History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 28

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.

A. SHERIN, one of the representative citizens of Codington county, being engaged in the practice of law in Watertown and being also the editor and publisher of the Watertown Times, was born in Victoria county, province of Ontario, Canada, on the IIth of March, 1857, and is a son of Henry and Ann Sherin, both of whom were born in Ireland, whence they came to Canada with their respective parents when they were young. The father of the subject became a successful farmer and both he and his wife died in Canada.

A. Sherin, the subject of this review passed the first sixteen years of his life on the home farm, and received a common-school education, completing his studies in the schools at Branch- ton, Ontario. He early manifested a predilection for mechanical pursuits and became a skilled carpenter, to which line of work he devoted his attention for eight years after leaving the parental roof. In 1881 he came to what is now the state of South Dakota, and in the following year took up a pre-emption claim near the village of Blunt, Hughes county. In 1884 he removed to Britton, the capital of Marshall county, and there engaged in the practice of law, for which he had prepared himself by careful preliminary study, being duly admitted to the bar of the ter- ritory. He built up an excellent professional business and there continued in practice until 1899, when he came to Watertown, where he has since been engaged in general practice. He was editor and publisher of the Britton Sentinel from 1891 until his removal to Watertown, and here he has since published and edited the Water- town Times, one of the ably conducted and popu- lar weekly newspapers of the state. Mr. Sherin served as county judge in Marshall county dur- ing the years 1895-6, and during the ensuing two years was state's attorney of that county. He is a Populist in his political faith and adherency, and has been a prominent and influential figure in the ranks of the same in South Dakota, having done most effective service in the party cause. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Brotherhood of America, of

which he served as secretary in the local or- ganization for two years.

In Galt, Ontario, in the year 1879, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Sherin to Miss Sarah J. Copeland, and of their five children four are living. Edwin J. was born in 1880; Burtie was born in 1881 and died in 1897; Arthur was born in 1883 : Harry in 1887 and Evaline in 1894.

ALONZO J. BUFFALOE, M. D., estab- lished in the successful practice of his profession in the attractive little city of Alexandria, Hanson county, is a native of the fine old state of North Carolina, having been born in Raleigh, Wake county, and being the son of B. B. and Cor- nelia Buffaloe, representatives of old and hon- ored southern families. The father is devoting his life to agriculture and is a man of promi- nence and influence in his community. Dr. Buf- faloe was accorded excellent educational ad- vantages in his youthful days, having secured his preliminary discipline in the common schools of his native state and having entered Wake Forest College, where he received his literary training. In the meanwhile he had determined to prepare himself for the noble profession to which he is now giving his attention, and was matriculated in that celebrated technical insti- tution of the national metropolis, Bellevue Hos- pital Medical College, in New York city, being there graduated in 1886 and receiving his coveted degree of Doctor of Medicine. After his gradu- ation, wishing to be more thoroughly equipped for the arduous duties of his chosen profession, he took special courses in chemistry, physical diag- nosis, surgery and army and navy dressings in Belleview and Mount Sinai Hospitals. He then located in the city of Raleigh, North Carolina, determined to win his professional spurs in his native state, and there he initiated the active practice of medicine and surgery, being for some time connected with the city hospital, where he gained still further clinical experience of the most valuable order. He continued to be there engaged in practice until 1901. In 1895 he availed himself for a while of the advantages of

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the post-graduate course at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Buffaloe came to South Dakota in April, 1901, and finally became impressed with the attractions of Alex- andria and decided to establish himself here. He has no reason to regret his choice, for he has met a most favorable reception, both profes- sionally and socially, and has built up a gratify- ing practice.

