USA > South Dakota > Faulk County > History of Faulk County, South Dakota, together with biographical sketches of pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 14
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than death, was hurried south from that horrible den, to die in the summer of 1864 at Macon, Georgia.
In the fall of 1881, Mr. Stone married Miss Nellie Hall, daughter of Dr. Samuel Hall, late of Faulkton. To them have been born six children, viz: J. Weston, Preston, Mina L., Steese, Hattie and Willis. All but Hattie are now living, she died in the spring of 1908.
On May 1st, 1902, Mr. Stone's home was made deso- late by the death of his wife, the mother of his children. His children are all at his home, except J. Weston, the old- est son, who is married and lives in the state of Washing- ton.
Mr. Stone, like most of Faulk county's pioneers, came here with very little of this world's goods, but a good share of courage and perseverence. He successfuly passed through all the hardships and privations of pioneer life and is now the owner of nine hundred and sixty acres of valua- ble Dakota land, five hundred of which is in a fine state of cultivation and the remainder a fenced pasture, all neces- sary improved farm machinery, two sets of good farm buildings; has twenty-five head of horses, seventy head of neat stock and a just claim to be counted among Faulk county's successful and prosperous farmers.
Mr. Stone has always taken a lively interest in public affairs and is one of the influential citizens of the town of DeVoe.
HENRY W. REINICKE was born August 4th, 1861, in Germany and immigrated to the United States with his parents in 1871, locating in Muscatine, Iowa, where he resided with his parents until 1884 when he removed to
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Faulk county, Dakota Territory, and preempted the north- east quarter of section 17, township 118, range 72. After proving up his preemption he filed a tree claim and a homestead on the east half of section 8, in the same town- ship where he remained and improved and proved up both his tree claim and his homestead until 1898, and then sold out his possessions and removed to Faulkton where he re- inained one year and then removed onto his improved farm nine miles north-east of Faulkton, that he had purchased before settling in the western part of the county.
Since 1899, Mr. Reinicke has remained upon his farm consisting of four hundred and eighty acres, making exten- sive improvements, including a fine set of farm buildings and a two inch artesian well. In the meantime a new line of railroad has been established, bringing the new towns of Wecota and Cresbard within six and seven miles respec- tively and increasing the value of his farm.
On January 9th, 1891, Mr. Reinicke was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Holstene of Gettysburg, Potter county, South Dakota. To them have been born four sons, viz: Frank, Richard, Harry, and Carroll.
Mr. Reinicke in early years was surrounded by such influences as to lead to a most bitter hatred against intoxi- cating liquors, and to best oppose the evil that grows out of their use, he has identified himself with and has become an active and efficient worker in the prohibition party. Re- ligiously Mr. and Mrs. Reinicke are in sympathy with the doctrine and usages of the Methodist Episcopal church, but being so far beyond any local organization of that church, they have become active and worthy workers in the Myron Congregational church, which is located near their home.
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GEORGE H. STODDARD was born at Brandy's Bend sixty miles from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1857, the second son of Holmes and Ellen (Davis) Stoddard in whose family were nine children. The father who was an iron worker, was born in this country, as was also the grand- father, but the great-great-grandfather was a native of Eng- land who came to this country prior to the Revolutionary War, and when the colonies took up arms against the mother country he aided then as a soldier of the continental army in achieving their independence. The mother of our subject was born in England and came to this country when a girl of fourteen years. Her father, John Davis, was also an iron worker.
When three years of age his parents .removed to El- mira, New York, where he grew up to manhood and was educated, graduating from the high school at that place. There he was engaged in clerking for five months and for three years was employed as an iron worker. In 1878 he became connected with railroading as a brakeman and lield that position for four years.
Coming west he landed in Faulk county, Dakota Terri- tory, March 24, 1883, and immediately took up a home- stead on which he erected a claim shanty 10x12. Mr. Stod- dard started with a capital of seven hundred and twenty dollars. At the time of coming to Faulkton to assume the duties in the office of register of deeds, to which office he was elected in the fall of 1898, he was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, two hundred of which he had placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good and substantial build- ings.
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Since 1904 he has been engaged in trade in Faulkton as proprietor of a general merchandise store and doing a good business.
