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 65
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
modore Waples, and the history of his title is an amusing illustra- tion of how easily a title may be acquired that will stick to a man as long as he lives. He went to LeMars, Iowa, to go into business, and as he stepped off the train a man accosted him as Commodore Van- derbilt. and from that day he was always known as Commodore Waples. Mrs. Waples is still living in Sioux Falls, and she re- marked to the writer: "I have never been on the cars since I got off the Omaha on the 26th day of August, 1878." Mr. Waples was a man of fine appearance and courtly manners, and every inch a real commodore. He was liked by everybody, and Mrs. Waples is greatly beloved by a host of friends.
WATSON, JESSE B., was born in Nelson. Madison county, N. Y., September 8, 1840. In 1850, he removed with his parents to Chicka- saw county, Iowa, and his father entered the first land in that county during that year. When thirteen years of age the subject of this sketch started for his old home in New York, working his way as best he could. He remained there until the spring of 1857, at which time he went to Galesburg, Ill., worked on a farm one year, and then was employed one year by the Rev. Jonathan Knox, president of Knox college. In the fall of 1865, he went to Fremont, Neb., and from there to Sioux City, where he was employed to carry the mail between that point and Fort Randall. During the spring and sum- mer of 1861 he rode a mule, with two mail-bags as companions, back and forth a distance of one hundred and forty miles. In the fall of 1861, was employed by Surveyor Moses K. Armstrong in surveying. In February, 1862, enlisted in Company A, Dakota Cavalry, and the following summer was stationed at Sioux Falls until the Indian mas- sacre in Minnesota, when the company was ordered to Yankton. He served three years and three months in the cavalry, and during this time the company was engaged in protecting the small settlements on the upper Missouri, and went with the Sully expedition across the Yellowstone. After being mustered out, he went to Chickasaw county, Iowa, and remained a year, and then went to Sioux City where he was employed in the quartermaster's department until fall. He soon after took up a homestead at the mouth of Jim river, which he afterwards exchanged with Governor Todd for city lots in Yank- ton. In 1870, purchased some woodland near Vermillion, erected a saw mill and manufactured lumber until the fall of 1878, when he purchased a fourth interest in the Webber & Shaw flouring mill at Sioux Falls, and moved there. This mill went ont bodily during the high water in 1881. He was next employed in the Queen Bee mill until it stopped doing business. He was inspector of wheat, and run the warehouse when it was under the Seney management, and as- sisted in shipping out 80,000 bushels of wheat to Minneapolis when it ceased operation. He then engaged in buying wheat one year with A. G. Seney, one year with J. H. Stockton, and the following year with the Parmley Brothers at the Seney warehouse. In 1891, took charge of the oatmeal mill, and remained its manager until the winter of 1896. In 1897, went to Kansas and took some stock in a mining enterprise in connection with E. B. and J. B. Meredith, but sold out his stock, and commenced mining on his own account. He still re-
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
sides with his family in Sioux Falls. He was village trustee in 1879 and 1881, and after the incorporation of the city of Sioux Falls in 1883, was elected alderman from the Fourth ward, and again in 1889. He has also served one term on the city school board. Mr. Watson has always been recognized as one of Sioux Falls most enterprising citizens, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.
WELLIVER, WINFIELD S., was born in Greenwood, Columbia county, Pennsylvania, May 18, 1847; went with his parents to Illinois in 1856; was reared on a farm, and attended the public schools until seventeen years old, when he commenced clerking in a store, in which employment he remained twelve years, the last six years at LeMars, Iowa. In 1879 he was elected clerk of the courts of Ply- mouth county, Iowa, and held the office by re-elections until 1889. During this time he had charge of the probate business of the county. On the 20th day of March, 1889, he arrived in Sioux Falls, and has since resided there engaged in the real estate business. He was one of the charter members of Giblem Lodge of A. F. and A. M. of Le- Mars, and was at one time its Worshipful Master. Mr. Welliver is a reliable business man, and is a highly esteemed citizen.
