History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 59

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

USA > South Dakota > History of South Dakota, Vol. II > Part 59

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SAMUEL T. VOORHEES was born on Oc- tober 5, 1851, at Irvington, New Jersey, and there he remained until he reached the age of eighteen and received his education. In 1869 he moved to Indiana and the next spring to Coles county, Illinois, where he was engaged in the lumber business for three years. In 1873 he came farther west to Nebraska, and, getting to- gether an outfit for the purpose, he went with

others hunting buffaloes in Texas, being on this trip until the fall of 1875. He then came to the Loop river country and hunted deer during the winter. In 1876 he moved into the Black Hills, journeying through a section full of hostile Indi- ans, and coming through Custer City, which then consisted of a few tents and rude shacks. He arrived here in March with one companion, and they hunted through the Hills, being in search of elks and deer for the most part, selling their meat at the mining camps and later disposing of the skins. They also did some prospecting and, be- ing pleased with the country, they returned to Nebraska in the fall for supplies, and after win- tering in that state, returned to the Hills in the spring with a large outfit and party, coming by way of Buffalo Gap on what is known as the old Kearney trail. They located at Crook City and in March Mr. Voorhees settled on Oak Grove ranch at the head of Spring creek, four miles from Sturgis. Here he engaged in the stock business and also conducted a road house, his lo- cation being on the main trail from Lincoln, Sid- ney and Pierre, and one of the principal camp- ing places on this end of the road. In 1877 the settlement was attacked by Indians, but the whites escaped without loss. Mr. Voorhees was the first settler between Rapid City and Sturgis except one, and saw the country in all its native wildness. He remained on his ranch raising stock until 1886, frequently making trips to Min- nesota to buy cattle. In the fall of 1878 he brought in the material for the erection of a building on the site of the present town of Stur- gis, this being the first building within the pres- ent limits of the town, which had just then been laid out. In 1885 he placed his ranch in charge of a manager and opened a flour and feed store at Sturgis, handling also wagons and farm im- plements. Some little time afterward he con- tracted with the government to furnish supplies to Fort Meade, and in 1888 opened a hardware store in a brick building where his present busi- ness is conducted. He also built the first large warehouse in this section and occupied himself in forwarding freight to Deadwood in connec- tion with his other business. He owned several

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freighting outfits which were always kept busy. In 1889 he enlarged his business and also his store to accommodate it, adding furniture and undertaking departments. During the first two years of his mercantile career at this point he was in partnership with a Mr. Miller, but since the dissolution of this partnership he has been alone. Adjoining the large and modern store he now oc- cupies, the old storehouse he first used is still standing. Keeping pace in business with the progress and requirements of the country, in 1896 Mr. Voorhees opened a general store at Galena. which he placed in charge of a manager and which he still owns. In 1899 he built and equipped a cyanide plant on Whitewood creek four miles from Deadwood. In this enterprise he has a partner. They work over tailings with good results and the undertaking has been very profitable. In 1902 he sold his ranch, having previously sold his cattle, but is still interested in raising and handling horses, and since 1897 he has been interested in mining around Galena. He owns considerable property in Sturgis and has always been deeply and intelligently concerned for the welfare and advancement of the town. He is an ardent Republican in politics and is earnest and effective in the service of his party, but he has never consented to accept office of any kind. Being an active member of the Modern Wood- men of America, he has risen to prominence in the order and holds a state office in its organiza- tion. He is also a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

On April 8, 1888, Mr. Voorhees was married at Sturgis to Miss Catherine Miller, who died in December of the same year, leaving one child, Harry. On December 25, 1890, also at Sturgis, Mr. Voorhees married a second wife, Miss Dana Eveleth, a native of Boston, Massachusetts.

HERBERT C. BURCH, M. D., is one of the leading representatives of the noble and beneficent school of homeopathic medicine in the state, and is actively engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in Redfield, the capital of Spink county, while he. is also known as a public-spirited

citizen and is well worthy of the high regard in which he is held in professional, business and social circles.

