History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 107

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1138

USA > South Dakota > History of South Dakota, Vol. II > Part 107

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The subject of this review was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm and secured his early educational training in the common schools of his native state, supplementing the same by a course in the Maine Central Institute, at Pitts- field, after which he took a partial course in the . Maine State College, at Orono, his health becom- ing so impaired as to render it impossible for him to complete the full course. The self-re- liance and ambitious spirit which have been dominant characteristics of the man through- out his life were exemplified in these early days, when he was putting forth every effort to secure an education, depending upon his own resources for the securing of the necessary funds. He worked on farms during the summer months, taught in the country schools during the winter terms and set his hand to such other work as he could secure, and thus he defrayed, unassisted, the expenses of his school and college courses. In 1864 Mr. Kennedy accompanied his parents on their removal to a farm in Herman township. Penobscot county, Maine, the place being a few miles distant from the city of Bangor. After leaving college Mr. Kennedy devoted his atten- tion to teaching school, and when but twenty- one years of age he was elected superintendent of schools of a portion of Penobscot county, while two years later, in 1873, he removed to

Leroy, Minnesota, where he was elected prin- cipal of the village schools and appointed deputy superintendent of schools for the county, retain- ing this dual incumbency one year, at the ex- piration of which he turned his attention to the real-estate business, with which he has ever since continued to be identified, his operations in the line having eventually become of wide scope and importance. In 1874 Mr. Kennedy established, in Leroy, a weekly newspaper, the Leroy Inde- pendent, of which he continued editor and pub- lisher for the ensuing four years, when he sold the property and business.

In March, 1878, Mr. Kennedy came to the territory of Dakota, making his way to Lake county, there being not more than twelve families within its borders at the time. He secured from the government a homestead and a timber claim, aggregating three hundred and twenty acres, and fortlıwith started a stock farm. Two years later the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad Company constructed a line across this land and Mr. Kennedy secured thereon the location of a town site, which he duly platted, while the name of Madison was given to the embryo village by its founder. The main street of the present city runs through the center of his original farm, and it is needless to say that the land rapidly appreciated in value with the development and substantial upbuilding of the town. In 1884 Mr. Kennedy was primarily instrumental in effecting the organization of the First National Bank of Madison, of which he was chosen the first presi- dent. The following year he established the Kennedy Brothers' Bank, of which he became president, and this institution continued business until 1889, when it was absorbed by a company which was organized and incorporated by Mr. Kennedy, under the title of the Northwestern Loan and Banking Company, of which he was chosen president. This corporation did a large business in the extending of real-estate loans, while the banking departments also represented a flourishing and well-conducted enterprise. In 1891 the subject organized the Madison State Bank and was made its president, and this insti- tution succeeded to the banking business of the

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company previously mentioned, the undertaking having grown to such an extent as to render it expedient to segregate the two departments. In 1882 Mr. Kennedy engaged in the raising of live stock upon an extensive scale, entering into partnership with Horace B. Williamson, under the firm name of Kennedy & Williamson. The firm had a stock farm of two thousand one bun- dred and sixty acres in the western part of Lake county, and the enterprise was successfully con- tinued until about 1898, when Mr. Kennedy withdrew from the same, his other capitalistic in- terests demanding his entire time and attention. In this connection it should be noted that this firm brought the first large band of sheep into the territory of Dakota,-about two thousand head. Mr. Kennedy has shown himself to be an energetic and practical business man and his administrative talent has been brought into evidence in connection with the important and varied enterprises with which he has been identified. He has always been a firm believer in and advocate of the great possibilities and future development of the state of South Da- kota, and has become thoroughly familiar with all sections of the commonwealth and with its varied resources, so that his judgment is prac- tically ultimate. As a believer in the broadening effect of travel and its value as a means of recre- ation and health preservation, Mr. Kennedy has not failed to amply avail himself of the privileges afforded, and with his family has traveled over practically all sections of the Union, as well as through parts of Mexico and the Dominion of Canada.