WELLS, ROLLIN J., is a native of Illinois, and was born June 24, 1848. He completed his education at the Michigan University, stud- ied law and was admitted to the bar in 1878. The same year he came to Sioux Falls, where he has since resided. At the age of fifteen vears he enlisted in the military service, but his father objected to his remaining in the service at that age and secured his return home. During the entire time of his residence in Sioux Falls he has been engaged in the practice of law, and was admitted to practice before the supreme court of the United States in 1888. In addition to his professional work he has been connected with several business enter- prises in Sioux Falls, particularly in the building of the motor line to East Sioux Falls. He is a good lawyer, a good neighbor, an enter- prising business man, public-spirited, and an independent, upright citizen.
WERNER, JOHN W., was born in Germany on the 28th day of January, 1858, and attended school until he was fifteen years of age, when he emigrated to the United States with an uncle, and located at Corning, New York. He was at this age put in charge of a retail clothing store, and remained there until 1880, when he went to Rock- ford, Illinois, and engaged in the same business until he removed to Sioux Falls, arriving there the first day of April, 1883. He has since then been engaged in the clothing business at Sioux Falls, and there are but few merchants who have been engaged in business in the city for so long a time. Business, and strictly business, occupies his time, although he keeps posted upon the current events of the day. He was never a candidate for office, and does not appear to be matri- monially inclined, although his social qualities are well developed. He is a good citizen, and well liked by all who know him.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
WESTON, OLIVER P., was born at Corinth, Saratoga county, New York, July 22, 1839. He received a common school education, and at the age of eighteen commenced a two years' apprenticeship as car- penter and joiner at his native place. In 1860 he went to Portage, Wisconsin, and worked for a railroad company. In the spring of 1862 enlisted in Co. C, 23d Wisconsin Vol., and served three years; then engaged in mercantile business at New Lisbon, Wisconsin. At Christmas, 1867, he was married to Miss Martha E. Smith of Cole- rain, Massachusetts. He remained at New Lisbon until 1869, and then went to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and engaged in the lumber and liv- ery business until 1870, when he sold out and moved to Vermillion, South Dakota, where he remained until the spring of 1872, when he came to Sioux Falls with T. C. Harthorn, and assisted in the erection of the Webber & Harthorn flouring mill. He then engaged in the building and contracting business until 1874, when he entered into a copartnership with Andrew Peterson in the furniture and carpenter business, which continued until 1880, when he sold his interest to his partner, and since then has taken things leisurely, enjoying his ac- cumulations. He was one of the trustees of the village of Sioux Falls in 1880; was county coroner several years, and a member of the school board thirteen years. Mr. Weston is an influential and highly respected citizen, and he and his estimable wife have a host of friends, and are highly esteemed by all who know them.
WHEELER, GEORGE E., was born in Brooklyn, New York, Jan- uary 22, 1860; when quite young he moved to Melrose, Massachusetts, where he was educated in the public schools, and graduated from the high school. He came to South Dakota in 1879, and in 1880 became secretary and treasurer of the Cascade Milling Co., which positions he has held since then. He was a member from Minnehaha county of the South Dakota legislature in 1895, and was one of the most in- fluential members of that body. He introduced what was known as the " Wheeler Bill," and the same, in substance, which was passed by the next legislature in reference to the control of railroads. It was finally defeated, but its introduction and discussion educated the people up to such a point that a majority of all parties voted for it in 1897. Mr. Wheeler is one of the most popular men in the city, and deservedly so, for while he is an enterprising citizen he never meddles with the affairs of others. He is a good neighbor, social and companionable, and as a business man is in the front rank.
WHEELOCK, ARTHUR B., was born at Rovalton, Winsor county, Vermont; received a common school and academic education. In the fall of 1853 he went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he lived until the war broke out. On the 19th day of April, 1861, he enlisted and served three months in an infantry regiment and then served four years in the 7th Wisconsin battery. During the war he was promoted, and became captain of the battery. After the war he engaged as fore- man in the construction of railroads two years, and then took up a homestead at Hudson, Lincoln county, this state, where he engaged in farming twenty years. From 1870 to 1872 he was a representa- tive in the territorial legislature, and was a county commissioner in
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O. P. WESTos AND WIFE.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Lincoln county two years. In 1888 he moved to the city of Sioux Falls, where he has since resided. He was chief of police two years, and from May. 1892. until May, 1898, was city justice. He is a man of good sense, well informed, is a respected citizen, and has a host of friends.
