History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 17

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

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

Phelps, of Jo Daviess county, Illinois, a daugh- sided upon the home farm here and has taken an ter of Milo and Charlotte ( Beldian) Phelps, active part in its management and operation. At the time of his father's death he was appointed executor of the estate, comprising eleven hundred acres of land in Yankton county. He now car- ries on general farming and stock raising, mak- ing a specialty of Guernsey cattle, splendid bred horses and Poland-China hogs. He has handled stock extensively, becoming one of the leading representatives of this line of business in the county and his large sales have brought to him a splendid financial return. His home is pleas- antly located on the banks of the James river. four miles from Yankton, and in 1891 he erected an elegant farm residence which is one of the most attractive features of the landscape. There is found an artesian well upon his place and also a fish pond. He has a blacksmith and carpenter shop upon his farm and he possesses excellent mechanical ability, so that he is enabled to kecp everything about his place in first-class condition. Mr. White is a most energetic and enterprising man and his resolution and strong purpose have been important factors in a successful business carcer. He lives with his mother and both are highly esteemed in the community. Fraternally. Mr. White is connected with the Pyramids and the Maccabees. He is an honored son of an honored pioneer and today occupies a very prominent and enviable position as a represent- ative of agricultural interests in South Dakota. formerly of Jasper, New York. Locating upon a farm north of Scales Mound, he there engaged in farming and stock raising for many years, ac- cumulating considerable property. In the fall of 1880 he visited his brother at Yankton, South Dakota, and was so well pleased with this locality that he invested in real estate in the fertile James river valley. In 1885 he disposed of his property in Illinois and located on his South Da- kota farm. He added to his possessions from time to time until he owned over thirteen hundred acres of as fine land as can be found in the state. In all his work and dealings he left the impress of a considerate, careful-minded man and one of strong, forceful character. In his long linger- ing illness he manifested great patience and for- bearance which characterized his entire life. He voted with the Democracy and was a loyal mem- ber of the Methodist church, to which his wife also belongs. She survives him and is yet living on the old homestead. In the family of this worthy couple were nine children: Thomas, in 1849, married Melvina Wells and with his family of four children lives upon a farm in Yankton county ; Cecil J., born in 1854 and now conduct- ing a country store in Yankton county. married Miss Viola Hill and they have an adopted child ; Delia, born in 1859. is the wife of William C. Coulson, a resident farmer of Yankton county, by whom she has three children; Norman D. is the next of the family : Lee is a carpenter of St. Louis, Missouri: Addie, is the wife of William Van Epps, a liveryman of Yankton, and they have three sons. The three other children of the White family died in Illinois. All were provided with good educational privileges and Delia engaged in teaching school, while Addie taught music. Thomas displayed much of his father's musical talent as a violinist. The different members of the family are now comfortably situated in life and are valued residents of the various com- munities in which they reside.

Norman D. White spent his early life in Illinois and with his father came to South Da- kota in the spring of 1885. He has since re-

CHARLES E. SEELEY, one of the well- known and representative citizens of Clark county, is a native of the Wolverine state, having been born in Oakland county, Michigan, on the 3Ist of May, 1841, and being a son of Edward H. and Calista (Walker ) Seeley, the former of whom was born in Seneca county, New York, and the latter in Connecticut, while it may be stated that the original ancestors of the subject in the maternal line settled in New England in the pre-Revolutionary days. Edward H. Seeley devoted his life to farming and was one of the pioneers of the state of Michigan, where both he and his wife died. His father was a promi-

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nent lawyer in New York, and served for a num- ber of years as county judge of Seneca county. The subject of this review received his early educational training in the common schools of his native state and also attended a select school for a short time, just prior to the outbreak of the war of the Rebellion, in which he participated. On the 17th of August, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company D, Fifth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and a few weeks later proceeded with his command to the front. He was wounded in the battle of Williamsburg, Virginia, on the 5th of May, 1862, and rejoined his regiment three days before the opening of the seven days' fight- ing before the city of Richmond. He received his honorable discharge in the autumn of 1862, by reason of disability, and then returned to his home in Michigan. He there continued to be engaged in farming about five years, after which he learned the trade of carpenter and became a successful contractor and builder. In 1893 he came to South Dakota and located in Maydell township, Clark county, and here he has con- tinted contracting and building, having con- tributed materially to the substantial develop- ment and progress of this section and having also become the owner of a well-improved and pro- ductive farm, to whose management he has given his attention to a greater or less extent.

