USA > South Dakota > Minnehaha County > History of Minnehaha county, South Dakota. Containing an account of its settlements, growth, development and resources Synopsis of public records, biographical sketches > Part 54
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Although at this time the South Dakota Mission under his charge was passing through a depressing ordeal, resulting from an out- break of the Indians in the Niobrara Deanery, and a severe drought in the Eastern Deanery, Bishop Hare, in compliance with what he thought to be his duty, set sail from San Francisco on the 10th day of March, 1891, and returned to Sioux Falls on the 20th day of Au- gust, following, having spent the months of April, May, June and July in active work in the field. In January, 1892, he again went to Japan, remaining there until March 2, then visited China, and re- turned to Japan, March 25, and after holding a convocation at Tokio, set sail for San Francisco, March 31, 1892. During his stay in Japan he confirmed four hundred and fifteen persons, licensed upward of thirty Catechists, and ordained six Deacons.
This commission to Bishop Hare was a great compliment, com- ing from the source it did and the manner in which it was conferred.
Another very appropriate and beautiful compliment was paid the Bishop at the great triennial convention of the Episcopal church held at Washington, D. C., in October, 1898. In commemoration of the
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twenty-fifth anniversary of his consecration, and the great work per- formed by him among the Indians, he was presented with a "Loving Cup" engraved as follows: "The Right Reverend William Hobart Hare, D. D. From Friends Who Love Him. 1873-1898." It is a silver cup, or urn, with three handles, and stands eleven inches high, with a width of six and a half inches at the brim, and a depth of nine inches to the bowl.
It would not be just to the Bishop, to omit mentioning the stand he has taken upon the question of divorce. He has not only from the pulpit severely criticised the laws of South Dakota in reference to divorce, but has during the sessions of the legislature visited Pierre and brought his great influence to bear upon the pending legislation in reference to the subject. He is the recognized leader of those persons in South Dakota who are opposed to the enactment of such laws as would induce parties desiring a divorce to take up a tempo- rary residence within her borders for such purpose.
In concluding this biographical sketch, it is a pleasure to add that his multitude of friends in South Dakota are rejoiced that the good Bishop, notwithstanding the severe hardships and exposures en- dured by him, still retains such a measure of health and vigor as to warrant the expectation that he will, for many years to come, be spared to work in the great field committed to his charge.
HARRIS, JOSHUA B., was born at Franconia, Graftoncounty, New Hampshire. He attended common schools and worked on a farm un- til twenty-one years of age, and then went to New York city where he remained four years when he returned to his old home and worked on his father's farm two years. In 1852 went to Watertown, Wis- consin, where he remained two years and then took up and lived on a farm in Gooodhue county, Minnesota, four years. In 1858 he went to Colorado, where he resided until 1861, then returned to Wiscon- sin and in October of that year enlisted in Co. D, 16th Wisconsin, and served through the war. He held a non-commissioned office in his company at the time of his discharge. At the close of the war he returned to Watertown, Wis., and resided there three years, and then went to Owatonna, Minnesota, where he lived until he removed to this county, arriving in Sioux Falls on the 20th day of March, 1877. He took up a homestead in Wellington township, where he resided four years and then removed to Sioux Falls. On the 1st day of Feb- ruary, 1893 he went to the Soldiers' Home, and in 1895 was appointed sergeant at the home, which position he still holds. His family re- sides in the city of Sioux Falls. He is an honest, upright man, and a good citizen.
HARRISON, CHARLES M., was born in Springfield, Ohio, June 22, 1857. In his early youth he attended the common schools and then entered Moore Hill College, where he was graduated on his seven- teenth birthday. He then studied law, was admitted to the bar, and practiced his profession at Lebanon, Indiana, until he removed to Dakota. He located at Huron on the 17th day of February, 1882, as the manager of the F. T. Day Loan Agency, and remained there in that capacity ten years. He was a member of the house of represen- tatives of the South Dakota legislature in 1891. On the 15th day of
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April, 1893, he removed to Sioux Falls and opened a real estate and loan office. He is the general manager of the loan department of the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company of Hartford, Conn., for the states of Minnesota and South Dakota. Mr. Harrison is a wide-awake business man, an enterpising citizen and has a wide cir- cle of warm friends.
