History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 141

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 141

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The Doctor has an especially well-equipped office, in which is found a fine sixteen-plate X- Ray machine and several other electrical instru- ments. He is essentially a self-made man, hav- ing depended entirely upon his own efforts and resources in securing his education. He has ever been foremost in lending his support to those measures and enterprises which have for their object the enhancement of the material prosperity of the community and the bettering of humanity. He is imbued with distinctive lit- erary taste and has a splendid library.

On the 8th of November, 1899, Dr. Kenaston was united in marriage to Miss Jean May Mc- Kee, who was graduated in the State Normal School at Clarion, Pennsylvania, as a member of the class of 1892, and who was prior to her marriage a teacher in the public schools of But- ler, that state. Dr. and Mrs. Kenaston have one son, Hampton Ray, Jr., who was born on the

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

JAMES M. BROWN, judge of the county courts of McPherson county, comes of stanch old colonial stock, the genealogy in the paternal line showing that the family was founded in America in 1500. The ancestors were driven out of England during the persecution of those identified with the Society of Friends, or Quak- ers, and they filed to Holland and thence to America at the opening of the sixteenth cen- tury, as previously noted, the original settlement having been made either in New England or Rhode Island, while the name was for many generations more particularly identified with agricultural pursuits than any other vocation. Judge Brown was born on a farm in Oneida county, New York, on the Ioth of January, 1861, and is a son of John and Hannah ( Mitch- ell) Brown, both of whom were born and reared in that same county, and both of whom are now deceased. The paternal grandfather of the sub- ject likewise bore the name of John, and he likewise was born in the state of New York, whither his father, Thomas J. Brown, removed from Rhode Island, the place of the latter's na- tivity. Thomas J. was an active participant in the war of the Revolution, and this implies that he must, in a sense, have deviated from the prin- ciples of his ancestral faith, since the Quakers are opposed to warfare. The father of our sub- ject became a successful farmer of Oneida county, was public-spirited, his integrity was be- yond question and he wielded no little influence in his community, having been called upon to serve in various county offices. In his family were two children, James M., the subject of this sketch, and Minnie B., a resident of Chicago, Illinois. The parents were consistent and de- voted members of the Friends church.

Judge Brown received his early educational training in the public schools of his native coun- ty, and then entered Hamilton College, in the same county, in which famous old institution he continued his studies until his health became so impaired as to compel him to abandon his course and seek a change of climate. Accord- ingly he went to the south, and at Galveston, Texas, in 1876, he joined the engineer depart- 53-

ment of the government and was identified with its field work for the ensuing six years, in var- ious portions of the south and west. In 1883 he came to South Dakota and located in La Grace, Campbell county, where he remained three years, at the expiration of which he removed to Eu- reka, McPherson county, where he has since maintained his home, having been one of the early settlers of the town and having been closely identified with its material, civic and po- litical development and progress. In the mean- while he had taken up the study of law and so thoroughly covered the field of jurisprudence as to secure admission to the bar of the territory of Dakota in 1887, while he has ever since con- tinued to be identified with legal affairs in this section of the state, either as a general practi- tioner, public prosecutor or as judge. He was state's attorney of the county for several years, and has served on the bench of the county court for a total of three terms, though not absolutely in a consecutive way, while he is incumbent of this responsible office at the time of this writing and has made a record for fair and impartial rulings, based upon the law and evidence, so that he has had few reversals of his decisions by the higher tribunals. In 1901 he was appointed by Governor Herreid as one of the three code commissioners to revise and codify the laws of the state of South Dakota, the other two com- missioners being Judge Bartlett Tripp and the late Judge Gideon C. Moody. The Judge is a Knight Templar Mason and identified with the Order of the Eastern Star, the Knights of Pyth- ias and the Modern Woodmen of America.

On the 9th of January, 1895, Judge Brown was united in marriage to Miss Hattie A. Van Gorder, who was born and reared in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin.

