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 59
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OLNEY, DR. STEPHEN, was born in Warren, Pennsylvania, on the 2d day of March, 1846. He attended the city schools at Warren dur- ing his early youth, and then went to Poland, Ohio, and attended the Union Seminary, where he graduated. He remained in Poland about six years, and after graduating from the seminary studied medicine in Dr. Truesdale's office. He attended the Medical University in Michigan one year, and then went to the Western Reserve Medical College at Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated in 1868. He then practiced medicine about one year at Struthers, Ohio. In the spring of 1869 he came West, and located at Sioux Rapids, Iowa, where he remained in the practice of medicine until the spring of 1875, when he removed to Swan Lake, Turner county, this state, where he was engaged in his profession until he removed to Sioux Falls in August, 1877, where he has since remained. He was the first treasurer of the Territorial Medical Society, and was active in the organization of the Minnehaha County Medical Society, of which he was the presi- dent in 1885. He has been city physician of Sioux Falls, chairman of the city board of health and also an officer of the county board of health. He is not only learned in his profession, but well informed upon topics engaging public attention, especially those of a scientific character. But he is best known and most appreciated in the sick room, where his patients are encouraged by his quiet, assuring man- ner and attentive consideration of their ills. His practice is quite
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
extensive, and he is acknowledged by his colleagues to be one of the most skillful and successful practitioners in the state.
OLSON, JOHN, is a native of Sweden, and was born March 22d, 1838. When he was only three years old he lost his father, and as soon as he was able to earn wages worked out on a farm. When he was seventeen years old he emigrated to this country and settled in Carver county, Minnesota. He took up a claim and opened a country store. For ten years he was a justice of the peace, and for several vears was deputy postmaster, having charge of the office. He also held the offices of town assessor and treasurer several years. He had an interest in a mill that was erected at the place of his residence, and was treasurer of the company. In the spring of 1883, he came to Sioux Falls, where he has since resided. In August of that year he opened a store on Phillips avenue, and had a stock of merchandise valued at ten thousand dollars, but on the 6th day of November, fol- lowing, it was destroyed by fire, and it was a total loss, except $1,000 of insurance. He then commenced business in a small way in the confectionery line, and gradually worked into the grocery business in which he is now engaged. In 1897, he was elected city treasurer, and was re-elected in 1898. Mr. Olson is an upright, honest man, and a respected citizen.
ORR, ALPHA F., was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, April 28, 1860; when two years old went to Florence, N. Y., with his parents; was educated in the public schools, Whitestone seminary and Hamil- ton college, where he was a student for two years; studied law and was admitted to the bar at Rochester, N. Y., in 1882; commenced practicing his profession at Rome, N. Y., where he remained one vear, and then went to Camden, N. J., where he practiced law until 1889. In the fall of that year he came to Sioux Falls, where he has since resided engaged in professional work. Mr. Orr is a good law- ver, and although he has not been a candidate for office he is always an active participator in political campaigns, taking the stump in the in- terest of his party, and always makes a good speech. He tries his cases well, is well liked, and is a good citizen.
