History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 97

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

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of America. The Doctor takes a deep interest in public affairs of a local nature, and is an un- compromising Republican. He is serving as county coroner and is assistant surgeon of the Second Regiment of the National Guard under the rank of captain. He was one of the commit- tee of physicians which formulated the bill re- garding and governing the practice of medicine in the state as enacted in the last general assem- bly and did effective work in the "third house" in advocating the measure. He is examiner for a large number of leading life-insurance compan- ies, notably the Fidelity Mutual, the Germania, the Mutual Life, the Washington Life, the North- western Mutual and the Home Life, as well as for various fraternal insurance orders. Dr. and Mrs. Kriesel are communicants of Christ Protes- tant Episcopal church, and are actively identified with the work of the parish. They have one daughter, Leotta. Their attractive residence is located on South Fourth street, and is a center of gracious hospitality.

EDWARD V. MILES is one of the well- known and prosperous farmers of Jerauld county, where he has maintained his home for more than twenty years, so that he is well entitled to be considered a pioneer of this attractive section of the state. He is a native of Wessington, Hardy county, Virginia, where he was born on the 8th of October, 1838, being a son of Weston and Sarah (Simmons) Miles, of whose ten children eight are living at the present time. The subject attended the common schools in a somewhat irreg- ular way in his early youth, while he had his full quota of experience in connection with the strenuous work of the farm. At the age of twenty years he left his native state and removed to Illinois, locating in Piatt county, where he was engaged in farming at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. He forthwith manifested his intrinsic loyalty, enlisting, on July 10, 1861, as a inember of Company F, Second Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, with which he proceeded to the front, his command being assigned to the Army of the Mississippi, and he participated in a large num-

ber of the most important battles of the great internecine conflict, being sent with his regiment to New Orleans after the battle of Vicksburg, and receiving his honorable discharge on the IIth of August, 1864. The history of his regi- ment stands as the history of his personal serv- ice, which was one of signal fidelity and honor. After the close of his military service of more than three years Mr. Miles returned to his home in Illinois, where he resumed his farming, and also engaged in the mercantile business and in the buying and shipping of grain, in Ogden, Illi- nois, and Indianapolis, Indiana, being successful in his efforts and thus continuing until the spring of 1882, when he disposed of his interests in Illinois and came to what is now Jerauld county, South Dakota, where he entered homestead, pre- emption and tree claims, about three and one-half miles northeast of the village of Wessington Springs, and here he developed and improved a valuable farm, still retaining the original four hundred and eighty acres and being known as one of the progressive farmers and representative citi- zens of the county. In June, 1903, Mr. Miles dis- posed of his farm, for a consideration of twenty thousand dollars, a fact which indicates the great appreciation of its value, and he then purchased property in Wessington Springs, where he has since maintained his home, being practically re- tired from active business and enjoying the re- wards of his long years of earnest endeavor. Fraternally he is affiliated with the Ma- sonic order and with E. O. C. Ord Post, No. 89, Grand Army of the Republic, at Wessington Springs, manifesting a deep interest in his old comrades of the Civil war, and it may be consistently noted in this connection that while in active service he was detailed by the colonel of his regiment to act as orderly to General Grant, in which position he served from April to the 4th of July on which occurred the fall of Vicksburg. He has been prominent in local af- fairs and assisted in the organization of Jerauld county, while he was a member of the territorial council at the time when South Dakota was ad- mitted to the Union. He was bill clerk of the second state legislature, in session at Pierre, South

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Dakota, and his name figures in the records of that session. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church.

On the 7th of September, 1865, Mr. Miles was united in marriage to Miss Jennie H. Gale, who was born and reared in the state of New York, being a resident of Illinois at the time of her marriage. Of this union were born nine children, of whom four are deceased, while the names of the survivors are as follows: Mrs. Luella A. Gay, Nettie Miles Goepfert, Nora J. Ruther- ford, Mrs. Sadie Miles Hinter and Leon S. Miles. The names of the deceased children are as fol- lows : Edward V., Gale W., Noble and Boscoe C.

