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 85
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BENSON, PETER, was born in Norway, January 27, 1839. He emigrated to this country, lived in Iowa for some time and located in this county May 26, 1876. He filed a homestead upon the northwest quarter of section 3 in Highland, and still resides at that place. He has held the offices of town supervisor and overseer of highways sev- eral years, and is a prosperous farmer and a good citizen.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY
BERG, CHRIS. A., was born in Norway in 1830. He emigrated and lived in Michigan two years, and came to this county in 1874. He secured the southeast quarter of section 19 where he still re- sides, and also the south half of the northeast quarter of the same section, and has a fine farm. He is an enterprising farmer and a good citizen.
BOLSTAD, OLE THORSON, emigrated to the United States from Norway, and resided in Illinois and Iowa before he came to Dakota, where he arrived June 22, 1874. He located in this county, and se- cured a homestead upon the southeast quarter of section 21 in High- land, where he has since resided, and has a fine farm. He was born in December, 1835, and was a soldier in the Norwegian army, but since coming to this country he has been principally engaged in farming, and has made a success of it.
BRAA, TORRES, is a native of Norway, and was born August 3, 1860. He emigrated to Michigan in 1881, and the year following came to this county. He first lived in Sverdrup, but later on he bought the southwest quarter of section 7 in Highland, where he now resides engaged in farming, and has a good farm.
DIGRE, PETER O., was born in Norway, September 30, 1848. He came to the United States May 28, 1871, and lived in Kansas until March, 1874, when he removed to this county. He took up as a homestead the northwest quarter of section 18 in Highland, where he still resides with his family and has a good farm. He has been constable six years, supervisor of the town board one year, and school director three years. He is a good citizen.
ELLEFSON, IVER E., was born in Rock county, Illinois, Decem- ber 14, 1851. He lived there and in Iowa until 1874, when he came to this county. He took up as a homestead the west half of the northwest quarter and the west half of the southwest quarter of sec- tion 15 in Highland, where he has since resided, and has a good farm. He has held several town offices, and is at present chairman of the town board. He is an enterprising and respected citizen, and a good neighbor.
ELVESON, ERICK O., is a native of Norway, and was born Decem- ber 23, 1849. In 1869 he emigrated to this country, stopped in Illi- nois a week and then went to Iowa, where he lived five years. June 22, 1874, he came to this county together with S. Rislov and others, all of whom secured land and became permanent settlers. Mr. Elveson took up a homestead on the southeast quarter of section 17, where he still resides; also a tree claim on the northeast quarter of section 20, and has bought 40 acres of school land, all in Highland. He is a prosperous farmer, and an esteemed citizen.
ESPESETH, O. A., came to the United States from Norway, where he was born February 8, 1849, in the vicinity of the city of Bergen. He lived in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota be- fore he came to Dakota, where he arrived on the 27th day of May, 1879. He then filed a pre-emption upon the east half of the north- west quarter of section 27, and the east half of the southeast quarter of section 22, in Highland, where he resided until 1885.
979
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
GALLAGHER, PATRICK, is a native of Ireland, and was born in 1837. He emigrated to America in 1864, and traveled about the country until in 1875, when he settled in this county. He took up as a homestead the southeast quarter of section 30, and as a tree claim the southwest quarter of section 29. He is well-to-do, has a good farm, and is a good farmer.
GRANT, GUSTAVE A., was born in Norway, March 4, 1860. He emigrated and lived in Marseilles, LaSalle county, Illinois, until 1874, when he came to Dakota. In 1875 he located in Minnehaha county, and in 1882 filed a pre-emption on the southwest quarter of section 10, in Highland. He married a daughter of Ole Tofte, and resides in section 30, and has a good farm. He is a well-known and respected citizen, and has held several offices; was town clerk eleven years, deputy postmaster several years, and assessor.
GRANT, L. A., was born in Norway, June 28, 1861. He first re- sided in Illinois, but in 1874 removed to this county, and was among the first settlers of Highland township. He was appointed post- master of Highland postoffice in 1886, and held the office until it was discontinued, and has also been town and school treasurer for sev- eral years. He resides on the southwest quarter of section 30, has a good farm, and is a highly esteemed citizen.
GRAVES, OLE O., was born in Norway September 17, 1847. He emigrated and lived in Illinois six months, then removed to Iowa, where he resided eighteen years. May 22, 1874, he came to this county, and settled in Highland, where he has since resided, and was one of the first settlers of that town. He took up as a homestead the east half of the northwest quarter, and the east half of the south- west quarter of section 15, which is now a good farm. He has held several important town offices, and is a good neighbor, and an up- right citizen.
