History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 64

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

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pendent Order of Odd Fellows; Lodge No. 28. Ancient Order of United Workmen; and Salem Tent, No. 12, Knights of the Maccabees. He has taken a deep interest in all that concerns the development and material prosperity of South Dakota, and was one of the first to become iden- tified with the State Historical Society. He is not formally identified with any religious body, but Mrs. Wilson holds membership in the Presby- terian church.

On the 29th of January, 1885, Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Etta L. Young, of Morganville, New York, and they are the parents of two children, Leon P. and Laverne E., both of whom remain at the parental home.

WILLIAM HOESE, one of the honored and influential citizens of Spencer, McCook county, was born in the village of Hinton, Plymouth county, Iowa, on the 28th of March, 1868, a son of William and Henrietta ( Bandt) Hoese, of whose four living children he is the youngest, the others being as follows: Clara, who is the wife of William Lerch, of Sioux City, Iowa; Louisa, who is the wife of John Gudekenst, of State Center, lowa ; and Frank, who is a resident of Merrill, that state. William Hoese, Sr., was born in Launsberg, Germany, in 1822, and the wife was born in the same place, in 1832. There he was reared to maturity, learning the trade of miller, eventually becoming the owner and operator of an old-style mill in his native land, the motive power being furnished by a wind- wheel. He was married in his native town and there two of his children were born. In 1857 he emigrated with his family to America, landing in New York City and thence coming west to Iowa City, Iowa, where he remained a short time and then removed to Ponka, Nebraska, being the first white settler in that place, being engaged in farm- ing in that locality for the ensuing five years, having purchased government land. In 1862 he passed through Sioux City, searching for an eligible location in Iowa, and though there was no flouring mill in the little village of Sioux City at the time, he decided to locate in Hinton, Ply-

mouth county, where he erected the first grist mill in western Iowa, being one of the first settlers in that locality and anticipating the tide of immigration by several years. Six years later he disposed of his milling property and re- moved to Merrill, Plymouth county, in which locality he acquired extensive farming interests, cventually becoming one of the most influential agriculturists and stock growers in that section, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1894, his devoted wife having preceded him into eternal rest by about four months. He was a stalwart Republican in his political views, and while wielding distinctive influence in his party councils, he has never been an aspirant for public office.

William Hoese, the immediate subject of this sketch, secured his early educational training in the public schools, and at the age of fourteen was sent to the Northwestern Business College, in Sioux City, Iowa, where he was graduated in 1884. He then held a clerical position in a mer- cantile establishment in that city for one year, at the expiration of which, at the age of seven- teen years, he came to Bridgewater. South Dakota, and engaged in the hardware business, in partnership with Theodore Montague. Three years later he disposed of his interests in this line and went to Sioux Center. Iowa, where he organ- ized the bank of Sioux Center, of which he was made president, being at the time the youngest bank president in the state, as he had not yet attained his twenty-first year. In 1890 Mr. Hoese disposed of his banking interests and came to Spencer, South Dakota, where he effected the organization of the State Bank at Spencer, of which he was sole owner and officially cashier, his father and brothers permitting the use of their names on the corps of officials in order to comply with the technical provisions of the law. Mr. Hoese successfully conducted this enterprise until the Ist of January, 1903, when he sold the business, since which time he has not actively identified himself with any other enterprise, giving his attention to his various capitalistic interests. He has ever given an unequivocal alle- giance to the Republican party and has shown

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a zealous interest in its cause, having been a member of the county central committee ever since taking up his residence in Spencer. While in no wise ambitious for political preferment, he was nominated for the state senate in 1898 and was elected, though the normal Democratic majority in the district was three hundred and sixty-one at that time. He gave a most credit- able and satisfactory service in the upper house during the ensuing general assembly and fully justified the popular confidence reposed in him. He has also served in various local offices of trust, having been mayor of Spencer in 1894, and also serving as a member of the town council, as village treasurer and as a member of the school board. He is a member of Spencer Lodge, No. 147, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Salem Chapter, No. 34, Royal Arch Masons; Con- stantine Commandery, No. 17, Knights Templar, of Salem; and El Riad Temple of the Mystic Shrine, in Sioux Falls, while he is also affiliated with the local lodges of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

