History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 104

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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O. P. J. Engstrom acquired a common-school education and also attended the high school at Montevideo. His practical business training was in farm work and he continued to follow

O. P. J. ENGSTROM

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the occupation to which he was reared until 1901, when he discontinued farming. For six years he turned his attention to the business of buying wheat at Summit, but in 1907 he established a real-estate office and now buys and sells property, buying outright and also selling on commission. He has won notable success since embarking in this line and is accorded a most liberal and gratifying patronage. He keeps thoroughly informed concerning property values, knows what is upon the market and is able to help his patrons make judicious investments and profitable sales. He is now the owner of three farms and he devotes the major part of his attention to his real-estate business.

In 1896 Mr. Engstrom was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Josephine Molander, a native of Stillwater, Minnesota, and a daughter of Bengt Molander, who emigrated from Sweden to the United States, taking up his abode in Minnesota in an early day. He re- moved to Grant county. South Dakota, in 1879, taking up a homestead claim between Mil- bank and Big Stone. He was among the first settlers of Grant county, was well known throughout that section and his demise, which occurred in 1913, was sincerely mourned.

Mr. Engstrom belongs to the Lutheran church and fraternally is connected with the Modern Woodmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having served as vice grand in the latter organization. In polities he is a republican and has held various local offices in town and township. At the present writing he is the efficient mayor of Summit and in 1907 he represented his district in the state legislature. It will thus be seen that his fellow townsmen have regarded him as worthy of high political honors and that in the discharge of his duties he has been loyal and faithful. Mr. Engstrom began life as a poor boy, but has embraced the opportunities which have come to him and by the wise use of his time and talents has worked his way steadily upward, his record proving that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously.

JOHN WATTS JAMIESON.

John Watts Jamieson, proprietor of the Jamieson Hotel at Roscoe, has been a factor in the business life of the town since 1886. He was born in New York on the 22nd of April, 1846, and is a son of George and Rachel (Watts) Jamieson, both of whom were natives of Scotland, born in Paisley and in Edinburgh respectively. In childhood days they came with their parents to America and after their marriage began their domestic life upon a farm in northern New York, near the Canadian line. Subsequently they removed across the border, taking up their abode in the town of Baggott in the province of Ontario, where the father met his death by drowning in 1864. The mother passed away one month and nine days later, her death being attributed to the shock caused by her husband's demise.

John W. Jamieson was educated in the public schools and following his father's death entered the employ of the lumber firm of Mair & Company of Lanark, Ontario, being associated with them for nine years. He entered their service in a minor capacity but rose to be general manager of their extensive business. After severing his connection with that firm he engaged in the harness business in Lanark and in 1880 he once more crossed the border, returning to the United States. He settled in Grove City, Minnesota, where he conducted a harness store for six years, and in the fall of 1886 he removed to Roscoe, South Dakota, since which time he has been identified with the hotel business. He erected his first hotel building in the spring of 1887 and has since conducted the leading hostelry of the town, being accorded a liberal patronage because of the excellence of the cuisine and the effort which he puts forth to make his guests comfortable. In connection with his hotel business he has other interests. He was one of the organizers of the First State Bank of Roscoe and for some years acted as vice president of the Institution but afterward sold his holdings. He now conducts a coal and fuel business and has built up a good trade in that connection.

In March, 1869, Mr. Jamieson was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Foxton, of the township of Elizabethtown, Ontario. They have one son, Thomas G., who is engaged in the hotel business in association with his father.

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In his political views Mr. Jamieson is a democrat and in' 1896 was elected county judge of Edmunds county, serving on the bench for one term. He likewise filled the office of justice of the peace for eight years and his decisions in both connections were strictly fair and impartial. For the past six years he has been a member of the town council of Roscoe and for seventeen years he served as clerk of the school board. He has been an elder in the Presbyterian church for the past twenty years and has twice been a delegate to the general assembly. He is a very charitable man, extending a helping hand to those in need of assistance, and a generous disposition and public spirit have also guided him in his relations to the community at large, his efforts in behalf of public welfare being far- reaching and beneficial.