In politics Mr. Kennedy is known as one of the leaders in the ranks of the Republican party in South Dakota. In November, 1880, he was elected as a representative of Lake county in the territorial legislature, and within the suc- ceeding session introduced and secured the enact- ment of a bill locating the State Normal School at Madison, while his generosity and public spirit were further shown in his donating to the state the twenty acres of land upon which all the build- ings of this excellent and valued institution are located. He was a member and secretary of the

board of trustees of this school for a period of eight years and has ever maintained a lively in- terest in its welfare. From 18% to 1889 he served as a member of the board of aldermen of Madison,-a term of nine consecutive years,- and during 1891-2 he was mayor of the city, giving a most able and progressive administra- tion of municipal affairs. During the period leading up to the division of the territory of Dakota Mr. Kennedy passed considerable time in the national capital, in the interest of such division and the admission of South Dakota to the Union. Fraternally Mr. Kennedy is identified with the following Masonic bodies: Evergreen Lodge, No. 17, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, and Cyprus Chapter, No. 26, Royal Arch Masons, at Madison ; Cyrene Commandery. No. 2. Knights Templar, at Sioux Falls ; Oriental Consistory, No. 1, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Yankton; El Riad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Sioux Falls; Madison Chapter, No. 6, Order of the Eastern Star, at Madison, while he also holds membership in Madison Lodge, No. 20, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

At Pittsfield, Maine, on the 21st of May, 1873, Mr. Kennedy was united in marriage to Miss May Ella Williamson, who was born in that state, being a daughter of Hon. Henry Williamson, of Starks, Somerset county, Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy have two children, C. Leroy, who was born on the ioth of January, 1878, and Dean M .. who was born January 3, 1887.

JACOB L. KEHM. one of the represent- ative business men of Harrisburg, Lincoln county, is a native of the state of Illinois and a scion of one of its pioneer families, having been born in Shannon, Carroll county, on the 13th of January, 1864, a son of Jacob and Katherine Kehm, both of whom are still living. The father was engaged in the lumber business in that place until 1892 and is at present a resi- dent of Canton, South Dakota. The subject com- pleted the curriculum of the public schools in

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his native town, having been graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1880. after which he took a course in the commercial department of the Northwestern University, at Naperville. Illinois, being graduated in 1882. After leaving school Mr. Kehm initiated his prac- tical business career by entering the employ of the lumbering firm of Kelly, Weeks & Company, at Racine, Wisconsin, with whom he remained about one and one-half years. In 1885 he went to Hastings, Nebraska, where he was engaged in the lumbering trade for several years. In 1892 he came to Harrisburg, South Dakota, where he entered into partnership with L. P. Meinger in the lumber and hardware business, under the title of Meinger & Kehm, the firm being the first merchants in the town, and here they have ever since continued operations in these lines, having built up a prosperous and ex- tensive business and having gained unqualified confidence and esteem in the community.

In politics Mr. Kehm has ever been an un- compromising advocate of the principles of the Republican party, in whose cause he has ren- dered most effective service. He has mani- fested no political ambition in a personal way, but in November, 1902, a distinctive mark of the hold which he has upon popular regard and con- fidence in Lincoln county was given when he was elected a representative in the state legis- lature, receiving a gratifying majority. Fra- ternally he is identified with Hastings Lodge, No. 28, Knights of Pythias, in Hastings, Ne- braska.

On the 17th of October, 1888, in his native town of Shannon, Illinois, was consummated the marriage of Mr. Kehm to Miss Lillie McDowell. who was born in Freeport, that state, a daugh- ter of E. R. McDowell, a prominent citizen of that city. Of this union have been born two sons. Harry and Arthur.

