History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 20

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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On the 31st of October, 1897, Mr. Glood was united in marriage to Miss Cena Anderson, a daughter of L. H. Anderson. To them have been born four sons and four daughters, namely : Royal, Verne, Thorvald, Carl, Idalean, Gagmar, Marjorie and Clarabell, students in the public schools.

Mr. Glood and his family attend the Lutheran church, in which he holds membership, and he is also an Odd Fellow and a Royal Arch Mason, guiding his life by the teachings of those organizations, the fraternities, like the church, inculcating the highest standards of manhood.

SAMUEL U. COE.

As register of deeds of Custer county, Samuel U. Coe is making a record that is dis- tinctly creditable to himself and very satisfactory to his constituents. He is also connected with agricultural interests, as he owns a quarter section of excellent land in the county. Born in Independence, Buchanan county, Iowa, on the 5th of March, 1866, he is a son of David V. and Almira (Sufficool) Coe, natives of Ohio, who became early settlers of Buchanan county, Iowa. The father engaged in farming there until 1871, when he removed to Neliglı, Nebraska, and resided upon a homestead there for about three years. At the end of that time he turned his attention to the hotel business, conducting a hostelry in Neligh for six or seven years. Upon disposing of his interests in that con- nection he entered the lumber business, and some time later engaged in general mer- chandising. For many years he resided in Custer and other towns in South Dakota, but is now living retired in Neligh, where he is widely known. He erected a number of houses there and was for a long time actively connected with the financial and com- mercial expansion of the city. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in the Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served for one year, when he was honorably discharged on account of disability. His wife passed to her reward in 1906.

Samuel U. Coe, who is one of the older children in a family of ten, attended school at Neligh, Nebraska, and completed his education by a course at the Omaha Commercial College. When twenty years of age he became the manager of a country store in Holt county, Nebraska, and after remaining in that connection for about seven years removed to the Black Hills in 1890. He became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres thirty miles west of Custer and gave his attention to ranching until elected county auditor, which office he held for four years. He is now register of deeds, and as he is accurate and systematic, prompt and thoroughly reliable, the affairs of the office are in excellent hands. He still owns his land and supervises the raising of high grade stoek thereon.

Mr. Coe was married on the 27th of October, 1897, to Miss Olive M. Gurney, who was born at New Hampton, Iowa, a daughter of Julius H. and Sarah (Clark) Gurney, the latter a native of the state of New York. The father, who was an attorney by pro- Vol. V-8

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fession, removed to Neligh, Nebraska, with his family and there engaged in practice for a number of years. He was recognized as one of the leaders in the legal profession and for one term served as county judge. He also was identified with agricultural interests, as he was an extensive land owner. Both he and his wife have passed away, but their memory is yet cherished by those who knew them intimately. Mr. and Mrs. Coe had five children, Glenn M., Inez M., Ralph L., Sadie B. and Raymond, all attending school. On the 9th of May, 1913, the wife and mother passed away.

Mr. Coe is a republican and has been elected to a number of positions of responsibility and public trust. He has served as county assessor for one term, as deputy assessor for three terms, was county auditor for two terms, and is now register of deeds. He has always discharged his official duties with a sense of conscientious obligation, and his fellow citizens have the utmost confidence in his ability. Fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows lodge, of which he served as treasurer for two years, and he is a most loyal member of that order. He has the greatest faith in the future of his county and state and can always be dependend upon to do everything within his power to further the interests of Custer county and South Dakota.

JAMES L. PRATT.

James L. Pratt, publisher of the Elkton Record, of Elkton, Brookings county, is one of the oldest newspaper men in his section of the state and the oldest in his county as to the management of the same sheet. He was born in Allamakee county, Iowa, Sep- tember 13, 1856, the parental home being a log cabin with a big fireplace. Indians and wolves were frequently seen, the one being almost as wild as the other. His parents were Azel and Mary (Hersey) Pratt, both of whom were natives of Maine, but in 1848 removed to Iowa, where they became pioneer settlers, won prosperity and passed to the great beyond in 1881.

