History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 99

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 99

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Dewitt. Clinton county, where he attended the public schools until within a year of his com- pleting a course in the high school, when he withdrew and began clerking in a local grocery store, in order to provide for his own mainte- nance. He was a great reader and invested his surplus earnings largely in good books, while he was fond of out-of-door sports and never had any predilection for such vices as gambling or the use of intoxicating liquors, his ambitions and ideals being too high to permit him to drift into such indulgences. In the spring of 1876 he left Dewitt and went to Dodge Center, Minne- sota, where he remained two years, clerking for a portion of the time and also spending several months in the study of dentistry in a local office. In the spring of 1878 he came to South Dakota, where he has since maintained his home, having located in Goodwin, where he has remained. His health was much impaired for a number of years, owing to the results of a sunstroke which he re- ceived in June, 1878, and to a severe hemor- rhage of the lungs in the winter of 1880, caused by a strain which ruptured an artery. He has been fortunate in recovering completely from both of these disorders. In December, 1889, Mr. Steere entered into partnership with H. B. Veer- husen and engaged in the general merchandise business in Goodwin, their cash capital being represented in the sum of three hundred dollars, so that they were compelled to borrow money to initiate the enterprise. Eleven months after the business had been established the father of our subject furnished him with the capital to pur- chase his partner's interest, and he has since con- tinued the enterprise individually, after having re- paid his father, built up an excellent trade and carries a comprehensive stock, while he retains the unqualified esteem and confidence of all who know him. For the past twelve years he has served as postmaster of the town, save for an interval of about eighteen months under the ad- ministration of President Cleveland, when he was retired. He has also served as justice of the peace and town clerk, and as treasurer of the Republican central committee of the county, hav- ing no desire for further official preferment, as

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he prefers to give his time and attention to his private affairs. He is an uncompromising Re- publican and is well fortified in his convictions as to matters of public policy, believing that the principles of the grand and well-tried old Repub- lican party are best adapted to securing the greatest good to the greatest number in govern- mental affairs, while the prosperity of his coun- . try lies very close to his heart. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the In- dependent Order of Good Templars, having been the first deputy or chief templar in the latter in Goodwin, while he was district secretary of the order for several terms. He and his wife are prominent and valued members of the Baptist church, and he is a member of the board of trus- tees of the local organization of the same. He has much musical taste and ability, playing a number of instruments and being a member of the choir of his church, while his wife is organist of the same.

On the 8th of September, 1882, Mr. Steere was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Smith, the marriage being solemnized at Oakwood, Brook- ings county, by Rev. Walter Ross. Mrs. Steere was born at St. Charles, Minnesota, her father having been one of the first settlers in that lo- cality, about a half century ago, while she and her husband own nearly the entire interest in the old homestead which her father took up as a pre-emption claim in those early days of hard- ship and privation. Mr. and Mrs. Steere have two daughters: Fanny Estella, who was born October 7, 1883. was married, on the 4th of No- vember, 1903, to Perry C. Green, son of Hon. David Green, of this county, who was formerly a member of the state senate; and Mabel Ellen, who was born March 22, 1890, is attending the public schools of Goodwin.

WILLIAM HENRY RAMSDELL, a suc- cessful farmer in Moody county, was born in Osage, Mitchell county, Iowa, on the 25th of De- cember, 1863, and thus became a Christmas guest in the household, though doubtless no one per- sonally as appreciative of the great Christmas

anniversary as he has been in subsequent years. He is a son of William and Mary A. Ramsdell, the former of whom was born in the state of New York and the latter in that of Michigan. The father devoted his time principally to farm- ing and stock raising and his death occurred in the spring of 1896, while the mother now resides at Flandrean. The subject was reared in Iowa and secured his educational training in the pub- lic schools of Osage. In 1885 he came to South Dakota and took up his residence in Moody county, where he bought land and began the in- dependent life of a farmer and stock grower. With the passing of the years prosperity has at- tended him and he now has a good farm, im- proved with substantial buildings, and showing the unmistakable evidences of thrift and pros- perity. In politics he gives his allegiance to the Republican party, and fraternally he is affiliated with the lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen in Flandreau, while he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

On the 18th of January, 1894, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Ramsdell to Miss Lulu J. Roberts, who was born at Redwing, Goodhue county, Minnesota, on the 2d of August, 1869. being a daughter of Asahel D. and Eliza E. Roberts. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsdell have four chil- dren, namely: William Lester. Charles Stuart, Eunice Madeline and Donnell Nixon.

