History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 59

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. Nelson gives his political support to the republican party and is a supporter of the Lutheran church, in the faith of which he was reared, while Mrs. Nelson is identified with the Methodist denomination. Mr. Nelson has long been dentified with the mercantile and agricultural interests of Irene and this section of the county and through the wise use of the opportunities that have come to him he has worked his way to success until he is now enabled to live retired in a comfortable rural home near the village of Irene, surrounded by a host of friends who esteem him higlily for his principles of manhood and right living.

ARTHUR J. COLGAN.

Arthur J. Colgan is a well known merchant of Edgemont, owning a general store and specializing in ranch supplies, and he also holds title to much real estate in that city. He was born at Burlington, lowa, on the 25th of July, 1856, a son of Thomas and Mary (Colgan) Colgan, both of whom were natives of County Cavan, Ireland. They were married on the Emerald isle and ahout 1853 emigrated to the United States, locating first in Pennsylvania, whence about 1854 they removed to Iowa. The father, who was engaged in railroad con- struction work west of Ottumwa, resided with his family in Burlington until about 1860, when a removal was made to Ottumwa, where he engaged in the hotel business and also conducted a feed yard. Six or seven years later when the railroad was built farther west, he held the construction contract to Monroe county and did the work to the satisfaction of the company. He removed to that county and lived there upon a farm nntil 1879, when he went to O'Neill, Nebraska, and became the owner of a farm about a mile from that place. He resided there for five years, or until 1885, and then sold out and returned to Ireland. Two years later, however, he again came to America and from that time until his death made his home with the subject of this review in Oelrichs, South Dakota. He was seventy- six years old at the time of his demise and had survived his wife for many years, as she passed away in lowa when thirty-nine years of age.

Arthur J. Colgan attended school in Ottumwa, Iowa, and also in Monroe county, that state. When twenty years of age he went to southwestern Nebraska with his brother and engaged in railroad construction as a contractor, which business he followed from 1877 until 1882. At the end of that time he was married and took up a claim near O'Neill, Nebraska, and while proving up thereon also engaged in the implement business. Two years later he went to Valentine, Nebraska, and accepted a position in a hardware store there. After a year he turned his attention to the restaurant and hotel business, in which he continued until 1886. when he took up his residence in the vicinity of Oelrichs, South Dakota, and engaged in ranching until 1889. In that year he established a general store in Oelrichs and in 1900 he founded a store at Edgemont. Two years later he became a resident of the latter place and disposed of his store at Oelrichs. He carries all kinds of ranch supplies and does an extensive business, occupying two store buildings, one twenty-four by one hundred and twenty feet in dimensions, the other sixty by sixty-five feet, and also two warehouses for the storing of his stock. He knows the kind of goods best adapted for use on a ranch and is able to supply all of the demands of his customers, many of whom have patronized his store for a number of years. The reasonableness of his prices and his honorable business methods, together with the high quality of his goods, insure him continued success. He owns consid- erable ranch property and also holds title to real estate in Edgemont. He has invested in the electric light plant, is a stockholder in the Edgemont Fair Association and president of the Edgemont Telephone Company, and is recognized as one of the representative men of his community.

Mr. Colgan was married in 1882 to Miss Ella Stack, who was born in Monroe county, Iowa, a daughter of Edward and Ellen (Cotter) Stack. Her family removed from Iowa to Belleville, Kansas, in 1879 and continued to reside there until after the father's demise. The mother and her children then went to Hastings, Nebraska, where she was living when called to her final rest. The father was a farmer by occupation and was highly esteemed wherever known. Mr. and Mrs. Colgan have become the parents of six children: Thomas, at home, who is bookkeeper for his father; Nellie, the wife of Dr. A. H. Thornton, of Edgemont; Edward, who is manager of the dry-goods and men's furnishings department of his father's

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business; Charles, who died in January, 1913, at the age of twenty-five years; Mary, manager of the ladies' department of her father's store; and Arthur Leonard, who is connected with the clothing department.

