USA > South Dakota > Hyde County > History of Hyde County, South Dakota : from its organization to the present time > Part 9
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MERCHANT'S HOTEL BUILDING, HIGHMORE, S. D.
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
E. W. LOWE
Mr. Lowe was born in New York state on the 4th day of August, 1833. He enlisted in Co. H New York volunteers on the 9th day of August, 1862. The regiment was mounted and went under the name "Ist Regiment of Dragoons." After his enlistment he was promoted to corporal, and once at the front he was with his regiment in all their engagements, at Deserted Farm, Black Water, Franklin, Suffolk, Peach Orchard, on the Peninsula, and in numerous raids in other parts of Virginia. Late in the fall of 1863 the regiment was sent to the Rapidan and did picket duty that following winter, where the rebel army was on one side of the river and the union army on the other side. On May 5, 1864, the regi- ment broke camp and crossed the river at Early's Ford, when the battle of the Wilderness commenced, and it was decidedly a hot place. May 7, 1864, the regiment with other cavalry was sent on a flank movement with their destination at White House Landing. It succeeded in flanking Fitz Hugh Lee's force, but a son of Gen. Lee scented their trail, made it hot for them all along the march, and at the Yellow Tavern near South Anna River the two forces met in a fierce artillery duel and cavalry charge. Here the rebel General Stewart was killed, they lost seven pieces of artillery and many prisoners were taken. Here Mr. Lowe was captured and taken to Libby prison and afterwards from there to Andersonville, where he remained until late in February, 1865. At that time he with others was paroled and taken to Willmington, where he met Col. Thorp and other officers of his regiment, and went with them on a boat to Annapolis, and was honorably discharged from the army May 9, 1865. After the close of the war he worked at his trade in Minneapolis, Minn., and moved from there to Hyde County, arriv- ing here July 23, 1895. He brought with him five Jersey calves, his household goods and five dollars in money, went to the old Thayer place in Highmore township, prospered from then on until
MISS FRANKIE WINANS
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he owns half a section of land, a considerable amount of stock and does not owe a dollar to any living man.
GEORGE W. COMSTOCK
On page 176 will be noticed a portrait of George W. Comstock and his wife. Mr. Comstock was a member of the John A. Dix post. He was born in New York state, enrolled in the service Feb. 10, 1864, in the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry and was discharged in July, 1865, being a corporal at that time. He settled in Eden Township in the early eighties and later was a resident of Highmore and died in Minnesota in 1907. He was an honest, conscientious citizen, and one of the best of men. His wife survives him, with two sons one John F., who is in business at the Cheyenne Indian Agency, the other, G. C., resides at Highmore.
EBENEZER SHOFF
Ebenezer Shoff is also a member of the post. He entered the service Sept. 1, 1861, in the 85th New York Volunteer Infantry and was discharged on account of disability in April, 1863. He resides on a farm in Union Township and is one of the substantial citizens of Hyde County.
LEVI LOUCKS
Levi Loucks was a member of the post, born in Michigan and died there several years ago. He enlisted in the 15th Michigan Volunteer Infantry May 2, 1861, and was discharged Sept. 18, 1865, after a service of more than four years. He resided in Hyde County for several years and later moved to Michigan. His two sons, J. R. and George, still reside here.
SYDNEY A. DIMMICK
Sydney A. Dimmick was a member of the post, was born in Pennsylvania, enlisted in the 144 New York Infantry Sept. 15, 1862, and was discharged in July, 1865. He died here several years ago, coming to Hyde County along among the first settlers. His wife now resides in Highmore.
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AN AUTOMOBILE SCENE HIGHMORE, S. D.
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HISTORY OF HYDE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA
Dow G. FRANCE
Dow G. France was an early settler in Hyde County, in Hola- bird Township. He was born in Sharon. New York state, and enlisted in the Ioth Wisconsin Infantry Sept. 16, 1861, was dis- charged Nov. 4, 1865, and was a member of the post. He was an honest man, of decided convictions and never hesitated to express his opinion upon all subjects. He died in Missouri several years ago.
HENRY P. FRENCH
Henry P. French was born in the state of Vermont and en- listed in Co. A 9th Vermont Infantry Dec. 26, 1863, and was dis- charged June 12th, 1865. He resided in Hyde County several years, but went away several years ago and now resides at Owatonna, Minnesota.
