USA > South Dakota > Who's who in South Dakota, Vol. I > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22
During the second year of the Civil war-at a time when Robert Gamble, Jr., was but eleven years of age-his par- ents removed to Dodge county, Wisonsin, and settled on a farm near Fox Lake. Here young Gamble grew up as a farm lad; attended rural school in the winter, and fin- ally taught school and ear ned sufficient money therefrom to put himself through college. In 1874 he graduated with honor from Lawrence Univer- sity, Appleton, Wisconsin, and in 1909, the same institution honored him with his LL. D.
SENATOR ROBERT J. GAMBLE
Senator Gamble was united in marriage in 1884 to Miss Carrie S. Osborne, of Portage, Wisconsin. Her people go back to the early colonists of Massachusetts. To their union have been born two sons -Ralph and George. The former graduated from Princeton with the class of 1909, and the latter is now a student of the same institution.
LAW AND POLITICS
In 1875, the year following his graduation from Lawrence
WHO'S WHO IN SOUTH DAKOTA
University, Mr. Gamble was admitted to the Wisconsin bar. Like Governor Herreid, Frank Crane, Doane Robinson, Governor Vessey and others who have become prominent in the public life of our state, he at once struck out for Dakota and settled at Yankton. It might well be recalled that at that time the only railroad in the state was a stub-line running in for a few miles near the southeast corner; that Yankton was little more than an Indian village under the white man's regulation; that it had to be reached either by boat, or else by stage which forded streams and made its way between Indian settlements. Such were the conditions of western life when young Gamble settled in Dakota Territory to work out his own destiny.
At Yankton he became associated in law practice with his brother, John R. Gamble. The latter was a very brilliant, cap- able man. John was elected to congress in 1890, but died the next spring before he could take his seat. He was succeeded by Colonel John L. Jolley. Two years later, in 1894, Jolley was succeeded by Robert J. Gamble. In 1896, Gamble was again a candidate for congress, but he was defeated by the populist wave which swept the state, losing however by only 182 votes out of 83,000. Encouraged by his showing he "came back" in 1898, ran way ahead of his ticket and was again sent to congress. Two years later he grew more ambitious and measured strength with Richard F. Pettigrew for the United States senatorship, -win- ning by the peculiar and triumphant majority of 113 to 13. In 1907 he was re-elected to the senate by the state legislature. In the natural course of events, he was a candidate for renomination at the primaries in June, 1912.
Senator Gamble has never been rated as a public speaker, yet in this respect he deserves far more credit than he has ever received. We heard him deliver the address at the laiyng of the corner stone of the new government building in Pierre, a few years since, and if we are competent, even in a small measure, to judge of the merits of the address, it was certainly a super- lative masterpiece of oratory. In the recent campaign in South Dakota he made a series of the ablest addresses that were pre- sented to the people of the state by any man in public life. He has an effectual delivery, and his personality aids him greatly in holding attention.
Senator Gamble has always been a quiet worker. His po- litical mill has ground considerable legislative flour, but his machinery has been kept well oiled, so that it has not made a great deal of noise. After an extended investigation of the con- gressional record, we ourselves were dumfounded at what he had quietly accomplished. The records show that he not only voted
67
ROBERT J. GAMBLE
for the following bills, but that he was otherwise active in se- curing their passage:
An Act providing for free homesteads on the public lands, approved May 17, 1900. He was very active in behalf of it and was accorded the honor of making the closing speech in the house on behalf of the measure. By its provisions it relinquished in favor of the settlers on the public lands of South Dakota, and payment for the lands involved, exceeding six millions of dollars.
An Act known as the Gold Standard, Refunding, and Bank- ing Act, approved May 14, 1900.
An Act requiring common carriers engaged in interstate commerce, to make full reports of all accidents, to the Interstate Commerce Commission, approved March 3, 1901.
An Act to provide for the construction of a canal connect- ing the waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, approved June 28, 1902.
The Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902.
An Act to expedite the hearing in Anti-trust Cases, approved February 11, 1903.
An Act to establish the Department of Commerce and labor, approved February 14, 1903.
An Act providing for the reorganization of the Consular service of the United States, approved April 5, 1906.
The Denatured Alcohol Act, approved June 7, 1906.
The Employers' Liability Act, approved June 11, 1906.
An Act enlarging the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission, approved June 29, 1906.
