USA > South Dakota > History of South Dakota, Vol. II > Part 137
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On the 17th of July, 1897, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. French to Miss Anna E. Long, of College Springs, Page county, Iowa, and they have two sons. Robert C. and Ralph V.
From the bulletin of Huron College for 1004-5 we make the following historical excerpt : "The presbytery of Southern Dakota established Pierre University in 1883. The synod of Da- kota was established in October, 1884, by order of the general assembly and assumed control of the college. With the division of the territory and the admission of the two states, the name of the controlling body was again changed, be- coming now the synod of South Dakota. This was the name of both the ecclesiastical body and of the legal corporation until January, 1904. when the articles were amended and the corpo- rate name of the institution changed to Huron
REV. CALVIN H. FRENCH.
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College. Rev. Thomas M. Findley became the first president, serving two years. In 1885 Rev. William M. Blackburn, D. D., LL. D., succeeded to the presidency and continued in office until August, 1898. During these fifteen years the college did a noble and far-reaching work. It aided in the classical training of twenty-nine young men for the gospel ministry, two of whom are now missionaries in distant foreign lands. Many more became teachers, while hundreds were sent out to become centers of helpful and uplifting influenee in almost as many different communities. Scotland Academy was established by the presbytery of Southern Dakota in 1886. Of its students seven have entered the ministry, while more than eighty are known to have bc- come teachers. Owing to unforeseen changes in the development of the state, the synod deemed it necessary to remove the college from Pierre. With the purpose of obtaining greater efficiency in the educational work of the church in this state, it was determined to consolidate the col- lege and academy. Action to this end was taken at a special meeting of the synod held at Huron on June 2-3, 1808. The people of Huron, by public subscription, raised a sufficient amount of money to purchase and fit up a large and sub- stantial four-story building, costing, at the time of ereetion, fifty thousand dollars. On aceount of advancing years and failing health Dr. Black- burn resigned the presideney in the summer of 1898. but remained in the faculty as president emeritus and professor until his death, in De- cember, 1898. The college will long bear the impress of his life, and its growth and usefulness will be a lasting monument to his noble self- sacrifice in its behalf. Rev. C. H. French be- came president of the college in August, 1898, and at once began the work of reorganizing and rebuilding on the new foundations. During the summer of 1902 a new impulse was given to the development of the college by the beginning of an effort to secure money for buildings and en- dowment. The Chicago & Northwestern Rail- way Company offered to donate for a campus four blocks of ground admirably located in the residenee portion of the city. Subscriptions were
taken in South Dakota and help was obtained from friends in the East. On December 31, 1903, a total sum of one hundred thousand dol- lars had been given or subscribed, of which thirty thousand or more will be available for use during the present summer ( that of 1904). With this amount the new dormitory for girls will be completed and an artesian well will be secured and a central heating and lighting plant will be installed. The college is under the man- agement of the Presbyterian synod of South Di- kota. The synod elects the trustees, who are divided into three classes and serve three years each. They must not be less than five nor more than twenty-four in number, and two-thirds of them must be members of the Presbyterian church. This board of trustees appoints the faculty and administers all the affairs of the school."
It may be further said that the college is Presbyterian, but not sectarian, and that its curriculum and facilities are of the best, while its faculty has been selected with the utmost of dis- crimination. An excellent library and museum are maintained, a college paper published, and the student life is of enthusiastic and appreciative type. Four courses are offered in the college. leading up to the degree of Bachelor and Mas- ter of Arts, while there are also musical, academic, normal and commercial departments. cach equipped for most effective work. The financial budget of the institution lias increased from eight thousand dollars, in 1808-9. to eightcen thousand five hundred dollars in 1904. An endowment and building fund of one hun- dred thousand dollars was secured December 31. 1903. The building now occupied is valued at about twenty-five thousand dollars : the dormi- tory and heating and lighting plant, completed in the summer of 1904, represent an expenditure of thirty-five thousand dollars, and the campus, given by the railway company, on the Ist of Sep- tember, 1904, is valued at twelve thousand dol- lars. The state, the church, the official board, the faculty and the students all have reason to take pride in Huron College and to be assured of its still brighter and more glorious future.
