History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 138

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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In his youthful days Samuel M. Lindley acquired a district school education and after- ward assisted his father upon the home farm, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. The opportunities offered in Dakota territory attracted him and in April, 1879, when nineteen years of age, he walked from Iowa to Charles Mix county. He at first earned his living by cutting cord wood, then at rafting and later he established a wood yard of his own. His worth and strong manly qualities won him recognition from his fellowmen and in 1881 he was appointed county commissioner of Charles Mix county, serving from October of that year until the 1st of January, 1883. He was then called by election to the offices of register of deeds and county clerk, serving in those capacities for six years. During his last term Dr. Henry established a bank at Wheeler and Mr. Lindley was appointed cashier and five months later he purchased the bank, which he conducted at that place from 1887 until February, 1903, when, with the building of the railroad he removed the bank to Bonesteel. This is now the oldest bank in this part of the state and he has a good share of the business. That it has proved a safe, reliable moneyed institution is indicated in the fact of its long continued existence; but this does not comprise the extent of Mr. Lindley's business activities, for he is the president of the Security Investment Company and is a large dealer in both real estate and in cattle. His judgment is sound and his unfaltering enterprise has led him into active connection with many successful business concerns.

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In 1884 Mr. Lindley was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie M. Marshall, a daughter of Charles Marshall of Wheeler. To them have been born five children, as follows: Irving D., who acts as cashier of the Security State Bank; S. Earl, assistant cashier in that insti- tution; John A., who is in railroad service; Robert T., who is engaged in ranching; and Helen I., attending school. Mrs. Lindley and three of her children adhere to the Catholic faith, while the other children are Protestants in religious faith.

Mr. Lindley is a Mason, having membership in the blue lodge and chapter at Bone- steel, the Odd Fellows lodge at Fairfax and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a stockholder in the County Fair Association and is a member of the Commercial Club. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and aside from serving as county commissioner he was elected a member of the state legislature in 1901 and again in 1905, making a most creditable record during his connection with the general assembly, for he gave earnest consideration to the vital questions which came up for settle- ment and left the impress of his individuality upon the legislation of the state. He is interested in all that pertains to South Dakota's advancement and improvement. He favors good roads, believes in the continued improvement of the schools and holds to those measures which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. As a business man and citizen he is ranked high in Gregory county.

JOHN BIEGGER, JR.

The value of ambition, courage and determination, guided by sound judgment and a resolute will, is excellently illustrated in the career of John Biegger, Jr., who has risen by his own efforts and without any outside aid or influence from a humble position in life to be one of the leading business men of Sioux Falls. He has engaged in various enterprises during the course of his career and has constantly extended the scope of his activities, seeking success along lines of advancement and progress and by honorable and straightfor- ward business methods. He is the owner of the Majestic Theatre in Sioux Falls and is identified with the theatre business in Sioux City, Iowa, where he has valuable interests.

Mr. Biegger was born on a farm in Clayton county, Iowa, October 14, 1873, and is a son of John and Mary (Nienau) Biegger. He acquired his education in the country schools of Clayton and Humboldt counties, Iowa, and attended only four terms during his entire life. Before completing his education he went to Luverne, Iowa, and applied at the office of the little local paper for a chance to learn the printer's trade. He was accepted as a beginner without wages and every morning got to the office at five o'clock, swept out, started the fire and then applied himself to learning to set type until nine, when he started for school. He made his home with his uncle, who furnished his meals. After school hours he would return to the printing office and work until eleven or twelve o'clock at night with the exception of Thursdays, when he was obliged to be on duty the entire night running off the issue of the paper. After three months of this strenuous work the regular compositor left town and Mr. Biegger was placed in charge, setting up the type and printing the entire weekly issue, for which work he received a salary of four dollars a week. Some time later he asked for an increase to six dollars a week but was offered only five. He then resigned his position and went to Sioux City, lowa, where he became connected with a newspaper at a salary of eight dollars a week. In 1893 he removed to Bode, Iowa, and upon his arrival found that his capital consisted of fifty cents. The local weekly paper, which had twice failed under different managers, was at that time for sale and Mr. Biegger obtained his father's indorsement to a note in the bank of Luverne, Iowa, for one hundred dollars. With this money he made the first payment on the plant and at once started the struggle to revive the journal. He succeeded where all others had failed and in the six years during which he ran the paper he bought and paid for his home in Bode and put six thousand dollars in the bank. In 1900 he disposed of his interests there and removed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he conducted the Queen City Flouring Mill for two years. He lost seven thousand dollars in this venture but with undaunted energy removed to Humboldt, this state, and, with others whom he interested in the enterprise, he organized the State Bank of Humboldt, with a capital stock of five thousand dollars. Mr. Biegger was made

