History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 136

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 136

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FRED W. SCHAMBER, one of the leading business men of Eureka, McPherson county, was born in Krem, South Russia, on the 13th of De- cember, 1860, and is a son of Martin Schamber, who was likewise born and reared in that local- ity, the family having been established in south- ern Russia during the time when Catherine was czarina. She was a German and induced many of her countrymen to locate in Russia, giving them grants of land and exempting them and their descendants from military service for a pe- riod of one hundred years. The expiration of this period, a few years ago, doubtless led to the emigration of many of these worthy Russo-Ger-

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mans to America, and South Dakota is favored in having gained a large relative contingent of excellent citizens through this means, among them being the members of the Schamber family.

In 1874 Martin Schamber came with his fan- ily to America, landing in New York city on the 13th of August, and thence coming through to what is now the state of South Dakota. He ar -. rived with his family in Yankton in August of that year, and soon afterward located on a farm in Yankton county, and theer improved an ex- cellent property. In 1881 he engaged in the hardware and implement business at Scotland, Bon Homme county, being associated in the en- terprise with Messrs. Wentzloff and Max, and after about one year he disposed of his interests there and returned to the farm, where he re- mained until 1885, when he again engaged in the hardware and farming implement business in Scotland, where he continued operations until 1892, when he sold out and engaged in the lum- ber business. His devoted wife died August 29, 1893, her maiden name having been Friedericka Mueller, and in the following year he disposed of his lumber business and removed to the state of Virginia, where he passed three years, since which time he has maintained his home in Scot- land, South Dakota. He served for eight years as a member of the board of county commission- ers of Hutchinson county, and has been incuimi- bent of other offices of local trust.

Fred W. Schamber secured his rudimentary education in his native land, having been a lad of about fourteen years at the time of the fam- ily immigration to the United States. His fa- ther is a man of distinctive scholastic ability and had been a successful school teacher in Russia, so that after coming to South Dakota in the pio- neer days, when educational advantages were chiefly notable for their absence, he was enabled to aid his children in carrying forward their studies, and through this effective home disci- pline the subject of this sketch rounded out his education. He remained associated with his fa- ther until 1884. when he became identified with the clothing business in Scotland, Bon Homme county, thus continuing until 1887, when he lo-

cated in the village of Tripp, Hutchinson county, where he was successfully engaged in the hard- ware and agricultural implement business until 1889, when he disposed of his interests there and took up his residence in Eureka, McPherson county, where, in company with his brothers Julius, Emil and Philip, he established himself in the same line of enterprise. In 1897 . Emil and Philip withdrew from the firm and were suc- ceeded by Christopher Hezel and Milburn Mat- thews and the new firm then opened the Eureka Bazaar. In the following year Mr. Matthews withdrew from the firm, and in January, 1904, Mr. Hezel retired, since which time the enter- prise has been conducted by the subject and his brother Julius, while their establishment is a large and well-equipped department store, while the trade controlled is a representative one and wide in its ramifications. Julius Schamber is the active manager of this business, and with the subject is also associated in the ownership of the Golden Rule store, of which Mr. Hezel is man- ager and also a partner. The subject of this re- view now devotes the major portion of his time to his collection and loan business, having at- tractive offices in the building of the Bank of Eureka. In company with his brother Julius and Isadore Scitzick and W. G. Jacobs, Mr. Scham- ber is engaged in the manufacture of ladies' wrappers, the factory being in Millville, New Jersey, and the enterprise proving a profitable one. its inception dating back to July, 1903, while all of the interested principals are resi- dents of South Dakota. The subject and his brothers are the owners of a large amount of valtiable real estate in McPherson county, in- cluding two thousand acres of valuable farming land, all of which is under cultivation or utilized for grazing purposes, while each of the brothers is the owner of a modern residence and has been sticcessful in his business operations.

