History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 9

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 9

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In politics Mr. Skillman gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and he was chairman of the board of trustees of the town of Irene for one year, his term expiring on the Ist of Tune, 1902, while for three years he was treasurer of the Irene school district, his term expiring June I. 1903. He is clerk of Irene Camp, No. 2323. Mod- ern Woodmen of America, having held this office for several years, while he has been correspond- ent of the Tri-County Homestead, No. 647, at Irene, since the time of its organization, in 1901.

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His religions faith is that of the Dutch Reformed church, in which he was reared.

On the 4th of October, 1892, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Skillman to Miss Mary E. Schaetzel, of Sioux Falls, she being the only daughter of Jacob Schaetzel, Jr. She was born in Freeport, Illinois, on the 8th of January, 1872, and was but three years of age at the time of her parents' removal to Sioux Falls, where she was reared and educated. She was the first gradu- ate in music in All Saints' school, in this city. Both her father and mother were born in Wis- consin, the maiden name of the latter having been Catherine Brenner, and all of her grandparents were native of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Skill- man have two children, Roy Jacob, who was born at Sioux Falls, Angust 14, 1893, and Katherine Anna, who was born in Irene, February 10, 1895.

JACOB SCHNAIDT, one of the prominent business men of Menno, Hutchinson county, is a native of southern Russia, where he was born November 10, 1847, a son of Frederick W. and Salomea (Herr) Schnaidt, to whom were born two children, Frederick having died at the age of one year. The parents of the subject passed their lives in southern Russia, the father having there been engaged in agricultural pursuits during his active life, being a man of prominence and in- flutence in the community. and having held for several years the office of mayor of the town of Cassel, in which he maintained his home. His father, Frederick W. Schnaidt, was born in Ger- many, whence he emigrated to Russia in 1807. and he likewise was mayor of Cassel for a num- ber of years and wielded marked influence in public affairs of local natitre. The subject of this sketch passed his youthful days on the homestead farm and secured such educational advantages as were afforded in the schools of the locality. Upon attaining maturity he continued his identification with agriculture, while in his native place he was married, in 1868, to Miss Catherine Mehlhaf. In 1873 they set forth to seek their fortunes in America, arriving in due time in New York city and thence coming to what is now South

Dakota. Mr. Schnaidt forthwith took up a pre- emption claim in Bon Homme county, butt a year later he removed to Yankton, where he se- cured employment as a salesman in the hardware establishment of the firm of Dudley & Hawley, with whom he remained about five years, at the expiration of which he engaged in the same line of business upon his own responsibility. Yankton being then the capital of the ter- ritory. In 1881 he sold his business and came to Menno, where he opened a hardware store, successfully conducting the same until 1887. when he disposed of the enterprise and engaged in the lumber business, this undertaking like- wise prospering under his able supervision. In 1898 Mr. Schnaidt sold his lumber yard and purchased the hardware store and bitsiness which he had previously owned, and to the same he has since given his attention, controlling a trade which extends throughout the wide area of coun- try naturally tributary to the town and being known as one of the county's most progressive and reliable business men. He is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of valuable land in the county, and the same is well improved.

In politics Mr. Schnaidt gives an unfaltering allegiance to the Republican party. in whose councils he is a prominent figure in the state. In 1882 he was elected county commissioner, serv- ing two terms. while- he was a member of the territorial legislature in 1887, serving one term. In 1890 he was elected to represent his district in the state senate, serving through the general assembly of the ensuing year and still farther proving his loyalty to and interest in the state with whose interests he has so long been identified. In 1901 he was appointed a member of the state board of charities and corrections and is incumbent of this office at the time of this writing. He and his wife are prominent mem- bers of the German Reformed church. They are the parents of thirteen children, namely : Jacob, Jr., who is engaged in the real-estate, loan and insurance business in Menno; Christoph, who is now a resident of Lodi, California; Emil, who is with his father in the store; Henry, who is a druggist in Groton, this state: Edward, who is

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preparing himself for the profession of dentistry ; and Magdalena, William, Lydia, Helmuth, Martha, Herbert, Gideon and Theodore, all of whom remain at the parental home.

