History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 108

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 108

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

was the first to leave his native land and seek a home in the new world and was followed by his brother Joseph. Later the two sisters came, then William and lastly Major. Those who still survive are all residents of South Dakota. Katherine is the wife of Joseph West, a resident farmer of Volin, South Dakota, and they have four children. Sarah is the wife of William Fuller, a government employe at the Crow Creek Agency. He is a boss carpenter and has held the position for twenty-five years. Unto him and his wife have been born three children. Major Inch married Anna Erickson and has two hun- dred and forty acres of land adjoining the farm of Thomas Inch and he and his family live with the subject. There are five children, Thomas, Mary Ann, John, Merrill and William.

Thomas Inch spent his youth in the land of his birth, but when a young man was attracted by the possibilities and business opportunities of the new world and came to America to try his fortune. He resided for twelve years in Con- necticut, where he engaged in farming and gardening and the year 1868 witnessed his ar- rival in South Dakota. He met a minister from this state who interested him in the new country and by rail Mr. Inch made his way to Sioux City and thence by stage to Yankton. This was cil open country, the greater part of which was unclaimed and few. indeed were the settlers scattered over the prairies. Mr. Inch secured one hundred and sixty acres of government land on section 9, township 93, range 54. All was uncultivated and he built a frame house, four- teen by twenty feet. He then began to improve his farm and in course of time developed a splendid property. In 1885 he replaced his first home by a more commodious and modern farm residence and in 1899 he built a large and sub- stantial barn. He has added to his place until he now owns altogether seven hundred and twenty acres. Not long after his arrival he planted small trees and some of these are now four feet in diameter and form a most attractive feature in the landscape. They cast a grateful shade over the home and lawn and make the farm a very pleasing one.

In 1877 Mr. Inch's brother, Major Inch, came to South Dakota and bought a tract of land ad- joining that which our subject owns. Mr. Inch has never married and his brother and his fam- ily live with him. The subject carries on general farming and in addition to the tilling of the soil has engaged in the raising of Durham cattle, draft horses and Poland-China hogs. What he undertakes he carries forward to successful com- pletion and is most persevering and determined in his labors. To these admirable qualities may be attributed his success, for while he came to America empty-handed he is now one of the prosperous citizens of his community, having risen to the plane of affluence within a com- paratively few years. His political allegiance is given to the Democracy and from 1891 until 1897 he served as county commissioner, dis- charging the duties of the office in a most ac- ceptable manner. He has also taken a helpful part in school work, as does his brother, Major, and both gentlemen attend the Episcopal church. The hope that led Mr. Inch to the new world has been more than realized, for he found here the business opportunities he sought and gained the satisfactory reward of labor which is ever accorded in this country.

PETER K. SLEAR .- This well-known and highly esteemed farmer of Yankton county was born on the 28th of January, 1838, in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and is a worthy represent- ative of an old and honored family of that state. The family is of German origin and the name has been variously spelled Schleer, Schlier, Schlear, Sleer, Slear and Slier. Their patriot- ism is attested by the fact that they have been represented in every war in which this country has taken part from the Revolution down to the Spanish-American war, one of the family being now with the United States regulars in the Philippines. Soon after the Revolutionary war Charles Slear came to this country from the Fatherland and first settled in Berks county, Pennsylvania, but later removed to Union county, that state. He married Mary Hummel,

742

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

and the children born to them were Charles. Kate, Jacob, John, George, Hannah, Samuel and Daniel.

George Slear, of this family, was the grand- father of the subject. He was born March 17. 1783, and died March 1, 1875. He was a farmer of prominence and filled various public positions. His home was first in Dry Valley and later in Buffalo Valley, Union county, Pennsylvania. His first wife was Hannah Kaufman, by whom he had four children : Daniel, Esther, Peter and Margaret. For his second wife he married Sophia Miller and to them were born three children : Charles, George and William, while his third wife was Elizabeth Barklow, by whom he had four children : Elizabeth, Hannah, Catharine and James.

