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 61
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QUINCY, W. R., is a native of England, and was born April 27, 1839. He came to the United States when seventeen years of age, lived for awhile in Rockford, Illinois, then went to Mason City, Iowa, where he engaged in the hotel business two years, and farming thir- teen years. Removed to Austin, Minnesota, and resided there sey- eral years. Came to Sioux Falls in the fall of 1881, and rented Joe Carpenter's farm for about three years, then bought a farm in Sioux Falls township, but sold it at the time of the boom, and is now en-
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gaged in the feed business in the city of Sioux Falls. He is an in- dustrious, good citizen.
RAMSEY, WILLIAM H., was born in Crawford county, Ohio, May 15, 1851; was raised on a farm and educated in the common and high schools, and was for two years a student in Oskaloosa college, and also in the Bryan and Stratton Business college, Chicago, where he was graduated. After attaining his majority engaged in farming in Iowa until 1878, when he went into the clothing and boot and shoe business with his younger brother John H., at Harlan, Iowa. April 6, 1889, he came to Sioux Falls, and for three years was a dealer in real estate. Since 1891, he and his brother have been engaged in the boot and shoe business in Sioux Falls, under the firm name of Ramsey Brothers. Mr. Ramsey is well and favorably known as a citizen, and the firm has an excellent reputation in commercial circles.
RANSOM, CHARLES H., was born at Chazy, New York, October 5, 1853. When sixteen years of age he was appointed chief clerk of the post office at Plattsburg, N. Y., which position he held thirteen years. In 1885 went to Omaha, Neb., and resided there until he re- moved to Sioux Falls, where he arrived on the 10th day of February, 1887. Since that time he has been engaged in various enterprises at this place. He engaged for awhile in the pork packing business, and was the owner of the axle-grease factory at South Sioux Falls at the time it was destroyed by fire. During the last three years he has been engaged in the grocery business under the firm name of Ransom & Newell, and is also operating the Sioux Falls candy factory. He has taken quite an active part in politics, and was chair- man of the Republican county committee in the campaign of 1892, and was again elected to that position in 1896. He is an enterprising, in- dependent, outspoken, citizen, and was never known to be on the fence in reference to any public matter. He has a large circle of warm friends.
RAVNDAL, G. BIE, is a native of Norway, and was born June 27, 1865. He received his early education from a private tutor; then at- tended two different colleges and took the degree of B. A. at the University of Christiania, Norway. In 1885 he came to the United States and went to the Black Hills in Dakota, where he engaged in lumbering, mining and freighting for about two years and a half; then went to Wisconsin and worked as assistant civil engineer in the pineries of that state. In 1888 studied civil engineering for a short time in the Minnesota State University, and then became editor of a newspaper in Fargo, North Dakota, for two years. In the spring of 1891 came to Sioux Falls to take editorial charge of the Syd Dakota Ekko, in which capacity he was engaged nearly seven years. In 1893 he was elected a member of the house of representatives of the legislature of South Dakota on the Republican ticket. He was the first president of the Northwestern Scandinavian Singing Associa- tion, and also of the Minnehaha Mandskor, and was one of the chief promoters of these enterprises. As an editor he had the reputation of being a keen, vigorous writer, and his treatment of the topics of
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the day proved him to be a close observer and well informed. In De- cember, 1897, he received the appointment of consul to Beirut, Syria, and the following February left Sioux Falls to assume the duties of this office. He is an energetic man, a thoroughly good citizen, and when his term of office expires will be warmly welcomed back to Sioux Falls.
REID, ALEXANDER, was born August 13, 1856, at Aberdeen, Scotland, and came to the United States in 1880. He learned the trade of ornamental stone cutter in his native country, and the first five years after coming here, worked at his trade in Rhode Island. The next two years he was engaged in the same business in Wiscon- sin. In 1884 he came to Sioux Falls, and since then has been oper- ating stone quarries. In 1890 he was elected alderman from the Fourth ward, and again in 1891-3-8. He is a good business man, a good citizen, and a faithful, honest official.
REILEY, EUGENE, was born at Burlington, Iowa, February 11, 1864. During his early youth he attended the public schools, and was also a student at Elliott's business college at Burlington. His first business was that of a traveling salesman for a wholesale shoe house, and he continued in this employment until 1888. On the 27th day of August, of that year, he came to this county and located in the city of Sioux Falls and for six years conducted the Rag Baby shoe store. He was appointed deputy clerk of courts under W. J. Crisp. Jr., which position he still holds. Mr. Reiley is a good citizen, makes a good official, and is well liked by the patrons of the office.