JOHN BIEGGER, JR.

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cashier of the bank, holding this responsible position for two years. At the end of that time he disposed of his interests and removed to Winfred, South Dakota, where he bought a controlling interest in the State Bank of Winfred, of which he was made president.

In 1897 he again came to Sioux Falls and here established the Sioux Falls Auto & Supply Company, with which he remained connected for two years. Following this he bought an interest in the Sioux Falls Daily Argus-Leader, acting as business manager of the paper for about a year. He was then for two years in business as manager and part owner of the Sioux Falls Electric Light & Power Company and while he still held that position he bought the Majestic Theatre, in July, 1908. In 1911 he sold his stock in the light and power company and has since devoted his entire time to the management of the Majestic, which he has made one of the most attractive and profitable theatres in the state. Prior to his management it had been a conspicuous failure, but Mr. Biegger has improved the char- acter of the bookings and the house is now' in a most flourishing condition. Some idea as to the class of attractions now available for the Sioux Falls house may be gained from the fact that the circuit is so extensive that it takes three years for an act to cover it entirely. Mr. Biegger also owns the Colonial Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa, and is now planning the erection of a new one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollar theatre there. He owns a half interest in the Reliance Film Service Company, with headquarters at Sioux Falls and branches at Davenport, Iowa, and La Crosse, Wisconsin. Mr. Biegger has also valuable property holdings, owning a profitable and well improved farm in Minnehaha county.

On the 10th of August, 1895, at St. Joseph, Iowa, Mr. Biegger was united in marriage to Miss Margaret V. Hoganson, and they have become the parents of three children, Leo John, Kenneth J. and Thelma M. Mr. Biegger is a member of the Catholic church and belongs to the Elks and Country Clubs and to the Knights of Columbus. His career speaks for itself. He is a self-made man, possessed of courage, resolution and well timed aggres- siveness-qualities which have formed the foundation of his present success.

CLAUS T. HEGNES.

Claus T. Hegnes, who has been a resident of South Dakota for more than four decades or throughout nearly his entire life, is one of the well known and successful citizens of Minnehaha county and is identified with financial interests as cashier and business manager of the Dakota State Bank of Baltic, which he purchased in association with K. E. Jacob- son on the 1st of March, 1908, and which is now one of the prospering financial institutions of the county. His birth occurred near Decorah, Winneshiek county, Iowa, on the 22d of October, 1871, his parents being John and Helen (Doseth) Hegnes, natives of Norway. They emigrated to the United States as young man and young woman, locating in Win- neshiek county, Iowa, where they were married and made their home for about six years. In 1873 they removed to Lincoln county, South Dakota, and filed on a homestead and a tree claim and preempted another eighty-acre tract, making four hundred acres in all. John Hegnes still owns this land but for the past four years has lived retired in Canton. The period of his residence in Lincoln county covers forty-two years and he has long been numbered among its most substantial and esteemed citizens. To him and his wife were born sixteen children, thirteen of whom still survive. Albert Hegnes, a brother of our subject, acts as cashier of the Security State Bank, of Beresford, South Dakota, and Helmer Hegnes, another brother, is cashier of the Lake Side State Bank, of Lake Andes, South Dakota.

