History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 111

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

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On the 30th of November, 1882, Mr. Sulli- van was united in marriage to Miss Mary H. Comerford, of Chamberlain, this state, she being a native of Morris, Illinois, and they have one daughter. Clare.

L. L. LOSTUTTER was born October 15, 1863, in Switzerland county, Indiana, and is the third in a family of four children, whose parents were W. C. and Avarilla Lostutter, both.

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natives of the Hoosier state. After farming for a number of years in Indiana, W. C. Lostutter moved to Illinois, where he also followed agri- cultural pursuits, subsequently engaging in the mercantile business. In the fall of 1880 he changed his abode to Hand county, South Da- kota, locating at St. Lawrence, of which he was one of the first settlers and until the spring of 1883 ran a lumber yard in that town. He then removed to Iroquois, where he also engaged in the lumber business in partnership with his son, to whom he subsequently sold out, and in 1884 established a bank which soon became one of the successful and popular institutions of the kind in the county of Kingsbury. He departed this life September 13, 1885. deeply lamented by all who knew him, leaving to mourn his loss a widow and three children, the names of the latter being as follows: Mrs. Addie Frederick, Mrs. Fannie Pinkerton and L. L., the subject of this review.

The early life of L. L. Lostutter was spent in Clarence, Illinois, and he received his education in the public schools and Paxton Normal Insti- tute. When a mere lad he became his father's as- sistant in the store, and after the family moved to South Dakota he remained one and a half years in charge of the business, closing the establish- ment out at the expiration of that time and re- joining his parents at St. Lawrence. Later, in partnership with his father, he engaged in the lumber business. When the father died, L. L. took charge of the banking and lumbering inter- ests and managed the same with success and profit until 1887, when he bought out the other heirs and from that time until 1903 was sole proprietor of the Farmers and Merchants' Bank of Iroquois. In January of the latter year he sold out and re- tired from banking and since then has devoted his attention mainly to the handling of real es- tate, in which business he had previously been engaged, and in which he built up a large and lucrative patronage in connection with his other enterprises. He now deals extensively in all kinds of realty, city and country, is also identified with other lines of activity and occupies a com-

manding position in business circles, locally and throughout the state. Mr. Lostutter is one of the prominent Odd Fellows of South Dakota, and has filled all the chairs in the local lodge to which he belongs, besides being high in the councils of the grand lodge, in which body he has also been honored with exalted official station. Hc served five years as grand treasurer, was grand warden for a considerable length of time, held the office of deputy grand master for a term and later rose to the honorable position of grand master, the highest office within the gift of the order. For a series of years he was chosen representative to the sovereign grand lodge, in which exalted assemblage his activity and in- fluence brought him to the favorable notice of the leaders of the fraternity throughout the Union, among whom he is now numbered. In addition to his deep interest in Odd Fellowship, Mr. Lostutter is also a zealous Mason, in which ancient and honorable brotherhood he has held offices of high rank, serving two years as treas- urer of the grand lodge, being the only man in South Dakota ever re-elected to that responsible position.

Politically Mr. Lostutter is a Republican and has always been an unswerving supporter of the party and judicious advisor in its councils, also a splendid organizer and successful campaigner. For years he has been a delegate to city, county, district and state conventions, has served several terms as chairman of his delegations to the latter and in 1896 was alternate to the national con- vention, which met in St. Louis, Missouri, also attended as a delegate the national convention at Philadelphia in 1900.

Mr. Lostutter was appointed receiver of the Huron National Bank in 1891, and in due time wound up the business of the institution to the satisfaction of all concerned. He is a safe, reli- able business man of sound judgment, prudent and resourceful in his dealings, but at all times honorable, and his integrity is unstained by the slightest suspicion of anything savoring of dis- repute.

