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 58
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The difficulties surrounding the early days of nearly all institu-
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
tions of like character, have not been wanting in the history of the Sioux Falls College, but Mr. Meredith for ten years with great zealand generosity, labored in its interest. He also contributed several thousand dollars of his own means to its support while he was president. Mr. Meredith for several years was one of the largest real estate dealers in Sioux Falls, and had charge of some of the most important transactions in that line. He was a director and president of the Security and Guaranty Company, director and vice president of the Commercial Trust Company, director of the Union Trust Company and one of the directors of the Union National Bank; all of these institutions having their business headquarters in the city of Sioux Falls. He was also a director, and largely interested in the Eureka Milling Company, and was one of the promoters of the Wagon and Carriage Company, located west of the city.
That Mr. Meredith led an active, busy life, and was energetic and enterprising while a resident of Sioux Falls the foregoing most amply demonstrates. As a citizen he was well liked and highly re- spected, as a neighbor none could be more kind and obliging, and when he left the city of Sioux Falls in 1895, the expression of regret at his departure was universal.
MIKKELSEN, REV. AMUND, was born in Norway in 1835, and emi- grated to the United States in 1853; taught in the public schools for three years; studied for the ministry at Fort Wayne, Ind., and at St. Louis, Mo., and was ordained and entered the ministry in 1864. During that year he was married to Miss Ingeborg Nelson of Wis- consin, and remained in the same state in charge of a congregation until 1874, when he removed to Chicago to take charge of a congre- gation, and remained there until 1889. During that vear he received a call to come to Sioux Falls and become principal of the Lutheran Normal School, which he accepted, and held this position until 1891, when he resigned, but remained as one of the teachers in the school until 1896, when he again assumed the duties of principal, and has since been at the head of the faculty. Professor Mikkelsen is pos- sessed of all the requisites for the successful administration of this institution of learning, is scholarly, of equable temperament, com- panionable with the teachers and scholars, but firm in matters of discipline. He quite frequently supplies the pulpit in the St. Olaf's church in the city, and is an able preacher. He is an earnest Chris- tian worker, and since coming to Sioux Falls he and his estimable wife have greatly endeared themselves to a large circle of acquaint- ances.
MILLS, THOMAS JEFFERSON, is a native of Illinois. His parents came to New York with four other families and settled in Chicago for some time, and then removed to what is now the city of Aurora, Kane county, Illinois, where the subject of this sketch was born on the 22d day of September, 1837. When two years of age he removed with his parents to a farm in Lake county, Illinois, and lived there until he was seventeen years old. During the winters he attended the district school in a log school house, with slabs for seats, and re- ceived for any dereliction of duty the customary punishments in vogue
OWEN T. MCNULTY.
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REV. E. B. MEREDITH.
REV. A. MIKKELSEN AND WIFE.
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T. J. MILLS.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
at that time from the Atlantic ocean to the Mississippi river of sit- ting between two girls, holding his finger on a nail in the floor, or standing on a dunce block with a long paper hat on his head. In this manner Thomas received an education. When seventeen years of age he went to Chicago and worked as an apprentice at the carpen- ter's trade for three years, and then returned to farm life at his old home until October 9, 1861. At this date he enlisted in a cavalry company attached to the 52d Illinois infantry regiment. In 1863 this company became Company G, of the 15th Illinois cavalry. On the 22d day of August, 1864, he received his discharge and went home. where he remained one year and then went to Oskosh, Wisconsin, where he resided until the first day of January, 1870. At the last mentioned date he removed to Olmsted county, Minnesota, and resided there until he came to Sioux Falls on the 31st day of May, 1871, where he has since resided. He has worked at his trade since living in Sioux Falls, and during six years of the time was in the employ of C. K. Howard. Mr. Mills has always been regarded as a kind neigh- bor and exemplary citizen.
MONSON, MARTIN, was born in Skien, Norway, July 13, 1870, and emigrated to the United States, arriving at Sioux Falls in this county on the 6th day of June, 1888, where he has since resided. He worked at his trade of carpenter until March, 1898, when he became clerk in the county auditor's office, and on the first day of June following, was appointed deputy auditor, which position he held until the spring of 1899. He is quite active in political matters, makes a good official, and is a good citizen.
