History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 135

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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Father Guessen has missions at Dallas, Lucas, Dixon and Iona, of which Lucas and Iona have churches, and there are about one hundred and thirty families. At one time he had charge of missions at Tripp and at Gregory and of Catholic interests in Lyman county. During that period he built churches at Carlock, Gregory county, and at Colome and Winner, Tripp county. He is rural dean of his part of the diocese of Lead and is diocesan examiner. He belongs to Gregory Council, No. 1532, K. C., of which he was the organizer, and he gives his political support to the democratic party. His work has been fruitful of good results for Catholicism, the church growing continually under his guidance and ministrations.

CHARLES EDWARD STUTENROTH, D. D. S.

Dr. Charles Edward Stutenroth, engaged in the practice of dentistry in Redfield, with offices in the Law building, has been located in that city since 1897 and has been a resident of Spink county since 1883. He was a lad of but thirteen years when he arrived in South Dakota, where he has since made his home. He was born in Du Page county, Illinois, August 16, 1870, and is a son of Oliver L. and Mary (Gushard) Stutenroth. The father has been bookkeeper for the Redfield Roller Mills for the past sixteen years. On coming to this

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state in 1883 he took up a homestead, which he improved, and remained upon the farm until he accepted his present position. He comes of German ancestry, the family having been founded in America about the time of the Revolutionary war, one of the ancestors serving with the Hessian soldiers in that conflict.

At the usual age Dr. Stutenroth became a pupil in the public schools of Illinois and continued his education in South Dakota after his arrival in Spink county. In 1891 he went to Watertown, making his home with his uncle, C. W. Stutenroth, and while there pursued a course in a commercial college located in that city. He was also employed in the dental office of his uncle. He went to Sisseton, when the Sisseton-Wapiton Reservation was opened, and located a claim adjoining the Sisseton town site. After fourteen months he proved up on his claim and sold out. He added the money which he received in that transaction to his other savings and then went to Chicago, where he entered the dental department of Northwestern University, which conferred upon him the degree of D. D. S., in 1896. He has since practiced in Redfield with success and deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he worked his way through college and has won his present position through determined effort, assiduous study and close adherence to high ideals.

Dr. Stutenroth was married in Redfield, in September, 1899, to Miss Bertha Dawson, a daughter of John T. and Julia (Burns) Dawson. Her father was one of the pioneer farmers of Spink county but since 1898 has resided at Jeddo, Michigan. Dr. and Mrs. Stutenroth have two children, Ruth and Charles E., both of whom are attending school.

While a prominent representative of the dental profession, Dr. Stutenroth is equally prominent in other fields. He is a stalwart democrat and at the present time is a member of the state senate. He had the honor of being the first and only democratic representative elected from his district when he was sent to that body of the state legislature in 1913, and also the only member of the dental fraternity ever connected with the state legislature. On his election as senator in 1914 he became the only man who had ever represented his district in both bodies of the legislature. For the past five years he has been an alderman of Redfield and he is the president of the Redfield Commercial Club, of which he became one of the charter members. In Masonry he is widely known and popular, belonging to the lodge, chapter and commandery and to the Mystic Shrine. Along strictly professional lines he is connected with the South Dakota Dental Association, of which he has served as secretary and president. His activity in many fields and the beneficial results which have followed his efforts have made him a valued citizen of the county in which he has now maintained his residence for almost a third of a century.

PETER IVERSON.

Peter Iverson is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family of South Dakota that came to this state more than four decades ago. He now resides in a beautiful home near Brandon and is widely recognized as one of the leading and prosperous agriculturists of Split Rock township, Minnehaha county. His hirth occurred in Norway on the 20th of April, 1853, his parents being Iver and Bertha Olson, who emigrated to the United States in 1860, locating in Iowa, where the father carried on farming for nine years. Subsequently he brought his family to South Dakota, making the journey with oxen and settling among the earliest residents of this state. Mr. Olson took up a homestead claim on section 28 and also preempted a tract of land on section 21, Split Rock township, Minnehaha county. There he successfully carried on agricultural pursuits until the time of his demise in 1895, having for many years survived his wife, who passed away in 1863. He had been a resident of Minnehaha county for a quarter of a century and gained an extensive and favorable acquaintance in his home community.

