History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 32

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.

which institution he also occupied the chair of philosophy and dogmatic theology. In 1890 he was appointed professor of ecclesiastical history in the Roman Catholic University at Washing- Con, D. C., where he remained until 1896, in which year he was consecrated a bishop and as- signed to the diocese of South Dakota, being the second incumbent of this distinguished and ex- acting office.

At the time of his residence in the national capital the Bishop was selected to write a his- tory of the Roman Catholic church in the United States, and this important work he successfully accomplished, Volume IX of the series of de- nominational church histories, published under the auspices of the American Society of Church History, having been written by him. Of his work in this connection it has been pertinently said: "This volume evidences the fact that no mistake was made in his being selected for the work. It covers a wider field than any other volume of the series, commencing with the first landing of Columbus on this continent and, ad- vancing step by step, gives a complete account of the development and growth of the church to the present time. It is a great work, written in a most attractive and scholarly style, and places the Bishop in the front rank of historical writers."

Concerning the work of the Bishop in his present wide field of endeavor we can not do better than to quote at length from an appre- ciative article previously published : "On the 2d of May, 1896, Bishop O'Gorman arrived in Sioux Falls, accompanied by Archbishop Ireland, of St. Paul, and other high dignitaries of the church, and the reception, the ceremonies of the installation the day following, in St. Michael's church, and the banquet tendered him, will al- ways be remembered by participants as among the grandest events in the history of the city. It is not too much to say that a more cordial and elaborate welcome was never given to anyone in Sioux Falls; and one of the most pleasing fea- tures attending the coming of this eminent prel- ate to our midst was the hearty co-operation of the clergy of other denominations in making

the event a notable one. Since coming to South Dakota he has labored with great zeal and ability in advancing the welfare of his church, and under his administration some of the finest and most costly church buildings in the state have been erected. The Bishop is greatly be- loved by his people, and throughout the state, regardless of denominational preferences, he is highly esteemed, while the city of Sioux Falls is especially proud of her distinguished citizen." Both by inherent qualities and training the Bishop is eminently fitted for leadership in both the spiritual and temporal affairs of his exalted calling, and his labors are fruitful in a cumu- lative way and will constitute for all time an integral part of the history not of only the church but also of the commonwealth in which he is serving so faithfully and zealously. In 1902 Bishop O'Gorman went to the city of Rome as a member of the Taft commission, to which was assigned the work of negotiating with the church authorities upon the important busi- ness and civic questions connected with the church in the Philippine islands, and in connec- tion with this work he was absent from his dio- cese for four months.

CLEMENT F. PORTER, president of the Farmers' State Bank of Wilmot, is a native of Addison county, Vermont, born in the city of New Haven, on the 24th day of October, 1861. His parents were Clement and Elizabeth ( Como) Porter, both natives of the province of Quebec, Canada, and he is one of nine chil- dren, seven sons and two daughters, being the fifth of the family. His early life was beset with many discouraging vicissitudes and not a few hardships, and at the tender age of seven years he was thrown upon his own resources, from which time to the present day he has been obliged to make his own way in the world. When about eleven years old he went to West Boylston, Massachusetts, where he learned the shoemaker's trade, and after working at the same in that city until 1878 went to St. Paul, Min- ncsota, where during the ensuing four years he

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

was employed in the shoe factory of Forepaugh & Tarbox.

Severing his connection with that firm at the expiration of that time noted, Mr. Porter came to Roberts county, South Dakota, and in 1882 engaged in general merchandising at Wil- mot, in company with Edmund Cook, where he did a fairly successful business for a short time, finally disposing of his establishment to take a business course in a commercial college in St. Paul, Minnesota. Finishing the course, he re- turned to Wilmot and opened a hardware store, which he conducted with profitable results until 1888, when he engaged in the livery business, later turning his attention to real estate, bank- ing and to dealing in agricultural implements. Mr. Porter took a leading part in establishing the Farmers' State Bank of Wilmot, and was made president of the same immediately after its organization, being also a director of the Citizens' National Bank at Sisseton and of the Iowa and Dakota Land and Loan Company, also of Sisseton. A few years ago he sold his implement business, and has since devoted his attention to his financial interests and to agriculture, being quite extensively engaged in the latter, owning a finely improved and valuable farm in Roberts county, which is cultivated under his personal management.

