History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 49

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

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RICHARD F. BROWN, M. D., is a native of Seneca county, Ohio, where he was born on the 9th of March, 1858, being a son of Abrani G. and Lucretia (Gray) Brown, both of whom were born in the state of New York. The Doc- tor received his early educational discipline in the public schools of the old Buckeye state, and in 1879 was matriculated in Starling Medical Col-

lege, at Columbus, Ohio, where he completed the prescribed technical course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1882, receiving his de- gree of Doctor of Medicine and coming forth well equipped for the active work of his chosen pro- fession. In February, 1882, he located in Plank- inton, South Dakota, where he was successfully engaged in the general practice of medicine and surgery until the spring of 1891, having gained a high reputation in his chosen field of endeavor and having been one of the leading practitioners of that locality. Upon retiring from practice, at the time just noted, he came to Sioux Falls, where he established himself in the retail drug business, while in November, 1901, he established a wholesale department, in which the business increased in scope and importance to such an ex- tent that in 1901 he withdrew from active part in the retail trade, still owning his fine retail store, to devote his entire attention to the whole- sale business. December 1, 1903, the Brown Drug Company was reorganized, with increased capital and facilities, with B. F. Brown as presi- dent : Thomas H. Brown, vice-president ; O. A. Brown, secretary, and F. H. Hollister, treasurer. Their building is three stories high, one hundred and twenty feet long and forty-four feet wide and will make one of the best equipped wholesale houses in the county. Their trade territory now comprises nearly all sections of the state and the business is a large and constantly increasing one, while he is known as a straightforward, reliable and progressive business man, commanding the confidence of all with whom he has dealings or comes in contact. In politics the Doctor gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and fra- ternally he is identified with the lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic order, as well as with the allied organizations, the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.

In November, 1884, Dr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Minnesota Cook, of Minne- sota, who died December 8, 1893, in Sioux Falls. To this union were born two children, Mary R. and Rush A., both of whom remain at the pa- rental home at the time of this writing.

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MICHAEL UGOFSKY, one of the pro- gressive and successful agriculturists of Yank- ton county, was born in Prussia in 1840 and was there reared and educated, obtaining his mental training in the public schools. The favorable re- ports which he heard concerning the new world, however, attracted him and bidding adieu to friends and native land he sailed for the United States in 1868, making his way into the interior of the country. He settled first at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he remained for four years, being employed in a tannery there. On the ex- piration of that period he came to South Dakota and, establishing his home in Yankton county, he secured one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he entered from the government. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made on the place, but he at once began the task of plowing and planting and in course of time he gathered rich harvests. As he has prospered in his work he has added to his possessions until he now has three hundred and twenty acres, his property holdings being valuable. He, however, suffered many hardships and trials in the earlier years. He lived here during the time in which the grasshoppers destroyed the crops, leaving the settlers almost penniless, because they had no farm products to sell.

Mr. Ugofsky was married to Miss Mary Tooczek and has a family of five children : Val- entina. Julia, Annie, August and Xavier. The boys operate a thresher and also a corn sheller and shredder and are energetic young men.

In his political affiliations Mr. Ugofsky is a Democrat and, becoming well informed on the issues of the day, has given a loyal support to that party, which he believes is best calculated to promote the welfare of the nation. He belongs to the Catholic church and is interested in all that pertains to public progress and improvement along social, material, educational and moral lines. He assisted in building schools and churches here and his co-operation has been a helpful factor in many lines of progress. In the development of his farm he has been energetic and industrious and now has a very good prop- erty. He planted trees about his home, erected

good buildings and in fact has made all of the improvements upon his property. He carries on mixed farming, raising shorthorn cattle, horses and sheep and in addition produces good crops, his fields being planted to the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate.

