History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 109

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 109

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homestead ranch being located four miles north- west of Britton. The subject resides on the farm and has direct supervision of its operation, while his brother has charge of the mercantile business and is also president of the Marshall County Bank, in Britton. The ranch is chiefly devoted to the raising of high-grade live stock upon an extensive scale, and on the same is to be found one of the finest herds of registered Galloway cattle in this section of the state. The subject also buys and ships grain upon a large scale, having his headquarters at Burch and controlling an im- portant business in the line. The ranch is sup- plied with an abundance of pure water, a fine artesian well of six-inch piping having been sunk to a depth of nine hundred and thirty-five feet, and having a flow which affords a twenty-five horse power, said power being utilized in the grinding of feed and also for other purposes.

In his political proclivitics Mr. Stokes is an uncompromising advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and he has taken a lively in- terest in the promotion of its cause, while he has held various county and township offices, and in 1902 was elected to represent his county in the state legislature, where he made an excellent record as a zealous working member of the lower house. He is identified with the Masonic fra- ternity and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which latter he has served as noble grand of his lodge.

On the 28th of November, 1882, Mr. Stokes was united in marriage to Miss Rosamond Eastor, who was born and reared in Minnesota, and they have two sons. Guy L. and Max G.

JAMES SOLBERG, president of the Mer- chants' Exchange Bank of Lake Preston, is a native of Norway, where his birth occurred on February 17, 1852. His parents, Peter and Georgiana Solberg, also of Norwegian birth, came to America in 1853, and located at Buffalo, New York, moving from there to London, Ontario. and later to Winona, Minnesota, where the fa- ther followed his trade of shoemaking until 1876, when he moved to Le Setter county, Minnesota.

and engaged in farming. He departed this life in the latter state, July 2, 1903, leaving to mourn hiis loss a widow and six children, the former still on the home farm in the county of Le Seuer.

Until thirteen years of age the subject of this review spent the greater part of his life in Lon- don, Canada, and received his preliminary educa- tion in the schools of that place. He remained with his parents until about the age of twenty- two and then went to Chicago, Illinois, where he spent two years as clerk in a boot and shoe house. Resigning his position at the expiration of the time noted, he went to St. Paul, Minnesota, and during the ensuing two years represented the in- terests of the Schaffer & Rossum Saddlery Hard- ware Company, of that city, as a traveling sales- man. Severing his connection with this firm, Mr. Solberg embarked in merchandising at Lake Crystal, Minnesota, and after spending nine pros- perous years in that town, disposed of his busi- ness and in the spring of 1893 came to South Da- kota and purchased an interest in the Merchants' Exchange Bank of Lake Preston, with the career of which institution he has since been identified. Mr. Solberg served the bank several years as vice-president, but in 1900 was elected president and in the latter capacity he still continues, fill- ing the position in an able and satisfactory man- ner and by. his energy and progressive business methods adding greatly to the prestige and in- fluence of the institution. As a financier he is familiar with monetary questions, and their re- lation to commercial and industrial life, and oc- cupies a prominent place among his compeers. In connection with banking he deals quite exten- sively in real estate, and now owns a large body of fine land in Kingsbury county, also a beautiful residence property in the town of Lake Preston, in addition to his financial interests represented by the bank of which he is chief executive.

On January 16, 1879, Mr. Solberg was united in marriage with Miss Carrie I. Gutterson, of Winona county, Minnesota, the daughter of Egel and Magla Gutterson, natives of Norway, the union being terminated by the death of the lov- ing and faithful wife on the 17th day of March, 1901.

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Fraternally Mr. Solberg is a member of the Masonic brotherhood, belonging to the blue lodge at Lake Preston, the chapter at Arlington and the commandery at Brookings. He is also identi- fied with the Eastern Star lodge, of which his wife was a charter member and the first matron, and his name has long adorned the records of the Ancient Order of United Workmen in the place where he resides. In politics he always has been stanchly Republican, and stood firmly by the party during all of its trials, caused by the wave of Populism, which a few years ago spread throughout the entire west.

