History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 37

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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The three regiments of Rough Riders which served in the Spanish-American war attracted a great deal of attention and proved unusually efficient soldiers and Colonel Grigsby takes justifiable pride in the fact that it was due to his efforts that their formation was possible. His service in the Civil war made him a valuable officer and as colonel of the Third Regiment of United States Volunteer Cavalry and later as acting brigadier general of the First Cavalry Brigade, First Army Corps, he rendered his country invaluable service. For many years he has been prominent in the affairs of the state of South Dakota and is leaving the impress of his individuality upon the history of the state.

OTTO ZELL.

Otto Zell is the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Jefferson township, Spink county, and in addition rents and cultivates two hundred and forty acres in that town- ship, having thus given his attention uninterruptedly to agricultural pursuits in Spink county since 1912. The year in which he attained his majority was the one which witnessed his arrival in South Dakota. He removed from Dodge county, Wisconsin, attracted by the growing opportunities of the northwest. His hirth occurred in Pommern, Germany, Novem- ber 24, 1865, his parents being John and Wilhelmina Zell, who were also natives of Germany, whence they came to the new world with their family in 1869. They settled first in Wis- consin, where the father engaged in farming, and on coming to South Dakota in 1886 he took up a homestead, which he developed and improved through the succeeding years to the time of his death, which occurred in 1909, when he had reached the ripe old age of seventy-eight years. For a considerable period he had survived his wife, who passed away in 1898, the remains of both being interred in a cemetery at Warner, South Dakota.

Otto Zell began his education in the schools of Dodge county, Wisconsin, pursuing his studies to the age of fourteen, at which time he started out in life on his own account. His youth was therefore largely a period of earnest and unremitting toil. He was employed as a farm hand by others until he reached the age of thirty years, and then, wishing to have his labors more directly benefit himself, he began farming on rented land in Brown county. He carefully saved his earnings until his industry and frugal expenditures brought him a suffi- cient capital to enable him to purchase his present property in 1909. He has since carried on general farming, and that his methods are practical and progressive is indicated by the excellent appearance of his place, on which he has made all the modern improvements.

On the 28th of June, 1899, at Warner, South Dakota, Mr. Zell was united in marriage to Miss Esther B. Rohy, a daughter of Milton and Julia Roby, who were pioneer farming people of Faulk county. Her father died in 1896 and his remains were interred near Myron church, near Faulkton, South Dakota. Her mother lives at Warner. Mr. and Mrs. Zell have three children, Clifford F., John L. and Hyacinth Irene, all of whom are attending school.

Mr. Zell votes with the republican party and its platform finds in him a stanch indorser. He holds membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in the Rebekahs, to the latter of which Mrs. Zell also belongs. He is likewise a member of the Modern Woodmen of

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America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, but these things are but side issues in his life, the main feature of which is farming. He has worked persistently and energetically and as the architect of his own fortunes has builded wisely and well.

STEVE CLAUSEN.

Steve Clausen, who has been actively engaged in general agricultural pursuits in Minne- haha county since pioneer times, is now the owner of a valuable farm embracing four hun- dred acres in Taopi township. His birth occurred in Norway on the 18th of December, 1859, his parents being Halvor and Anna Clausen. On emigrating to the United States they located in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where the father followed farming until he came to South Dakota and homesteaded a tract of land in Minnehaha county. His family was among the first to settle in this section and experienced the grasshopper plague and other hardships of the early days. Halvor Clausen passed away in 1894, but his widow is still living.

Steve Clansen acquired his education in Norway and has devoted his time and energies to agriculture since putting aside his texthooks. He came to this state with his father in the early days of its history. Prosperity has attended his undertakings as a farmer and he is now the owner of four hundred acres of rich and productive land. In the cultivation of this property he has won a measure of success that well entitles him to recognition among the representative and enterprising citizens of the community.