HAWKINS, ROBERT C., was born at Plattsburg, Clinton county, New York, July 23, 1825; removed to Illinois in 1844, and from there to Richland Centre, Wisconsin, a few years after, where he engaged in farming and worked at his trade of mason. While there, held sev- eral local official positions, was chairman of the town board of super- visors, town clerk, town treasurer, chairman of the county board, justice of the peace and sheriff of Richland county one term. After the breaking out of the war in 1861 he raised the first company from Richland county and went out as captain of Co. H, 5th Wisconsin and served nearly two years, when he was discharged, owing to disabili- ties contracted in the service.
Soon after the close of the war he removed to Woodstock, Wis., where he engaged in the mercantile business; came to Sioux Falls in September, 1872, and worked at his trade for two or three months. His last job was at Joseph Davenport's place, where he was compell- ed to remain two or three days after his work was done, owing to a blizzard. He soon after started for Wisconsin, via St. Paul, and was a week getting to that city. He finally arrived in Wisconsin and on the 23d day of December married Harriet Albertson. The following spring (1873), returned to Sioux Falls, where he has since resided. He took up a homestead in Wayne, the south half of the southeast one-fourth of section 33 and the south half of the southwest one- fourth of section 34, which he now owns. He worked at his trade for about two years, in Sioux Falls; in 1874 was elected justice of the peace and held that office, except one term, until elected police jus- tice when the city was incorporated in 1883, and held this office until April, 1894. He has also held the office of probate judge of Minne- haha county eight years. He is well known in Masonic circles, and the prosperity of this order in Sioux Falls is in no small measure due to his untiring zeal in its behalf. He is highly respected as a neighbor and citizen.
HIGBY, GEORGE M., was born at Shelburne Falls, Massachu- setts, December 20, 1854. In his early youth he attended the public schools, but was thrown upon his own resources to obtain a liveli- hood when less than fifteen years old. In 1870, he went into the em- ploy of the Estey Organ Company located at Brattleboro, Vermont, and remained with them until he removed to Sioux Falls in January, 1890. While a resident of Brattleboro he was one of the trustees of the village for three years, auditor seven years, and treasurer and clerk two years; the two last named offices he resigned when he went West. From 1890, until 1894, he was engaged in stenographic work in connection with E. P. White. Upon Judge Jones assuming the duties of circuit judge he received the appointment of stenographer for the circuit court in the second judicial circuit, which position he now holds. He is a good citizen, and makes a good official.
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HERRON, FRANK G., was born at La Crosse, Wis., August 16, 1857; moved with his parents to Topeka, Kansas, and from there to Ohio, and from Ohio to Indianola, Iowa, in 1869; was educated in the public schools, and commenced to learn the printer's trade in 1874, which occupation he has since followed. On the 18th day of July. 1888, came to Sioux Falls, and was employed as foreman by Sam T. Clover, in his printing establishment, and remained as such until T. H. Brown went into the printing business when he became his fore- man, and has held the same position with Brown & Saenger since the firm was established. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., the Typographical Union, and the Royal Arcanum, of which he is also the secretary. Mr. Herron is socially up to the standard, is a pleas- ant man to do business with, and is a highly respected citizen.
HINDE, EDMUND C., was born in England June 16, 1854; received a classical education, and upon attaining his majority entered the civil service as assistant auditor in the post office department, where he remained several years; came to the United States in 1886, and engaged in farming in Minnesota until the fall of 1892, when he came to Sioux Falls; in February, 1893, was employed in the county treas- urer's office as bookkeeper, and just before the close of Charles L. Norton's term as county treasurer in 1894, was appointed deputy treasurer, which position he held for a few months under John Mundt's administration, and then again became the bookkeeper of the office. Soon after Mr. Langness assumed the office of county treasurer, he was again appointed deputy treasurer, and has held that position since then. Mr. Hinde is a gentleman on all occasions, and is popular with the people with whom he has business relations. He is highly respected as a citizen.
