History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 52

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. and Mrs. Hyde are active, prominent and helpful members of the First Congregational church of Pierre. For more than a quarter of a century he has been one of its trustees. He has always been an active opponent of the saloons and all other forms of vice and has always been on the side of morality and virtue. Mrs. Hyde has taught a Sunday school class con- tinuously for thirty years, beginning when sixteen years of age. In politics he was a demo- erat and was a delegate from South Dakota to the Kansas City national democratie conven- tion which nominated William J. Bryan. He now votes independently, supporting men and measures rather than party. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and filled the chairs in the lodge at Lima, Ohio. He has always been an active supporter of the commercial bodies of Pierre and has given liberally to further any project for the public good and the upbuilding of the city. It is impossible to measure the extent of his usefulness, but there are none who question the value of his work. His record has become an integral part of the history of South Dakota's capital and the consensus of public opinion places him among the most dis- tinguished, prominent and valued citizens.

JOSEPH READ WILLIAMS.

Joseph Read Williams is a member of the real-estate firm of Charnock & Williams of Sioux Falls. He was born in Rockford, Illinois, June 23, 1857, a son of William and Mary ( Read) Williams. The father's family came from Wales and the mother's from England and the parents were married in the latter country. On coming to America they settled first on a farm in Illinois and afterward removed to Crawford county, Wisconsin, where they lived until 1879. In that year they arrived in Dakota territory and took up land in Clear Lake township. Minnehaha county, securing eight hundred acres in a body. With characteristic energy William Williams began to develop and improve that tract and devoted bis remain- ing days to general agricultural pursuits, remaining upon his farm until 1907, when death called him at the age of seventy-six years. He was a veterinary surgeon of the old Welsh school and practiced his profession to some extent in connection with farming. In the fam- ily of Mr. and Mrs. William Williams were ten children: Jennie, who is the wife of George Finney, of Crawford county, Wisconsin; Clara, the wife of Albert Lawson, of Clear Lake township, Minnehaha county; Joseph R., of this review; Annie, who gave her hand in mar-

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riage to L. E. Gage, of Sioux Falls; William, living in Clear Lake township, Minnehaha county; Arthur, a resident of California; John F., a druggist of Chinook, Montana; Henry, a veterinary surgeon of Humboldt, South Dakota; Lillie E., who is the wife of Winslow Braley, of Sioux Falls; and Emma, the wife of Frank Shrader, of Sionx Falls. The mother still resides at the old home at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. For twenty-two years it has been the custom to celebrate her birthday at the home of some of her children. The twenty-second celebration took place on the 25th of May, 1915, at the home of her son, William, on which occasion there were fifty of her descendants present. She bas, however, one hundred and thirteen direct descendants, of whom there are fifty-one grandchildren and thirty-six great-grandchildren.

Joseph Read Williams attended the common schools of Wisconsin and was a young man of twenty-two years when he accompanied his parents to South Dakota, where he, too, took up a homestead and bas since followed farming to the present time. In addition he is engaged in dealing in real estate, to which business he has given his attention since 1902, when he began handling lands in Colorado, Montana and South Dakota, with headquarters in Sioux Falls. In 1910 the now well known firm of Charnock & Williams was formed and business is conducted under the firm style of the Charnock & Williams Land & Investment Company. They handle farm lands, city property and insurance and have been accorded a large and dis- tinctively representative clientage. Their operations along those lines are extensive and the business has placed them among the representative and successful men of their part of the state.

On the 23d of May, 1884, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Anna Coats, of Wisconsin, who is a daughter of James Coats and a representative of a family that emigrated from England to Wisconsin at an early date. To Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born seven children, as follows: Guy, a general merchant of Toston, Montana; Mabel, who is the wife of Captain D. Jones, of Sioux Falls; Clifford, a resident farmer of Clear Lake town- ship, Minnehaba county; Ray, also an agriculturist of Clear Lake township; Laura, who resides with her brothers on the farm; Arthur, who follows farming in association with his father in Sioux Falls township; and Myrtle, at home.

