History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 21

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

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member of the church. The maiden name of Mrs. David Weyman was Betsy M. Braley ; she bore her husband eight children, the following being the living representatives of the family : Mrs. Hickox, of Ocola, Iowa; F. D., of this review ; Mrs. Adelia Murphy, of Frederick, Kansas, and J. Henry, who lives at St. Charles, Iowa.

F. D. Wyman was born in Essex county, New York, on the 14th of June, 1841. He en- joyed the advantages of a common-school edu- cation, and after remaining with his parents until nineteen years of age, severed home ties and taught for one year at Byron, Illinois. He then worked his way as far as Des Moines, Iowa, supporting himself and paying his expenses by teaching vocal music at his various stopping places, and to this manner of life he gave his attention until the breaking out of the great Civil war, when he tendered his services to his country in its time of need. In August, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, with which he bravely and honorably served until August, 1865, a period of three years, during which time he took part in some of the most celebrated campaigns of the rebellion, participating in thirty-three battles, among the more notable of which were Fort Donelson, Shiloh, the two engagements at Cor- inth, the various battles of the Red River ex- pedition, siege of Vicksburg, Chattanooga, Nashville, Tuscumbia, Iuka and many others, to say nothing of skirmishes and minor engage- ments. The regiment to which Mr. Wyman be- longed gained a national reputation on account of the live eagle, "Old Abe," which was carried at his head during the war, and which, stuffed, has since been preserved as an interesting and priceless war relic in the state house at Madi- son, Wisconsin.

Mr. Wyman was mustered out of the service at Uniontown, Alabama, but, unlike the great majority of his comrades and Union soldiers gen- erally, he did not return home, choosing rather to remain in the south, where he felt convinced money could be made raising cotton, for which there was such a great demand immediately fol-

lowing the war. Locating in Perry county, Ala- bama, he at once engaged in cotton culture, and in addition thereto soon became interested in the public affairs of that section of the state. He had a varied and interesting experience, and dur- ing his six years' residence in the south was honored with several important official positions, in all of which he acquitted himself worthily and won the esteem and confidence of the peo- ple. He served two years in the state senate, where he made a creditable record, and was also elected superintendent of the Perry county pub- lic schools. While serving in the latter capacity, he organized the local educational system, in- troduced many reforms and valuable modern in- novations, secured teachers of recognized pro- fessional ability from the north, and before the expiration of his term placed the schools upon the solid and successful basis which they have ever since enjoyed. Mr. Wyman also held the office of revenue assessor while a resident of Alabama, discharging the duties of the same about two years, and for the same length of time served as sheriff of Perry county, resigning the latter position in 1871, when he moved to Schuy- ler county, Missouri. After living about two and a half years in the latter state, Mr. Wyman, in the fall of 1873, came to South Dakota, bring- ing with him a herd of horses for the Yankton market. Choosing this city for his permanent location, he at once began buying and shipping live stock on quite an extensive scale, and in connection therewith also opened a meat market which soon became the leading establishment of the kind in the place. To him belongs the credit of shipping the first carload of cattle that ever left Yankton by rail and he has since followed the business with a large measure of success financially, being still engaged in the handling of live stock of all kinds, also running a meat market, the patronage of which has steadily in- creased with the city's growth. In addition to the enterprises noted, he has large agricultural interests in the vicinity of Yankton.

Mr. Wyman has been an unswerving suppor- ter of the Republican party ever since old enough to exercise the right of franchise, and it was in

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recognition of his valuable services as an organ- izer, manager and leader as well as by reason of his personal qualifications, that he was honored with the several official positions referred to in preceding paragraphs. In September, 1898, he was appointed steward of the State Hospital for the Insane at Yankton and held the office for one year, when a change of administration caused his removal with that of others connected with the institution. Subsequently, however, in the spring of 1901, he was reappointed to the same position, and since that time has attended closely to his line of duty, his official course being straightforward, business-like, eminently hon- orable, and above the slightest suspicion of any- thing savoring of disrepute. In 1886 Mr. Wy- man was elected sheriff of Yankton county and served as such for a period of six years, having been twice chosen his own successor. In 1894 he was sent to the general assembly and served dur- ing the exciting session of that year, taking an active part in all the deliberations of the body, working on important committees, besides intro- ducing bills which, becoming laws, have had a decided influence in promoting the interests of the state. He is a member of Phil Kearney Post, No. 37. Grand Army of the Republic, also belonging to the Knights of Pythias and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America.

