History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 67

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 D. PEARCE.

Edward D. Pearce, a grain merchant of Letcher, owning an elevator there and at Cuth- bert, South Dakota, is now conducting a snecessful and profitable business. For twenty- two years he has been a resident of Letcher. He was born in Aurora, Illinois, September 11, 1869. His father, Isaac Pearce, was a native of Oswego, Illinois, born October 11, 1842. He was reared to manhood upon a farm with the usual experiences that fall to the lot of the farın lad, and in 1862, at the age of about twenty years, he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, with which he served for three years and three months. He was then honorably discharged and with a most creditable military record returned to his home. In 1866 he married Maggie Crandall, a daughter of Judge Crandall, of Joliet, Illinois, after which they resided upon a farm in Will county, Itlinois, until 1881, when they removed to Le Mars, Iowa, where the father again engaged in farm- ing until 1883. That year witnessed their arrival in Dakota territory and they took up their abode upon a homestead in Jerauld county, near Alpena. After making some improve- ments upon his land, Isaac Pearce engaged in the grain business at Alpena and continued active in that line until his death, which occurred in January, 1905. He had for only a brief period survived his wife, who passed away in July, 1904, so that they were separated by death for only about a half year. In their family were four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Elizabeth, Edward, Franklin and Gertrude, all yet living with the exception of the third mentioned.

Edward D. Pearce was a youth of twelve years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Iowa, and was a youth of fourteen when he became a resident of South Dakota, where he has since made his home. He had the usual experience and training of the boy who is reared upon a farm or in a small town. Twenty-two years ago he removed to Letcher, accepting the position of buyer for L. N. Loomis, a grain merchant of Minneapolis, Minnesota, with whom he continued for some time. At the present writing, however, he is engaged in the grain business on his own account, owning an elevator at Letcher and another at Cuthbert. He thoroughly understands the grain trade in every particular, keeps in close touch with the market and has been very successful in his business dealings, whereby he has won a most substantial and desirable competence.

EDWARD D. PEARCE

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Mr. Pearce was married at Woonsocket, South Dakota, on the 29th of August, 1893, the lady of his choice being Miss Marian Stuart MeLean, a daughter of John and Jane (Leggett) MeLean, of Woonsocket, who were among the early settlers of Dakota territory. They were farming people and they played well their part in the development of what is now one of the foremost states in the Union. They reared a large family, all of whom are now doing well. The girls of the household all became teachers and one of the sons took up the profession of medicine, while the others became active along commercial lines. To Mr. and Mrs. Pearce have been born two children, Imogene Cathrine and Marian Gertrude, aged respectively twenty and eighteen years and both now in school.

In polities Mr. Pearce is independent, voting for the men whom he believes to be honest and who will work for the best interest of the people at large. He believes in the majority rule in all things pertaining to government and will support any movement which he thinks will further the interests of the masses rather than of the classes. He was on the town council for many years and was delegate to the democratic state convention held at Yank- ton in 1898. In his youth he took part in a number of the Demorest oratorical contests, which have as their object the inculeation of prohibition sentiment, and won the first grand gold medal that was awarded in South Dakota and also the first diamond medal. In later years he has gained an enviable reputation as a speaker and has made many Memorial Day addresses, the fact that he is the son of a veteran making him unusually interested in any occasion of a patriotic nature. He has also been called upon to speak at other times and once introduced Senator A. B. Kittredge at a political meeting. He is a member of the Woodmen, and he also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the underlying principles of which he is in thorough sympathy as they are based upon the recognition of the brotherhood of man and the obligations of the individual to his fellows. In a word, he believes that a good Odd Fellow can be a better Christian and a good Christian a better Odd Fellow. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church and he does all in his power to further the interests of moral progress, doing what he can to make the world better. His own life has ever been actuated by high and honorable principles and the course which he has followed constitutes an example well worthy of emulation.

CYRUS L. JACKSON.

