vast growth of timber; ten long years of constant toil,
ten years of constant physical training, as looked back
upon through subsequent years, ten years of most valuable,
physical, moral and intellectual discipline; ten years of
actual well rounded physical manhood.
In the winter of 1854 he was granted a local preach
er's license by the Fort F'airfield Quarterly Conference of
the Methodist Episcopal church and in June of that year ap
pointed preacher-in-charge of the Western and Topsfield
circuit in the East Maine conference of that church, and
the following year was reappointed to the Wesley and
Northfield charge, and in 1856 to the Franklin, Sullivan
and Gouldsboro circuit. At Sullivan there was an ex
tensive revival and many conversions which made it neces
sary to form a new circuit of Sullivan and Gouldsboro, and
Hancock was added to the Franklin charge. At the end
of this year (1857) he was appointed to the East Macheas
charge where he preached until the opening of the Civil
War. He then received the appointment of Chaplain in
the Eleventh Regiment, Maine Volunteer Infantry and was
attached to the second brigade of General Casey's division
of Keyes' corps, Army of the Potomac and was stationed
on Meridian Hill, Washington, D. C, in the winter of
1861 and 1862, but joined McClellan at Fortress Monroe
and took part in the first Peninsular campaign. At the

435

time that regiment was ordered south Mr. Ellis lay sick
with typhoid fever at the Chesepeake general hospital. He
subsequently resigned the chaplaincy and gave his time
and influence in enlisting men for the Union army. In the
winter of 1864 he was requested by Governor Coney of
Maine to assist in the organization of the 31st Regiment
of Maine Volunteer Infantry. In this enterprise he was
more than suceessful, having secured men in excess of a
full quoto for his company. The 31st joined Burnside at
Annapolis, Maryland, and participated in the memorable
Battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania and in the
rapid "Onto Richmond." On the 7th of June,. 1864,
after the bloody battle of the second and third of that
month, while in command of the picket line Captain Ellis
received a shell wound in his left breast, causing paralysis
of the left side, and was by the division surgeon declared to
be in a dying condition.
This ended his army service. The following October
he was discharged from the Annapolis hospital for total
disability. It was nearly three years before he was able to
lay away his crutches and resume work in the minist
ry. From that time on there ha£ been suffering to
interfere with an active business life, at times so severe as
to compel him to abandon employment and seek cHmatic
changes. In 1876 he was compelled to ask for a super
numerary relation in the Michigan annual conference of
the Metnodist Episcopal church and flee to the gulf coast
of Texas, and again in March, 1882, to seek the high alti
tude and clear bracing atmosphere of South Dakota, and.
again after an absence of nearly twenty years, to seek new
life and energy in the far famed Dakota climate.

436

Captain Ellis is proud of his Puritanic ancestry, trac
ing back by seven distinct lines to Plymouth Rock. His
Great Grandmother Ellis was Sarah Bradford, the fifth
generation from William Bradford, who came in the May-.
flower to Massachusetts -Bay in 1620. She married Freeman
Ellis; the third generation from John Ellis of Sandwich,
who married Elizabeth Freeman in 1645. Governor Wil
liam Bradford was for thirty-one years, in all that the title
implies, at the head of the Plymouth Colony. Lydia Ful
ler was the daughter of Isaac Fuller, a Revolutionary
hero and the fifth from Doctor Samuel Fuller, deacon in
Mr. Robinson's church in Holland and surgeon and phy
sician of the first church in the Plymouth Colony. In
1800 she married Freeman Ellis of Hartford, in the dis
trict of Maine, son of Freeman and Sarah (Bradford) Ellis
of Plympton, Massachusetts.
Not oniy in the Bradford and Fuller lines, but through
Richard Warren, Francis Eaton, Edward Doty, Francis
Cook and Stephen- Hopkins, he traces in unbroken lines
his ancestry to that heroic band that in 1620 laid the
foundation of civil and religious liberty on the bleak New
England shore.
Captain Ellis again and again in South Dakota found
a most wonderful health resort. After a winter of great
suffering, in March, 1882, he came to Beadle county and
located at Wessington, which was followed by greatly im
proved health, and again in August of 1907, with wonder
ful result's. On January 14, 1849, Captain Ellis married Lydia
Hains, daughter of Joseph Wingate and Mary (Briggs)
Hains, of Fort Fairfidd, Maine,, who was born in HoUowell,

MR. ALBERT GOODER'S FARM RESIDENCE, ORIENT, S. D.

439

Maine, April 12, 1829. To them were born seven chidren,
viz: Ada Ianthe, who died at Brazoria, Texas, in 1876;
Allie Leroy, who died in infancy; Arthur W., of Faulkton,
South Dakota; Ernest Almond, who died at Nashville,
Michigan, in 1870; Olin Howard, now of Hillsdale, Michi
gan; Mellie May, now Mrs. Howard Kipp, of Fort Fair
field, Maine, and Adelbert Lincoln, who died in infancy.
Mrs. Ellis died at EHisville, Faulk county, July 7, 1886.
Captain Ellis subsequently married Mrs. Francis E. Rich
ard, of Fort Fairfield, Maine, who died in that village in
May, 1894. There was another marriage August 6, 1895,
to Mrs. Lottie H. EhrHch, of Boston, Massachusetts. Mrs.
Ellis died at Fort Fairfield, January 22, 1907.
Now in his eighty-fourth year he, after a most serious
breakdown in the winter of 1907 , is again active and vigor
ous for one of his age, and finds real enjoyment in literary
work.

ALBERT GOODER was born on September 9, 1860, .
in Racine county, Wisconsin, enjoying the advantages of
our American commom public schools. In the year of 1883
he located on the land he now occupies as a home. To this
land he has added three more quarter sections, and has now
under improvement over four hundred acres. Mr. Gooder
has fine farm buildings, an illustration of his house will be
found in this history.
For the last ten or twelve years there has been steady
advancement. In the spring of 1891 Mr. Gooder went to
the Pacific coast and took a look at the far famed lands of
the state of Washington, but after seven months of experi
ence he returned and decided that Faulk county, South

440

Dakota, was good enough for him. On March 1, 1885, he
married Miss Ada M. Estee, of Belleville, Wisconsin. To
them were born three children, viz: Grace M., Mable E.,
and Harold G. In addition to carrying on his farm and
caring for his home interests, he has served as county treas
urer in Faulk county, four years. Mr. Gooder has only
twenty head of horses and' about the same of neat stock,
depending largely on mixed farming, with land under the
best cultivation.
Mr. Gooder would not consider $40.00 an acre a
reasonable price for his land, and is one of the Faulk coun
ty pioneers that is thoroughly satisfied with his immediate
surroundings, being located only one mile from the rail
road station of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad
at Orient.

GEORGE J. JARVIS of Faulkton, South Dakota, is a
native of the Buckeye state, haying been born at Columbus,
Ohio, March 26, 1843. He is of English ancestery, his
parents, George and Sarah Jarvis, the former of whom was
born at Staffordshire, England, and the latter at Brockel-
hurst, Sheffield, England.
In 1849 his parents removed from Franklin county,
Ohio, to Baraboo, Wisconsin, the trip being made in a
prairie schooner, a very popular mode of travel for emi
grants in those days. They were lost for a day upon the
Illinois prairie. At night they were able to locate them
selves fourteen mfles north of Chicago. There were no
railroads at that time running into or out of Chicago. In
February, 1851, the family returned to Ohio, but after re-

441

maining there five years, they returned to Wisconsin and
engaged in farming.
On July 26, 1861, when eighteen years and four months
old the subject of our sketch enlisted as a private in the
3rd Battery Wisconsin Artillery, and served through the
term of his enlistment in the army of the Cumberland.
After his return from the army he engaged in farming.
In 1867 heengaged in the milling business. In 1875 he was
admitted to the bar. and actively engaged in legal practice
until 1881, when he removed to Minnesota.
In August 1883 he came to Faulk county, Dakota
Territory, and took advantage of the liberal United States
land laws, and while residing upon his land and faithfully
complying with the laws in improving the same, he active
ly engaged in the practice Of his profession.
In 1895 he was elected county judge for Faulk county
to which office he has been re-elected up to the present
time and is now faithfully and successfully serving his
seventh term.
Judge Jarvis is a republican in politics. He is popu
lar with the common people, especially with his comrades in
the Grand Army of the Republic.
He is an active and influental member of Phil. H.
Sheridan Post No. 72, at Faulkton, South Dakota, and of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Judge Jarvis was united in marriage to Miss Diantha
M. Nichols, a native of Somerset, Ohio, and to them have
been born the following children: Nellie A., born April
26, 1866; George L-, born October 2, 1867; Harry J., born
April 24, 1879; Fred W., born May 14, 1872, and S. Bdle,
bom December 2, 1874.

442

JOHN W. HAYS was born on May 26, 1844, in the
town of Scotland, county of Albany, in the state of New
York. In 1864 his father removed to Rensselear county,
New York, and in 1868 to Spottsylvania county, Virginia.
On April 11, 1866, he was united in marriage with
Miss Frances Walker of Rensselear county, New York,
and to them were born six children, viz: Charles N., Will
iam L-, John R., who died in infancy; Charlotte E-, Jose
phine J., and Mary Frances.
After remaining in Virginia for a little over three
years, Mr. Hays moved to Washington, D. C, where he re
mained one year and then removed to Newark, N. J., then
in 1884 he came to Faulk county and in June of that year
located a preemption on the north-east quarter of section 18 ,
township 119, range 69. He also secured a quarter section
under the tree claim law. In the fall of 1891 Mr. Hays
removed to the city of Faulkton where he has since resided,
yet continued to carry on his farm until 1902, and is yet
the possessor of 320 acres of Faulk county land.
Ever since coming to this county he has taken an ac
tive interest in local political affairs, especially along the
educational lines. For nearly ten years he has held the
office of justice of the peace. Mr. Hays is an outspoken,
unqualified, prohibition prohibitionist and the fact that this
was at that time a no license county, determined his loca
tion here. Since 1902, in addition to his official duties, he has
been actively engaged in buying and sdling real estate and
in insurance and collections.
Mr. Hays made no mistake in corning to Faulkton,
where he has a pleasant home and is the owner of other city
property. Financially the future is abundantly provided

443

for, with a well established, paying business. He is count
ed among our reliable trustworthy citizens.
At his country's call, at the breaking out of the Civil
War, he was prompt to respond. On May 4th, 1861, he
enlisted at Syracuse, New York, in Company H., Four
teenth New York Volunteer Infantry, two years and during
that time was engaged in seventeen battles and at the ex
piration of his term of service, in 1863 he again enlisted in
Company L-, New York Cavalry, better known as "Scotts
Nine Hundred," where he served until mustered out at the
end of the war.
Mr. Hays through a long line of ancestry has a co-
mingling of Scotch Irish and French blood that became
Americanised long before the Revolutionary War, in which
his great grandfather took an active part, as did his Grand
father Martin on his mothers side of the house, in the war
of 1812 and 1814.

