History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 65

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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E. C. MILLER, M. D.

Dr. E. C. Miller, a graduate of the Chicago Medical College, has been continuously engaged in practice since 1874, and since 1899 has been a representative of the profession in Brookings. He is also recognized as a political leader of his county and is now serving for the third term as a member of the state senate.

The Doctor was born November 27, 1846, in Monongalia county, West Virginia, a son of Abraham and Nancy (Ross) Miller, who in the year 1857 removed westward, becoming residents of northeastern fowa, where the father engaged in farming until his death. Dr. Miller was a lad of about ten years at the time of the removal to this state. He acquired his education in the public schools of Rossville, Iowa, and in the periods of vacation assisted his father in the work of the farm, but not wishing to engage in agricultural pursuits as a life work, he turned his attention in other directions, spending two years as a clerk in a drug store at Clermont, fowa. It was a logical step from this to preparation for the medical profession and in 1871 he went to Chicago, where he attended the Chicago Medical College, being graduated therefrom in 1874. He then returned to Jowa and prac- tieed at Rockwell for twenty-five years or until 1899, when he removed to Brookings, South Dakota, where he has since continued successfully in practice. He is conscientious in the performance of all of his professional duties and, moreover, he keeps in close touch with the advanced thought of the profession through wide reading and investigation. His careful diagnosis of cases is one of the strong elements of his success and he never allows outside interests to interfere with professional duties.

On the 27th of September, 1877, Dr. Miller was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary L. Putnam, a daughter of William L. and Martha L. Putnam, who were natives of Connecticut and New York respectively. They came to Iowa in the early days, settling in Hardin county, where the father engaged in merchandising. Dr. and Mrs. Miller have three chil- dren, namely: Shirley Putnam, who is professor of zoology in the South Dakota State College at Brookings; Ralph L., engaged in the lumber and hardware business at Melville, North Dakota; and Harold A., who is a student in the South Dakota State College at Brookings.

Dr. Miller is well known in republican circles in his part of the state and has done not a little to mold public thought and action along political lines in his community. In 1910 he was elected to represent his district in the state senate and did such efficient work in connection with constructive legislation that he was reelected in 1912 and again in 1914. so that he is now serving as a member of the upper house. For a number of years he has been and still is superintendent of the Brookings county board of health. He has always taken a deep interest in educational affairs and was actively instrumental in establishing and securing the Carnegie library at Brookings. He has been a member of the city board of education for several years and is its present vice president. He belongs to the Odd Fellows society and to the Methodist church and he is identified with various organizations formed to disseminate knowledge concerning the scientific practice of medicine, belonging to the Third District Medical Society, the South Dakota State Medical Society Vol. V-24

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and the American Medical Association. Notwithstanding his activities along various lines, he is preeminently a home man, preferring to spend his leisure at his own fireside. In manner he is quiet and unassuming, yet his sterling worth is recognized by his fellow citizens, as is indicated by the liberal patronage accorded him and by the honors which have been conferred upon him in his election to the state senate. In these various connections his record is a commendable one, his course being characterized by conscientious service and high principle.

LEONARD T. HOAGLIN.

Leonard T. Hoaglin is the owner and editor of the Platte Enterprise, an excellent weekly paper, which exercises considerable influence in its section. He is a native of Bon Homme county, this state, and was born on the 11th of June, 1872. His parents, William and Juliet (Benedict) Hoaglin, removed to Bon Homme county in the early days of its history and there the father homesteaded land. He followed agricultural pursuits for a number of years but is now living retired in Springfield. His wife is also living.

Leonard T. Hoaglin was educated in the public schools and after putting aside his text-books began to learn the printer's trade in the office of the Tyndall Tribune. He remained there for six years, after which he went to Springfield and entered the insurance business, with which he was connected for two years. He next went to Castalia and worked on the Record-Republican, a newspaper of that place, until 1900, when he drove to Kimball and got out the first issue of the paper there. He purchased the plant and on the completion of the railroad to Platte he removed to that town and has since published the Platte Enterprise. The paper now has a circulation of twelve hundred and is an excellent publica- tion in every respect. The plant is modern and well equipped and as a result the typo- graphical work is well done, while the news columns are filled with well written accounts of happenings of local and general interest. The editorial policy of the paper has won it the commendation of public-spirited citizens as it advocates those things which are recognized as best for the community.

