History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 92

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 92

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The subject of this sketch was reared to ma- tnrity in the fatherland, and received excellent educational advantages in his youth, having at- tended the schools maintained by the national

government and also private institutions and a technical school of agriculture. At the age of nineteen years he entered the cavalry arm of the national military service, in which he remained three years. He was promoted to the office of corporal, the highest rank attainable in the three- years term of cavalry service, and during one year he was stationed with his command at Flens- burg in his native province, and the remaining two years near the city of Metz, in the present German province of Alsace-Lorraine, which had but a short time previously been taken from the French government, so that it was a position de- manding strong governmental control and a place of marked strategic importance. After the expiration of his three-year term Mr. Schoof, in 1879, came to America, being twenty-one years of age at the time. He was on furlough at the time, being still considered as a member of the military reserve of his native land. He landed at New York and came west to Bureau county. Illinois, where he was an inmate of a family home for some time, his principal object being to acquire a knowledge of the English language, and the customs of the people.

After a trip through Kansas and the Indian territory, he returned to his native land for a visit, in 1880, remaining there during the win- ter of the year mentioned. In the spring of 1881 he returned to the United States and located in Bureau county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming on his own account, having received financial aid from his home. Lack of experience and unpropitious conditions caused a failure in this venture, and, as he himself states the case, at the end of two years his five hired men had the money while he had incidentally acquired a mod- icum of experience. He then became infused with the enthusiastic spirit which was animating those who were beginning to develop the re- sources of what is now the state of South Da- kota, and on the 21st of March, 1883, find him located at Frankfort, Spink county. In this vi- cinity he rented a large farm, his resources being summed up in eight dollars in cash and three crippled horses so far as tangible evidences were concerned, but he had the better equipment of

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undefatigable energy and a determination to win. He devoted his attention to farming for the en- suing three years and was very successful in his efforts. In the meanwhile he had exercised the prerogatives of citizenship by taking up home- stead, pre-emption and tree claims in Potter county, and here he has made his home consec- utively since June 10, 1883, save for the time which he devoted to his farming interests in Spink county. In the spring of 1886 he made a permanent location in Potter county, and the following year met with a success of decidedly negative order, so that in the fall of that year he was constrained to accept a clerkship in a mer- cantile establishment in Gettysburg. He was thus engaged until 1890, since which time he has been engaged in the furnishing of seed grain on shares throughout Potter and adjoining counties, having had at times as many as two hundred and sixty-eight customers and having supplied seed for seven thousand acres of land. In this some- what unique line of enterprise Mr. Schoof has met with gratifying success, while he has gained the unqualified confidence and esteem of the per- sons with whom he has had dealings. He is also engaged in the real-estate and insurance busi- ness in Gettysburg, and is a popular auctioneer, his services in the line being in requisition throughout a wide radius of country. He never made a failure in any business venture save that of farming and his failure in that line was not due to mismanagement or want of ability, but to the elements. In politics Mr. Schoof is a stanch Democrat, and fraternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the An- cient Order of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America and other social organi- zations. In 1896 he was elected register of deeds of Potter county, retaining this office two years.

On the 30th of November, 1891, Mr. Schoof was united in marriage to Miss Florence Knick- erbocker, who was born in the state of Michigan, being a daughter of Andrew and Carrie ( Mills) Knickerbocker, who are now prominent and hon- ored residents of Gettysburg. Mr. and Mrs. Schoof have four children, namely : Henrietta, John, Maud and Bessie.

