History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 148

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 148

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On the 25th of December, 1867, Mr. Kings- bury was united in marriage to Miss Maria Rey- nolds, of Houston, Illinois, and she died on the 18th of December, 1899, being survived by two children, Amelia J. and Horace R.

WILLIAM T. DOOLITTLE was born in Loudenville, Ohio, March 30, 1849. He attend- ed school until he was fourteen years of age, and then entered a railroad machine shop as an ap- prentice. When nineteen years old he became engineer, and since March, 1873, has been engi-

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neer on passenger trains. He was in charge of the first passenger engine that ran into Sioux Falls, and, except for a little more than a year, has been the engineer on the passenger train be- tween Sioux Falls and Worthington, Minnesota, since then.

In 1879, an incident occurred which gave him an unexpected vacation for thirty days. He was the engineer of the train which during that year started out from Worthington with R. F. Petti- grew and a Mr. Bottineau on board, each of them having in his pocket a deed which he was particularly anxious to get on record in Sioux Falls first, and was induced by Mr. Pettigrew to detach the engine at Brandon east of the city and bring Mr. Pettigrew in on the en- gine. Mr. Pettigrew explained to Mr. Doo- little that the attorneys on the other side were on the train with a snap judg- ment and were making every effort to get it on record before his, and that if they succeeded in doing so it would work a hardship on the people of Sioux Falls who had bought their homes, as they would be compelled to relinquish them with- out recompense. Mr. Doolittle replied that he would do nothing of the kind for Mr. Pettigrew, but he would do it for the people of Sioux Falls. Mr. Bottineau made complaint to the superin- tendent of the road, John F. Lincoln, stating the facts and demanding fifty thousand dollars dam- ages. Superintendent Lincoln sent for Engineer Doolittle, and when he appeared the following colloquy took place: "William, if what is told is true, I am afraid you have gotten the company into trouble. I am told you detached your en- gine and took a party into Sioux Falls that he might get a deed on record before another pas- senger who had a deed to the same property, could do so. Is this true?" Mr. Doolittle replied, "It is." Mr. Lincoln then said : "I could not be- lieve you would do such an act. The party hav- ing the other deed says he is damaged fifty thou- sand dollars by the transaction, and demands your dismissal, and threatens to sue the company for damages." Mr. Doolittle replied, "If my dismis- sal will appease the wrath of the gentleman, it is a small matter; but as to the damages, that is

another thing." Here Mr. Doolittle, who had had been advised of all the facts in the case, re- lated them to the superintendent, and told him it was simply a robbing scheme and so satisfied the superintendent that it was true, that he ended the interview by bringing his fist down on his desk, saying : "Let him sue; he can't recover a cent ; but William, you need a rest of thirty or sixty days; take a vacation; I will see that your pay goes right along."

Mr. Doolittle resides with his family in Sioux Falls, where he has one of the finest homes in the city, and where for a number of years he has been prominent in the public and civic affairs of the municipality. He was elected alderman from the first ward in 1896, re-elected two years later, and since May, 1897, he has served as pres- ident of the council. In 1879 he organized the first divison of Locomotive Engineers in Sioux City, Iowa, was chief of the organization for sev- eral years, and much of its success is directly at- tributable to his able and untiring efforts.

Mr. Doolittle has been identified with a num- ber of undertakings sincecoming to Sioux Falls, notably among which are the Citizens' Telephone Company and the Interstate Telephone Company of Sioux Falls, being superintendent of the first named enterprise and president of the other two.

Mr. Dolittle has always had the good of the community at heart, and, as an enterprising, pro- gressive citizen, gives his influence and generous support to all measures calculated to promote the general welfare. He is prominent in Masonic circles, has served as grand commander of the grand commandery, Knights Templar, of South Dakota, besides filling the honorable position of potentate of El Riad Temple, Nobles of the Mys- tic Shrine. Socially and as a citizen he stands well, numbers his friends by the score among all classes and conditions of people, and enjoys to a. marked degree the esteem and confidence of the public.