C. A. ERLANDSON, senior member of the firm of Erlandson & Johnson, general merchants, of Milbank, is another of the sons of the North- land who have contributed so materially to the industrial, business and civic development and progress of South Dakota. Mr. Erlandson was born in Sweden, on the 20th of August. 1847. and is the son of parents who passed their entire lives in their native land. The subject was edu- cated in the excellent schools of Sweden and when but scarcely attained to manhood he set forth to seek his fortune in America. After sev- eral years he came to South Dakota and located in the newly founded village of Milbank, with whose upbuilding and business interests he has been identified, while he has attained a high de- gree of prosperity and is known as one of the reliable and straightforward business men and valuable citizens of the town and county in which he has made his home for nearly a quarter of a century.

JAMES DONNELLY, one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of Bon Homme county, was born April 19. 1851, at Black Earth, Dane county, Wisconsin, and is the oldest of a family of six children, whose parents, Frank and Nancy ( Reegan ) Donnelly, were natives of Ireland. Shortly after their marriage Frank Donnelly and wife came to America and settled in Dane county. Wisconsin, where they continued to reside from 1850 to 1861. In the latter year. with several other families, they started west and in due time reached Niobrara, Nebraska, where they made settlement and purchased government land, being among the first pioneers in that part of the state. Mr. Donnelly improved his land and lived on the same for a period of five years, at the end of which time he sold out and moved to Bon Homme county. South Dakota, locating in Running Wa-

ter township, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their days, both dying in the year 1902, she in April and he in the month of Octo- ber. By occupation Mr. Donnelly was a black- smith, which trade he followed exclusively in his native country, but after coming to the United States the greater part of his attention was de- voted to agricultural pursuits. As stated above, the subject of this review is the oldest of the children born to Frank and Nancy Donnelly. the others being Mary, widow of Michael O'Shea : Hannah, wife of William Rogers. of Bon Homme county ; Margaret, who married James McKenna and lives in Yankton county ; Frank E. lives in Nebraska, and John, whose home is in Alberta, Canada.

James Donnelly was ten years old when he ac- companied his parents on their removal to Ne- braska and he retains vivid recollections of the long and somewhat wearisome journey by ox- team to their new home in the west. He came with the family to South Dakota and at the age of twenty-two left the parental roof and entered one hundred and sixty acres in section 15. Run- ning Water township, in addition to which he also took up the same amount of land in section 14. both of which tracts he at once proceeded to improve. After residing on his original purchase until 1885. he bought the quarter section where he now lives, but since then he has added to its area until the farm now includes four hundred and eighty acres of fine land, admirably situated in one of the richest agricultural districts of Bon Homme county.

Mr. Donnelly has brought his place to a high state of tillage, besides making a number of valut- able improvements thereon, his elegant and com- modious modern dwelling, erected in 1899, be- ing one of the finest and most attractive country residences in the township of Running Water. While enjoving marked prestige as an enterpris- ing agriculturist, he makes stock raising his principal business and since the year 1880 his at- tention has been largely devoted to this impor- tant industry. He breeds and raises a fine grade of Durham cattle, pays considerable attention to hogs and for some years past has made a spe-

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cially of Percheron and coach horses, of which he keeps a large number and for which there is always a lively demand at good prices.

Mr. Donnelly is a man of progressive ideas and tendencies and to him as much as to any other individual is due the advancement of Run- ning Water township along material lines and the prosperity of its people. In politics he has been a stanch supporter of the Democratic party ever since old enough to cast a ballot, but his inclination has never led him to seek office or as- pire to leadership. Religiously he was born and reared in the Catholic church and still adheres loyally to that faith, belonging with his family to the congregation at Running Water.

In June, 1873. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Donnelly and Miss Kate Milligan, the htter a native of County Roscommon, Ireland, and the daughter of James and Mary Milligan. Mrs. Donnelly came to this country i 1870, her parents remaining in Ireland the re- mainder of their lives, the mother dying in 1866, the father in the year 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Donnelly are the parents of nine children : Frank, formerly a teacher in the pub- lie schools, but now his father's assistant on the farm : James E., also at home: Winnie, wife of Lawrence Wilson, of Running Water: Annie. who taught for five years in the county schools, but at this time runs a dressmaking establish- ment in the city of Yankton; Mary. Maggie, Katie, Zoie and Laura, the last five, with an adopted daughter by the name of Lillie Moore. a popular teacher of six years' experience. but now married to James Gayner, of Springfield. Bon Homme county, South Dakota, being mem- bers of the home circle.