JAMES HALLEY, JE.

James Halley, Jr., the popular young cashier of the Keystone Bank, was born at Rapid City, South Dakota, on the 8th of March, 1883, a son of James Halley, Sr., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Our subject was reared in his native city and after completing the course offered in the Rapid City high school attended the State School of Mines, graduating therefrom with the degree of Bachelor of Science. When twenty-one years of age he assisted in the survey of the Pierre & Rapid City Railroad, being engaged in that work for about four months. Subsequently he removed to Keystone and entered the Keystone Bank as cashier, a position which he has since filled to the satisfaction of the directors and stockholders of that institution. He is alert and progressive and at the same time possesses that discretion and prudence which are so essential in a successful banker and at all times safeguards the interests of the stockholders and depositors. He is also interested in a number of local enterprises, including several mines, and holds title to con- siderable town property, including his residence.

Mr. Halley was married on the 11th of October, 1913, to Miss Gertrude Busteed, who was born at Buffalo Gap, South Dakota, and is a daughter of C. H. and Emma Busteed. both natives of New York state. The parents became early settlers of Buffalo Gap and the father is still actively engaged in the general mercantile business at that place. The mother, however, is deceased, her demise occurring in 1904.

Mr. Halley is a republican and is at present serving as precinct committeeman. He is also treasurer of the Keystone independent school district and does all in his power to further the interests of the public schools. His salient characteristics are energy, ability and integrity and they have enabled him to accomplish much, although he is yet a young man. He has thoroughly identified his interests with those of his community and is one of the valued citizens of Keystone, where he has resided for seven years.

WILLIAM H. HEDGES.

William H. Hedges, C. E., is now residing at Mattawan, Michigan, but was for twelve years a resident of South Dakota and worked on location surveys for a number of railroads running through the state, including the lines to Aberdeen and Huron. He also owned a ranch upon the Jim river and devoted considerable time to its development. He understood Indians well, and was able at one time to save the settlement from destruction by per- suading the chief, Drifting Goose, to delay his attack, thus giving the settlers time to call in troops to their aid. He was born in Sinclairville, Chautauqua county, New York, on the 29th of June, 1833, and is a son of Colonel Elias S. and Rebekah (Parker) Hedges, the former of whom was a farmer and also a tanner, having a large establishment in Sinclair- ville. He was also provost marshal at Des Moines, Iowa, during the Civil war. Both he and his wife are deceased and are buried in Sidney, Fremont county, Iowa. The family, which is of English origin, came from Maidstone, Kent county, in 1648, and several mem- bers thereof fought in the Revolutionary war. For eleven generations the first child born was a son, a record that is unusual.

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William H. Hedges attended school. in the Empire state, but put aside his textbooks at the age of seventeen years, after which he assisted his father for one year. He then took the civil engineering course in the Chamberlain Institute of New York and after graduating from the same went to Canada, where for seven years he was engaged in survey and construction work. In 1860, however, he returned to the United States and crossed the plains to Denver, where he had many of the adventures incident to pioneer life, and became well acquainted with the character and customs of the Indians. He came to know them so well that he learned in a measure to speak and understand the Sioux language, which later was of great value to him. After his return from Colorado he was employed in the city of Chicago in construction work for twelve years, but in 1879 he resigned his position there and came to South Dakota. He located on a ranch upon the banks of the Jim river, but soon afterward joined the Northwestern preliminary survey party, as scout and topographer, and traveled all over that part of the state which was then practically unknown to white men. His only way of going from place to place was by horseback and when scouting on preliminary railroad surveys he rode on an average of thirty miles a day, and once rode seventy-five miles a day for three successive days. He helped to survey the lines to Aberdeen and Huron and also worked on a number of other roads and upon the com- pletion of the work for the year, in 1879, he returned to his ranch, where he spent the winter. In the spring of 1880, however, he took up the work of construction engineer in the employ of the Northwestern Railway, which constructed the road from Huron to Aber- deen and which work he superintended. In the winter of 1880 he was again upon his ranch and then from that time until 1891 he devoted the most of his time to supervising the work there. He was, however, county surveyor and did a little engineering work outside of his official duties. In 1891 he again removed to Chicago and for twenty-four years has been connected with engineering work in the bureau of sewers, city of Chicago, Mr. Hedges was the originator of the system of levels that corrected the errors in bench elevations that had reached a point that threatened the very existence of city datum. When these correction levels were determined upon, Mr. Hedges was made bench and street grade engi- neer and placed in charge of the work, which he carried on successfully until April, 1915, when his health failed so seriously that he was given a year's leave of absence.