The Pure Food and Drug Act, approved June 29, 1906.
An Act to promote the safety of Employees and Travelers upon railroads by limiting the hours of service, approved March 4, 1907.
An Act reducing the cost of transportation of the mails, approved March 2 1907.
An Act creating a Bureau of Mines, approved May 16, 1910.
An Act creating a Court of Commerce and enlarging the powers of the Interstate Commerce Commission, approved June 18, 1910.
An Act authorizing the admission of New Mexico and Ari- zona to statehood, approved June 20, 1910.
An Act to establish Postal Savings Banks, approved June 25, 1910.
68
WHO'S WHO IN SOUTH DAKOTA
An Act providing for the Publicity of Contributions made for campaign purposes, approved June 25, 1910.
An Act authorizing the President to make withdrawals of public lands in certain cases, approved June 25, 1910.
An Act authorizing the issue of twenty millions in bonds for use in completing irrigation projects, approved June 25, 1901.
Senator Gamble was very active during the last session of Congress in seeking to promote legislation upon the subject of conservation. He is a member of the Committee on Public Lands in the Senate, that had this subject under consideration.
Senator Gamble has taken an active interest in the opening of the Indian reservations west of the river, and he took the in- itiative in the opening of the lands in Gregory and in Tripp counties, aggregating about one million and a half acres.
Two years since he passed a bill opening three million of acres on the Standing Rock and Cheyenne Indian reservations, and during the past years two bills opening about one million five hundred thousand acres on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge Indian reservations, and also passed through the senate two bills opening the remaining lands of on the Standing Rock and Cheyenne res- ervations, aggregating two million two thousand acres.
The area opened under these bills aggregates upwards to ten millions of acres and leaves practically about two million five hundred thousand acres still within the reservations which soon it is expected will be opened to settlement. The appropriations carried on the foregoing bills in payment by the government for the school lands aggregate nearly eight hundred thousand dollars
Some years since he passed a bill referring to the Court of Claims the matter of the Forfei ed Annuities of the Sisseton Indians and a judg nent was recovered in their favor which was affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States, aggregating nine hundred thousand dollars.
An examination of the Congressional Record shows that Sen- ator Gamble has succeeded among other matters, in enacting the following legislation of interest to his state. The following measures passed both houses during the present session of con- gress and are now laws:
Senate Bill 183 provided for the opening to settlement of approximately 800,000 acres of land on the Rosebud Indian Res- ervation and carries an appropriation of $125,000 for the pay- ment by the government to the Indians for land for the benefit of the common schools of the state.
Senate Bill 2341 provides for the opening to settlement of approximately 750,000 acres of land on the Pine Ridge Indian
6.9
ROBERT J. GAMBLE
Reservation and carries an appropriation of $125,000 for the pay- ment by the government to the Indians for the benefit of the common schools of the state.
Senate Bill 3788 providing for the payment to Horace C. Dale, administrator, for reimbursement for property taken for agency purpose on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservaton, $2,515.
Senate Bill 4473, providing for the payment to Rasmus K. Hafses, a contractor of Aberdeen, S. D., for balance withheld on account of construction of an Indian School at Bismark, N. D.
Senate Bill 193 providing for the payment of the amount due James D. Elliott for services as United States District Attorney for South Dakota, $2,500.
Senate Bill 6736 referring to the Court of Claims for deter- mination by that Court as to the title of the Yankton Indians to the Pipestone Reservation in Minnesota.
Senate Bill 4016 extending the time for the completion of a bridge across the Missouri river at Yankton for the Winnipeg, Yankton & Gulf Railway Company.
Sneate Bill 6229 extending the time for the completion of a bridge across the Missouri river at Yanton for the Yankton, Norfolk & Southern Railway Company.
Senate Bill 187 for the erection of a public building at Rapid City to cost $100,000, which was included in the omnibus public building bill.
Senate Bill 2925 to increase the limit of cost for the public building at Sioux Falls from $100,000 to $190,000, which was increased by the omnibus public building bill to $200,000.
Senate, Bill 186 for the erection of a public building at Brookings to cost $75,000, which was included in the omnibus public building bill.
Amendment to the omnibus building bill providing for the purchase of a site for a public building at Madison, $10,000.
Amendment to the omnibus building bill providing for the purchase of a site for a pubile building at Redfield, $10,000.