While a resident of the south, Mr. Wyman, in 1866, married a cultured southern lady by the name of Miss Mattie C. Robertson, a representa- tive of an old and popular family of Uniontown, Alabama. To this marriage six children have been born, only three of whom are living, namely : Mattie M., wife of F. A. Klopping, of Yankton : Albert Lee, a prominent attorney of the same city, and Lute A., who is engaged in buying and shipping stock at this point.

ELIJAH P. FOWLER is a native of New York, born in the city of Rochester, September 25, 1844. He spent about eight years of his boyhood in Massachusetts, where he attended school, and he also pursued his studies for some time in the state of his birth, remaining in the

latter until entering the army as a member of the Fourth New York Artillery, in the year 1863. He shared with his comrades the vicissi- tudes of war in the Virginia campaigns, under General Hancock, and participated in a number of hard-fought battles and minor engagements, serving with an honorable record until the sur- render of the Confederacy, at Appomattox. Mr. Fowler was mustered out at Washington City in 1865, and after spending several months at home went the following spring to Virginia City, Montana, near which place he devoted his at- tention to prospecting and mining until 1873, meeting with varied success the meantime. In the latter year he went to Nevada, after which spending about eight months in the Eureka and other mining camps, traveled over different parts of the country until 1875, when he returned to New York and engaged in the nursery business about five miles from his native city of Rochester.

After a brief experience in that industry Mr. Fowler again became animated by a strong de- sire to go west ; accordingly in the spring of the following year he disposed of his nursery in- terest and went to Nevada, thence after a brief period to California, and from the latter state came to the Black Hills, in the early part of 1877, and engaged in prospecting in the vicinity of Deadwood. Two years later he went to Min- nesota and purchased cattle, which he drove through to the Belle Fourche river, where he began his career in the live-stock busi- ness and in which locality he prosecuted the enterprise with very encouraging success for a considerable length of time. Later he bought cattle in Texas, but in the winter of 1886-7 suffered quite heavy loss on account of the death of a large number of his animals, also encountered severe financial embarrassment the following spring in the destruction of a large part of his property in Central City, by fire.

In the winter of 1887. shortly after the lay- ing out of Whitewood, Mr. Fowler bought land adjoining the town site, which he surveyed into lots and made an addition to the original plat. With the growth of the town these lots found

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ready purchasers, and from their sale he realized handsome profits on the original investment. The following year he opened a general store in the new town and within a comparatively short time was at the head of a large and profitable business which he continued with encouraging success until September, 1902, when he sold out his establishment, at that time being the principal mercantile house in the place. After his severe financial reverses in 1887, Mr. Fowler discon- tinued the live-stock business for several years, but in 1899 he again engaged in cattle raising, running his herds during the several years fol- lowing at Slim Buttes, Butte county. Later, however, he disposed of his live stock and turned his attention to other pursuits, principally real estate, in which he still deals quite extensively. owning at this time large and valuable tracts of grazing and farm lands in the vicinity of White- wood, also desirable lots in the town, besides private property of no small magnitude. Mr. Fowler owns one of the finest residences in Whitewood and has spared no reasonable ex- pense in beautifying and adorning the same. Be- lieving in using good things of this world to enhance comfort and happiness, he has supplied his place with modern conveniences and many of the luxuries of life, thus providing liberally for those dependent upon him and making his home noted for the hospitality which pervades its pre- cincts.

Mr. Fowler is an earnest supporter of the Republican party, and wields a strong influence in political circles; he was elected in 1890 and re-elected in 1892, to represent Lawrence county in the general assembly. His record as a legis- lator is an honorable one, as he labored faith- fully for the good of his constituency and for the best interests of the state. Fraternally, he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, aside from which he gives counte- nance and support to charities and benevolence, is- respective of name or order.

