History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 32

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

USA > South Dakota > History of Dakota Territory, volume V > Part 32

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

MARCUS J. DE WOLF.

Marcus J. De Wolf is a farmer and stockman residing at Letcher. A native of the Empire state, he was born in Genesee county, October 4, 1843, and is a son of Peter and Lavina (Bates) De Wolf. The father was also a native of New York and a farmer by occupation. The paternal grandfather was Captain John De Wolf, who served as a United States army officer in the War of 1812.

Marcus J. De Wolf went with his father's family to Michigan when in his nineteenth year, their home being established at Prairieville. He supplemented his public-school educa- tion, acquired in the state of New York, by a commercial course at the Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York, and he also attended the Baptist College at Kalamazoo, Michigan. Thus he became well qualified for the onerous and responsible duties that have since devolved upon him. In March, 1865, he enlisted for service in an independent eom- pany, known as Company I, of the New York troops, and remained in the service until the close of the war, being mustered out the following May.

After finishing his education at Eastman's Business College Mr. De Wolf was for six months employed as clerk in the old City Hotel of Chicago and the following five or six years were devoted to teaching in the lowa public sehools, and later in the Michigan schools. He then went to Madison, Wisconsin, where he opened an art store, which he conducted until 1887. He then removed to Dakota territory and took up his homestead at Letcher, Sanborn county. He still resides on the old homestead farm and has made additions to the original tract until he now has a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, splendidly improved accord- ing to the modern ideas of farm development. For three years during his residence at Letcher he conducted a large general mercantile store. He has been for many years one of the state's leading breeders of registered Hereford cattle and Duroe-Jersey hogs, and is well known as a horticulturist as well, having through a long series of experiments demonstrated the state's possibilities for fruit growing. He has studied the questions of soil and elimate in connection with fruit production and has achieved excellent results, constituting an example that others have profitably followed. For many years he has been one of the most active

276

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

members of the South Dakota Horticultural Society and was formerly president of that organization. He is equally well known because of his live-stock interests and his herds of cattle and hogs are noted for their excellence in South Dakota and adjoining states. He is a member of a number of breeders' associations, including the National Hereford and Duroc- Jersey Associations. In addition to his South Dakota holdings he has lands in North Dakota and in Florida has orange grove interests. He has been active in both the study of and the demonstration of modern scientific farming methods, keeps abreast with the times in connec- tion with all branches of agriculture, horticulture and stock-raising, and, indeed, has set a pace which many others have followed to their credit and benefit.

Mr. De Wolf is an enthusiastic advocate of the good roads movement, realizing how important an asset are good roads in the shipment of produce and how great a time-saving force in allowing travelers to reach quickly a given destination. He is a republican and, while taking no very active part in politics, has served in various local official capacities.

On the 4th of July, 1876, Mr. De Wolf was married to Mrs. Annette (Killian) Stevenson of eastern New York, their wedding day being the one hundredth anniversary of the Declara- tion of Independence. They have two children: Frederick A., now living in Los Angeles, California; and Beatrice, the wife of L. B. Jacobus, of Letcher, by whom she has three chil- dren, Kenneth, Marcus Ryland and Charmion.

Mr. De Wolf was reared in the Baptist faith but now affiliates with the Congregational church and has for years been a trustee and treasurer of the local organization. His influence has given impetus to all progressive movements having to do with the civic betterment of the community. His business activity balances up with the principles of truth and honor and his success is due to his business intelligence, his steady and persistent application to the business in hand and to his well earned reputation for straightforward dealing. All these have been contributing elements to his prosperity. Business, however, has constituted but one phase of his existence and he has always found time for that public service which is prompted by devotion to the general good. He has long been a strong temperance advocate and he has contributed as well to the social and moral progress of the community in which he has resided for more than a quarter of a century. He is now devoting his attention to his private interests and investments and he possesses a comfortable fortune that is the merited reward of earnest, persistent labor.

NELIUS JULIAN NESSA, M. D.

Dr. Nelius Julian Nessa, who since the fall of 1909 has engaged in the practice of medi- cine and surgery at Sioux Falls, was born upon his father's farm in Fillmore county, Min- nesota, November 3, 1880. His father, John N. Johnson Nessa, was the second white child born in Preble township, Fillmore county, his natal year being 1853. He was a son of Nels Johnson Nessa, who was born in Norway and came to America in 1848. He made farming his life work and in 1853 located in southeast Minnesota, being one of the first Northmen who settled there in pioneer days, and is still living, one of the last living pioneers in that community. His son, John N. Johnson Nessa, was a prominent political leader of the north- west, active in the republican party, which elected him to the state legislature of Minnesota. The mother of Dr. Nessa bore the maiden name of Josephine Larsen but was American born. Her parents were also pioneers in southeast Minnesota. In both the paternal and maternal lines Dr. Nessa is descended from a worthy Scandinavian ancestry. His youthful days were spent on the home farm in Fillmore county and he attended the local schools. Later he became a student in the Decorah (Ia.) Normal School and engaged in teaching in 1898-9. He afterward entered the University of Minnesota, where he remained for six years, pur- suing a broad and liberal course and graduating in 1901 as a pharmaceutical chemist. He then decided to study medicine and after four years devoted to the principles of the science was graduated in 1905 and received his professional degree. He then located at Brewster, Minnesota, where he continued in practice for four years after which he went to Chicago for post-graduate work. In the fall of 1909 he located in Sioux Falls, where he has since remained and in the interim he has built up a large and distinctively representative practice, having the patronage of some of the best families of the city.

