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 75
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HANSON, GUSTAF, was born in Sweden, October 2, 1851. He emigrated and came directly to Dakota and located in this county in April, 1881. In 1884 he married Johanna Streiffert, and they reside on their 80-acre farm in the southeast quarter of section one in Hartford, where they have a neat little home. Mr. Hanson is a good neighbor and a respected citizen.
HUCKINS, SAMUEL, was born in Canada, of Vermont parentage, on the 12th day of March, 1832. He was reared on a farm and edu- cated in the common schools. In 1847 he came to the United States and located in Illinois where he married in 1853, and resided for sev-
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eral years, and then removed to Howard county, Iowa. In 1864 he enlisted in Company G, 16th Iowa Infantry, and served during the remainder of the civil war, being mustered out July 19, 1865. He was in the battle at Nashville, Tennessee, and other less important engagements, and as the regiment did a great amount of marching he had the opportunity of seeing a good deal of the South without being to any expense for transportation. The latter part of August, 1869, he left Iowa for Dakota, and on the first day of September of that year he arrived in Sioux Falls. There were but two fami- lies in Sioux Falls at that time and they were occupying the bar- racks, which had been abandoned by the soldiers a few months pre- vious. D. B. Reynolds and family, and some single men arrived at Sioux Falls the same day. Mr. Huckins says that at that time they had to pay $1.25 to $1.50 for a pound of tea, 25 to 28 cents for bacon and 13 to 17 cents for sugar at the Falls. In the spring of 1870 Mr. Hucking took up a homestead in sections 1 and 2 in Sioux Falls, and commenced farming, raising grain and stock, in which he continued until 1876, when becoming discouraged, owing to the multitude of grasshoppers that visited this section of the country and the limited range he had for his stock, he went to Hartford and pre-empted a quarter of section 11, where at that time there was a great amount of hay and a wide range for stock, and continued farming at this place until in 1889, when, owing to poor health, he sold his farm, and at this writing resides on a small farm about three miles north of the village of Hartford. When the township of Hartford was organized he was elected chairman of the town board of supervisors, to which position he was re-elected during the three years succeed- ing, and again in 1891, having served on the board nine years in all. Mr. Huckins is not only a pioneer citizen of this county, but is one of its most reliable citizens, and is universally respected by all who know him.
JOHNSON, ANDERS, was born in Smaland, Sweden, August 19, 1844. He came to Minnehaha county July 27, 1887, and located on his present place the northeast quarter of section 1, in the town of Hartford, where he has a fine farm with substantial buildings, about ten horses and thirty head of cattle. He also owns eighty acres of land in section 36, Grand Meadow.
KIBBE, EDGAR C., was born May 4, 1848, at Clayton, Jefferson county, New York. When five years of age he removed with his parents to Wisconsin, and five years later they removed to Fayette county, Iowa, where he attended school and worked on the farm until 1864. At this time he went to St. Croix county, Wisconsin, where for four years he taught school during the winters, and worked on a farm the balance of the time. At the age of twenty years he engaged as a bookkeeper for a manufacturing company. In 1874 he went to Prescott, Wisconsin, and bought a newspaper plant, and for one year edited and published at that place a weekly newspaper called the Plain Dealer. In 1875 he sold out his newspaper and went to Elroy, Wisconsin, where he soon after started a weekly newspaper and continued in its management until January, 1881, when, becoming
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
partially paralyzed, he sold out, and the month following removed to Bridgewater, McCook county, Dakota. He there started the Dakota Cricket, the first newspaper published in McCook county. About the 5th day of July, 1882, having removed to Montrose, McCook county, he established a weekly newspaper called the Montrose Ava- lanche, which he edited and published for about two years, when he retired from his chosen profession and moved on to a farm, where he engaged in farming, and in teaching school. In 1890 he was given control of the Pioneer Register at Salem, South Dakota, and con- ducted its editorial columns for a few months during the political campaign of that year. He then returned to his farm in Clear Lake, where he remained until June, 1892, when he established a weekly newspaper at Hartford in this county, which was called the Plain Talker, and of which he was the editor and proprietor until July, 1899. Mr. Kibbe is noted for his independent, fearless editorials upon political matters, and his recent removal from the state has caused a void in the editorial fraternity that will be hard to fill.
KINGSBURY, I. C., was born at Monticello, White county, In- diana, in 1851. He came to South Dakota in 1882, and engaged in the mercantile business at St. Lawrence, in Hand county, where he was the first merchant. In 1886 he located at Hartford, this county, and engaged in banking. He is also largely interested in real estate transactions, is a successful business man, and an en- terprising and highly respected citizen.