James L. Pratt was reared in his native county and acquired his early education in the select, distriet and public schools of Waukon, the county seat, the town having received its name from John Waukon, a grand old Indian chief. During his boyhood days, when not in school, Mr. Pratt worked with his father, who was a carpenter, receiving a penny a day during his early youth and ending his apprenticeship when sixteen years of age at three dollars per day. About that time Mr. Pratt became devil in a printing office, spending six months in that way in the office of the Postville (Ia.) Review. Later he engaged with the Standard, of Waukon, where he remained for four years, and later he looked after the welfare of the Waukon Democrat for another four years. He then returned to carpentering, which he followed for some time until called to Pipestone, Minne- sota, to take charge of the Republican of that city in 1882. He remained in connection with that paper until 1885, when he removed to the little town of Elkton, South Dakota, and purchased the Record, which had been launched a little more than a year before and which since 1885 has been owned and edited by Mr. Pratt.

Mr. Pratt is a true republican and has never felt that there was occasion to change his party connection. He has held many offices of trust, the duties of which have been promptly and creditably discharged. In fact, he has been a dominant factor in the repub- lican party in his section of the state for a number of years and has served as a delegate to both territorial and state conventions. He is prominent, too, in fraternal circles and uses the signs and passwords of nearly all the best known secret organizations.

On the 31st of March, 1880, Mr. Pratt was united in marriage to Miss Edith F. Wedgewood, who was born in Castalia, Iowa, and is a daughter of the late John M. Wedgewood, a prominent Baptist minister of his day. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt are the parents of six children. Ada M., a graduate of the Elkton high school, of the Cedar Valley Semi- nary at Osage, Iowa, the State Normal at Winona, Minnesota, and also of the Madison (Wis.) University, has made a success as a teacher, and efficiently filled the office of deputy county superintendent of schools of Brookings county. Jesse L. Pratt was grad- uated from the Elkton high school, the Osage Seminary and the Mankato (Minn.) Com- mercial College, and is now bookkeeper and accountant with the Parke & Grant Mercantile

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Company, of Watertown, South Dakota. Vern and Vera are twins, the former an electrician and the latter a teacher in the high school at Benson, Minnesota. Gladys is a graduate of the Elkton high school and graduated from the Madison (S. D.) Normal in 1915. Ruth is now in the eighth grade in the public schools of Elkton.

Mr. Pratt publishes an attractive paper, is well versed in every phase and form of newspaper art, has kept in touch with the trend of progress as manifest in modern jour- nalism and through the columns of his paper has been an efficient and influential advocate of public progress in Brookings county and municipal welfare in Elkton.

HENRY A. GEHM.

As cashier and director of the State Bank of Manchester, Henry A. Gehm is in a position to influence to a considerable extent the commercial and financial prosperity of Manchester and vicinity. He is one of the younger business men of the town, his birth having occurred on the 21st of October, 1887. His parents were John and Lucy Gehm, and the father was one of the first to take up land in Kingsbury county, preempting a quarter of section 30, township 110, range 56. He also entered a desert claim and for many years he operated his farm, but in 1914 retired from active life and is now residing at De Smet.

Henry A. Gehm attended the public schools and after completing the course there offered entered a business college at Fremont, Nebraska. After completing his preparation for a business life he entered the De Smet National Bank as bookkeeper and remained in that capacity for two and half years. He was then made cashier of the State Bank of Manchester, of which his father is president, and his brother, Robert Gehm, vice presi- dent. The executive officers are well fitted for their work and have instituted and main- tained a policy of conservatism tempered with progressiveness that neither endangers the funds on deposit through ill advised investment nor retards the normal progress of Man- chester and its vicinity by undue timidity. Henry A. Gehm, the cashier of the bank, has large voice in its management, bas developed financial acumen beyond his years and has also acquired a detailed knowledge of the routine of banking practice.