Soon after Mr. Hedges settled upon his ranch upon the Jim river, Drifting Goose, an Indian chief, who had been very badly treated by the government, decided to go upon the warpath and went to Mr. Hedges' ranch, threatening the destruction of the white settle- ment. Mr. Hedges, however, through his knowledge of the Indian language, was able to delay the attack upon the settlers until they had time to summon troops to their aid and Drifting Goose was eventually indneed to return in peace to his reservation. Some time later the Indians, under the leadership of Drifting Goose, again left their reservation and threatened the white settlement. He, with twenty of his men, came to Mr. Hedges' ranch and told him that he was a bad man and that he must go where the sun rises, otherwise he would he killed and scalped. Mr. Hedges retorted that the Great Father at Washington gave him the land and that he meant to stay, and thereupon began to prepare for the defense of his home. As it turned out, he was not molested. However, during the excite- ment a man named Whiteman working for Mr. Hedges was killed by his careless handling of a revolver and the man thus unfortunately shot was the first white person buried in Spink county.

Another interesting incident in the life of Mr. Hedges had to do with the right to settle upon land. The man with whom he came from Watertown to the Jim river was the agent of a land grabbing firm of Minneapolis, who desired to get control of the whole Jim River valley. This land agent tried to prevent people from settling along the river but the land had been opened for settlement. The United States land office at Watertown had received entries. Mr. Hedges and some other settlers had actually made their entries and had their papers. The land office was only kept open about fifteen days and then for no known reason was suddenly closed but the settlers felt safe. The Drifting Goose reservation had never been heard of. Then the speculators went to Washington where by means of lying and corrupt influences President Hayes as a measure of justice was persuaded to set apart the three townships in question as the Drifting Goose reservation. This meant the loss to the squat- ters of their homes and the subsequent gain of the land grabhers, as, when it suited their purposes, they would have had the reservation released and so come into its possession. Mr.

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Hedges heard of the success of the scheme of the land agents and immediately started out to secure the rights of the settlers. He went on horseback to every settler from Sand Lake to Belcher's Ford although they lived from four to ten miles apart along the river, and secured all of their signatures. He was in the saddle eight days and the thermometer was below zero at home. It was in the winter and if he had missed any dugout he would without doubt have wandered about the plains until frozen to death, as there was no track or road of any kind. However, he made the round in safety and after securing the needed signatures the petition was brought before the president of United States, who immediately saw that he had been deceived by the land grabbers and ruled that the settlers had a right to the land upon which they were living, and the reservation was abolished.

Mr. Hedges was married in Dresden, Canada, on the 11th of January, 1858, to Miss Maria Clarke, a daughter of Rev. William and Mary (Fletcher) Clarke, both of whom are deceased and are buried in the cemetery at Dresden, Ontario, Canada. The family is of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Hedges had six children: Dr. Le Roy, a physician of Chi- cago; Albert, who has the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and is likewise a resident of the Windy city; Henry, a civil engineer of Chicago; two who died in infancy; and a daughter, Rebekah, who married Rev. J. F. Walker and died in Grand Junction, Colorado, where she was buried. Mr. and Mrs. Hedges celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1908 and many of their friends came to congratulate them upon fifty years of happy married life.