Daniel Slear, the oldest child of the first marriage, was the father of the subject. He first married Elizabeth Killenberger, by whom he had six children, and three of the number are still living, namely: Peter K., of this review ; John Adam, who married Fannie Hittle and lives in Lanark, Illinois; and Mary, wife of Beniville Mench, of Mifflinburg, Pennsylvania. For his second wife the father married Catherine Long- acer.

Peter K. Slear was quite small when his mother died and he was then bound out to a farmer. for whom he worked for his board and clothes until eighteen years of age. At the be- ginning of the Civil war he offered his services to the country, enlisting in Company C, Third Volunteer Regiment of Pennsylvania Militia, and he remained at the front until peace was de- clared, being honorably discharged January 20, 1866, after the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He was then holding the rank of sergeant.

Returning to his home in Pennsylvania, Mr. Slear continued a resident in that state until after his marriage in 1870 to Miss Mary J. Babb, of Stephenson county, Illinois, a daughter of Reu- ben and Eliza (Stall) Babb. Her father was born and reared in Pennsylvania and had a family of eight children, three of whom are still living. Mrs. Slear's brother Eaton is now a resident of Wauconda. Illinois, and Solomon

lives in Springfield. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Slear, but three are now de- ceased. Those living are Reuben William, who married Hattie M. Selley and has three children, Lonson Peter, Edna M. and Reuben William, and Marietta E., Virginia J. and Bernice C.

In 1869 Mr. Slear came to Yankton county, South Dakota, and secured the homestead on which he has since resided, his time and atten- tion being devoted to his cultivation and im- provement. He is an honored member of Phil Kearney Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Yankton, and is a man who commands the re- spect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact either in business or social life. He has led a very temperate life and has no bad habits, has never played cards, and is very do- mestic in his tastes, being devoted to home and family. He has served as treasurer and director of the school board but has never sought official honors and is independent in politics, voting for the best men regardless of party ties.

WILLIAM C. LAMPSON is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born on a farm in Medina county, Ohio, on the 17th of July, 1831, and being a son of Riley and Betsy (Gifford) Lampson, both of whom were born in Vermont, being representatives of families es- tablished in New England in the colonial era of our national history, while the ancestry is of English extraction on both sides. The paternal great-grandfather of the subject was a valiant soldier in the Continental line during the war of the Revolution. The father of our subject fol- lowed the vocation of farming throughout life. having removed from New England to Ohio in 1829, where he became the owner of nine hun- dred acres of government land, the same being a veritable sylvan wilderness at the time of his securing the property. He attained a high de- gree of success as an agriculturist, having re- moved to McHenry county, Illinois, in 1855, and there became a prosperous farmer. His death there occurred in 1859, and his wife passed away in 1888. They became the parents of three chil-

743

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

dren, William C., the immediate subject of this sketch, who is the only survivor ; and George R. and Mary M., who are deceased.

Mr. Lampson was reared under the sturdy discipline of the homestead farm in Ohio, and received his education in the common schools of the old Buckeye state, while as a young man he was for some time a successful teacher in the district schools. He accompanied his parents on their removal to McHenry county, Illinois, and became the owner of the farm upon the death of his parents, there continuing to be engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1884, when he disposed of the property and came to South Dakota. purchasing three hundred and twenty acres of arable land in Fremont township, Moody county, the tract having at the time never been furrowed by the plowshare, all being in its wild state. He has since added to the area of his landed estate until he now has a valuable ranch of six hun- dred and ninety acres, the greater portion being available for cultivation, while in the intervening years he has transformed the wild land into a fertile and productive farm, upon which are to be seen substantial and well equipped buildings, making the ranch one of the most attractive to be found in this section of the state, while all this is the tangible evidence of the high degree of success which Mr. Lampson has gained since coming to the state, with whose development and material progress he has thus been prominently identified. Mr. Lampson devotes his attention to diversified farming and to the raising of high- grade live stock, giving special preference to the registered Galloway cattle, of which he has sold many fine animals for breeding purposes, while he now has an excellent band of registered and graded Shropshire sheep.

