USA > South Dakota > Who's who in South Dakota, Vol. III > Part 14
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Dr. Thoms' second book (1914) is entitled "The Workingman's Christ." Three things help to sell a book, - the author's reputation, the title, and the style of binding. All three elements entered into the sale of this book and it moved rapidly.
We might have a Christ for ladies and for old men - possibly for a few children; but how about the wage-earner - the dinner- pail man - the fellow who comes home in overalls, with the sweat of his brow washing
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zig-zag furrows down his murky cheeks? Is there a Christ for him? Dr. Thoms said "yes," and he revealed Him in his book. Apt- ly did the celebrated Charles Stetzle, consult- ing sociologist to the publishers, Dodd, Mead & Company, say :
"THE WORKINGMAN'S CHRIST deals with some of the elementary but fundamental ques- tions having to do with the relation of the workingman to the church, which are being dis- cussed by the progressive thinkers and workers today. Getting away from the technical aspects of the modern social problems, it applies to modern conditions - in a simple but forceful fashion - the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is a real contribution to this important subject."
The third volume to come from his facile pen is "The Essentials of Christianity." Here is another practical book for practical men. Perhaps the whole volume might be summed up in the author's dedication. In it, he states: "To The Builders of Tomorrow, Whose Christianity Must be Simple, Spiritual and Brotherly." With these beautiful senti- ments we are all agreed.
It is written in chaste English. His sen- tences are short and crisp, and they are set
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together in a faultless fashion. The sim- plicity of his style adds force to his logic. Take for instance the closing sentence in the book : "Each one must be responsible for his bit."
"At learning's fountain it is sweet to drink, But 'tis a nobler privilege to think; And oft, from books apart, the thirsting mind May make the neetar which it cannot find.
'Tis well to borrow from the good and great;
'Tis wise to learn; 'tis God-like to create!" - SAXE
THOMS, THE LECTURER
Although Dr. Thoms lectures daily, infor- mally, to his students of Sociology and Bible in the class-room, he also lectures extensively throughout the state on Birds and other sub- jects. He is a lover of Nature. Any man who doesn't love Nature is minus.
For his vacation Dr. Thoms goes to the lakes or mountains, and occasionally to the northern woods. He goes with field glass and camera, and with books on flowers, trees, butterflies, moths, and birds. His most loved vacation hobby is birds. He has photo- graphed them in their native haunts, and written about them for magazines. When he
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became connected with our state University, he had slides made from many of his best photographs for use in university extension lecturing. He loves to give these illustrated lectures, especially to school children. He believes that it is a great benefit to growing boys and girls to get their eyes open to the things of nature, to become aware of the wild life that is in every dooryard, and to have an interest that will take them to woods and fields.
Scarcely a community in South Dakota has not heard him. While lecturing on birds, he selects the views of those that are peculiar to the section of the state in which he is speak- ing. As a result of these lectures he has be- come known as the "Bird man of South Da- kota." He is an authority on the subject.
Recently there came from press a booklet entitled "Birds of South Dakota," in which Mr. Over, of the University museum, assisted by Dr. Thoms, has set forth the birds of the whole state in a very complete manner.
THOMS, THE MAN
We must not close without peeping into the life of this author and lecturer, and dis-
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covering, if we can, what was his preparation for success in life and his key to it.
He was born on a farm near the beautiful city of Elgin, Illinois, December 20, 1860. Like other farm boys he attended rural school and then continued his studies in the schools of Elgin and Batavia. He took his prepara- tory course at the old Chicago University, but completed his junior and senior college years at North-Western University, gradu- ating with the class of 1888. The same in- stitution later granted him his Master's de- gree. In 1891 he completed his Theological course at Morgan Park Theological Seminary (now the Divinity School of the University of Chicago), taking the degree of Bachelor of Divinity ; and in 1902, after several years of work, he received his degree of Doctor of Philosophy from Shurtleff College.
Having laid this broad, generous, scholas- tic foundation for life, his success became merely a matter of application.
He was pastor of the Baptist church at Morris, Illinois, 1891-5; of the Forest Avenue Baptist church of Des Moines, Iowa, a college church, 1895-1900; of the First Baptist
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church of Vermillion, South Dakota, 1900- 1914; of the First Baptist church at Moline, Illinois, July 1, 1914-September 1, 1915, when he resigned to return to Vermillion to become Professor of Applied Sociology in the University of South Dakota. Two years later he was made head of the department of Sociology in the institution.