NILS FORSBERG, who occupies the re- sponsible office of treasurer of Grant county and who maintains his home in Milbank, the county seat, is a representative and highly esteemed citi- zen of this section of the state, while he has ex- emplified that energy and progressive spirit which have brought about so marvelous a transforma- tion in South Dakota within the past two decades.

Mr. Forsberg is a native of the fair Norse- land, though he has passed practically his entire life in America. He was born in the province of Vermland, Sweden, on the 13th of April, 1860, and is a son of Henry Hendricksson and Anna (Gustafsson) Forsberg, while he was but two years of age at the time of his father's death, his mother subsequently becoming the wife of John Liljeman. In 1872 the family came to America and located in Duluth, Minnesota, remaining un- til 1875. when they removed to the vicinity of Rush Point, Chicago county, that state, where Mr. Liljeman engaged in farming, and where both he and his wife still reside. The subject had attended the schools of his native land as a boy, having been about twelve years of age at the time of the family emigration to America. After com- pleting the curriculum of the public schools he entered Gustavus Adolphus College, at St. Peter, Minnesota, though he did not remain to complete the full prescribed course. In September, 1887. he came to South Dakota and was thereafter suc- cessfully engaged in teaching in the public schools

of Grant county until 1894, having become prom- inent in the local educational field and having at- tained a high degree of personal popularity in the county. A stanch Republican in his political proclivities, he was then, in the fall of 1894, made the nominee of his party for the office of county auditor, to which he was elected by a gratifying majority. Giving an admirable administration, he was chosen as his own successor in 1896, so that he remained in tenure of the office four con- secutive years. He thereafter served about two years as deputy county treasurer under J. N. Saf- ford and in 1900 was elected treasurer of the county, in which capacity he showed much dis- crimination and ability in the handling of the fis- cal affairs of his jurisdiction, while a due mark of popular appreciation was that which came in his re-election to the office, for a second term of two years, in the fall of 1902. Mr. Forsberg is progressive and public-spirited in his attitude and manifests at all times a deep interest in all that touches the welfare of the county and state of his adoption. He and his wife are prominent and active members of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran church.

In Marshall county, this state, on the Ioth of October, 1895, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Forsberg to Miss Anna S. Anderson, who was likewise born in Sweden, being a daughter of C. J. Anderson, who became one of the early and honored pioneers of Marshall county, South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Forsberg have five chil- dren, namely: Natalia S., Paul G., Wilhelm E., Carl G. and Florence.

SAMUEL S. LOCKHART, judge of the Grant county court, is one of the representative citizens of Milbank and a leading member of the bar whose course has been such as to retain to him unqualified confidence and regard wher- ever he is known. Judge Lockhart is a native of the fair land of hills and heather, having been born in Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland, on the 20th of November, 1850, being a son of John and Agnes (Gray) Lockhart, both of whom were representatives of a stanch Scottish stock. John

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Lockhart was identified with agricultural pur- suits in his native land until 1852, when he immi- grated with his family to America and located in Williamsburg, New York, but in 1854 he came to the west and settled in Caledonia township, Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he has ever since maintained his home. He devoted the ma- jor portion of his active career to farming, be- coming one of the successful and respected citi- zens of the Badger state, where he is now living practically retired. His wife was summoned into eternal rest on the 6th of March, 1900, at the age of seventy-five years. They were the parents of seven sons and three daughters, of whom one son and two daughters are deceased.

