History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 29

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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Charles A. Christopherson attended the Amherst public schools, also pursuing the high- school branches, and later he attended the business and normal school at Sioux Falls. Deciding upon the practice of law as a life work, he began reading with that end in view and in 1893 was admitted to the bar. The following year he entered upon the active work of the pro- fession, practicing alone nntil 1913, when he admitted Fredolph H. Melquist to a partnership under the firm style of Christopherson & Melquist. They engage in the general practice of law, and their clientage is now large and of a distinctively representative character.

On the 30th of November, 1897, Mr. Christopherson was married to Miss Abhie Deyoe, a daughter of James P. and Jennie (Yorker) Deyoe, both of whom were natives of the Empire

CHARLES A. CHRISTOPHERSON

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state. Removing westward, they settled in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where for many years the father carried on merchandising. Their daughter was born and reared in Cedar Falls. To Mr. and Mrs. Christopherson have been born two children, Wanda M. and Charles A.

The republican party counts Mr. Christopherson as one of its strongest indorsers where state and national issues are involved; at local elections he votes independently, considering only the capability of the candidate and not his partisan connections. He was a member of the house of representatives of the thirteenth general assembly of South Dakota and made an excellent record as one of the lawmakers of the state. He was reelected to that position, becoming a member of the fourteenth legislative assembly, and was unanimously indorsed by the republican caucus as their nominee for speaker of the house, and at the opening of the session on the 5th of January, 1915, was elected speaker, in which capacity he served through- out that session. For six years he served as a member of the Sioux Falls school board and for three years was its president. In Masonry he has attained the Knights Templar degree of the York Rite, the thirty-second degree, K. C. C. H., of the Scottish Rite, and has become a Noble of the Mystic Shrine and is a past grand high priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of this state. He belongs also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Elks and the Knights of Pythias, and in all the local bodies of these organizations has filled practi- cally all of the chairs. He is likewise a member of the Dacotah, Minnehaha, Country and Commercial Clubs and of the Congregational church, associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct. His influence is always on the side of right and progress, and he has done much to uphold the legal and political status of his section of the state and further its intellectual and moral upbuilding.

JUDGE JAMES M. HODGSON.

The members of the legal profession occupy an important place in society, and the inter- ests of life, liberty and justice are largely entrusted to their care. A community therefore is to be congratulated when the members of its bench or bar are men not only of ability but also of integrity. Such a man is Judge James M. Hodgson, who for a number of years has practiced his profession at Deadwood. He was born at Leeds, England, on the 3d of June, 1870, a son of Joseph and Hannah (Brown) Hodgson. The mother was born in Leeds in 1836 and the father in the same locality in 1831. He accompanied his parents to America when he was about twelve years of age and the family located near Winchester, Illinois, where they remained for about eight years. At the end of that time they returned to Eng- land, excepting an older brother, John Hodgson, who remained in Brooklyn, In 1881 Joseph Hodgson came again to America, locating in Butte county, South Dakota. in July of that year. He settled upon a ranch and there remained until his death, which occurred on the 7th of December, 1884, his widow surviving until January 12, 1892. They were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this review was the sixth in order of birth.

James M. Hodgson after coming to this country lived for several years upon farms about thirty-five miles from Deadwood. He then went into the law office of Charles W. Brown, remaining there for two years as an assistant, reading law in the meantime. He next went to Omaha. where he was employed in the states attorney's office of Douglas county for two years, In 1898 he returned to Deadwood and hecame connected with the law firm of Temple & MeLaughlin, with whom he remained for a year. In 1899 he went to Colorado and prae- ticed his profession for three years, after which he was so engaged for four years in Omaha. In 1906 he returned to Deadwood and in the intervening years has acquired an extensive and representative clientage, as he prepares his cases with great care, providing for all possible contingencies, and is foreible in the presentation of his canse before the court. He has in- vested quite heavily in real estate and owns a large stock ranch in Butte county. South Dakota.

