USA > South Dakota > History of South Dakota, Vol. II > Part 3
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Mr. and Mrs. Michaels are the parents of five children, concerning whom we offer the following brief data in conclusion of this sketch : Herman is a member of the clothing firm of Nelson & Michaels: Anna is the wife of Henry Stein, of Codington county; John R .; Max C., who married Miss Ella Weber, is a clergyman
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of the Lutheran church and is pastor of the churches at Henry, Grover and Carrollton ; Frank B. is superintendent of the branch store maintained by the firm of Nelson & Michaels at Clark.
ARCHIE WEAVER, one of the pioneer merchants and highly esteemed citizens of Watertown, was born in Dayton, Ohio, on the 10th of December, 1855, being a son of Jacob and Louisa Weaver. The father died when the subject was but two years of age, and the latter secured his early educational training in the common schools of Grand Rapids. Wisconsin. He was early thrown on his own resources. so that he stands as the architect of his own for- tunes, having gained success by worthy means and by close application and hard work. For some time prior to coming to the territory of Dakota he was engaged in general merchandis- ing in the city of Grand Rapids, Wisconsin. He came thence to Watertown in 1879, becoming one of the early settlers of the town, and here he established a small general store, which figured as the nucleus of his present large and profitable business enterprise. He was one of the first merchants of the town, and has at all times shown a public-spirited interest in its progress and material prosperity. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party, and fraternally is identified with the local organiza- tions of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has an attractive residence in the eastern division of the city, and is the owner of other real estate, including his place of business, which is a two- story structure of brick.
At twenty-five years of age Mr. Weaver was united in marriage to Miss Clara M. Clark, who was born in Iowa. Her father died when she was but a child, and her mother subsequently became the wife of D. C. Thomas, and now re- sides in Watertown. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver be- came the parents of three children : Guy died in infancy, and Florence E. and Franklin L. still remain at the parental home.
ANDREW P. FOLEY. one of the sterling citizens and progressive business men of Water- town, Codington county, comes of stanch Irish lineage and is a native of the beautiful capital city of Wisconsin, where he was born on the 13th of January, 1859, being a son of Matthew and Mary (Gahen) Foley, both of whom were born and reared in Dublin, Ireland. They came to America about 1849, and the father of Andrew P. Foley located in Dane county, Wis- consin, where he became a farmer, while his sterling characteristics made him one of the popular and honored citizens of that section. Both he and his wife died in Wisconsin, and they are survived by their four sons and three daughters.
Andrew P. Foley was reared to manhood in his native state, and received his educational discipline in the parochial and public schools. At the age of sixteen years he entered upon an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade, becoming a skilled workmen. He continued to follow the work of his trade in Wisconsin and Minnesota until 1880, when he came to South Dakota and took up his residence in Watertown, which then had a population of about one thousand persons. Soon after his arrival he established a horse- shoeing shop, which he conducted successfully for several years. For the past three years he has also done an excellent business in the han- dling of agricultural implements and machinery, carriages, buggies, wagons, etc. He is endowed with the alert mentality and business acumen so characteristic of the race, and has so effect- ively ordered his affairs as to have attained a position of independence, being one of the well- to-do citizens of the county. He is the owner of about two thousand acres of excellent farm- ing land in Codington and Hamlin counties, and derives good returns from his agricultural and stock-raising interests, while he also has a con- siderable amount of property in Watertown, in- cluding his place of business and also his fine residence, at the corner of Warner and Cotton- wood streets.
In politics Mr. Foley is a stanch Democrat and takes an active part in forwarding the cause
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of the party of his choice. In 1890 he was elected sheriff of Codington county, in which capacity he served four years, giving a most able administration and gaining unqualified popular endorsement. In 1898 he was elected to repre- sent his county in the lower house of the state legislature, serving during the sixth general as- sembly and doing all in his power to secure wise and effective legislation. He and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church, being prominent members of Immaculate Conception parish, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Catholic Order of Foresters and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
On the Ist of November, 1888, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Foley to Miss Dora Rourk, who was born in Eden, Wisconsin, being a daughter of John and Mary Rourk. Of this union have been born seven children, namely : Francis died on the 18th of May, 1902, at the age of nine years; Thomas died January 19. 1904. aged nine years, and those surviving are Andrew, John, Marie, Catherine and Willard. Mrs. Foley also passed away on the 17th of August, 1903, after a brief illness.