HODGE, GEORGE ALBERT, is a native of Ontario county, N. Y., and was born March 28, 1808. He attended school and worked on a farm until fourteen years old, when he commenced work at the black- smith's trade. Upon attaining his majority he engaged in black- smithing in his native state for several years, and then moved to Salem, Kenosha county, Wis., where he continued in the same busi- ness until he had fully completed forty years in this trade. He was postmaster at Salem eight years; justice of the peace twenty-two years, and held other town offices. After leaving Salem he resided in Chicago three years, and at Freeport, Ill., and Sioux City, Ia., for a short time. He came to this county and located at Sioux Falls De- comber 29, 1879, where he has since resided. Notwithstanding his great age he is frequently seen upon the streets, and the elasticity of his step and his general bearing would indicate that he was twenty years younger than his actual age. He is a highly respected citizen.
HOLLISTER, FREDERICK H., was born in Rockford, Illinois, Au- gust 21, 1865. He attended the public schools and completed his education at a business college, where he was graduated. In 1888 he came to Sioux Falls, and with his brother, W. C., engaged in the loan business. When the State Banking and Trust company was organized he became its cashier, and has remained as such since that time. He is a first-class business man and a popular citizen.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
HOLLISTER, WILLIAM C., is a native of Rockton, Illinois, and was born on the 18th day of November, 1863. He was educated in the city schools and at a commercial college in Milwaukee, Wiscon- sin. In June, 1881, he came to Sioux Falls and went into the First National bank, where he held the positions of bookkeeper and teller until September, 1885, when he went to Illinoisand spent the winter, returning to Sioux Falls in the spring of 1886. He then became con- nected with John Lewis in the loan and insurance business for some time, and then engaged in real estate and loan business by himself until February, 1891, when the State Banking and Trust company of Sioux Falls was organized, and Mr. Hollister became its president, which position he has since held. Although a young man he has es- tablished a good business reputation and is proving to be a success- ful banker. Socially he is up to the standard.
HOLT, WILLIAM H., was born in Connecticut, July 13, 1846. When four years of age he removed with his parents to New York city. He afterwards lived in Ohio and Iowa, and came to Sioux Falls in 1871 from Cherokee with William VanEps. For several years after coming to Sioux Falls he was in the employ of Mr. Van Eps, and also worked for C. K. Howard several years. He was deputy county clerk in 1871-2. In 1873 he was appointed sheriff to fill vacancy, C. A. Lindstrom, who had been elected, having failed to qualify. Mr. Holt was village clerk for the years 1880-1-2, and city clerk and auditor from 1882 until May 1892. He has for a good many years been prominent in Masonic matters, officially and otherwise. He commenced in the insurance business in 1886, but abandoned it to engage in farming in 1893.
"Billy Holt" has some traits of character that make him popu- lar. He is a staver in everything he undertakes, and no one will ever charge him of deserting a friend. He is a genial, good fellow, and as full of sand as a man can be and have any reasonable pros- pects of a long life. It is not too much to say that there are but few men better known in the county, and he has a host of friends.
HOWARD, CHARLES K., a pioneer closely connected with the early settlement of this section of the country, was born in Delaware county, New York, May 17, 1839. His father was a hotel keeper, and he worked about his father's hotel and attended the district schools un- til he was about eighteen years of age, when he went to an academy at Hamilton, New York, for one year. At twenty years of age he went to Sioux City, Iowa, and commenced trading in land and town lots, making a little money, but losing it in the fall of 1857, when everything became demoralized in the West. He then went into the employ of the American Fur Company at Fort Pierre, where he re- mained two years. His next business was steamboating on the Mis- souri river -two years as a pilot and two years as captain of the boat In 1863 he went into the drug business in Sioux City. Soon after the establishment of a military post at Sioux Falls he became interested in a sutler's store there. This business, however, was in charge of his employes and Mr. Howard himself did not come to Sioux Falls to reside until a year or two later.
CHARLES K. HOWARD.
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His history after coming to Sioux Falls is what we have princi- pally to record, and it is more unique and interesting than that of any other person who has ever resided in Minnehaha county. When he first came to Sioux Falls there were only the government buildings and a stone building in the rear where the Norton-Murry block now stands. He first moved into the officers quarters, and afterwards lived in the stone house for a year. After the sutler's trade had come to an end he kept on in trade mostly with the Indians until im- migration began to bring white people to Sioux Falls and vicinity. He had a trading post at Flandreau, and his trade there and at Sioux Falls was principally in furs. One spring he purchased not less than 75,000 rat skins besides other furs. He remained in the mer- cantile business in Sioux Falls until he sold out to D. Elwell in 1883.
