History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 130

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 130

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On March 22, 1851, at Mount Jackson, White county, Indiana, Mr. Ash was married to Miss Mary Reynolds, a native of Ohio. They have five children, Ben C., Julia ( Mrs. Bates), Harry C., William B. and Elizabeth ( Mrs. Eccles).

HON. THOMAS M. GODDARD, com- mandant of the Soldiers' Home at Hot Springs, also attorney-at-law and ex-county judge, was born on a farm near Troy, Iowa, November 24. 1846, and received his preliminary education in the schools of his native place. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and at the breaking out of the great Civil war, when a youth of sixteen, enlisted in Company E, Third Iowa Cavalry, with which he served until the close of the strug- gle, taking part in a number of campaigns and noted battles and earning an honorable record as a brave and gallant soldier. Returning to Iowa after his discharge, Mr. Goddard entered the Troy Academy and after completing the pre- scribed course of that institution took up the study of law in the State University, supporting himself while in attendance by devoting his va- cations to teaching and various kinds of manual

labor. In due time he received his diploma from the university and immediately thereafter opened a law office in Centerville, Iowa, where he prac- ticed from 1874 until 1883. In the latter year he came to South Dakota, and took up a tract of land near Shiloh, on which he has since made his home, the meanwhile attending to his law prac- tice in the courts of Sully county, also devoting considerable attention to stock raising.

In 1887 Mr. Goddard was elected, on the Republican ticket, district attorney, which posi- tion he held for three years, when he resigned to accept the county judgeship, having been chosen to the latter office in 1889. His career on the bench, which included three consecutive terms, was eminently creditable both to himself and to the county, and he retired from this with the commendation and good will of the people. irrespective of party affiliation. In the fall of 1896 Mr. Goddard was further honored by being elected to represent Sully and Hyde counties in the legislature, in which body he served by suc- cessive re-elections from the new district com- prising Sully, Hyde and Hughes counties four terms, and in the deliberations of which he took an active and influential part, being recognized as one of the Republican leaders of the house.

Mr. Goddard was chairman of the first ju- dicial convention of the sixth judicial circuit, and as such wielded a decided influence in shaping the policy and controlling the action of the as- semblage. He has long enjoyed distinctive precedence as a leader of the Republican party in his county and district, but few conventions have been held in which he has not appeared as a potent factor and he has also been active in state and national politics, being not only a skillful organizer, but a most effective and suc- cessful campaigner.

In the month of April, 1903, Mr. Goddard was appointed commandant of the Soldiers' Home at Hot Springs, the duties of which re- sponsible and exacting position he is now dis- charging in an able and satisfactory manner. As a lawyer, Mr. Goddard is easily the peer of any of his professional associates in the central part of the state, and his official career dem-

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onstrates his ability to fill worthily positions of honor and trust.

Mr. Goddard has a family of children whose names are as follows: Io, Goddard, Sim, Jim, Dick, Guy and Ray. His family was represented in the late Spanish-American war by two of his sons, who were about the first to respond to their country's call in this part of the state. One of these sons, Sim, was a member of Company E. Grigsby's famous rough riders. This regi- ment only got to Chattanooga, Georgia. Jini, who joined Company A, of the First South Da- kota Infantry, accompanied his command to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he died.

ELI B. WIXSON .- Among those sterling citizens of South Dakota who have lived up to the full tension of the strenuous life on the frontier and who have likewise contributed in a significant degree to the development and up- building of the great and prosperous common- wealth, stands the subject of this memoir, than whom there are few to be found who have been longer resident of what is now the state of South Dakota, since he took up his abode here forty-five years ago. Mr. Wixson may be said with all con- sistency to be the founder of the town of Elk Point, the official center of Union county. He still resides in Elk Point and no citizen of the county is held in higher estimation than is this sturdy pioneer of pioneers.