LEANDER D. LYON, deceased, was a na- tive of the state of Michigan, having been born in Hudson, Lenawee county, on the 9th of No- vember. 1847, and being a son of Lyman J. and Amanda ( Davenport) Lyon. His father was a soldier in the Mexican war and died when the subject was a child, so that the latter was early thrown upon his own resources, his educational advantages having been those afforded in the common schools of his native state. When but twelve years of age he entered a newspaper of- fice and finally completed a full apprenticeship at the printing trade, becoming a very skilled workman. He proved the truth of the statement that the discipline of a newspaper office is equal to a liberal education, and became a man of broad information and distinctive intellectuality. while he gained recognition as an able and force- ful writer. He was for a time editor of a paper in his native town, and later published a paper
in Fayette, Ohio, from which place he removed to Circleville, Ohio, where he became editor and publisher of the Union Herald. He was also for some time identified with newspaper work in Detroit, Michigan, and Buffalo, New York. In the former city he was awarded a diploma for having executed the finest specimen of job printing among a large number of contestants. having been specially capable in this line, while throughout his life he ever aimed to- attain per- fection in all that he undertook. In 1882 Mr. Lyon left Circleville. Ohio, and came to the ter- ritory of Dakota, locating in Watertown, where he became associated with Messrs. C. G. Church and F. A. Barr in the publishing and editing of the Courier-News, which issued daily and weekly editions. He eventually purchased the interests of his two partners and continued the enterprise individually for a number of years. He then established here a paper to which he gave the name of Public Opinion, and made the same a powerful factor in the community. He was a man of strong individuality and decided views. and was fearless in the expression of his opin- ions through his paper, and thus he naturally created some enmities in his efforts to promote the best interests of the community and, though antagonism was created, his views were finally widely recognized and approved by the better element in the community and state, his paper be- coming one of the most valuable and successful properties of Watertown. He finally sold the plant and business of the Public Opinion to the firm of Ransom & Corey, and shortly afterward became superintendent of the Watertown Water, Light and Power Company. At the time of his assuming this office the affairs of the company were in a deplorable condition and the service was far from what it should have been. Though new to the work, Mr. Lyon brought to bear his excellent business judgment and dominating en- ergy and soon the effects became evident in the improvement of the system and in the placing of the business upon a profitable basis. Of this position he continued incumbent until his death. He served in various offices of local order, and in politics gave an uncompromising allegiance to
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the Republican party. During the war of the Re- bellion Mr. Lyon rendered valiant service in de- fense of the Union, having been a member of a regiment of Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and he ever afterward maintained a deep interest in his old comrades in arms and was a prominent member of the Grand Army of the Republic. As his father was a soldier in the Mexican war, he also became affiliated with the Sons of Veter- ans, having served as colonel of the state organ- ization of the same in South Dakota, while the camp of the order at Blunt was named in his honor. He was also affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, in which he attained the Knight Tem- plar degrees, while he was a charter member of the lodge in Watertown. He was also a member of various other fraternal and social organiza- tions, while he was one of the organizers of the Watertown Business Men's Union, of which he was secretary for a number of years. While he was publishing the Public Opinion his paper was the first in the state to suggest the name of Ben- jamin Harrison in connection with the nomina- tion for President of the United States, and in recognition of this fact he received a most gra- cious and appreciative personal letter of thanks from Mr. Harrison. He was one of the most in- sistent advocates of the division of the territory of Dakota and did most effective service in se- curing the admission of South Dakota to the Union. Mr. Lyon was summoned into eternal rest on the 30th of January, 1903, after a brief illness, and his death came as a personal bereave- ment to the people of Watertown, while through- out the state the press gave high tribute to his memory and to the work which he had accom- plished as a public-spirited and progressive citi- zen and as a man of exalted integrity. His fu- neral was one of the most notable ever held in Watertown, business being practically suspended at the time, while many of the prominent citizens from divers parts of the state came to pay a last mark of respect to one whose life had been al- together worthy.
