History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 47

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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Mr. Neill is a member of the Aberdeen Commercial Club, the Merchants' Association, the Aberdeen Press Club, the Aberdeen Elks' Club, the Aberdeen Motorcycle Association and the Aberdeen Gun Club- associations which indicate the nature of his interests and activities. He has been closely connected with public affairs since his school days and his opinions have been a potent force in molding public thought and action.

PAUL D. MCCLELLAND.

Paul D. McClelland is proprietor of a large and well appointed mercantile establishment at Hermosa, where he carries a stock valued at from seven to ten thousand dollars. He also has other business interests and the careful and intelligent direction of his affairs is hring- ing to him substantial return. He was born in Portage county, Ohio, January 10, 1871, a son of John C. and Sarah A. (White) McClelland, both of whom were natives of Ohio. The father was born in 1829 and for a number of years engaged in merchandising in Ohio but in 1876 removed to lowa, settling upon a farm in Page county. In April, 1884, he arrived in South Dakota and located twelve miles east of Hermosa on a homestead claim, there resid- ing until 1892, when he removed to a small farm near Custer. He is now living retired at Southwick, Idaho, making his home with a son. His wife, who was born in 1836, passed away in 1913.

Paul D. MeClelland is the youngest of a family of four children. He attended school in Page county, Iowa, and was a pupil in the academy at College Springs, that state. He likewise attended school in South Dakota and pursued a private course under his older brother, a college graduate and teacher, who has been engaged in educational work for many years. At the age of nineteen Paul McClelland was employed as a cowboy in Custer county. He rode the range between the ages of fifteen and twenty and on attaining his majority was appointed deputy register of deeds at Custer, which position he filled for two years. He was afterward deputy sheriff of the county for four years and following his marriage, which was celebrated in 1896, he conducted a meat market in Custer City for eighteen months. He next went to New Mexico in the fall of 1897 and during the succeeding winter was employed in the machine shops of the Santa Fe Railroad Company, occupying that position until April, 1898. He was at Raton, New Mexico, and upon his return to Custer joined the military com- pany of which he was first lieutenant and with which he went to Sioux Falls, being there mustered into the United States service. The troops proceeded to San Francisco, California, and on the 29th of July, 1898, sailed for the Philippine Islands. Mr. McClelland was appointed quartermaster and served also as commissary officer and ordnance officer on the United States transport St. Paul, which after a stop of four days at Honolulu reached Manila on the 31st of August. Mr. MeClelland was on duty for eighteen months and sustained a gunshot wound in the left arm at the battle of Marilao. He was in command of his company from October, 1898, until mustered out in October, 1899, having been advanced to the rank of captain at Manila.

Captain MeClelland was mustered out at San Francisco and returned to Custer, where he engaged in merchandising in connection with his brother-in-law, J. M. Donaldson, from November until April. He then purchased the business, which he conducted alone for a time. Later he sold an interest to Mr. Waugh and the business was conducted under the

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firm name of McClelland & Waugh for about eighteen months, but Mr. MeClelland sold out in April, 1902. He then purchased five hundred and twenty-two head of steers in connection with George Raver and was engaged in the livestock business until January, 1903. He then located in Hermosa and organized the Paul MeClelland Corporation for the conduct of a gen- eral mercantile business. He hecame secretary and treasurer and so continued until 1907, when he became sole owner. He has a well appointed store, carrying an attractive line of goods valued at from seven to ten thousand dollars. He is also half owner with Mr. Raver in a bunch of Holstein eattle and shipped from New York sixty-five head of full blooded stock. He also operates a dairy farm eight miles east of Hermosa and is the owner of farm lands, business property and residenee property in Hermosa. His investments have been most judiciously made and his sound judgment and unfaltering enterprise are factors in his continued and growing sueeess.