Mr. Seeley has gained and retained the re- spect and confidence of the people of the county and is recognized as a loyal and progressive citizen. In politics he has given his support to the Republican party from the time of attain- ing his legal majority, having cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, at the time of his second nomination, and having ever since been a stalwart upholder of the principles and policies of the "grand old party." He has been called upon to serve in various township offices and is at the present time incumbent of that of justice of the peace. He is treasurer of the Garden City Co-operative Creamery Com- pany, one of the leading business concerns of the county. Fraternally, he is identified with the Grand Army of the Republic, and for the past score of years he has been a zealous member of

the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Seeley also is a member.

On the 22d of March, 1865, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Seeley to Miss Lucy O. Green, who was born in the state of Michigan, being a daughter of Z. R. and Zerilla Green, and they have seven children, namely: Elmer G., Harry M., Emmet C., Eugene, May R., Frank A. and Alice Louise.

J. M. DOYLE, one of the influential and honored business men of Delmont, Douglas county, is a native of Grant county, Wisconsin, where he was born on the Ioth of May, 1854. being a son of John and Mary (Brady) Doyle, of whose six children five are living, namely : Dr. E. M., who is engaged in the practice of his profession in Yankton, this state; Thomas, who is a resident of Grant county, Wisconsin ; Gar- rett, who, likewise, resides in that county; John S., who is a resident of Kansas City, Missouri; Sarah M., who married William Sheridan in Oc- tober, 1881, and died a widow in 1892; and J. M., who is the subject of this review. The father of the subject was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, where he was reared to maturity, and he was there identified with the mining industry until 1846, when he emigrated to America, locat- ing in Grant county, Wisconsin, as one of its early pioneers, and there he engaged in mining for two years. He entered a tract of government land in that county, improved a good farm, to whose cultivation he gave his attention until his death, which occurred in 1886, at which time he was seventy-three years of age. He was twice married, the maiden name of his first wife having been Farrell, and of this union were born four children, of whom two are living .- Terrence, who is a retired farmer of Pocahontas county, Iowa; and Anna, a maiden lady, residing in Shellsburg, Wisconsin. The mother of the sub- ject was also a native of County Wicklow. Ireland, and she died in 1881, at the age of sixty-five years, both she and her husband hav- ing been zealous members of the Catholic church, while the latter was a Democrat in politics.

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

J. M. Doyle was reared on the homestead farm in Wisconsin, receiving his early educa- tional discipline in the public schools and sup- plementing the same by a course of study in St. John's College, in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. In 1879 he and his brother Garret rented land in Grant county, that state, where they were en- gaged in farming for the ensuing two years, at the expiration of which they purchased a meat market in Fairplay, Wisconsin, conducting the same one year. In 1882 the subject came to Dakota, located in Plankinton, Aurora county, and thus becoming one of the pioneers of what is now the state of South Dakota. He located two claims in that county and while complying with the legal requirements necessary to retrining the same he conducted a confectionery store in the village mentioned, there continuing his residence for seven years. Within this period he made a visit to his old home in Wisconsin, remaining about one year. In 1890 Mr. Doyle disposed of his property in Plankinton, Aurora county, and removed to Pocahontas county, Iowa, with the intention of engaging in the real-estate business in company with bankers there. No satisfactory arrangements could be made, however, and after teaching a three-months term of school in Iowa, he returned to Dakota, taking up his residence in Plankinton, and from March until July, 1889. he held the position of insurance underwriter for the Dakota Mutual Protective Association, which was organized and incorporated under the laws of the territory for the purpose of rendering in- surance indemnity on live stock, the executive corps being as follows: H. C. Ayres, president : Richard Hancy, secretary, and W. T. Lafollette, manager. In the autumn of the same year Mr. Doyle went again to Iowa, passing some time there and in the city of Chicago, his object being. to promote the organization of a land company to handle western properties, but again he was unable to enlist satisfactory capitalistic co- operation, and after teaching school for three months, in Pocahontas county, Iowa, he re- turned to South Dakota, locating in Delmont on the 17th of August, 1891, as the representative of the firm of T. McMichael & Son, of McGregor,