A. J. NORBY is a native of Appleton, Min- nesota, and the son of John J. and Sarah ( Thomp- son) Norby. He is one of a family of five chil- dren, two sons and three daughters, and was born January 3, 1877. At the age of four years he was brought to Wilmot, South Dakota, where he spent his childhood and youth and re- ceived his preliminary education. After attend- ing the public schools until finishing the usual studies, he fitted himself for active life by taking a full commercial course in a business college, later attending a school of pharmacy in Minne- apolis. Minnesota, after which he engaged in the drug business at South Shore, South Dakota. After a short experience at that place he disposed of his establishment and accepted the position of cashier with the Warren Scharf Asphalt Paving Company, of Cleveland, Ohio, holding the same for only a brief time, when he resigned and came to Sisseton, where he was soon chosen bookkeeper and assistant cashier of the State Bank at this place, which relation he sustained until promoted cashier. He held the latter position until August 14. 1902, when he resigned and organized the Citizens' National Bank, of which he was made cashier and a member of the directorate, both of which places he still holds, and in addition thereto is also stockholder in the Farmers' State Bank of Wilmot. While primarily interested in banking, Mr. Norby is connected with several other important business enterprises, notable among which are the Iowa and Dakota Land and Loan Company, the Roberts County Abstract and Title Company and the Sisseton Lumber Com- pany, being secretary and manager of the first named organization, treasurer and director of the second, and vice-president and a director and large stockholder in the lumber company. Although a young man, Mr. Norby has forged

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rapidly to the front in business circles and now occupies a position in the world of affairs such as few of his age and experience attain. Aside from his relations already referred to, Mr. Norby has been an influential factor in the general busi- ness and industrial affairs of Sisseton, every movement calculated to advance the city, mate- rially or otherwise, receiving his co-operation and support. All agencies for the promotion of edu- cation find in him a friend and patron, and he is unwavering in upholding whatever he believes to be right and for the best interests of the com- munity. Mr. Norby belongs to the Knights of Pythias, in which he holds the position of chan- cellor commander, and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Improved Order of Red Men. His married life dates from the 15th of January, 1900, at which time he was minited in the bonds of wedlock with Miss Effie Brown, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, a union blessed with two children, Rocheford J. and Ruth.

leading business men and representative citizens of Roberts county, but also one of the earliest settlers of this part of the state and, as his father, W. K. Morris, bore an important part in the early history of eastern Dakota and was one of the first white men to locate within the present limits of Roberts county, it is appropriate that a brief review of his life be given in this connection. W. K. Morris was born in Hartford, Connecticut, September 11, 1842, the son of a city missionary who moved to Washington county, New York, when his son was an infant. In the latter state Mr. Morris grew to maturity and received his education and he moved thence to Minnesota, in 1864, locating in Blue Earth county, where he made his home until 1870. In that year he was selected to take charge of the Good Will Mission in South Dakota, and on December Ist he set forth with two yoke of oxen and a yoke of cows hitched to two wagons containing his family and a modest outfit of household goods. After a journey of fourteen days he arrived at his des-

tination, seeing no white men after passing the town of New Ulin until reaching the mission. Mr. Morris had never seen any Sioux Indians until he reached his field of labor, and at that time could neither speak nor understand their lan- guage. In due time, however, he acquired a thor- ough knowledge of the same and from the be- ginning his work among the Indians was blessed with beneficial results. He taught at Good Will Mission under the supervision of Rev. S. R. Reggs until 1873. when he was placed in full charge of the school, holding the position dur- ing the ensuing seventeen years. In 1890 he went to the Omaha and Winnebago reservation, where he had charge of a school until 1894, at which time he transferred to the church at Pine Ridge agency, when he was licensed a minister. After preaching at the latter place until July, 1897, he gave up his missionary work and settled at Sisseton, Roberts county, near which town he engaged in farming and stock raising, but is now living a life of retirement. Mr. Morris was mar- ried in 1876 to Miss Martha T. Riggs, sister of Thomas Lawrence Riggs, of the South Dakota

HENRY S. MORRIS is not only one of the State Historical Society, the union being blessed

with five children, of whom Henry S. of this review is the first in order of birth. Mr. Morris is a man of intelligence and culture, and having devoted much attention to South Dakota, its set- tlement and various interests, he is considered an authority on all matters relating to the history of the state.