JOHN R. BONNER, who has a well-im- proved and valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres, eligibly located five miles north- east of Pierpont, Day county, was born on a farm in DuPage county, Illinois, on the 13th of August, 1859, the old homestead being within

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sight of the city of Chicago. He is a son of Charles and Sarah (Rooke) Bonner, both of whom were born and reared in Lincolnshire, England, while their marriage was solemnized in March, 1855. Upon coming to America Charles Bonner settled in DuPage county, Illi- nois, being numbered among its pioneer farmers, and there he continued to resides until 1884. when he removed to Remington, Indiana, where he and his devoted wife now maintain their home, being venerable in years, but in excellent health and spirits. They became the parents of eight children, of whom five are living, the sub- ject of this sketch having been the third in or- der of birth.

John R. Bonner was reared on the old home- stead farm and early became inured to the labors involved in the cultivation, while in the connec- tion he gained that intimate knowledge of the practical details of the great basic art of agri- culture which has so signally conserved his suc- cess in the line during the years of his residence in South Dakota. He initiated his independent career in 1881, having received his educational training in the public schools of his native county. He there remained two years subse- quently to starting out for himself, and then, i11 1883, came as a pioneer to the present state of South Dakota, where he secured homestead 'and tree claims, the two constituting his pres- ent fine farm, which has been his home during the long intervening years, within which he has contributed his share to the work of developing the county and its resources, taking a proper in- terest in public affairs and ever standing ready to do his part in pushing forward the work of progress and material and social advancement, while his efforts have been so ably directed that he has not been denied a full measure of success. His farm is improved with good buildings and practically the entire tract is under cultivation, yielding large crops of wheat and other grains. Mr. Bonner has not had a crop failure in the past twenty years, and the productive integrity of the soil of his farm seems not in the least im- paired. He has an excellent supply of water on the place and in addition to diversified agricul-

ture makes somewhat of a specialty of raising an excellent grade of swine. He is a stanch adherent of the Republican party and has served in the various township offices, having been cho- sen to such preferment soon after locating in the county. Fraternally he is a master Mason and identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of the Maccabees.

On the 14th of September, 1889, Mr. Bon- ner lead to the hymeneal alter Miss Stella Burt, who was born in the state of Michigan, and who has proved a devout wife and helpmeet. They have five children, James, Sarah, Joseph, Susan and Helen.

CHALKLEY W. DERR, a representative business man of Turton, Spink county, is a son of Judge Chalkley H. Derr, one of the distin- guished and honored citizens of Faulkton, Faulk county, of whom specific mention is made on other pages of this compilation. The subject of this sketch was born in Jones county, Iowa, on the 27th of August, 1868, and he was there reared to the age of fourteen years, having re- ceived his educational discipline in the public schools of Olin, that county, He accompanied his parents on their removal to Faulkton, this state, where, in 1887, he engaged in the buying and shipping of wheat, with which important line of enterprise he has ever since been identi- fied. In 1888, he removed from Faulkton to Turton, with whose business interests he became closely identified. In 1890 he established a lum- ber business here, and in 1900 opened a hard- ware store and warehouse for the sale and stor- age of agricultural implements and machinery, and he has since continued to successfully con- duct the three enterprises, showing marked ex- ccutive ability and facility in the management of his affairs, which are of wide scope and im- portance, while he is recognized as one of the most progressive and public-spirited men of the county, contributing to the general prosperity through the individual business activities with which he' is identified. He has a well-equipped hardware store, and his business in all lines is

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constantly increasing, while he commands the uniform confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact, his genial nature and un- varying courtesy doing much to conserve his personal popularity, while both he and his wife are leaders in the social life of the community. In politics Mr. Derr is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, but has never sought official preferment, and fraternally he is identified with the following named organiza- tions: Lodge No. 134, Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons, at Conde, South Dakota; the chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Clark, South Dakota; Damascus Commandery, No. IO, Knights Templar; Aberdeen Consistory, No. 4, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Aberdeen, and El Riad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Sioux Falls, while he is also affiliated with Turton Lodge, No. 96, Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Turton Camp, No. 6067, Modern Woodmen of America, in his home town. Religiously he is affiliated with the Congregational church.