Eli B. Wixson was born in Wayne, Steuben county, New York, on the 6th of May, 1833, a son of Daniel and Deborah (Conklin) Wixson, the former of whom was of English lineage and the latter of German, both families having been early established in America. The subject was reared to manhood on the homestead farm, se- curing his early educational training in the com- mon schools of the locality and remaining on the parental home until he had attained his legal majority. He thereafter attended for a time the academy at Dundee, New York, and shortly after leaving this institution he started for what was then considered the far west, this action being born of a spirit of adventure and a desire to dis- cover what fortune had in store for him. He ar-

rived in Sioux City, Iowa, in the month of May, 1856, the place being at that time a mere village of straggling order, and in 1859 he came into Dakota territory and pre-empted land in Union county, the southern portion of the town of Elk Point being located on this tract. He built the first house in the town, laying the foundation on the 22d of July, 1859. The domicile was of most primitive description, being constructed of logs and equipped with a dirt roof. Mr. Wixson lo- cated on his claim and devoted his attention to farming for several years, being one of the very first settlers in what is now a well-populated and prosperous section of the state. He was pro- prietor of the first hotel in Elk Point, conducting the same for a number of years, while he later erected and conducted what is now known as the Tremont House.

In 1861 Mr. Wixson enlisted in Company B. First Dakota Cavalry, being mustered in at Sioux City, Iowa, and he was in active service on the frontier in various Indian campaigns, having been for some time under command of General Sully and continuing in the service until 1865, when his company was mustered out, at Sioux City. He held the office of commissary sergeant during the entire period of his service and was a participant in many exciting and hazardous engagements with the hostile savages.

In politics the subject gives an unqualified support to the Democratic party, and he has been prominently concerned in public affairs of a local nature. He served for one term as mayor of Elk Point and was for many years a member of the town council and the school board. In 1871-72 he was elected register of deeds of Union county, being the fourth incumbent of this office, and he also held the position of county commissioner for several years, ever manifesting a lively interest in the welfare and development of his home town, county and state and evincing this interest in a practical and tangible way. In 1866 he was elected to and served with honor in the territorial legislature as a member from Union county. He is the owner of valuable realty in Elk Point, being one of its most substantial and prosperous citizens. At the time when preparation was being made for the erection of the new court house

ELI B. WIXSON.

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Mr. Wixson gave to the county the land on which the present fine building is located, the same having been erected in 1898, and the con- dition on which he donated the land was that the county seat remain perpetually in Elk Point and that the land in question should be utilized for the purpose designated. To these grounds he has since given a warranty deed to the county. He also donated the land on which the Elk Point high-school building was erected, the latter being a fine structure, containing eight rooms and basement. Mr. Wixson was a charter member of the first Masonic lodge organized in Sionx City, Iowa, and is now affiliated with Elk Point Lodge, No. 3, Free and Accepted Masons, in Elk Point. He is without doubt the oldest Mason in the county at the present time. He also holds membership in Stephen A. Hurbert Post, No. 9, Grand Army of the Republic, in his home town. He was one of the organizers of the Old Settlers' Association of Union county and has been its president from the beginning.

In Elk Point, on the 30th of November, 1865, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wixson to Mrs. Clara E. Christy (nee Cook), who was born in Onondago county, New York, on August 7, 1840. They have three sons and three daughters, concerning whom we incorporate a brief record, as follows : William M. is now engaged in a flour- ing mill at Hawarden, Iowa; Mary D. is the wife of George Walker, of Avon, South Dakota : Franklin B. is engaged in the elevator business in Elk Point ; Eli B., Jr., is engaged in the barber business in Avon, this state; Alice May is the wife of Ren Wheeler, of Aberdeen, South Da- kota; and Clara, who was the wife of William Davis, died in 1894, at the age of twenty-four years. By her former marriage Mrs. Wixson had a daughter, Lottie, who is now the wife of J. W. Steckman, of Avon, this state.