While preaching in Vermillion for four- teen years, Dr. Thoms conducted a Students' Bible Class which developed into an open forum and became one of the remarkable or- ganizations of the state. He and Mrs. Thoms kept "open house" for the students, and the friendships formed at these informal gather- ings now belt the globe.
Dr. Thoms loves boys and for several years has been a favorite lecturer at High Y. boys' summer camps. His volume, "Essentials of Christianity," grew out of this work with boys.
In 1906, he slipped away for a trip abroad and visited ten of the leading countries of Europe.
One year after entering upon his Minis- terial career, he returned to Evanston, Ill.,
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and was united in marriage, July 7, 1892, to Miss Effie Walker, of that city, whose ac- quaintance he had formed while they were students at North-Western University.
Dr. Thoms has proven a valuable man for our state, a helpful influence in the social life of our State University, and a leader in the social and civic affairs of the city of Ver- million.
The key to his success has been hard work. There is nothing equal to it and no substitute for it.
"Free men freely work :
Whoever fears God, fears to sit at ease." - MRS. BROWNING
JACOB TSCHETTER
100 PER CENT AMERICAN - BY ADOPTION
The state at large opened wide its eyes in 1918, when the Associated Press reports carried the news that Governor Norbeck had
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appointed Jacob Tschetter, of Bridgewater, to a place on the state board of Charities and Corrections. And yet it is doubtful if the Governor, in all of his large, carefully select- ed list of appointees, ever appointed to any office a man more worthy of the honor or more competent to fill the position, than Jacob Tschetter. He brought to this ap- pointive work a self-made career of success, a ripe judgment developed in the hard school of experience, and a genuine human interest in the responsibilities which the position im- poses.
A RUSSIAN IMMIGRANT
A look into the career of this self-made man is peculiarly interesting. He came up from the very bottom; came up through self- application ; came up because he became an American - not a hyphenated one, but a gen- uine 100 per cent American, by choice.
October 27, 1857, saw him enter life in a humble farm home near the village of Hut- terthal, in southern Russia. When the lad was ten years of age, his father purchased and moved onto, a small farm in Ekathar- inosloo, 200 miles farther north. Here
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Jacob and his only brother grew to young manhood. They farmed, raised cattle and sheep, and the boys attended district school a few months in the winter.
Seven years of this kind of life convinced the father that a greater opportunity lay be- fore him and his family in far-distant Amer- ica. And so, in the early fall of 1874, the father disposed of his holdings, secured pass- ports and he and his family came to the "land of opportunity."
They landed at Castle Garden the middle of October, and went direct to Elkhart, Indiana. Jacob at once entered school and devoted his entire energies to mastering the English language. A few, short, winter terms of schooling in Russia and six weeks in public school studying English at Elkhart, constitute his education.
IN DAKOTA
However, in February, 1875, when Jacob was but eighteen years of age, the father packed up and made his way overland, with his family, to Dakota Territory. First, they stopped at Yankton. Later the father home- steaded eight miles south of Bridgewater, in
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what was then Armstrong County, but which has since been united with Hutchinson County.
During the next nine years Jaoch assisted his father on the farm, but was more or less identified with the sheriff's office of his coun- ty. This brought him in contact with the law. He began to study it. The result was that, although never admitted to the bar, he tried a great many cases in Justice court. On several occasions, he had some of the best lawyers in the territory pitted against him. Three of the cases he tried were later carried to the Supreme Court by regular reg- istered attorneys and all three of them were won.
Two of the cases in Justice court, tried by young Tschetter before an old Justice of the Peace, called "Uncle Stearns," are amusing. One of them was a fellow who had stolen some grain. The old Justice could not read a word of English. He had been supplied with a copy of the "Codes of Dakota," pre- pared by General Beadle. Calling young Tschetter to his side he said: "Jacob, find something in this good book pertaining to
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this case and read it to me - in Russian." Jacob could find nothing. Then the old Jus- tice decreed that the prisoner should load onto his wagon an amount of grain equal to the amount he had stolen; hitch his oxen to the load ; haul it back to the party from whom it had been stolen; but, in doing, so, that he must circle around among all the homestead- ers of the community, show them the grain, confess to each one his theft, and tell them he was making restitution. The prisoner wept bitterly. The Justice detailed Jacob Tschetter and another young immigrant to ride along beside the load of grain and see that the prisoner did as he was commanded.
