USA > South Dakota > Who's who in South Dakota, Vol. III > Part 11
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The commissioners in Union County did not, during the early days, levy sufficient taxes to defray the running expenses of the county. Not infrequently the expenses of one term of court would use up the entire an- nual levy. Finally, the county woke up to find itself nearly $40,000 in debt. "Where has all of our tax money gone?" queried the public. "Someone has stolen our funds." Young Ringsrud had held a county office for ten years. The finger of suspicion was point- ed at him. An investigation was held. Two experts went over the books. It cost the county several thousand dollars. And the in- vestigation merely proved that the county was in debt to A. O. Ringsrud $8.02. The
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accusation put white hairs in his head, but the investigation left his character still whiter.
"Mine honor is my life; both grew in one;
Take honor from me and my life is done." - SHAKESPEARE
DOMESTIC
He was united in marriage in 1876 to Miss Emma Snyder, of Iowa, at Waynesburg, Pennsylvania. Two girls and one boy blessed their happy mating. Mrs. Ringsrud passed into that realm
"From whose bourne no traveller ever returns" on September 20, 1915, and left her dis- tinguished husband to follow through
"The Gate that stands ajar"
when the Death Angel issues his final sum- mons.
Mr. Ringsrud is a Knight Templar, a Con- sistory Mason, a Shriner and an Elk.
"He who ascends to mountain-tops shall find Their loftiest peaks most wrapt in clouds of snow; He, who surpasses or subdues mankind, Must look down on the hate of those below. Tho' high above the sun of glory glow, And far beneath the earth and ocean spread, Round him are icy rocks, and loudly blow Contending tempests on his naked head."
- BYRON
PRESIDENT W. D. SCHERMERHORN
THE CALL OF THE INDIAS
Two missionaries from India met at the Commencement of Dakota Wesleyan Uni- versity, in June, 1917. They had both labored for several years in the foreign field, but they had never met before. One of them, Reverend Harry Weak, formerly a section
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hand on the Milwaukee railroad, who had heard the Call of the Indias, and had laid down his shovel to enter school, was a grad- uate of Dakota Wesleyan. The other, Dr. W. D. Schermerhorn, had just been elected president of the institution. He had come to Mitchell to deliver the Commencement ad- dress. Weak had returned from India on a vacation. Both of them appeared on the platform. One introduced the other.
"From Greenland's icy mountains, From India's coral strand; Where Afric's sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand: From many an ancient river From many a palmy plain They call us to deliver Their land from error's chain." MASON
EARLY YEARS
Like many another boy who has won re- nown, President Schermerhorn was born and reared on a farm. Tilling the soil in God's great out-of-doors usually gives rise to a strong physique. A strong physique is usually the key to success in life. Young Schermerhorn grew to over six feet tall - with a massive physique in keeping with his
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height - rugged, brawny and ready for the battles of life. The date of his birth was October 23, 1871, and the place, Lincoln County, Kansas.
"He, above the rest In shape and gesture proudly eminent Stood like a tower."
MILTON
His father was a Kansas pioneer, having settled in that state in 1859. He was an early-day freighter to Pikes Peak and return. On his second trip, the Civil War broke out. He dropped everything and enlisted. When the war was over he returned to Kansas, married and settled down in Lincoln County. Later, he served in the Kansas legislature.
However, when William was five years of age, the family moved to Manhattan, Kansas, where the father was elected county clerk, serving for eight years. The elder Scher- merhorn tried to develop Kansas into a cattle state. These experiences gave rise to many ups and downs. In one blizzard alone he lost a thousand head of cattle. He skinned them, sold the hides and got enough money
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to leave. Then, in his new location he de- veloped a fruit farm and succeeded.
At the age of sixteen, William was sent to work in a store for an uncle at Wilson, Kansas. Three years later he was made manager of a branch store at Sylvan Grove. This position he filled for two years.
HIS LIFE'S TRAGEDY
While young Schermerhorn was working his way through college, at the age of twenty- two, there entered into his life, unbidden, one of those awful tragedies which ended in the shedding of human blood, but in nowise to the discredit of himself.
He was working on the books in the Sylvan State Bank - an institution owned by his uncle - one evening, in the early days when bank robberies in Kansas were of almost daily occurrence.