PALMER, CORNELIUS S., was born in Underhill, Vermont, No- vember 2, 1844. His father was a farmer, and the subject of this sketch worked on the farm until he enlisted in the military service in his seventeenth year. He enlisted in the name of, and took the place of an elder brother, Simeon M. Palmer, and served out the term of his enlistment. Returning to his home he attended the Underhill Academy, and studied law with L. F. Milbur, Esq., of Jericho, an adjoining town. In 1872, was admitted to the bar, and immediately commenced the practice of his profession at Jericho. Six years after was elected state's attorney for Chittenden county, and held this office for two years. During the administration of this office he gained considerable notoriety for vigorous prosecution of all classes of offenders, and especially violators of the law prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors. In 1880, was elected to represent the town of Jericho in the Vermont legislature. In 1882, was appointed assistant United States district attorney for Dakota territory, and removed to
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Yankton on the 22d day of June of that year; remained at Yankton in the discharge of the duties of this office until he received the appoint- ment of associate justice of the supreme court of Dakota territory in February, 1884, for the term of four years. He served out his term, although three years of his official life was under Cleveland's admin- istration. While judge he was assigned to and presided over the fourth judicial district, and during that time was appointed one of the commissioners of revenue by the governor. In 1884, he removed to Sioux Falls and has since resided there. After the expiration of his judicial term in July, 1888, he commenced the practice of law in Sioux Falls, and on the first day of January, 1889, formed a copart- nership with P. J. Rogde under the firm name of Palmer & Rogde. This copartnership continued until February, 1895, when H. C. Preston of Mitchell was taken into the firm and the business was conducted under the firm name of Palmer, Preston & Rogde until January, 1896, when Mr. Palmer retired, and is now practicing law by himself. In 1891, was elected deputy commander for South Da- kota of the Grand Army of the Republic, and the same year was ap- pointed one of the commissioners of the Soldiers' Home. In 1893, was appointed by the governor to respond in behalf of the state, on South Dakota day at the World's Columbian Exposition, and his address on
that occasion received warm commendations. In November, 1894, when the Union Savings Association was organized in Sioux Falls, he was elected its president. In 1896, was elected senator from Minnehaha county upon a fusion ticket composed of Democrats, Pop- ulists and Silver Republicans. Considerable comment was caused at the time he commenced holding terms of the district court by his action, in accordance with the prevailing custom in New England, of inviting one of the resident clergymen to open each term of court with praver, but he persisted in it to the end of his term of office. He was an industrious, able and upright judge. He engages some- what in politics, and when he does take a part, his great industry and sagacity are felt by all parties interested; while he is a fairly "good hater" he does not permit his principles to be sacrificed in the punishment of his political enemies. He is now in the prime of manhood, and being an exceptionally strong man every way it is not too much to predict, that he will continue for a long time to come to be an important factor in public affairs.
PATTERSON, HIBBARD, was born at Barris Corner, Michigan, June 2, 1859. When ten years of age he removed with his parents to Marshall county, Illinois, and after having lived there two years returned to Michigan, and during the next five years attended school and worked in a shingle mill, and then commenced to learn the print- er's trade at Big Rapids; in 1879 went to Hamburg, Iowa, and was employed upon the Hamburg Democrat until 1881, when the pro- prietor, being in poor health, decided to remove to Colorado with his newspaper plant. Everything was packed, when news came of an Indian uprising in Colorado, and fearing that the favorable climatic conditions of that country might be more than offset by the Indians, it was decided that Mr. Patterson should take the plant to Sioux Falls. He arrived in June, and in August, 1881, commenced the
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publication of the Sioux Falls Argus. In November the proprietor died, but Mr. Patterson continued the publication of the paper until the following February, when it was sold. He remained in Sioux Falls until the fall of 1889, engaged in newspaper work; three years of the time being city editor of the Sioux Falls Press. He then went with Mark Scott to LaGrande, Oregon, and assisted him in publish- ing the LaGrande Journal until the spring of 1890, when he returned to Sioux Falls and was associated with Mark Scott in publishing the Real Estate Review for a few months; then engaged in newspaper work outside the state until 1894, when he returned to Sioux Falls, and since then has been employed on the Sioux Falls Journal. Mr. Patterson is not only a competent printer, but is a good all around newspaper man. He is president of the Federation of Labor of this county.
PARKER, HERBERT E., was born at Sparta, Wisconsin, July 22, 1863; was raised on a farm, attended the district schools, and was graduated from the high school at Boscabel, Wisconsin; came to this county in June, 1882. and located at Sioux Falls, where he has since resided. He worked at the carpenter's trade a short time, and for a few months was in the restaurant business; was employed as a guard at the South Dakota penitentiary five years; worked for J. W. Parker one year, and for Mark Randall in the oil business two years. after which he engaged in the same business on his own account for the same period. He is now engaged in the flour and feed business. In politics he is an out and out middle-of-the-road Populist, and his views upon finance are well known in South Dakota. He is the state central committee man of the fusion party from this county, and is always actively engaged whenever there is a campaign in progress city, county, state or national-and it is a difficult matter for an un- regenerate Republican to get past his place of business without be- ing advised in regard to his duties as a citizen. He is a thoroughly good citizen.
