History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 24

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 24

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piration of the term, in January, 1903. In March, 1903, was effected the organization of the County Seat State Bank, and Judge Exon was made president of the institution at that time and still continues as chief executive. He still continues in the active practice of the law and is also en- gaged in the real-estate and abstract business. He now gives his allegiance to the Democratic party, of whose principles le is a stanch advo- cate, and his religious faith is that of the Protest- ant Episcopal church, of which he is a communi- cant, but as there is no church organization in Wheeler he and his family attend the Congrega- tional church services. Fraternally he is identi- fied with Doric Lodge, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, at Platte, this state.

On the 26th of June, 1886, Judge Exon was united in marriage to Miss Emma Smith, of Mitchell, South Dakota, and they became the parents of three sons, Arthur R., Walter E. and John J. In 1896 Mrs. Exon's health had become so seriously impaired that he deemed it advisable to take her for an ocean voyage, in the hope that she might recuperate her energies, and they ac- cordingly visited his old home in England, where she received treatment without avail, since her death there occurred four months later, on the 5th of August, 1896. On the 20th of April. 1898, at Paris, Kentucky, was solemnized the marriage of Judge Exon to Miss Marian Smith, a native of England and a sister of his former wife, and they are the parents of one child, Dorothy J.

WILLIAM L. RYBURN, cashier and gen- eral manager of the business of the First Na- tional Bank of Alexandria, was born in Rock- ford, Illinois, May 10, 1872, a son of William and Mary (Legge) Ryburn, to whom were born six children, namely: Anna, who resides in Alexandria ; George, who is engaged in the real- estate business in this place; John, of Alexan- dria; Minnie, who is the wife of G. H. Mont- gomery, engaged in the furniture business in the same place ; William L., who figures as the immediate subject of this sketch, and Maud,.

who is the wife of Dr. E. E. King, of Mitchell, this state. Both the father and mother of the subject were born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the former in 1836 and the latter in 1835. The parents of each died when they were children and they were reared in the homes of relatives, and after attaining maturity each came to America in company with relatives. Both located in the city of Rockford, Illinois, where the father learned the trade of blacksmith, in which he was there engaged for nearly thirty years. In 1883 he came with his family to South Dakota and purchased a pre-emption claim in Hanson county, where he continued to be en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and stock grow- ing up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1898, his devoted wife having been sum- moned into eternal rest in 1893. Both were worthy members of the Presbyterian church and were folk of sterling character, honored by all who knew them.

The subject of this review was about ten years of age at the time of his parents' removal to South Dakota, and his early educational train- ing had previously been secured in the public schools of his native city, to which he later re- turned for the purpose of taking a course in the Rockford Business College, in which he was graduated in 1891, having completed a thorough commercial course. He then returned to his home in South Dakota and was given a position in the Hanson County Bank, in Alexandria, proving himself a capable and faithful executive and being made assistant cashier of the institu- tion in 1894, while in 1899 he was chosen cashier. In 1901 the bank was reorganized and incorpor- ated as the First National Bank of Alexandria, with a capital stock and surplus of fifty thou- sand dollars, and Mr. Ryburn was forthwith placed in executive charge of the affairs of the institution, which has gained a leading position through his able and well-directed efforts. In 1899 he was sent to Elk Point, Union county, to superintend the business of the Citizens' Bank, which was practically a branch of the bank at Alexandria, and there he remained about eigh- teen months, within which time the institution

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was reorganized as the First National Bank of Elk Point.

Mr. Ryburn is one of the leaders in the local ranks of the Republican party and is secretary of its county organization. He is a member of Celestial Lodge, No. 37, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, and Mitchell Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Alexandria; St. Bernard Commandery, Knights Templar, at Mitchell: Oriental Consist- ory, No. I, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, in Yankton, and El Riad Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Sioux Falls, being an appreciative and enthu- siastic affiliate of these various bodies of the time-honored order of Freemasonry. He has held the office of worshipful master of his lodge for the past three years. He and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church.

