History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 145

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

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C. C. GROSS, M. D.

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turn for them until Surgeon Hord, of Aurora, Illinois, threatened to report him, when he re- luctantly yielded and the vessel approached suf- ficiently close to enable the wounded man to be swung on board in a blanket, their rescue being just in time to prevent their capture by the pur- suing enemy. A storm came on and it was sev- eral days before Mr. Gross could be taken to a hospital in Baltimore, when, in order to save his life, it was found necessary to amputate his wounded limb. After remaining something like six months under treatment, he was discharged from the hospital, and immediately thereafter re- turned home, where a short time later, January 14, 1864, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Dudley. This union, as already stated, re- sulted in the birth of five children, four of whom are living, at the present time, namely : Bertha C., a kindergartener in Riverside, California; Dr. Cheney C., of this review ; Dean D., a hardware merchant of Yankton, South Dakota, and Mary S., an unmarried lady, who is still under the pa- rental roof. Fred A. Gross, the youngest child, died in San Diego, California, June 28, 1900, at the age of eighteen years, after an illness of two years.

Daniel N. Gross served three terms as treas- urer of Dupage county, Illinois, and for a period of fourteen years was postmaster at Naperville. In 1883 he moved his family to Yankton, South Dakota, where he became associated with other partners in the hardware business, contin- uing a member of the firm until his death, which occurred November 28, 1889. One year prior to that date, he was elected auditor of Yankton county, and he had fairly entered upon the duties of the office when the dread messenger sum- moned him to the great beyond. Mr. Gross was a man of influence in his various places of resi- dence, and filled ably and worthily every position with which honored. He was prominent in the Masonic order, having been a leading mem- ber of the Oriental Consistory at Yankton, and was also active in religious circles, having been identified with the Congregational church at the time of his death, being a pillar of the First church of that denomination in Yankton. Mrs.

Gross is still living and at this time makes her 'home in Yankton with two of her children, the subject of this sketch and the youngest daughter, Mary S.

Referring specifically to the carcer of Dr. Cheney C. Gross, it is learned that he was born in Naperville, Illinois, on February 15, 1868, and that he grew up at home, receiving his early ed- ucation in the schools of his native place, and later, 1886, graduating from the Yankton high school. The Doctor was a youth of about fifteen when his parents moved to South Dakota and since that time his life has been very closely in- terwoven with the history of this city. After fin- ishing his high-school course, he continued his literary education for three years in Yankton College, subsequently, in the fall of 1890, entering the medical department of the Northwestern Uni- versity at Chicago, from which institution he was graduated in the summer of 1895. For one year of the above period he was connected with the drug house of G. W. Frostensen, in Yankton, but immediately after receiving his degree aban- doned all other pursuits for the practice of his profession, which he has since prosecuted with distinguished success, having not only risen to an eminent position in his own city, but achieved a reputation far beyond the limits of his present field of endeavor. The Doctor's progress since opening an office in Yankton has been rapid and marked, and by common consent he is now recog- nized as the leading physician in this section of the state, his abilities in all branches of the pro- fession creating a demand for his services which taxes his utmost powers to meet. A close and critical student, as well as a skillful and success- ful practitioner, he keeps abreast of the times in all matters relating to medical science, belonging to a number of professional societies and associa- tions, and taking a leading part in their deliber- ations. Among these are the American Medical Association, the South Dakota Medical Society, Sioux Valley Medical Association and the Aber- deen Medical Association, in addition to which he has also filled several positions in the line of his calling, to-wit, that of health officer of Yank- ton, superintendent of the county board of health,

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which post he has held during the past six years, and county coroner, serving two terms in the last named office. For several years he has held the position of surgeon for the Great Northern Rail- way Company at Yankton and is also medical ex- aminer for several of the leading old-line life in- surance companies.