PARKER, JOEL W., was born in Oneida county, New York, March 28, 1817, but early in life moved to Ohio. In 1850 he settled in Warren, Illinois, and engaged in the mercantile business. In 1875 went to Milltown, Wisconsin, but his health failed him, and he removed to this county and located at Sioux Falls in 1879, where, with his son James W. Parker and J. W. Leverett, he engaged in the lumber business. He had not been in Sioux Falls long before he endeared himself to everyone with whom he became acquainted. He was a kind, generous man, a public spirited citizen, and an earnest advocate of such measures as would promote the welfare of the people. He was a leading member of the Free Will Baptist church in Sioux Falls, and a deacon of the church at the time of his death, which occurred on the 14th day of April. 1893. His son James W. Parker succeeded him in the lumber business, in which he is still engaged.
PARLIMAN, EDWIN, came to Sioux Falls during the summer of 1877. He was born in Stark county, Ohio, December 21, 1832, and died at Sioux Falls, June 5, 1899. His father was a physician. In
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HIBBARD PATTERSON.
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1850, the subject of this sketch graduated from Alleghany College at Meadville, Pa. When twenty-one years of age he removed to De- corah. Iowa, where he learned the watchmaker's trade, and in 1854 engaged in the jewelry business at that place; moved to Austin, Minn., in 1857, and from there to Hastings in the same state. Sep- tember 30, 1860, was admitted to the bar, and practiced law at Hast- ings until he enlisted in the Second Minnesota Cavalry in 1862. De- cember 31, 1863, he received a commission as First Lieutenant of his company, and May 15, 1865, was promoted to a captaincy. December 2, 1865, he was mustered out as Brevet Major. He then resumed his law practice at Hastings, and remained there until he removed to Sioux Falls. While a resident of Minnesota he held the office of dis- trict attorney of Dakota county two terms. After coming to Sioux Falls he was in active practice until assuming the office of county judge in 1890. Was the first village attorney of the village of Sioux Falls, and was appointed county attorney three years by the county board. Was elected county judge at the first election after South Dakota became a state, and retained this office until he was defeated by Bryan and free silver in 1896, holding the office seven consecutive years to the great satisfaction of his constituents. After leaving the bench he resumed the practice of law, at first in copartnership with Harry B. Carleton, and later on with his son Ralph. Judge Parliman was a good lawyer and a good citizen, and one of the most genial men in the city of Sioux Falls. His judicial integrity was be- yond question, and his death was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
PARMLEY, HARRY T., was born at Center, Rock county, Wis- consin, August 7, 1860, and resided there until he attained his ma- jority. He was educated at Janesville, Wisconsin. In 1881 he came to Sioux Falls, and since then has been the junior member of the firm of R. G. Parmley & Brother, engaged in handling coal and wood. He received two elections to the city school board, and in 1897 was elected alderman from the Second ward. Mr. Parmley makes a good official, is a good business man, and a highly esteemed citizen.
PARMLEY, RUSSELL G., is a native of Janesville, Wisconsin, and was born November 13, 1851. He worked on a farm and attended the city schools and Janesville Academy until twenty-one years of age. In March, 1878, he arrived in Sioux Falls, and at once engaged in the wood and coal business. In 1881, a younger brother, Harry T., came to Sioux Falls, and the two brothers entered into a copart- nership under the firm name of R. G. Parmley & Brother, which co- partnership still exists. The firm has been successful in business and has always maintained an excellent reputation in commercial circles. Mr. Parmley has been on the city school board several years and was alderman from the Third ward in 1885 and 1886. He has been president of the Coal Dealers Association of the North- west, and was a director and the vice president of the Union Na- tional Bank of Sioux Falls. He is one of the most genial men in the city, and although conservative, is an energetic, enterprising citizen.