LEE, GILBERT E., is a native of Norway, and was born July 30, 1848. He emigrated to the United States in 1869 and settled in Wis- consin, and remained there until 1873. In April of that year he came to this county and during that month took up the southeast quarter of section 3 in Valley Springs, making his filings the last day the land office was located at Vermillion. This claim he after- wards disposed of, and on the 21st day of June, 1874, removed to Highland and took up as a homestead the southwest quarter of sec- tion 34, and as a tree claim the northeast quarter of section 22. Since then he has purchased farm lands so that at this writing he is the owner of 1,250 acres, quite a large portion of which adjoins his first entries in Highland. He has a large family, and will have to purchase more land to leave 100 acres for each one of his children. With such a record it is unnecessary to add that he is in- dustrious and enterprising. He is a good neighbor and a respected citizen.
MEGARD, SEVERT I., was born in Norway in 1857. He emigrated to the United States and lived in Michigan until he removed to Da- kota, where he arrived September 9, 1874. Upon attaining his ma- jority he bought the southeast quarter of section 20 in Highland.
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY,
where he now resides, and has a good farm. He has been supervisor of the town board seven years, and a member of the school board for several years. He is a good farmer and a respected citizen.
OLSON, GUST., is a native of Sweden, and was born January 11, 1848. He emigrated to the United States and lived in Indiana and Illinois until he removed to this county, where he arrived on the 27th day of April, 1876, and has been a well-known resident of Highland since then. He filed a pre-emption on the southeast quarter of sec- tion 34, where he resides. He has been a successful farmer, and has purchased several hundred acres of land adjoining and near to his home, which he is farming. He has held the office of constable sev- eral years, and has been chairman of the town board. He is a man of more than ordinary energy and force, is a good neighbor and an hon- est, upright citizen.
RASMUSSON, OLE, was born in Norway September 29, 1861. He emigrated to the United States in 1879, and settled in Dakota, where he has since resided. He bought the southwest quarter of section 22, where he resides and has a good farm. He is an enterprising farmer, and a good citizen.
RISLOV, SEVER J., is a native of Norway, and was born February 21, 1841. He emigrated to the United States, and arrived in Illinois August 20, 1864, where he remained two years. He then removed to Iowa, and after having lived there for eight years removed to High- land, this county, where he arrived on the 22d day of June, 1874. He took up as a homestead the northwest quarter of section 22, and as a timber claim the northeast quarter of section 21, where he now re- sides. He has held the office of assessor, and has been chairman of the town board of supervisors. When he first came to this county quite a colony of people accompanied him, and on the 23d and 24th days of June, 1876, they took up 2,240 acres of land in Highland. Among them were Christopher Benson, Elias Bolstad and Hermund Opstedahl with their families, also Ole Bolstad, Ole Opstedahl, John Opstedahl, Erick Elveson and Edward Olson. This colony at once built three sod houses, one for Benson, one for Opstedahl and one for
S. J. Rislov. At that time the only residents in Highland were Ole Graves, Iver Ellefson, Gilbert Lee, Ole Knutson and Ole Tofte. The northwest quarter of section 28 and the northeast quarter of section 29 had been taken up by some one, who after proving up sold out and left the township. Mr. Rislov at one time assessed the town- ship when the snow was so deep that he went about on snow-shoes. He has a good farm, and is greatly respected by his neighbors.
RONNING, ESTEN, is a native of Norway, and was born June 24, 1850. He emigrated and lived in Michigan and Wisconsin before lo- cating in Dakota in February, 1878. He filed a pre-emption on the south half and the northeast quarter of section 5, in Highland, and has since resided there. He was the first constable in Highland, and held that office four years, and has been treasurer of his school dis- trict eleven years. He is a good farmer, and a respected citizen.
SKJEGSTAD, IVER C., is a native of Norway, and was born on the 26th day of March, 1838. He emigrated to the United States and settled in Illinois in 1872, and from there came to Dakota in March,
GUST. OLSON.
983
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
1874, and to this county on the 5th day of May following. He took up as a homestead the southwest quarter of section 18, in Highland. While in Illinois, he worked at his trade - that of a carpenter and since coming to this county has done some carpenter work, but farm- ing has been his principal occupation. He is a good and reliable citizen.
