History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 151

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

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The subject was married to Miss Rosenia Link, like himself a native of Russia, and the union has been blessed with a family of thirteen children.

PHILIP SCHAMBER .- On another page of this work appears a sketch of the subject's brother, Fred W., and as in the connection is entered an outline of the family history it will not be necessary to give a supplementary review at this point. He whose name initiates this para- graph is one of the able and popular young busi- ness men of Eureka, McPherson county, and was born in Russia, on the Ist of June, 1870, and was about four years of age at the time of his parents' immigration to Amer- ica, whither they came in 1874 and forthwith took up their residence in what is now the state of South Dakota, where the subject was reared to maturity, securing his educational training in the public schools and under the able direction

of his father. He became identified with the hardware business at Tripp, Hutchinson county, where he was associated with his father and brothers, and in 1889 this business was sold and the brothers removed to Eureka, where they en- gaged in the hardware and farming implement business under the firm name of Martin Scham- ber & Sons, the interested principals being the

honored father, Martin Schamber, and his sons, Fred W., Julius, Emil and Philip. Subsequently the subject disposed of his interests in the busi- ness and entered the employ of the well-known firm of Wardner, Bushnell, Glessner & Com- pany, of Chicago, as traveling representative, selling agricultural machinery. He was thus en- gaged for two seasons and then established him- self in the grain business in Eureka, buying an elevator. Later he disposed of the elevator and practically retired from the grain business to give his attention to the buying and shipping of live stock, with which line of enterprise he has since been prominently and successfully concerned. He is also the owner of an interest in the Golden Rule department store in the city of Aberdeen. In politics Mr. Schamber has ever been known as a stanch Republican, and he was appointed postmaster of Eureka, in which capacity he has since continued to render effective service.

Mr. Schamber was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hezel, and of this union have been born two children.

A. SCHOEN, M. D., is a native of Austria, where he was born on the 3d of November, 1877, and he was yet a mere lad at the time he accom- panied his parents on their removal to America. After attending the public schools of the metrop- olis of the Union he took a course in the Col- lege of the City of New York. In the autumn of 1896 he was matriculated in the Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, New York city, being graduated as a member of the class of 1899. In the year following his graduation, at his technical state examination, required as supplementary to his collegiate professional degree, he was given an honorary license for his proficiency, and in September of that year he opened an office in New York city, where he continued in practice until 1902, when he came to South Dakota and took up his residence in the city of Yankton, where he is building up a gratifying practice. In politics he is independent, while fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Knights of the Maccabees.

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MATTHEW BIGGINS is a native of the Emerald Isle, having been born in County Cavan, on the 17th of September, 1835, and being a son of representatives of stanch old Irish stock. The mother died in Ireland, and her husband after- ward came with his children to the United States, locating in the city of Philadelphia. In that city our subject completed his educational discipline while in his boyhood he also learned the trade of shoemaking. In 1861 Mr. Biggins gave evidence of his intrinsic loyalty to the Union by enlisting for service in the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Big- gins remained in active service for a period of four years, within which time he participated in many important battles. After the close of the war he returned to Pennsylvania, where he fol- lowed his trade, having in the meanwhile be- come a member of a Pennsylvania regiment of old soldiers, known as the Veteran Reserves, which enlisted as a portion of the regular army. It was sent to the territory of Dakota, and here Mr. Biggins continued in the army service for several years. He took up a homestead claim near Wheeler, Charles Mix county, having ever since retained possession of this property, to which he acquired title, as did many other sol- diers who secured land in this locality, through a special act of congress, the land being origin- ally known as the Fort Randall military reserva- tion. For some time Mr. Biggins had charge of the mess house of the Crow Creek Indian reser- vation, since which time he has given his atten- tion to the management of his fine farm. In poli- tics he is a Republican, and he is a communicant of the Catholic church, as are also the members of his family.

Mr. Biggins was united in marriage to Miss Deborah McGrath, who was likewise born in Ireland, and they became the parents of eleven children.

JAMES H. STEPHENS, of Springfield. Bon Homme county, is a native of the state of Illinois, having been born in Jo Daviess county, on the 16th of September. 1850. He passed his boyhood days in his native county, where he at-

tended the common schools, and he was about ten years of age at the time when the family re- moved to Wisconsin, where he continued to at- tend school until the age of fifteen years, when he entered upon an apprenticeship at the trade of harnessmaking, becoming a skilled workman. He thereafter worked as a journeyman in vari- ous towns and subsequently came west to Sioux City, Iowa, remaining about one year and then returning east to the city of Chicago. In 1872 he came to Yankton, Dakota, where he remained one year, at the expiration of which he took up his residence in Springfield, where he opened a harness shop and also a furniture and undertak- ing establishment, becoming one of the pioneer merchants of the town, and he successfully con- tinued his operations in the lines noted until 1897, when he disposed of his interests and has since lived practically retired, giving a general supervision to his capitalistic investments. His political support is given to the Republican party, and in 1878-9 he served as a member of the lower house of the territorial assembly, while in 1894 he was elected to represent his district in the state senate, being chosen as his own successor in 1896. Fraternally he holds membership in the Free and Accepted Masons; Yankton Chapter, No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, and Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows.

