History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 136

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 136

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Soon after the close of his military career Mr. Peck located in West Union, Iowa, where he engaged in the livery business, also being identified with agricultural enterprises in the

locality. In 1872 he visited Sioux Falls and was so favorably impressed with its attractions and surroundings, though it was but a small village at the time, that he decided to take up his residence here. Early in the following year he located in the town and at once established him- self in the livery business, being one of the pio- neers in this line of enterprise in the town. He brought the first two-seated covered carriage into the state, and also introduced the first omnibus and the first -landau in Sioux Falls. In 1878 he was associated with Col. Melvin Grigsby in the erection of the substantial building opposite the Cataract hotel, on Phillips avenue, and in the construction of the same were utilized the first pressed brick, metallic cornice and plate glass used in the city of Sioux Falls. He has done much building in the city and in this way has contributed very materially to its progress and attractiveness, having undoubtedly erected more buildings here than has any other one man ex- cept C. K. Howard. A previously published re- sume of his career has spoken as follows: "He has also done his share in farming, having broken fourteen hundred acres of prairie land contiguous to the city. He is a man of great energy and force and has been identified with nearly all the public enterprises of the city. While in Iowa he was deputy sheriff several years. The Dakota National Bank was or- ganized through the efforts of Mr. Peck and his long-time friend and associate, Mr. Grigsby, and he was its first cashier. He was a director and vice-president of the Minnehaha National Bank at the time of the death of its president, J. M. Bailey, Jr., and was subsequently elected presi- dent, holding this office until June, 1898. He has also been prominent in municipal affairs, serving as alderman and treasurer and receiving two elections as mayor. No one will claim that Sioux Falls ever had a citizen of greater activity and energy than Porter P. Peck. He never 'sent a boy to mill.' As a 'single-handed talker' he stands in the front rank, and the language of which he makes use on extra occasions, although somewhat unique, is always explicit and full of meaning. His administration as mayor of the

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city of Sioux Falls was beset with difficulties that would have baffled a man of less self- reliance and determination, owing in part to the desire of some of the good people to push public enterprises, while others wanted to go slow. Again, the enforcement and non-enforcement of the prohibitory law had been zealously cham- pioned by the friends and foes of the measure, respectively, and he had this disagreement to con- tend with. But he has never been found 'on the fence.' He is always on the ground fighting out the battle, right or wrong, and always showing a spirit of sturdy independence. At his first election for mayor he defeated Captain W. E. Willey, and at the second the Rev. E. B. Meridith, which fact alone offers full proof that he has a host of friends among the people that know him best. Still in the prime of life, with unabated zeal and enterprise, it can safely be predicted that he will for a long time to come be an important factor in public affairs."

Mr. Peck has capitalistic interests of wide scope and variety in the city and county and is at the present time a member of the directorate of the Minnehaha National Bank. In politics, Mr. Peck gives an unfaltering allegiance to the Republican party, in whose cause he takes an active interest. Fraternally, he is identified with the various bodies of York-Rite Masonry in Sioux Falls, and has also attained the thirty- second degree in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, being a member of Oriental Con- sistory, No. I. He is identified with the Loyal Legion in St. Paul, Minnesota, and of Jo Hooker Post, No. 10, Grand Army of the Re- public, of which he has been commander for three years.

On the 30th of March, 1866, Mr. Peck was united in marriage to Miss Alice G. Caskey, of Farmington, Minnesota, and she passed away on the 18th of November. 1875. being survived by three children, Ella M., who is now the wife of Frank B. Snook, of Mankato, Minnesota; Florence L., who remains at the parental home, and Porter C., who is a resident of Minneapolis. Minnesota. On the 12th of July, 1877, Mr. Peck was married to Miss Catherine W. Corune, of

Linn, Wisconsin, and they have two sons, Harry C., who resides in Moline, Illinois, and Clifford H., who is a student in the historic old Phillips Academy, at Exeter, New Hampshire.