H. A. MILLER
H. A. Miller was born in Germany, enlisted Sept. 7, 1864, in Company D 211 Pennsylvania Infantry and was discharged Aug. 28, 1865. He was an early settler in Hyde County, was prominent in his township and had the confidence of all who knew him. He was a member of the John A. Dix post. He died in Hyde County in 1907.
D. O. WELCH
D. O. Welch was a resident of Hyde County for several years and was a member of the post. He enlisted in Sept., 1864, in Co. D 189 New York volunteers and was discharged in July, 1865. He resided on a farm, raised his family here and some of his children being residents of Highmore now. The portrait of Mr. Welch and his wife will be seen on page 14I.
JAMES GARVIE
James Garvie was born in Scotland. He enlisted in Sept., 1864, in Co. E 4th Iowa volunteer infantry and was discharged June 15, 1865. He resided in Highmore many years engaged prin-
LOOKING NORTH FROM CORNER OF IOWA AVENUE AND SECOND STREET HIGHMORE, S. D.
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cipally in the lumber business. He died at Hot Springs, S. D., in 1907. He was a member of the post.
G. BARKHUFF
G. Barkhuff is enrolled upon the post records. He enlisted in the army Aug. 27, 1864 and served in Co. D) 30th Missouri volun- teers until June, 1865, when he was discharged. He resided at Highmore several years in the wagon repair business and died in the western part of the state several years ago.
WILLIAM A. LOOMIS
William A. Loomis, an early resident of the county and for whom Loomis township was named, was a member of the John A. Dix Post. No mention is made on the record as to his enlistment, but he served in the Civil War. He now resides at St. Lawrence in Hand County, S. D., and is further mentioned under the Loomis Township mention.
WM. C. WOOLEY .
Wm. C. Wooley enlisted in Company H. of the 25th Michigan Infantry when that regiment was organized in 1862 and in October of that year the regiment left the state for active participation in the great struggle. In April, 1863, Mr. Wooley was made a regi- mental officer by being promoted from the ranks to Commissary Sergeant of the regiment. He thus served until the close of the war completing a service of three years and nine months. That regiment was in twenty two severe engagements. It left the state with 896 officers and men and returned at the close of the war with 353.
RESIDENCE OF L. W. CARTER, HIGHMORE, S. D.
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CHAPTER XI
HIGHMORE EXPERIMENT STATION
In the central part of South Dakota lies the Ree Valley, a broad expanse of level prairie, hemmed in at the horizon's edge by rounded hills, the moraines left by the glaciers that thousands of years ago brought the soil that has made the up- per Mississippi Valley the bread basket of the world. The soil is a rich glacial deposit, varying from 500 to 1,500 feet in depth. The upper soil is a dark loam formed by humus from the decay of the grasses through ages. Its fertility is practically inexhaustible. Under the glacial layer above the ancient shale is a sheet of water fed by drainage waters that constantly filter through the porous glacial drift. This forms a never-failing reservoir to feed the ar- tesian wells, of which hundreds have been sunk, in late years.
The prairie, in a state of nature, presents a panorama of vel- vety buffalo grass that rarely grows above a few inches in height and produces from one-half to one ton of nutritious hay per acre. While this wild hay could not be improved upon while the whole country is thinly settled, the thought has often occurred to the far- sighted farmer, "What will we do when the population increases so that the wild hay is not sufficient to supply the demands upon it."
An experiment station was established some years ago at High- more, the county seat of Hyde County, situated near the center of the Ree Valley. A piece of land, 130 acres, was presented to the state, which was known as the poorest farm in the township. The land was cleared of hard heads, put in a state of cultivation, and a system of selection, variety testing and crop rotation established.
The first object was to develop a drouth resistent legume. Al- falfas were obtained from Siberia, Turkestan and parts of the Unit- ed States where conditions of climate are similar. These were
IMPROVEMENTS ON THE STATE EXPERIMENT FARM AT HIGHMORE, S. D.
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planted in testing plots as well as rows which were cultivated for se- lection. The alfalfa has done everything expected of it. The present year it has yielded two cuttings of about one ton each per acre and in some years a third cutting has been obtained. Besides producing about four times as much hay as the wild sod, it improves the ground by adding nitrogen. The value of chopped alfalfa as a feed for cattle is well known, being equal, weight for weight, to bran. The crimson clovers tested, although they can be grown, cannot compare with it for this section.
Three kinds of brome grass have been thoroughly tested and carefully improved, the bromus intermis, as usual, winning the laurels. This grass grows to a height of from three to five feet and yields from one and one-half to two and one-half tons per acre. Timothies are a success, though in some seasons they fail to catch. Two kinds are grown-a long headed, short stemmed Russian var- iety and the common timothy.
