History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 88

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

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

of that section, where the family resided until the fall of 1867, when they moved to Keokuk, Iowa. The father of the subject being a carpenter, fa- ther and son there engaged in the building busi- ness as contractors, until the spring of 1871, when they removed to Kokoka, Clark county, Mis- souri, where the father died at the age of sixty- nine years. Mr. Farren's mother is still living, making her home in Springfield, Missouri, and is in her eightieth year. In Van Buren county Henry B. was reared and there received his early educational training in the common schools, while it may be noted that among his schoolmates at the time was Hon. William B. Mason, late United States senator from Illinois. After leaving school at sixteen years of age, Mr. Farren turned his at- tention to the carpenter trade, which avocation he followed almost constantly until coming to Da- kota, after which time he turned his attention to reading and study of law. In 1894 he was admit- ted to practice in the courts of South Dakota, and has ever since given his attention to profes- . sional work, in which he has met with gratifying success, retaining a representative clientage and having been concerned in much important liti- gation.

Mr. Farren came to South Dakota in May, 1882, and settled in Hand county, where he re- mained a few months and then came to Buffalo county, where he exercised his prerogatives in the taking up of government land, securing a tract of four hundred eighty acres, which he improved and placed under cultivation. He has maintained his residence in Buffalo county since September, 1882, and is popular in professional, business and social circles, having repeatedly held positions of trust since the organization of the county in 1885. He is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and has long been active in promoting its interests in this section of the state. In 1894 he was elected state's attorney of Buffalo county, serving one term, while in 1901 he was appointed to this office, to fill a vacancy, and served until the close of the term. In No- vember, 1902, after a vigorous and able cam- paign, he was elected to represent his district in the state legislature, and he is one of the prom-

inent and valued members of the eighth general assembly, in which he has made a most excel- lent record. Both he and his wife are zealous members of the First Congregational church.

On the Ist of September, 1886, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Farren to Miss Mary E. Mather, who was born and reared in Wash- ington, Iowa, being a daughter of John and El- mira Mather.

VINCENT KABERNA, who is now living practically retired from active business in the vil- lage of Wagner, Charles Mix county, has been prominently identified with farming and stock- raising in this locality, and is the owner of a fine ranch, while he is also a stockholder in the Com- mercial State Bank of Wagner, and has other in- terests in the town. Mr. Kaberna is a native of Bohemia, Austria, where he was born on the 19th of December, 1849, being a son of Francis and Frances (Popelka) Kaberna, who were there born and reared. They continued to reside in Bohemia until 1856, when they emigrated to America and settled first in the city of Philadel- phia, whence, one year later, they removed to Chicago, Illinois, where they remained until their deaths, the father dying December 29, 1875, and the mother May 18, 1885. The subject came to the territory of Dakota, locating in Tyndall, Bon Homme county, in November, 1883. The subject secured his early educational discipline in the public schools of the city of Chicago and there learned the tinner's trade under the direction of his father, while he followed this vocation, as an employe in the shops of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, in Chicago for nearly twenty years. In 1883 he abandoned the work of the shops and came to what is now the state of South Dakota, locating in Tyndall, where he con- tinued to reside for the ensuing twelve years, en- gaged in the hardware and tinning business. He gained prestige as an able and honorable business man and worthy citizen, and was called upon to fill various offices of distinctive public trust and responsibility. He was a member of the board of county commissioners for one term, and also

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served as a member of the village council, while in 1891 he was elected mayor of the town, re- taining the office three years and giving a most satisfactory and able administration of the mu- nicipal government. Later he served two years as treasurer of Bon Homme county.

In 1895 Mr. Kaberna disposed of his interests in Tyndall and came to Charles Mix county, where he filed on and proved up on a claim of two hundred acres, in Rouse township, and he still retains possession of the place, upon which he has made excellent improvements, while in connection with diversified agriculture he has been very successful in raising and dealing in live stock. In 1901 he took up his residence in Wag- ner, where he has since lived practically retired, though he still maintains a general supervision of his real-estate and other interests. He is one of the stockholders in the Commercial State Bank and is one of the justices of the peace at Wagner. He is public-spirited and ever ready to lend his influence in support of worthy objects, and he has achieved independence and success through his own efforts and is well worthy the high es- teem in which he is uniformly held. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and has been a Mason for the past twenty-seven years.