KRUGER, CARL, is a native of Germany, and was born July 7, 1833. After his coming to this country he lived in Clinton county, Iowa, and in 1881 he removed to Dakota and settled in this county, securing as a tree claim the southeast quarter of section 33, in the town of Hartford, where he still resides. He has a good farm and is a good citizen.
LINEBECK, JOSEPH, was born in Indiana, May 10, 1832. He lived in Iowa for some time, and came to this county in March, 1883, where he has since been a well-known resident. He bought a relinquish- ment of a tree claim comprising the northwest quarter of section 34 in Hartford, which he afterwards proved up as a homestead. He is a good farmer and an energetic citizen.
MAHL, CHRISTIAN F., was born in Germany, July 12, 1860. In November, 1870, he emigrated to this country with his parents, who settled in Clayton county, Iowa, and remained there until the spring of 1881, when they came to this county and located in Wall Lake township. They secured the southwest quarter of section 25, and the southeast quarter of section 26. The subject of this sketch lived on the farm until 1890, when he moved to Hartford village and engaged in business. While a resident of Wall Lake he was assessor four years. His father, John Mahl, was born in Germany November 11, 1829, and resides on the southeast quarter of section 26 in Wall Lake, and is an industrious farmer.
MCLEOD, MARTIN, is a native of Canada, and was born in Novem- ber, 1858. He came to the United States in 1864, and lived in Michi- gan and Iowa until the spring of 1882, when he located in this county.
E. C. KIBBE.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
He took up land in sections 8 and 9 in Hartford, and now has a good farm of 320 acres, with substantial buildings and improvements, and is largely interested in horses. In the spring of 1888 he married Nettie O. Lyon. He is a good farmer and a good citizen.
MCLEOD, WALLACE, was born in the county of Middlesex, Can- ada, in 1850. He lived in Michigan and Iowa before he settled down in this county in December, 1892. He took up the south half of the northeast quarter of section 8 as a tree claim, and bought the north- east quarter of the same section in the town of Hartford, where he now lives.
MENTH, PETER, was born in Chicago, Illinois, July 4, 1853. After having lived in Wisconsin and Minnesota for some time he re- moved to Dakota and settled in Wellington township February 6, 1878, taking up as a homestead the southeast quarter of section 1, which he afterwards sold and removed to Hartford township, where he purchased a part of the southwest quarter of section 22, where he now lives and has a good farm. He has held the office of constable four years.
MUNDT, JOHN, is one of the most enterprising citizens of Hart- ford. He was born in Denmark August 16, 1853, emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1862, and resided in Connecticut, Minnesota and Iowa sixteen years. He came to Sioux Falls in August, 1878, and engaged in trade with Frank Kunerth for two years and then removed to Hartford, where he opened a general store and engaged in the grain and live stock business. After a few years he took into partnership H. D. Oaks, and carried on the busi- ness under the firm name of John Mundt & Co. until February, 1897, when Mr. Mundt bought out his partner's interest. In 1892, the company erected quite a large elevator near the railroad station at Hartford. In the fall of 1894, Mr. Mundt was elected treasurer of Minnehaha county, but after two years of service he concluded that he liked private business better than official duties, and declined to become a candidate for another term. He owns a large amount of real estate in Minnehaha county, and it will take a great deal of ca- lamity to reduce Mr. Mundt to indigent circumstances. He is an en- terprising business man, a good citizen, and has a host of friends.
NORTON, CHARLES A., was born in Hartford county, Connecti- cut, December 8, 1853. He lived there and in Wisconsin until he re- moved to this county in 1878. He took up a homestead in sections 23 and 26 in Hartford, where he still resides and has a good farm. He has been chairman of the town board, and assessor two years, and is an active, enterprising citizen.
OAKS, ELIHUE I., was born in Kane county, Illinois, January 3, 1841, resided there and in Minnesota until he removed to this county, where he arrived June 1, 1876. He bought eighty acres of land in Wayne and made homestead and tree claim filings in sections 27 and 28 in Hartford. Mr. Oaks has held the office of justice of the peace in Hartford twelve years-long enough to be called "Judge." He was a member of the 1885 constitutional convention, and for a good many years if he had not put in an appearance as delegate to our
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
county conventions he would have been missed. Mr. Oaks is a reli- able, upright citizen. He enlisted October 3, 1861, in the 3d Minne- sota, but, owing to sickness, was discharged after six months ser- vice.