Mr. Colgan is a democrat and was for three years county commissioner and for fourteen years clerk of the school board, while he has been a member of the town council for a number of years. For one term he represented the forty-sixth district in the state legis- lature and in all of his official service has been conscientious and able, his public record being a distinctly creditable one. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus, the Woodmen of the World, the Royal Neighbors and the Elks. He is typically a western man, imbued with that spirit of faith in the future, that willingness to take the initiative and that boundless energy that typifies the west.

MENZO M. BENSTER.

In this age of great commercial enterprise and business activity, invention is con- stantly placing upon the market utilities which meet the demands of the hour and which indicate the constantly changing conditions. Among those whose contributions to the world of invention have been of great value is Menzo M. Benster, of Gettysburg, whose "All Inside Safety Window" has attracted the widest attention and the most favorable comment. It was demonstrated at the Huron State Fair and is coming into general use.

Mr. Benster is a native of Michigan, his birth having occurred in Wayne county, near Detroit. on the 17th of April, 1840, his parents being Wendell and Jane (Giles) Benster, the former a native of the state of New York, while the latter was born in England. The father was a contractor and railroad builder and was awarded a contraet in connection with the construction of the Michigan Central and other railroads. Subsequently he turned his attention to farming, in which he engaged extensively. He afterwards became identi- fied with the sawmill business, devoting his time to the manufacture of lumber for a considerable period. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of Company A, Twenty-fourth Michigan Regiment, and died when on his way home in 1864, as the result of exposure and hardships which he had endured at the front. His widow long survived him, passing away in 1895, at the age of eighty-four years.

Menzo M. Benster had but limited opportunity for attending school, pursuing his studies in a school room for only about three months. In the school of experience, how- ever, he has learned many valuable lessons, and reading and observation have greatly broadened his knowledge. When he was twenty-one years of age he and his two brothers took over a sawmill in Michigan owned by their father and operated it for about three months when it was destroyed by fire. In August, 1862, Menzo M. Benster, then a young man of twenty-two years, enlisted as one of the defenders of the Union cause, becoming a private of Company A, Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry. He was promoted to the rank of corporal and served for six months, after which he was honorably discharged because of disability occasioned hy paralysis. He raised a company of twenty-two men but lost his commission. The entire regiment was raised in ten days.

When he returned from the south, Mr. Benster was unable to engage in any kind of work for three or four years but at length, having somewhat recovered his health, he became interested in the sewing machine business in Detroit, continuing in that line for twelve years. He next went to Chicago, where he was in business until he sustained another stroke of paralysis in 1879. He afterward resided in Maywood, a suburb of Chicago, until 1883, when his physician advised him to seek a change of climate and he came to South Dakota, making his way direet to Gettysburg, which was then called Meade. He lived retired, although he took up a claim, which he proved up, securing his title. He was appointed postmaster by President Garfield and occupied that position for two years, during which time he engaged in the grocery business until forced to withdraw on account of his health. Since that time he has lived practically retired but is now devoting his attention to perfeeting a number of patents. He possesses marked inventive genius and has patented a wireless staple, also a thill coupler for putting in thills or tongue in a buggy. He has

MARY M. BENSTER MENZO M. BENSTER

ALTHA BOWERS EDNA MICHAEL, FRANCES KRIEG

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likewise patented a window and casing. The window can be removed from the casing for cleaning and replaced in a very short time without danger to the window washer, while the glass is held in place without the use of nails or putty. The operations of this inven- tion are so simple that a woman or child can remove and replace the sash and sereen. It has been termed the "window without a fault," and it will be hailed with delight as a great invention, notable for its ease of operation, its simplicity, durability and cheap- ness. It can be built as cheaply as the old style window, Mr. Benster's latest improve- ment having greatly reduced the cost of manufacturing. He has also patented a flying machine with reversible engine. The machine is different in every respect to other machines and with the rotary engine is much lighter and more powerful, which makes the machine more practicable. Mr. Benster is a land owner of Potter county but he devotes his entire time to the perfecting of his invention, his window requiring eight different patents for the completed window.

