History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 19

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

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a tract of land in Kingsbury county. Hiring a man to break about twenty acres, he returned to his work in Milwaukee and there remained until the spring of 1881, when he again came to South Dakota to take possession of his land and attend to its cultivation. After erecting a small, but comfortable dwelling, he planted twenty- five acres of his own land and twenty acres on the claim belonging to his brother, and in due season reaped fair returns from his first effort at South Dakota farming. On June 5. 1881, Mr. Paterson chose a wife and helpmeet in the person of Miss Jane Allardice, of Scotland, the marriage being the culmination of a tender at- tachment between the two, which began in the old country, where they first became acquainted. After preparing a home and finding himself in circumstances to support a wife, he sent for his intended bride, who in due time made the long journey from Scotland to South Dakota, where the nuptials were duly celebrated.

Mr. Paterson began life in the west under very modest auspices, but by industry and thrift he soon succeeded in getting the fair start which paved the way to more favorable circumstances. He developed a fine farm, raised cattle and other live stock, from which he usually received a liberal income, and by well-directed and per- severing efforts, as well as excellent manage- ment, finally reached the condition of prosperity he now enjoys. His farm, which embraces an area of four hundred acres, is admirably situated in one of the richest agricultural districts of the county, and with its good residence, a comfort- able barn, fences and other improvements indicates the home of a man of enterprise, who is thoroughly familiar with every detail of agri- cultural work. In addition to general farming and stock raising, Mr. Paterson, since 1895, has been interested in the dairy business, keeping about twenty cows, the milk from which finds a ready market at the creamery in Lake Preston.

The career of Mr. Paterson from the time of landing on American soil with less than one hun- dred dollars in his possession to his present conspicuous position, among the leading farmers and representative citizens of his adopted county,

presents a series of successes sich as few achieve and affords many lessons which the young of the present generation may study with profit. Mr. Paterson is a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America of Lake Preston, and in politics supports the principles of the Populist party, though formerly a Republican. He has religious convictions and has been a leading member of the Congregational church at Lake Henry since its organization in 1886, besides serving three years as superintendent of the Sunday school. His wife and three daugh- ters also belong to the Lake Henry church and, like him, they are zealous workers, demonstrat- ing by their daily lives the genuineness of their religious profession. Mr. Paterson takes a special interest in temperance work and all agencies for the benefit of the people. He has never been a seeker after office or any kind of public place, notwithstanding which his fellow citizens, irrespective of party, have honored him at different times with positions of responsibility and trust.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Paterson con- sists of seven children : Colin C., a young man of very good habits, who assists his father on the farm; Beatrice, a graduate of the DeSmet high school and a teacher of much promise ; Frances, also a graduate from the above school ; Margaret, who is pursuing her studies in the high school; William,. David and Florence are three bright, intelligent students of whom their parents feel proud, and in whom are centered many fond hopes for the future.

A. P. ROBINSON, who is justly considered one of the leading agriculturists of Brown county, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, March 23, 1851. When a boy he was taken to Wisconsin by his parents and spent his youth, until nineteen years of age, in Dodge county, that state, living on a farm until his four- teenth year. Meanwhile he acquired a common- school education and on leaving the farm en- tered his father's store. In 1869 he went to

Royal B. Steame.