Samuel S. Lockhart, who was the eldest of the ten children, was reared to manhood on the farm, in Wisconsin, attending the district schools of Caledonia and later completing a course in the high school at Portage. He taught for five years in the public schools and then began to read law in the office of James B. Taylor, of Portage. In the fall of 1878 he was elected clerk of the circuit court, in which capacity he served four years, meanwhile continuing his study of the law. He was admitted to the bar of Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1883 came to Milbank. He soon estab- lished himself in practice so that he has the dis- tinction of being one of the pioneer members of the bar of Grant county, where he has met with distinctive success in his chosen profession, in which he has gained unmistakable precedence. In 1885-6 he served as district attorney for this county, and in 1894 was elected state's attorney, serving two years, while during the years 1893-4 he was city attorney of Milbank. In 1890 he was appointed supervisor of statistics, taking data rel- ative to the indebtedness of the state, in connec- tion with the federal census, and in 1900 he was elected judge of the county court, having been chosen his own successor in the fall of 1902. The estimate placed upon his services on the bench was indicated by the fact that he was re-elected without opposition, no other candidate being en- tered for the contest. For a decade the Judge was an active member of the board of education, vol- untarily resigning the office in the spring of 1903.

He is the owner of valuable property in Milbank, and also has a finely improved farm of one hun- dred sixty acres, eight miles southeast. He has attained the Knight Templar degree in the Ma- sonic fraternity, and is the present worshipful master of Milbank Lodge, No. 20, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and is at present sergeant of the grand camp of the order. In poli- tics the Judge is a Republican.

On the 29th of March, 1879, Judge Lockhart was united in matrimony to Miss Harriet L. Marvin, of Randolph. Wisconsin, she being a na- tive of Columbia county, that state, and a daugh- ter of George G. and Harriet J. (Stultz) Marvin, the former of whom was born in Connecticut and the latter in New York. Mr. Marvin was a mem- ber of the Wisconsin legislature in 1871. Judge and Mrs. Lockhart have five children, namely : Harriet M., Agnes G., John G., Marvin and Mar- garet Janet.

FRANK W. MEEHAN is engaged in the abstract business in Milbank, having a complete and valuable set of abstracts of titles for Grant county. He is a native of the Badger state, having been born on the parental homestead in Rock county, Wisconsin, on the 14th of June, 1863, and being a son of Andrew and Mary (Topliff) Meehan, she being deceased and he residing with Frank. Andrew Meehan was born and reared in Ireland, whence he emigrated to the United States as a young man, and he was engaged in farming in Wisconsin until 1863, when he removed to Steele county, Minnesota, where he continued to be identified with the same great basic industry until recently. He rendered valiant service in defense of the Union during the war of the Rebellion, having been a inember of Battery C, in a Minnesota regiment of heavy artillery. The Topliff family was established in New England in the early colonial days, and Mary's paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Continental army during the war of the Revolution, and she herself was a native of Massachusetts. Andrew and Mary Meehan

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became the parents of five sons and one daughter, and the only survivors are the subject and his sister, Jennie Louise, who is the wife of W. B. Adsit, of Owatonna, Minnesota.

Frank W. Meehan was reared to maturity on the homestead farm, his early educational ad- vantages being those afforded in the public schools, while in 1880 he entered Pillsbury Academy, in Owatonna, Minnesota, where he continued his studies for a period of four years. After leaving the academy he was engaged in teaching in the public schools of Minnesota about three years, when his health became so impaired as to lead him to seek a change of climate and occupation. Accordingly, in 1889, he came to what is now the state of South Dakota and took up his residence in Grant county, where he se- cured one hundred and sixty acres of land, in Melrose township. Thereafter he devoted five years to improving his farm during the summer seasons, while during the winters he found ready demand for his services as a teacher in the local" schools, being successful and popular as an educator. He is at the present time the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable farm- ing land, eight miles northwest of Milbank, as well as of an attractive modern residence in Milbank. He has been a stanch supporter of the cause of the Republican party from the time of attaining his majority, and early became prominent in connection with local public affairs in Grant county. In 1896 he was elected register of deeds, giving a most satisfactory administra- tion and was chosen his own successor in 1898. He has since been engaged in the abstract busi- ness, having personally prepared his abstracts of land titles from the official records. His efforts have resulted in a complete set of abstract books, which are kept in fireproof vaults, spe- cially prepared in a new brick office building erected by Mr. Meehan and designed for this particular use. Mr. Meehan has ever continued to take an active interest in educational matters, as well as in all other affairs touching the local welfare and progress, and he is at the present time a member of the board of education of

Milbank. He is a Master Mason and a Modern Woodman.

