History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 113

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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Of the ten children of this marriage, Salomon Wenzlaff is the fifth in order of birth. He was born at Alt-Arcis, near Odessa, January 9, 1857, and was in his seventeenth year when the family came to the United States in 1874. He had received liberal educational advantages in Russia, where his father and an unele had spent their lives in teaching in the parochial schools. On reaching Yankton, Salomon Wenzlaff attended the high school and also studied under a private tutor in order to more rapidly master the English lan- gnage. He entered the office of the Dakota Freie Presse, under Charles F. Rossteuscher. and during his apprenticeship thoroughly mastered the business in all of its different phases. He later became associated with his father in the hardware trade and afterward opened a hardware store in Scotland, with a branch store in Tyndall. He not only figured prominently in mercantile circles but was also called to public office and for four years from 1882, acted as treasurer of Bon Homme county. On completing his term he disposed of his two stores and removed to Yankton, where he again became connected with journalism, purchasing of his father in 1886 the Dakota Freie Presse. His father had purchased the paper of G. A. Wetter, to whom it had been sold by its former owner, Mr. Rossteuscher. Salomon Wenzlaff continued to publish the Freie Presse for fifteen years, making it a power among the German speaking people in the northwest. the policy of the paper doing much to shape the political history as well as the general interests of the German-American citizens in that section of the country. The paper was liberally patronized, there being but eleven hundred and eighty names on the subscription list when he took charge, while when he sold in 1901 he had increased the number to as many thousands. His advocacy of republican principles probably did more to hold the Germans of the northwest in alle- giance to tbat party than any other single influence during the years in which he was at the head of the Dakota Freie Presse. In the meantime he bad served as register in the United States land office from 1889 until 1894. On disposing of his printing and publish- ing establishment in 1901 he went to California to recuperate his health, which had become impaired through the stress of business. He had visited the Pacific coast one season before and was so much pleased with the climate and the country that he has since spent every

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winter season in southern California save for one winter passed in Florida. For a few years he remained free from business eares, but indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and he again felt and responded to the call of the business world, purchasing from Fred Beeeher a controlling interest in the bank at Eureka. South Dakota, together with a chain of five other banks in that region. Selling the weakest member of the allied banks, he retained the controlling interest in those at Enreka and Artas, South Dakota, and at Hague and Linton, North Dakota. In 1910 he disposed of these banks to advantage and purchased the Citizens State Bank at Armour, of which he is the president. He makes his home in Yankton but controls his banking interests at Armour and otherwise supervises his invested interests.

In the family of Mr. Wenzlaff are seven children, as follows: Grant S., who is interested in the automobile business in California : Leopold J. C., who is a locomotive engineer on the Great Northern Railroad at Spokane: Edgar G., who completed the high-school course in Yank - ton and became a student in the law department of the University of southern California and now acts as cashier of the Citizens State Bank at Armour. South Dakota; Waldemar, who is a graduate of the high school in Spokane and now acts as cashier of the Farmers Bank at Ken- driek, Idaho; Ruth, who gave her hand in marriage to F. E. Anderson and resides in Lillooet, British Columbia : Solomon Henry, a student in the State University of Illinois at Urbana, Illinois; and William Bradford, who is attending Yankton College, Yankton, South Dakota.

In politics Mr. Wenzlaff has always been an ardent republican and has probably made more addresses and spent more time on the stump in the advocacy of the principles of that party than any other man in the state. He began making campaign speeches in his native county when nineteen years of age and has been active along that line continuously since, doing his share in the last campaign of 1914. Through the columns of the Dakota Freie Presse he also did much to advance republican interests among the German-American population of the state. Through the columns of that paper he sent out words of wisdom which were the outcome of thorough study and investigation and were the expression of an honest belief. He has ever been fearless in support of his convictions and his clear reasoning has made strong appeal to the minds of his readers. Mr. Wenzlaff was reared in the Lutheran faith, but after the family removed to Yankton they beeame identified with the Congregational church. While it seemed a hardship that the Germans in Russia must leave that land and the possessions which they had there acquired, what then appeared to be a misfortune has turned out to be a blessing. Seeking homes in America. the land of opportunity, many of those German emi- grants have here attained wealth and position and some of them have won fame. They have contributed much to the citizenship of the localities in which they have lived and Yankton county owes not a little to the efforts of the Wenzlaff family and to him whose name intro- duees this review. Business affairs have been carefully handled by him and energy and enter- prise have brought him to the goal of success. In all of his business he has followed constructive methods and his efforts have been an element in publie progress as well as indi- vidual advancement.

