History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 106

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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JOSEPH W. APPLEGATE.

Joseph W. Applegate, police judge of Edgemont, was born in New York city on the 18th of November, 1862, a son of Thomas and Charlotte O. (Lewis) Applegate, both of whom were born in County Kerry, Ireland. They were married in their native land and in the late '40s or early '50s emigrated to the United States. For a time the father engaged in any work that would enable him to earn an honest living, but at length accumulated sufficient funds to embark in the mercantile business in New York city. About 1881 he sold out and went to New Jersey, but later returned to New York, where he died in 1883. His wife passed away two years later.

Joseph W. Applegate attended the public schools of New York city, a convent school there and also a convent school and the public schools in Lancaster, Ohio, and completed his education by study in Marietta College at Marietta, Ohio. From the time that he was twelve years of age he has practically earned his own living. He paid his way through school by selling different articles and gained much knowledge of actual business conditions through that early experience. The last season that he attended school in Lancaster, Ohio, he played professional baseball, being a member of the Lima (Ohio) Ball Club. After receiving his diploma he accepted a position in the employ of J. Ury, a dry-goods merchant of Lima, Ohio, with whom he remained for a year and then traveled for the George A. Bailey Company of Philadelphia. He devoted his spare time to the study of law and has at various times found his legal knowledge of practical benefit. For some time he managed his brother-in-law's store at Lima, Ohio, which was known as the Ninety-nine Cent Store, but in 1885 came to South Dakota, locating at Deadwood in the spring of that year. He secured a position in a dry-goods store, but was later employed by J. K. P. Miller in the wholesale grocery business. In time Mr. Applegate hecame a partner in a branch store, which carried general merchandise, at the tin camp, now known as Keystone. He remained there from November, 1886, until April, 1887, when the camp was discontinued, and he went to Rapid City. From 1887 until 1889 he was in the employ of Jolin R. Brennan, who conducted the Hotel Harney. Mr. Applegate next worked on the Rapid City Journal for about a year, but at the end of that time removed to Hot Springs, where he became connected with Crane Brothers, merchants. Subsequently he turned his attention to the restaurant business and when he was burned out in 1903 assumed charge of the Palace Hotel, which he conducted for a year. He then managed the Union Hotel for a year, at the end of which time he purchased a grocery in Hot Springs.

In the spring of 1907 he disposed of his interests and removed to Edgemont and was for a year in the dry-goods department of A. J. Colgan's store. At the end of that time he was elected police judge and the following spring assumed the duties of that position. While serving in that position he practiced law for six years. He was appointed to the office a

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second time after a closely contested campaign and on the 8th of May, 1914, was appointed the third time. He is making an excellent record in the position and much commendation is expressed for the impartiality and sound judgment which he displays in the discharge of his duties.

Mr. Applegate was married on the 19th of November, 1889, to Miss Mary Colgan, a native . of Iowa, and they have three children: Joseph Darrell, assistant postmaster of Edgemont, who was born August 1, 1894; Margaret Veronica, whose birth occurred on the 4th of Sep- tember, 1899, and who is attending the Sisters Academy at Alliance, Nebraska; and Leo Grattan, horn June 25, 1902, who is attending school.

Mr. Applegate is a democrat and has been very active in local party ranks. He is at present serving as postmaster of Edgemont, taking office on the 3d of June, 1914. In 1888 he was city assessor of Rapid City and while living there also served on the school board. He was for four years president of the school board of Hot Springs, for ten years was justice of the peace of Fall River county, and for one year was chairman of the school board of Burton district. No. 11. His service as police judge of Edgemont covers six years and in all of his official capacities he has proved able and conscientious. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church and he is a member of the Holy Name Society. His has been a varied life and he has resided in many places, but in all of the communities in which he has lived he has made friends and won the respect of his fellow citizens.

JOHN A. BOLAND.

