History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 152

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 152

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Mr. and Mrs. Perry have five children. In politics Mr. Perry formerly supported the Re- publican party, but of recent years he has been voting irrespective of political affiliations. He is a member of the Pyramids, a fraternal organ- ization, and with his wife and family belongs to the Congregational church.

JOHN WESTFALL, one of the enterprising farmers and stock raisers of Custer county, was born in the southern part of Louisiana. He re- mained in his native state until a youth of fifteen and then left home, going to Illinois, where he was engaged in different kinds of manual labor during the ensuing four years, spending the lat- ter part of that period in the city of Rock Island, from which place he went to Omaha, Nebraska. When nineteen years of age he left the latter state for South Dakota, making the trip to the Black Hills via Sidney and arriving at Harney when that flourishing city was little more than a mining camp. He remained one year prospect- ing in the vicinity and then went to Deadwood, where he followed mining about the same length of time, meeting with fair success in his opera- tions. Returning to Harney, he sold several claims which he had previously located and after living in that town and vicinity until the spring of 1882 took up his present ranch three miles

from Hermosa, on Battle creek, where he has since been engaged in agriculture and the live- stock business, devoting especial attention to cat- tle raising.

In addition to his home place Mr. Westfall has acquired considerable real estate in the neighborhood, much of which has been reduced to cultivation and otherwise improved and he is now in comfortable circumstances, with flatter- ing prospects of a long and prosperous business career before him.

J. B. DICKEY, M. D., was born in Wayne county, Illinois, and there grew to manhood's estate, attending at intervals the public schools, but at the age of thirteen beginning to earn his own livelihood. When a youth he learned the shoemaking business in his father's shop, but did not work very long at the trade, devoting the greater part of his time to farm labor. His fa- ther owned a farm and on this the subject spent several years very profitably until entering the St. Louis Medical College. He also ran a sta- tionary engine for two or three years, in which capacity he earned money sufficient to defray his expenses while taking his first course of lec- tures, after which he devoted his vacations to any kind of honorable work he could find to do, in this manner paying his way through the medi- cal college. The subject received his degree in the month of March, 1882, and the same year he went to Winslow, Arizona, where his brother had located some time previously, and the two effected a copartnership, soon commanding an extensive and lucrative professional business. They did the practice for the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad (now the Santa Fe), in addition to which their field included a wide range of coun- try, a large part exceedingly difficult of access. After remaining a little over one year in Ari- zona the Doctor moved his business to Iroquois, South Dakota, in 1883. where, in addition to practicing his profession, he opened a drug store. He conducted this business with encouraging success for about fourteen years and then ex- changed it for a farm near Iroquois to which he

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removed and which he cultivated for a period of two years in connection with his professional work. Later he rented the place and returned to town, since which time he has devoted his at- tention exclusively to the healing art, being now the oldest physician in Iroquois. Dr. Dickey is a Mason and has held a number of prominent offi- cial positions in the order, serving four years as master of the local lodge to which he belongs, besides representing it at different times in the grand lodge. He is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and is now state examiner of the same, being also an active member of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Democrat and as such was elected county commissioner and that, too, despite an overwhelming normal Republican majority. After serving three years the opposition re- quested the privilege of renominating hin, as his own party the meanwhile had become imbued with certain populistic principles which he could not well indorse. He was triumphantly re- elected and discharged the duties of the office for a period of seven years, in addition to which he served nine years on the school board and for three years was a member of the town board of Iroquois.

Mr. Dickey was married to Miss Lena Wil- fer, a native of Germany, and they have had four children.