JOHN Q. ADAMS, one of the well-known attorneys of Flandreau, Moody county, is a na- tive of the Badger state, having been born in La- fayette county. Wisconsin, on the 8th of Novem- ber. 1867, and being a son of William T. and Clara (Blackstone) Adams, who are now both living, both being of stanch English genealogy, while both families have been established in America since the colonial epoch in our national history. When the subject was eleven years of age his parents removed to Franklin county. Iowa. and there he was reared to maturity, se- curing his early educational discipline in the pub- lic schools, after which he was for three years a student in the Iowa State Agricultural College,

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at Ames. He then entered the law department of the Iowa State University, at Iowa City, where he completed the prescribed technical course and was graduated as a member of the class of 1893, receiving the degree of Bachelor of Laws and being admitted to the bar of that state. as was he shortly afterward to that of South Dakota, having taken up his residence in Flandreau, on the 30th of August, 1893, and hav- ing since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession here. In 1894 he was elected state's attorney of Moody county, and proved a most careful and able prosecutor, a popular recognition of this fact being given in his reten- tion in this office for three terms. In 1903 he was appointed deputy collector of internal rev- enue, under Herman Ellerman, collector for this district, and remained in tenure of this position until July 1, 1904. In politics he is a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponser, and in a fraternal way he is affiliated with the lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic order in his home city of Flandreau.

On the 28th of May, 1896, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Adams to Miss Cecilia F. Pallansch, a daughter of Peter and Celena Pal- lansch, well-known residents of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Of this union has been born one child, Lillian Frances, the date of whose nativity was June 1, 1900.

JOEL FRY, who is now living practically re- tired in the city of Sioux Falls, is one of the sterling pioneers of the state, with whose in- dustrial development he has been prominently concerned, and the following brief record of his interesting career will be read with pleasure by his many friends. Mr. Fry was born in Lower Windsor township. York county, Pennsylvania, on the 7th of December, 1832, being a son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Tyson) Fry, the former of whom devoted his life to agricultural pur- suits. Martin Fry, the paternal great-grand- father of our subject, came to America from Switzerland in 1733, accompanied by his wife and

five children, and they settled in what is now York county, Pennsylvania, with whose history the name has been ever since identified. Martin Fry, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was for four years a soldier in the Continental line during the war of the Revolution. The ma- ternal great-grandfather of Mr. Fry also came to this country prior to the middle of the eighteenth century.

Joel Fry was reared on the farm, attending the district schools somewhat irregularly dur- ing the winter terms, but finding the major por- tion of his early discipline that involved in the swinging of the scythe and grain cradle, follow- ing the plow and performing the manifold other duties in connection with the home farm. At the age of eighteen years he entered upon an ap- prenticeship at the carpenter trade, to which he devoted his attention about twelve years. In the spring of 1854 Mr. Fry removed from Pennsyl- vania to Freeport, Stephenson county, Illinois, where he purchased one-third interest in a sash, door and blind factory and planing mill, the venture proving successful until the interested principles took stock in the company formed for the building of the Racine & Mississippi River Railroad, through which they lost their entire plant. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Fry removed to Waterloo, Iowa, where he was engaged in the drug business until the following fall, when he returned to Freeport, where he worked at his trade until the summer of 1863, when he tendered his services in defense of the Union, enlisting as a member of Company D. Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until the close of the war, being mustered out in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and receiving his honorable discharge and his pay in Springfield, Illinois. After the close of his military service Mr. Fry removed to Boscobel, Grant county, Wisconsin, in the spring of 1866, and there engaged in the manufacturing of flour barrels, staves, etc., con- tinuing the enterprise three years, the same then proving a financial failure. On the 21st of May. 1869, Mr. Fry arrived in Yankton, Da- kota territory, and for the first six years he was engaged in the work of his trade, as a carpenter

JOEL FRY.