Few physicians of his age and experience have come so prominently to the front as has Dr. Gross, and none have discharged their duties more ably or faithfully. He is a gentleman of scholarly habits and refined tastes, extensively acquainted with general literature and, as already indicated, a profound student of medicine. In private life he is quiet and unobtrusive, yet of a social dis- position, a ready and fluent conversationalist and impresses all with whom he comes in contact by the depth and wide range of his intelligence. It is in these humble relations that characters are most fully tested, and here, as in his professional labors, the Doctor has always been governed by principles of virtue and duty. Dr. Gross has never seen fit to assume the duties and responsi- bilities of matrimony, being still an unmarried man and making one of a happy home circle of which his mother and a sister are the members. In religion he is a Congregationalist, being an active member of the First church of that name in Yankton, and he is also identified with the Pythian fraternity, belonging to Phoenix Lodge, of this city.

The subject's maternal grandmother Dudley bore the maiden name of Mary Barrows and was a native of Middlebury, Vermont. Her family originally came from England, settling in this country about 1630. She was a woman of ex- ceptionally strong character and unusual intel- lectual attainments. In 1832 she left her home in Middlebury, Vermont, with a married sister, Mrs. Rev. N. C. Clark, whose husband had been appointed by the American Home Missionary Society to the then new field of Illinois. They arrived in Chicago when that city was a mere vil- lage, boasting but one frame 'house. Here she and a Miss Chapin founded a school, which was to be the basis or origin of the present public- school system of that great city. Miss Chapin

later married Rev. Jeremiah Porter, an appointee of the American Home Missionary Society and who served as chaplain to the United States troops stationed at old Fort Dearborn and whose name is prominently mentioned in the history of the early settlement of Illinois. Here Miss Mary Burrows first met her future husband, John Dud- ley, whom she married December 19, 1836. Her niece, Miss Martha J. Barrows, has been a mis- sionary at Kobe, Japan, for many years, where, in 1893, she and the subject's aunt, Miss Julia E. Dudley, founded the Woman's Evangelistic School of Kobe, Japan, a Bible training school under the supervision and control of the Amer- ican Board of Foreign Missions.

The subject's mother, Mrs. Mary D. Gross, is a woman of strong, earnest and sincere Chris- tian character, and also of unusual intellectual strength and abilities. To her Dr. Gross is prob- ably indebted mainly for his mental and intellec- tual ability. She was favored in her youth with superior educational advantages, hav- ing attended the public schools and a private academy at Naperville, Illinois, and also the Rockford Female . Seminary at Rockford, Illi- nois. Her sister, Miss Julia E. Dudley, who is still living in California, was for thirty years a missionary in Japan, being superintendent of the Bible training school for women, at Kobe, Japan, under the American Board of Foreign Missions.

HON. CHARLES HENRY BURKE, of Pierre, is a New Yorker by birth, descended on the father's side from an old and noted Irish fam- ily, and through his mother his ancestry is trace- able to an early period in the history of New England. His grandfather, Dr. Myles Burke, a physician of wide repute, was born and reared in Galway, Ireland, and after practicing his pro- fession in that country for a number of years, came to America and took up his residence in New York city, where he spent the remainder of his days. Walter Burke, son of the Doctor and fa- ther of the subject, was also a native of County Galway, where his birth occurred on November 10, 1820. He accompanied the family to this

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country in 1830 and in 1856 married Miss Sarah T. Beckwith, who was born October 17, 1828, in the state of Connecticut, where, as above indi- cated, her ancestors settled in an early day. Walter Burke and wife spent the greater part of their married life on a farm near Batavia, Gen- esee county, New York, and it was there that their son, the subject of this review, first saw the light of day, on April 1, 1861.