OAKS, HERBERT D., was for nearly ten years a member of the firm of John Mundt & Co. of Hartford. Although a young man he is one of the oldest residents in the county, having come here with his father D. W. Oaks in 1871. He was born in Minnesota July 21, 1858. He has been town treasurer of Hartford several years, is a man of good business qualifications and an active citizen.
PEARSON, ALBA, was born in Wisconsin in 1860; was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. In 1876 he came to Hartford, in this county, and purchased a farm of 160 acres in sec- tions 10 and 11, where he has since resided. In 1891 he married Emma Bodeman, and is now the proud father of three daughters. He is a good farmer and a good citizen.
PEARSON, JESSE, was born in Sauk county, Wis., September 25, 1869; moved with his parents to this county, arriving in Sioux Falls on his eighth birthday. His father, Stephen Pearson, resided in Hartford until his death in 1890. The subject of this sketch re- sides in the village of Hartford, and is employed in the farm machin- ery business. He is a good citizen.
POTT, NICHOLAS, was born in Luxemburg, Germany, October 26, 1860; came with his parents to the United States in 1868, and lived two years at Waterloo, and two years at Independence, Iowa; when twenty years of age the subject of this sketch commenced farming, and followed that pursuit in Iowa until the fall of 1883, when he removed to Dakota and bought 320 acres of land in sections 3 and 10, in Wellington township, which he still owns, but resides at the village of Hartford, where he is engaged in business.
SCOTT, JOSEPH, was born at Farley, Dubuque county, Iowa, May 14, 1856. He came to Minnehaha county, February 1, 1880, and located in the town of Hartford, taking up a homestead and a tree claim in sections 8 and 17, where he has since been engaged in farin- ing and has a fine farm. He is a good farmer and says: "I have never been sorry that I came to Dakota. We had a pretty close time for the first few years that we lived here, but now we are getting along nicely." He has been supervisor of the town board since 1897, is a good neighbor and a highly esteemed citizen.
SODERBERG, CARL ALBERT, was born January 3, 1852, in Swe- den. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the high school at the city of Falun. When seventeen years of age he emigrated to the United States and settled in Iowa where he worked at the carpenter's trade until June, 1876, when he came to this county. His first work here was upon the mills at Palisade. He took up as a homestead the northwest quarter of section 24, in Hart- ford, and resided there until January, 1895. The first five years he lived in a sod house and burnt hay for fuel, but as he became more prosperous he added comfortable buildings to his farm improve- ments and has at the present time a good farm. He has held the
J. G. TYLER.
55
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
office of town clerk for several years, and when the Farmers' Al- liance came into existence he took an active part in promoting the in- terests of the organization. He was secretary of the County Al- liance four years and of the Territorial Alliance three years. In 1888 he was nominated by the Republican party for councilman of the fourth legislative district, comprising Hanson, McCook and Min- nehaha counties, and was elected and served in the last Territorial legislature with great credit to himself and his constituency. The 1st of January, 1895, he rented his farm and took up his residence in the city of Sioux Falls; where he was engaged in the county treas- urer's office for about two years, when he again went to live on the farm. Mr. Soderberg is well informed, and has proved himself to be an industrious, conscientious citizen.
SWENSON, JIM, was born in Sweden, September 24, 1843. He came to this county in 1882, and secured by pre-emption the north- east quarter of section 2, in Hartford township, where he now re- sides and has a good farm.
SWENSON, L. P., was born in Sweden in 1846. He lived in Penn- sylvania two years and in Wisconsin four years prior to his coming to this county in 1879, at which time he secured by pre-emption the northwest quarter of section 1, in Hartford township, where he still resides. He also owns land in section 2, and has a well improved farm, with good buildings. He is a thrifty, well-to-do farmer, and a good citizen.
THRALL, M. K., was born in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, on the 12th day of September, 1855. He came to Minnehaha county in 1879, and located on his present homestead, which comprises the northwest quarter of section 5, in Hartford township. He has a well improved farm and is a good citizen.
