History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 103

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1262

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Into other fields Mr. Hahn has also extended his activities. In 1903 he organized the Farmers Bank of Humboldt with a capital of five thousand dollars. The bank, like his mercantile business, has prospered and today has a paid up capital of thirty thousand dollars. Mr. Hahn holds the controling interest in the bank and has served as its presi- dent since its institution. He recognizes the fact that the bank which most carefully safeguards its depositors is the one most worthy of patronage and conducts his interests along conservative lines with the result that the institution has won the confidence and support of the general public. When the bank was organized business was begun in a corner of the old store building and in October, 1910, was removed to the present handsome structure, which is a two-story brick block of South Dakota red granite and is the most imposing building in Humboldt. It is splendidly equipped and the bank, like the store, is one of the growing and profitable business concerns of the city. In addition to his interests therein, Mr. Hahn owns eight hundred acres of valuable farm land in Minnehaha county. of which six hundred and forty acres is in one body.

In 1902 Mr. Hahn was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Rehfeldt, of Victor, Iowa, and they have become parents of four children, Marjorie, Maurine, Henry W. and Robert Milton. Mr. Hahn belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He holds member- ship in the Lutheran church, yet usually attends the services of the Congregational chureli, of which his wife is a member. He is now serving as clerk of the school board, and has been identified with the hoard for the past ten or twelve years, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion and one whose efforts are practical and effective. He belongs to the Humboldt Commercial Club and is in entire sympathy with its movements for the upbuilding and benefit of the city. He justly ranks among the foremost residents of Humboldt. He carries forward to successful completion his well formulated plans and reaches out along lines whereby the public welfare as well as individual prosperity has been enhanced.

C. O. OLSON, M. D.

Dr. C. O. Olson, one of the alumni of Rush Medical College, now successfully practic- ing in Groton, was born in Dayton, Webster county, Iowa, June 29, 1871. His father, John P. Olson, was born in Sweden and when a young man crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling first in Illinois, but in 1859, when gold was discovered in Colorado, he was among those who went to that state, where he was located at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. Putting aside personal and business considerations, he enlisted for active service with the First Colorado Cavalry and continued with that command until the close of hostilities. Later he spent some time in the gold fields of Colorado and Montana and then went to Iowa, establishing his home in Dayton, where he engaged in general merchandising. Subsequently he was connected with various other business enter- prises of the town that contributed to his individual success and to general prosperity. He passed away in Groton, November 15, 1910, having for four or five years made his home with his son, Dr. Olson. His wife, Mrs. Christine Olson, was born in Sweden and was brought by her parents to the new world when two or three years of age.

Dr. Olson completed his literary education by a course in Bethany College at Linds- borg, Kansas, where he won the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1898. His professional course was pursued in Rush Medical College of Chicago, which he entered in the fall of 1898 and from which he was graduated with the class of 1902. Immediately afterward

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he came to the west, looking for a favorable location, and, deciding upon Groton, has there been very successful, building up an extensive practice. For several years he has spent a part of every summer in taking post-graduate work in Chicago and thus he keeps in close touch with the advance that is being made in medical science. His knowledge and efficiency are thereby greatly increased and he is today one of the foremost practitioners of his part of the state.

In 1904 Dr. Olson was united in marriage to Miss Clara Doster, of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Fraternally he is identified with Groton Lodge, No. 53, I. O. O. F., and with the Modern Woodmen of America. Along strictly professional lines his connection is with the Aberdeen District Medical Society, the South Dakota State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He combines a love of scientific research with broad humanitarian principles and deep sympathy, and these qualities make him an able physician who by almost intuitive perception, as well as by scientific understanding, meets the needs of his patients and makes his service of greatest benefit where medical aid is required.