Charles Henry Burke was reared under the wholesome discipline and healthful influence of outdoor life on the farm, early became accus- tomed to the rugged labor of the same, and at the proper age entered the public schools of Ba- tavia, where he pursued his studies until finishing the high-school course. The training thus re- ceived was supplemented by an academic course, which he completed in the spring of 1881, and · after teaching the following winter in a country district in western New York, he started west, arriving in Dakota territory in the spring of 1882 and settling on a homestead near Broad- land, in what is now Beadle county. After spending one year on his claim, Mr. Burke, in the spring of 1883, located at Blunt, Hughes county, where he opened a land and real-estate office, forming a partnership with Smith & Cald- well, of Huron, the firm thus constituted building up in due time an extensive and lucrative busi- ness. While thus engaged the subject took up the study of law and prosecuted the same as op- portunities offered, until his admission to the bar in 1886, after which he practiced at Blunt in connection with real-estate business until Sep- tember of the following year, when he came to Pierre and entered the employ of the Security Mortgage and Investment Company, of this city. Later Mr. Burke became manager of the com- pany and continued as such until he closed up its affairs. Subsequently he became a member of the law firm of Burke & Goodner, of Pierre, but upon his election to congress this partnership was dis- solved.

Mr. Burke has been a forceful factor in po- litical circles ever since becoming a citizen of South Dakota and in 1894 was elected on the Re- publican ticket to the legislature, in which body

he served two terms, having been chosen his own successor in the year 1896. His record as a law- maker proved eminently satisfactory to his con- stituents, and in recognition of his ability as well as by reason of distinguished services rendered his party, he was honored in 1898 by being elected to the national house of representatives. Mr. Burke's first term in congress fully met the high expectations of his friends and the public, and his zeal in looking after the interests of his dis- trict and state, and his ability in matters of na- tional import were such as to lead to his renomin- ation and triumphant re-election in 1900, there being no opposition to him in the convention. In 1902 he was again renominated by acclama- tion and, his election following as a matter of course, he is still ably representing his constitu- ency and laboring for the welfare of the country, putting patriotism above party and proving by distinguished public service that the confidence reposed in his integrity and worth has not been misplaced.

Previous to his legislative and congressional experience, Mr. Burke took an active part in lo- cal and state affairs and in 1890 was a member and secretary of the Pierre capital committee, in which capacity he devoted about eight months exclusively to the campaign work of that year. His labors were influential and highly appreci- ated and to his judicious counsels and efficient leadership is largely due the successful issue of the state capital questions.

Fraternally Mr. Burke is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, which or- ganization he joined at Blunt in the year 1885. He was made a Mason in 1898 and at the present time belongs to the blue lodge and chapter at Pierre and he is also identified with Sioux Falls Lodge, No. 262, Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks. Although a member of no church, he believes in religion and respects all organized efforts for its dissemination, his preference among creeds being the Episcopal. He is a loyal attendant of the church of this name and a liberal contributor to its various lines.

In concluding this brief sketch, reference is made to the domestic life of Mr. Burke, the his-

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tory of which dates from January 14, 1886, when he was married, at Blunt, South Dakota, to Miss Caroline Schlosser. Mr. and Mrs. Burke are the parents of five children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Grace F., July 2. 1887; Bessie. February 18, 1889; Walter H., October 5. 1890; Charles Elmer, February 17, 1893. died May 3. 1898, and Josephine Louise, who was born in Washington City, D. C., on January 1, 1900.

As stated in a preceding paragraph, Mr. Burke on the father's side comes from an old and highly esteemed Irish family, several repre- sentatives of which have achieved honorable dis- tinction in various spheres of endeavor. Joseph Burke, an uncle of the subject, acquired renown, both in Europe and America, by his wonderful versatility as an actor as well as a violinist. When a mere infant he displayed astounding musical and histrionic talents and long before he was out of dresses he was receiving instructions both in music and elocution from private tutors. He was but three years of age when he began appearing before the public as a violinist and his success was instantaneous. His career as an actor began when he was six years old and at the age of twelve he was acknowledged by the best critics of the day to be the most accomplished violinist in the united kingdom. When a mere child he toured England, Scotland and Ireland, playing in the larger cities before overflowing audiences and later he repeated his success in the United States, whither his fame had preceded him. He was without doubt the most astonishing instance of precocious talents the musical world has ever known, but. unlike so many youthful prodigies whose skill disappears with advancing age, he not only retained unimpaired his wonderful gen- ius throughout a prolonged and remarkably dis- tingnished career, but added to his skill and effi- ciency as long as lived as an artist. When Jenny Lind made her tour of the United States in 1850 young Burke accompanied her in the role of violinist and afterwards became her treasurer and private secretary as well as the leader of her orchestra. She visited him several times at his beautiful home near Batavia, New York, and be-

