USA > South Dakota > Hyde County > History of Hyde County, South Dakota : from its organization to the present time > Part 8
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James Barber enlisted August 15, 1862, in Co. J. 92nd Illinois Infantry and was discharged June 8, 1865. He was one of our earli- est settlers. He died July 27, 1900, leaving his wife and several children, who still reside in Hyde county.
Francis McKirk enlisted Oct. 24, 1861, in Co. H. 55 Illinois In- fantry and was discharged in August, 1865.
S. R. Meigs is mentioned later on, also C. E. Case.
Benj. F. McCutchecn enlisted August 20, 1864, and was dis- charged in August, 1865. He served in Co. F. 8th Illinois In- fantry.
ALEX ROBINSON
Paul Hendricks was Sergeant in Co. C. Ist Iowa Cavalry, and enlisted August 15, 1862, discharged March 15, 1866. He was an early resident in Hyde county and much to the regret of all of us moved to Miller, S. D., about two years ago where he still resides.
E. E. Barnes enlisted August 1, 1861, in Co. E. 27th Indiana Infantry and was discharged December 15, 1864.
Geo. W. Sanders enlisted in Oct., 1861, was Captain in Co. B. 85th Pennsylvania Volunteers and discharged December 15, 1865.
Samuel G. Trine enlisted April 4, 1862, and was Sergeant in
RESIDENCE OF W. B. HAMLIN, HIGHMORE, S. D.
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Co. F. Illinois Infantry, discharged September 28, 1864. He was an early resident of Highmore; was a painter by trade. He died in Pierre, S. D., in 1907.
The above list comprises as near as we can tell by the records, the original or charter members of John A. Dix Post at Highmore. In all there have been about fifty enrolled upon the books of this Post and at present there are living in Hyde county the following named old soldiers:
CAPT. O. R. VAN ETTEN
Capt. O. R. Van Etten, the veteran temperance lecture, is a native of New York. He was born on a farm in Cayuga county, July 14, 1834, and his early day education was obtained in the coun- ty schools, with other farm boys, until at the age of 17, when he attended Moravia Seminary, where at the age of 20, he commenced teaching school, until the breaking out of the civil war, when he enlisted as a private in First N. Y. Battery, which was raised in the city of Auburn. Going through the war, he was engaged in 33 hard fought battles with the 6th army corps of the Potomac and at the close of the war came out Captain of the battery to which he belonged. He was wounded at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 3, 1864, and carries a souvenir of the event in the shape of a bullet which passed almost through his right arm and which he himself removed with a razor, Another leaden missile passed through his left leg, which he says moved so rapidly that he did not catch it. An incident worth mentioning is, that while at home on a furlough with his wounded arm in a sling, he was invited to make an address in the city of Auburn for the benefit of sick and wounded sol- diers, while addressing, he fainted and fell over, after which the hat was passed and a collection taken, which amounted to $1635.00 Captain says he delivered many other addresses after that for the same cause, but was never able to faint although he tried hard. At the close of the war, Capt. Van Etten was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Cayuga county, N. Y., in which office he gained quite a
FLOUR AFEED
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FEED STORE OF M. E. MILLER, HIGHMORE, S. D.
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
reputation as a private detective, and it was, while engaged in this work, that there was born within his soul, the urgent desire to be an instrument in the hand of God for putting down one of the greatest curses of our nation, the liquor traffic; to which cause he has since given 30 years of his life. He has lectured all the way be- tween the two oceans, twice from California to Maine, and has crossed the ocean and lectured in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, also in Canada. In his wanderings over the earth, he was mostly attracted to the Dakotas, which he says is the "Hub of the Universe" and he never loses an opportunity to speak its praises in which ever country he may be.
In November, 1883, the day after the survey was made, he filed on a tree claim in Hyde county, S. D., and on the 12th day of De- cember he put up the first building in what is Illinois township. In the spring of 1884 he first went to his new home driving an ox team from Huron to his claim, 77 miles. He then commenced breaking and improving his farm, but continued his lecture work from fall until spring, each year, and kept improving his farm and increasing it until it numbered 480 acres.
In the fall of 1889 he was elected to the last Territorial Legis- lature. During that time he introduced House Bill 55, which was to strike out the word male from our laws in regard to who had a right to vote.
In his lecture work in the Dakotas, he has delivered 1876 lec- tures.
The entire number of lectures delivered in various places on temperance numbers over 8,000. The Captain although having given 30 years to the temperance work, is still hale and hearty as a man of 50, and has great hope that the "White Flag" will float over every home at no distant day.
