History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 106

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 998

USA > South Dakota > History of South Dakota, Vol. I > Part 106

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the farm he must use business principles, must be on time and make each day count, not waiting for the morrow, while he also maintains that resorting to saloons and gambling dens will ac- complish the failure of any and every man. He is an uncompromising Republican and has been zealous in advocating the party canse whenever opportunity has presented. In 1888-9 he served as treasurer of school district No. 7, having been appointed to fill a vacancy. His religions faith is that of the Lutheran church, and he holds mem- bership in the church near Mission Hill, one of the oldest in the state.

At Gayville, Yankton county, on the 24th of October, 1901, Mr. Olson was united in mar- riage to Miss Bergine Marie Olson, who was born at Biri, Norway, February 2, 1883, and who came to Yankton county on the .20th of April, 1898, accompanied by her sister Julia. Her parents, Martinus and Karen (Nilson) Olson, became residents of this county in May, 1899, and still maintain their home here. They are the parents of eight children, all of whom were born in Norway except the youngest, their names, in order of birth, being as follows: Nils, Pergine M., Julia, Oluf, Adolph. Peter, Sigurd and Clara L. The subject and his wife are the parents of a winsome little daughter, Laura Caro- line, who was born on the 6th of August, 1902.

FREDERICK J. BUI.LIS .- The late Fred- erick J. Bullis was one of the sterling pioneers and honored citizens of Brookings county, which was his home and the scene of his earnest and suc- cessful endeavors for more than a score of years, while he so ordered his life as to retain the 11n- qualified confidence and regard of those with whom he came in contact. Mr. Bullis, whose death occurred on the 20th of April, 1903, was a native of the Empire state of the Union, having been born in Schuyler's Falls, Clinton county, New York, on the 22d of July, 1841, and being a son of Alfred and Anna Bullis, who were repre- sentatives of pioneer families of that common- wealth, where both died, the father having been a prosperous farmer and lumberman. Of his 47

children we are enabled to enter the following brief record: Jennette is the wife of Eli Kim- berly and resides in Niagara, New York ; Helen died in early womanhood; Lucy is the wife of James Burroughs, of East Beakmantown, New York; Frederick J. is the subject of this mem- oir; Addie is the widow of a Mr. Daily and resides in Plattsburg, New York; Charles and Fannie are deceased; and Emma is the wife of James Stratton, of Plattsburg, New York.

Frederick J. Bullis was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm and secured his educational discipline in the common schools of his native county. He there continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until he had attained the age of twenty-five years, when he set forth to seek his fortunes in the west, proceeding to Owatonna. Minnesota, in the vicinity of which place he pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land, this being in the year 1866. He was one of the early settlers in that section and after locating on his pioneer farm he there maintained "bachelor's hall" about five years. On the 12th of October, 1870, he was there united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Morton, who was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, on the 27th of February, 1851, a daughter of Reuben H. and Lois (Cowley) Morton, both of whom were likewise native of tlie Empire state, being of stanch Irish lineagc. Mr. Morton was engaged in farming in New York until 1863, when he emigrated with his family to Minnesota and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Steele county, later dis- posing of this property and removing to Chip- pewa county, that state, where he passed the re- mainder of his life, his death occurring in 1877, while his widow there continued to reside until she too was summoned into eternal rest, in No- vember, 1902. Of their fifteen children only six are now living. Charity, who became the wife of William Towne, of Leone, New York, is now deceased; Susan, who became the wife of Ben- jamin Sires, of Milbank, South Dakota, is now deceased ; Melissa is the wife of Sturat McKann and they reside in the state of Washington : Leon- ard is a resident of Milbank, South Dakota; Homer is deceased ; Mary A. is the widow of the

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subject of this sketch : Charles resides in Milbank. this state; Flora is the wife of Harry Miller, of that place; Lois and Lela and Nellie are de- ceased : Kate is the wife of Lee Amsden, of Mil- bank: Edna is deceased; the fourteenth child died, unnamed, in infancy ; and Reuben is a resi- dent of Chippewa county, Minnesota.

