History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 115

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 115

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cause, being a man of decisive convictions and ever having the courage of the same. In 1890 Mr. Major was elected to the state senate, in which he served with distinction, being chosen as his own successor in 1892 and being again elected in 1896, so that he served three terms in the dignified deliberative body of the state legis- lature. He is one of the prominent and valued members of the Presbyterian church in Wessing- ton, Beadle county, which is his postoffice ad- dress, the town being five miles distant from his fine home place.

AUGUST KING, who is one of the well- known and highly honored citizens of Brookings county, has the distinction of being its represent- ative in the state legislature and has shown him- self to be one of the loyal and public-spirited citi- zens of the great commonwealth in whose service his efforts are thus enlisted. Mr. King is a na- tive of the German empire, having been born in the province of Saxony, on the 15th of December, 1863. He is a son of Henry and Ernestine King, the former of whom passed his entire life in the German fatherland, where his widow still main- tains her home. Of the six children born of this union five are yet living, the subject of this sketch having been the eldest. Mollie is the wife of William Rolberg and they reside in Germany ; Henry is a successful baker in Germany, as is also his brother Edmund; Hattie still resides in the fatherland; and Minnie is deceased. From this brief record it will be seen that our subject is the only representative of the immediate family in the United States.

August King was reared to the age of six- teen years in his native country, in the meanwhile receiving the advantages afforded in its excellent schools. In 1880, in company with his cousin, Carl Miland, he bade adieu to home and father- land and set forth to seek his fortunes in America, proceeding to Minnesota, where he joined rela- tives. Soon after his arrival Mr. King began work on the farm of his cousin, being thus en- gaged for a period of five months, and he con- tinued to work by the month until the spring of

1886, having been frugal and industrious and having succeeded in saving about three hundred dollars from his wages. In the spring of the year mentioned he left Minnesota and came to South Dakota, locating in Brookings county, where he secured employment on the farm of Samuel McBride, with whom he remained about twenty months, after which he was for three years employed by Edward Spurling. On Christmas day of the year 1890 Mr. King was united in marriage to Miss Pauline Schulz, a daughter of Christopher and Anna Schulz, both of whom were born in Germany, as was also Mrs. King, who came to America as a young woman, here joining her brothers, who had emigrated here some time previously. Mr. King had carefully conserved his resources and at the time of his marriage his accumulations represented about one thousand dollars. In the spring of 1891 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land, in Brookings county, for a consideration of twelve hundred dollars, and within the same year he erected a house on the farm and there took up his residence. He reclaimed the land and brought it under effective cultivation, the while making per- manent improvements of a substantial order. In 1899 Mr. King purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty acres adjoining his homestead on the east, so that he now has a fine farm of two hun- dred and eighty acres, all in one body. The pros- perity which has attended his indefatigable efforts is indicated in the appearance of his place, which is improved with a good house and barn and other necessary buildings, a windmill and other modern facilities, while the land is well fenced and shows the careful attention given by the en- terprising and progressive proprietor, who is rec- ognized as one of the representative farmers and stock growers of the county. His land is now valued at fifty dollars an acre and constitutes one of the attractive and valuable farms of the sec- tion. Mr. King has devoted considerable atten- tion to the growing of corn from the time of in- augurating his farming enterprise and has been successful in securing good yields, while he also raises wheat and oats and a general line of high- grade live stock, being also one of the stockhold-

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ers in the farmers' grain elevator in the village of White.

