History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 53

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. Berdahl has also been a prominent and influential factor in the public life of the community. In politics he has always been a republican and for years past has been a dominant factor and recognized leader in political circles. In 1908 he was elected city auditor, in which position he remained for four years. Further evidence of the confidence reposed in him by the public came in his election to the mayoralty of Garretson in 1912 and in his reelection to that office, and he is now the chief executive of the city, to which he is giving a businesslike and progressive administration. At the last primary he was nominated on the republican ticket for representative of his district and was elected. He proved an able working member of the legislature, served on the committee on banks and banking and was especially active in connection with legislation relating to the government of cities.

On the 24th of August, 1905, Mr. Berdahl was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mair, of Garretson, a sister of the Rev. William M. Mair, who is at the head of the agricultural department of the college at Brookings, South Dakota. To Mr. and Mrs. Berdahl has been born a daughter, Dorothy Mair, and a son, Clayton Munroe.

Fraternally Mr. Berdahl is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and the Fraternal Reserve. He is of the Lutheran faith, while his wife holds membership in the Presbyterian church, Both are highly esteemed in the community and many friends extend to them the hospitality of their homes. Mr. Berdahl is without invidious distinction accounted one of the foremost men of Garretson. He has done much to further its interests and upbuilding and his work has at all times been characterized by unfaltering devotion to the public good. What he has accomplished has resulted from the fit utilization of the innate powers and talents which are his and the wise use which he has made of his opportunities.

MATHEW F. CUMMINS.

Mathew F. Cummins is the postmaster of Wilmot and a well known and enterprising merchant of the town, in which he conducts a furniture and undertaking business. He was born in Ozankee county, Wisconsin, March 5, 1858. a son of Patrick and Catherine (Smith) Cummins, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They came, however, to America in early life and were married in Wisconsin. The father was educated in Ireland, but was still a boy when he crossed the Atlantic, and in Wisconsin he followed the occupation of farm- ing until he met an accidental death when but forty-four years of age. Both he and his wife were members of the Catholic church. In their family were seven children, four of whom are yet living: Edward, a farmer residing at Redwood Falls, Minnesota; Mathew F .: Thomas P., who follows farming in North Dakota; and Mrs. Catherine McCormick.

Mathew F. Cummins was educated in the common schools but his educational advan- tages were very few, for he lost his father when quite young and the family was left with no patrimony. He was first employed in a barber shop and worked along that line for eight years and he afterward spent a similar period in connection with the drug and grocery busi- ness. In 1879 he came to Dakota territory. He carefully saved his earnings until industry

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

and economy brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own account and eighteen years ago established a furniture store, which he still conducts, being today one of the oldest merchants in years of continuous connection with the business life of Wilmot. He carries a well selected line of furniture of various grades in order to meet the varied tastes and wishes of the public and is accorded a good patronage. In connection with his furniture trade he condnets an undertaking business. He served as postmaster of Wilmot during the two administrations of President Cleveland and was again appointed on the 5th of April, 1914, by President Wilson.

In 1885 Mr. Cummins was married to Miss Cora M. Bingham, a native of Minnesota and a daughter of I. Bingham, who was an early settler of that state, where he carried on blacksmithing. There are three children in the Cummins family. Francis, who is a graduate of the high school at Wilmot and of the State Normal School at Aberdeen, will teach in Nevada in the year 1915-16. Wilfred, nineteen years of age, has graduated from the high school and is now assisting his father in the store. Delbert, the youngest, is attending the public schools.

Mr. and Mrs. Cummins are members of the Catholic church and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus. In politics he has always been an active democrat, doing everything in his power to secure the success of his party, and during the last fifteen years he has served as secretary of the State Board of Embalmers, In his business career Mr. Cummins has met with gratifying and well merited success. He made his start absolutely empty handed but he early realized that industry is the basis of all honorable success and he has been a hard worker, winning his prosperity through untiring efforts.

STEPHEN W. DIXON.

