History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 46

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

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On the 12th of October, 1892, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Petrik to Miss Mary A. Novotny, who was born in Bon Homme county, this state, on the 28th of November, 1876, being a daughter of Joseph and Rosa Novotny, who were early settlers in this section of the state. Of this union have been born five children, namely: George, Louise, Joseph, Edward and Albina, all of whom still remain beneath the home roof.

RUTHERFORD H. FULTON, late post- master at Avon, Bon Homme county, was a native of the state of Illinois, having been born on a farm in Jo Daviess county on the 2d of May, 1877, and being a son of Peter and Caroline (Whitman) Fulton, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania and the latter in Illinois. Of their twelve children six are living at the present time. Peter Fulton was reared on the homestead farm in the old Keystone state of the Union, where he remained until he had attained the age of eighteen years, when, in 1847, he came westward to Illinois, where he was employed on various farms for a number of years, carefully conserving his resources and thus being finally able to purchase a tract of land in Joe Daviess county, where he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits until the time of his death, which occurred in 1897. his devoted wife passing away in the same year. They were worthy church members, and the father was a stanch Re- publican in his political adherency.

Rutherford H. Fulton was reared on the homestead farm and acquired his educational dis- cipline in the public schools of Jo Daviess county. In 1896 he went to Plymouth county, Iowa, where he secured employment in the office of the Akron Register, a weekly newspaper. In the following summer he returned to Illinois, where he remained about one year, at the ex- piration of which. in the summer of 1897, he re- turned to Akron, Iowa, and purchased a half in- terest in the publication in the office of which he had worked the preceding year, and there he con- tinued to be actively engaged in the newspaper business until May, 1900, when he disposed of his interests and came to South Dakota, purchas- ing an interest in a newspaper at Alcester, Union county, and being identified with its publication about one year. He then came to Avon and here established the Avon Clarion, whose publication he continued until the Ist of February, 1903, when he sold the plant and business to W. J. Robinson, having been appointed postmaster of the town in December, 1902. In that office he did much to improve the service and his administra- tion met with unqualified approval while he en-

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joyed marked personal popularity in the village and surrounding country, his death, on July 17, 1903, being deeply regretted by all who knew him. He was a stalwart Republican in politics and was chairman of the first board of trustees of the village after its incorporation, while he served one term as justice of the peace of the village, and in 1902 was elected to the same of- fice as a county official, but did not qualify, on ac- count of his appointment as postmaster. He was a member of the ancient-craft body of the Ma- sonic fraternity ; of Avon Camp, No. 8536, Mod- ern Woodmen of America, and Avon Tent, No. 61, Knights of the Maccabees.

On the 28th of September, 1898, Mr. Ful- ton was united in marriage to Miss Alice Myers, of Akron, Iowa. Two children have been born, Leon Ernest, born March 6, 1901, died July 10, 190I, and Ruth Hazel, born July 7, 1903.

JOHN S. HEADLEY was born in Granville, Mahaska county, Iowa, on the 2d of December, 1858, a son of William and Ann (Bowman) Headley, and he is the only one of their four children now living. His father was born in the city of Hull, England, about 1824, his father hav- ing been a clergyman of the Baptist church. He was reared on a farm, in the home of relatives, as both of his parents fell victim to the dread scourge of cholera and died while he was a mere infant. Upon attaining his legal majority Wil- liam Headley bade adieu to his native land and set forth to seek his fortunes in America. He located in the state of Vermont, where his mar- riage was solemnized, and later he emigrated to Mahaska county, Iowa, where he purchased land and devoted himself to farming until his death. which occurred on the 6th of March, 1873. He was a Republican in politics but not an office- seeker, and was a sincere and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is also his widow, who now makes her home with the subject, being accorded that filial solicitude which is so justly her due.

