History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 68

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 68

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HARRY H. MAUPIN, one of the represent- ative business men and honored citizens of Egan. Moody county, is a native of the Old Dominion, having been born in the beautiful mountain town of Staunton, Augusta county, Virginia, on the 9th of March, 1868, and being a son of Junius F. and Elizabeth Maupin. In 1870 his parents re- moved to Washington, D. C., where his father was employed in the government printing office for twenty years. In politics he was a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party. The subject secured his early educational disci- pline in the public schools of the national capital and thereafter continued his studies in a private school at Standardsville, Virginia, where he completed a course in higher mathematics, his- tory, the classics, etc., being graduated as a men- ber of the class of 1885. After leaving school he learned the drug business in Washington, where he remained until 1888, when he came to South Dakota and located in Elk Point, Union county, where he secured employment in the drug store of J. S. Talcott. Later he removed to Sheldon, Iowa, where he was similarly engaged in the es- tablishment of Fletcher Howard, being a regis- tered pharmacist in both Iowa and South Dakota. In 1891 he returned to the latter state and located in Beresford, Union county, where he engaged in the drug business on his own responsibility. About two years later he sold his business to Ramsdel Brothers and then removed to Dell Rap- dis, Minnehaha county, where he was in the em- ploy of M. E. Collins until the spring of 1897. when he came to Egan, where he has ever since maintained his home. For a short interval he was here employed in the drug establishment of Tay- lor Brothers and then purchased the business, which he has since successfully continued. hav- ing a well-equipped establishment and carrying a comprehensive stock. In 1901 he was appoint- ed postmaster at Egan, and has since been incum- bent of this office. He established and equipped

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the Egan Telephone Exchange and also organ- ized the Farmers' Egan Telephone Company, of this place, having disposed of the local exchange on the Ist of October, 1903. He was for a short time editor and publisher of the Egan Express, which he sold to R. E. Hartman, the present publisher. He served for two years as justice of the peace, and has at all times been foremost in support of all enterprises tending to further the upbuilding and material prosperity of his home town and county, while in politics he is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies of the Republican party. Mr. Maupin became a member of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias while a resident of Beresford, this state, and was elected commander of the same, while he was twice a delegate to the grand lodge of the order in the state. He is also affiliated with Ty- rian Lodge, No. 100, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Egan.

At Elk Point, this state, on the 22d of Jan- nary, 1890, Mr. Maupin was united in marriage to Miss Emlura S. Morris, the only daughter of Hon. Emery Morris, who was a member of the territorial legislature in 1872, being one of the honored pioneers of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Maupin have one son, Morris Luverne, who was born on the 2d of December, 1890.

BERNART SIKMANN, a well-known resi- dent of Yankton county, was born in Munster, Germany, on the 2d of February, 1843. his par- ents being lifelong residents of that country. At the age of twenty-seven years, in 1870, he left his native land and came to the United States, first locating in Dubuque, Iowa, where he spent a year and a half. He next went to Arkansas, where he remained nine months, and then re- turned to Iowa, making his home there until 1878, when he came to South Dakota, Yankton county being his destination. After working for others for nine months he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land eight miles north of the city of Yankton, but did not immediately turn his at- tention to agricultural pursuits. For two years he was employed in a brickyard and in 1875 em-

barked in the same line of business on his own account, operating that yard for eight years. He met with success in that undertaking and erected for himself a fine brick residence and two barns. During the flood of 1881 he lost a kiln of brick and his house was damaged to some extent, his loss amounting to about one thousand dollars. In 1882 Mr. Sikmann bought one hundred and eighty acres of wild land in Yankton county and · engaged in its operation in connection with the manufacture of brick in Yankton. He built a good residence and barns upon his place in 1892 and in July of that year took up his residence there, it being still his home, though he contin- ties to own property in the city to the amount of about eight acres. His farm now comprises two hundred and eight acres, which with the assist- ance of his sons he has placed under a high state of cultivation.