JOHN SCHMIERER, JR., cashier of the German American Bank at Parkston, Hutchin- son county, and recognized as one of the able young business men of this section of the state, was born in the southeastern part of Russia, be- ing a son of John and Elizabeth ( Becker) Schmi- erer, emigrating with his family to the United States, locating in Scotland, Bon Homme

county, South Dakota, the state being at that time still a portion of the great undivided ter- ritory of Dakota. He established himself in the hardware and farm-implement business and there continued to be successfully engaged in business for several years. Subsequently he purchased the Parkston State Bank and reorganized the same, of which he has ever since been president, while the subject of this sketch was made cashier at the time of reorganization, the bank being one of the solid and popular monetary institutions of this section, while it is incorporated under the title of the German American Bank.

The subject of this sketch was still an infant at the time of his parents' emigration to America, and he has thus passed practically his entire life in South Dakota. After completing the curricu- lum of the public schools he continued his stud- ies in the State University. and supplemented this by a course in the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Chicago, Illinois. After completing his work in that institution he was employed for one year by a business firm of that city, and was then compelled to resign his position by reason of a severe attack of illness. He then returned to his home in South Dakota, and for a while was em- ployed in the Bank of Scotland, after which he was made cashier of the German American Bank of Parkston, of which position he has ever since heen incumbent.

MORDECAI WILLSON. M. D .- The suc- cess achieved by this scholarly and enterprising physician and surgeon has won him recognition among the leading men of his profession, not only in the city of his residence, but throughout this section of the state, he being regarded as one of the most skilled surgeons in the north- west, while his success in the treatment of dis- eases peculiar to the female sex has gained him a prestige such as few attain.

Dr. Willson was born in New York state and spent his early years there, entering, as soon as old enough, the public schools, after which he prosecuted his studies for some years in an academy. Still later he entered an educational

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institution in Vermont, and there applied him- self very closely to study, the meanwhile receiv- ing special training on the violin, an instrument for which he early manifested a fondness. Leav- ing the above institution he continued his musical studies under the direction of competent in- structors, making rapid advancement and be- coming an accomplished violinist. He taught music and also played in a number of high-class concerts both in Canada and the United States.

During the latter year of his concert work Dr. Willson studied medicine and later entered the Detroit Medical College, from which he was graduated. Prior to his becoming a student of the above institution, he was united in marriage with Miss Helen Volser, and after his graduation removed to Kansas, where he practiced his pro- fession very successfully during the following several years. He then located in Nebraska, where he did a large professional business, also erecting and maintaining a hospital.

Disposing of his interests in Nebraska, Dr. Willson came to Yankton, South Dakota, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession, devoting special attention to surgery and female diseases, in both of which lines his success has been such as to gain him much more than local repute. As a surgeon he ranks with the ablest in the state. having per- formed many difficult operations.

JOHN FAGAN .- The well-improved and valuable ranch of the subject is eligibly located, in Potter county, ten miles southeast of the thriv- ing town of Gettysburg, and he is known as one of the energetic and successful farmers and stock growers of this section of the state.

Mr. Fagan is a native of Iowa, and his father emigrated from the fair Emerald Isle to America, first locating in the city of Philadelphia, and later becoming a pioneer of Iowa.

Mr. Fagan passed his youthful years in Iowa and Illinois, and his educational advantages were those afforded by the public schools. He came to South Dakota in 188.1, and in the following spring he took up government land ten miles

southeast of Forest City, Potter county, and there devoted his attention to farming and stock rais- ing until 1900, when he disposed of his property in that location and purchased his present fine estate, which is one of the valuable places of this portion of the state, the same being equipped with substantial buildings and having excellent fa- cilities for the raising of stock as well as for the raising of large crops of farm products best adapted to the soil and climate.