CHARLES S. WHITING, judge of the cir- cuit court of the ninth judicial circuit of the state, maintaining his residence and professional head- quarters in DeSmet, the capital of Kings- bury county, is a native of the state of Minnesota, having been born on a farm in Olmsted county, on the 25th of May, 1863, and being a son of Ammi N. and Mariette (Rice) Whiting, both of whom were born in the state of New York, while their marriage was solemnized in Wiscon- sin. The father of our subject accompanied his parents on their removal to Wisconsin, about 1850, being a young man at the time, and they settled on a farm in Green county, while later he became identified with mercantile pursuits, in St. Marie, that state. In 1858 he removed to Olm- sted county, Minnesota, where he became the owner of a farm upon which he continued to re- side until 1902, when he came to DeSmet, South Dakota, where he has since lived practically re- tired, being seventy-one years of age at the time of this writing, in 1904. His wife died at the time of the birth of the subject of this sketch. After the death of his mother Judge Whiting was ta- ken to the home of his paternal grandparents, Ellis F. and Laura (Rice) Whiting, with whom he remained until he had attained the age of six- teen years, in Rochester, Minnesota, where he completed the curriculum of the public schools, being graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1879. He then spent three years with his father on the farm, and at the expiration

of this period began teaching, to which vocation he continued to devote his attention for the ensu- ing five years, passing the vacations on the home farm. For three years he was principal of the vil- lage school at Elgin and Eyota, Minnesota, and he proved a successful and popular teacher. In 1887 Judge Whiting was matriculated in the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, where he continued his studies until 1888, when he entered the law department of the State University in the city of Minneapolis, where he completed his professional course and was graduated as a member of the first class to thus go forth from this now prominent institu- tion, in 1889, there having been but three mem- bers in the class. He was admitted to the bar of Minnesota at the time of his graduation, and in July of the same year came to DeSmet, being du- ly admitted to the bar of South Dakota. When the Judge came to this state his financial resources were at the lowest possible ebb, but he was fortified by a thorough knowl- edge of the law, by a determination and courage which recognized no such thing as failure, with the logical consequence that he now stands at the present time in the front rank of the members of his profession in this section of the state. In 1802 he was elected state's attorney of Kingsbury county, in which office he served four terms, and an indication of the esteem in which he is held in the county was afforded in the first two elections, for he was the candidate on the Republican ticket and overcame the very considerable majority represented in the combined forces of the Democracy and Populists in the county. In 1897 he was the candidate of his party for the office of circuit judge of the third circuit, but was unable to overcome the large opposing majority in the district, though he carried his own county, being the first Republi- can candidate to do this in connection with any office aside from those of purely a county order. In March, 1903, he was appointed to the bench of the ninth circuit upon the creation of said cir- cuit, and his term will expire in December, 1904. His circuit comprises the counties of Spink, Beadle, Miner, and Kingsbury, and he is making

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a most enviable record in his judicial capacity, while there is little doubt he will be chosen as his own successor at the next election, having at the time of this article been unanimously nomi- nated by his party as his own successor. The Judge is a stanch and uncompromising advocate of the principles of the Republican party and has been an active and effective worker in the party cause since coming to the state. Fraternally the subject is affiliated with DeSmet Lodge, No. 58. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with the encampment of the order at DeSmet, while he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

On the 4th of November. 1891, Judge Whit- ing was united in marriage to Miss Mary G. Mitchell, of Dover, Minnesota, she being a daughter of William Mitchell, a prominent citi- zen of that place. Mrs. Whiting was summoned into eternal rest on the 29th of October, 1897, and was not long survived by her only child, Ruth, who died on the 7th of April, 1899. On the 21st of July, 1900, Judge Whiting consum- mated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Eleanor Hilton, who was born in Detroit, Michigan, being a daughter of Thomas and Julia A. Hilton, the former of whom died in 1880, while the latter now resides in the home of the subject. Judge and Mrs. Whiting have one daughter, Mariette, who was born on the IIth of April. 1901, and one son, Fred N., born March 1, 1904.

