History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 8

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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Dr. and Mrs. Ramsey have three children, namely: Paul Young, Mary Lurene and Philip Bruee. The mother is a graduate of the musical department of the Iowa Wesleyan University at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and accomplished in both vocal and instrumental music. She takes a prominent part in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church and for six years has had charge of its ehoir.

Dr. Ramsey is president of the Auto Club of Salem and also acts as chief executive officer of the Chautauqua Association and president of the leeture course. Fraternally he is identi- fied with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Salem Lodge, No. 106. He has wisely used time and talents for the benefit of others as well as the promotion of his own interests, and his worth is acknowledged by all who know him.

OLE T. NESSAN.

Ole T. Nessan is now busily engaged in general farming, his home being in Mapleton township, where he is eultivating the farm upon which his father settled upon his arrival in South Dakota. It was upon this farm that Ole T. Nessan was born on the 15th of November, 1873, his parents being Tosten and Ingeberg Nessan. On leaving his native land of Norway Tosten Nessan crossed the Atlantic and established his home in Minnesota, where he resided for three years. On the expiration of that period he came to South Dakota in 1870 and secured a homestead claim on seetion 4, township 102, range 49, which he at once began to

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

cultivate and develop, transforming it into rich fields. He added to the place until within its boundaries it comprised two hundred and forty acres, and his son Ole T. Nessan has pur- chased'another tract of eighty acres, so that the farm today comprises three hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land. The parents crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel which was forty-nine days in completing the voyage. It was a hope of improving his financial condition that led the father to come to the new world and as the years have passed by he has lived to see the fulfillment of his hope. For a while he was forced to endure the hardships and privations of pioneer life in South Dakota but he continued his efforts year after year until a substantial return rewarded his labors. When he proved up his claim he had to walk to Vermillion to secure title to his property. Both he and his wife are now living and he has reached the age of seventy-six years, while she is seventy years old. They have five living children, all of whom are in South Dakota, and two have passed away.

On the old homestead farm Ole T. Nessan spent his youthful days and the public schools of the county afforded him his educational opportunities. He was early trained to farm work, becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the erops. When not in the schoolroom he worked in the fields and after his education was completed he concentrated his energies entirely upon farm work. At the present time he is actively engaged in the further development of the old homestead, relieving his father of further labor in this direction, so that Tosten Nessan is now living retired. The present highly cultivated appearance of the place is due to the son, who is progressive in all his methods and so prac- tical in all that he undertakes that his work is well managed and a substantial annual return is his. In addition to his other interests Mr. Nessan is vice president of the Farmers Cooper- ative Elevator Company of Baltic and is a stockholder of the Farmers Lumber Company, also of Baltic. Stock-raising is an important feature of his farm and he now has forty head of cat- tle and sixty head of hogs upon his place. He has the latest improved machinery to facilitate farm work and his crops show that he thoroughly understands scientific methods of tilling the soil.

On the 18th of April, 1893, Mr. Nessan was married to Miss Lena Oyan, a daughter of Jens and Mary Oyan. Three children have been born of this union, Inez Madaline, Johnnie Teller and Lilly Judella. The parents hold membership in the Lutheran church and are interested in all that pertains to the moral progress of the community. Mr. Nessan votes with the republican party and keeps in touch with the leading questions and vital issnes of the day, so that he is able to support his position by intelligent argument. He belongs to the Modern Brotherhood of America. He has been township treasurer for thirteen years and is still the incumbent in that office and was formerly for five years treasurer of the school district. He stands for all that means advancement and improvement for the individual and for the community and he is a splendid representative of that class of progressive Nor- wegian farmers who have been instrumental in developing the northwest. He has always lived in this county and that his life has been well spent is indicated in the fact that many of the acquaintances of his youth are today numbered among his stanchest friends.

