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 81
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FERSDAL, THOMAS H., was born in Trondhjem, Norway, Feb- ruary 13, 1858. He emigrated to Minnesota where he resided until 1881, when he came to Dakota, and has lived in this county ever since. He bought and now owns about 220 acres of land, consisting of a part of the southwest quarter of section 33, and the whole of the southwest quarter of section 32, in Sverdrup, where he now resides.
FILBERG, ANDREW FREDRICKSON, a native of Norway, was born December 13, 1843. He emigrated to the United States in 1869, lived
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY
in Wisconsin four years and came to this county in 1873. He then entered a homestead and a tree claim upon the northeast quarter of section 2, in Sverdrup, where he still resides and has a good farm. He has been a member of the school board, and is a good citizen.
FUNDAUN, OLE J., is a native of Norway and was born in 1851. He emigrated to Dakota in 1875, and located in this county. He filed a pre-emption upon the west half of the northwest quarter of section 11, and the east half of the northeast quarter of section 10, in Sver- drup, where he is still living, engaged in farming.
GARDNER, GEORGE H., was born in Michigan March 22, 1853, on his father's farm in the town of Dearborn, Wayne county. While quite young he removed to Minnesota, and from there to Iowa, and engaged in farming. In April, 1877, he came to Sioux Falls, where he remained about one month and then located a homestead in Moody county. April 1, 1878, he returned to this county and bought the southwest quarter of section 23 in Sverdrup, where he has since re- sided. He is also the owner of the northwest quarter of section 23 and 200 acres in section 22 in the same township. He is a good farmer and has a splendid farm. Was one of the grand jurors at the April term of the circuit court in 1893.
GUNDERSON, THORSTEN, came to the United States from Nor- way, where he was born March 24, 1840. He lived in Minnesota one vear, but left there for Dakota in 1873, and settled in this county. He secured a fine location by the Sioux river in sections 17 and 18 in Sverdrup, where he has since resided engaged in farming. He is a good farmer and a respected citizen.
HAMMER, JOHN O., was born in Norway in 1854. He emigrated to the United States in 1873, and settled in this county. He took up a homestead and a tree claim in section 1 in Sverdrup, where he has since resided and has a good farm with substantial buildings.
THE HUNTEMER FAMILY. The Huntemers of Minnehaha county are sufficiently prominent and numerous to receive special mention. The father was born in 1822 at Achren near Baden in Germany. He married in 1846, and emigrated to the United States the same year and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. After having lived there one year he removed to Potosi, Grant county, Wisconsin, where he re- sided until his death. He was a farmer, and had fourteen children, eleven of whom are now living. There were eight sons, and all of them, except Henry, have resided in this county, and he resides in Lake county, this state. Four of the daughters have also lived in Minnehaha county, and one of them, the wife of P. P. Bowen, is now a resident of Taopi. A biographical sketch of William will be found below, of John in Mapleton, of Augustus in Dell Rapids, and of Charles B., George V., Frank J., and Joseph in Taopi, where they first re- sided in this county.
HUNTEMER, WILLIAM, was born in Potosi, Grant county, Wis- cansin, October 28, 1848; was reared on a farm, and received a com- mon school education. His father gave the boys their time when twenty years old, and the subject of this sketch went to work on
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
a farm in Iowa the following year and saved about two hundred dol- lars. In April, 1871, in company with his brother John he started for Sioux Falls, arriving there April 16. Among the first jobs they secured was that of excavating the cellar for the Cataract hotel. William took up land in section 33 in Sverdrup, and there is a story frequently told that after he had been farming for two or three years he became so discouraged that he was about to leave the country where the grasshoppers harvested his crops; that he came down to Sioux Falls, where C. K. Howard happened to hear of his intentions, and in order to induce him to remain said he would take the place of Providence for one year, and give him a written guar- anty that he would raise a good crop. When asked about it, Mr. Huntemer said: "Yes, that's about as it was. I had got discour- aged-the grasshoppers had taken my crops and I thought it was of no use to remain here any longer. Mr. Howard overheard me saying I was about to sell my personal property and leave, and he protested strongly, saying I had a good farm, was a good farmer, that Provi- dence had not forgotten us and that the grasshoppers would not ap- pear again. I asked him how many bushels of wheat he thought I would get an acre that year, and he replied he was sure that I would get a good crop. I then said to him, 'If you will guarantee thirteen bushels per acre I will give you all I raise over that.' He replied, ' I will do it.' I then said, 'I want this put down in black and white.' He assented to this and wrote out the agreement which we signed, and then he handed me twenty-five cents and told me to go down to the register of deeds' office and file the agreement, which I did. I raised twenty-five to thirty bushels an acre that year, and the sur- plus over thirteen bushels I drew for Mr. Howard to Beaver Creek, Minnesota. I have always been glad that I made that contract and remained in this county.'