Mr. Fowler, on August 23, 1880, was mar- ried, in Central City, to Miss Augusta Larsen, who has borne him seven children, viz : Mabel, Arthur G., Elmer P., Emmit Willis, Walter E.,

Lester and Cora A., all living but Cora and Arthur. The last named departed this life on the 13th of May, 1903, at the age of twenty years. Cora was the oldest, being born May 23, 1881, and died August 23, 1883.

JACOB P. RESNER, cashier of the bank of Scotland, Bon Homme county, was born in Plotzk, South Russia, on the 14th of March, 1863, being a son of Andrew and Anna M. (Lyer) Resner, of whose two children he is the elder, the other being Dr. Andrew K., who is a successful practic- ing physician at Manning, Iowa. The father of the subject was a native of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, where he was reared to the life of a farmer, continuing to there devote his attention to this great basic industry until 1877, when he emi- grated with his family to the United States, spending a short interval in the state of Iowa and thence coming directly to the territory of Dakota, locating in Hutchinson county, where he entered claim to three quarter sections of land, under the homestead, pre-emption and tree-cul- ture acts, respectively, and here he has ever since continued to make his home, having improved his land and placed it under a high state of culti- vation and having thus contributed to the devel- opment of the resources of the great state of South Dakota. He has been successful in his la- bors and is now one of the representative and substantial citizens of Hutchinson county. He is a Republican in politics and has held various local offices of public trust, ever retaining the confidence of his fellow men. His devoted and cherished wife died in the fatherland, in 1869. and he later married Miss Caroline Stortz, and they are the parents of four children, Daniel and John, who reside in Scotland, Bon Homme county ; Emanuel, who remains at the parental home; and Mary, who is the wife of L. W. Hoffman, of the village of Scotland.

Jacob P. Resner, to whom this sketch is dedi- cated, was about eight years of age at the time of his father's emigration from Germany to America, and he received his education in both

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German and English, having prosecuted his stud- ies in the public schools of South Dakota after the family here took up their abode. That he made good use of the advantages thus accorded is shown in the fact that he was for three years successfully engaged in teaching in the district schools of Hutchinson county prior to his mar- riage, which occurred in 1885. After his mar- riage he settled on a quarter section of land in that county, having secured the same as a pre- emption claim, proving up on the property after attaining his legal majority. He made good im- provements on his farm and devoted his atten- tion to its cultivation for four years, at the ex- piration of which he removed to Scotland, in the adjoining county of Bon Homme, to accept the position of treasurer and manager of the Farm- ers' Elevator Company. He retained this incum- bency two years and then purchased the eleva- tor of the company, continuing its proprietor for the ensuing seven years, when he disposed of the property and became manager of the eleva- tors here owned by the Spencer Grain Company. an important corporation engaged in the hand- ling of grain throughout this section. He re- mained with this concern three years, during which time he was also individually engaged in the real-estate business, having his office on Main street in the village of Scotland. He continued in the real-estate business after severing his con- nection with the company mentioned and also accepted a position as manager of the local inter- ests of Shannerd Brothers, extensive grain buy- ers of Bridgewater. this state. In August. 1902, Mr. Resner accepted the position of cashier of the Bank of Scotland, one of the solid and popular monetary institutions of this section, and he has since continued to give most discriminating serv- ice in this important executive office, gaining to the bank new prestige and handling its affairs with marked ability and to the entire satisfaction of its stockholders. Shannerd Brothers were most reluctant to dispense with his services and finally prevailed upon Mr. Resner to continue in their employ as manager of their interests in this sec- tion, and the details of the business he now as- signs principally to a deputy, though maintain-

