History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 140

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 998

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hogany Camp, No. 849, Modern Woodmen of America, at Delaware, that state.

In June, 1890, Judge Long was united in marriage to Miss Caroline B. Carpenter, of Earl- ville, Iowa, and to this union have been born four children, namely : Wade, Ruby, Irving and Gert- rude. Judge and Mrs. Long are prominent in the social life of the community and their pleasant home is a center of gracious hospitality.

GEORGE D. ROCKWELL is the owner of fourteen hundred acres of valuable land in Moody county, and passes a portion of each year in the active supervision of the same, while he maintains his home in Rockwell, Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, which place was named in his honor, as he was one of the founders and builders of the town and is today one of its most promi- nent and influential pioneer citizens. He is a representative of stanch old colonial stock. in both the paternal and maternal lines, and is himself a native of the old Empire state of the Union, having been born in West Milton, Sara- toga county, New York, on the 6th of December, 1828, and being a son of David J. and Ruth (Keeler) Rockwell, both families being of Eng- lish Puritan descent. The original American ancestor in the agnatic line was John Rockwell, who was a resident of Stamford, Connecticut, in 1641, and on the maternal side the lineage is traced back to Ralph Keeler, whom the records show to have been a resident of Hartford. Con- necticut, in 1639. The father of the subject was born in Bethel, Fairfield county, that state, while his wife was a native of Saratoga county, New York, and they passed the greater portion of their lives in the state of New York, where Mr. Rockwell gained success in connection with the great basic industry of agriculture. He was a man of broad information and liberal views, and both he and his wife were zealous and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose work they were specially active for many years, the father having for a long period been a class leader in the church. He was originally a Democrat in politics, later espoused the cause

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of the Whig party, to which he gave allegiance until the organization of the Republican party, to whose cause he ever afterward gave his sup- port. He died in Akron, New York, in 1874, at the age of seventy-one years, and his devoted wife was summoned into eternal rest in 1842, at the age of thirty-six years. They became the parents of seven children, of whom three are living.

The subject of this sketch grew to maturity on the homestead farm, and received an academic education in his native state, while as a young man he was a successful teacher for several terms, and later found his services in requisition as a teacher in Rockwell, Iowa, working on the farm during the intervening summer months. He continued to reside in the state of New York until 1853, when he came to the west and located in Kane county, Illinois, where he be- came the owner of a good farm and wielded no slight influence in public affairs of a local na- ture, having been a member of the board of su- pervisors of the county for two years, prior to and during the war of the Rebellion. He identified himself with the Republican party at the time of its formation and continued to sup- port the same until within the last decade, having been during this interval an advocate of the cause of the Prohibition party and having con- sistently voted its ticket. He continued to re- side in Illinois until 1864, when he disposed of his interests there and removed to Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, being one of the early settlers in that section, and having been specially active in the work of securing the extension of the Iowa Central Railroad through the country, and in the upbuilding of the now thriving and attractive village of Rockwell, which was named in his honor and in recognition of his services in the connection noted, as well as in other lines of public enterprise and progressiveness. He was for many years actively identified with farming in Cerro Gordo county, where he still owns valu- able property in Rockwell. In 1877 Mr. Rock- well met with a seemingly slight accident, which finally necessitated the amputation of his left arm above the elbow. He received a slight

wound from a thorn, which penetrated his hand, and the resulting blood-poisoning rendered the operation necessary. In 1877 he engaged in the raising of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle, to which he devoted his attention for twelve years, carry- ing on an extensive business and meeting with marked success in the enterprise. In 1891 Mr. Rockwell made his first investment in lands in South Dakota, and he now owns fourteen hun- dred acres in Moody county, as previously stated. In the supervision of his interests here he passes about half of his time each year in the county, making his headquarters in Flandreau, the county seat. All of his land is under cultivation, and yields good returns. He rents about one- half of the land, while the remainder is cultivated under his direction, by hired workmen. In 1903 eight hundred acres of crops on his land here were destroyed by hail. In addition to his own properties, he also has charge of a ranch of three hundred and thirty acres, in this county, which is owned by his son-in-law, William F. Mc- Clelland. Mr. Rockwell is a man of most cor- rect and abstemious habits, and is hale and vig- orous in mind and body. though he is now near- ing the age of four score years. He has never used tobacco or intoxicating liquors in any form, and is specially active as a temperance worker. He and his wife are prominent and valued mem- bers of the Congregational church at Rockwell, Iowa, and he has been a deacon in the same for the past twenty years.