On the 3d of September, 1895, Mr. Hoese was married to Miss Ida T. Janke, of Spencer, and they are the parents of two sons and one daughter, namely: William R., Frank H. and Clara T.

seek his fortunes, locating in Orange county, New York, where he remained for a number of years, within which time he was married. He finally removed to Winnebago county, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming for several years, thence removing to Huston county, Minne- sota, where he continued to make his home until 1884, when he came to South Dakota and pur- chased a relinquishment claim in Hanson county, three and one-half miles northwest of the village of Farmer, and there he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1891. He was a consistent member of the Catholic church, as was also his wife, who passed away in 1872.

Christopher C. Dunn remained at the parental home until he had attained his legal majority, while his educational advantages were such as were afforded by the public schools. At the age of twenty-one he inaugurated his independent carcer, securing work on a farm. In the spring of 1881 he came west to carve out a career for himself and to gain such a measure of success as was within his power. He located in Hanson county, this state, where he took up a pre- emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres, in what is now Spring Lake township, while in December of the same year he also took up a homestead claim in Edgerton township. He there- after continued to be actively and successfully engaged in farming and in the breeding and raising of horses for sixteen years, within which time the wisdom of his choice of location had been amply justified. In the spring of 1899 Mr. Dunn took up his residence in the village of Farmer, where he engaged in the buying and shipping of grain, while for two years he also bought and shipped live stock upon an extensive scale, then abandoning this branch of the enter- prise. In 1900 he erected a modern and com- modious grain elevator, which affords the best of facilities, and he is now one of the most ex- tensive and successful grain dealers in this section of the state. In 1901 Mr. Dunn erected the Farmer Hotel, a substantial and well- equipped building, and this he leased. He is a

CHRISTOPHER G. DUNN, of Farmer, Hanson county, was born in Winnebago county, Illinois, on the 31st of July, 1858, being a son of James and Elizabeth (Bigley) Dunn, of whose nine children seven are living, namely: Joseph, a resident of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Christopher G., subject of this reveiw; Mary, the wife of Peter Harris, of Vancouver, British Columbia: Spencer J., a resident of Hanson county, this state; Thomas, who resides in Helena, Montana; Elizabeth, the wife of Patrick Curry, of Hanson county; and Daniel, who is likewise a resident of this county. The father of our subject was born in County Meade, Ire- land, in 1829, and was there reared to the age of sixteen years, when he came to America to stanch advocate of the principles of the Demo-

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cratic party, and in 1898 he was appointed clerk of the courts, in which capacity he served one year, while for several years he was incumbent of the office of supervisor of Spring Lake town- ship. He served four years as justice of the peace, having been the first to be elected to this position after the organization of the township mentioned. His religious faith is that of the Catholic church, and fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mr. Dunn owns a half interest in the general mercantile business conducted under the firm name of Dunn, White & Company, while he also retains possession of a half section of valuable farming land, located one-half mile north of the village. He is a royal and public-spirited citizen and well merits representation in this history.

REV. BERNARD H. BUNNING, pastor of the Roman Catholic church, Bridgewater, was born in Covington, Kentucky, February 28, 1853. His parents. Herman G. and Thecla ( Groene ) Bunning, natives of Hanover, Germany, came to the United States in 1849, and located at Coving- ton. Kentucky, of which city the father subse- quently became a prominent merchant and leading business man. Of the nine children that origin- ally constituted the family of Herman G. and Thecla Bunning, two were born in the mother country, one of them dying on the voyage to America, and the births of the other seven oc- curred in the United States. Only two of the number are living at the present time, the sub- ject of this review and John H. Bunning, who is now advertising manager for the large mercan- tile firm of Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company, of Chicago. In 1883 the parents took up their resi- dence in South Dakota with their son, Reverend Bunning, and spent the remainder of their days in this state, the father dying in 1889, the mother in the year 1890.