Cyrus L. Jackson, editor and manager of the Tribune, published at Ipswich, South Dakota, has been a permanent resident of Edmunds county since December, 1908, and in the intervening period has made for himself a creditable place in business cireles. He was born on a farm in the little settlement of Jacksonville, in Adrian township. Monroe county, Wisconsin, on the 9th of September, 1862, and continued to live on the old home place ' with his parents until he reached the age of sixteen years, when his father, Judge W. W. Jackson, retired from active farm life and with his family took up his residence in Tomah, about four miles east of his old home.

Cyrus L. Jackson had previously been a pupil in the district schools and after attend- ing high school in Tomah for two years he entered the office of the Badger State Monitor, a newspaper published at Tomah by his former high school professor, Jay R. Hinckley, with whom he served his apprenticeship and secured his first lessons in newspaper work. At the age of twenty years he forsook the printing trade and for about ten years devoted his attention to railroading. He held some excellent positions with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company. first as a clerk in his home town and then for two years as cashier at Red Wing, Minnesota. Later he became agent for the St. Paul Duluth Railway Company at White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and in 1889 he accepted the important position of cashier for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company at Sioux City. Iowa, which position he continued to hold until 1891, when he resigned in order to enter the real-estate and insurance business in Sioux City. He devoted his energies toward work of that character until 1897. when he was chosen by popular vote to the office of city clerk of Sioux City. and later served as chief deputy in the office of the county sheriff.

Mr. Jackson came to Edmunds county, South Dakota, as a permanent resident in December. 1908. and entered the service of J. W. Parmley. the pioneer newspaper man.

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abstractor, real-estate dealer and publicist. He was made manager of the South Dakota Tribune, a newspaper which had been founded by ex-Postmaster Arthur B. Chubbuck in May, 1883. After a period of two years Mr. Jackson, in company with his wife, purchased from Mr. Parmley that newspaper, together with its goodwill, and after rechristening it the Ipswich Tribune, proceeded together to sustain its long record of usefulness. The Tribune is republican in politics and fearless in its expressions and is recognized as one of the best edited weekly newspapers in the state.

It was in Sioux City, Iowa, that Mr. Jackson was united in marriage to Miss Betina P. Day, a daughter of John C. and Mary L. (Jenkins) Day, and they have become the parents of one son, Donald Lester, now five years of age.

JOSEPH GRUENHAGEN.

Joseph Gruenhagen, devoting his life to general farming, his home being on section 6, Wentworth township, has lived in South Dakota since early manhood. He was born in Wisconsin on the 16th of June, 1866, a son of Henry and Wilhelmina Gruenhagen. The father was a farmer and on leaving St. Louis, Missouri, where he resided for some time, went as a young man to Wisconsin, where he married and reared his family of seven sons and three daughters. He devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits in that state until 1884, when he came to South Dakota, and in Lake county purchased three- quarters of a section of land, which he continued to cultivate and improve throughout his remaining days. his death occurring in 1903. His wife has also passed away.

Joseph Gruenhagen acquired his education in the public schools of Missouri and after- ward assisted his father in the development of the home farm. He accompanied his parents on their removal to this state and about twenty years ago he began the operation of the old homestead farm in Lake county, South Dakota. He has prospered as the years bave gone by and is now the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land, constituting one of the most beautiful and attractive farms in the state. The broad prairies are carefully tilled and annually produce good crops of corn, wheat and other cereals. In addition Mr. Gruenhagen engages in the raising of thoroughbred cattle and a high grade of bogs. He has excellent buildings upon his place for the shelter of both grain and stock and, in fact, all modern improvements are there to be found. He is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company and is recognized throughout the community as a most progressive agriculturist.

On the 22d of May. 1905, Mr. Gruenhagen was nnited in marriage to Miss Minnie Hasnnaman, a daughter of August Hasnnaman. The children of this marriage are: Albert, Walter, Elsie, Lucy, Alvin and Theodore. In his religious faith Mr. Gruenhagen is a German Lutheran. Politically he is independent, supporting men rather than party, con- sidering the capability of a candidate for the discharge of the duties that would devolve upon him in office. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion and he is an enthusiastic advocate of good roads. In a word, he is actively and helpfully interested in South Dakota's development and cooperates heartily in many plans that work for the upbuilding of the community. Those who know him esteem him highly and he is most warmly regarded where he is best known.

