History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 60

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 60

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Mr. Meyer was married in Virginia City, Montana, on March 3, 1870, to Miss Amelia Meyer, also a native of Germany, one child re- sulting from this union, a son by the name of Fred H., whose birth occurred on the 13th of April, 1873. After a long, active and useful life, fruitful of great good to the people with whom he mingled and the community at large, Mr. Meyer, on July 16, 1896, passed gently into the valley of shadows, and three years later, lacking one day, his faithful wife followed him to the silent land and now lies by his side amid the quiet shades of the beautiful cemetery at Sturgis.

Fred H. Meyer, whose birth is noted in a preceding paragraph, first saw the light of day at Meadow Creek near Virginia City, Montana, and spent his early years at that place, and on the farm at Bear Butte creek, receiving his pre- liminary education in the latter locality. Subse- quently he attended the public schools of St. Louis, Missouri, the training thus received being supplemented by a course in a normal school at Spearfish, South Dakota, after which he assisted his father in running the ranch until the latter's death, when he succeeded to the ownership of the

property. He carries on successfully the work so auspiciously begun, has added much to the value and attractiveness of the home and is continually making improvements which speak well for his energy and public spirit. Mr. Meyer is recog- nized as one of the rising men of Meade county, and has already a well-established reputation in business and social circles, his standing as a farmer and stock raiser being second to that of none of his contemporaries, while as a citizen deeply interested in everything concerning the welfare of the community, his influence has ever been exerted in behalf of the right as he sees and understands the right. A worthy son of a worthy sire and inheriting many of the latter's sterling attributes and sturdy characteristics, he lives as becomes an intelligent and progressive member of society, and thus far in life has brought no discredit to the good name his family has long borne, but on the contrary by an up- right course of conduct has continuously added to its luster and enhanced its honor. Mr. Meyer was married on the 22d day of December, 1898, to Miss Amelia Berger, a native of Germany, who was brought to this country when quite young, and who has borne him two children, William F. and Francis L.

GREGOR CRUICKSHANK was born in Inverness-shire, Scotland, on the 15th of Novem- ber, 1852. He was reared in the schools of the same, and when a youth in his teens entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the stone-mason's trade, completing his term of service in his twentieth year. In 1873 he came to the United States and for some time thereafter followed his trade in St. Paul, Minnesota, later doing considerable ma- sonry work in the cities of Minneapolis, Still- water and Huron, besides spending the greater part of two years in the timber region of Minne- sota. Mr. Cruickshank, in 1873, went to New York and after working for some time in that state, returned to his native land for the purpose of revisiting his home and the scenes of his childhood. After spending several months with relatives and friends he went to Glasgow, where

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he found employment at his trade, but later left that city for Liverpool, England, at which place he spent one year on the police force. Resigning his position at the expiration of the time noted, he again returned to Scotland where he was en- gaged for two years as foreman on a railroad and after severing his connections with that line of work, he went to Inverness-shire, his native place, and took up the pursuit of agriculture on the home farm. His experience as a tiller of the soil covered a period of two years, at the end of which time he made his second voyage to the United States, sailing in September, 1883. On arriving at his destination he came direct to South Dakota, locating in the Black Hills, where his brother Alexander was then living, and accepted a positon with the Homestake Mining Company, at Lead City. His first work with this great cor- poration was in the ditches, but after some months he resumed his trade and did considerable stone and brick laying in Spearfish, including the state normal school building, one of the finest struc- tures in the state. Later he re-engaged with the Homestake Mining Company, as foreman of ma- sonry work, which responsible position he still holds, being one of the company's faithful and trusted employes.