WILLIAM HENRY STOKES was born in the town of Porter, Rock county, Wisconsin, on the 16th of May, 1845, being the son of Charles and Anna E. (Kimble) Stokes, the former of whom was born in Axbridge, Somersetshire, England, in 1812, while the latter was a native of Saugerties, New York, being of English and Dutch lineage. He was educated in the district schools in Wisconsin until the age of nineteen, finishing with one term in a select school at Mitchell, Mitchell county, Iowa. His early life was spent on the farm. His business life began May 16, 1866. He was associated with his brothers in the sawmill and lumber business until the spring of 1872. From 1872 until the present time, 1904. he has been interested with various parties in the milling business, ten years in Janesville, Waseca county, Minnesota, and the remainder of the time up to the present date in the milling and grain business at Watertown, South Dakota. At present he is president and manager of the W. H. Stokes Milling Company. while his son-in-law, F. E. Hawley, is the sec- retary and treasurer.

The old milling plant, built in 1882 at Water- town, South Dakota, was destroyed by fire March 13, 1901, and the summer following the fire the present substantial mill and elevator plant was erected on the same site, business being resumed on December 19, 1901. The W. H. Stokes Mill- ing Company's mill and elevator are decidedly the largest and most modern in the state. The brick elevator and steel tanks have a capacity of one hundred and forty thousand bushels and are practically fireproof. The subject of this sketch has also been largely interested in farming, now

owning and controlling something over five thousand acres of land, most of which is in Cod- ington county, South Dakota.

W. H. Stokes is recognized as one of the leading business men of the state and at the present time is found worthy of having his name enrolled in the Financial Red Book of America for 1903.

Mr. Stokes was married to Miss Elsie Mi- nerva Grout on December 23, 1872. She was born at York, Wisconsin, September 18, 1853, being the daughter of Leroy and Cordelia (Flower) Grout, the former of whom was born at Vermont and the latter in the state of New York. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stokes. Their names are : Ella Glencora, wife of F. E. Hawley; Gladys May, Mand Leonore, Alice Wilhelmena, Elsie Minerva, William Henry, Jr., Louisa Alcott, Anna Kimble and Philip Doug- las, all of whom are now living. Mr. and Mrs. Stokes and six of their children are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Stokes is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, being affiliated with the Kampeska Lodge, No. 13. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Watertown Chapter, No. 12, Royal Arch Masons, and Watertown Command- ery, No. 7, Knights Templar. He served as eminent commander of the commandery for two years.

Politically Mr. Stokes has always been a Re- publican, although he has never aspired to any political office or influence.

CLINTON D. HOSKIN, who is the pres- ent popular and able incumbent of the office of register of deeds of Hand county, claims the fine old Buckeye state as the place of his nativity, having been born in the county of Ashtabula, Ohio, on the 29th of October, 1867, and being a son of Hilan J. and Nancy (George) Hoskin, who were likewise born in that state. The sub- ject is the elder of their two children, his sister Maud being now the wife of A. R. Hannum, of Hand county, South Dakota, while his parents are residents of Huron, South Dakota. When Clinton D. was but two years of age his parents

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removed to Wheatland, Clinton county, Iowa, where his father engaged in teaming, and seven years later they removed to Buena Vista county, that state, where the father turned his attention to farming. The subject secured his educational training in the public schools of the Hawkeye state, where he was reared to maturity, and in 1884, at the age of sixteen years, he came to Hand county, South Dakota, where his father took up a homestead claim, in Gilbert township, and here he turned his attention to farming, in which he was engaged until his election to his present office.

Mr. Hoskin has given a stanch allegiance to the Republican party from the time of attaining his majority, has evinced a lively interest in pub- lic affairs of a local nature and been a prominent worker in the party cause. He served as treas- urer of his school district for a period of thir- teen years, and in the fall of 1902 was elected to the office of register of deeds of Hand county, for a term of two years, assuming his official functions in January, 1903. He is well known in the county, and his personal popularity is at- tested by his having been chosen to fill his pres- ent office. Fraternally he is identified with St. Lawrence Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen, in St. Lawrence.

On the 29th of October, 1889, Mr. Hoskin was united in marriage to Miss Florence A. Scovill, daughter of B. P. Scovill, a prominent farmer of this county. She was born in Mason county, Illinois, and was twelve years of age at the time of her parents' removal to South Da- kota. Mr. and Mrs. Hoskin have four children, Mabel I., Hilan J., Mina F. and Benjamin P.

