History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 12

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

USA > South Dakota > History of Dakota Territory, volume V > Part 12

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. McDonald was married in 1864 to Mrs. Hegen, a native of Scotland, and they became the parents of two children: Hannah, the wife of Tom Rodgers, of Yankton; and Peter, of Meade county. Mrs. McDonald died and in March, 1874, Mr. McDonald married Miss Kate Monahan, a native of Virginia. To their union seven children have been born: Mary, Julia, Sarsfield, Ellen, Rosa, Charles and Lillie.

Mr. McDonald is a democrat and his religious allegiance is given to the Catholic church. His memory retains clearly the events and happenings of the early days in this state, and his reminiscences of pioneer times are of great value in making real to the present generation the heroic story of the settlement and development of the state.

ERNEST J. STRAW.

Among the well established real-estate men of Lincoln county is Ernest J. Straw, who has maintained an office at Canton for the past fourteen years and receives a liberal share of patronage from investors and homeseekers. He also deals extensively in antomobiles, having now the largest concern of this character in the county, his partner being Ed L. Wendt. Mr. Straw is a native of Manitowoc county, Wisconsin, and was born August 26, 1867, the youngest of three sons, whose parents were Josiah and Joanna (Hann) Straw, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire, the former born in Plymouth, September 15, 1827. They were reared and married in the state of their nativity, and in 1857 removed to Wis- consin, locating in Manitowoc county, where the father engaged in the lumber business. In 1870 he removed with his family to South Dakota, locating on a farm three and a half miles northwest of Canton, and with the conduct of that place he was identified for thirty years, or throughout the remainder of his active business career. He then put aside busi- ness cares to spend his last days in honorable retirement, taking up his abode in the city of Canton, where he passed away on the 29th of March, 1911, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His widow still survives at the very advanced age of eighty-seven years and is now making her home with her son Ernest J. in Canton.

A little lad of but three years when the family home was established here Ernest J. Straw acquired his preliminary education in the distriet schools of Lincoln county. This knowledge was supplemented by a course of study in Augustana College at Canton. After completing his education he engaged in the men's clothing and furnishings business in Canton on his own account, thus spending four years. He next engaged in farming for five years and still owns a valuable tract of three hundred and twenty aeres in Lincoln county, and in addition has four hundred and eighty acres in Hand county. In 1900 he left the farm and removed to Canton where he began handling real estate on his own account, having as his partner Ed L. Wendt. Through perseverance and honorable methods he has developed a lucrative and growing patronage. He has been active in securing substantial improvements which are essential elements in the upbuilding of any community and as his investments have been judieiously placed they have produced gratifying financial returns. In connection with real estate Mr. Straw and his partner also deal extensively in automobiles, selling more cars than any other firm engaged in the business in the county, and he also owns stock in the Farmers Lumber Company. He occupies one of the finest residence properties in Canton.

It was on the 23d of July, 1889, that Mr. Straw led to the marriage altar Miss Luella A. Wendt. a daughter of Ernest Wendt, the pioneer merchant of this section of South Dakota.

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

Mrs. Straw is a charming woman, who presides with gracious hospitality over their pleasant home. Both she and Mr. Straw are members of the Methodist church, in the work of which she is active and she is also deeply interested in all charitable movements. Where national issues are involved, Mr. Straw supports the candidates of the republican party but at local elections votes independently. He is a valued member of the Masonic body, holding mem- bership in Silver Star Lodge, No. 4, at Canton. His recreation lies in motoring, fishing and hunting. He is known as a man of the strictest integrity and his conscientious attention to the wants of his patrons has gained for him an enviable standing in business.

MISS DEMAH DILLEHE.

Miss Demah Dillehe is county superintendent of schools in Meade county and probably the youngest to fill such a position in the state. She was born in a log cabin in Boulder Park, about five miles southeast of Deadwood, a daughter of Andrew and Ausna (Botne) Dillehe. The father's birth occurred in Kansas in 1858 and the mother was born in Norway, February 26, 1868. He came to the Hills about the year 1877, his parents conducting a hotel at Old Crook City. He assisted them in that husiness but later became a sawyer by trade and was thus engaged up to the time of his death. He was killed by the explosion of a boiler in the mill in which he was employed. He made his home upon a timber claim near Deadwood and he was closely associated with the early development of that region. His widow became the wife of Jesse Cox and now resides at Tilford, Meade county. Mr. Cox, now a ranchman, was formerly the owner of extensive sawmill interests and also has large land holdings. There were three children of the first marriage: Edwin, who resides with his mother and follows the occupation of farming; Demah, of this review; and Drucy, assistant county superintendent.