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JOHN M. ROBB, a successful cattle raiser and farmer of Stanley county, claims the fine old Buckeye state as the place of his nativity, having been born in Lima, Allen county, Ohio, on the 28th of March, 1854, and being a son of Hon. Thomas M. and Ann M. Robb. The father of the subject was born in Pennsylvania, as was also his father, Joshua Robb, who removed thence into Ohio in the pioneer days, becoming a successful farmer and there passing the re- mainder of his life. Thomas N. Robb was a man of high attainments, being one of the rep- resentative members of the bar of the state, and also serving as a member of the legislature. Both he and his wife continued to reside in Lima, Ohio, until death. They became the par- ents of eight children, of whom five are living.
John M. Robb was reared to maturity in his native city, and there completed the curriculum of the public schools, being graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1875. After leaving school he was engaged in the banking business until 1877, when, at the age of twenty-three years, he came as a pioneer to what is now the state of South Dakota. He was a member of the government party which came here and built Fort Custer, and there he was in charge of the trader's store until the fall of that year, when he removed to Fort Bennett. where he continued in charge of the government trading store until 1890, when he engaged in the same line of business on his own responsi- bility. The Indians were more or less trouble- some during these years, and our subject became familiar with the strenuous work demanded in keeping them in subjection to government att- thority. Upon the removal of the military post from Fort Bennett, in 1801, Mr. Robb became associated with Senator Douglas F. Carlin in the stock business, and about three years later he purchased the interests of his partner and has since been successfully identified with the great cattle industry of the state in an individual way, having a fine ranch of ten thousand acres, eligibly located on the Cheyenne river, while on the place is also a fine natural spring which supplies a large amount of pure water. Mr.
Robb gives special preference to the Hereford type of cattle and carries on his operations upon an extensive scale. In politics he gives his sup- port to the Democratic party, but has never aspired to public office of any description.
MORRIS M. WILLIAMS, a well-known and representative citizen of Lebanon, Potter county, was born in Portage, Wisconsin, on the 12th of October, 1865, and after there complet- ing the curriculum of the public schools he en- tered the Northwestern Business College, in Madison, the capital of the state, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1885. In 1885 he came to the territory of Dakota and was for one year employed as clerk in the Inter Ocean Hotel, at Mandan, in what is now North Dakota. He then, in 1886, came to Gettysburg, Potter county, South Dakota, and was there working for his brother, A. G., in the real- estate business for two years, at the expiration of which, in 1888, he came to Lebanon, where he engaged in the buying of grain for the Marfield Elevator Company, remaining with this concern twelve years, while during the latter few years of this period he was also engaged in the humber and farming implement and machine business on his own responsibility, retiring from the grain business in 1902, while he still con- tinned the other lines of individual enterprise, having built up a large and successful business. In 1898 he was also engaged in the general mer- chandise business here, as the senior member of the firm of Williams & Schneider, having a com- modious store and warehouse and carrying an extensive stock of goods. He has been con- secutively concerned in the real-estate business, and his books at all times show desirable in- vestments in good farming and grazing lands, as well as town property. He has recently com- pleted in Lebanon a fine modern residence, the same being heated by the hot-water system and having other up-to-date facilities and being one of the most attractive homes in this section of the state. In politics he is a stanch Republican but has not been ambitious for public office,
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though he served for a number of years as treas- urer of the school district. He is a Royal Arch Mason and also identified with the Ancient Or- der of United Workmen.
On the 8th of August, 1890, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Frankie Carr, and they have three children, Perry R., Benjamin H. and Marjorie.