Meantime, 1885, Mr. Cruickshank took up land on Alkali creek, fifteen miles from Sturgis, which he converted into a fine ranch, and since that date he has devoted a great deal of attention to stock raising, in connection with his duties at the mine. His ranch, which contains about three thousand acres of rich grazing land, is in excel- lent condition and fully answers the purpose for which intended, being well improved with good buildings, fences and other accessories necessary to the successful prosecution of live-stock rais- ing. Mr. Cruickshank, in 1896, purchased for his brother Alexander a ranch three and a half miles east of Sturgis, on Bear Butte creek, where the latter has since lived and prospered as a stock man, the two working to each other's mutual in- terests, and their efforts have been crowned with the most encouraging success.

live-stock interests, Mr. Cruickshank spends the greater part of his time in Lead City, where, as already indicated, much of his attention is re- quired to attend to the duties of his position with the Homestake Company. His various enter- prises have resulted greatly to his financial ad- vantage, and he is now in independent circum- stances, owning, in addition to his ranch and live stock, considerable real estate in Lead City, also valuable mining interests in various parts of the country, besides a large amount of capital in- vested in different business and industrial enter- prises. His success since coming west has been remarkable, and his career bespeaks for him a soundness of judgment, a fertility of resource and executive ability of an order far higher than those with which the great majority of his fellow men are endowed.

Mr. Cruickshank has been actively identified with the material interests and public affairs of the city and county in which he lives, and is also a politician of more than local reputation, being one of the staunch Republicans of his part of the state and an aggressive party worker. Like the majority of wide-awake, enterprising men of ev- ery community, he manifests a decided interest in secret benevolence work, holding membership with the Masonic fraternity of Lead City, the Mystic Shrine, at Deadwood, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and the Master Work- men of America, at the former place, besides be- ing a leading spirit in the order of Scottish Clans of America, an organization composed of his fel- low countrymen throughout the United States.

Mr. Cruickshank was married in Glasgow, Scotland, June 18, 1878, to Miss Annie McLen- nan, a native of that country, and has a family of six children, whose names are as follows : John M., Robert, Donald M., Jessie A., Roderick A. and Edwin W.

MILES M. COOPER, farmer, stock raiser and also ex-member of the South Dakota house of representatives, is a native of Jennings county,

While exercising personal supervision over i Indiana, and dates his birth from November 16, his ranch and his large and constantly growing . 1845. Like the majority of country lads, he was

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reared on the farm, early became familiar with the rugged duties and wholesome discipline of the same, and of winter seasons attended the public schools of his neighborhood, acquiring a fair knowledge of the branches constituting the usual course of study. When a youth of sixteen he left home and after spending several years in the northern part of the state, yielded to a desire of long standing by making an extensive trip through the west. Young Cooper started on this journey in the spring of 1864, crossing the plains to Montana, thence to Virginia City, where lie engaged in placer mining, operating for some time in Alder gulch and various other places and meeting with reasonably fair success as a gold seeker. He spent the greater part of three years in the above section of country, but in 1867 went to Wyoming and entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, whose main line was then in process of construction.

After devoting the ensuing three years to rail- road work, Mr. Cooper severed his connection with the company and from 1871 to 1873 inclus- ive was engaged in the live-stock business, buy- ing cattle in Kansas and shipping them to various eastern markets, also selling to different parties in that and other states. Discontinuing this line of business he spent the succeeding three years at and in the vicinity of Fort Bridger, Wyoming, de- voting his attention the meanwhile to prospect- ing and mining, in addition to which he also took a number of contracts for various kinds of gov- ernment work north of the fort, completing the same in due time with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his employers. In the spring of 1877 he joined a party at Cheyenne and started for the Black Hills country, arriving in Dead- wood the following April, and immediately thereafter engaged in farming in Boulder Park, east of the city. In connection with agriculture he did considerable freighting at odd times, be- tween Deadwood and Pierre, and to these lines of work he gave his time until the spring of 1883, when he disposed of his interests in the Black Hills and came to Meade county, taking up a fine tract of land about six miles east of Sturgis, on which he has since lived and pros- pered as a farmer and stock raiser.

