History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 74

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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Mr. Murray was married November 4, 1884, to Miss Bridget Maher, of Fort Dodge, Iowa, a daughter of Thomas Maher. To this union have been born three children, Florence, Mary and John Thomas. Mr. Murray, who is a democrat in politics, has served as a member of the town council for several terms and has always discharged his official duties with an eye single to the public welfare. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church. He is much interested in the development of South Dakota and believes firmly in its future growth and continued prosperity. He is a typical western man, energetic, foresighted and ready to take the initiative, and his activity has been a factor in the commercial life of Platte for many years.

CHARLES C. STODDARD.

Charles C. Stoddard is one of the most extensive landowners of Spink county, holding title to twelve hundred and eighty acres of land situated in Beotia and Benton townships. He raises grain chiefly but also raises a little stock. He has resided in this state since 1881 and in the intervening thirty-four years has witnessed much of the development that has transformed South Dakota from a desolate wilderness to a thriving farming section.

Mr. Stoddard was born in West Woodstock, Windham county, Connecticut, on the 8th of February, 1854, his parents being Ebenezer and Charlotte (Pendleton) Stoddard, the former of whom died in 1855 when but thirty years of age and is buried in West Woodstock, Con- necticut. The mother survived until 1909, when she, too, passed away, having reached the ripe old age of eighty years. Her remains are interred in Conde, this state. The Stoddard family is of French origin and originally the name was spelled Stouduard and meant beaver. The mother was a descendant of Major Bryan Pendleton, who in 1642 came to this country from England. Ancestors of our subject on both sides appear to have served in the Revol- utionary war. The maternal great-grandfather, Jesse Pendleton, was a member of the Massachusetts legislature and the paternal grandfather, Ebenezer Stoddard, was a member of congress from 1822 to 1824.

CHARLES C. STODDARD

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Charles C. Stoddard began his education in the schools of Norwich, Connecticut, which he attended until ten years of age, when he accompanied his mother and stepfather on their removal to Minnesota. In the latter state he continued his education in the common schools until he attained the age of seventeen years and then started out in life for himself. He worked npon various farms until he reached the age of twenty-one years, when a farm near Forestville, Fillmore connty, which had previously belonged to his mother, was deeded to him, but he traded it for a farm in Waseca county, Minnesota. He subsequently came to this state and filed upon a preemption and also upon a tree claim. Some years later he disposed of his land in Minnesota and settled permanently in South Dakota in 1881. He improved his claims and also purchased other land. He bought and sold other property but still retains twelve hundred and eighty acres which he has improved and developed, building residences, barns and other needed structures upon his various farms and main- taining the land at a high state of cultivation. Most of his land is devoted to the raising of grain and, as his wheat is always of a high quality, he secures high prices on the market for it and realizes a considerable sum of money each year over and above the cost of operation. He also raises some stock, keeping about eighty hogs, forty head of cattle and fifteen horses. He nses improved machinery in his farming and does what he can to conserve the fertility of his soil and as he follows scientific methods in its culti- vation he is recognized as one of the progressive and successful farmers of Spink county.

Mr. Stoddard was married on Christmas day, 1904, to Miss Christine Hanson, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hans Hanson, formerly residents of South Dakota but now living in Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard have two children who are living, Lucy and Charles C., and lost a son, George H., who is buried in Conde.

Mr. Stoddard was formerly a republican but has recently supported the democratic ticket, by which it is seen he reserves the right to vote independently if he thinks that the interests of good government can best be served by so doing. He was the first treasurer of Beotia township. Although he has won a success greater than that of the average man, it is due entirely to his hard work, excellent judgment and thrift, qualities which may be successfully emulated and which will invariably lead to prosperity.

WILLIAM B. ROBINSON.