In politics Mr. King accords a stanch support to the Republican party, in whose cause he has taken an active interest from the time of attaining the right of franchise in his adopted country. The confidence and esteem in which he is held in his home county has been signalized in divers ways. For the past four years he has been in- cumbent of the office of treasurer of his school district ; he has served as delegate to the county and state conventions of his party, and in the au- tumın of 1902 he was elected to represent his county in the lower house of the state legislature, where he has proved himself a valuable member of the legislative body, being signally faithful to the interests of his constituents and of the state at large and doing all in his power to further good government and insure the progress and prosper- ity of the great state in which he has gained so marked personal success. In the house he was assigned to the committees on corporations, banks and banking, and emigration, and in each of these connections his work has been of no per- functory order. Fraternally Mr. King has been identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1890, being now affiliated with White Lodge, No. 135, at White, while he is also a member of White Lodge, No. 67, Ancient Order of United Workmen, in the same village. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, but he and his wife are now regular attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose work they maintain an active and helpful interest. When Mr. King arrived in New York city his capitalistic resources were summed up in the amount of five dollars, and the position of independence which he today holds represents the result of his own efforts, while he has so guided his course as to retain un- bounded respect and esteem on the part of all with whom he has come in contact. He has con- tributed his quota to the development and mater- ial progress of South Dakota and is well entitled to representation in this history. In conclusion we would state that the marriage of the subject has been blessed with six children, namely : Alma,

Edward, Esther, Frederick, and Minnie and Anna, twins, and an infant daughter.

CHARLES THOMSON is one of the lead- ing business men and sterling citizens of Miller, Hand county, is a prominent factor in public affairs and is at the present time incumbent of the office of city treasurer.

Mr. Thomson is a native of the Badger state, having been born on the parental farm- stead in Monroe county, Wisconsin, on the 12th of October, 1855, and being a son of James and Oliver Thomson, both of whom are still living, maintaining their home in the village of Hurley, South Dakota. The father of the subject de- voted the major portion of his active life to ag- ricultural pursuits and is now living retired, having attained the venerable age of seventy-five years and commanding the respect of all who know him. The subject of this review received. his early education in the public schools of his native county, while later he attended school for one year in Iowa, and during one year was a student in the normal school at Valparaiso, Indiana. After leaving school he was success- fully engaged in teaching in the public schools of Buena Vista county, Iowa, for a period of seven years. In 1883 he came to what is now the state of South Dakota and took up his residence in Hand county. He took up a homestead claim of government land, and eventually perfected his title to the property. He thereafter devoted his attention to farming and teaching school until 1893, usually teaching during the winter terms, when his attention was not demanded in con- nection with the work of his farm. In 1886 Mr. Thomson was elected a member of the board of county commissioners, in which capacity he served one term. In 1892 he was elected county auditor, in which office he served most accept- ably for four years, having been chosen as his own successor in 1894. He was honored by being chosen one of the presidential electors of the state, on the Republican ticket, in 1900, at the time of President McKinley's second election, and he received the still further distinction of

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being selected to take the ballots to Washington, D. C., where he thus represented his state in the electoral college. Mr. Thomson has been a member of the Republican central committee of Hand county for many years, most of the time serving either as chairman or secretary, and has done most effective service in marshalling the forces at his command and furthering the in- terests of the party in his section. He has served as city treasurer of Miller since 1893, and is one of the honored and popular citizens of the county. He is at the present time engaged in the grain and coal business, as representative of Van Dusen & Company, of Minneapolis.

On the 22d of October, 1895, Mr. Thomson was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Duthie, of Miller, South Dakota. She was born and reared in Rock county, Wisconsin, and came to Hand county, South Dakota, with her parents, in 1883, and until her marriage to Mr. Thomson taught school and served as deputy auditor of Hand county. Her father, John Duthie, was one of the pioneers of the county and from 1884 to 1887 was a member of the county board.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomson have one child, Merle C., born December 3, 1899.

CHRIS CALLESEN .- Among the citizens of foreign birth residing in Yankton county is numbered Chris Callesen, who is a worthy rep- resentative of the fatherland, his career having been a credit alike to Germany and to America. He was born June 18, 1854, in Schleswig Hol- stein, and was educated in the schools there. When seventeen years of age he came to this country, his parents being George and Annie (Peterson) Callesen, in whose family were thir- teen children, two of whom passed away in in- fancy. The others are Weis, Helena, Yep, Catherine, Annie, Christ, George, Tillie, Mar- garet, Thomas and Christina. Three of the number are now in this country, while the others are in Germany. The father died in his native country two years ago at the advanced age of eighty-four years and the mother died there in 1860 at the age of forty-four years.

