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 66
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WOODWORTH, DR. ROLLIN E., is a native of Leon, New York, and was born March 30, 1865. His father, who was a Methodist min- ister, died when the subject of this sketch was three years old. Ho attended the common schools and the Chamberlain institute at Ran- dolph, New York, until he was sixteen years of age, when he re- moved to Sioux Falls. He attended the high school at this place for one year when he graduated; then studied medicine for one year in the office of Dr. A. H. Tufts; then went to New York and took a three years medical course in the University of the City of New York, graduating in 1889, and soon after returned to South Dakota. He commenced the practice of medicine in Valley Springs, remain- ing there a little over two years, and then went to Bisbee, Arizona, as physician for the Copper Queen Mining Company; remained there one year, but owing to its being an undesirable place for his family in which to reside, he abandoned a remunerative practice and re- turned to New York, where he took up a course in the postgraduate school at the university, and was in the hospital for six months. During this time he made a special study of diseases of the eve, ear
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and nose. After completing this course he removed to Sioux Falls, where he is at the present time and has a good practice as an oculist and aurist. He has been president of the Minnehaha County Med- ical Society.
WYNN, WILBUR S., is a native of New York, and was born April 23, 1848; removed to Illinois with his parents when eleven vears of age, and on the first day of April, 1862-being only eleven vears, eleven months and seven days old -- he enlisted as a soldier in Company I, 35th Illinois Infantry, and served the full term of his en- listment of three years. He was large for his age, and succeeded in enlisting by representing that he was as old as his appearance indi- cated. He did not go out as a musician but as a soldier, and it has been claimed that no one enlisted in the Northern armies as young as Wilbur S. Wynn. The 35th Illinois was a fighting regiment, and it was the colonel of this regiment-Wm. P. Chandler-who first planted the colors on Missionary Ridge. Mr. Wynn was in this famous battle. At the battle of Stone River he was severely wounded and taken prisoner. After the war he attended school and studied law at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was admitted to the bar at St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1870. He soon after went to Hamburg, Iowa, where he opened a law office and practiced his profession until he re- moved to Sioux Falls in May, 1881, where he at once secured a good law business. During his residence in Sioux Falls he entered into two copartnerships for the practice of law, one with S. E. Young and the other with G. P. Nock. in both of which firms he was the senior partner. He was a Democrat in politics, and during Governor Church's administration was president of the board of the Deaf Mute school. He was nominated by the Democratic party for judge of the second judicial district at the time Judge Aikens was elected; was nominated by the Democrats and Populists in 1890 for state's attor- nev of Minnehaha county-and the writer had a pleasant campaign with him for the office. He removed to Perry, Oklahoma, in 1893, and subsequently to California. He was a hard working, energetic lawyer and an active, enterprising citizen.
YOUNG, SUTTON E., was born at Hiram, Ohio, September 23, 1847, was raised on a farm and educated at Hiram college, where he graduated in 1871. For five years was the superintendent of the public schools at Canton, Ohio, studied law during the same time and was admitted to the bar in 1876. In 1877, was elected prosecut- ing attorney of Harding county for the term of two years, and in 1879, was elected a member of the Ohio legislature. In 1881, removed to Sioux Falls, where he was employed as superintendent of the vil- lage and city schools for three years. In 1884, formed a copartner- ship with W. S. Wynn for the practice of law, and the firm continued until 1886, when he entered into copartnership with H. H. Keith under the firm name of Keith & Young. In 1887, resumed his former relations with W. S. Wynn, which continued until he left for Hiram, Ohio, in the fall of 1891; was a member of the first legisla- ture of South Dakota, and was elected Speaker, for which position he was well qualified and gave good satisfaction. During the last few years of his residence in Sioux Falls, if there was any politics in his
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ward in the city of Sioux Falls the county of Minnehaha the ter- ritory of Dakota, or the state of South Dakota, that he did not take a hand in, the writer is ignorant of the time and place when the ac- cident occurred. He was not always successful in what he attempted to do, but he was always adroit, energetic and persistent in carrying out his plans. He is a man of fine appearance and a good public speaker. Since writing the foregoing Mr. Young has returned to South Dakota and is engaged in a mining enterprise in the Black Hills, with headquarters at Rapid City, but he recently removed his family to Sioux Falls, where they were heartily welcomed by their many old friends.