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native town and secured his early educational training in its public schools, after which he com- pleted a course of study in St. Lawrence Univer- sity, in Canton, that state, where he was gradu- ated as a member of the class of 1880. He then took up the study of law. in the office of Hon. Leslie W. Russell, of that place, one of the most eminent members of the bar of the state. He served as attorney general of the state, was a member of congress for several terms, while in 1884 he was defeated for the United States sen- ate by a few votes, his opponent being the Hon. William M. Evarts. He later became an associ- ate justice of the supreme court of the state, re- signing this office a short time before his death. Under this able and honored preceptor Judge Stearns prosecuted his legal studies, continuing in the office of Judge Russell until 1884. when he accompanied his preceptor to Albany, heing one of his clerks while he was serving as attorney general. During the winter of 1884 the subject took a course of lectures in the Albany Law School, having been admitted to the bar of the state in November of the preceding year. Judge Stearns was graduated in the law department of Union University, in Albany, on the 22d of May, 1884, having completed the prescribed two-years course in one year, and from this institution he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws. After his graduation he entered upon the active practice of his profession in Canton, New York. where he remained one year. In April. 1885, he came west on business, and became so impressed with the attractions of this division of our national domain that he located in Wadena, Minnesota, where he was associated in practice with Frank Wilson until 1887, meeting with excellent success. In 1889 his father died and he returned to his old home in New York to assist in the settlement of the estate. He had previously, in 1887, visited South Dakota on business, remaining several months, and upon returning to the west he located in Fort Pierre, this state, in 1890. Here he has since been engaged in active practice, retaining at the present time a large and representative cli- entage and holding high prestige at the bar of the state. He served three terms as state's attor-

ney for Stanley county, and one term as judge of the county court, making an excellent record in each of these offices. He was one of those prominently concerned in bringing about the abolishment of the grand-jury system in South Dakota, and he drew the first information for murder after the law of 1896 went into effect, said information having been drawn on the 3d of July of that year, while the law went into effect only two days previously. During his first term as county attorney he was prosecutor in three murder trials, and while serving on the county bench he settled the estate of Frederick Dupree, amounting to one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. The Judge has been an ardent and effective worker in the cause of the Repub- lican party, and in 1892-3 was secretary of the Republican League of the state. Early in the year 1893 Gov. Charles H. Sheldon selected Mr. Stearns for one of his staff and commissioned him a colonel. He held this appointment for four years, and did his full share of the honors and entertaining at the South Dakota building at the World's Fair in Chicago during the season of 1803. He was also appointed and commis- sioned by Governor Sheldon to represent this state as a delegate to the World's Real Estate Congress, held in Chicago during the week com- mencing October 12, 1893. He was a charter member of Hiram Lodge, No. 123. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Fort Pierre, and the charter for the same was secured largely through his efforts, as there was no little opposition on the part of other lodges. Owing to the danger entailed in crossing the Missouri river at cer- tain seasons of the year he finally secured the required dispensation from the grand lodge. He has been a strong advocate of the project of build- ing a railroad from Pierre to the Black Hills, and his opinions and written articles on the subject have been freely quoted and republished.

From the time of locating in the state Judge Stearns has been more or less interested in real estate and stock raising enterprises, and in 1900 he effected the organization of the St. Paul & Fort Pierre Cattle Company, of which he has been vice-president and general manager from the

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time of its inception. J. B. Little, of St. Paul, Minnesota, is president, and H. A. Knight, of Minneapolis, is secretary and treasurer. The company is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars, and is engaged in the grazing and ma- turing of beef cattle, having one of the finest stock ranches west of the Missouri river, the same being located on the Bad river, two and one-half miles south of Fort Pierre, where they have a large ranch and fine ranch buildings. They make a specialty of buying Texas cattle, shipping them to their ranch and here maturing them for the Chicago market, while the company are rapidly increasing the number of stock fed on the ranch, conducting operations on a constantly increasing scale.

On the 24th of November. 1893, Judge Stearns was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary A. Miar, who was born and reared in Williamsport. Pennsylvania, being a daughter of John Heyler, a prominent farmer of Tioga county. No chil- dren have been born of this union.