Claus T. Hegnes, who was but two years of age when brought to this state by his parents, remained on the home farm until he had attained his majority. In the acquirement of an education he attended the district schools and Augustana College in Canton, spend- ing about four winter terms in that institution. When twenty-one years of age he rented a farm which he cultivated for two years and then abandoned, the venture proving unprof- itable because of the high rents and low prices paid for crops at that time-1892-3. Subse- quently he secured a position as bookkeeper in the Sioux Valley Bank at Hudson, Hubert Loonan's bank. now of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and remained with the institution during the greater part of the following two years. Impaired health then obliged him to seek

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out-of-door life and for about six years he acted in the capacity of assessor of Norway township, Lincoln county. In the early part of the year 1897, in association with a neighbor boy, K. E. Jacobson, he purchased a country store at Moe, an inland postoffice point about eleven miles south of Canton. The former proprietor had found the enterprise unprofitable but the new owners gradually built up an extensive and lucrative trade and made steady progress on the highroad to success. At the end of seven years they disposed of the business but retained three store buildings and a blacksmith shop which they had acquired and which properties they still own. In the spring of 1904 they removed to Canton, but it was not until two years later that Mr. Hegnes again became actively identi- fied with business interests. He then turned his attention to the insurance business and was thus successfully engaged until 1908.

On the 1st of March of that year Mr. Hegnes and his former partner, K. E. Jacobson, purchased the Dakota State Bank of Baltic and this institution they have conducted con- tinuously to the present time. Mr. Jacobson, who resides in Canton, is president of the bank, while Mr. Hegnes acts as cashier and business manager. They own the building in which the bank is housed-one of the substantial brick structures of Baltic. When they took over the institution it carried about sixty-five thousand dollars in deposits and these have since been increased to about one hundred and fitty-five thousand dollars. The capital stock is now ten thousand dollars, with a surplus of twelve thousand dollars. Under Mr Hegnes' wise and able management the bank has been placed on a solid foundation and made one of the successful financial institutions of Minnehaha county. Mr. Hegnes owns a half interest in a farm of three hundred and forty acres three and a half miles east of Baltic and also a half interest in a farm of three hundred and twenty acres near Webster, in Day county, South Dakota and property in Lincoln county, South Dakota. The prosperity which he now enjoys is all the more creditable by reason of the fact that it has been acquired entirely through his own well directed efforts and unflagging industry. He is serving as executor of the old Torger Thompson estate, one of the largest estates in his section of the county.

On the 28th of September, 1898, Mr. Hegnes was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Sogn, of Lincoln county, by whom he has a daughter, Hazel M. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for the past five years has served as a member of the school board, while for the past three years he has also been chairman of the town council. In the spring of 1915 he was elected a member of the directory board of Augustana College of Canton, South Dakota. His religious faith is that of the Norwegian Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs. He stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens, and those who have known him from boyhood are numbered among his warmest friends.

AUGUST S. JOHNSON.

August S. Johnson, who owns and operates a farm comprising four hundred acres of land in Benton township, Minnehaha county, is a representative of one of the respected and honored pioneer families of South Dakota. His birth occurred in Sweden on the 15th of August, 1866, his parents being Samuel and Agneta Johnson. The family emigrated to the United States in May, 1871, settling in Lafayette county, Wisconsin, where the father worked as a farm hand. In 1874 he came to South Dakota, locating in Benton township, Minne- haha county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres and took up a timber claim of eighty acres. Here he has resided continuously for over four decades, enjoying recogni- tion as one of the substantial agriculturists and esteemed early settlers of the community. Samuel Johnson has attained the venerable age of eighty-five years, while his wife is eighty- four years old. Both are living on the old homestead.

August S. Johnson, who was but four years of age when brought by his parents to the new world, acquired his education in the public schools and early became familiar with the work of the fields as he assisted his father in his agricultural labors. Starting out as an agriculturist on his own account, he bought eighty acres of land from his father and sub- sequently augmented his holdings by additional purchase until they now embrace four hundred acres in Benton township, comprising a highly improved and modern farm. The

AUGUST S. JOHNSON AND FAMILY

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place is lacking in none of the accessories and conveniences of a model property of the twentieth century and in its operation Mr. Johnson has met with excellent success. He likewise devotes considerable attention to live stock, feeding twenty-five head of horses, forty head of cattle and one hundred and fifty hogs, and is a stockholder and director of the Farmers Elevator Company and the Crooks Lumber Company of Crooks.