Mr. Hedges is a member of the Masonic order and in his life exemplifies the high moral principles which are the teachings of the craft. Although not now a resident of South Dakota, he took an active part in the early days in the shaping of the destiny of this state and deserves a place in the record of its history. He lived here when the white settlers were surrounded by danger from prairie fires, from blizzards and from hostile Indians and not only faced the danger bravely, but in some instances was instrumental in averting it. Some idea of the conditions of the times may be gathered from the fact that he had to go eighty miles for his mail. He has now sold his interests in this state, but has city property · in Chicago.

ALEF O. ARNESON.

Alef O. Arneson resides in Opdahl township, Hamlin county, and is a man of prominence and influence in his community. He is thoroughly democratic in manner, unassuming, cordial and kindly, and his sterling traits have won him firm bold upon the genuine regard of his fellow citizens. He was born in Norway. December 26, 1855, a son of Ole and Mary Arneson. The father was a farmer and stonemason and after coming to the new world settled in Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1864. After the removal of his son to South Dakota he, too, came to this state in 1882. taking up his abode on the northwest quarter of section 26, Opdahl town- ship. Hamlin county. His wife has passed away, her death having occurred December 4, 1909.

Alef O. Arneson attended the common schools of Norway and of Wisconsin, having been brought to the new world when a lad of about nine years. When fourteen years of age he began working out as a farm hand by the month and was thus employed for eight years. Subsequently he spent some time in different places, being employed for one year in the lumber camps of the upper peninsula of Michigan, for one year in Hammond, Indiana, and for some time in southern Arkansas, whence he made his way to South Dakota, arriving at Huron in June, 1881. He worked for a time in Huron, and having friends in Hamlin county, was induced to remove to that locality. Liking the district, he took up his abode within the borders of the county and was later followed by his father. Alef O. Arneson settled on the northwest quarter of section 27. Opdahl township, but has since erected a commodious residence across the road on section 22, where he now lives. Prosperity has attended his efforts as the years have gone on and he has added to his original elaim until he now owns seven hundred and sixty acres. His business affairs have been carefully managed and beside his farm inter- ests he has other investments, being one of the large stockholders of the Central State Bank of Hayti, of which he is now the president. Each forward step in his business life has brought him a broader outlook and wider opportunities and he has carefully utilized the latter with the result that he has gained a place among the most substantial citizens of his district.

ALEF O. ARNESON

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On the 18th of November, 1882, Mr. Arneson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Han- sen, a daughter of Hans Hansen, of lowa county, Wisconsin. Her parents are both living and still make their home in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Arneson have become parents of eight children, as follows: Harry, who wedded Miss Signa Rude of Canada and resides at Wetaski- win, Alberta; Rosa, who is employed as bookkeeper by Marshall Field & Company, of Chicago; Arthur, the assistant cashier for the Central State Bank of Hayti, South Dakota; Mabel, the deceased wife of Theodore Holt. of Hamlin county; Lillie, who gave her hand in marriage to Gilbert Holt, of Hamlin county; and Clarence, Agnes and Fred, at home.

In religious faith Mr. Arneson is a Lutheran and his political belief is that of the repub- lican party. He has held various township and county offices, serving as county commis- sioner for two terms, while in 1890 he represented his district in the state legislature and later became state senator. He was elected to the house and to the senate on the populist ticket, but afterward became identified with the republican party and was reelected to the senate on that ticket. He possesses a most democratie spirit, is approachable and at all times courteous to those who seek an andience with him. His life proves the Emersonian philosophy that "the way to win a friend is to be one." He is widely and favorably known throughout his part of the state and is highly respected for what he has accomplished and the honorable methods by which he has attained his success.

VERNE C. BONESTEEL.