ROBERT E. McDOWELL, who is private secretary of United States Senator Robert J. Gamble, of South Dakota, is a native of the state of Wisconsin, having been born near Fox Lakc, Dodge county, on the 21st day of December, 1866. He is the son of Samuel C. and Margaret J. (Gamble) McDowell, the former of whom was born near Downpatrick, County Down, Ireland, on the 12th of July, 1832, while the latter was born in the same county, near Belfast, on the 16th day of May, 1838. The father of the subject came to the United States when seventeen years of age, having received excellent educational advan- tages in the Emerald Isle, and was successfully engaged in teaching for a number of years in New York and Wisconsin. He served in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting as a private in Com- pany D, Eighth (Eagle Regiment) Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably dis- charged from the service as first lieutenant, hav- ing served some three years and nine months. During two years of his service he acted as adjutant of the regiment. While serving with his regiment, it took part in over thirty engagements and battles, in which were included a number of the most memorable battles of the war. On return from the war Mr. McDowell located on a farm in the town of Trenton, near Fox Lake, Wisconsin, be- coming one of the honored and influential citizens of that section, removing in 1901 to the village of Fox Lake. He served as a member of the Wisconsin legislature, and held a number of local offices at different times. In politics he is a Re- publican, and fraternally is commander of the Grand Army of the Republic post. His wife mother of the subject, is a sister of United States Senator Gamble, and of the late John R. Gamble, member of congress from South Dakota, and Hugh S. Gamble, all of Yankton, South Dakota. Jennie B., a sister of the subject, born February, II, 1870, resides with her parents at Fox Lake, Wisconsin.

Robert E. McDowell secured his preliminary educational training in the public schools, and supplemented the same by a course in Wayland Academy at Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, graduating

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in 1887; afterward continuing his studies at Yankton College, and Bryant & Stratton Busi- ness College in Chicago. He took a position in 1889 in the law offices of Gamble Brothers at Yankton, South Dakota territory (the firm con- sisting of the late John R. Gamble and the pres- ent United States Senator Robert J. Gamble), studied law and was admitted to the bar of the state of South Dakota. He acted as secretary to Senator Gamble while the latter was a mem- ber of the house of representatives in the fifty- fourth congress, and thereafter he was for two years engaged in the active practice of his pro- fession in Yankton, being associated with Hon. John Holman, under the firm name of Holman & McDowell. He again acted as private secre- tary to Mr. Gamble during the fifty-sixth con- gress, and has continued to act as such since the latter's election to the United States senate in I901.

The subject is a stanch adherent of the Re- publican party, is actively identified with the Ma- sonic fraternity, in which he has advanced to the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, hold- ing membership in Oriental Consistory, No. I, in Yankton ; is a member of El Riad Temple, No- bles of the Mystic Shrine, in Sioux Falls; is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 37. Knights of Pythias, and of Yankton Lodge, No. I, Ancient Order of United Workmen, in the same city. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church in Yankton.

On June 6, 1900, Mr. McDowell was married in the Zion Reformed church at Hagerstown, Maryland, to Miss Edith Ellen Eyerly, of Hag- erstown, she being a daughter of Hon. George W. Eyerly, an old-time resident and prominent merchant of that city, she is also a sister of Prof. Elmer K. Eyerly, a member of the faculty of the State Agricultural College of South Dakota.

REV. CHARLES MOTT DALEY, state superintendent of the Congregational Sunday School and Publishing Society, resides at Huron. He was born at Damascus, Henry county, Illi- nois, July 17. 1859, and was educated at Oberlin

College and was ordained in 1882 and next year located in South Dakota. He has occupied his present position since 1890. He served as chap- lain of the South Dakota Infantry in the Philip- pine war and won the gratitude and affection of all of the men. Always public-spirited, he was selected by Governor Sheldon to superintend the distribution of supplies to the destitute home- steaders in the great drought, a work he ac- complished at great labor and sacrifice and to the complete satisfaction of every one affected. He is the president of the State Sunday School Association, and a member of the executive committee of the State Historical Society.

GEORGE D. FOGLESONG, the efficient bookkeeper in charge of the office of the Home- stake Mining Company at Lead, Lawrence county, is a native of the state of Missouri, hav- ing been born in Westport, Jackson county, on the 5th of December, 1862, and being a son of George D. and Martha W. (Wetzel) Foglesong, both of whom were born and reared in Green- briar county, West Virginia. They removed finally to Missouri and later to Cheyenne, Wy- oming, whence they came to Lawrence county, South Dakota, in 1880, settling on a ranch and there developing a valuable property. The father died twelve years ago, and the mother six years ago.

