History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 138

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 138

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Oren Strevel was reared on the homestead farm, near Port Huron, and received his edu- cational training in the public schools. He there- after continued to be associated in the manage- ment of the home farm until 1883, when he set forth to cast in his lot with the people of South Dakota. He at once located in Faulk county, which was organized in that year, taking up a homestead claim six and one-half miles southeast of Faulkton, the present county seat, and at once initiating the work of reclaiming and otherwise improving his property, to which he has since added until he has a valuable ranch of three hun- dred and twenty acres, in addition to which he controls about fifteen hundred acres of leased land, which he uses principally for grazing pur-

poses. He gives his attention to diversified agri- culture and to the raising of high-grade stock, specially the Durham type of cattle, while he has still farther shown his energy and progressive ideas by engaging in the dairying business, con- ducting operations on a small scale and having made the venture a most profitable one. His ranch has substantial buildings, and the place is one of the many fine ones which have been de- veloped in this section of the state within the past twenty years. Mr. Strevel is a man of ster- ling characteristics and commands unqualified es- teem in the community. His political proclivities are indicated in the stanch support which he ac- cords to the Democratic party, and he ever mani- fests a deep interest in all that concerns the prog- ress and material prosperity of his county and state. At the time of the Spanish-American war our subject showed the intrinsic loyalty and patri- otism of his nature by enlisting, in May. 1898, as a member of Troop E. First South Dakota Cavalry, under Captain Binder, and proceeded with his command to Chickamauga, Georgia, where the regiment remained in reserve, awaiting a call to active service. The signal victory gained by the American forces in Cuba, however, ren- dered it unnecessary to call his regiment to the scene of action, and Mr. Strevel was mustered out, with the remainder of his regiment, in Octo- ber, 1898, receiving his honorable discharge at Chickamauga and then returning to his home.

THOMAS C. HANSEN, a prosperous and progressive farmer and stock grower of Brule county, was born in the province of Schleswig, Germany, on the 12th of November, 1842, and was there reared and educated, being there identi- fied with agricultural pursuits until he was twen- ty-five years of age, when he bade adieu to home and native land and set forth to seek his fortunes in America. Upon arriving in the new world he made his way westward to Iowa, settling in Scott county, where he continued to be engaged in farm- ing about eighteen years, gradually rising on the ladder of success and making his way to a posi- tion of independence. In the early seventies he

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was there united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Willrodt, a sister of L. H. Willrodt, who is now a prominent citizen of this county, being individ- ually mentioned on another page of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen have two children, Adolph, who is a resident of Lyon county, Iowa, and Annie, who is the wife of Jacob Jurgensen, a suc- cessful farmer of Brule county, South Dakota.

In 1883 Mr. Hansen came to Brule county, Dakota, where he purchased a relinquishment claim of one hundred and sixty acres of his brother, later purchasing a timber claim, while by subsequent purchases he had added to the area of his holdings until he is now the owner of eight hundred acres of fine land, of which about three hundred acres are maintained under effective cul- tivation, while the remainder of the land is used principally for pasturage, since Mr. Hansen is a successful raiser of cattle, horses and hogs, giv- ing a careful supervision to all details of his busi- ness and being one of the substantial farmers of the county. He has made the best of improve- ments on his place, including a commodious and supbstantial residence, which is surrounded by a fine grove of trees, which were planted by himself. In politics he is a Democrat and in religion a free thinker.