Mr. Hodgson was married in January. 1902. to Margaret Rogers. a native of Perth- shire, Scotland, and a daughter of Frank and Margaret (MeGregor) Rogers, both natives of Scotland. They came to the United States many years ago and located in Ogdensburg, New York. The father was a farmer and passed away in that state. The family subse- quently removed to Missouri and the mother passed away in Trenton, Missouri. Mrs. Hodg-

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son is the youngest of two children born to her parents and was but three years of age when her father died. Mr. and Mrs. Hodgson have two children: Ellen Adelaide Clifford and Joseph Beresford Hodgson. Fraternally Judge Hodgson belongs to the Elks and the Masons. On November 3, 1914, he was elected county judge of Lawrence county on the republican ticket, having been a lifelong republican.

FRANK L. KRAMER.

Frank L. Kramer, a well known business man of Chamberlain, was born on the 23d of May, 1886, a son of M. M. and Kate C. Kramer, who came to South Dakota thirty-five years ago. The father established the Kramer Mercantile Company many years ago and is still the president of that concern.

Frank L. Kramer was educated in the public and high schools of his native city and after putting aside his text-books organized the Chamberlain Wholesale Grocery Company, of which he has been the president since its organization. In 1906 the concern was incorporated with a capital of sixty thousand dollars and since its inception it has invariably paid good dividends. It is an important factor in the commercial life of Chamberlain and Brule county and Mr. Kramer deserves much credit for its organization and successful conduct. He is also active in the management of the Kramer Mercantile Company, of which his father is president.

Mr. Kramer was married on the 6th of October, 1910, to Miss Louie Cook, a daughter of Walter Cook. Mr. Kramer is a Catholic and holds membership in Maher Council, K. C. His wife is an adherent of the Congregational church. Mr. Kramer is a stockholder in the National Life Insurance Company of Pierre and is a valued member of the Commercial Club, of which he has served as secretary, being in hearty sympathy with the efforts of that organization to stimulate the business growth of Chamberlain and its vicinity. He is pro- gressive in all things and has the respect of his fellow citizens not only as an able business man but also as a gentleman whose integrity has never been questioned and whose courtesy is unfailing.

GEORGE NELSON BREED.

George Nelson Breed was born near Bloomington, Wisconsin, October 16, 1857. At the age of sixteen years he entered the office of the Advocate, a newspaper published at Lan- caster, Wisconsin, as an apprentice. A year later the Advocate suspended and he secured employment with M. P. Rindlaub on the Platteville Witness, with which paper he was con- nected for three years. He afterward worked as a printer at Galesburg, Illinois, and at River Falls and Brodhead, Wisconsin, and after coming to Brookings, South Dakota, on the 26th of October, 1880, he worked on the Press. During that memorable winter of deep snow, blizzards and blockades, with the consequent deprivations, Mr. Breed twice made trips to Aurora, a distance of six miles and return, to secure paper on which to print the Press. He organized the first temperance society in Brookings county and was otherwise connected with the moral progress and uplift of the community, being elected the second Sunday-school superintendent in Brookings at a time when all denominations met together in the Methodist Episcopal church. With almost every feature of benefit in the life of the community he was connected. He was a member of the first cornet band in the city, organized in 1882, and the same year he launched the Brookings County Sentinel, which he sold but afterward bought back and merged with the Brookings Register, which he started in 1890. In 1907 he organized the Register Publishing Company and also began the publication of the Min- nesota and Dakota Farmer, which had a phenomenal growth under his able management. In 1908 he was appointed postmaster of Brookings and held the office for four years. He devoted his entire time to his duties and assisted in the organization of the Tri-State Post- masters' Association, composed of postmasters of Minnesota and North and South Dakota. Of this he was elected the president. In the establishment of the handsome new postoffice

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building in Brookings he had all the preliminary details to work out for the department. His record as postmaster is an enviable one and he left the service with a splendid reputation for initiative and efficiency. In 1913 he launched the South Dakota Home Messenger, making this the fourth newspaper which he had started in his city, where he has resided continu- ously for thirty-five years.

