History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 36

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

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spike factory, in which were made the spikes used in the construction of the first railroad built in the United States."

M. V. B. Perley, of Georgetown, Massa- chusetts, has traced the genealogy of the Perley family, through church and military records, back to the middle ages and into Hungary. The coat of arms shows a shield embellished with a depiction of some sort of fruit, and the motto used in the connection is "E fructibus noscitis eos," meaning "By their fruits ye shall know them." Allen Perley, a native of Wales, landed at Charlestown, Massachusetts, July 12, 1630, and from him the direct line of descent to the subject is traced through Thomas, Jacob, Jacob (2d), John (who was killed in the war of the Revolution ), Nathaniel and Stephen B., the last mentioned being the father of the subject of this review. There are today about one thousand Perley descendants in the United States.

George A. Perley received an academic edu- cation in the Wesleyan Methodist Seminary, at Wasioja. Minnesota, the greater portion of this discipline having been secured after he had at- tained manhood. Having been previously in the employ of an experienced English editor and appreciating the handicap entailed by ignorance, he devoted a few years to arduous study and found thereby a new world of thought and a wider sphere of existence and action. He gave up his studies, however, in the spring of 1876. having succumbed to a vigorous attack of "western fever." In April of that year he ar- rived at the conclusion that the life of the farmer was the most independent of all, if the fortunate individual could own his own farm and be free from debt. He made a prompt decision one evening, and the next morning started on foot for the nearest railway station, that of Dodge Center, Minnesota, whence he started for the great territory of Dakota. After reaching Worthington, Minnesota, he went farther inland on foot, and by securing an occasional ride with freighters' teams, finally reached what is now Moody county, the locality being then seventy miles distant from any railroad, while there were only three white families settled at Flandreau

at the time. He took up a homestead and a tree claim, and has developed the property into one of the best farms in this section of the state, while he also owns an additional eighty acres of school land, which he purchased a number of years later, his homestead being located in Grovena township and four miles southeast of the thriving city of Flandreau. Of his life and labors here we can not do better than to quote the words of our subject himself : "Here I have tried to live as independently as possible, even to the part played in the field of politics. In the early days a political nomination was equivalent to an election, and party managers carried offices in their vest-pockets. Public improvements were extravagantly forwarded by shouldering bonded indebtedness on those as yet unborn. These principles I considered radically wrong, and I joined with others in bringing about a reformatory movement through the organiza- tion of the Populist party, which finally became defunct, through the compromising work of a few who were willing to sacrifice principle for the sake of the possibility of securing office at the hands of fusion. During the Civil war the prices of labor and all kinds of commodities were very much above the usual level, and after the close of the great conflict a reaction naturally ensued. At this time, for the conservation of their own interests, an organized effort was advocated among the farmers and resulted in the establish- ing of the Patrons of Husbandry and the Grange. 'Pay as you go, and buy less' was the title of my first paper read before a local assembly of one of these organizations, and by following the plan I thus advocated it has been possible for me to keep on safe ground ever since. I had not been long a resident of the territory before we organized a Farmers' Alliance, while later we organized a citizens' constitutional association, having in view the interests of statehood. In this connection we voiced our sentiments at Can- ton, on the occasion of the first general meeting for the consideration of the matter of securing admission to the Union. In the last of the ter- ritorial days we had a Moody county legislative association, the same having been projected

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mainly for the purpose of making an organized effort against the everlasting bonding system which townsite proprietors were so inconsist- ently using at that time, prejudicial to the best interests of the people. In September, 1889, I was assigned work as local observer in connec- tion with the United States signal service, and have ever since held this position. I have been secretary of the Farmers' Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Company of Moody county from the time of its inception, in 1889. and also hold a similar position in the Co-operative Grain Elevator Company. In 1903 a farmers' tele- phone system has been installed, the lines cover- ing a distance of twenty-six miles, and this service, owned and controlled by the farmers, meets with marked appreciation and affords facilities of great convenience and practical value, effectively supplementing the rural free mail de- livery and standing in marked contrast to the advantages we enjoyed in the pioneer days."