Mr. Huntemer resides on his farm in Sverdrup, which now com- prises 400 acres and is one of the best farms in the county. He is not only a good farmer, but is a good neighbor and citizen.
KIRKEBY, S. T., was born in Norway in 1866, and came to the United States with his parents in 1869. In 1873, they removed from Minnesota to this county and settled in section 30 in Sverdrup. The subject of this sketch now resides on the northwest quarter of sec- tion 30, and has a good farm of 200 acres. He is one of the progres- sive farmers of Sverdrup, and is a respected citizen.
KROGSTAD, PETER, emigrated to the United States from Nor- way, where he was born in 1828. He came directly to South Dakota in 1872, and settled in Minnehaha county, securing as a homestead the southwest quarter of section 14 in Sverdrup, where he still re- sides, and has a good farm.
LANGNESS, JOHN O., was born in Norway, October 22, 1839. He emigrated to the United States in 1866, and lived in Minnesota until in the spring of 1868, when he removed to Dakota and came to this county about the first of May of that year. He took up a homestead in the center of section 5 in Sverdrup, where he still resides and has one of the most substantial and best improved farms in the county.
JOHN O. LANGNESS.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
He took up a tree claim and a pre-emption in Logan, but has since disposed of his interest in them, and has purchased several hun- dred acres of land in sections 5, 8 and 20 in Sverdrup. He has held most, if not all of the town offices; has been county surveyor two terms, and was a member of the assembly of the territorial legislature one term. In November, 1896, he was elected county treasurer of Minnehaha county. He is a man of positive convictions, and always ready to stand by and advocate his principles. He is as honest as he is self-reliant, and is highly esteemed by his neigh- bors. He is credited with a good deal of political sagacity, and his political opponents in taking an account of stock never ignore his political influence. It is not too much to say, that he stands in the front rank of the best citizens of the county.
McBRIDE, OWEN, a native of Ireland, was born in 1829. He emi- grated to America and lived in Iowa until in 1874, when he came to Dakota and settled in this county, taking up as a homestead the south half of the southeast quarter of section 14, and the north half of the northeast quarter of section 23, in Sverdrup, and has lived there, en- gaged in farming, ever since. He was appointed overseer of high- ways in 1890.
McBRIDE, THOMAS, was born in Ireland June 12, 1839. He emi- grated to the United States in 1856, and resided in Iowa until 1873, when he removed to Dakota and located in this county. He took up a homestead in section 24, and a tree claim in section 13, in Sverdrup, and has a good farm. His residence is on the northwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 24. He was a teamster in the war of the rebellion for about three years.
MOE, OLE PETERSON; was born in Norway in 1850, and emi- grated to Minnesota in 1869. He remained there until the fall of 1870, when he removed to Dakota and settled in Sverdrup. He took up as a homestead the southeast quarter of section 31, and pre- empted 160 acres in the same township and has a good farm with sub- stantial buildings and improvements. He has held several school and town offices in Sverdrup, and is respected as an honest upright man.
MOEN, PETER O., was born in Trondhjem, Norway, October, 30, 1858. He emigrated and located in Minnehaha county in June, 1873, taking up a homestead in section 12 in Sverdrup township, where he has since resided engaged in farming, and has a good farm.
NYHUS, GUTTORM T., was born in Norway in 1841. He emi- grated to the United States, and lived in Minnesota for some time, but removed to this county in 1872. He took up as a homestead the northeast quarter of section 28, in Sverdrup, where he still resides and has a good farm. He has purchased land in five other sections in this township, and now owns several hundred acres. He is a suc- cessful farmer, a good neighbor, and an enterprising and respected citizen.