Mr. Kaberna has been twice married. In 1871 he wedded Miss Paulina Pisek, who died, leaving one child, which died at three years of age. On the 13th of November, 1876, he wedded Miss Geniveva Papik, a sister of Joseph Papik, of whom individual mention is made on another page of this work, and of the four children of this union we give the following record: Frank, who married Miss Minnie Pisha, is engaged in farming in this county ; Bertha is employed in a clerical position at Wheeler, this county ; Rose is bookkeeper in the Commercial State Bank of Wagner, and. John is at home.

WILLIAM H. SEMPLE, who is the owner of one of the fine farms of Yankton county, stands as a worthy representative of the intelli- gent and progressive class of American agricul- turists, who have done so much for the improve-

ment of various sections of the country and who have laid the foundation for the present develop- ment and progress. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, in October, 1858, a son of James and Mary Semple. His father died in 1864 and the mother yet lives in the Empire state. After his father's death William H. Semple, at the age of ten years, went to live with his uncle, Bartley M. Semple, and they have since been associated in business interests and have lived together. Through a long period both resided with our subject's grandparents, John and Jane Semple. who were of Scotch-Irish descent. The grand- parents and uncle of the subject removed from New York to Illinois, in July, 1854, and the sub- ject came to live with them in April, 1869. His uncle followed painting. In 1871, however, he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in Yankton county, most of which was wild, but the log cabin had been built thereon and a few other improvements had been made. The grandparents and the subject then located upon this farm and with characteristic energy Mr. Semple of this review gave his time and attention to its improvement and cultivation. In the flood of 1881 they lost stock amounting in value to thirty-five hundred dollars, including eighty-one head of fine cattle. He also lost a team and had other property destroyed. In these early days they likewise suffered from the grasshoppers and hardships and trials incident to pioneer life were to be made, but the persistent efforts of Mr. Sem- ple, his uncle and his grandfather at length over- came the difficulties and obstacles and success was won. In 1881 the uncle purchased two hun- dred and forty acres of land which was partially cleared and he continued to add to his possessions until he had nine hundred and seventy acres. Later he sold six hundred and eighty acres, but still retains the balance. In 1890 William H. Semple erected a very fine residence upon the farm, but he had just completed it when it caught fire and was burned to the ground, as were the barns and other buildings upon the place. He, however, rebuilt at once, erecting a very nice residence and substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. Upon the old home-

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stead the grandfather died at the venerable age of ninety-five years and the grandmother passed away at the advanced age of ninety-four years, but the uncle is still living with the nephew, one of the respected and honored pioneer settlers of the community and a man whose upright life has gained for him warm friendship while his well directed business affairs have won for him splendid and deserved success. In religious faith he is connected with the Scotch Presbyterian church.

On the 4th of June, 1890, Mr. Semple was united in marriage to Miss Augusta D. Fisher, a daughter of Bernard and Elizabeth (Clausen) Fisher, who came to South Dakota in the fall of 1880 and was identified with farming interests here. The mother passed away in 1887 and the father is still living, now making his home in Iowa with his son. Like his wife, he is a member of the Lutheran church and his political alle- giance is given to the Democracy. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Semple have been born two children: Mar- garet Elizabeth, now twelve years of age, and William Bartley. The parents belong to the Lutheran church and Mr. Semple is a Republi- can in his political affiliations. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and with the Red Men. He raises alfalfa for the hogs, having twenty acres planted to that crop. Mr. Semple is a self-made man and a successful one. Starting out in life with little means he has worked his way steadily upward, realizing that there is no excellence without labor and that there is no royal road to wealth. He has perse- vered in what he has undertaken and at all times he has maintained honorable relations with his fellow men in every trade transaction.

