History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 99

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 99

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

Grant county. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, of which he is worthy advisor. He and his wife are promi- nent and valued members of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Milbank, he being super- intendent of its Sunday school. His pleasant residence, located at the corner of West Park avenue and Second street, is one of Milbank's popular homes. On the 17th of May, 1893, at Tower City, Mr. Brockman was united in mar- riage to Miss Elizabeth E. Wasem, who was born in Winona, Minnesota, being a daughter of John Wasem, an honored pioneer of that section. Of this union have been born two children, Clayton E. and Kenneth Powell.

OLE J. QUESTAD .- As the name indi- cates, the subject of this review is of foreign birth, being an honorable representative of the large, thrifty and eminently respectable Nor- wegian element that has exerted such a potent influence in the settlement and development of South Dakota and contributed in such a marked way to the material prosperity of the state. Ole J. Questad was born in Norway on the 3d day of May, 1854, and spent his childhood and early youth in the land of his nativity, receiving the meantime a fair education in the schools of his neighborhood. On his sixteenth birthday he took passage with his parents, Jacob O. and Rachel Questad, for the United States and, arriving in this country, proceeded direct to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where he labored during the ensuing three years as a farm hand. In 1873 he came to South Dakota, and for some time carried on farming in Minnehaha county, subsequently on attaining his ma- jority taking . up a homestead

in the township of Burk, where he lived and cultivated the soil until 1885. when he returned to the town- ship in which he originally settled. After spend- ing one year on his farm in Lyons Mr. Questad, in partnership with his brother, Thomas J., en- gaged in merchandising at Baltic, the firm thus constituted lasting about thirteen years, at the ex- piration of which period the subject purchased his

partner's interest and became sole proprietor. From that time to the present day he has prose- cuted the business quite successfully and is now the leading merchant of the place, carrying a large stock of general merchandise, which is ad- vantageously displayed in a fine, commodious stone building, erected by him in the year 1902. Mr. Questad is an enterprising, up-to-date man, familiar with the principles upon which success ' in the commercial world depends, and, by con- sulting the needs and tastes of his customers, as well as by his courteous treatment of the public, he has secured a large and lucrative patronage, which gives every promise of still greater mag- nitude as the years go by. In addition to his establishment at Baltic, he is also interested in agriculture, owning a well improved farm in Lyons township, a part of which is in cultiva- tion.

Mr. Questad has been honored at different times with official positions, having served as justice of the peace in the townships of Lyons and Sverdrup and as school treasurer and town- ship treasurer in the latter jurisdiction. He ac- quitted himself creditably as a public servant and demonstrated his ability to discharge worthily the duties of any important trust confided to him. He is a man of sound intelligence, clear. prac- tical mind and excellent judgment, as the growth and continued success of his business attest, and among his fellow citizens he is held in high esteem by reason of his honorable course, correct conduct and upright life.

From April 1, 1881, dates the domestic life of Mr. Questad, at which time he entered the marriage relation with Miss Lena Siveson, of Iowa, but of Norwegian descent, the union being blessed with the following children : James J .. Rosa A., Julia, Sander, Arthur, Otella, Lonard and Earnest Ferdinand, all living and, with their parents, constituting a happy family circle.

HENRY G. SOLEM .- Practical industry. wisely and vigorously applied, seldom if ever fails of success ; it carries a man onward and upward, brings out his individual character and acts as a

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powerful stimulus to the efforts of others. The greatest results in life are usually attained by simple means and the exercise of the ordinary qualities of common sense, correct judgment and well directed perseverance. The every-day life, with his cares, necessities and duties, affords ample opportunities for acquiring experience of the best kind, and its most beaten paths provide the true worker with abundant scope for'effort and self- improvement. These facts are strikingly exem- plified in the career of the honored citizen of Min- nehaha county whose name appears at the head of this article, a man who came to this country a number of years ago from his native land of Norway with barely sufficient capital to pay his passage and with no resources upon which to rely save his strong arms, resourceful mind and determined will. Richly endowed with these, he resolutely faced the future, bent upon winning success if it were possibly attainable and of carv- ing out for himself a destiny which, if not dis- tinguished, should at least be worthy and honor- able. Beginning at the very bottom of the ladder, he has steadily ascended the same, winning suc- ccss · with each succeeding step, until now from the topmost round, which was reached after long and persevering endeavor. he can look back over a well-spent life, to find therein little to criticise, but much to commend.