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HISTORY OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

and builder, and since that time he has been successfully engaged in farming and stock rais- ing, owning a well-improved ranch of four hun- dred and eighty acres, in Turner county, and giving a general supervision to the same, though he is now living practically retired from active labor. In 1894 he took up his residence in Irene, Turner county, and on the Ist of July, 1903, came with his family to Sioux Falls, where he now maintains his home.

Mr. Fry has been a supporter of the Repub- lican party from the time of its organization, and lias voted for every one of its presidential can- didates, casting his first vote for Fremont. He served two years as a member of the village council of Irene and has also been a school officer, while in 1894 he was elected a repre- sentative in the state legislature from Turner county, serving through the assembly of 1895. His religious faith is that of the Methodist Epis- copal church, and fraternally he was formerly affiliated in an active way with the Odd Fellows and the Union League, having joined the latter in 1861. He is also a member of Phil Kearney Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at . Yankton.

In Freeport, Illinois, November 4, 1856, Mr. Fry was married to Miss Elizabeth Forry, and of their children we enter the following brief record : Jemima Agnes was born April 20, 1858; Alice Elizabeth, December 23, 1859; Gilmore Grant, June 10, 1863; and Irene May, August 28, 1870. The youngest child was born in Yank- ton county, this state, while the others are native of Freeport, Illinois.

WILLIAM I. NOBLE, who is successfully established in the real-estate and loan business at Clear Lake, and is one of the representative citizens of Deuel county, was born in the beanti- ful little city of St. Thomas, province of Ontario, Canada, on the Ist of March, 1865, and is a son of Elnathan and Mary (McBride) Noble, both of whom were likewise born and reared in Ontario, while the latter met her death in a railway accident at St. Thomas, in 1884. The

father of the subject was born near St. Thomas and was there identified with the great. basic art of agriculture until 1886, when he came to Clear Lake, South Dakota, where his death occurred in 1888, his remains being laid to rest beside those of his loved and devoted wife, at St. Thomas, Ontario. Isband Noble, the grand- father of the subject, emigrated when a young man from Massachusetts to Canada, in company with the other members of the family, which was carly established in New England and which was loyal to the British crown at the time of the Rev- olution, the lineage being traced back to Scotch (lerivation. The mother of the subject was a (laughter of Malcolm and Catherine (Campbell) McBride, who emigrated to Canada in early days from Campbellford, Argyleshire, Scotland, set- tling nine miles south of London, Ontario, in Middlesex county, where they passed the residue of their days.

William J. Noble received his early educa- tional discipline in the public schools of Elgin county, Ontario, and then attended the collegiate institute in St. Thomas, where he completed the classical course and then took up the matricula- tion work of the University of Toronto, where he gave his attention to different courses, making a speciality of mathematics. After the comple- tion of his university work he decided to come to South Dakota, the principal reason for taking this action being that his health had become some- what impaired. He came to this state in March, 1886, and located in Deuel county, where he gave his attention to farming for the first four years, and thus fully recuperated his physical cnergies. Thereafter he served two years as deputy county treasurer, and since that time has been engaged in the real-estate and loan business in Clear Lake, having a wide circle of loyal friends in this section of the state and being known as a progressive young business man.

In politics Mr. Noble maintains an inde- pendent attitude, and his fraternal relations are here noted in somewhat of detail: Phoenix Lodge, No. 120, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, at Clear Lake; Watertown Chapter, Royal Arch Masons : Clear Lake Lodge, No. 97.

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Ancient Order of United Workmen, and its auxiliary, Hiawath Lodge, No. 83, Degree of Honor; charter member of Clear Lake Lodge, No. 144, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand ; Encampment No. 14, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Wa- tertown ; charter member of the Patriarchs Mili- tant, No. I, at Gary ; and New Century Lodge, No. 81, Daughters of Rebekah.