ZENTEL, JOHN, was born in Zenheim, Germany, September 24, 1845, and while quite young learned the carpenter's trade. He emi- grated to this country, and arrived in New York in August, 1865, and remained there at work at his trade for three years. On the 1st day of October, 1878, he arrived in Sioux Falls, where he has since re- sided, and during the greater portion of the time has been engaged as a contractor and builder. He takes quite an active part in local politics, and is a man of considerable influence; is enterprising and well liked.
ZETLITZ, DR. ARNE, was born in Stavanger, Norway, June 16, 1864. He graduated from the high school in that city, and then at- tended school in Germany for two years. He then returned to Nor- way and studied pharmacy two years. In 1886, came to this country. and located in Lyon county, Minnesota. From there went to Toledo, Ohio, where he attended a medical college, and was graduated in March, 1891. He was then employed in the college as instructor in nervous diseases, and remained there until he removed to Sioux Falls in January, 1894, where he has since resided, engaged in practicing medicine. He was largely instrumental in the establishment of the Sioux Falls Hospital, and through his efforts principally, it has at- tained a creditable reputation. He was county physician two years. has a good practice, and is esteemed as an enterprising, upright citizen.
TOWN OF SOUTH SIOUX FALLS.
During the years 1888 and 1889 several industries had been established at South Sioux Falls. The South Sioux Falls Railroad and Rapid Transit line of road had been completed to this point, and everything looked prosperous and promising for a rapid and wonder- ful growth of the lively little burg which had sprung into existence so suddenly.
All the prerequisites having been duly complied with for the or- ganization of a town, a petition was presented by the residents and landowners of the southwest quarter of section 28, the south half of sections 29 and 30, sections 31, 32, and the northwest quarter of sec- tion 33 in Sioux Falls township, and sections 25 and 36, and the east half of sections 26 and 35 in Wayne township, asking the board of county commissioners to order an election to determine whether the inhabitants of such territory desired to incorporate as the Town of South Sioux Falls. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and the board ordered an election held on the 20th day of February, 1890. The election was held at the Woolen Mills, and all the votes cast thirty-seven) were in favor of incorporation. The territory was divided into three districts, and on the 21st day of March, 1890, J. M. Elev, Fred Frost, Sr., and S. D. Perkins were elected trustees, Fred Spoerl clerk, M. F. Drake assessor, C. S. Lawrence treasurer, J. P. Wilbur marshal and William Gingerich justice. July 1, S. D. Perkins was elected president of the board, and a corporate seal was ordered procured. July 9, the board, upon the petition of the owners of five-eights of the property, passed a resolution submitting to the voters the question of bonding the town in the sum of $70,000 for the purpose of constructing a system of water works and sewer- age, and to defray the expense of a plant for lighting the town. The election was held June 31, and all the votes cast (fifty in number) were in the affirmative. November 3, C. S. Lawrence having moved away, C. E. Fickes was appointed treasurer; and on the same day the board allowed bills which had been incurred to the amount of $1,673.08.
R. F. Pettigrew was not only the promoter of the packing house, but he was the prime mover in establishing several industrial enter- prises at South Sioux Falls. The woolen mill enterprise was one of the first. These mills were in operation in 1889-90. A soap factory was built about the same time, and an axle grease factory a little later. A starch factory was built in 1892. A large hotel was erected in 1889, and opened for business in the fall of that year. The foundation for a Presbyterian church building was laid, but the
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project went no further. The packing house plant, the most im- portant of the enterprises, is within the town of South Sioux Falls, and is the only one in operation at the present time. But the other plants only require to be set in motion to make South Sioux Falls one of the most active and important manufacturing points in this part of the state.
BUFFALO PARK .- In 1888 R. F. Pettigrew and S. L. Tate pur- chased seventeen. buffalos, and brought them to South Sioux Falls. They enclosed sixty acres with a high board fence, and turned the buffalos loose within the enclosure to obtain their subsistence. They then purchased quite a number of imported Galloway cows. and let them in with the bisons. Young buffalos and buffalo-gallo- ways was the result, and they were reared together. Deer black- tails and white-tails, and moose were also procured and put in the park. A boy living near the Missouri river upon hearing of the park, supposed the proprietors would be pleased to add to their var- iety of animals, and shipped to them twenty prairie dogs. Eight of them got away, but twelve were left in the park, and they at once commenced to take up homesteads and file pre-emptions, and in a few years, if a census had been taken, the number of prairie dogs would have run up into the thousands. In 1894 the buffalo-galloway herd was disposed of, but the prairie dogs remained until the high water in the spring of 1898 overflowed their habitations and drowned them.
