History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 25

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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Returning to his native state. Mr. Johnson settled in Watertown, where he practiced as the assistant of Mr. McFarland until November, 1912, when he was admitted to a partnership under the present firm style of MeFarland & Johnson. He is yet a young man but already he has attained a creditable position at the bar and his abiltiy is developing year by year and month by month as he takes charge of important cases, for which he always makes thor- ough preparation before entering the courts.

On the 20th of June, 1914, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Mahren Finnerud, a daughter of H. M. and Mary Alice Finnerud. of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. The young couple are well known and popular in the city where they reside. Mr. Johnson is an Episcopalian in faith, while his wife holds membership in the Congregational

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church. Fraternally he is connected with the Elks and politically with the republican party. Fishing, hunting and motoring are his chief sources of recreation but he never allows out- side interests to interfere with the faithful performance of his professional duties and he is winning for himself a well earned reputation by reason of his fidelity to his clients' interests.

LE ROY ANGEL, M. D.

Dr. Le Roy Angel, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Montrose, was born at Moravia, Ohio, on the 15th of April, 1884. His parents are Le Roy Scott and Louise (Pabst) Angel, both of whom are living in Colorado, where the father is engaged in the real- estate business. After enjoying the advantages afforded in the public schools Dr. Angel attended Fremont College of Nebraska, where he pursued a scientific course and also the pharmaceutical course, being graduated upon the completion of the former in 1904 and of the latter in 1905. He next entered the medical department of the Northwestern University at Chicago, where he pursued the regular four years course, and was graduated in June, 1910. He then had the benefit of two years' experience in Mercy Hospital at Chicago, where he put his theoretical knowledge to the practical test and gained that broad and varied experience which only hospital service can bring. Thus splendidly equipped for his chosen life work, he came to South Dakota in 1912 and opened his office in Montrose. Here he has met with a fair measure of success, gaining a goodly share of the public patronage. He belongs to the Sioux Valley Medical Association and he keeps in touch with the advanced thought of the profession through wide reading of medical journals and late publications.

On the 12th of June, 1912, Dr. Angel was united in marriage to Miss Irene McAuffie, a daughter of James and Anna McAuffie, of New York, and they have one son, James Lee. Dr. Angel is a Presbyterian in religious faith, while his wife is a communicant of the Catholic church. His political support is given to the democratic party, but he has neither time nor melination for office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his professional duties and through close and undivided attention to his chosen life work he is making steady advance- ment and has already gained a measure of success that many an older practitioner might well envy.

ANTON MORGEN.

Wisconsin has furnished to South Dakota a large percentage of her citizens of worth- men who have come from families that display energy and enterprise among their chief characteristics. Of this class Anton Morgen is a worthy representative and Spink county numbers him among her wide-awake and progressive farmers. He owns an excellent tract of land of three hundred and twenty acres in Mellette township, upon which he has resided for a considerable period. He dates his residence in this state from 1884, at which time his parents removed with their family from Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, to South Dakota. His father, Nicholas Morgen, was a native of Germany and in his boyhood crossed the Atlantic to the new world with his parents. He made farming his life work, carrying on general agricultural pursuits in Wisconsin until 1884, when he brought his family to Spink county and proved up upon a claim northeast from Mellette. In early manhood he had wedded Margaret Gau, also a native of Germany, whence she came to the new world in her girlhood days. For a considerable period they traveled life's journey together, but were separated by the death of the wife on the 18th of June, 1903, her remains being interred in the Aberdeen Cemetery. Mr. Morgen survives and is now living in Warner, South Dakota, at the ripe old age of eighty years.

Their son, Anton Morgen, was born March 28, 1877, in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, and was therefore but seven years of age when brought by his parents to this state. He became a pupil in the district school near the old home, devoting the major part of his time there to the mastery of the common branches of learning until he reached the age of fourteen years. He afterward assisted his father in farm work until twenty years of age

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and later he rented a farm for two years. He next purchased one hundred and sixty acres and, extending its boundaries, has become owner of three hundred and twenty acres in Mellette township, Spink county. He has also bought one hundred and sixty acres in Brown county and is devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits. The work which he does is fraught with good results, both in the cultivation of his erops and in the raising of stock. He keeps upon his place about eighteen head of horses, thirty head of cattle and other stock and his farm is well equipped in every particular. He is also a stockholder in the elevator at Mellette.