In 1888 Mr. Clausen was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Carsrud, who died in 1891. Six years later he wedded Miss Louise Johnson, a daughter of John Johnson. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is a loyal and public-spirited citizen who manifests helpful interest in all matters pertaining to the growth and development of this state. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. In motoring he finds much pleasure and needed recreation. During a long residence here he has become widely and favorably known, his upright and honorable life commanding for him the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact.

HENRY F. BARTELT.

Henry F. Bartelt. a prominent lawyer of Kimball, Brule county, was born on the 22d of May, 1882, near Washta, Iowa, of the marriage of Henry and Elizabeth Bartelt. The father, who devoted his active years to agricultural pursuits, is now living retired, hut the mother has passed to the Great Beyond.

Henry F. Bartelt attended the public schools of Cedar Rapids and Holstein, Iowa, graduat- ing from the Holstein High School in due time. After a clerkship of several years in one of the leading law offices of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. he matriculated in the State Univer- sity of Iowa, at Iowa City, from which he was graduated in 1911, with the LL. B. degree. at the head of his class.

While in law school Mr. Bartelt enjoyed the unique distinction of being the only man in the history of the university who had been admitted to the bar of another state and all the federal courts prior to graduation. Shortly after his graduation he arrived at Kimball and opened an office for the practice of his profession. He has succeeded beyond his expecta- tions and is today recognized as one of the leaders of the bar, although he is yet but a young man. The wide experience which he has gained both before and after beginning practice, in addition to his thorough training in the principles of the law, has helped him forge rapidly to the front, and he is building up a reputation as one of the best lawyers of his section of the state.

On the 19th of July, 1911, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bartelt and Miss Margaret E. Brandt, a daughter of Ludwig and Caroline Brandt, of Sioux Falls. Mr. Bartelt believes in the wisdom of the policies of the republican party, and is an ardent supporter of its prin- ciples. Although a Lutheran from birth, the local Presbyterian church finds him a constant attendant and he takes a commendable interest in its work. Fraternally he is identified

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with the Cdd Fellows, belonging both to the subordinate lodge and to the encampment, and of the latter is a past chief patriarch. He is also secretary of the local German- American Alliance, a branch of the state body of that name. As he is public-spirited to a marked degree, it is but natural that he is a member of the Commercial Club, and all of the projects of that body for the business and civic growth of Kimball find him an enthus- iastic supporter. In the four years in which he has resided in Kimball he has gained the unqualified respect of his fellow citizens and he has also made many warm personal friends, who value his good opinion most highly.

WILLIAM BAILEY.

William Bailey, one of the best known and influential citizens of Wayne township, Min- nehaha county, is an agriculturist residing on section 15, where he owns two hundred and fourteen acres of land and where he has lived continuously during the past forty-five years. He enjoys the distinction of being one of the earliest. settlers of Wayne township. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, of Scotch parentage, on the 17th of June, 1846, his parents being John and Jane (Johnstone) Bailey, who died on the Emerald isle.

William Bailey was reared at home, acquiring his education in the public schools of his native land. In 1868, when a young man of twenty-two, he crossed the Atlantic to the United States and spent two years touring the country in search of a desirable per- manent location. In 1870 he came to Minnehaha county, South Dakota, where in June of that year he took up land, being among the first to file on a homestead in this immediate vicinity. As above stated, he has remained on this property for the past forty-five years and is widely and favorably known throughout the community. Mr. Bailey extended the boundaries of his farm until at one time it embraced three hundred and twenty acres, but now owns only two hundred and fourteen acres. He also owns a fruit ranch of forty acres in Texas and spends many of his winters in that state. During the summer of 1910 he visited Scotland, England and Ireland, renewing acquaintance with a number of his old schoolmates. As an agriculturist he has met with gratifying and well merited success that has won him a place among the substantial and representative citizens of his county.

In 1872 Mr. Bailey was united in marriage to Miss Martha Foster, of Minnehaha county, who is a native of Canada. Her parents, Robert and Lilly (Scott) Foster, were born in Scot- land and were among the early pioneers of this state. Our subject and his wife have five children, as follows: William, an agriculturist residing in Texas; Leslie, who is at home; Clifford, also at home; Essie, who gave her hand in marriage to William Foster and resides in Texas; and Belle, the wife of Robert Johnson, who is engaged in farming in Minnehaha county.