In politics Mr. Schamber gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and he has ever shown a deep interest in all that concerns the general welfare and progress. He served for two terms as justice of the peace, in 1892 was elected to represent McPherson county in the state legisla-

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ture, while in 1898 he was elected to represent his district in the state senate, making an excel- lent record in both assemblies and proving him- self a valuable working member of both bodies of the legislature. In 1899 he was chosen the chief executive of the municipal government of Eureka, serving as its mayor for two years and giving a business-like and progressive adminis- tration.

On the 13th of December, 1885, Mr. Scham- ber was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Hetz- ler, who was born in Missouri, being a daughter of Rev. Heinrich Hetzler, who was numbered among the pioneers of South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Schamber have two children, Edwin and Arthur.

. BURNACE W. BAER, senior member of the firm of Baer & Brewster, who conduct a successful abstract and real-estate business in Woonsocket. Sanborn county, is a native of the state of Iowa, having been born in Ash Grove, Davis county, on the 4th of February, 1877, and being a son of William R. and Alice (Wonn) Baer. The subject secured his preliminary edu- cational discipline in the public schools of his native town, and then entered the high school at Harlan, Iowa, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1895. Soon afterward he was matriculated in the Southern Iowa Nor- mal School at Bloomfield, that state, where he completed a course of study and was graduated in 1896. Upon leaving the normal school he began reading law under the preceptorship of Thomas H. Smith, of Harlan, continuing his technical studies under these auspices for two years. He then entered the law department of the Iowa State University, at Iowa City, and was there graduated as a member of the class of 1000, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, while he was simultaneously admitted to the bar of his native state. In February, 1901, Mr. Baer came to South Dakota and took up his residence in Woonsocket, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. In 1902 he entered into partnership with Del-

mar H. Brewster, and they have since conducted a general real-estate and abstract business, the firm name being Baer & Brewster. In politics the subject is a stanch adherent of the Repub- lican party and is an enthusiastic advocate of its principles and policies. In 1902 he was elected to the office of state's attorney of Sanborn county, and has proved a most able public prose- cutor, so that it is most certain that he will be chosen as his own successor in the election of November, 1904. In a fraternal way he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

On the Ist of June, 1904, Mr. Baer was united in marriage to Miss Blanche E. Smith, daughter of Ellis M. Smith, who is a prominent and influential citizen of Woonsocket, where he is engaged in the drug business.

GEORGE J. JARVIS, of Faulkton. South Dakota, is a native of Ohio, having been born at Columbus, March 26, 1843. He is the soon of George and Sarah Jarvis, the former of whom was born at Staffordshire, England, and the later at Broekelhurst, Sheffield, England. The paternal grandparents were William B. and Mary (Green) Jarvis, the former a native of Wales and the latter of Birmingham, England. The subject's grandparents on both the paternal and maternal sides came to America early in . 1830. The subject was not favored with special advantages for securing an education in his youth, and as a consequence is practically self- educated. May 17, 1849, the subject accom- panied his parents npon their removal to Wis- consin, the trip being made in a "prairie schooner," so much used by emigrants in those days. In the winter of 1851-2 they returned to Ohio, but in April, 1856, they went to Richland county, Wisconsin. On July 26, 1863, Mr. Jarvis enlisted in the Third Battery, Wisconsin Light Artillery, at Madison, Wisconsin, with which he served until October 15, 1864. Since becoming of age Mr. Jarvis has conducted busi- ness on his own account. He was in the milling business. in which he was fairly successful, and

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at the same time he also met with several severe reverses, having the mill once burned down and once destroyed by flood. He subsequently turned his attention to the study of law and was admitted to the bar at Richland Center. Wisconsin, in April, 1875. He came to his present location in South Dakota on August 2, 1883. and has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, having attained an enviable standing among his fellow mem- bers of the bar and the public generally. The only official position he has ever held is that of judge of the courts of Faulk county, in which position he is now serving, to the satisfaction of all having business in the court and with great credit to himself. The Indge has always taken an active interest in politics and was for- merly a stanch abolitionist, and since the for- mation of the Republican party he has exerted his influence in its behalf. He is also engaged in farming to some extent and has made of this a success in an eminent degree. He maintains a deep interest in his old comrades by member- ship in the Grand Army of the Republic.