William B. Robinson is a traveling salesman residing at Scotland, Sonth Dakota, and for many years has lived in this state. He was horn in Jersey City, New Jersey, on the 19th of September, 1854, a son of John and Jane (Norris) Robinson, natives of Yorkshire, England, and the Scottish highlands respectively. They continued to reside in Jersey City until their deaths. In 1872 William B. Robinson came west, locating in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where for seven years he clerked in a store. At the end of that time he was sent out by the Oshkosh Lumber Company to establish yards in the new territory then being opened for settlement in the Dakotas. It was on the 1st of September, 1879, that he first came to this territory and he soon after established his residence in Scotland. The branch yards which he opened besides the one in Scotland were those at Parker, Marion Junction, Sioux Falls, Freeman and Running Water.

After spending seven years in the employ of the Oshkosh Lumber Company Mr. Robinson opened a meat market in Scotland, which he conducted until 1891, when he was appointed postmaster by President Harrison. At the expiration of his term of four years he was elected auditor and served in that capacity for the same length of time, after which he again entered the lumber trade, this time in the employ of the Fullerton Lumber Company, and he remained with them for seven years. Since 1906 he has been traveling in the interest of the Haley & Lang Company of Sioux City, Iowa, dealers in fruits and produce. He is a valued representative of this firm, as he is enterprising and aggressive and brings in a considerable volume of business annually.

Mr. Robinson was married in Oshkosh on the 3d of June, 1883, to Miss Amanda Sophia Cowham, a daughter of John and Johanna (Melgren) Cowham, natives of England and Sweden respectively. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, namely: Charles Arthur, who has charge of the Scotland Telephone Exchange, in which he is interested; Carrie Lillian,

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the wife of William Wilson, a merchant of Audubon, Iowa; Mary Elnora, deceased; and Jolin Kenneth and Helen Lucile, at home.

Mr. Robinson is a republican in politics and has served in most of the local offices. He was a member of the last legislature that met at Yankton and did not support the bill that moved the capital to Pierre. He is identified with the Masons at Scotland, holding member- ship in the blue lodge and chapter. He and his family are very fond of outdoor life and enjoy to the utmost their cottage and boat house which are at the site of Scotland Mills on Jim river, spending much of the summertime there. They enjoy boating, bathing and fishing, surrounded by nature's landscape garden in one of the most beautiful river valleys of the west.

ANDREW OLSON.

Andrew Olson, a farmer and stockman of Lake county, was born near Christiania, Nor- way, December 27, 1848, his parents being Ole and Helena Olson, who in 1869 left the land of the midnight sun and came with their family to the new world, settling in Winneshiek county, Iowa. The mother, however, was not long permitted to enjoy her new home, for her death occurred in 1871, the father surviving her until 1895, when he, too, passed away. They had but two children and Martin, the elder, is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.

The younger, Andrew Olson, attended school in Norway and supplemented the education there acquired by an English course in the public schools of Iowa after the removal of the family to the new world in 1869. Later he remained upon the home farm and also worked for others until 1880, when he came to Dakota and took up a homestead in Lake county to which he added by purchase whenever opportunity has offered until he became the owner of seven hundred and twenty acres of valuable and highly improved farm land, a portion of which he afterward gave to his sons. His labors have resulted in the careful development of his fields, bringing to him substantial crops, and he is also well known as a breeder of registered red polled cattle.

On the 10th of June, 1875, Mr. Olson was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Eggebroten, a daughter of Hans and Annie (Hegge) Eggebroten, of Winneshiek county, Iowa. To them have been born five children, namely: Henry; August; John; Helen, who is the wife of Julius Westaby; and Tillie. Believing firmly in the worth of education, the parents have given their children good advantages in that direction.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Olson is serving as secretary, and he has long been a liberal contributor to church, educational and charitable enterprises. In a word, he recognizes his obligations to his fellows and puts forth every effort to aid in the work of progress and advance the standards by which mankind is governed. He is a progressive citizen, advocating all matters of public improvement, and many valuable public enterprises owe their existence in considerable measure to his efforts. This is particularly true in regard to good roads and his district now has some of the best public highways in this part of the state. Throughout his entire life he has eagerly watched for available and advantageous opportunities and through the intelligent management of his business affairs he has won gratifying and well merited success.

JOHN W. IVEY.

