History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 34

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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He was born near Quebec, Canada, on the 30th of November, 1854, and is a son of John Nelson and Caroline M. Crooks, the former a farmer by occupation. On leaving Canada in the spring of 1855 John Crooks removed with his family to Wisconsin, settling in Columbia county, and later he resided for a number of years in Dane county. It was during the period of the family's residence there that David O. Crooks acquired a common-school education at Black Earth, Wisconsin. Later the family removed to Iowa, where they remained for six

DAVID O. CROOKS

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years, and again David Crooks attended school there. In 1873 they came to South Dakota, settling on the present site of the town of Crooks, where the father homesteaded. His son David, then a young man of nineteen years, secured a preemption and timher elaim in MeCook county and the town of Crooks now stands upon a part of his preemption claim in Minnehaha county. It has a population of one hundred and is about the only town of its size that can boast of a water works. The plant is owned by David O. Crooks, who has been most active in promoting publie progress and improvement in this section.

The family were among the pioneer settlers of the state, establishing their home here when the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun. From that time to the present representatives of the family have been very active in forwarding the work of public improvement. The father died in 1882, but the mother, surviving for an extended period, passed away in 1905.

For about ten years David O. Crooks was engaged in general merchandising, conducting a well appointed store, in which he carried a large and carefully selected line of goods. It was in the spring of 1904 that the townsite was platted and called Crooks, in honor of the family. Since the building of the railroad David O. Crooks has acted as depot and express agent. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Lumher & Elevator Company and president of the Crooks State Bank in addition to being owner of the water works and lighting plant.

On the 24th of January, 1887, occurred the marriage of Mr. Crooks and Miss Nettie Tyler, and to them'have been born four children: Arthur Roy, who is cashier of the Crooks State Bank, while his wife is assistant cashier; Minnie; Grace; and Robert. The parents are mem- hers of the Christian church and in their lives exemplify its teachings. Mr. Crooks votes with the republican party, doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. For six years he served as a member of the township board and for twelve years he served as postmaster at Crooks, retiring in 1913. He was also school treasurer of his district for twelve years. He is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and with the Modern Woodmen of America, and all of his different associations are those which promote high standards of living. His influence is always on the side of progress and advancement, of truth and right.

THOMAS L. CHAPPELL.

Thomas L. Chappell is one of the foremost citizens and successful financiers of Brook- ings, South Dakota. His birth occurred in Elk Grove, Wisconsin, on the 18th of April, 1858, his parents heing Edward and Eliza (Pierce) Chappell, who were born, reared and married in Camborne, England. In 1834 they crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating first at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and subsequently in McConnellsburg, that state. Thence they removed to Wisconsin in 1857, taking up their abode on a farm in Elk Grove, where the father devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits for about twenty years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Platteville, Wisconsin, and ahout 1882 established his home in Iveyville, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his life in honorable retirement and where his wife also passed away.

Thomas L. Chappell was reared under the parental roof and supplemented his early edu- cation, acquired in the public schools, hy a four years' course in the State Normal School at Platteville, Wisconsin. He then followed farming in the Badger state for five years, and subsequently spent four years on a farm at Rockwell, Iowa. During the next three years he acted as manager of the Farmers Incorporated Cooperative Society, which handles grain, coal, live stock, flour, lumber, etc., and is one of the largest institutions of the kind in the United States at the present time. Mr. Chappell was made manager immediately after its incorpora- tion and laid the cornerstone for the subsequent growth and splendid development of the enterprise. In 1892 he severed his connection with the company and organized the Farmers State Bank at Rockwell, Iowa, becoming cashier of the institution and also a member of its board of directors. For a period of ten and a half years he had charge of the financial policy of the bank, and his efforts were a potent factor in its continued growth and success. In 1902 he came west in search of a suitable location for a new bank, and after traveling through Iowa, North and South Dakota and southern Minnesota he took up his permanent abode at Vol. Y - 13

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Brookings, this state, on the 16th of August of that year. Here he organized the Farmers National Bank, was made cashier and directed its policy, with the result that the institution is now one of the successful and sound financial concerns of the state. He retired from the banking business in 1915. He owns the brick block formerly occupied by the postoffice and also seven residence buildings, five of which are of the most modern construction.