THE LAST BUFFALO.
This illustration is of the last buffalo in Minnehaha county. He was born in Buffalo park, and having special advantages for growth, was a splendid specimen, weighing 2,400 pounds. He never realized his captivity, and his behavior was unexceptional in the park. In
48
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
August, 1894, he was sold and put into a box-car and shipped to Buffalo, New York. When he found himself confined in the car he was greatly enraged, and before arriving at his destination the car needed repairs. He was purchased for the park at Buffalo, but when he arrived there the park commissioners were at a loss how to trans- fer him to his new home, and they wired Senator Pettigrew for in- formation. They finally made a chute for his passage and opened the door of the car, but he did not approve of the arrangement, and being prodded in order to drive him out, he knocked out one end of the car and made his exit.
LIST OF OFFICERS 1891-1899.
1891. May 4, the annual election took place, and the following officers were elected: J. M. Eley, Samuel Simons, T. J. Haynes, trustees; Fred Spoerl clerk, C. E. Fickes treasurer, Wm. Ginger- rich assessor, C. H. Ransom justice, M. F. Drake marshal.
The receipts from taxes during the year amounted to $618.23. The expenditures during the year amounted to $2,132.91.
September 12, T. J. Haynes having moved away, Thomas Hobart was appointed trustee to fill the vacancy.
1892. April 12, the salary of the trustees was fixed at S25. May 2, at the annual election, the following officers were elected: trus- tees, Samuel Simons chairman, Fred Frost, Sr., Wm. Wolley; clerk, J. M. Eley; assessor, Wm. Gingerich; treasurer, Percy Frost; justice, Fred Spoerl; marshal, John Nichols. July 12, J. M. Eley resigned as clerk and Wm. Gingerich was appointed to fill vacancy. At the end of the fiscal year the amount of taxes received was $2,911.11, and ex- penditures $2,266.66.
1893. May 1, the following officers were elected: trustees, Fred Frost, Sr., Samuel Simons, W. J. Wolley; clerk and assessor, Wm. Gingerich; treasurer, Fred Frost; justice, C. D. Fickes; marshal, M. F. Drake. October 2, Wm. Gingerich resigned as clerk and Fred Frost was appointed to fill vacancy. November 13, the tax levy for 1890 having been declared void by the courts, the board of trustees authorized the county to charge back the amount of taxes collected and paid over to the town, and retain the amount from future taxes collected by the treasurer.
1894. May 7, the following officers were elected: trustees, M. Butterfield chairman, C. E. Place, E. M. Grimsell; clerk, E. C. Goecke; assessor, H. W. Connolly; treasurer, C. E. Fickes; justice, Fred Frost, Jr. ; marshal, P. M. Harmison. November 5, E. M. Grim- sell resigned and A. J. McLain was appointed to fill vacancy.
1895. The annual election took place at the appointed time, with two tickets in the field. One ticket was nominated by a caucus, and there were some persons dissatisfied with the nominations. They kept quiet and at the last moment a ticket was made up by petition and properly filed. The caucus ticket was not filed in time, but it was voted and had a majority, and the persons named on the ticket were declared elected, and became the de facto town officials. The matter got into the courts, and the following October the court de- cided that the persons nained upon the other ticket were legally
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elected. The de facto officers stepped down and out and the de jure officers assumed their respective duties. The last named officers were as follows: M. Butterfield, H. W. Connolly and C. E. Place trustees; E. C. Goecke clerk; Perry Frost assessor; C. E. Fickes treasurer; A. D. Austin justice; Fred Frost, Jr., marshal. Mr. Goecke moved away during the fall and James E. Connolly was ap- pointed to fill the vacancy.
1896. The town officials for this year were in part as follows: trustees, Fred Frost, Sr., J. E. Nixon, M. F. Holt; clerk, James E. Connolly. January 19, 1897, J. F. Nixon having moved away, H. W. Connolly was appointed trustee to fill vacancy. February 2, 1897, Harry Pratt was appointed trustee in place of M. F. Holt for the same reason.
1897. C. J. Conway, Thomas Hobart and H. K. Pratt were elected trustees; J. E. Connolly clerk; Fred Frost, Jr., treasurer; H. W. Connolly assessor. In October J. E. Connolly resigned and H. W. Connolly was appointed clerk.