LONSON SEELEY. who is extensively en- gaged in the raising of hogs and cattle and whose well conducted business interests have brought to him success, was born in Monroe county, New York, in 1844, his parents being Justice and Sarah (Sheldon) Seeley. The father was a farmer by occupation and the parents had a fam- ily of eight children, four of whom are yet liv-

ing. In the common schools Lonson Seeley ob- tained his education up to the time he was eleven years of age, when he went to Wisconsin, where he resided until 1861. He then, prompted by patriotic spirit, enlisted in the Union army, be- coming a member of Company B, Thirteenth Wisconsin Infantry. He served for four years and was a valiant soldier, never failing in the performance of any duty, whether it called him into the thickest of the fight or stationed him on the lonely picket line. In July, 1865, he received an honorable discharge, having participated in . many important battles which led to the preser- vation of the Union.

After being mustered out Mr. Seeley returned to his home in Wisconsin and throughout his en- tire business career he has carried on agricul- tural pursuits. He was married on the 15th of October, 1871, to Miss Annie Faulk, a native of Wilmington, Delaware, and unto them have been born four children: Edward L., Mrs. Mary E. Price, Justice Burton and Della. They also lost one daughter, Hattie. The eldest son married Florence Rankin.

It was in the year 1868 that Mr. Seeley ar- rived in South Dakota and settled upon the land where he now resides. He has been exten- sively engaged in the raising of hogs and cattle. finding that much more profitable than the culti- vation of cereals. In his work he has ever been energetic and industrious and what he now pos- sesses has come to him as the just reward of his diligence and perseverance. He also engaged in hauling freight between Sioux City and the army posts for thirteen years. In public affairs he has been public-spirited and active, assisting mater- ially in the work of progress and improvement along many lines. He has been a member of the school board since its organization about twenty- five years ago and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. In politics he has ever been a stanch Republican and he is a valued member of Philip Kearney Post, No. 7. Grand Army of the Republic. He and his family hold membership in the Methodist church and they are worthy people held in high esteem through- out the community.

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WILLIAM BIRD SHERRARD is a native of the Emerald Isle and comes of stanch Scot- tish ancestry in the agnatic line and of English in the maternal line. He was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, on the 8th of June, 1837, and is a son of Joseph and Susan (Bird) Sherrard. both of whom were likewise born and reared in the Emerald Isle, where the respective families had been established for several generations pre- viously, while our subject states that the chief heritage of the immediate family was pride and poverty. Although holding to the rigid faith of the Presbyterian church the family gave its influence to the Catholic church in Ireland, the representatives of this great body in the "most distressful country" representing an element which was earnestly striving to throw off the yoke of virtual bondage, and by reason of this attitude on the part of the family it met with persecution from the Tory faction, so that when leases of land expired the owners of the property in fee simple would not renew them, the result being severe financial losses to the family in common with many others.

Mr. Sherrard received his early educational discipline in the excellent national schools and at the age of fourteen years was, in accordance with the customs of the country, apprenticed to learn the dry-goods business. At the age of twenty-one years he engaged in business on his own responsibility, but his health became so seri- ously impaired that he was compelled to abandon the enterprise. In the spring of 1864. shortly before attaining the age of twenty-seven years, he came to America. After passing about six months in the national metropolis he came west and located in the city of Chicago, where he re- mained until 1877, having in the meanwhile gained a prominent position in a business house. In the meanwhile he was induced to take up a work in behalf of the newsboys and bootblacks of the city, and his abiding interest in the unfor- tunate waifs was of the most insistent order. He placed the Newsboys and Bootblacks' Asso- ciation on a substantial and permanent footing and did much to make strong and useful citizens of the boys who came under his influence. In