In 1880 Mr. Chappell was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Vincent, of Galena, Illinois, by whom he has six children, as follows: Bessie, who is a graduate of the Brookings high school and the South Dakota State College at Brookings, also has a degree from Chicago Uni- versity and pursued special work in the Iowa State Teachers' College of Cedar Falls and is now engaged in teaching at Lamar, Colorado; Elsie, a graduate of the South Dakota State College of Brookings, who is the wife of J. W. Wilson, a son of J. W. Wilson, Sr., former secretary of the United States department of agriculture; William, an electrician residing in San Francisco, California; Vincent, who is a graduate of the South Dakota State College of Brookings, and is now a member of the faculty of the Iowa State College at Ames; Mabel, a graduate of the public schools, who is now attending South Dakota State College; and Genevieve, a public-school student.

Mr. Chappell is a republican in politics but has never sought nor desired office as a reward for his party fealty. He is a valued member of the Brookings Commercial Club, and fra- ternally is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Brookings Lodge, No. 40. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he serves as treasurer and to which his wife also belongs. They enjoy a wide acquaintance throughout the community, and attractive social qualities have gained for them the high regard of many friends.

WILLIAM F. EMANUEL.

William F. Emanuel, the proprietor of a general store in Milhank, was born in Augusta, Wisconsin, on the 20th of July, 1885. His grandparents were lifelong residents of Germany. His parents, Charles and Eleanor (Acker) Emanuel, were also natives of Germany, born respectively in 1830 and in 1832. They were married in Germany and continued to reside there for about ten years thereafter. At the end of that time they emigrated to the United States and settled in Wisconsin, where the father passed away in 1906. His political faith was that of the democratic party and his religious allegiance was given to the Lutheran church. His widow is still living. To them were born nine children, eight of whom survive, namely: Amelia, the wife of Phillip Trieber, a music dealer of Augusta, Wisconsin; Ed, who established a furniture and undertaking business in Milhank in 1881 and who in 1910 sold out to William F. Emanuel, since which time he has lived retired; Emil, who is the proprietor of a hardware and furniture establishment in Berthold, North Dakota; Bertha, the wife of August Bundt, a railroad man of Augusta, Wisconsin; Henry, of Shawano, Wis- consin, who is traveling for Armour's; Emma, the wife of Otto Schadler, a merchant of Augusta, Wisconsin; Herman, who is a merchant of Fairchild, Wisconsin; and William F. Carl died at sea when six years of age while the family were crossing the Atlantic to the United States.

William F. Emanuel received his education in the public schools of Augusta, Wisconsin, and on putting aside his textbooks removed to Milbank, South Dakota, where he clerked in the store owned by his brother Ed. As the years passed he gained more and more knowledge of the mercantile business and in 1910 bought out his brother. He has since owned and conducted the store and is recognized as one of the efficient business men of Milbank. He carries furniture, including musical instruments, wallpaper, rugs and carpets and also has an undertaking department. His stock is large and well selected. He enjoys a gratifying patronage, which is well merited, as his goods are of high quality and his prices reasonable.

On the 3d of June, 1911, Mr. Emanuel was married to Miss Elsie Mullen, a daughter of Adelbert Mullen, who was born near Wells, Minnesota. Mr. Emanuel is a republican in politics but has never desired to hold office, as his business demands his entire time. Frater- nally he is quite prominent locally, belonging to the Masonic order, in which he is identified with the blue lodge, the Royal Arch chapter, and the Mystic Shrine. He is also connected

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with the Knights of Pythias lodge, in which he is now vice chancellor, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. The gratifymg measure of success which he has gained is doubly credit- able in that it is due entirely to his own energy and sound judgment, as he began his career without capital. Personally he is popular, and all who have been brought into contact with him hold him in high esteem.

WILBER D. TODD.

Wilber D. Todd, the clerk of the courts of Custer county, is an esteemed resident of Custer and has many friends in that city. A native of Peoria, Illinois, he was born on the 31st of May, 1863, the eldest of four children, whose parents were Charles and Mary (Bundy) Todd, horn respectively in Pennsylvania in 1822 and in Ohio in 1835. The father learned the miller's trade in his native state and subsequently removed to Illinois, where his marriage occurred. Still later he and his family emigrated to Iowa and after living in Jasper county removed to Audubon county. They resided there from 1871 until 1890, when a removal was made to the Black Hills. The father lived retired after coming to this state and passed away in 1898. His widow survived until September, 1912.