J. C. DEXTER.

J. C. Dexter has been actively and successfully identified with mercantile interests in Huron for several years, having opened a well appointed dry-goods store here in 1903. He was born in Canada on the 22d of September, 1874, and is a son of Thomas and Mary (Foulds) Dexter, natives of England. The father is deceased, but the mother is still living and makes her home in Winnipeg. Our subject acquired his education in the public schools and at Central College of Stratford, Ontario.

After putting aside his text-hooks Mr. Dexter secured employment in a dry-goods store in Ohio and there remained until 1903, when he went to Kenosha, Wisconsin. From there he proceeded to Chicago and after a short time spent at his home in Canada came to Huron, South Dakota. Here he embarked in business on his own account as a dry-goods merchant, buying the old M. Booth establishment, which he conducted for a short time under the name of Booth & Dexter, although he was the sole proprietor. In 1905 the name was changed to J. C. Dexter and the business moved to its present location on the 1st of September, that

J. C. DEXTER

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

year. In three years' time the business was trebled and he is now nearly doubling his floor space, intending to enlarge his stock. This will give him one of the largest ladies', misses' and children's ready-to-wear departments in the state. He carries an attractive and com- plete line of dry-goods besides ready-to-wear clothes, and is accorded a very liberal and gratifying patronage because of his reasonable prices, fair dealing and unassailable integrity. In connection with his other business he is a stockholder in the Huron Creamery.

In 1900 Mr. Dexter was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Ward, of Kenosha, Wis- consin, by whom he has three sons: Edward C., Joseph W. and Gerald S., all at home. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is identified fraternally with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. He is well known and esteemed in both business and social circles of Huron and has exemplified the highest stand- ards of manhood and citizenship in the varied relations of life.

NORMAN D. WHITE.

The hardships and privations of pioneer life have long since become a thing of the past, but it is within the memory of many residents of Yankton county that the early settlers were struggling with conditions that would have proved utterly disheartening to men of less resolute spirit and determination, but the pioneer settlers were made of sturdy stuff and they overcame the many obstacles which they met and as the years have passed have here builded a great commonwealth. Among those whose memory compasses the period of pioneer life in Yankton county is Norman D. White, who is now successfully following farming on section 34, Mission Hill township, that county.

The White family is one of the best known in the southern part of Yankton county. Their ancestry is traced back to Elder John White and his wife, Mary, who sailed in the ship Lyon in June, 1632, and landed at Boston on Sunday, the 16th of September. Repre- sentatives of the family have been prominent in public affairs in the various localities in which they have lived. John White, father of Norman D. White, was born in Jamestown, New York, on the banks of the Chautauqua lake in 1826 and in the '40s removed westward to Illinois, securing a farm in Jo Daviess county on the state line near Scales Mound. While there he married Henrietta Phelps, also a representative of an early colonial family, descended from James Phelps, who was born in Tewksbury, England, in 1520. His son William, born about 1560, came with his wife, Dorothy, and their children to America when an old man on the vessel Mary and John, landing at Hull, near Boston, in 1630, and after- ward removing to Dorchester. He was the progenitor of a large number of those in America today who hear the name of Phelps. John White, having been induced to come to Dakota and buy land, made his way to Yankton and soon afterward purchased the Todd farm on James river east of the city of Yankton in the fall of 1880. After the flood of the following spring he could not have borrowed five hundred dollars on the entire farm, land having so greatly depreciated in the flood district.

The first of the family to move to the Dakota farm was the eldest son, Thomas White, who came to the territory a few weeks after the waters of the flood had receded and began the strennous task of bringing order out of chaos. He reached Sioux City June 11, 1881, and found the railroad washed out almost the entire distance from that point to Yankton, while the wagon roads were in such a state that they could not be traversed by teams. He was compelled to cross the river at that point, travel the bluff roads through Nebraska and recross into Dakota at Yankion, then double back to the James river ferry from there. With resolute spirit he began the development of the home farm. The half section had been divided into five fields and fenced with boards nailed upon cedar posts, but of all the miles of fence barely forty posts remained after the flood. The new corn crib which had been built by Mr. White in the fall in which he purchased the farm was carried a half mile down stream and most of the lumber was stolen before Thomas White conld arrive upon the scene. Only fifty-five acres of the farm were under cultivation, but this amount Thomas White rapidly increased and he likewise brought under cultivation the Erickson tract to the north, which was later added to the original purchase, the two tracts being developed into one of the finest farms in the James river valley.