A. M. HOUCK.

A. M. Honek is a lumber dealer of Summit and one of the landowners of that section of the state. He possesses the spirit of western enterprise and has always heen connected with the development of the west. His birth ocenrred in Winneshiek county, Iowa, Octo- ber 5, 1857. his parents being Martin and Eva (Hollenbeck) Houck. He represents an old American family, his ancestors having come from Germany to the new world almost three centuries ago. Representatives of the name have since lived in New York, where the grand- parents of our subject were born and reared. Martin Houck, the father of A. M. Houck, was a native of Cattaraugus county, New York, born in 1821, and at Hinsdale, that state, lie wedded Eva Hollenheck, who was born in Potter county, Pennsylvania, in 1824. Soon after their marriage they removed to Illinois and later became residents of Bluffton, Iowa, Mr. Houck building the first sawmill in Winneshiek county. In that county he entered a claim from the government and lived upon the place for ten or fifteen years, after which he removed to Burr Oak, Iowa, and still later to Minnesota, where he lived retired. He died in 1895. having long survived his wife, who passed away in 1874. She was descended from ancestors who came from Holland more than two hundred years ago. In his political views Mr. Houck was always an earnest democrat. To him and his wife were born five children, of whom three are yet living: Elmira, who is the widow of W. J. Greiner, and now lives in Minneapolis: A. M .; and Peter, a farmer of Carlton county, Minnesota.

After completing his education by graduation from the high school at Lanesboro. Minne- sota, with the class of 1875 A. M. Houck began learning the milling business and afterward had charge of a large mill at Lanesboro for about eighteen years. He began work as a miller in his early youth and became an expert in that line. He removed to Summit in 1892. at the opening of the reservation. taking up a homestead and proving up his claim, which he still owns. He has also added to his landed possessions by purchase from time to time until his holdings now total abont thirteen hundred acres in Roberts and Grant counties. now all well improved. He is extensively engaged in general farming and is also raising shorthorn cattle and Belgian horses. He came to this state practically empty-handed and his prosperity has been won through the intervening years by his own unaided efforts. Soon after his removal to Summit he established an elevator business and later embarked in the himber and coal trade. He also conducted a very large implement business for ten years. He now sells lumber, grain and fuel and is accorded a liberal patronage which has made his a very profitable concern.

On the 17th of October, 1883. Mr. Houck married Miss Myrta A. Buck, a daughter of C. F. Buck. a prominent attorney of Winona, Minnesota, who was postmaster under Presi- dent Lincoln, also served as United States marshal under Lincoln and was again postmaster of Winona under President Cleveland. He was a very prominent and influential resident. there and he had charge of the troops that aided in fighting the Indians at the time of the outbreak during the Civil war. To Mr. and Mrs. Houck have been born seven children, of whom four are living: Stanley Buck, who has engaged in the practice of law in Minne-

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sota since his graduation from the university of that state, at which time he won a prize for his ability in debate; Norman A., a graduate of the law department of the State Uni- versity of Minnesota, which he represented in debating contests for two years, and now a resident of Corona, Carlton county. Minnesota, where he and his father own a large amount of land; Margaret Eva, who won the prize medal over all high-school students in the state and became a pupil in the University of Minnesota, from which she was graduated, since which time she has engaged in teaching, being now assistant principal of the schools of Rathdrum, Idaho; and Lawience Decouteau, who is a graduate of the Agricultural College of Minnesota and is now operating one of his father's farms.

In politics Mr. Houck is a republican and was chairman of the county convention at the time when the progressive party withdrew from the standpatters. For six years he has been and is now president of the school board and has put forth effective and earnest effort to advance the interests of education in Roberts county. Fraternally he is a Mason, in which order he has attained the Knight Templar degree. He belongs to that class of men whose success should serve as an inspiration to higher achievement on the part of others.

WILLIAM GEORGE MAGEE, M. D.

Many regard the practice of medicine as the most important vocation to which man can direct his energies. At all events its usefulness can scarcely be overestimated, and always worthy of high respect and consideration is the man who makes his life a worthy exposition of the highest standards of the medical profession. Such a one is Dr. William George Magee, now practicing in Watertown. He is a western man by birth, training and preference and the spirit of progress characteristic of the development of the Mississippi valley has been manifect in his career.