Mr. Porter has been an active participant in public affairs ever since coming to South Da- kota, and in 1902 was elected to the upper house of the general assembly as representative from the thirty-fourth senatorial district. A Repub- lican of the most orthodox style, he has been a zcalous worker in the party, a leader in its councils in Roberts county, and it was in recog- nition of his valuable services that the above official honor was conferred upon him. Mr. Porter has served on the Republican central committee of Roberts county, in which capacities he was largely instrumental in formulating the policy of the party and in leading it to victory in local campaigns. Mr. Porter is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and is also identified with the Modern Woodmen of In addition to the church at Sisseton, Father America and the Knights of Pythias fraternities, i Quilty has charge of the mission points at Wil-

; having represented both the last named organi- zations in the grand lodge.

Mr. Porter is a married man and owns one of the beautiful and refined homes of Wilmot, the presiding genius of which is a lady of in- telligence and culture, who formerly bore the name of Nathalie DeNomme, but who changed it to the one she now so worthily bears on Feb- ruary 14, 1886. Mrs. Porter is a native of Massachusetts and of French descent, and has borne her husband children as follows: Flora M., George W., Clement F., Charles S., Thur- man, Harry and Irene, all living but Harry, who died January 12, 1902, aged two years and eleven months.

REV. WILLIAM F. QUILTY, who since the year 1900 has been the efficient pastor of St. Peter's Catholic church of Sisseton, was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on the 12th of Novem- ber. 1872. He received his preliminary edu- cational training in Dubuque, Iowa, later be- came a student of St. Joseph's College, and after finishing the prescribed course of that institu- tion was prepared for holy orders in St. Mary's Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, where he completed his theological studies in 1898. Father Quilty entered upon the duties of his holy office in Wis- consin, but after a short pastorate there was ap- pointed, in 1900, to St. Peter's church of Sisse- ton, where he has since remained and which under his able management and aggressive work has grown into one of the strongest and most in- fluential Catholic congregations in the north- eastern part of the state. Since taking charge of the work at this point the church has prospered along all lines of activity and he has won golden opinions and high respect from all classes of society, irrespective of creed or nationality. His labors for the good of his people have been constant and unwearied, and his unswerving fidelity to the interests of his parish has met with an approbation of his superiors that will be more manifest as the years roll by.

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

mot and Effington, both of which have pro- gressed greatly under his pastorate, and it is not too much to predict that ere long these con- gregations will be self-supporting. Father Quilty is a gentleman of scholarly tastes and, as already stated, his earnest and consecrated efforts have endeared him not only to the people to whom he ministers, but to the public at large. His labors for the spiritual and temporal wel- fare of his flock have been zealous and unceas- ing and, being an orator by nature and thor- oughly trained by education in pulpit eloquence, his success in performing the duties of his pas- torate and winning the love and admiration of his parishioners has been little less than phenome- nal. Conscious of the dignity of his mission and losing sight of self in his efforts to extend the Master's kingdom and win souls thereto, his life thus far has been consecrated to duty and the future awaits him with abundant rewards. His scholarly accomplishments, as well as his un- feigned piety and many personal virtues, have made him popular with all classes and conditions of his fellow men, and whatever the future may have in store for him, his name will always be cherished in the hearts of the people among whom he is now laboring with such beneficial re- sults.

CHARLES C. KING is one of the represent- ative citizens and honored business men of Scot- land, Bon Homme county, where he has main- tained his home since 1800, being president of the First National Bank of Scotland, succeeding the Bank of Scotland in 1903. one of the solid and popular monetary institutions of the state.