In his political views Mr. Bailey is a republican, loyally supporting the men and meas- ures of that party. He has served as a member of the town board and also on the school board for many years past, discharging his official duties in a highly efficient and commend- able manner. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, belonging to Sioux Falls Lodge, No. 262. Like his ancestors he is a Presbyterian in religious belief but now attends the services of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a devoted member. Coming to the new world in early manhood, he wisely utilized the oppor- tunities here afforded and has won both prosperity and an honored name.

MAJOR WILLIAM H. STANLEY.

Major William H. Stanley, who is treasurer and also quartermaster of the Battle Mountain Sanitarium, was born in West Salem, La Crosse county, Wisconsin, September 27, 1866. Data concerning his parents will be found in the sketch of John Stanley, which appears elsewhere in this work. He obtained his education in the common schools of Wis- consin and South Dakota and when about seventeen years of age entered the office of the Dakota News, a paper published at Watertown by Mr. Mellette, who subsequently became

WILLIAM BAILEY

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governor of the state. Mr. Stanley remained with that paper until its consolidation with the Courier and worked upon the Courier-News, as the paper was then known, for five or six months. At the end of that time he returned to Deuel county in the spring of 1886 and spent the following summer with his brother John at Hermosa, Custer county, this state. In the spring of 1887 Mr. Stanley returned home and not long afterward accompanied his parents to Hot Springs. In the summer of that year he purchased the interests of Dr. Stewart in the Star and a few months later became sole owner of that paper, which he conducted for three years, after which he sold it to N. C. Nash, of Canton, and entered the Minnekahta Bank. He was with that institution for only a short time, however, as upon the organization of the First National Bank of Hot Springs he became its assistant cashier, which position he held until 1893. After severing his connection with the First National Bank he served for two terms as county auditor and then became connected with his brother in the conduct of the Hot Springs Star, so continuing until he was appointed secretary of the state railroad commission in 1901, with offices at Sioux Falls. He served in that con- nection until he was appointed treasurer of the Battle Mountain Sanitarium, a national home for disabled volunteer soldiers, beginning his duties in that capacity August 16, 1909. Sinee December, 1911, he has also been quartermaster, which is rather unusual. the Battle Moun- tain Sanitarium being the only branch of the national home in which the two offices are combined. Major Stanley is also associated with his brother in various irrigation projects and together with C. A. Stewart owns a large irrigated fruit farm on Fall river. He also owns land on Cheyenne river which is devoted to farming and grazing.

Major Stanley was married on the 18th of December, 1889, his bride being Miss Blanehe Stewart, data concerning whose parents is found in the sketch of Charles A. Stewart. To Mr. and Mrs. Stanley has been horn a son, Stewart W., whose birth occurred December 29, 1890. He was given excellent educational advantages and graduated from the engineering school of the University of Wisconsin with the class of 1911. He possesses not only a well trained mind. but also a splendid physique and he is now a lieutenant in the Coast Artillery service, stationed at present at Corregidor Island, near Manilla, Philippine Islands.

Major Stanley is a member of the Baptist church and can always be counted upon to aid in seeming the moral advancement of his community. He is a stanch republican and is affiliated with the organization known as the Stalwarts. He served by appointment of District Judge Thomas as clerk of the courts of Fall River county and, as previously stated, held the position of county auditor, being the incumbent of that office for four years. Ile · is afliliated with a number of fraternal orders, belonging to the Elks, the Modern Wood- men of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Pythias, and is popular in those organizations. He is quite widely known throughout the state, and all those who have been brought in contact with him hold him in high respect and esteem, as he possesses those qualities of genuine manliood that universally command honor.

FRANK B. LOCKWOOD.

