History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 69

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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Lars Larson was reared and educated there and the common schools afforded him his opportunities for intellectual progress. He remained in his native country until he reached the age of twenty-four years, when in 1884 he crossed the Atlantic and established his home in Kansas, where he was employed as a common laborer for a year. He next went to Colorado, where he remained for three years connected with the stamp mills and mining interests. On the expiration of that period he removed to Walworth county, South Dakota, where he arrived in 1887. He at once took up a homestead, which he occupied for twenty- one years and during that period he greatly improved the property, adding to it substantial buildings and all modern equipments. To his original holdings he added until he became the owner of eight hundred and twenty acres, which he still retains. Year after year he carefully developed and tilled the soil until he brought his farm to a high state of culti- vation, residing thereon until 1909, when he removed to Mobridge and embarked in com- mercial pursuits, establishing a furniture and undertaking business. He has since built up a trade that enables him to handle a large and well selected line of goods, so that he has one of the best stores in his part of the state.

In 1887 Mr. Larson was joined in wedlock to Miss Hannah Ekrem, a native of Norway,

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who came to the United States in 1886. The children of the family are ten in number, namely: Martin L. and Richard P., who are engaged in agricultural pursuits; Maria, at home; August L .; Lewis H .; Regina; John H .; Edwin R .; Theodore R .; and Helmer.

The parents are members of the Lutheran church and adhere loyally to its teachings because of their firm belief in the Christian religion. In his political views Mr. Larson is a republican and has been called upon to fill various local offices, for his fellow citizens recognize his worth and ability. He acted as road superintendent for twelve years and for two terms has been a member of the city council of Mobridge. He was also school director for nine years and he is interested in everything that pertains to the work of public progress and improvement, doing all in his power to promote the welfare of Mobridge and its advance- ment along material, intellectual, political and moral lines.

MAJOR J. H. SHURTLEFF.

The ranks of the Civil war veterans are fast being decimated. Year by year many respond to the last roll call and it is fitting that while some still survive they should be honored for the service which they rendered the country during the darkest hour in all its history. Major J. H. Shurtleff is among those who for three years or more did active duty on southern battlefields and in times of peace he has been equally loyal to his country. He is numbered among the respected and valued citizens of Parker and since 1870 has been a resident of South Dakota. This has covered the period of the state's greatest growth and progress, and in the work of general improvement he has borne his full share as the years have gone by, his interests extending to many fields but lying always along lines of progress and advancement.

Major Shurtleff was born in Buffalo, New York, January 6, 1835, and is a son of Chester B. and Miranda (Adams) Shurtleff, natives of Vermont, where their marriage occurred. They afterward removed to Aurora, Erie county, New York, and later established themselves successively in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York. They removed to Vermillion, South Dakota. in 1866 and there resided for many years. The mother passed away at the age of seventy-five, and the father died at Ponca. Nebraska, ten years later, when he was eighty- five years of age. He had been a dyer and clothier by trade and followed these occupations during his residence in the east, turning his attention to farming in the later years of his life. He was a well educated man and for a period in his youth engaged in school teaching. He and his wife became the parents of eight children, two sons and six daughters, all of whom with one exception came to Dakota. Two sons and two daughters are yet living. Henry B. Shurtleff has been a resident of Vermillion since 1867, and ran a stage line out of that point for eighteen years.

Major J. H. Shurtleff removed to Mendota, Illinois, in 1854, and there engaged in engineering work until the outbreak of the Civil war. He was at that time one of the surveyors of the Pere Marquette Railroad, which was laid out through a dense wilderness. He resigned his position in October, 1861, and enlisted in Company A. Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, from which he was transferred in March, 1863, to an Alabama regiment of cavalry. He went to the front as a private and wished to remain one, but he was pro- moted to the rank of major against his will and given charge of important army engineering work. He was a natural mathematician and an experienced engineer, these qualifications enabling him to perform important service during the war, for he possessed the ability to map a country thoroughly by measuring distances by counting his horse's steps. His results obtained in this way were more accurate than those of many other engineers and the method possessed the advantage of being rapid and feasible in time of war. Major Shurtleff took part in many important engagements of the war and as the colonel's aid at the battle of Corinth was under dangerous fire for many hours. On the 25th of July, 1865, he resigned from the service with the rank of major and with an exceptionally creditable military record returned to Illinois.