Mr. Stephens was married to Miss Emily A. Place, of Yankton, who died, being survived by three children, and subsequently Mr. Stephens consummated a second marriage, being then united to Miss Henrietta Hyatt, of Illinois, and they are the parents of three children.

JOHN BROWN, of Springfield, Bon Homme county, was born in Quebec, Canada, and was reared in the land of his birth and edu- cated in the public schools of the same. When but a youth he left home and went to St. Law- rence county, New York, where he spent the two years following at various kinds of manual la- bor. and then accepted a position with the Fair- banks Scale Company, at St. Johnsbury, Ver- mont. and devoted the ensuing three years to

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

mechanical work in their factory at that place, after which he went to Fond du Lac county, Wis- consin, where he was engaged in the lumber bus- iness.

Disposing of his business in the latter state, Mr. Brown moved to Iowa, where he purchased a farm and turned his attention to agriculture, and continued to reside there until he sold his posses- sions and changed his residence to Bon Homme county, South Dakota. On coming to this state he took up land in the vicinity of Springfield and from that time to the present has devoted his at- tention chiefly to farming and stock raising, in both of which his success has been most encour- aging.

For a number of years Mr. Brown has had a contract with the government to furnish beef to the Indians and in addition to this and his agri- cultural and live-stock interests he does a flour- ishing business as a coal dealer. Politically he is a Democrat, in religion a Catholic and his frater- nal relations are with the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks.

SAMUEL McCORMACK, of Armour, Douglas county, is a native of the Dominion of Canada, having been born in Nova Scotia. He received his educational training in his native province, and at St. Johns, New Brunswick, he served a thorough apprenticeship as a carpenter and builder. Upon coming to the United States he was employed for one year as a journeyman by a firm in the city of Boston, being still under instruction, as he desired to perfect himself in all details of his chosen vocation. Later he be- came a ship carpenter and as such sailed on a number of the large clipper ships, continuing to be thus employed for four years. He finally lo- cated in East Boston, whence he later removed to Chelsea, Massachusetts, where he remained until 1866, engaged in the work of his trade, and in that year he came west to Clayton county, Iowa, where he erected a number of the principal church edifices and other important buildings. After the great fire in the city of Chicago he went to that city and superintended the work of

erecting six of the principal church buildings. Later he located in Webster City, Iowa, where he built the court house and several fine resi- dences, and then came to Sioux Falls, Dakota, becoming one of the pioneer contractors and builders of Dakota territory, and retaining his home in that place until after the division of the territory and the admission of the two states into the Union. In Sioux Falls Mr. McCormack erected a large number of the principal build- ings. In 1895 Mr. McCormack went to Kenton, Ohio, where he erected a fine private residence and the grammar school, the latter contract hav- ing been secured in the face of much active com- petition and opposition on the part of local con- tractors. In 1900 he came to Armour, where he has since maintained his home, and in the spring of 1003 he was accorded the gratifying and important appointment of superintendent of construction of state buildings, said appointment coming through the state board of charities and corrections. A more judicious and merited ap- pointment could not have been made, for the sub- ject is thoroughly skilled in his chosen profes- sion, to which he has devoted the major por- tion of his long and useful life, while his fidelity to contract, his knowledge of values and his in- flexible integrity will insure to the state the best of service in the work assigned to his charge. In politics our subject is a Prohibitionist in prin- ciple, allegiance and practice, and his religious faith is that of the Congregational church. He is also identified with the Masonic fraternity.

Mr. McCormack was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Hancock, of East Boston, Massachu- setts, and they have had six children.