EDWARD HAZELTINE was born in Frye- burg, Maine, and was taken three years later to York state, where he remained some time, remov- ing thence to Canada, which was his home until 1871. Meanwhile he attended the public schools and when old enough began working with his father, who was an experienced millwright, and to this kind of labor he devoted his attention until becoming quite an efficient mechanic. He accom- panied his parents to Howard county, Nebraska, where the family were among the early settlers. The subject's father took up a tract of govern- ment land in that county and engaged in farming and stock raising and it was there that Edward spent the ensuing five years, attending school and

assisting in the development and cultivation of the homestead. When the Black Hills were opened the elder Hazeltine joined the rush to the land of great expectations, being followed the same year by his family. Edward Hazeltine and his father became associated in the mercantile business and soon established a lucrative trade. Severing his connection with the above enter- prises at that time he went on the range and con- tinued to ride the same until the following fall, when he located at what is now the city of Key- stone and, in partnership with several of his friends, began prospecting for gold and lime, in the prosecution of which he traveled a large area of country and made some exceedingly fortunate strikes. Later Mr. Hazeltine ran a stage from Tin Camp to Rapid City, but the meanwhile kept up his mining interests and was quite suc- cessful in prosecuting the same. In 1891 he returned to Battle Creek where he followed placer mining during the summer months, but later in the season settled on a small tract of land north of Keystone and turned his attention to gardening, in connection with which he subse- quently engaged in the live-stock business. Mean- time his father and brothers took up a ranch on Battle Creek and began farming and cattle rais- ing and about seven years later Edward was ad- mitted to partnership with them, after which the business grew steadily in magnitude, the man- agement being under the personal direction of the subject. The same year in which the business re- lationship was formed a sawmill was erected near Keystone, which proved a paying invest- ment. In 1897 Mr. Hazeltine took up a home- stead in the forest reserve, two miles north of Keystone, and moving a sawmill to the same engaged in the manufacture of lumber on quite an extensive scale. His brothers are interested with him in this enterprise, as well as in stock raising and farming, and their combined business has so grown in proportions that the partnership is now one of the strongest and most successful of the kind in this part of the country. They also purchased a complete threshing outfit and at this time thresh all the grain in a large section of the country. The progressive spirit manifested in all

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of his undertakings shows Mr. Hazeltine the pos- sessor of universal energy and determination while his hopefulness and optimism have had not a little to do in paving the way to the prominent position in business circles which he now occu- pies.

Politically Mr. Hazeltine wields a strong in- fluence for the Republican party.

MARTIN AMUNDSON, one of the repre- sentative farmers and stock raisers of Kings- bury county, South Dakota, is of Scandinavian birth, being a native of Norway. He was reared to manhood amid the romantic scenery of Nor- way, attended school at intervals until his six- teenth year and early learned the lessons of hon- est toil which life on a farm in that country in- variably imparts. Losing his father at the tender age of eight years, he was soon thrown upon his own resources and two years later went to live with a neighboring farmer. When fourteen years old he began receiving wages for his services and at the age of sixteen left his first employer and engaged by the year with a farmer by the name of Nitberg. After a year or so with that gentleman he spent the ensuing three years in railroad construction, working on sawmills and at various other kinds of employment, and at the expiration of that time came to United States, making his way direct to Kingsbury county, South Dakota, where an older brother was then living, and spent that fall in the latter's employ. The following winter and at intervals during the ensuing spring and summer he worked on the Northwestern Railroad, the meantime taking up a pre-emption, a part of which he broke and planted in potatoes the first year. He continued to labor for wages, and as opportunities afforded he worked his own land from time to time until he finally reduced the same to a fine state of culti- vation. Later he sold his claim and bought a relinquishment on a quarter section, which he at once proceeded to improve. Mr. Amund- son bought another quarter section of fine land which with the farm alluded to above, he still owns, his real estate at the present time amount-

ing to three hundred and twenty acres on which are to be seen some of the best improvements in the township in which it is situated. Mr. Amund- son labored diligently to develop his lands and make improvements and was so successful in his undertakings that in the course of years he found himself in independent circumstances. He culti- vated both of his farms until 1900, when he rented his tree claim, and since that time has managed the place on which he now lives, but, as indicated above, does little of the hard work himself, being in a situation to employ labor whenever he sees fit to do so. In connection with his agricultural interests he raises a great deal of live stock, keeping on his place at all times blooded horses, fine cattle and a number of hogs, and he feeds every year all of the large corn crop grown in his fields. He is a model farmer, uses the best implements and machinery obtainable and does everything according to system, in con- sequence of which he realizes the largest possible returns from his time and labor.

He is a Republican in principle, but does not confine his voting strictly to party; in matters religious he is a member of the Norwegian Luth- eran church.

