USA > South Dakota > Hyde County > History of Hyde County, South Dakota : from its organization to the present time > Part 11
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Church Meigs, brother of Sylvanus Meigs, was an early settler, a man prominent among his fellows and had the respect of every- body. He was thoroughly honest in all his dealings and went away from here leaving a host of friends. He has lived since in Vermont, but returned to Iowa recently where he now resides. His portrait will be seen on another page.
FINE RESIDENCE OF REPRESENTATIVE JOHN H. WOOLEY, HIGHMORE, S. D.
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Thomas Clifford, his wife, Ellen, and son, Charley, were early residents here. Thomas was depot agent for quite awhile along in 1886, was a quiet, good man. He died several years ago. His wife and son live on some land west of Pierre, and have been here often recently attending to some of their land interests in court.
G. L. F. Robinson was an early settler here, first taking a gov- ernment claim in Highmore township which he named the Valley Farm. He was a lawyer in active practice; was Justice of the Peace for many years and was County Judge at the time of his death. He was a very fine musician, con- siderable of a scholar, and promi- nent in all public enterprises. He died in July, 1905, at his resi- dence in Highmore. His daugh- ter, Mary E. L., married Samuel C. Traver. She is a woman com- manding everybody's respect and still resides here. Mr. Traver died in 1907. He was a promi- nent man, was postmaster, and County Auditor, was very sym- pathetic in his nature and. very competent as a bookkeeper. His death was very much regretted EUGENE CLIFTON TRAVER by a large circle of friends. He
was an old soldier and a member of our Post. He left quite a family of children all of whom are very worthy offspring of their good parents. George F. Traver, a son, married Mattie Little, a daughter of William Little, who still reside here. Eugene Clifton, who is now with H. C. Harris in his drug store, a young man who would not know how to be dishonest, married Mabel Vivian Miller November 18, 1908; Alice M., who married Wm. Thompson; Norma
RESIDENCE OF E. C. MUSSER, HIGHMORE, S. D.
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
A., who is in the Herald office; Edna M., who married H. R. Erskine; Bertha B .; who married J. M. Reeves; and Mabel Grace, who is a very efficient stenographer and typewriter, formerly in the L. E. Whitcher office, is now at Caldwell, Idaho. The other child- dren are not yet in active business life. The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Traver will be seen on pages 18 and 19.
John Mayer was an early Highmore settler, was a skillful me- chanic and a good landlord. He built the National House on the site where the court house now stands, which was destroyed by fire. He left Highmore several years ago and now resides in Chicago, where he is prominent in some leading insurance company.
The Kingsbury boys, who for- merly lived here, moved to Hart- ford, S. D., where Ira has a bank. They were Ira C., W. W. and Lloyd engaged in the hardware business. They were all good, strong business fellows, of good credit, unquestioned honesty and were prominent in all public af- fairs.
THE ARTESIAN WELL
On the 27th day of July, 1886, the Town Trustees made a con- tract with Gray Bros., of Milwau- kee, to put down an artesian well. MISS GRACE TRAVER Soon after work was commenced and continued until February 20, 1887, when a good flow of water poured out of the pipe. Only a resident of Highmore at that time knows, nor could any other fully understand, the strain of anxiety that held the people in almost breathless suspense for several months. The hot winds prevailed then, water was scarce, was only
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF HYDE COUNTY AT THE PRESENT TIME
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
to be had by hauling from the spring south of town, which was a very unsatisfactory condition of things to a people living in a county seat with a future promise of something of a metropolis. Doubt, serious doubt, reaching almost a feeling of alarm hung over the city like the pall of night from July, 1886, until February 20, 1987. Several days before the 20th they reached a depth of 1540 feet and no water, not enough to justify further work, and indeed the boring apparatus had about reached its limit. Gray Bros., the contractors, were about to give it up, to abandon the work and move the rig away, but the town trustees would not have it that
way. On the 19th day of Feb- ruary not only doubt and alarm prevailed, but there was a feel- ing of disgust, a feeling akin to that of a remorseful man on the verge of suicide, and this lasted until the morning of the twen- tieth, and then all that feeling turned into indescribable joy. During the night of the 19th the water broke forth from its con- fines and poured out, rising in the air like a sweet effervescence mak- ing the faces of all radiant with smiles. The town had a jubilee; it went fairly wild; shooting irons were brought out; anvils and SETH PATTERSON every other kind of a thing that would make a noise. Shouting, public speaking and every kind of of a conceivable demonstration went on that 20th day of February, and the local papers in good sized letters had it, "Praise God from whom all blessings flow." Highmore had a well at last. Every- body and every "critter" was happy. A large watering trough was
MR. AND MRS. A. DERCK AND SON, HARVEY.