Crossing the Atlantic to the new world when a young man of seventeen, Chris Callesen at once came to Yankton county and when he had attained his majority he entered land from the government. Throughout his entire life he has followed farming. Like most young men start- ing out in life on their own account, he desired a companion and helpmate for the journey and on the 12th of February, 1880, he wedded Christina Nelson, who was born in Denmark in 1860, there remaining until fourteen years of age, when she came to America in company with her parents, Olsen and Juliana (Hengen) Nelson, the family home being established in Yankton county in 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson were the parents of nine children, namely : Ole, John, Dorothy, Christina, Cecelia, Fred, Christ, Andrew and Helena, all of whom are residents of South Da- kota with the exception of Andrew, who is now deceased. The others live in Yankton and Turner counties. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson also make their home in Yankton county and the father, having retired from active business life, is now en- joying the fruits of his former toil, having amassed a very comfortable fortune. He has reached the age of seventy-four years and his wife is now seventy-one years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Callesen have had no children of their own, but have reared an adopted son, Nels Anderson. He is now a young man of sev- enteen years, splendidly developed both physically and mentally. At the time of his marriage Mr. Callesen took his bride to a farm and he has throughout his business career been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1881 the big flood de- stroyed his home, this being but a year after his marriage. He then removed to Yankton, where he was engaged in the dairy business for three years, and on the expiration of that period he took up a homestead and was for ten years engaged in ranching. He was very successful in that work and when the decade was passed he came to Yank- ton county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which he is now living. His labors have been attended with a gratifying degree of prosperity and he is now one of the well-to-do residents of his adopted county. Polit-

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ically Mr. Callesen has no party ties, supporting the candidate whom he thinks best qualified for office, although perhaps his allegiance has been more largely given to the Democracy. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and also of the Lutheran church and his life has been passed in consistent harmony with the tenets of one and the faith of the other.

JOHN DUNCAN comes of sterling Scotch lineage and is himself a native of the land of hills and heather, while the name which he bears is one which has been prominent in the history of Scotland for many generations. He was born in Banffshire, Scotland, on the 23d of May, 1851, being a son of John and Elizabeth (Barron) Duncan, both of whom passed their entire lives in Scotland. the father having been a farmer by vocation. Our subject was reared and educated in his native land, and was there engaged in farm- ing until 1883, when he came to the United States, having become convinced that in our great republic could be found better opportunities for the winning of independence and a compe- tency through individual effort. In April of that year he arrived with his family in Moody county, South Dakota, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Elkton town- ship, assuming an indebtedness for nearly the entire purchase price, his capitalistic resources at the time being but two and one-half dollars. He disposed of this prop- erty in 1890 and purchased his present well im- proved farm in Ward township, the same com- prising a quarter section of most arable and pro- ductive land, while the place is equipped with a good dwelling house and other excellent farm buildings. Mr. Duncan devotes his attention to diversified farming and to the raising of high- grade live stock, while he makes a specialty of breeding shorthorn cattle and full-blooded Clydesdale horses. He is a stanch Republican in his political allegiance, and has ever taken a deep interest in local affairs, doing all in his power to further the best interests of the county and state of his adoption. He has held all the township

offices, has been an official of the school board of his district, and in 1902 was elected a member of the board of county commissioners, of which position he has since been incumbent. He and his wife are prominent and zealous members of the Presbyterian church, and fraternally he is identified with Camp No. 2867, Modern Wood- men of America, at Flandreau, and is also a mem- ber of the Masonic order.

Mr. Duncan was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jane Minty, who like himself is a native of Scotland, whence she came to America in 1885, to reside with her mother, Mrs. Joseph Morris, re- siding in Flandreau. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan have five children, all of whom remain at the parental home, namely : James Morris, Harry, Alfred, Marjory and Leslie.