On the 3d of June, 1880, Mr. Sikmann was united in marriage to Miss Lena Mader, a daugh- ter of Henry and Christina Mader, who were both natives of Germany, but were living in New York at the time of Mrs. Sikmann's birth. In 1873 her father brought his family to South Da- kota and entered a tract of wild land in Yankton county, soon becoming a well-known and suc- cessful farmer of this locality. He died April 23, 1894. having survived his wife for several years, she having passed away on the 15th of May, 1877. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sikmann have been born five children : Fred, now twenty-one years of age; Joseph, Frank, Rosa and Lillie (died July 21, 1891). All are at home and have been given good common-school educations, the daughter being still a student in the local schools. So- cially the family is one of prominence in the community where they reside, and the wife and mother is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Sikmann is a Democrat in politics and does all in his power to insure the success of his party.

W. L. PALMER, a prominent banker at Carthage, was born at Watertown, New York, in 1844, attended the public schools and later took a course in a commercial college at Pough-

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keepsie. When nineteen years old he went over to the Brooklyn navy yards and offered his serv- ices in the cause of his country. His enlistment occurred in August, 1863. In 1866 he obtained an honorable discharge and shortly thereafter engaged in the hardware business, but two years later built at Watertown the first manilla paper mill ever erected in the United States. He began the manufacture of paper flour bags on a large scale and did a thriving business in this line for a number of years, but finally decided to cast in his lot with the enterprising emigrants then swarming to the territories beyond the Missouri. It was in 1881 that he turned his face westward, stopping in Chicago, but going to South Dakota in the following year. Taking up his residence at Langfort, he established the James River Bank of Palmer, but in 1888 came to Carthage, where he founded the bank of that name and is at present the owner of the Farmers' Bank. Mr. Palmer is an ardent Republican and many promi- nent offices at the hands of his party have been within his reach had he not persistently declined owing to reluctance to take the time from his im- portant business affairs. At one time he was vig- orously urged by the Republican press to accept the nomination for secretary of state, and this movement was aided by prominent Republicans all over the state, but Mr. Palmer politely de- clined this alluring honor. He has been a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic ever since its organization in 1867, and was elected com- mander of the South Dakota hranch in 1899. He filled that office for one year and is now quarter- master general of the department.

In October, 1883, Mr. Palmer was married to Miss Stella Driscoll and they have one child, Miss Edna, a pretty and vivacious girl of four- teen summers.

PARK DAVIS, of Sioux Falls, South Dako- ta, one of the leading lawyers of South Dakota, was born in Athens, Windham county, Vermont, September 24. 1837, son of Elijah and Miriam Davis. His father died when the subject was

quite young and left him largely dependent on his own resources for advancement. He attended Leland Seminary at Townshend, Vermont, and in 1862 was graduated from Middlebury College. He read law under Butler & Wheeler, prominent attorneys of Jamaica, Vermont ; was admitted to the bar in Windham county in 1864; and in Feb- ruary, 1865, commenced the practice of his pro- fession at St. Albans, Vermont, with Dana R. Bailey, under the firm name of Bailey & Davis. Later he was admitted to the supreme court, the circuit court of the United States, and the su- preme court of the United States. He prospered as a general practitioner of law at St. Albans un- til 1879, when he removed to St. Paul, Minne- sota, and, in connection with Hiram F. Stevens, of that city, successfully practiced his profession until September 1, 1881. Then he temporarily withdrew from the law and engaged with his brother-in-law in a mercantile venture at Albany, New York, under the firm name of Gray & Davis. In October, 1885, he went to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, formed a partnership with his old friend and former partner, Dana R. Bailey, and since has ranked as one of the lead- ing lawyers of his state. In 1874 he represented St. Albans in the general assembly of Vermont and was a prominent and influential member of that body.

Mr. Davis is highly distinguished in Masonic circles. He served three terms as grand master of Masons of Vermont. His record in this im- portant office was a brilliant one. Since coming to South Dakota he has been honored with the office of grand high priest and many other po- sitions of honor and trust by the Masonic frater- nity. He is the author of a treatise on Masonic trials and forms for procedure which have been incorporated into a monitor published by the grand lodge of Vermont.

Mr. Davis was married at Townshend, Ver- mont. October 27, 1863, to Delia S. Gray and they have two children, Henry P. and May L. Mr. Davis is one of Sioux Falls' leading citizens and is favorably known throughout the state. He is an able lawyer, a genial gentleman and his record as a man is without reproach.

