History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 126

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 126

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).

sonian principles of the Democratic party, though he supported Mckinley in 1896 and in 1900. While taking an active interest in the promotion of the general interests of the state, he has not permitted the use of his name for nomination to any public office of any description since his nomination, a few months after his graduation, to the office of prosecuting attorney of Dane county.

Mr. Frawley is the most extensive real estate owner in Lawrence county ; has a finely improved stock farm located on the road between Dead- wood and Spearfish, comprising more than three thousand acres, and is known as one of the best improved ranches in the state. It is commonly called the Centennial Home farm. Here the subject is extensively engaged in raising live stock, principally horses and cattle. He raises the shorthorns from thoroughbred stock and also the Hereford type, while upon his farm are always found a large number of draft and road horses. The Centennial farm is one of the show places of the state and attracts many visitors each year, especially those interested in breeding cattle and horses. Mr. Frawley also became early interested in the gold mining of the Black Hills and owns valuable properties in this line. He sold the Iowa and Brunett properties to the Hidden Fortune Gold Mining Company, in which he still retains a large block of stock. He also owns, personally, one hundred acres of patented mining property situated at Portland in the Bald Mountain ore zone, reputed to be very valuable, besides other mining interests over different parts of the ore zone of the Black Hills.

Fraternally, Mr. Frawley is a charter mem- ber of Lodge No. 508, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in whose affairs he has taken much interest from its inception. He enjoys un- qualified confidence and esteem in professional and business circles.

On the 22d day of July, 1890, Mr. Frawley was united in marriage to Miss Christine Ander- son, who was born and reared in the city of Yankton, the original capital of the territory of Dakota. She is the only child of James Ander-

849

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA. -

son, who came to Deadwood in 1877, being a prominent farmer and stock raiser, largely in- terested in mining properties and owning a large hardware store in the city of Deadwood for many years. He was a man who stood high in the public estimation and was a member of the first state legislature. His death occurred on the Ist day of September, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Frawley have three children. Henry J., Wil- liam G. and Honora C.

JOHN E. WATKINS is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Delaware county, Ohio, on the 7th of May, 1858, and being the first in order of birth of the five chil- dren of Edward and Sarah (Evans) Watkins, both of whom died in Ohio, where the father de- voted his active life to farming. Our subject's early educational advantages were confined to a somewhat irregular attendance in the common schools of his native state, and as a mere boy he had occasion to learn what is implied in the term hard work. At the age of fifteen years he gave up his school in order to assist in the labors incidental to the improvement and culti- vation of the homestead farm, and he continued to be thus engaged until he had attained the age of twenty-seven years, when he inaugurated his independent career by coming to what is now South Dakota. He arrived here in the fall of 1885 and took up one hundred and sixty acres of government land, in Badger township, Davi- son county, the same constituting the nucleus of his present fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres, upon which he has made substantial improvements, including the erection of a com- modious and attractive residence. About one- half of his farm is under cultivation and de- voted to the raising of the various cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, while the balance is given over to pasturage and the raising of hay. He has a high grade of live stock upon his place and is known as one of the energetic and wide-awake farmers of the county. His valuable property indicates the success which has tended his assiduons and well-directed efforts,

and he has unbounded admiration for the state of his adoption and great faith in its still more brilliant future. Mr. Watkins is a stanch Re- publican in politics and has been prominent in local affairs of a public nature. He has served for twelve years as school treasurer of Badger township, and for three years was incumbent of the office of township assessor. Both he and his wife are valued members of the Congregational church, being zealous workers in the same.

On the 24th of December, 1881, Mr. Wat- kins was united in marriage to Miss Anna Streeter, daughter of Rev. A. W. Streeter, of Stockton, Kansas, and the seven children of this union still remain beneath the home roof, their names, in order of birth, being as follows : Edward L., Sarah M., Mabel E., William Neill, Clarence, Clara and Norvel.