Bernard H. Bunning grew to maturity under the parental roof, attended for some years the parochial school under the auspices of the Mother

of God church in Covington, and shortly after his thirteenth year removed with the family to St. Meinrad, Indiana, at which place he entered the Benedictine College, with the object in view of fitting himself for the priesthood. In due time he finished his literary and theological stud- ies, was ordained priest in 1880, and immediately after came to South Dakota and took charge of St. Mary's church in the city of Bismarck. After two years of faithful and efficient pastoral work at that place, he was transferred to Pierre, being the first resident priest in the latter city, and his pastorate there covered a period of about four years, during which time he greatly strengthened his congregation, materially and spiritually, se- curing a fine building site, and erecting a beautiful temple of worship and parsonage. His labors at Pierre terminating in 1886, Father Bunning was next sent to Zell, where in due time he succeeded in raising sufficient funds to build a commodious church edifice and the congregation under his leadership increased rapidly in numbers and influ- ence. After remaining at Zell until 1890, he was transferred to Aberdeen, where he labored with great acceptance for two years, and at the end of that time took charge of the church at Parkston, continuing at the latter place during the five years following. Father Bunning's next scene of labor was the parish of Vermillion, where he minis- tered to a young though healthy and growing church until the summer of 1901, when he came to Bridgewater, his present field of endeavor. Since locating with the parish at this place he has added greatly to the material well-being of the church, securing at a reasonable figure the United Brethren church building for a parochial school and the fine Pritzkam residence property with its handsome and valuable grounds, which he has remodeled and converted into a sisters' boarding school. The church has greatly pros- pered along all kinds of activity, and the pastor has not only endeared himself to his parishioners, but has become popular with all classes and condi- tions of people, irrespective of church or creed.

In addition to the church edifice erected by Father Bunning, alluded to in a preceding para- graph, he built the St. Anne's church at Miller,

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besides greatly strengthening the congregation there, and every place where he has been sta- tioned spiritual growth and material prosperity have followed fast upon his labors.

CHARLES K. HOWARD .- The subject of this writing is a typical western stockman, pio- neer and developer, and has a record of energy, endurance, readiness for emergencies and cour- age in the face of danger that is inspiring in its consistency and in the success which it has achieved. He was born at Red Hook on the Hud- son, New York, on May 17. 1836, and received his education there and in central New York, finishing at Hamilton College, remaining in the state until he was twenty years old. In 1856 he came west to Sioux City, Iowa, then a little town of a few rude shacks. For a time he fol- lowed steamboating on the Missouri, then in 1857 came to Pierre in this state, where he was em- ployed by the American Fur Company. The nearest railroad station at that time was St. Jo- seph, Missouri, and the life of the trader was re- mote from civilization and full of hazard. After two years of service with the fur company he again engaged in steamboating on the Missouri for four or five years until 1863. He then went to Sioux Falls, a military post known as Fort Dakota, as post trader, and during the next three years was profitably employed there in that ca- pacity. In 1866 the post was abandoned by the government and thrown open to settlement, and as the section was rapidly filling with settlers he continued his mercantile operations there and also had a stage line and was engaged in the cattle industry. He built the first frame house in this part of the country, and remained in business there eighteen years. employing on an average fifty men in connection with his numerous interests. He was also active and prominent in public local affairs, serving as county treasurer of Minne- haha county for fourteen years, being during the whole of this period and afterwards the leader of the Democratic party in his vicinity, although he was usually elected on an independent ticket. as party lines were not closely drawn. For forty :~ 77737