In March, 1887, was solemnized the mar- riage of Mr. Lostutter with Miss Minnie Hall,

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daughter of Jackson Hall, an old settler of Kingsbury county, who now lives in the state of California. Mrs. Lostutter has been a true help- meet to her husband, presiding over his home with true wifely dignity, and sympathizing with him in all of his aspirations and endeavors. She is a leader in the Rebekah lodge of Odd Fellows at Iroquois, has attended a number of high as- semblages of the order, besides holding im- portant official positions ; and is a faithful and consistent member of the Congregational church. Mr. Lostutter also subscribes to this faith, and for a period of seven or eight years has been a trustee of the Iroquois congregation. He is fond of travel and in addition to visiting nearly every state of the Union, has made a trip to Mexico, in which he was accompanied by his wife. Recently, 1903, the two went upon an ex- tensive and pleasant sea voyage, during which they visited Porto Rico; Venezuela, South Amer- ica ; stopping at St. Pierre, Martinique, and the Spanish Island of St. Thomas and many other interesting places, spending nearly a hundred days making the trip.

ORLANDO T. GRATTAN was born in Mount Carroll, Carroll county, Illinois, on the 8th of May, 1853, being a son of H. G. and Phoebe (Tisdell) Grattan, the former of whom was born in Connecticut. The paternal grand- father of the subject was Amos Grattan, who was a blacksmith by trade and who came of' stanchi old New England stock. As a young man H. G. Grattan learned the printer's trade, becoming one of the pioneer newspaper men of Illinois, and having been identified with the publication of pa- pers at Mount Carroll, Freeport and Sterling. He later became general agent for the McCor- mick Harvesting Machine Company, and finally removed to Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa, where he died in 1896, his wife having passed away in 1866. at Sterling, Illinois. The subject attended the schools of Sterling, Illinois, until he had attained the age of thirteen years, and then accompanied his father on his removal to Wau- kon, Iowa, where he worked on his father's farm

until he had attained the age of eighteen years, in the meanwhile attending school as opportunity afforded. He then entered the employ of the Mc- Cormick Harvesting Machine Company as trav- eling salesman, and was thus engaged about seven years. In December, 1880, he came to Elk- ton, South Dakota, and here engaged in the hard- ware business, beginning operations with a capi- tal of only two hundred dollars of his own. Upon coming to the state it was his intention to locate in Pierre, but at Tracy he met a traveling sales- man for the house of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company, of Chicago, who advised him to look over the field at Elkton, which was then known as Ivanhoe. He arrived in the embryonic village at ten o'clock at night, and his first impression could not have been very favorable, for he found entertainment, so called, in the only hotel, which was connected with the local blacksmith shop. The interior was not plastered, and the second story had a floor of loose boards, while the roof was of most flimsy construction. There were five. beds in the room which was assigned to him, and during the early days of his sojourn in the town blizzards raged every day, while he states that the snow was drifted so deep in some places that one might, if desired, sit on top of the tele- graph poles and view the prospect o'er. This memorable winter of 1880-I was one of the worst ever experienced since the settlement of this sec- tion, but the subject was not dismayed by the out- look and determined to establish a business here. About the middle of January he began the erec- tion of his two-story "business block," the same being a most primitive structure. He secured a portion of the lumber from Flandreau, eight- een miles distant, and the remainder from Lake Benton. Twice within that winter he made his way on foot to and from Flandreau, and when the roof was placed on his building those engaged in shingling the same could walk about on the snow drifts and prosecute their work, though the building was of two stories. On the 15th of April, 1881, Mr. Grattan equipped himself with snow-shoes, on which he started for Gary, thir- ty-five miles distant, to meet a friend. The journey required two days. The first night he

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stopped at the home of Henry Kienast, ten miles out, and there found that the only supply of food was that secured by grinding wheat in an ordi- nary coffee-mill and then baking the same into bread. He finally had to hire a team to take hint to his destination, having become snow-blind, so that it was unsafe for him to continue alone. He then returned to Waukon, Iowa, where his wife and two children had remained in the meanwhile, and as soon as the railroad was opened in the spring, he brought his family to the new home, and for the first week after their arrival they slept on improvised beds laid on the floor of the local railway station, a small and rude building. Thereafter the family resided in the rooms over the store for seven years, when they took posses- sion of the present attractive and commodious modern residence, which is valued at about five thousand dollars, and which is one of the best in the town.