SAMUEL H. BAKEWELL .- No member of the bar of Aurora county has attained more distinctive prestige and honor than has Judge Bakewell, who has been for many years engaged in the practice of his profession in Plankinton and who has been a prominent figure in public and civic affairs in this section of the state.

Judge Bakewell was born on a farm near Lansing, Allamakee county, Iowa, on the 4th of April, 1855, being one of the nine children of John and Sarah Ann (Hunt) Bakewell. He is of English descent. He received his early edu- cation in the public schools, and in the seminary at Waukon, Iowa. He taught school several winters. He continued his studies in the State University of Iowa, at Iowa City, in the law de- partment of which he graduated as a member of the class of 1879. Soon after his graduation he came to the territory of Dakota and located at Plankinton, Aurora county, in 1881, being one of the pioneers of his profession in the county. During the first few years he was largely en- gaged in locating homeseekers on the public lands of his county and representing them pro- fessionally before the local land office at Mitchell, and the general land office at Washing- ton, D. C. He became prominent in the public

850

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

affairs of the county in the territorial days, and has continued since South Dakota was admitted to the Union to hold many positions of honor and trust. In 1884 he was elected to the office of probate judge of the county, and was re- elected in 1886. After the admission of South Dakota as a state he was elected judge of the county court, and twice elected state's attorney of his county. His self-poise and his thorough knowledge of the science of jurisprudence has won him a large and renumerative practice in his profession. He has taken advantage of the opportunities of a new country and has acquired large and valuable property interests. The Judge is one of the old-time Republicans and is one of the leaders of that party in his county. Fraternally, he is identified with the time- honored order of Freemasonry, and his religious faith is that of the Congregational church, of which he and his family are members.

On the 17th of April, 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Judge Bakewell to Miss Martha A. Cawley, who was born and educated in Wis- consin, having graduated from the Oshkosh Normal School in 1879. and who was principal of the Plankinton public schools the year pre- vious to her marriage. They are the parents of two sons. Robert C. and George S., aged seventeen and, fifteen years respectively.

GEORGE P. SCOTCHBROOK is one of the leading business men and honored citizens of Wessington. Beadle county, where he has for many years operated a grain elevator and been successfully engaged in the buying and shipping of wheat and other products.

Mr. Scotchbrook is one of the many loyal citizens contributed by the state of Illinois to our great and prosperous commonwealth. He was born in Whiteside county, that state, on the 25th of August. 1857. and is a son of Edward and Mary A. (Pope) Scotchbrook, of whose five children four are living. The father of the subject was numbered among the pioneers of Illinois, whither he removed in 1854. and his active life was devoted primarily to farming and

stock raising. His wife died in Illinois in 1890. George P. Scotchbrook secured his early edu- cation in the public schools of his native state. and in 1879 was matriculated in the State Uni- versity of Illinois, at Champaign, where he com- pleted the engineering course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1883. receiving the degree of Bachelor of Science. Before and after leaving college the subject became identified with the practical work of civil engineering, in connection with the government survey of the Mississippi river, and he was thus engaged until 1884. in September of which year he came to Wessington, South Dakota, where he engaged in the grain business, operating an elevator at this point in 1884 for G. W. Van Dusen & Com- pany, and now having the best of facilities for the carrying on of his large and important en- terprise, while he is known as a progressive and reliable business man, commanding the high re- gard of all who know him. He is a stanch Re- publican in his political proclivities, fraternally is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and both he and his wife are active and valued members of the Presbyterian church in their home town.

On the 9th of June. 1887. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Scotchbrook to Miss Nettie Barden, who was reared in Wellington. Ohio. being a daughter of George L. and Charlotte (Young) Barden. Of this union have been born two children. Francis Willard and Carl Edward, both of whom remain at the parental home.