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
placed there and cattle, horses, dogs and anything else could go there and drink at their will, and this continued for several years un- til the well was abandoned.
In 1886 on Christmas James McDowell and Geo. Crose fur- nished a Christmas tree for all children in the county. They dis- tributed 320 pounds of candy, 380 pounds of nuts, 95 pounds of dates, 30 of figs, and oranges to the number of 460.
The first of January following, the Social Hour Dramatic Club gave an entertainment in which Gertie Bates played the role of a deserted wife in the drama "Turn of the Tide." John Lawson the part of Jonas Aldrich with Clara Lesh as Aunt Rebecca; Jermy . Learn as Hugh St. Morris, Lane Calkins as Col. Ellsworth; Elgy Smith as Pepper; Nettie Hatch as Frisky, and Geo. Stoner and Eugene Bates as Henchmen to the Chief, with other performers,
James H. Lynch before men- tioned was an early resident of the county, was the first elected sheriff, held the office in 1885 and 6, and was a good officer. He left here quite a number of years ago and is now in business in Seattle, Washington. His brother, Charles E. Lynch, was SIMON FRITZSON also an early settler, was deputy sheriff for awhile and in 1886 started a store in the room now oc- cupied by James Volek, in the Weaver block. He was quite young upon his first appearance here, but Charley Lynch was well and favorably known.
In August, 1890, Highmore had a serious fire. It burned the
HIGHMORE ROLLER MILLS
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Crow building, with store and contents, also two cows and some pigs belonging to Mr. Crow; John Zwight's building, the T. W. Howey building, also that of Mr. Playtor, Kleeman and Staup. Mr. Crow was arrested for setting fire to get insurance money, had a hearing but was acquitted. The law office of J. T. Haight was burned in the same fire. In 1892 and 3 there were several fires in Highmore, which evidently were the work of an incendiary. The McLaughlin store building was burned, also the First National Bank building was set, but extinguished after some damage, the court house also was burned. Parties living in town received
threatening letters and for awhile it was a mystery who the guilty party was, but at last a watch was placed on the postoffice and when the suspected party drop- ped in a letter she was followed and confronted by Jake Myers and afterwards confessed. She was not tried for arson, but taken to Sioux Falls and in the Federal Court was charged with sending obscene letters through the mail and convicted. She was sent- enced to ninety days in jail and served out her time, and for all her misdeeds was inadequately punished. She was a Mrs. JOSEPH PATTERSON Thompson and it is only charit- able to her weak nature to say that her mind must have been un- balanced.
In 1884 the electors of Hyde county were called upon to decide the county seat question. Highmore had it, but Holabird, then just growing into prominence and backed by the land department of the
CHILDREN OF MR. AND MRS. S. J. LIGHTY, HIGHMORE, S. D.
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Northwestern Railway Co., felt that it was entitled to be the capi- tal of the county, and the people there were quite strenuous and energetic in their efforts to secure it. The land department of the company sent out a man by the name of Cleveland to manage the Holabird campaign, but he was a poor manager. It was suggested to him that about a $1,000, or its equivolent in Holabird town lots would secure the county seat, but that proposition he did not approve of. He organized the forces in sort of a military way with captains and lieutenants and so on, laid out the work for each to do, and sent them forth out on the broad prairie to capture the votes of the people and charged them to be sure and win out over the enemy whom we all knew was alert, and full of strategy and vim. The Holabird boys were anxious, but knew they were at a disadvantage. They were aware that Highmore was loaded to the guards with the necessary weapons and ammunition, while they were not yet out of the stig- ma of the "Gumbo Holler" ap- pellation, had naught else to fight with but their jaws which were a species of warfare not calculated to conquer on a field like that. The campaign once started went forward and on the 4th day of November, 1884, the MAX WINEGAR people cast their votes, resulting in a majority for Highmore of 159. The Holabird county seat offi- cers and the rank and file went back to private life and to their for- mer avocations, while the general from Chicago returned to his land department office from whence he came. Highmore cele-
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BANK OF HIGHMORE, DREW BROS., HIGHMORE, S. D.
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
brated the event, and had the audacity to invite their former enemy to celebrate with them, even before the gloom of their grief had left them, or the tears had dried upon their faces. Of course the contest was strewed with some humorous incidents which were told afterwards, and in such a contest there is an exhibition of the many phases of human nature. A Mr. Gallagher, who lived in the north part of the county met the writer after election and said, "Mr. Perkins, this is a funny world, isn't it? Before election when I came to Highmore it would be, Mr. Gallagher, I am glad to see you. You are one of the best citizens in Hyde County. Come have a drink, Mr. Galla- gher, have a smoke, have any- thing you want and we will pay for it. After election it was, Well, Old Gallagher, what's the news up to the bald mountains?"