During the first year of business in Elkton, . Mr. Grattan made expenses and cleared sixteen dollars, and from this nucleus he has built up his present extensive and flourishing enterprise and has gained precedence as one of the leading busi- ness men and capitalists of the town. In 1897 his place of business was destroyed by fire, entail- ing a loss of four thousand dollars, but he promptly erected his present substantial brick and stone block, of two stories, which is one of the best in the town, being valued at ten thou- sand dollars, while his stock of hardware reaches a valuation of four thousand dollars. He for- merly handled farm machinery, but has now dropped this branch of his enterprise. He con- trols a large and representative trade, and in ad- dition to his hardware business does a large loan and insurance business. In politics he supported the Republican party until 1896, when he became convinced of the legitimacy of the financial poli- icy adopted by the Democratic party in its plat- form, and showed the courage of his convictions by transferring his allegiance to the latter, whose principles he has since advocated. He is not formally identified with any religious organiza- tion, but gives his support to the Baptist church, of which his wife is a devoted member. He is

identified with the lodge and chapter of the Ma- sonic fraternity in Elkton, with the commandery of Knights Templar at Brookings, and with the temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Sioux Falls.

On the 18th of May, 1874, Mr. Grattan was united in marriage to Miss Eva Hersey, who was born and reared in Waukon, Iowa, being a daughter of Adaniram J. and Mary (Reed) Her- sey, who came to that state from Massachusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Grattan have three children, con- cerning whom we offer the following data : Paul H., who was graduated in the South Dakota State Agricultural College in 1896, and in the law department of the lowa State University in 1899. is now a traveling salesman; Ray J. is as- sociated with his father in the conducting of the store: and Edna G., who is now prosecuting her musical studies in the city of Buffalo, New York, where she will complete a two-years course in 1003, was previously a student in the Francis Shirmer Musical Academy of the University of Chicago, and is a specially skilled pianist, hav- ing gained a high reputation in Buffalo, where she is now studying.

GEORGE C. KNICKERBOCKER .- All who are familiar with the delightful writings of Washington Irving, and particularly with his "Knickerbocker's New York," will understand that the name borne by the subject has through this source become almost a generic term as desig- nating the sturdy and aristocratic division of the old Holland families who settled in New Amster- dam, the nucleus of the present national metrop- olis, and also became prominent in connection with the settlement of other sections of the Em- pire state. The lineage of Colonel Knickerbocker is traced in an unbroken way back to the original American progenitors whom Irving thus singled out in giving title to one of his most interesting works, and the genealogical record is one in which he may well take pride. The Colonel is one of the honored pioneers and popular citizens of McPherson county and has been the owner of a hotel in Eureka since the founding of the town,

COLONEL AND MRS. GEORGE C. KNICKERBOCKER AND GRANDCHILDREN.

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having, in fact, purchased the first lot and erect- ed the first building in the place save for those put up in a preliminary way by the railroad com- pany.

The genealogical record is traced back to John VanBerghan Knickerbocker, of Brabant, who was captain in the navy of the Netherlands, and whose son, Harmon Jansen Knickerbocker, born in Friesland, in 1648, was the original pro- genitor in America. He came from Holland to the new world in 1678. and through his second son, Lawrence, who married Catherine Van Horn, the line of direct descent is traced to the subject of this review. Harmon, son of Law- rence, married Rebecca Wandelar, and their sec- ond son, Harmon Jansen, who married Susannah Basson, was the great-grandfather of our sub- ject. Peter Knickerbocker, grandfather of the Colonel, married Jane Montrose, and they became the parents of eighteen children, of whom seven are yet living. the average age of the number be- ing four score years, which veneralle age is that of our subject's father, William, who now resides in Aurora, Illinois, the family being nota- ble for longevity. William Knickerbocker was born and reared in Dutchess county, New York, as was also his wife, whose maiden name was Helen MI. Crouse and who is still living, as are two of their four children, of whom the subject was the first in order of birth.