On the 1st of May, 1896, Mr. MeClelland was united in marriage to Miss Grace E. Beard- shear, a native of Nebraska and a daughter of George E. Beardshear. Her father was engaged in the operation of a sawmill and also of an electric light plant at Sturgis and was among the pioneer settlers in the Hills, where he died in the fall of 1900. His widow survives and makes her home in Sturgis. Mrs. MeClelland died ten months after their marriage on the 18th of March, 1897. Mr. McClelland was again married on the 3d of July, 1901, his second union being with Mrs. Anita M. (Pettijohn) Willard, a daughter of William C. and Marie (Nunez) Pettijohn, the former a native of Missouri. By her first marriage Mrs. McClelland had three children: Walter, who is engaged in the live-stock business in Harding county, South Dakota; Birdie, who is a musie teacher and is secretary and treasurer of the MeClelland Company; and Pearl, who also assists in condueting the business of the company. By the second marriage there are two children, Vera and Verna, twins, who were born April 12, 1902, and are attending school.

In his political views Mr. MeClelland has always been a stalwart republican, and in addition to the offices already mentioned that he has filled, he has served as United States commissioner for two years and on the town board for two years, aeting as elerk and later as chairman. He has been deputy sheriff altogether for about twenty years and is occupy- ing that position at the present time. Fraternally he is well known as a member of the Masonie lodge at Hermosa, of which he is treasurer, of the Odd Fellows lodge, of which he is a past grand, and of the Knights of Pythias. He has long been an interested witness of events which have shaped the history of his seetion of the state and has borne an active and helpful part in the work of puhlie progress. During the Indian outbreak in 1890 and 1891, when the Indians began stealing horses, Mr. MeClelland, under orders of Governor Mellette, organized a volunteer cavalry troop, of which he aeted as lientenant and which recovered several hundred head of horses from the Indians. They had a fight at the Jack Daly raneh, twenty-five miles from Hermosa, on which occasion five Indians were killed. With all the story and experiences of pioneer life Mr. MeClelland is familiar and the part which he has played in developing the county numbers him among its substantial and worthy eitizens.

C. F. KOEPP.

C. F. Koepp, a representative and enterprising merchant of Huron, where he has eon- ducted the largest men's furnishing goods store since 1898, is a self-made man who owes his suecess entirely to his own well directed efforts. He was born in Watertown, Wisconsin, on the 11th of August, 1858. He attended the Lutheran parochial school in Watertown and after putting aside his textbooks worked in a sawmill and also in stores and at other labor until 1882. In that year he went to Casselton, Dakota territory, and in 1883 eame to Huron. In the spring of the latter year he removed to Walworth county, where he was one of the first to take up government land and prove up his elaim. Returning to Huron in 1884, he again began working for others. In 1898, feeling that his capital and experience justified him in embarking in business for himself, he purchased the clothing establishment of Samuel Apple and has successfully conducted the same throughout the intervening fifteen years, being now proprietor of one of the largest men's elothing and furnishing goods stores in the state of South Dakota.

C. F. KOEPP

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

On the 14th of June, 1905, Mr. Koepp was united in marriage to Miss Blanch Foulke, of Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Koepp is a democrat in politics and was chosen the first mayor of Huron under the commission form of government. His administration was one of great value to the city. He established the present excellent water works, extended the sewer system and also established a sinking fund to take care of the city's bonded indebtedness. Mr. Koepp has lived in Huron for a period covering three decades and enjoys an enviable reputation as one of its most esteemed, representative and public-spirited citizens.

WILLIAM S. SMALL.

William S. Small is the present efficient postmaster of Gettysburg, the duties of which position he has ably discharged since July, 1914. The period of his residence in this state now covers twenty-seven years and he is widely recognized as one of the representative and esteemed citizens of his community. His birth occurred in Deer Isle, Maine, and he is one of the younger of a family of thirteen children. He acquired his education in public and private schools of his native state and when but thirteen years of age began working for others, being employed at carpentering, etc. He also spent some time as a sailor but sub- sequently embarked in the net and twine business in Portland, Maine, and continued therein until 1888. In that year he disposed of the enterprise and came to Potter county, South Dakota, where he purchased land and was engaged in the cattle business for a few years. Later he embarked in the furniture business at Gettysburg, where he has conducted an estab- lisbment of that character with gratifying success to the present time. In July, 1914, he assumed the duties of postmaster of the town, to which position he had been appointed by President Wilson and in which connection he has since made a most ereditable and com- mendable record. He is still the owner of valuable farm lands and city property in this state and enjoys an enviable reputation as a substantial and enterprising citizen of Gettys- burg and Potter county.