CHRISTOPHER MERTENS was born in South Ger
many, February 13th, 1843. He came to the United States
of American in 1867 and located at Dunkirk, in the.state of
New York, where he engaged in the manufacturing of boots,
and shoes for one year, he then removed to Two Rivers,
Wisconsin, where he carried on the same business. Two
years later he removed to Algona, Kossuth county, Iowa,
and engaged in farming and remained six years. He then
came to Minnesota and located in Blue Earth county and
engaged in the insurance business.
He was united in marriage with Miss Genevieve Gei-
ger, July 29th, 1868, and to this union was born five child
ren, viz: John, born July 16th, 1869; he graduated from

444

Hamline University, Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1903, mar
ried Miss Alberta Galispia, came to South Dakota and com
menced the practice of medicine at Lebanon, Potter county,
the same year, where he now resides and enjoys a suc
cessful piactice; Elizabeth, born December 22nd, 1870,
died August 24th, 1871; Clara, born July 18th, 1872, she
married Samuel Brown of Faulk county, November 6th,
1889, and died January 7th, 1903, leaving three children;
Emma, born March 26th, 1874, she married John Galla
gher, June 4th, 1902, they now reside at San Antonio,
Texas; Louisa, born February 22nd, 1877, she was united
in marriage in Minneapolis, Minnesota, August 26th,
1906, to William Simon, who was born February 16th,
1869, at St. Charles, Minnesota, and came to Faulk county
in 1889 and located at Faulkton, where he has been em
ployed in the meat market up to the present time.
Mr. Mertens continued in office and representing some
of the most reliable insurance companies and collecting
agencies in the United States, until his removal to Faulk
ton in 1888. After Mr. Mertens came to this county he
continued to work at his trade as a boot and shoe maker
for two years, at which time he was elected to the office he
filled in Minnesota, that of justice of the peace, and to
which he continued to be re-elected until the time of his
death, at his home in Faulkton, South Dakota, on Sunday
morning, October 20th, 1905, aged sixty-two years, eight
months and sixteen days. Mr. Mertens was educated in
Germany, graduating from a military school and serving
for a time in the German army. After completing his ser
vice in the army he was educated for the ministry of the
Catholic church, but on account of doctrinal difficulties

445

he never entered the church. He was a member of the In
dependent Order of Odd Fallows, holding his membership
at Gettysburg, in Potter county, and has represented his
lodge at the grand lodge meetings of the state. He was a
lover of art, music, and philosophy and had read and thought
much upon these subjects. He was a kind and loving hus
band and father, a good neighbor and an honest man, and
the entire community sympathized with the family in their
loss. The funeral service was conducted from the Methodist
Episcopal church, Rev. McBeth preaching the sermon and
the Odd Fellows having charge of the burial service. The
burial was in the Faulkton cemetery.

JOHN F. LUKE was born November 21st, 1854, in
Dodge county, Wisconsin. In 1883, on March 29th, he
came to Faulk county and was located upon the north-west
quarter of section 24, township 120, range 68, and • subse
quently proved up under the United States homestead law.
He also took a tree claim in section 23, adjoining his
homestead and after proving it up located his buildings on
the tree claim, where he now resides.
On March, 1884, he was united in marriage to Miss
MagdaUne M. Schivdckhard. To them have been born
six children, as follows; John D., Minnie, Sarah, Nellie,
Belle and Jessie.
Mr. Luke, in common with all of the pioneer settlers,
experienced the hardships and privations of pioneer life,
hail, storm and drouth producing their destructive effects,
but amid all loyally remained and is now reaping his re
ward, having added to his two quarter, sections, two more,
and now he has a 640 acre farm, with good farm buildings;

446

twenty horses, twenty head of neat stock, twenty hogs, and
all farm machinery, and a good artesian well, reaching
water at a depth of 160 feet. Mr. Luke has a house and
six acres of land in the young and thriving village of
Cresbard.

REV. A. A. WOOD, pastor of the Congregational
church of Faulkton, was born in Scott township,. Wiscon-
consin, April 28th, 1854. He spent his boyhood days on a
farm. On the death of his father in 1866 the farm was
sold and the family moved to Milwaukee. Here the author
of our sketch spent four years as an employe in the rolling
mills of that city", after which he went to Oberlin, Ohio,
where he began a seven years' course of study — three in
the academy and four, in the college proper — graduating in
1882 with A. B. degree. After spending three years in
the capacity of Superintendent of schools, he began a
theological course in the Boston University, -graduating in
1888 with the S. T. B. degree, having previously received
the A. M. degree from Oberlin college. On graduating in
theology he immediately returned to Wisconsin where he
began the work of a Methodist minister, uniting with the
Wisconsin M. E. conference in the fall of that year.
On December 18th, 1889, he was united in marriage to
Miss Sarah Philpot of Milwaukee, who is still his popular
and helpful companion. After a few years in the active
work of the ministry that ever present thirst for knowledge
for a broader education became so overmastering that he se
cured a leave of absence from the conference, releasing him
from the active work for a season, with the result that he
at once began at the University of Chicago, an extended

REV. A. A. WOOD

449

course of four years in philosophy, psychology and kind
red studies leading to the Ph. D. degree.
Mr. Wood enjoys the honor of having worked his way
through the entire fourteen years of college and university
study. The impression grew upon him that he was better
adapted to the independence of the Congregational fold;
hence in the fall of 1899 he secured from the Wisconsin M,
E. conference the customary "certificate qf location" with
which, and other credentials, he united with the Congre
gational denomination in the spring of 1900.
On January 2nd, 1909 he received a unanimous call to
the pastorate of the Faulkton church, and entered upon
his work January 31st.
He brings to the Faulkton field an extraordinary
scholarship, a large and successful experience in the minis
try.

WILLIAM M. EDGERTON, M. D., is a leading phy
sician and surgeon of Faulkton and has met with most
wonderful success in the practice of his chosen profession.
He was born in Mantorville, Dodge county, Minnesota,
May 27, 1870, and is a worthy representative of a promi
nent and distinguished family, being a son of Hon. Alonzo
J. Edgerton. The Doctor's great-grandfather aided the
colonies in their struggle for independence as a soldier of
the Revolutionary war, and was taken as a prisoner to
Montreal, Canada. The grandfather, Lorenzo Edgerton,
was a farmer and contractor in New York state through
out life. Alonzo J. Edgerton, the Doctor's father, was reared

450

in Rome, New York, and there prepared for the legal pro
fession. In 1856 he removed to Dodge county, Minnesota,
where he engaged in practice until the Civil war broke out.
In 1862 he raised a company, and the following two years
were spent on the frontier fighting Indians, but the remain
der of his service was in the South. He was finally mus
tered out in 1867 with rank of brigadier-general. He was
always a very popular and prominent man, and in 1880
was appointed senator from Minnesota by Governor Pills
bury. After holding that position for one year he was
appointed chief justice of Dakota Territory in 1881, and in
the spring of the following year he and his family took
up their residence in Yankton. In 1886 they removed to
Mitchell, where he engaged in the practice of law until
appointed United States district judge by President Har
rison in 1889, when he located at Sioux Flails. He died
in that city, in August, 1896, honored and respected by all
who knew him .
Dr. Edgerton is the sixth in order of birth in a family
of seven children. He attended school in Yankton, and
later the high school of Mitchell, from which he was
graduated in 1889. For two years he was a student in the>
State University at Vermillion, South Dakota, and. was
graduated from the South Dakota Agricultural College in
1893, with the degree of B. S. In the fall of that year he
entered the medical department of the State University
of Minnesota, where he was graduated in the spring of
1896, with the degree of M. D. For one year he was
engaged in practice atClaremont, Minnesota, but in March,
1898, opened, an office in Faulkton, and has established
himself in a large and paying practice, which is constant-

451

ly increasing. He is a very progressive physician, and his
skill and ability are widely recognized.
In December, 1896, Dr. Edgerton led to the altar Miss
Alta Andrews, who was born in Wisconsin and educated at
Vermillion, South Dakota. Her father, A. A. Andrews,
is a prominent citizen of Faulkton and owns a valuable
farm in the northeastern part of the county. The Doctor
and his wife have a son, Carl Alonzo, born November 29,
1898. The Doctor is one of the most popular and influential
citizens of Faulkton, and is now serving as mayor of that
city and also as county physician. Politically, he is iden
tified with the republican party, and socially, affiliates
with the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Pythias, the
Modern Woodmen and the Modern Brotherhood of Ameri
ca. His wife is an active and prominent member of the
Congregational church of Faulkton, and both occupy an
enviable position in the best social- circles of the com
munity.

CAPTAIN H. A. HUMPHREY was among the first
settlers of Faulk county, and one of the most successful
workers for the advancement and upbuilding of society.
He was editor and publisher of the Faulkton Times, 'one of
the best and most reliable newspapers ever published in
Faulk county- The Times was an outspoken, indepen
dent and reliable exponent of the various questions, that
entered into the upbuilding of moral, social and -political
standing of the young and important county. Earnest in
his efforts to advance the interests of the community and
keep in touch with the upbuilding of Faulkton.

452

Captain Humphrey and his inestimable companion
were important co-workers in lifting life's burdens, cheer
ing life's pilgrimage and in bringing together and build
ing up a social, congenial and happy community, out of
the early pioneer settlers from different states and com
munities, that had, without any reference to each other,
decided to make Faulk county their future home. Per
sonally he was an independent thinker and an outspoken
worker; his intelligence, and the further consideration
that he was usually on the right side, compelled his recogL
nition as a safe, reliable and successful leader.
He was appointed by Territorial Governor Ordway
one of the commissioners to perfect the organization of
Faulk county. In whatever position or public work to
which he was called, the duties were ably and conscien
tiously performed, until his leadership', as voiced through
the Times, became acknowledged by a large following, not
only in Faulk county but in other parts of the state.
No reliable history of the struggle for county organization
and statehood can be written without Captain Humphrey
occupying a large and important place. With statehood
assured, a looking forward for political preferment became
the order of the day.
Watertown claiming the governorship, the Black Hills
a United States senator, and Canton, Sioux Falls and
Yankton claiming the other senator and one representative
to congress, public, or rather political attention, was turned
toward the northern portion of the state and particularly
toward Faulk county, and also toward Captain Humphrey,
as the man for the important place.
Before the campaign had far advanced Hon. John A.

453

Pickler, arother Faulkton man, developed so much strength
that little real. work was done by Captain Humphrey's
friends, and at the convention to elect delegates to the state
convention, county pride and political policy decided them
in giving Major Pickler their entire county delegation , and
he was triumphantly nominated for congress at the con
vention. Major Pickler's friends realizing that Captain Humph
rey would feel disappointed and that he would not give
him the hearty support that his home paper would be ex
pected to, a move was made to buy the Times. This move
succeeded and the Times became a Pickler organ.
And here we have always thought that Captain Hum
phrey made the mistake of his life, so far as political
preferment and advancement was concerned. If Captain
Humphrey had said to the party that had been selected to
negotitate for the Times, "no, the Times is not for sale, it
is a republican paper and will give the most hearty support
to the republican ticket, especially to our townsman and
fellow citizen, Major Pickler," the writer of this sketch is
in a position to know, that while some particular plans
. might have been upset and political disappointment fol
lowed, the assurance would have been accepted and Captain
Humphrey been in line for political preferment, with an
open door to the highest office within the gift of the people
of South Dakota.