On the 28th of April, 1898, Mr. Ryburn was united in marriage to Miss Edith Peckham, of Alexandria, and they are the parents of two chil- dren, Leota and Helen.

EDWARD E. WAGNER, one of the repre- sentative members of the bar of Hanson county, was born in Lyon county, Iowa, October 22, 1870, a son of James H. and Louisa E. (Conklin ) Wagner, of whose six children four are living. namely: Orville S., of Rock Rapids, Iowa ; Fred B., of Pasadena, California ; Hulbert D., of Hawarden, Iowa, and Edward E., subject of this sketch. The father of the subject was born in Pennsylvania, on the 8th of February, 1840, and as a boy accompanied his parents on their removal thence to Iowa, the family locating in Linn county, where he was reared to manhood on the homestead farm. He was there married in the year 1860, and in the following year en- listed as a private in Company G, Twenty-fourth Regiment Towa Volunteer Infantry, with which he remained in service until the close of the great conflict which perpetuated the integrity of the Union. He was captured by the enemy at Sabine Crossroads. Texas, and later was again taken captive in a spirited engagement, passing about fourteen months in rebel prisons. He was with

Grant in the siege of Vicksburg and participated in many of the important engagements incident to the progress of the war. After receiving his honorable discharge he returned to his home in Iowa, where he continued to be identified with farming until 1870, when he removed to the northwestern part of that state, where he took up government land. He was one of the organizers of Lyon county, in 1871, and was chosen the first treasurer of the county, while for many years thereafter he was a member of the county board of supervisors, being a man of influence in that section and a prominent figure in the local ranks of the Republican party, of whose principles he was an ardent advocate. He passed the re- mainder of his life in the county which he aided in organizing, his death there occurring on the 15th of November, 1884, while his cherished and devoted wife entered into eternal rest on the 7th of October, 1901, both having been consistent members of the Congregational church, while he was a Royal Arch Mason.

Edward E. Wagner was reared on the home- stead farm and after attending the district schools completed a course in the high schools at Rock Rapids, Iowa. In February, 1891, he began read- ing law in the office of H. G. McMillan, of that place, his former preceptor being now United States district attorney for the northern district of Iowa, while he was for several years a prom- inent member of the Republican state central com- mittee of Iowa. Under the able direction of this honored preceptor the subject continued his tech- nical studies until his admission to the bar, on the 13th of May. 1893. He then came to Mitch- ell, South Dakota, where he was associated in the practice of his profession with D. A. Mizener until November, 1895, when he returned to Rock Rapids, Iowa, and became associated in practice with his former preceptor, Mr. McMillan, who had lately been chosen chairman of the Repub- lican state central committee. About one vear later Mr. Wagner formed a law partnership with C. J. Miller, of Rock Rapids, and this profes- sional alliance there continued until April, 1899, when the subject came again to South Dakota and located in Alexandria, where he has since

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been established in practice, having gained a high reputation as an advocate and being one of the prominent and successful members of the bar. He is a stanch Republican, and in 1900 was elected state's attorney of Hanson county, serving one term. He was the nominee of his party for representative of his district in the state senate in 1903. but met the defeat which attended the party ticket in general in this section. He is a member of Celestial Lodge, No. 37, Free and Accepted Masons : of Mitchell Chapter, No. 16. Royal Arch Masons ; and St. Bernard Command- ery, No. 11, Knights Templar, of Mitchell, while he also is affiliated with the Alexandria lodges of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has served as a member of the county central commit- tee of the Republican party and is a zealous worker in the cause of the same. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, at Alexandria.

On the roth of July. 1894, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wagner to Miss Alice E. Tres- ler, of Rock Rapids, Iowa, and they are the par- ents of three children, Hazel L., Ruth N. and Robert Edward.