Mr. Small gives his political allegiance to the democracy and acted as town clerk of Gettysburg before its incorporation. He likewise served as a member of the board of educa- tion and has held other local offices in addition to that of postmaster, ever proving an efficient and faithful public servant. While still a resident of Maine he joined the Masonic fraternity and is now a member of the blue lodge at Gettysburg, the chapter at Faulkton and the con- sistory at Aberdeen. He is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Gettysburg and has an extensive circle of warm friends in his home community.

MAURICE CHRISTENSEN.

A large percentage of South Dakota's population is of Scandinavian nativity or descent and the state owes much of its progress to this element. Among its representatives is Maurice Christensen, cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Chester, who was born in Den- mark, June 24, 1874, a son of S. C. and Anna Christensen. He remained a resident of bis native land until he reached the age of seventeen years and then sought the opportunities offered in the new world. He attended the public schools of his native country, and his early life was devoted to farming. On arriving in the new world he settled in Story county, Jowa, and in 1892 the family arrived, establishing their home in Audubon county, Iowa. There the father carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1899. His wife survived until 1904.

Maurice Christensen pursued a business course in the Highland Park College at Des Moines and later returned for a post-graduate course. He entered the Kimballton Danish Savings Bank as assistant cashier, there remaining for three years, and on the expiration of that period he came to South Dakota in 1910, when he embarked in the real-estate business. On the 3d of January, 1914, at which date the Farmers State Bank of Chester was organ- ized, he entered that bank as cashier, and its business has been greatly increased in the intervening time to the present. A. L. Butler is president of the bank, with H. C. Jensen as

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vice president. The policy of the bank is a safe, conservative one that is, however, no bar to progress. Its business interests are carefully managed by Mr. Christensen, who is a wide- awake, alert and enterprising young man. Aside from his banking interests he is a stock- holder of the Farmers Elevator of Chester and he owns four hundred and forty acres of land in South Dakota and one hundred and sixty acres outside of the state.

On the 19th of February, 1902, Mr. Christensen was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Johnson, a danghter of Ness Johnson, of Nevada, Iowa. To them have been horn two chil- dren, Gladys and Arthur. Mr. Christensen and his wife hold membership in the Baptist church and he gives his political support to the prohibition party-associations which indicate much concerning the nature of his interests and the rules which govern his conduct. His life is indeed upright and honorable in every connection and commands for him the respect and goodwill of all with whom he is brought in contact. He finds recreation in outdoor sports but his chief interest outside of business is in the development of Sonth Dakota. He is a believer in the future of the state, knowing much of its possibilities and resources, and he cooperates in all movements that promise to further the public good. He has been identified with military affairs, for in 1898 he volunteered in the Spanish-American war, becoming a member of Company B, Fifty-second Iowa Infantry. For three months he was stationed at Chickamauga Park and was mustered out on the 30th of October, 1898.

ANFIN J. BERDAHL.

Anfin J. Berdahl is a retired merchant of Garretson and one whose life record is insep- arably associated with the history of the city in which he makes his home. For a long period he was numbered among its enterprising merchants and his activities have ever been of a character which has contributed to general prosperity as well as to individual success. He was born in Norway on the 12th of December, 1852, and is a son of John and Christi (Henjum) Berdahl, who came to the United States in 1856, settling first in Winneshiek county, Iowa. After a residence there of four years they removed to Houston county, Minnesota, and sub- sequently established their home in Fillmore county, that state, where the father purchased a quarter section of land. In 1872, however, he became one of the pioneers of South Dakota and entered a homestead in Minnehaha county, to which he removed his family the follow- ing year and on which he resided up to the time of his death, in the spring of 1884. His labors were an effective force in transforming the wild land into richly cultivated fields and he thus did much to further the agricultural development of his part of the state. Mrs. Berdahl survived her husband for twenty years and continued to make her home on the farm with a son until she, too, passed away.