In politics Mr. Perley maintains an independ- ent attitude, and while he has a deep reverence for the spiritual verities he is an avowed agnos- tic, showing in this regard the courage of his convictions, as does he in all other relations of life. His family attend the Methodist Episcopal church and contribute to its support. Of his life and labors Mr. Perley has further spoken as fol- lows: "As a young man I decided to try to do something as a teacher in the public schools and to thus make the world better for my having existence. The continual strife for a position and the dependent nature of the profession in- clined me to adopt the noble vocation of farm- ing, since in that I could tell the truth and ask no favors. I found an open field that needed working, in both politics and finance, and have occasionally endeavored to lift some of the bur- dens resting on the people. There is a grand opportunity for labor on both sumptuary and religious questions affecting the human welfare, but the task looks so hopeless that one hesitates to devote his energies to work along these lines. As labor becomes more irksome I shall use my poetic genius in the field of song. At present I will close with this inspiration as a finale good

to sing over the grave of this portion of the great American desert of my boyhood :

This old desert of a plain, With its many fields of grain, With its horses, hogs. and cattle yet unsold,

Causes me to sing the strain, While in plenty falls the rain, We are happy with our grasses, grain and gold.

On the 20th of July, 1880, in the city of Sioux Falls, this state, Mr. Perley was united in marriage to Miss Emma Rebecah Irish, who was born and reared in Dodge county, Min- nesota, and who was for a number of terms a successful teacher in the public schools of Woodbury county, Iowa, holding a first-grade certificate, and who is a sister of the noted orator, Hon. John B. Irish, of Downieville, Cali- fornia. The first American ancestor of the Irish family came to this country from Wales, and he was for a time in the employ of Miles Standish, whose name is so well known in history and story. Mr. and Mrs. Perley have two children, namely : A daughter, Iva Chrysoma, born July 14, 1881, who is in her third year at the State University at Vermillion. The son, Stephen Elton, who was born March 12, 1883, has ended his first year's study at the Brookings Agricul- tural College.

JOHN CRAIGON BAIRD is a native of Green Lake county, Wisconsin, the son of John and Mary (McAdam) Baird, and he dates his birth from the 8th day of February, 1858. Reared on a farm and early taught the lessons of industry and thrift which inakes that pursuit successful, he grew up with a full appreciation of life and its responsibilities, and after acquir- ing a fair education in the common schools, he entered at the age of eighteen a store, where he spent three strenuous years, during which time he became familiar with the varied details of the mercantile business. Resigning his clerkship at the expiration of the period noted, he came to South Dakota and settling in Hanson county,

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spent some time as manager of a branch store belonging to William Van Epps, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Severing his connection with those gentlemen, he changed his abode to Douglas county and filed on a homestead, chos- ing for his location a fine tract of land about three and a half miles east of Armour, which he at once began to improve and for which in due season he acquired a title from the govern- ment. Shortly after selecting his homestead Mr. Baird revisited his native state, and while there was married, in 1879, to Miss Ella Whittemore, who was also born and reared in Wisconsin. Returning to South Dakota a little later, he took up, in 1880, his permanent abode on the land already referred to and since that time has greatly improved the same, besides adding at intervals to its area, until he now owns a fine tract of four hundred and eighty acres, one hun- dred and sixty of which are in a successful state of cultivation.

Mr. Baird is an up-to-date agriculturist, well acquainted with the nature of soils and their adaptability to different crops, and, employing modern methods and the latest and most ap- proved implements and machinery, he realizes bountiful returns from the time and labor ex- pended on his farm. He is also engaged quite largely in the live-stock business, raising large numbers of cattle, horses and hogs. from the sale of which is derived no small part of his in- come. He has made many valuable improve- ments on his place, has a substantial and at- tractive residence and good outbuildings and his home, situated in one of the finest sections of Douglas county, indicates the dwelling place of not only a man of enterprise and progressive ideas, but a gentleman of intelligence, sound judgment and excellent taste, as well. Person- ally, he enjoys great popularity among his neigh- bors and friends and as a citizen he is public- spirited and a leader in all laudable movements. He served eight or nine years as school clerk, also held the office of township supervisor for a considerable length of time and is now town- ship treasurer.