In politics Mr. Lampson accords a stanch al- legiance to the Republican party, and he takes a deep interest in the cause of the same, having been a delegate to various state and county con- ventions, but never having been a seeker of official preferment. His interest in the cause of popular education has been of an insistent sort. and he has served as a school officer for the past thirty years. He has been a member of the

Masonic fraternity since 1860, and is now af- filiated with Lodge No. 11, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Flandreau.

On the 17th of October, 1855, at River Styx, Ohio, Mr. Lampson was married to Miss Har- riet A. Dean, who was born and reared in Medina county, Ohio, being a daughter of Ansel and Emeline (Munson) Dean, her father having been a successful farmer. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lampson three are living, namely : George R., who is a prominent farmer and veterinary surgeon of this county; Albert, who is likewise a representative farmer of the county ; and Frank E., who is engaged in busi- ness in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Wil- liam C. died at the age of twelve years, and Edgar G. at the age of twenty-one years.

SOREN MORTENSEN .- The world in- stinctively pays deference to the man who has risen above his early surroundings, overcome the obstacles in his path and reached a high posi- tion in his chosen calling. This is a progressive age and he who does not advance is soon left far behind. By the improvement of the oppor- tunities by which all are surrounded Mr. Mor- tensen has steadily and honorably worked his way upward until he is today one of the wealth- iest farmers of Yankton county. A native of Denmark, he was born April 21, 1846, and is a son of Morten and Mary ( Christensen) Mor- tensen, who spent their entire lives in that coun- try. Bidding good-by to home and friends, the subject sailed for New York in 1869 and first located in Long Island, where he was employed on a farm for seven years and a half. He then brought his family to South Dakota and since 1876 has been an honored resident of this state.

In 1874 Mr. Mortensen was united in mar- riage to Miss Meatha Amelia Larson, who died June 13, 1896, leaving nine children, namely : George, who married Regina Olson and is now engaged in clerking in Gayville, South Dakota ; Martin, a farmer of Clay county, this state ; Matilda, now the wife of Ira Harden, a resident of Gayville ; and Bena, .Andriea, Chris, Edward,

744

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

Mabel and Melvin. All are being provided with good educations and the two oldest sons have attended the State University at Vermillion, South Dakota. Mr. Mortensen was again mar- ried June 23, 1900, his second union being with Miss Nora Grant, a daughter of H. N. and Catherine (Pearson) Grant. Her father is a prosperous farmer of Douglas county, South Dakota, and one of the leading and influential citizens of that locality. For two terms he most efficiently served as sheriff of the county, was deputy sheriff the same length of time, and also filled the office of city marshal in a most credit- able and acceptable manner. During the dark days of the Rebellion he manifested his love of country and patriotic spirit by his service in the Union army.

On coming to the new world Mr. Morten- sen's capital consisted of but one dollar, but he always made it a point to save a part of his earnings and on his arrival in South Dakota had twelve hundred dollars, which he invested in an improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres. For a few years he gave his attention principally to the raising of wheat, but several times had his crops destroyed by the grasshoppers and floods. In later years he has made stock raising a spe- cialty and now handles about five hundred head of cattle and shipped two hundred and five head in 1903, while in 1902 he marketed one hundred and sixty-nine head. He keeps good horses and has a fine drove of two hundred and fifty Ches- ter White hogs. As he has prospered in busi- ness affairs and his financial resources have in- creased, Mr. Mortensen has added to his prop- erty from time to time until he now owns fifteen hundred acres of fine farm land, seven hundred acres of which is under cultivation and well im- proved. In 1886 he erected upon his place an elegant brick residence and has also built good barns and cattle sheds, so that he now has one of the hest improved farms in the county. Upon the place are three artesian wells which amply supply his stock with water. His success in life is due entirely to his own well directed efforts, good management and untiring industry.

In politics Mr. Mortensen is a Republican.