Senator Gamble also reported Senate Bill 3286 providing for the increase in the payment for the school lands on the Standing Rock and Cheyenne River Indian Reservations for $1.25 an acre to $2.50 an acre, and substituted a house bill therefore, which passed the senate.
Senator Gamble also introduced and passed through the Sen- ate in addition to the foregoing, the following measures:
Senate Bill 5121 for the restoration of annuities to the Sante Sioux Indians, which refers to the Court of Claims the matter in difference between these Indians and the Government on forfeited
70
WHO'S WHO IN SOUTH DAKOTA
annuities, which are claimed by the Indians to aggregate some- thing like $1.000,000.
Senate Bill 640 to establish a U. S. Land Office at LeBeau, S. D.
Senate Bill 7676 providing for the payment to the Mission Farm Company and certain individuals for damage occasioned by fire on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, $6,500.
Senate Bill 3284 providing for the opening of all the re- maining surplus and unallotted lands in the Standing Rock and Indian Reservation in North and South Dakota embracing 1,123,- 000 acres and carrying an appropriation of $180,000 for the payment to the Indians for lands for the benefit of the common schools of the state.
Senate Bill 3285 providing for the opening of all the re- maining surplus and unallotted lands in the Cheyenne River In- dian Reservation in South Dakota embracing 1,210,000 acres and carrying an appropriation of $160,000 for the payment to the Indians for lands for the benefit of the common schools of the state.
In addition to the foregoing Senator Gamble passed through both houses, and they are now laws, twenty-three special pension bills for the veterans of the Civil War, residents of this state.
71
ELLWOOD CHAPPELL PERISHO
ORATOR OF THE FACULTY
"The orator of the faculty." Not a bad cognomen, eh ? Rather something to be proud of, especially when the "faculty" happens to be that of a state university. Distinction? We guess "yes." And the "orator"-who is he? Listen! while we whisper to you, "Dean Perisho,"of our State University at Vermillion.
Have you ever sat in an audience where this great overpower- ing personality was the speaker? And have you listened to him come to one of those soul-stirring climaxes-one of those mag- nificent perorations like the one he uses in closing his great economical temperance lecture? If you haven't, avail yourself of the very first opportunity. Hear him repeatedly ask, "What is the price of a boy?" and then as often reply, "I don't know; but this I know, etc." Here he launches out into a review of the response of a whole nation in seeking the return to their par- ents of various kidnapped children. It is one of the grandest things in all literature. Really, it would make the "Boy orator of the Platt" envious.
Orator? Yes; a great thinker, a gifted speaker, and a man possessed of that great, grand, awe-inspiring something that no man can explain which we call personality.
"With charity for all; with malice toward none;"-that's Per- isho every day in the week. He loves his fellowmen. His big manly heart fairly bubbles over with an exuberance of joy; it is a great perennial spring at which thousands may sip the sweet nectar of his friendship and still not impoverish its supply. It's a great geyser pumping out a flood of good cheer to those about him. From it radiates a radiant hope and an unflinching loyalty. Heart? Heart! Man alive! he's all heart. It vibrates from his crown to his toes. It shakes his huge physique like matted flax being run through a threshing machine.
Perisho lives close to nature. It has been his life's study. The stone which the wicked farm-boy throws at the warbling lark, to Perisho becomes an emerald, an object for deepest study, a
WHO'S WHO IN SOUTH DAKOTA
manifestation of the handiwork of his Creator. Instead of throw- ing it away at a harmless bird, he cracks it open with the relish of a squirrel cracking open a nut. In it he sees the fossil-the dried-up, withered form of a little ichthyolite that has lain therein since God called the ancient planets to sing in hallowed unison their glad hozannas when this old world of ours was pro- nounced habitable for man !
Ah! the difference in life. One man, with his horny hands and uncultered brain, becomes a stone·mason and spends his life in silent drudgery laying upon each other stone after stone. To him they are mere objects for domestic use. The other man, with a cultured brain and with keen powers of observation, sees in the furrowed lines of these same stone the finger prints of a God. One lives to drudge; the other lives to bless. One lives to him- self; the other to his friends. One lives to die; the other dies to live again. One is educated; the other is not. One is a Perisho; the other, a machine.