On the 31st of August, 1853, in Newstead, Erie county, New York, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Rockwell to Miss Elizabeth P. Jackson, who was born and reared in that state, being a daughter of William and Mary Ann (Havens) Jackson, the former of whom was a tanner and currier by vocation, while he was also a successful farmer, both he and his wife passing their lives in New York state. Of the children of the subject and his estimable wife we are able to enter the following brief informa- tion : Mary E. is the wife of John A. Felthouse, who is president of the Minnesota Farm Land Company, of St. Paul; Julia R. became the wife of Albert A. Moore, who is now a grain dealer

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at Hampton, Iowa, where she died on the 14th of September, 1888; Grace is the wife of Wil- liam F. McClelland, who is a prominent business man of Rockwell, Iowa.

HOMER W. JOHNSON .- On other pages of this publication appears a sketch of the career of Hon. Edwin S. Jolinson, brother of the sub- ject and his associate in business, and in the con- nection is given an adequate outline of the family history, so that a recapitulation at this point is not demanded. Hon. Homer W. Johnson, present state senator of South Dakota from the eighth senatorial district, and secretary and treasurer of the Johnson Brothers Company, one of the most extensive real-estate and loan concerns in the state. is one of the leading citizens of Douglas county, maintaining his residence and business headquarters in the thriving town of Armour, of which he is one of the founders and builders. Mr. Johnson is a native of the state of Iowa, having been born in Osceola, Clarke county, on the 16th of March. 1859. Of the early steps in his career, as well as of his later life, an outline has been given in an edition of the Armour Herald, and to the same we have recourse at this juncture : "A common-school education in the educational institution of his home town was all that young Johnson was able to obtain, and in 1877. at the age of eighteen years, he took the position of deputy recorder of deeds, his father at that time heing the recorder of Clarke county. He filled this position four years and thus obtained a thor- ough knowledge of and insight into all matters pertaining to conveyancing papers and abstract work, and of late years he has turned this knowl- edge to wonderful account as a money-producing agency. After leaving the recorder's office Mr. Johnson went to Corning, Iowa, where he secured a position in the Sigler Bank, having charge of the land-mortgage department of the business for three years, at the expiration of which he removed to Council Bluffs, where he became land exam- iner for the firm of Burnham, Tulleys & Com- pany. At the end of the first year he became a partner in the firm and removed to Sioux Falls,

Dakota, where he opened a branch office, in 1882, loans being made throughout southwestern Min- nesota, northwestern Iowa and southeastern Da- kota. This leads up to the formation of the part- nership with his brother Edwin S., in Douglas county, Dakota, and the establishment of their interests here. The subject became interested with his brother in the banking business and was president of the Citizens' State Bank of Armour, from the time of its organization until June, 1903. when he and his brother disposed of their interests in this institution, as well as of their banking in- terests in Geddes, this state, and Hornick, Iowa, the demands of their extensive real-estate and loan business requiring their undivided attention.