Men who are aggressive, even though unselfish in their motives, always have enemies. This criterion holds good in the subject of this sketch. His fight against the saloons, which were dispensed with by the city twenty-five years ago and have since been kept out, his fight for the municipal ownership of all publie utilities, including the electrie lighting, telephone, waterworks and central steam-heating systems, have proven a boon to the city and furnish revenues for public improvements. All these have received his determined support against the strongest opposition of those who were personally interested in controlling them. He has never faltered, however, in his course for the benefit and upbuilding of Brookings and the advancement of its interests along material, intellectual and moral lines and also the line of social reform and civic progress. Mr. Breed was a representative for Brookings county at the first convention held for statehood in Sioux Falls and also attended the pioneer edi- torial association held at Huron, November 16, 1882. It would be impossible to measure the extent of his influence, but the work has gone forward and the public acknowledges its indebtedness to him for his untiring and resultant efforts.

WALLACE J. LOUCKS.

Wallace J. Loucks is a representative business man of MeCook county engaged in the jewelry business at Spencer. He was born at Rockford, Iowa, on the 9th of September, 1872, and is a son of George and Harriett (Wiley) Loucks. The family came to South Dakota in 1877, settling at Trent, Moody county, where the father entered land from the government, securing both a tree claim and a preemption. There was not an improvement upon his place, the land being just as it came from the hand of nature. It was a difficult task to break the sod and prepare the fields for cultivation, but he resolutely set to work to accomplish this and in due time the wild prairie was transformed into a productive farm, upon which he resided until 1910, in the meantime harvesting good erops year after year so that his finan- cial resources annually increased. At length, when he had acquired a handsome competence, he retired from active business life and took up his abode in Trent. While living there he served as postmaster for a few years. He is now living retired in Colorado, but his wife has passed away.

Wallace J. Loucks pursued a public-school education and added to that training a com- mercial course in the Sioux Falls Business College. After leaving school he engaged in teach- ing for a few years and then entered upon commercial life as an employe in the store of S. V. Mallory, with whom he learned the jewelry business. In 1910 he removed to Spencer, where he opened his present store. He carries a large and well selected line of jewelry and has done well, his trade constantly increasing. It is known that his business methods are thoroughly reliable and that he puts forth every possible effort to please his patrons. He is likewise financially interested in the Spencer Light & Power Plant.

On the 1st of January, 1902, Mr. Loucks was joined in wedlock to Miss Lillie Jones, a daughter of Stephen and Mary A. (Gott) Jones, of Linn county, Iowa, who came to South Dakota fourteen years ago. Mrs. Jones has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Loucks have one child, Arland W. The parents occupy an enviable social position and their home is the abode of warm-hearted hospitality.

Mr. Loucks is deeply interested in South Dakota, rejoices in its advancement and does all in his power to further its progress. He is recognized in his community as a public- spirited citizen, has served as treasurer of independent school district, No. 20, for the last three years, and has been reelected for another term of three years. He holds membership with the Masonie lodge at Spencer and with the Modern Woodmen and in the camp of the latter has been clerk for fifteen years. His position on the temperance question is indicated in the stalwart support which he gives to the prohibition party. His religious faith is that of the Baptist church, which he liberally supports, doing all he can to further its work. For

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many years he has held the office of deacon, for fifteen years has served as clerk of the church and for several years was superintendent of the Sunday school. His life record measures up to high standards of manhood and he enjoys the respect and esteem of all with whom he has been brought in contact.

T. T. OMDALEN.

T. T. Omdalen, now living in honorable retirement at Hetland, is a representative of one of the oldest pioneer families of the locality and was for more than a third of a century actively and successfully identified with agricultural interests here, still owning eight hundred acres of valuable land. His birth occurred in Norway on the 5th of November, 1842, his parents being T. T. and Tina O. Omdalen, whom he accompanied on their emigration to the United States in 1871. During the first seven years of their residence in the new world the family lived in Wisconsin and then, in 1878, came to South Dakota. The father homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 1, township 54, range 110, Kingsbury county, but died the year following his arrival in this state. The mother, surviving him for more than a quarter of a century, was called to her final rest in 1906.