Politically he is a pronounced Democrat, and

fraternally is identified with the Masonic brother- hood, the order of Maccabees and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Mr. and Mrs. Baird have a family of eight children, whose names in order of birth are as follows: Grace, Walter, John R., Maude, Rob- ert, Agnes, Frank and Pearl, all living.

PAUL HEINTZ, one of the successful farmers and representative citizens of Moody county, comes of stanch German lineage and is himself a native of the state of Minnesota, having been born in Stearns county, on the 15th of October, 1859. He is a son of Peter and Margaret (Till) Heintz, the former of whom was born and reared in Luxembourg, Germany, and he continued to be there engaged in farm- ing until his emigration to America, at the age of twenty-five years. He was for a number of years engaged in farming in Minnesota, whence he came to Moody county, South Dakota, in 1874, here taking up a half section of govern- ment land and improving the same, becoming one of the prominent and successful farmers of this section, where he passed the remainder of his long and signally useful life, being eighty- two years of age at the time of his death, which occurred May 16, 1901. He originally gave his allegiance to the Democratic party, but in later years supported the principles and policies of the Republican party. His religious faith was that of the Roman Catholic church, of which his venerable widow is likewise a devoted member. She now resides in Flandreau and is eighty-four years of age at the time of this writing, in 1903. Of this union were born ten children, and six of the number are still living.

The subject of this sketch received his early educational training in the public schools of his native state and was a lad of fifteen years at the time of the family removal to what is now the state of South Dakota. He was reared to maturity on the home farm in Moody county and eventually engaged in farming on his own account. He now has a finely improved and valuable ranch of one hundred and sixty acres,

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in Grovena township, his home being located four miles south and one east of the thriving village of Flandreau, which is his postoffice ad- dress. Nearly the entire acreage of his farm is under cultivation and he also devotes no little attention to the raising of a fine grade of short- horn cattle and other live stock. In politics he is found prominently arrayed in the ranks of the Populist party, and takes a public-spirited inter- est in the issues of the day and particularly in local affairs. He has served as director and treasurer of his school district, as a member of the board of township trustees and as overseer of roads, these various preferments indicating the high esteem in which he is held in the com- munity in which he has passed the major por- tion of his life. He is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church, his wife belonging to the Methodist, and fraternally he is identified with the lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Flandreau.

On the 5th of January, 1890, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Heintz to Miss Rosa Belle Roberts, daughter of Asahel and (Hawkins) Roberts, well-known residents of this county, and they are the parents of four children, namely : Beulah, Doris, Wallace and Mary.

FRANK H. CRAIG, supervising mechanic in connection with the Indian school maintained at Greenwood, Charles Mix county, is a native of the domain of Canada, having been born near the city of Toronto, on the 28th of December, 1845, and being a son of Davis C. and Mary J. (Witherel) Craig, both of whom were born and reared in the state of New York, whence they removed to Canada, where they maintained their home about eleven years, the father having been a farmer and mechanic. In 1854 the family re- moved to Elliota, Minnesota, locating in Fill- more county, where the parents continued to re- side until 1881, when they came to South Da- kota, where the father of our subject took up government land, in Fillmore county, there pass- ing the remainder of his life. He died in June,

1901, his devoted wife having passed away in September of the preceding year. They became the parents of seven children, of whom four are living, all being residents of South Dakota. In early life Davis C. Craig was a Whig in politics, but he identified himself with the Re- publican party at the time of its organization and was ever afterward a supporter of its cause. He 'enlisted as a member of Company C, Third Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, at the outbreak of the Civil war, and was in active service about four years. It may also be noted in the connec- tion that the subject of this sketch enlisted in Company A, Second Minnesota Cavalry, with which he served about two and one-half years, principally under General Sully and in connec- tion with the Indian warfare in the northwest. He received his honorable discharge on the 4th of April, 1866, having made an excellent record as a valiant and loyal soldier.