Among the efficient and representative business men of Keystone, Pennington county, is John A. Boland, who carries the largest and most complete grocery stock in that city and who is connected with a number of local enterprises. He was born at Rapid City, South Dakota, on the 2d of May, 1884, a son of Abram C. and Catharine (Green) Boland. His father, who was born in Renfrew county, Ontario, Canada. on the 22d of October, 1838, grew to manhood in the Dominion and until he was thirty years of age was a lumber foreman. He then removed to Wingham, Ontario, and there engaged in the hotel business. After five years he turned his attention to the grain business and also dealt in real estate at Wing- ham and Blythe until 1877, when he came to the states and joined his brother, George C. Boland, who was conducting a stage station and road house and resided at Buffalo Gap. That fall Abram C. Boland returned to Canada but the following year removed with his family to Buffalo Gap and engaged in the stock business there until 1880. He then removed to Rapid City and turned his attention to the feed business and to dealing in real estate. He erected a number of buildings at Rapid City and also operated in several other towns in the Hills. He and Jacob Lambert erected the first grist mill at Rapid City and he also put up the first brick building in that city and had much to do with its material growth and development. He continued to deal in real estate and also engaged in ranching until 1901, when he removed to Keystone, after which he entered the flour, feed and lumber business. At that time he had partially disposed of his Rapid City holdings and he finally closed out his interests there entirely in 1910, in which year he was appointed superintendent of Wind Cave National Park near Hot Springs, South Dakota. He continued in that position until his demise, which occurred suddenly on the 13th of June, 1912, as the result of heart failure.

In addition to the interests already mentioned Mr. Boland was connected with a num- ber of mining ventures and during the many years that he resided in the Hills country he was well known and took an active part in the development of the region. In 1880 he was appointed deputy United States marshal and served in that important office for four years, making an excellent record in the preservation of law and order and the apprehension of criminals. In the early '90s he was elected county commissioner and again filled that office from 1904 to 1908, serving altogether for six years in that position. In 1894 he was elected to the state legislature on the republican ticket and proved an able and capable member of the legislative body. He was one of the leaders of his party in South Dakota and attended the first state convention held in South Dakota and also the last one before his demise. He was married in Wingham, Ontario, Canada, to Miss Catharine Green, who was born in

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County Clare, Ireland, on the 26th of August, 1850. She is still living and makes her home at Rapid City. To their union were born eight children, of whom our subject was the seventh in order of birth.

John A. Boland attended the Rapid City high school and was later a student in the School of Mines of Rapid City. When eighteen years of age he began his business career, engaging in the feed and flour business at Keystone. The following year, however, he hecame his father's partner in the lumber business and a year later again entered school, devoting two years to study, graduating from the Lincoln Business College of Lincoln, Nebraska. At the end of that time he engaged in the flour, feed and grocery business and has built up an excellent patronage and has gained a reputation for fair dealing that insures the continuance of his success as a merchant. He carries the largest grocery stock in Key- stone and spares no pains to meet the demands of his customers. He also has a good trade in flour and feed and he likewise has a number of other interests, being a stockholder in the Columbia Mining Company and owning a sawmill at Keystone and a valuable tract of timber land.

Mr. Boland is a republican and although he has never desired to hold political office he was for seven years a member of the school board and was reelected in June, 1915, to serve another three years' term. He has always taken a keen interest in the welfare of the public schools. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church and its teachings guide his life. Fraternally he belongs to Mount Aetna Lodge, No. 128, A. F. & A. M., and the Elks lodge at Rapid City. He is one of the shrewd, energetic and successful business men of Keystone and in building up his trade has at the same time contributed to the commercial growth of his city. All who know him respect him for his ability and integrity and there are many who hold him in high regard.

On September 2, 1915, at Buffalo Gap, South Dakota, Mr. Boland was married to Miss Ethel Winne, of Shoshoni, Wyoming, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Winne, who were early residents of the Black Hills, living at Hill City, South Dakota, and near Buffalo Gap, South Dakota.

GUST M. GUNDERSON.