Three mounted robbers made their way to the back door of the bank. One of them dis- mounted and tied his horse to a near-by post, while the two others kept watch. He quietly opened the back door, covered young Scher- merhorn with a revolver and commanded him to throw up his hands. The boy obeyed.
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Then the robber told him to sack up the money hurriedly and give it to him. This, William refused to do, saying: "I cannot do that for I would become a party to the rob- bery."
Whereupon the robber placed the gun barrel against Schermerhorn's head and said to him: "You sack up all the money right away quick, or I'll blow your brains out."
"Then, you'll have to 'blow,' " said Scher- merhorn, "for this bank belongs to my uncle. He put me here to watch it; and if I were to sack up the money for you, I'd be helping to rob the institution. I won't do it!"
This angered the robber who whirled his revolver around and taking hold of the bar- rel, hit young Schermerhorn a violent blow on the head, with the butt of the gun. He dropped to the floor - partly from the blow and partly through choice, for he knew that just behind the vault door stood a 50-calibre Sharps rifle, loaded and ready for action. His hands fell near the stock of the gun where he lay quietly while the robber, pre- suming him unconscious, sacked the money, himself.
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As soon as he had finished the task, he passed quietly out of the back door and started on a run for his horse. The moment he had gone, young Schermerhorn seized the loaded rifle, slipped out at the front door of the bank which the robbers had inadvertently left unguarded, raised the gun to his shoul- der, took steady aim at the fleeing robber, and fired. The man fell dead in his tracks. Kansas boys had all been taught to shoot.
"So close is glory to our dust, So near is God to man, When duty whispers low - 'Thou must!' The youth replies -'I can!' "
EMERSON
The two other robbers wheeled their horses about and began firing rapidly at Schermerhorn who dashed back into the bank and lay flat upon the floor behind the counter, thereby escaping the bullets that were fired at him.
These shots attracted the attention of the good people of Sylvan Grove, who rushed "to arms" and began firing at the robbers. They beat a hasty retreat, leaving their dead comrade lying where he fell, with the sack of stolen money clinched in his dead hands.
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The old Justice of the Peace stepped over to the dead man and took from his lifeless hands the sack of money. Young Schermer- horn, cool and collected, with a full realiza- tion that he was master of the situation, stepped up and demanded the money which he took into the bank, and locked it up.
He then wired for his uncle and told him what had happened. The uncle came. They counted the money and found every cent of it was there. The boy had remained true to his trust in the presence of death and had proven he was made of that stern western stuff which cannot be bluffed nor coerced.
Shakespeare, in "King John," had a re- lated thought in mind when he wrote :
"By how much unexpected, by so much We must awake endeavor for defense; For courage mounteth with occasion."
EDUCATION
The larger the Educational foundation laid for success in life, the larger will be the results attained. William D. Schermerhorn knew this. From away back in his 'teens, there was gripping his soul the call to the
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Indias. He knew if he went over there and succeeded, he must equip himself through hard study before he started.
And so, after attending a few terms in a rural school, as is the lot of the average farm boy, he entered the academy department of Kansas Wesleyan, at the age of twenty-one, a big diamond in the rough, ready for educa- tional polish, and willing to make the sacri- fice necessary to attain it.
It took him seven years, alternately at- tending school and working, to complete the course, and secure his B. A. degree. He earned every dollar with which to put him- self through the institution, and came out only thirty dollars in debt. While thus studying he spent two years as a student pastor. He also spent three months as a book agent selling "Doctor Chase's Receipt Book." It was a trying experience.
After graduation, he returned to his boy- hood home at Lincoln, Kansas, and preached for two and a half years to the "old folk." He joined their Old Settlers' Association and again became one of them.
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However, in the fall of 1901, he entered Garrett Biblical Institute at Northwestern University and completed the full course, taking his S. T. B. degree in 1904. His educational foundation was now completed. Self-sacrifice and determination had brought it about. But yet the foreign fields must be denied him for a while.
MARRIAGE
While William was working in his uncle's store at Wilson, Kansas, he had for his pastor the Rev. R. A. Hoffman. The latter had a daughter named Miss May. She and William Schermerhorn were schoolmates at Kansas Wesleyan. In 1900, they became husband and wife. Mrs. Schermerhorn's health was not rugged and so, when her husband grad- uated from Garrett, they were unable to leave at once for India. The family doctor advised them to wait for eighteen months. They, therefore, returned to Wilson, where Reverend Schermerhorn preached for this period of time.