BUTLER LAMBERT was born May 8th, 1858, in
Lafayette county, Wisconsin. His parents were living on
a farm where he assisted in making a living and attended
the pubhc schools, remaining at the home of his birth and

454

boyhood until twenty-three years of age. At that time he
came west with Robert Young, arriving in Faulk county
on the nineteenth day of August, 1882, and took possess
ion of unsurveyed public land by driving a stake and nail
ing a board to it, upon which notice of possession was
posted. In about one month he returned to his former
home in Wisconsin for a car load of supplies, including a
team, which was shipped to Ashton, in .Spink county, the
nearest railroad point, having left the young man who came
with him to hold posession of the land and look after their
interests. The land in the meantime having been surveyed,
a shanty was built across the line in which they were able
to hold down their claims, being on section 22 and section
•21, in township 119, range 67. At the time of settlement
the nearest neighbor was nearly five miles away. This was
on the last of October, 1882, and in December nearly all
the land in sight was held by squatters rights, although
the land had not yet come upon the market. About this
time Mr. Abbott settled at DeVoe and established a board
ing tent until he could erect a home to- accomodate the new
coming settlers. That winter Mr. Abbott and the subject
of this sketch were the only ones to have teams, by which
communication could be kept up with the railroad station..
In February the land having come into market a re
turn trip to the Huron land office was made to file on their
land. Mr. Lambert was able to add to his preemption a
tree claim, which he held until 1887, subsequently in 1885
he filed his homestead right on the south-west quarter of
section 20, township 119, range 67. Nine years ago he
sold his homestead for his present place of business in this
city where he has since been engaged in harness making.

455

On November 22, 1887, he was united in marriage to
Miss Nellie E. Moulton, who was born November 22, 1869,
in Allegan county, Michigan and came to Faulk county
with her parents, who settled near LaFoon, on the 24th
o*f April 1883. To them have been born three cnildr en,
viz: Furness W., born the 28th of January, 1889; Bessie B.,
born.April 12th, 1897; Ervin B., born November 14th, 1905.
Mr. Lambert is one of the successful business men of
our city, owning his place of business and a fine home with
modern improvements, and is free from debt.

EFHRIAM COLE was born August 10th, 18.54, in
Starksborbugh, Vermont, When two years of age his par
ents moved to Dodge county, Wisconsin, where he made
his home until he came to Faulk county, Territory of Da
kota, in March,, 1883, and located upon what proved to be
township 120, range 68, where he resided until 1891, when
he purchased a farm near the city of Faulkton, being the
north-west quarter of section 15, township 118, range 69,
with his farm residence within eighty rods of the center of
the city of Faulkton. Upon his present location Mr. Cole
has erected a fine set of farm buildings, a house at a cost of
$3,000. In addition to his home of 160 acres of improved
land he has 480 acres in the township where he first located.
In addition to his regular farm machinery he has a full out
fit of steam plow machinery.
In 1874 Mr. Cole was united in marriage to Miss Ly
dia Downey, who was born in Syracuse, New York, and
died in Faulkton, South Dakota, on the 19th day of March
1903. A second marriage was contracted with Miss Louise
Johnson, of Colorado. To them have been born one child
Leona, who was born December 19, 1906,

456

Socially Mr. Cole is a member of the M. B. A., the
Workman, and the Degree of Honor, and carries insurance
in all but the Degree of Honor, with accident insurance
in the Woodman. Politically Mr. Cole is a republican.

SHELDON J. STEELE was born at Suspension Bridge,
New York, in 1858. In 1873 his parents removed to Albion,
Michigan, and in 1883 he immigrated to Dakota Territory,
locating in Faulk county, exercising a squatters right north
of LaFoon, the government survey not having been made
at that time. In 1887 Mr. Steele removed to Faulkton and
engaged in the livery business. In 1890 he was appointed
deputy sheriff in which office he continued to serve until
1892, when he was appointed postmaster for Faulkton un
der the Cleveland administration. In the spring of 1897
Mr. Steele resigned the office of postmaster in favor of Fre
mont Young who was immediately appointed, he removing
to LaFoon township in this county, where he has since re
sided and been engaged in farming.
In June 1883 the subject of our sketch entered into
the marriage relation with Miss Marie Shelton, who had
just arrived from her home in Springton, Michigan, this
being the first marriage in Faulk county. After the brief
period of a few months on the 31st of December of that
year, that happy union which had been entered upon with
fond expectation of years of mutual enjoyment, came to a
sad and sudden end, the cold and rdentless hand of death
was laid upon the young wife, and she was removed to the
unknown land from which none return.
On the 30th of October, 1887, Mr. Steele contracted a
second marriage with Miss Mary Truesddl, of Millville,

457

Iowa. To them have been born ten children, viz: Albert,
William L-, Anne Florence, Walter S., Claud, Ella, Clif
ford, Gladys, Mary and Ethel.
Politically, Mr. Steele is fully identified with the demo
cratic party, and is one of our successful farmers.

ANDREW BOLLER. Everywhere in our land are
found men who have woijted their own way from humble
beginnings to leadership in commerce, the great productive
industries, the management of financial affairs, and in con
trolling the veins and arteries of traffic and exchanges of
the country, lt is one of the glories of our nation that it
is so, and it should be the strongest incentive and encour
agement to the youth of the country. Prominent among
the self-made men of Faulkton is the subject of this sketch,
a well known undertaker and furniture dealer.
He was born in the town of Hohenthengen, Baden,
Germany, November 28, 1856, and on both sides is de
scended from highly respected old German families. His
father, Andreas Boiler, was a farmer and cattle dealer by
occupation. Our subject, who is the fourth in order of
birth in a family of six children, attended the schools of
his native town until twelve years of age,, and completed
his education by a four years course in a high school in
Switzerland. At the age of sixteen he entered a store to
learn the mercantile business, for which privilege he had to
pay two hundred dollars, and the only compensation he
¦ received during his three years' apprenticeship was his
board. For five years thereafter he engaged in clerking in
his native land, and in the fall of 1880 sailed for America.
On landing in New York he proceeded at once to Iowa,

458

but not finding employment during the month spent in
that state, he came to Yankton, South Dakota, in December,
1880, though he had to pawn his watch to get the money to
bring him here. He made his home in that city for four
years, working in a soda water factory most of the time,
and in a furniture store for nine month.
In 1884, Mr. Boiler married Miss Carrie Klimisch,
who was born in Germany but wag reared in this country.
Fler father, Anthony Klimisch, was a farmer in Yankton
county. The children to our subject and his wife are Fred,
now twenty-four years of age; Andy, Carrie, May, Bertha,
and Adelaide. Soon after his marriage in 1884, Mr. Boiler went to
Highmore, South Dakota, where for a year and a half he
conducted the National Hotel. At the end of that time he
returned to Yankton, wUere he remained during the winter
of 1885-6, and the following spring went to Redfield to
take charge of a hotel, to which he gave the nanie of
National. After six months spent at that place he came to
Faulkton in the fall of 1886 and established a furniture
store in a building 24x40 feet. He has had to enlarge his
stock to meet the demands of his growing trade and has
also added to his building, making it 46x60 feet, and has
many modern improments in his store, including a Kimball
elevator. When he makes the contemplated repairs, he
will have the largest and finest store in the town. He does
purely a furniture and undertaking business and receives a
liberal share of the public patronage. Besides his business
property he owns one of the best residences in Faulkton
and a half section of land in the eastern part of the county
for which he has refused forty dollars, an acre.

459

Mr. Boiler is an ardent republican in politics, and lias
taken part in municipal and county affairs, serving as
mayor one term and as alderman for eighteen years with
credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his con
stituents. Socially, he is a member of the Knights of
Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the
Modern Woodmen of America.

AMON L. ALLEN was born December 3rd, 1847, in
Harrison county, Ohio, when three years old his parents
moved to Iowa, in the spring of 1851, and located in the
town of Washington, where he enjoyed a happy home and
farm life until the spring of 1882, when a, removal was
made to western Iowa and a location in Pottawattamie
county, where he resided and engaged in farming until
1902, when he took advantage of selling at the high price
that Iowa land commanded at that time and removed to
F"aulk county, South Dakota, and invested in five quarter
sections of valuable prairie land in the township of Myron,
seven miles north-east of Faulkton, where his son resides
and is making it more valuable.
On March 8, 1872, he was united in marriage to Miss
Maria A. Maxwell, of Washington, Iowa, and to them
have been born two sons, viz: Isaac Sheldon, and R. Leroy,
who are both married and with families, reside in Faulk
county. Since coming to this county Mr. Allen has re
sided in Faulkton and been engaged in mechanical work.
Mr. Allen sold his Iowa farm for $110 per acre and
bought Faulk county land for $22 per acre, and now after
six years ownership and experience with Dakota land and
climate, has no land to sell, but' if he wanted to sell he

460

would not consider $40 per acre a reasonable price for the
farm. In addition to his farm land he bought a small
house and stable with four lots, upon a desirable resi
dence street in the city. In the summer of 1908, he erect
ed practically a new house of twelve rooms, with all modern
improvements, and is now in a situation to enjoy, with his
devoted companion, the reward that industry, intelligence
and good judgment has secured.

•JOSEPH L- GRATER was born in Switzerland, June
26, A. D., 1842, and when twenty-nine years of age he im
migrated to the United States and located in the city of Buf
falo, state of New York, where he resided until 1885, when
he came to Dakota and located in Turner county, where he
rented a half section of land, and commenced farming with
one yoke of oxen. At that time he was in such straight
ened circumstances, that he had to borrow money to pay
for the oxen. His farming enterprise was a success, but
on April 2nd, 1889, prairie fire wiped out all his posessions,
causing a loss of more than two thousand dollars. Ten
days after the fire, he purchased, all on credit, a quarter
section of land on which he had to erect a house and barn .
The first year on the farm the crop was nearly a total fail
ure, the second year it was only a little better, and the
third year was a bumper crop, which enabled him to. pay
all his debts and buy two more quarters of land. In 1893
Mr. Grater sold his farm for twenty-two dollars per acre,
and in the fall of that year removed to Redfield, in Spink
county, where he bought six hundred and forty acres of
prairie land, erected a house and barn, and commenced
improving his farm. After nine years upon his Spink

461

county farm he sold his land fpr $8,000 or $12.50 per acre.
He next moved to Faulk county, in 1932, and. bought
twelve hundred and eighty acres of land six miles south
west of Faulkton, for five dollars and thirty cents per acre.
He had to build a house and two barns and make improve
ments at a cost of about eight thousand dollars. Three
years ago Mr. Grater sold 480' acres of unbroken prairie at
fifteen dollars per acre, $7,200. In 1908 the remainder of
his land was sold for $35.00 per acre, 'amounting to thirty-
two thousand dollars. ,
He immediately bought a half section of prairie land
two and one half miles from Faulkton, a barn was erected,
an artesian well 1280 feet deep, was put down, with an ex
cellent flow of water.
In the spring of 1909, one of the best farm residences
in. Faulk county, at a cost of about five thousand dollars,
was erected. In 1868, Mr. Grater was united in holy matrimony
to "Miss Anna Mary Buchlman, who was born in Switzer
land. To them have been born twelve children, viz: Joseph
Leo-, who died at the fage of seventeen years and seven
months; Rosa M., who is proprietor of the Gem Hotel
in the city of Faulkton; Joseph, who died when nineteen
months old; Edward Lewis, William Joseph, Anna Mary,
Clara Amelia, George, Gertrude, John, who died in
infancy; Frank Aloysius and Agnes Theresa.