Captain Van Etten married Matilda S. McLean, a lady of Scotch descent, in 1857. She was a woman of kind and charitable nature, respected by all who knew her. She was with the Captain
FACULTY OF HIGHMORE PUBLIC SCHOOL 1907:03
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in all his Hyde county experiences on the claim and died here in 1905. Her portrait is on another page. Later on in 1907 he was married to Mrs. Mary Charlesworth. Their home is in Hyde county, although the Captain spends the greater part of his time in the lec- ture field, accompanied by his wife. Their portrait is on another page.
JOHN C. STONER, SR.
Was born February 21, 1844 in Muskingum county, Ohio; re- moved with his parents to Williamsport, Warren county, Indiana, in the spring of 1849; his father died there in November, 1853; removed with his mother and two brothers younger to his mother's family in Grant county, Wisconsin, arriving there on January I, 1854; lived there until November, 1857, then removed to Harrison county, Mo .; resided there until March, 1883; then came to Hyde county, South Dakota.
Entered the army in Co. G. 7th Missouri Infantry September, 1861; six months troops as a musician; was discharged about March 20th, 1862, on account of expiration of term of service; re- enlisted March 29th, 1862, in Company E, 3rd Regiment, Cavalry, Missouri Volunteers; was captured by the Confederates at fight at Newtonia, Missouri, on the 13th day of September, 1862; was in the Old Indian Fort at Fort Smith, confined in the old guard house until in November of that year; was also held prisoner at Little Rock, Ark., and finally sent to Hellany, Ark., and turned over to the Federals to await exchange; from there he was sent to parole camp at St. Louis, Mo .; after a furlough was sent to Company at Oceola, Mo., April Ist, 1863. During absence from the Regiment it had been consolidated with the 6th Missouri Cavalry and then served in Co. G. of that Regiment until June, 1864. On October 4, 1863, was captured with the entire command at battle of Neoshoe, Mo., but they were paroled on the ground, and declared exchanged during the winter of 1864. In June, 1864, re-enlisted as a veteran in the 13th Regiment Cavalry Missouri Volunteers. Served in the
MR. AND MRS. H. E. TAGG AND SON RICHARD
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Indian war on the western plains until Sept., 1865; was detailed as a clerk at Department Headquarters at St. Louis in September the same year, and was finally discharged at St. Louis February II, I866.
The above is a statement condensed of Mr. Stoner's army record. He was an early settler in Hyde County and a charter member of the John A. Dix Post. He has held the office of County Judge, Clerk of Courts and Auditor in Hyde County, and has been a Justice of the Peace for many years, all of which establishes his favorable standing with the people of Hyde County.
B. A. FOOTE
Benjamin A. Foote was born in New York state on the 21st day of September, 1843. He was married to Miss Lydia M. Burrows Sept. 22, 1870. He left New York state with his wife in March, 1872, and went to Nebraska where he farmed, and under the adverse conditions of that new country at that time, his four years of farming were wasted, for the grasshoppers harvested the crops. In 1876 he left Nebraska and went to Iowa where he lived until the spring of 1883, when he moved to Hyde County, S. D., where he took up a government claim, opened a farm and once more was up against the unfavorable circumstances of a new coun- try, but wrestled through it, until in 1896 he was elected to the office of Register of Deeds and held this position for four years. Following that he was elected Treasurer of Hyde County which office he held for four years.
During the Civil War Mr. Foote took part in it from start to finish. He enlisted November 30th, 1861, for three years or during the war, and was soon after appointed Commissary Sergeant of the regiment. His first enlistment was in the 76th Regiment, New York Volunteers but served only two years, for the reason that the government desired a re-enlistment at that time, for three years more, making a five years service, hence he re-enlisted Jan. Ist, 1863, and at the expiration of the term of service of his regiment,
MR. AND MRS. GEORGE W. COMSTOCK
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while in the field at Culpeper, Virginia, he was transferred as Com- missary Sergeant to the 147th New York Regiment, and at the end of the term of service of this regiment was transferred to the 9Ist Regiment as State Commissary Sergeant and held this position until the close of the war. He was with the Army of the Potomac in all its campaigns, at Fredericksburg, Buli Run, Chancellorville, Wilderness, Antietam, Gettysburg, and at all other places where the Army participated, and was present and saw the surrender of General Lee's army at Appomatox April 9th, 1865. From there he marched with his regiment to Washington, D. C., and took part in the two days grand review of General Grant and General Sherman's armies and was discharged July 3rd, 1865.