The Major was among the early settlers in South Dakota, taking up his residence in Vermillion in 1870. In the following year he filed on a homestead six miles southeast of Parker and he remained upon that property until 1879, when he located nearer Parker, con-

MAJOR J. H. SHURTLEFF

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tinuing, however, his identification with farming interests until 1893, when he removed to town and retired from active work. His efforts extended also to other fields, for from 1874 to 1878 he ran a daily stage line from Yankton to Sioux Falls in partnership with Charles Demming, and he aided in the organization of the State Grange, of which he has been steward and master. At one time he served as president of the County Fair Association, and his influence has at all times been used in support of measures and projects which have for their object the permanent good of the community. Major Shurtleff's long period of activity has been rewarded by a fair measure of success and he has now valuable property interests in Parker, owning ten residences which he and his wife have built.

In Mendota, Illinois, in 1866, Major Shurtleff married Miss Mary Jane Wirick, who was born in Hancock county, that state, in 1844, a daughter of William Wirick. Major and Mrs. Shurtleff have become the parents of three children: Arthur, who was for fourteen years a professor in the Dakota Wesleyan University at Mitchell and is now engaged in business as an expert accountant; Julia I., the wife of E. M. Pnrkiss, who is a member of the theatrical profession; and Rev. S. H., pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church at Tyndall, South Dakota. Mrs. Shurtleff is a woman of refinement and culture and is widely and favorably known in social circles.

During the entire period of his active life Major Shurtleff has taken an intelligent interest in politics and his activities along this line have influenced in a great measure the political history of South Dakota. He voted the republican ticket upon the organization of the party and later assisted in the establishment of the independent party in Dakota, of which the present populist party is an outgrowth. As a member of the platform com- mittee he helped to nominate Weaver at Omaha, July 4, 1892, and was a member of the same committee at St. Louis, February 22, 1892. He was a stanch supporter of William Jennings Bryan during the latter's three campaigns for the presidency and when he voted for Woodrow Wilson, cast his first hallot for a man elected to the office of president. Mr. Wilson's platform was essentially the same as the 'one for which Major Shurtleff has been con- tending during all the years of his political activity. He has been honored with positions of public trust and responsibility and has filled them with credit and ability. In 1872 he was elected one of the first county commissioners and served for four years as a member of the board of aldermen of Parker. He was superintendent of the building of the new city hall, an edifice which is in every way a credit to him. Major Shurtleff has now passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey, but in spirit and interests seems yet in his prime. No one can carry investigation far into the history of the pioneer settlement of South Dakota or its later development without learning of the active and honorable part which he has taken in the work of upbuilding, for he has lived within the borders of the state for forty-five years and has aided in its advancement along many lines. He is a dignified, courteous gentleman, of kindly spirit and strongly marked principles, who by his integrity, ability and honorable standards has left an impress for good upon the community.

HIRAM A. REEVES.

Hiram A. Reeves, familiarly known as "Harry," has been an efficient representative of various manufacturing companies and is well known in and around Scotland, South Dakota. He has also taken an active interest in political affairs and has held a number of city and county offices, discharging the duties incumbent upon him with dispatch and faith- fulness. He was born April 23, 1850, in the Empire state, his birthplace being in the vicinity of Watertown, Jefferson county. His parents, Abner and Laurinda ( Merriman) Reeves, continued to reside in New York throughout their entire lives.