ANDREW FEENEY, a prosperous and honored stock grower of Stanley county, liis well-improved ranch being located fifteen miles west of Fort Pierre, is a native of the fair Em- erald Isle and a representative of stanch old Irish stock. He was born in Hollygrove, County Galway, Ireland, on the 28th of May, 1870, and is a son of Patrick and Margaret Feeney, the former of whom died in 1876, in Ireland, where he devoted his life to stock raising, while the latter died in South Dakota, in 1900, having been one of the noble pioneer women of the state. The subject of this sketch received his early educational training in the parochial schools of his native land, and was about six years of age at the time of his father's death. In 1881, when eleven years old, he accompanied his mother and the other members of the family to America, and they forthwith came to what is now the state of South Dakota and located on a pioneer ranch one mile northwest of Harrold, Hughes county. There they secured a pre-emp-

tion claim, upon which our subject continued to reside about six years, doing most strenuous work in connection with its improvement and de- development. The family then removed to a ranch three and one-half miles northeast of Pierre, in the same county, where they remained for the ensuing six years, since which time the subject has resided on his present ranch, which comprises six hundred and forty acres and which is eligibly located fifteen miles west of Fort Pierre, Stanley county, as has already been noted. He gives his attention principally to the raising of cattle and horses, and has steadily pressed forward toward the goal of success, be- ing now numbered among the substantial, pro- gressive and popular stock growers and valued citizens of Stanley county. He has retained his residence in Fort Pierre since 1902, in which year he was elected sheriff of the county, an of- fice of which he has ever since remained incum- bent, while his administration has been a most discriminating and able one, gaining to him une- quivocal commendation. He is a stalwart advo- cate of the principles of the Democratic party, and has taken an active part in forwarding its cause in a local way. He was reared in the faith of the Catholic church, of which both his father and mother were communicants. Mr. Feeney remains a bachelor.

JOHN N. ELLERMAN, one of the prom- inent young business men of Fairfax, Gregory county, not only has the distinction of being a native of the state of South Dakota, but also that of being the youngest county treasurer in this commonwealth, which has been his home throughout his entire life. Mr. Ellerman was born at Jamesville, Yankton county, this state, on the 18th of June, 1878, and the date signifies plainly that he is a representative of one of the pioneer families of South Dakota. He is the son of Herman and Emily (Rudolph) Eller- man, both of whom were born in Germany, whence they came to America in their early childhood. Their marriage was solemnized at Jamesville, South Dakota, where the father of

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the subject took up a homestead claim of gov- ernment land, which he improved and placed un- der cultivation. In the years following this set- tlement Herman Ellerman took an active part in the politics of Yankton county and held several positions of trust, among them being county treasurer and county assessor. He now is the United States collector of internal revenue for the district of North and South Dakota, to which position he was appointed during Mckinley's administration and in which he has continued ever since.

John N. Ellerman, the immediate subject of this review, secured his early training in the public schools of the city of Yankton, being graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1898. In September of that year he en- tered the celebrated University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and in this institution continued his studies for two years, at the expiration of which he returned to his home at Yankton. In 1900 he was appointed deputy county treasurer, in which capacity he continued to serve nearly two years, after which he became business manager of the Dakota Free Press and devoted his attention to newspaper work until May, 1902, gaining pres- tige and success in this field of endeavor. In May, 1902, he took up his residence at Fairfax, the capital of Gregory county, and liere estab- lished himself in the real-estate and loan busi- ness. He has been successful in his labors and is known as a progressive and public-spirited citizen. Only four months after his arrival in the county Mr. Ellerman was nominated on the Re- publican ticket for the office of county treasurer, and in the autumn of the same year, 1902, he was elected to this responsible office. He en- tered upon the active discharge of his official duties on the Ist of January, 1903, and as an ex- ecutive and citizen spares no pains to further the best interests of the new and thriving county with whose people he has cast his lot. He still continues his real-estate and loan business and enjoys the liberal patronage of the people of the county. At the time of his nomination for county treasurer he was incumbent of the office of justice of the peace, resigning the same to

take up the work of his present office. In poli- tics Mr. Ellerman gives an uncompromising al- legiance to the Republican party, and frater- nally he has attained high advancement in the time-honored Masonic order, in which his af- filiations include membership in St. John's Lodge, No. I, Free and Accepted Masons, in Yankton, and Oriental Consistory, No. 1, An- cient Accepted Scottish Rite, in which he has attained the thirty-second degree at the time of this writing. Mr. Ellerman enjoys a marked popularity in Gregory county, as does he also in his old home in Yankton county, and he is one who well exemplified the progressive spirit so manifest in his native commonwealth.