REQUA, BENSON H., was born at Juneau, Wisconsin, December 3, 1858; was educated in the public schools and the Syracuse Univer- sity, at Syracuse, New York, where he was graduated in 1882; taught school two years in Washington, Pennsylvania, then was in the drug business at Rochester, New York, two years, and on the 20th of Sep- tember, 1887, arrived in Sioux Falls and for one year engaged in the drug business. When the Union Trust Company was organized in 1888, he became one of its officers and managers; was elected cashier of the Union National Bank in 1893, and remained its cashier until it went into liquidation, since which time he has been assistant cashier of the Minnehaha National Bank. For the last four years he has been treasurer of the independent school district of Sioux Falls. Mr. ReQua is an honest, upright business man, and well liked as a neighbor and citizen.
RICE, OSCAR E., was born at Wheeling, West Virginia, March 7, 1839; attended the city schools and worked in his father's store dur- ing his youth; when he attained his majority he took an interest in his father's business, and remained with him until 1870; then went to Cherokee, Iowa, and engaged in the hotel business for a short time; was in the lumber business in Sioux City until 1877, and then opened a millinery store at that place; during the summer of 1879 removed to Sioux Falls, where he engaged in the same business for about ten years. Mr. Rice is a conservative man in business, a good neighbor, and a highly esteemed citizen.
G. BIE RAVNDAL.
13
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RICHARDSON, FRANK L., is a native of Bangor, Maine, and was born December 5, 1852. He was raised on a farm, and received a common school education. When fourteen years of age he com- menced learning the trade of foundry-man, and at the age of twenty years went to Massachusetts, and worked at his trade until 1876; came to Sioux Falls November 25, 1877, but his family did not arrive until the 12th day of April, following, when they reached Sioux Falls, coming by team from Owatonna, Minnesota. In July, 1878, he took up a claim on the northeast quarter of section one, in Humbolt town- ship, where he built a house and kept up a residence in order to hold his claim, but lived principally in the city of Sioux Falls, where he had also erected a house. He has been engaged in the real estate business more or less during the whole time of his residence in this county. He is well known as a man of more than ordinary energy and ability, and is a good citizen.
RICKER, D. C., was born in Galesburg, Illinois, June 29, 1860; moved with his parents to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1868, where he received his education in the common and high schools; was clerk in a grocery store at Worthington, Minnesota, and at Flandreau, South Dakota, for some years, and located at Madison, South Dakota, in 1881, where he engaged in business with T. J. Lannon until 1885, when he moved to Vilas, this state, and kept a general store until June, 1887. At that time he removed to Sioux Falls, where he en- gaged in the grocery business for ten years, and for the last two years has been engaged in the wholesale cigar business with S. F. Greenleaf, under the firm name of The Greenleaf Cigar Company, of which he is also the secretary. He has been a member of the board of education two years, and is at the present time serving as alder- man from the Third ward. Mr. Ricker is an energetic, enterprising business man, and a highly respected citizen.
ROBBINS, JAMES L., was born in Montgomery, Vermont, Novem- ber 28, 1859. He attended the district schools and worked in a shop as a mechanic until November, 1878, when he removed to Sioux Falls, where he has since resided. He has been an active member of the fire department for nearly fifteen years, and superintendent of the fire alarm system from August 3, 1888, until May, 1897. He is a good citizen and has a host of friends.
ROBIE, HIAL P., was born in Eaton, Madison county, New York, January 8, 1851. He removed with his parents to Minnesota in 1855. In 1865 he went to South Bend, Indiana, and commenced to learn the printer's trade in the office of the St. Jo Valley Register, then edited by Schuyler Colfax. In this office he remained for several years. In 1869 he was at work in Kansas. In 1870 went to Taylor Falls, Minnesota, where he worked on the Reporter. In 1873 established the Pine County News at Pine City, Minnesota, but sold out this paper at the end of two years, and started the Rush City Post at Rush City, Minnesota, which he published fourteen years. In 1876 started the Mora Times at Mora City, Minnesota, which he published until 1879. Not finding the publishing of two newspapers sufficient to satisfy his ambition for work he established the Pine County Rec-
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ord at Pine City in 1877, which he published until 1881. In 1889 re- moved to Pierre, South Dakota, and bought the Pierre Signal, which he published for one year. His next newspaper work was at Yank- ton, where he was connected first with the Yankton Herald and then with the Yankton Journal. When the Forum was started by Robert Buchanan he came to Sioux Falls, and was connected with this news- paper as long as it was published by Mr. Buchanan and Buchanan Brothers. In October, 1896, he purchased the Successful Farmer of J. A. Lucas, and is now publishing this newspaper in Sioux Falls. Mr. Robie is a good newspaper man, and is making a decided success of the Successful Farmer.