years, however, he supported the Democratic party, leaving it only in 1806 when his convic- tions were strong against the platform on which Mr. Bryan was nominated for the presidency. In 1883 he sold all his interests at Sioux Falls except his cattle, which numbered some fifteen hundred head. These he brought to the Chey- enne river at what is now Smithville, fifty miles northeast of Rapid City, where he took up the ranch which has since been his home and erected a dwelling on it. He stocked it with large herds of cattle, bought here and in Texas, and entered upon the open range cattle business on an exten- sive scale. From that time on he has been the largest individual cattle owner in this part of the country, having usually about ten thousand head, and in managing his business he has been emi- nently successful. His residence is known far and wide as the finest and most modern ranch dwell- ing within a very extensive range of country. It is equipped with electric lights and hot and cold water furnished by his own plants, elegantly furnished throughout and supplied with every desirable modern improvement. The operations of the ranch are conducted on a scale of magni- tude and by means of the most approved ma- chinery, which is driven by steam power. Mr. Howard has personal control of all phases of his business and when at work among his men seems to be the youngest of the band. He is a whole- souled and genial man, full of business, but at the same time full of good fellowship, and is known through all the northwest, numbering among his friends many of the most noted men of the day. He was the first man to locate here and engage in the range cattle industry, and fore- seeing that the range would be gradually dimin- ished, he has prepared himself for the change, acquiring about four thousand acres of good land for his purposes. He is in every sense a true pioneer. He camped where Yankton has since grown to, consequence, built the first brick house at Sioux City, the first frame house at Sioux Falls, and trailed from Sioux City to Fort Randall when there was not a house on the plains between the two places. In his business he has always been foremost and recognized as a leader.

C. K. HOWARD.

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He is now president of the Western South Da- kota Stockgrowers' Association.

In September, 1866, Mr. Howard was mar- ried, at Sioux City, to Miss Jeannette Ricketts, a native of Washington, D. C. One child blessed their union, Mary J., now Mrs. Pender. Mrs. Howard died in May, 1868, and on February 5. 1890, Mr. Howard married, at Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Miss Catherine Franklin, a native of Pennsylvania.

LAWRENCE S. TYLER, president of the First National Bank of Salem, McCook county, is one of the influential and honored citizens of this section of the state, and his character and prominence are such as to eminently entitle him to recognition in this history. Mr. Tyler was born in the village of Compton, province of On- tario, Canada, on the 19th of August, 1854, a son of Damon Y. and Maria (Taylor ) Tyler, to whom were born four children, namely: Lewis, who is engaged in the hardware business in Salem, this state: Leonora, who is the wife of E. E. Quiggle, of Rapid City, South Dakota; Lydia, who is the wife of Henry Seavers, of Duluth, Minnesota ; and Lawrence S., who is the subject of this sketch. Damon Y. Tyler was born in the state of New Hampshire, where he was reared to maturity. As a young man he secured a posi- tion in the employ of the well-known firm of Fairbanks, Morse & Company. manufacturers of scales, in the city of Philadelphia, and while there he was married. His father had in the meanwhile removed to the province of Ontario, Canada, and he also took up his residence there, remaining but a short time and finally removing to Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he pur- chased a tract of railroad land and engaged in farming, to which he there continued to give his attention about ten years, at the expiration of which he took up his abode in the town of Big Spring, that county, in which vicinity he pur- chased a large farm. In 1867 he located in Merri- mac, Sauk county, that state, where he estab- lished himself in the mercantile business, also serving as postmaster of the town for the long

period of fourteen years. In 1882 he retired from active business, and he is still residing in that place, one of the honored pioneers of the state. He is a Republican in politics and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church.

The subject of this review attended the com- mon schools until he had attained the age of fourteen years, when he began to depend upon his own resources, securing work on a farm and receiving the princely stipend of ten dollars a month for his services. At the age of eighteen he became identified with the construction of bridges on the line of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, in the employ of which he continued about three years. Upon attaining his majority he removed to Rock county, Minnesota, where he purchased a quarter section of land, in Mag- nolia township, where he was engaged in farming for the ensuing four years. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Tyler accepted a position with the firm of Peter Thompson & Company, prominent dealers in agricultural machinery and implements at Adrian, Minnesota, serving as their bookkeeper and general office manager until 1883. when he came to Salem, South Dakota, here erecting a substantial block and engaging in the hardware business, building up a large and prosperous en- terprise and continuing the same about eighteen years. In 1888 he became associated with others in the organization of the McCook County State Bank, and in 1892, after failure of the Salem Bank, the fine building of the defunct institution was purchased of the receiver and the McCook County State Bank forthwith took possession of this newly acquired property, which is still util- ized for the counting rooms of its successor, the First National Bank. In 1899 Mr. Tyler and Mr. S. W. Appleton, now of Sioux City, acquired the entire ownership of the state bank, of which our subject had served consecutively as president from the year 1896 up to that time. In 1901 Mr. Appleton sold his stock in the institution, which was then reorganized as the First National Bank of Salem, of which Mr. Tyler was chosen presi- dent, a position he had held with the state bank up to the reorganization, while the interested prin- cipals in the new bank include the subject and

