History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 12

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 26th of June. 1865, Mr. Nash was united in marriage to Miss Jennie E. Williston. who was born and reared in Janesville. Wiscon- sin, and of their five children we incorporate the following brief record: Nina M. is the director

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of the model school in the Aberdeen Normal ; George W. is state superintendent of schools for South Dakota ; Clara W., a graduate of Yankton College, is married: Marion is deceased ; and Francis F. is also a graduate of Yankton College, and is junior member of the firm of N. C. Nash & Son, publishers of the Sioux Valley News, of Canton, and the Harrisburg News, of Harris- burg.

FREDERIC T. CUTHBERT, of Canton, the present incumbent of the office of county judge of Lincoln county, was born in Whiting. Monona county, Iowa, on the 2d of April, 1876, being a son of Rev. Thomas and Emily J. ( Den- ham) Cuthbert, the former being a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church. While the sub- ject was a mere child his parents removed to Mapleton, Iowa, where they resided a number of years, thence removing to Rolfe, that state, and there remaining about two years. When Frederic was fifteen years of age he accom- panied his parents to England, their native land, and the family continued to abide in the "tight little isle" about four years, during the major por- tion of which time our subject continued his edu- cational discipline in a private school. In 1883 the family home was established in Sioux Falls. South Dakota, and the father soon afterward located on a farm near this city, our subject at- tending the public schools here until the re- moval to England, as noted. The subject re- turned to the United States in 1895 and located in Canton, South Dakota.

In 1895 Mr. Cuthbert took up the study of law in the office of A. R. Brown, of Canton, and he was admitted to the bar of the state on the 13th of May, 1897. He forthwith established himself in practice in this place, entering into partnership with M. E. Rudolph. A few months later he formed a professional alliance with L. J. Jones, with whom he was associated until May. 1901, in the meanwhile gaining a reputation as an able advocate and counsellor. Upon the dis- solution of this partnership Mr. Cuthbert formed a partnership with A. B. Carlson, under the firm

name of Cuthbert & Carlson, and this association has since obtained, the firm controlling a repre- sentative business.

Judge Cuthbert has always been a stanch ad- vocate of the principles and policies of the Re publican party, and he took a particularly active part in the campaign of 1896, doing effective work in the party cause, as has he also done in stibsequent campaigns. In 1900 he delivered more than twenty speeches in advocacy of the Republican principles, and he is known as one of the most able young public speakers in the state. In the spring of 1898 he was elected justice of the peace in Canton, retaining this in- cumbency one year, and in 1900 he was elected city attorney, serving one term. In the autumn of that year still more distinguished preferment came to him in his election to the office of county judge, in which judicial capacity his services met with so marked popular approval that he was chosen as his own successor in the election of 1002, being thus in tenure of the office at the time of this writing. Fraternally, Judge Cuthbert is identified with Silver Star Lodge, No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons, Siroc Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Masons, and with Canton Lodge, No. 52, Knights of Pythias, all of Canton:

EDGAR DEAN, one of the best known citi- zens of Lincoln county, South Dakota, was born May 26, 1851, in Sullivan county, New York, where he lived until he was eight years old, at which time his parents moved to Ulster county, that state, where they remained until he was about sixteen years old, when they again moved, this time locating in Dekalb county, Illinois. Mr. Dean attended the common schools of the neigh- borhoods in which he resided, afterwards at- tending the high school at Sycamore, Illinois. In May, 1874. he came to Dakota territory, lo- cating in Lincoln county, taking up as a home- stead a quarter section of land in Norway town- ship and also an eighty-acre tree claim. He re- mained on this tract until 1887, improving it as the years went by, until he became the possessor of a model farm. In the fall of 1887 Mr. Dean

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was elected treasurer of Lincoln county and in consequence moved to Canton that he might give his entire attention to the duties of the office. He served in this office for four years, faithfully dis- charging the duties of the same and winning for himself the confidence and esteem of the people. Prior to his service as county treasurer he had served for four years as a member of the board of county commissioners, and also served on the Canton board of education for four years, so that his experience in public af- fairs was varied and of sufficient length to either condemn or commend him to the public. That the people viewed his record with favor is shown by the fact that in 1801 he was chosen state sen- ator from Lincoln county, and at the subsequent session ably represented his constituents in the legislature. He has given his best efforts to the people and to the county which has honored him with these respective positions of trust and honor and has been active in all movements looking to the advancement of his county and city. He now owns a half section of land in Norway and Pleas- ant townships, Lincoln county. In 1891 he en- gaged in the lumber business at Canton, acting as secretary and manager of the Farmers' Lumber Company, and is conducting this business at the present time, the enterprise meeting with splendid sitccess.