MORCOM, EDMUND D., was born in Lafayette county, Wiscon- sin, September 5, 1859, but when quite young moved with his parents to Hazel Green in the same state. He attended the common schools, and completed his education in the Normal school at Platteville, Wis- consin, and then engaged in teaching school for two years; clerked" awhile in a general store, and for a few months traveled for the An- dreas Publishing Co. of Chicago; solicited insurance in Iowa a short time, and then was employed as secretary by the superintendent of the commissary department of the C., B. & O. R. R. Co. until he re- moved to Sioux Falls in February, 1883, and entered the employ of the Insurance Company of Dakota; remained with this company until 1887, and then became the assistant secretary of the Western Fire & Marine Insurance Co., and held this position until it went out of business. In 1891 went to New Orleans in the employ of the Mil- waukee & Mechanics Insurance Co., and remained there one year; then returned to Sioux Falls, and engaged in the insurance business with John S. Lewis, under the firm name of Morcom & Lewis. On the 1st day of December, 1895, entered into a copartnership with E. S. Knowles in the insurance business, under the firm name of Morcom & Knowles, which copartnership still continues. He is the special agent for South Dakota of the National Fire Insurance Co. of Hartford, Conn .; has been a member of the school board of the city of Sioux Falls four years, three years of which he was its president. Mr. Morcom is a good business man, an enterprising citizen, active in political matters, and socially -- well, he has been king of a carnival.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
MORGAN, DR. JOHN CASS, was born on a farm in Portage county, Ohio, on the 4th day of February, 1843. While quite young he moved with his parents to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he re- mained until twelve years old. In 1855 went to Minnesota, where he resided until 1859, and then returned to his old home in Wisconsin. During his youth he worked on a farm, attended the common school, and took a partial academic course, and at the time of the breaking out of the rebellion had commenced the study of medicine. In 1861, he enlisted in Co. D, 7th Wis. Inf., and remained in the service until July, 1865; was wounded in the battle of Gettysburg, and on the 31st day of March, 1865, was again wounded while in battle, and this time so seriously that an amputation of one of his feet became neces- sary. After the war he resumed the study of medicine, attended the Medical University of Michigan, and finally graduated at Rush Medical College in 1869. Immediately after his graduation he com- menced the practice of medicine in Frankville, Iowa, where he re- mained until he removed to Sioux Falls in April, 1873. When he arrived in Sioux Falls there were three other physicians in the county, Dr. J. L. Phillips and the two Drs. Roberts, father and son. Dr. Morgan took up a timber claim in Lincoln county, and a home- stead and pre-emption in Benton township, this county, and has also purchased other real estate so that at the present time he is the owner of 1,010 acres of land. Since his residence in Sioux Falls, he has been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, and a long list of the early settlers will always employ him when needing medical attendance. He was county physician ten years, and for the same length of time the only pension examiner at Sioux Falls, and then one of the board of pension examiners, consisting of himself, Dr. LeBlond and Dr. Olney, for ten years more; was the health officer of the city of Sioux Falls several years, and the physician at the pen- itentiary and the school for deaf mutes since the location of these institutions until June, 1899. He has been a prominent member and official of the Minnehaha County Medical Society since its organiza- tion, and its president one year. He never could balance himself on a fence for a minute. He is always on one side or the other of every proposition that is of public interest, and within his circle everybody is aware which side he is sustaining. He is an energetic, honest cit- izen, a good friend, and, for a short time, a fairly good hater. As a
neighbor he is kind and obliging.
MORSTAD, PETER J., was born near the city of Christiania, Nor- way, on the 27th day of December, 1853. He came to the United States in 1870 and worked on a farm near Albert Lea, Minnesota for about five years; was traveling agent for a machine company known as Fuller, Johnson & Co., four years, and was clerk in a mercan- tile store two years and a half. In 1881 he moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota and engaged as clerk in M. I. Mendelson's clothing store for about seven months, when he and A. Christopherson bought the stock and continued the business under the firm name of Morstad, Christopherson & Co. for about three months. On the 18th day of December, 1882, the building occupied by them was destroyed by fire and being unable to rent another building at that
DR. JOHN C. MORGAN.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY,
place they removed to Sioux Falls, where the clothing firm of Morstad & Christopherson has done a successful business since then. Mr. Morstad was elected alderman from the Fifth ward in 1894, and was re-elected in 1896 and in 1898, although his politics is not in accord with the majority of the voters of that ward, but he is a good official, a good business man and a respected citizen.
