History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 17

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 November, 1889, Mr. McGowan was married to Miss Emelia Hahn, a daughter of Ferdinand Hahn, and their children are Mrs. Emelia C. Kiens, Mrs. Charlotte Ebersviller and Morton, who is at home. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church and the political belief of Mr. McGowan is that of the democratic party. He belongs to the Odd Fellows Society, to the Modern Woodinen and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in those lodges has many warm friends. He has resided continuously in South Dakota since 1879, when be came with bis father and mother to this state and through the interim to the present he has led a busy, industrious and useful life, winning the respect of those with whom he has been associated, while the experience gained has well prepared him for the responsible official duties that now devolve upon him.

JOHN O. STRAND.

John O. Strand is conducting an abstract office in Howard and has won a reputation for accurate and thorough work in that connection. He has also been closely identified with public affairs, having held a number of local offices. He was born in Norway, on the 1st of February, 1858, a son of T. O. Strand, whose birth occurred in Norway on the 25th of March, 1824. The mother, likewise a native of the land of the midnight sun, was in her maidenhood Bergit Ashland. The parents came to De Kalb county, Illinois, in 1861 and remained there upon a farm for five years, subsequently removing to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where they continued to reside for fifteen years. In 1881 they came to Miner county, South Dakota, and homesteaded land. The father passed away upon his farm in Miner county, January 14, 1889, and his demise was much regretted by his many friends and neighbors.

John O. Strand completed the course in the common schools of Freeborn county, Min- nesota, and attended the Augsburg Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, from 1878 until 1881. He subsequently took up a homestead in Miner county in his own name and remained

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upon the farm until 1888, when he was elected county treasurer and held the office for two years. When his term expired he engaged in mercantile business at Carthage, continuing in that line for eight years. At the end of that time his business was destroyed hy fire and, as he was appointed clerk of the commissioners court of the public land office, he did not continue his mercantile enterprise. He held the office to which he was appointed for two years, making his residence during that time in Pierre. After resigning the position he opened an abstract office in Howard and has since devoted his time to its conduct. He has a large clientage and his abstracts are all prepared with great care so that they are in fact an accurate record of all transactions recorded affecting the property concerned. He has had some banking experience, as he was cashier of the Merchants Bank at Carthage for two years, proving himself an efficient and popular official.

Mr. Strand was married June 25, 1896, to Miss Lilly Johnson, a daughter of Bernt Johnson. Seven children have been born to this union as follows: Tansea J., whose birth occurred January 7, 1898: Agnes B., who was born March 26, 1899; John R., May 26, 1901; Lilah, January 4, 1903; Norman V., September, 1908; Vivian E., whose birth occurred in February, 1910; and Fern Iris, who was born November 11, 1912. The children are all attending the public and high schools of Howard. Mr. Strand is a prominent member of the Lutheran church, of which he is a trustee and also superintendent of the Sunday-school. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is now serving his second term as alderman. Fraterilly he is a Mason and has many friends in that organization and in the community at large.

MURRAY W. WESTFALL.

For sixteen consecutive years Murray W. Westfall of Watertown has been one of the county commissioners of Codington county and is the only man who has been thus honored, for no other commissioner has been continued for so long a period in the office. In former years he was actively engaged in farming in this part of the state but is now largely living retired from business cares.

He was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on the 16th of December, 1846, a son of the Rev. I. M. and Amanda Westfall. His father engaged in preaching in Iowa City when it was the capital of the territory of Iowa. He was a member of the Universalist church and took an active part in promoting that doctrine in the middle west in pioneer times. He afterward became a physician and continued actively in the practice of medicine for twenty-five years. In 1861 he had removed to Rocbester, Minnesota, where he resided until 1880, when the family came to South Dakota and Dr. Westfall secured a homestead. He was a most dignified, courteous and kindly gentleman, well worthy the honor and high regard which were every- where accorded him.