RUDOLPH D. JENNINGS, M. D .. of Hot Springs, has not only achieved worthy prestige in the line of his profession, but for many years has been prominent in the business circles of his adopted state, being one of the founders and chief

promotors of the thriving city in which he now resides. Dr. Jennings was born November 21, 1853, in Fremont, Ohio, and grew to young man- hood and received his literary education in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, to which place his parents re- moved when he was a mere youth. His father being a physician, he early took up the study of medicine and continued to prosecute the same in Mt. Vernon until 1872. when he came to Bis- marck, Dakota territory.

Shortly after locating at Bismarck. Dr. Jen- nings entered the employ of the Puget Sound Land Company, and later was appointed deputy collector of internal revenue, in which capacity he served for a number of years, the meanwhile becoming identified with various enterprises for the development of Dakota and the opening of its resources. After remaining at Bismarck until 1876. he went to the Black Hills, locating first at Crook City, subsequently removing to Dead- wood, with the growth and development of which he soon became actively interested. While a resident of Crook City he served as deputy col- lector of internal revenue for the Black Hills country, and to him also belongs the unique honor of being the first judge before whom a murder case was tried in the city, having been chosen to the position by practically the unanimous voice of the citizens of the place. In addition to his duties as collector, he also dealt quite extensively in real estate and as opportunities afforded con- tinued the study of medicine with the object in view of ultimately making the profession his life work.

Dr. Jennings remained at Deadwood until the year 1881, when he came to the present site of Hot Springs for the purpose of looking over the country, having heard many favorable reports of the locality and of the advantages it possessed for becoming, under judicious management, the center of a thriving populace. Realizing these advantages he at once purchased a squatter right from a "squaw man" and took up a homestead where the city of Hot Springs was afterwards located, taking possession of the same in the sum- mer of 1882. The same year he was instrumental in organizing the Dakota Hot Springs Company, with the object in view of developing this highly

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favored section and attracting attention to the , and efficiency, the Doctor, in 1890, went to Lon- springs, which already had become widely known don. England, where he took special courses under some of the most distinguished medical men of the age, thus by careful study and thor- ongh research fitting himself for the most exact ing duties of his chosen calling. for the purity and wonderful curative properties of their waters. Later Fred T. Evans, E. G. Dudley, L. R. Graves and Dr. Stewart, all of Deadwood, took stock in the company and under their joint management the town of Hot Springs was in due time laid out and a number of sub- stantial buildings erected, among them being the Evans Hotel and Bath House, the Mankate House, the Big Plunge, besides several business blocks, and not a few private residences. The city thus founded soon met the high expecta- tions of the proprietors, for it was not long until a thrifty class of people was attracted to the place and within a comparatively brief period Hot Springs not only became a favorite watering place and pleasure resort, but the center of popu- lation and the chief trading point for a large area of territory.

Dr. Jennings was untiring in his efforts to promote the varied interests of the town, took an active part in pushing its different enterprises to successful completion and to him more per- haps than to any one individual is due the credit of inducing the Burlington and Elkhorn rail- road companies to extend their respective lines to the city. He was an influential factor in the Hot Springs Company as long as it existed, served for several years as its secretary. also as a director, and when it had accomplished its pur- poses, assisted to wind up its affairs to the satis- faction of all concerned.

Actttated by a landable desire to finish his medical education and engage in the practice of medicine, Dr. Jennings, in 1885. entered a medi- cal college at Chicago, and after his graduation, two years later, opened an office in Hot Springs, where in due time he built up a large and lu- crative professional business. He was medical director of the Hot Springs Company for a period of ten years and his private practice dur- ing that time and since assumed large propor- tions and won for him much more than local repu- tation as an able physician and skillful surgeon.

