USA > South Dakota > Who's who in South Dakota, Vol. I > Part 18
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"So far away and covered by so many years of rising and advancing generations that the life of today knows little of the significance of Memorial Day to the survivors of one of the world's bloodiest periods.
"And the appreciation of the soldier of the 'GO's is some- what dim ned, for he has lived long since there came unsought into his life experiences that were wrought into his soul in the red-hot crucible of war. He may feel that he, too, would be will- ing to lie down in his place 'on fa ne's eternal camping ground,' for the journey is becoming a weary one and the thinned column drags along the line of march.
"Today, under the stars that were saved and the stripes that wreathed about theni, all over the loyal portion of our land, the people have turned their thoughts to the men of the sixties, have
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honored them as they will again on each recurring 30th of May. giving to the present the glorious lesson of the past, that the future may be saved against the conspiracies of evil."
AS A SOLDIER
During his busy life Editor Bowen found time to detach him - self for three years from newspaper work to serve his country. At twenty years of age he enlisted in the 12th Wisconsin Battery and served till 1865, being mustered out on May 1, of that year, at Newburn, N. C., where he was marching northward with Gen- eral Sherman's victorious army.
RETROSPECT
Mr. Bowen looks backward upon his early time experiences in the territory of Dakota with keen interest, feeling that they covered the most important and the most enjoyable period of his life. The making of a state out of nature's raw material had just begun. Settlements had fringed the large rivers of the ter- ritory, the Red, the Sioux and the Missouri, and the advance guard had begun to creep up the Jim. The vast interior was an unpeopled stretch, awaiting the advent of railroads and inhah- itants, a scene of summer beauty and winter desolation. To witness the occupation of this wonderful agricultural and pastoral realm by the people who have since developed it, and to have par- ticipated in the creation of two important commonwealths is something to call up pride and gratifying retrospeetion. Yank- ton, his home, was the headquarters of the legislative and ex- ecutive force of the new empire, and a resident of that eity came into close touch with the builders of the two Dakotas. Many of them are now only memories and about their work the coming generations will know but little. They left their impress. Their names are passing with their lives. All of the nearly forty years of Editor Bowen's residence within the Dakotas have been years of growth and expansion, and one who has given the larger part of his life to such experiences treasures them in memory as the best achievements of an earthly pilgrimage.
Our gray haired sires, like Editor Bowen, who builded with blistered hands and weary feet our young empire of the west, are gradually, and of late, quite rapidly, taking their places "in the silent halls" of eternal rest, while their sturdy sons are pressing forward with manly vigor to complete the tasks their sires began. Hail! Chieftains of yesterday ! Hail Bowen! Hail! All Hail!
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R. S. GLEASON
AN EDUCATIONAL CONSTRUCTIONIST
If there is a schoolma'am, a school dad, or a school officer in South Dakota, who doesn't know R. S. Gleason, of Sioux Falls, agent in the Dakotas for the American Book Company, of Chi- cago, they ought to consider the fact as prima facie evidence that they are back numbers, and, well -use this article as a letter of introduction and get acquainted.
Where Gleason came from, we do not know. At any rate the first anybody heard of him he was in Lapeer county, Michigan; next he came forth from some normal school over there, with a lamb pelt, prop- erly engrossed, under his arm, and began to teach a country school. The next time he showed up and left his "foot- prints on the sands of time," he was superintendent of schools in Kingsbury county, South Dakota. He entered this position on October 1, 1888, and served two years and three months under territorial days. At that time county superin- tendents were elected at the regular school election in June
and took their respective offices the following October. The old territorial plan was R. S. GLEASON exactly right, and ever since statehood there has been an eternal and righteous clamor to re-
WHO'S WHO IN SOUTH DAKOTA
turn to the old plan, so as to get the office of county superintend- ent as far as possible out of politics.
At the inception of our statehood, Gleason was again elected superintendent of Kingsbury county and re-elected two years later, thus serving out his entire limit under the constitution. This, added to his territorial service, gave him six years and three months of continuous service in the county superintendent's office, --- a thing that will never happen to any other superintend- ent in the state until the constitutional limitation of two terms has been removed.