In polities Mr. Williams is a republican and served as justice of the peace in Clear Lake township, Minnehaha county, in the territorial days. At that period no "code" governed and no marriage license was required and many marriage ceremonies were performed by Mr. Williams. He has lived to witness great changes in the state in its material develop- ment, in its political methods, in its social conditions and in its moral progress and his influ- ence has always been on the side of improvement and advancement. While maintaining his office in Sioux Falls, his home is situated about two and one-half miles east of the city, in Sioux Falls township. He is a popular, progressive and resourceful business man and through business, social and other connections has won many friends.

GEORGE R. GIBBS.

George R. Gibbs, a native son of Aurora county, South Dakota, is so well pleased with the opportunities offered by his native state that he is content to live and work here, believing firmly in its great future. He is now county superintendent of schools of Aurora connty and is discharging the duties of this responsible position in a very creditable manner.

Mr Gibbs was born on the 27th of November, 1880, a son of George T. and Rachel R. Gibbs. The family came to South Dakota in 1880 and located upon a homestead on section 21, Palatine township. Aurora county. Our subject was the first white child born in the county and in his early youth experienced much of pioneer life. His father farmed in Aurora connty for a number of years and then removed to Colorado, where he now lives retired. The mother has passed away.

George R. Gibbs accompanied his father upon his removal to Colorado and following his graduation from the high school of La Junta, that state, entered Colorado College at Colo- rado Springs, which conferred upon him the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1910. He taught in the high school of Canon City for a year but in 1911 returned to South Dakota and became a teacher of Aurora county. He was so successful and demonstrated so much executive ability

GEORGE R. GIBBS

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that in the fall of 1914 he was elected to the office of county superintendent. He has made a careful study of the problems of the public schools, especially the elementary schools, and hopes to secure a notable advance along educational lines in the county during his tenure of oflice.

Mr. Gibbs is a Presbyterian in religious faith and fraternally is connected with the Masonic order, the Odd Fellows, the Woodmen, the Aurora Chib and the Phi Delta Theta, a prominent college fraternity. His political belief leads him to support the republican party. He is thoroughly imbued with the energy and spirit of optimism characteristic of the west and personally is very popular in the county, while his ability has gained him high standing in his profession.

WILLIAM CURTIS.

William Curtis, the ex-county commissioner of Lake county and a retired farmer now making his home in Madison, was born in Toronto, Canada, on the 22d of February, 1850, and is a son of Thomas and Mary Ann Curtis, both of whom are deceased. The father fol- lowed the occupation of farming and thus provided for his family.

William Curtis attended the public schools from seven to nine years of age only and afterward assisted his father upon the home farm to the age of fifteen years, when he left home and began earning his own living, working at various places in Canada. He eventually arrived in South Dakota, reaching Lake county on the 10th of October, 1879, after which he homesteaded the southeast quarter of section 1, township 106, range 52. He afterward purchased more land until he was the owner of two hundred and fifty-seven acres, and for thirty years he carried on general farming. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improve- ment made upon the place when it came into his possession, but with characteristic energy he began its development and brought the fields under a high state of cultivation. He added many modern improvements in the way of good buildings and farm machinery and at all times he followed progressive methods in tilling the soil and caring for his crops. At the time of his arrival in this state there were no railroads in his locality and he experienced many of the hardships and difficulties of pioneer life. For four years the only fuel which he could obtain was twisted hay.

On the 11th of November, 1876, Mr. Curtis was united in marriage to Miss Mary I. Thomas, a daughter of Reuben Thomas, of Canada, and they now have one son, Harry, a druggist residing in Redfield, who is married and has three children.

Mr. Curtis holds membership in the Baptist church and is interested in its growth and welfare. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, having attained the Knight Templar degree in the commandery at Madison, while of the Mystic Shrine of Sioux Falls he is a member. He has served as worthy master of the blue lodge, is past eminent commander of the com- mandery and is now high priest of the chapter. He also has membership in Madison Lodge, No. 20, I. O. O. F. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and at different times he has held township offices, the duties of which he has discharged with such prompt- ness and capability that his service recommended him for the office of county commissioner, to which he was elected in 1910, assuming the duties of that position the following year. For four years he was an active working member of the county board and his service was a bene- fit in various ways. He is now living retired from business, having in the thirty years of his close connection with agricultural interests in Lake county won a competence that now enables him to rest from further labor and enjoy the fruits of his former toil.