The subject of this review was about six years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Wyoming, and he secured his educational train- ing in the public schools of the city of Cheyenne. At the age of fourteen he began serving as a messenger for the Western Union Telegraph Company, and within this time learned the art of telegraphy in the Cheyenne office, so that when but sixteen years of age he held a respon- sible position as operator. He continued in the employ of the company until the autumn of 1880. when he accompanied his parents on their over- land trip to the Black Hills. He remained with them on the home ranch until the autumn of 1890 when he entered the employ of the great Home- stake Mining Company, holding a position in one

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of their mills. In June of the following year he became bookkeeper and telegraph operator in the office of the company at Lead, and is at the pres- ent time in charge of the office, his able and faith- ful service having gained to him the appreciative regard and confidence of the company, while his genial and open-hearted ways have made him distinctively popular in all classes. In politics Mr. Foglesong was reared in the faith of the Democratic party, to which he clung until the first nomination of the late lamented President McKinley, whom he enthusiastically supported, and since that time he has given an unqualified allegiance to the Republican party. He and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episco- pal church, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America.

On the 30th ot June. 1892, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Foglesong to Miss Olivia A. Hokins, who was born in the fair old city of Stockholm, Sweden, on the 3d of October, 1866, being a daughter of John G. and Anna L Hokins. The subject and his estimable wife have four children, namely : Mary M., Ruth H., Walter D. and Hilda L.

E. W. FEIGE., M. D., one of the successful young physicians and surgeons of the state, es- tablished in the practice of his profession at Woonsocket, Sanborn county, was born on a farm near the city of St. Joseph, Missouri, on the 9th of August, 1871, and is a son of William and Frieda (Werner) Feige. He accompanied his parents upon their removal to the territory of Dakota, and he completed a course in the high school at Huron, South Dakota, being graduated as a member of the class of 1891, and he then took up the study of medicine. In the fall of 1892 the subject was matriculated in the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College, where he com- pleted the prescribed course, being graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. After his graduation he located in Hawarden, Iowa, where he was engaged in practice until December, 1896, when he located in Alpena, South Dakota, where he continued his professional work until

he established himself in practice at Woonsocket, where he has since resided and where he has se- cured a most gratifying support. The Doctor is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Re- publican party, is a member of the Presbyterian church in his home town and has become affiliated with the Masonic fraternity.

DUDLEY C. PHELPS is an enterprising farmer and successful stock raiser of Custer county, living on a beautiful and well-improved ranch, about seventeen miles from Hermosa, which has been his home since the year 1899. Dudley C. Phelps was born in Ashmore, Coles county, Illinois, July 22, 1865, and spent the first eight years of his life in his native state. At that age he was taken by his parents to Vernon county, Missouri, where he grew to maturity and received his education, remaining there as his father's assistant on the farm until 1885, when he returned to Illinois, thence, about one year later, went to Fletcher county, Nebraska, where, with an uncle, he engaged in cattle rais- ing. After remaining in the latter state until 1890 Mr. Phelps came to South Dakota, and during the ensuing nine years rode the range in various parts of the country, principally among the Black Hills, and in that time became thor- oughly experienced in every detail of the great cattle industry. Leaving the trail in the spring of 1899, he purchased his present beautiful ranch, on Battle creek, where he has since devoted his time and attention to agriculture and stock rais- ing, and, as already indicated, he has forged rap- idly to the front in his two-fold vocation, being at this time one of the most enterprising and well-to-do men of the community in which he re- sides. Mr. Phelps has made many improvements on his place in the way of buildings, has a com- fortable and attractive home and is well situated to enjoy the large measure of material prosperity with which his efforts have been crowned. Mr. Phelps' character is above reproach, his integ- rity unsullied and his relations with his fellow- men have been eminently honorable, his name

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wherever known having all the sacredness of a written obligation.

Mr. Phelps was married in the town of Her- mosa, August 21, 1898, to Miss Jessie Steffing, of Minnesota, and is now the father of two in- teresting children, a daughter by the name of Dorothy and a son, Walter.