Mr. Cooper exercised excellent judgment in the selecting of his ranch, his place being admir- ably situated for agricultural and live-stock pur- poses, and by his labors and judicious manage- ment it has become one of the most productive and valuable farms in the county of Meade. He has added a number of substantial improvements, including among others a fine modern residence, supplied with all the latest comforts and conven- iences calculated to make country life desirable, and his business affairs have so prospered that he is now in comparatively independent circum- ·stances, with a liberal competence laid up against possible adversity and for his declining years.

Politically Mr. Cooper wields a strong influ- ence for the Democratic party, of which he has been a zealous supporter since old enough to ex- ercise the rights of citizenship, and for a number of years past he has been a prominent factor, not only in local affairs, but in public matters of dis- trict and state import. In the fall of 1889 he was elected to represent Meade county in the general assembly, and his record as a law-maker proved so satisfactory to his constituents that he was again chosen in 1891. While in the legislature he was untiring in his efforts to promote the in- terests of his county and state, serving on several important committees, taking an active part in the general deliberations of the house and earn- ing the reputation of one of the hardest workers in the body, as well as winning recognition as a leader on the Democratic side, his party, however, being in the minority.

Mr. Cooper is a man of great energy and has done much to advance the material prosperity of Meade county, giving his encouragement and support to all enterprises with this end in view. Public-spirited in all the term implies, he has fre- quently lost sight of self in his endeavors to pro- mote the public welfare and today there are few men in western Dakota as widely known or who in a greater degree enjoy the esteem and confi- dence of the people regardless of party ties. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge at Sturgis, and is also identified with the local lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen at the same place, having been honored with high official station in both organizations.

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On March 9, 1881, occurred the marriage of Mr. Cooper, his wife having formerly been Miss Mary P. Ranft, who was born and reared in the state of Ohio. The union has resulted in an in- teresting family of eight children, whose names are as follows: Otto P., Allyn R., Harold M., Lawrence, Edith, Jefferson, Edna and Bryan.

WILLIAM H. CHASE is a New Englander, having been born in Kingston, New Hampshire, on the 9th of June, 1828. Reared in his native state, he early acquired the industrious habits characteristic of the youth of that section of the Union, and after attending the schools of Kings- ton until old enough to plan for his future, learned carriage making, which trade he followed in New Hampshire until reaching the age of twenty-six years. In 1844 he went to Iowa and located a tract of government land, but after holding it for a brief period, sold his right and, returning home, remained about one year with his parents, when he again turned his face westward. After spending a short time in Iowa, he went to Minne- sota, where he remained one year, but at the expiration of that time returned to the former state and took up land in Jackson county, on which he engaged in farming and the raising of live stock.

Mr. Chase prospered in his undertakings and continued the same with increasing success until the year 1863, when he laid aside the implements of husbandry in response to the call for volun- teers to assist in putting down the great rebel- lion. Enlisting that year in the Second Iowa In- fantry, he served until the close of the war, after which he returned to Jackson county, where his family were living. From that part of the state he moved to Iowa county, where he lived and | prospered until 1881, in the spring of which year he sold his land and migrated to the Black Hills, South Dakota, settling on a ranch near Bear Butte creek, which his son Charles had taken up some time previously. Purchasing the ranch, Mr. Chase at once addressed himself to its im- provement and in the course of a few years re- duced a considerable area to cultivation, also

erected a comfortable dwelling and made many other improvements besides getting a substantial start in the way of live stock. From that time to the present his progress has been steady and substantial, and he is now one of the successful agriculturists and stock raisers in his part of the county, owning eight hundred acres of fine land, one hundred of which are under irrigation, and in a high state of tillage, the rest being devoted to cattle raising, which industry he makes a spec- ialty. In the course of time the original dwelling was replaced with the handsome modern resi- dence which the -family now occupies. A gen- eral system of improvements was inaugurated and carried to completion as rapidly as possible, and at this writing Mr. Chase is no longer under the necessity of laboring for a living, enjoying the fruits of his many years of toil and thrift, with an ample competency laid by for old age.