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JAMES STANAGE is one of Yankton coun- ty's native sons, for he was born here on the 11th of May, 1862, and is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family, his parents being John and Bridget (Murnan) Stanage, both na- tives of Ireland. They were married, however, in Minnesota. For some years the father was in the government employ in that state, being con- nected with the commissary department until 1871. During the 'fifties he was sent by the gov- ernment to Fort Pierre, South Dakota, and in 1861 he secured one hundred and sixty acres of government land in Yankton county, where he made his home until called to his final rest on the 22d of July, 1898. He was in several Indian raids during his connection with the army, and was a man well known and highly respected. He took an active interest in political affairs, being an ardent Democrat, and was a member of the first territorial legislature. Both he and his wife were earnest and consistent member of the Episcopal church. She is still living and continues to re- side on the farm of two hundred acres left by her husband.

In the family of this worthy couple were four children : John, who now operates the old home- stead and owns two other farms here; Mary and Elizabeth, who are also at home with their moth- er; and James, of this review. All were given good educational advantages and the daughters have engaged in teaching school for several terms.

James Stanage remained under the parental roof until he attained his twentieth year and then started out in life for himself as an agriculturist, operating a rented farm for three years. At the end of that time he purchased two hundred acres of wild land in Yankton county, which he has since broken, fenced and improved by the erec- tion of a good house and barns. He keeps a good grade of horses, cattle and hogs, and is meeting with fair success in business.

On the 14th of October, 1885, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Stanage and Miss Kate Garvey, a daughter of Edward Garvey, one of the early settlers and successful farmers of the county. Nine children blessed this union,

namely : Katherine; Ray; George; Ethel; Frank; John, who died at the age of eighteen months ; Mark; Blanch, who died at the age of sixteen monthis ; and Leone. The older children are now in school. Mr. and Mrs. Stanage are members of the Catholic church and he is a Democrat in politics. Fraternally he is identified with Mis- sion Hill Camp, No. 7209, Modern Woodmen of America.

ALBERT S. HARVEY is a native of the state of Minnesota, having been born in Dodge county, on the 27th of February, 1855, and be- ing a son of Wiles and Harriet Harvey, the former of whom is now deceased, he having been a farmer by vocation. The subject's educational advantages were those afforded in the public schools of his native county, and from his youth up he has been identified almost continuously with agricultural pursuits. He continued to re- side in Minnesota until 1878, when, as a young man of twenty-three years, he decided to cast in his lot with the territory of Dakota, toward which the tide of immigration had begun to set in. He arrived in what is now Moody county in March of that year, and took up a homestead claim of three hundred and twenty acres of government land, in Colman township, being one of the first to settle in that section, while the popula- tion of the county at the time was summed up in a small number of families, the land being practi- cally all in its primitive condition and bearing slight resemblance to the condition which today obtains, with attractive villages, well-cultivated farms, churches, schools and all other evidences of an advanced civilization. Mr. Harvey began life here in a modest way, his original dwelling being a rude sod house of the sort so common in the early pioneer era, and through energy, perse- verance and good management he has developed a fine farm, being now the owner of three hun- dred and twenty acres of most arable land, while the place is improved with good buildings and yields excellent returns for the labor expended in its cultivation. Mr. Harvey has shown a proper interest in all that has touched the general

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welfare and material advancement of the county, and has aided the cause of education and all other enterprises for the enhancement of the prosper- ity of the community, while in politics he is a stanch adherent of the Populist party.

Mr. Harvey has been twice married. In 1884 he wedded Miss Frances Scoville, who was born and reared in Wisconsin, and whose death oc- curred in 1889. She is survived by two children, Gilbert and Volney. On the 21st of February, 1895, Mr. Harvey married Mrs. Emily Morse, who was born in Wisconsin and who was a res- ident of Colman at the time of her marriage, while she is a daughter of C. L. Meeker, who was numbered among the early settlers in Moody county. Of this union has been born one child, Myrtle. One stepson and all four of the children still remain at the parental home.

CHARLES POWER, one of the representa- tive business men of Lake county, is a native of the state of Minnesota, having been born in Fill- more county, on the 17th of August, 1858, and being a son of William and Margaret ( Knox) Power, both of whom were born and reared in Ireland, while their marriage was solemnized in Ireland. The parents of the subject immigrated to America in 1854, and about 1856 took up their residence in Fillmore county, Minnesota, where they developed a farm, having been early settlers of the county. He there remained until 1868, when he died. In 1872 the mother and six chil- dren came to South Dakota. His widow is still living, at the venerable age of eighty years, and makes her home with her son. Joseph. This worthy couple became the parents of eight chil- dren, of whom six are living.