Anfin J. Berdahl was reared under the parental roof and his educational opportunities were limited to such advantages as were afforded in the country schools of Minnesota. In 1874, soon after his arrival in this state, he, too, took up a homestead claim in Minnehaha county and, meeting with all the requirements of the law in regard to settlement and improvement, at length secured a clear title to the same. There he resided until 1887, when he left the farm and removed to Pipestone, Minnesota. This was at the time when the railroad was being built through and he was waiting to see where the towns would be located. He and his brother-in-law, C. O. Christianson, opened a small store in Pipestone, but after about eight months removed to Jasper, Minnesota, where they established a general mer- cantile business. This they conducted until 1890, when they sold out and Anfin J. Berdahl returned to his farm in South Dakota, continuing its cultivation and improvement until the fall of 1892, when he removed to Garretson and opened a store. This he conducted con- tinuously for sixteen years, selling out in 1908. He then removed to a farm in North Dakota, upon which he remained for two and a half years, and on the expiration of that period he returned to Garretson and has since lived retired. His energy and enterprise have been features in his success and brought him at length to a position of affluence that now enables him to live retired and enjoy the comforts of life without further recourse to labor.

In 1878 Mr. Berdahl was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Christianson, a native of Fillmore county, Minnesota, but a resident of Moody county, South Dakota, at the time of her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Berdahl have been born the following named: Christian O.,

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cashier of the Minnehaha State Bank and a member of the mercantile firm of E. U. Berdahl & Company; J. Alfred, who is station agent at Stanton, North Dakota; Elmer U., of the firm of E. U. Berdahl & Company; and Clara M., who attended the Ladies' Seminary at Red Wing, Minnesota, and is now the wife of Thorstem Hyland, an attorney at Stanton, North Dakota.

In addition to his home property in Garretson Mr. Berdahl owns three-quarter sections in Mercer county, North Dakota, and is identified with the Garretson Land & Investment Company, which also owns considerable property in North Dakota. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Lutheran church and their lives have been guided by its teachings and conform to the highest standards of Christianity. Mr. Berdahl is a prohibitionist and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In these associations are found the rules which govern his conduct and shape his relations. He stands for not only temperance but for integrity and honor in every connection and wherever he is known he is held in the highest esteem.

CHARLES J. BUELL.

Charles J. Buell was born at Lake City, Minnesota, November 1, 1865. His parents were natives of the state of Vermont. He spent the early part of his life upon a farm. He graduated from the Lake City high school in the class of 1885 and entered the University of Minnesota in the fall of 1885, completing the freshman and sophomore years in the classical department. He then spent a year at the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and entered upon the practice of law at St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1888. In April, 1889, he came to Rapid City, South Dakota, where he has since resided, engaged in the active practice of his profession.

On the 5th of May, 1892, Mr. Buell was united in marriage to Miss Maude Mitchell, a daughter of Judge William H. Mitchell, of Rapid City. They have four children as follows: Charles J., Jr., who is a student at the South Dakota School of Mines; William G., a student in the law department of the University of South Dakota at Vermillion; and James and Alecia.

Mr. Buell has always been a republican in politics, and held the position of states attorney of Pennington county, South Dakota, for two terms. He was one of the four presi- dential electors on the republican ticket at the November election of 1892 and was elected by the electoral college as the messenger to Washington, and took the first election returns cast by South Dakota for president. Mr. Buell is a member of the Masonic, Knights of Pythias and Elks lodges. He is an enthusiastic hunter and fisherman, and devotes much time to outdoor sports. He has spent considerable time in travel, both in this country and abroad.

THEODORE FOREST AULDRIDGE.

Theodore Forest Auldridge is a member of the bar practicing as brief attorney in the office of the attorney general at Pierre. His birth occurred at Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa, January 28, 1883, his parents being George Washington and Emma Elizabeth (Chapman) Auldridge. He supplemented his early educational opportunities by study in Redfield College in Redfield, South Dakota, and subsequently entered the University of South Dakota for a law course, which he completed by graduation with the class of 1910. However, his education was not continuous. Before entering upon his classical course he pursued farming in this state from the 23d of April, 1896, until the 1st of September, 1901. It was at the latter date that he entered Redfield College, completing the preparatory course in June, 1904, and then continuing through the freshman year until 1905. At the latter date he became connected with the American Express Company and remained in their service until September, 1908, during which time he studied law in the office of Sterling & Clark of Redfield, South Dakota. It was in 1908 that he entered the college of law of the University of South Dakota at Ver- million and by doing double duty he completed the three years' course in two years and was graduated in 1910.