After his marriage Mr. Bullis continued to reside on his homestead in Minnesota until 1882. when he disposed of the property and came as a pioneer to Brookings county, South Dakota, this being prior to the admission of the state to the Union. Here he entered claim to the homestead farm upon which his widow now resides, the only improvement made on the farm at the time he came into possession being a broken tract of about twelve acres. He erected a modest house, eighteen by twenty-four feet in dimensions, the same being one of the best to be found in the locality at the time, while its equipment was far above the average, since he had brought with him a good supply of furniture and other household goods from the old home in Minnesota. Later he erected a substantial and attractive residence of twelve rooms and this constitutes the family home at the present time, while the other improvements of permanent order are of corresponding excel- lence. Mr. Bullis added to the area of his landed estate from time to time, becoming the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of as productive land as is to be found in this section, while he brought the farm under a high state of cultiva- tion and also raised live stock of the best grade, having brought considerable stock with him from Minnesota. His life was one of signal usefulness and honor and his name ever stood as a synonym of integrity, so that he commanded the respect of all who knew him, being known as an honest, sin- cere and public-spirited citizen. His political al- legiance was given to the Republican party, of whose principles and policies he was a stanch ad- vocate, and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his widow and children are likewise members. Of the chil- dren we record that A. Leroy is individually men- tioned on another page of this work, he having charge of the homestead farm; Fred, who was

born on the 27th of February, 1876, is a farmer of this county ; he married Miss Nora Peters and they have one child, Henry S .; Ira, who was born on the 6th of May, 1879. is associated in the man- agement of the home farm ; Nellie, who was born on the 3Ist of May, 1881, is the wife of Morris Sylvester and they reside in Brookings county ; and Bessie, Lucy and Grace still remain beneath the home roof, being aged respectively nineteen, fifteen and thirteen years (1903.)

A. L. BULLIS figures as one of the most progressive and public-spirited young farmers and stock growers of Brookings county, where he has passed the major portion of his life, being a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of this favored section of the state. He was born in Owatonna, Steele county, Minnesota, on the 28th of December, 1872, being a son of Frederick J. and Mary A. Bullis, concerning whom specific mention is made on other pages of this work. Our subject pursued his studies in the public schools of his native state until he had attained the age of ten years, when, in 1882, he accompanied his parents on their removal to South Dakota, the family locating on a farm in Afton township, Brookings county, where he was reared to maturity, and this place still consti- tutes a part of the old homestead, of which our subject has the supervision. He here attended the public schools until fifteen years of age, when he was matriculated in the State Agricul- tural College, in Brookings, in which institution he completed a three-years course, the college having been in session for its first full year at the time when he was a student therein. After leaving the college Mr. Bullis returned to the homestead farm, being associated with his father in the operation of the same until he had at- tained his legal majority, when he rented land and inaugurated his independent career, though he still continued to reside at the parental home. while since 1900 he has had the general charge of the homestead farm, also continuing to utilize rented land for some years. In 1896 he pur- chased the northeast quarter of section II, town-

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ship III, for a consideration of twenty-four hundred dollars, and he has placed the entire tract under a high state of cultivation. He now has charge of four hundred and eighty acres of land, is energetic and progressive and is known as one of the representative agriculturists of the county, while he is carefully conserving the best interests of his father's estate and making the best possible provision for his widowed mother and the other members of the family. In 1902 Mr. Bullis, in company with his brother Fred, purchased a twenty-two-horse-power Garr-Scott engine and separator of the best modern design, and in the operation of the same he has been very successful, his equipment being in constant req- uisition during the season. For the past dec- ade he has given special attention to the raising of corn, which he considers one of his best crops, and through his experimentation and scientific methods he has done much to aid in proving that corn may be made one of the important products of this section. He is also engaged in raising cattle and hogs of excellent grade and all de- partments of his farming enterprise give evi- dence of his punctilious supervision and effect- ive business methods. Mr. Bullis is stanchly arrayed in support of the principles of the Re- publican party, and he has served as delegate to various county conventions of the party and otherwise shown an active interest in forward- ing its cause. He served as clerk of the school board of his district for three years.