The subject of this review remained at the parental home in South Dakota until he had at- tained the age of twenty years, having in the meanwhile received his rudimentary educational discipline in the district schools. He then, in 1872, came as a youthful pioneer to the present state of South Dakota, and he passed the first five years thereafter in Minnehaha county, work- ing on various farms and in the meanwhile at-

tending school in Sioux Falls, where he com- pleted a course in the high school. In 1879 Mr. Power came to Lake county, where he took up three hundred and twenty acres of government land and forthwith bent his energies to its recla- mation and improvement. His success became cumulative, and as prosperity attended his efforts he added to his landed possessions in the county, until he is now the owner of six hundred and forty acres of valuable land, of which about five hundred are under effective cultivation, while he has made the best of improvements of a per- manent nature. His farm is located in Went- worth township, two miles east of Wentworth, where he maintains his home and where he owns a considerable amount of realty aside from his elevator and attractive modern residence. Mr. Power continued to reside on his ranch until 1887, when he removed to Wentworth and estab- lished himself in business as a buyer and shipper of grain, while he later erected his present ele- vator in the village. He is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, and takes a lively interest in local affairs of a public na- ture. He served three years as president of the village council of Wentworth, and was chairman of the township board for two years. Frater- nally he is affiliated with Wentworth Lodge, No. 156. Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Wentworth Camp, No. 4980, Modern Woodmen of America.

On the 3d of August, 1898, Mr. Power was married to Miss Minnie Peters, who was born in West Bend, Washington county, Wisconsin, and who is a daughter of Henry and Minna (Schultz) Peters. Mr. and Mrs. Power have a winsome little daughter, Fern, who was born on the 2Ist of March, 1901.

ANDREW LARSON, whose farm is located seven miles from Flandreau, the attractive county seat of Moody county, is a native of Norway, where he was born in October, 1845. His par- ents died when he was a boy, and he was reared to maturity in his fatherland, securing his early education in the national schools, and thereafter

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being engaged in fishing until 1867, when he came to the United States and settled at La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he found employment in connection with the great lumbering industry of that state, continuing to make his headquar- ters in La Crosse for eleven years, at the expira- tion of which, in 1878, he came to the territory of Dakota and became one of the pioneers of Moody county, where he entered claim to one hundred and sixty acres of government land, which constitutes a portion of his present finely improved ranch. He labored sturdily and unceas- ingly, meeting with his quota of trials and dis- couragements, but his courage never flagged, and his determination and perseverance have had their reward in the good gift of prosperity and independence, for his success has kept pace with the development and progress of the country, which he has seen transformed from a wild and desolate section to one marked by all the evi- dences of a splendid civilization. He is the owner of six hundred and forty acres of land, the greater portion of which is under cultivation and de- voted to diversified agriculture, while he has made the best of improvements of a permanent nature, including the erection of a good farm residence and a large and substantial barn, besides other requisite farm buildings, for the care of stock, produce, implements, etc.

Mr. Larson has also been very successful as a stock grower and gives preference to the short- horn type of cattle, and to the Poland-China swine. In politics Mr. Larson gives his support to the Republican party, as do also his sons. Both he and his wife are prominent and consistent members of the Lutheran church, in whose work they take an active interest.

DAVID EASTMAN, one of the prominent and influential citizens of Wilmot, Roberts county, was born in Allegany county, New York, on the Ist of June, 1847, being a son of Tilton and Ann (Palmer) Eastman, both of whom were born and reared in Steuben county. The family lineage is of English, German, Scotch and Irish extraction. The Eastmans are English, the pa-