277

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

In June, 1914, Dr. Nessa was married to Florence Bankson, a daughter of John A. and Lottie (Johnson) Bankson, who immigrated to this country from Sweden in their youth. Mis. Nessa was born in Sioux Falls and previous to her marriage taught in the public schools of her native city.

Dr. Nessa was reared in the Lutheran faith. His political support is given to the republican party but he is without desire for public office. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, having attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite and also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is also connected with the Elks lodge, being their exalted ruler for 1915, with the Country and Commercial Clubs and is interested in all that pertains to the welfare and progress of city, state and nation, cooperat- ing in many movements which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride.

JACOB WERNLI.

Jacob Wernli, who owns and operates a well improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Grand Meadow township, Minnehaha county, is numbered among the representative and enterprising agriculturists of his community. Ifis birth occurred in Switzerland, on the 2d of April, 1861, his parents heing Jacob and Maria Wernli, both of whom died in that country. The father, who was prominent in politics and held many important offices, passed away in 1878, while the demise of the mother occurred when she had attained the age of seventy-eight years.

Jacob Wernli acquired a good education in his native land and after putting aside his textbooks turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. On attaining his majority he emi- grated to the United States, taking up his abode in Highland, Madison county, Illinois, where he remained for six years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Iowa and in that state continued his residence for a quarter of a century. In 1913 he came to South Dakota and purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land in Grand Meadow township, Minnehaha county, which he is now cultivating with excellent snecess. He also devotes some attention to live stock, having thirty head of cattle and one hundred hogs. He utilizes the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and is a modern and progressive agriculturist whose labors are direeted along the most practical lines.

Mr. Wernli has been married twice. In 1890 he wedded Miss Eliza Egger, by whom he had a son and a daughter, namely: George; and E. Bertha, who follows the profession of teaching in Iowa. The wife and mother passed away on the 16th of June, 1892, and on the 12th of September, 1893, Mr. Wernli married Miss Maggie Egger, by whom he has the fol- lowing children: Lena, Selma, Raymond, Harry, Edna, Marie and Junior Egger.

Mr. Wernli is a democrat in politics and is now serving as president of the school board, the cause of education having ever found in him a stanch champion. In religious faith he is a Reformed Protestant, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having taken all the degrees in the lat. ter organization. His life has been upright and honorable in all relations and his record is one well worthy of emulation.

WILLIAM S. ELDER.

William S. Elder has claimed Deadwood as his residence since 1887, and he has been closely associated with all the different movements for the development of the rich resources of that locality and for the upbuilding of his adopted city. He was born near the village of Warsaw, in Coshocton county, Ohio, on the 15th day of October, 1858, a son of John G. and Jane (Moffatt) Elder.

Mr. Elder comes of Seotch-Irish ancestry, his paternal grandfather, John Elder, having migrated from Ireland to Virginia in the early part of the eighteenth century and thence into Ohio where he was one of the earliest settlers of Coshocton county. The Moffatts came from Scotland settling first in Massachusetts and later migrating to Orange county, New

278

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

York, where Alexander Moffatt, the grandfather of Jane Moffatt, enlisted under Anthony Wayne in the Revolutionary war and with several brothers served until its close.

William S. Elder attended a country school of Coshocton county, Ohio, in his boyhood and afterward the village high school of Warsaw. Later he was prepared for college at the Jefferson Academy, Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania, and entered Princeton College in 1882, graduat- ing with the class of 1886. After leaving college he spent one year as a newspaper reporter on the New York Commercial Advertiser, (now the New York Globe) and came to the Black Hills (then Dakota territory), in 1887. During his first few months residence in the Black Hills, Mr. Elder acted as a correspondent for the New York Herald and was connected with the local newspapers, but entering the law office of Gideon C. Moody in the spring of 1888, he was admitted to the bar of Lawrence county in 1889 and began at once the practice of the law.

Mr. Elder has given much time to business enterprises outside of his profession and has been instrumental in bringing a great deal of capital into the Black Hills. The romance of gold mining has had a fascination for him, and to the development of the rich mineral resources of the district he has given greatly of his time and energy.