Another amusing case was one in which young Tschetter was himself an interested party. One of the neighbors grew angry and cut the tail off of one of Tschetter's oxen. Jacob, himself, acted as prosecutor. Old Uncle Stearns assessed the fellow a $50 fine which he paid.
BUSINESS CAREER
Our Russian immigrant, now a full-fledged American, grew tired of the farm in 1884, moved to Bridgewater and went into the mer-
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cantile business. The next year he also took up the real estate business. Coupled with these, he bought and shipped live stock. Suc- cess attended his efforts and he amassed $25,000 - a snug fortune for those days. Then, the panic of 1893 came on, and Jacob, with hundreds and thousands of others, lost everything he had. Later, he regained much of it.
DEPUTY U. S. MARSHAL
The Tschetters were originally Democrats in politics. However, during Bryan's Free- Silver campaign of 1896, they swung over to the Republican party. While previously identified with the Democrats, Jacob was ap- pointed Deputy United States Marshal under Otto Pemeller, by President Grover Cleve- land. He made a number of the most cele- brated arrests in the early history of Dakota. It took him eight days to arrest one noted criminal at the Crow Creek Agency, who had previously shot several Indian Police sent to get him. Tschetter never released his vigi- lance until he came out of the jungles with his prisoner securely handcuffed.
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PUBLIC SERVANT
While at Bridgewater, Mr. Tschetter has continually served his municipality in var- ious public capacities such as city marshal, alderman, justice, mayor and member of the board of education. He resigned the mayor- ship of Bridgewater when he was appointed on the board of Charities and Corrections.
LOYAL TO FRIENDS
Hanging in his real estate office at Bridge- water are three large pictures, neatly framed - pictures of men who helped to make him - pictures of men whom Jacob Tschetter never deserted. They are Senator A. B. Kitt- redge, Congressman Chas. H. Burke, and Governor Peter Norbeck. Nothing could more greatly reveal the sturdy character of this Russian immigrant than this act of de- votion to his friends. Most perfectly does he exemplify the beautiful sentiments of Shakespeare :
"I count myself in nothing else so happy As in a soul remembering my good friends."
DOMESTIC
Jacob Tschetter was united in marriage to Miss Anna Mendel, also a Russian immi-
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grant, in 1877, when he was but twenty years of age. Six children - three boys and three girls - came to bless their home. All are living and all are married. Mrs. Tschetter has proven a worthy helpmeet, and their home life has been companionable. Both are Russians by birth; both are Americans by adoption.
"Adieu, adieu! my native shore Fades o'er the waters blue; The night-winds sigh, the breakers roar, And shrieks the wild sea-mew. Yon sun that sets upon the sea We follow in his flight; Farewell awhile to him and thee, My natire land - good night." - BYRON
COLONEL BOYD WALES
COMMANDER 147th FIELD ARTILLERY
"Be thou as lightning in the eyes of France; For ere thou can'st report I will be there, The thunder of my cannon shall be heard; So hence! Be thou the trumpet of our wrath." SHAKESPEARE (in "King John")
Some men are born soldiers, some become volunteer soldiers, and some are drafted for
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soldiers. Colonel Boyd Wales represents all three; that is, he is a born soldier because he has a soldier's mind; he became a soldier by enlisting as a volunteer in the Spanish- American War; he was drafted with his regi- ment for service in the World War.
"Long shall we seek his likeness - long in vain, And turn to all of him which may remain," Sighing that nature placed upon her scales But one such man as Colonel Wales. (First two lines - BYRON)
YOUTH
He was born near Brownsville, Nebraska, August 10, 1873, and was reared on a farm. During the winter months of 1880-81, he at- tended rural school, as is the common lot of country boys.
The family removed to Dakota in 1882 and settled on a claim near Fedora in western Miner County. Here again Boyd attended rural school, gathering up a smattering of an education. However, in 1891, he attended the State College at Brookings for one year, and then spent the next two years upon the farm. He then turned his attention to the teaching profession and taught eleven terms
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of school in Miner County. Finally he studied law for one year with L. J. Martin, of Howard, and then worked for one year in a bank at that place.