Gust M. Gunderson, who carries on general agricultural pursuits in Minnehaha county, devoting his attention to both tilling the soil and stock-raising, was born on the 22d of February, 1876, on the old home farm on section 25, Lyons township, his parents being Martin and Bertha Gunderson. His father was one of the pioneers who came to South Dakota from Minnesota, in which state he had located in 1868. He did not remain very long, however, for in the following year he crossed the border and became a resident of Minnehaha county, where he homesteaded and afterward purchased a quarter section of land from his sister. With characteristic energy he began the development of the tract and year after year continued actively in farm work until 1900, when he leased the farm for five years. At the end of that time his son G. M. Gunderson took charge of the property and the father and mother are now living in the state of Washington.

G. M. Gunderson is one of a family of three children. He was educated in the publie schools near the old home and was early trained to the work of the farm, assisting his father through the periods of vacation in all of the work incident to the cultivation of the fields and the care of the crops. His thorough early training now stands him in good stead. He carries on his agricultural interests along the most modern and progressive lines and his place is one of the attractive features of the landscape because of the many modern improve- ments he has put upon it and the excellent appearance of the fields. He uses thoroughly up-to-date farm machinery and his home shows the result of intelligent care and management. In addition to raising the erops best adapted to soil and climate he is also engaged in stock- raising and now has twelve horses, twenty-two head of cattle and one hundred head of hogs.

On the 21st of October, 1911, Mr. Gunderson was united in marriage to Miss Martha Sundt, a daughter of Johan and Ingeborg Sundt, who in 1889 left Europe and sailed for the new world, settling in South Dakota, where they still make their home. Mr. and Mrs. Gunderson have one child, Morris Bennett.

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Mr. and Mrs. Gunderson hold membership in the Lutheran church and are interested in the moral progress of the community. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for six years he served as clerk of the town. He greatly enjoys fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation. He is one of the native sons of South Dakota and is deeply inter- ested in everything pertaining to his state and its advancement along progressive lines. He closely studies the opportunities of the agriculturist, has investigated the nature of the soil and has planned the best methods for crop production. His work is attended with excel- lent results and he is doing much to further South Dakota's reputation as a splendid agri- cultural state.

JOHN W. POWELL, M. D.

Dr. John W. Powell is a well known physician of Turton and has built up a large and lucrative practice. He was born at French Lick Springs, Indiana, on the 10th of January, 1875, and is a son of John J. and Rebecca (Moore) Powell, who are still residing there. The family is of French and German descent and the parents of our subject were among the pioneers of the Hoosier state.

Dr. Powell acquired his elementary and secondary education at French Lick Springs and made further preparation for his life work by attending the State University of Indiana at Bloomington. He next matriculated in the Kentucky School of Medicine, from which he was graduated when twenty-six years of age. He removed to Turton and began the practice of his profession, in which he has been markedly successful. Although he has a large and rep- resentative practice he does not confine his attention to that exclusively as he also conducts a drug store.

Dr. Powell was married at Turton on the 1st of August, 1906, to Miss Mary Norton, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Norton, of St. Paul, Minnesota. The Doctor is a republican as he believes in the principles of that party. His religions faith is that of the Roman Cath- olic church. Fraternally he belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Yeomen. Along strictly professional lines he is identified with the Aberdeen Medical Society. He made thorough preparation for his profession, is constantly studying to increase his knowledge and is most conscientious in his practice and it is but natural that he has the confidence of both the general public and his colleagues. As a citizen he is progressive and public spirited and his cooperation has been given to many worthy movements.

ANDREW BEVERIDGE.

Andrew Beveridge, a prominent figure in real-estate circles in Sioux Falls, has reached the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten but is a most vigorous, active man-a force in the business circles in which he moves. He was born in West Hebron, Washington county, New York, December 2, 1844. and was seven years of age when he went with his family to Illinois, settling in De Kalb. The family home was eighteen miles west of the terminus of the railroad and pioneer conditions prevailed there. Again he became identified with frontier life when in 1884 he took up his abode in Sioux Falls, which at that time was a small town.