HORACE J. AUSTIN .- Standing in the clear white light of a life and character such as denoted the late Horace J. Austin, we are moved to a feeling of admiration, respect and reverence, for he stood for all that signifies sane. well poised and noble manhood. He was one of the foremost citizens of the state of South Da- kota, and in his home city of Vermillion, Clay county, his death came with a sense of personal bereavement to his fellow townsmen, who could not bitt appreciate his sterling worth and his value to the community. It is fitting that in this history be incorporated a memoir of this distin- guished citizen.

Horace J. Austin was born in Washington county. New York. July 11. 1837. and when he was two years of age his parents removed thence to Essex county, that state, where he was reared to manhood. continuing to abide beneath the home roof until the fall of 1857, when, as a young

man of twenty years, he set forth to seek his for- tunes as a pioneer in the west, his educational advantages having been such as were afforded in the common schools. He proceeded as far as Dubuque, Iowa, where he secured employment with a company of surveyors, and there he made his home for two years save when absent on surveying expeditions. Twice within this period his business brought him within the confines of the territory of Dakota, and on the second trip he decided to here take up his permanent resi- dence. Accordingly he located in Yankton, the capital of the territory, where he was living at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1861 he enlisted in Company A. First Dakota Cavalry. which was stationed for some time in Vermillion, where it was mustered out on the 9th of May, 1865, having thus served during the entire period of the war, principally in repelling the ravages of hostile Indians, and the record of our subject as a soldier was one that will ever redound to his honor. After his military career he contin- ued to reside in Vermillion until his death, which occurred on the 27th of February, 1891, as the re- sult of an attack of pneumonia, which brought his life to a close in the zenith of its power and usefulness. From a previously published outline of his career we enter the following excerpt :

Although he never had the advantages of what is technically designated as higher education, he was a man who had the power of gaining much through absorption, observation and personal application, and his knowledge of men and affairs was well rounded and symmetrical. His honesty, integrity and stead- fastness of character won him a high place in the hearts of the people, and he was six times elected a member of the legislature. In 1868-9 he was presi- dent of the territorial council. As a civil engineer he secured government surveying contracts every year from 1866 until his death, and there are few if any counties in the state which do not bear some of his surveying stakes. In temporal affairs Mr. Austin was greatly prospered, but freely as he received, with equal freedom did he give to the poor and needy. His was a kindly, sympathetic nature and charity and tolerance abided with him as constant guests. The principles of diligence and faithfulness were early mastered by him and ever dominated his course in life. His name, too, was a synonym of honesty, and in writing to his sister, several years prior to

HORACE J. AUSTIN.

MRS. RACHEL M. R. AUSTIN.

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his death, he said: "I am being prospered, but this much I can say, I have never taken an unjust penny from any man." In the political history of South Dakota he bore an honorable part, and as a legislator was associated with such men of prominence as Moody, Brookings and a host of others, and was the acknowl- edged peer of all. As a citizen he believed in law and its obeyance, and as a man he was gentle, cour- teous and obliging. In truth, Horace J. Austin was well-nigh the embodiment of man's Ideal. He was a sturdy pioneer, a patient soldier, a faithful legisla- tor, .a true citizen, a loyal friend, and, last but not least, a loving and indulgent husband.

On the occasion of his funeral the president of the State University spoke of him as follows : "With all his modesty and simplicity, he was a great, strong man and played a full man's part in the world. He could not be moved from the position which he believed to be right ; he was true to his conscience. He was like a child in freedom from trickery or meanness or malice. He was every inch a man in the thick of life's struggles with evil and wrong. With a heart tender to suffering, he knew what it was to be righteously indignant against the evils that pro- duce suffering. What a wide range of character these traits cover! A simple-hearted, strong- willed, generous, gentle man-what more can be said of character ? * And I call this life successful because, first, Mr. Austin won an hon- orable success in his chosen pursuit. He became an expert surveyor ; he acquired reputation and a competence. His work was honest work. Successful, second, in that he was a loyal and loved citizen and an honored public servant. There was no publie enterprise in which he was not interested. He could be counted on for everything that concerned the welfare of the peo- ple. And it was a matter of course that such a man should be chosen for public service. He was the model citizen. He never sought office ; he was too distrustful of his own abilities, too modest for that. He shunned rather than courted responsibility, yet, like a true man, when the office sought him he accepted it as a true citizen, with determination to do his best." Mr. Austin was a member of the lower house of the state legislature at the time of his death, and thus he died in the harness, faithful to the last and one of that noble

