History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 93

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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In 1905 Dr. R. R. Stevenson was married to Miss Emile Frances Avery, of Chicago, a lady of rare intelligence and culture. Dr. Stevenson is a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Mac- cabees. He is very public-spirited and eager to support and assist any movement for the betterment of city and state but is absolutely devoid of political aspirations. He has always had unvarying faith in the future of South Dakota, as shown by his large investments in lands in this state.

After all, proficiency in their specialty has been the only ambition of the Drs. Steven- son, both of whom stand high professionally and otherwise. They are constantly studying along their special line, thus broadening their knowledge and promoting their efficiency, and their opinions concerning diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat and their treatment are accepted as authority by members of the medical profession in this part of the country.

JOHN C. JOHNSON.

John C. Johnson, a resident farmer of Minnehaha county, following modern methods in the tilling of the soil and the care of the crops, is today the owner of a valuable and well improved tract of land. He was born in Sweden on the 25th of March, 1870, and is a son of Carl and Petronella Johnson, the former also a farmer by occupation. The father, while identified with agricultural interests in his native country, felt that he might have still better opportunities in the new world and in 1875 made arrangements to leave Sweden and cross the Atlantic. Accompanied by his family, he sailed for New York and thence made his way to Pennsylvania. He removed to Wisconsin in 1878 and after seven years' residence in that state came to South Dakota in 1885. Here he purchased a quarter section of land and also rented other property, carefully and persistently carrying on his farm work to the time of his death, August 8, 1905.

Under the parental roof John C. Johnson spent his early boyhood and accompanied his parents on their various removals, heing a youth of fifteen when the family arrived in South Dakota, where he grew to manhood. When he started out in business life on his own account he was the possessor of only a team and wagon. He rented land and continued thus to carry on farming until his labors had brought him capital sufficient to enable him to pur- chase property. His first purchase of one hundred and sixty acres was made for thirty dollars per acre. He paid two hundred dollars down, which was all he had, but as time passed he won success and soon had his farm clear of all financial incumbrance. Five years ago he purchased an additional eighty acres at seventy-five dollars per acre, so that he now has a good farm property of two hundred and forty acres, from which he derives a sub- stantial annual income. He raises the cereals hest adapted to soil and climate and annually gathers good crops. He also runs about thirty-five head of cattle and one hundred head of hogs and his stock-raising is an important and profitable feature of his place. He has all modern equipments and accessories npon his farm, including an elevator, substantial build- ings and the latest improved machinery. He is today a substantial agriculturist, his labors having brought to him a richly merited competence.

On the 3d of November, 1900, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Nettie Nichol- son, a daughter of Nichols and Elna Johnson, who came from Sweden to the United States in 1885, settling in South Dakota, but both are now deceased. On March 10, 1915, Mrs. Johnson died, after having been ill for several years. To Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born two children, Elna, born November 3, 1902; and Carl, born February 6, 1908. Mr. Johnson belongs to the Lutheran church, fraternally he is a Mason, and his political indorsement is given to the republican party. He is a member of the school board and is acting as secretary Vol. V-34

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of that body. He greatly enjoys all outdoor sports, including hunting and fishing, in which he indulges when he has leisure. He takes great interest in South Dakota and is a believer in its future, recognizing the possibilities that are before the state and its people. He has lived within its borders since 1885 and has witnessed many notable and remarkable changes in the interval of thirty years. In community affairs he is a eooperant factor along all lines which work for the benefit and upbuilding of the section. Moreover, his business record is a most creditable one and should serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others, showing what may be accomplished when determination and energy lead the way.

REV. JOHN A. KREBS.

Rev. John A. Krebs is the zealous and popular pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church at Zell, Faulk county, and fills in his community the high place given to members of the clergy who prove themselves worthy of their office. He was born on the 7th of July, 1861, in New York, a son of James and Mary (Raber) Krebs. The father died in Mareb, 1882, and was buried in New York. The mother resides with the subject of this review, who is the eldest of ten children, the others being: Mary, the wife of August Welher, a brass finisher of New York; Kate, who married Harry Boyd, chief engineer of the Edison Electric Company of New York; Adelaide, the wife of John Rauschkolb, a resident of New York; Anna, who is residing with our subject; and James, Joseph, Charles, Helen and Eva, all of whom died in infancy and are buried in Holy Trinity cemetery in New York.