Herbert Corydon Burch was born in Brook- field, Madison county, New York, on the 13th of August, 1868, and is a son of William C. and Clara L. (Burdick) Burch, who still maintain their home in Brookfield. the father having been throughout life a farmer by vocation. The sub- ject is a direct descendant of Jeremiah Burch, of Stonington, Connecticut, who there had a large grant of land prior to 1670; and also of John Clarke, who came from England to Newport. Rhode Island, in 1638, being associated with Roger Williams in founding the colony of Rhode Island. He obtained from King Charles II the famous charter of the Providence and Newport plantations. Direct ancestors of the Doctor were prominent officers in the Continental army dur- ing the war of the Revolution and were early settlers in central New York.

Dr. Burch passed his boyhood days on the homestead farm and after completing the curric- ulum of the public schools continued his studies in the Brookfield Academy, where he prepared himself for teaching, having in the meanwhile formulated definite plans for finally adopting the profession of medicine. Even as a boy he was an avidious student and reader and early deter- mined to seek a wider field of endeavor than that afforded on the farm. He. was engaged in teach- ing in various country and village schools from 1885 to 1888, in which latter year he was matric- ulated in the Hahnemann Medical College, in the city of Chicago, where he was graduated in April. 1800, receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Later he took special post-graduate work in surgery and gynecology. Immediately after his graduation he located in Paxton, Illi- nois, where he was engaged in practice until De- cember, 1891. when, by reason of a desire to locate farther west, he came to South Dakota and es- tablished himself in practice at Miller, Hand county, where he remained until June. 1894. when he came to Redfield, where he has built up a very large and representative practice, having one of the best equipped offices in the state and being

HERBERT C. BURCH, M. D.

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well known in professional circles all over South Dakota. He is a member of the South Dakota State Homeopathic Medical Society and of the Quadri-State Medical Society, of Sioux City, Iowa. He was a stanch Democrat in his political proclivities and is an influential factor in its coun- cils in the state, while he takes a great interest in all public affairs. He was commissioned first lieutenant and assistant surgeon in the Second Regiment of South Dakota National Guard in 1902, and in the same year was honored with election to the board of aldermen of Redfield, being re-elected in April, 1903. He became affili- ated with the Knights of Pythias in 1895 and in the following year became a member of the state grand lodge of the order, of which he was grand chancellor in 1901-2. He has served as master workman in his lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Be- nevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Modern Brotherhood of America, as well as a number of other fraternal and social organiza- tions.

In the city of Cleveland, Ohio, on the 3d of May, 1893. was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Burch to Miss Flora A. Crumb, who was born and reared in that city, being a daughter of Charles and Lucy M. Crumb, who removed to that city from Brookfield, New York, in the early 'sixties, Mr. Crumb being for many years prom- inently identified with banking interests and be- ing now retired. Dr. and Mrs. Burch have one son, Clayton B., who was born in Redfield, April 6. 1895. Mrs. Burch is a woman of gracious presence and is prominent in the social life of the community.

JOHN G. WENKE was born in Germany on August 8, 1853, and received a moderate educa- · tion in the state schools of his native land. At the age of fourteen he bade adiett to the scenes and associations of his childhood and came to the United States alone, making his way to Ne- braska where he joined an uncle who had a farm .near where the town of Hooper has since been