ALBERT SMITH was born in the village of Laharpe, Hancock county, Illinois. He was granted the advantages of the common schools in his youth and thereafter took a course of study in Knox College, at Galesburg, Illinois. In 1872 he removed to Minnesota, where he remained un- til 1875, when he returned home, by reason of the impaired health of his father, who died shortly afterward. The subject again went to Minne-

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sota, and established himself in the hardware business in Wright county, where he continued operations about six years, meeting with fair success. His health finally became delicate and this led to his removing to South Dakota, whither he came in 1883. He located on a farm eight miles north of Britton, in Day county, the place being now in Marshall county, and shortly after- ward he returned to Howard, Minnesota. In the spring of 1884 he came once more to Day county, South Dakota, and became one of the organizers of the first bank in Webster, while he served as cashier of the same until 1888, when the insti- tution was closed, owing to depressed financial conditions, though the promoters of the enter- prise allowed none of their patrons to lose by reason of the suspension. In the autumn of that year Mr. Smith was elected county auditor, of which office he continued incumbent for the long period of six years, after which he served in various other offices of public trust and respon- sibility, ever proving himself a discriminating and faithful executive. In 1900 he was elected clerk of the courts, and has since served as such. He is also representative of a number of the leading fire-insurance companies and does a very considerable business as underwriter for the same. Fraternally he is identified with the Ma- sonic order, and also with the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Hannah J. Alley, who was born in West Vir- ginia, and they have two sons.

J. H. PARROTT, one of the representative citizens and business men of Pierpont, Day county, is a native of the state of Wisconsin, having been born on a farm in Green Lake county. He was reared on the old homestead farm, while his educational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools of Wis- consin. He came as a youthful pioneer to the state of South Dakota, locating on the north shore of Lake Kampeska, in Codington county, where he continued to be engaged in farming and stock growing until he removed to Ray-

mond, Clark county, and from thence to Day county, where he became one of the founders of the town of Pierpont, where he has ever since maintained his home, having been conspicuously concerned in the upbuilding and material and civic development of the town. Here he engaged in the general merchandise business, his store having been one of the first in the place. Three weeks after he had opened his establishment the building and the greater portion of its contents were destroyed by fire, entailing an almost total loss, but he was not disheartened by this reverse and soon reopened his store, while he has now a large, attractive and well-appointed establish- ment. He is the owner of a half section of most fertile and productive land adjoining the town, and in addition to general agriculture he devotes special attention to the raising of cattle and horses. A peculiar and valuable feature in con- nection with this land is that on any portion of the same, by drilling to a depth of from fourteen to sixteen feet, an artesian well may be secured, the water being pure and rising from four to five feet above the surface.

In politics Mr. Parrott has ever given a loyal support to the Democratic party and has shown an active interest in the forwarding of its cause. He was for two terms mayor of Pierpont, and gave a most able and satisfactory administration of municipal affairs. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Knights of the Maccabees and the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Parrott was married to Miss Rose Holdrich, who was born and reared in Minnesota, and they have three children.

W. S. MITCHELL was born in Aberdeen. Scotland, on the 16th of February, 1861, and received his educational discipline in the excel- lent schools of his native land, where he re- mained until he had attained the age of twenty- one years, when he severed the home ties and came to America. He landed in New York city and remained in the national metropolis about

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

six months, at the expiration of which he came to the west and located in St. Cloud, Minnesota, where he followed his trade, that of stone cutter, for the ensuing year, at the expiration of which he returned to New York, where he passed the following year and then came again to St. Cloud, where he made his home until he came to South Dakota and took up his residence in Sioux Falls, where he was engaged in the work of his trade until the following year, when he cast in his lot with that of the good people of Dell Rapids, where he organized the Dell Rapids Granite Company, of which he became secretary and treasurer, the company owning and operating valuable quarries in this locality. He continued to be actively concerned in this line of enterprise for a period of twelve years, at the expiration of which he disposed of his interests and engaged in the hotel and restaurant business in Dell Rap- ids. He has gained to his place a high reputa- tion for the best of service in all departments, and Mitchell's hotel and restaurant enjoy unmistak- able popularity with the traveling public. For the past five years he has been manager of the local opera house and in the connection has given the public an excellent class of entertainments. In politics Mr. Mitchell has ever given an un- qualified allegiance to the Republican party but has never sought or desired public office. He is held in high regard in fraternal circles and he is identified with the Masonic order, the Benev- olent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, Knights of the Maccabees, Modern Woodmen of America and the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan.

Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Love, and they have one child.

S. M. LINDLEY, of Bonesteel, Gregory county, is a native of the Hawkeye state, having been born on the parental farmstead in Iowa. He grew up under the sturdy discipline of the homestead farm and his educational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools of the locality. He continued to be associated with the work of the parental farm until he had 57-

attained the age of nineteen years, when he set forth to seek his fortunes in what is now the state of South Dakota, being attracted by the discovery of gold in the Black Hills, to which district he made his way. He there remained a few months and then located in Charles Mix county, where he took up government land and gave his attention to farming and stock raising. He was an influential factor in the public affairs of that section, having been elected county com- missioner when but twenty-one years of age, while he also served as county clerk and register of deeds. He continued to reside in that county until he disposed of his interests there and came to the new county of Gregory, settling near Wheeler and in the immediate proximity of the embryonic village of Starcher, where he served as the first postmaster. He has ever been a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republi- can party, and was the one principally instru- mental in securing the introduction of the legis- lative bill providing for a treaty with the Indi- ans for the opening of the Rosebud reservation to settlement. Mr. Lindley was a member of the legislature in 1901, and there gave most effective service in the interests of his constituency, and he was also a member of the Republican state central committee. Fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, while his religious views are in harmony with the faith of the Episcopal church, in which he was reared, his wife being a communicant of the Catholic church. Mr. Lindley was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Marshall, of Charles Mix county.