ALVIN M. SHAW, who is incumbent of the responsible executive office of cashier of the Delmont State Bank, of Delmont. Douglas county, is recognized as one of the able young business men of the county, where he is held in high esteem and is personally popular. He was born on a farm in Joe Daviess county, Illinois, on the 3d of February. 1876, being a son of Henry and Mary E. Shaw. of whose seven children four are living. namely : William H .. who is cashier of the Hutchinson County Bank. at Parkston. this state: Ora P., who is a grain

851

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

buyer at Scotland, Bon Homme county ; Ida, who is the wife of Frank L. Wheeler, also a resi- dent of Scotland; and Alvin M., who is the im- mediate subject of this sketch. Henry Shaw was born in the state of New York, in 1828, and as a young man he removed thence to Joe Daviess county, Illinois, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1886, when he came to South Dakota and took up his residence in Parkston, where he became associated with his eldest son, William H., in the organization of the Hutchinson County Bank, of which he was president from the time of its inception until his death, which occurred in October, 1902. He also acquired considerable valuable farming land, to the supervision of which he gave his atten- tion, while his son William, as cashier, had charge of the bank, of which he is still cashier. The father was an uncompromising Republican in his political proclivities, and his religious faith was that of the Presbyterian church. He was a man of strong intellectual powers and marked business acumen, and his life was one of signal usefulness and honor. His widow, who is a na- tive of the state of New York. retains her home in Scotland. this state.

Alvin M. Shaw was reared to the age of ten years in his native county in Illinois, where he secured his preliminary educational discipline in the public schools, and after the removal of the family to South Dakota he continued his studies in the Scotland Academy, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1893. He shortly afterward went to Vermillion and entered the commercial department of the state university, where he completed a thorough course and was graduated in 1895. Shortly after his graduation he became the assistant cashier in the Hutchinson County Bank, at Parkston, being thus engaged until the Ist of January, 1901, when he came to Delmont to assume the position of cashier of the Delmont State Bank, of which Alfred Shepard, a prominent manufac- turer of threshing machines, is president, and since that time he has ably managed the execu- tive affairs of the institution, in the capacity of cashier and manager. The bank does a heavy

business in the extension of loans on farming property and is known as one of the strong monetary institutions of this part of the state. Mr. Shaw gives an unwavering allegiance to the Republican party. is progressive and public- spirited and is one of the representative young business men of the county.

In July, 1901, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Shaw to Miss Nina P. Simmons, daugh- ter of Frank Simmons, a prominent citizen of Parkston, and they are the parents of a winsome little daughter, Margaret.

GEORGE A. JOHNSTON, who has main- tained his home in the city of Mitchell for nearly a quarter of a century, is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Guernsey county, Ohio, on the 14th of August, 1847, a son of George and Margaret (Simpson) John- ston, the former of whom was born near Ennis- killen. County Fermanagh, Ireland, while the latter was born in Pennsylvania, whither her par- ents emigrated from the north of Ireland, the ancestry being of stanch Scotch-Irish extraction. The father of our subject came to the United States as a young man and here turned his at- tention to the great basic art of agriculture. He was a man of studious habits and strong in- tellectuality, impressing his individuality upon the various communities in which he lived and ever commanding unqualified esteem. He re- moved from Ohio to Iowa in 1856, becoming one of the pioneers of that state, where he was en- gaged in farming until 1880, when he came to Mount Vernon, South Dakota, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, his death occurring in 1887. and hers in 1889. Mr. Johnston was an uncompromising abolitionist in the crucial epoch leading up to the Civil war, and was one of the conductors on the historic "underground railway," through which so many fugitives were assisted in gaining freedom. He was a forceful public speaker and effective de- bater, holding very radical views and ever show- ing the courage of his convictions, but he was too honest and too inflexible to prove a success-

852

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

ful politician. His religious faith was thoroughly orthodox and both he and his wife were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They became the parents of nine children, of whom four are living at the present time.