NATHAN GLICKSMAN.

Nathan Glieksman, who is conducting a general store at Edgemont, South Dakota, was born at Youngstown, Ohio, on the 26th of March, 1881, a son of Jacob and Fannie (Flaster) Glicksman, both natives of Austria-Hungary, the father born in 1850 and the mother five years later. They were married in their native land and continued to reside there until

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1880, when they emigrated to the United States and located at Youngstown, Ohio. The father engaged in the mercantile business there for about four years, but at the end of that time removed to Bridgeport, Connecticut, whence a number of years later he went to Denver, Colorado. He is now a retail merchant in Chicago and is meeting with gratifying success. He wife is also living.

Nathan Glicksman acquired his education in the schools of Denver, Colorado, and in 1906, when twenty-five years of age, engaged in the grocery business in Chicago, where he remained for two years. In 1908 he took up his residence in Edgemont, South Dakota, and established his present general store, which is one of the leading mercantile enterprises of Fall River county. From his youth he has been familiar with merchandising and the problems that confront the retailer, and this experience, combined with his natural shrewdness and business ability, has enabled him to build up a trade of gratifying proportions.

On the 20th of January, 1908, Mr. Glicksman married Miss Leah Cohen, who was born at Deadwood, South Dakota, of the marriage of Henry and Eva (Israel) Cohen, both natives of Germany. In the early '80s they came to South Dakota and are now living retired in Edgemont. For many years the father was engaged in the tile business in Deadwood. Mr. and Mrs. Glicksman have a daughter, Mildred Elizabeth.

Mr. Ghieksman is independent in politics, believing that the greatest need of the coun- try is to cast off the yoke of bondage to political bosses, who, under cover of patriotism. seek their own selfish ends. He is a member of the city council and in that connection does all in his power to further the interests of the municipality. He is at present secretary of the Commercial Club, a member of the board of directors of the county fair association, a member of the committee on entertainment of the Commercial Club and is also associated with a number of committees which are working for the general good. In addition to his store he has other interests in Edgemont, as he owns city property and also holds a number of city warrants issued for drilling deep wells. Fraternally he is connected with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America and finds in those organizations much true comradeship. He is giving himself unreservedly to advancing the interests of Edgemont and the town recognizes his publie spirit and holds him in high esteem.

WILLIAM BODENNER.

William Bodenner is proprietor of a general mercantile store at Fairburn, in which he carries a line of dry goods, hardware, groceries and other commodities. He is accounted one of the foremost business men of his part of the state. His birth occurred at Lancaster, Grant county, Wisconsin, May 31, 1861, his parents being Henry and Johanna (Rogers) Bodenner, both of whom were natives of Cornwall, England, and remained residents of that country until after their marriage. Crossing the Atlantic, they settled in Grant county, Wisconsin, where they made permanent location about the year 1855. The father engaged in mining, although he became a landowner, and was active in the lead mines of that vicinity until he met death in the mines in 1863. His widow and the family retained the old home in Grant county until 1880, when they removed to Lae qui Parle county, Minnesota, where the mother remained until her death about the year 1888.

William Bodenner is the youngest in a family of nine children. He attended the district schools of Grant county, Wisconsin, and when but eleven years of age began working for others in that county. He was thus employed for eleven years and then removed to Deuel county, South Dakota, where he served an apprenticeship at the harness maker's trade for three years. He was afterward employed by the L. C. Porter Company at carpentering for two seasons and then came to the Black ITills country, settling first at Buffalo Gap, where he engaged in the stock business, continuing there for about eight years. He then disposed of his holdings at that place and removed to Fairburn, where he has since engaged in mer- chandising, owning a general store, in which he carries a large and attractive line of dry goods, hardware, groceries and other things. The lower floor, sixty by fifty feet, is completely stocked with an attractive line of goods. There was only one store at Fairburn when Mr. Bodenner became connected with the business interests of that place. He is also a land- owner, having property in his section of the state, and is a stockholder in the Dan Patch

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electric line at Minneapolis, while his wife is a stockholder in the bank at Fairburn. He devotes his entire time to his business interests, concentrating his efforts largely upon the management of his store.