Frank H. Craig received a common-school education and was about nine years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Minnesota, where he was variously employed for a number of years, finally becoming identified with railroad work, in which he was engaged up to the time of coming to South Dakota, from Chicago, in 1879. He took up a homestead claim in Spink county, on the 16th of June of that year, and there continued to reside until 1891, having been one of the early settlers of the county and one of its popular and influential citizens. He erected the first frame house in the county, and the same was used for some time as a court house. He served for five years as a member of the board of county commissioners and held other local offices of trust, including those of justice of the peace, while he was for many years a school official. In politics he gives an un- wavering allegiance to the Republican party and has been an active worker in its cause. Fra- ternally he is identified with Frankfort Lodge, No. 77, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; Redfield Chapter, No. 20, Royal Arch Masons; Frankfort Lodge, No. 83. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and to Sol Meredith Post, Grand Army of the Republic.

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In 1891 Mr. Craig disposed of his interests in Spink county and took up his residence in Greenwood, where he has since held the posi- tion of government mechanic at the Indian school, in which connection he has accomplished a most satisfactory work. He is the owner of a fine ranch of five hundred and eighty-five acres in Boyd county, Nebraska, and he is also the owner of a fine herd of cattle on his ranch in Nebraska. He has attained success since com- ing to Dakota and is one of the loyal and public- spirited citizens of the state.

On the 4th of July, 1868, at Harmony, Fill- more county, Minnesota, Mr. Craig was mar- ried to Miss Eliza M. Craig, who was born and reared in Canada, being a daughter of John and Elizabeth Craig, the former being a farmer by vocation. Of this union were born eight chil- dren, namely : Leslie, Herbert, Claud and Neva, who are deceased; Harold, who remains at the parental home, as do also James E., Bessie and Earl F.

ELISHA K. THOMPSON, one of the honored pioneers of Charles Mix county, was born in Meigs county, Ohio, on the 18th of March, 1822, being a son of Reuben and Falindie (Kent) Thompson, both of whom were born in the state of New York, while they be- came the parents of five children, of whom two are living. The father of the subject devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, and both he and his wife died in Ohio. The pa- ternal ancestors on both sides were of colonial stock and both families were rep- resented by valiant soldiers in the war of the Revolution, assisting in gaining the boon of independence. Elisha K. Thompson received a common-school education and was reared on the homestead farm to the age of seventeen years, when he came west to Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand and ran on the Mississippi river until his marriage, in 1847. He resided on his farm in Ohio until 1861, when he went to White- side county, Illinois, where he purchased land, to whose cultivation he devoted his attention

about eight years. He then moved to Lyndon, Illinois, where he invested in a pump works. In 1877 he disposed of the property and moved to Iowa, where he purchased a farm in Sac county, where he continued to follow agricultural pur- suits for the ensuing five years, or until 1882, when he came to South Dakota and took up a homestead claim in Charles Mix county, and on this property, now finely improved, he has ever since continued to reside. When he came to the county the settlers were few, and the In- dians were found in the vicinity in considerable numbers, but he found them at all times peace- able and kindly. During the first season of his residence in the county Mr. Thompson states that he secured the best sod crops ever raised in any locality, but the several years of drought which followed brought financial ruin to many of the settlers in this section. A radical change later ensued, the rainfall being more copious and regular, so that crop failures are practically a thing of the past. Mr. Thompson has one of the most attractive homes in the county, hav- ing a substantial and commodious residence, around which he has succeeded in raising some very fine maple and cedar trees, which he per- sonally planted and which have now attained such a size as to make the home a picturesque and beautiful one. In politics he was originally a supporter of the Whig party, but upon the organization of the Republican party he trans- ferred his allegiance to the same and has ever since been a stalwart advocate of its principles. He has been a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal church for the past sixty years, and his loved and devoted wife has also been a zeal- ous worker in and a member of the church.