In 1871 Mr. Dean was united in marriage with Miss Lavina Parker, of Kingston, Illinois, but who was born in Perry county. Indiana, and to them have been born six children, namely : Ralph. George, Effie. Edna, Ella and Edgar M .. all of whom are now living. Fraternally, Mr. Dean is a member of the Masonic order and also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

THOMAS THORSON, one of the leading citizens of Canton, Lincoln county, where he is engaged in the real-estate business and where he holds the office of president of the First National Bank, was born in Norway, on the 14th of No- vember. 1848, and was there reared to the age of six years, when, in 1854. he accompanie l his parents on their immigration to the United

States, the family settling in northeastern Iowa, where his father became numbered among the pioneer farmers, taking up government land near the town of McGregor. There our subject availed himself of the advantages of the public schools, continuing to assist his father in the work and management of the home farm until 1869. when he secured a position as clerk in a hardware establishment in Sioux City, Iowa. In 1871 he removed to Beloit, Lyon county, that state, where he opened the first store in the county, building up a successful general-merchan- dise business and becoming one of the influential citizens of that section. In the autumn of 1871 he was elected the first recorder of the county, and in 1874 was elected county auditor. After the expiration of his term in this office. in 1875. he accepted a position as traveling representative of the Sioux City Journal, and continued in this line of work for the ensuing six years, at the expiration of which, in 1881, he located in Can- ton, South Dakota, and here engaged in the real- estate business, doing much to further the devel- opment and settlement of this section and having ever since continued to be here prominently iden- tified with this important line of enterprise, in which connection he has become the owner of much valuable city realty and farming and graz- ing land. He at once identified himself intimately and helpfully with public affairs, and he served two terms as mayor of Canton, while he was elected to represent his county in the provisional legislature of 1885. He has been at all times an tincompromising advocate of the principles of the Republican party and an active worker in its cattse, and in 1892 he was shown further distinc- tion at the hands of his party and the voters of the state in being chosen secretary of state, giv- ing an able administration and being chosen as his own successor in 1894, on which occasion he received the largest plurality ever given to any candidate on the state ticket-a significant evi- dence of popular confidence and esteem. After his retirement from office he again turned his attention to his real-estate business, which he has continned with marked success. He became one of the stockholders of the First National Bank of

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Canton at the time of its organization, was a member of its directorate for many years and in January, 1903, was elected to the presidency of the institution, which is one of the solid and pros- perous banks of the state.

On July 12, 1882, Mr. Thorson married Miss Jessie Hunt, of Dodge county, Minnesota. Fra- ternally, he is a Knight of Pythias and in the Masonic order he has attained all the degrees of the York and Scottish rites, up to and including the thirty-second, and is also affiliated with the Mystic Shrine. His religious connection is with the Lutheran church.

CHARLES L. BEEMAN is a native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where his birth took place on the tith day of January, 1832, being the son of Joseph H. and Betsy ( Buck) Beeman, both parents born and reared in the Keystone state. The Bcemans and Bucks were among the early settlers of Bradford county and both families appear to have been widely known and highly esteemed. Joseph H. Beeman, the subject's father, was a farmer and in connection with agriculture worked for a number of years at the carpenter's trade, having been an efficient mechanic as well as an enterprising and prosper- ous tiller of the soil. Of his eight children, three survive, namely: Charles L., who is the second in order of birth; Julia, living in Iowa, and Amos, who is still a resident of Bradford county. The following are the names of those deceased; Denton, who was the oldest of the family, Minor, Eliza and Henry, the third, fourth and fifth, re- spectively. Henry was a soldier in the Union army during the late Civil war, rendered valu- able service for his country and died a miserable death in the prison pen at Andersonville.