Mr. Hoaglin is a Protestant in his religious belief and fraternally belongs to the Wood- men and to the Masonic order, in which he has taken the thirty-second degree and in which he also has other affiliations, as he is a member of the Shrine and of the Eastern Star. He is an adherent of the republican party and has acted as delegate to a number of conven- tions. For four years he held the office of postmaster and discharged his duties to the full satisfaction of his fellow citizens. In the conduct of his paper he has manifested much ability as a journalist and has proved an efficient business man, and he is one of the valued residents of Platte.

C. W. DAUGHERTY.

C. W. Daugherty is a resident farmer of Lake county, living on section 3, Leroy town- ship. Ohio claims him as a native son, his birth having occurred in that state on the 30th of April, 1861. His parents were Charles and Sarah Daugherty, the former a farmer by occupation. He became a resident of Ohio when twenty-one years of age and spent his remaining days in that state, while his wife has also passed away.

At the usual age C. W. Daugherty began pursuing the branches of study that consti- tute the public-school curriculum. He retained his residence in the Buckeye state until 1883, when he made his way to Dakota territory and devoted about twenty years to school work. He was graduated from the Madison State Normal School in 1886 and afterward taught in Dell Rapids and was principal of the schools of Howard. Later he returned to Lake county, where he served as county superintendent of schools for four years. In 1900 he retired from active connection with educational interests and concentrated his efforts upon farm work. giving his attention to the improvement of a tract of land of two hundred and forty acres. In addition he also owns four hundred and eighty acres in North

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Dakota. Upon his place he is extensively engaged in the raising of thoroughbred Duroc Jersey hogs and fancy Percheron horses. Year after year he carefully developed and improved his farm, but in the present year he has taken things much easier and is plan- ning to retire, for his former labor has brought to him a capital sufficient to supply him with all of the necessities and comforts and some of the luxuries of life without recourse to further business.

In 1895 Mr. Daugherty was united in marriage to Miss Lilly Laughlin, a daughter of Charles J. Laughlin and a representative of an honored pioneer family of this state. Her father came to South Dakota in 1878, took up a homestead claim and here devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life. He also followed the profession of school teaching and passed away in the year 1913, but is still survived by his widow. To Mr. and Mrs. Daugherty have been born three children.

In his political views Mr. Daugherty is a democrat and has been active in political circles in the county. serving as chariman of the county central committee. He has fre- quently been a candidate for local office and at all times he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He is identified with the Farmers Elevator Company, is an advocate of the good roads movement and he lends his aid and cooperation to many plans and projects that have to do with the substantial development and improvement of the connty. Fraternally he is a Mason and is also connected with the Odd Fellows and the United Workmen. His residence in the county covers almost a third of a century, during which he has witnessed the greater part of the growth and development of the community. He can relate many interesting tales of the early days and the story of his business career is largely the story of Lake county's upbuilding, as he has kept pace with the general trend of events and progress.

JESSE WADLEIGH BOYCE.

For over a third of a century Jesse Wadleigh Boyce has been engaged in the general practice of law in Sioux Falls and has risen to a prominent place at the bar of South Dakota, being connected with the firm of Boyce, Warren & Fairbank. He was born on a farm near Oregon, Wisconsin, December 19, 1859, and is a son of Reuben and Anna M. (Mclaughlin) Boyce, the former born in New Hampshire. The grandfather was a native of Derry. that state, and the great-grandfather was born in Londonderry, Ireland.