EDGAR S. KNOWLES, senior member of the firm of Morcom & Knowles, numbered among the leading fire insurance underwriters of the state, with headquarters in Sioux Falls, is a native of the old Empire state of the Union, hav- ing been born on a farm near Riga, Monroe county, New York, on the 24th of February, 1861, a son of James P. and Cornelia L. (Har- mon) Knowles, both of whom were likewise born in that state, where the former has followed agricultural pursuits as a permanent vocation. The subject completed the curriculum of the pub- lic schools and thereafter continued his studies in the Rochester Academy, at Rochester, New York. In 1878 he removed to Illinois, and he there en- tered the Danville high school, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1881. On the 14th of April of the following year Mr. Knowles arrived in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. and here engaged in the grocery business, under the firm name of Mighton & Knowles. In 1884 he was in the employ of the Insurance Company of Dakota, while in the following year he repre- sented in this section the interests of the Luverne Granite Company, of Luverne, Minnesota. There- after he was identified with the clothing business in Sioux Falls until December, 1894, when he engaged in the fire-insurance business, as a mem- ber of the firm of Knowles & Carpenter, this as- sociation continuing until December, 1896, when our subject entered into partnership with Edmund D. Morcom, in the same line of enterprise, under the title of Morcom & Knowles, having gained a representative clientele and acting as underwriters for a number of the leading insurance companies offering fire indemnity. In politics Mr. Knowles has ever given an unqualified support to the Re- publican party, and fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order, in which he has taken the Knights Templar degrees, being a member of Cyrene Commandery, No. 2, of Sioux Falls, and

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Yankton Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scot- tish Rite, while he is also affiliated with El Riad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He has been incumbent of the office of recorder of his commandery since 1890, and is distinctively popular in fraternal, business and social circles.

On the 15th of January, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Knowles to Miss May L. Davis, daughter of Park Davis, a representative member of the bar of Sioux Falls, whither he came from Vermont, where Mrs. Knowles was born. Mr. and Mrs. Knowles have two children, Helen D., who was born on the 7th of February, 1899, and Alice M., who was born on the 28th of October, 1901.

ARNE ZETLITZ, M. D., was born in Stav- anger, Norway, on the 16th of June, 1864, being a son of Henrik O. and Bolette (Jaeger) Zetlitz, representatives of sterling old Norseland stock and known as persons of worth and integrity. He was graduated in the high school of his native city, his father having there been engaged in the banking business, and later he was favored in be- ing able to prosecute his studies for two years in an excellent school in Germany. He then re- turned to his native land, where he studied phar- macy for two years, this work undoubtedly lead- ing him to eventually adopt the allied profession of medicine. In 1886 the Doctor severed the ties which bound him to home and fatherland and set forth for America, landing in New York city in July of that year and thence making his way westward to Lyon county, Minnesota, where he resided until 1887, when he went to Toledo, Ohio, where he was matriculated in the Toledo Medical College, in which he was graduated in March, 1891, having completed a thorough tech- nical course and coming forth well equipped for the active work of his profession, the degree of Doctor of Medicine having been conferred upon him at the time of his graduation. His standing in the college was such that his services were en- listed as instructor in nervous diseases in the institution until 1894, in January of which year

he came to Sioux Falls and established himself in the general practice of his profession. Through his high ability and his singleness of devotion to his profession he soon gained precedence, and he now controls a large and representative practice and is one of the most prominent physicians of the city. He served for three years as county physician, but has never desired official prefer- ment aside from his profession. The Doctor is a member of the State Medical Society, is a close student and keeps fully abreast of the advances made in the various departments of the medical and surgical science. He was one of the principal promoters of the building and equipment of the Sioux Falls Hospital, which has proved of in- estimable value, and it is largely through his efforts that the institution has been maintained at so high a standard. He was also the one prin- cipally concerned in the organization of the Sioux Falls Training School for Nurses, in whose wel- fare he has taken a deep and lively interest. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party ; fraternally he is identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks. For a num- ber of years past the Doctor has been extensively engaged in the raising of live stock, devoting special attention to the breeding of high-grade shorthorn cattle, and he is the owner of a fine stock farm of three hundred and twenty acres, eligibly located seven miles east of Sioux Falls.