Murray W. Westfall came with the family to South Dakota and he, too, secured a homestead, which he located on section 24, Oxford township, Hamlin county, while his father's claim was in Codington county. Dr. Westfall in addition to directing the development of his place also engaged in the practice of medicine in Watertown, and there passed away in 1889, while his wife died in the year 1888. Dr. Westfall was a man of prominence in the different communities in which he lived and was made a delegate to the constitutional con- vention of South Dakota, which met at Sioux Falls. His ability as a medical practitioner and his influence on the side of moral progress also made him a factor in the upbuilding of his city and state.

Murray W. Westfall was educated in the public schools but because of delicate health his opportunities in that direction were somewhat limited. He was twenty-one years of age when he hegan farming on his own account in Minnesota, where he followed that occupa- tion for about fifteen years, and then came to South Dakota, as previously stated, in 1880. In addition to securing a homestead he also obtained a tree claim and bent every energy toward bringing the land nnder cultivation and transforming it into richly productive fields. He remained upon the farm for seven years but about 1887 removed to Watertown. He now owns and rents his father's old homestead and through the careful and economical man-

MRS. MURRAY W. WESTFALL

MURRAY W. WESTFALL

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agement of his business interests, his close application and his industry has won a substantial measure of success.

On the 21st of December, 1867, Mr. Westfall was united in marriage to Miss Adele Clougli, a daughter of Charles and Adaline Clough, hoth of whom have passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Westfall have no children of their own, but adopted a hoy, Claude C., now thirty- five years of age, upon whom they have bestowed every care and attention. He is now in Krem, North Dakota.

Mr. Westfall holds membership with the Elks. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party, which he has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. For one term he served as a member of the city council of Watertown and in 1898 he was elected county commissioner, which position he has since filled through reelection for sixteen consecutive years, having the honor of being the oldest member of the county board in years of continuons service. He likewise held township offices in Hamlin county and for three years was a member of the school board of Watertown. He is deeply interested in the upbuilding of his city and is enthusiastic in his advocacy of South Dakota. In Watertown and throughout Codington county he is widely known, and hoth he and his wife have a large circle of warm friends.

MOSES FANTLE.

Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of Yauk- ton than Moses Fantle who, as a member of the firm of Fantle Brothers, has been an import- ant factor in business circles and his prosperity is well deserved. Mr. Fantle was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, March 8, 1874, a son of Charles and Regina (Gregor) Fantle, both of whom were natives of Austria. The father came as a lad to the United States and making his way to Ann Arbor, Michigan, there made his home with relatives, while the mother was likewise brought to this country in her childhood days. The father grew to manhood in Ann Arbor and in early life engaged in merchandising, conducting an establishment of that character there for thirty-five years. In 1884 the family removed to St. Paul and in that city the father engaged in business with his two sons, his death occurring there in 1908, when he had reached the ripe old age of seventy-nine years. The mother still survives, making her home in St. Paul. The four sons of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fantle are: Charles and Samuel, who are engaged in merchandising in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and William and Moses, engaged in a similar enterprise in Yankton.

Moses Fantle was a little lad of ten years at the time the family removed from Ann Arbor to St. Paul, so that his education was mainly acquired in the public schools of the latter city, and in the high school, from which he was graduated in 1893. Immediately thereafter he came to Yankton to engage in the mercantile business with his brother Wil- liam and has since been connected with this enterprise, the brothers doing business under the firm style of Fantle Brothers. As the years have passed the business has grown and today they occupy a building three stories in height, with basement, and this is considered one of the best mercantile establishments in the state of South Dakota. The brothers have made a deep study of the needs and demands of the public. They carry a large and care- fully selected line of goods, which they sell at right prices, and this, in connection with their just treatment of patrons, constitutes the basis of their success.

In addition to his other interests Mr. Fantle is connected with banking, being a director in the Dakota National Bank.

On the 17th of November, 1909, Mr. Fantle was united in marriage to Miss Carrie S. Freud, a daughter of Leopold and Hannah (Sittig) Freud, of Detroit, Michigan, in which city the father is a capitalist and real-estate operator, and who for many years had important mining interests in northern Michigan. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fantle has been blessed with an interesting little daughter, Regine.

