History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 62

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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of that country. The mother died there and in 1897 the father came to America, spending his last days in Connecticut.

Fred C. Arndt was a youth of eighteen when he crossed the Atlantic, attracted by the opportunities of the new world. He established his home in Connecticut, where be remained for seven years, working in an engraving plant. In 1886 he arrived in Dakota territory, establishing his home upon a farm one and a half miles west of Leola in MePherson county of six hundred and forty acres, which he still owns and which he has brought under a high state of cultivation and improvement. He lived upon that place for five years and his labors wrought a marked transformation in its appearance. He was then elected county auditor and occupied that position for two terms, for the capability with which he discharged his duties led to his reelection. He was then chosen by popular suffrage to the office of county clerk, which he held for one term and for one term he was chairman of the county central committee of the republican party. He has always been a stalwart advocate of that party and its principles and cooperates heartily in all plans and movements to promote its legiti- mate success.

When he retired from public office Mr. Arndt turned his attention to merchandising and since 1898 has been proprietor of a general store at Leola, baving now one of the largest and best equipped establishments of the kind in McPherson county. His trade is extensive and his success has come because he has ever been most careful in the selection of his goods, in the establishment of the personnel of the house and in the methods of business, thorough com- mercial integrity and reliability being one of the strong features of the house. He has other town property and stock in the Ward & Owsley Candy Company of Aberdeen.

In 1882 Mr. Arndt was united in marriage to Miss Marie Breitag, who was born in Germany and emigrated to this country in the same year as did hier future husband. To them have been born twelve children, as follows: Minnie, who is the wife of Peter Schuchart; Emma, who is deceased; Ida, who gave her hand in marriage to Ernest Haacke; Anna; Olga; Fred; Herbert; Esther; Hattie; Arthur; and two who have passed away.

Mr. and Mrs. Arndt are members of the German Lutheran church and are widely and favorably known in the city in which they make their home. Mr. Arndt has served on the school board and at all times is a public-spirited man, giving earnest and hearty cooperation to many plans and projects for the welfare of the community. At the same time he has so guided and directed his efforts and activities that success is his in substantial measure, not- withstanding the fact that when he arrived in the United States he had a capital of but one hundred and seventy-five dollars. All that he now possesses has since been acquired and his business interests have at all times measured up to the highest standard of commercial ethics.

C. A. ESTENSEN.

C. A. Estensen is prominently connected with the mercantile interests of Sherman as a member of the firm of Berg & Estensen, dealing in general merchandise and hardware. He is also a landowner in Minnehaha county, owning the old Estensen homestead. His birth oc- eurred in Norway, August 27, 1865, and his parents were E. and Christina Estensen. The family removed to the United States in 1866 when the subject of this review was but an infant and located in the copper regions of Michigan. After some years the father came to South Dakota to investigate conditions here, leaving the family in Michigan. He decided to locate in this state and homesteaded land on section 29, Dell Rapids township, Minnehaha county. Two years later, or in 1873, when he had prepared a suitable home, his family joined him. and he continued to cultivate his farm, his labor being rewarded by harvests which supplied them with the necessities and many of the comforts of life. The conditions were not all bright, however, as dry seasons sometimes made crops almost a failure and as the common hardships of pioneer life had to be endured. The father passed away about 1902, but the mother survives. Through her reminiscences of early days the young men and women of today, who are in possession of so rich a heritage, have the means of learning something of the struggles and toil which have made possible the prosperous conditions of the present.

The elementary education of C. A. Estensen was acquired in the common schools of the neighborhood and he supplemented this training by a year's study at Red Wing, Minnesota.

MR. AND MRS. C. A. ENTENSEN

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and by a year spent as a student at Lutheran College in Canton, South Dakota. After leaving school he remained with his father on the farm until he was twenty-two years old, at which time he removed to Sherman and entered upon mercantile pursuits. The store was of very modest proportions at the start, but the members of the firm have steadily and consistently followed progressive and straightforward business methods and theirs is now one of the leading mercantile houses in that section of the state. Berg & Estensen occupy two large buildings and their stock is valued at thirty-five thousand dollars. Everything in the line of general merchandise and hardware is to be found in their store and the buyer is assured that the quality is as good as is consistent with the price charged. Mr. Estensen is also connected with the agricultural interests of Minnehaha county, as he owns the land which his father homesteaded.