Henry G. Solem, farmer, stock raiser, busi- ness man and financier, was born, as already stated, in Norway, his birth having occurred in the northern part of that country on November 9. 1853. His father being a tiller of the soil, he too was reared to agricultural pursuits, and at intervals he attended the schools of his native place, thereby acquiring a fair educational train- ing in such branches as were taught. For some years he assisted in cultivating the farm, but, satisfied that better opportunities awaited young men in the United States than obtained in his own land, he finally severed home ties, and in the spring of 1872 sailed for New York, which port he reached in due time, after a pleasant but un- eventful voyage.

From New York city young Solem went to Goodhne county. Minnesota, where a number of

his countrymen were then living, but after spend- ing a few months there he decided to go further west ; accordingly, in the fall of 1872, he made his way to Minnehaha county, South Dakota, where he supported himself for some time fol- lowing as a farm laborer. Continuing this kind of work until he had earned a little surplus money Mr. Solem very wisely pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of fine land in Sverdrup township. for which in due time he secured a patent from the government and which he at once proceeded with his characteristic industry and earnestness to improve. Without following in detail his life and endeavor from that time to the present, suf- fice it to state that in the course of a few years he had a large portion of his land under cultiva- tion, with good substantial improvements, and in addition thereto purchased other real estate at intervals, until his home place in Sverdrup town- ship now embraces an area of eight hundred acres, besides which he owns land to the amount of six hundred and eighty acres outside of Min- nehaha county. With the exception of five years spent as a miner in the Black Hills, he has lived from 1872 to the present time where he originally settled, and to say that he has been eminently successful as a farmer and stock raiser or that he has come prominently to the front as an enter- prising, public-spirited citizen, is only to repeat what everybody at all acquainted with his previ- ous course of life and cognizant of his present high standing in the business world very well know.

While primarily interested in his own affairs, and employing every legitimate agency to pro- mote the success of the same, Mr. Solem has also been deeply concerned in the welfare of the com- munity, as his activity and influence in its behalf abundantly attest. He has filled nearly every township office within the gift of the people, has taken a leading part in nearly every public enter- prise for the general good, and at the present time is vice-president of the bank at Baltic, in addition to which he holds the dual office of president and business manager of the Baltic Creamery Company, having been the originator of the latter concern and the chief spirit in its

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organization. Mr. Solem has done much in dif- ferent capacities for the growth and development of the thriving town of Baltic, the prosperity of which is attributed to him as much as any other man interested in its welfare, being now a director of the elevator company operating in the village, besides having interests in various other enterprises making for the material ad- vancement of the community. It is not too much to claim for Mr. Solem precedence in the various undertakings in which he is engaged, as his lead- ership is recognized and readily acknowledged by his associates ; nor is it exaggeration to say that he is easily one of the leading citizens of his county and state, this too being cheerfully ad- mitted by all who know him. His rise from a poor daily laborer to his present influential posi- tion in business and social circles, demonstrates much more than ordinary mental endowment and energy, and his life, taken as a whole, affords, as already indicated, a commendable example of what a young man animated by high hopes and lofty purposes can accomplish in the face of circumstances calculated to discourage and de- ter. The ample fortune in his possession is the result of his own industry and correct business methods, and the high esteem in which he is held and the unusual confidence with which he is re- garded show him the possessor of those moral attributes which characterize the true man and the upright citizen.