Mr. Fantle gives his political support to the republican party. He is prominent in Masonic circles, having attained the thirty-second degree in that order and he also belongs to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He likewise holds membership relations with the Noon Day and the Commercial Clubs. He seeks rest and recreation from business cares Vol. V-7

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in out door sports. He has ever been a busy man and has been largely instrumental in building up one of the largest mercantile establishments in the state which stands as a tribute to the business genius of two of Yankton's youngest merchants.

REV. GEORGE MACCONNACHIE.

Rev. George MacConnachie, pastor of St. Bernard's Catholic church at Redfield, where he took up his abode on the 1st of October, 1900, came from Edinburgh, Scotland, and is a native of Banffshire, Scotland, born February 16, 1875. His parents were John and Jessie (MacDonald) MacConnachie, who spent their entire lives in the land of hills and heather. The father conducted an extensive distillery business in Scotland and was a prominent citizen of that part of the country in which he lived. It is said, moreover, that his name is frequently on the lips of every old settler in the eastern part of the country. He passed away in 1887, while his wife survived until 1888.

At the usual age George MacConnachie began his education in the schools of Scotland, which he attended until he reached his fourteenth year. He then entered Blair's National College of Scotland, in which he spent five years, after which he became a student in the Royal Scotch College at Valladolid, Spain, where he remained for seven years. He was then ordained to the priesthood in Spain, after which he returned to Scotland, where he remained for six months. He left that country for America on the 24th of March, 1900, and, making his way into the interior of the country, settled at Redfield in October, taking up his work as pastor of St. Bernard's Catholic church. His efforts here have resulted beneficially to the parish. He has erected the parish house which he now occupies and in 1909 he was instrumental in building St. Bernard's church. Every rock in the church was blasted by him. The church is an attractive edifice and stands as a monument to Father MacCon- nachie's devotion to the cause. Moreover in the fifteen years of his connection with the church he has never missed a service. He enjoys fishing and hunting but the only recre- ation he has are trips of a few hours around Redfield. He relates many amusing experiences of his boyhood in the hills of Scotland, has "the saving sense of humor" and is a most interesting talker, but at all times his priestly duties are his first thought.

THOMAS W. DELICATE.

Thomas W. Delicate, who is president of the Custer County Bank of Custer and is also identified with other interests in that county, was born in Johnson county, Illinois, on the 2d of July, 1867, the second of six children whose parents were Henry and Harriet (Bunney) Delicate, both natives of England, where they were reared and married. They settled in Illinois upon emigrating to the United States and the father, who was a Methodist minister, held a number of offices in that state, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in March, 1881, when he had reached the age of fifty-two years. His widow survived for over two decades, dying on the 22d of November, 1902.

Thomas W. Delicate attended school in his native county and later became a student in the high school at Nebraska City, Nebraska. When about sixteen years of age he found employment as clerk in a grocery store but continued to attend school, working out- side of school hours. After spending about two years in this way he removed with his mother to Nebraska City and attended high school there for one winter, after which he entered the employ of the Otoe County National Bank at that place and remained in that connection for three years. On the 30th of March, 1890, he removed to the Black Hills and in April of that year was instrumental in organizing the Custer County Bank and hecame its assistant cashier, the original charter heing dated about April 1, 1890. After serving faithfully as assistant cashier for a number of years and demonstrating his ability to direct the policy of the institution he was made cashier and in January, 1910. he was elected president of the institution. He has since continued in that capacity and is ranked among the judicious and able financiers of his county. He is also secretary and treasurer

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of the Custer Electric Light, Heating & Power Company, treasurer of the Eldorado Mutual Telephone Company and of the Custer Mutal Telephone Company. Since taking up his residence in Custer he has also found time to engage in the insurance business, handling both fire and life insurance and representing some of the best old line companies.