Charles L. Beeman was reared on the home farm in Pennsylvania and owing to unfavorable circumstances was enabled to acquire only a lim- ited education. Being the oldest of the living children, much of the labor of the farm naturally fell to him, but with true filial regard he cheer- fully assumed the responsibility and discharged his duties faithfully and well, remaining with his

parents and looking to their interests and the in- terests of the rest of the family until long after the age when the majority of young men are ac- customed to begin life for themselves. In 1864 he left home and went to Jones county, Iowa, where he purchased forty acres of land and en- gaged in farming. He succeeded fairly well and continued to live where he originally located until 1883, when he sold his place and came to Bon Homme county, Dakota, purchasing a quarter section of land in the township of Bon Homme, which he soon reduced to cultivation and other- wise improved. Accustomed to hard work from his youth and possessing a determined will, Mr. Beeman made substantial progress as a farmer and in the course of a few years was accounted one of the most successful men of the community in which he resided. In the year 1900 he bought his present place and since that time has brought it to a high state of tillage, besides making a number of substantial improvements, including a neat and comfortable dwelling, good barns and other outbuildings, and he now owns one of the most beautiful and desirable homes in the town- ship. Mr. Beeman has devoted his life to agri- culture and is familiar with every phase of his chosen calling. He employs modern methods in the tilling of the soil, raises abundant crops of grain, vegetables and other products peculiar to South Dakota, besides paying considerable at- tention to live stock, in the breeding and raising of which he has met with encouraging success. Mr. Beeman is a man of domestic tastes, a great lover of his home and has never had any desire for public office. although a staunch Republican in politics and an active supporter of his party. In religion he is a Baptist, having united with the church a number of years ago, and his life ever since been in harmony with the principles and teachings of the faith which he professes.

Mr. Beeman was married in his native county and state, in 1852, to Miss Caroline E. Titus, who was born and reared in the same neighbor- hood in which he spent his youth and early man- hood. They have three children, the oldest being Rosie, who is now the wife of Alexander Kane, a farmer, of Knox county, Nebraska ; Estella, the

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second daughter, married Homer Beeman, a farmer and stock raiser of Bon Homme town- ship, and the youngest of the family, a son by the name of Frank, lives at home and helps his father run the farm. Mrs. Beeman is also a Baptist in her religious belief and a consistent and highly esteemed member of the local church.

MILTON D. GARDNER, one of the lead- ing farmers and stock raisers of Bon Homme county, is a native of Oneida county, New York, and dates his birth from April 30, 1837. His grandfather, Benjamin Gardner, moved to that county in an early day from Rhode Island and was one of the leading citizens of the community in which he spent the remainder of his life. He was a farmer by occupation, took an active part in the affairs of Oneida county and died there many years ago, leaving a family of six children, viz: Daniel, Frederick, David, Mary, Harriet and Narcissus, all deceased except Harriet, who still lives in the state of New York.

Frederick Gardner, the second son, was born September 23, 1811, married Sarah Wiggin, whose birth occurred in the year 1816, and de- parted this life in Oneida county, January 16, 1870. his wife dying seven years after that date. Mr. Gardner followed tilling the soil for a live- lihood and was a man of sterling worth. He was a Democrat in politics, a Baptist in his religious belief and as a neighbor and citizen bore an ex- cellent reputation. Frederick and Sarah Gardner reared a family of seven children, whose names are as follows: Joanna, born January 10. 1835. married Alexander Bowers, and died in Du- buque. Iowa, October 10, 1900; Milton D., the subject of this review, is the second in order of birth : Anna Eliza was born June 28, 1839: Har- riet, wife of William Bowers, was born February 24, 1842, and died in 1898: George W., whose birth occurred on the 17th of September, 1846. died in childhood: Henry J., born March 23. 1849, is living a retired life with the subject : A. W. was born March 22, 1855, and makes his home in Maquoketa, Iowa.