Peter Iverson, one of a family of eight children, attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and when not busy with his textbooks assisted his father in the operation of the home place, spending his youth in the usual manner of farm lads of that period. He was a yonth of nineteen when he removed with his father to Minnehaha county, South Dakota, and there he subsequently homesteaded a tract of land on section 29, Split Rock township, also preempting one hundred and sixty acres on section 21, that township.

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He likewise acquired a timber claim in Turner county but later disposed of the same. In 1906 he purchased and excellently improved an eighty-acre tract on section 3, Split Rock township, and this is the only property that he operates personally, renting all of the remainder of his land, which comprises two hundred and sixty-nine acres in Split Rock township, Minnehaha county, South Dakota, four hundred acres in Rock county, Minnesota, and four hundred acres in Lake county, South Dakota. He is likewise a stockholder in the farmers' elevator at Brandon, also vice president of the Brandon Savings Bank, and bas long been recognized as a substantial and representative citizen of the community.

In 1896 Mr. Iverson was united in marriage to Miss Tina Peterson, a daughter of Elias and Johanna Peterson, who are pioneer residents of South Dakota. Our subject and his wife having the following children: Alfred Leonard, William, Peter, Julia, Edna, Amy, Edgar and Erwin.

Mr. Iverson is a republican in politics and has held school offices, the cause of educa- tion finding in him a stanch friend. In religious faith he is a Lutheran. His life has been actuated by high principles and characterized hy manly conduct and in the community where he has lived for so many years he enjoys that warm personal friendship and kindly esteem which are always given in recognition of genuine worth in the individual.

ELMER A. D. JONES, M. D.

Among the able and learned members of the medical profession in eastern South Dakota is Dr. Elmer A. D. Jones, now successfully practicing both medicine and surgery in Garret- son. He was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, on the 18th of June, 1870, and is a son of William J. and Susan R. (Smith) Jones. The father was a native of Wales and was but four years of age when brought to the United States by his parents, who settled upon a farm near Kenosha, Wisconsin. Having arrived at years of maturity, he wedded Susan R. Smith, a native of Indiana and a descendant of one of the Mayflower Pilgrims. Her parents removed to Allamakee county, Iowa, when she was four or five years of age and there she was reared. In early womanhood she engaged in teaching school and was Senator Craw- ford's first teacher. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. William J. Jones began their domestic life in Iowa, where they remained for about nine years. In 1874 they came to South Dakota. Prior to this, in 1872, Mr. Jones had visited this state and had filed on land, securing both a preemption and a tree claim. In 1873 he broke the virgin soil and the following year removed to his new home. In 1875 he huilt one of the first houses and barns in Minnehaha county outside of Sioux Falls. He now resides upon a farm of a quarter sec- tion of land about a half mile north of Brandon and has converted this tract of land into rich and productive fields. He has ever believed in the future greatness of South Dakota and has manifested his faith in the state hy adding to his holdings until he now owns seventeen or eighteen hundred acres of land, making further investments in property from time to time. In business affairs his judgment is sound, his discrimination keen, and his energy unfaltering. He has likewise been a prominent and influential factor in the public life of the community, has served as county commissioner for two terms and also repre- sented his district in the territorial legislature before the admission of the state into the Union.

Dr. Elmer A. D. Jones was reared at home and acquired his preliminary education in the public schools. He also attended the State Normal School at Madison, South Dakota, for two years and for two years was at the State Agricultural College of Brookings. Later he became a student in the Sioux City Business College, where he remained for six months, and in the fall of 1894 he entered the Kentucky School of Medicine at Louisville, Kentucky, in which he remained through the following term. In January, 1896, he resumed his studies, entering the Kentucky Medical College. In the fall of 1896 he matriculated in the medical college of the State University at Louisville, from which he was graduated on the 29th of March, 1898. While thus preparing for active practice he took special work during the holiday periods, studying particularly along the lines relating to internal medicine. to diseases of children and to diseases of the nose and throat. Since his graduation he has

DR. ELMER A. D. JONES AND SON, DONALD H.