Writing on "Kingsbury County's Transcendency," under (late of May 20, 1909, we said of Gleason:
"Kingsbury county was first given distinction in the educa- tional world by one of her ex-superintendents, R. S. Gleason, now agent for the American Book Company in North and South Da- kota. Gleason was a strong county superintendent, a good or- ganizer, a member of the committee that prepared our first state course of study and a recognized educator who rose to the pres- idency of the state educational association. Today. he is the most liked and disliked of any man in the state-liked for his natural likeableness, and big heart; disliked by a lot of fellows whose natural tendencies (unconscious to themselves) border on social- ism and cause then to hate every man who works for a big corporation."
Strange! isn't it? what a narrow view some people take of things. Practically every business, both public and private, is today incorporated. A state is a corporation, and may sue and be sued ; so also is a county and a school district. Thus every state official, every county official and every school teacher, is a "corporation hireling." The same thing is true in private busi- ·ness. Unless a man is merely running a pea-nut stand, ten chances to one he is working for a corporation. Why should a book agent be singled out for criticism?
GLEASON, THE CONSTRUCTIONIST
That side of Gleason's character which stands out the most conspicuous in our state history, is the constructive ability which he has at all times manifested in things educational. Up to the year 1889, when the state educational association met at Yankton, the county superintendents of the state had never been given formal recognition in that body. At the Yankton meeting, Gleason, as superintendent of Kingsbury county, arose and offered a resolution establishing the department of county supervision as a component part of the state organization. He was ignored.
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Being a splendid parliamentarian, he awaited his chance to get the floor. At the proper time, he gained his feet, and forced the chair to recognize him. Then and there, there was "something doing," and from that day the department of county supervision has been one of the strongest features of the state organization.
It was at this meeting that R S. Gleason offered another resolution which has had more to do in the development of our rural schools than all other special resolutions combined. It provided for the immediate creation and use of a course of study for the rural schools of the entire state. The resolution was adopted; but many of those who voted for it, merely thought to get the matter out of the way, -remaining firm in their convic- tions that nothing would come of it, because there were no avail- able funds with which to pay for the printing of such a course, even though one were drawn up, submitted to the association and adopted. The chair appointed Gleason of Kingsbury, Bras of Davison, and Lange of McCook, as a committee of three to pre- pare the course.
It was hastily but accurately done; presented to the conven- tion, and adopted. The fellows who at heart were genuine "re-actionaries" and who had purposely let it go through, raised the question of funds. Gleason was not to be outdone. He and Harry L. Bras of Davison county, held a conference. They de- cided to pledge $500 for the publication of the course. It was done, and at the next meeting of the association, in 1890, the entire edition was bought hy the superintendents of the various organized counties of the state. Yes, and more than that! The sales exceeded by 2,000 copies the number published. so that a new edition had to be brought out at once.
Thus it will readily be seen that Gleason has been one of the leading educational constructionists of the state. To him cannot be given too much credit for the splendid course of study which we have today, and which is rapidly being adopted by ad- joining states. In the hurried development of every new state the pioneers in all great movements are soon forgotten -- for- gotten, ves, by the immediate beneficiaries themselves. Again, the splendid teachers' institute law which we have had on our statute books since statehood, until recently, was the immediate result of the untiring efforts of R. S. Gleason. The fight he made at Pierre to get two dollars apiece allowed for each teacher who enrolled at institute, as a fund with which to secure capable in- structors, was the greatest achievement of his life. It would take a volume to describe what took place.
Again, Gleason has always stood for the consolidation of
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schools, state aid for high schools, and a smaller unit of school organization.
BECOMES A BOOK AGENT
Gleason was rapidly forging his way to the front and gain- ing state-wide recognition for himself. Just then, one of the most natural things in the world happened-the American Book Company wanted him. Nothing strange or unnatural about that. A book agent's life is the most strenuous of any means of liveli- hood on earth. For these positions the large publishing houses demand leaders and not trailers.