Wilber D. Todd attended school in Audubon county, Iowa, but when eighteen years of age became a farm hand and was so employed in Iowa until the spring of 1887. In that year he emigrated to the Black Hills and began mining. He became interested in a number of inining properties and also worked as a stone and brick mason. In 1898 he enlisted in Com- pany I, First South Dakota Infantry, for service in the Philippine Islands, and was on duty there for eighteen months. Company I went from Custer and was under command of Captain Charles Denney. Upon his return home Mr. Todd resumed his prospecting and still retains his mining interests. He also continued to give some time to work as a mason. He has acquired one hundred and fifty-two acres of land a half mile south of Custer and super- vises his ranching interests. In 1914 he was elected clerk of the courts and in January, 1915, assumed the duties of that office. There has never been any question of his reliability and his fellow citizens have the utmost confidence in his faithfulness. He is prompt and accurate and is proving a competent official.

Mr. Todd is a democrat and is loyal in his support of that party at the polls. Frater- nally he is identified with the Knights of Pythias and is popular in that organization. He is well known in Custer county and those who have been most intimately associated with him hold him in high esteem, which is proof of a life lived in accordance with high principles.

C. W. STONER.

C. W. Stoner, a dealer in lumber, grain, machinery and coal, is a highly esteemed resident of Iroquois, and served for four years as a member of the state legislature. He was born September 2, 1854, at Decatur, Michigan, a son of C. W. and Roxy (Tyler) Stoner. In 1882 the family removed to South Dakota and located upon a homestead two and a half miles south of Iroquois. The father cultivated that land for some years hut after the death of his wife made his home with his son, C. W., until he too was called to his reward at the venerable age of eighty-nine years.

C. W. Stoner was educated in the public schools of Michigan and after putting aside his text-books was connected with the manufacture of lumber and shingles until 1883, when he removed to South Dakota. He settled in Beadle county, where he homesteaded land, which he farmed for two years. At the end of that time he went to Iroquois and entered the mercantile field as a dealer in lumber, grain, machinery and coal. His business has increased steadily, keeping pace with the development of the country and he has become recognized as one of the leaders in commercial circles in Iroquois. He was the first and is now the oldest grain dealer in his part of the state.

On the 3d of July, 1879, Mr. Stoner was united in marriage to Miss Belle Field, a

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daughter of Warren Field, a resident of Michigan. They have the following children: Ray W .; Edna, now Mrs. John MeDeid; Ida, now Mrs. Truman Crowell; Gladys, who is now Mrs. L. Little; Minnie, who married H. Scott; Clayton, at home; and Imogene G., now Mrs. W. Jordan. Mr. Stoner is a republican and was county commissioner from 1903 to 1907. In the latter year he took office as a member of the state legislature and served until 1911, making a very creditable record in that capacity. His religions belief is indicated in his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He is quite prominent fraternally, being a Mason, an Odd Fellow, an Elk, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is also identified with the Rebekahs. He is thoroughly interested in all that pertains to the welfare of his adopted state, is willing, if need be, to sacrifice personal advantage to the public good, and this spirit, combined with his agreeable personality, and integrity, has gained him not only the respect but also the good will of the community.

HARTFORD NELSON GATES.

Hartford Nelson Gates was well known as a representative of industrial activity in Sioux Falls, where he made his home for a quarter of a century. He had therefore been a witness of almost its entire growth and development and ever manifested a public-spirited interest in all that pertained to its welfare. His fellow townsmen, appreciative of this fact, several times called him to public office, so that his name is inseparably interwoven with the history of his city. He had just closed a service as one of the city officials when death called him and the efficiency of bis work in behalf of Sioux Falls was recognized by all.