WHIPPLE, HOMER J., is a native of Charlestown, N. H., and was born November 30, 1844. He spent his early life on a farm, attended the common schools and completed his education at the Newbury Seminary and Collegiate Institute at Newbury, Vt., where he grad- uated in 1869. The same year he went to Marshall county, Iowa, where he engaged in teaching. During the winter of 1870 1 he taught a high school in Alden, Ia. In April, 1871, he came to Da- kota Territory and took up a pre-emption in Lincoln county and a homestead on the northeast quarter of section 35, in Sioux Falls township, and afterwards a tree claim on the northeast quarter of section 24, in Clear Lake township in this county. He taught the first public school in Sioux Falls after the erection of a school build- ing in the winter of 1873-4, and during the same years was Probate Judge and County Treasurer of Minnehaha county. He held the office of County Superintendent of Schools for six successive years, commencing with 1887. In addition to his official work he has car- ried on farming and occasionally taught school. Mr. Whipple has always been a careful, conservative official, and is highly respected as a neighbor and citizen.
WHITE, EDWARD P., is a native of Springfield, Vermont, and was born November 26, 1847. He was educated in the common schools and at the Leland & Gray seminary at Townshend, Vermont, and also at the Springfield business college at Springfield, Massachu- setts. He worked in the Estey Organ Works at Brattleboro, Ver- mont, for twelve years. In May, 1884, removed to Sioux Falls, and worked as stenographer. In 1886, was employed by the New Eng- land Loan & Trust Co., of Des Moines, Iowa, and in 1887, was ap- pointed official Court Reporter of the 4th Judicial District of the Territory of Dakota, and occupied that position until the establish- ment of the state courts of South Dakota, when he was again ap- pointed to the same office of the Circuit Court of the 2d Judicial Cir- cuit, and of the County Court of Minnehaha county. He held these ap- pointments until January, 1894, when he removed to Chicago. He was an honest and competent official. During his residence in Sious Falls he gave instruction in shorthand and typewriting, and also worked up a shorthand system of his own, which is now in use, and considered to be very simple, and at the same time complete.
WILKES, WILLIAM A., was born in Fremont, Ohio, in 1845. IL was educated in Marion, Ohio, and at the age of eighteen years re- moved to Dodge county, Wisconsin. He studied law, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1871; then practiced law at Rochester, Minne- sota, and at Colorado Springs, Colorado, and was elected prosecuting attorney of El Paso county two years. In 1878 he removed to Sioux Falls, where he has since resided. In connection with his profes- sional work he engaged in the real estate business for some years.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
In 1893, and again in 1897, he was nominated judge of the Circuit Court of the Second Judicial Circuit by the Populist party, but was defeated by Judge J. W. Jones, the Republican nominee. At the general election in 1896 he was elected judge of the County Court of Minnehaha county, and re-elected in 1898. While at the bar he was engaged in some of the leading cases before the state tribunals, has always taken an active part in public affairs, and is a good citizen.
WILKES, REV. ELIZA TUPPER, was born at Houlton, Maine; was fitted for college in New England, and graduated from the State University of Iowa; was educated for foreign mission work; entered the Unitarian ministry in 1868, and took charge of the Universalist church at Neenah, Wis., the same year; in 1869, was married to Wil- liam A. Wilkes at the last mentioned place; moved from there to Rochester, Minn., where she had charge of a Universalist church; in 1872, removed to Colorado Springs. Col., where they resided six years, and during part of that time she preached in the Unitarian church at that place; came to Sioux Falls in 1878; was one of the fore- most workers in the establishment of the Sioux Falls Public Library and the Ladies History Club; started the project of building All Souls church, and labored zealously until the work was accomplished; has been pastor of the Unity church at Luverne, Minn., for the last twelve years, except three years, when she was assistant pastor of the Unitarian church at Oakland, Cal. With such a record of good works, comments would be superfluous.