"The subject of this sketch, like his brother Edwin, has always been a force in local politics and he was affiliated with the Republican party 11p to 1898, when he formally severed his connec- tion with the same, his convictions leading him to disapprove of the specific policies of the party. and in 1900 he was made the nominee of the Fu- sionists for state senator, carrying the district by more than one hundred majority, while the na- tional Republican ticket secured a majority of about two hundred. Thus was his personal pop- ularity attested by hundreds of citizens through- out the eighthi senatorial district, who, when the opportunity was thus offered. gave him their un- qualified support, as a testimonial of their confi- dence in his ability and strict integrity." In the election of November. 1902, Mr. Johnson was returned to the senate, by a majority of two hun- dred twenty-four, although the Republican state ticket carried his district by about five hundred majority, he having been the nominee of the Democratic party, to which he gives his alle- giance, being one of the important figures in its councils in this state and being known as a man of distinctive business ability and as one who gives to his constituency the best that is in his power to accord in their service. He is a mem- ber of a number of important committees in the senatorial body and is one of its most active and faithful working members, ever aiming to con- serve wise and effective legislation and to advance the interests of the state of which he is a pioneer

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and a most leal and loyal citizen. Of him and his brother it has been consistently said that they "are the same jolly, honorable, sociable fellows that they were when working for their daily bread at one dollar and fifty cents a day. The accumulation of wealth has made no change in1 them, and a pleasant word and cordial greeting are always received by their hundreds of per- sonal friends." The third member of the John- son Brothers Company is Frank H. Johnson, who is vice-president of the company and president of the Charles Mix County Bank, at Geddes. He was born in March, 1867, at Osceola, Iowa, and was married there to Miss Candus Folger. Four children have been born to them, all of whom are living. He is a man of sterling character and fine business qualifications, and is respected and honored by all who know him. He has been a resident of South Dakota for eighteen years.

JAMES P. WILSON, of Lead City, widely known in legal circles throughout the state of South Dakota, is descended from sturdy Scotch ancestry, the history of his family in the United States dating from about the year 1842. His father, James Wilson, a native of Dumfries, Scotland, was the son of James Wilson, who, in the above year. in company with a number of his friends and relatives, came to America and founded in Columbia county, Wisconsin, a pio- neer colony to which they gave the name of Caledonia. Among these settlers was one Peter Mckenzie, a representative of an old and promi- nent Scotch family who bore an active part in the affairs of the colony, and whose daughter, Isabella, subsequently became the wife of James Wilson and the mother of the subject of this review. The Wilsons were tillers of the soil and achieved success as such, quite a number of the family accumulating large estates, others mov- ing to different parts of the country and acquir- ing considerable prominence in their respective localities. The Mckenzies were mostly busi- ness men, the brothers of the above Peter having been noted in commercial and financial circles of Europe for many years as successful merchants

and bankers. One of the number, Kenneth Mc- Kenzie, who died in September, 1900, was the possessor of a princely fortune and the proprietor of a large wholesale establishment in London, with branch houses in Spain; James, another who died recently in Edinburg, Scotland, was for many years a leading banker of that city, also one of its wealthy and influential citizens; still another, William Mckenzie, who came to America with his brother Peter in 1842, was the pioneer stock and grain buyer of Wisconsin; like the others, he too accumulated a large fortune, and at this time is living a retired life in California, at the ripe old age of eighty-nine years.

James P. Wilson, the eldest child of James and Isabella Wilson, was born in Caledonia, Colum- bia county, Wisconsin, on the 23d day of Febru- ary, 1855. As a pupil in the public schools of his native place, he received his preliminary edu- cational training, and after completing the high- school course he entered the University of Wis- consin, where he prosecuted his studies for some years, with the object in view of preparing him- self for the law. Leaving the university, he be- gan his legal studies with T. L. Kennan, attorney for the Wisconsin Central Railroad and a lawyer of marked ability, under whose instruction he continued for some time, subsequently entering the office of J. H. Rogers, one of the leading menbers of the Columbia county bar. Mr. Wil- son was formally admitted to the bar in 1881, and immediately thereafter began the practice of his profession in Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he soon took high rank as a lawyer, building up a large and lucrative business, which, in addition to his duties as state's attorney, oc- cupied his attention until 1891. In August of that year Mr. Wilson came to South Dakota and located at Lead City, where he has since de- voted himself closely to his profession, rising the meanwhile to a conspicuous place among the leading lawyers of this part of the state, and achieving success second to that of none of his professional brethren of the Lawrence county bar. Since coming to South Dakota Mr. Wil- son has been identified with nearly every im-

