USA > South Dakota > History of South Dakota, Vol. I > Part 105
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At Rockford, Illinois, on the 30th of Decem- ber, 1880, Judge Copeland was united in marriage to Miss Estella E. Hayes, daughter of Alpheus J. Hayes, a pioneer settler of Minnehaha county,
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South Dakota, and for many years a prominent business man of Sioux Falls. Of the children of this union we enter the following brief record : Jay Warren, who was born October 28, 1881, died November 12th, following; Flora E. was born January 1I, 1883; Winfield O. was born July 12, 1884; Nettie was born August 8, 1887, and died September 20, 1891; Jamie was born August 12, 1890, and died September 23, 1891 ; Laurel was born December 25, 1891; Doris Louise, August 18, 1897; and Susan A., June 2, 1899.
CHARLES J. GUNDERSON, who is a rep- resentative of one of the sterling pioneer families of South Dakota, is a resident of Vermillion, Clay county, where he has passed practically his entire life, and is numbered among the able mem- bers of the bar of the state. Mr. Gunderson was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, on the 13th of October, 1868, a son of Harvey and Anna (Thompson) Gunderson, both of whom were born in Norway, while both still reside in Clay county, South Dakota, whither they came in 1869, the father being one of the early settlers here, where he secured a relinquishment claim, upon which he proved, becoming one of the successful farmers of the locality.
The subject was not one year of age at the time of his parents' removal to what is now the state of South Dakota, and his early years were passed on the homestead farm. After availing himself of the privileges of the public schools he was enabled to continue his educational train- ing in the University of South Dakota, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1893, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. He thereafter entered the law department of the University of Minnesota, where he completed the prescribed course and was graduated in 1896. In the autumn of the same year he established him- self in the practice of his profession at Vermil- lion, where he has secured an excellent clientage and gained marked success in his chosen field of endeavor. From the time of attaining his ma- jority until 1896 he exercised his franchise in
support of the Republican party, and then transferred his allegiance to the Democracy, voting for William J. Bryan for presi- dent. He has since been an advocate of the principles for which this leader stands sponsor and has been an active worker in the party cause. Fraternally he holds membership in the Masonic order, in which he has taken the Knights Tem- plar degrees, and is a Shriner of Sioux Falls, and also is in the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, in which he was reared.
On the 27th of August, 1902, Mr. Gunderson was united in marriage to Miss Mamie L. Weeks, daughter of Canute and Carrie (Nelson) Weeks, honored pioneers of Clay county, where they still maintain their home.
FRED LAPLANT is one of the extensive stock growers of the state, using the extensive range on the Cheyenne Indian reservation and having the best of facilities for carrying on his operations as a cattle raiser. He bears a name which has been most conspicuously identified with the history of the northwest, his father hav- ing come into Dakota among the very first white men to penetrate its untrammeled wilds and having been a conspicuous figure in the stren- uous life of the frontier. He is frequently men- tioned in connection with the general history ap- pearing in this work, and an individual sketch of his career is also incorporated, so that a recapitu- lation is not demanded in this connection.
Fred LaPlant was born in the locality known as Deer's Ear, north of the Black Hills, in what is now North Dakota, the year of his birth hav- ing been 1861. He was reared on the frontier and thus his educational advantages were limited, but his alert mentality has enabled him to overcome to a large extent this early handicap. His father, Louis LaPlant, was among the first to engage in the raising of live stock in the territory of Da- kota, and our subject early became familiar with the labors involved in connection with this indus- try, heing associated with his father during his youthful days on the stock range, while he was
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also identified with him in freighting to the Black Hills in 1876-8, for details of which enterprise see the sketch of Louis LaPlant. In 1888 the sub- ject engaged in the raising of cattle upon his own responsibility, becoming associated with his brother George, and they successfully continued in partnership until 1893, when Fred established himself in the same line of enterprise individually. and has since continued operation with ever in- creasing success. He for some time utilized the open range along the Bad river, while since 1896 he has availed himself of the unexcelled range of the great Cheyenne Indian reservation. He us- ually runs as high as five or six thousand head of cattle, and he has shown marked discrimina- tion and executive ability in his operations in con- nection with this great industry, while he has not been denied a due reward in the way of financial success. On June I, 1903, Mr. LaPlant also be- came identified with the general merchandise busi- ness, becoming associated with Dr. L. P. Michael in the opening of a well stocked establishment at the Cheyenne agency, under the firm name of Michael & LaPlant.