Believing in taking advantage of every op- portunity to add to his professional knowledge

Dr. Jennings has not only been highly suc- cessful in his profession, but in business matters his advancement has also been rapid, being at this time one of the largest real-estate holders in Hot Springs, besides owning other valuable property in the city and elsewhere. all of which came to him through legitimate means and superior busi- ness management. He is a public-spirited citizen, deeply interested in the development of this thriving city, with the founding and growth of which he has had so much to do. and his in- fluence and material support are also given to all progressive measures for the social, educational and moral advancement of the community. Hc served five years as a member of the state board of health, during three of which he was its chair- man, and his labors in that capacity were pro- ductive of great and lasting results to every part of the commonwealth. In politics the Doctor is a Republican, but he has always declined public position, the claims of his profession and his large business interests having more attraction for him than the honors or emoluments of office.

Dr. Jennings is a thirty-second-degree Scot- tish-rite Mason, also a member of the Mystic Shrine, and is prominent in all branches of the ancient and honorable fraternity to which he be- longs. He is also identified with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, Master Workmen of America, Ancient Order of United Workmen and Improved Order of Red Men, in all of which he has not only been an active and influen- tial worker, but an honored official, whose un- tiring efforts have made the organization realize the objects for which intended.

GABRIEL W. ABELL, who is in charge of the South Dakota business of the extensive in- vestment, banking and real-estate firm of Trev- ett, Mattis & Abell, of which he is an interested

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

principal and which is one of the oldest and most solid and popular concerns of the sort in the Union, having had its inception in 1861 and hav- ing continued business consecutively since that time, with but few changes in the personnel of its principals, is established with headquarters in the city of Huron, Beadle county, while he controls a business extending throughout the en- tire eastern section of the state. He has at all times most attractive properties listed on his books and special attention is also given to the negotiation of financial loans on farm realty. Mr. Abell is an authority on land values in the north- west and elsewhere and stands as the local head of the firm of which he is a member, while he is known as one of the representative citizens of the state and as one worthy of the confidence and esteem in which he is so uniformly held.

Mr. Abell was born in Harding county, Ken- tucky, on the 7th of June, 1844, and is a son of Washington and Eleanor (Overall) Abell, who were likewise born and reared in that state, being representatives of old and prominent families of that favored section of the Union. Samuel Abell, the grandfather of the subject, was likewise born in Kentucky. The original American progeni- tors were three brothers of the name who emi- grated hither from Wales in the colonial epoch, and the Kentucky branch of the family has been principally identified with agricultural pursuits during the several generations. The father of the subject followed this vocation and both he and his wife passed their entire lives in Ken- tucky. They became the parents of ten chil- dren, of whom three are living, while two of the number still maintain their home in Kentucky.

Gabriel W. Abell passed his youthful years on the homestead farm and received his educa- tional discipline in the common schools of that section. At the age of seventeen years he re- moved to central Illinois, locating in Shelbyville, where he eventually engaged in the mercantile business and later in the farm, mortgage and bond business, becoming one of the prominent citizens of that section. There he continued his residence until November II. 1882, when he came to South Dakota and located in Huron, which has

since been his home and base of business opera- tions. He had previously become associated with the real-estate firm of Burnham, Trevett & Mat- tis, a large concern, with headquarters in Cham- paign, Illinois, and he came to Dakota territory as the representative of this firm, which already controlled an extensive business in the middle and western states. The firm was established in 1861, as before noted, and at this time stands as one of the oldest banking and farm-loan concerns in the west, while the history of its business has since continued without interruption. On the death of Mr. Burnham, in 1897, the firm name was changed to its present form, and Mr. Abell continued in charge of the South Dakota branch of the business, having greatly expanded the in- terests of the firm in this section of the Union. He not only has jurisdiction in this state, but from the headquarters in Huron also controlled the business of the firm in a portion of North Dakota and the northern section of Nebraska. The business controlled now runs into the mil- lions, and the subject has gained a high reputa- tion as an executive, having ably and successfully protected the interests of his concern and those of its patrons in this section during the dark days of financial depression from 1893 to 1896, passing through the ordeal with flying colors and gain- ing new prestige for the old and reliable firm, whose entire history has been one of unqualified business integrity and honor. They own and control a large amount of valuable farming land in the state, as well as in Nebraska and North Dakota, while the Huron headquarters are es- tablished in a fine modern building of brick and stone, the same having been erected by the firm for the purpose, while in the structure are found the best of office accommodations for other busi- ness concerns and professional men. In politics Mr. Abell is a stanch supporter of the cause of Democracy, and he received the distinction of be- ing nominated for governor of the state on the party ticket in 1902, but declined to make the campaign or to accept the nomination, feeling that his business interests would not permit him to give the requisite time to either the preliminary canvass or to the duties of the office in event of