Henry Morris, cashier of the First National Bank of Sisseton and president of the Citizens' Bank at White Rock, was born at Stirling, Min- nesota, June 21, 1868. At the age of two years he was brought to South Dakota and from that time until a youth in his teens lived with his par- ents at Good Will Mission, where he received his early educational training. Later he entered the State University of Minnesota and after being graduated from the academic department of that institution in 1891, spent one year as special agent of the government, making land allotments to the Indians on the reservation. At the expiration of the time he was elected clerk of the Roberts county court, which position he held four years,

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and then came to Sisseton and organized the State Bank, serving as cashier of the same until April, 1900. In the latter year he resigned his position and established the First National Bank of Sisseton, of which he has since been cashier, and is now its vice-president, and in addition thereto he is president of the Citizens' Bank at White Water, an institution he also helped to or- ganize. Politically Mr. Morris is a zealous sup- porter of the Republican party, and as such has been prominent in its councils and a successful leader in a number of campaigns, He was chair- man of the Roberts county central committee in 1896, and rendered valuable service in that ca- pacity.

Mr. Morris is identified with the time-honored Masonic order, and still retains membership with a college fraternity which he joined while pur- suing his studies in the State University.

On December 20, 1892, he was united in the bonds of wedlock with Miss Mary Strangsway, and is now the father of four children, whose names are Martha D., Wyllys K., Esther F. and Elizabeth R.

EDMUND COOK was born in the province of Saxony, Germany, on the 20th of March, 1847. After receiving a thorough academic training he entered a commercial establishment and later be- came a bookkeeper until entering the Prussian army in 1865. In common with all able-bodied young men of Germany, he was obliged to devote a certain number of years to military service, and it so happened that shortly after entering the army the war between Prussia and Austria broke out and it fell to him to take an active and by. no means unimportant part in that celebrated strug- gle. He went through the one campaign of the war, that of 1866, during the greater part of which he was on the staff of General Von Barneco, com- manding the Twelfth Regiment of Hussars, and saw much active service. When hostilities ceased Mr. Cook was honorably discharged, after which he re-entered mercantile life and continued to give it his attention as long as he remained in the fatherland. According to the custom which

requires every soldier to report for duty at cer- tain times, young Cook, at the age of twenty, was thus called upon and in due time presented him- self at the proper place. To the great surprise and astonishment of the officers, however, the young man came into their presence decorated with the cross of honor, won for brave and meritorious conduct, and with a discharge in his pocket, which fact exempted him from further military duty. Shortly after this he came to the United States, intending to be absent but one year, but after spending some months in this country he became so attached to it and so pleased with the advantages it held out to young men with ambition to rise in the world, that he con- cluded not to return to Germany. Mr. Cook reached America in 1868 and some time after- wards located at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he accepted the position of traveling salesman for a wholesale house. He later represented a St. Paul firm on the road for several years. In 1882 he came to Wilmot, South Dakota, and es- tablished the general store which he has con- ducted with success and financial profit to the present time. Recently he began closing out this establishment, the better to devote his attention to his other business enterprises, being vice-president of the First State Bank of Wilmot and a director of the Wilmot Land and Loan Company, besides having large landed interests in various parts of Roberts county.

For several years Mr. Cook devoted con- siderable attention to live stock and farming and achieved quite a reputation as an importer and breeder of Oxford-down sheep and other high- grade domestic animals. While not so much in- terested in stock raising as formerly, he now farms quite extensively and to this vocation he proposes to devote the greater part of his time hereafter, finding it not only greatly to his taste, but quite profitable as a source of income. Among his lands is a fine farm of three hundred and thirty acres, contiguous to Wilmot, ten acres within the city limits, and on this place he has made many valuable improvements, including one of the handsomest modern residences in the county, which, surrounded by beautiful grounds,

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tastefully laid out in gardens, shade trees, walks, smooth lawns, interspersed with flowers, etc., be- speaks the home of a man of wealth, elegant leisure, refined taste and decidedly progressive ideas.

