USA > South Dakota > Who's who in South Dakota, Vol. III > Part 6
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Hirning was rapidly becoming American- ized, as we shall see by the responsibilities that were entrusted to him. After complet- ing his summer term of school in 1901, he
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JOHN HIRNING
was immediately appointed treasurer of Campbell County. At the same time he served as deputy county auditor.
In the summer of 1903, he was appointed superintendent of schools in Campbell Coun- ty. While filling this position he also con- tinued as deputy county treasurer, but gave up the work in the auditor's office. The next year (1904) he was elected to succeed him- self as county superintendent.
However, in the spring of 1906, he re- signed, to enter the banking business at Herreid. And that fall he was elected state auditor, as previously set forth. With Shakespeare he could say :
"Thus far our fortune keeps an upward course, And we are gras'd with wreaths of victory."
As state auditor he served as Secretary of the Commission that erected our State Cap- itol. In 1908 he was re-elected state auditor - on his own fine record.
When he went out of office, January 1, 1911, he purchased an interest in the Pierre Bank & Trust Co., and was elected its Cashier. Two years later he sold his interest
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in this concern, and then helped to organize the State Tax Commission.
However, in March, 1914, he was appoint- ed Examiner for the State Banking Depart- ment; and on April 1, 1917, he was promoted to Superintendent of Banks, when J. L. Wingfield resigned. In March, 1919, he was re-appointed for a term of four years.
John Hirning has demonstrated that a foreigner can make good in America, if he will but become an American in the full sense of the term, adopt American ways, speak the American tongue, cleave to American ideals, and give his allegiance in full to the Amer- ican Flag!
True -
"America is the land of opportunity."
but that "opportunity" must be used and not abused.
"A song for our banner? The watchword recall Which gave the Republic her station:
'United we stand - divided we fall!' It made and preserves us a nation! The union of lakes - the union of lands - The union of States none can sever - The union of hearts - the union of hands - And the Flag of our Union forever!"
GEORGE P. MORRIS
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JOHN HIRNING
PERSONAL
Mr. Hirning was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Kludt, of Herreid, June 17, 1903. Their family consists of one son - Herbert. The Hirnings attend the Baptist church, - Mrs. Hirning's father having been a Baptist preacher. They live in Pierre.
HON. ROYAL C. JOHNSON
CONGRESSMAN 2nd DIST., SOUTH DAKOTA
On the third day of October, 1882, the Angel of Birth descended into a humble home in Cherokee County, Iowa, and laid into the lap of an expectant mother a promising baby
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boy who was destined to become a national character at an early age in life.
It was not a "royal" birth, yet they named him Royal Johnson.
"Fair science frowned not on his humble birth."
When he was less than six months of age his parents brought him to Highmore, Dako- ta Territory. It was in this vicinity that he grew to maturity and had the ups and downs of the average boy. One of his friends at Highmore has the following to say about his youthful experiences :
"His parents were poor and from early childhood he had to work hard. He saved his money and used it educating himself at Yankton College and later at Vermillion.
"He carried the mail on a bicycle from Highmore to Tennis and intermediate points, a seventy-mile trip. Later, during the fall, he would put up hay, going out as far as eight or ten miles and mowing probably a quarter section, each night bringing in a large four- horse load. I am not sure as to his age when he was carrying mail on the bicycle but do not think he was over sixteen or seventeen
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years of age, and he was hauling hay with the four-horse team before he was of age. Later, while attending the University, he spent his summer months either putting up hay or canvassing for life insurance. He was quite successful in the latter occupation, probably due to the fact that he took a horse and cart and drove right out among the farmers and put in long days. He made lots of friends in this way who have stuck to him ever since. "Even as a boy he found time to play, and was always a splendid baseball player, al- though at running he was a joke. He was a good hitter, but had he had the speed that some of the boys had, he could have stretched many a single into a double."
There's nothing can equal the tender hours When life is first in bloom, When the heart like a bee in u wild of flowers, Finds everywhere perfume; When the present is all and it questions not If those flowers shall pass away, But pleased with its own delightful lot, Dreams never of decay.
BOHN
EDUCATION
Congressman Johnson was educated in the public schools of Highmore and Pierre. He
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attended Yankton Academy and College, 1901-1903. For the next two years he was a student in the law department of the Uni- versity of South Dakota, at Vermillion, grad- uating with the class of 1906.
POLITICS
Immediately upon his graduation from the law school, he was made deputy state's at- torney for Hyde (his home) County. This gave him a fine experience as a public pros- ecutor. He was only twenty-four years of age. Yet he made a fine record - so much so that at the end of two years he was elected state's attorney. He served in this position during 1908-1909.