R. A. ROUNSEVILLE, a representative farmer and stock raiser of Kingsbury county, is a native of Waterloo county, Wisconsin. He grew to manhood in Sheboygan county, Wiscon- sin, attended the public schools at intervals until eighteen years old and assisted his father in run- ning the home farm until attaining his majority. Coming to Kingsbury county, South Dakota, he entered a quarter section of land, after which he worked among the neighboring farmers for sev- eral years to earn sufficient money to develop and otherwise improve his claim. Meanwhile he spent considerable time on his land and when not otherwise engaged addressed himself man- fully to its improvement. He began farming for himself with an ox-team and a plow and with this outfit succeeded in breaking the greater part of his ground and fitting it for tillage. He en- tered the marriage relation, after which he set

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up a domestic establishment on his place and, beginning to farm in earnest, was in due time on the high road to success and prosperity. Mr. Rounseville owns three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, admirably situated for farm- ing and stock raising, and to these two lines of industry he has devoted his attention, with most encouraging financial results. Mr. Rounseville and family belong to the Catholic church, the par- ents as well as the children having been born and reared in this faith. In former years the subject was a Democrat, but when the Populist party was organized he espoused its principles and became one of its first leaders in the county of Kings- bury. He was elected on this ticket county com- missioner and served two terms, making a ca- pable, painstaking and exceedingly popular offi- cial. He was township clerk, has been assessor and in addition thereto is now treasurer of the school board of his township.

J. W. KILEY, of Meade county, South Da- kota, was born in Middletown, Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, and spent his early life on his father's farm. At the proper age he en- tered the public schools and so rapid was his ad- vancement that he was soon able to pass the re- quired examinations and obtain a teacher's li- cense, and for some time thereafter he devoted the winter seasons to educational work. He con- tinted farming and teaching in Pennsylvania un- til he went to Kansas, where he spent about one year on a large cattle ranch.

In the spring of 1877 Mr. Kiley started for Dakota, with the Black Hills as an objective point, arriving in Deadwood the following June, and at once engaged in prospecting, to which he devoted his attention tintil he came to Sturgis and entered the employ of a rancher on Alkali creek. After spending one year thus he located land in the vicinity, butt two years later left the place on account of scarcity of water and bought the right to the ranch about seven miles from Sturgis, on which he has since lived and achieved sttchi marked success as a cattle raiser. Mr. Ki- ley moved to his present place in 1884, and at

once inaugurated a system of improvements which in due season made it one of the finest and most valuable ranches on the creek. By ju- dicious management he succeeded in getting a substantial start in the way of live stock, and by adding to his herds from time to time finally forged to the front as one of the leading cattle raisers in his part of the county, a reputation he still sustains. Mr. Kiley married Miss Mary Smith, of Indiana. In his political views Mr. Kiley is a pronounced Democrat, and since at- taining his majority he has been a firm and ac- tive supporter of his party.

ADAM ROYHE is of foreign birth, being a native of Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. He spent his childhood and youth in Hesse Darmstadt, and received a good education in the schools of his native state. He accompanied his parents to the United States and attended school in Wis- consin, where he learned to read and write the English language, having previously obtained a sufficient knowledge of the same to converse flu- ently. The following summer he worked on the farm and at the age of nineteen left home and began earning his own livelihood, spending some time in the lumber regions of Wisconsin. In company with a friend he came to South Da- kota, walking from Marshall, Minnesota, to Kingsbury county, his original destination hav- ing been the city of Yankton. On the way they stopped in Brookings county, where they were informed that better land could be obtained in the county of Kingsbury than in the section of country for which they were bound. Accord- ingly Mr. Royhe took up a claim, and after spending the summer on the same and reducing about fifteen acres to cultivation, returned to Wisconsin, where he remained until the follow- ing spring, purchasing the meanwhile a team of horses, a wagon and various agricultural imple- ments to be used on his western homestead. With the advent of spring he returned to his claim and broke a considerable portion of ground, spending the succeeding winter in the pioneer section of Wisconsin, and in this way he di-