John S. Headley was reared on the home-

stead farm and after availing himself of the ad- vantages of the public schools he continued his educational discipline in Penn College, at Oska- loosa, Iowa. At the age of twenty-one years he put his scholastic acquirements to practical test by engaging as a teacher in the district schools, continuing to teach during the winter terms for several years and working on the farm during the intervening summer seasons. In 1883 he came to South Dakota and took up a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Hutch- inson county, together with a timber claim of equal area. His mother and younger brother had preceded him here by one year and both had filed on claims in this same county. The subject here gave his attention to teaching during the win- ter months, and the balance of his time was de- voted to the improvement and cultivation of his farm. In 1889 he was chosen principal of the schools at Parkston, holding this position two years and then residing on his farm until 1894. when he came to Menno, where he was principal of the public schools for the ensuing five years. gaining a high reputation in the educational field here. In the fall of 1898 a fitting recognition of his ability was given in his election to the office of county superintendent of schools, and he served two terms of two years each, making a most excellent record and doing much to advance the cause of popular education in his jurisdic- tion. During his last term he also contributed the editorial leaders to the Hutchinson Herald, and on the 15th of December, 1900, he purchased and assumed control of the publication, which is one of the leading Republican papers of this sec- tion of the state and one which is a true repre- sentative of local interests in all lines. In 1902 he was a delegate to the convention of the Na- tional Editorial Association at Hot Springs, Ar- kansas, and in the same year also attended the meeting of the National Educational Associa- tion, being held in the city of Minneapolis. He is an uncompromising advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and while not ambitious for official preferment he has served in various minor offices of trust. He and his wife are prom- inent members of the Methodist Episcopal

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church, and in the same he served for several years as superintendent of the Sunday school.

On the 12th of August, 1883, Mr. Headley was united in marriage to Miss Emma E. Wat- son, who was born in Mahaska county, Iowa, and of their eight children six are living, all re- maining at the parental home save the eldest, Lillian O., who is a student in the normal school at Madison. The others are as follows: Lulu A., Georgiana, Muriel, John W. and Frank.

ANDREAS A. WIPF, M. D., was born in southern Russia, on the 12th of September, 1868, being a son of Andreas and Susan (Glanzer) Wipf, to whom were born five children, namely : Sarah, who is the wife of Joseph G. Gross, of Hutchinson county ; Joseph A., who is engaged in farming in this county ; Susan, who is the wife of Andrew R. Hofer, a farmer of this county ; Anna, who remains at the parental home; and Andreas Albert, the immediate subject of this sketch. The Wipf family traces back to Swiss origin, but has been established in Russia for fully a century, representatives of the name hay- ing removed from Switzerland into Tyrol, Aus- tria, and thence into southern Russia, where both parents of our subject were born and reared. In 1875 they emigrated to America and came to Hutchinson county, South Dakota, where the father entered a homestead claim on Wolf creek, five miles southwest of the present town of Bridgewater, and there he improved a valuable farm, upon which he died, and where his esti- mable wife still continues to make her home, being numbered among the honored pioneers of the county.

Dr. Wipf was seven years of age at the time when the family came from Russia, and he was reared to maturity in South Dakota, his youthful days being devoted to working on the home farm and attending the common schools. Later he entered the Dakota University, at Mitchell, and finally was matriculated in the University of South Dakota, in Vermillion, where he contin- ted his scholastic discipline. He then devoted three winters to teaching in the district schools,

engaging in farm work during the summer sea- sons. In 1891 he took up the study of medicine, and in the fall of that year entered that celebrated institution, Rush Medical College, in the city of Chicago, where he completed the prescribed course under the most favorable auspices, being graduated in the spring of 1894, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Shortly afterward the Doctor opened an office in Freeman, where he has since been established in the practice of his profession and where he has attained distinctive prestige as an able and discriminating physi- cian and surgeon. He is a stalwart supporter of the Republican party, but has never held office, save that of county coroner, in which capacity he served four years. He is a member of the South Dakota State Medical Society and is held in high esteem by his professional confreres. Fraternally he is identified with Eureka Lodge, No. 71, Free and Accepted Masons ; Scotland Chapter, No. 31. Royal Arch Masons; Oriental Consistory, An- cient Accepted Scottish Rite; El Riad Tem- ple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, the latter two being organized in the city of Sioux Falls, and he is also affiliated with the lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Bridgewater and the camp of the Modern Woodmen of America at Menno. The Doctor is the owner of a fine farm of one hun- dred and eighty-five acres, located three miles northeast of Freeman, in Turner county.

On the 26th of June, 1894. Dr. Wipf was united in marriage to Miss Dorothea Hoellwarth. of Hutchinson county, and they are the parents of six children, namely : Claudia, Adeline, Alice, Alfred, Lilly and Kurt.