Stephen W. Dixon, now cashier of the Bank of Vienna, Clark county, and recognized as a business man of ability and energy, has resided almost his entire life in South Dakota, as he was brought to this state by his parents when a child. He was born in Downers Grove, Illinois, on the 18th of November, 1875, a son of Robert and Sarah J. (Rowland) Dixon. The father was born in Belfast, Ireland, of Scotch ancestry, while the mother was born near Buffalo, New York, of English parentage. Her mother was born in the same town that was the birthplace of John Bunyan, the humble tradesman who became famous as the author of Pilgrims Progress. In early life Robert Dixon engaged in the coal and wood business in Chicago and subsequently, in connection with his brothers, followed manufacturing and later for a considerable time was a general merchant in Downers Grove, Illinois. In 1882 he came to South Dakota and in that fall entered a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and also took up a preemption claim of similar size in what is now Dixon township, Hamlin county. He spent the following winter there and in the spring of 1883 returned for his fam- ily, bringing them to this state and establishing his home here. He was the first man to locate in Dixon township, which was afterward named in his honor. Some time after settling there he purchased a relinquishment on a tree claim, which brought his total holdings up to four hundred and eighty acres of land, which he still owns. He served during the four years of the Civil war as captain of Company E, Fifty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which held seventh place in the government rank for service, as the command took part in thirty- six hattles and over two hundred engagements. For four years he was a member of the state senate and has been one of the leaders in Hamlin county since the first settlement of that county.

Stephen W. Dixon was reared under the parental roof and as he was not yet eight years of age when the family removed to this state his education was largely acquired in the public schools here. He attended the district schools near his home, the Vienna public schools and the Watertown high school and after completing the course in the last named institution attended Wessington Springs Seminary, where he took normal and classical work. Still later he completed a classical course at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. For three years after leaving school he taught and for one year of that time was principal of the Wayne (Ill.) public schools. Dur- .

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ing his vaeations and subsequently during an entire year he worked for the Northwestern Railroad in Chicago and also engaged in reportorial work in that city, being upon the staff of the Inter Ocean. Returning to South Dakota he spent four years upon the home farm and continued to follow agricultural pursuits until 1912, when he purchased a half interest in the Bank of Vienna. He was subsequently made cashier of that institution and still holds that important position. He manages well the administrative detail that is inevitable in the conduet of a bank and combines prudence and initiative in his decisions regarding the larger questions of policy that come up from time to time.

Mr. Dixon was married to Miss Jessie M. Holland of Washington, Illinois, on the 12th of December, 1909, and they have a daughter, Arta June. Mrs. Dixon is a member of the English Lutheran church and Mr. Dixon gives his fraternal allegiance to Bryant Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He is much interested in the state of South Dakota and cooperates heartily in all movements that seek to promote the interests of the commonwealth. He is a well known and representative citizen of Vienna and a man of influence in financial circles. His neigh- bors and friends esteem him not only for his ability in business affairs but also for his probity and fair dealing.

WILLIAM I. LOWTHIAN.

William I. Lowthian, a successful farmer of Grant county, who has also been closely identified with the work of fraternal insurance orders, is a native of Iowa, born in Worth county on the 22d of September, 1860, a son of N. I. and Susan (Beighley) Lowthian. The paternal grandfather, Timothy Lowthian, was born in England and became a resident of Canada, where his demise occurred. The maternal grandfather, Peter Beighley, was born in Pennsylvania but his father was a native of Germany. Peter Beighley followed agricul- tural pursuits and passed away in Freeborn county, Minnesota. N. I. Lowthian was born in Ontario on the 17th of March, 1839, and in 1856 went to lowa. He owned land there and while home on a furlough from the Civil war he purchased land in Freeborn county, Minne- sota, where he made his home from the close of hostilities until 1879, when he removed to South Dakota and took up a quarter section of land in Grant county under the homestead law. He took up his residence on the farm in 1880 and resided there until 1903, when he removed to Milbank, where he is now living retired. He was a member of Company I, Fifth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for three years, and participated in thirteen battles. He was taken sick while at the front and was confined for some time in a hospital. He also served as a nurse. Previous to going to the south he took part in the Indian fighting in Minnesota. He is a republican and bas always taken an active part in political affairs. He served for two terms as a member of the state senate and has also held a number of township offices. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he is also a member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he has served as commander. He is an influential member of the Methodist church, whose work he supports generously. He began life as a poor boy but has been very sue- cessful and now owns a half section of land in Grant county and a residence and two lots in Milbank. He devotes his time to looking after his business interests. His wife was born in Pennsylvania in 1848 and she also survives. They have three children: William I .; John P., who operates an electric plant in Oregon; and George, a physician of Akely, Minne- sota. They also reared two adopted daughters: Katie, the wife of Mory McMillan, of Kansas City; and Nina, who married Henry Bigley, a farmer of Freeborn county, Minnesota.