1877 he removed to Kansas, where he was en- gaged in ranching until 1893. He then found himself once more drawn into a work which he loved and in which he has continued to labor with all of devotion and with most gratifying suc- cess. In that year he came to South Dakota and inaugurated the work of the Children's Home Society, and the general verdict is that in the line a more successful work has not been accom- plished in any section of the Union, all things taken into consideration. Thus our subject finds his reward unstinted in the highest sense, while he asseverates that whatever of success he has made in life is to be attributed chiefly to his hav- ing a wife who is without an equal in the land for self-sacrificing toil in behalf of others, coupled with "consecrated common sense." The society has cared for nearly nine hundred children and has assets amounting to forty thousand dollars, the headquarters. of the institution being in the city of Sioux Falls, where Mr. and Mrs. Sher- rard have maintained their home for more than a decade past, holding the high esteem and af- fectionate regard of all who know them. Both are devoted members of the Baptist church and Mr. Sherrard is an uncompromising Prohibi- tionist in his political allegiance, being an active and zealous worker in the cause.

On the 9th of October, 1869, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sherrard to Mrs. Elizabeth (Hazelton) Bixby, who was born in Madison county. New York, on the 5th of November, 1829, being a daughter of Squire and Catherine (Robertson) Hazelton. They have no children of their own but the subject states that through their association with work for children they have a "tax title to about two thousand."

WILLIAM G. PORTER .- Among the dis- tinguished members of the bar of South Dakota is Mr. Porter, who is the senior member of the well-known and leading law firm of Porter & King, of Sioux Falls, and who is at the present time incumbent of the office of assistant United States attorney for this state.

William Gove Porter is a native of the old

WILLIAM G. PORTER.

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Green Mountain state, having been born in Thet- ford Center, Orange county, Vermont, on the 4th of September, 1858, and being a son of Amost Phelps Porter and Mercy (Eastman) Porter, the father having devoted his life to agri- cultural pursuits. The genealogy of our sub- ject in the agnatic line is of distinguished order and is authentically traced back to the eleventh century and to a Norman knight, William de la Grande, who was a member of the army of the great Norman duke, William the Conqueror, who effected the conquest of England in 1066. His son, Ralph de la Grande, became "grand porteur" to Henry I, King of England, in which capacity he served from 1120 to 1140, and from his office was derived the present family name of Porter. In 1630 the family was founded in New England. the original progenitors in America settling in Dorchester, Massachusetts, at the time of its foundation. It should be noted that the family in England retained possession of valuable realty in or near Kenilworth, in Warwickshire, where the original ancestor, William de la Grande, had acquired large tracts of land. Hezekiah Porter, grandfather of the subject of this review, was born in Hebron, Connecticut, whence he removed to Vermont about the year 1800, settling at Thet- ford Center, Orange county, where he devel- oped a farm, and it is pleasing to note that on this ancestral homestead still reside the venerable parents of the subject, his father having been there born in the year 1818. The maternal an- cestry is of Scotch-Irish extraction and the name has been identified with the annals of American history from the colonial era to the present.

William G. Porter passed his boyhood days on the ancestral New England farm and received his early educational discipline in the common schools, the while contributing his quota to the work of the farm. He has always delighted in study and reading, standard novels, biography and Shakespeare being his favorites, while he has also had a great fondness for history and the classics. He continued to work on the home farm at intervals while preparing himself for college, and subsequent thereto, while he earned the funds to defray his collegiate expenses by teach-