ROGDE, PETER J., was born in Lee county, Illinois, February 4, 1864. He was a student at Monana academy, at Madison, Wisconsin, and at the Northwestern college at Mapleville, Illinois, and also at the Luther college, Decorah, Iowa. In 1887 he graduated from the law department of the University of Iowa, and was admitted to the bar at the same time. He came to Sioux Falls in October, 1887, and commenced the practice of his profession. In January, 1889, he formed a copartnership with C. S. Palmer under the firm name of Palmer & Rogde. In February, 1895, H. C. Preston of Mitchell was taken into the firm under the firm name of Palmer, Preston & Rogde, which copartnership continued until 1896, when Judge Palmer re- tired from the firm. The firm of Preston & Rogde continued in the practice until the summer of 1896, when Mr. Preston accepted a po- sition as attorney for a corporation in Chicago and removed there. Mr. Rogde was then practicing by himself until he entered into co- partnership with C. P. Bates in January, 1898. At the general elec- tion in November, 1894, he was elected state's attorney for Minne- haha county, and performed the duties of this office until January, 1897. Mr. Rogde is one of the most industrious and energetic law- vers in the city of Sioux Falls, and is recognized as one who is bound to succeed in his profession.
ROGNESS, ANDREW H., is a native of Norway, and was born Sep- tember 29, 1858. He was reared on a farm, and received a common school education. He emigrated to the United States in 1878, and located in Lincoln county, this state. On the 9th day of September, 1881, he entered the employ of F. W. Taylor, and is his head-man in his extensive hardware business. Mr. Rogness has not lost a day since he engaged with Mr. Taylor, and for industry and diligence in business he undoubtedly stands at the head in this county. He is as genial and pleasant as he is industrious, and is one of Sioux Falls best citizens.
RONLUND, NELS J., is a native of Sweden, and was born Sep- tember 20, 1846. After having emigrated to this country he resided in New York, Ohio and Chicago until in the summer of 1872, when he removed to Union county, Dakota. In the spring of 1873 he came to Minnehaha county and took up a homestead in Brandon, but sold it and moved to the little village by the Brandon station, where he engaged in the grain business, and was postmaster for six years. He now resides in Sioux Falls, engaged in the real estate business. Mr. Ronlund is well known as an active and enterprising citizen.
H. W. Ross.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
ROUNDS, WILLIAM H., was born at St. Johns, Province of Que- bec, Canada, November 26, 1865. When one year old he came to the United States with his parents, who settled at Malone, N. Y., where the subject of this sketch received his education in the common and high schools. When eighteen years old he came to Sioux Falls, and was employed as clerk in the Livingstone clothing store and Waters' dry goods store, and then worked for Pixley & Co. five years, when he bought the stock of this company and engaged in the clothing business for himself, in which he has since continued, and is doing a good business. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, is a Mason, and sec- retary of the Knights of Pythias, Uniform Rank. Mr. Rounds is a successful business man, energetic and enterprising, is a good citi- zen and socially up to the standard.
Ross, HIRAM WILLIAM, was born in Wauwatosa, Wis., in 1840; attended the public schools at that place, and took a higher course at Milwaukee. His first business was that of keeping books for a com- mission house in Milwaukee; then engaged in the produce, business at Berlin, Wis., but at the end of four years returned to Milwaukee and engaged in the commission business again for several years. His next business venture was in the wool trade with Casper Sanger, of Milwaukee, but at the end of two years went into the fancy wholesale grocery business under the firm name of Bowker, Ross & Co. Five years later he sold out his interest and traveled for a short time for the Sanger, Rockwell Lumber Co .; was then connected with the R. McMillan Lumber Company of Oskosh, Wis., and in 1879 came to Canton, S. D., and started a lumber yard. The next year he came to Sioux Falls and engaged in the lumber business, in which he has since continued. Mr. Ross resided in Sioux Falls until 1894, when he removed to Minneapolis, Minn. In addition to his lumber busi- ness at Sioux Falls, he has six lumber vards in Minnesota, and is a very successful business man. While a resident of Sioux Falls he was prominent in public affairs, was a public-spirited citizen and highly esteemed. In 1885 he was elected mayor of the city and served in that capacity two years, and his administration met with the approval of his constituency.