On the 20th of January, 1895. Dr. Zetlitz was united in marriage to Miss Pauline Dahl, of Lyon county, Minnesota. She was born in Dane county, Wisconsin, and is a daughter of N. T. and Tori Dahl, who are now resflents of Min- neota, Minnesota. Dr. and Mrs. Zetlitz have two children, Hazel B. and T. Caroline D.

DOWNER T. BRAMBLE was born on a farm near the city of Montpelier, Vermont, on the 28th of February, 1831, and was a son of Charles and Matilda L. Bramble, both of whom were likewise born and reared in the old Green Mountain state, where they passed their entire lives, his father having been a farmer by voca-

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tion. The Bramble family is of English extrac- tion and was established in New England in the early colonial epoch, while representatives of the name were found valiantly fighting in the cause of independence during the war of the Revolution. The subject received a common- school education, attending the schools of his native county until he had attained the age of seventeen years, and in the meanwhile assisting in the work of the home farm. At the age of seventeen Mr. Bramble left the home roof and went to Nashville, Tennessee, where he became associated with his older brothers, George and Gilman, in the drug business, being thus engaged about three years, within which period the memorable cholera scourge swept the country. At this time he went to Memphis, that state, and there opened a branch store, in company with his brother Gilman F. In later years he often recalled the horrors of the cholera epidemic. What was known as the dead wagon would pass through the streets at frequent intervals, and the driver would call in loud tones, "Bring out your dead," the deaths being so numerous that no ceremony could be observed. Men would come into Mr. Bramble's store and beg piteously for something to ease their agony, and not a few fell dead on the floor. Mr. Bramble remained in Memphis two years and thence removed to Ponce, Nebraska, where he engaged in the gen- eral merchandise business. While there he mar- ried, his wife dying only six months later. About 1856 Mr. Bramble loaded a wagon with goods suitable for trading with the Indians, and started for Yankton in what is now the state of South Dakota. He was a man of kind and genial nature, and he won the firm friendship of the Indians, who always called him the "big trader." He came to the site of the present city of Yank- ton in 1858, there being but one white man living there at the time. He was successful in his transactions with the Indians, and made many trips back to Sioux City for goods, utilizing an ox-team and usually walking the greater portion of the distance. On the third trip he had ac- cumulated sufficient money to enable him to pur- chase some lumber, with which he built his

house, which was the first frame building erected in Yankton, while it was also utilized as a store, being the first mercantile establishment in Yank- ton. It may be said that this lumber was green cottonwood, and by the time he had transported the same to its destination it had become so warped that strenuous exertions were necessary to sufficiently untwist it for the purpose of erect- ing the building. It is worthy of historical note that this fine building was erected on the river front on First street, between Douglas and Wal- nut streets, of the present city. About 1861 Mr. Bramble erected a more substantial building, one and one-half stories in height, and in the same he continued to conduct a general store almost a quarter of a century. The devastation worked by the flood of 1881 caused him to fail in busi- ness, and he closed up the enterprise in the fol- lowing year, much to the regret of his host of friends and acquaintances. During much of the time in the earlier portion of his business oper- ations in Yankton Mr. Bramble ran a large trans- portation train, in which enterprise he was as- sociated with Captain Veigh and Commodore Coleson as the Northwestern Transportation Com- pany, transporting freight and passengers from eastern points to Yankton and he continuing to the Black Hills district and other points. He had a large warehouse in Yankton, and while General Custer was stationed in the locality a terrible snow storm swept this section, causing the entire military force to be snowbound, under which conditions the warehouse mentioned was opened for the accommodation of the horses. The next year, 1877, Mr. Bramble took a freight- ing outfit to Deadwood and other Black Hills points. He placed in operation the first steam ferry across the river from Yankton to the Ne- braska shore of the Missouri, erected the first steam flouring mill in Yankton, which building is still standing, and was ever found at the fore- front in promoting and aiding all enterprises for the general good and tending to forward the de- velopment and progress of the city and territory. For a number of years he maintained a branch store at Fort Pierre, the same being completely washed away in the flood of 1881. He was one