Father Krebs entered the Christian Brotherhood at Westchester, New York, in 1877, and labored as teacher for seventeen years, teaching in Baltimore, Philadelphia and at Drexel Institute, Eddington, Pennsylvania. His Philadelphia pupils received a first class diploma at the World's Fair for pupils' work. In 1894 he entered the Apostolic College at Watertown, New York, in preparation for holy Orders. He completed his theological studies at the Capuchin monastery in Brooklyn, New York, at which place he was ordained for the diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1904. His first parish was at Bowdle, where be remained for six years, building in that time a residence that was a credit to the congregation. He was then sent to Kranzburg and was pastor there for two years. Upon leaving that place he took charge of St. Mary's church at Zell and although he has only been there a compar- atively short time has gained the affection of his people and the sincere respeet and good- will of the community at large. He is conscientious in the performance of the many and varied duties that fall upon a priest and there are many who have been strengthened and comforted by his ministrations. While his first concern is for the spiritual welfare of his congregation he does not underestimate material things and has proved not only zealous in the discharge of his purely religious duties but also wise and judicious in the management of the financial affairs of the church. His service has been of such a character that he has not only gained honor for himself but also for the great church which he represents.

ALFRED ANDERSON.

Among the enterprising and prosperous agriculturists of Minnehaha county, South Dakota, is numbered Alfred Anderson, who owns and operates a farm of three hundred and twenty acres on seetion 17. Lyons township. He is a native of the land of the midnight sun, of Swedish parents, his birth having oceurred in Norway on the 15th of October, 1853. His parents, Elias and Catherine (Olson) Anderson, emigrated to the United States in 1867. locating in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where they resided for about nine years, the father working as a day laborer. In 1876, Elias Anderson removed to Minnehaha county, South Dakota, taking up a homestead in section 24, Grand Meadow township, on which he settled. Susbequently he took up a timber claim which he later transferred to one of his sons. His demise, which occurred on the homestead property in 1897, when he had attained the age of sixty-five years, was deeply mourned by a large circle of friends as well as his immediate family. His wife had passed away ten years before.

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Alfred Anderson acquired what education he received in the parochial schools of his native country. He was a youth of thirteen at the time he accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. They were in straitened financial circumstances, and the son Alfred had become a wage earner in Norway when but nine years old, working for twelve cents a day. After coming to this country he was hired out to a neighboring farmer and his wages contributed to the support of the family. In 1874, on reaching his majority, he came to South Dakota-two years before the arrival of his parents, and here filed on a homestead which is his present home farm. He immediately located on his claim and has resided thereon continuously since, devoting his attention to general agricultural pursuits with gratifying results. About two years after taking his homestead he filed on a timber claim which adjoins the home farm on the north, so that his holdings embrace three hundred and twenty acres. As an agriculturist he has won well merited success and has long been recognized as a substantial and representative citizen of Lyons township.

Mr. Anderson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for three years ably served as supervisor of his district. He is a member of the Lutheran synod and therein bas held the position of secretary for about twenty years, in which capacity he is still serv- ing. Through the long period of his residence in Minnehaha county, covering forty-one years, he has become widely and favorahly known. He has been an interested witness of all the changes which have occurred as the work of development and improvement has been carried forward and has been a cooperant factor in many movements which have worked for better- ment and advancement.

HON. BURNACE W. BAER.

Hon. Burnace W. Baer, county judge of Sanborn county and a resident of Woonsocket, was born at Ash Grove, Iowa, February 4, 1877. His father, William R. Baer, was a native of Iowa and a farmer by occupation. His father, Thomas Baer, was of old Pennsylvania- Dutch stock and became one of Iowa's pioneer settlers. William R. Baer died in the year 1889, while his wife, who was in her maidenhood Miss Alice Wonn, passed away in 1897. They were the parents of five children.