On the 4th of September, 1888, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Arvidson, a daughter of Arvid and Petronella Johanson, who passed away when eighty-five and eighty-six years of age respectively. Our subject and his wife have the following chil- dren: Samuel A., a resident of Benton township; Alma, the wife of P. C. Peterson, of Benton township; Hildur, who follows the profession of school teaching; Olga; Ruth M. and Dewey A., twins; Miles A .; George William; Edwin A .; Clara R .; and Alice E.

Mr. Johnson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is now ably serv- ing as a member of the town board. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, the teachings of which his wife and children also profess. In the community where he has resided from boyhood he is well known and highly esteemed as a representative of one of the old pioneer families who braved the hardships and dangers of life in an undeveloped and sparsely settled district. They have witnessed the wonderful transformation that has occurred as primitive conditions have given way before the onward march of civilization and as a direct result of their own labors and enterprise.

MART COFFMAN.

Mart. Coffman, filling the position of postmaster at Dallas, is a native son of Illinois, born September 4, 1868. His father, Amos J. Coffman, was a school teacher and farmer, being identified with interests along those lines in Illinois. He has now passed away but his widow survives and has homesteaded in Tripp county.

Mart Coffman supplemented a public-school education by study in the law department of the University of Nebraska, from which he was graduated with the class of 1901. He first practiced in Oklahoma and also followed his profession in Nebraska and South Dakota. He came to this state in 1904, settling at Bonesteel, where he remained for two years, and later he homesteaded in Gregory county, near Lucas. He dates his residence in Dallas from 1908, at which time he opened an office for the practice of law and for the conduct of the real-estate business, along both of which lines he has since been active.

On the 22d of December, 1908, Mr. Coffman was married to Miss Daisy G. Ward, a daughter of Andrew Ward, and they have become the parents of two sons, Marshall W. and Amos J. Mr. and Mrs. Coffman hold membership in the Methodist church, taking a helpful interest, through that channel, in promoting the moral advancement of the community.

Mr. Coffman is a third degree Mason and is also affiliated with the Odd Fellows. In politics he is a democrat, active in party circles since coming to Dallas, and in 1913 he was appointed to the position of postmaster, which office he is still acceptably filling, discharging his duties in a systematic manner that is highly satisfactory to the patrons of the office. He is a supporter of the good roads movement and, in fact, is in sympathy with all plans that look to the immediate and future benefit of the locality. When the cares of business become too heavy he finds recreation in motoring and hunting and is a most genial com- panion on such trips.

FRANK ISRAEL PUTNAM, M. D.

Dr. Frank Israel Putnam, specializing in the treatment of diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat, is regarded as one of the leading young physicians of Sioux Falls, where he has built up a large and important practice. He was born in Geneva, Nebraska, April 25, 1883, and is a son of Herbert L. and Laura C. (Hale) Putnam.

Dr. Putnam acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Omaha and the

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Omaha high school, after which he entered the University of Nebraska. Having deter- mined to study medicine, he next enrolled in Creighton Medical College of Omaha and from that institution received his degree of M. D. He has since taken post-graduate work in Chicago, New York city, Philadelphia, London, Berlin, Vienna, Munich and Paris and never considers his medical education complete, remaining at all times a close and earnest student and investigator. Dr. Putnam is engaged in practice in Sioux Falls, specializing in diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat,-a field in which his ability and skill have gained him wide and growing prominence. He belongs to the American Medical Association and is a life member of this organization in Vienna. He is affiliated also with the South Dakota and the Seventh District Medical Societies and the Sioux Valley Medical Society. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and Oto-Laryngology and of the American College of Surgeons. He keeps in close touch with the trend of modern advancement along medical lines and in his offices are found all of the new surgical appliances known to medical science.