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vided the time during the ensuing three years. Mr. Royhe took to himself a wife and helpmeet in the person of Miss Minnie Deetman, of Co- lumbia county, Wisconsin, and in the spring of the following year settled permanently in Kings- bury county, South Dakota, remaining on his own claim until 1890, when he took up his resi- dence in Arlington. He still owns the above farm, which is in a high state of cultivation, and in addition thereto has a half section of fine land, which is also well improved and successfully tilled. Mr. Royhe opened a meat market in Arl- ington, which he operated with encouraging suc- cess for two years, and then began handling grain for the Van Dusen firm, continuing with them until erecting an elevator of his own. Since then he has carried on an extensive grain business, be- ing one of the largest buyers and shippers in the county, and in connection therewith he also deals quite extensively in real estate.

He has been influential in political circles ever since becoming a resident of South Dakota, has held a number of township and county offices and for a number of years has been a delegate to nearly every Republican convention held in his county, district and state. He served with marked ability as state senator, during which time he was on some of the most important com- mittees of the upper house, including among otliers the committees on banking, insurance, cit- ies and municipal corporations and railroads. He is identified with several local enterprises, being a director of the First National Bank and a stockholder in the same. He stands high in the Masonic order, and is also identified with the Mr. Hudson is one of the Republican stand- ard bearers in South Dakota, and as such has Ancient Order of United Workmen, and with his wife belongs to the Eastern Star lodge. In been instrumental in leading the party to suc- his religious belief Mr. Royhe subscribes to the German Lutheran faith, his wife being a mem- ber of the Episcopal church. They are the par- ents of four children. cess in a number of local, state and national con- tests. With a strong belief in revealed religion and a profound reverence for the Bible, his life measures according to the high standard of ex- cellence as set forth within the Gospel and affords a commendable example of practical Christian- E. E. HUDSON, of Yankton, is a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, and spent the first eight years of his life in that county. In 1846 he ac- companied his parents upon their removal to Illi- ity. Many years ago he united with the Episco- pal church, and for more than a quarter of a century he has held the position of vestryman in the different congregations with which iden-

nois. In his youth he attended the public schools, later pursued his studies for some time in one of the ward schools of Chi- cago, and at the early age of fourteen acquired his first practical experience in life as a clerk in a general store at Wilming- ton. He continued as a salesman in different mercantile establishments until he responded to the President's call for volunters by enlisting at Chicago in what was known as the Mercantile Battery of that city, with which he served with an honorable record until July, 1865. Following his discharge Mr. Hudson came to South Da- kota, and for some time thereafter was engaged in trading and distributing government supplies among the Indians, at Fort Thompson, at which he was stationed for a period of thirteen years, and of which he was also postmaster. Subse- quently he came to Yankton, where he became associated with Governor Edmunds in the bank- ing business, the subject severing his connection with the institution in 1886. Since then Mr. Hudson has devoted his attention to the broker- age, real-estate and insurance and general loan business, being at this time not only the Icader in these lines at Yankton, but having perhaps the largest and most extensive patronage of any man in the state, similarly engaged. Since be- coming a citizen of South Dakota he has been untiring in his endeavors to promote the state's interests, materially and otherwise. For the past eighten years he has been a member of the Yank- ton school board, and since 1898 has presided over that body.

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tified. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mr. Hudson entered the marriage re- lation with Miss Clara E. Warren, of Rockford, Illinois, a lady of intelligence, refined tastes and varied culture.

REV. WILLIAM KROEGER, M. D .- A unique and distinguished position is that oc- cupied by the honored subject of this sketch, who is a member of the priesthood of the Catholic church, one of the leading physicians and sur- geons of the state and one who has accomplished an admirable and noble work for the good of humanity in connection with both vocations to which he has given his attention and great ability. He is the founder, and virtual owner, of the attractive little village which bears his name, in Hanson county, and has there established a sanitarium and medical institution and hospital which have attained a wide and noteworthy repu- tation.