Ilis birth oceurred in Dunkerton, lowa, April 19, 1875, his parents being Edward W. and Mary Jane (Davis) Magce, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York. In childhood they removed with their respective parents to McHenry county, Illinois, where they were reared and married. The father was a farmer by occupation and after his marriage spent five or six years in agricultural pursuits in MeHenry county, Illinois, He then removed to Iowa, settling in Black Hawk County, near Waterloo, where he purchased government land at a dollar and a half per acre-land that is today worth two hundred dollars per acre. As time passed and his financial resources increased he added to his holdings until he has today some six hundred and forty acres. Year after year he carefully tilled the soil and improved his farm but about two years ago retired from active life and removed to the town of Dunkerton, where he now resides. In 1911 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 13th of January of that year. In his political views Mr. Magee is an earnest republican and has always taken an active interest in the party's advancement. He has likewise been a stalwart champion of the cause of education and served for a number of years as a member of the school board in his home locality.

Dr. Magee was reared under the parental roof, acquiring his education in the district schools and in the Iowa State Teachers' College at Cedar Falls, from which he was grad- uated with the class of 1901, winning the degree of Master of Arts. He was also granted a state teacher's certificate and during the last two years of his college course was business manager of the college paper which paid him a nice sum. Before he had completed his college work, however, he put aside his textbooks for a period of two years and taught school, which provided him the funds necessary to meet his expenses during the remainder of his student days. Following his graduation he took up the study of medicine and during that summer read under the preceptorship of Dr. Wiek of Cedar Falls. In the fall of 1901 he entered the medical department of the Northwestern University at Chicago, from which institution he was graduated with the degree of M. D., being a member of the class of 1905. His standing in the university was so high that he was permitted to com- pete in the examination held for interneship in the Wesley Memorial Hospital and, successful in that connection, he served as interne for two years. He afterward spent one year as assistant to Dr. W. H. Allport, one of the eminent surgeons of Chicago, and in the fall

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of 1908 came to Watertown, where he opened offices and has since been very successful in practice, ranking high in medical and surgical circles. He most carefully analyzes and diagnoses his cases and is seldom, if ever, at fault in foretelling the outcome of diseases. He keeps in touch with the advanced thought of the profession through wide reading and research and is an able and learned physician. He has property interests in Hamlin county, where he owns an entire section of land. In addition to his general practice he is one of the chief surgeons of the new Lutheran Hospital of Watertown, which was erected at a cost of seventy-five thousand dollars.

On the 30th of June, 1909, Dr. Magee was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte Irene MacChesney, of Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Magee is a member of Kampeska Lodge, No. 13, F. & A. M., of Watertown. He belongs also to the Aristotelian Literary Society and to Phi Beta Phi, a Greek letter fraternity. He is also a member of the Watertown Country Club and the Watertown Commercial Club. His political allegiance is given to the repub- lican party and he is the present coroner of Codington county. Along strietly profes- sional lines his connection is with the Chicago Medical Society, the Illinois State Medical Society, the Watertown District Medical Society, the South Dakota State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the American Congress of Surgeons. His ability is pronounced and in a profession where advancement depends entirely upon individual merit he has constantly progressed and stands among the eminent physicians and surgeons of Watertown.

ERNEST B. TOTHILL.

Ernest B. Tothill, an enterprising and progressive young agriculturist of Benton township, Minnehaha county, is a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this state. His birth occurred on section 2, Benton township, on the 21st of September, 1887, his parents being John T. and Louisa (Osborne) Tothill. A sketch of the father, a retired agriculturist residing in Benton township, is given on another page of this work.

Ernest B. Tothill acquired his early education in the country schools and afterward pursued a high-school course at Sioux Falls. Subsequently he assisted in the work of the home farm and later started out as an agriculturist on his own account, working on shares with his father. He eventually purchased forty acres of land on section 25, Benton township, and now also cultivates the farm of three hundred and twenty acres belonging to his father, who has retired. In connection with the production of cereals he feeds one hundred head of hogs, twenty-five head of eattle and ten head of horses. He utilizes the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and conducts his farming interests in accord with the most modern and practical methods, representing the new generation of progressive agriculturists. His property is highly improved and in its attractive appearance bespeaks his careful and able supervision.