The wild western wheat grass has been grown under conditions of cultivation and proves to be an unfailing yielder. Several other grasses are being tested and grown here, but those mentioned seem to be the winners commercially, and the farmer of the future South Dakota with his brome grass and alfalfa can compete well with the eastern farmer and his eastern grasses.
For heavy forage crops, cane, broom corn millet, millet and milo maize have all proved sure yielders and varieties have been improved and especially adapted. Seed is being sent out in small quantities and it is hoped that by the time the need is really felt a sufficient seed stock will be obtainable and the farmer will not be forced to take chances by planting seed not acclimated.
Of all the varieties of maize tried, the Minnesota No. 13 has averaged the best. A special strain is being developed for hardi- ness. Much is expected of a new variety known as the Brown County Yellow Dent.
Oats have yielded from 50 to 70 bushels per acre, and the qual-
CUTTING DURUM OR MACARONI WHEAT AT HIGHMORE, S. D .--. NOTE THE LARGE CROP
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ity is all that could be desired, plump, hard grain that will over- weigh.
One of the pictures shows the cutting of durum or macaroni wheat on the eighth of August. The illustration gives a good idea of the height of the grain. This wheat has yielded an average of 29 bushels per acre and this year will do much better. The fife and blue stem varieties have considerable red rust this year and some in- dications of black rust, but in most varieties this will not be serious enough to greatly reduce the yield. The bread wheats have an av- erage record of about 17 bushels per acre.
Barleys, both two and six-rowed and emmer, commonly known as speltz, have done well for a period of years, yielding ordinarily better than 40 bushels.
The work of the station is educational as well as experimental, being a branch of the State College at Brookings. Many visitors are shown over the place every day, getting object lessons in good farming. The secret of success in agriculture where the rainfall is light is a thoroughly plowed and compacted seed bed. Harrowing must be done with a heavy iron drag and should be repeated about three times. Pulverizing is important and must not be neglected.
For corn and other cultivated crops, frequent cultivation is im- perative and when ready for the last cultivation it should be laid back with an implement that gets all the weeds and leaves a thorough dust mulch. There are various makes of about equal value for this purpose. If possible, all suckers and short stalks should be removed so as not to tax the ground and the plant roots with unnecessary growth. The significant fact that the farmer or prospective farmer of this section can do all his work with machin- ery is most encouraging. Any farmer can obtain yields like those mentioned if he will plant good seed and use similar culture and crop rotation methods. The soil possesses its own fertility and will do its part .- Manley Champlin in the Sioux City Farmers' Tribune.
MR. AND MRS. JOHN NEWELL AND FAMILY
CHAPTER XII
BRAMHALL
This town was located on the NE quarter of II-112-73, a claim proved up on by James Cogan. This was purchased by W. N. Brayton and Wm. Fanckboner, and was laid out as a town and platted in August, 1883. Mr. Brayton was very enthusiastic over the prospects of a coming city there, and went to hauling stone and piling it up for future builders on the townsite. He discour- aged, however, later on sold out his interest to Mr. Fanckboner. The first building on the townsite was a store building owned by J. J. Hammer, who placed in it a stock of goods. He also was postmaster, afterwards succeeded by John Newell.
Bramhall at one time made some claims to future glory and prominence, it makes no such claim now as not a vestige of it remains except the two story schoolhouse, which alone marks the old townsite. At its start Wm. Fanckboner, proprietor of the town- site, proclaimed in a glowing advertisement it to be "A new town situated in the beautiful Ree Valley, and destined to be the future metropolis of Hyde County, Dakota. It is located on the Chicago Northwestern Railroad, midway between Huron and Pierre."