The elder daughter attended school at Tilford until she reached the eighth grade. She afterward became a student in Lead, where she pursued her studies until graduated from the high school with the class of 1907. She took post-graduate work at the State Normal in the years 1908 and 1909 and has devoted her attention to education since that time. She has the first life diploma recorded in Meade county. She accepted a position as teacher in the schools of Whitewood, where she remained for two years and then was at Hill City as principal for one year. At the end of that time she became a candidate for the office of county superintendent of schools and was elected in 1912, taking the office on the 1st of January, 1913. She was reelected in 1914 with a large majority. She is one of the young- est, if not the youngest county superintendent in the state of South Dakota but she is giving execllent satisfaction in this position, being most progressive in her work in relation to the schools, into which she has introduced valuable improvements. She stimulates the interest of teachers and pupils by her own zeal in the work and under her guidance the schools have made rapid advancement. She is well known in the locality in which she lives.

WILLIAM S. DOLAN.

William S. Dolan, of Milbank, is the proprietor and editor of the Grant County Review, which exercises a potent influence in shaping publie opinion in that county. He is a man of affairs and is a leader in various movements seeking the community advancement. He was born in Watertown, Wisconsin, November 29, 1886, a son of Phillip and Anna (Murray) Dolan. His paternal grandfather, William Dolan, was born in Ireland but moved to Wis- consin when that state was still a pioneer district. He had previously been employed in the waterworks in New York city and was quite well-to-do. He became the owner of a farm, which he made one of the valuable properties of his locality. The maternal grandfather, James Murray, was also a native of Ireland and likewise became a pioneer settler of Wis- consin, where he followed agricultural pursuits. Phillip Dolan was born in New York city in 1841 and accompanied his parents to Wisconsin in 1856. Upon reaching mature years he purchased a farm and also entered land from the government in Dodge county, on which

100

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

he resided for fifty-one years. He gained financial independence and is now living retired in Madelia, Minnesota. His wife, who was born, reared and married in. Columbus, Wisconsin, died in 1887. To them were born three children: Mary and Clara, both unmarried; and Wil- liam S., of this review. The father is a democrat in politics and his religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church.

William S. Dolan received his early education in the country schools of Wisconsin, later attended a convent school at Madelia, Minnesota, and prepared for the business world by taking a commercial course in St. Thomas College at St. Paul, graduating tberefrom in 1906. He was employed as a bookkeeper for some time, but in December, 1906, when a young man of twenty years, removed to Milbank, South Dakota, and began to work on the Grant County Review. In 1911 he purchased the paper, which is published weekly and bas a circulation of two thousand. It gives excellent local and general news service and is liberally patronized as an advertising medium by the business men of the county. Mr. Dolan also does a large job printing business, turning out excellent work in that line.

In 1913 Mr. Dolan married Miss Christina Olson, a danghter of O. A. Olson, a farmer residing in Grant county. Mr. Dolan is a leader in local democratic circles and personally and through the medium of his paper has done much to secure the success of his party in Grant county. He belongs to the Woodmen, the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Knights of Columbus, his affiliation with the last two orders indicating his membership in the Roman Catholic church. He understands all phases of newspaper work and has proved not only an excellent editor but a capable business manager. He has thoroughly identified his inter- ests with those of Grant county and Milbank and has been instrumental in securing the progress of his community along a number of lines.

FRANK A. SWEZEY, M. D.

