History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 150

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 150

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SOLOMON D. MEYERS was born August 10, 1858, and received his education in the pub- lic schools of Iowa, to which state he removed with his parents during his early childhood. He also accompanied his parents to South Dakota, and after assisting his father for some time on the home place, took up one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hutchinson county, which he cultivated for several years. Disposing of the above, he bought the quarter section which he now owns. Some few years later he became manager of the Schwartz & Company general store at Milltown, in which capacity he still con- tinues. Politically Mr. Meyers supports the Re- publican party. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge of Parker and the Wood- men of the World. Religiously he is a supporter and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Meyers entered the marriage rela- tion with Miss Mary Whaling, of Iowa, who has borne him three children.

CLIFTON C. GRIGGS was born on May 3, 1875, at Beatrice, Nebraska, and went throughi the public schools of his native place, being graduated from the high school there. The fam- ily soon afterward moved to Lincoln, and there he attended the State University, graduating therefrom. Before doing this, however, he was employed for a time on a railroad and also taught school to get the necessary funds for completing his education. In the summer following his graduation from the university he accepted a po- sition with a mining company at Cambria, Wy- oming, but only remained in its employ about two months. He then came to Terry, this state, as assayer for the Portland Mining Company, remaining with this enterprise until 1898. He

then went to Tuscarora, Nevada, as chemist and assayer for the Dexter Mining Company, and during the next two years he served that concern with skill and fidelity. At the end of this period he resigned and took a berth with Kilpatrick Bros. & Collins as chief electrician in construc- tion work on the Union Pacific Railroad in Wy- oming. In 1901 he left this firm and became mill superintendent for a mining company near Lead, and in 1903 resigned to accept a similar position for the Horseshoe Mining Company, of Terry, in this state. In all his various engage- ment Mrs. Griggs has met the requirements of his place in a masterful manner and has given his employers service that has been entirely satis- factory. He is an accomplished man in his cho- sen lines of action, and is impelled by a high sense of duty in every undertaking. He was united in marriage with Miss Virginia L. Wat- kins, a native of Nevada state, and they have one child. Mr. Griggs belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity, and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

PATRICK KING was born in county King, Ireland, in 1829, was educated in his native coun- try and when a young man was married, having wedded Miss Mary Daily, a native of Ireland, and unto them have been born eight children. Mr. King has owned four hundred acres of land, but has sold much of this and now lives re- tired. in Irene, enjoying a well-earned rest. He was long active in business affairs, but having acquired a good competence he at length deter- mined to enjoy a season of leisure. He votes with the Democracy and holds membership with the Catholic church.

JOSEPH DRATZMAN, who carries on general farming not far from Yankton, in Yank- ton county, South Dakota, first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 6th of August, 1861. His native land is Germany, and he was about ten years of age at the time of the removal to the United States, and the Dakota schools furnished

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him his educational privileges. He was united in marriage to Miss Annie Hasker, of Yankton county, and unto this union two children were born. This wife died, and for his second wife Mr. Dratzman chose Mrs. Julia Long, and they too have had two children.

In 1884 the subject purchased a claim in Turner county and afterward selling that land he purchased two hundred and forty acres in Yankton county about five miles northeast of Utica. He now cultivates one hundred and sev- enty acres of this place and is a prosperous farmer. In politics he endorses Democratic prin- ciples, and he has served as school clerk for sev- eral years. He and his family are communicants of the Catholic church.

JOHN T. KEAN, of Woonsocket, Sanborn county, one of the able and prominent members of the bar of South Dakota, has been an import- ant factor in public affairs, having served as lieutenant governor of the state and in other offices of trust and responsibility, and being particularly deserving of representation in this history of the commonwealth with whose affairs he has been so intimately identified.

John Taylor Kean is a native of the Badger state, having been born in Whitewater, Wiscon- sin, on the 11th of March, 1857, a son of John V. and Phoebe S. (Taylor) Kean, the former of whom was a carpenter by trade and vocation, having been one of the pioneers of Wisconsin, where he took up his residence in the territorial epoch, having removed thither from the state of Pennsylvania. Both he and his wife are now deceased, and of their six children two are liv- ing at the present time. The subject completed his preliminary educational discipline in the pub- lic schools of Monroe, Wisconsin, and early manifested a strong predilection for literary pur- suits and public speaking, while his ambition to acquire a thorough education led him to put forth every effort to secure the funds with which to pursue his professional studies. In 1876 he entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin, at Madison, where he was graduated