In the city of Detroit, Michigan, on the 13th of August, 1866, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lyon to Miss Anna R. Baker, who was
born in Buffalo, New York, whose death occurred November 15, 1886. His second wife, who sur- vives, was Miss Emma Anderson, of Janesville, Wisconsin. His daughter. Mirriam, is now the wife of W. J. McMath, who is the local repre- sentative of the New York Mutual Life Insur- ance Company. They have three children, Ralph, Dwight and Miriam. Frank W., the younger of the two children, was born in Buf- falo, New York, on the 13th of April, 1871, and is now a jobber and retail dealer in crockery, stone- ware, glassware, lamps, etc., in Watertown, be- ing one of the progressive and successful busi- ness men of the place. For five years he held the office of sub-agent at the Standing Rock Indian agency, in North Dakota, and for three years had a similar incumbency at the Cheyenne agency, in South Dakota. He had previously been a traveling salesman for a leading whole- sale crockery house in the city of Minneapolis. In politics he is a Republican, and is the present city treasurer.
On the 19th of November, 1895, Frank W. Lyon was united in marriage to Miss Imelda Marie Mclaughlin, the daughter of Colonel James McLaughlin, who was chief inspector in the Indian service, having been appointed dur- ing the administration of General Grant. Mrs. Lyon passed away on the 14th of February, 1808, leaving one child. James R. S. On the 15th of April. 1901. at the Cheyenne River agency, Mr. Lyon married Miss Helen May Crane, who was born in Titusville, Pennsyl- vania, and who was at the time of her marriage in the government service. having charge of the hospital at the government agency mentioned, her professional training having been secured in one of the leading hospitals of the city of Cleve- land, Ohio. Of this union were born two chil- dren, Elizabeth, who died in infancy, and Ra- mona Martha, born July 28, 1903.
C. M. BUTTS, son of Jacob S. and Malinda (Johnson) Butts, was born on a farm in Dela- ware county, New York. April 15. 1843. his parents also being natives of the Empire state.
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In 1848 the family removed to Wisconsin, set- tling in Waupaca county, and it was there that the subject grew to maturity, spending the in- tervening years as his father's assistant on the farm and attending. as opportunities afforded, the public schools near the homestead. While thus engaged the great Civil war broke out and, fired with patriotic zeal, he enlisted, May 19, 1861, in Company D. Third Wisconsin Infantry, but by reason of being a minor was discharged the following July. Two years later, however, he was more fortunate in entering the service. being accepted in July, 1863, by the same com- pany and regiment in which he had previously attempted to enlist, joining his command at the front in time to participate in some of the fiercest and most noted battles of the war. He shared with his comrades the vicissitudes of the Atlanta campaign, took part in several bloody engagements in the vicinity of that city, and later marched with General Sherman on the cele- brated march to the sea. Mr. Butts served bravely and gallantly until the downfall of the rebellion, after which he returned home, and in the fall of 1866 removed to Olmstead county, Minnesota, where he purchased land and en- gaged in the pursuit of agriculture upon his own responsibility. After living in that county until 1878. he sold his farm and removed to the county of Watonwan, in the same state, where he made his home until 1891, at which time he disposed of his interests in Minnesota and changed his residence to South Dakota, locating in Garret- son, with the growth and prosperity of which thriving city he has since been identified. For some years following his arrival in Garretson Mr. Butts was engaged in the drug business, but in 1895 he sold his establishment and turned his attention to real estate, in which he soon acquired an extensive and lucrative patron- age. Being energetic and knowing how to take advantage of opportunities, he found himself in due time on the high road to prosperity, his business affairs having prospered and all of his investments proving fortunate. In the sum- mer of 1901 he erected the Grand hotel, the largest and best patronized house of public en-
tertainment in Garretson, and in addition thereto has put up other buildings from time to time, thus adding very materially to the growth and substantial improvement of the city.