ROWLAND, ANDREW J., was born in Sherburne, Chenango county, New York, December 21, 1841. His parents were of English descent. He attended the public schools at Sherburne until about twenty years of age, when he entered the Binghampton (N. Y.) Com- mercial college, where he graduated. October 26, 1876, he married Miss Caroline Darling, of Freeport, Illinois; remained upon the old homestead until 1879, when, upon the death of his parents, he sold it and removed to Worthington, Minnesota. In April, 1882, he came to this county and located at Sioux Falls, where he at once engaged in the real estate business, and has platted four additions to the city which bear his name. He has from time to time held positions of trust. When the financial panic of 1892 struck the country it found him, like many others, with sails wide-spread, but he applied himself manfully to the oars, and has succeeded in maintaining a good stand- ing in business circles. He is an honest, upright citizen.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
ROWLAND, MRS. CAROLINE D., was born in Spafford, Onondaga county, New York, January 25, 1845, and died in Sioux Falls, Janu- ary 5, 1897; was a daughter of Mary H. and Rev. J. W. Darling, a Free Will Baptist minister; received a liberal education, being a classical graduate at Norwich, N. Y., in the class of 1863; for thir- teen years was engaged in teaching; was a writer of considerable note, in both poetry and prose, and her writing's appeared in eastern journals under the nom de plume of "Edith Gray." She was married October 26, 1876, to Andrew J. Rowland. After coming to Sioux Falls, for several years she took an active part in the reading circles and History Club, but her true worth was best known and appreci- ated in religious circles. She was an ideal Christian woman, and worked faithfully to maintain a high standard of Christian life among those with whom she was associated. She will long be remembered in Sioux Falls as a kind, generous, exemplary Christian woman.
RUSSELL, MARCUS, was born June 17, 1846, in Illinois; was reared on a farm, and received his education in the district schools; in 1855 removed with his parents to a timber farm in Michigan, and remained there until 1869. At that time he went to Hastings, and engaged as clerk in a hardware store, and after having been there about nine months bought out his employer, and continued the business twelve years. In 1882, he went to Grand Rapids, and be- came the secretary and treasurer of a large manufacturing estab- lishment for two years. He then left Michigan and went to Ne- braska, where he resided until he came to Sioux Falls in 1886. In Octo- ber of that vear he organized the Sioux Falls Savings Bank, and has been its cashier since then. Mr. Russell has the reputation of being a careful, conservative business man, and is greatly respected as a citizen.
SAENGER, EUGENE, was born at Freeport, Illinois, February 3, 1860. He attended the city schools until fourteen years of age, and then commenced work in the office of the Freeport Journal, where he remained until the spring of 1880; was employed at bookbinding for three months at Dubuque, Iowa, and then worked in the printing office of the Cedar. Rapids Republican until he removed to Sioux Falls in 1889. On the 1st day of May of that year he entered into a partnership with Thomas H. Brown of Sioux Falls in the printing and bookbinding business, under the firm name of Brown & Saenger, and the firm has the largest business of the kind in the state. On the 30th day of September, 1891, the subject of this sketch married Miss Alice Richardson, one of Sioux Falls most highly esteemed young ladies. Mr. Saenger is a respected citizen, and socially one of the "four hundred."
SAMMONS, GEORGE B., was born in Oneida county, New York, April 24, 1835. He received a good education, and when the time came to act for himself he removed to Illinois, thence to Iowa, and came to Dakota in 1873. He located in Minnehaha county, taking up as a homestead the southeast quarter of section 13, in Benton town- ship. He afterwards sold his farm, and since 1881 has been engaged in mercantile business. He was the first treasurer of the village of
JACOB SCHAETZEL, JR.
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Sioux Falls, and held the same position for six years after Sioux Falls became a city. He is a kind neighbor, and a good citizen.
SANFORD, EDWARD H., is a native of Buchanan county, Iowa, and was born April 1, 1863. Was graduated from the high school at In- dependence, Iowa, in 1880. Soon after was employed as clerk in a store, but six months later joined a railroad surveying party locating the road from Yankton to Scotland, and also the Sioux City and Manila road. Was then employed as bookkeeper for the Indepen- dence Mfg. Co. at Independence, Iowa. Came to Sioux Falls on the 24th day of July, 1884, and was employed in real estate and insurance offices until 1888, when he became the bookkeeper for the Sioux Falls Press, which position he held eight years. He then became con- nected with the Argus-Leader, and is at the present time the busi- ness manager of that paper. He was for a long time 1st Lieutenant of Co. B, and was appointed adjutant of the second battalion, South Dakota National Guard, by Gov. Sheldon, and received a regular dis- charge in February, 1898. He has been M. W. of the A. O. C. W., passed through the chairs of the Modern Woodmen, and is at the present time Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias; has been a member of the city school board five years, and is a popular, enterprising and respected citizen.