Jesse W. Boyce acquired his early education in the country schools of Oregon, Wiscon- sin, and later attended high school at Madison. Afterward he entered the State University. completing his sophomore year there, after which he studied law, with the class of 1882. He supplemented this course hy a period of study in the Boston (Mass.) University, from which institution he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1885. Mr. Boyce went first to Sioux Falls in 1880, seenring employment in his brother's coal yard there. He later hecame connected with the law office of Bippus & Boyce. the latter his brother, and in 1883 Mr. Bippus withdrew, the firm becoming Boyce & Boyce. One year later Mr. Noyes was admitted to partnership and the firm of Boyce, Noyes & Boyce existed until 1886, when Mr. Noyes left for Washington, D. C., to become associate editor of the Star. The firm after- ward continued as Boyce & Boyce until Frank L. Boyce died in 1896, after which J. W. Boyce practiced alone until 1900. In that year he formed a partnership with Royal H. Warren under the firm name of Boyce & Warren. This continued until December, 1911, when Arthur Boyce Fairbank was admitted to partnership, the firm becoming Boyce. Warren & Fairbank. This is today one of the strongest and most reliable law firms in the city and controls a large and representative business, Mr. Boyce is a capable and progressive lawyer, well versed in the underlying legal principles, a strong advocate, a powerful pleader and a man of insight, force and capacity. In 1910 a modern office building, four stories in height, was erected at the corner of Phillips avenue and Eleventh street and is known as the Boyce-Greeley build- ing. It consists of two separate halves standing on two lots, each a distinct building in itself, the south half being owned by Mr. Boyce and the north half by Mr. Greeley of Chi- cago. This is one of the fine buildings of the city.

On the 12th of March, 1893, at Oregon, Wisconsin, Mr. Boyce was united in marriage

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with Miss Etta A. Estey and both are well known in social circles of Sioux Falls. Mrs. Boyce is a musician of marked ability, being recognized as a leader in the musical circles of Sioux Falls. From early childhood she has studied music, studying in Paris in the de Reszke school and under varions other teachers of wide reputation. She teaches harmony and vocal music and her reputation in her art is perhaps unequalled among the musical artists of South Dakota, Mr. Boyce gives his political allegiance to the republican party but he is not in any sense a politician, preferring to concentrate his attention upon his large and growing professional interests. During the many years he has practiced law in Sioux Falls he has gained an enviable reputation for superior merit and ability and he stands today among the representative and progressive attorneys of the city.

Since the above was written Mr. Boyce passed away September 13, 1915.

ALVA C. FORNEY.

Alva C. Forney is the superintendent of the state agricultural experiment station and is also engaged in the dairy business upon his farm in Fall River county. In addition to these interests he engages in the real-estate business to some extent. He was born in Holt county, Missouri, on the 25th of February, 1871, a son of Christian W. and Mary Ellen (Iddings) Forney, natives respectively of Ohio and Missouri. The father, who was born in 1841, passed away in November, 1876. His wife's birth occurred on the 13th of September, 1844. When a boy he emigrated with his parents to Missouri and there attained his majority. Upon reaching years of maturity he became an agriculturist of Holt county, that state, and resided there until his demise. He served in the Fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry in the Civil war and in times of peace took a keen interest in public affairs. Although he was not an office seeker, he held a number of local positions of trust and honor and was constable at the time of his death.

Alva C. Forney was the second in order of birth in a family of five children and in the acquirement of his early education attended the district schools near his home, later becoming a student in the schools of Stanberry, Missouri. When seventeen years of age he removed to the Black Hills and engaged in mining in the vicinity of Hill City for about three years. He was also for a year at Custer as a sawmill engineer in the employ of the Harney Peak Tin Company. For several years he worked for a lumber company in this state; but in 1895 he returned to Missouri and attended school there until 1898, his experience having convinced him of the value of a thorough education. On the 27th of April, 1898, he answered the first call for volunteers for service in the Spanish-American war, enlisting in the Fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and he remained with that command until the 15th of February, 1899, when he was discharged. The remainder of that year was spent upon the homestead with his mother, but in April, 1900, he again became a resident of Oelrichs, South Dakota. He was employed as census enumerator and also worked in a grocery store until November, 1900, but then dealt in horses until January, 1905. At that time he entered the county treasurer's office and later became the first cashier of the Peoples National Bank of Hot Springs. Upon his return to Oelrichs he became United States commissioner and in addi- tion to discharging his duties in that connection engaged in the real-estate business and farming. He still operates one hundred and twenty acres in the home farm and two thousand acres near Oelrichs. He breeds Holstein cattle and gives much attention to dairving, which he finds very profitable. He is superintendent of the state agricultural experiment station, which is situated two miles south of Oelrichs, and under his supervision it is doing much work of value to the farmers of that part of the state. He also finds time to devote to real estate and is an authority on realty values in his locality.