Mr. Butts was married in Fillmore county, Minnesota, May 5, 1866, to Miss Katie M. Conan, a native of Canada, the union resulting in the birth of two children, the older of whom. Edith M .. wife of Dr. C. W. Locke, died in the month of August, 1891; Maude, the second daughter, dying at the age of twelve years. Mr. Butts has served several terms as alderman, and as a member of the council did much to advance the interests of the municipality and promote the city's development. He cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, a fact of which he feels justly proud, and ever since that time has been a pronounced Republican, zealous as a party worker and manager, and outspoken in the advocacy and defense of his principles. He has never been an office seeker. preferring to labor for the advancement of his friends' political interest rather than his own.
CARL P. HELSTED, who has already passed life's meridian and is now living in hon- orable retirement, is a sturdy son of Scandinavia. born September 18. 1830, in the romantic and historic country of Sweden. His father being a farmer, he too was reared a tiller of the soil and followed that time-honored calling in the land of his nativitiy until 1868. in June of which year he took passage for America on the steamer "Great Eastern." and after a voyage of sixteen days' duration landed in the harbor of New York. From that city he went to Chicago, Illinois, thence, after a short time, to Michigan, where he spent about three months at railroad work. at the expiration of which time he transferred his residence to Iowa, where he was similarly employed for a limited period. From the latter state he went to Omaha, Nebraska, but after spending some six months in the railroad shops of that city, he removed to Plattsmouth, where for about one year he kept a boarding house. Mr. Helsted's next move was to Sioux City,
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Iowa, where he also opened a boarding house | Cross, a farmer and stock raiser of that state and after conducting the same with encouraging and an estimable citizen of the community in which he resided. Shortly after the death of his father, young Cross was taken by relatives to St. Charles, Minnesota, but after spending a short time at that place, he went to live with his grandfather, near Iowa Falls, Iowa, in which state he grew to maturity and received his edu- cational training. Reared on a farm, he early became accustomed to the varied duties of agri- culture and, reaching manhood's estate, found himself well qualified by this training to face the future and to enter upon a career which from the beginning gave every promise of ultimate success. success until 1872, he disposed of the establish- ment and came to Minnehaha county, South Da- kota, locating a homestead in Branden town- ship, which in due time he improved and con- verted into a fine farm. Mr. Helsted made a judicious selection of land. having been among the early settlers of the county with excellent opportunities for looking over the country and comparing the relative merits of its different parts. He put up substantial buildings and, de- voting all of his energies to agriculture and stock raising, succeeded in accumulating a competence of sufficient magnitude to enable him, in the fall of 1901, to retire from active life. He sold his farm that year and, purchasing a beautiful home in Garretson, moved to the same and since then he has been enjoying the fruits of his many years of toil and thrift in a life free from care and anxiety.
Mr. Helsted was married in his native land, and two of his five children were born and lie buried near his old ancestral home. One child died in Sioux City, Iowa, and the two surviving are Louise, the wife of W. W. Cole, of Clay county, and Frederick, who lives in Montana. Mr. Halstead served as constable of Branden township and, although a zealous and uncompro- mising Republican, he has never been an office seeker, having preferred the quiet life on the farm. and the simple title of citizen to any pub- lic honors within the power of his fellow men to bestow. He was reared in the Lutheran faith, and since an early age has been a faithful and devoted member of the Swedish Lutheran church, being at this time one of the pillars of the con- gregation in Branden township and one of its most liberal contributors. He was treasurer of his church for three years.