FRED W. GUNKLE, who is numbered among the successful and popular business men of Sioux Falls, was born in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, on the 26th of October, 1857, and is a son of Fred and Elizabeth (Kalkhoff) Gun- kle, both of whom were born and reared in Ger- many, and both of whom are now deceased, the father having been a roadmaster for the Philadel- phia & Reading Railroad. The subject received his early educational discipline in the public schools of his native city, and in his early youth entered upon an apprenticeship at the machin- ist's trade in one of the extensive concerns of Reading. He became a skilled artisan in the line and continued his residence in the old Keystone state until 1876, when he located in the city of Chicago, where he was for the ensuing three years employed in the works of the Crane Broth- ers' Manufacturing Company. In 1879 he lo- cated in Duhuque, Iowa, where he held a respon- sible position with the Iowa Iron Works for the following two years, at the expiration of which he returned to Chicago and accepted a position as traveling representative for Samuel Bliss & Com- pany, with whom he remained until 1884. having established headquarters in Sioux Falls in 1881, at the time of entering the employ of the concern. In 1884 he became a traveling salesman for the Sioux City Steam Engine Works, of Sioux City, Iowa, retaining this incumbency four years. In 1891 he was appointed deputy United States mar- shal for western division, northern district of Iowa, with headquarters at Sioux City, Iowa, holding office until 1895. and being thereafter traveling representative for the Andrew Kuehn Company, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in the meanwhile maintaining his home in Sioux Falls during the greater portion of the interval. In

1896 he "quit the road" and engaged in the wholesale cigar and tobacco business in this city, and he has reason to be satisfied with the results which have been attained, for his trade is of the best order and covers a good territory, normally tributary to the city as a jobbing center. In pol- ities he is stalwart Republican and ever shown a deep interest in the promotion of the party cause, though he has never been a seeker of of- ficial preferment. In a fraternal way Mr. Gun- kle is identified with Unity Lodge, No. 130, An- cient Free and Accepted Masons; Sioux Falls Chapter, No. 2, Royal Arch Masons; Sioux Falls Commandery, No. 2. Knights Templar; and El Riad Temple of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, while he is also a prominent and popular affiliate of the Sioux Falls Lodge, No. 262, Benevolent and Protect- ive Order of Elks, of which he is past exalted ruler, while he has also represented the same in the grand lodge of the state.

On the 13th of June, 1888, Mr. Gunkle was united in marriage to Miss Emma J. Carter, who was born in the state of Illinois, and who was a resident of Sioux Falls at the time of her mar- riage. They have no children.

ALBERT WALWORTH RANSOM is at present business manager and a half owner of Public Opinion, daily and weekly, Watertown, South Dakota, the leading newspaper in the northwestern part of the state. Mr. Ransom is a native of the Empire state, having been born in Clinton county. New York. In early life he re- moved to Freeborn county, Minnesota, where he alternately attended school and worked on his father's farm. In 1882 he came to South Da- kota. locating at Redfield, Spink county. He became associated with the Redfield Journal as an employe and later purchased a half interest in the plant. In 1892 he removed to Watertown, Codington county, and, in company with Her- bert Geddes, purchased the Watertown News, a daily newspaper. Later, in company with Frank J. Cory, he purchased Public Opinion, a weekly paper, consolidating the two and taking

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the latter name. In 1894 Mr. Geddes retired from the firm, leaving Messrs. Ransom and Cory sole owners and equal partners.

THOMAS H. TAYLOR, one of the success- ful and representative stockmen and ranchers of Rapid Valley, is a native of Westmoreland county, England, born on October 5. 1850. He was educated in his native county and remained there until he reached the age of twenty, then in 1870 came to the United States, settling near Decatur, Illinois, where he engaged in farming three years. In 1873 he removed to Columbus, Nebraska, and there gave his attention to dealing in cattle and horses for four years. At the end of that time he loaded a bull outfit with provi- sions and machinery and came to the Black Hills, arriving at Haywood on April 28, 1877. From there he moved to Rockerville, then one of the busy mining camps of the territory, and from that point made trips over the Hills to Deadwood, Rapid City and elsewhere and back to Rocker- ville. He was occupied in prospecting and was also interested in the Nebraska Mining Company, organized by him and a companion from Nebras- ka. Having brought a having outfit with him from his former home, he operated it in the neigh- borhood of Rapid City during the summer of 1877. He also operated the first mail and express route between Rapid City and Rockerville, with headquarters at the former place. In the fall of 1878 he took a contract to carry the mails between Rapid City and Rockford during the winter, and in April, 1879, located a ranch on Rapid creek six miles from the town, where he settled and be- gan farming and raising stock. At the same time he started a livery business at Rapid City which he carried on until 1881, when he sold this and devoted his entire attention to his stock and farming industry. In 1886 he sold the ranch and stock and opened a harness and saddlery business at Rapid City, which he continued until 1891, during this time being also interested in mining, in 1887, in company with others putting in a smelter at Galena. In the spring of 1891 he took up the ranch on which he now lives in 35-