ing a general supervision of all transactions. The political support of the subject is given in an unqualified way to the Republican party. of whose principles he is a stanch advocate, having been prominent in political affairs in a local way for a number of years past. He served four years as a member of the village council and for the past six years has been a valued member of the board of education, while for three years he was incumbent of the office of village assessor and is in tenure of this office at the time of this writing. His religious faith is that of the Ger- man Congregational church, of which both he and his wife are zealous members, and he is prom- inently identified with the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with Scotland Lodge. No. 52, Free and Accepted Masons : Scotland Chapter. No. 31, Royal Arch Masons : Yankton Commandery, Knights Templar : and Yankton Consistory, No. I, of. the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, at Yankton. He also holds membership in Security Lodge, No. 48. Knights of Pythias, and Scotland Camp, No. 977, Modern Woodmen of America. On the 14th of December, 1885, Mr. Resner was tinited in marriage to Miss Christina Red- mann, of Yankton county, whither her parents emigrated from Russia in 1873. Of this union have been born seven children, namely : Edward, William, Julius, Amerlia, Lydia, Bertha and Ar- thur.

CHESTER C. TORRENCE is a native of the state of Iowa, having been born in Jones county, on the 13th of April, 1873. the fourth in order of birth of the six children of Adam C. and Almira J. (Rooney) Torrence. Of. the children we enter brief record as follows : George A. is a resident of Bon Homme county and is associated with our subject in the management of the old homestead farm and in the cattle busi- ness; Cora B. is the wife of Frank Cole, of York county, Virginia: Nellie M. is deceased ; Chester C. is the immediate subject of this sketch: David M. is assistant to the subject in the postoffice ; and Charles is deceased. Adam C. Torrence was born in Fairfield county, Ohio,

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on the 27th of August, 1840, and in 1849 he ac- companied his parents on their removal to Tama county, Iowa, where he was reared to manhood, receiving a good common-school education. In 1861 he tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a private in Company B, Ninth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, with which he proceeded to the front, remaining in the service three and one-half years, or until the close of the war, his regiment having served under both Sherman and Grant, while the history of the Ninth Iowa is the record of his gallant military career as a true and loyal son of the republic. After the close of the war he returned to Iowa, and after his marriage located on a farm in Jones county, where he continued to reside until 1883, when he came to South Dakota and pur- chased a farm three miles east of the town of Bon Homme, in the county of the same name. In 1898 he removed to Montana and later to Idaho, which is now his home, while he is de- voting his attention to fruit culture. He is a Republican in politics and both he and his wife are exemplary members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, while fraternally he is a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a man of influence in his community but has never sought the honors of public office of any order. Elmira J. (Rooney) Torrence was born in Warren county, Indiana, on the 27th of September, 1843, and she accompanied her par- ents on their removal to Jones county, Iowa, in 1850, being there reared and educated, and thus both the Torrence and Rooney families are to be noted as having been pioneers of the favored state of Iowa.

Chester C. Torrence, whose name initiates this article, received his early educational train- ing in the public schools of his native county in Iowa and was about ten years of age at the time of the family removal to South Dakota. As early as his fourteenth year he began to depend upon his own resources, being a boy of marked energy and ambition, while his self-reliance prompted him to prove his mettle, and he worked on farms or at such other occupations as he could secure. For nearly six years he devoted

his attention to the drilling of artesian wells in various portions of South Dakota, being suc- cessful in his efforts and being careful to con- serve his financial resources. In 1900 he located in Tabor and engaged in the buying and shipping of live stock and grain, in which connection he has shown much business tact and acumen and has met with unqualified success. In June, 1901, he was appointed postmaster of the town, and in 1902 he here established a local telephone exchange, which he still owns and operates, the same being of great benefit to the town through the facilities which it offers. For the past two years ,he has also served as deputy sheriff of the county, while in politics he is a stanch ad- vocate of the principles and policies of the Re- publican party, and fraternally is identified with Tabor Camp, No. 9087, Modern Woodnien of America, and Canton Lodge of Home Guard- ians. He is held in high esteem in the com- munity and is known as one of the energetic and progressive young business men of the county.

On the Ist of February. 1903, Mr. Torrence was united in marriage to Miss H. Emma Cooley, daughter of Hon J. P. Cooley, of Bon Homme county.