In September, 1893, Mr. Bodenner was married to Miss Anna W. Smith, who was born at Elk Point, South Dakota, a daughter of Miles Henry and Lilly (Mitchell) Smith, both of whom were natives of Fredericktown, New Brunswick, Canada. They were married there and after coming to the United States settled in eastern South Dakota, where the father engaged in farming. Later he turned his attention to the machinery and implement busi- ness and on removing to Fairburn he established a flour and feed business. Subsequently he went to Buffalo Gap, where he engaged in general merchandising with his son W. M. as a partner. There he remained until his death, which occurred May 22, 1910. He was twice elected to the state legislature and was a prominent and influential citizen of his community. He survived his wife for some time, her death occurring in 1890. Mrs. Bodenner is the youngest of their five children and by her marriage has become the mother of four children. Miles H., who occupies the position of state game warden, resides thirteen miles west of Fairburn. William F. assists his father in the store. Lyle B. and Dotha Belle are both at home.

Mr. Bodenner holds membership with the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica and the Modern Brotherhood of America. He is loyal to the teachings and purposes of those organizations and his life has been well spent according to modern standards of man- hood and citizenship. In business he has qualities that make him an enterprising and reliable merchant and wherever known he is held in high esteem.

ADOLPH GUSTAV HAHN.

For about thirteen years Adolph Gustav Hahn was connected with the business interests of Sioux Falls as a real-estate dealer, becoming president of the A. G. Habn Company. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, July 2, 1862, a son of Ferdinand and Amelia (Hennig) Hahn, who were natives of Germany. The name was originally Von Hahn, but those of the family who came to America dropped the prefix. Both parents were representatives of old and prominent families, the mother's family containing many who held some title. Their marriage occurred in Berlin, Germany, in 1859, and the following year Mr. Hahn came to America. In 1861 he was joined by his wife in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but spent his last days in Humboldt, South Dakota, where his death occurred in the '90s. His widow continues to reside in Humboldt, and has reached the age of seventy-four years. In their family were nine children: Adolph Gustav, of this review; Henry W., president of the Farmers Bank at Humboldt, South Dakota; Bertha, the wife of C. C. McCormick, of Humboldt; Emma, who married H. M. Duncan, of Humboldt; Emily, the wife of John McGowan, postmaster at Hartford, South Dakota; Ida, who married James Conley, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Charles F. and William R., residing in Humboldt, this state; and Clara, the wife of Dr. Carl Helmey, of Badger, South Dakota.

Adolph G. Hahn acquired his early education in the public schools of Milwaukee, but laid aside his books when but thirteen years of age in order to earn his own livelihood. He entered a sash and door factory where his father was foreman and at first earned but forty- two cents per day for eleven hours' labor. A year later the family removed to Sioux Falls in the territory of Dakota, and the father homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land. Adolph G. Hahn and his two sisters lived upon the farm, which he operated, while the father, Ferdinand Hahn, remained in Sioux Falls, working at the carpenter's trade. While farming, the son also taught in a country school for fonr terms. The father died in the '90s at Humboldt and by that time the other sons were old enough to take charge of the farm. Accordingly Adolph G. Hahn turned his attention to other business, being first con- nected with hail insurance, of which business P. F. Sherman was manager. He next engaged in buying grain for various concerns in Sioux Falls and throughout Minnehaha county. He followed that occupation during the fall and winter months, engaging in the real-estate and insurance business during the summer seasons. In the insurance business be was associated with Philo Hall, a lawyer, now of Brookings, under the firm style of Habn & Hall. In 1891

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Mr. Hahn settled in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he remained for six years, after which he removed to Elkton. Throughout that period he was president of the Northwestern Mutual Hail Insurance Company. From Elkton he went to Fulton, South Dakota, where he bought grain for a grain company and engaged also in the real-estate business for nearly three years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Aberdeen, where for one year he conducted an elevator, and in December, 1902, he arrived in Sioux Falls. There he purchased a stock of clothing and became senior partner of the firm of Hahn & MeMichael. That business, however, was discontinued at the end of ninety days and Mr. Hahn turned his attention to the real-estate business, in which he afterward engaged. He bought valuable tracts of land in eastern Colorado, disposing of over two hundred thousand acres in addition to twelve thousand acres of irrigated land in the San Luis valley. In 1909 the A. G. Hahn Company was incorporated and Mr. Hahn remained its president until his death. The com- pany controlled valuable tracts of land in Colorado and in South Dakota and did a large business, its interests having heen directed by one who was an expert judge of land values and who possessed keen business insight and discrimination.