Mr. Gelim was married December 22, 1909, to Miss Florence Hennen, a daughter of Jerry Hennen, and to their union have been born a son and daughter, Edna and Kenneth. Mr. Gelim is a protestant, and in politics is identified with the progressive party. He is also a Mason and bis life is an embodiment of the spirit of the fraternity. He has the greatest faith in the future of South Dakota and does all within his power to hasten the healthy development of the state along all lines, and is known to his fellow citizens as one who is not bound by tradition, but, on the contrary, is progressive and willing to further new plans and movements that promise to better conditions.

WILLIAM MINOW.

William Minow, a highly esteemed and successful farmer of Bon Homme county, was born in the village of Letschin, Brandenburg, Prussia, February 23, 1844. As nearly as can be ascertained, the family is of Polish descent and the name was originally Von Minowski. The parents of our subject were Christian and Maria (Sommerfeld) Minow, who in 1869 emigrated to Ackley, Iowa, where the father passed away. The mother accom- panied William to South Dakota.

William Minow attended school for seven years during the summer and winter, and his only vacation periods were during the time of wheat harvest in August and the potato harvest in September. After putting aside his text-books he learned the blacksmith's trade and when the time came for him to serve in the army he was detailed to work in shops at Berlin, Cologne, Spandau and other large cities. Even during the war with Denmark in 1864, and with Austria in 1866, he did not have to serve in the field but worked in shops and arsenals, repairing cannon and other equipment. In 1868 he sailed from Hamburg on the Cymbria and after eleven days landed in New York. He made

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his way immediately to Ackley, Iowa, and there worked at his trade until 1878, when he removed to Dakota territory and settled on his present farm, on section 17, Albion pre- cinct, Bon Homme county. He bought a relinquishment and filed on his land as a home- stead claim, and subsequently purchased a quarter section adjoining, upon which his son now lives. The land was open prairie at the time that it came into his possession and he planted a grove and orchard as soon as possible. The trees are now large and he derives much pleasure from them, while the grove is a desirable protection against the wind, and the orchard supplies an abundance of fruit. He built as a residence a small frame house, which he has since enlarged, so that it is now one of the commodious homes in his county. He has labored untiringly and to good effect, seeking always the maximum efficiency in his work, and now has a comfortable competence.

Mr. Minow was married in Ackley, Iowa, to Miss Dorothy Meyer, a native of Hanover, Germany, and a daughter of August and Katherine (Meyer) Meyer, who, although of the same name, were not related. To Mr. and Mrs. Minow were born seven children: Amanda, who married Frank Smith, of Avon, this state; Frieda, the wife of George Smith, a farmer residing north of Avon; William, who married Miss Nola Shaver and who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Albion precinct; Edward, who married Lena Bangert and is oper- ating one of his father's farms; Ella and August, who are at home; and Louise, who is the wife of George Wheeler, a farmer of Albion precinct. Mrs. Minow passed away July 3, 1908.

Mr. Minow is a Lutheran and is a generous contributor to that church. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party and he served as deputy assessor for one term. His sterling worth and agreeable personality have won for him the friendship of many, and all who know him hold him in high respect.

HENRY J. STONE.

Henry J. Stone, who owns a barber shop in Custer and is also extensively interested m mining, was born on one of the Fox islands in Lake Michigan. When he was a child the family went to Chicago on a small vessel owned by his father, who later sold the ship and purchased a residence in Chicago but was not permitted to enjoy his new home long as he and a son and daughter all died in that city within a week of cholera. The mother sub- sequently returned with the remainder of the family to the island where our subject was born and was there married a second time, the ceremony being performed at the lighthonse. Mr. Stone of this review was about ten years of age when his mother and stepfather removed to Story county, Iowa, and not long afterward he and his sister left home as there was considerable friction between them and their stepfather. His sister was about twelve years of age at that time and lived with a farmer in Story county until her marriage. The mother and stepfather eventually removed to Minnesota, where she passed away a number of years later. She returned to Adams county to visit her daughter and our subject saw her then. A younger brother, George, remained with his mother and stepfather and our subject has never seen him since the removal of the family to Minnesota.

