History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 143

Author: Robinson, Doane, 1856-1946. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: [Logansport? IN] : B. F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1138

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

is a member of the State Press Association and is popular in the circles of the newspaper frater- nity of the state, as is he also in business and social circles in his home city. In politics he has ever accorded an unequivocal allegiance to the Republican party, and both in a personal way and through the columns of his paper he has done much to further its interests in a local way. In January, 1899, the late lamented Pres- ident Mckinley appointed him postmaster of Miller, and in January, 1903, he was reappointed, by President Roosevelt, so that he is incumbent | of the office at the time of this writing. He is identified with the local lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

On the 9th of November, 1880. Mr. Bush- field was united in marriage to Miss Cora E. Pearson, of Atlantic, Iowa, and they have three children, Harley J., Laura D. and Anna M.

FRANCIS WILLIAM RYAN, of Jefferson township, Union county, was born on his pres- ent farm, on the 9th of March, 1862, and his boyhood days were passed amid the scenes and conditions incidental to life on the frontier, while he has reason to recall the privations endured and the obstacles surmounted in the early days, including the scourge of grasshoppers and the havoc wrought by the overflowing of the Mis- souri river. He is now the owner of the old home farm, which is well improved and under a high state of cultivation, his entire landed estate comprising one hundred and sixty acres. His educational privileges were such as were afforded in the public schools, while he has ef- fectually rounded out his training under the in- struction of the wisest of headmasters, ex- perience.

The subject is a son of Michael and Mary (Edwards) Ryan, both of whom were born in the Emerald Isle, the former being a native of Queens county, where he was born in 1827, while the latter was born in Kilkenny county, their marriage having been solemnized in 1851. The devoted wife and mother died in 1896, and is survived by her husband and four children. In

1860 Michael Ryan emigrated to America and came to the territory of Dakota, settling on the farm now owned by his son, subject of this re- view, the same being the northwest quarter of section 29, Jeffers township. The land was at the time in its wild state, and there were but few settlers in the county. After completing his primitive log house he instituted the work of reclaiming his land to cultivation, and in due course of time success attended his earnest ef- forts. He resided on the homestead until 1873. when he removed to the village of Jefferson, this county, where he erected one of the first stores in the town, and there established himself in the general merchandise business, simultaneously acting as station and express agent and post- master, and also buying and shipping grain. He continued to be actively engaged in business until about 1886, when he retired and has since been enjoying the rewards of his former toil and endeavor, being still a resident of Jefferson and one of its most honored pioneers. .

Hon. Francis W. Ryan, whose name initiates this sketch, has ably upheld the prestige of the name which he bears and is one of the repre- sentative men of his native county. He was a member of the school board of his district from 1899 until 1902, and was honored with election to the legislature of the state in 1899, serving with ability through the general assembly of 1900 and that of 1902, and in the autumn of the latter year received further evidence of the popular appreciation of his efforts in his re- election to the same office, and he has rendered valuable service during the session of 1903. In politics he gives an unqualified support to the Republican party and its principles and has been one of its leaders in the county for a number of years past. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, in which he was reared, and fraternally he is a member of Lodge No. 2758. Modern Woodmen of America, at Jefferson.

On the Ioth of February, 1886, Mr. Ryan was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Brow, who was likewise born in Union county, being a daughter of Joseph Brow, and of this union have been born five children.

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

REV. JOSEPH B. VARNUM was born in the village of Berlin, province of Ontario, Canada, on the 19th of May, 1830, his parents at the time being citizens of the United States, and he passed his youthful years in the state of Michigan, completing his education in Albion College, at Albion, that state, the same being one of the leading institutions of the Methodist Episcopal church in the western division of our country. He became a member of this church in 1849, prosecuted a thorough theological course and was ordained to the ministry in 1854. He continued in the work of his noble calling until the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, when he signalized his patriotism by tendering his services in the defense of the Union, enlist- ing as a private in a regiment of Michigan volunteers and continuing in service until the close of the war, having been wounded in the engagement at Petersburg, Virginia, while his record was that of a faithful and loyal soldier. After the war he resumed his ministerial labors, in which he contintied until his removal to what is now the state of South Dakota, while during the greater portion of the time he held pastoral charges in Michigan. His life was gentle, and kindly: he was tolerant in his judgment, un- derstanding the wellsprings of human thought and action, and his was the faith which makes faithful and which is ever a source of inspir- ation to others. The following paragraph. quoted from a previously published article, is well worthy of reproduction in this connection : "While in South Dakota Mr. Varnum sustained a superannuated relation with the church, but his influence and pious example had much to do with building up and strengthening the cause. His character was marked by a stanch integrity of purpose, strong will. optimistic hope, intense patriotism and unswerving devotion to his God."