MULLER, HENRY A., was born in Cassville, Wisconsin, August 3, 1865. He was raised on a farm and attended the common schools during his youth. When twenty years of age he came to Dakota and entered the Brookings Agricultural College, where he remained two years and then went to Scotland, in this state, and was a stu- dent in the academy at that place four terms. Then entered the university at Vermillion, and after having remained there a few terms came to Sioux Falls and commenced the study of law in D. E. Power's office. He was admitted to the bar November 16, 1892, and since then has been in the practice of his profession at Sioux Falls. He is now associated with D. J. Conway in the practice of law un- der the firm name of Muller & Conway. Mr. Muller is a studious, well-read lawyer and deservedly popular among his professional brethren, and is one of the young men of the Minnehaha county bar who is expected to attain a high standing in his profession.
NELSON, CHARLES M., was born in Mount Carroll, I11., Septem- ber 11, 1867. In June, 1872, he came with his parents tothis county and has since then resided here. He was reared on a farm, attended school and fitted himself for teaching; has taught school twelve years in the county; was appointed deputy sheriff by Sheriff Donahoe in June, 1898, and is in charge of the jail. Mr. Nelson is honest, indus- trious, and one of the growing young men of the county.
NELSON, W. H., was born in Somerset county, Maine, on the 5th day of March, 1842. He worked on a farm and attended the public schools until twenty years old; then went to California and engaged in the lumber business until 1870, when he removed to Dakota. He arrived in Sioux Falls on the 10th day of April, 1870, and for seven years was bookkeeper for B. F. Roderick, who at that time was in the lumber and grain business. In 1878 the subject of this sketch opened a drug store, in which business he has since con- tinued. He was president of the city school board eight years, and took a lively interest in educational matters during his term of office. He is a good neighbor and a respected citizen.
NEWELL, HARRISON C., was born at Westfield. Wis., June 13. 1863. He was reared on a farm, attended the public school and gratuated from the high school at Baraboo, Wis., and was a student at the University at Madison a short time. In 1883 went to Pierre. S. D., and worked for Ward & Frick in the wholesale grocery busi- ness until June, 1886, when he removed with them to Sioux Falls, and remained in their employ until they sold out to Jewett Bros. & Jewett in 1888, and was in the employ of this firm until 1889, when he en- gaged in the real estate business for one year. In 1890 he went into the wholesale fruit business, but sold out in 1893, and then, in con- nection with Charles Ransom, operated the canning factory in Sioux
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Falls one vear. In 1894 they formed a copartnership under the firm name of Ransom & Newell in the retail grocery business, in which they have since continued. Mr. Newell is a genial good fellow, a good business man, and a good citizen.
NICHOLS, GEORGE E., was born near Watertown, Wisconsin, March 15, 1842. He was raised on a farm and attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, when he entered the machine shops of the Milwaukee Railroad Company. In 1863, enlisted for one vear in the U. S. navy, and served out his time on the boat Pittsburg. In an engagement on Red River he was severely wounded. In 1864, received a recruiting commission from Governor Lewis of Wisconsin, and enlisted three hundred and twenty-seven men; was made first lieutenant, and was in command of Co. H. 51st Wisconsin infantry. In 1866 he and his brother built a large saw and stave mill at Kauk- auna, Outagamie county, Wisconsin, which was destroyed by fire in 1871, causing them a loss of several thousand dollars. He then went back to the Milwaukee shops, and remained in the employ of the Mil- waukee Railroad Company until he removed to Sioux Falls in the fall of 1882. His first work in Sioux Falls was to fit up the first steam laundry in that place, situated at the foot of Ninth street, on the bank of the Sioux river. He worked several months in doing this, and only received a cap and a suit of clothes in payment. He afterwards rented and run the laundry for about a year, when he established a dyeing and cleaning house, which he run for about four years. He then engaged in the mercantile business, and when he sold this out conducted a butcher shop for awhile. The physical disabilities from which he is suffering, resulting from military service, have taken him from the field of active work, but he is nevertheless able to participate in public matters.