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

of the organizers of the First National Bank of Yankton, and was a member of its directorate. In politics he ever accorded an uncompromising allegiance to the Democratic party, but invariably refused to permit the consideration of his name in connection with candidacy for public office. 'In 1883 Mr. Bramble went to the city of Chicago, where he remained about one year, and he was then appointed, by President Cleveland, receiver of the land office at Watertown, in 1884, and he continued incumbent of this federal position until his death, which occurred on the 9th of October, 1887, as the result of cancer. He was greatly loved by all who knew him, and well exemplified in his character the truth of the statement that "the loving are the daring, the bravest are the tenderest." He was a charter member of St. John's Lodge, No. 1, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Yankton, with which he continued to be affiliated until his death, while he served as master of the same for a number of terms. He was a government trader with the Indians about six years, under Major Conger, having received this appointment from the national capital.

In February, 1861, while visiting in Con- necticut, Mr. Bramble consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Martha Perry, who was born and reared in that state and whose father was a clergyman of the Presby- terian church. She died about sixteen months after her marriage, shortly after giving birth to a daughter, Carrie, who was laid by her side soon afterward, having survived her by only three months, the two being interred in the first cemetery plot in Yankton, where also were laid to rest the remains of the husband and father, many years later.

On the 15th of January, 1866, Mr. Bramble was married to Miss Virginia L. VanDerhule, who survives him and who still resides in the pleasant home in Watertown. She was born in New York city and is a daughter of Jesse D. and Hannah (Woodward) VanDerhule, the former of whom was born in the state of New York, a scion of the stanch old Holland stock, while the latter was born in Vermont, being of English ex- traction, and who died when Virginia was a child

of five. They came to Yankton in 1865, making the change on account of the delicate health of Mr. VanDerhule, and here they passed the re- mainder of their lives, his death occurring March 26, 1871. In Yankton Mrs. Bramble began teach- ing when but thirteen years of age, and in order to give evidence of the consistent pedagogic dig- nity she donned "long dresses" at this time. She has the distinction of having been the first woman teacher in the territory of Dakota, and the build- ing in which she held her school was a primitive log structure, equipped with cottonwood benches, and the same was located on what is now Walnut street, below Second street. She taught for five months and had enrolled sixty-seven pupils, vary- ing in age from six to twenty-three years. She had met Mr. Bramble in her eastern home, and their acquaintance ripened into love after she had come to the west, while their married life was one of signal mutual devotion and ideal harmony. They became the parents of two children. Harry J., who enlisted in Company H, Thirty-first Mich- igan Volunteer Infantry, at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, was in active service in Cuba, and after being mustered out he re-enlisted, becoming a member of Company H, Forty-second United States Volunteers, with which he contin- ued in service in the Philippines until the regi- ment was mustered out, in the city of Manila, in the spring of 1901. He was then given a position in the government commissary in that city, where he still remains. Frank L., the younger son, mar- ried Miss Dana Lewis, who was born and reared in Michigan and who was a teacher in the Water- town schools for four years prior to marriage. Frank L. received his education in Yankton, and was employed in the postoffice at Watertown for six years, while he served two terms as county auditor. He is at the present time deputy bank examiner for South Dakota, his duties demanding his entire attention. He is identified with St. John's Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, of which he is treasurer at the time of this writing ; and he is secretary of the lodge of Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Reverting to the honored subject of this memoir, it should be noted that he materially

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assisted in securing the establishing of the first school in Yankton and in the organization of the first church, while Mrs. Bramble was equally prominent in forwarding these enterprises, having been a member of the organization of ladies who raised the money with which to erect the first school building, while she was especially prom- inent in organizing the first church, now that of the parish of Christ church, Protestant Episco- pal. She has long been a communicant of the church and has been active in the various depart- ments of parish work. Mrs. Bramble is an artist of ability, having been a teacher of painting as well as having produced several works that have received attention wherever exhibited, including the World's Fair in Chicago.