Hiram A. Reeves came to the Dakotas as a member of John I. Blair's engineering corps, reaching Yankton on Decoration day, 1877. In connection with a Mr. Wingfield of Sioux City, Iowa, he ran levels for two seasons for a railroad which was projected northwest of Yankton and up the Sioux valley. He and Mr. Wingfield took turns at the instrument. which was very heavy, and at the rod, which was light in weight. The railroad was never constructed and after the abandonment of the project Mr. Reeves decided to remain perma- nently in South Dakota, as he was very favorably impressed with the opportunities offered

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here. As the town of Scotland gave promise of rapid growth, be opened a hardware and implement store there January 5, 1880, and continued in the business for ten years, when he sold out and entered the employ of the Buckeye Reaper & Mower Company. A year later he and a Mr. Herrick, of Mitchell, became general managers for that company for the territory of which Scotland was the center. They supervised the different local agencies, did a great deal of collection work and in every way possible increased the sale of imple- ments. Subsequently Mr. Reeves was for a few years the representative of Burns & Hunt, of Sioux City, and from 1898 until 1910 was in the employ of the Baum Iron Company of Omaha. Since 1910 he has traveled the territory for Henry & Allen, also an Omaha firm.

Mr. Reeves was married in New York, November 13, 1871, to Miss Jennie Girard, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Wilson) Girard, the former a kinsman of Philadelphia's famous philanthropist. Mrs. Reeves was born upon the banks of the St. Lawrence river and by her marriage has become the mother of a son, Ernest W., the date of whose birth was September 25, 1872. He married Miss May Mooers, of Yankton, a daughter of Timothy Mooers, deceased. On the opening of Stanley county for settlement both Mr. Reeves and his son filed on claims. The former commuted his claim, but his son preferred to reside there the required length of time. The latter has served as United States district com- missioner at Belvidere, South Dakota, since 1906, receiving reappointment at the end of his first term.

MIr. and Mrs. Reeves are active members of the Episcopal church of Scotland, which is a memorial chapel to the memory of the Rev. Melanchthon Hoyt, a figure prominent in the religious annals of South Dakota. Mr. Reeves is an enthusiastic democrat and has rendered his party much able service. For twenty-five years he was committeeman and for eight years was a member of the executive board of the state organization. He served on the city council for eight years and for one term held the office of mayor, giving to the municipality a businesslike administration. He was one of the board of county commis- sioners for four years and for six years was a member of the board of education. His record as an official is one of which he may well be proud, as he was always conscientious and efficient in the discharge of his duties. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order, holding membership in the blue lodge and chapter of Scotland and in the commandery at Yankton. He well remembers the "winter of the deep snows" and relates that for four months the drifts were so deep at Scotland that the city was altogether cut off from rail- road service. Moreover, throughout the summer belated mail continued to reach them. At the time of the terrific blizzard of January 12, 1888, Mr. Reeves happened to be at home, but at the ringing of the church bell to guide those who were lost, he became alarmed, mistaking it for a call of fire. He feared that his store might be burning and made his way several blocks down the street and back to the house again through the raging storm. This was his first experience in a real blizzard with snow as fine as flour that penetrated clothing, filled the eyes and nostrils and suffocated as well as chilled. Although he has reached the age when many men retire from the active business of life, he is as alert and energetic as he was twenty years ago and probably has many efficient years before him yet. One reason for bis settling in South Dakota was the hope that his wife's health might be improved and the invigorating climate of the state has strengthened her beyond all expectation. He has always manifested a laudable publie spirit and no appeal for aid for a worthy cause has been made to him in vain.

ALEXANDER H. MAYER.

The Farmers National Bank of Bridgewater is one of the leading financial institutions of the eastern part of South Dakota. Its prosperity and excellent standing is due in a con- siderable measure to the financial ability of Alexander H. Mayer, its vice president. He is also a member of the firm of Mayer Brothers, who own three elevators, one at Ridgewater, another at Emery and the third at Dalton. They also own four hundred and aghty acres of land devoted to the raising of grain.