"Now is the time," said the advertisement further, "to invest in town property. Good water can be found anywhere on the townsite. Town lots will double inside of sixty days, merchants, mechanics, tradesmen and capitalists will find this a rare oppor- tunity." Alas! for the cruel verdict of time and also for the en- terprising Fanckboner. The land remains, but not the townsite, the lots failed to double in value in sixty days, there was no rush of merchants or mechanics, and no capitalist ventured a dollar. But still Bramhall had an existance. It had a hotel run by John Newell,
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also a store by Geo. Calmus, a blacksmith shop run by A. V. Schurtz, a meat market run by John Newell and a saloon kept by Geo. Calmus. It had at one time two newspapers, the Bramhall Blade and the Bramhall Pioneer. We have before us the Blade from No. I to No. 50. It was started by H. C. Shober with Harry Elder, as associate editor. In No. I its salutatory gets way up in G in editorial eloquence, and we quote as follows: "Politically we take pride in shouting for Blaine and Logan, but we shall studiously endeavor to steer our little craft clear of the factional maelstrom in which our county affairs are at present sadly en- gulfed, and view from afar the spreading havoc o f misused power; but when the chilling November blasts shall waft to our waiting ears the welcome wail of dying dissention, we will join the cortege that follow to the potter's field, and as the grim, gaunt and gostlike form unwept and uncoffined is lowered to its LOUIS ROLEWICH resting place we will reiterate with pleasure the hallowed phrase 'earth to earth and dust to dust.' " In the way of locals the edi- tor said he was in Highmore Wednesday, and saw two entertaining scenes, one was a tight rope act, the other was Tom Hadley doing up an important citizen on the county muddle question. Bramhall must have had a hall then, for the editor tells of a successful dance in Bowers' hall, where forty couples were present, and he grows eloquent again over the number of charming ladies who were in at- tendance. This paper also states that A. N. Van Camp delivered a
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temperance lecture there the Sunday evening before, that Nat Cline of Holabird had visited them, and that Mrs. Tryon had fallen down the cellar sustaining serious injuries. Bramhall was anxious for a side track, and was happy when in September, 1884, the com- pany gratified their wishes, soon after they were further gratified by the addition of a warehouse. Religious services were held reg- ularly in Bramhall at the school house, generally conducted by Rev. Charles Sheen of Van Order township. The April 4, 1885, number of the Blade mentions a birthday surprise party to Mrs. John New- ell, as an occasion of much pleas- ure and enjoyment. This paper also copies from a Michigan pa- per items of regret that Wm. C. Wooley had departed from their home town, Elba, and taken up his abode in South Dakota. The last store in town was run by John L. Howard, who was also postmaster, the only thing to keep him company was the flick- ering Blade, but soon the town- site was abandoned. The hot winds of that period, so to speak, seemed to blow the whole thing MRS. L. ROLEWICH away.
An action was brought by the owners of lots in the defunct town of Bramhall about two years ago, to have the townsite va- cated, which now enables the husbandman to plow, sow and reap where the distinguished metropolis once existed in great expectancy of coming events.
About seven years ago the railroad platform where was intend-
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ed a station house was still there when one night, to protect them- selves from a cold north wind, some cattle laid down on the track south of it. A freight came along and plowed into the cattle, throwing the train from the track, killing the firemen and demolish- ing the platform. All there is left of Bramhall now is the two story school house, and the memories of its former self both of which will disappear in a few short years.
CHAPTER XIII
HOLABIRD
The town of Holabird now consists of a single store kept by George Elfrink and a restaurant and stopping place kept by Frank Elfrink, also a lumber yard by the Atlas Lumber Co. run by Ray Stevens. The town in the early eighties consisted of several busi- ness houses and quite a number of residences. T. H. Maguire had a hardware store, T. W. Howey a drug store, Falde & Murphy a general store, also one kept by C. W. Grassmuck, John Reynolds a blacksmith shop, and William Morrison a saloon. Harry Byer run a lumber yard for J. H. Queal and Co., also A. W. Graham had a lumber yard. There was a railroad station there, with an agent and telegraph operator, and Geo. Hirsch at one time had a shoe shop where he did cobbling. L. Noggle was an agent for the rail- road company there for awhile. The resident portion of the town was principally on the Perkins addition, and consisted of houses oc- cupied by R. E. Murphy, C. B. Dingley and his son, Levi, and fam- ily, Seth Slawson and family, Chris Lexan and family, Mr. Lake and family. The Lake property was afterwards purchased by W. B. Hamlin, who with his family occupied it for a few years. James R. Smith, who was a resident there at that time, still lives there, and raised his family there. Mr. Smith's residence stands alone, while all of the other houses were long since moved away. The only house near is that of Del Smith, a son of J. R., who lives in a house he moved from Highmore. Mr. Smith is a down east Yankee from the state of Maine, also is his wife, and this will be easily discover- ed by a stranger when he sits down to their table to relish as good cooking as will be found anywhere, and if he finds there a pot of baked beans and is from Boston, he will think for a moment that he is back to that hub of the universe. Mr. Smith is a substantial
