History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 85

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 85

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Mr. Russell enjoyed the free out-of-door life on the range until 1887, when he went to El Paso, Texas, where, in partnership with a Mr. Newman, under the firm name of Newman & Russell, he was engaged for five years in the real-estate and brokerage business. Leaving the latter place in 1892, he located at Eddy, New Mexico, where he dealt in real estate, loaned money, etc., until 1896, when he returned to East St. Louis and accepted a position with the National Stock Yard Company, holding the same until the spring of the year following. Severing his connections with the above concern at the time noted, he went to Miles City, Montana. in con- nection with one of the largest of the live-stock commission firms, and after remaining at that place until December, 1898, came to Deadwood, South Dakota, where, in partnership with cer- tain gentlemen from Montana, he bought the "Uncle Sam Mine," on Elk creek in Lawrence eounty. Mr. Russell, in 1899, with his partners, organized the Clover Leaf Gold Mining Com- pany, of which he was made vice-president and treasurer, and he still holds these positions, con- tributing greatly to the success of the enterprise by his energy, executive ability and correct busi-

ness management. In 1900 he was elected vice- president of the Black Hills Mining Men's Asso- ciation, of which he was also one of the original organizers, and in December of the same year he took a leading part in organizing the Black Hills Business Men's Club, being chosen its vice- president, which position he has since filled. In addition to the official relations referred to, Mr. Russell at the present time holds the office of first vice-president of the American Mining Congress, a national organization com- posed of the leading miners and representatives of the largest mining properties in the United States; this high honor, coming to him un- sought, is a recognition of his distinguished abil- ities as a business and a mining man, also a graceful compliment to him as an enterprising, public-spirited man of affairs and accomplished gentleman. Mr. Russell is a master of the pro- fession to which he has devoted so much of his time and attention, and as a practical miner, fa- miliar with all the varied details of the great mining industry, has few equals and no superiors in South Dakota. By his energy and straight- forward business course, he has done much in the way of organizing companies and developing valuable mineral properties, and while advanc- ing his own interests in the prosecution of these various enterprises, he has also been instrumen- tal in promoting the prosperity of his association.

Mr. Russell, at the request of the Black Hills Mining Men's Association, accepted the appoint- ment of commissioner to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition from Governor Herreid and when the commissioners organized, in July. 1903, he was elected president and devoted his energies and best abilities to winning success for the state at the St. Louis Exposition.

Mr. Russell is a Republican, but has never entered the arena of partisan politics as an office seeker, having no ambition whatever in that di- rection, although by nature and training well qualified to fill any publie position within the power of the people to bestow. Fraternally he is a thirty-second-degree Mason and in religious matters subscribes to the Episcopal creed, being, with his wife, a consistent member of the church

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of that name in the city of Deadwood. Mr. Rus- sell has a pleasant and attractive home in Dead- wood, his family consisting of himself and wife only. The latter before her marriage, on the 20th of August, 1896, was Miss Mary Logan, of St. Louis, Missouri. Mrs. Russell was born and reared in the latter city and is the daughter of C. C. and Elizabeth (Finigan) Logan, also of St. Louis.

ANTHONY G. TUVE, the able and honored president of Augustana College, at Canton, was born in Fillmore county, Minnesota, on the 21st of January, 1864. and was the youngest of five children. His parents emigrated from Norway to America in the early 'fifties and his father was among the pioneers of Fillmore county, where he engaged in farming and attained a position of independence. In 1868 the family removed to a farm near Decorah, Winneshiek county, Iowa, Reared in a home puritanical in its simplicity and religious devotion, young Anthony early de- veloped a serious turn of mind, characterized by persistent energy and determination. When en- tering the public schools at the age of eight years, he had been taught to read and memorize in the Norwegian language, but knew practically nothing of English. His inherent energy and alert mentality soon won him front rank in his classes, however, and at the age of thirteen we find him at the height of the country boy's liter- ary ambition-presiding over the district debat- ing society. After completing the course in the district school he continued his studies for three years in the Decorah Institute, conducted by the late Professor John Breckenridge, a teacher of more than local reputation. The ensuing three years were devoted to teaching in the district schools and completing a course in a business col- lege. After completing a course in pedagogics, Professor Tuve was elected principal of the vil- lage schools of Ridgeway, Iowa, where he did a most successful work and attained distinctive popularity. After remaining incumbent of this position for three years he declined re-election, his intention being to take up the study of law.

