History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 6

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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Edward S. Allen was educated in his native connty, attending the grammar and high schools of the city of Sullivan, and for a time was employed as a clerk in his home city. The father died when his son Edward was a small boy and in 1886, accompanied by his mother and his brother Ethan, he came to Dakota territory, settling in Rapid City, where for a time the brothers conducted a restaurant and later carried on a confectionery busi- ness on Main street. As soon. however, as he became of legal age he began to exercise his right to government land by taking up a tree claim, a preemption and a homestead, and with his brother started in the ranching business on Box Elder creek, their interests being conducted under the firm style of Allen Brothers. After sixteen years of successful oper- ation they retired from the cattle business and entered the real-estate field under the same firm name and they have since been among the important realty operators in this section of the state. Edward S. Allen is now the secretary of the Rapid Town Site Company ; is presi-

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

dent of the Rapid City Real Estate & Abstract Company; and is president of the Black Hills Building & Loan Association, all of which are factors in the upbuilding and improve- ment of Rapid City and this section of the state, as well as important elements in the upbuilding of his own fortunes. He is likewise a stockholder in the Dakota Power Company and he owns some farm lands in addition to his extensive real-estate holdings.

On the 27th of November, 1898, Mr. Allen was united in marriage to Miss Frances Crumrine, a daughter of Ezra and Partlienia (Kilgore) Crumrine. Mrs. Allen was born in Washington and in childhood came with her parents to South Dakota, the family home being established at Elk Point, where she was reared. She is now active in club, church and char- itable circles of the city and has done much good work along those lines in holding high the standards.

Mr. Allen is a republican in his political views, voting for the men and measures of the party where national issues are involved but casting an independent local ballot. He served in 1910 and 1911 as a member of the city council and was commissioner of streets and alleys. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and the Modern Brotherhood of America. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church, which finds in him a loyal memher and he is now serving on its board of trustees. He is one of the substantial men of the city and his activities have been a distinct asset in the development of the best interests of the community. He has always taken a helpful part in promoting educational development and for some years has served as treasurer of the public school district. In a word, his influence and aid have always been given on the side of advance- ment and improvement and he has contributed to the intellectual and moral development of city and county as well as to its material progress.

F. R. BRUMWELL.

F. R. Bramwell, a prominent and prosperous citizen of Huron, has here been engaged in the lumber business for the past quarter of a century and during that period has also handled the Deere farm machinery. He has likewise devoted considerable attention to the cattle business and owns an extensive ranch. His birth occurred in Iowa in 1859, his parents being Jacob and Sarah Brumwell, the former a farmer by occupation. Our subject attended the public schools in the acquirement of an education and subsequently became identified with the flour mill business at Shellsburg, Iowa. In 1882, when a young man of twenty- three, he made his way to Huron, South Dakota, afterward returned to his native state and in the spring of 1883 took up his permanent abode here, embarking in the flour, feed and fuel business. In 1888 he also became identified with the lumber business, which has claimed his attention throughout the intervening quarter of a century and in which he has met with gratifying success, owning yards at Huron, Cavour, St. Lawrence and Vayland and a newly established branch in Sioux Falls. During the past twenty-eight years he has also handled Deere farm machinery, his carefully managed interests in this connection augmenting his prosperity. He likewise bas extensive agricultural interests and has devoted considerable attention to the cattle industry, owning the Plumbdale ranch of twenty-five hundred acres. Mr. Brumwell is a factor in financial circles as a director of the National Bank of Huron and was formerly the president of the old National Bank of Dakota. He has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business, and in his dealings is known for his prompt and honorable methods, which have won him the deserved and unbounded confidence of his fellowmen.

In 1887 Mr. Brumwell was united in marriage to Miss Clara E. Bowe, of Huron, South Dakota, who is a native of Iowa. Her father, S. A. Bowe, came to Huron in 1883 and was first engaged in business in association with F. R. Brumwell, while subsequently he went to the Black Hills. He now resides in North Dakota. Our subject and his wife have four living children.