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Mr. Auldridge then located in Highmore, South Dakota, and was connected with the law firm of O'Brien & Johnson. On the 1st of January, 1911, the firm name was changed to Boucher, O'Brien, Johnson & Auldridge, but was dissolved in the spring of 1913. He is a capable young lawyer whose cases are prepared with thoroughness and care and presented with clearness and force. His ability along professional lines led to his appointment as brief attorney in the office of the attorney general January 1, 1911, serving under Royal C. Johnson, attorney general whose term continued until January 1, 1915, when Clarence C. Caldwell became attorney general and Mr. Auldridge continued in the same position.

On the 6th of November, 1912, Mr. Auldridge was united in marriage to Miss Irene Kath- eryn Quirk, a daughter of Mrs. Mary Quirk, of Highmore, South Dakota. Mr. Auldridge is a member of Sigma Chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and is also connected with the Phi Delta Phi legal fraternity, both being organizations of the University of South Dakota. He does not belong to clubs or fraternal organizations other than the two men- tioned, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his law practice, and in his profession he is making substantial advancement.

CHARLES S. EASTMAN.

Charles S. Eastman, the popular and capable postmaster of Hot Springs, is a native of Dane county, Wisconsin, born near Madison, January 23, 1864, of the marriage of Dean H. and Ellen (Buchanan) Eastman. The mother, who was born in Indiana, is a half sister of Robert La Follette, ex-governor of Wisconsin and now United States senator. Dean H. East- man, who was born in Maine, emigrated to Dane county, Wiseonsin, in his youth and was there married. He followed the occupation of farming throughout his life and in 1881 removed to Plankinton, Dakota territory. His family later joined him in the territory and for a number of years he farmed in Aurora county. At length he sold his interests there and removed to the Ozark mountain region of Missouri, where the family resided for three years: They then returned to Dakota, but after a short time went to Albion, Iowa, where Mr. Eastman continued to live until shortly before his death, which occurred at State Center, Iowa, at the home of his eldest son. His widow survives and is living with that son. Mr. Eastman was quite prominent in the communities in which he lived and served as county treasurer of Aurora county, South Dakota, for one term. A number of times he was a member of the board of education and in his early life taught for several years in Wisconsin. To him and his wife were born eight children, of whom Charles S. is the third in order of birth.

The last named was reared under the parental roof and gained his early education in the schools of Dane county, Wisconsin. He for a time attended the Northwestern Business College at Madison and was later a student at the State University of Wisconsin at that place. In the spring of 1882, when a youth of eighteen years, he located in Plankinton, Dakota territory, and was employed by the sheriff of Aurora county, who sent him to White Lake to look after some business which required his attention for several months During the winters of 1882-83-84 he taught district school in Aurora county and throughout the summer of 1882 he was employed by Anderson & Dougan, who were engaged in the hardware business. In the summer of 1883 Mr. Eastman followed the carpenter's and painter's trades at White Lake and in the summer of the following year he was employed in Mr. Hoffmaster's general store at White Lake.

When President Arthur opened the Winnebago reservation to settlement in February, 1885, Mr. Eastman, with a party of others, took up claims there. When President Cleveland revoked the act of President Arthur opening to settlement such reservation, all of the settlers thereon were removed and Mr. Eastman went to Chadron, Nebraska, then the objective point of the Northwestern Railroad. In May, 1885, he settled in Fall River county, locating on the east branch of Horsehead creek. He built the first house in Oelrichs and assisted in the early development of that region, residing there until the winter of 1890 and 1891, when he removed to Hot Springs. A number of years previously lie had read law in the office of La Follette & Siebecker in Madison, Wisconsin, and he was admitted to the bar of the territory in August, 1888. He gave his attention to his work as an attorney and to

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 47

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