Mr. Stone of this review first resided with a Mr. French after leaving home and following the demise of that gentleman made his home with William Thompson, also a resident of Story county, for about six months. He then returned to the French home and assisted Mrs. French with the work of the place. Some time later he went to live with William Larrabee and upon their removal from Story county he went to the home of Eli French, a brother of the Mr. French with whom he had previously lived. Subsequently he made his home with a Mr. Evans but as he was not allowed to go to school he went to the home of a Mr. Cross, with whom he remained about nine months, during which time he attended school for about six weeks. Upon leaving that place he lived with a Mr. Kegley until the outbreak of the war. Mr. Stone was then a youth in his teens and became a member of Company D, Tenth Iowa Regiment, enlisting on the 26th of August, 1861. He served for over four years, heing mustered out at Little Rock, Arkansas, on the 15th of August, 1865. He then went to Boone county, Iowa, and worked upon a farm, thus providing for his support. He realized the need of a better education and attended school there for several winters, after which he

HENRY J. STONE

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attended the State Agricultural College during the first year of its existence. Upon leaving that institution he taught school for two terms, one term in Story county and one in Boone county, but in 1872 he abandoned teaching and went to Grand Island, Nebraska. He entered a claim in Merrick county, that state, and proved up on his land, residing there until about 1879. In that year he went to Sidney, South Dakota, and in 1880 he arrived in Rocker- ville, this state, where he remained until 1881, which year witnessed his removal to Custer. He opened a barber shop iu that city and has since owned and conducted it, his place of business remaining the same room throughout the intervening third of a century. He has built up a large business and derives therefrom a good income. He also owns stock in the Custer Electric Light, Heat & Power Company and is extensively interested in mining projects in Colorado and the Black Hills, also in oil at Newcastle, Wyoming, and has a third interest in the Glen Rock Mining Company, which owns valuable mines seven miles west of Custer.

Mr. Stone is independent in his political views, supporting the candidate whom he deems best fitted for the office in question without regard to his party ties. Since taking np his residence in Custer Mr. Stone has traveled extensively and has gained much valuable knowledge and experience from visiting various parts of the country. In 1886 he spent con- siderable time in California and in 1893 he visited the World's Fair in Chicago. In 1913 he traveled over a number of the southern states, including Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama, and continued his journey to Iowa, visiting a sister who resides at Mount Etna, Adams county, that state. He has also gone to Rhode Island and New York and has a knowledge of conditions in all sections of the country. His success is the more creditable when the fact is considered that he has been dependent upon his own resources since about ten years of age and that everything that he has accomplished has been the result of his own efforts and ambition. The qualities of perseverance, determination and courage are everywhere admired but are deemed especially worthy of praise in the west and Mr. Stone is deservedly held in high regard in Custer.

BENEDICT E. NELSON.

Benedict E. Nelson, who has resided on his farm in Buffalo township, Minnenaha county, for the past thirty-seven years, was the first settler in his section and now owns six hundred and forty acres of valuable land which he cultivates with the assistance of his sons. His birth occurred in Norway on the 20th of March, 1852, his parents being Nels Z. and Olena Begorset, both of whom are deceased. The father followed farming throughout his active business career.

Benedict E. Nelson acquired his early education in the common schools of his native land and continned his studies in the United States, emigrating to this country in 1871, when a young man of nineteen years. He first took up his abode in Dane county, Wis- consin, and there worked as a farm hand for seven years. On the expiration of that period, in 1878, he came to South Dakota, locating on his present place in Buffalo township, Minnehaha county, on the 21st of May of that year. He preempted and filed on a tree claim and subsequently added two quarter sections to his holdings, so that he now owns six hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land. Mr. Nelson operates the prop- erty with the assistance of his sons, and also devotes considerable attention to live stock, keeping eighty head of cattle, one hundred head of hogs and eighty head of sheep. He utilizes the latest improved machinery in the work of the fields and employs modern methods in the cultivation of his land. His was the first house erected in Buffalo town- ship, and part of the structure is still standing. As the years have gone by he has won a gratifying measure of prosperity in the able management of his agricultural interests, and he has long been numbered among the successful, representative and esteemed citizens of his community.