FRANK A. GIRA.

Frank A. Gira, of Custer, Custer county, has met with marked suecess as a grower of fruit and has proved that fruit raising may be profitably followed in this state. He was born at Milan, Ohio, October 4. 1860, a son of John and Clara (Burwick) Gira. Both parents were born in what is now Alsace, Germany, the father in 1808 and the mother about 1816. They were married in Germany but emigrated to America and settled in Ohio in the early days in the history of that state. The father beeame a landowner and followed agri- eultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1882. His widow survived for eleven years, dying in 1893. They were the parents of ten ehildren, of whom Frank A. Gira is the seventh in order of birth.

The last named attended school in Milan, Ohio, but at the age of fourteen years began his business eareer, finding employment in a hardware store at Monroeville, Ohio. While there he also learned the tinner's trade but when twenty-one years of age opened a hardware store of his own at Lorain, Ohio, where he continued for three years. At the end of that

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time he went to Cleveland and entered the employ of a firm as manager of a store at Chagrin Falls, Ohio, owned by that firm. He conducted that store until the fall of 1897, when he removed to the Black Hills and located at Custer. He engaged in prospecting and mining at Spokane, South Dakota, and became connected with the Crown Hill Mining Company. Later he invested in the Clara Belle, the White Cloud and other mines and is still financially interested in a number of mining enterprises. He was one of the first in the Black Hills to attempt fruit raising on a large scale and now has one of the finest and best equipped fruit ranches in the Black Hills country. He has succeeded in preventing his trees from bloom- ing too early in the season by banking them with ice and in this way saves his blossoms from being frosted by a cold snap and his trees yield a good crop annually. He also gives much time to assisting his sons, who have an excellent stock ranch and breed Hereford cattle.

Mr. Gira was married on the 5th of October, 1886, to Miss Julia Keating, who was born in Sandusky, Ohio. Her father died when she was but a child hut her mother survived for many years. She resided for some time with Mr. and Mrs. Gira but eventually returned to Sandusky, Ohio, where her death occurred. Mr. and Mrs. Gira have two sons. Bernard A., who was born September 15, 1887, is a rancher and resides in Limestone, South Dakota. Sylvester, whose birth occurred on the 19th of July, 1892, is associated with his brother in the conduct of the stock ranch. They now have about thirty head of high grade Hereford cattle and intend to raise that breed exclusively. Their ranch comprises three hundred and twenty acres, which is fully equipped for stock-raising, and in the spring of 1915 they planted fifty acres of oats. They are energetic and progressive and there is no doubt that they will meet with gratifying success in their undertaking.

Mr. Gira of this review is independent in politics and has always refused nomination for publie office. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church and his life is guided by the highest moral principles. He has been unusually successful as a fruit raiser and has also found his mining ventures profitable. He is at present manager of the Cuyahoga Mining Company, which operates near Keystone and which he organized among his eastern friends. All those who know him not only respect him for his business ability but also honor him for his integrity and probity.

JOSEPH FERNAND MARCOUX.