REV ERNEST HOLGATE, the subject of this
sketch, was born in England in January, 1879, and was
' educated in the common and high schools of that country.
In 1.898-he commenced his study for the ministry and in

462

1901 he was appointed assistant pastor of the First Metho
dist church of Brighton, England, where he continued to
serve until his departure for America in October, 1903.
The Dakota Annual Conference of that year, while he
was upon the Atlantic ocean on his way to the United
States of America, appointed him to the pastorate of the
Letcher Methodist church. At the next' session in 1904,
he was appointed to the Methodist Episcopal church in
Chamberlain, and in 1905 to his present pastorate in
Faulkton. October 3d, 1903, three days before he sailed for
America, he was united in holy matrimony with Miss Mary
Hartley of Burnlay, England. To them have been born
three children, viz: Clare, Everett and Francis.

HON. S. WESLEY CLARK was born December 28th,
1872, at Plattville, Grant cduntv, Wisconsin, of English
ancestry. His father, Samuel P. Clark, was born in the
state of Vermont, and his mother Lizzie O. (Hunting
ton) Clark was born at Liverpool, England.
The family moved to Dakota Territory, in July, 1882,
and located in township 118, range 66, in Faulk county.
There were only four other families in the county at that
time, their nearest neighbor being three miles distant. Mr.
Clark, Sr., stood among the most active and influential of
Faulk county pioneers. A post office was promptly estab
lished and he became the first postmaster. A legal township
organization was effected. Both the postoffice and town
ship were named after the subject of this sketch, (Wesley).
In 1890 both Mr. and Mrs. Clark, Sr. on account of ill
health, went to California wherethey made their permanent

463

home and where Mrs. Clark died in 1906, and the follow
ing year Mr. Clark, while east on a visit, died at Glenwood,
Wisconsin. They were both buried at San Jose, California.
The subject of this sketch, then in his eighteenth
year, was left in this county to look after their property in
terests, and enjoy the school advantages that had been built
up in the new town of Wesley and subsequently finished
his education at the college, at Redfield, where he has since
made his home.
In 1887 he was admitted to the bar as a practicing at-
tory; in 1900 he was elected states attorney of Spink
county and served four years; in 1906, Mr. Clark was elec
ted attorney general of South Dakota and in 1908 he was
reelected to that office.

MRS. LOUISE BATTEEN was born in Germany.
When only one year old her parents moved to Berlin, Wis
consin. In 1886, she married John Batteen and came to
Faulk county, South Dakota. They located in what is the
present township of Pioneer where she has since resided.
On the 5th dav of October, 1904, Mr. Batteen died, leaving
his wife with eight minor children, two having died in in
fancy. Since that time Mrs. Batteen has administered on
the estate, consisting of six quarter sections of land, to
which she has since added three more, built a fine new
house, and managed all her own business affairs. When
they came to Dakota they were without any property.
Now her 1440 acres of beautiful prairie land is all enclosed
with good fences, and all but 400 acres under cultivation.
With the experience of the average pioneer contending
with drought and storms; climatic changes have brought

464

abundant prosperity. Her personal property consists in
part of twenty head of horses, forty head of neat stock and
fifty hogs, three good buggies, with all farm machinery
neccessary to carry on her extensive farm interests. Mrs.
Batteen in addition to caring for her household affairs, has
hauled grain to market, and is 'ever ready to assist her
sons, the oldest not yet twenty-one, to carry on the farm,
and now without any hired help.

WILLIAM R. HALL was born August 1st, 1858, in
Carthage, New York'. When eight years of age his parents
removed to Wayne, Du Page county, Illinois, where he en
joyed the advantages of the public schools, until fifteen
years of age, at which time his parents removed to Ser
geants Bluff, Iowa, where his home was until he was
twenty-six years of age, employed in clerking, and em
ployed by the railroad company one year on the Pacific
coast. In 1884, he came to Faulk county, Territory of Dako
ta, and located on a homestead on the south-west quarter of
section 8, township 118, range 69. After proving up his
homestead, Mr. Hall removed onto his tree claim, being-
the north-east of section eighteen, in the same township,
where he yet resides.
Mr. Hall is one of theearly pioneers that passed through
sunshine and storm, through hardship 2nd privations, that
none but those who start out in pioneer life can fully rea
lize; and now with his 480 acres of improved land, with a
good set of farm buildings, and all necessary farm machinery
and a well stocked farm, is counted among the reliable,
prospeious f aimers of the county.

465

On February 13, 1883, Mr. Hall was united in marri
age to Miss Lizze Wolf who was a resident of Sergeants
Bluff, in the state of Iowa.
To them have been born two children, viz: MayE.,
now Mrs. J. J. Champlin, who now resides in the state of
Oregon; and William J., who is still residing on the family
homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Hall are members of the Faulkton Congre
gational church, and he is a memberof the Modern Brother
hood of America. In politics he is identified and in sym

pathy with the republican party.

HENRY F. REED was born March 22, 1866, in How
ard county, Iowa, and in April, 1882, came to Faulk
county, with his father, who located in what is now
Pioneer township. In 1889 he filed on his present
homestead in the town of Wesley, where he has resided
ever since and has the longest continuous residence in
Faulk county of any of its citizens.
On January 26, 1893, he married Miss Margaret Hol
land formerly of Rochester; Minnesota, and to them have
been born five children, viz: Henry E., Agnes E., L-, Ger
trude, and Louise Frances.
Not only in his boyhood, but since his majority.
Mr. Reed has known the struggles and privations of
the pioneer settlers. For the last twelve years he has en
joyed a full share of McKinley prosperity. With his farm
of 320 acres, all under cultivation, including hay land and
pasture, he has made a success. With a happy home and
each year .increasing prosperity. Another .four years along
McKinley lines, and he will be satisfied.

466

REV JOHN T. DAVIS was born at /Somersetshire,
England, November 20, 1838. He came to New York in
1846, and soon afterwards moved with his parents to Can
ada, in 1851. In 1856 he entered the ministry of the Meth
odist Episcopal church and for thirty-eight years he was
actively engaged in the regular work, but in 1896 on ac
count of advancing years and impaired health, he was
compelled to ask of the Hamilton conference, of which he
was a member, a superannuated relation, and retire from
th£ active work of the ministry.
Mr. Davis,, having two sons residing in South Dakota,
decided to come to Faulk county and located at Orient,
where he and his estimable wife have since made their
home. In April, 1909, fifty years after they were united in
holy matrimony, they celebrated their golden wedding at
their pleasant and happy home which is located near the
Methodist Episcopal church in the village of Orient.

REV. ANSON HART ROBBINS was born in Bristol-
Connecticut, on November 23, 1837. When three years of
age his parents moved to Peoria county, Illinois.
In February, 1860, he went to Oberlin, Ohio, to per
fect his education for the ministry, graduating from the
college in 1865, and from the theological seminary in 1870-
During that time he served in the army of the Union for
two years, going out as a private with a company of col
lege students and coming home as a first lieutenant.
Mr. Robbins served in the pastorate in Ohio twelve years,,
coming to Dakota Territory in 1882, where he continued*
in that work thirteen years. After twenty-five years in
the active work of the ministry, he was conscious tliathis

467

physicial condition demanded a change, he then came to
Orient and accepted the position of assistant cashier in the
Orient bank, but after one year was compelled to give up
active, steady employment on account of failing health.
On December 30, 1870 Mr. Robbins was married to Miss
Lucy Kinney and to them have been born five children, four
of whom are now living: A son at Bozeman, Montana; an
other who is a graduate of Yankton college and two daugh
ters: Mrs. Edwin Gooder of Orient, and Mrs. Owen Jones,
of Sisseton, South Dakota.

WILLIAM McKAY was born in Scotland in 1858,
In 1873 his parents emmigrated to the United States and lo
cated in the state of Minnesota. In 1885 he came to Da
kota Territory and located in Arcade township, Faulk
county. For the past seven years he has been general
manager of the business of Conway Bros, , at Orient in this
county. In 1899 Mr. McKay was united in marriage with
Mrs. Lorena Runnels of Red Oak, Iowa. To them have
been born two children, Milton and Dorothy, aged respec
tively 17. and 14 years.

SAMUEL E. CHAPMAN was born in Moskoka, On
tario, Canada, November 22, 1878, When eight years of age
his parents moved to what is now the town of Wesley, in
Faulk county, South Dakota. When nineteen years of age
he commenced working from home and received his own
wages. When twenty-one years old he filed on a home
stead on the north-west quarter of section 30, township
119, range 66 (now the town of Wesley). At the age of
-twenty-four he married Miss Nina E. Thorn, who was

468

born in the town of Ransom, Hillsdale county, Michigan.
To them have been born three children, viz: Laurene
Eva, Maurice Edward and Helen Violet.
In addition to his homestead he has two other adjoin
ing quarters of the same section, in all 480 acres, two
hundred of which are under cultivation. Mr. Chapman
has principally confined himself to mixed farming, making
a specialty of raising hogs and now has fifty head, and has
just disposed of twenty-five more. He has twenty horses,
good substantial farm buildings, and a fine flowing artesian
well with a water motor for grinding feed. This year's
crop yielded 4000 bushels of small grain and 100 tons of
hay. He has all the necessary machinery to work his
farm and is counted among the independent and reliable
farmers in east Faulk county.