In 1885, Mr. Stoddard led to the marriage altar Miss Effie N. Deloy, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of Joseph Deloy, a farmer who was born in France and was proud of his French descent. To Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard have been born eight children, viz: George E., Chas. E., Mary E., Ruth M., Florence E., Clarence D., Grace Anna Belle, and Helen Gladys.
Socially Mr. and Mrs. Stoddard are members of the Congregational church and of the societies of A. O. U. W., the Woodman, M. B. A., and Degree of Honor ..
JAMES P. TURNER, a well known and highly re- spected citizen of Faulkton, is a blacksmith by profession, a business that has proved exceedingly prosperous since his coming to this county.
Mr. Turner is a native of Ontario, Canada, born near the town of Ayliner, December 1st, 1858, and is a son of James Turner, who was born in Scotland and immigrated to Canada with his father, Donald Turner, a carpenter by occupation.
James P. Turner, whose father died when he was only two years old, was given a good common school education and at the age of nineteen years commenced serving a three years apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade. On the ex- piration of his apprenticeship he continued to work at his trade in Canada for two years. In the spring of 1882 he came to Watertown, Dakota Territory, where he remained one year.
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In the spring of 1883 he took up his residence in Faulk county, and as one of its first blacksmiths started a shop in LaFoon, which was then the county seat. Soon after the removal of the county seat to Faulkton in the fall of 1886. Mr. Turner returned to Aylmer where he was married to Miss Belle K. Puntine, a native of Canada and a daughter of John Puntine, a ship builder by trade. As her mother died when she was but two years old, she was raised by an aunt in her native land.
To Mr. and Mrs. Turner were born five children, viz: Hugh A., Jessie A., Frank A., Muriel and Charles.
Since coming to Faulkton Mr. Turner has steadily prospered financially.
HON. ALEXANDER MILLER of DeVoe, was born September 3rd, 1845, in Holmes county, Ohio, where he lived until he was twenty-five years of age. From there he went to Cedar county, Iowa. In the fall of 1875 he went to Saline county, Missouri. In the fall of that year he married Miss Emma McCellend of that county. To them have been born six children, viz: John L., Samuel H., Sarah F., William H., James A., and Edna N., who are now all residents of Faulk county.
He resided in Missouri until the fall of 1882 when he moved to Northville, in Spink county and engaged in the livery business. In 1883 he came to this county and proved up a preemption, then moved to his present loca- tion and took a homestead. Mr. Miller is one of our most enterprising and prosperous citizens. He is a practical farmer and a successful horseman. He has acquired one thousand nine hundred and twenty acres of valuable land,
DRAFT HORSES ON ALEX MILLER FARM, FAULK COUNTY.
THE NEW YIL PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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six hundred acres of which are under cultivation, while the remainder is enclosed for pasturing. He has made the breeding of Percheron horses a specialty. For fifteen years he has had on an average, one hundred head and often as many as one hundred thirty. Has much of the best registered and graded stock in the north-west and keeps from twenty-five to seventy-five head of neat stock. He has all necessary machinery, a pleasant, delightful home and beautiful grove in which thousands of the citizens of Faulk, Edmunds and Spink counties annually gather to attend the old settlers' picnic.
Four consecutive times he has been elected to the state legislature and is a member of South Dakota's house of representatives at the present time. Mr. Miller stands high in the confidence and respect of the community in which he lives and his reputation both as a business man and a public servant is without reproach.
ROBERT KNAPTON, a well known, enterprising and energetic farmer, residing on section 25, Wesley town- ship, Faulk county, South Dakota, and an honored veterani of the Civil War, is a native of England, born in Leeds, October 6th, 1843. Having lost his father during his infancy, he was raised by his grandparents and with the family came to the United States in 1847. As a boy he worked as a farm hand, and during the winter months, while pursuing his studies in an old log school house, he worked out of school hours for his board. He was thus employed until after the opening of the rebellion when on the 27th of December, 1863, he enlisted in company A.,
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Twenty-ninth Regiment, Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, which was first ordered to New Orleans. Later the regi- nient was with Gen. Banks on his Red River expedition and in the engagement of Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant Ridge. They helped to construct the dam at Alexander which saved the fleet, and were then sent to Morgonza Bend where they were given six weeks rest. They next went to Memphis and on the 24th of August, 1864, to Port Gibson, where they did patrol duty in the surrounding country. They then returned to New Orleans and in March, 1865, were sent to Ciperdor Island in Mobile Bay, where they remained a few weeks. Crossing the bay they went to Spanish Fort and later to Fort Blakely, where they were stationed when the war ended.