NICK KIRSCH, a farmer and stock raiser of Codington county, whose homestead lies at Gardner, about five miles northeast of Water- town, is a native of Germany, born in Luxem- borugh on February 9, 1859. He is one of a family of six children, two sons and four daugh- ters, whose parents were Michael and Maggie Kirsch, natives of Luxembourg, as were the antecedents of both branches of the family for

many generations. Michael Kirsch, in 1880, brought his family to the United States and set- tled in Minnesota, where he lived until 1882, at which time he removed to Codington county, South Dakota, his present place of residence.

The subject of this review grew to young manhood in his native country, received a fair education in the public schools and in 1880 ac- companied his parents to the new world, remain- ing with them until their removal to Dakota. In 1882 he took up a homestead in Kreuzberg town- ship, Codington county, and after residing on the same for a period of five years, sold out and purchased his present beautiful place in Elmira township, consisting of five hundred and sixty acres of fine land, admirably situated for agri- cultural and stock purposes. In addition to farming, which he carries on very successfully, especially the raising of grains, Mr. Kirsch de- votes considerable attention to live stock and purposes ultimately to make the latter his prin- cipal business. He now has quite a herd of cattle, to which he is making additions as rapidly as possible, also owns a number of valu- able sheep and horses and the time is not far dis- tant when he will come to the front as one of the leading stockmen in this section of the state. In addition to his stock and agricultural inter- ests he runs an elevator at Gardner, near his place, and his operations as a buyer and shipper of grain have been eminently successful, as the steady growth of his business abundantly at- tests.

Mr. Kirsch is one of the progressive German- American citizens of Codington county and his enterprising spirit has done much for the ma- terial advancement of the community in which he resides. While retaining warm feelings and tender recollections of the fatherland, he is a loyal citizen of his adopted country and a great admirer of its laws and institutions.

Mr. Kirsch was married November 17, 1887, to Miss Maggie Pfeil, of Minnesota, daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth Pfeil, natives of Ger- many. The parents of Mrs. Kirsch came to the United States a number of years ago and for some time lived in St. Charles, Minnesota, at

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which place the mother died on January 27, 1902. The father still lives at St. Charles. They reared a family of eleven children, all but one living. Mr. and Mrs. Kirsch have five bright, interesting children, whose names are as follows : Freddie N., Elizabeth S., Eddie D., Lena G. and Christopher G.

GEORGE C. OSTRANDER comes of sturdy old Dutch stock and traces his family history to the early settlement of the Mohawk valley, New York. His great-grandfather, William Ostrander, was one of the Dutch pioneers of Herkimer county, that state, took an active part in the set- tlement and development of the valley and be- came an influential factor in the affairs of the community which he assisted to found. His son, William, was a blacksmith by trade, and a man of sturdy character and generous impulses, who carried to successful completion any undertaking to which he addressed himself. He married when a young man and reared a family, repre- sentatives of which still live in Herkimer and neighboring counties of New York, while others may be found in different states of the Union, principally in the west, as the pioneer spirit has long been a marked characteristic of the family. A son of the second William, also William by name, was born in New York and there married Miss Abigail D. Eddy, whose antecedents were also among the early settlers of the Empire state. William and Abigail spent the greater part of their lives in the city of Watertown, New York, where for over twenty years the former was en- gaged in mercantile pursuits, and to them was born one son, the gentleman whose name fur- nishes the caption of this review.