Mr. Chase has been a loyal supporter of the Republican party ever since its organization and is one of its firm adherents in Meade county. Until quite recently he took a very active interest in public affairs, attended the various con- ventions of his party, local, district and state, but repeatedly refused to stand for office, although well qualified to fill positions of honor and trust. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and takes pleasure in meeting his comrades who shared with him the vicissitudes of war during the dark days of the rebellion, being one of the leading spirits in the local post to which he belongs.

Mr. Chase was married in Jackson county, Iowa, to Miss Sarah Simeral, of Indiana, whose parents moved to the former state when she was only ten years old. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chase, namely: William S., Charles H., Addie May and Sarah B.

MARTIN H. JOHNSON, deceased, was born in Southport, New York, June 25, 1833. grew to manhood in his native state and after ac- quiring a good intellectual education in the schools, received a thorough practical training in the various business affairs with which he

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early became familiar. While still a young man he engaged in lumbering and continued that line of business in New York until about twenty-five years of age, when he went to Potter county, Pennsylvania, where he erected several large saw- mills and engaged in the manufacture of lumber upon a very extensive scale. Mr. Johnson oper- ated his mills quite successfully and in due time built up a business of large proportions, becon- ing in the course of a few years the leading lum- ber man in the above county and one of the larg- est in the state. By judicious management he ac- quired a large fortune, but subsequently met with a series of business reverses, which crippled him financially and from the effects of which he never entirely recovered. In hopes of bettering his condition, he wound up his affairs in Pennsyl- vania and in the fall of 1879 started for the Black Hills, reaching Boulder Park the same season and spending the winter at that place. The following spring he arrived in Deadwood, and from there, after a short time, came to Bear Butte creek and took up a ranch about fourteen miles east of Sturgis, where he turned his atten- tion to stock raising and agricultural pursuits. He had no sooner moved to his new home than he began a system of improvements, and he con- tinued prosecuting the same until his ranch was conceded to be the finest in the country, as he spared neither pains nor expense in beautifying the place and providing comfortably for his fam- ily.

Mr. Johnson carried on farming and cattle raising exclusively until the year 1887, when he again resumed the lumber business, erecting a large steam saw-mill in the hills, which he oper- ated very successfully during the eight years fol- lowing. This enterprise fully met his expecta- tions and it was not long until he began to recover from the losses entailed by his previous reverses. His other interests also proved quite fortunate, and his success in his different ficlds of endeavor not only redounded greatly to his financial advan- tage and made him one of the wealthiest men of his community, but also gave him high stand- ing in business circles, both locally and through- out the state. A short time before his death he 23-

built an elegant and imposing modern dwelling on his ranch, besides expending a liberal sum in other improvements, and at this time his place is considered one of the finest and most desirable country homes in the county of Meade.

Mr. Johnson was an influential member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he rose to a high degree, and he was honored with important official position in the order from time to time. He was a man of intelligence, widely informed and kept in close touch with the trend of events, having been a careful observer, a student of pub- lic affairs and a natural leader not only of matters of business, but in the domain of thought. He always manifested a lively interest in politics, but was never a partisan nor an office seeker, pre- ferring the life he led to the honors and emolu- ments of public station. He attained the ripe age of nearly seventy years, dying December 18, 1902, honored and respected by all who knew him. Mr. Johnson was one of nature's noble- men, true to every trust reposed in him, devoted to the cause of right and with a character above reproach, and a life fraught with great good to the world, he will long be remembered as one of the strong, stalwart men of his adopted state. Since her husband's death, Mrs. Johnson has managed the homestead and, like him, she exer- cises sound sense and discriminating judgment in the practical affairs of life. She is ably assisted by her two sons and a daughter, who take upon themselves much of the burden and responsibility of business cares and who, inheriting the many sterling qualities and characteristics of their ex- cellent parents, give promise of great usefulness in the future.