In Redfield, on the 22d of October, 1901, Mr. Morgen was united in marriage to Miss Emma Wheelock, a daughter of Everett and Agnes Wheelock, the former a pioneer miller who built the mill in Kampeska and also the mill in Watertown. After running the latter for some time he returned to Kampeska, where both he and his wife are now residing. Mr. and Mrs. Morgen have five children: Wallace, Frederick and Harold, all of whom are attend- ing school; and Paul and Grace, at home.

In his political views Mr. Morgen is a republican and his religious faith is that of the Catholic church. A life of unremitting toil has brought to Mr. Morgen the substantiat measure of success which he now enjoys and which is the fitting reward and logical outcome of his capable business management. He has made improvements on two different farms, erecting good buildings, setting out trees and cultivating the fields. Thus he has contributed to the general development of Spink county, which numbers him among her worthy pioneer settlers. Here he has lived from the age of seven years to the present time and his sub- stantial qualities have gained for him the friendship and high regard of those whom he has met all along the way.

OLAF MELBY.

For the past ten years Olaf Melby has been successfully engaged in business as the proprietor of a drug store and implement shop at Summit, conducting the only establish- ments of the kind in the town. His birth occurred in Norway on the 7th of February, 1883, his parents being Ole and Ingeborg Melby, who were born in the years 1840 and 1845, respectively, and were married in 1863. They emigrated to the United States in 1890 and took up their ahode at Westhy, Wisconsin, where they have resided continuously to the present time. Olaf Melby, Sr., worked as a shoemaker throughout his active business career and is now living retired in the enjoyment of well earned rest, having won a gratifying com- petence. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, while his religions faith is indicated by his membership in the United Lutheran church. In manner he is quiet and unassuming, but the sterling traits of his character have been manifest in various relations and have gained him the regard and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact. To him and his wife have been born ten children, eight of whom survive.

Olaf Melby, the seventh in order of birth in his father's family, was a lad of seven years when he accompanied his parents on the voyage to the United States. He supplemented his early education by a grammar-school course at Bloomingdale, Wisconsin, and subse- quently entered the School of Pharmacy of Valparaiso University at Valparaiso, Indiana, from which institution he was graduated in 1905. He was president of his class which indi- vates his high standing among his classmates. He seeured a position as clerk in a drug store of Wisconsin but later in the same year located in Summit, South Dakota, and there pur- chased the drug store of Clay Carpenter, having since conducted the same with excellent success. This is the only drug store in the town and he is likewise the proprietor of the only implement shop in Summit. In hoth lines he is accorded an extensive and well merited patronage, having gained an enviable reputation as an enterprising, reliable and progressive merchant.

In 1907 Mr. Melby was united in marriage to Miss Pauline Unseth, of Westby, Wiscon- sin, by whom he has two sons, Orville and Lyman, who are six and three years of age re- spectively. He exereises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy and has been an active worker in the local ranks of the party, while for five years he has ably served in the capacity of town clerk. Both he and his wife attend the services

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of the Lutheran church, and fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen. Though still a young man, he has already made a record in business circles which augurs well for a future of continued and growing prosperity.

HON. CHAUNCEY LYNCH WOOD.

Hon. Chauncey Lynch Wood, lawyer and prominent pioneer of Rapid City, ranked with its leading and valued residents from the days of its early development until his death. He was born April 21, 1851, in Jones county, Iowa, of which his parents were pioneers. His father was a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, and the mother of Tennessee, while both dated their American ancestry back to colonial days. The son acquired his early educa- tion in Jones county, in the meanwhile working with his father upon the home farm. He afterward attended Cornell College at Mount Vernon, Iowa, and, thinking to make the practice of law his life work, entered upon preparation for the bar in the Iowa State Uni- versity, from which he was graduated with the class of 1875.