Iowa. He had the management of their elevator and grain business here until 1898, when he pur- chased the business, which he has since success- fully continued. In January, 1892, he established the first permanent hog market in Delmont, and he is today one of the heaviest buyers of grain and live stock in this section of the state, while he is known as an energetic and able business man and as one who is worthy of unqualified con- fidence and esteem, which are uniformly accorded by all who know him. In politics he is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, but he has never been ambitious for public office. In the fall of 1902 he was tendered by his party friends the nomination for either sheriff of the county or for representative of the district in the state legislature, but he refused to become a candidate for either office. He was later ap- pointed a member of the board of county com- missioners, to fill the vacancy caused by the re- moval from the county of the regular incumbent, D. M. Brennerman. He is a most effective and popular auctioneer, in which line he is a pioneer in this section, his services being in demand throughout a wide radius of country in the cry- ing of sales of various sorts. He 'and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church, and fra- ternally he is affiliated with Armour Lodge, No. 100, Ancient Order of United Workmen, at Armour.

On the 14th of June, 1898, Mr. Doyle was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Catherine Kelley, who was at the time principal of the Delmont public schools, being a lady of refine- ment and gracious presence, and they are the parents of two children, William Bryan and Lucille Bernice.

JOHN MEIER, one of Germany's native sons, was born on the 6th of August, 1835, his parents being Jathan and Elizabeth Meier. The father was a tailor by trade and thus pro- vided for his family. In 1856 he brought his wife and children to the United States, settling in Broadhead, Wisconsin. John Meier, who ac- quired his education in Germany, accompanied

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

the family at that time and in Wisconsin he took a claim from the government and began farming on his own account. He was married Febru- ary 12, 1866, to Miss Caroline Dubois, of Rock county, Wisconsin. Her father was a success- ful farmer of that section. Unto the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Meier were born four sons and three daughters, namely: John, George, Jathan, Josephine, Alma, Gilbert and Hattie, and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. George married Julia Rinker, by whom he has one child and is a farmer, residing upon a tract of land adjacent to his father's farm. Josephine is the wife of Frank Ray, an agri- culturist living near Wagner, South Dakota. The other children are yet under the parental roof.

Mr. Meier continued to reside in Wisconsin until the spring of 1872, when he came to South Dakota, settling in Yankton township. Much of the land was still in possession of the government at that time and he secured a claim of one hun- dred and sixty acres, to which he has since added by the purchase of three hundred and twenty acres near his old homestead. He is engaged in stock raising and is today one of the progressive agriculturists of his community. The success that has crowned his efforts has come to him as the reward of his perseverance and his earnest labor and now at the age of sixty-eight years he is enjoying the fruits of his former toil, hav- ing a valuable property and a comfortable home. He is independent in politics, as he is in religious faith, although he endorses the teachings of the Methodist church to some extent. Both he and his wife are estimable people, enjoying the warm regard of many friends.

REV. D. B. NICHOLS has devoted his life to two of the most important callings which man can give his energies, the healing of the body and the care of the soul, and his life has been one of extreme usefulness, his influence widely felt for good as a factor in the community in which he lives. He was born in Massachusetts on the 8th of October, 1816, and is a son of James and Lydia D. (Bliss) Nichols, natives of the old Bay state.