DENIS CARRIGAN, president of the First National Bank, Custer City, is a native of Canada, born in the city of Montreal, on the 3Ist of October, 1845. Mr. Carrigan spent his childhood and youth in his native place, receiv-

ing a good education in the schools of Montreal. and remaining there until twenty years of age. when he left home to achieve his fortune and carve out his own destiny. In 1866 he went to Omaha, Nebraska, and entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railway Company, remaining with the same until the line was constructed as far west as Sidney, Nebraska, which point was fixed upon as a terminal of a division of the road. Believing that in due time a thrifty town would spring up at this place, and seeing as he thought exceptional opportunities for business advancement, he severed his connection with the company and erected a store building on the present site of Sidney, which aside from the railroad was the first improvement in the town. Buying a stock of general merchandise, he was soon in the enjoyment of a profitable business, which continued to grow in magnitude as the population of the town increased, and in the course of a few years he found himself on the high road to prosperity.

In the spring of 1876, when the Black Hills were opened for settlement and Custer City sprang into existence, Mr. Carrigan started a branch store at the latter place, under the man- agement of S. M. Booth, the venture proving remarkably successful. After running the latter store until 1879 he exchanged it for valuable real estate in Custer City, he meanwhile con- tinuing his business at Sidney, which by the time indicated had grown largely in volume and earned him a fortune of no small proportions. In addition to the local trade it supplied various points in the Black Hills with merchandise, thus doing an extensive wholesale as well as a large retail business and proving profitable far beyond the original expectations of the proprietor. In connection with his mercantile interests, Mr. Car- rigan also devoted considerable attention to live stock, having come into possession of a fine ranch about thitry-two miles west of Sidney, where he kept large herds of cattle, from the sale of which he realized liberal returns.

In the fall of 1880 Mr .. Carrigan disposed of his mercantile and real-estate interests in Sidney and the following spring moved to Custer City,

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where in November of the same year he estab- lished a private bank, of which he was sole pro- prictor and business manager, this being the first financial institution not only in Custer City, but in the southern part of the Black Hills coun- try. Mr. Carrigan managed the institution under the name of the Bank of Custer until 1800, in October of which year it was reorgan- ized as the First National Bank of Custer City, he being elected president, which relation he still sustains. In addition to his position as executive head of the bank, Mr. Carrigan is also the principal stockholder and the institution under his able management has been successful from the beginning, the business at this time being large and far-reaching and second to that of few banks in the state.

Mr. Carrigan is a safe and conservative financier, familiar with every branch of the busi- ness in which he is engaged, and is well in- formed upon monetary questions in their rela- tions to the varied interests of the country. In addition to banking he has done considerable in the line of real estate, owning at this time a large amount of city property, besides his ranch, in which he still has valuable live-stock interests. A stanch supporter of the Democratic party and an untiring worker for its success, he has stead- ily and persistently avoided partisan politics and refused to accept office, although he at one time consented to serve as county commissioner, and also acted for a number of years as school treasurer.

Mr. Carrigan is a thirty-second-degree Scot- tish-rite Mason, also a Knight Templar, and for a number of years has been a zealous mem- ber of this ancient and honorable fraternity. Mr. Carrigan owns a beautiful home in Custer City, the presiding genius therein being a lady of beautiful character and varied culture, to whom he was united in the bonds of holy wed- lock on May 24. 1871, the ceremony having been solemnized in the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Mrs. Carrigan, who before her marriage bore the maiden name of Louisa McWhinnie, is a native of Illinois, but has spent the greater part of her life in the west.

JOHN N. BEACH, farmer and stock raiser, was born in Lesueur county, Minnesota, June IO, 1857. He was reared and educated in his na- tive state, grew to the years of manhood on a farmi, and on attaining his majority left home for the Black Hills, coming via Pierre to Boul- der Park. He came empty-handed, and for two years worked on a milk ranch for wages, then he rented the place and conducted it during the winter of 1881. In the following spring he re- turned to Minnesota where he purchased a large number of cattle which he drove to the Black Hills, selling them at good prices in Sturgis, Deadwood and Rapid City.