On the 19th of February, 1908, Mr. Tothill was united in marriage to Miss Flora Howie, her parents being David and Ellen Howie, pioneer settlers of South Dakota who are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Tothill have one child, Louise Ellen. In politics onr subject is a republican, while his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He has made many friends within the borders of his native county and state and is widely recognized as a popular and successful young citizen.

THOMAS DAVIES SCOTT.

Since the spring of 1880 Thomas Davies Scott has resided upon the farm near Artesian which he now owns and occupies, and in the intervening period of thirty-five years he has witnessed a great change in the country, which at the time of his arrival was a frontier district and which has now become well settled with a prosperous and progressive class of people who are utilizing the natural advantages of the state for legitimate profit

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and for the benefit of the community. Mr. Scott was born in Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, August 1, 1851, a son of Andrew and Mary (Davies) Scott, who were tenant farming people of Radnorshire, South Wales. The son acquired a common-school educa- tion in Great Britain and also spent three winter seasons as a pupil in a district school of Wisconsin following the emigration of the family to the new world. He started in business life as an errand boy in a hardware store at Birmingham but soon afterward his parents removed to Radnorshire, South Wales, and he became a timekeeper upon the Midwales Railway, then in process of construction. He afterward went to Brecon. South Wales, where he accepted the position of bookkeeper with a timber merchant, but disliking that employment, he gave it up and entered a blacksmith shop, following the trade there for three years. At the end of that time the parents decided to come to the United States and Thomas D. Scott made the voyage with them.

He always had a love for outdoor life and occupations and upon reaching Wisconsin in the spring of 1869 went to work as a farm hand, actuated by a desire to one day engage in farming on his own account. He spent six seasons in working by the month, after which he rented land for four seasons, but he felt that such a course did not pay and decided to remove to South Dakota, where he arrived in the fall of 1879. In the spring of 1880 he filed on the land which he now owns and occupies and throughout the inter- vening period he has remained continuously upon this place, which he has converted from an undeveloped elaim into a fine farm, bringing the fields to a high state of cultivation. dividing the farm with well kept fences, supplying shelter for grain and stock by the erection of good barns and sheds and providing a comfortable home for his family by the erection of an attractive residence. He has concentrated his efforts upon the development and improvement of this farm save that he has become owner of an interest in the Farmers Grain Elevator at Artesian.

On the 4th of July, 1885, in Sioux Falls, Mr. Scott was united in marriage to Miss Mar- garet Adelia De Laney, a daughter of Sylvanus and Margaret Le Laney, who came from Minnesota to the territory of Dakota in 1865, settling about six miles north of Sioux Falls, on the Sioux river. Our subjeet and his wife have five children, namely: Lewis D., Mar- garet A .. James A., Walter and Mary.

Mr. Seott was reared in the Episcopalian faith. In polities he has always followed an independent course, now supporting the progressive party, but he will always vote for men and measures regardless of party ties if his judgment sanctions such a course. His fellow townsmen recognize his publie spirit and devotion to duty and for the past eighteen years, by successive reelections, have kept him in the office of township supervisor. He has also been assessor of his township for eight years and has been treasurer of the townsbip school for the past fifteen years. He regards a publie office as a public trust-and no trust reposed in T. D. Scott has ever been betrayed.

JOHN AREND.