T. T. Omdalen acquired his education in the schools of his native land and was a young man of about twenty-nine when he came to America. On arriving in South Dakota he pre- empted the southeast quarter of section 1 and a tree claim and also homesteaded the north- west quarter of section 12, township 54, range 110, Kingsbury county. Here he devoted his attention to farming with great success for over a third of a century or until the time of his retirement in 1914, when he took up his abode in Hetland, turning over the active work of the fields to his sons. Mr. Omdalen now owns eight hundred acres of rich and productive land and is widely recognized as one of the prosperous citizens and esteemed early settlers of the community. He enjoys the distinction of having raised the first colt in Kingsbury county, and he is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company.

As a companion and helpmate on the journey of life Mr. Omdalen chose Miss Julia Thorgenson, by whom he has the following children: T. T. T .; Thomas Edward: Olovis; and Oscar, who was the first child born in Kingsbury county.

Mr. Omdalen gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has ahly served as a member of the school board, being a stanch friend of the cause of education. His religions faith is that of the Lutheran church and he exemplifies its teachings in his daily life. The hope that led him to establish his home in the new world has been more than realized, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in their wise ntilization won a place among the substantial and respected citizens of his community. He has witnessed the growth and development of South Dakota in the past thirty-seven years and is therefore largely familiar with its annals from pioneer times down to the present.

CHARLES D. TIDRICK.

Charles D. Tidrick, who is successfully engaged in the abstract, loan and real-estate business in Chamberlain, Brule county, was born in Winterset, Iowa, on the 24th of May, 1863, a son of Levi M. and Martha (Bell) Tidrick, pioneers of Iowa who settled at Raccoon Forks in 1840, a number of years before that state was admitted to the union. Both passed away at their home in Iowa.

Charles D. Tidrick entered the State University of Iowa after completing his preliminary education and remained in that institution for three years, leaving while a junior. In 1884 he located in northwestern Iowa as a representative of Slagle & Company, who had a number of lumber yards in that section. He was in the employ of that company in various places in Iowa and South Dakota, but in 1892 came to Chamberlain, where he engaged in the real-estate business. Some time afterward he organized the Bank of Iowa and Dakota, which is now conducted under the name of the Chamberlain State Bank. For a number of years he was president of the institution, but after its reorganization in 1896 he concentrated his

MR. AND MRS. T. T. OMDALEN

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attention upon the abstract, loan and real-estate business, in which he is still engaged. He negotiates many important transfers of realty and has placed many loans, while his activity in the abstract business is also profitable. He was one of the organizers of the First Na- tional Life Insurance Company of Pierre and for five years was its vice president. He also helped to organize the Queen City Insurance Company and he organized and owned for a time the local gas plant and electric light plant. He is now secretary of the water company and is a stockholder in various local enterprises. His varied business interests have brought him to the fore and he is widely known all over the northwest and wherever known is held in high respect.

Mr. Tidrick was married in April, 1894, to Miss Lillian Love, a daughter of Daniel Love. Mr. and Mrs. Tidrick have three children: Eugenia, who is teaching school in Chamberlain; and Mary and Frances. The family attend the Episcopal church and support the movements seeking the moral betterment of the community. Mr. Tidrick is a democrat in politics and has served as county commissioner, on the city council and on the school board for a num- ber of years. For eighteen years he was United States commissioner and he has always given the same care to the public interests intrusted to him that he has given to his private busi- ness affairs. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason and also belongs to El Riad Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Sioux Falls. He has membership relations with the Elks as well. In addition to the business interests already mentioned he owns much real estate in South . Dakota and he is enthusiastic about the future of the state and is at all times willing to do anything within his power to aid in its development.