F. E. Root and wife, who re- cently resided at Highmore were early settlers in the county and are among the very few still here MRS. MARY A. PATTERSON who settled in 1882. H. C. Shober also is an 1882 settler and first settled on a claim about five miles west of town near the railroad track. He and a young man named McLain, both from Cedar County, Iowa, took claims adjoining. They first built a sod shack and built under difficulties, for they lacked experience. Several times the structure was up near to com- pletion and then as many times it fell. Indignant and disgusted at their repeated failure, only themselves know the force of their lauguage or the nature of their adjectives, but their troubles finally ended for their habitation was at last complete and as young home
MR. AND MRS. H. A. CRAMER
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
steaders they gazed upon it with feelings of the highest satisfaction. Mr. McLain did not long remain here, but Mr. Shober became a permanent resident and is still here editor and proprietor of the Hyde County Bulletin. He has other financial interests outside the county, and at the election in November, 1906, was elected Lieu- tenant Governor of the state, and was nominated at the primary election of this year and re-elected on November 3, 1908. He has
an excellent wife and two prom- ising children.
Abram E. Van Camp, the orig- inal townsite proprietor, was born in Muscatine County, Iowa, on a farm. In addition to his farming days as a boy, he attend- ed an academy at Wilton and completed his education there. He has always taken an interest in county and town affairs, has been for several years on the county board, and is now post- master at Highmore with a pre- vious term. He was married at his home county to Miss Lou C. Sherfey, who died Oct. 19, 1899, J. L. HUMPHREY in Muscatine, Iowa. She was a congenial companion, a lady of much intelligence and had the re- spect of all who knew her. Their oaly child is Shreve, who is now deputy postmaster at Highmore. A. E. Van Camp was also Master of the Ree Valley Masonic lodge for six years.
THE NEWSPAPERS
The first newspaper established in Hyde County was at Highmore was in 1882 by William H. Geary and was named The Highmore Mirror. Mr. Geary sold the paper to Eli Johnson in 1883, and the
THE SARVIS FAMILIES AND THE ALEX ROBINSON FAMILY
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
name was then changed to "The Highmore Herald." It afterwards became the property of John C. Stoner, who in 1908 sold the plant to John B. Perkins, the present owner and proprietor.
The Holabird Advocate was started by A. B. Vines at Holabird in 1886. It eked out an unsatisfactory existance with few sub- scribers and limited advertising patronage until 1891 when it quit the field, in fact there was no town left and the paper was forced to surrender. It was afterwards revived for a short time by George White Perkins a boy of fifteen.
The Vox Populi was started at Highmore in 1883. It came into existance more particularly to fight the Ordway party in poli- tics, and when its object was ac- complished, its original proprie- tor disposed of the paper, and after passing through the control of several publishers quit business in March, 1886.
The Hyde County Bulletin was started by H. C. Shober in Dec., 1885, and is still on deck in the control of Mr. Shober, with Guy Stout and Clyde Byerly as local editors; two young men of excel- GUY A. STOUT lent character, industrious and capable and efficient craftsmen. We remember that in a Jan., 1886, number of the Bulletin Mr. Shober had the editorial nerve to say that of the six newspapers in Hyde County the Bulletin had more home news in it than the other five combined, which statement, of course, the other five vigorously denied.
The Bramhall Blade was started by its first number August 16, 1884. H. C. Shober was proprietor with Harry Elder associate edi-
I
LOOKING EAST ON SECOND STREET FROM IOWA AVENUE
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
tor. Mr. Shober remained with the paper about a year and sold to Wm. Fanckboner. From him it passed into other hands and quit when the town went out of existence.
The Republican, a democratic paper, was started in Highmore by L. E. Whitcher, run about a year and quit in 1893. Mr. Whitcher then run the Highmore Herald for awhile.