In politics the subject is a stanch Republican and fraternally he has attained distinguished ad- vancement in the Masonic order, in which he has passed the thirty-second degree in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite and been designated as a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret. He is a member of Oriental Consistory, No. I, at Yank- ton.
In the year 1889 Mr. LaPlant was united in marriage to Miss Virginia Travesty, of Sioux City, Iowa, she being a daughter of August Trav- esty, who was one of the very early settlers in the territory of Dakota, and a man of prominence in the stirring life on the frontier. Mr. and Mrs. LaPlant have four children, Maud D., Lucille, Fred Ellsworth and Irene.
MYRON D. THOMPSON was born in Sar- atoga county, New York, on the 13th of January, 1847, being a son of Orville W. and Fidelia P. (Ingalsbee) Thompson, both of whom were like- wise native of the old Empire state, where they
passed their entire lives, the former passing to the life eternal in 1887 and the latter in 1885. The subject secured his early educational training in the public schools of Washington county, New York, and later entered Fort Edward Institute, that state, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1864.
' At the age of seventeen years Mr. Thompson secured a clerkship in a general store at Warrens- burg, New York, receiving in compensation for his services the munificent salary of five dollars a month and being compelled to defray his own incidental expenses. At the age of nineteen he came west to Columbus, Wisconsin, where he continued to be employed in a clerical capacity until 1867, when he came to the territory of Da- kota and located in what is now the thriving town of Vermillion, where he instituted his independ- ent business career hy becoming a member of the firm of McHenry, Thompson & Lewis and engag- ing in the general merchandise trade, the firm be- ing one of the first of the sort in the county. Two years later the firm title was changed to Thomp- son, McKerchen & Company, and this association continued two years, at the expiration of which Mr. Thompson associated himself with Martin J. Lewis, under the firm name of Thompson & Lewis, and engaged in the handling of lumber, farming machinery and implements, grain and live stock, and with these important lines of industry he has ever since been conspicuously identified. the business now being conducted un- der the title of the Thompson-Lewis Company. The enterprise has attained magnificent propor- tions and is one of the most important of the sort in this section of the state, while by careful man- agement, honorable methods and progressive ideas it has brought to the interested principals a high degree of prosperity, while through their extended operations they have in turn done much to promote the prosperity and material upbuild- ing of the county and state. Mr. Thompson has ever stood ready to lend his aid and influence in support of all enterprises for the general good, and his name is synonymous with public spirit. He was one of the organizers of the Bank of Vermillion, and upon its reorganization as the
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First National Bank, he was elected its vice- president, having ever since continued to serve in this capacity. He is a stanch adherent of the Republican party and his allegiance has been one of action, since he has at all times been a zealous worker in the party cause. He and his family hold membership in the Baptist church, and in the Masonic fraternity he has risen to the rank of Knight Templar, while he is also identified with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Knights of Pythias. He is one of the pioneer business men of the state and it is gratifying to note the success which has come to him during the long years of toil and endeavor. for he has been essentially the architect of his own fortune and has so ordered his course as to commend himself to the unqualified respect and regard of his fellow men, standing high in both business and social circles.
On the 6th of January, 1870, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Thompson to Miss Anna E. Lewis, daughter of William L. Lewis, of Ver- million, and a niece of ex-Governor James T. Lewis, of Wisconsin. Of this union have been born two sons, Orville W., of whom individual mention is made elsewhere in this work, and Mar- tin L., who is associated with both his father and brother in business. Both sons are graduates of the State University of South Dakota, which is located in Vermillion.