NIEL, JAMES M., was born in Glasgow, Scotland, December 25, 1854, and emigrated with his parents to Milwaukee, Wis., in 1857; attended the city schools until eleven years old, when he entered a paint shop and learned the painter's trade, in which he has contin- ued since then. On the 12th day of March, 1884, he came to Sioux Falls, where he has since resided. He is an expert in his business, as the signs and decorations in the city will fully demonstrate. He is a genial good fellow, and a good citizen.
NOLAN, REV. WILLIAM V., was born at Niagara Falls, New York. April 17, 1854. He attended the public schools until sixteen years old and for the next five years was a student at the seminary and college of Our Lady of Angels, where he was graduated. He then took a special course for the priesthood at Philadelphia, Pa., and was ordained a priest June 24, 1880. From this time until 1883 he was connected with St. John the Baptist church and college at New York, teaching and doing ministerial work. From there he went to Cape Girardeau, Mo., where he was engaged in teaching and parochial work until he removed to South Dakota in November, 1891, with the exception of one year, which time he spent in St. Louis and LaSalle, Ill. When he first came to this state he was located at Huron, and had charge of all the Catholic churches and missions in
CHARLES L. NORTON.
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JOHN FRANCIS NORTON.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Beadle county until April 13, 1893, when he removed to Sioux Falls, and since that time has had charge of the St. Michael pro-cathedral church in Sioux Falls. Father Nolan is a scholarly man, an eloquent preacher, a devoted pastor, and greatly beloved by the people over whom he is placed.
NORBERG, S. ALBERT, was born in Sweden, April 12, 1859. He worked on a farm and attended the public school during his minority. He then learned the painter's trade, and in 1882 emigrated to the United States, where he arrived June 5, of that year. He worked on a farm one year, and as a painter two years, and then returned to Sweden, but after residing there a year again came to this country, and has since worked at his trade, at first in Chicago, but since 1887 at Sioux Falls, where his brother Peter is associated with him under the firm name of Norberg Brothers. They are both enterprising good business men and respected citizens.
NORTON, CHARLES L., was born at Glens Falls, New York, May 26, 1852, and removed with his parents to Edgerton, Wisconsin, in 1860. In 1869 he came to St. Paul, Minnesota, and went into a tele- graph office in connection with a railroad. He engaged in the same business at Duluth and Minneapolis, and finally became the "end man" of the St. Paul and Sioux City Railway Company, or, in other words, was the terminal box car agent of the company. He was at Sibley and Luverne and was finally run into this county on the 1st day of August, 1878, and dumped, with the title of station agent, at Sioux Falls. He kept this position for two years and then for a short time became the assistant cashier of the First National Bank, and then a director and cashier of the Sioux Falls National Bank and has been from its organization and is now the cashier of this bank. He served several years on the school board; was alderman two vears; and was appointed county treasurer upon the resignation of C. K. Howard in January, 1886, and remained in that office during the year. He was elected county treasurer in 1890 and 1892, and again in 1898. Although the office of county treasurer was not cre- ated for him, still he fills it admirably and gives general satisfaction. After his term of office expired January 1, 1895, he engaged in the insurance business in addition to his official duties as cashier of the Sioux Falls National Bank. He is one of those genial good fellows who is liked by everybody, and any person having trouble with him must originate it himself. In addition to his admirable social quali- ties he is an enterprising, level-headed citizen.
NORTON, EBEN S., was born at Glens Falls, N. Y., February 11, 1846; moved to Edgerton, Wis., with his parents in 1860; was reared on a farm and received his education in the public schools and in Milton College at Milton, Wis. When twenty years old was employed as telegraph operator at Edgerton, and after working at several places was appointed station agent at Tomah, Wis., where he remained until he moved to Sioux Falls, where he arrived October 15, 1880, and since then has been station agent on the Omaha road. Mr. Norton has been on the school board two terms, is a member of the Masonic order and the A. O. U. W. He is a good business man
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
and pleasant to do business with, is a good neighbor and a highly re- spected citizen.