Highmore is now well represented as a businesscity. Its stores, in their keeping, are up-to-date. It has three physicians: Dr. H. H. Stoner, who has been here many years and the oldest in point of residence; Dr. I. M. Burnside, who has been here about ten years and Dr. M. C. Sorenson, who has recently become a resi- dent. We have two lumber yards, one kept by A. N. Gerhart, the other the Atlas Lumber Co. in charge of G. D. Mann. This company also hasan elevator and handles grain. There are three hotels: the McGlinchy House kept by John Van Abel, The Far- mers' Friend kept by H. E. Tagg, and the Elliott House kept by Williard Elliott. M. E. Miller CLYDE G. BYERLY has a feed store and he also deals in coal and buys grain. W. L. Thompson runs the elevator, buys grain and sells coal for the Van Dusen Co. We have one photo- graph gallery run by Herman Syverud. There are two restaurants one kept by Clara Murray the other by Everts & Leviness. Two drug stores, both of them as establishments are old timers, one of them kept by H. C. Harris, who has been in charge since 1886, the other now run by Wooley & Hemmingson, has had changes in pro-
A. N. VAN CAMP'S TELEPHONE OFFICE AND RESIDENCE
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
prietors, but was started in the eighties by T. W. Howey. The real estate agents are numerous. Cummings & Wooley have an office in the Fred Greene block, The Keiser Land Co. in the First National Bank building, The Home Land Co., The Quirk Land Co. and P. E. Gilligan are in the same building. D. T. Jekyll has an office on Iowa Avenue, The C. L. Ford Land Co. in the McDonald- Harris building, C. E. Noel at his law office, Drake & Ballard, rep- resented by J. W. Keiser have an office in the McGlinchy Hotel building, Wenholm & Wright in the Harris building. Other real estate dealers are C. W. Trent, C. A. Gray, J. E. Van Camp, F. H. France, F. M. Barnes, Walter Elliott and O. C. Kippenbrock. While there seems to be quite a number here engaged in this bus- iness, we believe that with any of them a land seeker will get a square deal. In the jewelry bus- iness are the stores of John E. Campbell and L. B. Huston. Two barber shops cater to the people in a tonsorial way; one MRS. S. J. LIGHTY kept by Henry Lawrence on Second Street, the other by Williams & Carlson on Iowa Avenue. Three livery stables, one by A. D. Winans on Second Street, Reu- ben Clark on First Street and N. H. Wilder on Iowa Avenue. A. Derck has a harness shop on Iowa Avenue, who also attends to the foot gear in the way of cobbling. There is a pool room kept by Walter Airhart and a bowling alley run by Friendie and Seth Pat- terson. Two saloons furnish the required beverage to their patrons, one by M. C. Burke, the other by Bob Yokum. We have a cigar
ESTAURANT
THE HARRIS-McDONALD CONCRETE BUILDING ON SECOND STREET
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STORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
manufactory kept by F. W. Myers. The Mclaughlin Company have a department store and keep an extensive stock of the various kinds of merchandise usually kept in a store of that kind. R. W. Perry has a general store whose shelves are filled with dry goods and groceries, also boots and shoes. James Volek & Co. have a general store in the Greene block with the usual variety of mer- chandise. Also in the same block is a hardware, recently establish- ed, kept by Battey & Winfrey. The Highmore Clothing Co. have a stock of clothing which will be placed in the former National Bank building, but is now tem- porarily in the basement of the brick. The store is kept by J. L. Magneson and M. A. Rosten. There are two meat markets, one by C. R. Schneider on Iowa Avenue, the other at this writing kept by John McDonald, but will be transferred to A. G. Button, who has purchased the same. S. J. LIGHTY The veterinaries are Hugh Ohl and Wilbur Quirk. John Rice is the gardner who furnishes fresh vegetables in their season. There are three banks, one the Bank of Highmore kept by Drew Bros., of which S. Drew is President; Frank Drew, Vice President; and C. H. Drew, Cashier. The First National Bank, formerly First State Bank, whose officers are F. D. Greene, President; W. D. McDonald Vice President; and C. P. Swanson, Cashier. These two banks were established here at an early day. The third bank is the Hyde County State Bank, established at a later day, of which A. J. Cole is President, L. M. Hanson, Vice President; and L. A. Hendricks, Cashier. These banks are all safe and on the best of financial basis.
ČÍ
ŠĶTITLES
ABSTRACT OFFICE OF F. M. BARNES ON COMMERCIAL AVENUE
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
The city is divided into three wards. The Mayor is L. M. Hanson. The Aldermen of Ward One are Reuben Clark and C. H. Fields; Ward Two, E. J. Quirk and John Mclaughlin; Ward Three, C. P. Swanson and J. S. Keiser; Treasurer, M. E. Miller; Auditor, J. H. Pilkington; Chief of Police, W. B. Hamlin; City Attorney, L. E. Whitcher; Police Justice, O C. Kippenbrock; Street Commissioner, John Cunningham; Fire Chief, J. H. Pilkington. Highmore was Incorporated as a town in December, 1885, by election, and was afterwards in 1903 changed in its form of government from a town to a city.