as a member of the class of 1877, and thereafter he completed a post-graduate course in the Na- tional Law School in Washington, D. C., this being in 1883. Owing to his financial position he was compelled to seek other employment for a time before entering upon the practice of law. and thus worked in the sawmills and shingle- mills of Wisconsin and at whatever else came to hand, ever having a high appreciation of the dignity of honest toil, in whatever field of en- deavor. In 1880 Judge Kean located at Lake Mills, Iowa, where he initiated his independent professional career. From 1882 to 1884, in- chisive, he was employed in the offices of the war department in Washington, and in the spring of 1884 he came to South Dakota and took up his residence in Woonsocket, where he resumed the practice of law, soon gaining dis- tinctive prestige through his ability and am- bitious effort in his chosen profession. He is well grounded in the science of jurisprudence, familiar with the minutiae of the law in its various branches and ever showing facility in his recourse to precedents, while he is known as a strong advocate and conservative counsel, invari- ably giving careful preparation to every case and having exceptional strength as an advocate be- fore a jury. He has a large and important prac- tice and is one of the leading members of the bar of the state, while he also has extensive and valuable real-estate interests. He is an able public speaker, graceful in diction and pleasing in address, and he has taken a prominent part in the various political campaigns, in which he has proved an able exponent of the principles and policies of the Republican party, while he is also frequently called upon to deliver public addresses in other lines, his services being thus in requisition almost invariably on the occasion of public observances of the Fourth of July and Memorial day. In 1890 he was elected county judge of Sanborn county, and remained in tenure of this office for two years, his rulings being wise and impartial and never meeting with re- versal in the higher tribunals. He was the can- didate of his party for the office of lieutenant governor in the election of 1898, was elected

JOHN T. KEAN.

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

by a gratifying majority and was incumbent of the office for the two ensuing years. He was elected chief executive of the municipal govern- ment of Woonsocket in 1902 and guided its af- fairs with marked discrimination and genuine public spirit. Fraternally he is identified with the Masonic order and the Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

On the 3d of April, 1884, Judge Kean was united in marriage to Miss Bessie F. Perry, daughter of Waldo G. Perry, of Vermont, who was for many years superintendent of the dead- letter office in the national capital, in which city the marriage of the subject was solemnized. Mrs. Kean died April 17, 1903, at Palo Alto, California.

PETER CHARLES REINHOLT, one of the representative business men of Irene, Clay county, where he is senior member of the well- known firm of Reinholt & Jorgensen, was born in Denmark, in the year 1858, and there attended the excellent national schools until he had at- tained the age of fourteen years, in the mean- while working on the farm during the summer months. At the age of fifteen he began working at gardening, and continued to be identified with this line of enterprise until his twenty-second year, when he accompanied his parents and the other members of the immediate family on their immigration to America. For the first three years they resided in the city of Chicago, Illinois, and there the subject learned the trade of mason and plasterer. At the expiration of the period noted the family came to South Dakota, locating forthwith in the vicinity of the present village of Irene, Clay county. In this county the subject followed the work of his trade about four years, and then effected the purchase of eighty acres of land, improving the same with good buildings and there continuing to be actively engaged in agricultural pursuits for the ensuing fourteen years. He still owns this farm, which is main- tained under a high state of cultivation, and which has materially appreciated in value dur- ing the intervening years. At the expiration of

the period noted Mr. Reinholt moved into the village of Irene and established his present busi- ness enterprise, which has been prosperous from its initiation and which has attained to wide scope and importance as taken in a comparative way with similar undertakings in other agricultural sections of the commonwealth. He is also a con- tractor on a rural free mail-delivery route, own- ing the teams and wagons and employing sub- ordinates to operate the same. In politics he accords a stanch allegiance to the Republican party and has been a member of the board of school directors for a number of years past. He holds to the Protestant faith in religion, while fraternally he is identified with the Masonic or- der, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Danish Brotherhood.

Mr. Reinholt was married to Miss Anna Ja- cobson, this being prior to the immigration to America, and they have five children.

FRANK JOHN SCHAFFER was born in Mechlinberg, Germany, and remained in his na- tive country until 1868, when he came with his brother to America. Making his way westward, he took up his abode in South Dakota in 1869 and pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land which had been cleared and a few improve- ments had been made upon it. He planted fruit trees upon the place, and has always carried on farming here. He now owns two hundred and eighty acres, of which more than one-half is un- der cultivation, the remainder being devoted to pasturage and to the raising of hay. Mr. Schaf- fer makes a specialty of shorthorned cattle and Poland-China hogs. He also raises oats, grain, wheat and other cereals adapted to the soil and climate.

Mr. Schaffer was united in marriage to Miss Tilda Walter, and unto them have been born three children. The parents are both worthy Christian people, Mr. Schaffer belonging to the Evangelical church and his wife to the Methodist Episcopal church. In political views he is a Re- publiean and for several years has served as a school officer.