About the year 1848 William Knickerbocker took up his residence in Illinois, becoming one of the pioneers of that state, where he followed the vocation of contractor and builder for many years. In Aurora, Illinois, on the 11th of October, 1850, George C. Knickerbocker was ushered into the world, and there passed his boyhood days, secur- ing such educational advantages as were afforded in the common schools. He acquired the mason's trade in his youth and as a young man was suc- cessfully engaged in contracting and building in Illinois and adjoining states. At the age of twenty-seven years he located in, the city of Min- neapolis, Minnesota, where he engaged in the furniture business. In the early 'eighties he con- ducted the largest establishment of the sort in the city mentioned, but his place was destroyed by

fire in 1882, entailing a total loss of sixty-five thousand dollars. In 1885 the Colonel came to South Dakota and located in McPherson county. being one of the first settlers in the western part of the county. At the time of the inception of the town of Eureka and before the railroad com pany, owning the site, had granted permission for anyone to build on the ground, Colosel Knicker- bocker "took time by the forelock" and succeeded in erecting a hotel building in the town, quietly perfecting the plans and bringing his force of workmen on the spot selected. This was on Sun- day, and by putting forth every effort the build- ing was raised during the day and to a large ex- tent the exterior was finished by Monday, when the railroad officials put in an appearance and sized up the situation. Perhaps admiring the enterprise and courage of the subject. they made no serious protest and thus he gained the credit of being the first to erect a building on the site of the present thriving and attractive town, save those, as noted, which have been put up by the railroad company. He has ever since continued his residence in Eureka, is well known through- out this section of the state, and his circle of friends is bounded only by that of his acquaint- ances, while he has at all times shown himself ready to aid to the utmost of his abil- ity in the furthering of all undertakings and enterprises tending to enhance the gen- eral welfare and promote the development of the country and the material pros- perity of his town. He takes a deep interest in public affairs, particularly those of a local nature. while he has been and continues an active worker in politics in the county, wielding no little in- fluence, though never resorting to spectacular methods. He served for five years as a mem- ber of the board of county commissioners, was a member of the first board of aldermen, and has held other offices of local trust. On the 23d of February, 1901, he was appointed colonel on the staff of Governor Herreid and remains incumbent of this office at the time of this writing. He is a prominent and popular affiliate of the Knights of Pythias, and a member of the grand lodge of the order in the state.

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On the 16th of February, 1871, Colonel Knickerbocker was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ellen Jones, who was born and reared in Cook county, Illinois, being a daughter of Sam- tiel Jones, who came of stanch Welsh lineage. Mrs. Knickerbocker bears the distinction of hav- ing been the first woman in Eureka. Of this union were born two children, Gertrude B. and Harry MI. The daughter became the wife of John E. Regan, of Eureka, and her death occurred in 1898. She is survived by three daughters, namely: Georgia, Grace and Genevieve. The son of the subject is now engaged in music teach- ing and is a natural musician, having inherited his talents. He performs on almost any instru- ment, but the violin is his specialty, and of this instrument he is considered almost a master. He is now a resident of Harvey, North Dakota, where he is engaged in organizing and teaching orchestras and bands, at which he meets with great success. In 1900 he married Alma Thor- hang, who was born in Wisconsin. To this union a son has been born, George Stanley Knicker- bocker.

J. L. HALL, a prominent and influ- ential business man of Volga, Brookings county, and president of the First State Bank of that place, is a native of Illi- nois, having been born in the beautiful city of Rockford, on the 25th of November, 1856, and being a son of Charles A. and Margaret (Dixon ) Hall, the former of whom was born in Massachusetts and the latter in New York. Charles A. Hall was reared and educated in his native state, and as a young man came west to Illinois, where he was engaged in farming for a number of years, after which he established him- eelf in the livery business in Rockford, continu- ing this enterprise until his death in 1859, at which time the subject was but two years of age.