Here was Gleason's opportunity. Still a young man, with many possibilities before him in the educational field, he looked far into the future and said to himself: "This educational game may not pay in the end. The fellows who follow it for fifteen years get sort o' sissified and are not good for anything else;
those that follow it twice that long are not good for anything. I guess I'll quit it right now and connect myself with something that has a future to it."
So about twenty years ago, he became identified with the American Book Company, as their traveling representative in the two Dakotas, plus anywhere else in the United States or Canada, that they might choose to send him. At once the young fellow showed great possibilities in the book business. He was aggres- sive, polite, fearless, tireless, shrewd: cool under fire, and as resourceful as Senator Bailey.
Gleason soon proved himself to be one of the best book men in the United States. Single handed and alone he buckled in with an eagerness characteristic of the fellow: won South Dakota to such an extent that from 1897 to 1902, his company held ninety- three per cent of the total books adopted for all of the rural schools of the state. And, despite the fact that other book houses have since placed resident agents in the state, and are spending a lot of money legitimately to get a foothold, Gleason still main- tains about eighty-five per cent of the business. The five-year adoptions take place again this year. What will happen none can foresee. The competing companies all have good men in the field, and a lively fight is sure to ensue.
STATE EDUCATIONAL ASSOCIATION
As previously suggested. Mr. Gleason is a tireless worker. He learned long years ago that nothing gets results like good hard work; and that in the hook business, as in other walks of life, there is no subsititute for it. He is a strong, husky fellow who never complains of feeling badly. For this reason, he is always "on deck."
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For nearly a quarter of a century Gleason has been one of the most active members of the state educational association. When it comes to parliamentary tactics, he's always there "with the goods." A meeting of the association, without Gleason, would be a one-sided thing.
GLEASON, THE PATRIOT
How vividly the educators of the state recall the awful catas- trophe that happened during the 1909 session of the State Educa- tional Association which convened at Lead, while the members were returning via the Burlington from a sight-seeing trip in Spearfish canon, when just above Deadwood a few miles one of the coaches overturned into the ditch and instantly killed the charming Miss Logan, primary teacher at Pukwana.
Miss Edith Sedgwick-Miss Logan's cousin who was recently elected superintendent of Brule county, was also pinioned under the car which was rapidly settling upon her, so that death was inevitable within a few minutes.
At this critical moment R. S. Gieason took his own life in his hands, crept under the sinking car, clawed away with his naked hands the gravel and debris that was holding Miss Sedg- wick fast, pulled the dead girl's hands off of the live girl's face, liberated her and at great risk and the expenditure of heroic efforts, he released the Sedgwick girl and dragged her out, just a moment before it would have been too late. Patriotic man! He deserves a Carnegie medal and a cash prize from the Hero Fund.
TEACHERS' READING CIRCLE
The state teachers' reading circle was organized away back in the early nineties, or before. Each year, until very recently, two books have been adopted for the teachers of the state to buy and read. For nearly all of these years R. S. Gleason has been on deck, whipped all of the other agents, and had secured for his firm the adoption of both books. No other. book agent in this or in any other state in the Union, ever equalled his record in this line, and we predict none ever will. Only one Gleason is given to every generation.
However, in 1905, be lost one book; and for each of the next five years he got only one book. No man can play lucky always. There is an element of chance in all human undertakings, even unto marriage. Poor Gleason, in the year of our Lord one thou- sand nine hundred eleven, after all the advance wires he had laid, went down to overwhelming and inglorious defeat. The Reading
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Circle board not only turned him down, but they went far be- yond, and instead of adopting two books as had heretofore been done, they adopted or recommended five; yet they did not give the old master of the game a single look in. Accepting their verdict with that high minded sense of forgiveness characteristic of a Caesar, the old book agent of the Dakotas settled back in his chair, lit his accustomed cigar, and soberly remarked. "I guess the steam roller is at work. I think I know how Joe Cannon feels." But R. S. Gleason is no quitter, and he is not "too old to come back." Maik the prediction !
(Later-The R C. board recently met at Aberdeen. Gleason "came back" and secured one book.)