Mr. Brumwell gives his political allegiance to the republican party, while fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masons. He is connected with the last named order as a member of the blue lodge, chapter, council and commandery at Huron, has attained the thirty-second degree

F. R. BRUMWELL

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

of the Scottish Rite and is a member of the Mystic Shrine. No breadth of suspicion has ever assailed his good name and on the contrary he stands as a splendid type of the honorable, reliable, successful man, the public-spirited citizen and the trustworthy friend.

K. T. LOFTAAS.

K. T. Loftaas, who has devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits through- out his entire business career is now the owner of a productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 17, Buffalo township, Minnehaha county. His birth occurred in Nor- way on the 2d of February, 1866, his parents being Tores and Martha Loftaas, who spent their entire lives in that country. He attended the common schools in the acquirement of an education and spent the first twenty-seven years of his life in the land of his nativity. In 1893 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, locating in Humboldt county, Iowa, where he was employed as a farm hand for a time, while subsequently he cultivated rented land for about six years. In 1901 he came to South Dakota and purchased the farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Buffalo township, Minnehaha county, which he has since owned and operated. In the conduct of his agricultural interests he has won a gratifying measure of prosperity, for the well tilled fields annually yield golden harvests in return for the care and labor which he bestows upon them.

In 1897 Mr. Loftaas was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Erickson, of Humboldt county, lowa, by whom he has eight children, namely: Toby, Clarence, Arthur, Minda, Clara, Ella, Richard and Lester. Mr. Loftaas exereises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party, believing firmly in its principles. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Norwegian Lutheran church, to which ius wife and children also belong. He has an extensive and favorable acquaintance through- out his community and enjoys an enviable reputation as a substantial agriculturist and esteemed eitizen.

ANDREW A. HEDIN.

Among the well-to-do farmers and stoek-raisers of Clay county is Andrew A. Hedin, who owns and operates a farm on section 12, Garfield township. He was born in Sweden in 1861 and resided there until nine years old. In 1870 he was brought to America by his parents and his father proved up a homestead on section 7. Garfield township, and operated that farm until his retirement in 1910. He and his wife now live in Sioux City, Jowa. To their union were born eight children: Erick, a resident of Nebraska; Bertha, the wife of Christian Nelson, of Sioux City, Iowa; Hans, a resident of Charles Mix county, South Dakota; Alma, the widow of Axel Anderson and a resident of Sioux City, Iowa; August, of Idaho; Jewell, a traveling salesman for a sash and door company and a resident of Sioux City; and Enoch and Phillip, both of whom are deceased.

Andrew A. Hedin began his education in his native land and continued it in the schools of Clay county. When eighteen years of age he worked as a farm hand in this state for a while and then went to Wyoming, where he was employed as an engineer in a machine shop. In 1886 he returned to Clay county and was married. after which he began farming upon the place which is still his home. He rented the farm for three years and then went again to Wyoming, where he spent a similar length of time. Upon coming back to this state he purchased the farm which he had previously rented and which comprises one hundred and sixty acres of fine land. He has made his home there ever since and has met with gratifying success in its operation. He has added eighty acres of land, his holdings now comprising two hundred and forty acres all in a high state of cultivation. He is also a stockholder in the A. B. E. Telephone Company, the Alsen Creamery Company of Alsen, and the Independent Harvester Company of Plano, Illinois.

Mr. Hedin has been married three times, his first union being with Miss Christina Swedberg, a daughter of Erick and Anna Swedberg. She became the mother of six chil- Vol. V-3

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

dren, three of whom died in infancy, the others heing: Henry, of Mitchell, South Dakota, a graduate of the State University and now a traveling salesman; Lillie, of Sioux City, Iowa; and Melvin E., who is a graduate of the Newdale school and is residing at home. The wife and mother died in 1904 and in the following year Mr. Hedin married Miss Ericka Erickson, who was born in Clay county, and to this union were horn a son and daughter. The former, Bert, died when three years of age and the latter when an infant. Mrs. Hedin died in 1897 and in 1898 Mr. Hedin was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Danielson, who was born in Sweden in 1875. Her parents passed their entire lives in that country and both have now gone to their reward. Their eight living children are: John, a resident of South Dakota; Axel; William, a resident of Greeley, Colorado; Victor, of Denver, that state; Mrs. Hedin; Gustave. of Arizona; and two who are still residing in Sweden. To Mr. Hedin's third marriage six children have been born: Effie, whose birth occurred in 1900; Clifford, born in 1902; Florence, 1906; Leonard, 1908; Ethel, 1909; and Earl, born in 1911.