CRIST GRUE, the able and popular regis- ter of deeds of Day county, was born not far from the picturesque old city of Christiania, Norway, on the 19th of September. 1863, and is a son of Andreas Grue, who was born in the same place and who passed his entire life in his native land. Our subject was reared in his na- tive city, where he duly availed himself of the advantages of the excellent national schools, and he there continued to reside until 1881, when, in company with his four brothers, he immigrated to the United States. They came at once to South Dakota, and located near Canton, Lincoln county. There the subject continued to be en- gaged in farming and stock growing until 1890, when he removed to Day county and purchased a quarter section of land four miles west of Bris- tol, and here he continued in the same line of in- dustry, conserving his resources and working with indefatigable energy, so that he was pros- pered and enabled to add to the area of his landed estate. He now has a finely improved farın of four hundred acres, of which his origi- nal quarter section is an integral part, and about one-half of the tract is under a high state of cultivation, the remainder being utilized for grazing purposes.

Upon coming to America, Mr. Grue soon realized the necessity of gaining a more ade- quate knowledge of the language of the country

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than could be attained by absorption, and he continued his studies in the public schools for some time, making rapid progress in English and in the other branches of the curriculum. He is a stanch Republican in politics and has taken a lively interest in public affairs of a local inter- est, while he has held various township offices. In the autumn of 1902 he was elected register of deeds of the county and thereupon took up his residence in Webster, and his re-election to the office is assured in the fall of the present year, 1904, since he has given a most able administra- tion and even more firmly cemented his hold upon popular esteem and approval. He is identi- fied with the Improved Order of Red Men and the Brotherhood of American Yeomen.

On the 3Ist of March, 1890, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Grue to Miss Julia Sogn, of Lincoln county. They have no children.

SAMUEL P. HOWELL, of Frederick, Brown county, is a native of the old Buckeye state, having been born on a farm in Licking county, Ohio, on the 23d of December, 1837, | his loyalty to the Union, Captain Howell re-

and being a son of George P. and Matilda (Preston) Howell, the former of whom was born in New Jersey and the latter in Pennsylva- nia. Elias Howell, grandfather of the subject, was likewise a native of New Jersey, where the family was early established, and he removed thence to Ohio, in the pioneer epoch in that great commonwealth, becoming a man of prom- inence and influence in public affairs and hav- ing represented his district in congress for two terms. He passed the closing years of life in that state. George P. Howell was reared to manhood in Ohio and was there married. He continued to be identified with agricultural pur- suits in Licking county until 1852, when he re- moved with his family to McLean county, Illi- nois, where both he and his wife passed the re- mainder of their lives. They became the parents of six sons and three daughters, the subject of this sketch having been the third in order of birth, while of the number five are living. Cap- tain Howell received his early educational train-

ing in the common schools of his native state and later prosecuted his studies in the schools of 11- linois. With the outbreak of the war of the Re- bellion his patriotism was roused to responsive protest, and on the 25th of August, 1862, he en- listed as a private in Company I, Ninety-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Col- onel W. W. Orm. His command was assigned to duty on the frontier and there remained dur- ing a considerable portion of its service. The regiment was in active service in the various op- erations in Misouri and Arkansas, later took part in the siege of Vicksburg and was present at the capitulation of Mobile and Spanish Fort. The Captain continued with his command until the close of the war, receiving his honorable dis- charge in August, 1865. Immediately after the organization of his company he was chosen sec- ond lieutenant, later was promoted first lieuten- ant and finally became captain of his company, over which he was in command at the time of the close of the great conflict, while he was dis- charged with the brevet rank of major.