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WILLIAM C. FRY, one of the most highly esteemed citizens of Charles Mix county, is a na- tive of the old Bay state, having been born in Massachusetts in 1833, and was reared and educated in his native county, where he received the advantages of the common schools, the while growing up under the sturdy discipline of the farm. Later he removed to Wisconsin, where his father also located, and in that state he devoted his attention to farming and lumbering for many years, being a hard worker and gaining success through consecutive toil and endeavor. At the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion he was among the first to tender his services in defense of the Union, enlisting in the Sixteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and the history of the regiment constitutes the history of his personal war record. He was taken pris- oner and was confined for six days in Libby prison, at Richmond, being then paroled. He served during practically the entire period of the war.

In 1880 Mr. Fry came to South Dakota and took up a tract of government land in Lincoln county, where he remained until he came to Charles Mix county and took up a homestead claim, on a portion of which the village of Bar- tholdi is now located. He is now the owner of a half section of valuable and well-improved land, and of the same about one hundred and sixty acres are under a high state of cultivation, while the remainder is devoted to grazing purposes and to the raising of hay. He has been successful in his farming enterprise and is one of the most honored pioneers of the county. He was one of the founders of the village of Bartholdi, where he has been engaged in the general merchandise business, securing an excellent patronage, and has also been postmaster of the town. In politics he is an uncompromising Republican and he and his wife are valued members of the Presbyterian church, while fraternally he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic.

Mr. Fry was united in marriage to Miss Abby Lane, who was born and reared in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, and they have had six children.

J. J. BARKLEY, who is the owner of ex- tensive landed interests in Charles Mix county, and who is engaged in the raising of cattle upon a large scale, is a native of the old Empire state, having been born in Washington county, New York, on the 27th of November, 1848. When but fourteen years of age he left school and be- gan to "rustle for himself," as the colloquial phrase well expresses it. He followed various oc- cupations until 1875, when he became identified with the work of railroad construction, in which connection he advanced to positions of respon- sibility, finally becoming superintendent of con- struction and having been concerned in the build- ing of a number of the important western rail- roads, while he has made Chicago his home and business headquarters, having retired from his association with railroading enterprises in 1898, since which time he has given much of his at- tention to the handling of western lands and to other capitalistic enterprises, showing great busi- ness sagacity and judgment and also marked executive talent. He is now the owner of two thousand six hundred and forty acres of valu- able land in Charles Mix county. His land is principally devoted to grazing purposes and he raises a high grade of cattle. In politics he is a radical Republican. Mr. Barkley was united in marriage to Miss Mary Henry, who presides with gracious dignity over the home.

HENRY BRIDGES, one of the representa- tive farmers and stock raisers of Charles Mix county, was born in Iowa on the Ioth of March, 1859, and passed his boyhood days on the old homestead farm. His educational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools of that state. In 1883 he came to South Dakota and took up a homestead claim in Charles Mix county, the same constituting his present place in part, for he and his brothers own a total of six hundred and forty acres of land, which they operate together, all having come here in the pioneer epoch in the county, while all have la- bored earnestly and indefatigably and attained a marked success. They all reside together in

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the one homestead, and are numbered among the popular and prominent citizens of the county. In politics the subject is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and he has been called upon to serve in various township offices and also as a school official. Fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America.

Mr. Bridges was united in marriage to Miss Ida Owsley, and they have three children.

WILLIAM P. BIDDLE, who is the owner of a fine ranch in Jackson township, Charles Mix county, was born in Decatur county, Iowa, on the 19th of December,. 1857, and was reared to the work of the farm. He secured his early edu- cation in the public schools of his native state, his advantages being somewhat limited, as, owing to the death of his father, he was early compelled to depend upon his own exertions. He worked on a farm from the age of fourteen until he had attained his legal majority, and then went to Ne- braska, where he secured land, for which he paid two and one-half dollars an acre, and he there devoted his attention to farming for the ensuing four years, at the expiration of which he dis- posed of the property. Subsequently he came to South Dakota and located in Charles Mix county, where he purchased three hundred and seventy-eight acres of land. He forthwith turned his attention to the improvement and cul- tivation of his farm, and subsequently purchased additional land so that his estate now comprises six hundred and forty acres, while the property is equipped with excellent buildings and other substantial improvements and is one of the val- uable farms of this favored section of the state, the greater portion of the land being under a high state of cultivation. In connection with his agricultural enterprises Mr. Biddle devotes much attention to the raising of cattle and swine. In state and national affairs he is a stanch Demno- crat, but in local matters he is independent.

Mr. Biddle was united in marriage to Miss Kate Grant, who was born in New York, and of this union have been born seven children.