1898. May 2, the following officers were elected: trustees, M. Butterfield chairman, Hugh Mullen, H. K. Pratt; clerk, Wm. Gin- gerich; treasurer, Fred Frost, Jr. ; assessor, H. W. Connolly: justice. Albert Norem. May 19, Mr. Frost declined to serve as treasurer and C. E. Fickes was appointed. In October Mr. Norem moved away, and Wm. Gingerich was appointed justice.
1899. At the annual election the following officers were elected: trustees, M. Butterfield, Ole Johnson, H. K. Pratt; clerk, Wm. Gin- gerich; treasurer, C. E. Fickes; justice, J. Harmison; marshal, Wm. P Ryan; assessor, H. W. Connolly; overseer of highways, Hugh Mullen.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BUTTERFIELD, MERRICK, was born in Andover, Vermont, De- cember 18, 1819; was raised on a farm, and attended the public schools. When twenty-one years of age he settled down to farming on the old homestead until 1854. At that time he removed to Mc- Henry county, Illinois, and engaged in farming until June, 1887. when he came to Sioux Falls. He resided in this city until 1893, when he removed to South Sioux Falls, where he has since resided. Mr. Butterfield held town offices in Vermont, and while a resi- dent of Illinois was supervisor, school trustee, and also mayor of the city of Marengo several years. He has been a member of the board of trustees of the town of South Sioux Falls four years, and its chairman three years. When sixteen years old he united with the Baptist church, and has been a deacon of that church forty years. He is a pleasant, genial man, a good neighbor, and an upright, con- scientious citizen.
FICKES, CHARLES EDWARD, was born at Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois, December 9, 1866. Attended the public schools until thir- teen years old, when he went to Chicago and was employed in a grocery store until 1881. He then went to Marengo, Illinois, where his parents resided, and remained there as clerk in a grocery store four years, and for two years attended the Marengo high school from
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which he graduated. He then entered a dry goods and clothing store, where he remained until September, 1891, when he removed to this state and located at South Sioux Falls. He bought the interest of Mr. Perkins of the firm of Spoerl & Perkins, engaged in general merchandising at that place, and the firm of Spoerl & Fickes contin- ued the business until Mr. Fickes on the first day of August, 1893, bought out the interest of his partner, and since then has largely increased the business. He has been remarkably successful, and when his location is taken into account and the fact is known that he does an annual business of upwards of $20,000, his energy, honesty and business qualifications are established. He has been one of the town officials of South Sioux Falls during the whole time of his resi- dence there, and is well liked as a neighbor and citizen.
GINGERICH, WILLIAM, was born at Kur-Hessen, Germany, April 14, 1842, and at the age of nine years emigrated to America with his parents. Resided in Maryland one year and then removed to Putnam county, Illinois, where he received a common school education. Jan- uary 1, 1864, he enlisted in Co. B, 64th Illinois Infantry, served dur- ing the remainder of the civil war, and was discharged July 20, 1865. He then engaged in farming in Livingston county, Illinois, for sey- eral years, and was a breeder of fine stock. For four years was a dealer in coal and fuel at Chatsworth, Illinois. In 1889 came to South Sioux Falls, and resided there until he removed to Elwood, Iowa, but in 1896 he returned to South Sioux Falls, where he has since resided, engaged in the fuel and grain business. Mr. Ginger- ich has held some official position during all the time he has resided at South Sioux Falls, and is an enterprising, upright citizen.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
(101-50)
The boundary lines of Wayne township were surveyed by W. J. Neeley in July, 1859, and the subdivision of the township was made by Carl C. P. Meyer in September, 1864. According to the govern- ment survey the township contains 23,037 and 99-100 acres of land. The water supply is good. The Big Sioux river touches sections 13 and 24, and Skunk creek enters on section 6, and running in a south- easterly course leaves the township on section 25. There are also several small streams which empty into Skunk creek.
The township was settled at an early date. Sylvester Delaney and wife came to the county in 1866, and it is said they were the first settlers in Wayne. Several of the present residents took up land in 1870. V. R. L. Barnes, Frank Raymond and William Bailey were all located there prior to June of that year. Solomon Pruner and D. IV. Oaks settled there in 1871, and in 1872 quite a number of new settlers located in the township.