Idleness and indolence are utterly foreign to the nature of Joseph Fernand Marcoux, who by reason of his intelligently directed efforts has gained a creditable and enviable posi- tion in the business circles of Hot Springs, where he is now conducting an undertaking estab- lishment and also engages in the sale of art goods and does picture framing. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 16, 1888, a son of Joseph Louis and Marie Louise (St. Hilaire) Marcoux, both of whom were natives of Quebec, Canada. The father, who was born March 25, 1857, engaged in manufacturing shoes in early life, later was a salesman and after- ward established a retail shoe store in Montreal. On first leaving Canada he made his way to Deadwood, South Dakota, in the year 1876. For about eighteen months he was a clerk in the store of P. A. Gushart, after which he returned to Montreal, where he engaged in the shoe business on his own account, as above stated. About two years later he went to Providence, Rhode Island, where he was connected with the shoe business for a few years. Removing westward to Minneapolis, he was in the employ of the North Star Shoe Company for some time and then opened a retail business with his father under the name of the J. L. Marcoux Shoe Company. At a later date the grandfather of Joseph F. Marcoux sold out to a Mr. Lafayette and the firm name of the Marcoux, Lafayette Company was then assumed. That connection was continued until about 1890, when Joseph L. Marcoux went to Butte, Montana, where he opened a shoe store. He also was engaged in the shoe business in Helena until the panie of 1893 and in the spring of that year removed to Lead, South Dakota, where he opened a furniture and undertaking business, operating along those lines until 1906. when he established a furniture store in Hot Springs. In 1908 he disposed of his interests in Lead, where the business is now being conducted by J. J. Mead. He was continuously in busi-

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ness at Hot Springs from 1906 until a recent date, when he retired because of impaired health. He also has mining interests in the Black Hills, in the Yellow Creek and Straw- berry districts, and he is the owner of real estate in Lead and Hot Springs and is a stockholder in the Peoples National Bank.

In the Marcoux family are three children: Antoinette, now the wife of G. G. Killinger, of Hot Springs, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Stella L., the wife of B. J. Webster, a resident of Hot Springs, who is engaged in the grocery business at Buffalo Gap and is also connected with the Wausmer Fruit Company at Deadwood; and Joseph Fernand.

The last named, who is the youngest in the family, supplemented his high-school studies, pursued at Lead, by a course in St. Viateur College at Kankakee, Illinois, and completed his classical studies at St. Thomas' College in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was about eighteen years of age when he took up the business of undertaking, in which he became very proficient, being licensed at the early age of twenty-one years. He then began business at Lead. He was associated with his father and the relation was main- tained until the latter's retirement. He now has a well appointed undertaking estab- lishment in Hot Springs and in addition carries a line of art goods and engages in picture framing. He devotes his entire time to the business and never allows outside interests to interfere with his activities in that connection.

Mr. Marcoux is a Catholic in religious faith, belongs to the Knights of Columbus and is a generous contributor to the church work. In politics he is a stalwart republican. He has been carefully trained for the business in which he engages and his experience has well qualified him to continue in that field, in which he is meeting with substantial and gratifying snecess.

ALBERT ANDERSON.

It requires special ability to be a successful hotel proprietor. In addition to the business qualifications necessary in conducting the financial interests there must be tact, patience and courtesy manifested in contact with patrons and an unfailing good humor which will smooth out all unpleasantness. Possessing all of these requisite qualifica- tions, Albert Anderson has made for himself a most creditable name and place as a popu- lar hotel man of the northwest and is today proprietor of the Hotel Albert of Sioux Falls, a most modern hostelry which would be a credit to a city of much larger size. He was born near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, January 23, 1872, his parents being Paul G. and Anna Anderson. The family afterward removed to lowa in 1879, settling in Forest City, where Albert Anderson acquired his early education in the common schools. He was one of a family of several children, having four brothers: Bliss, now living in Marshalltown, Iowa; Victor, a hotel man of Detroit, Minnesota; Stanley, who is located in Burlington, Iowa; and Edward, located at Detroit, Minnesota. The father was well known for a number of years as a hotel proprietor at Sioux Falls, in which city he passed away in 1908.