GEORGE P. WINSTON is owner of one of the largest and best improved ranches in Brown county, the same heing located seven miles west of Frederick, and he is also known as one of the extensive farmers and stock growers of this sec- tion of the state, being also engaged in the buy- ing and shipping of live stock, while he is known as a progressive business man and a loyal and sterling citizen of the state in which he has main- tained his home for more than a score of years.
Mr. Winston claims the Badger state as the place of his nativity, having been born in Evans- ville, Rock county, Wisconsin, on the 29th of June, 1857, and being a son of Nelson and Eliza
A. Winston, both of whom were natives of the state of New York. They were numbered among the pioneers of Wisconsin and the father of the subject was for many years one of the prominent merchants and influential citizens of Evansville." Our subject received his early educational train- ing in the schools of his native town and later supplemented this by a course of study in the Wisconsin State University, at Madison. He thereafter was engaged in contracting in Evans- ville until 1881, on the 19th of June of which year he came to Frederick, South Dakota, and took up a pre-emption claim south of the pioneer village. There he turned his attention to farm- ing and stock-raising, eventually augmenting the area of his farm, and there continued to reside for the ensuing fifteen years, within which period he became quite extensively engaged in the buying and shipping of cattle and sheep. In 1900 Mr. Winston purchased his present magnificent ranch, which is located on Elm creek and which com- prises fifteen hundred and sixty acres, all in one body, the place having been previously known as the McAlpine ranch. He keeps an average herd of about two hundred head of cattle, and is mak- ing a specialty of breeding the Aberdeen Angus cattle, having the best herd of black cattle in the county and having done much to improve the grade of stock raised in this locality. He still continues to ship live stock and also wool, in which latter line he handled a quarter of a million pounds in 1902. Mr. Winston is a stanch Repub- lican, but has never desired public office, prefer- ring to be known as primarily and essentially a business man. He is prominently identified with the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the thirtieth degree of the Scottish Rite, being identified with the consistory at Aberdeen.
In Madison, Wisconsin, on the 10th of June, 1877, Mr. Winston was united in marriage to Miss Florence E. Yager, who was born and reared in that state. Of this union have been born three sons, namely: Roy N., who is engaged in the meat business in Frederick ; Earl G., who is em- ployed in the drafting department of the West- inghouse Electrical Company in Pittsburg, Penn- sylvania ; and Paul G., who remains at the pa-
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rental home and who is giving much time and study to the breeding of barred Plymouth Rock poultry.
CHARLES F. HALBKAT is recognized as one of the representative young business men of the state, being engaged in the wholesale and retail jewelry business in the city of Watertown, the official center of Codington county, where he controls a large and important business in his line and commands unqualified confidence and esteem in both commercial and social circles. The enterprise at whose head he stands is the oldest, though the most up-to-date, of the sort in this section of the state, having been es- tablished here in the early days of the town by W. R. Arnold, one of the pioneers of the place, who was succeeded by W. J. Keating, from whom the subject purchased the business in January, 1898, so that its history has been con- secutive from the pioneer epoch. The finely equipped and appointed establishment is eligibly located in the Granite block, in the business cen- ter of the city, and the quarters are spacious and are attractive in all particulars. Mr. Halbkat carries a large and complete stock of jewelry, watches, clocks, silverware and other specialties in the line usually found in metropolitan estab- lishments: the store is furnished in fine black walnut and glass, the fixtures being of modern design throughout, and both in stock and ar- rangement the establishment compares most favorably with the first-class houses of the sort in the larger cities. A well equipped optical de- partment is maintained and is one of the special fcatures of the enterprise, the same being in charge of two graduate opticians, while particu- lar attention is also given to high-class engrav- ing and complicated watch repairing of all sorts, much work being done by our subject's skilled artisans in turning out this sort of work for deal- ers in neighboring towns where expert work- manship is demanded. Mr. Halbkat is the official watch inspector for three railroads enter- ing Watertown, the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail-
way, and Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway, each having selected him to inspect and look after their employes' time-pieces.