NORTON, JOHN FRANCIS, was born in Schenectady, New York, November 14, 1843, and lived there until he was three years of age, when he removed with his parents to Rouse Point, N. Y., where they resided for a few years and then removed to Union Prairie, Alama- kee county, Iowa. He attended the city schools at Rouse Point. In Iowa he worked on a farm until twenty years of age. While residing at Union Prairie he held the offices of town clerk, assessor and col- lector, giving an official bond of $50,000 as collector when he was only twenty-one years old. At the age of twenty-eight years he engaged in the implement business at Lansing, Iowa, carrying on the busi- ness for two years alone and then with a copartner for one year. When this copartnership was dissolved he entered into another co- partnership in the implement and livery business, which continued until 1878. He removed to Sioux Falls in October of that year, where he at once engaged in the implement business in connection with John J. Murry, under the firm name of Norton & Murry. Since taking up his residence in Sioux Falls he has been a very active citi- zen. In 1884 he was elected alderman from the Third ward for two vears, and in 1886 he was re-elected, serving three years in all. In 1887 he was elected mayor and served the full termof two years. He was elected a representative to the first legislature of South Dakota and at the expiration of his term was re-elected. In 1892 was ap- pointed deputy collector of the internal revenue, which position he held for two years. In January, 1895, when C. W. Hubbard assum- ed the office of sheriff of Minnehaha county Mr. Norton was appoint- ed deputy sheriff, which position he held until the summer of 1896. He is now in the real estate business. As a business man he has al- ways been well liked; as a citizen he has been active and enterpris- ing, and as an official he won the respect of his constituency. He is a good neighbor and a steadfast friend.
O'GORMAN, RT. REV. THOMAS, second bishop of the Catholic diocese of South Dakota, is a native of Boston, Mass., and was born in 1843. His parents moved West, and his boyhood was spent in Chicago and St. Paul successively. Upon reaching the proper age to enter a theological seminary (after receiving a collegiate course and graduating with high honors) he was sent to France to be edu- cated for the priesthood. . He was ordained in St. Paul in 1865, and until 1876 had charge as missionary of a district in southern Minne- sota which now comprises fifteen separate parishes. In 1877 he joined with the Paulist Fathers in their missionary work, and dur- ing a portion of two years preached in the Cathedral in New York. In 1885 he was made president of the seminary of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and also occupied the professorship of philosophy and dog- matic theology. In 1890 he was appointed professor of ecclesiastical history of the Roman Catholic university located at Washington, D. C., where he remained until he was made Bishop of South Dakota in 1896. During his residence in Washington he was selected to write a history of the Roman Catholic church in the United States, and
RT. REV. THOMAS O'GORMAN.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Volume IX of the series of denominational church histories, pub- lished under the auspices of the American Society of Church His- tory, was written by him. This volume evidences the fact that no mistake was made in his selection for the work. It covers a wider field than any other volume of the series, commencing with the first landing of Columbus on this continent, and, advancing step by step, gives a complete account of the development and growth of the church to the present time. It is a great work, written in a most attractive and scholarly style, and places the Bishop in the front rank of historical writers.
On the 2d day of May, 1896, Bishop O'Gorman arrived in Sioux Falls, accompanied by Archbishop Ireland, of St. Paul, and other high dignitaries of the church, and the reception, the ceremonies of the installation the day following in St. Michael's church, and the banquet tendered him, will always be remembered by its partici- pants as among the grandest events in the history of the city. It is not too much to say that a more cordial and elaborate welcome was never given to anyone in Sioux Falls; and one of the most pleasant features attending the coming of this eminent prelate to our midst, was the hearty co-operation of the clergy of other religious denomi- nations in making the event a notable one. Since coming to South Dakota he has labored with great zeal and ability in advancing the welfare of his church, and under his administration some of the finest and most costly church buildings in the state have been erected. The bishop is greatly beloved by his people; and through- out the state, regardless of denominational preferences, he is highly esteemed, and the city of Sioux Falls is especially proud of her dis- tinguished citizen.
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