George A. Johnston, the immediate subject of this sketch, completed the curriculum of the public schools and then continued his studies in the Iowa College, at Grinnell, Iowa, where he remained three years. After leaving college he was identified with the nursery business for some time, and he defrayed the expenses of his col- legiate course by teaching in the public schools. He met with an accident in the gymnasium of the college, breaking his left wrist, and this in- jury led to his leaving the institution prior to graduation. In 1876 Mr. Johnston came to South Dakota, then a portion of the great un- divided territory of Dakota, and located in Can- ton, Lincoln county, where he entered the law office of Bailey & Gifford, having previously devoted no inconsiderable attention to the read- ing of the law. In the spring of 1877 he went to the Black Hills, his intention being to en- gage in the practice of law in that locality, but expenses at the time were very high and his means were limited, and thus he consulted ex- pediency and abandoned the law to engage in civil engineering and contracting, in which con- nection he was identified with the construction of the toll road between Deadwood and Centen- nial Prairie, while during the time he also en- gaged in prospecting in the neighboring dis- tricts. In the late fall of 1877 he returned to the eastern part of the state and later went to Iowa, where he engaged in teaching for some time, as did he later in South Dakota, thus con- tinuing to follow the pedagogic profession about two years. In the spring of 1879 Mr. Johnston filed entry on government land near the present city of Mitchell, and of this property he still retains in his possession one hundred and sixty acres. He has consecutively maintained his residence in Mitchell since 1879, and here he was for some time engaged in the practice of law, having secured admission to the bar of Iowa in 1876 and to that of the territory of Dakota two

years later. Finally he became identified with the real-estate business, in which his operations be- came so extended and successful that he with- drew entirely from the practice of his profession, and he has ever since continued to be identified with the important line of enterprise mentioned.

At the time of the Civil war Mr. Johnston manifested his youthful patriotism and ardor by enlisting as a private in Company H, Seventh Iowa Cavalry, being but fifteen years of age at the time, and he continued in active service for a term of three years, at the expiration of which he received his honorable discharge. From his youth up he has manifested a deep interest in public affairs and has been an active factor in the councils of the Republican party. In 1875 he was elected railroad commissioner of Dakota Territory. After the admission of South Da- kota to the Union, in 1890, he was chosen a member of the first state senate, in which capacity he was retained for three terms, his effective labors in the connection being an in- tegral part of the legislative history of the state during that period. He has held various offices of local trust, including that of mayor of Mitchell and member of the board of commis- sioners of Davison county. He has been a dele- gate to the territorial and state conventions of his party, and in 1892 was a delegate to the Republican national convention, in Minneapolis, as an alternate. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Resurgam Lodge, No. 31, Free and Accepted Masons ; Mitchell Chapter, No. 16. Royal Arch Masons; St. Bernard Commandery, No. II. Knights Templar; and El Riad Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Sioux Falls. He is one of the prominent and popular members of the fra- ternity in this state, and in 1891 served as grand master of the grand lodge of South Dakota. He also holds membership in Ransom Post, No. 6, Grand Army of the Republic.

On the 2d of July, 1882, Mr. Johnston was united in marriage to Miss Clara R. Hallowell. a daughter of Rev. Peter Hallowell, a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church, and at that time a resident of Blackhawk county, Iowa, this

853

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

marriage being solemnized on the day of the assassination of President Garfield. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston became the parents of two chil- dren, a son who died in infancy, and Lucile, who remains at the parental home.