SOLDIER
When the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, he enlisted in May of that year as a private in Co. "I," 1st S. D. Inf., U. S. Vols. On May 20, he was promoted to Cor- poral, and on June 7, to Q. M. Sergeant. At the close of the regiment's service in the Philippines, Co. "I" was designated as "Color Co." and Wales was made Color Sergeant on June 10, 1899. During the campaign in the Philippines, Wales was in much heavy fight- ing, and he learned the art of war first hand. He was always on duty and his record is enviable. He was mustered out with his company at San Francisco, October 5, 1899.
When the South Dakota Guard was re-or- ganized in 1901, Wales organized Co. "H" at Howard, and on May 6 was commissioned its Captain. He made a fine company com- mander; was a careful student of the tactics, got along well with his men, and always had
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his company out for manoeuvres - ahead of time.
When the 2nd and the 3rd Regiments, S. D. N. G. were merged into the 4th in 1905, he was promoted to Major; and on May 6, 1913, he was made Colonel of the Regiment. In every position he made good and his pro- motions were all based on merit. It will be noted that the only grade he missed from Private to Colonel was that of Lieutenant, and that was not vital.
"Men may rise on stepping-stones Of their dead selves to higher things." TENNYSON
Colonel Wales commanded the 4th Regi- ment on the border, in 1916, during our trouble with Mexico.
He and his regiment were drafted into the service of the United States on July 15, 1917. They left South Dakota for Camp Green, North Carolina, September 27; and on Octo- ber 3, immediately after their arrival, the regiment was broken up into an Artillery outfit, a Machine Gun Battalion and a Supply Train.
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They went into heavy training for three weeks - until October 23, when they depart- ed for Camp Mills, Long Island. On De- cember 7, they were transferred to Camp Merritt, New Jersey, from which place they departed on January 10 to board the English transport "Olympic," preparatory to setting sail for Europe the next day.
There were 6,600 men aboard the "Olym- pic." She was not convoyed. Yet the voy- age proved an uneventful one, and they land- ed safely at Liverpool on January 18, 1918. They crossed England to South Winchester where they remained for twenty-four hours, after which they were taken to South Hamp- ton and loaded onto two boats, preparatory to crossing the English Channel. One of these (the one on which Colonel Wales sailed) was an old Belgian boat - a side- wheeler. There were five boats, all told, in the expedition, heavily convoyed. Unfortu- nately (possibly fortunately), Wales' boat missed the lighthouse signal that there were German submarines in the Channel. and plunged on ahead by itself and crossed over in safety. The other boats observed
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the signal, turned back, and did not get across the Channel for two days. Anxious moments! Deep thoughts! Silent prayers !
They landed at Le Havre, France, and went into a rest camp at that place for four days. Then the regiment was split up. Two Batteries were sent to an Artillery School at Saumur, and two Batteries were sent to the one at Gondrecourt, while the two other Batteries, Headquarters and the Supply Company, under Wales, were sent to La Courtine to establish a replacement depot in central France.
They trained faithfully until June 1. At that time Colonel Wales was getting impa- tient for action - for some real fighting in- stead of imaginary stuff. So he secured per- mission of the Corps Commander to let the 1st Battalion, which was splendidly disci- plined and equipped, take its place on the firing line. They were therefore sent to the Toul sector where they soon got into heavy action and acquitted themselves with honor.
One month later, to the day, the entire regiment was sent in; and from that time on until the close of the war, the old 4th
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South Dakota National Guards, now the 147th Field Artillery, were in the midst of the fighting, giving a good account of them- selves, day by day, making their advances and their sacrifices with the others engaged, doing their duty faithfully wherever as- signed, earning praises from superior of- ficers, and helping "make the World safe for Democracy !"
"Cannon to right of them Cannon to left of them Cannon in front of them Volley'd and thunder'd."
And from the bloody field of Hohenlinden came a lingering voice :
"The combat deepens! On, ye brave, Who rush to glory, or the grave."
for never a man turned back. And yet, yon- der, in the enemy's lines :
"The cannons have their bowels full of wrath; And ready mounted are they, to spit forth Their iron indignation." SHAKESPEARE
The regiment, in command of Colonel Wales, left France May 1, 1919 - six months after the signing of the armistice - aboard
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the battleship "Kansas" and arrived at Phil- adelphia on May 14.