FRANCIS H. SCHOONMAKER, M. D., of Arlington, was born in Gardner, Illinois, Sep- tember 24. 1858, being the oldest in a family of four children, whose parents were W. H. and M. E. ( Hall) Schoonmaker. The father, a native of New York and of German-English descent, went to Illinois when a young man and engaged in merchandising in the town of Gardner, to which line of business he devoted the greater part of his life. lle spent some twelve or fifteen years in Joliet, Illinois, where he also conducted a mer- cantile establishment and finished his life work in that city, dying about 1891. Mrs. Schoon-

maker still makes her home in the above place, and of her four children there are still living Francis H., Charles F. and Lorise M., the de- ceased member of the family dying in infancy.

Doctor Schoonmaker was reared to manhood in his native state, attended the schools of Gardner and other places until the age of seven- teen, spending his vacations the meantime on a farm, where he early learned the lessons of in- dustry, which had so much to do in shaping his future course of life. Having decided to enter the medical profession, he spent one and a half years in preliminary study under the direction of Dr. C. B. Alford, of Odell, Illinois, now of Huron, South Dakota, and in 1884, at the age of twenty-six, entered the Chicago Medical College of Northwestern University, from which he was graduated three years later. In the spring of 1887 Doctor Schoonmaker located in Beloit, Kan- sas, but not finding a favorable opening at that place, he returned to Illinois in September of the same year and the following December came to Arlington, South Dakota, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his pro- fession.

Doctor Schoonmaker, in 1802. entered the marriage relation with Miss Frances A. Searles, of Joliet, Illinois, daughter of M. E. and J. M. Searles, the father for many years a leading grocer of that city, also deputy postmaster. One child has been born to this union, a son who answers to the name of William F.

The Doctor is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, belonging to the blue lodge and chapter at Arlington, and the commandery at Brookings. He is also identified with the Ancient Order of United Woodmen, the Woodmen and the Degree of Honor, being at this time grand medical examiner of the first named order. He acts in the capacity of medical examiner for the leading life insurance companies represented in this part of the state, and for some time past has been serving as coroner of Kingsbury county, to which office he was elected by the Republican party. Although a Republican in principle, he generally votes as his judgment dictates, espe- cially in local affairs, where politics should cut

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but little figure. Mrs. Schoonmaker is a member of the Baptist church of Arlington ; she is also a member of the Eastern Star and Degree of Honor. While not subscribing to any creed or statement of faith, the Doctor has a profound re- gard for religion and the church, being a liberal contributor to the congregation with which his wife is identified.

JOHN BALDRIDGE .- The distinction ac- corded the subject of this review of being one of the progressive business men and representative citizens of South Dakota has been honorably earned and is cheerfully conceded by all who know him or have come within the range of his influence. Coming west during the formation period of this state and experiencing in full meas- ure the difficulties and hardships incident to pio- neer life, he perseveringly pursued his course until in due time he surmounted unfavorable environment and rose from obscurity to the com- manding position he now occupies in business circles and the world of affairs. John Bald- ridge, president of the Farmers and Merchants' Bank of Iroquois, is descended from two old families, one of which originated in Ireland, the other in England. Hervey Baldridge, the sub- ject's father, was a native of Seneca county, New York, and in his veins flowed the blood of a long line of sturdy ancestors. Eliza Wilkinson, the mother, was born and grew to womanhood in Seneca county, Ohio, and traced her lineage in this country to the original "Mayflower" pil- grims, thence to a much remoter period in Eng- land, where her family name has been known for generations beyond the memory of man. Hervey was reared in Seneca county, New York, where from the age of twenty-one to twenty-seven he was engaged in teaching, in connection with which calling he also devoted considerable at- tention to agricultural pursuits, giving particu- lar attention to horticulture. He purchased land in the above county and his farm was for years considered one of the finest grain and fruit farms in western New York. At the age of thirty-five he was united in marriage with Eliza Wilkinson,

from which event until his death, in 1807. lit lived the life of a prosperous and contented tiller of the soil, his wife departing this life in 188 ). They reared a large family of ten children in all. of whom the following survive: John, whose name introduces this sketch ; Mrs. Stessa Blaine, of Washington, D. C .; Belle, now Mrs. C. G. Birdsell, also a resident of that city; Raymond W., who lives in Geneva, New York, and Har- rison A., whose home is also in the Empire state.