In the meantime Andrew Beveridge had pursued a public-school education in Illinois and had completed a course in Monmouth College by graduation with the class of 1865. Only ten members of that class still survive and they are now widely scattered, being found in various parts of the world. Before his college course was completed, however, Mr. Beveridge rendered military aid to his country, joining Company A, of the One Hundred and Thirty- eighth Illinois Infantry, in 1864. when a youth of nineteen years. He served with that eom- mand for six months and then at the close of the war returned to his home.

In 1873 Mr. Beveridge was united in marriage to Miss Myra E. Dewey, who was born in Lenox, Berkshire county, Massachusetts. They had three children, of whom two are

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living: Max F., who is connected with the Cadillac Sales Company at Sioux Falls; and Mrs. H. Marshall, who also resides at Sioux Falls and who has three children, Bertram Butler, Clifford and Andrew Donald.

Mr. Beveridge takes much interest in politics and served as chairman of the democratic central committee for a number of years. He has been a resident of Sioux Falls for thirty- one years. He is now actively engaged in the real-estate business and his enterprise and energy are factors in his substantial success. He has thoroughly acquainted himself with realty values, knows the property that is upon the market and as the years have gone on has so directed his labors as to gain a gratifying prosperity. Moreover, the integrity of his business methods is unassailable and he is accorded the high regard and goodwill of those with whom he comes in contact through business or social relations.

LEWIS ELSON WHITCHER.

Lewis Elson Whitcher, postmaster at Highmore and known there as a substantial, worthy and valued citizen, was born in Wentworth, New Hampshire, August 24, 1858, a son of Lyman P. and Betsy H. (Emerton) Whitcher. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, was also born in Wentworth, as was the grandfather. The family is of English lineage and during the early period in the colonial development of the country was founded in Massachu- setts. The name has been spelled Whicher, Whittier, Whitaker and in various other ways and representatives of the family were related to the poet, John Greenleaf Whittier. The Emerton family comes of Scotch and Welsh ancestry and was also founded in Massachusetts during its early colonization. Ancestors on both sides took part in the colonial and Revolutionary wars.

Lewis E. Whitcher was educated at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, heing graduated from the Kimball Union Academy with the class of 1878. For two or three years he worked in a machine shop and also followed other vocations. He next entered the law office of Pike & Parsons, of Franklin, New Hampshire, and read the same books that Daniel Webster read, Mr. Pike having purchased the Webster library. Some of these books are now in the possession of Mr. Whitcher. For two years he remained in the office of Pike & Parsons and in September, 1882, came to Dakota territory, settling at Yankton. His first work was copying the proceedings of the eity council in the proper record book from the press records published in the Press & Dakotan, of which Mr. Kingsbury was the editor, but after a short time he entered the law office of S. H. Gruber and two months later was admitted to the bar before Judge Edgerton. Not long afterward he removed to Highmore, Hyde county, and began the practice of law. He also filed on land at Holabird, securing three hundred and twenty acres. He continued in the practice of law, however, largely devoting his attention to land law, and in 1892 became editor and owner of the Highmore Herald, which he continued to publish for two years, when he sold out.

In 1892 Mr. Whitcher was on the state democratic tieket for United States congressman and in 1889 he became a candidate for member of the state senate, but his party was in the minority. He took an active part in the Ceveland campaign of 1892 and for about eighteen years has been a member of the state democratie committee, in which connection he has done effective work in promoting the interests of democracy in this state. In 1896 he was appointed to fill out an unexpired term as receiver of the land office at Mitchell and when he had retired from that position he took charge of the Mitchell Gazette, which he published for about two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Highmore and resumed the practice of law, in which he is still engaged. He has conducted about twenty-one hundred lawsuits and made seventy-five hundred collections during his practice in Highmore, which indicates that he has been accorded a liberal clientage and has been successful in the con- duct of his practice. His official service also covers ten years as city attorney of Highmore, in which time the waterworks and sewer systems were installed, the city hall and the depot were built and about fifteen miles of eement sidewalk were laid. There was also a marked improvement made in the town in the way of cleanliness and improved sanitary conditions. Fire alarms were established and an ordinance passed permitting the erection of fireproof buildings only, and in all of this work Mr. Whitcher was a leading factor. Since taking his