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PEABODY, MISS HELEN S., is the daughter of the Rev. A. B. Peabody, for forty years a well known clergyman in the Diocese of Milwaukee. After her preliminary education in the public schools of Wisconsin, she took up the work of a teacher, and trained herself in practical work. Then, at the well known St. Mary's School, Fari- bault, Minnesota, she accomplished in three years the ordinary four years course, and after a career of extraordinary distinction - hav- ing taken the "Nellie Dearborn" and the "Bishop Pinkney" gold medals, given for scholarship in different branches - Miss Peabody was awarded the honor of the valedictory and was graduated in 1881. She then took up school work in a private institution in St. Paul. Here it was that Bishop Hare first met her several years before All Saint school was begun. He at once made up his mind that if ever he should establish a young ladies' school he would offer to Miss Peabody the principalship. This he accordingly did when All Saints School was opened in September, 1885. She has remained in charge as its Principal ever since, and the reputation of the school is due chiefly to the rare union in her of the qualities which go to make a successful head of an institution for the training of the mind and heart.
PECK. PORTER PASCAL, was born at Caledonia Springs, Canada, April 16, 1843. His father was a native of Massachusetts, and when the subject of this sketch was ten years old, removed from Canada to Southport, Wisconsin. Porter worked on a farm, attending school but a small portion of the time, until he was eighteen years of age, when he enlisted in April, 1861 for ninety days in the Geneva Light Guards, and served in the 4th Wis. Infantry. Immediately after his term of service had expired, he enlisted in Co. K, 2d Wis. Cavalry for three years, and re-enlisted in the same company and regiment in the fall of 1863 and served until the fall of 1865. This was one of the best cavalry regiments in the service during the war, and was under the command of all the noted cavalry leaders, except General Pleasanton. At the close of the war it was under General Custer. Mr. Peck was never seriously wounded, and was never taken prisoner. He was 1st Lieutenant of his company at the time of his discharge. Soon after the war he went to Iowa, and engaged in the livery business and farming. In 1872 he visited Sioux Falls, and then determined to remove to Dakota. Early in 1873 he came to Sioux Falls and at once engaged in the livery business. He brought the first two-seated, covered carriage into the state, as well as the first omnibus, and brought the first landau to Sioux Falls. Peck & Grigsby erected the building on Phillips avenue opposite the Cataract house in 1878, and the first pressed brick, metalic cornice and plate glass used in the city of Sioux Falls, were used in its construction. Mr. Peck has done a good deal of building in the city, having erected more buildings than any other man, except C. K. Howard. He has also done his share in farming, having broken 1,400 acres of prairie land contiguous to the city. He is a man of great energy and force, and has been identified with nearly all the public enterprises of the city. While in Iowa he was deputy sheriff several years, and after coming to Sioux Falls was constable several years. The Dakota
MISS HELEN S. PEABODY.
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National Bank was organized through his and Mr. Grigsby's efforts, and he was its first cashier. He was director and vice president of the Minnehaha National Bank at the time of the death of its president, J. M. Bailey, Jr., was subsequently elected president and held this office until June, 1898. He has also been prominent in city matters, serving as alderman and treasurer, and has received two elections as mayor. No one will claim that Sioux Falls ever had a resident of greater activity and energy than Porter P. Peck. He "never sent a boy to mill." " As a "single-hand talker" he stands in the front rank, and the language that he makes use of on extra occasions, although some- times unique, is always explicit and full of meaning. His adminis- tration as mayor of the city of Sioux Falls, was beset with difficulties, owing in part to the great desire of some of the good people that public enterprises should be pushed, while others wanted to "go slow." Again, the enforcement and non-enforcement of the prohib- itory law, had been zealously championed by friends and foes of the measure, and he had this disagreement to contend with. But he has never been found on the fence. He is always, right or wrong, on the ground fighting it out. At his first election to the mavoralty he de- feated Capt. Willey, and at the second the Rev. E. B. Meredith, which alone makes full proof that he has a host of friends among the people who know him best. Still in the prime of life, with unabated zeal and enterprise, it can safely be predicted that he will for a long time to come, be an important factor in public affairs.