CHARLES COOK is a representative citi- zen of Yankton county, of foreign birth, having first opened his eyes to the light of day in Ger- many in December, 1845. His parents were Henry and Elizabeth (Hyland) Cook. He was educated in the schools of his native country and when twenty-two years of age crossed the At- lantic to the United States, settling in Missouri, where he remained for two years, following blacksmithing. He then went to California, walking most of the way and carrying his pro- visions on his back. He suffered many hard- ships and trials during that long journey, but ultimately reached his destination and remained in the Golden state for five years, working at the blacksmith's trade. At that time wages were high on the coast and ordinary workmen often made as much as twenty dollars per day. About 1872 Mr. Cook left California for New York, making the journey by way of the Panama route. For a short period he lived in the metropolis of the east and then paid a visit to his friends in Germany, remaining for six months in the fatherland. His interest, however, centered in ' the new world, for he believed that its privileges and advantages were far superior to those of his native country. Accordingly, he returned to this country, and, making his way to Missouri, he was there united in marriage to Miss Cather- ine Hoffman, of Canton, Missouri, the wedding taking place on the 3d of June, 1877. Her par- ents were Michael and Marguerite (Buchner) Hoffman, both of whom were natives of Ger- many and, coming to this country, established their home in Missouri.

After his marriage Mr. Cook remained in Missouri for three years and then removed to Illinois, where he spent one year. In 1882 he came to Yankton county, South Dakota, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of

land, which he has since owned and operated, having now a well developed farm. As the years have passed he has extended the bound- aries of his property by additional purchases until he now owns about four hundred acres of land in this county. His business affairs are capably conducted and his energy, diligence and strong determination have formed the founda- tion upon which he has builded his success.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cook have been born nine children, but four of the number have passed away. Those still living are George, now seventeen years of age: Mary, sixteen years of age; Clara, a maiden of fourteen; Charlie, a youth of ten; and Willie, who completes the family and is seven years of age. All are still under the parental roof and are attending school. The parents and family are members of the Lutheran church of Yankton and Mr. Cook is an active Republican, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his time and attention to his business affairs, in which he has met with creditable success. His wife has been to him an able assistant on the journey of life and is a most estimable lady. Both enjoy the warm regard of many friends and the life record of Mr. Cook stands an exemplification of what may be attained through industry if one has the perseverance to continue in a given course and guides his efforts by sound judgment and integrity.

GEORGE W. CASE merits representation in this history as one of the prominent and suc- cessful members of the bar of the state and as one of the popular and influential citizens of Watertown. He is a native of the old Keystone state, having been born on a farm in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on the 3d of March, 1861, and being a son of Lorenzo D. and Susan M. (Scofield) Case. In 1868 his parents removed to Mason City, Illinois, where his father became a prominent contractor. Both are now deceased, having both died at Watertown.

George W. Case was reared in Mason City, and after completing a course in the high school

854

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

was variously employed until he had attained the age of twenty, when he began reading law. In 1883 he came to South Dakota and took up a pre-emption claim in Sully county, and in- stituted its development, so that in due time he perfected his title. He remained on his ranch for five years, during which time he assiduously continued the study of the law, being admitted to the bar of the territory before Judge Andrews, at Watertown, in 1891. The following year he was admitted to practice before the supreme court. He became identified with the active work of his profession by entering the employ of the law firm of Mellette & Mellette, of Water- town and Pierre, the senior member of the firm having been governor of the state. In this re- lation he gained valuable experience and so clearly proved his mettle that at the expiration of ten months Governor Mellette came to Water- town and offered him a membership in the firm, and he thereafter continued to be associated with the two gentlemen until the Messrs. Mellette retired from practice in the state, in 1896, when he succeeded to the entire business of the firm. From the start Governor Mellette had pushed him forward into the active business, and he assumed much of the court practice. thus gaining prestige as an able trial as well as con- sulting attorney. He has built up a large and representative general practice and his standing in the profession is second to that of none of the members of the bar of this section of the state. Mr. Case is one of the leaders of the Republican party in the state and is prominent in its councils. He served as a member of the state senate in 1896-7, and was chairman of the joint house and senate committee which selected Hon. James H. Kyle for United States senator for a second term. In 1898 he received, at the hands of President McKinley, the appointment as receiver of the United States land office in Watertown, of which office he remained in- cumbent four years. He is at present chairman of the Republican judicial committee of the third judicial district. He was one of the in- corporators and stockholders of the Watertown State Bank, while he is the owner of several city

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 126

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