On the 20th of October, 1870, Mr. Benster wedded Miss Mary C. Munson, a native of Detroit, Michigan, and a daughter of Carlos and Almira (Shirley) Munson, who were born in Connecticut and Ohio respectively. Her father was an engineer en steamhoais on the lakes for a long time and also occupied positions as a stationary engineer. He died before the beginning of the Civil war and his wife passed away in 1897. Their danghter Mrs. Benster was educated in the schools of Detroit and by her marriage she has become the mother of three children. Frances, the eldest, is the wife of Charles C. Krieg, a stone cutter, who is also engaged in the land business at Gettysburg, and they have four chil- dren: Frances, Willard B., B. Neola and Stanley. Edna, the second member of the family, is the wife of Anderson Michael, who is cashier of the bank at Philip, South Dakota, and they have three children, Marjorie Ruth, Doris and Maryellen. Altha, the youngest of the family, is the wife of Charles Bowers, wire chief for the Western Union Telegraph Company at Spokane, Washington, and they have one child, Richard Charles.

Mr. Benster maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, and his wife is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps. They attend the Congregational church, and in political belief Mr. Benster is a republican. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, serving only as postmaster. He has given valuable aid in public affairs, however, since the time when he made great sacrifice to aid his country in the Civil war. The spirit of loyalty is one of his strong traits and he cooperates in all those forceful and effective movements which have to do with the general welfare.

THEODORE H. RADCLIFF.

Theodore H. Radcliff was prominently identified with many phases of the commercial life of Howard and for a number of years before his death was president of the Peoples State Bank, one of the reliable financial institutions of Miner county. He was born October 20, 1859, in North Amherst, Ohio, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Gawn) Radcliff, natives of the Isle of Man. In 1867 they removed to New Milford, Illinois, where the father carried on blacksmithing.

Theodore H. Radcliff attended a private school of Rockford, Illinois, and a business college and applied himself assiduously to the acquirement of an education. His mother promised him that if he would work diligently she would see that he received liberal school advantages, and he proved the genuineness of his desire by milking fourteen cows night and morning and driving several miles to school at Rockford. Afterward he worked for W. A. Knowlton at the water power plant for some time, and then he came to Miner county and homesteaded land. He subsequently returned to Rockford, but in 1882 came again to Howard, where he settled permanently. He entered the machine business in connection with W. A. Knowlton, Jr., son of his former employer. In 1885 he formed another partnership, George Blackman becoming associated with him in the conduct of a real-estate and loan business. The firm also handled machines and the partnership was continued to the profit of both parties until 1896, when it was dissolved. Mr. Radeliff then carried on the business alone. At one time in his life he was associated with Charley Farmer in the conduct of an abstract, Vol. V-22

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real-estate and loan business for several years, the venture proving remunerative. In 1900 the Peoples State Bank was organized with T. H. Radcliff as president, Charley Farmer, vice president, and H. M. Hanson, cashier. Mr. Radcliff retained that important position until his death, which occurred January 1, 1909. His intimate knowledge of business conditions in Howard, his systematic habits and his familiarity with the trend of modern banking all proved valuable factors in the successful management of the institution. His demise was much regretted by all who had come in contact with him, either in a business relation or socially.

Mr. Radcliff was united in marriage, September 10, 1884, to Miss Lizzie Barker, a daughter of John and Margaret (Holly) Barker, of Rockford, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Radcliff came to Dakota, September 28, 1884. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children as follows: J. Howard, who was born June 25, 1885, and is engaged in the insurance business in Mitchell, South Dakota; Stewart I., whose natal day was June 27, 1889, and who is living in Howard; Charles N., who was born August 30, 1891, and is in the life insurance business with headquarters at Watertown, South Dakota; Helen MI., who was born November 18, 1893, and died February 14, 1899; Bryan R., born May 4, 1896, who graduated June, 1914 from St. Johns Military Academy at Delafield, Wisconsin, and is now attending the Univer- sity of Chicago; Margaret E., horn September 17, 1898; Theodore H., born December 10, 1903; and James, born April 4, 1905. Mr. Radcliff was a member of the Masonic fraternity. belong- ing to a number of its branches, including the Mystic Shrine, and he held membership also with the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen. His sons, Stewart and Howard, are both thirty- second degree Masons and belong to the Elks and Woodmen. Mrs. Radcliff belongs to Howard Chapter, No. 79, O. E. S. His political belief was that of the democratic party. MIr. Radcliff was a member of the school board for many years. He was one of the representative men of Miner county and was successful in everything that he undertook, doing much in many lines to further the progress of his county and city.