Later Mr. Knapton was engaged in garrison duty at Mobile and from there went to Shreveport, Louisana, where a large force of confederates surrendered. He then re- turned by boat to Montgomery, Alabama, and was finally mustered out at Mobile, being honorably discharged at Madison, Wisconsin, October 9th, 1865. Returning to his home in that state, Mr. Knapton remained there until the following spring, when he purchased a team of horses and began farming on his own account, upon rented land. Two years were thus passed and in 1867, after his marriage, he moved to Buchanan county, Iowa, where he made his home for four years. He then went to Harrison county, Missouri, but at the end of one year, on account of ague, he returned to his old home in Wisconsin, remaining there until coming to Dakota Territory in the fall of 1882. Here he filed a claim on the north-west quarter of section 25, township 119, range 66, Faulk county and then returned
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to Wisconsin. In the spring of 1883 he broke fifteen acres of his land, and on the second day of November of that year, brought his family to the home he had prepared for them, having previously erected a house and barn and brought out a carload of goods from the east. He now owns three quarter sections of good land of which three hundred acres have been placed under the plow. In his farm operations Mr. Knapton has been eminently success- ful, about two hundred acres is devoted to wheat and eighty to corn. He generally keeps through the winter about sixty-five head of neat stock, ten horses for his farm work, and thirty or forty hogs, which are considered a good in- vestment.
Since casting his first presidential vote at regimental headquarters, in a rice field in Louisana, for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, Mr. Knapton has been unwavering in his support of the republican party. He is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, favors prohibition of the liquor traffic and gives his support to all measures which he believes calculated to prove of public benefit.
DARIUS S. SMITH is the son of John and Mary (Burroughs) Smith, who were from North Carolina, and moved to Indiana in 1835. Mr. Smith was born August 19, 1833, and remained with his parents until his majority. He was married May 20th, 1862, to Miss Adelia M. Wil- liams of Jefferson county, Missouri, and was a resident of that county until 1882, at which time he removed to Dako- kota Territory, with his family, consisting of a wife and four children, viz: Silvia G., now Mrs. J. H. Bottum; Julia E., now Mrs. F. A. Seaman; Hope S., now Mrs. J.
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C. Morrison of St. Paul, Minn .; Mollie I., now Mrs. Fred Mears of Minneapolis, Minn .; one son of five years died before they left Missouri.
In April, of 1882, Mr. Smith as president of an asso- ciation of twenty-five members started out on an ex- ploring expedition for a settlement upon government land. On the morning of April 6th he started out from Redfield in Spink county, Dakota Territory in company. with Thomas H. McMullen and Alexander LaFoon and the evening of that day they were upon the banks of the Snake river where they decided to locate. At that time they were so pleased with the country that they made the best possible selection of land for their entire association, upon the unsurveyed government land and with scrip upon forty acres for a future townsite, and as they hoped, a county seat for Faulk county. The rapidity with which settlers from all parts of the country arrived and squatted upon the land, broke up their plans and disorganized the association so that but very few of the members ever joined them.
The first postoffice in the county was located upon their scripted town site and named Cyclops, by the post- office department, temporarily, until the new town site should be named, with Miss Norah Reppy, postmaster.
The first school in this county was taught by Miss Silvia G. Smith and it consisted of fifteen scholars. The first frame house erected in this county was built by Thomas McMullen one of the original Missourian party and is now removed to Faulkton and occupied by A. J. Sprague of this city.
April 7th, 1882, Mr. Smith occupied his tent upon the laud improved with a single sod mound, as a mark of set-
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tlement, no other work of improvement showing in all the surrounding country. On the following September he could stand in the door of his board shanty and count over thirty homes erected and occupied upon the surrounding land.