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

Thomas White continued to live alone upon the farm until the spring of 1884, when his sister Delia, now Mrs. William C. Coulson, came to Dakota and kept house for him until the others of the family joined them. The father sold his farm in Illinois in February, 1885, and on the 6th of April of that year started with his family for the northwest. They reached their destination four days later and liere Mr. White added to the original purchase until his landed possessions amounted to about thirteen hundred acres. He erected a large commodious dwelling, ample barns, sheds, eribs and other outbuildings, transforming his place into what was then one of the best improved farms of the territory. Mr. White passed away in 1897 and the mother's demise occurred in 1912.

Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. John White, five now live in Yankton county. Thomas, the eldest of the children, was, as previously stated, the first of the family to come to Dakota. He remained upon the home farm until after his father's death and later began farming on his own account. He now owns a fine farm on the east bank of the James river three miles below the steel bridge. Cecil, the second, was the last of the family to come to Dakota. He was engaged in mercantile pursuits in Illinois and Wisconsin until 1894, when he joined the others of the family in Yankton. He purchased a few acres from his father at the east end of the James river bridge and engaged in merchandising there. He also owns a fine farm nearby. Delia joined her brother Thomas in 1884, keeping house for him until the remainder of the family came to the territory. She is now the wife of William C. Coulson, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. Norman D. and Addie, now the wife of William Van Eps, came to Dakota in 1885 with their parents.

Norman D. White was born at Scales Mound, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, August 2, 1863. Except for a year's visit at the home of a cousin in New York, his entire life has been spent in Illinois and Dakota. He was a young man of about twenty-two years when the family removed to this state.

On the 16th of April, 1904, he was united in marriage to Miss Blanche Hill, a native of Beresford, South Dakota, and a daughter of Rufus A. and Emma (Hatch) Hill. Mrs. White passed away November 24, 1913, leaving two children, Madras and Noble.

The home farm of Norman D. White comprises two hundred and twenty acres of rich and arable land and he also has an interest in three hundred acres of his father's farm. He has ever been an energetic, industrious agriculturist and employs the most modern methods in tilling his fields and producing his crops. His work has been attended with a substantial measure of success and his energy and capability place him with the leading agriculturists of his community. Fraternally he is well known as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Order of Eagles and the Knights of the Maccabees. He now has a wide acquaintance in Yankton county and that part of the state and his friends are many.

JAMES A. BALL.

James A. Ball is capably filling the office of register of deeds, the duties of which posi- tion he assumed in January. 1915. He was born in Cambridge, Story county, Iowa, July 17, 1857. a son of Thomas A. and Serilda (Ballard) Ball, the former born in Carroll county, Indiana, December 30, 1835, and the latter in Illinois, May 2, 1836. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, removed to Iowa and settled in Story county. where he became a landowner, continuing the cultivation of his fields there until 1866, when he went with his family to Nebraska, establishing his home near Lincoln. Nebraska was at that time a terri- tory. He proved up the homestead, upon which he lived for about seven or eight years and then removed to Saunders county near Valparaiso, Nebraska, where he remained until 1878. At the end of that time he took up his abode in Thayer county. In 1881 he went to Superior, Nebraska, and thence came to the Black Hills, settling at Minnekahta. where he lived prac- tically retired with a daughter. He is now living at the Soldiers' Home in Hot Springs. lle loyally defended his country during the Civil war as a member of an Iowa regiment. Il's wife passed away in Edgemont. South Dakota. in 1902.