FRANK PTAK.

Frank Ptak, a lumberman and extensive landowner residing in Tyndall, South Dakota, is a native of Johnson county, Iowa, born near Solon, April 2, 1860. His parents, Joseph and Anna (Mainer) Ptak, were natives of Bohemia, where their marriage occurred in 1851. Four years later they emigrated to America and first located in Johnson county, Iowa. They resided upon a farm there until removing to Bon Homme county, this state, in 1870. The father came to that region in the fall of 1869 and in the March following brought the fam- ily to his claim near Tabor. His farm consisted of a quarter section, which he had secured under both the preemption and the homestead laws. He lived but a few years to enjoy

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his new home, as, while returning from a mill on the Sioux river, he contracted a severe cold, which developed into pneumonia and caused his death in January, 1874. His wife was left with a family of six sons to provide for and rear and this she did with the courage that many men do not possess. She lived to see all of them prosperous and worthy citizens and was rewarded by their filial devotion. She passed away May 18, 1914, at the ripe old age of eighty-six years.

Frank Ptak was the third in order of birth in a family of six sons and remained with his mother until he was thirty years of age, giving her his time and labor in order that she might live in comfort in her old age. After his marriage he farmed part of the family estate for one summer and the following fall, in partnership with his brother, Tomas V., bought a himheryard in Tyndall. They continued to operate it and branch yards together until 1905, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Ptak of this review taking as a part of his share in the business the yard at Avon, which he still owns, but intrusts the details of its operation to a manager. while he still maintains his residence in Tyndall. His lumber business has proved very successful and he has been able to invest in land from time to time. As he is a firm believer in the value of agricultural property in South Dakota, he has invested the profits which his farms return him in other land. He is one of the extensive land owners in Bon Homme county and in addition to the twelve hundred acres which he owns in that county, he has a half section in Charles Mix county, an equal amount in Edmunds county and a quarter section in Buffalo county. All told, he holds title to over two thousand acres of excellent farming and grazing land. The mere statement of the extent of his property is sufficient proof of the success which has been gained by methods above reproach.

Mr. Ptak was married in Tyndall, May 5, 1890, to Miss Frantiska Totusek, a native of the village of Prosetin, in the province of Moravia, Bohemia, born in 1870. Her parents, Vincent and Frantiska (Blaha) Totusek. were natives of the same province and emigrated to America in 1879, sailing from Hamburg on the steamer Frisia. They landed at New York and thence made their way to Colfax county, Nebraska, where they settled. Mrs. Ptak met her future husband while visiting her brother in Tyndall. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children, namely: Alma, who was graduated from the Iowa State Uni- versity at Iowa City, in June, 1914, and is now teaching in Bon Homme county; Lillie, who is a graduate of the Tyndall high school and is also a teacher in the Bon Homme county schools; and Lihuse and Sylvia, who are attending Tyndall schools.

Mr. Ptak affiliates with the Bohemian Brotherhood known by the initials Z. C. B. J., and is a republican in politics. He has served several terms on the city council and was for many years a member of the board of education, being president of that body for the greater part of the time. While in the country he was president of the township board of educa- tion. He knows by personal experience the many hardships and even dangers of frontier life in South Dakota, but he did not become discouraged and is now reaping the reward of his faith and perseverance. The family suffered from the grasshopper plagne for several years in the early '70s, losing everything but sorghum, which the insects would not eat. A number of years later the subject of this review and his brother were caught out in the blizzard of January 12, 1888, but were able to make their way in safety to old Bon Homme, where they spent the night in a store. As they had had nothing to eat since morning they, together with several others, made an oyster stew on the stove in the store and enjoyed a midnight feast while the storm raged withont. As Mr. Ptak endured the hardships of the early days and still retained his faith in the state, it is but fitting that he should now share abundantly in prosperity which has come to the great northwest.