band of pioneers who were associated in the founding and building of a great commonwealth. His political support was given to the Republican party and fraternally he was prominently identi- fied with the Masonie order and the Grand Army of the Republic. Though he never formally identified himself with any religious body he had the deepest reverence for the spiritual verities as exemplified in the Christian faith, and guided and guarded his life in accord with the teachings of the divine Master, whom he served with humil- ity and reverence, his being the faith that makes faithful.

The home of Mr. Austin was ever to him a saered spot, and here his ambitions and affee- tions centered and shone most resplendently. To violate this sanctity by words of eulogy would be most flagrant abuse in this connection, but in conclusion of this memoir we enter a brief record concerning the domestie chapter in his life his- tory. On the 21st of March, 1870, Mr. Austin was united in marriage to Miss Rachel M. Ross, who was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, on the Ist of June, 1838, being a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Palm) Ross. The father died in Arkansas and Mrs. Ross later came to Vermillion Dakota, where she died on the 22d of January, 1876. Mrs. Austin, whose death occurred March 6, 1904, was a woman of gracious presence and noble character and proved a true helpmeet to her husband, their companionship being ideal in all its relations. Mr. and Mrs. Austin had no ehil- dren, but their generous natures prompted them to provide a home for three children, all of whom were reared with utmost care and solicitude. namely: Leroy O. Stevens, who is now living at Vietor, Colorado: Anna Ross, who is now at Silex, Missouri, and Helen P., who was legally adopted by them in infancy, being now of Ver- million.

Rachel Ross was born in Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, June 1, 1838, where she grew to young womanhood, and received her education. In 1867. with her mother, she came to Dakota territory and took up her home in Vermillion. Soon after her arrival here, she was employed

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by the pioneer people to teach in the school- house which they had erected-the old log school-house in the ravine-and even today are those in this city who were her pu- pils at that time. In 1870 she was married to Horace J. Austin, who preceded her to the better land some thirteen years ago. Never were husband and wife any more alike or more con- genial in their natures. They' possessed the same ideas as regards the doing of good to their fellow-beings.

When Mr. Austin died and left to his wife his large estates, she used the income in the manner that they both did before: the relief of the suf- fering and needy, the making of a pleasant home, and assisting in all the public enterprises in which the people of the city were interested. She donated to the city the block of land near the fair grounds to be used for park purposes ; and although she has not heen permitted to live to see its full development, yet that park will stand as a monument to her large-heartedness and pub- lic spirit. And in days to come, as the genera- tions view this monument it will recall to their minds the life and works of a good, true and generous woman.

In the early history of this community Mrs. Austin was one of the foremost figures. In re- ligious work she was among the leaders. She was a charter member of the first organization in this city, and was the last survivor of that noble band who worked so hard and faithfully during those early days to establish the church in this community, and from the earliest inception of the society up to the present time she has been one of the pillars in the support of the church and organization. She was always ready and willing to do more than her share in matters pertaining to its welfare. Her home was always open to church social gatherings. and her life was de- voted to the cause of the Master.