Dr. Frank A. Swezey is engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Wakonda and has won recognition as an able representative of the profession. He was born in lowa February 19, 1871, and is a son of Lewis T. and Emma (Oliver) Swezey, the former born in Rockford, Illinois, July 25, 1840, and the latter in Grant county, Wisconsin, January 13, 1851. The father settled in western Iowa before the period of railroad building in that section of the state and established a lumber yard at Newell, there conducting the business until 1887, when he sold out and removed to Vermillion, Dakota territory. He purchased the old Clay County Bank, reorganized it and continued its management, serving as its president, he and Mr. Barrett being the chief stockholders. After a time the bank was again reorganized into a national bank and Mr. Swezey proved most capable in successfully directing the affairs of the institution, which he supervised until his death, February 5, 1912. He was also identified with the Bank of Wakonda and was one of the prominent and well known financiers of Clay county. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he served on the state board of regents for two years, but could never be called a politician in the sense of office seeking. His wife passed away only a few days before his death. In the family were three children, but Dr. Swezey is the only son. His sisters are: Gertrude, now the wife of Robert Fox, who is engaged in the real-estate, land and loan business in Oklahoma; and Bernice, who is a graduate of the State University at Vermillion and is now engaged in teaching.

Dr. Swezey spent the first sixteen years of his life in his native state and then accom- panied his parents to Dakota territory, where be continued bis education, begun in the public schools of Iowa, in the State University at Vermillion. His professional course was pursued in Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1894. He at once located in Wakonda, where he established an office and has carried on practice as both a physician and surgeon. At the same time he has conducted other business interests of importance. He is a stockholder and one of the directors of the Vermillion National Bank, is the vice president and a stockholder of the Bank of Wakonda and is the owner of several farms in Clay county, which are well improved and highly cultivated. He has a model farm located two miles from Wakonda.

In 1905 Dr. Swezey was united in marriage to Miss Antonia Huelsman, a native of Iowa and a daughter of John Huelsman. They are the parents of one son, Lewis. Dr. Swezey

LEWIS T. SWEZEY

103

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. He is well known in fraternal circles, however, having passed through all of the chairs in the Odd Fellows lodge, while in Masonry he has attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. For twenty- eight years he has been a resident of Clay county and throughout the entire period has borne his part in the work of public progress and improvement, supporting all measures which have had for their object the benefit and welfare of the community.

WILLIAM D. STITES.

William D. Stites has proved a wise and conscientious officer of justice as desk sergeant of Sioux Falls and has succeeded in the difficult task of npholding the dignity of the law and also of making due allowance for circumstances in dealing with the many cases that come before him for trial. He was born in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, on the 12th of September, 1844, a son of George and Martha Stites, the former a contractor of that place. The family removed to Rockford, Illinois, when our subject was ten years old and there the parents continued to reside until their deaths. Mr. Stites was educated in the public schools and in the Rockford high school. At the early age of seventeen years he joined the Eighth Illinois Cavalry and was with the Army of the Potomac from September, 1861, to July, 1865. He was wounded and was afterward made hospital steward of the First Separate Brigade, depart- ment of Washington. He was twice taken prisoner by Moseley and endured all of the hard- ships and privations of war. When peace was concluded and his services were no longer needed in defense of the Union he was mustered out and went to Chicago, where he elerked in a drug store for a year. At the end of that time he removed to Sioux City, Iowa, and became connected with the drug business there, being associated with C. K. Howard and C. Kent.

In 1872 he disposed of his interest in Sioux City and moved to Sioux Falls. He joined his former partner, C. K. Howard, in the formation of a mercantile firm, which conducted a general store in Sionx Falls until 1886. During that time Mr. Stites served as deputy treas- urer for fourteen years and at the time of the admission of the state to the Union he was serving as clerk of the court. His next official preferment came to him when he was elected police justice at the time that the city adopted the commission plan of government. He served in that office for six years and after it was abolished was appointed day desk ser- geant, which position he still holds. The duties of his office demand, in addition to a knowl- edge of the city ordinances and general principles of law, an ability to judge men accurately and to use tact and above all common sense in dealing with them. He has unusual insight into human nature and his nice sense of proportion and practical wisdom enables him to so effectively deal with the offenders that come before him that the number of petty crimes and misdemeanors in the city is kept at a minimum.