Milton D. Gardner was educated in the public

schools of his native county, grew to manhood on the farm and remained with his parents until twenty-seven years of age. In 1864 he severed home ties and went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, but after spending a short time at that place changed his abode to Waseca, in the same state. where he clerked for two years in a mercantile house. Resigning his position at the end of that time he became bookkeeper for a firm in Dubuque, Iowa, where he remained until 1873, the mean- while becoming familiar with business and well qualified to enter upon the duties of the active career which awaited him in the west. In the above year Mr. Gardner came to South Dakota and with his brother engaged in the implement business at Yankton, where the two conducted a large establishment until 1883. building up a lucrative trade during that time and becoming widely and favorably known in commercial cir- cles. Disposing of his interest at the time noted, the subject came to Bon Homme county and pur- chased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the township of Bon Homme, which he at once began to improve and which he has since converted into one of the best farms as well as one of the most beautiful and attractive country homes in this part of the state. Since moving to this place he has devoted his atten- tion to agriculture and stock raising and that his success has been most flattering is attested by his steady advancement in material affairs, being at this time the owner of eleven hundred acres of valuable land in Bon Homme county, four hun- Jred of which are in cultivation and otherwise highly improved. He devotes especial attention to corn, millet. alfalfa and hay, which he raises in abundance and feeds to his live stock. Mr. Gard- ner has achieved enviable repute as a raiser of fine blooded cattle and has on his farm at this time thirty-five registered shorthorns, also a large herd of other superior breeds, besides owning two hundred Poland-China hogs, and a number of fine horses, for both draft and road purposes. He exhibits his live stock and the products of his farms have taken a number of premiums awarded by the state fairs, all of which he attends and in the deliberations of which he takes an active in-

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terest and prominent part. In addition to his general agricultural and large live-stock interests, Mr. Gardner has a wide reputation as a grower of fine varieties of corn. So great has been the demand for this product of his farm that in the year 1903 he shipped more than a thousand bushels to different parts of the state and yet was unable to fill all orders that came to him. He has given close and critical study to corn culture and his efforts have resulted in the improvement of standard varieties and the development of new and highly productive kinds, for all of which he receives fancy prices.

Fraternally, Mr. Gardner is a Mason, belong- ing to the blue lodge at Tyndall and the chapter at Scotland and he is also identified with the Pythian order, holding membership with the lodge which meets at Springfield. While not a politician in the strict sense of the word, he keeps well informed on the leading public questions of the day, and gives his support to the Democratic party, though in local affairs frequently voting for the best qualified candidate, regardless of political ties.

Mr. Gardner, on May 1, 1861, was united in marriage with Miss Ophelia Brewer, of Oneida county, New York, the union resulting in the birth of three children, the oldest of whom, Asa, was born on May 8, 1866. This son is now a prosperous stock dealer and lives at New Eng- land, North Dakota, where he has a family of five children, his wife having formerly been Miss Emma Harrison, of Bon Homme county ; Isa- bella S., the second of the subject's children, was born March 12, 1868, and married Herbert Sil- verwood, a fariner of Bon Homme county, this state : the youngest of the family, a son by the name of Clarence E., was born on May 24, 1879. and is his father's able assistant on the farm.

SEYMOUR A. GUPTILL, one of the larg- est land owners and successful farmers of Bon Homme county, is the son of John B. and Emily (Warren) Guptill, and was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, on the 7th day of January, 1859. His father, a native of Maine, came west in 1845

and settled in Illinois, where he purchased a farm on which he made his home until 1886, when he disposed of his interests in that state and moved his family to Canton, South Dakota. Buying land near the latter place, he improved a farm and continued to cultivate the same as long as he lived. He was a good man and an influential citi- zen, took an active interest in public affairs and at different times was honored with official posi- tions, in all of which he discharged his duties ably and acceptably. Mrs. Guptill, who was born in New York, survives her husband and at the present time lives in the state of Illinois. The following are the names of the children born to this couple: Charles, of Bon Homme county ; Mrs. Lona Goldy, who lives in Illinois ; Seymour A., of this review, and Lillie, who departed this life at the age of eleven years.