James A. Ball attended the public schools near Lincoln. Nebraska, and at the age of eighteen years started out to make his own way in the world. working as a farm hand and in other capacities until February, 1879, when he removed to Furnas county, Nebraska,

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

securing a claim near Beaver City. There he resided for five years, at the end of which time he sold his property and took up his abode in Nuckolls county, Nebraska, residing on a farm there through one season. The year 1885 witnessed his arrival in Fall River county, South Dakota. He settled at Cascade, where he engaged in ranching, farming and in the live-stock business, making his home at that place until he removed to Hot Springs after his election to the office of county register of deeds. He had never left the ranch previous to that time after first locating thereon. He operates a half section of ranch land and the labor he has bestowed upon the place has led to its substantial development and improve- ment, making his ranch one of the valuable properties of the county.

Mr. Ball has been twice married. On the 8th of September, 1880, he wedded Miss Ida M. Hollett, who was born in Illinois, a daughter of William K. and Maria (Angel) Hollett, both of whom have passed away. Mrs. Ball died on the 30th of July, 1904. There were ten children born of that marriage: Bertha, the wife of D. J. Walker, a rancher of Ardmore, South Dakota; Myrtle, the wife of Peter E. Danks, who is engaged in ranching near Edge- mont : Mcclellan, who married Miss Anna Bowman and resides on a ranch near Cascade; Cora, the wife of Henry Plumb, a ranchman of Arvado, Wyoming; Edward, who is engaged in the transfer business in Edgemont; Warner, who is conducting his father's ranch and resides at Cascade; Inez, the wife of Frank Wilson, an engineer of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, living at Alliance, Nebraska; Marie, who is attending high school; Orphie, also in school; and Lyle, who is living with Mrs. Danks and attends school. On the 7th of February, 1906, Mr. Ball was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Lucy L. Hawn, a daughter of S. B. and Martha A. Sherman. Mrs. Ball was born at Boone, Iowa, and accompanied her parents to Nebraska and thence to Cascade, where she became the wife of Mr. Ball. Her father is now deceased, but her mother resides in Hot Springs. Mrs. Ball had been previously married and by that marriage there were three children: William B., now deceased; Ruth S., residing in Sioux City, Iowa; and Richard, who is attending the State Normal School at Spearfish and resides with Mr. and Mrs. Ball.

Mr. Ball has always been a democrat in his political views sinee age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He never sought nor held office, however, until he consented to become the candidate for register of deeds, to which position he was elected in January, 1915. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and honorable and upright principles have guided him in all of his relations with his fellowmen.

OLUF O. GILSETH.

Oluf O. Gilseth, a representative and enterprising agricnlturist of Mapleton township, Minnehaha county, has always remained on the farm where he was born and has won pros- perity in its operation. His birth occurred on the 30th of August, 1870, his parents being Ole and Anna (Moe) Gilseth, who emigrated to the United States in 1865 and first made their way to Goodhue county, Minnesota. The following year they came to South Dakota, homesteading the place which is now being operated by our subject and subsequently pur- chasing an adjoining tract of eighty acres. Ole Gilseth, who was born November 18, 1844, still survives at the age of seventy years, but his wife has passed away. He was one of the first settlers in his section of the state and has witnessed its growth and development for nearly a half century, still taking an active and helpful interest in matters pertaining to the general welfare.

Oluf O. Gilseth attended the country schools in the acquirement of an education and after putting aside his textbooks assisted his father in the work of the home farm. In 1902 the property was turned over to him by his father, and he has improved and has operated the same continuously to the present time. The place is well appointed in every particular, and modern machinery facilitates the work of the fields. Mr. Gilseth owns thirty head of cattle and has won a well merited measure of success in his undertakings as an agriculturist, heing widely recognized as a progressive and prosperous citizen.

On the 26th of September, 1896, Mr. Gilseth was united in marriage to Miss Louisa M. Thompson, her parents being John and Christina Thompson, the former now deceased. To this union have been born four children, as follows, Amy, Julia, Stephen and Bessie.

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

Mr. Gilseth is a republican in politics and served for nine years as supervisor, while he has also been connected with the school board as clerk and treasurer. He is a Lutheran in religious faith and is a man of domestic tastes who finds his greatest content in the home and home ties. As an upright, honorable citizen he enjoys the respect and esteem of the people of the community in which his entire life has been spent.