TOFTE, OLE, one of the very first settlers of Highland, was born in Norway, September 22, 1822. He emigrated to this country and lived in Illinois until 1874, when he removed to Dakota and located at Vermillion, but shortly after took up land in Highland. He filed upon the northwest quarter of section 19, as a homestead, and upon the north half of the northeast quarter of the same section as a tree claim, and now has one of the best farms in that town, with very fine buildings and improvements. He built the first frame house in Highland, which is still preserved as a memento of pioneer days. He is highly esteemed as a neighbor and citizen, and in 1885 was chair- man of the town board of supervisors.
WOLD, ASLE K., was born in Norway, in 1840. He emigrated and lived in Illinois until 1875, when he settled in this county. He took up as a homestead the northwest quarter of section 27, where he resides, and also owns the northeast quarter of section 28, in Highland. He was one of the first supervisors of the town board after the township was organized and its chairman three years. He is a good farmer, and highly respected as a neighbor and citizen.
WALTER, HORACE, was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, January 26, 1854. He lived in Minnesota for several years, and re- moved from there to this county in April, 1876. He took up the southwest quarter of section 33, and the southeast quarter of section 32, in Highland township, and has a very good farm, with fine im- provements. He has been supervisor of the town board, and four years its chairman, also justice of the peace. He is an enterprising. industrious farmer, a good neighbor, and a highly esteemed citizen.
WALTER, RANSOM, was born in Broome county, New York, No- vember 22, 1840. He received a good common school education, and when he attained his majority engaged in farming in Pennsylvania. Iowa and Minnesota. On the 23d day of April, 1876, he came to this county and settled in Highland, taking up the northeast quarter of section 33, and the northwest quarter of section 34. Subsequently he purchased the northeast quarter of section 34 and the southeast quarter of section 28, and was engaged in extensive and successful farming until in January, 1893, when he sold his farm to Gust. Olson and Gilbert E. Lee, and removed to Jasper, Minnesota, where he now resides. While a resident of this county he held several offices; was county commissioner in 1883 and 1884, and was justice of the peace and chairman of the town board of supervisors in Highland. He was one of the commissioners who appraised the right-of-way damage when the Willmar & Sioux Falls railway company estab- lished its line of road through Minnehaha county. Mr. Walter was not only a good farmer, but is a man of good judgment, and a highly respected citizen.
LOGAN TOWNSHIP.
(10.4-48)
This township is bounded on the north by Lake county, on the east by Highland, south by Edison, and west by Dell Rapids town- ships. The west line was surveyed by W. J. Neeley in July, 1859. The north, south and east lines were surveyed in 1864 by M. K. Armstrong, and the subdivision of the township was made in No- vember that year by the same surveyor. It contains 22,904.43 acres of land. Pipestone creek enters the township near the northwest corner of section 3 and pursues a southeasterly course, leaving the township near the southeast corner of section 35. It has four small tributaries within the township. In the northern portion there are two mounds of sufficient elevation to be quite noticeable, from the
SOD HOUSE OCCUPIED AS RESIDENCE BY A. H. SEMMEN UNTIL 1896.
top of which, with a good glass, quite a number of the cities and vil- lages in Minnesota and South Dakota can be seen. Aside from these mounds the surface is almost level, probably the most so of any township in the county.
Some land was taken up in 1872, but the actual settlement of the township began in 1873. Rawly Corothers and his two sons William and James, John J. Stromme, Walter Crisp, James Hart, S. P. Kringen, John E. Johnson, George L. Wood and John A. Kilness were among those who settled there during that year. Mr. Coro-
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
thers built a plank dwelling house, cutting plank eighteen feet in length in two pieces, and standing them on end with sod on the out- side. The roof was covered with boards. The lumber was hauled from Worthington, Minnesota. Walter Crisp built the first sod residence in Logan on section 8; his son Elmer was the first white boy and Martha Corothers the first white girl born in the township. In the fall of 1874 a school election was held. Walter Crisp was elected director, Ed. Hart clerk, and James Hart treasurer. The board employed James Hart to teach a three months school at his own house-a sod house twelve by fourteen feet-located on the northwest quarter of section 8. There was a stage road running east and west through the township a little south of the center at an early day, and in 1874 a post office was established on the southeast corner of section 18. Hiram Harvey was the first postmaster and he was succeeded by J. E. Johnson. The office remained there about four years, when it was removed to the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 19, where it remained for about the same length of time, and was then discontinued. There are some very enterprising farmers in this township, and Logan has at all times been quite an important factor in the affairs of the county.
LOGAN TOWNSHIP BOARD.