Mr. Delicate was married May 15, 1894, to Miss Pearl Maple, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Dr. J. B. Maple, whose hirth occurred in Jefferson county, Ohio, on the 7th of February. 1836. His parents, William R. and Nancy (Maple) Maple, were both born in Ohio, the father in 1800 and the mother in 1801. William R. Maple was a farmer by occupation and passed away in November, 1856, having survived his wife since September, 1854. They were the parents of nine children, of whom Dr. Maple was the fifth. After attending the district schools he became a student in the Mount Vernon Boarding School and subsequently attended the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio, for three years. He began his preparation for the medical profession there and subsequently entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where he attended the first course of medical lectures given in that institution. In 1877 he went to St. Louis and entered the Missouri Medical College, which conferred upon him the degree of M. D. in 1878. After practicing in Martinsburg, Illinois, for three years he went to Stonington, that state, where he remained for about ten years. He next removed to Sidney, Nebraska, and three years later went to Benkelman, Nebraska, where he remained for nine years. In July, 1891, he became a resident of Custer, South Dakota, where he died March 25, 1915. He was twice married, his first union being with Miss Libbie MeWhinney, a native of Illinois, who died in 1878. She had three children: Fannie, who died when four months old; Pearl, now Mrs. Delicate; and Dollie, now Mrs. Ward B. Clarke, of Chicago. For his second wife Dr. Maple wedded Mrs. Rebecca A. Zook, a native of Indiana, by whom he has a son, J. Boyce, born in 1896 and now engaged in fruit growing in California. By her first marriage Mrs. Maple was the mother of three children. Dr. Maple was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally was connected with the Owls and the Grand Army of the Republic. In June, 1862. he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was made corporal. Most of the time of his enlistment he was acting hospital steward. His political allegiance was given to the democratic party and while living at Sidney, Nebraska, he was medical examiner for the pension office. He was also superintendent of the board of health of Custer county for many years.

Mr. and Mrs. Delicate have two sons: Gerald B., whose birth occurred on the 17th of July, 1895, and who is attending Evanston Academy at Evanston, Illinois; and Denis A., born October 21, 1901, attending the public schools of Chicago. Mrs. Delicate resides in that city during the school year in order that the children may have the excellent advantages there offered.

Mr. Delicate is a republican, has served as treasurer of Custer and is now treasurer of the board of education. Fraternally he is quite well known as he is at present worthy master of Custer City Lodge, No. 66, A. F. & A. M., and is a thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to Black Hills Consistory, No. 3. In his life he exemplifies the high moral principles that are the foundation of the order. Moreover, he holds membership in Custer Lodge, No. 121. I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the offices, and the local camp of the Modern Woodmen of America. The Congregational church finds in him a loyal and consistent member and there is no organization nor movement that has as its object the welfare of the community that does not profit by his cooperation and support.

J. A. ROTT, M. D.

Although Dr. J. A. Rott has been located in practice in Big Stone City for only two years, yet he has gained a large praefice and stands well in the community which he has elected to make his home. He had the advantage of study in the old world, for he was born in Vienna, Austria, September 6, 1849, a son of Charles and Caroline (Wiesinger) Rott, who were likewise natives of Vienna and there spent their entire lives. The father was born in 1808, while the mother was six years his junior, her hirth having occurred in 1814. They were married in 1840 and became the parents of nine children, the son J. A. being the

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sixth in order of birth. The father acquired his education in Prague and received the LL. D. degree, after which he practiced as an attorney and also was chief justice. He became a well read man and gained a competence but through giving financial aid to a friend he lost all his means. Both he and his wife were communicants of the Catholic church, in the faith of which they died, the former in 1880 and the latter in 1866.

Dr. J. A. Rott was accorded the best educational advantages that were obtainable in the old world. He pursued a course in the University of Austria at Prague, later studied in Paris, France, and then at Vienna, where he was graduated in 1872. He then became an interne for four years in the General Hospital in Vienna, and for two years was in the Maternity Hospital there, while for one year he did work in the Childrens Hospital at that place. This gave him a practical knowledge of medicine and surgery, which, added to his knowledge gained in colleges, ranked him with the best read men in medicine in his locality. For fifteen years he engaged in practice in his native country, and then in 1887, believing that better opportunities awaited him in the United States, set sail for the new world. Landing in New York city, he there engaged in the practice of his profession during the succeeding four years, after which he went to Little Rock, Arkansas, and practiced six years. He next spent five years in Conway, that state, after which he spent a short time in Pukwana, South Dakota. He then removed to Eureka, where he continued in practice six years prior to his removal to Big Stone City, arriving there in 1913. During this brief period he has built up a good practice, for the general public recognizes his worth and ability and he has become one of the well known practitioners in this part of the state.