Judge Jarvis was united in marriage to Miss Diantha M. Nichols, a native of Somerset, Ohio, and to them have been born the following chil- dren : Nellie A., born April 26, 1866: George L .. October 2, 1867 : Harry J., April 24, 1869 : Fred W., May 14. 1872; S. Belle, December 2, 1874.

EUGENE E. RING, president of the Bowdle Roller Company, merchant millers, was born at Owatonna, Minnesota, August 27. 1864, the son of Nathaniel and Mary ( Wheeler ) Ring. The parents were natives of Maine and Ver- mont, respectively. They were pioneers of Min- nesota and South Dakota, coming to this state in 1884 and locating in Potter county, where the father took up land and farmed. He removed to Bowdle in 1903. He is now in his sixty- eighth year, while his wife is fifty-eight years old. Both are members of the Free Methodist church.

The subject was reared to manhood in Min- nesota, where he attended the country schools and also an academy, finishing his education

with a course at a commercial college. He came to South Dakota in 1885 and took up land in Potter county, where he farmed for twelve years. He then located at Bowdle, where he became interested in an electric light plant which had been incorporated by other parties. In 1900 he engaged in the milling business, he and his brother, Simon C. A., purchasing a half interest in the Bowdle Roller Company, which had been incorporated in 1897, combining the two cor- porations together. In 1902 the brothers bought sixty-six out of one hundred shares of the mill stock. thus securing a controlling interest, and they reorganized the company, with the subject as president. The plant has a capacity of one hundred and forty barrels daily, and the com- pany also ships from one hundred thousand to one hundred and sixty thousand bushels of wheat annually. The nominal value of the plant and mill is thirty thousand dollars.

Mr. Ring married Miss Jennie Z. Wilson, who was born at Owatonna, Minnesota, the daughter of Charles and Zettela (Thompson) Wilson, now deceased. Their children are as fol- lows : Mabel F., Eunice C., Lois A. and Lucile Z. Mr. Ring is a Republican in politics ; in re- ligion is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally is affiliated with the Knights of the Maccabees, carrying life insur- ance in the same, also in several old line com- panies.

JOHN R. WEAVER, a successful merchant and representative citizen of Claremont, Brown county, was born at Eureka, Montcalm county, Michigan, on the 29th of December, 1858, and is a son of Benjamin A. and Betsy (Clark) Weaver, both of whom were born and reared in the state of New York, the former having been a son of Aaron Weaver, who was a native of Rhode Island. The last mentioned was a son of John Weaver, who was likewise born in Rhode Island and who married a Miss Chase, whose original ancestor in America was one of two brothers who came over in the historic May- flower, while their sister remained in England

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

and became the wife of Sir John Townsend. Representatives of the Chase family were val- iant soldiers in the Continental line during the war of the Revolution, and through their thus giving allegiance to the colonial cause they sac- rificed a large estate in England. The paternal grandfather of the subject continued to reside in Troy, New York, until 1845, when he re- moved to Michigan and became one of the pio- neers of Ionia county, where he passed the resi- due of his life. The father of the subject be- came the owner of a farm in Montcalm county, that state, where he remained until 1859, when he then removed to Ionia county, same state, then removed to Stearns county, Minnesota, being one of the pioneers of that section of the state. They passed on their way only three miles distant from the point the memorable Indian massacre at New Ulm, he and his family fortunately being unmo- lested. For a quarter of a century he resided in the city of Chicago, where he was a prominent contractor and builder, finally meeting with an accident which compelled him to retire from ac- tive labors. He is now living in the home of the subject, being seventy-four years of age at the time of this writing. His present wife is living with a daughter in Chicago. They became the parents of four children, all of whom are living. The subject's mother died in July, 1861; she was the mother of four children, three of whom are dead.