His wife, who is a most estimable lady, was educated in the schools of Armour, South Dakota, where her parents make their home. Socially the family is one of prominence in the community where they reside and their many friends are always sure of a hearty welcome at their hospitable home.

E. M. CRAMER claims the old Keystone state as the place of his nativity, having been born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the Ioth of May, 1849, and being a son of Henry and Ann (Smith) Cramer, who were likewise born in that state, being representatives of old and sterling families of the commonwealth. The father of the subject was a butcher by trade and was engaged in the meat-market business in Pennsylvania, until 1866, when he removed to Sterling, Whiteside county, Illinois, where he engaged in the general merchandise business, in which he there successfully continued for a period of fifteen years, while that town continued to be his home until his death, which occurred in 1897. His widow, who has now attained the venerable age of eighty-three years, still resides in Sterling, and is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as was also her husband. They became the parents of eleven children, of whom six are living.

The subject received his educational train- ing in the public schools of Pennsylvania, and was about seventeen years of age at the time of the family removal to Illinois, where he con- tinued to reside until 1880, when he located in the city of Clinton, Iowa, where he was engaged in the retail grocery business until 1882, when he came to Plankinton, South Dakota. Shortly after his arrival he took up a homestead claim six miles southeast of the town, and located on the same and began the work of improvement, eventually perfecting his title to the property, which he retained in his possession until 1889, when he disposed of the same at a good profit. After proving on his claim Mr. Cramer took up his permanent residence in Plankinton, which had at that time a population of about one

745

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

thousand persons, and here established him- self in the general merchandise business, in which he has built up a large and representative trade, the enterprise having expanded in scope and importance with the upbuilding of the town and the settlement of the surrounding country. His present store building is a substantial and commodious structure and was purchased by him about twelve years ago, and in the same he has a large and comprehensive stock, selected with careful discrimination, so that he caters suc- cessfully to the demands of his extensive and ap -. preciative trade, the stock representing an aver- age valuation of about ten thousand dollars. In politics he is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, but has never been an aspirant for public office. He and his wife are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Brotherhood of American Yeomen and the Order of Home Guardians.

On the 21st of October, 1875, Mr. Cramer was united in marriage to Miss' Anna Hecker- man, who was born and reared in Hancock county, Ohio, being a daughter of Benjamin F. Heckerman, who was for a number of years a conductor on the Pennsylvania Railroad and who later owned and operated a sawmill. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer became the parents of two children, Mabel, who is now the wife of G. H. Bryan, who is engaged in the barbering business in Plank- inton, and Noble, who died at the age of ten years.

HENRY H. PLATTS is a native of the old Granite state, having been born in Cheshire county, New Hampshire, on Christmas day of the year 1829. He is a son of Harvey and Harriett (Davis) Platts, and both families were founded in New England in the colonial epoch of our national history, while several represent- atives of the Platts family fought in the cause of independence during the war of the Revolu- tion, and others were actively participants in the 48

war of 1812. The subject received a com- mon-school education in New England and there continued to reside until 1852, when he came west in company with his brother Asa (who also resides in Moody county at the present time, being postmaster at Trent), locating in Jones county, Iowa, where he took up a claim of wild land, while later he removed to Worth county, that state, where he became a pioneer farmer, being a resident there at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. His farm was isolated in the early days, and he was compelled one winter to haul flour a distance of twenty-five miles on a hand-sled in order to provide for the family needs. In October, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company C, Fourteenth Iowa Volunteer In- fantry, the captain of his company being George H. Wolfe. His command was in service to a large extent in the states of Dakota and western Iowa, the most notable engagement in which the subject took part being that at Falling Water, west of Bismarck. In the spring of 1864 Mr. Platts was transferred to Company M, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, with which he served on the west- ern frontier, as had he also while a member of the infantry. In 1861 his command was at Sioux City and Yankton during the fall, and in De- cember of that year was stationed at Fort Ran- dall, remaining there until October 15, 1863, and having numerous sorties and battles with the rebellious Indians. The command was next sent to Fort Sully, this state, and there, in the spring of 1864, having been granted a furlough, the sub- ject and other members of his company con- structed flatboats on which they made their way down the Missouri river to Sioux City, where they remained about six months. After the ex- piration of his original term, Mr. Platts re- enlisted, as a member of the same regiment, and thereafter continued in service until June 26, 1866, when he was mustered out, at Sioux City, where he received his honorable discharge. He was with General Sully in nearly all of that officer's expeditions against the Indians, and saw much hard and hazardous service, while his record is that of a valiant and faithful soldier.