C. W. LEANING, a representative of the agricultural interests of South Dakota and one of the leading farmers of Yankton county, was born in Otsego county, New York, in 1853, and is a son of William and Phoebe A. (Thorn) Leaning. The father was born in Lincolnshire, England, April 16, 1825, and in 1851 was brought to America. He became a resident of New York, settling near Cooperstown, and there, when he arrived at years of maturity, he wedded Miss Thorn. In the year 1867 he came with his family to South Dakota, making his way to Deni- son, Iowa, on the train, thence to Sioux City by stage and from there coming up the river on the boat "Paragon" to Yankton, thus becoming identified with pioneer interests in this section of the state. There they resided in a house with five other families for three weeks. On coming to Yankton, Mr. Leaning secured one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he entered from the government and upon which he built a log house and began the development of a farm. Many perils and difficulties were to be borne by the early settlers. Not only did they fear Indian attacks, but their crops were destroyed by grass- hoppers and all the inconveniences and difficulties of pioneer life were to be met. Mr. Leaning, however, persevered in his work until he at- tained success, becoming the owner of a valu- able property here. At the time of the Civil war he strongly advocated the Union cause and joined the army. In 1863, while in his tent, he was wounded and lost one of his fingers. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a genial gentleman of st: rling worth,

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having the warm regard of many friends, tak- ing pride not only in the progress of his own affairs but did everything in his power to aid in the development and upbuilding of his country. . home. He died in February, 1903, while his wife passed away in November, 1902, and thus the country lost two of its most honored pioneers and valued citizens. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Leaning were born four children : Elsie A., Mary., C. W., and Alice, but the last named is now deceased. The daugh- ter Elsie became the wife of George W. Owens and unto them have been born three children, of whom one died in infancy, while the son, Chauncy, and the daughter, Mary Alice, are yet ' under the parental roof. Their son loyally es- poused the cause of his country in the Spanish- American war and became a member of Company C. First Regiment South Dakota Volunteers. He went as far as San Francisco and was there taken ill, after which he was sent home. He joined the army in May and returned in Sep- tember. He was sergeant of his company and was popular with his comrades. An enterpris- ing young business man of Yankton county, he is now engaged extensively and successfully in the poultry business, making a specialty of rais- ing and breeding Plymouth Rock poultry.

C. W. Leaning spent his boyhood and youth in the Empire state and acquired his education in the public schools there. With the family he came to the west and has since carried on general farming in this portion of the country, becom- ing one of the successful and leading agricultur- ists of the community. He is now the owner of forty acres of good land, all of which is under cultivation and returns to him very desirable crops because of the care and labor he bestows on it. He has lived here since the days when antelopes were seen on the prairie and when there were many wolves and wild game.

On the 23d of May, 1892, Mr. Leaning was united in marriage to Miss Minnie E. Batchellor, a daughter of Watson and Elizabeth Batchellor, natives of Illinois. The father was a farmer and carpenter. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Leaning were born four children, a little boy, Mary A., Byron C. and Phebe, of whom all but the youngest

died in infancy. Mrs. Leaning died in Septem- ber, 1899, and Phebe, a girl of seven, is now with her father and aunt, Mrs. Owens, at the old

In his political views Mr. Leaning is an earn- est Republican, keeping well informed on the issues of the day and giving his earnest support to his party. He belongs to the Congregational church, with which he has been identified since his removal to the west. Mr. Leaning also be- longs to Modern Woodman Camp No. 1557, and in matters of citizenship is public-spirited and progressive, taking an active interest in every- thing pertaining to the upbuilding of his com- munity.