Burnace W. Baer, the second in order of birth, began his education at Harlan, Iowa, where he attended the grammar and high schools, while later he became a student in the Southern Iowa Normal College and afterward devoted three years to public school teaching. He next entered the State University of Iowa as a law student and was graduated with the class of 1900. He went to Woonsocket, South Dakota, in 1901 and there entered upon the active practice of his profession. In 1902 he was elected state's attorney for Sanborn county and occupied that position for four years. In 1906 he was chosen county judge, in which office he has served to the present time, and his course upon the bench has been characterized by a clear understanding of law and equity resulting in fair and impartial decisions. His fidelity to the highest standards of the profession led to his reelection and he has made an excellent record as a jurist.

In addition to serving upon the hench Judge Baer purchased a model stock farm near Woonsocket and is a successful breeder of registered Percheron horses. In fact, he is widely known in this connection and he is a member of the Percheron Society of America. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Sanborn County Fair Association and he was the originator and promoter of the hoys' corn contest in his county and has done much to stimulate a widespread interest in these contests, which are proving a valuable asset in promoting the corn-raising interests of the district. Few men in the county have done more or as much to secure the introduction of modern farm methods. He believes in rapid and substantial development along agricultural as well as other lines and realizes that the state has vast opportunities which should be utilized. For some years he has been active in the Farmers' Institute Association and is one of the state's most enthusiastic alfalfa advocates, experimenting and studying broadly in order to acquaint himself with the best methods of growing this crop.

On the 1st of June, 1904, was celebrated the marriage of Judge Baer and Miss Blanche E. Smith, a daughter of E. M. and Elizabeth (Greer) Smith, of whom mention is made else-

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where in this work. To Judge and Mrs. Baer have been born three sons: Ross Melvin, Donald Smith and Charles Wallace.

Judge Baer is a Mason and also holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America. He is one of the county's most highly respected officials and citizens and his labors along professional and various other lines have been of distinct value and worth to the community. He ever holds to high standards and never deviates from a course which he believes to be right until he has accomplished his purpose in that direction.

CHARLES H. COWGILL, M. D.

Dr. Charles H. Cowgill is a well known young physician of Iroquois who has there practiced his profession continuously since 1908. His birth occurred in Spring Valley, Minnesota, on the 2d of July, 1884, his parents heing the Rev. Frank and Ida Lillian (Hall) Cowgill, the former a Methodist minister who formerly served as district superintendent and is now pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Fresno, California.

Charles H. Cowgill acquired his early education in the graded and high schools and sub- sequently pursued a two years' collegiate course in Hamline University of St. Paul, Minnesota, of which institution his father was a trustee for a number of years. He obtained his pro- fessional training as a student in the medical department of Hamline University, which was later merged with the University of Minnesota, and received the degree of M. D. with the class of 1908. The same year he came to South Dakota, took the state examination and opened an office in Iroquois, where he has since remained, and enjoys an extensive and gratifying practice, his professional skill and ability being widely recognized. Moreover, his knowledge is being constantly broadened through the advantages which he enjoys as a member of the Sioux Valley Medical Society, the Third District Medical Society, the South Dakota State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.

In November, 1908, Dr. Cowgill was united in marriage to Miss Julia Tenney, a daughter of W. P. Tenney. They now have two children, Lois and Dorothy. Dr. Cowgill is a stanch republican in politics and an active worker in the local ranks of the party, serving as chair- man of the county central committee. He acted as president of the school board at the time of the erection of the new high-school building and has always done everything in his power to promote and advance the cause of education. He has likewise served as president of the Commercial Club and may well be classed with the popular, influential and public-spirited citizens of his community. His religious faith is that of the Methodist church, while fra- ternally he is identified with the Masons, being at present master of York Lodge, No. 53, A. F. & A. M. His genuine personal worth has won him high esteem, and in all relations of life he measures up to the full standard of honorable, upright manhood.