Mr. Doolittle's family consists of a wife and . two children, the former before her marriage having been Miss Catherine Strock, of Galveston, Indiana. The only son, who resides at Sioux Falls, is Walter S., a locomotive engineer on the

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Omaha road, who was first lieutenant in a South Dakota regiment during the Spanish-American war, and saw much active service in the Philip- pines : Mary Grace, the youngest of the chil- dren, is still a member of the home circle.

LEROY D. MILES, who is associated with his brother, J. A., in the ownership and conduct- ing of the Spink County Stock Farm, is a native of the state of Michigan, having been born on a farm in Barry county, on the 14th of October, 1856, and being a son of James L. and Susan (Cooper ) Miles, both natives of Ohio. The father of the subject was numbered among the pioneers of Michigan, whither he removed with his parents in the year 1832, several years prior to the admission of the state to the Union. They made the journey through from Ohio with teams and located in the midst of the virgin forest of Barry county, where they developed a valuable farm. The father of the subject there continued to be actively engaged in farming and stock rais- ing for many years, having been associated with his brother, Alonzo, in the stock business and having been among the first to drive cattle from Michigan to the Ohio markets in the early days. He continued to reside in Michigan until 1883. when he came to South Dakota, and soon after- ward turned over his farming and live-stock busi- ness to his sons. He died April 4. 1899, in his seventy-seventh year. The mother died in 1901, aged sixty-three years.

Leroy D. Miles was reared on the home- stead farm and secured his education in the common schools of his native county. He early became familiar with the stock business, in which his father was prominently engaged, and thus is an authority as to values and handling of live stock.

Mr. Miles came to South Dakota in 1883, and has been from the start associated with his brother James A. in farming and stock raising. They secured government land in Spink county, and their landed estate here now comprises three sections of valuable land in the northeastern part of the county, and two miles south of the village

of Conde, which is the postoffice address for the great stock farm, which attracts many visitors and buyers each season. The Spink County Stock Farm is specially devoted to the breeding of Hambletonian and Percheron horses, Gallo- way cattle and Rambouillet sheep, and the best types of each are raised, while the firm have for sale the best of breeding stock at all times. The farm is finely improved and is one of the show places of the county, while the Messrs. Miles are known as progressive and reliable business men, commanding the confidence and esteem of all with whom they come in contact.

The subject of this review is a stanch Re- publican in his political proclivities and has been a zealous worker in its cause. In November, 1902, he was elected to the office of county treasurer, receiving a gratifying majority, and assumed the active discharge of his official du- ties in January, 1903. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

On the 4th of October, 1888, Mr. Miles was united in marriage to Miss Carrie E. Curran, a 1 daughter of J. M. and Carrie Curran, who came to South Dakota in 1885 and located in Spink county, being numbered among the prominent pioneers of this section of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Miles have six children, namely : Ruth, Hazel, Lynn, Lena and Mabel and an infant.

THOMAS E. PHILLIPS was born in Mil- lersburg. Holmes county, Ohio, on the 3d of June. 1840, being a son of John D. and Hester (Crane) Phillips, both of whom were born and reared in Pennsylvania. The former was born in Washington county, as was also his father, John Phillips, who there devoted his life to farming, the family having been established in the Keystone state in the early pioneer era. The parents of the subject were married in Pennsyl- vania, whence they later removed to Holmes county, Ohio, where the father became a prom- inent and successful farmer and a man of influ- ence in the community, having held various county offices and having been known as a pub-

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lic-spirited and upright citizen. In his family were eight children, of whom four are living at the present time.

Thomas E. Phillips passed his boyhood days on the homestead farm and after completing the curriculum of the common schools continued his studies in Hayesville College, at Hayesville, Ohio, until the outbreak of the war of the Re- bellion, when he subordinated personal interests to respond to his country's call. In September, 1861. Mr. Phillips enlisted as a private in Com- pany B, Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was mustered in at Wooster and thence pro- ceeded with his command to Camp Dennison, and thence to Lexington, Kentucky, where the regiment was encamped for some time. The command had an engagement at Mill Springs and then proceeded onward by way of Crab Orchard to Cumberland Gap, where they re- mained until September, 1862, when they were compelled to evacuate, owing to shortage of pro- visions. They retreated to Gallipolis, on the Ohio river, and thence went to Portsmouth, where they outfitted and then took the transport boat down the river to Memphis, under com- mand of General Sherman. From Memphis they went to Haines Bluff, where they had a heavy engagement and were repulsed, after which they proceeded up the Mississippi and Red rivers to Arkansas Post, which they attacked and re- duced. In the engagement at Haines Bluff Mr. I Phillips received a severe wound in the right shoulder and was sent back to Ohio, where, after his convalescence, he received his honor- 1