Mr. Beach continued these trips between Minnesota and South Dakota for two years. and did a thriving business, buying and selling cat- tle, but in 1884 he turned his attention to min- ing in the tin district near Hill City, following the same until the spring of the succeeding year. On June 7, 1885, he was united in marriage to Miss Ettie M. Robinson, of Minnesota, and im- mediately thereafter moved to his wife's ranch on Squaw creek, four miles south of Hermosa, where he engaged in the live-stock business, rais- ing cattle and horses, in addition to which he also bought a large number of these animals, becom- ing in due time one of the most extensive live- stock dealers in Custer county. Mr. Beach re- sided on Squaw creek until July, 1902, when he moved to his homestead on Spring creek, purchasing the same year a large tract of land adjoining, on which he has since pastured his cattle and horses, his business the meanwhile continuing to grow in magnitude, until he now ranks with the leading live-stock men of west- ern Dakota. His ranch contains seven hundred and twenty acres of land, under irrigation, and the improvements on the same are among the best in the country, consisting of a comfortable and attractive residence and substantial out- buildings, which with the fine condition of the place in general indicate the home of a man of progress and thrift, as well as 'of public spirit and good taste. It is worthy of note that at one time Mr. Beach could have traded a single cow for one hundred and sixty acres of the land on

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which Pierre now stands. His fraternal rela- tions are represented by the Masonic brother- hood, and the Knights of the Maccabees, be- longing to the lodges at Hermosa and Black Hills Chapter, No. 25, Royal Arch Masons, at Rapid City.

Mr. and Mrs. Beach move in the best social circles of the community and are active in pro- moting every good work, being interested in public and private charities, and their influence has always been exercised on the right side of every moral issue. They have a family of two children whose names are Troy C. and Wil- liam W.

PHILLIP M. BONNIWELL, civil engineer and merchant, also engaged in the live-stock business, was born in McCloud county, Min- nesota, July 14. 1860. After obtaining a good education in the schools of his native state Mr Bonniwell took up the study of civil engi- neering, in which he soon acquired a high degree of efficiency and skill, following which he was engaged in professional work in Minnesota, until the spring of 1878. when he came to South Dakota, reaching the Black Hills on June 22d of that year. Locating at Deadwood, he at once began working at his profession in the city and vicinity, and was thus engaged until 1883. when he embarked in the live-stock business on Willow creek, about twenty-five miles north of Whitewood, raising cattle in that locality during the five succeeding years. At the expiration of that time Mr. Bonniwell moved his live stock to Harding county, where he owns a large and finely situ- ated ranch which he still manages, his success as a cattle raiser being attested by the prominent position he occupies among the leading stock- men of his part of the state.

In the fall of 1897 Mr. Bonniwell purchased of J. S. Denman the latter's large hardware store at Whitewood, and to this line of business he has since devoted much of his attention, the meanwhile looking after his cattle interests, as indicated above. In addition to a full line of

hardware, he handles all kinds of agricultural implements, machinery and harness, in all of which he has an extensive and lucrative patron- age. his establishment being the largest of the kind in Whitewood. Mr. Bonniwell is an ex- perienced business man, and his career since com- ing west presents a series of advancements. which show him the possessor of ripe judgment and keen discrimination. Personally he enjoys a high degree of popularity, and in social as well as business circles is one of the leading men of the community. Mr. Bonniwell belongs to the Odd Fellows order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in politics supports the Republican party. He was married at Hutchin- son, Minnesota, November 26. 1877. to Miss Lura Rice, a native of Ohio, who has borne him one child. a daughter by the name of Reva.

JOSEPH KUBLER is a native of the prov- ince of Alsace, Germany, where his birth oc- curred on August 23, 1854. He attended the schools of that country until his seventeenth year, after the Franco-Prussian war, when he left home and came to the United States, landing in New Orleans, thence after a short time went to Jack- son, Mississippi, where he remained about two years, during which he was variously employed. From the latter place he went to St. Louis, Mis- souri, later to Kansas City, thence to Omaha, Nebraska, and finally, in 1873. made his way as far west as Denver, Colorado.

Shortly after reaching his objective point, he entered a newspaper office, to serve an appren- ticeship at the printing business. It was while thus engaged that the Black Hills country was opened, and in the spring of 1876 he engaged with Mervick & Laughlin, who took a newspaper outfit to Custer City, to work in their office. Reaching their destination, these gentlemen while waiting for part of the material and stock of paper, issued a circular announcing to the peo- ple that their publication would appear in due time, but before the supplies arrived the gold ex- citement at Deadwood broke out, the effect of which was to cause a rush from Custer City.