He was then elected attorney-general of South Dakota, serving four years - 1911- 1914 inclusive. When he entered upon this important legal duty, he was only in his twenty-ninth year. As attorney-general he was confronted with many perplexing legal problems; yet he met the exigencies of the situation and gave general satisfaction.
In 1913, while he was yet attorney-general, he removed from Highmore to Aberdeen
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where the opportunities to build up a large law practice were much more promising.
In 1914, Congressman Charles H. Burke, of the second congressional district, was not a candidate for reelection, owing to ill health. This gave Royal C. Johnson his political opportunity : he grasped it, an- nounced himself as a candidate to succeed Mr. Burke, was elected, and has since been reelected every two years until he has now become a member of the 67th Congress. It will thus be seen that he entered Congress at thirty-three years of age, after already holding public office in South Dakota for a period of eight years.
Johnson is a brilliant campaigner and a wonderful vote getter. While a candidate for attorney-general, he always led his par- ty's ticket. In 1918, he was reelected to Congress by an overwhelming majority, even though absent, in France. In the 1920 cam- paign, his plurality over his nearest competi- tor was 26,402, while his majority over both of his competitors combined was 17,632.
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MILITARY EXPERIENCE
Mr. Johnson left Congress, voluntarily, January 4, 1918, and enlisted as a private in Co. "K," 313th Infantry. Not having had any previous military training, it was neces- sary for him to begin at the bottom and work his way up. However, through strict appli- cation of himself to his work, his promotions came rapidly. He was assigned to the Third Officers' training camp, at Camp Meade, Va., and on April 23, he was promoted to Ser- geant in Co. "K." June 1st he was com- missioned a Second Lieutenant and trans- ferred to Co. "D" of the 313th Regt .; and then, on September 3, eight months after he had enlisted, he was raised to the rank of First Lieutenant, but was left on duty with Co. "D."
His regiment embarked for France with the 79th Division, July 6, 1918. While abroad with the A. E. F. he gave a good ac- count of himself. He was severely wounded in the battle of Montfaucon, September 26, 1918, and was awarded a Croix de Guerre and a Distinguished Service medal, for ex- traordinary heroism in battle.
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"He that is valiant, and dares fight, Though drubb'd, can lose no honor by't. Honor's a lease for lives to come, And cannot be extended from The legal tenant : 'tis a chattel Not to be forfeited in battle."
BUTLER
Immediately upon the signing of the ar- mistice, he returned to the States and re- sumed his seat in Congress.
Congressman Johnson has made good in civil and in military life. His state and his district are proud of him. He exemplifies what a young man can do, if he is possessed of foresight and determination. Given to Iowa by birth, to South Dakota by adoption, to the state through service, and to the na- tion through loyalty and sacrifice, he stands today - a unique figure, with a national rep- utation, at the age of thirty-eight.
LITERARY
Before a jury, in an after-dinner talk, dur- ing a political speech, or on the lecture plat- form, Congressman Johnson is always en- tertaining and eloquent. In 1920 he delivered over 100 Chautauqua speeches under the aus-
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pices of one of the leading bureaus of Amer- ica.
His articles on the World War, written after his return home, published and sold by a newspaper syndicate, attracted national at- tention. There was a fearlessness about them that the public liked.
OPPORTUNITY
We now have before us the vision of a young man who has succeeded thus far in life because he was ready for each opportunity that came to him, and had the courage to reach out and grasp it. Vision? No - not necessarily ; merely the power of decision. Let Ingalls repeat to us his immortal poem :
"Master of human destinies am 1; Fame, love and fortune on my footsteps wait. Cities and fields I walk; I penetrate Deserts and seas remote, and, passing by Hovel and mart and palace, soon or late I knock, unbidden, once on every gate. If sleeping, wake; if feasting, rise before I turn away. IT IS THE HOUR OF FATE, And they who follow me reach every state Mortals desire, and conquer every foe Save death. But those who doubt or hesitate, Condemned to failure, penury and woe, Seek me in vain and needlessly implore: I answer not, and I return no more."
(My name is "OPPORTUNITY.")
MOTHER MARY JOSEPH
A HUMAN BENEFACTOR
All through the active ministry of Jesus, one herculean thing stands out above all others : He healed the sick !
When a man is well, he doesn't need much attention; when he's dead, he is easily, al- though formally, disposed of ; but when he's
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sick, he needs all the attention and care which loving hands and kindly hearts can give him. Jesus recognized these truths.