Verne C. Bonesteel, who for three years has filled the position of cashier of the James Valley Bank at Huron, his native city, was born April 23, 1890, a son of C. H. and Mary P. (Davies) Bonesteel, who are natives of Minnesota and New York respectively. Both survive and the father is now the vice president of the James Valley Bank, being well known as one of the leading representatives of financial interests in Huron.

Appreciating the value of educational training. Verne C. Bonesteel supplemented his public-school course in Huron by study in the University of Wisconsin, from which he was graduated with the class of 1912. He then returned to his native eity and at once entered the bank in which he has since occupied the position of cashier. He has made it his purpose to thoroughly acquaint himself with the business of the bank in all of its departments and by concentrating his energies upon his duties he is contributing to the success of the insti- tution and is regarded as a popular bank official, being always courteous and obliging in his treatment of the bank patrons and faithful to the interests of the institution.

On the 18th of November, 1914, Mr. Bonesteel was married to Miss Laura L. Schoenert, of Huron, who was born in April, 1890, a daughter of Martin and Anna (Ritchie) Schoenert. Mr. Bonesteel is affiliated with the Masonic and Elks lodges and while at the University of Wisconsin became a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. In politics he is an independent republican, advocating party principles yet not bound by party ties when his judgment sane- tions another course. He is a member of the First Congregational church of Madison. Wis- consin, but is acting as organist in the First Presbyterian church of Huron. He possesses con- siderable musical talent and is now director of the Huron band. His activities and interests along all these lines make him a popular and well known citizen.

E. WATERBURY.

Since 1889 E. Waterbury has been a grain buyer at Mellette and in the intervening years his business has proven an excellent market for the grain raisers of Spink county and adjoining districts. Handling the crops intelligently, he has been able to win a substan- tial measure of success in his dealings and has been an investor in farm property, owning today three hundred and twenty acres of valuable farm land, which is the visible evidence of a life of well directed energy and thrift.

Mr. Waterbury was born in Jefferson, Wisconsin, April 23, 1860, and comes of a family of English descent. His ancestors were among the Puritans who early settled here, repre-

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sentatives of the name being found on this side of the Atlantic long before the Revolutionary war. His father, Nelson Waterbury, upon leaving the east, went with his family to Jeffer- son, Wisconsin, where he became stationary engineer for the Jefferson Manufacturing Con- pany. In 1874 he purchased a farm in Clark county which was covered with timber. He performed the difficult task of cutting away the trees, grubbing up the stumps and burn- ing the brush and when his land was cleared he put in his crops and ultimately developed a good farm. Year after year be diligently pursued the task to which he had set himself and his labors won their just reward in a substantial competence. He died in February, 1907, at the age of eighty-four years and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Pedrick, survived only until June of that year, passing away at the age of eighty-one, their graves being made in the cemetery at Loyal, Wisconsin. They had reared a family of three sons and two daughters, namely: W. F., who carries on farming in Mellette township, Spink county, South Dakota; A. F., a mine operator at Encampment, Wyoming; E. Waterbury of this review; Theada, the widow of W. W. Lyons and a resident of Loyal, Wisconsin; and Lina, the wife of James Vancamp, residing at Park Falls, Wisconsin.

E. Waterbury began his education in the schools of Jefferson, Wisconsin, and continued his studies in Loyal after the family took up their abode in that town. His textbooks were put aside, however, when he reached the age of sixteen years, for he was ambitious to start out on his own account. He worked in the lumber camps in the winter seasons and in the summer months was employed at farm labor, his time being thus passed until he reached his majority. He then came to South Dakota and filed on a homestead in Mellette town- ship, which farm he still owns, it having now been in bis possession for a third of a cen- tury. He set to work diligently to increase his holdings and from time to time bas added to his property until he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of well improved land, part of which is devoted to the production of crops, while still other tracts serve as pasture land for his stock. At the present time, however, he rents the place and is now concentrating his energies upon the grain trade. In 1889 he began buying grain at Mellette and his business has grown year by year until it is now one of large and gratifying proportions.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 104

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