Although a geologist by training and choice, Dean Perisho is equally at home among the flowers. He climbs the rugged moun- tain sides to chisel out for classification and study a new specimen of stone. High above the seas' level his observing eye catches a glimpse of a dainty flowret lifting its little face heavenward from a tiny crevice in the rock. He slips along the dangerous ledge to the flowret's side. With the same compassion and tenderness which would cause him to refrain from throwing a stone at a bird, he takes pity on his little blossoming friend, bends it toward him to inhale its fragrance, lets it remain on its stem, says to it, "Continue your worship," and he continues to climb. Oh! the soul of a man that sees God and worships all about him. Perisho would even take issue with that portion of Gray's Elegy wherein the pious poet said,
"Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, And waste its sweetness on the desert air."
To a great soul like Perisho's, that articulates with all na- ture about it, the little flowret struggling for existence through the stubborn crevice on yonder lonesome mountain side, may never have been beheld by the eye of man; but this does not prove to him that its existence has been in vain or that it has "blush [ed ]unseen" and "waste [d] its sweetness on the desert air." Oh! on; not to Perisho. He believes that during the long summer months, while it pushed its tiny rootlets deeper and deeper into the crevice, in its struggle for nourishment and for life, and while its baby petals were bathed with fragrant dews at night and gave off their perfume heavenward during the day,
73
ELLWOOD CHAPPELL PERISHO
it was merely lifting its silent voice to God and paying homage to its Maker.
Yes, ah! yes: give us God in the flowrets and in the rocks; and then stand beside us Dean Perisho as our interpreter, and we will forever rejoice.
HIS CAREER
Dean Perisho came into life as a farmer's son in the old Hoosier state of Indiana. After attending country school for a number of years, he pre- pared for college at Carmel Academy. He spent four
years at Eartham College, Richmond, Indiana, receiving his Bachelor's Degree from that institution.
After graduating from college Professor Perisho be- came a member of the faculty of Guilford College, N. C. The first year he acted as Proc- tor and assisted in mathemat- ics and science. After that he was made a full professor, but he still held the position of proctor. He also acted as president during the latter's absence.
ELLWOOD CHAPPELL PERISHO
He resigned at the end of five years to take post graduate work at the University of Chicago, where he specialized on ge- ology. In this institution he held both a scholarship and a fellow- ship. He was also Prof. T. C. Chamberlain's assistant in United States Geological survey work.
After two years in Chicago he earned his Master's Degree, and then left to accept a position in the State Normal School at Plattville, Wisconsin. Here he taught and lectured.
In 1903 Professor Perisho was elected to the head of the geological department in our State University at Vermillion; and shortly thereafter he was chosen State Geologist for South Dakota. Upon the death of Dean Young, of the State Univer- sity, he succeeded him to the deanship of the College of Arts and Sciences, which position he still holds. As ranking dean of the institution he assumes control during President Gault's absence.
74
WHO'S WHO IN SOUTH DAKOTA
LECTURER
Dean Perisho began his career as a lecturer when he was still in North Carolina. While in Wisconsin he lectured repeat- edly on educational and scientific subjects. After reaching South Dakota, he continued to develop this side of himself, until today he is regarded as one of the "big" public speakers of the north- west. He has broadened out the scope of his addresses so that they now include social and other general subjects.
Think of it! During the late spring and summer, this year, he gave the commencement addresses before one State Normal, six high schools, and six eighth grade classes. He also lectured in nine county institutes, and did survey work for the state. He received twenty-nine invitations for lectures on the same evening.
His lecture work is also receiving marked attention outside of the state. This fall he has lectured in Indiana, in Ohio, and in Pennsylvania. These addresses were delivered before colleges, universities and big educational rallies. On October 24, he ap- peared before 1,500 teachers at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Here he was preceded on the program by Dr. Nathan Schaeffer, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Pennsylvania; by Dr. Chas. W. Kent (University of Virginia) and by Dr. Nathan Butler, (University of Chicago.) Pretty distinguished company! Tough competition! But South Dakota did not get a setback, and she never will when Dean Perisho goes out to represent her. We gather the following from the Wilkes-Barre newspapers:
Perhaps the most interesting speaker of the afternoon was Prof. Ellwood C. Perisho, Dean of the University of South Dakota .--- The Evening Times.
Prof. Ellwood C. Perisho, Dean of the University of South Dakota, was one of the surprises of the afternoon. Professor Perisho is a brilliant man who has an excellent delivery .- The Times Leader.