Charles Frederick Halbkat is a native of the state of Minnesota, having been born on a farm near Hamilton, Fillmore county, on the 20th of June, 1870, and being a son of John C. and Helen (Tessin) Halbkat. The father was born in Buffalo, New York, to which state his parents came front Germany about the year 1849, and when he was about four years of age his parents removed to Minnesota, becoming pioneers of Mower county, and later Fillmore county, where he was reared to manhood on the home farm, re- ceiving a common-school education. He has been engaged in general merchandising in Spring Valley, Fillmore county, Minnesota, since 1875, and is thus one of the pioneers of the state, as is he also one of the prominent and influential citizens of his locality. In Minnesota was cele- brated his marriage to Miss Helen Tessin, who was born and reared in Germany, whence she came to America when a young woman, and of their five children all are yet living.
Charles F. Halbkat secured his educational discipline in the public schools of Spring Valley, being a student in the high school until he had attained the age of sixteen years, when he took a clerical position in his father's store, where he remained one year, after which he began his apprenticeship at the jeweler's trade, which he completed in an establishment at Waseca, Min- nesota, where he continued to be employed at his trade until 1898. when he came to Watertown, South Dakota, and effected the purchase of his present business, which was the leading one of the sort in the city, its proprietor at the time having been mayor of Watertown. He has ma- terially increased the scope and importance of the enterprise, being a reliable and progressive young business man and one whose courteous and genial nature has gained to him a host of friends in this section. He has made judicious investments in farming land in the state and is also the owner of one of the most attractive resi- dence properties in Watertown. In politics he is a stanch Republican and never fails to exercise his
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right of franchise. Fraternally he is prominently identified with the Knights of Pythias, and while residing in Minnesota was captain in the Uni- formed Rank of the same, while he is also a Knight Templar Mason and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On the 7th of June, 1899, Mr. Halbkat was united in marriage to Miss Georgia Wert, of Waseca, Minnesota, in which state she was reared and educated. Mrs. Halbkat is an ac- complished musician, being a skilled pianist and organist, and having at one time been organist of the Congregational church in Watertown. Both Mr. and Mrs. Halbkat are communicants of Trinity church, Protestant Episcopal, in Watertown. They have one child, Charles Angus, born December 7, 1902. They are prominent in the social life of the community and their pleasant home is a favorite rendezvous for their wide circle of friends.
ALOIS JEZEWSKI is one of the progressive young business men of the state, being manager of the lumber yards of the firm of J. H. Queal & Company, at Tabor, Bon Homme county, while he has previously held other important positions demanding marked executive ability and discrim- ination.
Mr. Jezewski is a native of Winona, Minnesota, where he was born on the 24th of November, 1880, being a son of Andrew and Pauline (Jajesky) Jezewski, both of whom were born in Poland. There the father of our subject was reared and educated, and when about seven- teen years of age came to the United States in company with his parents, locating in Minnesota, where his father took up a tract of land and en- gaged in farming. On attaining manhood he became identified with the lumbering industry of that state, securing a position in the sawmills of the firm of Laird, Norton & Company, at Wi- nona. Here his skill and fidelity met with appreci- ative recognition and he was soon advanced to the position of edger, and has ever since remained in the employ of the same concern, having filled the position noted for nearly a quarter of a cen-
tury. He is a Republican in politics, a man of sterling character and both he and his wife are devout communicants of the Catholic church.