THOMAS NESTOR was born in Limerick, Ireland,
in the year 1826. At the age of eighteen he came to the
United States and located in Kentucky, where he remained
for five years. He then came to Caledonia, Minnesota,
where he married Miss Elizabeth McNevin, and resided in
that town until June 16, 1894, when he removed to Faulk
county, South Dakota. Uncle Tom, as he was familiarly
known among his friends, would change sorrow to gladness
with his jolly and kind disposition. With his family he
was one of the first settlers located in Enterprise township.
He drove overland from Athol in Spink county, forty miles
from the railroad station and eighteen miles from the post-
office. At night the ceyotes could be heard in all directions
and by day the antelopes we're seen wandering over the
prairies. All went well until June 10th, 1898, when his

469

companion, the mother of his children, the youngest only
two years old, passed on before to the great beyond, leaving
husband and children lonely and desolate.
His happy genial disposition served him in these hours
of sadness. Uncle Tom cheered up the best he could and
kept his four boys in his bachelor home until 1903, when
James and Thomas married and moved into their own
homes. James married Miss A. M. Brenneck, of La Crosse,
Wisconsin, and Thomas Jr. married Miss Tena Titgen and
left uncle Tom still batching, with the two younger sons,
John and George, until July 10, 1907, when death came
and took the one that had always been depended ifbon to
cheer in the hour of sadness. He was laid to rest in Hoven
cemetery, leaving four sons to mourn their great loss,
James at Carlyle, Thomas on his farm and John and George
on the old homestead.

ELLEF LOKEN was born March 26, 1885, in Norway
and emmigrated to the United States in 1872, and located in
Wisconsin in July, 1873.
In 1879 he removed to Hancock county; Iowa, and in
1883 he moved to Faulk ccunty, South Dakota. He now
resides in Pulaski on his. farm of 320 acres of valuable land,
150 acres under cultivation, with good farm buildings, and
farm machinery, nine horses and twenty head of neat cat
tle. Mr. Loken married Miss Carrie Guttenburg, and to
them have been born three children. She died in 1887 and
a second marriage was contracted with Miss Ida Olson in
1889. To them has been born five children, Mr. Loken

470

is one of the successful pioneers who experienced the hard
ships of the early settlers of this county and now enjoys
the prosperity that has come to them in later years.

CORNELIUS HOGEBOOM was born in the state of
New York in 1857 and with his parents came to the state
of Wisconsin when about three years of age and to Faulk
county in the spring of 1883, since which time he has been
a continuous resident of the township of Hillsdale, Faulk
county. On December 16th, 1877, he married Ermina
Hammond at Limoncase, Wisconsin. To them have been
born two children, William and Thomas P., both of whom.
are married, William H., to Miss Emma Findeis and Thom
as P., to Sadie Janes. William H., now resides in Hills
dale and Thomas P., in the town of Zell.
To William H., and Emma (Findeis) Hogeboom two
children have been born, viz: Clayton and Cornelius.
Mr. Hogeboom has not only experienced the hardships
and privations, of pioneer life, but his reward is that pros
perity which has come to so many of our Faulk county
farmers. He is now one of our independent, retired farm
ers, pleasantly located in "he village of Rockham.

WILLIAM BYRNE, who is one of the representative
farmers and stock growers of Faulk county, where he is
the owner of a large and valuable stock ranch, is a native
son of the great north-west, and has exemplified its pro
gressive spirit in a marked degree, gaining success through
his well directed efforts iu connection with the industral
developments of South Dakota, where hehas.maintained his
home for the past twenty-five years, so he is entitled to be
counted among the pioneers of Faulk county.

471

Mr. Byrne was born in Allamakee, county, Iowa, on
the eighteenth of September, 1861, and is a son of Law
rence and Delia Byrne. William Byrne was raised on the
homestead farm where he was born, and received his edu
cation in the excellent public schools of Iowa. He con
tinued to be associated in the management of the home
stead until 1S82, when the property was sold and he then,
with his mother and other members of the family, came to
Dakota Territory. They passed the winter of that year in
= Turner county and the spring of 1883, came to the new
courity of Faulk, where each of the family entered claims
on government land-. The subject of this sketch took a
•preemption claim six miles east of Orient and one mile
from the Miranda station, on the Chicago and North West
ern Railroad. Miranda is his postoffice address. "He at
once commenced the improvement, to which he has con
tinued to add until nearly one thousand acres are under im
provement, being devoted to the raising of wheat, oats,
corn, barley and hay. He is giving his attention to the
raising of high grade stock. His place has an excellent
supply of pure water which may be secured at a depth of
about sixteen feet upon any -part of the ranch. Two years
ago Mr. Byrne added to his valuable property by the erec
tion of a fine residence with all modern improvements. He
has also a herd of fine horses. Politically he is in accord
with the principles and policies of the republican party and
fraternally identified with the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows and Knights of the Maccabees.
On the 15th day of May, 1895, Mr. Byrne was married
to Miss May Paul, wdio was born in Muscatine, Iowa,
being a daughter of August Paul, who removed from that

472

state to Dakota Territory in 1884, locating in Faulk county,
where he remained until 1894, when he removed to the
state of Virginia, where he resided for several years, but is
now a resident of Faulk county again. He is a native of
Germany as is his wife, whose maiden name was Bertha
Shulz. To Mr. and Mrs. Byrne have been born six child
ren, viz: Paul, Raymond, Theodore, Leonard, John and
Robert.

ELLSWORTH S. SECKNER, was born in New York,
December 14, 1861. In 1865 his parents moved to Wis
consin and in 1878 they removed to the state of Iowa, and
remained in that state until his removal to Dakota Terri
tory, in 1884. Mr. Seckner located near the county line
between Hand and Faulk counties and was counted as one
of the EHisville settlement. There were hardships and
privations without number, but amidst them all he never .
lost faith in Dakota. He now has 320 acres of as fine land
as can be found in central South Dakota and in addition is
renting three quarter sections. He has under fence three
hundred acres. On his own land he has four fine wells of
pure water, at a depth of 50 feet, with good farm buildings,
forty head of neat stock, fourteen horses, and fifty sheep.
Mr. Seckner has everything to satisfy the average Dakota
citizen. In 1886 Mr. Seckner was united in marriage
with Chloe Miller from the state of New York, and enjoys
a happy home.

HENRY CHAPMAN was born in England, July 3,
1842, and came to Canada in 1877, and to Faulk county
in 1887, locating in what is now the town of Wesley, where

473

he tpok a homestead, to which he has added three more
quarter sections. In addition to this valuable farm prop
erty he has added valuable town property. When he came
to Faulk county he was comparatively a poor man. In
April, 1905, on account of better climatic conditions, he
removed to California with abundance of this world's
goods to meet all reasonable worldly demands.

WILLIAM H. Mc ALLEN was born July 11, 1857,
at West Chazy, New York. His first business engagement
was with O. K. Wood & Co., as a traveling salesman,
where he was actively engaged for eight years. In the
meantime he had taken up his residence in Wisconsin,
where he resided until 1883, when he removed to F*aulk
county, Territory of Dakota, where he located government
land, and where he has since resided. In addition to carry
ing on his farm, Mr. McAllen has been engaged in selling
farm machinery.
His farm embraces all of section 15, township 119,
north of range 68, west. He has 360 acres under fence
for pasture and the remaining 280 acres are under cultiva
tion. He has an extra good set of farm buildings, all nec-
cessary farm machinery, sixty head of neat stock and nine
teen head of horses.
In July 1896, he was united in marriage to Miss Min
nie Matatty of Aberdeen, South Dakota. - To them have
been born five children, viz: Delia, Isabella, Viola, Frances,
and Hubert.

AMON C. VOSS was born in Indiana June 8, 1858,
and remained in that state until the year 1885, when

474

he removed to Faulk county, South Dakota. On
December 12, 1869, he married Miss Sarah F. Hawkins, a
native of Indiana. To them have been born six children,
viz: Mary V., who in 1892 married Aaron Peck and resides
in Canada, West; Lorenzo A., who is married and lives in
this county; Chas. S. , who is a resident of this county;
Earl E., who resides in Bowman, North Dakota; Inez I.,
and Roy E. , who are at home with their parents.
Mr. Voss has a farm of 480 acres, 200 acres under
cultivation, good farm buildings, all necessary farm ma
chinery, twenty head of horses and forty-five head of neat
stock. His. home is two and one-half miles from a railway
station. After twenty- three years residence in this coun
ty, today he stands among the happy k satisfied „ and con
tented Faulk county farmers.

A. F. PAGEL is one of the worthy pioneer citizens
of Orient, having located there in 1883. He has had a
large share of the hardships of pioneer life. He is nowr
well established in a good paying business and counted
among the reliable, prosperous, business men of that town.

H. G. WEIDEMAN came to Orient in 1887, where he
has had a continued residence up to. the present time. Mr.
Weideman is now in the employ of the Conway Bros, in
their extensive merchandise business in that village.

ELVIN W. FORD was born'May 30s 1&57* in Fulton
county y Ohio. In the spring of 1883 he came to Faulk
county, South Dakota, and located in what is now the town
of Union, and exercised his homestead right upon the land

475

he now lives upon; to this quarter section he has added two
more. Upon his farm of 480 acres of valuable land Mr,
Ford has seen all sides of Dakota life. First came failure
of crops, disappointment, hardship and a struggle for ex
istence. The last and hardest was when his entire crop
was destroyed by hail. Financially no progress was made
for the first ten or twelve years. On June 2nd, 1884, -he
was married by Judge Hardy at LaFoon, to Miss Lunetta
Smith, who was born in Hillsdale, 'Hillsdale county, Michi
gan. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have the honor of being the first
couple married in the newly organized county of Faulk, if
not by the newly appointed judge. To them have been born
four children, viz: Grace M,, Hazel M., Glenn F., and
Harold M. Mr. Ford has 160 acres of land under improve
ment.. He has fifteen head of horses, thirty head of neat
cattle, and ten hogs. His. new house now completed, an
illustration of which is to appear in this history is equal to
the best in the county. Mr, Ford has seryed on the board
of county commissioners and is an actiye member of the
school board.

EDWARD FORD. Near and ^almost /adjoining this
valuable home and farm is another beautiful farm home
owned and occupied by Mr. Ed ard Ford another son of
the Buckeye state < a brother) who was born in October,
1859. Mr. Ford was away from home on business which
prevents a write up of which any pioneer might be proud.

CARL STRASBURG was born in Germany in 1851
and came to America in 187.3 and located in the state of

476

Wisconsin. In 1876 he was married and moved to Arcade
township in this county. In 1895 he removed to Hillsdale
township where he now resides.
Mr. Strasburg now has 400 acres of well improved land,
with good farm buildings and is an independent and reli
able Faulk county farmer.

HENRY SCHAEFER was born in Muscatine, Iowa,
in 1862. And in 1883 became a citizen of. the town of
Zell, in Faulk county, South Dakota, where he has since
resided .
In 1900 he married Amelia Rose of Miranda, in this
county. He now is the possessor of 640 acres of Faulk
county real estate which with his improvements is easily
worth forty dollars per acre. Mr. Schaefer may be count
ed among the contented, well to do, reliable Faulk county
farmers.

CHARLES E- YORK came to Faulk county in 1883,
and located in what is now the town of Welsey, with a full
share of Dakota experience. Mr. York has acquired a half
section of Dakota land, good farm buildings, two hundred
and sixty acres under cultivation, and is one of the ex
perienced and reliable citizens who has faith in Dakota
lands and well understands the advantages and importances
of keeping abreast with the successful enterprising Dakota
pioneer farmer.