VINCENT BRUNER, who was one of the sterling pioneers of Charles Mix county, was born in Bohemia, Austria, where he was reared and educated, and there he learned the trade of mason, to which he devoted his attention for a number of years after coming to America. He developed and improved one of the valuable farms of Charles Mix county-the homestead upon which his widow still resides, situated five miles south of Geddes, in Jackson township. The orig- inal residence on the place was a sod shanty of the primitive type, and as prosperity attended his efforts he continued to make improvements on his ranch, and the same is now one of the most at- tractive and productive in this locality, having a large and substantial farm residence and other good buildings, while the home is surrounded by a nice grove of trees which were planted by him. He here continued to be engaged in farming and stock growing until his death, since which time his widow has carried forward the enterprise with the assistance of her children. He was a Demo- crat in politics and took a deep interest in local affairs of a public nature. He served two years as a member of the board of county commission- ers, and in all the relations of life so lived as to merit and receive the confidence and respect of hi's fellow men.

Mr. Bruner was united in marriage to Miss Mary Weiss, and of this union were born ten children.

JOHN J. MAWHINEY, one of the honored residents and influential citizens of Charles Mix county, is a native of the old Keystone state of the Union, having been born in Pennsylvania, on the 21st of June, 1833. He passed his boyhood days in his native county, in whose common schools he received his early educational training. He has subsequently been engaged in teaching and has proven particularly successful. He has been employed in pedagogic work in five differ- ent states in the Union, finally retiring from the labors of this profession in 1897. For a number of years he devoted his attention to teaching dur- ing the winter terms and engaged in farming

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

during the summer seasons. After he came to South Dakota he became the owner of a farm and was there engaged in farming and stock raising until he disposed of the property, since which time he has resided in Wagner, where he is the owner of good property, including his pleasant home, while he is also the owner of town property in other places in the county. He has been a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party from the time of its organ- ization, and was elected to the office of justice of the peace, and is now serving in that capacity, while for the past three years he has been a ment- ber of the school board. He and his wife are zealous and devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in whose work they are ac- tively concerned.

Mr. Mawhiney was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Force. and they have four children.

HENRY MANSHEIM, of Charles Mix county, is a native of Lee county, Iowa, where he was born on the Ist of March, 1861, and he early became inured to the work of the home farm, while his educational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools of his na- tive county. At the age of seventeen years he left school and thereafter worked by the month as a farm hand until he had attained his legal majority, when he came to South Dakota and took up a homestead claim in Jackson town- ship. Charles Mix county, this property being a portion of his present ranch. He spared no effort or labor to improve his land, and the years have brought to him a due measure of success. Later Mr. Mansheim purchased an adjoining quarter section of land, so that he now has three hundred and twenty acres, the greater portion of his farm being under cultivation, while he has also been very successful in the raising of live stock, giving special attention to the breeding of cattle and hogs, while he also does considerable business in the line of dairy farming. In so far as state and national issues are involved he is a stanch ad- herent of the Democratic party, but in local mat- ters he maintains an independent attitude. He

has held office in his school district practically from the time of coming to the county to the present. He and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church, and he is also identified with the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association.

Mr. Mansheim was married to Miss Matilda J. Long and they have five children.

RASMUS PETERSON was born in Den- mark on November 11. 1842, and was reared upon his father's farm there, his parents never leaving their native country. In 1866, however, Mr. Peterson bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for the United States. Arriving in Wis- consin, he was employed for a time in Racine county. He next went to Michigan, where he worked in a sawmill and then returned to Ra- cine county.

While there Mr. Peterson was united in mar- riage to Miss Johanna Anderson and he carried on farming there until he came to South Da- kota. Here he secured a homestead claim, all wild and unimproved, but with marked energy and strong determination he began its cultiva- tion and development and now in addition to his homestead farm he owns good town property. This farm is supplied with modern equipments and is located not far from Irene, so that he is enabled to enjoy the advantages of town life as well.

Mr. and Mrs. Peterson became the parents of ten children. Mr. Peterson exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. He has been officially connected with the schools for eleven years and he belongs to the Lutheran church.

WILLIAM VOLL is a native of Russia, where his birth occurred on June 1, 1852. He grew to manhood in his native land and was raised on a farm, his father having been an hon- est, industrious tiller of the soil. In 1872 he came to America and, proceeding direct to South Dakota, took up a quarter section of land in Bon Homme county, later purchasing an additional

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tract of four hundred and eighty acres, only a small part of which was improved when he took possession. Subsequently he disposed of his in- terests there and changed his abode to Hutchin- son county, purchasing what was known as the Bechtold place, a fine tract of land, on which he has made many substantial improvements, con- verting it into one of the most productive and valuable farms in the community. Mr. Voll served four years as school director, besides fill- ing other local offices, and as a Republican he wields a strong influence for his party. In addi- tion to farming and stock raising Mr. Voll is an enthusiastic horticulturist and for a number of years he has devoted much attention to this in- teresting and fascinating pursuit, and now has one of the finest orchards in the county.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 150

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