William 1. Lowthian was educated in the common schools of Freeborn county and was reared upon the home farm. In 1881, when twenty-one years of age, he took up a home- stead in Spink county, South Dakota, on which he proved up in 1883. He beld it for four years, selling it in 1887. He removed to Grant county in 1884 and purchased a farm, which he still owns, and has made many improvements thereon. He engages in general farming and also in stock-raising, specializing in thoroughbred Holstein cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs and Percheron horses. For four years he was state secretary of the American Society of Equity and devoted considerable time to his duties in that connection. He was also a director of the American Society of Equity for one year. He believes thoroughly in the advantages

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to the farmer of cooperation and has served as vice president of the Terminal Elevator Asso- ciation, of which he has been a director for four years. This is a mutual concern and has proved of great benefit to the farmers connected with it. The concern handles grain at Superior, Duluth and Minneapolis and last year handled more than two and a half million bushels of wheat.

Mr. Lowthian was married in 1883 to Miss Mary Hicks, who was born in Toronto, Canada, and they became the parents of five children: Frank W., a traveling salesman resid- ing at Watertown; Walter I., a bookkeeper at Milbank; Archie N., who works in a furni- ture store at Milbank; Phil S., who is with his father on the farm; and Mary I., who is a stenographer and bookkeeper at Watertown. The wife and mother passed away in 1895 in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1903 Mr. Lowthian was again married. Miss Lydia F. Farrell becoming his wife. She was born in Chicago and is a daughter of Rodger Farrell, who removed to Dakota territory in 1879 and settled in Bon Homme county. He was a farmer by occupation. During the Civil war he served in the navy and through- out his life manifested a high order of patriotism, being willing at all times to subordinate personal aims to the public good. His political allegiance was given to the republican party.

Mr. Lowthian is a republican and for nine years has served as township clerk, while for several terms he has been justice of the peace. Fraternally he belongs to the Workmen. the Degree of Honor and the Yeomen and his religious allegiance is given to the Methodist Episcopal church. He is widely known and is recognized as one of the leading citizen> of Grant county. As a farmer he has been very successful and he has also accomplished much in forwarding movements seeking to bring agriculturists into closer union and cooperation.

ELON GALUSHA PETTIGREW.

Elon Galusha Pettigrew, of Flandreau, one of the venerable pioneer citizens of South Dakota, was born in Ludlow, Vermont, December 8, 1831, and is therefore in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His parents were Parker and Mary Rebecca (Diekinson) Pettigrew. The former died at the age of eighty-three years. He was a son of Andrew Pettigrew, who died in 1851 at the age of eighty-five years, so that it will be seen that the family is noted for longevity. Andrew Pettigrew was a son of a Scotchman who at an early day came to Massa- chusetts, whence the family afterward removed to Vermont, becoming early settlers of the Green Mountain state.