Mr. Fcote is a quiet but highly respected citizen of Hyde County; is prominently identified with the Methodist Church, has been very efficient as a public officer and his integrity has never been questioned. He is still in the treasurer's office acting as deputy.
He has four daughters, Alice E. who married S. S. Meigs, Amy J. who married H. A. McDonald and Rose G. who married W. G. McLaughlin, all of whom reside in Highmore. The youngest daughter, Eennie Bee N., is still with her parents but is attending school at Huron.
RICHARD P. PILKINGTON
Mr. Pilkington was born in Bedford Burrough, Bedford Co., Pa., July 22, 1840. He enlisted in the service at his home town in response to the call of President Lincoln for seventy-five thous- and volunteers, on April 26th, 1861. The call was for three months service, which ended July 30th, 1861, when Mr. Pilkington received his discharge at Harrisburg, Pa. He then re-enlisted Sept. 5, 1861, in Company E 76th Pennsylvania Infantry, and his service in the Civil War continued until the 18th day of July, 1865. During the three months he was under the command of Gen. Patterson and after his re-enlistment he was under several different command- ers among whom were Generals Hunter, Mitchell and Gerry and
MASTERS DONALD AND SUMNER HARRIS
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was in the southern department until in 1864, when his regiment was made part of the Army of the Potomac. He was in frequent engagements among which was the battle of James Island, Morris Island, Tybe Island and the reduction of Ft. Pulaski; was front of Fort Sumpter and Charleston about a year, firing at intervals on both, and made two charges on Ft. Wagner; was in Spotsylvania a short time, went to Cold Harbor, then front of Petersburg and after that at Deep Bottom. At this latter place he was wounded which sent him to the hospital at Fortress Monroe about a month. He left the hospital in October, 1864, and was afterwards at Ber- muda Hundred under the command of General B. F. Butler. They undertook to reduce Fort Fisher and Fort Buchanan in North Carolina but were unsuccessful, but under Gen. A. H. Gerry an- other attempt was made in which they succeeded. They then marched through North Carolina in the spring of 1865 and joined the army of Gen. W. T. Sherman. While between Wilmington and Raleigh they heard the good news of the surrender of Lee's army, and the sad news of the assassination of President Lincoln. Was at Raleigh when Johnson surrendered, and remained there until July, 1865, when he was honorably discharged.
Mr. Pilkington went into the army as a private, but a few months afterward was promoted to sergeant. After that he was further promoted to 2nd lieutenant, then to Ist lieutenant and then to that of captain, which rank he held at the time of his discharge. Some years afterward he went into the mining district of Nevada, and in 1880 by an explosion in a silver mine he lost his eye sight entirely and has remained blind ever since. He settled in Wash- ington Township, this county, in April, 1883, and put up the first claim house, 12x16, in that township. He has remained in the county since that time and now resides with his wife in Highmore. The people of Hyde County need not be told that Captain Pilking- ton is one of the best of men for they know it already. He com- mands the respect of ail.
MR. AND MRS. E. J. QUINN AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
WILLIAM B. HAMLIN
Mr. Hamlin was born at Pottsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York, March 22, 1841. He enlisted at Bellville, in Jefferson Coun- ty, New York, as a private, April 7, 1861, in Captain Jack Barney's Co. K 24th New York Volunteer Infantry for the period of two years. The regiment was organized in Elmira, New York and left there for Washington July Ist, 1861, and reached their destination in time to spend the 4th in the capital city. They went into camp on the 17th near Georgetown, and received their first arms, the Harper's Ferry musket, old flint locks made over into cap locks. They were then drilled continually in the manuel of arms and tar- get practice until Sunday, the 21st day of July, when they were marched to the arsenal where the old guns were turned in and in their places they received the Enfield rifle. The regiment then marched across the long bridge into Virginia and advanced about ten miles to Baily's cross roads where they met McDowell's retreat- ing army which had been defeated and demoralized at Bull Run. They remained in that vicinity as a part of Mcclellan's grand army until the spring of 1862 when they advanced on Manassus, captur- ing the line of fortifications which the "Johnnies" had occupied during the winter of 1861-2. In the spring of 1862, when Mcclellan embarked his army for the James, they were left with McDowell's army which advanced to the Rappahannock River and captured the city of Fredericksburg. Their first great battle was the second Bull Run under Gen. John Pope. Here Mr. Hamlin was wounded and was taken prisoner; was paroled on the field and sent through the lines under a flag of truce to Alexandria where he re- mained until he was exchanged. He then rejoined the army under Burnside, engaged in the battle of Fredericksburg and Chancellors- ville under Gen. Hooker and was mustered out of service May 29th, 1863, which was the expiration of his enlistment. He then re-en- listed as sergeant in Company F Ist New York Veteran Cavalry on the first of Sept., 1863 for three years or during the war. He joined
MR. AND MRS. E. M. VOLZ AND FAMILY
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the army of the Shenandoah at Harper's Ferry, took part in the campaigns under Siegel, Hunter, Crook and Sheridan, and after the valley campaign ended in the fall of 1864, was sent to the Kanawah Valley where they were engaged in scouting and bush- whacking until the close of the war. He was mustered out of service July 20th, 1865, after having served a little more than four years.