The Church, after a few centuries of deal- ing almost wholly with Spiritual affairs, is now rapidly getting back to Christian funda- mentals and is establishing hospitals every- where for the care of the sick.
One of the first religious organizations to take this responsibility upon itself volun- tarily was the Roman Catholic Church; and the first representative of that Faith to take up this work on a large scale in South Dakota was Mother Mary Joseph, of Aberdeen. She recognized it as her Christian duty.
Mother Joseph represents the ideals of the classic writers of all ages. Shakespeare fore- saw her graciousness when he declared :
"There's language in her eye, her cheek, her lip, Nay, her foot speaks."
And Milton, in "Paradise Lost," remarks:
"Grace was in all her steps, heaven in her eye, In every gesture dignity and love."
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While Meredith, in "Lucile," contemplates :
"That caressing and exquisite grace - never bold, Ever present - which just a few women possess."
And Whittier, musing "Among the Hills," opines :
"An inborn grace that nothing lacked Of culture or appliance, - The warmth of genial courtesy, The calm of self-reliance."
In her every-day life among the sick, the good Mother exemplifies the "language" of Shakespeare, the "heaven" of Milton, the "exquisite grace" of Meredith, and the "genial courtesy" of Whittier.
She believes with Milton that :
"Good, the more
Communicated, the more abundant grows."
And so she spends her life communicating good to the helpless - those who are tor- mented with disease. She is, in the language of George Eliot :
"A woman mixed of such fine elements That were all virtue and religion dead She'd make them newly, being what she is."
.
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Mother Joseph came to Dakota Territory away back in 1885, as a young teacher twenty-six years of age. She organized Pre- sentation Academy at Aberdeen in 1886 and has operated the school to this day - a period of thirty-five years. First, she began in a small building 20 x 20 feet. Today, the school is housed in one of the finest buildings in the state.
She gathered about her a number of self- sacrificing Sisters.
"Hard was their lodging, homely was their food, For all their luxury was doing good."
GARTH
Yet, by working together without pay, with but necessary clothing, and by re-in- vesting their earnings in their undertakings, together they have accomplished much. They built Presentation Academy at Aberdeen, and they teach in the following parochial schools :
Notre Dame Academy . Mitchell
St. Lawrence School . Milbank
St. Mary Academy Dell Rapids
St. Stephens School . Bridgewater St. Peters Parochial School . Jefferson
All Saints School . Andover
St. Marys School . Marion Junction
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St. Josephs High School . Woonsocket Our Lady of Good Counsel Academy Elkton
Domestic Department,
Columbus College . . Chamberlain
And they are now preparing to build St. Reta College in Sioux Falls.
This brings us to the more important part of Mother Joseph's life work - the care of the sick. To build a large academy and to despatch Sisters to teach in other religious institutions, is magnificent. To build hospi- tals, open to the general public alike, - Catholics and Protestants, Jews and Gen- tiles, Black and White, Rich and Poor, Male and Female, Old and Young - is still more magnificent ; for if these Catholic schools had not been built, the public schools would still have schooled these children who are at- tending them; but if these hospitals had not been built, the public would have suffered immeasureably, through neglect.
Folowing is a list of the Hospitals she has built to date :
DATE
HOSPITAL
LOCATION
1900
St. Lukes
1906
St. Josephs
1910
Miles City Hospital
1912
McKennan Hospital
Aberdeen, S. D. Mitchell, S. D. Miles City, Mont.
Sioux Falls, S. D.
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Just now they are preparing to build an- other large hospital at Mitchell, on the same grounds with St. Josephs, but owing to money conditions it had to be postponed.
Talk about human benefactors! When has the state produced another such a benefactor - in either sex ?
The question arises: How does she do it? The reply is based largely upon the fact that she and the Sisters associated with her work for nothing, taking from the results of their toil only a simple living. The Sisters receive only $20 and $25 per month in the Paro- chial schools. Their one object is Charity. They obey the Scriptural mandate :
"Lay not up treasures for yourselves on earth."
Their hope of reward lies in the great Here- after.
Then, too, they borrow money to meet their financial obligations. They borrow it locally, in St. Paul, and in Chicago, at 6 per cent and 63 per cent. On one note alone they borrowed $260,000.00. There isn't a person or a corporation in the state with credit in Chicago equal to theirs.
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"Loveliest of women! heaven is in thy soul, Beauty and virtue shine forever round thee, Brightening each other!"