tween the two a lifelong friendship existed. The success which everywhere attended Mr. Burke was unprecedented and his fame was equally as great on the continent of Europe as it was in England and the United States. He was born in Galway, Ireland, in 1817, began his professional career in Dublin in 1824 and after playing the different roles in all the leading theaters, spent the remainder of his life, dying at his home in Genesee county, New York, in the year 1902.

JOHN STOLLER, one of the leading rep- resentatives of the Russo-German families early settled in McPherson county, was born near Odessa, Russia, on the 24th of June, 1862. and is a son of Dominick Stoller, who was born and reared in that same locality. In 1872 the Stol- lers, in company with about forty other families from the same district, came to America, pro- ceeded west from New York to Sandusky, Ohio, where they temporarily located, until such time as a selection of a place of permanent abode could be determined upon. Dominick Stoller and three other men of the company of sturdy and worthy immigrant party set forth in search of a location, making an investigating tour through Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas and other states, and they finally decided to colonize in what is now the state of South Dakota. The entire company came forward to the new home on the frontier, arriving in Yankton on the 22d of April. Previ- ously to coming to America the father of the sub- ject had been engaged in farming and sheep growing, and he continued in the same lines of industry after coming to South Dakota. He and his elder sons took up land ahout eighteen miles north of Yankton, and there the honored father died on the 11th of January, 1876, leaving seven children, of whom the subject of this review was the fourth in order of birth.

John Stoller received his rudimentary edu- cation in the schools of his native land and was a lad of about ten years at the time of the immi- gration to America. He assisted in the improve- ment and cultivation of the homestead farm in Yankton county, and in the meanwhile availed

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himself of such educational advantages as were offered in the public schools of the locality. He remained on the old homestead until 1884, and in the spring of the following year came to Mc- Pherson county, taking up a quarter section of land in the center of the county, and there re- maining for two years, engaged in farming and stock raising. He then removed to the embry- onic village of Eureka, being one of the first set- tlers in the town, and here for three years and seven months thereafter he was employed on salary in a local mercantile establishment. He then engaged in the hardware business in Ett- reka, forming at the time a partnership with C. J. Hazel, manager of the Golden Rule mercantile house in Aberdeen, and this association contin- ted until 1893. when Frederick Heppler, now mayor of Eureka, purchased Mr. Hazel's inter- est in the enterprise, and the firm of Stoller & Heppler has ever since continued, while its inter- ests have greatly expanded in scope and import- ance through wise management and fair deal- ing. In 1896 the firm added dry goods and other lines of general merchandise to their stock, and they have at the present time a large and well- appointed store, in which istcarried a comprehen- sive and select stock. In 1900 they established a branch store in Artis, and in 1902 they opened a second store in Eureka, the same being located one and one-half blocks south of their original and still retained quarters, and in this second es- tablishment they also carry a full line of general merchandise, running the two stores in conjunc- tion. Mr. Stoller is a stanch Republican, and be- sides having held various village offices, he has also served as school commissioner and justice of the peace, while in 1902 he was elected to represent his district in the state senate. In this dignified body his course was such as to amply justify the popular confidence and esteem which led to his being chosen for the important office. He and his wife are consistent members of the Lutheran church. It should be said that the father of the subject was of German lineage, be- ing a scion of one of the numerous German fam- ilies which went into Russia during the reign of Czarina Catherine, who was herself a German

and who accorded special governmental provis- ions for the continuous protection of her country- men for a period of one hundred years. This limitation expired some few years ago, and the oppressive measures then adopted led to the emi- gration of many of the leading Russo-German families to America, the colony mentioned in this article having been among the first to thus leave the fatherland, and is is pleasing to note that South Dakota thus gained a valuable element of citizenship.