FREDERICK HAAR, one of the leading dealers in agricultural implements and machinery in Hutchinson county, was born in the southern part of Russia on the 27th of February, 1856, being a son of Jacob and Frederica (Rop) Haar, who emigrated thence to the United States in 1875, coming forthwith to South Dakota and lo- cating in Hutchinson county, where the father filed entry on homestead, pre-emption and tim-

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ber claims of one hundred and sixty acres each, seven miles southwest of the present village of Freeman, which had not then sprung into exist- ence. He resided on this farm about fifteen years, thence removing to Edmunds county, where he remained three years, and finally taking up his residence in the village of Freeman, where he and his wife have since maintained their home. Both are devoted members of the Lutheran church, and he is a Republican in his political proclivities.

Frederick Haar, the subject of this sketch, was reared to maturity in his native land, where he received the advantages of the common schools, and he was nineteen years of age at the time when he accompanied his parents to the United States, in 1875. He shortly afterward entered claim to a quarter section of government land near that of his father, in Hutchinson county, and after his marriage, in 1876, he settled on his farm and set himself vigorously to the task of improving the same and bringing it under ef- fective cultivation. He continued to be thus identified with agricultural pursuits about six years, at the expiration of which, in 1882, he took up his residence in the newly established village of Freeman, where he entered into partnership with Hon. Christoph Guenthner and engaged in the hardware and implement business, in which they continued to be associated for nearly a score of years. In 1901 they disposed of the hardware stock and the partnership was dissolved by mu- tual consent. Mr. Haar retained the implement business, which he has since continued as an in- dividual enterprise, and his reputation as a care- ful and upright business man is so thoroughly established that he has continued to control a large and important trade, having the implicit confidence of all who know him. He is a stanch adherent of the Republican party but has never sought office, and both he and his wife are worthy members of the Lutheran church, in which he is serving as elder.

On the 4th of June, 1876, Mr. Haar was married to Miss Dorothy Schmidtcall, of Yank- ton county, and of their fourteen children twelve are living, namely : Gottlieb, who is cashier of the

Merchants' State Bank, of Freeman ; Jacob, who assists his father in the management of his im- plement business: Barbara, who is the wife of Reinhold Baer, who is engaged in the hardware business in Freeman ; Mina, who is the wife of David Ellwine, of this place; Robert, who is at the parental home; Theodore, who is attending college in Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Lydia, Caroline, Hella, Albert, Bertha and Hugo, who remain beneath the parental roof.

JOSEPH WILHELM WIPF .- The subject of this sketch comes of stanch old Swiss lineage, though his ancestors for several generations have been established in the southern portion of Russia. The original representatives proceeded from Canton Unterwalden, Switzerland, into the Tyrol, Austria, and thence into Russia. Mr. Wipf is one of the enterprising and prominent young business men of Freeman, Hutchinson county, and has been a resident of South Dakota since 1879, in which year his parents emigrated from Russia and became pioneers of this com- monwealth, the father having become one of the successful farmers of Hutchinson county.

Joseph W. Wipf was born in the colony of Huterthal, southern Russia, on the 12th of Au- gust, 1869, a son of Joseph and Susanna (Wurz) Wipf, who were reared and educated in Russia, the former there learning the blacksmith trade, to which he devoted his attention for a number of years, also engaging in farming. He continued to follow the later vocation after coming to South Dakota, and he died in Hutchinson county, on the IIth of November, 1888, respected by all who knew him. His wife survived him by nearly a decade, being summoned into eternal rest on the 6th of November, 1808. Both were devoted members of the Mennonite church, and the fa- ther was a stanch Republican in politics, his life having been one of honest and earnest endeavor.