PETERSON, NELS B., of Sverdrup, is a native of Norway, and was born on the 4th day of October, 1853. He emigrated with his parents to the United States in 1868, and upon arriving to this
59
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
country took the train for the West, and came direct to Sioux City. At that place his brother, about three years old, was taken sick. Be- ing short of money, and the destination of the family being this county, they were obliged to make the remaining part of their jour- ney afoot. They carried the sick child, and walked across the prai- rie until they reached the farm of Robert Peterson, an uncle of Nels, who at that time lived in Mapleton. They arrived there in June, 1868, and three days after their arrival the little boy died. His father, Jorgen Peterson, secured a pre-emption, tree-claim and home- stead in sections 3 and 4 in Mapleton, and in section 34 in Sverdrup, where he resided until his death, which occurred in the fall of 1895. Nels took up a homestead in section 2 in Mapleton, and has bought considerable land in sections 33 and 34 in Sverdrup, and in section 2 in Mapleton, and now owns, including his father's property, several hundred acres of land in this county. He has been a member of the town board of supervisors since 1896, and also a member of the school board for several years. He resides on the southeast quarter of section 34, has a good farm, with fine improvements, is an enter- prising farmer, and a highly respected citizen.
RISVOLD, ANDREW P., is a native of Norway and was born in 1835. He emigrated to the United States in 1867, and for two years resided in Minnesota. He came to this county in June, 1869, and settled in Sverdrup, taking up the southwest quarter of section 10, as a homestead, where he still resides and has a good farm with sub- stantial buildings. He is one of the reliable citizens of Sverdrup, and has been the treasurer of the school district in which he resides upwards of fifteen years.
RISVOLD, JOHN P., was born in Norway, June 20, 1851, and emi- grated to the United States with his parents. He came to this county on his 19th birthday, and in 1872 took up a homestead in sec- tions 4, in Sverdrup, and 33, in Dell Rapids. He is a good farmer, has a good farm, and is a reliable citizen.
RISVOLD, PAUL A., was born in Norway, July 7, 1861. He emi- grated to this country and resided in Minnesota until he removed to this county in October, 1870, where he has since resided. He pur- chased the southeast quarter of section 10, in Sverdrup, and has a good farm and is a reliable citizen.
SANDO, REV. O. O., was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, May +, 1849. He was educated in Luther college, Decorah, Iowa, and took a theological course at Concordia seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, graduating in 1873. In October of that year he came to this county, having accepted a call from the Nidaros Evangelical Lutheran Con- gregation in Sverdrup township, and three other congregations, one at Brandon, this county, one in Brookings, this state, and one in Rock county, Minnesota. At that time there was not another Luth- eran minister in this part of South Dakota, and a large amount of missionary work devolved upon him. Before the expiration of the vear he had organized six congregations in addition to the four he came to take charge of, and he preached to them all, one of them being in Yellow Medicine county, Minnesota. He was in the saddle
NELS B. PETERSON.
REV. O. O. SANDO.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
most of the time, and as the immigration of Lutherans increased rapidly in this and adjoining counties, his field of labor was broad- ened and his missionary duties largely added to. At one time he had not less than seventeen congregations to whom he preached. He has held services in sod houses, farmers' residences, and later on, in school houses. The congregations organized by him in those pioneer days are now in charge of twelve pastors, and many fine church edi- fices have been erected. In 1876 he organized the first Norwegian Lutheran church in Sioux Falls after having preached regularly for a few Lutherans at that place since 1873. He has at the present time charge of two congregations-one in Sverdrup and one in Taopi. From the foregoing sketch of his labors it can readily be seen that the people in this section of the country are greatly in- debted to him for his pioneer work. He is greatly beloved by his parishioners, and is a good preacher. But where he excels is in his every-day work among the people of his congregation.
SANDVIG SR., HANS H., is a native of Norway, and was born August 20, 1826. He emigrated to Minnesota where he resided a few years. On the 28th day of September, 1872, he came to this county and settled in Sverdrup, taking up a homestead and tree claim in sections 11 and 13. His residence is located on the north- west quarter of section 13. He has a good farm, and is a respected citizen.
SOLEM, HENRY G., was born in Norway, in 1853. He emigrated to Minnesota and resided there until 1871, when he removed to Da- kota and settled in Minnehaha county. He then filed a pre-emption in section 3, and is at the present time the owner of the southwest quarter and the northeast quarter of that section, and also the north- west quarter of section 2, in Sverdrup. He resides on the north- east quarter of section 3, and has a very fine farm with substantial buildings and improvements. He is a good farmer and a good citi- zen, and has held several town offices.