They left Camp Dix on May 22, arrived in Sioux Falls on May 23, paraded the city amid the plaudits of 50,000 spectators on May 24, and were mustered out at Camp Dodge, Iowa, May 26.
Immediately afterward, Colonel Wales went west to see his anxious family who had spent the war period at Pomona, California. On July 7, he and his family returned to the state and took up their residence in the old home at Howard.
Governor Norbeck recognized his splendid service to his state and to humanity by promptly appointing him Land Settlement Commissioner of South Dakota. During the first year he located 111 soldiers on farms and loaned to them $255,000 of the Land Settlement fund and, in conjunction with the Rural Credit Board, $145,000 out of the Rural Credit fund, with which to build homes and procure equipment.
Let us all unite in saying to Colonel Wales that which we all profoundly hope may prove true :
"Soldier, rest; thy warfare's o'er."
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PERSONAL Colonel Wales was united in marriage, Dec. 31, 1902, to Miss May F. Furman of Aniti, Iowa. They have three children.
BENEDICITE
"Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee, Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears, Our faith triumphant o'er our fears, Are all with thee, - are all with thee!" LONGFELLOW
In the "Record of Service of the 147th Field Artillery," prepared by Leslie Jensen, Captain and Adjutant of the regiment, and published by the State of South Dakota, is found the following report of operations, prepared by Colonel Wales :
HQ., 147th F. A.
1 January, 1919 To the Officers and Men of the 147th F. A.
It is with a great deal of pleasure that I review briefly the service of the 147th Field Artillery in France, and particularly its battle activity in recent military operations which terminated with the sign- ing of the armistice.
Arriving in France with the first quarter million of the American expeditionary Forces, the Regiment was fortunate in being selected to send detachments to the three artillery training centers then being established, - Saumur, Gondrecourt and La Cour-
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tine, - as school or firing batteries for those insti- tutions. The season of training being completed early in June, the 1st Battalion was assembled and sent to the Toul Sector in support of the 26th Division. About July 1st, all of the organizations of the Regiment, with the exception of Battery "F," then joined the 32nd Division in Alsace where it was holding approximately 25 kilometers of the line. The Regiment's experience in Alsace, though in no way comparable with the strenuous service incident to offensive action later encountered on the Chateau- Thierry, Soissons and Meuse-Argonne fronts, was excellent training to supplement and crystallize the training and instruction previously received. I re- gard this tour of duty, and the one of the 1st Bat- talion in the Toul Sector as fortunate incidents for the Regiment which perfected the discipline of the personnel and served to minimize our casualties in subsequent operations.
When shifted to the Chateau-Thierry Sector late in July, the 147th Field Artillery was signally hon- ored in being selected to furnish the accompanying artillery for the attacking infantry regiments of the 32nd Division. The rapid advance to the Vesle, end- ing with the taking of Fismes was a rigorous and reliable test of the ability of the Regiment in move- ment warfare and it was a matter of great pride to me that each organization acquitted itself so cred- itably.
Relieved from the Aisne-Marne Sector August 26th and proceeding at once to the Soissons Sector, the Regiment showed that its fighting spirit was as fine, if not better than ever. Batteries of this Regiment were again selected as accompanying ar- tillery for the attacking infantry units and the ex- cellence of their work has been attested to by the
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Brigade Commander and also mentioned in the "Stars and Stripes" under date of September 13th.
Much credit should accrue to the 32nd Division in the taking of Juvigny for the reason that its de- fenses were carefully selected; they were positions of great natural strength; and the best of the en- emy's troops were sent there fresh with orders to "hold the line at all costs." At the request of General Mangin, commanding the Tenth French Army, the 32nd Division was sent to this Sector for the specific purpose of piercing this line. When they attacked, they not only succeeded in taking Juvigny, and the territory west of Terny-Sorny, but in capturing about one thousand prisoners from the enemy's best troops.
The extent to which the artillery preparation con- tributed to this success is a matter of common knowledge.
Operating with the Moroccan Divisions (French) from September 2nd until relieved, the same fine spirit of the men prevailed and the French Artillery Commander of the Sector repeatedly expressed to me his admiration of the work accomplished and the spirit in which it was done.
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