Albert Anderson entered the workaday world when he joined his father in the conduct of a general mercantile business at Forest City, Iowa. They afterward erected the Hotel Anderson at Mason City, Iowa. also Hotel Anderson at Forest City, Iowa, and Albert remained there for a year. Later he worked in the capacity of chef in hotels thronghont the United States, including Chicago, New York and San Francisco. In 1907 he joined his father, who had established the Anderson Hotel at Sioux Falls, and purchased an interest in the business. He also ran the Teton Hotel for five years and built Hotel Albert, which was opened on the 1st of Jannary, 1913. This hostelry contains eighty rooms, fifty with bath, is of fireproof construction and strictly modern in all of its equipments and accessories. It is situated at the corner of Sixth and Phillips streets and already the patronage has become of such extent that Mr. Anderson is planning to enlarge it. He has introduced new ideas for the comfort of his guests and broad experience and capa- bility have made him one of the well known hotel men of this section of the country.

When in San Francisco, in 1900, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Natalie Peterson and they have three children: Edna and Harold, aged respectively twelve and

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ten years and now in school in Sioux Falls; and Dorothy, three years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are prominent socially and have a wide circle of friends in the city in which they now make their home.

VERNE CLIFFORD OLANDER.

Verne Clifford Olander, a successful young agriculturist residing on section 11, Split Rock township, Minnehaha county, is busily engaged in the management of the family homestead. His birth occurred thereon, April 24, 1889, his parents being Charles and Hiha (Bowman) Olander, both of whom were natives of Sweden, the former born in Stockholm. They emigrated to the United States as young man and young woman, Charles Olander sail- ing in 1867 or 1868 and Miss Bowman in 1869. The father of our subject found employment in the mines at Marquette, Michigan, and was there married. In 1871 he removed to Minne- haha county, South Dakota, and in the same year homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 11, Split Rock township, also taking up an eighty-acre tree claim in that township. There he successfully carried on agricultural pursuits until the time of his death in 1910, at the age of sixty-five, after a residence of almost four decades in Minnehaha county. His widow still resides on the homestead with her son Verne and is well known and highly esteemed throughout the community.

Verne C. Olander acquired his early education in the common schools and continued his studies for one year in the high school at Rock Rapids, Iowa. Subsequently he spent three years as a student in the Gustavus Adolphns College at St. Peter, Minnesota. from which he was graduated with the class of 1908. He then followed the profession of teaching for a year, but subsequently turned bis attention to agricultural pursuits and during the past three years has operated the home farm, which embraces an entire section of land in Split Rock township and is all under his management. Mr. Olander makes a specialty of the stock business, raising shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. In the conduct of his agricultural interests he has displayed excellent business ability and has won a measure of success that entitles him to recognition among the substantial and representative young citizens of his native county. Fraternally be is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Valley Springs Lodge, while his religious faith is indicated by bis membership in the Swedish Lutheran church. He has already won a gratifying measure of prosperity for one of his years and his many friends feel that a bright future lies before him.

CHARLES E. RUBERT.

Charles E. Rubert is the owner of the Clear View Stock Farm of Sanborn county. He made his first visit to the county in 1880 and for thirty-five years has been continuously con- nected with the work of progress and improvement along agricultural lines. He was born in Fayette county, Iowa, September 5, 1857. His father, John S. Rubert, was a native of New York and in early manhood went to Michigan, where, in 1855, he purchased state land -. He afterward became a resident of Fayette county, Iowa, and subsequently removed to San- born county, South Dakota, establishing his home among the early pioneer settlers and becoming in the course of years one of the county's wealthy and influential citizens. He con- tinned to reside in Sanborn county to the time of his death, which occurred in 1909 when he had reached the age of eighty years. He was married in Michigan to Miss Jane Mead. who became the mother of five children: Mary Theresa. now deceased; Charles E., of this review ; Benjamin E., of Los Angeles, California; Irvin T .: and Irene.