Within a short time, however, he was called to fill the vacant position of instructor in physics and rhetoric in Augustana College, in Canton, South Dakota. Although most relictant to give up his plans of preparing himself for the legal profession, he was prevailed upon to enter upon his career in connection with the college in the autumn of 1889. The following year, at the age of twenty-six, Professor Tuve was elected pres- ident of the institution by the board of regents of the United Norwegian Lutheran church, which, after the union of certain Lutheran bod- ies, now assumed control of the school. Under his presidency, with the hearty co-operation of faculty and controlling board, the college has steadily progressed and grown in attendance and popular favor.

One of the ambitions of Professor Tuve, to- gether with the stanch friends of the school, was to see it located in new and commodious quarters. After years of persistent and inde- fatigable effort this desideratum was largely real- ized, for in the autumn of 1903 a large dormi- tory and a new college building with modern improvements stood completed. The main build- ing is an imposing structure, built of Sioux Falls granite.

In the hardships incident to pioneer educa- tional work Professor Tuve faithfully stood at his post and by skillful management and persist- ent and well-directed energy enlisted the confi- dence and support of others and carried the school through hard times and financial difficul- ties, with a firm faith in its future prestige and ultimate sucess. The last few years have amply demonstrated the consistency of his attitude in the connection, for the school has attained an en- viable reputation and won for itself a permanent place among the valuable educational institutions of the state. The president is a devoted adherent of the Lutheran church, and both by precept and

example wields a beneficent influence over the youth who receive instruction in the institution of which he is chief executive, while his genial, kindly and sympathetic nature endear him to the students, who accord him the fullest measure of confidence and respect. President Tuve was

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united in marriage to Miss Ida Marie Larson, of Ridgeway, Iowa, on the 2d of June, 1893. They have three children : George Lewis, Merle An- tony and Rosemond Theresa Marie.

WILLIAM J. ROWLANDS, a successful farmer and stock raiser of Brown county, was born in Wales on the 14th of July, 1846, and was brought to America when one year old and grew to manhood's estate in Columbia county, Wiscon- sin, where his parents settled on coming to this country. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and on attaining his majority selected that an- cient and honorable vocation for his life work, and has followed it ever since, meeting with the success that inevitably attends the man of in- dustry whose efforts are directed by good natural ability, and whose career bears the stamp of earnestness and sincerity of purpose. Mr. Row- lands succeeded well as a farmer and continued his labors in Wisconsin until 1880, in the fall of which year he sold his possessions in that state and became a resident of Brown county, South Dakota. Shortly after reaching his destination he took up a homestead, three miles northwest of Bath, but after holding the same until 1882 and making a number of improvements, he disposed of the place and moved to his present home, three miles north of Plana, where he now owns a finely improved farm of four hundred and eighty acres, a large part of which is in cultiva- tion, the remainder consisting of rich pasture land, peculiarly adapted to live-stock purposes. Mr. Rowlands is an up-to-date agriculturist and as a raiser of fine cattle he has a reputation sec- ond to that of few of his fellow citizens similarly engaged. He has prospered greatly since coming west, being the possessor of a beautiful and at- traetive home, while his business affairs have so worked to his advantage that he is now in in- dependent circumstances. While not a politi- cian in the exclusive sense of the term, he is de- cided in his allegiance to the Republican party and has been a delegate to a number of conven- tions, besides rendering valuable service to the ticket. Religiously he subscribes to no creed or

statement of faith, but is a regular attendant of the Presbyterian church, to which his wife be- longs, contributing of his means to its support, as well as to the building up and sustaining of charitable institutions irrespective of name or order.

The married life of Mr. Rowlands dates from January. 1887, when he was united in the bonds of wedlock with Miss Sarah Morris, of New York, the union being blesed with children as follows : John Howard, Eunice E .. Catherine J. and Beulah May.