Mr. Solem was married at Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in the fall of 1866 to Miss Lena Hoel, a native of Norway and a lady of beautiful char- acter and womanly · graces ; two children have blessed this union, namely: Gust I., who died March 23, 1904, and Jolin E.

WEARDUS H. WUMKES is a native of the Fatherland, having first seen the light of day in the province of Hanover, Germany, in 1859 He accompanied his parents upon their emi- gration to America and located first in Hardin county, Iowa. Later they removed to Grundy county, the same state, where the subject was reared to manhood. Mr. Wumkes' father was a

sea-captain by profession, owning his own vessel, and he sailed to nearly every part of the world. The subject continued to reside under the pa- ternal roof until 1882, assisting his father the meantime on the farm, but in the year 1884 he married and shortly thereafter came to Lennox, Lincoln county, Dakota, and there engaged in the furniture and farm implement business. Sub- sequently he made some changes in the character of the stock, so that he now handles farm im- plements and a general line of hardware. He has always a good line of articles, and has en- joyed a satisfactory patronage, being now counted among the leading merchants and enter- prising business men of his town. Some years ago he erected a splendid home at Lennox, in which he still resides. Five and a half miles northeast of Lennox he owns a section of land which he operates himself, and in all owns seven hundred and fifty acres in the state. He operates two hardware stores, at Lennox and Chancellor, under the firm name of Wumkes Brothers, his partner being Justus J. Wumkes.

In 1902 Mr. Wumkes organized the Lennox State Bank, of which he is president, the other officers being C. C. Kuper, vice-president, and M. J. Gotthelf, cashier. The bank was opened for business September 8, 1902, and is doing a very successful business, occupying an elegant banking building which was built by the bank- ing company.

March 14, 1884, Mr. Wumkes was united in marriage with Miss Talea Huisman, a resident of Franklin county, Iowa, and to them have been born three children, Peter T., Swannie and Wil- liam. In politics the subject is a Democrat and has taken an active part for his party, having acted as a delegate to several state conventions.

WILLIAM M. CUPPETT .- The annals of Lincoln county give evidence that the subject of this sketch has been identified with the history of South Dakota from the early territorial days. He located in Lincoln county at a time when it was essentially an unbroken prairie, and he was one of the first to institute the work of develop-

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ment and progress, was one of the founders and first merchants of Canton, and has been promi- nent in public affairs and in furthering the growth and upbuilding of this attractive and ad- vanced section of our commonwealth, while he still retains his residence in Canton, which has been his home during the long intervening years.

Mr. Cuppett was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of December, 1843, and in 1850, when he was a lad of seven years, his parents removed to Iowa and located in Colesburg, Delaware county, where he was reared to maturity, securing his education in the common schools, and thereafter assisting his father in the conduct of his wagon manufactur- ing business until the outbreak of the Civil war, when his intrinsic patriotism was roused to re- sponsive action. On the 22d of September, 1862, when in his twentieth year, he enlisted in Com- pany G, Sixth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, with which he served during the remainder of the war, being mustered out in November, 1865, and receiving his honorable discharge. The regiment was assigned to duty in the west, and its work was largely that of protecting the settlers from the attacks and depredations of the Indians, who were not slow in taking advantage of the un- settled condition of the nation and making in- roads whenever possible. Mr. Cuppett partici- pated in many spirited engagements with the Indians and border ruffians, and served for much of the time as commissary sergeant of his com- pany.