In politics William S. Elder is emphatically a progressive and independent citizen, going where his judgment and conscience lead him and affiliating with whatever party organization represents for the time being his political convictions and promises best to carry them into effect. From 1902 to 1906 he served on the city council of Deadwood, and was an active and efficient councilman. He was a candidate for mayor of Deadwood in 1906 on the independent ticket and lacked hut a few votes of being elected after a most exciting contest.

Mr. Elder was married on the 25th of September, 1893, to Miss Maud Eccles, of Tecumseh, Michigan, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James C. Eccles. They have one son, Duncan Eccles, born September 6, 1898.

Mr. Elder is a member of the order of Elks and is a Mason, and is much interested in sociological and educational work.

FRITZ PREUSS.

Fritz Preuss, who has devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in Minnehaha county for the past three decades, now cultivates four hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land on sections 25, 26 and 36, Mapleton township, and is also engaged in the raising of fancy stock. His birth occurred in Germany on the 1st of April, 1868, his parents being Henry and Anna (Smith) Preuss, both of whom passed away in that country. The father was an agri- culturist by occupation and followed farming throughout his active business career.

Fritz Preuss acquired his education in the common schools of his native land and when a youth of sixteen crossed the Atlantic to the United States, receiving the passage money from his father, to whom it was later repaid. He made his way direct to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and then went into the country, working for his board as a farm hand during the first few months and afterward working by the day, while subsequently he worked with a threshing crew. During three winter seasons he attended school, doing chores to pay for his board. He remained in the employ of William Bailey, some four miles west of Sioux Falls, for about five years and afterward spent a year with John Olgar. At the end of that time he started out as an agriculturist on his own account, renting the farm of William Bailey for one year on balves and the next year giving one-third of the proceeds as rent. Subsequently he rented a farm of several hundred acres in connection with his brother-in-law, Fritz Carls, for two years, and then rented for eight years the same farm alone. He next purchased two hundred and forty acres and has added to it by purchase until be now cultivates four hundred and forty acres on sections 25, 26 and 36, Mapleton township, and also devotes considerable attention to the raising of fancy stock, having seventy head of cattle and two hundred pigs. Eleven of his forty-seven sows are registered and there are also sixty-five pigs to be registered. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Mutual Insurance Company and has long been numbered among the substantial and representative citizens of his community. Upon his place he has erected commodious and substantial buildings, including a good residence, barns, silos and'

MR. AND MRS. FRITZ PREUSS

THE PREUSS HOMESTEAD

281

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

other outbuildings. When he purchased his present farm there was standing upon it the first frame house erected in that locality.

On the 4th of January, 1894, Mr. Preuss was united in marriage to Miss Alvina Lembeke, a native of Germany and a daughter of John and Mary (Pagel) Lembeke. She was fourteen years of age when the family emigrated to the United States and settled in Wisconsin. Two years later they came to McCook county, South Dakota, where the parents spent some years, but both died at the home of a son in Nebraska. To Mr. and Mrs. Preuss have been born the following children: Ella, now the wife of Bruno Gibhard, of Canova, South Dakota; Meta W .; Ernest; Margaret; John, who was accidentally killed; Frederick; Alvina; and Loretta. All are natives of this state.

Politically Mr. Preuss is a republican, loyally supporting the men and measures of that party. He has served as chairman of the district school board and also as treasurer, proving a capable incumbent in both capacities. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church, the teachings of which he exemplifies in his daily lite. Coming to the new world in his youth, he eagerly embraced the opportunities afforded in a land unhampered by caste or class and has worked his way steadily upward to an enviable position among the citizens of his adopted county and state.

JOHN E. CHASE.

John E. Chase is a man of marked energy, industry and enterprise-a typical business man of the northwest, possessing in large measure the qualities which have brought about the present development and prosperity of South Dakota. He today owns a valuable farm of seven hundred and twenty acres in Jefferson township, Spink county, and thirteen hun- dred and twenty acres in Hughes county. Upon the former place he resides, bending his energies to the further cultivation of that farm and to stockraising. In his vocabulary there is no such word as fail and throughout his entire career when he has met obstacles and difficulties they have seemed not to discourage him but have rather become an impetus for renewed and further effort on his part.

Mr. Chase is of English lineage, although the family was established in America prior to the Revolutionary war, the first representatives of the family in America taking up their abode in Vermont. John E. Chase was born in Bristol, Wisconsin, on the 1st of May, 1869, a son of Willis and Mary Jane (Weed) Chase. The father followed carpentering in the Badger state and also carried on farming in connection with carpentering after his removal to South Dakota, which occurred in 1880. In the meantime the family had lived for a time in the little town of Chaseburg, Wisconsin, which was named in their honor. During the Civil war the father responded to the country's call for troops, participated in a number of hotly contested engagements and won promotion to the rank of corporal. He made a credit- able military record and throughout his entire life was most loyal to the best interests of his country, the spirit of patriotism being strong within him. He died in April, 1902, at the age of sixty-five years and his wife passed away in 1893 when fifty-two years of age. They were laid to rest in the cemetery at Ashton, South Dakota, and many friends mourned their Ioss.