TYLER, JOHN G., of Hartford, was born on the 6th day of June, 1852, in Green county, Wisconsin; removed with his parents to Iowa in 1854, and came from there to Sioux Falls in 1878. He took up as a homestead in Hartford, the northwest quarter of section 12, where he has since resided. He was married October 10, 1880, and took his wife immediately to his home-a half dugout an'l half sod residence. The day before the famous October blizzard he put the finishing touches to his house, and thought he was ready for anything that might come along in the way of climatic disturbances. It rained a little during the afternoon, and when he retired at night it was snow- ing. But the next morning he found a blizzard of the first magni- tude had put in an appearance and was doing business all about his premises. His house was on a southern slope, and four rods away he had a stable with a good pair of horses in it. The stable was not in sight. This was Saturday. He had a cow fastened to a picket, but nothing could be seen of her except one hind foot. She was in twelve feet of snow, lying at an angle of about forty-five degrees. That cow was dead. Tyler says she was dead. He had a pitchfork in his house, and by running it down in the snow he found his stable, but did not get in until Sunday noon, when, to his great joy, he found his horses alive. He had a pig, and in digging out his horses found
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
the pig on the ground outside the stable door. The pig was alive. Here is to be seen the difference between the endurance of a cow and a pig in a blizzard. His house was completely buried out of sight, but beneath that cold, cold snow, his bride of four days, was com- fortable and happy. In conclusion we will only add, that Mr. Tyler is a good farmer and a good citizen; has held town offices, and would have been elected to the legislature in November, 1892, if the Inde- pendent party had polled votes enough. While living in Iowa he at- tended the district school and took a course at the Breckenridge In- stitute, Decorah, Iowa, graduating in 1877; taught school fourteen terms in Winneshiek county, Iowa, and after coming to Minnehaha county taught three terms, but has been principally engaged in farm- ing, and has a good farm with substantial buildings and improve- ments.
VAN DE MARK, FRANK E., one of the pioneer settlers of this county, was born in Lake county, Illinois, in 1852. He lived in Iowa for some time, and came to this county in 1872, where he has since resided. He proved up the southeast quarter of section 29 in Grand Meadow as a pre-emption, and the southwest quarter of section 20 in Hartford as a tree claim, but has disposed of both. He now owns about 640 acres of land in sections 3, 4, and 10 in Hartford, and in section 28 in Grand Meadow. He resides on the northeast quarter of section 3 in Hartford. He is one of the prominent farmers and stock raisers of the county; is an enterprising, influential citizen, and has held various school and town offices. In 1898 he received the nomination on the Republican ticket for member of the house of the state legislature, but his party did not pull votes enough to secure the election.
VAN VLEET, HARVEY, was born in Illinois, October 25, 1849. He enlisted in the 139th Illinois Infantry in May, 1864, and served until January, 1865. After the close of the war he located in Iowa, and in 1882 removed to this county, where he has since resided. He formerly owned the southeast quarter of section 12 in Hartford, but sold it, and bought the southeast quarter of section 11, in the same town, where he now resides, and has a very good farm. He has been supervisor of the town board, and is a respected citizen.
WARNER, WESTLEY J., is a native of Franklin county, Vermont, and was born June 22, 1844. He lived in Wisconsin for some time, and came to this county in June, 1876. He took up a homestead and a tree claim in sections 23 and 24 in Hartford township, and resided on his homestead until 1895, when he rented his farm and went to Kansas City, Missouri. He was a successful farmer and a good citizen.
WILLIG, GEORGE, is a native of Germany, and was born January 14, 1858. He emigrated to the United States in the spring of 1883, and has been a resident of this county since then. He lived four years in Brandon, and removed to Hartford township in 1893, where he now resides on his farm, comprising 200 acres in sections 2, 3 and 10. In 1887 he was married to Miss Alida Peters, and they have four boys, Phillip, Constantine, George and Fred. He is a good farmer and a good citizen.
F. E. VAN DE MARK.
HUMBOLDT TOWNSHIP.
102-52)
The boundary lines of this township were surveyed by Wm. J. Neeley in August, 1859, and the subdivisions by H. T. Austin in June, 1867. It contains 22,643.97 acres of land according to the gov- ernment survey. The map made by the first surveyor, shows not less than twenty-three ponds of water and two lakes; Beaver Lake on sections 14, 15 and 22 covered 307 acres, and Grass Lake on sections 34 and 35 covered about 60 acres according to this survey. During high water, suckers, black bass and pickerel have reached Grass Lake by way of a small stream having its source in this lake, and which runs through Hartford township in a northeasterly direction and empties into Skunk creek on the southeast quarter of section 19 in Benton township.