After the war Mr. Cuppett returned to Coles- burg, Iowa, and during the winter of 1865-6 was engaged in teaching school. He then en- gaged in the manufacturing of wagons and car- riages in Colesburg. continuing this enterprise until 1868. in the spring of which year he came to what is now the state of South Dakota and took up a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres near the site of the present city of Canton, Lincoln county, while later he secured a homestead claim adjoining. Still later he be- came associated with others in the purchase of a tract of forty acres on which a portion of the city of Canton is now located. Of this land he

erected a log house of the primitive type and soon afterward opened a general merchandise store in the embryonic town. In the autumn of 1868 he was elected register of deeds of the county, being the first incumbent of this office, and in November of the following year he was elected a member of the territorial legislature, of which he was again chosen a member in 1878. In 1868 he was appointed postmaster at Can- ton, by President Grant, continuing in tenure of this office until 1871, when Judge Kidder con- ferred upon him the appointment of clerk of the district court, in which capacity he served con- secutively until 1885. He has always been a lead- ing spirit in the furthering of public enterprises in the town and county and has been a loyal and public-spirited citizen and one who has com- manded unqualified popular confidence and es- teem. He was largely instrumental in the or- ganization and management of the Canton Building Association, of which he was secretary, and was also foremost as a worker in securing · the erection of both the old and new court houses. He served for many years on the board of education, and at different intervals was clerk, president and treasurer of the same. In his sup- port of church and public benevolences he has been liberal, while as a lifelong adherent of the Republican party he has accomplished much in the interests of the grand old party and in the insuring of good legislation in his adopted ter- ritory and state. In a fraternal way he is identified with Silver Star Lodge, No. 4, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and with General Lyon Post, No. 11, Grand Army of the Republic. In November, 1899, he was elected to member- ship on the board of county commissioners, and was chosen as his own successor in 1902, thus serving two terms.

On the Ist of September, 1870, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Cuppett to Miss Nancy E. Martin, a daughter of Isaac N. Mar- tin, one of the sterling pioneers of Lincoln county, and of the four children of this union three are living, namely: Mark W., Frank P. and Eva A. The only daughter is now the wife of John H. Luers, of Cresco, Iowa.

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WALTER B. SAUNDERS .- Among the enterprising men whose business careers have been closely identified with the financial interests and material development of Grant county, the name of Walter B. Saunders, cashier of the Mer- chants' Bank of Milbank, stands out clear and distinct. Pre-eminently a progressive man, and as such deeply interested in everything relating to the advancement of his adopted city and county, he fills no insignificant place in public es- teem, but on the contrary enjoys worthy prestige in business circles and has won much more than local repute as an able and farseeing financier. Mr. Saunders was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, May 13, 1859, and is one of two chil- dren constituting the family of Nelson and Maria (McCoy) Saunders, both natives of the Empire state. The father, who was for many years one of the most distinguished physicians and sur- geons of western New York, died in the year 1896, the mother having preceded him to the other world, departing this life in 1875. Grace Saunders, the only sister, married a gentleman by the name of A. D. Hapgood, and died in 1885, leaving two sons, Karl and Chester.

Walter B. Saunders was reared in his native state, and received his education in Chamberlain Institute at Randolph, being graduated from that institution with the class of 1876. His first experience in practical life was as a clerk in a bank at Randolph, but after a short time he was made assistant cashier, the duties of which posi- tion hie discharged until 1882. In July of that year he came to Milbank, and, in partnership with A. C. Dodge, organized a private bank, of which he was made cashier. Subsequently, in 1901, the institution was incorporated a state bank, and as such it has since continued, its history presenting continued success. Mr. Saunders holds the posi- tion of cashier and to his practical knowledge of banking and thorough acquaintance with finance is largely due the credit of making the enterprise one of the strongest and most popular local mone- tary institutions. Mr. Saunders has large real estate and live stock interests in Grant county, to which he devotes considerable attention, making a specialty of graded Durham cattle, in the rais-

ing of which his success has been most encour- aging. He also owns valuable property in New York. He is a man of fine intellectual ability, a careful and discriminating reader, and being pub- lic-spirited, keeps himself well informed upon the leading questions and political issues of the times. Since coming to Milbank, he has been an influential factor in the affairs of the city, served four years as mayor and for a period of thirteen years has been a member of the common council. In that body he has been instrumental in bringing about much important municipal legislation, standing for progress and improvement within the legitimate bounds. Mr. Saunders is one of the three Louisiana Purchase Centennial Exposi- tion commissioners from this state, and is presi- dent of the commission.