After the close of the war Mr. Platts returned

746

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

to his farm, near Bristol, Worth county, Iowa, and thereafter improved his land and brought it under effective cultivation. In 1876 he disposed of the property and came to South Dakota, making the trip overland with team and wagon. He located in Moody county, where he entered claim to three hundred and twenty acres of gov- ernment land, in Egan township, and here he improved one of the best ranches now to be found in the county, having erected substantial and commodious farm buildings and having placed the greater portion of the land under cultivation. The farm is one which would do credit to any of the older settled states of the Union, and bears slight resemblance to the bar- ren tract which was here represented at the time when the subject assumed possession, nearly thirty years ago. Success attended his efforts, and though he encountered the various vicissi- tudes and hardships ever incidental to opening up the march of civilization and development in a new country, the results have amply compen- sated for the trial and for the strenuous labors performed. Mr. Platts continued to reside on the homestead until 1893, in October of which year he removed to the village of Egan, where he engaged in the mercantile business, having a general store and securing a good trade. This enterprise received the major portion of his time and attention, up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 23d of February, 1904.

Mr. Platts gave a stanch allegiance to the Republican party from the time of its organiza- tion, and ever showed a loyal interest in the promotion of its cause, while he was influential in local affairs of a public nature. For a quar- ter of a century he served almost consecutively as justice of the peace, and his wise counsel had much to do in bringing about amicable adjust- ments of the minor difficulties among his neigh- bors, while he was signally fair and impartial in all his decisions. He also served in the various other township offices, and ever commanded the unqualified esteem of the people of the com- munity in which he so long lived and labored. He and his wife were zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally he

was identified with C. C. Washburn Post, No. 15, Grand Army of the Republic, at Egan, and with Lodge No. 71, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the same place.

Mr. Platts was first married, February 7. 1854, to Miss Emma Sawtell, and to them were horn eight children, Harvey E. (married Miss Laura Neff), Charles F., Emma A. (married to E. R. Hopkins and now living in Canada), Ella E. (the wife of E. F. Peck, of Austin, Min- nesota), Hattie R. (wife of G. H. LaVanway, of Egan, South Dakota), Albert W. (married Bertha Wilson), Abel H. and Jennie L., of whom Charles and Jennie are deceased. Mrs. Emily Platts died in Iowa, May 13, 1876, and on March 27, 1877, in Dakota, Mr. Platts married Mrs. Nancy M. LaVanway (nee Wilkins). She was born March 30, 1831, at Stockholm, St. Lawrence county, New York, and on July 10, 1849, was married to Solomon LaVanway, who died November 3, 1869. She became the mother of ten children, all of whom are living. Her deatlı occurred at Egan, South Dakota, on the 18th of January, 1901.

PEDER FRENG .- Norway has sent many of her sons to the new world and the northwest especially owes much of its substantial improve- ment and growth to this valuable class of our American citizenship, for they who come from the land of the midnight sun are industrious, energetic, frugal and honest people, whose value in the building up of this portion of the country is widely acknowledged. Mr. Freng was born in Norway on the 26th of April, 1846, and is a son of John and Bertha Freng, who spent their entire lives in their native land where his father always followed the occupation of farming. The subject was there reared and educated and then when twenty-three years of age he sought a home in the United States, crossing the Atlantic in 1869. He settled in Yankton county, South Dakota, and he has a brother who is now living near him. Locating upon his present farm, he now has one hundred and sixty acres of good land, on which he raises crops that he feeds

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 108

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