Elon G. Pettigrew was reared to manhood in Vermont, spending his youthful days upon a farm, his time being divided between the work of the fields and the acquirement of an education in the public schools. When his textbooks were put aside he engaged in farming for three years and when a young man began doing business as a wholesale peddler. handling a general line of goods. In this connection he drove over several states and into Canada and later in partnership with his brother, J. W. Pettigrew, he established a general grocery, flour and grain business at Ludlow, where he continued until his removal to the middle west. He made his first trip to the west in the '60s, with Wisconsin as his destination, but soon after- ward he returned to Vermont. Later he went by rail to Minnesota and on to Marshall, taking this journey on the second trip the train made over that ronte. There were only two white families in a distance of eighty miles, between Marshall and Watertown. There was no town upon the present site of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota. en route to Marshall, but it was made possible for him and others to go to a farm house and have a dinner cooked while the train waited. At length he proceeded to Marshall and thence by stage to Lake Benton, where there was only one log house. From that point he continued on foot a distance of twenty-five miles to where the town of Flandreau now stands. In the journey he used the sun as a compass. There was no settlement there, but his brother, MI. D. L. Pettigrew, had preceded him and was living in a sod house. To that typical western habitation of the pioneer times E. G. Pettigrew made his way and thus cast in his lot with the early settlers of the country. The Indians were on all the hills about and one of them took Mr. Pettigrew on his horse and thus crossed the river. In 1878 he filed on a quarter section west of what is now the town of Flandreau, after having previously taken a tree claim, and thus he made preparations for becoming a permanent resident of that section of the country.

ELON G. PETTIGREW

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On the 7th of March, 1879, Mr. Pettigrew brought his wife and daughter to South Dakota and has since remained in this state. Where his attractive home is now found was then a wild, wide prairie, but he broke the sod, planted the seed and in due time cultivated and harvested good crops. While in Vermont he was married on the 7th of May, 1856, to Miss Salome C. Bixby and unto them was born a daughter, Jennie, now the widow of Fred Petti- grew. The mother passed away in 1870 and in 1871, at Cambridge, New York, Mr. Pettigrew was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Mary Jane (Rice) Maynard, a widow. Mrs. Pettigrew has shared all of the trials and hardships of pioneer life. She had never lived outside of the city until she came to South Dakota to take up her abode in a pioneer cabin, but she readily adapted herself to changed conditions and has made a happy home for herself and husband. In 1879 Mr. Pettigrew erected the residence which he now occupies. It is one of the old-time homes, spacious and substantial, the blinds for which he purchased in Boston at eighty-five cents per pair. The heavy doors, three by seven feet, are molded on both sides and were purchased in Boston at a dollar and eighty-five. cents each, while the interior finishing of black ash and butternut was brought from Vermont. The material in the house is of the best and the home provides every comfort and convenience. Mr. Pettigrew followed a custom unusual at that time by digging a cellar under the whole house. The grove of fine trees about his residence has been grown from seed which he planted in. 1880 and in 1881. At one time he had over four hundred acres under the plow, using oxen in the operation of his farm and working as many as eight or ten yoke at one time. An active, busy life has been that of Mr. Pettigrew and the wise use which he has made of his time and opportunities has gained for him a place among the substantial citizens of his county.

While living in Vermont, Mr. Pettigrew served for two years as a member of the state legislature and was afterward chosen one of the directors of the state prison at Windsor and- served for four years. In his home city, too, he filled various offices, the duties of which he discharged with promptness and fidelity. At Flandreau, South Dakota, he was alderman for several years, making a most creditable record by the prompt, faithful and progressive man- ner in which he discharged his duties. At length, however, he retired, but again in 1915 he was called to office by the vote of his fellow townsmen, who wished him once more to serve his city as alderman, although he is now past eighty-three years of age. This is certainly an unusual record. Most men are supposed to be long past their usefulness at that age, but in spirit and interests Mr. Pettigrew seems yet in his prime and is giving out of the rich stores of his wisdom and experience for the benefit of others. In his fraternal relations Mr. Pettigrew is a Mason and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star, while both also hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal church of Flandrean. Their many sterling traits of character and their kindly, helpful spirit and their fidelity to what they believe to be right have been the salient elements which have gained for them a place among the valued and prominent residents of the state in which they have lived since early pioneer times.

HAMILTON H. WILCOX, M. D.