FRED RILLING is known as one of the prominent and progressive farmers and stock growers of Brookings county and is one of its honored and influential citizens, his success standing in evidence of his energy and ability. He was born in West Bend, Washington county, Wisconsin, on the 20th of March, 1859, being a son of George and Elizabeth (Sibert) Rilling, both of whom were born in Germany. As a hoy George Rilling accompanied his parents on their emigration to America, the family locating in the state of New York, where he was reared to maturity, becoming a successful farmer and

contractor. His wife likewise came with her parents to America when she was a child, and in the Empire state of the Union her marriage was solemnized. Within a few years after their mar- riage Mr. and Mrs. Rilling removed to Wiscon- sin, locating in West Bend, where they resided for five years, at the expiration of which they took up their residence on a farm of one hundred and forty-five acres, in Barton township, Wash- ington county, that state, where Mr. Rilling was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1895, when they removed to Naperville, Illinois, where they still maintain their home. Of their children we record that George, Jr., is a resident of New Albany, Indiana, being a carpenter by vocation ; Albert and Charles died in early childhood; Fred is the immediate subject of this sketch; Edward died in 1895: James, who is a clergyman of the Evangelical church, is located at Wabash, Indi- ana, at the time of this writing; William is pastor of the Evangelical church at Naperville. Illinois; Caroline is the wife of Rev. Louis Siewert, Seymour, Wisconsin; Emma is the wife of Louis Heidner, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and John is likewise a resident of that city.

Fred Rilling, whose name introduces this sketch, was reared on the homestead farm, near Barton, Wisconsin, and there attended the pub- lic schools until he had reached the age of twenty years. Upon attaining his legal majority he left the homestead farm, in 1879, and came as a pioneer to South Dakota, imbued with the enthusiasm and characteristic energy which have so signally conserved the development of our great commonwealth. He entered claim to a quarter section of land in Brookings county, the same being a portion of his present fine landed estate, and he forthwith instituted such improve- ments as to enable him to hold the claim. Within the first two years he broke ten acres of ground and placed it under cultivation, while the first residence he erected on the farm was a sod house of the primitive type so familiar to the early settlers. When he left home his cash capi- tal was but twenty dollars, and he borrowed the money with which to file claim to his land. Dur- ing the first year of his residence in South

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Dakota he worked at Big Stone, while the second year he worked by the day at such employment as came to hand. His wages for the first sum- mer he found it impossible to collect, but he was not disheartened and ever held the goal of success and prosperity in view, having faith in the future of the state with whose interests he had thus identified himself. The third year Mr. Rilling purchased a yoke of oxen, paying one- half in cash and assuming an indebtedness for the balance. He then turned his attention to the cultivation of his own farm, in the meanwhile keeping "bachelor's hall" in his little cabin. The fourth year he bought another yoke of oxen, on credit, and with the added facilities thus af- forded he succeeded in putting in thirty-five acres of grain. That his struggle was a somewhat strenuous one in the early days is evident when we recall further that in purchasing his first breaking plow he was compelled to mortgage his yoke of oxen to secure the same. By the end of six years he had accumulated three horses, a cow, a wagon and other requisite farming im- plements. In 1883 he was married, bringing his wife to the farm and turning with renewed fervor and diligence to the work of improving his place and causing the earth to bring forth its increase. Prosperity attended his efforts and in the valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres which is now his there is little trace of the untrammeled tract upon which his efforts were inaugurated in the pioneer days. The farm-is all in one body and is in a good state of cultiva- tion and improved with substantial and attractive buildings, good fences, etc. In addition to this home place Mr. Rilling owns a section of land near Clear Lake, Deuel county, the same being well fenced and devoted principally to the raising of live stock, in which department of his enter- prise our subject has met with gratifying suc- cess. Of the homestead place two hundred and forty acres are given over to the cultivation of grain, and in addition to this Mr. Rilling also rents a quarter section of land which is mainly devoted to grain. His stock of cattle had its nucleus in the one cow to which reference has been made, and at the present time he has a fine