Mr. Stites was married in 1868 to Miss Helen Howard, a daughter of Hiram Howard, and they have become the parents of the following children: William H., who died at the age of thirty-three years and who was manager of the Cudahy Packing Plant at Kansas City; Mrs. Grace H. Steensen; Charles K .; Mrs. Faye Hitchcock ; and Stanley. Mr. and Mrs. Stites also have three grandchildren. He is a Protestant and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. He has attained the thirty-second degree in Masonry and has held all of the offices in the Masonic bodies. He was grand commander of the state of South Dakota and organized the chapter, commandery and Shrine of Sioux Falls. He maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades in blue as a member of the Grand Army of the Repub- lic and finds satisfaction in the thought that at the time of his country's need he did not fail her. He was present at Ford's theater when Lincoln was shot and his graphic account of this and its historie significance was most interestingly given to his Grand Army Post in the following words:

Dear Comrades and Sons of Veterans:

It is appropriate that upon this occasion, we should consider one of the greatest and most sorrowful events in the history of the United States as well as in the civilized world,

104

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

for in that event was finished the life work of the man whose Emancipation Proclamation made possible the establishing of the Orders to which we as Veterans and Sons of Veterans are proud to belong.

Every G. A. R. button and every sonvenir badge worn in the United States today, is but a part of the magnificent monument, which the citizens of the United States have erected, in history, to the memory of Abraham Lincoln, and were George Washington alive today, his voice would be heard in praise of the man who died, that all men, of all creeds and colors and previous conditions of servitude, in these United States might be free.

Two great incidents mark as many epochs in the history of our beloved country. One was the birth of George Washington and the other the death of Abraham Lincoln. Washing- ton's birth marked the dawn of our day of freedom from British oppression and Lincoln's death sounded the death knell of the last fabric of that sentiment which harbored a desire to enslave one race to enrich another, upon this continent.

It was my privilege to be in the audience in Ford's theatre in Washington, on the night of the 14th of April, 1865, when the shot was fired which forever sealed the doom of the slave traffic in the civilized world, as did the shots which the men with Sherman on his way to the sea, fired at Rebellion, seal the doom of the confederacy. The memory of that night will linger with me longer than any other incident of my life. I could not forget it if I would. Some things are written upon the tablets of our memory, indelibly and forever. I wish I might take you back over the half century which has elapsed since that night and have you sit with me in Ford's theatre, in Washington. I wish you might experience what I experienced that night when the words "Lincoln is Shot" came to us from a man who had climbed to the theatre box where the martyr had been witnessing the play of Lanra Keene, a charming American actress, presenting "Our American Cousin" and President Lincoln was present.

It was about 9:30 o'clock. The play had progressed smoothly and there had been notli- ing to'cause a ripple of discomfort, when suddenly a shot rang ont upon the air. The stage was clear at that moment and we thought that this shot was but one of the incidents of the drama. Immediately a man appeared upon the railing which ran around the box in which President Lincoln was sitting. He jumped for the stage. A spur on one of his feet caught in the folds of the American flag and the grand old banner tripped that traitor, just as she has tripped every traitor who has been disloyal to her. He struck the stage and his leg was broken, but he halted not. Arising, he waved a revolver in the air, shouted his defiance and fled from the theatre.

The scene which followed was a tragedy in itself. Absolute quiet and then a growling uproar. People crowded like mad for the entrances and having gained the outer air, in frantic effort to know more of what had happened struggled like madmen to get in again. Mr. Lincoln was carried to a house opposite the theatre, where he died at about seven o'clock the next morning.

His assassin aided by confederates crossed the Potomac river, near Port Tobacco, Mary- land to Mathias Point, Virginia, on Saturday, April 22, and on Monday, April 24, he crossed the Rappahannock river from Port Conway to Port Royal and took refuge in a barn. He was located in that stable, on Wednesday, April 26, and killed by members of a detachment of cavalry from the Sixteenth New York.