WILLEY, WARNER E., was born in Vermont, November 9, 1837. When eleven years old he removed with his parents to New York, and worked on a farm until 1858. Being then twenty-one years old he went to Minneapolis, Minn., where he engaged in lumbering for twenty years, except during the time he was in the military service. He was quite successful in his business, and when he came to Sioux Falls in 1878, had considerable city property in Minneapolis. He built the Commercial House situated where the present hotel with the same name is located, and was its landlord until the spring of 1883, when he moved it back and built a new hotel on its site. This hotel was destroyed by fire on the 6th day of November, 1883, and at the same time a livery stable full of fine horses belonging to Mr. Willey was also consumed. The loss was a severe one, but the fol- lowing year he built the present Commercial Hotel. After operat- ing this hotel for about a year he sold it, and in connection with his son-in-law, Roy Williams, purchased the old Merchants Hotel, and enlarged, refitted and operated it until 1897. They also built the Willey & Williams block on Main avenue. Mr. Willey was one of the trustees of the village of Sioux Falls in 1881-2, and alderman from the Second ward in 1883-6-7-8, and in 1889 was elected mayor of the city of Sioux Falls. In 1898, he was again elected alderman from the Second ward for the term of two years. During the civil war he enlisted in Company A, 1st Minnesota Volunteers, was wounded at White Oak swamp, and upon his recovery was discharged; he then re-enlisted in Company C, 11th Minnesota, and served until the close of the war. Captain Willey is one of the best known men in the
REV. ELIZA T. WILKES.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
county, and has a host of friends. He makes a good official, is inde- pendent and enterprising, and is a respected citizen.
WILLIAMS, ORA, was born on a farm in Dallas county, Iowa, on the 16th day of January, 1862. He was educated in the public schools and graduated from the high school at Adel, Iowa, where he after- wards was employed as assistant principal. In 1881, purchased an interest in the Dallas county Democrat, and became its editor. In 1885 sold his interest in this paper, and took the position of city edi- tor of the Des Moines Register, published at Des Moines, Iowa. In 1895 became city editor of the Sioux City Journal, and subsequently was its managing editor. In 1897 went to Omaha and was employed as editorial writer on the Omaha Bee. In August, 1898, came to Sioux Falls, and since then has been the editor of the Sioux Falls Daily and Weekly Press. Mr. Williams is a professional newspaper man, and an able, independent editorial writer, and his coming to South Dakota has materially strengthened the editorial fraternity in the state.
WILLIAMS, ROY, was born at Hazel Green, Grant county, Wis- consin, July 12. 1856. His early life was spent on a farm and in the common schools. He also attended the State Normal school at Platteville, Wisconsin, for three years. In 1881 went to Sioux City and for eight months was traveling agent for a book concern located at that place; then became traveling salesman for the Grinnell Barbed Wire company, of Grinnell, Iowa, antil October 1884, when he removed to Sioux Falls and took the position of clerk in the Com- mercial hotel. In the latter part of 1885, entered into a copartner- ship with W. E. Willey in the hotel business, under the firm name of Willey & Williams, and the property now known as the Merchants hotel, was purchased, enlarged and fitted up and opened to the public in 1886 by this firm. Until 1897 the Merchants was conducted by them, and secured its share of public patronage. Mr. Williams had the supervision of the hotel, and was very popular with the traveling public as well as with his townsmen. In 1888 was elected a member of the Board of Education of the city of Sioux Falls, and in April 1889, was appointed by Governor Mellette a director of the State Board of Charities and Corrections, and was president of the board two years. In 1892 and 1893 was city auditor. In April, 1893, was elected mayor of Sioux Falls by a handsome majority, and this was to quite an extent owing to his personal popularity, as he had two strong candidates to defeat. About the time of his election local po- litical complications arose which made it difficult for him to inaugu- rate or prosecute successfully any measure for the government of the city. In May, 1898, was appointed assessor of the city of Sioux Falls, and is the assessor of the city at the present writing and is now en- gaged in the farm implement business. He is a social good fellow. has a large circle of friends, and is highly esteemed as a citizen.