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taken post-graduate courses in Chicago at the Chicago Post-Graduate School, at the Chicago Policlinic and also pursued Pratt's special course in orificial surgery.

After his graduation Dr. Jones located for practice in Iowa, and was also in Nebraska for a time and thence came to South Dakota. He also has license to practice not only in those three states but also in Missouri and California. He practiced for a time at Spearfish, South Dakota, but after four years, or in October, 1909, located in Garretson, where he has since made his home. He was appointed railway surgeon for the Great Northern Railroad Company the week following his arrival in Garretson and has acted in that capacity con- tinuously since. He has a large general practice and manifests particular skill in surgical work.

In 1889 was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Jones and Miss Mary M. Stahl, and unto them has been born a son, who still survives, Donald H. Jones, who is now attending the Sioux Falls high school. Politically Dr. Jones is a republican but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day he does not seek nor desire office. He belongs to Minnehaha Lodge, No. 5, F. & A. M .; to Sioux Falls Chapter, No. 2, R. A. M .; to Occidental Consistory, No. 2, A. & A. S. R .; to Jasper Chapter, No. 2, O. E. S .; and to El Riad Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He also has membership in Sioux Falls Lodge, No. 262, B. P. O. E., and Dell Rapids Lodge, No. 8, I. O. O. F. Along strictly professional lines his connection is with the Seventh District Medical Society of South Dakota, the Missouri Valley Medical Society, the South Dakota State Medical Society, the American Medical Association and the Amer- ican Society of Orificial Surgeons. He holds to the highest professional standards and is constantly on the alert to gain knowledge which will benefit him in his practice. He is very careful in the diagnosis of his cases, is at all times thorough and painstaking and through his developing ability has reached the enviable place which he now occupies as one of the leading medical and surgical practitioners of his section of the state.

OWEN H. WILLIAMS, D. D. S.

Dr. Owen H. Williams is successfully engaged in the practice of dentistry in Springfield, and is also serving as mayor. He is a native of Wales, born at Holyhead, March 25, 1865, a son of Owen R. and Elizabeth Williams, both also natives of that country. On emigrating to America they located first at Utica, New York, and later removed to West Winfield, New York, where they still live at the advanced age of more than four score years.

Dr. Williams was but nineteen years of age when, in 1884, he joined an uncle in the Dakotas who was engaged as a produce dealer at Centerville. He filled a clerical position in the employ of his uncle and was employed in a similar capacity in Iowa and Minnesota for some time before returning to the east. He was then in the produce business in Pennsylvania and New York for a few years, but the lure of the west was too strong for him to resist it and he again left the east. He began the study of dentistry in Minnesota and after remaining for a time at Canton and Elk Point completed his dental studies in the office of Dr. Collins at Vermillion, this state, taking special work in the meantime in dental colleges in Chicago and New York. He opened his first office in Vermillion and established a branch office at Gayville and practiced at those locations for a number of years, but in 1902 removed to Springfield, where he has remained. He has built up a lucrative practice in the thirteen years that he has been located there and has a reputation for doing excellent work at reasonable prices. He recognizes the need of absolute cleanli- ness in all dental work and his office is equipped with facilities for rendering every in- strument used surgically sterile.