Mr. Wood then taught school for a time but in 1877 began practice at Anamosa, lowa, where he remained until April, 1878, when he arrived in Rapid City, Dakota, where he joined the Hon. J. W. Nowlin, who had made his way to the Black Hills the previous year. Accord- ing to an agreement of their college days that they would practice in partnership as soon as the opportunity offered, they formed the firm of Nowlin & Wood and continued together successfully, their practice growing rapidly, while they advanced in prominence until they reached a foremost place at the bar of their county. Their relationship was maintained until Mr. Nowlin was selected for the position of first judge of the seventh circuit court of South Dakota in 1889. Mr. Wood was then alone for a time but was afterward joined by Judge C. J. Buell in a partnership that was maintained for twelve years. In 1902 he again resumed practice alone and was found on one side or the other of most of the important litigation coming before the courts in the western part of South Dakota and also practiced extensively in the United States courts. He won distinction as a most capable advocate and a trial lawyer of unusual skill, and he was noted for the eloquence, terseness and logie of his pleas.

From 1895 until 1900 Mr. Wood was special assistant United States attorney and in that capacity had charge of the litigation arising out of timber elaims in which the govern- ment was involved. In 1883 he was a member of the voluntary constitutional convention and also of the convention of 1889, which framed the present state constitution. In those connections he gave most thoughtful and earnest consideration to the grave questions and problems which came up for settlement and his influence was always on the side of the general public looking to the further development and welfare of the state.

A life long democrat, Mr. Wood was many times honored by his party with the candi- dacy for various important public posts. In 1893 he was the democratic nominee for judge of the supreme court and in 1892 was candidate for United States congress. His party being in the minority, however, he was unsuccessful in the contest. In 1894 he was elected mayor of Rapid City, was reelected in 1899 and in 1898 was chosen state's attorney for Pennington county. In 1910 he was his party's candidate for governor of South Dakota and his opinions always carried weight in the democratic councils. while many of the opposition recognized the integrity and public spirit of his citizenship. During his service as mayor of Rapid City the plan of paying the expense of the city government from a special fund was devised and in other connections his ministration was most businesslike, progressive and beneficially resultant. Outside of his professional interests he had large property holdings and was extensively engaged in the raising of cattle. He also had large investments in ranch lands, in mining properties and in city real estate.

In 1885 Mr. Wood was married to Miss Ruth Robinson, and to them were born two sons, Ben M. and Buell R. Mrs. Wood passed away July 4, 1887 and Mr. Wood died in Seattle, Washington, January 16, 1911. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, prominent in lodge, chapter, commandery and Mystic Shrine. He loved and believed in Rapid City, the Black Hills country and the great state of South Dakota and worked untiringly for public benefit. He devoted his time, money and energies to the advance and promotion of the

HON. CHAUNCEY L. WOOD

BEN M. WOOD

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interests of his city, county and state, and few men took a more prominent or helpful part in the upbuilding of the Black Hills district. He was a generous and loyal friend and ever held friendship inviolable. He was a genial, generous, kindly and inimitable story teller and was the life of any social gathering in which he was present. When death called him the deepest regret was manifest on every side. His funeral was the most impressive ever held in the history of Rapid City and was a fitting expression of the high regard in which he was held by the host of friends who had for so many years looked upon him as their ideal of manhood.

BEN M. WOOD.

Ben M. Wood is prominently identified with a movement that is a significant factor in advancing modern civilization. Not only in South Dakota hut throughout various other parts of the country is he known as an advocate of good roads and one whose study has covered every phase of the question. In Rapid City, where he makes his home, he is per- haps best known as junior partner in the law firm of Cull & Wood, his partner being Loomis S. Cull. This does not cover the scope of his activities, however, for he is entitled to three- fold prominence, being a recognized leader of the democratic party in South Dakota. He would have been the democratic candidate for mayor under the commission plan had not his age prevented, for be is yet one of the young men of the state, his birth having occurred in the city where he still makes his bome, March 25, 1887. His father was the late Chauncey L. Wood, who was again and again elected to the mayoralty of Rapid City and who in 1910 was the democratic candidate for governor. Moreover, he was recognized as a lawyer of profound learning, and his example has been the stimulating influence in the life of his son.