Mr. Hamlin came to Hyde County in the spring of 1883 from Chicago, Ill., and settled on a government homestead. We asked him what he had to say for himself since his arrival here and re- plying said he had no great success but had always managed to pay his debts and keep the wolf from the door, but the writer will add to this that Mr. Hamlin and his family, after residing on the farm several years, moved to Highmore, bought a very fine residence property and are taking life easy. He has been police justice several years and is now chief of police in Highmore. His oldest son, Norman, is a prosperous former near Sioux Falls, S. D .; his son, Will, is a highly respected citizen of Hyde County living on his farm near Holabird. James and Mary are both at home in High- more while Grace is married to Fred Corwin and they reside at Puyallup, Washington.
HENDERSON WINANS
Mr. Winans was born in Miami county, Ohio, on December 12, 1835, and his likeness, seen on page 35, was taken on his 72nd birthday in 1907.
He came to Wisconsin with his father and four brothers in 1843 and they settled at Council Hill, a small town near Galena, Il1.
In 1856, in company with two friends, he went to the "Pine- ries" as central Wisconsin was then known, locating near Stevens Point, in which county (Portage) he remained a number of years.
He engaged in the lumber business until his enlistment in Co. B. 14th Regiment Wisconsin Infantry in 1863. Was married Jan.
MR. AND MRS. C. K. MORTON AND FAMILY
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2, 1850, to Lavinia E. Woodworth. He left his wife and baby, A. D. Winans, a year old when he joined his company at Madison, Wisconsin, January 4, 1864.
He participated in the siege of Atlanta where he received an injury to his spine, which left him unfit for manual labor for nearly two years. He was at Vicksburg with Grant, with Sherman at Atlanta, with Thomas at Nashville and Canby at the taking of Mobile. He was in the hospital forty days, from where he was sent to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, reporting to Surgeon General E. B. Wol- cott, and later discharged with the balance of his company at Mad- ison, Wisconsin, in October, 1855. He came to Beadle county, S. D., in 1883, and to Hyde county in March, 1884, settling in Van Order township, where he resided for five years.
In 1892 he purchased the dray business of Wm. Little; the suc- ceeding fall himself and son bought the livery stock of Clark & Hague and after five years he sold out his interest to his son, A. D. After spending the summer trying to find a better location, he returned to Hyde county and rook a homestead in Eagle township, proved up in five years and has resided in Highmore ever since.
He is a loyal member of John A. Dix Post and has been for 16 years. He attended two national encampments and five state re- unions.
Mr. Winans and wife still reside in Highmore, taking life easy, and they command the highest respect of the community.
ADOLPH WALTHER
Mr. Walther has not been long a resident of Hyde County, came to Highmore in March, 1906, built a very nice residence and takes life easy. He was born in Germany in 1836, emigrated to this country and took part in the civil war. He enlisted in Com- pany E 20th Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers at Watertown, Wis., on the 12th day of August, 1852, and received an honorable dis- charged at Galveston, Texas, in 1865. He was in nine important battles among which were Prairie Grove, Springfield, Mo., Mobile
RESIDENCE OF C. A. GRAY, HIGHMORE, S. D.
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and Fort Morgan. He is a quiet, unassuming man and a good neighbor.