Dr. Williams was united in marriage on the 6th of October, 1891, to Miss Charlotte A. Bryan, a daughter of J. H. and Charlotte A. Bryan, a sketch of whom is to be found else- where in this work. Dr. Williams is an enthusiastic Mason and in the brief period of ten years has passed through the three principal chairs of the blue lodge and of the grand lodge of the state, serving as grand master from June, 1913, to June, 1914. During his incumbency of that office he attended the convocation of grand masters at St. Louis and visited the hest equipped lodges in Chicago and other eastern cities to witness the exemplification of "work" in the different states. He belongs to the blue lodge at Springfield, the chapter at

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Scotland, the commandery and consistory at Yankton and El Riad Temple of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Sioux Falls. He has taken thirty-two degrees in the order. He was one of a group of lodge members who were instrumental in building a five thousand dollar Masonic Hall in 1912 after the lodge had rented rooms for its meetings for thirty years. The Odd Fellows and the Maccabees also claim Dr. Williams as a member. He is prominent in the circle of his profession and served the First District Dental Association as president during the years 1910 and 1911 and held the same office in the state association during the latter year. Politically he is independent and is now serving as mayor of Spring- field, having been elected to that office in April, 1915, as the candidate on both tickets. While not a resident of the state during the earliest territorial days, he came within its borders in time to witness one of its worst prairie fires and the horror of those scourges of flame was impressed upon him, as an old acquaintance at Centerville lost his life at that time. He has a beautiful home, which is thoroughly modern in appointment and which commands a picturesque view of the Missouri valley. Professionally, socially and fra- ternally he is considered by his associates as one of South Dakota's sterling men.

GEORGE ALBERT CROOKS.

George Albert Crooks, who has served as manager of the New Hope Grain Company of Crooks, South Dakota, since 1910, is one of the well known and substantial citizens of Benton township, Minnehaha county, where he has resided continuously for the past thirty- seven years. His birth occurred in Iowa on the 4th of March, 1871, his father being William A. Crooks, a guard in the state penitentiary at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was a little lad of six years when the family came to this state, the father having arrived here a year or two previously and taken up a homestead on section 3, Benton township, Minnehaha county. There the son was reared, attending the common schools in the acquirement of an education.

On attaining his majority Mr. Crooks took charge of the operation of the home farm and at the same time also had the management of the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company during the period of its existence, conducting the enterprise on his own account for a time. In 1910 he was made manager of the New Hope Grain Company at Crooks, in which capacity he has served ably and continuously since. He is a stockholder in this concern and in the Crooks Lumber Company, of which he was made the first president and subsequently acted as secretary. In the conduct of business affairs he has proven himself a man of excellent executive ability and sound judgment whose efforts have accrued to the benefit and growth of the enterprises with which he has been connected.

In 1899 Mr. Crooks was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Ferguson, of Tracy, Min- nesota, by whom he has four children, namely: Violet M., Gladys, Georgina and Harold C. He is a progressive republican in politics and for the past eight or nine years has held the office of justice of the peace, making a highly commendable record in that connection. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and Modern Brotherhood of America, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist church. Ever since reaching manhood he has been active and efficient in business, and the high esteem in which he is held is evidence of his personal worth.

NILS SIMONS.

Among the sons of Norway who have aided in the development of the American north- west is Nils Simons, who successfully engaged in farming on section 35, Split Rock town- ship, Minnehaha county. His birth occurred on the 15th of November, 1846, and his father was Simon Askvig, who spent his entire life in the land of the midnight sun. Our subject was reared at home and received a common-school education. At the early age of thirteen he began his independent career, taking up a seafaring life. He followed the sea for many years, and in 1869 when a young man of about twenty-three years came to the United

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States and for four years sailed out of New York city on the Melrose Star line, plying between New York and South American ports. At length he came west to Sioux City, Iowa, and for some years was on the Mississippi, the Ohio and the Missouri rivers, as well as several of the southern streams. In 1871 he came up into South Dakota and filed on a home- stead adjoining his present farm. He later traded a team of mules for his present quarter section, but it was necessary to preempt the land to hold it and preemption cost him two hundred dollars. However, he did not give up the river until 1886 and was known as a man thoroughly experienced in river navigation. He has in all some fifteen or sixteen master's certificates which are evidence of his skill and competence. Since settling down to farm life lie has proved an efficient agriculturist and his farm on section 35, Split Rock township, is one of the well developed places of the county.