Mr. Gates was born in Hemmingford, Canada, March 4, 1846, a son of Thomas C. and Mary Ann (Dawson) Gates. Like a number of the sterling citizens of this section of the country, he was of Scotch descent. His father was a native of Scotland, born in 1818. Leav- ing the land of hills and heather, he crossed the Atlantic to Canada about 1841 and his last days were spent in Village Creek, Iowa, where he passed away in 1880, after having devoted the greater part of his life to merchandising. His wife was a native of Ireland and they were married before leaving Great Britain. They had six sons and four daughters, of whom four sons and a daughter are yet living.

Hartford N. Gates attended school at Havelock, Canada, to the age of thirteen years and then went to the Champlain (N. Y.) Academy, where he pursued his studies to the age of eighteen years. The succeeding three years were spent in Centerville, New York, and in 1866, wben in the twenty-first year of his age, he went to Lansing, lowa, where he engaged in the business of drilling wells, both artesian and farm wells. He was so engaged at that place until 1889, when he came to Sioux Falls, where he continued in the same line of busi- ness, meeting with excellent success in his undertakings because of the capability and fidelity which he displayed in executing his contracts. Ile also had other business interests, being president of the Sioux Falls Land Company, operating in Custer county, Montana.

On Christmas Day of 1870, at Wankon, Iowa, Mr. Gates was married to Miss Susanna W. Aird, who was born in Albany, New York, a daughter of Ronald McDonald Aird. In her girl- hood the family removed to Iowa, where the father died, but the mother afterward came to South Dakota, passing away in Sioux Falls in July, 1911, at the advanced age of nearly ninety years. Mr. and Mrs. Gates spent several years of their married life in lowa and in 1889 came to Sioux Falls, where they afterward resided. Unto them were born two daughters, Jessie A. and Mary L., the latter the wife of C. Linton Muggali, of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The former has been a teacher in the Sioux Falls public schools for fifteen years and has been principal of the Hawthorn school since 1905.

In religious faith the family are Baptists and in his political belief Mr. Gates was a republican. He held membership with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and with the Commercial Club. Several times during the period of his residence in Sioux Falls he was called to public office. He was elected alderman in 1900 for a term of two years and was twice reelected, so that his incumbency covered six years. In 1909 he was elected city com- missioner for two years and in 1911 was reelected for five years, so that he was serving in that capacity at the time of his death, and the record that he made was a highly commendable

HARTFORD N. GATES

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and creditable one and won for him warm encomiums from his fellow townsmen. He passed away May 14, 1915. His health had heen failing for several months but he faithfully per- formed his official duties, had completed his work and had prepared all of his papers for his successor. He had submitted them and had them approved and the last meeting had ended when his strength gave way and he was carried to his home, where he suffered for thirteen days, when death called him and he was carried to his last resting place. He had refused to hecome a candidate for reelection. He had served the city for thirteen consecutive years and when the new form of city government, which changed the commissioners from five to three, was installed he refused to become a nominee. His worth was widely recognized by all and his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret.

CHRISTEN C. THOMPSON.

Christen C. Thompson, a representative and enterprising agriculturist of Minnehaha county, residing on section 34, Taopi township, owns and operates a well improved farm comprising one hundred and sixty acres. His birth occurred in Vernon county, Wisconsin, on the 18th of February, 1864, his parents being Christen C. and Isabelle Thompson, both of whom are natives of Norway. They emigrated to the United States about 1845, as young man and young woman, crossing the ocean on the same sailing vessel, which consumed seven weeks in making the voyage. They took up their abode among the earliest pioneers of Vernon county, Wisconsin, and there resided until 1875, when they removed to Rock county, Minnesota, where they have made their home to the present time. Mr. and Mrs. Christen C. Thompson are the oldest couple in Rock county, heing eighty-nine and eighty-seven years of age respectively.

Christen C. Thompson attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education. In 1888, when a young man of twenty-four years, he started out as an agriculturist on his own account and during the succeeding seventeen years cultivated rented land in Rock county. In the spring of 1905 he came to South Dakota, exchanging a Minnesota farm for one in Lin- coln county, this state. The land, however, was low and flat and Mr. Thompson experienced much trouble on account of excessive moisture. In 1911 he traded his property in Lincoln county for a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres on section 34, Taopi township, Minnehaha county, which he has operated continuously and successfully since. Under his able manage- ment this has become a productive and valuable property, and his success places him among the representative and prominent agriculturists of his community.