The subject of this sketch was eight years of age at the time his parents took up their abode on the pioneer farm in this county, and here he was reared to manhood, securing his early educational training in the public schools and

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supplementing this by a six-months course in the South Dakota State University, at Vermillion -in 1888-9. In 1896-1897 he was matriculated in the pharmaceutical department of the Univer- sity of Iowa, at Iowa City, and was there grad- uated as a member of the class of 1897. In 1886 Mr. Wipf began teaching in the district schools of Hutchinson county, and continued in peda- gogic work until 1892, in which latter year he held a clerkship as bookkeeper in the Bridgewater State Bank, while during the years 1893-4 he was bookkeeper in the hardware establishment of Meyer Brothers, in Bridgewater. Since 1897 he has been engaged in the drug business in Free- man, owning a half interest in the drug store conducted under the firm name of J. W. Wipf & Company. He also holds a half inter- est in the Freeman Telephone Company. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and his religious faith is that of the Mennonite church, of which he has been a member since 1880. Fraternally he is identified with Eureka Lodge, No. 71, Free and Accepted Masons, and Menno Camp, No. 3071, Modern Woodmen of America.

On the 13th of October, 1897, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Wipf to Miss Mary Graber, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Graber, of Storkweather, North Dakota, and they became the parents of three children : Evelina, born No- vember 11, 1898; Elva, born September 8, 1901, died two days later, and Edmund Filmore, born January 20, 1902.

CHRISTIAN AISENBREY, the able and popular postmaster at Menno, Hutchinson county, was born in southern Russia, on the 30th of January, 1857, a son of Andrew J. and Eliz- abeth (Bentz) Aisenbrey, of whose five chil- dren the subject is the elder of the two surviving, his brother Carl being a successful hardware merchant of Menno. The parents were both born in southern Russia, the father on the 28th of February, 1821, and the mother on the 7th of July, 1823. The paternal grandfather, Philip B. Aisenbrey, was a native of Germany, whence

he removed over the line into Russia in 1803, being there engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. His son, Andrew, likewise followed farming there until 1874, when he emigrated to the United States, in company with his wife and two sons. He came at once to the territory of Dakota and took up a homestead claim of a quar- ter section of land in Hutchinson county, there improving a good farm, upon which he continued to reside, an honored pioneer of the county, until his death, in May, 1889. His wife passed away in 1876, two years after coming to what is now South Dakota, both having been devoted inem- bers of the German Reformed church.

Christian Aisenbrey was reared on the old homestead in Russia, and there he secured his early education in the common schools, while his knowledge of the English was gained by ab- sorption and self-application after he came to the United States, being seventeen years of age at the time of his parents' emigration to the new world. After locating on the pioneer farm in South Da- kota he there continued to assist his father in the improvement and cultivation of the same until the time of his marriage, on the 18th of Novem- ber, 1877, when Miss Christiana Keck became his wife. He then took up a tree claim of one hundred and sixty acres and a homestead of equal area, improving the property and bringing it un- der effective cultivation, and there he continued to reside until 1890, when he rented the farm, which he still owns, and removed to the town of Menno, where he served as deputy county treas- urer in 1890-1. In 1892 he was elected to the office of treasurer, and upon the expiration of his term of two years was chosen as his own stic- cessor. In 1896, after the expiration of his sec- ond term, Mr. Aisenbrey purchased the furni- ture business of Peter Heil, while in 1901 he also purchased the business of his only competitor. David C. Heckenlaible, and he now controls the exclusive furniture and undertaking business of the town, having a large and complete stock and the best of facilities in both departments of his enterprise. His correct business methods and personal popularity insure to him a liberal sup- porting patronage, and he spares no effort in ca-

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tering to the demands of his trade. In 1898 he was appointed postmaster of Menno, under Pres- ident Mckinley, and was reappointed in 1902, under the regime of President Roosevelt, being known as one of the most ardent advocates of the principles of the Republican party that can be found in this section. He served for eight years as county assessor, and has been a delegate to the various state and county conventions of his party. He and his wife are valued members of the Ger- man Reformed church, in whose work they take a deep interest.

WARREN DIMOCK, of Menno, Hutchin- son county, was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, on the 14th of September, 1859, a son of Warren S. and Lucy J. (Munson) Dimock, of whose seven children the following named five are yet living: Harry A., a druggist of Muscoda, Wis- consin : Almena, the wife of E. G. Schwingle, of Avoca, that state; Asa B., who is likewise a resi- dent of that place, being a farmer and manufac- turer : Bertha R., wife of Oscar Spicer, of Ma- son City, Iowa; and Warren, subject of this sketch, who is eldest of the number.