Mr. Howard erected the first frame building in Sioux Falls on the corner of Phillips avenue and Tenth street - a small building for a store - and soon after he built a small residence near by. During his residence in the city he built a large number of buildings, and the second brick building in the county.
Soon after the immigration had set in, and the settlers had com- menced cultivating the soil, the grasshoppers came and devoured the crops. It was during that time that this big-hearted man endeared himself to the pioneer settlers of Minnehaha county. He not only kept up his own courage, but encouraged others to hold on, and with a generous hand helped them to do so. He said to the writer that at one time he had at least one hundred thousand dollars charged on his books. About this time D. B. Hubbard of Mankato shipped in ten car loads of flax, and Mr. Howard distributed it among the farmers who had no seed. The story is frequently told, and it is strictly in accordance with the facts, that a farmer who resided in Sverdrup went to Mr. Howard after having fought grasshop- pers in vain for two years in endeavoring to save his crops, and said to him: "I have got 160 acres of land and a team. I am discouraged, andI want to sell you my team, and leave the country." Mr. Howard told him to stay and put in his crops, and he would guarantee him thir- teen bushels of wheat per acre that season if he would give him all he raised in excess. The farmer agreed, and a contract was drawn up to that effect and signed, and the crops put in. In the fall Mr. How- ard received about seven hundred bushels of wheat under the terms of this contract. The farmer referred to still resides in Sverdrup and is in good circumstances.
Mr. Howard was a pioneer in all that the term implies. He has seen quite a portion of the present site of Sioux City an Indian corn field, and when he first camped at Yankton there was not a house nearer to his tent than 65 miles, and the nearest railroad station was St. Joseph, Missouri, and when he first came to Sioux Falls there was only one house on the road between here and Sioux City. Dur- ing the first years of his residence in Sioux Falls he did quite a large business in freighting to and from Sioux City. This was done with ox-teams driven by Indians.
In speaking of blizzards he said: "The January blizzard of 1888. was nothing compared with the blizzards of the sixties and seventies.
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I was one time coming from Sioux City to Sioux Falls with a pair of mules and got caught in one near where Canton is now located. I turned the mules loose and got myself into a hole in the ground-a trapper's ranch-and remained three nights and two days. I had nothing with me to eat, but the second day I found some kernels of corn and some small traps in the dugout, and I set the traps in front of the hole and succeeded in catching three prairie chickens, which I cooked and ate. After the storm was over I found my mules safe; they had found shelter in some brush on the bank of the river. I was camped at Fort Thompson the year of the Sully Expedition. There were 600 horses and mules killed in a blizzard at that place. During the winter of 1866-7 I had about 1,000 head of Texas cattle about five miles up the river from Sioux Falls, and a blizzard came on, killing about 250 of them-65 being found in a little sag. It was a curious sight to see the long horns sticking up through the snow-the snow was deep that year. I remember a blizzard in the sixties that occurred on the 14th day of April, and about eighteen inches of snow fell. Some Indian trappers were at Wall Lake and five or six of them died during the storm. I brought them in, made a box and buried them. But the old-fashioned blizzards are among the by-gones."
Mr. Howard was the first president of the village board of Sioux Falls, and was treasurer of the County of Minnehaha for eleven suc- cessive years. After disposing of his mercantile interests to Mr. Elwell, Mr. Howard went on to a large farm about four miles west of the city, where he remained until the spring of 1890, at which time he went to the Black Hills country in charge of the Dakota Cattle Company, where he still remains, and his host of friends are pleased to know that he is having great financial success in the business. No comments are necessary in writing a biographical sketch of a man like C. K. Howard, for the bare statement of his doings during a busy life are more explicit and satisfactory than any assertions or conclusions of the writer could possibly be.