Mr. Saunders is a prominent Knight Tem- plar Mason, and is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Mr. Saunders, on the 25th of May, 1884, was married in his native state to Miss Kate Crow- ley, whose father, Addison Crowley, was a prom- inent citizen and for many years a leading and prosperous business man of Cattaraugus county. He dealt largely in lumber and real estate, con- ducted for a long term of years a successful mer- cantile establishment and at one time served as sheriff, having always been prominent in public affairs. To Mr. and Mrs. Saunders have been born four children, Phil, a student in Northville College; Corinne, attending school at St. Mary's Hall, Faribault, Minnesota ; Lewis and Earl M. Mr. Saunders subscribes to the Episcopal faith, he and wife being active members of the church. Socially they are popular and their home is one of the centers of culture and refined influence in the city of Milbank.

JAMES H. BRANNON is one of the sterling pioneers of Grant county, is engaged in the livery business in the city of Milbank, where he estab- lished the first enterprise of the sort and where he now conducts the largest livery in the county, and he is also prominently identified with the farming and live-stock industries in this section

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of the state, having gained marked prosperity through his well directed energy and honorable and straightforward methods.

Mr. Brannon has the distinction of being a native of the fine old Bay state of the Union, hav- ing been born in Princeton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, on the 25th of November, 1859, and being a son of John and Margaret E. Bran- non, both of whom died in Massachusetts, the father having been a native of Ireland, whence he came to the United States in his youth, while he followed the vocation of farmer during the ma- jor portion of his life. This worthy couple be- came the parents of nine children, and of the number three sons and three daughters are still living. The subject was reared in his native place and secured his early educational discipline in the public schools. At the age of twelve years he entered upon an apprenticeship at the trade of cabinetmaking, in Worcester, Massachusetts, and continued to be employed at the same for a period of four years, at the expiration of which, in the centennial year, 1876, he came west, remaining for a few months in Iowa and in the fall of the same year taking up his residence in the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he was employed in a sash and blind manufactory for the ensuing year. He then, in 1879, came to Grant county, South Dakota, and filed a claim to a homestead, in Kilborn township, erecting a house on the place the same year. In the spring of 1880 he put in a crop and also cut that season about forty tons of hay, but while he was in Milbank a prairie fire swept his farm and destroyed everything, in- cluding his buildings and about seventy dollars in greenbacks which he had left in his house. In 1880 Mr. Brannon erected the first livery and feed barn in Milbank, the same being about the fourth building constructed in the village, and here he has ever since retained his home and con- tinued in the livery business, having now the lar- gest barn. the best equipment and controlling the largest business in the line in the county, while he is one of the liberal and popu- lar citizens of the county. having the esteem of all who know him and being

a man of marked geniality and courtesy. He is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable farming land, near Twin Brooks, this county, and there gives special attention to the raising of high-grade stock, having an average of about fifty head of graded shorthorn cattle. He is also interested in some fine standard-bred track horses, taking a deep interest in turf affairs. For the past eighteen years Mr. Brannon has also con- ducted an ice business in Milbank, securing a rep- resentative patronage and having the best of facil- ities for putting up pure ice and also for dispens- ing the same to his many customers. He is pro- gressive and public-spirited, wide-awake and en- ergetic, and has gained a position of prominence through his own efforts, in connection with the industrial, business and civic affairs of Grant county. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America.

On the 14th of January, 1893, Mr. Brannon was united in marriage to Miss Mary W. Preston, who was born in Connecticut, being a daughter of Edward Preston, who is now living at Unionville, Connecticut. Of this union have been born four children, all of whom remain at the parental home, namely: Edith M., Roy J., Irene G. and Gladys E. The attractive family residence is one of the hospitable homes of Milbank, and is a favored resort of the wide cir- cle of friends whom our subject and his family have gathered about them in the community.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. I, Part 99

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