Says Gay :
"Nor love, nor honor, wealth nor power,
Can give the heart a cheerful hour
When health is lost."
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AMBITION REALIZED
But, in 1906, Mrs. Schermerhorn had re- gained her health sufficiently to undertake the trip overseas. And so the Schermer- horns, filled with high courage for Christian service in foreign fields, set sail, and landed that year in Hyderabad, India, where our young preacher entered upon his real life's work.
Dr. Schermerhorn was pastor of one of the Methodist Churches over there for three years; and then for two years he had charge of the Taylor Training School for native workers.
THE RETURN
Mrs. Schermerhorn's health again failed. She was ill for two years. Finally, the doctors told her husband that in their judg- ment she could live but a few weeks longer, if they remained in India, and they advised the Schermerhorns to return to America at once.
Mrs. Schermerhorn was so weak that her husband had to carry her to the boat in his arms. They arrived in America in Septem- ber, 1910.
.
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She spent the next year at Pueblo, Colo- rado, with her parents. Her health im- proved, but not sufficiently for them to re- turn to India. The following year Dr. Scher- merhorn filled the chair of English Bible at Kansas Wesleyan - his Alma Mater.
Speaking of his work in India, Rev. A. C. Morrison, in his "World Tour of Evangel- ism," says :
"There were several interesting incidents in the Lucknow meetings. I was profoundly im- pressed with the cool, Christian courage of Rev. W. D. Schermerhorn. He came out from Kansas some years ago and has been greatly blessed in his labors. He is a picture of robust health. When Rev. J. N. Garden was smitten with cholera Brother Schermerhorn, who had ridden third class for more than a thousand miles to get to the convention, was in the room with him and waited on him; when he was removed to another place he went with him and stood by him day and night. I slipped in and had prayer with them, these brothers in the Lord. Garden looked like a corpse and Schermerhorn about as a giant, nursing him as tenderly as a baby, with no thought of personal danger. After a few days and nights Schermerhorn was taken down with all symptoms of the dread disease, but at once was drenched with medicine and after a few hours was much better, and a little later was on his feet, but somewhat robbed of the
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ruddy glow of health in his face. A few morn- ings later he was buttoned up in a plain suit of dust-colored clothing and off for his thousand miles in a third-class car to save expenses. When the missionary collection plate comes around to you Methodists out in Kansas, remem- ber this man Schermerhorn and a goodly bunch of Kansans out here just as brave and true as he is."
MORE CHANGES
From Kansas Wesleyan, he went to Gar- rett Biblical Institute as Professor of New Testament Interpretation. He held this posi- tion for five years, making a national reputa- tion for himself. He spent his summer vaca- tions at Chicago University, completing the work for his Master's degree. Kansas Wes- leyan gave him a D. D. degree in 1909, and Garrett Biblical Institute conferred another D. D. upon him in 1917.
That year the Board of Directors of Dakota Wesleyan University, located at Mitchell, called him to the presidency of that institution; and so he has become a South Dakotan.
One of his first moves, after accepting the presidency of the institution, was to go into
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DAKOTA WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY
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the field and get the Alumni all to pulling together. This brought splendid results.
During the three years he has been at the head of the school its capital funds have been increased over $400,000, and the at- tendance has grown over sixty per cent. Under his leadership it is rapidly becoming one of the foremost among the independent colleges of the middle west.
Dr. Schermerhorn has become one of the state's leading commencement orators. He lectures on the Bible at all ministerial gather- ings in South Dakota; addresses Sunday School conventions, and speaks on various topics throughout the whole Northwest; in fact, it would be hard to find a busier man than he.
The Doctor is a Rotarian, and a member of the Society of Biblical Research, Chicago.
In the language of Shakespeare, as em- ployed in "Hamlet," he is :
"A combination and a form, indeed, Where every god did seem to set his seal To give the world assurance of a man."
Since coming to Dakota, Mrs. Schermer- horn's health has greatly improved. She
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presides over her home with grace, and the college boys and girls are always welcome under her roof. She takes great pride in the development of her son, Richard, who is a student at Dakota Wesleyan.