JOHN BARRON, one of the prosperous and highly honored young farmers and stock raisers of Moody county, comes of a long and sterling line of Scottish forbears, and is himself a native of Banffshire, Scotland, where he was born on the 26th of May, 1869, being a son of John and Elizabeth (Johnston) Barron, who were born and reared in the same county of the fair land of hills and heather, the father of our subject having been there engaged in farming and the raising of fine horses for many years, and having gained a high reputation in connection with the latter feature of his enterprise, as did he later in America. In 1880 John Barron, Sr., immigrated with his family to the United States, and in Oc- tober of that year the family took up their residence in Moody county, South Dakota, be- coming pioneers of this section of the state. The

father bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Ward township, Moody county, and later added to the same until the landed estate comprised one thousand seven hundred and sixty acres of the best land in the district, while the old homestead, or the home farm, which con- sists of six hundred and forty acres, still remains in the possession of John Barron, the rest being divided among the other members of the family. The father made a specialty of raising fine draft and coach horses, while he imported a number of splendid Clydesdale horses from Scotland, thus breeding from pure-blooded stock. He also raised and dealt in cattle and swine, having the shorthorn type of cattle and giving prefer- ence to the Poland-China hogs. It may be said that each department of the farm enterprise as established by him is being successfully carried forward under the capable direction of his son, our subject. John Barron, Sr., was a man of broad and liberal ideas, unbending in the recti- tude of his character, endowed with distinctive business sagacity, and held in unqualified con- fidence by all who knew him. He was a Demo- crat in his political proclivities, and served for several terms as supervisor of his township and also as a member of the school board of the dis- trict. He was summoned to his reward on the 30th of July, 1903, at the age of seventy-six years. passing away in the fullness of years and well-earned honors, while his death was held as a personal bereavement to the people of the community in which he had so long maintained his home. He was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, as is also his widow, who still resides on the old homestead, which is hal- lowed to her by the memories and associations of the past. The children, in order of birth, are as follows: Georgia, Caroline, John, Alexander J., William J. and George E. The home is eligibly located about ten miles northeast of the town of Flandreau, the county seat, and three miles southwest of Ward, the postoffice village of the locality.

The subject of this sketch was a lad of about ten years at the time of the family im- migration to America, and he was reared to man-

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hood on the farm which is now his home, while he completed his educational discipline in the schools of this county, finishing in Sioux Falls Business College, and thereafter he was closely associated with his father in the work and man- agement of the farm until the death of the latter, since which time the supervision of the home- stead has devolved largely upon him, while he has gained a high reputation as a reliable and honorable business man and as a progressive and public-spirited. citizen. In politics he clings to the faith in which he was reared, and is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party, while both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church.

On the 15th of January, 1891, Mr. Barron was united in marriage to Miss Maud Estella Peart, who was born in Illinois and reared in South Dakota, being a daughter of Thomas Peart, a retired farmer of Moody county and now residing in Flandreau. Fraternally, Mr. Bar- ron is a member of Flandreau Lodge, No. II, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Orient Chapter, No. 19, Royal Arch Masons; Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 13, Knights Templar; El Riad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Sioux Falls; and of Oriental Consistory, No. I, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Yankton. Mrs. Barron is a member of Buelah Chapter, Order Eastern Star, at Flandreau, and of Sioux Valley Rebekah Lodge, No. 66, also at Flandreau. Among some old relics in the possession of the subject are some old pieces of linen which were woven by his great-grandmother.

GEORGE A. HAND, secretary of Dakota territory and acting governor from the illness of Governor Howard until the appointment of his successor, a period of almost one year, was born at Akron, Ohio, on the 9th of August, 1837. He was a lawyer and served in the Civil war as a member of the Chicago Board of Trade Battery. He came to Dakota and settled at Yankton in 1865 and was two years later appointed United States attorney. Later he was register of the

land office and in 1874 was made secretary of the territory, a position he filled for eight years. After closing his official career he became the counsel for the Northwestern Railway for Da- kota and served until his death, which occurred while attending a session of the legislature at Pierre on March 10, 1891.