WINSOR, CURTIS H., was born at Elkhorn, Wisconsin, June 14, 1847; attended Racine college for one year and then commenced the study of law; in March, 1867, was admitted to the bar by the Circuit Court of Walworth county, Wisconsin; in August, 1871, came to Da-
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
kota, and engaged in the practice of law at Canton until April, 1873, when he removed to Sioux Falls; remained there until June, 1875. then went to Kenosha county, Wisconsin, and returned to Sioux Falls in January, 1878. During his residence in Sioux Falls he had as partners in his law practice, in 1873-4 John Bippus, in 1879-81. Frank H. Winsor, his brother, who afterwards removed to Mitchell, South Dakota, in 1882-6 L. S. Sweezy, and on the 1st day of January, 1877, the firm of Winsor & Kittredge was established, and continued until October, 1895, when Mr. Winsor removed to the city of New York, and became associated with the firm of Chandler, Maxwell & Phillips of that city. He was the first to litigate a case in the dis- trict court in the counties of Lincoln, Minnehaha and Moody, and had been in the practice of law in the Territory of Dakota and State of South Dakota more years than any other practicing lawyer when he removed to New York. Mr. Winsor has a wide circle of acquaint- ances in the Northwest, all of whom are his friends. He is a good lawyer and a good advocate, and while a member of the Dakota bar, was employed in important litigation. He was popular with the pro- fession, an elegant story-teller, a genial good fellow, and his removal from Sioux Falls was sincerely regretted.
WISA, FRANK, is a native of Germany, and was born July 18, 1849; attended the public schools until thirteen years of age, when he was apprenticed to a harnessmaker. In 1873, emigrated to the United States; lived a few months in Michigan, and a short time in Chicago, then worked on a farm one year; went to Iowa and worked at his trade two years, and then removed to Vermillion, Dakota. On the 15th day of November, 1877, came to Sioux Falls, and was in part- nership with Warner Raabe in the harness business until 1879, since which time he has been conducting the business alone. He is a good business man, and a good citizen.
WITTE, C. FRED H., was born in Augusta, Eau Claire county, Wisconsin, July 18, 1861. He was raised on a farm. In May, 1879, came to this county and engaged in farming until 1882, when he was employed by Heynsohn Brothers in Sioux Falls. He remained in their employ until January, 1898, at which time he purchased the Minne- haha Springs property, and is now engaged in carrying on the busi- ness. He is an industrious, upright citizen and a good business man.
WOODRUFF, JAMES, was born at Geneseo, Illinois, December 22, 1864; attended the public schools until thirteen years old, when he entered a printing office and remained there seven years. On the 5th day of April, 1885, he arrived in Sioux Falls and commenced work in the printing office of Caldwell & Bliss; worked at the case one year, and then was foreman of the office five years. In 1891, he accepted the position of foreman of the Argus-Leader office, which position he still retains. In 1898, he was elected on the fusion ticket a member of the house of representatives of the state legislature from Minnehaha county and was an influential member of that body in its 1899 session, serving on the judiciary and public health com- mittees. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., the A. O. U. W., the Elks, and of the Typographical Union; is a social good fellow, and a respected citizen.
ORA WILLIAMS.
ROY WILLIAMS.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
WOODS, RICHARD JACKSON, was born in Belfast, Ireland, on the 17th day of January, 1863, while his parents were on a visit to that place; their home being in Louisiana, where the subject of this sketch spent his boyhood days. He took an academic course in Philadel- phia, after which he started West and came to Sioux Falls in 1878. where he worked on a farm, and drove a team for awhile for Thomas Quigley. In 1883, he was appointed a guard at the penitentiary and held that position until June 2, 1887. A week after, on the 9th day of June, he married. He then engaged in the real estate business, in which he continued until 1890, when he was appointed special agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company of Mil- waukee, and immediately commenced soliciting life insurance, and has continued in this business to the present time. He has been wonderfully successful, and is known far and wide as one of the best solicitors in the United States. From June, 1892, to June, 1893, he wrote $712,000 of insurance, and four times during that year, as his monthly reports went into the home office, he was notified that he ranked No. 1, and stood at the head of over 2,500 active agents solic- iting insurance for this great institution. He is general district agent of twenty-two counties through the central portion of the state. In 1889, and again in 1890, he was president of the State Firemen's Association. In 1889 he was appointed by Governor Mellette Chief of Engineers and Ordinance, with rank of Colonel. In August, 1894, he was elected president of the Republican state league, and during the state campaign that immediately followed, was an active and efficient participant. In local politics he has for years been a promi- nent factor. The city, county and state conventions that have been held without his presence as a delegate have been few. He was a delegate to the Republican national league convention at Cleveland, Ohio, in June, 1885, was elected one of the vice presidents of the league, and was appointed on the committee on resolutions. In 1896 he was nominated by the state republican convention presidential elector, and his name stood at the head of the ticket.
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