Although of German parentage, Mr. Mayer was born in Russia, his nata day being October 11, 1868. Ilis parents, Henry and Dorothy Mayer, were farming people. In 1878

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the family came to South Dakota and the father homesteaded the northeast one-half of section 20, township 57, range 99, in MeCook county and devoted the remainder of his life to the cultivation of his land. He passed away in 1909 at the age of seventy-four years and is survived hy his widow, who has reached the advanced age of eighty years.

Alexander H. Mayer had learned the German language thoroughly at the time he came to this country and soon mastered the English language. Much of his education, however, is that acquired in the school of experience and he bas profited well by the lessons therein taught. He assisted his father with the farm work until be was twenty-three and a half years old and then removed to Bridgewater, where he still resides. He engaged in the hard- ware business for ten years and then entered the real-estate field, dealing in realty for two years. After selling out the hardware business in 1902 he joined J. H. Anderson, J. H. MeCormick and his brother Matthew in the purchase of the Farmers & Merchants Bank. They reorganized it as the Farmers National Bank, of which Matthew Mayer is president and our subject vice president and a director. The institution is conducted along lines that at onee insure the safety of deposits and promote the business development of Bridgewater and the surrounding territory.

Mr. Mayer married Miss Margaret Guenther, a daughter of George A. and Jaeobena (Rapp) Guenther, the wedding being solemnized on the 26th of April, 1892, in South Dakota. They have six children: Theodore S., graduate of the law department of the State Uni- versity of South Dakota: Lena, a public school teacher: Annette and Hugo, both graduates of the high school of Bridgewater; Emma; and Elvin.

Mr. Mayer is a communicant of the Lutheran church and politically is identified with the republican party. He is president of the Bridgewater school hoard and has been a member of the board for the past six years. For many years he was also a member of the city couneil before serving on the school board. He derives mueh pleasure from motoring and finds therein needed recreation. His duties as vice' president of the bank demand much of his time and thought and he also devotes considerable attention to the chain of elevators of which he is part owner. The firm of Mayer Brothers is well known and its elevators at Bridgewater, Emery and Dalton handle large quantities of grain annually. Mr. Mayer of this review is devoted to the interests of South Dakota and believes that there are splendid opportunities awaiting the man who is willing to utilize them, and he takes justi- fiable pride in his success sinee coming to this state.

FRANKLIN G. FLOETE.

Franklin G. Floete is a prominent figure in the financial eireles of Armour and Douglas county and as president of the Armour State Bank is largely responsible for the manage- ment of that institution. He is a native son of Armour, born on the 30th of May, 1887, of the marriage of Charles E. and Caroline (Grotewohl) Floete. The father was born in Gutten- berg, lowa. He and his wife removed from Elkader, Iowa, to South Dakota in 1885, locat- ing first in Mitchell but subsequently removing to Armour, where he engaged in the lumber business. In connection with his brother Franklin he organized the Floete Lumber Company, which operated in that part of the state for a quarter of a century and which also did an ex- tensive business in Iowa. Franklin Floete was very active in the development of the lumber business, while Charles E. Floete gave the greater part of his time to the development of his landed and financial interests. He held title to large tracts of land in this state and in 1894 beeame the owner of the Armour State Bank, of which he served as president until his death on September 4, 1912. During that time the business of the bank was materially increased and it became more firmly established in the confidence of the general public. He was a graduate of the law school of the State University of Iowa, and, although he never practiced, he found his legal knowledge of much value to him in his business eareer. He was one of the leading men of his seetion and was not only respected for his ability but was esteemed for his sterling worth of character. ITis wife passed away August 1, 1901.

Franklin G. Floete received his early education in the public schools and later attended the University of Wisconsin at Madison, which conferred upon him the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1908. Four years later he received the degree of LL. B. from Harvard. He has

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never practiced law, however, as his father died in the year of his graduation from Harvard and it was necessary for him to give his undivided attention to the administration of the large estate. He is vice president of the Floete Lumber Company, which owns a large num- ber of lumberyards in this state and in Iowa and which is widely known in lumber circles. He is also president of the Armour State Bank and is at the head of the Floete Land & Loan Company, which holds title to a large amount of land throughout the state. He has proved more than equal to the responsibilities devolving upon him through his important business connections, and his ability has gained him the respect of all with whom he has had dealings.