John R. Weaver, the immediate subject of | this review, passed his school days in Michigan, and as his mother died when he was but eighteen months of age lie was reared in the home of his paternal grandfather, with whom he remained until the spring of 1885, when he came to Brown county, South Dakota, and located in Detroit township, where he took up government land and engaged in farming. Two years later, upon the completion of the line of the Great Northern Railroad through this section, he engaged in the draying and freighting business, in which line he continued operations one year, at the expira- tion of which he established himself in business in Claremont, where for the ensuing decade he conducted a lumber yard and also dealt in coal

and farming machinery and implements, build- ing up a most prosperous enterprise. In 1899 he disposed of his business and purchased a farm southeast of the town, where he established the family home, and thereafter he was engaged as traveling representative for the Plano Manufac- turing Company until March, 1904, when he en- tered into partnership with his brother, James A., and became associated with him in the car- rying on of the general merchandise business which the latter had established in Claremont in the preceding September, and the enterprise has been since conducted under the firm name of Weaver Brothers. They carry a large and com- plete stock of general merchandise and also han- dle farming machinery and implements, and their trade has been most satisfactory from the start and is constantly increasing in scope and im- portance. It may be noted in the connection that our subject's brother and partner was the first white child born on the Indian reservation across the river from Sauk Center, Minnesota, and is the offspring of the second marriage of their father. He came to South Dakota in the au- tumn of 1903. In politics the subject is a stanch Republican, and fraternally is a member of the Masonic order, in which he has passed the ca- pitular degree, and also of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of the Maccabees.

On the 3Ist of December, 1878, Mr. Weaver was married to Miss Janett Cole, who was born in Eureka, Montcalm county, Michigan, being a daughter of Leander T. and Sarah J. Cole, who were numbered among the pioneers of Brown county, South Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver have two children, Clarence J., who has charge of our subject's farm, previously mentioned, and Maud J., who is the wife of M. Hugh Miller, a successful young farmer of this county.

JOHN J. FENELON is a native of the state of Wisconsin, having been born on a farm in the vicinity of the city of Brandon, Fond du Lac county, on the 20th of June, 1861, and being a son of William and Catherine ( Fitzpatrick)

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Fenelon, both of whom were born in County Carlow, Ireland, where their respective families had been established for many generations. Both the paternal and maternal grandfathers of the subject emigrated from the Emerald Isle to America in 1850, and both settled in Wisconsin, where they became successful farmers aud where they passed the remainder of their lives. The parents of the subject are still residents of Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. Of the six children in the family, John J. was the second in order of birth, while of the number five are living.

John J. Fenelon passed his boyhood days on the old homestead farm, and after completing the curriculum of the public schools, including the high school, in which he was graduated, he entered Ripon College, Ripon, Wisconsin, and there continued his studies for two years. In 1885 he came to the present state of South Da- kota, and located in Campbell county, taking up a homestead seven miles southcast of the vil- lage of Pollock and being one of the earliest settlers in this section. He still owns the home- stead mentioned. In 1892 he was elected to rep- resent his district in the state legislature, and in 1894 was elected county treasurer, being chosen as his own successor in the latter office in 1896. He made Mound City, the county seat, his head- quarters until 1901, in the autumn of which year he came to the newly established town of Pollock. moving his house from Mound City, and as this was the first house in Pollock he may well be said to be in a significant sense one of the found- ers and builders of the town. He had previously effected the organization of the bank, under the title of the Pollock State Bank, and on the 9th of November, 1901, the bank established was formally opened for business in its present loca- tion. The enterprise has proved successful, the subject acting as cashier of the same. Mr. Fene- lon is associated with his brother, William, in the ownership of a large farm south of Pollock, and they are also largely concerned in the rais- ing of live stock. In politics the subject is a stanch Democrat, and takes an active interest in the furtherance of the party cause.

On the 9th of November, 1899, Mr. Fenelon was united in marriage to Miss Flora E. Irwin, who was born and reared in Wisconsin, of which state her parents were pioneers. Of this union have been born two children, Irwin and Katherine.