DAMOSE RAYMOND, one of the substan- tial and prosperous farmers and stock growers of Charles Mix county, comes of stanch French lin- eage, and is a native of St. Michel, Canada, where he was born in the year 1857, his parents having passed their entire lives in the dominion. He secured a common-school education and early became dependent upon his own resources, having been engaged in various lines of work in Canada until he had attained the age of sixteen years, when he went to the northern part of the state of Michigan, where he remained four years as a workman in the great pineries, in connection with the lumbering operations of a large concern. He then returned to Canada and located in St. Phil- ippe, where he conducted a meat market for the ensuing five years, at the expiration of which he again came to "the states," taking up his abode in Fremont, Nebraska,, where he rented a farm of one hundred and fifty-seven acres, to whose cultivation he continued to devote his attention for three years, when he came to South Dakota and took up a homestead claim in Jackson town- ship, Charles Mix county, the same being an in- tegral portion of his present finely improved ranch. He began life here in the primitive pioneer style, his first dwelling being a rude sod house, which in time gave place to his present comfort- able and commodious frame residence, while he has made other well ordered improvements on the place. The major part of the place is under a high state of cultivation, while the balance is de- voted principally to grazing purposes and to the raising of hay for his stock. He gives special attention to the raising of red polled cattle of high grade, and also keeps a good herd of Poland China hogs. In politics he maintains an indepen- dent attitude. and both he and his wife are com-

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municants of the Catholic church, in whose faith he was reared.

In the year 1877 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Raymond to Miss Olivine Brindamour, who was born in 1862 in St. Philippe, and of this union were born the following children : Millen, Mary, Rosa, William, Casimir, Damase, Joseph- ine. Victoria and Florence. Mrs. Olivine Ray- mond died in 1899 and in 1900 the subject mar- ried Miss Zelia Cote.

GUSTAVUS R. KRAUSE, who is engaged in the practice of his profession in the city of Dell Rapids, Minnehaha county, is known as one of the successful and representative members of the South Dakota bar. He is a native of the Badger state, having been born in Dodge county, Wisconsin, on the 9th of February, 1859. and being a son of Godfrey H. and Amelia (Schmidt) Krause, who were born in Germany, and who carly located in Wisconsin, where the father de- voted his life to farming. The subject received his preliminary discipline in a German private school in his native county, and thereafter was for two years a student in the Baptist college at Monee, Illinois, being there graduated as a mem- ber of the class of 1873, in which year his parents removed to Columbus, Nebraska, where he con- tinued his studies for a time in the public high school, later entering a business college in the city of Burlington, Iowa, where he was graduated in 1878, after which he returned to his home in Co- lumbus. Nebraska, in which town he eventually engaged in the mercantile business, in which he continued for a period of several years. In 1889 he disposed of his interests there and came to South Dakota, locating in Dell Rapids, where he engaged in the real-estate and loan business, and later took up the study of law under excellent preceptorship, and he was admitted to the bar of the state upon examination before the supreme court during the October session of 1897. After his admission to the bar Mr. Krause at once es- tablished himself in practice in Dell Rapids, and here, through his ability, devotion to his profes- sion and unflagging energy and application, he

has succeeded in attaining high prestige at the bar of the county and controls a large and impor- tant business. Though he has never been ambi- tious for personal preferment in an official way Mr. Krause has long been an active and loyal worker in the ranks of the Republican party, of whose principles and policies he is an able advo- cate, while fraternally he is identified with the Ivanhoe Lodge, Knights of Pythias, and is an ac- tive member of the Presbyterian church in his home town, where he is held in high regard as a lawyer and citizen. Since coming to the state Mr. Krause has accumulated here several pieces of valuable land, besides a fine home and valuable business property. He has won success through his own efforts, having been dependent upon his own resources since he attained the age of fifteen years.

On the 8th of October, 1881. Mr. Krause was united in marriage to Miss Delia P. Christison, of Trempealeau county, Wisconsin, daughter of Rev. Dr. Christison. They are the parents of two sons, Homer G. and Claude G., both bright young men now away from home receiving a college education.

WILMOT W. BROOKINGS, born Wool- wich, Lincoln county, Maine, 1833. Came to Da- kota. 1857. among first to settle at Sioux Falls. Several times member of Dakota legislature, as- sociate justice supreme court of Dakota, 1869- 1873. Graduate Bowdoin College. Built South- ern Dakota Railway, Sioux City to Yankton, 1872. first railway in territory. Now resides in Boston.