This incident brought out one of the greatest traits of Glea- son's character-his coolness under fire during a book fight. Although naturally high tempered, he has schooled himself to a degree of patience that has earned him many a victory. Still, when he does "break loose," he reveals a repertoire of choice sarcasm as biting as that of Disraeli.
A NAPOLEONIC FIGHTER
Last summer the five-year book adoptions took place in a neighboring state. Gleason had been in Michigan on private business. Stopping in Chicago on his return, the American Book Company's western manager said to him, "The last fight takes place over in -tomorrow. I believe you better jump into it on your way home." In thirty minutes R. S. Gleason was aboard the "Denver Flyer" headed for the firing-line.
Arriving after dinner, he found the fight completely lost. Agents of a half dozen firms had "beat him to it" and had "sewed up " the entire proposition ;- at least so they thought. That night while the self-conceited victors sat in the hotel corri- dor, smoking cigars and exchanging jokes while they congrat- ulated themselves on their supposed victory for the morrow, R. S. Gleason wrs at work -hard at work-showing to the various members of the text-book board the new books which he had to offer and explaining the relative merits of each, and their super- jority over those of his competitors; and the next day when the adoptions took place only one firm was patronized.
That evening a "big" book agent, with a smile on his face, stood on the depot platform of a little city in- - waiting the arrival of a delayed train, stuffing newly signed, five-year book contracts into his pockets until they bulged most spaciously, and the next morning R. S. Gleason stepped off the train at Sioux
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Fall, South Dakota, flushed with the consciousness of victory, and ready for another fight. .
During the battle of Marengo, a staff officer rode up to Na- poleon on a foaming charger, and shouted. "General, the battle is lost! The infantry has given way; the cavalry are retreating for refuge, and several of our field pieces have been captured." Napoleon, with one leg resting over the horn of his saddle, re- mained calm. Taking out his watch, he cooly said : "It is only ten minutes past four o'clock. The sun is still high in the heavens. We yet have time before dark to re-organize our forces and fight the battle over. '' He gave orders; they were obeyed. And that night as the sun sank to rest, it seemed to take a lingering look at one of the greatest victories in Napoleon's whole military career.
At four o'clock in the afternoon R. S. Gleason was completely routed. At sunset he came back -the unchampioned master of the situation.
MEDITATION
A book agent grows to have the keenest intellect found among men. He "lays his lines" during one campaign -wins; comes back a few years later for another adoption, discovers that new faces have superceded those that were once in authority, and finds that he must try his case all over again before a "new jury." This experience is repeated over and over again. He puts into each fight the best there is in him. Finally, gray hairs begin to appear, his crown begins to grow bare, deep furrows sink even deeper into his manly brow; and in a few years more he has made his "last fight" and is quietly laid away,
"Unwept, unhonored and unsung,''
while younger blood, thoroughly trained in the psychological art of handling men, comes forward to take his place, and he is soon forgotten. Does it pay? Perhaps.
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A GOOD SAMARITAN
The most sacred lesson in the Bible is the story of the "Good Smaritan." The man who exemplifies in his daily life the vir- tues of the Samaritan rises to the highest and best deserved dis- tinction of his day. Such a man is Asher F. Pay, of Huron. His kindly heart finds an ever ready echo in that of his devoted wife. Between them-often at a sacrifice-they have schooled other people's boys, found legitimate employment for the idle, and have redeemed wayward girls. Their Christianity has been of the practical sort -of the good Samaritan type -- and their thoughtful deeds of kindness will not be "interred with their bones."
Asher F. Pay, of Huron, Beadle county, South Da- kota, was born in Jefferson county, New York, the year that the Mexican War broke out. Like Lincoln, he got most of his education at night, after the old folks had retired, lying near the fire-place, reading from borrowed books. Later on he attended Todds' School for Boys for a brief period.
Left fatherless at the age of ten years, he not only had to make his own way through life, but he was compelled to help earn a livelihood for the rest of the family. After his father's death, the family drifted to Woodstock, Il- linois; and from there they made their way west to
ASHER F. PAY
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Washington, Iowa, where fifty-five years ago last October, young Pay apprenticed himself for three years to A. R. Wiekersham of the Washington Press, to learn the printer's trade.