On May 18, 1879, Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Christina Johnson, her parents being Hendrick and Carrie Johnson, who took up their ahode in Wisconsin in 1848 and who have passed away. Our subject and his wife have the following children: Nora,

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who gave her hand in marriage to Moses Erdahl; and Oscar Lewis, Clarence and Benjamin, all of whom are at home.

In politics Mr. Nelson is a stanch republican. He has served at intervals as chair- man of the township board, has been treasurer of the school board for a period of twenty years, and has also acted in the capacity of road overseer, ever discharging his official duties in a prompt and able manner. He is a trustee of St. Jacob's Lutheran church, to which his wife also belongs. Mr. Nelson is one of the oldest pioneers of his locality and has seen it developed from a frontier region into a district inhabited by an industrious, prosperous, enlightened and progressive people.

D. A. FORD.

D. A. Ford, a well known merchant of Hill City, is a native of Canada, born on Prince Edward Island, on the 24th of September, 1854, of the marriage of John and Jane (McDon- ald) Ford, both also born in that province. The father was a shipironer by trade and took contracts in that line of work. He also owned and operated a farm and was an energetic and capable man. He and his wife remained lifelong residents of Prince Edward Island.

D. A. Ford, who was the third in a family of seven children, attended school in his native province. When twenty years of age he came to the States, locating in Boston, and there worked at the carpenter's trade for about three years. His next removal was to Otsego county, Michigan, where he continued to follow that trade, and for ten years he engaged in contracting there. In 1889 he removed to Rapid City, South Dakota, and after spending about two months there made his way to Hill City during the tin boom. He was a painting and decorating contractor for a number of years and then, purchasing a stock of general merchandise, has since 1902 devoted his entire time to the building up of his trade. He carries goods of high quality and as his prices are reasonable and his business methods open and above board, he is rewarded by a patronage that is constantly increasing in volume.

Mr. Ford was married on the 25th of February, 1888, to Miss Sadie C. Teese, a native of Goderich, Canada, and a daughter of John T. and Katherine (Buchanan) Teese, both for many years 'residents of Scotland. Mr. and Mrs. Ford have four children: Lela, deceased; Galen G., who is operating a stock ranch; Orville, who is in partnership with bis brother Galen G .; and Melva, the wife of Clayton P. Wilson, who is engaged in the grocery business in Rapid City. Mr. Ford is a republican and is at present serving his ward as alderman, but has never held any other political office. He belongs to Hill City Lodge, No. 112, A. F. & A. M., in which he has held all of the chairs; also to the chapter, and commandery, of Rapid City; and to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In 1912 he was a delegate to the Grand Lodge of Masons at Pierre and he has also represented his district in the grand lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His prominence in those organizations indicates his popularity and his warm social nature, while the respect in which he is held in the business circles of Hill City testifies to his ability and integrity.

ALFRED C. FOGLESONG.

Alfred C. Foglesong is conducting business as a hardware and implement merchant in Tulare. He was horn January 9, 1884, in the vicinity of the town in which he now makes his home, his parents being Henry C. and Sophia (Lips) Foglesong, who reside in Belmont township, Spink county, about eight miles east of Tulare on what is known as the old family homestead. The father was one of the pioneer settlers and became one of the prominent residents of the county, taking an active and helpful part in all that pertained to the welfare and upbuilding of his district.

Alfred C. Foglesong was a pupil in the rural schools of Belmont township and continued his education at Charles City, Iowa, but left school at the age of nineteen years and returned to the old home farm, upon which he remained until he reached the age of twenty-two years.

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He then established a general store in Tulare which he conducted for about four years and on the expiration of that period was appointed postmaster of Tulare. At the same time he began dealing in hardware and farm implements and is now conducting a growing and gratifying business in that line of trade. He studies the needs and wishes of his patrons and the honorable and reliable methods which be inaugurated have been strong elements in his success. For nine years he was connected with the postoffice either as assistant postmaster or as postmaster, and held the latter position until 1915.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 20

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