Seymour A. Guptill received a limited edu- cation in the public schools and remained with his parents until his twenty-second year, the meanwhile assisting with the labors of the farm. In 1882 he came to South Dakota and settled in Lincoln county, where he became one of the lead- ing farmers. While there he accumulated con- siderable property, both real estate and personal, but in 1901 he sold out and came to Bon Homme county, where he invested his means in land, purchasing a fine farm of five hundred and twenty acres, which he still owns and which un- der his energetic labors and efficient management has become one of the finest and most productive farms of the township in which it is situated. Mr. Guptill has added greatly to his realty from time to time until he now owns eleven hundred and sixty acres, all valuable and the greater part under cultivation and well improved. He farms the home place and rents the rest of his land, and as an agriculturist and stock raiser he ranks with the leading men of his part of the state, who are thus engaged. A Populist in sentiment and a zealous supporter of the party of that name, Mr. Guptill has kept aloof from partisan politics and persistently refused to accept office or any kind of public position. He has no ambition fur- ther than to be a successful farmer and business man and to dignify his standing as a citizen whose

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interests are not wholly circumscribed within narrow. selfish limits, but tend largely to pro- mote the welfare of his fellow men.

In 1880 Mr. Guptill contracted a marriage with Miss Nettie Hoyt, of Rock county, Wiscon- sin, and he is now the head of an interesting family of four children, viz: Clyde, Walter S .. Lorna and Sidney, the youngest, a son by the name of Rolland, being deceased.

MARTIN J. LEWIS, born Orleans county, New York, 1843. son of Governor Lewis, of Wis- consin. Located at Vermillion 1869. Engaged in banking with Messrs. Inman and Thompson : prominent Baptist and leader in philanthropic en- terprises. Died about 1893.

IRA J. SMITH, of Springfield, Bon Homme county, is a native of Steuben county, New York. where his birth occurred on April 25. 1846, and is an honorable representative of one of the old- est and best-known families of that part of the Empire state. His father, Solomon C. Smith, settled in the above county as early as 1830, cleared and improved a good farm and afterward moved onto a farm in Tioga county, Pennsyl- vania, and lived on the same until his death, at the age of seventy-nine years. He was of Ger- man descent and when a young man married Miss Lucretia Hurd, who departed this life when fifty-seven years old, after bearing him nine chil- dren, whose names are as follows: Joshua C .. of Steuben county. New York : Rebecca lives in Boston, Massachusetts ; Freelove, of Fredonia. New York; Daniel, who lives in Portland. Ore- gon : Betsey, deceased ; Ira J., whose name intro- duces this sketch : Mary J., deceased; Adaline. of Olean, New York, and Lovisa, whose home is in the state of Washington.

Ira J. Smith was reared to agricultural pur- suits. received a common-school education and remained with his parents until twenty-three years old. Leaving home, he came west in 1870. arriving at Yankton, Dakota, on March 27th of that year. After spending a short time at that

place the subject settled in Springfield, which had but recently been laid out, and, taking up a quarter section of land in the vicinity of the town, turned his attention to agriculture. While prov- ing up on his land he worked in different places and after obtaining a patent from the govern- ment, entered an adjoining quarter section, for which he received a deed in due time.

Mr. Smith served four years as clerk in the United States land office at Springfield. during which time he lived in the town, but at the expi- ration of his term he returned to his farm and has continued its cultivation ever since. In addi- tion to agriculture he is largely interested in live stock, being one of the leading cattle raisers .in Springfield township, and he also devotes consid- erable attention to horses and hogs, making the fine breeds a specialty. Mr. Smith is one of the substantial business men of his community and as a farmer and stock raiser occupies a place in the front rank of those who follow these voc ?- tions. He is a self-made man and his success since coming west has been almost phenomenal. He reached South Dakota with sixty cents as the sum total of his capital and at this time he owns one of the most valuable farms in the county and a fine modern residence in Springfield, besides the wealth represented by his live stock and other personal property, all of which has been accum11- lated by his own industry. thrift and efficient management. He moved to his beautiful and attractive home in the town in 1902, but still gives attention to his farming and live-stock in- terests. Mr. Smith is a potent factor in the af- fairs of his township and county and one of the leading Republicans in his part of the country. He served three years on the board of county commissioners and could have almost any local office within the gift of the people, were it not for the fact that he has always been averse to ac- cepting public position. In religion he is a Con- gregationalist : he assisted to organize the church at Springfield and has been one of its leading members and most liberal supporters ever since, being at this time a member of its board of trits- tees.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 12

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