built. The next year his parents also came to this country and, settling near Hooper, engaged in farming there. He remained with them a year assisting on the farm and attending school in the neighborhood. In the spring of 1872 he went to Fremont and secured employment in a grocery store, remaining there until the spring of 1877, when he came to the Black Hills, mak- ing the journey .by the Elkhorn Valley route and Buffalo Gap, coming with teams and a stock of hardware for himself, and arriving at Deadwood in May. He at once opened a hardware store at Deadwood and conducted it successfully for a number of months, but in the fall changed his location to Central City where he continued his operations until the fall of 1887. In 1884 he moved to Sturgis and opened a hardware store on the site now occupied by H. O. Anderson & Son, with the elder Anderson as his manager, he continuing his business at Central City. In 1887 he sold his interests there and took charge of the Sturgis store in person, conducting it until 1889 when he sold out to Mr. Anderson. During the next three years he was not in business of any special kind, but in the spring of 1902 he started his hardware store on Main street, and since then has been actively engaged in carrying on this enterprise in partnership with Mr. Bitney, the firm name .being Bitney & Wenke. They also have a general store at Seim, one hundred and thirty miles northeast of Sturgis, which is an en- terprise of magnitude and importance in that sec- tion. In 1883 Mr. Wenke became interested in raising horses on a large scale, taking up a ranch on Bear Butte creek, five miles from Sturgis, for the purpose. This he has well irrigated and much of it is under an advanced state of cultiva- tion. When he sold his town business in 1887 he devoted his entire time to the cattle industry and raising horses until he bought into his pres- ent mercantile business, and is still largely inter- ested in stock. He also has considerable real es- tate of value in the town of Sturgis and large interests of worth elsewhere. In the public life and government of his town and county he has always been actively and serviceably interested and, although never consenting to take office him-

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self, he has been a potent factor in determining who shall. He is an earnest Republican in poli- tics and influential in the councils of his party, having served as chairman of the county cen- tral committee for a number of years and been a leading member of the state central committee during the last two years, having been recently selected for two years more.

On November 11, 1890, Mr. Wenke was mar- ried at Sturgis to Miss Nellie P. Rodebank, a native of Omaha, Nebraska. They have five chil- dren, Frieda, Flora, Margaret, Mellie and Esther. Mr. Wenke is prominent in the Masonic order, belonging to the lodge at Sturgis and the Mystic Shrine at Deadwood. He is also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

HENRY O. ANDERSON is a native of Sweden, born November 15, 1842, and in his na- tive land he grew to the age of eighteen and received his education. At the age named he moved to Norway, where he remained five years and served his apprenticeship at cabinetmaking. In 1866 he emigrated to the United States and located for a year at Wanpun, Wisconsin, then moved to Neenah, in the same state, where he remained three years working at his trade. In the spring of 1870 he came to South Dakota and took up his residence at Yankton, having made a trip through this section in the previous fall for inspection. He took up land near Yankton, but while developing it wrought at his trade, living in the city. He at once became active in the public affairs of the county in which he lived and in 1873 was elected to the lower house of the state legislature, and was re-elected at the end of his term, being the candidate of the Republican party. During the last two years of his residence there he was engaged in conducting a meat mar- ket and butchering business. In the spring of 1876 he left Yankton for the Black Hills, mak- ing the trip by way of Pierre and settling at Deadwood where he worked at his trade for a year. The next spring he returned to Yankton and formed a partnership with three other men for the purpose of installing and conducting a

planing mill in the Hills. This was known as the Gayville Planing Mill and was a profitable un- dertaking. Mr. Anderson was connected with it until 1883, when he sold his interest and in 1884 he moved to Sturgis, putting up a frame house for business where his business block now stands. He formed a partnership with J. G. Wenke and together they carried on an extensive hardware trade until 1889, when Mr. Anderson bought his partner out and after that until 1891 he conducted the business alone. It grew in magnitude and flourished to such an extent that in 1893 he was obliged to enlarge the store, which he did by erecting a brick store on the adjoining lot and then added a stock of furniture to what he already had and also opened high-grade un- dertaking parlors. In the autumn of 1891 he took his son Albert into partnership with him and the firm name became H. O. Anderson & Son. The establishment is one of the largest and most progressive in this portion of the state, and is a popular emporium for everything in its various lines of trade. The firm is also ex- tensively engaged in the stock industry, having a large and well-developed ranch on Elk creek. He has always taken an active and patriotic inter- est in politics on the Republican side, and al- though averse to public life in every way, con- sented once to serve the town as mayor, but he has here steadfastly declined to become a candi- date for any other office. On November 15, 1867, he was married to Miss Inga M. Nordgran, a native of Sweden, the marriage occurring at Neenah, Wisconsin, during his residence there. They have two children, Albert and Edna. Mr. Anderson belongs to the Odd Fellows and the United Workmen, holding his membership in the lodges of these orders at Sturgis.