In the early struggle for the location of the county seat, between Faulkton and LaFoon, Mr. Smith was an active and persistent worker, a safe and reliable adviser and a born leader. For twenty years he has served in the important office of justice of the peace, he has served for two full terms upon the board of county commissioners and in 1895 and 1896 was a member of the South Dakota senate, At the last state election he was re-elected as one of the county justices of the peace, and promptly filed his bond for the faithful discharge of his duties.
Mr. Smith has a most desirable residence located near the court house in the central part of the city, where he and his devoted wife have everything to make life desirable. Only two blocks away are two of his daughters ( Mrs. Bot- tum and Mrs. Seaman) with their lovely, interesting fami- lies; while only a few hours ride will bring them to the homes of their other two daughters in Minneapolis and St Paul, Minn.
DAVID BRYDEN was born in Ironton, Wisconsin, March 21st, 1860, and with his parents removed to Scot- land when he was four years old, that being his father's former home. After remaining there three years, they re- turned again to Ironton, where his early years were spent upon a farm, from which come so many of our best, most reliable and useful citizens. When twelve years old
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there was a removal from the farm to the village of Ironton, where he enjoyed all the privileges of the common schools, dividing his time between the school and the outlaying farnı, until he became of age. Upon his twenty-first birth- day he was married to Miss Eulella J. Blakeslee, who was born in Ironton, Wisconsin, on the 21st day of March. 1862. To them, March 21st, became a red letter day, be- ing a double birthday and their wedding anniversary. After their marriage he removed to Reedsburg, Wisconsin, where he became an experienced hardware business man, a business that received his attention all through life. To them were born five children, one son and four daughters: David E., now of Canada; Eva M., now Mrs, Hubert Head- ly of Faulkton; Elsie L., now in Minneapolis, Minnesota, receiving lessons in music; Mayme J., a graduate from the stenographic department of the Dakota Wesleyan Univer- sity, now holding a position as stenographer in the city of Faulkton; and Janet M., now at home with her mother and attending the public schools in Faulkton.
In the fall of 1886, Mr. Bryden came to Faulkton to look over the country in view of a permanent location, and before leaving, purchased lots on St. John's street, where he subsequently built a hardware store and for five years occupied the second story for a residence, then built bis permanent home on the corner of Pearl street and Tenth avenue. He was a careful and reliable business man, yet deeply interested in all that went for the upbuilding of society, active and prominent in the improvement of the public schools and general advancement of all that makes good society. He was an active, influential member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics, he was a democrat, but
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neither politics or fraternal relations were allowed to inter- fere with business relations, which always received strict attention, and as the years went by, increased prosperity. But his home relations and family always occupied the first and most important place.
Up to the fall of 1901, there was no indication of the sudden and unexpected end, so soon to come. Through the summer of 1902, failing health admonished him that the end might be near. In the early part of November, accompanied by his devoted wife, as a last resort, he visited the noted sanitarium at Battle Creek, Michigan, but alas, the disease had so far advanced that it could not be stayed. On the 22d day of November, 1902, the spirit took its flight to the great beyond. The sad and mournful return was made to his former home at Faulkton, when followed the usual and appropriate funeral service at the Congregational church; followed by the beautiful and impressive services by the Masonic order, who marched to the final resting place with all that was mortal of their departed brother. We close this sad chapter with the following just tribute of one who was. present and knew whereof he spoke:
"Mr. Bryden was one of our most enterprising and energetic citizens, ever ready to assist in any public enter- prise which promised to aid in the upbuilding of our city, and from a small beginning, had built up a large and pros- perous business and was getting into a position to enjoy life, when called away by the grim reaper who waits not for time or circumstances. His last year was one of great suffering, but was borne with great patience and forti- tude. While not a professed christian, he came to have great faith in a better life beyond, his last words being, 'we shall meet beyond the river.'
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"His father, David Bryden, Sr., died but three months before. He leaves a wife, an aged mother, four sisters and five children to mourn his loss, who have the heartfelt sympathy of all in their bereavement."