WILLIAM McGAAN, who is serving most efficiently and acceptably on the bench of the county court of Clark county, was born in the historic old town of Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland, on the Ist of October, 1853, and his forbears have been identified with the annals of Scottish his- tory from the time to which the "memory of man runneth not to the contrary." His parents, Wil- liam and Agnes ( Andrews) McGaan, came to America in 1857, at which time he was a child of four years, and they settled in Knox county, Illinois, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits, while he still resides on the old home- stead, having attained the venerable age of eight- tv-six years at the time of this writing, in 1904. His devoted and cherished wife was summoned into eternal rest on the 2d of October. 1893. hav- ing been a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church, as has also her husband.

Judge McGaan was reared on the home farm, near Altoona, Illinois, and after completing the curriculum of the public schools continued his studies in Lombard University, at Galesburg, that state, quitting in his junior year to take up the study of law in the office of the firm of Davis & Thompson, of Galesburg, prosecuting his tech- nical reading with scrupulous care and fidelity and being admitted to the bar of the state in June, 1880, by the supreme court. In the same month he was admitted to partnership in the firm under whose preceptorship he had pursued his law studies, the title being changed to that of Davis, Thompson & McGaan, and he there con-

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tinued in practice until March, 1883. when he came to South Dakota and located in Clark, as one of its pioneer lawyers. In 1887-8 he served as state's attorney of the county, and in 1898 he was elected judge of the county court, and is now serving his fourth consecutive term in this im- portant office. He has gained a high reputation for his fair and impartial rulings, which are in- variably based on the law and evidence, and is known as a man thoroughly well informed in the minutiae of the great science of jurisprudence. For the past ten years the subject has been and is now associated in business with Hon. S. H. Elrod, Republican nominee for governor of South Dakota. He has ever given an uncompromising allegiance to the Republican party and has been one of the leaders in its local ranks. In a fra- ternal way he is identified with the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America, as is he also with the college fraternity, the Phi Delta Theta.

On the 5th of November. 1889. Judge Mc- Gaan was united in marriage to Mrs. Emma L. (Coats) Dice, who was born in White Pigeon, St. Joseph county, Michigan, on the 24th of Octo- ber, 1859. being a daughter of James and Julia Ann Coats. The only child of this marriage, a son, died in infancy, but Mrs. McGaan has two daughters by her first marriage, Laverne B., now Mrs. W. L. Ware, of Lakota, North Dakota, and Vera MI. Dice.

GEORGE BOLLES, a leading real-estate and insurance man of Aberdeen, of which city he is treasurer, was born at Marshall, Michigan, on June 30, 1854, the son of George Nelson and Sarah (Polhemus) Bolles. The father of Mr. Bolles was a native of New York state, and was descended from an old American family, his an- cestors having come over from England in 1620, settling in the New England states, and later the family getting into New York state. At an early date the father removed to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he died about 1885. The mother of the subject died a few days after his birth.

George Bolles was reared on a farm, and at- tended the high school and the Baptist college at Kalamazoo, Michigan. After leaving school, he worked on a farm in summers and taught school in winter for several years, and then entered an insurance office in Kalamazoo, where he con- tinued until 1883, at which time he came to Aber- deen, South Dakota. He at once engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in that town, now city, at the same time taking up land near Ipswich, upon which he settled his family. Mr. Bolles is a Republican in politics, and has served as treasurer of Aberdeen practically all the time since 1885, holding the same at present. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Woodmen of America fraternities.

Mr. Bolles married Ellen A. Dennis, who was born in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, the daugh- ter of Wilfred and Mary J. ( Downey ) Dennis, and to their union one son has been born, C. Bliss Bolles.