For twenty-five years Mrs. Bramble has been greatly handicapped, having been crippled as the result of a runaway and which has necessitated the use of a crutch. Though under the serious disadvantage she has nobly done her duty to her family and friends.

ARTHUR CALVIN MELLETTE, tenth and last governor of Dakota territory, and first governor of the state of South Dakota, was born in Henry county, Indiana, in 1842. He was of French Huguenot stock. He graduated from Bloomington University in 1863 and at once pro- ceeded to a recruiting camp to enlist, but while waiting in the camp he learned that an elder in- valid brother had been drafted. He at once pro- ceeded to the provost marshal's office and offered himself as a substitute for his brother and served to the end of the war in the Ninth Indiana as a conscript's substitute. After the war he studied law and engaged in practice. He was also pub- lisher of the Muncie Times. He served in the In- diana legislature and was the author of Indiana's efficient school law. He came to Dakota in 1878 and served as register of the Springfield land office, which in 1880 was removed to Water- town. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1883 and in 1885 was elected gov- ernor under the constitution of that year. He devoted himself to the cause of the division of

Dakota territory, being profoundly convinced that it would be a crime against future genera- tions to allow the territory to be admitted as a single state. He was in prosperous circum- stances and spent large sums of money to further this cause, defraying much the larger portion of the expense incident to the campaign which was protracted over many years. Among the first acts of President Harrison was the appointment of Mr. Mellette to be the governor of Dakota ter- ritory. That season of 1889 he was elected first governor of South Dakota and was re-elected in 1890. After his retirement from office, Janu- ary 1, 1893, he was afflicted with Bright's disease and his death resulted May 25, 1895.

THOMAS H. PRITCHARD, proprietor of the Watertown Marble and Granite Works, is a native of Wales, having been born on the 31st of July, 1857, and being a son of Hugh and Ellen (Barnette) Pritchard, the former of whom was born in Wales and the latter in France. The fa- ther of the subject was a farmer by vocation and both he and his wife continued to reside in Wales until their death.

The subject secured his educational training in the excellent schools of his native land, and after leaving school, in 1872, he came to the United States, locating in the state of Wisconsin, where he was variously employed for the first two years, at the expiration of which, in 1874, he entered upon an apprenticeship at the trade of marble cutting, in Evansville, Wisconsin, while he was thereafter employed at his trade in that town and also in the city of Chicago. In 1877 he engaged in the marble business in Evansville, on his own responsibility, and there continued operations in the line until 1882, when he disposed of the business and came to Watertown, South Dakota, arriving in the spring of that year and establishing the first marble and granite shop in the town, and one of the first in the state, it be- ing now the oldest in the state. He began busi- ness upon a modest scale, but by perseverance, en- ergy and good management, as combined with his distinctive skill in the work of his trade, he has

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built up a large and flourishing business, securing his patronage from a wide radius of territory, while his well equipped establishment is located on the corner of Dakota avenue and Elm street. He keeps a corps of experienced workmen em- ployed throughout the year, and the work turned out is of the highest grade of excellence, the busi- ness reputation of our subject being unassailable. He ships work into the most diverse sections of North and South Dakota, as well as into Minne- sota and Iowa, and his business is constantly ex- panding in scope and importance. It should be noted that Mr. Pritchard is one of the pioneers of the state, since he came here as early as 1878 and took up government land in Codington county, eventually perfecting his title to the same and passing a considerable portion of his time here prior to taking up his permanent residence in Watertown, in 1882. In politics he is arrayed as a supporter of the Republican party, and both he and his wife are members of the Episcopal church. Fraternally he is a member of the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has passed the various official chairs in his lodge, while he was a delegate to the grand lodge of the state in 1902 and 1903, and he is also affiliated · with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Modern Woodmen of America.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 136

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