WILLIAM E. FINLEY was born in Guernsey county,
Ohio, on July 24, 1869 came to South Dakota in the spring
of 1892, and November 16, 1893, married Miss Clara A.

477

Larson, of Dodgeville, Wisconsin. Mr. Finley escaped
much of the hardships and disappointments of the earliest
settlers. At the end of two years he filed a homestead on
the land where he now resides and to this quarter sec
tion he has added five more, and now owns 1000 acres of
the best of Dakota soil worth forty dollars per acre. Five
hundred acres under cultivation. A good artesian well, 24
horses, fifty head of neat stock and fifty hogs. ' Here is an
other $40.00 per acre farm all acquired before the fortieth
mile stone is reached.

MRS. BERTHA KERN was born in Germany in 1864.
Her maiden name was Bertha Klemp. In 1886, she came
to Faulk county, and that fall, married James Kern. To
them have been born nine children, viz: Annie, who is
married to Otto Luch and lives in Reed City, Michigan,
Herman, Robert, Otto„ Frank, Emma and Bertha. Eight
years ago they located upon their present home farm,
¦consisting qf of 480 acres of valuable land. Two hundred
and twenty-five acres under cultivation. She has extra
fine farm buildings, all improved farm machinery, eight
een horses, forty head of neat stock, and twenty hogs,
Mr. Kern died about two years ago. Since that time Mrs,
Kern has, with her sons, had remarkable success in carry
ing on the farm. The oldest son is less than twenty years
of age, yet with the mother's aid and guiding hand, the
iarm recdves the best of cultivation as shown by the abun
dant yidd.

HENRY KORUPP was born in Germany, January 6„
1852„ and came to Wisconsin in 1.880. He came to Faulk

478

county on October 26, 1885. He married Miss Ida Kahn,
who was born of German parentage, in the state of Wis
consin. To them have been born six children, four of
whom are now living. Hulda, is married to William Wag
ner, a resident of the township of Myron, in this county;
Leo, Florence and Alone, who are yet a part of the family
circle. Fifteen years ago Mr. Korupp purchased one quarter
section, a part of his homestead. Here the drought, the hot
winds and hail destroyed the crops, the cold stormy win
ters, the scarcity of fuel to keep warm, made one continu
ous Struggle. But a heroic effort was made and today there
is a change of conditions. To that quarter section he has
added four more and erected a fine set of buildings. Four
hundred acres are under cultivation, all necessary farm ma
chinery, fifteen fine horses, and forty head of neat stock
and twenty hogs, help to keep up the fertility of his well
improved farm.

JOHN M. McGRATH was born September, 1857, at
Elgin, Illinois. When six years of age his mother died,
leaving three children, himself and one sister, (Mary A.)
older than himself, and one younger, (Sarah) of whom he
has lost all knowledge. The family with which he made
his home moved to Fort Dodge, Iowa. When eighteen
years of age he went to Cedar county, Iowa, and his home
was in the state of Iowa until he came to Faulk county, in
1885. Mr. McGrath married Miss Martha I. Golden of Ce
dar county, Iowa, December 9, 1880. To them have been
born six children, five of whom are now living, viz: Emery

479

E., Alvin E.r Edna A., Alta M., and Elsie V. Emery E.
married Miss Dora Cloutier, July 17, 1901, and to them have
been born four children. Alvin E. married Miss Olive
Smith July 21, 1909.
Mr. McGrath 's other children are yet at the family
home in Pulaski township in this county, where he removed
with his family in January, 1885. When he came to this
county he had very little of this world's goods, but after
coming he had a full share of the hardships and privations
of pioneer life. And in 1892 he was $800.00 in debt and
not a dollar above what was required to support his family.
But since that time there has been steady and growing pros
perity. All debts have been paid and he now owns a farm
of four hundred, and seventy acres, three hundred and
thirty of which are under cultivation and the remainder in a
well fenced pasture; and one of the best set of farm build
ings in Faulk county, only three and one half miles from a
railroad station. The best of modern improved farm ma
chinery, ten head of horses, thirty head of neat stock and
seventy-five. hogs. Few, if any of the first settlers of this
county, are in better circumstances with more desirable sur
roundings. Mr: McGrath has not only found time for the
accomplishment of much results, but has served on the
board of town supervisors twelve years and is at the pres
ent time chairman of the board, as well as chairman of the
township school board.

R. JUNGWIRTH was born in Austria, in 1866, came
to this country and settled at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where
he remained three years; frofn there he ' came to Faulk
county and settled in Zell in 188.5, Since that time he has

480

been in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern rail
road company nearly nineteen years. For the last two and
one-half years he has been in the saloon husiness .

FRANK BRUGGEMAN, the son of Ffang and Cath
erine Bruggeman was born ' in Germany in 1877 and came
to this country with his parents, in his childhood. In 1883
he came to this county and settled at Zell, and for the last
five years he has been engaged in the sale of general mer
chandise and is doing a prosperous business. '

PHILIP KOLEGRAFF was born in Germany in 1856.
When about two years of age his parents came to. America
and located in Monroe county, Wisconsin, where they re
mained until he was twenty-two years of age. From there
he removed to Wabasha county, Minnesota, where he mar
ried Miss Mary Demming in 1878. In the spring of 1884
he came to Zell in this county. To them have been born
six children, viz:. Frank, Edward, WiHiam, Mary, Lucy
and George, Frank died when thirteen years of age; Ed
ward was married to Annie Harder and to them has been
born one child, Clarence, who is now three years, old. Mr..
Kolegraff has. experienced all the ups and downs of pioneer-
life. No man can teU him of the failure of crops,, drought,,
or hail, of the privations and hardships experienced by the
average Faulk county farmer,, yet he had. the courage to.
remain, and is now reaping his reward. With 1,200 acres.
of rich. prairie land and two sets of good farm buddings,,
with thirty-five head of horses, and a good supply of neat
stock, with a full supply of farm machinery, the tax col
lector always finds him ready to meet his share of the. pub
lic expenditures..

w w d
M oW O

goo !>cjr^ W>-iO Si

483

ANDREW SIME was born July 5, I860, in Norway,
and came to the United States in 1882. Came to Dakota
and settled in Moody county, and in 1885 took a homestead
in Faulk county and the following years made his perma
nent residence here.
In 1886 he married Miss Bertha Wonge, who was born
in Norway in 1858. To them have been born six children,
viz: Arthur, Annie, Ed, Belle, George and Clie. Mr,
Sime has 640 acres of land, 300 acres under cultivation, the
remainder in a fenced pasture.
A new house was built last year at a cost of $3000.00,
his barn built four years ago at a cost of $1000.00 and all
necessary outbuildings for a first class farm home. He is
within easy distance of Millard on the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul Railway, Wecota on the Minneapolis & St.
Louis Railway, and Faulkton on both the Chicago & North
western and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railways.
All of this property has been acquired since coming to
Faulk county and together with his twenty head of horses,
fifty head of neat stock and twenty head of hogs, could not
be bought for less than $25,0Of/.OO.
Mr. Sime is surrounded by a number of Scandinavian
neighbors and is one mile from an English school, and
has not only a good desirable home but surroundings
where he can enjoy a happy life.

A. B. CLIFFORD was born March 16th, 1849, in
Van Buren county, Michigan. Engaged in farming and
telegraph operating. In 1886 he removed to Faulk county
and located in what is now the town of DeVoe. In 1880
he married Miss Kate B, Blackman, of Muscatine, Ipwa,

484

To them has been born one son, Perry, who is now seven
teen years of age and in his second year in the Aberdeen-
high school. Mr. Clifford is one of our successful enter
prising pioneer farmers.
He has one section of valuable land one mile south of
the DeVoe postoffice, 380 acres under cultivation and the
halance in a well fenced pasture of natural grasses. His
house has an actual value of $3500.00 and he has- all neces
sary farm buildings and farm machinery. He has fourteen
head of horses, ninety-four head of neat stock. The ac
tual cash value of his posessions,'all of which has been ac
cumulated since coming to this county, cannot be valued at
less than thirty-five thousand dollars.

JACOB GABLER was born in Germany, October 28,.
1850. When about two years old his parents emigrated to-
the United States and located in the state of New York.
After ten years residence there they removed to the state:
of Wisconsin. In the spring of 1883,, he came Faulk coun
ty, South Dakota.
In 1870 he married Miss Katie Wagner,, of Wisconsin..
To them have been born eight children, viz: John, Mary,.
Anna, Emma, Zetta, Lizzie, Henry F., and Olive, all of
whom are living in South Dakota.
Mr. Gabler has 480 acres of land in the town of Emer
son, three miles from a railroad'station, three hundred acres.
under cultivation the remainder an enclosed pasture. Ex
tra good farm buildings, all farm machinery, twenty-two,
thousand dollars would not be an offer worth considering..
Mr. Gabler is in the strictest sense a worthy pioneer settler.
who. has. seen all sides of Dakota life..

485

ARTHUR W ELLIS, son of Caleb H. and Lydia E.
(Haines) Ellis, was born at Fort Fairfield, Aroastook
county, Maine, June 7th, 1852. When he was about fif
teen years of age his parents moved to the state of Michi
gan, where his home was until 1883 when he moved to
Beadle county, Territory of Dakota. In 1886 he moved to
EHisville, Faulk county and in 1891 he located in Faulkton
where he has resided until the present time.
On October 14th, 1877, he was united in marriage with
Mrs. Hannah Bates, of Camden, Hillsdale county, Michi
gan. To them was born one daughter, Mabel Winnefred
Ellis, whose death occurred at Clinton, Iowa, July 4th,
1908, just twelve days after her marriage. On April 18th,
1895, there was a second marriage, to Mrs. Nellie L- War
ren, of Faulkton, South Dakota, where they have sincere-
sided at their pleasant home on Ninth Avenue.
Mrs. Warren was born November 6th, 1858, in Ober
lin, Ohio, where she grew up to womanhood, and enjoyed
the advantages of the Oberlin celebrated schools. After
her marriage to Mr. Warren, of Sandusky, Ohio, on Janu
ary 27th, 1881, they resided in that city until their removal
to Spink county, the spring of 1886. From this union there
' was born, November 8th, 1884, one son, Ralph E. Warren
who has grown up to manhood in this city.
Socially Mr. Ellis is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of the Maccabees
and Mrs. Ellis is a member of the Ladies of the Maccabees
and the Rebekahs, the ladies organization of the order of
Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Ellis are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church.