John Arend, a carpenter and painter, whose enterprise and industry constitute a valu- able contribution to the industrial activity of Yankton, where his ability wins him many important contracts, was born in Yankton county, on the Jim river, three miles east of the city, November 11, 1859, his parents being Henry and Anna (Kaiser) Arend, both of whom were born in Germany. Coming to the new world, they settled first in Minnesota. but after- ward removed to Tama county, Iowa, where they spent a brief period. In the month of June, 1859, they arrived in Yankton and Mr. Arend secured a claim three miles east of the present city of Yankton. More than half a century has since come and gone and won- derful changes have occurred in that time transforming into a thickly populated and pros- perous county the wild region into which they came. Around them for miles stretched tbe unbroken prairie and one had to go long distances to mill and market. Owing to the fre- quently manifested hostilities of the Indians a company of volunteers was formed under Captain Tripp and Henry Arend and his eldest son Christopher enlisted in that organization, which became known as Company A. They were enlisted for three years and at the time of the Indian scare the family removed into Yankton to enter the stockade and obtain pro-

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tection furnished by numbers. After the fear of an Indian uprising was passed and Mr. Arend's term of enlistment in the volunteer company had expired he returned to his claim and preemption and continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life. Year after year saw the fruitful results of his labors in good crops that attested the practical and progressive manner in which he tilled and developed his fields. He was a very thrifty, energetic man and made his property a most valuable and desirable one. Upon that farm he remained until his death. which occurred May 16, 1893, when he was seventy-two years of age. He had for a few years survived his wife, who died on the 22d of January, 1890. They had a family of seven children, fonr sons and three daughters: Margaret, the wife of Robert Buckhart, living in Yankton; Christopher, a veteran of the Indian wars, who died in Rogers, Arkansas; Jacob, who is now living retired in Sioux City, lowa; Katie, the wife of C. K. Madara, a resident of Yankton; Henry, who is living retired in Yankton; John, of this review; and Annie, who makes her home in Seattle, Washington.

John Arend was reared upon the old home farm. He had the distinction of being the first white child born in Dakota territory and every phase of pioneer life, with its hard- ships and difficulties and later its advantages, is familiar to him. He was educated in the country schools, which he attended to the age of sixteen years, and he worked upon his father's farm until twenty-one years of age, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors incident to the development of the fields and the care of the crops. After attaining his majority he rented a farm and soon afterward purchased one hundred and twenty acres of farm land, which he carefully cultivated until substantial success rewarded his efforts. In 1894 he sold out and removed to Yankton, where he took up carpentering and painting as a contractor. He has developed an excellent business in the meantime and is busy the year round, employing about eight men. His business is well established and he is widely and favorably known, his entire time being devoted to the management of his industrial activities.

In 1888 Mr. Arend was married to Miss Lillie Harrison, a native of Iowa, and they have a son, Harry R., now a resident of Nebraska. Mr. Arend votes with the democratic party, but has never sought nor desired office. He owns an attractive residence at No. 509 Mulberry street and also has considerable other city property, having made judicious investments in real estate. No history of the territory would be complete without mention of him-its firstborn native son. He has watched with interest its development as the years have gone hy and has lived to see remarkable changes, transforming a broad, unculti- vated prairie district into one of the thriving, growing and prosperous states. of the Union.

O. P. J. ENGSTROM.

O. P. J. Engstrom is engaged in the real-estate business at Summit and belongs to that class of worthy citizens that Norway has furnished to the state and who have done so much toward furthering its material progress. He was born in Norway, December 24, 1868, and is a son of John O. and Ingeborg (Hummelvold) Engstrom. The former was a son of Ola Engstrom, who died in Norway. and the latter was a daughter of Tore Hummel- vold. The father was born in 1833 and died in 1912. while the mother, whose birth occurred in the same year, is still living. They were married in 1859 and continued their residence in Norway until 1880. when they made the voyage across the Atlantic and into the interior of the country, settling in Lac qui Parle county, Minnesota. The father was a farmer and there engaged in tilling the soil until 1883, when he came to South Dakota, where he pre- empted a claim, residing thereon for eleven years. In 1894 he removed to the vicinity of Summit. where he secured a homestead which he owned to the time of his death. He was a member of the Lutheran church and took a very active and helpful interest in its work. His political views were in accord with the principles of the republican party but he did not seek office, preferring to give his nndivided attention to his business, in which he met with a fair measure of success.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 103

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1262

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1262