On the 16th of February, 1886, Mr. Noble was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Cook, of St. Thomas, Ontario, who died on the 20th of December. 1897, of pulmonary tuberculosis, be- ing survived by one son, Roy, who is eleven years of age at the time of this writing, in 1904. She was a daughter of Ebenezer and Mary Cook, of Springfield. Ontario. On the 26th of July, 1899, Mr. Noble married Miss Etta M. Liscomb, daughter of I. P. Liscomb, a prominent citizen of Clear Lake, and of this union has been born one son, Perry, who is now three years of age.

TORKEL HANSEN, one of the prosperous farmers and stock growers of Lake county, is a native of Norway, where he was born on the 23d of May, 1838, being a son of Hans and Sarah (Larson) Turkelson, who emigrated from the far Norseland to America in 1858 and took up their residence in Clayton county, Iowa, in which state they passed the remainder of their lives, the father having become a successful farmer and having been one of the honored pioneers of the Hawkeye commonwealth. The subject was reared to maturity in his native land, in whose excellent schools he received his early educational training, while he was about twenty years of age at the time of accompanying his parents on their immigration to the new world. He continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits in lowa until 1878, in June of which year he came to the present state of South Da- kota and took up pre-emption and timber claims in Lake county, where he has ever since main- tained his home. He still owns his original claims, to which he has added until he now has a well-improved estate of four hundred and forty

acres, of which three hundred and fifty are un- der cultivation, while he has been successful in the raising of live stock in connection with the agricultural operation of his fine farm. Upon locating on his claim he built a primitive sod house of the type so common in the early days, and in the next year constructed a somewhat bet- ter shanty of lumber utilizing sod for filling in the cracks, while about three years later he erected a comfortable house, which is a portion of his present commodious and attractive farm res- idence, which was erected at a cost of about two thousand and five hundred dollars. In 1895 he built his substantial barn, which is fifty-four by seventy feet in dimensions. He has made other excellent improvements on his ranch. and the well-matured trees which grace the same were planted by him.

Mr. Hansen has ever been faithful to the duties of citizenship and has given his aid and influence in support of all measures for the ma- terial, moral and civic advancement of the com- munity, while in politics he is a stanch advocate of the principles of the Republican party. He has served as an official of his school district, and has the unqualified confidence and esteem of all who know him. He and his wife are consistent and zealous members of the Lutheran church.

On the 15th of February, 1867, Mr. Hansen was united in marriage to Miss Julia Hansen, and they have ten children, whose names, with respective years of birth, are here entered : Sarah, 1868: Lizzia, 1870; Margit, 1871 ; Han- nalı H., 1873: Bertha G., 1875; Hans. 1878: Otilda, 188t : Henry, 1883; Albert. 1887. and George, 1890.

WALTER F. TOMPKINS, of Egan town- ship, Moody county, was born on a farm in Dodge county, Wisconsin, on the 17th of September, 1852, and is a son of Daniel D. and Amelia (Tryon) Tompkins, both of whom were born in the state of New York, of stanch English lineage. The father of our subject was born in Duanesburg, Schenectady county, New York, on the 16th of April, 1827, and was a rela-

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tive and namesake of Daniel D. Tompkins, who served two terms as vice-president of the United States, under the Monroc administration. In 1846 he married Miss Amelia Tryon, and in the early 'fifties removed with his wife to Wisconsin, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of Dodge county, where he resided for several years and where occurred the death of his devoted wife. Of the two children of this marriage our subject was the youngest, his brother, William H., hav- ing died in childhood. In 1856 the father married Miss Catherine Tryon, a sister of his first wife, and in 1862 he removed with his family to Ohn- sted county, Minnesota, where he became a pros- perous farmer and influential citizen. He was one of the leaders in the Republican party in that sec- tion, and he served as township supervisor in 1867-8, as assessor for three years, and in 1886 was elected to represent his county in the legis- lature of the state. He died on the 17th of Jan- mary, 1899, and is survived by his second wife, They became the parents of four children, namely : Minnie A. (deceased), Sammel Earl, Mary A. and Lafayette.