The town officers elected in 1881 were: Supervisors, James Corothers chairman, John A. Stromme, Nels Henjum; Allen K. Hamre clerk, Edgar Harvey treasurer, John E. Johnson assessor, James Hart, Albert J. Stromme justices of the peace, Geo. L. Wood constable. August 13 the board met at James N. Corothers' resi- dence. Edgar Harvey tendered his resignation as treasurer, and W. H. Harrison was appointed to fill the vacancy.
1882. Supervisors, James N. Corothers chairman, John Kil- ness, J. T. Harvey; A. K. Hamre clerk, John E. Johnson assessor, Charley Betchold treasurer, Walter Crisp constable. The first war- rant was issued January 2, 1882, to John E. Johnson for $17, for ser- vices as assessor in 1881. J. T. Harvey having removed from the township, Ole Mikkelson was appointed supervisor June 3, to fill vacancy until January 1, 1883.
1883. Supervisors, J. N. Corothers chairman, Ole Mikkelson, John A. Kilness; clerk, Allen K. Hamre.
1884. Supervisors, James Hart chairman, Walter Crisp, C. Hanson: John Stromme clerk, George L. Wood treasurer, John E. Johnson assessor, John Hale, Marten O. Helland constables. At the annual meeting it was resolved, that all nonresidents of the town- ship hunting prairie chickens with gun and dog should be liable to a fine of not less than $2, nor more than $5, for each offense, the money to be used for public schools in town. Twenty-four votes were cast at this meeting.
1885. Supervisors, James Hart chairman, James N. Corothers, Carelius Hanson: John A. Stromme clerk, John E. Johnson assessor. Geo. K. Wood treasurer, Allen K. Hamre, Walter Crisp justices of the peace, Jens E. Johnson, Myron Guild constables.
1886. Supervisors, James Hart chairman, W. A. Guild, James
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
N. Corothers; Carelius Hanson clerk, Geo. L. Wood treasurer, John E. Johnson assessor. It was moved and carried that none of the supervisors hold more than one office at a time.
1887. Supervisors, James Hart chairman, James N. Corothers. WV. A. Guild; Carelius Hanson clerk, John E. Johnson assessor, Geo. L. Wood treasurer, Nels Henjum, Walter Crisp justices of the peace, Jens E. Johnson, Elmer Carr constables.
1888. Supervisors, James Hart chairman, James N. Corothers, W. A. Guild; Carelius Hanson clerk, P. S. Gordon treasurer, John E. Johnson assessor, Gary Harvey, Edgar Jarrad constables, Nels Henjum was elected justice of the peace to fill vacancy.
1889. Supervisors. James Hart chairman, James N. Corothers, IV. A. Guild; Carelius Hanson clerk, P. S. Gordon treasurer, John E. Johnson assessor, W. Merry, Geo. L. Wood justices of the peace, Geo. Bapp, William Wood constables.
1890. Supervisors, James N. Corothers chairman, James Hart, Albert H. Semmen; Carelius Hanson clerk, P. S. Gordon treasurer, John E. Johnson assessor, John Hart justice of the peace.
1891. Supervisors, James N. Corothers chairman, A. H. Sem- men, C. F. Dutcher; Carelius Hanson clerk, P. S. Gordon treasurer, C. Stromme assessor, John E. Johnson, John Hart justices of the peace, William Wood, Bruce Hart constables.
1892. Supervisors, James Corothers chairman, A. H. Semmen, Geo. L. Wood; Carelius Hanson clerk, P. S. Gordon treasurer, John E. Johnson assessor, W. Merry justice of the peace. A motion to build a town hall was defeated.
1893. Supervisors, James N. Corothers chairman, Geo. L. Wood, A. H. Semmen; C. Hanson clerk, P. S. Gordon treasurer, John E. Johnson assessor, W. Merry, John Hart justices of the peace, M. Corothers, Geo. S. Bapp constables.
1894. Supervisors, James N. Corothers chairman, A. H. Sem- men, Nels Henjum; clerk, Carelius Hanson; treasurer, M. L. Guild; assessor, John E. Johnson.
1895. Supervisors, James N. Corothers chairman, Wm. Merry, A. H. Semmen; clerk, C. Hanson; treasurer, M. L. Guild; assessor, John E. Johnson.
1896. Supervisors, Wm. Merry chairman, B. Hart, Ole Vor- seth; clerk, C. Crozer; treasurer, M. Guild; assessor, C. Hanson.
1897. Supervisors, J. E. Johnson chairman, Ole Vorseth, Sivert Braa; clerk, Hans Johnson; treasurer, M. L. Guild; assessor, C. Hanson.