ADDISON
Going over their annual report for 1917 (the latest available), one soon gleans an idea of their immense undertakings, by scan- ning the statistics of but one of their four hospitals - St. Lukes at Aberdeen. It shows, during 1917, that 1675 patients were admitted, of whom 875 were females and 800 were males. Of this number, 1256 under-
went surgical operations.
The total deaths
for the year were but 70. It is interesting to note that 113 of the patients were under one year of age, and 33 of them were over seventy. The largest number - 496 - were between twenty and thirty. They came from 15 different countries and represented 18 dif- ferent religious denominations. The Luth- erans predominated, with 387 patients, and the Catholics (their own denomination) came second, with an enrollment of 336. The Methodists supplied 211 patients, and the Presbyterians 107. Last year they admitted over 3,000 patients into St. Lukes hospital.
=
ST. LUKES HOSPITAL, ABERDEEN. S. D.
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PERSONAL
Mother Mary Joseph was born in Ireland in 1859. She was educated in the Parochial and in the Boarding Schools of Ireland and of Belgium. She came to America in 1885 and began teaching in the Presentation Con- vent at Fargo, North Dakota. The next year she came to Aberdeen, established the Paro- chial school at that place and taught in it until 1900, when she gave up teaching to de- vote all of her time to administrative work.
"Be good, sweet maid, and let who will be clever; Do noble things, not dream them, all day long: And so make Life, Death, and that vast Forever One grand, sweet song!"
KINGSLEY
DR. KUTNEWSKY
DR. JOHN KNOX KUTNEWSKY
SUPERINTENDENT STATE SCHOOL AND HOME FOR FEEBLE-MINDED REDFIELD, S. D.
Misfortune may come to any home. Only those to whose homes it has come can under- stand it. It comes in various forms - not the least of which is feeble-mindedness. This form of misfortune comes to the homes of rich and poor alike. Society recognizes this universal blight and makes provision for it. Institutions where this class of unfortunates may be kept, and even developed, are now found throughout the world. At the heads of them are placed men and women of renown.
South Dakota placed at the head of her State School and Home for the Feeble Mind- ed, at Redfield, Dr. John Knox Kutnewsky, a practicing physician of character, courage and success. His twenty years of service as superintendent of the institution has fully at- tested his great efficiency - ay, his great hu- manity ! Not a parent who has, or has had,
!
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a child in the Home has complained about its care. But each of them, as Mrs. Browning muses in "De Profundis," would declare to him :
"I praise thee while my days go on; I love thee while my days go on: Through dark and dearth, through fire and frost, With empty arms and treasure lost, I thank thee while my days go on.
"And having in thy life-depth thrown Being and suffering (which are one), As a child drops his pebble small Down deep some well, and hears it fall Smiling - so I. THY DAYS GO ON!"
WORKINGS OF THE SCHOOL
During the twenty years that Dr. Kut- newsky has been at the head of the School, 832 students (perhaps we might say, pa- tients) have been admitted to the institution.
The courses of instruction given are adapt- ed to the individual needs of the children. They consist of Music, Dancing, Basketry, Weaving, Sewing, Gymnastics, Household work, Farming, Live Stock raising, Dairying, and Chicken raising. One boy has so de- veloped under proper guidance that he is now taking a correspondence course in Electrical and Steam Engineering.
SCHOOL AND HOME FOR FEEBLE-MINDED, REDFIELD, S. D.
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The buildings are all substantial and fire proof. They cost $600,000, and could not now be replaced for $1,000,000. The campus and farm land comprise 803 acres valued at $200,750. It has really gotten to be a million- dollar institution.
1
HIS CAREER
Dr. Kutnewsky's parents were both for- eigners. His father was born at Stolpe, Pomerania. His mother (Margaret Knox) was born in Ballymena, Ireland. His father came to America in 1823; his mother, in 1842. They were married at St. Louis in 1854.
The elder Kutnewsky was a miller. He first established himself in business in Springfield, Illinois. Later he transferred his business to Groveland, Illinois.
Here John was born April 20, 1858. He spent his boyhood in Groveland, and was educated in the public schools of that place. The years of 1875-77 were spent in the Uni- versity of Illinois. In the fall of 1880 he entered Rush Medical College, in Chicago, and graduated with the Class of 1882.
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Immediately following his graduation he returned to the old home and established him- self in the Medical profession at Groveland. However, the next year, 1883, his father transferred his milling interests to Redfield, Dakota Territory. He soon saw that there was a fine opportunity for his son to prac- tice Medicine at Redfield, and so he urged the Doctor to remove to the latter place. This he did in 1884.