John W. Ivey, proprietor of the largest exclusive hardware and harness store in Potter county, and a resident of Gettysburg, was born at Le Mars, Iowa, in 1888, a son of John and Jennie (Strong) Ivey. The mother's birth occurred in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, and the father was a native of Mineral Point, Iowa county, Wisconsin. He was a contractor and builder and is still active along that line, now making his home in Le Mars, Iowa. He has held various local offices and has been prominent in community affairs. He has reached the age of sixty-nine years, his birth having occurred in 1846, while his wife, who was born in 1853, is now sixty-two years of age.

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John W. Ivey was the fourth in a family of six children and following the removal of the family to Iowa attended school at Le Mars. Later he pursued a course in Highland Park and in the Des Moines Pharmaceutical School. He was a youth of but sixteen when he started out to earn a living, after which his time was divided between the effort to provide for his own support and attendance at school. When compelled to put aside his textbooks he secured a clerkship in a drug store in Le Mars, lowa, where he remained for six years. He afterward spent one year in the automobile business at Remsen, Iowa, with his father- in-law and still later went to Moville, Iowa, where he engaged in the hardware business in connection with his brother-in-law, conducting that store for a year. On the expiration of that period he removed to Gettysburg, South Dakota, and purchased the business of which he is now the head. He has since conducted the store and today has the largest exclusive hardware and harness store in the county, carrying an extensive line of shelf and heavy hardware, and devoting his undivided attention to the business, with the result that his efforts are bringing him a gratifying annual return.

On the 4th of June, 1912, Mr. Ivey was married to Miss Vera H. Scott, who was born in Forest City, Iowa, a daughter of T. P. and Dora (Keisby) Scott, both of whom were natives of Germany and came to the new world in early life. The father is now engaged in the real-estate and land business in Remsen, Iowa, being still active in that field of labor.

Fraternally Mr. Ivey is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Rebekahs and the Elks. In politics he is a progressive republican and his religious faith is that of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is justly accounted one of the valued citizens of his community, for it is well known that he stands for those things which are most worth while for the individual and the state. His business affairs have been wisely conducted and the methods which he has followed in the conduct of his trade are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.

MILLARD T. THOMPSON.

Millard T. Thompson is the proprietor of a livery and dray business at Buffalo Gap, where he also deals in coal, feed and ice. He has wisely utilized his time and opportunities in the conduet of his business affairs and is meeting with a substantial measure of success that is the direct result of his persistency of purpose and his industry. He was born near St. Jacobs, Illinois, on the 5th of June, 1872, a son of Parisa A. and Lenora (Adams) Thomp- son, who were likewise natives of Illinois. In early life the father engaged in merchandising at St. Jacobs and also carried on agricultural pursuits in Illinois. In 1888 he brought his family to South Dakota, settling three miles southwest of Buffalo Gap upon a ranch, whereon he devoted his attention to farming and stock-raising. There he resided for eight years, at the end of which time he removed to Buffalo Gap and his death occurred soon afterward. He had engaged in the draying business and also in the eoal trade. At the time of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for aid, enlisting as a private in the One Hun- dred and Seventeenth Illinois Regiment, with which he served for three years, during which time he was never wounded nor confined in a hospital. His widow survives him and now resides in Buffalo Gap.

Millard T. Thompson was a twin, his brother, however, being deceased. There are four living children in the father's family. Mr. Thompson attended school at Emerald Mound, near Lebanon, Illinois, and at the age of sixteen years came to South Dakota with his par- ents, so that he has long been an interested witness of the development and progress of the state. At the age of eighteen years he engaged in railroad work on the Northwestern Rail- road at Buffalo Gap and was thus employed for about three years. He then purchased a store at that place and conducted the business with growing success for about seventeen years. Later he purchased the livery and draying business in which he is now engaged. He owns a large livery barn containing a number of good horses and fine vehicles and is suc- cessfully managing the business so that it returns to him a gratifying annual income. He is also engaged in the coal, feed and ice trade and he is the owner of land in South Dakota situated two miles from Buffalo Gap. He operates that as a stock ranch, having altogether about five hundred acres and a lease on two thousand five hundred acres. He devotes most

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of his time to his livery and fuel business, however, and has secured a liberal patronage, for his business methods commend him to the confidence and support of the general public.