ARTHUR H. SEYMOUR. minister and «lucator, was born in Portage county, Ohio. August 15, 1868. His father, Deming Seymour, a native of Massachusetts, was the son of Gideon and Corinthia Seymour, both of English de- scent, their respective ancestors being among the earliest settlers of New England. In his young manhood Deming Seymour married Miss Har- riet Hallock, of Portage county, Ohio, whose parents, Colonel William R. and Julia Hallock, were also descended from old New England families, several representatives of which served in the colonial army during the Revolutionary war. Some of the Seymours were also heroes of that struggle and rendered distinguished service in the cattse for independence. Deming Seymour grew to maturity on a farm in Portage county, Ohio, and after his marriage, engaged in the pursuit of agriculture near Roostown, where he lived until his removal to Wind- ham, in the same county, some years later. He departed this life at the latter place in Feb- ruary, 1888, leaving a widow who now lives

with her daughter in the city of Cleveland, and three children, namely: Arthur H., of this re- view; Alice, wife of C. R. Bissell, Esq., and George D., a prominent business man of Wind- ham, Ohio.

Arthur H. Seymour spent his early life in the village of Windham and in 1886, when eighteen years old, was graduated from the high school of that place. He then entered the Ohio Nor- mal University at Ada, where he completed the prescribed course in 1887 and subsequently, 1898, received the degree of Master of Arts from the same institution. He also studied one year at Oberlin. After finishing his education he spent seven years teaching in the schools of Portage county, three of which were devoted to high school work, and in 1895 he yielded to a desire of long standing by entering the ministry of the Church of Christ, locating the same year with a congregation at Carthage, South Dakota. After preaching at that point until September. 1807, he took charge of the church at Arlington, and two years later accepted the superintend- ency of the Arlington public schools, the duties of which position he has since discharged in con- nection with his ministerial work. Professor Seymour's present pastorate has been signally successful. Since entering upon his labors the church has prospered along every line of activity, its membership has greatly increased, a marked spiritual growth has also been noticeable and in 1002 the beautiful and commodious edifice in which the congregation now worships was erected and dedicated to the services of God. Professor Seymour's religious work has not been restricted to the specific field in which he now labors, but has extended throughout the state, as he served two years as secretary of the State Christian Endeavor Union, and one year as president, during which time he traveled quite extensively, preaching at many points and striv- ing to strengthen the organization and add to its influence and efficiency.

As an educator the Professor occupies a prominent position among the leading school men of South Dakota, and his reputation as a superintendent is second to that of but few of his

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compeers. The high standard of excellence which the educational system of Arlington has attained under his management affords the best evidence of his ability as an organizer, and it is now generally conceded that in point of ef- ficiency the schools of that town are among the best in the county. His services as an institute conductor are in great demand and he spends no little part of his vacations in this kind of work. He has conducted two very successful institutes in Kingsbury county, and has also labored efficiently in similar institutions in the counties of Gregory and Miner. He is a mem- ber of the state and national educational associa- tions, and of the Religious Education Associa- tion. In addition to the above bodies, Professor Seymour is identified with the Brotherhood of American Yeomen, of Arlington, besides mani- festing at all times a lively interest in local or- ganizations for the promotion of educational and religious endeavor.

On November 12, 1896. Professor Seymour was united in marriage with Miss Jennie I. San- ford, of Portage county, Ohio, who died in June, 1808, after a most happy wedded life. In 1900 he married Miss Flora M. Wilson, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, who for several years had been a teacher in the public schools of that city. Like her husband, Mrs. Seymour is active in all lines of church and general religious work, and has served very efficiently as president and secretary of the State Christian Endeavor Union, a position requiring a high order of clerical and executive ability. Professor and Mrs. Seymour have two children, a son by the name of Gideon Deming and a daughter named Margaret Isabel.

CHARLES W. SNYDER, who is the owner of a fine landed estate in Mellette town- ship, Spink county, is a native of the Badger state, having been born in Waukesha county, Wisconsin, on the roth of January, 1855, and being a son of A. K. and Margaret Snyder, the former of whom was born in Germany, while the latter was a native of Ireland. Both died in Wisconsin, where the father was engaged in

agricultural pursuits for many years, having been one of the early settlers in Washington county.