In 1884 Mr. Varnuni came with his family to South Dakota and took up government land in the immediate proximity of the present village of Gale, Campbell county, where he eventually developed a fine farm, being the owner of three hundred and twenty acres at the time of his death. He was a man of influence in the com-

munity and his aid was ever given in support of all measures for the advancement of the gen- eral weal, his influence being felt in the civic, moral. educational and political affairs of his section. In politics he gave an unqualified al- legiance to the Republican party, and he has the distinction of representing Campbell county in the first state legislature, in 1889. His death oc- curred on the 26th of May, 1896, and he "rests from his labors," while his name is venerated by all who knew him.

On the 8th of November, 1856, was solem- mized the marriage of Mr. Varnum to Miss Maroa E. Vibbert, who was born in Chittenango, Madison county, New York, on the 3d of March, 1835, and she survives him, as do their three children, namely : Olin B., Wewoka, Indiana, en- gaged in the general mercantile business ; Lelia, teacher in the Herreid school ; Wilbur E., gen- eral manager of the Herreid Milling Company, Herreid. Nettie died at Gale, South Dakota, May 18, 1899.

Hon. Wilbur F. Varnum, the third child of the honored subject of this memoir, was born in Rochester. Oakland county, Michigan, on the 27th of May. 1868, and he received his early educational discipline in the public schools of his native state, being sixteen years of age at the time of the family removal to South Dakota, where he was reared to manhood on the old | homestead farm, to whose development and im- provement he contributed his quota. proving a capable coadjutor to his father. On the 20th of July, 1895, he engaged in the general mer- chandise business at Gale, in the meanwhile con- tinuing to superintend the home farm of eight hundred acres, where he carried on general farming and stock growing up to the time of his removal to Herreid. He built up a very pros- perous business in Gale and there continued operations tintil 1900, when he disposed of his business there and removed to the newly founded town of Herreid, where he became one of the organizers and principal stockholders of the Herreid Milling Company, of which he has since been general manager. The company has a fine mill, equipped with the latest improved ma-

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chinery and having a capacity for the output of one hundred barrels of flour a day. The enter- prise has been most successful and is one of the leading business industries of this section of the state, while the facilities afforded are greatly ap- preciated throughout the wide territory tributary to the thriving village in which the mill is lo- cated. Mr. Varnum is a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and in 1896 he was elected to represent Campbell county in the state legislature, mak- ing an excellent record and being chosen as his own successor in 1898, while in 1900 still higher honors were accorded him, in his election to the state senate, as representative of the thirty- seventh senatorial district, comprising the coun- ties of Campbell and McPherson. He and his wife are prominent and zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

On the 21st of October, 1895, Mr. Varnum was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Pollock, who was born in Kansas, and who is a daughter of Robert Y. Pollock, one of the prominent and influential pioneers of Campbell county, South Dakota, where the town of Pollock was named in his honor. Mr. and Mrs. Varnum have three children, Joseph Emerson, Robert Dewey and Evelyn.