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C. J. Ives, F. H. Putnam and Thomas Brown, of Sioux Falls, and Thomas Bishop, of Salem. After the reorganization Mr. Tyler disposed of liis hardware business, and the banking enterprise has grown to such proportions as to demand the ma- jor portion of his time and attention in his chief executive capacity. Mr. Tyler is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of farming land in this county, seven hundred acres in Hand county, one hundred and sixty acres in Buffalo county and also a half interest in a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres in the last mentioned county. He owns a controlling interest in the creamery at Salem, being manager, secretary and treasurer of the Salem Creamery Association. He is treasurer of the Salem Mill and Lighting Company, treasurer of the South Dakota Dairy and Buttermakers' Association, treasurer of the school district, and secretary of the Salem Ceme- tery Association, in the organization of which he was associated with George Sanderson and L. V. Schneider. He is held in the highest con- fidence and esteem in the county and has been called upon to serve as guardian and as adminis- trator of important estates. Mr. Tyler is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, and has ever shown a deep interest in pub- lic affairs. He has served for more than a dec- ade and a half as member of the village council, heing incumbent of this position at the present time. He and his wife are prominent and zeal- ous members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of whose board of trustees he is secretary, being also incumbent of the office of steward. Mr. Tyler has completed the circle of York-rite Ma- sonry, being affiliated with the following bodies : Fortitude Lodge, No. 73. Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons ; Salem Chapter, No. 34, Royal Arch Masons : Constantine Council, No. 2, Royal and Select Masters ; and Constantine Command- ery, No. 17, Knights Templar, while he has also become a member of the auxiliary organization, the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, holding membership in El Riad Temple, in Sioux Falls. He is identified with Salem Lodge. No. 28, Ancient Order of United Workmen, of which he is financier.

On the 24th of January, 1877, Mr. Tyler was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Blackman, of Merrimack, Wisconsin, and to them were born three children, two of whom survive, Nellie L., the wife of Roy Palmer, of Chamberlain, South Dakota, and Grace L., who remains at the pa- rental home.

The following obituary notice relative to the subject's mother appeared in the local press at the time of her death :

DEATH OF MRS. TYLER .- Maria Jane Tyler died at her home, in Merrimack, on Wednesday, February 17, 1904, aged seventy-three years, one month and seventeen days. She was horn in Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, December 31, 1830, and was married to Damon Y. Tyler, June 12, 1853. They removed to Wisconsin in the fall of 1854, where she has lived until called home where sorrow is no more. She leaves a husband and four children to mourn her loss. The children are Leonora E. Quiggle, Lydia Sievers, Lewis A. Tyler and Lawrence S. Tyler. Mrs. Tyler joined the Baptist church in 1858, and her Christian life had always heen bright until the final call from her Heavenly Father. Mrs. Tyler was deeply interested in the cause of temperance. For eighteen years she was an active member of the Merrimack Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Though not able to attend the meetings during the latter years of her life, her heart and soul were ever in the work, and her prayers continually arose to the throne of God for the final overthrow of the alcoholic despot. But her lahors of love were not confined to the ladies' organization; she cordially sympathized with every effort to elevate humanity, to regenerate those in degradation and to purify the heart filled with corroding sin. Though sickness had compelled her to remain within the walls of her cozy home much of the time for many years, her life had been an inspiration to neighbors and friends through all the period of suffering and ebbing away of the vital tide. She was always thoughtful of others, always feared that she was a hurden, always longed with Jesus. to go and be

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 64

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