DANIEL O'CONNELL.

Daniel O'Connell is a resident farmer of Orland township, his home being on section 17. He was born in Wisconsin on the 8th of February, 1861, and is a son of Thomas and Anna (Fox) O'Connell. The father was a farmer by occupation and became a pioneer resident of Wisconsin, where he engaged in the work of tilling the soil. He has now passed away, but the mother is still living.

At the usual age Daniel O'Connell became a district school pupil and when he ceased to

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attend school began aiding his father, with whom he worked until he reached the age of seventeen years, He then came to Dakota territory in the year 1879 and, making his way to Lake county, settled in Orland township, where he joined his brother James, who had arrived in 1878. He filed on a tree claim on section 17 and afterward relinquished it to his brother Daniel, who then broke the sod and began farming the place. However, he lived with his mother, who owned a homestead claim, the mother arriving in this county in the fall of 1881. Most of the children came with her and Daniel O'Connell has three brothers in Orland township. As the years have gone by he has carried on general agricultural pursuits and is now the owner of four hundred acres of excellent land, on which he resides, and also cultivates another tract of one hundred and sixty acres belonging to his brother. He devotes considerable attention to stock-raising and has forty head of cattle and sixty head of hogs upon his place. None of the equipments of a model farm of the twentieth century are lack- ing, for he has added many excellent improvements and has good buildings upon his land, well kept fences and all the latest improved farm machinery to facilitate the work of the fields.

On the 29th of December, 1892, Mr. O'Connell was united in marriage to Miss Ann MeDon- nell, a daughter of Michael McDonnell, and a representative of another old pioneer family. To Mr. and Mrs. O'Connell have been born the following named: Mary, now the wife of Frank O'Neil, living in Utah; Loraine, who teaches in the county schools and is at home; Anna, who is also a school teacher; and Leona, Joseph, Margaret, Daniel, Leonard and John, all at home. The religious faith of the family is that of the Catholic church, to which they loyally adhere.

In his political views Mr. O'Connell is a democrat and does all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. On several occasions he has been called to public office, serving as chairman of the town board for several years and as school clerk for twelve years. He indorses the good roads movement, for, driving an automobile, he has learned the value of excellent public highways, He is a stockholder in the Midway Farmers Elevator Company at Junius and also in the telephone company. There are indeed lew residents of Lake county who have resided within its borders so long as Mr. O'Connell, who has here remained for thirty-six years. There is no phase of the county's development with which he is not familiar and its history to him is as an open book.

ALBERT CORNELIUS DE RIEMER.

Albert Cornelius De Riemer, living in Brentford, is one of the extensive landowners of Tetonke township, Spink county, owning eight hundred and eighty acres on sections 28, 32 and 33. He was born on the 1st of September, 1859, in Bellevue, Michigan, a son of Joseph P. and Laura L. (Hunsiker) De Riemer. The family is of French descent and was one of the earliest to settle in the state of New York in colonial times. The Indians called Squire Sylvanus Hunsiker, the maternal grandfather of the subject of this review, the "white chief" and often called upon him in the morning before he was out of bed. Joseph P. De Riemer passed away in August, 1914, when in his eighty-third year, and was laid to rest in Bellevue, Michigan. His widow is still living and is now in her eighty-first year and continues to make her home in Bellevne.

Albert C. De Riemer received his education in Bellevue. Michigan, where he attended school until eighteen years of age. He then began working by the month for farmers and was also employed for some time in the woods as a lumberman. Subsequently with his brother, A. S. De Riemer, he came to Spink county, South Dakota, and took up preemption and tree claims, making a total of three hundred and twenty acres of prairie land. By work- ing hard and persistently Mr. De Riemer brought the land to a high state of cultivation and as he accumulated sufficient funds he purchased additional land until he now owns eight hundred and eighty acres of valuable farming property. Although he has not resided upon his farm for twenty-five years, he keeps in touch with its operation and has devoted con- siderable attention to stock-raising. Everything about the place testifies to the energy. thrift and ability of the owner, who is recognized as one of Spink county's most enterprising and businesslike citizens. In 1890 he removed to Pierre, where he engaged in the livery and

ALBERT C. DE RIEMER

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hotel business until 1900 and then returned to Spink county, opening a hotel at Mellette. In 1903 he removed to Brentford, where he now makes his home.