GRANVILLE J. COLLER, M. D., one of the pioneer physicians of Brookings, is a na- tive of the state of Michigan, having been born on a farm in Lenawee county, on the 6th of No- vember, 1854, and being a son of James L. and Amanda M. (Richart) Coller. James L. Coller was born in the state of New York, a son of Jesse B. Coller, who was of English lineage. When the father of our subject was a child he accompanied his parents on their removal to Michigan, which was then considered on the frontier, and the parents were numbered among the pioneers of the state. James L. was reared to manhood in Lenawee county and after his marriage he continued to be engaged in farming

in that county for a few years, after which he removed to Calhoun county, where he continued in the same vocation until his death, which oc- curred in 1861. He was survived by his wife and their six children, the youngest being but one year of age, while the subject of this sketch was eight years old at the time when he was thus deprived of the care and guidance of his father. The family remained on the homestead farm, and much of the responsibility of carrying on the work devolved upon the youthful shoulders of our subject and his brother Edgar, the latter be- ing at the time about eleven years of age. Here the devoted mother reared her children to years of maturity and here remaincd until 1899, when she came to Brookings and was made a welcome acquisition to the family circle of her son, the subject of this review, who accorded her the ut- most filial solicitude until she was summoned to the life eternal, in October, 1901, at the venerable age of seventy-four years. Of the children we enter the following epitomized record: Sarah, who became the wife of Wheeler Collins, died of consumption, in 1901, at the home of the sub- ject, whither she had come from her home in Colorado; Edgar is a successful farmer living in Michigan; Lafayette continues to reside on the old homestead farm in that state; Granville J. is the immediate subject of this review; Chester is likewise a resident of Brookings; and William is engaged in farming in Michigan.

Dr. Coller was reared to manhood in Calhoun county, Michigan, where he worked on the home farm until he had attained the age of eighteen years, while in the meanwhile he pursued his studies in the public schools during the winter months. At the age noted he was matriculated in Adrian College, at Adrian, Michigan, where he was a student for three years, in the mean- while teaching one winter term of school, while after leaving the college he continued to follow the pedagogic profession for two years. At the age of twenty-one years he was elected superin- tendent of the township schools of his native county, rendering effective service, while it may be said that he has ever maintained a lively in- terest in the cause of popular education. In 1877

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

he entered the medical department of the Uni- versity of Michigan, where he completed the pre- scribed course in the autumn of 1880, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine and coming forth well equipped for the work of his noble profession. Shortly after his graduation the Doctor came to Brookings, South Dakota, the town having at the time but three dwelling houses, while the business places were repre- sented by a relative parity. When he arrived in his new field of labor he was five hundred dol- lars in debt, having utilized this amount in com- pleting his technical education, and when he took up his residence in the embryonic town his cash capital was summed up in five dollars. He was, however, endowed with boundless energy, de- termination and pluck, and his pleasing person- ality and professional ability soon gained him appreciative recognition in the pioneer commun- ity. During nearly a quarter of a century of ac- tive practice here he has ever been faithful and self-abnegating and his name is deserving of an enduring entry on the roll of the honored pio- neers of the medical profession in the state. He has continued a close student of his profession and has availed himself of post-graduate work, keeping abreast of the advances made in medical and surgical science. In the spring of 1900 Dr. Coller established a private hospital in Brook- ings, the same proving a success, but by reason of his own impaired health and the insistent de- mands of his outside professional work he was compelled to abandon the enterprise. The Doc- tor lias been justly prospered in temporal affairs, He is a member of the State Medical Society, American Medical Association and American Association of Railway Surgeons. He is frater- nally identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His religious views are in harmony with the tenets of the Presbyterian church, of which his family are members. In politics Dr. Coller has ever been a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, in whose cause he has been an active worker. He was for three successive years incumbent of the office of mayor of Brookings, while his also was the dis-

tinction of having been chosen to represent his district in the senate of the first legislature of South Dakota after its admission to the Union. He has also served as a member of the board of regents of the State Agricultural College and is president of the board of health of Brookings county and has been at intervals for a number of years.

On the 2d of October, 1884, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Coller to Miss Helen Un- derwood, who was born in Calhoun county, Michigan, on the 8th of October, 1856, being a daughter of Amasa and Jane Underwood, both of whom were natives of the state of New York, whence they accompanied their parents to Michi- gan in their childhood days. Amasa Underwood was a son of Thaddeus and Phoebe Underwood, the agnatic line tracing back to English origin, while on the maternal side the lineage is of Scotch-Irish extraction. Mrs. Coller was gradu- ated in the Chicago Ladies' Seminary, in the city of Chicago, as a member of the class of 1876, and was thereafter, for six years, a successful and popular teacher in the same institution. She is a member of the Degree of Honor and also of the Woman's Club of Brookings. To Dr. and Mrs. Coller have been born five children. concerning whom we incorporate a brief record : Frederick A. is a member of the class of 1906 in the State Agricultural College; Helen is attend- ing the public schools ; Granville C. died at the age of five years; Clara J. is attending the schools of her native city; and James died in in- fancy.