ADRIAN L. FISH, the able and popular clerk of the courts of Bon Homme county, was born in Adel, Dallas county, Iowa, on the 15th of November, 1867, being a son of Abner K. and Margaret E. (Wallace) Fish, of whose five chil- dren he is the eldest of the four surviving, the others being as follows : Oliver, who is a resident of Good Springs, Nevada ; Lillian, who is the wife of James Farran, of Sioux City, Iowa ; and Alice, who remains at the parental home. Abner K. Fish was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, in the year 1845, and when he was a boy he accom- panied his parents on their removal to Iowa, where he was reared to maturity. His father, Abner H. Fish, was one of the pioneer settlers of Dallas county, that state, where he took up government land and engaged in farming, becom- ing one of the prominent citizens of that section. He lived to attain a patriarchal age, having died

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in the home of his son, Peter Fish, in the city of Chicago, at the age of ninety-eight years, having been a resident of Chicago about twenty years prior to his demise. The father of our subject enlisted for service in the Union army in 1863. being at the time eighteen years of age and go- ing as a substitute for an elder brother, who had been drafted. He served until the close of the Rebellion, under command of General Sherman, and soon after his return to Iowa he was married, and he there continued to devote his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1873, when he came to Union county, South Dakota, which was yet a portion of the undivided territory of Dakota. and here he purchased a tract of land near Elk Point, where he continued to be engaged in farm- ing and stock growing until 1881, when he re- moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where he engaged in the coal and wood business. In 1891 he removed thence to Texas county, Missouri, where he has ever since been engaged in the culture of fruit, being one of the honored and successful citizens of that locality. He is a stalwart Republican in his political proclivities and is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Adrian L. Fish, whose name initiates this sketch, secured his preliminary education in the public schools of his native county, and he then entered the normal school at LeMars, Iowa, where he was graduated as a member of the class of 1889. He later attended the university at Ver- million, South Dakota, for two years, and in 1800 he took a business course in the University of the Northwest, at Sioux City, Iowa. As early as his nineteenth year he inaugurated his efforts as a teacher in the public schools, and through his efforts in the pedagogic profession he earned the funds which enabled him to complete his collegi- ate work. In 1891 he entered the law office of Carter & Brown, of Sioux City, and under their preceptorship continued the technical reading of the law about two years, becoming well grounded in the principles of the science of jurisprudence. In the spring of 1892 he came to Tyndall, South Dakota, and here was associated for one year with P. W. Smith, in the abstract business. At the expiration of this time he was appointed dep-

uty register of deeds for Bon Homme county, in which capacity he rendered most efficient serv- ice for the ensuing four years, and in 1897 he was elected to his present responsible and exact- ing office of clerk of the courts, in which he has since served consecutively, which fact indicates the appreciative estimate placed upon his services. He was elected for a fourth term in the autumn election of 1902. In politics he accords an un- faltering allegiance to the Republican party, tak- ing an active interest in the cause and contribut- ing to the furtherance of the same in a local way. His religious faith is that of the Congregational church, of which his wife likewise is a devoted member, and fraternally he is identified with Tyndall Lodge, No. 95, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Istaska Tribe, No. 32, Improved Order of Red Men : and Tyndall Camp, No. 2463. Modern Woodmen of America.

On the 3Ist of October, 1892, Mr. Fish was united in marriage to Miss Alice Benbow. of Sheldon. Iowa, and of their four children two are living. Warren D. and Francis F.

JOHN H. SANFORD is the owner of a fine ranch of six hundred and forty acres in Bon Homme county, while he maintains his business headquarters and residence in the attractive town of Tyndall, the county seat. The state of Illi- nois figures as the place of his nativity, since he was born in Ogle county, on the 12th of Decem- ber. 1847, a son of Jared W. and Henrietta (Stur- gis) Sanford, of whose eight children only three are living at the present time :- James W., who is a resident of Santa Clara county, California ; Sarah, who is the wife of Aaron Rood, of Pueblo, Colorado; and John H., who is the subject of this sketch. Jared Sanford was born in the state of Connecticut, where he was reared to the sturdy discipline of the farm and where his marriage was solemnized. Some time after thus assuming con- nubial responsibilities he removed to Ogle countv. Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until about 1870, when he removed to Missouri and later to Dickinson county, Kansas, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occur-

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 21

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