WADE S. NIXON.

Wade S. Nixon, of Milbank, was for four years county register of deeds and for four years held the office of county auditor, proving an excellent and conscientious official. His birth occurred in Butler county. Ohio, December 13, 1864. He is a son of Richard and Abbie (Ayers) Nixon, both natives of the Buckeye state. The paternal grandfather was John Nixon and the family is of English descent. Richard Nixon was a cooper by trade but in his later years gave much of his attention to farming. He gave his political allegiance to the whig party until it dissolved and then joined the ranks of the republican party. In religious faith he was a Presbyterian. He served for three years in the Civil war as a member of the Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry and participated in many important hattles. He died in 1885, when sixty six years of age, his birth having occurred in 1819. His wife passed away in 1887, when sixty years old, and her natal year was 1827. They were married in Ohio in 1844 and became the parents of nine children, of whom seven are still living, namely : George C., a retired farmer residing in Wilmot. this state; Mary. the wife of John Spinner, a farmer and carpenter residing in Ohio; Mrs. Keever, a widow living in Mason. Ohio: Lydia, also a resident of the Buckeye state; Wade S .; Mrs. Marion Guthrie, who resides in Stark county, Ohio; and A. M., who is now city assessor and justice of the peace and who was for four years postmaster at Milbank.

Wade S. Nixon attended the public schools of Ohio in the acquirement of an education and was graduated from the high school of Mason, that state, in 1883. He farmed in Ohio for some time but in 1888 went to Colorado, where he took up a claim, upon which he resided for two years. He became a resident of Grant county, South Dakota, in 1895 and in 1898 removed to Milbank, where he engaged in the hotel business for six years. In the fall of 1904 he was elected register of deeds and held that office for four years, after which he was for two years deputy county auditor, his excellent record in that capacity leading to his election as auditor, in which capacity he served until March 1, 1915. While in public office he concentrated his energies upon the discharge of his duties and his work was performed in a systematic and efficient manner. He owns considerable land in Colorado and also holds title to town lots in various places.

Mr. Nixon was united in marriage in 1903 to Miss Jennie Wise. a native of Minnesota, and their four children are: Richard, Lois and Edith, who are in school; and Marion.

Mr. Nixon attends the Congregational church and fraternally is well known. helonging to Milbank Lodge, No. 20, A. F. & A. M., of which he has served as senior warden, and to

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the Knights of Pythias, in which he was chancellor commander. In the latter order he served for three years as grand trustee of the Grand Lodge of South Dakota. His political belief is that of the republican party and he works loyally for its success at the polls. He is now a member of the board of education and takes a citizen's interest in all matters of public concern. For two years he was captain of Company K of the South Dakota National Guard and in all relations of life he has measured up to high standards of manhood and has gained the confidence and the unqualified respect of all who have been brought in contact with him.

JOHN GANGE.

Jolin Gange was an active business man in the enterprising little town of Mellette, where he conducted a grocery store and was also proprietor of a livery barn until his death, which occurred April 19, 1915. In addition he was one of the extensive landowners of this part of the state, his holdings comprising about two thousand six hundred acres in Spink, Edmunds and Sparta counties. At the time of his demise more than a third of a century had come and gone since he arrived in South Dakota and he had been throughout the entire period an interested witness of the changes wrought by time and man bringing about the development and prosperity of the state. He was only about a year and a half old at the time of his arrival in the United States, his birth having occurred in Prince Edward Island, Canada, March 11, 1835, his parents being James and Mary J. (Hacker) Gange. The family is of English descent and was founded on American soil in 1814, by the grandfather of our subject. Subsequently he settled in Prince Edward Island. The father was a sailor and laborer and at the time of the Mexican war he espoused the cause of this country and did active duty in defense of its interests in 1846. Later he located in Wisconsin, where he lived for many years but in 1880 he came to South Dakota, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in 1883, his grave being made in Northville, this state. His wife died in 1885 and was laid to rest in Carroll county, Illinois,

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 29

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