EUGENE E. CROSS, of Garretson, presi- dent of the Minnehaha State Bank, was horn in Juneau county, Wisconsin, August 13. 1859, and at the early age of nine years was left practically an orphan by the death of his father, Daniel P.
In December, 1881, Mr. Cross came to South Dakota and engaged in the grain trade at Lake Preston, Kingsbury county, where he remained for a period of six years, during which time he built up a large and flourishing business, realiz- ing from the same handsome financial profits. Later he took up a homestead in Clark county, but after living on his land about two years, re- moved to Palisades, where for a period of one year he operated the first hardware store in the town. From Palisades he came to Garretson, where he also engaged in the hardware business. being the first to bring a special line of that kind of merchandise to the city, and it was not long until he forged to the front as one of the most enterprising and public-spirited merchants of the place. He devoted his attention ex- clusively to hardware for a period of eleven years, at the expiration of which time, in March, 1901, he disposed of his stock and the summer following erected the handsome stone building now occupied by the Minnehaha State Bank. which institution he organized and in the man- agement of which he has since been a leading and influential factor.
Mr. Cross has been president of the bank ever since its organization and under his able management and judicious control it has become one of the popular and reliable monetary estab- lishments in the eastern part of the state, doing an extensive business in all lines of banking, and by its presence adding greatly to the high repu-
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tation Garretson enjoys among her sister cities of South Dakota. Mr. Cross is not only an ac- complished business man as the term is generally implied, but having made a close and comprehensive study of monetary questions, he is especially well informed concerning the same. and may be considered an authority on all mat- ters relating to finance and banking. He has been prominent in the public affairs of Gar- retson ever since becoming a resident of the same, has served with great acceptance as mayor of the city, and for some time past has been a member of the common council. Fraternally. he is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, being a charter member of Lodge No. 74. at Garretson, and at different times an honored official of the organization.
Mr. Cross has been remarkably fortunate in promoting his various business interests. being the possessor of a fortune of no small magnitude, including in addition to a number of valuable city properties and private capital, a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, admirably situated in one of the richest agricultural districts of Clark county.
Mr. Cross was married at St. Charles, Min- nesota, in the year 1800, to Miss Florence E. Blair, of that state, the union being without issue.
JOHN HOVE, an enterprising business man | of Garretson, is a native of Fillmore county, Min- nesota, where his birth occurred on the 25th day of September. 1864. Reared on a farm he was early taught the dignity of honest toil and. grow- ing up with habits of industry deeply imbedded in his nature, was well qualified at the proper / time to assume the stern duties of life. He en- joyed the advantages of a common-school edu- cation, and after remaining with his parents and assisting with the lahors of the farm until at- taining his majority, he left the home circle and in 1885 came to Minnehaha county, South Da- kota, where he followed agriculture for some years as a renter. Later, in 1893. Mr. Hove purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Edison township, which he reduced to cultiva-
tion, improved with good buildings and stocked with cattle and other domestic animals, in due time converting the land into a fine farm, on which he made his home during the nine years following. In the spring of 1902 he turned his place over to other hands and changed his abode to Garretson, where one year later he effected a co-partnership in the hardware business with Mr. Munson, which, under the firm name of Hove & Munson, is now one of the leading mercantile establishments in the city. By close attention to business and by judiciously consulting the de- mands of the trade, these gentlemen have secured a large and lucrative patronage, and, although but recently established, their house has steadily come to the front until, as stated in the preceding paragraph. it is now one of the successful and popular places of business in a city where com- petition in all lines is lively and where only the capable and far-seeing succeed. Mr. Hove served five years as a member of the Edison township official board and also filled the office of assessor. in both of which capacities his course was credit- able to himself and satisfactory to the public.
Mr. Hove has faith in the future of his city and county, and to the extent of his ability is applying his energies to the promotion of the welfare of each, being interested in whatever concerns the material prosperity of the commu- nity and a willing supporter of all enterprises having for their object the intellectual. social and moral well-being of the same.
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