SHERMAN FREDERICK LUCAS. of Bonesteel, Gregory county, was born in Waverly, Bremer county, Iowa, on the 17th of Septem- ber. 1864. and is a son of William V. and So- phronia M. (Lowe) Lucas, both being of Scotch-Irish lineage. William Vincent Lucas was born in Carroll county, Indiana, on the 3d of July, 1835, and was there reared and edu- cated. In 1856 he was united in marriage to Sophronia M. Lowe, who was born in the same county, in 1835, and in the same year they re-

HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

1801

moved to Iowa and became numbered among the pioneers of Bremer county. The father of the subject was a presidential elector from that state in 1876, served as treasurer of Bremer county for four years, and was a man of much influence in his community, while in 1880-81 he had the distinction of serving in the office of auditor of the state of Iowa. In 1883 he re- moved with his family to South Dakota and lo- cated in Brule county, of which he was treas- urer for one term. He was a member of con- gress from South Dakota for the term of 1893 and 1894 and was for several years commandant of the State Soldiers' Home, at Hot Springs, being himself a veteran of the Civil war, and he resigned this office on the ist of July, 1903, and removed to California, being now a resident of Santa Cruz, that state. His cherished and de- voted wife was summoned into eternal rest in August, 1896. She was a woman of noble and gracious character, a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was held in af- fectionate regard by all who came within the sphere of her influence.

Sherman F. Lucas secured his early educa- tional discipline in the public schools of Waverly and Mason City, Iowa, and learned the printer's trade in the newspaper office of his father, in the latter place. In May, 1883, he came to the present state of South Dakota and located in the village of Castalia, where in the following month, in association with his brother, Aaron B., he engaged in the newspaper business, establish- ing the Castalia Republican, the pioneer paper of the town. In 1888 he disposed of his interest in this enterprise and accepted a position as as- sistant cashier in the Charles Mix County Bank, at Castalia. In 1800 he was appointed clerk of the courts of that county and served one year, being defeated for re-election in the Populistic landslide of that year, though he ran eighty votes ahead of his ticket and was defeated by only eleven votes. He passed the year 1891 in Fort Randall, being placed in charge of the post trader's store by the receiver. He was chief clerk of the enrolling and engrossing force of the lower house of the state legislature during the

general assembly of 1893, and during the sum- mer of 1895 was second clerk on the Diamond Joe line of steamers, plying between St. Louis and St. Paul. In 1866 he was appointed assignee of the Charles Mix County Bank, continuing his residence in Castalia, that county, until 1890, when he removed to Bonesteel, Gregory county, and here established the Gregory County News, disposing of the same in May, 1903, to S. P. Ayres & Son. On the Ist of April, 1899. he was appointed postmaster of the town and has since remained incumbent of this office. In 1899 he was admitted to the har of the state upon ex- amination before the supreme court, and gives considerable attention to the practice of his pro- fession. He was the candidate on his party ticket for county judge in 1900, but was defeated by the Democratic candidate, Edwin M. Starcher. He served two years as a member of the board of trustees of the village of Bonesteel and is known as one of its most loyal, progressive and public-spirited citizens, while he gives an un- compromising allegiance to the Republican party. as may be inferred from preceding statements. At the time of the Spanish-American war Mr. Lucas raised in Charles Mix county a company of volunteers, but they were not mustered into the United States service, by reason of the fact that the state's quota of soldiers was fully sup- plied from the members of its National Guard. Mr. Lucas was affiliated with Doric Lodge. No. 93. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at . Castalia, of which he was master for one year. A lodge is about to be constituted at Bonesteel and Mr. Lucas has been selected as its first wor- shipful master. He is also identified with the Royal Arch Masons, at Mitchell ; is venerable consul of Bonesteel Camp, No. 4793. Modern Woodmen of America, and also affiliated with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen. Mrs. Lucas is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the subject contributes to the sup- port of the same.