The subject of this sketch was reared to the sturdy discipline of the home farm and after completing the curriculum of the public schools continued his studies for one year in Wasioga Seminary, in Dodge county, Minnesota. In March, 1878, he came to what is now the state of South Dakota and located in Moody county, where he entered claim to a quarter section of government land, as a homestead, this constitu- tion the nucleus of his present fine landed estate of five hundred and forty acres, in section 9. Egan township. His finances were limited and his early struggles in developing his land were of the most arduous sort. Two years after he located here came the great blizzard of October 15 and 16, 1880, and in the same he was acci- dentally caught, being for two days without food or fuel. The following winter was a particularly severe one, marked by blizzards and heavy fall of snow. The railroads were blockaded and supplies cut off entirely. Hay and straw were used for fuel, and in many cases the only flour available was that made from wheat ground by

hand, usually in the ordinary domestic coffee- mill. Mr. Tompkins trusted and worked on and his reward has not been ill proportioned to his carly struggles. Today he is the owner of five hundred and forty acres of the fine land of the Sioux river valley, the property being free from incumbrance, and gives his attention prin- cipally to the raising of sheep, having several hundred on his ranch at all times, as well as a number of high-grade cattle and horses, while he las about one hundred and fifty acres of his land under effective cultivation. He is an un- compromising Republican in his political pro- clivities, and has ever shown a public-spirited interest in local affairs and lent his aid in the furtherance of all enterprises and measures for the general good. He was for two years super- visor of Egan township, three years was in- cumbent of the office of township treasurer, and for nine years was treasurer of his school dis- trict, of which he has also been director. He and his wife are prominent and valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Egan, and they have the cordial good will and unqualified esteem of all who know them.

On the 28th of September, 1884, Mr. Tompkins was united in marriage to Miss A. Hodgman, who was born in Bristol, Addison county, Vermont, on the 9th of May, 1855, being a daughter of Harry and Huldalı (Spaulding) Hodgman. They have two children, Amelia Mae, who was born on the 15th of March, 1886, and Melba D., who was born on the 12th of April, 1900.

CARL G. SHERWOOD was born on a farm on Connecticut hill, Broome county, New York, near Whitney Point, on the 18th of January, 1855, being a son of George and Mary A. (Jef- fords) Sherwood. His father was a farmer by vocation and was a man of no little influence in his section of the Empire state. He was a mem- ber of the New York legislature in 1873-4, as a representative of the Binghamton district ; was a stanch abolitionist during the crucial epoch lead- ing up to the war of the Rebellion, and supported

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the Republican party from the time of its organ- ization until his death. He was of English and French extraction, and his ancestors were num- bered among the early settlers near Greene, Chenango county. New York. The paternal grandmother of the subject bore the maiden name of Budlong, and her family resided near Utica, New York. The maternal ancestors, the Jef- ords, came to Chenango county, New York, from Connecticut and were of English and Irish lineage.

The subject was a farmer's boy, and it was with extraordinary difficulty and under discour- aging circumstances that he obtained an ordinary common-school education. He was reared on a rough and stony farm, near Binghamton, New York, and the work of cultivating the land was more than ordinarily ardnons. The land was new and he aided in reclaiming quite a portion of the farm from the native forest. His parents were poor, and the members of the family had to work hard and live closely in order to make ends meet. Thus the early educational advantages af- forded our subject were very limited. but his alert mentality and his appreciation of the valnes of life early quickened his ambition to action, his first fixed purpose being to prepare himself for the profession of law. His parents were very devout in their religious life and it was their earnest wish that he should enter the ministry, and it was by reason of their insistency in this regard that he left the high school at Bingham- ton and came to the west to carve out his own fortunes. Through his personal efforts he had paid the expenses of carrying forward his studics in the high school through the tenth grade. In 1879 he came west, and when he first crossed the Mississippi river his cash capital was represented in the sum of ten cents. He taught in the dis- trict schools on the Illinois side of the river for two years, and in the meanwhile borrowed tech- nical books of A. R. McCoy, of Clinton, Iowa, just across the river, and devoted his evenings and other leisure moments to the reading of law, while his vacations were likewise devoted to this work. He continued to live in Whiteside county, Illinois, and in Clinton, Iowa, at intervals, until

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History of South Dakota, Vol. II, Part 99

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