George C. Ostrander was born October 22, 1858. in Watertown, New York, and received his educational training in the public schools of that city. At an early age he entered his father's store where he received a practical commercial training and assisted in conducting the business, until about twenty years old, when he abandoned mercantile life for the purpose of learning telegraphy. After becoming proficient in that

calling he engaged with the Rome, Water- town & Ogdensburg Railroad as operator and station agent, which position he held until 1882, when he resigned to become a salesman for the wholesale merchant tail- oring firm of Wiggins & Goodale at Water- town. After remaining with the above house for a period of four years, he resigned his place and in 1886 came to Codington county, South Dakota, bringing forty-four head of milch cows with the object in view of starting a dairy and engaging in the general stock business. In part- nership with his father, Mr. Ostrander purchased a fine tract of farm and grazing land, about four and a half miles east of Watertown, in Elmira township, where he now lives, and here success- fully carried out his intentions by starting a dairy which from the beginning more than met his most sanguine expectations. In connection with the dairy he also established a creamery, the first enterprise of the kind in the state, and this also proved a remtinerative undertaking as it soon had an extensive patronage and filled a long-felt want in the community. After con- ducting these lines of business for a few years and realizing therefrom handsome profits, he discontinued dairying and turned his attention to raising grain. Convinced that larger returns could be realized from wool than from agricul- ture, Mr. Ostrander subsequently discontinued tilling the soil and engaged in the sheep business, which he now follows with success and financial profit, being at this time one of the largest and most sticcessful sheep raisers in Codington county. He is now running about eight hundred grade Shropshires, which breed he finds best suited to the country and by far the most re- munerative, all things considered; and in addi- tion to the four hundred acres comprising his own farm he controls about six hundred acres of fine grazing land in the vicinity in which he conducts his large and rapidly growing business.

Mr. Ostrander inherits the energy and pro- gressive spirit for which his family has long been distinguished and his industry and enterprise have made him an influential factor in the busi- ness affairs and public concerns of his adopted

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county. He worthily upholds an honored an- cestral name, is a man of wide intelligence, sound judgment and unimpeachable integrity and the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens shows him the possessor of those sterling qualities of head and heart that beget confidence and retain warm and personal friendships. In politics he supports the Republican party and, while not a partisan, still less an office seeker, he was elected in 1902 a member of the board of county commissioners, which responsible posi- tion he worthily holds.

The domestic life of Mr. Ostrander dates from 1879, on October 22d of which year, in Water- town, New York, was solemnized his marriage with Miss Martha P. Heintzelman, who has borne him two children, Mabel and William D. Mr. Ostrander is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen of Watertown. His father is a member of the home circle at this time, his mother having died three years ago.

THORNTON N. BABCOCK, one of the prominent and successful farmers and stock growers of Codington county, was born on the parental homestead, Winona county, Minnesota, on the 20th of December, 1865, and is a son of George P. and Antoinette (Newcomb) Bab- cock, the former of whom was born in the state of New York and the latter in Massachusetts, both families having long been identified with the annals of American history. George P. was a carpenter and cabinetmaker by trade, and fol- lowed the same as a vocation for many years, having come to Minnesota in the pioneer days and having there maintained his residence until 1880, when he removed to South Dakota, taking up land in Codington county and there improv- ing a good farm. He died at Tracy, Minne- sota, on the Ist of March, 1892, while enroute home from Minneapolis, at the age of sixty- four years. In politics he was a stanch Repub- lican. His widow was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church, her death having occurred on the 9th of June, 1899, at the age of seventy

years. They became the parents of four sons and four daughters, all of whom are living ex- cept the eldest, Ada, wife of J. J. Greer, who died at the age of forty years. The others are Libbie M., unmarried; Charley, a farmer of Brookings county ; Lillian, wife of A. M. Nash, of Tracy, Minnesota, a conductor on the North- western Railroad; Willie C., of Seattle, Wash- ington, a conductor on the Northern Pacific Railroad ; Hobart A., county clerk at Watertown; and Metta, wife of J. E. McKoane, of Minot, North Dakota, in the abstract and real-estate business, and Thornton.