On the 24th of June, 1899, Mr. Lucas was united in marriage to Miss Cora B. Johnson, who was born at Fredericksburg, Bremer county, Iowa, in March, 1875, being a daughter

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

of Marcellus M. and Ella M. Johnson, early and honored pioneers of Dakota territory. Mr. and Mrs. Lucas have two children, Vincent Lowe, who was born April 20, 1900, and Arthur Wayne, who was born May 9, 1902.

CHARLES A. CONKLIN was born in Greenwood, Steuben county, New York, on the Ist of August, 1853, and is a son of Hon. S. J. and Maria Conklin, who came to the west in 1857 and located in Waterloo, Wisconsin, where the father became prominent in the pioneer his- tory of the state, being successfully identified with agricultural enterprises and also becoming one of the distinguished members of the bar of that commonwealth. He served as quartermaster in the Forty-eighth Wisconsin Regiment and was adjutant general for South Dakota for four years. He died in South Dakota in November, 1872, while his wife died at Clark. The subject has one brother, who lives in Chicago, and a sis- ter, who lives in Hammond, Indiana.

Charles A. Conklin was a lad of five years at the time of his parents' removal to Wisconsin, where he was reared to maturity, securing such advantages as were afforded in the excellent public schools of Waterloo, that state, and re- maining at the parental home until 1873, when he went to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where he engaged in farming until 1876, when he dis- . posed of his interests there and came as a pio- neer to South Dakota. He proceeded by rail- road as far as Watertown, which was then the terminus of the line, and then located in the vil- lage of Clark, in the county of the same name, where he engaged in buying grain for the Por- ter Milling Company, of Winona, and there he continued to make his headquarters, continuously connected with the line of enterprise noted, until 1892, when he removed to Cherry creek and was there engaged in the capacity of government farmer on the Cheyenne Indian reservation for the ensuing two years, at the expiration of which he opened up his present fine stock ranch, on the Cheyenne river, fifty miles from Fort Pierre and two miles distant from Lindsey, which is his postoffice address. He has here been since en-

gaged in the raising of cattle and horses, carry- ing forward the enterprise with characteristic energy and discrimination and having an ample range, well-watered by the river as well as a number of natural springs of pure water. He gives his preference to the Hereford breed of cat- tle and to Morgan horses, and on his ranch may be usually found about three hundred fine speci- mens of the former and one hundred and fifty or more of the latter. In politics Mr. Conklin has ever given an unfaltering allegiance to the Re- publican party, but he has refused to permit the use of his name in connection with political office of any description. He is a member of the Ma- sonic and Pythian fraternities.

On the 28th of April, 1876, Mr. Conklin was united in marriage to Miss Martha Austin, who was born and reared in Wisconsin, being a daughter of Samuel Austin, and she was sum- moned into eternal rest in April, 1888, and is sur- vived by four children, namely: Roy, Rena, Samuel and Clyde. On the 2d of October, 1890, Mr. Conklin was united in marriage to Miss Ida Geyer, who was born in the state of Illinois, be- ing a sister of Isaac M. Geyer, who is the sub- ject of an individual sketch on another page of this work. To said article reference may be made for data concerning the family. Of this union has been born one child, Wanita, who was born in Clark, Clark county, South Dakota, July 21, 1891, and is now twelve years old and has been attending school at Pierre for the last four years.

JAMES W. JOHNSTON, secretary and general manager of the Faulk County Land and Title Company, is a well-known citizen of Faulk- ton. He was born in Center county, Pennsyl- vania, on the 4th of October, 1854, being a son of William and Agnes (Watson) Johnston, both of whom were likewise born and reared in Penn- sylvania. The father of the subject was a suc- cessful farmer of Center county, where he con- tinued to reside until 1869, when he removed with his family to Lee county, where he and his wife resided until their deaths.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 143

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