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his election. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, in which he has attained the Knights Templar degrees, and is distinctively popular in both business and social circles as well as in the coteries of public men in the state. He and his wife are identified with the regular Baptist church.

On the 22d of September, 1868, Mr. Abell was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Hughey, who was born and reared in Bracken county, Kentucky, being a daughter of Richard J. and Elizabeth (Fallin) Hughey. Of their children we incorporate the following brief record : Clara Elenor is now the wife of John L. Trincher, of Danville, Illinois ; Pearl Louise is the wife of Rev. Marshall F. Montgomery, rector of St. John's church, in Aberdeen, who contributes the interest- ing chapter on the history of the Protestant Epis- copal church to this work, being also chaplain of the First Regiment of the National Guard of the state.

STEPHEN V. JONES, one of the honored pioneer members of the bar of Turner county, was born in the township of Union, Rock county, Wisconsin, and is a son of Ira and Sarah J. (Lemon) Jones, both of whom were born and reared in Ohio. The Jones family came origin- ally from Wales, the progenitors in the new world locating in Pennsylvania prior to the war of the Revolution, in which representatives of the name were active participants, aiding in the securing of the independence of the colonies, while those of later generations showed their patriotism by tak- ing part in the war of 1812, the Mexican war and that of the Rebellion, while members also served in connection with the early Indian wars in Ohio, being contemporaries and companions of Allen Poe and other noted Indian fighters. The Lemon family came from England to Virginia and be- came prominently identified with the early his- tory of the patrician Old Dominion, where the name stood for loyalty and patriotism, members of the family taking part in the early French and Indian wars and also in the Revolution, one, at least, of the name having been a member of

Harry Lee's famous light horse cavalry. The Lemons became numbered among the early pio- neers of Ohio, and were associated with Simon Kenton and other celebrated Indian fighters. Rep- resentatives of this stanch old stock have been found in every war in which the nation has been involved, from the Revolution up to and includ- ing that with Spain.

Immediately after their marriage Ira and Sarah J. Jones removed from Ohio to central Illinois, where they located about 1835, thus be- coming pioneers of the state. They later re- moved to the northern part of the state and then to Rock county, Wisconsin, where they settled upon a pioneer farmstead in 1840, there being but few white settlers in that section at the time, while the Indians were much in evidence. There the honored parents of the subject passed the remainder of their lives. being persons of sterling character and ever commanding the unqualified esteem of all who knew them.

The subject of this review was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm, and his early educational training was secured in the public schools and under the direction of private tutors. He early put his scholastic acquirements to prac- tical use by engaging in teaching, through which means and through soliciting for insurance con- panies he obtained the funds which enabled him to further prosecute his studies. He was ever ready to turn himself to any honest labor which presented and has retained the most wholesome respect for the dignity of honest toil and en- deavor. He studied surveying, and for a time followed work along this line, in 1870, 1871 and 1872. He was a member of what was known as the Colorado river exploring expedition, under command of Major J. W. Powell, and in this con- nection has the distinction of being one of the seven men who have ever gone through the mag- nificent canons of the Green and Colorado rivers. The trip was made in open boats and was at- tended with much peril. The party started at Green River Station, in southeastern Wyoming, and after a year and a half left the Colorado river near the southeastern line of Nevada.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 107

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn Publication date: 1904 Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1138

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1138