GUDMUND SKARTVEDT.

Gudmund Skartvedt, one of the well known and prosperous citizens of Canton, was born on the west coast of Norway, February 19, 1852. His father, Aage Skartvedt, came to America in 1853, locating in Winneshiek county, Iowa, where he remained until 1882, carrying on agricultural operations. In that year he came to South Dakota and settled in Canton, where he lived retired until his death, which occurred in 1899. He was a veteran of the Civil war, having served one year as a member of the Thirteenth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, sec- ing much active service with the army commanded by General Sherman. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Eli Atletvedt, passed away in 1912. She was married in Norway in 1846 and became the mother of eleven children, eight of whom grew to adult age and all of whom are residents of the United States.

Gudmund Skartvedt was the fourth in order of birth and was given good educational advantages, as he attended Luther College at Decorah, Iowa. He did not graduate, however, as he left school one year before completing his course in order to begin his active career. For five years he engaged in teaching school and then entered the real-estate and insurance

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business, which proved very successful and remunerative. He was also actively interested in farming and still owns valuable farm lands in Lincoln county. He is one of the representative men of Canton and in winning financial success for himself has also aided in the development of the county.

Mr. Skartvedt was married in 1891 to Miss Lisa Brandon, a native of Norway and a daughter of Peter Brandon, one of the first pioneers of South Dakota. Six children were born to this marriage as follows: Lajla E., Peter M., Ansgar K., deceased, Mozart H., Thor G., deceased, and Agnes E. T. The mother passed away when the youngest child was but an infant and Mr. Skartvedt was again married in 1896, Mrs. Vilhelmina D. (Hage) Oppen, becoming his wife. Five children were born to this marriage: Cornelius G., Olga E., Valborg G., Harold Frithjof, deceased, and Frida H. Mrs. Skartvedt is very active in church work, taking particular interest in the missionary societies of the church and in all charitable enterprises. She came to America when a girl of seventeen and has thoroughly identified herself with the spirit of her adopted land. Mr. Skartvedt is a devoted Lutheran and for nine years served on the board of trustees of the general church body. His political convic- tions in a large measure coincide with the policies of the progressive republicans, but he often votes independently, feeling that the qualifications of a candidate are of more importance than party lines. He has been a member of the schoolboard for a number of years and was for some time president thereof. For seven years he served on the city conncil of Canton, aiding in securing many ordinances which have proven beneficial to the city.

EDWARD BARBER.

Edward Barber, deceased, was a well known citizen of Onida, South Dakota. He was born near Rutland, Vermont, August 17, 1843, and when a child was taken to New York by his parents. He grew to manhood in that state and there followed agricultural pursnits until April, 1885, when he came to South Dakota, arriving in Blunt on the 12th of that month. He purchased a relinquishment on a claim adjoining Onida and resided there until 1904, when he sold the place and removed to a ranch near Okobojo. However, he returned to Onida about three years before his death, which occurred on the 9th of June, 1911. He was a stanch supporter of the republican party and held a number of township offices. In early manhood he married Miss Ella L. Miller, who was born in Middlebury, New York, December 8, 1848. and is still living, continning to make her home in Onida. By this union there were two children, Calvin F. and Francis S., both of whom are mentioned below.

CALVIN F. BARBER.

Calvin F. Barber, now serving his second term as recorder of Sully county, is a veteran of the Spanish-American war and is well known and highly esteemed in his community. He was born in Wyoming, Wyoming connty, New York, August 2. 1874, and was about eleven years of age when the family removed to South Dakota. He attended school in Onida and later was for five terms a student in Pierre College at Pierre under Dr. Blackburn. In 1892 he taught school in Fairbank township, Sully county, and in the following year went to Chicago, where he attended the World's Columbian Exposition. During the balance of that year he was employed in an abstract office at Onida, but in 1894 and 1895 he again gave his time to study. Upon leaving school he resumed the occupation of teaching, in which he continued until 1898. In that year he went to Sioux Falls and on the 1st of May enlisted in the First Regiment, Sonth Dakota Volunteer Cavalry, as a private for service in the Spanish- American war. He was with his command in the Philippines for eleven and a half months and was mustered out on the 5th of October, 1899, at San Francisco with the rank of corporal. He then returned to Onida and taught school for a time. In the spring of 1894 he removed to a ranch near Okobojo, where he engaged in stockraising until the spring of 1910. He next went to Idaho and Washington, but returned in 1911, in which year his father died. He was then made manager of a grain elevator at Agar, Sully county, and continned in that con-