In June, 1902, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Rose Fallon, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of Hammond and Ellen (Ferguson) Fallon, who removed to Hay Springs, Nebraska. at an early day, the father there becoming the owner of a ranch. He served as a soldier of the Civil war and was always a public-spirited citizen. With his family he removed to South Dakota, settling at Buffalo Gap, where his remaining days were passed, and his widow now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. The latter have become the parents of one child, Donald Victor, born March 14, 1903.

Mr. Thompson is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He has served as township assessor for two years and at the present writing is serving as a member of the town board. He attends the Baptist church and his life is guided by high and honorable principles which have made him a rep- resentative business man and a valued resident of Custer county.

WILLIAM F. REINARD.

William F. Reinard, who established and has since published the Hermosa Hustler, was born at South Durham, New York, August 1, 1863, a son of James H. and Phoebe J. (Secor) Reinard, also natives of the Empire state. The father was born near the Hudson valley and his parents were pioneers in the Mohawk valley. He always followed the occu- pation of farming and he died in New York in 1863, a few months before the birth of his son, William F. His wife was a native of Elmira, New York, and after the death of her husband she married William A. Chariton. In October, 1875, they went to Jackson county, Wisconsin, settling near Black River Falls, and after three years removed to Spencer, Marathon county, where Mrs. Cbariton passed away on the 17th of March, 1903.

William F. Reinard was the youngest of five children. He attended school at Cairo, New York, and at Neillsville, Wisconsin, where he became a high-school pupil. At the age of sixteen he began working for others in Wisconsin and afterward again attended school. He continued in the employ of others until 1884, when he secured a preemption claim in Wheeler county, Nebraska, and took up his abode in that district, where he taught school for four years. He then engaged in the newspaper business at Bartlett, Nebraska, for about a year, after which he continued in the same line at Spalding, that state, for two years. He then went to Missouri, settling at Collins, St. Clair county, where he remained for two years. While there he published The Kollins Kicker. In the spring of 1893 he removed to the Black Hills and worked for others while looking for a location. In July of that year he went to Pierre, where he worked on the Fair Play and on the Journal, but in October he went back to Wisconsin and was married. The following year he returned to the Black Hills, settling at Viewfield, where he established the Elk Valley Eagle, con- tinuing its publication until 1898. He then went to Keystone, where he revived the old Keystone Miner, continuing there until November, 1905, when he located in Hermosa and established the Hermosa Hustler, a weekly journal, which he has since published, making it one of the live, bright, readable and interesting journals of his section of the state. Mr. Reinard is also engaged to some extent in the real-estate business, owning property at Hermosa, including a number of lots and the business block in which he publishes hix paper. He likewise holds stock in a number of mines and the varied and important nature of his business makes heavy demands upon his time.

On the 7th of April, 1894, Mr. Reinard was united in marriage to Mrs. Rosa May (Brooks) Scofield, a native of Sparta, Wisconsin, and a daughter of Samuel and Nancy Miranda (Houghteling) Brooks, the former a native of New York and the latter of Jef- ferson county, Wisconsin. The father was a stationary engineer and also a carpenter and builder. He died at Spencer, Wisconsin, February 24, 1904, but his widow still resides in that place. He was a soldier of the Civil war, serving as a private for nine or ten months as a member of Company 1, Forty-ninth Regiment of Wisconsin Volunteers. He was never wounded and although ill was never confined in a hospital. Mrs. Reinard was the second in order of birth in a family of four children. She first became the wife of Albert Byron

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM F. REINARD

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Scofield and to them was born a son, Hiram Arthur, who is a blacksmith by trade and now resides with Mr. and Mrs. Reinard.

Politically Mr. Reinard is a republican and served as township clerk and as justice of the peace while in Nebraska, but he is not an aspirant for office, preferring to con- centrate his energies upon his business affairs, which are carefully directed. Whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own labors and constitutes a fitting crown of his well directed activities.