able discharge, at Columbus, in September. 1863. Shortly afterward he went to Grand Ha- ven, Michigan, and thence crossed Lake Michi- gan to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from which point he went to LaCrosse and thence up the Missis- sippi river to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he tar- ried a few months. He then proceeded by stage to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and thence westward to Sioux City, that state, where he arrived in Octo- ber, 1864. From that place, then a mere village, he came with a freighting outfit, owned by Charles Bogne, to the confluence of Crow and Choteau creeks, in what is now Bon Homme

county, South Dakota. At that time a small military garrison was established at what is now known as Tacket's Station, and when our sub- ject's party had approached within half a mile of the west branch of Choteau creek a man came running bareheaded, from the direction in which they were going, and shouted the word Indians as he approached. Upon reaching the outfit he stated that the savages had attacked the stage coach of which he was driver, among the pas- sengers being Sergeant Trass and Eugene Brewer, a half-breed Indian. The coach was at- tacked by four Sioux Indians, who fired into the vehicle and killed Sergeant Trass, after which they "held up" the others and robbed the coach, after which they cut the horses loose and made good their escape. Word was sent to the sol- diers, but owing to the condition of their horses they were unable to go in pursuit of the ma- rauders. The driver, whose name was Stephen Coleman, was residing in Sioux City, Iowa, as late as 1902, and is probably there at the present time. After learning of this experience Mr. Phil- lips' party returned to Fort Randall and thence back to Crow creek, arriving late at night. From that point they continued the journey back to Sioux City, and a few days later Mr. Phillips went to Calliope, now Hawarden, on the Sioux river, in Iowa, where he passed the winter, while in the spring he went out on a trapping expedi- tion with George Christie, on the Rock river, re- maining a few months and meeting with success. In the meanwhile Christie returned to Calliope for provisions and found the place deserted, and it transpired that two of the party who had been there had been killed by Indians, after which the other departed. Mr. Phillips finally returned by way of Calliope to Sioux City, and during the trip he and his companions several times nar- rowly escaped attack by the Indians. In Octo- ber, 1865, in company with four others, he made another trapping expedition, being out about a month and returning to what was known as the Twelve-mile house at the time of Burleigh's election to congress. Later the same party went up the Big Sioux river to Dell Rapids, where were found evidence of recent visitations by the

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Indians, and accordingly the sturdy little band of trappers, believing discretion the better part of valor, returned to Sioux City, and there our subject was engaged in various lines of business until 1875, when he started for the Black Hills, being a member of a party of forty men. They crossed over to the government trail, proceeding from Fort Randail to the Red Crow Indian agency, but upon crossing the White river for the second time they encountered a company of soldiers under command of Major Walker, who compelled them to turn back, as the government had issued strict orders that no one should enter the Black Hills district for settlement or pros- pecting. In the spring of 1876, having re- ceived permission from Major Walker, Mr. Phil- lips organized another party, the outfit consist- ing of one hundred and sixty men and forty-one wagons. They started for the Black Hills, crossing the Missouri at Ponca agency, and thence proceeding by way of Turtle Butte to Porcupine Butte, from which point they made ready to cross the dreary waste known as the Bad Lands. As a preliminary precaution they sent forth scouts, who finally returned and re- ported that Indians were in evidence all along the route. The company decided to take the risk, however, but spared no pains to protect themselves from attack, twenty men being sent out as flankers. They were not molested the first day and upon camping for the night estab- lished heavy guards. In the morning they found two Indian blankets, which had been left by sav- ages who had evidently attempted to slip in and stampede the horses during the night. It was evident from that time forward that the Indians followed closely upon their trail, but the numer- ical strength of the party was such that they were not attacked, arriving safely in Custer on the Ioth of April of the centennial year. There Mr. Phillips remained until July, engaged in placer mining, and then returned to Sioux City by way of Fort Pierre, making the trip on a flatboat. Near the mouth of the White river the Indians fired at the party but no damage was done. Mr. Phillips continued his residence in Sioux City until 1879, and then passed a few months in Col-