Frank B. Lockwood, who has been a resident of South Dakota for more than a third of a century, was for a number of years actively and successfully identified with agricultural interests and is now spending the evening of life in honorable retirement at Humboldt, Minnehaha county. He likewise held public office for a long period and is widely recognized as one of the highly respected citizens of his community. His birth occurred in the village of Cross River. Westchester county, New York, on the 15th of March, 1839, his parents being John P. and Jane A. (Barnhart) Lockwood, who spent the elosing years of their lives in Huron county, Ohio. The father, a school teacher by profession, was identified with educa- tional interests for many years.

Frank B. Lockwood was but three years of age when his parents established their home . in Huron county, Ohio: and it was there that he was reared and acquired a common-school education. On attaining his majority he adopted farming as a vocation and was thus en- gaged at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. In June. 1861, he enlisted as a private of Company D. Twenty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and with that command went to the front, his regiment being assigned to the Army of West Virginia. In May, 1862, his com-

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pany was withdrawn from the Twenty-fifth Regiment and organized into the Twelfth Ohio Independent Battery of Light Artillery, under which command he served until the cessation of hostilities between the north and the south. Among the important engagements in which he participated were the battles of Cheat Mountain, West Virginia, Summit of Allegheny Moun- tain, Cedar Mountain, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Second Bull Run and Fredericksburg. He likewise took part in numerous smaller engagements, and when the country no longer needed his services returned to Ohio with a most creditable military record.

Mr. Lockwood remained in the Buckeye state but a short time, however, removing to Moline, Illinois, where he was employed as clerk by a grain firm for one year. Subsequently he identified himself with lumber interests, being connected with the business at different times at points in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa until 1879. In that year he came to South Dakota and located in McCook county, filing on a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. He turned the virgin soil and built a home, remaining on the place until 1884, when he dis- posed of his property and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Humboldt township. Minnehaha county, near the town of Humboldt. There he carried on agricultural pursuits continuously and successfully until 1892, when he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in Humboldt. In January, 1893, he was appointed post- master of the town, holding that position continuously for thirteen years and making a highly commendable record in that connection. He was also elected township clerk in 1893 and held that office for twenty-two consecutive years. During this period he was appointed notary public and for six years served in that capacity. Mr. Lockwood allied himself with the republican party soon after its birth and has remained a consistent supporter of its principles to the present time. He is a valued member of Joe Hooker Post, No. 10, G. A. R., of Sioux Falls.

On Christmas Day of 1883, at Salem, South Dakota, Mr. Lockwood was united in mar- riage to Mrs. Celestia A. (Dodge) Royce, the widow of Daniel D. Royce, of Ohio. She was born in Ashtabula county, Ohio, in 1840, and her father, Gilead Dodge, was one of the pioneer settlers of that county. Frank B. Lockwood is well known as a man of sterling character and has long been numbered among the highly esteemed and honored citizens of the community in which he resides.

MARK A. WILLIS.

Mark A. Willis, one of the leading business men of Custer and the owner of the largest dry-goods store in Custer county, was born in Springwater, Livingston county, New York, on the 22d of August, 1867, the ninth in a family of ten children born to Nelson and Mary (Walker) Willis, both likewise natives of Livingston county. The father was a farmer by occupation and continued to follow agricultural pursuits until called to his reward.

Mark A. Willis attended school in Springwater and was also a student at a school in Genesco, New York, when Dr. William J. Milne was principal. When about fourteen years of age he began working in a printing office and was so employed for about two years, after which he was engaged in farm work in connection with his brother. It was subsequent to that time that he entered the normal school at Geneseo and after leaving that institution he began teaching, following that profession for four years in his native state. He then became connected with a lumber firm in Rochester, but in 1891 he emigrated westward, making his way direct to Custer, South Dakota. He had been elected principal of the eity schools and assumed his duties on Monday morning, although he had only arrived in the city the evening before. He taught the remainder of that year and all of the following year, and then turned his attention to the business world, establishing a dry-goods store. In the fall of 1900 he was burned out, but he reopened his store as soon as possible and now carries the largest and most complete stock of dry-goods, boots and shoes and men's furnishings in Custer county. His patrons come from a wide territory and custom once gained is retained, as his poliey is not merely to make sales, but rather to sell goods that will give permanent satisfaction. He is also a stockholder in the Electric Light & Power Company.