Mr. Cook was married in Plainview, Minne- sota, June 1, 1875, to Miss Martha Brooks, daughter of Reuben Brooks, a pioneer of that state and for many years a leading citizen of his community. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have one child, a son by the name of Arthur W. They are among the most highly esteemed people of Wilmot, take an active interest in everything pertaining to the growth and development of the city, are alive to all charitable and benevolent enterprises, and the hospitality of their beautiful home is unbounded.

In his political affiliations Mr. Cook is a prominent Democrat and has perhaps as much influence in his party as any man in northeastern Dakota. He has been a delegate to nearly every county, district and state convention in the last twenty years, and in 1896 was a delegate to the Chicago national convention, in addition to which he has also been nominated for a number of im- portant offices, his election being made impossible by reason of normally overwhelming Republican majorities. Mr. Cook is a thirty-second-degree Scottish-rite Mason, also a Knight Templar, be- sides belonging to various other branches of the order and he has long been a familiar figure at all the meetings of the grand lodge.

CHARLES WEDDELL, an esteemed citizen of Bon Homme county, engaged in the pursuit of agriculture, was born in Aurora, Illinois, Feb- ruary 11, 1848. Andrew Weddell, his father, a native of Scotland, came to the United States when young and lived for some time in Cleve- land, Ohio, where he worked at the blacksmith trade. He married in this country, Louisa - a native of England, and later they moved to Aurora, Illinois, where they both spent the re- mainder of their days. Andrew and Louisa Weddell were the parents of seven children, two of whom died in early childhood ; those growing to maturity were William: Abbie, now Mrs.

Frank Campbell, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota : Bell, Robert and Charles, of which number Bell, William and Robert are deceased.

The early life of Charles Weddell was spent in his native state and after receiving a good practical education in the public schools, he en- tered his father's shop to learn blacksmithing. On attaining his majority he left home and in 1870 came to Vermillion county, South Dakota, where in due time he became a driver on the Hedge Stage line, later accepting a similar posi- tion with Cheny & Haskall. While thus employed Mr. Weddell drove as far as Ft. Randall and other distant points, managing a four-horse team and a large stage, which carried both passengers and express matter, and his experiences during the seven years in which followed this kind of free out-door life were interesting and at times thrilling and adventurous.

Resigning his position at the end of the period noted, Mr. Weddell entered the employ of the government at the Yankton agency and spent two years at that place, during the greater part of which time he rode the range and looked after the cattle and other live stock belonging to the post. At the expiration of his term of service he took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Bon Homme county, the same on which he has since lived, and, addressing himself to the task of its improvement, he soon had a goodly part of his land under cultivation, besides erecting sub- stantial buildings and making a number of other improvements. His farm is now regarded one of the best in the township and as a tiller of the soil he has been uniformly successful, ranking at this time with the leading agriculturists in his part of the country. Like the great majority of progressive men throughout the west, he does not only rely entirely upon crops for his livelihood and income, but devotes a great deal of attention to live stock, raising cattle, good hogs and horses, being familiar with everything relating to the breeding and proper care of all kinds of domestic animals.

Although a man of domestic tastes and greatly attached to his family, Mr. Weddell has not been neglectful of his duties as a citizen nor of his

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obligations to the public. He manifests a lively interest in polities, voting the Republican ticket, but has never asked for office nor sought recog- nition as a party leader.

Mr. Weddell, in the year 1886, took to him- self a wife and helpmate in the person of Miss Kate Quatier, a native of Germany, but of Rus- sian descent, the marriage being blessed with seven sons, whose names in order of birth are as follows: Henry, Andrew, William, Charles, Jo- seph, John and Benjamin, all living.

CLAUS BRANDT is a native of Hanover, Germany, and dates his birth from March 7, 1858. His parents, Claus and Annie (Brede- hoeft ) Brandt, spent their lives in the kingdom of Hanover and reared a family of six children. the subject of this review being the fifth of the number ; the others are Angelus, who lives in Germany ; John, a resident of Bon Homme county, South Dakota ; Maggie, who has never left Hanover; Martha, deceased, and Annie, whose home is in the state of Kansas.