Mr. Floete is a Protestant in religion and fraternally is a thirty-second degree Mason, a Knight of Pythias and an Elk. He belongs to the Commercial Club and is one of the leaders in all movements to promote the development of his section along civic, agricultural and commercial lines. He possesses excellent judgment and is also very enterprising and ener- getic, and is justly considered one of the foremost business men of his locality.

JOHN M. WOODRING.

John M. Woodring is entitled to the honor which America pays to the man who has begun his business career with no capital and no influential friends to assist him and by dint of hard labor and good judgment has attained success in life. He started out in life for himself with no assets but his health and ability to work, but he now owns a farm of two hundred and forty acres situated on section 21, Prairie Center township, Spink county.

Mr. Woodring was born near Easton, in Northhampton county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of August, 1838, and is the son of Daniel and Catherine (Zeller) Woodring. The father was a farmer and followed agricultural pursuits hoth in Pennsylvania and Illinois, to which state the family removed in 1856. He and his wife have passed away and are buried in the Eldorado cemetery of Stephenson county, Illinois. Mr. Woodring's paternal ancestors came presumably from England but the family was established in the new world long before the Revolutionary war. On the maternal side his ancestry is purely German and his great- grandfather Lattig participated in the war for independence and his sons took part in the War of 1812.

John M. Woodring attended the public schools in Pennsylvania until he was seventeen years of age, after which he assisted his father in the work of the home farm until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in the Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served principally in Tennessee until 1862, when he was honorably discharged on account of physical disability. After his recovery, however, he reenlisted, joining the quartermaster sergeant's department and serving mainly at Nashville. He was employed in the building of hospitals and like work and remained with his command until January, 1864, when his term expired. He reenlisted, however, in the Forty-sixth Illinois Regiment and this time saw trans-Mississippi service, taking part in the engagements at Mobile, Spanish Fort and other places. At different times during his army experience he was in command of his company, which had lost all its officers, and he was twice offered a lieutenant's commission in recognition of his ability and hravery but declined on both occasions. He remained in the service until 1866.

After his return from the front Mr. Woodring rented a farm near Winslow, Illinois, for one year and thence went to Green county, Wisconsin, where he farmed for two years, after which he removed to Mitchell county, Iowa, locating near Osage. He farmed there until he came to Spink county, South Dakota in 1883, and took up a soklier's claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which he increased by purchase to three hundred and twenty acres but has since sold eighty acres to his son, retaining two hundred and forty acres, which he now cultivates. He engages in general farming and stock raising, is an excellent worker and, as he understands the best methods of farming, his land returns to him a good annual income.

Mr. Woodring was united in marriage in Monroe, Wisconsin, June 4, 1868, to Miss Maria Runkel, a danghter of Jacoh and Susan (Stemm) Runkel. In early life her father worked as a blacksmith and shoemaker but later became a farmer, cultivating land in Pennsylvania and Illinois. Both he and his wife are deceased, she being buried near Center Hill in Center county, Pennsylvania, and he in a cemetery in McConnell township, Stephenson county,

JOHN M. WOODRING

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Illinois. The Runkels are of Pennsylvania Dutch origin and Mrs. Woodring's grandfather, John Runkel, fought in the Revolutionary war. By her marriage she has become the mother of six children: Lida, the wife of Charles P. Brown, of Howard, South Dakota; Mamie, the widow of Fred P. Drayer, a merchant of Frankfort, this state; Roy, who is managing the work of the home farm; Clinton, who married Mahel Rashenberg, of Frankfort and is engaged in farming in Sumner township, Spink county; Blanche, the wite of Phillip Kraus, who is farmning in Prairie Center township; and Edna, the wife of Allen Burgess, likewise a farmer of Prairie Center township.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 69

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