EDWIN BALDWIN.

Edwin Baldwin, busily engaged in farming on section 18, Wentworth township, Lake county, was born in Wisconsin on the 5th of March, 1848, a son of Jesse and Sophia (Hunt) Baldwin. The father was a bricklayer in England, his native country, where he remained until 1838, when he came to the United States. Two years afterward he settled in Wiscon- sin, where his remaining days were passed.

Edwin Baldwin was educated in the public schools of Wisconsin and when his text- books were put aside he worked upon the home farm and afterward was employed as a farm hand in the neighborhood. In 1880 he came to Dakota territory and homesteaded on section 18. Wentworth township, Lake county, adding to his original tract by subsequent purchase until he is now the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land, which he is cultivating with the assistance of his sons. He has led a busy, active and useful life and the result of his untiring labors is seen in the excellent appearance of his fields, which bring forth substantial crops annually.

On the 20th of January, 1874, Mr. Baldwin was married to Miss Ella Frances Austin, a daughter of Isaac Austin, of New York, and to them have been born eight children: Ava, who died at the age of twenty-nine years; Isaac, who follows farming; Grace, the wife of I. W. Hare; Clarence, at home; Arthur James, living in Madison, South Dakota; Sadie, the wife of Lewis Johnson; Merton, a farmer; and Bessie, who resides at Inwood, Iowa. There are also eight grandchildren.

Mr. Baldwin is a Protestant in his religious belief and in politics is independent. He has served on the township board since territorial days and has done effective work in the interests of education as a member of the school board. He believes in the good roads movement and is interested in all the various plans and projects for the development and upbuilding of the state. His own labors have aided in winning for South Dakota her reputa- tion as a great agricultural state. He has converted wild land into productive fields and has made all of the improvements upon his homestead, becoming, with the passing of the years, one of the well known and prosperous farmers of Lake county.

CHARLES LIDEL.

Charles Lidel is a resident farmer of Lake county, his home being situated on section 34, Wentworth township. He is among the substantial citizens that Germany has furnished to this part of the state. His birth occurred in the fatherland on the 9th of August, 1862, his parents being Carl and Paulina (Wittich) Lidel, both of whom are now deceased. The father devoted his life to merchandising.

In the schools of Germany Charles Lidel pursued his education and afterward assisted his father in the store for a year but at the end of that time turned his attention to farm- ing, which he followed until he came to the United States in April, 1881, when a youth of about nineteen. He made his way first to Minnesota, where he remained until 1883, and then removed to Mitchell, South Dakota. He first homesteaded land near Pukwana, where he remained for ten years, and on the expiration of that period he removed to Lake county, where he rented a farm. He afterward purchased one-half of section 34, township 160, range 35, and is now cultivating that tract of land of three hundred and twenty acres with the

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assistance of his sons. All of the improvements upon the place have been made by him and indicate his practical methods and his progressive spirit. He is quite extensively engaged in stock-raising and now has on hand one hundred and eight head of sheep, forty head of cat- tle and eighteen head of horses. In both branches of his business he has won success, which has come as the reward of close application, unfaltering industry, indefatigable energy and honorable dealing.

On the 16th of November, 1885, Mr. Lidel married Miss Mary Beyer, a daughter of John Beyer, of Wisconsin, and to them have been born the following named, Carl, Fred, Robert, Alvin, Paul, John, Herman, Ann, Edith, Alice and Lillian. The daughter Ann is now engaged in nursing.

The religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran church. The political views of Mr. Lidel are in harmony with the principles of the republican party and he has served on the township board and does all in his power to promote the success of his party. He has also been a member of the school board and believes in providing excellent educational privileges, thereby preparing the young for the practical and responsible duties of life. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow and a Woodman. Lake county numbers him among its wide- awake, alert and progressive business men and citizens. He does not concentrate his efforts solely upon his individual interests, but is ever ready and willing to aid and cooperate in efforts for the benefit of the community. He indorses the good roads movement and he believes in all those things which will work not only for the immediate benefit but also for the future development of the county and state.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 74

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