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portant case tried in the courts of Lead, among the most noted of which was the great legal con- test involving the ownership of the town site, in which he appeared as attorney for the people versus the Homestake Mining Company. This celebrated case, which attracted wide attention and in which some of the most distinguished legal talent of the state appeared, was hotly contested and, after being in litigation for ten years, was finally decided in favor of the peo- ple. the victory being largely due to the untiring interest and resourceful management of Mr. Wilson, who, as leading counsel for the town site, left nothing undone to meet and successfully overcome the formidable opposition arranged against him. The prestige gained by reason of his victory in this long-protracted contest placed Mr. Wilson in the front rank of the state's suc- cessful lawyers, a reputation he still sustains. He is well grounded in the principles of his pro- fession, his ability in the preparation of his cases and in their presentation to the court being sec- ond to none, and as an advocate he ranks with the best, being a fluent, logical and eloquent speaker, seldom failing by this means to convince juries and win verdicts for his clients. In addi- tion to his large private practice, he has served five years as city attorney, and for several years he was a member of the local board of education, in which capacity he did much to bring the schools of Lead City up to the high standard of excellence for which they are noted.

Mr. Wilson, on the 15th day of June, 1881, was united in marriage with Miss Julia Frances Howe, of Poynette, Columbia county, Wiscon- sin, daughter of Hon. O. C. Howe, of that state, and a cousin of Hon. Timothy Howe, ex-United States senator and postmaster general in the cabinet of President Arthur. Besides himself and wife, Mr. Wilson's family circle includes two children, James H. and Oliver Chester, and his home is a favorite rendezvous for the best so- ciety people of Lead City. In politics he is a pronounced Republican, and while always tak- ing an active interest in campaigns and con- tributing not a little to the success of his party, he has never sought public honors or official posi-

tion. Fraternally, he is a member of the Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks, belonging to Lodge No. 747, in Lead, of which he is now exalted ruler.

DICK HANEY, judge of the supreme court, born at Lansing, Iowa, 1852. Educated at Iowa Wesleyan University and Iowa Law School. Judge of fourth circuit, 1889, supreme judge since 1896.

ELLEF SOLEM, one of the most successful and progressive farmers and stock raisers of Yankton county, was born in Norway in 1852 and there grew to manhood. The year 1874 witnessed his emigration to America and on land- ing in this country he came at once to South Da- kota, locating in Yankton county, where he was in the employ of others for about seven years. In 1880 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Anderson, a native of Denmark, and they now have one son, Albert, who was educated in the common schools of this locality and is now assist- ing his father in carrying on the home farm.

Mr. Solem secured a homestead of one hun- dred and sixty acres in Yankton county and he and his wife went to housekeeping in a sod house he erected thereon. It was later replaced by a small frame residence and in 1898 he built liis present comfortable home, which is complete in all its appointments. Mr. Solem was one of the first to take up land in his part of the county and in those early days he underwent many hardships and privations. His first crop of corn was en- tirely destroyed by the grasshoppers and he has met with other misfortunes, but notwithstanding these he has steadily prospered and is now quite well-to-do, owning three hundred and twenty acres. He has set out all the trees now seen upon the place and made many other improve- ments which add greatly to the value and attrac- tive appearance of the farm. In the operation of his land he uses the latest improved machinery and is a thoroughly up-to-date farmer. He has become interested in the dairy business and gives

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considerable attention to the raising of shorthorn cattle and a good grade of hogs, feeding all the products of his farm to his stock. He carries on his farm with the aid of hired help and raises from one hundred to one hundred and fifty tons of hay. He is a very hard working man and to his industry and excellent business ability is due his success in life.

Mr. Solem has never been an aspirant for pub- lic office, though he has filled some school offices, and he is independent in politics, voting for men and not for party. Religiously he is a member of the Lutheran church. He is now serving as treasurer of the Center Point creamery, also treasurer of Turkey Valley township, and is re- garded as one of the best and most reliable busi- ness men of his community.