Out of about thirty clippings collected from South Dakota papers, and from those of adjoining states, attesting Dean Per- isho's success as a public man, we shall use but five. These are brief but characteristic of the others:
"His scholarly address was listened to with rapt attention by the exceptionally large crowd that came out to hear the speaker."
"Professor Perisho is one of the most polished speakers and one of the deepest thinkers, among the state's gifted educators."
"The commencement address given by Dean Perisho in the opera house last night was not only scholarly and eloquent, but
75
ELLWOOD CHAPPELL PERISHO
so full of practical and common sense ideas, that we doubt if a better one was ever heard in this city."
"Prof. Perisho is an orator who delights an audience with his elegant diction and charming dramatic effect. His voice is strong, pleasant and captivating, and his every sentence denotes the love of education."-Canton Leader.
"The arrival of Professor Perisho has infused new spirit and enthusiasm into the institute. His inspiring talks are well worth hearing. This was made evident by the general stampede to his classes on Monday."-Scotland Journal.
In addition to his teaching and his lectures, Dean Perisho has given to the public five valuable documents from his own pen. These are:
"The Drainage history of Southwest Wisconsin."
'The Ores of Southwest Wisconsin."
"The Geology of the Rosebud Reservation."
"The Bad Lands of South Dakota," and
"The Work of a State Survey."
Recent publication done: (associated with S. S. Visher in each case except last two.)
"The Geography of South Dakota." Published 1912 by the Rand McNally Co.
"The Geography and Geology of Mellette, Bennett, Wash- abaugh and Todd Counties, South Central South Dakota." Pub- lished 1912 in Bulletin 5, South Dakota Geological Survey.
"The Geology of Harding County," published in Science, March, 1911.
"The Geography and Geology of Harding and Perkins Coun- ties," Northwest South Dakota. Bulletin 7 , South Dakota Geolog- ical Survey.
A key to the names of common rock for the use of the non- specialist.
"'The Rock Formations of South Dakota," their physical and economic characteristics, thickness, age, etc. This and the pre- ceding published by the University.
Facts about Bennett and Mellette Couty. Widely printed in newspapers.
The Annual Report of the State Geologist 1909-1910; also 1911-1912, in the newspapers.
Dean Perisho was honored recently as follows:
Elected to fellowship in American Association for Advance- ment of Science. (Only three or four others in South Dakota.)
Write-up in "Who's Who in America" 1912-13. (Only forty others in South Dakota.)
76
WHO'S WHO IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Write-up in "American Men of Science." (Only ten others in South Dakota.)
Repeatedly urged to become candidate for governor, 1911-12.
President of South Dakota Conservation Congress 1911; re- elected 1912.
Secretary of Association of Deans of the State Universities of America.
BACHELOR
Among politicians, Thomas Jefferson was, and Senator Kit- tredge is, a bachelor; in literature Irving and Whittier remained bachelors; while, locally, in educational affairs, Professor Kerr, of Brookings, and Dean Perisho, are bachelors. These men have all achieved distinction in their chosen lines, not because of their bachelorhood, but in spite of it. However, without growing too immodest, we should like to suggest to Dean Perisho that he hang out a sign containing Sam T. Clover's beautiful poetic adver- tisment.
TO LET
A vacant heart to let; inquire for key Of Master Cupid, just across the way; Terms easy to the tenant who'll agree To sign a lease forever and a day.
Coy maiden, come! and in this bargain share; The offer's tempting by your own confession; You'll find the place in excellent repair-
Accept the terms and enter into possession.
77
RICHARD O. RICHARDS
A NORSK IN AMERICA
Along the southeast coast of Norway, the "Land of the Mid- night Sun," the land of countless fjords and resplendent cascades, the realm of good old King Oscar, is the little, aged, seaport town of Sandefjord. It was in this little Norwegian burg that the Hon. Richard O. Richards, of Huron, S. D., came into being on January 2, 1866. Mr. Richards came from prominent old Norwegian and Danish maritime families. Very rugged, with light complexion, rosy cheeks and deep blue eyes, he is a typical Norskman and a splendid representative of that valiant race. Sandefjord is a ship yard. Mr. Richard's father was a ship owner and ship builder, at the place. It was here that "Dick" as everybody calls him, spent his boyhood and secured his acad- emic education. After completing his course he clerked for a short time in a ship-chandler's store.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.