ANTHONY T. LENERTZ.

As cashier of the State Bank of Waverly Anthony T. Lenertz is one of the men of influ- ence in financial circles of that municipality. He was born in Tyler, Minnesota, on the 15th of April, 1884, a son of Peter and Catherine (Mahowald) Lenertz. The father was born in the grand duchy of Luxemburg, Germany, and the mother in Scott county, Minnesota. They were married in Marystown, Minnesota, to which place the father had been taken as a child by his parents. He gained a competence by farming and was respected in his neighborhood. He passed away in 1908, having survived his wife since 1906.

Anthony T. Lenertz grew to manhood upon the home farm and the greater part of his education was acquired in the district schools. However, he spent one year in the high school of Marshall, Minnesota, and took a course at the Minneapolis Business College. Sub- sequently he worked for one winter in a store at Princeton, Minnesota, but the following summer was spent upon a farm. In the fall of 1905 he went to Garrison, North Dakota, where he engaged in the general mercantile trade for a year, and later identified himself with the grain business, operating an elevator at Coal Harbor, North Dakota. In Angust, 1908, Mr. Lenertz was called home on account of the illness of his father and upon the death of the latter, on the 31st of August, assumed charge of the farm and operated it for one year. In 1909 he was married and immediately afterward went to Kramer, North Dakota, where he accepted the position of assistant cashier of the State Bank of that town. He remained there for about eighteen months and then went to Gary, South Dakota, and engaged in the mercantile business there for about two years. After leaving that place he located in Alta- mont, where he was manager of a business house during the summer of 1913. On the 1st of December of that year he came to Waverly as cashier of the State Bank, of which he was one of the organizers, and has since occupied that position to the satisfaction of the board of directors, the stockholders and the general public. He is courteous in his dealings with all who have business with the bank and is as liberal in the extension of credit as is consistent with the security of the funds deposited with that institution.

Mr. Lenertz was married on the 8th of September, 1909, to Miss Anna M. Dartman,

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of Tyler, Minnesota, daughter of Frank and Anna Dartman, who were early settlers of Spink county, South Dakota, and Mrs. Lenertz was born at Redfield. The family removed to Tyler, Minnesota, in the '90s. Mr. and Mrs. Lenertz have a son, Aloysius F. The parents are mem- bers of the Catholic church and the father belongs to the Knights of Columbus. He is in all respects a good citizen and his private life conforms to the highest standards of honor. Although he has been a resident of Waverly but a comparatively short time, he is conceded to be one of the able and upright business men of the town and is held in general respect.

HENRY N. DYBVIG.

Henry N. Dybvig is the proprietor of the Dybvig nursery, situated on section 11, Taopi township, Minnehaha county, the third largest nursery in the state, and he specializes in the growing of evergreens, the climate and soil conditions being particularly suitable therefor. His birth occurred upon the farm where he still makes his home, his natal day being the 10th of February, 1890, and his parents being Nils H. and Anna (Hendrickson) Dybvig, natives of Norway. The father came to the United States as a young man, while the mother was brought here by her parents when a child of two years. Her marriage oc- curred in Cottonwood county, Minnesota, and in 1882 a removal was made to South Dakota, where Mr. Dybvig had previously filed on a homestead on section 11, Taopi township. He has since made his home upon this land and has proven himself an efficient agriculturist.