SCHAETZEL, JR., JACOB, is a native of Washington county, Wis- consin, and was born May 16, 1850; was reared on a farm, attended district and high schools, and two terms at Lawrence University. When nineteen years of age was employed as clerk in a general store at Freeport, Illinois, where he remained six years. On the 23d day of February, 1876, he came to this county, and settled in Sioux Falls. For the first few years he was engaged in insurance, real estate, and shipping in horses, and for two years kept a livery and sale stable. In 1882, upon the death of T. T. Cochran, he was elected president of the village of Sioux Falls, and immediately com- menced to agitate the question of changing the incorporation of the village to that of a city. He called a meeting of the citizens, and steps were taken during the fall of that year to draft a city charter. When this had been accomplished he went to the legislature and se- cured the passage of the act of incorporation. He was elected the first mayor of the city for the term of two years, and pursued a vig- orous policy in the administration of city affairs. He was county commissioner for the Fifth district in 1893-4-5, and was a very active and influential member of the board. Was one of the stockholders and officers of the German Bank for several years, and has been con- nected with a large number of important business enterprises. There are no negative elements in his make-up; he is energetic and enterprising, and a good citizen.
SCHAETZEL, JOHN, was born in Wisconsin, December, 25, 1862. In 1878 he came to Dakota and took up a homestead, pre-emption and tree claim in Lincoln county. This property he disposed of in 1880. and removed to this county and engaged in farming on section six in Sioux Falls township. In a few years he had one of the best farms in the county, but its proximity to the city of Sioux Falls, and the
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possibility entertained by some people during the boom times that there would be a scarcity of land for platting purposes, enabled him to sell it for a big price. He then moved into the city. During his residence in the township he was elected to various town offices, and made a good official. He is a thrifty, industrious man, and a good citizen.
SCHWARZ, JOSEPH, was born in New York City, February 24, 1858. When three years old he removed with his parents to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and became a student in the office of an architect at an early age. On the 15th day of May, 1884, he came to Sioux Falls and opened an office, and since then has been engaged in his professional work as an architect, and has established an excel- lent reputation in his profession. Mr. Schwarz is a genial, sociable gentleman, a good neighbor, and a respected citizen.
SCOTT, DANIEL, is a native of Montgomery county, New York, and was born February 19, 1841. While a small lad his parents re- moved to the city of Utica. At the age of ten years he commenced his newspaper career by becoming a newsboy, and five years later removed to Polo, Illinois, and went into a newspaper office where he remained until 1861, learning the printer's trade. At this date he enlisted in Company H, 15th Illinois infantry, and remained in the military service until discharged on account of disability. Upon his return from the army he established the Ogle County Press at Polo, which he published for one year and then sold out; got married, and went to Clinton, Iowa, and engaged in the insurance business for one vear; and then went to the Pennsylvania oil regions and established the Union Mills Star at Union Mills, which he published for one vear. His next venture was the publication of the Corry Republi- can, at Corry, Pennsylvania. When through with this enterprise, he went to Wisconsin and spent one summer, and finally in 1869 con- cluded his roving about at Sioux City. He became city editor of the Sioux City Journal with its first issue, and the greater portion of his time until 1876 he spent upon this Journal. While at Sioux City he made several excursions into the Indian country trading with the In- dians, and was the first white man who ever sold them goods on the Yellowstone river. During these trips he learned from sources more or less reliable, that there was gold in the Black Hills, and he made the most out of what he had heard, through the columns of the Journal, and he enjoys the distinction of being the first newspaper man who called attention to this fact, the announcement of which aroused so much interest that in 1873, in connection with Charles Collins who owned the Sioux City Times, this paper was made the organ of the Black Hills, and so industriously did they push the pro- ject of taking possession of the reservation that they were threat- ened with prosecution by the United States government. He was elected alderman in Sioux City for one term, and as the mayor did not attend the council meetings, he was elected mayor pro tem. The winter of 1876-7 he spent in St. Paul, but in March went to Dead- wood, South Dakota, where he helped establish the Deadwood Daily Times, and was its chief editor until he went to Bismarck, North Da-
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