ARTHUR ROLLAND SCHLOSSER
ARTHUR ROLLAND SCHLOSSER SUPERINTENDENT STATE TRAINING SCHOOL
When S. E. Young, superintendent of the State Training School at Plankinton, was found dead beside his bed in 1911, numerous parties made application for the position ; but the Board of Charities and Corrections who have charge of such institutions, gave serious consideration to but one man, and he had been Superintendent Young's faithful assistant for a period of ten years. His name was Arthur Rolland Schlosser, a young Spanish-American War veteran. He has held the position ever since. All told he has been connected with the school for twenty years.
During his administration the institution has been successful. Additions have been made to the buildings, the architecture of the grounds has been greatly improved. The farming land owned by the school has been
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put in fine condition and splendidly tilled. The morals of the institution have been held at a high standard. There has been no com- plaint. Schlosser has been master of the situation.
During the entire life of the institution to date, there have been admitted to it for cor- rection 965 boys and 261 girls. Of this number 599 boys and 174 girls have been admitted during Schlosser's connection with the school, while 366 boys and 96 girls have been admitted during his superintendency. The present attendance is 80 boys and 26 girls, with 35 boys and girls out on parole, making the (1920) enrollment 141.
About 900 boys and 200 girls have been graduated by the school. Most of these have entered lives of usefulness and are numbered among our best citizens. At present one of the boys is money clerk for the American Railway Express Co. in one of our largest cities. Twenty-nine of the boys in actual at- tendance secured release and enlisted in the World War. These were joined by others who were out on parole. They were all vol- unteers. Every one of them made good, and
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stood fire like a man. Two of them were killed in action, and a large number of them were wounded. They were men - in the highest sense of the term! Thanks to their soldier superintendent ! A special feature of the instruction given in the school is patriotism. It found results.
"We are but warriors for the working-day: Our gayness, and our gilt, are all besmirch'd With rainy marching in the painful field, There's not a piece of feather in our host."
The character developed in the lives of these young people is largely due to the per- sonal work of Superintendent and of Mrs. Schlosser. He was united in marriage, March 3, 1902, to Miss Edna McGarraugh, of Sioux Falls. She has proven an able as- sistant to her industrious husband in his chosen field of work. And it is not an un- common thing to see her walking around the grounds in the early evening, chatting freely with the boys and giving them encourage- ment. She feels that she must act as a sub- stitute mother for them all - including the girls, who also esteem her highly.
Says Tennyson to each of these lads :
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"Happy he
With such a mother! faith in womankind Beats with his blood, and trust in all things high Comes casy to him, and though he trip and fall, He shall not blind his soul with clay."
The great state of South Dakota and every father whose son has been sent to the Train- ing School for correction, join with Shakes- peare in saying to Mr. Schlosser:
"You shall be as a father to my youth; My voice shall sound as you do prompt my ear; And I will stoop and humble my intents To your well-practic'd, wise directions."
HIS EARLY YEARS
Superintendent Schlosser was born in the little village of Lodi, Wisconsin, June 20, 1880. At the tender age of eighteen months, his parents brought him to Dakota and set- tled at Blunt where the elder Schlosser estab- lished the Blunt Advocate. In 1889, the fam- ily removed to Aberdeen and became identi- fied with the Dakota Ruralist - the official organ of the Farmers' Alliance. Later, they bought an interest in the Aberdeen Daily News and assumed the management of the paper. Then the father organized the Pub-
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lishers Printing Co. and later consolidated it with the South Dakota Newspaper Union. The establishment was moved to Sioux Falls in 1895.
While at Blunt, Arthur attended school in the grades. This was continued at Aber- deen, and on into the high school. He com- pleted his high school course at Sioux Falls, graduating with the class of 1898.
SOLDIER
Young Schlosser was a red-blooded boy. At the age of fourteen, he joined the Na- tional Guard at Aberdeen. After removing to Sioux Falls, he joined Co. "B" at that place and went with them to the Bryant en- campment in 1897. After this encampment, Co. "B" disbanded. Schlosser was one of the men who helped to re-organize it; and at the breaking out of the Spanish-American War in the spring of 1898, he was Co. "B's" first duty sergeant. In July, following, while the First South Dakota were encamped at San Francisco, preparatory to embarking for the Philippines, Schlosser was promoted to 1st Sergeant of his company, which posi-
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tion he filled with credit throughout the war.
He had been recommended by Capt. A. B. Sessions, commanding Co. "B," for a com- mission which he no doubt would have gotten and would have remained in the Philippines, had it not been for the fact that at the time the matter was under consideration by those in authority, he contracted typhoid-malaria and was ordered home, - it being the opin- ion of the attending physician that he could not live.