JAMES W. JOHNSTON, a son of William E. and Agnes Johnston of Center county, Pennsylvania, was born on October 2nd, 1854. When he was fourteen years of age his parents moved to Lee county, Iowa, where he re- mained until his majority, and where he received the ad- vantages of a first class common school education.
In 1879 he came to South Dakota and located at Water- town. The 12th of January in 1883, he came to Faulk county. In 1885 and 1886 hewas register of deeds and at the election of 1892 he was again elected to this important office which he held for two years. Mr. Johnston was an active worker for the advancement of Faulk county in- terests, especially for the upbuilding of LaFoon, its first county seat.
On November 5th, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie M. Cochrane, who was a resident of LaFoon and at that time clerk of courts for Faulk county. To them have been born ten children, six of whom died in early childhood; Belle M., a student at Huron College, S. D .; Lloyd, Laura and Ralph are vet at home and in the Faulkton public schools.
In 1893 the Faulk County Land and Title Company was incorporated with Mr. Johnston, secretary, subsequent- ly Mr. Johnston bought out the other members of the firm and now owns and devotes his time to this important busi- ness.
RESIDENCE OF J. W. JOHNSTON, FAULKTON
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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LIZZIE M. COCHRANE, daughter of John C. and Sylvia Cochrane, was born at Oshaloosa, Kan., January 13th, A. D. 1860. In early childhood, her parents re- turned to DesMoines, Iowa, where she enjoyed the ad- vantages of their most excellent schools. In March, 1883, she came to Faulk county and filed on public land which was subsequently proved up on in accordance with the public land law.
On November 5, 1884, she was appointed clerk of courts for Faulk county by Judge Severance Smith of the Fifth Judicial District of the Territory of Dakota, which office she filled with satisfaction to all who had business with that office and with credit to herself. Upon her marriage to Mr. Johnston, her resignation was immediately forwarded to Judge Church, and after several months her resignation was accepted and a young man from California was appointed.
WILLIAM H. LOWER was born in the state of Mich- igan, April 30th, 1851, of German-English parentage. When about three years of age his parents moved to La- Crosse, in the state of Wisconsin. When he was about eight years of age his parents removed to Vermont, Ontario county, in the same state, where he enjoyed the privileges of the common schools until he became of age, and where he continued to reside until he came to Dakota in 1884.
In 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie M. Culver, and to them have been born three children, viz: Roy E., Nellie R., and Madison E.
Upon coming to Dakota in March, 1884, he immediate- ly located upon a preemption, his present homestead in
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township 118, range 72, being now the town of Seneca ill this (Faulk) county, being then, and until 1887, when the Chicago & Northwestern railroad was completed to Seneca, twenty-two miles from the nearest railroad point.
Mr. Lower and his devoted wife experienced their full share of the privations incident to pioneer life. Neither the failure of crops nor storms of winter deterred him. While others, who had located land near him, became discouraged and moved away, he struggled on, and today finds himself in possession of his pleasant home, a view of which may be found tipon page 99 of this history, surrounded by six hun- dred and forty acres of the best of South Dakota's rich. productive soil, and is counted among Faulk county's re- liable, enterprising and prosperous farmers, and has the satisfaction of having his oldest son located in his own happy home upon adjoining land.
ADAM SANGSTER was born in Scotland, July 28th, 1843, and was married to Louisa Lowe in January, 1867. In 1874, with his wife and two children, Mr. Sangster sailed from Liverpool for New York, from there to Wabasha county, Minnesota, where he remained until the 27th of May, 1884, when he located on the north-west quarter of section 18, township 118, range 71, Faulk county, and re- turned to Minnesota for his family, consisting of his wife and six children. Since coming to Faulk country he has added two more to his family. Through the years of hail, stormns and drought, with the prevailing hot winds that. drove so many of the pioneer settlers from Faulk county, Mr. Sangster experienced with his large family a full share of hardships and privations. Vet never faltering, never
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ready to say die, he worked on, struggled on, with faith in Him who had promised the seed time and harvest, until adversity was changed to prosperity, and not only the necessaries, but the comforts of life were assured,
Mr. Sangster has added to the land he located as a homestead another quarter section. He has an excellent set of farm buildings, good farm machinery for diversified farming, and everything that goes to make a first class agri- cultural home.
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