The youthful days of Ben M. Wood were devoted to the acquirement of an education in Kansas, Missouri and South Dakota, and in preparation for law practice he entered the Uni- versity of South Dakota, from which he was graduated in 1910, the LL. B. degree being at that time conferred upon him. He at once became the professional associate of his father, but their connection was terminated by the sudden death of the senior partner in January, 1911. Mr. Wood took over his father's law practice and remained alone until September, 1912, when he entered into partnership with Judge Loomis S. Cull under the present firm style of Cull & Wood. His ability to solve intricate law problems and present his cause with clearness and force are qualities which are bringing him more and more to the front as a practitioner. It is in connection with political affairs and the good roads movement, however, that Mr. Wood is most widely known outside of his home town. Interested in the political situation and questions of the day from early manhood, he has become a recognized leader in the state and in 1912 was elected temporary and afterward made permanent chairman of the democratic state convention held at Pierre on the 31st of January. That was the larg- est democratic gathering ever held in the state and on that occasion his friends strongly urged him to become a candidate for the office of attorney general on the democratic ticket, but he refused. In fact, he has steadily refused to accept proffered county and state offices, preferring that his public service shall be done as a private citizen. In April, 1912, he organized the Western South Dakota Fair Association, capitalized for fifty thousand dol- lars, of which he was the secretary, and its success is primarily due to his efforts. It has been a stimulating influence in holding high standards before the people and is an incentive for progressive effort along all lines of industrial, commercial and agricultural activity. Mr. Wood recognized its possibilities for far-reaching effectiveness and his work in that con- nection has been indeed resultant.

In 1912 the question of good roads was becoming one of wide interest in the state and in March Mr. Wood was selected as a delegate to the convention which formed the South Dakota Scenic Highway Association, of which he was chosen secretary. Up to that time he had taken little active interest in the question of good roads. but he never enters upon any work blindly and he began to read extensively all the literature that he could procure upon the subject and his earnest interest and enthusiasm were aroused. Nature gifted him with oratorical power and his ability in this direction made his addresses upon the subject of good roads of great interest so that his services were soon in demand wherever the Vol. V-10

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question was being discussed. On the 21st of August, 1912, at Pierre, the South Dakota Good Road Association was organized and Mr. Wood was unanimously selected as secretary. Ou the same occasion Governor Vessey appointed him as his personal representative on the pathfinder tour from Winnipeg to Galveston over the Meridian highway, but he was unable to make the trip because of the responsibility attendant upon the management and launch- ing of the Western South Dakota State Fair. Prior to the assembling of the thirteenth session of the state legislature he devoted several months to careful study and preparation of a good road law for South Dakota, which eventually was passed. In 1913 he organized a pathfinder party to tour the transcontinental route from Chicago to the Yellowstone Park, which is known as the Black and Yellow Trail. He went upon the Chautauqua platform as a speaker upon the subject of good roads, appearing in thirteen different states, and every- where he has been listened to with interest and attention. He is a fluent speaker, possesses a large. vocabulary and a pleasing address. On July 1, 1913, he was appointed to the long term on the South Dakota State Highway Commission, by Governor Frank M. Byrne.

That Mr. Wood possesses the confidence of his fellow townsmen was shown in their efforts to make him a candidate for the mayoralty in the fall of 1912, but the age limit, prescribed by the statutes of the state for mayors elected under the commission form of government was twenty-six and Mr. Wood lacked three months of having attained that age. He was consequently barred from the office, but whether in office or out of it there is no question as to Mr. Wood's public spirit and his devotion to the general good. He stands preeminently for progress and, attacking everything with a contagious enthusiasm, he wins for his cause a large following. In the political campaign of 1914 he was intimately asso- ciated with the candidacy of Hon. Harry L. Gandy, who by his successful election stands as the first democrat to be elected to congress from the state of South Dakota.

GEORGE B. LA CROIX.