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nection until he was elected register of deeds, when he removed to Onida, the county seat. His efficient discharge of the duties in that office led to his reelection and he is now serving his second term. He devotes his entire time to his work as recorder and his services are very satisfactory to his constituents. He owns property both in Agar and Onida.

Mr. Barber was married on the 1st of June, 1904, to Miss Vena B. Cass, who was born in Shenandoah, Iowa. Her father, George W. Cass, is a native of Vermont but removed to Whiteside county, Illinois, whence he enlisted during the Civil war in a regiment of Illi- nois Volunteer Cavalry, with which command he served for three years in the Union army. In 1883 he removed to South Dakota and located north of Onida in what is now Agar. About 1890 he went to Iowa but he is now living retired in Clinton, Illinois. His wife was in her maidenhood Miss Julia E. Marshall. To them were born four children, of whom Mrs. Barber is the third. Mr. and Mrs. Barber are the parents of three children: Earl Ward, whose birth occurred on the 30th of March, 1905; Julia M., born August 1, 1909; and Edward B., born August 13, 1912.

Mr. Barber is a stalwart republican and works loyally for the success of that party at the polls. His religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church and fraternally he belongs to the Masonic blue lodge at Onida, in which he is at present serving as junior guard, and to the Modern Brotherhood of America. Throughout his life he has manifested marked publie spirit which has found expression in work for the general good during the times of peace as well as in his military service. His friends are many and all who know him respect him sincerely.

FRANCIS S. BARBER.

Francis S. Barber, the efficient cashier of the Farmers Bank of Onida, was born in Middle- burg township, Wyoming county, New York, June 7, 1877, a son of Edward and Ella L. (Miller) Barber, further mention of whom appears in this work. He began his education in the public schools of New York state and completed it in South Dakota, attending the Onida schools for some time, after which he became a student in Huron College. He almost com- pleted a course in that institution, leaving there about six months before he would have graduated. Several years previously, however, he had begun to provide for his own support as he was but fifteen years of age when he held the contract for driving a stage between Onida and Blunt. He also carried the mail on horseback at that time and usually rode without a saddle. When he was sixteen years of age he had the contract for driving the stage between Onida and Milford. The following year he studied under a Mrs. Kimmel, who was living in Onida at that time. Under her tuition he studied Latin, rhetoric and other advanced branches and then turned his attention to teaching school, which profession he followed for three terms. At the end of that time he entered Huron College, making the trip on a bicycle and matriculating on the 15th of September, 1898, the day the college opened. Upon leaving that institution he went on a survey in Montana, starting on the 5th of July from Flathead lake. He devoted his time to surveying until the middle of November, when he returned to Sully county, this state, and proved up on a claim near Okobojo. He then taught school for one winter and for the next two years acted as deputy county treasurer.

At the end of that time Mr. Barber was elected county auditor and served in that office with credit to himself for four years. He next entered the Farmers Bank of Onida as cashier of the institution and is still serving in that capacity. The charter of the bank was obtained in July, 1908, and on the 1st of August of that year it opened its doors for business. It has since become firmly intrenched in the confidence of the people of Onida and the sur- rounding country, and the volume of its business has grown steadily. Mr. Barber is recog- nized as an able bank official and the excellent condition of the Farmers Bank is dne in no small measure to his vigilance in safeguarding the interests intrusted to him. He owns considerable land in South Dakota individually and in connection with his brother, Calvin F. Barber, and his mother owns a ranch near Okobojo. He also holds title to valuable city property in Onida.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume V, Part 93

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