Mr. Estensen was married in September, 1892, to Miss Gertrude Vingness, a daughter of J. M. and Maret Vingness, pioneers of South Dakota, who are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Estensen are the parents of the following children, all of whom are natives of this state: Ernest, Guy, Stanley, Mabel and Helen.

The family are Lutherans in their religions belief and give practical evidence of their faith in their daily lives. Mr. Estensen is a republican and stanchly supports the principles and candidates of that party. He has been town clerk since his arrival in Sherman, and both as a public official and as a private citizen has always been ready to do everything in his power to aid in the advancement of his community. He is recognized by all as one of the representative men of Sherman and of Minnehaha county, and, as his success is due entirely to his own efforts, none begrudges him the prosperity that is now his.

COLONEL BOYD WALES.

Colonel Boyd Wales has a military record of which any one might well be proud, as he saw a great deal of active service in the Philippine Islands during the Spanish-American war, proving himself a soldier of unusual bravery and ability. He is now a prominent mem- ber of the state militia and holds the rank of colonel in that organization. He is one of the wide-awake and alert business men of Howard and is proprietor of two moving picture theaters, which provide wholesome, popular entertainment. He was born on the 10th of August, 1872, in Brownsville, Nebraska, a son of Prescott and Phoebe (Cunningham) Wales, natives of Lansing, Michigan, and of Indiana respectively. The father was a traveling sales- man and was also an inventor of considerable ability. One of his inventions was a safety appliance for a mine shaft, which, when installed, did much to prevent accidents. The family came to Miner county, South Dakota, in 1882 and homesteaded land.

Colonel Boyd Wales attended the common schools of Miner county and worked upon the farm until he was eighteen years of age. He then entered the State Agricultural College at Brookings, where he spent a year as a student. He subsequently taught a district school in Miner county for eleven terms, proving very successful as a teacher. In 1898 he enlisted in Company I. First South Dakota Regiment, for service in the Spanish-American war. He entered the army as a corporal, but some time later was made quartermaster sergeant of his company. His regiment proceeded to San Francisco, where they remained one month, after which they went directly to Manila, Philippine Islands. While there Mr. Wales was promoted to battalion sergeant major, his bravery and his keen military sense winning him this recognition. He took part in fifteen engagements during the year that he was in active service in the Philippines, and when the troops left for the United States he was made color sergeant. He was mustered out at San Francisco, October 5, 1899, receiving his honorable discharge. From 1899 to 1903 be was successfully engaged in the real-estate business, but on the 8th of March, of the latter year, received an appointment as postmaster of Howard. He held that important office until December 31, 1913, the length of his inenmbeney being the best proof of satisfactory service. He is now engaged in the moving picture business. owning two theaters in Howard, which are widely patronized and which maintain a high standard in the character of the films shown. He also owns valuable real estate. which he manages himself.

Colonel Wales was married on the 31st of December, 1902, to Miss May Furman, a Vol. V-23

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daughter of Lamson and Fannie Furman, of Anita, lowa. Three children have been born to this marriage as follows: Robert F., whose birth occurred January 15, 1904; Dorothy, born July 28, 1907; and Maxwell, the date of whose birth was September 14, 1909. The family belong to the Episcopal church and Colonel Wales is a member of the Masonic frater- nity. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is stanch in his sup- port of its policies and candidates. His experience in the Spanish-American war has convinced him of the necessity of a body of men trained for military duty and he has identified himself with the state troops, holding the rank of colonel. He is one of the most valued citizens of Howard and can always be relied upon to do his part in securing the advancement and welfare of the city.

PHILIP V. LENZ.

Philip V. Lenz, who is successfully engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Kimball and is also serving as police justice of that city, is a native of Illinois, born in La Salle county on the 12th of March, 1877, of the marriage of Philip and Anna Lenz. In 1878 the family removed to Iowa, where the father became known as a well-to-do farmer. He is now living retired there but the mother has passed away.