Mr. Hedin is a republican with liberal tendencies and has served as school director for ten years. He and his family belong to the Swedish Baptist church and take a helpful interest in its work. He has never regretted his emigration to this country and has not only met with success here, but has thoroughly identified himself with the interests of his adopted state.

FRED T. ARMSTRONG, D. D. S.

Dr. Fred T. Armstrong, who since 1901 has been engaged in the practice of dental surgery in Sioux Falls, was born in Manchester, South Dakota, March 25, 1883, a son of David Newell and Mary W. (Nelson) Armstrong. The former, a native of Massachusetts, horn in 1843, went to Manchester, in 1882, taking up his residenee there when there was only one house upon the town site and he afterward moved to Sioux Falls and in 1911 to Minneapolis. In 1915, while visiting in Sioux Falls, he died very suddenly but his widow survives. They were the parents of five sons: Frederick Taft; Harry N., of Sioux Falls; Charles O., engaged in the automobile business in Sioux Falls; Victor S., of Minneapolis; and George H.

Dr. Armstrong, who was the first white child horn in Manchester; acquired his early education in the public schools of Manchester, South Dakota, and later attended the Mankato (Minn.) Commercial College, from which he was graduated in 1903. Following this he hecame a student in the Chicago College of Dental Surgery and from that institution received his degree of D. D. S. in 1910. Immediately afterward he located for practice in Sioux Falls and he has already secured a large patronage which is continually growing as his skill and ability hecome more widely known.

Dr. Armstrong is a member of the Country and Commercial clubs. He is a Scottish Rite Mason, holding membership in the Shrine and he is also an Elk. He gives his political alle- gianee to the republican party. Along professional lines he is secretary and treasurer of the sixth district of the Odontographic Society of South Dakota and he is very well known in professional eireles throughout the state.

FRANK V. CAMPBELL.

Frank V. Campbell is now the owner and proprietor of a farm implement and harness business in Redfield, which has been in existence since 1887 and which he conduets under the name of M. H. Campbell & Son. Three years before the establishment of the business his parents, Milo H. and Ella M. Campbell, arrived in South Dakota with their family, inelud- ing Frank V. Campbell, who was born in Areadia, Wisconsin, November 24, 1876. Settling at Westport, Brown county. the father there established a little general store, which he con- ducted in connection with a partner until 1885. He then disposed of his interest in the business and engaged in farming with his brother Benjamin E. until the spring of 1886. In that year he arrived in Redfield, where he opened a general store, which in the fall of

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

1887 he traded for an implement business, thereby becoming owner of a very small concern. Through his industry and close application, however, he developed the business until it became the largest of the kind in the county. In 1903 he retired from active life and removed to San Diego, California, where his demise occurred in 1910. His wife survives and still resides there.

Frank V. Campbell was a lad of about eight years when he accompanied his parents to Sonth Dakota and in the public schools he pursued his education, thus qualifying for the responsibilities of later business life. He became the active associate and partner of his father in 1898 and is still in the implement and harness business. His trade is probably the largest in Spink county and is increasing annually in volume and importance. Every- thing to be found in a first class establishment of this kind is carried in his store and his sales reach a gratifying figure.

At Redfield, on the 5th of December, 1904, Frank V. Campbell was married to Miss Ruby MaeNeill, a daughter of William H. and Matilda MacNeill. Her father was a farmer and early settler of Spink county, South Dakota, but has been a resident of Oakland, California, since 1909. Mrs. MacNeill's death occurred in 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Campbell have a daughter, Aileen, six years of age.