George B. La Croix, conducting business as a dealer in farm implements at Mellette. opened his store in 1909. In the intervening period he has built up a good trade, having the patronage of a large surrounding territory. He has lived in South Dakota since 1885, com- ing to the west from Forestville. New York, where he was born on the 21st of September, 1863. His father, Alexander La Croix, was a native of France and from that country came to the United States. He was married in New York and his wife's maiden name was Fuller. In early life he learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for many years, utilizing it as a source of income for himself and family. With the outbreak of the war with Mexico in the '40s he joined the army to defend the interests of this country and again he enlisted under the stars and stripes for service in the Union army during the Civil war. No native son of America was more loyal or devoted to its interests and when he passed away in 1903 at the venerable age of eighty-five years and was laid to rest in a cemetery at Forestville, New York, the community mourned the loss of one of its valuable and honored citizens. His widow now resides in Lancaster, Ohio.

George B. La Croix acquired his education in the country schools of the Empire state, pursuing his studies to the age of fourteen years. He then began work upon his father's farm and continued actively therein until he had attained his majority. He then came to South Dakota and was employed at farm labor during the first year. He afterward rented land and started to buy and sell stock at Mellette, in which he has been engaged for the past two decades, successfully following the business at the present time. In 1909 he established his farm implement business and his fair prices and earnest efforts to please his patrons have gained for him a gratifying measure of prosperity.

On the 1st of September, 1887. at Mellette, Mr. La Croix was married to Miss Winnie Lee, a danghter of Jacob and Sarah Lee. The former was a hotel proprietor and died at Long Beach, California, and his remains were brought back to Mellette for interment. His widow survives and still makes her home at Long Beach. Mr. and Mrs. La Croix have a daughter. Hazel, who is a graduate of the Mellette high school and of the Comnoch school at Los Angeles, California, in which city she makes her home with her grandmother.

Mr. La Croix is an exemplary representative of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows

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and of the Masonic fraternity and in the latter has advanced to the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is in thorough sympathy with the purposes of the craft, which recognizes the brotherhood of mankind. Politically be is a democrat and has filled the office of deputy sheriff and marshal of Mellette. Throughout his entire life he has depended solely upon his own efforts, never having the assistance of inherited wealth or of influential friends. He early realized that industry is the key that unlocks the portals to prosperity and his has been a very active life, in which diligence and determination have brought to him the merited reward of labor.

PAUL DUTCHER.

There are few who have had a more potent influence in shaping public thought and action, particularly along political lines, than has Paul Dutcher of Brookings, who is owner and editor of the Register. His paper has done much to mold public opinion and in indi- vidual effort, too, he has aided in shaping the policy that has molded the destiny of terri- tory and state. He was born August 9, 1863, at Stoughton, Dane county, Wisconsin, a son of Curtis E. and Lucinda C. (Mattice) Dutcher, the former born in May, 1831, and the latter September 25, 1831. The mother survives and now makes her home with her son, W. E. Dntcher, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, hut the father passed away when his son Paul was hut nine years of age.

The latter was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin but necessity compelled him early to earn his living and at the age of fifteen years he entered the employ of Cramer, Aikens & Cramer, publishers of the Evening Wisconsin at Milwaukee. This was his initial step in the field of journalism and at the age of nineteen, in company with his brother, he took over the Waterloo Journal, which they published for about two years. Mr. Dutcher then came west in August. 1884, and located in the town of Clark in Dakota territory. The same fall he purchased and became the publisher of the Raymond Gazette in the western part of Clark county. He made it an organ of the republican party and was quite active and influential in territorial politics, serving as a delegate to the last territorial convention, held at Jamestown, now North Dakota. He was also a delegate from Clark county to the first republican convention of South Dakota, held at Huron. The notable feature of this convention was the placing of a prohibition plank in the platform and it carried with it Mr. Dutcher's vote. Always an admirer and stanch friend of the Hon. Carl G. Sherwood, now judge of the third circuit, Mr. Dutcher assisted in his election as a delegate to the constitu- tional convention of 1885 and afterward as the first state senator from Clark county.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 25

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