JOHN J. FOLKHARD was born in Potts- ville, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1855, but when quite a young man removed with his parents to Tiffin, Ohio, where he spent his early life and received his education. At the age of fourteen he started out for himself, going to Indianap- olis, Indiana, and for about one year thereafter he worked for a street railway company in that city. In 1870 he enlisted in the Seventh United

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States Cavalry and went to Kansas, from which state his command was afterwards sent south to break up illicit distilling in various parts of Ken- tucky, remaining in that section until the spring of 1873, when the regiment was ordered to Fort Snelling, Minnesota. Mr. Folkhard was detailed as mounted messenger at department headquar- ters in the city of St. Paul, and served under General Terry as such until the expiration of his period of enlistment in 1875, when he was hon- orably discharged at that place. On leaving the army he entered an engineer's office in St. Paul, but after spending one summer in that capacity went to Bismarck, Dakota, where he joined the force under General Miles for service against the Nez Perces Indians in Montana. Going to Fort Lincoln, he enlisted in Troop A, Seventh Cavalry, but being too late to take part in the campaign he was detailed for duty at that post and there re- mained until his command was sent to Fort Meade in the summer of 1879. Mr. Folkhard finished his period of service at the latter place in August, 1882, and after his discharge took up a ranch on Alkali creek and turned his attention to agriculture. He made a number of substantial improvements on his land, reduced the greater part of it to cultivation and in 1885 set out the fine, large orchard which is now bearing and from which he realized every year profitable re- turns. After devoting several years exclusively to farming he began raising live stock, and since engaging in this industry has prosecuted the busi- ness with sttccess and financial profit, being at this time one of the leading cattle men in his part of the county.

Mr. Folkhard's ranch lies about five miles southeast of Sturgis and for advantage of situa- tion, fertility of soil and beauty of scenery it sur- passes any like area of land in this section of the state. He has beautified a part of the place by planting trees and otherwise adding to its at- tractions, and for several years past it has been a favorite resort for tourists and pleasure seek- ers, scarcely a summer month passing in which there are not a number of picnics held on his grounds. In addition to the beautiful groves and orchards, which yield grateful shade, there are

many cool springs on the place, besides other at- tractive features which cause it to be eagerly sought during the warm seasons by those requir- ing rest and healthful recreation. Mr. Folkhard deserves great credit for furnishing the public such a pleasant and attractive resort, and the peo- ple who enjoy its restfulness have not been slow in recognizing his generous spirit and appreci- ating his open-hearted hospitality. He is de- servedly popular in his community, has many warm personal friends and stands very high in the esteem of all with whom he comes in contact. He has mingled much with the world and by coming in close touch with all classes and condi- tions of people his mind has been broadened, his views of men and things have become enlarged and he stands today among the energetic, public- spirited citizens of his adopted county and state.

EDWARD H. SPRINGER, whose death oc- curred January 31, 1904, a native of Washing- ton county, Maine, was born May 20, 1844, and grew to maturity on a farm, receiving his educa- tion in the public schools and when old enough to begin life for himself he engaged in agriculture and the lumber business, in connection with which he also operated a sawmill for a consider- able length of time. He continued to reside in his native state until the fall of 1875, when he disposed of his interests there and went west, locating at Virginia City, Nevada, where he re- mained until the spring of 1877, devoting about nine months of the time to running a livery sta- ble for another party, the balance of the interim being devoted to mining in various parts of the country. In May of the latter year he started for the Black Hills and, arriving at Deadwood on the 20th day of the month, immediately went to work excavating a site for a mill, which being finished, he helped build the mill, one of the first enterprises of the kind in that part of the terri- tory. Later he secured a position in a mill at Black Tail, but after continuing for some time in that capacity, resigned and started a boarding house in the same town, which he ran until the spring of 1878, when he went to Lead City and

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 60

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