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citizen, and has acquired a competence. His son Charles, whose portrait is on page 86 is a prosperous contractor in Wyoming, Del lives at Holabird and is engaged in farming, James with his family on a farm near Holabird, his daughter married Arthur Graham, who resides in Shelby, Michigan. C. W. Grassmuck died this year in May at Minneapolis, Chris Lexan died in Pierre not long since, the result of an accident; T. W. Howey is at Carthage, S.D , he married a daughter of Charley Morton and was afterwards in Highmore run- ning a drug store. Mr. Morrison is in Chicago, a prosperous pho- tographer, and Mr. Noggle re- sides at Sioux Falls. Mr. Byer died several years ago, also Mr. Dingley and his son, Levi. Mr. Lake died some time since in this state; his son, Arthur, is a pros- perous business man in Gettys- burg, S. D. and we think another son, Grover C., died in the Phil- ippine war, a soldier there. We do not know the location of the others of the Holabird contingent except that R. E. Murphy, who was afterwards in business at J. R. SMITH Highmore, is now in the land business at Fort Pierre, S. D., and Mr. Falde is at St. Paul in some business there. While Hola- bird was in its prosperous days and before the commencement of its decline, there was much social enjoyment, and a feeling of fellow- ship. The school house in Holabird, a large two story building, was built in 1883, and is still there. In this building once a week in the winter time they had a lyceum, consisting of a variety of ex- ercises, and it was largely attended, for people came in from the
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country and the house was always crowded. They had a paper read each evening, machine poetry, so called, a debate and most excellent singing, and now and then a lecture. On Sundays there was preaching in the school house, generally of the Methodist faith. Sometimes the boys would celebrate some special occasion, and if any system of irrigation was necessary to loosen their tongues or enliven their action, the Morrison saloon was near by, and but few were backward in seeking that element of inspiration. We remember once on St. Pat- ricks day, when quite an aggre- gation, composed of the village inhabitants and some from the country, procured strips of green from a piece of castaway billiard cloth, this tied to billiard cues and other sticks, formed a pro- cession, whose enthusiasm and irregular foot step would have amused the admirers of the pat- ron Saint had they looked upon the scene. But there was no rowdyism, no profanity and no noise, it was a genuine exhibition of loyalty and love for the day and in honor of the name. MRS. J. R. SMITH
There was once talk of a Christian College there. Rev. Black made an effort to secure land for that purpose, but it did not materialize.
There was a hotel building built by C. E. Parish, who died in North Dakota in 1887; of good size and two stories, which was kept open in the days of Holabird prosperity; at one time kept by Nat. Cross and later on by J. R. Smith, both of whom were good land- lords. The building still stands there, wasting away in process of
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decay, and for want of care. It is owned by some wealthy man in the east who demands an exhorbitant price for it, and seems to take some special delight in keeping the unsightly structure on exhibi- tion, and prefers its gradual ruin rather than accept the price at its fair value.
At an early day in Holabird some fellow whose name we have forgotten, was employed to dig a well on the townsite. After he was down quite a number of feet, the soil caved in on him and res- cue was impossible in time to save his life. He was taken out but died soon after. He was buried somewhere near the town- site. After a touching ceremony, although no relatives or friends were present, he was laid away by the hands of strangers to him.
The cyclone, which came to Holabird in July, 1885, is men- tioned elsewhere.
A paper was published there for awhile by A. B. Vines. It had limited patronage, but it en- J. H. Smith and Family abled the publisher to procure grub enough to keep alive, for he did the cooking himself. It was called the Holabird Advocate.
But Holabird, Phoenix like, will arize from its ashes. One thing largely in its favor is its excellent water on the north, where is quite a rise in the ground, and the water is good and in quite an abundance. The future settlement of the country tributary to it will demand a town there of several hundred inhabitants, and that settlement will soon be made, and when Holabird makes another start it will be permanent, "Not for a day but for all time."
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At one time the store there was kept by Jonathan S. Harris, whose portrait appears on page 71. We first met Mr. Harris in 1882 in the stage coach on its way from Mitchell to Huron. He was bound for Hyde county. Soon after he located on a quarter section about two miles east of Holabird, now owned and occupied by Wm. O. Lawson. He built a comfortable house and its distin- guishing character from ordinary shacks, was, it was substantially built and painted white. After his habitation was completed his family came. Mr. Harris was the only Register of Deeds under the Ordway organization, and later on under the legal organi- zation was County Judge, and for several years was Justice of the Peace. He was in business at Holabird for eight years, and in 1900 moved to California, where his wife died soon after- wards. He now resides at Paci- fic Grove, California, where he and son, Charles, are in business.
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