J. L. Hall, the immediate subject of this sketch, was reared to maturity in the city of his birth, and there prosecuted his studies in the pub- lic schools until he had attained the age of seven- teen years, when he entered upon an apprentice-

ship at the tinner's trade, becoming an expert workman, and continuing to follow his trade in Rockford for a period of five years. In 1880 he removed to Tyler, Min- nesota, where he was engaged in the hardware business for the ensuing two years, at the expiration of which, in the spring of 1882, he came to South Dakota and cast in his lot with the embryonic village of Volga. He brought with him about two thousand dol- lars' worth of tinware and hardware, and with this as a nucleus he engaged in business in the new town. With the settling up of the surround- ing country Volga increased in population and commercial importance, and Mr. Hall succeeded in building up a most profitable enterprise, thus having continued in the hardware business for more than twenty years, and now controlling a large and representative trade in the line, and having a commodious and well-equipped estab- ishment, in which he handles full lines of heavy and shelf hardware, tinware, stoves, ranges, agri- cultural implements, machinery, etc. In 1892 Mr. Hall purchased the lumber business of J. H. Anderson, and has since continued the enterprise, which is a most prosperous one. He is one of the three stockholders in the First State Bank, which was organized and incorporated in 1901, and he has been president of the institution since that time. Mr. Hall has served as a member of the board of village trustees, and also as village treasurer, and is one of the popular and highly esteemed citizens of the town of which he may well be considered one of the founders and build- ers. Mr. Hall has an abiding faith in the legiti- macy of the principles of the Democratic party as exemplified by Jefferson and Jackson, but is maintains an independent attitude in politics. adopted in the platform of 1896, so that he now maintains an independent attitude in politics. He is affiliated with Volga Lodge, No. 98. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in Volga, having passed the various official chairs in the same, and having represented it in the grand lodge of the state. He also holds membership in the Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoos, an organ- ization of the lumbermen throughout the Union.

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JOHN H. CARROLL, one of the leading citizens of DeSmet, Kingsbury county, is a native of the city of Philadelphia, being a son of T. N. and Hannah (Clarke) Carroll, both of whom were born in England. The father of the subject came to America in 1846 and settled in Philadel- phia, where he engaged in cotton manufacturing. and he passed practically the remainder of his life in that fine old city of the Keystone state, having been for a few years a resident of Iowa, whence he returned to the "City of Brotherly Love," where both he and his wife died. They became the parents of nine children, of whom seven are living. The father was a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife were mem- bers of the Congregational church.

The subject of this review was reared to ma- turity in his native city, and after completing the curriculum of the public schools continued his studies in the Philadelphia central high school, which is virtually a college, and one in which many of the nation's eminent men have been stu- dents. He was graduated as a member of the class of 1869 and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, while he secured third honors in his class, which had about fifteen members. After his graduation Mr. Carroll engaged in teaching in the graded schools of Wilkesbarre, Pennsyl- vania, where he remained one year. In August, 1870, he was elected principal in Waukon, Alla- makee county, Iowa, of the public schools, con- tinuing to teach in the schools of that section of the Hawkeye state for a period of eight years, at the expiration of which he came to the territory of Dakota, locating in Fountain, Brookings county, in July, 1878, before the present city of Brookings was founded, while Kingsbury county was then known as Wood county. He engaged in the general merchandise business in Fountain, and later identified himself with the real-estate business, and he continued his residence there un- til the spring of 1880, when he came to Kings- bury county, where he was appointed clerk of the court, by United States Judge J. P. Kidder, serving in this capacity until 1884, when he resigned. In 1880, soon after coming to the county, he established

the postoffice of DeSmet, the village being named in honor of the heroic and venerated mis- sionary of the early days, Father DeSmet, who labored among the Indians throughout the noth- west before civilization had gained a foothold. Mr. Carroll became the first postmaster of the embryonic town, and was appointed to the office under the administration of President Arthur, resigning in 1887, under the regime of President Cleveland. In 1889 he was elected the first mayor of the city of DeSmet. In 1882 he established the Bank of DeSmet, which is now one of the solid and popular financial institutions of this section of the state and one of which he still has full control, while his real-estate operations have been of extensive scope.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 111

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