THOMPSON, JOHN, the pioneer farmer of Sverdrup, was born in Norway, June 29, 1841, and came to this country in 1854. He was residing in Wisconsin at the breaking out of the war, and enlisted in Co. I, 7th Wisconsin, and served until April, 1862. During the summer of that year he enlisted in Co. H, 30th Wisconsin, and served through the war, until mustered out in October, 1865. He was a noncommissioned officer, and had the good fortune of going through the war without receiving a wound or being taken prisoner. After leaving the army he went to Goodhue county, Minnesota, where he soon after married Christine Haugen. On the 4th day of June, 1866, Mr. Thompson and John Nelson with their wives started for Dakota, each having a pair of oxen, a cow and a wagon. On the 29th day of June, the 25th birthday of Mr. Thompson, they arrived at Sioux Falls, and camped on the east side of the Sioux river. Within two or three days Mr. Thompson located on section 29 in Sverdrup, and filed a homestead claim. At first he put up four crotches, and built his first dwelling place of poles and hay. In the fall of that year he built a log house, 12x16, being the first one built in this township;
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
the roof of this building was covered with soft maple shingles. He is now residing on section 29, and has resided in Sverdrup longer than any other citizen of that town. He now owns 597 acres of land in section 29, and 240 acres on the west side of section 28. He has in addition 236 acres of land in sections 20, 30, 32 and 33 in Sverdrup, making in all 1,073 acres. He has good farm buildings, his barn be- ing one of the largest if not the largest in the county; it is 80 feet wide, by 100 feet in length. He has a large amount of personal prop- erty about him, and is one of the most successful and prosperous farmers in the county. He has also been a very active, enterprising citizen, and has taken a prominent part in public affairs. The first time he received an appointment to office was under quite unusual circumstances. It was when James S. Foster was territorial super- intendent of schools, and while engaged in freighting goods to Sioux Falls, he was assisted by Mr. Thompson (who was on his way to Yankton) to get his goods across the Sioux river. For this service Mr. Foster showed his appreciation by paying him one dollar and ap- pointing him superintendent of schools of Minnehaha county. He made good use of the dollar, but made no attempt to act in his official capacity. He has been chairman of the town board of supervisors for about nine years; was elected first township assessor of Sverd- rup; has been justice of the peace, and was the first chairman of the board of county commissioners of this county since its reorganiza- tion; and since then he has been elected and served for three years as a member of the same board. He was a member of the terri- torial assembly in 1873-1877 and 1883. There are few white people, and no farmer, who have resided in this county longer than Mr. Thompson, and none is better known, He is an honest, earnest, energetic man, a good neighbor and a respected citizen.
THOMPSON, TOM A., is a native of Norway and was born Novem- ber 19, 1842. He emigrated to the United States in 1872, and settled in Wisconsin for three years. In 1875 he came to this county and took up as a homestead the northwest quarter of section 11, and as a tree claim the southwest quarter of section 12 in Sverdrup township, and subsequently purchased the southwest quarter of section 11. He resides on his homestead and has a fine farm. He has held the office of school district, and town treasurer, and is a good citizen.
VOLLAN, JOHN P., is a native of Norway, and was born in 1844. He emigrated to the United States in 1872, and lived in Minnesota five years. In 1877 he removed to this county, where he has since resided engaged in farming. He bought and now owns 520 acres of land in sections 8, 9, 15, 16 and 17 in Sverdrup. He resides on the southwest quarter of section 15, and has a very fine farm, with sub- stantial buildings and improvements. He was assessor of Sverdrup township in 1896, is a good neighbor, an industrious farmer, and a respected citizen.
JOHN THOMPSON.
LYONS TOWNSHIP.
(103-50)
Wm. J. Neeley surveyed the boundaries of this township in July, 1859, and Carl C. P. Meyers surveyed the subdivisions in Sep- tember, 1864. Its acreage is 22,942.74. Skunk creek runs through its entire length north and south, and several little streams forming Willow creek have their source in this township. The surface is rolling, and the soil fertile. The first settlers in Lyons were Knude Larson and his son Ole Larson, who took up land and settled upon it on the 3d day of July, 1869, and built a sod house to live in. Knude took up the north half of section 1, and Ole took up land in sections 4 and 12. The township is now settled with a good class of farmers, and their farms and buildings denote thrift and prosperity. The valuation of the personal property is high upon the list, and only one township in the county has a greater number of cattle. There are two post offices in this township, one called Lyons, located in the southwestern part, and the other, called West Point, located on the west side near the center north and south.
LYONS TOWNSHIP BOARD.
The records of Lyons township commence with September 5, 1881, at which time the board met for the purpose of levying a tax for highways and bridges. L. Lyman, chairman, and John Magnu- son were present, E. O. Fossum absent. C. F. Sisson was the first town clerk.
1882. The names of the town officers for this year cannot be ascertained from the records. The first warrant was issued to E. O. Fossum on the 16th day of January, for four dollars. C. F. Sis- son clerk.