Charles Clark King is a native of the state of Illinois, having been born in the town of La Harpe, Hancock county, on the 7th of July, 1863, and being a son of Luranus F. and Laura (Andrews) King. both of whom were born and reared in Ohio, whence they removed to Illinois in an early day. In 1866 they removed to Polo, Ogle county, Illinois, the father there turning his attention to banking. The subject of this

sketch secured his educational discipline of a pre- liminary sort in the public schools, being gradu- ated in the high school at Polo, Illinois, as a mem- ber of the class of 1883. He then devoted one year to the reading of law, after which he was employed as a stenographer until 1887, when he removed to Duluth, Minnesota, and there en- gaged in the real-estate and loan business. In the following year he went to the city of Boston, Massachusetts, where he remained for two years as representative of the American Loan & Trust Company, of Duluth, and at the expiration of this period, in May, 1890, he came to South Dakota and took up his residence in Scotland, where he has ever since maintained his home. He here pur- chased a controlling interest in the Bank of Scot- land, of which institution he has ever since been president. He is known as a careful and conserv- ative executive and able financier and has the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has come in contact in either business or social rela- tions. In politics Mr. King is a stalwart advo- cate of the principles of the Republican party, in whose cause he has ever shown a zealous in- terest, though never a seeker of political prefer- ment for himself. He served as a member of the state executive committee of his party during the campaign of 1900 and at the time of this writing he is chairman of the Republican central commit- tee of his county. He has held no elective offices save that of treasurer of the school district, of which he is now incumbent. He and his wife are prominent and valued members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and fraternally he is an ap- preciative member of the Masonic order, in which he has attained to the thirty-second degree in the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, being affili- ated with Oriental Consistory, No. I, at Yankton, while he is also a member of the El Riad Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, in Sioux Falls.

On the 19th of February, 1896, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. King to Miss Della Robinson, daughter of A. F. Robinson, a re- spccted citizen of Dixon, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. King have one son. Robert R., who was born on the 27th of October, 1900.

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

FRANK MCNULTY, attorney and coun- sellor at law, of Sisseton, is a native of Minne- sota and one of a family of six children, whose parents were born and reared in Ireland. His father came to the United States in the early 'fifties and settling in Illinois, followed stock raising until the breaking out of the Great Re- bellion, when he enlisted in the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, with which he served with an honorable record until the close of the war. Later he moved to Minnesota, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in the city of St. Cloud in 1896, at the age of fifty-six, his widow being still a resident of that place.

Frank McNulty was born December 1, 1873, in the city of St. Paul and after finishing the public-school course pursued his studies for some time in the University of Minnesota, sub- sequently, 1900, being graduated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. Meantime. 1895. he came to South Dakota as principal of the schools of Wilmot and after filling the position one year was elected super- intendent of the Roberts county public schools, the duties of which he discharged two terms, having been re-elected in 1898. Retiring from the superintendency, Mr. McNulty resumed his legal studies in the University of Minnesota, and after finishing the same, as stated above, opened an office in Sisseton, where his legal abili- ties soon won public recognition, as is attested by the lucrative practice which he has since built up and now commands. Although a young man with a comparatively brief experience at the bar, he is recognized as a lawyer of high rank and scholarly attainments, well equipped in every branch of the profession and since lo- cating in his present field of labor he has ap- peared either for the' prosecution or defense in many of the most noted cases tried in the courts of Roberts county.