LEWIS E. WHITCHER

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present position he has secured new fixtures for the postoffice and Highmore today has one of the best postoffices in the United States, due entirely to Mr. Whitcher. It is said of him that whatever he goes after he gets and the reason is that he never goes after anything that is not right. Such is the reputation which he bears among his fellow townsmen, who entertain for him high regard and are appreciative of his many sterling traits of character and the excellent work which he has done in behalf of the public.

On the 6th of June, 1900, Mr. Whitcher was married to Mrs. Etta A. (Frawley) Bowman, of Mitchell. He is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and his family attend the Congregational church. The consensus of publie opinion places Mr. Whiteher in a most creditable position among the business and professional men of his town. They recognize his public spirit and devotion to the general good, for since locating in Highmore he has been an active factor in advancing the welfare of the community.

ARTHUR F. OTTMANN.

Arthur F. Ottmann, the owner of the Oxnard Hotel at Edgemont, Fall River county, was born in Schleswig, Germany, on the 11th of April, 1881, a son of Charles J. and Amelia (Rousch) Ottmann. The father was born at Berlin, Germany, on the 16th of November, 1857, and was given an exceptionally thorough general education. He then completed a course in pharmacy and soon thereafter entered the German navy as an apothecary. Although his term of enlistment was for only two years, he remained in the service for three years, desir- ing to receive additional training. He was connected with the famous Fredrickort Hospital near Kiel for two years and there gained experience that was of great value to him in his profession. In 1888 he emigrated to the United States with his family and they made their way direct to Rapid City, South Dakota, where he was employed in a drug store for about a year. At the end of that time he opened a branch store for his employer at Hill City, which he purchased in 1891. The year 1894 witnessed his arrival at Edgemont, where he established a store, but continued business in Hill City as a branch store for about a year. In 1896 he left Edgemont and removed his stock to Lead, where he was in business until his death, which occurred on the 15th of January, 1912. The store which he established is now conducted by his son, Richard H., under the name of the Ottmann Drug Company. It is one of the best equipped and finest establishments of its kind in the state and has a wide reputation for the care that is taken to secure pure drugs and for the integrity of its busi- ness policy. Charles J. Cttmann also had extensive mining interests in the Black Hills and was financially independent. It was said of him that his kind deeds were almost as numer- ons as the waking hours of a long and busy life and that they were deeds done quietly and forgotten by him as soon as they had accomplished their purpose. He was not only one of the most successful business men of Lead, but his genial personality won him a host of loyal friends. He was married in Germany to Miss Amelia Rousch of Schleswig, who was throughout his most valued counselor and loving companion. They were the parents of four sons. Arthur F., of this review, is the oldest. Richard H. is conducting the drug store at Lead which his father established. Walter F., a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, is a travel- ing salesman for the Mulford Chemical Company and is also general sales manager for the Vegetone Company of Lincoln, Nebraska. Carl R., who resides with his mother at Lead. is the only one of the children born in America, his birthplace being Edgemont, South Dakota. He served as assessor of his native city and proved a capable official. The father was to a very unusual degree an adviser and companion to his sons, their friends became his friends. and he trained them to conform their lives to high standards of morality. A short time before his death he became a communicant of the Roman Catholic church and passed away in that faith.

Arthur F. Ottmann attended school at Edgemont and Hill City and was a student in the Black Hills College at Hot Springs. When sixteen years of age he was employed as a clerk in a general store in Lead and held that position for eight years. At the end of that time he was made cashier and bookkeeper, having demonstrated not only his thorough reliability hut his sound judgment and ability. Not long afterward he left Lead and went Vol. V-39

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 106

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