Mr. Campbell is a supporter of the republican party and is now serving as one of the aldermen of Redfield. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and also a member of the Mystic Shrine, and he belongs likewise to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He rightfully attributes his success to perseverance and close application. He has been con- neeted with his present business from early childhood, assisting his father more and more largely as he grew in years and strength. Eventually he became a partner in the concern and added to the experience and sound judgment of the father the enterprise, zeal and activity of the younger man, making this a strong combination, with the logical result that success came to them. Since his father's demise he has conducted the business alone.

NILS J. BRAKKE.

For an extended period Nils J. Brakke was actively connected with agricultural inter- ests in Yankton county, but is now living retired, making his home in Volin. He arrived in Yankton county in October, 1866, and through the intervening period of almost a half century has been an interested witness of the growth and development of that part of the state. He was born in Norway, near Christiania, on the 4th of July, 1844. His parents died in that country, his father in 1847 and his mother in 1876. Nils J. Brakke spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his native land and the educational privileges which he enjoyed were those afforded by the public schools. At length he determined to try his fortune in the new world and embarked on a sailing vessel at Christiania, spending six weeks at sea. He landed at Quebec and by way of the Great Lakes proceeded to Chicago and thence by rail to Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. He spent that summer in Vernon county, Wisconsin, and then started for Dakota, making the overland trip from La Crosse, Wisconsin, by ox team and wagon. It required four weeks to complete the journey. He could have traveled by rail only to the Des Moines river. Sioux City at that time was no larger than the town of Volin today and there were no settlers between the Des Moines river and Sioux City. The man with whom Mr. Brakke traveled had a team of horses, while other emigrants of the party had ox teams. They camped out along the way and proceeded by slow stages, but ultimately reached their destination.

Mr. Brakke first secured work at fifty cents per day digging post holes, building fences and cutting hay and also in that first week he with another man cradled five acres of wheat. In 1867 he filed on land under the preemption law four miles west of Volin and later he sold that property and homesteaded five miles northwest of Volin, at which time there were no houses between his place and Sioux Falls. He experienced all of the hardships and priva- tions of pioneer life. One of the worst storms that he ever saw occurred in March, 1868, when a blinding blizzard broke over the country. He was in town when the storm came and started home, but had to remain over night a mile from his home, for the snow fell so fast and the wind blew at such a gale that he could not see to proceed further. The worst storm

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

in his remembrance, however, occurred on the 13th of January, 1870, when for three days he could not leave his house to go as far as the stable and feed the stock. It was like the storm of 1888, but lasted much longer. There were a few deer to be seen in this section of the country at the time of Mr. Brakke's arrival and occasionally one would pass his shanty. He lived first in a log house, but soon replaced it with a frame dwelling. The settlers suffered from grasshoppers for eleven years, but only on a few occasions did the pest take all of the crops, although one year their devastation was so great that what Mr. Brakke could seeure from his fields would have hardly sold for a dollar. In the 70's the settlers suffered from drought. For a year the family lived on little more than bread, butter and milk. Their cow was their mainstay and they bought a little flour and meal. As the years passed, however, conditions changed and industry found its reward in success. Mr. Brakke erected fine buildings upon his farm, all of which are in a splendid state of repair. He continued to reside upon his farm until 1900, at which time he had accumulated six hundred aeres of valuable and productive land, but now lives retired in Volin. From his property he derives a substantial annual income and his success is indeed well merited, as it is the direct reward of persistent, earnest labor.

Mr. Brakke was married near Gayville on the 9th of August, 1868, to Miss Liza Olsberg, who was born in Norway and came to the United States in 1868, only a short time before her marriage. In his political views Mr. Brakke has always been a stalwart republican since becoming a naturalized American citizen and he served as county commissioner in the years 1893-94-95, making a creditable record in office. He has ever been loyal to the best interests of the community and has cooperated in varions measures for the public good, while at the same time through his agricultural interests he has contributed much to the material progress and benefit of Yankton county. There is no phase of pioneer life here with which he is not familiar and his reminiscences of the early days are most interesting.

FRANKLIN TAYLOR.

The life history of Franklin Taylor constitutes an important chapter in the annals of South Dakota. He made farming his life work, but also took a most active part in politics and few men have had more intimate or accurate knowledge concerning the history of the state. He made his home in Fairview township, Clay county, casting in his lot with its pioneer settlers.