PETER LAURIN, farmer and stock raiser and one of the enterprising citizens of Meade county, South Dakota, was born in Montreal, Canada, on the 17th day of August, 1848. He spent his early life in his native city, received a fair educational training in the schools of the same and remained with his parents until sixteen

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years of age, meanwhile turning his hands to various kinds of employment. In 1864 when a mere youth, he severed home ties and went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he took a Missouri river steamer for Fort Benton, Montana, thence proceeded to Virginia City, where he engaged in placer mining. After remaining at and in the vicinity of that place until attaining his majority, he returned to Montreal to visit his old home, and while there went into the grocery business, to which he devoted his attention during the five years following.

Becoming somewhat restive and longing for the wild, free life of the west, Mr. Laurin, at the expiration of the period noted, disposed of his stock of goods, and in the summer of 1876 started for the Black Hills, going via Pierre and reach- ing Deadwood in October of the same year. From there he went to Bald Mountain, being attracted by the recent discovery of gold at the latter place, but not meeting with success as a miner, he soon returned to Deadwood, and en- gaged in the wood business on City creek, con- tinuing the same with profitable results for a period of two years. In the spring of 1878 lie went to Bear Butte creek, Meade county, and took up his present ranch, four miles east of Sturgis, which he at once proceeded to improve and reduce to cultivation, the meanwhile continuing his wood business at Deadwood. Mr. Laurin began opera- tions on his ranch under very favorable auspices, but the first year met with a serious loss in the burning of over one hundred tons of hay and about the same time all of his stock of wood was destroyed by the fire that raged with such vio- lence in the vicinity of Deadwood and along City creek. In due time, however, he recovered from these reverses and applying himself closely to his labors, soon had the greater part of his land in cultivation, also well stocked, besides making a number of substantial improvements in the way of buildings, etc. Shortly after settling on his place he engaged in freighting between Pierre and the Black Hills, devoting the winter months to this kind of labor and the rest of the year to farming and stock raising, but it was not long until he abandoned teaming to look after his

agriculture interests, which continued to grow in magnitude and importance with each succeeding year. Finding live stock more profitable than farming, he gradually added to the latter interest and of recent years has given it the greater part of his attention.

Mr. Laurin is a Republican in politics, and a staunch and uncompromising supporter of his party, being active in its councils and an untiring worker in the ranks. While zealous in the de- fense of his principles and ready at all times to make sacrifices for the same, he is not an office secker nor an aspirant for leadership or any kind of public distinction, having no ambitions to grat- ify in these directions.

Believing in using the good things of this world and getting out of life all the pleasure and satisfaction it has in store for him, Mr. Laurin has provided liberally for himself and family, being the owner of a comfortable home. His domestic circle at this time consists of a wife and three children, his marriage having been solem- nized on February II, 1888, at Russellville, Illi- nois, with Miss Lizzie Paul, a native of that state, and a lady of excellent character, who has presided over his home with loyal devotion and proved in every sense of the word a faithful com- panion and true helpmeet. The children are all daughters, whose names are Marie, Lucile and Aline.

WILLIAM MEYER, deceased, traveler, ex- plorer, pioneer, miner, farmer and stock raiser, was a native of Germany, born in the province of Hanover, on the 3d day of May, 1831. Dur- ing his youthful years he attended the schools of his native land, and at the age of sixteen ran away from home and made his way to the United States, reaching this country in 1847 and spend- ing the ensuing two years in Cincinnati, Ohio. While in that city, young Meyer turned his hands to any kind of work he could find to do, but be- coming somewhat tired of the life he was obliged to lead, and desiring to see more of the world, especially the great west, which was then at- tracting people from all parts of this country

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and Europe, by reason of the discovery of gold in California, he joined, in 1849, a company of adventurous spirits and started overland for the New Eldorado. He was the youngest member of the party, being but eighteen at the time, yet he manfully held up his part of the work, endured the hardships of travel with the fortitude of a veteran, and shared the vicissitudes of the long, tiresome and trying journey much better than the majority of his comrades.