After having thus proved by faithful service turned to the old homestead in McLean county, Illinois, where he remained until 1869, when he removed to the eastern part of the county and engaged in farming on an extensive scale, open- ing up a farm of two thousand acres. He im- proved a most valuable property and there con- tinued operations until the spring of 1883, when he located in McPherson county, South Dakota, having made an investigating trip through this section the preceding autumn. He became the owner of twenty-four hundred acres, twelve miles north of Leola, and there gave his attention prin- cipally to the raising of cattle and horses, while three hundred acres of the property were placed under effective cultivation. He maintained an av- erage of seven hundred head of cattle on the ranch, which he still owns and operates, the property having been well improved and having greatly appreciated in value during the inter- vening years, which have witnessed the settling of the country and the rapid development of all resources and industries.

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The Captain has retained his residence in the village of Frederick in the winters, living on the McPherson county farm of summers, since 1898, and was one of the owners of the Bank of Frederick, of which he has been president since January, 1894, while he is also part owner of the Frederick flouring mill, which is equipped with the most modern machinery and has a ca- pacity for the output of two hundred barrels daily. He also has other capitalistic interests of importance, owning controlling interests in sixty- seven hundred acres of Brown county farms, and is known as one of the public-spirited men of this section of the state, being at all times ready to lend his aid and influence in the support of enterprises and measures which inure to the general good. In politics he gives an unwaver- ing allegiance to the Republican party, having cast his first vote for Lincoln in 1860. Though he has never been ambitious for political prefer- ment he has served in various local offices, hav- ing held the office of county commissioner for McPherson county for an entire decade, and having been a member of the first board of commissioners of the county. He has attained . to the thirty-second degree in the Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

On the 8th of February, 1872, Captain How- ell was united in marriage to Miss Mary Brooke, who was born in Media, Pennsylvania, being a representative of old colonial stock. They have six children, namely : Helen, who is now the widow of Bertine D. Gamble, of Milbank, and George Brooke, Mamie F., William E., Marga- ret and Jessie, who remain at the parental home, the elder son being the manager of the Frederick flouring mill.

JOHN BIBELHEIMER, the efficient and popular superintendent of schools for Walworth county, was born in southern Russia, province of Cherson, on the 22d of July, 1876, being a son of Heinrich and Katherina (Hirning ) Bibelheimer, both of whom were likewise born in that part of

the great domain of the czar, while both are of stanch German lineage. The father of the sub- ject was engaged in agriculure or farming in his native land until 1890, when he immigrated to the United States, accompanied by his family, and after landing in New York came directly. to South Dakota, arriving in Walworth county in April of that year. He and his wife now reside on a farm in Hiddenwood township, this county, and he has been prospered in temporal affairs and is one of the honored citizens of this section of the state. He is a Republican in politics and he and his wife are members of the German Baptist church. Of their thirteen children seven are living, the subject of this sketch having been the sixth in order of birth.

John Bibelheimer secured his preliminary ed- ucational discipline in the village schools of his native land, and there became familiar with both the German and Russian languages. He was a lad of fourteen years at the time of the family arrival in South Dakota, and he continued to at- tend the public schools of Walworth county until he had attained the age of eighteen years, after which he was engaged in teaching for two years, his eligibility in a pedagogic way showing be- yond peradventure that he had made good use of the advantages afforded him here, since he was unable to speak the English language at the time he began attending school in the county. His success in teaching and his enthusiastic interest in the work led him to determine to definitely fit himself for the profession, and after taking a preparatory course of study in the Baptist Col- Icge, in the city of Sioux Falls, he was matricu- lated in the State Normal School at Madison, where he completed a thorough course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1901. He thereafter taught one year in the schools of Wal- worth county, and in 1902 was nominated on the Republican ticket for the office of county sup- crintendent of schools, being elected in Novem- ber of that year, by a gratifying majority, while he has demonstrated the wisdom of the voters of the county in calling him to the office, for he is doing most effective work and greatly advanc- ing the interests of the schools in his jurisdiction.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 141

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