Mr. Forney was married on the 29th of December, 1903, to Miss Nellie Hartman, who was born at Barnard, Nodaway county, Missouri, on the 16th of December, 1878. Her parents, George A. and Margaret (Helzer) Hartman, were both natives of Clark county, Indiana, her father born on the 14th of July, 1844, and her mother on the 10th of December, 1847. In early life the father engaged in teaching school in Indiana, but later removed to Missouri, where he became a landowner and farmer. He is now residing in Maryville, that state, and is spending his last days in ease, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. His wife passed away on the 1st of January, 1915. Ile served in the Civil war as a member of the

ALVA C. FORNEY

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Eighty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry and was at the front for three years, proving at all times a brave soldier. He has held a number of local offices, including that of justice of the peace, and has at all times proved an able and conscientious official. Mrs. Forney is the sixth in a family of eleven children and attended the schools of Nodaway county, Missouri, in the acquirement of an education. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children : Margaret Ellen, born on the 5th of November, 1904; Frank Hartman, whose birth occurred on the 21st of January, 1906; Benjamin Henry, born on the 28th of November, 1913; and John Clark, born on the 1st of February, 1915.

Mr. Forney is a republican, and from 1905 to 1909 was county treasurer. Since March, 1909, he has been United States commissioner and is ably discharging the duties of that office and is equally efficient as treasurer of the local board of education, which position he has held for six years. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Modern Brotherhood of America and the Yeomen, in which order he is state master of accounts. He is typically a western man, energetic and progressive, with the courage and faith in the county that tend to develop the power of initiative, and his activity along various lines has been a factor in the advance- ment of his community, where he is justly held in high esteem.

EDWARD HILDEBRANT.

Edward Hildebrant owns a valuable farm of three hundred and eighty-five acres on sec- tion 30, Oak Gulch township, Day county, but resides in Conde, Spink county. He has been a resident of South Dakota since a young man in his teens and in the intervening thirty years has been instrumental in advancing the agricultural development of his locality. He was horn on the 15th of December, 1866, in Ohio Station, Illinois, and is a son of Emanuel and Nancy (Johnson) Hildehrant. The father was a pioneer farmer of the Prairie state but came to South Dakota in 1882. He died in 1900, at the age of seventy-six years, and was buried in the Conde cemetery. His widow survives him and makes her home in Conde. They had ten children, namely: Elizabeth, who married Andrew Olson and died in 1913, her remains being interred in a cemetery at Chandler; Eugene, a resident of Tiskilwa, Illi- nois: Emma, the wife of Samuel Bilby, of Newark, New Jersey; Julia, who married David Ott, of New Boston, Illinois; Henry, who makes his home in Conde, this state; Anna, the wife of Tompsey Price, residing in Aberdeen: Edward, the subject of this review; Jennie, who married Millard Clark and died in 1902, interment being made in Conde; Daisy, the wife of Charles Smith, an implement dealer of Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Howard, resid- ing on a farm near Conde.

Edward Hildebrant received his education in the public schools of Illinois and laid aside his textbooks when seventeen years of age. He remained at home, assisting his father in the work of the farm until he was twenty-two years old. He then rented land until 1890, when he was able to purchase one hundred and sixty acres, and concentrated his energies upon the cultivation of his farm. In 1908 he purchased two hundred and twenty-five acres additional, making in all three hundred and eighty-five acres to which he holds title. He engages in mixed farming and finds the raising of both grain and stock yields him larger returns than the raising of one alone. He is an enterprising agriculturist and does every- thing that is to be done at the proper time, so that results are achieved with a less expendi- ture of time and energy.