On the 2d of November, 1901, at Elkton, South Dakota, Mr. Hahn was united in mar- riage to Miss Frances E. Crook, and they became the parents of seven children: Marie, Hazel, William, Walter, Ruth and Ellen, twins, and Albert G., Jr.

Mr. Hahn was a member of the Catholic church and was connected fraternally with the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He helonged to the Dacotah Club and gave his political allegiance to the republican party. He had many friends in Sioux Falls and other parts of the state who greatly mourned his loss when he passed away. He had many admirable qualities and enjoyed the friendship of the majority of those with whom he came in contact.

CHRISTIAN O. BERDAHL.

While it is an indisputable fact that the growth and progress of any eity or community is the result of the combined efforts of many, it is also equally true that there are always leaders in the movements which result in progress and prosperity for a district, and to this class belongs Christian O, Berdahl, who is cashier of the Minnehaha State Bank and the present efficient and popular mayor of Garretson. Minnehaha county numbers him among her native sons. He was born November 11. 1878, of the marriage of Anfin J. and Caroline (Christianson) Berdahl. The father, a native of Norway, came to the United States with his parents when a little child of but three years and the mother, while born in Minnesota, was of Norwegian descent. The paternal grandparents settled in Minnesota, hut in the early '70s came to South Dakota, establishing their home in Minnehaha county. Anfin J. Berdahl had then reached adult age and both he and his father filed on claims about seven miles west of Garretson, becoming pioneer settlers in that region and recognized later as active factors in its development and improvement. Ole Christianson, the maternal grand- father of C. O. Berdall, died while serving in a Minnesota regiment during the Civil war. His widow with their five children afterward came west to South Dakota, arriving about the same time as the Berdahl family. They settled in Moody county, where Mrs. Christian- son secured a claim of a quarter section of land. After the marriage of Anfin J. Berdahl and Caroline Christianson they began their domestic life upon the claim which he had previously secured. He owned three quarter sections and with characteristic energy began the develop- ment and cultivation of the farm. In 1892 he removed to Garretson and turned his attention to mercantile pursuits as a dealer in general merchandise, remaining in active and success- ful identification with that business for about seventeen years. At length, with a well earned competency, which had come to him as the reward of his close application and capable management, he retired from active life. Both he and his wife still live in Garret- son, where they are numbered among the most highly respected citizens.

Christian O. Berdahl was reared under the parental roof and acquired a publie-school education in Garretson, after which he became a student in the normal department of the business college at Sioux Falls. Still later he attended the Sioux Falls College for two years and completed his preparation for life's practical and responsible duties with a hnsi-

CHRISTIAN O. BERDAHL AND FAMILY

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ness course in the Caton Business College at Minneapolis, Minnesota. During the periods of vacation while he was pursuing his studies he taught school for two terms and after finish- ing his course in Minneapolis he returned home and found employment in his father's store in Garretson. In 1906 he secured a claim in North Dakota and in 1907 he removed to the homestead upon which his wife lived until they had proved up the claim and secured their title. Mr. Berdahl, however, returned to Garretson, having been offered the position of cashier in the First National Bank in the fall of 1907. He accepted and continued to act in that capacity until February, 1911, when he resigned his position to become cashier in the Minnehaha State Bank. He has since acted in that capacity and his previous experience well qualified him to undertake the duties which devolve upon him, and in their faithful discharge he has contributed much to the growth and upbuilding of the bank. In addition to his connection with banking interests Mr. Berdahl is engaged in merchandising, having in 1912 formed a partnership with his brother Elmer U. under the firm style of E. U. Berdahl & Company. This business is conducted under the management of Elmer U. Berdall and has proven a distinct success.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 52

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