486

NORBECK & NICHOLSON CO., a popular and so
ciable business firm at Redfield, Spink county, South Da
kota. Peter Norbeck is a native born Dakotan, thirty-nine
years old, who has the confidence and respect of his fellow
dtizens. He has not only been successful in business, but
has taken an interest in public affairs. He is now a mem
ber of the state legislature.
Charles L- Nicholson the junior member of the firm,
came with his parents' to Dakota Territory from Chicago ,
Illinois, when eight years old. Mr. Nicholson is now
thirty -six years old. For the last seven years this firm
has been engaged in drilling deep artesian wells, and in
manufacturing and handling well drilling supplies. They
were the first to introduce the cheap artesian wells into
Faulk county. When they came into the county to drill
wells, there was only one flowing well- in the county, and
that was the old Faulkton city well, which had cost about
$8,000 and had never been a success.
What is true of Faulk county, is true of the state; they
have been the pioneers in the artesian well business, or
rather were the first men to put the artesian well business
in the reach of the people, making a price that the settlers
could afford to pay, thus making it possible for them to
Utilize the life-giving force, not only for drinking purposes
but for power.
The liberal policy of this enterprising firm is clearly
demonstrated by the rapid increase of wells in this county,
there now being nearly four hundred of them which are
bringing vast quantities of pure sparkling water to the sur
face, not only a blessing to man and beast, but completely

PETER NORBECK

NORBECK-NICHOLSEN Artesian Well Drillers
REDFIELD, SOUTH DAKOTA

CHARLES NICHOL§EN

489

changing atmospheric conditions, transforming a semi-arid
region with its drought and hot winds, with failure of crops,
to ideal homes, abundant harvests and many times doubling
the price of land, above what it was worth under former
conditions.

WILLIAM H. RICE was born at Waupaca, Waupaca
county, Wisconsin, June 26th, 1858, and resided there un
til 1890, when he came to South Dakota, locating at Faulk ^
ton, where he published the Faulk County Record for about
three years in connection with M, P. Springer. In 1896,
he moved back to Wisconsin, returing to Faulkton, again in
1900. In 1906 he purchased the Faulkton Record and has
been identified with its publication ever since.
On April 24th, 1893, he was married to Miss Emma
K. QerteL of Waupaca, Wisconsin,, and to them has been
born one child, Grace, now fifteen years of age.
Mr. Rice is of American parentage, his father, Henry
H. Rice, having been born and raised in Chautauqua coun
ty, New York, and a great grandfather was a surgeon in
the revolutionary army.
Socially Mr. Rice is a member of the Odd Fellows and
Knights of Pythias.. Politically he has always been ident
ified with the republican party and is at the present time
chairman of the Faulk county republican central committee.

HENRY. METZ was born in Germany., February 18.,
1846 and came to the United States with his parents locat
ing in the state of Illinois..
He was but fifteen years of age at the time the Civil
War commenced, yet he had an honorable war record. He

490

was among the early settlers of Faulk county and took an
interest in social and political affairs. In politics he was
an earnest and devoted friend and an able and honest oppo
nent. In the campaign that culminated in the admission
of South Dakota as a state, Mr. Metz was an intelligent
and active worker, and an ' influential leader among his
German fellow citizens. In his death the community in
which he lived experienced a serious loss.

FRED H. POTTER was born in the state of New
York in January, 1864. He came to South Dakota in 1889
and located at Hitchcock, Beadle county and worked in the
flour mill there for one and one-half years. In August,
1891, he went to Mellette and build and ran a roller process
flour mill in which he installed an electric light plant and
ran it by artesian power He closed out his business at
Mellette in 1901. In 1907 he located in the new and en
terprising town of Cresbard in this county and engaged in
the hotel business in which he has been very successful.

F. E. CLARK was born January 17, 1850, in Hart
ford, Connecticut and came to Faulk county, South Dak
ota, in August, 1883, locating in what is now the town of
Pioneer. Mr. Clark married Miss Kate Avery in Cresco, Iowa,
in June, 1880 and to them have been born five children.
He now resides on his original homestead, which he took
in 1883. Like others he had hardships and privations, but
ten years ago the tide turned and prosperity followed. He
now has a well cultivated farm, a good set of farm build
ings and contentment, happiness and perfect satisfaction
with his surroundings have followed.

491

CHRISTIAN GREENER was born May 24, 1842, in
Germany. In 1852 his parents immigrated to the United
States and remained in the city of New Orleans for one
year, then removed' to St. Louis, Missouri, and from there
to Dubuque, Iowa, where he remained with his parents
until he was fifteen years of age, Then another move was
made to Lancaster, Grant county, Wisconsin, where he re
sided until 1880. In that year he moved to Blue Earth
county, Minnesota and after a three years residence there,
in 1883 came to Dakota Territory, locating in Hand. county,
In the spring of 1891 Mr. Greener became a resident of
Faulk county and located in Faulkton where he has since"
resided. On October 5th, 1866, he was united in marriage with
Miss Albina E. Taylor of Lancaster, Wisconsin, and to
them have been born seven children, viz: Edward E., who
died in his ninth year; Charles T., who is married, has a
daughter seven years old and resides in Faulkton; Carrie,
who married Frank Benning and resides in Hand county,
South Dakota, with a family of six children; Annie May,
who died in infancy; Ednah V., who married Robert Cor-
bett, qf Hand county, South Dakota and moved to Port
Arthur, Texas. In 1905 she died leaving three children;
Grace, who was born after they removed to Dakota, is
married to, Levi Hurd and resides in Hand county, South
Dakota and is the mother of one child; and Wilber Lin
coln who is yet at home attending the Faulkton city schools.
In 1863 Mr. Greener enlisted in Company E. First
Wisconsin Cavalry and was mustered out at the end of the
war. He is a member of the Phil Sheridan Post, Grand
Army of the- Republic at Faulkton. Mr. and Mrs, Greener

492

are members of the Faulkton Free Methodist church
and are considered among our most rdiable christian
people.

C. B.. CHAMBERS,, was born in Lancaster county „
Pennsylvania, June 19, 1849.' His father, Abraham Cham
bers, a native of the same countyand state, was born De
cember 12, 1819, He was an iron smelter by trade,, follow
ing farming the last active years of his life. Subsequently
he came to F'aulk county, Territory of Dakota, and made
his home with the subject of this sketch, where he died.
He was a descendent of Abraham Chambers who served in.
the Revolutionary War on the American side, and his uncle:
General Robert Chamber was one of the founders of Cham-
bersburg, Penny sylvania. The mother of our subject, Ann
Mary (Atkinson) Chambers, was a native of Pennsylvania,,
of English ancestry. Her father, John Atkinson, was bgrn
at Kendall, England, and was a son of Robert. Atkinson ..
He came to America, when a boy, previous to the Revolu
tionary War.
The subject of this sketch was the- second son in a-_
family of seven children, and was reared in Indianapolis, In
diana,, where the family had, moved in 1854. His father
and oldest brother entered the service in the Union Army
in the Civil War from Indiana. The subject of this, sketch
attended the city schools at. Indianapolis, and at. the age of
Seventeen years left home and went to Iowa,, where he-
hired to his uncle and remained with him two- years. His.
father then moved to Iowa, and this son went into partner
ship with him, and engaged in farming in Green county, un
til 18.83,. when. he came to. Dakota Territory and. squatted*

RESIDENCE OF C. B. CHAMBERS, FAULKTON

495

on the north-west quarter of section 7, township 120, north,
range 66, west. He later filed a tree claim on other
land and filed a homestead on the south-east quarter of the
same section. He erected a shanty 8x10 on the tree claim,
but lived with neighbors across the road.
His parents came to Dakota in the spring of 1884, and
resided on section 10, township 120, range 67, where the
subject of this sketch established a general store, and was
also postmaster of the . Roanoke postoffice for seven years ,
" which was located at his store, while his father ran the
mail route from Roanoke, to Northville, in Spink county.
In 1889 he permanently located on his homestead on sec
tion 7, township 120, range 66, and continued to do busi
ness until 1894, since which time he has engaged in farm
ing, has been a dealer in real estate, justice of the peace,
and notary public.
When he located in Dakota in 1883, he had many ex.
periences; among them, encountering swollen streams,
while hauling his goods to his farm in the spring of 1884.
His crops were hailed out in that year, and again in 1898,
but they averaged ten bushels per acre. He had two teams
and some farming machinery, when he started for Dakota
and in 1899 owned six quarter sections of land, about five
hundred Acres of which were under plow; he had a complete
set of farm buildings, and raised wheat, cattle and horses.
He had thirty-four head of stock on his farm, including
one registered Percheron stallion named Black Diamond . In
1900 he removed to Faulkton, and engaged in real estate
business to which he has given his. attention up to the
present time. He has a residence in Faulkton, an illustra
tion of which may be seen on Page 493 of this history. Mr,

496

Chambers has a real estate office on eighth avenue and
with his rented farms to look after, is doing an extensive
real estate business.

THOMAS EUGENE BICKELL was born at Myrtle,
Bon Homme county, South Dakota, December 28th, 1881,
and resided with his parents on a farm until 1891 when
they removed to Tyndall, South Dakota, where the subject
of our sketch received his education in the public and high
schools of that city. When sixteen years of age he, entered
the Tyndall Register as an apprentice, and after serving
two years on that paper, accepted a position with The Bon
Homme County News, another paper published at Tyndall.
In 1891 he came to Faulkton and accepted a position with
H. S- Koon, editor of the Faulkton Advocate, and a year
later when this paper was sold to Fremont Young, was em
ployed as foreman until June, 1908, when he associated
himself with W.H. Rice in the publication of The Faulk
ton Record, under the firm name of Bickell & Rice.
Mr. Bickell is of English parentage, his father G. I.
Bickell, having been born at Brandtford, Canada, and his
mother at Banbury, England, the latter coming with her
parents to the United States when only two years of age.
On September 15th, 1909, he was united in marriage
to Miss Rhea D. Griffee, of Faulkton.
Socially, Mr...Bickdlis a member of the Masonic order,
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the
Modern Brotherhood of America. Politically he has al
ways been identified witn the republican party.