ANDREW MELGAARD is a strong and sturdy citizen of foreign birth, one of Scanda- navia's contributions to the United States. He was born in Norway, September 15, 1842, spent his early life in his native land and re- ceived a good education in the public schools of the locality in which he was reared. From youth he was accustomed to honest toil and inherited a strong character and a tendency to make the most of his opportunities, laid well-grounded plans for the future and determined to lead a life that would reflect credit upon himself and be of usefulness to the world. In his early manhood he entered the cavalry arm of the Norwegian army and after two years in a military training school served five years as the sergeant of his company. At the expiration of the period of his enlistment, Mr. Melgaard resumed the pursuits of civil life and continued to live in the land of his birth until 1869, when he came to the United States and located at Litchfield, Meeker county, Minnesota, where he was among the very first settlers. At the end of two years he removed to Minneapolis, where he soon secured a lucrative position with the Minneapolis Harvester Works, and spent seven years in that employment, a greater portion of the time in the shops as an artisan, but in the seasons for that work as an

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expert machinist in the field, and in that capacity traveled over most of Minnesota and adjoining states.

Attracted by the Dakota land boom, he severed his relations with the harvester company in the spring of 1880 and came to the wild prairie of Brown county, South Dakota, where he took up, under the government laws, a half section of land about one mile south of Aberdeen, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. At that time the country was so new and sparsely settled that for a friendly chat with a neighbor he was obliged to go a distance a little in excess of fifteen miles. His first dwelling was a typical sod house, but it was comfortable and answered every purpose until a better home was completed early the following spring. It was his intention to bring his family out to the new home that autumn of 1880, but the phenomenally early ar- rival of winter caused him to remain in Minne- apolis until spring, when he returned, bringing his wife and children to the homestead, where they still reside. Without following the family in all of the details of the intervening years, it is sufficient to say that each member was satis- fied with his lot and the mutual interests 01 the household. In due season a handsome modern residence occupied the site of the homestead's humble dwelling; many improvements were in- augurated and genuine prosperity smiled upon them in the recurring years, until Mr. Melgaard found himself the owner of a splendid farm and home adjoining a splendid city where he is rec- ognized as one of the substantial men and lead- ing citizens as well as a representative farmer and stock raiser of Brown county. He is modern in his farming methods, fully abreast of the times in everything relating to his calling, and, possessing cultivated tastes as well as great in- dustry, has spared no reasonable means in adding to the attractiveness and beauty of his home. Shortly after taking possession of his land he planted upon the treeless prairie two groves, of ten and five acres respectively, which have grown to large trees, affording most grateful shade and rendering the landscape attractive and pleasing. These grounds he leaves open to the public and,

being at the very gates of the city, are a favorite resort for picnickers and pleasure seekers, who find within the cooling shade the rest and recre- ation which the heated season frequently render imperative.

Another attractive feature of Mr. Melgaard's farm and one which makes the place widely known is the location upon it of the Northern Normal and Industrial School. Mr. Melgaard was untiring in his efforts to have the school built upon its present site, which is indeed a most favorable and advantageous one, and he heartily lent his influence toward securing the establishment of the institution by the state, at Aberdeen. It has no doubt greatly enhanced the value of his property, as well as given the place wide publicity, to say nothing of the additional attractiveness to the locality by the beautiful buildings, and the advantages to the youth of the neighborhood, offered by the splendid edu- cational facilities which are placed within the reach of all who see fit to utilize them. Mr. Melgaard is a friend of education and uses his influence and all of the means within his power to advance its interests both at home and throughout the county. He also encourages all laudable enterprises and whatever makes for the material development and moral welfare of the community and as a citizen he is public spirited and aggressive, inflexibly honest and upright in his dealings and his relations with his fellow men have been marked by that probity and regard for right which is characteristic of the true lover of his kind. Like all good citizens, he takes an in- terest in politics, but has never been a partisan in the strict sense of the term nor disturbed the even tenor of his life by seeking official station. He has served as a member of the township board and his interest in local affairs has led to a number of improvements within his civil juris- diction, although he is conservative in the matter of expenditures, only advocating public measures when they are for the benefit of all concerned.