Philip V. Lenz attended the public schools in the acquirement of his elementary educa- tion and later took a normal course and also a commercial course. After his graduation from business college he taught school in Iowa for three years. He then entered the auditor's office as deputy and made such a good record in that connection that he was later elected county auditor, serving a term of four years. At the end of that time he turned his attention to merchandising, but in 1909 sold out and removed to Kimball, South Dakota. He at once engaged in the real-estate and insurance business and in the six years that have intervened he has negotiated many important transfers of realty and has written a large number of insurance policies. He also makes loans and derives a considerable addition to his income from that source.

On the 25th of June, 1901, Mr. Lenz was married to Miss Mary Meyers, a daughter of John Meyers, a resident of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Lenz have three children: Irma, Phyllis and Paul Vincent. Mr. Lenz is a democrat in his political views and is a loyal worker in the party ranks. He is now serving as police justice of Kimball and is discharging his duties in a very creditable manner. He is a devout communicant of the Catholic church and is a member of Charles Carroll Council, No. 780, K. C., of which he was grand knight for two years. He is also connected fraternally with the Woodmen and Catholic Order of Foresters. He owns considerable land in the state and can always be depended upon to do anything in his power to further the advancement of South Dakota, as he has great faith in the prosper- ous future in store for the northwest.

PALMER N. LARSON.

Since 1908 Palmer N. Larson has been a force in the financial development of Florence, Codington county, as cashier of the Farmers State Bank of that place. He is a young man of unusual energy and wide knowledge of the banking business and is successfully directing the affairs of the above mentioned bank. He was born in Deuel county, this state, on the 25th of March, 1884, a son of Nels and Carrie Larson, who came to South Dakota in 1877. The father took up a homestead and tree claim of three hundred and twenty acres near Clear Lake and cultivated his land until seventeen years ago, when he removed to Brandt and retired from active life. Both he and his wife are still living.

Palmer N. Larson attended the State Normal School at Madison after graduating from the public schools and also took a course in the Mankato Commercial College, completing his work there in 1902. He then engaged in the lumber business in the employ of Melham Brothers Lumber Company, first as bookkeeper and auditor and afterward as yard manager. He served in the latter capacity at a number of places and gained a thorough knowledge of

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that phase of the business. In 1908 he went to Florence as cashier of the Farmers State Bank and has since held that responsible position. He is also a stockholder and director of the institution and much of the steady growth which has characterized it in the past six years has been due to his firm grasp of all of the details of the business, his excellent judgment and knowledge of the trend of affairs in the financial and commercial worlds. He also has a half interest in the local lighting plant.

Mr. Larson married Miss Anna Budabl, a daughter of Andrew and Martha Budahl, the ceremony taking place on the 12th of June, 1905. They became the parents of two children: Clifford, who died when seven years old, and Norma, aged seven. The parents are Lutherans and contribute of their means to the maintenance of the local church of that denomination. Mr. Larson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as town treas- urer, town clerk and member of the board of education. Fraternally he belongs to Kampeska Lodge, No. 13, A. F. & A. M., and Watertown Lodge, No. 838, B. P. O. E. He is fond of outdoor recreation and finds much pleasure in fishing and motoring. He has thoroughly identified himself with his community and with the state as a whole. He is enthusiastic over the possi- bilities of development in South Dakota and gladly gives his moral and material support to any movement that seeks to advance the interests of the state. His name is associated with all that makes for the best in life and he is held in high esteem by his fellow townsmen.