In 1896 Mr. Thompson was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Rue, of Rock county, Min- nesota, by whom he has eight children, namely: Glen, Roy, Oden, William, Elsie, Inga, Amanda and Florence. Mr. Thompson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is now serving as constable of Taopi township. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church, to which his wife and children also belong. His life has been active, useful and upright and his many excellent qualities of mind and character have gained him a wide circle of friends.

J. ORREN WEST.

J. Orren West is cultivating a farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Three Rivers township, Spink county, which belongs to his father-in-law, John Clifford, and in its develop ment he displays a thorough understanding of modern agrienltural methods. He has always lived in that county, having been born about six miles north of Doland, on the old family homestead, October 2, 1884. He is a son of Charles and Elenora West, who came to this state in 1880 and secured a claim near Doland, the father performing the arduous task of developing and improving the place, which was entirely wild when it came into his posses- sion. He was a veteran of the Civil war, doing active service in support of the Union cause. He died in August, 1900, at the age of sixty-four years, and was laid to rest in the Doland cemetery, while his widow, still surviving, makes her home with their son Orren.

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The family is of Scotch-Irish lineage in the paternal line and of German descent in the maternal line. The grandfather, Christian Alspaugh, came from Germany to the new world and at the time of hostilities between the north and the south espoused the Union cause, spending some time at the front in active defense of the stars and stripes.

In a public school near his father's home J. Orren West pursued his studies until his texthooks were put aside at the age of fourteen years. He worked for others during the summer months and continued to engage in farm work after completing his schooling, becom- ing familiar with all of the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His training was very thorough, so that he was well qualified to engage in business on his own account when in 1909 he rented the place upon which he now resides. He devotes much of his time to stock-raising, making a specialty of handling shorthorn cattle and mule-foot hogs. The high grade of his stock insures a ready sale upon the market and his success is increasing year by year.

At Watertown, South Dakota, Mr. West was united in marriage on the 2d of December, 1907, to Miss Julia Clifford, a daughter of John and Elizabeth Clifford, the former a promi- nent farmer and old settler of Spink county. The mother died in 1888 and her remains were interred in the family burial lot in Watertown. An account of the lives of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. West have become the parents of four daughters and one son: Ellen May, Elizabeth Lonora, Catherine Julia, Margaret Irene, and John Clifford. Mr. West has filled the office of overseer but prefers to concentrate his energies upon his private business interests rather than upon public affairs. He is working diligently and his persistency of purpose and energy are elements in his growing prosperity.

BENJAMIN F. WILLSON.

Benjamin F. Willson, a real-estate dealer operating in Summit, was horn in Noble county, Indiana, February 15, 1860, a son of Cassius Wilder and Rosanna (Marsh) Willson. The grandfather, Cassius Willson, Sr., was a native of New York and died in Ohio, while the maternal grandfather, Nathaniel Marsh, was a native of Vermont and spent his last days in the Soldiers' Home at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He had served throughout the Civil war as a soldier in the Union army and he had three sons in the service with him. The father of our subject was born in the state of New York in 1830 and after living for a time in Ohio removed to Indiana, where he purchased land and carried on farming. In 1866 he took his family to Minnesota and became the owner of a farm in Olmsted county, upon which he resided for more than a quarter of a century. In the fall of 1892 he arrived in South Dakota and engaged in the butchering business at South Shore, while later he turned his attention to the grocery trade in the same town. In 1899 he located in Summit, where his remaining days were passed. His wife was born in the Green Mountain state in January, 1835, and their marriage was celebrated in Ohio. The father passed away in Summit, May 24, 1901, while his widow survived until December, 1913. In the various communities in which they lived they enjoyed the warm regard of those with whom they came in contact. In politics Mr. Willson was active as a stalwart republican and he held a number of township offices. To him and his wife were born nine children, of whom seven are living: John Riley, who is engaged in the transfer business at Osage, Iowa; G. E., the Watertown, South Dakota, repre- sentative of the International Harvester Company and also an auctioneer; Benjamin F .; Mrs. G. W. Cram, of Salt Lake City, Utah, whose husband is a railroad man; H. A., who is engaged in the real-estate business in Kansas City, Missouri; C. M., proprietor of a billiard hall at Aberdeen; and G. B., a harber of Watertown.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 34

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