Dr. Rott was married, in 1896, to Miss Ada Francisco, of New York, at Minneapolis, Minnesota, the wedding ceremony being performed by Archbishop Ireland. They now have one son, Alfred, who is in school. Mrs. Rott is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics the Doctor is independent. In the line of his profession he has a creditable military record, for prior to his emigration to the new world he served in the army as a surgeon during the years 1878 and 1879. He also keeps in touch with the advance that is being made along the line of medicine and surgery through his membership in the Physicians and Surgeons Medical Society and the American Association of Progressive Medicine which is a society composed of thirty thousand surgeons of high rank throughout the United States. He is a man of culture and wide learning and his ability and skill have frequently been demonstrated in the successful handling of a number of complex medical problems. Although his residence in Big Stone City covers but a brief period he has already gained a wide acquaintance there and is highly esteemed not only as a practitioner but as a citizen and friend.

EDGAR LEWIS SMITH.

Edgar Lewis Smith, a prominent real-estate dealer of Sioux Falls, who has been closely connected with important business interests in the city for over a quarter of a century, was born in Cabot Plains, Washington county, Vermont, April 10, 1850. He is a son of Daniel and Betsey (Hassom) Smith, the former born in Marshfield, Vermont, in 1816, and the latter in 1811. His paternal grandfather, Joshua Smith, was born in 1773, and it is probable that he was a native of Connecticut, as was his wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Keturia Loveland. The grandfather passed away in 1857. The parents of our subject are also deceased, the father dying in 1893 in Marshfield, Vermont, and the mother in 1881. They had eight children, of whom two died in infancy, six grew to maturity and four survive.

Edgar Lewis Smith acquired his early education in the public schools of Cabot Plains and Marshfield, Vermont, and later attended Goddard Seminary at Barre, that state, from which institution he was graduated in 1872. He was afterward for some time engaged in teaching, following which he bought a small sawmill in Marshfield, operating this until 1884. In that year he removed to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and in 1885 established himself in the coal and wood business. Soon afterward he also began dealing in real estate, and this branch of his activities grew so rapidly that in 1898 he discontinued the coal and wood business. He owns a great deal of valuable property in Sioux Falls, including a business block in the heart of the city, and he is known as an expert judge of property values.

EDGAR L. SMITH

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On the 17th of May, 1879, in Marshfield, Vermont, Mr. Smith married Miss Viana E. Wooster, who died in Sioux Falls in June, 1904, leaving a daughter, Alice C., who is now deceased. On the 15th of July, 1908, Mr. Smith was again married, his second wife being Miss Nellie B. Jones.

Mr. Smith was a member of the Vermont State Militia in his early years; is connected fraternally with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Woodmen of the World; and is independent in his political views. His interests have been thoroughly identified with those of Sioux Falls for over twenty-five years and his influence has been a tangible force for good in the community.

JUNIUS N. MANLEY.

Junius N. Manley is the efficient sheriff of Grant county and is also connected with business interests of Milbank as the owner of a large livery barn. He was born in Richland county, Wisconsin, September 24, 1865, a son of Joseph and Olive (Salisbury) Manley. His paternal grandfather, Durias Manley, was born in Pennsylvania but emigrated to Wis- consin, where he was living at the time of his demise. The maternal grandfather, William Salisbury, was a native of New York but became a pioneer settler of Ohio, where his death occurred. Joseph Manley was born in Ohio in 1835 and was married in Wisconsin on the 4th of July, 1859, to Miss Salisbury, who was born in Summit county, Ohio. The father followed agricultural pursuits throughout his life and for several years resided in Wis- consin, where he removed in young manhood. In 1870, however, he went with his family to northwestern Iowa, making the journey with an ox-team. He continued to reside in that section until called by death. He was a democrat in politics and held a number of minor positions of trust. He was a loyal member of the Grand Army of the Republic, being eligible to that organization because of his service in the Civil war as a member of the Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 17

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