The recommendation of Captain Sessions follows :
Sta. Co. "B" 1st S. D. Inf., U. S. Vols.
San Felipe, Manila, P. I., July 17, 1899
CAPTAIN J. LOCKETT,
Manila, P. I.
Sir:
I take the liberty of introducing to you the bearer, Sergt. A. R. Schlosser, of my Company, who has de- cided he would like to remain in the Islands, if he could get a commission. He has been my 1st Sergt. since July of last year, and in that time has dis- played qualities which in my judgment eminently fit him for a commission. He is honest, sincere and earnest in attending to his military duties. Despite his slimness he has the necessary staying qualities for the field, - being one of 28 men of my command who marched into San Fernando at the close of the campaign, and was not sick afterwards, while nearly
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every other man gave out after reaching there. In action he is cool, and he has repeatedly had com- mand of half of my company in times of great peril. If it is possible for you to favorably consider him, I shall consider it a favor to be returned at the earliest possible opportunity.
Very respectfully,
(Signed)
A. B. SESSIONS, Capt. 1st S. D. Inf., U. S. V.
After leaving port in Manila, he soon re- cuperated in the cool ocean air, and by the time the regiment arrived in San Francisco, a month later, he was again quite normal physically.
Just before the regiment was mustered out, many men were promoted : officers were raised in rank; non-commissioned officers were promoted to officers; privates were raised to non-commissioned officers, etc.
Sergeant Schlosser had back of him one of the best records in the regiment. He was recommended by all the higher officers of the organization for a Lieutenant's commission. But, unfortunately, this was to be silently denied him, for political reasons.
The following recommendation was pigeon-holed :
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"Headquarters 1st S. D. Inf., U. S. V. San Francisco, Cal., Sept. 13th, 1899.
TO THE GOVERNOR OF SOUTH DAKOTA,
Occidental Hotel,
San Francisco, Cal.
Sir:
I have the honor to recommend the appointment of 1st Sergt. A. R. Schlosser, Co. "B," this regiment, to the grade of 2nd Lieutenant, vice Hawkins, dis- charged.
Very respectfully,
(Signed) A. S. FROST, Colonel 1st S. D. Inf., U. S. Vols.
Official Copy furnished to 1st Sergt. A. R. Schlos- ser, 1st S. D. Inf.
By Order of Colonel Frost. J. W. BECK, Ist Lieut. and Adjt. 1st S. D. Inf.
(Through Commanding Officer Co. "B" 1st S. D. Inf.)
"He's truly valiant that can wisely suffer The worst that man can breathe;
And make his wrongs his outsides, To wear them like his raiment, carelessly; And ne'er prefer his injuries to his heart, To bring it into danger."
SHAKESPEARE
Sergeant Schlosser was mustered out with his company at San Francisco, October 5, 1899.
After his return home, he was made ex- press agent at Watertown, which position
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he held for two years until he was appointed assistant superintendent of the State Train- ing School at Plankinton in 1901.
Daily he practices the admonition of Henry Vaughan :
"To God, thy Country, and thy Friend, be true."
COLONEL A. B. SESSIONS
JUST A VOLUNTEER
"Forever float that standard sheet Where breathes the foe but falls before us, With Freedom's soil beneath our feet And Freedom's banner streaming o'er us." JOSEPH RODMAN DRAKE
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Colonel A. B. Sessions, of Sioux Falls, is a Son of the American Revolution, being doubly eligible by reason of the fact that both of his great-grandfathers fought in the Revolutionary War. His grandfather, on his father's side, Alonzo Sessions, after whom he is named, was a prominent character in the early days of Michigan. He helped to or- ganize the Republican party, and also served as lieutenant-governor of his state. The Colonel's father, Henry C. Sessions, is a Civil War veteran, - having been a member of Custer's Brigade of General Sheridan's Cavalry Corps. His mother, Fanny Bangs- Sessions, is the daughter of Francis Bangs, a prominent Methodist preacher, and a direct descendant of Nathan Bangs -one of the founders of Methodism in this country. She died in 1889.
From this vein of heroic stock came Colo- nel Alonzo B. Sessions - a volunteer in two wars.
THE VOLUNTEER
"Look! There are younger faces That march in the ranks today In step with the veteran soldiers
Whose locks are thin and gray,
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