EDWIN S. JOHNSON, who, in connection with banking and real-estate operations has, with: his brothers, attained distinctive precedence and a high degree of success, being a resident of the attractive town of Armour, was born on a farm near Spencer, Owen county, Indiana, on the 26th of February, 1857. a son of Allison C. and Emily ( Brenton) Johnson, of whose ten children six are living at the present time, namely: Eudora, who

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is the wife of Byron Allen, of Sioux City, Iowa : Edwin S., who is the immediate subject of this sketch ; Homer W., who is intimately associated with the subject in business and who is individ- ually mentioned on other pages of this work : Belle J., who is the wife of W. W. Sparks, of Sioux City, Iowa ; Frank H., who resides in Geddes. South Dakota, being likewise associated in busi- ness with the subject; and Cornelia, who is the wife of Dr. P. E. Sawyer, of Sioux City, Iowa. The father of these children was a representative of an old Virginia family, whence his parents re- moved to the state of Indiana in the pioneer epoch, and there he was born in the year 1827, being reared on a farm and securing such edu- cational advantages as were afforded in the pio- neer community. His wife was born in Indiana, in the year 1832, and after their marriage he con- tinued to be identified with agricultural pursuits in his native state until 1857, when he removed with his wife and two children to Iowa, which was then considered in the far west and on the frontier of civilization, the subiect of this sketch being an infant of three months at the time, while the trip was made overland in a covered wagon. The family located in Osceola, where the father turned his attention to mercantile pursuits and also became concerned in real-estate operations, and continued his residence there until 1886, when he came to South Dakota and joined his sons in Armour, where he passed the residue of his long and useful life, his death occurring on the 5th of January, 1899. For ten years prior to his demise he was afflicted with blindness, but he bore this af- fliction with resignation and was always cheer- ful and kindly, his having been the faith that makes faithful. His cherished and devoted wife was summoned into eternal rest in December. 1895. at the age of sixty-three years, both having been active and zealous members of the Metho- dist Protestant church, in whose work he took a prominent part during the years of his active life, having been for eighteen consecutive years super- intendent of the Sunday school of the church at Osceola, Iowa, while he exemplified his Chris- tian faith in his daily walk and conversation. In politics he was originally an adherent of the Whig

party but upon the organization of the Republi- can party he identified himself therewith and ever afterward supported its cause. He served as reg- ister of deeds in Clarke county, Iowa, and also was incumbent of other offices of trust and respon- sibility. Fraternally he was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

In reviewing the career of Edwin S. Johnson, whose name initiates this sketch, we can not per- haps do better than to quote from an appreciative article which appeared in a recent issue of the Armour Herald, making such metaphrase as may seem expedient in the connection : "He grew to manhood in Iowa and under the influences of pio- neer hardships and vicissitudes incident to those early days he cultivated and expanded the indom- itable energy that has since made him the pos- sessor of honor and wealth. His education was limited to the public schools of Osceola, and having acquired all the knowledge possible to attain in a graded school he formed a partnership with his father in the clothing business, with which he continued to be identified for several years. In 1880 he went to Wheeler county, Ne- braska, becoming one of the pioneers of that section, establishing the county seat of Cedar City (now Harrington) on his claim. Shortly afterward he sold his in- terests s on the Nebraska frontier and . re- turned to Osceola, where he was employed for three years in the Osceola Bank. In 1884 he vis- ited his brother Homer, who was then in Sioux Falls, Dakota, and together they came to Douglas county in that year and established the present Citizens' Bank at Grand View. The firm has al- ways prospered, and though starting in life with- out a cent other than that acquired through their own hard labors, their parents being in moderate circumstances, they are today rated among the leading capitalists of the state.