Mr. Hildebrant was married, near Conde, in April, 1888, to Miss Anna Hynes, a dangh- ter of John and Kate (Loftus) Hynes. Her father was a pioneer farmer who died in 1909 and was buried in Conde. Her mother survives and makes her home in that town. Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrant have five children: Benjamin, who assists his father in the farm work; Earl, who manages a restaurant in Conde owned by his father and married Elma Wattier, by whom he has two children, Earl and Everett: Blanch, at home: Edda, who is attend- ing high school: and Phyllis, a maiden of six years.

Mr. Hildebrant is a democrat and takes a citizen's interest in all matters of public con- cern. He has a number of business interests aside from his farm and restaurant, which have been previously mentioned, owning considerable business property in Conde. He has built

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his own comfortable residence and has taken great pains to make it one of the well arranged and commodious homes of the locality. His snecess has not been due to the aid of influential friends hut is to be attributed entirely to his own untiring industry and sound business judgment. His prosperity has been gained by such honorable methods that all who know him respect him and are glad of his success.

THEODORE J. P. GIEDT.

Theodore J. P. Giedt, a representative of the bar of Eureka and states attorney for McPherson county, was born at Danzig, Russia, on the 9th of November, 1873, a son of John I'. and Elizabeth Giedt. His ancestors lived at or near Danzig, Prussia, a century or more ago and with a number of others were indneed to emigrate and settle in southern Russia, receiving some of the free homesteads given away to German immigrants with numerons privileges and immunities. In time two families, the Giedts and the Pritzkaus, became the leaders among the settlers of that locality and have remained so to this day. In May, 1886, John P. and Elizabeth Giedt became residents of what was then Dakota territory, settling in McIntosh county, now in North Dakota. The father died in the year 1914, while the mother is living in Bismarck.

Theodore J. P. Giedt obtained a common-school education in both the English and German languages and completed a course in the Winona (Minn.) Business College with the class of 1891. He afterward became a law student in the University of South Dakota, which he attended in 1903 and 1904, and on the 19th of April of the latter year he was admitted to practice in the courts of the state. He had come to South Dakota in March, 1889, after which he worked as an apprentice in the printing office of Flinn & Lutgen, who were then publishing the Eureka Independent. In April of the same year they added a German weekly, Die Eureka Post. The following winter M. Lutgen acquired the owner- ship of the whole plant and Mr. Giedt was made its manager, acting in large measure as editor of both papers and also doing much of the typesetting and mechanical work, about the office. In the fall of 1892, in connection with M. O. Ronayne, he purchased the two papers and plant from M. Lutgen and in the summer of 1894 added another paper, the McPherson County Herald, which was later moved to Leola with Mr. Ronayne in charge. The Independent suspended and an English edition of the Eureka Post was thereafter issued in its stead. Mr. Giedt was in charge of the Eureka papers, but when elected to publie office he disposed of his newspaper interests and removed to Leola, where he remained until the spring of 1903. While at the county seat, in partnership with M. Krause, then register of deeds, he organized the MePherson County Abstract Company and established a splendid abstract business. He also engaged in the mercantile and machinery business under the name of the Leola Mercantile Company with M. Krause as partner, this association being maintained until the summer of 1905. Mr. Giedt also became con- nected with the real-estate business and is still a stockholder in the German Land & Loan Company of Eureka, of which he has been secretary since its organization. His resourceful business ability is further indicated in the fact that he has extended his efforts to still other lines, where his industry and enterprise have been an impetus for business growth and success. He was one of the incorporators of the Farmers & Mer- chants State Bank of Eureka and still retains his interest in that growing institution. He was prominent in the organization of the Volkszeitung Publishing Company, publishers of the Eureka Volkszeitung, and as a member of the board of directors and its secretary did much toward building up the paper.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 65

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