The first school was taught by Miss Elsie Barnes in a dugout lo- cated on the southwest corner of the northeast quarter of section 14. During the spring of 1873, Mr. Oaks and Mr. Barnes went down to Lodi (about fifteen miles north of Vermillion and procured a small building 12x12 feet in size, took it down and drew it onto the north half of the southwest quarter of section 14, and set it up for a school- house. Miss Jennie Barnes taught school in this building during the spring and early summer of that year. After the term of school closed, sometime in August following, the schoolhouse was missing. Upon going to the place where it had been located one side of it was found lying flat on the ground, the rest of the building had entirely disappeared, except a piece of 2x4 which was found quite a distance away stuck in the ground. Upon digging it out it was found to have entered the ground to the depth of two feet. It was undoubtedly the work of a "little twister," and the most remarkable feature of the occurrence was the fact that it happened in the night time, and not a drop of rain fell. Very soon after, a schoolhouse 16x24 feet was built, and D. W. Oaks says he thinks it was the first frame schoolhouse built in the county. Mr. Barnes came from Wayne, Pennsylvania, and as he was one of the first settlers in the township wanted it called Wayne, it was so named, although several other names had been proposed.
Skunk Creek valley is noted for its fertility of soil, and as the home of some of the most prosperous farmers in the county. The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad runs through the township and has a station called Ellis located on its line near the center of the township. There is a post office, store, and three grain elevators at Ellis, but the residents of Wayne do the principal part of their business at Sioux Falls.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP BOARD.
The board of supervisors of Wayne township met the first time after its organization as a civil township January 10, 1881. Seymour Hill and M. W. Pruner supervisors, and E. J. Tracey clerk, were present, E. Wiser, who had been elected supervisor, was absent. The bond of D. W. Oaks was approved, but the records do not dis- close to what office he had been elected. July 23, the board directed that an order be drawn in the sum of $100, with ten per cent interest to Seymour Hill, he agreeing to advance $95 to be expended in build- ing bridges. At this meeting the township was divided into two road districts.
1882. Seymour Hill, M. W. Pruner and E. Wiser were re- elected supervisors, O. Brandenburg clerk. A tax levy was made as follows: Town fund 2, bridges 5 and road 6 mills. Henry Smith made a report as treasurer early in the year 1883, and had undoubt- - edly been elected treasurer in 1882, but there is no record of his election.
1883. S. Hill, Charles Fleetwood and Carey Wiser were elected supervisors, S. Hill chairman, O. Brandenburg clerk. A tax levy of 9 mills was levied for all purposes.
1884. The township officers for 1884 were as follows: Super- visors, Charles Fleetwood chairman, Carey Wiser and Seymour Hill; clerk, O. Brandenburg; treasurer, E. J. Tracey; assessor, V. R. L. Barnes. The bond of the treasurer was fixed at $500, and that of the clerk, assessor and constable at $200 each. On the 15th day of March, A. M. Bowen qualified as one of the supervisors, in the place of Charles Fleetwood.
1885. At the annual March election the following officers were elected: Supervisors, S. Hill, A. M. Bowen and E. Wiser; clerk, O. Brandenburg; treasurer, E. J. Tracy.
1886. Supervisors, A. M. Bowen, E. Wiser and John Alguire; clerk, O. Brandenburg.
1887. At the annual election in March A. M. Bowen, John Al- guire and W. H. Bryan were elected supervisors, C. H. Fleetwood treasurer, O. Brandenburg clerk. On the 30th day of April the res- ignation of C. H. Fleetwood as treasurer was accepted, and E. Wiser was appointed to fill the vacancy. At the same meeting C. S. Aikens was appointed assessor, and Wm. Vincent and Charles Babcock con- stables. The justices were M. W. Pruner and W. S. Jones.
1888. At the annual March election the following officers were elected: Supervisors, A. M. Bowen chairman, H. W. Smith, John Alguire; clerk, O. Brandenburg.
1889. Supervisors, A. M. Bowen, John Alguire, Wm. Bailey; clerk, (). Brandenburg.
1890. Supervisors, John Alguire, Frank Barnes, Henry Frantz; clerk, O. Brandenburg; treasurer, G. B. Moulton. There was $146.63 in the treasury at the close of the fiscal year.
1891. Supervisors, John Alguire, Frank Barnes, Henry Frantz; clerk, O. Brandenburg; assessor, S. D. Alguire; treasurer, G. B. Moul- ton. On the 3d day of October a tax of 11/2 mills was levied to defray
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the expense of a resurvey of the township. At the same time bridges across the Sioux river, Willow creek and Skunk creek were con- demned. On January 5, 1892, the bills of C. Barrett for $25 and Michael Harris S90 for damages sustained owing to defective bridges were allowed. At the close of the year the treasurer reported $788.75 in the treasury.
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