Charles E. Rubert pursued his education in the graded and high schools of Claremont. Iowa, and in 1880, when a young man of abont twenty-three years, be made a trip to San- born county, Dakota territory, where he filed on a homestead and tree claims. The following year he returned and took up his permanent abode in this county and has since added to his original holdings until he now has seven hundred and eighty acres of highly improved land,

MR. AND MRS. CHARLES OLANDER

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constituting one of the finest farm properties in his section of the state. His place, the Clear View Stock Farm, is so named because of the remarkable clearness of the view for miles in every direction, embracing a wonderful panorama of fertile fields and grazing lands. Mr. Rubert is owner of one of the state's finest herds of registered Hereford cattle and is extensively engaged in the breeding business, and his farming operations are carried on according to the latest improved methods.

On the 16th of February, 1882, Mr. Rubert was united in marriage at Independence, Iowa, to Miss Alice Pringle, a daughter of George W. and Jennie (Limberner) Pringle, the father a native of England and the mother of Connecticut. Mr. and Mrs. Rubert have become the parents of six children: Vietor M., of Evansville, Indiana; Leigh H., a resident of Fall River county, South Dakota; Nathan J., deceased; Amy Jane; Frank F .; and Madge Lois.

In his political views Mr. Rubert is a democrat and keeps well informed on the ques- tions and issues of the day, but easts an independent local ballot, considering the capability of the candidate for the duties of the office rather than his strict allegiance to party. He has been called to local office in recognition of his publie spirit and as a member of the township board and as township supervisor has bent his energies toward furthering every progressive movement, strongly supporting the cause of good roads and of good schools. He has also found time to take an active interest in and advocates all helpful outdoor sports. Close application, economy, progressive methods and good business judgment have been the causes of his success. His plans have been carefully formulated and promptly executed and his record indicates that prosperity and an honored name may be won simultaneously.

ELMER N. JOHNSON.

Elmer N. Johnson, one of the enterprising agriculturists and foremost citizens of his community, owns and operates a farm of one hundred and twenty aeres on section 10, Benton township, Minnehaha county. He was born in that township on the 14th of July, 1878, and has continuously resided there from his birth to the present time. His father is Carl Johnson, one of the leading agriculturists and representative citizens of Benton township. He was reared at home and in the acquirement of an education attended the common schools. After putting aside his textbooks be assisted his father in the opera- tion of the home farm until the time of his marriage, when he took up his abode on a tract of one hundred and twenty acres on section 10. Benton township, and erected the necessary buildings. The cultivation of this property has elaimed his attention continu- ously since and in the capable management of his farming interests he is meeting with well deserved and gratifying success. He is likewise a stockholder, a member of the board of directors and vice president of the Crooks Lumber Company.

On the 28th of October, 1909, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Emma S. Anderson, a native of Benton township, Minnehaha county, and a daughter of Nels Ander- son, who is deceased. To them have been born two children, Carl E. N. and Olive J. A. Mr. Johnson gives his political allegiance to the republican party, and both he and his wife are devoted members of the Swedish Lutheran church. They have spent their entire lives in the community where they now reside and enjoy a very extensive and most favor- able acquaintance.

FRED DICKSON JEWETT.

Among the younger generation of business men in Sioux Falls whose energy, enter- prise and ability make them powerful forces in progress is numbered Fred Dickson Jewett, connected with the wholesale grocery firm of Jewett Brothers & Jewett. He was born in Newark, Ohio, November 29, 1880, and is a son of David Clinton and Olive A. (Diekson) Jewett, who came to Sioux Falls in 1889. The Jewett family is one of the oldest in the United States and enjoys the distinction of being an incorporated concern under the name of the Jewett Family of America. The genealogy traces the ancestry beyond the time

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of the Jewett advent into America in 1638, when Joseph and Maximilian Jewett, two sons of Edward Jewett of England, settled in Rowley, Massachusetts. From them have sprung ten thousand Jewetts, now living in every part of the United States. The family coat of arms was granted many years ago in England, when a member of the family was knighted. Edward Jewett was a clothier in England when clothiers not only sold cloth- ing but also manufactured it, and it is claimed by the Jewetts that their ancestors founded the clothing industry in America, which, as history records, began at Rowley, Massachu- setts. Every two years a family convention is held at Rowley, at which time new officers are elected. George A. Jewett, of Des Moines, lowa, is now president of the corporation.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 113

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