On the 9th of January, 1883. Mr. Stoller was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Kost, who was born in Odessa, Russia, and who accom- panied her parents on their immigration to America when a child, the family coming to South Dakota in the autumn of 1874, thus being numbered among the early pioneers of the pres- ent state. Mr. and Mrs. Stoller have five chil- dren, namely : Emilia, Margaretta M., John F. W .. Rosetta K., and Hildegard M.

FRED HEPPERLE, the popular mayor of Eureka, McPherson county, and junior member of the well-known mercantile firm of Stoller & Hepperle, was born near Odessa, Russia, on the 2d of February, 1863, and conies of stanch Ger- man lineage. He is a son of John Hepperle, who was likewise born in Russia, to which country his father removed with his parents from Ger- many when a lad of ten years, this being in 1817. The father of the subject became a successful farmer in Russia and there passed his entire life, his death occurring in 1902. Fred Hepperle was reared and educated in his native land, where he remained until 1885, when he came to America, landing in New York and thence coming west to Nebraska, where he spent one year, at the expiration of which, in 1886, he came to South Dakota. He located in Campbell coun- ty, where he was identified with agricultural pursuits until 1888, when he took up his resi- dence in Eureka, where he has ever since main- tained his home. He became an interested prin- cipal in the conducting of the Eureka Bazaar, disposing of his interests in the same in 1893,.

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and purchasing C. J. Hazel's interest in the hard- ware establishment conducted under the title of Hazel & Stoller, and the new firm name became Stoller & Hepperle. They continued the hard- ware business unchanged until 1896, when they installed a stock of general merchandise, while in 1902 they opened a second store in the town, which is likewise devoted to a miscellaneous and select stock, the business controlled being of an extensive and representative sort. For further data in regard to the enterprises of this popular firm we refer the reader to the sketch of Hon. John Stoller, the senior member of the firm.

In politics Mr. Hepperle gives an unqualified allegiance to the Republican party, and he is es- sentially loyal and public-spirited in his attitude, and takes a helpful interest in all that makes for the well-being of the community. He served two terms as county treasurer and is at the pres- ent time giving a most admirable administration as mayor of Eureka.

In August, 1893, Mr. Hepperle was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Weber, who was born in Austria, and who came with her parents to America when a child. Mr. and Mrs. Hep- perle have three sons, namely : Bruno, Herbert and Carl.

JAMES W. MORSE, the efficient clerk of the courts of Hughes county, comes of stanch old colonial stock in both the paternal and ma- ternal lines, the respective families having been established in New England at an early epoch in our national history, while the genealogical records of the Morse family have been carefully compiled and preserved through the various gen- erations, Professor Sammel F. B. Morse, the distinguished inventor of the electric telegraph, having been a member of the family.

James W. Morse was born in Springfield, the attractive capital city of the state of Illinois, on the 3d of September, 1853, and is a son of James M. and Emma M. (Gregory) Morse, the former of whom was born in Newburyport, Massachu- setts, and the latter in Danbury, Connecticut, while they were numbered among the early set-

tlers of Sangamon county, Illinois, the father having been for many years engaged in business in Springfield, where both he and his wife died. The subject secured his early educational disci- pline in the public schools of his native city, and as a youth learned the art of telegraphy, but shortly afterward learned the watch-making trade to which he devoted his attention for eighteen years. He came to Pierre in 1889 and here en- gaged in the cigar and tobacco business, and in 1893 was appointed deputy postmaster, in which capacity he continued to serve until November, 1894, when he was elected to his present office of clerk of the courts, having held the same con- tinuously for nearly a decade, through successive re-elections, and having handled the exacting affairs of the office with marked ability and dis- crimination. In politics he accords an unwaver- ing support to the Republican party, and is at the present time worshipful master of Pierre Lodge, No. 27, Ancient Free and Accepted Ma- sons, while he is past master of the local lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and past venerable consul of the Pierre Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 145

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