CHARLES E. CASE
Mr. Case was born in Williamstown, Oswego county, New York, March 23, 1842. On the 23rd day of August, 1862, he enlisted in Co. A IIO New York State Volunteers for three years or during the war. He enlisted at Oswego City, where his regiment was organ- ized, went from there to Baltimore, and then spent two months drilling at Patterson Park, Md. Went from there to New Orleans in the fall of 1862 and made winter camp at Algiers. In the spring of 1863 his regiment went north into the interior of Louisiana near Opelousas, where they performed provost duty, which resulted in their return to New Orleans with a train load of contraband negroes and cotton from up the Mississippi river. Went to Port Hudson in June, 1863, where a charge was made, and soon after, Vicksburg surrendered, also Port Hudson. They then went from that point to Dry Tortugas, Florida, which was in the spring of 1865, where they performed garrison duty until August, 1865, when orders came to proceed to Albany, New York, for final discharge and Mr. Case was discharged September 28, 1865. He was under the command of Gen. Banks at first, and while at New Orleans under the com- mand of Gen. Butler. In 1863 while marching to Opelousas they encountered a rebel force, which made a stand and threw up breastworks, but were routed, but a comical feature of the conflict was, their fighting was mostly on a sweet potato patch, where the fighting soldiers between times would dig out a potato with their bayonet, and were munching these while pouring the lead into the enemy.
Mr. Case came to Hyde county in 1884, settled on a claim in Illinois township, and in 1893 secured residence property in High- more, where he and his wife now reside. Mr. Case bears his sixty- six years lightly, is active and respected as a citizen.
MR. AND MRS. DUNCAN McDONALD AND FAMILY
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
JOHN E. WHIPPLE
Mr. Whipple is a Vermont Yankee, born in Brattleboro, that state, August 29, 1835. He enlisted in the Ist Vermont Cavalry September 1, 1861, at his native town for three years. His regi- ment was organized at Burlington, Vermont, and from there went to Washington, D. C., and was under drill during that winter. Joined the army of the Potomac. Was under General Porter and also under Gen. Banks. Was with Banks in his retreat across the Potomac to Winchester, and after that under Gen. Pope. Was in the Cedar Mountain fight and in the second Bull Run fight, also in the fight at Gettysburg, and afterwards started for Antietam, but was changed over to the defense of Washington. After that went with Gen. Grant to the Wilderness, and then with Gen. Sheridan to the Shenandoah Valley and while at Cedar Creek his time ex- pired and he was mustered out November 14, 1864. In April, 1884, Mr. Whipple came to Hyde county and settled with his family on a government claim and has resided here ever since. He has wrestled with the adverse conditions of a new country here in Hyde county along with the rest of us, but now owns two quarter sections of land is well-to-do and prosperous. As a citizen he is quiet and unassuming, but is the soul of honor and one of the best of Hyde county citizens.
JAMES L. HUMPHREY
Mr. Humphrey enlisted at Camp Butler in the state of Illinois and was enrolled Sept. 30, 1864. He could not have enlisted earlier in the war on account of his age, and as it was he did not reach the required age, which was eighteen, until a week after he was enrolled. He enlisted for one year or during the war and had no other expectation than to go at once into actual service and no doubt would have been so engaged, but for the close of the war in 1865. The government at that time was having serious work in rounding up men who had been drafted and in getting them to the front, in fact a large body of soldiers were detached for that very pur-
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LIVERY AND FEED BARN OF A. D. WINANS, HIGHMORE, D. S.
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pose. He enlisted in Company G 146 Illinois Infantry Volunteers and in service the headquarters of his regiment was at Camp But- tler. During the winter following his enlistment, he was engaged in that detached service of gathering up stragglers and drafted men and marching them to the front. There were then "bounty jumpers," men who had received a bounty and then deserted. Mr. Humphrey with his comrades had one fellow in the guard house who had jumped the bounty nine times, and caught at last he was soon after shot. They were in several different states, and con- stantly on the march. On account of sickness Mr. Humphrey went to the hospital and while at the hospital, having been there about a month, was honorably discharged from the service June 12, 1865.
Mr. Humphrey was born in Washington, Kentucky, Sept. 15, 1846, moved with his father to Illinois in 1856, married to Elizabeth Moore December 27, 1868, and came to Hyde county in March, 1884, and still resides here with his wife. He is in good comfortable circumstances and commands the respect of his neighbors and of the community in which he lives.
JACOB MYERS
Mr. Myers was born in Washington county, Maryland, in 1848 and lived in Buckley county, West Virginia, during the civil war. He enlisted in the 3rd Virginia Cavalry Company C in 1863 for three years or during the war. Mr. Myers served under General Sheridan, who is known in history as one of the bravest and most gallant of military officers during that terrible conflict, and under the General fought in all the battles from the Potomac to the Shenandoah Valley and was at City Point when it was taken from them. When it was known that Johnson had surrendered they went to Washington City and then to Wheeling, where Mr. Myers was discharged. He was an early settler in Hyde county, and with his good wife has brought up their family here, all of whom still reside here. He is a good citizen, has a competence and in the en- joyment of good health.
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