Mr. Willis was married on the 25th of November, 1892, to Miss Adella Dunn, a native of West Henrietta, New York, and a daughter of Hiram and Harriet (Reed) Dunn, both also

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natives of that county. The father was a farmer and hoth he and his wife spent their entire lives in the Empire state. Mr. and Mrs. Willis have two children: Merle, whose birth occurred on the 15th of March, 1900, and who is a high-school student; and Harriet Adella, born on the 24th of October, 1909.

Mr. Willis is a republican and has been a factor in the direction of public affairs. For a number of terms he was president of the town hoard and is now serving his eighth year as a member of the school board. Although not a church memher, he attends the Methodist Episcopal church and his influence is invariably on the side of right and justice. He is a loyal member of the Odd Fellows lodge, in which he has held all of the chairs, and has many friends in that organization and also among his fellow citizens who are not his brethren in that order. He has had much to do with the commercial expansion of Custer and his busi- ness ability has gained him the sincere respect of all who have had dealings with him, while at the same time he has gained the esteem of the community for his unswerving integrity.

REV. TIMOTHY J. O'GORMAN.

Rev. Timothy J. O'Gorman, pastor of St. Margaret's church of Kimball and of Holy Trinity church of Bendon, was born in Ireland on the 4th of June, 1874, a son of John and Anna O'Gorman, both of whom have been called to their reward. The father was a farmer by occupation and was much esteemed in his community.

Rev. O'Gorman attended the public schools of Ireland in his hoyhood and took a thor- ough classical course at St. Patrick's College of Carlow, Ireland, after which he entered St. John's College at Brooklyn, New York, where he continued his education. His theological study was done at St. Vincent's College in Philadelphia and he was ordained at Germantown, Penn- sylvania, on the 23d of April, 1903, by Bishop Prendergast. The first three years after his ordination Rev. O'Gorman spent in teaching in St. John's College at Brooklyn, but in the fall of 1906 he came to South Dakota and was given charge of the mission at Kimball. He was stationed there for one year and was then for a short time at Britton, after which he went to Henry, where he remained for two years. While there the St. Henry's residence was built and paid for in full. In 1906 he returned to Kimball and took charge of St. Margaret's parish. The church is one of the oldest in this part of the state as it was established as a mission thirty years ago. In the seven years of Father O'Gorman's pastorate much good has been accomplished, the church has been strengthened spiritually and its influ- ence in the community has increased. Its temporal interests have also heen well managed and its financial affairs are in splendid condition. He also attends a mission at Bendon, which he visits and holds mass on the second and fourth Sundays.

Father O'Gorman is a member of Creton Council, K. C., and is quite active in the work of that order, believing that in uniting the men of the Catholic faith a valuable service is performed. While his greatest care is given to the npbuilding of his church and the spiritual needs of his parishioners, he also finds time to do much for the moral advancement of the community as a whole and his lahors in that regard have won him respect and esteem.

JOSEPH HENRY BECHTOLD.

Joseph Henry Bechtold, proprietor of a first class jewelry establishment in Sioux Falls, was born in St. Joseph, Minnesota. August 5, 1874. He is a son of John George and Theresa (Vogele) Bechtold, the former of whom died in 1900, at the age of seventy-one, and the latter in 1910. The father was a native of Baden, Germany, and came to America in 1851. He left four sons and three daughters, one of the latter being Sister Paula at St. Joseph's Convent, St. Joseph, Minnesota.

Joseph H. Bechtold acquired his education in the public schools of St. Joseph, Minnesota, and later attended St. John's University at Collegeville, Minnesota, graduating from the commercial department in 1892. In the fall of that year he entered a jeweler's store in St. Cloud, Minnesota, starting at a dollar and a half per week in order to learn the trade.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 37

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