W. F. STEARNS, treasurer of Douglas county, was born on a farm in Seneca county. Ohio, on the 15th of September, 1850, being the eldest of the four surviving children of John B. and Adaline H. (Kelly) Stearns. His brother Alden W. is a broker of mining stock, residing in Garden Grove, Iowa: Clara is the wife of J. D. Bartow, of Plankinton, South Dakota; and Grace is the wife of J. E. Vail, of Garden Grove, Jowa. The father of the subject was born in the state of New York, and when he was five years of age his parents emigrated thence to Ohio. becoming pioneers of that commonwealth, and there he was reared to maturity on a farm, secur- ing a common-school education. He continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits in Seneca county until 1883. when he rented his fine farm, comprising three hundred and sixty acres, and came west, taking up a homestead claim in what is Beadle county, South Dakota. After proving up on his claim he returned to Ohio, where he remained one year, at the expiration of which he returned to South Dakota and located in the village of Plankinton, where he became promi- nently identified with the grain and live-stock business, continuing operations in the line until his death, which there occurred in 1890, at which time he was sixty-six years of age. He was a stanch Republican in politics, and though he never sought office he was an important factor in

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the councils of his party while a resident of Ohio, having been a close personal friend of ex-Gover- nor Charles Foster, whose home was in Seneca county, and having been one of his able lieu- tenants in various campaigns. He was a mem- ber of the Methodist church and was a man of marked business acumen and sterling character, commanding the respect of all who knew him. His wife, who was likewise born in Ohio, is now living at Garden Grove, Iowa.

W. F. Stearns was reared on the homestead farmi and secured his educational discipline in the public schools of his native county. Upon at- taining maturity he assumed charge of the home farm, to whose management he continued to give his attention until 1877, when he came to the west, locating in Wilson county, Kansas, where he secured a tract of land and was engaged in farming about eight years. In the spring of 1885 he came to what is now the state of South Da- kota and located in Plankinton, where he was engaged in the buying and shipping of grain un- til 1893. having built up a large and profitable enterprise in the line. In the year mentioned he removed to Armour, where he has since min- tained his home. Here he established a general mercantile business, becoming one of the pioneer business men of the town and one of its leading citizens, and he continued this business until the attumin of 1902. when he disposed of the same. since which time he has given his entire attention to his official duties and to the supervision of his private interests.

Mr. Stearns is one of the wheelhorses of the Democratic party in this section, having been an : efficient worker in its cause. In July, 1808, he 1 was appointed to the office of county treasurer, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of the regular incumbent. the late J. F. James, and in the elec- tion of November, 1900, he was returned to the office by popular vote, giving so able an adminis- tration as to lead to his re-election as his own successor in the autumn of 1902, so that he is now serving his third consecutive term as county treasurer. He was for a number of years a mem- ber of the board of education and at all times manifests a lively interest in all that concerns the

welfare and advancement of his home town and county. Fraternally he is identified with Arcania Lodge. No. 18. Free and Accepted Masons ; with Armour Tent, No. 18, Knights of the Macca- bees, and with Plankinton Lodge, No. 77, Ancient Order of United Workmen.

On the 21st of October. 1875, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Stearns to Miss Alice C. Iler, who was born and reared in Seneca county, Ohio, being a daughter of Conrad and Julia Iler. and the subject and his wife are the parents of four children: Pearl H., Lloyd A., Grace and Walter, all of whom remain beneath the parental rooftree.

GEORGE D. CORD, one of the founders and builders of the attractive and thriving town of Delmont, Douglas county, and the president of the Security State Bank of Delmont, was born in Kaukauna. Outagamie county, Wisconsin, on the 8th of September. 1866, being a son of Charles and Mary (Knapp) Cord, of whose five children we enter the following brief record : Catherine A. is the wife of William Dyke, of Effingham, Illinois ; Mary died March 24, 1904. and was the wife of Howard Parmelee, of Lin- coln, Nebraska: Dr. Charles E. is a practicing physician at Chicago Heights, Illinois: Mark D. is a resident of Danbury, Iowa, having been engaged in the real-estate business, but being now retired : and George D. is the immediate subject of this sketch. The honored father was born in Lincolnshire. England, about the year 1835. and was there reared and educated, learning the trade of millwright. In 1854 he came to the United States, locating in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was employed as a miller for a number of years, in different mills. Later he became the owner of a mill at Barton, that state, operating the same for several years, and while there resid- ing his marriage was solemnized. He finally re- moved to Kaukauna, where he built a flouring mill, operating the same about five years, this be- ing at the time of the Civil war. He had a large stock of flour on hand and at the time of Lee's surrender there was so great a depreciation in the

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 9

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