Kenrick L. Hassell Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 282

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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KENRICK L. HASSELL, deputy sheriff of Spink county, is one of the few 
"hard winter" pioneers of central South Dakota, and the many struggles 
through which the early settlers passed can be recounted by him, as one 
of those who had the personal experience. He arrived in the county May 
1, 1880, and filed on a preemption claim, three and a half miles from 
Redfield, then known as Myers' Junction. In the usual way of those 
early days he erected a building half sod and half lumber, which was 
winter quarters and summer kitchen combined, and was comfortable aside 
from the leaking of the roof, which in rainy weather necessitated 
sleeping under the table. Soon after his arrival the first Indian scare 
occurred, when "Drifting Goose," in token of defiance had a red cloth 
placed under Council Rock, a large egg shaped stone surrounded by 
smaller stones, and located on the James river about three miles 
northeast of Redfield. Hostile demonstrations continued until "Drifting 
Goose" was sent to Washington and the reservation was purchased from 
him, when the Indians were removed beyond the Missouri, and the 
disturbance was quelled. In the fall of 1880, at the beginning of the 
"hard winter" our subject was placed in charge of Myers' Ranch. He 
stored provisions for the winter, and considered his supply abundant, 
but so severe a winter was not anticipated and the neighbors came to 
borrow of him before the winter was more than half over. The snows were 
long continued and were estimated to have fallen to a depth of four 
feet on a level. Fuel could be obtained only at the river, and as a 
final hardship the flour supply was exhausted. The settlement near the 
ranch consisted of twenty-seven people, and in but one family was found 
an old fashioned coffee mill, which was kept running day and night to 
grind wheat into flour. Meat became scarce, but in February three deer, 
hindered by the snow from escaping were captured by our subject and two 
companions and fell prey to their knives, and herds of antelope were 
tired out by dogs and slaughtered. The winter continued and it was not 
until May that provisions could be received from the posts. 

Kenrick L. Hassell was born in Wisconsin, May 29, 1849, the fourth 
child of a family of seven children born to Reverend Richard and Anna 
(Newsom) Hassell. His parents were both of English birth, and sailed 
from Leeds to settle in Illinois. They are now residents of Seattle, 
Washington. 

Our subject after the winter spent at Myers' Ranch, became night watch 
of the village, and the following spring was appointed as marshal, 
holding this position until 1898, when he resigned to accept his 
present position. 

Our subject was married in 1875 to Miss Helen Terhufen, a native of 
Wisconsin, of German extraction. Mr. and Mrs. Hassell have been the 
parents of four children, three of whom are living and bear the names: 
Earl B., Mabel and Lister. The family are members of the Congregational 
church, at Myers' Ranch, which was organized by Rev. Mr. Caney, in 
1881, with five charter members. Mr. Hassell is a member of the Ancient 
Order of United Workmen, and is Popular with his fellows. In political 
views he is a populist.