Mr. Meyer was one of the first to reach the California gold region, and for a number of years thereafter he devoted his attention to placer min- ing in various parts of the country, meeting with good success at times, but occasionally experi- encing discouraging reverses in which he lost much of his hard-earned wealth. After remain- ing in California about thirteen years, he became animated by a strong desire to go to Alaska, where rich finds had been located a short time previously, but to reach that far-away, sterile country meant a journey of hardships and dan- gers more numerous and of much greater magni- tude than those experienced while crossing the plains. Nothing daunted, however, he and two other young men as brave and daring as himself procured an outfit and in 1862 started for the far north, going through British Columbia, thence over a wild, rough and in many places al- almost impassable country, which until they pene- trated it had never been explored by white men. After many dreary weeks and months in the wil- derness, suffering from fatigue, hunger, cold and other vicissitudes, the three finally reached their destination and at once proceeded to search for gold by the placer method. The country being virgin territory, they were fortunate in locating a good claim and applying themselves diligently to the work before them, it was not long until each found himself the possessor of what miners are wont to term a "rich stake." Amply repaid for their trip. the little company, after a year's ex- perience, returned to California, where the sub- ject resumed mining, continuing the same until 1868, when he went to Virginia City, Montana, near which place he operated for some time in what is known as the Alder gulch. After spend-

ing two years in various parts of Montana, Mr. Meyer, in 1870, took up land on Meadow creek, not far from Virginia City, and engaged in farm- ing, but after seeing his crops eaten up by the grasshoppers, he discontinued tilling the soil and entered the employ of the government at the Crow agency.

In the spring of 1876 Mr. Meyer again started out in search of gold, being one of a party of two hundred who went to the Black Hills, going via Spearfish and arriving at their objective point the month of May following. After spending that summer in Deadwood Mr. Meyer and a friend by the name of Fletcher bought an outfit for cutting and making hay and, beginning oper- ations on Bear Butte creek, they succeeded in put- ting up during the fall about two hundred and fifty tons, from the sale of which they realized handsome profits. To market the hay cost them about fifty dollars per ton, but once in Deadwood it found ready purchase at from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars a ton, the margin amply compensating them for their labors and the necessary expenditures.

Mr. Meyer in the spring of 1877 built a small house at the mouth of Boulder canon, on Bear Butte creek, to which he soon removed his family, but his experience at this place was by no means encouraging as the Indians that fall burned about one hundred and fifty tons of hay, which he had stacked along the creek, and not long afterwards stole all of his mules, seven in number, also sev- eral head of cattle, leaving him entirely destitute of live stock, which greatly crippled his further efforts in the business of hay making. Thinking to recover his animals by laying the matter be- fore the proper authorities, he walked a long distance to the Indian agency, but his efforts proving absolutely futile, the redskin disclaiming all knowledge of the theft and nothing was done to compensate him for the loss.

In the year 1877 Mr. Meyer located the ranch six miles east of Sturgis on which he spent the remainder of his life, removing his family to the same the following year. He in- augurated and carried to successful issue a sys- tem of improvements which in due time made his

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ranch one of the finest and most valuable in the western part of the state, a reputation it has since sustained. Among these improvements is a large and commodious stone residence which, supplied with all the comforts and modern conveniences obtainable, is one of the most attractive and desir- able country dwellings in Meade county, his barns and other buildings also being of modern design, well constructed and admirably adapted to meet the purpose for which intended. On re- moving to this place, Mr. Meyer again turned his attention to agriculture and stock raising and met with encouraging success from the begin- ning, the Indians never troubling him again, nor did he suffer any reverses from failure of crops or from other sources. He continued making im- provements and adding to the value of his land as long as he lived, also increased his live stock until he enjoyed the reputation of being one of the most successful agriculturists and cattle raisers in the valley, of which himself and Mr. Fletcher were the original settlers.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 59

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