Jefferson county, North Carolina, was the birthplace of Dr. Hamilton H. Wilcox, the efficient surgeon of the South Dakota State Soldiers Home at Hot Springs, and his natal day was December 28, 1850. His parents, Samnel and Barbara (Houck) Wilcox, were both horn at that place, the father on the 7th of March, 1821, and the mother on the 17th of May, 1814. Mr. Wilcox was a carpenter and cabinetmaker by trade but also followed farming and in 1850 removed with his family to northeastern Kentucky, where he resided until he enlisted in the Union army in the fall of 1863. He died in March, 1864, as the result of exposure while at the front. While a resident of North Carolina he served as justice of the peace and also held that office in Kentucky. His widow survived for three decades, dying in March, 1894, in the Blue Grass state.

Dr. Wilcox is the fourth in order of birth of a family of eight children and acquired his early education in Kentucky, attending the common schools there and a select school at Olive Hill, that state. In furtherance of his plan to devote his life to the practice of medicine he entered the Medical College of Ohio at Cincinnati, now known as the University of Cin- einnati. from which he was graduated on the 1st of March, 1882. He has since taken post- Vol. V-20

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graduate courses in Chicago and at other places and never allows himself to feel that he has completely mastered the science of medicine and surgery. On the contrary, he endeavors constantly through reading and association with other physicians and surgeons to keep in touch with the advance that is continually being made in those fields of investigation. Before the Doctor entered medical college he had already taken his place in the ranks of those who carry on the work of the world, for at the age of eighteen he began teaching. His father had died in the army four years previously and it was necessary for the Doctor to assist in the support of his mother and younger brothers and sisters. He taught a term and then began clerking in a store at Olive Hill, Kentneky. He subsequently taught again and also assisted his brother, who was elected county assessor. In 1873 he took a partial course in medicine, resumed his professional studies in 1875 and again in 1881, graduating, as before stated, in 1882. He located at Glenville, Minnesota, and opened an office for the practice of his profession, remaining there until 1883. In 1897 he became the owner of a private hos- pital at Albert Lea, Minnesota, which he conducted for nine years and which he still owns.

On the 28th of November, 1906, Dr. Wilcox went to the Sonth Dakota State Soldiers Home at Hot Springs in the capacity of surgeon, expecting to remain but one year. How- ever, he found the climate to his liking and other conditions favorable and has since remained there. He owns considerable real estate, including valuable city property in Minnesota, and is a well-to-do citizen of Hot Springs.

Dr. Wilcox was married on the 30th of December, 1875, to Miss Mary E. Abbott, of Kentucky, who, however, was a native of Athens, Ohio. Three children were born to that marriage. Frank Leslie, whose birth occurred October 5, 1876, was graduated from the Rush Medical College of Chicago with the class of 1900 and is now a practicing physician and surgeon of Walker, Minnesota. Jessie G. and Gussie L., twins, are graduates of the Albert Lea Female College, having won the degree of B. S. Gussie L. became the wife of Charles D. Howe, a resident of Sturgis, South Dakota, where he is engaged in the practice of law, and Jessie G. married Dr. C. A. Waterbury, of Waterloo, Iowa. Mrs. Wilcox passed away May 3, 1905, and on the 14th of November, 1906, the Doctor was again married. Miss Lura Hydorn, a native of Minnesota, becoming his wife. To this union has been horn a son, Richard Hamilton, whose natal day was February 28, 1909.

Dr. Wilcox is a republican and while residing in Freeborn county, Minnesota, served as county coroner and was also mayor of Albert Lea for one term. He has also been health officer and a member of the state legislative committee. He is a Mason and has taken all of the degrees from the blue lodge to the Shrine. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Royal Arcanum, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Modern Brotherhood of America. Along professional lines he holds membership in the Black Hills District Medical Society, the South Dakota State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. The South Dakota State Soldiers Home is fortunate in having as its surgeon snch an able and conscientious man as Dr. Wilcox, whose work in that institution has earned the high encomiums of those in a position to judge of its value.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 53

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