At Council Bluffs, Iowa, September 9, 1908, Dr. Putnam married Miss Sue Gertrude Reed, a daughter of Freeman L. Reed. The Doctor is a member of the Congregational church and gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to the commandery and Shrine, and he holds membership also in the Knights of Pythias. He belongs to the Elks and Country Clubs. In social circles of Sioux Falls he is widely and prominently known, while along the lines of his profession he has gained that success which comes only in recognition of superior merit and ability.

DANIEL ELIASSEN.

Daniel Eliassen, a well known and representative farmer of Minnehaha county, is the owner of one of the best improved farms of his section of the state, equipped and supplied with all modern conveniences and improvements that indicate the progressive spirit that has nowhere been more strongly manifest than in agricultural life. A review of his life record indicates what all must acknowledge-that the northwest owes much of her progress and improvement to the Norwegian element in her citizenship. To this class helongs Mr. Eliassen, who was born in Norway on the 15th of October, 1858, and is a son of Elias and Margaret Eliassen. The father was a driller and became expert in the mining of metals and in other drill work. While he always made Norway his home, he came to this country on a visit to his son, who was then living in Minnesota, and there he passed away in 1898.

Daniel Eliassen attended school in Norway and even in his youth his time was divided between school work and employment which would yield him a living. After his textbooks were put aside he continued to work as a farm hand. He was hut nine years of age when he crossed the Atlantic to become a resident of the new world, making his way to South Dakota to live with an uncle and aunt, with whom he continued until he attained his major- ity. After leaving their home he spent one year in Minnesota. He was employed at farm labor until he could save from his earnings a sum sufficient to enable him to purchase property. It was in the fall of 1881 that he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land in Minnehaha county, this state, to which he has since added until he now has two hundred acres. His place presents a most neat and attractive appearance. The fields are well tilled and give promise of abundant harvests, and there are few if any better equipped farms in all his part of the state. Upon his place are to be found all the modern improvements in the way of machinery and of comforts. He has his own lighting plant in the home and other conveniences which one is apt to regard as features only of city life. He has built a large barn, which has the litter carrying system. He is acquainted with every modern method of taking care of stock as well as of cultivating the fields and handles and uses only high grade animals, having now thirty head of cattle and eight horses upon his place.

It was on the 11th of March, 1882, that Mr. Eliassen was united in marriage to Miss Marie Tidemann, a daughter of Halvor and Mary Tidemann, both of whom are deceased. She represents one of the old time families of Minnehaha county, established there in 1875. To Mr. and Mrs. Eliassen have been born the following named: Helmer; Malenne, now the

MR. AND MRS. DANIEL ELIASSEN

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wife of L. A. Scott; Gertie, the wife of H. M. Hobson; Ole; Oscar; Dena, the wife of N. Nelson ; Belva; and Joseph, who died at the age of thirteen years.

The family attend and hold membership in the Lutheran church. Mr. Eliassen's study of the questions and issues of the day bas led him to give earnest support to the republican party. He has held the office of school clerk for a number of years, but has never sought political honors and emoluments, desiring always to give his attention to his business affairs rather than to public activities. His close application and his energy have featured strongly in the attainment of the success which is his and which places him among the representative agriculturists of the state.

WILLIAM MULLER.

(AUTOBIOGRAPHY.)

I was born in Colmar. Department of Upper Rhine (Alsace) then French capital of the Department, on the 27th of May, 1837. As soon as I reached school age, about five or six years old, I went to primary private school with a Miss Cara for teacher, accompanying my sister about three or four years my senior, and continued in French schools until November, 1851, when 1 emigrated with my father, a book-binder by trade, for America, taking the railroad train through Paris to Havre, where we took passage on the good three-masted Astracan for New Orleans, with about five hundred others from all parts of central Europe. Some spoke French and some German, and the congregations on deck on a fine day were enlivened by French and German choruses of love lore and patriotic songs.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 138

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