Mr. McNulty is not only well versed in the basic principles of jurisprudence, but is familiar with the devious methods of practice and. being apt and resourceful, is quick to detect weak points or flaws on the part of opposing counsel and turn them to his own advantage. A close

and critical student, he has earned the reputation of an able and honorable adviser, as well as that of a judicious practitioner, and the energy and spirit manifested in cases intrusted to him de- monstrate his ability to maintain the justness of his causes. Mr. McNulty is pronounced in his allegiance to the Republican party and has done much to promote its success in Roberts county and throughout South Dakota. He served one year as secretary of the state central committee, in which capacity his labors were duly recog- nized and appreciated. and he has used his in- fluence in many other ways to insure victory for the cause which has always been very close to his heart. Prominent in local affairs and untiring in his efforts to advance the interests of his city and county, he encourages every legitimate en- terprise to these ends, and ever since taking up his residence in South Dakota his name has been very closely identified with movements and measures having for their object the advance- ment of the state and the prosperity of its peo- ple. Mr. McNulty is a director of the Citizens' National Bank of Sisseton and a stockholder in the same, also a director and vice-president of the Towa Land and Loan Company. In addi- tion to his individual interests as represented by his law practice, he owns considerable land and devotes no little attention to agriculture and stock raising. for both of which he has always manifested a decided liking. Fraternally Mr. McNulty is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he now holds the title of past grand chancellor, and he has at different times rep- resented the local lodge in the grand lodge of the state. While in college he was an active worker in the Phi Delta Phi fraternity and still manifests a lively interest in the same, retaining his membership and keeping himself in close touch with its deliberations.

L. WILLIAM FOSS, clerk of the Roberts county courts, is a native of Dodge county, Min- nesota, where his birth occurred on July 12, 1878. His parents, Anton and Emma (Folk- stadt) Foss, were born in Norway and Min-

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nesota, respectively, both being of Scandinavian origin. Anton Foss lived in Minnesota for a number of years and was a man of considerable prominence in his community. He came to South Dakota in 1880, took a leading part in the public affairs of Roberts county and from 1890 to 1894, inclusive, held the office of register of deeds. His home at the present time is on a farm near Wilmot, but he is interested in the abstract business at Milbank, in the Grant County Abstract and Title Company.

L. William Foss was about two years old when his parents moved to South Dakota, and since that time the greater part of his life has been spent in Roberts county. He has reared on a farm near Wilmot, attended the public schools of that town until finishing the prescribed course of study and in 1896 was appointed deputy register of deeds, which office he held until engaging in the mercantile business at Sum- mit. in September of the following year. Mr. Foss sold goods until 1901, when he disposed of his establishment and accepted the position of committee clerk in the house of representatives in the session of 1901. He then came to Sisseton and entered the employ of the Roberts County Abstract and Title Company, with which he re- mained about one and a half years, when he was elected in 1902 clerk of the circuit and county courts, which office he has since held. Mr. Foss's previous training and experience fitted him to discharge acceptably the duties of the clerkship and his management of the office has fully justified the people in the wisdom of his election. He is an accomplished business man, a ready accountant, and by his courteous treat- ment of those having business to transact in the office, he has won a warm and permanent place in the hearts of his fellow citizens. A Republican in politics and zealous in upholding his principles, he is nevertheless popular with the people of the county, regardless of party ties and numbers among his warm friends many who hold opinions directly the opposite of his own.

Mr. Foss, on November 25, 1901, was united in marriage with Miss Angie M. Tenney, of

Spring Valley, Minnesota, the accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Tenney, who are among the well-known and highly respected people of that town. Fraternally Mr. Foss is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Improved Order of Red Men, being at this time chief of records in the local lodge of the latter organization in Sisseton. Mr. Foss is one of the rising young men of Roberts county, and his honorable career thus far is prophetic of a much wider sphere of action and greater achievements in years to come.

B. F. CAMPBELL, born Machias, Maine, 1838. Served in Civil war and earned rank of colonel. Register United States land office at Vermillion, 1879. Postmaster Sioux Falls, 1889- 93. Died, 1897.