The assassination of Lincoln was the result of a conspiracy to kill the men who were putting down the rebellion. History tells of the attempt to kill Secretary of State Seward, on the same night that Lincoln was shot, which attempt was made by Lewis Payne, who was in the conspiracy with Booth. Of the conspirators the following were caught and tried before a military commission in Washington, on May 9, 1865, upon a charge of conspiracy to kill the president and other high officials of the government: David H. Harold, G. A. Atzerodt, Lewis Payne, Michael O'Laughlin, Edward Spangler, Samuel Arnold, Mary E. Surratt, and Dr. Samuel A. Mudd. Harold, Atzerodt, Payne and Mrs. Surratt were hanged, O'Langhlin, Arnold and Mudd sent to prison for life and Spangler was imprisoned for six years.

1 belonged to the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, which was then on duty at Fairfax Courthouse, Virginia, a few miles from Alexandria. I was in Washington on April 14 on business and attended the theatre that night. My seat was located where I could see into Lincoln's box and after the shot was fired Booth jumped from the box to the stage, his spur caught in the folds of a flag which was draped in front of the box. After lighting he limped across the stage

105

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

and escaped from the theatre by the back door to his horse which was waiting in the rear. I cannot describe the excitement which followed. I could not get out of the city until the night of the 15tb. No one was allowed to leave the eity until after the government was satisfied that John Wilkes Booth had escaped, and when I arrived in camp I gave the first information my regiment had of the assassination of Lincoln.

After being shot Lincoln was carried across the street to a brick house where he died. That building is owned by the government now and is called "Lincoln Memorial Museum" and some three thousand Lincoln relics are to be seen there. Among those relics is the flag which was draped in front of Lincoln's box where he was shot. and the rent in the flag, made by Booth's spur, is plainly seen. The spur is also among the relies. That spur, catching in that flag, caused Booth to fall and break his leg, which fracture undoubtedly made his capture more easy.

WILLIAM P. COLLINS, M. D.

Dr. William P. Collins is well known as a successful medical practitioner of Howard, South Dakota, where he has followed his profession continuously for the past thirteen years. His birth occurred in South Elgin, Illinois, on the 20th of February, 1875, his parents being Nathan Perry and Mary (Whitford) Collins, the former a native of St. Charles, Illinois, and the latter of Erie, Pennsylvania. Nathan P. Collins was a physician by profession.

William P. Collins acquired his early education in the publie schools and was graduated from the Elgin Academy in 1896. Two years later, having determined upon the practice of medicine as a life work, he entered the Bennett College of Ecleetie Medicine and Surgery at Chicago, from which institution he was graduated in 1901. During the following year he served as house physician in Bennett Hospital. In May, 1902, he located for practice in How- ard, South Dakota, and that city has since remained the scene of his professional labors. He has demonstrated his skill in the successful treatment of numerous difficult cases, and the extensive practice accorded him is a merited tribute to his ability in the field of his chosen calling. He belongs to the South Dakota Eelectie Medical Association, of which he is secretary and treasurer, and also to the National Eelectie Medical Association.

On the 13th of August, 1902, Dr. Collins was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Neuman, of Chicago, by whom he has had three children, as follows: Nathan P., born March 16, 1904, and Cedric E., born on the 26th of June, 1907, both of whom are publie-school students in Howard; and William P., deceased. Dr. Collins gives his political allegianee to the republican party and is identified fraternally with the Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. All who know him recognize his loyalty and progressiveness in citizenship as well as his faithfulness in friendship.

REV. G. B. HOFFMANN.

Rev. G. B. Hoffmann, pastor of St. Martin's church at Emery, South Dakota, was born in Glendorf, Germany, on the 20th of March, 1862, and was educated partly in Germany and partly at St. Meinrad, Indiana, where he pursued his theological education. He attended the gymnasium of Osnabrueck, Hanover, and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Marty, the first bishop of Sioux Falls, in the year 1894. His first pastorate was at White Lake, South Dakota, where he remained for eight years. He then removed to Emery, at which time there was only a small church there. The congregation was organized in 1880. Father Menrad MeCarthy said the first mass but they had no regular pastor. A little church was built, but it was destroyed some time afterward by a wind storm and the congregation then removed to a small place in another part of town. In 1882 Father Quinn of Alexandria took charge and was instrumental in erecting the church that was blown down. In 1885 Father Lawlor, residing at Alexandria, attended to the Emery congregation, which he served up to the time of his death in 1900. He was succeeded by Father Hoffmann and an inde-

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 12

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