Religiously, Mr. Melgaard was reared in the Lutheran church, and he still adheres to this faith. He was one of the original members of the First Lutheran church at Aberdeen, has been

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active in all of the good work of the congregation ever since, and at the present time is serving the society in the capacity of trustee.

Mr. Melgaard was married in his native land, on the 27th of July. 1867, to Miss G. Marie Hoel, a most estimable lady and genuine help- meet, who has aided him in his struggles for a competence, ministered to his comfort and pre- sided over his home with true wifely interest. Nine children have been born of the union, three of whom died in infancy. Of the survivors, Al- fred was born in Christiania, Norway, May 24, 1868. and is now a successful druggist in Spo- kane, Washington; Harold, born at Litchfield, Minnesota, April 3, 1870, was formerly a teacher both in Dakota and Washington, but is now as- sociated with his father in his farming opera- tions : Rika, a native of Minneapolis, born July 28, 1873, is now the wife of A. Bjork, a promi- nent business man of Aberdeen ; Hilda, born Jan- uary 22, 1875, now residing at Miller, South Da- kota: Ida, born October 28, 1876, is now Mrs. J. H. Herrett, the latter being a merchant of Frederick, South Dakota, and Oscar, born May 4. 1879, resides in Spokane.

Mrs. Melgaard is also a Lutheran in religion and, like her husband, is an earnest and highly respected member of the church in Aberdeen.

JACOB D. STEINER, representative of Grant county in the eighth general assembly of the state legislature, is the owner of a finely im- proved farm of four hundred and eighty acres, in Bigstone township, and is one of the prom- inent and highly respected citizens of the county, being also president of the Evangelical Mutual Insurance Company, the most important corpor- ation of the sort in the state.

Mr. Steiner is a native of the Badger state, having been born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, on the 12th of June, 1861, and being a son of John B. and Agnes (Caflich) Steiner, both of whom were born in Switzerland, where they were reared and educated under the beneficent influ- ences of that fair little republic. In his native land John B. Steiner learned the trade of harness-

maker and saddler, to which he devoted his atten- tion for some time. In 1851 he immigrated to America, and finally located on a farm in Dodge county, Wisconsin, becoming in the course of time one of the substantial agriculturists of that state and commanding unqualified confidence and esteem in the community in which he has so long lived and labored. He still resides on the old homestead farm, which has been the abiding place of himself and his devoted wife for more than forty-five years. His mother, who was born on Christmas day of the year 1807, resides in his home, and in her venerable age is accorded the utmost filial care and solicitude. The subject of this review is the second in order of birth of a family of nine children, of whom all are living.

Hon. Jacob D. Steiner was reared on the old homestead farm and under the gracious environ- ment of a good home, while his educational ad- vantages were those of the excellent public schools of his native county. At the age of twen- ty-one years he entered upon an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, becoming a skilled arti- san in the line and being engaged for a number of years in the work of his trade at Lomira, Wis- consin, while he also attained success in his oper- ations as a buyer and shipper of grain. He con- tinued to make his home in Dodge county, Wis- consin, until July, 1891, when he came to Grant county, South Dakota, and in February of the following year purchased two hundred and forty acres of his present farm, having later added to the original tract until he now owns four hun- dred and eighty acres, as has been already noted. while he has .the major portion of his fine ranch under effective cultivation and devoted to diversi- fied farming, while he also raises live stock of excellent grade, being recognized as one of the energetic and capable business men of this sec- tion and having his farm equipped with good buildings and the best of improvements in other lines. In 1901 he was elected to the presidency of the Evangelical Mutual Insurance Company. and has since served in this responsible position, the company having its headquarters in Milbank. the county seat, and having issued policies cover- ing over three millions of dollars. It is thus one

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History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 115

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