The birth of Mr. Taylor occurred in Surrey county, North Carolina, on the 3d of August, 1827, his parents being Benjamin and Margaret Taylor, both of whom were natives of Curri- tnek county, North Carolina. His education was acquired in his native state and in 1853, when a young man of twenty-six years, he emigrated westward to Missouri, settling in Mereer county, where he engaged in teaching school. In 1854 he went to Iowa, where he spent four years, and in 1858 he removed to Nebraska. A year later he crossed the river into Clay county, South Dakota and took up a homestead in Fairview township, after which he devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon his land when it came into his possession, but with characteristic energy he began its development and as the years passed converted it into productive fields. He prospered in his undertakings and ultimately added to his original holdings until he was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land at the time of his death. This constituted a valuable farm from which he derived a substantial annual income.

Mr. Taylor was one of the leaders in political circles in Clay county and gave his allegiance to the democratic party. He was the first register of deeds in Clay county and in that office, as in many others which he filled, he proved his loyalty to the best interests of county and state by his unfaltering devotion to the public welfare. He left the impress of his individuality upon the laws of the state, being for five sessions a member of the legis- lature, his reelection being indicative of his personal popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He was clerk of the first judicial court of Clay county and he served by appointment as county commissioner and afterward by election. He was also deputy collector of internal revenue. The cause of education found in him a stal- wart champion and he did effective and beneficial work for the schools. He was the second

FRANKLIN TAYLOR

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

superintendent of schools in Clay county and for over twenty years he served as a member of the local school board.

In 1870, at Vermillion, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Mrs. Martha G. Warner, the widow of Charles S. Warner, who by her first marriage had two children: Thomas G. Warner, now living in Quinn, South Dakota; and Mrs. Mary E. Lathrop, of Touchet, Wash- ington. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor became the parents of a daughter, M. Ethelda, the wife of William A. Ufford, a native of Iowa who came to South Dakota with his parents when but six months old. He acquired his education in the public schools of Clay county and in the State University at Vermillion. To Mr. and Mrs. Ufford have been born two sons: Frank S., who was born in 1897 and is now attending high school; and Fred W., who was born April 22, 1900, and is also a high-school pupil. Mrs. Taylor died August 22, 1900, and the death of Mr. Taylor occurred in 1912. In their passing the community lost two of its most worthy, representative and vahied pioneer settlers. It was Mr. Taylor and Captain Nelson Miner who selected the site for the first permanent schoolhouse in Dakota territory, this site being in Vermillion, and there a beautiful monument has been ereeted, a picture of which appears elsewhere in this work. From the period of his early arrival here Mr. Taylor bore an active and helpful part in advancing the material, social, intellectual, political and moral welfare of the territory and of the state and his opinions concerning any point of Dakota's history were largely accepted as authority.

HON. JOHN F. PARKS.

Hon. John F. Parks is the superintendent of the Hot Springs Water, Light & Power Company, in which position he is now serving for his eighteenth year. Publie trust has been reposed in him in other connections and his record has at all times been such as would bear the elosest investigation and scrutiny. He was born at Louisville, Kentucky, May 2, 1860, a son of Joshua B. and Mary E. (Herr) Parks, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, born near Louisville. In early life the father followed farming in that state and about 1879 left Kentucky with his family, going to Chicago, Illinois, where he engaged in the hotel business for a decade. He arrived in the Black Hills in the year 1890, settling at Hot Springs, where he lived practically retired. He served as police magistrate for a number of years, but did not engage actively in business because he had come to the northwest for the benefit of bis health. Here he lived retired until his death, which occurred about 1901, while his wife passed away several years later. While in Kentucky he represented his district in the state legislature and was prominent in other connections there. He conducted a large livery busi- ness in Louisville, was a lover of fine horses and an excellent judge of horse flesh. His wife's people were among the pioneers of Kentucky who went to that state with Daniel Boone, and they were noted hunters during that period when Kentucky was known as the dark and bloody ground.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 6

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