The father of the subject was born in Sus- quehanna, Pennsylvania, in 1819, and was there reared and educated. removing thence to Wiscon- sin in 1855 and settling on a farm near Avoca, Iowa county, where he was engaged in agricul- tural pursuits until the spring of 1903, when he removed to the village mentioned, where he is now living retired, having attained the venerable age of eighty-four years, and being well pre- served in mind and physical powers. He is one of the pioneers of the Badger state, where he purchased government land soon after his arrival within its borders, and he resided continuously on the one farm for forty-eight years. He is a Democrat in politics and is a man who has ever commanded the unqualified esteem of all who know him. His wife, who was born in the same town as was he, is still by his side, being sixty- eight years of age at the time of this writing (1903).

The subject of this review was reared on the

homestead farm and after completing the curric- ulum of the public schools he continued his stud- ies at the Plattville Normal school, at Plattville, Wisconsin. He taught school for three winter terms, working on the farm during the summer seasons .. He continued to be identified with the operation of the home farm until 1886, but in the meanwhile had devoted careful attention to the reading of law. In the year mentioned he lo- cated in Muscoda, Wisconsin, where he was en- gaged in the real-estate and insurance business until 1889, when he came to Hutchinson county, South Dakota, locating in Menno, where he was employed for the ensuing year as assistant cashier in the Menno State Bank. In March, 1890, he was admitted to the bar and forthwith began the practice of his profession in Menno, where he has since resided, having secured a representa- tive clientele and established a high reputation as an able advocate and safe and conservative coun- sel. He is a stalwart adherent of the Republican party, and in the fall of 1890 he was elected state's attorney for his county, serving one term, while in 1898 he was again called to this office, serving two consecutive terms and making a most excellent record as prosecutor. He is a member of Muscoda Lodge, No. 70, Free and Accepted Masons, at Muscoda, Wisconsin; of Scotland Chapter, No. 31. Royal Arch Masons, at Scotland, South Dakota ; and of Menno Camp. No. 3071. Modern Woodmen of America.

On the 15th of December, 1886, Mr. Dimock was united in marriage to Miss Clara A. Stev- ens, of Monfort, Wisconsin, and they became the parents of two children: Murray S., who died at the age of fifteen months ; and Lucy N., who remains at the parental home.

C. BUECHLER was born in southern Russia, on April 13, 1843, being a son of Jacob and Bar- bara (Krauter) Buechler, of whose thirteen chil- dren only four are now living-Michael, a resi- dent of Walworth county, this state; Barbara, the wife of Jacob Eissenbeiss; Joseph, who still re- mains in southern Russia ; and the subject of this sketch. The father was born in France and the

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mother in Germany. As a young man the former left his native land to escape military service, making his way to southern Russia, where he met and married his wife. He there engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits, in which he continued until his death, in 1866. His widow came to Free- man. South Dakota, in 1875, and resided in the home of our subject until she too was summoned into eternal rest, her death occurring in 1888.

C. Buechler was reared on the homestead farm and after completing the curriculum of the com- mon schools of his native land he entered Schritel College, at Odessa, Russia, where he was gradu- ated as a member of the class of 1865. In the following year he began teaching in a parochial school, thus continuing to be engaged until 1873, when he severed the ties which bound him to home and native land and emigrated to the United States. He came forthwith to the terri- tory of Dakota, arriving in its capital city, Yank- ton, on the Ist of August. He worked one month in a lumber yard, and in the spring of the following year engaged in business for himself by opening a small grocery in Yankton. He suc- ceeded in building up a good trade and became the owner of a house and lot in the city. In February. 1880, he removed his grocery stock to the present town of Freeman, and being unable to sell his house for a reasonable price, he showed his ingenuity and independence by having the same removed to the new town. He employed a carpenter to dismantle the building and at an expense of only eighty-five dollars removed it to Freeman, and three weeks later it was once more ready for occupancy, being used both as a store and residence. At this time Freeman was represented only by the little railroad station and one warehouse, our subject's store building be- ing the only other structure in the embryonic village. He and his wife experienced no little loneliness on account of having no neighbors, and made an earnest effort to induce other families to settle in the town. A short time later George and John Schamber. brothers, made to Mr. Buechler a proposition to purchase his store and business, on the condition that he remain in the town and engage in some other line of enter-

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 46

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