The subject of this sketch received his early educational training in the public schools of Lanesboro, Fillmore county, Minnesota, where lie completed a course in the high school. In 1880, at the age of fourteen years, he came to South Dakota, where he gave his attention to farm work and to teaching in the district schools until 1883. Thereafter he remained on his father's farm, taking charge of the same after the death of the latter and still residing on the homestead, which now comprises one hundred and sixty acres, and which is located in Fuller township, eight miles northwest of Watertown, two miles north of Lake Kampeska. In addition to the homestead Mr. Babcock controls and utilizes about five hundred acres, principally In- dian-reservation land, and in all he has about five hundred acres under effective cultivation and devoted to diversified agriculture, while he also gives special attention to the raising of live stock, in which line he has gained marked prec- edence and met with distinctive success. His cattle are of high grade. and he has some pure- bred shorthorn stock in the line, while he also breeds the best type of Percheron and road horses and Berkshire hogs. He is associated with others in the ownership of a fine thoroughbred Percheron stallion, of which he has the manage- ment. In politics Mr. Babcock gives an unfaltering allegiance to the Republican party, and he served for two terms as clerk of his township, while he has been a valued member of the school board for twelve years. He is a Methodist, while his wife belongs to the Baptist church. Fraternally

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he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

On the 3d of January, 1899, Mr. Babcock was united in marriage to Miss Carlotta A. Hewitt, a daughter of C. P. and Arminta (Straub) Hewitt, of Watertown, her birth hav- ing occurred in Calamus, Clinton county, Iowa. Of this union have been born two children, Bruce A. and Doris.

AUGUSTUS C. GIESE, farmier, stock raiser and representative citizen of Elmira town- ship, Codington county, is a native of Sauk county, Wisconsin, where his birth occurred on the 3d day of February, 1869. His parents, John M. and Albertina ( Yerkley) Giese, natives of Germany, came to the United States a number of years ago and after residing for some time in Wisconsin caine, in the fall of 1879, to Coding- ton county, being among the early settlers of what is now the township of Rauville. They located on government land which they entered, improved a good farm and the elder Giese is now among the prosperous and well-to-do men of the community, now living in Watertown.

Augustus C. Giese was a lad of ten years when his parents came to Dakota and from that age to the present has been a resident of Coding- ton county, growing with the country's growth, taking an active part in its development, and for some years he has been an influential factor in the agricultural and live-stock interests of Elmira township. He received his elementary educa- tion in his native state and for several years after coming to Dakota pursued his studies in the public schools, the meanwhile assisting his father in improving the latter's homestead and contributing his full share to the support of the family. Reared under wholesome discipline and healthful influence, he grew up strong in body and with an independence of mind which early led him to rely upon himself, and while still a mere lad he matured plans for his future course of action. After remaining under the parental roof until reaching the years of young manhood, he started out to make his own way in the world

and being so fortunate as to have his lot cast in a land of opportunities, it was not long until he secured a desirable tract of land. He finally decided upon the place in Elmira township on which he now lives, a beautiful tract containing a half section, which for stock-raising and gen- eral agricultural purposes will compare favor- ably with any like number of acres in the county. He has greatly improved his land and brought it to a high state of cultivation, and, in addition to tilling the soil, he now has a substantial start in live stock, owning a number of cattle, sheep and horses, with most favorable prospects of adding to his flocks and herds as well as of in- creasing his acreage in the no distant future. He has erected a large barn and has a desirable lo- cation for a comfortable residence. Mr. Giese is a young man of well-defined purposes, and his industry and energy have already won him a competence of sufficient magnitude to place him in comfortable circumstances.

On September 13. 1894, Mr. Giese was united in marriage with Miss Emma Barha, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. August Barha, were among the early settlers of Codington county. This marriage has resulted in the birth of six children, namely : Herman ; Henry died July 13, 1902, in his fourth year ; Robert, Mabel and an infant that died unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Giese are members of the Lutheran church, be- longing to the congregation worshiping at Watertown.

LAURENCE J. O'TOOLE, one of the rep- resentative farmers and stock growers of Cod- ington county, is a native of the fair Emerald Isle, having been born on the 16th of June, 1860, and being a son of John and Mary (Dowling) O'Toole, who were born and reared in Ireland. The father was there engaged in farming until his death. The subject and other members of the family came to America in 1871, at which time he was a lad of about eleven years, his early educational discipline having been secured in his native land. He was the youngest of the three sons and two daughters in the family, and

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 28

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