The subject of this sketch was reared to ma- turity in his native town of Winona, where he completed the curriculum of the public schools, including the high school. At the breaking out of the Spanish-American war he was a member of Company E, Second Regiment of the Union State Militia, and when his command was called into service Mr. Jezewski became a member of Company E, Twelfth Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry, remaining in service for six months and then receiving his honorable discharge, the regi- inent having been stationed at Chickamauga Park. He was discharged as corporal of his company and while in active service he was on detail duty in the hospital, also serving as com- pany clerk, while he also did effective work as battalion correspondent for the St. Paul Globe. After his return home he became second man at Minnesota, Minnesota, for the Winona Lumber Company. After a short time he resigned this position to accept a place as machine salesman and stock buyer with Herman Dahl, in whose employ he remained until the winter of 1899- 1900, during which he was in the employ of the Lunds Land Agency as traveling representative for a time, then engaging in selling implements and buying stock for C. M. Anderson, of Canby, Minnesota. In the winter of 1900-1901 he en- gaged in teaching school and was also leader of the band at Wilmo, Minnesota, being an accom- plished musician in this line of renditions. In the spring of 1901 he accepted a position as salesman for the Dawson Lumber Company, at Ivanhoe, Minnesota, and in the following August the com- pany disposed of its interests at that point. Our subject was then offered a position with the com- pany in connection with their business at Madi- son, that state, but he did not accept the same but entered the employ of the Chicago & North- western Railroad Company, continuing in service during the busy season of stock transportation. In December, 1901, he accepted a position with the lumber firm of J. H. Queal & Company, of Minneapolis, and forthwith came to Tabor, South
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Dakota, to assume the management of their yards here, and he has since retained this incum- bency, having been most successful in forwarding the local interests of the company and having control of a large and constantly increasing busi- ness. He is a stanch Republican in his political proclivities and takes a lively interest in public affairs of a local and general nature. He and his wife are both communicants of the Catholic church. He has recently completed a course in architecture through the International Corre- spondence Schools, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, finding the knowledge of great value to him in his present position, while he is also well equipped for following the business as a profession should circumstances justify a change at any time.
On the 3d of June, 1902, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Jezewski to Miss Stella Hakl, daughter of Frank Hakl, a well-known and hon- ored farmer of Bon Homme county.
PETER OSCAR OLSON was born on the homestead farm, on section 28, township 94, range 54, Yankton county, South Dakota, on the Ist of February, 1874. His father, Chris- tian Olson, is a native of Norway, having been born at Biri, near the historic and beautiful old city of Christiania, on the 16th of December, 1846, and having been there reared to maturity. In 1866 he emigrated to America and made his way to Wisconsin, where he remained until the spring of the following year, when he came to the great territory of Dakota and took up a claim of government land in Yankton county, the same being the homestead on which the subject of this sketch was born. He continued to reside on this place until 1901, when he removed to another farm, which he had recently purchased, one and one-half miles distant from the old homestead, and there he still resides, being one of the honored pioneers and prosperous and in- fluential farmers of the county. In 1873 was solemnized his marriage to Miss Thea Louise Bagstad, who was born in Vernon county, Wis- consin, January 23, 1856. In 1867 she ac- companied her parents on their removal from
the Badger state to Yankton county, Dakota, where she was reared to womanhood and where her marriage was solemnized. Of this union were born four children, namely : Peter O., Carl M., John B. and Laura C., the last mentioned being deceased. Mrs. Olson was a devoted wife and mother and her gracious personality en- deared her to all with whom she came in con- tact, while she exemplified her Christian faith in her daily walk and conversation. While visit- ing her sister, at Hamline, Minnesota, she was attacked with an illness which terminated in her death a few days later, on the 23d of May, 1888.
The subject of this sketch was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and his early educational training was secured in school dis- trict No. 7, being supplemented by four terms in the preparatory department of Yankton' Col- lege. He has always been fond of reading, par- ticularly books of an historical nature, and this appreciation has led him to add materially to his store of information, as has also his active identi- fication with the practical affairs of life. Mr. Olson has never abated his allegiance to the great basic art of agriculture, of whose dignity and value he is fully appreciative and through the same he has attained a success worthy the name. He is fond of outdoor work and early decided that the work of the farm offered the safest and surest method of obtaining a liveli- hood and a position of independence. He and his two brothers have always worked together with their father, believing that "in union there is strength," and in evidence that their view has been authorized we may say that since 1890 they have purchased six hundred and forty acres of land and expended several thousands of dol- lars in improving the same, despite the fact that they encountered no few obstacles and dis- couragements, including the protracted drought in 1894, causing a total failure of the corn crop; a hail storm in 1896, entailing a similar result ; and a flood in the following year, causing a small crop in all lines. Mr. Olson is a young man of distinct individuality and strong convictions, and he believes that if a young man is to succeed on
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