Edward Ryder and wife, Caro- line, whose portrait is' seen on page 122, came to Highmore in 1883. They are among the very few in Highmore who came at that early day and they have the highest of respect of all who know them. They have three children, Lucy M., who married A. N. VAN CAMP'S FAMOUS GUERN. Ed. Musser; Emily, now Emily SEY COW Lester, married and lives in Pennsylvania;and William Henry, who lived with his parents here in Highmore is now married and resides in Onawa County, Michi- gan.
Mrs. Friend Patterson has an up-to-date millinery store. The Hyde County Telephone Co. is installed in the Van Camp white brick building and is under the management of A. N. Van Camp. Two blacksmith shops, one by Wm. Kral, the other by W. W. Yeandle. Both of these parties are early settlers of Highmore. A bakery kept by H. M. Knowlton. The draymen are Wakey Bros. and B. M. Mitchell. Contractors and builders are Cary C. Neff, Thomas O'Brien, Frank Zemlicka, Wm. Inman, Clyde France. G. W. Walker & Sons have a tin shop and make a specialty of plumb-
S. M. WENHOLM
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
ing and of furnaces. Hugh McGlinchy keeps a barn of Percheron horses and Thomas Tibbs deals in horses and other stock and is owner of the famous Mark Hanna. Harry Garrabrant is station agent, Max Winegar is florist and Bert Reddick and Ben Barber manage the railroad sections. The abstracters are F. M. Barnes, with C. H. Gray in active charge of the office, also C. E. Noel, both bonded abstractors.
Arthur Graham, whose portrait is on page 227, was an early settler in the county at Holabird. He married a daughter of J. R. Smith and her portrait will be seen on page 229. They now re- side in Michigan. George Gra- ham, a brother of Arthur, was al- so an early settler in the county at Holabird and had a lumber yard there. He left us some years ago.
One of the early settlers of the county at Highmore was J. A. Patterson, whom we familiarly called Joe. He was a royal good fellow and everybody was his friend. He moved along with the rest of the early settlers mak- W. F. PIDGE ing a living, but at last by his shrewdness accumulated much property. He died June 14, 1903. His wife, Mary A., still resides in Highmore in a beautiful home. Their children are Friend, who married Theresa Bindel. They re- side here. Emily, who married Ellsworth France, resides in the state of Washington. Anna married R. E. Sanders; they reside at Pierre. The other children, Julia, Seth, Hattie, Gertrude, Joseph, and George still live at the Highmore home with their mother.
HERALD PIANO CONTEST
THE HIGHMORE HERALD OFFICE AND FORCE DURING THEIR PIANO CONTEST IN THE FALL OF 1907.
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Julia is an efficient deputy to the County Auditor.
Simon Fritzson and his brother, Matthias, were early settlers in Spring Lake township, lived in Highmore a few years, and were engaged in the grain and fuel business. They are well remembered by the early settlers as shrewd business men and companionable fellows. Simon, whose portrait is on page 245, was a member of of the Board of Commissioners several years and understood the business very well, in fact he had suspicion that something was wrong in the treasurer's office be- fore the defalcation of Homer James had become known. He is now in business at Sioux City, Matthias is in the grain business at some point in Nebraska.
W. W. Yeandle, an early set- tler, is still here with his black- smith shop now a fine cement block building shown on page 46. Mr. Yeandle has accumulated considerable property, but seems to work as hard as ever. His wife is a most excellent and lady- like woman, and they, with the two boys, Arthur and Pierre, con- Silver Cup Won By Hugh McGlinchy's Fine stitute the family. The portrait Percheron Horses at the 1907 State Fair of Arthur is seen on page 109 and that of Pierre seated in the cen- ter of the group on page 112.
Joe Artz, whose portrait is on page 89, settled on a claim here at an early day. He has for quite a number of years been mail carrier and is prompt and efficient and is an upright honest man.
On page 136 will be seen the portrait of Charles Sheen, who at an early day settled here on a claim. He was also a local clergy- man of the Anti-Polygamist Mormon faith, who preached to us often,
RESIDENCES OF PHILIP WAKEY AND JAMES VOLEK, HIGHMORE.
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
and in different parts of the county. He was an exemplary, con- scientious christian man and a good citizen.
H. C. Harris and family, whose portrait appears on page 114, are early residents of Highmore. Mr. Harris established his drug store at an early date and has prospered in business. He married Miss Ella McDonald. They have two children, Donald and Sumner. Mr. Harris is a member of the Board of County Commissioners.
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