herd of about seventy cattle, while it is his aim to breed at least a carload of hogs each year, and his average number of horses is about twenty head. His present commodious and attractive residence was erected in the summer of 1883, and on the home farm he has constructed one of the best barns to be found in the county, the same having been erected in 1896. It is pleas- ing to note the prosperity which has come to our subject as the result of his good judgment and indefatigable application, and he has at all times so ordered his course as to retain the confidence and esteem of all who know him, being one of the popular and honored citizens of the county. He has done no little to improve the grade of cattle raised in this section, breed- ing the full-blood shorthorn type and having for sale at all times excellent specimens at reasonable prices, so that recourse is had to his stock by those who wish to improve the grade of their cattle. In politics Mr. Rilling is found stanchly arrayed as a supporter of the principles and policies of the Republican party and while he takes a proper and helpful interest in public affairs of a local nature he has never been a seeker of political office. Fraternally he holds membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, being affiliated with the lodge at White, and he is also a member of the lodge of Yeoman at Brookings. He and his family are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose work he and his wife take an active part. They are members of the church at Prairie Home, of which the subject is a trustee and steward, while he is also superintendent of its Sunday school. His wife is a teacher in the Sunday school, having taught the same class for the past ten years and being known for her gentle and noble character, while she has proved a true wife and helpmeet and has ably assisted her husband in his earnest efforts to attain a position of independence and definite prosperity through honest and earnest endeavor.

In conclusion we will revert somewhat in detail to the domestic chapter in the life history of the subject. On the 3d of October, 1883, Mr. Rilling was united in marriage to Miss Hannah

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Smith, who was born in Belmont, Wisconsin, on the 4th of March, 1865, a daughter of Stephen and Martha (Lincoln) Smith, both of whom were born in the province of New Brunswick, Canada, whence they removed to Wisconsin in the pio- neer epoch, the father being there engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1869. His widow is still living and rèsides in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. This worthy couple became the parents of twelve children, of whom eight are still living. Mary is the wife of Sardis Turner, of Willow Springs, Missouri; Thomas is de- ceased ; John is a resident of Stevens Point, Wis- consin ; Theodore is located in the city of Chi- cago ; Dorinda is the wife of Robert Sutherland, of Mapleton, Minnesota; Anna is deceased ; An- jarona and Annetta were twins, the latter being now deceased, while the former is the wife of William Plank, of Almond, Wisconsin ; Cordelia is the wife of Joseph McKnight, of White, South Dakota ; Washington resides in Duluth, Minne- sota ; Amanda is the wife of William Soule, a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they reside in Wisconsin ; and Hannah is the wife of the subject of this review. Of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Rilling four are living at the present time. Benjamin was born on the 27th of August, 1884; Earl was born on the 27th of May, 1886; Harry was born on the 21st of Janu- ary, 1891 ; Laura died at the age of one month ; Elsie was born on the 4th of February. 1894 ; and Everett died at birth.

C. FRANK COLLINS .- Many of the most successful farmers of Yankton county, South Dakota, are devoting much of their attention to stock raising and this branch of the business now claims most of our subject's time. He is a native of Illinois, born in Jo Daviess county, Septem- ber 7, 1863, and is a son of G. W. and Anna (Fickes) Collins. In 1879 the father, in com- pany with his family, removed to Nebraska, where he was engaged in farming for a few years, that having been his life occupation. He then came to Yankton county, South Dakota,

and purchased a small farm where he made his home, an honored and respected citizen of the community, up to the time of his death, May 24, 1903. In his political affiliations he was a Re- publican. The subject's mother, who was a con- sistent member of the United Brethren church, died in Blair, Nebraska, in the 'eighties. The chil- dren of the family were six in number. Melissa, the eldest, is now the wife of W. F. E. Clark, a farmer of Yankton county; Mary is.the wife of Charles Dean, a railroad man living in Iowa ; Ellen, deceased, was the wife of E. D. Wilson, whose home is at Silver Creek, Nebraska; Clara is the wife of Henry Dean, a resident of Gay- ville, South Dakota; C. Frank is the next of the family; and John C. married Sarah Robinson and is engaged in the grain and lumber business at Wessington Springs, South Dakota. The chil- dren were all provided with good common-school educations and are now well established in life.