B. C. ASH, one of the prominent and suc- cessful stock growers of Hughes county and also incumbent of the office of sheriff of the county, is a native of the Hoosier state, having been born in White county, Indiana. When he was about five years of age, his parents removed from Indi- ana to Sioux City, Iowa. The subject received his preliminary educational training in the schools of Sioux City, and after the removal of the family to Yankton continued his studies in

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the common schools of that place as opportunity presented, while he early initiated his independ- ent career. Mr. Ash was appointed deputy United States marshal, and continued to serve in this capacity for varying intervals during a number of years. Subsequently he left Yankton and re- moved to the site of the present thriving and at- tractive city of Bismarek, and his is the distinc- tion of having erected the first house in the town. He held the position of wagonmaster for Gen- eral Custer, who was then making his first trip through this section of the northwest, where his life was later sacrificed. Later Mr. Ash located in Pierre, where he engaged in the livery busi- ness and also conducted a general store, becom- ing one of the leading and influential business men of the capital city. He identified himself with the stock business, to which he has since given much attention, raising cattle and horses upon an extensive scale and having a large and well-improved ranch, which is located one hun- dred and twenty-five miles northwest of Fort Pierre, in Stanley county. In politics he is a stanch advocate of the Democratic party and has been one of the active workers in the party ranks. In 1900 he was elected sheriff of Hughes county, giving a most able administration and being chosen to this office again in the spring of 1904. for a second term of four years. In 1896 he re- ceived from President Cleveland the appointment as Indian agent at the Lower Brule agency, re- taining this incumbency four years and proving a most capable official. He is identified with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. Ash was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Brisbine, and they have three chil- dren.

H. N. CHAPMAN was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, and was reared and edu- cated in his native land. At the age of twenty- one he went to Boston, Massachusetts, and passed a year in the employ of a wholesale house, then

returned to Quebec, where he remained until 1871. In March of that year he came to South Dakota, and settled at Yankton, taking con- tracts on the construction of the Dakota & Southern Railroad. Later he engaged in butch- ering at Yankton. In 1876 he arrived at Dead- wood with two wagon loads of window glass, the first brought to that point, and sold it at a great profit, getting his own price. Here he devoted his time to mining, doing placer work for the most part, and making his home at Deadwood, where he remained until he came to Rapid City and located land on Spring creek twelve miles from the town, but still retaining his mining claims, of which he yet has a number. Settling on his place, he engaged in raising stock, begin- ning with sheep and following with cattle and horses. In politics he is an earnest and ardent working Republican, taking an active part in all the campaigns of the party, but without desire or effort to secure office for himself. In 1895 he moved his family to Rapid City, and since then he has maintained his home there, having à fine modern residence, but he is still engaged in the stock industry and his interests in it are large. The Masonic order awakened his interest many years ago and since then he has been ac- tive and earnest in devotion to its welfare. At Yankton Mr. Chapman was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Davis, a native of Canada, and they have four children.

DELOSS PERRY, farmer, stock raiser and representative citizen, is a native of Bradford county, Pennsylvania. He spent his youth and early manhood in his native state, attending the public schools of Bradford county. He remained on the home farm and assisted to cultivate the same until his twenty-fourth year, and was united in marriage with Miss Melvina Bennett, of Tioga, Pennsylvania, after which he pur- chased a small farm and engaged in the pursuit of agriculture for himself. Four years later he came to Minnehaha county, South Dakota, and entering a quarter section of land, lived on the same until he removed to a claim in the county

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of Kingsbury. Mr. Perry brought with him a good team of horses, a number of cattle and after building a small board house was better fixed for farming than the majority of his neigh- bors. Mr. Perry persevered in his attempts to found a home and get a start in the west and how well he succeeded is attested by his present large farm and live-stock interests and the prom- inent position he occupies among the leading ag- riculturists and stock raisers of Kingsbury county. He owns one of the finest and most val- uable farms in this part of the state, besides a large amount of excellent grazing land and keeps on his place at all times blooded horses, cattle, sheep and the best breed of hogs. He is also engaged in the dairying business, this as well as his other enterprises proving quite profitable.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 151

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