Mrs. Austin was an untiring worker in the ranks of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and to hier devotion is largely due the fact that the local union has been made one of the strongest in the state. It was but a week before her death that she opened the doors of her home

for a public memorial service in honor of the memory of Frances E. Willard. As a tribute to her memory, the following testimonial by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union was read at the funeral services :

In behalf of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, we desire to express the regret we feel in the loss of our dear sister, Mrs. Austin, who was so heavenly in her aims, and who earnestly worked to extend the hlessings of temperance and to build up the union. We believe if the sealed lips could speak to us from the calm heights among the hills of God, that it would be to bid the women of today stand together to secure for the world a truer motherhood, a nobler manhood, a higher type of citizenship. Through the help of Christian womanhood homes are to be lifted from dishonor. The world is hetter be- cause of the life of such a woman, and while her noble soul was ever filled with gratitude to God, her great heart was ever reaching out in helpfulness to humanity. It does not seem possible that we shall no more see her "till we lift the latch and pass into the other chamber of the King, a chamber larger than this." It is very hard to say, "Thy will be done." How can we get on without her?

She always gave her warmest support to any cause that she thought was right, and when the woman suffrage movement was started she iden- tified herself with the work, and at the time of her death was president of the local league. Four years ago, when the proposition was up for the consideration of the voters in the shape of a con- stitutional amendment, she managed the cam- campaign in this county, and brought to the standard of the equal suffragists far more sup- port than the advocates of the movement had anticipated.

She was a prominent member of the Eastern Star lodge, and in her death the members of that order were called upon to mourn the loss of one whose counsels were looked up to with confi- dence, and whose advice was timely and good. As a tribute to her memory the members of the order complied with her often expressed desire. and took up a goodly collection and sent to the Children's Home at Sioux Falls.

Another society in whose work she took the utmost interest was the Cemetery Improvement Association. It was her aim to make a beautiful

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place of this resting-place of the dead. And now as her body lies within the enclosure of that sacred spot, her associates of the society will recall her efforts in bringing Bluff View Cemetery to its present orderly arrangement.

She was a heavy stockholder in the County Fair Association, and took an active interest in the work pertaining to the annual exhibitions.

She was very fond of the young people, and always had room in her home for some young man or woman who was working his or her way through school or college. There are many of this class of pupils who have attended the Univer- sity in years past, who will give evidence of her large-heartedness and her timely assistance while they were struggling on the upward grade.

In educational matters Mrs. Austin took a deep interest. Not only did she lend her energies to the betterment of educational facilities, but she had the interests of the teachers at heart. Her spacious lawn and pleasant home have been the scene of many a happy party given to the teach- ers of the city and county, and she was always happy when she was engaged in entertaining a company of this kind. At the city election in 1903 she was chosen a member of the city school board from the fourth ward, and had been faith- ful in the discharge of her duties as such mem- ber. The other members of the board have been aided by her presence, and they will miss her quick womanly discernment and sound judgment. As a mark of respect to her memory, the board dismissed school on Tuesday and the board and the teachers attended the funeral services in a body.

All of Mrs. Austin's public and private bene- factions originated in her own home and radi- ated from that home out into the community. She had an intuitive way of finding out who really needed help, and when she found that some poor family was destitute and the family was worthy, help was immediately forthcoming. She had an extraordinary power of estimating the value of timely help where help was needed. Many are the times that she has ordered gro- ceries and provisions sent from the stores to the needy ones in the city, and there are those who

will miss her faithful watchfulness and gentle ministrations in this regard. She felt that it was her duty-the performance of these many kind- nesses-and she never shrank from what she deemed to be her duty, no matter where the performance of that duty lay.

In view of Mrs. Austin's generosity, her many kindnesses and her gifts to the city, Mayor Bry- ant issued the following proclamation :

MAYOR'S OFFICE, Vermillion, S. D., March 8, 1904.

Again death has entered our city and claimed one of our number, whose strength of mind and character and whose devotion to duty and interest in the wel- fare of others made her more than ordinary, Mrs. H. J. Austin. Her life work was not confined to the ra- dius of a few, hut extended to the public at large in more ways than one. One of our city parks we today own by the grace of her benevolence. Her death casts a gloom over our entire city. I. therefore, ex- press what I am certain will be the desire of every citizen, that, during the funeral hour from three to four o'clock this afternoon, all places of business be closed and all business be suspended, that we may as a city show our admiration for her character.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 24

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