The father was a miller and for several years was superintendent of a large cotton mill. He also served as deputy sheriff of Bristol county and gave his political support to the Whig party. He held membership in the Congregational church and died in that faith in 1832, while his wife passed away in 1864. In the family were six sons and one daughter, but all have passed away with the exception of the subject.

Rev. Nichols was reared in the east and en- joyed the excellent school privileges of his native state, while later he had more advanced ad- vantages. He pursued a classical course in Ober- lin College of Ohio in 1839 and then, for ten years engaged in teaching and occasionally preached, being then employed by the missionary society in Iowa. Subsequently, he pursued a course in medicine in Howard University, where he was graduated in 1872. He is the oldest graduate of that institution, a fact which was mentioned in one of the Washington papers. He was identified with the rise and progress of Howard University, being one of its instructors, its librarian, a trustee and curator of its museum. For about eleven years he remained in the Capital city and also spent a short time in the practice of medicine in Florida. Since 1850 he has engaged in preaching and followed that calling in Ken- tucky, where he was also engaged in teaching school. His labors have always been directed along lines which have proven of the greatest benefit to his fellow men. He served as city mis- sionary in Chicago, Illinois, and was superintend- ent of the Chicago Reform School from 1854 until 1860, when he resigned and went to Europe at his own expense, visiting reform schools in England, Scotland and Germany for the purpose of rendering his own labors in that line more effective. Upon his return to his native country he was appointed superintendent of the State Reform School at Lansing, Michigan, where he remained for a year and then went to Boston. Locating at Scituate Harbor, he there remained until after the outbreak of the Civil war. In 186t he went to South Carolina to preach to the negroes who had formerly been held as slaves and also to act as a teacher among them. There

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he continued until midsummer when he went to New York and afterward to Washington to act as a missionary among the colored people of that city. In Washington he was appointed super- intendent of the contraband department service and had four thousand people under his charge to whom he gave supplies of food and clothing.

In the year 1880 Mr. Nichols came to De- catur, settling in Bon Homme county, where he began preaching. He built a church there and remained for three years as its pastor, at the end of which time his health failed and he returned to Boston, Massachusetts, but after he had re- covered somewhat his usual health and strength he once more came to Dakota, visiting various churches in the state and preaching to many con- gregations. He was also engaged in presenting the claims of Yankton College. His influence has been most marked in the moral development of South Dakota since his arrival here about twenty-five years ago. He is now an honorable trustee of Howard University, at Washing- ton, D. C., and also for years a trustee of Yankton College, and now a member of the college corporation. At one time he served as librarian of Yankton College. Seventeen years ago he located at his present home, which was then in the midst of the frontier district. He built the church at Mission Hill and has assisted in the entire growth and development of this portion of the state. For three years he served as post- master and with the work of progress and im- provement he has been actively identified along material as well as moral lines. His chief in- terest, however, has centered in the moral de- velopment of the people and his influence has been far-reaching and beneficial.

Rev. Nichols has been twice married. He first married Sarah Chisman, whose parents were from Virginia. After the death of his first wife he wedded Elizabeth Booth and they lived together for sixty years, her death having oc- curred in the latter part of the year 1903. at the age of eighty-eight years. Rev. Nichols has now reached the advanced age of eighty-six years. They were the oldest couple in the county and none were more respected. Mr. Nichols votes

with the Republican party and has been active and helpful in matters pertaining to the intel- lectual progress of the community, acting as one of the school officers. He is identified with the Congregational church here and in Dakota as in other sections of the country where he has lived and labored for his fellow men he has accomplished much good. His life has been de- voted to the welfare of the human race and to the opposition of all the vices that hold men in bondage and today there is no citizen of Yankton county held in warmer regard or higher esteem than Rev. D. B. Nichols.