1883. Supervisors, W. F. Kelly chairman, E. O. Fossum, L. Lyman; T. E. Sater clerk. Tax levied, town fund two mills, road fund eight mills and bridge fund two mills. C. F. Sisson was paid $14 as assessor.
1884. Supervisors, Hans H. Sandvig chairman, Ole J. Stordahl. Lars Benson; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, E. O. Fossum; assessor, W. F. Kelly; justice for two years, Lewis Lyman; constable for two years, Iver Oien.
1885. Supervisors, L. A. Pease chairman, Hans H. Sandvig, Knut Larson; clerk, T.E. Sater; treasurer, E. O. Fossum; assessor, W. F. Kelly. At the annual town election 34 votes were cast.
1886. Supervisors, T. E. Sater chairman, G. W. Sisson, Lars
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Bervin; clerk, L. A. Pease; treasurer, E. C. Evans; assessor, W. F. Kelly; justices, Axel Scott, L. Lyman; constables H. A. Foster, Lars A. Berg.
1887. Supervisors, H. H. Sandvig chairman, Lars A. Bervin, Lars Benson; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Ole J. Stordahl; assessor, John A. Scott; constables, Geo. Foster, A. S. Fuller. At the annual town meeting a ballot was taken upon the question whether or not a townhall fund should be created, resulting in 10 votes for and 19 against.
1888. Supervisors, H. H. Sandvig chairman, Lars Bervin, Knut Larson; clerk. T. E. Sater; treasurer, Ole J. Stordahl; asses- sor, E. O. Fossum; justices, A. S. Fuller, C. F. Sisson; constables, Lars Benson, Iver Hildahl. At the annual election 33 votes were cast.
1889. Supervisors, Hans H. Sandvig chairman, S. H. Tidemann; W. F. Kelly; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Ole J. Stordahl; assessor, E. O. Fossum. At the annual town meeting the question of resur- veying the township was submited to a vote, resulting in 9 for and 43 against,
1890. Supervisors, Hans H. Sandvig chairman, S. H. Tide- mann, C. F. Sisson; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Ole J. Stordahl; assessor, E. O. Fossum; justices, Wm. F. Kelly and A. S. Fuller; constables G. W. Sisson, John O. Hildahl.
1891. Supervisors, H. H. Sandvig chairman, C. F. Sisson, S. H. Tidemann; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Ole J. Stordahl; assessor, J. O. Stordahl.
1892. Supervisors, Hans H. Sandvig chairman, E. O. Fossum, C. F. Sisson; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Ole J. Stordahl; asses- sor, J. O. Stordahl; justices, W. F. Kelly, G. W. Tyler; constables, Iver Oien, Martin Gunderson. At the annual town meeting 54 bal- lots were cast, and it was ordered that the Russian thistle law be en- forced.
1893. Supervisors, Hans H. Sandvig chairman, C. F. Sisson, Lars Benson; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Ole J. Stordahl; asses- sor, S. M. Tidemann; constable, Lars J. Vold.
1894, Supervisors, Hans H. Sandvig chairman, C. F. Sisson, S. H. Tidemann; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Ole J. Stordahl; as- sessor, J. O. Stordahl; justice, A. Scott; constables Iver Oien, Alex Walsh.
1895. Supervisors, C. F. Sisson chairman, Nils I. Oien, Lars A. Berg; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Lars A. Bervin; assessor, George W. Tyler.
1896. Supervisors, Hans H. Sandvig chairman, A. Berg, S. H. Tidemann; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Lars A. Bervin; assessor, G. W. Tyler.
1897. Supervisors, Hans H. Sandvig chairman, Lars A. Berg, James Sherry; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Lars A. Bervin; asses- sor, G. W. Tyler.
1898. Supervisors, Hans H. Sandvig chairman, C. F. Sisson, Oscar Lambert; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Lars A. Bervin; as- sessor, G. W. Tyler.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
1899. Supervisors, Oscar Lambert chairman, Lars Bervin, Nils Oien; clerk, T. E. Sater; treasurer, Iver Oien; assessor, G. W. Tyler; justices, S. H. Tidemann, Nils Oien; constables, B. Johnson, John C. Johnson.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BENSON, LARS, is a native of Sweden and was born in 1844. He emigrated to the United States in 1870, and lived in Wisconsin until 1874, when he located in this county. He filed a homestead upon the northwest quarter of section 4 in Lyons, which he afterwards sold, and now resides on his farm in section 33 in the same township. He was a member of the town board of supervisors several years. He has a good farm and is a good citizen.
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