On the 13th of June, 1847, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Thompson to Miss Nancy Gilman, who was born and reared in Meigs county, Ohio, being a daughter of Henry Gil- man, a prominent farmer of that locality, where he also conducted a large saddlery business for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson became the parents of six children, one of whom died in infancy. Of the others we offer the following brief record: Reuben died at the age of eleven

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years; Nancy died at the age of ten years; Emma is the wife of Henry Van Schoonhoven, a prominent farmer of Charles Mix county ; Edward, who married Miss Lulu Tenny, is en- gaged in the livery business at Platte, this county ; and Josephine is the wife of Clarence Vermillion, the leading dry-goods merchant in the city of Mitchell, this state.

ROBERT GORDON, a well-known farmer and stock raiser of Yankton county, was born in northern Ireland on the 15th of September, 1833, his parents being John and Mary (Cane) Gordon, who spent their entire lives on the Emerald Isle, the father there devoting his energies to farming. In 1856 Mr. Gordon of this review came to the new world. He had been educated in his native country and he was trained to habits of industry and frugality. As a young man of twenty-three years he crossed the Atlantic and settled in Rhode Island, where he was first employed in a sugar refinery, oc- cupying a position for four years. On the ex- piration of that period he removed to Lenawee county, Michigan, where he purchased forty acres of land, continuing its cultivation for four years. He next spent one summer upon a farm in Wisconsin and afterward removed to Porter county, Indiana, locating near Valparaiso. Twelve years covers the period of his connection : with the farming interests of the Hoosier state and the year 1878 witnessed his arrival in South Dakota. He has since lived in this portion of the country and as the years have gone by he has gradually advanced until he now occupies an enviable position upon the plane of affluence.

In 1856 Mr. Gordon was united in marriage to Miss A. J. Barnes, a daughter of David and Hannah (Speers) Barnes, who were natives of Scotland and spent their entire lives in the land of the hills and heather. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have become the parents of eight children : John, who married Lucy Robinson and is a farmer; David, who is represented elsewhere in this work; James, who married Anna Barnes and is also engaged in farming; William, who

wedded Mary Christopherson and is operating the home place; Mollie, the deceased wife of W. J. Mann, an agriculturist; and three, who have passed away.

Mr. Gordon owns three hundred and twenty acres of rich land, of which one hundred acres is pasture land. He is a general farmer and also raises stock, handling Hereford cattle and Poland-China hogs, of a high grade. He has also bought and sold stock, having all of his farm products raised for this purpose. In his business he has prospered because of his unremitting dili- gence and his honorable methods. He is straight- forward in all of his dealings and has never been known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellow men in any trade transaction. He has planted all of the trees upon his place and his splendidly developed property stands as a monu- ment to his thrift and enterprise. For four years he lost all that he raised because of the grasshoppers and though many a man of less resolute spirit would have been utterly discour- aged he continued in his labors, working dili- gently year after year until success has now crowned his labors. He is a member of the Con- gregational church and at all times his life has been in consistent harmony with his professions so that he is a gentleman of sterling worth, his name being synonymous with integrity.

GEORGE BEATCH, one of the success- ful representatives of the agricultural and stock- growing industries of Hanson county, is a native of Houston county, Minnesota, where he was born on the 16th of October. 1871, being a son of John and Annie (Goetzinger) Beatch, both of whom were born and reared in Germany. The father of the subject came to America in 1854 and located in the state of Ohio, where he was engaged in farming for four years, at the ex- piration of which he removed to Minnesota, tak- ing up government land in Houston county and becoming one of the successful pioneer farmers of that section, where he continued to make his home until 1882, when he came with his family to Hanson county, South Dakota, where he and

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 36

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