The subject grew up on the home farm and as a boy became inured to the strenuous work involved in its cultivation, while he received his educational training in the common schools of Hartford, Wisconsin. In 1876 he purchased a small farm in Dodge county, that state, and in- itiated his independent career as a husbandman. As he himself has stated the case, he "farmed the same two years, among stumps, stones and gravelly hills, the land being high-priced at that." His experience in this connection doubt- less accounts in no small measure for his marked appreciation of the superior advantages found in his present location. In the fall of 1878 Mr. Snyder disposed of his farm in Wisconsin and moved westward into Minnesota, locating in Freeborn county, where he purchased a small farm, to whose improvement and cultivation he devoted his attention for the ensuing seven years, disposing of the property in 1885 and coming thence to what is now Spink county, South Dakota, his financial resources at the time being represented in the sum of about two thousand dollars. Apropos of this statement we may say that his estate at the present time may be conservatively placed at a valuation of twenty thousand dollars, and the significance of the com- parative statements is prima facia. Shortly after his arrival in the county Mr. Snyder pur- chased a quarter section of land in Mellette township, one mile southwest of the present vil- lage of Mellette, and this has ever since been his place of residence, while as success has crowned his efforts he has added to his landed possessions from time to time until he is now the owner of a valuable ranch of six hundred acres, while the permanent improvements are of excellent order. everything about the place betokening thrift and prosperity, while it may be stated that Mr. Sny- der is recognized as an able business man and as one who is well entitled to unequivocal con- fidence and esteem. To the writer he spoke most pertinently as follows, the words well indicating his attitude : "I intend to remain here, and, all

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things considered, believe this part of the Jim river valley the best agricultural region in the United States." On the place is found an abundant supply of pure water, the same being secured from a fine artesian well. In politics Mr. Snyder has always been a stalwart sup- porter of the Republican party and its principles, though he has never sought office of any sort. Fraternally, he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Royal Neighbors.

On the 9th of October, 1877, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Snyder to Miss Josephine Dempsey, a daughter of James Dempsey, of Hartford, Wisconsin, and it is pleasing to note that the family circle remains unbroken at the time of this writing, their twelve children all being still beneath the home roof, while eight of the number were born on the homestead here. The names of the children are here entered in order of birth: Frank, Harry, Mattie. Helen, Frederick. Lois, Mary and Howard (twins), Carl, Frances, and Willard and Wilburt (twins).

JOHN H. LEMAY, editor and publisher of the Northville Journal, at Northville, Spink county, is a native of the city of Philadelphia, where he was born on the 27th of January. 1870. being a son of Edward F. and Nellie ( Robert- son) LeMay, the former of whom was born in France and the latter in Scotland and both of whom have now passed away. The father of the subject came to America as a young man, and established his home in Philadelphia, while he became a prominent contractor in the con- struction of railways and bridges. The subject secured his early educational discipline in the fair old "City of Brotherly Love," and there- after completed a course of study in the Shattuck Military Academy, at Faribault, Minnesota. At the age of sixteen years he entered upon an ap- prenticeship at the printer's trade, working dur- ing vacations for several years in Duluth, that state, gaining an excellent knowledge of the de- tails and mysteries of the "art preservative of all arts," and thereafter he was engaged in the work

of his trade in divers sections of the union, hav- ing come to South Dakota in 1896, while in April, 1900, he settled in Northville and pur- chased the Northville Journal, of which he has since been editor and publisher. The Journal is a five-column quarto and is issued on Thursday of each week, while both editorially and in mat- ter of letter-press it is an attractive publication. while it so fully covers matters of local interest that it is a welcome visitor in the majority of the best homes in this section. In politics, Mr. LeMay is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and his paper is the medium through which he wields the greatest influence in local affairs of a public nature, while he is thoroughly progressive in his attitude and always ready to lend his aid and in- fluence in the furthering of worthy enterprises for the general good. He is a member of the South Dakota Press Association. He has at- tained to the thirty-second degree of Scottish- Rite Masonry, being a member of the consistory at Aberdeen, and is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, as well as of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He enjoys un- qualified esteem in business and social circles and is one of the popular young men of Spink county.