On the 26th of November, 1891, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Meehan to Miss Teresa B. Gibson, who was born in Mower county, Minnesota, being a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Gibson, both of whom are now deceased, her father having been one of the prominent farmers and honored pioneers of Minnesota.

WILLIAM F. RABBITT is incumbent of the responsible position of clerk of the county and circuit courts for Grant county, is known as an able executive, while he is one of the popu- lar young men of the county, where he has main- tained his home since 1897.

Mr. Rabbitt is a native of the fair Emerald Isle, having been born in County Galway, Ire- land, on the 25th of March, 1872, and being a son of James and Nora (Dillon) Rabbitt, who were born and reared in the same county and who are now both deceased. The subject re- ceived his early educational discipline in his native land, and came to America in 1884, being a lad of twelve years at the time. He thereafter resided in the city of Chicago until 1895, attending school and being employed in various commercial houses, and he then went to the city of Philadelphia, where he was em- ployed as a traveling salesman by the Dogley Tea Company until 1897. in which year he came to South Dakota and took up his residence near Twin Brooks, Grant county, where he became the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, to which he has added four hundred and eighty acres, making one of the most valuable and well improved farms of this county. He there continued to be actively engaged in farm- ing and stock raising until his election to his present office, in November, 1900, having been chosen as his own successor in the election of 1902, which fact offers patent evidence of the acceptable work he has done as clerk of the courts. He is a stanchi advocate of the prin-

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ciples of the Republican party and was elected on its ticket.

He has taken a deep interest in the develop- ment of the agricultural resources of this sec- tion, while he is recognized as an able business man and essentially public-spirited citizen. He is the owner of a nice home in Milbank, and the same is a favorite resort of the large circle of friends which he and his wife have drawn about them. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Improved Order of Red Men.

On the 29th of March, 1900, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Rabbitt to Miss Augusta Runge, who was born in Wisconsin, being a daughter of Julius Runge, one of the honored pioneers and prominent farmers of Grant county. Mr. and Mrs. Rabbitt have two chil- dren, Nora Augusta and Elizabeth Elmira S.

GEORGE H. PINCKNEY, the able and pop- ular auditor of Grant county, has been a resident of the state since 1887 and has attained prestige and success through his well directed efforts. He was born in Onondaga county, New York, on the Ist of January, 1867, and is a son of James G. and Mary E. (Wood) Pinckney, who were like- wise born and reared in the old Empire state of the Union, where they maintained their home un- til 1869, when they removed to Fillmore county, Minnesota, where the father of the subject en- gaged in farming and where the mother still maintains her home, his death occurring Decem- ber 12, 1903. Of their five children all are living.

George H. Pinckney was a child of but two years at the time of his parents' removal to the west, and he was reared to maturity in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where he availed himself of the advantages of the public schools. After leav- ing school he was engaged in teaching in Minne- sota for one year, at the expiration of which, in 1887, he came to what is now the state of South Dakota, locating in Lake county, where he was engaged in farm work about one and one-half

years. On the 15th of November, 1888, he was there married to Miss Helen Allen, who was born in Minnesota, being a daughter of H. W. and Helen (Tucker) Allen. Shortly after this important event in his life history Mr. Pinckney returned to Minnesota and took up his residence in Fillmore county, where he was engaged in farming for the ensuing five years. He then, in 1894, came again to South Dakota, and located in Grant county, where he became the owner of a fine farm of one hundred sixty acres, in Osceola township. To the improvement and cultivation of this farm, in connection with the raising of live stock, he continued tò give his attention until his election to his present office, in the fall of 1902, and he still retains possession of the farm, which is one of the attractive rural demesnes of this section of the state. In politics Mr. Pinckney has ever been found stanchly arrayed in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, taking an active interest in the promotion of its cause, while on its ticket he secured a flattering endorsement at the polls on the occasion of his election to the office of county auditor. He is affiliated with Milbank Camp, No. 1887, Modern Woodmen of America, and he is also a Master Mason. They have four children, Hazel I., Nada, Gladys and Francis M.