Mr. De Riemer was united in marriage, at Pierre, on the 38th of November, 1899, to Miss Carrie A. Stoddard, a daughter of Alvan K. and Sarah (Adams) Stoddard. Her father, who is a veteran of the Civil war and a carpenter by trade, is now living retired, making his home with the subject of this review and at the South Dakota Soldiers' Home. Mrs. Stoddard passed away in Iowa and is buried at New Hampton, that state. Mr. and Mrs. De Riemer have one son, William Weston, who is a lad of ten years.

Mr. De Riemer is a republican and is precinct committeeman. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Maccabees and is one of the best known members of those organizations. He attributes his success to the fact that he has always labored persistently and has not been afraid of long hours when necessary to accomplish results and also to his ability to follow out a plan even if he met with discourage- ments at times.

ANTON RUNBECK.

Anton Runbeck, editor and publisher of the Bulletin of Mobridge, was born in Sweden, April 22, 1885, a son of P. J. and Hannah (Johnson) Runbeck. They were also natives of Sweden and never left that country. Their son was there reared and acquired his education in the public schools, supplemented by a course in a business college. He was a young man of eighteen when he bade adieu to his native land and sailed for the new world in 1903, for he was attracted by the reports which had reached him concerning the opportunities offered in this country. He settled at Elk Point, in Union county, South Dakota, and for two years was employed at farm labor. He next entered the employ of Carl Gunderson as sur- veyor, continuing with him for six years on the Rosebud and Standing Rock reservations. He next engaged with the Harris Land Company of Mobridge, with which concern he was identified for two years, and on the expiration of that period he purchased the Bulletin, of which he is now editor. He publishes a bright, newsy paper devoted to the dissemination of matters of general and local interest and has won for the paper a good circulation and a large advertising patronage. He is likewise engaged in the real-estate business and is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land seven miles west of Mobridge.

In politics Mr. Runbeck is independent and champions a measure because he believes in its efficacy as a factor in good government or in public progress, while his support of any candidate is an indication of his belief in the ability of the man to perform the duties of the office. Fraternally he is connected with Mobridge Lodge, No. 205, 1. O. O. F., in which he has filled all of the offices. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the new world, for he here found the chance for which he sought and has worked his way steadily upward, proceeding continuously along the path of steady progression.

GERHARDT F. GRAFF.

Gerhardt F. Graff, active in the business life of Rutland, is a member of the firm of Graff & Son, proprietors of a grain elevator and also dealers in live stock. He was born in Wabasha, Minnesota, on the 29th of April, 1858, and is a son of Frank and Barbara Graff, who were pioneers of Minnesota, where the father passed away in 1869. The mother survives and now makes her home in Wabasha.

Gerhardt F. Graff was educated in the district schools near the old home and afterward worked upon the farm, thus acquiring the early experiences that qualified him for the later duties and responsibilities of life. Leaving home when a young man of twenty-one years of age, he came to South Dakota and filed on land on section 5, township 107, range 51. In the years which have since come and gone he has added to his possessions until he now owns five quarter seetions, which are being cultivated by his sons. He was one of the pioneer set- tlers of Rutland township, Lake county, and, in fact, is one of the oldest settlers of that Vol. V-25

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region. He has lived to see many changes which time and man have wrought. He has wit- nessed and aided in the transformation of the county from a tract of wild prairie, dotted with a million wild flowers in June and covered with a sheet of dazzling snow in December, to a richly productive land, the property of a contented and prosperous population. Since tak- ing up his abode in Rutland he has conducted a grain elevator and also engages in buying stock as well as grain. He makes extensive shipments and his business is a valuable one to the community inasmuch as it furnishes a market for both stock and grain raisers.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 67

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