orado. In 1880 he removed with his family to Deadwood, South Dakota, where he remained about six months, at the expiration of which he came to Fort Pierre, where he has ever since maintained his home. Here he engaged in the furniture business and later became prominently identified with the raising of sheep, his ranch being located near the White Clay buttes, and with this great industry he has ever since been prominently concerned, running a large band of sheep and having been prospered in his efforts. He is honored for his sterling integrity of char- acter, and is a fine type of the sturdy frontiers- man, while it could be wished that the limits of this work were not so circumscribed by the ne- cessities of the case that it is impossible to enter details concerning his many interesting experi- ences in the early days. In politics Mr. Phillips is a stalwart Republican, but has never been an aspirant for public office.

On the 27th of December, 1865, Mr. Phil- lips was united in marriage to Miss Rachel DuFran, of Sioux City, Iowa, and they have six children, John, Annie, Thomas, Lulu, Minnie and Maud.

RICHARD JACKSON WOODS, assistant general manager of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, with headquarters at Sioux Falls, was born January 17, 1863, in Bel- fast, Ireland, while his parents, whose home was in Louisiana, were on a visit to that city. His father, Arthur Woods, is an Irishman by birth, though for many years a citizen of the United States and a resident of Louisiana, and his mother, who before her marriage bore the name of Charlotte Bullidick, was born in Mississippi and reared in the South. Richard J. spent his boyhood days at the family homestead in Louis- iana, and after receiving his preliminary educa- tion in the schools of that state, took an aca- demic course in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he made substantial progress in the higher branches of learning. On quitting school, he de- cided to seek his fortune in the west; accord- ingly, in 1878, he came to South Dakota and for

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some time thereafter worked as a farm hand near Sioux Falls, in addition to which he also drove team a few months for a gentleman by the name of Quigley. To these and various other lines of endeavor he devoted his attention dur- ing the ensuing five years, or until 1883, when he was appointed guard at the penitentiary, which position he held until the summer of 1887. Resigning his place on June 2d of that year, Mr. Woods, one week later, was united in marriage with Miss Anna Davis, of Sioux Falls, and im- mediately thereafter engaged in the real-estate business, which he continued with encouraging success until 1890, when he was appointed spe- cial agent of the Northwestern Mutual Life In- surance Company, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He entered upon his new field of labor under the most favorable auspices and from the beginning his success more than met his expectations. It was not long until he commanded the largest in- surance business in the city of Sioux Falls and this prestige he has easily sustained to the pres- ent time, being considered one of the most suc- cessful solicitors in the United States, not only by the large company he so ably represents, but by other companies, that for years have held out liberal and tempting inducements to secure his services. Some idea of the magnitude of his work in this line may be inferred from the fact that from June, 1892, to June, 1893, he wrote seven hundred and twelve thousand dollars of insurance, and four times during that year, as his monthly reports went to the home office, he was notified that he stood number one in a list of twenty-five thousand active agents in the em- ploy of the Northwestern Mutual, a record per- haps without a parallel in the history of his own or any other company in this country.

He possesses a winning, as well as a powerful personality, understands thoroughly the art of managing men, and being born a leader with unlimited faith in his own ability, he experiences little difficulty in carrying to successful issue any undertaking to which he addresses himself.

Mr. Woods is now general district agent of twenty-two counties, through the central part of the state, and with a large force of experienced

subordinates, to each of which he imparts no small share of his personal magnetism and en- thusiasm, it is not at all strange that he com- mands the bulk of the insurance business of South Dakota, or that the extensive work under his vigilant management is continually on the increase. He is also, at the present time, presi- dent of the National Association of the North- western Life Insurance Company Special Agents, a position requiring not only a resource- ful mind and superior business talent, but a high order of executive ability as well.