On the ist of May, 1902, Mr. LeMay was married to Miss Mary Elsom, who was born and reared in Northville, being a daughter of Joseph Elsom, concerning whom a specific sketch appears on another page of this work. On February 8, 1904, a son was born to this union.

RUDOLPH ALEXANDER was born in Germany, on the 20th of April, 1849, and is the third in order of birth of the eight children of William and Mary Alexander, while all of the children are still living. The parents of the subject bade adieu to their fatherland and emi- grated with their children to America, taking up their abode in Sauk county, Wisconsin, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits, re- claiming a good farm and being one of the

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sterling pioneers of that section of the Badger state, where both he and his wife passed the re- mainder of their lives. Their eldest son, Rich- ard, was about nineteen years of age at the out- break of the war of the Rebellion, and in 1864 he enlisted as a member of a regiment of Wis- consin volunteers, and served until the close of the war. Though a mere boy at the time. our subject was desirous of emulating the example of his brother, but his age prevented his being ac- cepted as a volunteer. He was reared on the homestead farm and early began to assist in re- claiming and cultivating the land, while his edu- cational advantages were such as were afforded in the somewhat primitive schools of the lo- cality and period. After leaving school he re- mained on the home farm some time and later engaged in farming on his own responsibility. in Sauk county, where he continued to reside until 1882, when he came to South Dakota. arriving in March of that year and visiting various sections of the prospective state in search of a suitable location. The following summer he took up his residence in Faulk county, whose organization had been effected but a short time previously, and here took up a pre-emption claim near the present village of Rockham, and there continued to reside about twelve years, bringing his farm under cultivation and meeting with excellent success on the whole, though he met with the misfortunes entailed throughout this section by droughts and grass- hoppers in the earlier years. In 1895 he dis- posed of his property and purchased a portion of his present fine ranch of Frank Bacon. He has since added to its area by additional pur- chases in the locality until he now has a landed estate of one thousand acres, of which a very considerable portion is under a high state of cultivation while the remainder is used for grazing purposes, as he runs an average herd of about two hundred head of Durham and short- horn cattle, while of late he is giving attention also to the raising of the Hereford breed. His ranch adjoins the corporate limits of Miranda on the north and he also owns considerable real estate in the village, while his residence is one

of the finest in the county and his ranch build- ing large and substantial, affording ample ac- commodations for stock and farm products. As the line of the Northwestern Railroad is in jux- taposition to his ranch he has the best of ship- ping facilities, and he has reason to be proud of his valuable ranch as well as of the success which he has attained since casting in his lot with the people of South Dakota. In politics he is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, though never a seeker of pub- lic office, and fraternally he holds membership in the Knights of the Maccabees.

On the 12th of April, 1877. Mr. Alexander was married to Miss Mary Trueb, who was born in Switzerland, where she was reared and educated, being a daughter of John Trueb, who came from Germany to America in 1857 and be- came a pioneer of Wisconsin. Of the children of this union we enter the following brief record: Louis is now associated with his father in the management of the home ranch; Annie is the wife of Henry Metz, of Miranda; and Edward, Ella. Edna and Hilbert remain at the parental home.

JOHN J. PRICE. one of the pioneers and highly esteemed citizens of Faulk county, is a native of Wales and a scion of stanch old Welsh stock. - He was born in Mothvey, Carmarthen- shire, on the 24th of Jannary, 1860, and is a son of John W. and Guenllein (Joseph) Price. both of whom were born and reared in the same sec- tion of southern Wales, where the respective families have been established from the time when the "memory of man runneth not to the contrary." In 1868 his parents immigrated to America and settled near Iowa City, Iowa, where they remained until 1872, when they took up their residence in Williamsburg, Iowa county, Iowa, while in 1876 they removed to Jefferson, Greene county, Iowa, where the father was engaged in farming until his death, which occurred on the 26th of April, 1903. at the venerable age of eighty-three years. He was a man of inflexible integrity, keeping himself "unspotted from the

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 19

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