HOWE, SOLOMON B., was born at McLean, Tompkins county, N. Y., March 3, 1862. He attended the district school and the academy at his home until 1878; was then employed with his father surveying for five years, and taught school for some time, until he removed to Dakota. He arrived at Valley Springs in this county April 11, 1884, where he was engaged as school teacher. When the Illinois Central railroad was built from Cherokee to Sioux Falls, he had charge of the surveying from Cherokee to Onowa. In the spring of 1889 he entered the office of D. C. Rice, city engineer of the city of Sioux Falls, and remained his assistant until June 22, 1893, when Mr. Rice died, and Mr. Howe was appointed city engineer to fill the vacancy. During the next two years he held no official position, but was engaged in surveying; in 1896 was again appointed city engineer, and has held this position since then. Mr. Howe is of genial tem- perament, well liked, makes a good official, and is a respected citizen.
HOWIE, MATTHEW, is a native of Waukesha county, Wis., and was born in May, 1851. He received a common school education, and
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then engaged in the grocery business, and in buying and selling stock. He came to Sioux Falls by stage from Yankton in April, 1878, and soon after opened a butcher shop, and engaged in buying and selling stock for twelve years. He then took up the real estate business, in which he still continues. He is a respected citizen.
HOWLAND, W. I., was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, September 14, 1859. He came to the city of Dell Rapids in March, 1883, and en- gaged in the mercantile business until 1895. At that time he re- moved to Sioux Falls to assume the duties of county auditor. In 1896 he was renominated to that office by acclamation by the Repub- lican party, but the fusion of the Democrats and free silver Repub- licans with the Populists defeated him at the election. He made a good official and was deservedly popular with those doing business with the office. After retiring from office he engaged in the insur- ance business at Sioux Falls for about one year, and then was ap- pointed internal revenue collector, which office he still holds. Mr. Howland is an enterprising, honest upright citizen.
HUBBARD, C. W., was born at Vernon, Windham county, Ver- mont, February 22, 1849. He received a good education, and when he was twenty-one years of age commenced business for himself in the vicinity of his birth-place. In 1875 he located in St. Paul, and became secretary for J. H. Drake, then connected with the land de- partment of the Omaha railroad company. In 1880 he came to Sioux Falls, and was secretary of the Queen Bee Mill company while the building was in the process of construction, and when completed, was its superintendent for a few months. He next engaged in an extensive stone business, getting out paving blocks and stone for building purposes, and he also built several large public buildings by contract. In 1890 he was elected to the lower house of the legis- lature of South Dakota, and in 1894 was elected sheriff of Minnehaha county ; was again nominated by the Republican party in 1896, but the whole ticket was defeated. In January, 1897, he removed to Chi- cago, Illinois. He is a genial, kind hearted man, an enterprising citizen, and has a host of friends.
HULL, REV. J. J., was born in Oswego county, N. Y., March 9, 1847. When eight years of age he removed with his parents to Jef- ferson county, Wisconsin. His father, who was a Baptist minister, settled his family in a log cabin in the woods, while he gave his time to preaching. The subject of this sketch being the oldest of four children was compelled to work hard to help support the family, ex- cept during the winter when he attended the district school. He was converted at the age of twenty-two years.
In less than five weeks after this he preached his first sermon, and within a few months received a call to become the pastor of two churches, one at Grand Prairie, Wis., and the other at Columbia in the same state. He remained with these churches five years, and large additions were made to the membership during his ministry. He also organized a church at Marcelon, Wis., with sixty members. In February, 1884, he came to Sioux Falls to attend the funeral of his father. The Free Baptist church of this place having just been
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organized with nine members, he received a call to become its pastor, which he accepted, and took up his residence in Sioux Falls on the 13th day of May, 1884. The church flourished under his charge dur- ing the two years he remained its pastor. At that time he removed to Valley Springs, where he built up a prosperous church, remain- ing there until April 1, 1890. He then returned to Sioux Falls to take charge of the Free Baptist church, which, during his residence at Valley Springs, had greatly diminished in membership, but he soon had it in a prosperous condition. In 1891 he went to New England and in a short time raised $9,000 for the endowment of a Free Baptist college at Winnebago City, Iowa. In October, 1892, he was a delegate to a general conference of his denomination at Lowell, Mass., and while there received the sobriquet of "Cyclone Hull." He remained pastor of .the Free Baptist church at Sioux Falls until he removed to Winnebago City, Iowa, in June, 1893.
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