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until the latter place was almost depopulated. Moving their plant to Deadwood, Messrs. Mer- rick & Laughlin, assisted by Mr. Kubler, issued, on June 8th of the above year, the first number of the Black Hills Pioneer, a sprightly, well- edited local sheet, devoted to the mining and other interests of the town and surrounding country, and which under the original manage- ment was regularly issued for some years there- after. Mr. Kubler severed his connection with the paper and returning to Custer City, pur- chased, in partnership with A. D. Clark, a news- paper plant, that had been brought to the place some time previously, and on September 4th of the same year the first number of the Custer Chronicle was issued under the new management. After publishing the paper jointly for a period of five years, Mr. Kubler purchased his partner's share, since which time he has been sole propri- etor. the Chronicle under his able editorial and business management growing steadily in public favor the meanwhile, until it is now not only one of the oldest newspapers in the Black Hills, but also one of the most successful, as well as one of the ablest and most influential local sheets in the state. Mr. Kubler has a well-equipped of- fice, supplied with all the latest and most ap- proved machinery and appliances, and the Chronicle is not only well edited, but is neat in its mechanical makeup and a model of typographical art, ranking in every respect with larger and much more pretentious metropolitan papers. Strongly Republican in politics and a zealous partisan, Mr. Kubler has never sought office or public position of any kind, believing that he can better promote the interests of his party through the medium of his paper than in any other way. He has attended many of the county, district and state conventions since locating in Custer City, and has wielded a strong influence in these bodies, being recognized as a safe and judicious counsellor. In May, 1900, he was ap- pointed postmaster of Custer City, and was re- appointed in May, 1904, and has since dis- charged the duties of the position in a creditable and business-like manner.

Ar. Kubler is a thirty-second-degree Scot-

tish-rite Mason, also belongs to the Mystic Shrine, and for a number of years has been a member of the blue lodge at Custer City, having served several terms as master of the same, be- sides holding various official positions in the other branches of the order with which he is identified; he also holds membership with the Pythian brotherhood, being one of the active workers in the lodge, which meets in the city of his residence. Mr. Kubler is one of the most enterprising men in the Black Hills, has always stood for progress and improvement and, al- though of foreign birth, he is intensely American in his inclination and tendencies, being a loyal supporter of the government under which he has achieved such marked prestige and success.

Mr. Kubler, in July, 1883, was united in mar- riage with Miss Louisa Katsch, of Germany, but at the date noted a resident of Custer City, the following children being the fruit of the union: Joseph W., William L., Carl H., Eva, Frank, Grace and Louisa.

CHARLES C. CRARY, liveryman, Custer City, was born in Lake county, Ohio, on the 6th day of August. 1845. He was reared and educated in his native state and remained at home until 1863, when he joined Battery. C. First Ohio Light Artillery, with which he served until the close of the rebellion, experiencing many of the vicissitudes and fortunes of war during his period of enlistment. He was honor- · ably discharged in June, 1865, and, returning to Ohio immediately thereafter, remained with his parents until 1867, when he went to Marshall county, Iowa, and engaged in farming. After spending the ensuing ten years in that state as a fairly prosperous tiller of the soil, Mr. Crary, in the spring of 1877, started for South Dakota, his objective point being the Black Hills, which region he reached the following June, stopping for a time at Deadwood, where he earned his livelihood by hauling logs. Later he worked for a while in the mines near that town, and then, with a party of prospectors, started for Lost Cabin, narrowly escaping from the hostile In -

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dians on the way. After traversing a consider- able part of the country and meeting with but indifferent success in his search for gold. Mr. Crary finally arrived at Bozeman, where he pur- chased a couple of ponies and a little later re- turned to the Black Hills. Reaching Cattle creek, he again began prospecting. but after spending a year and a half in that locality, part of which time was devoted to locating mining claims at Grand Junction, he went to Custer City. which place he has since made his home.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 130

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