JOHN B. WALLACE. :

John B. Wallace, postmaster of Ardmore, South Dakota, was born in Fremont county, Jowa, on the 26th of November, 1871, a son of Alexander H. and Jane (Bowes) Wallace. The father was born in Scotland on the 12th of August, 1832, and the mother in lower Canada, May 12, 1836. When Alexander H. Wallace was but thirteen years of age his parents removed with their family to Canada and there he grew to manhood and engaged in the potash business and also learned the carpenter's trade. In 1871 be removed with his family to lowa, locating in Fremont county, ten miles from the town of Hamburg. They continued to reside in that locality until they removed across the line to Missouri, settling less than a mile from their Iowa home. In 1887 they went to Nebraska, arriving at Crawford on the 28th of March of that year. Subsequently they made their way to Fall River county, South Dakota, and settled upon a farm one mile south and thirteen and a half miles west of Ardmore, where the father engaged in ranching until his death, which occurred in February, 1896. The mother continued to reside upon the ranch until the fall of 1914, when she removed to Ardmore, where she died May 17, 1915. While a resident of Canada the father patented and manufactured a line of bee hives which became extensively used and gave much satisfaction. For a number of years he served as a magistrate in Canada and was a man whose ability commanded the respect of his fellow citizens.

To him and his wife were born ten children: Elizabeth, now Mrs. John M. Van Sant, of Omaha, Nebraska: Robert, who resides on a ranch sixteen miles west of Ardmore; Mary E., who gave her hand in marriage to I. H. Jared, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Anna S., the wife of W. A. Cole, living on a ranch fourteen and a half miles west of Ardmore; James, who is living in Niobrara county, Wyoming; Daniel, who is living upon the home place; John B .; Margaret, the wife of C. M. Plumb, who is a ranchman of Niobrara county, Wyoming; and two who have passed away, of whom Jennie, the first born, became the wife of Jesse E. Baker, while the seventh in order of birth died when about two years old.

John B. Wallace attended the common schools of lowa and Atchison county, Missouri. When about eighteen years of age he began working for others in the summer and so con- tinued for a number of years, remaining at home during the winter months. Following his marriage he was for two years employed as a cowboy, which ocenpation he had previously followed for six years, and then took up his residence upon a ranch seven miles north of Craw- ford, Nebraska, living tbere from the fall of 1897 to the fall of 1900, when he went to Antelope county, that state. The following year he came to Fall River county, South Dakota, settling in Ardmore, in April, 1901. He conducted a pool and billiard parlor until he was appointed postmaster, taking office October 22, 1901. During the intervening fourteen years he has had charge of the postal affairs of Ardmore and has performed his work accurately and system-

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atically. His ability has not only won him the respect of his fellow citizens but his courtesy has gained him their liking as well. He is a stockholder and one of the promoters of the Ardmore Oil Company and owns the lot and building in which the postoffice is located and also three residence properties in Ardmore.

On the 10th of November, 1895, Mr. Wallace married Miss Hattie M. Andrews, who was born in the vicinity of Galesburg, Illinois, and is a daughter of Lucas and Rebecca (Paden) Andrews. Her parents removed with their family to Iowa and for about four years lived near Woodbine. Later they made their home in the vicinity of Whitney, Nebraska, but only remained there a short time, after which they took up their residence upon a homestead seven and one-half miles northwest of Crawford, Nebraska, and resided there until the fall of 1897, when they went to Antelope county, that state, and located upon land seven and one-half miles northwest of Royal, then known as Savage. The mother died while the family was living upon the preemption claim near Whitney, in 1888, and the father passed away in Antelope county in 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Wallace have four children: Hazel G., at home; Mildred E. and Laurie A., both attending school; and Lois L.

Mr. Wallace is a republican but does not consider himself absolutely bound by party ties. He has served for two terms upon the city council, has been county constable, justice of the peace and clerk and is at present a member of the school board and postmaster of Ardmore. He concentrates his attention upon his duties in the latter position and his official record is one that is highly creditable alike to himself and his constituents. He is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and is now clerk of the local camp. During the fourteen years that he has resided in Ardmore he has been identified with many of the movements that have made for community progress and has gained many warm friends.

EDGAR M. BENNETT.