Rapid valley, nineteen miles from Rapid City, and disposing of his other interests, he moved his family to the place and they have since re- sided there. He has been extensively and suc- cessfully engaged in raising stock of high grades, and has also devoted much time and energy to the promotion of the interests of the community along all lines of wholesome development, bring- ing to the aid of public local affairs the wisdom gained in his long and varied experience and the breadth of view characteristic of an enlightened and patriotic citizen. In politics he is an active worker for the Republican party, but he has never desired the honors of public station for himself.

On December 22. 1888, Mr. Taylor was mar- ried at Rapid City to Miss Emma L. Hays, a na- tive of Missouri, they being the first couple thus united in the Episcopal church of that town. They have five children, Claude W., Earl H., Guy R., Florence M. and Wesley P.

ROBERT F. CAMPBELL, M. D., engaged in the practince of medicine and surgery in the city of Watertown. Codington county, is a man of high professional attainments, and has been eminently successful in the exacting work of his vocation. Dr. Campbell was born in Aylmer, province of Ontario, Canada, March 23. 1857. and is the son of William and Jane Van Wag- oner Campbell. His father was born near To- ronto, Canada, and his mother in New York, going to Canada with her parents when young. His father enjoys the best of health at seventy- eight years of age and resides in Watertown. His mother died about a year ago. Dr. Camp- bell lived in Aylmer until he attained manhood. He attended McGill Medical College at Montreal for two years, then graduated as a member of the class of 1882 from Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York. He went to London, Eng- land, and Berlin, Germany. spending some months in the hospitals, attending clinics. He came to Watertown twenty-two years ago and was married in 1884 to Miss Kate A. Williams, daughter of the late Charles G. Williams, for many years a member of congress from the

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Janesville, Wisconsin, district, and at the time of his death register of the United States land office at Watertown. Dr. Campbell has gained prestige as one of the representative members of his profession in the state, controlling a large practice. He is devoted to the work of his calling and keeps in touch with the advances made in the science of medicine and surgery, his genial temperament and humanitarian sympathy con- tributing as much to his success as his technical knowledge. In 1900 Dr. Campbell, in company with Dr. Tarbell and Dr. Finnerud, established the Watertown city hospital and is president of the institution, which exercises most benef- icent functions and is a credit to the city and an honor to its projectors. He is also division surgeon for the Chicago & Northwest- ern Railway. the Great Northern, the Minneap- olis & St. Louis and the Rock Island ; while he is also identified with the State Medical Society. and fraternally affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Or- der of Elks. He gives his allegiance to the Re- publican party, but has never sought official preferment, holding his profession as entitled to his undivided attention. He is popular in busi- ness and social circles and his home is a center of gracious hospitality.

ADOLPH W. EWERT, cashier of the Na- tional Bank of Commerce, No. 4279, at Pierre, is a native of the Badger state, having been born in Burr Oak, La Crosse county, Wisconsin, on the 18th of June, 1865, and is a son of Edward and Mina ( Habermann) Ewert, the former of whom was born in Prussia, Germany, of stanch German lineage, while the latter came of French and Gernian stock. They accompanied their respect- ive families to America when children, and their marriage was solemnized at La Crosse, Wiscon- sin, where they remained until about 1857, being thus numbered among the pioneers of that state. The father of the subject acquired the trade of blacksmith in his youth, and he followed the same for several years in Burr Oak, Wisconsin, and then removed to West Salem, that state, where

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 92

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