THAD L. FULLER, who is engaged in the practice of his profession in Milbank, has gained a position of prominence at the bar of the state, and merits recognition in this work. He is a native of Eldora, Iowa, being a son of Hon. Howard G. and Maria E. (Leonard) Fuller, both of whom were born and reared in the state of New York, the father being one of the associate jus- tices of the supreme court of the state and one of the distinguished members of its bar. The subject of this review was about ten years of age at the time of his parents' removal from Towa to South Dakota, his early educational dis- cipline being received in the public schools, while later he pursued his studies in Redfield College, at Redfield, and in the state university. He then began reading law in the office of the

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old established and well-known firm of Aiken, Bailey & Voorhees, of Sioux Falls, and later became the official stenographer in the supreme court. He retained this incumbency about two years, having in the meanwhile been admitted to the bar upon examination before the supreme court. The examination occurred before he had attained his legal majority, and he was thus compelled to wait several months before se- curing the official papers which made him eligible for active practice. In 1898 Mr. Fuller entered into a professional alliance with Burtin D. Gam- ble, under the firm name of Gamble & Fuller, and were associated in practice until June 15, 1902, at which time Mr. Gamble died. Mr. Fuller is known as a particularly effective and discrimi- nating advocate, and has made an enviable record in this line, while as a public speaker he has gained distinctive precedence, being called upon for addresses on various occasions. In politics he is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and in 1902 he was elected state's attorney of Grant county, in which capacity he is serving at the time of this writing, having proved a most able and acceptable public prose- cutor. Fraternally he is identified with the Ma- sonic order and the Knights of Pythias, while he enjoys marked popularity in professional, busi- ness and social circles.

HOLLACE LINCOLN HOPKINS has been very closely identified with the business and polit- ical history of South Dakota, and his activity has made him perhaps as well known throughout the state as any other man. Hollace Hopkins, manager of the Sioux Valley Land Company, of Henry, was born in Olmstead county, Minnesota, January 3, 1864, and is the son of George E. and Caroline (Cudney) Hopkins, natives of Ontario, and pioneers of Minnesota and of South Dakota, coming to the territory in 1878. George E. Hop- kins was a prosperous farmer and represented his county in the state legislature. He settled in Dentel county, where Hollace received the greater part of his education, in the public schools and in the agricultural college at Brookings. He

manifested a preference for journalism, and on quitting college he carried out a desire of long standing and established in May, 1888, at Henry, The Independent. Mr. Hopkins contin- ued to publish and manage it until January I, 1900, since when he has devoted his attention largely to the Sioux Valley Land Company. Mr. Hopkins became an influential force in local and state politics, and his paper not only achieved a wide reputation but attained a wide circulation.

Mr. Hopkins was the leading spirit in the organization of the land company and as secre- tary and general manager has greatly enlarged the scope of its operations. During President Harrison's administration he was postmaster at Henry and was re-appointed by President McKinley. Mr. Hopkins was influential in the Republican party, and has been a delegate to nearly every county, district and state convention in the last twelve years, and he served as secre- tary of the state conventions held at Yankton and Madison. He manifests a pardonable pride in the welfare of the town, and has used his en- deavors to promote its advancement along social, moral and material lines.

Mr. Hopkins held an important clerical posi- tion in the house of representatives, in 1893 and in 1895 he was chief clerk of the same. Frater- nally Mr. Hopkins is a member of the Pythian order, and has passed all the chairs of the local lodge, besides representing it in the grand lodge. Personally he is companionable and agreeable.

Mr. Hopkins, on the 2d day of July. 1889, was united in marriage with Miss Encie Plank, a native of the same county as himself, and a schoolmate. She is the daughter of Joseph and Diantha (Schermerhorn) Plank, of Olmstead county, Minnesota, and has borne her husband four children, Glenn H., Leah, Gail and Carrie P.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 97

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