Mr. Simons was married in 1882 to Miss Betsy Risty, a resident of Brandon township, although ber birth occurred in Norway. To this union six children have been born as follows: Guy, a bank cashier of Sterling, Colorado; Anna, the wife of William Sawyer, of Black Hawk county, Iowa; Simon, at home; Blaine, who is a student in the law department of the State University at Vermillion; and Carrie and William Mckinley, at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Simons are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church and are loyal to its teachings. He is independent in politics and has taken an active interest in public affairs, having served on the town board, the school board and as township assessor for many years, and is known as a man of ability and rectitnde. These characteristics, combined with his agreeable personality, have made liim one of the popular men of his community.

OPIE MORTON CHAMBERS.

Opie Morton Chambers, a member of the firm of Jackson Brothers and treasurer of the Western Townsite Company, of Dallas, South Dakota, has through his business connec- tions become an important factor in promoting the progress and growth of western South Dakota. He recognizes the chances that are here to be secured and has never feared to venture where favoring opportunity leads the way. He was born in Monroe county, West Virginia, October 22, 1875, a son of Rufus Alfred and Elizabeth (Williams) Chambers. The father was a farmer by occupation, but at the time of the Civil war put aside all business and personal considerations and responded to the country's call for troops, joining the Union army. At one time he was a member of the state legislature of West Virginia and was a prominent and influential citizen there. He died when his son, Opie M. Chambers, was but six years of age and the mother has also passed away.

Having mastered the branches of learning tanght in the public schools, Opie M. Chambers continued his education in the normal school at Athens, West Virginia, and subsequently began studying law but did not complete his course. At the time of the Spanish-American war, true to the example of his father, who had previously defended the nation's interests, he joined the Second West Virginia Regiment of Volunteers, hnt his command was not called upon for active service in the field. After being mustered ont he went to St. Joseph, Missouri, and was upon the road as a commercial traveler for two years. At the end of that time he continued his westward journey to the coast and was connected with an employment agency of Spokane with branch offices in various towns of the Pacific northwest. Later he arrived in the Rosebud at the time the reservation was opened, settling at Herrick, Gregory county, where he established and published a newspaper. He was then appointed postmaster at Herrick, which office he filled from 1905 until 1909, when he resigned and removed to Dallas, entering into a connection with the Western Townsite Company, of which he is the treasurer. This company has been capitalized for two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. At the first sale held by the company, when lots were disposed of at public anction, the returns were ninety-three thousand dollars. In addition to his interest in this business Mr. Chambers owns large ranch properties. He has manifested his faith in South Dakota by his extensive investments in lands and his wisdom and judgment have found justification in his growing success.

On the 8th of May, 1906, Mr. Chambers was married to Miss E. Belle Martin, of O'Neill,

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Nebraska, a daughter of Bennett Martin, and they have one child, Geraldine Elizabeth. Mr. Chambers is well known in Masonic circles, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. In politics he is a republican and has filled the office of member of the town council for several terms, in which connection he has carefully studied the opportunities of the city and worked for its advancement along lines contributing most largely to progress and improvement. He has furthermore worked for the interests of his district as a member of the Greater Dallas committee. Upon his banner is emblazoned the word onward and the course that he has followed bas not only brought him into pleasant and profitable business relations, but has also made him a contributing factor to the prosperity of Gregory county.

J. G. BRENDE.

J. G. Brende is actively engaged in business at Baltic as a dealer in hardware and automobiles and has won well merited success in that connection. He was born five miles south of Baltic, a son of Gudmund and Lisbet Brende. The father crossed the ocean to the United States in a sailing vessel and made his way to Goodhue county, Minnesota. Two years later he migrated with his family to South Dakota, using a yoke of oxen as a team, and locating in a section where only two others had preceded him. He preempted a tract of land and devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his active business career. He was one of the organizers of the Nedaros Lutheran Congregation and was always an active member thereof. He passed away in 1902 but is survived by his widow. Gudmund Brende was an extensive landowner at the time of his demise, and in his passing the community lost an honored pioneer and a prosperous and esteemed citizen.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 135

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