JOHN L. LOCKHART.

The business record of John L. Lockhart, of Pierre, in the field of real-estate and invest- ments is a most creditable one and has constituted an element of prosperity for the city as well as a source of individual success. Mr. Lockhart is a native of Portage, Columbia county, Wisconsin, born April 17, 1856. His parents, John and Agnes (Gray) Lockhart, were natives of Scotland and, leaving the land of hills and heather, in 1852 became residents of Wisconsin, where the father still resides but the mother passed away in March, 1901.

John Lockhart was reared upon his father's farm in his native county, where he attended the district schools. His educational opportunities were somewhat limited but in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons and from the activities and conditions of life he has drawn correct conclusions. When twenty-four years of age he became fore- man in a logging camp, operating in Wisconsin for two years. In 1882 he arrived in Dakota territory, settling in Clark county, where he secured a homestead and preemption claim, remaining thereon for a year. He then removed to Milbank, Grant county, where he engaged in the hardware business, successfully conducting that enterprise for a number of years. He never falters in the pursuit of a persistent purpose and his determination and energy have enabled him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken.

Mr. Lockhart has long been active politically and his patriotic citizenship and ability have received recognition in election to public office. In 1894 he was chosen commissioner of school and public lands for the state of South Dakota and in that year removed to Pierre, where he has since made his home. He proved a capable official, retiring from the position as he had entered it-with the confidence and goodwill of all, and in 1899 he embarked in general merchandising, in which he continued until 1906. Since that time he has engaged in the real-estate and investment business and has established a large clientele. Ile has been instrumental in inducing many settlers to come to his part of the state and securing for them favorable locations. He is thoroughly acquainted with real-estate values, knows the property that is upon the market and is thus able to successfully handle the interests of his many clients.

In 1909 Mr. Lockhart was appointed register of the United States land office at Pierre and served in that office until August, 1913. He again became an active factor in politics, when, at the spring primaries in March, 1914, he was chosen chairman of the republican state central committee and in that connection successfully conducted the following cam- paign. His political record prior to his removal to the capital city is an interesting one and worthy of high commendation. In 1889, while a resident of Milbank, he was elected clerk of the courts of Grant county and was three times reelected. In the spring of 1893, while away from home his party, the republican, nominated him for mayor of Milbank and he proved to be the successful candidate at the polls. He wisely administered municipal affairs in that city for one term but refused a reelection. During the famous fight for the capital in 1904. in which Pierre sought to remain the capital city, Mr. Lockhart's activities were of such an important character that at the close of the campaign the citizens of Pierre presented him with a beautiful solid gold watch and chain, suitably inscribed, in recognition of his serv- ices, and this is today probably his proudest possession. His efforts, whether in behalf of his private interests or of the public have always been wisely directed. He possesses the faculty of viewing a question from every possible standpoint and thus arriving at a correct conclusion. His worth is widely acknowledged and his fellow townsmen entertain for him the highest regard.

On the 1st of December, 1885, Mr. Lockhart was united in marriage to Miss Delilah C. Burman, a daughter of William and' Eliza (Russell) Burman, of Grant county, South Dakota. Their children are four in number, namely: John B., William H., Margaret E. and Grace G.

JOHN L. LOCKHART

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA

Mr. Lockhart holds membership with the Knights of Pythias and is a past chancellor com- mander of the lodge at Milbank. He has also been a member of the grand lodge of the state and is a member of the grand lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is also a member of Huron Lodge, No. 444, B. P. O. E. The republican party numbers him among its most loyal and stalwart advocates and he has done everything in his power to advance its interests and secure its success. In matters of citizenship he is ever public-spirited and progressive and he cooperates heartily in every movement for the benefit and upbuilding of the capital and of the commonwealth. He helongs to that class of men who have been the architects and builders of their own fortunes. Starting out empty-handed, he has utilized energy, industry and honesty as weapons in winning the victory which has come to him in the business world.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 8

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