In 1889, and again in 1890, Mr. Woods was presilent of the State Firemen's Association, and in the former year he was appointed by Gov- ernor Mellette, chief of engineers and ordnance, with the rank of colonel. Since coming west he has been an influential factor in local and state politics, and from that time to the present his ability as an organizer and leader in the Repub- lican party has been duly recognized and appre- ciated throughout the state. He has been a prominent factor in county, district and state con- ventions, dominating many of these bodies, be- sides being elected, in 1894, president of the Republican State League, in which capacity he bore an active and efficient part in the campaign of that year. In the Republican National League convention, held at Cleveland, Ohio, in June, 1885, he was elected one of the vice-presidents of the league and appointed chairman of the committee on credentials, and in 1896 he was nominated by the state Republican convention as a presidential elector, and his name placed at the head of the ticket.

In a preceding paragraph incidental refer- ence is made to Mr. Woods' commanding posi- tion in the fraternal and benevolent work of South Dakota. While an active worker in every branch of the Pythian brotherhood, it is as a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks that he has especially distinguished him- self and in which he has achieved not only a state but a national reputation. He has been promi- nent in all the varied interests of this popular and rapidly growing fraternity; has attended a number of sessions of the grand lodge, in all of

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which he served as chairman on returns and cre- dentials, and it is needless to say that he has long been considered one of the most popular mem- bers of that honorable body. July 22, 1903, Colonel Woods was elected by the grand lodge of Elks, at Baltimore, grand esteemed loyal knight.

In speaking of Mr. Woods, the Dakota Elk of November, 1902, contains the following ap- propriate references : "It is no idle thought to predict that Brother Woods will some day oc- cupy the highest position in the gift of the or- 1

der, a position he is eminently qualified to fill." "He is a natural born organizer, a leader, and his advice and counsel are considered essential on many perplexing propositions that come before the officers of the grand lodge." "He is as pop- ular at home and in his home state, as he is else- where and his friends are legion." "He is in the true sense of the term, a self-made man and those who have known him longest, love him best." "With a heart as deep as a well and as broad as barn door, he distributes charity without ostentation, but with a liberal hand, and all who come within the range of his influence pronounce him the embodiment of hospitality and a prince of good fellowship."

REV. WILLIAM I. GRAHAM, D. D .- Crowning the advanced and admirable scheme of popular education in the state of South Da- kota are several excellent institutions of higher learning, of which the subject of this sketch was the honored and efficient president for a full dec- ade, while ine still remains a member of its fac- ulty, having devoted thirty years of his life to educational work and being a man of recondite talents.

Dr. Graham is a native of the old Buckeye state of the Union, having been born on a farm in Noble county, Ohio, on the 22d of June, 1844, and being a son of David and Jane Graham. He passed his boyhood days on the home farm and received his rudimentary education in the dis- trict schools, making such use of his advantages that he became eligible for minor pedagogic hon-

ors, having taught for a number of years in the public schools, both before and after entering col- lege. In 1869 he was matriculated in the Ohio Wesleyan University, in the city of Delaware, where he completed the classical course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1873, re- ceiving the degree of Bachelor of Arts. In 1876 his alma mater conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts, while in 1896 Baker University, at Baldwin, Kansas, conferred upon him the de- gree of Doctor of Divinity. From 1873 to 1876 Dr. Graham was principal of the high school at Logan, Ohio, and in the meanwhile had com- pleted a course of ecclesiastical study and been ordained to the ministry of the Methodist Epis- copal church. In the autumn of 1876 he as- sumed the pastorate of the church of this de- nomination at Kirkville, Iowa, becoming a mem- ber of the conference of that state, and remain- ing identified with the same until 1879, when he accepted the chair of ancient classics in Baker University, at Baldwin, Kansas, where he did most effective work during the following ten years, at the expiration of which he went to the south and passed four years in educational work in Fort Worth, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia. He then, in 1893, came to South Dakota and ac- cepted the presidency of Dakota University, be- ing inducted into this executive office in August of that year and at once entering vigorously upon the discharge of his official duties, to which he continued to give his attention for the follow- ing ten years, giving a most able administration and advancing the interests of the institution in all departments. In September, 1903, he re- signed the presidency in favor of Rev. Thomas Nicholson, D. D., and has since occupied the chairs of philosophy and Greek, remaining one of the prominent members of the faculty and being held in the highest esteem by all who know him.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 148

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