Edgar M. Bennett, who is now living retired in Sisseton, was for a number of years actively engaged in the practice of law and was recognized as one of the leading attorneys of his section of the state. His birth occurred in Detroit, Michigan, June 10, 1854, and he is a son of Moses and Caroline Adelia (Hall) Bennett, both born near Oswego, New York, the father in 1817 and the mother in 1819. They were married in Oswego in 1839 by Dr. Lansing. The father was a man of liberal education and was an attorney at Detroit for many years, where he gained a large and representative practice. He won a high reputation as an orator and was a man of considerable influence. Active in politics, he represented his district in the state senate of Michigan. He was a self-made man and accumulated considerable property. He passed away in 1857 at the early age of forty years, while his wife died in 1895. His father was Aaron Bennett, who was born near Rochester, New York, and her father was Hosea Hall. Her mother was a granddaughter of Admiral Bisbee and was descended from the family of John Churchill, duke of Marlborough. Mrs. Bennett was a pioneer woman phy- sician, receiving her professional training at the Eclectic School of Medicine at Chicago, and she practiced in Detroit and in the hospitals during the Civil war.

Edgar M. Bennett, who is the seventh in order of birth in a family of eight children, received his early education in the public schools of Detroit. Michigan; Woodstock, Illinois; and Monroe, Wisconsin; and studied law under Frank M. Wilson of Red Wing, Minnesota. He was admitted to the bar on the 7th of May, 1877, and began the practice of his profession at Cannon Falls, Minnesota. He only remained there a short time, however, and then removed to Lake City, Minnesota, where he became a clerk in the law office of Stocker & Matchen. In 1878 he went to Minneapolis and in 1880 came to South Dakota, settling at Big Stone City, where he practiced until 1897. In that year he took up his residence at Sisseton, where he remained until 1907, when he removed to Lemmon, this state. He continued to practice there until he sustained a stroke of paralysis and was compelled to retire from active life. He gained high professional standing and built up a large and important clientage, his practice during the last year that he followed his profession amounting to fourteen thousand dollars. He is now living retired in Sisseton. He owns considerable real-estate in Lemmon and in Big Stone City and also holds title to two hundred aeres of land in the vicinity of Lemmon and personally looks after his financial interests.

EDGAR M. BENNETT

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Mr. Bennett has always taken a lively interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of South Dakota and a number of years ago realized the good that would accrue to the state from a deep waterway extending from the state to the gulf. He suggested that such a deep water channel should begin at Big Stone and connect with the Mississippi and this plan was favorably received by the people of the state.

Although a favorable report was made to the governor, however, no practical steps were taken to secure the execution of the plan. Nevertheless, Mr. Bennett is firmly convinced of the value of such a waterway and hopes that it will some day become a reality. Ile was chairman of waterways committee and drafted the resolutions memoralizing congress to make appropriation for survey of the waterway, one time ealled the Bennett waterway.

In 1875 Mr. Bennett was married to Miss Arminda Morrill, and they have become the parents of five children, four of whom are living, namely: Arthur, the proprietor of a billiard room and restaurant at Sisseton; Edgar M., who is a painter residing in Sisseton; Ruby, the wife of Robert Lewis, the owner of a restaurant in Milbank: and Hazel, who was born in 1891 and is residing in Browns Valley, Minnesota.

Mr. Bennett is a Mason, belonging to the lodge and chapter in Milbank, and he is also a member of the Elks Lodge No. 262 of Sioux Falls. He has east his ballot in support of the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and has held a num- ber of offices. For two terms he was states attorney of Grant county and he has also served as mayor of Big Stone City. Moreover, he compiled the city eharter and drafted many of the ordinanees of Big Stone City. While active in his profession his practiec was largely that of a trial lawyer and he was very successful in the presentation of his cases before the court, winning a favorable verdict in a large majority of eases. His mental vigor and his keenness of insight, coupled with his thorough knowledge of the law, made him an opponent worthy of the best efforts of any lawyer in his part of the state and the success which he gained was richly deserved.

EMERSON R. PLACE.

Emerson R. Place is a prosperous merchant of Conde and also owns the Hotel Gibbons at that place. Ile has resided in South Dakota for over thirty-one years, but he was born in Vermont. His natal day was the 22d of September, 1845, and his parents were Harry J. and Mary (Clement ) Place, both of whom are deecased and are buried in Hinesburg, Vermont. The family traces its aneestry back to England, but has been in this country since long before the Revolutionary war.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 62

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