John Baldridge was born November 24. 1862. in Seneca county, New York, spent his child- hood and youth on the family homestead, and after attending the district schools until the age of sixteen, entered the Geneva Classical and Union School, an educational institution of high grade, where he pursued his studies for two years, standing at the head of his classes in mathematics and other branches. Later, at the age of nineteen, he successfully passed the state regents' examination and was granted a diploma from the University of the State of New York. In the spring of 1883, at the age of twenty, with his elder brother Willis, he came to Kingsbury county, South Dakota, where the two took up claims, Willis filing on his land at once and John later on when he reached his majority. Willis (lied November 24, 1884, the result of an acci- dental fall from a mule which he was riding a few days previous. By a strange coincidence his death occurred on John's birthday and also on the day on which he was to make final proof on his claim. Subsequently his father completed the final proof on the land and afterwards deeded it to John, in accordance with the wish expressed by Willis before his death and the mutual agree- ment between the two brothers that in case of the death of either the survivor was to receive the other's claim.

The subject experienced. during the first three or four years on his claim, many of the hardships and privations of pioneer life, but in due season he reduced his land to cultivation, made a number of substantial improvements. and on leaving it, in 1891, was in comfortable financial circumstances. Renting his farm that year and changing his abode to Iroquois, he ac-

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cepted the position of cashier in the Farmers and Merchants' Bank, and continued in that capacity until January 1, 1903, when he largely increased his interests in the institution and became its president. Ile is still serving in this responsible position, and to his correct business methods and superior executive ability the bank is indebted for a large measure of the success and prosperity which has characterized its career since he as- sumed the management and previously. What Mr. Baldridge has achieved in the business world has been entirely through his own efforts, as he came west with but limited capital, but with a first-class credit which enabled him to embark in enterprises which in the course of time yielded him large returns on his investments and made him not only one of the well-to-do men of his community but also one of the wide-awake, representative business men of Kingsbury county. In addition to city property and his banking interests, he now owns over eight hun- dred acres of valuable land in South Dakota and is also quite extensively engaged in stock rais- ing.

On the IIth day of March, 1886, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Baldridge and Miss Flora Adelaide Purintun, daughter of Orin S. and Mary A. Purintun, who were among the early pioneers of Kingsbury county, the mother still living in the city of DeSmet. The three chil- dren born of this union are Clarence L., aged seventeen, Grace, sixteen years old, and Blanche, whose birth occurred eleven years ago. Mr. Baldridge is a member of the Ancient Order of United Woodmen, also of the Degree of Honor, and has represented the former in the grand lodge, besides taking an active interest in all the local work of the orders. Mrs. Baldridge is also identified with the Degree of Honor, and has been the representative of the Iroquois lodge in the grand lodge of the state. Religiously both are members of the Congregational church and have been for a number of years, Mr. Baldridge being deacon and treasurer of the Iroquois Con- gregational church at the present time.

In politics the subject has always been stead- fast in his allegiance to the Republican party and

never swerved from his principles when SO many of his friends and associates were carried away by the great Populist movement, which a few years ago threatened to disrupt the two great parties throughout the west. He served as town- ship clerk and treasurer before moving to Iro- quois and since taking up his residence in the town has repeatedly been elected to the office of school treasurer, in addition to which office he has also rendered valuable service as a member of the school board, besides being identified with the State and National Bankers' Associations.

Mr. Baldridge possesses talent as a musician, and has cultivated the same under the direction of some of the most accomplished artists in the country, among whom was the distinguished pianist, Madam Towler, a pupil of Moscheles, for a number of years musical instructor of Queen Victoria. Amid the pressing claims of his various business interests he finds time to de- vote to this his favorite pastime. For the last eleven years he has been organist of the First Congregational church of Iroquois, and in many ways has taken an active interest in musical af- fairs throughout the state.

Mr. Baldridge is an admirer of the German language and literature and has formed the habit of doing a portion of his regular reading in that tongue.