ALFRED ABRAHAM was born in Chisago county, Minnesota, on the 14th of September, 1856, and is a son of Charles and Beata Abra- hamson, both of whom were born and reared in Sweden, where their marriage was solemnized and where two of their children were born. One of the children died on the voyage to America and another shortly afterward, one son died in 1885, while those who survive are four sons and two daughters. In 1853 Charles Abrahamson immi- grated with his family to the United States, first locating in La Salle, Illinois, where he remained until the spring of the following year, when he removed to Minnesota and settled in Chisago

county, being one of its pioneers and there devel- oping a valuable farm. His wife died in 1886, while he still resides in Chisago county, having attained the venerable age of eighty-four years. While he has retired from active labor he is blessed with excellent health and is enjoying the rewards of his former toil and endeavor, being a man of sterling character and one who has ever commanded the high regard of his fellow men.

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The subject of this review was reared on the homestead farm and secured his early educational training in the public schools of his native county. He continued to be identified with the work on the home farm and teaching school until 1882, when he came to the present state of South Da- kota. On the 16th of February of that year he took up a homestead claim in Riverside township, Brown county, where he improved a valuable farm, the property now being owned by his brother, Jobn A., who there maintains his home, at the same time being engaged in business and becoming identified with the early history of Gro- ton, South Dakota. Mr. Abraham continued to devote his attention to farming and stock growing until 1889, when he located in Lang- ford, Marshall county, where he engaged in the clothing and men's furnishing-goods business, continuing operations until 1894, when he closed the business. One year later he opened his pres- ent store at Claremont, where he handles general merchandise, and here he controls a large and representative business and has a finely equipped and appointed establishment. His brother, John A., was associated with him in the business and in 1899 they opened a lumber yard in connec- tion with their mercantile enterprise, continu- ing to be associated in the carrying on of both until 1902, when the partnership was dissolved, on the ist of January, the subject retaining the mercantile and lumber business while his brother assumed the farm previously mentioned as his share, the original claim having in the mean- while been materially augmented in area. The subjeet is the owner of a section of well-im- proved land in the county, renting the same, while in addition to this he has equity in six other quarter sections in the county. Through his energy and good management he has gained noteworthy success since coming to South Da- kota, and he is duly appreciative of the advant- ages which have been here afforded him and takes a deep interest in all that concerns the welfare and advancement of his home town, county and state. In politics Mr. Abraham is a stanch adherent of the Republican party. In 1892 he was elected county treasurer, and was

chosen as his own successor two years later, thus serving four consecutive years and giving a most able administration of the fiscal affairs of the county.

On the 11th of November, 1900, Mr. Abra- ham was united in marriage to Miss Maude E. Griffith, who was born in Lakeview, Michigan, and reared in South Dakota, being a daughter of E. E. Griffith, one of the honored pioneers of the state. They have one son, Arden Louellwyn, who was born on the 13th of October, 1901.

THOMAS J. BILLION, M. D., one of the prominent physician and surgeons of Sioux Falls, is a native of Iowa, having been born in the town of Sibley, on the 25th of October, 1878, a son of Henry and Mary ( Rooney ) Billion. When he was a child of three years his parents removed to Minnesota, where he received his early educational discipline, the family continuing to reside in that state until he had attained the age of ten years, when they came to South Dakota and took up their abode in Sioux Falls, where the Doctor continued his studies in the public schools, eventually entering the Sioux Falls Normal School. His parents still reside in this city, his father being a commercial traveler by vocation. In 1895 Dr. Billion was ma- triculated in St. Thomas College, at St. Paul, Minnesota, where he pursued a classical course, remaining in the institution until 1897, when he entered upon the technical work of preparing him- self for the profession to which he had determined to devote his life. He became a student in the John A. Creighton Medical College, in Omaha, Nebraska, where he completed the prescribed course, being graduated as a member of the class of 1901 and receiving his coveted degree of Doc- tor of Medicine. Shortly after his graduation the Doctor returned to Sioux Falls, where he es- tablished an office, and here he has since been en- gaged in the general practice of his profession, in which his efforts have been attended with gratifying success, indicating a popular apprecia- tion of his professional talent and his devotion to his noble and humane vocation. He is a close

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student of his profession and keeps in constant touch with the advances made in the sciences of medicine and surgery. The Doctor is a member of the State Medical Society of South Dakota, and is serving as county physician of Minnehaha county. In politics he is found stanchly aligned in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and fraternally is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