GEORGE A. DODDS, one of the leading and pioneer merchants of Watertown, is a native of the state of New York, having been born in Wellington, St. Lawrence county, on the 17th of June, 1845, and being a son of Captain George and Anne (Walton) Dodds, the former of whom was born in Scotland and the latter in England, while the father was for many years engaged in mercantile business, both he and his wife hav- ing died in Waddington, New York. After at- tending the public schools of his native town the subject of this review went to Ogdensburg, New York, where, at the age of seventeen years, he se- cured a clerkship in a dry-goods store, being thus employed for the following decade and gaining an intimate knowledge of the details of the busi- ness. At the expiration of the period noted he came west to the city of Chicago, where he was engaged in clerking in leading mercantile estab- lishments until 1875, having been in the city at the time of the memorable fire of 1871. In 1875 he there engaged in the dry-goods business upon his own responsibility, continuing this enterprise until 1884, when he disposed of his interests in the western metropolis and came to Watertown, South Dakota, where he opened a dry-goods store in the Mellette block, his having been the first exclusive dry-goods establishment in the city. He built up an excellent trade, the growth of the enterprise keeping pace with the devel- opment and progress of the town, and finally he added other departments to his business and se- cured large and ample quarters, where he now has a general stock of merchandise of select and comprehensive order. He is one of the alert and progressive business men of the city and com- mands the unqualified esteem of its people, while
he always maintains a deep interest in public af- fairs and in the promotion of the welfare of the city and state. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and both he and his wife are valued members of the Congregational church.
Mr. and Mrs. Dodds have an attractive home, located on the north side of the city, and the same is a center of refined hospitality.
MELVELLE B. BRIGGS, a successful stock grower of Stanley county, is a scion of stanch old colonial stock, the original American ancestors having settled in New England prior to the war of the Revolution. He is himself a native of the old Pine Tree state, having been born in Brigh- ton, Somerset county, Maine, on the 19th of Jan- uary, 1860, and being a son of William E. and Almeda ( Hight) Briggs, both of whom were likewise born in that state, where they were reared to maturity and where they con- tinned to reside until 1865, when they re- moved to lowa, the father having pre- viously passed some time in California. They remained in Iowa until 1868, when they located in Olmstead county, Minnesota, where the honored father of our subject was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1881, when he came to South Dakota, passing the closing years of his life in Woonsocket, Sanborn county, where he died in 1899. His widow is still living, seventy- five years old. They were the parents of five sons, of whom the subject of this review was the youngest. His brother. George E. Briggs, who was a locomotive engineer on the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, was killed in a wreck on that road near Bramhall, this state, on the 19th of July, 1809. The others are O. W. Briggs, of Rochester, Minnesota: W. T. and I. F. Briggs, of Woonsocket, South Dakota.
M. B. Briggs was about five years of age at the time of the family removal to the west, and his early educational training was secured in the public schools of Iowa and Minnesota. He re- mained at the parental home in Minnesota until he had attained the age of nineteen years, when,
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in 1879, he came to South Dakota and initiated his independent career by engaging in the butch- ering business in Huron, where he remained two years, at the expiration of which he rejoined his parents, who about that time took up their abode on their ranch in Sanborn county, this state. He continued to be associated in the work and management of the home place until 1894. when he removed to his present location, in Ster- ling county, twelve miles northeast of the little postoffice town of Leslie, among his neighbors in the locality being such well-known and hon- ored citizens as John Robb, Senator Douglas F. Carlin and Louis La Plante, Sr., as well as othi- ers, who are individually mentioned in this com- pilation. Mr. Briggs has a well-improved and well-watered ranch of six hundred and forty acres, and the best of range facilities for his cat- tle, of which he runs a large herd each season. In politics he is a stanch adherent of the Demo- cratic party, and fraternally he holds member- ship in the Modern Woodmen of America.
On the 8th of November, 1884, Mr. Briggs was united in marriage to Miss Kate U. Seely, who was born in Burns, La Crosse county, Wis- consin, being a daughter of Alfred and Louise (Miles) Seely, who removed thence to Elgin, Minnesota, when she was a mere child, and she was there reared and educated. Mr. and Mrs. Briggs have five sons, namely: Frederick, Frank. George. Walter and William.