The seventeen years that he practiced at Redfield gained for him state-wide recogni- tion in his chosen profession; so much so, that when a superintendent was needed for the newly-established School and Home for the Feeble Minded, in October, 1901, it did not take the Board of Charities and Correc- tions long to decide whom it was to be.
Well may the inmates of the institution, their parents, and the state at large unite in saying of Doctor Kutnewsky :
"May he live
Longer than I have time to tell in years! Ever beloved, and loving, may his rule be! And, when old Time shall lead him to his end, Goodness and he fill up one monument." SHAKESPEARE
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0
DOMESTIC RELATIONS
Dr. Kutnewsky was united in marriage to Miss Etta Kincaid, of Athens, Illinois, May 4, 1882. They have two children - a son and daughter, both grown. The Kutnewskys are Presbyterians. The Doctor belongs to all Masonic bodies, the A. O. U. W., and the M. W. A.
Mrs. Kutnewsky has given her full measure of devotion to the work of the School. Her great mother heart responds to the needs of those entrusted in part to her care. She takes part in all the activities of the Home; sometimes as matron, sometimes as laundress, at other times as teacher. No labor in connection with the care of the chil- dren in the Home is too menial for her to undertake. "It is a mother's duty," she calmly remarks, and does it willingly. Much of the Doctor's success at the head of the School has been due to her tireless efforts. She receives no pay : she does it out of love.
"Beloved, let us love so well, Our work shall be better for our love, And still our love be sweeter for our work, And both, commended, for the sake of each,
By all true workers and true lovers born."
MRS. BROWNING
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And the words of George Eliot are not amiss :
"They the royal-hearted women are Who nobly love the noblest, yet have grace For needy suffering lives in lowliest place, Carrying a choicer sunlight in their smile, The heavenliest ray that pitieth the vile."
WILLARD C. LUSK
WILLARD C. LUSK EDITOR PRESS & DAKOTAN
The early history of Dakota is largely the history of the Sioux Indians. The history of Yankton is largely the early history of Dakota. The history of the Press & Dakotan is largely the history of Yankton. And herewith begins a tale.
The Dakotian - the first newspaper pub- lished in the teritory of Dakota, which com- prised the two Dakotas, Montana, and a part of Wyoming - was established at Yankton in 1861. The first copy of it appeared on June 6th, of that year. It was owned and operated by Francis M. Ziebach, William Freney, and General J. B. S. Todd. It was a weekly. Only ten issues of it were gotten out, and then the paper suspended publica- tion. Finally, Ziebach sold his interest in the plant to Josiah C. Trask, of Kansas. Then Trask sold to George W. Kingsbury. Ziebach traded to Freney an interest he held in the Sioux City Register for Freney's interest in
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the Dakotian. This gave Kingsbury and Zie- bach full control of the paper.
Publication of it was resumed May 1, 1862. The next spring (1863) Ziebach sold his in- terest to Dr. Burleigh. A year later - in 1864 - Burleigh bought Kingsbury out, and became sole proprietor of the plant. Kings- bury and Armstrong then started another paper in Yankton, - the Dakota Union. Later, it was consolidated with the Dakotian, under the name of Union & Dakotian. In 1866, Kingsbury came into full control of the paper; and then, in 1869, he sold it to Mc- Intyre and Foster. The next year, Kings- bury and Stone started the Yankton Press. All of these newspapers were republican. In 1870, Maris Taylor and T. F. Singiser start- ed the Yankton Herald - a democratic paper. S. V. Clevenger purchased Stone's interest in the Press in 1873; and a few months later the Union-Dakotian was con- solidated with the Press, under the title of Press & Dakotan. Then it was purchased by Messrs Dewey and Barber who later sold it to Kingsbury and Wheeler S. Bowen. They converted it into a daily April 25, 1875. After
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awhile, Kingsbury bought Bowen's interest. Then, in 1896, Doane Robinson and Dave Lloyd started the Yankton Gazette. In 1898, W. C. Lusk bought a third interest in the Gazette, and the next year he and Lloyd pur- chased Robinson's share. In 1901, Lloyd sold to Lusk. The next year, Lloyd purchased the Press & Dakotan; and a few months later, Lusk bought out Lloyd, and consolidated the papers under the published title of Press & Dakotan-Gazette, - subsequently changed to Press & Dakotan. In 1917, Lusk bought the Yankton Herald and united it with the P. & D. By combining all of these conflicting interests, he raised a $7,000 plant to a $75,- 000 one, and gave Yankton one of the best printing establishments in the state.
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