ternal grandmother was German, the maternal grandfather, Joshua Palmer, was Irish, and his wife was Scotch. Tilton and Ann Eastman re- moved in 1864 to Blue Earth county, Minnesota, where he was a farmer known for integrity and ability. Both died in South Dakota. David Eastman was about seventeen years of age at the removal to Minnesota, where he grew to man- hood under the effective discipline of the farm, while he attended the common schools and the graded school at Plainview. He was associated with his father until he had attained the age of twenty-five years, when he engaged in teaching at Belleview, Minnesota, and was identified with the profession for five years, when he was for two years engaged in farming in Blue Earth county, Minnesota. In 1878 he located six miles south of the site of Wilmot where he entered govern- ment land, devoting himself to its reclamation and cultivation. In 1884 he was elected register of deeds and county clerk, remaining incumbent of the dual office for four years, having removed to Wilmot. He then engaged in the farm imple- ment business and to the negotiating of farm loans and represented leading fire-insurance com- panies. In April, 1895, he was appointed deputy state commissioner of school and public lands, being elected commissioner in 1898. He rendered valuable service in this important office four years, when he retired to his pleasant home in Wilmot, where he has since given his attention principally to the supervision of farming inter- ests, whle he is president of the Farmers' State Bank of Wilmot, and also does a general real-es- tate business. Mr. Eastman has ever accorded allegiance to the Republican party, and was a member of the state central committee for a number of years. He was sergeant-at-arms of the state senate during the sessions of 1893 and 1895. He and his family attend the Presbyterian church and fraternally he is identified with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pyth- ias and the Dramatic Order of Knights of Kho- rassan.

On the 24th of May, 1884, Mr. Eastman was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Wilson, who was born in Columbia county, Wisconsin, on the

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3d of January, 1851, being a daughter of Wil- liam L. and Janette Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. East- man have two daughters, Jessie May and Flor- ence I.

WILLIAM H. PARKER was born in Dan- ville, Pittsylvania county, Virginia, May 4, 1847. He served in the United States army from the 24th day of June, 1861, until the 26th day of October, 1866, when he resigned from the army while stationed at Fort Kearney, in the then territory of Nebraska. After leaving the army he entered the law department of Columbian College, Washington, D. C., graduating with the class of 1868. Since this time he has been en- gaged in the practice of his profession with the exception of three years that he was collector of internal revenue of the territory of Colorado, being appointed by President Grant. While hold- ing the position of collector of internal revenue he resigned to accept the appointment of assistant United States attorney, and subsequently was ap- pointed United States attorney of that terriory. He removed to South Dakota in July. 1877, where he has been constantly engaged in the practice of his profession, being at the present time state's attorney of Lawrence county. He was a mem- ber of the constitutional convention that framed the constitution of South Dakota and a member of its first legislature.

O. M. OSBON, son of Joseph and Rhoda (Reed) Osbon, was born at Ripley, Ohio, May 20, 1846, but owing to the removal of his par- ents to Illinois, was reared and educated in the last mentioned state. His father being a farmer, the son went through the usual routine of helping on the farm during the busy season and picking up his schooling during the months of winter. Though still a boy at the outbreak of the civil confliet, Master Osbon, like all typical young Americans. was eager for "the pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war" and finally gained his desire by being allowed to enlist in October. | 1862. as a member of Battery A. Sec nd Illinois

Light Artillery. Though only sixteen years old, he was entrusted with the charge of a number of recruits with instructions to convey them to Hel- ena, Arkansas, a duty which he performed with promptness and fidelity. The youthful volunteer had enough danger and adventure to satisfy even the most ardent seeker after such things, inas- much as he participated in many of the impor- tant battles of the Civil war before receiving his honorable discharge in 1865. He has not, how- ever, escaped the perils incident to exposure and returned to his Illinois home shaking with a gen- uine attack of old-fashioned "chills and fever." In hope of obtaining relief from this ailment he sought the salubrious climate of Colorado, but eventually found his way to Kansas, and it was after reaching the state made famous by John Brown and the "border ruffians" that he entered the field of journalism. His first venture in this line was with the Waterville Telegraph, but in 1884 he disposed of this plant to remove to Mis- souri, where he spent six years in the combined occupation of farming and editing. It was in 1807 that Mr. Osbon "made his bow" to the pub- lic at Howard in the first issue of "The Spirit of Dakota," a weekly paper devoted to the best interests of Miner county and the dissemination of Republican principles. During his residence in Kansas Mr. Osbon served three terms in the state legislature and was the first mayor of West- moreland, county seat of Pottawatomie county, in the same state. He was also commander of the Kansas department of the Grand Army of the Re- public and is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 68

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