Dr. Kroeger is a native of the city of Cin- cinnati. Ohio, where he was born on the 25th of January. 1853, being the eldest of the eight children of August and Elizabeth (Sexton) Kroeger. both of whom were born in Germany, the former in Clopenburg and the latter in West- fald. They came to America when young and their marriage was solemnized in the city of Cin- cinnati. where for many years the honored father of our subject followed his trade, that of car- riage painting. He is still living in the "Queen City," being seventy-four years of age at the time of this writing. in 1904, while his wife passed to the life eternal when the subject of this review was a child of two years and five months, having been a devoted member and com- municant of the Catholic church, as is also her venerable husband, who is a man of sterling character and one whose life has been one of sig- nal usefulness. Dr. Kroeger received his pre- liminary educational discipline in the parochial schools and other church institutions of his na- tive city, and at the age of eightcen years was matriculated in the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, where he completed the prescribed

course and was graduated, with high honors, as a member of the class of 1871. receiving the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine. He was thereafter for three years engaged in the practice of his profession in Cincinnati, and in the meanwhile had determined to prepare himself for the priest- hood of the church in whose ancient and in- violate faith he had been reared. He completed his divinity course in St. Meinrad, Indiana, and on the 26th of January, 1880, was ordained to the priesthood by Rt. Rev. Joseph Dwenger, of the diocese of Fort Wayne. His first parochial charge was in Elkhart, Indiana, but as his health had become impaired he entered a request that he might be sent to some other climate, and this led to his identifying himself with South Da- kota, to which state he came March 25. 1893. Here he was placed in pastoral charge of the Church of the Epiphany. in Hanson county. twelve miles north of Spencer, and here he accomplished a most excellent work, infusing both spiritual and temporal enthusiasm and finally brought about the erection of the attract- ive church edifice, which is one of sixteen which have been built through his efforts. With the work of the church here he has ever since been closely identified, while the town of which he is the founder is built up about the church edifice. which was practically its nucleus, the postoffice bearing the name Epiphany, while that of the town is Kroeger. While still actively engaged in his sacerdotal duties here he continued his medical studies and also made many original re- searches and experiments in the line. Rt. Rev. Martin Marty, bishop of the diocese, became aware of the attainments of Dr. Kroeger as a physician and surgeon and in 1894 suggested to him the propriety of bringing his professional knowledge into requisition in connection with his pastoral duties in view of the impoverished condition of many of his people, and he thus carried the double burden of responsibility, the result being that he finally became convinced that there lay before him the maximum of duty in relieving the physical suffering of humanity, for his reputation as a physician and surgeon soon far transcended local limitations and the

DR. WM KROEGER.

BEM, MIPPERDA 1

LOUISA MI. MENTELE.

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suggestion of the church authorities was thus the direct cause which led to his retiring from the work of its priesthood to devote himself to the medical profession. He had given special study to the treatment and cure of diseases of neurotic order and those peculiar to the female. and in the great sanitarium which he has es- tablished particular care is given to the treatment of cases of these orders. His latest discovery for the treatment of epilepsy, St. Vitus dance, nervous debility, consumption, kidney disease, catarrh of the stomach and cancers, through which he has accomplished wonderful results, has brought him into recognition throughout the entire medical world. He has in his finely equipped laboratory three of the largest X-ray machines, of his improvement, in the state, and in 1903 his sanitarium had patients from every state in the Union and all over the world. In August, 1899, Dr. Kroeger tendered to the bishop his resignation as rector of the Church of the Epiphany, and this was accepted by that prelate in the following month, since which time Father Kroeger has given his entire attention to his professional work and the management of the various institutions which he has established in the town which bears his name. His allegiance to the church remains of the most devoted order and in his professional work he draws no de- nominational lines, giving the benefit of his services and great abilities to all who come" to him for succor from pain and suffering. He is imbued with that deep humanitarian sympathy which transcends mere emotion to become an actuating motive, and thus his work as a physi- cian is certain to be the more potent and far- reaching. The location of Epiphany is well chosen, being on the height of ground between the Big Sioux and James rivers, while from the town the land slopes gently in all directions. making the site an ideal one both in matter of beauty and sanitary conditions. The town is known as Kroeger and is situated ten miles from Canova, which is on the Chicago & North- western Railroad, and twelve miles from Spen- cer, on the Omaha division of the same road. Dr. Kroeger started the town without funds and

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 152

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