HOMER A. METCALF, for twenty-two years a resident of South Dakota and since 1900 auditor of Roberts county, is a native of the dominion of Canada, born near the city of Lon- don, Ontario, on April 13, of the year 1865, being one of eight children, three sons and five daughters, that constituted the family of An- thony and Catherine (Haley) Metcalf, the father of English birth, the mother of German-English descent, but born and reared in Canada. An- thony Metcalf, a carpenter by trade, and later a large and successful contractor, immigrated to South Dakota in 1881 and settled near Wilmot, Roberts county, where he engaged in farming, which vocation he followed until retiring from active life a few years ago and removing to the town of Wilmot. While following building he displayed great energy and acquired an honor- able reputation as mechanic and contractor. He was also successful as an agriculturist, and is now enjoying the fruits of his many years of honest toil in the quiet, restful life, which only such busy men as he know how to appreciate fully. Mrs. Catherine Metcalf died in Roberts county in the month of March, 1887.

Homer A. Metcalf spent his childhood and

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

youth on the family homestead near London, Canada, attended the public schools there until about his sixteenth year and in 1881 accompanied his parents to Roberts county, South Dakota, where he has since resided. He continued his studies for some time after coming to this state and when a young man engaged in teaching, which profession he followed of winter seasons for three years. He also pre-empted land, from which in due time he developed a good farm, and after retiring from educational work de- voted his entire attention to agriculture until the fall of 1900, when he was elected by the Re- publican party to the office of county auditor. The better to discharge the duties of his office Mr. Metcalf turned his farm over to other hands and removed to the county seat, where he has since lived, having been chosen his own suc- cessor in the year 1902.

Mr. Metcalf has administered his office in an able and praiseworthy manner and his record since taking possession of the same has been eminently creditable to himself and an honor to the county. He keeps in close touch with public affairs, is active as a politician and has contributed much to the success of the Re- publican party in his section of the state. He retained his landed interests until quite recently, when he disposed of the same, and is now prom- inently identified with the growth and develop- ment of Sisseton, encouraging all efforts making for the city's material prosperity and lending his influence to all enterprises having for their ob- ject the social, educational and moral advance- ment of the community.

On November 20, 1890, Mr. Metcalf en- tered the marriage relation with Miss Ella Frymire, of Canada, daughter of Philip Fry- mire, who moved some years ago to Roberts county, South Dakota, where the father is still living, her mother being deceased. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf, namely : Harold H., Donald C., Paul W., Ray C., Edith May and Winfield, all living and, with their parents, constituting a happy household. The religious belief of Mr. Metcalf is repre- sented by the Methodist church, of which he

has been a faithful and consistent member for a number of years. Mrs. Metcalf is also a Methodist, and with her husband belongs to the congregation worshiping at Sisseton.

EDWARD C. GAMM, the leading lumber dealer of Sisseton, was born in Schleswig- Holstein, Germany, on August 24, 1844, being one of the five children of Christopher Gamm, a miller by trade, who came to America in 1865, and departed this life four years later in the state of Connecticut. E. C. was reared and educated in his native country and when a youth learned cabinetmaking, which trade he followed in Germany until 1865, when he came to the United States and secured employment in an organ and piano factory in the city of New York. Subsequently he engaged in the manu- facture of doors, sash and other building ma- terial at that place, but later, in 1875, went to Stillwater, Minnesota, where he carried on the same line of business for some time in connec- tion with the general lumber trade. In 1885 Mr. Gamm went to St. Paul as agent for the St. Croix Lumber Company, and continued to man- age the firm's large interests in that city during the ensuing several years, resigning his posi- tion as manager in 1896. In the latter year he came to Sisseton, South Dakota, and started the lumber yard of which he is now general man- ager, the meanwhile building up an extensive business in lumber and all kinds of building ma- terial, such as doors, sash, lath, etc., his establish- ment being one of the largest of the kind in this part of the state. Since coming west Mr. Gamm has manifested a decided interest in the affairs of Sisseton and Roberts county, being public spirited in all the term implies and ever ready and willing to lend his influence and support to enterprises and measures for the general welfare of the community. He served six years as alder- man and could have had almost any local office within the gift of the people had he not positively refused to accept such evidence of public con- fidence.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 32

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