C. Frank Collins accompanied his parents on their removal to Nebraska and under the parental roof he grew to manhood in that state, giving his father the benefit of his labors until he attained his majority, when he started out in life for himself. He was married on the 21st of · January, 1884, to Miss Delight Post, a daughter of Dan Post, who is now living near Bloom- field, Nebraska. She is the first in order of birth in a family of five children, the others being Andy, residing near Bloomfield, Nebraska ; Flor- ence, wife of Fred Heviland, of Meckling, South Dakota; Ernest and Arthur, making their home with their sister, of Meckling, South Dakota.

On his arrival in Yankton county Mr. Col- lins' capital consisted of a team of horses and fifty-five dollars in money, but by industry, per- severance and good management he has steadily prospered in his undertakings. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land but sub- sequently sold forty acres. Upon his place he built a nice residence in 1903 and he has made many other good and substantial improvements. He has at present one hundred and ninety head of stock, eighty-eight of which he is fattening for the market, and he has some good horses

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and hogs. By his ballot Mr. Collins supports the Republican party and he takes a commendable interest in public affairs.

CLARK S. WEST was born in Chautauqua county, New York, on the 9th of May, 1841, and is a son of Louis and Amanda (Husbrook) West, the former a native of the Empire state and the latter of Vermont. They were married in New York and the father engaged in conduct- ing a hotel and was also employed as a ma- chinist, possessing considerable mechanical ability. In 1854, however, he removed westward and purchased a farm in Mitchell county, Iowa, becoming owner of one hundred and sixty acres which he secured from the government and which he cultivated and improved throughout his business career. He was engaged in the lumber business for a time at Carpenter, but his last years were spent in honorable retirement from labor and in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. In politics he was an active and influential Democrat and he acceptably served in a number of county offices, including those of supervisor and assessor. His wife, a most estimable lady, held membership in the Christian church and both Mr. and Mrs. West passed away in Iowa. In their family were four children: Warren C. married a Miss Musser and after her death was again married, his home being now in Eldora. He had two children by each wife. Henry P. is married and resides in Saint Ansgar, Iowa, and by his first wife he had one child and by his second wife had two children. He deals in real estate and is also engaged in the butchering busi- ness. Francelia became the wife of John Cran- dall and after his death married D. C. Beldon, who is auditor of the Moore County Transcript. of Austin, Minnesota. Their family numbers four children.

Like the other members of the West house- hold Clark S. West of this review received good educational privileges in his boyhood days. He remained with his father until twenty-six years of age and then started for Dakota, settling in Yankton county. He possessed at that time

cash capital of nearly seventy-five dollars and a team of horses. Flour at that time sold for seven dollars a hundred pounds and the first mower which was placed on sale brought one hundred and thirty-five dollars. Mr. West secured one hundred and sixty acres of government land which was entirely wild and unimproved. He built a log house with a dirt roof, but has since replaced this pioneer dwelling by a nice farm residence which was erected in 1875. In 1883 he built a good barn. Trials and difficulties were encountered by him and the other pioneers, for in the decade between 1860 and 1870 grasshop- pers frequently destroyed the crops and in 1881 Mr. West lost five thousand dollars in a great flood, when the Missouri river broke over her banks and spread across the country. He had forty head of cattle and horses destroyed at that time and his wheat crop was entirely ruined. Such things would have utterly discouraged inany a man of less resolute spirit, but he has persevered in the task which he has assigned himself of making a farm and winning a com- petence in Yankton county and his persever- ance and labors have at length gained their re- ward. He now has about eleven hundred acres of land, including property in Iowa, and he like- wise has town property in this state. He has raised graded cattle, carried on general farming and for twenty years has successfully conducted a dairy business. In September, 1863, Mr. West was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Van Osdel, a daughter of Abraham Van Osdel, and a native of Minnesota. Two children graced this union. A. Louis, the eldest, married Ida Harris and is a successful agriculturist of Yankton county. They have had five children, one of whom is deceased. The younger son. Jesse C., is still with his father and ably assists in the cultivation of the home farm. Mrs. West is a member of the Congregational church and the family is prominent socially, the hospitality of the best homes of this portion of the state being extended to Mr. West, his wife and sons. Fra- ternally he is a Mason and politically a Re- publican, active in support of the party. He has been honored with public office and for eight

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History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 106

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn Publication date: 1904 Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen Number of Pages: 998

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 998