Among the first settlers in Humboldt was Nicholas Beck, who came there in 1877, and during the year following, Michael Flynn, Henry Mundt and several others located there. The first school house was built in the fall of 1879 on the northeast quarter of section 11, and the following winter the first school in the township was taught in this school house by Adelbert Oaks.
The Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha railroad was built through this township in 1879, but there was no station established until several years later, and then it was a mere stopping place. Beebe & Co. put up a grain warehouse in 1890, Hubbard & Palmer in 1891, and the Farmers Warehouse company's grain and ware- house was erected in 1893. In 1897, the railroad company built a commodious depot; and the John W. Tuthill Lumber Co. established a lumber yard, and commenced doing business July 5, that year. A hotel and store were built the same year, and in the fall of 1898, John Mundt of Hartford erected a grain elevator with a capacity of 25,000 bushels. In April, 1890, a post office was established, and since April 4, 1898, it has been a money order office. There are some fine farms in the township, and the little village of Humboldt will un- doubtedly thrive and grow rapidly in population, and as a business center.
FARMERS' MUTUAL FIRE AND LIGHTNING INSURANCE COMPANY. This company was organized in Humboldt township in 1891. At its annual meeting January 2, 1894, the secretary's report showed that it had a membership of 113, and was carrying an insurance of $181,540. Up to this time the company had sustained one loss only. At this meeting Wm. Englehardt was elected president, Henry
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Buchheim vice president, Carl Kruse treasurer, and Henry Mundt secretary. At the annual meeting January 12, 1897, the secretary, Henry Mundt, reported that the total amount of insurance of the company was at that time $239,930, and the total membership 146.
HUMBOLDT TOWNSHIP BOARD.
The first meeting of the board that appears upon the clerk's record, was held on the 16th day of July, 1881, at the residence of D. M. James. Supervisors, Lemuel Shaul chairman, D. M. James, Michael Flynn; Saul Shaul assessor, D. O. McCarty clerk, Deasro B. Oakes justice. The only business done was the allowance of bills of the township officers for services. The first warrant was drawn in favor of Saul Shaul for services as assessor in the sum of $22. Several meetings were held by the board during the year, but the only business recorded is the allowance of bills, and the total sum of warrants drawn was $71.99.
1882. Supervisors, Lemuel Shaul chairman, D. M. James, Charles Feyder; D. O. McCarty clerk, John Kruse assessor, D. B. Oakes and John Finn justices, Peter Ries treasurer. On the 23d of March, Alex Schindler was appointed treasurer to fill the vacancy, Mr. Ries having removed from the township.
1883. Supervisors, John Kruse chairman, D. M. James, J. P. Gallagher; O. J. McCarty clerk, John Wright treasurer, Henry Mundt assessor, D. O. McCarty and John Finn justices, Alex Schindler constable.
1884. Supervisors, John Kruse chairman, John Gallagher, Alex Schindler; O. J. McCarty clerk, Wm. Kruse assessor.
1885. Supervisors, J. P. Gallagher chairman, Alex Schindler, Henry Mundt; O. J. McCarty clerk, John Wright treasurer, D. O. McCarty assessor, Charles Hemig and Frank Becknell justices, Gust. Schievelbien and Lemuel Shaul constables.
1886. Supervisors, D. M. James chairman, J. P. Gallagher, Henry Mundt; D. O. McCarty assessor, Charles Hemig treasurer, A. G. Hahn clerk.
1887. Supervisors, Henry Mundt chairman, Carl Kruse, Peter Finton: J. P. Gallagher treasurer, Amos Shaul assessor, A. G. Hahn, clerk.
1888. Supervisors, Henry Mundt chairman, Carl Kruse, A. K. Sanborn; W. M. Kruse assessor, J. P. Gallagher treasurer, Peter Finton clerk.
1889. Supervisors, Alex Schindler chairman, Carl Kruse, J. W. Drake; J. P. Gallagher treasurer, N. B. Even assessor, Peter Finton clerk, George W. Shaul and Peter Finton justices, John Thrasher and N. B. Even constables.
1890. Supervisors, Alex Schindler chairman, W. J. Berguin, Wm. Englehardt; Peter Finton clerk, J. P. Gallagher treasurer, F. B. Lockwood assessor. Fifty-seven votes were cast at this election.
1891. Supervisors, Alex Schindler chairman, W. J. Berguin, Wm. Englehardt; Peter Finton clerk, O. J. McCarty assessor, J. P. Gallagher treasurer, P. Chelius and Peter Finton justices, S. D. Maloney and E. E. Finton constables.
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