"The subject of this sketch has always been a force in politics, and in 1892 he was electedt state's attorney for Douglas county, having at- tained sufficient knowledge of the law to be ad- mitted to the bar, in Armour, in 1888. To the practice of the law. however, Mr. Johnson never gave many years of his time. In 1894. he was

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honored by his party with the nomination and clection to the state senate, but in the upheaval of party sentiment in 1896 and the radical change of front by the Republican party on many ques- tions, he severed party ties and voiced his con- victions by voting and working for the success of William J. Bryan for president. Since that time he has been a Democrat, and his many friends throughout the state have frequently mentioned his name in connection with candidacy for the United States senate."

In company with his brother Homer W., the subject of this review organized the Johnson Brothers Company, the same being incorporated under the laws of the state and capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, and in 1886 the headquarters of the company were removed from Grand View to Armour, with whose advancement and substantial upbuilding the brothers have been most prominently identified. Of the company mentioned the subject of this sketch has been president from the time of its organization, and its operations have been of wide scope and im- portance as land and loan brokers, their real- estate interests being of most extensive order, while the operations of the company extend throughout the state of South Dakota and also into Minnesota and Iowa. The company pur- chased the first lot in Armour after the town was platted. J. C. Lawler, of Mitchell, having been the owner of the town site. In 1893 the company purchased Mr. Lawler's interests here for ten thousand dollars, shortly afterward selling an un- divided half interest to C. E. Foote. Shortly after coming to Armour the brothers organized the Citizens' State Bank, which has become one of the leading financial institutions in this section, and of the same our subject continued as cashier until 1902, when he and his brother disposed of their interests in the same, as also in the banking houses which they had established at Geddes, this state, and at Horning, Iowa, and they are now devoting their entire attention to their real- estate and loan business, which is one of the most important in the state.

ized record of his career here entered, and while he has attained marked success and prestige he is unassuming in all the relations of life, genial and kindly in his intercourse with his fellow men. He was chairman of the Democratic state central committee, from June, 1902, until the state con- vention at Sioux Falls in March, 1964, when he tendered his resignation and was elected a mem- ber of the national committee for South Dakota. He was married October 1, 1884, to Miss Anna Thoreau, at Osceola, Iowa, and they have five children living. The subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Protestant church.

LEWIS A. FOX, editor and proprietor of the Tripp Ledger, was born in Faribault county, Minnesota, August 30, 1874, a son of Cyrus A. B. and Sarah H. (Alvey) Fox, of whose seven children five are living, namely: Estella, wife of M. H. Skiff, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; John C .; Lewis, the subject of this sketch ; Don- ald H., a resident of Madison, this state, and employed as express messenger on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad; and C. Roy, a clerk in the postoffice at Sioux Falls. The father of the subject was born in Washington county. Missouri, in 1846, and soon after his ad- vent in the world his parents removed to Stark county, Illinois, where he was reared and edu- cated. In 1862, when but fifteen years of age, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in the capacity of fifer, and he continued in active service for nearly three years, being mustered out in June, 1864, a youth- ful veteran of the greatest civil war known in the annals of history. He returned to Illinois, where he learned the trade of carpenter, also teaching school for a time. In 1870 he removed to Faribault county. Minnesota, where he was for a number of years in the employ of the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad in the ca- pacity of bridge builder. In 1880, while en- gaged in the work noted, he received a severe injury as the result of an accident, and he then resigned his position and finally entered the em-

Edwin S. Johnson is a man of strong indi- viduality, as may be inferred from the epitom- , ploy of the Hodge & Hyde Elevator Company,

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having charge of thie erection of their elevators along the line of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad from La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Woonsocket, South Dakota, and also between Madison and Bristol, this state. He remained with this concern until 1889, when he was com- pelled to resign on account of impaired health, and since that time he has followed various vo- cations, he and his wife being now residents of Sioux Falls. He is a prominent and popular comrade in the Grand Army of the Republic, and always attends the national encampments of the same, taking with him on these occasions his or- ganization known as Fox's Martial Band, of which he is commander. He is familiarly known by all his comrades and friends as "Colonel" Fox.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 138

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