Henry N. Dybvig was reared upon the home farm and acquired his elementary education in the common schools of the neighborhood, supplementing the training thus secured by attendance at Augustana College at Canton, South Dakota. In 1904 he was associated with his father in the establishment of the Dybvig nurseries and in 1910 they bought out the Norby nursery located in Madison, this state, which was one of the oldest in this region, having been in existence for thirty years, and in 1913 they purchased the Eitreim nursery. The consolidation of these three nurseries made the Dybvig nursery the largest of the kind in this section, and the third largest in the entire state. In 1913 the nursery was turned over to Henry N. Dybvig, who now has entire control of the business and makes a specialty of evergreens. He ships trees over a wide area and is doing an extensive business, as his stock is sturdy and the trees are almost certain to grow if given proper attention.

Mr. Dybvig is interested in various community affairs, supporting all movements look- ing to the moral upbuilding of the locality. He has membership in the United Lutheran church, to the support of which he contributes. He is independent in political belief, casting his ballot as seems best, without regard to party affiliation.

FRANKLIN HENRY STALEY, M. D.

Dr. Franklin Henry Staley is one of the able physicians and surgeons of' Hamlin county, South Dakota, and since locating at Hazel has gained a lucrative practice. He was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, on the 5th of January, 1860, a son of Josiah and Hannah P. (Stephens) Staley, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. The father, who was a cabinetmaker by trade, enlisted in the Union army upon the outbreak of the Civil war and was subse- quently captured and confined in Andersonville prison for seven months. After his release he was so emaciated and weakened that he died of exhaustion before reaching the northern lines. His widow removed to Mount Vernon, Iowa, with her family and resided there until 1880.

Dr. Staley had good educational opportunities, attending the preparatory and normal departments of Cornell College at Mount Vernon. He subsequently taught for a few years. In 1880 he accompanied his brother, J. M., and his mother and her second husband, W. J. Clugston, on their removal to Watertown, South Dakota, and taught the first two terms of school ever held in Rauville township, Codington county. He took up a homestead seven miles northeast of Watertown which he proved up and sold as a means of gaining sufficient money to pay his way through medical college. In 1883 he began the study of medicine and

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the next fall entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1886. He immediately afterward located for practice near Mount Vernon, Iowa, but subsequently came to Castlewood, this state, where he opened an office for practice and remained there seven and one-half years. He next went to Shef- field, Illinois, where he spent three and one-half years, and then removed to Clear Lake, South Dakota, where he continued to reside for fourteen years. At the end of that time he went to Colorado, where he remained for three years. In the spring of 1914 he returned to South Dakota and located in Hazel, where he is at present engaged in the active practice of his profession. Although he has only been a resident of Hazel for something over a year he has already demonstrated his capability and has gained the respect of both the general public and his professional colleagues. His practice is steadily increasing and he is regarded as one of the successful physicians of Hamlin county.

Dr. Staley was married in 1890 to Miss Violet Marshall, of Castlewood, a daughter of William Marshall, one of the pioneers of Hamlin county. To them were born three children: Winifred M., the wife of Phillip Waterman, of Grand Valley, Colorado; Melroy M., residing in Watertown, this state; and William F., at home. Mrs. Staley died in 1902, and two years later the Doctor married Miss Lena E. Tetzlaff, of this county. They have become the parents of four children, Marion F., Margaret E. and Maxwell F., twins, and Eugene Field. The wife and mother is a member of the Presbyterian church and takes an active part in the work of that denomination.

The Doctor is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 129, A. F. & A. M., of Clear Lake; of the Palisades Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Palisades, Colorado; and Hazel Camp, M. W. A. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. He is a member of the Watertown District Medical Society and served at one time as its president, and he also belongs to the South Dakota Medical Society and the American Medical Association. The life of Dr. Staley has been a busy and useful one and he has gained not only a competence but also that success which finds expression in the regard of one's fellowmen and the consciousness of a worthy work well done.

REV. 0. 0. SANDO.

Rev. O. O. Sando occupies a place in the history of South Dakota as the pioneer min- ister of the Lutheran faith in Minnehaha county and the surrounding district. In the early days he preached at many widely scattered points and much of his time was spent in the saddle. Not only did be proclaim the gospel by spoken word, but he preached it with the eloquence of a life devoted to the service of mankind.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 59

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