The early life of Claus Brandt was spent in his native land and he received a good educa- tion in the public schools of the same. In 1873, when fifteen years of age, he came to America and, settling in Missouri, engaged in farming. which vocation he followed in that state until 1884, when he changed his abode to Bon Homme county, South Dakota, locating in Jefferson town- ship, where he bought a quarter section of land. to which he subsequently added a similar amount by purchase. Still later he bought an additional quarter section and in the fall of 1903 purchased an additional eighty acres, making his realty at this time four hundred acres, nearly all of which he has reduced to cultivation and im- proved with good buildings, and from the pro- ceeds of which he has realized a handsome com- petence.

Mr. Brandt has devoted his attention exelus- ively to farming and stock raising and his success has been encouraging, he being at this time one of the leading agriculturists of the township in which he resides as well as one of its most enter-

I prising and progressive citizens. In polities he is a decided Republican and an active worker for his party, but he has never asked office at the hands of his fellow citizens, nor aspired to pub- lie station of any kind.

On the 3d day of October, 1886, was sol- emnized the marriage of Mr. Brandt and Miss Annie Kringer, the latter a native of Prussia and the daughter of John and Mary Ernestine (Schulz) ) Kringer, who came to the United States in 1869 and settled in Hardin county, Jowa, later removing to Bon Homme, South Dakota. where their deaths subsequently oc- curred. To Mr. and Mrs. Brandt have been born six children, whose names are as follows : Angelus, John, Henry, Anna, Edward F. and Helena, all living and giving every promise of useful and honorable careers.

JOHN S. SHERIDAN is one of the repre- sentative citizens and successful farmers and stock growers of Brown county, his finely im- proved estate being located three and one-half miles northeast of Columbia. John Stinson Sheridan traces his genealogy in the agnatie line back to stanch Irish stock, his great-grandfather having emigrated with his family from the Emerald Isle to America about the year 1812, and having settled in Rochester, New York, where was born his grandson John, father of the subject of this sketch. This honored founder of the family in America died prior to the family's coming west in 1834. The grandfather, Thomas Sheridan, was married in Rochester, New York. He and a brother, and their families, came west in 1834, locating near Commerce, later called Nauvoo, in Hancock county, Illinois, and while there they mingled with the Mormons, who lived there at that time, and found them to be very good neighbors.

John S. Sheridan was born near Nauvoo, Hancock county, Illinois, on the 19th of Decem- ber, 1852, being a son of John and Jane ( Middle- ton) Sheridan. John Sheridan was born in 1820, married in 1850, and died in February, 1853. Jane, his wife, was born in Pennsylvania in 1826.

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and died in November, 1894. From their child- hood both were residents of Illinois. The sub- ject of this sketch received his early educational training in the public schools of Illinois, Fort Madison Academy and at Notre Dame, read law in Keokuk, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar of that state in 1881. He continued to there maintain his residence until August, 1882, when he came to Columbia, Brown county, South Da- kota, where he established himself in the lumber business about the time of the completion of the line of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad through the place. He continued to be identified with this line of enterprise until 1886, and then located on his present fine farm, three and one- half miles north of Columbia. He is now the owner of a well-improved landed estate of eight hundred and eighty acres, nearly all being in the home farm, and of this four hundred and fifty acres are devoted to the raising of grain.

Characteristics of the Sheridan family are moderate thrift, industry and temperate habits, and today the subject's motto, in reference to his farming operations, is not quantity nor extent, but method and thoroughness and all stock the equal of the best. The subject is known as a man of marked public spirit and has taken a deep interest in local affairs, while he has long been prominent in the councils of the Populist party in the state, though being independent in his views and ever manifesting the courage of his convic- tions. On the Populist ticket he was elected to membership on the board of county commission- ers in 1898, and served in this capacity for four years, proving a most loyal and able public of- ficial. During the period of his service the county court house and jail were erected. He has been a delegate to the various conventions of his party and ever shown a deep interest in its cause. In religion the subject is a Roman Catholic, while fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 49

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