FRED C. RIX was born in Denmark on the 18th of May, 1839. His father was a farmer there and his parents spent their entire lives in that country. In early life Fred C. Rix went to sea and has sailed around the world. He visited Africa in 1861 and the Philippines in 1862, after which he returned to Holland. He has been on the isle of Java, and has visited Russia, Siberia, Prussia, England, Belgium, France, Sweden, Norway and Germany. He has sailed from many ports and in the employ of different nations and was always upon a sailing vessel, never mak- ing a voyage upon a steamer until he came to the United States. He was in the war when the Danish fought the Prussians in 1864 and was injured, having his leg broken during a high sea. Mr. Rix continued to reside in Denmark mutil 1872, when he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, locating first in Chicago, where he followed the inason's trade for two years. He afterward lived in Waterloo, Iowa, where he en- gaged in business as a brick-mason for four years and in 1877 he came to South Dakota, se- curing one hundred and sixty acres of land in Yankton county. He settled upon a timber claim and has planted thirty-eight thousand trees since that time. He has one hundred and sixty acres in his homestead and his first place of residence was a dugout, while later he built a clay house, known as a Russian homg. Mr. Rix now has thirty-four hundred dollars' worth of improve-

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ments upon his place and he also owns six lots in the town of Irene, together with another tract of an acre and a quarter.

In 1863 occurred the marriage of Mr. Rix and Miss Elizabeth Olson, whose parents spent their entire lives in Denmark, the father being employed in a foundry there. The home of the subject and his wife has been blessed with four children. Olivia, the eldest, is now deceased ; Henry married Anna Massy and is living near Bismarck, North Dakota, where he owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of land; Stella is the wife of Nels Nelson, of Kenmare. North Dakota, where he secured a homestead : Julia is the wife of Lawrence Nelson, a farmer owning two hundred and forty acres of land in Yankton county.

Mr. Rix is an independent voter and has never been an active politician in the sense of office seeking, but for eight years he served as one of the school officials. He belongs to the Lutheran church and his Christian faith has been exemplified in his honorable life and his straight- forward dealing. He is now living retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.

LARS C. CHRISTENSEN was born in Denmark on the 19th of November, 1856. His father is now deceased, but his mother lives with her son, who, having spent the days of his boy- hood and youth in his native country, came to America when a young man of nineteen years. After spending one year in Racine, Wisconsin, where he was employed. he removed to South Dakota and here entered the employ of a stock- man, with whom he remained upon a farm for two years. He afterward worked for the rail- road company for a year and subsequently was married and turned his attention to farming. Mr. Christensen is now one of the prosperous resi- dents of Yankton county and his financial con- dition is now in great contrast to that in which he arrived in America, for he then had but very limited capital. He possessed, however, what is better-strong courage and determination, and his continued labor has been the foundation upon

which he has built his success. He has two hun- dred and forty acres of land, of which two hun- dred is pasture land. His wife homesteaded a part of this land and Mr. Christensen purchased the remainder. He now carries on general farm- ing and also raises shorthorn cattle and some hogs. He employs men who operate his land and has a well-improved property. He hauled the rock from his place and in 1885 he built a rock barn, while in 1897 he provided still better and more commodious accommodations for his stock by building new barns. His home was erected in 1886. In 1899 he planted trees upon his place and now has a very well-improved prop- erty supplied with all modern equipments and accessories. He now owns twelve head of horses and thirty-five head of cattle and already this year has sold twenty head of fat cattle.

In 1879 Mr. Christensen was united in mar- riage to Miss Johanne Petersen and unto them have been born seven children: Catherine, the wife of J. Jule, a farmer : Mary, Anna, Christ, Lewis, Jens and Dagmer, all at home. The family is well known in the community and the members of the household occupy an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Christensen is a Republican in his political views, always sup- porting the men and measures of that party. He has served as school treasurer and in other local positions and no trust reposed in him has ever heen betrayed in the slightest degree. His re- ligious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church. Mr. Christensen has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to America for he has not only found a good home, but has also gained many friends and won for himself a handsome competence as the re- ward of his labors. He is, perhaps, better known as Lars C. Bukste, but no matter by what name he is called he is a man worthy of respect and esteem of those with whom he is associated.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 17

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