PENDAR, OLIVER S., was born in Salem, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 29, 1857. During his youth he attended the common schools and graduated from the high school of his native city. When twenty years of age went to Minneapolis, where he remained one year. In 1878 came to Dakota and took up a homestead in McCook county. In 1879 a post office was established where the city of Salem is now lo- cated, and Mr. Pendar was appointed its first postmaster. He gave the name of Salem to the post office, and when the town was platted the same name was adopted for the town. In addition to his duties as postmaster he engaged in the mercantile business from 1879 to 1886, at which time he went into the real estate and loan business, which he continued until 1890, when he removed to Sioux Falls. On the 30th day of January, 1890, he was appointed clerk of the United States district court for the district of South Dakota by Judge Edgerton, and on the 17th day of June following, was appointed clerk of the United States circuit court for the same district by Judge Caldwell, which office he still holds. The clerkship of the district court he held until October, 1891, and was again appointed to that office by Judge Carland on the 26th day of December, 1896, and is at this writing the clerk of both the United States district and circuit courts. Mr. Pender is a genial good fellow, well liked by everybody, and is a competent official.
PERRY, GEORGE H., was born in Oneida county, N. Y., Febru- ary 11, 1850; came to Beloit, Wis., in 1869 and entered Prof. Kerr's high school, where he was a student two years; then went to Sibley. Iowa, and during the next four years teaching school was his prin-
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cipal employment; in 1876 went into the livery business, and in 1878 added that of real estate; in February, 1880, took his livery to Heron Lake, Minn., where he also conducted a real estate business; in 1882 removed to Woodstock, Minn., and took charge of the land and lum- ber business of Sampson & French. In March, 1892, came to Sioux Falls, and was the manager of the East Sioux Falls Granite com- pany until 1894, when he was elected president of the Iowa Invest- ment company, and is now closing up its affairs. In 1896 he organ- ized the East Sioux Falls Quarry company, and is its secretary and manager. Mr. Perry is a good business man, energetic and enter- prising, and is an esteemed citizen.
PETERSON, ANDREW, was born in Norway, March 3, 1833; at- tended the common schools, and studied three years in the high school at the city of Hammar, from which he graduated; was super- intendent for an English mining company for three years; engaged in the mercantile business for the same length of time, when he sold out to his brother and engaged in farming, which occupation he fol- lowed for eight years; was timber marker for a large timber ship- ping company two years, and in 1866 emigrated to America. He landed in Quebec, Canada, but went through to Chicago, where he remained employed in one of the largest door and sash factories for two years; then went farther west, and lived in Sioux City, Iowa, for awhile; then to Fort Sully in Dakota, where he was employed by the government as superintendent of the carpenters and builders for three years. Once during that time they were visited by such num- erous swarms of grasshoppers that the men working on the roofs of the buildings were obliged to abandon their work, as the grasshop- pers were so thick as to prevent them from driving the nails in the boards. In the spring of 1872 Mr. Peterson came to Sioux Falls and engaged as a carpenter and builder; he also secured a quarter section. of land, which he afterwards sold. In the spring of 1874 he engaged in the furniture and carpenter business with O. P. Weston, and they continued in business together until in 1880, when Mr. Weston sold his interest to Mr. Peterson, who continued the business alone for several years; he then engaged in farming for a number of years near Madison in Lake connty, but in 1890, after having spent a short time in California, returned to Sioux Falls, where he has since re- sided. He was one of the trustees of the village of Sioux Falls in 1880 and 1881, and coroner of the county for two terms. Mr. Peter- son is a good citizen, and has a host of friends.
PETERSON, GEORGE R., was born in the village of Trenton, On- tario, Canada, May 21, 1846. He attended the common schools, and graduated from the Newberg Academy. From the time he was six- teen years of age until he was eighteen, he was employed upon the lakes. His father was a civil engineer, and for awhile he studied with him. In 1864 he removed with his parents to Wabasha county, Minnesota, and engaged in farming until 1878. In September of that year, he came to Sioux Falls, and very soon after opened a meat market on Ninth street, and in company with his brother Blake car- ried on the business, together with the shipping of live stock, for
PORTER P. PECK.
S.D.
S.D
COL. MELVIN GRIGSBY.
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nine years, under the firm name of Peterson Bros. At the end of that time they sold out the meat market, and have since engaged in farming, shipping live stock, and buying grain. They built elevators at Shindler, Granite and Ellis, and also have an elevator at Sioux Falls. Mr. Peterson is an enterprising business man, a good citizen every way, and well liked by a large circle of acquaintances.
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