1898. Supervisors, J. E. Johnson chairman, Ole Vorseth, Sivert Braa; clerk, Walter Crisp: treasurer, M. L. Guild; assessor, C. Hanson.
1899. Supervisors, John E. Johnson chairman, S. A. Braa, J. N. Corothers; clerk, Elmer Crisp; treasurer, M. L. Guild; assessor, C. Hanson; justices of the peace, Geo. L. Wood, M. M. Corothers.
987
HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
BAPP, E. S., is a Vermonter by birth, having been born at St. Albans, Vermont, September 3, 1836. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. D. 11th Heavy Artillery, and served until May, 1865, when he was hon- orably discharged. After having resided in Wisconsin and Iowa for some time he became a citizen of this county in June, 1874, when he took up a homestead on the northeast quarter of section 18, in Logan, where he has since resided. He is a good farmer, and a respected citizen.
BERG, OLE B., is a native of Norway, and was born August 8, 1854. He emigrated to the United States in 1884, and settled in this county. He secured a homestead on the southwest quarter of sec- tion 14, in Logan, where he has since resided, and has added the northeast quarter of section 22 to his homestead, and has a fine farm. He is an enterprising farmer, and an esteemed citizen.
BRAA, ANDREW S., was born in Norway February 23, 1849; emi- grated to the United States in 1880, and lived in Michigan until in 1882, when he removed to this county. He secured a homestead on the northwest quarter of section 1, in Logan, where during the first few years he lived with his family in a sod house, which is still pre- served as a memento of pioneer days. He has now erected on his farm a comfortable, two story frame residence, and other buildings and improvements, and has a very good farm. He has held the office of school director, is an industrious farmer, and a good citizen.
BRATSBURG, OLE H., was born in Norway, September 29, 1836. He came to the United States in 1871, lived in Illinois three years, and located in this county May 5, 1874. He secured by pre-emption the northeast quarter of section 24, in Logan, where he still resides. He also owns the southwest quarter of the same section, and has a large, well improved farm, is a prosperous farmer, and a good citi- zen. He has held some school offices.
COROTHERS, JAMES N., son of Rawley Corothers, was born in Carl county, Indiana, March 18, 1850, was reared on a farm and edu- cated in the common schools. He came to Sioux Falls in 1872, and in 1873, took up land in section 20 in Logan, where he has since resided. He is a good farmer and has comfortable surroundings. Since the organization of the township he has held some office nearly every year, and has been the chairman of the town board. He is an honest man, a good official, and well liked by his neighbors.
COROTHERS, MRS. MARTHA, was born at Jefferson, Montgomery county, Ohio. August 18, 1826, and came with her husband, Rawley Corothers, to Logan, this county, on the 19th day of May, 1873. Mr. Corothers took up a tree claim and a homestead, and resided there until his death, which occurred October 2, 1875. The homestead was located on the southwest quarter of section 20, and Mrs. Corothers continued to reside there until her death, which occurred February 11, 1898. In the early days her home was a regular meeting place. Rev. Mr. Hill, the pioneer minister of Dell Rapids, frequently held services in her house, and she had been a member of the Methodist
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HISTORY OF MINNEHAHA COUNTY.
Episcopal church since 1841. She was a good, Christian woman and highly esteemed by her neighbors. Three sons, one daughter and several grandchildren survive her.
CRISP, WALTER, was born in Long Stanton, Cambridgeshire, England, June 27, 1849. He emigrated to this country and settled in Wisconsin. May 1, 1873, he came to this county, and secured a homestead and a pre-emption on the southwest quarter of section 9 and the south east quarter of section 8 in Logan. He built a sod shanty on section 8, which was the first one built in Logan. He finally built a residence and other farm buildings on the southwest quarter of section 9, and has one of the finest groves in the county about his home, his house being approached from the highway through an avenue shaded by large, handsome trees, and is probably the first farm in the county having telephone connection. He has now a farm of 640 acres, and is one of the prosperous farmers of Minnehaha county. His son Elmer was the first white boy born in Logan. Mr. Crisp is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., and is a charter member of several organizations of this order. He has held several town offices, is an active, enterprising citizen, and when the Repub- lican party held conventions, until quite recently he was present, participating in the proceedings, and it is not too much to say that he is one of the foremost citizens in the county.
FOREBREGD, JOHN, was born in Norway, May 7, 1854. He came to this country in 1880, lived in Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska and Mexico, and came to Dakota in 1888. He bought the northwest quar- ter of section 2, in Logan, where he now lives engaged in farming.
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