DOUGLAS CARLIN, representative of Stanley and Lyman countics in the state senate, and one of the successful farmers and stock growers of this section of the state, is a native of the state of Illinois, having been born in Greene county, on the 20th of August. 1855, and being a son of Thomas J. and Mary (Kelly) Carlin, who were likewise born and reared in that state. William Carland, the grandfather of the subject, was born in the old Dominion state. where the family was established in the colonial days, and he became one of the early pioneers of Illinois, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. He was associated with
his brother Thomas, who later became one of the early governors of the state. The parents of the subject of this review are still living in Illi- nois, and the father, who has attained the vener- able age of seventy-five years, has devoted his active life to farming. He served as register of deeds and clerk of the circuit court for a period of twelve years and is now living retired, in the town of Carrollton. His three children are all living, and the subject of this review is the only son.
Douglas Carlin passed his boyhood days in his native county, and received his rudimentary education in the public schools, after which he continued his studies in a school conducted by the Christian Brothers in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, entering the institution at the age of fifteen and remaining in the same for a period of four years. He then returned to his home and there attended school until he had attained his legal majority. when he was appointed deputy sheriff of Greene county, in which capacity he served one year, at the expiration of which, in 1877, he came to Bismarck, Dakota territory, and thence proceeded down the Missouri river to Fort Yates, where he joined his uncle, Gen- cral William P. Carlin, who was in command of that military post. The General served with dis- tinction during the war of the Rebellion, with the rank of major general, and was retired a number of years ago with the rank of brigadier general, while he now resides in the city of Spokane, Washington, in which state he has ex- tensive real-estate interests. Upon reaching Fort Yates the subject was appointed quartermaster's clerk, and there served in that capacity until June, 1881, when he was ordered to Pierre by the chief quartermaster and there assigned to the supervision of the shipping department, is- suing supplies to the different military posts up and down the Missouri river, including Fort Meade. He retained this position until 1885. when he was given a clerical office in the depart- inen of the interior and assigned to the Chey- enne Indian agency, where he continued in active service until the autumn of 1890. He then resigned his position and located on the
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Cheyenne river, where he has since been suc- cessfully engaged in the raising of cattle and horses, having a ranch of open range, well- improved and carrying on his enterprise on a large scale. He gives preference to the Here- ford breed of cattle, keeping an average herd of about five hundred head, while he also raises an excellent grade of draft and road horses. In politics Mr. Carland gives an unwavering al- legiance to the Democratic party, and in 1899 lie was elected a member of the board of com- missioners of Sterling county, while in 1902 he was elected to represent his county in the state senate, in which body he has proved a valuable working member. Fraternally the Senator is identified with the Masonic order and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
On the 27th of August, 1887, Mr. Carlin was united in marriage to Miss Marcelle Dupree. who was born at Fort Sully, this state, being a daughter of Frederick Dupree, who resided in this section of the Union for sixty years, being a prominent and influential figure in the pioneer history of the state. He died in June, 1898, on his ranch, in Sterling county, at the advanced age of seventy-nine years. Of him individual mention is made on other pages of this work.
Mr. and Mrs. Carland have six children. namely : Lilly, Thomas, Walter, Laura, Bessie and Ruth.
JOSEPH J. STEHLY, of Hecla, Brown county, is a native of Lakeville, Dakota county. Minnesota, and a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of that state. He was born on the 3d of September, 1860, and is a son of John and Mary Stehly, the former of whom was born in Manheim, Baden, Germany, whence he immigrated to America when a young man, taking up his residence in Minnesota, where he turned his attention to farming, having been one of the early settlers of Dakota county, where he remained until the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, when he showed his loyalty to the land of his adoption by enlisting as a member of Company K. Third Minnesota
Volunteer Cavalry, with which he served until the time of his death, which occurred on the 28th of August, 1864, at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as the result of hardships endured while in the army. His wife survived him by many years, her death occurring in 1880, while their three children survive them. The father was but thirty-four years of age at the time of his death.