CHARLES ALLEN HOWARD, who is suc- cesfully engaged in the real-estate business in the city of Aberdeen, was born in Frontier, Clinton county, New York, on the 16th of July. 1865, being a son of Charles Adams Howard, who was a farmer by vocation, while the maiden name of the subject's mother was Nancy Patterson. Charles Adams Howard was likewise born in Frontier, being a son of Junio Howard, whose father, Antipas Howard, was numbered among the early settlers in that section of the old Empire state. Antipas Howard was born in Andover, Vermont, and was a son of James Hayward, who was born in Mendon, Massachusetts, on the 18th of February, 1724. The latter was a son of Jonathan Hayward, who was the third of the name in America, being a son of Jonathan 2d, who was a son of Jonathan Ist, born in Ashford, Connecticut, in 1692. The last mentioned was a son of John Hayward, who was with Miles Stan- dish in 1643. Martha, the wife of John Hay- ward, was a daughter of Thomas Hayward, who came from England prior to 1638 and settled Duxbury, Plymouth county, Massachusetts. This data is derived from Volume XI American An- cestry, published in 1898. The subject is also a grandson of Rebecca J. Spaulding, also repre- senting one of the old and prominent families of New England, the ancestry being fully traced in the Spalding Memorial, published in 1897.

Charles A. Howard, the immediate subject of this review, was reared on the old homestead farm and his educational advantages were such as were afforded in the public schools of his na- tive county. By the death of his father, in 1877,

he was thrown upon his own resources, and went to Ontario, Canada, in the following year, at the age of thirteen. In 1879 he took up his residence in Port Huron, Michigan, entering the employ of the Grand Trunk Railroad and continuing in the service until 1883. In May of that year he came to Columbia, Brown county, Dakota. In Janu- ary, 1884, he secured a position as clerk in the office of the register of deeds of Brown county, and in January of the following year was ap- pointed deputy register. He resigned this posi- tion in November, 1885, and engaged in the ab- stract business, in which he has ever since con- tinued, in connection with his extensive real-estate enterprise.

In November, 1887, Mr. Howard enlisted as a private in Company F. National Guard of Da- kota, in Aberdeen. He became corporal on the 3d of June, 1889; second lieutenant Jannary 23, 1892: first lieutenant October 2, 1893 ; and cap- tain May 7, 1894. He held this position in Com- pany F. First Regiment, South Dakota National Guard, until the outbreak of the Spanish-Amer- ican war. He then took his company to Sioux Falls, the state rendezvous, arriving there on the Ist of May, 1898, where four days later he was mustered into the United States service as cap- tain of Company F. First South Dakota In- fantry, United States Volunteers, enjoying the distinction of being the first South Dakota sol- dier to be mustered into the service of the United States. On the same day he was promoted to ma- jor of his regiment and assigned to the command of the Second Battalion, consisting of Companies D. M. F and E. He proceeded with his regi- ment to the Philippines and took part in every march, skirmish and battle in which any of this valiant regiment was engaged during the war. He was mustered out of the service, in San Fran- cisco, California, in October, 1899, with the other members of his regiment, which had made a gallant record in the Orient. Major Howard has ever been a stanch supporter of the Repub- lican party and has been an active worker for the promotion of its interests. He served as a mem- ber of the board of aldermen of Aberdeen in 1890, and was a member of the state senate dur-

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ing the general assembly of 1895. Fraternally the subject is affiliated with the following named bodies : Aberdeen Lodge, No. 38, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Aberdeen Chapter, No. 14, Royal Arch Masons ; Damascus Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar ; El Riad Temple, An- cient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Aberdeen Lodge, No. 49, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Aberdeen Lodge, No. 55, Knights of Pythias ; Bab-el-Wed Temple, No. 17, Dramatic Order Knights of Khorassan, and Ab- erdeen Lodge, No. 30, Ancient Order of United Workmen. Of the last mentioned he has served as master workman, while in 1900 he was emi- nent commander of Damascus Commandery, Knights Templar, being now the grand general- issimo of the grand commandery of the state, and has held other official chairs in the various bodies noted. He has been a member of the Theosoph- ical Society since 1898.

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 85

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