John E. Chase was a little lad of eleven summers when the family left Wisconsin and came to this state. He attended the country schools, but is largely a self-educated as well. as a self-made man, having never been able to attend school since the age of sixteen years and previous to that time often attending only through the winter seasons. When he left school he devoted all of his time and attention to the task of assisting his father upon the farm, on which Willis Chase had filed in 1879. Mr. Chase of this review inherited only one hundred and sixty acres and the remainder of his property he has acquired through his own efforts, increasing his holdings by degrees until he is today one of the largest landowners in his section of the state, his possessions aggregating more than two thousand acres. His home property is a splendid farm of seven hundred and twenty acres, much of which is highly cultivated. He raises all the various crops adapted to soil and climate and he is also exten- sively and successfully engaged in stock-raising, keeping on hand as many as one hundred and ninety head of cattle, eighty head of hogs and a large amount of other stock. His annual

282

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

sales return to him a gratifying income and his business methods are in keeping with the most progressive ideas. He cultivates altogether about nine hundred acres and is numbered among the most prosperous residents of his part of the state, a position to which he has attained entirely through his own ability.

In Aberdeen, South Dakota, on the 12th of May, 1903, Mr. Chase was united in mar- riage to Miss Lizzie Sherman, a daughter of Valentine Sherman. Her father was one of the early settlers in the vicinity of Mitchell, South Dakota, and took an active and helpful part in improving that section of the state. Both he and his wife spent their last days in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Chase and when called to their final rest their remains were interred in the Mitchell cemetery.

Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chase-Jane, Willis and Catherine. Their home is a beautiful residence, which was erected by Mr. Chase-one of the most attractive and modern farm dwellings in not only Spink but also adjoining counties. He has made a great many improvements upon his property and in fact, none of the accessories and con- venienees of a model farm of the twentieth century are lacking. He uses the latest improved machinery, employs scientific methods in tilling his fields and in raising his stock and has learned to use time and material to the best possible advantage-which is the secret of all success. In polities he is an earnest republican and has been nominated for the office of county commissioner, while at the present time he is serving for the second term as town- ship treasurer. His record in office is unassailable, being characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty. Mr. Chase belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but concentrates his energies mainly upon his business affairs. He has never been remiss in the duties of citi- zenship and in furthering publie progress his aid has been of a most practical and resultant character. Close application and indefatigable energy, intelligently directed, have been the means of bringing him to the present prominent position which he occupies as one of the foremost citizens and successful business men of this state.

FRED H. KLUCKMAN.

Fred H. Kluekman is the eashier of the Farmers State Bank of Kranzburg and through- out much of his life has been identified with the banking business, so that he is thoroughly familiar with its general phases and capable of conducting the interests of the institution with which he is now associated. He was born in Deuel county, South Dakota, on Christmas day of 1888 and is a son of Fred and Gusta Kluckman. The family came to this state about 1880 and purchased a preemption claim west of Clear Lake in Deuel county, where the father still carries on general farming. In 1913 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 6th of January of that year. In their family were seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters.

Fred H. Kluekman was educated in the country schools and in the high school at Clear Lake, where he spent one year, while later he pursued a commercial course at Grand Island, Nebraska. When his studies were finished he returned to the home farm, upon which he lived for a brief period. Thinking to find other pursuits more congenial, however, he entered the law office of Law & Knight at Clear Lake on the 1st of November, 1909, but the con- dition of his eyes caused him to abandon his studies after six months. He then returned to the farm for a short time and afterward entered the First National Bank at Julesburg, Colorado, as bookkeeper, spending a year and a half in that place. He next went to Cheyenne, where he continued for three months, being connected with the Kelly Mercantile Company as bookkeeper. On the expiration of that period he returned home but continued on the farm for only a little time, when he entered the Farmers State Bank at Thomas, serving as cashier for a year. On the 16th of December, 1912, he assumed the duties of cashier in the Farmers State Bank of Kranzburg, taking charge of the organization of the bank, of which he is now one of the stockholders and directors. He is also a stockholder and the secretary of the Farmers Elevator Company.

Mr. Kluekman has filled the office of justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial, and for the past two years he has been township assessor. His political indorsement is given the republican party. He has membership in the Methodist church and

283

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

with the Royal Highlanders-associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct. When he has leisure he enjoys motoring, hunting and fishing. He is a progressive young man, his future full of promise, and the qualities which he has already displayed prevent any hesitancy in predicting for him success, advance- ment and honor in the future.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 32

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