CHARLES T. LIDDLE, son of John T. and Mary Liddle, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in these pages, was born in Hastings county, Minnesota, on October 5. 1865. When about five years old he was taken by his parents to Lansing, that state, and there entered the district schools, which he attended until the age of sixteen, the meanwhile assising his father in cultivating the farm. In November, 1881, he accompanied the family to Kingsbury county, South Dakota, and until attaining his majority remained under the parental roof, contributing his share to the de- velopment of the claim his father entered, and during the greater part of two years continuing his studies in the public schools.

Shortly after his twenty-first year Mr. Lid-

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dle purchased the relinquishment on a quarter section of land south of Iroquois, and addressing himself to its improvement soon had a good farin developed and in successful cultivation. After tilling it one year, he sold out and, returning to Minnesota, spent one summer and fall in a gro- cery store in the city of Minneapolis. Meantime, however, he further added to his scholastic training by spending the falls and winters of 1886-7 in the Agricultural College of South Da- kota, at Brookings, and in this way fitted himself for the duties of the active and successful busi- ness life upon which he was soon to enter. Re- turning to Kingsbury county in September, 1888, Mr. Liddle bought out the flour and feed store of C. O. Bortle, at Iroquois, and, forming a partnership with Perry Lawton, greatly enlarged the business, the firm soon becoming one of the most prosperous of the kind in the place. In March, 1891, the subject purchased his asso- ciate's interest, and has since been sole proprietor of an establishment which has steadily grown in magnitude and importance. The same year in which he became sole owner Mr. Liddle added a full line of furniture to his business and one year later farm implements and machinery were in- cluded, subsequently buggies, wagons and all kinds of vehicles being added to the stock.

Mr. Liddle was married December 25, 1889, to Miss Anna Williams, of Iroquois, a union terminated by the death of the wife in October, 1891. Later, September, 1895, he again entered the marriage relation, choosing for a wife Miss Kate Bradly, of Pierre, South Dakota, who has proved a faithful and devoted companion and helpmeet. Fraternally Mr. Liddle is member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, being active in both fraternities. Mrs. Liddle is one of the leading spirits in the Rebekah degree lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has filled various offices in the same ; she is also a zeal- ous worker in the Methodist Episcopal church of Iroquois, to which religious body her husband belongs, the latter having been a trustee of the congregation for a number of years, also one of its most liberal financial supporters. Politically

Mr. Liddle has always been a stanch Republican. He was one of the first of his party in Iroquois to advocate the gold standard and labored un- ceasingly for the measure, standing firm and un- wavering for the time-honored principle of sound money. He has been a delegate to a num- ber of conventions, is a power in local politics, a successful organizer and leader, but has never aspired to office or any kind of public distinction.

JOHN T. LIDDLE was born June 30, 1832, in Dearborn county, Indiana, the son of Stephen and Sarah Liddle, natives of England. These parents were married in the land of their birth and after living there a number of years came to the United States and settled in Dearborn county, Indiana, where they spent the remainder of their days on a farm. Stephen Liddle always followed agriculture for a livelihood and in addition there- to devoted considerable time to the public minis- try. His wife bore him ten children, namely : Bel- sie, Stephen, Sarah, Ann, James, Martha, Isaac, Hannah, Mary and John T., all deceased but the subject of this review and James, the latter liv- ing in Dearborn county, Indiana, at the age of seventy-nine years.

John T. Liddle was reared on the family homestead in Miller township, Dearborn county, Indiana, attended the indifferent subscription schools of the carly day, and at the age of twenty- one began working for himself as a farm hand, continuing this line of labor for a period of about two years. He then returned home and took charge of the farm which he cultivated success- tully in his own and his parents' interests as long as the latter lived, besides looking after their support and comfort in many other ways. When a young man he married Miss Mary Barkuloo, of Logan township, Dearborn county, after which he continued to farm the homestead for three or four years and then moved to Minneapolis, where he purchased land and followed the pursuit of agriculture until disposing of his possessions in that state and migrating to South Dakota a few years later. Mr. Liddle entered a quarter sec- tion of land in Kingsbury county and developed

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 109

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