GEORGE SMITH HUTCHINSON. pres- ident of the James Valley Bank, at Huron, is a native of the old Empire state, having been born in Pike, Wyoming county, New York, on the 5th of December, 1853, and being a son of George and Angeline A. (Smith) Hutchinson, who removed to the state of Wisconsin when he was about nine years of age, locating in Manito- woc, where he secured his early educational training in the public schools, later continuing his studies in Milwaukee, Madison and Durand, that state, and receiving good advantages in the line. On the Ist of November, 1872, Mr. Hutch- inson located in West Depere, Brown county, Wisconsin, where he secured a position as clerk in a general merchandise establishment, eventu- ally securing an interest in the business, with which he continued to be identified until 1887, when he sold out his interest. In November of that year he entered the employ of the exten- sive wholesale grocery house of Reid, Murdoch & Company, of Chicago, in the capacity of trav- eling salesman, and on the 16th of July, 1889, he came to South Dakota as representative of this concern in the state. with headquarters in Huron. He continued with the firm until May 1, 1902, when he resigned his position and forthwith ef- fected the organization of the James Valley Bank, which was incorporated under the laws of the state on the 15th of that month, with a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars. He has been president of the institution from the time of its organization and has directed its affairs with consummate judgment and ability.

Mr. Hutchinson is a stanch Republican in his political proclivities and has been an active worker in its cause, in a local way. The hold which Mr. Hutchinson has upon the esteem and regard of the people of Huron has been given

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significant evidence, since in 1896 he was chosen mayor of the same, serving two years and giving a clean, capable and business-like administration of municipal affairs. He has been a member of the board of education since 1898 and in the connection his interest has been far removed from the apathetic and perfunctory. In 1902 still higher official preferment was conferred upon our subject, who was then elected to repre- sent his district in the lower house of the state legislature, where he made an enviable record during the 1902-3 general assembly, while he is a candidate for state senatorial honors in the forthcoming election of November, 1904. He is a Knight-Templar Mason and is also affiliated with the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

On the 23d of July, 1884, Mr. Hutchinson was united in marriage to Miss Agnes J. Per- sons, of Brodhead, Wisconsin, and they have three children, Harry T., Augusta Jean and George.

REV. CALVIN H. FRENCH, A. M., D. D., is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born in Wellsville, Columbiana county, Ohio. on the 13th of June, 1862, and being a son of Rev. Charles P. and Mary J. (Brown) French. His father, after serving as pastor of home mis- sion churches in Virginia and spending some time in broken health at his own home in Wash- ington county, Pennsylvania, removed to Grand Ridge, LaSalle county, Illinois, when the sub- ject was eight years of age. He there secured his early educational discipline in the public schools and later entered the high school at Streator, that state, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1883. He was then matriculated in Lake Forest University, in the town of that name, and there completed the classical course and was graduated in 1888, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, while his alma mater later conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. Dr. French early decided to prepare himself for the ministry of the Presby- terian church, and in 1888 entered the Union

Theological Seminary, in New York city, where he completed his divinity course, being graduated as a member of the class of 1891 and licensed by the presbytery of Chicago in June of that year. In the autumn of the same year Dr. French came to South Dakota and was ordained by the pres- bytery of Southern Dakota and installed as pastor of the Presbyterian church at Scotland, Bon Homme county, where he remained until August, 1898, having also acted as principal of the Scot- land Academy, a church institution, during the last year of his pastorate. In the year mentioned was effected a consolidation of Scotland Academy and Pierre University, and the outcome was the founding of Huron College. Upon the establishing of the new college Dr. French was made president of the same, and he has ever since continued incumbent of this important exec- utive office, in which his work has been a noble and prolific contribution to the educational pres- tige of the state. In recognition of his high in- tellectual attainments and his prominence as an educator and representative member of the clergy of the Presbyterian church, the Wooster Uni- versity, at Wooster, Ohio, conferred upon him, in 1001, the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In politics the Doctor gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and he ever manifests a lively interest in the questions and issues of the hour.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 136

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