The subject was reared on the homestead farm and secured his early educational discipline in the public schools of Minnesota. IIe contin- ued to be identified with the work and manage- ment of the homestead until 1884, when he en- tered upon an apprenticeship at the carpenter trade, becoming a skilled artisan in the line and following his trade in Minnesota until 1888, when he came to South Dakota, locating in the village of Hecla on the 30th of May of that year. Here he found ample demand upon his services as a contractor and builder, and in July, 1888, he purchased a half interest in a local furniture establishment, being associated in the enterprise with Fred Rock, under the firm name of Rock & Stelly. In 1890 the firm purchased the lum- ber yard of the town and continued to conduct both enterprises until January 20, 1892, when the partnership was dissolved and our subject se- cured the lumber business as his share. He has since conducted this most successfully, his trade being exceptionally large for a town of the size and this fact indicates that he is specially ener- getic, progressive and straightforward in his methods, his annual transactions reaching a large aggregate. As he is a thorough mechanic and an excellent judge of material, he is able to dis- criminate in the selection and care of stock, and this fact is appreciated by his patrons. He also carries a full line of builders' materials, includ- ing paints, glass, special hardware demanded in the line, etc. He is also the owner of a consid- erable amount of good farming land in the county, and has in the town an attractive mod- ern residence, located in the vicinity of his lum- ber yards. Fraternally he holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and his wife belong to the Roman Catholic church.
On the 12th of January, 1891, Mr. Stehly was
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united in marriage to Miss Katie Dietrich, who was born in Germany, whence she came to Amer- ica with her parents when a child, being reared and educated in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Stehly have six children, namely : Nicholas J., Michael W., Mary C., Frank J., Theodore H. and Leo P.
IVAN WILBUR GOODNER, of Pierre, a representative member of the bar of the state and president of the state board of regents of education, is a native of the state of Illinois, hav- ing been born in Washington county, on the 24th of July. 1858, and being a son of Rev. Wil- liam Milton and Margaret Nancy (Edmiston) Goodner, natives respectively of the states of Tennessee and Kentucky, the former being of Holland Dutch lineage and the latter of English. Rev. William M. Goodner was a clergyman of the Methodist church for many years, and later was a Swedenborgian missionary in the western states, being a man of ripe scholarship and ex- alted integrity of character. The subject of this review received his early educational training in the public schools of the states of Illinois and Michigan, later attended Graham's Academy, in New York city, while he completed his technical law course in the law department of the Univer- sity of Nebraka, at Lincoln, where he was gradu- ated, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws, in 1897. He had previously become an expert shorthand reporter, and to this vocation devoted his attention for a number of years. He came to what is now the state of South Dakota in 1884, and from 1880 to 1889 he followed the vocation noted. He was the first clerk of the supreme court of the state, resigning the office in 1896 to enter the practice of law. He was the official reporter of debates in the South Dakota con- stitutional conventions of 1885 and 1889, in 1898-9 was city attorney of Pierre, while he ren- dered most efficient service as state's attorney for Hughes county from 1900 to 1904. In 1901 he was appointed, by Governor Charles N. Herreid, a member of the state board of regents of edu- eation, being elected president of the board in 1903 and being still incumbent of that important
office, in which connection his efforts have proved of great value in forwarding and con- serving the educational interests of the state. He was admitted to the bar in 1885 and has won marked distinction both as a trial lawyer and a counsellor, having been identified with a large amount of important litigation, notably the long line of bond litigations in which the city of Pierre was involved. He carried these cases through the federal courts and to the supreme court of the United States, before which he was admitted to practice in April, 1901. In politics Mr. Goodner has ever been stanchly aligned as a radical Republican and has been an active worker in its canse in South Dakota. In the Masonic fraternity he has attained to the degrees of the commandery, was deputy grand master of the Masonic grand lodge of the state, and this year (1904) was elected grand master. He is also past grandmaster of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in South Dakota and is also identified with the Modern Woodmen of America.
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