ing, while after his graduation he followed the same vocation to enable him to further prosecute his literary studies and his course in the law. He first taught in a district school at Bondville, Windham county, Vermont, where he presided as pedagogue during the three months' winter term, receiving in compensation a stipend of fifty dollars and his board. In June, 1878, he was graduated in St. Johnsbury Academy, in the Vermont town of that name, and in June, 1882, he completed the classical course and was grad- uated in famous old Dartmouth College, receiv- ing the degree of Bachelor of Arts, while in 1888 his alma mater conferred upon him the de- gree of Master of Arts. Mr. Porter came west in 1882, soon after his graduation in Dartmouth, and for one year was professor of Latin and Greek languages in Havges Seminary, at Red Wing, Minnesota. He then entered the law de- partment of Drake University, in the city of Des Moines, Iowa, where he was graduated in June, 1884, receiving his degree of Bachelor of Laws and being admitted to the bar of the state, by the supreme court, in the same month. He was the valedictorian of his class, and after leaving this institution he was for one year principal of the high school at Cen- ter Point, Linn county, Iowa. In 1889 Mr. Por- ter came to South Dakota and took up his resi- dence in Custer, Custer county, where he en- gaged actively in the practice of his profession, meeting with gratifying success from the initia- tion of his efforts. He served as state's attor- ney of the county from November 10, 1890, to January 20, 1895, being elected each time on the Republican ticket and making an enviable record as a public prosecutor. On the 19th of Febru- ary, 1891, while he was serving his first term as state's attorney, occurred the execution of John B. Lehman, at Custer, this being the first judicial hanging in the state after its admission to the Union and being the fifth execution of the sort in Dakota as originally constituted. Lehman, who was convicted of murder in the first degree, had three jury trials, the case having been once appealed to the supreme court and affirmed in this tribunal, while it was once brought before

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the state board of pardons and twice before the governor of the state, while the defendant was twice sentenced to death. Many attorneys were concerned in the case, but Mr. Porter alone tried and prosecuted on the third jury trial, whose re- sult was the execution of the prisoner.

In March, 1898, Mr. Porter was appointed assistant United States attorney for the district of South Dakota, of which office he has since been incumbent, having transferred his residence to Sioux Falls upon entering upon the discharge of his official duties, and having since been act- ively engaged in the practice of his profession here, controlling a large general legal business in the state and federal courts. He has been en- gaged as a prosecuting attorney, in the several counties, for ten years, and prepares and tries the majority of cases appearing in the United States court for this district, his success having been pronounced. He is senior member of the firm of Porter & King, his coadjutor being John King, and their offices are located in the Minnehaha building. In September, 1901, Mr. Porter was appointed attorney at Sioux Falls for the Chi- cago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, to succeed Hon. A. B. Kittridge, upon his appointment as United States senator. In politics he has never wavered in his allegiance to the Republican party, nor has he been deflected by any party heresies or followed after false political idols. He is a prominent figure in the party councils of the state, was elected secretary of the Republican State League of South Dakota in 1898, and was chosen its president in 1900 and re-elected in 1902, being thus incumbent of the office at the time of this writing. Mr. Porter is identified with numerous fraternal and social organiza- tions, and among his affiliations may be noted the following: He is a member of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows, and was an officer of its grand lodge in the state in 1897-8; he is past master of Custer Lodge, No. 66, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Custer, and is at present affiliated with Unity Lodge, No. 130, in Sioux Falls, also with Sioux Falls Chapter, No. 2. Royal Arch Masons, and Cyrene Commandery, No. 2. Knights Templar, and with El Riad Tem-

ple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in this city; while on the 24th of November, 1894, he received the thirty-second degree of Scottish Rite Masonry at Deadwood, being a member of the Black Hills Consistory.

At Center Point, Linn county, Iowa, on the 27th of June, 1888, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Porter to Miss Jessie M. Yost, who was graduated in Ferry Hall, Lake Forest University, at Lake Forest, Illinois, on the 25th of June, 1879, and she is a talented musician, being most popular and prominent in the social and musical circles of Sioux Falls. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have no children.

RICHARD H. BOOTH, of Sioux Falls, one of the honored pioneers of the northwest, has been a resident of what is now the state of South Dakota for more than thirty years, and has long held precedence as one of the leading contractors and builders of this section. He is now nearing the age of four score years, but is hale and hearty and is still active in business and one of the well-known and highly honored citi- zens of Sioux Falls.

Mr. Booth was born in the city of Pough- keepsie, New York, on the 20th of September, 1826, being a son of Richard and Nancy (Wood) Booth, the former of English and the latter of Holland ancestry. The father, who was born in December, 1777, died in 1838, and the mother, born February 16, 1787, died in March, 1863, both having continued resident of the Empire state until the close of their lives, while the for- mer was a successful and prominent manufac- turer of woolen cloths, his factory being equipped with the most improved machinery known at that time.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 88

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