JOHN H. GASKIN, proprietor of one of the largest mercantile establishments in Columbia, Brown county, is a native of Dane county, Wis- consin, and spent his early life on a farm in that state, receiving a fair intellectual discipline in the district schools and an academy, which he at- tended at intervals until a youth in his 'teens. In the fall of 1882 he came to South Dakota and since that time has been actively identified, being especially interested in the commercial advance- ment of the city and in its prosperity along gen- eral business lines. Having early manifested de- cided predilection for business pursuits, it was but natural that he should decide upon a career which would call into exercise the faculties of judgment, concentration and foresight with which nature so bountifully endowed him. On leaving school he turned his attention to mercan- tile life, and in due time was sufficiently expe- rienced to embark in business for himself, accord- ingly in 1882 he established the well-known house of which he has since been the head and which under his able and effective management has become one of the largest and most success- fully conducted establishments of the kind in Brown county. Mr. Gaskin carries a complete stock of general merchandise, including full lines of dry goods, clothing, hats, caps, gents'

furnishings, boots, shoes, hardware, provisions, groceries, in fact every article for which there is any demand, his stock representing a capital of from five to eight thousand dollars, and his sales averaging as high as thirty-five thousand dollars a year. In addition to the general goods business, he buys and ships all kinds of produce, which constitutes no small share of his trade, and his patronage, already extensive and far-reaching, is steadily growing. Mr. Gaskin is widely known throughout Brown and adjacent counties, and his honor and integrity have been such as gain him notable popularity and the universal esteem and confidence of his fellow men. He is a Democrat in politics, but not an active worker, and his fra- ternal relations are represented by the Masonic order, of which he has been an earnest and con- sistent member for a number of years.

Mr. Gaskin is essentially a man of the times and possesses in a marked degree the sterling qualities of head and heart that command respect and make him an influential factor in business circles and a power in the world of affairs gener- ally. Mr. Gaskin married, in the state of Wis- consin, Miss Louise J. Martin, and his home at this time is made bright by the presence of two children, a daughter by the name of Effie Jean and a son, Frank Jay.

HARRY A. SIMONS, owner of one of the leading hardware stores at Platte, is descended from a New York family, long identified with the west by early immigration. His father, Calvart Simons, left his native state when a young man, settled in Wisconsin and was engaged in farming for about fifteen years. He then moved to South Dakota, purchased four hundred acres of land, and spent sixteen years in the cultivation of the same. At the end of this period he went to White Lake, South Dakota, where he devoted six years of his time to the implement busi- ness. He married Mary Allen and Harry A. Simons, one of the children of this union, was born in Wisconsin in 1866. He re- mained on the farm until the completion of his twenty-third year, when he learned practical en-

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gineering and followed that occupation for six years. The following two years and a half were devoted to the blacksmithing business, after which Mr. Simons located at Castalia, South Da- kota, as a hardware inerchant. In 1900 he re- moved to Platte, where he continued in the same line until he eventually built up a large trade and now does a flourishing business with the sur- rounding country. In addition to his hardware store, Mr. Simons owns other town property and is one of the thriving citizens of Platte. Person- ally he is popular, indicating that lie is honest in his dealings and a man who can be relied on to help in any movement which promises public benefit and municipal growth. His political af- filiations are with the Republican party, though he has never held office and wastes no time seek- ing for such honors. In religious faith he has always been an adherent of the doctrines taught by the Christian church.

On March 30, 1890, Mr. Simons was united in marriage with Miss Della, daughter of Abra- ham C. and Şarah (Heath) Holden, of Iowa, and they have five children, Blanche, Raymond, Er- nest, Ronald and Mildred.

WILLIAM McINTYRE, born in Schoharie county, New York, in 1842, removed to Wiscon- sin in childhood, served throughout Civil war in Wisconsin Volunteers. First settler at Water- town, South Dakota, 1877. Promotor of many enterprises. Built Duluth, Watertown & Pacific Railway from Benson, Minnesota, to Huron. Died at Aransas Pass. Texas, 1897.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 140

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