497

GEORGE A. MORSE was born October 4th, 1827,
a,t Weston, near Boston, Massachusetts. The Morse family
came to this country from London, England, in 1635, set
tling in Middlesex county, Massachusetts.
Mr. Morse was born in one pf the old family farm
houses erected near the beginning of the last century, and
lived upon the old farm until he was seventeen, when he
was employed four years as a clerk in a store in Boston
situated near the Old State House and Old South Church.
On June 17, 1842, the completion of Bunker Hill monu
ment was celebrated, and Mr. Morse, then a fifteen year
old boy, stood near the platform and heard Daniel Webster
deliver his famous speech, and saw the one hundred and
thirty-two aged soldiers of the revolution, occupying seats
of honor on the platform. He heard speeches delivered
in Old Faneuil Hall by Charles Sumner, William Lloyd
Garrison, Wendell Phillips, Daniel Webster, Robert C.
Winthrop, Rufus Choate, Father Matthew and other promi
nent men of that time.
He was married September 12, 1850, to Caroline Mer
rill, a teacher in the Dwight school in Boston, and they
immediately left for their new home in Illinois, making
the trip from Buffalo to Detroit on the old steamer May
flower,' crossing the state of Michigan by the Michigan
Central, and thence by boat to Chicago, there bdng no
railway into Chicago from the east at that time.
For three years the family lived at Peoria and Gales-
burg, Illinois., and in March, 1853, Mr. Morse went ahead
of the new line of railway, and became the first settler, and
erected the first building in the city of Kewaunee, Henry
county., Illinois, now a dry of 12,000 inhabitants. He

498

was engaged in the farm machinery and grain business at
Kewaunee until 1864, when he removed to Chicago and
went into business with his brother Albert. He was in
the Chicago convention that nominated Abraham Lincoln
for president in 1860.
In August, 1869, he again took up pioneer life, settling
in the new town of Corning, Iowa, where he lived Until
1883. In the fall of 1876 he was elected to the Iowa legis
lature and reelected in 1878. 0n March 14, 1883, he came
to Faulkton, South Dakota, when it contained only four
buildings. With his two sons, Albert and Charles, he took up gov
ernment land five miles south of town. His first wife,
Caroline Morse, died July 11, 1887, and on January 14,
1891, he was married to Marietta Talcott, who survives him.
He served two terms as mayor and was clerk of the school
board from 1892, until his death, in 1905, and was also for
several years president of the Faulk County Old Settlers
Association. He was loved and esteemed by a large num
ber of friends, who will mourn with his wife and children
their sad loss. His four surviving children are: Albert W. ,
president of the Security State Bank; Charles A., in the
real estate business, at Knoxville, Tennessee; Mrs. P. M.
Conklin, of Omaha, and Mrs. C. C Norton, of Faulkton.

JAMES M. DUNSMORE

501

INDEX
Introduction  . 7
Introductory  11
State History  16
Faulk County   !....'  23
County Organization  32
The First Settler   45
Buffalo in Faulk County  48
The Blizzard of January 12, 1888  52
Faulkton  61
LaFoon  63
DeVoe  64
The Western Third of Faulk County  66
The Pioneer Settler  72
The First Memorial Day  74
New Social Relations —  —  76
The First Election  83
New Postoffices  .92
The Donation of a Church. Bell  93
Veterans of the Civil War  97
. Grand Army Post  ---'  .---  108
Educational  :  103
The Railroad  --'  107
Faulk County in 1908  -101
From County Commissioners' Record  115
Faulk County by D. S. Smith  138
Early History  144
Town Organization In Faulk County  146
Town Officers  151
The Coming of the Railroads  161

502

The Town of Zell   ---172
Seneca  181 '
Future Growth   183
Faulkton   185
Social Organization  194
Church Organization  215
The Woman Suffrage Question  227
The Faulk County Court House  -256
Old Settlers' Annual Picnic  261

BIOGRAPHICAL,.

Artz, Frank   413
Allen, Amon L-  459
Bottum, Hon, Joseph H  281
Byrne, Hon. Frank M.  286
Bryden, David   337
Bixler, John A.  376
Berg, Herman   393
Bell, William  406
Boiler, Andrew  „  457
Batteen, Mrs. Louisa  463
Byrne, William  ¦  470
Bruggeman, Frank  480
Bickell, Thomas Eugene  496
Chambers, C B  492
Clark, F. E.  T  ^  __490
Clifford, A. B. ----  483
Chapman, Henry  472
Cole, Ephriham  455
Clark, Hon. S. Wesley  462
Chapman, Samuel E.   467
Chapman, Edward  352
Cochrane, Lizzie M.   343
CornweU, I. AUen   304

503

Dodds, William J.   „___357
Deady, Thomas -,   -  „__„__364
Dahl, H. M.  398
Dixon, John A     410
Davis, Rev. John T.   ,-__„-_-- _,_„-. -466
Ericsen j Andrew T.  ,-,  406
Ensch, Dr. Edward  ,.--407
Ensch, Mrs. Catherine (Deisch)  ------  _-407
Ellenbecker, John  408
Eaton, Arthur J.  --  411
EHis, Caleb Holt    433
Edgerton, William M.  ......449
Ellis, Arthur W   485
Faulkner, William G-  ---'  317
Finley, John H   345
Findeis, Adam  ,  .  — ----353
Freeland, Rev. J. K  381
Forrest, Charles P.  414
Ford, Elvin W.  474
Ford, Edward  475
Finley, William E-    476
Griffee, Abraham D.  ---  309
Garrick, Alexander---  ,___367
Golden, Emanuel  ---  —  413
Gooder, Albert-.----  439
Grater, Joseph L  4$°
Gabler, Jacob  4S4
Greener, Christian  __---------  491
Harrington, John  ---.  350
Hooper, Mrs. Emma A,  410
Hagan, Nelson  412
Hatfield, F. E-- —  420
Hays, Joseph H.  425
Hays, Mrs. Lizzie (Fahs)  --428
Hays, John W,  442

504

Humphrey, Captain H. A   451
Holgate, Rev. Ernest  461
Hall, William R  464
Hogeboom, Cornelius  470
Johnston, James W.  340
Jones, D. Roy  .,  ,-  355
Jarvis, Matthew J.  421
Jarvis, Dr. Abbie A.  422
Jarvis, George J.  440
Jungworth, R  -   479
Knapton, Robert-.   333
Kellett, William    411
Kern, Mrs. Bertha  477
Korupp, Henry  477
Kolegraff , Philip    480
Latham, Hon. D. H.  315
Lower, William H.    343
Loy, Samuel  368
Law , Allen  397
Luke, John F.  445
Lambert, Butler  453
Loken , EHef   469-
Miller, Hon. Alexander  -.-  330-
McDearmon, Merill S  35$
Moulton, C C.   389
McComb, Edwin  395
Mertens , Christopher  _  --445
McKay, William  '_'_'  467
McAllen, William H  ¦_._•.  473
McGrath, John M.   478,
Metz, Henry  .   489.
Morse, George A.  .497
Niemeyer, Carl   355,
Nevins, J. S.  395,
Nestor, James T- ----.  .  396

•505

Nestor, Thomas   .--468
Norbeck & Nicholson Co.  486
O'Neil, Patrick H.   289
O'Neil, Mrs. Annie (Carline)   ----292
Person , Frederick D.   _._ 349
Pickler, Major John A.  ,  267
Pickler, Alice M. A.---   276
Phelps, Arthur W  ----360
Pangburn, Frank A  361
Purcell, Thomas   376
Pillsbury, Daniel W.  ----405
Pagd, A. F.  --474
Potter, Fred H.  490
Roseland, Elias   --346
Roseland, Gabriel T    346
Rush, Joel  353
Reinecke, Henry W.    326
Rathbun, Dr. J. P.  --.   368
Ramsdell, Francis M.  370
Riley, George. G.  -.397
Rudine, Alex C  411
Reed, Henry F.  '  465
Robbins, Rev. Anson Hart  466
Rice, William H.  489
• Smith, Darius S   ---335
Sangster, Adam  .--344
Simmons, Rev. Thomas  '  297
Simmons, Mrs. AnnaR.  298
Seaman, Fred Andrew  308
Sprague, Albejrt J.  -316
Shirk, John H.  823
Stone, Orlando L.   -323
Stoddard, George H  328
Strachan, A. M  375
Swift, Otis A  383

506

Schmitt, Peter  -'-I-.-  -,  ---.^  419
Steele, Sheldon J.   '. .  456
Seckner, Ellsworth S   472
Strasburg, Carl  -.  475
Schaefer, Henry  476
Sime, Andrew  ,  483
Thorn, Stephen F.  .....  ¦---  358
Turner, James P  - ----'-  --329
Thorn, William Springate  404
Thorn, Mrs. Louisa  409
Thompson, Alexander M. — -.  ,--  419
Vanmeerbeck, Oscar  364
Vinton, William B   398
Voss, Amon C  .  .--  473
Wilkinson, Henry  T  356
Wight, L. T.  ----'.  '-  394
Whitney, Selwyn  '-  -399
Wallace, J. H.   399
Weideman, H. G.    '  474
Wood, Rev. A. A.   .  446
Young, Fremont  —  387
Young, Joseph M.  —  .  396
York, Charles E  476

ILLUSTRATIONS

Along the Nixon River near Faulkton   39
Baker, Mack, Residence   1--189
Bottum, Hon. J. H.  —  *  283
Bottum, Mrs. Sylvia G.   283
Byrne, Hon. Frank M  '  ..  287
Chambers, C. B., Residence   493
Catholic Parsonage, Zell  129

507

Congregational Church, Cresbard  209
Congregational Church, Faulkton  ---220
Catholic Church, Faulkton   221
Dean , R. L.   - - 391
Dunsmore, James M.  -_  '  499
Elevator at Cresbard  109
Forrest House, Orient   416
Forrest House Stable, Orient  .T  417
Faulk County State Fair Ehibit, 1904  i  29
Ford, Elvin W., Residence,  139
Faulk County Court House  _.  257
Faulk County Abstract Building  305 .
Faulkner, W. G.   320
Faulkner, Mrs. W. G.   --  -321
Gooder, Albert, Residence  ..  437
Hotel and Business Block in Cresbard  ±.,  119
Harrington, John, Residence  199
Hays, Joseph H   430
Hays, Mrs. J. H.  -"-  430
Hays Block , Faulkton  : 431
Indian Carnival  49
Jarvis, Mathew J.  423
Jarvis, Dr. Abbie A   423
Johnston, J. W., Residence  341
Kline, Mrs. Emma, Residence  -.179
Lehman, W. H., Residence  -159
Lower, W. H., Residence  99
Latham, D. H.  312
Latham, Mrs. Nellie A.  313
Loy, Samuel, Residence  379
Miranda Band  .-  79
Methodist Church, Cresbard   209
Methodist Church, Faulkton  221

508

Miller, Alexander, Draft Horses  331
Moore, A. M., Residence  481
New Catholic Church, Zell  265
Norbeck & Nicholson  487
Old Catholic Church, Zell  -  264
O'Neil, P. H.  294
O'Neil, Mrs. Annie Carline   295
Old Sod Shanty in 1888, S. F. Thorn  --"  69
Public School Building, Faulkton  231
Person, F. D., Residence  251
Pickler, Major J. A.   _-_272
Pickler, Alice M. A  273
Pickler, J. A., Residence   279
Queen City Hotel, Faulkton  401
Residences in Cresbard   -  149
Roseland, Elias, Residence  347
Ramsdell, Francis M  .*  372
Ramsdell, Mrs. Laura  373
Steam Breaker in Faulk County   59
Sangster, Adam, Residence   .  -  89
Sisters' Convent and School, Zell  169
Swift, O. A., Residence  241
Simmons, Rev. Thomas ;  300
Simmons, Mrs. Anna R  301
TheAuthor   .'  g
The Old Sed Shanty on the Claim  19
Turner, Frank, Residence  :  365
Wood, Rev. A. A.  447
Young, Fremont, Residence  385

YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

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