In 1862 he went to Chicago, and united with the firm of Dunlop, Sewell & Spaulding, railroad printers, to learn book and job printing. At the end of twenty months he returned to the "Washington Press," but shortly thereafter gave up his work to respond to his country's call, and enlisted in the Union army.
NEWSPAPER REPORTER
Although Asher F. Pay has never published in South Dakota a newspaper of his own, he is, nevertheless, usually referred to as a newspaper man. This arises somewhat from his early train- ing as a printer and writer, but more especially from his work in South Dakota as a reporter for the Metropolitan papers of the east. .
During his first four years in Dakota, he corresponded for several large papers: - first for the Minneapolis Tribune. His early reportorial work for this paper, wherein he heralded praises for Dakota prairies and showed the possibilities of this empire of the west, soon won the attention of the Chicago Inter-Ocean. They wrote to the Tribune to find out who their Dakota corres- pondent was. This led to his additional employment by the Inter-Ocean, His work on the latter paper soon won for him na- tional recognition, with the result that the Journal, the Times and the World, all of New York city, were added to his list.
Of recent years he has gradually eliminated his reportorial work until today he contents himself with furnishing material for the Minneapolis Journal, and a few other metropolitan news- papers, with which he has been identified for many years.
MILITARY SERVICE
At sixteen years of age young Pay enlisted in the 45th Iowa Infantry, commanded by Colonel Berryman, and, as a result, he was united with the Army of The Tennessee. As stated, Pay's father was dead. His mother was an English lady. America was her adopted country. Yet young Asher was the fifth one of her noble sons on whose patriotic brow she had implanted a loving mother's farewell kiss, and said: "Go! my boy. God bless you! Abe Lincoln needs you."
The boys went; they served their country well. One was wounded at Atlanta; another at Chicamagua; one fell in the cap- ture of Jeff Davis, but finally survied; another froze his feet and lost the use of them in the famous campaign through Dakota
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against Indians who had taken part in the New Ulm, Minnesota, massacre and were fleeing westward; while young Asher himself sustained injuries that have troubled him ever since. He was mustered out at Keokuk, Iowa, in October, 1865.
LATER YEARS
After the war Pay went to Galesburg, Illinois, where, for five years, he engaged in the printing business. From there he went to Keokuk, Iowa, then to Carthage, Illinois, where-for ten years he managed a business establishment for a Keokuk firm. Removing to Springfield, Illinois, he managed a dry goods busi- ness for two years at that place, for a New York firm, and then, owing to ill health, resigned to come to South Dakota.
He landed at Huron in 1882 and homesteaded a farm in Beadle county. Later, for several years, he worked on the Daily Huronite. Finally, he received an appointment in the U. S. Land office at Huron, holding this position for two years.
An unwritten political code of ethics has sprung up in South Dakota whereby the office of clerk of the courts in a large num- ber of counties -- particularly those that have at their respective county seats a strong G. A. R. post -is given to an old soldier, his local post not infrequently deciding for themselves who the honored member shall be. Just so at Huron. For fourteen con- secutive years Pay has held the position. Two years ago he an- nounced that he would not be a candidate for re-election in 1912. Therefore, at the state G. A. R. encampment held in Pierre, last June, his admiring comrades got busy and formulated a plan informally to make him the "old soldier" candidate this year for Secretary of State. His candidacy, although strenuously objected to by himself, at once became popular throughout the state, and it has now acquired an apparently irresistable momentum.
Here is a kind hearted gentleman who has extolled the virtues of our state, who is leaving the imprint of his own splendid man- hood upon the lives of the state G. A. R. encampments; one whom we all love, and whose memory we shall be pleased to honor. He has lived a long, useful life of repute and service: and the ques- tion arising is: "Does it not "Pay"?
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DR. SAMUEL F. KERFOOT
OUR PREACHER EDUCATOR
Lord Byron may, or may not, have been sensitive to his own accomplishment which so often captivated and held the lingering attention of old and young alike, when he wrote those truthful lines:
"The devil bath not, in all his quiver's choice,
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